Methods of Hair Care

Hair Care 1

Having a haircut during the full moon will make your hair grow longer, healthier and faster

When the THS team decided to try this one out, not only did it not work, but it ended up being a fun night under the moon and starry sky.

Hair Care 2

If you shave a baby's scalp, you can alter their natural hair texture

You honestly didn't think that we were actually going to try this one, did you? For the record, shaving a baby's scalp will not alter their hair at all- just like it wouldn't if you were an adult, so please, don't try this at home!

Hair Care 3

Your hair can smoke while blow-drying

As a matter of fact it can, but not in a way that will damage your hair. Smoking while blow-drying can happen in two ways. One is from hair care products, such as mousse and wax, which can at times evaporate and cause a misty smoke. The second is from the heat caused by a hair iron. If your hair is a little wet, you will get similar smoke as you would when ironing your clothes - it's just simply steam, which when trying to straighten your hair, is not such a bad thing to have.

Hair Care 4

Permanent tints are the only way to cover gray hair

I think everyone can appreciate this one. Depending on the level of gray in the hair it can be ultimately colored with a semi-permanent or demi-permanent- which is not only cheaper, but less harmful to the hair.

Hair Care 5

Rubbing cigarette ash onto hair-dye stained skin will remove the color

Don't start lighting up those cigarettes just yet. Cigarette ash does work to remove dye, but it's abrasive and can irritate the scalp. Try using vaseline on your scalp before putting your color on, as this will stop any color from tinting and staining. There are also some products available on the market that will get any left over color without irritating the skin or leaving an unfashionable bright red mark across your forehead- not sexy!

Hair Care 6

A little lemon juice and a little sun will lighten blonde locks

Sitting in the sun for 4 hours and smelling like a lemon is not fun, as one of our hair consultants recently found out. Although it seems like a simple and cheap alternative to bleach, unfortunately using lemon juice as a natural lighter does not work.

Hair Care 7

Using a cheaper drugstore product is that same as using a product from a salon

This is a big no! Salon products are manufactured at a higher quality then drugstore products and the concentration that goes into them will give you the best possible results. Paying that extra dollar really does go a long way!

Hair Care 8

Swimming in chlorine will make your hair green

One for the blondes that is unfortunately true. If you love green and you have tinted light blonde hair or naturally blond porous hair, than this is a fast and cheap way for a new color. If green hues are not for you, try using shampoos and conditioners that are designed specially for chemically treated hair.

Hair Care 9

Using the same comb or brush as a person with a scalp disease will spread the disease

Ah, the question asked by so many people which is unfortunately very true. Sharing combs is a big no-no as you can receive lice and other parasites from brushes, combs and other hair care tools that aren't yours.

Hair Care 10

Having a sunburnt scalp can lead to hair loss

For all you beach lovers, this one is for you. Sitting in the sun for a whole day can cause damage to the delicate hair follicles and for all those that have an inherited genetic hair loss gene - damage of this kind can push the likelihood of hair loss forward. There are products that can protect the hair from the sun, so if you love sitting in the sun, buy these products.

Beauty Tips

Looking 10 Years Younger

We kid you not. From pinker lips to pinker nipples (!), here are inexpensive, scalpel-free secrets only a top beauty editor would ever know. Take a look …
They say 40 is the new 30, 50 the new 40 and so on. Sure, we may feel that way – and often behave that way – but we may need a little help looking that way. Don’t fear, wOw Friend and Beauty Guru Shirley Lord is here to save the day! From thicker eyelashes to thicker hair, pinker lips to – yes! – pinker nipples, here are ten ways to take off ten years. And guess what? She’s also taken the economic climate into account. Not one of these tips require a scalpel, sedative or scads of cash.




Outer Signs of Inner Health
The Eyes

Checking up on my contact-lens prescription, my eye doctor, Spencer Sherman, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Opthalmology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, explained, "The eye is the window to the body. The retina, the thin membrane at the back of the eye contains blood vessels that are representative of the entire body,” revealing early signs of systemic diseases, diabetes, hypertension, increased cholesterol levels and primary malignant melanoma, metastatic cancer.

