Tag: natural

This $2 Treatment Will Give You Thick, Super Strong Hair

Published on by Lee6 Comments

While there are hundreds of hair care products that claim to boost growth, add shine, and improve the health of your hair “in just one wash,” very few products actually do (Olaplex is one that can)! Fortunately, we know a $2 DIY that really does help strengthen the hair. In fact, this DIY has hundreds of years of experience, science, AND a world record to back it up. Intrigued?

The DIY we’re referring to is a rice water hair rinse that has been used by women in China and Japan for centuries. There’s even a village in China, Huangluo, known as the land of Rapunzels because it holds the Guinness World Record as the ‘world’s longest hair village.’ And guess what they use? Rice water! The ritual of washing the hair with rice water has been passed down from generation to generation and the women in the Huangluo village have the shiniest, healthiest and longest hair thanks to their rice water shampoo.

rice water for hair
Source: Dmitry Chulov/ Shutterstock

The great thing is rice water is amazing for all hair types, from thin and fine hair to thick, curly, and afro-textures. We actually heard about it as we were admiring our friend’s super defined 3A/ 3B curls, who told us her trick was to spritz rice water in her hair after washing, which she claimed had amazing detangling and hair strengthening abilities – naturally, we had to look into it. Here’s the science behind why this natural DIY really works…

How Rice Water For Hair Works

Rice water is literally bursting with natural proteins, vitamins, and minerals that help restore and hydrate your hair. Firstly, it contains inositol, a carbohydrate that replenishes dry, damaged hair by strengthening and rebuilding the elasticity of the hair, which prevents it from becoming brittle and split ends from forming.

Even after the rice water is rinsed off, it’ll continue to seal in moisture, shielding your hair from damage. It’s also packed with proteins and amino acids that hydrate and restore the hair strand so that it’s less likely to frizz. Plus, it’s a rich source of vitamins including B, C, and E, which can help boost growth while adding shine.

Fermented Rice Water

If you ferment the rice (by leaving the rice water out for 24 to 48 hours), it’ll further enhance the nutrient levels as, during fermentation, a substance called pitera is produced, which is rich in minerals and amino acids. It’ll also alter the pH levels of the rice water so that it better matches the natural pH of your hair, which is slightly acidic. This will help close the hair cuticle, preventing moisture loss and protecting your hair. The only issue is fermented water can smell a little but you can add a drop of essential oil to the water to improve this – in Huangluo they add ginger slices and orange peel to the fermented rice water.

rice water DIY
Source: ThamKC/Shutterstock

How To Make A Rice Water Hair Rinse

There are two ways of making rice water; you can either boil rice in plenty of extra water and keep the excess water, or you leave the rice to soak in water and use the strained water. If you do this last method, you can leave it out to ferment, which makes the rice water more potent.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of organic brown or white rice
The rind of an orange or lemon (optional)

Take half a cup of rice, give it a rinse, then soak it in two cups of water. Leave it to soak for at least 30 mins, or even overnight (this will give more time for the water to absorb the nutrients and vitamins from the rice). Once the water is cloudy, squeeze the rice in the water a little, then strain the rice so you’re left with only the water. You can either store this water or let it ferment.

Fermenting rice water: To ferment the rice water, leave it out for a day or two at room temperature (the warmer the room, the quicker it ferments). This will make the formula more potent, so once the rice has fermented, add a cup of water to dilute it slightly, and add the rind of an orange or lemon, and store the mix in the fridge for up to one week.

How to Use Rice Water

You can either use this as a rinse for your hair after shampooing and conditioning, or you can put it into a spray bottle (preferably glass) and store it in the fridge for up to a week, and use it as a ‘leave-in conditioner.’ We find using it as a leave-in treatment post-washing (by spritzing into wet hair) works best for curly and coily hair, and really helps to detangle, define and boost curls. For straight and fine hair, use it as a rinse post-shampoo and conditioner. Let the rice water sit for 10 to 20 minutes depending on the thickness of your hair (the thicker your hair, the longer you can leave it), then rinse the hair. If you have curly or coily hair, you can use it as a rinse and a leave-in treatment.

