Beauty at home
Without hair and beauty salon accessibility, it will be difficult for many who rely on the regular expertise of a hairdresser or beauty therapist. Do not despair however in retaining some of your usual beauty routine, with a little guidance, you can maintain your glamorous dignity.
Now is the time to give yourself that extra little pampering if you don’t have the chance to do much else. Even if you are on your own, it is important to look and feel good about yourself, and you will look great for all those home selfies, Facetime or visual tech group chats.
As a lecturer at colleges for many years, in the hair, health and beauty industry, I have relied on myself always to do my own hair and beauty treatments, as well as motivating myself for fitness training. Being self-reliant in all aspects is important to me, as I can do everything at my own convenience and with my own preference for required results.
So let’s get to basics – thankfully most supermarket stores have a lot of our hair and beauty needs and at a reasonable cost. There is always the pharmacy that also has many hair and beauty preparations and surprisingly, you may even find some natural items at home in your kitchen cupboard or bathroom cabinet that may be useful.
Facial Spa
Start by applying a warm hot towel or flannels to the face (comfortably hot for you personally). Do your cleansing routine by using your fingertips, massaging your usual cleansing lotion and adding a little sugar. Work in small round circular motions, upwards and inwards towards the nose, then rinse off with warm water and a flannel.
Make a little mask using a teaspoon of thick honey, an egg yolk, and add some lemon juice if the skin tends to be oily. Apply with a brush or fingertips. Leave for about 10 minutes and then rinse off with a flannel. Any remainder and unused mixture can be kept in a container in the fridge). Apply a toner or use some rose water for dry to normal skin, or witch hazel for oily skin. Finally apply moisturiser using the same motions with fingertips. Allow moisturiser to absorb before any make up application.
Hair Colour
If you are using a permanent hair colour, it usually consists of a cream or oil colour and then mixed with a peroxide, usually around 20 volume. For safety, do not attempt to switch with various products and packets or use higher than this if you are not a professional in this field. Do a patch test on neck area under ear and wait for 48 hours to ensure you are not allergic to that particular product.
Using a tinting brush for professional application, with your usual colour choice, apply to regrowth area only and do not overlap on previous colour application. Work all around the hairline, then part the hair into quarter sections ear to ear, and centre parting from forehead to nape at the back. Apply colour on the regrowth area down those parted sections. Next do the front section from ear to ear, across the forehead area. Then do the back section area, crown to nape. The back is done last as it processes faster due to the natural heat of this area. You do not have to see fully; you will be able to judge if you work methodically and can visually see the approximate regrowth length. Leave for the time as instructed on package instructions, then shampoo and wash out thoroughly. Apply the anti-oxidant conditioner which is usually supplied in the packet or you can buy separately. This is especially important as it will protect your hair from damage by ensuring it will oxidize and lock in the colour. Rinse out and then allow to dry or style as you wish.
Manicure and Pedicure
Remove any nail polish, soak hands or feet in warm water till skin softens, apply cuticle remover and gently push back the cuticle with a cotton wool tipped, orange wood, hoof shaped stick. Rinse off cuticle remover.
Using an emery board, file from side to centre or in one direction only; do not see saw with file as this will damage your natural nails.
Apply buffing paste (this can be bought separately or is usually impregnated on buffers stick or blocks) on natural nail and buff in a downward stroke only, towards the tip of nail. This will help stimulate the blood supply and help nail growth, as it gives a natural glossy shine.
Next wipe clean and apply a base coat, followed by your chosen nail enamel and a topcoat. The basic brush stroke application method is down the centre from cuticle area to beyond tip, down each side and back down the centre. You should work swiftly to avoid slow air clogging lines and you should never apply brush strokes or lift in the middle or any point. It should always be cuticle area to beyond tip area.
Happy home spa!
Love and Sparkles
Samsara x
