Saturday, July 26, 2014

Pregnancy And Essential Oils



Hey, beautiful people!  I’m headed into the third trimester of my pregnancy.  Home stretch!  Since I found out I was pregnant, I’ve been reading up on what essential oils I can use during pregnancy because I use a number of them in my homemade moisture spritz and some of the products I buy use them as well.  As a result, I gave up my Rosemary essential oil early on.  I thought I would share what I've learned in case it helps someone else.  


Here is the list of essential oils that I have learned to avoid because they can be unsafe in undiluted, high doses (most of these are still ok in food, but not tea):
·         Nutmeg (may have hallucinogenic effects and react with pain-relieving drugs)
·         Rosemary (may cause contractions)
·         Basil (may contribute to abnormal cell development)
·         Jasmine (may cause contractions)
·         Clary sage (may cause contractions)
·         Sage and rose (may cause in-utero bleeding)
·         Juniper berry (may affect your kidneys)
·         Lemongrass (can cause miscarriage or defects)
·         Cinnamon
·         Wintergreen

Here are the ones that are supposed to be ok for uncomplicated pregnancies:
  • Citrus oils, such as tangerine, lemon, orange and grapefruit
  • Chamomile
  • Lavender
  • Frankincense
  • Peppermint (always dilute it, and be careful at end because it may decrease milk supply)
  • Ylang ylang
  • Eucalyptus
  • Bergamot
  • Cypress
  • Tea tree oil (not when in labor)
  • Geranium
  • Spearmint
To be on the safe side, it is best to dilute any of these oils, rather than topically applying them straight out the bottle.  You should also still talk to your doctor about any essential oils you want to use.  For certain pregnancy complications and health conditions, you shouldn’t use any essential oils.  I always keep a running list of questions for my doctor to ask at each appointment.  If you don’t feel like you can ask your doctor every question you have, find a new doctor.


What Essential Oils Do You Use?
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Saturday, July 19, 2014

African Black Soap Update


Hey, beautiful people!  In a previous post, I talked about how I wanted to try African Black Soap as a cleanser to see how it worked for my hair.  Well, I've been using it almost exclusively for a couple months now and I LOVE IT!  It leaves my hair soft and clean, and I also use it as body wash.  Plus, it is cheaper than any of my other cleansers.  I can get a 32 oz bottle of the Dr. Woods Black Soap for $13 on Amazon.  I have learned that if I use too much of this black soap undiluted, then it can be a little stripping.  So, lately, I've been mixing it with water for my hair, which makes it last even longer.  I tried a 1 part black soap with 7 part water mix; but, this is too thin to make it manageable for me in the shower, though it was still cleansing.  I think, I may do a 3:5 ratio for a little thicker mixture.

Also, I've been watching Youtube videos lately to see if I want to try making my own black soap shampoo, which would be even cheaper.   You can get a pound of solid black soap for about $5-$8 to mix with water and oil.  A little of the solid goes a long way.  Here are some Youtube videos that I have found for inspiration:


With this discovery and my no-buy, I'm giving up shampoo altogether for now, with the exception of my chelator shampoo.


Do you use black soap to wash your hair?  What do you think?
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Saturday, July 12, 2014

Product Review: Hairveda Moist Condition PRO Conditioner


Price:  $9.99 for 16 oz.

Ingredients:   Water, Coconut Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Chloride, Dimethyl Stearamine, Lactic Acid, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Soybean Oil, Paraben-free preservative, Phthalate -free fragrance.

Promise:  From the website - Our wheat protein-enriched conditioner carries moisture and protein into the hair without weighing it down or dulling.  Soy protein delivers the maximum amount of nutrients into the hair follicles where protein deficiencies occur.  Moist Condition PRO provides building blocks for strengthening the hair.  We use wheat protein derived from organic sources.  We've designed it to add manageability and shine.  Designed for all hair types.  Safe and mild for natural, relaxed and color processed hair.

Scent:  Citrusy starburst scent

Consistency:  Like wet lotion

Results:  This was the last of my Black Friday Hairveda purchases.  This reminds me a lot of the Acai Phyto Conditioner, though it may be a little more runny.  I used this both as an overnight deep conditioner and as a rinse out conditioner.  I liked it both ways, but preferred it as a rinse out conditioner.  It leaves my hair feeling strong, yet moisturized.  However, as an overnight, there was a slight hardness to my hair.  Not super hard, but noticeable.  I think it may be the wheat protein or the coconut oil.  The ingredients listed on the website are now different and don't include coconut or soybean oil, so I may try this again.  Either way, I think I prefer the Acai Phyto Conditioner over this one.

Love it, Like it or Leave It:  Like It
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Saturday, July 5, 2014

Product Review: Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave-in Conditioner




Price:  $13 for 8 oz. / $22 for 16 oz.

Ingredients:  Water, Glycerin, Almond Oil, Wheat Germ Protein, Silk Amino Acids, Lemongrass Extract, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Herbal and Botanical Blend

Promise:  Locks moisture in your hair without weighing it down or causing product build up. Infused with essential oils to smooth your hair shaft and keeps it moisturized. The lemon zest scent is yummy and refreshing. Hair will feel soft and ready to be styled pretty!

Scent:  Lemon

Consistency:  Thick liquid, like orange juice with a lot of pulp



Results:  I loved this product!  It made my hair soft, strong and moisturized.  It also lasts a long time.  I’ve been using it regularly since at least the beginning of the year, and I still have a quarter of a bottle left.  I used it more as a moisturizing, protein spritz rather than a leave-in.  My only issue is that, because of the thickness of the liquid, it didn't always come out of the spray nozzle well.  Sometimes, it would drip or collect on the front of the spray, and I would have to wipe it off and spread it on my hair with my fingers.  I didn't mind this too much because this is such a great product.  I was going back and forth on whether to buy it again because I am trying to transition to making more of my own products and buying less online.  However, now that I can get this on the ground at Target, I will definitely buy it when my no-buy is up.

Love it, Like it or Leave It:  Love it!
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