Tag: hair care

How To Banish Greasy Hair For Good (In One Wash)

Published on by Lee7 Comments

During a autumn (Fall) vacay, something super embarrassing and frustrating happened to us. Somehow, our hair got this horrible, waxy and greasy buildup, and no matter how much we washed our hair – literally triple shampooed it – the residue didn’t go away. Our hair looked and felt gross and greasy hair is never a good look.

We soon discovered that we weren’t the only ones to experience this, and there’s a ton of questions about ‘waxy buildup on scalp won’t wash out’ online. If you’ve had this oily buildup before, it could be down to a number of things, including using hair-care products that are too ‘heavy’ for your hair to over-stripping with harsh products. (If you simply have typically oily hair, this DIY hair mask will also work wonders).

We found that our scalp was itching and sometimes dry which sometimes dandruff would be found. This is often brought on by stress, hormones, and even the weather. So when all shampoos failed us, our DIY beauty skills came into play and we were shocked at how amazing our clarifying hair mask turned out to be.

So, whether you’re experiencing this waxy buildup or you just want to detox your scalp and greasy hair, then you have to try this ultimate DIY clarifying hair mask. The only thing that actually worked to rid our hair of this waxy sebum residue and leave it feeling soft AF!

Clarifying Hair Mask

We already knew that Apple Cider Vinegar was an amazing way to detox hair, but we took it one step further and added some major beauty powerhouses to the mix; bentonite clay and activated charcoal powder. This natural hair mask works to deeply cleanse and re-balance by removing excess oil and toxins that can build up on the scalp. Whether you have product buildup, dandruff, greasy hair that won’t go away or a frustrating case of seborrheic dermatitis, this mask will fix it – tried and tested!!

Clay: Clay is packed with minerals and nutrients and helps draw out toxins and absorb the extra sebum produced by your scalp. The clay also helps to inhibit the growth of fungus that causes dandruff.

aztec indian healing clay

Activated charcoal: This works in a similar way that clay does to detox the scalp. Activated charcoal is adsorbent, which means it has an electrical attraction that pulls molecules, ions, and atoms towards its surface so that they stick to it – essentially sucking up dirt and oil from your scalp.

Apple cider vinegar: One of nature’s most potent creations, it’s full of active ingredients, vitamins, mineral salts, and amino acids, and it’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. It also has anti-fungal properties, and helps restore your skin’s natural pH balance and destroy dandruff by killing fungus and cleaning clogged pores and hair follicles.

How to make the clarifying detox hair mask:

Ingredients:

2 tbsp Aztec Healing Indian Clay
1 tbsp Activated Charcoal Powder
6 tbsp of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

1 tablespoon coconut oil
½ tablespoon castor oil
½ tablespoon almond oil
Water
Glass bowl
Wooden spoon

We buy big tubs of these products and use them for all kinds of DIYs, from face masks to hair masks and body scrubs (and we’ve had our pots of activated charcoal powder and Aztec Indian Healing clay for months!). If your hair is just a little bit greasy and you just want to detox, you can also add one teaspoon of honey to nourish your hair.

How to:

Step 1. Combine bentonite clay, coconut oil, castor oil, and almond oil in the bowl (make sure you use wooden or ceramic utensil as activated charcoal reacts with metal); the formula will bubble up and should combine into a runny paste. Add the apple cider vinegar to the bowl and let it froth for 15 seconds before mixing it vigorously. Mix the ingredients slowly. It should form a smooth, yogurt-like consistency. Make sure there are no lumps.

Step 2. Apply the mask to dry hair using a medium-sized brush, working your way in sections across your scalp – like you would if you were dying your roots. Once you’ve covered your scalp with the mask, tie up your hair (apply a shower cap if you like) and leave the mask to work for 20 to 30 minutes.

Step 3. Wash out the mask until the water runs clear, then shampoo your hair thoroughly. You can shampoo twice to ensure no mask remains, then follow with conditioner on your ends.

The result is all traces of oil or any waxy buildup are completely gone. Flakes from dandruff are wiped out, and the scalp feels balanced. It also makes your hair feel super lightweight and soft and gives your hair natural volume. We recommend doing this mask once a month to keep your scalp in top condition.

If your scalp is super flaky or you’ve experienced the waxy buildup on your hair that doesn’t go away with washing, then you should definitely visit a derm to see if you have seborrheic dermatitis. A derm will be able to advise you on the best medicated shampoos, and also prescribe an ointment to improve seborrheic dermatitis. Let us know if you’ve experienced this before!

Did you try the Aztec Secrets Indian Healing Clay Mask for the hair– it works for facial but does it work for your hair type!? Lemme know about your experience….

