A great hairstyle, the best accessory If you believe that a great hairstyle makes the best accessory then you definitely need to keep yourself updated with the latest trends to style and care for your hair. Your curls speak volumes and define you, so put in the extra effort to make those tresses the very best you can. There might be those odd occasions when you could go wrong but if you keep at it, you will find more about your hair as you make the transition towards terrific tresses smoothly.  But if you’re someone who’s experiencing severe hair fall then these simple hair care tips would not work, you will need a customised treatment plan that fixes your hair fall and in turn your hair health. Caring for your hair the right way Let’s start with the basics because they could very well be the deciding factor towards having hair and no hair in the first place. A bad hair regimen is the first step towards wrecking all plans of styling your hair. The point is silky and shiny hair with great bounce makes it easy for you to create a style that makes you the cynosure of all eyes.  Wash hair regularly: This is the first step towards creating healthy hair. Washing hair regularly helps remove all the dirt and oil that could weigh your hair down and this helps create the perfect platform for your plans for better hair. Your hair type would determine the number of times you need to wash your hair; probably once a week for dry hair and twice to thrice a week for oilier hair. A hydrating shampoo is a good idea, as they contain nourishing oil and enrich the quality of your strands.  Use a conditioner: Always use a conditioner after you shampoo your hair. This helps you style your hair in the desired manner and also protects your hair from harmful environmental factors. Make it a point to apply it only to the ends of your hair and not your scalp, rinse it off meticulously after application.  Never use a conditioner before shampooing your hair but always after. A conditioner can also be used on the days you decide not to shampoo, as the rinse helps add bounce to your hair.  Use chemical free hair-care products: Always use products that are chemical free or have low chemical content to avoid a negative impact on your hair. Hair products with a heavy chemical composition could affect the structure of your hair, irritate the scalp and weaken your strands. Gentler products with limited sulphate and paraben content are recommended as they reduce the damage caused to your hair over time.  Oil your hair regularly: Oil could possibly be termed the most important ingredient for your hair. Blessed with a number of beneficial properties they help in improving the condition of your hair by increasing the moisture content and also enhance hair growth; coconut and olive oil are the preferred options. A good oil massage before you shampoo your hair, stimulates and nourishes the hair roots by augmenting blood circulation in your scalp. Drop some oil onto your palm, rub your hands together to warm it up and take them through your hair, use a comb for longer hair. Let your natural hair style flow: Do not add weight to your hair by adding multiple products to it. Let it flow naturally i.e., if you have naturally straight or curly hair, maintain a style that agrees with your type of hair as far as possible. Trying to add curls to your naturally straight hair or vice versa would only interfere with a smooth system and lead to possible hair fall. Also use hair bands to protect your hair from the harmful effects of the environment; do take care not to stretch your hair too tight when using the band.  Also read: 8 hairstyles that don’t damage your hair  Dry your hair in the correct manner: Do not blow dry your hair as it could make your scalp dry. You can do it less frequently or on special occasions to protect your hair. It is best to rub your hair lightly with a microfiber towel as it causes less friction. Another option is to wrap your head with a cotton t-shirt for about 20 minutes to dry it out completely; this is one of your very effective hair care tips.  Make it a point not to comb wet hair as it could lead to split ends, and you could end up damaging your strands permanently.  Keep yourself hydrated: Keep drinking a lot of water, at least 3 litres every day, to keep your hair in the best health. Water makes up almost 25% of the weight of your hair and so it is extremely important to keep yourself hydrated. Keep a balanced diet: The key to good hair health as well as overall health is always a good diet. Following a diet plan with a good mix of minerals and vitamins could promote hair growth while fooding habits without the essential nutrients could lead to possible hair loss.  Trim your hair regularly: It is always advisable to trim your hair as it keeps your tresses healthy. A timely trim gets rid of split ends and also helps detangle hair. This gives a new and good look to your hair.  Styling your crowning glory They say life could be more beautiful when you meet the right hair dresser. And if you do the right things, you could make significant progress to make the job of the stylist simpler. And for that to happen you need to know your hair type so that  can take care of your hair in a better way.  You need to decide on the method of styling your hair, depending  on whether your hair is fine or thick. If your hair is fine, you will have fewer strands and they will never feel heavy. If on the other hand you

