This week Chicago hair stylist and author – Jon- David aka The Mafia Hairdresser is helping us out with skincare tips for teenaged boys. When he’s not styling (my) hair or working on his latest book, you can find him blogging…..
Teen age boys’ skin goes along with teen age life, it can get bumpy. So, when my clients bring in their sons for me to do their hair, I try to give the guys my knowledge on how to get through their teen years with a little less bumpy pimply skin. Daughters are easy. They already read magazines and pass information back and forth to each other about good skin. Boys:…not so much.
First of all, I hardly ever go into the “whys” of why their skin is overly oily or full of blackhead or whiteheads or scars. Young men are so embarrassed when you bring up their poor diets consisting of Doritos and Coka-Cola, or how their hormones are throwing off their skin’s natural balance. And all teenagers hate! to hear how they “will grow out of it,” because, to them, there is no sense of future or vision of a bigger life than the one they are in now–and life now with bad skin is not so fun and can feel devastating.
If your teenage son has blackheads, whiteheads, oily or overly dry skin from using too many astringent products, and you want to help him, keep it simple and to the point. He is not like a girl, and he will stop listening to your information if you overload him. And, you’re a parent, so, like, what do you know? (My gal-pals can always tell when they are telling me too much: my blank look always belies when I’ve tuned out.)
Here is what you do to help your sons: cut and paste the following on a post note, then stick it to the mirror in their bathroom and say, “You want better skin? Do this.” There are 5 ingredients highlighted. Make sure your teenager has access to them.
For overly oily skin, normal skin, skin with blackheads, or pimples under the skin surface.
Place about a quarter-sized amount of pure HONEY on fingertips of both hands and begin tapping and spreading the honey on an unwashed face. (No water or soap beforehand on hands or face!) Continue tapping and the honey will turn sugary and become sticky. Your skin will feel invigorated, and when it does, it is time to stop and rinse with warm water and damp dry.
Your skin is now clean and ready for a few drops of non-oily moisturizer. Always use a moisturizer–and only on a damp skin. MOISTURISER is designed to bring water to the cells so the skin can work properly and get rid of bacteria under the skin. After a few honey treatments, blackheads will be lifted out as well the hard pimples under the skin. Do this honey treatment for less than 5 minutes, and never rip or over stimulate the skin. Everyone always over-does this honey treatment once or twice before they learn that the secret is to do it regularly: 2 x’s per week, and to not over-stimulate the skin. This treatment “tells” the skin to calm down and not produce as much oil. It also pulls out trapped oil and impurities.
For all skin types, overly oily skin, normal skin, skin with blackheads, or pimples under the skin surface, whiteheads.
All skin wants to be calmed. And CORNSTARCH is a super easy inexpensive calmer for skin. It will help regulate oil glands, promote bacteria and under-the-skin pimple elimination, as well as promote exfoliation so skin can work properly.
Clean your face with warm water mixed with a few drops of NON-IRRITATING SKIN CLEANSER (made for your skin type), then rinse and apply the following mask to your skin: Mix equal parts [about 1 tablespoon/1 tablespoon] of WATER with plain old corn starch– then slather a little layer of the white paste mixture over your face and under your the eyes. The corn starch will naturally pull out the toxins and quiet & sooth. Leave it on 5 to 20 minutes anytime, or right before you go out. Rinse mask off with warm water and damp dry your skin and apply a few drops of moisturizer. This is a flaky home-mask so don’t be walking around getting cornstarch everywhere. This is also very safe for your eyes-and takes away puffy circles. You can do this mask as many times as you like, once a day is plenty. This mask is also great after the honey treatment: just skip the cleaning step-it calms and takes away the redness.
For extra dry skins you can mix low-fat milk instead of water. But never use the low-fat milk mixture around the eyes! Only the pure water formula. For skin that is extra oily: you can mix carrot juice with the corn starch. But never use this formula around the eyes either!
