Hair Care – Natural Oils and it’s Properties

A lot of oils are natural and can be good for black hair. They include coconut oil, avocado, olive, sapote, manketti and moringa oils. Each has inimitable properties.

Here are a few tips on how to use natural oils for hair treatment

Before shampooing the hair, it is good to oil it. Shampoo sometimes strips off the oil from the hair, so it’s better to oil the hair first so that it is well protected. It is better when the oil is warm; however, it can be of room temperature also. Massage your scalp gently with oil if your scalp is itchy or dry.

You can mix herbs with the oil of your choice. Choose the herbs to use depending on what your need is, whether for growth or strengthening, etc.

When you apply a thin layer of oil, your hair is protected as the oil locks and retains the moisture. People with black hair have to do this process regularly. Deep conditioning, using henna or hair masks, even shampooing might dry your hair out sometimes; so adding a little oil protects your hair.

Some oils such as castor are thick and stick to the hair, whereas some others are light. Some oils are expensive, while some might be quite economical. The benefit differs from oil to oil. The purest oil is one that is unrefined and cold-pressed. Choose the one that best suits your hair.

Listed below are the properties of a few organic oils:

Castor oil guards the scalp and the hair from external hazards. It increases the volume of the hair. The only issue is that it will be absorbed slowly.

Avocado can be absorbed easily and is full of Vitamin B, D and A.

Camellia oil is rich in Vitamin E and Alec acid. It’s good for frizzy hair, because it smoothes and shines dull hair. This oil can also be absorbed easily.

Wonder oil is nothing but coconut oil. It is good for the scalp, soothes minor scalp irritation and disorder, penetrates well, is antifungal and anti-bacterial. It has high amounts of protein.

Safflower oil contains Vitamin E and is very good for dry, damaged scalps, as it can be absorbed easily.

Macadamia nut oil safeguards the hair from the external environment. It can be absorbed easily; hence it is great for dry, damaged hair.

Grape seed oil is light and easily absorbable. It is rich in vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. It tones the scalp, as it is an astringent.

DAILY SKIN CARE -

DAILY SKIN CARE -

Your skin is not a part of your body that you can forget about (like an appendix or a kidney), assuming that it will look after itself. It is a high-maintenance part of your body, which is sensitive to the slightest changes in your health, emotions and environment. You binge on chocolates and your face becomes a mass of pimples; you don't get a good night's sleep and dark circles appear under your eyes; you're out in the sun a lot and you get burnt or develop freckles. The list is endless. So let's take a look at skin care regimes for different kinds of skin. Dry skin Use a rich cream cleanser instead of soap and water. Avoid astringents, as they will further dry your skin. Instead, use a mild skin toner after cleansing your skin. Apply a good moisturizing lotion in the day, before sleeping, before applying make-up and after removing make-up. Once a week, wash your face with the juice of a melon. You can give yourself a weekly facial by mixing a yolk of an egg with two tablespoons of milk and half a tablespoon of honey. Apply this on your face and leave it on for about fifteen minutes. Then wash with lukewarm water. If you're out in the sun a lot, milk mixed with melted butter helps soften the dry skin. Lanolin, apple juice, peach juice, sour cream and crushed almonds are also helpful for dry skin. Oily skin You may not believe it, but oily skin actually has some advantages. As a result of excess lubrication, wrinkles do not form prematurely and skin is not much affected by wind and sunlight. However, oily skin is a magnet for dirt and grime and thus a good and regular cleansing regime is a must. If oily skin is not cleaned thoroughly and regularly, the dirt will clog the pores in the skin and blackheads will appear. People with oily skin should wash their faces with medicated soap and water. The use of astringents is advised as they have a tightening and drying effect on the skin. Buttermilk or beaten egg whites also have a drying and tightening effect. Parsley juice mixed with honey and a few drops of lemon or ginger is good for an oily skin. This mixture controls the secretion of oil. Fuller's earth (Multani mitti), oatmeal, almond paste, or lime juice or vinegar mixed with water are excellent cleansers. Steaming opens up the clogged pores and you can push out blackheads and whiteheads and prevent pimples. Avoid rich fried foods and load up on green vegetables instead. Take two tablespoons of lecithin granules (a by-product of soyabeans) daily. After washing your face, soak a towel in hot water and press it to your face. Repeat this process two or three times. Next wet the towel in ice-cold water and repeat the process two or three times to close enlarged pores. Cucumber, parsley, cabbage, tomato, yoghurt and lemon are natural aids for an oily skin. Combination skin If you have an oily nose and forehead, but dry cheeks and chin, you will have to treat each area of your face separately depending on whether it is dry or oily.

