NEW DEODORANT AND LOTION RECIPES!

I'm so glad I discovered Wellness Mama today. She has very easy recipes that I can use and that will work given the climate I live in. I discovered her through tPF - a thread on deodorants of all things.

Anyway, here are the recipes -

DEODORANT:

• 3 T Coconut Oil
• 3 T Baking Soda
• 2 T Shea Butter
• 2 T Arrowroot (optional)
• Essential Oils (optional)

LOTION:

• 1/2 cup almond or olive oil (can infuse with herbs first if desired)
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup beeswax
• Optional: 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
• Optional: 2 tablespoons Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter
• Optional: Essential Oils, Vanilla Extract or other natural extracts to suit your preference

1. Combine ingredients in a pint sized or larger glass jar. I have a mason jar that I keep just for making lotions and lotion bars, or you can even reuse a glass jar from pickles, olives or other foods.
2. Fill a medium saucepan with a couple inches of water and place over medium heat.
3. Put a lid on the jar loosely and place in the pan with the water.
4. As the water heats, the ingredients in the jar will start to melt. Shake or stir occasionally to incorporate. When all ingredients are completely melted, pour into whatever jar or tin you will use for storage. Small mason jars (8 ounce) are great for this. It will not pump well in a lotion pump!
5. Use as you would regular lotion. This has a longer shelf life than some homemade lotion recipes since all ingredients are already shelf stable and not water is added. Use within 6 months for best moisturizing benefits.

New Products I Want

Terresentials is what I have my eyes on.

Its a hair shampoo, of sorts, that cleanses the scalp and hair shaft. Its made from natural products and is free of sulfates, cones and other bad stuff.

I think I'll get it at some point, but not quite yet.

1 Year Without Relaxers!

I can't believe it, but it has been 1 year since I last got a relaxer put in.

YEEHAW!

At 4 months post, I put in braids.

I took them out 3 and a half months later, and was left with tangles after I put conditioner in it overnight. Welp!

Anyway, I followed that up with crochet braids and have kept that up over the last 4 and a half months.

I would like to go another year without a relaxer but I'm not going to make any promises.

Instead, I'll take it one day at a time.

Hair pieces!

Sooooooooo,

I learned about hair pieces that resemble/mimic natural kinky coily hair and now I want in.

Why?

Well, I have not gotten a relaxer in a long while and am learning to appreciate my natural texture. In the event that I never ever get another relaxer, some hair pieces would give me the full look I know I would want.

Here are a few sources:
Heat Free Hair Movement - http://heatfreehair.com/for-kinks/
King Me Hair - kingmehair.com

Crochet braids

Since December 25th, 2013, crochet braids have been my staple protective style.

The first time, I used old braid hair and achieved a big kinky fro look.

The second time, I used Bohemain curl hair and achieved a cute curly do that looked like the Perry wig that I used to wear from time to time.

This third time, I put Expressions braiding hair in for a long straight look. I had hoped to achieve bangs in the front but failed. I have been wearing hats and using scarves to achieve very cute looks such as top knots, side braided ponytails and even just wearing my hair in a wrap, half wrap or half wrap with bun. So far, so good.

For my fourth attempt, I hope to find a wavy curl hair and put that in. I may leave some hair out for the first time to achieve a more natural look.

After that, I will go straight again, leaving some hair out.

I think that I will leave my hair alone in June/July - no crochet braids, no nothing. I will take that time to apply the max hydration method and I hope that over a month, I will achieve a looser curl. Irregardless, it will give my scalp a break and let me play around with my natural hair.

When its time for the kids to go back to school, however, I will probably put in the curly style again and maybe follow that up with box braids, which I can only keep in for 4-6 weeks.

Max Hydration Method

I want to try this for my daughters hair and then on mine. The basic premise is that increasing the moisture levels of type 4 hair (and any other category of hair) will loosen curls and allow for more definition and ease of manageability.

Here is a thread on the matter - http://forum.blackhairmedia.com/the-max-hydration-methodfrom-my-other-post_topic368937_page1.html 

- I read the entire thread (27 pages at the time) and am convinced that I am doing this for myself and DD this summer.

- http://www.maxhydrationmethod.com/ is the blog for information

- http://public.fotki.com/pinkecarrot/ is a fotki with pics of people's progress

Here is another with lots of debate - http://forum.blackhairmedia.com/wash-and-gos-dont-work-on-nappy-hair_topic368716.html

I WANT TO MAKE MOZARELLA!

How to make mozarella cheese -

http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2012/03/homemade-mozzarella-in-30-minutes/

http://www.chow.com/food-news/54705/make-your-own-mozzarella/


Here's a video -

CREAMY CRACK WARS! RELAXER REVIEW

So my last relaxer was a nightmare. It was in the first week of February and I used vitale which burnt the crap out if my scalp. It itched fiercely for weeks.

It was very depressing. 

So for the next relaxer, I waited for the 2nd week of April (Thursday 11th) and used Optimum Care Salon Collection in super.

 

 The results were phenomenal. I combed out my new growth, based the area around my head and applied the pre treatment lotion. I then worked the relaxer onto my hair, taking the time to correct problem spots. 

I took longer than suggested on the instructions but the results were great. My hair relaxed 95% of the way! The only problem spots I have are at my right temple and a little section where old texlaxed hair needs to be straightened.

For the entire week, my hair was straight but had thickness and body. I added oil once a day and occassionally applied moisture mix as well, wrapping it every night.

Today I put the rest of the relaxer pretreatment in my hair then washed. i also used the relaxer shampoo just as a way to ensure all relaxer was Out. Them I put keratin in my hair and left it for a while. The I followed up with se con. My hair was silky. It air dried over the next few hours. I then applied moisture mix and oil to seal, wrapped it up.

We'll see how it looks tomorrow.

Another Deodorant Recipe

This one works great!

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/10/make-your-own-all-natural-deodorant-stick-or-spray.html

Ingredients:
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 1/2 Tablespoons beeswax pellets
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
10 drops each of Lavender, Lemon and Frankincense Essential Oils

Directions:
Add the coconut oil, and beeswax pellets to a small saucepan. Slowly melt over VERY low heat. Once melted, remove from heat and add  baking soda, and corn starch.  Mix with a spoon until smooth and creamy in consistency, then add the essential oils and pour into your containers. Let stand to cool and solidify.
I was very pleased at how well this turned out. It has a great consistency and smells divine! But most importantly, after wearing it for a full day, it was every bit as effective as any commercial brand I have purchased.
And on a somewhat related, but not really related, subject….I just have to offer kudos to the makers of Old Spice for making the labels on their deodorant tubes so easy to take off! It makes repurposing containers SOOOO much easier! Labels that are practically FUSED to the bottle are one of my PET PEEVES!! (Makers of Dawn…are you listening?)