‘Hautest’ hair trends

It’s not just the clothes that are getting shorter and skimpier in the summer, experts agree that this is indeed the best  season to experiment with hair length.

Afterall, what’s a better way to beat the heat than with a sexy short crop ala Gul Panag. Not only does it help you keep a cool head — bet that’s something a lot of us could do with — it also works to send your style quotient zooming skyways.
Gone are the day’s of never ending, poker straight hair. “This season it’s all about mid length hair in loose, easy and light curls,” says noted celebrity stylist Savio Pereira who has styled the hair of some of our sizzling hotties including Priyanka Chopra, Shilpa Shetty and Neha Dhupia. So what are the styles to look out for? The bob, the fringe, the crop look, the layered look and the sleek side parting are sizzling hot.

Coleen Khan, well-known hairstylist says shorter hair length is a much better option for Indian summers. She favours the soft, unstructured hair look and says, “Waves are in as is hair that’s not too blow dried.” People with hair that’s too frizzy should get it relaxed it a bit, she adds.

Meanwhile, Najeeb Ur Rehman, chief colour and styling consultant for the Ponds Femina Miss India contestants this year opines that movement in hair is totally happening this season. “Styles range from the classic bob to more whispy layers which camouflage the face,” he says. However, he warns against directly going in for a short crop if you have very long hair. “Instead opt for a medium length hair — just above the shoulders — before going in for a short haircut. There are lesser option in short hair,” he explains.

Another happening trend according to Najeeb is flicks while Coleen says thick and heavy bangs and side bangs in particular are in. “Apart from these, the 40's style buns, neatly tied back ponytails and soft waves and tousled up hair reminiscent of the 30’s and 40’s are also rocking the hair fashion scene,” she adds.

As for the colours, this season, it’s hot to mix colours. “Try playing with colours. Three to four colours in the hair work to add texture and enhance the cut. Don’t just follow someone else, personalise your cut and your colour,” says Savio adding that warmer tones such as browns and auburns are the ones to watch out for. “Rich colours —golds and coppers and shades ranging from violetish to reds,” says Najeeb while for Coleen it's softer browns and chocolate shades. TOI

How To Remove Dark Circles Under Your Eyes

Author: Mila Sidman

Many women have dark circles under their eyes on a regular basis. In fact, 9 out of 10 people have to deal with dark circles under their eyes at one time or another. The condition has been blamed on anything from lack of sleep to the wrong diet. It is actually caused by one of three primary reasons.

Vascular inflammation caused by enlarged blood vessels beneath the thin skin under your eyes. Staying up late and allergies can cause the inflammation.

The bone structure of your face and add shadows under your eyes, making them look even darker then they are. This mostly affects people with deep-set eyes.

The third reason is hyper-pigmentation, a condition that is passed on through genetics.

Let's take a look at what you can do to get rid of these dark circles under your eyes, or at least "camouflage" them.
Get plenty of rest. I know it sounds very clich�, but you really do need your beauty sleep. Do your best to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night.

Eat well and drink lots of water. Include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and lean meat. The vitamins and minerals in healthy food will improve your complexion, give you more energy and overall make you feel better. It will show in your eyes as well. Combine this with drinking at least 8 glasses of water an d your skin will stay more elastic which helps with the appearance of dark circles in addition to many other skin problems.

Black Tea bags make for a great eye remedy. The black tea will help tighten the skin around your eyes, and it gives the eyes themselves a nice glow. Just brew yourself a cup of black tea and then use the teabag on your eyes. Don't burn yourself, but put it on there as hot as you can comfortably stand it.

Grate some potato with a cheese grater and put the potato pieces under your eyes. Let them soak in for about 15 minutes, then rinse with plenty of warm water.

When everything else fails, hide your dark circles under some light concealer. Pick a shade just slightly lighter than your makeup. Put some on your index finger and gently tap it under your eyes. Use a sponge to smooth it out. Don't use your fingers or the concealer stick to rub it in. That will make the circles appear even worse.

