an easy hair mask for frizzy or curly hair

It’s been a while since I wrote about anything to do with homemade products, so I thought I’d show something simple that I used on my hair last night.

I have curly hair that tends to dry out easily. I wake up with freakishly frizzy hair that looks like the stylists for Whitesnake and Motley Crue broke into my house while I was sleeping and teased my hair. The dad is kind and averts his eyes and says nothing. Usually I am able to beat it into submission with a shower and some kind of hair product, but lately it was getting a little out of hand. Last night I made a quick hot oil treatment and the results are nice, submissive shiny curls this morning. Mostly. The curls tend to do their own thing. I call it a good day if I look less like Richard Simmons and more like Phyllis Diller. But it was shiny. And soft. And more importantly, it wasn’t frizzy.

I used coconut oil, honey and apple cider vinegar; each ingredient on its own has conditioning and moisturizing qualities. The apple cider vinegar also removes hair product residue from hair, works as a natural de-tangler and leaves hair soft and smooth. I’ve used it in the past as a rinse after shampooing (mixed with water in a squirt bottle) and my hair always felt great afterwards. And you stop smelling like a french fry as soon as your hair dries.

This made enough to cover my chin length hair, so if you have longer hair just mix a larger batch. The measurements don’t have to be precise, just in approximately the same ratio as below.

Moisturizing Coconut Oil, Honey and Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Mask

• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tbsp honey
• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar

Mix together in a glass jar or container that can be heated. Warm in a hot water bath or place in the microwave for a few seconds until the oil and honey are warmed and runny. Apply to dry hair, cover with an old towel or shower cap and leave on for at least 30 minutes before washing hair.

I had to borrow the new cap that I bought for our new bathroom caddy (a wine bottle holder that we found hidden in our bathtub after our annual ugly gift exchange).

Linked to Wildcrafting Wednesday, Frugally Sustainable, GNOWFGLINS

traditional house warming gifts

There are a couple of loaves of homemade bread to go in here too, but they are in the oven right now.

We are heading out this weekend to visit with the city cousins. They’ve recently moved into a new home, so I though we should take along a housewarming gift of some kind. I remember a neighbour giving us salt, bread and wine when we moved, so I’m going to do something similar.

First, I looked it up to find the right wording to put on the card. I found that there are more items that were traditionally given as housewarming gifts as well.

Bread	May those in your home never go hungry.
Broom	May your house always be clean and free of evil spirits.
Candles	May you always have light through the darkest times.
Coins	May you receive luck and good fortune.
Honey	May you always enjoy the sweetness of life.
Knives	May your home always be protected from intruders.
Olive Oil	May you be blessed with health and well-being.
Plants	May your home always have life.
Rice	May the love in your home multiply. (fertility)
Salt	May there always be flavor and spice in your life.
Wine	May you always have joy and never go thirsty.
Wood	May your home have stability, harmony, and peace.

I have salt, candles, honey, wine (one of the bottles is from a local vineyard) and some homemade cuban bread that I am going to take with me. The honey is from an apiary in our neighbourhood – he keeps bee boxes on my in-laws property and presents them with a case of honey each year, so we have lots. I may have to purchase another bottle of wine because, well, we like wine. And the bread – I will post a recipe in the next few days. Stay tuned for a recipe for bread that is so quick and easy that even my 8 year old has made it.

Linking to A Turtle’s Life for Me, Frugally Sustainable, The Delectable Home, Sorta Crunchy, Boogieboard Cottage, The House in the Roses, Cozy Home Scenes, Mod Vintage Life, Learning the Frugal Life, Knick of Time, Farmgirl Friday, A Pinch of Joy, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Skip to My Lou, Tatertots and Jello, Our Delightful Home, Homestead Simple, GNOWFGLINS, Cheerios and Lattes