#plus i might get a red conditioner/shampoo so that it lasts a lot longer | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

tcobeauty · 7 years

Text

Birchbox: Small End of Summer + Customer Appreciation Day Hauls

All of my dealers My favorite retailers started putting their summer shit on sale back in August, and sent me me multiple emails to alert me to this fact (FML I gotta unsubscribe [lol no]), and who am I to resist? With Birchbox, it’s always a question of what do I actually need that I can justify spending a small amount of points, plus whatever’s on sale, plus whatever bonus or code they’re often. It’s a lot of fuzzy math, to be honest, which I’m sure will surprise no one.

I've been wanting to switch back to the Whish Shave Cream, since it's much more emollient and luxurious than the Shea Moisture one I've been using, regardless of the fact that “Vitamin K” is probably a made-up thing. And I was out of my 100% Pure Blueberry Mascara, which is great for weekends and natural-only makeup days, so I scored some of that one sale as well. The Mirenesse Mattfinity Lip Color in Ibiza is very bright but also very fun fun and I actually really like this brand for longwear matte lips–the first shade I got from them was in a Birchbox sample extra (still the best one I’ve gotten to this day tbh) and it’s Tokyo, a perfect blue-red that wears like gangbusters. I got Milan, a more neutral brick brown, for my sister’s wedding last year and discovered that it doesn’t last quite as long, which is weird, given that it’s the same damn product. We’ll see how this very bright cool coral holds up on a day when I’m feeling particularly bold. Everything in this teeny little haul was on sale with an extra discount on top of it, however, so I'd say it was definitely worth it at almost 50% off savings.

Paid: $40 / Value: $78 Savings: $38 / 49%

And then Birchbox’s “Customer Appreciation Day” suddenly rolled around out of nowhere, so there were bonus points and sales and all kinds of madness I had to partake in because my soul is weak, so very weak. I decided to stock up on my BFF Dr. Jart’s Dermaclear Micro Water and try out some new hair goodies, too, since I’m growing it out to see what works with my new longer(ish) length.

These two bonus goodies were included by the Birchbox team, and while you all know I love a good exfoliation and can’t wait to give this Vasanti Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator, I’m still wary of the Oribe Supershine Moisture Cream, because I’m always worried about my hair getting greasy and weighed down. I’ve gotten several Oribe samples in the past, and I have to admit that I’m a little afraid to try any of them because they might work some kind of devil magic on my noggin and then I’ll be forced to spend as much on haircare as I do skincare, and that’s just not in my budget for now or the foreseeable future.

Enter the Off-Duty Hair Kit, which is pretty much every day for me because I don’t like to do a whole lot to my hair if I can help it. I’ve recently started blow-drying again in an effort to save some time in the mornings, but’s it been looking like I need to wash it at night and sleep on it for it to not look too poofy when styled. I’d been wanting to try both the Parlour Moisturizing Sea Salt and the Number Four Sugar texture sprays, and I’m intrigued by styling creams of all kinds, so we’ll see how the bumble Don’t Blow It and the R&CO High Dive creams do. I’ve been using a teeny tiny dab of the Moroccan Oil on days when I blow dry, but it might still be weighing me down a tad. We’ll see how it fares when things get drier int he coming months.

I loved the Brio Geo RosArCo spray I got in a previous Birchbox, so I figured I’d try out the shampoo and conditioner in this travel-size set to see how they do. I love the fragrance and they do seem nourishing, but I’m wondering if I need to use the spray as a heat protectant for blow drying and save the rest for travel or dry winter days to come.

Paid: $41 / Value: $112 Savings: $70 / 62%

Not too shabby for two pretty random one-off hauls, right? I like to think that I’ve been getting a little bit better at maxing out my savings on these hauls, so I was not-so-secretly tickled to see how much I saved on so many goodies. I do think I’m starting to reach a critical mass again, so it might be time for a purge here before the holiday season picks up.

0 notes

thomasreedtn · 7 years

Text

7 Tips for Henna, Amla, and Morrocco Method Shampoos

For the past several weeks, I keep getting nudges to write about hair. Some clients have mentioned hair issues, and I’m sitting here with a mud pie of henna on my head, so here goes. Back in June 2009, I wrote a comprehensive post about all things henna, along with lots of information about natural hair care, hair nutrients and general tips for full, shiny hair. I wanted to reblog it, but over eight years later, I have too many updates for the little reblog box. You can read my original post here. In today’s post, I’ll just add additional things I’ve learned about henna and Morrocco Method over the years.

