Indian Beauty Secrets

Skin Care    Hair Care     Hands & Feet

Nails     Eyes     Body    Lips

"Looking attractive is one of the primary requisites of a good personality".....says Maya Paranjpe an authority on Indian Beauty in Mumbai, India ! So what makes us beautiful....is it the hair, make up, body?

Beauty is surely in the eyes of the beholder....but we have to take care of our outer appearance just as we enrich ourselves from within. 

Feeling a little "blah" after a busy and stressful holiday or summer season? Then rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit with a little post-holiday pampering. It's easy to recreate many of your favorite spa treatments in the privacy of your own home, for a fraction of the price, and on your own schedule—no appointment necessary! 

Ready to set up your home-spa sanctuary? You will need to create two areas: Your bathroom will become your "treatment room," and your patio, bedroom, or living room will become your "quiet room," where you can relax after your treatment. Clear away any clutter that will prevent you from relaxing and focusing on your spa experience. Stash your hair products and makeup under the counter. Supply your bathroom with plenty of fresh towels, and make yourself a pitcher of "spa water"—ice water with sliced lemons or oranges and cucumbers. You'll need this to rehydrate in your quiet room following your treatment. Most importantly, turn off your computer, television, radio, and cell phone—you shouldn't be distracted during your spa vacation.

For many centuries, Indian women have passed down Indian Beauty Secrets from one generation to the other. At home and  natural treatments use simple ingredients like fruits and herbs, which are widely available in many grocery and health food stores. 

If you have any home beauty secrets that have worked for you email us as beautysecrets@cuisinecuisine.com 

For centuries, Indian woman have used simple, all natural, tropical ingredients for their beauty recipes. Recipe ingredients consisted of fruits, rose petals, nuts, milk, yogurt, honey, neem, clay, sandalwood, and most of all, ayurvedic herbs.

 

SKIN CARE

For centuries, Indian woman have used simple, all natural, tropical ingredients for their beauty recipes. Recipe ingredients consisted of fruits, rose petals, nuts, milk, yogurt, honey, neem, clay, sandalwood, and most of all, ayurvedic herbs.

A simple Indian beauty regimen:

Herbal Steam: 1 bowl of boiling water, 1 tsp rose petal powder or citrus peel powder, 1 tsp tulsi powder, 1 tsp fennel seed powder, 1 tsp lemon balm, 1 tsp peppermint leaves. Place a towel over your head, hold your face above the steam for about 10 minutes to allow the steam to open up the skin pores. This will allow you to deep clean the skin. Make sure your skin stays hot until you apply the exfoliating cleanser so have it ready.

If you have acne prone or oily skin, you can soak a washcloth with hot neem infused tea and place the washcloth over your face for an additional 5 minutes. Remember not to lick your lips - the tea will be bitter! Rinse the face really well with warm water and pat dry.

Exfoliate: Make a paste with 1/2 Tablespoon aritha powder, 1/2 tsp sandalwood powder, 1 tablespoons multani mitti clay, 1/2 tsp powdered rose petals, 1 tsp arrowroot powder, 1/4 tsp neem powder and milk. Alternatively, you can do a almond nut meal scrub using 2 tablespoons nut meal, 1 tsp honey, 2 tablespoons oatmeal coarse and 1 tsp buttermilk powder. Add water to make a paste. Using a circular motion, massage exfoliating mixture into the skin. Rinse well with warm water.

Tighten the pores: Mix 1/2 cup of refrigerated yogurt with 2 tsp refrigerated rose hydrosol and 1/2 tablespoon honey. Apply to the face and allow it to sit until the mixture becomes warm and then rinse. If your skin is dry you can smooth on a few finger tips full of virgin coconut oil or sweet almond oil, both of which are very light.
Amla Powder : The amla fruit, also known as the Indian gooseberry, comes from a small tree that grows throughout India. The tree is worshipped as “Mother Nature” due to its nourishing fruit. The fruit is one of the highest natural sources of vitamin C, and it yields an oil that has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine to treat the hair and scalp. It is said to penetrate the scalp and strengthen hair at its root, to stop and reverse abnormal hair loss and to promote stronger, healthier new growth. It is also an excellent conditioning herb.

To use amla powder, make a hot water infusion with the powder and strain it. The tea can be used to rinse the hair after shampooing. Amla is best used in combination with shikakai, aritha, neem, bhringraj and tulsi powders. When using the herbs in combination, steep all of the herbs in water and strain the tea. The tea should be kept refrigerated and used within 4 days or preserved with an anti-bacterial preservative.

