Autumn-Winter fashion for 2013/14

There's no way to deny, that the 90's are very much present in the Autumn-Winter design for 2013/14. From metallic glam to grungy flanno shirts, slip dresses and combat boots... See below the latest trends for this fall and winter right from the runways.

1. Oxblood red

Red will be the color of fall and winter in 2013 and 2014. This color is made even more dramatic with deeper, darker undertones. 

2. Doctor's bag

The doctor bag is here to stay. Major designers are giving this classic a twist to match diverse and sophisticated tastes and requirements.

3. Turtleneck

The turtleneck will be a mainstay during fall and winter 2013 and 2014. Fashionable tight turtlenecks will mix nicely with a skirt or dress.

4. Chill-out metallic

Evening dresses and tops in shimmering metallic colors create a chillingly sexy look. These will be complemented with cool accessories such as minaudieres and handbags in similar styles.

5. Seductive lace

Who can resist the romantic and feminine look of lace? Intricate crochet and delicate adornments will seduce this fall and winter. Besides the classic black and white lace, the item will be available in oxblood red, golden hues and other fashion colors. Evening-wear came with a wealth of dramatic effect thanks to the incorporation of sheertulle and chiffon layers

6. Pastel temptation

Pastels certainly brighten up a winter's day. Very feminine and chic, soft shades of blue and pink will conquer wardrobes. Lush sweaters and coats will be complemented with bags and belts.

7. Pattern

Pattern is such a big component in fashion at the moment and when it came to Autumn- Fall 13/14 design, there is an air of traditionalism. Emphasised shoulders, animal print, stripes and leather are still hot on the runways, so don't go clearing any of these staples out of your closet just yet. 

Studded and tassled shoe boots, equine-chic rider boots and poppin pumps in cobalt blue and hot pink were also spotted on runways from New York to Paris. 

Skirts were predominantly maxi or just over the knee in length. The wrap skirt also featured in a number of collections

When it comes to pants, variety is the keyword, which is great news as this means there is literally something to fit every body shape. From wide-legged bell bottoms to tightly cropped cigarette pants, harem styles are also still very current. Pattern is the main feature that unifies and there are many; stripes (tending wide), floral, digiprint, polka dots or 'polka hearts'. Keep your look clean by teaming with a minimal top or rock it out with a patterned top (remember to co-ordinate with color) or novelty knit. 

The silhouette for coats the Fall-Winter 13/14 is oversize. 

Dark navy is the new black and ecru the new white. Different shades of grey are present.

So... Now you've got the idea, what colors should you be looking for? This Autumn Winter we've noted a range of hues that encapsulate much of the spectrum from Red to Blue. Stick to this range of colors and you're assured to be on trend this fall and winter. See below the Autumn Winter 2013/14 Colour Guide for an idea.

Is Make up with Sunscreen effective or not?

I love being practical and all, so it is clear that I love combination products, too. Make up containing sunscreen is a perfect example, since there are fewer layers to apply, less time needed to get it done and SPF protection, which is a must for your skin always!... 

But, is the sun protection offered by the SPF containing make up, enough to protect your skin? Is the sun protection we get really up the alley, or are we just being fooled? 

Actually, it is none of the above... Keep in mind the golden rule that insufficient amounts of sunscreen, causes the SPF to fall dramatically to the root of the labelled SPF on the product bottle. So let's say we have a foundation marketed with an SPF of 15. If insufficient amounts of the product are used, the SPF will be the square root of 15, being reduced to 4, and SPF 50 will be reduced to 7!

If this isn't enough, there are a lot neglected areas when we put make up on... Even the amount of make up we put on tends to be minimal, to avoid the cakey face, or the clown face...

Do you apply your make up uniformly and in the right amount needed to attain the goodies of the labelled sunscreen? Also a lot of make up contains protection just against UVB rays, so against sunburn. 

