The dried bark of an evergreen tree, known in botany as Ceylon Brown Cinnamon, produces a pleasant sweetish aroma that stimulates the human sense of smell. Due to this, cinnamon is used in cooking and perfumery. But the spice has a powerful healing potential, so it is also used in official and traditional medicine.
The benefits of cinnamon hair
In cosmetology, cinnamon serves as a component of therapeutic masks and other compositions for healing the skin and hair. The properties of the spice for the second goal are known to a lesser extent, but the use of cinnamon for hair is undeniable. These include the following effects:
- Intensive nutrition of the hair bulb;
- "Sealing" keratin scales and smoothing the rough structure of the hair;
- Making the curls shine, the return of natural turgor;
- Restoration and hydration of dry and lifeless hair;
- Stimulation of blood flow to the scalp.
The spice also has a warming and local irritating effect, thereby improving blood circulation and increasing the rate of metabolic processes in the scalp. Due to this, the regeneration of damaged hair occurs much faster.
Application features
Exotic spice can dramatically improve the condition and appearance of the hair, but only with the correct use of masks based on it. Features of the use of cinnamon for the treatment and cosmetic hair care include several items, namely:
- If the structure of the hair is damaged especially hard, the use of cinnamon masks can aggravate the situation. To begin with, it is necessary to introduce the ingredient into the composition of the masks in micro doses, and when the condition of the hair improves, use more impressive portions;
- For the manufacture of masks suitable as cinnamon sticks, and powder. However, in the first case, you will have to chop the dried bark of the cinnamon tree yourself. If you buy a spice bag, pay attention to the fact that in its composition there were no additional inclusions and components;
- Masks do on based on cinnamon powder or cinnamon essential oil. The first option is considered more effective;
- The best "foreign" ingredients mixed into masks based on butter or cinnamon powder are honey, egg yolk, kefir, vegetable oils, banana or other fruits or vegetables (apple, pear, pumpkin pulp, etc.);
- The mask with cinnamon is usually prepared immediately before use and is not stored in the refrigerator. The remedy should be fresh;
- Do not mix the spice-based mask in metal utensils: this can lead to an undesirable chemical reaction;
- Some people have idiosyncrasy of cinnamon. In order not to provoke an allergic reaction, apply a small amount of spices soaked in water on the skin at the bend of the elbow, wash off after 15 minutes and observe the treated area for 6-8 hours. If redness and itching is not observed, feel free to use spice to prepare a mask;
- Cinnamon blends have a rather aggressive composition, therefore put on unwashed hair. Before the procedure, you should only slightly wet them. So that the tips of your hair are not too dry, apply any vegetable oil on them before the mask. The mixture itself is distributed over the scalp and curls with a brush;
- The average time of keeping the mask with cinnamon is 25-30 minutes. If this causes a strong, intolerable feeling of burning or itching, or another uncomfortable symptom, immediately wash off the composition from the hair. For therapeutic effect enough 8 - 10 sessions;
- When washing your hair after a mask, it is useful to rinse your hair with herbal infusions. The best options are considered to be a decoction of nettle, burdock root, chamomile infusion, decoction of lime, etc.
Cinnamon masks are used not only to restore and strengthen hair, but also to get rid of the undesirable shade obtained by dyeing and lightening curls.
Cinnamon Hair Mask Recipes
There are a huge number of folk and cosmetic recipes to improve the quality of hair, in which the key component of the composition is cinnamon powder or cinnamon essential oil. Their goal is to achieve different effects, namely:
- Lightening and alignment of hair tone;
- Strengthening hair follicles, reducing the number of hair falling out;
- Decreased sebum production;
- Making the curls shine and natural elasticity;
- Growth stimulation;
- Moisturizing and nutrition.
Before you apply the mask with cinnamon, read the instructionsto make the procedure as efficient as possible:
- Lightly moisten hair to reveal keratin scales: this way the composition penetrates the hair structure faster;
- The mask is applied to the comb-separated strands. Use a brush or cotton swab for this;
- After applying the composition, comb the strands so that the mass lies evenly;
- You can collect hair bundle, it is convenient and will allow to wrap them with a film. Then put a hat on your head or wrap it with a towel;
- After 30 - 40 minutes, wash off the mask. Do not hold the mixture longer than indicated in the recipe, otherwise you can provoke an allergic reaction on the scalp;
- Washing away the composition, use decoctions of herbs and be sure to apply a nourishing balm after washing.
We offer several of the most effective recipes for cinnamon hair masks, designed for different therapeutic purposes.
Mask for lightening hair
To achieve a lighter shade of hair, which is 1 - 2 tones different from your natural color, you can not only in the expensive salon. It is not necessary to expose the hair to artificial chemicals, you can use natural remedies.
To clarify the curls at home is widely used mask with cinnamon and honey. Cook it easy. Take natural honey and mix it with one-to-one cinnamon powder.
The number of products used is determined individually depending on the length of your hair, but the finished mask should not be too liquid, otherwise it will flow down. To start heat the honey in a water bath and only then pour spice into it. Stir the ingredients until a homogeneous mixture, cool it a little and apply to the hair along the entire length. The mask must be kept warm to accelerate a chemical reaction. After about 40-50 minutes, wash your hair without shampoo.