If you do this regularly (every week), you will soon begin to see a big difference in the health and condition of your hair. For more DIY haircare solutions, check out how to make your own dry shampoo.

Let us know if you’ve ever tried rice water in your hair in the comments below.

3 DIY Lip Balms For Smooth Lips All Winter

Published on by Lee4 Comments

With the holiday season right around the corner, you don’t want to be caught under the mistletoe with anything other than smooth, pillowy lips. But as the temperature drops and the wind picks up, our lips get dry and chapped, which is why it’s super important to stock up on lip balms to keep your lips hydrated at all times! Stash them in your purse, on your desk, on your bedside table – everywhere!

To help you guys save the dollars we’ve sharing three bomb DIY lip balms: They’re super hydrating, and they’re all-natural. We’ve even made dupes of some of our fave lip balms but for a fraction of the price. You can be as creative as you like and mix in any of your favorite flavors. Here are our three favorite recipes:

1. Peppermint lip balm

If there’s one lip balm we’re always lusting after, it’s the La Mer Lip Balm, $70 – it’s a cult classic for a reason, but we can’t deny it’s pretty damn expensive. So, we decided to make our own using the signature ingredients; peppermint, almond oil, and Aloe Vera. The sweet almond oil is high in vitamin E, which will help protect your lips from UV damage and the aloe vera will hydrate and soothe.

Ingredients:
2 tbsps of petroleum jelly or coconut oil
1 drop of peppermint oil
1 drop of sweet almond oil
½ tsp of aloe vera

In a pan on a low heat melt the petroleum jelly (or just use softened coconut oil). When it’s melted, add in the other ingredients and stir well. Leave it on a low heat for two to three minutes and then pour it into a small dish (we use our leftover lip balm tins) using a funnel. Leave it in the fridge to set for six to eight hours.

2. Coconut lip balm

We’re in love with this DIY coconut lip balm – it leaves your lips feeling super soft and nourished, plus it has a sweet rose tint – your lips will literally be irresistible. All three oils are miracle workers: the coconut oil is a natural emollient, the argan oil is bursting with nourishing antioxidants, and olive oil is high in squalene, which creates a protective barrier on your lips.

Ingredients:
2 tsp of virgin coconut oil
2 tsp of Argan oil
2 tsp of Olive oil
Colored berry lipstick

In a pan on a low heat, melt together the coconut oil with about 1 cm of lipstick and add it into the pan. Next, add in the oils and stir well. Leave it on the heat for two to three minutes and then pour it into a small dish or an old lip balm tin. Leave it in the fridge to set for a few hours.

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3. Honey lip balm 

The Burt’s Bees Honey Lip Balm, $4, has been a firm favorite of ours for years, as the combination of beeswax and honey will soothe even the driest lips. Honey is a humectant so it draws moisture into the skin, while the addition of lavender gives extra healing powers as it has antiseptic properties, plus it’s full of antioxidants that’ll help fight against aging free radicals.

Ingredients
2 tsp of organic beeswax
1 tsp of organic coconut oil
1 tsp of raw liquid honey
2 drops of lavender

Add the beeswax, oils, and honey into a glass bowl, then place in a pan of very hot water and mix until they melt, then add two drops of lavender. Using a funnel, pour it into a small dish or lip balm tin. Leave it in the fridge to set for six to eight hours.

Bous: Rose Lip Scrub

We’re throwing in an extra DIY lip scrub for you guys, but you actually have Priyanka Chopra to thank for this delicious exfoliating lip balm. We like to do this a couple of times a week to get rid of any dead skin, which to be honest, in the winter is a regular occurrence.

Ingredients:
2 drops of glycerin
2 drops of rose water
1 teaspoon of sea salt or brown sugar

Mix one teaspoon of salt or sugar with a couple of drops of rose water and vegetable glycerin. Then, gently massage it onto your lips and wash it off with warm water.

Let us know if you’ve ever tried making your own DIY lip balms, in the comments below.

How To Banish Greasy Hair For Good (In One Wash)

Published on by Lee7 Comments

During a autumn (Fall) vacay, something super embarrassing and frustrating happened to us. Somehow, our hair got this horrible, waxy and greasy buildup, and no matter how much we washed our hair – literally triple shampooed it – the residue didn’t go away. Our hair looked and felt gross and greasy hair is never a good look.

