Fashion Blog

With the monsoon season coming – the marriage season is just getting over in India. For those who do not have much idea about Indian marriages, traditionally, most Indians still go for fixed or arranged marriages. And marriage means very big to all relatives of the bride and bride-groom specially to ladies – young or old who get an opportunity to showcase their special wardrobe through colorful saris, slawar kameezs and of course jewelry of different types and shapes during these occassions. Otherwise, Indian women of rural and semi-urban areas seldom go to parties and thus have very slim chances of showing off who got what dresses during the year!

A traditional Indian wedding is truly remarkable in the sense that, during the main ceremony, amidst continuous wedding interlude music, the priest chants the vows while thousands of eyes look on the stage.  After the main ceremony  women roam around boosting their colorful saris and they get engaged into socializing and gossiping around while wedding song are played on the background.

Most of the times, Indian weddings cost a lot of money. Who can forget the $60 million spent by steel tycoon Laxmi Mittal for his daughter’s wedding! True, most can’t afford that amount – but still wedding in Indian means colorful dresses, socializing, gossipping and showcasing one’s fashion sense.

Who does not long to accompany a beautiful lady to a party? And which lady does not want to get that extra attraction among her peers? All do. But it is unlikely that wearing mere batik clothing will bring in the desired result or effect. For that one has to have an attractive appearance too. But many of us, common people consider saloon facials to be once-in-a while luxury at best. Yet regular facials is an indispensable part to look that bit extraordinary along with affordable handmade batik apparels.

Luckily, easy availability of  over-the-counter facial treatment products have made it easy to do facials and have saloon results with smooth and glowing skin all at home. Here are some basic steps of a professional facial and don’t forget to schedule a home facial every two weeks. :p

Step1: Cleanse

“Your skin has to be perfectly clean before you begin treatment, or you may work dirt and makeup into the pores,” – cautions Ettia Tal of the Ettia Holistic Day Spa in New York City. Use one of many mild cleansers and follow with a hydrating toner for your skin type. You can even create your own cleanser, mixing a quarter cup of aloe vera gel and two tablespoons of milk. Or create a toner, using the grated peel of one grapefruit combined with a vitamin C tablet and a cup of boiling water; let the mixture cool and strain.

Step2: Steam with Herbs

after a through cleansing, nothing lifts layers of dead skin cells better than a warm (not boiling hot) steam, explains Kathryn Klinger of Georgette Klinger saloons. For a professional steam, bring a medium-size pot of water to a boil, turn off the burner and add chamomile tea (find it in any health food store or mall) containing azulene, an anti-inflammatory agent. Cool for a few minutes.

If you have dry or flaking patches, apply a thin layer of moisturizer to your face before steaming. Now, holding your face at least 12 inches from the water, drape a towel over your head and the pot, so steam can’t rapidly escape. Inhale the vapors and relax for five minutes. “If at any point you begin to sweat,” says Klinger, “you’re too close.” Afterward tone the skin again.

Step3: Exfoliate dead cells

All skin types benefit from a gentle exfoliation, explains Los Angeles dermatologist Howard Murad, MD, to help break down and flush away the dead skin cells that have been loosened during steaming. There are good granular cleansers that also stimulate cell renewal. For more sensitive or irritated skins, Dr. Murad suggests a gentle chemical exfoliator using alpha-hydroxy acids. Or massage your face with a paste of semolina and yoghurt for a mild home-made scrub.

A couple of warnings: Do not exfoliate the delicate eye area, and never attempt to extract black-heads or white-heads from your face at home; leave that to a dermatologist or beautician. Oil, dirt and bacteria can be forced further into the pore, resulting in a infection or a pimple. Don’t forget to exfoliate your lips, though. Use a smear of petroleum jelly or vitamin E oil and a toothbrush.

Step4: Apply a mask that gives special help

“All masks work to hydrate cells below the skin’s surface and exfoliate any remaining dead surface cells” explains David Bank, MD, a dermatologist at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. Masks are also formulated to repair the problems of different skin types, and you should carefully select one that’s suitable for your complexion.

In general, the oil-absorbing effects of a clay or mud mask work to balance oily skins. Creamy masks give a boost of moisture. Light gels gently refresh and Read the rest of this entry »

Most love to have healthy hair. Healthy hair is gorgeous hair, and whether your hair is thick or thin, twirly or straight, long or bobbed, there is a right way to wash, dry and treat it.

5 Indispensable facts about shampooing:-

• Condition first. Apply conditioner to damaged or dry hair before shampooing to protect it. A damage control shapoo should be your best bet.
• Less is more.  A coin-size dab of shampoo will do for many length.
• There is a right way to rub. Work lather in with fingertips as using nails can cause scalp irritation.
• A second round of shampooing is not always necessary especially if you have dry hair. Before washing, lightly scratch your scalp. If your nails pick up oily residue or you see flakes from hair products, go ahead and lather up a second time.
• Sulfates strip hair dye. Choose a shampoo free of these lathering agents to preserve your color.

5 Indispensable conditioner tips:

• Lighten up. Conditioners are for your hair, not your scalp. Everyone’s scalp produces sebum, a mixture of fats and wax. Adding conditioner can make for a greasy mess. Apply it starting at hair’s ends and stopping about a half inch from your scalp.
•  Get better results. Moist heat opens the hair cuticle and helps deep conditioners penetrate and repair faster. Wrap conditioned hair in a war, damp towel for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Don’t deep treat if you dye. Dark hair dyes have built in conditioners that seal color into the hair shaft. Deep conditioning later can fade hair by pushing color out of the shaft. Instead, find a color added formula.
• Make it a don’t skip step. Even if your hair is thin and oily, you should still use a few drops of conditioner after every wash (Think of it as Band Aid for damaged hair ).
• Side-step this sales ploy. Don’t waste money on conditioners marketed to dandruff sufferers. Instead use medicinal shampoo and follow with any conditioner you prefer.

2 Indispensable dyeing tips:

• When wet, hair is up to 30 percent more fragile, so be gentle as you dry. Vigorous toweling can tear the  delicate cuticle.
• Wait until hair is just damp at roots, nearly dry at ends, before you weild the round brush and dryer, which can stretch sopping wet strands to the breaking point.

Although the saying “Clothes maketh a man” is not very true, but clothes and grooming goes a very long way in presenting a favorable first impression both for man and woman. Effort has been made to let woman know how they can present themselves “smart”.

Shorter woman need to keep cloth in line with slim narrow belt. A slight contrast in colors and fitted lines flatter them endlessly. They may stay with fabrics which is soft and flowing. They should avoid prints of overpowering design.

Tall woman should use wider belts but must avoid cloths that are excessively tight. Skirts that are too short or too long never suit tall woman. They can play down the waist by wearing blouses over pants and skirts.

Woman with top-heavy body needs to choose long jackets without shoulder pads. They should not wear clingy fabrics on top. Rather they should choose darker colors. They may wear pants or skirts that are pleated to bring the eye down.

The most important part of body is skin. Health is reflected in the appearance of skin and hair. Taking care of skin is very simple but before that one needs to determine the kind of skin they have.

Read the rest of this entry »