PSA for anyone moving overseas

[NomadicMama]

Before our big move, I stocked up on my favorite hair and skin care products. (Aveda--not prohibitively expensive, but not cheap, either.) Well, my hair and skin are not diggin' the hard water over here. It is better now that we are in our own place (I think that water in lodging was especially hard), but it's not good. My hair is especially limp, the ends feel really dry and my face. . . It looks like shit. The products I brought with me are not working.

So, before sinking money into product, consider what things might be like in your new location. I am kicking myself for all the money I spent on shampoo and conditioner, especially, that aren't what my hair needs.

Also, if anybody has any suggestions for combatting the effects of hard water, I'm open to suggestions. My hope is to get my face cleared up so that when DH deploys, when he imagines my face, or looks at recent pictures, my skin is clear, not nasty. I swear, my face was never, ever even half this bad in middle and high school. Ugh.

[kpol]

Thanks for the heads up! My friend works at a salon and I go with her to the supply store when I'm back home to get cheap salon products. I was planning on stocking up before we go but I might wait and just have her ship it to me once we get there!

[jamesonontherocks]

If your hair isn't colored, you should be able to find a shampoo to counteract the effects. We had very hard well water at my parents house (and a shitty softener) so I used a clarifying shampoo.

[kpol]

I forgot to add that Redken cleansing cream has done wonders for my hair. I use it once or twice a week and it smells awesome.

[meltoine]

I had the same problem with the water in Ireland. I bought a brand of shampoo that was developed there (with the hard water) and it worked great. I suggest finding local products in a local beauty shop, or asking the proprietor what he/she would recommend.

I tried OCM for my face too when I was breaking out like crazy. I lasted about two months. My acne continually got worse. Two weeks on Proactiv and it's back to being reasonable.

[brandienee]

May 16, 2012 12:14:27 GMT -5 meltoine said:

I had the same problem with the water in Ireland. I bought a brand of shampoo that was developed there (with the hard water) and it worked great. I suggest finding local products in a local beauty shop, or asking the proprietor what he/she would recommend.

This, I know that it is nice to have products that you are familiar with, but I think it might be better if you can get some local products that are created to work with the water you have.

[misshark122]

Beijing had really hard water and I had the same issue. Plus the pollution over there! Phyto 9 is really awesome leave in conditioner.

[honeybadger]

Hadn't even thought about this! Thanks for sharing, NM!

[NomadicMama]

May 16, 2012 14:07:06 GMT -5 honeybadger said:

Hadn't even thought about this! Thanks for sharing, NM!

You are welcome! I tried to plan ahead, but it seems to have backfired on me. :N: Also, don't use the soap that lodging provides. That stuff dried me out and made me itchier than I've ever been. Bring gentle cleansers.

In the grand scheme of things, this isn't a huge deal. But, when you are trying to get settled, and make friends, feeling dry, limp and pimply does not leave one feeling quite as confident!