As the saying goes, beauty is skin deep. But the sheen of your hair or the glow of your skin is not just superficial; it’s also an indicator of overall wellness. “Radiance emanates from inner health,” says Melinda Pizzano of Bodhi Holistic Spa, Salon & Boutique in Hudson. “People don’t always notice if you look pretty, but they do notice if you’re radiant.” When money is tight and stress and anxiety are elevated, it’s even more important to take time to relax and recharge, and luckily, there are a number of at-home fixes inspired by spa and salon services that can help. Chronogram spoke to Pizzano and her industry peers to discuss some do-it-yourself treatments that you can try at home to reap the same beauty benefits as you would in expert hands.
Within Your Skin
As the largest organ of the body, the skin helps protect us from the sun, exposure to chemicals, temperature change, and more. A variety of factors, from contact with the elements to the natural aging process, can lead to skin issues like wrinkling, dullness, and dryness, and get us further from the luminous, soft, and blemish-free appearance that defines healthy skin.
To help moisturize and achieve smoothness, Pizzano suggests an ayurvedic approach. Using a generous amount of pure sesame oil, which is rich in mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids and the antioxidant sesamin, massage the whole body from head to toe, including the face, scalp, and hair. Slip into a hot bath and relax as the water’s warmth opens your pores and the sesame oil soaks in. “Sesame oil is grounding and nurturing,” says Pizzano. “It’s an amazing treatment to emotionally balance, and at the same time you’re getting the benefits for your skin.”
If you simply don’t have time to linger in a bath, you can treat your skin to some of the same benefits with a quick post-shower spritz, says Babs Moley of River Rock Health Spa in Woodstock. While the skin is still wet, apply the oil and then pat dry with a towel. She recommends avoiding petroleum-based products and opting for wholesome yet inexpensive oils like almond, jojoba, and olive oils.
During the summer months, almond oil is a particularly great option for body care. Dr. Simone Harari of Body of Truth and The Spa at Stone Ridge says that almond oil helps block the absorption of chlorine for those who apply it before swimming, thereby helping to keep skin hydrated and healthier looking.
About Face
When it comes to facial skin, which is often more sensitive and delicate than other areas of the body, Moley says the best-kept beauty secret is amazingly easy—regularly cleanse and exfoliate. Opt for natural skincare products that are without SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), which provides many commercial products with their foaming action but can strip the skin of moisture. Investing in spa-grade products can be a good option, given their price-per-use, she says. Both River Rock and Body of Truth offer guests the Eminence Organics product line, which uses all organic herbs, flowers, and fruits of the highest quality in its goods. Moley says the Sweet Red Rose and Lemon Cleansers are the most popular among her clientele.
After cleansing, follow up with light exfoliation. Moley suggests using a sea sponge or brush on the face to exfoliate, but remember that the key word is gentle. Harsh scrubbing that’s too abrasive can damage fragile areas.
Other low-cost, highly effective, at-home treatments can be made with ingredients you may already have in your kitchen. For Harari, cold-pressed organic olive oil is the trick to soothingly cleanse and moisturize. “I met a woman that was over 80 and she barely had any wrinkles,” she says. “ I asked her what she had done for skincare and she told me her whole life she had never used soap, just water and olive oil to wash and moisturize her face.”
To cleanse and nourish, Harari also suggests making this simple, summery recipe: Mix four to five mashed strawberries, one tablespoon of organic honey, and one tablespoon of heavy cream and apply to the face for 20 minutes. Using this mask once a week will help tighten skin and provide a host of other advantages. “The salicylic acid in the strawberries helps to remove impurities and dead cells and acts as an exfoliant,” Harari says. “The honey is a natural humectant that prevents wrinkles, nourishes the skin, and keeps it supple and moist.”
For a gentle peel to treat fine lines and wrinkles and rid the face of dead skin cells, Pizzano recommends papaya. The fruit contains an enzyme called papain, which has natural exfoliating properties. Papaya can be crushed and applied to the face as a mask, or combined with other ingredients like honey or yogurt for added moisturization benefits. If you’d rather purchase a mask than concoct your own, Bodhi carries the Naturopathica line of skincare products. Pizzano recommends the Environmental Defense Mask, which contains cherry puree and other productive ingredients like pomegranate, tomato, and red wine extracts.
While there are many options for at-home face care, there are some treatments that are better left to the professionals. Moley feels strongly that no home product will deliver the results of a microdermabrasion appointment, during which fine crystals are sprayed on the face, removing dead skin cells and sucking them up. She’s even wary about the typical microderm procedure, which she describes as “sandblasting,” because the product flies uncontrollably and can be ingested by the client and the practitioner during the treatment. River Rock provides a gentle microdermabrasion service that uses a fine rotating file to slough off the outer skin layers.
