Showing posts with label hair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hair. Show all posts

DIY natural permanent hair dye to turn hair from gray to black

This DIY hair dye is a natural alternative to the chemical dyes in stores, especially those containing PPD. PPD is found mostly in darker hair dyes. Unfortunately, many people have allergic reactions to PPD, sometimes even ending up in the hospital. This natural hair dye is not as quick. However, it works very well, but without the health risks. This hair dye involves 2 main ingredients: henna (aka stringy) and indigo powders. I will discuss 2 equally effective methods from which to choose based on your specific hair-dying needs.


METHOD 1 (3 steps). staggered activation processes of a) henna and then b) indigo > timed combination of the 2 pastes > only 1 cycle of applying to the hair & rinsing. 

Uses & benefits
  • to change the color of a full head of gray hair to black
  • quicker (than method 2). NB This quicker method takes roughly 4 - 5 hours.
Considerations
  • less cost-effective (than the alternative) if you only need to touch up a few gray sections, like new grow at the roots or the odd strand. After all, you will likely use far more indigo than your hair needs.

METHOD 2 (4 steps). activate the henna > cycle 1 of application to the hair & rinse > activate the indigo > cycle 2 of application & rinse  

Uses & benefits

  • to touch up a few gray sections, like new growth at the roots or odd strands. The henna turns gray hair orange, making it easier to see where to apply the indigo powder if you want to target only those specific areas.

Considerations
  • This method is overall more time-consuming. 

FAQs

Regarding the question of whether other methods exist, like combining the powders into a conditioning bar; such other methods that involve activating the powders long in advance are unlikely to retain the potency of the powders for long. The powders lose potency quickly, especially in the case of indigo which starts to degrade within only a few hours.


STEPS for both methods

Steps: Activate henna powder

  1. Wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo.
  2. Combine the following ingredients at approximately 40°C – 60°C. 
    1. henna powder. Henna powder needs several hours of activation in water before having its effect. Alone, it turns gray hair orange.
      • apx 2 tbsp henna per 6 inches of white hair may suffice to deep red 
    2. a liquid from the following options. It should be enough to gradually transform the henna powder into a paste with the consistency of runny yogurt. Henna powder is sometimes nicknamed 'stringy powder' because, once there is sufficient liquid, the consistency is a little stretchy, like fresh aloe vera water.
      1. water 
      2. slightly acidic liquid (apxr 6.5 to 7). Acidity breaks down the dye molecule, thereby making it more readily available to the hair. Options include 
        1. coffee, very concentrated brew (I added black tea for the darkening effect of its tannins)
        2. lemon juice, fresh or bottled
      3. liquid conditioner because henna can be drying to the hair  /  red hibiscus flower tea. I have also used hibiscus leaf water because of its conditioning mucilage.
      4. optional. a touch of oil for moisture.
  3. Allow the paste to stand for at least 3 hours


    Steps: Activate indigo powder

    1. In a separate container, combine the following indigo ingredients at approximately 30°C – 40°C. (Do not go above 45° c.) Then combine the indigo mixture with the  (henna) mixture above.
      • indigo powder, from 2 to 6 times the amount in volume of the henna powder above. Indigo powder needs as little as 10-15 minutes to become activated in liquid. After it has been activated, it is ready to be applied. Apply it to slightly damp hair. When combined with henna powder, it turns hair black. NB. People who do not have gray hair but only want to darken their black hair can use indigo powder alone. Since indigo powder is like clay, it is harder to mix in water. Use a fork to mix with liquid.

        • For hair to turn black

          • 2 to 4 tbsp indigo per 6 inches of hair length (when applying indigo as a separate step after the henna has been rinsed out)
          • 1 part henna 2 to 6 / 7 parts indigo (when combining henna and indigo)

      • water, warm (apx 40 C). Add the water very slowly because indigo paste is very fluid (quite unlike the viscous nature of henna). Use warm to hot water, never cold or steaming hot. The warmth helps to activate the dye release.
        • Optional. brewed coffee (just a little to loosen up paste)
      • salt, pinch (roughly 1/12 the volume of indigo powder). Some people say that salt helps to more readily release the indigo dye.
    • Allow to stand for 10-15 minutes or a maximum of 30 minutes. Avoid stirring continuously. This is important to allow you to see when the indigo is ready. When the dye release has occurred, a dark top layer should form on top of the liquid. However, you should see the original green color if you pull back the top dark layer. 



