Olive Oil Hair Treatment

I have thick, long hair that until this morning was dry and coarse from color treatments and daily heat styling.  Prior to using the olive oil hair treatment, I have been using an assortment of deep conditioners and hair oils.  Although many of these products did add moisture and shine to my hair, none of them produced results comparable to a single treatment of olive oil.

If you are at your wits end with your fried, damaged hair, give this a shot tonight.  You will literally see results overnight.  My hair is soft, has just the right amount of shine, and looks very healthy.  Below are instructions on what I did to revitalize my hair.

Olive Oil Hair Treatment

Materials 

• Olive oil (I just used Kirkland extra virgin olive oil from Costco)   
• Shampoo
• Conditioner

Directions

1. If you have thin hair:
1. In the shower, bend over and keep your head down so that you can have easy access to the ends of your hair.  Pour olive oil onto your hands and apply the oil to the ends of your dry hair.  Continue to apply until your ends are saturated in oil.  Keep in mind that hair is very absorbent so do not apply oil to more than half the length of your hair.  You want to avoid getting olive oil on or near your scalp or you will end up with flat, limp hair.  
2. Allow olive oil to soak in hair for at least 10 minutes.  You can wash your body during this time.
3. Run warm water through your hair.  Then shampoo and rinse the bottom half of your hair.  
4. Then shampoo and condition the rest of your hair as usual.  If your hair is really fine, skip the conditioner.   
2. If you have thick hair:   
1. In the shower, bend over and keep your head down so that you can have easy access to the ends of your hair.  Pour a generous amount of olive oil onto your hands and apply the oil first to the ends of your dry hair and then work your way up.  Pay special attention to your damaged or trouble areas.  Keep doing this until your hair is saturated in oil.  Try and keep oil at least three inches away from your scalp.  You want to avoid getting olive oil on or near your roots and scalp or you will end up with flatter hair.  However, this is not that big of deal for people with thick hair.  
2. Allow olive oil to soak in hair for at least 10 minutes.  You can wash your body during this time.
3. Run warm water through your hair, and shampoo and condition your hair as usual.   

Tomato Stem Split in Half

Photo: Attempting to repair a split tomato stem with strips of plastic from plastic grocery bags

I was careless in the garden with my Pink Brandywine tomato plant that was already forming fruit.  The stem split in half at a long diagonal.  Instead of starting all over, I had two options.  I could piece it together and hope the halves fuse back together or I could stick the other half in the ground and hope it takes root.  

I decided to try and piece the halves together using strips of plastic taken from a plastic grocery bag.  I first cut small strips to tie the stem back together.  Then I took long strips to wrap the two pieces more firmly back together.  Part of the tomato plant looks a little sad and wilty.  I am hoping it survives.  

How to Harvest Bok Choy Seeds

Photo 1: Bok choy plant forming seed pods

Photo 2: Sunlight is illuminating the bok choy seeds inside the pod.

Photo 3: Bok choy seed pods fully mature and brown.

Photo 4: Collecting seeds from bok choy plants

You probably have noticed that some of your plants have grown tall, flowered and formed seed pods.  Instead of cutting these plants down and chucking them in the trash or compost, harvest your seeds for your next planting.  It is easy to do, and saves you from buying more seeds.  I collected more seeds from one single bok choy plant, than what would come in an average seed packet.  I share my extra seeds with family and friends.    

How to Harvest Bok Choy Seeds

Materials: 

• 5 gallon bucket or brown grocery paper bag  
• Garden shears
• Strainer with 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch holes
• Large bowl to catch seeds as they fall
• Seed container (e.g., envelopes, plastic snack bags, etc.)

Directions: 

1. You will know when bok choy plants are ready to form seeds when the bok choy plants grow tall and produces flowers.  These blooms will disappear and seed pods will form in its place upon pollination.  
2. You should collect the seeds when the plant is dry so avoid collecting them in the early morning or after they have been watered.  
3. When some of the seed pods start to turn brown, use your garden shears to cut the plant at the base of its stalk.  Note: You can wait until the pods turn completely brown to skip the drying process (step 4), however, you risk some seed pods opening and releasing seeds into the garden.  See Photo 3.  You can also cut the stalk when the pods are still green, but do not cut them too early.  If you do, you risk ending up with little to no seeds.  I chose to harvest my seeds a little early because I have a small garden, and I am eager to reuse that garden space.  See Photo 1.  
4. Tip: To find out whether your seed pods have seeds in them, hold them up against the sunlight.  Turn the pod so that the sun will hit the pod in a way that illuminates the contents inside.  If you see round seeds inside about (about 1/8" in diameter), you can cut the pods off for drying.  See Photo 2.   
5. After you cut the stalks, place them in the bucket or paper bag upside down.  Allow the seeds to completely dry out in a cool, dry location.  
6. You may notice that some of the seeds have already been released in the bucket or paper bag during the drying process.  This is a good sign.   Place the strainer over the large bowl.  Then take a seed pod and use your hands to split it in half lengthwise to release the seeds.  You may have to twist or rub the pods a little to work the seeds loose.  The small brown seeds will fall through the strainer into the bowl, but bigger pieces of debris will remain in the strainer.  After you break your last pod, dump the rest of the contents of the bucket or paper bag into the strainer to collect any remaining seeds.  See Photo 4.
7. Remove the strainer.  Then pour the seeds into your seed container.  Label the seeds with its name and date collected.  Then store seeds in a cool, dry location until you are ready to plant them in the garden.    

Last Updated: July 25, 2011

Fall Return Address Labels
by JuniperBox