Simply Natural Nessa

How to give hair natural highlights using an Apple Cider Vinegar spray. A natural way to give those perfect summer highlights to hair, without chemicals like bleach. If you find plain apple cider vinegar and water mixed with the sunlight just aren’t enough, you can combine the apple cider vinegar spray with chamomile and/or lemon juice, as they have a natural bleaching effect on the hair, and may help to enhance the lightening effect of the spray. For this, the spray mixture will be around 1/4 cup of chamomile tea, 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar, and the juice of one small lemon. Combine these ingredients together in an atomiser spray bottle with around 1/2 cup of filtered water, and spritz this solution onto the hair around once a day. RECIPE: 🍂 1/2 cup organic apple cider vinegar 🍂 1/2 cup filtered water 🍂 8-ounce glass atomiser spray bottle To Make: 1. Combine the ingredients together in an 8-ounce spray mist bottle. Gently shake the mixture to combine the ingredients together. 2. Apple this mixture liberally onto the hair, then comb it through to coat the hair evenly with the solution. 3. Leave the solution on for a minimum of three hours. Going out in the sun for a minimum of 15 minutes really helps enhance the lightening process. Finally, rinse out the spray with water and if desired, wash hair as normal. 4. This lightening process works best when done over several days. It’s won’t be effective if done only once. The key is consistency. 5. Alternatively, this apple cider vinegar spray can be applied onto the hair with a cotton ball or brush for strands of highlights instead of spraying it all over the hair for an overall lightening effect. #applecidervinegar #hairhighlights #naturalhair

Magnesium is an important electrolyte needed for over 600 cellular processes in the body, including basic functions like protein synthesis, glucose regulation, nerve and muscle function as it helps with the transmission of electrical impulses, and more. Magnesium has been found to be absorbed more easily through the skin than through ingestion. RECIPE: 🌱 3/4 cup (150 g) olive oil (can also use a lavender infused oil, sweet almond oil, or coconut oil) 🌱 5 tbsp (75 g) shea butter 🌱 2 tbsp (12 g) beeswax 🌱 70-100 drops lavender essential oil 🌱 5 drops Vitamin E oil 🌱 6 tbsp (60 g) aloe vera gel 🌱 1 cup (250 g) magnesium oil To Make: 1. In a large bowl, add the beeswax and shea butter and place the bowl on top of a saucepan filled with water to create a double boiler. Melt the ingredients over low heat, occasionally mixing together until the wax has completely melted. 2. Once melted, add the olive oil to the bowl and stir well to combine. Remove the bowl from the heat and allow it to cool slightly (approximately 2-3 minutes). 3. Next, add the lavender essential oil and vitamin E oil and stir to combine. Allow the cream to set slightly and become semi solid before transferring to a blender. You can whip the cream using an immersion blender, stand mixer, small hand mixer, or regular blender on medium speed. 4. Slowly add the magnesium oil and aloe vera, a little at a time, while constantly blending. 5. Once the mixture becomes thick, white, and creamy, remove the cream and transfer it to a sterilised glass jar for storage. Store the cream away from direct sunlight and heat. This cream can be kept at room temperature but may change consistency when temperatures reach above 24°C (76°F). 6. When applying this cream, you don’t need to apply it all over the body like a moisturiser to get results, simply apply it onto the bottoms of the feet, onto the legs, arms, stomach, or any troublesome areas. Avoid applying it onto the face as it may clog pores or irritate the eyes. 7. To make the clean up afterwards easier, I’ve found it best to use boiling water and wipe out any equipment with paper towels. #magnesium #cream #recipe #magnesiumbenefits

This cold process coconut oil bar soap recipe is not only cleansing, but moisturising, too. RECIPE: 🤍 79.88 g (2.82 oz) sodium hydroxide (lye) 🤍 190 g (6.70 oz) distilled water 🤍 350 g (12.35 oz) refined coconut oil 🤍 75 g (2.65 oz) refined cocoa butter 🤍 75 g (2.65 oz) refined shea butter 🤍 600 drops (30 mL or 1.06 oz) of coconut essential oil (optional) To Make: 1. Set yourself up in an area with good ventilation. Next to an open window is good. Using a digital scale, measure out the distilled water and pour it into a heat-resistant metal pot. Measure out the lye and pour it into the water. Stir the lye into the water slowly with a stainless steel spoon to dissolve the crystals. Avoid breathing in the fumes. Once dissolved, set the solution aside to cool to 38°C (100°F). 2. Measure out the cocoa butter, coconut oil, and shea butter. Pour the ingredients into a large stainless steel saucepan, and heat the oils on very low heat until they just liquefy. 3. Once melted, take the pan off the heat and allow the oils to cool to 32°C (90°F). 4. Once cooled, slowly pour the lye mixture into the oils. Pour the lye solution against a spoon to reduce the amount of air bubbles that may form in the soap bars. 5. Using an immersion stick blender or a hand mixer, place the blender into the pan and use it (turned off) to stir the mixture together. Then bring the stick blender to the middle of the pan, hold it still, and pulse for a couple of seconds. Repeat the stirring and pulsing process until you notice what is called a “trace.” This is when the mixture is thick enough that the soap leaves a pattern on the surface before sinking back in. 6. If you’re using the coconut essential oil, stir it in here. 7. Working quickly, pour the soap into your preferred mould(s). Allow the soap to set in the mould for 24 hours or up to 3 days. 8. Cut the bars then leave them someplace well-ventilated and out of direct sunlight to cure for 4-6 weeks. Stacking soap during curing is perfectly fine. 9. This homemade coconut oil bar soap creates a rich and creamy lather on the skin. #coconutoilsoap #barsoap #soapbars #coconutoil

