Want Beachy Hair? Try This DIY Sea Salt Spray Recipe

I love the look of beachy hair but some products are so expensive.  I found this DIY Sea Salt Texturizing Spray recipe, its similar to Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray and Aquage Sea Salt Texturizing Hair Spray but costs much less.  It’ll perk up any natural wave in your hair a la Giselle and give you that whole “I just spent a day by the sea” look we all love so much.

What you need:
*A clean spray bottle. You can find them super cheap at dollar stores, grocery stores, and mega marts. Make sure it holds at least 8 fl. oz. to 10 fl. oz.
*8 fl. oz. of water. Try distilled or filtered if your tap water isn't the best on hair
*Sea salt. Use the more finely ground stuff because it mixes easier and faster with the water. It costs around $2.19 for a large canister of it. Use 1 tsp for each 8 fl oz of water.
*Coconut scented conditioner. It doesn't have to be expensive conditioner - Suave brand for $1 at the dollar store. This has a great beachy scent but it helps counteract the drying that the salt will do. Use 1/2 a tsp - use more if you have extra dry hair.
*A dab of hair gel. Unscented, preferably—otherwise it will interfere with the coconut scent of the conditioner). Usually the cheaper brand are more runny and mix better."

Her optional add-ins:
"* Essential oils: If you have dry or coarse hair, this is a good add-in. They will help condition your hair and add some shine. Choose whatever scent you want - ylang ylang works great for sensitive skin and problem scalps. Rosemary is great to help deepen the color of brunette's hair and chamomile brightens blonds. Use 3-5 drops.
* Tea Tree Oil: Great for sensitive and oily scalps. If you have oilier hair, this is the best oil to add for you since it won't make your hair oilier or weigh it down. Use 3-5 drops.
* More sea salt - You can add a little more if you have oilier/thicker hair. The more salt you use, the more it will dry out your hair. BUT the more you use, the "beachier" your hair will look and the more hold there will be. If the recipe doesn't have enough salt for you, add 1/4 tsp at a time until you reach the desired level. Make sure to record your changes so you know how much to add when you want to make more!

To do: 

Add all your ingredients to the spray bottle and shake it until it mixes together. Any oils added will never fully combine well with the water so you'll have to shake it a little before each use. If your hair gel and/or conditioner don't combine you can try warming the mixture in the microwave (remove any metal pieces and don't use until cool!) to see if that helps - if it doesn't, you may have used too thick of a conditioner/gel.

Here is a certified organic product for those of you who don't want to make your own.

sea mist sea salt spray with lavender

$22.00

Coconut Oil

If there was an oil you could use for your daily cooking needs that helped protect you from heart disease, cancer, and other degenerative conditions, improved your digestion, strengthened your immune system, and helped you lose excess weight, would you be interested? This is what coconut oil can do for you.

Many of you have probably heard that coconut oil is good for you. I have actually never used it but just the other day my girlfriend was telling me that she uses it in her hair and moisturizes with it after her shower and I must say her skin was very soft! My brother in law is also a big fan and buys it regularly from the health food store. I thought I would do a little research on this great smelling natural product and test it out for myself, I mean who doesn't want to be healthy and have baby soft skin! Coconut Oil does it all.

What Coconut Oil DOES NOT Do: Does not increase blood cholesterol level. Does not promote platelet stickiness or blood clot formation. Does not contribute to atherosclerosis or heart disease. Does not contribute to weight problems. What Coconut Oil DOES Do: Reduces risk of atherosclerosis and related illnesses. Reduces risk of cancer and other degenerative conditions. Helps prevent bacterial, viral, and fungal (including yeast) infections. Supports immune system function. Helps control diabetes. Provides an immediate source of energy. Supports healthy metabolic function. Improves digestion and nutrient absorption. Supplies important nutrients necessary for good health. Supplies fewer calories than other fats. Promotes weight loss. Helps prevent osteoporosis. Has a mild delicate flavor. Is highly resistant to spoilage (long shelf life). Is heat resistant (the healthiest for cooking). Helps keep skin soft and smooth. Helps prevent premature aging and wrinkling of the skin. Helps protect against skin cancer and other blemishes. Functions as a protective antioxidant."

Hair Care:

Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrition for hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair providing them a shiny complexion. I tend to get really try scalp during the winter, regular massage of the head with coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free of dandruff. Coconut oil is extensively used in the Indian sub-continent for hair care. It is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged hair. It also helps get rid of head lice. It provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair. It is therefore used as hair care oil and used in manufacturing various conditioners, and dandruff relief creams. Apply it to dry hair when you are hanging around the house, leave it in for as long as you can, wash it normally and you can apply conditioner after if you find your hair tangles easily. It can also be left in overnight for a deep conditioning.

Skin Care:

Coconut oil is excellent massage oil for the skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins including dry skin. The benefit of coconut oil on the skin is comparable to that of mineral oil. Further, unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin with the application of coconut oil. Coconut oil therefore is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Therefore coconut oil forms the basic ingredient of various body care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc., used for skin care.

Weight Loss:

I had no idea that coconut oil could help with weight loss! It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems. Further, it increases the body metabolism by removing stress on pancreases, thereby burning out more energy and helping obese and overweight people reduce their weight. Hence, people living in tropical coastal areas, who eat coconut oil daily as their primary cooking oil, are normally not fat, obese or overweight.

Next time you are at the market, pick up some coconut oil and give it a try!

Dry Brushing

If you're interested in a natural pick-me-up that rivals a morning cup of jo, you've got to try dry brushing. The largest organ of the body is our skin. Not only is it an organ, but it is a major area for the elimination of toxic wastes from our systems. The bowel, lungs, kidneys and skin are our four channels of elimination. Each of these organs ideally should release two pounds of toxins per day. In addition to eating healthfully, that means no fast food! We must also get plenty of exercise in the fresh air and wear natural fiber clothing to keep our skin well. Never use soaps, cosmetics or lotions are are full of chemicals. Don't use deodorants that contain aluminum. Choose soaps, oils, locations and deodorants that are made with natural ingredients. the skin can become very toxic from years of rubbing or spraying chemicals into it or wearing synthetic fibers.

Skin brushing is one of the finest ways to detoxify the skin and promote good circulation. Brush your skin with a natural vegetable fiber brush before you take your shower or bath. Brushing the skin when it is dry rather than wet is very important because dry brushing removes more dead skin cells and toxins. Brushing the skin allows the pores to stay open, so metabolic wastes can be released. Always brush towards the heart. When brushing the face use a smaller softer brush.

Benefits of skin brushing:

1. Helps prevent wrinkles by tightening the skin.

2. Release uric acid crystals that can cause gout or kidney stones.

3. Cleanses and purifies the kidney's.

4. Removes dead skin cells and opens the pores sop toxins may be released.

5. Helps to break down cellulite after 30 days of consistent brushing (3-5 minutes).

6. Improves blood circulation to the skin and all parts of the body.

7. Cleanses the lymph and improves immunity.

So, for the greater overall health, take care of your skin!