The secret to my beauty routine isn't really a secret at all. If you have been following along with Calendula Craft for any amount of time you will have seen that health & art are main parts of my lifestyle. I share about all kinds of self care practices here and probably always will.
But, if I had to sum it up in three words I would say the keys to natural beauty are: rest, water, and herbs.
First, let us talk about water. I try not to be super picky about it. Here in California I drink whatever filtered water is available and add fruits, herbs, and electrolytes too.
Plenty of water in & out of my body leads to hydrated organs, bright skin, and a good attitude. And even though sleeping in a suburban center has it's challenges, I do the best I can with that too. Any extra help I need in the realm of cosmetics from from the plant world.
This morning I did my monthly ritual of painting my hair with henna and indigo - two plants that have been used by humans for centuries to natural darken & condition hair.
After years of experimentation I had finally found the perfect recipe and frequency for the application of hair color. For the first few years I used henna alone but, the reddish tone of henna didn't go well with my already rosy skin tone. About a year ago I began using a henna/indigo powder mix (found here) as well as a bit of water and natural yogurt.
The yogurt really does make all the difference! With the super creamy mix of indigo, henna, warm water, and yogurt I start by painting the roots of my hair where the light brown/blonde hairs are starting to show.
Then, I move on to coat all of my hair with the yogurt-y dye. I do this about once a month so the lengths of my hair already have henna/indigo from previous applications over the past months. Both plant dyes are semi-permanent, meaning that they fade with time. In my experience neither dye fades away completely and regular application leads to thick, vibrant hair.
Unlike chemical dyes both Indigo and henna have protecting qualities. Henna especially is known to strengthen the hair strands and roots from exposure to the elements. I think of this hair care regime as a protective layer and the added dark brown/auburn/indigo color is an extra benefit.