The more foam, the better the results

Don’t be fooled by models in shampoo commercials lathering up huge amounts of foam on their scalp. This may cause you to overuse your shampoo. A coin-sized amount of shampoo is enough to lubricate both hair and scalp. In fact, too much foam means a helping of shampoo that is way more than what is required. It’s the ingredients in the shampoo and not the foam that cleans the hair.

Medicated shampoos are the best

Medicated shampoos are used to treat scalp problems and shouldn’t be used as regular shampoos. Moreover, they should only be used on the recommendation of a doctor and should be discontinued once the problem has been solved. Also, it’s recommended to avoid using conditioners while using medicated shampoos.

Baby shampoo is great for adults because it is gentle

All shampoos contain some proportion of detergents. The amount of detergents in baby shampoos is low, which is what makes them milder than adult shampoos. However, they may not be sufficient to clean adult hair that is exposed to dust, pollution and styling products. Baby shampoos may suit some people with very fine hair but are not the best option for all.

Combing your hair after you’ve shampooed it helps in even distribution of shampoo

Wet hair is fragile and prone to breakage. Also, the combing after applying the shampoo does not help in any way. Once the shampoo is evenly applied on the hair and scalp, use finger tips to gently massage the scalp and clean the hair. Any detangling hair should be done before one gets into the shower or after the hair has dried.

The less frequently you shampoo, the more the oil on your scalp

Our scalp secretes the same amount of oil every day irrespective of our hair wash routine. So cutting back or increasing the frequency of washing your hair has no effect on the sebaceous gland’s ability to secrete oil. It’s important to rinse the hair well and not leave any residue of shampoo as it can cause itching and lead to dandruff.

For best results shampoo twice

Not necessarily. It depends on how greasy your hair is or if your hair contains oil or styling products. If your hair is dry or has been recently shampooed, then the second helping only strips the natural oils and will make your hair frizzy.

This was first published in the July 2012 issue of Complete Wellbeing

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Before the visit

• Make an appointment. Even if you are a regular client at a salon, never drop in without an appointment. The salon staff has to reschedule and juggle several appointments—which is uncomfortable and unwelcome as it means losing the goodwill of another customer.
• When you call to fix your appointment, if you are choosy about which professional attends you, specify the name or ask which therapist will be allotted to you. If you’ve had a not-so-good experience with someone in the past, request for another person. It ensures that you get the treatment you have in mind, and avoids disappointments.
• Before leaving for the salon, confirm the appointment. While a time slot has been blocked for you and most reputed salons would call if the same has to be deferred, it doesn’t hurt to make that one call just in case your designated therapist is running late. By doing this, you will save your time [waiting for your therapist to get free] and the risk of losing your temper in front of the salon staff and other guests.
• Discuss beforehand the time required for the service to avoid your salon time from affecting other commitments. It also puts you in the correct frame of mind for the service.
• Double check the payment mode accepted at the salon to avoid embarrassment.
• Shower before you go. Most people deem salon visits as a time to freshen themselves up. While this is true, salon professionals are happier servicing you when you come in fresh and clean and not straight out of the bed.

During the visit

• Arrive on time. Turning up ‘fashionably’ late doesn’t impress anyone at the salon. If you arrive late, be prepared for a cancellation as there are other clients with an appointment too.
• If you’ve had to rush to arrive on time, request for a 5 – 10 minute ‘get my breath back’ time. No point rushing into the treatment.
• Instead of blindly following the lead, spend enough time with your therapist/ stylist to convey the style you want and to hear her out on what may work best. A mutual agreement is always the best way forward.
• It’s best not to bring friends/family/children along unless they are getting a treatment too. If you do get them, ask them to wait in the visitors lounge. Getting them to your chair crowds the area and distracts the therapist.
• Avoid the temptation to fidget with your cell phone; nothing irritates a stylist more than a client who keeps checking her phone every now and then or worse, who talks endlessly during a service.
• Respect another client’s privacy and peace of mind by speaking softly. You might be the talking type, but there are those who love to close their eyes and simply enjoy the sensations.
• People like their space, so apart from a simple ‘hello’, avoid lengthy discussions with other clients unless it’s mutually agreeable.
• Respect the therapist’s schedule and time by not pressing for another service that is not part of your appointment; chances are she already has an appointment soon after yours. If you feel like going for another service, check the therapist’s availability.
• Before your therapist starts, make sure that s/he understands what you are expecting. Always take time to give your feedback—what you liked and what you didn’t. When you give feedback, do keep in mind to do it with the objective of creating a positive realm for the technician even though her/his service may not have lived up to your expectations and not to merely criticise.
• Write down your experiences in the visitors’ book or fill the feedback forms. This ensures the salon is always a happy place for you to go to. If you’ve had a really bad experience, write to the management citing where things could have been better. Again, the motive here is to bring the standard up and not to demotivate and hence, use polite language.

