B Hair And Beauty

Aloe vera is a succulent plant that grows in arid climates such as Africa and India. It is claimed to have many health and beauty benefits. One of the first documented users of aloe vera was Cleopatra, who lived from 68 to 30 B.C. She is said to have used the gel on her skin as protection from the sun, and to have thought the gel helped to keep her skin young-looking.

Today aloe vera continues to be widely used around the world. Studies have shown that it can speed up the healing process, particularly in burns, including those from radiation. It is also used by dermatologists to speed healing after facial dermabrasion, which removes scars from the skins top layers. Aloe vera is an important ingredient in natural anti aging skin care recipes because it can do wonders for your skin; it has the ability to firm the skin tissue and bring back elasticity that your skin has lost, automatically reducing the wrinkles. Aloe vera also provides your skin with oxygen and adds to your skin’s overall strength.

To use Aloe vera from a plant, break off a leaf when you need it and use it as soon as possible as it’s healing properties decrease over time. Aloe vera gel can also be purchased but it is most effective when used fresh.

Rub aloe vera on sunburned skin. Apply aloe vera with a poultice to more severe burns and skin ailments. Use it to treat acne, eczema, arthritis and oily skin. Aloe vera has both anaesthetic and anti-bacterial properties, which soothes the skin and helps it heal sooner. Plus it also has tissue restoration properties to help skin heal without scarring.

Insomnia is not being able to get enough sleep. It’s usually related to finding it hard to get to sleep or stay asleep. People who have insomnia often wake up without having had enough sleep and don’t feel refreshed. Short-term (acute) insomnia lasts for between one and four weeks whereas long-term (chronic) insomnia lasts for more than four weeks.

There is usually no single cause of insomnia, but there are a number of factors that can contribute to you getting it, such as stress, depression, grief or alcoholism. Physical health problems such as pain, asthma or heart disease can interfere with sleep patterns as well as some slimming medicines, antidepressants or medicines to treat high blood pressure. Jet lag following air travel across different time zones can cause temporary disturbed sleep patterns.

Here are a few hints to help you get the best night’s sleep:

• Exercise every day. Even 20 minutes of walking can help keep stress hormones from interfering with your sleep.
• Avoid large meals just before bedtime.
• Don’t read, watch television or work in bed. Use the bed only to sleep.
• Avoid caffeine, nicotine or other stimulants within four hours of bedtime.

The amount of sleep you need varies from person to person. Most adults need seven to eight hours but some people can manage with much less. The occasional night with too little sleep can make you feel very tired the following day, but it won’t affect your health. If it goes on for a long time consult with your doctor.

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The type of mussels prevalent in UK waters have spread throughout the northern hemisphere by hitching lifts on the hulls of boats. Mussels filter iron from seawater to produce an adhesive plaque which attaches them to rocks and other objects. Mussels are a high protein food source. Their low fat content makes them potentially healthier than other protein sources, such as beef, which can contain a lot of saturated fat. Mussels are also low in calories, with raw mussels containing only 70 calories per portion.

Mussels are a rich source of many essential vitamins and minerals, such as the B vitamins, vitamin C, iron, phosphorus, manganese, selenium and zinc. They contain more vitamin B12, selenium and manganese than most other foods. Vitamin B12 is essential for a healthy nervous system, the formation of red blood cells and proper growth and development. Selenium is important for stimulating the immune system and supports the thyroid gland, while manganese is involved in bone health and energy metabolism.

When buying mussels choose only those that are bright, clean, with tightly closed unbroken shells. Fresh mussels smell briny-fresh, not ‘fishy’ and are best eaten within a day of buying.

A word of warning if you suffer from hives. Shellfish are among the many foods reported to trigger hives most often. Consult your doctor if you are worried.

And finally – another use of mussels. Mother-of-pearl extracted from mussel shells was widely used to make buttons, before plastics, and is still used in jewellery making today.

Have you ever got up in the morning looking like somebody else?  Late nights in the club, working late or lack of proper hydration can leave nasty marks on our face and eye area. Fortunately, the concealer can be a life saver for many of us, whenever we have a bad face day!

The most important thing is to choose a high quality concealer that matches your natural skin complexion. The next step is applying the concealer – you need to do this right, otherwise your face will look like a mime’s mask.

Use a brush or the ring finger to apply the concealer.  The brush will give you precision. The ring finger will not give too much pressure on the delicate skin around the eyes. Apply the concealer in the inner corners of the nose by the eyes.  Cover the dark circles under the eyes very delicately by dotting around the eye area and blending gently and evenly.

Opinions vary as to whether concealer should be used before or after foundation, so I would suggest trying both and seeing which works best for you. In fact some people skip the foundation and only use concealer where it’s needed. Another use for concealer is covering up a bruise.

Add a good concealer to your cosmetic purse as you never know when you will need it to cover up those little flaws!

French nails are a distinctive sign of elegance when it comes to your hands. A tidy French manicure can make a lasting impression whether you go to a job interview or an evening cocktail. If you have some extra time, you can make your own French nails right in the intimacy of your home.  The only thing you need is time and patience.

Start by cutting your nails in square, and then you go to the next stage:

Filing.  Take note that you need to file your nails before soaking them in warm water, never after. It is essential to do this step right: file the nails in one direction, from left to right.

