Considering we are have unique facial contours and physical attributes, it is impossible to agree that one haircut or one hairstyle can suit all. The first requisite of styling your hair is to understand your face type and your choice of wardrobe to sync it accordingly.

Trends in hairstyles have gone a sea change with fancy style being accepted with much élan; however with the retro trends capturing the limelight once again, the trend for plaits Is back in the frame. From our very own B-town celebrities to the divas of Hollywood, all have been raving about plaits.

Are you trying your hands at sporting a stylish and chic plait, here are few quick tips to up your hairstyling quotient
Grecian Plait

A minimalistic yet stylish attempt, this plait can set eyes aflutter for its ethereal appeal. Just tie your hair in two different plaits and pin them upwards for a contemporary Grecian look.

Adds charm to any outfit and has been sported by some of the leading ladies of Hollywood complementing their Victorian gowns.

Fishtail Braids

A very chic and well-kept look; this braid can be worn with both ethnic as well as western attires.

Extremely simple to attempt, just tie your hair in a ponytail.

Divide it into two sections suing a tail comb and just form a simple plait using these sections.

You may also try this without the ponytail for a just out of bed look and a rustic appeal.

Rasta Braids

Well known for its bohemian appeal, Rasta braids are low maintenance and keep your hair in place for longer durations. Just divide your hair into 20-30 odd sections (depending on the thickness of hair) and tie as many plaits as the number of divided sections.

Though these are time consuming, but the result I surely worth it and can be lasting too.
You can also use a ribbon or a coloured thread in one or more braids for an added effect.

French Braid

For the perfect lady like charm, try this extremely suave and refined hairdo. Women with an oval face look best in this kind of a braid.

Divide your hair into two sections, from every section, pick a small strand and start plaiting. Start from the top and finish at the bottom when all the strands are being utilised for the plait. This Is a great style to add volume to thin hair.

Cosmetics, treatments, therapies and much more, we have tried it all and undoubtedly, it’s just a negligible difference more often than not.

Much to your surprise, the secret of a beautiful skin, is residing right there in your kitchen for nature’s bounty has all the power to offer you a glowing and attractive skin. Need to know how?

Try these simple tips by using these products or consuming them in your diet and everyone around you will see the healthy difference.

• Rub some fresh lemon juice on your face, let it dry for 10 odd minutes and wash with cold water. The bleaching agents in lemon help lighten the skin tone at least by 2 shades if applied regularly.
• Mix 2 tbsps. of orange peel (grinded) in 4 tbsp. yoghurt. Apply on your face and neck and leave to dry for 15 minutes. Rinse with cold water to feel an instant glow that is more than captivating.

• Grind some tulsi(basil) leaves and drain out the juice, mix this with 1 tbsp. lemon juice and rub gently over your face and neck. Wash after 15 minutes. Applying this solution daily will improve the complexion in 10-15 days itself.
• Include items such as oysters, eggs and milk in your daily diet since these are high on Vitamin A which protects the skin against sun damage( darkening, rash marks)
• To achieve a holistic glow on your skin , consume a good deal of Vitamin C by eating fruits such as gooseberry, oranges, strawberries and vegetables like red and green peppers that help in firming the skin.

• Fruits such as papaya, apples and pears, if eaten with their skin, help in lightening the skin complexion, so gorge on these delectable delights.
• Food such as salmon, almonds, legumes and lean meat are full of Vitamin E that nurtures the skin and delays the ageing process.

Eyes can add volume to your beauty. A woman’s beauty is defined by looking into her eyes. Experts say that eye make – up can either make or break your look. This season has some stunning eye make-up tips for those ravishing women.

Dramatic Eyes: Experts from the industry has predicted that 2012 fashion runways will adopt dramatic eye make-up. Subtle face make-up paired with dramatic eyes can make any girl exceptionally stunning. Well defined eyes with thick and clear make – up will conquer the hearts of every woman this year. Red, green, blue, orange etc are the shades used widely to bring that thespian effect.

Pink Eyes: Pink eye make-up is loved by those who look forward to very natural yet striking eyes. Pink eye make-up gels well with darker tones and lipsticks. This is a party as well as casual look complementing eye make-up. Usage of different shades of pink in a fine way helps your eyes to look very stylish.

Smokey Eyes: Remaining as one of the most hunted eye make-up trends even in 2012 smokey eye make-up has proved to be every woman’s favourite choice. Shades of black, grey, brown, chocolate, copper etc are used to bring that seductive eye effect. Lighter shade face make-up along with smokey eyes can make both guys and girls go crazy looking at you.

Metallic Eyes: Experts cohesively say that metallic eye make-up will overawe fashion fraternity this season. Youngsters have already made metallic eye make-up their most wanted look. Metallic eye make-up has the magic to go well with both formal and casual occasions. It will grant your eyes trendy as well as a sexy appeal. Metallic shades of copper, ebony, bronze, gold, silver etc will set the magic to your eyes.

Beautiful ladies, what are you waiting for? Choose your eye make-up for the day and hit the streets.

