Oils that Improve Hair Health
April 1, 2014 § Leave a comment
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is one of the most effective natural oils on the market. It works as a heat protectant by sealing the cuticle. It also penetrates the cortex of the hair shaft, moisturizing inner layers of each strand, making hair stronger and more resilient against heat styling.
Jojoba oil
Jojoba oil is widely used in hair products because its chemical makeup is almost identical to the oil human skin produces. It helps develop and stimulate new hair cell growth because it improves scalp capillary circulation which stimulates the follicle.
If applied to an excessively oily scalp, it tricks skin into producing less of its natural oils, also known as sebum which clogs pores. So it balances oils and is non comedogenic, which benefits those with acne caused by excessively oily hair.
Plum oil
Plum oil has recently gained popularity in high end anti-aging cosmetic products for its cell renewal benefits.
This high quality ingredient is ideal for aging hair and skin as it helps rehydrate and renew the scalp’s skin cells, creating a perfect environment for hair growth. Other benefits of plum oil include its very light weight consistency. It’s actually so light that it quickly absorbs into the hair follicle and doesn’t leave a greasy residue on the hair shaft or the scalp.
Argan oil
Benefits of argan oil are vast and it’s used in a multitude of anti-aging cosmetics for its cell regeneration properties. Argan oil benefits skin ailments such as eczema, wrinkles and dry scalp. Its high fatty acid and vitamin E compounds soften hair and improve elasticity. So, it not only prevents breakage and hair loss but also helps hair grow longer.
In addition to reviving hair health, argan oil is a natural heat protectant. It creates a thin film over the hair, shielding it from thermal damage caused by blow drying, flat irons and curling irons.
Avocado oil
Last is avocado oil which has long been used to treat damaged hair because of its high vitamin A, D, E, B6, lecithin and potassium content.
It contains folic acids, beta-carotene and more than 20 percent essential unsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, when it’s applied to damp hair, it creates a thin coat to the follicle, acting as a protective layer against pollution and heat.
Have you used any of these in your hair?
Egyptian Magic’s Nine Week No Scar Claim – Put to the Test
February 10, 2010 § Leave a comment
The first time I applied it, I was turned off. It’s a salve which turns to oil when rubbed together with your fingertips. Doesn’t the sound of oil on your face sound gross? That’s what I thought. I rubbed the salve in my fingertips anyway and applied all over my face, under my eyes and rubbed a little extra between my brows and went to bed. As greasy as it felt when I first applied it, my face was completely matte in the morning. It absorbs nicely, though it might be too heavy for some skin types. I have sensitive skin and use fairly light lotions, like Shiseido’s Lifting Lotion II on a regular basis. So the olive oil and wax combo while absorbent was a little heavy. So, I use it only occasionally as a night cream and apply it religiously to an old scar on my arm. I now like the way the olive oil base feels on my skin. It’s got a nice natural scent. I’ll update if the scar disappears.
Loving it as a hair cream
As a hair cream, it’s amazing. I curl my hair with a ceramic iron at least twice a week, with Biosilk as a heat protector.
For the past few months, however, I’ve used Egyptian Magic as a heat protector – applying small amounts to the ends of each hair section before curling. I LOVE how shiny it makes my hair look. It adds texture to my fine hair; shine and holds curls together. It even looks bouncier.
As I mentioned before, it’s made of all natural ingredients. Its olive oil absorbs into the hair shaft while the honey pollen leaves a matte finish, without leaving it looking greasy.
All in one
I’ve been using my little 4 oz. jar of magic for three months and have only scraped out half an inch of product. I’d say add it to your collection of beauty must haves.
It is a great moisturizer – occasionally. It can be used as a lip balm and it’s a killer hair product. Lastly, it’s made of all natural ingredients. It’s worth the buy.
“Peace and Blessing Unto You.”
Locally Grown Mission Street Eats
October 3, 2009 § Leave a comment
Whether you’re a city dweller or coming to the California Bay on vacation, you might want to check out the multifaceted mecca that is Mission Street.
Aside from its culturally diverse population, this major artery through San Francisco has some of the city’s best organic cuisine.
Their major selling point is not just their location, but the fact that their menus showcase only locally grown produce and meat products. I’ve compiled a list of restaurants worthy of checking out while you’re in the city’s Mission District.
AME Restaurant, located in the St. Regis is high end and all fresh. It features contemporary American cuisine with Napa Valley executive chefs at its helms. This award winning spot is perfect for dates and features some of the best California wines. AME is located at 689 Mission right in the SOMA District.
Americano Restaurant & Bar is waterfront and offers American and Italian cuisine. Besides its beautiful waterfront views and locally grown menu selection, the restaurant has a bar from 11-1 am every night.
