February 2021 – Ivelina Angel

ALL NATURAL SECRETS for Healthy Shiny Hair

Shiny hair adds a luxurious frame to your look. It screams healthy and gives you a sexy appearance without you even trying! But with so much styling with hot tools and environment pollution, extreme climate exposure like sun and freezing cold, bleaching, swimming pools and the list goes on and on …, our locks can loose luster.

I feel that genetics also play a huge role in that, unfortunately. I am someone that struggles to get shine in my hair. I have tried every product for shine in the past. From drugstore to high end. Some of them didn’t do much others worked for a moment. But one thing was for sure they complicated my shower routine without a dramatic result.

But whatever the cause for your dull hair is, I highly suggest once in a while to put the fancy products away and use some home remedies to ‘feed’ your locks. Not only you will get a quick fix but they all work deep down to heal the hair from within.

I have few tips and tricks to get your mane from blah to beautiful without breaking the bank.

As most home remedies they can get a bit messy and don’t have the best smell, but at least they are natural, clean ingredients that won’t do any harm to you or your hair.

Here are my favorite ones that I have used multiple times and they do wonders for my mane.

Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

Many shampoos contain sulfates and other harsh chemicals that irritate the scalp and leave residue that makes hair looking drab . Apple cider vinegar rinse acts like clarifying treatment to remove product build up, seals the cuticle and gives a mirror shine. It also balances scalps natural oils and pH levels and it promotes hair growth. I love incorporating this simple ingredient into my shower routine since it really soothes my scalp and makes my hair soft and gives it a very healthy look.

Beer Rinse

I know this sounds a bit weird and you would probably prefer using it internally to nourish your body from within 🙂 . But trust me it has great properties for the hair as a rinse. The main ingredients in beer malt and hops are really high in proteins that nourish and strengthen the hair. Beer is also rich in B vitamins and natural sugars that help repair damage. I used to do it a lot in the past and believe me it works. I didn’t have hope when I gave it a try but it is a magic. Makes hair super shiny, manageable and voluminous. All you need to do is pour a beer over your head after shampooing and applying conditioner. I let it sit on my hair for a moment and gently rinse it out.

Banana Mask

Rich in potassium, natural oils and vitamins it softens the hair, adds shine and it is very moisturizing. Nourishes your hair and saves it from future damage. Helps calm down itchy, flaky scalp, tames frizz and makes hair manageable. I usually mash or blend a very ripe banana, add melted coconut oil and a little bit apple cider vinegar. Apply the mask on dry hair and scalp, cover with a shower cap. Let it sit for 30+ minutes and shower as usual. I always get great results but this mask is a bit messy and sometimes it gets hard to rinse the banana out of the hair. But it leaves the tresses silky smooth and tangle free.

Avocado Mask

The natural oils in avocado give your hair long lasting and deep hydration. Rich in vitamin E and antioxidants it helps the hair retain moisture plus repairs damage. I mash a very ripe avocado and cover my hair and scalp. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes before I hop in the shower. I also like using avocado in homemade hair masks. A great ingredient for smooth ,shiny hair.

Towel dry your hair right after shower

Dripping wet strands are more vulnerable to breakage and this can lead to frizz and less shine. So wrapping your hair with preferably microfiber towel that is really absorbent and gentle to your hair is a key. Once the towel absorbs the initial moisture take it off. I have noticed that leaving a little bit water in the hair helps seal in moisture.

Microfiber towel – https://amzn.to/3uM47U7

Hope you try any of those for yourself!! xoxo Iva

How To Make an EASY Chicken Tortilla Soup

I grew up in a household where soups were part of the menu every other day. I love soups and for me it always remains an essential part of my cooking and meal choices. Warm soup is such a comfort food and personally I can enjoy one any time of the year.

Chicken soups are my top choice and I got hooked on chicken tortilla soup ever since I tried at a restaurant. Have been experimenting with different recipes but this simple one is my favorite. I like easy, stress-free meals with less instructions and the ones that you almost put everything at the same time. I am not a chef so I avoid complicated cooking. If you are like me this one is for you. It is the easiest chicken soup ever , literally it can be done for less than 40 minutes from start to serving. But that doesn’t mean it is lacking on flavor.

Most of the soups I cook are from scratch but for this particular one I tend to always use roasted / grilled chicken. It really cuts the cooking time to a minimum and gives a very nice flavor . I have a local store next to me that grills this Mexican style green chili chicken once or twice a week. If I am lucky enough to stop by on a day that they make it I always make sure to grab one. But any store bought grilled chicken will work too.

Or if you feel a bit extra you can always grill or bake your own chicken but because I am all about the quick meals I prefer using the ready stuff.

And since I am cutting a corner with the chicken I like to make my own tortilla strips. Sounds fancy, but it is a breeze and the taste of them is so good. But I won’t lie, sometimes I just use tortilla chips and it is as delicious .

WHAT YOU NEED

2 cups roasted / grilled chicken , shredded

1 medium yellow onion, diced

1 medium carrot, chopped

4 stalks of celery , chopped

4 cloves of garlic, minced

1 jalapeño peppers, sliced

1 box chicken stock

1/2 cup tomato sauce

Cilantro

1 Lime

1 Avocado cut into cubes (and a second one if you are okay to eat leftovers)

4 tortillas

Optional: Sour cream and/or Cheese

Spices

1 tspn black pepper

1 tblspn chili powder

2 tspns cumin

2 tspns salt

1/4 tspn cayenne pepper

1 tspn paprika

2 tblspn oil/ for high heat I use sunflower oil

WHAT TO DO

For the tortilla strips

It is your choice to use corn or flour tortilla. I like both but I know a lot of people prefer one and really dislike the other.

1. Preheat oven to 375 F

2. Cut tortilla into strips & drizzle with oil, salt & cumin

3. Put over pan lined with baking sheet

4. Toast for 5-7 minutes

For the soup

In a large pot add the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sautee for 5 minutes.
Add the garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes
Add the carrot and celery and cook for 2-3 minutes
Add the chicken broth, tomato sauce, chicken, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, chili powder, cayenne pepper
Boil for 10-15 minutes
Turn the heat off and add cilantro

You can adjust the seasoning to your taste, more or less salt, and especially the cayenne pepper if you do not really like spicy.

Pour the soup into a bowl. Add avocado, sliced jalapeños, tortilla strips, garnish with cilantro and lime. You can add sour cream and cheese at this point if you would like to. I personally skip those.

DIY Spa Facial at Home for glowy, supple skin

Here is a step by step video of a facial for a pamper day at home ! Great to give yourself some LOVE during Valentine’s Day week . Follow the steps for the ultimate self care day! I am showing you my pamper routine and giving myself a DIY spa facial. Starting with unclogging and clearing my pores, performing a DIY dermaplaning to remove any peach fuzz and dead skin cells that trap the pores and revealing glass like skin ready to absorb any masks and serums. I tried to replicate a spa like relaxing atmesphere. The final result is dewy , supple skin that looks brighter and softer. Hope you enjoy 🙂 and don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my Youtube channel !