Homemade Deodorant

Homemade Deodorant

So my family thinks I have really lost it. First I start homeschooling - they think I am psycho, but I love it. Best decision I have made in a while. Then, I make my own shampoo. I hate chemicals, unless they are used to clean my bathroom toilet, then chemical away, but to put on my skin, hair, etc. Not very comforting to me. I gave you my shampoo recipe in my last post. As an update, it has been about a week, and my hair looks awful. I really want to love this stuff. I know that it takes a week or so for your head/hair to adjust. I did put coconut oil in it today as an extra softener, moisturizer for my hair and it looks really stringy. I know not to use that anymore. But, I am going to stick with it. If it kills me, I will learn to love this. I might have to come up with another formula, but I am determined to rid my daily routine of as much chemical based products as possible. If you do make that shampoo, which again I am going to stick with, DO NOT get it into your eyes. Oh my gosh - pain is all I have to say. I couldn't open my eye for about 10 minutes, not even to wash it out. So please, be careful.

Deodorant:

• 1/2 C coconut oil
• 1/2 C shea butter or cocoa butter (I used shea)
• 1/2 C beeswax 
• 1 tsp. Vitamin E oil (Optional)
• 3 tbsp. baking soda (Omit if you have sensitive skin)
• 1/2 C arrowroot powder
• 2-3 capsules of high quality probiotics (not the kind you have to refrigerate)
• Essential oils of choice (optional) 

How to make:  

Combine coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax in a double boiler or a glass bowl over a smaller saucepan with 1" of water in it. I used an old mason jar which I will reuse and placed in a pot with water. No need to wash (Yah)  

Turn the burner on and bring water to boil. Stir ingredients constantly unit they are melted and smooth. 

Remove from heat and add the vitamin E, baking soda, arrowroot powder, probiotics, and essential oils. Make sure the mixture is not hot to the touch (warm is OK) so that the head doesn't kill the probiotics. 

Gently stir by hand until all ingredients are incorporated. 

I poured into cupcake liners. I tried to find the plastic reusable cupcake molds but didn't find any. You can also pour into an old stick deodorant, but let it harden 15-20 minutes before you pour into that. Just spoon it in and pack it down. Leave the cap off overnight so it can completely harden before use. 

Today is the first day I used it. Feels a little waxy, but doable. And, as of yet, I do not stink. 

I got most ingredients at the local health food store, Back to Basics, but I found them a little pricey. Next time, I will buy from an online source like Mountain Rose Herb. They seem reasonably priced and they deliver quickly.  

Next on my agenda - homemade lotion. I use tons of lotion. I lotion every inch of me every day, so I am hoping this will be cost effective, but it might be worth a little extra. 

So here is to a healthy, all-natural living. 

Peace out YO!!!!

All Natural

I have been slowly weaning myself from store bought, over processed food, over chemically products to a more natural approach to living. A few months ago I made my own laundry detergent and dishwasher soap. Both of these were powder, but my husband informed me that powder formula was not good for the septic. So my next approach will be for a homemade liquid dishwasher and laundry soap. (recipe at another time)

I had recently bought some homemade soap that my friend had made. I fell in love. My skin feels so much better, much smoother, and just overall healthier. I will be making my own in the future when I am need, but for now I have 5 bars that will last me a little while.

This, however, got me thinking of trying to make my own shampoo and conditioner. I tried the "no poo" thing before, but I couldn't get myself to like it, and now as I am trying to grow my hair out, I knew this just wasn't going to work for me. So I went in search of a "recipe" for homemade shampoo. I came across one that I will be trying first and if I like it, I will stick with it. I am hoping that my hair will become more healthy as I have very dry, flyaway hair that looks awful unless I straighten it or make it go all curly which usually doesn't come out to my liking. So my search for a good all natural shampoo is in the works.

For my first attempt:

Natural Homemade Coconut Shampoo

• 1/4 cup coconut milk. I made this myself. Instructions at the bottom.
• 1/3 cup Liquid Castille Soap. I ordered this from The Common Scents, Inc. I found them to be reasonable. I also got a few different essential oils. 
• 1/2 teaspoon (or several capsules) of vitamin E oil (optional) I didn't have any so I did not add this. 
• 20 drops of essential oils of your choice. I used lavender. 
• 1/2 teaspoon olive oil or almond oil. I used olive oil as I have dry hair. If you have oily hair, I would omit this.

How to make: 

1. Combine all ingredients in an old shampoo bottle or jar of some kind. I used an old hand soap pump bottle. 
2. Shake well to mix.
3. Keep in shower for up to 1 month.
4. Shake before each use. 
5. Use about a teaspoon every time you shampoo. 

With my hair, I definitely need a conditioner, so for the meantime, until I can find a good "recipe", I am going to use the apple cider vinegar as this is an all natural conditioner. 

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 cup of water

Lemon essential oil (optional)

Homemade coconut milk  

4 cups water

1/5-2 cups of unsweetened shredded coconut 

1. Heat water but do not boil. It should be hot, but not scalding. 
2. Put coconut in blender and add water. 
3. Blend on high for several minutes until thick and creamy.
4. Pour through mesh colander first and then cheesecloth. Squeeze all the milk out of the cheesecloth. 

I made extra so I could make coconut oil. 

So after I see how this works, I may just venture into a homemade face cream. If anyone has a recipe for such, please share. 

Happy shampooing.

Peace out!!!! Happy New Year y'all