Since both UVA and UVB are harmful, you need protection from both kinds of rays. Do not forget that UVA rays are long ultraviolet rays, known to cause premature aging of the skin and skin cancer. If you want to spot a make up that has UVA protection, it must be labellet "UVA protection", or "Broad spectrum protection". 

It doesn't mean that just because your make up has SPF it will give you the sun protection you need. So do not rely solely on your make up for your sun protection. Or, use it uniformly, in generous amounts and everywhere that you need protection. Be aware that it must contain UVA protection as well. 

Otherwise just use a broad spectrum SPF containing cream underneath your make up. If you do this, it's hard to tell how a sunscreen will react with another sunscreen, unless you know specifically what the active ingredients are, and how they would react with each other. But we aren't all PhD holders. 

So the easiest way is to just have only ONE product with SPF in your routine and apply that properly. That way, you can be sure it won't have any other sunscreen ingredients to interfere with its effaciacy. Don't get a moisturizer with SPF, a foundation with SPF, and try to layer them both with a sunscreen. That's just a waste of all that sun protection in the product. 

If I were you I would get just a cream with broad spectrum SPF and no SPF make up...

Stay well!

Homemade face spray, to hydrate and protect your skin

I find it best to have a face spray handy during the day, not only for dry skin issues, but to refresh your make up, too. I go through face sprays like drinking water, so I find this formula that I am going to share with you, easy, cost effective and a very good addition to your skin care regime during the day.

Even if you slather a good face cream in the morning, with all the pollution, wind, weather, UV rays, and so on, it will not be enough. A soothing spritz, some moisturizing mist may be just what you need to hydrate and nourish your skin. Do not forget, dry skin along with UV rays are the major causes of wrinkles. 

So here it is the formula:

You Need:

¼ cup of distilled water

2 teaspoons of vegetable glycerine 

1 teaspoon of grapeseed oil

5 drops of Vitamin E oil, or one gel capsule

10 drops of essential of  your choice (try Apricot Kernel Oil)

All you have to do is mix all of the ingredients in a small spray bottle, about 3 oz should suffice. Then simply shake and take. Give your skin a quick spritz whenever you feel the need for a quick refresher. It is good even over make up, whenever you think you need to touch up. But be sure that you shake before each time. Also, this face spray is actually great all around. It is natural with no added chemicals and very good for your skin.

Glycerine is hygroscopic, which means that it can actually absorb water right from the air. Basically, glycerine draws the moisture to your skin leaving it soft, supple, and smooth. It mixes well with water too.

Grapeseed oil is amazing for your skin. First of all, when it comes to hydrating, this oil actually mimics the sebum in the way that it moisturizes your skin.  It is also a great source of antioxidants. And you know what that means. Antioxidants = anti aging. And a third benefit is that it is that aside from keeping your skin dry, it also keeps it from being uneven in skin tone.

Vitamin E oil has skin brightening properties. It has basic antioxidant properties that everyone needs. It is unavoidable that we are all suffering from environmental stress. Vitamin E oil protects the skin against cell mutation in the sun and pollution. It's also an anti-inflammatory, so it calms and hydrates sensitive skin. It is a long list this with the positive properties of vitamin E oil for the skin. I will only add the SPF protection (especially when combined with vitamin C oil they form a natural sunscreen) and it also helps with acne scarring...

Apricot kernel oil is found in many different types of cosmetics and personal care products, including soaps, creams, lotions, ointments, shampoos and conditioners. Unlike some oils that remain on the surface of the skin, apricot kernel oil is readily absorbed without leaving a greasy residue. If you tend to experience dry, itchy skin after bathing or showering, this is the perfect oil to lightly apply to damp skin.

Poolside hair care

Since pools are the most visited in summer, along with the beaches, I’m sharing some tips on how to keep your hair protected, after all that chlorine exposure. What is chlorine damaged hair?  If chlorine has damaged your hair, you'll know it for sure. Chlorine damaged hair is very dry, frizzy, especially at the ends, bleached out, and often feels a little like straw (ever see the green tinge in some swimmers’ hair? Blame chlorine for that!). So consider this 3 tips to protect your hair.

