When it comes to keeping up with the growth and health of your hair, finding the right ingredients to support your goals is key. From retaining length to preventing breakage, sometimes the cost of maintenance can be an investment within itself. But there’s nothing wrong with getting a little crafty with our hair care concoctions, especially when you have the right ingredients to whip up a miracle hair mask of your own.
Hair masks have always been a go-to solution for repairing damaged hair strands, deep conditioning our hair, or simply being a mode of relaxation within our self-care ritual. While many brands offer hefty-priced jars of creams and treatments that can restore and strengthen our hair, DIY masks can be a cost-efficient alternative that offers the same conditioning, soothing, and corrective benefits as many store-bought products.
10 DIY Hair Masks for Hair Growth and Scalp Care
If you’re ready to start whipping up your own DIY hair care cocktails, we’ve got the best mixtures and combinations to try out.
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DIY Aloe Vera Hair Mask To Promote Hair Growth
Aloe vera is known for its numerous benefits for hair, including promoting hair growth, reducing dandruff, and adding shine and moisture. It contains enzymes that can help stimulate hair follicles while adding moisture and hydration to your hair, making it soft and manageable. Aloe vera's antibacterial and antifungal properties can help alleviate dandruff and an itchy scalp and contains vitamins and amino acids that can repair damaged hair and reduce breakage.
In order to make an aloe vera hair mask at home, take aloe vera gel and combine it with two tablespoons of olive oil or castor oil and an egg. Mix it until smooth. Once smooth, apply the paste mixture to your scalp for 20-25 minutes.
Coconut Oil And Cinnamon Hair Mask
A coconut oil and cinnamon hair mask may sound like the start of your favorite baked good, but the mixture can help promote hair health by providing nourishment and stimulating the scalp. With coconut oil fatty acids that penetrate the hair shaft, paired with cinnamon’s stimulating properties that promote blood circulation to the scalp and hair growth, this all-natural conditioner will leave your hair soft and smooth.
In order to make it, combine warmed coconut oil with a tablespoon of honey and two tablespoons of cinnamon. Mix until it becomes a thick paste. Apply it to your scalp and leave the mixture there for at least 20 minutes.
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DIY Deep Conditioning Moringa and Fenugreek Hair Growth Mask
Both fenugreek seeds and moringa have been the center of many recent hair growth trends, and for good reason. Together, this mask can be a natural remedy to improve growth and scalp health by reducing issues like itchiness and dryness. Fenugreek seeds contain compounds that may stimulate hair follicles, while moringa is rich in vitamins and minerals that support hair growth. Whip them together with a yogurt-based mask, and over time, your hair will be giving inches.
Brands like kCurlsys offer a deep conditioning smoothie featuring those nourishing ingredients as a part of their product line. If you want to make your own at home, YouTuber CRYSTAL MADUKA provided an in-depth tutorial on how to make your own moringa and fenugreek hair growth mask. You can find that tutorial here.
Deep Conditioning Rice and Avocado Hair Mask For Low Porosity Hair
When it comes to this hair mask, you can shop your refrigerator for all the ingredients you’ll need. A rice and avocado hair mask is a nourishing and moisturizing treatment that can help improve hair health and manageability due to avocado’s rich, healthy fats and vitamins that moisturize and condition the hair, leaving it soft and silky. Rice comes into play since it contains amino acids that can help strengthen the hair, reducing breakage.
To learn how to make this, YouTuber Chrissy Got The Coils has the perfect rice and avocado hair mask recipe that you can DIY here.
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DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Deep Conditioning Hair Mask Recipe
We may not love the smell of apple cider vinegar, but we absolutely adore what it can do to make our hair flourish. An ACV mask can help balance the pH of your scalp and remove product buildup and excess oil, all while promoting healthier, shinier hair.
The apple cider vinegar hair mask recipe calls for 1 ½ tablespoons of ACV, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, and two tablespoons of honey. Mix the ACV with the olive oil and honey and gently apply it to your hair for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water, and your hair will thank you.
Avocado And Banana DIY Hair Mask Recipe
If your hair is in need of some hydration and moisture, this DIY hair mask may be for you. Made up of avocado for its healthy fats and vitamins, along with bananas, which contain natural oils and vitamins, this duo will provide intense moisture to dry and damaged hair, leaving it soft and supple.
To make it, mix half of an avocado, half of a ripe banana, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and an egg to create a thick mixture. If needed, add some water to the paste. Apply the paste-like mixture to your hair and leave the mask on for at least 30 minutes, preferably with heat.
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Egg Yolk Nourishing Hair Mask Recipe
We know, we know. The thought of putting egg yolks into your hair may give you the ick, but if you knew some of the benefits, you might reconsider. An egg yolk hair mask is a natural and cost-effective way to improve the health and appearance of your hair. They are rich in proteins, particularly keratin, which is the primary structural component of hair and can help restore hair strands and reduce breakage.