IDENTIFYING YOUR SKIN TYPE -

IDENTIFYING YOUR SKIN TYPE -

Buying toiletries and cosmetics today can be a bewildering experience. The bug of super-specialization has bitten even the world of beauty. Everything from moisturizer to soap to face wash to sunscreen to cleansers and toners is classified according to the type of skin you have. When you buy beauty products, you have to know whether you are a dry, normal, oily or combination skin, just like you have to know whether you are a small, medium or large when you buy clothes. In the looking glass Normal mirrors and soft lighting can be quite deceptive. The first step in pinning down your skin type is to get hold of a magnifying mirror to see what's really happening with your skin. Now brace yourself, because in most cases, this is not a pretty sight. A magnifying mirror highlights every blackhead, whitehead, pimple, crater and wrinkle. But if it's any consolation, most people's skins don't pass the magnifying mirror test with flying colours. Tissue test The next thing to do is to check on the glandular activity of your skin. As complicated as that sounds, it's actually a simple procedure that just requires a paper tissue. Press the paper tissue to your nose and forehead for a few seconds. Do not rub it over the surface of your skin. Then remove the tissue and examine it. If your glands are working overtime, the tissue will have greasy marks on it. If the tissue is spotless, don't get too excited. It's not a good sign. It means that your skin lacks lubrication. If the tissue is hardly soiled, you are one of the lucky ones with perfect skin. The pH factor This may sound like something out of a science fiction novel, but the pH factor is actually a measure of the acidity of your skin. pH is a measure of hydrogen particles, which, in excess, cause 'alkalinity' and if deficient cause 'acidity'. If the pH factor has a value of 7, it is neutral and represents perfect balance. When the figure is above 7, it is alkaline and when it is below 7, it is acidic. To determine the acidity or alkalinity of your skin, you have to apply litmus paper to the surface of your skin. First clean your face thoroughly. Then wait for an hour before you apply the litmus paper so that the test result is not affected by the remnants of soap or cosmetics. Keep the paper against your skin for one minute and then remove it. If the paper remains blue, your skin lacks acidity and will be prone to infections. If the paper is a rosy-lilac, your skin is sufficiently acidic. But if the litmus turns a pinky-red, your skin is too acidic as a result of which is delicate, sensitive and likely to show the effects of age prematurely. Skin can be broadly classified into 5 categories: Normal Dry Extra dry Oily Clogged Normal skin: It's ironic, but normal skin is a rarity. It's the kind of skin you have as a baby and which rarely survives the ravages of puberty and pollution into adulthood. This type of skin leaves only faint traces on the tissue and turns litmus paper pink. When you squeeze it, the skin is smooth and you don't see any pores. Dry skin: This type of skin leaves no traces on the tissue paper and turns the litmus paper red. It is a delicate kind of skin that wrinkles and burns easily under the rays of the sun. Extra dry skin: The skin is drab and dull and has a flabby texture. It wrinkles prematurely and its acidity varies from day to day. Oily skin: A shiny nose is typical of oily skin. It is not prone to developing wrinkles and has enlarged pores. It leaves very visible traces on the tissue paper and usually lacks acidity. Clogged skin: The skin is rough, thick, flecked with blackheads and whiteheads. It tends to be high on alkalinity and leaves no traces on the tissue paper. You will notice that different areas of your skin exhibit different characteristics. For instance, your cheeks may be really dry, but your nose is always shiny and your forehead is a field of blackheads. In that case, you will have to care for each area of your skin as is required.

