HAIR STYLING TIPS

HAIR STYLING TIPS -

All of us dream for beautiful, lustrous hair that shines with health. Here's how you can make your dream come true, and counter hair problems like grey, limp, oily or dandruff-ridden hair. Baby Shampoo Searching for the perfect shampoo? Often, if your hair is very oily, you may find that you need to shampoo more often. Some women need to shampoo daily or every alternate day to keep their hair looking oil-free, bouncy and beautiful. Not every shampoo however, is suitable for daily use, and overuse of some shampoos strip your hair of their natural, beneficial oils, causing damage in the long run. If you need to wash your hair very often, it would be best if you opt for a baby shampoo. These shampoos are incredibly mild, and will be gentle on your hair. In addition, baby shampoos cleanse well and get rid of residue on your hair. Limp Hair Often, oil in your hair causes it to look limp, so you may need to shampoo more often with baby shampoo. After shampooing, when hair is almost dry, use large, Velcro rollers roll hair. Blow dry hair for around five minutes and use a little hairspray on the roots. This will give your hair body. You could also bend over from the waist with your head hanging down, and brush your head back to front. Spray a little hairspray with your head still hanging down, and then stand up straight. Finger-comb your hair. Try this recipe. After washing hair, mix three tablespoons of vinegar in one cup of water, and pour this over your hair as a final rinse (don't rinse off.) This gets rid of buildup in your hair. Dandruff Vinegar works great for dandruff control as well. Mix vinegar and water in a half and half proportion. Apply this to your hair around ten minutes before you shampoo. Do this twice a week and say goodbye to dandruff. Homemade Hairspray Smash half an orange and mix it with 3 glasses of water. Boil this mixture until half the amount remains. Strain, pour the mixture in a spray bottle, and your hairspray is ready. If your hair is oily, use lemon instead of orange. Also, if you find the mixture too strong or heavy, the next time you make it use more water. Add an ounce of rubbing alcohol to preserve the mixture un-refrigerated. If you don't know where you to buy some rubbing alcohol from, check out this link. After all, you don't want to have to run to the refrigerator every time you need to apply hairspray, unless the refrigerator is in your bedroom! However, the mixture will just stay un-refrigerated for around 20 days. It is thus best that you make fresh hairspray on a regular basis. Homemade Hair Colourant Rinse your hair daily with black tea or black coffee. Black coffee however may not be suitable for dry hair. Pour the tea over your head again and again at least fifteen times, and then leave on for around fifteen minutes. Rinse with water. Within a few weeks your grey hair will start turning brown.

TIME FOR A CHANGE

TIME FOR A CHANGE -

Change your appearance and add spice to your life without breaking the bank. You don't need to overhaul your wardrobe if you're looking for change� a few snips in the right places will do the trick. Changing your look every now and again does wonders for your self-esteem, and it also gives you a break from an otherwise monotonous existence. Some people like Madonna are constantly re-inventing themselves, and every season they seem to have a completely new look, while others seem to have never had a haircut or changed anything about themselves for decades! Start off the New Year by reinventing yourself. You will be surprised at how much it will pep you up. A different hairstyle can do wonders for changing your entire image and this goes for men too (think Aamir Khan in Dil Chahta Hai). Start off by getting a haircut and we mean a proper cut, not just a trim. Changing your look doesn�t necessarily mean that long hair should be cut short. You can keep the length if you so desire and get it cut in steps, or, shorten it from the front so that it frames your face. Avoid getting a fringe unless your hair is very straight, silky and thick so that the fringe bounces back on your forehead every time you run your hands through it or when the wind blows. If you don't want to cut your hair, think about colouring it. You could go in for an all-over colour or for highlights. If you go in for an all-over colour, opt for a colour just a few shades different to your natural hair shade. Don�t go in for something very drastic because you are certain to get a shock when you look at yourself in the mirror. In addition, the new colour may or may not look good on you. Also, when your original hair grows back, the colour difference will be very apparent and stark and you will need to constantly keep retouching your roots. If you do want to go in for a colour very different from yours opt for highlighting instead of all-over colour. Add a few more highlights to the front of your face so they are more visible, and fewer highlights scattered through your hair at the back. In this manner your hair texture will not suffer. If you feel colouring your hair is not for you, go in for a perm. Straightening your hair is harsher than perming. Also, when you straighten your hair it makes blow-drying your hair straight after every wash a little easier, but you still will need to blow-dry your hair after every wash. You could go in for Japanese Hair Bonding, but unless it is done very well, it looks artificial. On the other hand, once your hair is permed, you don't need to subject it to any heat treatments or spend any time styling it. Even if you have curly, wavy or frizzy hair, consider getting it permed for better-formed, tidier curls. If you want to go straight, you don�t need to get it chemically straightened unless your hair is very, very curly. All you need to do is blow-dry it straight in sections, pulling your hair tight, after every wash. Whatever you decide, avoid going in for two chemical processes at the same time. So if you colour your hair, don't perm it immediately, or vice versa.

