Thursday 21 July 2011
How to Curl Hair
If you want to transform your limp hair into wild, carefree curls, you're going to have to alter your hair's natural chemistry. Curls are made by two kinds of chemical bonds that cause the hair to bend: disulfide and hydrogen bonds. You're either born with plentiful disulfide bonds (i.e. naturally curly hair) or you're not, and the only way to change that is with expensive chemical treatment (a perm). Fortunately, you can "mold" the hydrogen bonds, convincing your hair to act curly for a day or two. That's all that curling hair really is. Here's how to make it happen.
1:Wet your hair. It doesn't have to be dripping wet, because it will take longer to dry. It just needs to be damp enough for water to come in contact with every strand. This initial wetting serves to break the hydrogen bonds in your hair so that you can "reset" them in following steps. Applying mousse or a light gel helps your curls keep their shape because it will stiffen, although putting too much can make your hair feel hard or sticky.
The only time you shouldn't wet your hair is if you're going to be using a curling iron or hot rollers, which will apply heat directly to the hair; the resulting hot water can burn your hair. If you use mousse or gel with these methods, let them dry completely first.
Straight hair has hydrogen bonds linking the proteins that make up the strand. Since straight hair doesn't have enough disulfide
bonds to make the hair "bend" (i.e. curl) the hydrogen bonds form close together along a straight strand.
Curly hair has strong disulfide bonds because of the natural structure of the hair proteins, which a person with curly hair is born with. Even though hydrogen bonds in straight hair aren't as strong, you can "train" them to act like disulfide bonds, at least temporarily.
2:Shape your hair into curls. There are various ways to do this, depending on the type of curl you're going for, how easily your hair curls, and the amount of effort you're willing to put in. Click on the following links for more information on various methods:
Foam Rollers - Gentle on the hair, more comfortable to sleep with them on; time consuming and somewhat difficult to do without the help of a friend (unless hair is short); using different sizes of rollers adds more flexibility in desired style
Braids - Easy to do, just need bands to tie braids; comfortable to sleep in; makes curls that are more zigzag in shape.
Curling Iron - Good for making perfect spiral curls; can be time consuming and especially damaging for hair.
Rollers - Time consuming and somewhat difficult to do without the help of a friend (unless hair is short); using different sizes of rollers adds more flexibility in desired style.
Hot rollers (which are applied to dry hair) create more of a soft, romantic look, but the curls don't last as long.[1]
Bobby Pins - "Pin curls" were popular in the 1920s, especially on shorter hair, for making well-defined, skinny curls worn tight to the head.
Straighteners - Even though straighteners (flat irons) are designed to be used to straighten hair, they can also be adapted for creating soft curls, usually curlier at the ends.
Hair Sticks - Instead of wrapping a strand of hair around a roller, you wrap it around a stick, resulting in tighter curls.
Fabric/Rags - More comfortable than rollers; produce effects similar to pins, but fabric is easier to work with and sleep on.
Knots - If you don't have anything to curl your hair with at all, tying it into knots can create curls if done properly.
3:Apply heat. The heat helps to break any remaining hydrogen bonds. This step is optional. If you curl your hair often, the repetitive application of heat can eventually damage your hair. Hair can be curled without heat, but you'll have to let the hair set for a longer period of time and the curls might not last as long.
You can apply heat with a hair dryer, but don't let the air blow individual strands (particularly shorter ends) out of the curl; place a barrier (such as a bandanna) over your hair when you blow dry.
If you're using a curling iron or hot rollers, you're combining this with the previous step because you're curling and heating at the same time. Keep in mind, however, that even though a curling iron can produce beautiful curls, it's more damaging to your hair than any other method because the higher heat destabilizes the proteins that your hair is made of.[2]
4:Let the curls set. The new hydrogen bonds that will keep your hair curly only form as your hair dries and cools. If you pull your hair out of the curled shape before it's completely dry and cool then the weight of your hair will break some of the hydrogen bonds and it will not curl as well. If you're using a curling iron, hold the strand in a curled shape until it completely cools. Spritz hairspray to essentially "glue" the hydrogen bonds in place. If you're going for a casual look, you may want to scrunch your hair.
