Beauty Profi

Sure, we all want to change our look every once in a while and sometimes that involves changing our hair color also. But there are a few adventurous souls that have taken changing their hair color to a whole new level with frequent colorings leaving their hair lifeless and damaged beyond repair.

While there are many professional hair coloring systems out there that only cause minimal damage to hair, many people still insist on buying hair color from department stores so that they can apply it at home. In many cases, this type of hair color causes extreme damage and if you use it too often, it could turn into a nightmare.

You see, hair color is a chemical that changes the structure of your hair. Each time you color, the outside layer of your hair is raised so that color can be pushed into the hair strand. With each subsequent coloring, this outside layer finds it more and more difficult to close to its natural and healthy position.

It is this layer that first takes the brunt of hair color damage. It is also this layer that is responsible for the shine and vibrancy of your hair color. If you color too much, you will first notice a dull or dry appearance coming from the roughened up outer layer of your hair strand.

In addition to making your hair look healthy and shiny, the outside layer or cuticle layer is also responsible for holding your color in. Once it refuses to close properly, your color will start to fade and over time, become completely washed out. Trying to color your hair again, will only be a temporary fix with the color always seeping out of the damaged areas.

If you ignore all of these damage signals and continue to color your hair, you will eventually break down the entire make up of your hair strands. At best, hair will become brittle and break. At worst, it will turn into mush and disintegrate right before your eyes.

To keep all of these dire hair color consequences from becoming reality, be sure to leave enough time in between colors for your hair to recuperate. Try not to do any drastic color changes for at least 6 months unless your hair is short. Also, do not color your hair from root to tip for each and ever color touch up. Color the roots only so that you can avoid further damage to the ends. And get those trims when you need them.

Hair color correction is a big money maker in salons nationwide. The reason: over-the-counter hair coloring products have given consumers the impression that hair color is easy and extremely affordable. One look at a professionally-colored model on a commercial or glossy magazine page, and many people clamor to the closest drug store to purchase a $5 box of color with the hopes of receiving a $50 salon look.

The results are often disastrous, and it can take hundreds of dollars to correct a hair color problem that could have been prevented with just a tiny bit of knowledge and planning.

The most common problem seen with hair coloring at home and in salons is choosing a hair color that is too light for the natural shade of hair. Realistically, color can only lighten hair beautifully by a few shades. If you go any lighter than a few shades, you need to choose a high-lift product such as bleach or a professional highlighting system. Failure to do this often results in hair color that is much too brassy or even orange.

Word to the wise: high-lift hair coloring should only be performed by professionals. The controlled chemicals used in the process, if used incorrectly, can result in irreparable damage and/or chemical burns on the scalp and skin.

Another hair color mistake that is seen quite often is choosing a color that is too dark. Extremely dark hair color can be the most challenging to correct because dark color can actually stain the cortex (inner layer) of the hair, making it almost impossible to lighten. Again, avoid choosing hair colors that are more than a few shades darker than your own to prevent a costly cortex stain.

When it comes to choosing the right shade of hair color to use, pick tones and shades that flatter your skin tone. Choose warm shade of hair color (reds and warm browns) if you look best in warm-colored clothing such as reds, pinks and oranges. Choose a cool shade (beige, pale blonde highlights and neutral colors) if you look best in blues and greens.

As you can see, just a little bid of planning and knowledge can save you from costly hair coloring disasters. And by making an informed decision before you purchase hair color, you will not only save money, you will also save your hair from needless damage.

Hair color is a chemical, and every time you chemically process your hair, you damage it to some extent. The damage can be minimal, as is usually the case with high-end professional hair coloring systems, or can be extreme. And each time you use hair color to correct a problem, you are damaging your hair even more.

Here are just a few tell-tale signs that your hair has been over processed with hair color and other chemicals.

