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Conditioning your hair with Mayonnaise

It’s one of the worst days a woman can have: A bad, frizzy, unattractive hair day and no time and / or money to buy an intensive conditioner or have it fixed at the salon. Most would cringe and pray that this hair catastrophe would not happen. But like change, this is inevitable. What’s a woman going to do when disaster strikes? Fret no more, dear ladies, because an abundant and affordable hair treatment is readily available in the most unlikely place for beauty products: your fridge. The unassuming icebox holds one of the best kept secrets in bad hair day remedies – the yummy, creamy mayonnaise.

Disgusting it may seem to some, but a multitude of mayonnaise believers are almost everywhere. Older ladies in the family swear by it, and even celebrities believe in its wonder; sexy Latina singer/actress Thalia has divulged in an interview that she keeps her luscious locks healthy with regular home treatments of mayonnaise. But what is it about this kitchen table favorite that goes from dipping, salad dressing and sandwich flavoring to intensive hair conditioning? Let’s explore on the real identity of this yummy and useful treat.

History in a jar: Parlez-vous Francais?

A rich and creamy mixture of whole eggs, oil, vinegar or lemon juice and salt, mayonnaise was invented by an unknown French chef during the Seven Years’ War during the 18th century. When the French captured the English fort St. Philip at Port Mahon of the Minorca Island, a victory banquet was held for Colonel Rochambeau. It was told that the chef was supposed to create the traditional cream and eggs sauce, but there was no available cream in the kitchen and getting one would mean a long wait. As necessity is the mother of invention, the chef whipped out a new sauce made with olive oil and eggs; it was named Mahonnaise in honor of the Colonel’s victory. The spelling was later changed to present-day Mayonnaise and made it to the American kitchen table by 1905. Currently, modern mayonnaise is usually made up of at least 65% oil by weight, vinegar / lemon juice, egg / egg yolks. Spices and natural seasonings may be added to enhance flavor and Calcium Disodium EDTA is also added to protect from spoilage (US FDA standards). 

The white and right stuff

Now that you know its history and substance makeup, let’s see what factors made this creamy food a treat for our hair:
Oil – Since this is the largest volume of ingredient in mayo, this is entirely responsible for the moisture-giving properties due to the essential fatty acids it contains. Basically, it is always more beneficial if oils used are natural / plant-based, like Soybean or Olive because this is likely to be more hypo-allergenic than synthetic or animal fats.
Eggs – The other vital ingredient, this protein-heavy product is a good source of minerals and vitamins that provide nourishment to the hair. Plus, it helps in the moisture retention from the greasy texture of the albumin, or egg white.
Lemon juice / vinegar – the Ph-balance of the substance keeps the hair from being damaged and ensures the safety of the substance when applied to the roots and tips.
Other substances found in the mixture from the ingredients are a bit of sulfur and Keratin, which are essential for maintaining, strong and healthy hair.

DIY: the mayo experience

To experience this wonderful hair moisturizer, you need to prepare at least two full tablespoons of mayonnaise (use the real stuff and steer away from modified variations such as Miracle Whip or fat-free varieties; the label should read Real Mayonnaise) – this is the minimum amount for chin length hair. Use more for longer hair as the goal here is to fully coat each strand and nourish the roots; some cling wrap or a shower cap to cover your entire hair and some hot towels (for intense conditioning). Treatment starts by massage the mayonnaise for a few minutes until the whole hair is fully moisturized. Then hair should be wrapped with cling wrap or shower cap and left for approximately 15-20 minutes. Put on the hot towels after the prescribed time then and let sit for 30 minutes more. After which, rinse the hair thoroughly with warm water then shampoo as usual. Use cold water for the final rinsing to seal off the cuticle and moisture.

The result? Shinier, softer, stronger and healthier hair that’s smooth to touch without the harmful chemicals that commercial products usually include in their ingredients. Aside from being expensive, did you know that most bought conditioners contain alcohol, a substance that usually strips off moisture? Imagine this ripping off much needed moisture; no wonder it keeps our hair dry after a few washings. Also, pediatricians are recommending mayonnaise for killing lice and nits in kids’ hairs.

The next time you are faced with damaged hair from perms, straightening, coloring and other hair-stressing products, rush to the fridge and get that creamy, yummy wonder in a jar and have moisturized, healthy hair at no cost.