Tag Archives: Coffee bean infused oil

Scalp Massages – Benefits for Healthy Natural Hair

4 Replies

Hello Maicurlies,

Every morning (practically every morning) I start my hair routine by doing a Scalp Massage. 

Scalp Massaging

                                                                                   Scalp Massages

Benefits of Scalp Massages:

In truth it has become one of my morning rituals. I love everything about scalp massages, the main reasons are:

  1. When you massage your scalp you help stimulate hair growth because you are circulating blood flow to your scalp which helps your hair follicles.
  2. Let’s face it massages feel awesome and are really relaxing. I smile throughout my massage and it just makes me start the day off on the right foot.
  3.  It helps to bring volume to your roots (my fine haired ladies will understand what I mean about this!)
  4. It helps to bring your hair down after hours of being up and away for the night, especially if you do the pineapple method. I normally do a modified pineapple (cover my hair with a scarf minus the hair bubble if I haven’t re-twisted, Bantu knotted etc).
  5. Since you are massaging your scalp with oil, it can help sooth a flaky scalp. 

Products used:

*You can substitute pure cold pressed Castor Oil with Jamaican Black Castor oil. 

Note: some people have found both or either Castor Oil/Jamaican Black Castor Oil to give them skin allergies so please make sure to do a patch test if you have never used the oil before. Essential oils are quite potent especially ones like Peppermint so please make sure you dilute it in enough carrier oil otherwise you will burn your skin and cause irritations! If you are pregnant please DO NOT use any essential oils and always consult with your doctor/dermatologist if you are trying anything new. 

Oil for Scalp Massage

                                                      Oil for Scalp Massage

The magic of scalp massages is two fold, on the one hand it is the actual scalp massages and the other is the use of oils. You do not have to use the same exact oils  I do but I do highly recommend some form of Castor Oil (if you are not allergic). Here are the benefits of the oils I use: 

Castor Oil:

I use 70% Castor Oil

        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

DIY Coffee Bean Infused Almond Oil:

coffee infused oil

     Coffee Bean Infused Almond Oil

  • 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.

Peppermint Essential Oil:

Peppermint Essential Oil

        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

Method:

All I do is put a few pumps of the oil blend on my fingertips and massage my scalp in a circular motion. I am very gentle and focus on one spot then move onto a different part of my scalp till I am done. I then move onto refreshing, moisturizing, styling my hair etc. 

So in closing if you haven’t intregrated scalp massages into your routine….what are you waiting for??? 

I would love to hear if you do scalp massages, how often, what oils do you use? 

Thanks

Maicurls

Maicurls

DIY Whipped Double Coffee Butter

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Hello Maicurlies,

The DIY freak is back and this shall be my last whipped butter as part of this “series” for now.

Whipped Double Coffee Butter

                                                              Whipped Double Coffee Butter

Fret not (I can hear you screaming whaaaat), I shall have 2 more tutorials that will be released within the next 2 months that will be strength based thanks to an inspiration from a YouTube viewer (thank you)! I am just taking a break to actually have time to use up the whips I already have. 

Anyways back to this whipped butter, I can honestly say that this Double Coffee Butter is my favorite (I have probably said this a few times but I truly love this) 😀

From all the mixes/recipes/concoctions I have made, this one has the highest concentration of coffee… coffee is my friend is my love. My curls seem to thrive on products that include coffee/caffeine so why would I not use use different types of coffee butter along with some coffee infused oil right?

