I hope this is the right place to post this…

I’d like to put together a hair (and skin) care package, along with tips, for a relative who is fifteen.

Her hair is very short: ¼ inch on the back and sides, and maybe 2 inches on the top. I think she usually spikes it with gel, but she doesn’t dye it.

She mentioned interest in growing her hair but doesn’t have many adult women in her life to ask for advice (she’s being raised by her father), so I thought it would be a good idea to ask for input here.

I’d like the package to be naturally orientated, such as home recipes and organic/natural products. I do have a few things in mind but I also know that all of you have a wealth of information.  

What are your thoughts?

That's a really thoughtful thing to do for her, Ollave!

Have you seen this website: Recipe Goldmine? Momof6 posted a link to it on the haircare recipe board earlier in the month. Right now I'm drawing a blank on what else to suggest, but I'll check some books I have and get back to you.

ETA: I checked my books and the recipes in them are pretty much the same as the ones from Recipe Goldmine. Sorry I couldn't have been more helpful.

What a great idea!  Well, the first thing I think you need to do is find out what kind of hair she has - oily, natural, or dry - because most recipes cater to a certain type.  Some recipes depend on the person's color too.  

Maybe you can collect some recipes and make a booklet, and put the different ingredients with the package.  Also, empty bottles are always handy for mixing the concoctions.  You can get empty bottles at pharmacies.  

Here is another site of recipes, if you haven't seen it yet:

http://www.longhairloom.com/haircarerecipes.html

Cynde

Make sure you give her the web addresses of your fav long hair sites (LongLocks being at the very top of the list of course ;) )

Thank you Juri and Khrome for the website links. I haven’t had time to really research them yet, but I’ve no doubt there will be many gems there.

Khrome: You’re right; I’ll definitely have to find out more about her hair type before putting anything together. From looking at and touching her hair I think it’s pretty think and medium texture, not fine, not coarse. Yet I don’t want to assume.

PreciousLocks: What a good idea! I believe she just might have a computer by then.

Thank you so much. I look forward to hearing more suggestions!  

Juri & Khrome:

I finally had a chance to look at those websites and found wonderful recipes... This is turning into a great idea.  ;D

Thank you!!!

Glad the links helped, Ollave! I think your relative is going to get a great present.  :D

Now this is a great idea for a gift!  As far as hair care, you mentioned that she uses gel in her hair, maybe you can give her a bottle of aloe gel to mix in or replace her other gel (I don't know how effective it is on holding spikes though).  The aloe gel could then be tied into a skin care regime, too...13bodies posted a great recipe ( I think either hair care recipies, or au natural) with aloe gel, witch hazel and eo's.  As khrome mentioned, empty bottles would be great so she has something to put her mixtures into, maybe some cottonballs, too.  I picked up some empty squeeze bottles at my pharmacy.  I also posted a facial recipe in the 'hair care recipes' section that involves clay powders, aloe gel, jojoba oil and some other ingredients...works terrifically on the skin.  ALSO........someone (can't remember who) recommended chagrin valley bar soaps (chagrinvalley.com), they have some really yummy looking stuff for the skin and hair, reasonably priced, too.  If I'm not mistaken, you can order sample sizes, so if your not sure of her hair type, you can try a few different ones.  I think I'm going to go check them out now, there's a few things I wanted to try... ;)

Hope this gives you some ideas!

Maggie: More great ideas! Aloe Vera gel would be perfect, and I love your facial recipe.

I found out she uses vaseline intensive care lotion on her face (ack), so any suggestions for moisturizing are much needed. I usually just do a honey mask and then vitamin e oil but it might be too much for her skin.

Here’s my list so far:

Lavender, Rosemary, and Jojoba oils
Aloe Vera gel
White Clay Powder
Rose water
Apple cider vinegar
Natural soap (to be decided)
Lotion (to be decided)
Empty bottles
Good comb

Little book of recipes:
Hair
Egg Yolk Hair Masque
Cider Rinse
Baking Soda Rinse
Face
Honey Sugar Scrub
Oatmeal Scrub
Yogurt Masque
Maggie’s Facial Cleanser

That’s all I have now, still looking for more recipes and the list will probably be refined more than once.

If her skin is so dry she needs to use Vaseline Intensive Care lotion on her face (ack, indeed.  :P), she could use aloe gel with a touch of jojoba oil instead.  That mix is fabulous to moisturize and gloss your hair as well.  

That's a really good idea 13bodies, thank you. May have to try that myself! :)

This is sounding better and better. I sure wish I was getting a hair care package from ollave ;)



edited to correct grammar

PreciousLocks: What a way to make someone feel good— Hope my niece is as appreciative as you!!!

(P.S.  Just have to let you know, I love C.S. Lewis.)

wrote on Dec 6^th, 2005 at 12:37am:

PreciousLocks: What a way to make someone feel good— Hope my niece is as appreciative as you!!! (P.S.  Just have to let you know, I love C.S. Lewis.)

;D 8)

Oooh, how 'bout a measuring tape so she can monitor her growth progress, you can teach her how to take monthly measurements!  I think once you understand how much and at what rate your hair grows, it gives you so much more incentive to take care of it and see how long you can get it.  Just a thought...

That is a great idea Ollave!! :)

Maybe you could get her some dried herbs, tie 'em up with ribbons-or put them in nice little jars that she can refill. I got this great, great, great book from the library, that you could buy her- or you can just get a few recipes from- it's called Natural Beauty from the Garden by: Janice Cox.

It has more than 200 Do-it-Yourself beauty recipes and garden ideas. It includes Hair Care Products, Facial Products and Treatments, Mouth Care Products, Hand and Foot care Products, Homemade Soap, Bath Products, Fragrance Products, Bath Products, and some Children Products(i don't think she needs those :P)

I’m planning on binding all of the recipes I’ve compiled into a little book for her, along with labels for the bottles- and ribbon of course!

Maggie: A tape measure is a great idea, and as I have about 20 of them (no kidding) I can definitely toss one in the package with instructions on how to measure hair.

Beesan16: I’m actually going to a bookstore tonight and I’ll look up that book. Might keep it for myself though, hehe.  ;)

Wow, this will probably be the most thoughtful gift she has ever received, I think she will absolutely love it...I know I would!

Thanks Maggie, I hope so.

Almost that time now and I’ve gotten most everything together. She’s going to be visiting me for a few days after Christmas, so I do actually have another week.

Right now I’m just sweating about the gift for my fiancé (cost more than anything). If I need luck it’s on that account!!!

Thank you everyone soooo much, your input has been invaluable!  :)

Hey Ollave  :)

i was just wondering how the gift went...

She loved it! ;D

Thank you all soooo much!!!

Oh, that's great! :D i'm glad she liked it.

Thanks Beesan16- I couldn't have put it all together without all of the help I received here!!!

She seemed to really like the recipes especially. That and we had a long talk about the trails and tribulations of growing long hair, but she seems committed to it. I just know her hair is going to be gorgeous!  

Again, thank you all oh so much! :D

I'm really happy she liked the gift! It'll be fun if the two of you become growing buddies and can support each other while you're both reaching your hair goals.  :)

I'm glad she liked it.  The cool thing about growing your hair out from such a short length is that you can see what hair lengths also flatter your facial features.

Good luck to the both of you!