Common Ingredients Used 

• Almonds

• Aritha

• Neem

• Shikakai

• Sandalwood

• Triphala Powder

 

 

Aritha Powder (Soapnut) 

Aritha powder, also known as Soapnut, comes from the fruit of the Soapnut tree. The pulp of the fruit contains a high level of saponins that act as natural foaming agents. This powder can be used to wash delicate fabrics as well as to wash sensitive skin and hair. Add the powder to a facial mix of milk powder and clay to provide delicate cleansing of the skin. Add aritha powder to salt scrubs to add cleansing action.

As a hair and body wash, aritha powder is best used in a tea. Add 1 tablespoon of aritha powder to a cup of boiling water. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes. Cool and strain the tea for use as a hair wash or mild cleanser. Aritha can also be combined with amla, neem & shikakai powders for a more nutritive hair wash. Steep all of the herbs in water, and strain the tea. The tea should be kept refrigerated and used within 4 days or preserved with an anti-bacterial preservative.

Use with caution around the eyes.

 

Shikakai Powder :

Shikakai is referred to as "fruit for the hair." It has a naturally mild pH, and it gently cleans the hair without stripping it of natural oils. Use shikakai as a natural hair wash for sensitive scalps or to control dandruff. Shikakai is said to promote hair growth and strengthen hair roots. 

For best results, combine 1 tablespoon each of shikakai powder, amla powder, bhringraj and aritha powder. Add them to 1 cup boiling water. Allow the infusion to sit for 10 minutes. If you have dandruff or scalp problems, you can add 1 teaspoon of neem powder to this mixture. You can also add 1 teaspoon of liquid castille soap to the mixture if you have very oily hair. Once cooled, use this mixture to wash your hair. Rinse well with warm water. If desired, follow with a light spritzing of amla and brahmi oils to condition the hair.

Triphala Powder :

Triphala means "three fruits," and is a blend of haritaki, amla and bibitaki. This blend of herbs is a traditional gentle, detoxifier that nourishes as it removes toxins from the body. It is said to balance the three constitutional elements of human life: the nervous system, the metabolic processes, and the body’s structural integrity. When used in masks and skin treatments, Triphala is said to rejuvenate, balance, tone and nourish the skin at the cellular level. Add it to facials, body treatments and wraps. Is said to have antiseptic properties due to the inclusion of haritaki. Triphala can also be added to Ayurvedic soaps and washbags.

 

 

 

 

 

NEEM

 

Neem Bark
     The bark is cool, bitter, astringent, acrid and refrigerant. It is useful in tiredness, cough, fever, loss of appetite, worm infestations. It heals wounds and is also used in vomiting, skin diseases and excessive thirst. Twigs have been used as a ‘toothbrush’ and for dental care, since antiquity. Neem toothpaste has been on sale in the US and Germany for some time, and is now available here.

Neem Leaves
     According to Ayurveda, Neem leaves help in the treatment of Vatik disorders (neuromuscular pains). Neem leaves are also reported to remove toxins, purify blood and prevent damage caused by free radicals in the body by neutralizing them. A paste made with leaves is used in India for the cure of chicken pox, smallpox and warts. A poultice is effective for boils, ulcers and eczema.

Neem Fruits
     Neem fruits are bitter, purgative, antihemorrhodial and anthelmintic (vermifuge) in nature.

Neem FLowers
     The flowers are used in vitiated conditions of pitta (balancing of the body heat) and kapha (cough formation). They are astringent, anthelmintic and non toxic.

Neem Seeds
     Neem seeds are also described as anthelmintic, antileprotic (cures or prevents leprosy) and antipoisonous. Seeds, along with leaves and dry Neem cake, are an active ingredient in mosquito coils.

Neem Oil
    Neem oil, derived from crushing the seeds, is antidermatonic, a powerful vermifuge and is bitter in taste. It has a wide spectrum of action and is highly medicinal in nature. As an oil used in aromatherapy, it has been effective in the treatment of head lice in children, especially where tea tree has failed to clear up the condition. This was particularly noticeable on an outbreak of head lice, two years ago, at a school local to my practice, where I treated several children. Those with blonde to reddish hair had their head lice condition cleared up much quicker with Neem oil applied at a 3% dilution to a shampoo base, than with tea tree.

