Pretty things

   I have a magpie attitude toward anything labeled "traditional", especially towards things in Japan. If a thing/ event/ dress is considered in any variation of the word traditional or heirloom, I will try to get it in my life. For example, I read about つばきオイル (tsubaki oil), or camellia oil, and how Japanese women have been using it for centuries, and I had my hands on it before the week was out.

   This oil can be used for so many things. Woman here use it for their hair, as a cleansing oil, and as a moisturizer. I personally use a very tiny amount in my hair before I blow dry, and occasionally as a hot oil treatment. Both uses work really well by making my hair soft and shiny, but I'm don't use it on a daily basis because if I use too much my hair becomes very greasy. It's also really nice as the moisturizer and cleansing oil, but this stuff is a little too pricey for me to use it for everything. I use the Oshima brand, which can be bought at almost any drugstore in Japan for around a 1,000 yen. 

   When I was researching the oil, I came across つげくし (tsuge kushi), or boxwood combs. Japanese women have been using these combs for hundreds of years, and Geishas would use these combs soaked in camellia oil to brush their hair. The store I bought mine at told me the wooden combs are supposed to keep your hair less frizzy, and decrease the amount of breakage you have. They also told me these combs can last up to 20 years if taken care of properly. 

   

   These combs aren't exactly cheap unless you want a very, very basic version of it. I like pretty things too much, and I was on a "my momma's gone" slump after she went back home from visiting me over the holidays, so I probably spent a little bit too much on this comb. I think it's beautiful with it's carved camellia flower, and pretty red case. I grew up with camellia trees in my yard, so it's a bit sentimental to have something with a flower on it. I can't stop combing my hair and Josh's hair with it. There might be a Japanese comb collection in my future.  

   Today, I splurged on yet another famous Japanese brand. I bought a 西川, Nishikawa, blanket for no good reason really other than it's considered one of the most famous makers of what I call the "gaudy plush blanket". During the winter, most home stores put out these super plush blankets with prints ranging from kitschy to garish. Vivian put a picture up of her's  and I've been trying to figure out where to get one ever since. 

   Luckily I found one at a department store on sale and I can't get Josh or the cats off of it. I actually think the one I bought is pretty and it's warm which means it will be my best friend.    Japan has turned out to be the worst place to save money. It's too easy to buy beautiful things, and it's too easy to see beautiful places. Maybe 2013 will turn out to be the year of the budget for me.