Tips and tricks for healthy hair

1. Always look at ingredients and choose a delicate shampoo without SLS (it excessively dries hair). It’s best to avoid harsh shampoos, as a gentle shampoo cleans just as effectively without unnecessarily being hard on the scalp. Even shampoos for color-treated hair are often harsh, so even for dyed hair it’s preferable to use a gentle shampoo.
2. Do not believe manufacturer’s claims that their shampoo is suitable for anyone and performs miracles that no other shampoo does. Each person is different and what works for one person may be wrong for someone else. Always test shampoos before switching and then select according to your hair’s needs.
3. Do you really need to shampoo twice? Before we learned this rule, our hair was clean even after shampooing once. It may or may not be a marketing tactic designed to increase sales. Obviously, in some cases, double shampooing is necessary, but it is not as necessary as to become a rule. (I noticed that no matter how many times I shampoo my hair, I have to wash it with the exact same frequency, so why waste that extra shampoo?)
4. Curly hair doesn’t get greasy quickly, because the sebum doesn’t get through the hair as fast as it does on straight hair. The best products for this type of hair are creamy ones. It is best to use a conditioner after washing curly hair.
5. Oily, normal or flaccid hair needs a liquid, light, transparent shampoo. Not all people with these types of hair also need conditioner, so if after washing your hair is easy to comb, you can save money by not using conditioner.
6. Chemically treated hair is more difficult to care for, it’s best to use a natural shampoo, gentle, for normal hair. You should also use concentrated hair conditioners.
7. For dry hair, creamy conditioners and very nutritious shampoo is recommended.
8. Are shampoos ‘2 in 1’ (with built-conditioner) better? This product is recommended for normal, healthy hair. But if you have oily hair, conditioner is not needed, and if you have dry hair, the moisturizing agents in ‘2 products in 1’ type of shampoos are not sufficient.
9. To shampoo use a small amount of shampoo (add more if necessary according to your hair’s length). Conduct a rigorous massage to the scalp, and if you can bear it, before shampooing and the rinse water should be cold as to support extra shine. If possible, let air dry. Always comb wet hair with a wide toothed comb and not a brush because your hair is most fragile while wet.
10. A beautiful, healthy hair does not require expensive treatments, it’s relatively easy to maintain at home. Like any other aspect of our body, beautiful hair is foremost maintained by proper diet, sufficient hydration, avoiding stress and smoke filled places and the use of natural hair care products. 

Some additional tips:

• the juice of one lemon mixed with a cup of water give more shine to your hair;
• one tablespoon of baking soda mixed well in a cup of water will remove remaining hair spray or gel from the hair;
• a teaspoon of baking soda added to the amount of shampoo used once to wash helps eliminate excess sebum from the scalp;
• rinsing your hair with a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar diluted in 2 cups of water gives it shine;
• or just use No-Poo shampoo
• an infusion of chamomile helps to highlight blonde hair color;
• an infusion of sage, lavender and cinnamon (a few sticks, broken pieces) helps darken hair color;
• hibiscus (either infusion or powder) helps in attaining red reflexes.

Natural remedy for tired legs

Do your feet sometimes hurt as much as mine insist on hurting? Making a quiet afternoon uncomfortable because you’ve exhausted all possible positions your legs could feel even remotely comfortable in?

Here’s an effective natural gel remedy you could prepare easily.

Natural remedy for tired legs

1/2 cup Aloe Vera gel

1 heaping teaspoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon of witch hazel and rosemary floral water

3 drops of peppermint essential oil

2 drops of eucalyptus essential oil

In a thermo-resistant glass warm the aloe gel, floral water and cornstarch, stirring to homogenize until it all becomes of a creamy, semi-liquid texture. When the mixture is almost cold, add the essential oils and thoroughly mix again.

After it’s completely cool, use it to refresh and relax tired feet.

Your legs will thank you for it!

Things you might not know about natural beauty products

A title perhaps surprising, but I’m going to type out, with your additions possibly in the comments section, a few things we do not say explicitly about natural homemade beauty products which we should be concerned about or interested in.

1. One thing that a friend pointed to me and, indeed, I’ve also noticed: natural homemade cosmetics clog drains (tub, sink). Unpleasant, but as they’re based on oil – not water and chemicals – soaps, shower gels and natural exfoliating products optimally nourish the skin but have the undesirable side effect of clogging drains. And cause slippery tubs, so be careful!
   To relieve this problem, use a couple of spoonfuls of sodium bicarbonate and a glass of vinegar; pour them into the drain and leave to react, boil 1 liter of water you will pour into the drain after half an hour, and then let the tap water on for 2-3 minutes.
2. Natural products have more features than just one. For example: soaps can be used as solid shampoos, face soaps, and also by men for shaving. Creams can be used for the whole body, oils can be used for both cleansing and moisturizing.
   So even if the label doesn’t say that ‘this soap is specifically a shaving soap’, it can still be used for that purpose.
3. Bio cosmetics do not always smell as we expected, but they have a natural scent.
   For example, I’ve always loved, before switching to organic, shower gels or creams with almond scent. But now I know how false that scent of so-called "almond" in creams and in other products with chemicals in them is.
   Almond oil has the most discreet scent, not resembling much to what you find in other products than natural ones.

These were just a few of my observations.
Feel free to let me know of both advantages and disadvantages you’ve found using natural beauty products

Tips for calming skin irritations

If you have been gifted with flawless skin resistance you probably don’t need a special care ritual after waxing/shaving. However people with sensitive skin, I’m certain, have tested various methods to improve their irritations arising after the removal of unwanted hair.