PREMATURE GREYING -

PREMATURE GREYING -

Have you started seeing the first strands of grey in your hair? Here�s what you can do to prevent further greying. What can I eat to prevent premature greying? Eating seafood is possibly one of the best things you can eat to promote all-over hair health. It is rich in zinc, iodine and protein, which are excellent for the hair. So if you enjoy seafood, make it a point to have fish several times a week. Remember that eating canned fish will not give you the same benefits as eating freshly cooked fish. If you don�t eat fish, consider fish-oil supplements. Iron is good for hair and is found in dark green vegetables, meat and some pulses. If you are unsure about whether you are getting enough iron, include an iron supplement every once in a while in your diet. Remember that too many iron supplements can be bad for you. Women lose iron while menstruating, so perhaps during or after your cycle you can have iron-fortified supplements for a few days. Eating foods rich in Vitamins B and C will ensure that your hair stays strong, does not break easily, and does not grey early. Pork, vegetables, whole grains, wheat germ, soymilk are all rich sources of Vitamin B, while citrus fruits are excellent sources of Vitamin C. Eating adequate Vitamin C helps increase absorption of iron. Try and have a glass of orange juice daily. Your hair will never be healthy if you do not drink enough water. Drink at least eight to ten glasses a day. What oil can I apply to my hair? Rosemary oil is believed to gradually darken grey hair over a period of time. Soak rosemary leaves along with a few basil (tulsi) leaves, in jojoba oil, for a period of four weeks. Massage your scalp and hair with this oil (after warming it up). Most oils are not easily absorbed by the hair, which is why you need to leave oil on for at least forty-five minutes. It helps greatly if you steam your hair after applying oil. Boil dried amla pieces in coconut oil until the pieces turn black and the oil darkens. Apply this oil to the hair. It strengthens hair and prevents greying. Boil tealeaves in water and rinse your hair with this liquid 20-30 times. Then, leave on for 15-20 minutes before the final rinse. What else can I do to promote hair health and delay greying? Washing your hair with very hot water or using hair-dryers excessively weaken roots, and may lead to premature greying. When using a hair-dryer, take care not to point it to your scalp. Similarly, try and wash your hair with cool or lukewarm water. Will Yoga help? Inverted yoga poses bring a rush of blood to the scalp. This stimulates circulation and enhances hair health. Do the following poses regularly: Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog) Sarvangasana Chakrasana Other easy ways to stimulate circulation are: When you wash your hair, keep switching from hot water to cold water. Comb your hair regularly. A hundred strokes every night should do the trick. If your hair is curly, use a wide toothed comb.

