3 Amazing Homemade Hair Oil Recipes

This post is sponsored by iHerb.  As always, all opinions are my own.
Three amazing homemade hair oil recipes for dry hair, damaged hair, and to add shine to your hair.  Learn how to infuse oils and herbs to make the oils and how to use them for softer, healthier looking hair.

One of my favorite natural hair hacks is to use hair oil.  I have curly hair, so it's prone to being dry.  Couple that with using a blow dryer and flat iron two to three times a week, and my hair definitely shows some signs of damage.

I use a hair oil every time I wash my hair to add moisture back into my hair.  The last time I made it, I actually made three hair oil recipes.  One for dry hair, one for damaged hair, and one for shine.  I use all three of them at different times and for different reasons.
I got everything that I needed to make these three hair oil recipes from iHerb.  I love shopping at iHerb because they have great prices and free shipping on orders over $20.  I have a special offer for new customers at the bottom of this post.
iHerb is the global leader in bringing natural products to customers all over the world.  They offer a triple guarantee, so you can buy with confidence.

They guarantee that:

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DIY Hot Chocolate Milk Bath Salts Recipe for Dry Skin

This adorable DIY hot chocolate milk bath recipe is perfect for a relaxing bath for yourself or to make as DIY gift for friends.

My skin gets crazy, crazy dry in the winter, so right now, I'm all about things to help my skin feel better.

Couple that with the fact that I've been freezing since September, and I was looking for a DIY   recipe that would soothe my dry skin while helping me get warm, if even just for a few moments.

I wanted a bath salt recipe because I like the benefits of the salts for my aching muscles and joints.  I also wanted a milk bath because they are so good for dry skin.

So I made both.

I made a hot chocolate milk bath salts recipe for help soothe tired and achy joints and muscles while it helps relieve dry skin.

I added the chocolate because it smells amazing and has a lot of skin benefits.  And I may be enjoying sugar free hot chocolates most evenings.

DIY HOT CHOCOLATE MILK BATH RECIPE

This hot chocolate milk bath recipe would also make a great handmade gift for Christmas.  I give small gifts like bath salts or sugar scrubs to my volunteers as a thank you or for teachers gifts.

One year, my three kids had 14 teachers to give to.  I do not miss that now that we homeschool!

SEA SALT

Sea salt comes from, you guessed it, the sea.  It's the salt that is left after the salt water evaporates, so it has trace minerals in it that can help your body and your skin.

Sea salt is a wonderful base for these milk bath salts because it has therapeutic benefits.  The salt is high in a variety of minerals, depending on where the salt came from.

Sea salts are typically high in potassium to help balance the skin's moisture.  Sea salt also has bromides to help relieve muscle stiffness and pain.  The sodium in sea salt can boost circulation of lymphatic fluid.

Sea salts are have magnesium, which is known to help water bind with the skin.  It also promotes cellular turnover and increases the skin's permeability to boost hydration and improve skin texture and tone.

COCOA POWDER

Chocolate isn't just a yummy treat, it's also really good for your skin.  Cocoa powder from your grocery can be used in this recipe, just make sure it doesn't have any artificial ingredients.

I added cocoa powder because it's full of antioxidants to fight free radicals.  It also exfoliates your skin to remove dead skin cells as you soak in it.

The flavonoids in chocolate nourish your skin and boost elasticity for better looking skin.  Meanwhile, the caffeine helps improve skin tone and eliminate fluid retention.

POWDERED MILK

Powdered milk is a wonderful ingredient for homemade bath products.  The lactic acid helps tighten and tone the skin.

Milk powder also cleanses your skin and help skin look brighter and fresher.  It boosts collagen production and promotes cellular turnover.

Milk powder is high in vitamin A to promote cell division and B6 to keep the skin moisturized.

COCONUT MILK POWDER

I added coconut milk powder because it has so many skin benefits, but almost no one uses it for DIY bath recipes like this one.  Coconut milk is also moisturizing, and it can soothe your skin and reduce itchiness and dryness.

It's high in copper and vitamin C, both of which boost elasticity and flexibility of skin.

BAKING SODA

If you have hard water, you definitely want to add baking soda to your milk bath salts.  It helps make the water feel softer and gives it more slip.

Baking soda also helps exfoliate the skin for better looking skin.

VANILLA ESSENTIAL OIL

I used vanilla essential oil for the white part of this chocolate milk bath salts recipe.  Not only does it smell amazing (I was going for a vanilla-y whipped topping thing here), but it also has skin benefits.

It's an antioxidant to help fight free radicals.  When used in aromatherapy, vanilla is said to be calming and relaxing.

