Have you ever seen a DIY project on Pinterest that looked amazing? And, then you tried it, and it was a total flop? It seems that “Pinterest fails” are everywhere these days!
Yet, there are some DIY projects that are actually worth it. They are easy, money-saving, and really work.
This year I am on a mission to find those projects for you. I will be tackling one frugal DIY project each month in order to let you know how they really work. I am letting myself (and in some cases, my family!) be the guinea pig in a new My Frugal DIY Experiments series.
Here is what we have done so far in 2016:
January- Homemade Glass Cleaner
February-Coconut Oil Face Soap
March–Homemade Taco Seasoning
April–(Because of Lent and Holy Week I didn’t get a Frugal Experiment finished)
DIY Coconut Oil and Honey Hair Mask
I think that the homemade beauty products are going to be my favorite projects this year! I absolutely loved (and still use) the Coconut Oil Face Soap that I tried out in February. So, I was really excited to try this homemade hair mask.
Here are the steps for a coconut oil and honey hair mask:
Step One: Buy good quality, organic coconut oil.
-I just bought this kind at my local grocery store. I purchased the 12 ounce version (currently $7.16). However, when I buy another carton, I will get the 54 ounce version (currently $16.99). The 54 ounce carton is definitely a MUCH better bargain!
Step Two: Wet your hair.
-The mask will work either on dry or wet hair, but I found wet hair to have the best results.
Step Three: Mix ingredients.
-Mix together 1 Tbsp of coconut oil and 1 Tbsp of honey
-You can increase the amounts if you have long or thick hair, or if your hair is dry and damaged.
Step Four: Rub into hair.
-Rub mask mixture into hair evenly.
-Pay special attention to any dry or damaged spots and the ends.
-Put hair up into a bun.
Step Five: Wait 30 minutes
-Relax for 30 minutes! You can read, give yourself another spa treatment, or watch a television episode.
-I did a couple of my Frugal DIY Spa Treatments. I haven’t treated myself to them for awhile, so it was really fun!
Step Six: Wash hair thoroughly
-Completely wash hair with your regular shampoo and conditioner routine
-Now you’re finished!
The Experiment
I was really looking forward to this experiment. My hair isn’t particularly damaged, but it had been looking a bit dry and brittle lately. I wanted to find something simple (and frugal!) that could naturally moisturize it.
I found the entire process to be REALLY easy. Because the mask only has two ingredients (which I already had on hand!), making it took less than 30 seconds. For a busy mama of little ones, that is huge.
The mask also smelled good and is completely nontoxic (and even edible!). Over the past couple of years I have become more and more aware of all of the harsh chemicals that are in our home, our diet, and our daily products. When given a chance to try an all-natural version of something, I’ll take it!
I am glad that I decided to try the mask. Though I didn’t see any miraculous results, my hair did look softer and shinier in the morning. I read that best results happen with consistent use–up to three times a week. I think I will try using it once a week for awhile to see what happens.
The Breakdown: Is It Worth It?
In this series, I evaluate each DIY project by three criterion:
- Does it Work?
- Is it Easy?
- Is it Frugal?
If the answer to any of those questions is “no,” then I don’t think the project is worth it.
Does It Work?
Yes. While not a “miracle cure,” I believe the mask does bring results. I will add this caveat: If your hair is damaged from blow drying, coloring, etc. you should probably use more of it to get the results that you want.
Is It Easy?
Definitely! This may be the simplest DIY project I’ve done for this series.
Is It Frugal?
Yes. Based on the small amount of each ingredient used, I estimate the cost of the mask to be around 25 cents. Similar hair products cost around $13 on Amazon, so assuming that you already have coconut oil and honey on hand, this is by far a more frugal option.
Final Verdict: Coconut Oil and Honey Hair Mask is a frugal, simple, and effective way to moisturize your hair!
Have you ever made your own hair product? What did you make? How did it work?
(Linked to Thrifty Thursday.)
(This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and purchase a product, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Orthodox Mama.)
