hygiene/beauty masterpost
i’m done with finals thank the lawd so i thought i’d compile a list of useful stuff and personal advice regarding personal hygiene or whatever :))
when showering, try to keep shampoo away from your ends. they dry out much more quickly, and shampoo strips away any natural oils or moisture in your ends, meaning your hair will look frizzy even after conditioner. the hair closer to your scalp is the only part that needs to be cleaned anyway. blake lively, the goddess of hair herself, swears by this.
don’t condition your hair near your scalp!! this will inevitably create product/oil buildup and will make your hair greasy and flat. only use it on your ends (for longer hair, start at the nape of ur neck and work toward the ends). also, let your conditioner sit for a minute or two after applying. i usually shave or wash my face while it sits so i make sure it has time to work its magic.
instead of wrapping wet hair in a towel twist, try the old t-shirt twist! t-shirts are much gentler and less abrasive against delicate wet hair, which, you guessed it, reduces frizz.
when brushing wet hair, start at the ends and work your way up. if you have to put in product before you brush it, like me, use a different brush at the scalp to reduce any product buildup/greasiness/flatness.
don’t go to bed with your hair wet. not only can you develop mold/bacteria in your hair if it stays wet too long (GROSS), wet hair is a lot more prone to breakage (meaning the more you toss and turn, the frizzier your hair will be). the main reason i advise against it is because it makes your scalp itch like crazy and can make your roots look oily the next day.
please use heat protectants before drying/heat styling your hair!!
if you have dandruff, get some selsun blue or neutrogena T-gel shampoo. they will save your life and your scalp.
don’t use scalding hot water when showering, ESPECIALLY if you have colored hair. not only does it basically strip color from your hair, it’s bad for your hair texture and health. try to use warm to cool water (the colder the water, the shinier your hair!! it helps seal the hair shaft).
if your hair lacks body, especially near the scalp, it could be the result of product buildup. try using a clarifying shampoo once every two weeks or so depending on your hair’s thickness.
if your hair is still flat, try changing your part! it instantly changes your look and can immediately add volume.
try to get your hair trimmed every 6 months, at the least.
sea salt spray creates instant body and texture on most hair types. it is especially great if you have wavy to curly hair or short hair. one of my favorites is organix moroccan oil sea salt spray– you can find it at drugstores for a great price and it works beautifully, plus the moroccan oil adds shine and softness. another good and even cheaper one is nym sea salt spray (also available at most drugstores).
coconut oil is a godsend. use it as a hair mask, an after-shower detangler, a product in place of smoothing creme, or put a tiny bit on your fingers to smooth flyaways. you can basically use it for whatever u want. just make sure it’s organic or else you’re not helping your hair much lol. if you can splurge on it, argan oil is an even better option for the same uses.
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how to cut your own hair at home (at your own risk, of course!)
homemade hair masks: 1 | 2 | 3
homemade brown sugar scalp scrub
how to french braid your own hair
diy: how to go from dark to blonde hair the healthy way (great tutorial if you’re bleaching your hair or dyeing it a pastel color!!)
ion professional hair care products (dyes, toners, etc – cheap but amazing quality!)
use an unscented pH balanced bar soap, such as dove or aveeno, to prevent dryness, acne, or any harsh chemicals from damaging your skin. this is especially important when washing your underarms, ya bizness, and any other sensitive areas.
liquid body wash actually tends to clog pores more than bar soap, so if you have body acne, try cleansing with bar soap instead.
the best way to get rid of body acne is to use a spray with salicylic acid after drying your skin post-shower. my favorite is acnefree, but neutrogena body clear and nature’s cure are also great. if you have long hair, try to keep it off your back/shoulders, especially when wet/after applying product.
if you have keratosis pilaris, also known as KP (google for images), the best way to get rid of it is to exfoliate with either a sugar scrub or a gentle exfoliator in the shower, then moisturize immediately after you dry off. it’s really just the result of dry skin, so if you maintain it you could get rid of it. this goes for dry skin in general.
if you shave, always buy men’s razors. you get a much closer and smoother shave since they’re made for faces instead of legs. i know they’re not cute or colorful, but you can get more razors as well as more/better blades for less money. i can get 5 men’s disposable razors with 4 blades each for $8, instead of 3 women’s razors with 3 blades each for like $11. it’s a conspiracy. buy men’s razors please. dismantle the constructs of gender
moisturize when you get out of the shower, after you dry off a little. it will help your skin retain moisture better and make your skin softer, since water and soap dry it out. i usually use aveeno, eucerin, aquaphor body lotion since they’re all great for sensitive skin and absorb quickly.
