Healthy Tips - Make Your Face Bright and Attractive

HOW TO KEEP YOUR FACE BRIGHT AND PLESANT .FEW TIPS FOR YOU:

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

AN APPALE A DAY MAKES A MAN HEALTHY ::TAKE HEALTHY FOODS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN.

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.

SKIN TYPE AND 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

SUNNY SKIN SIDE EFFECTS:

People tend to look upon the sun in a friendly way. It is what gives us warmth and life. It is associated with good times and cheer. Yet the sun can affect your skin in a distinctly unfriendly fashion. Ask anyone who has stretched out under the fiery rays on a beach in search of the perfect tan and got burnt instead; or someone whose face is a mass of freckles. None of them could be very happy with what the sun has done to their skin. Here are some practical ways of coping with the effects of the sun. 
  

Freckles 

If your skin has a light smattering of freckles, pat some lime juice or buttermilk onto the freckles and then leave it on till it dries. Radish is also useful in combating freckles. A combination of four tablespoons of grated radish and a few drops of vinegar makes a good bleaching paste. You can also boil grated horseradish in milk to make a mild bleach. Fresh green beans boiled and then mashed can be applied as a poultice. Rum is also helpful, but the idea is not to drink it, but to mix two ounces of lemon juice to one ounce of rum and then apply this mixture to your freckles. 

If you need to use something stronger for those stubborn freckles, a stronger bleach can be prepared by boiling an ounce of horseradish in half a litre of butttermilk for about an hour. Strain the solution and then apply on your freckles. Another strong bleaching agent can be concocted by mixing sixty grains of borax powder with five ounces of lemon juice. Apply this paste at bedtime. 

A good tip to keep in mind is that any fruit or vegetable that contains Vitamin C can be used to bleach freckles. 
  

Sunburns 

Excessive exposure to the sun's rays makes the pigment in the skin come up to the surface in order to protect the skin from burning. This is the reason your skin becomes darker.  

The phrase cool as a cucumber is not completely baseless. Cucumbers are very useful in soothing sunburns. Peel and grate a cucumber. Then take out the juice and mix it with half a teaspoon of glycerine and half a teaspoon of rose water. Pat this solution onto your skin and experience the cooling effect. You can also soak some pieces of cucumber in a cup of milk for a few hours and then apply the milk on your sunburn. A mixture made of equal parts of lime water and linseed oil is also a good alternative. Cod-liver oil, potato juice and even a solution of ordinary tea can have a cooling effect. A homemade face mask constituting one egg-white mixed with a little honey and witch hazel is also very effective in dealing with sunburn. 
   Darkened skin  For some people a fair skin is of utmost importance. Here are a few simple home bleaching ideas. Mostly all the sunburn remedies also have a bleaching effect. However, they are more suitable for oily skins as they also have a drying effect. So if you are going to use these remedies, remember to follow them up with some nourishing cream if you have dry skin.  

Those with dry skin who would prefer not to use the above remedies, could try soaking one slice of lemon in one cup of milk. Then strain the milk and apply it on your face. This serves as a mild bleaching agent and does not dry the skin as much. You could also substitute a pinch of bicarbonate of soda for the lemon. 

Grapes are gentler on the skin than lemon juice. What you need to do is to wash a bunch of grapes thoroughly. Then sprinkle them with alum powder and salt. Next, wrap them in aluminium foil or brown paper and bake for 20 minutes in an oven. Finally, squeeze out the juice and wash your face with it.  

TEN BEAUTIFUL BEAUTY TIPS FO YOU:::

1. Brushing Up  Make body brushing a part of your daily routine. Scrubbing out dirt and grime is the least of its advantages. Body brushing tones and stimulates skin, helping with the natural drainage of the lymph glands. It also helps combat cellulite. When brushing, work towards the heart, up from your legs and thighs, and down from your neck. Oh, and remember, skin should be dry while body-brushing, so make sure you have a soft brush - you don't want abrasions that are hard to explain!  
  

2. Banana Rama  For a great homemade face softener, try this: mash a banana and apply it to your face. Leave on for ten minutes and wash off with lukewarm water. Your face feels like satin. Plus, it puts those over ripe gooey bananas to good use!  
  

3. Pearly White  Ever looked in the mirror and felt that your teeth were going from white to off-white to yellow? Take a hard look at your habits. The biggest culprits in the teeth-yellowing process are tobacco, coffee, tea and red wine. So if you must indulge, brush your teeth afterwards whenever possible, or at least rinse with water.  
  

4. Shades Of Summer  A snazzy pair of sunglasses not only looks great, but also delays the onset of crow's feet (wrinkles on the sides of the eyes) which are accelerated by squinting in the sun. 

5. Peaches And Cream 

Great looks come with great skin, so get crackin' on that epidermis. Dirt and oil blocks pores causing blackheads and pimples, while dirt, grime and pollutants are drawn to oily skin like moths to a flame. So wash your face as often as possible, and cleanse at least twice a day. 
  

6. Instant Glow  So you've just reached home after a nerve-wrecking day at the office and have to leave immediately for a dinner party thrown by your husband's most revered business client. How to get that glow in a flash? You could cheat and layer on the blusher, but a better option would be to try this: simply mix equal amounts of lemon and honey, apply it to your face and wash off after ten minutes.  
  

7. Luscious Locks  Nothing improves the quality of your hair better than getting a regular oil massage. Get it done at home once a week if you have a husband or mother-in-law that dotes on you, or visit your neighbourhood parlour.  
  

8. All Steamed Up  After applying oil wrap your hair in a steaming towel for twenty minutes. Give your hair this steaming treatment at least once a month. Steaming hair after applying oil helps it soak deeper into the follicles.  
  

9. Fun In The Sun  The sun's warmth may make you feel good but it's ultraviolet rays over time cause at best, dry wrinkly skin and at worst, skin cancer. Don't step out without loading on that sunscreen. In the summers, avoid stepping out between 12:00 to 2:00 when the sun is at its peak.  
  

10. Water, Water Everywhere  You can never drink too much water. It flushes out your toxins and is great for the skin, liver and just about every conceivable body organ! It keeps you cool and feeling fresh, reduces dehydration and rejuvenates your body cells. Drink at least ten glasses of water in a day. Bottoms up!

HONEY HONEY HONEY IF YOUR LIFE PARTNER WANTS TO CALL YOU LIKE THIS….. YOU NEED TO TAKE HONEY DAILY IN YOUR LIFE….All about honey…

Pour it on your paratha, stir it into your milk, dip your fruits in it, apply it to your face or hair, or simply pour a teaspoon down your throat. Whichever way you have it, rest assured, it's a treat for your health, skin and body.

Honey Cleansing Scrub

Take 2 tablespoons of finely ground almonds and mix it with a tablespoon of honey and ten drops of lemon juice. Apply this to your face and scrub gently. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

Firming Mask

Whisk one tablespoon honey with the white of an egg. Add enough flour to this mixture so it forms a paste. You will require approximately quarter of a cup. Smooth this mixture over your face and rinse off after ten minutes with lukewarm water.