Rinse off: Shower before entering the pool. Do not forget to dampen your hair with clean water, too. Rinsing off beforehand is not only for sanitary reasons, but it is the best way to protect your hair, because your hair follicles will open up and absorb the clean water of your shower, leaving less “room” to soak up any drying, chlorinated pool water. 

Condition: Use a spray or cream-based leave-in conditioner before you hit the pool. Look for the ingredient “dimethicone”, because it creates a barrier between your hair and the chlorine water. It also gives shine to your hair and smooths it out.

Clarify: After a day at the pool, make sure you immediately rinse off again so the chlorine doesn’t have a chance to settle into your hair and dry. 

And there you have it in 3 simple steps, to protect poolside hair.

Stay well!

DIY ice cucumber pads

This is a great idea to eliminate those puffy eyes. It’s easy, natural and all you need is cucumber juice. There is a saying that "if you can not eat it, then don’t put it on your skin".

All you need is cucumber juice, cotton pads, and a ziploc bag. 

Soak the cotton pads in the cucumber juice, squeeze out the excess, lay them flat in a ziploc bag, and freeze! Simple, easy, and so refreshing for your eyes. 

So, when you get up in the morning, take 2 pads out and let them thaw for a little bit (maybe while you shower), pop them on your eyes for about 10 minutes, and that's it! Your eyes will feel much more awake and hydrated!

Now go on and start juicing those cucumbers tonight for a refreshing start in the morning! 

Stay well

Hair loss prevention and treatment

Are you experiencing hair loss? Are you seeing your hair falling in the towel every time you dry it, or in your fingers, when you run them through your hair? Are you seeing your hair on your pillow cases? And the most important thing, are you noticing your head slowly becoming bald?...  

Just relax!!!

Yes, I am saying relax, because if you haven't noticed baldness yet, you are in time. If you have, than you will have to get used to it...
95 % of hair loss is due to Androgenic Alopecia, or otherwise known as the male pattern baldness. It is a genetic syndrome, so we can not do anything about it, except to postpone the hair loss. 

So let's suppose you have a genetic tendency to become bald in your thirties. If you take good care of your hair, than you can postpone it until your forties, or may be fifties or even sixties! And may be at that time, some magic cure against genetic problems would have been found, or may be you would not care so much...

If you are suffering from serious baldness, there is nothing you can do about your hair, because the hair follicles do not exist any more. The easy way out is just to embrace the fact... It will not grow any hair in that part of your head. Even hair transplantation may be difficult, although consult your doctor about the severity of your baldness.

In the medicine world, hair loss is measured by two types of scales: The HAMILTON-NORWOOD scale is more detailed on the intensity of hair loss, and the BOUHANNA scale that determines the type of hair loss (temples or vertex) and is mostly used by plastic surgeons. 

Like I said, you can not stop your hair from falling, if this is hereditary to you (sorry...), but you can postpone it or even let your hair grow for a while, before the balance between the fallen hair and growing ones, becomes again nasty, after some years. It is up to your care and in what degree you are affected by the above mentioned genetic disorder, that will determine the density of your hair.

I will list below some hair care advice for you. Follow carefully.

1 . Pat dry . 

Do not rub your hair with a towel. I am saying this because the towel is the number one enemy of your hair! When you rub your hair with a towel, it becomes tangled, and most importantly, your hair will break. Use the towel just to take out the excess water and than use hair dryer, to dry your hair. In the summer time always dry your hair with the hair dryer, or let it air dry. Wet hair makes the ideal ground for mucus to grow, and you don't want to get affected by some type of disease, like tinea capitis. 

2 . Wash your hair often. 

