Natural way to bring Shine to your hair #FromtheArchives #OneMonthtoHealthyHair

Published on March 26, 2015 by Swati 9 Comments

This blog is dedicated to being natural and make the most of the natural resources.

Now, a question to ponder upon; how much do we really make use of the nature around us like sun, water, food or wind? They are the best nourishment you can give to your body and yes, today’s post is dedicated to some of these nature’s forces and their benefits on hair.

Walking in the Sun

Have you ever been on a walk out in the early morning at sunrise? If you have, you would know how serene, soothing and calm it feels. The breeze is relaxing and the sun invigorating. You do not need to exercise. You can just take a walk and enjoy the sun and wind. And, while taking the walk, open your hair and let your hair also feel the sunlight and wind.

Fresh air and sun in mild amounts are very beneficial to the health of the hair and its growth. Let every strand of your hair get sunlight and the air and see the difference in your hair. Your hair would also feel rejuvenated and lively. It will shine with all its health.

Air Dry in Sunlight

Next time you get out of the shower, let your hair air dry your hair in direct sunlight till it becomes just near to damp and finger comb your hair while you are at it. This would contribute to increasing the shine of your hair.

But, always remember, do not over do it. Sun in excess quantities is really not good for hair or skin so keep it mild and enjoy the benefits. It also helps to promote hair growth.

Using Cold Water to rinse Hair

Well, the water just has to be as cold as you can bear. No need to dump ice cubes on your head!

A cool water rinse locks up your cuticles and leaves your hair shiny. Also, it helps your hair be have more bounce rather than just falling flat!

Do you also like to air dry your hair in sun light? How do you like it?

From the Archives : Do you know why is your Skin Dry? {Skin Care}

Published on January 25, 2015 by Swati 6 Comments

Revisiting this post and updating it. So, please go through it once again!

This winter has been particularly dry in the city and after ages of time, I experienced flaky and cracked skin! And, it has been hell for me for the past couple of days! Which made me realize why is my skin reacting in this way!

I have used coconut oil, almond oil, apricot oil, even cocoa butter and the recent DIY – washed ghee. They have all helped a bit but not much! And, then, I recalled that there are actually two types of dry skin – dehydrated and actually dry skin!

Do you really know the difference between dry skin and oily skin? Yes, you will say. Dry skin feels stretched and oily skin is like a frying pan. But, ultimately the chemistry of both these types of skin lack some important ingredient which keeps the skin balanced. Either the skin lacks hydration or moisturization.

Hydration means water and moisturization means oil.

Now, do not confuse the two. A healthy balance of the above two is the key to that perfect skin and solving all the skin issues which plague you. So, let us look at both of the terms with respect to their skin conditions a little closely.

Why Dry skin?

Skin can be dry for two reasons – it lacks water or the hydration levels of the skin is too less because of the less water consumption by the person, if we cancel out all other factors which lead to dry skin and assume that the person is following healthy skin habits. Also, there is a decrease in the natural skin oils or lipids which create a protective layer over the skin and help keep it moisturised.

So, to counter dry skin, apply both oil and water based moisturizers or you can use different moisturizers having water and oil and layer them. That is what I do. I use aloevera gel first and follow up with a facial oil. Doing just either of these steps will make the skin feel stretchy. Also, a tip is to apply the moisturisers and oils on damp skin.

Also Read: What hydrates our skin?

Which Dry Skin do You have?

So, now, it is up to you to decide which dry skin do you have? In most of the cases, generally the reason for dry skin is dehydration instead of lack of oils!

Drinking More Water does NOT help

Now that you know that your skin is dry due to less water content, I would like to add that drinking up a lot water and herbal tea does not replenish the moisture levels in your skin! The acidic level of the skin and the lipid barrier has been disturbed which is why skin is behaving in the way it is!!

Even Oily skin can be Dehydrated!

Even in oily skin, there is ample of oil but what it really lacks is hydration. Even oily skin can get dehydrated and this dehydration sends mixed signals to the brain which in turn causes skin to produce more oil to counter the missing water from the skin.

