Category: Beauty

Categories
Beauty

Blow drying your hair made easy

Have 15 minutes to spare, washed hair and a blow dryer? Read on to know how to blow-dry your hair.
by Ankita Pathak

How is it you never really look as put together as you do when you leave the salon after a professional blow dry? Is there magic to hair care and achieving the perfect blow dry or is it possible to do it yourself? Actually, it is quite possible, as long as you follow the right steps!

Getting a professional blow dry is like getting a shot of beauty adrenaline. The feeling you experience when you leave the salon is pure exhilaration. Nothing much has changed; your face is the same, and your weight is the same, but somehow you feel ten times more beautiful and infinitely more confident.

If you need help in the blow drying department, here’s what you need:

Time required: 15 to 30 minutes, depending on length and thickness of hair.

Tools: In order to achieve a salon quality blow out, you’ll need to add certain tools to your arsenal, such as a blow dryer, brush and serum. Go with a round hair brush with a barrel anywhere from 1 ¾ to 2 ½ inches.

– Pre-dry prep: Start with freshly-washed hair. If you have dry hair, condition in the shower. If you have fine hair, condition only the ends. Blot hair – never rub – with a towel to get rid of excess moisture. You can’t do a blow dry with really wet hair or it will take forever. If softness and shine is what your hair needs to remove the excess knots, use a dime-sized dollop of hair serum evenly through strands.

divide and clip– Divide and clip: Divide and clip your hair into two sections – top and bottom. To make it easier, draw a line with your index finger from above your ears. Right where your fingers meet becomes your top section. If you have bangs, leave them loose. Dry your bangs into place first to set them so they aren’t harder to tame at the end.

– Nozzle magic: Put the nozzle of your dryer and, beginning with the bottom section, wrap a 2- to 4-inch section of hair around a round brush and pull as taut as you can. Keeping the hair taut is 50 percent of the battle. Ensure that your dryer nozzle is pointing down the hair from roots to ends. This will also help with frizz.

Continue through the top section until hair is dry. Finish off with a serum to weigh down random frizzy parts. Crucial points to note: do not apply nozzle use in blow dryingtoo much product. Gunking up your hair won’t help you get the style you crave; it will only weigh it down and prevent it from cooperating. Also, don’t dry hair that’s too wet. Your hair will take much longer to dry and be unnecessarily exposed to more heat. Lastly don’t over-dry your hair to a level where you can smell burnt hair. It’s a common mistake that can damage your strands. For volume on the top, hold the dryer under the brush and pull it down. Finally flip your hair upside down and shake it up!

Did you find these tips useful? Tell us about your blow drying adventures in the comments section below.

Categories
Beauty

Brush it off

One makeup product, so many brushes! If you’re wondering what to use when, it’s time to take a short tutorial.
by Ankita Pathak

Let us just admit that the number of brushes that exist for a single makeup product can be overwhelming. And once you zone in on a specific shape, material, and brand, what exactly do you use it for? Well, that’s where we come into the picture! Read on for essential brushes that every girl should have and what they’re used for.

stipple brushThe Stipple Brush 

The flat head foundation brush, also known as the Stipple Brush, is perfect for a smooth foundation application. All you need to do is pour a little foundation on the back of your hand, dip the brush onto it and stipple it across your face. The flat head will give you an airbrushed, high-definition and even finish within seconds.

The Powder Brush

This fluffy brush is ideal for your compact and loose powders. The brush picks up less product than a normal puff and provides an even, matte finish on top of your foundation. Made with natural hair bristles, a powder brush is meant for the areas of the face that tend to shine: between your brows, around and on the tip of your nose, your upper lip and your chin. This allows the rest of your face to glow and breathe.

powder brush

eyeliner brushThe Eyeliner Brush

This flat stiff liner brush (in pic on left) is a great tool to apply liquid or gel liners in the inner and outer lash line. The stiff head makes it easier to apply the liner right next to your lashes, filling any extra gaps that your normal eyeliner brush fails to. For the cat-eye lovers, this is a must have brush as it’s a great little tool to create a precise and even line. Want to use this for more than eyeliner? Put it to use as a brow brush to fill in spots for fuller and dark brows.