Eyes are one of the most prominent features on a woman’s face that can be enhanced to add that quintessential appeal. With a slight touch of makeup and right tweaking, eyes can define the facial contours making it attractive and overpowering. With detailed emphasis being laid on eye make-up tricks, stylists are exploring every possible realm of it and every season witnesses a mesmerising new art for eye make-up.

Until some years back, a regular tweaking of eyebrows was a mere customary practice for a neat looking face, however make up specialists and celebrity stylists did not take long to suggest that shape of one’s eyebrows can make or mar the look entirely. Read on to understand which eyebrow style can add maximum oomph to your face without leading that extra mile.

• Oval shape face

Considered the ideal shape, women blessed with an oval face should stick to a soft and mellow eyebrow shape that prevents the face from looking any more angular, a stencil like shape is just about perfect.

• Square shape face

With a prominent jaw line, the face can be softened with a curve shaped brow or can also be enhanced for a more striking appeal by a peak point eyebrow that has a strong peak at the top of the brow and mellows on the sides.

• Diamond shape face

Women with such a face type have a wider face with wide forehead and cheekbones. The trick is to make it less wide and more feminine by curving the brows. Opt between the curve brow and the round brow shapes for a stylish appeal.

• Round shape face

An already round face does not really need any more soft angles instead a defined arch that has a vertical or horizontal shape can help add length to the face making it appear a bit less round. So it is best to settle for a strong arched shape brow that complements the round face type and adds a bit to mystery element to soft contours.

• Long shape face

To make a long face appear short and even, it is essential to keep away from any arch styled or curved eye brow shapes. The best results can be achieved by keeping the brow straight without any curves. This will help draw the attention away from the length and give an illusion of a balanced look.

•First and foremost, create a perfect ambience devoid of any disturbances. If it’s your bathroom where you need to relax, light it up with fragrant candles( keep a check on safety), a couple of dim lights can do wonders to add to the mood

• Play some soulful music that is perfect to enhance a comforting feeling. You may also use a room diffuser with fragrances such as vanilla and lavender for relaxing.

• Gear up for a great experience by placing all the necessary products needed. You may begin with a steam facial by adding two drops of essential oil such as peppermint or jasmine oil to the water and getting rid of all impurities.

• Grab our favourite bath balls (prefer lavender or chamomile as they have a calming effect). Get a foot scraper, a manual massager, a few drops of your favourite essential oil to be added to the bath water.

• Exfoliate using a loofah or a pumice stone (meant for joint edges). You may also use an exfoliating scrub, the ones based of walnut or apricot work wonders to give a natural glow to the skin.

• Get your face masks in place to achieve that rose petal like skin. Choose a mask that suits your skin type or you can always make one using ingredients from your kitchen such as fuller’s earth and rose water or orange peel and milk etc.

• After the bath, use water based moisturising lotion that has botanic extracts or you can also apply a rich layer of baby oil for a lasting smooth skin.

• Use a self-massager to massage the tough areas such as your back, your legs and neck gently and you sure will love this heavenly experience.

 There can be innumerous reasons for cropping of acne, from pollution, dust, hormonal changes, and moisture in air, oily skin and even poor hygiene.  Before jumping on to the easiest solution available, it is important to understand the cause of acne and thereon take measures. For those who dread the thought of medicines and chemical based lotions, here are a few home remedies to reduce the acne and prevent them from re-occurrence.

• First and foremost, even before you decide to apply something on your face; it is imperative to bring changes to your dietary intake Include fresh green veggies and fruits. Reduce caffeine intake and cut down on those oily, high calorie food items.
• Start drinking at least 2 -3 cups of green tea daily. A substance called catechins, present in green tea helps regulate the hormones; also it packed with anti-oxidants that improve the skin quality. Use it either by applying green tea bags directly to the skin and rubbing gently or drinking it.
• Applying a mixture of seas salt mixed with warm water through cotton can be highly beneficial in killing the bacteria from the skin and it also leads to the process of exfoliation. Sea salt also destroys the extra oil on the skin, making it clean and less prone to acne further.
• Applying the gel from the Aloe Vera plant leaves directly can aid in soothing the acne by preventing any itch. It will also help in cleaning the acne faster. One can also consume also Vera in the form of a drink, but be cautious about overdoing it.

• Slice strawberries and rub gently over the affected area. Rich in antioxidants strawberries also contain salicylic acid that reduces acne and can help clearing the acne marks too. One can also use these as a mask, mixing them with milk and applying on the acne.

Besides these  items from the kitchen, there are many other common ingredients such as garlic, Epson salts, baking soda etc. that are also helpful in getting rid of acne , but it is essential to consult a skin specialist to gauge the root cause of the problem , before blindly following any  practice.

The nourishing product range, termed as the Biolage Oil Therapy range aims to provide essential nutrients to hair and helps enriching the texture, strengthening the roots besides lending an impeccable shine to your tresses.  The products have been identified with the three main procedures of the hair care routine, care, cleanse and condition .Check out the offerings from the range

• CARE with Biolage Oiltherapie Root Nourishing Oil

The hair strengthening root nourishing oil uses the property of three healthy oils coconut, sunflower seed and almond, that work together to help take care of your hair. Not only does the hair oil promises to strengthen the entire hair length working from the root to the tip, but also acts as a great pre shampoo oil treatment to prevent dry hair syndrome. This also removes dandruff and offers a glossy shine to your hair.