Blue Plate is a hip-casual stop for medium priced Modern American cuisine. Its menu is completely organic too. Blue Plate is located at 3218 Mission in the Bernal Heights District.
If you like Latin, check out Cha Cha Cha. It’s a hip and fun local favorite. This place serves tapas style cuisine at reasonable prices and is open late. Find it at 1301 Mission Street.
Foreign Cinema is an upscale, but hip place to grab a drink or a bite. It’s outside dinning patio doubles as an outdoor theater where classic films are screened during dinner. Indoor tables are also available. Classic cinema outside and fresh food from local farmers, who can beat that! Foreign Cinema is located at 2534 Mission Street.
Aside from the above mentioned eateries, Mission Street is a perfect district to cruise through if you’re looking for fresh produce. There’s a fruit stand on almost every corner.
My Secret Spanish Style Chicken Soup Recipe
September 30, 2009 § Leave a comment
Studies show that the steam from chicken soup eases scratchy throats and treats respiratory problems with the amino acid released from chicken during cooking.
Here’s a quick and easy chicken soup recipe that you can throw together in about 40 minutes:
10 cups water
4 red potatoes
3 regular tomatoes
1 cup chopped carrots
½ cup diced onions
4 celery stalks
2 chicken breasts with skin and on the bone
2 teaspoons tomato paste
1 lemon
½ cup brown rice
1 Mexican zucchini
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon pepper
½ cup Pato Sauce (optional)Prep time and cook time can be consolidated by boiling water while chopping veggies. Add about 10 cups of water to a stock pot and turn heat to high.
While water heats, chop tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, onion, potatoes, celery all into bite size pieces.
Once the water begins to boil, add 2 teaspoons of tomato paste into the boiling water. Mix it around to make sure it dissolves.
Next, scrub the two chicken breasts under cold water and throw them into the boiling water whole, no skinning, slicing or chopping. You’ll shred them apart after they’ve cooked thoroughly and the meat is ready to fall off the bone.
Add the garlic salt and pepper.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and throw the veggies and brown rice in. Let it all simmer uncovered for 45 minutes. With forks, break the chicken away from the bone. Remove the bone and skin from the pot and let soup cool.
Serve and season with lemon to taste.
Recipe serves 6.
Yoga: A Natural Pain Reliever
July 24, 2009 § Leave a comment
Would you like to experience more relaxation, fewer headaches and more patience in your life? Yoga is a perfect way to relieve those ales while learning meditation practices. It’s an alternative to working out by “working in” to tone your muscles with your mind.
Yoga helps reduce insomnia, headaches and levels of anxiety too. The yoga attitude is all about being gentle to the body. Approach practice using an ease with the body, probably something that is put on the back burner during your regular day to day to do’s.
Child’s pose eases tension from the brain. It also stretches and lengthens the back, relaxes facial muscles and eases strain from the ankles and shins. Click here for a picture of the pose.
Do you think you have restless leg syndrome aka a pharmaceutical company fabrication of a disease to sell product? Instead of turning to drugs for relief, put your legs up against a wall.
This simple little yoga pose will relieve leg fatigue, rejuvenate circulation and regulate blood pressure. It is claimed that the pose prevents varicose veins as well. Some yogis even attest to this pose preventing wrinkles.
On a side note, those with serious medical conditions such as cancer, glaucoma or heart disease do need to consult a physician before attempting inversions and the more aggressive yoga poses.
Other benefits are lower blood pressure, stress relief and patience. Try the head to knee pose for stress reduction. Go as deep into the pose as you can, remembering to be gentle to the body and consciously breathing deep.
The mind interestingly becomes intensely aware. Poses like revolving triangle pose stimulate right-left brain coordination. The pose also massages internal organs, energizes the body and relieves lower back discomfort. Again focused or meditative breathing during these poses is essential for these benefits. The most powerful benefit of the practice is proper breathing.
Benefits of proper breathing include enhanced concentration, improved digestion, improved circulation and stamina. The power of meditation can improve so many areas of brain function. It is scientifically proven to strengthen focus and enhance memory along with a slue of other benefits.
Simply focus on inhaling and exhaling. It’s ok if your mind drifts, return to focusing on your breath. Each time it meanders off on an idea, just bring it back to simply focusing on breathing. Once your focus is maintained, imagine your lungs inflating and deflating. Imagine the air circulating throughout your head, limbs, chest and torso.
This is a quite conversation with the body that enhances meditation. Do this with the above mentioned poses for a some relief. Namaste.
Save on Produce and Support California Growers: Part One
April 10, 2009 § Leave a comment
How about picking up some fresh produce from a local farmers market this Sunday? Well if you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area, the farmers market locations listed below are worthy of checking out in Santa Clara County.
