Essential Oil DIY Recipes: Dry Shampoo

How is your ditching and switching going? To support your quest to banish parabens, dyes and fragrances from your personal care routine, we are kicking off a new series: Essential Oil DIY.

We’ve rounded up several recipes that you can whip up with common household ingredients and your favorite essential oils. Tune in each week to make Ditch and Switch even easier.

Today, we are inspired by the Young Living blog and we’re sharing their Dry Shampoo recipe with a few tips of our own.

Essential Oil-Infused DIY Dry Shampoo

Keep your locks luscious by only shampooing once or twice a week … yes, really. If your hair starts to get greasy between shampoos, then it’s dry shampoo to the rescue! It will absorb oil and leave your hair smelling great!

We love this recipe because it’s fast, easy and full of things you already have around your house.

Getting Started: Supplies & Ingredients

Supplies

Quick - Gather a few supplies around your house and let’s get started!

  • Glass Mixing Bowl
  • Measuring Spoons and Cups
  • Mixing Spoon
  • Storage Container (like a salt shaker or baby powder bottle)
  • Old Blush Brush

Ingredients

Delicious Detail: If you have dark hair, add 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder. Consider adding scents that go well with chocolate like a drop or two of Peppermint essential oil, yum!

Play with Personalization: Here are a few more oils that are great for hair and scalp support: Lavender, Patchouli, Clary Sage. Swap out an oil above for one of these for a new way to love your locks.  

How It’s Done

See? Quick and easy!

Use Today!

  1. Sprinkle on roots of hair, start with your natural part and continue to re-part your hair for full coverage.
  2. Blend shampoo into hair with your makeup brush and massage into scalp for a deep clean.
  3. Leave for 2–3 minutes to absorb hair’s natural oils.
  4. Brush through your hair.

There’s More

Tune in next week for another quick and easy DIY recipe! If you’re interested in growing your scalp-supporting oil collection, consider joining the Essential Rewards program. You can order new oils each month, while earning free stuff and points toward even more oils. It’s pretty amazing and we encourage all fellow oil-lovers to give it a try!

Oil of the Week: Purification, Always a Conversation Starter

"Your house smells so clean and fresh, what is that?" 

"Thanks! It's Young Living Purification oil in my diffuser."

I cannot tell you how many times I've had this conversation. Even my seasoned oil users sometimes don’t believe that it's Purification because it smells so different in the diffuser than in the bottle. Although, it is called PURIFICATION ... so it shouldn't be surprising that it smells so pure and clean.

Diffusing, though, it just one of the many reasons that I LOVE Purification and why it is one of my favorite oils of all times. Let’s start with the basics:

Young Living Purification, a fresh blend of Citronella, Lemongrass, Lavandin, Rosemary, Tea Tree, and Myrtle essential oils.

Young Living Purification, a fresh blend of Citronella, Lemongrass, Lavandin, Rosemary, Tea Tree, and Myrtle essential oils.

Purification Essential Oil Blend helps freshen the air and eliminate odors with its unique combination of Citronella, Lemongrass, Lavandin, Rosemary, Tea Tree, and Myrtle essential oils, and naturally-occurring compounds cineol, neral, and geranial (research these compounds, it is very interesting information!).

Let’s break down some of those ingredients.

Citronella

Many of us know about citronella because it is an ingredient in almost every insect repellant on the market, but did you know it has many other useful qualities? For example, citronella can be relaxing, purifying to the skin, while also supporting the respiratory system and normal digestion. Citronella also has a very refreshing and uplifting scent. Great oil, huh?

Lemongrass

Historically, lemongrass has been used for purifying and supporting the digestive system but it can also help maintain healthy circulation and promote the lymphatic system. Lemongrass is also a great oil to massage on with some coconut oil to maintain healthy tissue and ligaments. Lemongrass is considered a “hot”oil; avoid skin irritation by diluting before application.

Lavandin

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is YL’s typical lavender that we all know and love. Lavandin is from our farm in Provence, France and it is actually a cross between our Lavandula augustifolia and spike lavender (Lavendula latifolia). Now, why would YL want to use Lavandin instead of Lavender in Purification oil?

I believe it is because Lavandin is known for its purifying constitutes – it is called Purification after all! In Europe, it's actually very common for veterinary clinics to clean their cages with Lavandin. Lavandin does have similar calming effects like Lavender, and may help support the respiratory system and promote healthy circulation.

Rosemary

Want a little history lesson after our science lesson above? Many of us know Rosemary is an ingredient in our beloved oil blend Thieves (do you know the story of Thieves?) but here is a lesson in ancient history about Rosemary. In ancient Greece (about 1,000 BC), rosemary was burned as an incense. Later cultures believed that it would ward off evil, a practice that would eventually become adopted by those who wanted to protect themselves, like modern day immune support! Rosemary may also support a healthy respiratory system and may help promote mental clarity and concentration.

Tea Tree

Tea Tree is a very popular oil. It has many uses that we have all come to know and love. Tea Tree has a very clean fresh scent and when applied to the skin may help promote healthy looking skin. Tea Tree is known for its purifying properties and may aid the body’s natural response to skin injury and irritations.

Myrtle

Myrtle oil has a mild smell but can punch powerful results! Myrtle is a gentle oil and is typically a “go to” for supporting the respiratory system in children. Myrtle may also help promote healthy skin and could be good to rub on after a hard workout. Myrtle is also referenced several times in Bible, here are a few places you can find it: Nehemiah 8:15, Isaiah 41:19, Isaiah 55:13 – enjoy!

