tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38452007206292496962012-02-05T14:26:55.872-08:00A blog about health, DIY beauty and going without shampoo.Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.comBlogger261100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-46072198235259552782012-01-02T23:01:00.000-08:002012-01-02T23:14:19.540-08:00

In place of those fancy aromatic shower heads, I sprinkle half to a dozen drops of pure essential oil on the shower floor and walls. The hot water and steam disperses the scent - pure bliss. I can change my oil each day if I fancy, or stick with my current favourite, Dolphin Clinic's Breath of Fresh Air blend.

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-41827622100733003882011-09-30T11:54:00.000-07:002011-09-30T12:02:50.122-07:00

I rather enjoyed this interview with Evelyn Lauder in the October issue of Harpers Bazaar. I love that she dyes her own hair at home (using four different colours of Clairol!). It's interesting hearing health and beauty advice from someone older than you. Far more helpful than seeing brands using teens to promote their wrinkle creams.

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-24051813624175754352011-09-09T12:31:00.001-07:002011-09-09T12:43:41.589-07:00

Little old Neroli. I imagine people are more familiar with essential oils like lavendar, but neroli really is a little gem to be explored.I read recently (possibly in UK Elle magazine) of a makeup artist who uses neroli oil for bringing a glow to makeup. If you, like I do, decant a little foundation onto the back of your hand then simply shake a drop in and mix it up. I wouldn't use any more than

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-8804157690249297142011-04-24T19:40:00.001-07:002011-04-24T19:56:12.075-07:00

Long time writing, I know...Right now my hair is oiled up, and so is my face for that matter. Luckily my husband is away. Some things must be indulged in solo.This week I have been seriously thinking about buying shampoo for the first time in two years (two years this May since going shampoo-free, excluding hairdresser visits). Quelle horreur! Now I think I may just need to introduce regular hair

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-29917430189031602472010-11-22T11:16:00.000-08:002011-04-24T19:59:32.683-07:00

I embarked on this little project last week when I was interested in finding a natural body moisturiser that was more effective than most reasonably priced decent brands, not to mention better cost-wise. The outlay for the shea butter was my biggest spend (bought at Ceres, though I've since found somewhere cheaper to buy it - www.gonative.co.nz - so many good things here).I made this recipe (a

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-32859781093829726302010-06-23T00:45:00.000-07:002010-06-23T01:04:56.984-07:00

Posts are slow on this site but that doesn't mean things aren't happening! I am still religiously shampoo-free, and still loving it. I recall I started in May 09 so it's over a year now and I'm still very happy.Lately I've been playing around with facial cleansers. It probably started when I ran out, and up until that point I'd been using Trilogy and then Sukin. All lovely ingredients within, but

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-69790811571173943622010-05-21T14:10:00.001-07:002010-05-21T14:20:22.800-07:00

I'm on to my second lipstick in the Chanel Aqualumiére range and I absolutely love the formulation. If, like me, you don't wear full on lipstick but favour lipstains (I used to get laughed at in my younger years for applying lipstick, wiping most of it off, then declaring 'I'm ready'!), then you might like this too.My first colour was Amalfi (a vibrant peachy pink), and now I'm on to Porto

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-87449558689037001472009-09-29T13:37:00.000-07:002009-09-29T13:54:19.043-07:00

A very effective facial (and body) exfoliant.This mix of rice grains (used in Japan for cleansing and smoothing the skin) and baking soda, reknowned for its mildy abrasive cleansing properties, is particularly suitable for oily skin.If you cannot obtain soap crystals they may be left out, but the scrub will not lather.Ingredients2T (30mls) baking soda2T (30mls) ground rice (you can buy it ground

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-40444605284917827342009-09-12T13:45:00.000-07:002009-09-12T21:21:43.080-07:00