Hair Conditioner

Mix half a cup of honey with two tablespoons olive oil. If your hair is very dry, add a third tablespoon. Section off your hair and coat it well with the mixture. Cover your hair with a shower cap so you don't mess up the entire house. In addition, the shower cap traps heat from your scalp, enabling the oils to penetrate further. Wash off after half an hour.

Skin Toner Puree an apple with one tablespoon honey in a blender. Apply this mixture for face and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water. This makes a great toner.

For Dry Skin Take one tablespoon honey in a katori and add one teaspoon milk. Mix well and smooth it over face. Rinse off with lukewarm water after ten minutes. Your skin will feel soft instantly.

Smoothing Skin Lotion Mix one teaspoon honey with one teaspoon regular cooking oil and a quarter teaspoon lemon juice. Dip a cotton swab into this mixture and rub it into your elbows, hands and heels. Rinse off with lukewarm water after ten minutes.

Skin Softening Bath Fill up your tub with warm water and add a quarter cup honey for a smooth, silky bath.

Hair Shine Stir 1 teaspoon honey into 4 cups warm water. After shampooing, pour mixture through hair. Do not rinse out. Dry as usual. Your hair will shine.

Vocal Cords Ever wondered what it feels like to have a voice as melodious as that of Lata Mangeshkar? Now is your chance to find out. A teaspoon of honey a day soothes your throat and enhances the sweetness of your vocal chords � you're set to be the singing sensation of the millennium. (All you need is ten hours of practice a day�)

Energy Booster If you feel an instant boost of vitality after taking a teaspoon of honey, you're not imagining it. Honey is choc-a-bloc with vitamins, minerals, glucose and fructose, which is why it makes good sense to substitute sugar with honey whenever possible.

Healing Properties Applying honey on cuts and wounds helps them heal faster, as honey controls anti-oxidants which absorb the oxygen from the air and help the wound heal faster, without scarring. The ancient Egyptians used honey to treat cataracts, cuts and burns. Hippocrates, the Greek physician, prepared honey-based cures for skin disorders and ulcers. During World War I, German doctors used honey mixed with cod liver oil to surgically dress soldiers' wounds. So what are you waiting for? Rush to the kitchen and grab a spoonful of honey!

ALL ABOUT LIME:

If there's one beauty item your kitchen shelf should not be without, it's the humble LEMON. Here are just a few of the ways you can use it, to achieve spectacular results.

Skin Sense

Mix a few drops of lemon juice with an equal amount of water. Apply it on your face with a cotton ball. This makes a great astringent.

Beset by blemishes? No problem. Simply dab the area with lemon juice a few times a day. This removes the redness from the blemished area.

Mix the juice from 1 lemon with 2 parts coarse salt and 1 part olive oil to make a paste. Step into the shower and massage into body. Turn on the shower and rinse. Pat dry and apply a rich moisturiser. This makes a great exfoliating scrub and leaves your skin soft and glowing.

Turmeric powder is also excellent for your skin. Mix turmeric powder along with a little lemon juice and wash off after 10 minutes. Be careful though the yellow tends to stain the face, so do this before going to bed.

You can make an excellent face mask by mixing 2 tablespoons papaya pulp with 10 drops of lemon juice. Rinse off after 20 minutes. You've heard it said again and again - you can never drink too much water, but what's even better is water to which a twist of lemon has been added. (No sweet or other masalas - we're not talking nimboo pani here!) This is not only great for your health, but good for your complexion as well.

Step by Step to Steam Cleansing

Most skin types benefit from regular steaming, but don't steam your face if you have thread veins as it would only worsen the condition. Also, don't steam your face more than once a week. it may dry your skin excessively. Bring a quarter of water to boil and take it to the table. Add the juice of half a lemon and a handful of any herbs (basil or mint). Tie back your hair and drape a towel over your head and the bowl to form a tent, to trap the steam. After you've steamed your face for fifteen minutes, gently squeeze out blackheads, if any, and splash it with cold water to close pores. Apply a moisturiser 15 minutes later.

A Natural Bleach

Streak your hair the natural way. Add lemon to strands of hair and sit in the sun for fifteen minutes. Do this sparingly because it could damage dry hair. Cut a lemon in half and rub it on hyper-pigmented areas like your elbows and knees to lighten them.

Mix a few drops lemon juice with an equal amount of honey if you have dry skin, or with cucumber juice if your skin is oily. Wash off after 15 minutes. Get rid of age spots. Cut a lemon wedge and hold it directly on the spot for ten minutes. Rinse with warm water. Repeat this every day until the spots lighten or vanish altogether!

Lemon is good for removing stains on teeth - rub with the peel, then rinse with water.

Hair Care

For hair that shines, add the juice of a lemon to one cup water. Pour it over your hair after shampooing as a final rinse. Do not rinse off.

Squeeze lemon juice in your hair while rinsing off the shampoo. This removes shampoo residue from your hair and smells great!

Troubled by hair loss? Try this: Mix the juice of one lemon with 4 tbsp coconut milk. Massage it into your scalp and wash off after half an hour. Do this at least once a week to arrest hairfall.

And More...

Instant refreshment for your face: Add lemon to water and freeze it. Rub your face with these lemonice cubes whenever you're hot, tired or simply bored... Soak your fingertips in a mixture of 1 cup warm water and the juice of 1/2 lemon for about 5 minutes. Rinse and pat dry, pushing back cuticles as you dry. Rub lemon peel over your nails and buff with a soft cloth. This is great for your nails. Do this once a week. Adding lemon to a warm bath helps to invigorate the body. You come out from your bath feeling fresh and fabulous!

TANGY TOMATOES:

Not many of us relish getting pelted on the face with tomatoes, but believe it or not, tomatoes are excellent for the skin.

The humble tomato is one item no kitchen shelf is ever without, no matter what the season or location. Perhaps this is why most of us take the tomato for granted and do not appreciate the tremendous health and beauty benefits it brings.

Not many of us relish getting pelted on the face with tomatoes, but believe it or not, tomatoes are excellent for the skin. In fact, as far as anti-ageing products go, tomatoes rank high on the list.

Tomatoes are rich in anti-oxidants and so they counter the ageing effects on the skin, by cutting out the number of free radicals in your body. Free radicals break down the support system for your hair and skin, so it makes sense to eat a tomato a day.

In addition, tomatoes help preserve moisture levels in the body. In the summer or winter, when our skin is exposed to artificial heating or cooling, moisture levels in our body fall. We need to constantly replenish this water supply, or our body will start sucking moisture from the skin and the hair. In addition to eating a tomato a day, it makes sense to drink no less than 10 to 12 glasses of water daily.