We soon discovered that we weren’t the only ones to experience this, and there’s a ton of questions about ‘waxy buildup on scalp won’t wash out’ online. If you’ve had this oily buildup before, it could be down to a number of things, including using hair-care products that are too ‘heavy’ for your hair to over-stripping with harsh products. (If you simply have typically oily hair, this DIY hair mask will also work wonders).

We found that our scalp was itching and sometimes dry which sometimes dandruff would be found. This is often brought on by stress, hormones, and even the weather. So when all shampoos failed us, our DIY beauty skills came into play and we were shocked at how amazing our clarifying hair mask turned out to be.

So, whether you’re experiencing this waxy buildup or you just want to detox your scalp and greasy hair, then you have to try this ultimate DIY clarifying hair mask. The only thing that actually worked to rid our hair of this waxy sebum residue and leave it feeling soft AF!

Clarifying Hair Mask

We already knew that Apple Cider Vinegar was an amazing way to detox hair, but we took it one step further and added some major beauty powerhouses to the mix; bentonite clay and activated charcoal powder. This natural hair mask works to deeply cleanse and re-balance by removing excess oil and toxins that can build up on the scalp. Whether you have product buildup, dandruff, greasy hair that won’t go away or a frustrating case of seborrheic dermatitis, this mask will fix it – tried and tested!!

Clay: Clay is packed with minerals and nutrients and helps draw out toxins and absorb the extra sebum produced by your scalp. The clay also helps to inhibit the growth of fungus that causes dandruff.

aztec indian healing clay

Activated charcoal: This works in a similar way that clay does to detox the scalp. Activated charcoal is adsorbent, which means it has an electrical attraction that pulls molecules, ions, and atoms towards its surface so that they stick to it – essentially sucking up dirt and oil from your scalp.

Apple cider vinegar: One of nature’s most potent creations, it’s full of active ingredients, vitamins, mineral salts, and amino acids, and it’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. It also has anti-fungal properties, and helps restore your skin’s natural pH balance and destroy dandruff by killing fungus and cleaning clogged pores and hair follicles.

How to make the clarifying detox hair mask:

Ingredients:

2 tbsp Aztec Healing Indian Clay
1 tbsp Activated Charcoal Powder
6 tbsp of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

1 tablespoon coconut oil
½ tablespoon castor oil
½ tablespoon almond oil
Water
Glass bowl
Wooden spoon

We buy big tubs of these products and use them for all kinds of DIYs, from face masks to hair masks and body scrubs (and we’ve had our pots of activated charcoal powder and Aztec Indian Healing clay for months!). If your hair is just a little bit greasy and you just want to detox, you can also add one teaspoon of honey to nourish your hair.

How to:

Step 1. Combine bentonite clay, coconut oil, castor oil, and almond oil in the bowl (make sure you use wooden or ceramic utensil as activated charcoal reacts with metal); the formula will bubble up and should combine into a runny paste. Add the apple cider vinegar to the bowl and let it froth for 15 seconds before mixing it vigorously. Mix the ingredients slowly. It should form a smooth, yogurt-like consistency. Make sure there are no lumps.

Step 2. Apply the mask to dry hair using a medium-sized brush, working your way in sections across your scalp – like you would if you were dying your roots. Once you’ve covered your scalp with the mask, tie up your hair (apply a shower cap if you like) and leave the mask to work for 20 to 30 minutes.

Step 3. Wash out the mask until the water runs clear, then shampoo your hair thoroughly. You can shampoo twice to ensure no mask remains, then follow with conditioner on your ends.

The result is all traces of oil or any waxy buildup are completely gone. Flakes from dandruff are wiped out, and the scalp feels balanced. It also makes your hair feel super lightweight and soft and gives your hair natural volume. We recommend doing this mask once a month to keep your scalp in top condition.

If your scalp is super flaky or you’ve experienced the waxy buildup on your hair that doesn’t go away with washing, then you should definitely visit a derm to see if you have seborrheic dermatitis. A derm will be able to advise you on the best medicated shampoos, and also prescribe an ointment to improve seborrheic dermatitis. Let us know if you’ve experienced this before!