SKIN CARE THROUGH EATING HEALTHY

SKIN CARE THROUGH EATING HEALTHY

A healthy glowing complexion is the most important attribute of a natural beauty. Beauty care starts with the skin. The first step, then, would be to take care of what you put on the inside, because it shows up on the outside! Did you know that scaly skin is a result of fluorine deficiency? Fluorine is the anti-resistant element of the human body, the absence of which creates problems in the blood and spleen. Since cooking and heating foods destroys fluorine, it is better to eat uncooked raw fruits and vegetables. Other foods rich in fluorine are goat milk and cheese, rye flour, avocados, sea plants and cabbage, cream whey and cottage cheese. Sodium deficiency causes skin to become sticky and makes it wrinkle faster. Cucumbers are ideal for combating and preventing sodium deficiency because they are not only high in sodium, but also help in keeping the body cool, a great summer�s treat. Skin rashes are the result of silicon deficiency. To avoid pus and rashes, eat plenty of sprouts, alfalfa, barley, tomatoes, spinach, strawberries and figs. Chlorophyll supplements that are found in wheat grass and other green leafy vegetables are excellent to combat skin eruptions. Always remember that most skin problems start with the kidneys. So flush out your system with plenty of water and eat foods with high iodine content like carrots, beetroot and leafy vegetables. An ideal way to start your day is with a glass of water with a twist of lime and 1 tsp. honey. Drink at least 10 - 12 glasses of water the rest of the day; it not only improves digestion but also clears out toxins from your body.

QUICK HERBAL TIPS -

QUICK HERBAL TIPS -

Down the ages, Indian women have used simple, effective home-made remedies to look after their skin. Skin Cleanser: Found in your own kitchen is a simple, chemical free cleanser � good ol� unboiled milk. All you need to do is dip a piece of cotton wool in milk and wipe your face with it. It also cleans unseen dirt and goes down into your pores. Another fine cleanser is almond oil, especially effective in protecting the delicate skin under the eyes. Skin Moisturizer: For normal skin care, you can take 1 cup of yogurt, 1 tablespoon orange juice and 1 tablespoon lemon juice and mix it into a paste. Apply it on your face as a mask and keep it on for 15 minutes. Then clean it off with a wet tissue watch your complexion glow. For dry skin, you could use a mixture of cooked oatmeal and honey; it will not only help moisturize the skin but also acts as a good cleansing agent. Skin Nourishment and Bleach: For nourishing your face try a protein mask. You can prepare this mask by first soaking 1 tablespoon urad dal and 4 almonds in water overnight and then grinding them into a paste. You can then apply this protein mask to your face and wash it off after half an hour. This exceptional protein mask will not only nourish the skin but also bleach it. Wrinkle Prevention and Softer Skin: To prevent wrinkles and soften your skin, you could try pure castor oil; it is known to slow down the aging process of the skin. Skin Conditioner: Another simple and excellent skin conditioner that can be made out of 1 tbsp. honey blended with 2 tbsp. cream (of milk). Leave it on for a few minutes and wash it off. It works like magic. Skin Blemishes: For skin blemishes, you can try rubbing a raw potato on your face. Sun-Protection Lotion: It�s summer time. Time to cool off. So let�s wind up with a good home-made sun-protection lotion. Take cucumber juice and equal amounts of glycerine and rose water and make a concoction. This should be refrigerated. Try it, it�s really cool. The Indian beauty has a hundred tips up her sleeve, so visit us again for some more beauty secrets next week.

