Saturday, August 31, 2013

Maintaining Straight Hair At Home





Maintaining Straight Hair



1.    
Avoid spraying water or adding mousse. The water content will cause your hair to curl back up or frizz immediately. Do use a hair spray if you live in a humid area, however. Your hair will be prone to frizz due to the added moisture in the air.



2.     
Keep an umbrella handy. Rain will undo all your hard work and leave you with a frizzy mess. Also, remember to carry a headband with you in the summer to keep the perspiration from your bangs. If you are jogging or walking, consider putting your hair up in a ponytail.


3.  
Keep an umbrella handy. Rain will undo all your hard work and leave you with a frizzy mess. Also, remember to carry a headband with you in the summer to keep the perspiration from your bangs. If you are jogging or walking, consider putting your hair up in a ponytail.



4.
Understand that if you wash your hair it will return to normal. Don't worry though, all you have to do is repeat the straightening process again! Just don't straighten your hair too much, as it will cause your hair to become dry and damaged. Try to save the straight look for special occasions!

How to Straighten Your Hair Using a Hair Dryer At Home





Using a Hair Dryer


1
Wash your hair. This may seem like a no-brainer, but you will need to wash your hair before blow drying. Use a smoothing shampoo and conditioner if your hair is thick or prone to frizz, or go for volumizing if your hair is thin or flat.
  • Only apply conditioner to the ends and mid-lengths of your hair. If you apply it to the roots, you hair will look flat and greasy.
  • Use a wide-toothed comb to work out any tangles while the conditioner is in your hair. The conditioner will make it much easier and will minimize hair breakage.



2
Towel-dry your hair. Once you step out of the shower, wrap your hair in an absorbant, microfiber towel and leave it for a minute or two. Then unwrap your hair and use your towel to gently dab or blot your hair to get rid of any excess moisture.
  • Don't rub your hair with the towel, as this will cause your hair to break.
  • Remember that you are not trying to dry your hair with the towel, it should still be pretty damp when you're finished towel drying.


3
Comb out any tangles. Use a wide-tooth comb or paddle brush to part and comb your hair. Make sure to be gentle because damp hair is very fragile. Remember to work from the ends upwards, rather than from the roots down, as this will cause less breakage.
  • Defining your part while your hair is still wet will help it stay more naturally after it’s been dried and straightened.
  • If your hair is very knotted, try spraying it with a detangling mist or a leave-in conditioner.



4  Apply some product. Apply a small amount of straightening serum or cream to the ends and mid-lengths of your hair and massage it in. This will help to make your hair extra smooth and sleek after drying.
  • If you can find a straightening product which contains a heat protection element, all the better.
  • Again, avoid applying these products to the roots, as they will weigh hair down.




5
Use a good hair dryer. A good hair dryer is essential when you are trying to blow dry your hair straight. The more power and heat a hair dryer can provide, the easier and faster you can straighten your hair. If you need to invest in a new hair dryer, there are several things you should consider:
  • Wattage. The wattage of a hair dryer is an indication of how powerful an air flow it has. The higher the wattage you can get, the better. Most salon hair dryers have a wattage of around 1800, though a wattage of 2000 may be necessary for very thick or curly hair.
  • Speed and Temperature Controls. Having a hair dryer with adjustable speeds and temperatures is a major bonus, as you will use different settings to achieve different styles. For example, a cool setting can be used to finish your hair with a blast of cold air, which helps to set the style while adding shine.
  • Weight. The last thing you want is a heavy hair dryer which is going to tire out your arm when you're just halfway through a blow dry. Look for a hair dryer which weighs less than two pounds. The weight should be indicated on the box.
  • Attachments. If you are using a hair dryer to blow dry your hair straight, you will definitely need a nozzle attachment which concentrates the air flow and prevents hair from frizzing. Check to see if a nozzle attachment is included with your hair dryer or if it needs to be purchased separately.



