Black radish mask for oily hair and dandruff





The black radish applied externally works against excess secretion of sebum, dandruff, stimulates hair roots, and slows hair loss. It even stimulates hair growth is some cases.

What you need:

One black radish (also called Black Spanish or Black Spanish). These may be wither round, or elongated. Don't buy a black turnip, it looks similar but it's not what you need.

How tell if the radish is fresh:

It must be fresh, not wrinkled, on the top (where it has been cut).

How to:

Peel the radish, and grate it. Strain the juice through a gauze, a sieve or even just squeeze it out with your palms.
You can eat the remains with ream and salt, it's delicious !
Extra juice can be stored in the fridge, though it's a good idea to put the cup in a plastic bag or foil first, to keep the odour in.

Rub the juice into the scalp, put on a towel (partially to protect the olafactory organs of your co-inhabitants.) Leave on for an hour, then wash out with a shampoo.
You can also leave it on overnight, next morning you'll find your hair nicely soft.
Tingling or burning sensation of the scalp is a normal sympton.

Warning: it's kind of stinky for some people. This treatment has also been called the Love Test. 


Photo by seventytw0dpi    


Silicones: The good (water-soluble) and the bad (sticky)


Updated.


Are silicones good or bad? This depend on which silicone, and which kind of product: skin care, hair care or makeup. Let me break it down for you!




   I have written about the harmful SLS in shampoos; which brings me to the topic: why do we use such harsh shampoos anyway ? Why do gentler shampoos often don't manage to wash away product buildup ?

Meet the culprit: Silicones

   This is an extremely popular ingredient in hair and also skin products. Silicones are emollients, which means they coat the hair (or skin) with a film. This film smooths the skin and the hair scales and protects them from drying out in dry weather and absorbing too much moisture in humid weather. However after some time it builds up around the hair and makes it limp and matte. It coats the hair, making it hard for the conditioning substances to get through. In skin products, silicones make the skin temporarily smooth but don't actually moisturise.


Are all silicones bad?

   In case of skin products, silicones just fake that moisturised effect and do nothing for the skin's well-being. You're better off finding a silicone-free product. Remember that silicones hide under different names. The dead giveway is that all end with "cone".
   When it comes to make-up, silicones help the product glide on better. Silicones in makeup base and foundations can often block the pores.
  A small amount of "lighter" (water-soluble) silicones in hair product is fine. However hair products that rely heavily on silicones are usually disappointing in the long run. So if a product has a silicone at the top of the ingredient list, put it away.

The SLS-silicone cycle

   If you choose to use silicone-heavy hair products, you'll be forced to use SLS-heavy shampoos that will be strong enough to clean it off. As you can imagine, this is not very kind on the hair. If you have steel hair, go ahead.
   A much gentler way is to avoid anything with silicones, and this way you can use gentle shampoo.  This is great for the hair in the long run, making it healthier and usually eliminating problems with an oily scalp or dryness. You'll probably need to clarify your hair, to get rid of the old silicone buildup.
   You can choose your silicones. Some of them are easily rinsed off, some stick to your hair till hell freezes over. Stick to the water-soluble ones and you´ll be fine !

   The list below gives the names of most silicones, sorted into "safe" and "nasty"  courtesy of Jolie2601. The ingredient list of most hair products can be found online, so you can do a bit of research before buying.

Good and bad silicones in hair products


 WATER SOLUBLE

-dimethicone copolyol
-lauryl methicone copolyol
-hydrolyzed wheat protein hydroxypropyl polysiloxane
-every silicone starting with PEG

 NON-SOLUBLE IN WATER, EASILY REMOVED BY GENTLE SHAMPOOS (for eg. those based on coco betaine)

- amodimethicone (often combined with trideceth-12 & cetrimonium chloride which makes it even easier to clean away) - a very nice silicone
-dimethicone
-dimethiconol
-beheonoxy dimethicone
-phenyl trimethicone

 NON-SOLUBLE IN WATER, HARD TO REMOVE BY GENTLE SHAMPOOS (the shampoo must be left on for a few minutes)

-simethicone
-trimethicone

 NEED SULFATES TO BE REMOVE -- It's best to stay away from them.

