Dandruff is annoying if you suffer from it.  Using specialty dandruff shampoos is neither good for your health or your wallet.  Some of the ingredients in conventional dandruff shampoos include: coal tar, sodium lauryl sulfate, ketokonazole (anti fungal), Zinc Pyrithione (anti fungal), not to mention all the other surfectants and synthetic fragrances that are added. While I do think sometimes dandruff shampoos are necessary, for the most part you can treat your dandruff with home remedies for dandruff. Why expose your body to additional toxins if you don’t have to, and also save money at the same time? Here are some of the dandruff remedies I’ve successfully used in the past.

-Tea Tree Oil . Tea tree oil is a natural anti fungal and anti bacterial. To use the tea tree oil as a home remedy for dandruff, simply add four to five drops to your normal shampoo. Be sure to massage well into your scalp and allow the tea tree oil/shampoo mixture to sit and penetrate your scalp for three to five minutes. While you are waiting for the amount of time to pass, gently use your finger tips to rub your scalp. This will help loosen any flaky scalp and allow the tea tree oil to do a better job. After the time is up, rinse your hair well with warm water.

-Apple Cider Vinegar. Believe it or not, apple cider vinegar is a great home remedy for dandruff. The acidity of the vinegar helps remove some of the flakiness of the dandruff, and helps heal the scalp. Vinegar also helps condition the hair cuticle by balancing the ph and seals it to prevent flyaways. Mix one to two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with about a cup of warm water while you’re in the shower. Pour on your scalp and allow it to sit for about three minutes. Be sure to rinse well afterward. Using the apple cider vinegar rinse after the tea tree oil treatment is great. The smell of the vinegar will dissipate soon after, I promise!

-Coconut Oil. Coconut oil is a natural anti-fungal, anti bacterial, anti parasitic, and anti viral. Whatever you’ve got on your scalp-fungus, bacterial infection, etc, will be reduced by applying coconut oil to your scalp. Here’s the easiest treatment: before you go to bed use one to two teaspoons of coconut oil and rub into your scalp. The coconut oil is solid as it’s in the container, but melts at 76 degrees. Take a half teaspoon at a time and allow the oil to melt in your hands and then apply directly to the scalp.  Be sure to sleep with a towel on your pillow so you don’t get oil all over it.  You can also wrap your hair in plastic wrap.  An added bonus of using the coconut oil: your hair will be so soft and conditioned!  Be sure to shampoo out well in the morning.  A few drops of tea tree oil can be added to help fight the fungus.

These are some of the easiest home remedies for dandruff that don’t really cost much at all.

Do you use home remedies for dandruff?

If you haven’t started to no poo your hair, you may want to consider doing it to save your body from chemicals and help keep cash in your wallet.  If you tried it once and it didn’t work for you, hopefully the no poo tips I’m going to go over today will help you make the transition easier.  There are a lot of questions that I get about going no poo, so I thought I’d address them here.

No poo for long hair

Before showering, use a boar bristle brush to brush your hair from your scalp to the ends. A natural bristle hairbrush will distribute the natural oils from your hair.  With long hair, you may need to use more baking soda and water mixture.  Doubling the recipe should work.

No Poo for Dry Hair

Cut back on the amount of baking soda you are using to wash your hair if your hair becomes dry.  You also may need to rinse with more of the apple cider vinegar conditioner.  Use a little coconut oil or even joboba oil on the ends of your hair to help combat static and the dryness.

White Residue in Hair

You’re using too much baking soda and it’s drying out your scalp and building up there.  Follow the original recipe for a few days and try to let your hair go at least two days between washings. You may need to do a deep conditioning treatment with the all natural conditioner.

Dandruff with No Poo

When you get dandruff, you may need to use some white vinegar and water to help your hair.  Use equal parts of vinegar and water, and run over your hair before doing the no poo routine.  This should help reduce dandruff.  You can also add some sea salt to a water mixture and use that to gently scrub your scalp and help exfoliate it.

The vinegar stinks!

If you can’t stand the smell of the vinegar, try adding some sticks of cinnamon to the apple cider vinegar and let it sit for a few days.  If you want other scented apple cider vinegar, you can use other herbs to make a vinegar infusion.  You could add hair conditioning herbs for a double benefit!

Herbs for Hair

Chamomile: Good for blonde hair.  The flowers help lighten the hair’s color.

Henna: Natural red hair dye.  I’ve used henna in the past with great results.  Be very careful when using it, because it can stain your bath tub!

Lemon: Helps strip hair of build up and lightens hair naturally.  Juice a lemon and add the juice to some warm water.  Use like the apple cider vinegar rinse after the no poo routine.

Stinging Nettles: Helps prevent dandruff in hair and also helps condition the hair.  I buy stinging nettles in bulk from my health food store.

