Kinship in Self-Care
Self care and beauty rituals have always been about far more than the final product. From a beat face to an effortless look, the center of our self care rituals and beauty routines are grounded in connection and heritage.
This month as we explore how we find kinship in our daily lives we want to highlight the kinship found across the globe in our shared beauty routines.
One of the most common forms of beauty care you can find through space and time is the act of hair oiling. Ayurvedic hair practices in India, castor oil and shea butter nourishment in parts of Africa, Monoi oil in Polynesia and Argan oil in the Middle East all have deeply held commonalities; these care routines are tied to community care, bonding and ritual. Oiling was a way to protect hair from the environmental damage of the regions where they were commonly practiced. In addition to protection, the oils used in their respective regions deeply nourished scalp and hair while preventing breakage and dryness.
Another beauty care ritual that spans the globe is healing touch. Practices like facial massage and lymphatic drainage have been found through history and their benefits withstand the test of time. In China, Gua Sha was found to improve circulation and detoxification and now has been widely adopted as a foundational part of many peoples’ beauty routine to get that sculpted and refreshed look. Stimulating circulation delivers oxygen-rich blood cells to skin tissues giving it a healthy glow. Similarly, African techniques surrounding wood therapy tools have a similar adoption and application but for the body; relaxing muscles and reducing puffiness and toxins.
The final beauty ritual the team at By Palais loves and swears by is the art of perfuming. We all love a good scent ritual and love that this practice can connect us to almost any time and place in the world. In the Middle East, oud scent profiles are treasured aromas full of depth and can be found in both personal and home fragrance. French perfumery sought to elevate and refine fragrance into an art form tied to family heritage and in parts of African the practice of burning incense expanded beyond scent to form a strong relationship to spiritual cleansing. In India, Attar oils, made from distilled flowers, herbs, and spices are worn for beauty, devotion, and as an expression of cultural identity.
We all have adopted some form of beauty ritual that has been passed down and/or shared between cultures and it can be revelatory to embrace that some of the smallest part of your day were shared by people long forgotten. These beauty rituals are acts of love and history and we hope all our By Palais family will always find a moment to cherish themselves and in doing so pay homage to their forebears.
