How to Straighten Your Hair Naturally: 5 Home Remedies

For years, a straightener has been a girl's best friend as well as a worst enemy. Especially the kind we had years back, which were heavy to hold, too hot to handle or would leave behind a burning smell. Thanks to good technology, we have now moved on to better products, which are light and easy on the hair and also comes with a really long chord, so you don't have to be glued to a plug point. But, I'm digressing. If you use a straightener (this or any other) every day, over a long period of time, the damages are high as you put your hair in harm's way.

Here are some common problems you could encounter:

1. It can dry out your hair because the heat makes your hair loose moisture. This could cause frizziness and split ends.

2. It can weaken your hair over time, also leading to hair fall and thinning of hair.

3. Straightening you hair daily could lead to lack of shine and lustre. The hair could lose its natural glossy finish and deep colour.

How to Straighten Your Hair, Naturally

While you can use the iron on special occasions (not more than two to three times a week), for natural looking straight hair, you can resort to any one of these home remedies. Not only will they tame your hair, they will also nourish them, making them look straight, shiny, healthy and voluminous.

1. Multani Mitti

The benefits of Fuller's earth, also known as multanu mitti, are very well known, but very few are aware of the fact that it's not just great  for your skin but even your hair. Take multani mitti powder and add some water to it to make a paste. Slowly rub it on your hair, ensuring that you have covered the roots and the scalp. Now, run a comb through your hair and leave it on for an hour or so. Wash with warm water and let the magic happen.

2. Whole Milk and Eggs

Take 1 cup milk, 2 eggs and whip it slowly for a minute or so. Then dip your hair in this mix for 10-15 minutes. It's going to be smelly, but squeeze out the mix from your hair, tie them in a bun and cover it for an hour or so. Wash with a milk shampoo and see the result!

3. Coconut Milk and Lime Juice

We've established that coconut milk is extremely nourishing for the hair. Now, take a cup of coconut milk and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, juice from half a lemon and 2 teaspoons of corn-starch. Heat this mix for a few minutes, let it cool down and apply to your hair. Let this mix sit for an hour or so and then wash off.

4. Aloe-Vera Gel

Boil a cup of hot water and add 3 teaspoons of flaxseeds in it. Let it boil on a low flame and then let it cool. Now, take 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 teaspoon castor oil and 2 teaspoon honey, mix and stir. Now apply the mix on damp hair and leave it till it dries. Wash with warm water and blot dry.

5. Banana and Honey Pack

Mash a banana, add some honey, 1/2 cup of yoghurt and two tablespoons of olive oil. Apply this on your hair and wrap a towel around it for an hour or so. Wash your hair with water and let it dry naturally.

Some other tips that can help reduce the wave:

1. After you wash your hair, and it's still a bit damp at the tips, twist it really tight and then roll it up into a tight bun. Let this bun sit at the bottom of your neck. Leave it for as long as you can, or at least till your hair dries completely.

2. Before you sleep, part your hair at the centre, like you do when you're about to make two ponytails on either sides. Take one part of the hair and tie a rubber band close to the scalp, then tie another rubber band one inch apart. Continue to do so right till the end. Take all of these off only in the morning.

3. Take 1 cup of milk and put it in a spray bottle. An hour or 30 minutes before you shower, spray your hair with milk. Do this every time before you wash your hair and you'll find your hair to be wave-free in just a few washes.

read more...

Vitamins for Skin: A Guide to a Healthier, Radiant You

Real beauty isn't about being picture perfect. You should be able to admire and feel good about yourself even after you remove that mascara and clear away the film of foundation and concealer off our face. Haven't we all wondered how some people manage to look so effortlessly beautiful? Let's face it, makeup is transitory and if you are hiding away dark circles and pigmentation through cosmetic products, it will begin to show sooner or later. On the other hand, what you eat has a direct correlation to how you look. Even the intake of water has a big role to play because if you are dehydrated, it will leave your skin looking dry, flaky and lifeless.

