Hair & Beauty
Hands & Nails, Make-up, Blog
Staying Beautiful
Staying and feeling beautiful plays an important part in the ageing process. Accepting how we look, learning how to make the very best of ourselves, and allowing time in our busy lives to do so are all ways to boost our self esteem and confidence. When we feel good about ourselves we feel happier with the rest of the world.
Impeccable personal grooming shows the public that you are in total control from top to toe, confident and competent.
Good personal presentation can carry you through a difficult or stressful situation even if your not feeling so confident on the inside.
Learning to smile as much as possible is a wonderfully simple solution to looking beautiful as you age.
Smiling immediately opens up your heart to the world, and shows the onlooker that you are an open, friendly person. Your inner beauty will shine through. It is important that the smile is genuine and reaches right to your eyes.
Smiling is also a wonderful moral booster as it releases the "happy hormones " in your body, activating the body's "feel good factor", so the more you smile, the happier you will feel! It's a win/win situation. Smiling may cause wrinkles as any repetitive movement does as we age, but smile lines look a lot more attractive than frown lines.
If you're prone to frowning when in deep concentration for example, try relaxing your muscles into a smile instead!
Impeccable personal grooming shows the public that you are in total control from top to toe, confident and competent.
Good personal presentation can carry you through a difficult or stressful situation even if your not feeling so confident on the inside.
Learning to smile as much as possible is a wonderfully simple solution to looking beautiful as you age.
Smiling immediately opens up your heart to the world, and shows the onlooker that you are an open, friendly person. Your inner beauty will shine through. It is important that the smile is genuine and reaches right to your eyes.
Smiling is also a wonderful moral booster as it releases the "happy hormones " in your body, activating the body's "feel good factor", so the more you smile, the happier you will feel! It's a win/win situation. Smiling may cause wrinkles as any repetitive movement does as we age, but smile lines look a lot more attractive than frown lines.
If you're prone to frowning when in deep concentration for example, try relaxing your muscles into a smile instead!
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Hair Care
Clean shining hair is an essential part of ladies' beauty routine. Hair, both long and short usually need some form of maintenance after a nights sleep.
If you don't want to wash your hair which is often time consuming, hair can be lightly sprayed with water then blow waved quickly into shape. Products can also be used to enhance feel, shine and stop frizz.
Long hair can also be attached in various different ways.
If you don't want to wash your hair which is often time consuming, hair can be lightly sprayed with water then blow waved quickly into shape. Products can also be used to enhance feel, shine and stop frizz.
Long hair can also be attached in various different ways.
Colouring your Hair
Ageing gradually results in pigmentation loss in our hair. This is what gives hair it's natural colour.
Some ladies look fabulous with grey or white hair . Others prefer to colour their hair either by a professional or independently at home with a "do it yourself kit".
Some ladies look fabulous with grey or white hair . Others prefer to colour their hair either by a professional or independently at home with a "do it yourself kit".
Doing a patch test
To do a patch test follow the instructions on your product and mix up a tiny amount of the mixture. Apply this to a patch of hair at the back of your head just above the neck. Wait about 30 minutes for the tints maximum development time then rinse. If you have no skin reaction or irritation after 48 hours, you can go ahead and colour the rest of you hair with the product.
Always follow the instructions on the packet and if you are in any doubt, check with an expert before applying the product.
Always follow the instructions on the packet and if you are in any doubt, check with an expert before applying the product.
Choosing the right colour
Hair tints usually lighten fair hair 2/3 shades and dark hair 1/2 shades. Extra lightening tints are available and these are stronger. If you are dark and select a very pale colour, you won't achieve the colour advertised. This is how ladies end up with strange orangey tones. Always stick to the rule of only trying to go a couple of shades lighter.
Bare in mind that the bigger the contrast between your natural colour and the desired colour the more noticeable your regrowth will be. This is an important consideration because the more you need to retouch your roots, the more time consuming and expensive the process will be.
Once you are grey or going grey don't make the mistake of trying to dye your hair back to it's natural pre-grey colour.
As we loose pigmentation in our hair we also loose it in our skin so going back to your natural colour will harden your appearance. Follow the rules and select a shade one or two shades lighter, this will soften your complexion and flatter your appearance.
If your hair is too uniform after it's been coloured, I would advise having a few streaks put through it to break up the colour, this gives a more natural effect as natural hair is rarely one colour. This should be done professionally. If money is an issue, even a few streaks on the top and around the face will do the trick, this is much more economical than a full head of highlights. If you do this you must avoid putting diluted hair tint on the rest of your hair when you retouch your roots or the highlights will disappear!
Colouring virgin hair ( hair that has never been coloured before) is a different process than retouching roots so be careful to follow the instructions on your product carefully.
Bare in mind that the bigger the contrast between your natural colour and the desired colour the more noticeable your regrowth will be. This is an important consideration because the more you need to retouch your roots, the more time consuming and expensive the process will be.
Once you are grey or going grey don't make the mistake of trying to dye your hair back to it's natural pre-grey colour.
As we loose pigmentation in our hair we also loose it in our skin so going back to your natural colour will harden your appearance. Follow the rules and select a shade one or two shades lighter, this will soften your complexion and flatter your appearance.
