This post contains affiliate links for products that I personally use.
I've gotten really into using bath and beauty products that I make myself. Not only for the reason of saving money, but also to try and limit the chemicals my body is exposed to. I say limit because there are just some products I can't live without. A while back I tried making my own deodorant and it was a complete disaster. My skin wasn't necessarily sensitive to baking soda (the main ingredient in most DIY deodorants) but it did give my armpits what they call an "armpit shadow". "Arm pit shadow" is putting it very nicely. My armpits basically turned black. Pretty gross. As soon as I stopped using the deodorant my armpits went right back to normal. I did find a recipe online that had no adverse effects at One Good Thing by Jillee. Great natural alternative, just not strong enough for me personally. Its main ingredient is witch hazel, which leads me to the main point of this post.
Witch Hazel is so AMAZING!!! I've made facial toners, body sprays, window cleaner, makeup remover, and the list goes on. You can use it for a million things. It is an anti-inflammatory, an astringent, and very hydrating. I've recently grown my hair long again. It's been about 6 or 7 years since it's been this long. I forgot how much work long hair is, and I'm so sick of washing it everyday. Unfortunately for me, I have oily hair. If I skip a day of washing it, it tends to look a little greasy which is fine if I am at home, but definitely not at work. So I made a hair mist to help keep that under control. The main ingredient? You guessed it, witch hazel! I also added a few essential oils that are also great for the mane. Lavender, geranium, and rosemary.
Lavender is also one of those things you can use for everything. The oils benefit specifically for hair include moisturizing and anti-bacterial. It fights off those pesky dandruff flakes for you, which I'm sure most everyone has had a bout or two with dandruff. Geranium is good for both oily and dry hair. It regulates your scalps secretion of sebum (nasty oil). So in other terms if you have oily hair it's gonna nip it in the bud. If you have dry hair it will help regulate your secretion to a more normal level. The last of all is a healthy hair powerhouse, rosemary! Rosemary is absolutely amazing for your hair. It is a major antioxidant, which means it helps fight free radical damage that your hair has endured. It is also a powerful stimulant. It stimulates your hair follicles and induces blood circulation. This results in a speedier and healthier hair growth. Rosemary is also another oil that prevents and treats dandruff.
Next you just need a delivery method. I got these cute little amber glass spray bottles that are 2oz. Doesn't seem like a lot, but it should last you a while. On amazon they were around $4 for two. So here is my lovely recipe for a Nourishing Hair Mist:
2oz Witch Hazel (I like using rose water witch hazel)
5 drops Lavender Essential Oil
5 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
3-5 drops Geranium Essential Oil
Mix everything in your glass bottle and shake. The oils tend to separate when left sitting, give it a good shake before each use. Your scalp and hair will be left nourished and smelling amazing!