A review of natural hair removal products

Ladies, I mustache you a very important question... 

Now that you have totally herbalicious skin,

*Gag*  

I'm sorry.  I won't do it again.

Anyway, let's ask some tough questions: 

1.  Do you have facial hair that needs to be dealt with?  Please be willing to honestly assess this situation, and please don't always trust indoor lighting.  For years now I've kept tweezers in my car.  Why?  Because even if I think I have my eyebrows, etc. under control, when I get in my car and look in the rearview mirror, I almost always see something I missed.

2. If you are using a commercial product to deal with facial hair, have you read the ingredients?  Do you know what they are and can you pronounce them?

For years I used a commercial wax strips product and then I read the ingredients:

Wax Strips Ingredients: C5-6 Alkane/cycloalkane/terpene copolymer, polyisobutene, glyceryl rosinate, ethylene/va copolymer, bisabolol. 

Azulene Finishing Oil Ingredients: Ethylhexyl isononanoate, sesamumindicum (sesame) seed oil, C13-14 isoparaffin, phenoxyethanol, isononanoic acid, menthol, methylparaben, tocopherol, butylparaben, ethylparaben, guaiazulene, isobutylparaben, propylparaben.

The search for a natural alternative began.  At this point I was in the rather unfortunate position of having a hair removal emergency, so I headed to my local Target for an immediate, interim product before I could do more research and here's what I came home with:


Nad's Facial Wax Strips 

Hair Removal Strips - Triethylene Glycol Rosinate, Glyceryl Rosinate, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Parfum (Fragrance), CI 4700 Yellow 11, CI 61565 Green 6.   

Soothing & Finishing Wipes - Isopropyl Myristae, Coco-caprylate/caprate, Isohexadecane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) oil, Calendula Officinalis Oil, Bisabolol, Parfum (Fragrance), Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, BHT.

Verdict:  They worked just fine, and I did rather like their "softer fabric technology."  However, despite marginally better ingredients, many are still unacceptable to me.



Next I tried a sugaring product:

Moom Organic & Natural Hair Remover For Face & Travel 

Cane Sugar (Organic), Lemon Juice (Organic), Chamomilla (Organic), Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia) Oil (Organic), Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Juice, Water

Verdict: The ingredients were great, and I liked that it came with reusable cloth strips, but I didn't find it very effective or easy to use.  In all fairness, I only tried it once, so maybe I could have achieved better results with more practice, but...



Finally I found a winner!

Parissa Wax Strips

Note:  I am not associated with Parissa in any way, nor do I receive any compensation for promoting their products.  I just like them.

wax: glyceryl rosinate (pine resin), ricinus communis (castor oil), cera alba (beeswax), titanium dioxide

azulene oil: isopropyl mystrate (vegetable source), tocopheryl acetate (vitamin e), azulene (chamomilla recutita extract), menthol crystals

Verdict:  Easy to use, effective, and I'm okay with almost every ingredient.  (I'm not a big fan of titanium dioxide, but since this isn't a product I'm leaving on my skin I'm willing to let it slide in this case.)

 What about you?  How do you deal with unwanted facial hair?




This post shared at Frugally Sustainable's Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways #84

Naturally Radiant Skin Care: How to treat yourself to a complete herbal facial!

Once a month treat yourself to a luxurious herbal facial!

Step 1: Cleansing Grains - For the recipe see this post.

Gently cleanse, exfoliate, and nourish your skin with cleansing grains.  Mix 1/2 tsp of grains with water to form a paste and gently massage into your skin, then rinse with warm water.

Step 2: Herbal Facial Steam - For the recipe see this post.

Boil several cups of water in a large pot.  Add 1/4 cup of herbs, cover and simmer for a minute or two, then remove from heat.  Place at a level you can comfortably sit and lean over the pot.  Cover your head and the pot with a towel, breathe in the delicious aroma, and let your pores open and drink in the nourishing plant oils for 5 - 8 minutes. Follow with a cold water rinse.

Step 3: Mask

Try a clay (white, green, rhassoul, bentonite), or raid your kitchen for honey, avocado, banana, yogurt, turmeric and oatmeal, etc.  Be creative!  Mix something up, leave it on until dry, then rinse with warm water.

Step 4: Herbal Toner - For the recipe see this post.

