DIY Christmas Gift Ideas

Body Powder

You will need:
* a round piece of cotton fabric (20-30cm diam)
* 10cm+ a length of ribbon
* 2-4 table spoons dried lavender flowers or rock salt
* a jar with lid (an empty JOLI moisturiser container works well)
* 1/4 cup bi-carb soda
* 1 tablespoon corn flour
* essential oils (optional) – such as lavender, cypress or mandarin

Place the lavender flowers in the center of the fabric, bundle up the fabric ends and tie it up with the ribbon to make a round powder puff (see above picture). Place the bi-carb and corn flour in the jar with a few drops of essential oils. Place the lid on the jar and mix gently by giving a shake. If using essential oils stand for 24hrs and shake again gently before use.  Use the lavender flower powder puff to apply the powder to your underarms and body.  Do not use on babies or small children and do not apply to raw wounds - powder may sting cuts.

Age Fighting Facial Mask

• 2 teaspoons plain yogurt
• ½ teaspoon honey (or Agave Nectar)
• ½ teaspoon lemon juice
• 3 capsules of vitamin E (from health food shop)

Open vitamin E capsules or pierce with a pin and squeeze contents into a bowl, discard capsule shells.  Combine remainder of ingredients with vitamin E in a bowl and mix well.  Apply mask to face and leave to sit for 15 minutes before thoroughly cleansing your face.

Recipe to be made immediately prior to use.  Discard any leftovers.

Carpet Deodoriser

·     ½  cup bicarb soda

·    2-10 drops scent of choice i.e. lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary, tea tree.

Drip a few drops of oils into the bicarb soda, using only a few drops at first - you can add more later if you feel the scent is not strong enough.  Mix the oils into the bicarb with the back of a metal teaspoon making sure to blend the bicarb and oils thoroughly until there are no clumps of oil droplets.  Find a container with holes in the top useful for sprinkling your carpet deodorizer onto your carpet.  Sprinkle and leave for a few minutes before vacuuming.  Also deodorizes the inside of your vacuum.

Natural Scented Bath Oil

You will need

·         Vegetable oil with a low scent, such as caster oil, olive oil (not extra virgin olive oil which has a strong scent), macadamia oil, sweet almond oil, soya bean oil, avocado oil.

·         Natural additives such as: coffee beans, vanilla pod, scented rose petals, mint geranium leaves, lemon verbena, mint, orange peel, lavender etc.

·         Glass jars, cleaned and sterilized in boiling water.

Place your additive(s) in the bottom of a glass jar (you can blend additives if you like or keep them separate).  Pour your vegetable oil over the top of the additive(s) until just covered.  Place the lid on the jar.  Attach a sticker to the jar noting your creation, i.e. coffee beans in olive oil, and date it.  Sit the container on a sunny window sill for 2 to 4 weeks.

To use, drizzle some scented oil into your bath to moisturise your body while you relax.

From left to right:

apple; mint geranium; mandarin (bottom); cinnamon (top); carrot, vanilla (top), coffee (front).

Home Made Leg & Body Wax

You will need

·         ½ cup sugar

·         15ml lemon juice

·         15ml water

·         strips of cotton

·         a plastic knife

Place all ingredients in a small pot and simmer until sugar is dissolved.  Bring to the boil and boil for around 5 minutes until liquid gets to soft ball stage (see picture, on the spoon).  Allow to cool then pour into a 100g glass jar.

To use: heat in a microwave for 10 seconds until liquid is runny but not hot.

Apply to area with a plastic butter knife (metal knives can be too hot) and use natural cotton strips to peel off and remove hair.

Sugar is a natural preservative so this wax should last a good while.  Though it will eventually crystallize.

PLUS: Home Made Chocolate Bath Bombs
 

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Present all these wonderful DIY gifts in pretty jars with ribbons and tags and you have some wonderful gifts to give your family and friends this Christmas!!

  

Luscious Legs for Summer

Want to get your legs into tip top shape and looking sexy for summer? 

Here's how to do it the JOLI way... naturally.