I would say that washing your hair often makes it stronger, gives more volume, cleans the scalp from the oils that stick your hair together and makes it thinner and weaker. But, do not wash that often, 3 to 4 times a week is ideal.

3. Don't use very hot water on your head! 

Hot water damages the scalp, affecting in this manner, the hair growth and its strength. There are many folks that love really hot showers, but I will recommend to you, to avoid hot water on your head.

4. Don't brush your hair when it is wet. 

Or make sure to use a wide-toothed comb and use it gently.

5. Don't use tight hats.

Using continuously tight hats, can damage permanently your hair, even if you are not suffering from Androgenic Alopecia. Continuous distress done to your scalp from your hat can damage your hair follicles.

6. Cut your hair.

The shorter your hair is, the stronger it will be, and less stress will occur in the hair’s follicle The longer your hair is, the harder it is for the follicle to feed the hair, or the keratin body with essential oils. So, try to keep your hair trimmed.

Treatment methods 

For the moment, there exist two types of cures for Androgenic Alopecia. The first drug is Finasteride, known under the generic names of Propecia, Finpecia etc. This drug is taken orally once, every day, for a long period of time. 

It is expensive if you consider that you will take it for a long period of time and e pill has an average cost of 1 to 2 dollars. But, this is not all, it has a side effect that is a man's nightmare. There are case reports of persistent diminished libido or erectile dysfunction, even after stopping the drug. 

Of course, this side effect is a rare thing, but usually a sexual dysfunction occurs in the first days of use and than it all goes back to normal. While taking this drug, you will see your hair grow normally, because that genetic malfunction doesn't occur anymore in the hair follicle. When you stop taking this drug the situation turns back the same, after some months. 

The second drug is called Meloxidil. It is an anti-hypertensive drug that has a really unusual side effect! When you apply it topically to the skin it stimulates hair growth! No one knows for sure its mechanism of action, but it is believed that this drug stimulates the blood flow under the skin and in this manner indirectly the hair follicle takes more ingredients for it needs. 

It is very ironic to know that this drug was invented in the same way as viagra. By watching the side effects of these drugs, which were originally used for other purposes, but when the side effects are better than the intended ones, than you can just switch the use of that drug for another purpose! 

Hairstyle trick

There is no need for words I think. :) In this way you can get rid of that nasty bump that forms under your bun. ;) It is a pretty easy trick, isn't it?  

Best cellulite treatment with caffeine

Coffee scrub to treat cellulite

Cellulite, about 90% of women have it. Basically, it is just fat deposited underneath your skin that pushes up the connective tissues, causing that bumpy appearance, which is not aesthetic at all, isn't it... Cellulite doesn't depend on your weight, women of all sizes have it. Yes, I am saying 'women' because men are luckier in this area. Well, we have better hair, if that's a bit a consolation...;)  

Cellulite is more linked with your skin thickness, color and appearance.That's why the easy solution is always having a good tanned skin to hide the cellulite. But it sure is disturbing and that's why I am going to share with you a easy homemade treatment that is very comparable with the formulations of the high priced cellulite creams. This in my opinion, along with exercising  to burn that extra fat and drinking a lot of water, is the best convenient treatment for cellulite. 

This is a scrub made from coffee beans and olive oil that promises to banish cellulite by breaking down fat and draining away toxins. Did you know that the main and most important ingredient in the best cellulite creams is caffeine. Caffeine can help boost blood flow and banish cellulite. Natural materials such as caffeine have firm scientific basis for use in cellulite treatments (topically only), as it can actually stimulate lipolytic activity (fat breakdown) and coffee is known to contain xanthines, that are found in most human body tissues. Their mission is to increase the lipolytic activity. Caffeine is also known to refresh and boost the skin appearance and that's why it is also used in many best-selling caffeine eye creams.

