Hair Oils: Strengthening & Conditioning! But Which Ones?

Not all oils are created equal when it comes to your hair!

Certain oils like coconut, olive, avocado, & palm (straight-chain glycerides) easily penetrate into the hair cuticle to help make hair stronger, more flexible, waterproof, and better conditioned; reducing the loss of protein! Studies have shown that coconut oil can penetrate up to 90%, followed by olive oil at 25%.

olive oil

Other oils such as meadowfoam, sunflower, & jojoba (polyunsaturated fats) are larger in formation making it harder for them to penetrate the layers of the cuticles.  Meadowfoam penetrates a little; sunflower & jojoba not at all.

Research: 

Journal of Cosmetic Science 52 volume 3, 169-184, 2001 -Textile Research Institute

Quote of the Month!

Healthy Proteins + Healthy Lifestyle = Looking Good!

Beauty of the Month: Eva Green!

My Beauty Must Have for April!

Alba Hawaiian Facial Scrub with Pineapple Enzyme

Eminence Stone Crop Hydrating Mist

ElanVeda Skin Renue Skin Rejuvenation Essential Oil Formula

Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush

Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer

Raw Natural Beauty Natural Minerals Foundation

Bare Minerals Hydrating Mineral Veil

Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel

NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in Pigalle

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Glisten

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

Sarah Horowitz Parfums Perfect Veil Pure Perfume Oil Roll On

Finger Nail Painting An Ancient Art!

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Click here for a slideshow on:  What Your Nails Say About your Health (WebMD)

  • Fingernail painting emerged in India more than 5,000 years ago.  People used henna ink for nail decoration.

Henna (Lawsonia inermis) is a flowering plant used since antiquity to dye skin, hair, fingernails, leather and wool.

Henna

Henna – Mehndi on the hand

 

  • Traces of nail polish mixtures appeared around 3,000 B.C. in China.  They included beeswax, gelatin, egg whites, and tree gum.

  • Nail polish color in Ancient Egypt and China represented social class.  Cleopatra supposedly wore dark red, while women of the lower classes wore paler shades.  Chinese royalty wore in 600 B.C. gold and silver tones.

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  • Revlon‘s first product was nail polish (1932).  The formulation was reportedly made to resemble the highly gloss shades of car of the 1920′s and 1930′s.

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  • The French Manicure first appeared on runaways in 1970′s.

More Articles by CT Esthetic:

Henna Hair Tint & Body Art: A History & A How To!

Ethnicity and Skin Care: A Guide – Asian Skin Care Edition!

The Art of Body Painting!

 

Uses for Lemon Essential Oil

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Please note: These uses are for pure, unadulterated essential oils. Please know that not all essential oils are the same! Most essential oils are fragrant/cosmetic/perfume grade oils, Look for therapeutic-grade.

To clean non-carpeted floors, add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to a bucket of water. Then add 5 – 10 drops of lemon, pine, or spruce essential oil. If the floor is especially dirty, add several drops of dish washing soap. This will clean even the dirtiest floor.

To make a carpet freshener, add 16 – 20 drops of essential oils to 1 cup of baking soda or borax powder. Mix ingredients together well and place in a covered container overnight so that the essential oil can be absorbed. Sprinkle over carpet then vacuum the powder up.

You may also put 3-7 drops of Lemon essential oil on a cotton ball and place it into a vacuum bag – doing this scents the air while vacuuming. If your vacuum collects the dirt into water, simply add a few drops into the water reservoir before vacuuming. This refreshes both the carpet and acts as an air freshener.

Some essential oils can act as gentle stimulants to the limbic system of the brain by their scent, increasing alertness and concentration enhancing the capacity for learning, improving memory, and assisting many other cognitive functions. A wide range of essential oils offer these benefits, such as: Lemon, Peppermint, Rosemary and Melissa. To help increase these functions simply inhale the chosen essential oil directly from the bottle or put a drop on a tissue and keep in your pocket for use throughout the day.

Use 1–2 drops to remove gum, oil, grease, grease spots, glue and adhesives, and crayon from most surfaces. Tip: try a test area before to make sure you won’t ruin any finishes.

Substitute lemon oil for lemon juice or lemon seasonings to flavor seafood, vegetables, beverages, and desserts. To use Lemon oil in place of the zest of “one” lemon – use 8 drops lemon essential oil.

Combine 2–3 drops with water in a 4oz. spray bottle filled with water to help cleanse and sanitize kitchen and bathroom surfaces.

Soothe or prevent corns, callous, or bunions by rubbing 1-2 drops of Lemon oil on the affected area, morning and evening.

Fill a bowl with cold water, add 2–3 drops of Lemon oil, and drench fruit and vegetables in the lemon water to extend the shelf life of fresh produce.

Add a drop to your dishwasher before the wash cycle for spot-free dishes.

Lemon has antiseptic-like properties and contains compounds that have been studied for their effects on immune function. According Jean Valnet, M.D., the vaporized [diffused] essence of lemon can kill meningococcus bacteria in 15 minutes, typhoid bacilli in one hour, Staphylococcus aureus in two hours, and Pneumococcus bacteria within three hours. Even a 0.2% solution of Lemon oil can kill diphtheria bacteria in 20 minutes and inactivate tuberculosis bacteria.

Lemon has been shown to have antidepressant effects in research done by Komori, et al.,1995. Diffuse or inhale Lemon oil to receive the benefits of aromatherapy.

Lemon oil may help brighten a pale, dull complexion by removing the dead skin cells. Simply mix a drop with your cleanser to help promote healthier skin tone.