Witch Hazel: Good for oily hair, and acts as an astringent (for your face as well!).  You can find witch hazel in the pharmacy section of the grocery store.

Have you tried No Poo?

The other day I was cleaning in my kitchen and I realized that our stainless steel dishwasher was looking pretty bad.  I think stainless steel appliances are beautiful, but after having a stainless steel dishwasher and refrigerator, I think next time I’d go with just plain white or black.  Stainless steel is a pain to keep clean! It attracts fingerprints, dust, and if you get water stains on it, forget it.  Those are so hard to get out.  Luckily, after three years of cleaning stainless steel appliances, I have found the best way for cleaning stainless steel.  Of course, you know it would have to be a safe and natural alternative to stinky chemicals!

How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances Naturally

-Olive oil & a soft cloth. This is the tried and true method that works for me, and I know you’re going to be baffled when you hear what it is.  I use some olive oil and an old prefold cloth diaper that my mom picked up at a thrift store. What I do is dab a small amount of olive oil onto a corner of the cloth diaper.  I then take the diaper and work with the grain of the stainless steel, polishing as I go.  Make sure you work with the grain so you don’t end up scratching your expensive stainless steel appliances!  I make sure that the oil is rubbed in well, and then move onto the next area. Using olive oil to clean my stainless steel has been a lifesaver! It removes fingerprints, smudges, and even water stains from the dishwasher!

-Vinegar and water. A simple spray of water and vinegar is great for cleaning stainless steel appliances.  The vinegar works well because it is acidic and dissolves dirt and grime.  I make a mix of about 25% vinegar to 75% water, spray on the stainless steel, and wipe with a soft cloth.  I’ve found that vinegar and water works the best for the in-between cleanings of your appliances.  Vinegar is also great for polishing stainless steel!

-Club Soda. Club soda is good for removing streaks and stains.  Just put some club soda onto a rag and apply with the grain.  It will help clean and polish your stainless steel.

-Gentle dish washing soap and water. I like to use Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap because it smells great and works well without damaging the stainless steel. I never have to worry about it being too harsh for the metal.  Sometimes after I get done doing the dishes, I take my dish cloth and just wipe down the appliances.  Of course, this can leave streaks so it’s best to follow up with another one of the methods described above.

How to Care for Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is beautiful, but can be hard to care for.  Here are some things to keep in mind as you clean your stainless steel appliances.

-Always work with the grain, never against it.

-Don’t ever use abrasive cleaners on your stainless steel.  They can scratch your appliances easily.

-Always use a soft cloth.  Never use anything like steel wool (seriously, I know someone whose housekeeper did this!)

-It’s easier to take care of your stainless steel appliances if you clean them regularly.  The longer you let it go, the harder it is to keep them clean.

Those are my tips on how to clean stainless steel appliances.  Of course, you can apply them to any type of appliances as well!

How do you clean your stainless steel appliances?

This fall is turning out to be horrible for my allergies! I’ve suffered from headaches, a stuffy nose, itchy eyes, and a scratchy throat.  We live in one of the worst places to live if you have allergies.  I am so ready to move! Unfortunately, it seems like everyone I talk to is suffering (or knows someone who is) from bad allergies this year.

Rather than toss back Claritin, I’ve tried to find some natural allergy remedies.  What’s nice about natural allergy remedies is that instead of masking the symptoms, you are actually treating the causes of the allergies.

Natural Allergy Remedies

1. Local honey.  Local honey works as a natural allergy remedy because it introduces pollen into your body naturally.  It’s best if it’s super local because then you know you are getting your system introduced to local pollen and allergens.  When your body ingests small amounts of pollen, your natural defenses are stimulated, which helps your body naturally fight.  Not only does honey work well for allergies, it also tastes great!

2. Neti Pots. Neti Pots (which look like a genie’s lamp) work by flushing everything out of your sinuses.  All of the allergens are rinsed away by a saline solution.  Figuring out how to use a neti pot is probably the most difficult part.  Once you get the hang of how to use a neti pot, you’ll be glad you did!

3. Quercetin . Quercitin is naturally found in the skin of apples and red onions. It is a powerful anti oxidant, natural anti histamine, and anti inflammatory.Quercetin can also help with fatigue, depression, and anxiety.  If you want to try using quercetin for allergies, you can try eating more apples and raw red onions or you can take a supplement of quercetin.

4. Stinging Nettles. Stinging nettles grow naturally as weeds in many areas. Stinging nettles work best to help allergies when you make a strong infusion of tea. You can buy stinging nettles in bulk in many health food stores. To make stinging nettle tea, take boiling water and pour it over a tablespoon of nettles. Let the tea set overnight to release all the benefits of the nettles. You can drink the nettle tea either hot or cold. Sweeten with honey and you’ve got double the allergy-fighting benefits!