Source

Magic Wands

The latest batch of mascara brushes come in all sorts of technical shapes and sizes, which would confuse even the most experienced make-up junkie. But don’t worry! To guide you through the mascara maze we’ve selected the key wand designs and figured out what they do. Follow our guide to make sure you’re in the know when it comes to dressing your lashes.

Bourjois Yes to Volume No to Clumps Mascara, £7.95
This separator comb smoothes the lashes from root to tip, building volume without clumping.

Bare Escentuals Big Tease, £13
(0870 850 6655)
A unique dual brush design singles out every eyelash for extra volume, length and definition.

Lancôme Fatale, £17.50
Its innovative configuration of 3 combs and 3 flat surfaces on this 3-D comb is the secret to creating instant volume and shape with evenly spaced lashes.

L’Oreal Telescope Mascara, £8.99
This flexible multi-comb wand with its spiral structure offers lash-by-lash separation. Its four rows of combs glide through the lashes and offer spectacular lengthening.

Giorgio Armani Maestro, £18
(020 7318 2486)
With four rows of thirty comb-like teeth, this applicator distributes in a single stroke just the right amount of mascara to effectively dress and separate lashes, and shape to precision.

Shu Uemura Precise Volume Mascara, £16
A pin-point, two-way brush allows for a precision layering effect without clumping.

Clinique High Definition Lashes, £12.50
A specially designed, double-sided brush-comb applicator elongates lashes to great lengths. The revolutionary wand defines and singles out lashes you didn’t know you had.

Chanel Inimitable Mascara, £16.50
The elastomer, latex like bristles on this brush reaches even the finest lashes - even those easy to miss ones at the corner of the eyes.

Lash Aids
Remove even the most stubborn waterproof mascara with Talika Lash Conditioning Cleanser, £10.99
Clean away smudges after application with Shu Uemura Cotton Swabs £4.50

AWI

Few basic dos and dont’s of skin care in the parlour

Choose a treatment only after careful skin diagnosis consultation with the expert on call. Discuss centra-indications first.

Check out the steps of the procedure and product ingredients before, not after, however intimidated you may feel. Any cosmetic surgery or injection, if done by untrained and inexperienced practitioners, could prove dangerous and even fatal. It is better to be safe than sorry. Do not be afraid to ask or walk out if in doubt.

What may work for your friend may not necessarily work for you.
Get an allergy or patch test done before you go in for any kind of cosmetic procedure or even facials, exfoliations or scrubs. Mention allergic conditions or medications you are currently under.

Diabetic? Had herpes? On heart medicines? Certain procedures are a no-no. Those allergic to aspirin must avoid applications that contain salicylic acid.

Insist on polythene strips for waxing that cannot be re-used. Better still, insist on disposables and fresh or new laundry for every procedure, including the sheet that you lie on.

Go in for facials or other surface treatment at least a week to ten days before any special occasion. It gives your skin time to settle and glow!

Ayurvedic and natural products cause minimal reactions, but check all the same.

Nothing beats a good regimen of proper diet, exercise and plenty of water.

Health is in your hands. Follow a simple at-home skin care programme of cleansing, steaming, toning and moisturizing once a week for a healthy, radiant look!

How to Curl Your Eyelashes

Eyes are regarded as the ‘window to the soul’ of an individual. In fact, whenever you meet an individual, eyes are amongst the first features that come into notice. No wonder, women make use of so many eye cosmetics, such as eye shadow, eyeliner, eye pencil, mascara, and so on, while applying makeup on their face. In case you are as well a woman and fond of eye makeup, you must be aware of the appeal that properly curled eyelashes hold. It is with the aim of helping females get the ideal ‘curled eyelash’ look that we have written this piece of writing. Go through the directions on how to curl your eyelashes.

