How to Protect Your Hair From Sun, Chlorine, and Salt Water--Beautiful Skin And Nails

How to Protect Your Hair From Sun, Chlorine, and Salt Water

Sun. Chlorine. Salt water. The best parts of summer can leave our hair a complete mess come Labor Day. Our locks take a beating during the warmer months, leaving strands dry, color-faded, frizzy, and greasy. Even air conditioning can do a number on hair.

So what gives? Is there any way to keep our hair healthy and still enjoy a dip in the pool? Luckily, there are plenty. We tapped New York City-based hairstylist Nathan Rosenkranz to understand what happens to our hair during the summer, what we can do to fix it, plus a few ways to rehabilitate our hair come fall.

Lock in moisture

Sun exposure, salt water, and sweat can pull moisture from your strands, leaving them dry and prone to breakage. To avoid this, “start with wearing a nice wide brimmed hat to keep the sun off of your hair,” says Rosenkranz. This will help keep the sun’s rays off your hair, thus protecting your hair from dryness and preserving the color (with the added bonus of protecting your skin!). Double up by using a product that both moisturizes and shields your hair from UV rays. Rosenkranz recommends Bamboo Beach Summer Sun Recovery Spray from Alterna Haircare ($22; sephora.com).

Create a shield

"In the summer we're more frequently exposing our hair to the chemicals in pools, salt water, and spending more time in the heat, all of which will strip your hair of its beautiful color," says Rosenkranz. Before going for a swim in the pool or ocean, he recommends wetting your hair completely and thoroughly applying a leave-in conditioner. “Your hair will absorb the conditioner instead of the chlorine or salt water,” he says. Try EverPure Damage Protect Leave in Treatment from L'Oreal Paris ($9; amazon.com), which is sulfate-free and also works to restore damage.

Fight frizz

The key to combating frizzy hair is locking out the humidity. “Humidity is like Miracle Gro for flyaways,” says Rosenkranz, “so anyone who is prone to frizzy hair will be suffering extra during the humidity brought on by summer showers.” You can do this with an oil, like Oleo Miracle Replenishing Oil from DESSANGE Paris ($12; target.com). It's loaded with three oils—argan, camelia, and pracaxi, which work together to leave your hair both smooth and soft.

Hide grease

A sweatier body leads to greasier hair. "When it's hot, your scalp sweats, transferring the naturally occurring sebum throughout the hair more, which can cause the hair to look greasy," says Rosenkranz. "Not a good look!" To fix this, he recommends using an absorbent dry shampoo, like Batiste Dry Shampoo ($6; amazon.com).

How to rehab hair after summer

If you haven't spent the summer protecting your mane from the sun and surf, you can repair damaged locks once the weather starts to cool. "First, look for good treatments," says Rosenkranz. He has been recommending Caviar Moisture Intense Oil Crème Pre-Shampoo Treatment ($30; sephora.com) to revitalize your hair. You apply the treatment 15 minutes before shampooing. "In addition to boosting the moisturizing benefits of your existing shampoo and conditioner regimen, it moisturizes to revitalize dehydrated strands, leaving hair supremely smooth, soft, and shiny." The big takeaway here: moisture! 

How to Remove Literally Every Type of Makeup--Beautiful Skin And Nails

How to Remove Literally Every Type of Makeup

Confession time. No matter how much I obsess about beauty, I am the worst when it comes to makeup removal. I will fully admit there have been nights where I slap a wipe across my face and call it quits, only to wake up with crusty remnants of my creation from the night before. We’ve all been told a thousand times that failing to really remove your makeup could cause skin issues, so what gives with the lack of effort in our removal routine?

For me, it’s that I don’t really have a game plan, so I talked to celebrity makeup artist, Nick Barose, (who’s client list includes Lupita Nyong’o, Brie Larson, Amy Poehler!) to get the scoop on how to remove every type of makeup with minimal effort.

How to Remove Literally Every Type of Makeup

For eye makeup, like mascara and eyeliner:

Barose recommends taking a gentle approach. He likes to soak cotton swabs with Lancome Bi-Facil Double-Action Makeup Remover ($15, lancome-usa.com) and lets them sit on the eyes for a few seconds before wiping. “This will take things off without being too aggressive,” he explains. To avoid raccoon eyes from stubborn eyeliner, he suggests dipping cotton swabs, like DHC Olive Virgin Oil swabs ($6, dhccare.com), in the Lancome Bi-Facil to gently target the area where makeup is sticking around.

For face makeup, like foundation, concealer, and blush:

You can start by massaging your face with cleansing water to break down the makeup. Barose likes Koh Gen Do Spa Cleansing Water ($39, sephora.com). Then, he uses a makeup remover wipe, like Pixi By Petra Moisturizing Cleansing Cloths ($10, target.com), to pick up anything left over. The next step would be to rinse your face and cleanse.

However, you can skip that step if you don’t have a ton of product on. “If you don’t wear that much makeup, then usually the cleansing water is enough followed by washing the face,” he explains.

For lip makeup, like lipstick, lip gloss, and lip gloss:

It really depends on how long wearing the product is, explains Nick. “In general, if it is a soft color and not a long-wearing formula, then just a makeup wipe is enough.”

For more stubborn color and bold shades (hello, Taylor Swift red), he uses DHC Eye and Lips Remover ($12.50, dhccare.com) to fully remove the hue. No matter what, you should always always end any lip makeup removal with a lip balm to keep your puckers from looking like the Sahara desert. 

