Cavewoman Beauty Methods - Who's In?!

[LumpyLatimer]

RIGHT!

As mentioned elsewhere, I am ditching chemicals and bottles and packaging for natural, herbal and Ayurvedic stuff, and wondered if anyone wanted to join me, so we can basically end up look like this

Bit of background - this all kicked off when I used some henna. Turns out that dying your hair red is the least of its properties - it has turned my depressingly straight bleached frazzle into thick tumbling locks

I am going to continue wth hair experimenting by using some Indian/ayurvedic stuff - shikakai, cassia, amla oil etc. Just waiting for my parcels to arrive. I can post loads of links/info if anyone is interested.

Also doing the OCM and amazed by my skin. Not used castor oil yet as my ebay seller is stupidly slow, but exerimenting with various other oils.

Not yet got round to thinking about deodorants and shower gels

I wondered if anyone else is in. So far I really just feel like I'm screaming SCREW YOU! at Unilever and turning into a really really hot witch with amazing hair.

Disclaimer: you don't actually have to wear velvet dresses and crap sandals to do this stuff. It's good for the planet and good for your bank account, both of which are pretty compelling reasons to give it a shot....

So...anyone joining me?

Urgh, downside of cavewoman beauty - just got oil in my eye because I've been drinking. Hurts WAY more than cleanser

RIGHT, big stage of cavewoman/witchy hair today!

My package of hair spells arrived. I've been soaking my hair in amla oil all day - it's an Indian gooseberry thing, although this turns out not to be pure amla oil but have shikakai and sesame in it too. Smells...interesting. I sort of like herby woody smells so I'm OK with that.

I've also got some cassia and some rhubarb root and I'm going to do a 50/50 soak for about an hour. The cassia SHOULD make it heavy and thick and shiny, and the rhubarb MIGHT help lift some of my recent application of henna and indigo (it's lovely but a bit too dark - I want a lighter copper colour).

Apparently cassia can make your hair feel a bit dry so I'll probably oil it again afterwards.

in all honesty though the biggest breakthrough for me so far (apart from the henna making me a redhead obvs) is not using the hairdryer. I'm not one for curling tongs and I think straighteners are fearfull common , but I did used to blast the hair totally dry. Giving it up means my hair has rediscovered some wave and it's nowhere near as brittle looking (though the henna sorted that too, partly)....

I'll report back when I've rinsed out a headful of cassia mud and it has dried!

I like the sound of the netral henna - but the thought of the possible yellow results makes me nervous. I used to use henna as a student back in the early eighties - loved it until I once accidentally left it on too long, wasn 't that concerned - until it dried bloody orange!

Fenugreek mixed to a paste in milk is good for dark circles - might go and do it now and report back.

Hmm looks the same and I stink, but I think last time I tried it it took a few goes before making a difference.

Fenugreek is quite pongy!

I'll be interested to see what effect you get doing it a few times - do you have sort of undereye 'stains' that are permanently there, or just when you're tired??

Have rinsed out the amla and about to go and mix my mud . I should actually be doing some work, as a polite email has just pointed out, but Cavewomen and Witches don't do what no-one tells them, and I right or am I right??

Right, I sit with a very heavy head swathed in one of the white plastic bags we use to dispose of the cat litter

Cassia smells exactly like senokot, which I suppose isn't all that surprising given it's the same stuff. I made a thick mud with half cassia and half rhubarb and I think I've worked it into all the strands, but it's not easy and I have a headache now....

Wash off time in an hour or so, which will apparently take until oh, forever o'clock? Still trawling various endearing mental American long hair forums for advice on how to rinse it/what to do next. Seriously folks this passes for excitement in my life

Joining! I've been doing the OCM for about two weeks now, just with almond oil and I LOVE it. My other oils have arrived from EBay today so I'm going to trial a mix. I have acne scarred skin with fairly big pores across my cheeks and the oil is already making a difference to the size of my pores. I'm now the proud owner of rosehip oil, castor oil, carrot seed EO and lavender EO. No idea what proportions to use though. Does anyone have any decent links I can peruse at my leisure?

Hair, well, I am VERY interested in anything that will promote growth and good condition as I've just been through chemotherapy and have about an inch and a half of growth back. It looks like a very short crop at the moment, can't wait until it's just a leeeeeetle bit longer so it will look like a proper style and less like I've got an electrocuted hedgehog perched on my head.