11 Natural-Hair Experts Share the Homemade Hair Masks That They Are Loving in Lockdown

"As a pretreatment before washing my hair, I mix some water with different oils as a pre-poo. And in quarantine, during COVID, I've loved the rice-water mask. I put rice in water and then olive oil, and then the day after, I use it as a pre-poo and rinse with it. You can't do it too much, so I'm wary of that, but It's a very strong protein treatment and some people have sworn by it for hair growth." — Frédérique Harrel, style influencer and founder of RadSwan

"Like many curly gals, I am constantly trying to retain moisture. Honey is a humectant, which means it helps to restore moisture, so a DIY honey mask is my go-to for breathing some softness, shine, and moisture back into my strands. The texture of honey is very thick and sticky, so to help with the application process I mix the honey with some cold-pressed olive oil or coconut oil, and then I massage the mixture into my scalp and work from my roots to the tips of my hair. Then, I allow the mixture to sit on my hair for 20-30 minutes under a shower cap. Bonus tip: I also add honey to deep-conditioning treatments that don't have honey in their ingredients. This helps bump up the moisture factor of the product!" — Natasha Lee-Duhaney, lifestyle influencer

"For my hair type I need more butters and creams. I use a few drops of the Manketti Hair Oil with the pomade, and I've been using it for about two years. I put it on my edges, on my hair, and my scalp, it just really nourishes it. It's like a food, it goes really deep into the hair shaft, and it really penetrates and softens, but it doesn't have this greasy feel. So, I like the mixture of two products, the oil and the Manketti oil pomade is my favourite." — Charlotte Mensah, hairstylist, owner of the Hair Lounge salon, and founder of her eponymous hair-care line

"I love to make DIY hair masks and leave-in conditioners by whipping up some shea butter and jojoba oil with a few drops of lavender essential oil, which is great at helping to calm the scalp, to help hydrate, and nourish my coils." — Dr Ateh Jewel, journalist, diversity activist, and beauty entrepreneur (you can still pick up her The Glow Box at Space NK while supplies last!)

"Oils are my best friend — especially olive and macadamia oils. As a deep treatment, I add a few drops of macadamia oil to Africa's Best Organics Hair Mayonnaise. Then, I cover my hair in a shower cap and use my bonnet hair dryer for about 10 to 15 minutes on a low heat setting for a deep treatment. I find that the added macadamia oil works best on my hair type for curl definition." — Kara Kia, assistant editor at POPSUGAR

"A recipe I use at the salon for clients that come in with really dry hair: we start with oiling the scalp with castor oil, then shampoo and conditioner using KeraCare. As a mask, I will mix KeraCare Humecto Creme Conditioner with Affirm MoisturRight Hair Repair Masque and Olaplex to create a lush combination. You will have amazing, smooth, soft hair instantly!" — Mimi Koné, hairstylist and owner of the Mimi et Mina salon

"I've used an olive oil and castor oil prewash mask on a few occasions, especially after braids. I find castor oil too thick for my hair on a day-to-day basis so I use it prewash mixed with olive oil to make it spread more evenly. I apply root to tip and then put my hair in two braids before bed and then wash out in the morning. Olive oil is nourishing for the hair as it contains fatty acids that are similar to the sebum that your scalp creates. Castor oil is A1 for hair growth!" — Keeks Reid, contributing beauty writer at Cosmopolitan

"A couple of months ago, I came across a post on Cardi B's Instagram feed about a simple homemade hair mask that she swears by. It's made with avocado, eggs, mayo, and oil. It caught my eye because the pricey hair treatments that I own don't seem to be giving my hair enough of what it needs (moisture and strength). I figured I would try Cardi's concoction to see if it made any difference. The mask is super easy – I just throw the ingredients in a blender, saturate my hair with the mixture, and leave it on for 30 minutes to an hour before rinsing it out with water. I've tried this mask a few times now and I like the results. My hair feels really soft and has a bit of shine. I'm gonna stick with it!" — Baze Mpinja, freelance beauty editor

"Regarding DIY hair masks, I use an egg, olive oil, and honey treatment. There are many variations, including avocado and other things too, but my particular method includes two eggs, one tablespoon of honey, and two tablespoons of olive oil as a deep treatment for shiny and healthy hair!" — Carol Lathbridge, co-owner of Tiwani Heritage