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At Home Spa Treatment: Moisturize Dry Hair

FitSugar — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:45:00 -0700

We all know olive oil is a healthy fat that is essential to our health, but it's not just for salads and warm bread. You can use it to nourish your dry and fuzzy hair. I've tried leave-in conditioners and deep conditioning treatments, but they don't seem to work. Here's something I do about twice a month, but you can do it once a week if your hair is really thirsty.

Here's what you'll need:

1/4 cup olive oil (you may need more or less depending on how long and thick your hair is)
plastic grocery bag

Here's what to do:

Rinse your hair with warm water.
Pour about 1 tbsp into the palm of your hands, rub them together to warm up the oil, then using your fingertips, gently massage it into your scalp and hair.
Continue doing this until your hair is covered evenly with the oil, making sure the ends of your hair are treated too.
Now place the plastic bag over your hair, tying the ends in a knot or securing it closed with a hair clip or clothespin.
Keep the oil on your hair for at least 30 minutes. Then rinse, shampoo and condition as usual.

That's it. Your hair will look and feel shiny, soft, and smooth. It's especially good if you have thick and curly hair, but it's also great to do in the summer when the sun and saltwater can really dry out your hair. Try it and let me know what you think.

Fit's Tips: If your hair is NOT dry, do not try this treatment - your hair will end up looking really flat and greasy.

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DIY Spa Treatment: Super-Sexy Beach Hair

BellaSugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 07:00:54 -0700

Fabrice Gilli, my amazing hairdresser and Creative Director of Frederic Fekkai Soho, has divulged one of his quick and easy, at-home recipes for beautiful beach waves. Since you already know how to create this look yourself, and you're aware of the various beach hair products on the market, thanks to Fabrice, you can save a few pennies and stock up on sunscreens instead! Here's an inexpensive way to attain sexy beach waves on a miniscule budget.

Step 1: Take an empty and clean spray bottle and fill it up with eight ounces of water.
Step 2: Add two heaping tablespoons of kosher or sea salt to the water and shake.
Step 3: Mix a teaspoon of your favorite hair gel to the saltwater solution and shake it once again. This will give hair a little bit more texture.
Step 4: Spray a liberal amount onto wet or very damp hair and do not brush through-finger-comb only if necessary. Scrunch hair in your hands to help curls form, or just leave it be and let it air dry naturally.

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DIY Spa Treatment: At-Home Hair Purifier

BellaSugar — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:15:41 -0800

If clarifying shampoos aren't getting rid of the greasy, grimy residue that gets left behind in your already oily hair, you'll love this at-home purifying hair treatment. Made with aspirin to help stimulate your hair follicles and apple cider vinegar to get rid of build-up and control dandruff, it'll help your hair feel bouncier, lighter, and clean as a whistle. Here's what to do:

STEP 1: Wash your hair as usual
STEP 2: Crush two aspirin and pour them into an eight-ounce cup filled with apple cider vinegar (use more vinegar for thick hair and less for fine hair).
STEP 3: Next, apply to damp hair and leave on for fifteen minutes and then shampoo hair again. Skip using conditioner unless your hair is really tangled. In that case, just use a little bit on the ends and rinse well.

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Home Spa Treatment: Henna Your Hair

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Since I have dark hair, lemon juice doesn't do a thing to add natural highlights to my hair. I've even experimented with cranberry juice, but I never really noticed much of a difference. Many years ago a friend turned me on to using henna. It doesn't contain a bunch of synthetic chemicals, instead it is a plant based dye. The green leaves are dried and then crushed into a powder. You just add water to the powder to make a paste that you apply to your hair.

Despite what hairdressers say, henna is good for your hair. Not only is it a natural colorant (much better than chemical dyes), but it strengthens and conditions your hair, and as an added bonus, it gets rid of dandruff.

When I want to add a color to my hair, I use the pure henna powder you order online - it works much better than the Rainbow Henna you see at heath food stores. It's the same henna women use to decorate a bride's hands and feet before an Indian wedding.

Putting henna in your hair can be a bit messy, but the color is absolutely gorgeous. It creates shiny reddish highlights that look completely natural. Want to know how to do it, then read more

Wash your hair, don't condition it and then towel it dry. Place the entire box of henna powder (about 100 grams or 1 cup) into a glass or metal bowl. Then gradually add 1 cup of warm water. Use a metal spoon to mix it together to make a creamy paste similar to frosting.
Wear rubber or latex gloves (so your hands don't get stained - if you don't wear gloves, it's not a big deal - the stain will go away in a day or two). Using your fingers, scoop up some of the paste and begin to smear it all along your hair. I always do the hair around my face first and then work my way back. After all the henna is in your hair, if you hair is long enough, pull it back and then twist it in a bun.
Now place a plastic bag over your hair and tie it in the back. Then check your face, ears, neck, and shoulders and wash off any henna that didn't make it into your hair. Check the floor too. The first time I did this, I only left the henna in my hair for 45-60 minutes. Then every other time, I increased the amount of time until I realized that I could sleep with it overnight. My hair is really dark though, so the longer the better. I would NOT recommend you do this your first time or if your hair is light. When you are ready to wash it out, get into one of those shower/tubs. Turn the water on for the tub, squat down, and wash as much of the henna out as possible. Then you can turn on the shower part and rinse the rest of your hair and body. Don't wash your hair, just condition it once or twice - it makes your hair silky smooth and helps to get all the extra henna out. The water will be brown, so don't be alarmed. It'll probably be brown the next few times you get it wet too.

So that's it. I know it sounds a little complicated, but once you get the hang of it, it's just as easy as washing your hair.

