Cold winter air dries out more than your skin—your hair needs some TLC this time of year, too

At-home hair masks, made from kitchen ingredients like eggs, avocado and mayo, were what spurred beauty entrepreneur Samira Asemanfar, founder of LA’s multi-location nail salon Bellacures, to create TheBroot, the new hair mask studio in Santa Monica that specializes in nourishing a range of hair ailments from slow growth and dry or brittle strands to thinning and dull locks with custom hair masks. “Just like we feed our bodies vitamins, our follicles like vitamins, too! It is important to not only nourish from the inside but also from the outside,” says Asemanfar, who began masking at home with her mother at an early age.

“Banana and avocado are the more potent of the ingredients we use,” she adds. “They do everything from repair the follicle to soften it, but they behave differently with different hair types.” TheBroot’s ingredient list also includes honey, loaded with iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium and vitamin B-6, to hydrate; mayo, which reduces frizz, keeps hair growing and gives the scalp a little boost with vitamins A, B-12 and E; protein-filled egg that improves hair’s strength, shine and volume; and also a trio of oils (coconut, jojoba and argan) to moisturize and strengthen while eliminating dandruff.

Although Asemanfar swears by banana (“It does wonders for me—thickens my hair and gives it bounce and shine.”), she notes coconut oil is a top ingredient for at-home use. “You cannot go wrong with the application or the rinse-out, and it guarantees a moisturizing experience.” (For those who don’t love to DIY, Privé’s Intensive Mask and Moroccanoil’s Restorative Hair Mask are great alternatives.) The beauty guru encourages masking once a week because “winter dries us out. Masking can help rehydrate and lock in moisture and nutrients.” And, while your hair-mask formula may change with the seasons depending on your needs, the frequency shouldn’t. “Much like any healthy regimen (i.e. exercise), commitment is key for long-term benefits. Everyone needs a little nourishment for their hair!”

For an easy DIY hair mask at home, mix up Asemanfar’s rehydrating hair mask recipe:

Ingredients:

- 1/2 avocado

- 1/4 cup of mayonnaise

- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil

- 1 tablespoon of olive oil

- About 1 tablespoon of honey

- 2 oz. of water

Mix ingredients in a blender. Apply and leave on for 30-45 minutes—15-20 minutes with a thermal heat cap. Rinse out, then wash hair with shampoo, thoroughly removing all of the mixture from the hair. Apply conditioner and then do a final rinse with water. Voilà!