These local farmers markets are year-round and the list below is a collection of about ten that operate only on Sundays..
Los Gatos
For you early birds, head out to Los Gatos Farmers Market. The market’s hours of operation are every Sunday from 8 am-1:30 pm on Montebello Way at Broadway.
This market features organic and non-organic produce, fresh fish, cheese, dried fruits, nuts, beans, herbs, specialty spreads and dressings, preserves, juice, fresh cut flowers, and freeze-dried flower arrangements and wreaths in season. Last but not least an oyster bar. For more info call 408-353-4293.
Japantown
From 8:30 am – noon rain or shine go to San Jose’s Japantown Farmers Market on Jackson Street at North 7th Street. This is an independent and certified market near the heart of downtown San Jose.
Volunteer opportunities are available at this market. Go to their website for more info japantownsanjose.org/market.html.
Milpitas
As of April 1, the Milpitas Farmers Market has reopened. This market is located at 525 Los Coches Street at Hillview in the side lot of the Indian Community Center.
Featured farmers can be found here: pcfma.com/marketproducer.php?market_id=8. Thanks to a City of Milpitas and Indian Community Center partnership, this market will be an ongoing year-round Sunday happening.
Palo Alto
Palo Alto Farmers Market also showcases locally grown produce from 9 am – 1 pm on Sundays. Most of their stands feature organic produce, but some comments on Yelp claim that their prices are higher than other local farmers markets.
If you don’t mind spending a buck or two more, check out this Sunday Peninsula market on California Avenue at El Camino Real in Palo Alto. For more info about this market call 510-745-7100.
Stay posted for part two of this Sunday farmers market report.
Save on Produce and Support California Growers: Part Two
April 10, 2009 § Leave a comment
One thing is certain about these farmers markets, their produce is California grown and less expensive than store bought produce. Some farmers travel all the way from Sacramento to deliver their farms fresh picks. So go out and support these local growers.
I’ve search far and wide, high and low for every single Sunday farmers market in Santa Clara County. This article will complete my thorough investigation. Take the following places into consideration next time you head out for fresh produce.
Santana Row
Feel like taking a nice stroll, perhaps checking out a new Gucci bag before shopping for produce? Santana Row’s year-round Sunday Market is perfectly suited for the shopaholic Sunday lounger.
Hours of operation are from 11 am – 3 pm between and it’s located on Olin Avenue and Tatum Lane in Piazza di Valencia. Items on showcase include fruit, seasonal vegetables, oven fresh breads, giant prawns, cheeses, salad dressings, sauces, Indian foods, hot soups and olive oils.
It’s smaller than most of the local markets with only ten or eleven vendors, but it’s a nice addition to the already existing attractions at Santana Row.
Blossom Hill
For those in the southern most part of the South Bay, visit the Blossom Hill Farmers Market in the Princeton Plaza Mall at Kooser and Meridian Avenue. Hours of operation are from 10 am – 2 pm.
This certified farmers market features approximately forty growers mostly from the San Joaquin Valley with some local vendors. Shopping hint: 1:30 pm till their 2 pm closing time, vendors are allowed to negotiate prices.
This market is a meat, poultry and dairy free zone. For more information about this farmers market, you can go to cafarmersmkts.com/blossom.html.
Campbell Urban Village
For you large farmers market lovers, Campbell’s Urban Village Market offers a local favorite – Greenlees Cinnamon Bread. A famed Artichoke Hummus maker from Petaluma with car salesmen antics sets up shop here as well. Buy into his sales, te dip is to die for.
This certified market was voted Best of South Bay Farmers Markets by San Jose Mercury News and Wave Magazine. Yelper’s also claim this market to the best in the South Bay.
It’s located at Campbell Avenue and Second Street and its hours of operation are from 9 am – 1 pm. For more information about this market go to urbanvillageonline.com.
Alum Rock
Alum Rock Village Farmers Market features, the cheapest produce in comparison to the rest of the other markets. According to massive amounts of reviews, this is not a trendy Sunday afternoon place to hang.
This is however the best place for deals. It’s hours of operation are from 9 am to 1 pm and is located on White Road in San Jose.
Mountain View
Last on the hunt, is the Mountain View Farmers Market located at Hope Street at W Evelyn outside of the Cal Train Station. This market averages about seventy parishioners says cafarmersmkts.com.
It rates average on the price meter according to comments I’ve collected. However this market is located at the beginning of Castro Street in Mt. View which is a cool downtown area strip of shops and cool restaurants. It’s a nice break from Santana Row, with an old school but nice Bay Area vibe worth checking out during a lazy Sunday stroll.
The real inspiration for this investigation is the fact that April is earth month. So what better way to celebrate your tree hugging inner-child than by checking out one of these neighborhood markets.
The Archives of My Mind 
