Category Archives: DIY Infused Oil for hair

DIY Coffee Bean Infused Almond Oil (Recipe 6)

Hello Maicurlies,

My oil infusion has finally come to an end. I know, I know you all are doing a little happy dance and saying fiiiiinnnaaalllly! Yup this is it, no more oil infusion frenzy.

As you probably guessed (thanks to the title and picture) the oil I will be sharing is my DIY Coffee Bean Infused Almond Oil! Doesn’t the coffee beans look oh sooooo good?!

Right, first off I need to stress how much I LOVE this oil!!! Of all the 6 in fusions I have done this is right up there along with my DIY Rose Infused Grapeseed Oil. As with most of my infused oils you can use this one for both your skin (face/body and scalp) as well as your hair.

Finished Coffee bean infused Almond Oil

For the hair:

Reduces hair shedding and said to reduce excessive hair loss because of the antioxidants present in caffeine.
Increases hair growth since caffeine promotes blood circulation in the scalp which promotes growth.
Known to darken the hair and slowdown the early onset of grey hairs (with frequent and consistent use)*
Adds sine and dimension to the hair due to the darkening effect of the oil

*Should you have bleached/blond or dyed hair you do not want to darken, I suggest not trying this oil.

For the skin:

The caffeine helps reduce puffy and dark circles under the eye.
Tightens the skin giving you a youthful fresh glow.
Its anti-inflammatory properties is said to reduces redness in the skin and inflammation.
Said to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Known to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face.
Fights free radicals thanks to the antioxidants contained in caffeine.

Mixing Process:

: I blend coffee beans for a few seconds then place them in a coffee filter

: Close the coffee filter with string

: Cover the coffee beans with Almond oil

: Let it infuse for 2 weeks

: Comparison of infusion before and after (right after 2 weeks)

: Place the filter in a sieve the collect excess oil from the coffee beans in the filter

I have a video up on my process:

NOTE: I am not a dermatologist nor a doctor. I provide this for informational purposes only so please consult with a professional before you apply anything new to your skin or hair. Should you be taking medication or creams from a medical professional please do not replace that with my DIY recipe – consult your medical professional first! If you are allergic to any of the ingredients I use do not use them. Do a small patch test on the inside of your arm when trying anything new before applying it all over your hair/skin. Always ensure to dilute the Essential Oils (EO) in a carrier oil as they can cause skin irritations if used undiluted. If you are pregnant you should NOT use any EO.

If you try this please let me know how it turns out. If you make your own Infused Coffee Oil I would love to hear from you!

Thanks!

Maicurls

DIY Neem Infused Coconut Oil (Recipe 5)

21 Replies

Hi Maicurlies,

This is my second to last Infused Oil (I promise)

Infusing Neem Leaves

I already wrote about Neem and the benefits of Neem Infused Oil over here. To summarize:

It contains antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties
Eases skin irritations, rashes, itchiness and is said to help ease eczema (I am not a doctor nor a dermatologist therefore always check with a professional).
Reduces the appearance of light burns and scars
Helps reduce hair shedding & breakage
Known to help slow down premature graying & the appearance of grey hairs
Naturally and gradually darkens the hair
Provides the hair with shine & luster
Promotes hair growth.

Ingredients/tools:

Spoon
Measuring cups
Container
Sieve

1.5 cups of dried Neem Leaves (you can use powder e.g. 1/4 cup*)
2 cups of Virgin Coconut Oil (you can use any oil of choice)
8 drops grapefruit essential oil (optional – you can use any oil of choice but if you are pregnant do not use any essential oil).

*If you use the powder I would recommend putting it in a coffee filter or cheese cloth to help keep the oil and powder separate.

Mixing Process:

: Adding Neem leaves

: Infusing Neem Leaves in virgin coconut oil

: 2 weeks later

: Sieving out neem leaves

: Adding essential oil

: Neem infused Coconut Oil

I have a video up on my process:

If you try this please let me know how it turns out. If you make your own Infused Neem Oil I would love to hear from you!

