Hair and Skin

If you took full advantage of Christmas cheer then chances are you will be planning a full-on detox as part of your New Year Resolutions.

While a new health kick will undoubtedly help your hair, skin and nails, there are a number of remedies you can use in the meantime to help rectify any yuletide party damage. Whether it’s a case of excess hair products leaving your hair feeling dry and lack lustre, or perhaps too much make-up leaving your skin suffering from break outs, the tips below will help you get back on track. These tips are also especially helpful for brides-to-be who want their hair, skin and nails to look their absolute best on their wedding day. 

 

Problem 1: No shine

 

Remedy 1 - Avocados are often referred to as green gold thanks to their high levels of Vitamin E. This vitamin is known for its moisturising benefits and is one of the best things you could apply to your skin and hair. In fact, this is precisely why you will often hear shampoo adverts emphasising the avocado and Vitamin E content of their products. Rather than relying on such products however, I would recommend that you make your own avocado treatments. That way, you are getting the full benefits of the fruit without having to contend with any added chemicals. This following treatment will make your hair incredibly shiny as well as give it that lustrous look often associated with Kate Middleton. For this mixture you will need one avocado, four tablespoons of natural yoghurt and four tablespoons of olive oil. Cut the avocado into slices and mash it in a large bowl. Next, fold in the yoghurt and the olive oil and continue mixing until a paste has formed. After wetting your hair, apply the mix and rub it in until the hair is enveloped in the green paste. Cover your hair with a shower cap (or a swimming cap) and allow the paste to sit for up to half an hour. Afterwards, wash your hair thoroughly. While this remedy can differ from one individual to the next, avocado treatments usually work best on normal to dry hair. Carry it out once a week for absolute best results. 

Remedy 2 – To inject your tresses with a glossy bounce, shampoo your hair as usu­al and then use approximately one cup of vinegar in the final rinse of your hair. Allow it to sit for three minutes, then rinse and dry as usu­al. There will be a slight smell from the vinegar but this should be gone by the final rinse.

Remedy 3 – If its glossy poker-straight hair you’re after, then heat some oil (extra virgin olive / coconut / or almond / etc) in a saucepan and massage it into the scalp. (You will find these all these oils in any branch of Galway’s Evergreen health food shops.) Wrap a hot towel on your head and allow the hair to absorb the oil for over half an hour. Thoroughly wash your hair afterwards.

 

Problem 2 – Limp Hair

Too much product build-up is one of the most common causes of limp dull looking hair. Even if you only ever use shampoo and conditioner, a build-up of product residue can still occur. This is precisely why you should carry out one of these four remedies once every two weeks to give your hair an injection of freshness.

Remedy 1 – To really clean your hair thor­oughly and strip it of product build-up, mix one tablespoon of baking soda with ½ cup of apple cider vinegar. Massage the mix­ture into the scalp before rinsing off and shampooing.

Remedy 2 – Add one teaspoon of lemon juice to your regular shampoo once eve­ry two weeks.

Remedy 3 – Take one tablespoon of baking soda and massage it into wet hair before rinsing and shampooing as usual. For this treatment to be effective, it should be carried out weekly.

Remedy 4- Another option is to shampoo your hair, rinse, then apply a glass of beer to your hair before rinsing again. (Believe it or not but Heineken is quite good for giving your hair a nice shine!)

 

Problem 3 – Congested skin

If the winter has left your skin feeling congested, chop up some parsley, sprinkle it into a bowl of boiling water and stir the mixture. Place your face over the steam with a towel over your head to lock in the benefits. This is the perfect primer, as it will refresh even the most jaded complexions.

Problem 4 – Dry brittle hair

Sometimes hair can feel like it’s thirsty for moisture. Achieving soft silky hair fortunately does not require expensive products. In fact all you need is a bottle of olive oil and 30 minutes of your time.

Simply apply the olive oil, (as much as you wish) to your hair half an hour before you wash it. Once you have it combed through from root to tip, wrap your hair in a tow­el and let every strand soak up the oil. Once the 30 minutes are up, sham­poo as usual. You should feel a noticeable difference in your hair immediately afterwards.

 

Problem 5 – Dark circles

If the Christmas parties have left you with dark under-eye circles, just dab on some almond oil underneath the eyes twice a day. Allow it to sit for 15 minutes before rinsing away with water. Another method is to mash half a cucumber with one tomato. Next, break open a Vitamin E capsule and add four drops into the mixture. Place the mixture around the eyes, sit back and allow it to soak in for 10 to 15 minutes. Afterwards, rinse your face and moisturise.

If your problem is more to do with tired eyes, then all you will need is potato juice. Simply extract the juice from a potato using either a blender or a juicer. (Place the juice in the fridge for an hour for an extra kick of freshness.) Soak some cotton wool in the juice, then place it over the eyelids for 20 minutes. If you want to also reduce the appearance of crows feet, just dab some of the juice on the fine lines. A cold potato slice over each eye is also effective for brightening eyes.

Problem 6 – No Volume

Until your hair is back to its full health, there’s one styling trick you can avail of to give your hair a little volume. Crimp the roots of your hair (about 1-2 cm’s from the scalp). Apply some hair spray then brush it out. The crimp won’t be at all noticeable but the fold in the roots will help give your hair long lasting volume.   

Problem 7 – Dry skin

Next time you’re running a bath, add in a small amount of baby oil (preferably containing aloe vera). This will leave your skin feeling smooth not to mention beautifully fragrant. It will also add a touch of shine without leaving your skin looking greasy.

 

Problem 8 – Blemishes

Applying carrot juice to your face on a daily basis will help fade unwanted blemishes. Pressing a potato slice against a blemish will also help reduce its redness and swelling.

Problem 9 – Dull skin

No amount of expensive make-up will disguise tired and dull looking skin. If you neglect your skin, believe me, it will show. Here are two complexion-improving remedies that have been favourites of women for generations. 

 Remedy 1 – Take approximately ½ cup milk and mix it in with some Vaseline until a paste is formed. While mixing, add in a few drops of almond oil. Apply the mixture to the face and allow it to sit for around 10 minutes. As always, you should repeat this regularly to get the best results.

Remedy 2 – Another method involves dipping a cotton wool ball in some milk and applying it to the face. Try to apply at least two tablespoons of milk. Allow the liquid to remain on the face for at least 30 minutes before washing away with water. It might be hard to believe, but this simple trick alone will help improve your skin quality as well as leave

it soft and smooth. For best results, use frequently.

Problem 10 – Stained nails

To whiten your nails, try brushing them with whitening toothpaste. Apply the toothpaste to a nail brush and then scrub them for a few minutes. This will not only whiten your nails, it will also remove stains and leave them with a glossy shine.