Holistic Beauty from the Inside Out (29 page)

SHAMPOO WITH CARE

Did you know your hair needs a full twenty-four hours to restore its natural balance after a shampoo? If you treat your hair to a portion of bubbles every day, chances are, you do not allow the scalp to saturate the hair shaft with enough oil, as all of the oil will be used to moisturize the scalp until the next detergent attack. As a result, you set your hair up for dryness and breakage. To shampoo your hair really well, try these tips:

1. Gently brush your hair before shampooing to help the cleansing agent penetrate between every strand.
   
2. Massage the shampoo well into the scalp, and then leave it on to penetrate for a whole minute to reap full benefits of the shampoo. (More on what shampoo to use below.)
   
3. Use warm or lukewarm water for shampooing, and rinse with cooler water to close the hair shaft and boost the shine.
   
4. Rinse well, keeping water running through your hair longer than you think you need. Shampoo residue can make your hair dull and dry.
   

There seems to be an avalanche of organic shampoos available, but a closer look at the ingredients list reveals that not all of them are as natural as the manufacturer wants us to believe. Common chemicals “sneaking in” most so-called organic hair cleansers include diethanolamine (DEA ), various petrochemicals identified as PEG and propylene glycol, polyquaterniums, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexyl glycerine, methylisothiazolinone, DMDM hydantoin, and artificial fragrances. The biggest no-no to watch out for is sodium laureth sulfate, which is a harsh detergent that not only leaves hair brittle and the scalp taut, but is also harmful for the environment.

Some of my favorite all-natural shampoos include Burt’s Bees Very Volumizing Shampoo, Pomegranate and Soy; California Baby Shampoo & Bodywash in Calendula; and a cooling Desert Essence Tea Tree Replenishing Shampoo with Peppermint and Yucca—great for summertime.

Making your own shampoo at home is quite easy. All you need is some natural olive soap and glycerine. Measure 120 mL (4 fl. oz.) castile soap in a bottle; Add 1 tablespoon glycerine, and 1 tablespoon of an oil of your choice. Here are some combinations
that you can add to the castile soap and glycerine to further customize to your liking:

Dry, brittle hair
: 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 4 drops peppermint, and 3 drops myrrh essential oils.

Dandruff
: 1 tablespoon jojoba oil, 10 drops lavender, 5 drops ylang-ylang and 5 drops tea tree essential oils.

Hair loss
: 1 tablespoon castor seed oil, 5 drops clary sage, and 10 drops rosemary essential oils.

Hair growth
: 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 5 drops basil, and 10 drops rosemary essential oils.

Oily scalp
: 1 teaspoon jojoba oil, 10 drops geranium, and 10 drops tea tree essential oils. You can also add a good teaspoon of white or green clay to the shampoo—it will absorb excess oil without overdrying.

Itchy scalp
: 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil, 10 drops rose otto, and 5 drops lavender essential oils.

Most experts recommend shampooing every other day, but if you just cannot live with unwashed hair, try this Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse in place of a regular shampoo: Add 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar to a cupful water and rinse your hair. Result: dazzling glow, no chemicals involved. I encourage you to prepare a large bottle of this rinse, as it doesn’t go stale or weak, and experiment with essential oils for natural hair fragrance and scalp benefit. However, note that blondes should never use apple cider vinegar.

Dry shampoos are becoming increasingly popular as they help skip the daily dose of detergents and save time too, especially if you are in a hurry and not in a mood for a shampoo (or if you simply love the hairstyle and want to prolong it for one more day).