According to Byrdie, a simple way to make a DIY egg yolk hair mask is by mixing two egg yolks and a tablespoon of mayonnaise together. Apply the mix to your hair and allow it to sit on your hair and scalp for 20 minutes.
DIY Castor Oil Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
For textured hair, in particular, castor oil is going to be your hair’s best friend. With castor oil’s ricinoleic acid, which has been shown to promote hair growth, added to your scalp, it’ll help stimulate dormant hair follicles, leading to thicker and longer hair over time.
Probably one of the simpler hair masks featured on this list; in order to make this one, just apply castor oil to the scalp and hair directly, from roots to ends. Leave the oil in your hair as a mask for two hours with heat before washing it out.
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DIY Olive Oil And Coconut Oil Hair Mask
For a deep conditioning and nourishing hair mask, we recommend one with olive oil and coconut oil. Coconut oil has become a bit controversial in the natural hair space, but as a mask, it still holds its weight. These oils contain essential nutrients that can strengthen hair strands, reducing breakage and split ends. Coconut oil has also been shown to reduce protein loss from hair, helping to maintain its structural integrity. So, if you want a more healthy scalp, this could be worth a try.
In order to make this DIY hair mask, combine one cup of warmed coconut oil and a 1/2 cup of olive oil. After mixing it together, apply the mixture to your hair as a mask. Leave it there for 45 minutes, or even overnight, if you want to wear it as an overnight deep conditioning hair mask.
Yogurt Hair Mask
One thing our hair loves is moisture, so trust us when we say that if your hair has been in need of it, a yogurt hair mask could be the answer you're looking for. Yogurt is rich in lactic acid, which helps moisturize and hydrate your hair, making it ideal for dry or damaged hair. It also contains protein, which helps repair and restore damaged hair. On the other side, yogurt is packed with natural probiotics that can serve as the perfect scalp treatment for reducing flakiness and dandruff.
Make your own yogurt hair mask at home by following YouTuber Yasser K's five-minute tutorial for making a yogurt hair mask here.
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The essence of effortless poise and refinement shines bright through the iconic university colors of indigo blue, red, and white. Every October, Howard University students, alumni, staff, and friends gather on the prestigious campus in Washington, D.C. to take part in time-honored traditions and events, which is Homecoming. This year's theme, “The Meccaverse,” was a week-long celebration of Howard University’s heritage, including the Homecoming football game and Bison Pep Rally, the Fashion Show, Greek Life Step Show, Homecoming Day of Service, Lavender Reception, and the iconic Yard Fest Concert.
As 2024 marked the 100th anniversary of the Howard Bison trek back to The Mecca and after two years of virtual events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was to be a celebration of a lifetime. We enlisted HU alumnus Sharmaine Harris, a luxury retail buyer, as she revisited her alma mater as eyes on the yard for fashion-forward outfits mixed with personal style and campus pride for the weeklong celebration.
Before we get to the looks, discover how attending Howard University impacted her career in fashion and her day-to-day style:
Credit: Sharmaine and Friends
xoNecole: Describe your personal style. Did attending Howard have any impact on developing it?
Sharmaine: Howard taught me that there’s no such thing as being TOO dressed. There’s always a reason to “put it on” and look presentable, even if it’s just for a day of classes. Standing out was celebrated and encouraged with my peers embracing the opportunity, giving me the confidence to try new styles and trends.
xoNecole: How did Howard shape your career as a luxury buyer?
Sharmaine: I studied Fashion Merchandising, through which I was fortunate to have professors who were very connected to the industry and able to give first-hand accounts of opportunities and what to expect post-college. I was also able to build a network through my peers and other Howard Alum, which has opened doors to endless possibilities both within fashion as well as daily life.
The same confidence instilled in me through my style has also been rooted deeply within me as I step into any role or project I’m faced with throughout my career.
xoNecole: This year marked Howard’s 100th-anniversary Homecoming celebration. Can you describe what the weekend looked and felt like?
Sharmaine: I’ve gone to many Howard Homecomings since graduating, but this year’s 100th anniversary felt like a huge family reunion filled with nothing but love. It was beautiful to see so many Bison return home looking great and radiating joy. It was beautiful!
xoNecole: What makes Howard fashion different from other HBCUs?
Sharmaine: Being that Howard is The Mecca, we have such a diverse population with each individual having their own spin on fashion. Getting dressed is second nature for us, but the layered confidence is our secret ingredient to make any look come together. Through that comfortability to push barriers, we have a legacy of setting trends, as indicated by the many alumni we have in the fashion and entertainment industry.