HAIR CARE

HAIR CARE

Prologue Before stepping into the shower, comb your hair lightly with a wide-toothed comb to untangle knots. This aligns the strands and prevents your getting out of the shower with a lot of knots. Begin at the ends and slowly work your way up. Never try to rip through tangles from top to bottom. You'll end up with a clump of hair on your comb that could have been avoided if only you'd had some patience! Water The temperature of the water you use while washing your hair should ideally not be warmer than room temperature. In fact, the best thing would be to use the lowest temperature you can bear. Too cold for you? Well, hair is not sensitive, so you could at least bend over and give the lower part of your hair a final rinse with cold water. Why cold water? Because cold water helps the hair scales lie down flat, making them stronger. On the other hand warm water opens the hair scales not only causing more frizz but also making the hair shaft weaker and more vulnerable. In addition, the scalp secretes certain oils that are good for the hair. These oils get dissolved in warm water, causing further dryness. Cold water does not dissolve the natural oils. So make the healthy-hair choice and go in for cold water! Brrrrr Shampooing your hair Start washing your hair at the scalp, because that's where grease accumulates. Gently massage the shampoo into your hair with your fingertips. It is a good idea to dilute the shampoo in a little water in a mug and then massage it on your scalp. This way the shampoo is even gentler on the hair. - While applying shampoo to your locks, leave them hanging down instead of piling them on top of your head as though you're posing for a shampoo commercial. Piling up your hair only leads to more tangles. Let it hang naturally so the lather works its way from the root to the ends. - Try not to churn your hair too much. Work the shampoo gently so the strands don't get untangled and result in unbearable knots. If you have long hair, apply shampoo to your scalp, divide it into sections, and massage each section gently with the shampoo from roots to ends. Go gentle while rinsing - The best way to wash out shampoo is to keep combing it with your wide toothed comb while rinsing it out under the shower. This helps in the de-tangling process and also helps the shampoo to rinse out better. While you rinse your hair, do not rub it harshly. Hair is at its most fragile state when it's being rinsed. The correct way is to just simply let water run down your hair. - Remember, it's best to rinse hair under running water. Dunking it in a tub is not so effective as residue may still remain. You have to make sure you've rinsed out all the shampoo. Once you are fairly certain it's all gone, stay under the flow of water for another half minute or so, to be doubly sure. Wrap your hair in a soft,absorbent towel - and voila! You're done!

HOW TO REDUCE HAIR FALL -

HOW TO REDUCE HAIR FALL -

Following right hair care regimen is a must to prevent hair fall. In this article you will find beauty tips for reducing hair fall. Read on to find more about the steps which you need to take in order reduce hair fall. Hair is referred to as the crowning glory and both men and women are possessive about hair and everyone wishes to have good and healthy hair. Hair reflects the entire personality and you need to take proper care of your hair to keep it healthy and let it look beautiful. If you do not take care of your hair for long time it might turn brittle and you will find split ends as well as dandruff in your hair as well. If you are worried about your hair loss, here are some tips that might help you reduce hair fall and the best thing about this is that you can do this in a natural way. Most of the hair loss problem is genetic. Even if this is the case with you, taking proper care will help you keep it as far as possible. Besides this there are many causes like emotional stress, medication, improper care, changing the brand of the shampoo and many more. No matter what the cause is, if you take proper care of your hair and keep it clean and nourished regularly along with paying attention to diet and nutrition, you will be able to have good quality and beautiful hair always. Tips to Reduce Hair Fall Naturally Here are some natural beauty tips for reducing hair fall. Find the Cause: The first thing that you should do is find the actual cause behind your hair fall. This is important especially when the hair fall is before time and untimely. If you are able to find the cause, you will probably be able to reduce the hair fall almost instantly. For example if you have recently changed your old brand of shampoo after being impressed by watching some commercial. Simply stop using the shampoo because it does not suit you and your hair. Diet: Pay attention to your diet. Nutrition is very important for the health of hair. Calcium and certain minerals help have a healthy hair on your head. Vitamin A, iodine and Vitamin B are essential for the health of the hair. Simply add fiber to your diet and include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet on regular basis. Green leafy vegetables are the real source of nutrition and you should take care and include these to your daily diet schedule. Shampoo and Conditioner: It is very important you find out the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair. First learn about your hair type and then select the shampoo that suits you. If you visit pool or beach regularly, apply proper conditioner so that you are able to protect your hair from sudden changes in the environment. Selecting appropriate conditioner will help you protect your hair and help it stay healthy and conditioned for long time. Cleaning Schedule: Keep in mind that it completely depends on you, your hair type and the place where you live what schedule you set for cleaning and conditioning your hair. Decide whether you wash your hair daily or twice or thrice weekly. Make a schedule that suits you. Along with these guidelines pay attention to the way you dry your hair. Avoid rubbing vigorously and try to dry it naturally avoiding use of blow drier. Choose a hair style that does not damage your hair or at least there is minimum and reversible damage done to your hair. Do you take right care of your hair? How often do you wash your hair? Which hair care products do you use? To share your experiences, views, and tips, click here.

