Henna hair dye - my first time!

I used henna hair dye for the first time last night, and boy was it an experience! It turned out a lot better than it should have because I hadn't done my research beforehand. I purchased it thinking it would be just like dying your hair normally. Wow, was I wrong!
I have been dying my hair red for 12 months now and I love it. But i don't want to use the usual hair dyes with all their chemicals, so was looking for a more natural approach. It was really faded red as it had been so long since i had dyed it.
I went to the two health food shops in town, the first one had none and the second only had Bonvit in dark brown. I didn't even know that it came in any other colour except red! The lady at the counter warned me that it was hard work and very messy so do it in the shower, which was very helpful advice. I decided to buy it as brown would be good for a trial, before going red. I am so glad that i did now.
The instructions were very vague. It didn't tell me how much water to use, how long to leave it in for, or how to wash it out so I just winged it. I left it in for 30 minutes, and then I blasted it with a hairdryer to dry it. I rinsed it out with warm water only. It turned out quite nice, I'm not used to seeing my hair brown though. It does have a slight green tinge to it, but nothing too noticeable. Apparently I should have washed it out with conditioner which might have helped.

Here are the main tips I wish I had known beforehand, to save you some of the troubles I had:-

* Do your research first.
* It won't cover greys and if you have streaks and regrowth beforehand, you'll still have that afterwards.
* When purchasing henna, make sure it only contains lawsonia inermis and indigo. Try to purchase body art quality henna. A lot of henna has added metallic salts which react badly with ammonia in synthetic hair dye. To be safe, don't use henna for a couple of months before or after dying your hair with a permanent colour, as this can cause your hair to burn.
* Wash your hair first and make sure it's dry before applying henna.
* Sift the powder for a smoother consistency.
* When making it up, read your packet instructions. I just used boiling water with mine and let it cool slightly. Some people add coffee, tea, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice etc. It's best to start out simple though, and once you get the hang of it, then trial with liquids. It is supposed to be roughly the consistency of a pancake batter. (Mine was way thicker than this, and was very crumbly!)
* Use some sort of barrier cream around your hairline as it stains everything. I used my tea tree and jojoba oil face oil mix and it worked great.
* Wear gloves so your hands don't stain. If possible get someone else to put it through for you (I roped my husband into it), and make sure you do it in the shower so you can rinse it straight off the floor afterwards, before it stains. A lot will fall onto the floor in the process. Clean up will be so much easier.
* It looks really disgusting (like cow poo!) and smells strongly of herbs. It keeps dropping off when applying down your back etc, so rinse off your skin straight afterwards to prevent staining. Also rinse out your bowls, utensils straight afterwards for the same reason. My bowl is stained green and will never be the same again.
* Read your pack for instructions on how long to leave it in for. Mine didn't say anything, but after further research, it was meant to be 2 hours. A lot of them are 8 hours, or overnight for best results.
* Wrap your hair in a shower cap, cling wrap, a plastic bag or whatever you have. This will keep the heat in for better results, and also save it dropping off all over your furniture and floors. If you need to go out, just add a beanie or bandana over it and no-one will even notice.
* When washing it out, only use conditioner. If you use shampoo the colour won't develop properly, and it will mess with your final result.
* As an added bonus, henna is actually really good for your hair! Some people use clear or natural henna just for the treatment benefit, without wanting the red colouring. Henna makes your hair shiny and reduces frizziness. My hair feels so soft and lovely, and I didn't even condition afterwards. In saying that, while you have it on it is a different story. My hair was so matted and it felt like I had dreadlocks as I was trying to wash it out, and it wasn't pleasant to comb my hair after it was washed out. It was worth it in the end though.

I will most definitely be using henna again. I am looking forward to trying it again now that I have all the information needed and will be venturing to red. I'll start out with a more natural red colour and work my way up to the brighter reds. Wish me luck!

Herbal tea for natural healing

I have been drinking green tea for a couple of years, and I love it! I drink a green tea and lemon blend and have one after each main meal - breakfast, lunch and dinner. Green tea is packed with antioxidants, lowers the risk of certain cancers, lowers cholesterol, helps burn fat, may help prevent memory loss in old age and helps to keep your teeth healthy by killing off bad bacteria. It does however contain caffeine.

Since I have started my new lifestyle change, I have being experimenting with different herbal teas, especially for their healing qualities. It is always a good idea to at least give these a try before heading for traditional medicines, providing that your ailment is not life-threatening of course and you have consulted with a doctor if you have any concerns. Try to buy organic wherever possible, or you can also make your own using home-grown or organic herbs. As a rule, for medicinal qualities, you need to steep your tea for 10-15 minutes to get the full benefits. Drink up to three cups per day.
Here are some of the top teas I have found:

* Blackberry leaf - High in vitamin C, helps treat a sore throat, boosts your immune system, helps relive pain and fever and promotes tissue repair.

* Cardamom - Eases indigestion, prevents stomach pain, helps nausea, breaks up phlegm for cough relief and helps control PMS mood swings and mild pain. It also helps detox your body and rid it of waste.