I got my vanilla essential oil from Crafty Bubbles.  It's a new variety, so it's only available on their website.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups sea salt
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 cups powdered milk
• 1/2 cup coconut milk powder
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 20 drops vanilla essential oil

DIRECTIONS

STEP #1

Combine the sea salt and cocoa in a bowl.  Set aside.

STEP #2

Combine the powdered milk, coconut milk powder, baking soda, and vanilla essential oil in a separate bowl.

STEP #3

Layer them in a cute container.

This will make 4 or 5 8-ounce jars.

I really like this cute container I got from Hobby Lobby.  It has a little holder on the side for a scoop.  It's perfect for giving as a gift and looks adorable on the shelf in your bath, too.  It's a little pricey to buy for gifts, but you may want this bath salt jar with a scoop for yourself.  

These jars are adorable and would hold one bath's worth.  

I think these jars are also adorable for DIY bath salts recipes.


If you like making bath salts, then check out my books Bath Salts: 30 Easy Recipes for Fun or Profit.

Lavender Chamomile Bath Salts Recipe

Bath Melts for Dry Skin

Gingerbread Emulsified Sugar Scrub

What to Expect When You Switch to Natural Hair Care

This post is sponsored by Pureland Beauty.  As always, all enthusiasm is my own.

I'm moving toward natural beauty products, and I'm making an effort to choose cruelty free where possible.  This was relatively painless with my skin care and makeup because there are so many options available for natural and cruelty free products.  

But natural hair care proved to be a bit of a challenge.  It's harder to find natural hair care products.  I tried some brands that weren't a good fit for me, but then I found Pureland Beauty natural vegan shampoo, conditioner, and heat protectant.

Switching my skin care was an easy transition, but switching to natural hair care takes a little bit of getting used to.  Here is what to expect when you make the switch.

Everyone Deserves Beautiful - Hot Tools New Signature Series Line

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hot Tools. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love the way my hair looks every time I leave the salon, but I could never recreate it at home.  Yes, my hairdresser has training and experience that I don't, but I have experience with my own hair, so why couldn't I get a decent blow out or flat iron it right at home? I wasn't using the right tools at home.  My inexpensive flat iron and hair dryer just weren't able to to give me the same results as my stylist's tools.

Even with almost daily use, I couldn't see spending a lot of money on my hair tools.  I'm so glad I found Hot Tools new Signature Series line.  They are affordable because Everyone Deserves Beautiful.

Eczema Wet Wrap Therapy Instructions

Try eczema wet wrap therapy for natural relief from eczema or atopic dermatitis.  

I've been battling eczema on my hand for a few years now.  I'd never had eczema in my life until a few years ago when all of a sudden I started getting in on my hand.  I narrowed it down to hand soaps.

I can use a few store bought soaps, but nearly every soap in the big dispensers irritates my eczema.  I started making soap petals so I would have soap to take with me, but I ran out a few months ago and used soap several times in one day. 

That night, I was itching like crazy and had a large red patch on my hand.  Within a few days, it was so bad that it basically one large scaly patch.  

Soon, I got really deep cracks and it was bleeding, and it was spreading.

I was using my eczema relief salve.  It would look better for about an hour, then it would go right back to being a large scale.  My hand looked like it had been burned it was so bad.  

At this point, I was very frustrated because nothing was helping.  I'd never been so bad that my salves or carrier oils didn't work.  

I was about to make an appointment with my doctor when I started looking for natural eczema relief.  I knew it would be a few weeks before I could get to the doctor, and I was pretty desperate at this point.  

That's when I discovered wet wrap therapy.  It wasn't invasive, and it just used water, so what could it hurt?  

It ended up almost clearing my eczema in two days.  Two days!  

Skinny Peppermint Mocha Coffee Creamer

This skinny peppermint mocha coffee creamer tastes so good, you'll never know it's a lighter version.

I've been making skinny flavored coffees and coffee creamers for a while now, but I didn't think about blogging them until recently.  I wasn't sure if you'd be interested in skinny coffee drinks next to my DIY beauty products, but you most definitely are based on the views and shares they are getting.

Today, I have a skinny peppermint mocha coffee creamer recipe.  Last year, I posted a skinny peppermint mocha coffee drink.  It's wonderful, but my mornings are super busy.  I just wanted an easy peppermint mocha coffee creamer recipe that I could just grab from the fridge to quickly add to my coffee.  

Since pumpkin spice season is over, it was time to switch to a winter coffee creamer.  I love peppermint mochas, so here we are.  

Like most of my recipes, there are options for this recipe.  You can use your choice of milks and sweeteners in this recipe.  Your nutrition value will change, but I'll show you how to calculate that, too.

Onion Soup Mix Recipe Without Bouillon

This easy onion soup mix recipe is made without bouillon.  It has turmeric in it for its health benefits.  It's also sugar free and can be made without extra salt.