    Steps: Part 3 - Application 

    1. Wash hair with a clarifying shampoo to remove oils, protein treatments, etc to improve color transferability. This step is helpful for opening up the hair cuticle to improve the chances of success.
    2. Apply to washed hair with gloved hands. Be sure to wear old clothing (because this process can become messy). 
    3. Leave uncovered 
      • (combined paste) for 3 - 4 hours. Leaving the dye in beyond 4 hours is unlikely to make any difference.
      • (henna paste only) for 3 - 4 hours. Leaving the dye in beyond 4 hours is unlikely to make any difference.
    4. Rinse with only water. Use a conditioner as an option. However, do NOT shampoo at this point. 
    5. For the method involving a second cycle of applying & rinsing with indigo, leave uncovered 
      • (indigo-only application) for 1 hour. Leaving the dye in beyond 4 hours is unlikely to make any difference.
    6. If the orange from the henna is the only color that remains, reapply indigo paste. If you notice a green cast from the indigo, let it be because it will darken over the next few hours.
    7. When styling afterward, avoid heavy oil or deep conditioning treatments. Wait until about 5 days for the color to fix well before using these types of treatment.



    CONTENT RELATED TO DIY NATURAL PERMANENT HAIR DYE TO TURN HAIR FROM GRAY TO BLACK

    0 comments
    Labels: , , ,

    Rice Starch DIY

    Uses & Benefits of Rice Starch

    • rice starch may be used in cosmetic preparations like hair shampoo, skin creams and soaps.
    • rice starch may help to control excess oil in oily skin.
    • removing the starch allows you to prepare edible rice that is more suitable for anyone concerned with reducing blood sugar levels, like diabetics.



    To make rice starch, you will need the following.

    • rice, raw, organic & dry
    • water, COLD (NOT hot)*, roughly 10 times the weight of the dry rice
    • stick blender. If you use hot water or cook the rice, the non-starch parts of the rice will combine with the starch to the extent that makes it too hard to separate.
    • cheese cloth or other substitute made of cotton like a thin bandana
    • a large jug (for blending the rice and water and then for allowing the starch to settle)
    • a large 'catchment' container (to catch the strained off water and starch). I prefer a tall transparent jug. However, any large container will suffice.
    • dehumidification: 
      • dehumidifier  -- or --
      • baking sheet, good ventilation and sunlight on a dry day
    • storage container


    Steps for making of Rice Starch


    1. wash rice until water rinses clean. Ex 100g rice
    2. fully immerse and soak in COLD water for roughly 45 minutes. Dry rice can be easily blended in water. However, from within roughly 20 minutes of being soaked, most types of rice begin to absorb water. This absorption helps the blending process necessary for extracting the maximum amount of starch. In fact, my first very successful attempt at this process was with rice flour that I had made previously. Soaking the flour before and after blending it endlessly likely helped considerably. Regarding the water, depending on your container, roughly 3 times the weight of the dry rice should suffice. Do NOT cook the rice or use hot water (see reason above*). Ex 300g COLD water
    3. stick blend until the water becomes milky and the rice feels like very coarse sand.
    4. Add more water (roughly 7 times the weight of the dry rice) and allow it to soak for an additional hour. Ex 700g COLD water.
    5. stick blend again until very smooth. I used the highest setting on my blender to really breakdown the rice, even when I was starting with dry rice flour.
    6. (The milky water contains the starch). Very GENTLY pass the liquid through a cloth. Stretch the cloth above the catchment container and drag a spoon back and forth as the liquid drains through the cloth. I successfully did this process with a cotton wrap, which is the same type of fabric used for making light weight bandanas or handkerchiefs. Other common types of cloth include a nut milk cloth or cheese cloth and into the catchment container. Do not wring the cloth as this is likely to rip it. I keep the cloth moderately taut by tying its ends in a knot on one side of underneath the catchment container.
    7. To maximize your starch harvest, you may add more water to the remaining rice solids in the strainer and repeat the straining process. 
    8. cover the milky water and allow starch to settle for roughly 2 hours. 
    9. Rinse the starch as many times as necessary until the water above is clear. Even though the water is very milky and opaque, you should see the starch begin to settle within a few minutes. However, ensure the water becomes clear by rinsing the starch. To rinse the starch, drain off the milky water and then stir in fresh water with the settled starch. Repeat this step until the water becomes clear. (The remaining solid rice grains can be cooked with much less water than normal and seasoned to make rice that is low carbohydrate / starch-free and therefore more suitable for diabetics than otherwise).