Before you begin to resort to external application to set things right, look within and ask yourself if your eating habits are in place. Sometimes the lack of essential micro-nutrients can steal away the much needed glow and radiance off you face. According to dermatologists, nutritionists and medical experts, Vitamins A, E, K, C, and D are vital for a healthy skin.

"Vitamin C helps in lightening the skin. It is great for fighting spots and blemishes. Vitamin D enhances the elasticity of skin and makes it suppler. It also prevents skin from sagging. Vitamin E acts as a moisturising agent and prevents drying and wrinkling. Vitamin K makes the skin look brighter and radiant and fights fine lines and dark circles," shared Suparna Trikha, a leading Delhi-based skin and beauty expert.

Here's listing out the essential vitamins for the skin -

1. Vitamin A

It facilitates elimination of stratum corneum - the outermost layer of skin with dirt and dead cells - and the formation of new cells. Sweet potatoes, carrots, fish, bell peppers and green leafy vegetables are some of the best sources of Vitamin A. The micronutrient fights thinning of skin and makes it firmer.

2. Vitamin C

According to hair and skin expert, Dr. Deepali Bhardwaj, "Vitamin C is an absolute essential in your skincare regime. It comes packed with anti-ageing properties and is used in many anti-wrinkle creams. It increases collagen production."

You can add Vitamin C to your diet in the form of citrus fruits, tomatoes, kiwi, cauliflower, cabbage and brussel sprouts. Amla juice is also a good source of Vitamin C and helps boost immunity. Topical application of Vitamin C is also good for the skin. One of the common ways to apply Vitamin C on your skin is by adding lemon juice to face masks and packs. "Vitamin C is acidic, so make sure you don't overdo it. Dilute it with water and do not apply daily. Make sure you don't pair Vitamin C enriched foods with milk products. Consuming foods enriched with Vitamin C along with iron rich foods will enhance the efficacy and absorption of the nutrient better," noted Dr. Bhardwaj.

3. Vitamin D

Another vital micro-nutrient for the skin, the best way to soak it in is through sunlight. The sunshine vitamin has been used to treat skin disorders like psoriasis and skin inflammation. Add salmon, eggs, milk, mushroom and orange juice in your diet to load up on Vitamin D. Vitamin D is also known to enhance the skin's immune system and protect it against infections.

4. Vitamin E

This is an absolute essential for the nourishment of your skin. Food items like almonds, avocado, tomato, spinach, hazelnuts and fish are excellent to meet your everyday Vitamin E requirement. Vitamin E oil and capsules are easily available in medical stores. A few drops of the oil can be used on your skin or added to your face packs or masks. Coconut oil and olive oil are also enriched with Vitamin E. Take a few drops and message gently onto your face and let it rest. Those with oily skin condition must get in touch with a skin care expert before applying any of the above mentioned ingredients.

5. Vitamin K

Vitamin K is known to guard the skin against arterial calcification (accumulation of calcium in the arteries, which could lead to heart diseases) and keep the skin elastin in proper health, making it smooth and supple. Vitamin K also facilitates the production of certain proteins essential for healthy skin cells. It helps keep a check on acne and associated spotting. Sprouts, spinach, kiwi, tuna and dairy products are some of the ingredients that will help you load up on Vitamin K.

Other Essentials

"Vitamin B is also essential for the skin. It soothes the blood vessels and checks skin ageing and inflammation. Selenium is another such nutrient; it speeds up the skin's natural repair pace and helps protect against sun damage as well." concluded Dr. Bharadwaj. Deficiency of B Vitamins can lead to skin irritation. Flavonoids commonly found in chocolates and green tea are also important for skin maintenance.

Natural extracts derived from plants, fruits and veggies have now been studied for their skin benefiting properties. Lycopene extracted from fresh tomatoes has already been touted for its skin benefits, and so are other natural extracts such as resveratrol (from grapes), genistein (from soy), papain (from papaya) which are loaded with antioxidants essential for the skin.

read more...

5 Beauty Secrets to Glow Like a Goddess This Festive Season

The very mention of the coming festivals fills one with the urge to look their best. It's the time of celebration, with numerous functions to attend to with friends and families and rejoice the grandeur of the Maa. I believe in the famous quote, "a thing of beauty is a joy forever," not only in how we beautify ourselves but in our surroundings too.

