Shawls and Stoles Collection

Shawls and Stoles Collection

Lakhani Winter Collection

Lakhani Winter Collection

Winter Makeup

Skin care routine and cosmetics for winters need to undergo a heavy makeover for the chilly cold season. You need to look more glamorous and more polished during the season. Matte understated shades such as coffee, chocolate and smoky shades for eyes and berry tones for lips and cheeks replace the fresh summer face. Gloss is in again and so are our beloved fruity and spicy tones of cosmetics. Velvety shades are the way to go for a winter woman. Here are some tips you can use this Christmas season:

• A bit of sheen on eyes can be used too for a change, if you are using nude shades; while on lips, it can help your lips to look more voluptuous.
• Either your moisturizer or your foundation should have broad-spectrum sun protection factor to block UV sunrays that do not leave our skin alone even for winters. Matt finish foundation is better for winders.
• For fragrance, stick to essence of essential oils, spices and other natural aromas.
• If you want to sport long eyelashes, you may try fake individual eyelashes that can be applied using tweezers.
• Sheer layer of creamy blushers can boost up your subtle makeup.
• Smokey eyes look best in winters and you can use eye shadows in cinnamon and coffee shades for sultry effect.
• Though, normally black mascaras make a comeback every winter season, this time it is the shades of Aubergine that are a great hit for the purple tint that matches your colored locks. A dark brown shade of waterproof mascara is a multipurpose product too.
• Tinted lip balms in honey, blackberry and red currant tones look great too in winters.
• Tinted powder with a slight shimmer is great for winters.
• Use ample amount of skin-priming moisturizers, especially meant for winters, on your face that may have properties to exfoliate gently and lower concentration of alpha hydroxy acids. Night cream should be heavy for winters.

Winter Skin Care (for Dry Skin)

Cleansing

make sure to avoid soap totally. use a soap free cleanser to wash ur face (cetaphil cleasing lotion) dont wash ur face too frequently ,use cleansing milt at bedtime.

Moisturising

use a heavy moisturiser like (nivea intensive care Or vaseline )continue to use sunscreen when going outdoor . use a lip balm liberally for chapped lips; sunflower oil or petroleum jelly are good.

Night Care 

apply mixture of 1 part glycerin mixed with 2 part rose water 

Bathing

massage ur body with olive oil before bathing , use oilatum soap. u can also add a few teaspoons of oil to ur bath water . dont use very hot water

Scrub

use it but not more then a forthnight 

Face Pack

you can apply a mixture of 2 tsp milk cream a little rose water 4 or 5 almonds or 1 tsp sesame seeds ground to a paste .

Tips to Bleach

squeeze lemon n cucumber n refrigerate it n use it daily home made remedies take lot of time n u hav to be patient.

If the hair is too fine, then you can consider bleaching. You can apply bleach (go for a patch test before you try on your face), once in 15 days. 

There is a recipe that can partially help in removing the facial hair when done frequently. Mix besan with few drops of fresh milk. Add a pinch of turmeric to this mix. Now apply this mix all over your face. When its semi-dry, rub the mix on your face in the opposite direction to your hair growth. This helps in removing facial hair though not fine hair. 

however you may try a body scrub made at home if you desire natural and home-made remedy:

3 tbsps besan(gram flour),1tbsp orange peel powder,1tsp turmeric and 3tbsps milk cream.mix all the ingredients well and apply to body.leave it on until semi-dry and then scrub in the opposite direction of hair

Mix lemon turmeric n oatmeal(jao ka atta) to make a thick paste n apply on ur face do atleast wo weeks u will get the results

The home bleach:

combine two tablespoons of milk powder, mix in a enough liquid hydrogen peroxide to form a thick paste amke sure its not drippy. If your hair is very dark and coarse mix in a couple drops (like two) of liquid ammonia. This is considered to be the least harmful kind of bleach since the powder milk in the mixture moisturizes the skin while bleaching preventing skin burns and other reactions that comes from commercial bleaches. 