Step one (1): exfoliate your legs with Enliven Facial & Body Scrub.  Lift away the dead skin cells that block hair follicles and cause ingrown hairs before hair removal.  This also helps lift up hairs that may be trapped under a thin layer of skin making them easier to remove.  Rinse off scrub and dry legs thoroughly.

Exfoliate legs prior to hair removal

Step two (2): remove hair with your most favourable method.  I like to epilate my hair, as this pulls the hair out from the root, much the same as waxing without all the mess and fuss.  Though any chosen method will work fine.

hair removal epilator

Step three (3): apply Luscious Body Butter to your legs to moisturise, hydrate and have them looking luscious and sexy... ready to take on the world!

apply Luscious Body Butter to legs

The finished result: luscious silky smooth legs ready to show off!!

hair removed and legs moisturised

  

Looking After Your Vagina Naturally

When it comes to our vaginas (or our 'good bits' as I like to say) we don't really give much thought to taking care of them.

It's just there and we do all the normal things we do to it such as washing it with soap, wiping it down with baby wipes, slathering on the personal lubricant etc.  I mean who really knows what people do to their good bits, or what iffy ingredients they put into contact with them????  I'm sure there are all sorts of things people are putting near their good bits that aren't at all good for them.

Did you know that personal lubricants contain propylene glycol and if you've followed this blog you'll know propylene glycol (one of the most widely used man made chemicals in skin care) is so toxic you have to wear PPE (personal protective equipment) to handle it and the only way to dispose of it is to bury it in the ground.  Best not to even buy into the production of such a chemical...  Anyway, by using personal lubricant we're applying propylene glycol to one of the most sensitive areas of our bodies - not to mention our partner's good bits.

The use of baby wipes holds the same concern.

When it comes to your vagina you should never use soaps to wash it.  Most soaps and body washes contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES).  Both of these are detergents that started out as industrial degreaseants and garage floor cleaners.  When applied to the human skin it has the effect of stripping off the oil layer and irritating and eroding the skin, leaving it rough and pitted.  SLES / SLS corrodes hair follicles and impedes hair growth., penetrates your eyes, brain, liver and remains there for a long time, and also retards the bodies natural healing process.  It is one of the ingredients that causes urinary tract infections to occur after using bubble bath lotions.  It also enhances the allergic response to other toxins and allergens and can react with other toxic ingredients to form cancer-causing nitrosamines.

Ok so that's the scary stuff... let's get to the good stuff!

Firstly JOLI's Facial & Body Wash does not contain propylene glycol, parabens or SLES/SLS.  It does contain organic aloe Vera gel and jojoba oil that moisturise your skin and replenish lost oils while you cleanse.  NOTE: it is very important you NEVER clean the inside of your vagina.  Both vagina's and penises (under the foreskin) have their own built in cleaning system and stripping them away with soaps and cleansers - especially inside vaginas - in NOT a good thing to do.

If you need to freshen up your vagina use our organic Purifying Cleansing Toner with added vitamin B applied to a cloth instead of using baby wipes.  Yes you could use plain old water however there are two things to consider.  1. water strips the body of it's natural oils and dries out skin because it has a different pH level to our skin.  2. anyone who uses a water purifier will tell you water contains iffy things.  Plus the toner has a nice light floral scent and essential oils that are good for your skin.

These are our good bits we're talking  about, why not use the best on them?

When it comes to personal lubricant our Massage Oil does just as good a job if not better and is also water proof so you can have fun in the shower or bath, as well as in the bedroom, on both his and her good bits.  Massage Oil comes custom scented, however, I recommend the Sexual Energy blend when it comes to enjoying intimate moments with your lover.  Also Massage Oil doubles as a body perfume, dab some on your good bits for an inviting scent, as well as being moisturising.

Soothing Salve can be applied after hair removal to ease the soreness and redness of the area and also help prevent ingrown hairs.  Don't use products that contain iffy ingredients and potentially toxic chemicals on your good bits.  It's bad enough people use them on their skin let alone sensitive areas of the body.

If you need to exfoliate prior to any hair removal Enliven Facial & Body Scrub is the perfect product for this.  Made for sensitive skin types it also moisturises as it exfoliates.

Skin Serum can also be applied to your good bits if you have a sore down stairs.  The rejuvenating and regenerative properties help heal sores quickly without stinging.  Skin Serum can also be used a luxury personal lubricant for the ladies and it is good for your skin!

