Results of the poll

The response to the poll about email subscriptions wasn't good at all. Only a few of you showed any interest. Nevertheless I'd like to thank those e-mail readers who actually managed to spare time to cast their votes. I hope a better response from you all the next time, and I'm sure you won't disappoint me.

The results of this poll do not in any way indicate the preferences of all e-mail subscribers because only 12 of you participated in it. 7 (58%) readers preferred weekly e-mail updates while the other 5 (42%) voted for daily updates. So the verdict is in favor of 'Weekly updates'. And henceforth you all will receive a weekly notification about new posts every Wednesday.

Can a shampoo session at a beauty salon trigger strokes in the elderly?

Shampooing hair at a salon can prove to be dangerous and even fatal to the aged. Ever heard of the ‘Sink Shampoo Syndrome (SSS)’? During a shampoo session at a beauty salon, the head is bent backward over the edge of a basin and if this position is maintained for a long time it can trigger strokes in elderly persons.

Arching the neck backward over a sink and in extreme positions can apparently diminish the blood supply to the brain, triggering a stroke. This can also occur to those who have to bend back for other reasons like during a chiropractic treatment. Dr. Weintraub, the neurologist after a comprehensive study spanning a year has said that although the risk of this hazard is more in elderly, it can apply to other persons, (esp. youngsters born with hidden malformation of main artery leading to the brain) who visit beauty salons as well, as such an extreme position of backward arching and bending of the neck for prolonged periods interferes with the blood flow to the brain.

There have been quite a few cases (5 to be precise) reported in women 54 to 84 years of age where during or immediately after a shampoo, they developed various stroke symptoms, including slurred speech, nausea and weakness on one side of the face. 

Though such strokes are rare, older people are advised to avoid circumstances requiring head hanging for long periods. Also, the neck must not be arched back or rotated more than 15 degreees. The arteries at the back of the brain are particularly vulnerable in the elderly. Dr. Weintraub, suggests that beauty parlors should consider shampooing elderly clients in a leaning forward which is less likely to compress the arteries.

Safflower oil for smooth skin

Safflower oil need not restricted to culinary delights alone. A few small studies show that safflower oil can rejuvenate dry skin. Like sesame and mustard oils, it contains essential fatty acids like linoleic acid that can smooth, nourish and help damaged skin hold onto moisture better. Safflower Oil also shares many similarities with the naturally occurring lipid components of the human skin. And, unlike other oils, it doesn’t clog the pores or irritate follicles and hence is suitable even for acne prone skin. Just spreading a thin layer of this oil on your skin can help with dryness, especially in winters.

Do-it-yourself astringent lotions

Astringent lotions are more suitable for persons with oily or greasy skin and acne-prone skin. Astringent over-usage should be avoided, say the dermatologists, as it is not a good way to help normal skin exfoliate. It you do use it, don’t take your cotton pad and go over it until the cotton pad is clean. That’s overdoing it – it just irritates the skin and removes the protective layer that helps to keep the water in the skin and you will end up with dry, irritated skin. So just go over it lightly.

Help yourself to some of these do-it-yourself astringent lotions if yours is an extremely oily or greasy skin with a tendency to develop pimples.

Rose astringent lotion

Rose petals 100 gms
Distilled water 2 cups
Sodium benzoate -a pinch

Method:

Boil the water and soak the rose petals in it. Then mix sodium benzoate in the mixture. Apply with cotton pads.

Sandalwood astringent lotion

Ingredients:

Sandalwood oil – 7-8 tbsp
Sodium bicarbonate - 2 tsp
Almond oil - 2 tsp
Rose water - 4 tbsp
Orange oil - 4 tbsp
Honey - 1 tbsp

Method:

Mix all these ingredients well and apply with cotton pads.

Lemon astringent lotion

Ingredients:

Lemon juice 5 tbsp
Distilled water 15 tbsp
Tincture of benzoin 1 tbsp

Method:

Mix all the ingredients together and use with a cotton pad.

Witch hazel astringent lotion

Ingredients:

Rose water 1 cup
Witch hazel 2 tbsp
Tincture of benzoin – 1 tbsp

Method:

Mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Apply on face and neck with a cotton swab. Keep the excess in the refrigerator for future use.