HAIR AND YOUR HEALTH -

HAIR AND YOUR HEALTH -

Hair is a woman's crowning glory. When it starts to fall at alarming rates it becomes a cause of incessant worry. Many believe that baldness occurs only in men but this is incorrect. Ignoring hair loss can be a big mistake because hair is an indicator of health and losing your tresses might mean there is some imbalance that needs attention. Dermatologists believe that hair loss can be treated in most of the cases with timely medical help. What is hair loss? Shedding 50 to 100 hairs is a part of the normal hair cycle. But if you are seeing a gradual thinning of your mane or bald patches on your scalp, consult a dermatologist. What are the causes? If you have diffused thinning all over your scalp, you might have androgenetic alopecia. Hormones are the culprit. There can be an increase in male hormones and other imbalance related to ovarian cysts, pregnancy, birth control pills and menopause. Heredity factors might also have a role in it. If your hair growth goes in to a resting phase, yours might be a case of telogen effluvium. Child birth, malnutrition (iron and protein deficiencies), crash dieting, surgery, infection or extreme stress can cause a lot of shedding of hair. If you are losing hair in patches, it is called alopecia areata. This happens when the hair roots are attacked by your immune system. Other reasons for hair loss include: Medication Chronic illness like renal and liver problems Pulling your hair through regular braiding and ponytails Thyroid disease Improper hair treatments with repeated use of chemical colors or incorrect way of applying hair cosmetics. How can it be treated? The good news is that most cases of hair thinning can be reversed or stopped with medical help. When hair loss follows temporary events, it will grow back after you pass that phase. Stress, pregnancy, disease, medication are some of the examples of such temporary events. If your hair is thinning out because of an underlying protein or iron deficiency, it will grow back when you take a proper diet or supplements. In cases where tress trauma is caused by hormonal imbalance, dermatologists may prescribe estrogen and progesterone pills or creams. Birth control pills with low androgen levels are also given in a few cases. But a thorough medical check-up is required before taking these treatments. If you are losing hair in patches, your doctor might give you topical treatments like ketoconazole to treat any underlying fungal infection. Many a times dermatologists may not be able to help you regrow your hair. In the case of thyroid disease, you might not see your tressing making a comeback even after taking thyroid medication. However, your doctor might be able to stop further hair loss. There are many companies peddling hair loss cures. Don't let these magical cure companies mislead you with their before-and-after pictures and guaranteed hair regrowth. The solution to your lost tresses does not lie outside. By taking a good look at your body basics you will not only treat your hair but also find a cure for the silent ailments that are attacking your health.

HAIR THAT SHINES -

HAIR THAT SHINES -

Nothing enhances a little girl's confidence than a mane of shiny, glorious hair. Often parents don't pay attention to their daughter's hair problems. They believe their children are too young to be concerned about beauty problems, and this is not the age to worry about such things. However, children do worry, and what's worse is that there is nothing they can do about it since they depend on you for guidance. So if you ignore your child's wild, unruly, frizzy hair, and believe that keeping hair clean and tangle free is enough at this age, you should know that perhaps your child is the butt of hair jokes at school. Children can be cruel, and you don't want your child to be taunted for her hair when such taunts can so easily be avoided. Curly hair is far easier to maintain than straight hair. It needs to be shampooed only once a week, or once in five days. This is because curly hair is dry, and washing hair more often will dry it out even further. When shampooing your child's hair, concentrate on the scalp and not on the hair. Massage the shampoo well into the scalp, and then wash off. Every other day wash your daughter's hair with conditioner, and no shampoo. This increases moisture in your child's hair, while removing dust or dirt from the scalp. Don't massage conditioner into your child's scalp. Comb her curly hair after a wash, when it is still damp. Never brush curls as the curls will open up and lead to frizzies. Similarly, don't comb dry, curly hair, only comb it when it is still wet. Never, ever flip your child's curly hair upside down while combing. This is certain to produce frizz. As you will be combing her hair when it is wet, don't worry about tangles. Finger-comb dry hair when required. Your child should apply a leave-in conditioner to her curly hair everyday, to reduce frizz. Acid soluctions like vinegar or lemon juice shrink and harden your hair's cuticle cells. This causes the cells to lay flat and well-alligned, causing a better reflecting surface. As a result hair starts shining. So if you want your daughter's hair to shine, try this: Squeeze a lemon into a mug of water or add a tablespoon of vinegar to a mug of water and give your daughter's hair a final rinse with this solution. (Don't wash off.) Egg is excellent for hair. Not only is it a great conditioner and nourisher, but it also increases shine. Apply egg to your daughter's hair once a week, and wash off after half an hour with cold water. Mayonnaise, which is made of oil, egg and vinegar, is also excellent for the hair. In addition, mayonnaise also helps getting rid of lice. Lice breathe through their legs, and applying mayonnaise blocks their air passage, suffocating them. You may not be able to get rid of nits (lice eggs) in this manner though. Make sure you keep checking your child's hair regularly for lice. If your daughter's hair is straight, cut it in one length. This gives a better reflecting surface and adds shine to the hair. Hair that is cut in layers reduces shine.