It's freezing here, so we're eating heartier meals.  In the winter, I go through a lot of onion soup mix.  I use it for several recipes, so I use at least one packet a week.  To save money and so I know exactly what's in my food, I started making my own onion soup mix recipe without bouillon.  

I don't use bouillon in my onion soup mix because I usually use this homemade mix along with my brown gravy mix recipe, which already had beef bouillon in it. 

This dry mix recipe is so easy to make.  I almost always have the ingredients in my pantry, so I can make it any time I need it.  I usually double it so I end up with 2 cups of dry mix or about 8 servings.  

ONION SOUP MIX RECIPE WITHOUT BOUILLON

I live in Amish country, so there are Amish bulk food stores all over.  They have the best spices and herbs and a lot of cool ingredients that I can't find anywhere else.

As with any recipe, the better the ingredients, the better your end result will be.  I try to get all of my ingredients at the bulk store, but sometimes I run out and have to have it before I can get to the bulk store.  Hence the a few ingredients in this post aren't from the bulk store.

There is a difference in spice.  The spices I get from the bulk store are better quality than what I get at the store.  I've also had good luck with the spices and herbs at Aldi.  I don't think they are as fresh as the bulk spices and herbs, but they are decent quality.

TURMERIC 

I wanted to add turmeric to this recipe because it has so many health benefits, but I don't get enough of it in my diet.  

Turmeric has curcumin, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.  It's been proven to be as powerful as a medication for inflammation.  

Turmeric is about 3 percent curcumin, so the amount of the herb in this recipe isn't very potent.  That said, I'd still rather boost my turmeric intake in recipes like this onion soup mix recipe.  

Turmeric is also a powerful antioxidant.  Free radicals can cause signs of aging, but free radicals can help protect you from free radicals.  

Curcumin can help neutralize free radicals in your body.  It also boosts your body's antioxidant enzymes.  By working two ways, curcumin is one powerful antioxidant.

READ Turmeric Benefits for Hair and Skin

COCONUT SUGAR

Onion soup mix has sugar in it, so I add some coconut sugar to mine.  Coconut sugar is my sugar substitute of choice because it tastes the most like sugar.  It has a lower glycemic index than white sugar, although I wouldn't exactly call it a healthy food.

I usually use half the amount of coconut sugar.  

You could also use white sugar or omit it completely.

RECIPES WITH ONION SOUP MIX 

I have never used onion soup mix to actually make soup.  I always use it as an ingredient in other things.

I always use some in my meatloaf.  Everyone loves my meatloaf, and this is my secret ingredient.

I also sprinkle some onion soup mix on top of a pork roast and slow cook it all day in my Hamilton Beach slow cooker.  We have that for dinner, and the next day it gets turned into BBQ pulled pork.  Yum!

Side note:  I love my Hamilton Beach slow cooker!  I've had it about 10 years and am on my third crock.  I've been lucky enough to find extra crocks at thrift stores for $2 each.  It locks the lid down, so it gets hotter than other slow cookers.  I use it at least once a week and sometimes up to four times a week, so it's been used a lot over the years.  I have four slow cookers, but this is by far my favorite of the four.  

If I'm cooking a beef roast, I'll add some onion soup mix and some brown gravy.  Then I let it slow cook for several hours.  It's the best way to make a roast in my humble opinion.

Tonight, I'm making beef tips with this onion soup mix recipe and cream of something soup (my homemade version of course) in my Instant Pot.  It's one of my favorite Instant Pot meals.

For a quick side dish, cut up potatoes and coat with olive oil.  Toss them in onion soup mix and bake.

Try one of these recipes using onion soup mix from some of my favorite bloggers:

• Robust Garlic Chicken Sheet Pan Meal
• Grilled Onion Pork Chops
• Onion Soup Mix Green Beans, Potatoes, and Bacon
• Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches 
• Hot Onion Spinach Dip

INGREDIENTS

• 2/3 cup dried onion
• 3 tablespoons parsley
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons turmeric
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon coconut sugar (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

DIRECTIONS

STEP #1

Mix all ingredients together and store in a glass container.  I use a pint mason jar with a plastic lid.

This will make about 1 cup of dry mix.

STEP #2

Use 1/4 cup of this mix in place of one packet of onion soup mix.

See how easy it is to make this onion soup mix recipe?  Now you know exactly what's in the food that you're eating.

Brown Gravy Mix Recipe

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Copycat Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix Recipe

DIY Homemade Disinfecting Spray and Deodorizer Recipe With Essential OIls

Disinfecting your home without chemicals with this DIY homemade disinfectant spray recipe.  It has essential oils to kill germs naturally.

