Haircare for Over 50’s (or Anyone With Grey Hair!)

Tags

age, ageing, antioxidants, beauty, breakage, cream, Evolve Organic Beauty Nourishing Hair Elixir, GHD Bodyguard-Heat Protect Spray, grey, grey hair, hair, hair colour, heat, moisture, Nine Yards Hair Down Anti Frizz Cream, Nine Yards On Track Repair Shampoo, Olaplex, Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo, Olaplex No.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum, over 50, shampoo, silver, silver hair, style, styling, sulphate-free, white hair

Photo by cottonbro studio

Over the last decade, grey hair has become more fashionable than ever before. It started with younger women who weren’t naturally grey heading to the salon to have their locks dyed grey. Then the naturally silver among us started to realise that they had what all of these women were paying hundreds of pounds for and started to embrace their natural colour. 

Then lockdown happened, meaning no-one could go to the hairdresser, and so, many women realised that allowing their natural sparkle to grow through was a lot less stressful than trying to colour their hair at home, and BOOM: the silver revolution was in full swing! 

It’s worth noting that grey hair goes through more than just a change of pigment and requires dedicated care to keep it looking its best, which is why we’ve put together a guide to haircare for the over 50’s – or indeed anyone of any age who’s already putting their best foot forward when it comes to grey hair:

Use a Mild Shampoo

As we age, our hair can often feel thinner and be more prone to breakage, so using a mild shampoo is essential. Nine Yards On Track Repair Shampoo is a strengthening shampoo with a mild sulphate free cleansing base, which also adds moisture to the hair without weighing it down. Also, it’s not just dyed hair which can benefit from toning; Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo is a sulphate-free, highly concentrated formula thats allows for customizable toning and gives great results on grey hair. 

Add Moisture

Naturally grey hair is coarser and more dehydrated than pre-greying hair, which means that it needs a good moisture treatment to keep it looking sleek and smooth. Evolve Organic Beauty Nourishing Hair Elixir has been formulated with a 100% natural replacement to silicon leaving hair incredibly soft, light and moisturised.  Rich in antioxidants, it protects hair from environmental damages and helps regain lost moisture.

Use Protective Products

Believe it or not, your existing  hair doesn’t actually turn grey – your hair follicles produce less colour as they age, so when hair goes through its natural cycle of dying and being regenerated, it’s more likely to grow in as grey. These new hairs will need to be protected if you want your mane to look healthy. Pollution damages our hair everyday, leaving it dull, lifeless, difficult to style and ultimately resulting in broken bonds. Olaplex No.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum is packed with antioxidants to neutralise free radicals, act as a shield against pollution, guard the hair from breakage and protect against heat styling.

Avoid Hairspray 

As we mentioned above, grey hair is also coarser and dryer, so try to cut back on hairspray where you can – the alcohol in hairspray can dry your hair out with repeated use, and the polymers that keep your hair in place can make your hair look even more dull. Instead, opt for something like Nine Yards Hair Down Anti Frizz Cream, which is a smoothing anti-frizz cream that calms flyaway hair and helps to keep the hair straight. It contains argan and sun flower seed extract to provide a lightweight conditioning cream with a natural shine.

Style With Care

Once we go naturally grey, many women find that they want to take more care than ever in styling their hair so that they maintain a youthful, put-together appearance. However, grey hair can be prone to damage and brassiness if you use too many heated tools on it. GHD Bodyguard-Heat Protect Spray provides an invisible barrier against everyday heat damage on damp or dry hair. Containing the unique ghd heat protection system, this spray can be layered with other styling products to create the result you desire.

Five Ways to Speed Up Your Shower

Tags

brushing teeth, conditioner, Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash, dry skin, essential, every day, exfoliating, hair, hair washing, routine, save time, save water, shampoo, Shaving, shower, time, tooth brushing, very dry skin, wash, wash hair, water

Photo by Seth Doyle on Unsplash

For many of us, our daily shower is the time we take for five minutes of peace and tranquillity, a private moment where we get to relax and unwind. However, showers don’t have to take an age, and if you’re looking to cut down your showering time, be that to get more sleep, save water or simply because you don’t like taking forever in the bathroom, we have five tips to help you to speed things up:

Don’t Put the Shower on Ages in Advance

The average shower takes just 30 seconds to get to the right temperature, but many of us put the shower on up to five minutes in advance and then potter around while the water is running. Try to put the shower on just before you get in and actually get in once the shower reaches the right heat. This will save water and reduce aimless ‘pottering’ time.

Use Your Time Wisely

Most of us have a routine we follow once we get into the shower, but there are a few steps which can be done at the same time. If you’re washing your hair, time spent with conditioner on your head can be used for shaving, tooth-brushing or exfoliating.

