Dry Shampoo: Tips and a Review

Use a dry shampoo to keep your loved one's hair looking clean between washes if they have difficulty getting in and out of the shower or are bedridden. They are easy to use and usually come as a spray or a powder and nowadays you can find them easily in the drugstore. Just spray the product in the hair, wait about 2 minutes for the product to absorb the oils from the scalp and brush out. If you are in a pinch, you can use baby powder or cornstarch as a dry shampoo. To use either of these I recommend using an old (but clean) blush or shaving brush to apply either the cornstarch or baby powder to the roots of the hair so you don't end up with a big chalky mess in the hair. Wait the 2 minutes then brush out.

I've personally tried the cornstarch, baby powder and Klorane oil absorbing  and gentle oat dry shampoo for myself ever since I got hair extensions put in, hurt my shoulder and wasn't able to wash my hair regularly. Out of the three methods, I have to recommend the dry shampoo first, cornstarch second and baby powder last.

With the Klorane dry shampoos (both aerosols and that I bought myself), I found that the oil absorbing one worked best for me as I have very baby-fine and oily hair. It was dead easy to use, smelled nice, absorbed oils really well and added texture and thickness to my hair. With the gentle oat dry shampoo, it was also easy to use, smelled nice and absorbed oils but left my hair a bit limp. I believe that the gentle shampoo would work best for people with normal to dry hair. Neither of these dry shampoos left much of a white residue in my hair.

Using the cornstarch, I put some on a small plate, applied it with a blush brush to my roots, waited and brushed it out.  It worked pretty well in absorbing the oils from my hair but I found that it left a bit of a white residue in my hair that was a little tricky to brush out.  I used the same technique with the baby powder but I found that it left more stuff behind in my hair but it did smell OK. 

Using both the baby powder and cornstarch was also the messiest method I used as it left powder all over my clothes (not nice on black clothes) and floor whereas the spray dry shampoo was the neatest.

In terms of cost, I'll admit that the Klorane was a bit pricy ($14 CAD not including taxes) and the cornstarch and baby powder the least expensive (about $2 for the cornstarch and $1 ( from the dollar store) for the baby powder) but for its ease of use I think the Klorane was worth it. 

I wish I had remembered about dry shampoos while I was caring for my mom and husband. It would have made their lives a little easier as well as my own.

Cinnamon Toast Lip Scrub

I don't know about you, but this winter has been playing havoc with my lips - they have been so dry that I have a white line where my lips are so dry that it even shows through lipstick. I came up with my version of a lip scrub so that I could deal with this. Currently I have limited resources so, as per usual, I make do with what I have. This lip scrub uses stuff that you probably have in your kitchen right now. If you don't have coconut oil I'd suggest using olive oil.

Cinnamon Toast Lip Scrub

1 Tbsp coconut oil 

3 Tbsp sugar

Approx. 1/8 tsp cinnamon

Mix all the ingredients in a small container or bowl until evenly distributed and has the consistency of a thick paste. 

To use, take a small amount on your finger and scrub your lips. Rinse with water when you feel you're done.

Now I'll admit that these amounts are approximate. What you want is to have the scrub to have the consistency of wet sand or a thick paste. I also like the fact that this lip scrub is edible, moisturizing and works! Part of my reason for adding cinnamon is it's irritating action - who needs expensive lip venom to plump your lips when you can make it your self?

Hope you enjoy!

Looking After Yourself and Looking Good : Part 1

Spoiling yourself may seem like something selfish but at times it can be your best retreat from the stresses in your life. 

Some of the things that I have done for myself to deal with stress have included taking aromatherapy baths and showers, meditating, yoga, making my own face scrubs and trying out new nail polish designs. I will admit that sometimes doing things like my nails has not worked out (adjusting someone in bed with slightly wet nails sucks) but sometimes these little things have made me feel better.

There is a saying "dress for the job you want, not the job you have" and I feel this phrase works well for caregivers. The reason for this is that although you may be overwhelmed with the changes in your life, how you look can change your opinion of yourself. You can be stressed out but, if you look half decent, I have found that you look at life from a brighter side and can do a better job no matter what you do.

When I'm stressed out I have found that my face breaks out with zits way more. I have tried prescription  Retinol creams, things like Clearasil and pine tar soaps. Of course the zits affect the way I feel about myself - the more zits the worse I feel. One thing I have found to work for me is called oil cleansing. What you do is moisten your face with warm water, apply a little coconut oil and wipe off with a damp washcloth - it's kinda like using Pond's Cold Cream. I also make  a face scrub using coconut oil and baking soda with some essential oils to help my skin. Since I have been doing this, my breakouts are smaller and easier to hide with a tiny bit of makeup. ( I believe I have seborrhetic dermatitis although this has not been proven )  I will admit that this has worked for me and even other people have noticed how much my face has improved.

In doing my nails, I found that taking a couple of days to do them can help with the problem of a botched manicure. Personally, I'd rather wait and get my nail design right rather than do it all at once. I'd rather take a day or so to do a couple of layers of polish rather than have my Mani ruined. Doing a layer at at a time can be a problem ( I hate it when nail polish chips) but you're less likely to have a problem in the long run especially if you have to adjust your care partner.

Makeup may seem like something to be avoided but, I have found that if you at least do your eye make up, you feel better about yourself and don't feel so tired. That and a bit of lip-gloss and you're ready to go.

Dressing "up" may seem silly, but I've found that if you dress in your grungy clothes, you feel grungy. Now if this is a look that you're going for, by all means have at it. Dressing nice means that you feel nice. This is not to say that you can't wear sweats, just make them look amazing (think Lulu Lemon or Nike ads).


More Later.....