 

 

CLAY - MULTANI MITTI 

 

Multani Mitti, also known as Indian Fullers Earth, is similar to kaolin clay. It is formed by the decomposition of volcanic ash. Fullers used it to clean sheep’s wool prior to spinning it, and hence the reason for its name. Multani Mitti clay is highly absorbent. It is good for drawing excess oils from the skin and stimulating circulation to the skin.

 

ALMONDS 

 

Almonds were first introduced many centuries ago by Persian and Afghanistan traders. They were available in only a few regions at first, but eventually were sold throughout India as a valuable source of protein in a country where many people don’t eat meat. Almonds in India were believed to be a sacred “brain” food that would increase your thinking ability.

 

SANDALWOOD 

 

Known by the Indian and Sanskrit name of Chandan, Santalum album is used for its volatile oil. It is astringent, cooling, deodorant, disinfectant, stimulant and tonic. Sandalwood is useful in cutaneous inflammation, where the chief uses are in skin care, to soothe cutaneous inflammation, as an antiseptic, a skin softener, and to invigorate peripheral blood circulation in the skin. It acts as a prophylactic against skin diseases and allergic conditions, is haemostatic or styptic, and removes skin blemishes.

A glowing, smooth skin is one of the first things you notice about an attractive, well-groomed person. But looking neat and attractive is easier when you are healthy. You can keep your body healthy with responsible hygiene. Hygiene is a set of healthful practices that help prevent disease. 

Hygiene includes good health habits, such as eating a variety of foods, exercising, getting enough rest, and keeping your body clean. You hygiene program should also include careful choices of grooming products. Many of them may have chemicals that can irritate the skin. Preventing and properly treating skin infections and disorders, as well as avoiding overexposure to the sun are important considerations.

All skin types look better after a weekly polishing treatment to slough off dead surface cells. In India, where a tropical climate means more oily skin and therefore a tendency to collect dust and grime, women have used home-made skin polishers for a long time. 

The luster of the skin contributes to a divine appearance. Home made face masks containing natural ingredients are quick and simple to create at home.

Also commonly used are 

YOGURT , HONEY, TURMERIC

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Traditional Besan & Turmeric Mask

This is the traditional mask, also used for a bride, seven days in advance of marriage. Take in a cup half a cup of besan (gram flour), 2 tsp of turmeric powder, 2 tsp of sandal wood powder, 2 tsp of ghee or almond oil, add some water to make a paste. Apply to face and whole body and leave for 5-10 minutes. Rub with pressure with both palms and fingers to remove all the paste. 

Yogurt & Lemon Mask

Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons honey, the juice from 1/2 of a lemon, and 3-tablespoon yogurt. Stir in 1 whipped egg white. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Then wash off with lukewarm water.

Egg and Honey Facial

This easy mask is suitable for all skin types. It clarifies and moisturizes the skin, leaving it cleansed and silken. Egg yolks contain anti-oxidants, which are very beneficial to our skin.

1 egg yolk
1 tsp. honey
1 tsp. vitamin E oil
1 tsp. almond oil

Mix all ingredients together, stirring until smooth. To use, apply to face and rinse with warm water after 15 minutes.

Rose Petal Facial

This fragrant facial cleanses and moisturizes your face, leaving you relaxed and silky smooth.

1 cup clean rose petals
1½ cups full cream milk
1/8-cup vegetable glycerin

Fill a pan with water and place another bowl on top (like a double boiler). Heat until the water begins to simmer in the pan and then pour the milk into the bowl above. Add vegetable glycerin and rose petals. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool. Once the mixture is cool to the touch, pour it into a blender and mix well.

Wash your face with the rose and milk mixture and rinse with warm water. This mixture can be refrigerated for up to four days.

Egg White Skin Tightener

As far as masks go, it can't get simpler than this…it leaves your skin tightened and feeling very refreshed.

1 egg white

Separate the egg white from the yolk. Put the egg white on your face and relax for about 15 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water.

Banana & Honey Mask

For Extremely dry skin: To treat extremely dry skin,  mash a Banana and a tablespoon of Honey to it. Apply on the skin, leave on for 10 minutes and wash off.

Body Exfoliator

Mix a 4th cup Olive Oil to half cup Brown Sugar and add 4 tablespoons grated Lemon zest - makes great low cost body exfoliator.

