Natural hair shine with Grape seed oil
One of the best natural products for a beautiful hair shine is Grape seed oil. Pour a small amount the size of a dime in your palms, guesstimate if it may be too much for your hair type or too little (fine or thick) and rub through the hair strands carefully spreading evenly. Just a light touch will give your hair a sexy shine and is great for your skin as well.
Coconut oil as a leave in conditioner
Organic coconut oil is very high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential to our interior health. It is a light oil that melts almost into water as it is rubbed into the palms of your hands. If you have thick, wiry or damaged hair this oil is a great leave in conditioner prepping it for blow drying or leaving it to dry naturally.
Manuka Honey as a face cleanser
Manuka is an amazing healing honey. Its high antibacterial content works as a topical treatment for skin cuts and is ideal as a skin cleanser. Create a sweet little container for your new face cleanser and place it in your bathroom. Make your face moist with water and scoop a teaspoon amount on your fingertips. Massage into your skin and take your make up off with it, eyes and all. Then rinse, and voila! Soft and smooth. I also use it in the traditional way, in my tea and cereal. Check out the Blog for Dr Alkaitis mask that uses Manuka honey in its preparation.
Pure Shea Butter
Pure Shea butter comes from Central Africa and is a staple food and skin conditioner. It is cold pressed usually done by local African women. Its also high in Omega 3 and Vitamin E, and has a natural SPF effect when used on the skin. The consistency of Shea butter is waxy and smooth. Its perfect for shorter hair-styles for a messy disheveled look. It also works well for thick wavy and brittle hair as it will weigh down the hair for a smoother look. Combine a few essential oils in your butter such as Grapefruit or Orange and you have a great soothing hair cream that makes you look and feel good.
Bees Wax
Bee’s wax is a great hydrating ingredient. It helps to seals in moisture when mixed with other creams and oils. That’s why it works so well for the lip balm recipe. Many farmers markets will have a honey stand with blocks of bees wax to sell.
Jojoba oil
Jojoba oil (ho-ho-ba) is great for the hair. It is a weightier oil more akin to Olive, but with a undetectable scent. It can be used on the skin, but I prefer using the lighter, finer oils such as Almond or Grape seed. Jojoba gives the hair a lovely sheen while conditioning. As usually with oils just a little goes a long way.
Essential oils
Essential oils have date back to the Pharaoh’s of Ancient Egypt. Archeologists found that the oils were used for many things and by many people. They were used as perfume, preservatives, aphrodisiacs and decoration. Natural organic essential oils are extracted from multiple pounds of flowers and herbs to equal one small ounce of essentials. It is the life force of the plant, a concentrated plant essence.
Chapter 2 of Essential Aromatherapy; In Aromatherapy there are two basic ways in which essential oils have an effect upon the human body: through the nose and through the skin. Aromas are volatile, meaning they disperse in the air, float, and eventually reach the nose. These aromatic molecules float up the nostrils and come into contact with nerves extending from the olfactory bulbs, and ending in small, sticky patches at the top of the nasal cavity. When the aroma molecules hit receptors in these nerve-rich patches, it sets off a reaction that results in brain activity. This phenomenon has been observed through brain scans and other imaging techniques.
Essential oils are potent and can be as harmful as they are healing if not used in their right dosage. So read the required drop amounts for your recipe and you will be rewarded. There is a huge amount of reading material on essential oils – it’s a good idea to have at least one book in your library.
Aloe Vera
The succulent plant Aloe Vera is a highly medicinal plant. Its properties are antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal. The inner pulp is used in various modes, in smoothies for a nourishing drink, on the face for a tightening effect (helping to reduce fine lines), or on cuts and burns to prevent infection.
It can help ease dry scalp when applied directly through the hair to the scalp (dandruff is a sign of an unbalanced diet or harsh shampoos so further changes should be pursued). Bottled Aloe can be used as a light hair gel as well.
(also found at any local Organic market)
Macadamia nut oil
This oil is a luxurious nut oil that softens the skin with its high content of fatty acid. It contains the highest level of palmitoleic acid of any plant oil, which is found in young human sebum (humans own natural skin oil) , but the level dramatically drops in mature adults. Macadamia oil tones and heals aged or dry skin. Add a few drops of essential oils to Macadamia nut oil and pour some in your bath. You will feel and see the nourishing effects of this oil immediately. Rub the oil deeper into your skin, towel dry and enjoy the smooth, glistening look. Be creative and use a little on your neck and face for extra nourishment in your weekly skin regimen.
Best organic links;
