MY HENNA TREATMENT

The mad kitchen chemist in me loves concocting so in a need of a henna treatment before my next braids, I decided to mix the following - please read through

* 279g asparagus juice (left over water after boiling asparagus) - for silica content to strengthen the hair

* 148g rosemary leave-in conditioner or thick yoghurt - for extra conditioning
* 121g water
* 86g henna - to strengthen the hair
* 56g garlic - for sulphur content to help stimulate hair growth
* 30g shea oil - for gloss
* 20g dried nettle leaf - for silica content to strengthen the hair
* Cling film (saran wrap)
* Shower cap
* 14 HOURS OF PATIENCE

I never use henna for its colouring effect but rather for its strengthening benefits.

To start this process, I added the nettle leaf to the asparagus juice + water and simmered (not boiled) for 20 minutes. I strained and left it to cool.
I blended the whole cloves of garlic with the shea oil, added the nettle/asparagus juice, blended together before straining into the henna.
I then added a jar of our rosemary leave-in conditioner which had to be used up and left the mix to sit for 12 hours as I was too tired to proceed with the treatment at this point.

I had just taken my braids out so it was ideal to wash it before the henna treatment. I used a small amount of our afro shampoo bar.
Ah - shrunken afro - can't get away from this due to the nature of my hair.
12 hours later, I just love the consistency, not dripping.

First layer of henna applied - just look at how my shrunken afro has bounced back to life.

Second layer of henna. I never thought I would be using this much henna but I managed to slap everything onto my head.

3 layers of saran wrap + shower cap + 2 hours later: Time to wash out the treatment. Make sure you rinse it out with lukewarm water before washing with shampoo. What I did to finish off this treatment was to add a dollop of leave-in conditioner to a small amount of argan liquid shampoo and rinse out the treatment. This treatment was much easier to rinse out that my first attempt at henna some months ago.

Towel-dried the hair and braided it.

I am very happy with this treatment although the garlic scent was quite strong, I could feel it working on the scalp together with the rosemary.

More pictures from the process can be found on our facebook fanpage

SHEA - MY BEAUTY AID

I am not getting any younger am I? Well, I guess I am the only one who can answer that!!! Yes I know.

I sometimes get asked about my beauty secret?!?!? Well, I use pure unrefined grade A shea butter from Ghana to keep my skin supple. I always keep a pot in my bag to moisturise my hands (soaps in washrooms dry my hands out) and to moisturise my lips.
I wanted to "shoot a video" today to answer few questions on unrefined shea but after a 48-hour diet of soup and fruits, I was not yet ready. Not been feeling too well lately and yes, I have also been massaging my chest with some shea.

Get a pot of pure unrefined shea and feel the difference

Akua
Sheabutter Cottage

AFRICAN BLACK SOAP

As a soapmaker, I love the magic that happens when I stir a pot of oils with water and sodium/potassium hydroxide. However, I have more fun when I am making soap in a group.

African black soap is not an easy soap to make. It involves smoke, smoke and more smoke and has to be cooked outside in the open space. I had so much fun making a batch back in Ghana in April 2011. Unlike most bars of African black soap on the market, this is unique as it contains unrefined cocoa butter, neem + moringa and it is supplied in pack sizes of 50 for your own packaging/labeling/branding.

I hope you will have fun designing your own label. You can order your pack of soap here

FEELING CHARITABLE?

As I sit back and reflect on the journey I have taken as a baby in Kumasi, through the boarding school of Achimota, learning the meaning of ILS and PAPI on a construction project in Accra and being a near middle-aged woman in Berkshire [UK], I smile through all the memories I have.
I have been lucky to always have easy access to toilet facilities from the bog standard to the unimaginable. However, every time I sit down to reflect on my visits to Gumu - Ghana, frustration sets in. Why? Well, because this village still lacks the use of a public place of convenience.
I visited the community in April 2011 and this is the progress so far The money raised has been used towards the purchase/moulding of blocks for construction. We are still a long way in completing this project and I can not wait to see this community benefit from the use of the KVIP.

So, if you are feeling charitable today then please feel free to donate via this page - GUMU APPEAL Thank you for your kindness
Akua Wood
Sheabutter Cottage

ABOUT TIME - DO YOU AGREE WITH ME?!?!?

It is a new day and the beginning of a new week and I am rather chuffed to see this headline "Florida teenagers told to 'pull up their pants' by new law " via The Telegraph. Read the article here

SHEA LAUNDRY SOAP???

Yes, don't shriek :)

There is something unforgiving when you are a soapmaker + a confessed kitchen chemist even without the degrees and certificates to prove it.
You might know by now that I am a big fan of pure unrefined grade A shea butter <<<-this is my beauty secret.
Anyway, I have always been on a shea mission to prove that this is a wonderful ingredient that you need in your life :). With the weather being so lovely in Britain (temperatures around 27°C) at this time of the year, I thought why not try my hands at shea laundry soap with just simple ingredients at home and last Saturday was the perfect day to put my kitchen chemist hat on.
The bars are curing at the moment but I could not resist today, trying to wash one dirty piece of item from my trip. I think the photos speak for themselves.

Akua Wood
Sheabutter Cottage

COCOA BUTTER SOAP

Returned from a very interesting and rewarding although expensive trip to Ghana few days ago. If you have been following my posts with blurred photos on our facebook fan page, you would know learn a lot from this trip.
Anyway, today is Easter Sunday and in my attempt in avoiding stuffing myself with bars of chocolate, I decided to indulge in wrapping bars of our Afra cocoa butter soap.
This luxurious soap is made with a high amount of premium unrefined Ghanaian cocoa butter - indulge ♥

Happy Easter
Akua
Sheabutter Cottage