Put the lime in the coconut...

As promised, I am passing on a tidbit of useful information that I have learned. For the past two years, I have suffered, and I do mean suffered, from dry skin and hair. Yes, it's part of growing older and yes, it's part of the sun damage from youth and yes, it's partly hereditary and diet. All of those factors are working against me definitely. I have spend many, many dollars on all sorts of lotions, potions, oils, and conditioners but none seemed to work. I had a quarter-sized spot on my left cheek that just wouldn't go away.
Finally, my good friend Subha suggested using coconut oil. WHAT?!?! It seems that in her native India, pure coconut oil is used for lots of things - cooking, moisturizing, conditioning, cleaning etc. We were at the Taj Grocery store in OKC at the time and quickly located a 3 ounce bottle for around $2. Not too much of an investment if it didn't work out.

Fast forward to 2 weeks later - I was dry skin free! The pure form of coconut oil isn't oil at all, but more of a solid. It very quickly become liquid from the warmth of your hand. I put the coconut into a very small canning jar to store it in (a great reuse of a glass jar opportunity!) and keep it in my bathroom. Also, once a week, I melt some in my hands and massage it through my hair before bed. I do wrap my head in a light towel but it really isn't oil at all. In the morning it washes right out, no residue at all just wonderful soft shiny hair.

And do I have to mention the glorious aroma? Practically everyone loves the smell of coconut so it's a win-win situation! I can tell you that you could buy pure coconut from health food stores but it is so much cheaper at an ethnic grocery. Either way, try it out, you just might become hooked!