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Why I Decided To Ditch Chemicals And Go Organic With My Hair Dye

May 23, 2019 The Zen of Beauty

Trust me, when it comes to hair dye, I’m as picky as an amateur can be. I’ve been dyeing my hair red for 12 years, and I’ve managed to pick up a few tricks: I know exactly what to say to get the right shade (“copper tones, not purple”) and I’ve strategized how to reduce the damage for my single-process dye job (only color the roots and use a glaze on the ends).

But after all of those years of gaining expertise at the salon, I still wasn’t 100 percent satisfied with the results. My once-resilient hair had started to become dry and less vibrant, and the color seemed to fade within a week. So I decided to give organic hair color a try. Sure, the prospect was scary at first — I’m just as guilty as most people when it comes to equating “natural” with “less effective” when assessing beauty products. But after a little research, I discovered the Organic Color System and became intrigued.

Standard, non-organic hair dye is loaded with all sorts of questionably safe chemicals: ammonia, formaldehyde, sodium laurel sulphates and parabens, to name a few. Much of the research focuses on how the chemicals affect the salon workers who use them daily

Read the full article here

The natural haircare products i use in my studio

Why Choosing Organic Hair Color is Better for Your Scalp and Your Health

Autumn Transformations for Skin Health

May 23, 2019 The Zen of Beauty

According to ancient Taoism and the 5 element theory used in Chinese Medicine each season or element relates to a paired organ system in the body as well as a taste and a color . In the latter days of summer September and early October we are in the element of Earth sweetness. Sugar can cause the skin tissue to thin and loose its elasticity way before its time due causing premature aging as well as cause dry skin. It is better to cultivate a taste for sweetness in its natural state of fruits, found in vegetables and grains where you (and your skin) can benefit from the nutrients, minerals and fiber. The natural sweetness found in whole foods will actually help build tissue and tone muscles which can be rejuvenating to the entire body as well as prevent or slow down the aging process. We move from Late Summer Earth to the element Metal in the Fall. ,Autumn. has to do with the health of the lungs and large intestines and the skin in general. Its taste is pungent. The pungent taste promotes sweating, increases circulation and gives a glow to the skin. Some of the foods that are great for both the lungs and the large intestines are foods that are somewhat pungent. These can include vegetables such as turnips, onions, ginger, garlic, diakon, cauliflower, cabbage, celery, radishes and mustard greens. Some of the spices for cooking with would be basil, dill, horseradish and white pepper. Soups that include these vegetables and spices can also be very good in the fall for hydration. Sweet brown rice is also very good to eat as a grain for fall. For healthy intestines avoid red meat in large quantities and hard cheeses. The lungs can be very sensitive to dairy products and fried foods as well as extreme spices. In the autumn the skin can get very dry. Minerals in the vegetables as well as fiber in the diet are great for the intestines, to keep all the old waste moving out of system. Whatever the large intestines cannot process or eliminate as waste from the body will most likely come out as acne, pimples, congested skin or eczema.

Transformations Start From Within

January 10, 2018 Zen of Beauty

Published in Natural Life News and Directory, 2015.

Winter transforms into Spring

In Chinese Medicine we study nature and the seasons as it relates to health and beauty. Beauty is another word for balance. balance of body mind and soul, health of the body mind and soul. Winter is a yin time, time for meditating, nurturing in family, a time to conserve your energy. It is also a time to eat heavier foods to store energy for the coldness of winter.as the temperature rises and transforms into Spring it is a slow and steady build of yang energy, the liver wanting to Cleanse from the stillness of winter. Here are some tips that can help with this transition.

Hair Transformations

This is a time to make that new style change that you have been putting off all winter. No more winter hats to mess up your hair. Spring is a time for transformation. You have more energy now… make a physical change …just go ahead and do it!!! Women, Change your color, use more natural hair color to unburden your liver with all the extra chemicals.. Add some highlights… let your beauty shine! Also clarify your hair to remove the old build up. ( See recipe) Make your hair shine also with a really good protein conditioner pack after you clarify your hair.

Skin Transformations

Since the winter has been about conservation, your skin most probably has been holding on to all that dead skin. It is a time to renew and revive with exfoliation. For your facial skin, use a gentle exfoliator LIKE ground oatmeal, a little salt and water. Another recipe is plain yogurt. For the body, use sea salt with sesame oil or coconut oil . Scrub your body and then shower.