Additional Homemade Facials

• Make a paste from a little oatmeal and water. Apply to face and let it dry. Then wash off with lukewarm water.
• Mash half of an avocado and apply to entire face. Let set for about 20 minutes and then wash off.
• Mash 1/2 banana and add 1-tablespoon honey and 2 tablespoons sour cream. Apply to face and let set for about 10 minutes. Then wash off with lukewarm water.
• Two tablespoons of cornmeal mixed with enough water to make a thick paste makes a great inexpensive facial mask. Gently apply to face and wash off.
• Soak 1 cup dried apricots in water until softened. Puree in blender or food processor with 2 tablespoons skim milk powder. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Then wash off with lukewarm water.
• In a food processor or blender, combine 1/2 cucumber, 1-tablespoon yogurt, a few strawberries, and 1-teaspoon honey. Apply to face and let it dry. Then wash off with lukewarm water.
• To loosen blackheads, combine equal parts baking soda and water in your hand and rub gently on your skin for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
• If you have acne prone or oily skin, you can soak a washcloth with hot neem infused tea and place the washcloth over your face for an additional 5 minutes. Remember not to lick your lips - the tea will be bitter.

  Exfoliate: Make a paste with 1/2 Tablespoon aritha powder, 1/2 tsp sandalwood powder, 1 tablespoons multani mitti clay, 1/2 tsp powdered rose petals, 1 tsp arrowroot powder, 1/4 tsp neem powder and milk. Alternatively, you can do a almond nut meal scrub using 2 tablespoons nut meal, 1 tsp honey, 2 tablespoons oatmeal coarse and 1 tsp buttermilk powder. Add water to make a paste. Using a circular motion, massage exfoliating mixture into the skin. Rinse well with warm water.
  

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HAIR CARE 

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First and foremost, always comb your hair gently to prevent breakage. Hair is at its weakest when wet. So never brush your hair when wet. As far as possible let your hair dry naturally. Use dryers only when you are pressed for time or when you want to set them for an occasion. Detangle your hair before you wash it. Wet hair is very fragile so brush your hair thoroughly before getting into the shower.

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Oil your hair at least twice a week or for a day before washing. Oil really does wonders for your hair; coating each strand and making it shine. Besides oil massage also increases the circulation in the scalp and promotes hair growth. Avoid using harsh shampoos and conditioners as they can harm your hair and make them dry. Tackle dandruff with good antidandruff shampoos. Most of all try to keep your hair clean and do not expose it to strong wind, dust and pollution. 

Do you want to have beautiful long hair, but cannot because of problems like dandruff, split-ends, graying etc which compel you to cut your hair? Well, here are some easy home recipes for good growth of hair. So get going to have hassle free bouncy hair!

1. Wash and clean a bunch of Methi leaves in water. Without adding water, add black pepper, a few drops of lemon and salt to taste and boil. Churn this in a mixer or juicer and drink this concoction. Drinking this regularly will increase hair growth.
2. Half an hour before washing your hair, rub coconut milk onto your scalp. This will also make your hair shinier.
3. Just as you massage oil, massage raw milk in your hair. Wash off after an hour.
4. Cashews are very nutritious and good for your skin and also enhance hair growth.
5. Grandma's advice still holds true. At night before going to sleep, give your hair a hundred strokes with a brush. This increases the blood circulation in the scalp and promotes hair growth. However brush your hair gently for vigorous stroking will cause breakage. Drink coconut water at least twice a week. It is good for your skin, digestive system and really a miracle ingredient for your hair.
6. Heat olive oil and massage into hair and then take steam. By doing this regularly you will get rid of split-ends.
7. Make a paste of jaggery, curd, and Multanni mitti and apply on scalp an hour before shampooing to get rid of dandruff. Take this treatment once in 15 days.
8. To bleach your hair, you can use lemon juice while olive oil works as an effective hair conditioner and gets rid of the frizz. A quarter cup of vinegar mixed with three quarters of a cup of warm water is a great rinser and makes your hair soft and shiny. We have even found out that a daily soak in burdock tea will stop hair loss!

HENNA FOR HAIR 

The henna used for mehndi comes from a bush called Lawsonia Inermis which is part of the loose strife family and is grown in the Sudan, Egypt, India, most of the North African counties, The Middle East and other hot and dry places. Henna is used for hair dye, as a skin conditioner and as a reliever for rashes. 
The art of Mehendi has existed for centuries. The exact place of its origin is difficult to track because of centuries of people in different cultures moving through the continents and taking their art forms with them and therefore sharing their art with everyone along the way. 

