Beautiful Hair Highlights At Home
Highlights consist of selecting small or thick strands of hair that are then lightened at least 2 shades lighter than the rest of your hair. Highlights should compliment your natural or artificial color. You should never go more than 3 shades lighter then the rest of your hair color. The object of highlighting is to give you a sun-kissed look and to bring depth and light to your overall color.

So if you want to achieve salon perfect results at home when you highlight your hair, here's what the pros say:

* Use a clarifying shampoo on your hair at least two days before coloring.
* Never shampoo the day you color. Haute hair
* Check the expiration date on the package. And once you mix the color, use it right away!
* Toss out the brush that comes in the box and buy flat 1/2 and 1/4 inch acrylic brushes. These brushes, used by artists, are available at art supply stores (they'll give you better control and more natural-looking results)
* Make sure you have on hand a pair of good, tight-fitting latex gloves (the ones that come in the package don't always fit well).
* Start from the back of your head and work forward. By working from back to front, you won't smear the pieces in front by having to reach over them to do the back.
* Apply the highlights only to the top layers of your hair. By leaving the hair underneath alone, you'll create depth and a sun-kissed look that looks completely natural!

Celebrities like to be seen, we all understand that, the question is, rather how they want to be seen: for some it is enough to look beautiful, while others feel the need to look as crazy as possible. By no means, does "crazy" have to be bad, unless of course someone with no taste tries to make a fashion statement - that's when all hell breaks loose.

The first few celebrities are admittedly easy to pick on because of their notoriety both as people and, well, photo opportunities.

Even if I try to set aside my personal thoughts on Paris Hilton, she still makes the list and for a good reason. It is relatively difficult to see her wearing anything more than a bikini (if even that) and during those rare instances when the world does see her dressed (at festivals or, more commonly, seconds before taking them off in a more private environment) her clothes reveal as much as possible (as if we haven't seen enough) and tend to have toxic or just simply obnoxious colors that make people's eyes bleed. I suppose this is all due to her natural habitat, but there isn't really anywhere to go from the point where the least insult to fashion you can manage is due to a criminal conviction. Way to go…

Next we have Britney Spears, the princess of "Worst N whatever" lists. Britney has been on a rampage of inappropriate looks last year and while the drug-abusing soccer mom image renders any and all attempts at looking fashionable useless, I simply can't leave her out. Frankly, I'm not sure where to start: the hats? The ridiculous dresses for an overall look of an under-colored clown? The ultimate goal Britney seeks must be to fit as many non-fitting pieces of random clothing into one image as possible. Her endeavors are always undermined by the fact that on her free time she, like so many others (reluctantly), wears crocks and that pretty much says it all.

One other celebrity who never ceases to confirm her status as someone who has no idea about looks whatsoever is Victoria Beckham. She always went for the femme fatale looks: sunglasses hiding her gaze, an angry look on her face, the ball-gripping posture and clothes to match. Usually she wears something tight and colorful (or eye-catching otherwise) to highlight the fact that she is indeed a woman - a fact questioned by many in the past - as well as to add to the overall independent woman image. The problem is, she accomplishes only the task of repelling just about everyone. Except for David Beckham, obviously.

Among other news, credible sources have pointed out that Kirsten Dunst, the well known actress, may be a terrorist. No award-giving ceremony can pass without her showing up intimidating reporters and fellow celebrities with utterly misguided dresses. We have seen way too much over the years: there has been a blue dress with dolphins, a greenish dress which made her look like a hunchback, a white dress with one ridiculously-shaped shoulder strap and what do we get this year? Vintage a la Kirsten Dunst. It looked sad even though Johnny Borrel's pirate boots helped the situation.

Further down the road we have Janet Jackson, who tries to appear 15, when in fact she was 42. Needless to say, that doesn't work out all that well not only because the whole idea is kind of wrong, but also because of the means by which she does it. Need I comment the photo? This woman needs to grow up and acknowledge that she's not a hot teen anymore (was she ever?). Fortunately, paparazzi catch her dressed fairly well day-to-day, but when she chooses outfits for the red carpet she lets her imagination run way too far.

Still can't live without your straightening iron? Once you know how to achieve that sleek, smooth look it's hard to go back. It really doesn?t matter which flat iron you use: ceramic, thermal, metal or ionic - they all damage your hair with over-use and inappropriate use. They heat keeps your hair dry and over time will damage the ends of your hair.