” The hair is limp and dull, and no amount of styling can bring back its luster and bounce.
” The hair color has faded dramatically, and you are left with brassy and banded hair color. (Banded hair color is evident by the sudden change of hair color along the hair shaft. For example: the hair may be dark until about 2″ from the scalp where it turns a brassy orange.)
” The hair is extremely dry and brittle. When it is wet, it is almost impossible to comb it without causing breakage.

You can avoid damage to your hair caused by hair coloring by taking the same precautions recommended for choosing the right hair color. Choosing the right hair color reduces the amount of color applications, therefore, reducing the chances of your hair becoming over processed.

Do you love to crown your personal fashion statement? Do you love to carry latest hairstyles? And why not? The latest hairstyles seem to be sweeping the world slowly. The life cycle of any fashion trend is close to just a few years, from the emergence of a new trend to an ultimate fizz in the end. There are the 80’s bangs that just do not come off from people’s minds.

A lot of things go in to decide for the latest hairstyles. For your ease, I have here categorized the latest hair trends. So, just go reading!

Vintage Hollywood Glamour
The old, vintage glamorous Hollywood look is well-characterized by the smooth and voluptuous waves. The side parts are kept really deep. To get that hot look, you can have finger waving and pin curlings. You need some beautiful accessories to just top it off nicely. The vintage accessories are kept on the one side of the hair and also at the backside. Get the items such as feathers or rhinestones. All of these are latest in fashion these days.

1980’s Inspired
Your hairstyle can get you a journey to the past. Get an influence from the time of ‘80s. You will have movement and texture, plenty of waves, short layers on the top and tangled curls. Just dare to sport an old eighties’ mullet, it will get you back en vogue suddenly.

New Mod
Better call it Super-Fly Beatle. It is a re-born version of classical mod style of 50’s and 60’s. It has texture in the crown and short lengths. The sides and back of new mod can go from short to medium. It can also have lots of texture or distinct bluntness around the hairline. It tends to be heavy, nearly rounded bashes that can skim your eyelashes. You may feel it to be a little annoying. But are you bothered with a little discomfort and avoid that great fashion?

Faux-Hawks and Mohawks
It is a hot-trend for both girls and boys. It has an enormously versatile look. It is also promising to imitate on just any hair length. If you have short hair, you can use gel or wax to simply direct your hair forward and then upwards in center.

Asymmetric and Disconnected Cuts
The extreme angle makes for a figurine feel. The blunt edges show cuts in the unexpected places. You may not get any blend here. It is really edgy. You can still tame it down by getting an asymmetric cut. The asymmetric cut has one side long as compared to the other. The cut’s angle can range from one gentle slope to plummet. The one side is kept too short. It further graduates to the length of chin and comes about the head.

Select any one of the latest hairstyles here. But do remember it should suit your face cut and the whole personality.

Olive oil has been widely used in your salads as well as many other things. It is one of healthiest components to make your food taste better. This oil comes directly from the Mediterranean Region and it has become so famous that it has been used in all the continents. It is a favorite among all the health conscious people. Due to the immense number of benefits, it has been ranked among the top nutrition provider. It has been widely used in soaps making it mild and very skin friendly. It also helps to moisturize your body by the use of this oil in the soap.

Home Made Recipes

If you want to have smooth and fine nails olive oil is the best solution. Dowse your nails in a cup of olive oil for 30 minutes and find the best results.

Apply Olive oil liberally on your hands. To avoid spreading it elsewhere wear cotton gloves. This method helps you to get a smoother and softer skin.

Olive oil is the best solution for chapped lips. It does wonders to your lips.

To have beautiful, lustrous, shiny, silky and dandruff free hair, olive oil is the best bet. You can apply good amount of oil on your hair and cover it with a shower cap for 30 minutes, later shampoo it.

It is great moisturizing solution which makes your skin softer and smoother.

To make yourself an interesting bathing solution you can add 3-4 tbsp of olive oil with a few drops of essential oil.

You can make an excellent night cream by using 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup water. This helps to lighten your skin, kill bacteria and makes your skin smooth and clear.