Threading and waxing of the facial hair is done best at a beauty parlor. It is advised to get it done at a beauty parlor for the first time.

Eye Care Tips

Eye care is usually neglected by most people as they don't realize it importance. People rely on their senses to manage through life and eye sight is a very important factor which helps in everything you do.

Eyesight as well as eye care are very important health wise as well as aesthetically. Women have always been preoccupied with wrinkles around the eyes since it is one of the first places wrinkles and fine lines appear. The skin around the eyes is very thin, soft and sensitive thus it is more prone to damage. 

Eye care should be one of your top priorities when it comes to beauty and health care as the eyes are one of your most precious gifts. By caring for the eyes one can minimize and prolong the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines as well as maintain a proper eye vision. 

To help you look and feel great follow these eye care tips as much as possible:

protect your eyes with special eyeglasses if you work with a computer for several hours. Some computer screens don't have a protective cover for the eyes and this might cause eye damage, as your eyes get tired

wear good quality sunglasses whenever you are exposed to sunlight as the bright light from the sun might cause you to make grimaces and thus you will develop wrinkles and fine lines much quicker. In addition the sun can easily burn and damage the skin around your eyes if you don't wear SPF protection

wash your eyes with cold water whenever you feel that your eyes are getting tired. Staring at something or being concentrated to read can tire the eyes much quicker and the cold water will help reinvigorate the eyes

eye creams should definitely be a part of your eye care routine especially after the age of 25 to prevent wrinkle development. These creams contain certain ingredients which have been discovered as beneficial in eye care 

try to pamper your eyes using natural ingredients. Place a slice of cucumber, potatoes or other skin beneficial fruits or vegetables on your eyes so the skin can improve it's appearance

eat foods that contain high amounts of vitamins beneficial for eyesight and not only like carrots, broccoli, spinach, fish, soy and blueberries

try to get enough sleep daily, about 8 hours a day as this is the only time the eyes can rest and take a break to recover from the stress they are subjected to daily

do not rub your eyes with your hands if you haven't washed them properly so you don't get bacteria in your eyes and cause infections

visit an eye doctor if you experience blurry vision and headaches often

Care for your eyes so they can stay healthy and gorgeous looking and you will surely not regret it. There are several treatments available to minimize the effects of eye damage so try these options if the eye damage has already been done.

14 Skin Care Tips

Healthy skin is a part of the happy life one is leading. Everybody loves to have glowing, pinkish and healthier looking skin. It is not true that you have to spend a lot of money on skin care products. You are natural and what suits you the best for your skin is natural remedies plus a few skin care products. I have mentioned some of the skin care tips I follow in order to maintain my skin. I used to spend a lot of money on skin care products, but now these simple steps are more than enough to achieve a healthy looking skin. 

1. Wash your face with a good cleanser in every morning and night.
2. Scrub your skin with a natural scrub at least once a week. 
3. Apply honey on skin two times a week in the morning or night. Massage for five minutes in circular motions and rinse off with warm water.
4. If you have acne on your back, the most probable reason for that is not cleansing the leftovers of shampoo on skin after bathing. Thus, always wash your back with soap after having a bath. 
5. If you have blemishes, dark spots on skin, apply some olive oil and massage before going to bed. This remedy is not recommended for facial skin since olive oil speeds up hair growth on skin. 
6. If you are suffering from facial acne choose a good cleanser specially created for acne prone skin. 
7. Make it a habit to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Water performs wonders on your skin. 
8. Have a separate towel for yourself to wipe face and body.. 
9. If you have dry skin, apply Vaseline on skin and massage for a few minutes before going to bed. You will see an amazing difference in the morning when you wake up. 
10. Once a week apply tomato juice mixed with a few drops of lime juice on your face and neck. Leave for 20 minutes and rinse off. This remedy is recommended for those who have oily skin with blemishes. 
11. A natural scrub for skin: get one cup of white sugar and mix it with a half cup of lime juice. Then you can use it to scrub your body as well as your face. 
12. Learn to do a few selected yoga exercises. 
13. Drink natural fruit juices made of papaya, pineapple, lemon or oranges. These fruits contain vitamins necessary for a healthy skin. 
14. Eat a healthy, balanced meal and avoid fast food.

