Maybe you’ve had a hard day and decide to indulge in some self-care, or maybe you’re on a mission to revive yourself for 2021 by doing some things to make yourself look and feel a little better.
I finally get that self-care alone time and find myself scrolling through tutorials & IG stories from self-proclaimed beauty gurus and wondering, “Wait, do I need these products their slanging at me?” I know I’m not alone in wanting to keep things simple, or not having the time to do a 15 step routine every day. I mean who honestly does? Instead of wasting time or our hard-earned money, I have turned to some of the greatest beauty gurus and asked them what some of their best tips & tricks are.
Advice from a Nail Technician with 25yrs experience: 
Stop Cutting your Cuticles
Yes, you read that right. Your cuticles should not be cut, but rather pushed back. Start putting a cuticle stick in your shower and do it while your nail beds are warm and soft. You will see a huge difference in how well-groomed your nails look with or without nail polish. For those pesky hangnails, trim them and apply your cuticle oil at night. This is the longest period of time you go without washing your hands and this time really allows it to soak in.
File your natural nails in only one direction
Natural nails are never to be filed with a grit nail file back and forth. Use the file in one direction and your nails will have the smooth edge that you’re looking for. Also never file the tops of your nails with that grit file I’m talking about, you need to use a buffer pad. Using anything else with damage your natural nails.
Toothpaste, it works!
Have you ever had discoloration left on your nails after removing dark nail polish? Or what about after working outside and your nail beds can’t seem to come clean? Just apply some toothpaste and scrub a little with a dry washcloth. You’ll be amazed on how much better your nails look.
Treat your feet
Get yourself a pumice stone and start using it! Use it while in the shower and you can avoid getting hard heels. You need to use it continuously to maintain good results.
A hot topic among women over the years has been about their men’s feet and what advice/products I recommend on treating the hard/discolored nails. I sound like a broken record by telling them (and now you) to go see a professional (i.e., doctor) and get a prescription. Fungus grows from the inside out, so you’re wasting your time with any of the topical grocery store products. Topical ointments that are not prescription-grade, will not penetrate deep enough into the nail bed to do anything sufficiently. Get it treated properly and move on.
Advice from a Hair Stylist with 21yrs experience:
Take advice from only professionals
I know I’m not alone when it comes to hearing “My friend told me this”, or “This blogger said this” … it’s extremely frustrating to us. You need to stop listening to people that don’t actually do your hair or hair in general. You’re coming to a professional for a reason, it’s my job to have your best interest at heart. Please listen when I tell you that going from dark to blonde isn’t a good idea, we really do know what we’re talking about.
Stop your hair color from fading
Women spend hundreds of dollars to get their hair colored and treated by a professional, then go home and use terrible products. If you want that gorgeous color to last or your blonde to not turn brassy, invest in products your stylist recommends. Purchasing an entire new lineup of products isn’t always necessary, just ask your stylist which ones you shouldn’t live without. You’ll be happy with how much longer your color or treatments will last.
Apply heat to your hair properly
My clients come in and will have breakage and short hairs around their face and it’s most commonly from applying too much heat. When it comes to heat, you have one pass along the hair and that’s it! If you have fine hair, use a low temp and go up from there depending on the texture of your hair. Remember to always apply a heat protectant to avoid even more damage.
Stop the breakage
We all are guilty of wearing our hair up in ponytails, honestly almost daily during the quarantine. Stop having those fine hairs break off around your neckline by switching up your hairstyle. This will help relieve the pulling and pressure on the same pieces of hair. Try going from a high ponytail to a low one or put your hair in a braid. Your hair will thank you.
Get that shine back
People don’t know but the PH levels in your hair can change. It’s affected by hormones, chlorine, saltwater, etc. Add in that we are all addicted to dry shampoo and going at least 3 days between washes, our hair can really be lackluster. A hot tip: give your hair a beer rinse. Next time you’re at the grocery store, grab some dark beer (nothing light) and place it in your shower. You’ll shampoo & condition as normal, then finish off by pouring the beer on your hair. Let it sit for a few minutes and rinse out. Your hair will be soft and shiny! Plus, that dry shampoo buildup will be gone.
Advice from an Esthetician with 14yrs experience:
Stop tanning your face
As we age most people learn how bad the sun is for your skin, but there are still people out there that don’t apply sunscreen. I’m going to yell it loud enough for the people in the back… WEAR YOUR SUNSCREEN! Even if you don’t apply anything else, apply some to your face and chest daily. It’s by far the best thing you can do for your skin. If you’re looking for a “glow,” there are countless sunless tanners on the market made for both face and body. They give off gorgeous color and aren’t damaging to the skin.
Anti-Aging
I get asked about anti-aging products the very most by clients. I would say that if you’re looking for the best, buy products with Retinol in them. Retinol fights sun damage, discoloration & age spots and helps keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay.
Stop buying on Amazon!
A study was done where researchers bought 30 different professional skincare products from Amazon to test against the same 30 products bought by a registered professional. ALL 30 Amazon products were found to be false!! Each of these products was either expired, diluted, filled with byproducts, or completely the wrong product altogether. This is nothing against Amazon, but the 3rd party sellers themselves. If the price is too good to be true, it is. Purchase your products through websites or professionals that guarantee their merchandise.
Know your skincare lineup
Most commonly clients will purchase skincare, but not be using it properly. Know which product you should start with and what you should end with. Rule of thumb starts with the thinnest molecular size to the thickest molecular size. Example:
- Cleanser
- Exfoliate (This should be done 2-3 times a week)
- Toner
- Serums
- Retinol
- Eye cream
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen (Apply in the morning)
Remove Makeup
We all have days where we’re exhausted and washing our face is the last thing we want to do, but I promise you you’ll regret it every time you don’t do it. Removing your makeup cleanses your skin of the day’s pollutants and pore-clogging debris. Removing all of that and allowing your skin to breathe and soak in your night-time routine products will leave you with glowing, dewy skin in the morning. Now, who doesn’t want that?
After hearing all of this advice, are you ready to change some things up in your routine? Maybe we have missed something and you have a tip to share? Share in the comments below.