So that is the run down on how to take care of your vagina (and penis) using natural alternatives.  Now off you go and use these products on yourself and your partner, have some FUN knowing you're taking care of your good bits safely.

NOTE: To keep your groin muscles in shape and help stop your pelvic floor from prolapsing, stop part way through urination and hold for 3 seconds before continuing.  At first you might not be able to do it, however with continuous practice once a day you will strengthen your pelvic floor.  This will also aid with incontinence.

pee chart - how to tell if you're dehydrated

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Have a horror story about products being applied to good bits?  Feel free to share.

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November Gift Box Giveaway!!

Our BEST gift box ever!!  We have 7 awesome businesses contributing to this months gift box to bring you a fantastic PRIZE!!

In this months gift box you get:
* Gorgeous petite peach vintage button stud earrings by Creative Mandie
* $15 gift voucher from Precious Princess Pieces and Tutus - beautiful handmade tutus and hair pieces for your lovely princess
* 2 handed decorated scented candle sticks by Bushland (supplied by JOLI)
* Stunning silver dangle earrings handmade by TTTreasures
* $50 gift voucher from Carma Living - breathtaking outdoor furnishings
* Superb quality pink embroidered face washer, plus handy note pad and book mark from Your Cheeky Monkey
* Simply beautiful pink, black and white scarf from Stunt Girls
* Choc Strawberry Bubble Bath Bomb cupcake, gorgeous Fluffy Lime Eye Cream and yummy Lip Balm by JOLI Natural Skin Care

 "How do I enter?"

Step 1: like ALL of the pages of the businesses who have generously donated prizes to this Gift Box Giveaway by clicking the links below.  Even if you've already liked the page click the link so that you get the full 7 points needed to enter.
Step 2: LEAVE a message on the JOLI Facebook page - if not all of the business Facebook walls - letting them know: "I am liking your page as part of the November Gift Box Giveaway"
If you're already a liker of any of these pages still leave a comment saying you are already a fan wanting to be part of the November Gift Box giveaway.

The pages and comments will be monitored and names of those who comment and LIKE ALL the pages will go into the draw.  NOTE: If you do not like ALL of the pages and comment on at least one page your entry will be null and void.

Winner will be announced Friday November 30th at approximately 6pm on the JOLI Facebook page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  

Bad Reaction To Hairwax

Hubby had been using a certain brand of hair-wax then, foolishly, decided to use try another over-the-counter brand.  It wasn't long after using the hair-wax that he started to notice a small lump at the base of his skull.  He thought it might be a blindie (a large pimple under the skin) or a cyst.  Some time later he notices another lump on his scalp about an inch or two away from the first one only this one is bigger.

Over a period of a few hours he finds more and more lumps and also notices a gland on his neck is noticeably swollen.  The lumps are painful to touch and even lightly touching hair in the area hurts.  His head is aching and throbbing and the lumps are red with sores on them.  Off to the doctors, the doctor prescribes some hair treatment for tinea / psoriasis and sends him on his way.

I grab the hair-wax in question and take a look at the ingredients.  Aside from water, glycerine, beeswax, alcohol, salt, wheat starch, castor oil, the rest reads like a chemistry lab:

Ingredients: cetearyl alcohol, bis-diglyceryl polyacyladipate-2, va/vinyl butyl benzoate/crotonates copolymer, tribehenin, ceteareth=33, isoceteth-20, propylene glycol, PPG-2-myristyl ether propionate, aminomethyl propanol, phenoxyethanol, acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, methylparaben, parum/fragrance, propylparaben, limonene hexyl cinnama, linalool, colourants, sodium chloride, magnesium chloride...

• Linalool: narcotic, respiratory disturbances, attracts bees, causes CNS disorder, toxic to animals, used in perfume, cologne, bar soap, shampoo, hand lotion, nail enamel remover, hairspray, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, Vaseline lotion, air fresheners, bleach powder, fabric softener, shaving cream, after shave, sold deodorant. 
•  va/vinyl butyl benzoate/crotonates copolymer is a polymer of vinyl acetate.

