Remembering A Magnificent Vacation

Today I flipped through some of the photos that I took while on my cruise through the Mediterranean last November.  These are from Monte Carlo and Monaco.  It seems like so long ago...yet it's only been nine months.  My, how life has changed for all of us since that time!  I feel like I was so fortunate to get to visit these places  when I did.  It was such a magnificent trip.  Perusing the photos takes my mind and spirit back to all of the magical islands and European cities.  What an incredible trip it was!

Today I did a load of laundry and hung it out on the line in the sunshine to dry.  I love the effect that the sun has on our clothing, sheets and towels.  They feel and smell so fresh when you take them off the clothesline and bring them inside the house.  I  folded everything carefully and placed the items  neatly in my clothes basket, like my mom used to do for us.  She trained me well.

The other day I coated my hair with red henna.  My grey roots were starting to show, so I painted over them with a brush and left the henna on for four hours.  I always feel like a new woman after I bump up the color on my hair.  I could really use a trim, but with this virus,  I'm going to have to wait.  Henna  picks up the sunlight so beautifully.  I get so many compliments on it when I'm at the lake.  People still refer to me as a   natural redhead, which  I really get a kick out of... (especially since I'm totally grey now and color my hair myself.)  Henna deep conditions the hair and really keeps it healthy.  I just love it.  I will probably use it for the rest of my life.  Juliet Prowse kept her hair red as she got older, and it looked great on her!

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Keeping Up On Hair and Nails During the Virus

Today I felt motivated to put some fresh henna in my hair.  The grey roots have been growing in, and I like to bump up the color with red, natural Avigail Henna.  At this stage of my life, I have to leave it on for four hours, to successfully cover the grey.  It always makes me feel happier and brighter once it's done, though.  My ends could use a trim, but I will hide them by braiding my hair and sweeping it up on top of my head.

I haven't been manicuring my nails since the pandemic hit, but today I will.  After they are scrubbed clean, I will carefully polish them with my favorite mauve color.  It's the little things that make us feel feminine and attractive. 

How are your hair and nails looking these days?  Are you doing your own maintenance at home?   

Thank you for your comments.  They add so much talent and energy to the blog.  Please reply in English.  I'm sorry, but comments with links will not be published.  If you enjoy the posts here, please share them.  Comments may take a few days to appear; they are moderated.

Sunshine, Gardening, and Red Henna

I took a few photos of the garden for you. It's fun to see the flowers and fruit trees in bloom. The weather has been warm and pleasant. Lula and I enjoy our bike ride and long walk each day. It's healthy to be outside, chatting with neighbors, and getting daily exercise. She really looks forward to going.  I think a regular workout routine really helps with having a positive attitude.

I've been laying out in the sun to get a base tan. I do it at a time when the sun is less intense. It feels so healing to soak in the rays of sunshine. I  unfold my towel on the ground, and absorb the magnetic forces of nature. It's energizing to connect with the land.  Lula relaxes next to me.  We love to get grounded into the earth.

I spread red henna through my hair this afternoon. At first it looks a bit orange,  but I have gotten several compliments. I definitely prefer it to the grey that's creeping into my roots. I love how the henna deep conditions the hair, too. I leave it on for four hours. It's a relief to have it done for the month. Ah, the maintenance of being a woman... It's kind of fun being a redhead,  though. (even though I'm not a natural redhead.)

Thank you for your comments. They add so much talent and energy to the blog. Please comment in English. I'm sorry, but comments with links will not be published. If you enjoy the posts here, please share them. 

Coloring Your Hair At Home With Henna

I've been coloring my hair myself with Henna since I was in my thirties. Now that I'm 52, I have to leave it on for four hours to cover the grey. It's kind of an ordeal, but it's worth it. I've tried letting my hair go natural, but I just don't like the way it looks on me. I feel kind of like a hag with grey hair, I'm sorry to say. I admire people who do it, but I still cling to my henna. I like that it's natural. It's also far less expensive than going to the salon.

When I was younger, I used to mix the powder with freshly brewed coffee. A hairdresser friend of mine taught me that trick. She used to take my yoga class, and she had gorgeous long blonde hair. It worked really well, but as I got older, the caffeine started to bother my scalp. It felt like an allergic reaction to the caffeine was permeating my skin. It burned. I just use hot water these days. You can also use hibiscus tea, for red highlights. I've done that, too. It's very pretty.

I mix three different colors. I use brown or mahogany, red, and black. It gives a nice shade, and I get a lot of compliments on it. Henna really catches the sunlight. A friend of mine who is a hair colorist for animals in the movies really likes it. She always enthusiastically comments on my hair color when she sees me. I have noticed that sometimes hair dye can look almost painted. Sometimes it's too severe, and it looks obvious. The henna is more subtle. I usually apply it once a month.

In between applications, I use a powder called Wow. It's available on Amazon. You just brush it on your roots. It's really easy, and it works very well. I first learned about it from a professional make-up artist on a photo shoot. It's convenient and effective. It's a bit pricey, but the container lasts quite a long time.

I notice that the older women I know really spend a lot of time and money on their hair. I think it's one of the shocks of aging. Your hair really changes. I find taking a couple of capsules of fish oil each day helps my hair not to be so dry. I also let it air dry after shampooing  and conditioning it. The last time I had it trimmed, the hair salon owner commented, "Your hair is so healthy!" That was unexpected and nice to hear. I think it's because I don't put any chemicals on it. I'm sure diet also plays a role.  How about you? Do you color your own hair?