Most dry shampoos contain talc, which may be harmful for your health if you accidentally inhale too much. You can easily make your own natural dry shampoo by mixing 1 cup each of cornstarch, white clay, and baking soda. You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the blend. Transfer the mixture to a sifter jar and pour 1 tablespoon of mixture into your hand. Make sure your hands are clean and cream free. Now rub your hands together to spread the powder, and start rubbing it into your locks starting at roots to absorb any oil. It’s best to apply dry shampoo over a sink because it can be quite messy. Scrunch and toss your hair until all powder disappears. This trick can restore bounce in hat-flattened hair during the winter. You can also use it in the evening to wake up in the morning to full, bouncy hair. Dry shampoos can leave your hair a little dull, so you can restore shine with a careful swipe of shine-enhancing serum or argan oil—but limit its use on hair ends only, otherwise your hair will end up looking greasy
and
dull.

Conditioner for your hair is the same as a moisturizer for your skin; in other words, it is essential, especially if your hair has been chemically treated, colored, or baked under the midday sun recently. Carefully squeeze excess water from your hair and apply a generous portion of the conditioner of your choice. Most
conventional hair conditioners have very similar formulas loaded with silicones, polyquaterniums, and occasionally protein. All of these can irritate your scalp and cause even more problems than you were trying to solve. Here are some really simple all natural conditioner ideas that you can use without risk of irritation, itchiness, or dryness:

Whole eggs
: Rich in lecithin and protein, eggs add shine and strength to normal to oily hair. Rub in gently until the egg foams, leave on for one minute, and rinse off.

Coconut milk:
Ideal for all hair types but especially dry hair. Apply straight from the container and rinse after a minute or two.

Jojoba oil
: Don’t dread the word “oil,” as it won’t make your hair flat or limp. A weekly hot oil pack with jojoba oil helps prevent and treat dandruff and itchy scalp. To treat your hair with oil, rub 2–3 tablespoons of oil (depending on your hair length) into your dry, unwashed hair, starting at roots, and cover it first with plastic cap and then with a towel. Walk around for fifteen to twenty minutes, then shampoo as usual.

Rye bread and water
: Soak 2–3 slices of rye bread (remove the crust) in 1 cup water, mash to achieve a custard-like consistency, and apply to your hair, massaging deeply into the scalp. Leave on for two to three minutes, then rinse off.

Plain yogurt
: Great for all hair types but especially for dull, limp hair. Apply straight from the package, leave on the hair for one or two minutes, then rinse off.

Applesauce
: Apply to your hair after washing to reveal gorgeous glow and less dandruff and itchiness after just one application.

Avocado and olive oil:
Mash 1 avocado with 1 tablespoon of olive oil to make a deeply nourishing spread for your hair. Apply to your hair, then cover with a plastic cap and a towel to keep hair warm, and to improve the penetration of these beneficial ingredients.

Honey and egg hair mask
: Combine ½ cup runny honey with 1 egg yolk and 1 tablespoon brandy (optional). Whisk well and apply to your hair, massaging well into the roots. Cover up with a plastic bonnet and a towel so your hair remains warm. Rinse off.

Honey and avocado hair mask
: This mask restores brilliant glow in the hair. Combine ½ cup honey or more, depending on your hair length, and add ½ mashed avocado. Whisk till creamy and apply to your hair, focusing on split ends, if you have any. Rinse off after thirty minutes. Enjoy the glow!

NATURAL HAIR TREATMENTS

Hair is probably the last organ to benefit from any nutritional boost, so it is necessary to nourish it not just from the inside out, but also from the outside in. Once a week (or twice if your hair is very damaged and brittle) give your hair an extra-nourishing oil treatment. Choose argan, olive, or castor seed oil if you’ve noticed you are losing more hair than usual—or combine the oils until you find the blend that makes your hair look and feel spectacular. Heat the oils slightly in a pan, then shampoo and towel dry your hair. Comb the hair carefully with a wide-tooth comb, then carefully saturate your hair with the oil and again run the comb through your hair to evenly distribute. Cover your head with a plastic shower cap or vinyl-free cling wrap and wrap a towel over your head to keep the hair warm.

