The #1 Hair Growth Technique: STOP CRITICISM OF ALL FORMS NOW
The next time you notice yourself being critical of anything, anyone (and especially your hair), STOP!
Replace that thought with a powerful statement of appreciation, love, or acceptance. Create your own or use any of the ones above…
Why is this important?
Criticism is a form of judgment that breeds feelings of anger, irritation and annoyance–aka—fear. Feelings of anger and fear (at the hands of negative self-talk) constrict blood flow to the scalp which can slow hair growth and lead to:
- dryness
- shedding
- dullness
- itching
Make self-appreciation, love, and acceptance a lavish daily habit!
Check out my hair growth in the last month with the addition of
Quick & Easy Organic Conditioner
Ingredients
- 1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 1/8 teaspoon guar gum
- 1 cup distilled or purified water
- 1 tablespoon organic coconut oil
- 1/4 teaspoon organic hemp seed oil
- 4 drops vanilla essential oil
Note
Substitute any of the oils in this recipe with your favorites. Sandalwood, Rose, and Grapefruit Essential Oils each will give this mix a light sensually scintillating scent!
Directions
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Step 1
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Add xanthan gum, guar gum and water to mixing bowl or blender. (I was using a mixer for this recipe but a blender works great as well) |
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Step 2
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Mix for about 2 to 4 minutes depending on the consistency you like. I wanted it thick enough to not run through my hair like water, but liquid enough to not stick to it like gel (and be hard to wash out:) |
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Step 3
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Add coconut and hemp seed oil. You can always substitute your own oils. I had a lot of coconut oil on hand so I used that. I've also been experimenting with hemp seed oil. I bough some last month and love it. A little goes a long way. Safflower oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, and castor oil would be great in any combination. Add more or less oil depending on how much moisture your hair needs and likes. Experiment and Have Fun! |
, and being criticism-free…the photo at the top was taken on 3/5/12; the bottom photo taken 4/7/12 (early morning of hair wash day:)
Updated 05/17/2013
I love this recipe but wanted to get more slip and more conditioning power into this conditioner. I now use Marshmallow Root Powder instead of the xanthan gum and guar gum combination. Marshmallow Root Powder is an ancient healing herb that’s filled with amino acids and antioxidants. Good for hair and body, it’s filled with mucilage (: a gelatinous substance of various plants – as legumes or seaweeds – that contains protein and polysaccharides and is similar to plant gums) which is what gives this happy herb her famous slip!
Marshmallow Root Powder Benefits:
- softens
- conditions
- relieves scalp irritation
- works as a natural emollient
- controls frizz
- is an excellent detangler
- helps thicken homemade conditioning mixes
- used in a few of the most of the popular natural hair de-tanglers (Knot Today is one of my favorites:)
Add 1 tablespoon of marshmallow root powder to this mix, in place of the 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum and 1/4 teaspoon of guar gum. All Things O-Natural has a great post on MRP and it’s internal, skin and hair benefits.
I ordered my MRP from mountain rose herbs but it seems to be easy to find online. A 4 oz bag is $4.00, 8oz bag $7.00, 1lb bag $12.00. 
A little goes a long way and last me for forever! I bought some with horestail powder and linden leaf powder almost a year ago and I’m not even halfway through the bag! Samples anyone? I’ve heard Butters-n-Bars is also good.
Original Post
So it was the night before hair wash day, and I was looking for a deep conditioner recipe that included coconut oil and the “gums.” Yes, I’ve been playing around with guar gum and discovered a very nice conditioner.
This homemade conditioner was a bit of a shock because I had been reading about the benefits of xanthan gum. There are some great articles about xanthan and guar gum’s use in gels, conditioners, soaps, sauces, and soups. They are both all natural thickening agents that add moisture, decrease frizz, and contribute to overall healthy hair goodness!
Here’s the recipe:
1/4 tsp guar gum
1/4 tsp xanthan gum
1 tbsp organic coconut oil
1 cup distilled or purified water
1 tsp flax oil
3 to 5 drops vanilla essential oil (or the essential of your choice)
*Optional: For healthy scalp and to stimulate hair growth, I added the following essentials to my mix…about 1 to 2 drops for each: rosemary, cedarwood, basil, bergamot. I also mixed aloe vera juice in with the water (mostly aloe vera juice with enough water to add up to 2/3 cup–Lavish loves it!)
The key to this recipe is the mixing. It’s best to blend this in a blender for about 2 to 5 minutes, or until it reaches the consistency or thickness that you like. I mixed it in my mixer after warming up the water for about 20 to 30 seconds in the microwave. This warmth felt great and added in a quick warm oil treatment for my scalp.
Sidenote: I love making this with my kids because it’s like a quick science project…to see the mix thicken before you eyes. Take a small amount of your water mixture and add the “gums” to it. Shake it vigorously and then allow it to set for about 5 minutes. (I’m such a nerd:)
Anywho, I dry detangled my hair, applied this conditioner and sealed the ends with a little homemade cocoa-butter pomade. It had been about 10 days since I washed my hair so I wasn’t expecting much. I originally planned to use this as a deep conditioner to use overnight and a rinse out conditioner after washing my hair.
Unexpected benefits from my Lavish Hair Notes:
- elongated curls
- gave hair lot’s of body (didn’t know my 4a/b/c hair could have this much body!)
- hair was really curly (conditioner has a gel like effect on the hair)
- hair felt very moisturized but not oily
- had shine
- hair had a fluffy-ness to it, not frizzy
My hair looked like I had just washed it so I wore a twist out again another day!
This recipe is definitely worth a try if you’re looking for a nice, healthy conditioner. I bought b
oth the xanthan gum and guar gum from my local health food store. Both are Bob’s Mills and can be found easily online as well.
You can find some great articles/recipes on guar gum and xanthan gum gels and diy conditioners. Here are a few great ones here and here.
This is an excellent recipe (aren’t most:) to play with depending on what your hair likes. You can increase or decrease the oils, even try a different one…(I hear hemp seed oil or safflower calling:) I kept this recipe as simple as possible so that I could add the essentials I wanted. Came out great!
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