If your hair is too uniform after it's been coloured, I would advise having a few streaks put through it to break up the colour, this gives a more natural effect as natural hair is rarely one colour. This should be done professionally. If money is an issue, even a few streaks on the top and around the face will do the trick, this is much more economical than a full head of highlights. If you do this you must avoid putting diluted hair tint on the rest of your hair when you retouch your roots or the highlights will disappear!
Colouring virgin hair ( hair that has never been coloured before) is a different process than retouching roots so be careful to follow the instructions on your product carefully.
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Lowlights and highlights
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Grey hair can be highlighted with blond to soften the colour but the shade of blond is important, it must be very pale or ash never yellow to get the right effect.
If you only have strands of grey in your hair a great way to conceal them is by having some highlights or lowlights run through your hair in at least two different shades.
This technique only requires retouching 3/4 times a year and avoids the problem of noticeable regrowth.
I would advise always having foil highlights, a methodical expert technique, enabling the colour technician to actually pick out your grey hairs and apply colour to them. It requires time, care and expertise. It really gives a fabulous result.
Streaks that are combed through your hair quickly are often uneven and shoddy. This is is sometimes used as a quick way for salons to deal with customers, so I would advise avoiding being seduced by this method.
If you only have strands of grey in your hair a great way to conceal them is by having some highlights or lowlights run through your hair in at least two different shades.
This technique only requires retouching 3/4 times a year and avoids the problem of noticeable regrowth.
I would advise always having foil highlights, a methodical expert technique, enabling the colour technician to actually pick out your grey hairs and apply colour to them. It requires time, care and expertise. It really gives a fabulous result.
Streaks that are combed through your hair quickly are often uneven and shoddy. This is is sometimes used as a quick way for salons to deal with customers, so I would advise avoiding being seduced by this method.
The Right Length
Hair is more flattering worn not too long after fifty as it tends to pull you down with it. As everything is starting to droop anyway you don't want anything to accentuate that effect!
Long hair should be worn no longer than about 3/4 inches below the shoulder. Care should be taken to have regular trims and no split ends to give a polished appearance.
Very short grey hair can look a little masculine unless you have outstanding features and few lines and wrinkles. More make-up is required to feminise this look if you decide to go for it.
My experience of short hair is that it needs frequent cuts and a lot of maintenance with washing and blow waving. It also doesn't leave much scope for changing your look. However some ladies do prefer this look and find it suits their life style better.
My personal preference is for at least shoulder length hair if you can manage the maintenance. I find this length more versatile. It can be attached in numerous ways such as chignons, French pleats, plaits and ponytails, and these can be quick alternative styles to wear, so you get lots of different looks with the same hair cut. Curls and volume soften the face and can be extremely flattering.
Long hair should be worn no longer than about 3/4 inches below the shoulder. Care should be taken to have regular trims and no split ends to give a polished appearance.
Very short grey hair can look a little masculine unless you have outstanding features and few lines and wrinkles. More make-up is required to feminise this look if you decide to go for it.
My experience of short hair is that it needs frequent cuts and a lot of maintenance with washing and blow waving. It also doesn't leave much scope for changing your look. However some ladies do prefer this look and find it suits their life style better.
My personal preference is for at least shoulder length hair if you can manage the maintenance. I find this length more versatile. It can be attached in numerous ways such as chignons, French pleats, plaits and ponytails, and these can be quick alternative styles to wear, so you get lots of different looks with the same hair cut. Curls and volume soften the face and can be extremely flattering.
Chignon
Chignons can be worn with evening or day wear. Small strands can be pulled out of the chignon and curled for a softer more romantic look. French pleat
French pleats are the chic of chic, it's a little tricky to learn how to twist your hair up and secure it but once you have mastered the move it it a great way to always have one of the most elegant hairstyles to choose from. |
Pony tail
This is a great way of quickly dealing with your hair when your in a hurry. It can be dressed up or down with bows and ribbons and can be worn high or low depending on your mood and activity. Hair Clasp
Hair can also be quickly attached using a clasp to save time or if you can't manage the French Pleat. |
Skin Care
Caring for our skin is essential, it covers us form head to toe and as we age it becomes thinner, weaker, less supple and dryer.
The aggressions of daily life can damage our skin and and the most import rules are cleanse, ex-foliate, tone and moisturise.
Protect your skin from extreme temperatures, such as very hot or very cold water.
Protect your skin from harmful chemicals by wearing gloves.
Protect your skin from the sun by staying in the shade in the heat of the day, wearing a sun hat, long sleeves and using a good sun-cream with both UVA and UVB protection.
Drinking too much alcohol or eating junk food is bad for your general health, your complexion and skin.
Drink lots of fresh clean water and eat a balanced diet with plenty of fresh organic fruit and vegetables to keep your completion clear and bright. Follow Healthy Eating to find out more.
Stop smoking as this causes numerous health problems and premature ageing.
The aggressions of daily life can damage our skin and and the most import rules are cleanse, ex-foliate, tone and moisturise.
Protect your skin from extreme temperatures, such as very hot or very cold water.
