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Written by Heather Lamb
Lather in this gentle and pure shampoo that leaves even chemically damaged hair clean and healthy. Plus, it uses up those leftover soap slivers that, up until now, had no earthly use.
Step 1: Place the flowers in a heat-proof bowl. Bring water to a boil and pour over the flowers. Let steep for 15 minutes. Strain the liquid into another heat-proof bowl through a coffee filter, giving the buds a gentle squeeze with the back of a spoon.
Step 2: Clean out the first bowl and throw in the soap flakes or slivers. Cover with the chamomile liquid and let stand until soap softens. (You may need to reheat in a microwave for a minute or so to get the soap to melt.) Gently beat in the glycerin until well blended.
Step 3: Pour the liquid into a clean 14-oz. (or larger) container with a tight-fitting lid, and let cool. It'll take on a gelatin-like consistency. Scoop out about a tablespoon to shampoo your hair.
Men's hair especially gets beat up by sun, sweat and the tendency to hide it under a crusty, well-worn ball cap. The proteins in the malt and hops in this beer-based concoction help repair the damage caused by overexposure and under-conditioning.
Step 1: In a nonreactive pan, such as stainless steel, bring beer to a near boil, then lower heat and let simmer until it reduces to 1/4 cup (about 25 minutes). Remove from heat and let it cool.
Step 2: Slowly mix the beer reduction into the mild shampoo until fully combined.
Step 3: Pour the liquid into a clean 14-oz. (or larger) bottle with a tight-fitting lid. It doesn't smell like beer, so you can wash hair as usual. Our intrepid male tester was quick to note that it doesn't taste like beer either.
This body scrub is your shower's equivalent of dirty talk with soothing overtones. Its gritty texture makes it great fun to rub on someone else,* and it leaves skin clean and rejuvenated.
Step 1: In a small bowl, stir the salt and oil together until the oil thoroughly coats the salt. Add the extract and stir it in completely.
Step 2: Hop in the shower. When skin is thoroughly wet, apply with your hands, a washcloth, or a puff scrubber. Massage in and be sure to rinse off thoroughly.
* Sometimes there isn't a friend handy when you want to scrub up. You can still save water — just take a navy shower (it was developed on ships, where fresh water is at a premium). This simple technique can cut the amount of water you use for a shower by up to 80 percent. Mother Earth and Uncle Sam thank you.
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