Let’s see some natural, organic ideas, which will be of much help before and after waxing.

Before waxing

To help those pesky under-skin hairs "exit", the best remedy is peeling. This should be done with a gentle product every day, or two times a week with a rougher product; the whole experience will help remove dead skin cells that block pores. Using a scrub is more than welcome before using razor blades, because, as dead cells are removed, the thread will be cut near the dermis.

For peeling, prepare yourselves a very simple and effective Homemade Exfoliating Body Scrub. It leaves a slight trace of oil on your body, which can be massaged after the shower, leaving the skin so soft, that you can completely give up on using body lotion when you’re done.

If you want to, you could also buy a ready made exfoliating product like a natural soap with oatmeal flakes for example.

After waxing

After the "torture" your skin feels as if crying for some soothing balm, right?

Use a 100% certified organic cream, with fine ingredients and healing, no petroleum derivatives, without urea, parabens or synthetic fragrance.

Try ones which include: coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, shea butter, beeswax, jojoba oil, castor oil, calendula extract, orange essential oil, chamomile essential oil and limonene (the last ingredient is a natural component of essential oil of orange).

Or make your own Homemade Aftershave Balm.

 

Natural Solutions for Acne

How many of you didn’t go through the annoying challenge of acne, pimples, blackheads during teenage years? I think very few. And you probably still have the occasional pimples.

Have a teenager? Acne can get  worse with stress, diet, pasta and sweets eaten in excess, but most often it suggest imbalances in the body. For this reason, the first step to be made in treating acne is a visit to the doctor for analysis.

If you want to use safe local treatments, here are 10 ways to everyone’s reach and they’re all natural, “straight from your garden” to keep your skin clean:

Natural solutions for Acne

1. garlic is an excellent treatment for acne, in case you did not know. Just rub with a clove of garlic cut in two, or cut into slivers and apply over acne using a band aid, leaving overnight to act;
2. onion is also good in the fight against acne and the traces left behind when it disappears. Make a puree with the blender and apply it as a facial mask once a week;
3. lemon juice applied straight to skin helps close pores, and to increase brightness of the skin;
4. a pinch of baking soda mixed with herbal soap (preferably a homemade soap, from olive oil or vegetable oil) is one of the best antibacterial scrubs for the skin;
5. the mixture of fine sea salt with egg whites is very good for sensitive skin. Apply as a mask, leave on for about 5-10 minutes, then rinse;
6. honey can be applied as is for an efficient mask which helps with acne;
7. vinegar is a good tonic and antiseptic for acne, acting very gentle if you mix it in an equal proportion of water or green tea;
8. yogurt is very effective and safe for skin prone to acne. Apply directly from the jar, let it act for 5-10 minutes, then rinse;
9. cut a gauze circle about the size of your face, soak it in freshly made green tea (very hot but not boiling) and apply on your face. Let it dry and remove carefully;
   Or prepare a Green Tea facial toning water to use every night after washing your face.
10. herbs such as Echinacea, rosemary, dill and parsley are great for teas and infusions, carrot juice or cucumber juice too, with the merit of purifying the skin.

Note: This article is not a medicinal one, but only information I decided to share from the result of my personal research.
And remember that, in any circumstance, you should also be treated for acne internally too.

Good health and beauty shines from within!

Homemade Teeth care ideas

 Ideas for natural teeth care:

1. Prepare your own homemade toothpaste

A basic recipe for toothpaste is baking soda mixed with various essential oils, like peppermint and tea tree usually. If you follow homeopathic treatment it would be better not to use essential oils of peppermint or eucalyptus. 3 tablespoons baking added to up to 10 drops essential oil kept in a glass container is enough to use for approximately a week.
For other combinations you can use white clay and herbal powders. Herbal powders are obtained by drying and grinding various beneficial plants: mint, thyme, chamomile. Combined with clay dust and stored in small containers, mix with water for toothpaste. Another ingredient that can be added is Propolis tincture.

2. Prepare your own homemade mouthwash

The simplest method is to drop up to 10 drops of Propolis tincture or Sage into a glass of water at each use.

3. Natural replacement for chewing gum

To refresh your breath, instead of chewing gum which has sugar and additives, you can try chewing fresh leaflets of parsley, mint, or fennel seeds.

Keep ’em healthy

Homemade Sunburn Remedy

Summer is here! Yay! (And I hope the weather is summer-like where you are, cause here it’s more autumn-like than anything…)

Anyway, thought this might come in handy for everyone who loves sunbathing and/or occasionally over exposes.

Sunburn remedy blend

Use a vegetable oil base consisting of marigold oil (soak oil), Rosa Mosqueta and grape seed, plus a mix of essential oils of:

Lavender
Mint
Tea Tree
Rosewood
Chamomile

Apply two times daily in the affected areas.

 

Other tips for sunburns:

A good sunburn prevention is to massage your whole body with coconut oil before going out in the sun.

Milk is also a good food remedy for sun burns. Just apply on the affected area using a cloth.

Ice on the burned area is also beneficial.

Using cold tea bags will remove tanning from sunburns.

Raw sliced cucumber or potato applied to the affected area will reduce redness and inflammation caused by sunburn.

Aloe Vera is a natural and soothing treatment option for sunburn and tan. – Just pluck a few leaves of the plant, mash them and mix with lemon juice. Apply all over the affected areas. It cleanses, clears and nourishes the skin.

Honey and lime juice is also used in treating sunburn.</strong> Mix 2 spoons of honey with lemon juice and apply over the sunburned or tanned skin areas. Helps to lighten and soothe the skin.

Stay in the shade