Chamomile tea shampoo

chamomile flowersBoth Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis L.) and German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) are easy to grow in your flower or herb garden, and either one can be used for this recipe. Each plant is covered with 30-40 small 1/2 inch wide daisy like flowers from mid spring to fall frost and at 18-30 inches tall, makes a good mid-border plant. However, it self-seeds prolifically, earning it the nickname 'Mayweed.' Camomile does best in full sun and tolerates dry, poor soils, but will also grow in full shade, althought it will be shorter.

Either variety will work for your camomile tea, which is made from the flowers.

Soapwort and glycerin can be purchased at healthfood stores. Camomile tea can also be purchased at any health food store and most grocery stores.

Besides being good for your hair, camomile tea has medicinal properties which slow down the central nervous system, so it has a calming effect, and camomile tea is especially good for the pain of migrane headaches and menstrual cramps.

Ingredients for Camomile tea shampoo for normal to dry hair:

  • 4 bags of Chamomile tea (or 1 handful of fresh Chamomile flowers)
  • 4 tablespoons soapwort leaves or roots (chopped) or pure soap flakes (like Ivory)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons glycerin
  • Instructions for making Camomile tea shampoo:

    Let the tea bags or fresh flowers steep in 1 1/2 cups of boiled water for 10 minutes. Remove the tea bags and with the remaining liquid add the soapwort or soap flakes. Let stand until the soapwort  or soap flakes soften. Stir in glycerin until mixture is well blended.

    Use immediately, or store in the refridgerator for up to a week.

    Rosemary Hot Oil Treatment

    Rosemary Hot Oil Treatment for Dry Hair

    rosemary herb leaves and flowersRosemary herb can be purchased at most health food stores or in the spice section at the grocery store, or it is an easy plant to grow in your herb garden.

    Ingredients for hair treatment for dry hair:

    • 1/2 cup of dried rosemary leaves
    • 1/2 cup olive oil

    Instructions for making this hair recipe for dry hair:

    Chop the rosemary leaves to release the oils if fresh, or crush between your fingers if dried, and add them to the olive oil. Heat this mixture until warm, but not hot enough to burn your scalp. Strain through cheesecloth or a wire colander to remove larger chunks of rosemary.

    Coat the entire scalp and ends of hair with the oil mixture. Wrap hair in saran wrap with a towel over that to retain heat. Leave the rosemary hot oil treatment on for 15 minutes. Lather hair twice with shampoo to remove the excess oil.

    Use this rosemary hot oil treament twice a month, or when your dry hair needs a deep conditioning. Leaves your hair shiny and rehydrated.

    Soapwort shampoo for healthy hair

    Soapwort contains natural saponins that create a lather similar to soap. Soapwort leaves are rich in this natural surfactant which forms a natural lather that is ideal for cleansing the hair and skin. Soapwort extracts are also used in cleansers and make-up removers, and the roots of this plant also contain medicinal properties used to treat skin disorders such as acne.

    Most health food stores carry these ingredients. All three plants are also easy to grow in your garden, although catnip can be invasive if not contained within a border.

    soapwort Saponaria officinalisSoapwort is a perennial in Zone 4 and above, and is a low growing groundcover or trailing rock border plant that is covered with delicate lavender to purple flowers from early spring to mid-summer. 

    Ingredients for the shampoo:

  • 2 cups distilled water
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons dried soapwart leaves (chopped)
  • 2 teaspoons Lemon Verbena for fragrance
  •  2 teaspoons Catnip to strengthen hair
  • Instructions for the healthy hair shampoo:

    Bring the distilled water to a boil, then add the soapwart and simmer covered for about 20 minutes. Remove from heat, add the lemon verbena and catnip herbs. Allow mixture to cool. Strain the mixture keeping the liquid. Pour into a bottle. Makes enough for 6-7 shampoos. Must be used within 8-10 days. Store in the refridgerator.

    These herbs for healthy hair will have your hair shiny and conditioned after only a few shampoos.

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    Angel Faces

    The little black dress

    little black dressA black dress is simple and chic," says Nancy Sagar, public relations director at Neiman Marcus. "You can't go wrong when you wear one. And the beauty of it is you can change the look of it so quickly depending on the shoes, bag and jewelry you wear."

    The first step is finding a dress that has clean lines and a minimum of detail. The key is to make sure it suits your shape. It should hug you where you are the slimmest and skim over lumps and bumps. If black washes you out, your little black dress could actually be slate grey, plum or navy.

    Look for a dress with something extra – embellishment at the neck, or embroidery.  But if you have large boobs, keep the glitz lower down.