5:Waterproof your hair. If it's at all humid or rainy where you are (or where you're going) apply a pomade or oil to prevent moisture from penetrating your hair strands. Remember how wetting your hair breaks hydrogen bonds? Now that hydrogen bonds are keeping your hair curly, you don't want moisture in the form of humidity or rain to come in contact with your strands of hair because they'll reset your hydrogen bonds and your curls will be gone like the wind.
6:If you want your hair to be in soft wavy curls, you can do a variation of pin curls. Divide your hair into 8 sections or so. Slightly dampen and put hair gel on the first section, then twist it very tightly. Once it is twisted as tight as possible, bring the end up to the top of your head. The curl should twist back on itself. Put in two bobby pins, and hairspray it. Once you have done this to all the sections, leave them in until they are dry (about 20 minutes), and then use your fingers to gently arrange curls into desired form, being careful not to separate them so much you create frizz. Voila, beautiful curls!
How to Get Rosy White Skin
Increase intake Vitamin C to enhance skin color and suppleness. This will help keep your skin strong by maintaining its basic support structure—collagen. You can increase Vitamin C intake by:
Eating more foods that contain Vitamin C. This includes citrus fruits/juices, strawberries, sweet peppers, tomatoes, cantaloupe, and green peas.
Taking Vitamin C pills. If you chose to do it this way, you should take 250 mg/day. (Beware of overdose; see warnings)
Eat more Vitamin A. Since your skin is basically composed of Retinol, which is Vitamin A, this will help keep your skin healthy and strong. If you feel your skin is weak or not tight enough, that highly suggests lack of Vitamin A.
Foods that are high in Vitamin A include nonfat milk, oysters, and egg yolks [1]
You can also get Vitamin A by eating foods that are high in beta carotene. In addition to being a good source of Vitamin A, beta carotene will help minimize the effects of sun damage to your skin. To up your beta carotene intake, eat foods such as carrots, watermelon, papaya, tomatoes, or other dark colored produce.
3
Minimize your exposure to sunlight and pollution. UVA/UVB rays are known to be harmful to your skin because they slow down your body's ability to repair damaged skin cells and clear dead ones. 7 Pollution is a major cause of acne and dull skin tone.
Reduce sun exposure by wearing sunscreen, long sleeves/pants, and a wide-brimmed hat.
If you live in a heavily polluted area, decrease exposure by staying indoors or wearing a mask when walking around outside.
4
Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. This will help keep your skin from drying out.
5
Exercise daily for 30-60 minutes. Doing so will help you de-stress and your body detoxify.
6
Make a face mask. The following options will whiten your skin and improve your complexion.
Recipe 1: Put a cucumber, 1/4 cup of lemon juice, 5 teaspoons of honey, and 5 teaspoons of milk into a blender. Blend until well mixed. Pour mixture into a bowl. Stir in flour until the mixture gets a thick consistency. Refrigerate for 6 hours. Apply to your face one daily after you shower. You should leave it on for 15-20 minutes, and wash it off with warm water and a clean towel.
Recipe 2: Blend 1/4 cup of amaranth juice with a small amount of turmeric powder. If desired, add 1/2 cup of lime juice and milk as well. This should be applied to your face with a cotton ball. If you chose to add the lime juice and milk, massage your face and neck with the solution for 20-30 minutes. Rinse your face with lukewarm water when finished.
Recipe 3: Put a handful of almonds, fresh rosebud paste, and 5 tablespoons of fresh mint juice and honey into a blender. Blend until creamy. Apply the cream every night before bed. If refrigerated, the cream should last about a week.
Eating more foods that contain Vitamin C. This includes citrus fruits/juices, strawberries, sweet peppers, tomatoes, cantaloupe, and green peas.
Taking Vitamin C pills. If you chose to do it this way, you should take 250 mg/day. (Beware of overdose; see warnings)
Eat more Vitamin A. Since your skin is basically composed of Retinol, which is Vitamin A, this will help keep your skin healthy and strong. If you feel your skin is weak or not tight enough, that highly suggests lack of Vitamin A.
