Here’s something your favorite hair product brands don’t want you to know: you don’t need to spend big bucks to achieve thick, healthy “is-she-wearing-extensions?!” kind of hair.

The key to healthy hair isn’t in the dollars you drop for shampoos and serums, it’s in the consistency of your hair care routines. Contrary to what hair companies would want you to believe, your ordinary pantry staples can just be as effective as their newest variant of conditioner, at a fraction of the cost, and less exposure to chemical preservatives.

Before attempting any of these home remedies that date back to your grandmother’s teenage years, you have to manage your expectations.

These homemade concoctions won’t transform your hair overnight (to be honest, no product works that fast, no matter how expensive it is), but if you treat your hair with care and religiously apply these DIY treatments to hair, you’ll definitely notice your strands feeling healthier, looking smoother, and becoming denser in time.

Now that we have that caveat covered, it’s time to head to the kitchen to prepare some yummy treats for your thirsty locks!

Avocado

Avocado is filled with the kind of good-for-you fat that doubles as great hair moisturizers. When hair is moisturized, the cuticle is smoothened out and each hair strand is coated with a protective barrier that allows it to repair itself, while shielding it from external elements.

Avocado is also teeming with vitamins A, B and E, which when deposited inside the hair cuticle, jumpstart repairing of split ends and dry strands.

To create an avocado hair mask, take half an avocado and mash is until it creates a thick paste (you can mix it with milk and blend it on pulse for 30 seconds – it’s quicker). This hair treatment is best applied before you take your morning shower.

Massage gently onto the scalp, making sure to spread the mashed fruit from roots to tips. Cover with a shower cap, and let it sit for about 15 minutes to give hair the chance to drink in the moisture. After removing avocado, rinse hair and wash with shampoo and conditioner.

Eggs

Eggs might as well be nature’s hair vitamin, since it contains so many of the components that your hair needs to be strong, healthy, and fast-growing. The high amount of protein in eggs help repair brittle hair strands while also strengthening the roots of your hair so it doesn’t fall off as easily. The high fat content in eggs help with moisturizing, and the sulfur and Vitamin B12 in eggs, speed up hair growth too.

To apply, take a couple of eggs (dependent on hair length) and beat until frothy. Apply this mask to hair and cover with a shower cap while you do an errand or two. After 10 – 15 minutes, rinse of the egg from your hair with lukewarm water and a clarifying shampoo. For the best results, apply this to hair at least twice a week.

Onion

A couple of extra onions doesn’t only add a kick to your kitchen recipes, it aids in hair growth too. We have the high sulfur content in onion to thank for this effect. Sulfur aids in the production of collagen tissues that are necessary for hair growth. The sooner follicles get access to collagen, the faster they can start with the hair growing process.

To use onions on your hair, make sure to use red onions only, shallots also count. Grate 2-4 onions (based on hair length), and extract it’s juices. Indulge in a quick scalp massage by slatering on the onion juice into the hair. Leave on for at least 15 minutes to an hour. To get rid of the smell, rinse your hair with a clarifying shampoo and tepid water.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Hair grows best when its at optimal conditions, and this includes maintaining the proper pH balance of the scalp. Apple Cider Vinegar helps with this, by keeping your scalp at a slightly acidic pH level of 4.5 – 5.5, which is the most conducive level for hair growth. The natural acidity helps hair cuticles from opening up too much, while keeping fungus and bacteria from developing on the scalp.

To use Apple Cider Vinegar, mix equal parts ACV and water, and use as a hair rinse after shampooing. This can be done once or twice a week if you have an oilier scalp

Banana

Bananas are rich in silica, which keeps hair smooth, shiny and visibly thicker due to the humectants that attract moisture which fattens the strands. This means bidding adieu to the dry and frizzy hair you battle with every day.

To create a banana hair mask, blend or mash 2- 3 bananas with a bit of bit of milk to create a thick paste. Apply this on your hair before you shower and let stand for 20-30 minutes. Rinse off and follow immediately with shampoo and conditioner. Feel free to do this as often as necessary.

Olive oil

Just like Silica, Olive oil is both a moisturizer and a humectant that attracts even more moisture into the scalp and hair strands. It also contains essential nutrients that nourishes the scalp and hair follicles to allow it produce healthier hair strands.

Use this like you would a massage oil (scalp massage alert!), and apply on your scalp down to the tips of hair. Leave it on for 2-3 hours or even overnight, then wash off with a mild, surfactant-free shampoo. Do this at least thrice a week or even more for faster results.

Mayo

The main components for mayo are eggs, vinegar and oil, which makeup a powerful triumvirate of hair thickeners. The protein in eggs aid with repair and rapid hair growth, the infusion of oils add an extra dose of moisture, and vinegar helps restore scalp to the slightly acidic optimal pH level that it needs to facilitate hair growth and ward off excess bacteria and fungus.

To make mayo double as an effective hair mask: Add a thick coat of mayonnaise from the roots down to the tips of clean hair. Cover with a shower cap, and let stand for about an hour. Follow immediately with shampoo and conditioner to get rid of the distinct smell of mayonnaise.

Gelatin

Gelatin is a great hair moisturizer that coats individual hair strands to give it the appearance of thickness by visibly fattening up each strand. At the same time, gelatin is also high in glycine, an amino acid also found in collagen. The infusion of gelatin on hair helps strengthens each strand through making it resistant to free radicals.

There are two popular ways to incorporate unflavored gelatin in your hair routine. One is to make a paste with a packet of gelatin and water, and apply this to hair after you shampoo, and take time to massage it into the scalp. Let your hair absorb the moisture for a few minutes before rinsing off. An easier alternative would be to simply pour a packet of unflavored gelatin inside the bottle of your favorite shampoo and use as normal.

Beer

It’s not like you need another reason to stock up on beer, but you should know that there are much more benefits to beer than just guzzling it. The protein in the malt or barley aids in the repair of damaged hair cuticles and lifts hair to give it more body so it looks thicker. Beer is also a highly effective way to add instant shine to your hair – plus, it comes with volumizing perks, too!

Just be sure to use traditionally brewed beer (the hoppier, the better) so you maximize the good effects minus the exposure to preservatives often found in commercial beers. The good news is, stale beers can be used on hair without sacrificing the benefits. To use, splash on half a bottle beer to your hair right after you rinse out shampoo. Do this at least once a week for optimal results.

The above are some of the best home remedies for thicker hair using commonplace foods and drinks you can find around the house, but there are some great home remedies for thicker hair that aren’t as common but amazingly effective!