Result – even more oily skin but no hydration. So, to counter oily skin, apply water-based moisturizers regularly.

How to Treat this kind of Dehydration?

Eat a lot of omega 3’s – nuts, flax seeds, fish.

Eat water based fruits!

Avoid dry brushing at this time as it can worsen the situation!

Avoid hot water baths at ANY cost! Trust me, I am doing the same.

Check out the cleanser you are using. Make sure it is mild and is not made of any acids, even salicylic acid!

Exfoliate your skin regularly because it will be turning flaky quite a lot! And, always use hydrating scrubs. The best bet would be sugar scrubs. Avoid salt and harsh scrubs at all costs!!

Apply sunscreen in the morning and follow a stringent skin care routine at night. Use of toners is a good choice!

Remember that skin will take time to heal!! So, be regular with your skin care routine. And, your skin will improve in 2-3 weeks.

What do you say? Is your skin dry or dehydrated? Does it need more water or oil? And, what are you doing to keep your skin soft this winter?

From the Archives: #OneMonthtoHealthyHair – Routine Hair Care {Hair Care}

Published on January 23, 2015 by Swati 7 Comments

This is my first hair care post which I am reviving it today with some updates! Hope you enjoy it as much as I loved writing it. Feeling nostalgic revisiting the post after 5 years!

My favorite click for my hair diaries!

Hair is ~~one of~~ the first thing which gets noticed when you meet a person. ~~It can create or destroy one’s personality. It can make a plain person beautiful.~~ Whenever you meet or come across someone with beautiful long hair, did you ever find yourself wishing you had that hair!

There are very simple rules for a good hair care which MUST be done consistently so as to ensure it looks amazing!!

Hair undergoes major changes three times in a woman’s life: puberty, child birth and menopause. Apart from that, it is said that our Hair undergoes texture change every seven years. Now, who knew that?

Regular Care Tips

Love your locks as they are. Do not compare them with others. Every person’s hair is different.

Use only those products which suit your hair. Do not get diverted by nice campaigns or beautiful packaging. Price of the products does not determine its worthiness.

Do not tease your hair or put any pressure on it unnecessarily. Try not to use brush as much as possible. Use a wide-tooth comb. Brushing puts unnecessary strain on hair. If you want to use a brush, use a natural bristles brush. Also, avoid tying the hair at the same place everyday. And, keep changing your hair part regularly.

Use satin or silk pillows while sleeping. Do not sleep with open hair. Braid your hair loosely. Or, tie your hair with a satin or silk scarf. It also helps preventing the wrinkles and drying of the skin at night.

Drink water regularly. Hair comprises of 95% proteins and 5% water.

Take beauty sleep of 7-8 hours regularly.

Take proper nutrition. Do not let your body be deficient in any of the vitamins or minerals. And, increase your protein intake. This is extremely useful when you are trying to grow out your hair!!

Ok, this is my favourite!! I love a good head massage. Oil your hair regularly. It gives natural conditioning to your hair. Use organic and cold-pressed oils. Heat destroys the benefits of the oils. Mix various oils to get as many benefits as possible. Hot oil treatments are very useful in improving the hair condition.

Scalp Care. Keep the scalp clean. Wash your hair whenever you feel your hair is dirty. Remember to use mild shampoo. Use a conditioner after shampooing your hair.

Use various home remedies for deep conditioning treatments. They take time to work but if used regularly, keep your hair free of chemicals and keep them in better condition naturally and for longer time.

Exercise and massage your scalp regularly for beautiful hair.

So, follow these steps and enjoy happy hair 🙂 And, do not forget to join us in the #OneMonthtoHealthyHair event starting on 1st March – 31st March. Sign up for the event here!

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From the Archives : Why do we get Headaches? {Health}

Published on September 28, 2013 by Swati 1 Comment

Have you ever wondered what causes the headaches. I have had headaches since 1998 as far as I can remember and it is definitely never a great experience. Instead, I feel like my head will come out of the skull. I have always wondered what causes headache. The reason which I knew was less blood supply to the parts of the head. Yes.

