it’s almost June and you know what that means, Ladies. It’s about to get really hot outside. Summer dresses and flip-flops are a given to beat the heat. But what we’re really concerned about is keeping our hair off our backs. Lea Michele’s latest braided updo is the perfect option for hot days (and humid hair days). Here’s the cheat sheet on how to get Lea’s cute, yet sultry ‘do.

The Look: ZooeGet y Deschanel’s Retro Updo

Step 1: Normally, I would recommend using a shine serum before making any braid because it makes the hair softer and easier to work with. But with this one, you should apply a texturizing spray such as Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray ($39, bergdorfgoodman.com) to get a rougher texture to start with.

Step 2: Separate the hair into two sections, one on the left and another on the right. Because the look is meant to be a little messy, the part doesn’t have to be directly centered.

Step 3: Separate both sections into a top and bottom. The top pieces should be a little thinner (they’re the little braids on the top).

Step 4: Dutch braid the bottom piece and hold with a small elastic. Just to clarify: a Dutch braid is an inside out braid. So French braid the hair normally except that instead of folding the hair over, fold the hair under.

Braided Hairstyle For Working Out!

Step 5: To get those side buns, fold the bottom of the braid in and hold in place with bobby pins.

Step 6: Repeat steps 4 and 5 on the other side.

Step 7: Now on to the top pieces! Leaving a few stray hairs loose in front, start Dutch braiding the top and move down the head. Finish the braid all the way down to the end of the hair and hold with an elastic.

Step 8: Combine the top braid with the bottom by placing it parallel and then folding under the bun. Hold with bobby pins.

Step 9: Repeat steps 7 & 8 on the other side.

Step 10: Apply a strong hold hair spray such as Pantene Pro-V Classic Hairspray Extra Strong Hold ($3.99, drugstore.com) to hold the style in place as well as add a little more texture to the hair.

Well, there you have it - two braided buns for a hot summer day. Will you try Lea’s updo?

When you are putting your makeup on, you are like creating a painting on the canvass that is your face. Your makeup is supposed to add color and enhance the best features of your face.

Your makeup will not work, however, if the base upon which you are putting your makeup looks all wrong and is not applied properly. The base I am referring to is your foundation. The purpose of the foundation - turn back the clock - is to cover the skin of the face and to lend upon it the appearance of smoothness. Thus, it is important that the foundation you choose to use is the best for your skin.

Here are a few tips and tricks on choosing and applying the right kind of foundation for your skin.

You should always go for the natural look whenever you are applying your 

makeup

, so your foundation should match the tone of your skin. How do you know if the color of your foundation matches your skin tone? You do this by putting some along your jawline. A foundation has the perfect color for you if it blends well with your skin, so much that it practically seems that you are not wearing any foundation at all. If the color of your skin changes, go ahead and change the color of your foundation. Also, to know for certain if you are picking the right color of foundation for your skin, always test the foundation under natural light.

When applying foundation, just pat the stuff down on your face and then spread it out smoothly with a sponge. Cover your face entirely with foundation, including your eyelids and your lips. Take care not to pull at the skin, especially at the thin skin around the eyes.

If the skin is dry, it will only absorb the foundation soon after it was applied. Therefore, make the foundation last longer by applying moisturizer first beforehand. If your face is oily, make sure that your moisturizer is oil-free; also opt for a powder foundation if you have oily skin. Another thing you can do to make the foundation last longer is to set it with loose powder whose color matches the color of the foundation.

If you have blemishes that you wish to hide, like pimples or dark spots, smooth a concealer on the blemishes first before putting the foundation on -five-minute makeover. Avoid putting too much powder or color on these areas where the blemishes are in order not to attract the eyes upon them.

Makeup in the evening is always brighter and more special - perfect party makeup. For added glamour, blend shimmer powder along with your foundation and apply it to areas on your face that you want the light to shine on to emphasize the best features of your face.

Putting on makeup can be a daunting task for women who are not really adept at the art of makeup and are not familiar with the right techniques and with picking the right colors for their skin tone and eye color. Common fears include choosing the wrong colors for the skin or colors that do not match the outfit, putting on too little or too much, or botching the makeup altogether. Instead of putting on makeup, there are women who opt for just the ordinary face powder or talcum powder and a dash of lipstick (which may or may not be the right color for their lips either), and then they are done.

Makeup is supposed to enhance the features of our face rather than to cover it, and nothing is more alluring than what is known as the natural look. For those who do not know much about makeup, or know nothing at all, achieving the natural look is pretty easy. The key to doing it is matching the color of your foundation with the tones of your skin, as well as using shades that go well with the undertones of your skin.

A quick tip: when buying foundation, test the match of the product with your skin tone by applying it against your jaw line and letting it on your face for a few minutes. Go ahead and see how it looks like in daylight, rather than in artificial light to see how well it goes with your skin. The perfect foundation for you blends well with the color of your skin, so much that it is hardly noticeable.

