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More damage can be done to the hair during a two-week holiday in the sun than the damage accrued during the rest of the year. The ultraviolet rays, or radiation, (UVRs) from sunlight that can cause damage to the skin can also have an adverse effect on the hair, depleting the natural oils and removing moisture. Strong winds whip unprotected hair into a tangle, causing breakage and split ends. Chlorinated and salt water cause colour fading and result in drooping perms. Wear a hat or a scarf on the beach, or use a sun protective spray to shield the hair from the sun’s harmful rays.

After a swim, rinse the salt or chlorinated water thoroughly from the hair using plenty of fresh, clean water. Sunscreen gels are available for the hair and these offer a good deal of protection. On windy or blustery days, keep long hair tied back to prevent tangles. Long hair can also be braided when it is wet and the braid left in all day. When evening comes and you undo the braids you will have a cascade of rippling.


Before you leave

Any hair colouring you are planning should be done at least one week prior to your holiday. This will allow the color to "soften"and allow time for some intensive conditioning on any dry ends. If you want to have a perm before your holiday, book the appointment at least three week before departure to allow your hair to settle. Remember to pack all your holiday hair needs — your favorite shampoos, conditioners and styling products. And pack a selection of scarves and hair accessories. Soft, bendy rollers are a good alternative to heated ones —they are also kinder to the hair. Have a trim before you go, but not a new style, as you won’t want to worry about coping with a new look. The sun’s rays are intensified by reflection from the snow, so hair needs extra protection in the form of a hair sunscreen. Wind, blasts of snow, and sunshine are a damaging combination for hair, so wear a hat whenever possible. In freezing temperatures, hair picks up static electricity, making it flyaway and unmanageable. Calm the hair static by spraying your brush with hairspray before brushing your hair. With sudden temperature changes — from icy cold slopes to a warm hotel — and constantly changing headgear, your hair may need daily shampooing. Use a mild shampoo and light conditioner.

— The writer is a hair expert and runs Peaches Salon and Spa in Bengaluru

Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori of Japan crowns Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela Miss Universe at the Miss Universe pageant.

Detox! That's the latest health fad the city junta is swearing by. Juice fasts, water-only diets, saltfree diets coupled with body massages, mud packs, steam baths, saunas and yoga are the rage these days. But, are these procedures safe, or for that matter even necessary?
"The human body has a built in detoxifier called the liver. The very function of the liver is to break down toxic substances, so that they get excreted. So, why do people need to go for a detox diet?" asks Dr M V Rao of Yashoda Hospitals. But Dr N R Nirmala Jyothi, a naturopathy and yogic science expert, prefers to differ, "Just as vehicles need regular overhaul to keep them in good condition, even human bodies need to go through a cleansing process on a regular basis. Diseases are caused by build up of toxins and 90 per cent of the cases that come to us are patients who have tried all sorts of medication and come to naturopathy as a final resort."

The common grouse about detox treatments is that they border on the extreme. Especially techniques like vamanakriya where the patient is made to drink large amounts of salt water in order to vomit, given enemas or made to go on rigorous fasts. "No treatment is prescribed without a thorough study of the patient. Most treatments have contraindications. For example vamanakriya is contraindicated in pregnant women, heart patients and hypertensive people. A qualified doctor studies the patients and prescribes the diet or treatment that he or she can withstand. It is not like the patients come and pick up a treatment of their choice!" rebuts Dr Jyothi.

But then it is difficult to stop people from picking up tips from those who have gone to some exotic detox spa. Even simple fads like drinking too much water to flush out toxins can have a fatal effect because along with the toxins vital salts are flushed out. "I get at least one patient in a week, mostly elderly, suffering from hyponatremia (low sodium in the body) because of the new fad where people are told to drink as much water as possible. People with sedentary lifestyles need to drink about 1.5 to 2 litres per day, but those who are into rigorous activity need more. The rule of thumb is to listen to your body. Drink water when you are thirsty, that suffices," says Dr Rao as he lists out the symptoms of hyponatremia that includes confusion, followed by drowsiness, fits, coma and even death.

