Category Archives: Beauty

Bald Head Care, Beauty, Beauty Change, Chemotherapy, Conversations, Healthcare

Breast Cancer Beauty

Leave a comment
Photo by Yuri Adriel from Pexels
Photo by Yuri Adriel from Pexels

Oftentimes Cancer patients face challenge with their skin and beauty care caused by the chemo, radiation, and scarring, among other things. The treatments can cause issues women may not be familiar with, nor, how to manage them. I searched the www for some support on how to manage some of the difficulties women face for which there is support.

Pexels.com

* The Cancer Horizons website provides support with information, free products and services. These are links to websites and services, which provide free makeup sessions, wigs, and even free makeup samples. It’s all designed to support the cancer patient through the cycles of getting well. Try exploring the website yourself by clicking this link. https://www.cancerhorizons.com/cancer-products/skin-care/

Photo by Mwabonje from Pexels
Photo by Mwabonje from Pexels

You may also want to explore the
* Look Good Feel Better website which supports women navigating cancer treatment by learning how to enhance their beauty routines . The website is supported by certified professionals who volunteer their services to support cancer patients with guided lessons. Due to Covid19 – currently sessions are provided virtually. Click this link to learn more – https://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/virtual-workshops/

If you want to participate in supporting these organizations use the links below.

https://www.cancerhorizons.com/become-a-sponsor/

https://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/donors/donate/


Aromatherapy, Beauty, Conversations, COVID-19, pandemic, Sleep

Sleepless in Covid19 Times

2 Comments

Photo by Vitor Koshimoto from Pexels

How are you sleeping these days? Recently I have had some issues with getting a ‘good nights sleep’, and I am not the only one I know who is having this problem in Covid19 times.

Lack of ‘Beauty Sleep’, seems to be the least of our concerns these days  as we attempt to figure out how to live and prepare our lives, and family members safely for this challenging Covid19 period.

Photo by Taryn Elliott from Pexels

Sleep has been determined as therapeutic to our wellbeing. It supports a healthy immune system; physical health; emotional wellness, and more.

Continue reading Sleepless in Covid19 Times →

Beauty, Causes of Hair Loss, COVID-19

Hairblues in Pandemic Times

Leave a comment

 

Photo by Churckyno Bryant from Pexels

Thankfully, as a society we have progressed to a consciousness where a woman who identifies with her baldness in a way that she feels depicts beauty, is a welcome change to the hair loss challenge.

Nevertheless, it does not negate the fact that when a woman is confronted with unexpected hair loss, when she has had no previous symptoms – for example, Thyroid issues  it can be alarming.

For a number of women, who have had the recent Pandemic virus for more than a few weeks, Covid19 has been the suspected cause  for some of them losing “globs” of their hair.  A travel nurse, Juli Fisher, reported to WebMD News that she noticed she was losing “globs” of hair in the shower several weeks into her Covid19 illness. She  later  learned about others who were suffering similarly  from  a FaceBook group the “Long Haulers”.  Dermatologists refer to this type of hair loss as telogen effluvium, a temporary condition due to physical or emotional stress.  Oftentimes the hair grows back within a year.  Please use the links below to read details about this condition.
Continue reading Hairblues in Pandemic Times →

Beauty

Missing Your Lip Balm & Lipstick?

Leave a comment

During the age of the CoronaVirus19 those of us who like lip balm and lipstick have found it rather annoying to leave it on our masks.

It may seem that this issue is really connected to our ‘vanity’, so I thought I would check why we like lip balm, and whether there is a reason to wear it more than to support our vanity.  It turns out that I was in for a surprise. One reason to wear lip balm is to protect your lips from the sun (it is important to wear one that has SPF protection of 15 or better).  Keep in mind that in addition, lipstick  is not equal to lip balm.  In fact, you should put lip balm underneath your lipstick as a protective base.

♦ You can read more about why lip balm is good for your lips here:
https://www.dentalassociates.com/blog/lip-balm-good-you

♦ Use these links to learn more about the best SPF lip balms:
https://www.prevention.com/beauty/skin-care/g26934681/best-lip-balm-with-spf/

♦ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/best-moisturizing-lip-products-under-face-masks_l_5ee9214bc5b6cef88dd7b39b

Continue reading Missing Your Lip Balm & Lipstick? →

Aromatherapy, Beauty, In the Know, Parents

Hydrosols: Plant Therapy and Essential Oils

Leave a comment

Since the summer season of 2020 has started, let me share with you something that I truly enjoy  at this time of year –
Hydrosols aka Hydrolats.

HairBlues  followers know that I am an essential oils enthusiast, and that I use them as a Complementary Assisted Method (CAM) for wellness enrichment.   What makes essential oils even more attractive to me is that every time I attend a webinar about them, people from all over the world are also attending, trying to figure out how, when, and why these “gifts” from plants can help us.  To quote the News Correspondent, Rachel Maddow, “Why is that?”

In her book “Hydrosols, The Next Aromatherapy”, Suzanne Catty refers to aromatherapy as a branch of “phytotherapy” (plant therapy).
The study of aromatherapy continues to give me  “Aha moments“.  In my research I find that the story continues – that essential oils can provide therapeutic benefits, which make one feel and live better.  Suzanne Catty defines hydrosols as the equivalent of a homeopathic version of essential oils.  To quote her, “Hydrosols are the condensate water coproduced during the steam-or hydro-distillation of plant material for aromatherapeutic purposes.” Continue reading Hydrosols: Plant Therapy and Essential Oils →

Beauty, COVID-19

Beauty & Wellness Rescue

Leave a comment

chaos-645336_1920I must admit that I have been perplexed about what to write for my May post.  Given the chaotic time we are all confronting with the Coronavirus challenge, it seemed impossible to figure out what could be important enough to share via Beauty Topics.

