Laminaria is a large plant obtained from the depths of the sea. Algae are recognized as a real storehouse of minerals, vitamins and other substances necessary for the full functioning of the human body. Nutritionists include this product in various diets for weight loss. Cosmetologists recommend using kelp for cellulite. Various creams, masks, mixtures for wraps are enriched with it.
The benefits of kelp wraps
Live algae contains useful substances that have a beneficial effect on the body:
- Iodine in a bioavailable form normalizes the functioning of the thyroid gland.
- Alginates have an antioxidant effect, isolate free radicals, accelerate the removal of toxins, heavy metal salts and radionuclides from the body, and prevent malignancy.
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids activate blood flow and normalize organic metabolic processes.
- Vitamins necessary for normal human life: A, C, PP and group B.
- Microelements, without which organic reactions are impossible.
The balanced complex that contains kelp normalizes the body's metabolism at the cellular level. Laminaria can be eaten, taken in the form of dietary supplements, and also used as an ingredient for corrective procedures.
Laminaria wrap at home is a safe procedure.
Impact on the body:
- The quality of the skin improves significantly, stretch marks fade, cellulite disappears.
- Dermatological diseases go into a state of long-term remission.
- Lymphatic drainage improves and swelling is eliminated.
- The body becomes elastic, elastic, the relief is leveled.
- The severity of age spots and vascular networks is reduced.
During wraps, beneficial substances penetrate deep into the skin, accelerate blood supply and normalize lymph outflow, and prevent the development of varicose veins.
What effect should you expect?
It is important to note that the positive result after seaweed wraps will last for a long time if you do not break the course and support it with proper nutrition, massage and exercise. In general, it becomes noticeable after the first sessions and consists of the following:
- the condition of the skin improves - the dermis becomes elastic and firm;
- skin color becomes smoother, pigmentation is reduced;
- signs of cellulite are reduced;
- swelling is eliminated;
- waste and toxins are removed from the body;
- volumes are reduced and fat deposits in the area affected by kelp are reduced.
Seaweed wraps are traditionally divided into two types: hot and cold. Each of them has a number of features and the final result will depend on their choice:
- hot wrap is aimed at reducing weight and volume in the waist and hips, recommended for people with high body weight. The effect of the heated algae mass opens the pores on the skin, through which the body is cleansed of harmful substances;
- The cold variety allows you to focus on improving the condition of the skin, tightening it, neutralizing stretch marks and reducing the signs of cellulite.
Recently, contrasting wraps have become popular - alternating application of hot and cold algae mass, this allows you to work out the problem area as effectively as possible.
Varieties of kelp wraps
There are 2 types of kelp wraps - hot, contrast and cold.
- Warm-up sessions. Hot exposure is recommended to accelerate weight loss and fight cellulite. The effect of the procedure: blood vessels dilate, blood supply accelerates, and the fat layer begins to break down.
- The benefits of cold kelp wraps: the elasticity of problem areas of the skin increases, muscles relax, and lymphatic drainage in the subcutaneous tissue is restored. With this method, algae compresses are applied to individual areas of the body.
- Complex impact. Use 2 methods simultaneously, combining wrapping. First apply hot wraps, then cold ones. The method helps to quickly get rid of cellulite and return the desired volume to the body, correcting the figure.
For cosmetic sessions, leaf seaweed or dried and ground seaweed is used in powder form. The cost of all forms is approximately 50 rubles per 100 g.
Regardless of the form of the ingredient for wraps, the benefits of the procedures are the same.
The algae undergoes special processing, during which all the beneficial substances of the composition are preserved.
If leaf seaweed can only be used for wraps, then the powder is a multifunctional product. It can be applied to the body, face, or added as an ingredient in hair masks.
Cosmetic procedures are recommended not only for women, but also for men. By accelerating blood flow in men, the amount of vital energy increases and male capabilities increase.
Contraindications to the procedure
This type of procedure, like any other cosmetic manipulation, has its contraindications:
- Individual intolerance to iodine and other components of algae.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
- Oncology.
