Turns out coconut milk doesn’t just make a mean curry, aloe vera doesn’t just treat burns, and Dr. Bronner’s soap doesn’t just smell good. These three ingredients, when combined, have had phenomenal effects on my hair’s thickness, color and overall health.

Here’s the recipe:

1/4 cup coconut milk (I use organic)

1/4 cup aloe vera juice (I use George’s 100% Aloe Vera Juice, and I order from Amazon)

3 tablespoons Dr. Bronner’s castile soap (I use lavender or hemp tea tree, and I get it at my local grocery store or Target)

Here’s the process:

Mix all ingredients together and pour into a spray bottle. The contents will settle between uses, so shake well before applying. Spray hair, focusing on roots. Massage into scalp and enjoy the rich lather! Rinse thoroughly and then follow with a sulfate free conditioner or apple cider vinegar(ACV) rinse – 1 tablespoon ACV in 1 cup of water.

Here’s how you win a free bottle:

Visit our website at www.manemonologues.com and go to the Enter to Win page.

Here’s why your hair will love this:

In my book, The Mane Monologues, I identify the top ten nutrients for hair. This simple recipe is packed with eight out of the top ten! Here’s a sneak peak of that section in the book. I placed two asterisks (**) next to the nutrients that are in this shampoo.

1. Protein**

Our hair is about 97% protein. Therefore, foods rich in protein are literally giving us the building blocks for our hair. Without enough protein, our bodies can’t replace the hairs that we naturally shed every day, and what we do make can be dry, brittle, or weak. How can we tell if we’re getting enough protein? For a sedentary person, the suggestion is to have 1.2 grams per kg of body weight. For people with disease, the suggestion is 1.5 grams. And for active individuals, the suggestion is 1.8 grams. So for example, I weigh 130 pounds. My weight in kilograms is 130/2.2, which equals 59 kg. I’m a pretty active person, so I should use the 1.8 grams suggestion. Therefore, I should have 59 x 1.8, which equals 106.2 grams of protein a day.

2. Omega-3 Fatty Acids**

About 3% of our hair shaft is made up of omega-3 fatty acids. They are also found in the skin of our scalp as well as the natural oils that keep our scalp and hair hydrated. Our body does not produce omega-3 fatty acids on its own, so we need to get it from external sources.

3. Biotin

Too little biotin can lead to hair-thinning and even loss. Because of its follicle-boosting properties, you will find biotin in the list of ingredients in many hair-thickening shampoos and products.

4. Copper**

This mineral helps keep our natural hair color rich and lustrous.

5. Zinc**

Like biotin, a lack of zinc can lead to hair loss. Too little zinc can also cause a dry, flaky scalp.

6. Beta-Carotene**

This is an antioxidant that our bodies convert to vitamin A, which helps protect and produce the oils that sustain our scalp. Being low on vitamin A can cause itchy, annoying dandruff.

7. Iron**

Iron helps carry oxygen to our hair follicles. Just as we need oxygen to breathe, so too does our hair. Breathing keeps them alive and vibrant. Too little iron, which is known as anemia, is a major cause of hair loss.

8. Folate**

The supplement form of this nutrient is folic acid. When I expressed to my doctor that I was concerned about my hair thinning, she recommended I take a folic acid supplement. It promotes faster and thicker hair growth.

9. Vitamin C**

Vitamin C is critical for circulation to the scalp. It supports the tiny blood vessels that feed the follicles. Too little C in our diet can lead to hair breakage.

10. Vitamin B5

Also known as pantothenic acid, this vitamin is a common ingredient in hair care products.

Here’s how you win a free bottle:

Visit our website at www.manemonologues.com and go to the Enter to Win page.

Here’s how you tell us what you think:

Visit our website at www.manemonologues.com and go to the Hairy Tales Blog page. This article is the Oct 3, 2014 post.

Here’s to having a good hair day!

Jaimie Kulikowski is a training manager by day, a comedic improviser by night, and a hair care enthusiast every minute in between. She recently published the 1st Edition in The Mane Monologues book series. The first book focuses on how to thicken fine, thin or thinning hair, a topic near and dear to Jaimie\’s heart as she started fighting thinning hair in her early twenties. To learn more, visit her website at www.manemonologues.com

Jaimie Kulikowski is a training manager by day, a comedic improviser by night, and a hair care enthusiast every minute in between. She recently published the 1st Edition in The Mane Monologues book series. The first book focuses on how to thicken fine, thin or thinning hair, a topic near and dear to Jaimie\’s heart as she started fighting thinning hair in her early twenties. To learn more, visit her website at http://www.manemonologues.com/html/ www.manemonologues.com

Author Bio: Jaimie Kulikowski is a training manager by day, a comedic improviser by night, and a hair care enthusiast every minute in between. She recently published the 1st Edition in The Mane Monologues book series. The first book focuses on how to thicken fine, thin or thinning hair, a topic near and dear to Jaimie\’s heart as she started fighting thinning hair in her early twenties. To learn more, visit her website at www.manemonologues.com

Category: Womens Interest
Keywords: how to thicken hair, natural hair care, thin hair, fine hair, organic hair care recipes