Some of the problems can be prevented before occurance whereas others can be dealt with medication or home care. Though is is difficult to prevent hair problems among children but educating your child about the causes and care should help.

Common hair problems:

1) Head lice - This is one of the most commonly transmitted problem in children and is difficult to prevent. Lice can be transmitted at school, play ground, gym, hobby clasess like dancing, singing etc etc. Moreover lice usually prefer a clean scalp so your child is more prone to get infected if his/ her scalp and hair is clean. Lice may not seem to be a serious problem but is actually dangerous and can mar your child’s deveopment since lice is associated with poor hygeine and can be a cause of ridicule for your child.

Children can often loose confidence and feel left out. Treat it as soon as possible and keep a check for the symptoms, don’t let them grow. Once they grow they will lay their eggs known as nits which are difficult to get rid of. You can keep a check on the head lice by observing your child, see if he/she is scratching his head. Use a fine toothed comb once in a week on oiled hair to keep a check on the same.

2) Alopecia - Though alopecia is not a common problem among children but some children do get affected. There are various types of alopecia among children. Telogen Effluvium alopecia is caused either due to high fever or a sudden trauma or shock. Trichotillomania is another type of alopecia which is psychological in nature. The child pulls his/ her own hair and causes bald patches. The 3rd type is known as Tinea Capitis which is a fungal disease like ring worm and can be cured with proper medication.

Then there is Traction Alopecia which happens while playing, children often indulge in activities that damage hair, this can cause hair loss. And lastly there is Alopecia areata which is the most common type. It is caused by the body’s resistant system reacting at the site of hair growth.

Also if you have an oily skin then don’t buy any oil based make up since it will contribute to the build up of oil in the follicles.

Lets get started;

1) Foundation - Use a foundation that is closest to your complexion, Asian skin tone are yellowish so don’t make the mistake of buying a pinkish or orangish foundation. To make your foundation stay longer, use a primer before applying the foundation, your make up will not fade away and will last longer. Don’t forget to cover your neck and back with foundation.

2) Eyes - Use a panstick around eyes, use your finger tips to dab the panstick. Now take a wet sponge and dab it to merge the panstick. Apply yellow powder, also known as translucent powder. You can use a lighter shade of panstick to cover a broad nose. Now use a brush and apply pan cake as if using water colour, specially cover area under the eyes and the crows feet. Again apply yellow powder for a complete coverage. Use a mascara that is not more than 3 months old.

Apply with from the root of your lashes to the tip with a back and forth movement for maximum coverage. Comb it through to get the perfect lashes and re-apply. Use eye shadow in 3 shades with the lightest shade on the brow bone, the darkest shade on the crease and the medium shade on the eyelid. Use thin eyeliner if you have deep set eyes or small eyes and thick liner if you have big protruding eyes.

3) Lipstick - Use a lip liner to define your lips but ensure that the shade of the liner matches perfectly with your lipstick. To make your lipstick last longer, line your lips with a lip pencil and then apply the liner on the entire lips, now apply a matte lipstick and dab it with a tissue. Re-apply the same shade of lipstick in a glossy tone, your lipstick will not wear out.

Unlike skin which can be covered with good makeup, hair cannot be covered with make up, of course you can wear a wig or hair extension but then you won’t feel natural. Artificial hair shows up and if it is not of good quality, looks tacky. So go natural and pamper yourself indulge in some “ME” time before that special day. You sure want to look your best.

Tips for hair care -

1) Visit a professional hair dresser - This is the only day of your life where you can spend lavishly, so consult a professional hairdresser well in advance. May be as early as you get engaged, don’t delay your visit for they can advice you on various aspects. If you freeze on a hairstyle for your wedding day then the stylist can advice you about the frequency of trimming your hair, the correct time to highlight your hair, home care to get the right texture and salon treatments to get the perfect hair on your big day. Be loyal to the stylist.

2) Research - Although it is important to stick to the same stylist and be loyal but before you choose your hairstyle and the hair stylist, do your research thoroughly. Surf the net, look through magazines etc so that you are well informed about the do’s and dont’s of a good hairstyle. This will help you to discuss the look with your hairdresser more comfortably. Also take pictures of the styles that you have liked, don’t be rigid be open for suggestions.