6   Rough dry your hair. Turn your hair dryer on (to a high speed and heat, if possible) and begin roughly drying your hair. Concentrate on drying your roots, using your fingers to lift and separate your hair. You shouldn't use a brush just yet.

  • Make sure that the hair dryer is pointing downwards. It should be blowing hair down from the crown of your head, rather than upwards.
  • You should continue rough drying your hair until it is about 60% to 80% dry, but no more.




7  Divide your hair into sections. Dividing your hair into sections before you finish blow drying is a good idea, as it will help you to focus on straightening one layer of hair at a time. Split your hair into three layers - one at the crown of your head, one at the middle sections and one at the nape of your neck. Use butterfly clips or hair ties to keep the top two layers out of the way for now.
  • If you have bangs, leave them down and dry them first, before you dry the bottom layer. This is because bangs will dry quickly and they will be harder to straighten once dry.



8    Use the right kind of hairbrush. The type of hairbrush you use while blow drying your hair will have an impact on how your hair turns out. If you want to add volume while you straighten, or add a slight curl or flick to the ends, use a thick round brush. But if you want poker-straight locks, a paddle-brush is your best option.


9   Use the right technique to blow dry the hair straight. Take a section of hair between two and four inches wide and hold it taut with the hair brush. Keeping the hair taut while drying is the most important technique in achieving straight hair.

  • You also need to make sure that you are directing the air flow downwards - the nozzle of the hair dryer should be pointing towards the ends of the hair as you dry. This keeps the hair cuticle down, giving you a smoother, sleeker result.
  • Once you have completely dried each section of hair, finish it off with a blast of cool air to help set the style and add shine.


10   Let down the next section of hair. Once you have completely dried the bottom layer of hair, remove the butterfly clip holding the middle layer. Dry this layer of hair using the same technique as before. Once the second layer is completely dry, let down the third and final layer and finish off your blow dry.
  • Once your hair is completely dry, it should look straight and sleek. If it's still a little wavy, you may need to dry it further, really using the brush to pull the hair straight.
  • And if all else fails, use a straightening irons to go over any particularly stubborn bits.




11    Apply some finishing product. To set your style and give your hair a little extra shine and control, apply a pea-sized amount of finishing product to the ends and mid-lengths of your hair. A shine serum or a shine spray will both do the trick. If you're worried about your hair falling flat or losing its shape, mist it with a light layer of hairspray, holding the can about six inches away from your head. This will ensure that your hair stays straight all day (or night!) long.

How to Straighten Your Hair At Home Using a Straightening Iron

How to Straighten Your Hair At Home



Using a Straightening Iron


*
Wash and blow-dry your hair. Straightening your hair works best on freshly washed or day-old hair. When washing your hair, tailor your shampoo and conditioning products to your hair type. For thick, frizzy hair, use a smoothing shampoo and conditioner. For thin, flat hair, use volumizing products. Once hair is washed, give it a quick towel dry, then blow-dry with a hair dryer. This will help to pre-straighten your hair, so you will have less work to do with the straightening iron.
  • Dry the roots of your hair with the hair dryer first, then work through the lengths of your hair.
  • Turn your head upside down while drying to add more volume.
  • Use a paddle brush to work through tangles and hold hair taut as you dry.


*
Apply heat protection spray. Investing in a good heat protection spray which you apply every time you straighten is one of the best things you can do for your hair, without forgoing the straightening altogether. The heat protection spray locks in moisture and prevents hair from becoming dry and frazzled. Apply the heat protection spray evenly over dry hair, holding the can about six inches away from your head.

  • Don't apply the heat protection spray to your roots, as this can cause them to look greasy.
  • Heat protection sprays can be found at most drug stores and hair salons. It may be worth investing in a brand name product which will do a better job of protecting your hair. Try asking your hair stylist for recommendations.

*
Divide your hair into sections. Dividing your hair into sections will ensure that you straighten your hair properly, without missing any strands. The easiest way to section your hair is to divide it into three layers.