For this year's festivities, I have selected some of my secret and most exotic recipes to make you resonate like the goddess herself. So start early and discipline your beauty regime like a prayer to be recited every day. Here they are -

1. Gold Mist

This mist was used by the Mughal princesses. It takes days to make and needs to be solarised but you can have your very own version at home. Not only does it bring a glow to the skin and make the skin supple, the precious metals are known to rejuvenate the skin and have anti-ageing effects on it.

How to prepare: Take 2 gold coins and 100ml spring water and boil for 20 minutes, and then let it stand for one hour. Strain into a spray bottle. Store in the fridge and spray on your skin twice a day. If you do not have gold coins, you can use pure silver coins.

2. Nut Scrub

I have found that exfoliation or 'scrubbing as it is commonly known, helps cleanse and tone the skin as it removes dead skin and nourishes the epidermal layer depending on what ingredients you use. I find the use of dry fruits and herbs extremely beneficial to bring a resonating glow to the skin and one of my favourite recipes for stunning skin proved over and over again is as follows -

How to prepare: Soak 1/2 teaspoon saffron for 20 minutes in 4 teaspoon full fat milk. Powder 10 almonds and 5 pistachios. Take 5 figs and ground to a paste by adding a little milk and mixing in 2 teaspoon sandalwood powder. Now take the saffron milk and stir in all the ingredients and apply to clean and dry skin for 20 minutes. Dab with fresh orange juice when dry and scrub off. If you have dry skin then dab with honey water, which can be made by adding 1 teaspoon of honey to 5 teaspoon of mineral water. Wash with cold water.

3. Goodness of Honey

Massage your hands and feet with honey and apply a pack of the following ingredients-

Take 2 teaspoon hibiscus flower paste and 2 teaspoon rose petal paste. Mix with 1tsp full cream and spread on the hands and feet, and wash off after 10 minutes. Not only will they become softer and nourished but also reduce any ageing lines and wrinkles.

4. Hair Pack

The hair plays an important role in the way you look and feel. If you are prone to bad hair days then you need to work on it in advance with regular oiling and herbal hair masks that not only nourish and strengthen the hair but also provide shine and lustre. The use of Mahabhringraj oil and Brahmi Amla helps dissuade dandruff and scalp infections, and these herbs are known to promote hair growth and make your hair thicker and healthier.

You can make the following hair mask to nourish and add shine to dull, lifeless hair -

2tsp amla powder

2tsp fenugreek seed powder

2tsp reetha powder

2tsp shikakai powder

2tsp triphala powder

How to prepare: Mix all the ingredients well with 2 beaten eggs or half a cup of yoghurt and apply to the hair from the root to the ends and leave on for 45 minutes. Shampoo off with a mild herbal shampoo. This treatment should be done once a week for effective results.

5. Flower Power

I have tried this flower-based hair mask and believe me, it has fabulous results-

1 cup marigold flower paste

1 cup hibiscus leaf and hibiscus flower paste

1/2 cup rose petal paste

How to prepare: Mix well together and apply on hair. Keep covered with a shower cap. You can either shampoo with a paste of multani mitti or a mild flower extract herbal shampoo that will have stunning results.

Revel in these exceptional recipes and look your best. The secret lies in being as disciplined about your beauty ritual as you are with your prayers to the Gods. Remember, to glow naturally you have to learn to worship your body and be kind to it.

read more...

Your Guide to Radiant Skin: 3 Expert Ayurvedic Tips

It is an inherent need and desire to look good and feel wonderful. However, daily stress, pollution and the natural ageing process can take a heavy toll on our hair and skin. Across the world, we are witnessing a return to natural, organic solutions for our hair and skin care woes as we genuinely crave to reduce the chemicals we have to use. Ayurveda, the ancient practice of elements which restore balance to our body, is more than just lip service and has a well thought through approach to natural beauty and wellness solutions. Ayurvedic formulas not only help your skin to be healthy but also rejuvenate it. Ayurveda is the most natural form of care and it makes you look good by cleansing from the inside, leaving you feeling more invigorated.