    10. pour off water and transfer to baking tray
    11. allow to dry slowly in a dehydrator or the sun. Beware, applying to much heat that resembles cooking can result in a gelatinous effect. Rice starch becomes irreversibly gelatinous if combined with water and heat. 
    12. pulverize by blending the caked starch and then sift into a storage container. The amount of starch rendered is roughly 20% of the weight of the dry rice. Ex 20g rice starch.


    CONTENT RELATED TO DIY RICE STARCH

    0 comments
    Labels: , , , ,

    DIY Potato Starch

    Uses & benefits of potato starch 

    • rice starch may be used in cosmetic preparations like hair shampoo, skin creams and soaps.

    Steps for making potato starch

    1. Peel, cube and wash potatoes.
    2. Blend with plenty water.
    3. Catch the water while straining the mixture with a fine fabric. The water being caught contains the starch.
    4. Add more water to the fiber and repeat the straining process until you have extracted as much starch, evident by a 'cloudy' appearance of the water.
    5. Discard the solid that remains in the strainer.
    6. Wash the starch several times until the water becomes clear. To do this, wait for the starch to settle stiffly at the bottom of the container before discarding the water. Stir in fresh water and then wait for the starch to settle again before repeating the process.
    7. Dry the wet starch over a baking tray in the sun, oven or in a dehydrator.
    8. Blend the dried clumps of starch in a grinder until a fine powder.


    CONTENT RELATED TO POTATO STARCH


    0 comments
    Labels: , , , ,

    Creamy Rice Milk DIY

    This ultra creamy rice milk is ideal for anyone with nut or soy allergies and high energy needs like athletes. Having said that, when compared with dairy milk, it has less protein and more carbohydrates, the latter of which is not ideal for persons suffering with diabetes.

    This recipe is a very quick method for cooked rice milk. It renders either an extremely viscous milk I call a 'condensed rice milk' (the default product of this recipe), 'heavy cream rice milk' or a 'regular light weight rice milk' (the latter two of which are the result of diluting the condensed milk). This recipe gives you the choice to dilute to any of these levels of concentration from the same starting weight of raw rice grains. This method also provides a trick that makes this process much faster than other cooked rice milks.


    You will need
    • Rice grains, ground, white raw, 8.8 times less than the required amount of condensed milk (Example If I want 100g of condensed rice milk, I need 11.4 g raw rice)
    • Water, 14 times weight of raw rice (Example 159.6 g). 
    • Resources: 
      • coffee grinder
      • heat source, spoon and pot. I prefer pots that are narrow and tall than otherwise so as to minimize the surface area from which water evaporates. (If you are concerned with heavy metals, ensure that metal implements are stainless steel, ceramic and so on. For soap making, also, use distilled water) 
      • roughly 35 minutes overall
      • blender and bowl for mixing (I use tall jugs)
      • strainer
      • bottle for storing finished product

    Steps
    1. Use a coffee grinder to grind the rice grains. This is the time-saving trick I promised. Most people boil the rice grains whole and must cook for considerably longer. To be safe, I strain the ground rice to exclude the hard parts that can not be easily ground as those hard parts will not cook as quickly as the rest of the rice.
    2. Add the raw ground rice to roughly 10 times its weight in boiling hot water (Example I add 11.4 g raw rice to 114 g boiling hot water). Heat on a low flame until the rice looks more like porridge and can be easily mashed into a smooth paste. This is likely to require up to 20 minutes.
    3. Blend very well until a completely smooth paste. You should not be able to feel grains when rubbing this paste between your fingers. This is what I call the 'condensed rice milk'.
    4. Add a little of the remaining water that is roughly 4 times the weight of the raw rice (Example 46 g) to help in scraping, straining and pouring the milk. If you strained and boiled the rice grounds sufficiently, the amount of fiber that remains in the strainer should be negligible. Discard or compost that remaining rice fiber. This milk is what I call 'heavy cream rice milk'
    5. For what I call the 'regular light weight rice milk', add more water. A rule of thumb is to add water that is equal in weight to the condensed milk (from the previous step).