Another disturbing trend in the city is the growing cases of obesity and Type II diabetes – from school children to adults. Both Dr Rao and Dr Jyothi confirm the trend and people’s inability to stick to healthy balanced diets.


"Instead of gorging on pizzas and fried food laden with transfatty acids that put a great load on the liver, why don't we go for a non-toxic regular balanced diet with the right amount of carbs, proteins and fresh vegetables and fruit?" questions Dr Rao bringing to the fore the ancient adage that prevention is better than cure. At the other end of the spectrum are young girls, who in a bid to lose weight, eat raw vegetables and fruits alone that they do not get the required protein for muscle growth at a stage when they need it the most, says Dr Rao.

Most detox diets have their roots in Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science. Dr Jyothi tells us about the various diets and treatments for chronic gout, arthritis, asthma, kidney stones and other ailments that get cured with Ayurveda without the drastic side-effects associated with allopathy. Dr Rao too agrees that Ayurveda is an ancient science, but voices the need for conducting research and randomised studies to prove the efficacy of the medication that people swear by. Well this will take quite some time, meanwhile some treatments need to be taken with a pinch of salt!

I get at least one patient in a week, mostly elderly, suffering from hyponatremia (low sodium in the body) because of the new fad where people are told to drink as much water as possible.
Dr M V Rao
Toxic foods to avoid are all fried foods and fast foods.
The rule of thumb is to drink when you are thirsty.

source:timesofindia.com

W ant to protect your eyes from those crow’s feet? Then go out and buy good quality eye cream. If you currently don’t have the onset of any fine lines or wrinkles around your eyes, it’s still a good idea to buy a regular eye cream that moisturizes, soothes tired eyes and also fights against dark circles, puffiness and bags.

Your smile is one of the first things most people notice about you. Unfortunately, as we age, teeth can become stained or grow darker and present a less than brilliant picture to the world. There are many reasons why your teeth may not be the bright white you’d like them to be.

Some medications can cause discoloration in your teeth. Coffee, tea and certain foods can stain your teeth, and smoking will also cause yellowing of teeth, as well as having other more serious side effects to your health. Also, as you age, the outer layer of your tooth enamel is worn away, revealing the darker tissue underneath.

The first step in your search for a brilliant smile is to discover what’s caused your teeth to become discolored. Your dentist can determine the cause of discoloration, whether tooth whitening can help, and which kind of whitening procedures will be most effective.

Not all whiteners work the same way, and not all whitening products will help your smile. For instance, in general, yellowish teeth bleach well, while brown or gray toned teeth usually do not. Also, tooth whitening products will not affect bondings or fillings, so porcelain veneers or bondings, so that all your teeth will be the same color, might be best for you. Once you’ve discovered the cause of your tooth discoloration, there are several options available, from over-the-counter products to the latest in dental applications using lasers.

All toothpastes help remove surface stains, and some whitening toothpastes contain polishing or chemical agents that provide additional stain removal. But whitening toothpastes only remove surface stains. Whitening toothpastes can lighten your teeth by about one shade, while your dentist can help you go three to eight shades lighter.

Similarly, over-the-counter whitening strips and gels cannot achieve the degree of whiteness that your dentist’s products can. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide isn’t as high in over-the-counter products. Worse, many kits have acetic or citric acid as the lightening agent, which can cause damage to your tooth enamel if overused or used improperly.

The safest, easiest and most sure way to whiten your teeth is to have your dentist prescribe the best method for you, whether it’s in-office bleaching, at-home bleaching, or whitening toothpastes. Most in-office or at-home professional methods use either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide as a bleaching agent. Impressions are taken of your teeth, from which custom trays are fabricated. You place whitening gel into the tray and ‘wear’ the tray on your teeth. The length of time can vary greatly, depending on the condition of your teeth and your body’s response to the bleaching agent.

Having lustrous and healthy hair is the dream of every woman. Beautiful hair is a must and therefore we have brought for you an entire hair care programme that will solve all your hair problems and also give you an idea as to which hairstyle will look good on you.