Introduction Did you know that sugar and alcohol have similar toxic effects on the liver? Minimising your added sugar intake is an excellent way to live a healthy lifestyle. While it isn’t always simple, the advantages outweigh the difficulties, since additional sugar has been shown to have harmful effects on the body. Sugar is sweet but in the long run, it makes things bitter and becomes challenging to get out of the trap of quitting sugar. Tips to reduce the sugar intake Decide when you want to stop eating refined sugars and for how long you want to do so. Plan on quitting sugar for 7 to 10 days, eliminating all added, refined, artificial, and natural sugars. Another option is to gradually reduce sugar in your diet over a longer period of time, such as 30 days. The next stage is to create behavioural adjustments to prevent you from succumbing to sugar.  Below are some nutrition and lifestyle suggestions to help you break your cravings. Choose water over a can of soda  Substitute plain or sparkling water for sugary sodas, fruit juices, and energy drinks. Add additional mint or lemon or lime slices if you want to amp up the taste. Concentrate on your entire diet Increasing the nutritional richness of your overall diet will help you feel better and cut down on added sugar. Vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, seeds, poultry, eggs, and shellfish are all good examples of unprocessed foods. Choose unsweetened snacks Snacks that aren’t sweetened are the best. Sugar may be added to your favourite granola or protein bar. When you need a refuel, go for whole, nutrient-dense foods like nuts and seeds, whole fruit and nut butter, hummus and vegetables, or hard-boiled eggs. Rethink your dessert  Check-in with yourself instead of grabbing your favourite pint of ice cream or favourite candy bar after dinner. Is your evening sugar fix a hard-to-break habit, or are you hungry? If you’re really hungry, try a handful of macadamia nuts or unsweetened Greek yoghurt with berries and unsweetened coconut, which are both strong in protein and healthy fat. Benefits of sugar detox  Sugar reduction can benefit in a variety of ways. We’ll go over all of the advantages of quitting sugar and show you how simple it is: Better mood  Sugar has been connected to depression, therefore giving it up might benefit your mental health. So, to be in a good mood to have more satisfactory control over emotions sugar detox is going to help you out.  Always high on energy  Increased energy is one of the most significant advantages of sugar abstinence.  Sugar causes toxins to build up in your body, making you fatigued and sluggish. When you stop eating sugar, your body won’t have to cope with these poisons, and you’ll have a lot more energy to go through the day. Deep sleep When you ingest too much sugar, it might affect the quality of your sleep. Sugar deceives our bodies into believing they are weary, so if you eat sugar throughout the day, your body will assume you need to sleep. This results in sleep disruptions and poor sleep quality, as well as general lethargy and exhaustion. You will sleep considerably better if you stop eating sweets and your blood sugar levels will return to normal. You will have a clear mindset Sugar’s effect on blood sugar levels and insulin production can have a deleterious effect on our mental clarity and cognitive performance. Our blood sugar levels rise as soon as we ingest sugar, which might briefly give us a sensation of mental clarity. It can lead to sluggish thinking, poor memory, and poor mental functioning. When you stop eating sugar, your mental clarity should improve as your blood sugar levels normalise. Eliminating sugar will help you focus and boost your cognitive abilities. Final thoughts  Sugar has been related to a wide range of health issues, including tooth decay, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Sugar abstinence has a wide range of health benefits, including weight loss and increased energy, as well as a lower chance of developing more serious ailments. If you’re having trouble quitting, consider substituting fruit for the sweet taste. Sugar abstinence is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your health, so get started now. These sugar detox tips can assist you in getting started. Also, it’s best to get a preventive health check-up, learn about your health status, make informed decisions ahead of time, and enjoy peace of mind.