Alcohol is high on the product list and as you can see there are parabens in this product along with propylene glycol.  What concerns me though is the use of vinyl in this product.  It makes me think of some builders left over window puddy being stuffed into a container and sold as hair wax!

Interestingly enough my husband doesn't have especially sensitive skin.  In fact he's not one to fuss about what he puts on his body.  Yet the above blend of ingredients caused a severe reaction on his head and scalp.  Doctors expect it will take 2 weeks to improve and a little longer for his swollen gland to dissipate.  Glands swell up because the 'infection' moves down to the glands.  Glands swelling up are a sure sign the body has an infection / problem to begin with.

Needless to say hubby thought he had cancer and was quite worried, though doctors say he will be ok.

However, his hair started to fall out in these affected areas, causing bald patches. To this day his hair thinned out noticeably in those areas and hasn't grown back.

Have you ever had an adverse reaction to a skin care product?  Share your story with us.

  

Product Giveaway #2 Choc strawberry bubble bath bomb

One Chocolate Strawberry cupcake bubble bath bomb - large, the size of a muffin.

The base of the cupcake is a chocolate scented bath bomb.  The icing is strawberry scented with silver sparkles and bubbles up in water.
Break up the cupcake under running water or plonk in your bath water and watch it fizz and bubble away.  Can be cut in half and quarters if you want to use more than once.
*contains fragrance.

One to giveaway absolutely FREE.  All you have to do is like our JOLI Facebook page by clicking on the ENTER TO WIN [NOW CLOSED].  When we reach 25 "likes/entries" one name will be drawn and YOU could be the lucky WINNER!!  Note: if you already like our page you can still click the link and enter.

  

Product Giveaway #1 Bath Salts Serenity

Bath Salts - Serenity ~ 250gm

Relax and feel uplifted while you soak… Naturally.
With vibrant scents of lemongrass, cedarwood and petitgrain these salts will help relax your mind while leaving you feeling warm and revitalized.
Also suitable for foot and hand spas.
[vegan]

One to giveaway absolutely FREE.  All you have to do is like our JOLI Facebook page by clicking on the ENTER TO WIN [NOW CLOSED].  When we reach 50 "likes/entries" one name will be drawn and YOU could be the lucky WINNER!!  Note: if you already like our page you can still click the link and enter.

(comp open to Australian residents only).

  

Baby Wipes + DIY recipe

Recently I purchased a packet of baby wipes because a bird flying overhead pooped on my shoulder and I needed something to clean myself off with quick smart.  The wipes I purchased have the words ‘Babies Choice ŸAlcohol Free’.

When I turn the packet over to read the ingredients it says:

Aqua, polysorbate 20, propylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, disodium cocamphodiacetate, tocopheryl acetate, aloe barbadensis, fragrance, methylchloroisothiazoline, methylisothiazolinone, 2-bromo-2 nitropropane-1, 3-diol, citric acid.

• That is a LOT of parabens in these baby wipes!  The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that parabens displayed estrogenic activity in several tests and can have endocrine-disrupting action.  
• ‘2-bromo-2 nitropropane-1, 3-diol’ has an incredibly high hazard rating as a known human immune system toxicant.
• ‘methylisothiazolinone’ has been associated with allergic reactions and neurotoxicity.

While they say Babies Choice I’m fairly sure if babies could talk and they knew what these ingredients meant they wouldn’t choose to use these baby wipes.  It’s up to us adults to make the RIGHT choice for them.

Even the eco friendly baby wipes with the biodegradable packaging contain propylene glycol.  Propylene glycol is an alcohol commonly used as a skin conditioning agent. It has been associated with irritant and allergic contact dermatitis as well as contact urticaria in humans; these sensitization effects can be manifested at propylene glycol concentrations as low as 2%. (Information from: http://www.ewg.org).

Overuse of Baby Wipes

There was a story about a woman with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) who used baby wipes to clean every surface of her home, every day of the week, numerous times a day.  She used baby wipes because they were convenient, just grab a wipe from the packet and off she goes cleaning her house, and also because she felt they had germ killing properties and was obsessed with wiping out germs around her home.