It can work as a cleansing cream if you have dry skin.

Apply olive oil and then scrub with good amount of sugar. Later, wipe the sugar off your face with wet and warm cloth. One of the easiest ways to get facial done.

Soften your feet by applying olive oil on your feet.

Mix in bowl 1 egg, 1 tsp honey, 1/2 tsp olive oil and few drops of rose water. Use this as a mask for dry skin. Once applied keep it for sometime, later rinse it off with warm water. Dab it dry.

Make a paste by mixing some mashed apricots and warm olive oil. Apply this paste all over your face and leave it for 10 minutes. Wash it off with water.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautions while following instructions on the recipes from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

Eye Makeup Tips and Advice

Eyes occupy the most prominent place among the five sensory organs of our body. Large and beautiful eyes enhance one’s beauty manifold. Healthy eyes are directly related to general health. Use eye-make up very sparingly, for its excessive use damages the skin around eye. Also, remember never to use chemical eye-make-up-remover because it reacts adversely on the skin. Applying smoky eyes makeup can make you the most attractive and beautiful woman. It is a good choice for drawing attention, also.

A very important thing to take into account is the eye shadow color. Being very careful, smoky eyes are not so difficult to obtain. An advantage of this kind of makeup is that it fits any face type. Start applying the smoky eyes makeup, First, apply a perfect eyeliner and the base eye shadow over the upper lid, blending with a base brush. The next step is to apply a clean color over the eye, from eyelid to brow.

Eye makeup is the fun part of applying cosmetics. Some simple eye makeup tips. Use eye shadows that fit the character or to express mood. Apply the lightest shade you have over the entire eyelid and the medium shade on the lower eyelid. It’s time to apply dark colors for creating depth. Best place for doing that is the outer corner. Next, apply a little eyeliner, from the center of the eye to the corners. Finally, apply mascara. For dark eyes, black or dark brown is recommended. A dark brown eye shadow should be applied from the lid to crease, for a better effect. In the final, apply two layers of black mascara and work a little on your eyebrows for a strong smoky eyes makeup.

Various Types of Eye Makeup

Small eyes-Use a light shade of powder for the center of the lid and a darker shade in the outer edge.

Almond-shaped eyes Use a light shade of powder from your lashes to the brow, a medium shade on your lid, and a darker shade on the outer third of your eyelid.

Round eyes-Use light colored shadow over the entire lid and a darker shade in the crease. Apply eyeliner on both the top and bottom lids, and use mascara on the upper outer lashes.

Wide-set eyes-Use a darker shade in the inner corner, blending up and out. Concentrate eyeliner and mascara on the inner corner of the eye.

Close-set eyes-Use one color, varying from a light to darker shade. Start with the lightest shade one-third away from the inner corner of your eye, blending darker shades up and out. Use eyeliner on the outer half of your eye.

Deep-set eyes-Use eyeliner on both the upper and lower lids, remembering to smudge and soften the line.

Eye Makeup Tips

1. Use Sacha’s eye shadows to reflect mood.

2. Apply the lightest shade over the entire eyelid.

3. Apply the medium shade on the lower eyelid.

4. Apply the darkest shade in the outer corner of the eye to create depth.

5. Apply eyeliner with short strokes, starting form.

6. The center of the eye and working towards the corners.

7. Mascara finishes your makeup.

8. Do not wear bold eye makeup and a bold lipstick at the same time.

9. Try not to be too dramatic but there is a secret seldom revealed.

Follow these helpful tips to greatly improve your makeup experience.

Current hair color trends are defined within the move towards relaxed glamour. Healthy, shiny hair, with lots of movement, yet still well groomed. Color is defined – it’s either pastel blondes, in clean, icy tones. Or cool browns, or brilliant reds. The move has definitely been away from red browns, although if that’s a personal choice, or suits your skin tone best, don’t be a slave to fashion!

