Beauty and Personal Grooming

A few weeks ago, I suddenly had a throbbing pain on the left side of my neck which radiated towards my shoulder joint and upper arm. And this didn’t happen after waking up, as it usually happens with most people - as a matter of fact, it happened in the evening when I was surfing my tablet.

I was going through The Daily Mail, when this bit of news caught my attention. A man,  who used to have neck massages for more than thrice a week, in order to feel relaxed, suffered a stroke. Excerpts:

Siri asks: My neck is slender and long, but I have developed 3 lines on it, at equal distance from one another. I am in the habit of using a high pillow. I feel uncomfortable if I don’t use a pillow. I am only 19 years old.

An old Japanese saying goes, "A woman's skin should be as tender and supple as the pedicle of a gracious blossom." In Japan, the skin is considered a woman's most sensual physical asset and is cosseted with rice bran packages, creams and white powder. We work hard to save our necks but still neglect the neck that connects our head to our torso! A wrinkled neck can take away the glow from the most exquisite and cared-for face. In our part of the world a beauty routine often ends with the chin, the neck being totally forgotten. A youthful face is seldom as beguiling when a lined neck is visible. To keep it unlined and beautiful for as long as possible, a few basic rules need to be observed.

You may be proud of your graceful, swan-like neck that is not only smooth and unwrinkled but also clean , spotless and un blemished with absolutely no discoloration ! But can you flaunt it with elegance if you keep experiencing  a sharp pain there every now and then?

The importance of a long, beautiful and elegant neck has been an integral part of conventional beauty from ancient days. In Africa , many tribes have a dreadful custom of putting copper rings around the necks of their baby girls to elongate them and show how prosperous they are! It is the tendency of many women to neglect their necks, while a firm, young-looking neck is one of the greatest beauty assets, especially when women wear low necklines in summer . In winter , it is very easy to neglect your neck because you are all muffled up in sweaters and scarves and polo necks.

The beauty of the neck is often flawed by dark patches and spots around it; especially the nape of the neck is more prone to darkening. This could be due of pigmentation, dead cells clinging to the surface of your skin, dirt and grime which gets embedded in the skin because of dust and pollution and neglecting neck care. Skin allergy caused by constant wearing of ornaments around your neck could also be the culprit. It is all the more embarrassing if this discoloration is too distracting. And if this marked difference between the skin colors of the face and the neck makes you overtly self-conscious, don’t just sit back, do something about it. A crepey neck can be improved by regular cleansing , and by scrubbing with a soft nail-brush (try the plastic bristled ones) to work away dead skin and improve the circulation. Also cream it lavishly for softness and smoothness .You could also bleach the skin around your neck to improve its color. Want to try your hand at some ...

Forget about pampering and taking care of the neck, people don’t even clean the neck properly while bathing. It is said that a person’s age can almost be determined by observing the neck. So a regular care and hygiene for the neck is absolutely essential. Make a habit of washing your neck while cleaning the face as comparatively more dirt is deposited on the neck. This can be done in a quick and easy way by rubbing the neck with a towel soaked in warm water. A proper home-based stuff can be used for cleaning the neck while bathing. You could use any of these: * Mixture of gram-flour (besan) , unboiled milk, a pinch of turmeric powder. * Mixture of curd and gram-flour in the ratio of 1:2 * Paste of black gram, after being soaked in water. * Mixture of unboiled milk, barley flour and a few drops of lime juice. * Paste of gram flour, a few drops of rose water and a little sandalwood powder and cream. Pic credits:fotosearch.com

Cervical spondylosis is a disorder of the neck and back that restricts movements of the neck and causes pain.  Pic credits: Wikipedia