How do you stay green and still look beautiful? Check out these recipes and links or look through the Green Glamours archives…
HAIR CARE
A Green Spell Shampoo
(adapted from Passionate Homemaking’s homemade shampoo recipe)
1 cup Dr. Bronner’s organic castile liquid soap (Baby Mild if you want to add your own scent, or Almond or Lavender)
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 ¼ cup water
1/8 to 1/4 cup aloe vera gel (depends on your preference – this is optional)
10-20 drops of your favorite essential oils (lavender and tea tree are my favorites)
1 (16 oz. or bigger) spray bottle
Mix all ingredients together, then pour into spray bottle.
Click here for more ideas.
Baking Soda “Shampoo”
Mix 1-2 Tbsp. of baking soda with 1-2 cups of warm water. Work into hair, then rinse. You will need to experiment with the ratio of baking soda to water. If you use too much b.s., you will end up with an itchy scalp. Also, I recommend keeping a large cup in your shower, pouring in the baking soda before your shower, and adding the warm water while you are in the shower. If you pre-mix this, the water will get too cold, and will freeze you out when you pour it onto your head!!
Vinegar Rinse
Mix 1-2 Tbsp. of apple cider vinegar with 3-4 cups of filtered water. You can pour some of this over your head in the shower, if you pre-mix it, but again, it gets COLD! I recommend putting this into another spray bottle, and spraying it onto your hair after you use the baking soda “shampoo.” You may also want to experiment with adding essential oils (rosemary for oily hair, for instance, lavender for its soothing properties and scent, etc.). Don’t be dismayed by the vinegar smell – it will fade when your hair dries. Just make sure you don’t use too much vinegar in the rinse! Again, experiment with the ratio of vinegar to water to find what works best for you. And be careful with essential oils – do one at a time, and use small portions at first. You may find you have allergies to some of them.
Dry Shampoo
I mix about 3/4 cup of cornstarch or arrowroot powder, and 1 tsp. kaolin clay. Mix, then put it into a powder container. (You can buy these from Mountain Rose Herbs.) You may not need clay if your hair is not as oily as mine, and you may not need dry shampoo at all!
Click here for more ideas.
SKIN CARE
First things first: Leave your skin alone! You can “wash” AND moisturize with oils. If you feel you need more moisture, try…
Rosemary Gladstar’s Perfect Cream
Waters
2/3 cup distilled water (or rose water)
1/3 cup aloe vera gel
1 or 2 drops essential oil of choice
Vitamins A and E as desired
Oils
3/4 cup apricot, almond, or grapeseed oil
1/3 cup coconut oil or cocoa butter
1/4 tsp. lanolin (I don’t use this)
1/2 to 1 ounce grated beeswax
1. Combine the waters in a glass measuring cup. Set aside.
2. In a double boiler over low heat, combine the oils. Heat them just enough to melt.
3. Pour the oils into a blender and let them cool to room temperature. (Note: You MUST let this come to room temperature or your lotion will not combine!) The mixture should become thick, creamy, semisolid, and cream colored. This cooling process can be hastened in the refridgerator, but keep an eye on it so it doesn’t become too hard.
4. When the mixture has cooled, turn on the blender at its highest speed. In a slow, thin drizzle, pour the water mixture into the center vortex of the whirling oil mixture.
5. When most of the water mixture has been added to the oils, listen to the blender and watch the cream. When the blender coughs and chokes and the cream looks thick and white, like buttercream frosting, turn off the blender. You can slowly add more water, beating it in by hand with a spoon, but don’t overbeat! The cream will thicken as it sets.
6. Pour into cream or lotion jars. Store in a cool location.
If you don’t want to make your own lotion, try these companies:
Natural facial washes:
1. Try a baking soda scrub. Simply splash your face with warm water, scrub gently with baking soda, and rinse. This feels GREAT!
2. Use castille soap (bar or liquid) and a washcloth.
3. Use organic rose water and a washcloth.
4. Honey makes a wonderful “soap” or a facial mask. Read more here, and check out Crunchy Chicken’s experience here.
NATURAL DEODORANT
© Terressentials
Click here for a fantastic recipe for natural deodorant from Passionate Homemaking, or here to see another blogger experiment with it. This is the recipe I use every day, and I LOVE it. If you are more traditional, click here for a roll-on from Terressentials that works like a dream. Or try a stick from Tom’s of Maine or Jason. Ditch the toxic antiperspirants!
