Nail art at Home

Gone are the days when a simple manicure was enough. Today, nail art has become a rage. From simple designs to funky ones, your nails will, quite simply, do all the talking! Nail art is the art of painting attractive designs on your fingernails to give them a classy look. In fact, it's a fun way to brighten up your monotonous look oe accessorise a special occasion outfit.

There are a variety of nail art designs available, ranging from delicate and understated to funky and outrageous.

1. Now all of us cannot go to professional nail artist everyday... but it's now possible to create nail magic at home.


2. Apply nail vanish remover even if you have no nail paint on. It helps remove dirt and grease so that your nail polish will last longer.

3. Let your nail vanish dry properly. Give time for each layer to dry to ensure a lasting finish.

4. You can match your nail colour with your apparel or lip colour to give a complete co-ordinated look.

5. Always try to apply lots of thin layers rather than giving one quick layer. It not only dries quickly but also lasts for a longer time.

6. Make sure each coat is dry before applying the next. Never mix colours together before application since it can give a messy look to your nails.

7. If you love wearing rings, wear cool and aatractive ones as your nails will attract attention to your hands so do dress them up a bit!

8. Nail piercing can give a trendy look to your nails, but it can also weaken the nails.

9. il piercing could, and preferably be done on the upper portion of a long nail so that the hole could be filed away without losing much length.

10. t remove or re-apply nail polish more than one or two times a week as it may dry your nails.

11. se a remover with built-in moisturisers that will limit the damage.

12. ys keep your nails clean as it reduces the chances of nail breakage by keeping healthy.

13. do not clean your mails with hot water.

14. ou have long nails try painting the underside with a contrasting colour and paint the upper part with light coat.

15. polishing the underside of the nail, avoid polishing the area the nail and the skin meet.

16. can also use fake tattoos for giving a funky look to your nails.

Make sure you maintain your nails properly; as proper maintenance will help keep your nails in good condition for a longer period.

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Natural Face Masks

Depending on your skin type, here are some great masks to try. For oily skin use some plain Milk of Magnesia, rub it on and let dry, then rinse with lukewarm water. It absorbs oil wonderfully!

For Normal/combination skin mix one egg and 1/2 cup cooked instant oatmeal and a teaspoon olive oil until smooth. Spread on your face and leave 15 min then rinse.

For dry skin, mix one egg yolk, one teaspoon honey and a teaspoon olive oil and some vitamin E oil if you have it. Smooth on and leave on for 15 min. , rinse in lukewarm water and pat dry. If your skin is a bit dry you can put a dab or two of either olive oil, or any other light oil.



Homemade Facial Scrub Instead of Soap
This is for the lady who wanted a homemade facial mask. First, clean your face with water only. Never use soap. You can open your pores with hot compresses (washcloth) For a facial scrub, moisten oatmeal to a "goo", use it to scrub your face (not around your eyes). Wash off with cool water.You may also make a paste of the oatmeal and allow it to dry..remove with cool water.You may also beat an egg white, put it on your face and let it dry, rinse with cool water. Sliced fresh cucumber placed on your closed eyes will reduce bagginess and dark circles.To make your hair shine, rub in some regular mayonnaise,shampoo out after 15 minutes.




Honey for Best Facial
The best facial mask that i have found is honey. Use warm cloth to open pores, smear on honey, leave on 15 to 30 minutes, rinse off with warm water, and then use cold water to close pores. Use for 3 days in a row and then once a week. Sometimes I mix a little gound oatmeal with the honey, which makes a great mask.




Facial Feels Good
One my daughter and I had fun with and found to have a cleansing and softening effect was to mix regular clean kitty litter, the clay kind, with water and strain out the grit. It really felt good.



Exfoliating Mask
For an easy exfoliating mask, mix three tablespoons olive oil or any good oil and one tablespoon kosher salt mix and gently rub into dry skin. Do not use around eye area. This works great on elbows and feet, but it can also be used on cheeks and forehead





Egg Yolk
The best homemade facial mask that I have used is a raw egg yolk. just apply the raw yolk to your face and neck for 30 minutes and rinse with cool water. Egg yolks are high in vitamin A. The mask is very effective in healing blemishes.