Most excellent way of Curling the Eyelashes

Supplies Needed

• Mirrors
• Eye Shadow
• Eye Brush
• Eyeliner
• Eyelash Curlers
• Mascara

Instructions

• The foremost thing that you need to do is apply an eye shadow, with the help of eye brush, in a shade that matches with your setup.
• After you have applied the eye shadow, it is the time to make use of eyeliner and let it dry totally.
• Now is the moment to curl your eyelashes. However, earlier than doing that, confirm your lashes are clean as well as dry.
• Take the eyelash curler in your hand and open it totally. Go behind this, place your upper lashes inside the mouth of the curler.
• After that will comprise of closing your eye slightly and then opening it once more, to make sure that all the lashes move into the curler’s mouth.
• At the moment, hold the eyelash curler in such a system that its mouth stands almost parallel to your lashes.
• Bring the curler nearer to the lashes, till the time you feel that it is almost touching the base of the lashes. However, it should not get nearer over the skin of your eyelid.
• Slowly begin closing the curler, while keeping eye open all the time. As you force down the curler, the eyelashes should spread out evenly across the upper bar.
• If, by any possibility, you feel that the curler is pinching the skin of your eyelid, read just it immediately.
• Keeping your hand and face firm and stable, hold the curler in the close position for a slow count of 5.
• In case you would like to add some more volume to the eyelashes, do again the curling steps once again.
• In the last step, you need to apply mascara on the eyelashes. Do again all the above steps with the other eye as well.

Botox to replace mascara?

Created by Allergan, the company behind the anti-wrinkle drug Botox, the new chemical for eyelashes, called Latisse, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US. Latisse has been designed to treat a condition known as hypotrichosis of the eyelashes, which means a person does not have enough eyelashes, reports the Telegraph.

If applied once everyday to the eyelid using a disposable applicator, Latisse can apparently improve the length, thickness and colour of hairs. The drug should be used regularly to maintain the thicker lashes. Its side effects can include eye redness and itchiness, a darkening of the eyelid skin and a permanent darkening of the whites of the eyes.

The most important ingredient in Latisse is a chemical called a prostaglandin, which is present in hair. The chemical may help in the development and regrowth of hair follicles and is also used to treat glaucoma. In fact, it was a glaucoma specialist who first discovered the eyelash effect. Latisse, which is the first prescription product for lengthening eyelashes, will be available early next year and reportedly a 30-day supply of the drug will cost 120 dollars.

According to the company, the global sales of the drug could cross the figure of 300million pounds a year.

- TOI

Define your style with earrings

Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Drew Barrymore and Penelope Cruz are few celebrities who have a round face.

Round face: The main feature of a round face is the circular shape that is as wide as it is long and is usually characterised with a round chin. Earrings with lean, long and angular curved lines can be the perfect choice because it helps in elongating a round face. You can wear drop earrings in dangles, ovals and oblongs. Even an angular stud earring will look good on a round face. Make sure that you steer clear of small studs and hoops. Always avoid wearing chunky large earrings.
Oval face: The main feature of an oval face is the forehead which is usually wider as compared to the chin. The hairline is gently rounded and the approximate length is equal to one and a half times width. Celebrities like Charlize Theron, Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson and Beyonce Knowles have an oval face. If you also have an oval face then earrings with soft shapes like studs, ovals and teardrops will look good on you. People with a face shape like this can wear almost any design. You can always do some experiment with different styles and decide what looks good on your face.

Heart shaped face: Heart shaped faces are usually narrow at the jawline and wide at the forehead or cheekbone. It is very much similar to an oval face but below the cheekbones it is narrower due to which the chin looks more pointed. Stars like Sophie Dahl, Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson have a heart shaped face. If you feel that you also have a face shape like them, wear earrings with a wide bottom. You can try out earrings that have a soft curve like ovals or teardrops. Pyramid style earring can work best on your face shape because it is wide at the bottom. Always avoid wearing earrings that are heart shaped.

Diamond face: The main features of a diamond shaped face are broad and strong forehead with square hairline and angular jaw. Such faces are wide at the cheeks but narrow at the forehead and chin. Katherine Hepburn and Sophia Loren are celebrities with a diamond face. If you also have a face shape like this, wear earrings that are less in length and more in width. A straight line and curves combination will work best. You can also try studs and small drop earrings.