Use plastic gloves always as the color will stain your hands. The paste will also stain your clothing, towels etc., so take necessary precautions.

1. Measure into a bowl the required quantity of your choice henna powder and mix with warm water (preferably) or simply with tap water, and stir it until you get smooth creamy paste of henna powder and leave this paste to mature for 4 to 8 hours.
2. Then apply a generous quantity of henna paste with fingers smoothly and absorb the paste well into hair, to avoid henna paste running down to your neck or forehead, wrap your scalp/hair with plastic or aluminum foil or with cotton strips, making sure the henna paste covers the hair around the hairline. Use plastic gloves.
3. Leave the paste on hair/scalp for minimum 45 minutes or up to 8 hours.  Its better to let the paste remain on hair for recommended timing to get perfect coloration and to let the hair absorb henna properties.  Cover hair with a plastic shower cap.
4. After desired time, carefully remove the cover, and rinse thoroughly until water runs clear and remove any remaining of henna paste from hair.
5. Now you can shampoo your hair or just dry hair by towel. Finally be confident your hair has been treated with nature's gifted colorant and conditioner.

Some things to know about hennaing your hair:

Henna products do not wear out readily. It can take up to 9 months to a year for the henna coloring to completely disappear. Sun may fade the color over time to a lighter shade, but hair colored with henna will maintain its coloring for a long time. This sometimes makes people think that henna coloring is permanent. It is not...but it will last for months. While henna coloring lasts for 9 months to a year, you will want to henna your hair every 4 to 6 weeks for the conditioning properties.

Henna does not lighten hair. If your hair is dark, you cannot use a henna product to lighten your hair...only to darken it. However, henna can provide beautiful highlights to hair. Black and dark brown hair can become black and brown with burgundy wine highlights when colored with henna. Eventually and with ongoing henna applications, even dark brown and black hair will appear a dark red or dark auburn. Brown and dark brown hair can get beautiful deep auburn and wine colored highlights and coloring.

 

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HANDS & FEET

Hands and feet are often the most neglected areas, yet the way they look gives our inner secrets away. Cared-for nails are a sign that the rest of our body is well looked after too. Vitamin deficiencies show up as weak and splitting nails; insecurity appears as nail biting; stress can slow growth; Spend a little time and effort sorting our dry, flaky nails, and hard, rough skin, and thanks to the latest technical advances in nail care, a perfect set of strong, healthy nails in now within reach.

Almond Butter Hand Softener

1 Tablespoon almond oil, 1 cup butter, Mix well. Before bed, massage mixture into hands, then cover with white cotton gloves. Wear all night while sleeping.

Treat Your Feet In The Shower 

Treat your feet to a friendly wake-up call with this quick morning routine that will leave you feeling beautiful and energized down to your toes.  File down rough spots on your feet to restore your skin's natural softness. Concentrate on the ball of the foot and the heel. Exfoliate your skin with a natural defoliant like a mixture of coarse sea salt and sugar mixture. Rinse off, and continue with your shower. Use a light, daily moisturizer on feet and legs to naturally condition your skin and lock in moisture.

30 Minute Home Manicure

1. Remove old nail polish with a single stroke by soaking a cotton wool pad with nail polish remover. Wipe away traces of polish around the cuticles stick dipped in remover.
2. Using an emery board, shape nails lightly, working from both edges towards the center. Avoid moving the board back and forth quickly, which produces heat that dries out the nail and leads to splitting. Try holding the emery board at a single angle under the nail. Don't file down the sides- the nail tip needs the sides as support, otherwise it will weaken and nicks form.
3. Apply a cuticle remover around the nail contours. Using the tip of a cuticle stick wrapped in cotton wool, gently push back the skin. Work away dead tissue before carefully passing the stick under cuticles.
4. Wash your hands in warm soapy water, and brush nails with a soft manicure brush so that polish will adhere to them properly. Pat hands dry with a towel.
5. If nails are weak, apply a strengthening or hardening product, paying special attention to the tips. Allow to dry.
6. Apply a protective base coat, covering the entire nail but stopping short of the cuticle.
7. Apply two coats of polish, starting with a single stroke down the center of the nail, then across the cuticle base and down the two sides without touching the cuticle. Allow each coat to dry.
8. Finish with a top coat for extra gloss and the shield against chipping.