Acne and Pimples

The beauty of you lies in your skin so gals if you have problems and skin diseases then better shut yourself up in the room because no amount of make up or expertise can hide diseased skin. So better jet set go and find out some solutions to the skin problems particularly acne and pimples. Most of us have suffered from this at the onset of puberty or later in life. 

At the onset of puberty these pimples occur due hormonal changes but later when it appears then be sure it has been caused due to irregularity of skin care and proper skin treatment. Most of us love to apply make ups but how many of us take proper aftercare or even care to remove the make ups properly after the party is over. Often this residue along with dust and other impurities block the pores and as a result the skin cannot breathe nor can it excrete the excess oil produced in the skin.

So it starts to store them in a lump like formation just below the surface of the skin which we call pimples. They can be quite painful at times and even sometimes it may get infected due to bacterial infection. Apart from this stomach problems and irregular bowl clearance may also result in the appearance of the pimples.

One of the best ways to treat pimples is to change your food habit and avoid fried and junky food. Never ever apply any oil based cream in the affected regions of the face and always it is better to go for herbal cure than the chemical ones. A pack of neem leaves, turmeric, should be applied to the affected portion and if that does not help choose an anti pimple cream with active ingredient like sulphur chromide. Eat healthy and stay beautiful.

4 Steps to Skin Care

To enjoy a great looking skin, it is imperative that you maintain your skin in good health, for which you will need to adopt certain skin care techniques like toning, cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing. Also taking good care of your skin will help you in preventing aging and other skin related problems.

Going by the protocol, it is cleansing that comes in first which entails removal of dirt and dead skin cells. This is the most important and the most basic thing that goes into proper skin care. If you do not carry out proper cleansing of the skin, the dirt build-up is bound to make your skin look dull. Also the collection of dirt and bacteria on the skin can lead to several types of skin infections like acne.

Next in line is the process of toning the skin, which works wonders towards giving you a healthy and glowing skin. The toner not only helps in deep cleaning of the pores of the skin, but more importantly it works towards restoring the natural pH balance of the skin. With the restoration of the natural pH balance the skin pores tighten up and this tightening of the pores works a long way towards preventing dirt and infection from getting into the pores. The tightening up of the pores also gives a smoother appearance to the skin.

To get that supple looking skin, hydrating the skin is very important and equally important is to take measures to prevent loss of moisture. Moisturizing lotions replenish the skin with moisture while at the same time acting as a protective barrier to prevent the moisture from escaping. People with dry skin should give additional attention to moisturizing as dry skin is a result of lack of natural skin oils called sebum.

Finally, there's a process called exfoliating which must be used from time to time to remove the outer layer of the skin which contains dead skin cells as also the grime and dirt, that doesn't go off with the normal cleansing procedure. The removal of this top layer of skin gives a fresh and glowing look to the skin.

If you can carry out all these four tasks on a regular basis, you are sure to enjoy a healthy and glowing skin.

A Dry Skin Remedy For Bath

You thought that dealing with a dry skin is a big problem that you have to face regularly, you can't be more wrong. Perhaps you are making some skin care crimes that have led you to believe that having a dry skin and dealing with it is a cumbersome affair.

Irrespective of the location or the season, you can use some easy solutions to deal with your dry skin sans problem. Remember that these steps are easy to follow. Once you incorporate these suggestions into your every day routine, a big difference will be noticeable in your skin. Your skin will not only become better but will also have a healthy glow.

