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Grooming Lessons Vol. 4 – Breezy Breaths OR not so much!

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Ok, so this is one of the major social faux pas one can ever make! So, be always careful about how you are smelling, orally or physically! Carrying a sample perfume bottle and a handy mouthwash or spray is a very good idea. Let me talk about dental health today.

Be sure to check your breath after the meal
Please do not forget to ditch those onions in your midday meal even if you love them! I know this sounds so obvious but people who love onions tend to forget that the other person talking to them has to bear that smell even if they are standing a meter away from you.
Are you brushing your teeth correctly?
Ok, many people do not really pay attention to how they brush! You should brush your teeth vertically with quick strokes instead of horizontal brushing. I remember the countless times my dad used to comment on my method of brushing till the time he approved of it!

Flossing might be a good idea!

Flossing instead of brushing is a better way to get rid of bacteria and cavities issue. So, take 5 minutes out of your time and give a nice floss to your teeth. That helps in promoting gum health also.
Scrape your tongue!
If you are brushing right and flossing regularly and still have breath issues, get a tongue scraper. The bacteria and the germs which thrive on the moist tongue are more often the culprit of bad breath. In Ayurveda, it is said that tongue should be scraped every morning after brushing to detox the body.
Pull that Oil
I told you some days back that I had started oil pulling. I can safely say that though it is not exactly my favorite task of the day, it makes my teeth clean, white and tends to keep the bad breath away by removing the oral bacteria and germs.
So, always be aware of how your breath smells, even if you have just snacks or coffee breaks! And, don’t forget to simply rinse your mouth after every meal, small or large.
So, do you take care of your breath? Do you use any breath fresheners?
PS: Image copyrights belong to the original owners. I do not claim any ownership.

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5 tips to avoid Headaches {Five Series}

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I am in angst with Hyderabad weather! It is so damn unpredictable that I always find the sun shining on top of my head when I am out and the sun happily goes and hides behind the clouds when I am inside!! And, not to speak about the sultriness these days….huh.

And, all this takes a toll on my health and my chronic headaches get worse. So, I decided to list down what are the very common reasons why one may get headaches and how can you avoid them. So, lets check them out!
Stay out of Sun 
Well, pretty obvious reading the introduction to the post, right? Direct exposure to sun rays might prompt the headache especially when you are doing a lot of in and out from an air-conditioned place! The change in warm and cold atmosphere itself is enough to trigger some or the other problem. Same goes to the fluctuating weather conditions and change of seasons.
That is why not only sun but excess wind should also be avoided! And, of course, getting used to a lot of cool in summers or hot in winters makes one sensitive to any slight change in temperature. And, if you have to, make sure you cover yourself well especially your head and ears!!
Acidity can trigger Headaches
Proper diet is very very essential for proper functioning of the body. If you do not eat on time, you might get acidity. If you eat more, you might get acidity. Either of the conditions, acidity suffocates the body a bit and that might lead to a headache so control acidity by following a strict daily routine.
And, say no to coffee when you have headaches. I do not know if it increases acidity but it sure increases your headache. Tea is good because it relaxes the system a bit but I would suggest to go for herbal teas instead because they are refreshing for the body and feel nothing more than you are drinking delicately-flavored hot water. 
Do not skip on Breakfast
Again the same thing. Proper diet is very important and breakfast is the most important meal of the day. What you eat in breakfast determines how your entire day goes! So, eat a healthy balance of lots of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Try to get a heavy breakfast even if you have a desk job. 
Exercise for 30 minutes everyday
This is invariably a condition if you want to lead healthy life so I would not say much except that get moving, guys and gals! 

Sleep at correct times and for right amount of Hours
For me, if my sleep gets disturbed or if I over-sleep or under-sleep, I always get headaches. So, yes proper deep sleep is very important for me. Also, I would add that proper pillows and mattress and sheets aid in good sleep so invest in them. And, always take care of your postures so that you do not get a crink while sleeping!
And, now the bonus tip! 

