Ride a Bike, Eat Right and Loose Some Extra Pounds

Weight loss is the biggest obstacle between most people and current standards of beauty. Part of the problem is that our current standards are based on the less-than-one-percent of the population who manages to stay 15-20 pounds underweight, but the weight loss situation in the U.S. in particular has worsened drastically because we eat like pigs. Food is cheaper in the U.S. than anywhere in the world, junk food makes up a large part of the national diet, and most of us are addicted to sugar. Add this to the fact that most Americans now get about as much daily exercise as the average bookend, and the big mystery behind the explosion of heart disease and intestinal problems experienced by so many Americans is explained with utter clarity.The common understanding is that combining diet and exercise is the best weight-loss solution. If I had to pick one, I'd choose increased exercise. Exercise raises your metabolism for hours after you're done working out, increasing your fat-burning capacity. It also makes you feel good, keeps your bones strong and reduces stress. A half-hour of aerobic exercise three or four times a week is the general prescription for good muscle tone and healthy aerobic capacity.

Tone your Backside (a.k.a Butt) with These Daily Exercises

Chances are you’ve heard of Curves, Nautilus and the Buns of Steel video. However, if you’ve tried it all and still don’t have a toned back side, you may just need a new approach. Butt toning and thigh exercises are often the most feared, leaving many women with butt flab left without tone. However, with these simple and effective daily tips you can quickly have the best gluteal muscles on the block!.The common understanding is that combining diet and exercise is the best weight-loss solution. If I had to pick one, I'd choose increased exercise. Exercise raises your metabolism for hours after you're done working out, increasing your fat-burning capacity. It also makes you feel good, keeps your bones strong and reduces stress. A half-hour of aerobic exercise three or four times a week is the general prescription for good muscle tone and healthy aerobic capacity.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Get Fit at Home on a Budget – Inexpensive Home Gyms

Want to get fit without joining an expensive gym? Home workouts are the best, since you'll be more likely to fit them into your day. Most people who work out at gyms spend an hour a day just dealing with the extra hassle of driving, changing, showering and getting back to their lives! Use that hour exercising when you work out at home.

There are all sorts of things you can use to work on your aerobic fitness. You may opt for buying videos or DVDs with exercise programs on them, or you may want to buy something as simple as a jump rope or an exercise ball. The single most important item for exercise is a good mat: it should be big enough to move around on, while providing padding for floor exercises and a non-slip surface. You can outfit yourself for a great aerobic workout for less than the cost of joining a gym!

Leg Slimming Exercises: Toning Calves, Thighs, Hips & Hamstrings

Find advice articles on eating healthy and toning exercises. Get advice on toning your butt and slimming your legs (common problems areas with most women) with simple daily strength training exercises. Learn how to order lower calorie drinks at the bar and how to bring low calorie, healthy snacks to work. Get advice on what supplements and vitamins benefit a woman's body and more.

Hair Color Ideas: Find the Right Natural Dye Color for Your Complexion

Once you've got the right haircut, it's time to consider color. Hair color is a fun fashion option because you can change it with the season or with your mood. With modern products, it's simple to be a redhead for a day or a blond for six weeks, with shades you can get at any drug store and easily put on at homeHair color doesn't require a professional stylist, but when you're choosing a product, keep in mind that most of them are made with dye that can cause allergic reactions in some people. If you have trouble with sensitive skin, you may want to try a natural hair color made of henna. Henna comes in a variety of shades, but it's ammonia and dye free, and much gentler to the scalp than other hair colors.

Choosing the Right Shade for Your: From Dramatic to Subtle

What's the right hair color for you? Part of it depends on your skin coloring, but a large part of it relies on your attitude. If you've always wanted to try the Goth look, black hair is a necessary part of your style and it doesn't matter how it goes with your skin or eyes. In fact, the more jarring, the better, so if you're an ice blond with cool blue eyes, you'll get a huge effect from black Goth hair color.

But some people just want a nice color, nothing too dramatic, that they can wear to work, that will cover gray hair, with maybe a few highlights for summer. In this case, you'll want to choose a shade that's very close to your own natural hair color, maybe a shade or two more red or brown. Add caramel highlights for a slightly streaky, sunkissed look. If gray hair is turning your own color drab, consider going blonder. If you want to go blond as naturally as possible, choose a shade that matches your skin tone in warmth. If the undertones in your skin are bluish instead of yellowish, you are a "cool" blond and should get ashy, silvery shades, or even platinum. If your skin tones are reddish or yellow, you are "warm" and should try golden-hued blond colors instead. If you have very ruddy skin, try even redder hair: it can help tone down the redness in your skin.

Explore Different Dye Styles and Colors

And don't be afraid to experiment to find the best color. If you want to try a brunette look but aren't sure you want to commit, get one of the temporary hair colors that wash out in six or eight shampoos. Funky, chunky highlights can be rectified nearly overnight with another color, as long as you use the wash-in-wash-out type that aren't made to last. If you're going to play with your hair color on the weekends, never use the "permanent" variety and then try to reverse it in less than several weeks. The harsher chemicals in the permanent hair colors, if used too frequently can turn your hair to straw, and may even turn it a scary and unexpected color if you try to set more color on top of a recent dye job.

For Blondes or Wannabe Blonds

Blonds can have more fun with reverse-highlighting; adding deeper shades in wide or narrow streaks to their natural color. For bored brunettes, streaking or foiling is a great option, being dramatic and playful without going over the edge. Try streaking your brown hair with coppery red, or even a combination of red and gold highlights.

Wanna Go Red"

Fiery redhead, or a wannabe? People make assumptions about redheads that may or may not be true, but what is true is that if you go red, you may feel a burst of power. The new shades come in colors from strawberry blond to shriek red, to a plummy, deep, unbelievable purple red. If you're feeling nervous, choose an auburn or a reddish brown that won't scare you and work your way up to brighter shades as your boldness increases.

