We Like Making Our Own Stuff

I've been feeling, let's just say, not so beautiful lately.  You know, you hear people talk about that beautiful pregnant glow...well, I'm really not feeling that glow so much lately.  I feel more like a beached whale or a hog.  A pregnant hog. I wanted to do something to make me feel a little more pretty (prettier than a hog anyway), and I kind of felt like dying my hair, but I'm not crazy about the idea of inhaling that nasty dye smell right now.  I had done a post in the past called Homemade Hair Color , but I felt like trying something a little different this time.  Which is why I decided on trying henna. What is henna? Henna is a plant that has been used thousands of years to color hair and tattoo skin.  It produces a reddish dye that will only temporarily color skin, but permanently colors hair.  Henna is non-toxic and safe to use during pregnancy. Where can I get henna? If you are lucky enough to live in a warm climate, you can grow yo...

In my last post , I described how to make your own "steam distilled" rose water.  In this post, I will suggest a few ways to use your rose water now that you have made a batch.  Rose water is great for the skin, so it has a variety of uses for skin care; rose water is also useful for hair care, and even has culinary uses. Using Rose Water for Skin Care Toner My favorite use for rose water is as a skin toner.  Rose water will help to improve your skin's tone and texture.  After I cleanse my skin with a mild soap or my oatmeal cleanser , I like to follow up with rose water as a toner.  Dab a cotton ball into the rose water, and apply it to your face, using short, upward strokes; do not rinse it off.  You can also get a little more creative if you'd like, and mix the rosewater with a splash of witch hazel or vodka.  This will create a mild astringent helpful for removing any dirt your cleanser may have missed and tightening...

Want to give your hair a little kick without paying for costly salon treatments or store-bought hair products?  There are several options for the at-home hair dyer, using common herbs, fruits, or even vinegar.  Following are some recipes that I have tried in the past.  In general, they are much more gentle and subtle than anything you would buy at the store, so most of them will require more than one application.  This is a good thing in my opinion, as it creates more natural looking color. --- Homemade Highlights 1-2 Lemons, juiced For all over lightening, dampen all of your hair with the lemon juice; or for highlights, only dampen selected strands.  A small paint brush works well to apply lemon juice to selected strands for highlighting, whereas a small spray bottle will work well for all over lightening.  Allow your hair to be exposed to the sun for 30 minutes.  Rinse hair and condition well.  The highlights will show best if thi...