by Michy Lynn

Created on: July 22, 2009

Alternative Uses for Grapefruit: It's Not Just Good for Eating

I've always been interesting in using natural home remedies and treatments whenever possible, because natural is the way to go. Not only are natural treatments usually eco-friendly (think "going green"), but they are usually better for you and cheaper, too! Many people don't realize that everything we put on our skin gets absorbed by our skin, so when we put chemicals on our skin, that's absorbed, too. Think about the patches used for prescription drugs - skin absorption!

So if you're putting makeup, cosmetics, detergents and other chemicals on your hair and skin, it's almost the same as drinking it. You wouldn't drink your shampoo, would you? Well, you might if your shampoo were grapefruit juice!

That's what I want to share with you today - alternative uses for grapefruit!

Alternative Grapefruit Use #1 - Hair Stripper

Rinsing your hair with grapefruit juice will strip the chemical and shampoo/conditioner buildup from your hair, and leave it soft and silky. It will also remove any hairspray or other styling product from your hair without damaging it.

Alternative Grapefruit Use #2 - Hair Lightener/Highlighter

Put strained grapefruit juice into a spray bottle and step outside into the sunlight. Spray the grapefruit juice on your hair where you would like it lightened or highlighted, and stay in the sunlight until the grapefruit juice has dried. Your hair will ever so slightly lighten where the grapefruit juice is applied, giving it a highlighted look.

Alternative Grapefruit Use #3 - Citrus Bath Treatment

Squeezing or pouring grapefruit juice into your bath water, about one to two cups per tub, will help exfoliate your skin and leave it smooth and fresh and citrusy smelling.

Alternative Grapefruit Use #4 - Soften Hard, Tough Feet

If you're wanting to wear sandals this year for summer and spring, but you have dry, cracked heels and feet, you can soak your feet in warm water with grapefruit slices or squeezed grapefruit juice to help soften the skin and make it easy to slough off, leaving your feet smelling fresh and looking fantastic.

Alternative Grapefruit Use #5 - Facial Cleanser

Grind a grapefruit half in the blender (use the entire grapefruit, peeling and all) with a splash of milk and some table sugar (make it a consistency you like) and warm the mixture in the microwave. Stir until it's a goopy paste consistency and then spread the mixture over your face and leave on for a few minutes. Lightly rub the sugar and grapefruit mixture into your skin until the sugar dissolves and is smooth, and then rinse your face thoroughly. Your skin will be toned and gorgeous.

Of course, you can always be old fashioned and simply add a cherry half and some sugar and eat your grapefruit with a spoon, but why do you need to when there are so many other great alternative uses for grapefruit?

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