Dark Under Eye Circles: Causes & How to Hide or Lighten Them with Makeup

Most women over thirty will at some point wonder how to get rid of under eye circles. There are three ways to attack the problem of dark under-eye circles: prevention, topical application and cosmetic restoration. Holistic prevention, while being the easiest solution for some people is also the least effective for most.

Tips to Cover, Hide and Conceal Your Dark Under Eye Circles with Makeup

But home remedies can only do so much. If your dark under eye circles don't budge even after a long nap and eight glasses of water a day, it's time to go the cosmetic or make up route. There are lots of options here, some more useful than others.

1. Apply a Good Moisturizer
   Moisturizers are helpful mainly in that if you have lines around your eyes, the shine from the moisturizer will help lessen them and create a lighter look. Look for moisturizers with natural ingredients such as avocado oil, sesame, Vitamin K and Vitamin E. Moisturizer also works well as a base for under eye makeup like concealer because it smoothes the skin and makes it easier to apply a tinted cosmetic. There are no make-up secrets here: moisturizer will help other makeup keep from caking.

2. Use a Makeup Primer for Long Lasting, Streak-Free Concealer
   Makeup primers help makeup stay in place, last longer and fill in fine lines and wrinkles. Makeup primers are worn over your favorite moisturizer, but under your foundation makeup. If you have fine lines under your eyes, a makeup primer will stop concealer from filling in those lines creating an unnatural creased or streaked look. Makeup primers also stop natural skin oils from eroding away your morning makeup application throughout the day. Your makeup will look fresher much longer without re-applying.

3. Choose the Right Color Concealer
   The best beauty product for under eye circles is concealer, and most makeup artists agree that it's important to use one with a slight golden color, as yellow tones counteract dark ones. Chamomile has long been known as a natural remedy for skin, and some concealers contain this ingredient which can help cure as it covers. Concealer is great for dealing with dark circles as long as you get the right shade and apply it correctly.

4. Don’t Use Concealer that is too Light in Color
   Some women make the mistake of choosing a concealer that's too light: then you wind up with reverse-raccoon eyes, where the whiteness under your eyes looks strange and somewhat alien. The ideal concealer is usually a shade lighter than your foundation. To some extent, the area under the eyes is somewhat shadier than the rest of your face because the eye sockets naturally are somewhat receded into the face. If your concealer is too light, your eyes will disappear in the glare.

5. Dot Concealer Under Eyes with Ring Finger
   Concealer can be applied before or after foundation or without foundation at all. It is really a personal preference. When it comes to natural looking concealer less is more. Add “dots” of concealer in the darkened area under the eye starting with the inner corner and following your orbital bone. Next begin blending in the dots of concealer with your ring finger (preferred method) or concealer brush. Your ring finger is your weakest finger, therefore, the most gentle on your under eye skin. The under eye area is extremely delicate, so be very gentle when applying concealer to avoid adding future wrinkles and irritation.

6. Follow up with Power to Set
   To keep concealer in place, apply a light layer of power over the under eye area. If you find power is not enough to keep your concealer application fresh all day long, try adding a makeup primer to your daily makeup routine. Primers are worn under your makeup, but over your moisturizer

5 Natural Dry Face Skin Remedies & Treatments for Facial Skin Dryness

Reasons for dry skin include a variety of conditions such as too much sun, windburn, harsh soaps and cleansers, aging and even diet. Insufficient water can dry your skin overnight. Start working on dry skin problems by increasing your water intake.

Take These Vitamins and Natural Oils to Help Dry Skin

Drinking lots of water is one remedy for dry skin, but if your skin is very dry, you may need additional help. You may have noticed that many skin care creams contain vitamins: although Vitamin E has been shown to work externally to correct dry skin, most other vitamins don't have a noticeable effect. Look for Vitamin E enriched skin creams, and increase its effects by also taking Vitamin E capsules, which help strengthen skin from the inside.Another benefit of taking Vitamin E is that it works on the skin all over your body—hands, feet, face and everything in between. Other natural remedies for dry skin include Evening Primrose oil, flaxseed oil or Omega 3 oils derived from fish. All of these nutritional supplements have been shown to increase skin's elasticity, its rebuilding capacity and its moisture. You can get these treatments at any health food store, and most pharmacies carry them too.

Make These Diet and Nutritional Changes to Improve Skin’s Appearance

Support the health of your skin by eating plenty of fresh fish (providing you with Omega 3). Adding a tablespoon of flax seeds to your morning cereal tastes good and increases your essential fatty acid intake. These nutritional steps do more than fix your dry skin: they're also natural cures for everything from stomach problems to heart disease.

Use These Products, Lotions and Skin Care to Keep

Skin Hydrated If you've recently started using an antiaging lotion or cream, you may suddenly develop dry skin. Creams that contain retinol, alpha lipoic acid, or either alpha or beta hydroxyl acids work by chemically exfoliating (breaking down) upper layers of skin. If you experience peeling, redness, scaly skin or a rash, stop using your new cream and try something with milder ingredients or a lessened concentration of the main ingredients. Some people have gotten contact dermatitis from the very skin creams that were supposed to solve their dry skin problems!

1970s Styles: Disco Makeup, Retro Hair & Bell Bottom Fashions

The Sixties left the coming decade with an taste for the natural, and the Seventies era particularized the “Natural Look” to makeup and hair. Hair was long, smooth, often very straight, but ideally with a flip on the ends. Think the Mary Tyler Moore show, and you've got the early to middle '70s in a nutshell.

The longer hairstyles still required the large curlers (which could really damage your hairwith daily use) used in the '60s to create big waves, but electric curling irons were added to the mix when Farrah Fawcett Majors became on of the decade's "It" girls. The flicked up hair cuts worn to some extent by all of Charlie's Angels was applied to bangs or wings on the sides of the head. Farrah combined flicks on both sides with a high lofted center and amazing, wavy curls in streaky golden hair. Never mind that the fabulous Angel had stylists galore to keep her look fresh and "natural"; everybody wanted to look like that. And 'that' entailed more than a superb and constantly-renewed layered haircut: it meant hours with the curling iron, plenty of hair spray or mousse and strict avoidance of anything athletic, outdoorsy or the least bit—well, you know—natural.