I can go on and on about the benefits of coffee for the hair and skin and I of course already have, you can read all about it here where I introduce my DIY Coffee Bean Infused Butter and here my DIY Coffee Bean Infused Almond Oil

Ingredients/Tools: (makes 10.3 oz whipped butter) 

  • 5.5 oz Coffee Bean Infused Butter (Cocoa/Shea Combination)
  • 3 oz Coffee Butter (I bought mine from SheaButter Cottage) 
  • 1.1 oz Coffee Bean Infused Almond Oil
  • 0.5 oz Vanilla Bean Infused Almond Oil
  • 0.15 oz Glycerin (optional)
  • 3 capsules Vitamin E Oil (roughly 0.15 oz)
  • Heatproof Bowl 
  • Whisk
  • Gloves
  • Airtight Container
  • Spatula
  • Piping Bag (optional) – a sandwich bag can do the trick or a spoon/spatula to transfer the whip to your container) 

Note: I want to remind you that I live in the desert so normally during the summer I prefer my mix to be a little more firm therefore I use more butter than oil. If you live in colder climates and especially during autumn & winter I suggest that you add more oil that I do (see below).

Ratio Alternatives/Ingredient Alternatives:

In my opinion the infused coffee bean and the coffee butter are what makes this a double coffee butter however, should you not have any infused coffee bean butter (recipe) you can replace it with either Shea Butter or a Shea & Cocoa Butter combination (40% Cocoa 60% Shea butter). For a less firm whip particularly in autumn/winter I would suggest  using 2 oz – 3 oz carrier oils. Technically you can use any carrier oil you prefer, they do not have to be coffee bean or vanilla bean infused oils however again, to make this a coffee focused butter I would suggest using more coffee bean infused oil (recipe) such as 70% coffee oil 30% vanilla bean oil. Other oil alternatives could be: Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Pure Almond Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Avocado Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil etc. Glycerin is an optional ingredient that does not need to be added especially if your hair does not like it. It can either be omitted or even replaced with raw honey. 

Method:

Butters and Oils mixed together after 10 minutes in the freezer
Whipped till fluffy!

Once the coffee bean infused butter has been double broiled I add the coffee butter. The warmth from the melted butter will help melt down the coffee butter without the need of additional broiling. I then add 0.8 oz of the Coffee Bean Infused Almond Oil  and 0.5 oz Vanilla Bean Infused Almond Oil and stir.

I then place it in my freezer for 10 – 15 minutes till it begins to thicken. Once this happens, I scrape the mix together and then begin to whisk. I whisk for a good 3 – 5 minutes and then add the remaining 0.3 oz of Coffee Bean Infused Almond Oil, 0.15 oz Glycerin (optional) and 3 capsules Vitamin E  Oil. I continue to whisk for at least 3 – 5 minutes.

Depending on the consistency you prefer you can stop here and transfer it to an airtight container but I prefer mine to have a fluffy texture so I place it in my fridge, this time for 10 minutes till it becomes a little hard on the top. I then take it out and whisk for the last 5 – 7 minutes and I am happy with the texture. Using a spatula I scoop the whip into a piping bag (because I like being “extra”) and transfer to my container. (The piping bag really isn’t necessary but it makes the butter look extra pretty and is a nice touch if you are giving it away as a gift). 

Uses:

It is not just the inclusion of coffee and coffee butter that makes this an excellent choice for your hair and skin care but also the inclusion of  cocoa butter, Shea butter, almond oil, vitamin E oil and glycerin (read about the benefits of these ingredients for the Hair and Skin). I like to use this butter on damp/slightly damp hair  after I have moisturized to help seal in moisture for styles likes twists, twist outs, braid outs, Bantu knots, Straw Sets, Perm rod sets, Pin curls, Flexi rod sets… basically everything! Whenever I use Flax Seed Gel(FSG) which is full of nourishing benefits and is all natural, I actually like to seal in the FSG too by applying the butter as my last product. If however you are using a store bought commercial gel, you might find it more beneficial to apply the whip before you apply your gel. When it comes to the skin,  I like to apply this after a shower to slightly damp skin to help seal in the moisture. It makes my skin super soft, smooth and lush looking and also helps with faint marks!

I of course had to record my tutorial as well: 

I would love to hear from you if you try this delicious whipped butter! 

Thanks

Maicurls

Maicurls

 

DIY Coffee Bean Infused Almond Oil (Recipe 6)

25 Replies

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.

coffee beansAs 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

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 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

Maicurls