Herbal toner/astringent is used after cleansing to remove all traces of dirt and oil, tighten pores, balance pH, and prepare skin for moisturizing.

Step 5: Moisturizing Oil - For the recipe see this post.

It may seem counter-intuitive to put oil on your skin, but moisturizing with gentle, nourishing oils will most likely make your skin very happy.  Use oils that are lightweight, non-greasy, quick absorbing and luxuriously nourishing and healing.  Dispense 4-5 drops into hand, rub hands together and gently massage oil into skin.

Here's an awkward bathroom selfie so you can see what my skin looks like after an herbal facial.   

 

If you're wondering where to get these ingredients, Mountain Rose Herbs sells high quality herbs and other products, and they are a fair trade company.  (Full disclosure, I do receive a small commission if you click the links on my blog and complete a purchase.)

If you're not a DIY-er, or you're not up for a another project right now, I do have these products available for purchase in my store.


This post shared at Frugally Sustainable's Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways #83

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Naturally Radiant Skin Care - Make Your Own Moisturizing Oil

Everybody knows that "moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty."  Name that movie.  Hint: mer-MAN! 

Now that you know how to naturally cleanse, tone, and deep clean your pores with an herbal steam, it's time to learn about the final step in a natural skin care system - moisturization.

When I first entered the world of homemade moisturizers, I tried lotions (or emulsions) and had pretty good success.  An emulsion is mixing two or more liquids together that don't like to be mixed together - like oil and water, for example.  Most emulsions are made with an emulsifier to make the process easier - commonly soy lecithin or even borax.  Emulsifiers aren't absolutely necessary, however, and I never used them. The process of emulsification is basically slowly pouring water into a combination of oils and melted beeswax while mixing with a blender or stick blender.  If you've ever tried to make homemade mayonnaise, it's like that.

The first homemade moisturizer I tried was a simple olive oil, beeswax, and water emulsion with some lavender essential oil so it didn't smell so olive-y.  It was simple and it worked well enough, but it tended to separate and left my skin feeling pretty greasy.

The second homemade moisturizer I tried was Frugally Sustainable's Non-Greasy Moisturizing Lotion.  It also worked quite well and didn't separate as much, but still left my skin feeling slightly greasy.  After I applied my translucent face powder, though, it balanced out and I felt like I had the perfect dewy glow.

Now after reading this blog post, I'm using moisturizing oil, and it's my favorite option so far!  It has several advantages over the emulsions.  First, you don't have to emulsify anything or worry about it separating later.  Second, you don't have to worry about refrigerating it or the water making the whole concoction go bad.  Third, I've actually found my skin to be less greasy after using only oil.  In fact, I think my skin feels like velvet after I use it, and once again, after I use my translucent face powder I have the perfect combination of velvety softness and dewy glow.

Moisturizing Oil is also great because it has several other uses.  It makes a great all natural eye makeup remover, a smoothing hair serum, and can even be added to homemade shampoo for extra moisturizing power. 

So, using oil as a moisturizer can be as simple as using one oil alone like grapeseed or jojoba (pronounced ho-HO-ba).  Both of these are lightweight, non-greasy, fast absorbing oils that mimic the sebum your skin naturally produces.  They are also both relatively inexpensive.  There are many other oils, however, that have extra age-fighting, dryness-combating, oil-cutting, or acne-busting properties, so I combined several oils to get the best of all worlds.

I used grapeseed and jojoba as a base and added in smaller amounts of several other oils.  Finally I added several drops of skin-loving essential oils.

Note: Never use oil on un-cleansed skin.  It can trap the dirt and oil in your pores, causing future unpleasantness.

Another note: A very little goes a long way.  If your skin feels greasy, you've used too much.  I keep mine in a dropper bottle, and about 4-5 drops is all you need.  This also means you get a lot of bang for your buck.


