Ways to help your hair color last longer

Now that the weather is getting warmer outside, I am itching to add some color to my hair.  Although the sun usually boosts my hair’s natural hue, I’ve been thinking about adding in some highlights.  One of the downsides of coloring is cost.  Professional hair coloring can be expensive, especially if you plan on being faithful to regular touch-up treatments.  But there are some things you can do to help your hair color last longer…as well as your money.

Here are some tips:

• Choose hair color close to your natural shade to extend time between treatments.  Also, allow two to three days before washing after a color treatment to allow color pigment to bind and hair’s outer layer (cuticle) to calm down from the damaging chemical process.
• Use tepid water with a cool final rinse and set your 450-degree flat iron down to 200 degrees for healthier hair and less cuticle-damaging heat.
• Protect color-treated hair from pigment-fading, discoloring UV rays with a hat and leave-in conditioner with sunscreen.
• Use haircare products formulated specifically for color-treated hair, which do not contain the harsh, cuticle-damaging cleansing agent sodium lauryl sulfate (or similar derivatives) or drying alcohol.

Also, save more than 50 percent on salon coloring by finding “student” coloring days at your favorite salon or local beauty school. Just be sure the instructor or master colorist is supervising.

Also, do-it-yourself hair color products sold at the grocery or drug store cost around $10, much less than the price of an average beauty salon color treatment.  You can also consider using henna…which is much less costly than salon hair color.  For more information on henna here’s a great site:  www.hennaforhair.com.

Pamper Wisely,

The BusyBella

The Buzz Words in Natural Hair Care

Natural Hair Care is big business these days.  Consumers are getting savvy about the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to the ingredients in their shampoos and conditioners.  Now, companies are taking note. One hot buzz word in the market is Sulfate-Free.  These are the harsh chemicals you should avoid in your natural hair care routine. They can irritate your scalp and leave your hair feeling dry and brittle. But in all cleansing products, including shampoos, there’s another buzz word called surfactants. These are the ingredients necessary to remove dirt and oil from your hair. So what are the good ingredients and the bad ingredients you need to avoid in your shampoos?  Here’s a guide to help you:

Gentle surfactants to look for: 
• Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
• Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
• Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate

Harsh/Drying surfactants to skip: 
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
• Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
• Sodium Myreth Sulfate
• Saponified Oils
• Soap

Pamper Wisely,

The BusyBella

A Natural Substitute for Retin-A

Retin A (Tretinoin) is a topical solution used to treat acne. It’s also a great way to smooth out wrinkles and aging skin. It can be found in a gel, cream or lotion and must be prescribed by your physician or dermatologist. Although it can be quite costly, Retin-A can offer you amazing results, if used properly. But if not applied with care, Retin-A can lead to blistering, irritation and hypersensitivity to sunlight. If you don’t want to put yourself at risk for these adverse effects, there are some natural options you can consider.

Rose Hip Seed Oil-Contains a natural source of Tretinoin (the active ingredient in Retin-A), it’s also a great source of Vitamin C and won’t irritate the skin.

Tea Tree Oil- Topical agents with 5% tea tree oil may be as effective as lotions with 5% benzoyl peroxide in drying up breakouts. Side effects can be serious for people with certain skin conditions, so consult a doctor before experimenting with tea tree oil.

Zinc-an essential mineral, is suggested as a supplement because it helps with healing and skin regeneration. It can be used topically in a cream or lotion or taken orally with meals. Side effects can include nausea and an unpleasant taste in your mouth.

As always, watch your sugar, fat and salt intake and drink plenty of water throughout the day!

Pamper Wisely,

The BusyBella

An Alternative to Acetone

Every two weeks I head to my local nail salon for my routine mani/pedi.  I love the hottest trends in colors for the spring and summer months.  But, because I use gel nail polish, I have to sit with my nails soaked in acetone during my pedicure in order to remove my old polish.  I can’t help but to wonder what this regular exposure to acetone is doing to my nails…as well as to my health. Acetone is very drying to your nails and cuticles.  Also, acetone can irritate your eyes and your skin.  So…I did a little research and found some natural alternatives to acetone.

Priti Natual Soy Nail Polish Remover:  This remover does not contain acetone, petroleum, or carcinogens – it is soy and corn based, containing ingredients from organic farm crops. Ingredients include: Natural Soybean Esters, Biodegradable Dibasic Esters, and Organic Lemongrass Essential Oil -which means it will not dry out your nails or cuticles.  This is save for to use with all brands of nail polish.

2.  Eco-Easy Nail Polish Remover:  This is biodegradable, vegan, contains no synthetic or petrochemicals and removes even the toughest nail polish.  Ingredients include:  Ethyl lactate – from sugar betts, Glycerin, Water, Mentha spicata-spearmint leaft, Rosmarinus verbenone- rosemary.   Use this the same as you would any other nail polish remover.

