Winter's Here...Winter Hair Care

Winter is here... whether we like it or not. It can be hard on your hair. The cold wind can dry out your hair and damage it beyond repair.

So what is my advice?

• Shampoo less and Condition more. If possible, shampoo your hair every other day and condition it every time. It is very important to deep condition at least once a week. Shea butter is always a great way of deep conditioning. (check out my shea butter blog)
• Use less hair appliances such as hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons... We all know that the heat does damage to our hair.
• Increase circulation to your head by massaging your head to help promote blood flow to your scalp. It also helps to spread your natural hair oil.

Good Hair = Shea Butter

Shea Butter

What is it?

• Shea butter (or karite) is a natural fat extracted from the fruit of the shea tree by crushing and boiling. It is edible and is used for cooking. It is also used in many health and beauty products.

What does it do?

• Its known to be one of the best ingredients for moisturizing. This thick and uber rich emollient is good for extremely dry, frizzy, coarse or damaged hair. It's also good for silky soft skin. And it's known to be used for scars, stretchmarks, chapped lips, and much more.

How can I use it in my hair?

• Melt the Shea Butter and apply to hair as a hot oil treatment after shampooing.
• Comb thru and rinse for silky soft tresses.

Good Hair = Holy Guacamole!

Here is a deliciously simple recipe for the overproccessed hair... that is dry and brittle. Its loaded with viatmin E, which does wonders for your hair.

Holy Guacamole!

How do you do it?

• Mash 1/2 avocado with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 egg
• Spread it throughout your hair and don't forget the ends too!
• For best results, cover with a shower cap. Leave on for 15-20 minutes and rinse with cool water. Then shampoo and condition as usual.

I love anything avocado... its great to eat and put in your hair... Avocados are really good at conditioning your hair. Must try!

Beautiful Skin = Egg on Your Face

Believe it or not, but you can use an EGG as a facial mask! It can actually be split up into two different masks. Egg white has been used throughout history to give a tight feeling to the skin and make the pores look smaller. And the egg yok is known to clear your complexion and help with dryness.

The Egg White Mask

How does it work?

• Take one egg and break it, seperating the egg white from the yolk. To make it easier to apply, take a fork and beat the egg white until it is foamy.
• Evenly apply the egg white over your face with your fingers while avoiding the eye area. Leave the mask on for 15-30 minutes or until it is dry. You should feel your skin tightening.
• As the mask tightens, it is refining your pores, whitening your skin and giving you a mini facelift with firmer skin. Egg whites have been known to help whiten the skin naturally.
• After you wash off your face, you may apply toner to further the effect of tightening the pores. Or you could just use good moisturizer.

How do I like it?

• I like to use it once in awhile. If used too often, your skin will get use to the egg white and have less effect. I do notice a change in my complexion and it does feel like a mini face lift. My mom was the first to introduce me to this mask. She has always had that youthful and light skin look. Even now when my older sister and I are in our late twenties, people often would mistaken her as one of our sisters. (Photo below: of my mom and dad taken in 2007)
• To my surprise, this technique has been used in many Asian countries for a whiter and younger looking skin. Egg white is scientifically known as albumen or ovalbumin. It is a homemade facial mask that's been around for many many years.

The Egg Yolk Mask

What is it?

• It is a facial mask used to help clear complexion and skin dryness.

How does it work?

• Take the yolk alone and apply it over your face. Leave it on for 20-25 minutes. Rinse it off and make sure to use toner and moisturizer!
• The reason why the egg yolks are so good and rich for your skin is because they are loaded with Vitamin A! Try the egg yolk mask once a week for a month, and you will see improvements in your skin. But like the egg white mask, don't overuse it because the effects will die out once your skin begins to tolerates it.

There are so many home made masks that you could use for beautiful skin. Stay tuned for more!

Beautiful Skin = The Aspirin Mask

I remember when I first heard of using aspirin as a facial mask. I never ever thought of using aspirin. But to my amazement, it works! This is my formula for healthy beautiful skin. This can clear up acne and other skin problems. But please do not use this if you're allergic to aspirin!

The Aspirin Mask

What is it?

• The aspirin mask is a homemade mask available to everyone and it is totally inexpensive and highly efficient, made of salicylic acid or tablets of aspirin. It is known to help tremendously with cleaning pores from deep inside. It is great at keeping our skin blemish-free. It is also good with existing blemishes as well, by helping them heal faster and keeping pores clean afterwards.

How is it prepared?

• Crush 3-5 tablets of plain aspirin (non coated) with a few drops of water. Mix the powder with the water until it becomes of a creamy consistence, apply on clean dry skin. Keep it on until completely dry. Should take 5-10 minutes but no longer than 10 minutes because it will dry the skin. Rinse with plenty of water using a circular hand motion. Take advantage of the grainy texture, it can exfoliate your skin. It will take the dead skin off and leave your skin smooth! Be careful around the eye area it can be extremely drying for the sensitive skin around there.
• There are more than one way you could make this mask. Instead of using just water, you could mix the aspirin powder with your moisturizer, honey, or aloe vera. Mixing it with anything else but water keeps it on better.

How do I like it?