1970's make-up styles had a natural, surfer appeal

Along with the "natural" hair of the '70s came a natural look in skin and cosmetics. Earlier decades had made fashionable the dead white complexion, the flawless matte of a movie star skin, and the rosy blush of innocence through the magic of foundation. In the Seventies, it was cool to resemble to surfers at Venice Beach: an all over tan, a golden glow around the face, and minimal looking make up were the things to strive for. Bronzers made an appearance, fake tanning fluids turned thousands of young women bright orange, and women who today look with alarm at the spots appearing on middle aged skin laid out all summer covered all too lightly in a bikini and a slick coat of baby oil.

------------------------------------------------------------

Vintage Accessories Never Go Out of Style

Some of today’s hottest looks and fashions can claim influences from several past decades and trends. The long, flowing hairstyles and natural makeup looks of the 1970s have returned with an updated flair. You’ll frequently see retro-styled clothing, with either hippie or disco flair, constantly popping up on the biggest celebrities in Hollywood. Keep in mind that there are, however, certain retro looks that have seen better days and make a better costume than outfit. So, whether you’re in need of some unique vintage accessories, like hats, glasses, or jewelry, or you’ve got a costume party and need a killer disguise, there are tons of choices from the 60s and 70s to get you the exact look you’re hoping for. Don’t believe everything you hear: disco is not dead—you’ll see when you check out the many costume selections and extras available!

Removing Unwanted Female Facial Hair: How to Remove Hair on the Jaw, Chin & Upper Lip

What causes facial hair in women? The same hormones that cause it in men. Let's face it: we're a hairy breed. And in the all too human world of beauty, we value smooth, hairless skin. Our hormones create hair, even in the female of the species, and as women we spend a lot of time fighting Nature to please Fashion. Removing facial hair is an issue for women all over the world: even in ancient times, women used hot honey and tree saps to remove unwanted hair from the jaw line, upper lip, eyebrows and chin.

Waxing Unwanted Facial Hair

Today, waxing is still a popular hair removal option: it's relatively inexpensive, more thorough than plucking individual hairs with tweezers and can be done any time. Hot wax kits consist of a "wax" made of sugar or honey, (this is called "sugaring"), beeswax or resin. The easiest way to do waxing at home is to buy a microwavable wax, apply with a wooden spatula, then spread with a strip of cotton muslin and pull off the wax along with the offending hair. But, if you don't have the patience to melt the wax slowly at the recommended power setting, stir it thoroughly, test a tiny bit on the tip of your finger and ascertain whether it's too hot, you shouldn't do that kind of waxing because you run the risk of getting badly burned. Microwaves work hot and fast, and the wax must be carefully watched, timed, stirred, and tested before applying. It takes patience.

--Editors Tip ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Tired of Tweezing or Plucking? Try Natural Hair Removal Gel

Many women have unwanted facial hair on their jaw, chin, or lip. Women have hair-producing hormones, just like men, some have it worse than others! Especially as women get older, unwanted facial hair can become more of an annoying beauty problem. Checking every day in the mirror and plucking or tweezing as necessary gets old. Home waxing is painful and very messy. Using a natural hair removal gel can not only avoid the mess and the pain of waxing, but the natural ingredients remove hair directly from the root and give you professional results. Natural hair removal gels will leave your skin moisturized and smooth—as well as hairless! Natural hair removal can leave your skin hair free for up to six weeks, and it’s perfect to use on not only your face, but your underarms or bikini line, too.

Get that summer body smooth and hair-free and ready for the beach!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bleaching Upper Lip Hair to Reduce its Appearance

Another popular at-home hair removal method is bleach. You can buy cream bleaching creams that are mixed with an activator and then applied to the facial hair. You cannot use cream bleaches on eyebrows or anywhere near your eyes—if they get in your eyes, you can go blind. Some people may experience facial redness or sensitivity from bleaching, so it's a good idea to do a 24 hour test patch first. But if the bleach doesn't bother your skin, and if you use it weekly, you'll not only be rendering facial hair more invisible, after awhile it will become fragile and start to break off, lessening its appearance even more.

Shaving is not a best practice for removing facial hair

Some people wonder how to remove facial hair by shaving, and this is a good place to say that shaving is a bad idea. It will leave stubble, and the only thing worse than facial hair is facial stubble. Forget shaving anything on your face.

Electrolysis is permanent removal, but become an old technique

Electrolysis has long been considered a good way to remove hair permanently, but it's pretty much a bygone era at this point. Electrolysis is permanent, but it may cause pinpoint scarring; it's expensive and it hurts like blue blazes. Treatments can also cause redness and swelling or breakouts, and you risk infection (all of which are temporary). Scrap electrolysis: if you want permanent hair removal and can afford it, the thing to do is laser hair removal. Unlike electrolysis, there are no needles involved; pain is practically non-existent, any redness disappears in an hour or so, and it really works. Laser hair removal is the best remover on the planet: thousands of Brazilian bikini lines can't be wrong! Just keep in mind that laser hair removal works better on darker brunette hair than it does blonde. You will need multiple laser hair removal treatments over many months in order to be hair free.

Business Professional Dress Code: What Women Should Wear in the Office

Your work wardrobe depends largely on what you do for a living, and if you aren't a natural-born fashion hound, it can be difficult to put together work ensembles that are practical, comfortable and affordable. Besides the obligatory chinos and polo shirt-uniforms of many retail establishments, there are three types of working wardrobes: professional, business casual and casual. In this column, we're going to cover the basics of dressing for the professional office.

What is a Business Professional Dress Code?

Probably the easiest wardrobe to assemble is the professional one that most large corporate firms expect from women. Most corporations and firms whose employees affect professional dress have strict if unwritten dress codes: observing what other people wear is the best way to decide on your own wardrobe basics.