Pursue these 5 best remedies for your dry skin care and see how effective they are:

1. Keep an eye on the water's temperature Perhaps you enjoy a lot when you take a hot bath. Though it may have an extremely relaxing effect, you will do well to know that it is not beneficial for your skin.
2. Hot water will wipe out the oils and moisture from your skin. This in turn will make your skin dry, scaly and burnt.
3. Though you may not like this advice, it is suggested that you have a warm water bath instead of a hot water bath.
4. Remember not to extend your period of bath over 15 minutes. If you are taking a shower, the time of bath should be even lesser.
5. Once you have taken the bath, you will not need to see into the mirror to find out how dry your skin has become. Rather, you will feel that the dryness of your skin has decreased if you keep note of the temperature of water and the time period of your bath.

An additional suggestion: Use cool water to wash your hair as hot water will make it dry and frizzy.

Winter Skin Care Tips

If you don't want to turn gray, as the outside world turns gray with the onset of winter, you need to pamper your skin to keep it alive and young. Here's how you can prevent it from becoming uncomfortable and itchy with dryness.

Because skin dryness is the basic problem quite obviously hydrating it is the solution. While women talk about hydrating the skin from outside, let me first emphasize that it is more important to keep your skin hydrated from inside. And for that you must drink a lot of water and other fluids; however carbonated beverages and soda don't count. Another thing, add a bit of flax seed oil to your daily diet, I know it's not tasty, but it has some wonderful effect on your dry skin while also helping you fight heart diseases.

You know the heating is going to be on all the time throughout winter which will drain most of the moisture from your skin while also keeping the air indoors somewhat dry. So install a humidified system in your house and half your problem of dry skin will get solved.

Now let's begin with skin care by first of all using a good face scrub for your face. You need to exfoliate the dead skin cells and open up the blocked pores of your skin. This will not just leave your skin feeling fresh but will also improve the absorption of moisturizer to combat dry skin problem. Ideally you need to follow this cleansing routine at least once a week. With your skin clean and clear, it's time to use some oil based moisturizer to moisturize your skin.

People with excessively oily skin can go in for the oil free versions of moisturizers, but must never shy away from using moisturizer all through the winters. And when you need to step out in the sun, sunscreen is a must and look for one which has an SPF count of more than 15. Also available in the market are moisturizing sunscreen lotions which can save you the trouble of applying two things to your face one after the other.

If you want your body skin to remain moisturized, here is a small secret, just add about 1tbsp. of body oil to a jug of warm water and pour it over your body just before stepping out of the shower. If that is done on a daily basis, there will be no need for you to spend time on rubbing body lotion all over your body.

Different Hair Styles for Women

Choosing a hairstyle depends on various factors. An important factor is the shape of your face. And of course your own unique personality and your life style is also a major element. If you wash, condition and style your hair every morning, a short cut may be best for you. If you have plenty of time for hair care you may prefer to wear your hair long. The distribution, quantity and texture of your hair, the curliness or straightness and your height are the other important factors for choosing a hair style.

And, as far as beauty is concerned, hair care is most important for a man. A man's personality is judged not only by the way he carries himself but also by the hairstyles he sports. The hair-styles of Bollywood and Hollywood heroes are in demand at hair saloons. Even though hairstyles have constantly changed, Bollywood celebrities such as Abhishekh Bachchan, Amir Khan, Saif Ali Khan etc have greatly influenced Indian men to think differently.

If you wish to change your hairstyle, visit a good and experienced hairstylist who would give you a trendy haircut. And when going about with the styling of hair, you have to consider the most important factor is, the shape or structure of the face.

Men, like women, can have the following face shapes.

Different hairstyles to suit the shape of your face

Round face

• Women

A round face will look best with hairstyles that add angles and helps conceal broad, round cheeks. For persons who have short hair, it is better to have a cut with most of the hair on top and less on sides. For long hair, an hairstyle with curls or waves surrounding the face will be better.

