Last month on the Beautiful Basics Facebook page we had a conversation about natural hair products, and how hard it is to find effective products that smell good and do the job you expect them to. Even though I do like putting oils in my hair I’m always on the hunt for a good leave in conditioner. I’m extremely picky so it’s tough but I found a really great one from Acure Organics that is formulated with fabulous ingredients.

Many of you suggested that I check out Acure Organics and while I still have yet to try the shampoo and conditioner you said I would like, I did try the Argan Stem Cell Leave In Conditioner. I really, really like it! The formula of this leave in conditioner is extremely lightweight yet hydrating and is perfect for daily use!

I have long, fine hair that gets pretty tangled and this spray has made a huge difference in my hair. I use this once a day on damp hair after getting out of the shower. The product itself is easy to use since it’s a spray and the mist leaves my hair feeling healthier and softer as well as tangle free. It does not weigh down my hair or leave it looking greasy. It leaves an incredible shine behind and smells good too. It is quite strong at first but ends up smelling light and fresh.

Some of the ingredients found in this leave in conditioner are Organic Acai Berry, Organic Blackberry, Organic Rosehips, Organic Pomegranate, Organic Fair Trade Certified Rooibos, Organic Aloe Barbadensis Vera Leaf, Argan Stem Cell, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Argan oil, Argan Stem Cell Culture, Lemongrass, French Lavender, Oakmoss, and Rosemary Essential Oils.

The final selling point of this product is the fact that it’s affordable! For $9.99 you can purchase this healthy and non-toxic hair product. You can learn more about the Argan Stem Cell Leave In Conditioner by clicking here.

(FTC: This product was provided to me for free for review consideration by the company. I am not being compensated to write this review. All thoughts and opinions, as always, are my own and honest.)

Summer is my favorite season but the harsh sun at high temperatures can lead to greasy skin and hair. In addition to sweaty strands, spending time in salt water or backyard swimming pools can cause hair to need a little extra care and cleansing. If your hair needs a little clarifying, all you need is two common household ingredients to bring your hair back to it’s full potential. 

What you need:
1 teaspoon of Aloe Vera
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
Your daily shampoo

Just add the aloe and lemon juice to your regular shampoo and wash as you normally would. These two extras will help refresh and clarify your locks leaving you with clean, bouncy hair. You can use this all year long to get rid of build up as well.

The first official day of summer took place during this past weekend, and I couldn’t be any more thrilled than I am at this moment! Summer is my favorite season, hands down. I love lounging by the pool (covered in SPF, of course), wearing cute floral dresses, short shorts, and being able to play in the sunshine all day long. No matter what your reasoning for loving summer may be, I’m sure you agree that there is no better season to keep your look casual, relaxed, and super laid back.

I don’t know how you feel about this, but I can’t stand the thought of straightening my hair when the mercury rises. Going through my standard straightening routine is not my idea of a good time when the temperatures are way above the 80s or 90s. Summer is the perfect time to give our hair a much needed break from styling, so why not embrace loose waves instead?

No hairstyle says summer to me like loose, beachy waves. I absolutely love the look of waves, and I think it’s an extremely flattering style on anyone and everyone. There are numerous companies who produce and sell sea salt or wave spray, but why buy it when you can make it yourself? It’s so easy and if you’re anything like me you like to know exactly what is in your beauty products.

You will need:

• A spray bottle (You can find these almost anywhere and they usually cost $1)
• Distilled Water
• A few teaspoons of sea salt (The more salt you add into your mixture, the more textured your hair will be – so this is all based on personal preference)
• Jojoba oil, olive oil, or even conditioner if you would prefer. This is to counteract the drying effect that the salt can have on your hair.

You just need to fill your bottle with the distilled water, leaving enough room to add the salt and oil/conditioner. Remember – the amount of salt depends on how much texture the spray will give your hair but I would suggest using at least 2 teaspoons. After adding the sea salt, you can then put in your light oil. I used jojoba oil, but if you would prefer to use conditioner or another type of oil please feel free to do so. I put in about 5 or 6 small drops.

All you need to do now is shake to mix all of the ingredients together. I told you it was simple! You’ll need to shake the mixture before using it every single time, because the ingredients have a tendency to separate. You can either spray into damp or dry hair and just “scrunch” with your fingers or twist into sections and let dry before taking down. Run your fingers through it to give it a more natural look and you’re all set!

Happy Summer beauties!

I think I’ve told you how much I love coconut. Anything coconut makes me happy, which is why I’m full of joy today to be sharing a really simple DIY coconut beauty treatment. Coconut milk is rich in good fat and protein so it’s perfect to use on our hair. Coconut milk makes a wonderful conditioner because of its thick, creamy consistency. Just grab a can of coconut milk (not the kind you buy to use as a dairy milk replacement), the kind you can find in the Asian section of your local grocery store, and use it just like you would a conditioner. Let it sit for a few extra minutes though to penetrate each strand. Your hair will be silky, replenished, and smell good enough to eat!