Use Multifunctional Products

If cutting down on time is your priority, opting for products which do several jobs at once could really help. Use a moisturising body wash, for example, which could cut down the need for additional moisturisers (unless you have very dry skin). Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash contains purifying essential oils and natural extracts to cleanse the body without over-drying while conditioning the skin

Remove Some Steps

Often, people take ages in the shower because they do things that don’t really need to be done every time you shower. Shaving, hair washing, exfoliating – are these absolutely essential, every day? If not, do them every second or third day, or spread them out across the week, which will save time and water.

Only Wash Once

If you’re a ‘wash once’ sort of person, this may seem odd to you, but it’s a fact that there are LOTS of people out there who wash their body once…and then do it all over again in the same shower! In fact, lots of people wash two or three times, which is completely unnecessary and could even dry your skin out. Try to complete just one full wash per shower o protect your skin and your water bill!

It’s all about the essential oils

Tags

acne, amazing, antibacterial and antiseptic properties, Argon, avocado, beauty routine, blemishes, chamomile, clean, clean soft cloth, coconut, conditioner, cotton bud, dandruff, dehydrated, essential fatty acids, feet, fine lines, irritated scalp, joys, lavender oil, medium-chain fatty acids, mix, Mother Nature, natural essential oils, nourish, rich, Rosehip Oil, sage, scars, shampoo, sinks, skin, smooth oil, soft, sooth, spots, stretchmarks, summer, super shiny hair., sweat, tea, Tea Tree Oil, tired, toes, Toner, vibrant scent

At Pure-Beauty, we are massive fans of natural essential oils, and even more so during the warm summer months when need to take care of ourselves that little bit more.

We have had a look at the benefits of adding oils into your beauty routine and we think you might be pleasantly surprised at how mother nature can make things so much better.

Keep breakouts at bay
When it is hot we tend to sweat more than usual and this can lead to a build-up of oil under the skin and cause annoying spots. Lavender Oil is perfect for dealing with this because it is packed with the antibacterial and antiseptic properties that can help prevent the bacteria that causes acne from growing as well as treating the blemishes you do get. Dilute a little oil with water and dab gently to the affected area using a clean cotton bud and it will soothe and nourish the skin the natural way. You can also mix the oil with cold water for a simple toner that is especially good for treating oily skin.

We are massive fans of Tea Tree Oil and it is our acne go to product thanks to the really powerful antiseptic qualities and vibrant scent. Simply add a few drops to cool water and apply to your face using a clean soft cloth and let the oils get to work.

Oils for your skin
Bear with us on this one because we know it might sound wrong, but putting oils on your skin can be amazing.
The summer brings many joys, but it can also make our skin dehydrated and tired, however adding an essential oil into the mix can bring it back to life. Rosehip Oil is a good choice because this rich, smooth oil sinks into your skin leaving it soft and supple without a trace of greasiness, just vibrancy. Packed with essential fatty acids plus Vitamins A and C this is a true beauty must have. As well as helping with fine lines, it is also brilliant for the scars and stretch marks many of us are conscious of in the summer but do remember to still apply sun cream if you are going outside.

Look after your head
If you think Chamomile is only for drinking in tea, you’ll be surprised to know that it also soothes and hydrates an irritated scalp – something that can happen when the heat is high. Simply adding a few drops of oil to your shampoo or conditioner can make a big difference and ease itching without the need for any chemicals.

Sage is often thought of as a little bit of magic and we agree when it comes to getting super shiny hair. As an astringent, it is beneficial for hair growth but also fights dandruff and encourages glossy locks. You can simply apply a little oil to your scalp and let nature take care of the rest.

Oils for hair don’t stop here with Argon, Avocado and Coconut all being offering a boost, so them as a regular, weekly treatment and we are pretty sure you will see the shine in no time at all.

Happy feet
Back to those medium-chain fatty acids from Coconut Oil and we would suggest you apply this loving to your feet and give them the care and attention they deserve. Coconut Oil is totally nourishing and will get to work on tough, dry skin, leaving your toes as soft as a baby’s in no time at all.

Team Pure Beauty

Five Things Which Could Be Making Your Hair Greasy

Tags

beauty blenders, body brushes, brush, brushing, build-up, clarifying, comb, conditioner, Dermalogica Daily Conditioning Rinse, dry shampoo, ends, grease, greasy, hair, hormones, knots, knotty, lank, midsection, mild shampoo, moisturiser, oil, oil production, over-brushing, over-washing, products, residue, roots, scalp, sebum, shampoo, wash, washing

Royalty-free image

When you’re a teen, you have this vision that adulthood will be a time of clear skin and perfect hair, so it can be a major disappointment to get way into your adult years and still be dealing with issues like adult acne or lank locks. Some people say that hormones contribute to greasy hair but there are also a few other things that you could be doing which is exacerbating the problem. Read on to see where you might be going wrong:

Too Much Washing

Just like if you have an oily face, the problem can be that you’re trying to keep it too clean and your body is pushing back by over producing the oils that you’re stripping away. If you’re a daily hair washer because you’re trying to combat grease, try cutting back to 2-3 times a week. The first week might be a “wearing a hat or staying indoors” kinda week while your stressed-out scalp adjusts, but it will eventually reset itself and work with your new, less intense, hair washing regime.