The OCD was the main topic, however, they did mention her recent doctors visit where it was found the lady had excessively high amounts of toxic build up in her system and thus her health was failing due to constant exposure to the toxic chemicals in the baby wipes.  It surprised me that doctors are aware of the potential risk of over exposure to the chemicals in baby wipes (and other products) yet we hear next to nothing about it.

Limit Your Exposure

It’s fair to say most of us are most likely not using baby wipes in the same manner as this woman.  We might clean a baby bottom a couple of times a day or use them randomly to wipe bird poo off our shoulder.  The main point is: baby wipes do contain undesirable ingredients and it is important to limit your use of them or replace them altogether with a cloth and water.

Baby Wipe Recipe - make your own

* A rectangle container to put wipes in

* 1 tablespoon castile liquid soap

* 1 tablespoon calendula oil

* 1 cup pure water

* Cotton face washers, paper towels, or other suitable cloth.

* [optional] add a drop or 2 of lavender essential oil

Mix the liquid soap, calendula oil and water in a jar and shake well to amalgamate.  Place cloths of choice into your chosen container and pour liquid over the cloths.  You might need to ring the liquid out of the cloth prior to use.  Note: there are no preservatives in this lotion, depending on how you store your cloths they could begin to smell damp after a little while.

An alternative is to store the lotion in a bottle and dampen cloth with some solution prior to changing baby bottom.

  

Make Your Own Washing Powder & Dish Liquid

Went through my cupboard the other day and found a bunch of toxic products I never use.  This is a picture them before I cleared them out (some are brand new never used).  Not meaning to throw my husband under a bus (sorry hubby), I am NOT the one who purchases this stuff.  I know what nasties are in these bottles.  Hubby however likes to come home with shining new toys that burn your nose hairs off when you use them, he thinks they work better when they stink to high heaven.

Around the home I use a number of different green all natural cleaning products from Nature Direct, and I'm in the process of showing hubby they do work.  No need for those other toxic potions.

There are two products I am yet to find all natural green alternatives for: 1. clothes washing powder 2. dish washing liquid.  So I had a play around and made my own.

Clothes washing powder recipe:

1/2 cup of water
1 cup grated castile soap (or other natural soap)
1 cup washing soda
1 tablespoon eucalyptus oil [optional] - can be substituted with another scent



1. Boil 1/2 cup water, add grated soap flakes and stir on low heat until dissolved.






2. Remove from heat and add the washing soda.  Mix thoroughly.

 3. Add eucalyptus oil and mix well.  Pour the mixture into a flat plastic or glass tray and spread it out so that it is about 3mm thick only.  Leave to sit for a few hours or over night.



At first the solution comes out wet and runny, however it does dry out, in fact sets rock hard.  This is why it is important to place it on a tray in a thin layer.



Break up the the dry powder to makes clumps then either grind it up in a food processor or mortar and pestle.  Store in a well labeled container and keep by the washing machine.  Use about a tablespoon at a time to wash clothes.


Alternatively: pour washing powder into a wide mouth jar and leave to set.  When set, you can use this as a natural marble paste to clean tough surfaces such as shower grout.





Dish washing liquid:
4-6 soap nuts
2 cups water
1 teaspoon eucalyptus oil [optional] - substitute with another scent if you prefer

Place the water and soap nuts in a small saucepan.  Bring to the boil then simmer for 30mins.  Remove from heat and allow to cool.  Add eucalyptus oil if using it.  Alternatively use lemon essential oil or another scent of choice.  Pour liquid into a pump bottle and leave by the sink and use to wash dishes.

NOTE: can also be used as a liquid hand soap.
NOTE: this liquid soap will last around 2 weeks, it contains no preservatives. If you wish to keep it for longer store in the fridge.

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Authors notes: the above dish liquid recipe doesn't bubble up so if you like LOADS of bubbles this might feel like a let down.  It cleans wonderfully regardless of having no bubbles and the eucalyptus oil helps to further break down grease and grime.

  

A True Friend

A True Friend ~ by JOLI Natural Skin Care

  

The Many Uses for Soothing [Eczema] Salve

One the benefits to using JOLI products is that many of them are versatile and offer a range of different uses.  One of our most versatile products is our Soothing Salve [formally Eczema Salve].

