Many aspiring naturalists feel anxious when first entering the realm of naturalness. Especially, being faced with the array of options discussed in the natural community. There are tons of health and beauty articles across the web on the natural lifestyle. However, some of these articles do have biased opinions. This mixed multitude of opinions and options causes confusion for the newbie natural… Trust me, I’ve been there.
Try Google searching the term “natural remedies,” you’ll see about 13,000,000 results. Here lies 13,000,000 different recipes, opinions, reviews. You may begin asking yourself, “some sulfates, no sulfates? To coconut oil or not to coconut oil?” …and pretty soon you’ll find yourself pulling your hair out. Don’t fret! Lai is here to save you. But first there’s some things you need to know…
What exactly is “natural”?
Well… I’ve seen the term “natural” used in many different ways. I asked a few of my colleagues what it means to them when they hear the word “natural?” Quite a few of them said the first thing that comes to their mind is hair. However, there is way more to natural than just not having a relaxer. First let’s start off with the dictionary definition of the term natural (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/natural).
“natural
[nach-er-uh l, nach-ruh l]
adjective
1. existing in or formed by nature (opposed to artificial )”
Basically what this means is… it’s not fake, pretty simple right? Remembering this definition will help you tremendously along the way. Now ladies, this doesn’t mean that you can’t wear your weaves, or your body sprays, or your deodorant (although, I do have a great recipe for some natural deodorant). I’m not an extremist, but a lil’ naturalness ain’t never hurt nobody.
Why go natural?
It only makes sense that if it’s something from nature, it’s going to be a lot healthier for you than the man made equivalent. Everything you put in or on your body is absorbed into your bloodstream. A lot of these things that were created by man simply were not mean to be metabolized by the human body. Let’s use deodorant as an example… look at the ingredients in your favorite brand. You’ll notice one of the ingredients is aluminum. Yeap, that’s right, you’re absorbing that carcinogenic toxin into your body.
If that’s not a good enough reason to become natural, lets discuss the financial benefits ($$ka-ching $$). Everyone likes to save some cash now and again; being natural will definitely help you do just that. Natural ingredients typically have multiple uses. Need a facial toner and have a cold at the same time? (Hey, it’s definitely possible) Apple Cider Vinegar will do you good. When you’re done with that you can use it to clarify your hair and clean your bathtub. Let’s add that up really quick:
Facial Toner: $5
Cold Medicine: $8
Clarifying Shampoo: $3
Bathroom Cleaner: $5
Total: $21
VS
Apple Cider Vinegar: $4
Total: $4
Now that I’ve gotten you all excited about being healthier and saving money, you’re probably ready to throw all your expensive toxin ridden products in the trash. Wait just one minute, before you do that let’s talk…
To transition, or not to transition?
Part of the reason why aspiring naturalists feel overwhelmed is because they’re ready to go all in. Embracing the natural lifestyle is a journey, and as for any journey – it takes time. You shouldn’t throw all your favorite products away, and load up on natural products and ingredients you’ve never used and/or heard of. That’s a recipe for failure, and unless you’ve got the extra do-re-mi for all that, failing is not an option. Besides, Lai doesn’t want you to fail, Lai wants you to succeed.
I’m not saying don’t be enthusiastic about your new lifestyle, but from my perspective natural products take some time to get used to. With that being said, personally I suggest transitioning… When you run out of that face wash you love ever so much, maybe try oil washing, washing your face with honey, or both! See what works best for you, there’s so many different natural concoctions you can make for any and every situation. This also makes the natural lifestyle much more fun and interesting.
Your Starter Kit
Here are 15 basic items I suggest for the newbie natural beginning their journey:
(What is it? What it does? What can you use it for?)
Coconut Oil –
Baking Soda –
Tea Tree Oil –
Shea Butter –
Aloe Vera Gel –
Ginger –
Lemons –
Honey –
Vitamin C –
Apple Cider Vinegar –
Borax –
Sugar –
Sea Salt -3
P.S. you can print it here.
This natural starter kit will eliminate any anxiety felt for those who don’t know where to start. When you get used to using natural products and saving money, it becomes addicting. You’ll begin to wonder what you can mix up next to satisfy your specific needs. If you’re too lazy to mix something up (it’s ok it happens to the best of us) just remember the definition we talked about while checking the ingredients in products. Have a great natural journey!
What’s an essential item in your natural starter kit?