The Blending Brushblending brush

As the name suggests, the blending brush can harmoniously blend shades by creating soft edges, without wiping away the colour of your eyeshadow. A windshield wiper motion with the brush can help in blending and mixing colour, just right for the smoky eye. Another use? Swap the brush to apply your concealer in areas difficult to reach.

The Angled Blush Brush

The slanted shape of the angled blush brush offers precise application for a sculpted look. With the angled side, set the brush on your cheeks to sweep on that gorgeous blush colour. Turn the brush around and use the slimmer side for contouring with a bronzer or highlighter. This brush helps in highlighting the features as it enhances the hollows of your face for a great chiselled look.

angled blush brush

(Featured image courtesy missmwah.wordpress.com)

Categories
Beauty

10 ways to glam up instantly

Want an instant sparkle to your tired eyes? Wondering how to make your gorgeous lipstick last long? Just read on.
by Ankita Pathak

They say beauty is self-confidence applied to the face. But what happens when you know how beautiful you want to look but don’t know how to achieve the look? We’ve got 10 little ways to help you glam up and stay gorgeous. Here’s what you do:

dark eyeliner– Dark eyeliner is a part of our Indian shringar. But if you’re not a professional makeup artist, it can be difficult to line your eyes with a liquid liner. So the trick is to line eyes first with a pencil liner, because it’s easier to hold the pencil than a brush. Then trace the line you just made, but this time use the liner brush. If you are good at colouring, this should be a piece of cake! Your eye liner will not only stay for long but would also be smudge-free throughout the day.

– Insomnia, stress and late-night TV watching are all giving girls puffy eyes. With eyes like these, you will find that even heavy concealer fails to have any effect. Here’s a quick fix: dab your white pencil liner in your inner eye area. It will brighten up your eyes and give them an instant sparkle!

– For gorgeous lips during the day, dab lipstick on to your fingers and then to your lips. It will give your lips a subtle color wash and leave them looking juicy!

– Whatever the season, there’s no excuse for tardy eyebrows. To keep your brows neat in between brow appointments, invest in a goodeyebrows pair of tweezers and fill in any gaps with a soft, smooth brow pencil that gives a natural finish. Don’t own a brow gel? Replace it with a clear mascara to avoid hair from looking straggly.

– Sporting no makeup and get a sudden interview call? Do this: take a lipstick and place it directly on top of the apples of your cheek. Aim a little higher and apply. Dab the same lipstick on your lips, and you’re good to go! This will not only give your cheeks a rose tint but will help make your cheekbones look even higher.

– Making lipstick last all night is a task! The key to long-wearing, transfer-proof lipstick is layering. First, apply colour directly to your lips. Next, separate a two-ply tissue and hold one sheet against your lips while dusting translucent loose powder on top. Remove the sheet and apply another layer of colour. Blot one last time with the remaining sheet and you’re good to go—for hours.

– In makeup, as in life, timing is everything. If you tend to apply concealer first, change things a bit: start with eye makeup instead. That way, you can easily clean up any powdery residue that migrates below your eyes and which could cast dark shadows, with a Q-tip soaked in makeup remover or baby oil. Then top with concealer for a bright finish.

foundation– Feel your foundation melting off by the end of the night? You will find that even the best liquid foundation won’t give you a flawless complexion unless it’s well blended. To make foundation melt into your skin, dab it on with a dampened makeup sponge – wet the sponge, then squeeze until it’s almost dry. Next, dispense foundation onto the back of your hand, press the sponge into it, and apply wherever you want coverage. It will give you an air-brushed finish which will stay fresh all day long.

– The bronzed look need not be limited only to summers. For a slimmer face, sweep some matte bronzer in a slant under your cheekbones, on the bridge and sides of the nose and jaw line. Don’t be surprised if you end up looking like a Greek goddess!

– To make your at-home manicure last long, paint the tips of your nails first after you’ve applied a base coat. Follow as usual with two coats of colour. The extra step reinforces the tips, where peeling usually starts.

Do you have an instant glam tip to share? Tell us in the comments section below.

 

Categories
Beauty

Must-haves for hair and skin

Here’s presenting a list of some mandatory hair and skin essentials that you must include in your daily beauty regime.
by Deepa Mistry

Do you tend to forget about taking care of your skin and hair, in the chaos of your busy life? Just a little extra care and planning will help you maintain healthy hair and skin every day. To help you make it easy, we bring you a basic beauty essentials checklist that you can refer to on a day-to-day basis.