For optimum skin and nail health, check that your diet includes plenty of vitamin A, E and B complex, and the minerals calcium, Zinc, magnesium and iodine. If need be, take nail-fortifying vitamin and minerals supplements.

30 Minute Home Pedicure

1. Clean toenails and remove all traces of polish with a conditioning remover, as described for the manicure.
2. Cut toenails using a nail clipper and file into the desired shape using the rough side of an emery board. Hold the board slightly angled down over the edge of the nail. Smooth the edges towards the center with a light motion; don't cut or file them always as this weakens the nail and can lead to ingrown toenails.
3. Lightly massage the nail contours with a cuticle oil or cream.
4. Place both feet in a bowl of warm water into which you have added a handful of bath salts or a few drops of pure essential oil such as peppermint. Soak feet for five to ten minutes.
5. Dry feet thoroughly with a towel and apply a drop of cuticle remover to the nail contours. Leave it on for a few minutes while you smooth away any hard skin or calluses on the soles of your feet using an exfoliating cream. Then gently 'roll' the cuticles back with a manicure stick covered with cotton wool. Massage hard skin again with the scrub, then rinse off in the warm water.
6. Rinse your feet in cold water to boost circulation. Dry them again with a towel, paying special attention to the skin between your toes.
7. Clean your toenails again with a cotton pad soaked in remover to take off any oily film.
8. If required, apply a hardening formula to the toenails, taking care not to let it touch the cuticle or the surrounding skin.
9. Apply a base coat, followed by two coats of polish, ans finally a top coat, as described for the manicure. Placing cotton wool between your toes separates them to make applying polish easier.

The cuticles on toenails are so tough, it's important to work on them with a cuticle remover at least once a month, paying particular attention to the little toe, which usually suffers the most. If you have a dry skin on your feet, the best way to remove it is with a scrub cream, which will leave your feet smoother and well conditioned or best of all, use pumice stone for smoothing those rough patches.

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NAILS

• Remove all traces of nail polish with a cotton wool pad soaked in remover. Pay special attention to the corners, where streaks of nail color may remain.
• Soak hands in a bowl of warm, soapy water with a pinch of salt.
• Massage cream into the cuticle, all around the nail and down to the first joint of the finger. Push back the cuticle with a cuticle stick.
• Clean your nails with a soft brush. Give your hands a light scrubbing with a pumice stone, to gently cleanse the skin.
• Cut your nails to the desired length.
  

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EYES

Black Circles under eyes

A lot of us have black circles under the eyes. A very common and effective way to reduce puffiness as well as the black circles, close your eyes and cover eyelids with slices of raw potato or cucumber for 15-20 minutes. wash with warm water and apply a cream.

How To Apply Eye Color

• Keep deeper colors on the lid. 
• Use lighter colors on the brow bone.
• For a casual but polished look, sweep one shade from lashes to brow bone.
• Use cream shadows sparingly -- the colors tend to be very vivid.
• Eye gloss is the newest trend. It adds a sheer shine to lids, but don't try it unless you know you can carry it off -- it can look greasy and inappropriate.
• Apply powder eyeliners wet for more intense color.
• White, pink and yellow eyeliner pencils tend to make the eye look open and brighter. Blue counteracts redness, and black will give you a sultry look.
• In order to make eyeliner easy to apply, manufacturers sometimes make it so creamy it doesn't stay put. You can use a matching eye shadow or powder liner to set your eyeliner.

 

Shaping the Brows

Like nail shape, the shape of your brows depends on your personal preference, but keep in mind that your eyebrows can affect your whole expression. In general, the beginning of the brow should be aligned with the center of the nostril below it and extend a bit past the outer corner of the eye. The arch should fall over the outside third of the eye. 

Threading 

Threading is an age old skill and is used in almost all Indian Salons. It is very hygienic an usually pain free - that is if you have a professional do it quickly and swiftly. 

What is "Threading?" 

 

It is a natural, safe, simple, fast effective method of facial hair removal.  The art of threading is gentle and precise, making it suitable for even the most sensitive skin.

 

An esthetician takes a bit of sewing thread and wraps it around 2 fingers on each hand. Then she winds it up, places it over the hair she wants to remove, and tugs on the end of the string.

The twisting action of the thread traps the hair and lifts it out of the follicle. Threading is more effective and less painful than tweezing; hair re-growth becomes finer and more sparse after regular treatments; and the top layers of skin are not peeled or traumatized in the process.