Here is a list of all the versatile uses for this one very handy product:

* Eczema, to moisturise the skin and relieve itching and redness.  Eczema is caused by the bodies inability to moisturise itself.  It is very important and worth while to keep skin moisturised with Soothing Salve.

JOLI Soothing Salve for rashes

* Psoriasis, apply to scalp where psoriasis occurs.

* Mozzie and insect bites, quickly eliminates the itchiness and irritation of bites.

* Baby moisturiser, to soothe baby and moisturise skin after bathing, and any time during the day or before bed.

* Dry skin, apply to patches of dry flaky skin, e.g. around the eyes, for instant miosturisation.

JOLI Soothing Salve for exzema

* Sleep (you know that crusty buildup that occurs around eye lashes), apply salve lightly to eye lashes before bedtime to reduce 'sleep'.

* Conjunctivitis (or pink eye) caused by allergies or itching, apply salve to itchy and irritated eye area to relieve the urge to scratch.

* Tattoos, recently had a tattoo done or thinking about getting "ink"?  Soothing Salve can be applied to tattooed area to aid with skin healing and keeping skin moisturised, also stops scabs from itching.

* Baby bottom balm, apply to angry red rash to soothe redness and soreness without any stinging sensation.

* Cradle cap, looking for a natural alternative to cradle cap creams, apply Soothing Salve, specially formulated to be gentle on babies skin.

* After shaving, apply salve to aid in relief of itchy skin and reduce ingrown hairs.

* Burned yourself while cooking, hit your arm on the rim of a hot pot?  Apply Soothing Salve to quickly reduce the sting and redness.

JOLI Soothing Salve for new tattoos

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On any given day customers will contact JOLI telling of others uses they've found for this product.  It really is a most versatile, useful product, very handy to have on hand.  We carry our tub with us every where and never leave home without it.

You might also be interested in: Skin Care While Camping with more versatile products.

  

October Gift Box Giveaway!!

 with It's that time of the month again where we are giving YOU a wonderful opportunity to win a gift box full of gorgeous goodies from some wonderful Australian companies.

In this Gift Box you get: 

Gorgeous petite orange vintage button stud earrings by CreativeMandie,
Two adorable finger puppets by Your Cheeky Monkey,
A pretty yellow and magenta handmade jewellery trinket box (supplied by JOLI),
10.5 x 16.5cm handy note pad and mini extension file note book with pencil (from Artwrap, supplied by JOLI),
Stunning handmade gold and bronze coloured earrings by TTTreasures,
Decadent Fluffy Lime Eye Cream by JOLI Natural Skin Care.

So now you're wanting to know   
 "How do I enter?"

Entering this competition is easy.
Step1: like ALL of the pages of the businesses taking part in this Gift Box giveaway.
Step2: WRITE a message on at least ONE (if not all) of the business Facebook's walls letting them know 
"I am liking your page as part of the October Gift Box giveaway"
[feel free to browse and shop their gorgeous goodies while you're there!!].  
If you're already a liker of any of these pages still leave a comment saying you are already a fan wanting to be part of the October Gift Box giveaway.

The pages and comments will be monitored and names of those who comment will go into the draw.  NOTE: If you do not like ALL of the pages your entry will be null and void.

Winner will be announced November 7th at 6pm on the JOLI Facebook page.

[Open to Australian residents only.]  GOOD LUCK!!!!

Comp starts 12:01pm 29/10/2012 - Ends 12:01pm 7/11/2012

No Poo Movement follow-up

[hair after washing with bicarb water mix]

After accepting a personal challenge to try the No Poo Movement (shampoo) just to give my readers the run down on the results...

I'm here to report:

I went without using shampoo for 5 weeks and my hair never stopped constantly looking wet, that's how I'd describe it.  Ironically (or is that strangely) my hair did have more volume and was less flat, less pinned to my head the way it normally is.  Breakouts around the hair line became an issue, on my temples, sideburns, below my ears.  [In truth though I did run out of Facial & Body Wash and my precious skin healing Skin Serum - so this could also be a factor.]

