What happens when you start losing your hair?

Though thinning hair in women may be attributed to several causes, such as hormone imbalance, pregnancy or genetics, the stress of a hectic lifestyle can also have a traumatic impact on hair. It causes the tiny capillaries that feed the follicles to constrict, thus reducing the amounts of oxygen and nutrients that reach the hair. Prolonged periods of stress also affect the muscles at the point where the hair grows out of the scalp, and leads to excessive hair loss. Losing up to 100 strands a day is normal, but when you start shedding clumps of hair, here’s what you can do.

Topical hair treatments

Topical hair preparations work by stopping hair loss, stimulating hair regrowth and blood circulation in the scalp. The only FDA-approved treatment for thinning hair is 5% Minoxidil (also known as Rogaine), but thinning can recur once treatment is discontinued. Other commercially-available topical treatments such as Phytocyane Revitalizing Lotion, Phytoaxil Fortifying Intensive Care, or Kerastase’s Lipo-Recharge treatment have been getting rave reviews from several women.

Nutritional supplements

According to experts, biotin is an important component in the hair manufacturing process. Together with topical treatments, dermatologists often recommend 3 mg of biotin daily. What may be important for women to take, however, is the nutrient known as methylsulfonylmethane or MSM, a substance vital to the life of hair and skin. Aside from the supplements mentioned, your diet also plays a role in maintaining a healthy head of hair. Recommended are foods that are high in protein, low in fat, and low in carbohydrates. Iron, vitamin B12, and essential fatty acids (found in foods like walnuts, canola oil, fish, and soy) are also important to healthy hair growth.

Mesotherapy for the hair

A treatment that injects micro doses of vitamins, minerals and amino acids directly into the mesoderm (the middle layer of the skin, mesotherapy stimulates hair growth and blood circulation in the scalp. A typical treatment may involve dozens of small injections in concentrated areas using a very small needle (0.4 to 0.6 cm). Treatments are quite costly compared to over-the- counter methods (weekly treatments are required for around 5 to 10 sessions), but these injections deliver vitamins and minerals directly into the skin, and thus produce faster results.

The latest technology: the anti-hair loss patch

A revolutionary product that addresses thinning hair, Revlon’s unique Intragen 5 patch contains a multi-active compound that acts on hair loss, reduces excess oil in the scalp, increases blood circulation in the scalp, and stimulates growth of healthy hair. Similar to nicotine patches, the Intragen 5 patch’s transdermic technology allows penetration of ingredients into the deepest layers of the skin. How it works? Upon contact with the skin, pores open and sweat allows ingredients to be released slowly into the deeper layers of the skin. Worn daily for 24 hours for a 30-day period, studies show improvement in hair density in just six weeks.

How not to look too thin:

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While some designers were zapped into the future, others fell under the spell of flowers, which were poured onto the catwalks through hats, bodices, jackets, dresses, skirts; with a touch at the shoulders, wrists, hems; scattered or totally enveloped in three-dimensional or flat forms as garlands, petals, silk flowers, print, appliques, embroidery, ruffles. One would not know which flora to pluck with all the variety offered.

Floral prints come oversize or small; loud or quiet; abstract or classic. Colors are extreme, from black / white contrasts, a mix of brights, to soft pastel or deep tonal shades and even a total monotone effect. Looks vary from flirty and youthful to the more subdued, always feminine.

Soft and layered at Louis Vuitton; decayed glamor at Alexander McQueen; understand elegance at Dior by Galliano; true romance at Yves Saint Laurent; hand-crafted chic at Chloe.

The fabrics mimic the sensation of the blossoms, with strong use of soft and flowing materials achieving the needed delicate effect — silk satins, chiffons, lace, organzas, the lightest cottons, rich taffetas — through the use of layers, gathers, ruffles, or an exaggerated sleeve here, a bubble skirt there.

The shift dress is key for the season in different silhouettes, notably the trapeze mini, the empire, the waisted dress, the maxi dress, and the bubble dress. The more romantic and soft or deep the color, the more disarming the application of the floral creation, the more elegant for an evening out.

As for skirts, with the mini making its come, there is no lack of fun and flirty prints and floral appliques to choose from. From a level of sophisticated maturity, there are also minis full of grace, with a softness and fragility to them.

Jackets are, interestingly enough, not floral in print, but more in detail, with a rose emerging at the shoulder or collar, or belted at the waist.

Bodices are divine in fit, with a bouquet emerging at the neckline for pure seduction.

Surprisingly, there are few historical references in design (other than a few pieces at McQueen). Overall, the pieces are clean and modern in silhouette and refreshingly pretty.

This vision of loveliness, although common in theme, is a complex mix of interpretations from each designer. It makes for a more interesting garden of Eden, with each piece unique in its own way, much like each of us.

How to wear the look

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For two years after I married, my life revolved around two persons — my husband and my daughter. Being a housewife enabled me to devote my time to my family. Within these two years, I learned how to manage our budget and at the same time take care of the family.

Balancing work and home

I manage my time carefully — making sure no one and nothing is left out. Writing one’s plan gives a solid reminder of what to do. My family comes first, of course. Being a wife to one of the busiest persons is hard. All of what I am and need comes next to my husband, and I’m happy to take the backseat.

