The natural oil that your scalp produces is very important since it keeps you hair hydrated. And herein lies the first problem with shampoo because it’s hard to find a product that doesn’t strip your locks of all this natural oil. Shampoos are so drying for hair that you end up with fragile, hard-to-manage strands.

Furthermore, shampoo is basically a detergent, which is different from other soaps because of the chemicals that are used to make it. Detergents are slightly more powerful at removing dirt and oils, without leaving a residue or film behind on the surfaces meant to be cleaned.

You should also know that not all shampoos are created equally because some have more silicone and wax than others, thus causing buildup on strands that can be difficult to wash off. This creates a twofold problem because you’ll need to use more shampoo than necessary to try to remove the build-up. Shampoos can also contain mineral oil, which is an agent used to coat the strands of hair to make it appear shiny. This ingredient piles up on your scalp and keeps natural oils from reaching your hair, which makes you apply more products in order to hydrate your locks.

Going shampoo-free is great for eco-friendly men and women who try to avoid using or eating harmful chemicals.

Shampoos and conditioners have plenty of chemicals to go around, and those chemicals can be absorbed into your skin and enter your bloodstream; these chemicals are then held there for extended periods of time.

As if the above reasons aren’t enough to steer you away from shampooing your hair, then maybe saving money will entice you! Even if shampoo has been a part of your routine for your entire life, it’s not a necessity. This product makes you dependant on it as well as other hair products, which makes your hair-care budget skyrocket.

Conditioner is also overrated, and is only needed because of the drying effects of shampoo. Deciding to go shampoo-free is a great way to be frugal because you’ll not only stop using shampoo and conditioner, but you’ll also use a lot less styling products like wax, gels, mousses, detangler, pomades – among other hair styling products.

Natural shampoo is also a great alternative, and you can purchase tear-free shampoo for your children! So now that you know the most important reasons for not using shampoo, here’s how to use baking soda and apple cider vinegar to repair your hair and scalp.

Creating a Natural Shampoo

Baking soda is used for a number of different things including laundry detergent, toothpaste, cleaning agents, and to de-odorize carpets and refrigerators. The use of baking soda doesn’t stop here though because it can be combined with water to create a natural and safe shampoo for both children and adults. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 3 cups of water
• 0.5 cup of baking soda

Combine the two ingredients in an empty shampoo bottle and shake the mixture up well. Also note that the ratio of water-to-baking soda can be changed to suit your needs. For instance, your hair may only need 1 teaspoon of baking soda mixed with 1 cup of water. So if you have to wash your hair more often due to oil secretion, just use different amounts of ingredients until you are satisfied.

Your mixture shouldn’t feel gritty, but more like a paste instead. And it won’t build into lather on your dry head, so just pour the shampoo on your head and massage onto your scalp, then rinse. To condition your hair, use a squirt bottle with apple cider vinegar to apply to your locks; then use your fingers or wide-tooth comb to detangle hair as you move the vinegar throughout your strands.

Based on all of the problems and hassles that regular shampoos can cause, you might want to seriously consider making natural shampoo. You’ll thank yourself when you’re saving money, while also having a cleaner head of hair!

Source: makeuptips

Sneakers from the NikeCraft collection.

“I don’t want to sound like a Luddite, but I’m very skeptical of big business,” the artist Tom Sachs said, talking about NikeCraft, a small collection he did with the shoemaker that he introduced with his exhibition, “Space Program: Mars,” now at the Park Avenue Armory.

Mr. Sachs is no Luddite, and he has raised enough questions about consumerism over the years to be wary of his own motives in collaborating with a major brand. I happened to drop by the Armory as Mr. Sachs was finishing the installation for Tuesday night’s opening, and with a schoolboy’s enthusiasm (and a nerdish pocket protector poking out of his shirt), he led me into a room that had the gear on display. I was bowled over.

I first met Mr. Sachs a decade ago at a gallery in Paris, where he was exhibiting his Chanel guillotine and a scale model of a Nazi death camp created from a Prada hat box. The work was disturbing, partly because it so impishly dealt with the strange and terrifying aspects of brand worship, especially luxury brands. Nowadays almost no one questions their dominance (and that may be even more frightening). Mr. Sachs didn’t seem a sucker for fashion, though. A sharp observer maybe, but not a follower.