Hair clippings can be put to better use

It looks like even your hair clippings can be put to good use. Even if you feel that after a haircut the rightful place of your hair trimmings is the dustbin, researchers at Wake Forest University in North Carolina have a better idea. They have discovered a way of extracting a vital protein, called keratin, from human hair and turning it into a gel to repair damaged nerves.

Keratin is an extremely strong protein which is a major component in skin, hair, nails, hooves, horns, and teeth. It is difficult to dissolve as it contains a compound called cysteine disulfide. And if you ever wondered about the obnoxious and distinct odor that is emitted when hair is burnt, it is due to the presence of high levels of sulfur in keratin. Hair color is not determined by the amount of keratin present but by melanocytes - the same pigment responsible for skin color. For your information, each hair on your head is 97 percent protein in the form of keratin and 3 percent moisture. It also contains traces of metals and mineral substances in about the same proportions as the rest of you.

As keratin is thought to play a crucial role in nerve regeneration, the scientists conducting this research, collected hair from a local barber’s and chemically processed it to get keratin which was then turned into gel. They then tested this keratin gel on animals and found that it speeded up the repair process. With more studies and research, this treatment could be of use to trauma victims as it would help them regain movement in their damaged limbs. The researchers add that the advantage of using keratin is that it may be possible one day to manufacture the gel from a patient's own hair clippings as his/her immune system was less likely to reject it after being placed inside the body.

Mehendi (henna) tattoos and allergy

If you are likely to attend the Mehendi (henna) ceremony at your friend’s wedding, think again. The intricate, hand stenciled designs could give you something you didn’t expect – an allergic reaction like redness, inflammation and intense itching.

Are you overdoing it?

You believe in living in style.

You always buy and wear only expensive designer clothes, go out of your way to perm, curl/straighten, color or streak your hair, never venture outdoors without makeup, you always see to it that you are always with makeup even at home and so on and so forth.

In this venture, you are always up on your toes and constantly readjust your clothes, touch-up your make-up to ensure that nothing is out of place and everything’s just right.

In trying to keep up with this, you are always ill at ease and it shows! (People are sharp enough to notice your discomfiture…)

In all probability, you come across as a high-strung and insecure woman who is lacking in some sphere but is compensating for this by focusing all her attention on dressing and dolling up.

This in itself shows that you are miles away from that elusive thing called ‘style’.

Sure, one has to look good, wear make-up, dress well but there is no point in getting hung up on it all the time.

If you look around you, you will find women who are least bothered about their clothes, makeup or hairdos but who are completely focused on what they are doing.

They have adequate self-esteem and carry themselves with grace and dignity. This invariably makes them attractive to others. They are the ones who are ‘stylish’ in the true sense.

Face packs for any skin type

Do try some of these face packs which suit all skin types.

Milk face pack

Ingredients:

Milk

Method:

Soak a cotton ball in milk and gently rub it on your face. Wash off after sometime.

Almond face pack

Ingredients:

Almonds 2-3
Milk

Method:

Grind almonds in milk and apply this on your face for 10-15 minutes. This also helps to get rid of blemishes and tans. Also brightens your complexion.

Banana face pack

Ingredients:

Bananas
Milk

Method:

Put ripe banana and milk in a blender to get a pulpy paste and apply it on your face and neck.

Yeast and milk face pack

Ingredients:

Brewer’s yeast – 1 tsp
Sugar – ½ tsp
Warm milk – ½ cup

Method:

Mix all the ingredients well and keep the mixture for 5-7 minutes so that it ferments. Then apply it for 15-20 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water and then splash cold water on your face.

Apricot face pack

Ingredients:

Honey – 2 tsp
Apricot pulp - 2 tsp
Almond oil – ½ tsp
Lemon juice – ½ tsp

Method:

Mix all the ingredients and apply this paste. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes and then wash off. Gives a firm, taut skin.

Do online purchasers of contact lenses neglect healthy eye care practices?

