Prepare a softener with oatmeal for hair and a dry shampoo at home

With only two ingredients and in a very short time you can prepare a vegan capillary smoothing cream. But this is not the only thing ... With this recipe, in addition to softening your hair at the time of application, you will be treating it, since oats have multiple properties, both for the hair fiber and for the scalp.

Oats have beneficial properties for hair

From a nutritional point of view, oats are a cereal that stands out for its richness in fiber, slow-absorbing carbohydrates, proteins and glutamic acid.

Once ingested, with a rich muesli, for example, glutamic acid is transformed by the body into the amino acid glutamine, very beneficial for the hair because it promotes the formation of keratin and collagen, two essential elements for the formation and growth of hair and body tissues.

It also contains minerals (such as calcium, sulfur, zinc, iron, magnesium), vitamin E and B vitamins, which also participate in hair development.

Its mucilages are natural softeners

But for hair care, we are especially interested in its mucilages. What are mucilages? and what do they do to your hair?

Mucilages are a type of fiber that is present in some vegetables (flax, chia, agar, oats) and that works as a natural thickener. In the case of oats, mucilages also have softening properties.

The essential difference between the mucilages of flax or chia compared with those of oats, is that in the first two, when hydrated, they acquire a more gelatinous consistency, while in the case of oats, when mixed with starch, They offer a creamy texture.

It is easy to filter the mucilage of oats and obtain a substance similar to commercial softeners and masks, but without the long list of petroleum-derived ingredients, many of them harmful. Your softener recipe with oatmeal water

Oat water is the liquid resulting from the cooking of oat flakes in water. It is rich in mucilages and starches that calm the scalp and soften the hair. To make it at home you need:

• 3 tablespoons of oatmeal

• 3 glasses of water

• A fine strainer or a stocking

• A glass jar with lid

Elaboration

• First put the oats in soak a couple of minutes. You will see that it releases a kind of foam, composed largely of saponins that drag dirt from the hair. Therefore, if we made a homemade shampoo, we would not rinse the oats to avoid losing this component.

• Put the oats and three glasses of water in a saucepan, bring to a boil and keep cooking for about 10 minutes or until the water acquires a creamy texture.

• With the help of a colander (or the average), filter the cream obtained, let it cool and ... voila! your soothing cream is ready to use.

• You can add a few drops (3 maximum) of lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) to confer regenerative, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, bactericidal and soothing properties. Lavender is suitable for all skin types and leaves a soft aroma.

How to make your own dry oatmeal shampoo

If you liked the softener, you will also like to prepare a dry shampoo. It has always happened to all of us that we do not have the time or possibility to wash our hair when we need it. On these occasions it is very useful to have a dry shampoo on hand. You will need to:

• 2 tablespoons of oat flakes

• 2 tablespoons of baking soda

• A blender, crusher or coffee grinder

• A container with a lid

Elaboration

• Put the oatmeal in the blender and beat until it is pulverized.

• Once you have obtained flour texture, throw it in the pot where you will store it, add the two tablespoons of baking soda and stir well. You already have your shampoo dry.

• To use it you only have to apply it on the scalp, massage gently for a couple of minutes and then brush to make it fall.

• You will see your hair lighter, less greasy, clean.

Sodium bicarbonate absorbs excess grease and odors (it is also antimicrobial), while oats will prevent the hair fiber from drying out and will calm the irritation of the scalp.