The NikeCraft pieces grew out of a conversation he had with Mark Parker, Nike’s chief executive, three years ago. They spent hours talking about the merits of individual handcraft versus factory production. Mr. Sachs was interested in technical materials used for NASA and the military, but also in notions like durability and reuse; he recalled how his father used to sand down the bottoms of worn sneakers and attach a less-worn tread.

At one point, Mr. Parker told him, “If you think you can do better, why don’t you try.”

Mr. Sachs made visits to the Nike headquarters in Portland, Ore., and their folks came to his studio.

“I’m really surprised and pleased that they turned out so well,” he said of the products, which include a pair of sneakers (the Mars Yard shoe), two jackets, and lightweight carry bags that make use of air bag material and, in some cases, rip cords and grappling hooks. Bricolage is a big part of the “Mars” installation, with space vehicles transparently made out of plywood and screws, and Mr. Sachs has given that feeling to NikeCraft. Indeed, with the tote and backpack, there’s a sly sense of overdesign, not unlike you might find with an overly worked designer handbag.

Mr. Sachs seemed to enjoy the design process, saying, “I was immediately challenged by how complex it is to produce with a team that isn’t mine.” It was interesting to him how certain ideas got lost or ignored in the process. He recalled how a sample maker in a Vietnam factory just decided to eliminate a detail. “He said, ‘That’s a stupid idea,’ ” Mr. Sachs recalled, chuckling. At first the artist was annoyed (“Give me that guy’s number”), but the sample maker also made suggestions that were incorporated in the final design. As Mr. Sachs said of the process, “It’s not this autocratic vision.”

The olive-green Chester coat.

The jacket styles are striking. The Marsfly golden-yellow windbreaker comes with sleeve and hood tension pulls, Kevlar stitching and leather trim for the cuffs and visor brim. The leather bits were added by hand in New York. The olive-green Chester coat, in a three-layer waterproof fabric, is plain enough to look elegant over a business suit. Mr. Sachs had the lining printed with essential scientific information, like the entire periodic table. It’s handy for settling a bar-room argument, he said.

“A good part of what drives the fashion business is perceived obsolescence, but it can have a destructive impact on consumers,” Mr. Sachs said. There are also ecological issues. “The answer is we have to make stuff that lasts.”

With a limited production, NikeCraft is pricey: from $ 385 for the sneakers to $ 700 for a lightweight tote. Items are available for sale at the Armory and at Union, in Los Angeles, as well as boutiques in London, Berlin, Paris and Tokyo.

Source: blogs.nytimes.com

“First we make our habits, then our habits make us.” – Charles C. Noble.

Committing to exercise is always a difficult thing.  We throw ourselves at the task only to quit a few months later because we just don’t have the time for it.  Over the years I’ve come to realize that exercise isn’t something we find time for, but rather it’s a behavior we need to build up so that it carves a space for itself in our daily routine.  Just like how brushing our teeth is something we just do in the morning, exercise can be just something we do on a daily basis without having to think about it.  So how can we make exercise as automatic as brushing our teeth? By approaching it with the intent to build a habit.

Here are the 4 steps you can take to build the exercise habit:

1. Shrink the change – If you have ever pledged to work out everyday for an hour only to end up back where you started, it may be because the change was too big.  Make your new exercise habit small and make it so easy to do that you can’t find an excuse not to do it.  For example instead of working out for an hour just exercise for 15 minutes, or get very specific and very small and start with just 10 pushups a day. Shrinking the change helps you get some quick wins, which in turn remove the dread of the task and get the progress rolling toward your new exercise habit.
2. Create a trigger and place your behavior immediately behind it - A trigger is a reminder, physical or not, that spurs you to do a particular action.  For example putting your running shoes right in front of your door might remind you to run for 10 minutes in the morning, or an afternoon text message from a friend might remind you to drop and do 10 pushups.  The best type of triggers are things you already do without thinking, things like going to the bathroom in the morning, or brushing your teeth work well as triggers.  When designing for behavior change place your new exercise habit behind a trigger and do the action immediately after it.
3. Train the cycle and escalate – Habits take time to form.  Some experts say a month, others say less or more than that, really it doesn’t matter how long it takes, just continue to do the action everyday until you don’t have to think about it anymore.  Once you hit this zone, start escalating the habit, for example adding an extra mile, or 20 more pushups. The idea is that now that the habit has carved its own space in your routine you can start adding more things to your workout and feel confident that you’ll keep it up.
4. Shape your environment – This is about assessing your environment and redesigning it in ways that nudge you to exercise.   For example you could redesign your social circle by surrounding yourself with people who exercise daily, or you could redesign your physical space by purchasing a pullup bar to trigger you to do your 5 daily pullups.  You could also add an incentive or reward and connect it to your new habit, like treating yourself to a massage at the end of the week.  Either way it’s important to shape the environment around you to make getting up and moving around as mindless as possible.

Changing any behavior into a habit requires thoughtful design and patience, but on the other side of all that is a sense of control over the habits that that can keep you on a path to health and happiness. So remember, keep the change small, create a trigger, train the cycle and shape the path and you’ll be on your way to a healthier and fit you.

Kevin Asuncion is a NASM certified personal trainer and Founder of Movemo, a health and fitness company that teaches and empowers those who move our world forward to live healthier so that they can increase the positive change they make in the world.

Photo credit: Mike Baird

Source: www.pickthebrain.com

She’s still weighing her options at this point, and Jennifer Lopez hasn’t decided if she’ll return for next season’s “American Idol” just yet.

The “On The Floor” songstress tweeted that she’s not made up her mind, so the rumors that she’s opting to move on simply aren’t true.

Source: gossipcenter.com

A man takes a photo of a new artwork attributed to Banksy in London. Picture: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Banksy’s Parachuting Rat artwork in Melbourne was destroyed earlier this week. Picture: Steven Crabtree

The famous street artist’s new image was discovered on the wall of a discount shop in the Wood Green area of north London on Tuesday – the same day his Melbourne artwork was destroyed.

No chances have been taken with the image, which has been covered in plastic in a bid to prevent it from suffering the same fate.

The work depicts a poor child using a sewing machine to make Union Jack flags.

His Parachuting Rat creation was ruined on Tuesday by drilling work for a cafe in Prahran, Melbourne.

It was the third Banksy lost in two years. Vandals damaged one in Fitzroy last August and council workers painted over a Banksy in Hosier Lane in April 2010.

Amazing art: The best of Banksy’s work 

In pictures: The world’s best street art

Banksy

The stencilled image depicts a poor child making Union Jack flags on a sewing machine. Picture: Getty Images

Source: Getty Images

Banksy

It’s located on the wall of a discount shop in the Wood Green area of north London. Picture: Getty Images

Source: Getty Images

Source: www.news.com.au/travel

Andrew Demetriou. Photo: Pat Scala

JUST 2½ years ago lowly Richmond was ridiculed for its breathtakingly ambitious five-year plan to play finals three times, wipe out its large, growing debt and double its membership to 75,000. It was called the 3-0-75 plan.

If Richmond wins tonight, it could, depending on other results, be out of the eight on percentage alone, with a persuasive argument to play finals this year. So nearing the halfway mark of the five-year plan, it could be on track to achieve all three goals.

The Richmond membership stands at 49,100 – more even than its opponent tonight, Essendon, and bitter cross-town rival Carlton – and is expected to soon break 50,000 with the launch of a three-game membership.

The debt, which began at $ 4.5 million, is $ 3.5 million. When the Fighting Tiger Fund was launched with a dinner that raised about $ 2 million, the club used half to retire debt and the other half was invested in football.

The continued membership rise has helped the club exceed its forecasts so it will make a profit this year that could hit seven figures.

The club has front-ended some player contracts and therefore is in a position to buy a player when free agency begins this year. It has also invested significantly in development and recruiting.

In 2009, the season before the plan was launched, Richmond won 5½ games and finished second-last. It had a new coach and had cleaned out its playing list. Richmond will host another dinner on June 2 to renew the impetus to the Fighting Tiger Fund.