If you are suffering from any kind of headache without having any ailment like cold, sinus, any kind of flu or fever or any other medical problem like tumor, it is just because you have less blood supply in your scalp and its nerves. The blood vessels are constricted and reduce the flow. This starts right from the neck blood vessels.

Time for reality check. I would like to share some issues regarding headaches which probably many of you are not aware of. At least, I came to know of them today itself. Coffee and sweets are two things which can cause or increase the intensity of headaches. This is because of the caffeine content in the coffee and chocolates. Caffeine decreases the blood supply to the head by constricting the blood vessels.

And, the other sweets increase the blood sugar level which in turn also decreases the blood supply by constricting the blood vessels. Other foods which might trigger headaches are processed food, foods high in sugar, cheese, food additives, alcohol, carbonated beverages, red wine, Chinese food and even citrus fruits and bananas.

You can also be sensitive to other things which you include in your diet so keep an eye open. There are many other factors too which cause headaches like stress, lack of sleep, bright lights, weather changes, loud noises and strong odors. Wearing a hair style which pulls your hair tightly or tying a hair band too tightly can also trigger headaches. It is best to leave your hair free in that case or use a clip to just catch hold of your hair.

Mensuration cycles is again one of the common reasons for headache in women. Eye sight is also a very big catalyst in headaches. Excess exposure to sun is also a cause for headaches.

The lesson to be taken from all this is that you should be conscious of what you are eating and doing so that you can trace the reason of your headaches. Anything can trigger a headache within an hour of its consumption so keeping a little check on eating patterns can help you discern the reason and get rid of headaches easily.

If you would not do so, these headaches may easily develop into migraines. I am sure many of you would really not be aware that you are suffering from migraines. One of the most common symptoms of migraines is a nauseating feeling accompanies by vomiting. Some headaches are so severe that they get resolved only after vomiting.

If you are sensitive to bright lights or noises or odors, you should seek help from a doctor and clearly outline your case of headaches. Sometimes, doctors might also just ignore your complain of headaches saying it is normal or it is due to eyesight (if you have one). Be prepared for this. If you have such experience, try to find patterns on your own.

Chances are that you yourself would be able to figure out the cause of your headaches. Sometimes, it is as simple as sitting a lot before a computer or watching too much of television or even too much of reading. Such things can easily be improved by changing a little of the lifestyle.

The best remedy for headaches is to lie down in a dark and quiet place. Instead of going for medications, you can also use balms (which you can apply on forehead) or get some to do a scalp or body massage for you.

So, what do you do for your headache?

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From the Archives : Use ginger to get rid of acne {DIY}

Published on September 25, 2013 by Swati 69 Comments

PS: Everyone has been asking me about how to get rid of acne so this is an old and a very useful post on the same topic. Hope this helps 🙂

Ginger is a very useful spice. And, it has great anti-oxidant and anti-aging properties along with its astringent properties which comes handy when you are dealing with a stubborn problem like acne. Acne can come in form of pimples, outbreaks or even worse. So, let us discuss what all you can do from ginger.

Ginger is great as a drink every day. Yes, it is pretty bitter in taste but it improves your skin from inside. It helps your body fight the free radicals and keeps your digestive system in order. It cleans out the toxins from your system. Ginger improves the blood circulation throughout the body and also cleans out the blood. Not only this, it also improves the skin tone and helps in getting rid of blemishes and spots.

Squeeze out a little of ginger juice and apply it on your face or just the acne-affected areas and see your skin improve in a matter of days. It works very well for unexpected outbreaks and pimples. You can also use the juice as a face mask for blemished and sun-burnt skin. And, you can also help your body by including this spice in your daily diet.

A little every day goes a long way. You can also use a little ginger in your spinach-lettuce juice in the morning. Pass a small slice of ginger along with spinach and lettuce while making the juice. It would give a spicy taste to your drink. And, not to mention, ginger is really good for throat infections, dry coughs and colds.