Apothecary Shop, circa 1920'sFor quite some time now I've been using facial oils in place of regular moisturisers, including my own recipe and also store-bought organic rosehip oil (Trilogy and Evolu).In my own recipe I used a base of Jojoba and added the essential oils Neroli and Frankincense (which apparently Cleopatra used too). I've seen these essential oils often in other facial oils too

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-89905984289361723342009-08-18T14:27:00.000-07:002009-08-18T14:43:36.349-07:00

The day I was dreading - going to the hairdresser and getting my first shampoo wash in over three months. The smell of it was sweet and chemically and detergenty, and overall rather artificial. It did feel really soft afterward, but I noticed when it was dried it didn't have the same shine as it does when rinsing with ACV. And for the first time since starting the no-shampoo regime I was forced

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-62966415703430197652009-07-22T13:50:00.000-07:002009-07-22T14:05:44.528-07:00

I've received a couple of questions about the no-poo method for curly hair. My hair is (obviously) straight to slightly wavy, so I can't give first hand experience though there are many sites out there hosted by curly-haired girls. One method is washing hair with water only, followed by an ACV rinse.With all no-poo methods you must massage your scalp properly (using fingertips, not fingernails,

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-23930434977717742512009-07-19T17:53:00.000-07:002009-07-19T22:04:24.131-07:00

I'm still excited about this no-poo hair regime, even after 3.5 months. I'm thrilled actually. Something I thought of this morning while massaging away with the baking soda is that my hair is a lot more predictable, behaviour-wise, than when using regular shampoos and conditioners. Often I would wash and dry my hair and it wouldn't behave like it did the previous wash. This caused great

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-35946338181454319862009-06-29T16:37:00.001-07:002009-06-29T16:46:50.040-07:00

I found some interesting health recipes in a recent Vogue UK magazine that I hope to try over the coming months. If anyone tries them, I'd love to hear what you think - whether you looked like Daria W after, whether the recipe stunk, whether you'd try it again, whether you found a better way of doing it, etc? I'll post each recipe separately for that reason, and there'll be a link on the sidebar

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-1389259089808879962009-06-29T16:36:00.001-07:002009-06-30T01:10:55.856-07:00

"Dissolve a tsp of sugar with a teaspoon of salt in hot water, then pour into a plastic spray bottle. When cool distribute through the hair whenever you want a sexy tousled look with great hold."Source: Zoe Irwin, creative director of Hari's hairdressers

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-15457160738343361372009-06-29T16:36:00.000-07:002009-09-11T01:36:53.063-07:00

"This recipe for a nourishing and restorative hair mask has been passed through my family for three generations: whisk together a few tablespoons of olive oil, an egg yolk and a couple of splashes of rum. Apply the mixture to wet hair - it smells delicious, like cake mix - and wrap in a warm towel. Shampoo out ater 30 minutes to reveal hair with a rich, hydrated lustre."Source: Olivia

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-21131333639274038322009-06-29T16:35:00.000-07:002009-06-29T16:43:27.975-07:00

Blend three tablespoons of oats in a coffee grinder and give it an antioxidant kick with 1/4 tsp of tumeric powder, 1/4 tsp of ginger powder and 1/4 tsp green tea powder. Drizzle in enough water to mak a thick paste and add 1/2 tsp flax seed oil. Apply the mixture to cleansed skin and leave for ten minutes, then buff off with a muslin cloth. It leaves skin radiant.Source: Margo Marrone,

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-27043167268354261492009-06-27T18:57:00.001-07:002009-06-27T23:58:34.729-07:00

I'm really into supplements. I mean, really. My main memory of popping pills was when I was in my late teens and seriously into the gym and running. I'd not care to think how much I was spending then. These days I try to follow a simpler, and hopefully more effective, health regime.I know this will probably bore some of you, but I really dig it. And to be perfectly honest, I do it for the outside

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-25674136919586914782009-06-27T18:43:00.000-07:002009-06-27T18:47:46.315-07:00

I've realised that there is only so much I can post about the state of my hair on this no-shampoo adventure of mine (surely you agree too), so now plan on writing about other health and beauty-related topics too. I'll be back soon...