President Gary March has said he wants to cut the debt to $ 2 million this year.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou yesterday lauded the change at Richmond and lavished praise on chief executive Brendon Gale for the turnaround, which he said was incomplete but showed signs of a trend to financial and football health.

“I can remember when Brendon Gale put out that five-year plan and how he was ridiculed about the aspirational aspects of the targets, with people saying they were far-fetched,” Demetriou told The Saturday Age.

”He has done a remarkable job, make no mistake, in what he has done at Richmond. He has been a great appointment by Gary and the board.

”Everyone has always assumed that Richmond has this great underlying supporter base that will come out of the woodwork if they are successful and maybe that is true but … what they have achieved in this period has been extraordinary.

“Last year they received a large amount in equalisation from the AFL but prior to that they had not received much from the AFL and neither had they asked for it. They wanted to be self-sufficient.”

The 3-0-75 plan was for finals in three years and beyond that for three premierships in 10 years. It shows Richmond is seeking not just to be good but wants once more to be great.

It may not make the finals this year and so be unable to get to three finals appearances in five years.

It may also fall short of 75,000 members but on both counts it seems likely to be close. The sense of change and growth is clear.

Source: www.theage.com.au/sport

Your lifestyle will play a major role in choosing an eyeshadow palette that suits your needs. For instance, you wouldn’t want to purchase a palette that has a rainbow variety of colors if your job requires you to look professional. Instead, you’d be better off purchasing neutral color palettes like the cost-effective Physicians Formula Shimmer Stripes Nude Eyes. The only downside to the Physicians Formula Nude eyes palette is that it doesn’t offer any matte shades.

Another option that’s easy on the wallet is NYX Butt Naked Palette because it offers a large variety of colors, and also comes with pretty blushes, bronzers and a highlight pressed powder as well. If you have the money to spend, or just prefer to have one palette that’s easy to travel with and flexible in terms of eye looks, then both the Naked Palette and Naked 2 Palette by Urban Decay will give you plenty of options.

Assuming you’re a person who enjoys colorful eye looks, then something like Ben Nye eyeshadows may suit your style. You’ll get a lot of pigment in each of their eyeshadows, and you’ll be able to create unique looks out of colors straight from the rainbow. One more option to consider is Coastal Scents Go Palette Sydney. You may have to build the color a bit to have an intense color combination makeup look with this product, but the price is right.

Quality doesn’t have to cost

When it comes to makeup, there’s often a misconception that the more expensive the product is, the better. In reality though, this isn’t the case – especially with eyeshadow! There are so many brands that offer you very good colors at reasonable prices like Eyes Lips Face (ELF) cosmetics, Wet’n Wild, CoverGirl and NYX. All of these drugstore brands give you some of the best eyeshadows without draining your savings.

Eyeshadow Brushes and Applicators

Not everyone has the money to purchase eyeshadow brushes (makeup brushes) that cost twice as much as the actual eyeshadow, and you shouldn’t have to either. The best tools we have are our fingers; however, your fingers will also limit your options a little. In any case, you can use your ring finger to blend, apply and smudge the eyeshadow out. Still, having a few brushes makes the job a little easier.

As for the applicators that come with the eyeshadow, they’re only good for packing the product on your eyelid, and do little for blending the colors out. You only need a couple of brushes like a fluffy blending brush, an angled brush for precision, and a flat brush for patting the color on your lid to achieve a professional-looking image.

Using Eyeshadow Primer

If you want long-lasting eyeshadow wear, then you’ll want to use an eyeshadow primer before applying anything to your eyelids. The primer can also help to cover veins that might poke through sheer eyeshadows. One more point worth noting is that primer makes the color more prominent, and keeps it from flaking off throughout the day.

Eyeshadow for Eye Color

If you’re wondering which colors compliment your eye color, here are a few examples:

• Brown eyes really stand out when you use various shades of blue, gray, purple, brown and green. If you have hazel or green eyes, your complimentary colors are various shades of brown, deep plum purple, bronze and green.
• Blue eyes look great with various shades of blue, gray, brown, green and red. Of course, you don’t have to follow these guidelines because each person will have a different shade of eye color, skin tone and preference.