Healthy Snacking 
I totally get it that you love to munch and snack and at the tea-times more often than not you want that extra samosa or the burger which the other person is enjoying! But, they are really bad for you and that is not just because of junk. But, also because they do not satisfy your appetite. 
You need to develop some healthy snacking habits. Either carry something from home or get some salads at the office. Some extra fruits would not put a lot of weight on you. And, when really hungry, go for fiber even in healthy options! That peanut butter is very useful. Or, carry some dates or sprouts or dry fruits!!
What are your ways to avoid a headache?
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5 FAQ’s on Conditioner and Hair Care
5 Skin Care tips to deal with Roscea, Psoriasis and Eczema
5 Oils I love for my Hair

5 FAQ’s on Conditioner and Hair Care {Five Series}

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I have been really taking care of my hair this year and I am so happy about it that I have been boring you time and again 😀 Anyways, this was requested by Pallavi and it has been a long time in coming. So, here it goes!
What is a Conditioner?
A treatment which follows the shampooing routine to restore the oils of the hair after washing it. Shikakai is the traditional conditioner which was used to compensate for the harshness of reetha or soapnuts.
Now a days, we have two classes of conditioners. One is a post-shampoo treatment and another is pre-shampoo treatment and one can go for either home remedies or get the commercially available products!

The home remedies are nourishing for hair and the commerical products have hair-friendly ingredients or ones which coat the hair strands to shield it from the external elements. You also get products which claim to restructure the hair collagen using chemical compounds like peptides and keratin.
How to apply the conditioner?
Well, this is something I have already discussed but it is still a huge doubt for me. So, the simplest thing I do is divide my hair into two sections and take a dollop of conditioner and smooth on one side and repeat the same for other. I do this very gently but still some hairs do fall so I gently remove them and wash them off.
I do not use comb in the shower as many people suggest. I think it is a bad idea because hair is most delicate when wet and howsoever gentle one might be, its totally impossible not to break the hair.
How often should conditioner be used?
Well, generally, the answer would be every time you wash your hair. But, honestly, I do not use it every time. Sometimes, I am just too lazy or sometimes I want to treat my hair to henna or something else so I simply skip. In those times, I make sure I do a leave-in treatment for the hair.
For oily hair as well, finding a conditioner which is not heavy for hair is very important! Or, they can make do with a leave-in treatment and some people do a pre-conditioning like applying egg or henna or curd or some other hair pack for an hour before wash it off.
I think how often you need to condition also depends on the quality of your shampoo. If it a drying type, you would obviously need the conditioner but if the shampoo simply cleanses the hair and doesn’t remove the natural oils, one can make do without conditioner.
I have been using SLS-free shampoos for long and yes I do think I can make do without conditioners if I want. But, a drop or two of some oil acts a leave-in agent in my hair otherwise my hairs do dry out a lot but then my hair is not oily but dry and curly/wavy as well.

Does skipping conditioner affect hair?
Yes, actually! I have seen that personally and have mentioned it already on the blog. But, this point applies only when you are missing the leave-in treatment as well. The hair is prone with split ends and thin hair especially on the ends which leads to breakage! For hair to remain beautiful, both internal and external nourishment are equally important.
Eat omega3 rich foods and foods rich in Vitamin B and E. They help in hair growth and keep hair moisturized and hydrated all the time. Eating protein-rich foods also helps in maintaining body of the hair strands. And, protect hair from the external damaging elements like pollution and dust and sun.
    
How to select a conditioner for my hair?
Now, this is the most difficult question to answer! There are no guidelines to select a product which will suit. So, I can just mention a few salient points! First, it is not necessary that the shampoo and conditioner should be from the same brand and range. If your hair reacts well to a particular shampoo and some other conditioner, go ahead with that as well.
Second, always buy the products depending on your hair type and issues. You can always rotate them one after another as well like using a volume boosting conditioner and then color protecting conditioner and then conditioner for curly hair if all those issues pertain to your hair condition.
And, lastly, in my opinion professional range products are always better investment if you are looking for some serious hair care. Yes, they are more expensive but then the companies spend quite a lot of amount in decent research. And, do not get involved into the good ingredients and bad ingredients debate because its just not worth it!
So, these were my few pennies on the topic and hope the post is clear enough. I have written it with a muddle-head! Drop down your comments and see ya tomorrow 🙂
Add your questions to the above-mentioned ones and let me know your answers as well for the questions above!
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