  • Create the first layer by taking the front sections of your hair and scooping them back with your thumbs to grab all of the hair on the crown of your head. Separate this layer by twisting it and securing it with a hair tie or butterfly clip.[2]
  • Create the second layer by scooping up the hair that remains above your ears and securing with a hair tie or clip.
  • The third layer consists of any hair which remains unclipped, which should be the hair at the back of your head, growing around the nape of your neck.
  • If you have very thick hair, you can divide your hair into extra layers. If you have very thin or fine hair, you may not need to divide hair at all, or you can just split it into two sections.

*
Set your straightening iron to the correct temperature for your hair type. Most good quality hair straighteners give you the option to adjust the temperature of the irons. Using the right temperature for your hair will ensure you get the best results and will prevent you from doing unnecessary damage to your hair. The temperature your straightener should be set to will depend on your hair type.
  • Fine or damaged hair should use a temperature of between 250 and 300 degrees F.
  • Hair of average thickness which is in pretty good condition should use a temperature of between 300 and 350 degrees F.
  • Very thick or coarse, frizzy hair should use a temperature of 350 to 400 degrees F.


*
Use the correct technique. Straightening your hair with a straightening irons does not involve anything very complicated, but there are a number of helpful tips you can follow in order to achieve the best results:
  • Use the right size strands. For best results, straighten your hair in strands that are 1 to 2 inches wide and no more than half an inch thick. IF you use sections that are much bigger, your hair won't straighten properly, but if you use smaller sections, it will take too long.
  • Hold the hair taut. Use one hand to hold the section of hair taut as you clamp the straightening iron around it and smooth it through the hair. If it's not completely straight the first time, don't worry, just pull the straightener through again.
  • Begin straightening about an inch away from the roots. This will leave a little volume in your hair and make sure it doesn't look too flat.
  • Use smooth rather than jerky movements. Try to run the straightening iron over the hair in one smooth, fluid movement. If you move it jerkily, you will end up with horizontal lines across your hair.

*
Stop if you see any steam or your hair starts to sizzle. If this happens, it means that your hair is not fully dry. Stop, turn off the hair straightener and use a hair dryer to get your hair completely dry before you resume straightening. Using a straightening irons on damp hair is very damaging and will leave your hair in bad condition, so avoid whenever possible.



*
Straighten the next layer of hair. Once you have straightened the bottom layer of hair, unclip the next section and begin to straighten it using the same technique as before. The top layer of hair should be the last section of hair you straighten.



*
Examine your work in a mirror to make sure you didn't miss any sections. It can be easy to overlook a strand or two throughout the straightening process. Don't forget to check the back. If you spot any waves or kinks, just go over them with the straightener one more time.
  • You can check the back of your hair by standing with your back to a mirror while you hold a second mirror in your hands. You should be able to see the reflection of the back of your head in the hand-held mirror.


*
Style your hair. You may need to position the straightening iron in a certain way to get it out of your face or to help it style a certain way. Twist the iron slightly when you get to the end of each strand to create little flicks at the bottom.
  • It’s very important to do these touch ups before applying any finishing products because some styling products (such as hairspray) are flammable and can catch fire under the heat of a straightening iron.


*
Use a finishing product. You can use a silicone-based serum to add shine, or spray your hair with hair spray to hold your hair in place. Just don't add any mousse or water-based product as this will dampen the hair and cause it to turn wavy.

Natural Hair Conditioner Recipies



Hair Conditioner Recipies



1 : Tea-Lemon Conditioner


<> Boil tea leaves in a glass of water,strain,

<> mix juice of 1 lemon in it

<> Rinse with this liquid after shampoo.













2 : Lemon-Honey Conditioner


<> Mix ½ teaspoon honey,juice of 1 lemon in some water and wash the hair.Then rinse with clear water. 

<> Apply conditioner to hair after each hair wash.

<> Precaution should be taken that the conditioner does not touch the scalp. the conditioner should be applied on hair & hair tips.

