I am a firm believer in doing things for yourself that brings happiness.  After all, no one can take away your happiness if you're the source of it.  There are days when I am drained physically, mentally, and emotionally.  I  often feel anxious and occasionally stressed.  The only cure for this sometimes is going to my happy place.  I am an outdoors person, so anytime I am in nature, I feel energized.  My happy place currently is Audubon Park.  I'm usually there 3-4 times a week jogging and taking in the scenery.  Sometimes I bring my dog, Tastee, for a walk or jog to tire her out and exercise her.  I feel very much at peace when I'm at Audubon.  The scenery is gorgeous with it's bushes of sunflowers and larger than life Southern live oak trees.  There are sounds of water spewing from the fountains, birds chirping, and sometimes even ducks quacking.  I love seeing families with their little ones enjoying time together and life.

Nature brings out the beauty and peace in things.  I'm at comfort when  I'm at the park.  New ideas are formed and I am rejuvenated.  I believe everyone should find their happy place, somewhere you have solace.

Have you ever ran water and it smelled as if chemicals were in it? Or have you ever taken a shower and your skin and hair feels less moisturized afterwards?  Chances are, the water in your area is hard. Hard water is filled with lots of calcium, magnesium, and manganese. Another sure sign that you are dealing with hard water is the appearance of white rings or spots around faucets and any metal surface in the sink.  It is also noticeable on plastic shampoo and body wash bottles, that are in contact with the water from the shower.  A constant use of hard water will cause mineral buildup, in your hair. This causes the cuticle layers, in the hair shaft, to remain open.  Hair cuticles that never close are not able to retain water, therefore hair will lose it's sheen, volume, and softness.  Hair also becomes very brittle and grey hair tend to develop a yellow tint. Hard water also causes hair color to fade more quickly, for those with color treated hair. There are a few things you can do to avoid mineral build up such as buy a water softener (but that's expensive), shampoo and wet hair with distilled water, or shampoo hair with a clarifying shampoo.  Look for shampoos that contain Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), which is a chelating agent that binds to minerals so that they can be removed.  EDTA is used in many water treatment plants.  Listed below are the ingredients and steps for a mineral buildup treatment. Try it out because no one wants damaged hair due to water.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar
• Water
• Baking soda
• Clarifying shampoo

Steps:

1. Mix 1/2 cup of vinegar and 1/2 cup of water
2. Apply to hair and leave in for 5 minutes and rinse with cold water
3. Shampoo hair normally with clarifying shampoo
4. Make a thick paste with equal parts of baking soda and water and leave in hair for 10 minutes
5. Shampoo hair again with clarifying shampoo

Note:  The vinegar and baking soda loosens and dissolve minerals, in the hair.  Also, the vinegar doesn't leave an odor.

Photo source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Hard_water_and_drop.jpg

During the Summer months, most people engage in long outdoor activities such as visiting beaches and amusement parks, attending barbecues, or just a fun day at the pool.  Skin and hair needs protection from the sun's harmful UV rays.  Although some UV radiation exposure is necessary for the production of Vitamin D, too much can be harmful.  Sunburn is a result of excessive exposure to UV radiation.  As a result of the overexposure, a person is more susceptible to pre-mature skin aging such as wrinkles and fine lines.  Skin cancer can also develop as a result to overexposure of UV radiation.  Not only does your skin needs protection from the sun, but also your hair.  If not properly protected, your hair becomes dry, brittle, and dull.  If your hair is color treated, the sun will change and fade the color.  Here are a few things you can do to protect your hair and skin from the sun.

Genetics is usually the main factor in hair growth, but exercising can also promote hair growth.  Exercising is a great way to maintain a healthy and properly functioning body.  Cardiovascular exercises allows for great circulation of blood throughout your entire body.  Blood circulation allows the transportation of nutrients and oxygen to hair follicles, which is essential for growth.  Also, it's great to exercise because it reduces stress, which also is a factor for stunted hair growth and also hair loss.  Stress increases cortisone, the hormone that is responsible for hair thinning and hair loss. Exercising is also good because it helps reduce stress by releasing serotonin.  Serotonin is a hormone that allows you to feel energized and happy.