• Men

Men with round faces should keep short hairstyles or wispy cut that sweep back away from the face. Use a product to add a little height to your hairstyle.

Square face

• Women

A square jaw and brow are best softened by a curly or wavy hair style that rounds off the angles of your face. Curls or waves worn forward on the outer edges of your face from your forehead will be more suited for a square face.

• Men

Square face shapes men should keep any styles that is cleanly cut around the ears and mirrors your square face. A short spiky hair cut as well as any sleek style is good for a square face shape.

An oval face

• Women

An oval shaped face is generally recognized as the ideal face shape by hair experts. This can be enhanced by a variety of simple hairstyles from long hairstyles to medium hairstyles to short hairstyles. Your hairstyle will be most pleasing, if you wear it straight or slightly wavy. Short or long styles will look best when brushed or held back from your face.

According to the activities that you enjoy you may wish to wear your hair shorter instead of pulling it back to enjoy participating in sports or keeping your hair out of the way for most activities. To get an example of celebrities with oval shape faces and the variety of hairstyles that look great on them, take a look at Isha Deol, Madhuri Dixit, Urmila Matonkar etc.

• Men

A classic oval shaped face looks great with all styles. Try changing the part. However a longer hair styles with a few graduated layers around the face gives a strong masculine signature.

Triangular face

• Women

It's a rare type. The best hairstyle for this shape face are those worn away from your face at your forehead and temples and softly waved or curled around the jaws or those worn full at your temples, with straight or waved bangs across the width of your forehead.

• Men

Men should try hair cropped close to head. The hair should be layered all around and tapered in back and at the sides.

Diamond face

Diamond face is widest at the cheekbones, has narrow forehead and jaw line of approximately equal width.

• Women

Diamond shaped face women can try almost all variety hairstyles but should avoid hairstyle that hides the prominent features of the face.

• Men

Fill out the face at the temples and chin and keep hair close to the head at the widest points. Curl and fullness at the chin area and just above the temples are necessary to round out the look. Avoid styles that mirror the diamond shape.

Heart-shaped

Heart shaped face is wide at the temples and hairline and a narrow chin.

• Women

Heart -shaped face women should choose a style that takes the emphasis off both areas. Try a short hairstyle that is wedged or or tapered at the neck or a long hair style. Avoid short hairstyles.

What are Hair Accessories and How Can They Improve My Look?

Hair accessories, or "hair toys", come in all shapes and sizes. Simply defined, a hair toy is any item you put in your hair to help with styling or give that "special touch" to your 'do.

These items are as widely varied as the things you can do with them, so let's start with your hair length and discuss some of the most popular items for each. Yes, there is so much more out there than just hair ties!

Short Hair Accessories

Short hair has become increasingly popular in both men and women; it's possibly the least versatile length but still has so many styling options. Bobby pins, small clips and headbands all work great for helping the hair keep its shape, adding a little bit of color and maybe a twist or two, and great for people who are growing their hair out and have reached an "awkward phase" where the hair always wants to be in the way. Try clips for short corn rows or French twists or throw in some pin curls with a few unobtrusive bobby pins for a style that stays put and looks great. Bandannas and head scarves are back in style and make colorful solutions to hair that just wants to stick up all over the place.

Medium Hair Accessories

Medium hair (shoulder length to mid-back) opens up all sorts of new possibilities for hair accessories. You can try a decorated hair tie to add a personal touch to a basic ponytail, hair combs for effortless half-ups, hair sticks and hair forks for easy buns, barrettes in endless varieties, and hair-friendly slide barrettes for half-ups or holding your entire head of hair. Hair claws are easy-to-use items that will pin your hair up off your neck and stay secure through a vigorous work day.

Long Hair Accessories

Long hair takes a lot of work, so many people opt for lower-maintenance looks; however, if you're one of the dedicated "long hairs" there is no end to styles you can achieve. Many hair toys available in department stores won't work for very long or thick hair except for half-ups, but there are a ton of items you can buy or make to keep your hair protected and looking gorgeous.