5. Acupuncture.  Acupuncture can be used to help treat many different conditions from allergies to anxiety.  An acupuncturist treats symptoms by setting tiny needles in meridians in the body and opening up the energy flow.  Acupuncture can be very beneficial for all kinds of different symptoms, so when you have an acupuncture treatment, you may get more than you bargained for! You may be treated for other issues that you hadn’t planned on!

Allergies can be frustrating, but when you deal with allergies using natural allergy remedies, you’re doing your body a favor by not loading it with drugs.  Natural remedies are good for your body, your health, and even the environment!  If you’re suffering from seasonal allergies, give these tips a try, and be sure to let me know how they work for you!

Have you used natural allergy remedies?  How do you deal with seasonal allergies?

Borax is a naturally occurring substance that is mined from the Mojave desert and other US States.  While borax is a natural substance, care should be taken when using borax.  It has been known to cause skin irritation in some people.  I use gloves when my skin is going to come into contact with it.  Better to be safe than sorry!  While mining the borax is not the most environmentally friendly option, it’s still greener than using normal toxic cleaners.  I buy borax now to make laundry detergent and clean my house, but there are many more uses for borax than that!  Here are some tips on how to use borax.

-Borax can be a natural flea killer. Sprinkle borax on your carpet, let it sit for a couple hours, and then vacuum up! Make sure you vacuum well so you don’t leave any behind.

-If you have an ant or roach problem, try mixing powdered sugar or honey with borax and leaving it in the problem area. The pests will be attracted to the sweetness, eat it and die from the gas caused by the borax!

-Borax is safe and effective as a natural drain cleaner. Mix one cup of borax with a half gallon of boiling water, pour down the drain, and wait. It will help remove grease from your drain! Borax is a great substitute for lye. It works just as well and is much easier to find. Lye is caustic and dangerous, and borax is not.

-Are you looking for a great toilet cleaner? Sprinkle one half of a cup of borax in your toilet and let it sit one hour. Go back and scrub the toilet with the solution. Your toilet will be sparkling clean and odor free!

-Do you avoid flame retardants in your children’s clothing? You can use borax to make the clothes naturally flame retardant. Mix 9 ounces of borax and 4 ounces of boric acid in a bucket with one gallon of water. Dip the item of clothing in the solution and hang dry. Since it’s a natural flame retardant, it will wash out in the wash, so do keep that in mind.

-Remove rust stains from your bathtub by mixing together borax and lemon juice to make a paste. Rub on the affected area and let it sit for a few minutes if it doesn’t remove right away.

-Do you have hard water? Borax can be used to soften water. Add 1 Tablespoon per quart of water to soften. Soft water will make soaps and shampoos work much better!

-Searching for a natural weed killer? Place borax in cracks and near the base of weeds you want to kill. Of course, be careful to not get borax near plants you want to keep as it will kill them!

-Borax is great for deodorizing. Use it in litter boxes, garbage pails, diaper genies, and other areas you want smell free. You can use borax in a similar way as baking soda; just be careful to not handle it too much.

Borax is an inexpensive cleaner that’s great to keep on hand. Pick up a box and keep it in your laundry room. You never know when you will need it!

Do you use borax? What have you used it for?

I know many people are too busy or just don’t want to make their own beauty products, and that’s fine. I can totally understand that.  Rachel emailed me last week asking what all natural body care products I prefer.  I thought I would share my recommendations with everyone.

Shampoo

Aubrey Organics Egyptian Henna Shampoo

Aubrey Organics is the most natural line of body care products I have found. They use all natural ingredients, and they are all things I can recognize and pronounce. The shampoo works fabulously and smells yummy!

Conditioner

Aubrey Organics Green Tea Cream Rinse
The cream rinse leaves your hair feeling smooth and conditioned, yet weightless. It doesn’t coat your hair with silicones like other conditioners.  It’s paraben free as well.

Body Wash or Soap

We use Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Castile Soap for body wash in the shower. We prefer plain bar soap to body wash. Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap is very versatile and can be used to do laundry and clean as well!

Body Wash

Giovanni Cleanse Body Wash is very natural, foams up well, and smells yummy!

Face Wash

Eminence Organics Citrus Exfoliating Wash is the best face wash I’ve ever used.  Eminence Organics is a completely natural, organic, and sustainable company. Their products are truly amazing, and if I ever buy body care products, I buy Eminence. It’s a little pricey, but definitely worth it.

Face Moisturizer

Jojoba Oil is so versatile that you can use it on your face as a moisturizer or even in your hair. It’s lightweight and absorbs quickly into your skin.