To strengthen and nourish the roots
Often the hair becomes depleted and neglected due to the fact that the roots lack enough nutrition.
Strengthen hair follicles and bulbs by using a special stimulating mask based on cinnamon powder and black pepper powder. This is a warming composition, the application of which contributes to increased blood circulation in the scalp.
Two tablespoons of cinnamon mixed with a teaspoon of pepper powder and diluted with warm water to a mushy consistency.
The mask is applied only to the roots: to reduce burning, you can add a spoonful of olive oil. Keep the product on your hair for no longer than 15 minutes, otherwise you risk scalp burns. Wash off the mask with cool water and apply conditioner on the strands. Repeat the procedure every two weeks.
From falling out
Mix in the following proportions the following ingredients:
- Burdock oil - 3 tablespoons;
- Raw yolk;
- Honey (2 tbsp.);
- Cinnamon - one teaspoon.
Honey mixed with other products should be liquid and slightly heated in a water bath. When applying the mask on the hair, massage the scalp with your fingers for 3 to 5 minutes. Then put a shower cap on your head and wrap a warm thick towel on top. After 30 minutes, wash your hair with foamed shampoo and brush the tips with nourishing oil. The procedure is carried out for 1 - 1.5 months every 7 - 9 days.
To accelerate growth
Many girls can not decide whether to grow their curly curls or in one instant lose their long hair, waving their scissors. If you want to wear extravagant hairstyles and change them as often as possible, it will not hurt to help your hair by stimulating their faster growth with intensive nutrition. One of the effective ways is activating hair growth cinnamon mask. The second component of the miraculous composition is ripe banana pulp.
Pound one ripe fruit with a fork and add 2 teaspoons of cinnamon powder to the mass. Do not throw the peel, it is still useful. Apply the mask to wet hair and, shaking the head with a film, wait half an hour. Then wash your head with warm water without shampoo and rinse your hair with a decoction of banana peel. About ten masks repeated every 5 to 7 days are enough for hair to grow faster.
For oily and normal hair
Hair, hanging "icicles", are a sign of untidiness and are perceived in society as a bad form. But what to do if the head becomes dirty already a day after washing, and no measures help to get rid of this unpleasant phenomenon? To reduce the production of sebum - sebum, the product of the glands of external secretion - which is to blame for the fact that hair gets fat quickly, special masks are used.
There are many similar recipes, but we offer mask based on cinnamon and lemon. To make it, mix 10 g of cinnamon powder with lemon juice. Apply the mixture onto the scalp and distribute to the middle of the hair length. Handling tips is optional. After 20-25 minutes, rinse hair with cool water. A refreshing mask is used 1 - 2 times a week before washing the head.
For volume
To give curls pomp and volume structure, prepare a mask using the following components:
- Olive oil (a quarter cup);
- White honey or buckwheat (2 tbsp. L.);
- Fresh cucumber, peeled;
- Cinnamon - 1 dessert spoon;
- Raw egg yolk.
Grate the cucumber on a fine grater and mix with the other ingredients, adding the cinnamon last. Rub the mass into the root zone of the hair and hold it for half an hour. Then wash off the mask with warm water, adding a little shampoo. After that, do not dry your hair with a hairdryer, but blot them with a towel and wait until they dry naturally. You will notice how voluminous they became after the first procedure.
For dry and brittle hair
The dried bark of the Chinese Brown Bird gives a good effect for moisturizing and nourishing dry hair when combined with milk. Preparing such a nutritional mask is easy. Take a tablespoon of cinnamon powder and cover it with warm, fatty milk in such proportion that the mixed powder turns into a liquid slurry. The consistency should be such that when applied to the hair mass does not flow.
Massage into the scalp and spread along the length of the strands. Put a plastic cap on your hair and wrap a warm scarf or towel on top. After 30 minutes, wash off the cinnamon mask and be sure to moisten the tips with a nourishing balm. Repeat the procedure every 5 - 7 days during the month.
Are there any contraindications to the use of cinnamon in cosmetology?
Cinnamon is a natural product, so there are few contraindications to its use for cosmetic purposes. But still its use can cause a number of side effects. The chemical composition of the substance contains an ester of hydroxy-acids coumarin, which, when applied externally in large quantities, can provoke a headache.
The strong spicy aroma of the spice sometimes causes an increased activation of the smell area, the development of cerebral vascular spasms and, as a result, headaches. Do not make masks based on cinnamon in the presence of second and third degree hypertension.
Cinnamon has an anticoagulant effect, so its It is not recommended to apply on the scalp in the presence of open injuries, cuts and scratchesotherwise there is a risk of bleeding. If a person has been diagnosed with hemophilia (chronic bleeding due to low blood clotting), the use of cinnamon carries a potential threat.
Since the substance may cause a burning sensation during application, its do not use for dermatological diseases of the scalp, including psoriasis, neurodermatitis, eczema, etc. Also, the use of cinnamon is not possible when using a number of pharmaceutical preparations (you should consult with the doctor who prescribed the treatment).