HAIR ACCESSORY SPOTLIGHT: SOIELI HAIR SLIP

Published on by Lee5 Comments

Hair accessories are timeless and a fashion statement that we can always get down with. You’ll always need something to pull your hair back during a workout class, or twirl into a bun when you haven’t had the time to wash or blow dry your hair. It’s time for you to ditch that lame elastic hair tie and give that messy bun or half pony some flair!

If you love unique and beautiful hair accessories as much as we do, then you’ll surely appreciate this wearable piece of art. Handmade in NYC, these hair ties by Soieli (pronounced Swa-lee) are individually hand-painted and made from 100% silk. The silk not only serves an aesthetic purpose, but it also helps protect your hair against breaking and damage. Unlike the eye-sore of elastic that hangs out on your wrist sometimes, these beauties are disguised as arm accessories that are sure to catch some compliments whether in or out of your hair.

Soieli is a New York-based hair accessory brand born out of the desire to make hair accessories as beautiful as jewelery. Designer, Founder and CEO Sonali Karmarkar; effortlessly marries fine art with fashion, transforming hair accessories into silk canvases for her art. Soieli weaves stylistic inspiration from the impressionist era with urban street art, creating a unique, wearable art piece perfect for the modern woman.

Soieli (pronounced swa-lee) comes from a swirl of the French words soie, meaning silk, and soleil, meaning sun. We strive to bring light into customers’ lives through beautiful hand-painted silk.

Soieli specializes in hand-painted silk hair slips that are not your average scrunchie. The brand’s name, Soieli, comes from “a swirl of two French words soie, meaning silk, and soleil, meaning sun,” reflecting Soieli’s mission to use hand-painted silk to bring light into people’s lives. Soieli aims to help busy women easily elevate their look through beautiful hair accessories for everyday elegance. Each piece is crafted and hand-painted in Sonali Karmarkar NYC studio as a wearable art piece, guaranteeing you a unique hair accessory that is literally made for you. Designed to promote hair health and prevent breakage, Soieli’s pieces are made from 100% silk and perfectly complement other products to care for curly hair.

  • Soieli comes in two different colors.

We love the signature Gold Water design, a blend of impressionist art and street art for a feminine meets urban look, which adds a beautiful gold iridescence to one’s locks. Pieces come in two sizes based on one’s hair thickness (yay hair inclusivity!) and are priced at $28 per piece.

FOLLOW @Soielisilk
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Tone It Up: DIY Avocado Hair and Face Mask

Published on by Lee5 Comments

Love reading articles from, Tone It Up! We’ll be sharing Tone It Up’s best fitness and healthy living tips. In today’s, Serena and Katrina will be showing you how to add shine to your hair and a glow to your skin with two of their favorite DIY mask recipes:

Hi everyone, it’s Katrina and Serena here from Tone It Up! Today we’re excited to be telling you about two DIY masks you can make for your hair and face. They are both so easy to make and for when you are in the mood for a relaxing evening at home. Plus, they will freshen up your pretty locks and clear your beautiful skin! The key ingredients in both of these masks are avocado and apple cider vinegar, both of which will make your hair shiny and soft and add a glow to your skin.

Here’s how to make them (be sure to pin the image below to remember it for later!)…

To recap, here’s how to make these masks:

Avocado Hair Mask

You will need:

  • 1 banana
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 1 tsp olive oil

Instructions:

  1. Blend all the ingredients together and massage into your hair from roots to ends, covering thoroughly.
  2. Let sit for 30 minutes.
  3. Shampoo well, then rinse with apple cider vinegar.


Avocado Face Mask

You will need:

  • ½ ripe avocado
  • 1 tbsp of honey
  • 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar

Instructions:

  1. Blend the ingredients together or mash in a bowl.
  2. Apply to your face and leave on for 15 minutes. Focus on your breathing and relax while letting it set.
  3. Rinse off with cool water and a damp cloth.

We love the avocado in these masks because it helps to moisturize and rejuvenate your hair and skin. The healthy fats act as an all-natural and super hydrating moisturizer. And let’s not forget about the apple cider vinegar (one of our favorite elixirs). You might remember us talking about the benefits of apple cider vinegar here on BeautyLeeBar.com couple weeks ago. Not only is it good for your body, it’s great for your hair. It closes the cuticles, allowing your locks to lay flat for shinier hair that’s easy to style. It also acts as an astringent that clears your skin as well.

Now that you’ve read a bit about two of our favorite masks, we want to know…

Will you give our DIY avocado hair and face masks a try?