Did you try the Aztec Secrets Indian Healing Clay Mask for the hair– it works for facial but does it work for your hair type!? Lemme know about your experience….

One Thing You Never Thought Of Doing With Oil

Published on by Lee2 Comments

It sounds extra AF, but swishing oil around your mouth might just be the best thing for your health and skin, seriously! The idea comes from ancient Ayurvedic medicine and involves taking a tablespoon of oil and swishing it around your mouth like mouthwash, for twenty minutes. Believe it or not, this detoxifying method actually has a ton of health benefits that improve oral health, and it can even improve acne, whiten your teeth, help with headaches, and detox your entire body.

How To Do Oil Pulling:

On an empty stomach – first thing in the morning is the best time – swish a tablespoon of oil around your mouth for twenty minutes (at least ten minutes if you’re in a hurry). Our preference is coconut oil, because obvs we have a ton lying around and it’s also antibacterial, but you can also use sesame, olive or sunflower oil. Initially, it might feel a little gross, but persist, and like us, you might even end up enjoying the experience! It should always be done on an empty stomach, so wait at least four hours after eating, and an hour after drinking.

Whatever you do, don’t swallow the oil; otherwise, you’ll basically allow all the toxins that have been drawn out to go into your stomach. Once you’ve swished for 15-20 minutes, spit it out in your bin. You can do almost anything (except speak) while you do this, but keep an eye on the time, as if you do it much longer than 20 minutes, it’s possible that the toxins could be reabsorbed into your body. Rinse your mouth with warm water or salt water, and brush your teeth.

How Oil Pulling Works:

how oil pulling works

It’s quite gross to think about, but your mouth is filled with bacteria, fungi, toxins, and plaque. Oil pulling literally cleanses your mouth by drawing out all the toxins from your gums and teeth, before they’re able to spread to the rest of your body.

Why Oil Pulling is Awesome:

Who’d have thought that you can forego a ton of expensive beauty products simply by following this daily ritual? Oil pulling is an amazing way to improve your health and detox your body, skin, and gums. Though there’s yet to be significant research into oil pulling, promising results have been found, and many doctors recommend it – apparently, Gwyneth Paltrow and Shailene Woodley are fans. Here’re just some of the amazing benefits:

Skin-clearing: Catching out nasty toxins before they reach the rest of your body has a huge impact on your skin. The same way washing your skin gets rid of surface bacteria, oil pulling gets rid of bacteria that causes skin problems before they have a chance to take hold. Reports have shown that oil pulling for a month has helped improve acne and eczema.

Teeth whitening and fresh breath: Oil pulling can remove surface stains from your teeth, and because the fats in oil can dissolve plaque, it prevents plaque build-up and reduces the risk of tooth cavities for an extra white smile. The removal of bacteria from your mouth also results in fresher breath throughout the day.

Detoxes your body: The mouth is our gateway to the majority of substances in our body, by removing bacteria from the mouth before it has a chance to reach the rest of your body it majorly impacts on your health.

Increases energy: Our immune system works 24/7 to eliminate toxic waste from the body. By getting rid of these nasty toxins at the source before your body has to, it saves precious energy to be spent on other activities.

Reduces headaches and hangovers: We’ll be honest, anything that promises to cure a hangover is worth trying; the process of oil pulling will remove alcohol toxins still lurking in your body from the night before, helping you and your body feel much better. Headaches and migraines can be a reaction to your body being under toxic stress; so extract the toxins, reduce the stress!

Why Coconut Oil is Our FAVE:

We’ve found that coconut oil, (try to use 100% raw organic cold-pressed coconut oil) is the best oil to use. Not only is it easy to find and inexpensive, but it’s also by far the best tasting of the bunch. Coconut oil also contains lauric acid that has antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties, while Vitamin E is rich in antioxidants and it’s antibacterial. If you’re going to have oil in your mouth for twenty minutes, it should at least taste okay!

Oil pulling can easily become part of your morning routine: swish while you shower and tone, or while you get dressed and scroll your Insta feed. If you’re at home, take advantage of the period after lunch before dinner and swish on an empty stomach while you watch TV.

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?