Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

I purchased Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay approximately 3 weeks ago. Oddly enough, I spotted it at the MOMs store and wondered what it was. I read the back of the container and made a mental note to do some research when I got home.



A peek on Amazon.com showed over 400 customer reviews with 4.5 out of 5 stars for a grade. I figured that I might as well spend $7.99 (pre-tax) and so the next day, I swung into the store and purchased it.

The first time I used it, I layered far too much of it on. It was super hard to remove and took far too long to dry in my humble opinion. Nevertheless, my skin felt nice and for the two weeks afterward, I had no pimples and my pores looked smaller.

I am using it again tonight and this time, I tried to make less of the concoction. I also put less on than the last time. I am hoping that this mask as well as the salt scrub will help to improve my skin and prevent acne.

I think I will use it approximately twice a month, while using my salt scrub once a week.

SELF RELAXER REVIEW 2

Well, I self-relaxed again at 13 weeks post relaxer.

This time, I took my time and relaxed my entire head in one sitting. Much better approach than the last time.  Unfortunately, I still missed a spot, and a few spots that didn't relax the last time did not relax again.

That is rather frustrating. But, I hope that the next time I relax, I can tackle my trouble spots adequately.

To prep, I applied CO pomade tp the perimeter of my head and the tips of my ears. I then split my hair into 8 sections and began to apply the relaxer product. BTW, I used Vitale Olive Oil Super. I worked the product through my hair while wearing a pair of sturdy yellow house cleaning gloves. (Much better than the cheap ones that come in the relaxer box.)

After applying to my head (that took about 30 minutes), I stood in front of the mirror and worked the relaxer in as best as I could. Then I stood in the shower and rinsed - sadly a lot of the relaxer got on my face and I used my Neutrogena cleanser to wash it off immediately and repeatedly.

After rinsing, I shampooed 3 times and then used the mayonnaise conditioner that came in the box. I left that on while I washed my faced and did a quick rinse of my entire body and then washed it out. Then, I shampooed again. I followed that with mayonaise con as a DC for 15 minutes and rinsed. Then I put SE Con in my hair for less than 5 minutes, washed my body and rinsed it out.

My hair felt great - except for a few spots that felt rough and so I conditioned them again.

After washing, I applied the leave-in-conditioner and silk serum. I blowdried and then applied my moisture mix. I then took my flat iron and ran it through my hair - particularly the tex-laxed spots. Once done, I took my shears and took off approximately 1-2 inches of hair.

My hair looks and feels fine. I am hoping to relax on either the last Friday in December or the first Friday in January. I hope to tackle my tex-laxed spots first and then work on the rest of my hair.

I will apply my growth aid on Sunday and Wednesday with wash day to be Friday. Hoping to simply maintain the little length I do have. My hair looks crappy though. It lacks thickness and length. Quite sad.

Making my own cream

I plan on making my own cream/lotion. It is now winter and I need to seriously get with the program.

I have purchased beeswax beads and will use it to make my cream.

There are videos in a post below to help guide me, but I also need to learn how to make a 'decoction' that I will use in my cream. Right now, I am thinking of using rose petals to make my decoction.

I will place about 10-15 petals in boiled water and allow it to steep for 15 minutes, while collecting the steam within the pot. I will also use some mint and lime skins as well as well. The liquid will be used to make the cream.

The oil will be a mixture of grapeseed, jojoba, castor and olive oils.

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup of oil
2. 1 ounce of beeswax beeds
3. tincture/decoction - 1 ounce + 1 cup of water
4. hand mixer
5. big bowl

How to make a herbal decoction:

How to make a tincture/infusion:

HAIR REPORT

For the last 3-4 weeks, my hair has been a tangled, knotted mess.

On Tuesday, however, I decided to take matters into my own hands and wash it. I shampood and then conditioned with se evoo con in a bottle and the dc'd with se con in tub. I left that on for approximately 15 minutes after applying it in sections and massaging it onto my strands. While in the shower, I used a small tooth comb to get out the tangles. This, as can be expected, resulted in a lot of hair loss. However, once done, I had no tangles.

I applied my silk serum, blow dried and then applied my moisture mix and sealed. I blowdried once more and had light, soft hair. Sadly, it was thin!