If you want a little color, but don’t want to use eyeshadow, you can always use colored eyeliner for an extra pop of color. Apply a thin line above a line of black eyeliner along your upper lash line, and wing both liners out for a dramatic look.

Tips on Applying Eyeshadow

Applying eyeshadow can be as easy as swiping a medium or neutral tone color over your lid and up to your crease. Or it can be as difficult as using three or more colors to create a smoky-eye makeup look if you have time to spare. That said, here are a few basic tips for those interested in learning how to apply eyeshadow.

You don’t want to look like a clown, so blend the colors out really well. Dark shadows are ideal for your crease, lash line, or outer V that is located on the outer part of your eyelid. Use a brush to blend the colors out so that you don’t have harsh lines.

Light or neutral eyeshadows are great as an inner-corner color, or as a highlight on your brow bone.

Overly-sparkly eyeshadows aren’t ideal for daytime wear or for use at work, so save those for nighttime. Heavy makeup can look a little out of place when worn during the day, but at night, dark eyeshadows will enhance your eyes instead of making you look showy.

Create a Smokey Eye

When you’re using a palette with a variety of colors, it’s best to apply only two or three at a time.

1. Begin by applying the lightest color like a pearly white near the inner corner of your eye.
2. Then choose a medium-toned color like a taupe along the lash line and up to your crease.
3. Finish by using a dark brown color on the outer corner of your eye in the shape of a horizontal V.
4. Blend the colors together by using small circular motions while working with a fluffy eyeshadow brush.

Eyeshadow Finishes

There are a few different types of eyeshadow formulas to choose from, and some are better than others.

• Matte eyeshadows don’t have any form of glitter, shine or shimmer, and are great to use as a basis for different formulas of other eyeshadows.
• Matte shadows are also good for covering discoloration on your eyelids. You can look for matte eyeshadows in both cream and pressed powder form.
• Satin eyeshadow finishes aren’t completely matte, but give you a nice and light shimmer similar to a peal, and can be found in pressed powder, pencil, or liquid forms of eyeshadow.
• Shimmer shadows aren’t full-on glittery, but are more sparkly than satin, and can sometimes be sheer enough to allow your skin to peek through. Shimmer eyeshadows that are skin-toned are great to use as highlights on your brow bone, cheekbones, cupids bow, and the bridge of your nose. You’ll find shimmer finishes in powder, liquid or pigment formulas.
• Frost eyeshadows are meant to be full coverage, but the texture will vary from brand to brand. Frost eyeshadow is best for young girls because this formula tends to fall into wrinkles and magnify them. Look for frost eyeshadows in powder or cream shadow formulas.

Source: makeuptips

Robert Caplin for The New York TimesJanelle Monáe with Ted Gibson at the awards.

Essence magazine handed out its first Best in Black Beauty Awards on May 8, honoring what it called innovators in cosmetics, skin care, nails and hair.   The event, at the Dream Downtown hotel in New York City, drew a fashionable crowd of beauty industry veterans, style editors, celebrity makeup artists and hairstylists.

The honorees included Ted Gibson, a noted hair stylist; Pat McGrath, a makeup artist; and Lisa Logan, a manicurist. The event was hosted by Essence’s beauty director, Corynne Corbett, and June Ambrose, a stylist and host of VH1’s “Styled by June.”

Robert Caplin for The New York TimesMikki Taylor (in purple print), the former beauty director at the magazine, in the audience at the Essence Best in Black Beauty Awards.

Mikki Taylor,  the magazine’s trailblazing beauty director for 30 years until she retired in 2010, was also present. ”I had goosebumps the entire time,” she said. For decades Essence offered beauty tips for African American women that were not available in other women’s magazines, including advice on hair relaxers and deep tone concealers.

Robert Caplin for The New York TimesUrsula Stephens, at left, checking out the Twitter feed from the event with a guest.

