Body Wash Revisited

Hi there!
It as been over 6 months since I began using my homemade body wash. I am here today to officially review and adjust the recipe.
My original post and recipe can be found by clicking here.

Now that it has been some time I have tweaked the recipe and found this to work best for me:

1/4 cup raw, unfiltered honey
2/3 cup Castile soap (I use Dr. Bronner's)
1/4 cup water

What changed?
-I no longer add the essential oils to the wash. Why? I feel like it was a bit pointless and a waste of precious oils. I use them so often in so many other things during my daily routines and decided I would rather not wash some down the drain. I am getting clean just fine between the honey and Castile soap... plus, the Castile soap already has essential oils included in it.
- I no longer add the almond oil. I did not feel that it was making a difference in the way my skin feels and did not want to wash it down the drain. I use lotion after I bathe and my skin feels hydrated just fine.
-I added water to the recipe. I feel like it helps stretch the use of each batch. It makes the body wash much more sudsy so I use less on my body pouf.

I recycled an agave bottle. If you feel like you still want to use EO's in your body wash please remember to use PET plastic. It is safer than glass when you are slippery in the shower and also safe for essential oil storage.

Enjoy!!
Lily Bean

Hair Care Update

Howdy!
It has been over 6 months since I let go of my conventional hair care products and turned to the "no-poo" way.
It is time I report back on how my hair has changed and update you on how I adjusted my recipe.

I wish I had a way to let you feel the difference in my hair. I have always struggled with frizzy hair and I would be forced to use hair serums after every wash. Ever since switching to my own recipes for hair care it is like I have new hair. My hair has never been healthier, felt softer, or been this shiny. The best thing is, I no longer have frizz!! I used to wash every 2-3 days and now only need to wash every 5-7 days, Granted, we are barely entering summer so we shall see how this goes. The only thing that is a minor struggle are my bleached ends. I have had bleached hair on and off since I was 15... only taking a break when I needed to be professional here or there. You can imagine how hard that is on my naturally pitch black strands. The bleached ends have needed to get trimmed monthly because they feel frazzled. I imagine I could figure a recipe for deep conditioning but, the truth it, I am coming to one of those "off" times where I need to be professional in a few weeks and figured I may as well slowly trim the green away to start adjusting to "normal".

I have no had any issues with styling my hair. I am accustomed to wet sets for retro curls some days and flat ironing others. None of this had been thrown off by no-poo hair care.

Do remember! When you first start your no-poo journey the road will not be easy. Your scalp is used to (insert your age here) years of constantly stripping your natural oils. When you stop using "regular" shampoo you will experience oily hair for a few weeks-to-months. Everyone's experience is a bit different but once you get passed that awful stage, you will find your glorious strands that have been buried under conventional hair products your whole life.

Here is how I care for and style my hair now:

SHAMPOO
You can find my original post and recipe by clicking here.

Updated Shampoo Recipe:
2/3 cup Castile soap (I use Dr. Bronner's)
3 tbsp baking soda
1/3 cup water

What changed?
- I no longer add essential oils to my shampoo. Why? I feel like it was a bit pointless and a waste of precious oils. I use them so often in so many other things during my daily routines and decided I would rather not wash some down the drain. I am getting clean just fine between the baking soda and Castile soap... plus, the Castile soap already has essential oils included in it.
- I adjusted the amount of water added. Adjust this to your liking. Less water makes for thicker consistency but more water makes it more sudsy and helps stretch each batch.

I love using a plastic picnic ketchup bottle since the recipe makes for thinner-than-we-are-used-to shampoo. I feel like it helps control the flow and squeeze it directly to my head instead of into my hands.


CONDITONER
To condition my hair I always rinse with equal parts apple cider vinegar and water.

I use a plastic picnic mustard bottle to control the flow and pour directly on my head instead into my hand. After I have the apple cider vinegar on my hair I use a wide tooth comb to make sure I comb it through every strand then rinse thoroughly.

FRIZZ SERUM
I hardly ever need to use serum on my hair now... hardly ever! However when I do, I turn to sweet almond oil  alone or with a few drops of "Joy" EO from Young Living added in. (I have some hair that is abused by bleach and needs some extra love sometimes.)

HAIRSPRAY
My secret sugar water! Find my post and recipe suggestion by clicking here.

XOXOX
Lily Bean

Spring Into This Blouse (New Look A6286)

Hi! I have been doing my best to get some weather appropriate everyday pieces sewn up lately.

You may have noticed I tend to lean towards fancier dresses... the kind that are considered everyday in Mad Men and the Stepford Wives. Although I take no issue to being overdressed (it's always better than under-dressed) I am ready to explore sewing "normal" clothes.

I mainly sew skirts and pair them with t-shirts for daily wear but I became bored of the t-shirt look. I am finally ready to expand my blouse collection. I have only made one "spaghetti strap blouse" and one 3/4 sleeve knit top.

The pattern I chose was New Look A6286 in view A

The instructions were easy to follow and the construction was very simple. I really enjoyed making it.

It ties in the back and has a loop button at the top.

 I had no trouble with the fit. The garment measurements listed on the back of the package were perfectly matched to my finished product. I love the shape and feel it is very flattering. The design is so feminine and perfect to welcome the season of Spring into my wardrobe.

XOXOX

Lily Bean

Jumpsuit Fail McCalls M6083

Howdy! 

Let me begin by saying the only reason this jumpsuit was a fail was due to user error.