This ancient 5000-year-old Indian science is meant for a healthy body, beautiful skin and a calmer mind. It has many health and wellness properties for skin problems likeacne, pimples during teenage years and aging skin for adults. Ayurveda is a long term solution for healthy skin, hair and overall wellness.

Skin care tips based on Ayurvedic remedies help in getting maximum results with no side effects. It is best to utilize this easy yet powerful knowledge to get good, healthy, glowing skin. However, the efficacy of Ayurveda also depends on the source of materials used. It is not enough to just use natural and Ayurvedic products but also to be particular about the source they originate from, and how ethically they are sourced. This can be a predictor of how much they will actually help you in your beauty and wellness journey.

Listed below are a few tips that can help you get healthy and glowing skin:

1. Keep it clean - Increasing pollution levels and toxins present in the products we consume harm the skin more than one can realize. The damage is silent and can affect one's health and skin in the long run, making it more prone to skin problems andallergies. Therefore, it's important to regularly cleanse the body from inside and out. Use face washes that are suitable for your skin type and are free from harsh cleansers like SLS/SLES which can strip your skin of natural oils. Herbs like neem and nutgrass are good for oily skin while honey and rose are more suited for dry skin. On a regular basis use a deep cleanser and you may be surprised to know that oil based cleansers are gentle yet highly effective in removing dirt and grime which can block the pores. Above all, drink plenty of water and detox yourself by eating herbs like Triphala and Guggul.

2. Heal yourself - Ayurveda views beauty problems as health anomalies and therefore seeks to heal them rather than artificially repair them.Turmeric, for example, has great medicinal and healing properties and is used in many Ayurvedic formulations. It's an old tradition to have milk with turmeric to accelerate recovery from an injury. Similarly, external application of turmeric can help repair skin damage caused by excessive exposure to harsh sun or wind, aloe vera can soothe irritated skin and Manjishta can restore radiance. For cracked lips, you can use a little bit of Ghee.

3. Nurture and protect - Healthy skin can be our best defense, both against external factors as well as the natural process of ageing. However, with the right habits it's possible to look our best at all stages of our life. An ideal regime should boost our immunity and replace elements that may be lost during the course of our daily life. Oils have an important role to play. Full of natural fatty acids and minerals, oils like sesame,almond and coconut can restore vitality and suppleness to the skin and strength to the hair. On the other hand, herbs like tulsi and amla are full of natural antioxidants that boost our immunity and should be part of both our dietary regime and skin care.

As far as possible use organic oils and herbs as they ensure you get 100% nutrients and are protected from heavy metals and pesticides.

read more...

Tips To Reduce Eyes’ Wrinkles

Listen This Article

How to remove wrinkles?
Youth is so much loving and beautiful that no body wants to be looked old. It is fact that some people looks old and get wrinkled in early age; while some faces remain healthy and
wrinkle free even with aging old.

Is it possible to remove wrinkles for ever?
Wrinkles are silent indication of being aged; this fact by almost has being tried to reject. Actually wrinkles are very much hard to be removed permanently; it is possible to delay their appearance with respect to age. Even so called wrinkle removing creams and lotions seems to be claiming to remove wrinkles but practically none of them is 100% successful to remove the wrinkles for ever. Some of them works well but have temporary effect on wrinkles.

How it can be delayed?
Wrinkles are ground reality of aging which can not be denied. However the onset of wrinkles is possible to be delayed as much as allowed naturally by avoiding the factors involved to create wrinkles.

Tips to Avoid Reasons of Wrinkles
Here some guidelines are given in order to avoid the harmful factors resulting in wrinkles.

Avoid UV Rays of Sunshine
Sun light having UV rays affects the skin badly and causes dryness of the skin; reluctantly wrinkles are appeared. In order to avoid it use sunscreen and when ever you have to go outside in the sun, umbrella or sun hat should be used. Also avoid unnecessary sun bathes or wandering in sunlight for long time. Even manage your shopping and other activities avoiding peak hours of sun light as much as possible.

