One D-I-Y project that is saving me a bundle

As a single mom, I am constantly looking for ways to cut corners and save some money. It’s been a struggle balancing quality with saving money, and with a teenage daughter in the home and having to deal with prom and graduation, it’s been an even bigger struggle to make ends meet. But I finally found a way to save money and still have quality.

I started down the path of making my own cleaning, hair care and skin care products back in February. Since I began, I have saved so much money and actually like the results better than the store bought products. I just had to be willing to put in a little effort and time. (and, like most, time is also something that I also struggle to find)

First I started with something that I spend a lot of money on monthly - shampoo. I have very thick, long, and curly hair, so I had to get it right. I began by researching DIY shampoo. I found tons of information that led me over to Amazon to look for some books on making my own hair care products. I found plenty, and also discovered that I wouldn’t need to go out and buy anything special to get started. Now it was time to take the bold step of trying what I had learned.

So there I am in my kitchen on a Sunday afternoon getting baking soda, coconut oil, and mayo out. First step…turn the baking soda into a paste with a little water and apply to wet hair. It took a minute to get used to the fact there were no suds, but I was determined. I had to use more than what was recommended due to the thickness and length of my hair, but I finally managed to work the paste all the way through and get it rinsed out. What a tangled mess! Next step…mix coconut oil and mayo together apply to damp hair and cover for a deep conditioner. Oh. My. God. The result was very soft, shiny hair that was very manageable and NO FRIZZ. I was sold!

For a couple of weeks I would wash my hair with the baking soda paste and then apply a small amount of coconut oil for regular conditioning and the coconut oil/mayo concoction once a week for the deep conditioning. My hair looked and felt great. And I was saving $20 in shampoo and conditioner every two weeks. Success on all fronts!

I have since started making a coconut milk shampoo that I make myself to wash my hair. This saves a few more cents every week because there is no need for a daily conditioner. My hair is still manageable, frizz is at a minimum, takes me about 5 minutes to make, and I’m saving money in the process.

If you’re looking to save some money and don’t mind putting in very little time and effort, let me suggest that you do the research on your hair type and begin making your own hair care products. Please keep in mind that not every method works on every hair type and that coloring or bleaching your hair can have an impact on the results you get. But in today’s economy, isn’t worth at least giving it a try?

Image courtesy of http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2011/10/super-easy-liquid-soap-or-shampoo.html