Henna is a powder that can naturally color your hair and skin. Henna is used both as a hair conditioner and for mehendi or henna decorations on one’s hands and body. For your mehendi, use a good green colored henna powder. Old powder is slightly brown in color.

Don’t use henna meant for the hair for your mehendi. Good henna doesn’t stick to the sides of the mixing container, comes off from a spoon in a thin string and is vicious and smooth in texture. Moreover, it gives a light orange stain to your skin within minutes of its application.

Henna for your hands and body

Make a henna paste with lemon juice and aromatic essential oils like nilgiri oil as henna immediately releases its dye with citric based lemon juice. This paste is best applied to your hands using a cone of rolled plastic with a tiny hole at its end.

These cones are used to create fascinating designs and fine lines in the mehendi design. Moreover, it’s easier to get used to cones than Jacguard-based bottles that eventually tire your hands.

Making a cone is easy. A rectangular rigid plastic paper is rolled in such a way that its tip region should reach an inch from the long end of the rectangular plastic paper. The tip of the cone is then adjusted and then a piece of glue tape is placed at the cone tip. Then mehandi is packed into the cone using a spatula and used to create fascinating mehendi designs and body art.

Though ready made mehendi cones are available, to provide an easy means of applying mehendi, these cones lack a smooth consistency. This is why professionals avoid these cones.

Henna as a conditioner

To use henna on your hair as a conditioner, it is better to follow usage instructions of the henna powder. This is because some henna powder should be left on your head for a long time and some, only thirty minutes to get your henna color. However, no matter how long you leave henna on your hair, you will always benefit from its conditioning properties.

Make the paste by mixing half cup of henna powder with 2 tbsp of olive oil and a tsp of honey to form a consistent paste. If necessary, add some water. The paste should be evenly applied, preferably from root to tip. As henna is difficult to handle, it’s better to tie most of your hair up, and work in thin layers from bottom up.

Allow the henna to set for as long as required; you can also leave the henna on overnight for deep color and deeper conditioning. Then, you have to wash the henna conditioner off with lukewarm water and wash your hair as usual with shampoo. You will find a marked improvement in the condition and color of your hair.

Though henna is safe for use as mehendi and for dyeing hair, black henna can cause severe allergic reactions and skin blistering. This is because it has paraphenylendiamine (PPD), which is used to make the powder and your hair black. If you use black henna, use it with precaution to avoid health risks.

Applying nail polish is not enough for beautiful nails. It is important that you follow a healthy diet, and practice regular nail maintenance for long, strong and good looking nails. Here are some tips for the right care of your nails.

1. Include lots of fruits and vegetables to your diet for the necessary vitamins and minerals to keep your nails healthy.
2. Always wear gloves to protect your nails while doing housework, gardening and other works of labor.
3. Using nails for removing staples, opening soda cans and other such work can lead to its chipping or breaking. There are tools available for these tasks instead of using your nails.
4. Strengthen and protect your nails by applying a coat of clear nail hardener on bare or polished nails. This also helps in providing protection to your nails from water damage.
5. While trimming nails, cut straight across and not into the corners. Next, file your nails using an emery board.
6. Always keep your hands and nails well moisturized using a good moisturizer.
7. If your nail breaks or tears, clip it and then smoothen its rough edges using a file.
8. It is not advisable to manicure your nails more than once a week either at a salon or at home. It only weakens your nails.
9. Don’t use metal files on your nails as metal can make your nail split. An emery board is a better option.
10. As nails keep on growing, regularly clean them and keep them in shape.
11. Avoid or stop smoking as smoking damages your nails.
12. Avoid keeping your nails coated with color all the time. It only spoils the health of your name. It’s better to give some breathing space in between nail polish applications.
13. Don’t use sharp objects to remove dirt from your hails as it may break your nails.
14. By including some spirulina to your diet, your nails grow strong.
15. Vitamin B12 is necessary for your nails. Its deficiency can leas to the dryness of your nails and may leave your nails too rounded, curved or darkened.
16. If you find red skin around your cuticles, it indicates that your body metabolism of fatty acids is poor.
17. If you find white bands across your nails, include more protein rich foods to your diet.
18. Splitting nails can be a sign of a deficiency of hydrochloric acid in your body.
19. White spots on nails can be prevented by including more zinc rich food to your diet.
20. Include more biotin and sulfur rich food like whole grains, fish, broccoli and onions to your diet.
21. It is essential that you drink lots of water and fresh fruit juices everyday for better nails. Carrot juice is especially good for nails as it is rich in calcium and phosphorus, and helps strengthen your nails.

