Everyone wants to look beautiful – inside and out. With a wide variety of
beauty treatments that we have available nowadays, it seems that we have the solution for almost every beauty problem that we might be facing. How about during the early days? Did it cross your mind – what beauty treatments or rituals they had during the times that science and technology have not yet taken its part on beauty and wellness? During the early 40’s, they said that there were a lot of bizarre and weird rituals that people do to be beautiful. Let us name and discover some of them.

Skin Care

A face pack with plastic ice cubes was made before for women who want to have a tighter skin. The face pack was filled with water and thrown into the freezer so the ice will form. Once the water forms into an ice, the mask was then put into a person’s face and will be left for a couple of minutes.

Another one is a suction machine used as a facial cleanser. There were tubes that have tiny glass nozzles and were connected to a vacuum pump that will do the suction. This was used to remove any dirt and make the face smoother. It’s the older version of facial cleansing machines and diamond peeling practices nowadays.

Sun Protection

How about protection from the sun? A Los Angeles inventor designed a sunglass with a nose shield before. The shield really covers the whole nose and looks like a bird’s beak. However, it was used to prevent sunburn and redness during the early days.

Slimming Down

Want to get thinner? During the early days, machines with rollers were being used to massage a person’s body to make it slimmer. The rollers are connected to a chair where the person would sit and then the massaging rollers do the rest. The rollers were made of metals and do a back and forth massage motion to make the body slimmer.

We have seen several slimming belts today, but there were earlier versions of that were used before. It was a long tape-looking cloth that is connected to a vibrating machine and would be tied to a person’s waist. The vibration would then stimulate the muscles, giving the same effect as the slimming belts that we have available today.

Dimples

How about having dimples? Designed in the late 30’s, there was this thing that people wore around their jaw to help them have dimples. It’s made of springs and two knobs that were pressing against their cheeks and were usually worn during the night while they sleep.

Evidently, we have always been on the search for products or machines that would help us look better. Technology has clearly embarked in this search, thus helping us find the right and easiest way of solving our beauty problems. Nonetheless, we can say that this has not just started recently. Way back before, we have been very intrigued and made alternatives on achieving that supple and beautiful looking faces and body.

The skies may be grey in the UK at the moment, however if you are   currently wearing or thinking about hair extensions it is important to understand the impact the sun can have on the hair, and how to protect your hair extensions in these climates, especially if you are looking for some winter sun this season. Here are our 6 top tips to protecting your hair from the sun and sea when on holiday:

Tip 1 – Hair brush

When you are away, it is absolutely essential that your hair brush travels everywhere with you, especially if you have opted for a down doo for the day.  With the change in climate and the sea air, you will naturally find that your hair becomes a little more unmanageable than usual, therefore having your hairbrush on you at all times will ensure you can keep it under control and tangle free for the day.

Tip 2 – Wear a hat

Fortunately, hats are incredibly stylish and there are a great variety out there to choose from, so make sure you pick a hat you love and that you are comfortable wearing with most of your outfits.  Whenever possible, we would recommend wearing a hat to shield your hair extensions from the sun, especially in the middle of the day when the sun is the hottest.  The sun can cause extensions to dry out if exposed for long periods of time which will result in the hair becoming stiff and easily tangled.  Once you are home and out of the sunny climate with some good products you should be able to restore the hair to a softer texture, however don’t run the risk.

Tip 3 – Avoid the sea

For many of us, the idea of dunking our hair in the sea is not the most appealing of things, however if you are wearing hair extensions it is important that you do not do this.  Whilst swimming is of course fine, we would advise all hair extension wearers to tie their hair back and to wear a hat if possible.  If you were to get your extensions wet in the sea, the salt will again cause the extensions to become dry and tangled when wet.  Upon leaving the sea they will be difficult to brush which could cause you to be rougher than usual resulting in a few lost bonds.  If your hair does get in the sea you absolutely must brush your hair as soon as possible and wash asap.  Do not leave your hair wet and full of sea water for long periods of time, and do not let the hair dry before you get a chance to brush it.

Tip 4 – Avoid the swimming pool

Swimming pool water is not as bad for the hair extensions as sea water, but should still be avoided where possible.

Tip 5 – UV filter

When styling your hair, you must use a uv filter or heat protection product to add an extra defence to your hair.  There are many products out there with built in uv filters that can easily be fitted into your styling routine, and will do you hair the world of good.