Keep scrolling for the top street style moments from The Mecca's Homecoming weekend:
Credit: Lacey Gallagher
Credit: Alan Henderson
Credit: JaLynn Davis
Credit: Dylan Davis
Credit: Caleb Smith
Credit: Kendall W.
Credit: Jordyn Finney
Credit: Vanessa Nneoma
Credit: Dr. Mariah Sankey-Thomas
Credit: Caleb MacBruce
Credit: Tiffany Battle
Credit: Teniola
Credit: Ilahi Creary
Credit: Nicolas Ryan Grant
Credit: Dylan Davis
Join us in celebrating HBCU excellence! Check out our Best In Class hub for inspiring stories, empowering resources, and everything you need to embrace the HBCU experience.
Featured image courtesy of Sharmaine Harris
Anyway, in my personal opinion, when it comes to sexual activity, there should also be etiquette that should be applied — you know, “rules of conduct” (or engagement) for how we should expect to be treated and how we choose to treat others. Because, even if you don’t hear about sex being presented in the form of needing to have manners, having a certain level of decorum, and/or requiring a mutual level of dignity, that should absolutely be the case.
And just like some of the lifestyle etiquette tips that I learned back in the day have stayed with me all of this time, it’s my hope that if you aren’t applying (or requiring) the following 10 sex etiquette suggestions (all 10 of ‘em too) that you will start…so that they will remain with you as well.
1. Discuss Sex-Related Things That Will Directly Impact Y’all’s Health
GiphyDoes even one day go by when someone on Instagram, X, or TikTok isn’t talking about why someone should or should not know another person’s body count (check out “6 Things About The Whole 'Body Count' Debate That Should Be Discussed”)? Although I have been known to say that the kind of things we’re proud of, we tend to brag about without hesitation, that doesn’t mean that I think people are owed that type of information.
That being said, that doesn’t mean I’m not aware that there is science to back up that the more sex partners men have, the more that they increase their chances for being diagnosed with cancer; that a higher amount of sex partners can impact whether or not you get married (and that it tends to lead to divorce more often as well), and that an uptick in partners can even increase your chance of becoming a substance abuser.
Not to mention the fact that, as Dwayne Wayne once said on A Different World episode (that featured a great performance by Tisha Campbell), “the longer the list, the greater the risk” (of contracting an STI/STD) — however, if we’re looking at this point from nothing more than a sexual one, really what someone deserves to know is if you’ve been tested for STI/STDs within the past 6-12 months and, if not, if you’re willing to get tested prior to having sex with them. Anything else really is privileged information and totally up to the individual to share — both directions too.
2. This Includes Afterplay. Beforehand.
GiphyChile. I can’t tell you how many times someone has told me that they found themselves either embarrassed or flat-out pissed about how a sexual experience went. It wasn’t because of the sex itself; it was more about how things were handled afterward. Now, if you’ve never seen the (wow) 35-year-old film When Harry Met Sally (Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan) before, there’s a scene where Billy Crystal’s character talks about men trying to figure out in their mind how long they should hold a woman after having sex with her.
To me, the modern version of this is after sex, when someone asks, “So, what are you about to do?” because that sounds like code for, “You ain’t got to go home but…” Listen, when two people have real feelings for each other and/or are in a long-term dynamic, this point is — or at least, should be — pretty irrelevant.
However, if you’re in a casual sex dynamic or a situationship, I promise you you're putting yourself in a position to “feel some type of way” if you merely assume that afterplay means cuddling all night long while he thinks it’s more like polite convo for 10 minutes and then bouncing (or vice versa). If you don’t want to be bedside blindsided, discuss beforehand how you each prefer to get down.
3. Ask Before Sexting
GiphyI don’t care if the two of you have never had sex before or if you’ve been doing it for a while at this point, but if sexting has never (pardon the pun) entered the chat, you both really should ask before you start sending NSFW stuff into each other’s devices. Some people don’t like it. Some people prefer to know when stuff like that is coming because they don’t want what is being said or shown to be exposed to those around them.
Some people prefer not to “shift gears” (as far as their energy field is concerned) when it comes to being in one mindset and all of a sudden receiving sex-related content that they weren’t prepared for. Believe it or not, there is data to support that the art of sexting can improve coitus overall. However, the same research says that it needs to transpire under the umbrella of mutual respect and clear communication. I agree 1000 percent.
4. No Means No. This Applies to Us Too, Ladies.
GiphyMedia culture can be so…irresponsible, sometimes. Since we’re talking about sex, specifically, today, take when it comes to men and sex. Contrary to popular belief, no, that is not all that they think about and no, they aren’t always in the mood — for a myriad of reasons. And that’s why, I think it also should go on record that just like it’s wrong for a man to try and push a woman past her “no,” women shouldn’t do it either.
