Old Hollywood beauties owe much to genetics, but not as much as you might think. Each had her own set of tricks, little rituals she employed to keep her hair thick, skin soft, nails strong, and derriere smooth. Here are a few, including some which are still used by celebrities and supermodels today!
Hair:
Hairstyles in old Hollywood were often ornate and time-consuming. Don't be discouraged when pursuing a vintage hairstyle, as we modern girls have even more to help us out! Back in Rita Hayworth's day, all they had were plain old rollers and pins. Nowadays you can turn to the help of a curling iron or hot rollers.
A treatment of olive oil and honey, heated on the stove or in microwave, does wonders for your hair. This is a beneficial treatment that will keep hair soft and ease damage. Do this as much as twice a month and leave on head for thirty or so minutes. Shampoo and rinse afterwards.
Mayonnaise is another trick for thick, shiny hair. Smother hair in the stuff NO MORE than once a month. Mayonnaise is packed full of protein.
Always rinse hair with as cold water as you can get. This closes the cuticle and adds shine to your hair.
Beer makes an excellent rinse for hair. So does lemon juice and apple cider vinegar.
Nails:
Got weak nails? Soaking them in olive oil daily with strengthen them.
Take biotin to strengthen nails.
Skin and Body:
Old Hollywood beauties ALWAYS used warm water when washing their faces, but they also knew to give their complexions a final rinse with cold water. Warm water opens your pores, allowing for maximum cleansing, while cold water closes your pores.
Cold Cream first came into existence in Ancient Greece! A physician named Galen created it out of ingredients like olive oil and flower petals. Today, as in old Hollywood, we have a much more refined cold cream. Pond's Cold Cream is simply the best, as it adequately cleanses your skin of every last trace of makeup and dirt, while leaving your skin smooth. This really is an amazing treatment for the face. It was also very popular with women in the 40's and 50's. All you need do is massage the cream into your face for a few moments, then wipe off with a tissue. For extra cleansing and moisturizing, apply again and repeat removal. Your skin will feel amazing.
(I am a devotee of Pond's. I am prone to acne and dry skin, yet this doesn't aggravate these problems. It's truly amazing)
A mask of crushed aspirin and water is amazing for acne.
Honey is an excellent homemade mask, as it moisturizes and adds a luminous glow to your complexion.
Be careful not to exfoliate your face too often and when you do exfoliate, be sure to use products with small grains. Too much exfoliation with large, rough grains can tear your skin.
Exfoliate your body at least once a week, concentrating on elbows and other rough spots. This will keep dead skin and other blemishes at bay, revealing luminous skin.
Marilyn Monroe took ice cold baths to "plumpen" and smooth her skin, particularly her thighs and derriere.
These are not old beauty secrets, but they are certainly valid enough to post! I have had minor cellulite on the backs of my thighs, but I have almost completely eradicated it by doing these three things regularly:
1. I rub baby oil into cellulite or other unsavory areas and then sit in a sauna for at least 20 minutes. I don't remember where I found this trick, but I swear by it. The heat activates the baby oil for maximum softening and plumping of the skin. I have seen a marked difference in my legs.
2. I rub coffee grounds into my thighs at least twice a week. The caffeine is the key ingredient here, but you must be sure to spend an adequate amount of time rubbing the grounds into your skin for this to do you any good. I'm not sure how permanent this treatment is, but if done with others I'm sure it helps.
3. I follow a bath by massaging a lotion rich in collagen and Vitamins A, C, and E. This is just to cover all my bases.
Many old Hollywood stars exercised to keep their figures. Marilyn Monroe used to jog around the sets before breakfast, many years before it was fashionable as an exercise. Lana Turner owed her limber limbs and glowing tan to many hours on the golf course. Many Hollywood actresses started their careers as dancers, so they were able to keep themselves trim. Audrey Hepburn had a history in ballet.
And there you have it! Secrets both old and new.
