Hello Goddess — Happy 2017!

Let’s get the year started with some BIG Inspiration! 

Our first recipe is a dry oil I like to call my — Hair Inspiration.

Hair Inspiration is a dry oil which means it absorbs quickly into your hair and skin without that greasy residue. Dry oils penetrate the skin and are light enough to use all over your body — face, scalp, hair, & skin.  

Hair Inspiration is from Day 19 of the 30-Day Hair Challenge

…which has received a COMPLETE MAKEOVER! If you haven’t taken the challenge in a while — start again today. It’s free, completely automated, and waiting on you!

Hair Inspiration helps round out our week of hair growth oils and butters. I love this oil because it works like a serum and you can add it to any recipe (clay treatments, henna, butters). It also works even better as a body oil. 

I’ve used it to:

1. grow back our edges thicker and fuller (me, Asia & Laila)
2. thicken the hair at my crown
3. prevent hair loss 
4. stop and prevent eczema  
5. …and as a fabulous after bath/shower oil 

If you’re looking for a wonderful all around hair and body oil to add to your home collection — look no further!

Each ingredient has it’s own special hair growth properties and they’re high in omega 6 & 9’s. These essential nutrients are extremely nourishing for our hair and skin. 

 

Use Essential Oils for Fragrance 

Hair Inspiration is a light and virtually odorless oil. It blends well with essential oils, dried flowers, extracts and herbs.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with other oils you have.

I didn’t add any essential oils to my last recipe (the one in the photos) because I’m testing fragrance oils. Grapefruit Bellini is my favorite but Green Tea Smoothie is right there. Fragrance oil’s don’t have to list their ingredients so use them with caution.

If you’d like to add a light scent to your oil, add: 6 to 8 drops of the following essential oils. They all smell even better over time:

• Rose Absolute
• Sandalwood
• Lemon
• Bergamot
• Vanilla

 

Let’s do this!

 

 

“Hair Inspiration” | Ingredient Spotlight

Safflower Oil 

This edible oil comes from the seeds of the saffllower plant (Carthamus tinctorius L.). This plant is part of the daisy family and works as a luscious hair conditioner. It’s packed with omega 9 (75%) and omega 6 (13%) that strengthen the hair follicle and stimulates hair growth. Safflower oil also moisturizes, conditions, and softens hair and skin. Perfect for use as a base to any scalp and body massage oil. 

 

Shea Nut Oil

This is an oil you can use directly from the bottle — it needs nothing.

It is perfect for EVERYTHING, works like shea butter but softer, more luscious, it’s creamier (if that’s even possible) and makes your hair feel like well-moisturized kinky greatness.

You only need a little to experience the following benefits:

1. it heals the scalp
2. helps with tissue regeneration
3. gives hair bodacious shine
4. repairs scalp and skin,
5. decreases inflammation (which can lead to breakage and loss),
6. boosts collagen production - helps speed the healing of all wounds and scars (& stretch marks)

 

Other benefits of raw, unrefined shea nut dominance:

• Its a lighter, more decadent version of shea butter (imho), it’s not too light (it stays around, stop an itchy scalp, keeps ends from drying, it doesn’t have an overpowering smell, and it blends well to essential oils
• It’s super affordable (4oz bottle is around $5 or $6)
• Open your bottle, apply a little to your finger tips, and apply anywhere! 

 

Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is silk in a bottle. It adds a natural glow and deep moisture to your hair and skin. Avocado oil is a natural emollient that softens and conditions everything it touches!

Since we have a few allergies in our household, we love to use oils that reduce inflammation like olive & coconut oils, and pack a BIG nutrient punch each time we have them (avocado, rice bran, sesame, etc) especially for salad dressings and the occasional hair recipe:)

Fresh avocado oil is best when kept in a refrigerator until needed. Warm weather can cause it to go rancid quickly. Unrefined avocado oil has a shelf life of up to 1 year.

 

 

Castor Oil

Castor oil is an antimicrobial oil that works as a powerful:

1. hair thickener
2. hair strengthener
3. hair growth stimulator 
4. stress reliever

It’s medicinal properties include detoxifying and purging the body of all forms of infection. It is the star of most oil and clay packs and it’s anti-inflammatory abilities have been found to dissolve tumors and cysts.

Castor oil is also an anti fungal oil that keeps the scalp clean and clear from the cooties. This keeps the scalp calm and happy which keeps circulation flowing and your hair growth cycle balanced. Just by adding a teaspoon of castor seed oil to your diy formulations, conditioners or products, you can experience a powerful hair boost that leads to more thickness, and longer hair growth. 

 

Broccoli Seed Oil

Broccoli seed oil is a natural conditioner and magic oil that it works for almost all skin types (especially oily and dry skin types). When added to natural hair and body care recipes, this oil:

• nourishes the skin
• strengthens the hair shaft
• hydrates hair and skin from the inside out

 

Watermelon Seed Oil

Watermelon seed oil is high in:

• Vitamin C - helps protect the body from infection
• B-vitamins (pantothenic acid - b5, b6, b1, and biotin),
• and Copper (this trace mineral helps with collagen and elastin production, skin rejuvenation, helps hair grow back, repairs the skin, and helps clears old scars).

Watermelon seed oil contains of a whopping 59% linoleic acid (omega 9)¹ which conditions and speeds hair growth. There are also even higher concentrations of unsaturated oils (oleic - omega 6, palmitic, and stearic acids) that nourish the skin and stop hair breakage. 

 

Calendula Extract

Calendula extract is the only extract I add to almost all my oils. It’s wonderful for adding a quick yet powerful dose of hair growth power, it strengthens your curls, and adds shine without the greasiness.

Calendula extract:

1. stops frizz
2. adds shine and sheen to your curls
3. prevents dry skin
4. softens hair
5. boosts hair growth

To make a kick-awesome calendula oil, sca-doodle on over to my DIY Calendula Oil Recipe:)

 

 

Green Tea Extract

Green tea extract is an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory oil that stimulates hair growth. Green tea is a sexy antioxidant that is high in catechin which has the ability to penetrate cells, protecting them from “cancer and heart disease.” It also helps regulate menstrual and hair growth cycles.

When added to your homemade sunscreen, it strengths the effects of your natural SPF level so that it protects even better without those nasty side effects.

 

Where To Buy Dry Oil Ingredients

Most of the ingredients you can find in your local grocery or health food stores. Look around and make sure there’s not extra funkiness in your pure, organic, natural purchases:)

As with each recipe, do your own research — You are the Expert on your hair! There are lots of places to buy the ingredients for this recipe. My favorites are: 

1. Butters-N-Bars
2. Telia Oils: Broccoli Seed Oil and Watermelon Seed Oil
3. Jamaican Black Castor Oil
4. Mountain Rose Herbs
5. Organic Creations

 

 

Sources

1. Albishri, H. M., Almaghrabi, O. A., & Moussa, T. A. A. (2013). Characterization and chemical composition of fatty acids content of watermelon and muskmelon cultivars in Saudi Arabia using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Pharmacognosy Magazine, 9(33), 58–66. http://doi.org/10.4103/0973-1296.108142
2. Zarai, Z., Ben Chobba, I., Ben Mansour, R., Bkir, A., Gharsallah, N., & Kadri, A. (2012). Essential oil of the leaves of Ricinus communis L.: In vitro cytotoxicity and antimicrobial properties. Lipids In Health & Disease, 11(1), 102-108. doi:10.1186/1476-511X-11-102.