Following these suggestions will ensure that you’re on the preferred client list.

This was first published in April 2012 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

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Know the facts

The reason why you do not have sweat running down into your eyes is because your eyebrows act as ‘sweatbands’. The eyebrows help keep moisture away from our eyes, when we sweat or walk around in the rain. Without them, it would be very difficult to go about performing simple, daily chores because our eyes would always be in tears.

Shape it right

Identifying the right shape for your eyebrows may prove to be an interesting challenge for many. This is because every face requires a customised eyebrow style. Well-shaped eyebrows help to accentuate your face structure.

• Arched: If you have a wide jaw and a round cheek, the arched shape eyebrows are perfect for you. This shape adds proportion and broadens up the appearance of the eye and is ideal, especially if you have very thick brows.
• Angled: For those of you with a round or wide face, angled brow shapes are best. Considered as one of the most attractive among all eyebrow shapes, the angled shape provides a vertical line to the face making it look slimmer.
• Curved: A face with sharp and angular features needs a curved eyebrow shape. This tones down the heavy look of the face and adds softness to the overall facial look.
• Flat: For those with widely spaced eyes and a narrow face, a flat eyebrow style is recommended. This helps the face to look slightly broader and helps reduce the gap between the eyes.
• Round: The round and fuller eyebrow is best for those with a wide forehead or large eyes.

Keep it professional

Always trust the hands of a professional rather than yours when it comes to shaping eyebrows. This is especially true if you are a first timer. A professional will use either waxing or threading as a medium to shape your brows.

Groom it at home

Many people neglect maintaining their brows once they move out of the technician’s chair. However, everyone must invest in a good pair of tweezers and a brow brush and regularly pluck out the new hair to keep your brow area neat and trim. Avoid removing hair along the arch line as this could break the shape of the brow. Instead focus on those near the eyelids and in between the brows. Let me give you a few must-know tips:

• Purchase a tweezer that has a slant edge and a rough textured point as this can grip hair firmly while plucking out.
• To numb the area and lessen pain, place ice cubes a few minutes before plucking hair out.
• Always ensure there is sufficient light to pull out the right hair and the right amount.

Grow them a little

Too many people are bugged by very sparse eyebrow growth whether they have inherited it or have it due to any other reason. A disciplined regime will ensure improved growth:

• Olive oil or castor oil: Massage your brows with either of these oils every night before hitting the bed.
• Milk: Squeeze a little onto your brows daily.
• Vitamins: Ensure a good intake of vitamins daily; it helps in hair growth.

Keep up with the trend

Apart from the methods mentioned above, the latest trend available is the permanent eyebrow shaping. In this method, a few sessions are required to ‘own’ a beautiful shape of your choice and as befitting to the shape of your face.

And finally, love that arch of hair that seems so little and yet adds the radiance that makes you a beautiful person.

This was first published in the February 2010 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

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Make light work

There is a fine line connecting similarities or differences between day and evening make-up—lighting.

During the day, we are exposed to different types of light—sunlight and artificial light. Even within artificial lighting, there are differences between the incandescent light we are exposed to at home and the fluorescent lighting we are exposed to at work.

The light that falls on our face affects the way our make-up looks. Hence, you need to change the style of your make-up depending on the kind of light at that time.

Normally, corporate parties use fluorescent light. So do pubs and other hang-outs, which are bright and fun. These kinds of lightings are known to sharpen your make-up, which creates an altogether different colour from the one you painstakingly wore at home.

Follow the rules

Here’s what you need to know about evening make-up.

• Stick to neutral shades under fluorescent lights. Such lights enhance deep or very dark pink blush in an artificial way.
• Use minimal or completely avoid golden and yellow tones—they look deadly.
• Avoid using bronzers.
• Use foundation sparingly. If you’re using powder foundation, dust off any excess with a pad or sponge.
• Stick to eye shadows in shades of blue, peach, and green. Keep away from the darker hues.
• If you’re headed to a home party, which will have incandescent lighting, soften your make-up colours. Here, you will have an opportunity to experiment more with colours by trying out contrasting, bright and bolder shades. If you’re dark-skinned, try plum and wine colours. The light-skinned should go for browns, dark and bright reds are a definite bet.