Avoid Sleep Deprivation
Sleeplessness has adverse affect on skin and cause wrinkles. Have a good sleep and avoid late night waking habit. It is also pertinent to mention that you should try to adopt good sleeping posture in order to avoid pressing your face skin on hard pillows or under your arms.

Avoid Over Washing the Skin
In order to avoid dryness of skin, do not over wash it with strong soaps frequently; Natural oily skin may be damaged and turned into dry.

Skin Moisturizing
After every wash and bathing you should moisturize your skin with a good quality moisturizer. Daily moisturizing the skin may reduce the risk of wrinkles and keeps your skin flexible, fresh and beautiful.

Keep Smiling
Keep smiling and avoid emotional expressions to be continued resulting wrinkles. Try to find out your face expressions in mirror which are making wrinkle lines and try avoiding these.

Emotional Satisfaction
Face expression are very much related to your emotional changes like, depression, fear, hate, love, anger and stress. Try to be happy and avoid being oversensitive to pretty things. As much you remain satisfied and happy your face looks fresh and beautiful. On the other hand your worries, tensions and depression may draw wrinkle lines on your face.

Avoid Dehydration
Try to manage healthy intake of water in order to avoid skin dryness and wrinkles.

Must watch video about this article

read more...

Tips For Nail Polishing

By the following tips given below and making an effort to have healthy and beautiful nails, you will have better-looking hands. You may also consider getting a hand massage to boost circulation, encourage nail growth, and best of all pamper you, your hands, and fingernails.

Nail Polish Remover
Wipe your nails with nail polish remover in order to prepare them for polish. In this way any greasy layer will be removed from your nails and resultantly your polish will last longer.

Dry before Second Coat If it is required to apply another layer of nail polish. It is necessary to let nail polish dry completely before applying another coat.
Apply Thin Coats It is much better and effective method to apply several thin coats of nail polish to your fingernails instead of one thick coat. In this way the polish will dry faster and will last longer.
Avoid Overuse of Nail Polish More than once or twice a week, removing and reapplying the nail polish is harmful for the nails and results in drying out your nails.

Good Quality Remover The best nail polish remover is, that contains moisturizers in it. It is helpful for moisturizing the nails and limiting the harmful aspect of the remover.

Nail Polish Protection For the better use of your nail polish and to keep your nail polish becoming dry, wipe the mouth of bottle after each use with the help of wet cotton with nail polish remover.

Store at Cool Place To avoid consistency change in your nail polish, it is believed by most experts to keep the nail polish bottle in the refrigerator.

Emergency Polishing In case, if you haven’t sufficient time for proper nail polishing, then you may rub on a buffing cream on your nails and shine them using chamois buffer. Very pretty and natural look you will find in this way.

Must watch video about this article

read more...

Tips For Manicure

Tips for Manicure – Procedural Steps / Purpose of manicure

1. Prevent hang – nail formation.
2. Prevents nail damages like splits, tears, and fragile tips.
3. The accompanying massage of the hands improve and increase the blood circulation, suppleness and flexibility of the hands and wrist.
4. Discourages wrinkling of the skin on the hand, which is one of the first body part to show the sign of aging.

Implements
Nail cutter
Nail filer
Orange stick
Cuticle pusher
Nail brush

Material
Acetone
Liquid soap
Oil or cream
Warm water
Antiseptic lotion
Nail polish

Procedure
1. Remove the old polish with acetone using cotton.

2. Shape the nail using nail cutter and nail filer.

3. Dip and soak the hands in luke warm water to which liquid soap or shampoo is added.

4. Wash the hand with cold clear water and then wipe fingers with a soft towel.

5. Clean the nail using orange stick and cotton dipped in Antiseptic lotion.

6. Buff the cuticle with some cream.

7. Push the cuticle back gently using cuticle pusher.

8. Massage the hands for five minutes.
9. Apply the first coat of nail polish

10. When the first coat is dried and hard apply the second coat. Do not dab but stroke in on with three even strokes starting at the base and sweeping up to the top.

read more...