When I was due to attend special occasions I washed my hair with a bicarb water mix - 1 cup of warm water with a tablespoon of bicarb soda - and the results were amazing (see above pic).  My hair was shining and voluminous and soft.  My hair stayed this way for 3-4 days after washing [yes I waited that long in between washes since I wanted to thoroughly test all aspects of this challenge] before gradually going back to the 'wet' look.  The only issue: my hair was also very static the next day and thereafter making brushing interesting.  It was like touching one of those electric static ball thingies.

Now that I'm back to using SLES free shampoo I'm finding my hair is flat and limp again.  My scalp is itchy.  My hair begins to get oily quicker, for e.g: if I wash my hair on Monday night by Tuesday evening my hair is starting to look oily already meaning I have to wash my hair every 2nd day.  The static is taking a while to dissipate and I keep getting these ridiculously knotty knots as the base of my skull which are super fun to try and get out.  Though these are caused not by the shampoo but from wearing collared jackets and scarfs during cold weather.  Now I'm using shampoo again I'm finding the knots worse.

My findings:

• I don't know if eventually, say after 2 months or more, my hair would stop looking wet without using any shampoo.  I didn't really want to wait that long to find out.
• Using bicarb soda was quite effective in that my hair stayed clean for a long time and looked shiny and stunning.  The static was an issue though.  Perhaps there are additional substances to be trialed here with varying results.  Will have to work on that...
• Back to using mainstream shampoo, I've only been doing so for around 1 week and I'm already hating it.  Flat hair... urgh!  Getting oily quickly... don't like!  Itchy scalp... driving me nuts!

Shampoo is NOT a really good product to use on hair.  It can dry out the scalp and it definitely strips hair and scalp of natural healthy oils.

Are you up to the No Poo challenge?  Would you try it yourself and see what results you get?  Have you tried it before?  Feel free to share your comments and remember to tick the reactions boxes so we know you love us.

  

No Poo Movement

I recently watched a segment on Ecotopia TV on the No Poo movement.  Poo meaning shampoo.
Is Shampoo a Sham?

I've always wondered how shampoo got it's name.  Well here is the answer from Yahoo answers:
The word shampoo in English usage dates back to 1762, with the meaning "to massage". The word was a loan from Anglo-Indian shampoo, in turn from Hindi chāmpo, imperative of chāmpnā, "to smear, knead the muscles, massage". It itself comes from Sanskrit/Hindi word "champā", the flowers of the plant Michelia champaca which have traditionally been used to make fragrant hair-oil.
Read more HERE: http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071219080345AAhq6W8

Here is some more info on shampoo and what goes in it on WIKI.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shampoo

Anyway, back to the No Poo movement...  More and more people are taking up the movement to stop using shampoo in their hair.

Why?   

Yes a very good question.  Mainly because of the chemicals (sulfates) in shampoo that wash into our waterways.  In Australia most sulfates and detergents are transported through drainage to water treatment plants and are not washed out into the ocean.  That's not to say shampoo isn't environmentally damaging.  There is the mass production of plastic packaging shampoo comes in, the pollution from manufacturing the packaging, discarding this packaging in mass quantities and how un-environmentally friendly the breakdown of such products is, PLUS the chemicals used in shampoo that we then apply to our scalps and bodies and absorbed into out skin.  Not good!

What the No Poo movement claims is that shampoo is an unnecessary thing and we have all been duped into believing by the advertising giants who tell us we NEED shampoo in order to have luscious locks.  The movement sports numerous people (with numbers growing) who have been going shampoo free for years and you would never be able to tell by looking at their hair.  Their hair is full of body and bounce and doesn't look dirty or grubby or unhealthy (see the above video link to see for yourself).

The movement seems to be bigger in Europe than it is here.  Maybe their sulfates are washed straight into their water??  Here is a blog written by a man in Europe about his move away from shampoo and I like how he says  "I reckon that if everybody eliminated shampoo, that simple effort would single handedly save the planet." 

