Beauty Blog

By Anna Lynn C. Sibal

Should the hair be blow dried or air dried?
It is a matter of preference, actually. Some people do not have much time to devote to styling their hair, or want to achieve the maximum styling they can get for their hair, so they opt for blow-drying it. On the other hand, there are some people who think that blow-drying is a waste of electricity and is the quickest way of damaging the hair, so they opt to have it air dried.

Which is better, you may ask?
Both ways of drying the hair have their advantages and disadvantages, and there are proper and improper ways of doing both. Read on and find out what these are.

Air drying. Air drying is usually done by people who have short and low-maintenance hairstyles, or by people with curly hair. There are also people who have long hair yet have their hair air dry, as air drying does not subject the hair to excessive heat. Therefore, the hair is not as susceptible to damage as hair that is blow dried.

If you are going to have your hair air dried, it is very important to remember that the hair is at its weakest when it is wet. So, take care not to rub your hair dry with the use of a towel. The friction caused by rubbing the hair with a towel will make the hair brittle and eventually break. Rather than rubbing it, you should instead blot the moisture out of your hair with the towel. Also, be careful not to tug or pull at your hair that much when it is still wet. Once the water is blotted out of the hair, fluff it out with your fingers.

Blow Drying. Blow drying the hair is the most convenient way of doing it, and because most people live fast-paced lives, blow drying the hair is the way most people want to do it. Moreover, drying the hair using a blower adds volume to the hair. But inasmuch that blow drying is very convenient, it is also dangerous to the hair, especially if overdone. It can make the hair very brittle.

If you blow dry your hair, make sure that it is not soaking. Blot the water out with a towel first. Do not hold the dryer too close to your head; keep it at least six inches away from your hair and move the dryer constantly around your head. Protect the outer strands of your hair from being over-dried by bending over and blow drying your hair with your hair hanging upside down. Also, try not to dry your hair completely with the blow dryer. Stop while the hair is still slightly damp.

Whether you air dry your hair or you blow dry it is completely your own choice based on your own lifestyle and preferences. But whatever you do, always remember that the hair is fragile. Be careful while handling it.

Whether you prefer your nails to be long or short, they can still look stunning with a little know-how.

1. Wash and dry your hands.

2. Using a double-sided emery board, file nails using a gentle stroke. Avoid corners of your nails as this can weaken them.

3. Begin to shape your nails. The most popular shape to use is oval, but choose what is most suited to your hand and finger shape.

4. Check to see how well you have done. Run your nails over an old pair of tights. Your nails should not snag the hose.

5. Apply a softener to your cuticles and allow to sit for a minute or so.

6.Transfer hands to a bowl of warm water and soak for an additional few minutes.

7. Gently push back the cuticles. This should not be painful. If hangnails are present, carefully clip them.

8. Apply hand lotion and begin to massage the palm of your hand with the thumb of your other hand. This will help to circulate the blood. Work your way over the remainder of the hand and then repeat giving equal time to the other hand.

9. Before colour is applied to nails, they must be cleaned and the easiest way to do this is with a cottonbud. Dip into nail polish remover and then rub over the surface of the nail. Check the nail for any creamy residue. When none remains, your nails will be ready for polishing.

10. Time for colour. Pick up a small amount of polish on your brush and paint one stroke down the centre of your nail. Your brush should hold just enough colour to accomplish this. Stroke the sides of the nail and you are done. The nail should be completely coloured in three strokes. Allow to set for a minute or so before applying the second coat.

11. Wait until the polish is set (dry to the touch) and then apply the top coat. Don't skip this step as it not only adds life to your manicure, it will protect your nails as well.

12. Sanitize all of your equipment with alcohol and when they are dry, store them away until the next time.

Tips:

Nail polish can be stored in the fridge.

If your nail polish is too thick, try thinning with a polish thinner.

To prevent the cap from sticking, coat it with a little Vaseline to prevent this from happening.

Bend forward, allowing hair to fall. Using only a wooden base natural bristle brush, bring hair from the nape of the neck over the head and down to the ends.

Then, stand straight again with hair falling normally and brush from the underside of the hairline down the strands to the ends. Now, brush the top layers into place with long, even strokes. After each stroke, smooth hair with hands to reduce static.

Increase the number of strokes weekly, starting with five and increasing by one a week until you find a comfortable routine. If oiliness develops, reduce strokes.

Brush only when dry. Hair is weakest when it is wet and brushing can easily damage it. Even when hair is dry, always comb before brushing.