-cyclomethicone
-cyclopentasiloxane
-trimethylsilylamodimethic one
- trimethylsiloxysilicates

Photo by     


Oily scalp & dry hair, and other "combination hair" problems










 It's quite typical that our scalp and our hair have different problems from each other. Many people have an oily scalp and dry hair, or maybe dandruff on the scalp and oily hair. Here are some tips on how to deal with that:

  • Match your shampoo to your scalp type, and your conditioner to your hair type.

Yes, I don't believe in the 2-in-1 conditioning shampoos. The role of the shampoo and the conditioner are entirely different: the shampoo is suppose to dissolve dirt, and remove the coating of styling products. The role of the conditioner is to coat the hair with a nourishing substance, which should penetrate the hair and also cover it. So, as you can see that it's better to use separate shampoo and conditioner.

  • Use shampoo on your scalp, and conditioner on your ends.

It's our scalps that are greasy, dirty and dandruffy, and need the shampoo. For the rest of the hair, it's usually enough when the shampoo water flows over the rest of the hair when you rinse out your scalp.
The conditioner goes on the length of your hair, do not use it near the roots or you'll end up with limp hair and greasy scalp.

  • Brush out your hair

Twice a week, take time to brush your hair from scalp till roots many times (don't forget to first detangle it gently with your fingers or a wide-toothed comb). That massages the scalp and distributes the oil from the roots to the length of the hair. Over time, it will diminish the disbalance between an oily scalp and dry hair.
Use a good brush, and be gentle !

Photo by spinal faun    


Break Out Of The Maternity Bra Matrix



WHAT IS THE MATERNITY BRA MATRIX ?

   Its the world of limited bra sizes, wrong bra-fitting advice and uncomfortable bras.
   It is the world where nursing bras come in a miserable range of band and cup sizes, where you squeeze your breasts into these sizes and imagine that you must be a mutant because you don't fit. It is a world where nursing bras are ugly, and so stretchy that you get hardly any support.
   The biggest mistake that 80% of women (and bra fitters) make is to wear a band that is too loose and cups that are too small. A loose band gives zero support, and may cause milk duct blockages by climbing up on the breast tissue from below. To compensate for a too loose band we tighten the shoulder straps, which further distorts the breast support, and adds to the discomfort.  A cup that is too small cuts off the breast tissue instead of encircling it -- that makes the breast tissue migrate away into the underarm area. In short: bouncing bust, bad shape, and discomfort !


WHAT IS YOUR CORRECT BRA SIZE ?

90% online calculators give wrong sizes and a similar percentage of bra sitter fit wrongly -- after all, they are just looking to sell whatever sizes their brand produces.
To correctly calculate your band and cup sizes, follow these directions. For more explanations, read about the Bra Matrix and Bra Myths.

DO USE YOUR PRE-PREGNANCY BAND SIZE

   You will return to your pre-pregnancy underbust measurement from just a day to within a month after giving birth. Till that happens, use a bra-extension. The band must be snug, since it will be doing 90% of the supporting.

WHAT KIND OF NURSING BRA DO YOU NEED ? 

   The requirements for a good nursing bra are the same as those for a pregnancy bra. Read here about what you need to look for to get the best support, comfort and shape.
    Unfortunately many breastfeeding bras come in stretchy cottony fabrics. Stretchy fabric is not what the breasts need, since it does not give support. A heavy lactating bust may by it's own weight cause blockages in milk ducts at the bottom, or a skin rash from chafing --- if the bra does not support and lift it. Breastfeeding bras should never be stretchy !

WHAT SHOULD A WELL FITTED NURSING BRA LOOK LIKE ?

Read my post on how to tell if a bra fits. A nursing bra should follow all these points, and give you a good shape.

WHEN TO BUY A NURSING BRA ?

     In the last moment possible before giving birth. The bust can grow and change till the last days, so buying in advance is usually a mistake. So, go bra shopping around two weeks before your due date.

     It is also a mistake to put off shopping for a nursing bra till after the birth. It might be a long time till you have the strength and the will to go shopping, and to buy a bra you need to spend some time in the store ! 

HOW MANY NURSING BRAS WILL YOU NEED ?