Do it in a jiffy

Sometimes we don’t even have 15 minutes to dress up our face for an evening party. Here’s how you can convert your day-time make-up into an evening make-up in an instant:

• Cleanse your face with a light cotton ball or a face cleaner. Leave your eye make-up on.
• Moisturise and apply foundation with a light sponge.
• Apply powder sparingly if your face gives off that extra shine.
• Re-apply eye liner to make it one shade darker than your daytime look.
• Give a touch-up with the blusher for that fresh look.
• Use a double coat of mascara. Since you are re-applying. Take care that it does not feel and look too heavy.
• Apply fresh lipstick—a shade darker will do just fine.
• Apply lip gloss for an extra oomph.

While most people are under the impression that make-up colours give them a personality, it is actually the lighting that decides, which colour reflects good on you.

The next time you plan to do your make-up, take extra care to understand the kind of party you’re headed to. Then use these tricks to become a show-stopper.

The post Evening make-up tips appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Choose the best option

There are six types of foundations. You can choose the one that best suits your skin type and tone.

Liquid foundation

Perhaps the friendliest foundation on the shelf, liquid foundation suits most skin types and gives a natural and subtle look. It is available in two variants—oil and water based formulas.

Water-based foundations are easy to blend and even out on the face as they contain emollient that covers the skin smoothly with a hint of sheen.

Oil-based foundations are greasy and thick. They blend in well giving the skin a dewy, moist and healthy glow.

Recommended for: Water-based foundations are best for people with oily skin, while oil-based foundations are good for people with dry skin.

Cream foundation

Cream foundations have moisturising properties and are heavier to use. Look for sodium hyaluronate and petrolatum in your foundations as these ingredients add to the creaminess of foundations.

Recommended for: People with wrinkled and extremely dry skin.

Cake or stick foundation

Foundations in this category give out a matte or dry finish effect. They are a little difficult to use as they are not creamy or liquid, but are good for occasional use. For those with acne-prone skin, look for the word ‘non-comedogenic’ on the label, or salicylic acid in the ingredients. These ingredients will help keep pores clearer and curb new breakouts.

Recommended for: Those with oily and acne-prone skin.

Waterproof foundation

In places where humidity is high, a waterproof foundation works best as they are water-resistant and thus ensures that your make-up stays intact for longer.

Recommended for: People living in sweltering conditions.

Powder foundation

Powder foundation comes in two variants—loose and pressed powder. Giving a semi-matte or matte appearance, powder foundation is non-messy and is capable of covering most areas with ease.

Recommended for: Oily-skinned people.

Mineral foundation

A new entrant, mineral foundation is one that is free of preservatives. A powder-like form, this type of foundation gives a smooth and silky finish to your skin.

Recommended for: People with sensitive or allergy-prone skin.

Apply it in style

A clean face and clean hands are a must before you start working on your foundation. Identify any particular area or spot that you would like to cover up so that proper attention is devoted to that.The foundation needs to be spread out evenly and lightly. Start by applying dots of foundation on your cheeks, chin forehead and tip of the nose. Use a sponge, brush or your finger tips to blend the dots.

If required, spread it out evenly onto the rest of your face. Pay special attention to your hair and jaw line so that no obvious line is left behind.

Wash it off

While foundation ensures a glowing face with intact make-up, do not forget to remove it however tired or busy you may feel at the end of the day.

• Use a make-up remover to do the needful keeping your skin type in mind. If you have a dry skin, a gel or creamy cleanser works best while those with sensitive skin should avoid products with alcohol or fragrance. Those with normal skin have more option and can thus choose from gels, creams or liquid cleansers.
• Use your finger tips to apply the cleanser on your face and gently rub it in circular motion. Repeat this for a little longer if you have used very heavy foundation.
• Wipe away the cleanser with a soft cloth or cotton ball.
• Rinse remaining foundation, if any, with cold water.
• Finally don’t forget to apply a moisturiser [as per your skin type].

Keep them in mind

• Buy a foundation that is closest to your skin colour.
• In case of combination skin, determine the type most widespread in your skin and purchase a foundation accordingly.
• Go for yellow-based foundations as they look natural on all skin types.
• Try pink-based foundations if you are light-skinned.
• Test the foundation by applying a thin line of colour on your jaw line before buying it.
• Ensure that your face and neck end up in the same colour.
• Do not let bacteria breed in your foundation. Immediately wash your brush/ sponge after use. Make a mixture of vinegar and water with more of the latter. Dip your brush in and gently give it a scrub-rinse off with running water.

While foundation is like a magic wand that helps you look flawless, do not overuse it. Foundations are generally recommended only for those over 30 years of age. Avoid using foundation every time you go out or apply make-up. Instead, reserve it for special occasions when you may need to look just that extra special.

The post The foundation of make-up appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

What’s your type?

