So we all want to be able to achieve that fresh-from-the-salon hair at home, but noone wants to pay the outrageous prices for their products, so here's my suggestion on how to get that great look at home.

And the best part is, everything you need is probably already in your kitchen!

What is it about those salon Shampoos that make your hair so clean, silky and soft?

- they contain alpha hydroxy acids, which remove the residue from your hair that's left behind from product, shampoo, and daily living, as well as sloughing away any dry skin and moisturizing the scalp.

Do you know what else contains the same alpha hydroxy acids, and performs ALL of the same tasks?

-Apple Cider Vinegar. Dilute it and use as a rinse for normal hair or apply directly to scalp to treat dandruff.

For normal Hair:

- Mix 1 part Vinegar with 3 parts water before getting in the shower

- Shampoo as usual

- After rinsing shampoo from hair, use vinegar mixture as a rinse on hair (pour over hair carefully, making sure it is touching all parts of the hair)

- Rinse 

- Condition the hair so it does not feel brittle (see below for conditioning suggestion)

To use as a dandruff treatment:

-Apply undiluted vinegar to the scalp. 

-Allow to penetrate for a few minutes

- Shampoo and condition as usual

Hint: this can also be used to clear up blemishes by applying undiluted to the face before bed and allowing to soak in.

What is it about those salon Conditioners that make your hair so full and shiny and moisturized?

- They contain proteins that temporarily fill in gaps in the hair shaft, making the individual micro-fibers lay flat, making the hair appear fuller and shinier.

Do you know else contains the same proteins?

-egg yolks

And guess what nature's best moisturizer is?

-olive oil

And do you know what you get when you mix egg yolks and olive oil?

- Mayonnaise.

That's right ladies. Mayo might be bad for your thighs, but it's GREAT for your hair!

Use 1/4 cup for thin and or short hair and 1/2 cup for longer or thicker 'dos. 

- apply Mayonnaise to dry hair starting at the crown of your head, not your roots, as this may cause your hair to look greasy when dried. Make sure to coat all of your hair.

- cover with plastic bag and allow to sit for 20 minutes (no more, no less)

- Rinse hair with COOL water (or cold if you can stand it)

- shampoo and condition as usual. (adding an apple cider vinegar rinse if desired, it will help remove any leftover mayo residue)

I recommend making your own mayonnaise by using 1 egg yolk, adding 1/2 cup of olive oil and whipping with an electric mixer (or fork/whisk) until it forms white fluffy mounds. This only takes a few minutes and it eliminates unnecessary ingredients, like lemon (which may lighten dark hair if used often)

Use this combo twice a month, and you'll be pleasantly surprised with a new head of beautiful from-the-salon looking hair without the from-the-salon price tag. If your hair tends to be more oily (you wash it in the morning, and it's visibly greasy by the end of the day) you may want to deep condition less frequently, as your natural oil is conditioning your hair on it's own.

Send your beauty questions to [email protected] and I'll answer them in my next blog.

Thanks, 

Bethany

It's that lovely time of the year when we're trudging around in inch after inch of snow, and with snow comes salt...

You know what I'm talking about, those lovely rings around the bottom of your pants are a tell-tale sign that it's snowing outside, and there's no avoiding them, but if you're anything like me, you have a pair or two of black pants that you can only wear when it's snowing because you can't get that oh-so flattering ring off of them. Maybe you're a tuck-er and don't have salt stains on your pants, but in that case, I bet your Uggs are looking pretty rough right now. Suede and salt are not a great combo either.

Well, you no longer have to reserve those pants for the snow or walk around with white boots, because I'm going to tell you how to get rid of those nasty salt stains!

To remove salt stains from fabric:

Mix one tablespoon white distilled vinegar with a cup of COLD water (hot or warm water will set the stain) and soak the bottoms of your pants in this over night. If the stains are still not gone, dampen a soft cloth with straight vinegar and wipe the remaining stains off, then launder as usual.