Maicurls

Benefits of Infused Neem Oil

8 Replies

Good Morning Maicurlies,

This is going to be a post all about Neem, Infused Neem Oil to be specific.

Fresh Neem Leaves

As a part of my “Infused Oil Series” I also make Neem Infused Coconut Oil and will have a video & writeup of how to make it shortly. For now I just wanted to point out the reasons why I like the oil and why you might want to try it.

What is Neem?

Like a lot of Ayurvedic plants & hebrs, the Neem tree is located mainly in Asia and is most predominantly popular India. Its leaves, nuts, twigs and barks can be used for Ayurvedic purposes. Pure Neem Oil that is cold pressed from the whole nut is exceptionally rich and full of nourishing properties as well as Vitamin E and essential fatty acids, but the one “negative” aspects of pure Neem Oil is that it has a strong pungent smell. However, if you can stomach the scent, your skin and hair can benefit greatly from its nourishing properties.

I of course use an infused version of the oil since I can not make the cold pressed version at home, so mine is not as strong however, I still get benefits from infusing the leaves (it is also not as “smelly”). Neem Oil and Neem Infused Oil can be used for your hair and skin thanks to its multipurpose properties.

Where can I find Neem?

There are a few websites online that actually sell Neem powder such as Butters n Bars. If you have a local Indian store nearby look out for the Neem Hesh brand locally otherwise check the ethnic section of your super market. If you have Neem trees readily available to you, you can use the leaves and/or make your own powder by blending up dried leaves. If you do blend the leaves it might end up being a little bitty so it is best to put them in a coffee filter or cheese cloth.

If you want to use fresh leaves then you need to use the oil up after production because otherwise you WILL grow bacteria in the container. For infusing – you will need to use either dried Neem leaves or powder.

Infusing Neem Leaves

For the Skin:

Its natural antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties can help ease skin irritations, rashes as well as relieve itchiness (which can affect the face, body and scalp) . It is said to help ease eczema (I am not a doctor nor a dermatologist therefore always check with a professional). It can help reduce the appearance of light burns and scars – if massaged on the skin regularly and frequently.

For the Hair

The oil can help reduce hair shedding and strengthens the hair to help reduce breakage. Neem is also known to help slow down premature graying & the appearance of grey hairs due to the fact that it is known to naturally and gradually darken the hair*. It provides the hair with shine, luster, works as an excellent sealant and helps to promote hair growth.

*You will not end up with jet black hair but it can darken the hair and has a similar effect on light, bleached or blond hair and if that is not something you want then I would suggest not using this oil.

So those are the reasons why I like the oil 🙂

Stay tuned for my how to video and writeup Maicurlies!

Have you used Neem oil or Neem infused oil before? If so how do you use it and what do you think about it? I would love to hear from you.

Maicurls

DIY Amla Infused Grapeseed Oil (Recipe 4)

4 Replies

Hello Maicurlies,

I promise we are close to the end of my DIY Infused Oil obsession just two more to go after this (I will probably make more for myself but don’t want to push it by making you guys hear about EVERYTHING I make) 😀

I will be sharing how I make my DIY Amla Infused Grapeseed Oil.

DIY Amla Infused Grapeseed Oil

I have already mentioned the benefits of using Amla infused oil which you can read over here and in case you’re new to my blog (Hi there!) or perhaps missed my previous oil Infusion posts you can find links to them below:

DIY Rose Infused Grapeseed Oil

DIY Hibiscus infused Almond Oil

Before I go any further I want to mention I was not requested or compensated for anything used in this DIY recipe. All products used were paid for with my own money. Amla oil is said to help darken the hair so if you do not want this attribute then this recipe might not be the one for you.

With that out the way – I have a video demonstrating how I make my Amla Infused oil on my YouTube Channel:

I also wanted to provide a write-up so here we go Maicurlies!