Ever wondered about the endless range of products available in the market, which advertises benefits for hair. If that leaves you perplexed, then it is time up to ramp up & understand why there is so much diversity in the product range. If there is diversity then it means each of us surely don’t share the same hair type. So, here’s our detailed perspective about different hair types & the ways in which you can take care of them as well as style them. Hair Type Wherever you go besides the face, your hair is one such aspect that gets noticed the most. By god’s grace we all look slightly distinctive from each other which gives us a fair chance to stand out. However, not just the hair type yet each individual hair care requirement is also different. Hence, it is very important to first understand your hair type. This will surely give you a better insight into what products might suit you & which might not. Hair Texture Before going any further ahead, let’s understand what is your hair texture. What does hair texture exactly mean? It means the natural shape of your strands. If you’re unable to determine yours till now then let’s do one thing. Don’t use any hair product & wash off your hair like usual, letting it dry naturally. Now observe, if the hair is straight without any signs of curl or bend in it then it falls in the Type 1 category, which is nothing but the straight hair. However, after drying if your hair forms an ‘S’ shape then your hair falls in the Type2 category. On the other hand, the hair that creates a loop or curl pattern is said to fall in the Type 3 category. Lastly, if the hair witnesses a zig-zag pattern or creates a tight curl or spiral falls in the Type 4 category kind of hair texture. Hair Porosity Porosity means the ability of hair to soak up moisture, which is a technical definition given by professionals. In case the hair is found to be highly porous, this means that there is a presence of various holes on the surface layer which is also known as the cuticle. Porosity could be caused due to various reasons ranging from a natural phenomenon, exposure to the heat-based process, chemical exposure, etc. In this scenario, the hair becomes more porous than it is usually. The holes present in the cuticle allows the hair in absorbing the moisture. The hair becomes frizzy for individuals who reside in a humid climate as the cuticle absorbs the moisture from the hair. When we say that the hair is porous, it means that it has the capability to absorb moisturizing products very well. This porousness enables the leave-in conditioners to fill in the holes while sealing them to make the hair more manageable. The hair which is less porous in nature is said to be more tightly locked & resists moisture absorbing capability. Then whether it is environmental humidity or through chemicals. In order to dodge product buildup which ultimately makes the hair dull, you should wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo every week. Also, try considering mild products viz. Mousses or hair milk so as to create that much-needed volume. You can make the products work effectively by using a blow dryer. Wondering how does it work? Well, the heat generated by blow dryer helps to open up the cuticle which is tight, thus helping in penetration of moisture becoming easier. Testing hair porosity: If you wish to test the porosity levels of your own hair, then follow these steps:- Take a bowl filled with water and put a few strands of your hair in it. Wait for a few minutes, then watch for results. If your hair floats then it means it has low porosity. But if your hair sinks that means it possesses high porosity. Density of hair When we use the word density for hair, it means the number of hairs present on the head. So, if the scalp isn’t clearly visible then one is said to possess dense hair. However, if you are able to clearly see the scalp irrespective of parting hair or not then one has low hair density. The lack of hair density is determined by varied factors. As many individuals go through stress, hormone changes during pregnancy/menopause & some lack the essential nutrition. It is always advisable to closely choose & witness products that affect our hair density over a course of time. Avoid those products that prove to be heavy or harmful the hair, which is another cause of low-density hair. You can go for texture sprays & mousses that are light, which can help in adding the desired lift & volume to the hair. Whereas, the individuals having high-density hair can use butter & thick cream to make their hair shiny yet manageable. Ways To Determine Hair Type Determining the hair type in detail: Straight Hair This is one of the most common hair types in India. It is determined by hair falling flat from the root tips. There are no curls and the hair texture is soft with high oil secretion. This is further bifurcated: Type 1A: In this hair type, the hair is very shiny, smooth and soft. Despite this fact, the hair is not voluminous. Type 1B: In comparison to Type 1A, in this type, the hair is relatively more thicker as well as bouncier. Type 1C: This hair type is determined as thick yet rough hair. Curly Hair Admired by many, this hair type has ‘S’ pattern strands. It stays curly at all times even after straightening. The people who have such hair type are often found complaining about frizziness & tangles. Let’s see the subdivision of this hair type: Type 3A: In this type, the hair possesses loose curls. Type 3B: In this type, the hair possesses medium curls. Type 3C: In this type, the hair possesses tight curls. Coily Hair This