So no more excuses for me—and I hope none for you either. With this easy routine, you can hit the pillows with a fresh face every night. Your skin will thank you. 

The Best Home Remedies for Dandruff, According to Dermatologists--Beautiful Skin And Nails

The Best Home Remedies for Dandruff, According to Dermatologists

If you're one of the nearly 50% of Americans who struggles with dandruff, you're probably familiar with its telltale symptoms: itchiness, a dry scalp, white flakes appearing on your dark sweaters. The chronic skin condition can be caused by dry skin, a sensitivity to certain hair products, or a yeast-like fungus called Malassezia. And while there are over-the-counter shampoos that can help combat flakes, you may already have a potential solution sitting in your pantry. Experts say at-home remedies such as coconut oil and crushed aspirin can go a long way towards easing the itch and fighting dandruff-causing yeast.

Here, five at-home treatments that dermatologists recommend to their patients.

Coconut oil

One of the most popular natural dandruff remedies, coconut oil can help reduce some of the yeast that contributes to flakes, explains Geeta Shah, MD, a Maryland-based dermatologist. She recommends massaging a small amount into your scalp and leaving it there for at least 15-20 minutes. "The longer the better," she says. "Some people even leave it on overnight with a towel or shower cap so it penetrates a little deeper." One caveat: It may take a few washes to fully rinse out of strands, so maybe don't try this right before date night.

Apple cider vinegar

Thanks to its high pH, apple cider vinegar can also help inhibit the growth of flake-causing yeast, says Dr. Shah. But unlike coconut oil, you shouldn't put it directly on your hair: "You want to dilute it," she says. "I recommend a half and half solution of half vinegar, half water." Apply the mixture to your scalp and let it soak in for at least 15 minutes. There will be a lingering vinegar smell even after you shampoo, she says, "but it fades pretty quickly and [vinegar] is easier to get out of the scalp and hair [than coconut oil]."

Aspirin

Like many over-the-counter dandruff remedies, aspirin contains salicylic acid, which can help reduce flaking, says Dr. Shah. To use, crush a few aspirin and mix with water to create a paste that you can apply to your scalp. Another option: Add the crushed aspirin to your shampoo to give it an instant dandruff-fighting boost.

Aloe vera

Unlike other natural remedies, aloe vera won't necessarily help get rid of dandruff, since it doesn't attack the yeast that's often at the root (see what we did there?) cause of white flakes. However, it can offer other benefits: "Some people have a lot of inflammation from dandruff, and aloe vera is anti-inflammatory, so it helps the itching," says Debra Jaliman, MD, a New York City-based dermatologist. Rub a small amount on your scalp for fast, cooling relief. 

Tea tree oil

Another great natural anti-inflammatory: tea treat oil. Mona Gohara, MD, a Connecticut dermatologist and associate clinical professor at Yale, suggests adding a few drops to your regular shampoo to calm your scalp.

How to Remove Literally Every Type of Makeup--Beautiful Skin And Nails

How to Remove Literally Every Type of Makeup

Confession time. No matter how much I obsess about beauty, I am the worst when it comes to makeup removal. I will fully admit there have been nights where I slap a wipe across my face and call it quits, only to wake up with crusty remnants of my creation from the night before. We’ve all been told a thousand times that failing to really remove your makeup could cause skin issues, so what gives with the lack of effort in our removal routine?

For me, it’s that I don’t really have a game plan, so I talked to celebrity makeup artist, Nick Barose, (who’s client list includes Lupita Nyong’o, Brie Larson, Amy Poehler!) to get the scoop on how to remove every type of makeup with minimal effort.

For eye makeup, like mascara and eyeliner:

Barose recommends taking a gentle approach. He likes to soak cotton swabs with Lancome Bi-Facil Double-Action Makeup Remover ($15, lancome-usa.com) and lets them sit on the eyes for a few seconds before wiping. “This will take things off without being too aggressive,” he explains. To avoid raccoon eyes from stubborn eyeliner, he suggests dipping cotton swabs, like DHC Olive Virgin Oil swabs ($6, dhccare.com), in the Lancome Bi-Facil to gently target the area where makeup is sticking around.

For face makeup, like foundation, concealer, and blush:

You can start by massaging your face with cleansing water to break down the makeup. Barose likes Koh Gen Do Spa Cleansing Water ($39, sephora.com). Then, he uses a makeup remover wipe, like Pixi By Petra Moisturizing Cleansing Cloths ($10, target.com), to pick up anything left over. The next step would be to rinse your face and cleanse.

However, you can skip that step if you don’t have a ton of product on. “If you don’t wear that much makeup, then usually the cleansing water is enough followed by washing the face,” he explains.

For lip makeup, like lipstick, lip gloss, and lip gloss:

It really depends on how long wearing the product is, explains Nick. “In general, if it is a soft color and not a long-wearing formula, then just a makeup wipe is enough.”

For more stubborn color and bold shades (hello, Taylor Swift red), he uses DHC Eye and Lips Remover ($12.50, dhccare.com) to fully remove the hue. No matter what, you should always always end any lip makeup removal with a lip balm to keep your puckers from looking like the Sahara desert. 

So no more excuses for me—and I hope none for you either. With this easy routine, you can hit the pillows with a fresh face every night. Your skin will thank you.