ReadyMade: Instructions for everyday life

Home Spa: Recipes

Three all-natural grooming recipes. Plus: environmentally friendly shaving

by Natalie Karneef

Photos by Garry McLeod

Need a shampoo, wax, or shave? Stop dropping coin on costly, chemical-filled products at the salon and instead cook up these home-brewed recipes. Then flip the page for a what, why, and how-to on the (nearly) lost art of wet shaving.

Lebanese Hair-Removing
Body Sugar
Makes about 2 cups

Ingredients
2 cups sugar
¼ cup lemon juice
¼ cup water
1 tbsp almond oil
Cornstarch
Muslin, cut into about 40 2” x 4” strips

1. Stir sugar, lemon juice, and water in pot, and cook at medium heat until boiling. 2. Let boil for about 15 minutes, removing from heat occasionally when mixture starts to bubble up. 3. When mixture has reached a warm caramel color, remove from heat. Let cool a couple of minutes. 4. Lightly oil a cold, non-porous surface (a marble slab or baking sheet) with almond oil. 5. Pour mixture slowly and carefully onto the surface. 6. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes, stirring toward the center of the surface with a wooden spoon. 7. Pour mixture into an aluminum or Pyrex bowl. Allow to cool until paste consistency has been reached. 8. Lightly dust area to be sugared with cornstarch. 9. Apply sugar “ to ¼” thick with wooden tongue depressor or wooden spoon. Place muslin strip over sugar. Stroke firmly down in direction of hair, and remove away from direction of hair. 10. Store in fridge. For re-use, warm container in hot water.

Shaving Cream
Makes 1 cup

Ingredients
1 oz. apricot kernel oil
½ oz. solid beeswax
2 oz. water
1 oz. liquid castile soap
1 oz. glycerin
1 tsp borax
⅓ tsp tea tree oil
20 drops lavender essential oil

1. Combine apricot kernel oil and beeswax in double boiler over medium heat. 2. In a separate container, mix water, castile soap, glycerin, and borax. 3. When beeswax has fully melted, lower heat. 4. Add cool mixture to warm. Stir with fork or whisk until frothy. 5. Remove from heat. Add tea tree and lavender oils, and continue stirring.
6. Store in airtight glass bottle for up to 6 months.

Herbal Shampoo
Makes about 1 cup

Ingredients
1 tsp dry nettle leaves
1 tsp dry horsetail
1 tsp dry coltsfoot
1 cup spring water
1 oz. liquid castile soap
1 tsp almond oil
2 drops lavender essential oil

1. Crumble herbs and place in a glass or ceramic container with lid. 2. Boil water. 3. Pour water over herbs, cover, and steep for 20 minutes. 4. Strain. 5. Add castile soap and almond oil, and mix thoroughly. 6. Add lavender essential oil, and mix again. 7. Store in glass bottle for up to 6 months.