3) Home care - Indulge in home care as early as possible, treat your hair to massage oils, hair packs, henna application, steam sessions, deep conditioning treatments,etc etc. Apart from this keep a check on your diet because whatever goes in, comes out so eat a balanced diet. The idea is to take care of yourself and your body will reward you in return.

1) Hair wash - Wash your child’s hair with a mild shampoo which has their favourite fragrance, sometimes kids are more comfortable with the aroma they like rather than a strange fragrance. Also use a shampoo which doesn’t have tears. It is not necessary to use a conditioner at a young age so skip the conditioning, however you can use a serum after wash to detangle the hair easily. Serum will also avoid the pulling of hair. Alternatively you can use a natural product like shea butter on wet hair, it is an excellent conditioner.

2) Comb - Allow your child to brush or comb their hair on their own, you can just give a final touch. Like adult’s don’t use the age old technique of brushing the hair 100 time everyday, kids don’t need it. Use good quality comb or brush and teach them to divide the hair into sections to detangle them, also show them how to use gentle strokes. Whatever you teach at this age will remain in the long term memory.

3) Good habits - Children usually copy their parents, peers, celebrities or a role model like teacher etc. As parents if you use too much of styling products and heated instruments your child too will be tempted to use such products maybe out of inquisitiveness. So limit your usage of such products and teach them by example.

4) Hair oil - Oil your child’s hair before every wash, make this a habit and it will remain forever. Use an oil meant specially for kids, also check that the hair oil shouldn’t have too many ingredients 2 to 3 ingredients is good enough.

Skin care should begin as early as possible infact the kind of care that we take during infant stage should continue in the later years. As we grow our skin is subject to various external pollutants and exposure to tough weathers according to our work life, these factors will have an effect on our skin. However if care is taken from the begenning the effects can be minimised.

The first step towards skin care among children is “Protection” , your child’s skin is very delicate and susceptible to damage. It is therefore important to protect the skin from various factors;

1) Sun protection - The harsh UV rays can cause permanent tanning and the child will never regain the same complexion ever again. Too much of exposure to sun when outdoors can also cause sun burn and in some cases skin cancer. Use a good quality sunscreen meant only for kids.

2) Bug protection - Children are prone to playing in the dirtiest of conditions when outdoors, they don’t bother if the place is hygenic or no, they don’t check if there are bugs and flies etc. They get involved in the game and have a care free attitude. It is our duty to protect their skin from bugs, use a repellent cream if they intend to play outdoor games in the evening. During day time sun protection is mandatory and in the evening bug protection is required.

3) Chlorine protection - If you want your todler to learn swimming then take them to a professional swimming coach and also ensure that the water doesn’t have too much of chlorine. Though you won’t have a control over the chlorine content but you can certainly use a water resistant sunscreen to take care of your childs delicate skin.

Foundation base - Clean your face, neck and back and apply concealer to hide any patches or acne marks and scars. Next apply a panstick over your face to match the skin colour. This will help conceal blotches, spots or redness. Dab on some transparent loose powder with a semi - wet sponge to set your base properly. You can also apply some gold dust using a blush on brush to add that sparkle to your face. But don’t forget to dust some over your neck and back as well for an overall shine.

Eyes - Pick an eye shadow that compliments your outfit. You could even merge in 2 shades and blend them for a striking effect. Highlight the eyes with golden sparkle. You can try using artificial lashes which make the eyes look bigger and glamorous. Apply a coat of black liner and follow it up with golden, silver or coloured liner over it to create an alluring effect. Depending on your complexion, apply a red or maroon blusher or a bronzer to your cheeks. Add a bit of face glitter to highlight the cheeks.

Lips - Opt for a normal or matte lipstick in a shade that best suits your outfit and the skin shade. Add some lip gloss to add shine and make your pout look fuller. As a precaution always use a lip balm or lip gel,you can wipe the excess balm with a tissue for a neater look.It is advisable to apply your lipstick with an applicator brush and use only one stroke either clock wise or anti clockwise.Start from the corner of the lips and work it up, this is a professional way of applying lipstick.

A wild hairstyle if done up correctly can be worn to many occasions apart from club. You can wear it for shopping where you don’t have to look formal or elegant and can be yourself, it will surely grab attention. These styles can also be worn to a cinema hall or a theatre so anything that’s not so formal and doesn’t have a dress code is suitable for a wild hairstyle.