Even now, many firms expect women to dress in skirts rather than pants to work, which raises complications in terms of choosing comfortable shoes that look good. If you are applying for a position with a company where professional dress is the norm, do as much reconnaissance work as you can to determine what designers are favored, whether suit blouses are strictly white and tailored or more feminine and colorful, and what makeup styles are in fashion. Wear the best shoes you can afford to your interview, spend more money on hose that won't snag and run before you even get to the interview, and wear a skirt, even if women also wear pants in that culture..

Plus Size Suits Classic Plus Size Womens Suits Find classically styled career jackets, blazers, pants and skirt for the plus size woman. Womens Suits Professional Suits for Women Find many styles of professional career suits and attire for women. Clearance Suits Discount Designer Women's Suits and Separates Find designer, brand name professional suits for women at discount prices.

First Date Tips: Advice on What to Wear and Ideas on How to Act

There are three extremely trying times to choose the right clothes for the occasion: job interviews, first dates and meeting the parents nights. First date dressing is tough because you usually don't know the other person well enough to predict what will be attractive to him. You want to look fabulous but not unattainable, chic but not cheap. Add to the problem that you may or may not be familiar with where you are going, and you have the perfect explanation for women who choose to stay home in a chenille robe with a bottle of Two-Buck Chuck and a box of microwave kettle cornLet's go over some first date dress basics. Maybe you'll get lucky and I'll have an idea you haven't already considered.

Any ideas on where you going on your first date?

If you can, have a conversation with your date to find out where you're going. But be simple with your questions to make sure you dont' sound to controlling. This will help immeasurably, even if you can just get a sense of the formality of the occasion. A good tip is it's always better to be a little overdressed. We've all at some time or another ended up at the baseball game in a frilly, walk-in-the-park sundress, which beats hell out of going to see Itzhak Perlman wearing skateboarding pants (which happened to me once).

--Editors Tip ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Good Date Movies For At Home Dates

If you are still on your first few dates with a guy or girl, stay away from the serious dramas, bloody action flicks, and overly sad romantic (mushy-gushy) movies. Try sticking with up-beat, light hearted movies that are in the romantic comedy genre. He'll enjoy the comedy and you can enjoy the little bit of romance.

Exfoliating Homemade Body Scrubs with Simple Sugar & Salt Recipes for the Home Kitchen

Body scrubs have always been a beauty must. Cleopatra's slaves rubbed her down with granulated honey and myrrh, an upscale version of the scrubs of pumice, barley hulls and goat's milk used by lesser Egyptians of the day. Body scrubs have proliferated lately, with recipes including grains, nut shells, sea shells, salts and other minerals scrape-scrape-scraping away the layers and leaving fresh, new skin behind.

It's Easy to Make Body Scrubs at Home

You may have noticed that you're paying a lot of dough for a handful of scrub. Read the ingredients: you're paying for sexy packaging! Most scrubs contain salt, sugar or nut shells and you can buy any of those things for well under fifty cents a pound. But the seven ounce coconut scrub from The Body Shop sells for $17. How long does it take to use up less than one cup of body scrub? Not long!

Universal Body Scrub Recipe To Follow

2 Parts Salt or Sugar + 1 Part Beauty Oil + Essential Oil
= Basic Body Scrub

You Choose the Natural Exfoliate Ingredients

Make your own body polish! Choose your favorite fragrances, control the granularity of the scrub, avoid ingredients that you may be allergic to, and create a big potful of body polish with about $10 worth of ingredients. Or you can make a cupful for under a dollar and decide if you like the recipe. It's a breeze: you'll need a spoon, a bowl, and a container for storage.

Step 1: Choose Your Salt or Sugar Exfoliate (amount = 2 parts)

Review the table below to see the types of sugar or salts that are readily available at any grocery or health food store.

Salts (listed finer to courser)
• Fine Salt
  
• Table Salt
  
• Sea Salt
  
• Kosher Salt
  
• Epsom Salt
  

Sugars (listed finer to courser)
• Fine Sugar
  
• Brown Sugar
  
• White Sugar
  
• Turbinado (raw sugar)
  

Step 2: Choose a Beauty Oil (amount = 1 part)

The beauty oil will turn the salt or sugar into a moisturizing slurry that can be rubbed into wet or dry skin. Review the table of beauty oils below to see their skin benefits. You can always use more than one oil. These can be found at most grocery or drugstores with a natural food department.

Suggested Beauty Oils for Body Scrubs
• Apricot oil - great for sensitive skin
• Avocado oil - great for dry skin
• Coconut oil - great for moisturizing
• Grape seed oil - great for oily skin, acne prone skin
• Jojoba oil - great for moisturizing for all skin types
• Olive oil - great for moisturizing (but strong smell)
• Sesame oil - great for its anti-oxidant properties
• Almond oil - great for moisturizing for all skin types
• Vitamin E oil - great for healing & moisturizing

Step 3: Choose Your Fragrance & Special Additives (several drops)

The sky is the limit when it comes to adding fragrance to your homemade body scrub. You can use any blend of essential oils that can be found at many natural food stores. You can also use fragrance sources from your own kitchen like vanilla extract or citrus fruits. This is a place to experiment and make it your own!

You may also want to add additional ingredients to your scrubs like aloe vera for its skin soothing properties, tea tree oil for its anti-inflammatory properties or honey to improve the texture or your scrub. If need more ideas on additives you can incorporate view the ingredient labels of premade natural body scrubs at your local beauty store or natural foods market.

Storing Your Body Scrub

Scrubs stored in the refrigerator should last up to 4 weeks. Just keep a couple days worth in the shower for regular use. If your scrub starts to smell, look or feel "funny" throw it out and start a new batch.

Raw sugar (Turbinado) isn't as harsh as other natural exfoliates.

