How to DIY Style and Cut Your Own Hair

You can learn a lot about a person from the way they wear their hair. Many of us use the style and cut of our coiffe to express our personality from funky colored pixie cuts to long, blown out locks. However, the upkeep of these trendy ‘dos can lob a noticeable hit to the budget. After all, trips to a reputable salon aren’t cheap.

Perhaps you’ve wondered if it’s possible to achieve the same trendy look without the hefty salon price tag. After all, when money is tight, personal styling is often one of the first things to go. 

Before you style and cut your own hair there are a few things you should know. Keep reading to learn more. 

3 Haircuts to Try at Home

If you’re looking to make a drastic change to the length or shape of your hair, it’s probably best to leave it to the professionals unless you want to become one of those home haircut horror stories. However there are less dramatic, easier ways to style and cut your hair at home, like these three beginner cuts. 

Remove Split Ends

This at-home trim is a must – in fact many stylists recommend that women or men with medium to long hair trim split ends as soon as they see them. This will stop the hair from continuing to split up the shaft until you can get in for a full haircut. To trim your split ends, simply identify the broken stands and cut just above the damage; don’t get carried away, just trim the damaged strands! 

Trim Your Bangs

If bangs are a part of your look, trimming them can save you money in between trips to your stylist. First off, don’t cut your bangs wet, as they will be shorter when dry and you may not like the length when you’re finished! 

Start with dry bangs, styled as you would normally wear them and then slowly point cut into your bangs, taking off a little at a time. Remember, you can always cut more but you can never glue more hair back on. 

Add a Few Layers

If you’re looking to add texture and dimension to your hair cut with gradual layers, try these DIY style and cut tips. To layer your hair, start by gathering wet hair into a high ponytail at the front of your head, a unicorn pony tail if you will. Next, cut your hair straight across, taking off an inch, or however much you want to remove. When you take your hair out of the ponytail, you should have gentle, flattering layers.

Invest in the Right Tools

You don’t want to hack away at your hair with your craft or kitchen shears – they are too dull and won’t leave you with a quality cut. If you’re serious about at-home haircuts, you’ll want to invest in a pair of professional hair scissors from a local salon supply store. 

If you plan on additional styling, you’ll also want half a dozen hair clips to hold your hair out of place while you work on certain sections. To avoid excess damage, heat-style sparingly and brush your hair using a gentle brush or wide-tooth come to minimize dryness and splitting. You can also invest in a satin pillowcase to minimize damage while sleeping. 

How do you style and cut your own hair at home? What are your favorite tips and tools? Share what you know with us in the comments section below. 

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Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Breastfeeding Made Easy for New Moms Using Shatavari

Any new mom will tell you that breastfeeding can be one of the most intimate bonding experiences between a mother and her child. But they may also tell you that it can be one of the most difficult aspects of new motherhood. Challenges from latching to lactation can make breastfeeding especially hard for new moms and their newborns.

Known the world-over as the “queen of herbs,” shatavari belongs to the asparagus family and is best known for promoting women’s health, especially as it relates to reproductive health and hormone production. Shatavari can also be a big help for nursing mothers, as it helps with both the quality and quantity of milk production. Read on to learn more about this amazing herb and how it can help new moms make nursing easier.

The Origin of the Queen of Herbs

Although shatavari belongs to the asparagus family, in its natural state, it actually looks more like a pine tree. Its thin trunk and narrow branches often sprout green pine needles, white flowers and even dark berries throughout the year. And while the entirety of the shatavari plant can be used for medicinal purposes, it’s in the roots where the its true power is found. Shatavari plants produce more than 100 roots when they are fully grown, with each being about 3 feet long and looking like pale sweet potatoes. As the roots mature over time and grow deeper into soil, they absorb more nutrients that give shatavari its ancient healing properties.

Most often taken as a liquid or powder extract, shatavari roots are used mainly for female health, including lactation as noted above, as well as conception and reproduction. In fact, some translations say that shatavari means “she who possesses 100 husbands,” as a nod to the herb’s ability to rejuvenate libido and enhance fertility! But while this wonder herb is most often used to give women a boost, it also has a wide range of potential benefits for both women and men, including antioxidant support, brain and mood support, as well as gastrointestinal tract and digestive health support.

Shatavari and Ayurvedic Medicine

The shatavari herb has played a pivotal role in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Ayurvedic medicine is a 3,000-year-old medicinal practice that originated in India and continues to be used all over the world as one of the most popular forms of traditional medicine. The term “Ayurveda” combines the Sanskrit words for life (“ayur”) and science (“veda”), with key concepts of its medicinal practice including universal interconnectedness between humans, health and the universe, the body’s constitution called “prakriti” and life forces called “doshas.”