    Coco Chanel is often given credit for "inventing" the little black dress in the 1920s, but serious students of fashion know that black was fashionable as far back as the 14th century, in Italy. Because black dyes were expensive, only the elite could afford to wear black clothes, whether for mourning, as a symbol of authority or simply as a fashion statement.

    A slightly bouffant chignon tied with a velvet bow or a glossy blow-out, teamed with smoky gray eyeliner and extra mascara heighten the seductive powers of wearing all black.

    If you're on a budget, and you don't think you can afford that little black dress, buy it anyway. With the right accessories, you'll be able to wear it over and over again, and depending on how you accesorize it, it can be perfect for all occasions.

    Make your dress day friendly
    Wear with flats to get a more relaxed feel.
    Feel free to layer over skinny leg denim or tights.
    Bright colours and trendy prints can make the gown more wearable.
    Natural fabrics and textures can do wonders to dress down glam fabrics.
    Relaxed shapes such as jumpers and jackets will instantly dress down that dress but still make you look glam.

    Make your dress work friendly
    Keep the necklines work friendly – layer items under or over the top of your dress to keep it all under cover.
    Pair structured items such as nipped waist blazers, work ready footwear and toned down jewellery to make the look more refined.
    A big leather bag is useful to make your look appear work friendly.
    Keep everything proportioned, if your dress is short layer up on top to create balance.

    Make your dress party friendly
    Turn the shine up – embrace glitter, shimmer and shine in your accessories. Sequins and shiny accessories are "in" this year.
    Keep the décolletage bare and show off details of the dress like plunging necklines or back-lines.
    Get in those high heels to make your legs look firm, long and lean.

    Make your dress black tie friendly
    Keep things monotone to create an elegant and sleek feel.
    Use caplets and silky scarves to show just the right amount of skin.
    Make shorter length gowns as glamorous as floor sweeping styles by donning long silky scarves to elongate the feel of the dress.
    Tone it down by wearing elegant and refined accessories. Swap out bling for pearls or a refined single stone drop. And replace those stilettos with a cute and sassy pump.

     

    Makeup tips for Halloween

    Start with clean skin

    First begin with a clean face. Most FX artists recommend a good astringent to remove facial oils followed by a cold water rinse to close the pores. An extremely thin coat of vaseline at this point will aid in makeup removal.

    Find a place in front of a mirror with a good light source. A good comfortable chair would help. Ensure there are no sources of flame near the makeup.

    Decide if there will be any prosthetic pieces such as scabs, scars or areas where the face will be built up. I like to apply them first, as the spirit gum adheres better to a clean face.

    Enhance the effect with prostetics

    Start with any of the prosthetic devices you want to add, scars, warts, nose etc. Where the device will go, apply spirit gum to both the face and the device. Allow the spirit gum to get tacky before applying the device.

    If using latex, apply a base coat of latex and gradually build the area. For scars, apply a thin layer of latex then cover with a single piece of tissue, repeat the process until the scar is formed. For Zombie skin, mix oatmeal with corn syrup and apply gingerly to the face.

    Another effect with latex is to cover an area then gently pull back part of the latex, this gives the impression of dead, rotting skin. It takes some practice so try fiddling with it until you're satisfied. Remember, sometimes mistakes can turn out to be the best effect.

    Foundation Make-up

    When you're satisfied with the build-up or prosthetics, apply a foundation makeup. The color will depend on the required outcome, white for vampires, gray for corpses, red for devils, green for witches and goblins, blue for a frozen look.

    The foundation should be applied lightly rubbing on face then patting to blend the makeup. With the foundation applied it's time to highlight and shadow. A makeup brush will assist in even coating.

    Use texturing to create special effects

    Makeup can be applied to form different textures. A makeup brush when brushed gives a smooth appearence, but using the brush in a dappling motion can make different effects.

    Front load the brush with a light color, the back with a darker shade and dapple the brush stroke to give an uneven, weathered look. Texture can be created using a sponge or coarse texturing sponge.

    Use Shadowing to create planes and angles

    Shadows emphasize the face and highlights are nothing more than an exaggeration of the facial features. Shadows employ a darker color, highlights a lighter color.

    With a handheld light, shine the light at various angles on your face. You'll immediately notice the shadow areas, sunken areas and lines.

    To shadow, take a darker color than the foundation and apply it to the areas you want to shadow, such as the cheeks, temple, below the eyes, and above the chin.

    Zombies have areas around the eyes shadowed to give that sunken look, while vampire and goblins tend more towards the cheeks.

    Highlighting natural features to give a scarier look

    Take a moment while sitting in front of the mirror and pucker in your mouth and squint hard to tighten the facial muscles. This will show the lines of your face, wrinkles and features.