• CLEANSE with Biolage Oiltherapie Root Nourishing oil Shampoo

As the very name suggests, the shampoo aims at cleaning your hair thoroughly with its natural ingredients and maintaining volume. The shampoo has been prepared with elements like olive oil, almond oil and coconut oil, all of which provide nourishing to the hair. The shampoo also helps to reduce excessive hair fall by strengthening the roots and improves hair texture.

• CONDITION with Biolage Oiltherapie Nourishing Oil Conditioner

A rich conditioner which has excellent properties of apricot oil, the Biolage Conditioner certainly is a great way to enhance the visual appeal of your hair. Besides detangling the hair and keeping them frizz free, it lends a smooth finish and a glossy sheen to your hair and makes them look appealing.

• TREAT with Biolage Oiltherapie Oil Spa Crème (available exclusively as part of OILSPA rituals in Matrix Salons)

A special product designed exclusively for Matrix salons, this spa crème combines the goodness of a conditioner, infused with rich apricot oil and helps making hair softer, manageable and easy to style. One can use it along with oil treatment or just by itself.

The products promise to improve the overall look of your mane, are quite affordable and can be purchased from all leading retail stores as well as Matrix Salons across the country.

The new Skin Sense line of bathing bars contain unique plant derived complex and help retain skin proteins, resulting in youthful skin. The bathing bar not only acts as a cleaner, it also moisturizes and tones the skin making it smooth, supple and radiant.

Fiama Di Wills Skin Sense Bathing soaps are available in two different variants: Soft Green which is a green coloured bathing bar with a floral milky fragrance and Sheer Smooth, which is a peach colored bathing soap with a fruity fragrance.

The cartons of these are designed in such a way that it effectively portrays the product benefits, the nurturing proposition and the perfect amalgamation of nature & science. The bar comes with unique pack inserts to inform the consumers about the product ingredients and benefits.

Fiama Di Wills Skin Sense Bathing soaps are priced at Rs 50 for 100gms. They are available across the country.

Although there isn’t a rule book for fashion, we all judge the style and trend with our respective sense of aesthetics (in place or not), seldom we come across a guide to help us stress on what not to wear or what not to carry to save you from being banned by the fashion police. We observed a few random people, researched the most infallible disasters and as a result here are a few tips that can save you from being broadcasted on P3P fashion bloopers ever.

Size Wise

Save you self from being the talk of the town by ensuring right sized clothes, anything too tight or too loose fitting will only mar your dress’ appeal and in turn make you the object of common mockery

Match Making

It is nice to complement colours in your attire, but something as hideous as an indigo dress with indigo heels and a blue coloured neckpiece may make you look like the emblem in the flag. So choose the colour palette judiciously and refrain from overdoing it.

Accessory Wary 

Accessories go a great way in enhancing your outfit and add drama to it too; however throwing everything together will only add confusion to the look. Refrain from over indulgence; wear only one or two pieces of statement jewellery at one time, unless you want to be mistaken for a jewellery advert model.

Lingerie Lure

 Your booty certainly gets a lift with those sensuous thongs but just so you know,the world really can do well without a glimpse of them. Avoid wearing clothes that strung too low on your cleavage or on your derriere to prevent a peek-a-boo right on the roadside.

Make-Up Mania

Twilight may be your dreamy inspiration but its better restricted to a surreal world, the real mortals may get scared with the oozing dark eyes or blood red lips, stick to colours that gel well with your skin. Smoky eyes are appealing only until they don’t look like smudged ashes.

Areas like the nape of your neck, the elbows, and the knees are often prone to dust accumulation since they are constantly in touch with outer objects and hence become dark and shabby. If you are also among those millions of ladies who struggle hard to get rid of the ugly dead skin and blotches around their knees and elbows, here is all you should know

Discolouration
If negligence has already led to darkening of these problem areas, you better start with fixing the problem as soon as possible. Rubbing slices of lemons is the easiest and the quickest way to lighten the colour of the skin. Rub lemon slices, or apply lemon juice to knees or elbows at least once a day, let it dry for 15 minutes and then wash off.

Dead cells
Another very common condition observed is roughening of skin around these parts as a result of dead cells covering the area. The solution is to exfoliate the areas tenderly using a paste made of gram flour, turmeric and milk, or even a non-soap based cleanser that is gentle on skin

Moisturising
Rough skin and dead pores lead to skin becoming dull and chapped. After you exfoliate the skin parts it is imperative to hydrate them and soften them with a vitamin oil based cream or lotion. Using baby oil or even a combination of milk cream and lime is a great way to keep the skin supple.

Last but not the least, skin care is an indulgent and a continuous process, assuming that the skin is back in shape and leaving it unchecked can lead to re-occurrence of problems, hence ensure that you lend that extra care to it every once in a while.