 Carrier oils good for dry or aging skin:

• Grapeseed
• Jojoba
• Argan
• Apricot Kernel (which smells scrumptious, by the way)
• Avocado
• Macadamia Nut
• Sweet Almond
• Hemp Seed
• Sea Buckthorn (can temporarily stain skin, so use in small amounts)
• Rosehip Seed (which goes rancid easily and should be kept refrigerated)
• Emu
• Vitamin E

 
Essential oils good for dry or aging skin:

• Frankincense
• Rose geranium
• Rose
• Cedarwood
• Palmarosa
• Roman Chamomile

 

 

Carrier oils good for oily or acne prone skin:

• Grapeseed
• Jojoba
• Argan
• Hazelnut
• Sunflower
• Tamanu
• Sweet Almond
• Hemp Seed
• Borage Seed
• Evening Primrose
• Neem
• Turmeric oil
• Vitamin E oil

 

Essential oils good for oily or acne prone skin:

• Lavender 
• Peppermint
• Lemongrass
• Rosemary
• Sweet basil
• Bergamot
• Tea Tree
• Lemon
• Juniper Berry
• Roman Chamomile
• Rose
• Palmarosa

 

Mountain Rose Herbs is a great resource to learn more about the individual properties of these oils.  It's also a great place to purchase ingredients. They sell high quality organic herbs and other products, and they are a fair trade company.  (Full disclosure, I do receive a small commission if you click the links on my blog and complete a purchase.)

If you're not a DIY-er, or you're not up for a another project right now, I do have moisturizing oils available for purchase in my store.

 

 

 

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

 

Naturally Radiant Skin Care - Deep Pore Cleansing Herbal Steam

At the end of a stressful week, pamper yourself with an herbal facial steam!  Facial steams are the best possible method for deep pore cleansing.  Moist heat hydrates skin, boosts circulation, brings oxygen to the facial area, and improves skin clarity.  Steam loosens debris and softens skin to help pores unclog and appear less prominent, and the herbs recommended below are rich in nutrients and aromatic oils that nourish and tone the skin.

  

Method:
 
After cleansing, boil 2-3 quarts of water in a large pot.  Add a handful or two of herb mixture, cover and simmer for a couple minutes, then remove from heat.  Place at a level you can comfortably sit and lean over the pot.  Cover your head and the pot with a towel, breathe in the delicious aroma, and let your pores open and drink in the nourishing plant oils for 5 - 8 minutes. Follow with a cold water rinse, then herbal toner, and finally moisturize.

Herbs for oily or acne prone skin

• chamomile
• comfrey
• calendula
• lemongrass
• lavender
• rosemary
• sage
• witch hazel leaves
• rose petals
• strawberry leaves
• raspberry leaves
• blackberry leaves
• eucalyptus leaves if you specifically want to address acne
• licorice herbs, which include anise seed, fennel or licorice root, help rid the skin of impurities   

Note:  If skin is severely broken out or inflamed avoid steaming, as steam may aggravate these symptoms.

Herbs for dry or aging skin

• fennel seeds
• rosemary leaves
• rose petals
• lavender
• peppermint leaves
• chamomile
• calendula
• comfrey root
• comfrey leaves
• comfrey flowers
• borage flowers
• dandelion root
• licorice root
• marshmallow root

Note: To prevent over-drying, don't steam your face for more than five minutes, and use the treatment no more than once a week.

If you're wondering where to get these ingredients, Mountain Rose Herbs sells high quality organic herbs and other products, and they are a fair trade company.  (Full disclosure, I do receive a small commission if you click the links on my blog and complete a purchase.)

If you're not a DIY-er, or you're not up for a another project right now, I do have herbal steams available for purchase in my store.

 

This post shared at Frugally Sustainable's Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways #79, Tilly's Nest Down Home Blog Hop #44, and Sunny Simple Life's From the Farm Blog Hop #40

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Naturally Radiant Skin Care - How To Make an Herbal Toner

I mentioned in my last post about cleansing grains that I recently celebrated my thirty fifth birthday, but I feel like my skin has never looked better.  I attribute this to switching to homemade products made with natural, high quality ingredients.  I never had really bad skin, but I never would have said I had really good skin either.  I was constantly battling a blemish or six.  Now I rarely get blemishes anymore, my skin is smoother, my complexion is clearer and brighter, and I'm wearing less makeup than ever before.  Most days I skip foundation and concealer entirely and just use a bit of my homemade translucent face powder.

Part of my new skin care regimen is an herbal toner or astringent.  An astringent substance is something that shrinks or constricts body tissues.  In facial care, toners or astringents are used after cleansing to remove all traces of dirt and oil, tighten pores, balance pH, and prepare skin for moisturizing.