Among the first to arrive was Ursula Stephens, a hair stylist who transformed Rihanna’s medium-length locks into a bob. “Essence is the stamp of approval for black beauty,” Ms. Stephens said, who wore a mustard-colored bandage skirt, a peplum blouse and sky-high platform pumps.

Mr. Gibson, who has been lobbying for an Academy Award category for hair styling, was thrilled by the honor. “To be recognized by the leading black publication in the world, it means something,” he said. Janelle Monáe presented his award, and gushed about Mr. Gibson’s work. ” Whenever Ted did my hair, I knew I was in good hands,” said Ms. Monáe,  who wore a shiny black tuxedo with her signature red lipstick and up-do.

Style veterans and trendsetters weren’t the only ones being celebrated. Balanda Atis and Janine Cherette, color cosmetic scientists from the L’Oreal USA Research and Innovation team, also won awards. The two spent seven years interviewing thousands of women of color worldwide, and used their feedback to expand foundation shades. As a result of their research, Lancôme added new shades to the Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Foundation.

After the speeches, guests networked at a cocktail party and were invited to create their own gift bags from the winning products. That’s when the real fun started.

Source: blogs.nytimes.com

No one likes to fail. Whether it’s at work, at home, or in another area of your life, failure is painful – and it can also be costly in terms of time, money, or both.

But failure is a normal part of life. If you never, ever suffer a failure, then you’re probably not pushing yourself to your full potential. Often, it’s only through failure that we eventually meet with success.

Here’s how to pick yourself up after you’ve failed:

Limit the Damage Caused

Once you realize you’ve failed, you need to take steps to limit the damage caused by that failure. That could mean:

• You sell off that gym equipment that you’re never going to get round to using
• You step down from that position that you should never have taken in the first place
• You apologize to someone who you hurt by saying something thoughtless or unkind

Whatever the situation, being proactive is always going to be a better option than sticking your head in the sand and wishing it had never happened.

Remember that Other People Fail Too

Most people don’t talk openly about their failures. They’ll tell you about that great new contract they signed … not that deal they worked on for months, only to have it slip through their fingers.

But failure is normal, and lots of people fail time and time again before meeting with success. Here are a few quotes that might help you to remember that:

“Edison failed 10, 000 times before he made the electric light. Do not be discouraged if you fail a few times.”

– Napoleon Hill

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

– Michael Jordan

“I was set free because my greatest fear had been realized, and I still had a daughter who I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became a solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”

– J.K. Rowling

Remind Yourself of Your Past Successes…

Failing doesn’t mean that you’re worthless, or that you’ll never achieve the things you want. Think of all the times in the past when you’ve succeeded.

Maybe you got a promotion that you worked for last year, or you had a great GPA in college, or you lost weight, or you learned to play a musical instrument. You might want to write down a list of successes – things that you’ve accomplished over the past few years, whether big or small. If you ever lack confidence, you can go back and read over that list.

…And Your Past Failures

Your past successes are important … but so are your past failures. You’ve made mistakes before, and you’ve survived them. Perhaps you did badly in an exam, or screwed something up at work, or lost your temper and had to apologize.

It’s not fun to think about the times when things went wrong, but by acknowledging your failures, you can remind yourself that today is no different. Just as you recovered in the past, you can recover from your recent failure too.

Make a Decision

Whatever went wrong, you’re probably facing some sort of decision – even once the initial consequences are over. For instance, perhaps you took out a credit card and ended up in debt. You’re facing two choices: keep using the card, or make it inaccessible in some way.

Don’t rush into making hasty decisions – but do look for a forward path. That might require some deep thinking. You can help yourself by:

• Getting some extra advice and support with a particular area of your life, perhaps from a professional like a doctor, personal trainer, life coach, or counselor.
• Reading and learning more, if a lack of knowledge led to your failure.
• Talking through your options with a loved one or close friend, or writing in a journal about the decision(s) that you face.

“Doing nothing” is certainly an option … but it’s a decision in itself, and often one that won’t lead to anything positive.

Whatever failure you’re struggling with right now, you can learn from it, and move on.

If you want to share your experiences or thoughts, leave a comment below.

Photo credit: ‘Anxiety‘ by Big Stock

Source: www.pickthebrain.com