Please note that anything I say about henna refers only to body art quality, pure henna (Lawsonia) from a reputable source. Do be careful when experimenting with henna. Some companies add toxic ingredients to get all sorts of unnatural colors and effects, still calling their products “henna.”

To provide some background, though, yes, I henna my hair. I started back in 2006, because a mehendi artist told me that henna would tame the crazy, wild knots I used to get on the back of my head. Using henna did tame those knots, but it didn’t change my hair color until we moved to Monterey, CA in February 2007. Overnight, my hair turned very red (with no additional henna treatment), and my skin went several shades paler. I can maybe explain the sudden redness due to more salt in the air, but that still doesn’t explain how I got so pale. Surrounded by fresh breezes, gorgeous views, and a only short walk to the farmer’s market, fun shops, Indian buffet, and an Aveda salon, plus weekly massages from my all-time favorite massage therapist and lovely friend, Pamela, I became a full fledged redhead.

I’ve always had quite a bit of red in my hair, but bizarre as it sounds, I have mood hair. The happier I feel about my location, the redder it gets. When I lived in Monterey and Sonoma County, I had very red hair. When I lived in Goshen, Indiana — much less so. Only in the sun. Henna’d hair often looks more brown indoors and redder in direct sunlight. Whenever I vacation or live somewhere that makes my soul sing, my hair goes red inside and out. Living in Kalamazoo, it’s back to red:

OK, onto the things I’ve learned since the 2009 Henna for Hair post:

Henna doesn’t just feel good; it is good. I’ve continued to use henna since 2006, because it tames my knots, eliminates the need for conditioner, and also feels like a magical elixer on my head. I recently learned that pure henna has wound healing, anti-headache, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. It cuts hair loss, and many people swear by henna as their only cure for psoriasis. For more on henna’s health benefits, please click here.

Grey and white hair can signal other issues. Points 5) and 6) in my previous post discuss nutrition and hair, especially B-vitamins, but I should also mention the importance of minerals in darkening gray or white hair. Genetics, stress, hormones, age, and other factors play key roles, too, but demineralization often shows up as aging hair. Dull, gray/white and brittle hair can sometimes signal a need for more nourishing foods, and/or indicate poor absorption. Dr. Ann Wigmore’s grey hair famously returned to its original color once she started using wheatgrass juice. Taking digestive enzymes, eating more live (raw, fermented) foods and reducing enzyme inhibitors can also help. I recommend Sally Fallon’s book, “Nourishing Traditions” for people concerned about graying hair, tooth decay, chronic fatigue, and/or brittle bones. Likewise, Ramiel Nagel’s book, “Cure Tooth Decay,” includes loads of information about which foods help or hinder mineralization. I don’t personally follow many of the recipes in those books, but the principles can help you receive the most benefits from whatever foods you do eat. A note for vegans: neither book advocates vegan or vegetarian diets, but you can adapt many of the recipes to enrich foods you already eat. Both provide excellent tips staying mineralized.

Keep your application tools simple and sustainable. I’ve used the exact same “for henna only” shower cap for the past eleven years. I used the same gloves for ten of those years until they finally wore out. Those fancy hair dye applicators from beauty supply stores get clogged with the mud pie consistency of henna, but maybe a ketchup bottle would work. I don’t know. I find my hands work best. A wide toothed comb before henna application means fewer knots while rinsing it out. I tried a ponytail method of separating hair for easier rinsing, and it did work well; however, you’re left with lots of ponytail holders to wash and dry. I ended up going back to hand application.

Quality henna makes a big difference. I always buy my henna from reputable health food stores or Morrocco Method. I have to say, the Morrocco Method henna lasts much longer, provides deeper conditioning, and it rinses out far easier than any other brand or bulk henna I’ve tried. I have no financial ties or affiliate connection to Morrocco Method, but in my experience, their henna works way better for my hair.

Amla conditions and tones down red, but it changes hair texture. Henna straightens hair, and adding amla supposedly reduces that effect. For its great conditioning effects and to experiment with browner hair, I tried adding amla to henna earlier this summer. My hair felt soft, but I didn’t recognize myself. My naturally straight hair got really curly in certain spots. Not everywhere. Just some areas. I stopped using amla so I wouldn’t look like a freak. People with naturally wavy or consistently curly hair often swear by amla as a luxurious conditioner. Some people use it with henna so that their curls remain even if they want red highlights. If you have straight hair, amla may or may not work well for you.