Using Sugar as the Exfoliating Ingredient

Try it sweet. Sugar isn't as harsh as ground nut shells: it melts fast when it hits moisture, so if your skin is delicate, you're probably not going to over-scrub it. The other benefit is the fact that sugar, unlike pumice, ground shells and other insoluble ingredients, will melt instead of sticking in your bathtub drains. Here's what you need to make a large batch:

Homemade Sugar Body Scrub Recipe

• 1 Cups turbinado (raw sugar) or light brown sugar

• ¼ Cups avocado, untoasted sesame oil or jojoba oil

• ¼ Cup apricot or peach kernel oil

• essential oil (we used ginger and vanilla)

• honey for smoothing the texture

4 Fixes for Damaged Hair: Home Remedies and Treatments to Repair Dry Hair

Dry, damaged hair is one of life's little horrors: it won't ruin you, but it won't do you any good. Maybe your hair was caught in a freak, hot roller accident; perhaps chemical straighteners or perms have tortured it into a permanent, frizzy fright wig. You may seek treatment from a local salon, but the stylist might recommend a crew cut. So, what can you do to repair extremely damaged hair that doesn't require a period of enforced baldness? Or what if you're darned close to bald already from chlorine, hair color, blow drying and other hair related emergencies?People most likely to have damaged hair include those with fine hair and African Americans who use straighteners or keep their hair in cornrows (this tightness can damage the hair follicles and cause hair loss) . African American's hair is very delicate –usually drier than Caucasian hair, and can be easily ruined by chemicals and heat.

Cutting off damaged hair into a medium-short style will improve your hairstyles overall health.

Remedy 1:
Cut Off Some or All Damaged Hair at a GOOD Salon

If your hair has been truly wrecked, sometimes the best thing to do is have professional advice and then cut off as muchdamaged hair and split ends as possible so you can start fresh. You know when to cut off your hair: it's when you'd rather be bald than look the way you do now! A super-short haircut can be appealing if you go to someone who will shape the cut to your face. Understanding face shape is the difference between a ten dollar, ten minute hair cut and an admittedly more expensive, hopefully much nicer one.

If you decide to treat your damaged hair instead, you will need to limit blow drying, flat ironing and other heat styling tools.

Remedy 2:
Keep the Damaged Hair, but Take Special Care to Protect Healthy Hair

Home remedies for "hair gone wrong" include restoration of moisture to hair not too severely damaged and making way for regrowth. In the case of hair ruined by hot rollers or straightening, you may have a few inches of relatively undamaged hair on the scalp. Get a medium-severe haircut to get rid of the frizzled hair tips, or leave the damage right where it is and concentrate on protecting the good hair. Leave off the chemicals, avoid the blow dryer and other heated hair appliances, and use gentle shampoo as infrequently as you dare. Shampoo strips oils from your hair, making it more brittle, so if you don't really need to shampoo, cut it down to once a week or so. And forget vitamins in shampoo: they don't work. You can try taking vitamins internally to keep your hair strong as a side effect of your increased health, but there aren't any vitamins that help when applied externally.

Argan oil and other natural oil deep conditioning masks and treatments can help treat and prevent dry, damaged hair.

Remedy 3:
Use an Over the Counter Deep Conditioning Treatment

Buy deep conditioner hot oil products at the drugstore, or go the homemade route for less money. Hot oil treatments (actually, the oil is warm, not hot), work by starting with dampened hair, softening the cuticle and locking in the water by sealing the outside of the hair with a coating of oil. You can make your hair drier by using hot oil if you then go and wash it all out with a harsh shampoo.

There are also various deep conditioning hair masks and leave in conditioners that can be used about once a week to repair and prevent damage to hair. Some of these products are left on about 10 minutes and others are overnight treatments depending on the brand. Ingredients like argon oil, macadamia oil, coconut oil and other natural oils are in many of these products. These oils can do wonder for hair as a repair treatment as well as a hair damage prevention treatment. A good beauty store (Ulta, Sephora, etc) or local hair salon should have a variety of hair repair conditioning treatments available.

If you don't have time to run to the beauty store, try a homemade peanut oil hair treatment.

Remedy 4:
Homemade Moisturizing Treatment for Damaged Hair

Deep conditioning home remedies and recipes for fried hair include mayonnaise, avocado and egg, but some of us prefer to eat our salads, not wear them. You can get the job done using any cooking oil (but peanut oil will make you smell peanutty!) Coconut suntan oil is a favorite, and it smells terrific, too. Rinse your hair with warm water, apply the oil from the palm of your hand, working it into your hair. Now comes the warm part: wrap your head in a towel or a plastic hair bag that comes with hair color kits, or in some cling wrap, and sit around in it as long as you can. Cover your pillow with a safety-pinned towel and sleep on it overnight. Next day, use a moisturizing or gentle baby shampoo to wash out the greasiness.

The Perfect Eyebrow Arch: Shaping Your Brows with Plucking & Tweezers

Eyebrows are tricky creatures. You know how they’re supposed to look, but sometimes they don’t want to cooperate, and because they’re growing out of your head, they have a semi permanent character that defies wishes and good intentionsOne of the many problems of eyebrows is the fact that if they aren’t the right color, they can either dominate your face or disappear entirely. Their unfortunate (but necessary) proximity to your eyeballs makes it a pretty major no-no to just sweep the haircolor across each brow and hope it doesn’t drip into your eyes. That’s why the goddess of practical beauty created the eyebrow pencil, an unsatisfactory solution, but sometimes better than nothing if your eyebrows happen to be very pale.

--Editor's Note --------------------------------------------------------------

Proper Beauty Tools Make Eyebrow Shaping a Breeze

Plucking the perfect eyebrow shape can be a stressful task because no one wants painful, over tweezed brows. Follow the lead of to make up artists and get the right tweezers and eyebrow care beauty tools. For very little money you can get the same eyebrow tweezers most professional salons use.

