12 Vintage Self-Care Rituals you NEED in your Life (your grandma will thank you!)
1.GETTING YOUR HAIR DONE
In the 1950s and 1960s, it was prevalent for women to go to the beauty salon at least once a week to get their hair done. Getting your hair set and washed as a form of self-care back then. Since many salons are still closed, and if you are on a budget because getting your hair done once a week can be expensive, you can do it at home. You can make your own hair mask or use vintage products like queen Heleen hair cholesterol and get a vintage hairdryer to sit under at home; you could even turn a spare room into a vintage salon.
2.TAKE A SUNDAY DRIVE
I know taking a Sunday drive sounds stressful with traffic, but back in the day, it was considered an act of Self-care People used to plan a getaway for a day and drive out to the country to visit family or enjoy the changing scenery. Sometimes it is nice to change the scenery and open up the windows and breathe in some country air. I remember going on Sunday drives with my family when I was a kid, and we would take the coastal scenic route to enjoy the scenery.
3.DEVELOP A Vintage SKINCARE ROUTINE
In the 1950s, women had an extensive beauty routine, including skincare. Cold cream was a common skincare staple and was used as a cleanser and makeup remover. Besame cosmetics has a good vintage-inspired skincare routine with cold cream.
4.FIND A CREATIVE HOBBY
Before the internet, Netflix and social media, people had to entertain themselves with creative hobbies like knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, painting and other vintage crafts. Many of these crafts have been making a comeback, and you can do them while watching your favourite show.
5.Cooking for enjoyment
Everyone is so bust these days that most people don’t take time to cook and meal prep. The idea of this being an act of self-care may seem foreign by today’s standards, but in previous generations, people used to spend more time cooking at home and would rarely eat out. It can be rewarding to spend time cooking a healthy meal and as an act of self-care. It can be a therapy for the senses. There are also a lot of vintage cookbooks and recipes available if you want to go retro.
6.Take A Bath
Taking a bath for self-care has been considered a form of relaxation all the way back to the Romans in 300 A.D. The major benefits of taking baths are muscle relaxation with Epsom salts, giving you a sense of calm. Try creating your own at-home spa with some bath bombs, bubble baths and relaxing candles.
7.Read a vintage magazine
Reading a book or a magazine instead of a tablet can be a great way to relax and practice self-care. People used to sit down before bed in the evening instead of being glued to their phones or televisions. Flipping through a book or a magazine can be calming because of all the sensory elements. Including the smell of the paper, flipping pages, and it helps you cut down on screen time.
8.Shopping in an actual store
Because of Covid, it can be hard to shop in an actual store, but some cities are opening up and have safety measures in place. Before online shopping was available, people used to go shopping as a form of self-care. It is nice because you don’t have to wait to try things on and get instant satisfaction. I also love thrift shopping because you can find a lot of interesting this. I used to love going to The Bay with my mom and have lunch in their restaurant.
9.Go outside
When I was a kid, I spent most of my time outside, like in the films stand by me, Sandlot and Goonies. I would build tree forts with my brothers, go on bike rides and get into random trouble. In high school, we would go to summer camps and sneak out in the night.
10.Make your bed every morning.
I am guilty of not making my bed and try to make it every morning because when I do, it makes me feel fresh when I hop back into it in the evening.
11.Sit down to eat breakfast.
People are eating sit-down breakfast less these days. But getting 15 minutes less sleep to clear your head with this morning ritual might actually be beneficial.
12.Paint your nails
I find it relaxing to spend a Sunday afternoon painting my nails while watching TV or reading a vintage magazine. I like to use vintage Revlon shades like Cherries in the Snow.