    These are the areas to highlight. Remember, the brighter the highlight the more you'll look like a fantasy character.

    For witches and goblins wrinkles are especially highlighted.

    Body Painting to create a total illusion

    Want a whole new look for that Halloween Party? Body painting can provide a costume by itself.

    The best example of this is "Mystique" in the X-men Movie. The body becomes the canvass using brushed or airbrushed techniques.

    Modesty can create some drawbacks as the costume is often skimpy or non-existent and melded with the body through airbrushing.

    Time is a consideration as makeup like this takes hours but the total effect is sure to amaze onlookers.

    The final step is setting the makeup

    As you know from your daily makeup routine, the final step in any makeup design is to set the makeup.

    Anyone who has tried to wear makeup while acting in a haunted house or going to a party can tell you that unset makeup wil run with sweat, ruining the makeup in a matter of minutes. The key is to set the makeup.

    There are many commercial products but nothing is cheaper and works as well as baby powder. A simple dusting of baby powder will keep the makeup fresh and set throughout the night. Baby powder is also especially useful for creating the look of age in zombies. A good powdering of the hair and clothing provides instant aging.

    Have fun this Halloween, and don't scare too many people!

    Hot Hair Trends

    Long Hair

    Don't avoid regular trims if you're trying to grow your hair. The lengths should be shiny and healthy.

    Rats tails and split ends are not a good look! Products specifically designed for long hair should keep the older ends nourished without making the roots appear oily.

    Invest in a good shampoo and conditioner and a wide tooth comb or pick for luscious locks!

    Give your hair a break from those dreaded heated appliances once in awhile. Save your irons for special occasions-your hair will thank you for it in the long run!

    Short Hair

    Short Hair is the best length for coloring. The processing will be less damaging on the 'NEW' hair. The added bonus is that your color will grow out more quickly so you can experiment more. To maintain the perfect crop, be prepared to get it trimmed every 4-6 weeks to keep its shape, depending on how fast your hair grows.

    If you're going for the "new" chop look, make sure you leave with the right styling products and know how to use them. Products are essential to re-create your style at home.

    Mid-Length Hair

    Mid length hair should be fun, versatile and easy to style. It doesn't have the weight of long hair and offers more styling options than short hair.

    Invest in some straight irons for more style options.They can be used to create sleek, tonged or choppy looks–an essential for any women!

    If you're growing your hair and are stuck between styles, ask your stylist for a cut that will accommodate your hair growth and still look good. Keep trying new things while you grow it out!

    Layers

    Layers are ideal for creating contrasting looks. They can be used to take out weight as well as build volume. A good stylist will cut the layers in to suit your hair texture and the look you want to achieve.

    Layers do not disguise split ends. Make sure you go for regular cuts to maintain the shape your layers create. If you let them grow out, the effect is lost. Don't forget the back of your hair when you're styling layers. Use two mirrors to check out your reflection.

    What's Hot in the Hair World?

    Curls– from wavy to sexy curl
    Updo's–straight back to big barrel curls
    PonyTails–sleek clean ends
    Glam–flirty and romantic
    Color–dark using 2-3 colors

    Hair coloring the professional way

    Hair coloring the professional way: Start by picking the right color

    First we'll start with the right color. Never try to go from a dark color to a light one using a single processing color(one from a box). Even if you get a light Blonde, your hair will not be that color.

    Most colors only lift so many levals/shades. If you are wanting to go real light you will need a double lift color or a bleach. If bleach is used, plan on using a toner afterwards to achive the right color you wanted.

    Look on the color and see how many shades it will lift. Let's say if you are at a dark brown-level 3 and you use a light blonde-level 9, your hair will turn out a light brown not a light blonde because of the lift level.

    Color doesn't lift color

    Sound complicated? It is, that is why they have professional hair colorists. If your hair turns out the wrong color, don't go get another shade and apply it over that color because color doesn't lift color!

    Only Bleach and color remover products will take that color out.

    There are 4 kinds of hair color. Permanent, demi, semi-permanent, and stains. A permanent color last till it grows out.It covers grey and you will have a root grow out. Permanent hair colors have a higher volume of peroxide in them.

    Demi color has a lower volume of peroxide and covers 70% of grey with less root grow out.

    Semi-permanent color has the lowest amount of peroxide and usually just fades out. Semi-permanent colors last the shortest time but have the advantage of no grow out.

    Stains are –Hennas, glazing, cellophanes, mod colors, etc. How long they last depends on the condition of your hair.


    Each hair coloring product is different.

    Color won't last as long if you wash your hair every day.

    Heat appliances make a difference too, as do products.