Match Mask to Your Skin Type
For trouble-prone skin, mix oatmeal with water to form a paste.

For normal to oily skin, use an egg white.

For dry skin, use an egg yolk.

In all cases, spread mixture on face and allow to dry. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.

For oily skin, witch hazel makes an inexpensive toner.

For dry skin, you may want to add moisturizer while skin is still damp.



Oatmeal
The cheapest and best facial mask I have ever come up with is oatmeal processed to a powder in the blender and either skim milk or if you are trying to fade spots lemon juice. Really works well for me and I have dry skin.




More Facial Maks Choices
The kind of the mask you want to use depends on your skin type.

For dry skin, try:



an egg yolk mixed with olive oil and warmed honey
sour cream
plain olive oil
avocado
For oily skin:



dissolve a teaspoon of baking yeast in a small amount of warm milk, wait until foamy, then apply (best done in the bath tub);
puree flesh of a tomato and mix with some potato flour to make a paste;
cucumber (it will whiten your skin);
beaten egg whites with a few drops of lemon juice (great for getting rid of blackheads);
carrots (but don't use this one more than about every other week because it can overdry your skin). This one will make you look tanned.
General refreshing masks:



grapes (just cut a berry in half and rub lightly)
strawberries (test behind your ear first, because many people are alergic to strawberies used this way even thougth they can eat them just fine)
honey and ricotta cheese
Many fruits and vegetables can also be used to good effect. Anything acidic (lemon, strawberries, etc) will tend to whiten and refresh your skin, but you need to be careful if your skin is dry.

In general, don't apply masks more often than about twice a week, and try to vary the ingredients.

It is a good idea to test the mask first. Apply a small amount behind your ear, wait 20 minutes, then wash off. Then wait 24 hours. If the skin behind your ear is normal, then go ahead and use the mask.




Egg Yolk and Honey
I reader recently asked if anyone had a recipe for homemade facial masks. I often use an egg yolk and honey mask. Just mix one egg yolk with a little honey and spread it on your face and neck. When it dries, rinse it off. Your skin will feel so fresh and soft!

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Guide To Skin Whitening

Home Remedies for Skin Whitening Care

Here are some simple home remedies for skin whitening that you can do to lighten the skin tone and get a lighter complexion. However, they must be done regularly and best results are obtained if they are inculcated as a part of daily routine.

Mix 1 tsp of milk powder, 1 tsp of honey, 1 tsp of lemon juice, and ½ tsp of almond oil. Apply on face and wash off after 10-15 minutes. This pack helps bring shine to the skin and also removes tan.

Mix oatmeal with curd and tomato juice and apply on the face. Keep it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off with cold water. It helps remove the tan and lightens the skin.

Place sliced raw potato on the face. It helps reduce blemishes and other marks.

Applying turmeric powder along with lime juice removes the tan. Lime juice is a natural bleach.

Dried orange peels mixed with curd also help reduce blemishes and scars. Wash off this mixture with cold water after 15 minutes.

Soak 4 almonds overnight. Grind into a fine paste using milk. Apply on face and neck and leave it overnight. Wash with cold water in the morning. Do this daily for 15 days, followed by twice a week.

A tbsp of gram flour mixed with 2 tsp of raw milk and 2-3 drops of lime juice works well for lightening dark skin. Apply this mixture and leave it for 15 minutes before washing off. Repeat for 4 weeks and follow up with once a week.

Apply a paste of fresh ground mint leaves and leave it for about 20 minutes. Wash with cold water, continue for 15 days.

Apply a mixture of grated tomato with 2-3 drops of lime juice on the face. Leave it for 20 minutes before washing off. Do this twice a day for 15-20 days for best results.



Diet for Getting Rid of Dark Skin

Although there are no particular foods that will lighten your skin instantly, a balanced diet definitely helps by giving your skin a healthy glow. Drinking an optimum amount of water hydrates your skin and keeps it blemish free. Some recommendations regarding diet are as follows –

Avoid excessive consumption of heavy and oily foods.

Incorporate whole cereals, pulses, fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.

Drink at least 4-5 liters of water every day. Water washes out the toxins from the body.



Other suggestions for Dark Skin

1)
Use a good quality sunscreen when going out in the sun to protect the skin from tanning as well as the sun's UV rays.