Adding a little bit of color and maybe a twist or two is great for people growing out their hair

In addition to all the suggestions for medium-length hair, there are a number of accessories that are expressly for or work especially well on long hair. Brand-name Ficcarres are high-quality clips that can hold an entire bun for all lengths and thicknesses of hair in a wide array of gorgeous colors.

Bun wraps such as the increasingly-popular Hairagami clip or a simple piece of sturdy wire with a soft fabric cover are wonderful for very fast, secure and effortless buns. Ladies, go for a Renaissance look with a classic braided crown accented with ribbons, clips, or pretty bobby pins. Gentlemen, try a lace-up leather or faux leather ponytail cuff that is extremely gentle on the hair and will stay in through anything.

Your hair is one of the top features people notice about you; with the right hair accessories you can make your styles just as unique as you are. Whether you are male or female and have chin-length or knee-length hair there is an astounding selection of hair toys available for your styling experiments.

What are the Best Shampoos and Conditioners?

What are the best shampoos and conditioners to use on my hair? Since every head of hair is different, there is no definitive answer to this important hair care question. However, here are a few tips to help you find the products that work best for your unique tresses.

First, be aware that though your hair may look healthy, it may actually be heavily damaged. Many shampoos and conditioners, especially cheaper ones, have many silicone-based ingredients. Check the ingredients list for the products you use; any ingredient ending in "cone" is silicone-based. These ingredients are not necessarily bad for the hair, but they are made to coat the hair shaft to make it smooth and appear shiny which can mask underlying damage.

If silicone-based ingredients, or "-cones", build up on the hair they can actually lock moisture away from the hair shaft. Insufficient moisture makes hair brittle, causing split ends and breakage. To avoid this, if you habitually use -cones you will need to use a diluted vinegar rinse every 1-3 weeks to remove excess silicone.

Most people who use -cones have no idea what condition their hair is really in. The first step in beginning a hair-healthy regime is to find shampoos and conditioners that contain no -cones; these are usually a little more expensive and often marketed as "salon quality", but they are certainly worth the price and eventually less product will need to be used.

At first your hair may be very difficult to manage without -cones and may be dull and easily tangled. This is the true condition of your hair. By observing -cone-free hair you can begin identifying your hair's needs, then you can decide what type of care is needed based on those observations. Bear in mind that going without -cones indefinitely is not for everyone; I suggest you go without them for at least two months to give your hair a chance to recover, then decide if you prefer -cones or not.

If your hair is dry and brittle you certainly need moisture, but don't forget the protein too. The best products are those that contain natural essential oils such as jojoba, coconut or hemp seed oil. These are all excellent moisturizers and closely mimic your hair's natural oils.

Believe it or not, many shampoos contain cleansing ingredients that irritate the skin and are very harsh on the hair.

Every good shampoo or conditioner must have ingredients that add protein to your hair as well. Again, natural is the best, and some great protein-adding ingredients are honey, wheat protein and soy protein. If you're not sure what function an ingredient is meant to perform there are many online resources to help.

Believe it or not, many shampoos contain cleansing ingredients that irritate the skin and are very harsh on the hair. The best shampoos contain glycerin, a moisturizer that occurs naturally during the saponification process. Manufacturers of cheaper hair care products separate the natural glycerin out of the product and replace it with sodium laureth sulfate or, even worse, sodium lauryl sulfate. Both of these products are known to be skin irritants and can be a primary cause of an oily, flaky or itchy scalp.

There are so many choices for your hair care products that the task of finding the right ones can seem daunting, but it's definitely worth the effort.

Vitamins and Dietary Supplements For Healthy Hair

As hair thins or gets damaged by environmental elements, we start looking for ways to correct the problems. Most people know at least some about hair care products meant to improve their hair in various ways.

