Grace Beauty

Hair is everybody's crowning glory.

The previous paragraph is the sole reason as to why beauty salons and shampoo companies have become the in thing in the business world. They earn money by caressing vanity, the very grain that is inherent in human nature. They awe us by parading beautiful girls with long, shiny hair. They instill in us the drama, the magic, the beautiful-girl-stories of finding fame and romance by sporting soft and shiny locks.

We buy these hair products. We try these salon treatments. But of course, none that is similar to those shampoo commercials ever happens to us. None ever will. But then we keep buying these products. We keep trying more salon treatments. Until we fail again.

It is sad that we end up forever victims of what we believe as the great solution. We don't know that what we religiously follow at the back of shampoo bottles is not really a beauty secret, but actually a deceitful commercial script to bring more business for shampoo companies. In reality, constant usage of shampoo actually diminishes the strength and the shine of the hair. But because we have so much faith, we never put the blame on these products. Instead, we use more, buy more, hope even firmer that in the long run, we still will achieve the shampoo-model-type-hair.

The rationale for this is simple. Over washing the hair rids the natural oil from the scalp, thereby prodding the latter to produce more oil to compensate. This results dandruff and grease. Also there are residues from hair creams and shampoos that accumulates in the hair, making it more difficult to wash.

In an article by Natalie in stretcher. com, she gave tips on how to maintain a less-costly but healthy hair:

1. When you wash your hair, lather once, not twice (like all shampoo instructions suggest!). Wash your hair and scalp thoroughly, and then rinse. Your hair might not feel squeaky clean, but it will be as clean as with two lathers.

2. When possible, leave your hair without washing an extra day. Try not to wash your hair every day. Your hair will become less oily over time.

3.Brush your hair and scalp every day (your grandmother was right). This will stimulate your scalp, distribute protective oils throughout your hair, and combat dandruff.

4. Unless you've had your hair colored or permed in the last month, do not condition the hair at your scalp. This will discourage greasiness, and it will also save you money!

5. If you want a fresh feeling but don't want to shampoo, just run hot water over your hair in the shower. This will rinse away some of the dirt and even out your hair, so that it will look clean without having to shampoo.

There we go. There are actually more less-costly but more effective fixes that we can think of than depending on instant treatments. It is never wrong to look for easier alternatives, but hey, a beautiful mane is a treasure unworthy of being gambled. Let?s play it slow and sure. Beauty, after all, is not an overnight thing.

Other articles from the same author can be found at: http://www.ion-healthbeauty-4u.info/

Erica Alexia Registered Nurse

As a preteen I can remember wading through my mother's magazines ignoring any and everything related to aging. I mean. Why shouldn't I have? I was invincible! But now I'm older and wiser. At the ripe age of twenty-two I've become aware of my immortality.

I know what you might be thinking. Why would someone of this age be at all concerned with aging. It's quite simple actually. Every day I see adults in their 20's and 30's making bad food choices, drinking alcohol excessively, smoking, etc., not giving a second thought to the effect it can have on their bodies. It's only when they reach their 40's, 50's and beyond that they start being concerned with their health, when their skin looks haggard and they start showing signs of illness. Many mistakenly blame these symptoms on the aging process. It's a part of life they say--nature taking it's course. But this couldn't be farther from the truth. The fact of the matter is that all of the abuse you've done to your body over the decades has taken it's toll. The reason why you felt so good during your youth despite the bad habits is because the human body is very resilient, but it can only take so much. Our bodies weren't designed to ingest cheetos and twinkies. These are merely empty calories. They have no nutritional value except to give you calories for energy. Yes. They will keep you alive, but that's about it. I would even go so far as to say that they're man-made poisons, but I don't want to come off sounding dogmatic.

If you're already middle aged and acknowledge the mistakes you've made, there's no reason to despair. Reversing the damage you've done is just as possible as preventing it. You can start by eating whole non-processed foods. This doesn't mean you can't indulge every now and then. Just do it in moderation, and make sure it's every now and then--not every day. Perhaps once or twice a week for one meal. Look into taking supplements such as green food powders, omega fatty acids, colostrum and so forth. Make sure to drink plenty of water to flush out toxins. And get those bowels moving by eating more fiber. (When your colon is stagnant, your body pays for it. Trust me.) Excercise at least 3 times a week and get those heart muscles pumping. Wear sunblock when going outside to protect your skin from the sun's rays. It ages you. And last but not least, try having a positive attitude. You know the old saying. Stress can kill you. And that's not lip service. It's true.

Keep in mind that while it is indeed possible to undo some of the damage that's been done, it's best to prevent these things from happening in the first place. Because for some people it may be too late. So be smart and take care of your body. It will return the favor.

Jennifer Dawson publishes Forever Twenty, a health-related blog dedicated to informing readers how to age gracefully while keeping them up to date with new information and a little commentary on the side.

Beauty is a word just like any the word. Looking it up in Webster's II New Riverside Dictionary it means A quality or combination of qualities that delights the senses or appeals to the mind. Nice words. It really doesn't say anything about defining beauty.

When it comes to defining beauty one might envision that famous model walking down a catwalk with a frown on her face and a some fancy designer clothes on her back. Or maybe that guy in the latest action movie shirt-less that just takes your breath away, making your heart pound in your chest. Handsome equals Beauty just depending on the person thinking about it.

Still, what is the meaning of beauty?(Don't bother looking it up again.)

What is missing is questions to think about when asked what defines Beauty?
How about a woman's joyful smile lighting up her face with the thought that finally, she is pregnant?
Or how about children seeing snow for the first time, ever?
Or rain needed to save a crop to a farmer?
Or even snowcapped mountains at sunset to a skier,
Or dew on a prized rose at first morning light to a gardener?
How about the eye's filled with tears of the woman you just asked to marry you , again after 25 years?
What about love?

Beauty is so many things to so many people who are all so different. The Dictionary left out a few words when it defined Beauty. It left out what appeals to the heart. The next time you might be asked if something is beautiful, ask yourself, does it appeal to my heart? If it does, you just defined beauty.

Copyright 2005 Kim Snyder, owner Overallbeauty.com.
Great lover of all natural beauty care and products.
Never happy without trying to make the world a little prettier for all.
Visit her at http://Overallbeauty.com
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