What I appreciate most in this situation is that I can work at home. Multitasking is one job I do best — baby-sitting and making business calls in the comfort of my house.

Saving up

Because I know that money doesn’t grow on trees, I try to save as much as I can and budget our expenses properly. My husband and I keep an emergency savings account that we deposit a portion of our income every month. It takes a lot of patience and discipline to be able to do this.

Looking for ways to save is always a smart thing. If you spend most of your time online, you’d be happy to know you can still buy stuff on the web and save a lot money! Savebuckets offers a variety of products at very low prices. Their website is user-friendly, so non-techie Internet user like myself can easily navigate around with no problems. Check out the site to do some price compare sometime!

Balancing work and family should be easy. Like I said, it only needs patience and discipline.

The heart and soul of the wedding is the ceremony. This is where you stand before God, family and friends, and commit yourself forever to the love of your life. This is where you make your union official in the eyes of society and of the law.

Church wedding

In planning a wedding, the first thing that must be secured is the church, but booking one can be cutthroat. The most popular churches get booked as early as one-and-a-half years prior. If you’re Chinese and follow Feng Shui, see an expert or consult the Chinese calendar as soon as possible so you can hold down an auspicious date for your wedding.

It is also important to secure the church early so you can work on your requirements early enough. It also gives you a chance to work out any possible problems arising from such things as inter-religious unions, second marriages, etc. With inter-religious marriages, it’s best for the couple to consult ministers, of both religions before deciding in which church to get married.

where you stand before God, family and friends, and commit yourself forever to the love of your life. This is where you make your union official in the eyes of society and of the law.

Planning the ceremony

There are several advantages to keeping the ceremony concise. First of all, venues especially the popular ones, run a very tight schedule. Some have weddings every hour, on the hour. Others have overtime charges. Second, even if they love you with all their hearts, guests do get bored (and sometimes annoyed) at ceremonies that drag on and on. And when it happens, the meaning and beauty of your wedding gets diminished amidst the yawns and blank stares of your loved ones.

To keep the ceremony tight, discuss ways to edit and simplify the service with your priest or minister. Here are some suggestions for Catholic weddings:

1. Omit parts that are otherwise repetitive. For example, you only need either the Kyrie (”Lord have mercy”) or Act of Contrition, not both.
2. Keep the sermon short, about five to seven minutes. After all, the main theme and message of this mass is your marriage, and there’s a lot of that in the Marriage Rites.
3. Sign the documents during Communion, after you and your sponsors have taken it and while the rest of the congregation is taking theirs. You immediately save five to 10 minutes of otherwise dead air.

Short but personal

Keeping your ceremony short doesn’t mean breezing through the mass in an impersonal fashion. There are many areas where you can personalize the service:

1. Write your own vows.
2. Verbalize your prayers. In Catholic masses, sections like the Kyrie and Prayers of the Faithful are the best places to write your own intentions. When you verbalize your own prayers, you take the whole congregation with you.
3. Choose a priest or minister with whom you have a relationship. If you don’t know one yet, try to get to know the one who’s officiating your wedding.

Getting to the church

These days, people don’t just hire a car for the bride, they hire for the whole family or the whole bridal party. This helps ensure that everybody gets to the church and reception on time and without a hitch.

Car rental companies offer wedding packages that include the bridal car and a couple of extra vehicles (usually vans or sedans). Naturally, the bride gets the most special one - available for hire are vintage cars, stretch limousines, and luxury cars. Hotels also include the bridal car in their package.

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With Valentine’s Day, jewelry stores expect brisk sales. Men are finally getting it into their heads that yes, we women love the roses, the chocolates and the romantic dinners, but jewelry, especially diamonds, will make us do anything they want. (Okay, maybe let them have have their way for just a few days, but after that, we know who’s really the boss, right?)

But why wait for your man to give you jewelry when you can also buy them yourself? After all, you’re an independent career woman with a head for making the right financial investments for your family. If you have extra cash, instead of gambling it on say, the stock market, then buy good pieces of gold jewelry or diamonds.

At a jewelry store where customers can buy jewelry per gram, for example, you can purchase beautiful pieces. What’s more, lay-away plans are now fairly common among established jewelry stores, and clients can make monthly installment payments for a fixed period before bringing home their new babies.

Make no mistake though, investing in jewelry is a long-term process. You can only get your returns after a few years or so. So you shouldn’t invest your entire savings in them. If you’re fairly liquid and you have extra cash you don’t know where to put it in aside from the bank, then you can invest it in jewelry. Most mothers invest in jewelry not just for themselves, but also for their children. It is just a nice idea to turn over beautiful pieces to your grownup daughter when she turns 18 or keep the pieces as part of their inheritance.

So if you think you can hock your gold jewelry or diamond pendant in a pawnshop for a fair price when you’re a little short on cash, you are sadly mistaken. When you’re in a rush to sell your jewelry, you will hardly get their full value. If you have to pawn them, you will only get 2/3 of the price. But if you sell it at the market place, you will get its full value. Jewelry is a worthwhile investment because it will never go out of style. It will never get old. Just clean it, take care of it, and of course, don’t lose it.

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