Cut Out The Sodium!

Your sodium intake should only be ideally one teaspoon a day, but with the types of food the average person eats, the majority are horrifically over their recommended sodium intake.

When selecting foods to eat, choose fruit and vegetables as much as possible as they are low in sodium content. This is the same for canned and frozen fruits/vegetables also. Try and eat fresh meats over packaged meats. Packaged meats contain more sodium, and of course… Fresh is always better!

If you are worried about your sodium intake, check food labels when doing your weekly shop. Manufacturers are legally required to let you know exactly how much of what, you are consuming. Anything labelled in red basically means it contains over the daily recommended amount.

How You Should Avoid Straightening Your hair

Straightening your hair is a common practice but there are a few common mistakes people make when doing so. Read below to see if you’re a causing unnecessary harm to your hair.

Don’t think that conditioning/shampooing your hair will actually give you straight hair as it won’t. It may help with preparing with the process though. Also remember not to towel dry your hair thoroughly, instead choose the pat downwards technique.

When in the process of straightening your hair, if you see steam and/or sizzle have a look at the situation. Make sure your hair is dry when you straighten, if not this could be the reason for the sizzle.

It’s not necessary to straighten the same part of your hair more than once. It all comes down to tension.

The Fringe

A fringe doesn’t necessarily have to be straight cut leading down to your eyebrows, instead it can be swept across, but it’s a look that not everyone will enjoy. With a swept fringe you may find that it is a lot more difficult to control, especially if you’re hair doesn’t hold its shape very well, but if you want a fringe, with a hint of forehead, then this style could be ideal.

The swept fringe has always been a popular trend, so it is not just something that has come along very recently. If you’re regularly highlight your hair or you have a multiple colours spread though your hair, then a swept fringe can really work to flaunt all of your colours, and this means that it is actually the case for men and women.

Many men will opt for a swept fringe, and it’s still a very popular look. You just have to decide on the way you want it to sweep across.

Styling Fine Hair

We know that styling fine hair can be troublesome. The hair can look limp, frizzy, whilst you also have the added worry of trying to make your hair look like it has volume. Below are a few tips we think can help.

  • If you have a problem straightening your hair, don’t use a hair straightener. We recommend you use a blow-dryer and paddle hair brush as this will give the body of hair a filled finish.
  • When you blow-dry your hair, the best way to get volume is by standing upright and pulling your hair straight up at the roots. This will create firmer tension, giving more lift.
  • If you have problems with your hair not holding a style well, then use hair mousse beforehand.

Face Masks – Do It Yourself!

Why would you want to spend £5+ on a store purchased face mask, when you can spend less on the ingredients, have fun and make it yourself? Below are two of our favourites.

Banana and Honey Face Masks: That’s right! You can use a banana as an all-natural, homemade facial mask that moisturizes your skin and leaves it looking and feeling softer. To make the face mask mash up a medium-sized ripe banana into a smooth paste and mix it with 1/4 cup of plain yoghurt and 2 tablespoons of honey, then apply it to your face and neck (if necessary). Let it set for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse it off with cold water.

Coffee Face Mask: The coffee face mask is a classic for injecting life into a dull, tired complexion. While the mask will remind you of your morning cup of coffee it will brighten your complexion and tighten your skin, revealing a youthful you. To make: In your bowl, mix 1/2 cup of finely ground coffee beans with 1/2 cup of cocoa powder. Add in 1 cup of milk, stir until it creates a paste. For a thicker paste, use less milk. Fold 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and honey. Apply to skin and let dry (up to 20 minutes). Then rinse.