For the skin:

aloe vera gelAloe gel: Aloe vera has massive amounts of beneficial properties, and has been used over the years for healing skin allergies, hair problems, insect bites etc. Aloe gel helps soothe pain and rejuvenate skin cells. Aloe vera gel can be used directly or combined with your skin cream for smooth and moisturised skin. Aloe gel applied for 20 minutes on the scalp helps reduce dryness and itchiness in your hair, giving you silky hair after each wash.

Moisturiser:  Even though Mumbai weather is humid, we tend to avoid applying moisturiser as it makes skin oily. But skipping the moisturiser dehydrates the skin. A good amount of moisturiser used on a daily basis is very essential as it will revive dry and dull skin. Apply a deep-hydrating moisturiser every night before going to bed. During the day, apply a light moisturiser before sunscreen if you have dry skin.

Sunscreen: No matter what the weather, exposure to the sun is common while outdoor. Sunscreen is a must every day, use sunscreen with minimum SPF of 30 and remember to reapply every three hours.

Lip balms: A must-have for every girl. A good lip balm is the best solution for chapped lips; also add a subtle lip gloss for shine and whichlip balm will help the balm stay on longer and more effectively. You should ideally opt for one with a mild SPF to protect lips from harmful UV rays that may tan your lips.

Wet wipes: Most of us are outdoors in the day. Our skin tends to pick up a lot of dust and grime. A pack of wet wipes is the handiest tool for each one to cleanse the face from time to time. These days, wet wipes come with various properties like cooling, moisturising, deep-cleansing, make-up removing etc. Pick the best suited to your need and skin type.

For hair:

Shampoo and conditioner suitable for the weather: Weather change can wreak havoc on your hair, which none of us would like, so ditch your regular brand and go with a shampoo and conditioner that best suits your hair in that particular weather.

hair careStyling products: We would insist on using as little hair styling products as possible, as they damage your hair a lot. But there are times when you might have to style your hair for a party or a wedding, or may be your latest funky hair cut requires daily styling. At such times, use products with mild chemicals. If you intend to blow dry or iron your hair, make sure you apply a hot styling product for heat protection, extra smoothness and shine.

Hair serum: A lightweight serum will help you maintain shine and control frizz. The second advantage is, it can also double up as a leave-in conditioner. Use a dollop twice a week on either dry or wet hair to maintain those beautiful locks.

Do you have a beauty tip to share, or a question to ask? Ask your question in the comments section below or write to editor@themetrognome.in and Deepa will answer it for you.

(Pictures courtesy aloeveraforliving.com, beautybeaucoup.blogspot.com, www.virginhairseduction.com, doctor.ndtv.com)

Categories
Beauty

Banish those dark circles

Don’t let ugly dark circles ruin your good looks. Try these tricks to let your eyes really do the talking.
by Deepa Mistry

With stress and bad lifestyle choices taking a toll on our skin, it is but natural that dark circles appear under our eyes and refuse to go away. Add to that the fact that most of us don’t get as much sleep or good nutrition as we need, and dark circles become a permanent bane.

remove dark circlesBut don’t let those ugly dark circles tarnish your beautiful looks. We all go that extra mile to get rid of them with tons of makeup, but there are simple ways to get rid of them.

The bony structure of the skull into which eyes are deeply set can develop shadows, typically called ‘dark circles’. They are caused due to a variety of reasons; heredity is a big reason, or they can happen to people who are born with thinner skins under their eyes. Fatigue, shortage of sleep, shortage of essential nutrients, sinus problems, hormonal imbalances as a result of menstruation, pregnancy or menopause are some other reasons. Age is also a factor.

If you suffer from dark circles, try these remedies:

– Grate some raw potato and soak a cotton ball in the potato juice. Close your eyes and place these cotton balls on your eyes. Make sure they cover the dark circles under your eyes as well as the eyelids. Leave them on for 10 minutes and wash off with cold water. Similarly, cucumber is a very good astringent and skin toner. Follow the same procedure with cucumber.

– Excessive smoking and drinking cause dark circles, so cut down on these habits.

– Cotton balls dipped in rose water and placed on the eyes and left for some time may cure or remove dark circles.