The Wrong Conditioner

Again, just like with your facial moisturiser, some people need something lighter and some need something more intense. If you have greasy hair, you really don’t need a super-heavy conditioner, and taking the product all the way up to your roots is another big no-no. Use Dermalogica Daily Conditioning Rinse just on the ends and midsection of your hair to keep it soft and manageable without adding to your grease problem.

Wash Your Brushes!

Okay, we know we’re really stretching this “your scalp is just like your face” analogy, but in the same way that you wouldn’t use dirty body brushes, make-up brushes and beauty blenders, you shouldn’t be using a dirty brush on your hair. Not only do they collect grease and bacteria, they could also be harbouring build-up of old products, so dragging that whole mess through your hair day after day is doing you no favours! Use a comb or your fingers to pull any old hair out of the bristles and then wash it thoroughly with a mild shampoo to get it back to best.

Brush it Less

While we’re on the subject of brushing, you probably need to do it less if your hair is greasy. Greasy hair happens as a result of your scalp producing too much sebum and brushing too much can actually stimulate this oil production. Try to brush your hair once a day ONLY, and if you really need to brush it more than that try to just brush the ends to keep it knot-free.

Use a Clarifying Shampoo

When you’re prone to greasy hair, it’s tempting to use a lot of different products, like dry shampoo, which improve the appearance of greasy hair even for the short term. However, these products tend to build up on your hair and the overall result makes lank hair look even more lank. Try to use a clarifying shampoo which will properly rid your hair and scalp of any residue from products to make sure that your hair and scalp have a proper chance to breathe and reset themselves.

The university checklist

Tags

a student flat, antiseptic cream, baking tray, Bank account details, bathroom, bedroom, Blue Tac, boots, bowls, bread, bubble bath, card, cereal, charger, checklist, cheque book, clean, clothes, cloths, coat hangers, Congratulations, creature comforts, cutlery set, documents, Driving license, duvet covers, eat out, en-suite, ethernet cable, exam, fresh, frying pan, glasses, halls, headphones, home, ink, insurance, jam, ketchup, kitchen, kitchen roll, laptop, letter, milk, mineral water, mirror, mixing bowl, mobile phone, mugs, National Insurance card, NHS number, pack, Paracetamol, parents, partying, pasta, pillow cases, plasters, plates, printer, sanctuary, scissors, shampoo, shared house, sharp knife, sheets, shower gel, student loan, stuff, surge protection, Tea towels

Well, you have only gone and done it and got a place at university.

Congratulations.

Now the partying is over, it’s time to get down to business, book your accommodation, buy those books and pack your stuff.

Whether you a moving into halls, a student flat or shared house, you will want to take your creature comforts as well as essentials with you, so we have put together a checklist to get you started.

Documents
Before you leave home, have these documents with you, as well as getting copies and emailing it to yourself and your parents:
University and course acceptance letter plus exam certificates
Accommodation contract and insurance documents
Student loan documents
Bank account details, card and cheque book
Driving license and passport as well as up NHS number and National Insurance card

Gadgets
You will be so used to having everything under one roof, you might forget that you won’t be just a gadget away when you aren’t at home. This might seem like a big list, but it is worth having:
Laptop plus charger, USB stick and an ethernet cable
Mobile phone and charger
Headphones
Power extension cable with surge protection
Printer with ink

Kitchen
Yes, you could eat out all the time, but it makes more sense to do cook for yourself and to do this you will need:
A frying pan or a wok and a sauce pan
A cutlery set, sharp knife, scissors and spare teaspoons
Two glasses, mugs, plates and bowls
A baking tray and mixing bowl
A water bottle – buying endless bottles of mineral water on campus soon adds up
Tea towels, cloths, kitchen roll, soap and washing up liquid
A box of basic groceries with cereal, bread, milk, jam, tea, coffee, pasta, ketchup and an emergency bottle of vodka to break the ice with your neighbours

Your bedroom
Your bedroom will be your sanctuary so make it as comfortable as you can and take:
Two sheets, two duvet covers and pillow cases as well as a decent duvet and pillows
Mattress protector – take our word for it on this one
Clothes and coat hangers
Photos of friends & family as well as posters and Blue Tac
A lamp and lampshade
A mirror
Contraception

Bathroom
We can’t promise you will get an en-suite at uni so be prepared to share a bathroom and take this little lot with you so you, and your surroundings, are clean and fresh.
Several towels
Medication and a basic first aid kit with plasters, paracetamol, antiseptic cream and wipes
Febreeze and washing powder
A toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, shop, shower gel, bubble bath and any other home comforts
Toilet roll

Of course, you won’t be far from a Tesco or Boots, so you can shop when you arrive but this little should help to get you started and can probably be paid for by the bank of mum and dad before you leave.

Good luck!

Team Pure-Beauty