BANGS -

BANGS -

If you are looking for a drastically different hairstyle but don�t want to lose the length, consider bangs. Simply cutting out bangs make you look like a completely different person without sacrificing too much hair, or without using chemicals. What kind of hair do bangs look good on? Bangs look great on straight hair, while they could look a bit messy on curly hair. Some people prefer the messy look, so if you�re one of them, go for it! However, remember that your bangs will not fall down straight on your forehead as they will if you have straight hair. Every time the wind blows, your bangs will fly backwards, but if your hair is straight, your bangs will just flop right back into place. One way to overcome this is to iron bangs straight. Curly hair with ironed straight bangs looks bang-on glam. Pull your curls back into a half ponytail and let the bangs fall straight on your forehead for instant sex appeal. Minimal Risk The best part about bangs is that even if they look bad, you can part them in the centre or on the side and let them sit like flicks. In addition, they will grow out in no time, and you can start tucking the longer strands behind your ear. Compare this with chopping off your entire hair for a new look, and then deciding you liked long hair better after all! Two Looks! You could also simply gel back the bangs and leave your hair loose. So, you can wear bangs, or you can brush them up: two hairstyles and two completely different looks at the same time! Face Bangs make your face look a little smaller, so if you have a wide forehead, bangs are a great option to even out your features. Bangs look great on smaller faces as well, especially if you have short hair. They then help in adding height to your face and making your features stand out. You could in fact use bangs to even out your face in various ways. Bang Styles You can have various styles in bangs. Your bangs can be really thin and sparse, or they can be thick. They can be long, up to your eyebrows or even up to your eyes if you want to get a bit funkier, or short, just an inch from your hairline. (Think Sadhana). Needless to say, your hair needs to be poker straight to carry off very short bangs. Eyes Bangs force people to focus on your eyes, making them look larger and more prominent. This works best if you highlight your hair a little, and add stronger highlights to your bangs. Remember, it doesn�t matter if you completely saturate your bangs with chemicals, since you will be keeping them short and trimming them regularly, getting rid of split ends at top speed. Low Maintenance You don�t need to make frequent trips to the parlour to keep your bangs in shape. It is easy to trim your bangs at home by yourself, while you let the rest of your hair grow longer. Wet your hair, and cut after straightening bangs with a comb. You could also get away with trimming bangs at random. Very cool. En Vogue Bangs jazz up your look instantly and make you look with it in a second, since bangs are very much en vogue. Or you could go retro and combine straight bangs with a few curled ones. Don�t be afraid of gelling and spraying your bangs to keep them in place.

