In March of this year, I gave up the ghost of being a blond. Since I was 13 years old I have bleached, lightened and done whatever it took to remain a light blond. When was first born son Kaleb’s hair started to grow in it was a beautiful angel white blond color. I took him with me to my hairdresser, pulled up a lock of his hair and said, “This is the color I’ve been trying to get. Can we do this?” Her answer has never left me, “Oh Wendy, only God makes that color.”
So after 25 some years of fighting nature I went back to my natural color (gold and light brown) and you know what…….I’m happier with it than I ever was with blond.
As of late, I’ve tried to take on a more natural approach to my lifestyle. I’m continually conscience of what food I am eating and feeding my boys. Fresh, organic, non-processed foods line our fridge and cabinets. I’ve started to read the labels of cleaners, soaps, makeup and other household items before allowing them to come into my life. I’m getting back to the basics of what I put into and on my body and my sons.
All this talk of natural beauty leads me to Gina, our high school senior. Gina is a completely natural beauty. I learned from her that her hair, unlike me and many other California blonds is a 100% natural! She has never had it color treated. Gina’s hair color is like spun white silk (yes I am a little jealous). I haven’t seen that natural of hair color since my son was 2 years old and I took him to my hair dresser. Even now, as Kaleb has aged, his hair has turned into more of a dark blond than the pure white it once was. Gina is an all around natural beauty. She needs little to no makeup to look perfectly radiant. There is something so amazingly refreshing about a girl that is not too made up and embraces her natural attractiveness. It is like a gust of fresh air in a pool of bleached and overly made up Orange County girls.
It is with this talk of going natural that I wanted to share a few homemade beauty recipes to bring out your own natural beauty.
Hair:
If you swim in a chlorinated pool, the same damage happening to your skin and bathing suit,
is happening to your hair. Try this to keep chlorine damage to a minimum.
-
1 egg
-
1 eggshell’s worth of olive oil
1 quarter of a peeled cucumber
Blend the egg, olive oil and peeled cucumber. Spread evenly through your hair, leave on for 10 minutes, then thoroughly rinse. For the best results year-round, continue this treatment monthly.
Skin:
Coffee Scrub
-
3 T Coffee grounds (organic-caffeinated)
-
1 T Salt (optional)
To Make: Brew a fresh pot of coffee. Enjoy a cup, if you like. Put grounds (and salt) in a small bowl. Use grounds within 20 minutes of brewing before oxidation occurs.
To Use: Scrub mixture over entire body while in the shower. Rinse. Tone. Moisturize.
Hair Conditioner:
This nourishing conditioner blends honey for shine; olive oil for moisture and essential oil of rosemary to stimulate hair growth.
-
1/2 cup Honey
-
1/4 cup warmed Olive oil (2T for normal to oily hair)
-
4 drops of essential oil of Rosemary
-
1 tsp. Xanthum gum (available in health food stores)
Place all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix thoroughly. Pour into a clean plastic bottle with a tight fitting stopper or lid.
Apply a small amount at a time to slightly dampened hair. Massage scalp and work mixture through hair until completely coated. Cover hair with a warm towel (towel can be heated in a microwave or dryer) or shower cap; leave on to nourish and condition for 30 minutes. Remove towel or shower cap; shampoo lightly and rinse with cool water. Dry as normal and enjoy shinier, softer and healthier hair the natural way.
Skin:
This mask combines avocados, which are rich in Vitamin E, with carrots, which are high in beta-carotene and antioxidants, and cream, which is high in calcium and protein. These ingredients will rebuild skin collagen, improve tone and texture, and fade age spots.
-
1 avocado, mashed
-
1 carrot, cooked and mashed
-
1/2 cup heavy cream
-
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons honey
Combine all ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Spread gently over your face and neck, and leave in place 10-15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and follow with your favorite toner.
Skin:
This is a Toner to help cleanse your skin
-
1 medium Cucumber, peeled and cut up into pieces
-
2 tsp. Honey
Puree cucumber in a blender. Line a sieve with cheesecloth and set the sieve over a glass bowl or measuring cup. Pour the cucumber puree through the sieve and let it stand for 15 minutes for the juices to drip into the bowl. Pour the clear juice into a clean bottle and add honey.
To use, shake the bottle and saturate a cotton pad with the lotion. Sweep over face, neck and chest morning and night, and let it air dry (about 3 to 4 minutes). Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Makes about 1/2 cup.
Gina, you are a true beauty inside and out. Thank you for making this session a knock out!