If your skin has beige tones. If your skin has beige tones with a touch of peach or pink, the colors you should go for are shades of peach, pink and apricot for your lips and cheeks. Cover up whatever blemishes you have on your skin with a concealer before applying the foundation, and then dust the foundation off with matching loose powder. Make sure that your foundation has SPF because skin like yours burns easily under the sun. Also, try not to put on too much makeup on your face because too much will look harsh on your skin and make you look older. Finish off with a shimmering peach or pink lip gloss.

If your skin has olive tones. If your skin has olive tones, the best way to go is with foundation with warm colors like golden brown. Skin with olive tones is also generally oilier than most, so try to stay away from foundation with shimmer in it to reduce the shine. For a sun-kissed look, apply a touch of bronzer on the apples of your cheeks, the bridge of your nose and a little on your forehead. For your lips, outline it with a nude-colored lip pencil, and then apply clear gloss.

If your skin has yellow tones. If your skin has yellow tones, stay away from ivory or pink for your foundation and stick to warmer hues with a yellow base. Also, avoid using powder foundations; yellow-toned skin tends to get dry and flaky, and so powder foundations will only emphasize this unnecessarily. Finish with a light cream blush, colored pink, on the apples of your cheeks, and a light pink gloss for your lips.

To get a smoother finish on your foundation, apply moisturizer on your skin first as a base. Remember to put on only the right amount of moisturizer and dab off any excess with tissue. Too little moisturizer will make it hard for the foundation to blend, and too much will make your makeup run off your skin.

Hair is a woman’s glory and the beauty of a woman is directly linked with the hair. Good hair is very important for all irrespective of what race or nationality you belong to. Most women spend a fair amount of money on hair products, shampoos, conditioners, dryers, curlers, clips, hair colors and extensions to make their hair look beautiful. When it comes to hair, there are many people who are looking for effective ways to make their hair grow faster.

If you also want to know about hair growth, it is important to understand the fact that there are no scientifically proven ways to promote hair growth instantly. In average, human hair grows at around 1/2 an inch each month with different growth rates for different individuals. The speed and growth of your hair depends on a number of factors such as age, hormones, genetics and overall health. Even though there are no magic points when it comes to hair growth, yet there are certain basic points that can eventually help you to grow hair faster.

Here are some simple and easy ways to grow your hair faster:

Good Health:

Good health is the mantra behind faster hair growth. When your body is healthy, it means your hair will also grow at a healthy speed. Eat well, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep to reduce general physical stress levels and this in turn will promote good health. Factors like sleep deprivation and stress tend are often associated with the problem of hair loss. So, as much as possible try to avoid intense physical or emotional stress and sleep for 7 to 8 hours to enjoy faster hair growth. Besides, don’t forget to exercise regularly to improve circulation and metabolism, thereby aiding in faster and thicker hair growth.

Balanced Diet:

Eat a well balanced diet to promote hair growth faster. Right kind of good means adequate amount vitamins A, B, C, D and E, omega 3 fatty acid, protein, zinc and magnesium rich foods. These foods are very essential for your hair. When planning your diet, try to include foods that are helpful in boosting hair growth. Some of such foods include sprouts, spinach, cheese, cabbage, lentils, beans, apricots, citrus fruits, fresh green vegetables, fish oils, flaxseed oil, brewer’s yeast, whole grains etc. Here it is essential to know that nutrients will not affect the hair that has already grown, but it will affect new hair growth.

Scalp Massage:

Good blood circulation contributes to faster hair growth. A daily scalp massage can help in stimulating blood in your scalp.  You can massage your scalp with your fingertips in a circular motion for at least four to five minutes every day to stimulate the blood circulation in your scalp. Else you can also use some healthy oil to massage your scalp.  You can use warm coconut oil or olive oil to massage your scalp. The massage and the therapeutic oils also helps a lot.

Regular Trimming:

Another great way to increase hair growth is to regularly trim your hair. This keeps your hair away from split ends which are signs of an unhealthy hair. Split ends can be a reason behind slower or less healthy hair growth. Hence, make it a habit to get your hair trimmed at least once in a month or every 8-10 weeks to remove split ends. Here it is essential to note that trimming hair does not promote faster hair growth, but help in preventing hair damage.

Good Hair Hygiene:

A good hygiene also promotes faster hair rgwoth. Here it does not mean that you need to apply shampoo to your hair daily. Over-washing can cause your hair to lose moisture, leaving it prone to breakage and split ends. Wash your hair about two to four times in a week with a mild shampoo and use a light conditioner afterwards. This will help maintain the natural oils in your hair, which is one of the best ways to grow hair fast. Always choose mild shampoo as well as hair conditioner that suit your hair. Use clean combs and brushes, to comb your hair. However, do not brush your hair too often and use a wide toothed comb to detangle tough tangles.  Overall, good hair hygiene prevents dirt from accumulating in the scalp. Dirt deprives the hair from growing well and hinders faster growth of hair.