    That is again lottery. Most breasts decrease in size, but while some women go back over time to their pre-pregnancy size, some don't. Either way, you will need to keep up with size changes, and so youwill need several bra sizes.

    Do not buy those "one size" "grows with your breasts" stretchy bras, since they offer no support !

    Do not buy anything in advance, since size changes are unpredictable.
    At any time you will need to have at least two bras, since you will need to wash them often !

DO NURSING BRAS HAVE TO BE SO UGLY ?

   Definitely not ! Brands such as Freya and Panache offer pretty nursing bras (and these brands are also known for their fantastic size range). Hot milk is a brand that offers some very sexy nursing bra models.

YOU CAN TRANSFORM REGULAR BRAS INTO NURSING BRAS:

   It is not easy not find nursing bras in the full size range. However, you can buy a regular bra (or use the bra you wore during pregnancy) and transform it into a nursing bra. This is quite easy and does not require special skills or much time. Here is an easy tutorial.

THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF NURSING:

    The first few days are called the period of “unstabilized lactation”, that means that the milk production has not yet regulated itself to the needs of the baby. The breasts may “go crazy” and on some days and may be full to the point of engorgement, and on some days may be empty. During that time many prefer not to wear a bra at all for the first few days.
    It is a good idea to have two bras with different cup sizes for this time, to wear on the “emptier” and “fuller” days.


More: here is a great round-up of maternity bloggers and posts.




DIY Vitamin C+E serum






Vitamin C is valued as a cosmetic ingredient for its powerful antioxidant properties. To actually work, a product must contain a minimum of 5% vit C. Here I present a Vit C + E serum that you can make yourself.

     Before using anything with Vitamin C -- whether store-bought or the recipe I give below, do remember to follow these rules:

  • DO NOT combine vitamin C with BHA acids. If you wish, you may use BHA at night and vit C during the day.
  • Do use sunscreen ! Vit C exfoliates the skin, and makes it more susceptible to UVA and UVB rays. For the some reason, do not use this treatment if you plan to tan. If you ignore this rule, your skin will end up looking worse instead of better.
  • If the skin is sensitive, do not apply after exfoliation.

DIYvit C + E serum

source: wizaz.pl

Results of using vit C + E serum

  • This serum in combination with sunscreen helps to protect the skin against harmful external factors that bring about aging.
  • It helps the microcirculation of the blood, which in turn helps the skin get more oxygen and nutrients.
  • The mechanical strength of the capillary walls is increased
  • The skin is gently exfoliated and lightened, it's colour brightens.
  • Discolourations fade
  • Helps the production of collagen which smoothens surface wrinkles and makes the skin more elastic
  • Healing of sun burn caused by UVA and AVB rays is quickened


DIY vit C + E serum recipe

Basic recipe: Serum with vit. C - 5% for normal skin 

What you will need:

  • Distilled or deionized water (NOT filtered, mineral, or tap water)
  • Vitamin C -- pure L-ascorbic acid (acidum ascorbicum) in powder (not in tablets, powder with aroma, foaming tablets) -- this is usually available in apothecaries, without a prescription.
  • Vit E capsules -- in the form of d-alpha-tocopheryl (that´s the best kind)
  • Soy Lecithin in capsules (optional)
  • Ethyl alcohol
  • Measurement containers (like the ones for medicines)
  • Bottles of dark glass, best with a dropper. Since vit C is very sensitive to light, it is a good idea to additionally wrap it in tinfoil or something similar. The bottle must be carefully cleaned, rinsed with hot water, then cleaned with alcohol and dried !

Ingredients:

- 10 ml distilled water
- 0,5 ml ascorbic acid powder 
- 1 capsule vit. E 200 IU, which gives us 1,34% 
- 2 drops of lecithin from the capsule 
- 3-4 drops of alcohol, which gives us around 1% 

Preparation method:

  1. Pour 10 ml of distilled water into a nonmetal container.
  2. Add Vit C powder, mix till it dissolves.
  3. Pour mixture into the dark glass bottle.
  4. Add alcohol, soy lecithin and vit E.

The serum can be kept in a fridge for up to one week.
After that, wash the bottle carefully before pouring the next batch of serum into it.