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-43227280200037228342009-06-02T21:51:00.000-07:002009-06-27T18:48:11.891-07:00

Just a quickie update. I ran out of honey apple cider vinegar, and as the two remaining bottles at the shop looked a bit motley I decided to go with straight apple cider vinegar. In hindsight I think the honey was adding a faint stickiness/heaviness to my hair, and as a result of using the apple cider vinegar my hair feels a lot lighter. I would still use the HAVC occasionally but not for all

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-86335439097927029702009-05-22T14:42:00.000-07:002009-06-27T18:48:33.890-07:00

Still so far, so good. You get great shine with the bicarb/ACV method so my serums sit lonely and neglected in the bathroom cupboard. Ditto for the bodifying products and irritating attempts to put body into the roots such as the old 'comb-teasing'.A few weeks back I even did a coffee rinse for my brown hair. Brendan saw me, and said I should still be back living in my ramshackle cottage in the

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-31545522623058611512009-05-06T18:30:00.000-07:002009-06-27T18:48:59.699-07:00

One month into the bicarb experiment, wowee. All is still going well (i.e. no going back), though the challenge the past week or two has been working out a suitable formula from this point on, i.e. one that washes my hair but doesn't dry out my ends. I went with the paste method this morning so I could just concentrate washing the target areas (crown, temples, nape) without exposing the ends to a

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-32240088448825416932009-04-26T01:51:00.000-07:002009-06-27T18:49:16.041-07:00

Lucy was pleased (sic) to have her first bicarb/HACV wash today. It didn't sting her lovely blue eyes, was overall very easy to do, and left her with the silkiest, shiniest, softest hair. I kept looking at it and touching it and remarking on it to Lucy. I am her mother though, and mothers do things like that. Seriously, I am super impressed and although she wouldn't let me give it a good brush,

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-21203532206847356612009-04-21T18:50:00.000-07:002009-06-27T18:49:37.743-07:00

I feel I've been doing this forever now (but obviously only sixteen days)! I've tried both a bicarb liquid and a bicarb paste formulation, and for my hair prefer the liquid. That is:The Wash: 1C water with 1T baking soda/bicarb dissolved. Pour into a recycled shampoo bottle or similar, and pour over the hair. I often get 2-3 washes from a bottle, so obviously I'm using a lot less bicarb per wash

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-55125721783344555402009-04-11T16:38:00.000-07:002009-06-27T18:50:05.744-07:00

Today I used bicarb paste and massaged it into my scalp for a minute or two and then put the HAVC rinse only on my ends (whereas before I had been putting it all over). The last two times I’ve also roughly blow-dried it, but this time I will let it air dry, which is what you’re supposed to do (it’s been a bit cold though lately, and I can be a bit of a wuss).When I’ve used shampoo and conditioner

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-91869988246343011682009-04-08T16:37:00.000-07:002009-06-27T18:50:22.503-07:00

Today the 'shampoo' felt like it was actually cleaning my hair, and the rinse seemed lighter than what I am used to from a conditioner but then I think I over-condition anyway. Once it was towel dried I rubbed a couple of drops of jojoba oil through it (I have long-term colour treated hair).My hair has a lot of body and feels ever so slightly dry but totally fine. As I said, I think I

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845200720629249696.post-17393186170529416382009-04-08T16:30:00.000-07:002009-06-27T18:50:44.576-07:00

I've been seeing a lot of this no-shampoo lifestyle lately and am intrigued. I'm sure it's been going on for quite some time, but just this week I've started noticing it.I confess I am a serious hair product junkie. If there were a support group (HA perhaps?) I should be attending it, heading it perhaps. Mum used to joke about me and my hair, and my obsession to get it looking just right (

Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06148635013066682907noreply@blogger.com0