Here are 10 tips to help you and your flat iron work side-by-side without damaging your hair.

1. Keep your flat iron clean. It will last longer and do less damage to your hair.

2. Use a styling aid to prevent frizz before you blow dry. Sealed Ends by BC Bonicure seal the ends of your hair locking out frizziness by 79 percent. Use it after your blow dry to get rid of frizz.

3. Practice before you head out to any major event. It's very easy to use once you get the knack of it.

4. When using the iron on your hair comb, on the section you are using first, before running the iron through it.

5. Try avoiding using any products until you finish straightening out your hair.

6. Use small sections. The smaller the section the flatter and more weightless your hair will be.

7. Use even pressure while stroking your flat iron from the root to the end without stopping on any part of the sectioned hair.

8. Use a wide bristle brush on your hair while brushing your desired shape into place.

9. Use a lightweight serum to smooth any frizz left over. You'll only need a little.

10. Let your iron cool; clean its surface with a cloth so you?ll be ready to use it again tomorrow.

Beauty Tips - Hair Care Accessories Tips

Waking up to a bad head of hair can ruin anyone’s day. Too curly, too flat, too frizzy- there is no end to the tricks our hair can pull on us during a good night’s sleep. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Don’t let that mop rule your life- use a few tricks and tools to tame it.

The market is jam packed with all kinds of fancy hair care accessories, all claiming to bring your hair under control with great ease. However most new products or accessories are just gimmicks and can do you more harm than good. They also require that you have a certain amount of expertise that will enable you to use them to their full potential. As a rule of thumb stay away from accessories that have chemicals or use very high heat that can damage your hair. The best hair care accessories are the time tested simple ones.

When it comes to hair care, you can’t think too small. Everyone has a hair brush, but have you ever though about why you have the particular one you’re using? Do you have layers that are always poofing out and going crazy? You should probably be using a flat paddle-style brush, since it won’t add extra volume to your hair. Do you have the kind of hair that flips in one direction on one side, and the other direction on the other side? A round brush with a little product will help you keep your hair’s flip in line. But if a simple mechanical twist on your old styling habits doesn’t do the trick, it might be time to go high-tec. Round brushes, for instance, have a thermal equivalent that you can plug into the wall. The core of the brush heats up, so that you hair is curled into shape as you brush it, producing a smooth, loosely curved look. To go one step further, you can combine your round-brush action and your blow-drying into one simple task. Blow-drying round-brushes pump hot air through the core of the brush, producing the same effect as the thermal round-brush, but with a little extra body and without the extra step. And if your old paddle brush and a little product can’t calm your locks down, it might be time to look for a powered alternative.

Straightening irons, used on a moderate setting to protect your hair, can knock the rebellion right out of your do, producing a sleek, classy look that will hold all day- just as long as you don’t get it wet.

If you have the opposite problem- limp hair- and a styling brush can’t tease life into it, curlers and curling irons might be the hair care accessories for you. Curlers aren’t for grannies; they can produce knockout body and lush waves that look natural, just as a hair curler can give your hair body in all the right places. Used properly, these hair care accessories can help you kiss your last bad hair day goodbye. But, as with all heating hair accessories - be it blow-dryers, hair straighteners, or a curling iron- be moderate in your heat use. You don’t want to start with flat hair, and end up with a head of crispy frizz.

You don’t need a whole shop full of accessories to bring your hair under control. Just a few simple tools can help you take control, if you have a specific condition, you can opt to buy an optional tool that helps you with your condition. Once you know how to take care of your hair, you will almost never wake up to a head filled with fizzed hair.

Debrah Dragon is a writer for Beauty Items, a website about everything beauty-related - beauty tips, Las Vegas hair salons, beauty products, etc. Debrah is also a featured author at www.ArticleKing.com

As is the case with a number of things, Westernization has had its impact on Indian clothing as well. A significant part of the Indian population has turned to Western garments such as jeans, trousers, skirts, T-shirts, suits and shirts, and prefer them over traditional clothing such as sarees and dhotis. There is, however, a certain section of the population that prefers to stick to traditional Indian clothing. Interestingly in the last decade, a beautiful amalgamation of Indian and Western clothing has become popular, which has come to be known as 'Indo-Western' garments or 'Indo-Western fusion' garments.