Vitamins Alter Aging

A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that multivitamins can keep you younger, longer. It shows that people who take a daily multivitamin had younger DNA.

Humble vitamin C has a secret life that nobody knows about. A Japanese study tested vitamin C’s effect on telomeres and found that raising the level of vitamin C in the cells could slow down the loss of telomeres up to 62%.

Bikni Wedding Dress

Wear a white bikini with gold or rhinestone accents. Complete the look with a nice white sarong. A white flower in your hair, toe rings, anklets and other foot jewelry will help complete this look.

For a really casual wedding, pair that white bikini idea with white linen shorts instead of a sarong.






Medium-length or long slip dresses look elegant for beach ceremonies as well. Choose a dress made of linen, gauze or crepe. Off-the-shoulder, halter or strapless dresses work well for warm beach weather, however a wrap or sleeves should be considered for cooler seasons or times.
Even though you'll find many "experts" who say long, formal gowns are a no-no for beach weddings, it is your wedding--wear what makes you comfortable. If you want a full princess gown, go for it. Keep in mind there is water, sand and wind so the dress may not finish the day as crisp as it started.

Russian Girls In Indian Sarees

Banarasi SAREE In the world of fashion ‘Banarasi Saree’ remains the Indian ‘SUN’ and has been a subject of great inspiration and appreciation for world-wide costume connoisseurs. These proposed episodes would try to fathom its historical continuance, record its traditions which goes from generation to generation and unveil the intricacies which goes towards making this Banarasi Saree an art and aesthetics. In short it would enter the subject from the raw materials and show the process to the final product and packaging.

It was in the Mughal era Baranasi saree came into popularity and got fashion currency. Today these sarees are being exported world-wide. Around 125 km of Varanasi this art of making Banarai saree is surviving since olden days. It was during the mughal times when all arts be it persian, rajasthan or other indian school got amalgamated to create a fusion of aesthetics. Same goes for costume as well. The persian motifs and Indian designs on silk texture studded with gold and silver remained the cue of Mughal patronage. Elaborate pure gold and silver designs are today rare still the zari has rightfully taken its position as an apt replacement.

Today there are mainly four varieties of Banarasi saree available. Those are Pure Silk (Katan); Shattir, Organza which is fine kora with zari and silk works and finally the Georgette . If you go to varanasi you would find some 10,000 shops selling Banarai Saree which is more a cottage industry for several million people around Varanasi which includes Gorakpur and Azamgarh as well. Around 60 percent of artisans are Muslim for whom weaving this art is their tradition. Ramzan Ali,an old traditional weaver said ‘After the partition of India people tried to take up this art ‘Banarasi Saree’ in distant land but could not produce an equivocal quality….there is something in this earth which makes the creation of Varanasi Saree possible’.

During mughal era the raw material i.e. silk used to come from China and today those are replaced with Bangalore silks where sericulture is an unique industry. The fineness of silk is gauged Daeonir and quality varies from 16-18 Daning to 20-22 Daning. Still today silk from Chinese powerloom is in great demand which comes via Nepal. Resham cotton and zari also come from Surat which remains the cotton belt for over several centuries.

The process of making Banarasi saree with the colourful dying of the Silk. Those silks are then sold by weight. And powerloom people take them to weave the basic texture of the saree. In the weaving warp they create the base which runs into 24 to 26 mts. And there are around 56 00 thread wires with 45 inch width. Two person tie a rope in their waist to hold the form and other is grounded. In an elaborate process every inch, which contains 120 silk wires, is created. Its art to be seen only.

At the weaving loom three people work one weaves,one dye and other work at the Revolving to create lacchis. At this juncture another important process is initiated. This is designing the motifs. There are several traditional artistis available in Varanasi who might not be educated but can create wonder designs for Saree.