HOW TO HAVE NATURAL CURLY HAIR -

HOW TO HAVE NATURAL CURLY HAIR -

Curly hair is not so much in fashion but lots of women wish to have curly hair. Curly hair makes woman look pretty. Making your hair curly using artificial methods like perming and rolling can harm your hair. However, you can even make your hair curly and wavy naturally. Read on to find some beauty tips for having natural curly hair.

Natural curly hair is considered sexy and very appealing. Though straight hair is in fashion today, naturally curly hair look very beautiful and makes any girl look attractive. Some women who have straight hair wish to have curls or waves in their hair. But use of perms and other chemical treatments can harm your hair.

There is one most unavoidable defect of getting your hair turned curly; you cannot have your straight hair back if you take help from unnatural and artificial ways. It is always good to turn your hair wavy or have curls in your hair in a natural way. Here are some tips that will help you have your desirable hair and get the sexy look and style.

Tips on Having Curly Hair Naturally

Have a quick look at the tips for having curly hair naturally.

Using Shampoo for Curly Hair

Use a shampoo that helps clear off the dirt and oil that gets deposited on your scalp over time. You might feel that your hair got dried up after that because it also cleans the oiliness of your hair. You need to moisturise your hair after the use of clarifying shampoo. You should spend some extra time and scrub your scalp and this will help the shampoo work in a better way. If you are used to washing your hair regularly or your hair is already dry, you need not use a clarifying shampoo. Try to use natural or herbal shampoos as much as possible.

Using Curl Enhancing Gel

Curl enhancing styling gel can be applied after shampooing your hair. You simply need to pile your hair like a bun after applying the mousse. Let it dry and when you have to go out, just take the elastic or the clutch clip out and let loose your hair. Do not use your fingers to disentangle your hair. Just keep in mind that you brush your hair before applying the gel and piling it like a bun. This process will work even without using the gel. Many herbal curl enhancing gels are available in market. Use these herbal gels instead of using chemical based gels.

Hair Scrunching

If you want your hair look permed, just wash your hair and brush it and take some of the hair in your grip and tighten it and then leave it to dry naturally. You do not even need to tie it or use any clip. Once it gets dried, you will find that they look like you have gone through a perm session. This is a natural method of curling hair which is known as hair scrunching. Scrunching make your hair look curly and voluminous.

Making Hair Bun

Dry your hair after shampooing with a towel and then use a large-toothed comb to untangle your hair. Make a hair bun in such a way that it is not stressing your hair too much. If you want to get curls faster, you can use a blow drier to dry your hair after making the bun. You can use the blow drier after tying a bun out of your hair which is half dry. However, do not blow dry frequently as it may cause harm to your hair.

The best thing about treating your hair naturally is clean it regularly, detoxify it once in a month and do not brush it when it is wet. Just make sure you let your hair dry naturally if your hair is naturally wavy.

If you are planning to go out in the evening, comb your hair and tie the bun in upward direction and keep it till the time you are completely ready. Just leave your hair open and do not comb it again or put fingers to push them back. You will have natural curly hair without much hassle and without damaging your hair as well.

Do you like curly hair? How can we make our hair curly naturally? What are the side-effects of making hair curly through perming? To share your experiences, views, and tips,