Put The Lime in the Coconut.

I am going to try to make my own shampoo today! I'm really excited. I've become pretty nervous about the chemicals in beauty products as of late. Even "natural" products have ingredient lists that sound like chemistry experiments. I don't know what any of those words mean, so how can I be an educated consumer when it comes to purchasing them? The recent news about Johnson's Baby Shampoo hammered home the importance of trying to limit my family's exposure to these unknown chemicals.

But, natural and organic beauty products aren't regulated. You can pretty much throw any label you want on a bottle of shampoo to get suckers like me to buy it. You never really know what you're going to get, and these products tend to be UBER expensive.

I tried to go no poo. I got about five weeks into it and then gave up. My hair was just so disgusting. I'm sure if I'd pressed on, it would have been lovely, but I didn't have the patience. I have kept it in my mind that I want to find a truly all natural alternative to shampoo. So I will give this a shot.

I came across a recipe for homemade coconut milk shampoo on Pinterest:

"1 part coconut milk, to 2 parts liquid castille soap (I use Dr. Bronner's) makes an awesome, silky smooth lathering SHAMPOO. Combine it with the vinegar rinse for gorgeous, soft, eco-friendly hair. "

This transitions into my love for coconut oil!

I bought this brand at Whole Foods for $9.99. It's even less expensive on Amazon. I've substituted my facial moisturizer for coconut oil, and my skin looks lovely. A little goes a very long way.

It's also a cloth-safe diaper rash cream! Again, $9.99 for a jar that's three times the size of other cloth-safe commercial diaper rash creams for the same price.

It's great for fattening skinny babies! Use in place of butter for a heart-healthy fat. Yet many people use coconut oil to LOSE weight, because it "boosts your metabolism, gives you energy, makes you feel more full and improves your thyroid function. They say that the type of fatty acid in coconut oil is a healthy one, and that your body quickly burns it for energy." Scientific results are mixed on that one. But it's certainly better than a trans fat!

It's also a TTC-friendly lube, and it cures hemorrhoids. It's like Apple Cider Vinegar: A natural product that has more uses than you can even invent.

I will keep you posted on the shampoo results. Keep your fingers crossed!