Recipe variations:

For oily skin or skin prone to blocked pores: omit vit.E or add only a drop.
For dry skin: use two capsules of vit. E
For undereye areas: take apart of the serum that you have made, and add the same amount of distilled water. That is, if you take 3ml of the serum, add 3 ml of distilled water. You an also add a few more drops of vit. E
For very sensitive skin: you can use 1 drop of alcohol
Stronger serum: if your skin tolerates it, you can add up to 1.5 ml of ascorbic acid. Do not try this the first time, you might end up with irritated skin !



How to use:

Apply on cleansed skin on the face, neck and decollete.
If using it in the day, wait 10 mins before applying sunscreen
You don't have to use the serum every day, since vit C is stored in the skin. So, you can alterate it with other products.
A slight pinching of the skin is normal. However, if your skin is irritated, then discontinue using this serum.
Do not combine vit C with metals in cosmetics (for eg copper) or plant extracts (for eg grapes) which may also contain metal traces. They will deactivate the ascorbic acid. And do follow the rules for vit C creams on top of the page !


How the ingredients work:

Soy lecithin is a natural emulgent
Alcohol helps the serum to penetrate the skin. For concerns about alcohol, read my post explaining that not all alcohols are harmful.
Vit E helps vit C to work, besides being a great moisturiser and having other great skin-caring properties.


Important: do use sunscreen if you are applying anything with vitamin C on your face, since it makes the skin sensitive to UV rays !




Bra wardrobe: How many bras do you need ?





How many bras do you need ?


   After discovering your correct bra size, most of us tentatively buy one bra in the new size. After discovering the comfort and admiring your fantastic shape in the mirror, we throw out all the nipple-coverers-masquerading-as-bras, (aka the old bra wardrobe). And we prepare to built up a great new on !


   So, how many bras do we actually need ?


   Many of us on a tight budget wear our single new right-sized bra each and every day and washed at night... till we can afford a second one... (many end up with obscene bra collection --- yes, the right sized bra is that addictive !)
   Normally the bra elastic needs some time to "relax" and so you should give it a day or two of rest between wears. Hence, you do need to have at least three bras.


Here is what I recommend that a girl should have:

  • Everyday bras: comfortable and pretty. These should be soft bras, never push-ups, padded, boost, etc. since those squash and do bad things to your bust, and you'll be wearing them a lot.
  • T-shirt bra: seamless, smoothing, preferably soft and not padded.
  • Plunge bra for deep necks
  • Cleavage enhancer for special occasion, something like Freya retro plunge or Panache Inferno. Note that these are made quite differently from traditional push-ups, so they five great cleavage without massacring the breast tissue.
  • Convertible bra or multiway, for those halter tops, low backs, and all that great summer stuff !
  • Sexy little items: something that makes you feel sensuous ! Some great picks include Freya Zeta, or Arabella, but if you're more daring, get a shelf bra by any means !


       Whether you need all of these, and how many of each do you need is determined by your wardrobe and life style.
       Bras may combine functions: a T-shirt bra may be an everyday bra.

       Ideally, you should have each of these at least in black and nude, to go under all colours of clothes. Under white clothes you need to wear nude bras, not white, since white does show up.




Window at Bleak House by GoodMolecules


Ziploc is a gift from God: travel tip

Hello everyone !

   Every time I travel, I learn more about packing. It's hard to strike a balance between taking all you need, and trying to pack as lightly as possible.

Here is something I've learned from my last travel:

Ziploc is God

Apart from using ziploc bags for getting liquids and cosmetics through airport security, I find them a must-have for every trip. They keep stuff from getting messed up, separate and organise stuff, open and close in a jiffy, and they are transparent so you can see what's inside.