Here are some ideas to incorporate the latest hair color trends into your style:

Double sided coloring – underneath, choose a darker color like chocolate, and over the top, and for most of the hair, choose lighter shades like copper and bronze. The darker color will frame your face, and if you go for any flicks or curls when styling, you’ll see it contrasted against the lighter colors. But the main colors when hair is straightened will be the lighter ones. It’s great for variety.

Try color combinations like coffee, honeycomb and golden syrup for a more subtle, layered effect.

For brunettes who like their chocolate browns, try a few golden highlights to break up the block of chocolate, unless your face and skin color can handle the density of such a rich dark color. It really helps define your hair style, and is much easier to wear.

If you like very dark colors, try a brown black instead of a straight black. Or get your hairdresser to mix in some blue black into the brown black to give it more intensity, but without the harshness of a solid black that is not flattering to all skin tones. Also, try mixing in some caramel and pink-red foils with a violet brown black base. If they’re used creatively, and with restraint, you can keep the overall look very dark and mysterious, with a few hints of color showing.

For blondes, try mixing golden blonde with a very light ash. Or for a more subtle but contrasting look, have the ends of a bob colored a pale pastel coral.

If you want to try platinum shades, instead of going for a harsher white white, try a softer platinum white tinted slightly with pink.

For a pretty natural blonde look, try splicing a few clove and light ash foils through a pale, golden base shade.

Redheads: Go for a rich, fiery copper with a darker brown underneath, like clove. This works well on long hair and mid length hair.

For another red combination, try cayenne, nutmeg and paprika.

For really vibrant colors mixed with a darker base, away from the coppers, try a pink red combination of cassis and raspberry coulis.

For something a little more outrageous and individual, go for a brightly colored fringe, say in pink, and a few purple ends.

If you want something quite striking, but not so colorful, just go for a lighter than usual highlight. As long as it’s tastefully done, it’ll look great. Don’t try this at home!!!

When choosing colors, be aware of whether it’s a warm shade or a cool shade. And keep in mind how much of each color is going to be on your hair. Which shade, or tone, do you want the dominant one to be? Do you want a subtle effect, or a more striking one? Unless the contrasting color is going to be in small amounts, keep warm tones together, and cool tones together, irrespective of whether they are blond, brown, black or red. For example, chocolate brown highlights look good with warm vanilla, even though the colors themselves are quite distinct.

You can use different tones together. But it depends on both your skin tone, the way the colors are applied, and how much of each are used. If you’re going for this approach, think of the contrasting tone as a painter would, and be judicious about it’s placing.

References:
1. Hair Now, N2/06

Color contact lenses are popular for several reasons. Aesthetically, they can make a world of difference in the way a person looks. Traditional eyeglasses can take the attention away from the eyes or the face of an individual. With color contact lenses, you can get rid of your eyeglasses and get bright eyes in any color! Except for the first few weeks when you are still getting used to the contact lenses and can not wear them for very long periods, they are generally much more convenient to use than eyeglasses. They do not get wet nor do they fog up, and provide a wider range of site than eyeglasses making them perfect for athletes and those who do outdoor work.

Despite these advantages, some people are reluctant to purchase color contacts because of the cost involved. The truth is, annual replacement contacts can be more expensive than a pair of simple spectacles but if you know how to get the best deals in color contact lenses, you can definitely get good value for your money and enjoy the many benefits of wearing contacts.

A box of disposable contacts are more affordable but if you want the best value for your money, get annual replacement color lenses. You may have to spend more money initially but in the long run, you will definitely save more money on a pair of annual replacement contacts than buying 12 month’s worth of disposable contact lenses. There are plenty of color lens brands that offer good value-for-money and when possible, try to get free trial products before purchasing to get a “feel” of the specific brand.

If you can not get free trial products then go online and look for consumer reviews and compare the prices of the different brands. There are plenty of consumer guides available online to help make the right choice in contact lenses and the contact lens retailer. Make sure you purchase a brand from a store that offers great after-sales support.