Indo-Western fusion garments are being largely preferred by Indian consumers males, females and children alike and have now become 'the in thing'. These garments are gaining acceptance in the Indian mindset, and are becoming the choice of apparel at formal and informal events, as well as for work wear. There are several designers who have taken to the designing of Indo-Western fusion garments. Consequently, there are several such pieces of apparel available in the market.

Indo-Western fusion garments are usually a combination of Western-style patterns and Indian designs. Usually, in Indo-Western style salwar kameez, decorative stoles are used as an accessory for added effect. Another way of fusion commonly found in today's times is the use of ethnic embroidery styles from different parts of India - such as Phulkari from Punjab and mirror work from Rajasthan - on dresses with Westernised patterns. Sometimes, more elaborate embroidery styles such as Meenakari, Kundan, Resham and Zardozi work are also used. Denim jackets and pants with Indian-style embroidery and other embellishments on them are all the rage in India today. A shorter version of the kurta, called 'kurti', paired with denim pants or trousers is also quite popular, both among males and females. Another piece of Indo-Western fashion wear that is highly preferred in India is a kurti paired with a straight-cut pant-style salwar and a dupatta. With the passage of time, newer fusion styles are being developed such as short dupattas, pants with slits and sphagetti-style tops in case of salwar kameez. Patiala-style salwars worn with short shirts is yet another example of Indo-Western fusion wear largely preferred by youngsters in India.

This trend of Indo-Western fusion wear has also gradually spread to bridal wear. Sarees are being draped in the Grecian style, and saree blouses are becoming more and more Westernised in pattern. Lehengas worn with halter tops is another example of Indo-Western fusion fashion that is being accepted as wedding wear.

This amalgamation of elements from the Indian and Western cultures is found in accessories as well, especially in case of jewellery. Usually, a light Western touch is added to Indian traditional jewellery, so as to make it suitable for wearing with fusion wear. Apart from this, large, dangling earrings, beads, and fancy bracelets are also in vogue with fusion garments.

Coming to the reasons as to why Indo-Western fusion fashion has become so popular in India, several can be cited. Indo-Western garments have an elegant and trendy appearance, without losing the touch of Indian culture, making them suitable for wearing at all kinds of occasions. They are the perfect blend of elements from both Indian and Western cultures, balancing both, i.e. neither too Americanised nor too ethnically Indian. It is, thus, suitable for wear by almost all age groups, and is all the rage among the youngsters in India today. Indo-Western fusion garments are available in different styles, from daring ones to modest ones. They suit the Indian body type rather well. Fusion wear is more comfortable to wear, as against the cumbersome traditional Indian dresses, which is why it is being largely preferred by the working class.

So, the next time you are out shopping for something trendy but comfortable to wear, don't forget to stop for a few pieces of Indo-Western fusion wear!!

With the ongoing argument that South African politicians should be wearing designed and made in South Africa clothing, the author suggests that it is vital that the fashion industry communicates this message to the government officials in a strong coordinated and synchronised voice.

Instead of cheap rhetoric from South African president hopeful Jackob Zuma who said the ruling party "needed to become more involved in the economy … [and] look for ways of saving and growing jobs in the clothing and textile sector[1]," he should be wearing local designed and made in South African clothing and using his presence on the political and social stage to demonstrate that he is Proudly South African and urge his followers, fellow politicians from every political party to proudly wear local designed and made clothing. Our politicians need to look at America's new first family as an exemplar of what can be done to create a surge in demand for local fashion designs.

President Obama's wife Michelle is supporting American fashion. Even though she has been unfairly criticised by "The Black Artists Association" for having yet to use a black designer and instead has worn clothing designed by Cuban and Asian-American designers - of course she is going to wear at some time clothing designed by African-Americans. The point is she is supporting and promoting American designers and American retailers.

Obama's children Malia and Sasha wore on the day their father was sworn in as President of America dresses from American retailer J Crew a company that started in 1983. According to it promotional material the company "uses the finest fabrics, craftsmen and mills from Europe and the US." News reports said the company's website crashed due to high traffic when the American public discovered where the children's clothing had been purchased from.

Clothing researchers in America say that Mrs. Obama will have a positive impact on the American apparel sector. According to retail analysts companies such as Gap and its Banana Republic chain, J. Crew, Club Monaco and Chico White House/Black Market will be some of the benefactors of her choice in clothing. Of course it will be dependant on

these retailers to take advantage of this global opportunity to sustain the interest in their fashion lines.The central point to Mrs. Obama's choice of clothing is that she is demonstrating that even the First Lady of America can look slick and elegant without having to wear Couture designs with hefty price tags.[2]

In most cases in the world of fashion and glamour there is a Machiavellian side - SWEATSHOPS - and this most hated of words in the fashion industry can be linked to Mrs. Obama's choice of clothing. While I applaud her for using American designers, her choice of retail brands is questionable. In July 2008, New York State labour officials investigated an American clothing company in Queens, New York that employed Chinese immigrants.

