Get a mild detergent like shikakai (optional for curly or kinky hair), an emollient, and a thickener. Avoid any protein sources like avocado or eggs. A simple recipe is olive oil and banana blended and treated with vinegar to an appropriate pH. Use a blender or a food processor to combine your ingredients into a thick fluid. Make sure it is at the desired consistency, as your only fluid is your emollient, so add it sparingly to avoid making too much or too thin a conditioner. Add any botanical extracts or products you like to improve the smell and conditioning. Make sure your conditioner is as close to pH 7 as possible to avoid altering the consistency or texture of your hair overmuch. Add vinegar, drop by drop, and test with pH paper, until it is in the desired range. Add soapy water in small amounts if the solution is too acidic. Massage in from the tips toward the roots. Keep it in your hair for approximately 20 minutes, but effects should be visible within five to ten minutes.  This conditioner is extremely gentle on the hair, but time beyond 20 minutes is unlikely to yield additional benefits. This conditioner will likely take several hot rinses to fully remove. It should leave hair shiny and more manageable than before, without altering your hair’s curl. Repeat the treatment if desired, and experiment with different emollients and thickeners like coconut oil or shea butter and honey or carnauba wax. You can store it in the refrigerator or freezer for a day or two, as these are highly perishable ingredients. Rubbing rancid fat or spoiled produce through your hair will not produce the desired results. Multiple conditionings in a few days are unlikely to be needed, unless you wash your hair every day.

Summary: Get your ingredients. Blend your ingredients, without water. Adjust the pH of your conditioner. Spread through hair and cover. Rinse your hair. Store or dispose of your remaining conditioner.


Take a look around your home or office and see if you can find a taller alternative to the desk you’re currently using. This could be a kitchen counter or bar top, an elevated cafe-style table or even dresser of medium height. You can then move your laptop, books or paperwork to the new workspace and stretch your legs a bit.  A no-frills drafting or crafts table can function as an excellent standing desk.  Look for a work surface that places your materials at roughly elbow height, or slightly lower.  Working from a different place can disrupt the monotony of constantly sitting at a traditional desk and give you a much-needed break from sedentary postures. This is an effortless, no-cost solution to rigging up a standing desk setup. Simply stack a low box, tray or some other platform onto your existing desktop and use it as a “lift.” You’ll then be free to work from an upright position, and you can simply remove the underlying object as needed.  Be sure that the platform you use is sturdy enough to hold your computer, devices and anything else that’s fragile or expensive. The last thing you want is for something to break due to a collapse. One common practice is to use a small side table (like the IKEA Lack) to support your work materials on top of a sitting desk. Any type of furniture with shelves at different heights can make an effective standing desk when you start thinking outside the box. A large bookcase, for instance, will easily hold your computer, paper documents, books, utensils and other accessories like framed pictures or a mug of coffee. Best of all, this creative setup comes with its own built-in storage system.  Surround your workspace with books and reference materials related to your work or studies. If necessary, drill small holes to provide access to electric outlets or wall mountings. You don’t have to be a master builder to fit a wall-bracketed desk space in an out of the way area of your home or office. Just find a desktop of a preferred size, locate a couple studs for support and bolt the whole thing into place. You can store supplies and materials in the area beneath the desk when it’s not in use.  Though it won’t offer the greatest view, a corner mounted standing desk is easy to install and takes up little space. A wall-mounted desk can double as a shelf for displaying books, candles or an attractive flower arrangement.

Summary: Work from a different surface. Place a separate object on your desktop. Use a cabinet or shelf. Mount a standing desk in the corner.


People like to connect and help things that are growing, and show results where they can point to. For example, if you are following a petition for "more nature oriented" or "greenery", try doing groundwork in your neighborhood as a role model and upload updates (photos, meetings, work done, and members) in the online format. This will not only engage you in your passion but also help the web community you are interested to attract; as your base grows you will have opportunity to use the web portal of social networking as a mouthpiece for collaboration and a meeting place for common ideas.

Summary: Have a base and its active counterpart in the real world too.


If you are calling a friend or family member, see if they are willing to video chat with you instead. There are many applications that offer this service at no cost to you. In order for the call to connect, both you and your friend will need to have the application installed on your mobile phone or computer and add each other as a contact. Press the person's name in the app to start the call.  Popular video messaging apps include Skype, Snapchat and Facebook Messenger. It is important that both you and the receiver have good Internet connections, otherwise, the call will cut out. This isn't a good option if you are trying to call a business or organization. Place a regular phone call instead. Audio calling uses the same technology as video messaging, but the camera is disabled. This option works well if your Internet isn't fast enough to load the visual connection when you make video calls. Both you and the receiver will need to install the same audio messaging app for the call to connect. Add your friend as a contact and then press the person's name in the app to connect the call.  Snapchat,  Viber, and Facebook Messenger are popular audio calling apps. Download your chosen app onto your phone or computer. Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) apps allow you to call overseas for a cheaper price than many phone companies. Unlike video and audio messaging apps, VOIP allows you to place your call to a landline or mobile number.  VOIP applications are offered by companies such as Skype, Viber, and Google+Hangouts and can be downloaded onto your phone or computer. Dial the full phone number, including all the codes, when making the call with a VOIP provider.
Summary: Talk via an online video messaging app if you have a strong Internet connection. Place the call via an online audio messaging app if you want to talk for free. Make the call with a VOIP provider to reduce the charges of the call.