Then for the next 10 minutes, soak your nails into a mixture of warm water and liquid soap.

Dry the nails. Before applying nail polish, use a base nail polish.  If you lack precision in applying the white nail polish, use some band tape or a special accessory from a French nails kit.

After you finish the white portion, the rest of the nail should be covered with a white, matt nail polish. In the end, all there is to do is apply a uniform layer of pastel, transparent nail polish.  You can choose between many colours with nuances of white, pink or beige. For extra brilliance and resistance, you can apply a transparent protective polish.  In just 30 minutes, your nails look chic and elegant!

However, if you would like one of our Shellac manicures this week only £15 or £20 for French manicure.

Welcome to the dry hair season.  Sorry, I meant welcome to the beautiful winter!  Well, winter is simply stunning, but when it comes to our hair, we need to consider some extra protection measures.

Cold winter air as well as the dry indoor air can affect our hair.  Since we cannot do anything about the climate, we can opt for few simple solutions.  For example, try to edge your hair.  Don’t cut it shorter, just remove the dry edges.  Stylists recommend edging the hair more often during the cold season, even once a month.

Hair balm is a necessity, especially if you use a blow dryer or a hair straightener immediately after washing.  In wintertime you can choose a hair balm that does not require rinsing, it is very effective and protects the hair against the temperature variations.

Remember to use a hair mask at least once a week: it is nourishing, it keeps the hair smooth and shiny and it makes it more resistant to the cold weather.

And here is one tip that works every time on your overall health (and hair, of course): eat healthily. Do not forget about the 1.5 litre of water per day for proper hydration of the skin and hair.  A shiny, healthy-looking head of hair makes a great first impression; just make sure you keep it that way until the winter is over!  20% off hair masques this week when booking your hair cuts, colours or relaxers.

Women just love to be in the trends when it comes to their hair…  However, if you want to look good next to your partner, he also needs to have a trendy haircut.  Why don’t you spend some time together and find out what are the best haircuts recommended by stylists for 2012?

Most women think that men are not really concerned about their haircut, but I’ve noticed that in the past years, their demands and style have reach higher standards. While many men prefer to solve the haircut problem by purchasing a haircut machine, others opt for more elaborated styles.  This year we have witnessed a tendency towards rock glam, with women hairstyles featuring soft, rebel locks and high volume hairstyles. Well, the same principle applies for men, especially when it comes to the Brit-rock haircut.  Choosing this type of haircut will surely give you a wild, rebel look and it seems like this will be the hottest choice for 2012 as well.

The Brit-rock haircut is easy to do and a simple visit to the local hair salon would be enough to get you back to your good looks. To get an idea about how a Brit-rock haircut looks think about the British rock band Radiohead. There is one thing you need to do to prepare for the ultimate haircut: let the hair grow quite long. It doesn’t matter if you hair is curly or straight, this haircut goes for any type of hair.  The distinctive note of the Brit-rock haircut is the long, asymmetrical bang, combed on the side.  Although the bang needs to be styled every day, it does not require more than ten minutes and it looks very cool.

When it comes to men haircuts, you have plenty to choose from. Remember that a proper attitude counts for highlighting a modern haircut – therefore, stay cool, relaxed and in control!  Why not book your man in this week – 25% off for you both when booking together this week only…..

Cauliflower is one of the so called super foods: low in fat, high in fibre and containing several substances reported to be beneficial to heath.

Firstly cauliflower is a very good source of vitamin C and manganese, which are both powerful antioxidants. With these antioxidants, you can be certain that eating cauliflower regularly will help protect you from free radical damage and reduce your risk of diseases caused by oxidative stress, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

In addition cauliflower also contains high amounts of vitamin K and omega-3 fatty acids, which help decrease inflammation. Cauliflower also contains calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and trace amounts of selenium.

Normally only the head (the inner white flower) is consumed but the stalk and surrounding thick green leaves can be used in vegetable broth or discarded. Being highly nutritious, cauliflower can be eaten cooked, boiled, raw or pickled. People on a weight loss routine can use cauliflower as a substitute for potatoes, especially mashed, for its similar texture or mouth feel. However, cauliflower does not have the starch of potatoes. Add milk or lemon juice to maintain whiteness when cooking cauliflower. And try juicing it as cauliflower juice has a pleasant, milky, sweet nutty taste to it.

Nature provides us with everything we need for preserving our beauty.  If you’d like to have a spa experience in your own home here is a recipe based on natural ingredients that are not expensive and are all natural, so the risk of skin irritation is minimal. However, if you notice any irritation to the skin, discontinue use immediately.

Milk and Honey Body Scrub: In a plastic container, mix the following ingredients:

1/3 cup of salt

1 tablespoon honey

1teaspoon olive oil

1 tablespoon milk

Stand in the shower and turn the water on briefly to dampen the skin. Turn the shower off and then gently massage the scrub on your body using an upward circular motion. Once you’re finished applying the milk and honey body scrub to the skin, turn the shower on and rinse it off.

The salt in this milk and honey body scrub recipe provides the exfoliating properties to remove dead skin from the body. The honey attracts and retains moisture. Olive oil is a natural way to soften and moisturize the skin and milk soothes and nourishes the skin. When these ingredients are combined they make an excellent scrub treatment for the body. This homemade milk and honey body scrub can be placed in and airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.