Quick Tip

Try to give yourself and your partner a date nite once a week (or even just yourself). It can be as simple as a bowl of popcorn and a movie on the sofa or just setting the table with your fine china and candles.

Tending to Tender Tootsies

Your feet are one of the most neglected yet the most used part of your body. You use them every day for walking, driving, standing, jumping and running. Feet contain about one quarter of the bones of our body as well as muscles, tendons and ligaments. When you're walking, the pressure on the feet can exceed your body weight and when running, up to four times as much (1). For fashion they are put into high heels or shoes that are too tight. The only time we pay attention to our feet is when they cause us pain or have been injured. It makes sense to take care of our feet since they do so much for us. 

Here are some easy and fairly quick ways to pamper those tender tootsies that I often do together but you can do however is easiest for you.

1 . The Foot Bath.  Grab yourself a towel, a bowl or basin that your feet can fit into ( a large disposable roasting pan will do in a pinch), the essential oil(s) of your choice (I like eucalyptus and peppermint especially when I have a cold or lavender when I want to have a good night's sleep), and 1/3 to 1 cup of Epsom salts (optional).

 Place the towel on the floor where you are going to sit for your foot bath .

 Fill the bowl about 3/4  full with very warm water - I'd say the water should be about your favorite shower temperature (you have to leave room for the displacement of water when you put your feet in). 

 Add the Epsom salts at this point (if you are using them), while you're still at the tap so that when you stir the water to dissolve the salts, it just makes a mess in the sink (or tub as the case may be). 

 Place the bowl on your towel and add 3-5 drops of the essential oil(s) and give the water a quick swish. Place your feet in the bowl for 5-20 minutes (it all depends on how hot your water was and how much time you've got). In the summer you can use cool water and peppermint essential oil to cool and refresh your feet.

 Dry the feet off.

Some of the advantages of doing a foot bath are that it increases circulation, raises the temperature of the feet and legs, reduces pain and swelling, and it's just plain relaxing to both the muscles in the feet but also the whole body. 

2.  Exercises.  OK, now that your feet are all warmed up and relaxed, it's much easier to exercise the ankles and feet. For this you will need the towel and a ball no larger than a tennis ball (any ball will do including one of those dryer balls from the dollar store -just don't press down on it too hard or it might break). Move the bowl out of the way.

 Since you are still sitting down, lift your legs (or one leg at a time) in front of you and rotate your feet in whatever direction you like and then in the opposite direction. You don't have to do this very long or lift the leg very high, it's just to loosen the tendons and ligaments in the ankle. If you are standing in a line or at the sink you can also do ankle circles. Stand on one leg (hold onto something if your balance isn't good) and rotate the foot that's in the air in two directions . Switch legs. 

 Place your feet back on the floor. Now lift the toes of one (or both) foot towards the ceiling leaving the heel on the floor as if you are lifting your foot off a car's pedals. You then move your foot up onto your toes. Repeat as many times as is comfortable. This can also be done with your feet in the air, standing (not in heels), or while lying in bed.

Grab your ball and place it on the floor between your feet. Keeping the feet together on the ball, move the ball forwards and backwards along the arch from heel to toes or toe to heel. In reflexology, this area is associated with the spine (the tail bone at the heel and the head at the toes) and you may notice tender or crunchy spots along this area that correspond to any backache you may have ( mine's in the middle of my back thus in about the middle of my arch) If you do find such an area, just roll the ball around this area for a little longer.

Next, take the ball with one foot and roll it all over the sole of the foot. Don't worry if the ball gets away from you, just fetch it back. This area of the foot is associated in reflexology with the digestive system , urinary system, the heart and the lungs. Again, if you find any tender or crunchy spot just spend a little more time in that area with the ball. Repeat on the other foot.

Place the ball under the toes of one foot with the heel on the floor gripping the ball with the toes as best you can. Roll the ball from one side of the foot to the other while trying to keep the ball under the toes as much as possible (the ball likes to try to escape doing this one). This area is associated with the neck and shoulders which is where most people carry their tension so this is a great area to spend a bit more time on. Obviously, repeat on the other foot.

Finally, place your feet on the towel and scrunch it up under the toes as if you were going to pick it up with your toes. Do this about 5 times. You can also grab the ends of the towel to help stretch the Achilles tendon and the plantar surface of the foot by placing the towel under the ball of the foot and pulling on the ends of the towel so the moves foot upwards towards the shin. Needless to say, don't pull so hard as to hurt yourself. Hold as long as is comfortable and do both feet.

3. The Ultimate Pamper.  If you do the exercises first ( or skip them all together), while your feet are still wet you can use a pumice stone to remove any calluses or dry and rough spots and push back the cuticles. After you have dried your feet, apply your favorite moisturizer, and give your feet an all over massage. Here, you can also trim your toenails (straight across to prevent ingrown toenails) and apply nail polish. If you skip the nail polish, put on a thick layer of moisturizer and a pair of  cotton socks. The socks help keep your feet warm and allows the moisturizer to penetrate the skin better. Doing this at night before getting into bed you should have a good night's sleep and, in going to sleep in the socks, you will wake up with the softest feet you've had in a long time (great for sandal time).

Doing all of these things for your feet shouldn't take much longer than 30 minutes  (not including polish drying time) but it will depend on how long you soak your feet. Breaking these things up during the day will also keep your energy up and can help keep your stress down. Make these things yours, but do try to do them as often as you can, and your feet (and the rest of you) will thank you.

(1) Retrieved  from: Learn about Feet and Podiatric Medicine/ Penn Rodebaugh Diabetes Center;
  http://www.pennmedicine.org/diabetes/hup/learn/feet.html ; Feb. 8, 2013