Avoid Chemicals:

If you want your hair to grow faster, avoid hair procedures like perming, crimping, chemically or mechanically straightening, curling, and bleaching or repeatedly coloring hairs. These hair procedures use harsh chemicals and heating tools that can make your hair dry follicles, leading to increased hair breakage and even hair loss. This in turn can prevent your hair from growing faster. Also do not use dryers on regular basis as it cause hair damage. It is advisable to air dry or manually style hair whenever possible to promote faster hair growth.

Choose Hair Products Carefully:

The market is flooded with hair products that promise faster hair growth. Don’t get attracted to such products and choose your hair products wisely. Not all hair care products will suit your hair type or be a solution for your hair problem. So, it is important that you always buy mild shampoos and conditioners that suit your hair type. Well, the good part is that different manufacturers have launched natural hair care products. Today, you can find a good range of shampoos, conditioners and other hair products for styling or managing their hair type from the natural range of products. The benefit of natural hair care products is that they are chemical free and safe for your hair.

please follow, i promise i will love you forever!

floral-madness.tumblr.com

Hair can be damaged by various treatments, procedures, and products. Frequent blow drying, straightening, and exposure to sun and wind can damage hair. Hair can also be damaged by chemical treatments, such as coloring and perming. Damaged hair can be treated by conditioning your hair regularly, avoiding overexposure and excessive treatments, and using leave-in conditioner treatments once a week. Damaged hair can be recognized by looking for a few signs.

1
Feel the hair for roughness. The hair won’t have much silkiness or softness to it.

2
Feel the hair for dryness and brittleness. The hair may break easily and not feel manageable.

3
Notice how long haircolor lasts. If you dye your hair and it seems to fade quickly, it could be because your hair is too dry and damaged to absorb the color properly.

4
Wet your hair and notice how it reacts. If it becomes matted or stuck together, it is likely damaged.

5
Look for hair in your hairbrush. If there’s a lot of hair left behind after you brush, that means your hair is breaking easily. It may be weak because of damage.

Hydration
Skin needs water. Drinking eight glasses of water per day will hydrate and plump up the skin while also flushing impurities from your body. Moisture should be the first step in keeping your skin and face beautiful. Not only by drinking water is your skin made healthy, but also by making sure when you wash your face and skin that you flush it and rinse it with cool water, which tightens pores and leaves your skin feeling refreshed.

Cleansing
Cleaning your face and skin can seem difficult based on the vast array of products for skin and face care available in stores. But in reality, warm water and a gentle soap are all you need to clean your skin. By washing away dirt, sweat and makeup you allow your skin to breathe, which keeps your face and skin healthy, keeps pores clean and prevents breakouts. Everyone’s skin is different and may require a different cleanser, depending on sensitivity, but a basic mild soap is typically all that’s needed. Occasionally using an exfoliating soap for a deep cleansing is beneficial as it clears away dead, dull skin cells to leave your face and skin healthy, glowing and smooth. As with any choice for your skin, the more natural products you use versus chemical products the healthier your skin will be.

Protection
Your skin needs protection from the sun, wind, pollution, heat and dryness. Protection can be found in a simple lotion that includes SPF protection. This is not an expensive product but will be your face and skin’s best friend. High SPF skin lotions provide moisture, a barrier against pollutants and grime that can settle in your pores, and damaging UVA and UVB rays. Many lotion products are infused with vitamins and minerals that are good for your skin such as vitamin E, honey, eucalyptus and cocoa butter. By applying an SPF protection lotion every day you are giving your face and skin a daily vitamin boost. Protective lotion should go on before applying any makeup, perfumes or other skin contaminants.

WITH one sold every 10 seconds, Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Éclat highlighter has been a beauty icon ever since its launch in 1991. Good news, then, that it is soon to be joined by a foundation equivalent - Le Teint Touche Éclat - in an amazing 22 shades.

“I wanted a foundation that gives the entire face a lively, vibrant light,” said YSL’s creative director of make-up,  Lloyd Simmonds. “Natural, feather-light, but with a touch of very Parisian, very Saint Laurent sophistication that beautifies the skin and makes the complexion expressive. I like to call it a dewy luminosity, as fresh as dew on the complexion - and definitely not shiny.”

SEE THE FIVE SKINCARE COMMANDMENTS

Le Teint Touche Éclat incorporates oils and moisturising agents so that it nourishes the skin as well as concealing imperfections - whilst illuminating the skin in the same way as the original Touche Éclat. And Simmonds - who previously told us about the pressure to create a product to rival YSL’s Touche Éclat - is keen to point out that the two products work together for even better results.

“They are the perfect duo. The foundation unifies the entire face, whilst Touche Éclat reinforces the light effect, especially on dark under-eye circles, and to unify the area around the lips and to attract light on the temples and cheekbones.”

Available exclusively at Selfridges and Brown Thomas from June 28, and nationwide from July 9.