If you use switch to Morrocco Method shampoos, definitely get their Volcanic Powder Dry Shampoo. A little goes a long way, and using the dry shampoo makes the “hair detox” period so much easier. I used Morrocco Method shampoos for a couple years and always got compliments on my hair, but I switched back to store bought natural shampoos for about five years. I don’t use toxic products on my hair, yet even so, my recent switch back to Morrocco Method brought the dreaded “hair detox.” I was grateful this occurred during this summer’s hermit phase; however, my hair started curling up and forming dreadlocks on one side. It also felt waxy right after shampooing. Once I started using the dry shampoo, all the detox symptoms cleared up. No more almost-dreadlocks, and as a bonus: extra full, manageable hair. The volcanic shampoo contains a little amla for conditioning, but mixed with everything else, it just makes my moody hair behave. It feels clean, full and healthy. Even with bangs, I can go four days between regular shampoos, as long as I use the dry shampoo. (The photo in this post was three-day old hair with bangs swept to the side.)

Following directions can save you time and money. When I first used the Morrocco Method shampoo system (rotating five elements), I eventually quit due to time and money. It seemed to take so much shampoo to get my hair clean. Although it felt healthy and vibrant, I couldn’t justify going through so many bottles of shampoo. This time around, I read the directions. Doh! These shampoos work much better if you take a small, travel size bottle and squirt a nickle-sized dollop in there, then dilute with water and shake. Apply that mixture to your roots, massage it in and rinse. Repeat if desired. The diluted shampoo method not only works better, but it reduced my shampoo usage to about 1/5 my original use. The dry shampoo further stretches wet shampoo quantities. Not needing to wash as often saves lots of time, water, shampoo, clogged drains, and ends up making hair healthier and fuller, too.

Go with what works for you. Everything in this post comes from my own experience and research. I have weird hair, so what works for me, might not work the best for you. I’ve known Morrocco Method to help clients regain hair after major hair loss or trauma, and their Zen Hair Detox helps remove toxins embedded in the scalp — very useful for people with brain fog. General information often changes with individual application. In a world of toxic hair products, I just felt led to share some options I enjoy. For more information on henna or hair nutrition, please click here.

from Thomas Reed https://laurabruno.wordpress.com/2017/10/19/7-tips-for-henna-amla-and-morrocco-method-shampoos/

0 notes

katelynkrebsbach-blog · 7 years

Text

Day 17 Daily Consumption blog

Shampoo, conditioner, soap razor, ipad, computer, phone, tissues, dayquil, eye drops, cereal, milk, turkey sandwhich, and a coke.

Today was the first day that I have felt somewhat healthy in a long time. I still am coughing and using a lot of tissues but not as much coughing or tissues. I am hoping to be 100% by Monday so I don’t feel sick during classes and less motivated about doing homework. I still sound like I have a cold when I talk but it is getting better. My eyes no longer look red and scary which was what I was worried about for my meeting tomorrow. This better be the only time that I am sick this entire year. I definitely don’t want to be sick during my semester abroad. It is a long semester but I still want to be healthy all of the time so I can travel. I have to get up early tomorrow around 8am so I am worried that I won’t get enough sleep and get sick again. I also have a hard time going to bed early so I am going to take some NyQuil so I can hopefully just pass out.

I am kind of nervous about this meeting tomorrow. I have missed the last two meetings but it has been because I was sick and I had soccer tryouts. I guess part of the meeting tomorrow is to talk about what to do with students who are frequently absent. Plus I am the graphic designer and I am supposed to design the logo for the group. However, I have put in zero effort for this group so I am nervous I will get kicked out. On the other hand, I don’t really want to be a part of it anymore because I just don’t really enjoy it. It does look good on a resume though so we shall see if I stick with it. They people are nice and everything but the events are every Saturday so it get kind of annoying that it takes up my weekends. I might also have a marketing meeting that Sunday except no one has responded so we shall see what my co-partner says tomorrow.

Today, my boyfriend and I had a small fight that didn’t last long but it wasn’t fun at all. It didn’t last long but long enough for us to be pretty upset with each other. I hated every minute of it. Luckily we apologized to each other pretty quickly and it was so sweet. We both felt so bad and hated being upset with each other. After that, we were totally fine. It actually turned out to be a pretty great day together. That is why I am so excited about our future together because we know each other so well and get along great. We went to watch my brother’s football game with my family and it was so much fun. He gets along so well with everyone in my family and that is saying something because I have a big family. It was a great start to the weekend. I just wish that I didn’t think about homework all day long.

0 notes