Be regular and persistent with the home remedies for skin lightening as suggested above.

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Choosing The Best Hair Style

Here are some good suggestions that can help you select a proper hair cut or a proper hair style for you, which will help you look younger.

Your goal: To firm up the jaw line.
Try: At least nape-length layers that are shorter in back. Adding some swing this way helps minimize flaws in general, and longer pieces in front will give the illusion of angles where they're needed.

Your goal: To emphasize good features
Try: Cutting layers that "point" toward the area by ending at the same level. If you have a great smile, for example, ask for chin-length pieces in front that will hit at lip level.

Your goal: To hide forehead wrinkles
Try: Eyebrow-skimming bangs (think Goldie Hawn). They'll cover lines and play up your eyes.

Your goal: To sculpt cheekbones
Try: Creating volume at the crown. Ask for layers on top. Then, when styling, take a few strokes with a teasing comb (easy -- we're not talking Marge Simpson) five inches from the hairline.

Your goal: To downplay neck wrinkles
Try: A few wispy, longer strands in the back, even if the cut is short.

Your goal: To brighten a dull complexion
Try: Highlights concentrated around the face "to add dimension and give your skin glow," says Ronald Braso of New York's Frédéric Fekkai Salon

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HAIR DYING TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

Dying hair or coloring hair has now become a necessity. As you don’t want to look out dated. But there are many reasons and different opinions as far as hair dying is concerned. Some dye their hair just for fashion and some do it to hide their grey hair. Not to mention old folks want to look young too. No matter what may be the reason for dying hair, the procedure should be right and correct.



Choosing the Right Hair Dye Color:



Before going for a hair dye try to figure out what sort of shades suit best on you. You can also consult your hair dresser for this. Another most important thing is that you should go for shades that are not more than 2 shades lighter or darker from your original hair color. The reason for this is that after some time your hair starts to grow out and the hair line that appears or the re-growth that appears does not have the dye that you have applied. And if you have wisely selected an appropriate dye then the effect won’t be that visible on your re-growth. On the other hand if you have applied a very bold shade than your own hair color then the re-growth will look horrible and there will be no other way but to get the touch ups done as soon as possible.



Types of Hair Dyes:



There are mainly two types of hair dye available. Namely as Permanent Hair Dye and Semi-Permanent Hair Dye.



Permanent Hair Dye:

Permanent hair dyes are long lasting in a sense that they don’t get spoiled due to sunlight and shampooing. Only way it can be removed is to apply another color on it. Also the re-growth that emerges also has no color. They are economical in a way that you only have to do the touch ups and not to do the whole head hair dying. They stay in as long as you want them.



Permanent products for hair dying usually consist of a package containing two bottles and possible a small bottle or sachet of conditioning cream for use after the dying treatment. One of the aforementioned bottles contains a hydrogen peroxide solution (usually 6%) and the other bottle contains the actual hair dyes dissolved in ammonia. Only when the contents of these two bottles are mixed will the hair dye perform its task.

The bottle containing the ammonia and dye solution and the contents of the hydrogen peroxide bottle are mixed well.
The mixture is applied to the hair and the ammonia solution causes the hair to swell up, after which the hair particles open and separate, enabling the hair dye solution to enter the hair shaft, to change the color of the hair.
The dye and hydrogen peroxide need time to develop the new color in the hair, explaining why you usually have to wait for half an hour or longer before hair dye can be rinsed out.
The hair dye is rinsed out and the hair is conditioned, after which it can be styled.
Semi-Permanent Hair Dye:

Semi-permanent dyes have the shortest lifespan for dyes. After 6-12 washes, the color will start to fade. This is recommended for first-time users and those who want to experiment with colors.



Semi-permanent hair dyes do not contain a developing chemical like permanent hair dyes do. This type of hair dye is sold as a liquid, gel or foam and can generally be applied directly to the hair without any mixing. As the color does not enter the hair as is the case with permanent dye, the new color will fade with time depending on exposure to the sun and the number of times the hair is washed. The effects of dying hair with this dye are equal when it comes to color, but cause less damage to the hair.