If your skin is oily, you can apply tomatoes to your face. It counters oily skin by absorbing surplus oil and also helps get rid of pimples and acne. Apply undiluted tomato paste to your face and leave on for 15 minutes. Wash off with warm, not hot, water. In addition, tomatoes also help lighten the complexion, especially if mixed with cucumber juice. This makes a great face mask for oily skin. Place a cucumber slice on each eyelid and cover the rest of your face with the mask, taking care to avoid the delicate under-eye area.

If your skin is dry, you can add some day-old curd to the tomato paste and then apply to your skin. Tomato masks have excellent anti-ageing properties, so start applying them once you cross the age of 25.

If your skin starts burning when you apply to tomato mask, wash it off. You should feel a gentle tingling sensation after applying the tomato but if it stings too much, you could wash it off and add curd before applying the mask.

Do you have a boil or a pimple? Apply tomato paste to it. The acids from the tomato will soothe the pain of a boil and will also speed its recovery.

Slightly red cheeks looks healthy and very appealing. Eating tomatoes regularly gives you a pink and glowing complexion, so eat up!

Hair Tip

If ever your hair has absorbed foul odour which you are not able to lose despite shampooing it, a great way to neutralize this odour and get rid of the smell would be to apply undiluted tomato paste to your scalp. Leave on for fifteen minutes and then wash it off. Your hair should be odour-free, and dandruff free.

WINTER BEAUTY TIPS

Chapped lips, dry hair, split ends, dry, itchy skin� all this and more is often wrought upon us every winter. Here are tips on how to ensure your hair and skin stays soft, supple and well moisturised during these months. Lips Dry, cracked and chapped lips are a common winter complaint, and severe cases of chapped lips can be very painful, not to mention unattractive. What�s worse is that lipstick makes cracks stand out even more instead of concealing them. However, chapped and peeling lips can be cured within a couple of days. Apply lip balm generously and bush your lips gently with a soft toothbrush until the flakes have dislodged. Apply another coat of lip balm, and skip the lipstick unless it is richly moisturising. Matte lipsticks dry out lips, so steer clear of them. Brushing lips with a toothbrush also plumps them up and makes them look fuller and sexier, so do this every morning before stepping out. Almond oil makes for a great lip moisturiser. Simply apply some almond oil to lips before turning in for the night. You could also heat grated beeswax and almond oil and mix them together. You could also add Vitamin E oil to this mixture. Skin Skin often goes dry in the winter, but can return to normal within a week. When you splash water on your face, make sure it�s not hot water as hot water uses up the skin�s moisture. Cold water on the other hand stirs up circulation, temporarily closes large pores and brings a glow to the face, so splash cold water on your face a couple of times a day. However, skip washing your face with a face wash and instead opt for a gentle, cream cleanser. Make sure you use an alcohol-free toner and follow up with a thick moisturiser which contains collagen, lactic acid or urea. It is best to apply moisturiser on damp skin, as this locks in the moisture. Similarly, apply body lotion to your skin immediately after a shower, when your skin is still damp and you have not yet completely wiped it dry. Scrub your face once a week in the winter before applying moisturiser as this removes dead skin from the top and allows the moisturiser to reach the bottom layers of skin. At times excessively dry skin can start itching. This happens when the skin develops cracks due to dryness, and bacteria and other irritants enter these cracks. These cracks are so fine that they are invisible to the naked eye, so if your face starts itching don�t expect to see a cracked up face in the mirror! Calamine lotions soothe itchy skin, as do aloe vera lotions. If itching is severe you could try applying Benadryl creams, which temporarily control the itching. Hair Winter is often accompanied by dry hair, an increase in split ends, more static in the hair and more frizzies. Your hair requires not just conditioning but a deep conditioning treatment. For an at-home, do it yourself deep conditioning treatment, try this: Apply conditioner generously to your hair, cover your head with a shower cap and wash off after an hour, or leave on overnight and wash off in the morning. You could also steam your hair after applying the conditioner, and then wash it off after half an hour. Conditioner works better than oil because it is easier for conditioner to penetrate the hair shaft. Oiled hair is most benefited if hair is steamed after applying oil.

OH MY FAIR LADY!!!!!!

You can be beautiful even if you are dark, and unattractive even if you are fair. So why lay such a premium on fair skin.

Why is it so important to be fair

We all know women who are beautiful even if they are not light skinned, and we all know fair skinned girls who are unattractive. Still, all of us spend hours trying to lighten our skin and on wishing that we had lighter skin, and thousands of rupees on products that claim to lighten our skin.

More damaging than the time and money spent, is the inbuilt belief that you are in some manner inferior because you are not 'fair'.

Girls with dark complexions grow up wishing that they had lighter skin, and often develop an inferiority complex. Thankfully, for some, this complex vanishes as they grow older and wiser and discover numerous abilities and talents, but sadly, others never seem to be able to let go of the feeling of inadequacy. Not surprisingly though, when you take a look at any matrimonial ad, and the text will in all probability say looking for a convent educated, fair, beautiful girl And considering that our entire culture evolves around marriage, fair women suddenly seem to command a premium.

Any wonder then that a girl with dark skin will want to lighten it

Beauty companies feed off this inbuilt insecurity, and make millions as they sell their fairness creams to women. The ads make it seem so easy if you transform yourself into a fair skinned woman, you will get the job you want, and the man you want. Needless to say, it's not that easy, and no matter what you believe at the moment, the colour of your skin should be the lowest on your list of beautification priorities. Concentrate the time, effort and money that you would on trying to get fair, on something else, and the results would be far more satisfying.

Here are some tips:

It�s a mistaken belief that if you have dark skin, you should not colour your hair light. Nothing is further from the truth. Don't hesitate before adding blonde highlights. They brighten up your complexion, making you look radiant.

Take care of your hair, and ensure it is always well groomed.

If you have frizzy, flyaway hair, style it regularly so it doesn't look messy. 32 year old Hetal doesn't even remember what her hair looks like without blowdrying it, because she is so particular about blowdrying and styling her hair after every wash.

If you don't have the time or patience for blowdrying your hair regularly, get your hair permed. If you are light skinned, you can get away with sporting frizzy hair, but if you are dark, with dark, frizzy hair, colouring it and then blowdrying it straight even if you don't opt for chemical straightening, can make a world of a difference.

White and red suits dark skinned women, so wear these colours often. I know many women whose entire wardrobe consists only of 2-3 colours, because they know what colours suit them, and don't see the need to wear anything else. You could also figure out what colours don't suit you, and stay away from them. There is really no need to possess a top in every colour under the sun. If you have the features, cut your hair short (think Halle Berry). Not everyone can carry off hair this short, but if you can, go for it, as short hair that looks good looks far more effective and attractive than long hair.

Do fairness creams work

They do, to a certain extent. Don't fool yourself into believing that they will make you fair. They will, at the most, lighten your skin slightly, but glowing skin will only come from within. Exercise regularly, and before long your skin will start glowing with health and vitality and a glowing, healthy skin beats light, pale and unhealthy skin any day!