Likewise, Pizzano recommends exercising caution when attempting any sort of peel at home. If certain products are left on too long, they can cause burning, redness, and other undesirable consequences. To make the most of a peel, she’s a proponent of scheduling one at a spa, where professionals use higher concentration products for maximum effect and where you’ll be monitored for comfort and safety at all times. Remember to maximize the potential of all spa services with the recommended follow-up care and by engaging in a regular routine of cleansing, exfoliating, and protecting skin with sunscreen. Harari recommends an organic sunscreen made with zinc oxide or a mineral powder foundation that contains an SPF. Check your local spa’s boutique for products like these or ask your practitioner to recommend their favorite.
Grand Strands
Keeping salon costs at bay can be difficult if you’re coloring your hair or sticking to the prescribed visit every six weeks. Gray or natural color can begin to show through colored hair in a matter of weeks, and damage at the ends of the hair can quickly move up locks if it’s not snipped off in time. Maintaining your hair’s condition is the best way to prolong the time between salon visits.
Joshua Boos of Moxie Salon & Beauty Hub in Beacon says the first thing to do to extend a color treatment is to stop shampooing on a daily basis. “People have this thing that have to wash their hair everyday,” he says. What you’re aiming for is a clean, healthy scalp that will produce healthy hair. Shampoos, especially those that contain SLS, can strip the hair of oils and natural moisture. Find a shampoo that’s SLS-free and try washing every other day. “Sulfate-free shampoos don’t lather, and a lot of people want lather and they feel they’re not getting a good cleansing [without it],” Boos says. “But actually that would prolong the color, and it is actually cleansing.” He also advises clients to switch to a natural bristle brush, which distributes oils from the scalp through the hair.
To condition hair, Michael Pettine of Salone Bianco in Newburgh says a simple concoction of an avocado and half a cup of olive oil in a food processor will create a natural alternative to the bottled remedies on the shelves. Once a month, spread the mixture throughout the hair and sit under a hood dryer (if one is available) or place a plastic bag around the hair and wrap a towel over the top to keep the heat in. The fact that the treatment uses all-natural ingredients allows the hair to absorb it better, says Pettine.
When it comes to coloring, Boos thinks most people can get away with a single-process color at home under the guidance of a stylist (he says clients in the past have had luck with Second Nature by Clairol). “Clear communication with the stylist should be key,” he says. “People need assistance. That color you’re seeing with a box nine times out of ten is not going to happen. The professional has got to be willing to help with you.” There is a range of factors that are taken into consideration with professional coloring services, like the different applications of color at the scalp, the mid shaft, and the ends of the hair. Boos advises that lemon juice, highlighting tonics, and products like Sun In be avoided, due to their damaging effects.
Pettine is very cautious when it comes to the subject of do-it-yourself coloring. “We make most of our money correcting what people tried to do at home,” he says. Using a temporary mousse color on any roots that are showing or using a wash-out color that will last just a few weeks are safer bets.
Haircuts are best done in-house at a salon, too. Boos says that stylists are trained to distribute the weight of hair to achieve certain shapes, and without an education in hair styling it would almost be impossible to cut your own hair with the same success. Not to mention the risk of gouging yourself—a consequence Boos says he’s suffered when he doesn’t follow his own advice.
What it all boils down to is education and exploration. Technicians at the salon or spa may be more open than you think about helping you find ways to save a few dollars on your services—and they can recommend products and home remedies that will help you achieve some of the same effects of a visit, or at least help stretch the time between appointments.
“We educate like no one’s business about hair and materials of the hair and what it needs,” says Boos. “With clients, I’m very much looking after the best interests for their pockets in any way.”
RESOURCES
Bodhi Holistic Spa, Salon & Boutique
323 Warren Street, Hudson
(518) 828-2233; www.bodhistudio.com
Body of Truth, The Spa at Stone Ridge
85 Kyserike Road, Stone Ridge
(845) 687-SPA1; www.bodyoftruth.com
Moxie Salon & Beauty Hub
544 Main St. #1, Beacon
(845) 440-6653; www.nowthatsmoxie.com
River Rock Health Spa
62 Ricks Road, Woodstock
(845) 679-7800; www.riverrock.biz
Salone Bianco
2915 Route 9W, New Windsor
(845) 784-0179; www.salonebianco.com
This article appears in August 2009.