How to Dye Your Hair Safely and Professionally:

Separate hair into four sections. Then clip each part.
Wear plastic gloves while mixing dye solution. Follow the directions written on the box.
Squeeze a small amount of coloring into one section. Streak thin stripes of color over the whole area of the section. Put a clip on the colored part.
Repeat the process after you have completed coloring the four sections.
Consult instructions on how long you should leave it. Add a couple of minutes of wait to that of the suggested treatment time.
Put on left over color mix to the entire head after a few minutes.
Rinse with cold water.


Things You Should Care for While Dying Your Hair:

· Do not apply dye to dirty and tangled hair. You hair should be clean and combed well before you dye them. Deep condition your hair a month before dying to maintain color. Trim hair especially dry and split ends to even out color. Hair should be slightly damp when dye is applied.

· Do not condition your hair a few hours before applying hair dye, shampooing will do the trick. Your hair needs to be free of free radicals such as dirt and oil as much as possible.

· After choosing a brand, apply a tiny amount of hair dye near your neck or behind your ear to see if irritation, redness, inflammation, allergy, hair loss or any bad reactions occur. Wash the affected area right away if this happens. Remember the instructions carefully. Do the patch test 1-2 days before hair dye application.

· Protect your skin by wrapping a towel around your neck as the dye can irritate your skin or affect your clothes.

· Gloves should be used and must be included in a hair dye kit. Applying petroleum jelly or cream around your ears and neck part will keep off stains. Wipe off oil after shampooing. If you do happen to stain your skin, don't worry, rubbing alcohol will remove dye stains from your skin

After dying, always rinse with cold or tepid water to avoid your own hair from falling out.

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Home Remedies for Ingrown Hair

Ingrown hair is not only painful but also leaves very ugly scars on the skin. Ingrown hairs cause ugly and painful little bumps on your skin as well. Why it happens is that Waxing will remove the hairs straight from the root, leaving the hair shaft empty for a while until a new fresh hair grows. When that hair grows sometimes it won’t grow straight and it meets the skin at the top of the pore instead of growing out through the open pore. It will carry on growing along the skin and can then become infected.
Another reason can be that the skin grows over the top of the pore, therefore not allowing the hair to grow through and out into the light. The hair continues to grow and has nowhere but into the skin to grow.
It's not just waxing that can cause in-growing hairs: it's shaving as well. The shaver skims over the surface of the skin cutting the hair: this can leave a very sharp pointed hair behind and that sharp hair now has the ability to cut right into the skin where it will happily continue to grow.
Preventing Ingrown Hair:
You can prevent ingrown hairs in the first place by exfoliating your skin before waxing/shaving and every time you shower. You can use a loofah or sponge, but if you have delicate skin the abrasion can hurt your skin. Body scrubs are available at online stores, drug stores and department stores in every price range. The only problem is that the less expensive scrubs tend to use abrasive ingredients. Whipping up an all-natural and mild scrub is a home remedy to prevent ingrown hairs and it only takes only a few minutes. You can make a body scrub by mixing sugar with equal parts liquid soap.
Preventing ingrown hairs after shaving:
After shaving, try using witch hazel (available at any health food store and some drug stores for a few dollars) to the skin. Applying an antiseptic can also help offset ingrown hairs by cleaning the area.
Getting rid of itchiness caused by ingrown hairs
If it's too late and you already have ingrown hairs, you can reduce any itchiness you have by pureeing half a cucumber and adding 1/3 cup of milk. Mix the mixture and store (covered) in the fridge for a few minutes until cold. Soak gauze or a cloth in the mixture and apply for a few minutes to the irritated areas, then rinse off. This will not make the ingrown hairs go away, but it will take away the itchiness and irritation for a few minutes.
Facial ingrown hairs
If the ingrown hair is on your face, you can wait a day or two and then look at the hair in direct sunlight with the help of a magnifying mirror. If you notice a bit of hair sticking out, it is possible to remove the hair by plucking it out. You will need to clean the area scrupulously before and after tweezing. Tweezing will hurt far more than it usually does, so don't bother if you have more than one ingrown hair on your face. Don't even think of trying to yank ingrown hairs on other parts of your body - you'll have a very hard time trying to see the hair properly. It is suggested that you leave the hair alone if at all possible, and only resort to pulling it in case of a dire emergency - like an important event. Pulling at an ingrown hair can cause an infection and may lead to scarring, so it is not a technique to be taken lightly.
Simple Homemade Tips for Getting Rid Of Ingrown Hair:· Using a hot compress against ingrown spots at least 10 minutes thrice daily for the purpose of soften the skin and improve the hair properly. This process is essential and shall not be missed.
· To prevent friction, it is recommended loose-fitting underwear and clothing to be worn at all time. Not tight underwear or undergarment is allowed until the bumps are gone.
· It is a good practice to exfoliate the location prior waxing. During this process, certain quantity of top layer dead skin cells that has the effect of trapping the hairs will be removed. Exfoliating treatment not limited to lotions, creams or body gels, a hard-type of washcloth or glove is used for this exfoliation purpose. It can be purchased at the beauty service counter or beauty salon at your city or department stores.
· Whenever performing the waxing process, make sure the roots of hairs to be pulled out completely. It is a wrong practice to allow the hair to be broken below the skin surface.
· Mix four to five table spoons of sugar with some drops of lemon juice, one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, half a teaspoon of cornstarch, two teaspoons of honey and heat the entire thing till it forms a sticky mass. Dust the painful area with cornstarch. Then spread the cooled mixture on the area and leave on for twenty minutes. When you wash this off with warm water you will notice that the red mumps have gone down. Your skin will also feel very soft.
· Just moisten the hair with warm water soaked cotton sponge. Press it upon the ingrown hair for 2 minutes. Take spirit and wipe the part of the ingrown hair then take a needle dipped in spirit and finely take the hair out and direct it towards the outer normal growth. Again wipe the part where ingrown hair was removed. If there is septic then dressing may be essential after removal of the hair.
Hope these tips and home remedies will help solve your problem regarding ingrown hair. Curly hairs are more prone to ingrown hair problem. Exfoliation is the best tip as far as my personal experience is concerned. Also keep your skin clean after and before waxing. Make sure all the waxing stuff is sterilized and hygienic. Always use fresh wax when you go to any beauty saloon.