Lemon oil can serve as an effective insect repellent.

Rub a drop of Lemon oil on a wart morning and night, may help it to disappear.

Rub 1-3 drops of Lemon oil to clean a butcher’s block or other cutting surfaces to disinfect those surfaces.

Add one teaspoon of lemon essential oil to one-cup mineral oil for an effective furniture polish.

Homemade lemonade, in a blender mix 2 drops of Lemon oil, 2 tablespoons of honey and two cups of pure water. Adjust the amount of each ingredient to suit your own taste.

Put a drop of Lemon oil on bleeding gum’s caused by gingivitis or tooth extraction to help with healing and disinfecting.

Rub 4-6 drops of Lemon oil with 1 teaspoon of Massage Oil on cellulite, may improve circulation and help eliminate waste from the cells.

Rub 4-6 drops of Lemon oil with 1 teaspoon of Massage Oil on varicose veins, may improve circulation and relieve pressure on the veins.

Some find lemon oil to help remove warts. Rub a drop of Lemon oil on a wart morning and night, may help it to disappear.

Put 10-15 drops of Lemon oil in each gallon of carpet cleaning solution to help pull out stains and brighten the rug. This also leaves a fresh smell in the room.

Diffuse Lemon essential oil to freshen the air in your home or office.

Add 1-2 drops Lemon oil to a glass of water, tastes yummy, no calories, and alkalizes the water. Tip: only use a glass glass as Lemon oil WILL dissolve items made from petrochemicals and styrofoam.

Soak kitchen dishcloth overnight in a bowl of water with a drop of Lemon oil to disinfect and kill germs.

Rub a drop of Lemon oil on your hands after using a public bathroom to sanitize hands.

Use a paper towel soaked with several drops of Lemon oil to sanitize bathroom fixtures.

Place a drop of Lemon oil on cold sores, herpes or other mouth ulcers to lessen pain, may aid in healing.

Rub two drops of Lemon oil topically, may clear athlete’s foot.

Heartburn is a burning pain felt behind the breastbone. It is most often the result of acid reflux, that is, when stomach acid rises up the esophagus where it irritates the lining. Lemon essential oil (which comes from the rind, not the pulp) is one of the best remedies for heartburn, as it causes the stomach to stop excreting digestive acids. Simply add a drop or two of Lemon oil to a small glass of water and drink.

Relaxing & Rejuvenating Aromatherapy Bath Salt Recipe: 1 drop Grapefruit oil, 1 drop Lemon oil, 1 drop Orange oil, 1 drop Patchouli oil, 3 drops Ylang Ylang or Geranium oil, 1 cup Epsom Salts or Sea Salt. Add to running bath water. Soak for 20 minutes.

NingXia Red Electrolyte Drink Recipe: Combine 2 oz. Ningxia Red
,16 oz. purified water
, 20 drops YL Mineral Essence
, 1 drop YL Lemon oil
, 1 drop YL Peppermint oil
, 1 teaspoon YL Blue Agave. Mix ingredients together in a glass bottle (I like to re-use my empty NingXia Red bottles to keep my water and mixes in, they’re nice sturdy bottles). You can make a more watered down version for the kids. More on NingXia Red.

Refreshing Bacteria Killing Spray: You’ll need – 32 oz. spray bottle, 8 drops Spearmint oil, 8 drops Lemon oil, 6 drops Lavender oil, 6 drops Thyme oil, 6 drops Rosemary oil, 4 drops Eucalyptus globulus, and water. Fill spray bottle 7/8 of the way with water, add your Young Living essential oils. Shake the mixture well and periodically during use. This mixture smells as terrific as it is powerful at killing germs.

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A Fact About Staph!

Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria, a type of germ commonly found on the skin or in the nose of even healthy individuals. Most of the time, these bacteria cause no problems or result in relatively minor skin infections.

 

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2 to 3 out of every 10 people are colonized with staph bacteria.

 

Skin infections 

Skin infections caused by staph bacteria include:

  • Boils. The most common type of staph infection is the boil, a pocket of pus that develops in a hair follicle or oil gland. The skin over the infected area usually becomes red and swollen. If a boil breaks open, it may drain pus, blood or an amber-colored liquid. Boils occur most often under the arms or around the groin or buttocks.
  • Impetigo. This contagious, often painful rash can occur in all ages, but it’s most common in young children and infants. The types of impetigo caused by staph bacteria usually feature large blisters that may ooze fluid and develop a honey-colored crust. These sores occur most commonly around the nose and mouth.
  • Cellulitis. Cellulitis — an infection of the deeper layers of skin — causes skin redness and swelling on the surface of your skin. Sores (ulcers) or areas of oozing discharge may develop, too. Cellulitis occurs most often in the lower legs and feet of older persons.
  • Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. Toxins produced as a result of a staph infection may lead to staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. Affecting mostly newborns, this condition features fever, a rash and sometimes blisters. When the blisters break, the top layer of skin comes off — leaving a red, raw surface that looks like a burn.

Great article on staph infections! Click here

Formite & Vector: How Diseases Are Transmitted!

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Formite – an inanimate object or substance capable of carrying infectious organisms, such as germs or parasites, and hence transferring them from one individual to another. Skin cells, hair, clothing, cell phone, key boards, and bedding are common hospital sources of contamination.

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Vector – is any agent (person, animal or microorganism) that carries and transmits an infectious pathogen into another living organism.

HiRes

 

Cool Website: Your DNA as Artwork on Canvas and More!

DNA Art by DNA 11

 

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