• Normal skin: It is neither oily nor dry and hence can be termed as a balanced skin type. The balance between oil and moisture content is even, and therefore moist. The pores therefore are small or barely visible, which gives it an even tone.
• Dry skin: This type is easy to identify with its parched appearance, and the possibility of generating small white flakes. In dry skin, the sebaceous glands are less active. People with dry skin face major problems during the cold season and thus their skin ages faster than a person with normal or oily skin.
• Oily skin: Here the sebaceous glands are overactive and thus the skin has a greasy shine. The extra oil on the surface of the skin attracts dirt and dust. The texture is coarse due to enlarged pores. It is prone to clogged pores, blackheads, pimples and acne.
• Sensitive skin: This type has a fine texture and is easily prone to reactions like itching, burning, chafing and stinging. Often, after a wash, this kind of skin feels dry and itchy in places.
• Combination skin: As the name suggests, this skin type is a combination of dry and oily skin. The T-zone that consists of forehead, nose and chin is usually greasy. The cheeks and area around eyes are dry.

How to arrest the culprits

Whatever our skin type, there are some factors that have an adverse effect on our skin’s complexion and texture. These include: sunlight, pollution, alcohol and smoking, hormones and stress. However, you can control or even reverse the damage. Here’s how…

Sunlight

Direct sunlight means exposure to UV rays, which causes maximum damage to our skin. Some of the effects of too much sunlight are:

• Pigmentation that leads to formation of freckles.
• Wrinkles and skin sagging.

Solution

• Apply sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15 while outdoors.
• Try and avoid the sun when it is at its strongest between 10.00am to 4.00pm.
• Wear a hat and shades when out in the sun.

Pollution

Pollution is a major factor in deciding the complexion and texture of our skin. It is one of the main causes of premature ageing of the skin. Dust is responsible for clogging the pores and increases bacteria on the face, both of which lead to acne, pigmentation or spots. Also, when skin is exposed to chemicals, smoke and environmental pollution, the levels of free radicals in the body increase.

Solution

• Cleanse your skin thoroughly to wash away all traces of dirt and grime when you come home from outdoors.
• Include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet to eliminate free radicals in your body.
• Drink enough water to detox.

Alcohol and smoking

Smoking narrows blood vessels, depriving our skin of oxygen and making it look unhealthy.

Alcohol destroys the supply of vitamin A to the body. Our skin needs vitamin A to fight against bacteria and infection and to generate new cells to replace the dead ones.

Lack of oxygen and nutrients allows the formation of harmful free radicals that slowly damage the elastic fibres and collagen, which keep the skin strong and flexible. The result: premature wrinkles.

Solution

• Say no to alcohol and nicotine. Or at least reduce the consumption.

Hormones

Presence of too much or too little hormones in the body is bad. It is through hormones that our tissues, organs and cells communicate with one another. Hormones reach every part of the body, including skin cells. Skin functions are particularly regulated by chemical messengers. Often during pregnancy, hormones lead to hyper pigmentation[pregnancy mask], which worsens from sun exposure.

Solution

• Seek professional help to identify and correct these imbalances.
• Opt for skin treatments to treat and minimise the affects that show up on the skin. Some of them include cosmetology treatments like mechanical exfoliation like microdermabrasion; chemical exfoliation like fruit acid peels; glycolic peels and laser treatments; or a combination.

Stress

While stress may not affect our skin directly, it triggers or aggravates skin conditions like acne, rosacea, and eczema to name a few.

Under stress, our body releases hormones that cause blood vessels to constrict, leading to poor circulation. The reduced blood supply can leave the skin feeling dry, flaky, and prone to irritation. Also under stress, our breathing becomes shallow and quicker, which reduces the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream. This leads to a pale and glow-less skin.

Solution

• Avoid caffeine in any form as it increases anxiety levels.
• Have fruits, vegetables and other low-fat, high-fibre foods.
• Indulge in a hobby or activity that soothes and de-stresses you.

The something extra

Eating right and following good habits is as important to having a good skin as external care.

Good food habits

• Make fish a regular part of your diet [if you are a non-vegetarian] as fish contains oils that help nourish the skin and add lustre to your complexion.
• Eat foods rich in vitamin A such as dark orange [carrots, sweet potatoes, and winter squash] and dark green vegetables [broccoli, spinach, and kale].
• Have hazelnuts and almonds as they have vitamin E.
• Drink enough water every day, as this will keep your body and skin hydrated.
• Avoid processed foods because they are high on sugar and artificial ingredients.

Lifestyle

• Take time out of your heavy schedule and work out for at least 15 – 20 minutes daily; inactivity is a major factor that contributes to dull and lifeless skin.
• Tend to your skin regularly.
• Try to stay happy as much as you can.
• Eat right and on time, always.