As the oil penetrates each and every hair strand and your
scalp, you can try a very simple scalp massage. It helps improve blood circulation and relieve tension, thus helping to nourish the hair follicles with fresh oxygen and nutrients. Scalp massage is especially beneficial if you suffer from a dry, flaking scalp; seborrhoea (a skin condition that makes your scalp itchy, red, and covered with pimples); or if you are concerned about hair loss. There are no set rules for scalp massage other than it should be done with firm pressing movements and last for three minutes or more. Rub, press, and glide your fingertips across your scalp and down to the temples, as long as it feels good and doesn’t scratch or pull your hair. Scalp massage, invokes an immense sense of relaxation and brings a lovely glow to your skin. After eight to ten minutes, shampoo your hair again and go on styling as usual.

HEALTHY SCALP

Glowing, strong hair starts with a healthy scalp. Ironically, the hair as we see it is made of dead, flattened keratin cells, and only a tiny part hiding underneath the scalp is living and reproducing. Hair grows from a dermal papilla hiding in a hair follicle nourished by blood vessels. To maintain healthy growth, cells in papilla must receive enough nutrients and oxygen from surrounding dermal tissue. Hair-forming cells are one of the fastest-dividing in the human body, so if you notice change for worse in your hair condition, it’s a clear sign that your general health has taken change for worse too.

To nourish the scalp, prepare a purée of 2 apricots and 1 ripe peach by mashing them with a fork or blending in a food processor. Apply to clean, towel-dried hair, leave for eight to ten minutes, and rinse off. You hair will be very shiny and bouncy. Stress, hormonal imbalance, certain medications, and even fever can dry out the scalp and make it less able to nourish and support hair follicles. Following a healthy diet with ample amounts of essential fatty acids, zinc, iron, copper, and iodine will maintain
healthy hair growth and help prevent scalp problems such as dandruff and seborrhea.

TAKING CARE OF COLORED HAIR

For those of us who color our hair, even if we are happy with our current color, it may still require regular upkeep, such as monthly colorings. Conventional hair dyes contain an untold number of toxic ingredients that have only been partially studied for shortand long-term safety for animals, and never for humans. To avoid contaminating your body and setting yourself up for higher risk of cancer, give natural hair dyes a try.

Blondes

Hair shades carry a lot of meaning. For instance, we all know that blondes have more fun, right? Perhaps we do, since hair-care product companies estimate that in the United States, 40 percent of women who color their hair choose blond shades.
¹³⁸
Some researchers say blond hair suggests a childlike appearance, as many newborns have very light hair that darkens with age. Blond is probably the only color that gets better with age, as gray strands can turn into silvery highlights in the hands of a skilled colorist. Here are simple home recipes that will infuse your blond locks with a lovely glow yet leave no traces of toxins in your system:

Lemon and Yogurt Glow Booster
: Alpha hydroxy acids in lemon juice restore shine and lightly exfoliate the scalp, while yogurt does the same trick with lactic acid, and adds proteins for hair nourishment. Combine 1 small tub (4 oz.) of plain yogurt with the juice of a half or whole lemon, depending on your hair length and volume. Leave on for five to ten minutes, then rinse off.

Potato and Applesauce Mask
: Raw potatoes contain the lightening enzyme catecholase, which not
only helps erase under-eye circles, but also lightens your hair. Grate one raw potato and squeeze the juice from the pulp. Add up to 1 cup of applesauce to the potato juice and stir well. Add cornstarch if the mask is too runny. Apply the mask on towel-dried hair and leave for at least ten minutes. Rinse and gasp in amusement as you see your hair lightened and brightened without any chemicals.

Avocado and Egg Yolk
: While it is great for all hair types and colors, this simple mask is especially good for blond hair, as it tends to be more porous and therefore can become limp and flat with heavy oil treatments. Avocado supplies proteins and lightweight fatty acids, while egg yolk strengthens the hair with lecithin and proteins. Simply mash 1 avocado with 1 egg yolk and make a face lifting mask with the egg white. Apply the hair pack and keep covered with a plastic shower cap for ten minutes or as long as you can, then rinse off.