The ‘Fall Back’ Routine for your hair
When most people associate fall with rich colors and romantic mood, I usually think about eventual problems with my hair. The change in temperature and humidity can really confuse your hair and cause numerous hair problems such as dryness, dandruff, fly-away hair and many others. Moreover, in fall I always face the results of sun […]
Sweat & Your Hair
After a great workout with my personal trainer, Kuti, I feel great; but my skin feels sweaty and dirty. So I head straight to the shower. What about my scalp? Isn’t my scalp an extension of the same skin on my face? Yes! What does the salty sweat do to my scalp and hair? Before […]
Beautiful Hair, Honey!
Looking for a simple and inexpensive remedy for healthier and shinier hair? Honey is a natural alternative to those store bought conditioners in your bathroom. It’s chock full of vitamins and minerals and has a natural ability to attract and retain water. Honey can also be used to lighten your tresses. Here are some great ways to use honey as a natural conditioner and moisturizer for bouncing and behaving hair.
1. Combine a quarter-size drop of honey with a teaspoon of extra virgin oil in a small microwaveable bowl. Mix the two ingredients with a spoon and microwave for 15-30 seconds. Remove and let cool for 30 seconds. Take your hands and evenly disperse the mixture throughout your hair. Massage into your scalp and work down to your ends. Let it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing out with cold water.
2. Combine a quarter-size drop of honey with an equal amount of your regular conditioner. Rub together and evenly disperse throughout your hair (preferably damp). Massage into your scalp and work down to your ends. Let it sit for 30 minutes (under a heated cap if available) before rinsing out with cold water.
3. Combine 1-2 tsp Virgin Coconut oil, 1 tsp honey, 5 drops Peppermint Essential Oil, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice in a small dish. Mix the ingredients well until you get a smooth paste. Smooth over your damp and keep the mask on your hair for 20-30 minutes…longer if you have the time. Shampoo.
Pamper Wisely,
The BusyBella
Coffee Beauty for the Hair
Coffee for Hair Growth
Why stop with your skin when your hair can benefit from caffeine as well? The way that caffeine increases your circulation can be applied to hair growth. When massaged directly into your scalp, caffeine can stimulate the hair follicles to speed up growth. Let brewed coffee chill, and pour it into a spray bottle for easy use. While in the shower, spray the coffee onto roots as an after-cleansing scalp treatment, and allow it to sit for as long as possible. Rinse your hair, and use products as usual. You will likely notice less shedding and increased hair growth with regular use.
Coffee for Hair Color
Women with naturally curly, dark hair have discovered coffee as a great hair color enhancer. It can darken and add shine and dimension to hair. Use very strongly brewed coffee as a hair soak or rinse. Pour it through the hair, and allow it to really sink in. Make sure you protect any light colored clothing or surfaces in your home (line your bathroom with old newspapers or towels), and do not let the coffee run down your face. A shower cap is a great way to keep hair up and protected while doing a treatment. For a thicker moisturizing mask, mix coffee grounds with your favorite oil or conditioner. Your hair will be left shiny with an even tone. These mixtures can be added to henna hair dyes to amplify the darkening effects. You can also add cocoa powder to make the mix even darker!
I use Henna pretty regularly for my curls….so this gives me a GREAT idea!
Pamper Wisely,
The BusyBella
Courtesy of NaturallyCurly.com
Coffee Beauty for the Face
Coffee Beauty for the Face
There’s nothing like waking up to a nice, hot fresh cup of coffee on a crisp, fall morning. I like the smell and the taste more than anything, since coffee does nothing for my energy levels. Even if you are not a coffee drinker, you can still take advantage of it’s beauty benefits for your skin and hair. Read below for some great ideas on how to use coffee for your beauty needs.
Coffee Scrub
Coffee grounds can be used directly on your face and body as a natural scrub. The abrasive texture will scrub off any dull skin, leaving you with a glowing appearance. The caffeine will also act as an energizer for tired skin and puffy eyes, leaving you with a tightened and youthful look. For a stronger scrub, add sugar to your coffee grounds. You can also mix in some olive oil for a moisture boost.
Coffee for Anti-Aging
Not only does coffee awaken skin, the caffeine has also been shown to improve the appearance of cellulite. There are many expensive cellulite reducing products that contain caffeine, but you can easily create your own at home.
Mix two parts coffee grounds with one part water, and add a few drops of tea tree oil. Use a wash cloth or skin brush to massage the mixture onto skin in a circular motion. The tea tree oil will smell great and will add an additional boost to the circulatory system. While the effects may not be instantaneous, you will see smoother and tighter skin over time.