Daily care as per your skin type

Most people believe that good skin is God-given. It is true to some extent, but you can certainly work towards ensuring a glowing skin by devoting a few minutes daily towards caring for your skin

For dry skin

• Limit washing your face to twice a day.
• Add a few teaspoons of olive oil to your bath and bathe in warm water instead of hot water.
• Apply moisturiser while your skin is still damp to maximise absorption.

For oily skin

• Splash water on your face 4 to 5 times daily.
• Shower or bathe in tepid water rather than very hot or very cold water.
• Avoid using cleansers, as they take out more oil than required, thus over-drying your skin.
• Use non-comedogenic moisturisers and sunscreen products as they are oil-free and do not clog pores.

For combination skin

• Treat the oily and dry zones differently.
• Use a mild cleanser to wash your face twice a day.
• Clean the oily area [the T zone] twice a day using an oil-free face wash or cleanser
• Moisturise the dry areas [cheeks and neck] twice a day, in the morning and at night.

For normal skin

• Wash your face twice a day with a face wash.
• Use a good moisturiser at night.

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Nail trail

Fingernails are made of keratin, a hard protein and the same component that hair is made of. Although the rate varies, nails grow around an inch and a half each year. The longer the finger is, the faster the growth rate. However, there are several factors that affect the growth of our nails:

• Age
• Diet
• Ill health.

On an average, a nail takes between 5 – 6 months to grow from the matrix [base of the nail that joins at the skin] to the free edge. And the nail plate growth slows on average 25 – 33 per cent over a normal lifetime.

There are, however, certain instances when the nail grows quicker:

• In younger people rather than older people
• During pregnancy
• In the summer than in the winter
• On the hands rather than the feet.

If your existing nail is lost or injured, a new nail will always grow. But if the matrix [the root of the nail] is damaged, the nail will grow back deformed.

Good food guide

What we eat constitutes what our nails are made up of and eventually how they look. So, to ensure that our nails remain healthy, the first discipline we must promise ourselves is to eat healthy foods.

All the foods listed below are good for your nails.

• Carrots: Fresh carrot juice is rich in calcium and hence will help in strengthening nails.
• Broccoli, fish, onion, apples, cucumbers, grapes, garlic, asparagus: rich in sulphur. The presence of sulphur in our body ensures proper circulation.
• Water: nails that show cracks indicate that you are not drinking enough water.
• Milk, eggs, liver, cantaloupes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach: rich in vitamin A, which helps nails grow.
• Dried beans, cashews, yogurt, raisin, chickpeas, cheese, almonds, milk, chicken breast, red kidney beans, peas and oatmeal are rich in zinc. Zinc deficiency can cause poor nail growth, white spots and white lines on nails.
• Meat, dairy products and eggs: The only reliable source of vitamin B12. Insufficient vitamin B12 can result in excessive dryness, very rounded and curved ends and darkening of nails. Nails may also become flat and thin.

Nails tell

In addition to looking well-groomed and clean, protecting your fingertips is essential to maintaining healthy nails. This is because our nails actually indicate underlying problems that have set into organs of our body.

• Pale or white nails indicate anaemia, kidney or liver disorder
• Yellow nails signal jaundice
• Red nails show that there’s a bleeding beneath the nails
• Purple nails mean there’s a blood clot beneath the nails
• Black nails point to bacterial infection
• Blue nails mean lung or heart disease
• White dots show malnutrition or vitamin loss
• Grey nails stand for arthritis, malnutrition, glaucoma
• Green nails evidence bacterial infection and allergies
• Brown spots beneath nails suggest psoriasis [skin and joint disorder].

Parlour pampering

It is advised that you get your nails professionally pampered from time to time. However, too much of everything is bad. Hence, once every 4 – 6 weeks is a good option to let your nails relax in the hands of a professional manicurist.

However, one should adhere to basic manicuring at least once a week at home. Avoid colouring your nails too often and for prolonged periods, as your nail needs to breathe. In fact, it is strongly recommended if avoid using nail polish when at home. Reserve those beautiful colours for special occasions like a party or an office gathering.

Though there are many options available cosmetically to cover up unhealthy nails, it is not all about having the perfect set of nails to look good. We must maintain beautiful nails as part of good personal hygiene to ensure that our body is really as healthy as it looks.

A few golden rules even as we finish:

• Use nail polish remover sparingly—not more than once a week
• Moisturize your nails as often as your hands and legs
• Let your nails breathe! Abide by the rule ‘nude nails’ when at home – reserve those nail paints for special occasions
• Eat healthy.

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