<> For extra shine rinse the hair with vinegar.




 3 : Proteins rich food


Hair is made up of protein so take plenty food containing protein like milk, soybean, cereals,oats etc













4 : Aloe Vera based Conditioner 
<> Take a big ALOE VERA leaf and remove the gel from it.

<> This gel can either be mixed with water and used in the last in the last rinse or can be massaged on hair roots before taking bath.









5: Channa dal-Egg Conditioner

Apply paste of Channa Dal on the hair and wash it with the liquid strained after cooking rice.

<> Apply paste of egg white 
<> 2 teaspoon Castor oil
<> 1 teaspoon glycerine on scalp
<> Wash it with water after some time.



6 : Onion-Coconut Oil conditioner 

o Boil small onions in coconut oil
o Apply on hair.

o Then wash it with coriander leaves mixed in water strained from cooked rice.


7. Egg Conditioner Recipe (organic shampoo)


Ingredients:
* 4 teaspoon baby oil
* 2 egg yolk
* 2 cup water 


Directions: Beat the egg yolk until its frothy, add the oil then beat again. Add to the water. Massage into the scalp and throughout your hair. Rinse well.
Use fresh.

straightening hair



  • If your blow dryer has a cool setting, turn that setting on after drying it fully. It makes the hair appear shinier, just like rinsing your hair with cool water will.
  • Use a wide tooth comb and as you comb through, just follow with your straightener behind. This works really well because this way your straightener gets each individual strand much better.
  • Make sure you don't add any oils to your hair before you straighten it, because it will fry your hair. Just imagine what happens to a french fry in oil.
  • Divide it into sections. If you have thick hair, take really small sections, but if you have thin hair you can take bigger sections.
  • Another type of straightener that can help straighten without damaging is an ionic or wet-to-dry straightener. Instead of using two heated plates, it acts as a blow-dryer, causing less damage and frizz.
  • If it's rainy or very humid outside, try not to walk or be outside for too long or else the humidity will cause your hair to frizz.
  • When blow-drying your hair, make sure the hairdryer is pointing down (i.e. with the “grain” of the hair, not against it), which shines your hair. You may also want to apply a heat protection spray before blow-drying.
  • Pull the straighteners upward (as opposed to straight down) to get straight hair but with volume at the roots.
  • Always have plenty of hair ties on hand to hold your hair in place when going from section to section..
  • To maintain your straightening pls read  http://freebeautytipsandtricks.blogspot.in/2013/08/maintaining-straight-hair-at-home.html

Friday, August 30, 2013

Brighten Your Face In 20 Min.

Cut a slice of ripe papaya and remove the seeds and pulp (save the pulp for a snack later—it’s great for digestion). Rub the inside of the papaya peel on your cleansed face, focusing on lines around the mouth and eyes, crow’s feet, thinning temples, neck and hands. Let it dry for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse with tepid water. This mask can be done twice a week. “The enzymes in papaya exfoliate, repair sun damage, diminish age spots and smooth skin. Your skin will look brighter, with a more polished finish,” says Macan-Graves.

5 Steps To Do Facial At Home

And now you do not have to spend long hours at parlours and spend thousands for that perfect facial. You can easily do the facial at home by following some simple tips. This saves a lot time and money and you are aware of the products you use on your face.

Facials have been loved and used by women since ancient times. There are many types of facials at home available nowadays such as fruit facial, gold facial, diamond facial, pearl facial, chocolate and many more. But before indulging in any of these facials, you should be aware of your skin type and then select the facial suitable for your skin type. Following are a few on how to do a facial at home along with the most popular facials suitable for indian skin.

