We're
back from vacation! Well, actually we at Believe are only taking a
vacation from our vacation. We are open NOW (call soon!) and then we are
here for the long (hot) haul until our next break, August 29th-September 4th.
We
had a great time on our vacation and hope you have one on yours, but if you
have overdone the sun a bit, here's a few remedies to help repair the damage.
Let's start with hair, because that's what we do...
- Sun-damaged hair: Those harmful rays wreck havoc with hair, drying it out and stripping it of all natural oils. If you've overdone the sun, make an appointment with us here at Believe for a deep conditioning treatment. We'll give your thirsty hair a deep drink of good humectants to bring all that shine back and leave your hair manageable, glossy and ready to show off at all the picnics, BBQs and outdoor parties left to come during Summer 2012.
We at Believe will also send you home
with some fabulous products to help you win the battle of dry hair. Try
Aestlance Butter chock full of healing herbs. A little dab will not only give
your hair a drink, but you can rub the rest on your elbows, hands, heals and
all your scaly sunburnt bits. Another summer must-have is our new product
line from Italy, Kaaral Real Purify, with royal jelly in the shampoo,
conditioner, leave-in solution and treatment vials perfect for dry dehydrated
hair. And from a continent who knows a thing or two about sun, Africa
provides their precious gift of Agadir Oil--found in the fabulous Moisture
Masque to help moisturize sun-damaged hair in a luxurious way. (You'll feel
like Cleopatra every time you apply a precious drop.)
And because we care about every part of you here at Believe, we'll share a few
other secrets. Here's some natural remedies for your sunburnt skin:
- Sea Buckthorn oil: Dilute a few drops with olive oil and rub into the skin. Repeat two, eight and 24 hours later. Sea Buckthorn oil extract helps heal the burn itself.
- Chickweed: Has a cooling effect on sunburn. Pulling some up from the ground and applying it to the affected area or crush with a mortar and pestle into a paste and bandage it on the burn.
- Echinacea: Slows down the destruction of collagen, which keeps your skin elastic. Make some Echinacea tea, let it cool, and dab on skin.
- Calendula and Carrot Oils: Calendula or Carrot oil reduces inflammation and stimulates the growth of new skin cells. Mix 20 drops of oil with 4 ounces of water and dab on skin with cotton balls. Both oils will help soften and reduce the pain. Carrot oil even is used to treat pre-cancerous spots on skin.
- Witch Hazel: A great everyday toner for normal skin, it also helps sooth sunburn. Just soak some cotton and swab the skin.
- Green Tea: On the go? Soak some bags in cold water and pat then wherever you are burnt (yes, even your eyelids.) Tea fights free radicals your skin produces when exposed to UV radiation.
- Cucumbers: Cucumber slices reduce swelling and sooth the burn. Put them right on your skin and rest for a while.
- Aloe: Protects the skins from the inflammation caused by sunburn. The gel from inside the plants leaves should be applied several times a day until the burn is gone.
- Other sunburn soothers: Try spraying any of these onto your skin:
- Plain yogurt, sour cream or buttermilk (rinse after 20 minutes)
- Tomato juice
- Apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon diluted in 1 cup water.) Yes, you'll smell like an Easter egg but the scent will dissipate. Old wives say vinegar turns your sunburn brown overnight.
- Take a tepid bath: Add plantain (which contains the proven healer of skin cells, allantoin) or cornstarch, baking soda, oatmeal or lavender oil (which has both anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.) Keep the soaking down to 20 minutes, pat dry, and rub coconut oil deep into the skin.
- Potatoes for pain: Take two potatoes and blend in a food processor liquid. Pat the burned areas with the pulverized potatoes. Wait until the potatoes dry, and then take a cool shower. Or apply the mash to a clean gauze and place on the burn. Change the dressing every hour.
There
you have some of Believe's best tips if you find
yourself a Crispy Critter this summer. Be sure to call soon to make that
appointment for a deep conditioning treatment (and bring your vacation photos
to show us! We miss the beach already.)