For better nails, just use the help of these nail care tips. You will find a marked improvement in the health of your nails, and give you reason to be proud of your nails too. 

Your hair is your crowning glory and the first thing that people notice when they meet you. This is why it is important to use and know the proper hair care methods to maintain healthy hair. Here are some tips that help you take care of your crowing glory.

1. For healthy and shiny hair, you have to eat nutritious food. So include lots of protein rich food like fish, dairy products, lean meat and eggs to your diet. It is because of this same reason, a deficiency of proteins, that many vegetarians experience thinning of hair.
2. Eat foods rich in vitamins A, B and C for better health of your hair roots and scalp. These vitamins are found in yellow, orange and red vegetables, seeds, cod liver oil, nuts and fruits like oranges, pineapples, apples and tomatoes.
3. Wash your hair using a shampoo fit for your hair type. While shampooing, massage your scalp to improve the shampoo’s moisturizing activity on the roots. After shampooing, it is important that you rinse your hair thoroughly.
4. While applying conditioner, apply it to hair ends and comb it through. It’s always better to ask your stylist for the best shampoo and conditioner for your hair type.
5. Always use high quality hair dryers and flat irons so that they don’t damage your hair. Moreover, you have to use this equipment only after reading and understanding its manual, lest you end up with burnt or frizzed out hair. It’s also better to use the equipment following an expert’s advice.
6. Give your hair a treat at least twice a month. Use treatments like protein enriched processes for strengthening hair and moisture based treatment to control your hair.
7. Whenever you wash your hair, make sure you don’t rub hair vigorously.
8. Don’t use elastic bands that is too tight for your hair.
9. After shampooing, make sure you dry your hair before combing.
10. It’s better to use a brush with soft bristles as it does not damage your hair.
11. Avoid using plastic bristle brushes. A better option is a round or flat brush of natural boar bristles for dry hair. In case of damp hair, soft, rubber toothed and wide paneled brushes are a better option.
12. Always brush before shampooing as it removes product buildup and scalp flakes. It also stimulates the scalp and promotes blood flow to the hair follicles.
13. If you are coloring your hair at home, mist its ends with water before coloring. It is your hair ends that are more porous, and which absorb more pigment.
14. To maintain healthy hair and ends, you have to trim your hair at least half an inch every four to eight weeks.
15. When coloring your hair, use color protective products. They have more nourishing ingredients, are less abusive and help minimize dryness while keeping color true.
16. Make it a point to deep condition your hair every fortnight. Deep conditioning penetrates the hair shaft to strengthen your hair. Adding heat using a blow dryer helps intensify deep conditioning as the heat opens the cuticle to let the ingredients penetrate to your hair.

With the help of these tips, taking care of your hair proves to be a cinch.  

Diamonds are a woman’s best friend. This is a fact everyone knows, and what better time to gift diamond jewelry to a woman than on her wedding day? Diamond jewelry will make any wedding special. So here are some tips to find the right diamond designs for your wedding.