Many herbs have astringent properties.

• lemon balm
• chamomile
• roses
• calendula
• comfrey leaf
• lemon peel
• rosemary  
• sage
• peppermint
• yarrow
• lavender

I used a formula found in Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes For Vibrant Health, so I won't share it here.  If you're interested, feel free to look it up.  I've found this book to be a good resource.  If you'd like to experiment with your own formula, any of the herbs listed above will be effective.

When you've come up with an herb mixture you'd like to try,  then you will make a tincture.

1. Fill a wide mouth mason jar about 1/2 to 3/4 full with herb mixture.  If using dried herbs, keep in mind that the herbs will swell when liquid is added, so be sure to leave enough room.

2. Cover the herbs by about 2 inches with apple cider vinegar (organic, raw ACV is ideal) or witch hazel.

3.  Place the lid on the jar and shake.

4.  Put the jar in a warm location, a sunny window is a good spot, and steep for 2 - 4 weeks, shaking at least once daily.

5.  Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth.  Squeeze the cheesecloth to get out all the herby goodness you can.

6.  You want your final ratio to be about 1/2 to 1 part vinegar to 1 part witch hazel, so if you tinctured in witch hazel, add vinegar.  If you tinctured in vinegar, add witch hazel.  If you don't have witch hazel, add distilled water. 

7.  Add skin loving essential oils like lavender, rose geranium, palmarosa, or carrot seed, if desired.  If you have oily skin, rosemary and peppermint are good options.

8.  Hydrosols like rose or lavender can also be added or substituted.

9.  Label and date the bottle.

 
Toner should stay good for up to a year.  Keeping it from heat and light will prolong its life.

If you're wondering where to get these ingredients, Mountain Rose Herbs sells high quality herbs and other products, and they are a fair trade company.  (Full disclosure, I do receive a small commission if you click the links on my blog and complete a purchase.)

If you're not a DIY-er, or you're not up for a another project right now, I do have herbal toner available for purchase in my store.

This post shared at Frugally Sustainable's Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways #78, Sunny Simple Monday, Monday Funday, and

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Naturally Radiant Skin Care - A Recipe For Cleansing Grains

I recently celebrated my *cough* thirty fifth *mumble* birthday.  The ironic thing is, I honestly feel like my skin has never looked better.  It's not so much about what age I look (people have guessed my age as younger for years) but my skin is clearer, smoother, brighter, and more radiant than it has ever been before.  I believe it's because I have switched to natural products that I make myself from high quality, organic ingredients.

When I think back to all the times I spent in the department store aisle mentally agonizing over which of the myriad brands or products contained the silver bullet that would put a stop to my breakouts and dry skin, I can only shake my head.  The answer is none of them!  I used to think that companies had teams of scientists whose purpose in life was to figure out how to make my skin miraculously better.  Now I realize that, more accurately, they have teams of marketers whose jobs are to more effectively part me from my money in exchange for what are mostly cheap, harsh, synthetic fillers and preservatives whose names I can't even pronounce. 

How was it ever okay to unquestioningly rub that on my face?  I get frustrated with my former self, but these days I try not to put anything on my body that I can't pronounce or wouldn't put in my mouth.  Now I alternate between two natural skin cleansers that I love.

The first is soap.  Real soap.  Not Dove bars or any other kind of soap free bar.  I've used my own homemade soap, Grandma's Lye Soap, and Dr. Bronner's Castile soap in bar form, and I've been happy with all of them.  In fact, since switching to real soap, my skin is better head to toe.  The thing to be careful about when shopping for soap, though, is to watch out for synthetic fragrances.  Many soaps are made with fragrance oils that are not so good for us.

Soap is particularly good for deeper cleansing and makeup removal, but now I mostly use cleansing grains.  The advantage of cleansing grains is that they not only cleanse, but they nourish and exfoliate as well.  It's like a healthy meal for your face!  This recipe is based on a recipe in Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes For Vibrant Health.

The formula:

16 parts white clay

8 parts finely ground oats

2 parts finely ground almonds

1 part finely ground lavender

1 part finely ground roses

1 part rice powder (I use organic brown rice baby cereal)

The breakdown:

White clay or kaolin clay is the mildest of all clays and is suitable for sensitive skin. It helps stimulate circulation to the skin while gently exfoliating and cleansing it. It does not draw oils from the skin, so it can also be used on dry skin types without negative results.

