Baking Soda for Hair

I was researching for a way to clean my scalp effectively. I have dry hair that get pretty unruly, but have a scalp that gets very greasy within 32 hours! So, it gets very difficult to wash my hair as when I clean my scalp, my hair gets even drier.

I started looking for ways to avoid damaging my hair but keeping my scalp clean and some experts suggested using two different shampoos – one for the scalp and one for the hair. It works out when I have a lot of time, but its way too time consuming and too cumbersome!

Then I found a lot of people online going no poo… which means no shampoo or conditioner or any product – basically no chemicals at all. They wash their hair with Baking soda and rinse with vinegar or lime juice. Apparently it works wonders. I’m still a little apprehensive about going without products totally. I’ve got hair till my waist, live in a city that’s pretty polluted, and have dry hair. My hair needs its protection.

But, I decided to see how well this baking soda for hair thing works. So I got some, let my scalp get greasy – didn’t wash it for 2 days. Then, Instead of shampoo and conditioner, I used just the baking soda. I mixed about 2 teaspoons of baking soda in a cup of water and used it as a shampoo. The feeling was pretty weird! Especially when the wet residue fell on my hair… But I still rubbed it into my scalp and hair and washed it off with hot water.

I must say, I’m amazed that my scalp is actually clean! And so is my hair. I didn’t use a conditioner and the hair isn’t in bad shape. Yeah, it is still dry and I had to use a serum, but it is soft. I’m very impressed that I didn’t have to use a harsh shampoo to get my scalp clear. I will continue to try it out and post my experience, but for now, baking soda for hair gets 2 thumbs up from me! :)

Beyond step 3

Now, I’m sure you are following the 3 steps of skin care religiously. If not, then that is the basic necessity, start immediately and come back to this post when the 3 step process has become a habit. For those who are, read on!

The 3 step process is just the basic routine. It helps prevent further damage to your skin. But what about all the damage that has already been done? What do you do if you have acne? What about brown spots? Blemishes? Discoloration? Wrinkles?

For all these problems that your skin faces, you need different products that target your specific problem. For wrinkles, you would need an ant aging cream. This could be a separate treatment by itself or you could swap your normal moisturizer for one that has retinol and vitamin A/E ingredients. For problems such as brown spots, discoloration etc. you would need a good sunscreen as well as products specifically aimed at reversing sun damage. Coming to problems like acne and blemishes, what you need is oil free products, a very thorough cleansing routine and a gel/lotion based moisturizer so that accumulated oil is removed and pores don’t get further blocked.

Over and above all this, you should definitely use a good sunscreen 20 minutes prior to going out in the sun. This will prevent any further damage to your skin.

What Every Skin Needs…

Whether or not you have skin trouble, and whatever type of skin trouble you have, the basics are a must! The routine of cleanse, tone and moisturize is what keeps your skin in order and prevents (further) damage. You might say people never followed a routine before and they had fantastic skin. Even your Mom might not have followed the routine and her skin is perfect… But times have changed. The environment has changed. Pollution has increased. The wind has become harsher. The sun has become harsher. The water contains more chemicals than before. Our food has become more toxic than before. The makeup we use contains all sorts of harmful chemicals. And this is all just the common knowledge stuff. We don’t even know what else could be contributing to the mess our skin is becoming!

Therefore, the skin needs proper cleansing that clears the skin of makeup, dirt, and grime accumulated on it. Then the skin needs toning which is actually just a continuation of the cleansing process. It removes dead skin gently and closes open pores. It also prepares the skin to absorb moisturizer. The next thing the skin needs is nourishment. The skin needs to be moisturized. Every type of skin needs moisture – even oily skin. You just need to choose the right products based on your skin type. More on that in another post…

Till then, make sure to follow the three step process J

Beauty...

Hi everyone!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – it’s a famous saying. When you look at yourself in the mirror, do you see beauty? Or do you see flaws that need to be corrected? I for one see beauty. I believe that I am truly beautiful! And that’s what every person should be seeing in the mirror… a beautiful person staring back at them J

Now that is at a much higher level… It is about self confidence and self image.

Apart from seeing the beautiful face staring back at me, I also tend to notice the odd pimple, or blemish. And that’s ok! A beautiful person can have skin trouble and bad hair days… Noticing problems is natural and trying to find a solution for it is too!

After all, a fantastic body, flawless skin, and lustrous hair just add to the already beautiful person staring back at you from the mirror J

What Every Girl needs

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Hey everyone! welcome to my blog!!!

I started this new blog to keep track of what I learn and also to share it with ya'll! This blog is gonna be about everything a girl needs to know / talk about :)

Feel free to join in on the discussions

- Sirisha