What to Expect From a Brazilian Bikini Wax

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:00:48 -0700

After looking at these cute retro swimsuits, you might be inspired to hit the beach. If you're going to do that, you may want to trim your lady forest - or, like some women, you may want to lose your hair completely. As I've said before, there's no right or wrong way to groom your nether regions but if you're curious about Brazilian waxing, it can't hurt to try it. Well, actually, it can and will hurt - but that's why I've created this guide to your first time.

First of all, let's get our definition straight. A Brazilian wax removes all of the hair from front to back, usually (but not always) leaving a thin "landing strip" of hair a few inches below the belly button. Expect it to cost anywhere from $40 to $80. To find out how much pain to expect, read more.

Read these tips for a painless wax before you head to the spa, and at the very least, take Ibuprofen an hour before your appointment. At the spa, you'll be shown to the waxing room to change out of your pants or skirt (including underpants). For a more modest bikini wax, you'll sometimes get a paper thong; for a Brazilian, you'll more likely be naked from the waist down. If you're like me, you'll feel ridiculous standing around half-naked.

Your waxer will ask you to lie down on your back. That's a good time to ask any questions so that you're both clear on what you want to have removed. After that, she'll probably dust your hair and skin with baby powder, which keeps the wax from sticking to your skin. Most waxers will ask you to assist by holding your skin taut or moving your legs a certain way; some will even ask you to kneel down and stick your bottom out so she can remove all of the hairs there. After the waxing is done, the esthetician will probably tweeze any stray hairs.

As for the pain, I won't lie: It's intense, but it's also fairly brief. It usually hurts more to have the hair on your pubis removed than the hair near your vagina, so be prepared for that. Your hairlessness should last for up to four weeks, at which point you can go back in for another round of waxing.

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Mommy's Lil Helper: Hair Turban

LilSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:45:38 -0700

When I leave for work, my kids are usually still sound asleep. But since we have rather small living quarters, blow-drying my hair isn't an option as it shakes them from their slumber. If you're a mom who needs to sneak out of the house, but still look somewhat presentable - try the microfiber hair turban ($11) by Spa Sister to drain the moisture from your hair. While your tresses are wrapped in the ultralight towel, you can tackle the morning mommy chores of setting out breakfast, packing school lunches, and signing permission slips.

Best of Bella 26/10

BellaSugarUK — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 06:00:00 -0700

Will you be wearing your hair slicked back? Do tell if you'll be following this hot runway trend.
Get Anne Hathaway's London Film Festival beauty look with my easy at-home how to.
Trend Alert: Tomato toned lips on the catwalks for this season.
Read my review of the latest anti-ageing skin care range; M Lab.
What do you think of Girls Aloud Sarah Harding's big hair do?
Little Black Book: Check out the new wine orientated spa for luxurious treatments.

Credit crunch beauty gets real as Boots offer half price on rainbow eye makeup kits.
Live snake massages are the latest crazy beauty treatment to help lower stress.
Guess which blonde presenter is showing her roots and looking like a hippy at LA airport?

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Best of Bella 31/8

BellaSugarUK — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 06:00:00 -0700

Go over the dark side with next season's hottest trend - Goth Glam.
What do you think of Kate Moss's latest twisted hair do? Love or Hate?
Little Black Book: Read my review of the ZenZone Spa at the Hotel la Florida.
Lust over Justin Timberlake in his adverts for Givenchy's new men's fragrance – Play.
Imagine just one product, for the rest of your life! So what's your desert island beauty essential? Do share...
How to get a celebrity beach bikini body, like Kate Moss, Cameron Diaz, Beyonce and Kelly Brook. Just read my top exercise-plus-beauty-product advice.
Expert hair doctor, Philip Kingsley shares some exclusive tips for getting ultra shiny hair.
Beat the credit crunch with Boots Natural Collection's bargain beauty buys.
Princess Beatrice versus Eugenie: Which British Princess's beauty look do you prefer?

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DIY Spa Treatment: Hot Oil Treatment For Dry Hair

BellaSugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 09:00:22 -0700

Hot oil treatments are a fast and easy way to help restore elasticity, shine and moisture in dry, over-processed hair. They should instantly make your hair look and feel healthier, and they can be done anywhere from once to twice a week depending on the condition of your hair. I found this at-home hot oil treatment recipe from the Long Locks Hair Care Cookbook and have been eager to test it out.

Although I haven't tried this exact combo of ingredients yet, I have created a wonderful DIY treatment from a blend of jojoba oil, avocado, geranium oil and soybean oil. I loved the results, but found it to be fairly messy - and I didn't love the feeling of mashed-up avocado in my hair. That being said, feel free to add in fresh avocado, or a little jojoba oil if you desire. This recipe is simple, neat (you can bring it right into the shower with you) and it doesn't require a ton of ingredients. You'll need:

1/2 cup of soybean oil

8 drops of sandalwood oil

8 drops of geranium oil

8 drops of lavender oil

For three step-by-step directions, read more.

STEP 1: Pour all of the ingredients into an empty measuring cup and mix well.
STEP 2: Warm the contents in the microwave for about 20-25 seconds, making sure it doesn't get too hot. Then, evenly apply the mixture to damp hair (paying special attention to the ends), comb through with a wide-tooth comb and wrap hair in a hot towel for 20 minutes.
STEP 3: When you're finished, shampoo hair, rinse well and skip using a conditioner.

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Link Time!

BellaSugar — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 07:03:06 -0700

Fame lip gloss, inspired by the movie - Stylelist
You pick: Angelina Jolie's best hair - Makeup and Beauty Blog
Bobbi Brown on flawless, dewy skin and day-to-night makeup - Beauty Snob
Which hairstyle is sexiest on Shakira? - FabSugar UK
You, too, can do black and gold - eyes, that is - InStyle
MAC's Black Collection proves that black gloss still wants its moment - Beauty Blogging Junkie
Four spa secrets to keep in mind - Allure