DIY Lush inspired H'suan Wen Hua hair mask

Having fairly recently gone from a brunette to blonde, getting highlights can begin to take it's toll on your hair and blonde hair in particular can have a tendency to become dry.  I have therefore been on the look out for a rich deep conditioning treatment, to help reduce any damage to my hair, helping it to retain moisture and stay healthy for longer.

After shopping around, and reading numerous different reviews, one that seemed to stand out, with a lot of good comments was Lush's H'suan Wen Hua hair mask, so I decided to give it a go. The hair mask claims to be 'full of protein-rich, nourishing ingredients to revive your hair and improve its condition'.  You apply this conditioner to dry hair and leave it for approximately 20 mins before shampooing and conditioning your hair as normal. 

Although it has quite an unusual scent which some people may not like (I personally didn't mind it) after just one use I completely fell in love with the product and how soft, nourished and glossy it left my hair. It was just what I'd been looking for and as it contains fresh, organic ingredients the mask really did feel like it had improved the condition of my hair, rather than just coating it in silicones which many conditioners seem to do.  

The only downside of the H'suan Wen Hua hair treatment was the price...considering you are meant to use between 1/2 - 1 full tub for long hair, (I used less) at £8.95 it's definitely not the cheapest mask if your looking for something to use on a regular basis.  As a result I thought I would have a go at making it myself...working out at a fraction of the cost!

You will need the following ingredients:

1/2 free range egg

1 small banana

1/2 ripe avocado

2 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp rosemary oil

1 tsp cinnamon leaf oil

2 tsp bay leaf infusion

Step 1:

For the first step, I started by making the bay leaf infusion. Pour a small amount of boiling water over a few dried or fresh bay leaves (fresh is best, but I had to make do with what was in the cupboard) cover and set aside to soak.  Use as little water as possible...just enough to cover the leaves, as the more you add the more diluted the solution will become.

Step 2: 

Use a sharp knife to cut an avocado in half and remove the stone.  Next use a teaspoon to scoop the avocado out of the skin and place in a small bowl before mashing to a smooth consistency.  

Containing over 25 vital minerals, including vitamins A,B,C,E and K avocados offer many health benefits. However for the hair in particular it's the oils in the avocado which help to moisturise and rejuvenate the scalp.  Avocados are also a rich source of proteins and amino acids, helping to deeply condition and revitalize dry, damaged hair and promote the growth of healthier hair.

Step 3:

At this stage, although it wasn't listed in Lush's ingredients, I decided to add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice as it helps to prevent the avocado from turning brown, helping to keep the vibrant green colour, for longer. The cleansing and stimulating properties of lemon juice also make it an ideal ingredient for hair products, helping to fight against dandruff, strengthen and promote hair growth, make it more resistant to breakage and reduces the effects from the use of chemical hair products and pollution to name but a few. What's more lemon juice can also be used as a natural bleach to assist in brightening blonde or fair hair.

Step 4:

For the next step I broke up a small banana and added this to the avocado. I then mashed the ingredients together, once again.

Bananas are another completely natural ingredient, again offering many health and beauty benefits.  As they are rich in potassium, natural oils, carbohydrates and vitamins they help to soften and protect the hair's elasticity, preventing breakage and split ends. They are also known to promote growth, and enhance the hair's natural shine.

Step 5:

Next I cracked a free range egg into a cup and lightly whisked it before adding this to the rest of the ingredients.

Eggs are an excellent source of rich protein and are known to strengthen the hair follicle, enhancing the resistance of hair breakage and split ends, resulting in thicker, healthier hair.  Eggs also help to condition the hair and add shine by maintaining the natural oils, which are often striped away by shampoos. 

Step 6:

To the mixture I also added 2 teaspoons of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar and mixed well.

You may think of olive oil as a typical ingredient for cooking, but it also has a number of benefits for skin and hair care.  Being rich in antioxidants and vitamins A and E, olive oil helps to seal in moisture and protects the hairs natural keratin and assist in hair growth.  The balsamic vinegar helps to add extra shine.

step 7:

Next add 1 teaspoon rosemary oil and 1 teaspoon cinnamon leaf oil.

Both rosemary and cinnamon leaf oil are used to stimulate healthy hair growth and increase circulation to the scalp.  They also add a nice warming, woody and relaxing fragrance to the hair mask.

Step 8:

For the final step add 2 teaspoons of the Bay leaf infusion you made earlier and add it to the mixture.  Use an electric blender to remove any remaining lumps...no one wants chunks of avocado left in their hair!

Pour the mask into an airtight container, add a label and store in the fridge for up to 5 days. After a couple of days the mask will start to lose its vibrant colour and turn a more unappealing brown, the oils may also start to separate from the mixture, so make sure to stir it well before use.

Although the mask does feel quite an unusual texture to apply,and the results weren't immediately obvious, after drying my hair it really did feel like it had done some good, leaving my hair super soft and shiny.  

As with the H'suan Wen Hua mask, I applied this to dry hair and left it on for about half an hour. Depending on your hair type and condition you can increase or reduce the time accordingly. Make sure to apply this over the bath as it can get a little messy!  I then went ahead and shampooed and conditioned my hair as normal. 

The ingredients of this mask are essentially food for your hair. Just as your body needs food in order to function properly and stay healthy, I feel we should also treat our hair in a similar way, providing essential proteins, vitamins and minerals for growth and healthy locks.