DIY Nourishing Hair Mask

No Thursday update this week because I pretty much told you all the highlights of my week as they happened... 'they' being St Paddy's day and working my face off, both at Brooklyn and at school. I had big stuff every day of school this week! a five page paper here, a final paper proposal there, and a big fat midterm to finish it off yesterday. It was overwhelming to have all that facing me immediately after spring break, but now the next few weeks of school should be relatively calm and even-paced.

Today I am working on something that I literally have been avoiding and procrastinating for just about a year- my retroactive medical withdrawal from the spring 2012 semester. Big fat stressed-out sigh. I stopped attending school when it all became "too much", realizing that despite my efforts I had tried to resume my normal life too soon. Due to the conditions of my withdrawal I can blame it on medical reasons but I have to write a whole statement explaining my situation, as well as go around to the 4 professors whose classes I stopped attending and ask them to fill out a form supporting my withdrawal. Like I mentioned in yesterday's post, it is very difficult for me to take my thoughts back to those troubling times, let alone write at length about them and present them to other people to be judged for their worthiness or whatever. Blah. So I didn't do it for months and months. But I only have until the end of this semester so today I'm just going to do it.

On top of that, I'm going in to work today at 4 and it's the spring 4th ave street fair this weekend... which means lots of hungry people that have been walking around in the sun all day demanding slices. I like working the counter but street fair is always pretty high intensity.. so we'll see how that goes.

To take the edge off a bit on my busy and stressful day, I'm going to do at least one of my weekly beauty categories... probably face today. A nice steam and facial should ease the tension, I hope. Yesterday I did my hair and I whipped up this simple little hair mask that I wanted to share with you guys! It's full of protein in the form of Greek yogurt and egg yolk so it is very nourishing and strengthening for your locks. The olive oil is moisturizing, softening, and adds to shine, while the honey is conditioning and also contributes shine and luster to dry, limp hair.

Greek yogurt and honey is one of the most delicious things ever and making and using this mask reminded me of drizzling gobs of golden honey onto cold, super-thick, creamy bowls of yogurt in Greece a couple summers ago. It certainly smelled the same! The honey and yogurt I had wasn't as nice as that stuff but it still made my hair look and feel great and was a nice mid-week boost.

You will need:
Olive oil
Yogurt
Honey
1 egg

Start by separating the egg yolk from the white. The yolk is high in fat and protein which makes it great for your hair while the egg white is super low in calories and great for your waist ;) You can discard the white or use it to make a healthy omelet, meringues, or a number of other yummy goodies.

Put the yolk in a small bowl and use a fork to break the membrane and mix it up real quick. Did you know an egg yolk is one cell? I learned that in like 7th grade science and found it fascinating.

Drizzle in about 1 tbsp olive oil. Since I was doing my full hair treatment yesterday, I had some leftover olive oil from my hot oil scalp rub so I just used that.

Squeeze in some honey next, about 2 tbsp. If you have raw honey, use that! I just had this Kroger stuff on hand. Whisk the oil and honey thoroughly into the egg yolk.

Finally, a healthy dollop of Greek yogurt, about 1/4-1/2 cup. Mix it up real good and you have your mask!

To use, moisten hair with a spray bottle full of HOT water. use your hands, a comb, or a combination of the two to apply the mask to all of your hair but particularly to the length and ends. I like to get mask all over my hands and rub/rake it through my hair, then use a wide tooth comb to distribute it evenly. Twist your hair into a bun on the top of your head, wrap your whole scalp/hair in plastic wrap (you aren't going anywhere, right?) and then wrap it all up in a hot towel. leave on for 10-30 minutes, whatever you have time for, and then rinse it out well and wash normally in the shower. Tada! Revitalized, nourished, shiny hair :)

It's the weekend! YAY!

DIY Lavender Vanilla Body/Face Scrub

Today I'm doing my skin/face portion of my weekly beauty regimen. I whipped up a deliciously fragrant, soothing scrub this morning to use as my skin exfoliant! This scrub is ideal for the whole body and can even be used on your face! It's chock full of great, natural ingredients that are AMAZING for your skin, AND you probably have them in your kitchen right now (and if not, they're definitely at the grocery store or natural foods store). The best part is it will cost you only a few pennies and minutes to make!

The scrub contains:

Sea salt, which is a natural detoxifier, exfoliant, antiseptic, and stress reducer. It is softer and more gentle than normal salt, which can sometimes tear at the skin when used in scrubs.

Sugar, which is another exfoliant that is much softer and gentler on the skin than salt- the mix of both sea salt and sugar in this scrub gives all the benefits of both with an end product that is gentle enough to use on your face. Sugar also contains glycolic acid, which conditions and moistens the skin while protecting it from toxins.

Olive oil, which is well known for its moisturizing and soothing properties. Olive oil also contains vitamin E which has been proven to have anti-aging effects.

Grapeseed oil, which is hydrating like olive oil and also is chock full of antioxidants which work against skin-damaging free radicals in the environment. It also lessens allergic reactions on the skin, protects collagen, and evens skin tone. All of these things result in more anti-aging effects.

Lavender essential oil, which can fight against acne and stimulate new skin cell production (helping to heal scars and burns more quickly). It also has calming and pleasant aromatherapy effects.

Vanilla extract, which along with the lavender makes this scrub smell absolutely amazing! Like a delicious floral cookie. If that makes sense.

Lavender VAnilla Scrub

2/3 cup sea salt
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
5 drops lavender essential oil

Optional aesthetic add-ins: scrapings from one vanilla bean, dried lavender flowers.

Combine salt and sugar in a bowl. Drizzle in grapeseed oil while stirring constantly (to help avoid clumps and unevenly dissolved salt/sugar). Grapeseed oil is a light yellow while olive oil has a distinct golden hue. This will make your finished scrub a definite yellow color. If you want it to be lighter (for instance, if you want to add food coloring later for aesthetic appeal without the oil altering the color) use all grapeseed oil.

just grapeseed oil

Add olive oil, once again stirring constantly. Add vanilla extract and lavender essential oil until you reach your desired scent/combination.

with olive oil added

Spoon the mixture into a mason jar or other airtight container and enjoy your new scrub!

To use, just massage onto moistened skin in circular motions to slough off dead skin. Concentrate on particularly dry/rough areas like knees and elbows. Then rinse off! It's perfect for using in the shower. The oil is a natural moisturizer so you wont even need to use lotion after.

A little goes a long way so this scrub should be good for several uses!