Curly Hair

Curls, tussles, waves, twists are back bigger than ever! Trend setting Celebrities like Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, and Alicia Keys at the Grammy wore sexy curls. Even Justin Timberlake did - but he can't help it.

It's a matter of convenience, less time doing your hair and more time having fun. Girls just want to have fun!

Prepare and get those curls bouncing, they're in!
For a loose sexy style curl scrunch your hair using a medium-to-strong gel. If you mix a little silk serum to soften, that's fine. Flip your head entirely over when scrunching. Try to bunch the hair in handfuls and keep the heat flowing between your fingers through your hair. After it's dry let it stay and cool for a minute, then flip it up.

To create loose curls, use a soft shine wax on the ends, if you want it to hold go in and curl with your finger any piece that did not curl so well, use some hairspray and Voila! If you want just a little wave use the soft shine wax from root to end.

If you want moving bouncing curls, invest in some hot rollers sold at Wal-Mart. Set your hair, it should take 10 minutes to heat and curl. Take the rollers out and before putting any product on it piece out the curls one by one. If you want a tighter curl, spray a little hairspray before wrapping the the hair on the roller. Spray the hairspray on your hair, not the roller itself. The harder the spray, the firmer it holds.

If you already have natural curly or wavy hair, lucky you; just remember to visit your stylist and get some long layers to revamp your curl. The same products apply in your case.  

Foundation Tips and Tricks

When you are putting your makeup on, you are like creating a painting on the canvass that is your face. Your makeup is supposed to add color and enhance the best features of your face.

Your makeup will not work, however, if the base upon which you are putting your makeup looks all wrong and is not applied properly. The base I am referring to is your foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to cover the skin of the face and to lend upon it the appearance of smoothness. Thus, it is important that the foundation you choose to use is the best for your skin.

Here are a few tips and tricks on choosing and applying the right kind of foundation for your skin.

You should always go for the natural look whenever you are applying your makeup, so your foundation should match the tone of your skin. How do you know if the color of your foundation matches your skin tone? You do this by putting some along your jawline. A foundation has the perfect color for you if it blends well with your skin, so much that it practically seems that you are not wearing any foundation at all. If the color of your skin changes, go ahead and change the color of your foundation. Also, to know for certain if you are picking the right color of foundation for your skin, always test the foundation under natural light.
When applying foundation, just pat the stuff down on your face and then spread it out smoothly with a sponge. Cover your face entirely with foundation, including your eyelids and your lips. Take care not to pull at the skin, especially at the thin skin around the eyes.
If the skin is dry, it will only absorb the foundation soon after it was applied. Therefore, make the foundation last longer by applying moisturizer first beforehand. If your face is oily, make sure that your moisturizer is oil-free; also opt for a powder foundation if you have oily skin. Another thing you can do to make the foundation last longer is to set it with loose powder whose color matches the color of the foundation.
If you have blemishes that you wish to hide, like pimples or dark spots, smooth a concealer on the blemishes first before putting the foundation on. Avoid putting too much powder or color on these areas where the blemishes are in order not to attract the eyes upon them.
Makeup in the evening is always brighter and more special. For added glamour, blend shimmer powder along with your foundation and apply it to areas on your face that you want the light to shine on to emphasize the best features of your face.
Always use products with sunscreen protection. That is a must in order to provide protection for your skin and to keep it from getting damage from ultraviolet exposure.

Flat Irons

Still can't live without your straightening iron? Once you know how to achieve that sleek, smooth look it's hard to go back. It really doesn�t matter which flat iron you use: ceramic, thermal, metal or ionic - they all damage your hair with over-use and inappropriate use. They heat keeps your hair dry and over time will damage the ends of your hair.

Here are 10 tips to help you and your flat iron work side-by-side without damaging your hair.