- Skin defects and diseases: eczema, wounds, burns, dermatitis.
- General malaise, high fever due to any reason.
- Pregnancy.
- The state of skin irritation after hair removal procedures.
How to prepare kelp for wrapping
Raw materials for wrapping are sold in pharmacies or specialized stores.
Dried leaf seaweed is prepared according to the following algorithm:
- Cold wrap - kelp is soaked in water at room temperature, 18-20°C, and left for 60 minutes. There is no need to pour out the water. After completing the procedure, you can store the lotion in it until the next session, closing the container with a lid and putting it in the refrigerator on a shelf. No need to freeze.
- Laminaria for hot wrapping is poured with water at a temperature of 55-60°C for 20 minutes, no more. Boiling water cannot be used; beneficial substances are destroyed. Hot wraps are often done at home.
Dilution proportions: per 100 g of dried product, a little less than half a glass of water, about 100 g. To make a compress for the whole body, 500 g of algae is enough.
If you purchased the powder, then dilute it according to the same scheme, but gradually so that lumps do not form. That is, pour a few spoons of powder, stir until completely homogeneous, add the next portion and stir again. The prepared mixture has a structure similar to thick sour cream. The powder infuses faster: in cold water for 40 minutes, in hot water for 15 minutes.
The powder cannot be kept in water for a long time, it will lose its beneficial properties and the mixture will turn into a useless mass.
Operating principle
The seaweed wrapping procedure is part of thalassotherapy. This area of cosmetology studies the influence of various substances of marine origin when applied externally to the human body.
There are several varieties, both of the process itself and of the mixtures applied.
At the same time, the general sequence of actions remains the same:
- a preliminary preparation procedure is applied to the skin - scrubbing and massage (optional, but contributes to a better result);
- the selected area or the entire body is treated with a seaweed composition;
- wrapping with film is possible over the composition;
- algae and film remain on the skin for 10-20 minutes to achieve the desired effect;
- the composition is thoroughly washed off (often using soft scrubs to eliminate the specific odor).
How to do body wraps at home
Regardless of the form in which the raw materials are used for wraps, it is worth preparing the body for the procedure.
Preparatory activities include:
- hot shower or bath;
- rubbing the skin with a scrub and a hard washcloth.
The effects help open the pores and remove dead epithelial particles.
Then the body is rubbed with a towel to remove excess moisture and a warming massage is performed. Algae are prepared in advance.
- When wrapping with “live” kelp - leafy blooming algae - layers are applied to the problem parts from top to bottom. It is more convenient to wrap the stomach and sides first, then the legs, and only then secure the film to the buttocks.
- When using powder, lotions are applied as convenient as possible to individual problem areas.
- Immediately secure the lotions with cling film. The film should be attached carefully. If air enters underneath, the algae layers will quickly dry out and the effectiveness of the procedure will be minimal. If the body is overtightened, blood flow and lymphatic drainage are disrupted, beneficial substances will not reach the fat layer. In this case, there is no weight loss or anti-cellulite effect. You should focus on your own feelings.
- After the film is fixed, you need to lie down, relaxing, for 30-40 minutes. When hot wrapping, cover with a blanket to enhance the greenhouse effect.
- After the session, the compresses are removed, doused with warm water, the skin is dried with a soft towel and a nourishing or anti-cellulite cream is applied to enhance the effect.
In complex procedures, hot compresses are first applied, then cold ones, and after ablution, cooling anti-cellulite creams with essential oils are used.
Harm and contraindications
Despite the many beneficial qualities of kelp, it also has contraindications for wrapping:
- open or unhealed wounds,
- hematomas,
- breastfeeding period,
- pregnancy,
- diabetes,
- malignant formations on the surface of the body,
- serious infectious skin diseases,
- allergies or individual intolerance to kelp.
If there are any pathologies on the surface of the body in the form of wounds or inflammatory processes, then they must first be cured. To check the skin reaction, do a test on a small area, and if there are no side symptoms, the wrap has no contraindications.