REMEDIES FOR GLOWING SKIN

Getting glowing skin is very easy with the help of home remedies. Some home remedies can really work wonders for getting glowing skin. These remedies are simple indeed and used since ages to get beautiful and glowing skin. Such remedies are not only effective but also help to save money spent on cosmetics, beauty products and beauty treatments. Read on to know more about the home remedies for glowing skin.

Seema tried almost all skin care and cosmetic products available in market for getting glowing skin. Whenever she saw any advertisement on television, she made sure that she buys that particular beauty product. Like many other women, Seema too was obsessed with glowing and beautiful skin. But she never thought about using herbal and home remedies for her skin care regime.

Seema spent thousands on skin care treatments, beauty products and cosmetics. However, her desire of getting glowing and beautiful skin remained unfulfilled. Finally, she decided to try some home remedies suggested by one of her good friends. It is unbelievable but these home remedies worked like a magic-wand on her skin. Have a quick look at some of the home remedies which can be used for getting glowing and flawless skin.

Simple Home Remedies for Glowing Skin

Here are some simple home remedies which can be tried using easily accessible and other ingredients available in your kitchen cabinet. If you are allergic to any of the ingredients or products mentioned below, avoid using them.

Ice and Moisturiser

If you want to get a glowing skin quickly, try using ice and moisturizer. Put few drops of moisturizer or malai on a cube of ice. Massage your face with this cube for 2-5 minutes. Practicing this remedy will help you to get glowing skin and fresh look instantly. You can try this remedy during winters when your skin becomes very dry and scaly. This remedy can also be used when you are feeling tired and dull to get quickly refreshed.

Ripe Papaya Paste

If you have some ripe papaya at home, use it as a beauty and skin care remedy. Take this ripe papaya and churn it into a thick paste. Apply this thick paste on your skin and massage slowly for few seconds. Use clean and cold water to wash your face after 10 -15 minutes. Wipe your face with dry cloth or towel after washing your face. This remedy is good for treating oily skin. Try this remedy once in every two weeks to get a refreshing look and glowing skin.

Curd

If you are worried about your dry skin, use curd. You can massage your skin with curd at least once in fifteen days. It will help you to get rid of dry skin as well as get glowing skin with an ease.

Besan or Gram Flour

A mixture of besan or gram flour, milk and turmeric powder is used by many people as a natural face pack. It helps to deal with oily skin and get a flawless and beautiful glow on your skin. Many people use this mixture while bathing their babies also. However, if you want to use this mixture for your baby, you should consult your doctor.

Mixture of Honey and Lemon juice

Mix honey with some lemon juice and make a paste out of it. Apply this paste evenly on your facial skin. You can also use this paste on your hands, legs, neck and back. Let this pack stay on your skin for at least 5-10 minutes before you wash your face. This remedy will help you to get soft and glowing skin in minutes. It also acts as a substitute for skin bleach and helps to deal with oily skin. You can use this remedy during summers when skin tends to become oily quite often.

Cucumber Juice

You can extract some cucumber juice for your skin care regime. Take this juice and rub it on your face for some time. Wait for few minutes and wash your face with cold water after that. It is a good skin care remedy for treating spots and marks on skin and getting clear and glowing skin. It also proves effective to treat dark circles and dull skin.

Turmeric and Sandalwood Paste

Turmeric and sandalwood paste is one of the oldest and traditional skin care remedies used for getting beautiful and glowing skin. You can make a natural face-pack using turmeric powder, sandalwood powder and milk. Mix these three ingredients properly and your instant face-pack is ready. This face-pack can also be used for improving the complexion of your skin.

Neem, Mint and Tulsi Leaves

Wash your face regularly with neem and tulsi water to deal with skin problems. You can also use mint leaves to treat skin problems like acne and pimples. Neem, mint and tulsi leaves are good for treating most of skin problems and help to get beautiful and glowing skin.

Home remedies for glowing skin, including herbal and ayurvedic remedies are used in India since ages. These home remedies were the beauty secrets of most of the Indian Princesses, Queens, Rajkumaris and Maharanis. However, you also need to take proper care of your diet and consume sufficient amount of water along with home remedies. So, why depend only on cosmetics and chemical based products if we can make best use of home remedies to get glowing skin.

Are you aware of the home remedies for glowing skin? What do you use to get glowing skin? Have you tried any home remedies? Do you think home remedies are better for preventing dark circles? To share your experiences, views, and tips, click here.

SIMPLE SKIN CARE:

If you really love your skin, use only natural and herbal products on it. You also need to follow a balanced diet to get beautiful skin. Read on to know some simple skin care remedies.

Loads of cosmetics and skin care products are available in the market. We spend lot of money on these cosmetics and skin care products. However, we tend to forget some basic things which can create miracles to our skin. There are some natural remedies which can help to maintain beautiful skin without spending much on cosmetics.

As skin is the largest and sensitive organ of our body, proper skin care regime is a must. If you follow a proper diet and use natural products you can save a lot on other beauty treatments. Here’s a guide on how you can use simple skin care remedies to obtain a beautiful and flawless skin.

Skin care products

Have a quick look at how you can use easily accessible and natural products for your skin care regime. These skin care regime will not only help you to deal with infections, scars and other disorders but also help you love your skin.

• Rub a slice of papaya on your face skin and let it stay for 10-15 minutes. Wash your face with cold water. This mask is good for dealing with an oily skin if it is used at-least once in two weeks. Try to avoid this practice if your skin is sensitive.
• Get a beautiful glow on your face by massaging your face skin with the mixture of almond, sandalwood and milk.
• Mix water boiled with neem leaves in cold water and take bath with such water regularly. This practice will help you to deal with all kinds of skin problems and infections.
• Use milk powder to deal with a tanned skin. You just have to mix milk powder with water and rub it on your skin. You can also use milk instead of using milk powder for de-tanning your skin.
• Massage your skin with curd if you want to get rid of very dry skin. Curd will also act as natural skin bleach for your skin. You can also use a mixture of honey and few drops of lemon juice as skin bleach. Avoid using curd or mixture of honey and lemon juice drops if you are having a very sensitive skin.
• Make use of almond oil, olive oil or coconut oil to massage your face, hands and legs before taking bath during winters. It will help you to deal with dry skin during winters and get a natural glow on your face.
• Place mint leaves all over your face and let it stay for 10-15 minutes. This practice will help you to deal with pimples.
• Cleanse your skin by rubbing tomato slices on your face.
• Keep your face fresh by washing it three to four times a day without using soap or face-wash solution.
• Maintain a clear skin by rubbing your face with a pinch of turmeric powder. You should practice this remedy at least once a week.

Skin care by eating healthy

You do not have to go on a strict diet for obtaining healthy and beautiful skin. You just need to make small changes in your eating habits. Read on to find how you can imbibe healthy eating habits to get a gorgeous skin.