1. Keep your flat iron clean. It will last longer and do less damage to your hair.
2. Use a styling aid to prevent frizz before you blow dry. Sealed Ends by BC Bonicure seal the ends of your hair locking out frizziness by 79 percent. Use it after your blow dry to get rid of frizz.
3. Practice before you head out to any major event. It's very easy to use once you get the knack of it.
4. When using the iron on your hair, comb on the section you are using first, before running the iron through it.
5. Try avoiding using any products until you finish straightening out your hair.
6. Use small sections. The smaller the section the flatter and more weightless your hair will be.
7. Use even pressure while stroking your flat iron from the root to the end without stopping on any part of the sectioned hair.
8. Use a wide bristle brush on your hair while brushing your desired shape into place.
9. Use a lightweight serum to smooth any frizz left over. You'll only need a little.
10. Let your iron cool; clean its surface with a cloth so you�ll be ready to use it again tomorrow.

The best hairdo for your face

The best hairdo for your face

A woman�s hair is her crowning glory. It frames her face and completes her appearance. She can talk with her hair, and there are so many ways that a person can tell about her by simply looking at her hair. It is therefore very important for a woman to take care of her hair, to keep it clean, moisturized and trimmed, so that it would remain soft, shiny and neat.

Most women cut their hair to different styles in an attempt to enhance their looks. Some like their hair long and straight, while others like to wear their hair long and with abundant curls and ringlets. There are others who go for the minimum, no-fuss look and always have their hair cut short and simple, while others wish to strike a balance between femininity and practicality and keep their hair at mid-length. And there are still others who like experimenting on color and highlights, not just with the length and cut of their hair.

Unfortunately, not everyone can wear the same hairstyle and look good in it. Some hairstyles look great on some women, but sadly look like bombs on others. Many things can be taken into account as to why this is so, but mostly it is because the hairstyle does not flatter the face.

The way you do your hairdos must flatter your face and enhance your best features. After all, that is what the hair is supposed to do, aesthetically speaking � to frame your face and to help bring out your best features. Whether a hairstyle will look good on you or not depends on the shape of your face.

There are many, many types of hairstyles out there, but not all will look good on you unless the hairstyle fits the shape of your face. Below are the different hairstyles that are considered most flattering for each shape of face.

An oval face. The oval face is the perfect face. Almost any hairstyle will go with it, whether it is long or short, straight or curly. If you have an oval face, you will do well with having layers near your chin or cheekbones to draw attention to them. However, try to avoid hairstyles that add volumes to the top of your head � it will make your face look longer.

A long face. If you have a long or oblong face, you should create the illusion of width to balance it out. You can add width to your face by doing your hair with long, side-swept bangs or chin-length bobs. You will also do well with curls and waves that frame the face.

If you have a long or oblong face, you should avoid letting your hair grow extremely long or having your hair cut extremely short. Such extreme hairstyles will take the width from your face and emphasize its length.

A round face. If people with long faces need to add width to their faces, people with round faces need to take some of the width and bulk off by adding length. If your face is round you need to create the illusion of length, and to do this, you can have your hair cut just below your chin, or in graduated layers. Do not do your hair in short, one-length, blunt cuts, as it will only draw attention to the roundness of your face.

A square face. Having a square face means having an angular jaw. The hairstyle trick with having a square face is drawing attention away from that jaw. This is done by putting texture to your hair. Short curls do exactly this, as well as long layers that start just below the jawline. If your face has a square shape, you should try not to have your hair cut in one-length bobs or wear bangs that are cut bluntly. It will only emphasize the squareness of your face.

A heart-shaped face. Heart-shaped faces are pretty Valentines, but the pointed chin draws attention away from the eyes. If you have a heart-shaped face, you could bring focus to your eyes by wearing side-swept bangs, a fringe on your brow or long layers at the top. Or you could let your hair grow and have it done with layers that touch your cheekbones.

To Blow Dry or To Air Dry?

Should the hair be blow dried or air dried?
It is a matter of preference, actually. Some people do not have much time to devote to styling their hair, or want to achieve the maximum styling they can get for their hair, so they opt for blow-drying it. On the other hand, there are some people who think that blow-drying is a waste of electricity and is the quickest way of damaging the hair, so they opt to have it air dried.