– Almond oil has been a time-tested remedy for dark circles. Apply a paste of almonds mixed with milk on the dark area on the affected area before going to bed, and wash it off with cold water the next morning. Alternatively, apply almond oil before you sleep for a few days till you see visible results. This will lighten up your skin.

– Application of cold tea bags on the affected eyes and leaving them on for a few minutes is an effective way of removing dark circles.tea bags over eyes

– Vitamin C and iron are known to be essential food supplements for removing dark circles. Try applying a cream rich in Vitamin E and C for reducing under-eye circles.

– Apply a paste of crushed mint leaves under your eyes and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Wash off gently. This will relax your eyes.

– Wash your eyes with cold water at regular intervals, this will help soothe them. It also cleanses the eyes.

– Lemon juice, orange lentil flour, puree of tomato and turmeric paste when blended and applied on the eyes and left for 15 minutes is a very good remedy for dark circles.

If beautiful eyes top your wish list, we hope these home remedies will work wonders for you.

(Pictures courtesy www.eternesseclinic.com, www.beautyhows.com, darkcirclesguide.com)

Categories
Beauty

Work-outs made simpler

This is the season of unpredictable, heavy showers. So what do you do when your outdoor exercise plans fall through?
by Deepa Mistry

The weather may be rainy, gloomy, dull and it’s always humid, since the rains have become so unpredictable. This has affected so many of our outdoor activities like shopping, exercising or even going to the gym. Rains have disturbed our regular exercise routines on many occasions, but don’t let this season deter you from a great workout even if it means you have to do it at home.

Try these:
skipping– It is a good idea to invest in a skipping rope. If you are used to going out for an early morning walk or jog, a sudden shower can delay or derail your plan. But stick to your daily cardio kick: warm up with a few stretching exercises, followed by jogging on the spot. Once you’re done stretching your legs and arms, skip for 15 minutes. This provides the same or more of the benefits of a jog, and it will tone your leg and arm muscles.

– Get a pair of dumbbells, as they help burn fat when used in various exercises. Do curls, squats, lunges, rows and kickbacks using dumbbells for an effective workout.

– Also try push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups, pull-ups and chair dips. These will tone your arms, shoulders and ab muscles.

– If you are not a gym person, sit-ups, waist bends, knee bends, and calf exercises are a great way to flex your muscles. Pick a spot in your home that lets you hold on to a support and also provides ample space to spread yourself.

– Enroll in a kickboxing class. Kickboxing is a fast and energetic workout which burns several calories per hour, faster than burning kickboxingcalories on an exercycle or a cross-trainer.

– Dancing is the best workout for everybody. Just turn up the volume and dance like no one’s watching. This makes the body flexible and is the most enjoyable workout.

– If you’ve been thinking of investing in a treadmill this maybe the best time to buy it, as it will last you a long time and you don’t need to go out for your walk or run.

– Yoga is the most recommended indoor exercise. Practice simple asanas to keep yourself fit. Yoga also helps reduce respiratory problems that are very common during the monsoon season. Encourage your children and family to practice pranayam daily, as it increases concentration and reduces stress levels. Besides, yoga is very beneficial for pregnant women and heart patients. Suryanamaskar should be practised atleast five times daily, early in the morning.

– Don’t be a couch potato; ditch the television and opt for cleaning. It has been found that sweeping and mopping the floors provides as much exercise as 10 minutes on the treadmill. Even tidying up your room, making the beds, cleaning the ceiling fan are activities that burn calories and tone your arms and shoulders.

– Exercise balls are another useful tool for home exercise programmes. They may be used for balance and proprioceptive training, core strengthening, and as a bench to perform your bench press on. They come in different sizes and will often include an entire workout programme for you to follow, so choose one based on your requirements.

– Skip the lift and take the stairs. This is a very effective for fat burn. On the days that you can’t go out and exercise, walk up and down the stairs at a constant speed for a good workout.

– YouTube has several exercise videos to choose from, and several TV channels offer fitness programmes. Choose from a traditional or step aerobic workout, belly dancing, yoga and other formats. These programmes have a host who explains the exercises and how to do them. Alternatively, invest in a fitness trainer who will design an indoor workout for you.

(Pictures courtesy alyssaeleven.wordpress.com, houstonblackbelt.com, www.goodhousekeeping.com)

Exit mobile version