You like to experiment with different eye colors by wearing colored contact lenses. It does something to your appearance and if you have chosen the color and tint which suits your eyes it will make you stand out from the crowd. 

So spending a few bucks on these lenses to enhance your looks is worth it. And if you do wear glasses to correct a defective vision, switching over to contact lenses might be a better idea if you intensely feel that spectacles mar your looks. 

Pore shrinking mask recipes from home

A face with large open pores when seen from close quarters doesn’t look so good. While it’s quite common for oily skins to have a tendency towards open pores, an attack of pimples also leaves ugly scars and open pores behind. 

Even though the scars may fade away after some time, open pores appear to be more obstinate and hardly show any signs of shrinking. 

Age also takes its toll by giving an uneven/pigmented tone to the skin and making the open pores more prominent. Heredity could also be a contributing factor in determining your pore size.

It’s not easy to get rid of these pores or shrink them completely or permanently using serums, lotions or face packs. Even resorting to drastic chemical/surgical procedures at the dermatologist’s isn’t quite capable of giving satisfactory results. 

Nevertheless, you can try and minimize their appearance at least temporarily with clever makeup and a few natural skin care masks such as these:

* Cleanse your face with a mild face wash. Then splash ice cold water over your face or alternatively rub an ice cube wrapped in a towel over your face. Cold ice constricts the facial muscles for a while and this action can shrink the pores temporarily. Then pat dry. You can then apply fresh but diluted lemon juice over your face, that is, if you do not have an extremely sensitive skin which is allergic to lemons. Lemon juice acts as an astringent which helps to close the pores.

* Or after cleansing your face you can apply a spoonful of milk of magnesia. Keep it on for 15-20 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water and finish it off with a splash of cold water. This pack also helps with acne.

* Egg whites are not just skin-tighteners but also excellent pore-shrinkers. Beat an egg white. Add a tsp of lemon juice to it. Then apply it evenly over your face until it dries and tightens around the skin. You may skip using lemon juice if you wish and use only a well-beaten egg white on your face. Wash it off with tepid water and a splash of cold water.

* Soak a few almonds in water. Grind it to a paste with water. Add 2 tsp of lemon juice and apply it to your face. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes, then wash it off as usual. This also lightens your complexion.

* A combination of tomato juice and butter milk is not only good for treating suntan but its astringent action also works well to tighten the pores. You can even apply plain buttermilk with cotton wool on your pores; this helps with freckles too.

* Another recipe is to crush lettuce leaves and extract its juice, add a few tsp of lemon juice and apply it to your face to be washed off after 20 minutes.

* Blend apricot and tomato pulp to a paste and apply this mixture to your face.

* Papaya, peach, pineapple and orange juices also have astringent properties. So using these on your face may be a good idea. 

* A sugar scrub might also help with open pores. Combine a tsp each of olive oil, honey, lemon juice to a few sugar crystals and gently rub over your face. Immediately follow it up with any of the above packs and/or a splash of ice cold water.

Terrific soothers for your feet

Check out these terrific foot soothers for those days when you hobble rather than walk and your first desire on reaching home is to find a remote corner and make yourself as inconspicuous as you can in order to relax your tired feet.

* Heat adequate olive oil/coconut oil just enough to soak your feet. Massage in oil thoroughly on your feet including the ankles and soak your feet in it for around 4-5 minutes. Then wrap hot wet towel (wring out till just damp) around each foot. Leave in place for 10 minutes.

4 temporary fixes for your problems

Here are quick, temporary solutions for 4 of your problems that tend to drive you mad when are in a hurry.

Camouflage unwanted hair

You’ve got an evening out program and no time to get your face bleached to camouflage that tiny hair growth on your face. Don’t worry! Cut a thin slice of lemon; rub it gently over the area where you have hair, i.e. upper lip, forehead, jaw line and sideburns. The lemon will lighten the hair color and make it less visible.

Tame unruly eyebrows

When you have no time to attend to your highly unmanageable, unruly eyebrows, spritz a little hairspray on a cotton ball. Then wipe on for maximum control.