Cellulite

It is said that consuming coffee can induce cellulite production. This is true in an indirect way, because when you consume coffee this stimulates insulin production and that shuts down fat consumption and lipolytic activity. The key to using coffee products on cellulite areas is to use it during the time when you are not eating, such as early morning or hour before bedtime, when insulin levels are not active.

If you are like me, you would never give up the morning coffee, just because of the probability of inducing cellulite...Instead we can make coffee a great alley against this ugly and unfair skin condition. How is that saying? If life gives you lemons, add some vodka and you're ok...Or is it make some lemonade? Hehe I don't know about you but the first alternative seems better to me. ;)

After you have your morning coffee, just put the used coffee grounds in a bowl and add two tablespoons full of olive oil. Mix well and that's it. Now scrub the cellulite affected areas in your skin for about 15 minutes, rinse with water and you're good to go. Olive oil is not used just to improve the consistency of this scrub, but to further condition the skin. It is know that Extra Virgin Olive oil is full of vitamins So, just scrub you cellulite away and you will notice immediately how tight your skin will start feeling. It is totally ok and this happens because caffeine will increase the blood flow in the area, moving away the toxins and the fatty acids and on top of that it will also exfoliate the skin. The olive oil will make your skin baby soft and to top it, this is all NATURAL and inexpensive. That's it. 

If you are searching for the best cellulite cream on the market take a close look at the ingredients. You want to make sure that you find a safe and effective cellulite cream that uses the five key ingredient combinations such as:

1. Caffeine and elderberry

2. L-carnitine, Bupleurum Falcatum and Coenzyme A

3. Glaucine and Centella Asiatica Extract

4. Fucus Vesiculosis Extract

5. Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A)

Stay well!

Best Sun Protection Methods

Hi everybody living in the Northern hemisphere of planet Earth! The summer is coming and with it, the pleasure of going to the beach and... relaxing!

But be careful not to relax too much in the sun without the appropriate protection, especially if it is your first time this year. Otherwise you are going to get a nasty sun burn in just half an hour! Yes, I am not kidding!

If it is 12:00 AM to 2:00 PM and you are not wearing a protective cream containing  SPF 50 or higher, half an hour is enough to make your first day at the beach, a nightmare. 

If your skin is not so pale like mine, than maybe the sun rays will do the same job, in approximately 45 minutes! I don't want to scare you, but it is very important to be really careful when you go for the first time to the beach. Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to go  to the beach! Needless to say, I was very happy and in a hurry, resulting in me, forgetting my sun glasses. But, at least I took the sun protection measures, a hat and the spf cream. 

After sitting under the umbrella and listening to the sea I got so relaxed that I felt asleep. It was one of the best moments for a while, but when i got up, the shadow of my umbrella has moved leaving half of my body exposed to the sun! So, the next day one of my arms and legs were red as a tomato. But that's not all! I couldn't get any sleep that night, the sun burns were very itchy... Be careful not to ruin your holidays...
So my advices are as follow:

1. Before you go to the beach or anywhere outside to take some sun, be careful not to forget the sun protective cream spf 50 or 50 + in the first days, your sunglasses, a cap and a lots of fluids to hydrate your body (ice tea, beer, or whatever you like.) I prefer just plain water.

2. Do not stay long hours under the sun. The mid day hours are the most dangerous ones. Even if you have used a sun protection cream, try to avoid the long exposures. The best hours to get the 'good' sun rays are 7-10 AM. If you are like me, which means that you like to stay too much in the sea, having fun, then, may be wearing a white t-shirt is the best way to protect your skin. The white color reflects all the ray spectrum of the sun keeping you cool and protected. And at the same time use a hat and sun glasses! Yes, I do swim like this sometimes and believe me it is really cool! ;)

Now lets say a few words for the benefits of the sunlight, after talking too much of its dangers. First of all sun is life itself. Without the sun we can not live, I wouldn't write this article and you of course, wouldn't read it. :P

Second, from the sunlight we get the vitamin D! This vitamin is produced in our skins by the help of the ultraviolet spectrum of the sun rays . Our body can not produce vitamin D, if we are, let's say, exposed to the sun behind a window. We need to get direct sun light to be able to produce the vitamin D.