* Chamomile - Relaxes stomach muscles, relieves anxiety, eases indigestion and menstrual cramps, reduces coughing, is blood thinning and has anti-inflammatory properties to help ease hay fever symptoms.

* Cinnamon - Increases blood flow, improves circulation, reduces nausea, eases bloating and indigestion, heals a sore throat, stabilizes blood sugar and relieves cold symptoms. It is antiviral, anti-fungal and antibacterial, so is a great all-round remedy. It is loaded with antioxidants. It can also reduce muscle soreness after exercise and assist in weight loss.

* Clove - Pain relief, a decongestant to help break up mucus and relieves a sore throat. It also has antiseptic qualities, reducing bacteria in your mouth.

* Dandelion - A gentle liver cleanser, assists in bile production and helps digestion, purifies blood and cleanses your system, helps weight loss, helps reduce high cholesterol, boosts immunity, and maintains optimum liver, kidney, pancreas, spleen, stomach and gallbladder functions.

* Echinacea - Enhances immune system, relieves pain,  reduces inflammation, antioxidant qualities and helps shorten the length of a cold. It can also aid the healing of skin conditions like acne, eczema, inflammations and irritations.

* Ginger -Helps to stimulate and energise you, reduces nausea and motion sickness, neutralises stomach acid, soothes a sore throat, is anti-inflammatory and improves blood circulation.

* Hibiscus - Reduces hypertension, has antioxidant qualities, boosts immune system, soothes menstrual cramps, lowers blood pressure, aids with insomnia and soothes skin irritations.

* Lavender - Soothes your mind and body, induces sleep, uplifts spirits and helps an upset stomach.

* Lemon balm - Tames tension, nerves and mild depression, helps fight viruses, aids concentration and memory, helps digestion and nausea and is an antispasmodic which helps ease menstrual cramps.

* Lemongrass - Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic and anti-fungal, aids digestion, anxiety, lowers blood pressure, helps circulation and reduces fluid retention. It is anti-microbial helping prevent or slow the growth of bacteria.

* Milk thistle - Gentle liver cleanser, assists in bile production and helps digestion, lowers blood sugar levels and it's a natural liver treatment.

* Passionflower - A gentle sedative for insomniacs, helps if your sleep is anxiously disturbed, improves blood circulation, lowers blood pressure, treats physical aches and pains and nausea relief.

* Peppermint - Eases indigestion, quells nausea and vomiting, heats up your body to make it sweat, helps sinus congestion, eases menstrual cramps and headaches.

* Rooibos - High in vitamin C, lots of minerals, antioxidant qualities, helps ward off disease and ageing, soothes common skin concerns like eczema, acne and psoriasis, improves circulation, aids iron absorption and helps prevent memory loss.

* Rosehip - High in vitamins A and C, boosts immune system, lots of minerals, increases energy, and heals tissues and cells.

* Rosemary - Helps ward off stress headaches, antioxidant qualities, aids digestion and supports brain circulation.

* Thyme - Helps stop coughing, relieves indigestion, antioxidants qualities and provides essential minerals.


So try some of these herbal teas and you'll be amazed at the benefits you'll receive, without taking all the medicines/painkillers etc that we are all so quick to grab at the first sign of trouble. They are so good for you, and will also be more cost-effective than conventional medicine. What have you got to lose?

Alfree natural toothpaste review

I found this toothpaste while shopping at The Chemist Warehouse the other day and decided to give it a try. It sounded really good and I was very curious to see what it was like.
It cost me almost $6 for 100g and I really can't stand it! It tastes weird and leaves your teeth feeling really gritty. I can't even finish the rest of the tube, it will be going straight to the bin. This was a total waste of money for me personally.
On paper it all sounds good. It has no colours, flavours, sugar, salicylate, fluoride or sodium lauryl sulfate and is good for people with allergies to regular toothpaste ingredients, but I surely would not choose to use this product.
Maybe it was the lack of a minty flavour, that I have grown accustomed to, but I can't find any positives about this product apart from it being natural.

PROS
* Good for allergy sufferers
* No colours, flavours, sugar, salicylate, fluoride or SLS

CONS
* Tastes horrible
* Leaves teeth feeling gritty
* Doesn't feel like you've cleaned your teeth

I give this product 1 flower out of five. I wouldn't recommend this product to anyone.

✿

On a more positive note I have completed Day 2 of my 30-day exercise challenge. It was harder today as I was sore from yesterday. It's going to be a long 30 days!

30-day exercise challenge

I am all nice and refreshed from a lovely weekend away, with the hubby, to Port Stephens. I stuck to my healthy eating throughout the days, but must admit, I did cave in for dinners and indulged in some takeaway. That's what holidays are for after all. And only eating junk for dinner is a massive improvement for me on holidays. 

But now I am back, all ready to get back into my healthy eating and I have been trying to decide how to start exercising for a bit of toning up. Nothing like walking around in a bikini on the beach to help get you motivated!
Then I found this 30-day challenge on Pinterest and decided that I had nothing to lose and it is a great way to get started into exercising. I really lack motivation, so this should gradually work me into the routine, without being too time consuming. It's great that I have something to tell me what to do every day, so there are no excuses!!

I am proud to say that day 1 is complete. Only 29 more days to go...