This is Atelier Populaire’s archived homemade hair-mask recipe using olive oil, honey, egg yolk, plain yoghurt and lemon juice. It is a freshly mixed, rinse-off preparation for the hair lengths. It is not a treatment for dandruff, scalp inflammation or hair loss, and its food ingredients do not establish a clinically proven benefit for the scalp.
Before making a food-based hair mask
Use clean hands, a clean bowl and clean utensils. Prepare it immediately before use and discard leftovers: the mixture has no validated preservative system or storage life. Do not eat it. Avoid the recipe if you are allergic to any of its ingredients, or if your scalp is broken, inflamed or irritated. Do not apply it near the eyes.
Lemon is not an essential hair-care ingredient. Citrus juice on skin followed by sunlight can cause a painful reaction. Keep this mixture off your scalp, face and neck, use it indoors away from sunlight, and promptly wash any splashes off the skin. If you cannot keep it off the skin, choose a formulated hair product instead. See the Poison Control explanation of citrus and sunlight.
Equipment and ingredients
The original equipment list calls for a mixing bowl and three tablespoons for measuring and mixing. The second recipe illustration provides the honey amount missing from the written steps.
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Olive oil | 2 tablespoons |
| Honey | 2 tablespoons |
| Egg yolk | 1 yolk |
| Plain yoghurt | 2 tablespoons |
| Lemon juice | Juice of half a lemon |
The image shows one egg; the written method specifically uses the yolk. Follow the written method and separate the yolk. These are the archived proportions, not a newly tested cosmetic formula.
Mix the mask
- Mix the olive oil and honey in the bowl until evenly combined.
- Add the egg yolk and stir.
- Add the plain yoghurt and mix again.
- Add the juice of half a lemon and stir thoroughly.
Mix each ingredient in before adding the next so the preparation is as uniform as possible. Do not add essential oils or other ingredients to this recipe.
Apply and rinse
- Spread the freshly prepared mixture over the hair lengths, keeping it away from the scalp, skin and eyes.
- The original method gives a 40-minute application time. Rinse immediately if you notice stinging, itching or discomfort rather than waiting for the timer.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- Wash with your usual shampoo and rinse well. Wash your hands, bowl and utensils.
The original suggested frequency is once or twice a week. This is not a requirement, and repeated use does not establish that the mixture suits your hair or skin. Stop using it if it causes irritation.
What the ingredient list can tell you
Olive oil supplies a lipid component, while honey, yoghurt, egg yolk and lemon make up the rest of the mixture. Their nutritional composition when eaten is not evidence that applying them to hair supplies oxygen, treats dandruff or repairs living tissue. The old claims about yoghurt probiotics and scalp irritation have therefore not been retained.
For a simpler cosmetic routine, the instructions for organic virgin jojoba oil distinguish an oil treatment on dry lengths from use before shampooing. Follow the directions of the exact product you choose.