Uses of ziploc bags for traveling:

  • Put stuff inside them that might leak if it gets squashed: toothpaste, creams, foundation...
  • A ziploc bag is great for jewelery !  And another one for hairgrips, and other stuff for your mane.
  • In the airport put your passport, ticket, boarding pass and all those annoying little tags that they give you in one ziploc bag. It'll be easier to locate (and not lose) anything during customs and boarding.
  • You can put your lunch or snacks in a ziploc bag
  • Put your toothbrush and soap in ziploc bags (separately of course9 and they will not mess up the rest of your stuff.
  • Store your kid in it.
  • You can store your camera accessories
  • take photos during a dust storm
  • Apparently, you can even use them as cooking pots !
  • Baby food is best carried in a ziploc bag, whether it's a banana, crackers or a container of homemade lunch.
  • Protect your cellphone or any other electronic device that you carry on you from rain, sweat and tears.
  • Store any small projects that you might be taking with you, such as sewing small toys, making jewelery, origami...
  • Store your medicines in one place, and protect them from moisture
  • Don't forget to take a few extra ones for the random things you might pick up during your travels ! And giving a ziploc bag to a traveler in deed will make them grateful for life ;)





For sure this guy has no problems finding anything in his suitcase !
 


How I went from C cup to D cup (without surgery) !


            


Ha ha, that title sure grabbed the attention of a lot of googlers...

     Anyway, that´s me on these photos, and the photos were taken minutes apart. this is what a good bra can do to you ! I used to wear that 75C which all  the bra aclculators advised me advised(add 5 cm to your underbust measurement, round up to the nearest band size... that's the biggest crap I've heard !)

     I was never happy with bras. My bra always rode up at the back, my boobs jiggled around (and, mind you, they're not very big at all!). The straps were either too tight, or were falling off. Underwires always poked into my breasts, and since the rest of the female population seemed to wear those bras happily, I concluded that I was some kind of mutated human with breasts that were unnaturally spaced far apart.

     So, in the deep dark nights I got a sharp instrument and secretly removed the underwires and convinced myself that that's the best it can get.

    After researching on the internet I discovered that the rest of the female population weren't very happy about their bras either. The only well-fitted women were those on lingerie ads, (whose boobs are not fitted but photoshopped into the cups); and celebs, who probably wear bras made especially for them out of silk lace and platinum underwires.

    The rest of us females adjusted our bras with every breath we took, and believed that bras and comfort can never be in the same sentence.

  Then I discovered these photos. Wow. I didn't need further convincing. I ran to my drawer, got my measuring tape out. The next stop was Ebay.uk, where I won a 65D for like 6 pounds. I was lucky that this first bra was an extremely compatible model: once I put it on I didn't want to ever wear anything again. The band felt tight for the first few minutes, but after that I didn't feel the bra at all ! Later on I actually had to check if I was wearing anything at all !

  I also remembering admiring my shape in every mirror I passed.
Since then, my breasts have improved in shape, and my bra collection has improved in size. Ebaying for bras can actually be addictive, especially when tempted by delicious bra reviews...


See more breast metamorphosis *here*


   You are invited to send the story or photos of your bra metamorphosis ! Just mail me, the link to the contact form is at the top !
 


Vitamin E







   You'll find vit E in a lot of cosmetics, since it is a great anti-oxidant, it helps to prevent skin aging, calms irritations, moisturises... and added to cosmetic it increases their life span !

    You can use Vit E on your skin straight from the capsule. Just remember that it's best to use Vit E in it's natural form: tocopheryl, rather than the synthetic version octan of tocopheryl - tocopherol acetate


Here is how you can get all that goodness directly from the capsule:

  • Apply it on chapped lips in the winter: it will calm the skin and help the healing process.
  • Gently pat it on the skin under the eyes. Just try not to get it into the eye, it may sting.
  • Apply it on irritated or overdried skin.
  • Dab directly on scars. Over time, the scars will begin to fade.



Photo: Writing Her a Poem by ArthurJo    


Style Tips For The Spring







 I staunchly ignore the "summer summer!" screams of the advertising industry which had tried to sell me spring stuff right after Christmas, and already sold Christmas stuff in September.

I want to live in the moment, enjoy and celebrate spring while it's here !

Celebrate the spring in your style:

  • Wear flowers. They can be real or fake, wear them in your hair, your hat, pin them on your dress. Or get flower jewelery, brooches or even a flower sandal ! Or simply pull a flower through a small hoop earring, like this.
Flowers in your hair: get inspired by thisthis, or this.
You can go elegant, or try the Mexican style a la Frida Kahlo, or simply wear a simple string of jasmine pinned in the Indian way.
  • Love the real blooms ones too ! I adore discovering the first bulbs awakening to the sun, and the extravagant splashes of colour everywhere in the late spring !
  • Get hat. These make you stand out from the crowd and look intriguing, they protect your face and hair from the sun, and are generally just lovely ! Read about choosing hats according to your facial type and body type here and here.