So, have you used ginger on your acne ever? Does it help?

From the Archives : Do you clean your tongue? {Oral Hygiene}

Published on September 22, 2013 by Swati 2 Comments

photo dep_6109356-Oral-hygiene-cleaning-teeth-for-beautiful-woman_zpsb1aeb0b7.jpg

I wanted to talk about how to detox your body and then, I came across an article which said that tongue cleaning was a habit which has been carried out since centuries and it actually has a great importance for our body according to Ayurveda.

I was a little surprised to read that because I had always thought of it as a habit which has to be carried daily after we brush our teeth and I thought its importance was limited only to hygienic purposes. But, what I came to learn about was that it is one of the ways to help our body get rid of toxins.

The question which pops to our minds is How?
During our sleep, body gets rid of all the toxins in our body, right. So, how do all these toxins get out of our body? Sweat, urination or excretion. Yes. But, some of the toxins also get deposited as a film on our tongue. So comes the ritual of tongue scraping in the morning to remove this film of toxins.

The bacteria present in these toxins are also the cause of bad breath. And, they prevent our taste buds from getting a proper taste of the food. How? Because, they get deposited continuously and if not cleaned, the deposits can become pretty thick and the food we eat is not actually tasted by our taste buds.

Ultimately, we do not get the feeling of satiety which the taste buds trigger to the brain because taste buds do not know that we are eating. So, we end up overeating and gaining weight in the process. So, I hope you realize how important it is for us to clean our tongues everyday.

Now, how do you clean your tongue? Using a plastic tongue scraper or your brush? Well, both of the methods are not advisable. Plastic is not good for health and the brush actually does not clean the tongue. It just disturbs the bacteria and sometimes, the bacteria can begin breeding in the brush too which is definitely not good for your dental health.

So, you should use a tongue scraper made of stainless steel or brass to avoid toxicity from metals. Be gentle while using the scraper but firmly remove the debris from your mouth. Hold the scraper on both sides and place it at the back of the tongue near the tonsils and start scraping from there. Repeat the movements 5 times. Clean the scraper properly and disinfect it occasionally using baking soda.

Today’s Lesson: Detox your body by making tongue scraping a habit.

So, do you clean your tongue?

From the Archives : Acne – Home Remedies {DIY}

Published on September 19, 2013 by Swati 12 Comments

Yesterday, I talked about how to take care of your skin and keep hygiene for preventing more acne outbreaks. Today, I would like to talk about some effective home remedies for acne. Hope these will be helpful for you.

Lemon juice is one of the best bets. It kills the bacteria in the acne and also reduces the oil production on the skin. In fact, all the citrus fruit family is great for acne. Oranges, strawberries, raspberries; take a slice of them every time you eat a fruit and rub it over your face and other affected parts of the body and keep it on till it dries off. Wash with very cold water so that it gives some relief from any burning or tingling sensation.

When I talked about lemon, tomato is the next follow up. Tomato juice is also equally effective for acne.

Remember one thing: Whenever you feel a tingling sensation after you apply any herbal or other product, it is a proof that it is working. If it starts irritating the skin or causes change in skin color, then it is probably time to get rid of the product or remedy.

Onion Juice and Ginger Juice is another great remedy for acne. Extract onion juice or ginger juice or cut a slice of onion or ginger and apply it on the affected parts. Wash off with cool water. You can even mix both of them.

To reduce any burning sensation or inflammation, use cooled tea bags and chilled cucumber slices. They provide a lot of relaxation. You can also apply sandalwood paste. It cools the skin and is an antiseptic. Mint juice is also very useful in dealing with the acne.

Mix 3/4th part of sandalwood and 1/4th part of turmeric. Make a paste with any fruit juice or mint juice and apply to the affected parts.

How could I forget aloevera gel. Plant an aloe at home and reap its benefits. The gel straight from the plant is great for acne.

Do not forget to use pomegranates. They too give you a lovely acne free skin.

You can also use something which will provide a cooling sensation or relief to the acne.

What home remedies do you use for your skin?