Exposing our cheeks and forehead for approximately an hour to the sun is normally enough to take the daily dose of vitamin D. Unfortunately, during the winter months, I don't think that the majority of us, can fulfill their vitamin D needs, in the natural ways, so we should take some vitamin D supplements.

But exposing your whole body to the sun, in the summer period can give you the chance to produce a supply of some months, of vitamin D, since this vitamin is an oil based vitamin. This means that in difference from the water based vitamins, it can by stored in the liver. So, it is no wonder, that when we have long summer holidays, we will feel better and be healthier during the cold winter months. This shows how important vitamin D is for our body.

The major duties of this vitamin are: 

1. Calcium metabolism regulator

2. Immune system booster

3. Insulin secretion booster 

4. Sustaining the low blood pressure.

Stay well and protect your skin. :)

How to treat dark under eye circles

Dark under eye circles

My grandma has always told me to place a slice of potato or cucumber to relax and cool my eyes, normalizing the blood flow. As gold as an advice, this is only a temporary fix. Dark under eye circles are actually not that big of a deal to me, put some concealer on and they are gone. 

Everybody has them and since the skin around your eyes is the thinnest skin layer in your body, which gets even thinner with age, the purple veins underneath will show. Now you do not want to get rid of your veins, ok? ;) But you can try to help your under eye skin with an under eye treatment. The best under eye cream is one containing vitamin K and retinol. If you are a woman, a concealer is your best alley. 

There are some medicines that as a side effect make your under eye circles more evident, because they dilate  the veins under your eyes and the blood flow there increases. Dark under eye circles can be  hereditary, resulting from lack of sleep, stress, dehydration, loss of skin collagen with age and an uncountable number of other causes. 

I know that dark under eye circles are a beauty drama, they make you look older etc... Some people feels helpless and I know that even hemorrhoid creams have been used to help with under eye bags. I do not know the results of this experiments, but if you do please let me know. :) 

I have also heard of a hydrolyze revitalizing under eye treatment. Hydrolize is an under eye cream to treat dark circles and similar problems. I have no idea on its formula and I know that it is quite expensive. I am curious to try it out. If you already have, let me know in the comments below.

What worries me the most is the root cause of not normal and pathologic dark under eye circles. Your body communicates with you through signs and symptoms. Try to understand your body and  find the troublesome factor and you will be fine. Do not just try to manipulate the results. In the long run it won't be any good to you. 

You may develop dark circles around your eyes, because of hypothyroidism. The lack of the thyroid hormone can cause dry, itchy skin and puffy eyes.

Really dark under eye circles may indicate deficiencies in certain minerals like iron, thus the body may be shouting to you that you have anemia and you need to go and get checked by a doctor and run some blood tests. Basically, the veins located around your eye area become more noticeable whenever you have iron deficiency. 

In the same way, women who are pregnant or those who are in the middle of their menstrual period tend to have dark under-eye circles because their bodies experience severe iron loss. 

To sum it up, learn to translate the language through which your body is communicating with you. Know the cause of any sign that seems not normal to you and treat it. Bad symptoms that show are not an enemy. They warn us to take measures and save ourselves... The hidden ones are to be afraid of... That's all.

Stay well.

Are BB Creams the best for your face?

Garnier BB Cream

Nowadays BB creams are widely used and well known. The BB cream in reality stands for 'Blemish Balm' and it is formulated in order to have the functions of a foundation, covering skin imperfections and adding the benefits of treating the face like a traditional skin care product. This hybrid cream aims to do the job of up to 5 and even more tubes of skin care products, such as sun screen, moisturizer, age defying properties, evening skin color, primer and so on... 