• Keep a habit of drinking at-least 1.5 liters of water a day. Drinking lots of water detoxifies body. It not only helps to get a beautiful skin but also lose weight. Water therapy is illustrious these days to treat various health disorders.
• Try to reduce the proportion of oil while cooking your regular meals. Instead, try cooking food with more of water than oil.
• Eat fruits daily and try to eat raw tomatoes to get red cheeks. If you are took keen to have red cheeks try to eat red fruits and vegetables regularly.
• Eats lots of fruit or vegetable salads if you do not like to eat fruit as a whole or a cooked vegetable.
• Put a pinch of turmeric powder in each glass of milk you drink to deal with some skin disorders.
• Have a balanced diet always to get a beautiful skin.

Nature has gifted us so many products which are much better than chemical based beauty products. Learn to make use of natural and herbal products instead of damaging your skin. Cosmetics can only give temporary good look. But natural remedies help to maintain good and healthy skin forever. Natural beauty of your skin is a real beauty indeed.

Do you use cosmetics frequently? How do you take care of your skin? Is natural skin care regime better than using cosmetics and other beauty products? To share your experiences, views, and tips, click here

Healthy Tips - Silky and Soft Hair

HEALTHY BEAUTY TIPS

How to keep your  HAIR healthy and perfect????

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!

ESSENTAIL FOR FALLING HAIRS:

Does your hair fall often Arm yourself with these tools to combat hair fall.

Wide-toothed comb Get yourself a wide-toothed comb. This is probably one of the most important yet underutilized of all hair tools. A wide-toothed comb helps you distribute conditioner evenly all over your hair while shampooing and conditioning. In addition, it also helps get rid of knots smoothly.

The best time to get rid of knots is during conditioning. Apply conditioner and run a wide toothed comb gently through your hair.

·  While untangling dry hair, do so in sections. Take one section at a time, and first, untangle the ends of your hair. Do so slowly, and don't pull unless you want your hair to fall out in clumps or break.

·  Don't wait for the last minute before detangling your hair. Every night, while sitting in front of the television, run a wide toothed comb gently through your hair, until you have untangled it completely. Do this every night, and you will notice that your hair remains free from tangles.

Leave-in conditioner
Dry hair tends to tangle easily, and, needless to say, causes it to break. Make sure your hair is never devoid of moisture by always keeping a bottle of leave-in conditioner handy. The next time you feel your hair is dry and rough to the touch, simply rub a dollop of leave-in conditioner between your palms, and apply it to your hair. Comb through with your wide toothed comb. Your hair will be instantly rejuvenated and moisturized. Gradually, the texture will also improve. This is a must if you blow dry your hair regularly, or if it is chemically treated. Such hair constantly craves moisture, so get yourself a bottle of leave-in conditioner.

Oil
Olive, almond and coconut oils are all excellent for the hair. While you could apply oil as an alternative to leave-in conditioner, oil tends to make your hair sticky, and you cannot style your hair well after applying oil. Your only alternative would then be to tie up your hair. For better results with oil, apply just a few drops immediately after washing your hair, when your hair is still dripping wet. Oil doesn't penetrate the strands as easily as leave-in conditioner does though. Nothing beats a hot oil massage followed by a steam treatment, as the steam helps the oil penetrate the hair strands, strengthening them and curtailing hair fall.

Egg
Egg is great for the hair - there are no two ways about it! True, it causes a tremendous stink in the bathroom, and your hair may let off an 'eggy' smell, but the results are instantaneous and worth it! Egg strengthens your hair almost immediately, and the egg yolk leaves your hair shining. Whip an egg with two tablespoons of olive oil and apply it to your hair. Wash off after half an hour. Make sure you wash off with cold water though, or the egg will start cooking in your hair, and would be harder to take off! Use a scented shampoo to counter the smell of egg in your hair, and follow up with a leave-in conditioner. Do this for a month, and you will be amazed by the change in your hair texture and the reduction in hair fall.

HAIR FALL PREVENTIONS:

Does your hair fall a lot? Don't worry, you're not alone. Millions of people from all around the world suffer from dry, brittle and weak hair. Some of the possible reasons for falling hair are: 

• Tension
• Too much work
• Illness 
• Poor diet 
• Over-exposure to the sun
• Perming
• Amateur bleaching
• Too frequent and inexpert use of tints, rinses or other colourants 

Here is what you can do to prevent hair fall

• Shampoo regularly. Remember, a CLEAN scalp is a HEALTHY SCALP. 
• Brahmi amla oil also promotes hair growth. 
• A high protein diet with plenty of fruits, green vegetables and dairy products is a must. 
• Drink 10-12 glass of water everyday. 
• Use a very mild shampoo and condition your hair at least twice a week. When you do, make sure you rinse out the conditioner thoroughly, otherwise residue build-up will cause your hair to look limp and dull. 
• Know your vitamins! IRON is important for healthy hair and brittle, limp hair indicates an iron deficiency. Spinach has a good iron content, so gulp it down!
• ZINC helps prevent hair loss and greying. Eat adequate zinc rich foods. Overweight people tend to have zinc deficiency, which is inversely related to the body mass index. Thus if you are overweight and if your hair falls too much, you may want to increase your intake of zinc containing foods. Recipes containing stone ground, wholegrain flour are rich in zinc. 
• A shortfall in VITAMIN B may cause dandruff, falling hair, loss of colour and could encourage grey hair. So B group Vitamins are essential for gloss, colour and thickness. 
• VITAMIN C ensures the health of capillaries supplying blood to hair follicles. Make sure your diet includes plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. 
• VITAMIN E encourages hair growth. Switch from refined flours to wholemeal and wheatgerm, eggs, vegetable oil. 
• COPPER stops hair from falling. Studies show that the copper content in the blood serum of people with falling hair is less than normal. Different types of alopecia (falling hair) are seen to have a deficiency of this important trace element. Include small quantities of nuts, especially cashews and peanuts, seeds, whole milk and beans in your diet as these contain minute but important amounts of copper. 

Homemade remedies for preventing hair fall: 

1. Apply almond oil on scalp and massage. 
2. Grind fenugreek seeds in water and apply on your scalp. Wash off after 40 minutes. Do this every morning for a month ¡V if it suits you! Remember, different treatments suit different types of hair.  
3. Massage warm castor oil + almond oil into your scalp gently. Wrap a hot towel around your scalp so it gets absorbed into the hair. Do this twice a week for healthy, shiny hair. 
4. Add 2-3 drops of honey to a glass of water and use this as the last rinse after shampooing. 

Quick Hair Care Conditioner 

Mix 1 egg, 2 tbs castor oil, 1 tsp vinegar and 1 tsp glycerine. Beat until frothy and massage lightly into your scalp. Wrap your head in a hot towel, steam, then wash off. This conditioner makes hair thicker, shiny, soft and manageable. 
 

Honey Conditioner Beat 1-2 eggs (depending on the length of the hair), 1 tsp honey and 2 tsp olive oil. Massage gently into the scalp. Steam, and shampoo after an hour. 
 