After you have chosen the brand you want and have gotten the prescription for your lenses then consider buying your contact lens online. Reputable retailers can offer the best value on contact lenses because they carry the widest range of brands and they have lower overhead costs than mortar and brick establishments. Some retailers also put certain brands on sale which will give you better choices. Making online purchases are now perfectly safe with retailers using the best in technology to ensure that your credit card or bank account information is safe. If you decide to purchase disposable lenses then consider buying six months to a year’s supply if you can afford it. These online stores offer great discounts, rebates or free shipping on bulk purchases.

Ordering from online retailers can also save you time because you don’t have to drive to the store to order and to pick up the lenses. You can just fill up an order form with your prescription and provide all the necessary information and the lenses will be delivered right to your doorstep.

Easy-to-use natural skin care is safer, less expensive, and can be as easy as opening your kitchen cabinet, coupled with a few minutes of preparation. Healthy, radiant, glowing skin is something every person wants. Yet, few of us even think to use what’s really the best for out skin: natural skin care products.

Each year, millions of dollars are spent chasing after perfectly healthy, ageless skin. The environment, stress, and less than healthy eating habits, all play a major role in the quality of your skin.

The answers to achieving radiant, glowing complexion are within arm’s reach. Many of the items in your kitchen right now can provide natural skin care that’s even better thank those expensive, chemical filled products that cost an arm and a leg.

Skin Care Throughout Life

From the day we are born, our skin requires much care to remain smooth and healthy. It begins with soap to keep us clean. Then, there are creams, powders, and ointments to keep diaper rash from our bottoms. During the first few years of our lives, our skin will do well with soap for cleaning and the occasional lotion or cream for moisture. Then come the teen years. Our raging hormones bring out the oily skin, the pimples, and a host of other conditions.

It’s important to understand that everything that comes in contact with our body affects our health and the condition of our skin. That’s why choosing natural skin care products and ingredients is important. The liver filters the toxins and poisons from the food we eat, but whatever we place on our skin is directly absorbed. This includes deodorant, lotions, gels, cleansers, toners, make-up, perfumes, and more.

As we age, our skin becomes more sensitive, and we need to be even more careful with the beauty treatments we use.

Simple Solutions for Better Skin

Here are a just a few natural skin care solutions for you to try. You’ll be very pleased with the results:

* for a great moisturizer try olive oil: this healthy fat is good for you, and is great for your skin. You can also use it to soothe sunburned skin.

* once a week, rub your skin with baking soda while in the shower, for a smooth, silky feeling. You can also do this on your face to remove black heads.

* vinegar can work wonders for smelly feet and armpits. Mix water and vinegar 50/50, and use in place of deodorant: it will keep the unpleasant sweat smell away, without any irritation. As for your feet, if you suffer with athlete’s foot, a week of vinegar foot bath will help a lot, sometimes completely getting rid of your condition.

* fresh tomatoes are great for the oily areas of your face. (Please make sure to try the tomato juice on your arm first, as your skin may be sensitive to it). Rinse thoroughly immediately after using the tomato juice.

* egg yolk mixed with honey makes for a really great mask: put on your skin, leave it on for 20 minutes, and rinse off. Excellent for sensitive skin. Honey gives a tingling/ticklish sensation, so if you are sensitive to that, use the egg yolk alone.

* another use for egg yolk: for those with eczema, use it instead of soap. It doesn’t smell great, but it will heal your damaged skin.

* a great treatment for dry skin is avocados: mash it, smooth it onto your face, and rinse off after 20 minutes.

Mineral makeup is the latest thing and it’s based on the oldest things. As an all-natural makeup, these mineral-containing makeups are being touted as something that can actually help your skin. There are many cosmetic companies marketing mineral makeups by different names, but all versions of mineral makeup have a common ingredient. They all contain “natural” minerals.