Cold and flu season is upon us.  One major benefit to homeschooling is that my kids don't pick up as many germs.  We are still in public for shopping, karate, and scouts, so we are exposed to germs.  

I started cleaning my home naturally more than 10 years ago.  In the winter though, I want to make sure the germs are gone.  I'm not taking chances because Caleb gets very sick each year.  

When he was an infant and then again a year old, he had RSV and was hospitalized.  Each year after that, he would get pneumonia.  Now that he's older, he still gets sick, but thankfully it isn't as bad as it used to be.  

Disinfecting spray was the last cleaner that I started making.  I thought that I needed to buy a commercial project if I wanted to really kill the germs.  

Then I started doing some research.  You don't need chemicals and artificial scents to get your home clean.  You can use ingredients that you probably have at home to make this homemade disinfecting spray to get your home clean and save money.

DIY HOMEMADE DISINFECTING SPRAY RECIPE

So what is disinfecting?  

When you disinfect, you are killing a large percentage of germs or making them incapable of reproducing. 

You disinfect after you clean.  This recipe isn't made for cleaning.  Use my all purpose cleaner or my homemade dusting spray for cleaning and then follow with this homemade disinfectant spray.  

Don't use this homemade disinfecting spray on granite.  My fridge can't be cleaned with vinegar, so be sure to read the manual before using this spray on appliance.  

VODKA OR RUBBING ALCOHOL

Both vodka and rubbing alcohol are great sanitizers and disinfectants.  I use vodka because I don't think it smells as strong as rubbing alcohol.  

Vodka is also a natural deodorizer.  You can also use this on carpets or furniture.  Always spot on the back of your furniture before you use this on your furniture.  

You don't need expensive vodka to make this recipe.  I use a lower end brand to make my homemade cleaners and homemade vanilla because they work just as well at a lower price.

VINEGAR

Vinegar is also a natural disinfectant and has been proven to kill germs.  In a study, it wasn't as effective as Clorox or Lysol cleaners, but it did kill germs.  

We don't have super germs here.  If one of us worked in a hospital or doctor's office or maybe even in a school where we were exposed to a lot of germs, I might feel differently. 

But for home use, I trust vinegar to kill germs.

ESSENTIAL OILS

There are several essential oils that you can use.  I usually just use tea tree oil, but it does smell medicinal.  It's not my favorite scent, but it does smell clean.

There are several essential oils that have been proven to kill germs.  Cinnamon, clove, and lime were found to kill the most germs.  Eucalyptus essential oil is a weak germ killer, so I don't recommend using that.

Another study found the following essential oils to be the best at killing germs:

• Cinnamon bark essential oil
• Lemongrass essential oil
• Thyme essential oil
• Peppermint essential oil
• Tea tree essential oil
• Coriander essential oil
• Lavender essential oil

This recipe calls for 50 drops of essential oils, so you can choose different oils to mix together.  

Try one of these disinfecting essential oil blends:

• Tea tree oil and peppermint essential oil
• Lavender essential oil and lemongrass essential oil
• Rosemary essential oil and lavender essential oil
• Geranium essential oil and lime essential oil
• Grapefruit essential oil, lemon essential oil, and lavender essential oil
• Orange essential oil and tea tree essential oil

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup vodka or rubbing alcohol
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 3/4 cup distilled water
• 50 drops tea tree oil (or see above for other oils to use)

SPRAY BOTTLE

I actually bottle this in different bottles.  I like the tiny spray bottles for my purse.  I can use it to sanitize my hands or objects while I'm out or in the car.

I also use 4-ounce spray bottles or 16-ounce spray bottles to use at home.  

No matter which bottle you use, be sure you label it.  This homemade disinfectant spray is clear, so kids may think it's water.  

DIRECTIONS

STEP #1

Combine the vodka or rubbing alcohol, white vinegar, and distilled water in a container.  I used my 4-cup Pyrex measuring cup.  

STEP #2

Add essential oils.  Stir well.

To use, clean surfaces to remove dirt and grease.  Then spray surfaces and let sit for 10 minutes to kill germs.  Wipe dry with a microfiber cloth.  

There's no need to rinse when you use this recipe.  

Pour into a spray bottle.

DISINFECTING TIPS

If conditions are right, bacteria and germs can double in as little as 20 minutes.  Be sure to hit the most common places where germs linger.  

I always disinfect the following places:

• Door knobs
• Handrails
• Garbage cans
• The soap dispense
• Toilet handle
• Light switches (I spray on a cloth and wipe them)

Don't forget to disinfect your car, too!  Spray the door handles, shifter, and steering wheel.  

If you or your kids use a desk for work or homework, give the pens and pencils and other office supplies a good spritz to kill germs.  

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