Alcohol Conditioner Beat 1-2 eggs with 2 tsp brandy. Massage into your scalp. Leave for 10-15 mins. Rinse well. The egg nourishes your hair and brandy stimulates hair growth.

Your hair is a vital beauty asset, requiring constant loving care. And with a little nurturing, lush, glossy hair will be yours. 

HOW TO USE STRAIGHTENING IRONS:

Straight silky flowing hair is what most women desire. Hair is a women's crowning glory which only appreciates with love and care. Hair care products and hair treatments have been around the world since ages. At present straight hair seems to have captured the hearts of millions of women. Today, a woman with the curliest of tresses can have the straightest of hair. It is no secret that a straightening iron can press out all those unruly waves and curls to a sleek, shiny mane.

Straight hair is easier to manage and there is a chic quality attached to them that makes them a hot favourite amongst women of all age groups. Straightening irons have now become an inseparable appliance for any beauty makeover. If you fancy straight hair but find it difficult to use straightening irons, read on to get some basic lessons on how to use a straightening iron.

Steps for using straightening iron

Here are some easy steps which will help you learn to use a straightening iron. Follow these simple tips and get lovely straight hair falling on your cheeks. This method keeps hair straight till the next shampoo. Sprinkling water and excessive sweating may bring back the waves. Avoid rains and running around too much to maintain the look.

1. Wash your hair using a good shampoo and a conditioner. Dry it using towel.

2. Apply hair protection products on your hair before straightening. You can use a combination of straightening balm and hair moisturiser or a hair serum. Avoid applying these products on the roots of hair.

3. Dry your hair properly before using straightening iron.

4. Brush your hair well so that the hair protection products applied are spread evenly through the hair.

5. Make several sections of your hair using clips.

6. Use thermal protection spray to protect your hair from heat. Spray it on the each section of hair from the distance of about one inch.

7. Plug your hair between the irons and glide it down to the end of hair, just like using a comb. You can use a comb to make this process easier. Start from the top exerting pressure and glide the iron towards the bottom of your hair. Repeat the process for all the sections of hair.

8. Apply smoothening product if possible after you finish straightening your hair. As frizzy hair gets settled your hair will appear smooth and attractive.

Now, that you know the process of hair straightening, all you need is a good hair straightening iron. Avoid using other heating appliances as it can cause hair fall and damage. Make sure that you buy a good ceramic coated hair straightening iron.

Frequent straightening of hair is not good for the health of your hair. You can try it for special occasions. Hair straightening exerts pressure on hair making it weak. So it is necessary that you take proper care of your hair. Oil your hair and massage it regularly to make your hair strong. When you use hair straightening irons, make sure that you also use proper hair care products thus preventing hair loss. All the best!

Do you fancy straight hair? Do you use straightening irons? How often do you use hair straightening irons? To share your experiences, views, and tips, click here.

CURLY HAIRS:

Your head is full of curls that rise like the living dead and seem to have a mind of their own. You've tried everything from straightening your hair to blowdrying it till it's fried, but it's still the same frizzy mess you started out with. What should one do?

First of all, there's good news for curly heads. Ringlets are back with a rage. So instead of burning out your hair with frustrating attempts to straighten it, here's what you can do to control those curls.

Curl Care

Getting curly hair to behave begins in the shower. Wash your hair every third day. On days you are not washing your hair, wet it and apply conditioner. Don't wash your hair everyday if you have curly hair, even if you are using a mild shampoo that claims it is suitable enough for daily use. Of all hair types, curly hair is the driest and most brittle.

Always follow up with a conditioner. Concentrate conditioner on ends, which are the most dry, and rinse out. Towel dry hair and apply a leave-in conditioner. If you don't have any, moisturising lotion is a good substitute! It keeps the frizz at bay and controls the curls. You could also apply a couple of drops of oil to your hair when wet. Remember, when towel drying frizzy hair, pat it down, don't
ruffle it.

For a quick fix for damaged, weak, dull or dry hair, work in a good healthy dose of conditioner on wet hair and expose it to steam for 15 minutes. Then lightly shampoo and rinse.

Curly heads need to apply more styling products, conditioners and oils to control their mane. This leads to build up. Once a month mix an equal amount of baking soda with your shampoo and wash your hair. This removes build up and residue and leaves your hair squeaky clean.

Comb your hair with a wide toothed comb when it's damp and not dripping wet as wet hair breaks easily, especially if it is tangled. Apply a good conditioner and using a wide tooth comb start from the ends. Take as much time as is necessary to avoid stretching or breaking your hair. Never comb curly hair when it is dry and never, ever brush your curls. They'll just open up into frizzes.

When blow drying your hair, use a diffuser attachment. Don't dry it completely; leave it slightly damp or you run the risk of over-drying your hair.

Perfecting the Curl

If you're letting your hair dry naturally, try this: Apply gel or leave-in conditioner to towel dried hair and create curls by twisting locks of hair around your fingers or by scrunching your hair. Or twist sections and clip them up with butterfly clips. Once dry, take them down. Loosen the curls with your fingers.

Wash your hair at night, apply gel or mousse and braid it. The next morning, open out your braids and finger comb your hair for lovely, natural curls.

Fed up with hair that zooms out at the sides as if you've been electrocuted? Pull your hair taut and secure it into a ponytail when it's drying. This way your hair will tend to fall down instead of spreading out.

Frizz Busters

If you tie up your hair in a silk, satin or velvet scarf at night, it will kill some of the frizz. If you catch a case of the frizzies, simply wet your hair. Your mane needs to be kept megamoisturised to fight frizz.

So there you have it. In a world of people with flat, limpy hair that just hangs down, your curls set you apart. Just one out of twenty have curly hair, so count yourself lucky and chuck those straightening irons where they belong. In the bin

GET RID OF DANDRUFF:

Neglecting dandruff can only make it worse. Find a suitable remedy and get dandruff-free hair that become your crowning glory. What is dandruff? Everyone is experiences the dandruff problem some time in their life. Summer is the season which makes you sweat a lot thus giving you an oily and sticky scalp. On the other hand too much of dryness in the scalp can also lead to dandruff. The skin of the scalp is sensitive. Dandruff is nothing but the excessive shedding of dead cells of the scalp. Human body gets rid of dead cells occasionally. Loosing some amount of dead cells is normal but large amount of flaking could lead to irritation and redness. Dandruff is the accumulation of the dead skin in a large amount. Causes of Dandruff There are many causes of dandruff. To begin with an imbalanced diet and constipation can be reasons for a scalp full of white dandruff flakes. Using a shampoo which is not suitable for your hair or excessive use of hair products like gels, mousses and styling sprays can make hair unhealthy. Stress, fatigue, pollution and exposure to cold weather add to the problem even further. It is a known fact that dandruff causes social problems. One may feel shy to attend a social gathering if dandruff is highly visible or is accumulating on clothes and shoulders. A very dry or a very oily scalp is the main cause of dandruff. How to cure dandruff? The market is full of products that can get you rid of dandruff. But if you want to stay away from strong chemical products then there are many natural ways to cure dandruff. These have been developed and have evolved over time. But before you try any method you must ensure that you are following the right diet pattern. Natural ways to cure dandruff Dandruff can be easily cured by adopting some natural remedies. Explore your kitchen and you will find many solutions to cure dandruff right there. Following are some simple remedies to get rid of dandruff naturally. Soak a spoon of fenugreek seeds in water overnight and then grind it into a fine paste in the morning. Apply it all over the scalp and rinse it off after half an hour Add a teaspoon of lime juice into the mug full of water and rinse you hair with this solution immediately after washing your hair Boil beetroot in water and apply the solution to the scalp with a cotton ball every night before going to bed Massage your hair gently with curd and rinse after half an hour Apply a mix of lime juice and amla juice to the scalp. Keep it overnight and wash next day Rinse your hair with one part Cider vinegar diluted with three parts of water Massage your scalp gently with warm coconut oil twice a week Apply Aloe Vera gel all over the scalp for half an hour before taking a bath Massage the scalp with olive oil and keep it overnight Mix a tablespoon of limejuice and crushed garlic. Apply it all over the scalp and rinse after 10-15 minutes Soak a few neem leaves in hot water, filter, cool and rinse your hair with this water Apply onion juice all over the scalp and wash it off after half an hour with shampoo Other than these remedies, ingredients such as honey, brandy, rosemary leaves, henna, carrots, salt, tea leaves and egg white are also found beneficial to cure dandruff. Proper diet to cure dandruff While you are trying out various natural remedies, follow a diet that keeps your hair healthy. For example, Omega 3 Fatty acids found in fishes is beneficial for hair. It is also necessary to have adequate amount of fibers in your diet. One should add raw vegetables and fruits to the diet. Drinking plenty of water is also essential to keep skin hydrated. Intake of fibers and water helps dispel toxins from the body. Carrots, broccoli, spinach and tomatoes are rich sources of Vitamin A, including them in your diet helps fight infections. Dark green vegetables, sprouts, nuts, dry fruits and beans are also very beneficial for a healthy scalp and hair. If you are planning to take vitamin supplements then it is advisable to consult your doctor before doing so. Preventing Dandruff It is not possible to get rid of dandruff completely. One cannot be sure that it will not reappear once treated. Though dandruff is a common phenomenon it can be a cause of concern if it is in excess. Maintaining a healthy scalp is the only way to keep dandruff away. Avoid being in the sun without applying a hair serum. Wear scarves or caps before stepping out of the house. Sunrays are harsh on scalp skin and can harm hair structure. Avoid exposing hair to cold weather. It can cause hair problems including dandruff. Make use of head gears in extreme weather conditions. Wash your hair at least twice a week. In humid weather washing your hair thrice a week is advisable. Select a shampoo which is suitable for your hair texture. Condition your hair after every wash. Some may need mild conditioning and some may need deep conditioning, according to their hair texture. Apply a leave-in conditioners for shiny, radiant hair Avoid combing you hair when they are wet. Use a wide toothed comb. Avoid chemical treatments such as colouring, highlighting, straightening or perming if your scalp is prone to dandruff. Practice stress reducing methods such as meditation and yoga. These healing treatments can have positive effects on physical health and your hair condition too. Dandruff is a tricky hair problem but it is not impossible to get rid of. A few lifestyle modifications, constant hair care, healthy habits and a balanced diet can keep your scalp dandruff-free. So get ready to sport a beautiful mane that you are proud of. Do you have dandruff? What remedies have you tried to cure dandruff? What precautions do you take to avoid dandruff? To share your experiences, views, and tips, click here.

TIPS TO GET A SILKY HAIR:

Everyone desires soft, silky hair. Here are some hair altering tips that can make you proud of your mane. Try it today.

All women and young girls love having silky hair. Having smooth and silky hair is one of the attributes of beauty. Silky long hair is a beauty asset of good looking girls and women. It is easier to tie your hair in any style you like. With proper care of your hair silky hair can be a reality. Natural and safe cosmetic products can make hair silky and soft. Using natural products is not only safe but also make it affordable to maintain your silky hair. These natural ingredients are easy to obtain. Read on to know some beneficial tips to get and maintain silky hair.

Basic tips for maintaining your silky hair

Some basic hair care can go a long way. You should always cover your hair with a scarf when you go out in sun. Avoid using hair dryer regularly; it may damage your hair. Eat lots of fruits, green vegetables and drink lots of water. This is not only important for having a healthy body but also essential for good hair. Avoid combing on your wet hair and always use wide toothed comb.

Try to use natural conditioners rather than using harsh chemical products. Avoid hairstraightening if your hair is curly and do not perm your hair if it is straight. It might lead to hair damage. Always use mild shampoo for your hair. Avoid colouring your hair with artificial colours unless necessary. Do not iron your hair. Frequent ironing may cause damage to your hair. Loving your natural hair is the best way to stay away from hair fall and damage. Here are some simple but great remedies for getting soft, smooth and silky hair. Try these tips mentioned below and find out which one works best for your hair.

Tips for getting silky hair

Follow these tips to make your hair more silky and soft. It will require some ingredients which are easily available in market. If shiny hair is what you desire then know that dream is soon going to be true.

• Use almond oil to massage your hair one day before washing your hair. Frequently massaging your hair with almond oil will help you to get silky and soft hair. Massaging is good for improving blood circulation and getting stronger hair.
• Apply paste made out of the leaves of hibiscus plant on your hair. Let it stay for 10-20 minutes and then wash your hair to get best results
• Use mixture of shikakai powder, henna (mehndi) powder, amla powder and curd as conditioner to get soft and silky hair
• Mix two whole eggs with four tablespoon of olive oil apply this mixture on your hair and leave it. Wash your hair after 20 minutes, you will find your hair slipping like silk after this.
• Try massaging your hair once in a week with aroma oils to make your hair silky and soft
• Rubbing your hair with hibiscus flower is also a good remedy for soft and silky hair. Soak hibiscus flower in water and then use the same for applying on your hair before hair wash.
• Make a mixture using amla powder, shikakai powder, ritha powder, henna powder, and bhringaraj powder in equal proportion. Add water to this mixture and heat this mixture. When the mixture becomes lukewarm apply gently on your hair. Leave this mixture on your hair for 15-20 minutes and wash your hair without using shampoo to get the best results
• Use mixture of mustard oil, curd and lemon to apply on your hair. Leave this mixture on your hair for half an hour and then wash it
• Use Aloe Vera gel with hair shampoo which is helpful to make it shiny and soft
• Apply boiled apple pulp or pour apple juice on your hair before washing
• Ensure that you have a balanced and protein rich diet which is essential for good, shiny and silky hair
• Always trim your hair after 3-4 months depending on your hair growth. This will help you to get rid of split ends and also maintain the texture of your hair

All these natural and safe ways of getting silky hair can work wonders. Using products with chemical contents is not long lasting and beneficial to keep hair healthy. Use natural products and stay away from harmful chemicals and pollution. This will help you save money on costly hair products. Learn to love your natural hair as natural beauty is real beauty indeed.