Did you know that your scalp absorbs almost everything you put onto it? It’s like a sponge! Regular shampoo can be really harsh on your hair (and to your organs) and lately I’ve been realizing the importance of using really hydrating, simple, natural products to cleanse and condition my hair. Natural hair care products are also a really sore subject because shampoo made with all natural ingredients is completely different than the traditional shampoo we’re used to.

They tend to not lather (because lathering agents like SLS are really hard and toxic) and they don’t leave hair feeling squeaky clean. Once you get past the initial thought that your hair isn’t as clean as you would like it be, natural hair products are actually really awesome. They leave your hair feeling the way hair should feel, not stripped or extra oily. It’s important to experiment until you find one that you really like, because a lot of natural hair care items that you can buy are hit or miss.

If you have yet to find one that you really love that you can purchase, why not try making your own shampoo? This recipe features some natural beauty pantry staples and is hydrating and healthy for your hair.

All you need is:

• ½ cup of liquid castile soap
• ½ cup of aloe vera juice
• 1 teaspoon jojoba oil
• ½ cup avocado oil

Mix the ingredients together and pour into a plastic bottle with a lid. You can even use your old shampoo bottle, which is very green. You’ll need to shake the bottle before every use because the ingredients will separate. And just remember, this shampoo will not give you the same feeling as what you may be used to so try it out and give it a chance.

Did you know that your scalp absorbs almost everything you put onto it? It’s like a sponge! Regular shampoo can be really harsh on your hair (and to your organs) and lately I’ve been realizing the importance of using really hydrating, simple, natural products to cleanse and condition my hair. Natural hair care products are also a really sore subject because shampoo made with all natural ingredients is completely different than the traditional shampoo we’re used to.

They tend to not lather (because lathering agents like SLS are really hard and toxic) and they don’t leave hair feeling squeaky clean. Once you get past the initial thought that your hair isn’t as clean as you would like it be, natural hair products are actually really awesome. They leave your hair feeling the way hair should feel, not stripped or extra oily. It’s important to experiment until you find one that you really like, because a lot of natural hair care items that you can buy are hit or miss.

If you have yet to find one that you really love that you can purchase, why not try making your own shampoo? This recipe features some natural beauty pantry staples and is hydrating and healthy for your hair.

All you need is:

• ½ cup of liquid castile soap
• ½ cup of aloe vera juice
• 1 teaspoon jojoba oil
• ½ cup avocado oil

Mix the ingredients together and pour into a plastic bottle with a lid. You can even use your old shampoo bottle, which is very green. You’ll need to shake the bottle before every use because the ingredients will separate. And just remember, this shampoo will not give you the same feeling as what you may be used to so try it out and give it a chance.

Just like Monday, today’s post is all about the joys of yogurt, but instead of a face mask recipe we're going to talk about how you can use it in your hair. It has natural antifungal and antibacterial properties. It also helps to stimulate your scalp and promote hair growth. It can also help get rid of flakes and itchiness. Since it has protein it also helps to strengthen and deep moisturize each strand of hair on your head. Yogurt also has the ability to smooth and tame wild flyaways. It’s extremely cooling, so it’s perfect to use in the summer when your scalp can get overheated and uncomfortable.

Before you shampoo, take some regular, plain yogurt and massage into your scalp. Work into the length of your hair as well so it saturates every strand. Let the yogurt works its magic for at least an hour, but it doesn’t hurt to leave it on longer if you can handle it. Make sure you do this on a day when you don’t need to be out and about. Rinse off with warm water and proceed to wash with a gentle shampoo, followed by conditioner, although conditioning is optional because the yogurt moisturizes.

If you want to give your hair a protein treatment just mix some yogurt with a whole egg. White and yolk do different things for your hair. The egg white helps strengthen and reinforce the hair while the yolk moisturizes and adds massive shine. Use this just like the regular yogurt hair mask. Leave on for an hour, but no longer. Too much protein can actually have an adverse effect and damage your hair. Rinse off with tepid water and shampoo.

For a deep conditioner just make a mixture of olive oil and yogurt. After shampooing, rub the mixture into your hair and let sit for about 10 minutes before rinsing.

I hope these recipes help your hair stay happy and healthy during the upcoming summer months! See you Friday!

Keeping on the tea trend from my last post, I want to talk about how tea can be used to brighten any shade of hair from red to blonde to brown. There is a type of tea that works for every shade.

Brunettes – Just brew two cups of strong black tea and use as a rinse for your hair after shampooing. Let it sit for 10 minutes. It will darken the hair a bit, so don’t use this if you have very light brown that you want to keep light. Rinsing your hair with black tea will add shine and highlights to your beautiful brown locks.

Blondes (or light brown) – All you need to do is make a batch of chamomile tea. Just use 3 or 4 tea bags in about 2 cups of water. You need the tea for your hair to be a lot stronger than tea you would drink. Let it steep until strong. After shampooing wring the excess water out of your hair and saturate your hair with the chamomile tea. Allow the tea to sit for 10 minutes before rinsing. This will also lighten a bit and add shine. If you put chamomile in your hair before sitting out in the sun, it will add highlights.