Ok, so I've taken up the challenge and stopped washing my hair with shampoo just so I can share my findings with you.  I started on the 3rd of September after being seriously ill and bed ridden for 4 days.  When I finally got up and showered I didn't use shampoo to wash my hair and haven't used it since.  I have to say there is a transition period where you hair will look greasy and limp and all sorts of yuk!  And yes that is where I'm at.  I swear I've had a bad hair day every day since then.  I'm using lots of ponytails and buns to try and hide it.  And yet I haven't needed to style my hair.  My hair is just sitting naturally and if it wasn't so greasy looking it would be HOT with a capital H!  After nearly two weeks of 'no poo' my hair looks better now than it did at the start.  So I'll keep going with the experiment and see how things look in a couple of weeks time.

I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED!

To aid with this movement to stop using shampoo there are a couple of things you can try such as: making a blend of 1 cup of warm water with a tablespoon of bicarb soda to make a sort of green shampoo.  This will help break down the oils quicker.  Also use a white vinegar or apple cider vinegar rinse after washing to clean away oils and residue.

  

Natural Detox

Detoxing is a great way to remove the build up of toxins from your body.  We are exposed to toxins daily via chemicals in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food and beverages we consume, the makeup, skin care and hair products we use.  Even the clothes we wear and the furniture we sit on.  While we may not be able to rid ourselves of all of the toxins we're exposed to choosing some natural alternatives is the best option.

Detoxing is seen by some as not such a good thing to do, suddenly depriving the body of all the things it's used to.  Taking these things away in one hit can stress some bodies out.  Others swear by detoxing, it's the be-all-and-end-all of cleansing the body and mind.

In general detoxing should be done for no longer than 7 days, however, the aim off this blog is to get you started off gradually and build up to a life style that promotes good health and aids in keeping the amount of toxins you're exposed to at a minimum.

So what are some natural ways to detox?

Natural bath salts are a great way to detox.  The salts draw out impurities from your body while you enjoy a relaxing soak in your bath.  It doesn't get much better than that.  Choosing natural salts that contain essential oils NOT fragrance is important as fragrance contain stabilizers that can contribute to the build up of toxins in your body.

[JOLI Bath Salts ~ Serenity]

Drinking herbal tea is a great way to flush toxins from the body.  Teas such as green tea, chamomile, jasmine and peppermint are all good as they contain no caffeine.  Avoid black tea and coffee.  If you're often tired in the morning peppermint tea and eating an apple are both great ways to wake you up in the morning.  Water is also good, however, drinking warm tea also helps aid digestion and is something you can continue to do as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Lemon water, a glass of water with a squeeze of lemon juice is good for kick starting the metabolism.  Have a glass first thing in the morning and after your last meal at night time.  If you're concerned about toxins in tap water think about getting a water purifier.

Eating healthy foods is a must.  Lots of fruits and vegetables.  Cut down on processed foods and foods that contain additives.  Again, this list of foods is something you can maintain as part of a healthy eating plan and doesn't need to be something you only do part time.

Avoid mainstream makeup, skin care and hair care products.  They contain all sorts of toxins/chemicals that are absorbed into your body as they are applied/used.  Move to more natural alternatives such as JOLI Natural Skin Care and a good brand of mineral makeup. 
Here are some brands we have researched and found that their ingredients list is quite good - though I am sure there are plenty more (if you know of more chemical free makeup brands feel free to share):

• CC Mineral Makeup
• Elusyion Mineral Makeup
• Adorn Mineral Makeup
• The All Natural Face

As you can see from the list of foods to eat [above], there is also a list of foods to avoid.  Of course sugar and alcohol are on the list.  If you smoke and wish to detox it would be necessary to quit smoking for at least 7 days during your detox (if you have no desire to quit altogether).  Cigarettes have all sorts of chemicals in them that pollute the body, causing skin to dry out and age more quickly, causing teeth to decay and discolour, and also cause your clothes, body, breath and house to smell (and your car if you smoke in there).  Giving up completely may not be something you're able to do - so try for 7 days to see how you feel.  You never know, after a 7 day detox you might not feel like taking up smoking again.

Change your cleaning agents to either home made or more natural alternatives.  This too limits the amount of toxins you're exposed to via your clothing, and wash your new clothes prior to wearing them to wash away as many chemicals as you can.  It may not have occurred to you however dyes are made with all sorts of chemicals that can cause skin reactions - this is especially important to know when considering children and babies.

What other ways can you think of to naturally detox?