ALOE VERA AND BANANA DEEP CONDITIONER

Hi guys,

 

It's been a long much needed 4days break down here in Nigeria and I'm super thankful for the rest. I spent the break at my folk's and I must say that I really have missed my family. Funny how you appreciate your family more when you're not always physically around them.

 

This weekend, I looked at my mum's plants with new eyes. My mum has always been a garden, planting woman for as long as I've known her i.e. all my life. She plants every herb she comes across and every flower she can as long as she can get access to its seedlings and as long as the roots will not affect the foundation of the house and the stem will not weaken the fence. Now, she has really reduced this because over the years, my father did this modern thing everyone does now which is to cement the whole compound. But he left a little portion of sand where my mum still gets to plant a few flowers and herbs and thankfully, our only mango tree still exists there. It's not like before though. I think my mum has also lost a bit of the passion over time as life and work pulled her further away from her plants. Still, she's still got some plants going on.

 

I have never much cared about the plants my mum grows. I just see them as her hobby even though I know everything about taking care of different types of plants. Thanks to living with my mum. This weekend, I looked at the spinach, stinging nettle, 'never-die', bitter leaf, aloe vera with new eyes. I noticed she has now acquired Moringa to the mix.

 

One plant which is still largely dominating my mum's garden is the Aloe Vera. This is one truly useful herb. It cured skin allergies and infections for me and even acts as a moisturiser for the skin. It cures wounds and cools burns. Miracle plant, that one. My mum even used to drink the gel after blending. By now, I'm sure you know my mum's like that. She loves to solve anything with a natural remedy first (not black magic o) before she resorts to modern medicine.

 

 

Well, recently, I complained to my friend, Tolu, about my hair. Tolu is presently studying Naturopathic Medicine and has a first degree in Botany. She's all for everything natural and I fondly call her 'Mamalawo'. She gives me advice on what to keep away from food wise and healthwise. I complained to her some weeks ago when I was battling dryness in my hair and she suggested I do an Aloe Vera Deep Conditioning.

 

Here's what you need:

 

• Aloe Vera - 1 leaf
• Bananas - 2 medium size
• Honey - 2 tbsp.
• Any carrier oil of your choice - 2 tbsp.
• Any essential oil of your choice (optional)

I cut an aloe vera. Ensure you use a knife to remove the aloe from the stalk and not break the leaf as this will just create a waste and a mess.

 

 

no mess to the cutting

 

Use a knife to split the leaf open at the side. You'd see the gel in there.

 

Using a spoon, scoop the gel into a bowl or straight into the blender if you desire.

 

 

Now, blend all the ingredients together.

 

 

Ensure you blend very well so as not to have any lumps or particles left that will cause a nightmare in getting out of your hair. Believe me, I know.

 

 

By the time I finished blending, I saw that I was going to have a watery, messy DC but I didn't mind. Then I thought to add another banana to thicken the mix only to turn around to get the bananas and find that my mum had eaten all 7 bananas up! I couldn't believe it.

 

Me: Mummy, have you eaten all the bananas?!

Mum: Yes

Me: That was 7 bananas!

Mum: No, it was 6!

Me: -________-

 

Smh. Anyways, after I shampooed, I put the blend in my hair and wore a plastic cap and then wrapped my head in a warm towel. I didn't remove it until 3 hours later because I was very distracted. By the time I removed the cap, I had never seen my hair have so much curl definition before since I started this natural hair journey. Amazing. I shampooed and conditioned my hair then did an ACV rinse and then let the hair air-dry for about 45minutes. After which I did the LOC method and then put the hair in mini-twists. I realised my sister had the Emily Millionaire Coconut & Herbs. I used that as my leave-in.

 

 

I have made a combination of all my oils which are: Olive oil, Coconut oil, Grapeseed Oil, Haitian Castor Oil, Pharmacy Castor Oil, Almond Oil and Tea Tree Oil and put them in a bottle. Except for my edges which I will still concentrate my Organic Haitian Castor Oil on, I'd stick to this combination oil now.

 

 

My ends were sealed with my whipped shea butter. I know I said I was not going to use the butter or coconut oil anymore because of dandruff but I really am not bothered about that anymore. Plus the dandruff is gone. I guess the grapeseed oil and tea tree oil were useful afterall. In my next post, I'd show how I came up with my whipped shea butter.

 

I'm thinking of making an aloe vera leave-in conditioner. I've made one before but my major problem with aloe vera is that it does not keep for long. After about a week, it changes colour and produces a questionable odour. I may try storing it in the fridge though and see how that goes.

 

You could try this DC and see how it works for you. It is good as a moisturising DC and very suitable for people with coarse hair (I am finding that I have combination hair {both coarse and fine strands}).

 

Ciao now!

 

Stay beautiful and healthy!