Can you use a caramel treatment weekly?

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Find out how to soften kinky and curly hair with this all natural treatment

The original caramel treatment is a product by a company called E’tae which promises to restore moisture and softness to afro textured hair. It helps people who relax their hair to ‘stretch’ their relaxer for longer periods and helps people with natural hair by softening its texture for easier detangling and manageability.

But that’s not what we are talking about today, today we want to look at making our own version of the caramel treatment, hacking it if you will. Most of the ingredients in the product can be found in many average kitchens so making your own caramel treatment should be a quick, easy and fun project.

By understanding the purpose of each ingredient, you can adjust the recipe every time you make it depending on your hair’s needs. Now, let’s look at the ingredients individually.

Honey – An excellent humectant, good for moisture.

Olive Oil* – For lubrication and helps with moisture retention.

Bananas – Good for moisture and some protein benefits as well.

Molasses also known as Treacle – Another excellent humectant with some protein benefits.

Water – The best natural moisturizer. Nuff said.

Apple Cider Vinegar* – It imparts great shine to the hair by helping close cuticles.

Cornstarch – For thickening purposes.

Wheat germ oil* – For added strength and lubrication.

Now here is a simple recipe based on the aforementioned ingredients that you can use to make your own caramel treatment.

• Honey – 6 tablespoons
• Olive Oil* – 6 tablespoons
• Bananas – 2-3 overripe and very soft
• Molasses – 3 tablespoons
• Water – 4-6 tablespoons
• Apple Cider Vinegar* – 1 tablespoon
• Cornstarch – 1-2 tablespoons depending on how thick you want the mixture to be
• Wheat germ oil* – 1 teaspoon – This can be substituted for any other natural ceramide containing oil of your choice

And heres how to make it:

1. Place all the ingredients except for the water into a blender* and process until smooth. You may need to add the water bit by bit if it looks too dry.
2. To ensure that there are no bits of lumpy banana in the mixture, pass it through a fine sieve.
3. Pour the mixture into a saucepan and put it on a medium heat while stirring constantly. You are not trying to ‘cook’ the mixture but you want the cornstarch to cause it to thicken which will make the treatment easier to apply to your hair. This should take just moments after it heats up. You may need to add more water to thin it down if it gets too thick or add a bit more cornstarch if it is still too runny. You want to end up with a caramel coloured mixture that is the consistency of a thick batter. If the mixture is too thin it will start dripping from your hair as soon as you apply it.
4. Pour the mixture into a container, depending on the length of your hair it will likely be enough for two applications.

And finally, here’s how to apply it to your hair…

To apply, divide your hair into 3-4 sections and clip. Starting with 1 section, part your hair and apply on the roots generously rubbing in with your fingers. Once applied on the roots of the section, apply the mixture all the way to the ends. Complete all sections in this manner and once done, cover your hair with a plastic cap. Let the mixture sit in your hair for 1-2 hours or overnight for really dry hair.

Wash your hair with a sulfate free shampoo, deep condition and style as usual. You can freeze the remainder until you are ready to use it again. The treatment is suitable for both natural and relaxed hair.

The results of the caramel treatment are not permanent; they last for up to 4 weeks so should be reapplied monthly for continued benefits. Some people report ‘loosening’ of hair texture as well as less shrinkage after the treatment but this is likely due to the added weight of the product as well as the increased moisture levels in the hair.

For this reason, the caramel treatment is excellent for helping to straighten natural hair as it takes less heat to get smoother results and leads to better moisture retention.

Is it exactly like the original caramel treatment? Nope, not at all. But what it is, is an excellent moisturizing treatment that will do the job just as well.

Also see the article about The Coconut And Lime Treatment For Natural Black Hair

About Alma Ruddock

I’m Alma Ruddock, the founder and editor-in-chief of Blackhairinformation.com. I stumbled on a hair care forum back in 2008 frustrated with my breaking relaxed hair and the information that I found there changed the fate of my hair, and quite possibly my life, forever! I immediately started to transition to natural hair and started BlackHairInformation.com as a way to help both myself and other women of color achieve their dreams of long healthy hair. I have now achieved my goal length and I continue to help others achieve their dreams too. My three passions are hair, art and entrepreneurship and I love to be able to bring my unique view on hair growth and successful hair journeys to our readers. I am an eternal optimist and workaholic.

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