Moisturizing your hair and scalp

There is no denying that some of the more natural shampoos and conditioners leave a little something to be desired. Some of them feel really harsh, leaving your hair a tangled, dry mess, while others leave you feeling like an oil slick.

There are some more natural shampoos and conditioners out there (available at your drug store, even) that feel, suds, and rinse out the way the standard chemically stuff does, but is better for YOU and the environment.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a chemical sudsing agent and is found in most cheap shampoos and conditioners (actually, most of the pricey salon brands have this ingredient too). We have been brainwashed to believe that unless there is lather, that it's not getting clean. Well Sodium Laureth Sulfate has been linked to cancer (The EPA in the US even listed it as "a probably carcinogen"), skin irritation, and canker sores (it's in cheap toothpaste). It's also been linked to Whale Infertility - circle of life, people!!!

Okay, I'm getting off topic here.

SLS is dangerous. You definitely want a shampoo that's SLS free. You also want one that's Paraben-free. Fragrance free is good (essential oils are not considered fragrance, and will be listed as essential oils). Giovanni makes some nice shampoos and conditioners (GiovanniCosmetics.com) and so does Live Clean (live-clean.com), but Live Clean has a larger range of shampoos (and hand washes, body lotions, etc).

They are not much more expensive than conventional drug store brands, but are SO much better for you and the environment.

So today's beauty tip is hair-based. Try mixing together 1 egg, 2 tablespoons castor oil, 1 tablespoon glycerin, and 1 tablespoon white vinegar. Give it a good mix and put it in a squeeze bottle. Apply it all over your dry hair the way you would hair colour... cover your shoulders with a towel, it may run! Let it sit for 20 minutes, then wash and condition like you normally would. Ideally, you'd add a little castor oil to your shampoo in the palm of your hand before washing. You'll have amazingly shiny, thick-looking, soft soft hair!