Learn from the professionals and see some eyebrow care kits that come with everything you need for perfect brows.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shaping Your Eyebrows: How to get the perfect arch shape

Shape is also crucial, and if your eyebrows are coarse, creating and maintaining the ideal shape is difficult because pulling out individual hairs can leave large gaps, or severely shorten the length of a brow if you happen to pull out the half-inch hair on the very end.

The perfect eyebrow starts above the inside corner of your eye (over the tear duct), and ends at the outside corner, above your eyelashes. Eyebrows should have an arch: in nature, it’s rarely where it should be, which is a frustrating commentary on standards of beauty. Ideally, the arch happens over the iris, the colored part of your eye. It should be gentle, so if you’re planning to reshape your arch, take it very, very slowly. Do a hair or two a day, and err on the side of caution. Hasty plucking can give you a surprised look that lasts for weeks.

How to Pluck Eyebrows with Tweezers: The Do's and Don'ts

Many women pluck their eyebrows with tweezers. Some wax them, but wax is tricky because it’s hard to get an accurate shape. And some go to a hair removal salon to try "threading." Although threading is newly popular in the United States, it is a centuries-old technique of hair removal practiced in India. The eyebrow experts say never, never to pluck your eyebrows from above, but always to pluck from the bottom of the brow. I say, if you have some wild or stray or bushy hairs growing above your brows, feel free to pluck them. I did it once, and nothing bad happened to me.

I read somewhere that it’s okay to trim your eyebrows. I think this is good if the single hairs are long and thick. You can pluck some hairs and trim the others, brushing them up, evening the ends (be careful not to trim too much!), then brushing them down checking again and again as you go along.

How to Tie Scarves: Wearing a Scarf in 6 Fashionable Ways

Many women steer clear of scarves in the winter because they’re intimidated by them and have no idea how to tie them properly. However, the scarf is one of the trendiest accessories this season and learning how to wear one can help you add style and sophistication to any outfit, quickly. It can be worn with your favorite black dress or even your favorite t-shirt! Even the simplest outfit can look like high fashion if you add a scarf to your neck. Be sure to keep a wide variety of scarves in your closest, from pashmina to silk, so you can be ready for all occasions. If you want more instruction or a guide on how to wear ladies scarves, check out these easy tips for wearing ladies scarves!

Scarves Don’t Have to Stay on the Neck: Other Places to Wear Scarves

While the neck is the most popular place to wear a scarf, there are many others places you can sport one and different ways to tie them. You can wear it around your head or even as a belt. Tying a scarf around your waist can make your waist look slimmer, instantly. Simply fold the scarf in half and drape it around your hip area. If you like the wraps or shawl look, wear one draped or tied around your shoulders for extra warmth.

Basic Loop Scarf Tie

Tips on Tying a Scarf Around the Neck

You can look chic and sleek by wearing your neck scarf this season and learning the different ways to wear them. There are many ways to tie a scarf, so be sure you find the way that most fits your style. Lightweight silk scarves are best worn with a scarf pin to secure them. Using a brooch or scarf pin can also be a great way to add even more class to your outfit. If you don’t like scarf pins or a clip, you can always go Grace Kelly and wear it across the front of the neck, bringing one end around to fall down your side. Designer silk scarves look terrific worn in this way. You can also tie thicker scarves, or simply wear them long, with the fringe draping around your neck.

Bra Size Measuring Guide: How to Find Your Bra Cup & Band Size

Did you know that 7 out of 10 women are wearing the wrong bra size! Popular shows like Oprah and TLC's What Not to Wear have dedicated entire shows to the subject. I began to wonder if perhaps I was wearing the bra size. I decided to do some research on behalf of all women on measuring a bra size. I will paraphrase the important parts about determining your bra size using 2 different methods.

What You Need to
Calculate Your Bra Size

Your favorite bra, flexible measuring tape, Trusted friend or bra department associate, and .... a little math!

Bra Measuring Method #1 (Best for Average to Large Busts)

Step 1: Put On Your Favorite Bra.
First put on your favorite bra that you think makes your breasts the right shape and feels most comfortable. Next you will need to find a flexible measuring tape (the kind a seamstress would use). You may also need to grab a trusted friend to help you measure, since it is difficult to keep the tape level around your body.

Step 2: Rib Cage + 5" = Band Size

Step 2:
Measure Around Rib Cage.
The first measurement to take is around your ribcage, just below your breasts. Now add 5 to this number to get your band size. If the resulting band size was an odd number, you will need to round up to the next even number since bra bands only come in even numbers.

Step 3: Bust - Band = Cup Size"

Step 3:
Measure Fullest Part of Bust.
The second measurement should be taken around the fullest part of your bosom with your favorite bra on. This measurement is your cup size. Next subtract your band size from your cup size to calculate the right cup size. Refer to the bra cup size chart below.

Bra Cup Size Chart (Method #1)

<1/2" larger than measurement #2--------------------AA
1" larger than measurement #2------------------------A
2" larger than measurement #2------------------------B
3" larger than measurement #2------------------------C
4" larger than measurement #2------------------------D
5" larger than measurement #2------------------------DD or E
6" larger than measurement #2------------------------DDD or F
7" larger than measurement #2------------------------G
8" larger than measurement #2------------------------H
9" larger than measurement #2------------------------I
10" larger than measurement #2-----------------------J

Skin Cancer Detection and Warning Signs You Need to Know

Each year millions of people are diagnosed with skin cancer, a very serious and quick-to-spread type of cancer. The prognosis for those who have just gotten their diagnosis varies dramatically, depending on what stage the skin cancer is in. Thus, it’s extremely important for people to know the types of skin cancer, stages of skin cancer and the top five signs of skin cancer so they can detect any abnormalities in their early stages

Annual Skin Checks Are Important

Of course, it’s important to recognize the symptoms of skin cancer, but the American Academy of Dermatology also insists it’s vital for everyone to get an annual skin care check. This check can be performed by a dermatologist or by your regular physician if they feel experienced enough to do so. Skin checks are often the only way patients get diagnosed with melanoma, actinic keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma.

