The loofah comes from a plant of the family of pumpkins and courgettes, grows in height and its fruits, similar to cucumbers, and are edible only when they are young.
If they are left to dry on the plant then they give life to a process of decomposition of the pulp that leaves only the fibrous lattice of the fruit. Once the skin is removed we have the loofah which is used as it is.
How to make loofah useable?
To make a vegetable sponge of loofah it is necessary to take a dried fruit and cut it at the point of our interest, according to the more or less thick and soft area of the fruit and according to the shape it takes.
The central part, on the other hand, is very large and allows you to make large sponges for the body or for large surfaces, or slices of exfoliating sponge to be used to remove dead skin or to increase the action of body scrubs. If we cut the fibers lengthwise, especially in the softer part, we can create comfortable face pads, which is also excellent as make-up removers.
The importance of exfoliating
Exfoliating is a process in which we remove dead skin and accumulated dirt from the surface of the skin. It has many health and aesthetical benefits. Exfoliating stimulates blood circulation and nerve endings, and breaks down and removes toxins. People with blemishes on their skin should exfoliate at least twice a week, in order to speed up the recovery. Make sure that you hydrate the skin after exfoliating with a quality moisturizing lotion. It is also recommended that you stay out of the sun for at least 24 hours after exfoliating. If you have to go out, wear a hat with a wide brim that covers your face.
People who suffer from clogged pores can also benefit from exfoliating. It will help with removing the congestion and allowing pores to breed. Regular exfoliating will lead to a reduced number of both blackheads and whiteheads.
If you have a lot of ingrowing hairs on your legs, exfoliating can help you as well. By removing the layer of dead skin, you will allow a hair to penetrate and grow normally, instead of remaining stuck in your skin, causing an infection.
Finally, if you are going away on a summer vacation, make sure to exfoliate before you go. It will rejuvenate your skin and make it easier for the sun to reach it. New cells will also last longer, allowing you to keep your tan longer. The first thing you need to do is to pick the right loofah. There are many on the market, but not all of them are appropriate for exfoliating. You need different loofahs for different body parts. For the face, you want a soft loofah, while for the body you can use harder ones. One of the best choices for natural loofah is Egyptian loofah. Also known as Luffa Aegyptiaca, it is gentle and has soft ridges. There are no scratchy surfaces that may damage your skin. Fibers are thick, but shorter in length, resulting in a sponge-like appearance. It is great for exfoliating and removing dead skin. It also improves blood circulation and stimulates nerve endings in the skin.
Chinese loofah, on the other hand, is much harder. If you decide to use it, you should do it with minimal pressure, as it can scratch your skin easily. It has hard, abrasive edges that are rough on the skin. Chinese loofah also requires bleaching to soften fibers enough for use. The process uses Chlorine or Caustic Soda, so the final product isn’t 100% natural or chemical-free.
Now let’s talk about how to use loofah
Exfoliate the skin
According to Towelreviewer, the loofah sponge is highly appreciated for its ability to gently exfoliate the skin, removing dead cells. Massaging the body with the loofah sponge improves blood microcirculation making the skin smoother and softer.
The sponge obtained from the loofah allows to get a light but effective exfoliating effect on the skin, which regenerates the dead sells and purifies it. It can be used to rub a soap, a vegetable oil or any natural skin product.
Let’s see step by step how to use the loofah sponge to exfoliate:
- Lightly brush the skin with a dry loofah sponge to remove dead skin
- Enter the tub or shower and wet your body
- Apply an exfoliating cleanser to the dampened loofah sponge
- Massage the whole body with the loofah sponge and soap
- Use the loofah sponge by rubbing in small circular movements without using a lot of pressure
- Rinse the skin with warm water
- Since exfoliation can cause skin dryness, it is necessary to apply moisturizer after a shower.
- Loofah for the face
Loofah is Ideal for sensitive skin because it is hypoallergenic, it can be used to gently cleanse the skin. Furthermore, as it is not treated with bleaching agents or chemical treatments, it remains 100% natural.
Loofah for washing Dishes
Before throwing away the loofah sponges, (they can be put in compost bin) once worn, they can be used to wash particularly dirty dishes using its abrasive power.
Some areas, such as the end of the fruit, are ergonomic and excellent for making sponges that require certain ease of grip: sponges for scraping stubborn dirt or for cleaning dishes.
Cleaning home
At home, loofah sponges can be used to clean any surface: they are effective for removing dirt thanks to their dirt-catching fibers. They can be easily rinsed and wrung out after use, they are not subject to molds as often happens with synthetic sponges, and are maintained for a long time.
Loofah for shaving
One of the uses of loofah sponge is to prepare the skin for hair removal or to use this natural sponge to remove ingrown hair. There are two ways to use the loofah sponge for hair removal. The first is to pass the loofah sponge dry or moistened on the areas to be depilated. In this way, the hairs are correctly disposed to the depilation and the ingrown ones including the dead skin cells that trap them are removed to be then grabbed by waxing.
The loofah sponge can also be used after depilation, after half an hour to prevent hair from getting under the skin and getting stuck with the growth of new epidermal cells.
Various other uses
The cultivation of loofah is advantageous in several respects: totally eco-sustainable, it lends itself to making sponges and at the same time it can be consumed as a vegetable.
Its seeds are precious and its flowers are also edible, raw or cooked. The stem of the loofah plants is also interesting because its interior can be used in the cosmetic and officinal environment, thanks to the latex contained inside that is used in the creation of soaps and other products related to cosmetics.
Conclusion
Always wet the loofah with water before using it and apply some soap or whatever you use to clean your body. Then gently rub it all over your body. By using loofah this way you can prevent hurting yourself.
