5 ways to use avocado, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's go-to ingredient for shiny hair

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan isn't afraid to try the boldest hairstyles on the red carpet, and all her Cannes red carpet looks are proof. “How I wear my hair depends on my mood, the occasion and what I am wearing. I’m not fussy about wearing it a certain way—I like experimenting,” she shared in an interview with Vogue India. But if you're using heat tools like straighteners and blow dryers, or spritzing on products like dry shampoo and hairspray, taking care of your strands is just as important. “I do feel it’s extremely important to nourish and oil your hair regularly, and essential oils are my biggest indulgence. It’s also really important to eat healthy, as what you eat has a direct impact on your skin and hair,” she confirmed. In an interview in 2015, she shared her tried-and-tested DIY recipes: “Almond or coconut oil massages, egg and olive hair packs, milk and honey hydrating masks, mayo and avocado moisturising packs,” she said. 

If you're looking to add avocado to your pre-shower mask, note that it is a humectant and emollient so it draws moisture from the air while softening and leaving it more manageable and shiny. Since it has a rich texture, it is particularly useful for kinky, curly or wavy hair too, as it adds softness without weighing it down. 

It works just as well on skin. Avocados are rich in Vitamins E, B6, C and D, and is chock-full of Omega-3 fatty acids, which helps to prevent free-radical damage, therefore helping to delay early signs of ageing. Plus the essential fatty acids help with the synthesis of tissue lipids, which keeps the skin supple and can negatively affect wrinkle formation. 

Here's how you can use avocado in your skincare and haircare DIY recipes

1) Deep moisturising mask for dry strands

If your hair is suffering from dullness and breakage, chances are that it lacks moisture. Mix equal parts of avocado paste and coconut oil and massage into your hair and scalp to help both the hydrating ingredients soak in. 

2) A quick-fix for dull hair

If you don’t like washing off oil from your hair, mix mashed avocado with an egg yolk and massage onto your scalp and the lengths of your hair. The latter is rich in Vitamin A and E which are essential for nourishing the hair from inside and out. Avocado is rich in potassium and magnesium, which helps to seal cuticle cells, making hair look super shiny.

3) An anti-inflammatory moisturising paste

If you've got dry and dull skin, hydrating and exfoliating dead skin cells will allow the younger cells below to reflect light better. Mix mashed avocado, yoghurt and honey to create a paste that is equal parts moisturising and brightening. The lactic acid in yoghurt is a chemical AHA, and it also helps restore the pH balance of the skin. Honey is a humectant (so it pulls moisture from the air into your skin cells) and avocado works to deeply moisturise and soothe redness at the same time.

4) A body scrub

Mix ground oats, mashed avocado and an emollient oil like coconut or avocado oil to create a thick granular paste. Use this mix to get rid of the flaky top layer of your skin, where the oats will gently exfoliate the skin while the avocado and oil seeps in and gets to work on plumping the skin. Use circular upwards motions to slough off all the dead skin and encourage lymphatic drainage. 

5) A soothing eye mask

If you rub your eyes too often, or have dry skin anyway, the thin skin under the eye can feel red and inflamed. To combat that, mix smashed avocado and aloe vera and apply to the area. The hydrating properties of both will reduce fine lines, while boosting the skin's immunity against stress and environmental factors. 

Also read:

How to make a face mask that Anushka Sharma recommends using overripe bananas

The best avocado-based haircare and skincare products you can buy right now

These DIY avocado-based skin and hair masks are good enough to eat