Summertime Recipes

Summertime Recipes

As previously discussed, with the heat well on its way, we must take extra precautions to help keep our scalps clean, moisturized and hydrated. Below are a number of recipes that you can make in your kitchen to aid in your hair health.


Some naturals prefer to not use shampoo, but how do we remove product build up without using a clarifying shampoo or any shampoo for that matter?

Baking Soda Clarifying Rinse
Mix:
 1 tablespoon baking soda
  3 tablespoons curly-friendly conditioner

Spread combined ingredients on scalp and massage firmly, continue to massage the mixture down to the ends of the hair. Make sure it is thoroughly applied to hair. Rinse completely with warm water and follow immediately with an apple cider vinegar rinse.

Note: Baking soda is alkaline-meaning it will raise your cuticle and open up your hair shaft. The apple cider vinegar is acidic and will close your cuticle back down. If you don't follow the cleanse with an ACV rinse, you'll be leaving your hair shaft open and setting yourself up for more frizz than you'd probably like.


In the previous article it was mentioned that we should always take precautions with our curls before entering the pool, but what if we forget? Or what about the exposure that we cannot prevent? Here is a recipe that will help with any chlorine exposure that our curls suffer.

Chlorine Buster
Mix:
  1 egg (beaten)
  2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup pureed, peeled cucumber

Knead well into hair from roots to ends, and then wrap with a plastic processing cap. Let sit for 30-60 minutes at room temperature, then cleanse hair.

Deep Conditioning Treatment
Too busy to spend a day sitting around waiting for your dc to complete? At bedtime, spread a good deep moisture treatment through your slightly damp curls. Envelop your hair completely with a plastic processing cap drift into dream land; you may want to take extra precautions to avoid your pillow becoming soaked in oil. In the morning, rinse out the treatment, and then scrunch in your styling products, style and go. Presto! An overnight dc for the busy curly!

*This is also known as the baggy method.

Hair Growth Oil Blend

Combine:
  3 drops cedarwood essential oil
 3 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops lemon essential oil
3 drops rosemary essential oil
  3 drops thyme essential oil
 1/8 cup grapeseed oil
1/8 cup jojoba oil

Place several drops of the mixture to areas of hair loss each night, knead gently into the scalp for 3-5 minutes. 

Hair Detangling Spray
This concoction can be stored in a bottle and used in the shower to help with detangling.

Combine:
1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
  1/2 teaspoon grapefruit seed extract
 2 drops grapefruit essential oil
§  2 drops glycerin
§  8 ounces purified water

Mix together in a spray bottle and keep in the shower. Spray lightly to help detangle hair.

Honey Hair Conditioner

Combine:
§  1/2 cup honey, warmed in the microwave
 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Massage well into hair from scalp to ends, and then cover with a plastic processing cap. Process for 30 minutes at room temperature, and then cleanse hair with a non-sulfate cleanser. For added penetration, sit under a warm (not hot) dryer for 20 minutes.

Heating the honey is optional, but if not heated the honey can lighten your hair color due to its natural properties.

Hot (Olive) Oil Treatment

§  1/4 cup olive oil

Spread well into hair from roots to ends, wrap with a plastic cap. Sit for 30 minutes at room temperature, and then cleanse hair. To intensify, sit under a warm dryer for 20 minutes.

Good for over moisturized and colored hair.  
Protein Pack

Mix:
§  1 egg, beaten
§  1 tablespoon full fat mayonnaise
§  2 teaspoons olive oil

Mold well into hair from roots to ends, and then envelop with a plastic cap. Sit for one hour at room temperature, cleanse hair. To intensify, sit under a warm dryer for 30 minutes.

Another protein treatment.
Egg Hair Treatment 

Mix:

§  1 egg
§  1 tablespoon honey
§  1 tablespoon plain yogurt
1. Crack the egg into a bowl. Mix with a fork.
2. Add yogurt and honey to the bowl. Mix well.
3. Pour the mixture onto clean, damp hair.
4. Massage into the hair, and place hair into a plastic shower cap.
5. Let egg mixture sit in hair for 30 minutes.
6. Rinse the egg mixture out of the hair with cool water. Style hair as usual.

 

And another protein treatment!
Mayonnaise Hair Treatment 
§  2 tablespoon mayonnaise
§  Towel
§  Plastic bag
1. Dampen hair with warm water, and envelop your hair in the towel until mixture is ready.
2. Place mayonnaise into a bowl.
3. Spread mayonnaise abundantly on the scalp, rubbing it in with the fingertips until all hair is smothered.
5. Enclose plastic bag around the hair.
6. Let sit on hair for 20 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly.  
Natural Leave In Hair Conditioner Recipe 
Ingredients:
§  2 Ounces Aloe Vera Juice
§  2 - 3 Drops Rosemary Essential Oil

Add Aloe Vera to a small spray bottle.  Add essential oil and shake. 
Apply to hair liberally to prevent frizz and style hair as usual.
Shake before use and regularly to avoid separation.

Natural Hair Conditioning 
For a conditioning treatment for hair, melt about a tablespoon of Shea Butter in the palm of hands and work through hair.  Leave on 20 minutes to 2 hours.  Shampoo as usual. 
  

These recipes and many other can be found at the following websites:
http://livecurlylivefree.com/home%20remedies.htm
http://www.motherearthliving.com/natural-health/repair-chlorine-damaged-hair-in-your-kitchen.aspx
http://www.soapforgoodnesssake.com/22.html

What products or mixtures do you use for your summertime regimen?