Beauty Tips Tuesday - Give your locks some love!

Whether your hair is long or short, straight or curly, thick or thin, natural or chemically processed; harsh Winter conditions can take a toll on one's lovely locks. But taking care of your tresses doesn't have to cost a fortune. A few ingredients from your kitchen is all you need to get your strands back into shape. This time of year most hair is in desperate need of moisture. Frizzies, static, and dullness tend to be prevalent, and many women slather on heavy products that coat and further weigh down their hair making it even more lifeless and dull. To fix this, you need to do just a few things.

Do an apple cider vinegar hair rinse (regular vinegar works well too). I know . . . vinegar smells something awful, but once it dries you can't smell it. Why Vinegar you ask? Well, vinegar removes build-up and residue from the hair shaft and closes the hair's cuticles. Additionally, vinegar restores natural pH balances and helps prevent/soothes itchy scalps often caused by dry wintry weather.

Directions: Mix 1-2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar with 3 cups distilled water. (I say distilled because a lot of women have heavy minerals in their water and this too contributes to build up on the hair shaft. Pour over your hair as the final rinse. It will leave your hair feeling soft (and stinky until dry). Great for all hair types.

Do a rosemary olive oil conditioning treatment. OK. This one smells way better! Olive oil and rosemary stimulates, nourishes, conditions, and improves the strength and elasticity of your hair.
Directions:

• 1 bunch of rosemary leaves
• 1/2 cup olive oil (soybean oil works too)
• plastic bag/plastic wrap
  
• warm towel
• bowl
• strainer
  

Take the rosemary sprigs and remove the leaves from the stems. (discard the stems)
Combine rosemary leaves and oil in a small pan/double broiler. Heat until the oil is warm. Use a strainer to separate out the leaves and apply the prepared oil mixture throughout your hair, paying special attention to the roots and ends. Wrap your head with plastic wrap, a plastic baggie, or a shower cap, and then wrap your head in a towel to secure. Let the treatment sit in your hair for at least a half hour, or better yet, let it sit in your hair overnight. (Wear a shower cap to bed and lay a towel down to protect your pillow!) Shampoo out and lightly condition. In the mean time, you can also rub a little olive oil into your cuticles to soften and condition them. After rinsing your hair, push cuticles back with an orange stick, and apply a thick hand cream.

In addition to these two treatments, you always want to make sure you are rinsing your hair with cool water. Cool water helps to make the hair shiny by making the cuticle lay smooth. Also, you want to wash your hair as infrequently as possible. Most women wash their hair too often, causing excessive drying and unnecessary breakage.

Love the idea but want to leave the food in your cupboard? No problem! Why not try Ojon's Restorative Hair Treatment for $55. It is a fabulous product (one I personally use) , and is a multitasker. Great for skin and nails too!

Or how about Pretty in Green's Rosemary Lavender Hot Oil Treatment for $7.50? It is sure to pamper your senses!