Excessive sweating palms

You are to give a speech and your nervous system is already revved up. Your palms have already started sweating profusely in anticipation of confronting a crowd. You obviously want to conceal your panic and put on a brave front, especially, as you have to shake hands with too many people before the event. Not to worry. Try this solution. Apply an antiperspirant on your palms before any big moment which almost sucks the life out of you. The aluminium chloride in antiperspirant thickens the sweat pouring out of the sweat ducts and plugs them up with thousands of gooey corks; it’s a temporary fix, though.

Avoid dragon breath

You are savoring scrumptious and spicy dishes with plenty of garlic for lunch totally unmindful of the aftermath. You suddenly remember that you have to attend an important meeting within no time and here you are saddled with a vampire breath – all of your own doing. What to do? Just dip a lemon quarter in a pinch of salt and chew on it. The lemon oil and salt will help break down the odor causing compounds in garlic.

The origin of the name ‘jeans’

Jeans and denims are quite popular with teens and 20-somethings. Ever wondered from where the name ‘jeans’ came from? Sailors from a place called ‘Genoa’ in Italy are thought to be the first users of these trousers. They used to find it very convenient because these all-purpose pants could be worn wet or dry, and their legs could easily be rolled up to wear while swabbing the deck. The name 'jeans' thus has its origin in the word 'Genoese', the name for Italian sailors of Genoa who dressed up in this thick blue fabric. The fabric was supposed to be made in Nimes, France. The material was called Serge di Nimes which was later shortened to ‘denim’. You might also want to check how jeans are made.

Pic credits:amazon.com

The bizarre snake-spa of Israel

Just a glance at a writhing, hissing snake in the nearby bushes can give you the creeps. Now visualize a situation where dozens of such slimy creatures are let loose on your body. Scary, isn’t it? Almost like a scene from some ‘horror movie.’ While you may not wish such a nightmarish experience even for your worst enemy, the masseurs of a serene spa located at a quaint village Talmey El'Azar in Northern Israel think differently. They not only witness such weird scenes on a regular basis but they themselves let half a dozen non-venomous snakes to crawl and creep all over the bodies of their guests.

12 beauty uses of baking soda

You can concoct your own beauty products in the convenience of your home by mixing a few ingredients from your kitchen shelves. This statement might seem so oft-repeated and cliché, but surely we all have no second thoughts about the veracity of this claim. While olive oil is one such versatile product with a number of beauty uses, baking soda is another. It’s a known fact that baking soda is widely used in baking, deodorizing refrigerators, microwaves and in household cleaning; so now let’s look into some common as well as uncommon health and beauty uses of this household ingredient.

Dry eyes troubling you?

Do you feel unpleasantness in the eyes or the presence of foreign objects, particularly a feeling of sand particles being lodged in your eyes? Do you experience discomfort even after a brief exposure to cold winds, air conditioners or after reading books even for a short period?Does your vision blur after prolonged use of computers, tasks like sewing and embroidery or with a few hours of television viewing? Does this discomfort and eye-strain tend to worsen at the end of the day?If you are experiencing these and various such analogous symptoms, you could be suffering from a condition called dry eyes.

As we all know, our eyes are constantly lubricated by the tears from tear glands to keep them moist and hydrated. This helps to protect the eyes by washing away the dust particles, provides oxygen and nutrition to the cornea and prevents infections. When tears produced by the eyes are insufficient then you could end up with dry eyes. Some common causes include:

* Age: As we get older, the tear production diminishes, leaving the eye too dry.

* Diseases including diabetes, Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis or Parkinson's.

* Hormonal changes, especially after menopause

* As a side-effect of certain prescription medications.

* Hot, dry or windy conditions: High altitude, air-conditioning, cold weather, and smoke can also cause dry eyes.

* Frequent usage of computers and hours of television watching or too much reading.

* Some contact lenses users can experience dry eyes when their contacts seem to work against moisturization.

* An eye injury or other problems with your eyes or eyelids

* Vitamin A deficiency or insomnia can also lead to dry eyes.

* Eye surgeries for vision correction like LASIK also can aggravate dry eye.