How do you take care of your hair? Do you know any natural remedies for silky and soft hair? Do you wish to get soft and silky hair? To share your experiences, views, and tips, click here.

COLOURING YOUR HAIR:

Coloured hair lightens and brightens the face, and makes you look better. Before you decide on whether or not you should colour your hair, ask yourself these questions: Do you have split ends? Is your hair damaged? Has your hair been recently chemically processed (permed or straightened)? If your answer no to all three questions, your hair should stand up to colouring without any problem.

Highlights or all-over colouring?
The first thing you need to decide is whether you want to highlight strands, or if you want to colour your entire hair. Both look good, and what works for you is a matter of personal choice. Here is a quick comparison:

Highlights tend to look good on straight hair, but if your hair is curly, you could opt for colouring your entire hair.

Highlighted hair is, of course, easier on the hair, as only selected strands of hair are coloured and not the entire hair, but once again, if you take care of your hair after colouring, there will not be any damage.

You could colour your hair at home instead of spending big bucks at a beauty saloon, by simply purchasing a packet of hair colour. Various brands of reputed companies are available in the market. However, you will not be able to give your hair fine highlights without professional help.
I have lovely hair. Will colouring ruin my hair?
As long as you look after your hair well after colouring it, the quality of your hair will not go bad. Your hair may dry out a little, but regular oiling would keep the dryness under control. It is a myth that colouring ruins your hair. However, if you neglect your hair after colouring it, if you blowdry it too often and don't bother oiling or conditioning your hair, you will definitely cause it harm. Using colour that is too harsh, or leaving the colour on for too long, may also damage your hair. In any case, your natural hair that grows out will be just as healthy as it always was, and the only portion that will get damaged is the coloured part, so don't believe that your hair will get ruined for life after colouring it! In fact, if your hair is too oily, get it coloured to balance it out.
Should I colour my hair if I have split ends?
If your hair is damaged, colouring it will only damage it further. Wait until your hair recovers before subjecting it to any form of chemical treatment.
Why should I do a strand test?
If you are colouring your hair by yourself, make sure you do a strand test. Many women apply colour to their hair and wash it off only to find that their hair has not caught any colour at all. So colour a very small portion of your hair first, to see how long you need to leave the colour on. If you have curly hair, leave the colour on for less time than that specified, as curly hair is porous, and catches colour easily. If your hair is straight and healthy, it may take a while longer to colour your hair, so leave it on accordingly. After taking the strand test, you will get a general idea as to whether you need to leave the colour on for more or less time.

After-Colour Care
Oil your hair at least once a week. Apply a generous amount of warm oil to your scalp, and massage well, so the oil spreads right to the ends of your hair. After applying oil, whip up the yoke of an egg and apply it to your hair, for extra conditioning. If you like, you could add curd to this mixture too. All of these natural products are excellent for the hair, and provides it with all the nourishment it needs.
Leave the oil, egg and curd on for at least 45 minutes, and then shampoo your hair. Use a gentle shampoo, preferable one especially formulated for coloured hair.
Apply conditioner after shampooing your hair, to prevent your hair from drying. You could also consider a leave-in conditioner, which is preferable for chemically processed hair.
Natural alternative to conditioner:
Another tip for conditioning hair that works well for me is to simply apply curd to the hair after shampooing, leave on for five minutes, and rinse off. Do not apply shampoo again; simply rinse off the curd with water. This conditions your hair rather well, and keeps frizzy hair in check. However, I do follow up with conditioner, for increased protection.
Natural alternative to leave-in conditioner:
Apply 2-3 drops of oil, more for longer hair, to your palms. Rub them together, and apply to your hair

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.  

HAIR CARE IN THE RAINS:

Manage hair easily and keep it looking great even when it rains!

The rains bring respite from the heat of the summer but can leave you frustrated when your hair refuses to behave and stay in style. However, by following a few simple tips, you can manage to keep your hair problems to a minimum and look good.

Do not wash your hair too often

There is nothing better than a nice bath when you just get in from the pouring rain. However, washing your hair too often, say every day, can exaggerate the problems you already face. Washing your hair two or three times a week will keep your hair clean and looking good. At the same time, it prevents excessive drying of hair and keeps frizziness to a minimum. Also, do not forget to condition your hair after every wash; you could use a leave-in conditioner to make dry hair more manageable.

Protect from moisture

Excessive moisture is the biggest culprit during this season. It affects your hair even if you remain indoors, especially on days when the humidity is high. Depending on your hair type, it may leave your hair frizzy or flat. Hair that is fine, wavy, or curly usually tends to absorb the moisture in the air. This makes fine or thin hair fall flat, but people with wavy or curly hair end up with frizzy strands. The best solution to this is to use a humidity-protective gel before styling. These gels help by forming a protective coat over the hair cuticle and preventing moisture from getting in.

You can also follow up with a non-sticky hairspray for extra protection. It is better to use an aerosol, since it gives out a fine spray. A spray with a regular nozzle can give out too much of the product, which can result in clumps of your hair turning sticky later on in the day. Try not to use more than four different hair care products at a time. This will save you time. A normal routine would be to use a shampoo, followed by conditioner, styling gel, and hairspray.

Do not experiment too much

On rainy and extra-humid days, it is usually better not to force your hair into a style that does not feel right. For example, do not attempt to curl hair that is fine and limp or straighten hair that is naturally curly. This is because even a small amount of moisture absorbed by your hair will make it revert back to its natural texture, and your efforts will be in vain. Instead, try and make the most of your natural hair texture by adopting a style that suits you. Rub a generous amount of gel through curls for that tousled look. For fine and straight hair, pulling it back into a ponytail or braid works best.

Choose hair care products wisely

Frizzy hair is usually dealt with by using hair cream or similar products to smooth it down. But this can have an adverse effect, by allowing your hair to absorb moisture and making it look greasy or sticky. During the rainy season, it is better to stick to alcohol-based creams and gels since they have a drying effect on hair. Leave moisturising products for use in the winter months.

Accessorise

If you cannot quite get your hair to behave the way you want it to, do not fret. The right accessories can not only cover up a bad-hair day but can also make a fashion statement. A colourful scarf can cover up most of your frizzy ends, while a funky hairband works for shorter hair. If all else fails, just grab a hat for that slightly bohemian look.

With so many ways to keep your hair looking and feeling great even when it's wet, it is time for you to go ahead and enjoy that rain dance!

Do you have a problem managing your hair during the rains? What special care do you take to keep hair looking good in the monsoon? To share your views and opinions, click here.

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