 

What are the Benefits of Threading vs. Waxing?

1.  Threading does not peel a layer of skin. 
2. There is no redness or swelling.  If redness or swelling occurs, it is gone within 30 minutes. 
3. No irritation or bumps at all. 
4. Hair does not grow back as fast, and hair regrowth is finer. 
5. Threading removes even the finest of hair and feels smooth like baby's skin.

 

In the News : California regulators and lawmakers will soon have to decide whether threading, a hair removal technique mostly practised by immigrant Indian American women, should be exempted from state cosmetology regulations that protect consumers. Threading does not fall under the purview of California's Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, the principal cosmetology industry group that oversees cosmetologists, barbers, manicurists and electrologists, as the practice is void of chemicals and scissors covered by cosmetology rules. Besides, one does not require a licence to run a threading salon. Democrat assembly member Tony Mendoza recently introduced a bill that seeks to permanently exclude threading from the regulatory books, calling the practice "a tradition that should be respected".

The 100% cotton thread is twisted and rolled along the surface of the skin entwining the hairs in the thread, which are then lifted out from the follicle. It is said to be more precise than waxing.

Waxing Eyebrows

In waxing they spread a thin layer of wax over the area, then press a strip of cloth over it and pull away quickly so that the hair and wax are pulled off onto the cloth.

Nowadays you even get wax plastic strips already shaped like an eyebrow and you can do it at home. 

Threading is the best/safest one. Waxing can stretch and thin the skin around the eye area. The threader has much more control over the persons brows than a waxer does. Many Indian home beauty salons are home based businesses. 

Tweezing 

Tweezing too far in from the inner edge of the eyebrow will make your eyes look smaller; plucking too much from the bottom will make you look perpetually surprised. If you have doubts, leave the hair un-plucked. Be sure to tweeze in the direction that the hair grows and pluck only one hair at a time. Proceed with caution! Eyebrow hair grows back slowly.

There are ways to reduce the pain and irritation that result from tweezing. Take a hot shower before tweezing, or hold a warm washcloth on the area. But whatever you do, don't numb the area with ice: Cooling the area closes the pores, making it more difficult to remove the hair and causing more pain. When you're finished, wipe the tweezed area with a cotton ball soaked with astringent to prevent infection.

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BODY

Shaving the bikini area can be tricky but with a little know how, you can master it. Here's How:

1. Change the blade in your razor. Your shaving blade needs to be very sharp.
2. If this is your first time shaving this area, trim hairs before you begin.
3. Lather the area with a good quality shaving gel.
4. Shave with the grain first.
5. Rinse.
6. Reapply shave gel.
7. Shave lightly across or against the grain.
8. Rinse.
9. Repeat step 7 until you have the area relatively smooth.
10. Wait for a few hours to allow the area to calm down.
11. Repeat step 7 until you have the area relatively smooth.
12. With an electric razor, go over the area to pick up anything that your razor may have missed.

 

Tips:

1. Soap and water might work for washing your hands, but for shaving -- definitely not.
2. Using a dull blade will not give you a clean shave and can contribute to razor burn.
3. Let the shaving gel sit for at least three minutes to soften the hair.

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LIPS

 

Chapped lips give new meaning to the expression "crack a smile." Cold, dry weather, the sun's unrelenting rays, and even allergic reactions to lipstick, toothpaste, food, or drink can make your lips peel.

The best way to deal with chapped lips is to avoid the dry, cold weather that can cause them in the first place. But since heading for the tropics is not too practical for most people, head to the drugstore instead and pick up a skin protectant lip balm. Desi ghee has also been used as a daily protectant . 

Wear lipstick. A creamy lipstick helps soothe lips that are already chapped.

Stop licking. Licking your chapped lips will only aggravate the problem. That's because chapped lips are basically a dehydration issue. When you lick them, you momentarily apply moisture, which then evaporates and leaves your lips feeling drier than before.

Drink up. Moisturize your lips from the inside out by drinking additional fluids in the winter—perhaps several ounces of water every few hours. As you age, the ability of your cells to retain moisture decreases, so your dryness problem may actually increase each winter.

Let a humidifier help. Furnace-heated air can reduce the humidity level inside your house to 10 percent or less, whereas 30 to 40 percent is closer to ideal for keeping moisture in your skin. If you don't have a whole-house humidifier, put a smaller unit next to your bed, and close your bedroom door to keep moisture in.

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