I Feel Pretty...

Today I made some beauty and personal care products. One was new - hair gel! The other two I've done before, but I will share the recipes.

Hair Gel
So, I'm a curly girl. In Colorado it's more of a "wavy" girl - but here in the humidity it's frizzy. I'd forgotten how frizzy! I wash it, condition, put on more conditioner after I towel-dry, and within a couple of hours it has puffed out like a steel wool helmet, only soft. If I comb it out, it's like a larger, fluffier steel wool helmet only soft. Definitely a white-girl 'fro.

I tried making hair gel using aloe vera gel and some jojoba oil. Didn't work. And smelled funny, like aloe vera. It was better than using nothing, but not by much.

I found this clip on YouTube and tried it today. Success! Curls, not frizz!



Of course, the real test will be tomorrow, but I have a good feeling about this.

I have some suggestions. Follow her example and strain the seeds out in at least two batches, and use something wide-mouth to do it into. And go ahead and spring for the cheap knee-highs for straining.

Also, while it's very effective at controlling hair, and your hair dries nice and soft, the gel itself feels a little slimy. Could be a useful substance for practical jokes or other occasions, and depending on what you do to it, I would expect it to be edible and even good for you. Hmmm, maybe put some gummy worms in it, mix in some peppermint essential oil... "Yuck" could be on the table, and pretty tasty, too!

Deodorant
I've made my own deodorant for a couple of years now. It's more effective than the natural brands I've paid top dollar for, I can control what's in it, and it's cheap.

Use one part baking soda and one part cornstarch. I find 1/4 cup of each works well for me, and is not an unmanageable amount. Mix it well, getting out any lumps.

In another bowl, mix about 4 tablespoons of coconut oil and 10 - 20 drops of essential oil. I like lavender, but you can use tea tree, sage, or really any other oil you like. Be sure the oil you use does not irritate your skin - rosemary is a little irritating to some people, and citrus oils can cause some sun sensitivity. You'll be putting this on your underarms, so make sure your skin can handle whatever oil you use.

Mash the oil into the dry ingredients using a fork and mix well. You want it to be soft enough to spread without the dry ingredients caking up and dropping off, but you want enough of the dry to absorb moisture and odor. You may need to experiment with amounts to get a texture you like. Stuff it into a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, and you're done! It will meld together a little more as it sits, so it will be nicer in a couple of days than it is right after you make it, but you can still use it now.

One thing to know about coconut oil. It turns liquid at about 80 degrees F. (If it doesn't, your coconut oil is not pure.) This means if you live in a climate where your home is 80 degrees, your deodorant will turn liquid and some of the solids may settle out. Maybe keep it in the fridge, or some other cool spot. Also, if you're traveling, make sure your container won't leak if the deodorant becomes liquid. You may need to mix it up again once it solidifies.

Bath Salts
This is super-easy, and a really nice addition to your bath! Mix 1/2 cup Epson salts and 1/2 cup baking soda, and add 5 - 10 drops of essential oil. Mix the oil in, mashing the little balls that form with the back of a spoon, until it's pretty well mixed in. That's enough for one bath.

You might want to just make a bunch of the plain bath salts and add the oils at bath time. If you love a particular oil and want to mix it in ahead of time, just make sure the storage container is tightly sealed so you don't lose the volatile compounds of the oil.

This is a great way to use essential oils in the bath. If you just drop them in the water, they float on top and are attracted to your skin when you get in the tub, and some of them can sting. When they are finely dispersed in the bath salts, they mix in the water better.

You can add food coloring to bath salts, too. The amount needed to color the salts will not color the bath water. And it makes a great gift! A pretty jar, a ribbon - you're all set!

So now...
My hair is curly, my skin is soft, and I don't stink! A pretty nice thing for Mother's Day, don't you think?