Ingredients/tools:

Spoon
Measuring cups
Container
Coffee filter
String (to close the coffee filter)
1/4 cup of Amla powder (Hesh)
1.5 cups cup of Grapeseed Oil (you can use any oil of choice)
15 drops Grapefruit essential oil (optional – you can use any oil of choice)

*NOTE: I am not a dermatologist nor a doctor. I provide this for informational purposes only so please consult with a professional before you apply anything new to your skin or hair. Should you be taking medication or creams from a medical professional please do not replace that with my DIY recipe – consult your medical professional first! If you are allergic to any of the ingredients I use do not use them. Do a small patch test on the inside of your arm when trying anything new before applying it all over your hair/skin. Always ensure to dilute the Essential Oils (EO) in a carrier oil as they can cause skin irritations if used undiluted. If you are pregnant you should NOT use any EO.

: I add 1/4 cup of Amla powder to my coffee filter paper

: Close the filter with string

: Pouring 1.5 cups of Grapeseed oil over Amla bag

: Let the Oil infuse for 2 weeks

: (left) before oil has infused (right) 2 weeks later after the oil infusion

: I take out the filter and squeeze out excess oil. (You can run the oil through a filter or cheese cloth afterwards).

: I add 15 drops of Grapefruit essential Oil (optional) and that is it!

Here are some of the ways you can use the oil:

To seal in moisture
Part of you deep condition mix
A pre-poo
In your whipped butter mix
For a scalp massage

I would love to hear if you have or will use Amla Infused Oil . I would also love to hear how you use the oil!

Thanks

Maicurls

Benefits of DIY Amla Infused Grapeseed Oil

1 Reply

Hey Maicurlies,

I just fished editing my DIY Amla Infused Grapeseed oil and wanted to explain why I personally like using it. I have already mentioned how and why I like using Amla powder as part of my Henna/Amla Treatment and have a video of my process but also wanted to touch upon the benefits of the oil.

photo credit: Henna Sooq via photopin cc

What is Amla?

Amal (Gooseberry) is a green fruit renowned in Asia – mainly in India. It is rich in Vitamin-C and minerals and is considered a powerful antioxidant agent that has several uses (not just for the hair and skin.) The fruit itself tastes extremely taut and bitter but can be made into a juice or eaten as a fruit. Due to is high Vitamin-C content, it is known to be used against coughs and colds, can help boost the body’s immune system and is refereed to as a detoxifier that can help cleanse the liver and kidney. Amla juice has been said to be effective in lowering the fat content in the body which can help in weight loss and is even said to be beneficial for your eyes due to the presence of antioxidants.

Now looking at it as an oil: it can be used for both your hair and skin – I love multipurpose products!

Skin

Amla infused oil can be used to trap in moisture (after you have showered), provide a glow to your skin and delay the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (with frequent use). Its antiseptic properties makes it a good skin cleanser and is known to help reduce blemishes & dark circles under the eyes.

Hair

Amla infused oil can help darken the hair (with frequent use*), promote growth, strengthen the hair from roots to ends, enhance luster and shine, reduce shedding, thicken the hair and help promote its overall condition.

*If you have light or bleached hair and do not want it darkened then this oil might not be for you. The oil will not make make grey/white hair black but it can gradually darken its appearance.

Scalp

It is known to help combat mild scalp irritations and dandruff due to its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, and antioxidant properties (check with your doctor/dermatologist).

Oils for infusion:

Depending on your preference you can use any carrier oil of choice. The additional benefits you will get from the oil will all depend on what you choose to use. I usually use Grapeseed oil due to the fact that it is light and easily absorbed. Click on the link for a list of different carrier oils and their benefits for the hair and skin.

I will have a new post with my video and an explanation of how I make the oil shortly!