My hair has been thinning and rank with split ends. So much so that i have been overly tempted to do a big chop. I have decided, upon this last operation, to wait until tomorrow or Friday to attempt a relaxer. Once completed, I will straighten my hair and then take off at least an inch from the back and then dust everywhere else. If I can have collar bone length hair that is healthy, that will be just fine at this point.

It is super annoying to have yet another hair setback. This only confirms to me that I clearly cannot achieve longer healthier hair on my own, because no matter what I do, once I am about an inch or two from APL, I suffer a significant setback and have to lose hair.

When my hair is relaxed, I think I will go for 8-9 week stretches. This stretch has been very tough. I also will make sure I use my growth aid 1-2 times a week. I will ask Arlo to bring me some black castor oil when she comes in january and rely on that to help thicken my hair.

*sigh*

Making my own bath salts

I've been reading the Parsimonius Princess blog and loving all the frugal tips in it.

One recipe she provided is for bath salts.

Here are the ingredients:

1. 1 part baking soda
2. 3 parts Epsom salt
3. 6 parts sea salt or kosher salt
4. 10 drops of essential oil
5. a few drops of food coloring

I can't wait to make this. She recommends making it into gifts, which I agree with. However, this becomes one more product for Nature Isle Farm!!! yipee!

Nice Skin product recipe

I honestly think that this recipe and the resulting product make sense for the face.

MAKING MORE ESSENTIALS...

Today, I was able to make a new bottle of body/hair oil, moisture mix for hair, and three containers of body balm.

The body balm consisted of

1. 1/3 coconut oil
2. 1/3 olive oil
3. grapeseed oil
4. castor oil
5. black castor oil
6. 6 drops clove bud oil
7. 6 drops lavender oil
8. jojoba oil

They are currently in the pantry where I hope they will solidify. If they don't...well, I'll be able to use them as body/hair oil. They are in old Jason body cream containers.

A SOAP RECIPE

Watch this castille/olive oil soap tutorial. I think I'd like to make something like this. Will tweek it obviously...

Hairbrew recipes and Nature isle farm thoughts

The last time I used a hairbrew was approximately 7 weeks ago and I discussed it in my Self-Relaxer Review.

Today, I am preparing to make another hairbrew and I am taking it up a notch.

Last time, it included the following:

1. Oregano
2. Mint
3. Lavender
4. Thyme
5. Basil
6. Rosemary
7. Sorrel

This time, I plan to include the following:

1. Oregano
2. Mint
3. Lavender
4. Thyme
5. Basil
6. Rosemary
7. Sorrel
8. Rose Leaves and Petals
9. Pepper leaves (approximately 5 or 6)
10. Carrot leaves (from 3 carrots)
11. Strawberry leaves (approximately 4 or 5)
12. Citrus peel

That is bound to be a serious concoction but I figured that I have loads of plants that are underutilized and it is time to remedy that. I pray that these little experiments of mine prove fruitful in the short term - great hair for Funmi and I. I also plan to drink this tea - that should be interesting.

In the long term, I see such concoctions becoming a key part of Nature Isle Farms, God willing. Hairbrews that you can drink, rinse your hair with, pour into your bathwater etc. They are healthy and natural. Good enough to use on kids too.

As of now, Nature Isle Farms has the following potential products in the lineup:

1. Hair/Body oil (also can be used in bathwater)
2. Moisturizing Face Toner (great for acne prone skin)
3. Hair-removing Wax (all natural and less painful)
4. Hair moisturizing potion (my moisture mix)
5. Face and body scrub (sea salt mixed with toner)
6. Hair growth serum 
7. Body butters (coconut and shea butter based)

And soon, I will make soaps, body lotions, body and lip balms. I also want to make my own alcoholic drink from rum, that has a little sparkling and sweetness to it. Sounds like it could be great. A pomegranate, lime and rum fizzy drink, for instance. The lime juice DH makes can be turned into gourmet drinks with lavender, pomegranate, strawberries, raspberries, karambula and other fruits and possibly sold back to Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Wegmans and other supermarket chains. I'd try to get them into Walmart and Target as well.

The sky is the limit.