Body Lotion

Aubrey Organics Collagen & Almond Enriching Moisturizing Lotionis a fantastic body lotion. It absorbs quickly and leaves the skin feeling moisturized and not sticky. The scent is also heavenly!

Makeup

Silken Earth Makeup. I don’t wear makeup, but if I was going to, it would be this one.

Natural Mascara
Larenim Mineralash Mascara is a product that I have used in the past and can definitely recommend.

Those are all products that I think are fabulous if you don’t have time or aren’t interested in making your own body care products.  All of the links above go directly to Amazon, where you can learn more about each product and even purchase them if you’d like.  If you do, you help support the site as those are affiliate links.  Thank you!

Do you use all natural body care products?

If you’re one of the people that frequently shaves any hairy part of their body, chances are you’ve experienced razor burn. I think razor burn is one of the most painful things!  It is definitely not a fun experience. There are products out there (like Bikini Zone ) to combat razor burn, but they contain all kinds of nasty chemicals that you don’t want to slather on sensitive areas.  What’s a girl (or guy) to do?  Make their own!

photo credit: Flavio@Flickr

All Natural Razor burn treatment

1 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cucumber, chopped and peeled

1 Tablespoon coconut oil

Mix all ingredients together in a food processor or blender.  Apply to affected area and let it sit for 15-30 minutes.  Wash off with lukewarm water.  The coconut oil is anti-microbial and anti-bacterial so it helps rid the area of germs that can cause bumps.  Cucumber is anti-inflammatory, and the yogurt contains lactic acid which gently exfoliates the skin.  Now you’re all set for summer!

How do you combat razor burn?  Or are you one of those people that doesn’t shave?

Have you ever wondered how to make hair conditioner? It’s super easy, frugal, and fun!  A couple times a week I like to do a deep conditioning treatment to my hair. Of course I want something all natural and simple, so I make it my own all natural hair conditioner.

How to make hair conditioner

You only need minimal ingredients:

-1 small Avocado

-2 Tablespoons of coconut oil

You want to cut the avocado in half from top to bottom.  Remove the pit (you can compost it) and scoop the avocado from the rind into a bowl.  Add in your two tablespoons of coconut oil and mash with a fork until well blended.  From there, massage the mixture into your hair.  Leave it in your hair for about half an hour, then shampoo out.

The avocado contains vitamins, oils, and hair strengthening proteins.  Coconut oil is moisturizing and enhances shine.  Even if you “no poo” shampoo, this works well.  You may want to use a little less coconut oil though!

Do you use hair conditioner, or skip it? Do you think it’s a waste of money?

Jojoba oil is a fabulous oil for natural skin care. It’s one of the most versatile oils that is kept in my medicine cabinet.  Jojoba oil comes from a seed of the jojoba tree.  It’s actually not an oil; it’s a wax and it is the closest substance that our body produces from our pores.  Jojoba oil is an excellent cleanser, and can be used as an oil to clean your face with the oil cleansing method.

Benefits of jojoba oil

-Jojoba oil won’t go rancid like other oils.  It has a very long shelf life.

-Jojoba oil is very moisturizing.  It won’t evaporate from your skin.

-Jojoba oil can help with acne (I’d add in a couple drops of tea tree oil).

Jojoba is pronounced “ho-ho-ba”.  You can order it for as little as $6 online.

Jojoba oil uses

In addition to the oil cleansing method, you can use it for other natural body care.

Natural hair conditioner. Put a few drops in your hands, rub them together, and then run through the tips of your hair.  Start small, and work your way up.  Less is more.

Moisturizer. You can use it on your skin or face.

Lip balm. A drop rubbed on your lips will feel amazing!

photo credit: gagilas

The other day I went to one of our local health foods stores in search of some jojoba oil for my hair and skin. I found it and when I realized it was $14.99 for 4 ounces, my eyes bugged out, I put it back on the shelf and decided I would look for it elsewhere. I came home, looked for it on amazon.com and found 4 ounces of organic jojoba oil for around $6. With shipping, it came to around $11, and I thought about it for a minute.  I didn’t end up ordering it.

It’s a few dollars cheaper online, but I felt bad ordering it from a stranger online versus supporting my local health foods store.  I love the atmosphere (even though it’s pretty small and expensive), the people, and I would hate to see them go out of business.  I felt bad that I didn’t buy it in the store!

I’m a big believer in supporting local businesses whenever possible.  My husband works for an independent restaurant in the city, and we try to limit our dining out experiences to locally owned and operated restaurants.  Someone’s got to support the small guys.  They are what keeps our communities going!

Truth be told, I still haven’t made a decision on where I’m going to buy it from.  Part of me thinks that it’s an unnecessary expense because I can use coconut oil for skin and hair, but another part of me wants jojoba oil.

How do you balance being frugal versus shopping locally?  What is more important to you?