Hair Progress… Aiming For Healthier Strands. January 22, 2010

Just documenting the changes that are taking place in my hair. No more bleach for a long while. Only sulfate-free shampoos. (Sulfates are cheap foaming detergents… the same ones used in car wash soap. They strip hair of color, proteins, and upset the pH balance.) Only tlc and pampering now. I wanna get it as healthy as I can.

Platinum blonde, my before hair.

After lots of research and several protein treatments I was able to remedy most of the porosity issues with my hair and get it to hold color. Then I matched my roots and voila’! I have my natural hair color back.

With hair that had been bleached to the point where most of it was white, it was certainly a chore. Some hair color doesn’t react well over bleached and porous strands. One could end up with all sorts of strange pigments showing thru, and most of the desired pigments washing down the drain. Blotchy grey, green, and violet being the results in cases of failed coloring attempts.

Matching my natural hair color.

I used a professional color, b/c boxed color kits suck and just don’t deliver professional results. (I should buy stock with Sally Beauty Supply. Professional color products on a budget. Note: Not every color product they carry is pro, only select ones.) I wanted my hair to look natural, not like I had a girlfriend color it with a magic marker. Also I didn’t want every strand to be the same color, since each strand would naturally have its own unique shade- creating those natural highlights. Box color kits=bad and might end up sending you to a professional anyway.

Relieved strands, no more bleach.

I had to let my roots grow out for several inches so I could match them. It was kind of annoying, and very unkept looking, but I did it. I’m glad that my hair grows so fast. On average head hair grows about a half inch per month. Mine grows at about double that. It’s a fact that bewildered my hairdresser since it required more frequent touch ups.

It’s getting really long and full now. The thick of it is just past bsl. I’m happy to have my natural color back and to know it’s not so damaged. It makes me feel good to know I’m taking better care of it.

So, About That Tomato… January 22, 2010

Did you know…? Tomatoes are full of potassium, calcium, vitamins A, C & E, AND lycopene which is a powerful antioxidant and natural SPF. Rub a slice over your face to allow skin to absorb these nutrients… prior to application, dip in a bit of sugar for added exfoliant. Then rinse and pat dry.

All Natural Scrub/Mask and Toner January 21, 2010

At some point everyone has experienced issues with breakouts, scarring, hyper-pigmentation, and dryness. It sucks at times, but it’s normal. The oil in the skin is called sebum. Sometimes our skin doesn’t produce very much of it and we experience dry, flakey, or scaley skin. Sometimes our skin produces excessive amounts of sebum resulting in oily skin and at times clogged pores and acne. Then there’s the combination skin which experiences dryness in some places and oilyness in others.

We attempt to combat these reactions in our skin with cleansers, toners, moisturizers, sun-block, healthy eating habits, a regular sleep schedule, vitamins, exercise… All of these are important, and they all play a part.

Today I thought I’d share a recipe for a facial scrub/mask and complemetary toner. It’s easy to prepare, inexpensive and it’s all natural… So it has no harsh chemicals. This isn’t just for girls either. Guys should be interested in caring for their skin as well. Women aren’t the only ones with blemishes and dry skin. We also aren’t the only ones who like pampering ourselves. Even those “manly” men might try this at home when no one is looking.

Ingredients and Tools:

Apple Cider Vinegar (Don’t use distilled)
Sugar
Honey
Cooled Green Tea
Jars With Lids (Like an old jelly jar and small baby food jar)
Small bowl.
Spoons

Optional Ingredients:

Olive Oil
Lemon Juice
Tea Tree Oil

(If you are allergic to vinegar, please don’t try this recipe. Also let me stress again… Do not use distilled vinegar. It is far too harsh. It will burn, and it has none of the benefits that are the point of this facial.)

I bet you’re still thinking “Vinegar, that’s going to stink…I don’t want to make my face smell like feet… That’s gross… blah blah blah…”

Don’t whine so much. The vinegar does smell, but the smell goes away after a while. Do it at night if you’re worried about the smell. Besides, you know you want to try it. I did, and my skin felt so good afterward.:-)

The cider vinegar is important to this recipe. It contains alpha-hydroxy and amino acids that dissolve dead skin cells and fatty deposits (excessive sebum) on the skin, break up scar tissue, unclog pores, reduce scaley skin, balance pH levels in the skin… and naturally contains vitamins A, E, C, B2, B6, and P which help repair skin cells. Cider vinegar has been a key ingredient in home remedies for generations.

Sugar is of course the natural exfoliant in this recipe. It will help break up scar tissue, unclog pores, and reduce the appearance of large pores. It also contains a natural glycerin that is moisturizing to the skin.

Honey is a natural acne treatment, moisturizer, and anti-inflamatory. It stimulates skin renewal… and makes this whole concoction smell better.

Green tea, as most people know contains anti-oxidants and detoxifies the skin. It will help remove free-radicals. Yay!

Instructions:

Scrub/Mask- In a small bowl add 1 tbs (table spoon) cider vinegar, 2 tbl cooled green tea (maintain a 1:2 ratio with the cider vingar and the green tea, 1:3 ratio if you have sesitive skin), and 5 tbs sugar. Stir. Add 1 tbs honey. Stir. Add 2 more tbs sugar. Stir to combine.

Cleanse face before applying scrub/mask. Using a small amount of the mixture, smear evenly on the face with fingers or cotton pad. Then using fingertips, GENTLY massage mixture into face using a circula motion for 2-5 mins. Let it sit on the face for aprox. 10 mins. Rinse gently, and PAT dry with a soft towel.

*Store remaining scrub/mask in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Toner- Into a separate container pour cider vinegar until about 1/3 full. Fill the remaining 2/3 with cooled green tea. Appy a small amount to a cotton pad and sweep over face and neck. Follow with an oil-free moisturizer.

*Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

(For added moisture in the toner, you can add a very small amount of olive oil. A small amount of lemon juice or tea tree oil can be added to fight acne. I recommend trying the recipe first, without adding anything to see how your skin responds. The combination of the main ingredients should balance the oil and moisture levels on its own.)

If anyone has any questions about this topic, let me know. I’ll do my best to answer them.