      CONTENT RELATED TO DIY CREAMY RICE MILK
      0 comments
      Labels: , , , ,

      Hair Growth with Fermented Rice Water

      Hair Growth with Fermented Rice Water

      Fermented rice water has been known to promote rapid hair growth, strengthen hair from the roots, promote hair elasticity and lustre, prevents gray hair, prevents split ends and provides nutrients like proteins, minerals and vitamins. This simple 2 ingredient recipe is inspired by the Yao women of China who have an average length of 6 feet of healthy hair. The key component of fermented rice water is a substance (called inositol) that can remain and work in hair even after rinsing out. 
      -- --
      Although you may  achieve results by simply boiling and using the rice water immediately afterwards, fermenting enhances the effectiveness, especially as it relates to lowering the pH level to better match the natural pH of your hair and providing additional nutrients. Fermented rice water has been used by persons of different hair types, ranging from curly / Afro / black hair to straight hair.

      To make fermented rice water, you will need


      • 1 part organic rice, white or brown
      • 5 parts water for the fermentation process
      • 1 day, 2 at most, especially in warm climates
      • A cup for pouring
      • A bowl for catching the poured rice water
      • shower cap or plastic shopping bag that is large enough to contain your hair
      • Optional: essential oils that promote hair growth like rosemary essential oil. If you are using the rice water on your face, lavender oil is a great example since it is great for both the skin and hair
      Take Control! Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel (Naturopathic Control) 



      Here is how to make fermented rice water

      • Rinse the rice, especially if you do not have organic rice
      • As an option, boil the rice until the water becomes opaque. Boiling the rice water before fermentation seems to make it more potent.
      • Leave the rice water to stand in an uncovered bowl at room temperature to ferment it slightly. The fermentation process should sour the water, thereby making it slightly more acidic and closer to the natural pH of the hair. In addition to the sourness, fermentation is apparent by bubbles that rise to the top of the liquid. In short, among other things, fermented rice water helps to restore your hair's natural pH. Although you can expect rice water fermentation to take 1 to 2 days, you can influence its speed by altering one or both of the following 2 factors. 
        • Higher temperatures speed up fermentation of rice water. Consequently, fermentation may begin within shorter periods in warmer climates or warmer parts of your environment. 
        • Leaving the rice in the water can speed up fermentation. However, it an option that is alternative to straining off the rice grains beforehand.
      • As an option, boil the fermented rice water. People who skip and keep this second boiling option state that they enjoyed success as it relates to softness of the hair. However, there appears to be debate over whether boiling the fermented rice water reduces the nutritional quality of the rice water to a significant extent. I confess; I do not fully understand the science for this process and will be happy for comments. However, my understanding is that the apparent creators of this process used the second boiling to stop fermentation. Since they are a tribe that is unlikely to have refrigeration, I tend to agree with proponents against the second boiling who prefer refrigeration as the means of stopping the fermentation process.
      • De-tangle your hair
      • Ideally, your hair should be dry hair as this improves the absorption of the fermented rice water
      • Dilute the fermented rice water with roughly 2.5 parts of water to 1 part rice water
      • Lean your head over the bowl while pouring the rice water over your scalp and allowing the rice water to run through the length of your hair before settling in the bowl below. If your hair is sufficiently long, allow the ends of your hair to remain in the bowl so they could soak in the settling rice water.
      • Massage the rice water through your hair and scalp. 
      • Use the pouring cup to collect fermented rice water from the bowl. Pour that water over your hair as many times as you need to allow your entire scalp and hair to be soaked through.
      • You may leave the fermented rice water in your hair as a leave-in conditioner. However, if you wish, you may rinse it out. 
        • In the case of the latter, allow the fermented rice water to stand on your hair in a shower cap or even plastic shopping bag for roughly 20 minutes while massaging your scalp
        • Wash your hair as usual with shampoo and conditioner. For instance, you can use my DIY aloe vera shampoo recipe 
      • If you have hard water, fermented rice water can build up on your hair if you do not rinse it out thoroughly. Consequently, you can use a natural clarifier like apple juice or lime juice
      • Use this fermented rice water repeatedly. For instance, most people do so with a frequency of once weekly
      • You can store remaining fermented rice water for up to a week in the refrigerator. FYI, refrigeration can stop the fermentation process.
      --
      --
      CONTENT RELATED TO FERMENTED RICE WATER FOR HAIR GROWTH
      0 comments
      Labels: , , , , , , ,

