Avocado Hair Masks: 7 DIY Recipes

Avocados taste great on toast, work well in salads, and are delicious when paired with chips. But what if we told you that the superfood was also an amazing hair treatment? While using avocados for hair may seem strange, the buzzy health food can be a great source of amino acids and vitamins B and E, all of which are known to promote strong, healthy locks, according to celebrity hairstylist Dominick Pucciarello and board-certified trichologist Dr. Kari Williams.

So why apply a mask instead of eating the delicious fruit? According to our experts, using an avocado conditioning mask can instantly transform your dry, frizzy strands into smooth, silky locks. To reap the many benefits of avocados for hair, we asked Pucciarello and Williams to tell us their favorite at-home avocado hair mask recipes. Keep scrolling for some of the best DIY avocado hair masks to keep your hair shiny and moisturized.

Moisturizing Mask

If you tend to have dry hair, Pucciarello recommends a conditioning avocado mask containing one ripe avocado, one tablespoon Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil ($7), and one egg yolk. Egg yolks, as opposed to egg whites, are proven to promote hair growth. To make the mask, whisk the egg to a frothy liquid, stir in the coconut oil, and add the finely mixed avocado. When combined, apply the mask to towel dry hair from roots to ends. Cover with a plastic cap and let the mask sit for 10 to 20 minutes. Shampoo and condition as usual. When dry, your hair should feel strong and moisturized, thanks to the combination of the avocado and egg yolk.

Hair Growth Mask

To make a mask that promotes hair growth, Pucciarello recommends combining vitamin B-rich ripe avocado, with one tablespoon rosemary oil, which is known to stimulate growth from the hair follicle. Next, add one tablespoon coconut oil to repair hair and one whisked egg yolk to promote hair growth. Apply to damp or dry hair, cover with a plastic cap, and let sit for 10 to 20 minutes. Shampoo and condition as normal.

Shine Mask

If you aren't interested in applying avocado straight to your hair, try an avocado oil mask instead. Williams recommends avocado oil because "The molecular structure of avocado oil allows it to penetrate the hair shaft and moisturize the hair. Avocado oil is rich in fatty acids that nourish the hair strand from the inside out. This oil strengthens the hair, promotes hair growth, and adds shine."

To make this shiny hair mask, combine a tablespoon of Now Foods Avocado Oil ($12) with a tablespoon of coconut oil. Looking for strength as well as shine? Throw a whisked egg yolk into the mix. When the mask is complete, apply the mixture to dry hair from roots to ends. Cover with a plastic cap and let sit for 10 to 20 minutes. Wash and condition your hair.

Deep Conditioning Mask

If your hair needs an ultra-conditioning treatment, this coconut oil and avocado mask is for you. Blend avocado with coconut oil until you get a smooth paste. Apply to hair, leave on for 20 to 30 minutes, and rinse with warm water, then follow up with shampoo and conditioner. Williams says, "This simple DIY avocado mask combines the benefits of coconut oil with avocado. Although there is no scientific research to support the benefits of raw avocado, there is plenty of research that supports the benefits of coconut oil on the hair. Coconut oil has a molecular structure that allows it to penetrate the hair shaft increasing moisture in the hair, reducing protein loss in hair strands, which helps keep the hair strong."

Nourishing Scalp Mask

Dry, itchy scalp? Make a 1/2 cup of oatmeal (let it cool, of course), then blend with half of a fresh avocado. Williams has a few tips for applying a DIY mask. She recommends, "First apply it to damp hair before shampooing. If the hair or scalp has a lot of product build-up or dirt, start the process by shampooing the hair with a clarifying shampoo. If not, use warm water to rinse the hair so the cuticle can swell. This allows for better absorption of the nutrients into the hair strand. Towel dry the hair, then apply the avocado mask. Cover the hair with a plastic cap and leave the mask on for 20-30 minutes."

Damage Repair Mask

Have a bunch of bananas that are about to go bad? Don't worry; you can whip up this damage repair mask instead. Take one half of a very ripe banana, one egg, one tablespoon of olive oil, half an avocado, and blend with some water. Once you get a smooth consistency, smooth over your hair, cover with a plastic cap, and leave on for 30 minutes. "Use warm water to rinse the mask from the hair and [follow] up with a moisturizing shampoo," says Williams. "Repeat the shampoo process two to three times until you have removed all of the avocado mask from the hair."

Strong Hair Mask

The recipe for this mask was made famous by none other than rapper and Grammy winner Cardi B herself. She touted this particular concoction as her miracle hair growth and strengthening mask. To make it, get yourself one avocado, honey, black castor oil, mayo, two eggs, argan oil, and a banana. Blend this mix up until it resembles a smoothie, and slather it on your hair. As with the other masks, leave on for 20 to 30 minutes and follow up with your regular shampoo and conditioner.