Although dry eyes may not cause much damage, it is in your own interest to consult your doctor if there are prolonged signs and symptoms of dry eyes. Your ophthalmologist or eye doctor can check for dry eye by examining your eyes, pinpoint the exact cause and suggest appropriate medications and treatment.

The following self care measures will help:

* Drink plenty of water.

* Protect the eyes from harsh weather conditions like wind and dust.

* Avoid smoking and second hand smoke.

* Use a humidifier, especially in the winter.

* Make sure the medications that you are taking are not causing dry eyes.

* Eat healthy food with nutrients like vitamin A, C and E and those containing omega-3 fatty acids.

Keep taking a break and blinking often when your are watching TV, using computers or when you are indulging in eye-straining activities.

* Do not wear contact lenses for prolonged periods if that is the cause of your dry eyes.

* Get plenty of sleep.

Related:Does your pupil size matter when you are considering Lasik eye surgery?

My winter skin and hair care routine

My beauty routine for winter is very simple. All the aids that I use are usually natural and inexpensive and most of these are already present in your kitchen cupboard and home garden while a few others can easily be bought from the local stores and supermarkets. Here’s how I use them to my advantage.

As the lips are the fastest to dry during this time of the year, they need to be kept moisturized always. Firstly, I gently exfoliate the lips by applying fresh butter on them and then use a toothbrush or a wet cloth to sweep off the dry flakes. Then I mix a little honey and glycerin and apply it to my lips. This remedy is excellent to prevent and treat chapped lips. I reapply this honey mixture on my lips several times during the day. Warm olive oil application also does the trick. I never bite or chew or lick my lips as such habits can break the fragile skin, making it prone to infection. Licking lips frequently makes them rough and prone to chapping as the enzymes from the saliva work on it to evaporate the moisture.

For my face, I use a mild scrub once in a week followed by a good hydrating face pack. Sloughing off skin cells in winter with a scrub won’t harm your already dried-up skin; in fact, it helps to maintain the skin’s natural moisture level. Removing this outer-most layer of dead skin buildup actually aids in the absorption of other moisturizing products. Usually I apply fresh aloe vera on my skin, which deeply nourishes it. Sometimes I also use honey to which a few drops of rose water and glycerin is added and spread it all over my face and neck. This keeps my face radiant and glowing.

With regard to my hands and feet, I constantly apply body lotion and moisturizer whenever my skin feels dry and make it a point to do this even before going to bed.

As the soles of feet tend to crack more in winter, I pamper them with a relaxing foot-bath and slough off the flaky skin with a pumice stone, after which I apply petroleum jelly on them. I also take time to indulge in that luxury called ‘oil bath’ at least thrice in a week in this season. This pre-bath oil massage with olive oil or coconut oil keeps my skin silky smooth and soft. When I don’t have time for a special ‘oil bath’, I add a few drops of almond oil or olive oil to the water that I am using to bath. This helps retain the moisture lost when bathing.

I have oily hair, so it doesn’t pose much of a problem in winter. I wash it once a week with a mild herbal shampoo which is followed by an herbal rinse to give it bounce and shine. I never wash my hair before oiling it well. This is usually followed by a good conditioning hair pack before shampooing which I keep on for 20-30 minutes before rinsing it off. Generally, I prefer to massage it with aloe vera gel for a few minutes for a deeper conditioning. This helps to soften my hair significantly. As this is time when hair mostly tends to split, I trim my hair once in a week (my hair grows very fast…) to prevent split ends from working their way up the hair shafts.

I follow a diet which consists of a lot of lentils, veggies like drumstick, salads, and vitamin-C rich foods like amla (Indian gooseberry), lime/lemon and oranges and fruits like bananas. There is no major change in my diet , as such during winter. However I see to it that my fluid intake is considerable to keep myself hydrated well from the inside. Also I don’t miss my daily exercise routine of Pranayam and Yoga.

Ease razor bumps with this terrific cucumber-yoghurt soother

I don’t prefer waxing as a method of hair removal. Undoubtedly, it gives hair-free arms and legs for weeks together, but I find it so painful, cumbersome and messy. 

The other reason for disliking it is that I have a sensitive skin which tends to break into rashes soon after I wax.