      How to make an egg substitute with flaxseeds

      USES & BENEFITS OF USING A FLAXSEED EGG SUBSTITUTE
      - An egg substitute if you run out of eggs
      - An egg substitute for egg-less vegetarian or vegan recipes
      - An egg substitute if you need to avoid eggs for health reasons, cholesterol and so on
      - An egg substitute if you want the following health benefits of flaxseeds       (also called linseed). For instance, flaxseeds are high in omega-3 essential fatty acids. These omega 3 essential fatty acids are the same type found in healthful fish oils. Using flaxseeds are said to help in reducing health risks like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, stroke and diabetes. Other benefits of flaxseeds include improving the health and beauty of your hair and skin.


      INGREDIENTS FOR THE EQUIVALENT OF 1 EGG

      • 1 tbsp flaxseed (brown or gold)


      • 3 tbsp warm water




      INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING A FLAXSEED EGG SUBSTITUTE

      1. Grind the flaxseeds. A blender can grind flaxseeds into small flakes. (This is important since your body can better absorb the healthful nutrients in flaxseeds only if the seeds are ground. If you use whole flaxseeds, your body will expel them that way.) If you want to keep the seeds whole, skip this step.


      2. Multiply the quantities of flaxseeds and water provided in the ‘Ingredients’ section above by the number of eggs required in a recipe.


      3. Place ground flaxseeds into small bowl


      4. Add water to the flaxseeds and then whisk


      5. Let the flaxseed mixture stand until it thickens. (The Flaxseed mixture usually thickens within 5 minutes). The flaxseed mixture should look like a paste.


      6. (Optional) Strain off the solid flaxseeds if you do not want to see or feel flakes in your food


      7. (Optional) Whip the flaxseed mixture to achieve a lighter consistency

      8. (Optional) If you kept the seeds whole, you may store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator until further use. 



      OBSERVATIONS & FURTHER COMMENTS ABOUT THIS FLAXSEED EGG SUBSTITUTE
      Recently, I used this flaxseed egg substitute in a chocolate banana cake. It was not possible for us to discern a difference in texture and taste between the cake with eggs and with the flaxseed egg substitute.

      The flaxseed egg substitute was successful even with a friend who often complains when I give him “too many healthy things”. To put this into context, let me briefly describe some experiences with him. He refused to eat fish soup into which he knew that I had poured only a small amount of fish oil (I was experimenting). He does the same with anything that includes flaxseeds. This even includes flaxseed flakes in cereal. I do not know whether that is all psychological because I do not believe that these 'healthy additions' made a huge difference in taste.

      When he ate the cake, I was not with him and had not told him about the flaxseeds. Some hours afterwards when I saw him and asked about the cake, he said that it was very good. He had not miss the eggs. When I explained that flaxseeds were used as an egg substitute, he jokingly said that his stomach hurt. We laughed. I no longer expect complains from him regarding flaxseeds – at least when I use a flaxseed like this.

      I am very happy about this flaxseed egg substitute because, in the past, he had health problems associated with high cholesterol and has a family history of diabetes ... but loves foods that contribute to those problems. This egg substitute will hopefully help him to at least reduce cholesterol in his diet and minimize other potential health problems. The fact that he continued to like the taste of food with this flaxseed egg substitute is helpful because, as said previously, he hates the other key way in which we get our omega-3 essential fatty acids in our diet (with fish oils).




      RELATED TO USING FLAXSEEDS AS AN EGG SUBSTITUTE:
      0 comments
      Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

      Solutions for specific hair and scalp problems - Essential Oils - Customize homemade shampoo

      While the basic homemade shampoos in our list below are effective, we sometimes customize them. We do this with additional essential oils whose healing properties offer the solution to personal hair and or scalp concerns that we currently have. I have compiled a list of some more common essential oils that are useful for homemade shampoos and conditioners.


