Sunday, April 12, 2009

HAIR CARE - FACT OR MYTH?

Girls have learned about hair from their mothers and grandmothers down through the ages. Fashion India has investigated some of these passed down bits of wisdom to separate the useful information from mythology. The following are tidbits that require some thinking before they are blindly believed.

Myth : A woman should brush her hair one hundred strokes everyday to keep it healthy and shiny.

Fact : Useful in its day. This was a useful practice in the time when there were not good conditioning agents for hair. The brushing served to distribute the natural oils throughout the length of the hair serving as a natural conditioner.

Now that most of us have hair that is color treated or permanent waved, this is not recommended because excessive brushing can break the hair or wear away the cuticle layer causing the ends to split.

Myth : Vinegar should be used as an after shampoo rinse for shine. This again was Useful in its day.

Fact : The acidity of both of these products helped to remove soap residue from the hair after washing. They left the hair shiny and squeaky-clean.

However, modern, detergent based, shampoo leaves no soap scum on the hair and, again, with the popularity of hair color and permanent waves, the use of a rinse with this amount of acidity is not recommended.

Myth : Train your hair by continually combing it in the same style.

Fact : Most hair experts will agree on the fact that research has found hair to be untrainable. New hair, growing in, is going to go it's own direction unless you use styling products, blow dryer, curling iron or other styling technique to redirect it. Once you shampoo the "set" out, you start again.

Myth : Going out in chilly weather with wet hair can make you sick. According to doctors, this is a Myth.

Fact : Colds and other viral illnesses are common occurrences and there is no evidence that anything other than exposure to a sick person is the cause.

Myth : Shaving your legs will cause heavier, darker hair growth. Total Myth.

Fact : Shaving will not make hair grow thicker or darker. We have a certain number of hairs growing on our bodies and this does not change by shaving. Change of color sometimes may occur, but is a natural process whether the hair has been shaved or not.

Myth : Cutting hair will make it grow faster. Again Myth.

Fact : The rate of growth, at the root, remains the same. Trimming the ends from the hair will help it to grow longer, but only because when split ends are allowed to remain, they will continue to split up higher, causing the hair to break off, thus shortening the hair.

While it is always wise to learn from our mothers and grandmothers, it is important take the time to ascertain whether this wisdom is something that has outlived its usefulness or is a myth that has been passed down through the ages.


Bath Smart

Good grooming and basic beauty care begin in the bathroom. Bathing can be fun, not a chore and can make you feel fresh and glowing. Personal freshness is essential for everyone. The bacteria on the skin attacking the sweat when it reaches the surface of the skin cause body odor. Perspiration odor doesn't start until about the age of 10, when the special apocrine glands develop. These are found mainly under the arms and between the legs.

Once a week, take time to have a lazy bath night, and turn it into a beauty treatment. Make the bath water soft and sweet smelling by adding some bubble bath, bath salts or bath oils. Alternatively, you can soften the water with a large spoonful or borax or powdered water softener.

Your bath won't do you any good if you stay in it so long, as soaking will dry your skin, or if is too hot, as this too is very drying. Twenty minutes is the longest you should linger, and 38 o C(100 o F) is the highest temperature you should have the water. If you are not washing your hair, protect it with a shower cap, as the steam will make curly hair more frizzy or straight hair lank.

Other things you might need for your beautiful bath are:

  • A loofah, friction strap or mitt
  • A sponge
  • A back brush
  • A nail brush
  • A pumice stone
  • Soap or body shampoo
  • Talcum powder
  • Body lotion

While you are in a bath, rub yourself briskly with a loofah, friction strap or back brush. This makes your skin tingle, improving your circulation and encouraging blemishes to disappear, but be careful if you have delicate skin.

Scrub your feet thoroughly, and follow the foot care routine. The hot steam of the bath will open the skin pores on your face. If you suffer from blackheads, you should be able to press them out gently with your fingertips and remove with a clean tissue. Or try the new blackhead removal strips that are available in the market.

While you are relaxing in the bath, this is a good time to apply a face mask- something you can do occasionally than every week.

If you are not giving yourself a facemask and have oily skin, wash your face with soap and water. If you have dry skin, spread moisturizer on your face and let your steam help it to sink into the pores. After your bath, rub yourself dry briskly with a fairly rough towel. Now is the time to deal with unwanted body hair. It is a matter of personal choice whether you get rid of on your legs and under your arms.

There are many ways of dealing with unwanted hair: shaving, using a depilatory cream or lotion or waxing. If using a depilatory cream, follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. They may advise you not to use it immediately after a bath.

Even if you are careful about the time you spend in the bath and the temperature of the water, your skin will still need help, after your bath, to re-establish its correct moisture balance. Use body lotion, and then dust yourself with talc.

After a bath, your nails are softened, and this is a good time to give yourself a manicure and pedicure.

Milk, Oil and Honey Bath

(To soften and moisturize your skin).

Ingredients: warm water, one cup of powdered skimmed milk, one teaspoon oil (baby or vegetable), two teaspoons clear honey dissolved in one cup hot water.

Duration: 20 minutes

Directions: add all ingredients to water, then lie back and relax for 20 minutes. Maintain the temperature by adding hot water as necessary. Don't dry too vigorously afterwards.

Seasalt Bath

(To cleansing bath for oily skin)

Ingredients: Warm water, two cups of sea salt, additional salt.

Duration: Ten minutes in all (five in the water).

Directions: Pour the two cups of salt into bath water to dissolve. Meanwhile, massage the additional salt over your body with the loofah or friction mitt. Get into the bath, rinse away the salt and soak for five minutes. Use plenty of body lotion afterwards.

Mint Bath

(To refresh and revive you)

Ingredients: Tepid water, two tablespoons dried mint leaves steeped in boiling water for one hour then strained so that only water goes into the bath.

Duration: Ten minutes

Directions: Add the mint infusion after running the bath. Don't have the water too deep as this will dilute the benefits. Lie back for the first few minutes. Wash briskly with the loofah or friction strap or mitt for the remaining five minutes.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Quick & Easy NON-school Hair: A cute hat and braids


Here is Quick & Easy NON-school Hair: A cute hat and braids

Quick+Easy School Hair: Bandana/Scarf Ponytail


Here is Quick & Easy School Hair: Bandana/Scarf Ponytail

Quick & Easy School Hair: Classic Chopstick Bun


Here is Quick & Easy School Hair: Classic Chopstick Bun

Quick & Easy School Hair: Cute headband look


Here is Quick & Easy School Hair: Cute headband look

Quick & Easy School Hair: Side Updo


Here is Quick & Easy School Hair: Side Updo

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