To create ‘Naksha Patta’ the artist first draw on the graph paper with colour concepts. Now those designs are of varying kind .But most universal kinds are Caixg(Kalka), Buti and flower and foliage. There scene of village, fairs ,cloud ,dancing-monkey design. And even one can see temple and mosque design. However, it was matter of experience that in one Bride saree there were designs of ‘Grave-yard’ as well. This became the functional aspect of art which is not far off from the people life cycle. In modern days one can see geometrical designs have come in, but it lacks appreciation. As traditional folk design remains the base appeal for Banarasi Saree.

Once design is selected then small punch cards are created those are guides for particular which colour thread has to pass through which card at what stage. One Haquim Ali says for one small design one requires to create hundreds of perforated cards to implement the concept.

Once those perforated cards are prepared those are knitted with different threads and colours on the loom and according to design those are paddled in a systematic manner that the main weaving picks up right colour and pattern to create the design and weave as well.

In yesteryears Banarasi Sarees used used to have designs with original gold and silver thread and one manufacturer used to take even an year to create one saree. Yet, those saress could fetch several lakhs for the weaver. However it all depended on the intricacy of designs and pattern A normal saree takes around 15 days to 1 month and the time limit stretches even unto 6 months.

Once the saree is created those come to Gol Garj and Kunj Gali where Banarasi sarees are sold in wholesale rates. There several hundred shops where every morning people from different villages come to deliver ‘created’ sarees to the market. There are some 10 shops whose turn over they say even cross 80 crores in toto.

Thus we see for creation of Banarasi Saree one requires different experts right from the gauging the quality of Resham until marketing. All these goes towards creation of the unique saree which is envied by saree weavers from all over. Its no simple weaving rather those are functional art of India which is going on for centuries within a great fabric of Indian traditional weavers.

Halloween Costumes 2009

It’s that time of the year again. When we humans are permitted to give into our subconscious “want to be” desires and can dress up as, and pretend to be whoever or whatever we’d like. So what will the most popular Halloween costumes be this October? Here’s what we at Apparel Search think some of the top picks might be.

1. Michael Jackson With his recent death, fans are finding new ways to pay tribute to the King of Pop. Expect to see plenty of Michael's moonwalking the streets this October. The loss of another pop icon, Farrah Fawcett, will also inspire a resurgence in Charlie's Angels costumes.

2. Edward Cullen and Bella Swan The Twilight saga is so hot right now, there are sure to be plenty of charming vampires and “dying” to be vamps looking to suck your blood.

3. Barack Obama Sales of our presidents masks are tremendous and with all the antics in Washington these days, there seems to be renewed interest in political costumes.

4. Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus The Disney Pop Princess is still going strong with the continued popularity of her 3rd season of Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus is quickly eclipsing her fictional self as she moves further into the spotlight

5. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger The characters from the Harry Potter films that have been popular for years will continue to be with some additional figures like Voldemort, Dementor and the new characters like Half Blood Prince Slytherin, Professor Horace Slughorn and the Quidditch Players.

6. Star Trek Costumes Star Trek is back with its newest movie out this past year and the characters are easy to recreate with a few simple Star Fleet uniforms.

7. G.I. Joe Ninja Yet another current movie related costume. There are sure to be a lot of ninjas out doing their finest daylight impressions of Storm

Women’s Laptop Bag

With more and more women zooming up the corporate ladder and traveling too, the women’s laptop bag has become a necessity. But these bags need not be the boring old black and tan laptop bags. In fact, with a whole new range of colors and materials that are available, women can make a fashion statement with their laptop bags during the presentation in any meeting.

The women’s laptop bag is designed to fit in not only the laptop but all other essential elements such as loose change, a change of clothes, zipper and pen pockets and compartments for lipsticks etc. They also come with a back pocket that can easily accommodate all the files that the working women need. The women’s laptop bags usually come with inner and outer water repellant finish so that your laptop is well-protected against water. Some of the laptop bags are even quilted and have embedded sequins to make a great fashion statement. You need to determine the size of your laptop before you go out to a mall to buy the women’s laptop bag.

