diy lush's big shampoo

I can't stop touching my hair.  This could be a symptom of my OCD, but I believe it's because I have discovered the recipe to the most fabulous shampoo of all time.  My hair is so soft and fabulous that my hands just automatically go there - I can't stop them!

I am a lover of all things Lush Cosmetics, but I live in Knoxville, TN, where no Lush Cosmetics exists.  I could order my products online, but if you've ever seen some of Lush's products, you'll know they aren't exactly the cheapest of products.  Of course, they are handmade and all-natural and completely worth the price, but Miss Frugal over here is, naturally, going to challenge herself to come up with a way to make the shampoo at home for cheaper.  This time, instead of it being a disaster like usual, I actually succeeded... and it has been a huge success!

Of course my first stop was Pinterest to find a recipe, but I couldn't find one that I really liked.  I wanted to duplicate Lush's Big Shampoo, so that's what I searched for.  Most of the recipes I found said just to mix coconut oil, course sea salt, and castille soap.  Well, Lush's website clearly states there is avocado butter and seaweed extract, as well as lime juice in the shampoo, so those recipes do not fly with me.  It was time to get into mad scientist mode and make my own.

Here's a breakdown of my ingredients:

1.5 cups Dr. Bronner's Lavender Castile soap
2 tblsp coconut oil
2 tblsp seaweed powder
3 tblsp avocado butter
3 tblsp lime juice
.5 cups fine sea salt
1 cup course sea salt
30-40 drops of lavender essential oil
4 cups hot water


I pretty much added the ingredients except the castile soap in a large bowl and then used a hand mixer to mix them together.  The only problem is: A) The seaweed powder reeks, and B) I believe it's the avocado butter that makes the mixture somewhat chunky.  As I was mixing, I added the water (mine was straight from the tap, but you could add distilled if you're really picky), and the chunk almost completely dissolved (don't be fooled, it will come back later).  It helps to melt the coconut oil under hot water before measuring it, but the avocado butter won't melt, it will only soften.

Warning: This shampoo looks like someone threw up oatmeal when it's finished.

I let this watery green disgusting seaweed mixture sit for about an hour before using an old Dr. Bronner's bottle (you will probably want to either buy a DIY shampoo bottle from a craft store or use an old shampoo bottle) to pour in my concoction.  I filled my bottle halfway and then filled the rest with my castile soap.  As I shook, I noticed my chunks coming back, which was bothersome, but they ended up being okay in the shower and actually added some nice texture to my lather.  You could play around with the mixture, but I tried about 1/3 castile soap to 2/3 seaweed water at first and didn't like it, so I recommend about half-and-half.  It will give you a good lather.

It's not the prettiest shampoo you'll ever see, nor does it smell the best, but I am absolutely in love.  My hair feels clean and thick, just like if I were using Lush's Big Shampoo.  I am not having to use any products, and most importantly, I am using less heat on my hair.  Wait, this is most important: this shampoo is costing me pennies per use.  Yes, pennies.  Whatever I have leftover I just store in my refrigerator until I can use it.  Most of the products that I bought can be used for other purposes, and they are healthy and gentle for my body.  I am so in love.

Do you guys have any other suggestions to add to the shampoo?  What other ingredients would you like to try?  xoxo Courtney

the power of sea salt

Brace yourselves.  I'm about to go off on how much I love sea salt.  I'm not a fan of eating salt, unless it's on some McDonald's french fries, in which case I can go to town on some salt, but I am a fan of using salt on my body.  Actually, I am a fan of using it all over my body.

I have weird, sensitive skin and autoimmune disorders associated with it (no, not psoriasis, even weirder ones), so I have to be careful what I put on my body.  When I shave, I almost certainly will get bumps on my legs, no matter how much shaving cream, coconut oil, or steam I use.  My scalp is going to itch from the shampoo regardless of the brand, cost, or scent (or lack-thereof).  I might as well not even try to use soap in the folds of my skin, because they will scream at me the next day.

All of this changed when I discovered sea salt.  I now use it for literally everything in the shower.  I scrub it on my legs after shaving and prevent razor burn, I scrub it on my scalp after shampoo and have an amazing head of hair afterward, along with a squeaky-clean scalp. And I scrub it on my body when I need to exfoliate and let it work it's magic.  I use it straight from the jar, which I keep in the shower, and let it burn as I rub it in.  Then I rinse it down the drain and admire my smooth and silky skin/hair.  I feel like I've discovered some secret wonder of the earth or something, but really it's just plain 'ol sea salt that you buy at the grocery.  Sometimes I use course salt, and sometimes I use fine salt, I don't even have a preference.

If you have skin troubles or are just looking for a natural, healthy way to good skin, I recommend trying sea salt and adding it to your daily routine.  Let me know how you like it in the comments below!  xoxo Courtney

I have to admit, I'm becoming more and more into nudes.  No, not naked people (that thought just creeps me out - I hate the naked body), but nude color, or lack-thereof.  I'm especially digging it on nails this season.  I'm typically over-the-top and in-your-face (if you couldn't tell), but there is something that speaks volumes about something so basic.  A nude nail just screams class, style, and sophistication to me.  I'm thinking this is going to have to be my next Jamberry order.  To know that I could get this for $3.75 a manicure and know that it will last for weeks makes me love it even more.

How do you feel about nude nails?