While beauty is only skin deep, the ancient civilization of Maya held its own unique set of beauty standards just like any culture in this world does. While historian reports that long noses and crossed eyes were thought to be attractive to Mayan people, there wasn’t much to this rich civilization apart from others when it came to hair ideals. Women would go to great lengths to achieve the most lustrous and healthy hair possible. Ancient women of Maya usually had thick-stranded, hair that was straight to wavy in pattern and highly dense on their heads.
While retrieving certain ingredients to make the perfect concoction wasn’t always easy, the Maya settled for nothing less than the finest and richest hair product mixtures. They used local tree nuts often, not only for medicinal practices but also for beauty products.
These two easy-to-replicate recipes are truly a classic; they’ve been passed down generation after generation within the Mesoamerican cultures and even borrowed by other groups. Luckily for us, these ingredients can be found at pretty much any natural foods store for a price that won’t break the bank.
Deep conditioner to improve softness and luster
What you need
- 1/2 avocado
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 banana
- 1 egg yolk
- blender
- plastic bottle with easy applicator nozzle
- funnel
- plastic shower cap
Directions
- Using a blender, whip all of the above ingredients together to create a thick batter.
- Pour the mixture into a plastic bottle and shake up.
- Apply the mix to your roots first, working down to the length, and lastly, the ends.
- Massage gently for 2 minutes to work into coating each strand.
- Cover your head for a hour with a shower cap.
- Rinse out, shampoo and condition to get any extra residue out of your scalp.
Buttery moisturizer for sheen and manageability
What you need
- 1 tablespoon raw cacao butter (or ground powder”>
- 1 tablespoon agave syrup (or raw honey”>
- 5-7 drops sweet almond oil
- blender (or food processor”>
- mixing bowl
- 1 avocado
Directions
- Melt the cacao butter on medium heat before adding to the rest of the mix. You may also use powder to skip this step.
- Using a food processor, whip all of the above ingredients together to create a thick batter.
- Store into a jar and apply directly to the length of your hair. It doubles as a moisturizer for dry skin, too.