On further reflection, I decided that it is important that we not lose ourselves in this formidable challenge by denying ourselves self pampering and what we do ‘normally’ (observing certain restrictions). A sense of continuity is most important when our world has been turned upside down.  It’s the little personal rituals that keep us centered when we are figuring out our new terrain.  In keeping with that idea, I think taking care of ourselves should include how we look on the outside, and how we feel on the inside as we navigate through life’s eruptions – new and old.

Below are some suggestions for you to explore, and to help you look and feel better.
mandala-1996751_1920
For your body 
♦ https://www.corepoweryogaondemand.com/keep-up-your-practice
♦ https://www.wphospital.org/blog/march-2020/wellness-at-home-recommended-sites-for-you

For your makeup
♦ https://www.covergirl.com/en_us/makeup-tips?fid=cg-how-to
For Entertainment 
♦ https://www.alvinailey.org/performances-tickets/ailey-all-access?utm_source=aaadt_eblast_482020&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=allaccess_divining

For your mind and well-being
♦ https://nycaroma.com/2020/05/12/a-guided-to-your-senses-aural-meditation/

Wishing you Peace & Wellness,
Judith

 

Beauty, Beauty Change, Conversations, COVID-19

HairBlues: To our Professionals with Gratitude

Leave a comment

hairblues thanksThose who rely on hair salon specialists, flexible schedulers, and beauty professionals are facing major adjustments in managing their own hair and other things at this time. We are learning all over again what brought us to the salons in the first place:  we are not nearly as proficient at performing those beauty tasks as the professionals whom we rely on. However, rather than feeling sorry for this “beauty reality check”, it occurred to me that this might be a good time to offer sincere thanks to those specialists who take such good care of us. Have you tried lately to do your nails, hand or feet, or tried waxing your own face, or managing your hair so that it looks more than just presentable? These are not welcome challenges.

 In recent days, the people who have jobs in hair/beauty salons have not only “NOT” been able to give us luxury treatments, to which we have become accustomed, some of them may even have been stripped of their livelihoods by way of collateral damage.salon-1923165_1920After all, this is exactly the kind of  work where the professional performs in close proximity with the client.  With little to no “prior notice”, COVID19, has intruded itself into that very private space. Until the last possible appointments, these reliable professionals continued to entertain our shared stories, our “prepared reality”,  by applying their creative talents to our faces, hair, nails, and above all to our egos. Now, many of them find themselves in the position of having to apply for unemployment benefits. Some are wondering, no doubt, how they will manage the near and distant futures of their bill payments, childcare, etc.  For some it is the challenge of a lifetime.curler-2224006_1920 (3)

I searched the www for some ideas on what these beauty professionals suggest that their customers do during this crisis.  I am impressed with their care and attention to our needs even during this period.

Suggestions:
♦ you can manage your hair until the salons are open again.
♦ there are ways for you to maintain your hair color.

Continue reading HairBlues: To our Professionals with Gratitude →

Aromatherapy, Beauty, Conversations, COVID-19, Healthcare

Time Out for May Chang

Leave a comment

Hello, aerial-view-of-green-and-flower-field-3908916

The news lately about COVID-19 has been disturbing. However, I want to take a “mindful time-out“  to put  visual concepts of beauty in this post to remind us that our planet is still filled with beauty. And, once again to remind us that we must try to see more than our current troubles.heart oceans

As some of you know from following HairBlues, I am a certified aromatherapist, grounded in the wellness remedies of plant therapy and essential oils.   So, in this post I want to introduce you to the essential oil, ‘May Chang‘.   In my own experience, one whiff of ‘May Chang‘ essential oil quickly reminds me of peace and calmness. I am aware that because I live on this planet, there are those who distill the plants and flowers. Their work and process bring this fine oil to me. I am further comforted by the accumulated  knowledge of those who work with essential oils at a level that I have a newfound respect for.  In the meantime I benefit from that knowledge source: one can find solace even when there is much at stake by taking a “mindful time-out“ to breathe. Continue reading Time Out for May Chang →

Beauty, cosmetics, cruelty-free

Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Bill for 2020

Leave a comment

It’s a brand new year, and  brand new times  for cosmetics in California. That’s right!

Some of you may remember my post in September 2018, when I reported that a bill was introduced by Former Governor  of California, Jerry Brown to BAN animal testing for cosmetics. https://hairblues.me/2018/09/30/animals-will-be-freed-from-testing-cosmetics/

It turns out that animal testing cosmetics is not a requirement to prove that cosmetics are safe.  The new  law has come  into effect as of January 1, 2020. This new law bans the sale or import of animal tested cosmetics.  In addition, the states of Nevada, and Illinois have joined in the push to BAN animal testing on cosmetics.  This is the first such law in the United States.  https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/02/01/business/ap-us-animal-tested-cosmetics-bans.html

Continue reading Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Bill for 2020 →

Beauty, eyelashes

Eyelash, Eyebrow Beauty & Safety

2 Comments

Happy New Year!

I am remembering  the  holidays: all of my friends, family members who were looking their very beautiful best for the parties, and the holiday festivities.  Some of the women had VERY LONG EYELASHES, which they had put on cosmetically with a technician’s help, who had glued  them  on individually.

I decided to research what safeguards we should take when enhancing our eye beauty.    After all, our ability to grow eyelashes has to last us the rest of our lives.  Eyelashes actually perform various functions: for example, protecting us from foreign particles, and infections.  And, do you know that  our eyebrows protect our vision  from sweat and moisture?
Continue reading Eyelash, Eyebrow Beauty & Safety →