Red heads – Lighter shades of red can use chamomile, but to bring out more red highlights you can use rooibos tea or hibiscus tea. Rooibos tea is a very lovely shade of red orange which is perfect for enhancing highlights for those with red hair. It also adds lovely shine. Just let the tea sit for 10 minutes after shampooing.

Tea can also improve the general health of hair and leave it in a much better condition. You can use a tea rinse once a week.

If you currently have or have ever had dandruff, you are not alone. Dandruff is extremely common and affects most people at some point in their lives. Some people have it consistently throughout their lives while it comes and goes for others. There are many causes including hormone fluctuations, changes in weather, poor diet, illness, bad hygiene, long-term stress and anxiety, a fungal infection, or even heredity. For many people, dandruff worsens in the winter due to extreme cold outdoors and intense heat inside. As you can see, dandruff can and does happen to anyone and everyone. It is said that more than half of the world’s population is affected.

A lot of people think the dandruff is caused solely by a dry scalp, but that is not the case. Our skin is constantly regenerating and shedding, but when the cells die off prematurely or too quickly they pile up and cause dandruff. The normal life cycle of a skin cell is about a month long, but for dandruff sufferers it’s around a week long. The cells then become large, oily clumps on the scalp – and dandruff is born!

Okay, enough science-y stuff! What you really want to know is how to naturally treat dandruff, right? Well you have come to the right place! There are hundreds of antidandruff shampoos and treatments on the market, but most of them are loaded with scary and dangerous chemicals and toxins. I have found some awesome treatments that seem to work well for me, and I want to share them with you. Yes, I have dandruff due to illness so I have tested these out! Shall we get started?

Did you know that Listerine mouth wash was originally created and sold for skin and scalp ailments? In the 1930’s they advertised that their product could cure and prevent dandruff. I decided to test the theory that dandruff could be cured thanks to Listerine a few months ago, and I actually really love using it. Once or twice a month I cover my scalp with original Listerine and let it sit for as long as I can handle it, which is usually about an hour. I then rinse and condition my hair, without shampooing. I absolutely hate the smell, but rest assured the smell dissipates fairly quickly leaving you with shiny, soft and vibrant hair. As for my dandruff, it helps a small amount, but because I only have it because of my illness it doesn’t completely go away. The results are worth it though, because it makes my hair incredibly silky. I’m truly amazed by how soft and shiny my hair is afterwards. If you can handle the smell, I highly recommend you try this out on your hair!

Aspirin is salicylic acid in a whole form. I think I’ve talked about how you can crush the pill up and create a face mask out if for acne before, so I’ll skip going into detail about how amazing it is. Salicylic acid can be found in a lot of dandruff shampoos, so all you have to do is crush one up and mix it with your usually shampoo. Let it sit on your scalp for 5 minutes and rinse. Using this daily will help your scalp normalize.

Baking soda is incredible for so many uses, but especially for scalp problems. It is an amazing exfoliant that helps get rid of flakes and build up on your scalp. Just take a handful of baking soda, mix with water to form a paste and then rub into your wet hair and scalp. Avoid the delicate ends of your hair and focus only on the scalp. If you repeat this regularly it will help get rid of your flakey friends. *If you don’t have dandruff, you can use this as well, to get rid of the stubborn styling product build up that happens when you use gels, hairspray, volumizers and whatever else you may use in your styling routine.

I’m a salty kind of girl. I can turn down any kind of sweet put in front of me, but I can never turn down chips, pretzels or any other salty treat so when I tried this next one out, I fell in love! Table salt can be used to help slough dandruff off of your scalp. Just take your salt shaker to the shower with you and sprinkle a liberal amount onto your dry scalp. Run the salt into your scalp - The salt helps to get rid of flakes and feels like a luxurious massage at the same time. Follow up with your regular washing routine.

Last but not least is apple cider vinegar. You guys know how much I love my homemade ACV facial toner, but I have yet to tell you how much I love using it on my hair and scalp. After shampooing try doing a vinegar rinse. Mix 2 cups of ACV with 2 cups water and pour over your hair and scalp after cleansing. The vinegar is PH balanced so it helps your scalp return to normal and leaves your hair extra bouncy, shiny, and healthy looking. Don’t worry about smelling like an Easter egg because the smell goes away once your hair is dry. You can also run some straight vinegar into your scalp about an hour before you shower as a pre-shampoo dandruff treatment. I do this about once a week and I love the results. It keeps my scalp from itching and leaves my hair looking amazing. Trust me, you’ll love this!

I hope these tips help you gain control over your itching, flaking scalp like they have helped me. If you have any home dandruff tips and tricks I’d love to hear them so leave your recipes as a comment and I’ll be sure to check them out! See you tomorrow!