Recipes for weight loss wraps with kelp
You can get rid of cellulite faster if you add additional ingredients to the wrapping compositions. In this case, kelp powder is used as the main remedy.
The compositions for wraps include:
- Honey contains useful substances, activates the action of the main composition, increases the depth of penetration at the cellular level.
- Essential oils of citrus, lemon or grapefruit. The molecular structure of essential oils resembles that of human hormones. The supplement increases the impact on the fat layer and accelerates breakdown.
- Beaten egg yolk, a teaspoon of camphor and dessert lemon essential oil. The composition not only eliminates cellulite, but helps improve skin quality, remove stretch marks and increased pigmentation.
- Kelp oil enhances the effect of the main ingredient.
Additional components are added to the composition after the powder has already swollen. In order for the essential oil to completely dissolve in the creamy mixture, it must first be combined with a small amount of honey or cream.
There is another recipe with a pronounced effect against cellulite. Laminaria powder is combined in equal parts with cosmetic clay, blue, white or black, diluted with warm water and allowed to brew to a puree-like consistency. Apply directly with the palm of your hand. It is desirable that the layer be thick enough. A thin layer of clay has to be washed off - the bathtub becomes clogged. A thick layer is removed from the skin in separate fragments. In the future, it is enough to rinse the body. The composition with clay under the film is kept for at least an hour.
The effect of applying the wrap
The effectiveness of this method is evidenced by the popularity of the procedure and positive reviews of seaweed wraps received from consumers.
Due to the unique qualities of marine substances, the following improvements can be achieved:
- toxins are eliminated;
- metabolism is normalized;
- subcutaneous fat is burned (anti-cellulite effect);
- skin elasticity increases;
- regenerative indicators increase;
- skin tone increases;
- joint condition improves;
- the body is enriched with a mass of useful elements.
Neutral type of wraps
Neutral or isothermal type of wrap is the most common. Its peculiarity is that an algae mask is applied to the skin, the temperature of which is 36.6˚C (the normal indicator of human body heat).
The formed layer is wrapped in film on top and even covered with a special blanket.
As a result, due to the body’s own temperature, the skin is heated, which accelerates the detox and fat burning reactions.
It is an excellent alternative for people who have contraindications to hot wraps, but have indications for cleansing thalassotherapy.
Hot type of wraps
The hot wrap is preceded by heating the algae mask. The mixture is applied to the skin and left until it cools completely.
Due to the increase in temperature, blood circulation improves, which accelerates both the removal of toxins and the process of breaking down subcutaneous fat.
For example, anti-cellulite seaweed wrap is of the hot variety.
Where to buy components for wrapping
Depending on where you can buy seaweed for wrapping, you can count on a greater or lesser effect.
To be completely sure that the purchased product is of high quality, it is important to make sure that you have the necessary certificates of conformity.
This information can be provided by the store or the official website of the manufacturer.
The best options to buy are:
- professional cosmetics stores serving beauty salons;
- official representatives of the manufacturer;
- Internet platforms for the sale of professional cosmetics.
In any of the listed places you can get detailed advice regarding the qualities of the product and its use in wrapping procedures.
To summarize, it is worth noting that algae wraps give noticeable results after just a couple of procedures.
Considering the relatively low cost and simplicity of the procedure, this method of body care is an excellent option for home use.
Types of procedure
Basically, kelp and, less commonly, fucus algae are used for thalassotherapy.
The latter, by the way, is used only in combination with other components (for example, blue clay).
In addition, there is a classification according to the type of material used. So, they distinguish:
- sheet wrap;
- dry seaweed wrap.
In the first case, peeled and prepared leaves of certain types of algae are used. In the second - a micronized composition, which is components crushed into powder.
As a rule, photos of algae wraps are presented on the Internet in an obscure form.
So, for a clear understanding of what the procedure is, it is worth studying the available types and their features.
There are different types of wraps:
- cold;
- hot;
- neutral.
Depending on the type chosen, the algal composition applied to the skin will be brought to a certain temperature level.