Wild hairstyles require use of gel and mousse so don’t indulge in it too frequently, else you will damage your hair. It is important to know the right way to apply mousse since mousse expands when it is dispensed from the container. So if a style requires a specified amount of mousse it means the amount of mousse after it has expanded.

Also care should be taken to avoid over application of mousse since it will weigh down your hair. Take a small quantity of mousse in your palm and use your fingertips of the other hand to distribute the product evenly on your finger tips. Now run your finger tips through to the roots, do not apply the mousse to the entire length of the hair. Similarly you can apply gel in the same style.

Make sections of your hair and apply gel, now arrange these sweeps in different styles to give the look you desire. If you have layered hair, defined ends will look fabulous. Tip your head upside down, blast in a spray wax and shake through to get that messy unkept look. Shake up your crop with a dry finish wax for some sexy texture.

Do not give in to the pressure, wear a style that suits you and makes you feel comfortable, all traditional hairstyles are not meant for your hair type. The major challenge is faced by those who have curly hair since it is usually dry and a bit difficult to manage. Deep conditioning is important for this hair type, additionally use heated instruments and hair products sparingly.

The best way to wear Curly hair is to emphasize the curls instead of hiding it with an elaborate hair style. It best to leave them free flowing with a little bit of up-do around the crown or back. It can also be arranged into a French roll, bun or Asian knots.

Another hairstyle that suits curly hair is half-back hair, it creates a mix of screen siren and girlie glam. Straighten your hair partially and pull up the top section of the hair by crossing grips over each other to form an ‘X’ shape, now pin it up, you can add variation by creating a little height at the crown. The formal hairstyling trends which included complicated buns and pleats have given way to natural free flowing styles.

The hairstyle should compliment the facial structure, so if you have a round face avoid middle parts and try to add height by experimenting with your crown similarly if you have long face then try to add width around the ears and cheeks. Whatever style you choose make sure that it suits your personality type.

Aloe Vera plant looks like cactus, but is actually a member of the lily family. It grows in warm places like Asia, Africa and some parts of America and Europe that are warm. It is a stemless plant or has a very short stem. This plant has been used medicinally over 6,000 years. It has many properties like; soothing, restorative, laxative and antioxidants.

Aloe vera contains high water content of approximately 95% and has more than 70 essential ingredients which include minerals, vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, protein and polysaccharides. A combination of all these ingredients make aloe vera a perfect plant for holistic healing. There are more than 200 species of aloe vera plants but some are more nutritious as compared to others. It can be used externally as well as internally and is available in the form of juice, gel and cream.

In skin care it is used in various conditions like sun burn, itching, acne and dry skin. It also treats severe conditions like cuts, wounds, psoriasis and eczema. It nourishes aged skin and improves elasticity. Wounds heal faster when aloe vera is used on the skin. It can make your skin fair by fighting against the extra melanin production of the body.

If you wish to buy an Aloe Vera product, always purchase those made from 100% pure Aloe Vera. Check the International Aloe Science Council Seal of Approval before buying. It helps in curing a skin condition known as dermatitis - an inflammation of the skin. It also helps in curing skin disorders caused due to pitta dosh (in ayurveda).

To avoid such disasters, take some simple steps to ensure that you get the look you want. The first step starts with your appointment at the salon, it is the start of a whole new you. Prepare well for your appointment and you will walk out of the salon with a sense of satisfaction.

1) Do your research - Browse through magazines and search for a cut that suits your hair and face type. Show your hairdresser a picture of the cut you desire. Also show him some other styles since your haircut can be a combination of 2 or more styles. The picture visualised by you may not be suitable for your hair and face type, so discuss it with your stylist. Be open to suggestions and have faith in your hairdresser if he/she is credible enough.

2) Be yourself - Dress in your normal style so that the hairdresser can get an idea about your image. This will make easier for them to give you a look that suits you.

3) Ask questions - Feel free to ask questions if your stylists suggests a hair cut to you. Make sure you are fully aware about the maintenance and home care involved. Never go for a high maintenance cut if you have a hectic lifestyle.

4) Help your hairdresser - Arrive on time, avoid wearing polo necks or a closed neck. This will make cutting difficult for your hairdresser, be a little thoughtful. Also don’t wear huge earnings, they too can get in the way of cutting. Answer questions truthfully and listen to suggestions.

5) Be honest - If you dont like the look tell them. Loyal clients are sought after by salons so they will work towards making you happy.