    Always use a shampoo and conditioner for colored hair, deep conditioning the hair well before and after.

    Don't shampoo immediately after coloring your hair

    Waiting 48 hours to shampoo your hair will help the color to stay in longer.

    Also, using a leave in product that protects your hair from the sun will keep your new hair color from fading. Reds are the worst color for fading so using a colored shampoo that accents your color will help. A cool water rinse keeps red's depth.

    How to apply hair color

    Part the hair into 4 sections. Ear to ear and front to back.

    For a Virgin color (someone that hasn't colored before)apply color to the hair 1/2 inch from the scalp taking very small partings. Use a bowl and a small brush.

    After you have applied the color to your whole head, go back and apply it to the roots.

    Follow the time instructions on your product.

    For a re-touch apply hair color only to the roots

    If the ends are faded out you can work the color through them the last 5 minutes only.

    Don't apply color from roots to ends each time as it will make your hair limp and over processed.

    Make sure if your ends are dry you add water to them first before working the hair color through. This will keep them from geting too dark.

    Demi and semi-permanent colors can be applied from scalp to ends unless ends are already dark enough. So can stains. If you get color stains around your hair line rub a little shampoo around the hairline before you put any water on it.

    Using a good color product and applying it the right way will make your color day less stressful.

    Happy Coloring.

    Get rid of frizzy hair

    How to get rid of frizzy hair

    Start with Shampooing your hair

    Most people just get their hair damp and then add the shampoo. It should be called Rinse, Rinse, Rinse first, then apply shampoo. Rinsing the hair well will get most of the dirt and styling products out, plus your hair will be really wet so you will use less shampoo.

    After the shampoo is applied work it through your hair in a downward motion. Start at the scalp and work it toward the ends. Never rough up the hair or mat it together. Now it"s time to rinse well.

    Always use a conditioner

    Remember its Shampoo the scalp and Condition the hair. Emulsify your conditioner in your hands first then apply to the hair, keeping it smooth.

    Take a large tooth comb or pick and comb conditioner through the hair letting it set on for a few minutes. Rinse well. To add more shine and close the cuticle use a cooler rinse in the end.

    Take a towel and just squeeze the water out

    This is one of the "most" important things. Never ruff the hair up with a towel like you see on T.V. It raises the cuticle of the hair shaft and it's like ratting wet hair, leaving you with lots of little frizzies on the top layer of your hair.

    Don't wrap your hair in a towel, either, as it will start to dry all pushed together and not smooth.

    Use a pick or large tooth comb

    After squeezing out the water, pick your hair out with a pick or large tooth comb. Comb in a downward motion. Now it's time to leave in the conditioner.

    I know you're probably thinking–"it will weight my hair down or make it greasy."Not if you use the right products for your hair type. When using a leave-in conditioner, always keep it off the scalp and on the hair. Sprays are great for fine hair and shorter hair.

    You'll need something heavier for thicker hair and course hair. The leave in conditioners help fill the hair shaft, making the hair less frizzy.

    You will need to use some type of a smoothing serum, cream, mouse, etc. after the leave in conditioner. There are some great products that really work listed in our Product Review Guide, so make sure you get the one that is right for your hair and use it properly.

    Let your hair air dry if you possibly can

    The more you touch it and mess with it, the fuzzier it will get. If you have to dry it with a dryer use an Ion dryer. It dries hair faster and helps keep the cuticle down. Never bend upside down and dry your hair. This raises the cuticle and causes more frizz.

    Dry your hair at the roots and not at the ends using a diffuser or sock on the end of your dryer.

    Don't over dry your hair. Once your hair dry, you can pick it out from underneath. If you have natural curls or a perm don't pick completely through the ends. Leave them locked together.

    Lift the hair on the top till you get the fullness you want

    After you get the shape and style use a few drops of polishing serum. Silicone drops are better than oil spray or oil drops as they aren't as heavy. They might seem a little heavy at first but most dry and set within minutes. If you need a hair spray you can use it at this time. You're set to go.

    You shouldn't mess with your hair during the day or it will start to get that disturbed look. If needed, you can add more sheen later. At the end of your day when you are ready to go to bed, put your hair up if it is long enough.

    Sleeping on hair hanging down and tossing back and forth in your sleep really ruffs up the hair and causes a lot of the frizzys and breakage. Tying your hair back or pulling it up "loosely" with a scrunchy protects your hair. Sometimes it even looks good the next day when you take your hair down. It doesn't get as messed up and curls are still together.

    A little misting and a few drops of polisher and you're ready to go again.

    Red hair

    Red hair is a genetic mutation that is found naturally in only 4% of the world population. Continue reading