Thanks

Maicurls

My Castor Oil Mix for the Castor Oil Challenge

14 Replies

Hello Maicurlies,

Castor oil, Rose infused Grapeseed oil & Peppermint Essential Oil

I am starting on week 3 of my Castor Oil challenge and all is going well. I will make a proper separate post about how the last week went (you can read about my first week here) but I wanted to share my Castor Oil blend for now. I use it 3 times a week to:

Massage my scalp
Massage my hairline
Seal the ends of my hair

I am actually planning on increasing it to 4 times a week and who knows maybe even more as the challenge progresses. I was worried that my hair would feel greasy or that my scalp would feel icky and clogged but I can honestly say NO it does not! Even though I have fine hair, it seems to be taking quite well to the castor oil blend. I do think that the fact that I am blending my oil “diluting” it might be one reason why it is working out so well for me.

So without further ado here are the ingredients I use:

I use 70% Castor Oil

Increase hair growth
Promotes healthy hair due to omega-6 essential fatty acids
Thickens thinning hair
Reduces hair damage
Eliminates dry scalps and hair
Helps reduce scalp irritations due to anti-bacterial and fungal properties
Helps retain moisture in the hair and scalp
Excellent sealing oil
Promotes shiny hair
Boost your hair’s overall health

I use 30% Rose infused Grapeseed Oil

Helps retain moisture
Provides Shine
Strengthens hair at the root
Protects against frizz
Gives the hair a boost of luster
Helps stimulate growth (when massaged on the scalp)
Can help relieve psoriasis & dandruff – (consult your dermatologist)

I use 7 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Soothing effect to the scalp
Helps combat dandruff and lice
Promotes healthy hair growth
Helps relive scalp irritations due to antiseptic properties

Castor Oil Blend

I pour my blend in a spray bottle that ends up working more like a pump because the consistency of the oil is still thick even with it being diluted a little but it works nonetheless. I use just about a coin size amount on either side of the scalp, half a coin size for my hairline and again a coin size dollop on the ends of my hair on either side (left & right).

I have a YouTube Video of how I make my oil as well (below):

If you use Castor oil I would love to hear how you use it. If you blend castor oil please let me know!

Thanks

Maicurls

DIY Hibiscus Infused Almond Oil (Recipe 2)

13 Replies

Hey Maicurlies,

Here we go, my second Infused Oil Recipe 😀

Hibiscus Infused Almond Oil

I have previously written about using and making Hibiscus petals & powder for the hair and skin here and have listed (below) a few reasons why you might want to use the oil for your hair/scalp:

Helps grow healthy hair
Stops excessive hair shedding
Provides the hair with a boost of luster and bounce
Soothes scalp irritations
Adds a natural shine to the hair
Strengthens the hair
Helps reduce dandruff due to its moisturizing properties
Helps conditions the hair

Note – If you have light hair e.g. blond to light brown, the oil can darken your hair. Hibiscus oil is slightly acidic. Due to the fact hibiscus can stain, you might want to cover your workspace and wear clothes you don’t mind getting stained when making the oil.

Carrier oils:

Depending on the carrier oil you choose, you also get the additional benefit of that along with the properties of hibiscus. On my blog I have a list of different carrier oil benefits for the hair and skin.

I personally use Almond oil because:

Almond oil is rich in Vitamin A, B and E which is excellent for the hair and scalp. It is easily absorbed into the skin as well as the hair and therefore does not weigh down the hair nor clog up our pores. It is known to help sooth irritated scalp, reduce dandruff due to its moisturizing properties and gives the hair a natural sheen. It can be used as a conditioning agent, smooths the hair’s cuticle, reduces hair shedding and promotes growth.

Ingredients/tools:

Spoon
Measuring cups
Containers (I used 2 to make both forms of the oil)
Stirrer
Sieve
Lavender Essential Oil (optional – I used 15 drops)

For the hibiscus powder

1/4 cup of hibiscus powder
3/4 cup of Almond Oil (roughly)
Coffee filter
Rubber band (to close the coffee filter)

For the hibiscus petals

5/6 hibiscus petals
1.5 cups of Almond Oil (roughly)

Mixing Process:

Making hibiscus powder bag

Hibiscus Powder Bag

Hibiscus Powder bag in Almond Oil

Hibiscus Petals in Almond Oil

Sieving the petals & powder bag

Adding Lavender Essential Oil

I have a video up on my process:

If you try this please let me know how it turns out. If you make your own Infused Hibiscus Oil I would love to hear from you!