  • Get bright coloured shoes. Here are mine, a friend calls them "Peter Pan booties" :) And do read youlookfab's guide Four ways to wear bright shoes !

  • Scarves that flutter in the wind are gorgeous in the spring ! But be sure to wear them in the billow-in-the-wind kind of way, and not in the I'm-cold-in-winter type of way. Here you can download a great PDF Playtime with your scarf (the link in on the middle-right).

  • Smile ! It's spring !


   How do you celebrate the spring in your clothes ?

Photo: We are in Spring / Estamos en Primavera by victor_nuno    


Weekend reads 07 05 2008

* Find out if you have a problem with clutter by taking the clutter quiz !

Prints vs Solids

* Gala Darling has collected some great yoga videos in her post Yoga For Beginners

* Oprah's clutter-fighting tips.

Colour palette for blondes and Brunettes in blue

Spring closet cleaning

* Unsure whether to toss something, or just can't bring yourself to do it ? The Unclutterer has the solution.


* Friday Feauture *


Featured blog: An Indian Summer

This interior design blog focuses mostly on asian, esp Indian style of decorating. It's absolutely full of breathtaking delicious inspirations. I love to incorporate Indian elements into my home, and An Indian Summer is my no.1 source of inspiration. The richness and variety of the featured homes in awesome: Indian desing in cotatge style, rustic style, traditional style, modern minimalist style... and much more ! I can get lost in there for hours. Enjoy !

Featured photographer: wisely-chosen

The work of this shy 31-year old with the most gorgeous scarlet hair I've ever seen have intrigued me and captured my imagination. In her self portraits she seems to bare her soul and at the same time give off an aura of mystery... She has never had formal training in photography; what she's got is pure, raw talent. Enter her world.




Weekend reads 01-05-2008







I haven't been doing the weekend read posts for quite a while, but I've reformed ;)

So, here is stuff to tide you over till Monday.

Cremes, beiges & co.: In response to my confusion of the differences between these colour, The Space Between My Peers wrote a great post on an easy way to find which one is flattering for you.

Another great article on the same topic by youlookfab.

* You'd love to see Machu Picchu but have no time/cash/whatever ? This is the closest you can get without actually going there.

* Fabulously broke has choosen living greener as her challenge for this month. My lifestyle is already quite green, but she reminds me that there is always more that we can do.

The right length for tops worn over pants and skirts. A must read !

* Gala darling has recently gone raw, and now she talks about deciphering your cravings.

10 Ideas to Get You Exercising.


And of course something from xkcd:






*Friday Feature*


featured photographer: Lightspectral
I've absolutely fallen in love with her photography ! Looking through her work takes you on a journey into a faerie world... She captures the tiniest treasures of the world, with captivating simplicity and an amazing eye for light.

featured blog: Unclutterer

"Chances are you don’t have as much space as you’d like, so you need to make the most of the space you do have. This doesn’t just mean finding a new nook in which to cram more clutter, or devising a clever way to stack piles of papers. Instead it’s about streamlining your space and your possessions so that you can be more efficient at work and enjoy a more relaxing and serene environment at home."

    Unclutterer is all about organising your space and your life. Whether you're swimming in a pile of junk and need help to do something with it, or you're a neat freak (or both -- like me), this place has lots of interesting articles for you. Unclutterer tackles a wide range of topics: digital clutter on your computer, kid clutter, lovely tiny organizing tips, to simple living, and much more. Extreme minimalism mondayare a tongue-in-cheek feature that I look forward to at the start of every week !

Recent interesting articles on Unclutterer:

Managing computer file clutter
Handling sentimental clutter
Exploring procrastination
The Real Cost of Financial Clutter on the Road to a Remarkable Life
Using Flickr to get rid of your adult child’s clutter in your home
Put membership numbers on cell phone


Photo: Rushour by Omsel




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