3.  Suncoat Natural Nail Polish Remover:  This alternative is also natural, biodegradable, non-carcinogenic and non-toxic.  Ingredients include:  ethyl lactate (from corn fermentation), methyl soyate (from soya oil), vegetable glycerin, D-limonene (from orange).  This can be used with water-based nail polish as well as the conventional kinds.

Have you tried any of these acetone alternatives?  If so, I’d love to read your reviews.

Pamper Wisely.

The BusyBella

Honey for Acne-Prone Skin

Did you know that honey has natural anti-bacterial properties?  Honey is a traditional topical treatment for infected wounds. It can be effective on antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.  The other bonus is that honey also attracts moisture, which keeps your skin from drying out.  With a little bit of honey as well some other natural ingredients, you can make your own acne fighting treatment in the comfort of your own home.  Here is what you need:

• Honey
• Water at room temperature
• Mild Liquid Facial Soap

Combine ¼ cup of honey with ½ cup of tepid water and 2 tablespoons of mild liquid soap. Pour the mixture into an easy-to-use container with a spout. Use nightly in place of your normal facial cleanser, rinsing thoroughly with warm water.  You should see an improvement in your skin within a few days. This mixture will keep for up to two weeks if stored in a closet, away from your bathroom or other sources of moisture.

Here is a good honey mask to try:

• Honey
• Cinnamon
• Lemon Juice
• Oatmeal

Mix 4 tbsp. of honey with cinnamon, lemon juice and oatmeal. Leave the mixture on for 20 to 30 minutes and then remove with warm water.  Use consistently at least once or twice weekly for optimal results.

Pamper Wisely,

The BusyBella

A Brighter Complexion in Four Days

Everyone wants a bright and glowing complexion. It’s a sign of youth and beauty.  Make-up can help….but who wants to pile on a ton of make-up if you don’t have to?  You can spend hundreds of dollars on microdermabrasion and glycolic peels.  Or…you can make minor adjustments to your skin care routine. 1.  Watch what [...]

Best Beauty Finds for a Buck

Dollar Stores are a great way to save money on some of your favorite household items and toiletries.  But did you know they are also a great place to find some of your best beauty products?  For just a buck a piece, you can save money on popular, name-brand items.  So the next time you [...]

Who Do YOU Trust?

When it comes to shopping online, who do you trust? Do you put stock in what people are saying on consumer review boards? Or, are you the type who has to strike out on your own and try things for yourself? A recent study suggests more and more people tend to the “follow the leader” on online shopping sites and consumer review boards. According to IVillage and SheSpeaks, the “interaction between women through online community Web sites, forums and message boards have a ‘dramatic’ influence on driving product preference,loyalty and purchase”, says Mediapost. Take a look at the study’s key findings:

1.  Online coupons (68%), store coupons (66%), consumer reviews on shopping sites (61%) and recommendations from friends (59%) are top influencers.

2.  Sixty percent also say that online coupons are more influential on their purchases now more than a year ago and 51% say consumer reviews on websites are more influential.

3.  Reading consumer reviews about products makes women more likely to look for a product in the store (77%), more favorable about the product while shopping (74%), more likely to choose the brand/product over others (70%) and more likely to purchase the product in the store (67%).

So, when it comes to buying beauty products and services, do you find online reviews helpful or hurtful? Please share…I’d love to hear your experiences!

Pamper Wisely,

The BusyBella

Finding “Pamper Me” Time

Women are excellent multi-taskers. We can cook you dinner, wash clothes, hold a conference call and change diapers all at the same time! But being a great multi-tasker can also have it’s downside. Sometimes, we are so busy with taking care of others that we often neglect to find time to take care of ourselves. [...]

Yogurt: Beauty in a cup

I love the taste of yogurt.  I usually enjoy a cup of it for breakfast at least three times every week.  Yogurt is chock full of vitamins, proteins and calcium which are all great for your bones, hair and nails. But even if you can’t get into the taste of yogurt, you can still take advantage of its benefits.  Yogurt is not only good for your body, it’s also good for your skin, face and hair.  Got dry skin or an itchy scalp?  Are you looking for an inexpensive way to brighten and exfoliate your complexion? Believe it or not, yogurt may be the beauty treatment you are looking for.

For your hands:  Heat up 1 tbsp. of honey or coconut oil in the microwave and add it to 1 cup of plain yogurt.  Soak your hands in the warm mixture for at least 15 minutes for smooth and supple skin.

For your feet:  Combine 1 cup of plain yogurt with 1 and a half tbsp. of brown sugar.  This is a great exfoliator for rough, dry heels and skin.

For your face:   Spread plain yogurt onto your face to tighten pores and cleanse your skin before rinsing with lukewarm water after 10 minutes.

For your scalp:  Do you suffer from dandruff and an itchy scalp?  Simply bring a container of plain yogurt into the shower and rub it into your wet hair and scalp and let sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing.

Who knew yogurt had so many great uses?!

Pamper Wisely,

The BusyBella