The idea behind “Mineral makeup” goes against the more modern use of artificially created compounds and takes its inspiration from minerals and inorganic pigments that exist in nature. Many people prefer the natural colors of the cosmetics and feel they are supporting better health by limiting their exposure to articifial chemicals which make up the ingredients of most cosmetics. These are generally compounds which the body is less likely to be allergic to and many natural minerals also behave as antioxidants. These minerals, such as mica, titanium dioxide, zinc and iron oxides, and ultramarine pigments and even calcium, can be can be combined to make every cosmetic from foundation to eyeshadow to shimmer powder for the body.

As with any type of makeup there are some mineral makeups that are expensive and there are some that are inexpensive. But there is no reason to feel you can’t afford mineral makeups.

A leading cause of wrinkled skin is the heavy and constant application of makeup. After years of makeup use, your skin looses much of its natural elasticity. This is partially due to a lessening of the production of elastin but is also due to a build up of free-radical stress which is very similar to the rust build-up on a car. As human beings evolved, our cells learned to utilize many of these minerals as basic nutrients which support normal cellular function. As many things are absorbed through the skin, many people believe there is a nutritional advantage to using natural compounds as makeup as opposed to artificial chemicals which the cells do not have any use for. Already there are many creams and lotions which are fortified with vitamins and minerals for this exact reason. Instead of waiting for nutrients in our diets to travel through the bloodstream and benefit the cells of the skin, these nutrients are applied directly to the skin so the cells can use them directly.

Whether or not this is true, many feel there is certainly a benefit to not applying artificial chemicals to the skin as they will be absorbed and may enter the blood stream. This can lead to alergic effects and other forms of discomfort to the body.

If you use makeup, a good choice is mineral makeup.

The benefits of mineral makeup cosmetics are advertised to be:

1. Natural look and feel
2. Longer laster–stays on the entire day
3. Better for sensitive skin
4. Anti-inflammatory
5. No harmful ingredients

Mineral powders are inorganic and contain no moisture. This means that bacteria can not grow and no preservatives are needed. That means no preservatives against your skin, when you use mineral makeup. The minerals in the makeup are also natural sunscreens which protect you from the harsh effects of the sun. More and more people are switching to mineral makeup which is why many top cosmetic companies are developing entire lines of mineral makeup. They understand market demand and that means you!

Thinning hair is increasingly becoming one of the biggest cosmetic issues for men and women around the world. Treatment is not necessary if you are
comfortable with your appearance. If hair loss causes you anxiety and negatively affects your self-image, treatment can be beneficial. Organic shampoos only contain all natural ingredients, which means that it will not contain any harsh chemicals that can significantly damage your hair.

It may be much more expensive, but you will see that if hair care is what you want, organic shampoos are much better as it is gentle to your scalp and hair. However, there are alternative shampoos that can keep your hair clean and smelling nice, such as organic shampoos. The Nisim shampoo contains natural herbal and organic ingredients which stop hair loss within 7 days. “NISIM ” The STIMULATING EXTRACT contains essential amino acids and natural organic extracts that help promote thicker hair for men and/or women who are experiencing thinning hair.

Women consider hair as one of the most important aspects of their beauty. An estimated 30 million American women have a genetic predisposition
to hair loss and balding. Women develop hair loss as frequently as men do, but because of hormonal differences women don’t lose as much hair volume.
Women must learn at an early age to take care of their hair and understand what it takes to have healthy hair. Women frequently have hair loss due
to an iron deficiency, especially if they regularly skip meals or have heavy periods.

The only medication approved to treat women in the US is topical minoxidil; the 2% preparation recommended for women is available over the counter. When it comes to stopping or reversing baldness, the natural, organic active ingredients in Biofactors Shampoo, Conditioner and Extract are the best.

Biofactors’ products are among the few to face clinical studies and emerge with scientific proof of success in overcoming hair loss and baldness by
neutralizing DHT though the use of natural Saw Palmetto (also known as Serenoa Serrulata). Because one of the powerful, active ingredients in Nisim Biofactors is natural Saw Palmetto, you are treating your hair with the safest products.