MIY - Really Simple Shampoo/Conditioner

Back in June I wrote an "Ingredient Insight" post about Rhassoul clay, including how it can be used on the hair.  Well, here's a really simple recipe for a conditioning shampoo:

1 heaped tablespoon Rhassoul clay
1 tablespoon Orange Flower Water

That's it! I said it was simple.

Mix the clay and flower water together. The mix should have a 'dolloping' consistency - thick but not stiff.  Work the mix into wet hair, taking care to cover the hair from root to tip. Massage into the scalp as well.  Leave for several minutes (or longer, just don't let it dry out) then rinse out, and say hello to soft (really soft!), shiny hair.  If you have very textured or dry hair then you might want to use a moisturiser afterwards, but there's no need for a separate conditioner.  Usually if I don't use conditioner my hair is really frizzy and feels like straw, not to mention the tangling, but not with this recipe.  Simple, but very effective.

You can buy Rhassoul online at various places including here, and Orange Flower Water at the supermarket, or Asian food stores.

Have you tried Rhassoul for hair care?  Leave a comment about how you used it and what the results you got.

Salad Facial

Source

We've got a bit of a glut of cucumbers at the moment and are about to be engulfed by tomatoes, which made me think that a salad-inspired recipe would be perfect.  This recipe is easy to make and great value as you get 2 different treatments from the same recipe.

The cucumber will refresh and  soothe the skin, and is mildly astringent; tomatoes are rich in Vitamins A and C - both important for cell renewal -  and antioxidants; lettuce (and Dead Sea Salt) is rich in magnesium which helps to enhance skin hydration and reduce inflammation; cider vinegar is astringent, anti-bacterial, and will help to maintain the pH balance of the skin.

INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cucumber
1 tomato
1 large lettuce leaf
1 tsp cider vinegar
1 tsp Dead Sea Salt (optional)
2 tbsp ground oatmeal or rice flour or cornmeal

• Roughly chop the cucumber, tomato and lettuce and place in a blender.
• Add the cider vinegar (and salt).
• Whizz it all together until smooth.
• Strain the mixture through muslin or a fine sieve, reserving the pulp, and pour the liquid into a clean bottle or jar to use as a toner. There should be about 50ml (roughly four tablespoons).
• Keep the liquid refrigerated, and use within a week.  To use, apply to the face and neck with cotton wool after cleansing.
• Add the ground oatmeal (or rice flour etc.) to the reserved pulp and mix well.  Use as an exfoliating face mask (apply to face and neck avoiding the eyes, then massage thoroughly using small circular motions; leave for 5-10 minutes, then rinse off).

Be sure to keep everything as clean as possible.

[Disclaimer:  I have tested this recipe on myself, but as everyone's skin is different, always patch test first to make sure that you do not have a reaction.  Apply a small amount of the mask / cleanser to a small area of skin (the crook of your arm or wrist for example) and  leave for 24 hours (rinse off the mask first!).  If all is still clear after that time, then you're good to go!]

Cleansing Bath Tea

We all know how easy it is to over-indulge over Christmas.  So here's an easy recipe that you can try to help you cleanse your system after all the excesses of Christmas and the New Year.

Ingredients:
4 tbsp Sea Salt
2 tbsp Fennel Seeds
2 tsp ground Ginger
1 tsp crushed Black Peppercorns
1/2 Grapefruit, sliced

You will also need:
Large piece of muslin or cotton (about 15cm square)
String
 
Place the ingredients in the centre of the large square of muslin or cotton.  Bring the corners up to the centre to form a small pouch and tie with the string.  Place in a hot bath and soak in the infusion.  After soaking use the bag to massage the skin.  If you don't have a bath, you can use the pouch directly in the shower to massage the skin.  If you want to make the tea to use later or to give as a gift, just dry the grapefruit slices in a dehumidifier (if you have one), or on a low setting in the oven for an hour (best to do lots though, to save energy).

This also works well as a drinking tea.  Just leave out the salt! You could also replace some or all of the ground ginger with fresh for a less punchy flavour.  Leave to infuse for 5-10 minutes, and add honey to taste.  There should be enough for two cups.