Skin Cancer Detection Letter System

In between your annual skin care checks performed by your doctor, use this easy-to-remember A-B-C-D-E letter system to look for unusual skin characteristics.

• A is for Asymmetry: One warning symptom to look out for in regards to skin cancer is asymmetry. If you notice a mole with an irregular shape, it should be further examined by your doctor.

• B is for Border: Check the borders of your moles in question. If their borders are smooth and even, it’s likely they are not going to be cancerous. However, if they have jagged borders or are uneven, they might need to be further examined.

• C is for Color: A healthy mole should be all one color. Thus, if your mole has black mixed with brown in it, it has a higher chance of being cancerous.

• D is for Diameter: Dermatologists often say moles which are 6mm or ¼ to ½ inch should be further examined for cancerous properties.

• E is for Elevation: Another thing to look at is the height of your moles. A mole that is raised or moles which grow rapidly in height can be cancerous.

Top 4 Skin Cancer Warning Signs to Watch For

While these are all important symptoms of skin cancer you need to remember, there are several common warning signs you’ll also need to learn how to detect.

• Sudden Growth: Anytime you notice a chance in your skin or a sudden growth, it’s important to point it out to your doctor.

• Translucent or Pearly Mole: If you find an unusual mole or a change in your skin or a mole that results in a pearly or translucent appearance, it’s important to see your doctor.

• Unusual Skin Rash: If you have an unusual skin rash that won’t go away and is unrelated to allergies, it’s a great idea to see your doctor.

• A Bothersome Mole Or Growth: If you have a skin growth or mole that is sore, has an itch, crusts, bleeds or ulcerates, see your doctor.

Best Skin Damage Prevention Methods

Skin cancer can often be prevented, which is great news! Use these simple prevention tips to ensure you’re giving your skin its best chance of staying healthy.

• Avoid Tanning Beds: Everyone loves to have tanned skin, but tanning beds aren’t the way you should go about getting it. Tanning beds have been linked to skin cancer. However, today’s modern cosmetic industry has developed wonderful sunless tanning products you can now use to get glowing skin without harming your skin.

• Use Sunscreen: Some people use sunscreen only when they are going to the beach or pool. However, sunscreen is important for everyday wear, as well. Be sure you use a facial sunscreen on a daily basis, to not only avoid wrinkles but also avoid sun damage or cancer.

5 Ways to Accentuate and Create a Waist with the Right Clothing Styles

Whether you have an hourglass figure or simply want to detract from the wider lower body portions of your pear shaped body, accentuating your waist is a great way to visually take ten pounds off your frame. While you may have heard of this easy to use fashion tip, you may not know how to accentuate waist areas properly. Use these beauty tips to help you get the slim look you desire, by accentuating your waist.

Wrap Dresses Are A Hit

Wrap dresses are one of many easy ways to use the natural cut and fit of a dress to help you accentuate your waist. Many designers like Ann Taylor and New York and Company are offering wrap dresses in both casual and dressy designs, fit for any occasion. Wrap dresses are typically one piece, with one side forming a wrap around the torso of your body. They are excellent not only for accentuating the smallest part of your waist but also for hiding a tummy bulge. A tummy bulge is especially hidden in wrap dresses in dark patterns, so if that’s another goal of yours, be sure to look for dark prints. In addition, if you’re not looking for a dress and instead need tops that flatter your figure, you can often find wrap tops that go with skirts or pants.

The Power Is In The Belt

Another great way to accentuate your waist is to use belts. Belts can allow you to highlight the smallest part of your waist, which can immediately make your bust appear larger and create the illusion of a hourglass figure. There are many different styles of belts, so be careful when choosing one to wear with your outfit. Wide belts can be helpful accessories when you want to bring loads of attention to your waist area, but if you have a short torso area they can make you appear shorter. Thin belts can be very effective if you wear them about an inch under your bust line, but should never be worn low on the waist or hips, as they will only visually add pounds to your appearance.

Empire Waists Give Flattering Comfort

One of the best suggestions for accentuating your waist is to find clothing with empire waists. These fashion trends are great for ladies who really want to conceal their tummy areas. In addition, they are extremely comfortable and can be found in blouses or as dresses. Empire waist tops should never be paired with baggy pants, however. Be sure you pair them only with slim cut pants or a pencil skirt to get the full effect and most flattering look.

Jackets Work To Create Angles

If you want to make your waist look smaller, jackets can work wonders to create angles. A jacket with darting and a defined fit can help you create the appearance of having a very small waist, which is always a great thing. Look for jackets with a belt tie for added benefit and be sure it fastens at the smallest part of your natural waist for the best look.
Remember, you can create the illusion of having a slim hourglass figure when you accentuate your waist with clothing. Simply use these easy clothing tips to help you figure out the best way to accentuate your waist and highlight your best body features.

Top 5 Tips to Growing Longer Healthier Hair

Trying to grow long and healthy hair can be an extremely difficult challenge to take on. Many celebrities choose to use the world’s fastest shortcut and get hair extensions. However, the average woman can’t afford to maintain high quality extensions. Thus, growing your hair length in a natural way is typically the best path to takeTo begin with, it’s very important to remember you have to start with healthy hair in order to grow hair long and healthy. Thus, it’s important for you to cut all damaged hair off before you start the growing process. Once you have only healthy hair left, use these five hair tips to learn how to grow longer hair as fast as possible!

1. Get Regular Trims! When you’re growing your hair longer, it’s extremely important to get a hair trim on a very regular basis. When you get your hair trimmed, it removes any split or damaged ends. Visit your salon every three to four months for a trim of about one half inch. If you color your hair or use harsh heat appliances on it often, you may need a trim even more often than this, however.

2. Skip The Heat! Using hair dryers, curling irons, hot rollers, crimpers or flat irons on your hair can be extremely damaging. In fact, these products can damage your hair and keep it from growing like it should. If you can’t possibly skip the heat appliances, think about getting a gentle shampoo made to protect your hair from heat related damage. There are several brands which offer this type of protection and it’s worthwhile to use. In addition, think about using your blow dryer on low settings or allow your hair to air dry for as long as you can before blasting it with hot air.