Oats and almonds nourish and exfoliate.  Oats are also emollient, helping to soothe and moisturize the skin.

Lavender and roses have mild astringent properties that tighten and tone skin, and the plant oils contain antioxidants and are commonly believed to have regenerative properties.  Lavender is antimicrobial, helping to clean the skin.

Rice enzymes smooth skin and accelerate cell renewal.

To use, simply mix about 1/2 tsp with water and gently massage into your skin, then rinse with warm water.  Grains may also be used as a mask by mixing with milk, honey, yogurt, or a liquid of your choice and leaving on for several minutes.  I keep mine in a spice bottle with a shaker top in the shower, and I find that it's super convenient that way.

The beauty of making your own products is that you know everything that goes in them, you control the quality of the ingredients, and you can customize them to suit your individual needs.  There's not necessarily anything magic about this particular formula.  Use ingredients you have on hand, substitute or experiment with additions like cornmeal, poppy or chia seeds, seaweeds or other herbs.

If you're wondering where to get these ingredients, Mountain Rose Herbs sells high quality herbs and other products, and they are a fair trade company.  (Full disclosure, I do receive a small commission if you click the links on my blog and complete a purchase.)

If you're not a DIY-er, or you're not up for a another project right now, I do have these cleansing grains available for purchase in my store.

What about you?  What do you use to naturally cleanse your skin?

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.



 This post shared at: frugallysustainable.com's Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways #77, and  

Locks Au Naturale - A Simpler, Easier and More Frugal Shampoo Update

Okay.  Back to hair.  I posted awhile back about 'poo cubes and other natural shampoo methods I've tried.  Now I'm going to tell you to forget allllll about them.  I've found something even simpler and easier that I like even better!

I took another blogger's word for it that castile soap alone would not lather nicely, which is why I came up with the 'poo cubes.  Then one day I ran out of cubes, and I was in a hurry, so I washed with just diluted castile, and...it lathered fantastically!!  Granted, she may have been using a different brand.  I've tried two kinds - Dr. Bronner's (available at Target) and Mountain Rose Herbs'.  The Dr. Bronner's works great for me.  I didn't prefer Mountain Rose Herbs' castile for shampoo, but it still works great for cleaning and other uses.

So, what's the formula, you ask?  I'm going to be very science-y and specific right now:

        some water and some castile soap

I don't measure.  I just pour.  The 'poo cube ratio was 1 part coconut milk to 4 parts castile, so I try to stay in the range of 25-50% water and 50-75% castile.

Straight castile was too much.  It actually seems to work better diluted.

You'll want to use distilled or at least filtered water for the best shelf life.

I have tried including a small amount of my facial moisturizing oil for extra moisturizing, and I liked it both ways.  You can experiment and see what works for you, but a tiny bit of jojoba oil might help with extra moisturizing if you tend toward dry hair...just be sure to shake well before using.  Essential oils would make a nice addition as well.  Rosemary is generally considered good for dark or graying hair and chamomile for lighter hair...or just whatever you would enjoy.  Here are some recipes for further customization, but I'm enjoying keeping it simple right now.

For conditioner, I'm sticking with the ACV (apple cider vinegar) rinse - one part ACV to four parts water.  I've adjusted how I use it though.  I pour a small amount over my scalp only and rinse right away.  My hair seems to be a little too fluffy and frizzy without the ACV rinse, but a little too flat and greasy if I use too much or leave it in too long.

Hair is about as unique as fingerprints, so it may take some time and experimenting to find what really works for you.  I'm glad I ran out of 'poo cubes and finally found something easy and simple.  I really used to miss yucky commercial shampoo and conditioner, but I'm glad I didn't give in and go back to it.  I'm happier with my hair now than I have been in a looong time.

Not to mention the savings!  A 32 oz. bottle of Dr. Bronner's retails for about $16.99.  After diluting it, I suspect that that amount could last at least the better part of a year, if not longer.  Great results for less money!  What are you waiting for?


This post shared at Frugally Sustainable's Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways #85

Locks au Naturale - Color Wonderful Part 1, Introduction to Henna

Nothing new to report on the house, so back to hair.