please shower after you work out or sweat a lot. you will prevent body acne, bacteria buildup, yeast infections, smelling horrendous, and even staph infection (particularly if you go to the gym). you don’t have to wash your hair every time unless you’re drenched in sweat but please shower.
underarms are sensitive children who will throw tantrums if you don’t pay them proper attention. try to find deodorant without aluminum or any weird preservatives to prevent rashes. i recommend tom’s deodorant or making your own.
if you have really dry, cracking feet, try putting vaseline or a thick lotion (i use burt’s bees coconut foot creme) on your feet, put on socks, and keep them on overnight. it will feel a little weird and squishy at first, but after a few days you will definitely find it worth the weirdness!!
diy recipe for the greatest body scrub ever (literal magic i’m so serious)
diy bath soaks: 1 | 2 | 3
i cannot stress enough how amazing coconut oil is as a makeup remover (especially wonderful for eye makeup!!). just make sure you wash your face afterward as coconut oil can be comedogenic for some skin types.
if you have one of those god-awful huge, painful blemishes, mix coconut oil or argan oil with some 100% tea tree oil (dilute the tea tree oil like this or you WILL get a rash) and use it as a spot treatment. the oil balances the oils on your skin, while the tea tree oil kills bacteria. please note that this may not work for everyone as everyone has different skin.
be gentle when dealing with your skin, especially with pulling and tugging around your eyes. you will thank me when you’re older.
don’t listen to vogue or cosmo and don’t start using anti-aging products in your twenties. please. you don’t need it. do incorporate sun protection into your daily routine. get a moisturizer with spf in it to protect your skin and use it in the mornings. this will prevent wrinkles and, more importantly, skin cancer.
wash your face first thing in the morning to get rid of all the nasty excess oil you produce in your sleep. wash it before you go to bed (after removing makeup) too.
after washing your face, apply a toner (or, if you have acne, a treatment containing salicylic acid. i use clearisil 5 in 1 pads or neutrogena natural spot treatment), let it dry, and then moisturize. this is so important. i don’t care who you are or your skin type. when you apply acidic products or wash your face without moisturizing it, your skin gets stripped of natural oils/moisture and then panics by creating an excess of oil, meaning you get greasy skin and acne. get a moisturizer that works with your skin type and i promise you will notice a difference if you don’t already use it.
if you wear makeup and want to go for a quick/easy/natural/no-makeup look, or if you don’t have time to do your full face, or if you think you look dead bc you didn’t sleep, you don’t need to do a bunch of extra stuff. just cover up any acne with concealer, put on some blush and mascara, and then leave everything else alone. blush is magical and will instantly make you look fresh and young and alive and pretty.
don’t touch your acne. the more you touch it, the worse it gets. if you have to…pop it (i’m sorry that’s so gross i couldn’t think of another way to say it), just make sure you wash your hands first and disinfect/put acne treatment on it directly afterward. STOP trying to do anything if you see blood or if it gets too painful.
clean your phone screen and glasses frames with an alcohol swab every few days to keep your face clean.
please, for the love of god, don’t put lemon juice or baking soda on your face. it is so corrosive. don’t listen to pinterest. also, don’t use sugar scrub or body exfoliator on your face as it’s way more delicate than your body’s skin.
if you get a lot of chin-area acne, it could be a hormonal issue. talk to your doctor about birth control, and if you’re already taking it then make sure you’re taking it regularly (which you should be anyway omg)
wash/change your sheets and pillowcase(s) every two weeks at the VERY LEAST. imagine how much nastiness gets on your pillowcase from hair products, oil, dead skin…i don’t even wanna think about what gets on it. plus, fresh sheets always make everything better :)
drink lots of water every day. your skin needs it.
above all, love your skin. be gentle to it. treat it well. it will love you back if you do.
diy face masks: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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edit: i made some changes to the post and deleted one or two suggestions as several people have reminded me that coconut oil is not a viable option for everyone’s skin type. it can be comedogenic for oilier skin types so please use at your own risk. argan oil is non-comedogenic but also more expensive than coconut oil, so if you can spare the extra cash it is absolutely worth it.
please remember that these are all suggestions. if you already have a routine that works for you and keeps your skin and hair how you like it, then don’t feel like you have to change it based on my advice. this is a list i put together based on changes i made that have worked very successfully for me and others, as well as advice i took from beauty experts, and i wanted to share them with anyone having similar problems as i did before i made said changes. remember to always do what makes you feel best!
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