Over the course of several weeks, the carrier oil extracts the natural plant properties found in the lavender, including traces of lavender essential oil. Lavender infused oil, therefore, carries the medicinal benefits of lavender as well as its scent. RECIPE: 💜 1/2 cup dried lavender flowers 💜 2 cups extra virgin olive oil (or jojoba oil or sweet almond oil) 💜 Glass quart-sized mason jar 💜 Cheesecloth or a nut milk bag To Make: 1. Start by crushing the dried lavender flowers gently with the back of a spoon or with a mortar and pestle. This will help to release the aromatic oils found in the lavender and make for a better extraction. 2. Place the crushed lavender flowers in a glass jar and cover them with the carrier oil of your choice. Ensure that the flowers are completely submerged in the oil to prevent any mould or bacteria from contaminating the oil. 3. Seal the jar tightly with the lid and place it in a cool, dark place to infuse. Allow the lavender flowers to steep in the oil for at least 2-4 weeks, shaking the jar gently every few days to help with the infusion. 4. Once the infusion time is complete, strain the lavender flowers from the oil using a cheesecloth, fine mesh strainer, or a nut milk bag. Squeeze the cloth with the plant material inside to extract as much of the infused oil as possible. 5. Transfer the strained lavender oil into dark glass bottles for storage. Amber or cobalt blue bottles are excellent choices as the dark glass helps protect the oil from light exposure, which can degrade the oil over time and cause it to lose its potency. 6. Store the bottles in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. 7. This lavender infused oil will have a mild aroma to it. It will not be as strong as a true essential oil. To give the oil extra fragrance, you can add a few drops of your favourite organic lavender essential oil if you choose. 8. Over time, oil can become rancid, developing a stale or unpleasant odour. If the infused oil smells unpleasant or has changed colour, it should be discarded, and a fresh batch can be made. The shelf life of lavender infused oil is approximately one year. #lavender #herbaloil #infusedoil #lavenderoil

Below are a blend of different oils to use for inhalations to help expel mucus and unblock sinuses, helping with congestion, allergies and immunity. I use an inhalation kit, however, you can also do this using a bowl full of hot steaming water: 🌿 Begin by pouring boiling hot water into a small bowl, then add the essential oils and place a towel over your head so that it creates a steam chamber. 🌿 Lean over the bowl and breathe in the steam. The essential oils will evaporate quickly, so you may need to do this three times in one session. I use one drop of the oil blend in the hot water, and breathe that in until it evaporates. I then add another drop, repeat the process, then one last drop, and repeat again. 🌿 I do this every few hours. The process is the same for each blend, whether it’s for allergies, immunity or congestion. Some essential oils, such as eucalyptus and peppermint, can trigger asthma symptoms, so use with caution. SINUS CONGESTION BLEND: 🌷 10 drops peppermint essential oil 🌷 7 drop tea tree oil 🌷 7 drop lavender essential oil 🌷 7 drop eucalyptus oil 🌷 7 drop wild orange essential oil 🌷 7 drop rosemary essential oil 🌷 7 drop oregano oil 🌷 7 drop clary sage essential oil SEASONAL ALLERGIES BLEND: 🪻 10 drop sandalwood essential oil 🪻 10 drop frankincense essential oil 🪻 10 drops ravensara essential oil 🪻 8 drops peppermint essential oil 🪻 5 drop tea tree oil 🪻 6 drops lavender essential oil 🪻 5 drop eucalyptus essential oil 🪻 6 drops lemon essential oil To Make: 1. Add essential oils to a dropper bottle or old, clean essential oil vial, and gently shake to combine. Always shake before use. 2. Add one drop to an inhalation kit or bowl of steaming hot water. 3. Lean over bowl (not too close) and cover head with towel to create a steam chamber. Take deep breathes in, breathing in the essential oil-infused steam until the scent disappears. 4. Add another drop, and repeat. Do this three times per session. I did this three to four times a day until my symptoms cleared. See my blog post on my website simplynaturalnessa.com/essential-oil-blends-for-steam-inhalations for the immunity blend recipe and more information. #immunity