Which is better, you may ask?
Both ways of drying the hair have their advantages and disadvantages, and there are proper and improper ways of doing both. Read on and find out what these are.

Air drying. Air drying is usually done by people who have short and low-maintenance hairstyles, or by people with curly hair. There are also people who have long hair yet have their hair air dry, as air drying does not subject the hair to excessive heat. Therefore, the hair is not as susceptible to damage as hair that is blow dried.

If you are going to have your hair air dried, it is very important to remember that the hair is at its weakest when it is wet. So, take care not to rub your hair dry with the use of a towel. The friction caused by rubbing the hair with a towel will make the hair brittleand eventually break. Rather than rubbing it, you should instead blot the moisture out of your hair with the towel. Also, be careful not to tug or pull at your hair that much when it is still wet. Once the water is blotted out of the hair, fluff it out with your fingers.

Blow Drying. Blow drying the hair is the most convenient way of doing it, and because most people live fast-paced lives, blow drying the hair is the way most people want to do it. Moreover, drying the hair using a blower adds volume to the hair. But inasmuch that blow drying is very convenient, it is also dangerous to the hair, especially if overdone. It can make the hair very brittle.

If you blow dry your hair, make sure that it is not soaking. Blot the water out with a towel first. Do not hold the dryer too close to your head; keep it at least six inches away from your hair and move the dryer constantly around your head. Protect the outer strands of your hair from being over-dried by bending over and blow drying your hair with your hair hanging upside down. Also, try not to dry your hair completely with the blow dryer. Stop while the hair is still slightly damp.

Whether you air dry your hair or you blow dry it is completely your own choice based on your own lifestyle and preferences. But whatever you do, always remember that the hair is fragile. Be careful while handling it.

Problem Solver: Cracked Nails

Cracked nails can be more than just a cosmetic problem. Strong fingernails help protect the tips of your fingers. They also allow you to pick up small objects, and cracked or brittle nails can make that more difficult. Nails are made up of laminated layers of a protein called keratin. They grow from the nail bed, located under the cuticle, and their growth is slow. In fact, it takes four to six months for a fingernail to completely regenerate.

Healthy nails are smooth, without ridges, grooves, spots, or discolored areas. Many nail conditions are superficial, including spots, which are usually caused by an injury and will eventually grow out, and vertical ridges, which are a normal part of aging. Aging is also a factor in nails becoming more brittle, as is spending too much time with your hands in water (washing dishes, for example, or soaking in the tub).

Preventing Cracked Nails
In most cases, all it takes to keep your nails healthy is an ounce of prevention. Try the following strategies:

• Don’t bite your nails or your cuticles. This can harm the nail bed (the skin beneath the nail). And getting even a small cut next to a fingernail can lead to an infection.
• Trim fingernails with a sharp manicure scissors or clippers so they’re short and rounded on top. But first, soak your fingertips in water or bath oil for a few minutes to soften them. Clip hangnails instead of pulling them off.
• Wear rubber gloves when washing dishes or using harsh cleaning products.
• Avoid spending long periods of time soaking in the tub — long exposure to water can result in brittle nails that peel. If you absolutely must take that nice long bath, keep your hands out of the water.
• Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Apply moisturizer to your nails and cuticles every time you wash your hands, as well as after showers or baths. For extra protection, moisturize your nails at bedtime, then wear cotton gloves to bed.
• Give manicures a pass; the products involved can make nails brittle.
• Apply a nail hardener, but not one that contains toluene sulfonamide or formaldehyde. These can irritate the skin. Use nail glue or clear polish to fix splits to tears.
• Use nail polish remover sparingly. Instead of removing polish, touch it up. When you do need to take off old polish, use polish removers that don’t contain acetone, which can make fingernails dry, resulting in cracked nails.

Contrary to popular myth, eating more protein or calcium doesn’t help strengthen your nails; neither does eating gelatin or soaking your fingertips in it.

Treating Cracked Nails
If self-help doesn’t help, consult your doctor for additional suggestions. Some nail conditions can be a sign of health problem. Nails with yellow discoloration may point to a respiratory condition or an infection beneath the fingernail. Nails pulling away from the nail bed could be a sign of psoriasis or problems with medications. And horizontal depressions may result from an injury or an illness that requires treatment.