GET IT STRAIGHT! -

GET IT STRAIGHT! -

Those with straight and silky hair are quick to rush in for a perm, while those with curly, wavy locks long for smooth and straight hair. Here's how to get your hair straighter, faster. The grass is always greener on the other side, which is why those with straight and silky hair are quick to rush in for a perm, while those with curly, wavy locks long for smooth and straight hair. It is however far easier to curl straight hair than it is to straighten curly hair. Straightening hair is a lengthy and apparently never-ending process. If you've always dreamt of having straight hair but didn't know where to begin, if you've longed for smooth and silky locks without a clue as to how to achieve the same, you've come to the right place. Read on for tips on getting your hair straighter, faster. Long Hair Grow your hair long. Short hair tends to curl more, and is harder to straighten. In comparison, longer hair is relatively easier to straighten. Because of the weight of long hair, the top portion tends to straighten out on its own, leaving only the ends curly and giving a very nice, soft effect. This, of course, depends on the strength of curl you have in your hair. Very curly hair may retain its curl along the entire length, even when very long. Chemical Straightening Should you straighten your hair chemically? One thing that is important to remember is that even after you straighten your hair chemically, you will still need to blowdry it straight after every wash. The only difference is that it becomes easier to blowdry your hair straight at home after a chemical straightening and you will not need to go to the parlour to get it blowdried straight. Remember to always blowdry hair straight in sections. Invest in a powerful blowdryer for maximum effect. A blowdryer with a diffuser attachment reduces frizz. Alternatively, try applying a leave-in conditioner or a serum like Livon to combat frizz. Ironing Hair If you like rod-straight hair (think Preity Zinta in Kal Ho Na Ho), ironing hair is easier to do at home than blowdrying, but ironing is harsh on the hair and again, it only lasts until the next wash. So if you iron your hair regularly, avoid other chemical treatments such as colouring your hair. Trim your hair regularly to keep split ends in check and maintain your length at a few inches below your shoulders. If you want to keep it longer like perhaps waist-length, avoid ironing the ends of your hair and iron it only from the top. Let the ends remain curly. In this manner the ends will be healthier and you will be able to grow hair longer. Consider investing in a ceramide hair iron, where the ironing plates are made from ceramide. These irons are more expensive than regular irons but are more effective and also far, far gentler on hair. If a ceramide iron is beyond your budget (they generally cost at least Rs 3,500), consider going in for a steam iron instead. Make sure you try out the iron before buying it as you don't want to be stuck with an ineffective hair iron. Japanese Hair Bonding This is the latest method of chemically straightening your hair. When your hair is straightened by this method, you will not need to blowdry your hair straight after every wash. The hair that has been straightened stays straight for life, and you will need to re-straighten new hair as it grows by way of touch-ups. This is the most expensive method of hair straightening, and some parlours charge as much as Rs 10,000 for hair a few inches longer than the shoulders. Make sure you go to a reputed parlour, as there is no point if this job is not well done.

QUENCH THE THIRST OF FRIZZY HAIR

QUENCH THE THIRST OF FRIZZY HAIR -

It seems like such an enigma. Of the hundred or so emails I receive daily, the same question pops up endlessly. Why is my hair so, FRIZZY and dry, coarse or brittle? I intend to try and solve this mystery. And my first clue has to do with moisture deficiency! Oil and Water... 90% of us suffer with dry brittle or frizzy hair because our hair is deficient of (moisture) WATER! There is a certain preconceived notion that has been passed on from generation to generation. That is the idea that our hair is dry, because we are lacking in natural oils. We are told that if we nurture our hair by brushing vigorously 100 times a day, or if we nurture our hair with hot oil treatments and cholesterols. If we do all of these things, then we are sure to be blessed with beautiful, shiny and healthy locks. This might be the case, if you have hair that is not chemically treated. But once you have impaled your tresses with harsh chemicals such as bleaches and alkaline permanents, hot oil treatments may not be the best bet for you. Naturally Curly Hair... Those of you who have curly hair, have these curls, because of a curvature of the hair follicles .A normal hair follicle under a microscope would be seen as perfectly straight. However yours would have a definite bend in it. This causes the hair to curl. Where the hair curves it compels the cuticle (the outer layer of the hair) to lift. The cuticle... Under a microscope, a cuticle is similar in appearance to shingles on a roof. When the hair is in good condition, and is straight and has good porosity the tiles or cuticle layers are tight together and in perfect in shape, giving the hair a smooth appearance. This makes light reflect off the hair enhancing shine! When hair is in bad conditioner, is curly or has poor porosity, the cuticle layers are lifted and sometimes damaged and broken. This makes the hair feel coarse and brittle. It also causes the hair to absorb light, giving the appearance of dull lifeless hair. To sum up this scenario. Because curly haired cuticle layer is permanently lifted, it feels, coarse, and brittle and has no brilliance. Hence the dull, lifeless look. It also means that our hair has poor porosity. Porosity... Is the ability for hair to be able to absorb and retain moisture. The best way for me to explain this is to would be for you to imagine a sponge. First of all imagine a brand new sponge. It will have tiny holes in it, and when you immerse it in water, it will soak up a large quantity, and be able to hold that liquid for a long period of time. This is because it has good porosity. Now imagine an old sponge. Its holes have become damaged and distorted. It might even be torn in some areas. When you immerse this sponge in the same amount of liquid, it will absorb far less and will certainly not be able to retain the moisture so readily. It is the same with hair. Hair that has poor porosity will not be able to absorb or retain moisture as well as hair that has good porosity, making hair dry. Optimum condition... For hair to be in tiptop conditioner is has to have a moisture (water) content of at least 8%, and the right balance of protein and natural oil. Most of us produce enough natural oil (sebum), to keep our hair healthy, but lack the moisture. After having a chemical service your moisture level will drop as low as 2%, causing drying of the hair, followed by split ends. The same will happen with constant use of blow-dryers and hot styling tools, such as curling or flat irons. If the moisture level is not restored to its optimum 8% your hair will ultimately become brittle and possibly break. What to do.. You need to give your hair lots of TLC, with shampoos that are designed to restore your hair�s moisture level to its optimum 8%. Along with intense conditioners that will help to repair damaged cuticles, improve porosity, elasticity and general health and appearance of your hair. Avoid hairsprays, mousses and gels that have a high alcohol or butane content. Those of you with naturally curly, wavy or frizzy hair, those of you who use hot styling tools or who chemically treat your hair, will need to give your hair extra nurturing by supplying it with the necessary nutrition and moisture that it needs. Sun worshippers need to make sure that your hair care products have sunscreen properties to protect your hair from the damaging affects of the UV rays. Summary... Our hair needs MOISTURE, MOISTURE, and MOISTURE! Who needs to add moisture more than most? People with naturally curly hair, chemically treated, hot styling tool users or people who live in hot sunny and arid climates. Please feel free to email me with any hair care questions that you may have at DUDASDIANA@AOL.COM Copyright 2002 Author is an expert with more than 28 years experience in the beauty industry. She has answered over 2000 questions for allexperts.com and has had her work published in many well-respected beauty magazines both online and off.