So … do you love Purification yet? I DO! Here are some more product tips you might enjoy.

Product Tips:

  • Add Purification essential oil blend to your washing machine to freshen laundry.
  • Add a couple drops of Purification essential oil blend to shoes to help neutralize odors.
  • Add a few drops to a cotton ball to help eliminate stale air in the office or your child’s room.
  • Diffuse Purification essential oil blend to dispel unpleasant odors and clear the air of impurities (I love adding Orange Oil with it).
  • Diffuse Purification essential oil blend to eliminate odors after the dog returns from playing outdoors in the rain.
  • Apply topically when going outdoors for a pest-free experience.
  • Diffuse to repel bugs, insects and mice.
  • Add a drop or two to your favorite moisturizer morning and evening for healthy looking skin.
  • Apply to skin to aid the body’s natural response to skin irritation or injury.
  • Add a few drops to a glass spray bottle with water for a multipurpose spray solution (I NEVER leave home without this!).

Continue the Conversation 

Of course, these are just a few ways to use Purification on a daily basis. No one home should be without it! What are some of your favorite ways to use Purification? If you have any questions about YL oils or YL oil infused products, please feel free to contact me at Jaynelle@TreeofLifeYL.com or anyone in the Tree of Life group.

Thanksgiving How-To: Incorporating Essential Oils into your Holiday

Feeling a little overwhelmed about getting through these next few days? There's the house to clean, food to cook (including a giant turkey!), and family to see. So take a deep breath, apply some Stress Away or Peace & Calming (now that it's back in stock!) and read the following tips and tricks on how to incorporate your oils into your Thanksgiving festivities! You will be happier and healthier because of it!

Setting The Mood

Set the Thanksgiving mood with this festive trio: Cinnamon Bark, Orange & Clove. 

Set the Thanksgiving mood with this festive trio: Cinnamon Bark, Orange & Clove. 

To get into the Holiday Spirit, get your diffuser(s) and add a few drops of Orange, Cinnamon Bark and Clove. It will lift your spirits, increase immune support and, of course, make your house smell wonderful!  

Make Your House Sparkle

It's easy to achieve that a fresh, holiday-ready sparkle with the power of Thieves Household Cleaner + Lemon. 

It's easy to achieve that a fresh, holiday-ready sparkle with the power of Thieves Household Cleaner + Lemon. 

Spruce up your house with the oh-so-popular and versatile Thieves Cleaner. Just pick it up and spray everything down at once; floors, mirrors, counters, whatever you can think of! Add a few drops of Lemon to your spray bottle for an extra fresh scent and a little boost of cleaning power! And it may just help you focus on what to clean next!

Spice Up Some Treats

Spice up your favorite dishes the Young Living way! I love cooking with Cinnamon Bark, Lemon & Nutmeg essential oils. 

Spice up your favorite dishes the Young Living way! I love cooking with Cinnamon Bark, Lemon & Nutmeg essential oils. 

Essential oils make a great addition to many recipes. I've added Oregano to spaghetti sauce, Lemon to ice cream and Rosemary to chicken. For this holiday my recommendation would be to substitute your typical Thanksgiving spices such as Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg with your essential oils instead. Just remember essential oils are pretty potent so just try a drop or maybe 2 to start with.

Favorite Side Dish: Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

2-4 Sweet Potatoes

Olive Oil (to toss)

1 drop each of Cinnamon Bark, Nutmeg and Ginger

Pinch of salt and brown sugar (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Set oven to 350.

  2. Peel sweet potatoes and chop into cubes.

  3. Toss in olive oil and essential oils.

  4. Spread out on a cookie sheet.

  5. Bake for about 45 minutes.  

So delicious! I could eat the whole pan! Really...I think I did one time. But they're so good for you, it's ok! The sweet potatoes provide nutritional value and Vitamin A, and the essential oils contribute immune support from the Cinnamon Bark, digestive support from the Ginger and a boost of energy from the Nutmeg!

Favorite Festive Drink: Cider

Another great treat that’s even better when infused with essential oils is a good cup of Cider! Young Living shared a great recipe around Halloween for Witch's Brew, but it would be even better for this holiday. It's infused with Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Clove and Nutmeg. It has the same benefits as the Sweet Potato recipe (due to the similar oils used) except you have the added benefits of Lemon Essential Oil to help give you a more positive outlook and ability to focus on what else you need to do before the guests arrive!

Rapid Recovery

Spend time with your family...not the bathroom with the help of DiGize and Peppermint essential oils. 

Spend time with your family...not the bathroom with the help of DiGize and Peppermint essential oils. 

After you have consumed all your Turkey, Gravy, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans, Salad and any other annual side dishes, you may need a little help to get through the rest of your evening and decrease your trips to the bathroom. After all, you will probably be sharing your typical 2-bathroom household with 10 times the amount of people as normal!

Apply some DiGize and you will be able to finish watching that football game with minimal interruptions, while your uncle misses out on the whole 3rd quarter. Complement the benefit of DiGize and tackle some of that post-Thanksgiving drowsiness by adding some Peppermint to your water or applying topically.

Festive ideas? Time to share!

From cleaning to side dishes, there are so many ways to incorporate Young Living Essential Oils into your holiday. We'd love to hear some of your ideas! Comment below with your favorite tips and tricks!