In most cases, all cracked nails need is a little TLC. Treat your fingernails to some kindness, and they’ll stay strong and healthy.

Perfect Eye Shadow

Need an eyeshadow shade that looks cool with your eye color? Here's help.

FOR BLUE EYES

1. Tried and True: taupe, gray, violet, purple, deep blue (a darker shade than your eye color makes your eyes really blue), black (mix it with bright blue for a smoky effect)

2. Funky Favorites: silver, turquoise, fuschia (brightens any shade of blue)

GREEN or HAZEL EYES

1. Tried and True: brown, apricot, purple, plum, deep khaki or forest green (because they are in the same greenish family, they brighten green eyes)

2. Funky Favorites: gold, glowing, lime-green, really light green, bright purple (super modern)

BROWN EYES

1. Tried and True: copper, bronze, champagne Uma Thurman (soft pink with a touch of apricot), brown (for a doe-eyed look), beige, and khaki-green (lighter shades add highlight)

2. Funky Favorites: tangerine, royal blue, hot pink, lime-green (the contrast adds punch to brown)

ALL EYES

1. Tried and True (Classic): navy or charcoal base to define and a powder-blue shadow for highlighting (it brightens your brow bone so any eye color pops)

2. Funky Favorites: silver-sparkle shadow makes all eyes look edgy.

The Secrets to Removing Warts

If you give them time, most warts will simply disappear on their own — although they may take more than a year to do so. But if you’re looking to cure your warts in a shorter time frame, try one of these remedies to remove those unsightly bumps.

Preventing Warts 
You hear a lot of talk about plantar warts and palmer warts, but all warts are caused by the same virus: HPV (the human papillomavirus). And avoiding warts is a simple matter of preventing infection by the virus. Here are the best ways to avoid warts.

• Don’t touch warts. Picking at a wart (or even touching one) can help the virus spread. Try to minimize your contact with warts, and wash hands thoroughly afterward if you do touch one.
• Protect cuts and scrapes. The virus often enters your body through an open cut or wound, so be sure to protect your body from infection with HPV by covering your cuts and scrapes with bandages.
• Wear shoes. Many people pick up the wart virus at public pools or gym shower rooms, where the wet environment helps HPV survive and thrive. Invest in a simple pair of flip-flops to wear when you’re out to protect your feet from plantar warts.

Home Remedies for Warts
Many warts respond well to simple home remedies — and these are often much less painful and expensive than professional treatments. Keep in mind, though, it may still take several weeks for these treatments to remove your warts. Here are a few effective cures to try.

• Over-the-counter medications. You’ll find several different wart removal formulations — in creams, liquids, or even embedded right into bandages — that can help slowly cure warts. Most contain some variation on salicylic acid, the acne medication that can also do wonders for warts. Doctors recommend soaking the wart in warm water for several minutes and gently rubbing the surface with a pumice or emery board before applying the compound.
• Duct tape. It sounds like a crazy old wives’ tale, but medical studies have shown that duct tape can help cure warts — and some studies have shown that it can be just as effective at removing warts as the surgical techniques doctors use. Doctors recommend roughing up the wart first with a pumice or emery board, and perhaps applying an over-the-counter wart removal medication before applying the duct tape. Keep the duct tape on for six days, soak and rough up the wart again, then reapply the duct tape.

Professional Wart Cures
If the home wart remedies don’t solve your problem — or the warts are in a place where they become painful — it may be time to visit your doctor for a more effective wart cure. Here are some of the techniques doctors use to remove warts.

• Surgical techniques. Your doctor can remove the wart by burning it with a laser, freezing it with liquid nitrogen, or simply cutting it out. These treatments will remove your warts quickly, but they do involve some pain.
• Medications. Your doctor can inject an antiviral medication into your warts, or prescribe a topical treatment called Aldara that can help boost your immune system’s response to help kill off the wart virus.