Guest Author - Lisa Lambson

With the end of summer comes extra dry, faded, dull hair. Heat, sun, salt and chlorine can do quite a number on your hair in addition to the regular damaging things we do, like blow drying and straightening and curling. But who has time, money or desire to go sit for hours in a salon? Pamper your hair with these great at home remedies for your dry hair.

To add moisture to your hair:

Bananas have tryptophan and potassium. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that strengthens the hair and potassium helps to restore and maintain a healthy pH level. Mix one mashed banana with one tablespoon oil (olive, peanut, grapeseed or your favorite) well in a blender or food processor. Apply to dry hair, cover with a shower cap and let site 15-30 minutes. Rinse out and shampoo as usual.

A lighter treatment of milk and honey is great if you have thinner hair. Warm 2 cups of whole milk with one teaspoon of honey. After the honey has dissolved, pour the mixture onto dry hair and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse out and shampoo as usual.

To remove build up and restore shine:

Sea salt strips away build up and exfoliates the scalp. Dissolve two tablespoons sea salt in a cup of warm water and pour over hair. Leave in for five minutes and rinse. Shampoo as usual. Do not do this more than once or twice a month to prevent scalp irritation.

Apple cider vinegar also removes build up from hair and has alpha hydroxyl acids that seal the cuticle of the hair to restore shine. Use two tablespoons as a rinse after regular shampooing and conditioning.

Special treatments for color treated hair:

For dark hair, brew two cups of strong tea or coffee. Let cool. Shampoo and condition as usual then pour over hair and leave in until the next shampooing.

For red hair, cut two large carrots into pieces and boil in two cups water. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until the water has turned orange. Let cool. Remove the carrots and pour the water over dry hair. Put on a shower cap and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse out and shampoo as usual.

For blond hair, add one cup of lemon juice to three cups cooled chamomile tea. Pour over dry hair and sit in the sun or put on a shower cap and blow dry until the hair is almost dry. Rinse out and shampoo and condition as usual.