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How To Remove Frizz From Curly Hair

Curly hair are great, as they can be given any style. You can even straighten them out if you like to. But you also need to give extra care to your curly hair. Curly hair demand some special care and treatment. And if you keep them unattended they will really make you feel bad and look bad. So better start taking good care of them.

Curly hair can get frizz very easily they are some what pron to frizz. There are certain things that you need to take care about.Curly hairs are porous comparatively than straight hair. Curly hair absorbs moisture easily from air causing the shaft to expand and it results in fizz or tangles. There are ways to handle little frizzes.

Hair frizz is a problem faced generally by all the women. By experimenting hair with different styles, gels, moistures, hair sprays etc. one weakens and damages her hair. This result into frizz and finally leads into split ends. It is a problem that everyone wants to get rid of as it gives an older and untidy look. By following some do's and don'ts anyone can say good bye to it.


Suggestions for hair frizz


Do not wash your hair everyday. It devoid your hair of natural oil and dries them up and hair getting dry is initial step of hair frizz. Go for deep moistening treatment once a week to moisten your hair.
Always have cold water bath. It makes hair silkier and softer. Hot water bath means inviting hair frizz
Do not comb your hair when wet. Use hair pick or wide toothed comb during emergencies.
Take special care of your hair while using hair dryers. Do it systematically. Divide your hair in sections and then use the dryer section wise.
Wear a hat incase you need to be outdoor for long.
After bath, be gentle with use of towel on your hair.

Measures to control hair frizz

Products available in market- Pomade, anti frizz serems, oil based conditioners, hair gel for frizz control are some of the products available in market and if use wisely can prove beneficial. These products help in giving volume to the hair and repair the damage of the hair. They also provide the hair with minerals and protein required for the strengthening of the hair.

Home remedies-

Washing hair with vinegar balances pH level of the hair.
Natural veg. glycerin can be added to gel or mousse to make hair soft.
Applying mixture of egg and olive oil 2 hrs before shampooing also help eliminating frizz.
Getting rid of hair frizz is not a big problem all you need to invest is your time and effort. Remember, if you help your hair look good they'll help you look good.

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