Investigators said the company, Jin Shun, cheated its workers out of more than $5 million in pay, told its workers to lie to inspectors, did not pay overtime to their employees and kept two sets of timecards. Guess which company is linked to this inexcusable exploitation of labour-GAP one of the companies that may benefit from Mrs. Obama's choice of fashion. Another company supported by Mrs. Obama is Banana Republic. In March 2008, the company was linked to sweatshop labour in India where workers making clothing for this brand are forced to work up to 70 hours a week for under a dollar an hour. Club Monaco, apparently another favourite of the First Lady is affiliated to the Ralph Lauren's fashion empire which is known to source its manufacturing from dubious clothing companies that exploit workers.

Whilst the author argues that South African politicians need to wear the talk and emulate America's new first family they should go further and demonstrate that they will only support local designers, retailers and manufacturers that have a transparent, ethical sourcing procedure and in the case of manufacturing support those companies that are registered with the South African Clothing Bargaining Council.

About the Author:

Renato Palmi is associated with The ReDress Consultancy-South Africa www.redressconsultancy.com

[1] "Time for State to Step in, Says Zuma." Angola Press, 5 February 2009.

[2] "Analysis: Desperate American fashion sector gets the kicker it needs from First Lady." Business Report, 5 February 2009.

They have done it for food products. They have done it for soaps, creams and face washes. They have done it for pens. Just about everything. Here, 'they' stands for celebrities and 'it' refers to their endorsement of products. The trend of celebrity endorsement of products is really picking up all over. And, perfumes are not at all left behind in this. Celebrities - be it a novelist or singer or actor - are creating their own fragrances and endorsing them.

If the rising sales of celebrity perfumes is anything to go by, it would not be wrong to say that the trend is picking up greatly everywhere in the world. This article studies the trend of celebrity perfumes as a whole right from when it all began to an overview of what experts believe about the future of this fad.

Celebrity brands

Today, almost all major celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood have their own specialized fragrances. This trend has spread among celebrities from other spheres as well.

Hollywood celebrity Paris Hilton has launched her perfume brand named after herself, which is a sweet-smelling mixture of the fragrance of lilies, jasmine, mimosa and sandalwood. She has also launched other brands of perfumes, namely Heir, Heiress, Just Me, and Can Can. Titanic fame Kate Winslet endorsed a perfume named Lancme Trsor. Some of the other reputed perfumes endorsed by Hollywood actors include Blue Seduction, Mediterraneo, Diavolo Hypnotic, Spirit, Diavolo Donna, and Diavolo by Antonio Banderas; Elizabeth Arden Provocative Woman and Red Door Revealed by Catherine Zeta-Jones; With Love Hillary Duff by Hillary Duff; Isa Bella, Daring, Storia and Manifesto by Isabella Rosselini; Lancme Miracle by Uma Thurman; Lovely and Covet by Sarah Jessica Parker; and Alan Cumming by Alan Cumming.

Lomani Perfume for Men developed a special fragrance that was endorsed by the Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchhan. It is a cologne for men, and named after the great actor himself. The famous King Khan aka Shahrukh Khan, in collaboration with Jeannes Arthes, endorsed 3 perfumes, namely SK, SK Silver for men and SK Gold for women. Famous Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty launched the perfume S2 in co-ordination with Mark Earnshaw. The heroine of yesteryears, Zeenat Aman, has endorsed a perfume named Zeenat.

Renowned music artiste Beyonce Knowles has launched a fragrance named True Star. It is a blend of the scents of grains and flowers, and the smell is quite exotic. Britney Spears, another star from the music industry, has endorsed several fragrances, namely Curious, Curious: In Control, Curious Hearts, Believe and Midnight Fantasy. Curious was the first brand launched by her, which is a sweet Louisiana magnolia fragrance, a tribute to her native land. Celine Dion has also endorsed a number of perfumes, namely Celine Dion, Notes, Belong, Always Belong, Memento, Enchanting, Spring in Paris, Paris Nights, and Sensational. Similarly, Jennifer Lopez has launched JLo Glow, Still, Miami Glow, Love at First Glow, Live, Live Luxe, Glow After Dark, and Deseo. The legend of Hindi film music, Lata Mangeshkar, has also endorsed a fragrance called Lata Eau De Parfum in conjunction with Gandh Sugandh.

