When I got the bold idea to cut off all my hair, I experienced a freedom I had never known before. I eagerly tossed my flat and curling irons. With my new look, I could leave my apartment with only a moment's notice, which meant an amazing 40 extra minutes of sleep every morning during the week. But, as soon as it started to grow back, I immediately longed to see it get bigger and more offensive in size to my parents and bosses. The only fear I had? Being in my 70s before I started to see any substantial growth!
Whether you have straight hair or are a curly girl like myself, having a short haircut can be the best feeling ever. It's only when you start becoming bored of the cropped style or feel a sudden surge of long-hair envy that your easy look becomes stale and you long to shake your locks on the dance floor again. When I got to my "in-between" phase where my hair just looked all types of confused, I was desperate to find that secret paraben-free ingredient that would make my hair grow as fast as possible.
My favorite helper? Jojoba (pronounced ha-ho-ba), a shrub native to Southwest America and Northern Mexico, which has been used for centuries by Native Americans to treat skin wounds by way of the wax derived from the seed of a jojoba plant. This wax produces an oil similar to what our scalp and skin naturally produce, while remaining non-greasy. Since it's hyper-allergenic, it won't clog your pores or irritate your scalp. Our hair and skin go through a lot in any given day, whether it's shampooing, dying, or just waltzing around the humid city air, so it's important to put the oil stripped BACK into your scalp so your hair follicles can stay active and your locks can grow at a healthy speed. Jojoba is antiseptic, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory, which means this nearly odorless oil can also promote moisturized and acne-free skin!
The only bummer about this oil is the price. Jojoba tends to be more costly than other skin-saving oils. Still, it's also used in so many over-the-counter conditioners and skin cleansers that you'll definitely be saving dough by picking up your own oil supply at your local vitamin shop or grocery.
Ready to get growing? These are just a few of my favorite recipes with jojoba oil that helped grow my hair.
Deep Conditioner (Co-wash)
This is one of my fave DIY conditioners to use in between washes. Here's what you'll need: one creamed avocado, jojoba oil, and a few dashes of tea tree oil. The avocado will give your conditioner a nice creamy base and the fatty acids in the avocado will soften your hair while the jojoba oil will work its way into your scalp, promoting longer locks. The antiseptic compounds in the tea tree and jojoba oil make this an ideal for a cleansing deep conditioner. This is my ultimate jam for detangling curls!
Hot Oil Treatment
Nothing says 'I love you' to your hair like a hot oil treatment. My favorite hot oil treatment is three parts coconut oil and one part jojoba oil. I like to make a big batch all at once so it's already prepared for me on those lazy days when I need a treatment desperately. Add a few drops of lavender oil for an incredibly soothing scent and massage your new mask into wet hair, making sure to pay special attention to your roots and ends. Wrap your hair in a hot towel and go about your business for about 20 minutes, then rinse. An alternative is to put a shower cap on your damp hair and blast it with a dryer for 15 minutes. Use this treatment before detangling, shampooing or conditioning.
Jojoba Oil & Beer Conditioner
If you've eliminated beer from your diet due to its high calories and havoc it wreaks on your stomach the next day, get ready to introduce it back into your life. Beer is actually great for hair, adding body to limp locks and providing incredible shine. This works best on freshly washed hair by using a can of warm lager (try not get fancy with your beer choice or this DIY conditioner will start to cost serious bucks) and adding about an ounce of jojoba oil. Rinse well with warm water and get ready for the hair compliments to roll on in.