I love, love, loooooove the way it looks on me. Do you agree?

Want to know why it is a fail?

As you can see, the cover clearly shows the jumpsuit illustrated as a loose fitting item of clothing. I thought I was real smart and decided to make it more fitted. It wasn't until I already had the majority of the construction done that I realized this was not a piece put on and then zipped up to fit... I would need to be able to squeeze in and out of it.

I am able to get myself in it and get myself out of it... it is all just a matter of some serious yoga and dancing hahaha. I am terrified to wear this very far from home. I can't imagine trying to figure my way around a public bathroom stall in this.

I am beyond disappointed because everything else is perfect. Everything except the fact that I can barely maneuver myself into or out of it.

Aside from my own shortcomings, this pattern was very simple. The instructions were not complicated at all and the construction came together easily. I urge anyone looking to make this pattern to do so. Just keep in mind that the ease was designed to be extra inches for a very important reason.

XOXOX

Lily Bean

Naturally Sweet Hair Spray

Hello everyone!

I am stopping by to share a very simple, natural hair spray recipe with you.

I am one of those girls who had shelves full of hair products... all my prized possessions and all FULL OF JUNK. Since I have made such an effort to get rid of all possible junk in my life I knew the day would come for me to let go of my hair products. I will admit, initially I stopped using them but could not get myself to actually throw them out. I needed them on my shelf as a security blanket. 

Finally, one day while reading the labels AGAIN hoping they would have magically changed to safe ingredients over night, I decided it was time. I came out of that fog and got a big garbage bag and threw out every last bottle and can. 

For a good few weeks I walked around with the same pony tail everyday because I felt like I couldn't do any style. Then I decided to research what others are doing to tame their natural mane.

Huzzah!

Naturally Sweet Hair Spray

1/2 tsp sugar for every 1 ounce water

(Add the sugar to warm water to melt it in the bottle. I have 1 ounce glass spray bottles.)

Super easy, right?!

Want more hold? Add more sugar. Want less hold? Add less sugar.

I urge you to research for yourself and do what works best for you, your hair, and your health. Some people add some alcohol as a preservative to extend the life of the product. Remember, natural means it will expire. If it smells different dump it and make a fresh batch.

What I learned worked for me:

I only make 1/2 an ounce at a time using only 1/4 tsp. This way I use it before it turns without adding alcohol.

Now I can style my hair and I feel like myself again.

(I went to Cosmetology school, hair is important to me)

If any of you have the same question as my mom: no, bees do not follow my head around all day.

XOXOX

Lily Bean

Foaming Hand Soap

Hi there!!

Next in like of junk-chemical item I have replaced with a natural DIY recipe is foaming hand soap. Not only is making my own hand soap cheaper, but it is also healthier. I love saving money as much as the next person but what matters most is that it is safe.

I recycled the Thieves foaming hand wash bottles once I was finished with them. I made sure to clean them very good so it would not affect the scent of the essential oils I was using.

For the soap:

3 tbsp castile soap

20 dr Lime EO

6 dr Mandarin EO

6 dr Lemon EO

8 dr Ginger EO

After you add the ingredients, fill the rest of your bottle leaving room at the top for the pump.

One pump of foam does the trick! Wash up.

Initially I had thought I would need to give a shake or swirl before each use. I have been using this DIY soap for a few weeks now and find each pump keeps it stirred up without any need to shake. I love the outdoorsy-citrus smell the blend of EOs gives the soap. Feel free to adjust the blend to your liking and have fun with it.

XOXOX

Lily Bean

"Soft Scrub" You Can Touch

Hello there!!

I was raised using the cleaner "Soft Scrub with Bleach" to clean everything. (Sorry Mom... I will never use it again and hope you stop soon as well.) It would always leave me with a headache, irritated skin wherever it had touched, and sometimes ruined clothes. While cleaning I would have to constantly yell at my dogs to stay away or close myself into a bathroom that feels like it has no oxygen. It was never pleasant... I used to dread cleaning.

I have been working so hard to remove all harmful chemicals from my life. I am so happy with the knowledge I am gaining from my classes at the Aromahead Institute School of Essential Oil Studies. I encourage all who are interested to check out the classes offered. (The Intro to EOs is a free class.)

I follow my teacher, Andrea Butje on youtube. (Click here to see her channel). I am sharing her video with a recipe to make an all natural, soft, abrasive cleaning scrub.

I adjusted the recipe to fit my needs. This is what I used:

2 cups baking soda

6 tbsp castile soap

1/2 tbsp corn starch

2 1/2 tbsp white vinegar

30 drops lemon EO

30 drops tea tree EO

20 drops peppermint EO

The container I used was one I recycled. It was a 16oz container for my coconut flour. When I was through with the flour I saw the the plastic used was PET plastic. This type of plastic is safe for use with essential oils.

I have been using this scrub to clean the kitchen sink, kitchen counters, and bathroom and I am so happy with it. A little goes a LONG way, it smells wonderful, and best of all it is chemical free. There is no worry about the safety of my brain cells and lungs, no worry about my pups getting near me, no worry about being stuck in a bathroom full of chemical fumes. I am actually HAPPY to clean now and proud of the way it leaves surfaces. I even had some stains on the counters that have disappeared after scrubbing with this. 

I am one happy cleaning machine these days. I get excited to use my home made essential oil products. I hope you are cleaning safer and healthier as well.

XOXOX

Lily Bean