Finding the right combination of natural products is key to helping make your hair look its best, as it is with store-bought products. So far, I think I’ve found a great balance. I have some tips that work and have also verified them with some people with different hair types.

Quick hairstory (I tried a play on “history” here, but I don’t think it worked!)

My hair is tough to manage. I have a lot of hair. A lot. But the individual strands are thin. What this does is make for a tangled mess. I can comb my hair, and within 30 minutes, it’s tangled again. Add to that, I have multiple textures; it’s a combination of straight, wavy and curly. It’s also dry, like the desert. I’ve tried curly hair products, products for dry hair, and products to tame flyaway hair; nothing worked well.

I learned over time that combining natural products with a sulphite-free, olive oil-based shampoo works for me.

Here are five tips to make your hair look its best

Dry brushing to reduce breakage

A lot of people I know brush or comb their hair when it’s wet. I found dry brushing better for less breakage. I use a high-quality, all-natural brush, and I brush gently. Harpersbazaar.com lists the best brushes for your hair type.

To fight limp or brittle hair, use eggs! 

It’s a trick my mom used, and I did it for many years. Whisk together one raw egg and a spoonful of olive oil. Apply this mixture to your hair for 30 minutes before rinsing it out with water. Egg yolk has healthy fats and proteins and is naturally moisturizing. Egg whites contain enzymes that kill bacteria and remove the bad oils. Olive oil will lock the moisture into your hair.

To beer or not to beer for softer hair? 

My mom used beer in my sister’s hair and mine to make it softer when we were kids. It worked for us, and we have very different hair types. Use beer that has no alcohol, and it has to be flat to work its magic. Wash your hair first, and then add the beer from the top to the end of your strands and let it sit for three minutes before rinsing it out. Next, use a leave-in conditioner or detangler. It will help remove the beer smell from your hair.

Olive oil for hair growth and deep conditioning 

I struggled to grow my hair for a long time, and this seemed to help. Try this treatment at night. Heat two tablespoons of olive oil and apply it to your scalp and hair. Gently massage it in for a few minutes. Put on a shower cap and leave the oil in for a few hours or overnight (I do it overnight). Wash your hair as you normally would. This method also works for deep conditioning.

Coconut oil for dandruff, thinning hair and three other hair uses

I love coconut oil for my skin. For hair, I only use it as a conditioner right now, but I pretty much immerse myself in it from head to toe! It’s known to make hair stronger (especially those with fine hair); it also works for hair growth and fullness, dandruff, to tame frizz and can protect your hair from sun damage.

Read how to make the treatments for all of these on livestrong.com.

I hope you find some of these natural tips can help make your hair look its best, or at least better.