But what about dietary supplements?

These are some of the most effective hair care products because they ensure the hair has everything it needs to form well, and it has the added plus of benefiting your entire body instead of just your hair.

First, just about every vitamin and trace mineral the body needs helps out the hair in some way. You guessed it, this means the first step to healthy hair care is to take a good multi-vitamin to make sure your body is getting all the basics it needs. Be aware that some cheaper brands of vitamins are known to have difficulty digesting properly, and some cheaper gel caps don't dissolve fast enough. Once you're taking that multi-vitamin, there are a few extra supplements you can take that are good for your hair.

Biotin is a major component of hair growth and strength. It is recommended that you take at least 2,500mcg of biotin every day if you're looking to improve your hair, and most multi-vitamins do not contain enough. Luckily, biotin is also sold in pill form by itself or in supplements such as "Hair, Skin and Nails". It is estimated that the average diet provides about 40mcg per day.

It's controversial whether MSM truly has any use as a dietary supplement, though many people swear by it for increasing the growth phase of your hair and decreasing shedding. Many people who take MSM supplements see a marked decrease in shedding, though it is unknown if it is actually because of the MSM or if the claim to lengthen the growth phase is accurate.

Other Supplements

Sulphur and cysteine are required for good hair structure and contribute most of the hair's strength. Cysteine is a protein that comprises much of the hair shaft when it bonds with sulphur. Without a good balance of both of these your hair will be very brittle and unhealthy, so make sure that either your multivitamin has them both or you find additional supplements.

Copper is the base of many pigments in the skin and hair. Only bare traces of copper are needed in the diet, but if there is a deficiency of copper it can result in dull, colorless hair.

Flax seed oil and fish oil are both excellent sources of essential fatty acids which will help promote healthy sebum production. Without enough sebum there is nothing to protect your hair from damage or replenish stripped oils. Either one of these can be used, though many prefer flax seed because of the unfortunate aftertaste that comes from some brands of fish oil capsules. These supplements have the added side effect of preventing dry eyes and "cotton mouth".

In addition, any vitamins that promote cell reproduction, protein metabolism, gland function, digestion and so on directly or indirectly influence your hair. If your hair is not healthy, it will lack the color, shine and strength that it could have with just a little more care to your overall health.

The Importance Of Hair Moisture

Have you seen a strand of hair that got too close to a flame? It's light-colored, dull, hangs in a weird half-curled shape and breaks at the slightest touch. This is hair without any moisture. To understand this reaction, we first need to understand how a strand of hair is constructed.

What is Hair?

Each strand of hair is comprised of an inner layer, or cortex, that determines the color and texture of the hair. An outer layer, called the cuticle, protects the cortex. These structures may sound simple, but they're formed out of many layers and coils of proteins, namely keratin. The cuticle is not a solid sheath, but rather formed of scales that slide over each other and give hair its flexibility. Healthy hair is made up of about 88% protein, 12% water. If there is a not a proper balance between moisture and protein, the hair will not be healthy and will become difficult to manage.

The Importance of Protein

Too little protein in the equation will cause hair to stretch easily, thinning the individual strand, without giving the hair enough structure to pull itself back into shape. Too little moisture and the cuticle gets dried out, giving your hair a dull, dead look (even course, curly hair should have a bit of velvety sheen) and making it brittle. Protein will keep the hair strong, but if there's not enough moisture in it for elasticity it will break very easily. In addition, the edges of the "scales" on the cuticle can be damaged if they are not able to slide properly, making the hair shaft rough so it tangles easier. Dried hairs are thin, lightweight and lack vibrant color.

What does this mean for your hair?

If you have hair that lacks shine, is frizzy or tangles way too easily you may have a moisture problem. Split ends, hair that you just can't seem to grow past a short length, or hair that breaks from combing or everyday wear caused by rubbing against seats, clothes, etc. may also have too little moisture.