1. Though wedding rings with a big, central diamond stone looks attractive, it is better to avoid such rings. This is because these central stones are usually expensive; a better alternative is to buy a diamond ring having smaller stones as these stones are cheaper than big stones.
2. Diamond wedding jewelry is usually found in platinum and gold. Gold proves to be the most popular option for the budget conscious as it is less expensive than platinum. However if you are looking for something durable and long lasting, its better to buy a diamond ring set in platinum.
3. Now that the diamond size and metal is decided upon, you have to choose the right and best design for your diamond wedding jewelry. The internet is a great place to look for designs. You find many online jewelry stores showcasing the various designs and jewelry they have to offer.
4. It is always better to make comparisons before deciding on the final piece of wedding jewelry to invest in. Compare designs and rates of different stores, for  the best rates.
5. To ensure you are paying for the best diamonds, get a certification for the piece of jewelry. Diamond jewelry is given certification based on the 4 c’s, which are the color, cut, clarity and carat of the stones..
6. Design wise, you have a wide choice of diamond wedding designs to choose from. There are traditional, antique, hand-woven and personalized wedding designs to choose from.
7. Antique jewelry is jewelry that is passed down from generation to generation in a family. If you don’t have any ancestral jewelry to expect or wear during your wedding, there are various ancestral pieces you can choose from.
8. Traditional designs are those wedding bands that come with a single diamond embedded in the ring or found in claw-like structures. In terms of necklaces, there are various traditional designs you can choose from. However keep your budget in mind while choosing designs as you can get carried away while making choices.
9. Personalized diamond jewelry is a safe option for you as you personalize it using laser inscription or you have the jewelry created as per your personalized design and choice.
10. Personalized jewelry is a wise investment as it is not only unique, it is easy to identify if it gets lost or changed when sent for cleaning. There are a few online stores and jewelry stores that let you design your own diamond wedding jewelry. Personally designed diamond wedding jewelry makes the jewelry elegant and special.

Applying makeup is essential for any woman. It is essential to choose and wear the right colored foundation, blush, eye shadow and lipstick so that your makeup looks natural and not like a mask. In addition to this, you will find these makeup tips helpful when you apply makeup.

1. If you prefer wearing dark eye shadow shades, sweep some loose powder under your eyes to catch falling specks and to prevent it from staining your skin.
2. Turn ordinary foundation into a medicated one by adding a drop of witch hazel to it. This is great for oily skin that is prone to acne and pimples.
3. With a bright and light lipstick, your lips look larger. If you want to make them look smaller, just wear dark and muted colors.
4. To slim down your cheeks, use ordinary face powder that is a few shades darker than your skin color.
5. To ensure false lashes stick properly, first apply mascara to your lashes.
6. Make tired eyes look fresh by blending a little concealer just away from your eye’s outer corner.
7. If you don’t have time to makeup, just apply a bright red lipstick. It helps brighten your face and looks great on anyone.
8. By dipping your eye shadow brush in water and then applying your eye shadow, your powder eye shadow color looks more intense.
9. Brush your eye lashes with petroleum jelly before sleeping at night to keep them smooth and supple.
10. To make your makeup go on easily, give your moisturizer time to sink in before applying makeup.
11. By applying a dot to the center of your lower lip, your lip gloss looks even more sophisticated.
12. Hold eyeliners that are hard and drag to your skin next to a lighted bulb for a few seconds before applying. It makes its application much easier.
13. If you are fed up of lipstick getting on your lips, try this out. Just put your finger in your mouth after applying lipstick, purse your lips and pull out your finger. You’ll look great without any lipstick stains.
14. Mascara that tends to clog on your lower lashes should be applied using a small, thin brush. You can individually color your lashes with the brush for better effects.
15. If you are near-sighted and wear spectacles, use brighter eye shadows and lots of mascara. This helps make your eyes look bigger and ensure they don’t disappear.
16. Your eyes look much more alive if you use white eye liner inside your eyes.
17. For instant shaping and grooming of eyebrows, just spray some hairspray on a toothbrush and brush your brows. This makes your face look much better.
18. Your blush lasts longer on a sunny day if you first apply both cream and powder blusher. First, you have to apply the cream foundation, set your blush using some translucent powder and last, dust using a little powder blush.

These make up tips are easy to understand, but effective in creating an impression wherever you go!