Foods that are high in Vitamin A include nonfat milk, oysters, and egg yolks [1]
You can also get Vitamin A by eating foods that are high in beta carotene. In addition to being a good source of Vitamin A, beta carotene will help minimize the effects of sun damage to your skin. To up your beta carotene intake, eat foods such as carrots, watermelon, papaya, tomatoes, or other dark colored produce.
3
Minimize your exposure to sunlight and pollution. UVA/UVB rays are known to be harmful to your skin because they slow down your body's ability to repair damaged skin cells and clear dead ones. 7 Pollution is a major cause of acne and dull skin tone.
Reduce sun exposure by wearing sunscreen, long sleeves/pants, and a wide-brimmed hat.
If you live in a heavily polluted area, decrease exposure by staying indoors or wearing a mask when walking around outside.
4
Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. This will help keep your skin from drying out.
5
Exercise daily for 30-60 minutes. Doing so will help you de-stress and your body detoxify.
6
Make a face mask. The following options will whiten your skin and improve your complexion.
Recipe 1: Put a cucumber, 1/4 cup of lemon juice, 5 teaspoons of honey, and 5 teaspoons of milk into a blender. Blend until well mixed. Pour mixture into a bowl. Stir in flour until the mixture gets a thick consistency. Refrigerate for 6 hours. Apply to your face one daily after you shower. You should leave it on for 15-20 minutes, and wash it off with warm water and a clean towel.
Recipe 2: Blend 1/4 cup of amaranth juice with a small amount of turmeric powder. If desired, add 1/2 cup of lime juice and milk as well. This should be applied to your face with a cotton ball. If you chose to add the lime juice and milk, massage your face and neck with the solution for 20-30 minutes. Rinse your face with lukewarm water when finished.
Recipe 3: Put a handful of almonds, fresh rosebud paste, and 5 tablespoons of fresh mint juice and honey into a blender. Blend until creamy. Apply the cream every night before bed. If refrigerated, the cream should last about a week.
How To Remove Pimples
The very mention of acne evokes a feeling of terror in the minds of young adults and teenagers, desperate for acne relief! Particularly girls spend hours in front of the mirror checking their faces for acne. Acne affects both sexes and to find fast acne relief become matter of great importance in the lives of the people suffering from this skin condition.
Before trying to find out fast acne relief one must understand the root cause of acne. Acne skin condition develops because of clogged skin pores. The oil producing glands produce excess oil and the skin pores get clogged. The toxins in our body are also responsible for the blocking of the pores. The blocked pores then become home for bacteria and it comes out as pimples, blackheads, whiteheads or bumps on the skin with pus in it.
If you see blackheads or whiteheads you should act quickly. If you do not pay attention to that then you may suffer from worse skin condition. If the pimples have pus in them you have to take antibiotic to treat that condition. Since many people suffer from acne, many companies have come up with fast acne relief medicines.
Always consider the side effects of acne relief:
Before you start on the fast acne relief medicines make sure to ask your doctors about the side effects of the medicine. Some of the medicines work on the acne but you may suffer lots of side effects of the medicine. It is beneficial to understand that fast acne relief medicines treat the symptoms of acne!
If you want to have a smooth beautiful and acne free skin you need to take care of your health. It helps to eat right. If you eat fresh fruits and vegetables you will consume right kind of food. Vitamin A and E supplements have proved to be beneficial in treating acne.
People have turned to herbal treatment for treating acne as they have natural ingredients and there are no side effects! Herbal treatment is good for your purse as well! It is much cheaper.
So before you go in for the over the counter medicines to treat your acne get more information about the root causes of the skin condition. If you know what to do and what changes to be made in the life style, you can remain acne free! Before surrendering to acne and then looking for fast acne relief, make sure that you eat right. In case of acne the old saying,’ prevention is better than cure’ hold true. If you do not want to suffer from the side effects of antibiotics try some herbal remedies. Though medical fraternity is always skeptical about home remedies, people do find fast relief from acne using herbal or home remedies. Aloe Vera has proved to be a very effective plant for treating acne.
Slowly people all over the world have accepted that herbal treatment really works and does not have side effects. To have fast acne relief choose a product that really works and understand the real cause of it and act accordingly!
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