DIY Life

I love coming out of the spa, feeling so relaxed and refreshed. It's like I'm a whole new person. Honestly though, aside from the luxury of a good massage, I'm not really a fan of the spa experience. I like what I get out of it, but I don't particularly like the pretentious environment or the pressure sales at the end. I'm not very good at the soft whisper and light movement that seem to match the tranquil music and mild mannered estheticians.

Spa treatments aren't something I indulge in often, but you can achieve some pretty close results at home. I've collected some DIY spa treatments. I'll try things out as we go and let you know what I think. Today, we'll start with your head (well, actually your hair) with a deep condition, and in the coming days work our way down to that perfect pedicure.

Deep conditioning
The occasional deep condition can go a long way toward healthier hair, especially if yours is exposed to color, straightening, or perm treatments. Most regular conditioners add moisture. This is very important for your hair, but it isn't the only thing it needs. You'll want to add protein if your hair is in need of a little reconstruction. Today I tried this homemade deep conditioner recipe. After the break I'll let you know how it went.

What you'll need

1. 1/2 avocado
2. Small jar real mayonnaise
3. Shower cap or plastic wrap
4. Towel

What to do

1. Mash up 1/2 an avocado with one small jar of real mayonnaise. It should turn a minty green color
   
2. Work it into your hair. Focus on the tips if that's where you have the most damage
3. Put on a shower cap or wrap your hair in plastic wrap
4. Wrap your head over the cap or plastic with a warm damp towel - you can just toss a damp towel in the dryer for a few minutes to heat it up
   
5. Let sit for 20 minutes
6. Rinse

After waiting the 20 minutes, I took off the towel and my hair was plastered to my head. I couldn't imagine how it would rinse out, and expected it to be all matted and gross. Surprisingly, it wasn't at all. It washed out like a quality conditioner.

What I'd do different next time

• I think my hair needed more product. If you have longer hair it might be worth doubling the recipe.
  
• I would have made sure the avocado was mashed thoroughly. Mine had a few chunks and that probably got in the way.
  
• I would also apply less to my roots. It got pretty greasy, and my ends could have used that extra oil.
• The smell is pretty intense. You might want to use a perfumed shampoo when washing it out to cover the smell.

Overall, I'd say the first DIY spa experiment was a success. My hair feels great and it only cost me $3. I'd really recommend giving this one a try. Take a look through the gallery for pictures throughout the process.

Grab a magazine and a cup of tea, or some girlfriends and a bottle of wine. The great thing about an at home spa experience is that it is exactly what you want it to be. Next I'll be testing out a homemade face mask.