Moisture is absolutely vital to your hair's health. Oily or greasy hair is not automatically well-moisturized. Excess oils are generally caused by scalp irritants such as hair care products or environmental factors (i.e. smoke, smog); the hair may not be getting the moisture it needs.

Dried hairs are thin, lightweight and lack vibrant color.

Naturally Moisturize Your Hair

There are many commercial hair products on the market geared toward helping you get the right moisture into your hair, but you may have to try a few before you find the one that will work for your hair type and the level of moisture you need. You can also add oils to your hair. Sebum is designed to coat each individual hair, lock moisture in, protect the hair from dirt and other damaging substances, and to allow the cuticle scales to slide smoothly. Adding oils such as jojoba or extra virgin olive oil can help protect hairs that have the sebum regularly shampooed off of them.

Many hair care products such as cheaper shampoos and conditioners contain ingredients that coat the hair and can lock moisture away from the individual strands, so take care to select quality products that will truly help the hair rather than just make it look healthy. The good news is, moisture imbalances are not difficult to fix once they're identified and can make all the difference in the look and texture of your hair.

Identifying Your Hair Type

Everyone's hair reacts differently to different products and environment, but hair of the same type generally responds in similar ways. There are two systems of classification; Andre Walker's classification system and Fia's Hair Typing System.

Walker's system is geared specifically toward African-descended hair types, so this is based on finding your hair type using Fia's Hair Typing System because it applies to everyone who has hair regardless of heritage. There are three main classifiers for hair type that tell the amount of wave or curl, the thickness of each individual strand, and the thickness of all the hair put together. If you find someone who matches you on all these classifiers, you've found a valuable "hair twin" whose experiences can help you determine how your hair will respond to various elements.

The First Hair Type Classifier

The first classifier determines how much body wave or curl your hair has. To determine this, take a shower and then allow your hair to air dry flat (not in a towel or styled in any way). Once dry, take a close look at your hair. Is it absolutely flat and straight? You're a 1a. If there's a little bit of body to it but no discernible wave, 1b; two or three slight waves but still straight overall, 1c; has some loose waves, 2a; fairly distinct waves, 2b; very distinct waves, possibly with a few spiral curls, 2c; lots of loose spiral curls, 3a; tighter, bouncy curls, 3b; really tight spiral curls all over, 3c; tight S-curls, 4a; really tight S-curls falling in odd, zigzag patterns, 4b.

Now you know the first part of your hair type. Some people fall between the classifying categories and that's fine, it just means that your hair will be defined by both categories that describe it. For instance, if you have some body to your hair but only one visible wave, you're a 1b/1c. The third classifier is the only one that can not have split categories.

The Second Hair Type Classifier

The second classifier denotes the thickness of individual strands of your hair. Take a single strand of your hair, make sure it's clean (if it's been through a brush or comb it might not be) or the type may be skewed. Fine hair is barely visible if you hold it in front of your eyes, hardly shows up against a contrasting background and can barely be felt if you roll it between two fingers. Medium hair is easily visible, easily felt between the fingers, but still feels soft...it will feel similar to cotton thread when you roll it. Course hair is thicker, much easier to see against a background and may feel wiry but rarely ever slippery.

The Final Hair Type Classifier

The third and final classifier determines the overall thickness of your entire head of hair. This one is very difficult to measure if your hair is too short to gather into a ponytail, though a guess can be made by how thick your hair is against the scalp. If it's long enough, gather all your hair into a ponytail and measure around the circumference. Thin hair, or i, measures less than two inches around. Normal hair, ii, measures between two and four inches. Thick hair, iii, is anything measuring over four inches around.

Take all the classifiers together, and you have your hair type. It will look something like 1c/F/iii (substituting your own categories) when you're finished. You can now compare your hair to others using hair type as a reference; some websites also sell hair products based on hair type, so keep this as a handy reference so you can always know what kind of hair is being referred to.

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