No matter if you have relaxed or natural hair, your hair can be easily damaged if not for proper care.  Heat styling, chemical processing, and constant brushing can damage hair.  Hair becomes dry, brittle, and it lacks luster.   Hot oil treatments restore softness, moisture, and luster.  Treatments also helps reduce frizz.  Hot oil treatments can be purchased at many drug and beauty supply stores.  You can also make your own hot oil treatment.  The only ingredients you need are unrefined organic coconut
oil, olive oil, and almond oil.  Below are instructions for applying the hot oil treatment to hair.  Depending on the thickness and length of your hair will determine how much oil you think you need to apply.  Make sure to mix equal parts of the 3 oils. After your hair is washed and conditioned, you can apply the hot oil treatment.

1. In a microwave friendly container, apply coconut oil, almond oil, and olive oil, and heat for one minute.
2. Transfer oils to an applicator bottle for easy application.  If no bottle is around, you can still perform the treatment, but it can be messy.
3. While the oils are cooling, part hair into four sections
4. Before applying the oils, make sure it's cool enough to where it won't burn your scalp, but still warm.
5. Take one section and apply oils from scalp to the ends
6. Once application is done, massage the oils in your hair
7. Place a plastic shower cap on your head for 15 min and apply a dryer to it or warm towel
8. Rinse out oils, shampoo with a light shampoo and condition

Hot oil treatments are a great way to restore moisture, reduce frizz and add shine to hair.  Treatments can be done on a monthly basis.  I'm always satisfied with the softness and shine, after a treatment.

I dread summertime because it's usually 90 plus degrees and super humid in New Orleans.  It's impossible to stand outside more than ten minutes without sweating.  I tend to go for a lighter makeup routine in the summer and opt out of using a liquid foundation and instead wear a tinted moisturizer.  For the past few summers, I've made my own tinted moisturizer by mixing a little of my liquid foundation with a moisturizer.  The coverage would be light to medium depending on the number of applications.  A month ago, I finally bought a tinted moisturizer from Laura Mercier.  It retails for $44 at Sephora.  I know it's a bit pricey, but it is definitely worth it.  It has SPF 20, so your skin has some protection from the sun.  It also has Vitamin C and E, which is good for brightening and repairing the skin.  I apply it with a beauty blender because it gives me better coverage and goes on flawlessly.  The best thing about it, I don't have to constantly re-apply throughout the day and my skin has a natural glow.  What are some of your favorite tinted moisturizers? Comment below and let me know!

There are several health, skin, and hair benefits of lemon juice.  Lemon juice contains vitamin C, vitamin B, proteins, phosphorous, and flavonoid.  It contains antioxidants and can also help with weight loss.  The citric acid in lemon juice helps reduce dandruff on the scalp.  Lemon juice also helps with hair loss, when applied to the scalp.  Lemon juice is used to lighten hair and it also gives hair a natural sheen.  Lemon juice also carry many antiseptic characteristics.  It can be used to treat sunburn, acne, and eczema.  Many anti-aging creams have lemon juice as an ingredients and is helpful in adding a natural glow to the skin.  So next time you go to the grocery store don't look at lemons as just a fruit, but also as a natural remedy for skin and hair care!

If you suffer from dry hair, then humectants can be your best friend.  Humectants are a great way to add moisture to your hair.  It is a hygroscopic molecules, which means it draws moisture in from the atmosphere and also retains existing water.  Humectants also have emollient properties.  Emollients are used to soften things and are used in many cosmetics, such as lotions and lipsticks.  The most common humectant found in hair-care products is glycerin (glycerin or glycerol).  It is an organic compound derived from animal fats and vegetable oils.  It is odorless and colorless when heated.  The compound is non-toxic and is a good preservative in many cosmetics and foods.

Although humectants are a great way to add moisture to your hair, some people don't enjoy using it because the addition of water can cause hair to frizz.  In instances where there is too much humectants, you can combat it with an anti-humectant to balance the two.

Most common humectants used:

• glycerin
• sodium lactate
• urea
• propylene glycol