Oblong face: An oblong face is very much similar to a square face but it is longer and not very wide. Simple studs and chandelier style earrings look very good on an oblong face. However, angular and long earrings must be avoided. Few celebrity examples are Terri Hatcher, Sarah Jessica Parker and Angelina Jolie.
Looks can be enhanced to a great extent with the right type of earrings. This article talks about the different face shapes and earrings that will and won’t suit each face type.

Square face: The main features of a square face are broad and strong forehead, square hairline and angular jaw. Earrings with a round and angular edge will work best because it will help in softening a square face. If you have a square face, avoid wearing angular style, large earrings so that your face doesn’t look wider. Instead wear hoops and medium to long styles. Celebrities like Demi Moore, Katie Holmes, Geena Davis and Salma Hayek have a somewhat square face.
- TOI

मेकअप इन समर

गर्मियों का मेकअप आसान नहीं होता। जरा-सा पसीना आने पर ही यह बह जाता है। जानते हैं कि इस मौसम में मेकअप के बारे में किन बातों का ध्यान रखना जरूरी है :- ब्राइट और रेडिएंट स्किन पर हल्के कलर से चीक बोन्स को हाइलाइट करें। आंखों पर मेकअप के लिए आई लैशेज और आईब्रो पर ध्यान दें। टरकॉइज और लाइम ग्रीन कलर्स नेचरल लुक देने की वजह से आंखों पर इस्तेमाल किए जा सकते हैं। होठों पर पीच या ऑरेंज कलर इस्तेमाल करें।

क्या करें, क्या न करें

रात को सोने से पहले मेकअप उतारना न भूलें। आंखों के लिए खासतौर पर अल्कॉहल फ्री मेकअप रिमूवर का इस्तेमाल करें।

फाउंडेशन पर कॉम्पैक्ट का टच अप दें। अपनी त्वचा की क्लिंजिंग, टोनिंग और मॉइश्चराइजिंग के साथ सन प्रोटेक्शन का ध्यान भी रखें।

हैवी फाउंडेशन का इस्तेमाल न करें, यह पसीने में आसानी से बह जाता है।

मॉइश्चराइजर को अवॉइड करें। इसके बदले लाइट टेक्सचर या वॉटर बेस्ड फाउंडेशन इस्तेमाल कर सकते हैं। इसके अलावा, कॉम्पैक्ट पाउडर, लूज पाउडर या ब्रॉन्जर इस्तेमाल करें।

कलर्स हों कुछ खास

इस सीजन में ब्राइट स्प्रिंग कलर्स काफी चलन में है। ऐसे में आप लाइमग्रीन, ब्लू या प्लम्स कलर चुन सकती हैं। ग्रे कलर का बिल्कुल इस्तेमाल न करें। पेस्टल कलर्स और लाइट कलर्स इस बार फैशन में हैं। पिंक, ग्रीन और यलो कलर्स काफी खूबसूरत लगेंगे। डार्क और भड़कीले रंगों का इस्तेमाल न करें। डार्क ब्लू और ब्लैक शेड से बचें।

ओवर ऑल लुक

अपना ओवरऑल लुक नेचरल, चिक और सिंपल रखें। नेचरल आइशैडो और आइलाइनर आपके लुक में चार चांद लगाएंगे।

ऑफिस मेकअप आफिस में फ्रेश लुक पाने के लिए फाउंडेशन इस्तेमाल करें। ब्लैक आई पेंसिल और मस्कारा लगाएं।

गालों पर हल्के रंग का टच अप दें और होंठों पर गहरे रंगों की बजाय पीच और ऑरेंज कलर का इस्तेमाल करें।

पार्टी मेकअप

पार्टी मेकअप के लिए आंखों को वॉयलेट या इलेक्ट्रिक ब्लू के साथ स्मोकी लुक दें। लिप्स को ज्यादा हाइलाइट न करें। इन्हें ऑरेंज, कोरल या पीच कलर का टच दें।