      How essential oils can solve your hair and scalp problems:
      If you need to:
      Solution. Use single or multiple oils (See details of each oil below):
      Promote hair growth
      Rosemary, Jojoba(technically a wax), Bay, Ylang Ylang
      Stop hair loss, temporary alopecia, seborrhea / seborrhoea and other scalp disorders
      Rosemary, Tea tree, Jojoba
      (technically a wax), Cypress, Bay, Lavender, Patchouli
      Combat dandruff
      Tea tree, Rosemary, Lavender, Patchouli, Cedarwood
      Combat lice
      Tea tree, Lavender
      Have a general hair tonic
      Rosemary
       

      Combining essential oils
      While most oils may be combined with each other, certain mixes are particularly fragrant and healthful. We have also included this information below.


      Precautions & Alternatives
      Always do skin patch tests to determine whether you are allergic to an essential oil before using it for the first time. Below is a list of precautions. However, also note the alternatives when certain oils do not suit your personal circumstances. 




      How much essential oil should I use?
      We have found that the required quantity of essential oils is not an exact science. However, the following are suggested quantities.

      For approx 1/3 cup of shampoo: 
      • approx 15 drops - age range from teens to mid-60s
      • approx 7 drops - ages outside of the teenage to mid-60s range
      • approx 1-4 drops - children under 7
      • approx 5 drops - pregnant women

      Essential oils for hair - Details
      Name
      Benefits
      Properties
      Mixes well with (oils for your concern)
      Precautions & Alternatives
      Rosemary
      Boosts hair and scalp health; Promotes hair growth
      Smell: Strong & Clean
      Visual: Clear
      Other:  astringent
      Lavender, Peppermint
      Not for pregnant women or individuals who suffer from hypertension and or   epilepsy.



      As alternatives:
      Ylang Ylang (for hypertension sufferers);  lavender (for hypertension sufferers);  Aloe Vera gel methods
      Jojoba
      (technically a wax)
      Combats dandruff, hair loss (like temporary alopecia); promotes hair growth
      Other: Antiseptic; antifungal; resistant to high temperatures

      As an alternative to oils, Aloe Vera gel alone
      Cypress
      Combats hair loss (temporary alopecia);



             As an alternative to oils, Aloe Vera gel alone
      Bay
      Combats hair loss; Improves scalp health; promotes hair growth

      Smell: sweet and fresh
      Other: Antiseptic; astringent;
      Lavender; Rosemary
      Eugenol content may irritate skin; Not for pregnant women. Aloe Vera gel
      Lavender
      Combats dandruff, lice and other scalp disorders
      Smell: Very fragrant
      Other: antiseptic; hypotensive
      Rosemary; Bay; Tea Tree; Ylang ylang; patchouli
      As an alternative to oils, Aloe Vera gel alone
      Tea Tree
      Combats dandruff and other scalp disorders; Combats lice
      Smell: Sharp
      Other: antifungal; antiseptic
      Rosemary; Lavender
      Avoid use on broken skin.  
      As an alternative to oils, Aloe Vera gel alone
      Ylang Ylang
      Combats excessive sebum secretion; Promotes hair growth
      Other: Hypotensive (reduces blood pressure); antiseptic; sedative
      Lavender
      Excessive use causes nausea
      Patchouli
      Combats dandruff and other scalp disorders;
      Smell: musky
      Other: antiseptic; astringent; fungicide
      Lavender
      Excessive use may cause loss of appetite. 


      As an alternative to oils, Aloe Vera gel alone
      -- --
      Storage
      Place your product in a cool, dark place. If possible, use a dark bottle. These measures are useful for extending the shelf life of the natural, organic ingredients in your product.


      Recipes for natural Homemade Shampoo:




      Why we use natural shampoos and conditioners?
      When I underwent the live blood analysis, I was surprised to see that the ingredients in my hair products had entered into my blood stream. In fact, the doctor explained that each chemical hair treatment creates a spike of toxins in women’s blood analyses. In short, hair care choices can affect our health. Learn more about why we use natural homemade shampoos.
      0 comments
      Labels: , ,
      Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)