A. Fruit Facial:

 Fruit facial is suitable for all skin types especially for sensitive skin. It contains natural fruit acids and extracts, which is natural and has no side effects. The fruit facial hydrates and moisturizes the skin naturally. It removes the dead cells and gives you an instant glow naturally.
  • Fruits such as plums, oranges and peaches contain high amounts of vitamin C, which provide a glow to your face. They also contain anti oxidants which helps to fight the signs of ageing.
  • Papaya and banana helps to remove the tan.
  • Strawberries help to get rid of the blemishes and dark spots.
Thus the fruit facial hydrates, polishes and shines your skin giving you youthful glow.
For doing skin facial at home, you could either buy the fruit facial kit from the market or prepare your own kit at home by using fresh fruits.

How To Do Facial At Home

Step 1: Cleansing:

Firstly you have to clean up your face to remove the excess oil, grease and dirt. For this you can use a cream based fruit facewash such as Everyuth cream face wash which contains peach, aloe and wild cherry or Lakme fruit facewash (melon, strawberry etc).
After cleansing your face with cool water, pat dry your face using a soft towel.

Step 2: Exfoliation

A good exfoliation helps to get rid of dead cells, sebum and leftover dirt on the face. Depending skin pores on your skin type, you can choose the fruit suitable for your skin. Banana and avocado scrub for dry skin, orange or lemon scrub for oily skin, peach and strawberry for sensitive skin.
  • Orange scrub:

In 3 teaspoon of fresh orange juice, add 2 teaspoon of oats and form a paste. Scrub gently on your face with circular motions. Wash off after 5 minutes. This is suitable for oily and combination skin.
  • Lemon scrub:

Just mix 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, honey and sugar to form a paste. Scrub gently and keep for 5 minutes. This scrub is suitable for all seasons and also reduces blemishes and dark spots.
  • Papaya scrub

In 2 teaspoon of mashes papaya pulp, add a teaspoon of sugar granules, oats and honey. Make a paste and scrub gently using circular motions. Keep for 5 minutes and wash off with water.
  • Water melon scrub

Mix ¼ cup of fresh watermelon juice with 3 teaspoon of gram flour to form a smooth paste. Scrub and keep for 3 minutes before rinsing with cool water. This scrub is ideal for all skin types as it is hydrating and rejuvenates the skin instantly.

Step 3: Massaging

After proper cleansing and exfoliation, massaging is the next important step. A good massage with a suitable massage cream or gel increases the blood circulation in your facial area which reduces wrinkles and pigmentation, making the skin look young and radiant. It also softens your skin and tones the facial muscles.  It also encourages healthy sebum production which helps to keep your skin cells moisturized.
You can choose from the following massage creams and prepare on your own at home
  • Banana cream – mash ripe banana pulp with yoghurt and honey to make a paste and use it to massage on the face.
  • Strawberry cream – fresh strawberry pulp mixed with a teaspoon of cream can be used as a massage cream for dry skin.
  • Lemon and honey – honey, gram flour and lemon juice is mixed in proportion to get a smooth paste. This massage cream is suitable for oily skin.
  • Step 4: Fruit pack

    Indulge in your favourite  fruit pack by using fruits suitable for your skin type. You can use different types of fruits to get rid of your skin troubles. After applying the pack, keep for 15-20 minutes till the pack dries completely. In the mean time, you listen to your favourite music or read magazines. Wash off the pack with cool water to reveal a soft, supple and glowing skin.
    The various fruit packs are:
    Papaya- lemon pack or Lemon, honey and yoghurt pack or Cucumber, rose water and lemon pack. These face packs are suitable for all skin types and also reduce tan and blemishes.
    Multani mitti, cucumber and lemon pack, orange juice, milk and gram flour pack, papaya, multani mitti and honey pack etc are other options to choose from for your fruit pack.

    Step 5: moisturising

    The final step of the fruit facial is to moisturize the skin. Use a cream based moisturiser if you have normal to dry skin or use a gel based moisturizer for oily to combination skin. After applying the moisturiser, leave it on the skin for sometime so that the cells can absorb it well.
    Use a moisturiser which contains fruits like banana, peach, milk, strawberry, honey or cherry. They hydrate the skin by restoring the natural moisture in the skin thus making it soft and supple.