This week I'm going to introduce you to henna.  Reader, meet henna.  Henna, reader.

Next time I'll get into the practical nuts and bolts and how to's and befores and afters.  Ready?  Okay.

The Anne of Green Gables movies are among my top 5 favorite movies of all time, and every time I watch them it is at this precise moment that I know in my heart I was meant to be a redhead.

  

Perhaps it's also because of my Scottish roots, but I always wanted to be a redhead, marry a redhead, and have redheaded babies. 

 

Alas, God didn't get the memo.  I do tend toward reddish highlights, but my natural hair color is mouse brown.  Over the years, I have dyed my hair every color from blonde to black and even blue, but red was the color I always tried the most...every time I watched Anne. It was also the color that always disappointed the most.  I would love it for about 2 days, then it would fade to brassy, ugly lifelessness and turn into a vicious cycle of spending money, dying, frying, and fading.  I put a stop to it a long time ago, embraced the mouse, and have rarely looked back.  

Recently, however, I stumbled across henna.  I had heard of it before, but it was more a buried memory than something on my radar.  I was intrigued and started to read.  For me, one of the most appealing things about it wasn't even about color, but that it thickens and conditions your hair.  The more I read the more I wanted to try it.  Not only is it not toxic and scary, but it's actually really good for your hair and scalp!  And I could try being a redhead again!  So:


Pros of henna:

•  All natural and plant based  
•  Nourishes and heals scalp
•  Adds strength and shine to hair, thickens and improves texture
•  Lovely color options from light red to brown and black (using combinations of henna, indigo, and cassia obviata)
• Option to treat hair for benefits and not color it using cassia obviata or "blonde henna"
•  Ability to custom mix colors - endless options!
• Doesn't fade like conventional hair color 

Cons of henna:

• Time consuming and messy

 

Other notes:

• Henna will not lighten your hair.
• Henna will dye your hands, clothes, sink, etc.
• Results vary according to time left in and condition of hair.

So far I've tried a subtle auburn and neutral henna and been very happy with both.  Next week I'm going to try a brighter red, and I'm a little nervous, but I will photo document the process and results for you.  Fingers crossed!

 

Locks au naturale - Homemade Hairspray

Homemade hairspray is easy peasy, and it works!  You may not be able achieve this look,

but that's probably for the best.


What you'll need: 

1 whole orange (for dark hair) or lemon (for light hair)
2 cups filtered or distilled water
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol or clear grain alcohol like vodka or gin
essential oils for scent

Cut the citrus fruit of your choice into wedges and boil with the water until it's reduced by half.  

Or, if you're like me, forget about it and boil it until the liquid is almost all gone, add some more and boil it again.  

Strain into a glass measuring cup and let cool.  If you have less than a cup of liquid, add water to make 1 cup.

Use a funnel to pour it into a spray bottle, add the alcohol and essential oils, and voila!

 Just kidding.  I am SO glad I didn't graduate from high school in 1988.

Anyway.  If you don't want to use the alcohol (it can be drying and is not without it's health concerns) you can omit it and store your hairspray in the fridge.  It should last for a couple weeks that way.  I don't use hairspray very often, so I added the alcohol and one batch has lasted me a good 6 months or more.  I used rubbing alcohol because it was what I had on hand, but I probably will try vodka next time to see if it is less drying.  

I use it when I put my hair up to help things stay in place and smooth flyaways, and and sometimes I use it along with a diffuser to help add volume and define my "curls" if I'm trying to look a little extra fancy.  Like most homemade, natural products it is not an exact replica of what you would buy at the store and there is a bit of an adjustment phase while you get to know the way the product works, but it's worth it to me to know how to pronounce everything I'm putting on my body.

What about you?  Have you ever made your own hair styling products?  Would you?

Locks au naturale - Thirty Two Poo Cubes (say that five times fast!)

UPDATE: I am no longer using 'poo cubes.  I found something simpler, easier, and more frugal that I like even better!


 I apologize for my absence, I've had a little extra trouble keeping up with life the last few weeks.  Sigh.  Moving on.  In my last post I mentioned talking next about hair or skin care.  So I've decided to do a series on natural hair care, then natural skin care.  I am so. smart.

Natural hair care has probably been my biggest struggle.  It took me a year to find a replacement for commercial products that I'm truly happy with, but I'm grateful to report that I have indeed finally found something worth blogging about.  I shall recount my journey for you now.

