by Jennifer Sartell
I think every backyard chicken keeper can agree that chickens are beautiful! When the sun hits our French Black Copper Maran rooster, his black feathers glow in iridescent greens and blues that would give any exotic bird a run for its money. Their intricate patterns, brilliant colors and hundreds of varieties make for some pretty stunning displays.
So we all know that chickens are beautiful, but what about the chicken keeper?
I think the stereo-type of chicken farmers feeding their flocks in dirty overalls with hay stuck in their hair are pretty much going to the way side. (Although, some days I look exactly like this). In fact, some might say that chickens are even becoming somewhat of a status symbol. The presence of a flock in a back yard not only brings a quaint ambiance to any homestead, large or small, but it also says, I care about my food source, and I care about the animals that provide me with food.
When I first started telling people about our chickens, I would often encounter many raised eyebrows. I could tell that images of the Beverly Hillbillies were conjuring. But there is recent evidence that the residence of Beverly Hills, Los Angeles and other celebrity hot spots might be peeking over The Clampett fence, and thinking to themselves, “maybe the grass is greener.”
One such celebrity that’s been getting a lot of attention lately is 90210 actress Tori Spelling. According to an interview by US Weekly, Spelling likes to make “vintage outfits” for her Silkie Bantam, that “match her own dresses.” She also calls her Silkie hen a “pocket pet” because “she likes to be carried around”. With actresses like Tori Spelling toting around their chickens like the latest fashion accompaniment from Prada, it seems that chickens are no longer only for the country bumpkin. Perhaps chickens will replace tea cup dogs like the Chihuahua as popular glamour pets to tote around in your Coach bag. After all, Chihuahuas don’t have the added benefit of laying eggs. And while I’m not sure how I feel about animals as accessories, I would hope that at least the attention that these celebrities are bringing can do some good as far as chickens being accepted as backyard pets.
While I assume that most of us don’t use our chickens to accessorize an outfit, there are some things that our chickens can provide to help make us look our best! The next time you’re shopping for beauty products, you might want to start in your own nest box. Here’s 5 ways to get gorgeous with eggs!
Egg Whites for Oily Skin
When I was a teenager, I went to a friend’s house and while we were there, my friend’s mom whisked up a small bowl of egg whites and applied it to our teenage, acne-prone skin. We let the mixture set on our faces until it dried into a tight, shiny mask. Then we washed it off with warm water. Afterwards, our pores were smaller and our skin felt firm, smooth and clean.
Dry Skin
Egg yolks can be used to moisturize and bring life back to dull skin. Egg yolks have emollient properties, which means they soften the outer layers of skin. If you want to give your eggs even more of a moisturizing boost, whisk in a drizzle of olive oil and a little cream. Olive oil softens, moisturizes and protects skin, while the cream, which contains lactic acid, will helps promote cell turnover by sloughing off dead skin. Apply the mix to your face with finger tips and leave on for 5 to 10 minutes. Then wash with warm water. I’ve also read that yolks can help heal blemish scars. So here’s to “egg on your face”!
Balanced Scalp
In the same way that eggs are good for our faces, they can also help our scalp look and feel great! For oily hair, apply egg whites like you would shampoo. Egg whites will lather slightly when massaged into the scalp. Rinse and shampoo as usual.
For dry hair apply egg yolks like a mask over the scalp. Let sit for a few minutes, then rinse and shampoo.
It seems that the benefits of eggs are also getting the attention of some commercial hair care product companies. Like this Organix brand. Their Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo has added eggs white proteins for “strength and elasticity.”
Hair and Nails
While eggs can be applied to the outside of the body, they also can make us beautiful by working their magic from the inside out. Eating eggs is not only delicious, but they can provide a lot of health benefits that will keep us glowing!
According to an article by Eat This, “Eggs promote healthy hair and nails because of their high sulphur content and wide array of vitamins and minerals. Many people find their hair growing faster after adding eggs to their diet, especially if they were previously deficient in foods containing sulphur or B12.
Weight Loss
I know if I eat an egg or two for breakfast instead of cereal or a pastry I stay fuller longer. I also tend to have more energy throughout the day and avoid the 3:30 crash. While the dangers of high cholesterol levels in eggs seems to be an on going debate between nutritionists, it can’t be denied, that an egg white at only 17 calories and 4 grams of protein is a great start to a low calorie meal.
Do you use eggs in your natural beauty routine? Share your tips with the Community by leaving a comment below, visiting the Community Chickens Facebook page or visiting us at Iron Oak Farm.
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