In this world full of soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and many other personal hygiene products it’s very easy to get caught up in the hype and end up with a bathroom stocked with these kind of supplies. When problems arise (acne, dry skin, etc.) most people go in search of the magic product that will make these problems go away. However, these products usually come with their own list of side effects so the battle continues.
Have you ever considered just using water and natural products such as oil in your personal regimen? This can not only save you money and time, but you can get much healthier results from this kind of regimen as well.
Here is a quick rundown of the different natural products you can use in substitution for your usual products:
Cider Apple Vinegar – cleanses hair
Lemon or Lime Juice – cleanses hair and can be used as a toner
Coconut Milk – great for spray on leave in conditioner
Mayonnaise – good deep treatment for hair; added egg will make this a protein rich treatment as well
Jojoba Oil – Closely mimics the body’s natural oil and can be used for moisturizing and hair oil
Castor Oil – A little helps cleanse hair and can also be used to cleanse skin
Green Tea – refreshes and nourishes hair and works will with raw shea butter as a conditioner
Tea Tree Oil – a few drops of this in your normal products can help fight dandruff and fight acne
Olive Oil – great for deep moisturizing and nourishment, can be used on dry skin or as a standalone hot oil treatment on hair
Oatmeal – powdered down, this is great for clarifying skin and drawing excess oil out of hair
Aloe Vera Gel – so long as it doesn’t contain any drying alcohols, this makes a great moisturizer anywhere, including facial
Banana – this is very moisturizing and nurturing for hair and is best suited for a conditioner base
Apple – slicks up hair and moisturizes, good for conditioners
Avocado – nourishes and moisturizes hair, best in conditioners but oil can be used in other formulations
Mango Butter – makes a great deep conditioner, very moisturizing
Honey – nourishes and shines up hair, best used in conditioners
Milk – dry or normal milk will help add nourishment to any water based formulation
Baking soda – the best substitute for toothpaste, cleans and shines without the bad taste of flouride
There are a lot more items that one can use to form their own products, but these seem to be the most common. Remember when making your own products that many may have to be chilled in between uses unless you add a preservative to keep it fresh. Also remember that your skin and hair need to be treated with gentle care – scrubs and brushes and the like really are not necessary and can cause more damage than they do good. Stay tuned for more articles in the future on how to battle tough skin and hair issues effectively and naturally.