Body Transformations

Your Liver is now ready for a really big transformation. It needs a house cleaning. !
Go for that invigorating walk, get the chi moving and fresh air in your lungs. Massage cupping and Body massage for increasing circulation and getting the lymph cleansed. Cupping can also be added to a Body Wrap with clays or seaweed to detoxify and energize. Great Essential oils for detoxifying recipe are Cypress, Rosemary, juniper, grapefruit, great also for weight loss. These essential oils can be added to a bath with Epsom salt in a massage therapy session or simply give yourself a reflexology rub of your feet to invigorate your whole body system..

Diet

Think green!!! Greens are great for the liver, nourish and cleanse the body.
Fresh raw or cooked greens of Kale, collard, arugula, cilantro, parsley. Green drinks, or even green super foods are great in a smoothie as well. Fresh lemon and water first thing in the morning upon rising will help cleanse both the liver and lymph system. Be good to your liver this Spring, look and feel beautiful this Spring from the inside out… all transformations start from within!

The Root and the Branch – Finding your secret to Healthy Radiant Skin

January 10, 2018 Zen of Beauty

Yes, hopefully you have healthy radiant skin but most people (mainly women) desire more than what they already have to aspire for that perfect facial skin. So what is the secret (besides good healthy genes )?
According to the Ancient Chinese Medicine Radiant Skin you have a root and a branch to everything. The branch is the symptom. Here are two examples.

Acne

The branch , the symptom. The root could be an imbalance in the hormones causing it. Acne can be treated through a series of facials to correct the outer condition with the proper skin care products targeted to combat and then work on the possible root of the problem to correct it through right diet and getting the body back into hormonal balance.

Aging Skin

Though aging is a natural process it is the root problem to Wrinkles. Wrinkles are a symptom of Aging Skin. Aging skin symptoms can manifest in many ways. One is the discoloration often called hyperpigmentation or referred to as age spots. In Chinese medicine this is referred to as rusting of the skin which is really free radical damage of the cells that causes the browning of the skin. Capillary damage can also appear on the checks and nose and this is also free radical damage from internal inflammation in the body system.

Aging skin as in wrinkles are caused sometimes by the thinning of the skin , losing elasticity and collagen. This can be from many factors coming from depletion of minerals , nutrition deficiencies, depletion of the hormones and also free radical damage caused by too much sun exposure or internal inflammation . How this can happen is the cells are being destroyed by body is the state of being too acidic.

Okay, get the picture… it can be complicated factors. Let’s find some simple tips to reversing the signs of aging and keeping a healthy radiant glow to the skin.

Eat mineral rich foods such as root vegetables and seaweeds for hydration to keep you alkaline.
Take in internally and externally essential fatty acids like coconut oil for hydration for your skin as well as your internal organs for balancing your hormones.
Include concentrated antioxidant in your diet . Make your superfoods smoothie everyday with super rich powder concentrates of antioxidants such as bilberry (strengthens the capillary walls), acai berry, stinging nettle (blood builder filled with minerals), mulberries or mulberry powder (low glycemic and very rich in minerals) coconut water powder (great for hydration and EFA), soya lecithin ( good for the brain and heart and balancing blood sugar).
Drink teas full of antioxidants, such as green or red robouis . usually these teas can be found in a bulk section of your health food store. Some green teas can be good also but not in excess because it can be depleting to the body in some cases.
Essential oils for internal health and that can be used topically externally for optimum skin health and cellular repair (only use with help from a certified aroma or health care practitioner).

Externally speaking, treating the branch ( the symptom) or before it it even becomes a symptom there are a number of awesome organic and natural products on the market with antioxidants and hyaluronic acid for deep hydration to keep your skin soft supple. Make sure you schedule facials monthly and learn about the natural technologies that can be included in facials. One of these technologies is micro current. This device helps to boost up the ATP cell memory to restore skin cells and reduce free radical damage while improving and restoring the collagen and elastin fibers of the skin, treating both the root and the branch, healing the cells from the inside out.

To find out more about how to give your skin the royal treatment from the inside out and what technologies and what products and services are available in the market for achieving optimum results for your radiant glowing skin from within and without come to a free workshop at the Bozeman Public Library on Wednesday October 22 at 6:30 PM.