Tip 6 – Hair styles

When on holiday, especially during the day, it is important that you know which styles are best for keeping your hair extensions in good condition.  The key point in styling your hair for the day is that it is easy to undo, so that if your hair becomes wet you can easily let it down, give it a brush and tie back up again.  Our top hairstyle for the summer is a side braid.  This is easy and quick to do, can fit under a hat, and can be easily undone.

Perfect products

If you are looking for some products that will help you on your holidays there are a number that can be used on your hair extensions to help keep them in perfect condition.

Argan Oil

With built in heat protection argan oil is a must for all holiday makers.  Only a tiny drop applied to wet hair is needed to keep your hair feeling soft and silky, and it smells amazing too.

Hair Extension Hair Brush

Do not leave your hotel without it.  Use regularly throughout the day to keep your hair extensions soft and manageable, and not allowing them to become messy or tangled.

Heat protection

To be used during the day as well as when blow drying and straightening your hair.  Heat protection will protect your hair from the sun rays, especially during the middle of the day when the sun is at its hottest.

Hopefully with these 6 tips you should find looking after your hair extensions on holiday easy, however if you have any concerns or questions, do not hesitate to email in at hello@simplyhair.co.uk.

Hair straighteners are one of the best investments women can add to their arsenal of hair styling tools. Versatile and powerful, hair straighteners can transform the most unruly strands into cascades of silky, flowing locks that suit any look or occasion. That’s why a lot of people consider these magic wands as every girl’s and stylist’s best friend.

Nevertheless, as much as women want to achieve frizz-free, sleek tresses every day, the dangers that long-term use of heated hair styling tools can cause are dreadful, as they are the very things that women of all ages have been trying to evade. But fret not; this doesn’t mean you have to kiss your trusty hair straightener goodbye. With the right tools and practices, it’s still possible to style and save your strands at the same time. And we’ll teach you how you can achieve both.

Here’s how to keep your hair sleek, straight and gorgeous without frying them:

1. Use the right hair straightener – Safe hair straightening starts with choosing the right tool because, as experts say, not all hair straighteners are created equal. There are cheaper straighteners that produce poor and unsatisfying results; there are average straighteners that work okay, and then there are excellent straighteners that create impeccable strands. And obviously, you should be using the latter. Hair straighteners from trusted brands, such as ghd, Babyliss and WAHL, have always been known to be sturdier and more reliable, which is why investing in one would be a good idea.
2. Prep hair before straightening – Before letting your hair straightener work its magic on your locks, make sure to prep your hair properly first. This includes washing your mane with volumising shampoo (for fine hair) or smoothing shampoo (for thick and coarse hair), deep conditioning, de-tangling the strands gently, and applying heat protection serum or spray.
3. Adjust the temperature settings – Most hair straighteners today now come with adjustable temperature settings. Whilst a hot iron may help you achieve pin-straight locks faster, it’s not advisable to use excessive heat as it actually makes the strands susceptible to frizz, splitting, and damage. Thus, make sure you control and use the lowest setting possible when styling your hair to prevent heat damage.
4. Don’t iron if the strands are still wet – Wet strands and hair straighteners definitely do not make a good combination. Imagine all the smoke and sizzle that appears when you cook bacon—that’s what happens to your wet hair when you use a straightener on it. Ironing wet strands will not only dry your tresses, it will also surely cook it. So, next time, do your locks a big favour and let the hair dryer do its work instead or go au naturel by air-drying.
5. Practise proper hair straightening techniques – Whilst constantly visiting your hairdresser to give your strands the right hair styling treat may sound appealing, it’s not always an option for everyone. That’s why learning how to properly straighten your hair at home is essential and would come in handy.

Here are a few techniques you should bear in mind:

• Divide the hair into sections using a barrette. This will ensure that there is an even distribution of heat for each strand.
• Start with the section of the hair at the back of your head; work quickly from the bottom then upward.
• Let the iron glide down smoothly to straighten your strands, don’t pull or drag it.
• Don’t go over the same section of hair more than four or five times as subjecting it to heat may cause further frizz.
• Finish it off by applying shine spray or serum.

It’s no secret that frequent and improper use of hair straighteners, or any heated hair styling tools for that matter, can cause damage to your beloved locks. But you need not put up with it. With the right hair straightener, responsible use and following the tips we’ve shared, maintaining straight and healthy hair is definitely possible.

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source