Pamper Wisely,
The BusyBella
DIY Makeup
I am the worst when it comes to buying makeup. As I mentioned before, I can be somewhat of a product junkie. The same applies to makeup. If it’s a new color, a new product or a new trend, I gotta have it. I know I spend way too much money on needless makeup, which is the main reason why I decided to write this post. You can create your own makeup products with the help of a few ingredients in your kitchen. If you are willing to make the time and a little effort, you can save yourself some bucks in the long run.
Eye-Lash Primer
It seems the “in” thing these days are longer, fuller eyelashes. If you don’t have them naturally, you can buy them, or spend the money it takes to grow them with products like ‘Latisse’. Or…you can whip out some olive oil, castor or baby oil and grow them yourself. Just take a small mascara wand (you can buy them at a beauty supply store or get a couple disposables from the make-up counter at your nearest department store) or a q-tip and saturate it with the oil of your choice. Sweep over your lashes for a natural long-lash look. Bonus: Castor Oil has been proven to promote long, healthy and fuller looking eye lashes.
Lip Gloss
Don’t want to spend the money on an over priced tube of lip gloss? Try this lip gloss recipe on for size, courtesy of The Herb Companion.
Mix 1 teaspoon of fresh aloe vera gel (you can buy aloe vera gel in health food stores) with 1/2 of a teaspoon of coconut oil and 1/8 of a teaspoon of vitamin E oil.
Simply mix them all together until smooth, then pour into a clean container. You can use the mixture as soon as you’d like to.
You can make this a little more custom though, if you want. If you want colored lip gloss, mix in a tiny bit of your favorite lipstick (you may need to heat the mixture slightly so the lipstick melts and mixes right.) If you want flavored or scented lip gloss, add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil.
A few ideas:
– Mint oil has a great fresh, invigorating scent that has been shown to help increase energy.
– Lavender oil is a lovely, soothing floral woodsy scent.
– Lemon verbena oil has a great, invigorating, lemony scent.
-Rose oil is floral and feminine.
Experiment with the oils, colors and scents to find the right combination for you!
Pamper Wisely,
The BusyBella
Three Great Uses for Olive Oil
Olive Oil is nature’s wonder beauty secret. It’ chock full of Vitamins A, E, and essential fatty acids. It’s no secret then, that olive oil provides penetrating moisturizing benefits to dry skin. But its uses don’t stop there. Now that we are heading into the summer months, consider these great ways to use Olive Oil all over your body. Oh, for those of you who were wondering…. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is always the best. Yes, it can be pricey but it’s so worth it!
A Natural Shaving Cream
Before you put on those short shorts or slide into that skimpy bikini, make your legs silky smooth with olive oil. By using olive oil to shave you will receive a clean cut and extremely smooth skin. This will also eliminate your chances of cuts and razor burn. Clean your legs before shaving, and DON’T wash your legs after shaving. By leaving the olive oil on your legs, after shaving, your legs will absorb, dry, and maintain smoothness. This will also help dry skin bumps disappear.
Bronze Tanner
Olive oil is a great supplement for the “non tanner.” I learned this secret one summer in the Caribbean. Olive oil will help draw in sunrays needed for a healthy glow. Apply an even layer of olive oil onto your body, along with a layer of sunscreen, and soak in the sun. You can apply the olive oil with a paper towel, washrag, or cotton balls. Each of these will guarantee an all-over-coverage. Make sure you apply to the olive oil to dry skin and with a dry rag or towel.
CAUTION: As always, take precaution when sunbathing for a long period of time. Staying too long in the sun could cause: sunburn, blemish breakouts, and/or sun related cancers. To avoid these hazards, take at least a thirty minute break from tanning and go somewhere away from the sun.
Deep Conditioner
I am a big believer in olive oil for great hair. It adds luster, shine and strength. It’s also a great remedy for the frizzies on hot and humid summer days. The next time you have an hour of leisure time on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, treat yourself to a hydrating hot olive oil treatment.
Here is what you’ll need:
Olive oil
Water
Towel
A clear conditioning cap (you buy a whole box of them at your local beauty supply store)
Wet your hair like you normally would before shampooing, but don’t shampoo it! Instead of putting shampoo and conditioner in your hair, put 1 cup of olive in your hair. Put on the conditioning cap and then wrap a hot bath towel around your head. Better yet, sit under a hooded hair dryer or heated cap if you have it. Allow the olive oil to sit for 60 minutes, or longer. Remove the bath towel and cap from your head, then shampoo and condition as normal. Now allow your hair to air dry. Repeat this process at least once a week for silky, smooth hair.
Who knew olive oil had so many great uses ?!?
Pamper Wisely,
The BusyBella
Ways to help your hair color last longer
- 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
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
Timing is Everything
Your time is limited. Between school, work and/or motherhood you BARELY have enough time to squeeze in 5 or 6 hours of sleep every night. So, how can you manage to find the time to get a manicure or massage every now and then? Well, timing is everything, especially when it comes to your pampering […]
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