P.S if you missed my Rose Infused Grapeseed Oil check it out here.

Thanks

Maicurls

DIY Rose Infused Grapeseed Oil (Recipe 1)

8 Replies

Good Morning Maicurlies,

I mentioned in my last post (here) that I am going to making a “mini series” of DIY Infused oils and here is the first. My DIY Rose Infused Grapeseed oil.

DIY Rose Infused Grapeseed Oil

So, why would you want to use Rose Infused Oil for your hair and/or skin?

Hair

Helps retain moisture
Provides Shine
Strengthens hair at the root
Protects against frizz
Gives the hair a boost of luster
Helps stimulate growth (when massaged on the scalp)
Can help relieve psoriasis & dandruff – (consult your dermatologist)

Skin

Moisturizing effect on dry and chapped skin
Nourishes the skin to help retain moisture
Natural astringent
Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles – (with frequent use)
Can fight light skin irritations due to its antibacterial properties – (consult your dermatologist)
Soothing effect on lightly sunburned or sensitive skin – (consult your dermatologist)
Lightly fade acne scars and stretch marks – (with frequent use)
Improves the texture of the skin due to vitamin C

Depending on the carrier oil you choose, you also get the additional benefit of that along with the properties of roses. On my blog I have a list of different carrier oil benefits for the hair and skin.

I personally use Grapeseed oil because:

Grapeseed oil is easily absorbed into the hair and scalp without weighing down the hair or clogging up pores due to the fact that it is an extremely light oil. Those with fine hair (such as I) can use it without worrying about having greasy hair. It is known to help heal alopecia areata as well dry and itchy scalps (consult your dermatologist) and can help fight dandruff. It is great at sealing and retaining moisture.

Ingredients/tools used:

1/2 cup dried white roses (2x as I made 2 jars)
1/2 cup dried red roses (2x as I made 2 jars)
1.5 cups (roughly) of Grapeseed Oil (per jar)
11 drops Rose Essential oil (optional)
Spoon
Stirrer
Sieve
Coffee Filter
Funnel

Mixing Process:

Red & white rose petals ready to be covered with Grapeseed Oil

Red & White dried rose petals with Grapeseed Oil

2 Weeks later I sieve the petals.

After sieving there are tiny pits of Rose petals in the oil. I choose to filter them out (optional)

I filter the oil with a funnel and coffee filter paper

Clear Rose Infused Oil free from bits. I now add Rose Essential Oil (optional)

DIY Rose Infused Grapeseed Oil With Rose Essential Oil

I have a video up of my process (see below):

If you try this please let me know how it turns out. If you make your own Infused Rose Oil I would love to hear from you!

Thanks

Maicurls

DIY Infused Oil “Mini-Series”

2 Replies

HELLLOOO Maicurlies,

I hope all is well!

I have been BUSY making DIY mixes, recording videos (editing), taking photos and have come up with an Infused Oil “series”! Do I hear you say: HOW EXCITING! (Yes, it is!)

Infused Oils

If you are wondering why would you want to make an infused oil? I say why not?!

In all seriousness, infused oils give you the option of incorporating your favorite ingredients to your favorite carrier oil – adding more punch, nourishment and benefits for your hair and/or skin.

Uses of infused oils for the hair

Infused oils can be used in a number of different ways such as: Pre-poo’s, hot oil treatments, scalp massages, Deep Conditioners, leave-in conditioners, whipped butters, sealing…ANYTHING! Their benefits depend on the ingredients used for infusion and the carrier oil you use. With each of my infusions I will list the benefits of each and how I personally use them.

Infused oil for skin

You can incorporate infused oils into a DIY Body butters, sugar scrubs or even directly onto your skin to trap in moisture after a shower.

So which Oils have I made (are in the making?)