• It works for me! I've never had acne or blemish problems but it helps to keep my skin smooth and soft. I had totally forgotten about this mask until recently. I've just moved to North Carolina from Wisconsin. You'll be surprise with all the changes I had to face. The water dries my hair and skin! And the humidity doesn't help either. After a week of being here, I noticed tiny bumps all over my lower facial area. After awhile it looked like acne but I've never had that problem before. I started using the aspirin mask and it disappeared!
• I used it once a day for 3 days until it fully cleared. Now, I like to use it at least once a week. Always always use moisturizer after washing your face!
• I like to use Walgreens or Target aspirins because they are cheaper and dissolves faster.

This is a great and inexpensive way to beautiful skin. Do not overdo this, try it out once every other day. Do not do this everyday. You may dry out your skin, you know your skin best, if you can use it everyday, then go for it. Make sure you test and try things out.

Mascara Mission: Part 3

Here I am again for Part 3 of my mission... I chose a different type of mascara. One that doesn't paint your lashes. Yes, believe it or not, they do have mascaras that don't paint your lashes but instead forms tubes around them. I chose...

Blinc Cosmetic's Kiss Me

What is it suppose to do?

• Kiss Me mascara is the original mascara invented to form tiny water-resistant “tubes” around your lashes rather than painting them like other mascaras. After it is applied, the tubes bind to your lashes and cannot run, smudge, clump, or flake, even if you cry or rub your eyes. It's also suppose to add both volume and length that lasts all day.

What was my opinion?

• The first time I used it, I didn't blot the wand with a tissue, so it came on very heavy. I didn't notice any lengthing or volume action going on... I wasn't satifised with it at all.
• After a few weeks, I thought I would give it another try since it was $25 from Sephora. This time, it worked a lot better. Maybe not so much on the volume but the length was good. The best part was the holding power. It did not smudge, clump, or flake. It did stay on all day and all night. And its true, you could cry and rub your eyes and it won't smudge or smear!

The Pros?

• Easy to apply. Stays on long. No smudges, clumps, or flakes.
• Comes off easily! All you need is a water and a little pressure for it to come off. And when it comes off, it doesn't leave your eyes with dark smudges... the tiny tubes actually washes off.
• Definitely good for contact lens wearers.
• Blinc Cosmetics is from a Japan company that has a history of 200+ years. So they know what they're doing.

Cons?

• Kind of pricey. I bought mine from Sephora for $25. But there are other places where you can buy it for less.
• It's good on the lengthening but not so much with the volume.

Overall, I like this mascara. Very easy to use and it stays on. When I wear this I don't have to worry about it. It may be a little pricey but I think its worth it. I think its good for those hot humid days or going to the beach...

Everyday is a Good Hair Day with a Flat Iron

I wish I could say I am one of those girls who don't need to use a flat iron. Ha, and I am not the typical asian girl who has what they call it "get up and go" hair. Sorry to say, the rumor is not true, not all asians have "get up and go" hair. I think everyone is born with different hair texture... no matter the race.

How long does it take for me to do my hair?

• Well, we do need time to do our hair to make it look presentable. In my case, I have really thick hair that will get frizzy and poofy... I at least need 30 minutes to dry (air dry and blow dry) and about 10 minutes to straighten it with a flat iron. And if I have to curl my hair, add on another 20 + minutes. My sisters, on the other hand, they are lucky to have the "get up and go" hair. They can go without using any hair tools. (Photo: my sisters) Both my parents have manageable hair. Out of the whole family of seven, its my brother Cheng and I who has the type of hair that needs to be managed. But his hair is short enough where he doesn't always need to do his hair. Lucky for him. Okay, getting back to the blog subject... flat irons...

Flat Irons?

• We all know that any hair tools were designed to style and make our hair look better. And we all know that , if used too often, damage will be done.
• Flat irons should only be used on hair that's been thoroughly dried. I suggest one with a ceramic plate and not a metal one. They diffuse heat better and result in less damage.

How do I prep my hair before using a flat iron?

• When damp, I like to use a hair product that protects the hair from heat.
• I either air dry or use a blow dryer to dry it... depends on how much time I have.When dry, I usually add a little bit more serum to help weigh my hair down. I don't always use hair products but they do help.

How to straighten hair?

• When I'm short on time, I just insert about a section of 2 inches of hair between the plates, then squeeze the handle and gently glide through hair from the roots to the end. And I continue around until I get the soft smooth look I am looking for.
• But if I have more time, I like to section my hair in clips. This takes a little bit more time but you'll see a difference. I start with the bottom layer of hair, clipping the top portion with a claw clip. After running the flat iron through the bottom layer, I unclip the claw and let down another layer and/or section of hair. And I continue this until all layers of hair is done.

Can you curl your hair with a flat iron?

• Yes! Believe it or not, it actually takes less time than a curling iron. And the best part is that the curls last longer! Look below for a picture.

What flat iron do I use?

• PHI Beauty's PHI Ionic Flat Iron.

www.phibeauty.com

What it's suppose to do?

• The PHI Professional flat iron is powered with ionic flat iron technology, making this ceramic flat iron one of the best on the market today, straightening even the toughest of hair. The PHI Professional flat iron conducts heat and retains it more effectively, allowing this hair flat iron to seal the hair's moisture quickly to smooth and hydrate the hair.

How do I like it?

• I can't live without it. It heats up fast and works well. Good at straightening and curling. Leaves my hair silky shiny. Here is a photo of my rommmate and I... we both used the PHI pink ionic flat iron. She used it to straighten her hair while mine was curled. And best of all, the flat iron is affordable! Good priced for something that works well.