I’ve never been one to leave well enough alone. I was born a tinkerer—a naturally curious person who’s never seemed to outgrow asking, “Why?” In fact, my parents used to joke that why was my favorite word as a kid. Pair that curiosity with a frugal streak, and you’ll find me constantly looking for creative ways to solve problems, cut costs, and experiment with new ideas.
Over the past few years, I’ve been dabbling with AI tools like ChatGPT and Grok. It’s fascinating how these platforms, with a little outside-the-box thinking, can be surprisingly helpful for normal everyday tasks. From planning travel itineraries to whipping up unique recipes, they’ve become my go-to for innovative solutions. Most recently, I decided to tackle something completely different: reverse-engineering a product I use every day.
This particular product happens to be my favorite hair paste. It works better than any product I've ever used. The ingredients are also all natural so there's no worry about the negative effects of the chemical shit-storm you'll find in the ingredients list of most mainstream hair products.
The downside? It’s really expensive, costing around $30 for a 2oz tin (when it’s not on sale). Sure, it lasts me over a month, but that’s still a hefty price for what’s essentially goo that keeps your hair in place.
Enter AI.
I took a photo of the ingredients’ list and asked the AI to come up with a recipe to make it. It took all of three seconds for ChatGPT to concoct this recipe:
Here’s a DIY recipe for a lightweight, nourishing hair paste. It provides a gentle hold and volume without weighing the hair down. The ingredients you’ve listed are perfect for creating a natural hair product. Here’s the formulation:
DIY Hair Paste Ingredients
• 2 tbsp Shea Butter (moisturizing and lightweight base)
• 1 tbsp Beeswax (provides light hold and structure)
• 1 tbsp Jojoba Oil (nourishes hair without heaviness)
• 1 tbsp Vegetable Glycerin (adds hydration and shine)
• 1 tsp Arrowroot Powder (absorbs excess oil for a matte finish)
• 1 tsp Kaolin Clay (adds volume and texture)
• 1 tsp Canadian Glacial Clay (light texture and detoxifying properties)
• 3–5 drops Vitamin E Oil (preserves the paste and nourishes hair/scalp)
• 5–10 drops Pine + Sandalwood Essential Oil Blend (for fragrance and scalp health)
Instructions
• Melt the base ingredients:
• In a double boiler or heat-safe bowl over simmering water, gently melt shea butter and beeswax until fully liquefied.
• Stir in jojoba oil to combine.
• Mix the clays and powders:
• In a separate bowl, combine arrowroot powder, kaolin clay, and Canadian glacial clay. Stir until evenly mixed.
• Blend the base and powders:
• Slowly whisk the powder mixture into the melted oils. Ensure no lumps form.
• Add glycerin and Vitamin E:
• Once the mixture cools slightly but is still liquid, stir in vegetable glycerin and Vitamin E oil.
• Add essential oils:
• Add the pine + sandalwood essential oil blend and mix thoroughly.
• Cool and set:
• Pour the mixture into a clean, sterilized jar or tin.
Allow it to cool completely at room temperature or in the fridge until it solidifies.
How to Use
• Take a small amount of paste (pea-sized for thin hair).
• Warm it between your fingertips to soften.
• Apply to dry or slightly damp hair, focusing on the roots or areas you want to add texture and hold.
This hair paste will provide light hold, subtle texture, and volume while keeping hair hydrated and healthy. Let me know how it works out!
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Pretty impressive, right?
The AI didn’t just generate a recipe; it provided a breakdown of why each ingredient is essential. I decided to test it out and bought all the ingredients on Amazon for about $80. That’s a significant upfront cost, but here’s the kicker: this $80 investment can yield at least 24 batches of 2oz tins. Retail value? Over $720.
Not only did AI help create a product that works just as well as the original, but it also saved me a small fortune. All thanks to a little curiosity, some AI magic, and my inclination to tinker.
These days, it feels like there’s a “smart” gadget for everything—fans, mops, vacuum cleaners, lawn mowers, and even snow blowers. Each promises to make life a little easier by automating mundane tasks. After moving into a new home recently, I’ve been re-evaluating many of these background helpers and how they fit into our daily lives.
Last night, as I watched a commercial for a robotic vacuum that mops, sweeps, and even empties itself at a docking station that doubles as a charger, a thought struck me.
Once companies like Tesla and its competitors perfect humanoid robots and make them affordable to the masses, many of these individual smart gadgets will become obsolete almost overnight.
Why? Because robots like Tesla’s Optimus will be able to handle all these tasks, and more, using the same "analog" tools humans have relied on for generations. No need for specialized devices when a single robot can do it all.
Just imagine: a personal robot that can babysit your kids, walk the dog, tutor, clean the house, prep meals, help take care of the handicapped and elderly, and essentially take on any task a human can do today. When you really begin to think about it the possibilities are staggering, and the convenience could reshape the way we live entirely.
What’s even more mind-blowing is how close we are to this reality. Most people have no idea just how fast this sector is poised to explode over the next decade. In the not-so-distant future, having a humanoid robot in your home could be as commonplace as having a smartphone in your pocket today. What an incredible time to be alive.
~Eric Vance Walton~
Be well, make the most of this day. Thank you for reading!
(Gifs sourced from Giphy.com. Photo is mine.)