Protect your skin from harmful chemicals by wearing gloves.
Protect your skin from the sun by staying in the shade in the heat of the day, wearing a sun hat, long sleeves and using a good sun-cream with both UVA and UVB protection.
Drinking too much alcohol or eating junk food is bad for your general health, your complexion and skin.
Drink lots of fresh clean water and eat a balanced diet with plenty of fresh organic fruit and vegetables to keep your completion clear and bright. Follow Healthy Eating to find out more.
Stop smoking as this causes numerous health problems and premature ageing.
Washing
An old fashioned bar of soap is the most economical way of washing. It will last weeks longer than a bottle of shower or bath gel. Soap made from natural olive oil is ideal as it doesn't dry out your skin.
However the PH of soap can irritate some peoples skin in which case a PH neutral product is needed, in other words soap free. Woman often find soap an irritant when washing more intimate areas so you may find you need PH neutral products for this purpose.
If you don't like soap, there are many appealing luxurious products to wash with, but again take into consideration these contain many different additives and only organic products are free of potential irritants.
If you suffer from eczema most products will just irritate your skin. Water with a little oatmeal milk in it is the gentlest way to wash.
Run the bathwater over a sieve containing oats to make your own oat-milk in the bath.
However the PH of soap can irritate some peoples skin in which case a PH neutral product is needed, in other words soap free. Woman often find soap an irritant when washing more intimate areas so you may find you need PH neutral products for this purpose.
If you don't like soap, there are many appealing luxurious products to wash with, but again take into consideration these contain many different additives and only organic products are free of potential irritants.
If you suffer from eczema most products will just irritate your skin. Water with a little oatmeal milk in it is the gentlest way to wash.
Run the bathwater over a sieve containing oats to make your own oat-milk in the bath.
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Ex-foliating
We hear a lot about ex-foliation in the media, how important it is to remove the dead cells from the skin to keep it clean and glowing with health. There are many retail products that do this, however if your are concerned with protecting the environment, consider that the small particles in these products actually end up in the sea and contribute to the pollution of our oceans and the fish food chain. Do you really want to end up eating your product?
Fortunately you can make your own natural products using water soluble ingredients, mix a little fine salt with olive oil and a few drops of citrus essential oil and rub gently into your skin. If your too vigorous the mixture will scratch, just make sure the salt is mixed in well (you can dissolve it in a tiny bit of warm water if the mixture is too scratchy) , this mix is very effective and a lot more economical. This is too harsh for use on the face and should only be used on the body. Avoid the neck area and décolletage as these areas are also too sensitive for this slightly abrasive mixture. Using an oil such as Argan oil on the face and gently massaging it until you can feel small bits under your finger tips ( the dead skin cells) will remove the dead skin cells from your face, neck and décolletage.
Fortunately you can make your own natural products using water soluble ingredients, mix a little fine salt with olive oil and a few drops of citrus essential oil and rub gently into your skin. If your too vigorous the mixture will scratch, just make sure the salt is mixed in well (you can dissolve it in a tiny bit of warm water if the mixture is too scratchy) , this mix is very effective and a lot more economical. This is too harsh for use on the face and should only be used on the body. Avoid the neck area and décolletage as these areas are also too sensitive for this slightly abrasive mixture. Using an oil such as Argan oil on the face and gently massaging it until you can feel small bits under your finger tips ( the dead skin cells) will remove the dead skin cells from your face, neck and décolletage.
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Deep cleansing
An occasional visit to a Ham-man or sauna will steam the pores of your skin open for a thorough clean. Black Moroccan soap is usually provided at the Ham-man and this also helps to give your skin a deep down clean, rub the soap with a natural sponge or lo-fa to take away the dead skin cells.
If you suffer from the skin complaint "Rosacea", eczema or other skin complaints, avoid the Ham-man and Sauna as the heat and steam are too strong for your sensitive skin and may cause a flare up.
If you suffer from the skin complaint "Rosacea", eczema or other skin complaints, avoid the Ham-man and Sauna as the heat and steam are too strong for your sensitive skin and may cause a flare up.
Moisturising
After washing it's important to moisturise your skin to keep it soft and supple, pay special attention to hands, feet, knees and elbows which tend to be dryer and need heavier creams than the rest of the body.
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Massage
Massage is very relaxing and can improve circulation. Massage your skin or treat yourself to a massage occasionally. Essential oils are wonderfully relaxing and diluted in massage oils (only a few drops of essential oils are needed) leave your skin wonderfully soft and help you to relax. Below you can see two different types of massage, on the left a hot stone massage where gently heated stones are places on your body to relieve tension and relax your muscles and re-establish your inner energy flow, and on the right a traditional hand on skin massage, which again relieves tension, relaxes, restores energy and helps circulation.
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Photos used under Creative Commons from visulogik, Bellafaye, epiclectic, eleanor ryan, ivoryelephantphotography, Jason Hargrove, ND Strupler, kevin dooley, nikoretro, garann, wolfgangfoto, La Grande Farmers' Market, madaise, aqua-dome, Mervi Eskelinen aka tasselflower, sunshinecity, Jon Haynes Photography