The doshas are where shatavari comes in. In Ayurvedic medicine, all living things contain space, air, fire, water, and earth, and these are the building blocks that correspond to three doshas: pitta, vata, and kapha. According to Ayurveda, the pitta dosha can influence an individual’s well-being – both in the moment and over the course of life – but it can also fluctuate in the face of multiple conditions such as weather, emotional state, and stress. If the pitta dosha is out of balance, shatavari may be an ideal herb to help bring it back in line with the four elements of space, air, water, and earth.

How Shatavari Can Help Nursing Moms

Now that you know a little bit about Ayurvedic medicine and shatavari’s role in this ancient medicinal practice, there are some pretty cool ways that this queen of herbs can help mothers who are breastfeeding. Shatavari works, not just to improve the amount of breast milk your body can produce, but also the quality of it. The herb is known to stimulate two key hormones in balanced lactation, called prolactin and corticoids. In fact, shatavari is considered so safe and effective that many pediatricians in India recommend the herb for nursing mothers.

A DIY Shatavari Recipe for Nursing Moms

Using shatavari to help with lactation and breastfeeding is pretty simple. Add the dry root to a cup of milk (dairy, almond, or whatever you like!) and heat for 10 minutes or until it reaches a temperature you like. Filter out the root and any residue and drink early in the morning to promote lactation. As a good rule of thumb, start with one or two small roots, then add additional roots over time until you find what works best for you.

In addition to this DIY shatavari recipe, there are also a host of shatavari supplements you can try. Whether you want a pill, a powder or a liquid, you can find the shatavari remedy that works best for you!

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Photo by Bruno Nascimento on Unsplash

How to Reduce Symptoms of a Shitzu Allergy

Our four-legged family members are an essential part of our lives, which is why it can be devastating when you find yourself struggling with a dog allergy. Whether your pet is a pound puppy or you’re dealing with a purebred Shitzu allergy, you need to find relief without having to part ways with your furry best friend.

Thankfully, there are natural remedies that may help alleviate your pet allergies so you can your canine companion can coexist peacefully. Keep reading to learn more.

Do You have a Dog Allergy?

If you find yourself sneezy, drippy and itchy after playing with dogs or being around them, then you may have a dog allergy. All dogs produce multiple proteins, called allergens, which can be found in their dander, saliva, hair, and urine. If you react to these allergens, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with an allergist, who will likely administer a scratch test. If you do have a confirmed dog allergy, remain positive. There may be ways to manage your symptoms without having to rehome your family pet.

Managing the Symptoms of a Dog or Shitzu Allergy

Despite the hype, there is no such thing as a purely hypoallergenic dog, even if a dog doesn’t shed, they still produce the same amount of allergens as a “non-hypoallergenic” canine. If you have a Shitzu allergy, or any other dog allergy for that matter – and want to continue living with your pup – you may be able to get allergy shots that can help you build up a tolerance to dog allergens. You can also invest in an air purifier for your home to reduce irritants. You’ll want to give your dog regular baths and look into specialty shampoos to ensure allergens don’t build up on his skin and coat.

Moving forward, you may want to consider confining your dog to several rooms of the home to ensure you maintain rooms (like your bedroom) where allergens are low. If you have carpet in your home, consider switching to hardwood or laminate to make your home easier to clean. Despite your best efforts; however, allergens will become airborne and you won’t be able to keep any space in your home 100% safe for individuals with a dog or Shitzu allergy.

Natural Relief for Dog Allergies

Looking for a natural way to manage your dog allergies? These trusted companies offer multiple supplements and products to help you manage symptoms.

Allergy Relief 4 Kids

Allergy Relief 4 Kids from Hylands offers homeopathic support for children ages 2-12 in an easy-to-take dissolvable tablet. Free from artificial flavors and pseudoephedrine, this product may help children with seasonal discomfort as well as pet allergy symptoms. 

Animal Hair and Dander

Animal Hair and Dander by BioAllers is specifically designed to promote relief from pet dander and allergies. This homeopathic product combines precise levels of homeopathic ingredients with specific homeopathic allergens resulting in natural support without unwanted side effects.

Pet Allergy (For People)

Looking for a homeopathic formula to help you deal with the temporary symptoms of pet allergies? Pet Allergy (for people) by BioAllers is a homeopathic product designed to deal with the sneezing, congestion, watery eyes, and minor breathing difficulties associated with pet allergies.

How have you found help with a Shitzu allergy or any other breed of dog allergy? Share your experiences, tips and tricks with us in the comments section below.

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Photo by Valeriia Bugaiova on Unsplash