Another variation for the women’s laptop bag is the laptop tote. This is designed just like the tote bag and has separate shoulder straps too. It has a full zipper compartment and can accommodate your laptop, files and other miscellaneous things easily. They also have comfort padded handles and drawstrings. They look just like tote bags that many women like to carry.

Leather women’s laptop bag is of course used by most women who go to work. They are sturdy and they come in a number of finishes and colors and these can also be used by men. Given the vibrant color preferences that women have, these laptop bags are found in a wide variety of options including tartan and quilted finishes.

Those who do not like to carry their laptops on their back or shoulders can also use the rolling women’s laptop bag. Essentially they come with wheels and handles to pull along as they make their way from one destination to another. They are very convenient and are a great though for those aching and sore shoulder and back muscles. They are more expensive than the regular laptop bags and the price usually starts at $200. They have a huge amount of space and have enough pockets for carrying stuff for the daytrip.

Finally, there are women’s laptop bags that are airport security friendly. These laptop bags have been tested and approved for TSA guidelines for onboard luggage. They have a number of pockets to keep all the files, PDA, cell phones, knick knacks and are usually made of durable polyester. This makes them less susceptible to wear and tear.

When To Skimp Or Spend

Two style and fashion experts help money strapped fashionistas over 40 decide on where to spend or save during the recession.
Keywords: fashion, over 40, recession, accessories, jeans, shoes, jewelry, The Glam Gals, shopping, clothing accessories, shopping clothing, casual fashion, Deborah Boland, JoJami Tyler
We used to live in a world of spend, spend, spend but ever since the recession we're holding onto our fashion dollars just a little bit tighter. Faced with limited cash, you may be looking more closely at what you really want, and more importantly, need to buy in order to look fashionable and hip.
Which items deserve a good portion of your budget and which ones should be inexpensive add-ons? Check out our Skimp or Spend Checklist below to find out.
1. Skimp on Accessories
One sure way to waste money is to buy expensive accessories to complete a look of the moment. Accessories are very important to finish a look, but be careful. It's fine to pay top dollar for a belt you wear all the time but don't waste your money on an expensive belt with a short style life.
2. Spend on the Important Basics
Spending a decent amount on a great classic shirt, a beautiful cashmere sweater and one great white stretch t-shirt is important, even it means paying a higher price. These, along with other wardrobe basics, are investment pieces. The foundation of your wardrobe should be quality staples that will get daily wear; they tend to cost a little more but will certainly be worth it for the amount of wear they will get.
3. Skimp on Casual Shoes
Unless you're buying shoes for work (which need to be the best quality you can find) shoes do not need to be expensive. Go often to your favorite discount shoe stores to get the best offerings. If you are just running around on the weekends, you don't need to wear expensive shoes. Save your money for buying shoes when it really matters, like great work shoes or sneakers to exercise in.
4. Spend on Jeans
The most important thing about jeans is to find a pair that fit you perfectly, regardless of price. Get over the label obsession and keep shopping until you find the perfect pair for your body. Remember, no one will notice the brand of jeans if they're looking at your fabulous figure in perfectly fitting jeans.
5. Spend on a Good Bra
Think of your outfit as a building. Without a good foundation, the whole thing will crumble. Keep this in mind when you go bra shopping, and make sure you get professionally fitted for a bra that will lift and separate. A good bra will make you look taller and thinner by picking the girls up off your tummy and getting them back on your chest where they belong!
6. Skimp on Expensive Jewelry
It's nice to have some high end jewelry, but pearl necklaces and diamond studs can only get you so far. It's more stylish and fun to add costume jewelry to your wardrobe. Big chunky necklaces, flashy cocktail rings, and long dangly earrings add personality to your outfits. You can find great costume jewelry at just about any clothing store. It's the easiest way to add color and excitement to an ensemble.