It truly isn’t said enough that you shouldn’t simply call it seduction if a guy doesn’t want to and you keep trying to get him to anyway while defining it as coercion when the shoe is on the other foot. The saying “no means no” shouldn’t have a gender bias on it. Everyone should have their boundaries respected — at all times too. Full stop.
5. A Clean and Comfortable Scene
GiphyFresh bedding. A clean bathroom. A washcloth and towel for your partner. Flip-flops (to walk around and/or take a shower in). Lubricant. Bottled water. These are the kinds of things that immediately come to mind when I think of what should automatically come with someone spending intimate time in your home. It’s also what you should be fine with requiring should you choose to have sex at someone else’s house too.
Because even if there aren’t things like scented soy candles and a ton of ambiance, you and your partner at least need to feel like you both are in a space that is clean. This should be a hands-down non-negotiable, by the way.
6. Turn ALL Devices Off
GiphyI don’t know if this means that the sex is/was really wack or you’re just a phone addict in denial but if you are “one out of every five individuals” who checks their phone during sex, I’ve got a bevy of questions for you. SMDH. For this one, in general, though, I don’t have a lot more to say other than, I don’t know how anyone could think that checking their notifications during sex — any kind of sex — isn’t rude as hell and definitely a reason for someone to hard pass on wanting to “engage” with them ever again.
So yeah, for this one, let’s go with an automatic “all devices off” rule. Since most people only want sex to last somewhere between 7-13 minutes anyway (is that per round…or???), I’m pretty sure that whatever IG Live that you’ve been waiting on can wait. Goodness.
7. Have Your Own Stash of Condoms on Deck
GiphyAssuming that the guy should always bring the condoms is about as sexually irresponsible as a guy thinking that he doesn’t need them because the woman he’s about to have sex with should be on birth control. My point here is that you really need to have your own condom collection. One, so that you’re always prepared. Two, so that you can select the condoms that you prefer (most guys are totally fine with that). Three, no matter what you might think that it implies, mature folks get that it means you are serious about protecting your health and well-being.
And what if discretion is what you’re the most concerned about? No worries, there are all kinds of condom carriers out here that basically look like tiny wallets (for example, here).
8. Keep Cleansing Cloths Around
GiphyHygiene is important, is it not? Although going into graphic detail about it may be something that most people would want to avoid, sometimes sexual activity happens spontaneously with no bathroom close by. And listen, even if the movies act like (for instance) oral sex after getting all sweaty from dancing all night in the club is hot, my mind automatically goes to it being kinda gross. So, at least keep some rinse-free cleansing cloths on deck if you don’t want to wait until you can hop into a shower. A pack in your purse or glove compartment can go a really long way. Straight up.
9. Don’t Be a Show-Off
GiphyOne guy who I had sex with back when I was in college, I was so excited about — initially. At the time, he was fine, and then some mo’ fine. To be honest, although we were very cool and spent a couple of years on campus together before I — eh hem — indulged, the main reason why I wanted to sleep with him is because I thought that his looks were a preview of his performance level. Boy was I wrong. Any time I refer to our, umm, time together, I call it “Cirque du Soleil sex” and even that is being generous because that man was trying to put me into every twist and turn that he could in under 20 minutes.
It’s like he was trying to prove that he could hold it down…and all that ended up doing was backfiring — supremely so. Moral to the story here: sex should be about two people enjoying each other, not low-key trying to compete or “outdo” one another. Anyone who says otherwise is truly bringing poor form to the bedroom, whether they realize it or not.
10. Watch Your Words. Afterwards.
GiphyOn the heels of what I just said, if sex with your partner was pretty much the equivalent of watching paint dry, it’s still important to be thoughtful about what you say. Lack of empathy, being inconsiderate of their feelings, talking to them in a way that would damn near cause you to blow a gasket (or melt into the floor) if they did the same thing to you — all of this files under hella rude behavior.
And while we’re here, please watch your body language — you know, heavy sighs, eye-rolling, stonewalling…if you don’t want to have sex with them again, that is totally your right; that doesn’t mean that you have to humiliate them in the present, though. You know, A LOT of people carry their ego in the bedroom — male and female.
That’s why I write articles like “So, 10 Women Sat Down And Told Me Why They Fake Orgasms...More Times Than Not” and “Men Fake Orgasms (And 14 Other Semi-Random Things About Them In Bed).” So, whatever transpires, try to be kind and compassionate. Karma shows up, even in the bedroom. Make sure it’s proud of how you handled yourself. One way or another, you’ll be glad that you did.
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Sex etiquette. As you can see, it’s a very real and necessary thing. I’m curious, though. When you get a chance, hop in the comments to share some other “copulation manners” that you think are important, along with how you handle matters when they are missing or go awry. Hey, when it comes to having better sexual experiences, we’re all in this together.
Kinda. Sort of. You know what I mean. LOL.
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