Let us know how they work for you in the comments below! And don’t forget to pin the image above so you will have it for later 🙂

XO Team BLB

P.S. If you liked this post, be sure to check out last week guest blog about apple cider vinegar by clicking here.

“Just Cause” Gift Guide

Published on by Lee2 Comments

Holiday shopping can be so painful, amiright?? Running around town, looking for the perfect gifts for everyone, waiting in long lines, who needs it? It’s simply extra stress and takes away from time we could spend enjoying this magical season. I’ve made holiday shopping super easy with my no fail Gift Guide plus you can also use this guide to give someone a “JUST BECAUSE” present. Find something for everyone on your list, no matter what they’re into.

Sunday Forever:

Want to give a little magic? You can’t go wrong with Sunday Forever. They have an amazing selection from kimonos to candles and from crystals to fragrances and jewelry. They also offer gift sets, like the Good Vibes set. Bonus: They come packed in the cutest little boxes!

Contents include: 24K gold filled, adjustable evil eye bracelet, California White sage, and their “go sage yourself” lighter in a pouch. It wouldn’t hurt to get a little something for yourself too, right?

SugarBear Gummies:

Need something for the person who puts health on the top of their New Years resolution list? SugarBear has awesome vitamins that are completely personalized. Whether you want to give someone the gift of more energy, great skin, or even better health overall, they have a vitamin or set of vitamins for you! Health starts from the inside out and the new year is a great time to start a new regime.

How does the Women’s Multi differ from the Hair Vitamins?
SugarBearHair Hair Vitamins contain 13 vitamins and minerals to support normal healthy hair and nail growth.
Women’s Multi contains 5 nutrients to support healthy skin, 5 nutrients to support hair and nails, 6 nutrients to support energy for a total of 16 nutrients designed to promote total body wellness.

Can I eat the Women’s Multi and SugarBearHair Hair Vitamins together?  
Yes! They’re a perfect combination!

HANDMD SKINCARE:

In search of something for the skin care obsessed? Hand MD, has an incredible luxurious online store, which happens to be one of my new favorite shops and has a wide variety of cleansers, lotions and scrubs that are guaranteed to be free from nasties and totally toxin free. Can’t decide? Get a Ultimate Hand Care Bundle! Honestly, who doesn’t love shopping, especially when someone else is footing the bill. Check out their instagram, they are always having a great sale.

Cleanse, exfoliate, treat and moisturize your hands with the full anti-aging hand care collection. This bundle features Daily Dual Repair, Exfoliating Peel and Rehydration Cream along with the Hand Cleanser scent of your choice. 

What makes it so good? 
– Gentle ingredients Free of Mineral Oil, Paraben Free, Vegan, and Cruelty Free 
– Anti-aging elements Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, Sea Kelp, Jojoba Oil 
– Moisturizers Even better than your store-bought hand creams

” Our hands give us power. They provide us with expression. We use their strength to convey a message. You entertain with your hands. Cook. Clean. Eat. Work. Deliver.”

Hand MD has combined powerful anti-aging ingredients with luxurious moisturizers in each products to help you challenge fine lines and wrinkles. You’ll discover benefits of softer, smoother, radiant looking hands in just 8 weeks.

If you really think about it, we do everything with our hands. They make everything possible.

Until Hand MD, there hasn’t been something this revolutionary on the market that could help repair them. The main goal is to bring awareness to anti-aging and give women of any age the opportunity to reawaken their hands, so they look the way they feel inside.

Oral Care:

Need a gift for the person who has everything? Do they have a at home teeth whitening kit? Probably not. Check out White with Style to snag one. They also have the kits in different flavors. They now sell teeth whitening kits with charcoal, toothpaste and brush set too. It’s the most popular teeth whitening company backed up by top dental hygienists. Plus, their customer service is top notched and have a kit for everyone even smokers and coffee drinkers. Oh and also BLB readers get an exclusive discount! Enter code CRYSTALEE to get 90% off your enter order. You’re welcome!

Everyone loves cashmere right? It makes for the perfect and totally lux gift! Our friends at Naked Cashmere have something for her, him, and even our furry friends. From robes to slippers, they are a tad bit okay maybe very expensive but if you have a special person who loves cashmere or if you want to treat yourself then the price doesn’t matter.

Need something for a person who is hard to shop for? Get them a book or 2. Find out what type of books they enjoy and who is their favorite author. Make sure him or she doesn’t have that book first without giving away the surprise. While you are at it, get their favorite snack and their favorite candle. A book, snacks and a candle with a distinctive smell, especially one that is pleasant sounds like a great gift to me!

What are some of your favorite gifts that you received or gave?

Let us know in the comments!