1.  No 'poo.  No 'poo is crunchy blog slang for washing with a baking soda and water mix and rinsing with an ACV (apple cider vinegar) and water mix.  Tons of people rave about the results.  To be fair, I only tried this once or twice, and everyone says you have to give it time, but greasy hair is one of my "things," and since my hair looked worse after trying this method, I wasn't willing to give it any additional time.  I may try again at some point (if I ever quit my job and work at home), but for now I'm going to stick with what's working.

2.  'Poo bar.  I made my own and also tried a store bought version.  I really wanted to like it because I liked having only one product in the shower, and it was really easy to travel with.  I didn't love the texture of my hair, though, and my ends constantly looked dried out so I ended up trimming my hair more frequently than I wanted to.  I tried a diluted ACV rinse with the shampoo bar, but didn't like the results.  I also tried putting coconut oil on the ends of my hair regularly to combat the dryness, only resulting in really greasy looking ends after the first washing and really dry looking ends after the next.

Side note - Most commercial hair products contain silicone.  Translation: they coat your hair with plastic that disguises dryness and damage.  Anytime you switch from commercial products, your hair will most likely go through a transition/detox phase, and because it will no longer be coated with plastic, it may look dry for awhile.  You do have to give natural products time to really judge how they're working.  

3.   Store Bought 'Poo.  I gave the shampoo bars about 6 months and still had unacceptably dry ends, so I switched to Aubrey Organics.  It's the brand they sell through Mountain Rose Herbs, so I figured the ingredients would be trustworthy.  It was a step in the right direction, but I still definitely didn't love my hair.  Plus it's pricey, and the shampoo contains carrageenan, a natural preservative derived from seaweed, but not without its health concerns.  Just because something is natural doesn't mean it's good for you.  Do your research.  You can't see me, but I'm shaking my finger at you.

4.  'Poo Cubes.  I remembered reading this blog post over at Crunchy Betty about "sorta 'poo" at some point and mentally tucking it away for future reference in case my other options didn't pan out.  They didn't.  So I tried this, and WINNER!  I've been very pleased with the results.  My hair looks clean and shiny and feels soft with no dryness.  Here's a specific breakdown of exactly what sorta 'poo means.


Sorta 'poo is a mixture of 1 Tbsp. castile soap and 1 tsp. coconut milk.  Milk.  Not oil.  If you know my sister, you can ask her to tell you that story.  I make coconut milk myself with a blender, but you could probably use a store bought brand.  The thing that's tricky about this method is that coconut milk is perishable.  You can't whip up a big batch and leave it in your shower.  It will go bad.  Reading through the comments on the aforementioned blog post, one brilliant reader said that she froze coconut milk in teaspoon sizes so she could make a fresh batch of 'poo as needed.  Taking that one step further, I froze the castile and coconut milk together in measured amounts in an ice cube tray.  So now I have a sandwich bag in the freezer containing a bunch of little white 'poo cubes.  My hair is pretty long, but also thin and fine.  I found that I don't even need an entire cube, so I cut them all in half and still have more than enough per washing.  This method also turns out to be very economical.  Without doing the exact math, I was able to make 32 'poo cubes for less than $5, I'm sure.  I typically wash my hair 3 times a week, so one batch will last almost 3 months.  Maybe not as cheap as a .99 cent bottle of Suave (do those still exist?) but ~$20/year for shampoo is pretty durn good.

Admittedly, this method is not as convenient as having a big bottle of something in your shower, but I've adjusted.  If I remember the night before, I pull a cube out of the freezer, put it in a tiny glass jar, and let it thaw.  If I don't, I grab one in the morning and it melts quickly as you rub it in your hands.

Something else interesting about this method is that when I followed it with an ACV rinse, I actually liked the results this time.  Specifically, I use about 1 part ACV to 3 parts water and some essential oils to help it not smell so vinegary.  You can play with that ratio to fine tune the results.  The vinegar rinse is important because it helps balance the pH of your scalp after washing.  

So.  Hair is kinda like fingerprints, or snowflakes, or grass (always greener...).  Ultimately what works well for me may not work well for you, but here's a list of options to try, and hopefully your process will be speedier than mine was!