Introduction Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a medical condition where the hormonal levels of women are severely affected. PCOS causes women to create higher male hormones than they should. This hormonal imbalance women to miss menstrual cycles, making it difficult for them to conceive. PCOS is indicated by hair growth on the face and body, as well as baldness. It can also cause long-term health problems, including diabetes and heart disease. Birth control pills and diabetes drugs (which treat insulin resistance, which is a hallmark of PCOS) can assist in correcting the hormone imbalance and alleviating symptoms. The prevalence of PCOS in India varies between 3.7 and 22.5 per cent, depending on the population investigated and the diagnostic criteria utilised. Symptoms of PCOS Around the time of a woman’s first menstruation, some begin to experience symptoms. Others only find out they have PCOS after they’ve acquired a lot of weight or struggled to conceive. Here are some common symptoms of PCOS: Weight gain: Around 80% of women with PCOS suffer from obesity or being overweight.  Facial hair: Hair grows on the face and body of more than 70% of women with this illness, including the back, belly, and chest. Hirsutism refers to excessive hair growth. Heavy bleeding: Because the uterine lining develops over a longer time, your periods may be heavier than usual. Acne: Male hormones can make the skin oilier than usual, which can cause acne outbreaks on the face, chest, and upper back. Unbearable headaches:  In some women, hormone change can provoke excruciating headaches. Abnormal periods:  During PCOS, the uterine lining is unable to shed every month, due to a lack of ovulation, thus leading to irregular periods. Some women suffering from PCOS can experience as little as eight periods in a calendar year or in some cases, none at all. PCOS and infertility PCOS might raise your risk of miscarriage, especially if left untreated. It is due to reduced levels of the hormone progesterone in women with PCOS, that it is crucial for ensuring that the endometrial lining is thick enough to allow the implantation and development of an embryo.  Progesterone is also required for the embryo to continue to grow and develop after implantation until the placenta takes over progesterone production around weeks 10 to 12. This implies that low progesterone levels might raise your chances of miscarriage even before you discover you’re pregnant. How does PCOS affect pregnancy and lead to complications? PCOS can have a significant impact on pregnancy and lead to difficulties such as: Miscarriage Baby spending more time in Intensive Care Unit Caesarean section (C-section) Heavyweight baby Gestational diabetes Preeclampsia Even though PCOS is the most frequent cause of infertility in women, it is also easily manageable. Rather than becoming discouraged, women with PCOS should seek treatment from a specialist. Diagnosis of PCOS  In most situations, a patient’s symptoms or complaints indicate PCOS to the doctor. So the doctor examines the patient’s medical history and does a physical examination to search for indicators of excessive hair growth, insulin resistance, and acne.  The reproductive organs are analysed and physically examined for any abnormalities, such as bulk, growth, and so on. Post-that the following diagnostic tests may be recommended: Ultrasound: A USG of the reproductive organs is performed to examine the appearance of the ovaries and the thickness of the uterine lining. A transvaginal ultrasound is sometimes used to get a better image of the organs. Blood tests: Hormone levels, glucose tolerance and fasting, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels are all evaluated using blood tests. Treatment of PCOS There is currently no definitive cure for PCOS. Treatment, on the other hand, can improve the odds of conceiving in people who want to have a family.  Individual symptoms differ, thus therapy is not always the same. Here are some suggested options for treatment which also depend on whether a person wants to get pregnant or not: Hormonal imbalances can be corrected using birth control tablets Insulin-sensitizing medications boost the body’s insulin utilisation and, as a result, testosterone synthesis Exercise and a healthy diet can help you feel better and lose weight Maintaining a healthy weight can aid in the reduction of insulin and testosterone levels, as well as the alleviation of symptoms Medication to manage blood sugar levels in the event of diabetes Final thoughts PCOS can cause a woman’s menstrual cycles to be interrupted, making it difficult to conceive. Unwanted symptoms such as hair growth on the face and body are also caused by high amounts of testosterone levels. Losing weight can help with PCOS symptoms and increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Weight loss can be achieved by a combination of diet and aerobic activities. Doctors usually prescribe lifestyle changes as the primary therapy for PCOS, and they often work. And, above all, keep your health in check by opting for regular PCOS diagnostic check-ups to evaluate the effectiveness of the management techniques.