During the Holidays, I always go through a moment of missing my family, old times and how we were raised. As I was thinking of my grandmother, I started to remember some of the remedies and anecdotes that she used to provide. Growing up with a grandmother that was raised in the backwoods of Louisiana, most of her solutions to common problems were all-natural. Not because it was the IT thing to do like it seems today, but because that is the only resource they had. Growing up we made light of some of the concoctions thinking they were so primitive and silly. We only wanted store-bought solutions to whatever we needed to be resolved. I mean all the hocus pocus, oil, vinegar, egg, salt, pepper; ketchup solutions were funny as heck to us. Now as a woman I realize the natural remedies that our grandmothers used were actually much better and better for us than anything we could possibly buy in the store. I am writing this blog to reveal some of my grandmother's remedies and how we utilize these ingredients on most of our handmade healthy hair cocktails mixed in our salon.
Baking SODA (natural cleanser, draws swelling and infection)- Back in the day my grandmother would use baking soda for many things. If we had a cavity or a toothache my grandmother would pack baking soda in the tooth to stop it from hurting. The baking soda would draw the infection and stop the swelling. She also used it when we had a boil with pus, making a paste with water and the baking soda, then packing the bump with the paste. The bump will eventually burst and the pus would drain and would not swell again. Of course, baking soda was also used as a cleanser to brush our teeth and was also used as a clarifying cleansing shampoo.
If you have excessive dandruff or build-up of product on your hair and scalp, take one tablespoon of baking soda to two parts shampoo. Lather the hair and scalp. Your hair and scalp will be amazingly clean. Only do this when needed not every time you shampoo. Follow up with an apple cider vinegar rinse.
Apple Cider Vinegar- was used for many things, colds, sinus infections, ACV thins mucus almost immediately. One of the first things you will notice after drinking apple cider vinegar is that the color of your mucus goes from white or green and thick, too thin and clear. Some of my Caribbean friends use apple cider vinegar to bathe, it is known to kill germs. For hair, we use this acid rinse after the clarifying shampoo to restore the pH balance of the hair making the hair smooth and shiny. remember to always use these products like ACV in its natural and organic form.
Vitamin E Pills- My grandmother kept plenty of vitamins in the house she was a firm believer in staying healthy. Visiting the doctor often was not an option simply because it was so expensive. Keeping in good health was a must. My grandmother's skin was beautiful and I would like to say Vitamin E played a major part. Not only did she take the pills internally but she also split the pills in half as a topical solution. She used them on her dry scalp and face as a natural lubricant. Vitamin E has a natural healing power for dry skin.
Eggs (protein used for strong hair) - Eggs are packed with protein, sulfur, and biotin, all of which contribute to shiny, strong, healthy hair when eaten or applied as a hair mask. I can tell you story after story how I have used eggs to restore weak, chemically treated, damaged hair but that will take forever. What I will say is that using eggs as a treatment, and even a 911 treatment, has been my saving grace for many of my clients that have experimented on their own hair causing tremendous damage. I have also witnessed one of my clients in particular that went on a high protein, weight loss diet, eating 6- 7 eggs per day. Her hair went from being weak and average to extremely long and strong. After seeing her hair due to her high protein intake I was convinced that protein is a must in our diet as well as using it topically on the hair. Now all of my products are heavily infused with protein. We have testimony after testimony of clients that have taken their hair weaves out and their hair is 4 times thicker, stronger and longer than it was before our treatments.
Aloe Vera Plant- Now my grandmother kept an aloe Vera plant/cactus in the house it was used for many things. No matter what we did from cutting our selves, scraping our knees, blister, cold sores, acne you name it, my grandmother went to the plant, cracked opened the cactus and put this slimy gel all over the problem. Miraculously it would heal in a matter of days. Aloe Vera is known as a healing plant that is used in many ointments, creams, lotions and hair care products. It is also a wonderful skin moisturizer and softener. More importantly, it is a great “skin healer” that is extremely effective on minor burns, cuts, scrapes, insect bites or stings.
Use it for acne, to dry up pimples, for patches of eczema and especially, it's great to use on fever blisters or cold sores.
Be sure to keep an Aloe Vera plant around the house. It is easy to grow and does not require much water since it’s a cactus. Aloe Vera for the hair is used to promote hair growth, prevent hair loss and heal split ends.
Beer- I never knew why my grandmother would put beer in my hair but after researching, I figured out why. There is a protein in beer that fills in many spaces that are lagging between damaged cuticles. Cuticle repair makes hair smoother and shinier.
Last but not least.....
MASHED Avocados -are one of the best home remedies for hair growth and make great hair conditioners. They’re packed with essential fats that are super moisturizing. This leaves your hair feeling softer and more elastic and makes it less prone to breakage.
As you can see many of these home remedies serve more than one purpose. My grandmother was very resourceful. As we enter this new era many people are becoming wiser on remedies that are natural and organic. Even if you didn't have a grandmother like mine there are many topics online that provide helpful natural solutions to any and everything. So before you go buy a bunch of overpriced hair products do your research, look in your kitchen, and get a natural healing made by your own hands.
