Ditching Shampoo. Every day I faced off against lackluster tresses, while two friends of mine couldn’t stop raving about their own glossy, sexy hair.
They had recently stopped shampooing — just went cold turkey — and the results were marvelous. Both are decidedly un-crunchy, so I knew they weren’t making some hippieish statement about evil soap conglomerates or shampoo pollution in our waterways; this no-suds policy, I reasoned, must actually be good for hair. What did I have to lose? I tossed out my shampoo, began simply rinsing my hair in the shower every day, and waited to be dazzled by my new chemical-free, naturally lustrous mane.
The payoff was a while in coming, and I soon regretted having told everyone about my little experiment. Seven months later, my hair has never looked better. The problem with shampoo is that most of it contains sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate as a foaming agent. Admittedly, when I first got off shampoo there was a funk factor. And so here I am. DIY Beauty.
Maiden Braids. Last month I did a makeover story with Kelsie and had many requests for a maiden braid tutorial.
Yesterday she came in and we photographed these simple step by steps. Kelsie has extremely long and thick hair, but anyone with shoulder length or longer can do these braids (see my photo below for an example). Steps 1-2: Braid two strands on each side of a center part. Steps 3-5: Wrap braids around the crown of your head and pin in place with one pin each. Step 6: Arrange braids so that they cover the front of your head like a headband. Steps 7-8: Pull the rest of the hair into a ponytail and pin it into a cute messy bun. Step 9: Add final pins and spray. Perfect Mermaid Curls. Although “perfect” is a relative term, this method for curling hair is pretty much perfect by my standards, mostly because it isn’t fussy.
While I’m a sucker for both ringlets and Californian waves, I like my own curls somewhere in between: relaxed but bouncy. Mermaid-like. Supplies: 1″ curling iron, brush, and hair sprayTime: 45 minutes (for thick hair) All of the magic happens with Revlon’s “Helen of Troy” ceramic 1″ curling iron. For those who have long, thick hair like me, you might find that larger curling barrels produce the most pathetic excuse for “waves” that fall out within the hour, regardless of the amount of hair spray. I’ve found that the 1″ barrel creates tight waves that look good for at least 5-6 hours (though they do relax over time). For hairspray, I’m a fan of Tigi’s Hard Head, which has a strong hold without the severe crunchiness. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Repeat this around your entire head. Hair. 319 92 366 64 110 341 35 624 723 52 243 252 1797 2540 92 3363 45 792 23 38 146 557 10 50 93 11 128 449 12 93 67 18 330 47 2127 1071 203 1715 67 403 520 1372 1496 169 519 1239 2347 1599 179 609 310 376 505 352 1063 335 697 261 205 206 47 198 272 278 54 1368 30 6 404 405 62 182 129 63 35 6 4 279 31 1001 581 119 533 46 27 67 302 19 169 533 927 1822 113 84 263 615 410 282 274.
Color Enhancing Shampoos. Looking for cheaper alternatives to washing your hair (or something with more natural ingredients)?
I’ve moved the homemade shampoo, conditioner and color rinse recipes and tips onto this page for better organization, there’s a lot here to get you started. Enjoy! First up, here’s an easy way to give natural color a boost without harsh chemicals or dyes. Directions: Mix 1 cup of shampoo with 1 cup of the following: Blondes: Steep 1 tablespoon chamomile, calendula or powdered rhubarb root in 1 cup boiling water for thirty minutes.Brunettes: Add 1 cup strong black coffee *OR* water in which is steeped 1 tablespoon powdered black walnut shells, allspice, or cloves for thirty minutes.Redheads: Add 1 cup red wine and/or real orange juice, *OR* water in which 1 tablespoon red hibiscus or 2 tablespoons red clover have been steeped thirty minutes.
Homemade Hair Care Treatments. Eggs, yogurt and honey are, at first glance, all components of a tasty breakfast — but they also happen to be hair treatment ingredients, and affordable, all-natural ones at that.
And they're not the only ones. Did you know, for instance, that the oils in avocados more closely resemble our own skin's oils than any product in the beauty aisle does? Foods for Your Hair. Baking soda should be in your hair if it has build-up.
Let’s make a pact today. You and me. From now on, when we have a beauty issue, we’ll look in the cabinets – first – before we run out and buy an expensive (or even bargain) product to fix us. And, I know, I know … there’s just something a little bit comforting about picking up a bottle of FancySchmancy-Make-You-Fabulous Potion; there’s some weird satisfaction in forking over your hard-earned money to feel hot. But there’s a new and better feeling from fixing it yourself — by rummaging through your kitchen. And don’t get me wrong, sometimes it’s easier or less time consuming to snag a product from the shelf. Now, I’m here to get you started with your tresses. Homemade Hair Treatments. Eggs, yogurt and honey are, at first glance, all components of a tasty breakfast—but they also happen to be hair treatment ingredients, and affordable, all-natural ones at that.
And they're not the only ones. Did you know, for instance, that the oils in avocados more closely resemble our own skin's oils than any product in the beauty aisle does? Or that the mild acidity in lemon is an effective—and gentler—alternative to chemical-laden products? Next time your locks need a lift, save money by using one of these kitchen fixes.