3. Be Careful Of Ponytails! A ponytail can be a great way to cure a bad hair day, but it can also damage your hair if not done properly. Refrain from wearing tight ponytails very often if you’re trying to grow longer or healthier hair. If a ponytail is tugging on your scalp, chances are it could be breaking your hair at the same time. If you want to wear your hair up with a clip or hair band, be sure it’s done so in a loose style. This will reduce the amount of damage to your hair, while still letting you wear your hair up.

10 Ways to Prevent and Treat Razor Burn (a.k.a. Stop Ingrown Hairs Caused by Shaving)

Razor burn is one of the most annoying aspects involving shaving your face, legs, underarm areas or bikini line. While most of us can’t live without engaging in some type of hair removal, if you suffer from razor burn or razor rash very often, chances are you hate to shave! Instead of throwing away your razor forever and buying stock in Nair, use these helpful tips to learn how to prevent and treat razor burn.

1. Never use a dull razor! The first step to razor burn cure is to always use a clean and sharp razor, every time you shave.

2. Shave in the same direction as your natural hair growth. This technique will help to avoid the hair being pushed back into the follicle and getting inflamed or ingrown.

3. Never , ever shave dry! While almost everyone knows you should never shave dry, some people jump in the shower and immediately begin shaving. However, it’s far better to wait until after you’ve been in the shower for a while. That being said, experts do warn that if you wait more than eight minutes before you start shaving, you may not get as close of a shave as you’d like. After eight minutes, the skin will start to draw up and pull the hair inward a bit. A good rule of thumb is to wait about three minutes (as long as it takes you to wash your hair) before shaving. This will help prevent irritation or razor bumps, but will give the hair enough time to soften before you start shaving.

4. Try shaving post-shower. If you don’t like to shave in the shower, think about shaving after your shower is over. Some shaving experts believe the remedy to razor burn is shaving after the shower. Wet hair can wear down your blade quickly, which can be a problem and can cause irritation.

5. Don’t shave the same area of skin multiple times. You may think shaving your underarm areas over and over again will help you get a nice and close shave. However, it can irritate the area and cause razor rash.

6. Try not to shave when you first wake up in the morning, as your is retaining body fluids and can be puffy, which makes shaving a challenge. Try to wait about 20 minutes after waking before you shave.

7. Get rid of dead, dry skin before shaving. To help your skin stay fresh and healthy, be sure you exfoliate before you shave and not after you shave. Remember, it’s important to wash, exfoliate, shave and then moisturize!

8. Use a good shaving medium. If you want a nice shave, but have sensitive or tender skin, think about trying to lubricate your skin really well before shaving. Some people prefer to use shaving gel, shaving oil or a shaving cream. It doesn’t usually matter what type you use or whether it’s Gillette or another brand. Use whatever type of treatment that works for you, as long as it gives plenty of lubrication.

9. Choose the right moisturizer post-shave. As a precaution, if your skin is sensitive to moisturizers (most likely it is the fragrance and chemicals in that moisturizer that cause reactions) used after shaving, try baby oil. Simply apply it immediately after getting out of the shower. It’s sensitive enough for even the most tender skin areas and can help prevent razor rash.

10. Treating the razor burn your already have. Razor burn cal still happen even if you do all the right things. There are plenty of products on the market to help you treat razor burn, but aloe-vera based cortisone cream seems to work quickly. You can apply the cream twice a day to soothe your skin.

Enhancing the Gift of Natural Beauty

God has made this universe extremely beautiful and we, the human beings are the most beautiful creatures of God. But at times, we under-estimate our natural beauty and over-value some unnatural things.

Therefore, we have brought you a few key concerns that you can well utilize in enhancing your natural beauty which God has bestowed upon you.

• Believe in Yourself

There is nothing more perfect in enhancing your natural beauty than believing in yourself. God has given you a gift of natural beauty and now it is up to you that how you present it and take care of your natural beauty by cherishing it.

• Healthy Living

Natural beauty is certainly a nature’s gift to you and it can be best taken care by using and living a healthy life. Eating natural and organic foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables will surely contribute a lot in enhancing your natural beauty and bringing up that wonderful spark in your natural beauty.

• Take Good Care Of Your Skin

Your skin is the most important element when it comes to natural beauty. It is in fact like a beautiful gift wrapping of yournatural beauty inside which the beautiful gift in your form is wrapped up.

Therefore, pay special attention to your skin and complexion when you are dealing with natural beauty. Wash your faceregularly, use good moisturizers and sun-block lotions in order to protect the gift of natural beauty with which you are blessed with.

• Get Healthy Hair

Hair are an integral part of our natural beauty, in fact, they add the most beautiful touch to our personality. Having healthy hair is like having a perk in your natural beauty and maintaining them is even more important. Therefore, get regular rimming and haircuts, wash your hair properly and brush them with love so that they remain one of the most beautiful gifts of natural beauty.

• Million Dollar Smile

Smile is something that not only brightens up your natural beauty but it spreads is charisma all over. In order to maintain a good and healthy smile, brush your teeth regularly and use mouth washes frequently in order to have ever-lasting fresh breath which makes your natural beauty and smile more loveable.

• Avoid Overdose of Makeup

If you are a fan of natural beauty and you like to enhance it then the preliminary step is to avoid makeup as much as possible and if you need to use it then don’t make it obvious. Go for natural tones and natural beauty products rather than artificial and loud ones with bold colors.

• Exercise Regularly

Exercise helps in keeping your natural beauty well toned by giving your body a good shape. Therefore, make it a regular habit so that you can make your natural beauty irresistible for others.

• Sleep Well

Sleep has drastic impacts on our health and the way we keep our natural beauty protected for a longtime during our lifetime. Therefore, make sure that you take at least 7-8hours of sleep and don’t overwork yourself as it has hazardous