Making it in bulk....

[beautifulisaunderstatment]

How long can I keep products that I make in bulk? I get tired of making a point of shikaikai powder at a time. But I dont know if it spoils or loses its potency if made in large quantities. All powders in general and henna as well, how long do they store and how should they be stored?

Thanks Ladies!

 

[JustKiya]

I don't make tea's anymore - I just have the shikakai/amla mix already made in the right proportions, and I mix about a tablespoon of it into a paste with some water, and mix it with some conditioner - I think DenverGirl has a good outline of doing that in her fotki.
It's a great way to make it in bulk, and since the conditioner already has preservatives in it, there is less worry about keeping it 'safe'.

And, it rinses out SO much easier!

Henna, I always made in bulk, and I froze the leftovers in 'serving size' packages. I noticed that it seems like it's freezer life was about a good 6 months, or so - after that, the color wasn't as strong, anymore.

 

[beautifulisaunderstatment]

Thanks but Im actually trying to only use the tea without adding anything else. Im trying to go 100% ayurvedic.

 

[JustKiya]

Thanks but Im actually trying to only use the tea without adding anything else. Im trying to go 100% ayurvedic.

Ahhh, my bad.

When I was doing the tea, I would make about three conditioner bottles full (13-16 oz each?), I would use one the day I made it, and stick the other two in the fridge, to be used the following two weeks. I never had a problem with that....well, besides the tea being colder than all get out when pouring it on my head...

 

[ladylibra]

Ahhh, my bad.

When I was doing the tea, I would make about three conditioner bottles full (13-16 oz each?), I would use one the day I made it, and stick the other two in the fridge, to be used the following two weeks. I never had a problem with that....well, besides the tea being colder than all get out when pouring it on my head...

yeah when i tried henna i had made too much and froze it for a month... it was just fine the next time i went to use it.

if you aren't against adding a few drops of vitamin E essential oil or something like that, it is a natural preservative... again you could just store the excess tea in the fridge and it will last longer with the vitamin E eo in it. might i suggest though that you make a highly-concentrated tea, then add warm water to it when you're ready to use it? that way it won't be freezing cold when you pour it on your head. currently i like making it in the morning when i'm going to use it so i do just the opposite - add cold water to the piping hot tea i just brewed.