Generally their price is quite affordable, taking into consideration the prices of high end foundations, face lift creams and the other skin care products altogether... BB creams are formulated to be the only needed product to use after the face wash, in order to do the magic. There are even BB creams for men's skincare.

But don't expect a BB cream to be the Ginny in the bottle. Unfortunately you can't have it all. It  is very difficult to combine all of this convenience into a single product. Some of BB creams limitations are that they are either light in texture, it's hard to find the right shade for your skin, or they may be too oily or too drying. But the formulations are improving fast, so if you are in a hurry the BB cream may be the way to go. They are worth to try. 

Channel CC Cream

Now a huge trend on the Asian markets are the new generation of CC creams. This 'Color Correction' creams are said to have a lighter texture, to provide better coverage and hydration than the first generation of BB creams.

It may be interesting for you to read the article 'From BB to CC Creams –Innovative Formulation of Multitasking Care' from the International Journal for Applied Science (click to open). It will give a more in depth preview of the BB and CC creams formulations and the faced challenges to improve them.

Here comes the marketing into game... Have you heard of the new DD creams that are coming out? Firstly they were supposed to be Daily Defense Products and they were predicted to offer skin finishing and skincare benefits for the body and feet, ideal for those who don't want to tan, but want the skin on their body to look flawless. 

But, a beauty brand  has announced the launch of a DD cream for face called 'Dynamic Do-All' - a combination of the skincare benefits of a BB cream as well as the Colour Correcting power of a CC cream. Not exactly what it was predicted, isn't it? Ah, this marketing madness...

Hair and Nails

Hair and Nails 

There are a lot of beauty trends now days concerning hair and nails...The Anti-aging hair products are a part of the last trend for hair care. AGING HAIR ?!... Yes, exactly and they even say there are like 8 signs of aging hair, or the hair stylist would tell you to buy some specific products, or to use a specific anti-aging hair elixir, because, you know, your hair ages with you!!! Freaking hilarious...

Just stop this marketing madness... How can your hair be aging when it is already dead? Yes, both your hair and nails are made of dead cells. Imagine if they were alive. It would be a torture to get a haircut or to clip your nails would be like the bravest thing in the world. But that elixir thingy sounds kind of dark if it can bring the dead back to life...;) 

Damage made to the hair body cannot be repaired by biological processes, but by the help of cosmetology, much can be done to  improve hair and to make sure that the hair cuticle remains intact. But this is another topic. Thank you lord for cosmetology!!! :)

Hair care on the other hand is essential, because the living parts of hair, such as the hair follicle, hair root, root sheath, and sebaceous gland, are beneath the skin. If the scalp is not washed in a regular manner, it can create a breeding ground for infection. The scalp skin must be kept healthy and clean, for a healthy hair production.

What I am saying is that care of the hair and care of the scalp skin may seem like they are different routines, but they are essentially intertwined, because hair grows from beneath the skin. 

It is better to stick with the basics that are proven to be good for your hair. New doesn't always mean better!...  I will not mention any hair care brand name, just yet. But please, tell me in the comments if you have a holy grail hair product.  

What about nails? It is said that having a biotin supplement is going to make your hair and nails much stronger. I have had biotin for about 2-3 months before. But I have noticed that it is more the food intake that does the job. I will tell you a little story to illustrate this better.

10-15 years ago I found a little kitten in the steps of my apartment. He was so small, thin and scared. His fur was full of bald patches and he had tearful eyes. I just couldn't resist and brought him home. For about two weeks my family gave him a special diet, which consisted mostly of proteins. We boiled 2-3 eggs and he ate them daily, beside other things. After approximately one month you would not recognize him. His fur was shiny, healthy, and he was full of energy... 

I gave you this example because it is not much different for us, too. Your diet is essential and it reflects in your  skin, hair and your overall wellness. Eat as healthy as you can, take care of your hygiene routines and you will have a great canvas for make up, hair styles and nail art. 

That's my two cents for today.