Romance novelist Danielle Steel has launched her own personalized fragrance called Danielle. Jade Goody of the Big Brother fame has launched ShhThe sports celebrities Maria Sharapova has brought out her own brand of perfume named after herself, while Michael Jordan has launched 2 brands one named after himself and the other called 23.

The origin and growth of the trend

As such, the trend of celebrity endorsement of perfumes is a fairly recent one in the world of fashion. However, the concept originated a long time back, maybe more than a century ago. It is believed that the perfume used by Queen Victoria was developed exclusively for her at the Perfume House of Creed. When awareness about this fact spread in the society, the demand for Creed perfumes grew significantly. This concept was known as 'fragrance hawking' in those days.

The Perfume House of Creed developed personalized fragrances for their clients. Their client list grew to include other dignitaries like Napoleon III, Queen Christine of Spain, and Empress Eugenie. More recently, celebrities like Richard Gere, Kevin Costner, and Pierce Brosnan have had their personalized fragrances developed by Creed.

The current trend of celebrities endorsing their own unique fragrances was probably started by actress Elizabeth Taylor in the year 1995 when she endorsed the perfume brands White Diamonds, Passion and Black Pearls. The launch of the brand was met with strong criticism, and it was believed that celebrity perfume endorsement was a fad that would soon die away. However, the trend persisted and a number of celebrities from different fields went on to launch their own brands. Interestingly, White Diamonds remains a best seller perfume even now.

It has been a matter of debate as to how far celebrities are actually involved in the development and use of the fragrances that they endorse. This would ultimately depend upon the celebrity and their level of interest. Celine Dion was one celebrity who was actively involved in the process of development of her personalized fragrance, and also in the packaging and marketing of the same. Similarly, Jennifer Lopez was also involved completely in the production of her perfume brand. When the base was almost ready, she added a touch of sake, which gave a unique effect to the scent. Likewise, during the process of packaging of the perfume, she added a fake diamond ring to the neck of the bottle to indicate her love for jewellery. Novelist Danielle Steel states on her website, "Creating the fragrance was very much a team effort, blending the inspiration of many people, how they perceive me and how I perceive both my readers and the world I try to create with my books."

Involved or not, the demand and sale of celebrity scents has been rising constantly in the past decade. As per statistical figures, the sale of celebrity-endorsed perfume brands comprised about 23% of the total sale of women's perfumes in USA. This indicated a rise from the 10% sale of the same that was recorded in the year 2003. The trend of celebrity fragrances revolutionized the perfume industry worldwide and jolted it out of the stupor that it had settled into. With this trend, the number of customers under the age of 40 rose considerably.

Celebrities and their lives have always interested common man. Celebrity perfumes gave people a chance to know what kind of smell their favourite celebrities liked. Of course, celebrity-endorsed perfumes are costly; but the rising sales are indication enough that people do not mind paying a bit extra for the scent of the celebrity they love, packaged in an attractive bottle.

Passing fad?

Experts believe that this is a passing fad and will soon wear away. With the lifespan of newly released celebrity scents going on decreasing, it is clear that the market is becoming highly saturated, with the entry of too many celebrity brands, and this trend has no way out but to die away.

According to Marie-Claud Sicard, a brand analyst and strategy expert from Paris, "There is a kind of exacerbation of the phenomenon right now which makes me think we are not far from the breaking point." President of the New York-based Fragrance Foundation, Rochelle Bloom, believes, "It will never stop, but it will slow down certainly from the rate that it is at now." In the words of Diana Dodson, Senior Industry Analyst, Euromonitor International, "With so many new releases, manufacturers are running the risk that consumers will become increasingly confused and frustrated by the never-ending choice. "

USA industry experts predict that as the trend of celebrity perfumes dies down, the market for perfumes in the country would go down by about 25% by the year 2010. They believe that the market would now be dominated by quality perfumes rather than celebrity-endorsed scents.

Ultimately, whether a certain celebrity perfume would survive or not depends upon the product itself and not upon the name tag attached to it. If a fragrance is of good quality and is liked by the people, there is no reason why it should not succeed.