To remove salt from Suede:

First use a brush to gently brush off any loose excess salt that may be lingering. Then using the same mixture as above.: 1 Tablespoon vinegar and 1 cup COLD water, dampen a soft cloth and blot the area until stains are removed. If this mixture does not work, add more vinegar. It may take some time, but it should get everything off. Remember: Do not rub, only blot. 

To remove Salt from Leather:

Same thing. use Vinegar and water mixture to wipe away salt stains.

I hope this helps, and at the rate we're going, we're all going to be cleaning salt off of our clothes and boots ALOT this winter so good luck and try to stay warm!

Send your beauty questions to [email protected] and I'll answer them in my next blog.

Thanks, 

Bethany

This is a question from One of my Readers:

How can I whiten my teeth without spending a fortune on whitening strips?

When whitening toothpaste/mouthwash just isn't doing the trick here are a few home remedies that I've had success with:

Now, I'm no dentist, so I'm not guaranteeing that these are great tooth health options, just that they whiten your teeth.

1. Strawberries. I know this sounds crazy, but it really works!
- Mash a fresh Strawberry, and brush it onto your teeth with a toothbrush (or rub it on with on with your finger), wait 20 seconds, then rinse with water, and brush your teeth with regular toothpaste. 
- be sure to wait 20 seconds before brushing, because the acid in the strawberries loosens the enamel on your teeth. You have to give your saliva time to neutralize the acid or you'll brush some enamel away.
- you shouldn't do this every time you brush. It's a special occasion kind of thing...

2. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.
- start with 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Add drops of hydrogen peroxide until it becomes a paste, then brush onto your teeth. DO NOT SWALLOW THIS! 
- Rinse with water, and brush as normal
- this is safe enough to do everyday, but there's no need to do it more than once a day.
(I've also heard that you can substitute vinegar for peroxide if you're concerned about peroxide's effect on your tooth enamel, but I've never tried it, and I can imagine it doesn't taste very good.)

3. I've also rinsed with a half hydrogen peroxide, half water mixture. you just swish it around like mouthwash before brushing. I don't find it as effective as the other 2, but it is quicker than mixing or mashing things up.
(I've heard that swishing Apple Cider Vinegar does the same thing)

(I've also heard that adding a dash of salt to your toothpaste will brighten your teeth. It's like an exfoliator for your choppers...)

Send your beauty questions to [email protected] and I'll answer them in my next blog.

I hope this gives all of you a brighter, whiter Holiday smile, and don't forget to stop by tomorrow for another dose of the Beauty Blog!

Thanks, 
Bethany 

Hey ladies,

If you're like me, you have a refridgerator full of Leftovers that you'll never be able to eat. Here are a few beauty tricks you can do with all those leftovers:

Sweet Potato Facial

Ingredients:

2 ounces cooked mashed sweet potatoes

1 tbs oats (oatmeal)

1 tbs raw sugar

1/2 tsp olive or almond oil (or any oil you have on hand)

pinch of nutmeg

Directions:

Mix all of the ingredients together to form a thick like consistency.Adjust the ingredients if needed, add more oats to make it thicker or add more liquid (water or milk) to thin it out. Apply this mixture to face and neck, leave on for about 5-8 minutes. Use warm wash cloths to gently remove the bulk of the paste, then rinse with warm water, and gently pat skin dry.

Mashed Potato Foot Soak

Take desired amount of leftover mashed potatoes, and add work water to thin them out. Then soak your feet in the mixture for about 20 minutes

Green Bean skin smoothing lotion

Take about a handful of leftover green beans. If they have butter, salt, pepper, or onions on them. rinse them with hot water. If there are almonds in them, leave those.

Mash or blend the green beans, then mix with pain yogurt and massage into to your face, elbows, heels, or any other area that needs moisturized. Let this sit on the skin for 10 minutes, then rinse off.

These and other Thanksgiving Leftover beauty treatments can be found at

http://www.squidoo.com/beauty-treatments-with-thanksgiving-leftovers

Send your beauty questions to pa[email protected] and I will answer them in my next blog.

Hope you ejoyed this little tip, and remember to stop in tomorrow for another dose of the beauty blog!

Thanks,

Bethany