HAIR STYLING TIPS -

HAIR STYLING TIPS -

Style your hair with care with these tips: 1. Never use a blow dryer on dry hair. 2. Cut your hair frequently. It is better to trim a minimal amount of hair often, than it is to cut off a whole lot once a year, as your hair stays in healthier condition. 3. If you want a change of style but want to keep the length, get your hair cut in long layers. This also helps remove spilt ends. 4. Use rubber bands that are covered with fabric when you want to tie up your hair. This reduces breakage. 5. Natural bristle brushes are preferable to plastic and polyester bristles. They are gentler on the hair. Unless your brush has natural bristles, you should never brush wet hair, as wet hair tends to snap easily. 6. If you blow-dry your hair right, there is no reason why it cannot look as good as salon-blow-dried hair. The trick is to blow-dry your hair in sections. 7. If you section it well, you should be done after 11 or 12 sections, and it should not take you more than fifteen minutes. However, if you randomly section your hair, it may take a lot longer, so be systematic about it. Another reason to stick to systematic sections is that you will not be blow-drying hair that is already dry, and in this manner you will reduce damage to your hair. 8. Stick to making sections with the help of horizontal and vertical partings to your hair, and doing blocks at a time. 9. Make a horizontal parting two inches above the back of your head. Part the rest of the hair in the center, and pile up each side on top and clip it up, using one clip for each side. 10. Divide the loose hair into two sections, and blow-dry each section with the help of a round brush. 11. If your hair is very curly, it helps if your blow dryer has a flat nozzle attachment to better direct air. 12. Move the blow dryer along the length of your hair along with your brush. 13. After you have got the bottom done, keep moving upwards in sections, until you have finished all your hair. Simply use horizontal and vertical partings to section your hair. 14. If you are using a straightening iron to straighten your hair, use it with care, and use it sparingly. It can be very damaging if used often, and if you do not follow up with extra care for the hair. 15. On the other hand, if you are using a curling iron, don�t place the iron at the ends of your hair. Place it around four inches above the ends, and then feed the ends into the iron. Hair ends are the most fragile part of your hair, and in this manner you reduce the damage to the hair ends as you avoid prolonged high heat exposure. 16. Wearing a leave-in conditioner at all times keeps the hair moisturized and also helps prevent damage caused by exposure to sunlight.