It is common sense that a healthy lifestyle will make you feel better and simply live longer, but why does a healthy lifestyle make you healthier?

How to live a healthy lifestyle so you can enjoy all it’s benefits?This article speaks about that!

Your body is a complex set of systems that strive for balance. When your body is in balance you feel good and are healthy. Each system must work in harmony for you to be at your optimum health. When your body is out of balance you not only feel bad, but you are more susceptible to illness and disease. One of the biggest benefits of a healthy lifestyle is maintaining this balance and following good habits.

WHAT IS A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE?

A healthy lifestyle is all about balance. Eating the right foods, getting plenty of exercise and having a positive attitude are the cornerstones of a healthy lifestyle. Include plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, low fat protein sources, and whole wheat bread and pasta, and drink at least 8 glasses of water to have a healthy diet.

The American Heart Association recommends you get 30 minutes of exercise at least three times a week. Of course you should not smoke, take illegal drugs or abuse alcohol. Find enjoyable hobbies and try to look on the positive side of life. You will get down in the dumps once in a while, but try not to stay there. All of these things will add up to a healthy lifestyle and you will reap the benefits.

Healthy Mind/Healthy Body
You are more than just a collection of bodily systems. Your personality and mind play an important part of your overall health. Studies by leading universities have found a correlation between a positive attitude and your overall heal and how fast you heal from injury and disease. Another interesting finding is that people who are engaged in a spiritual life heal faster and can handle stress better than non-spiritual people.

Anyone can benefit from meditation. Meditation helps you to find your center and quiet your mind. A positive attitude is also very beneficial to your health. It can boost your immune system and protect you from catching every bug that comes along. The American Heart Association recommends regular exercise to boost your mental abilities. The reasons for this include an increased blood flow to the brain and release of the “feel good” hormones from exercise.

Keep Your Blood Flowing
Your circulatory system will benefit from a healthy lifestyle in many ways. When you eat right and get exercise your oxygen levels increase. This gives your body’s cells the energy they need to perform at their peak level. A healthy lifestyle prevents heart disease by keeping your arteries and blood vessels strong and elastic. Regular exercise strengthens your heart and lungs keeping your body fit.

A healthy diet low in fat and sugar can prevent the build up of plaque in your blood vessels and reduce your risk for heart attacks and strokes. It also keeps your cholesterol and triglyceride levels normal, another important preventative measure to prevent heart disease.

Strengthen Your Bones
Strong bones support your body and prevent osteoporosis. Your bones are the framework of your body and keeping them strong is important. When you lead a healthy lifestyle a good diet and exercise will strengthen your bones.

Getting enough calcium and minerals is important to build and maintain your bones. The Mayo Clinic reports that regular exercise not only builds muscle, but strengthens bones.

Breathe Easier
People who do not smoke have a much lower incidence of asthma and respiratory conditions. Men have a 23 times greater risk for lung cancer and women have a 13 times greater risk if they smoke than non-smokers. Smoking increases your risk for heart disease by 200 to 400 percent. Not smoking is just part of a health lifestyle, check some reasons to quit smoking.

Regular exercise increases your lung capacity and strengthens your lungs. It keeps your airways clear and helps prevent respiratory issues. When your lungs work better you bring in more oxygen which increases your overall health throughout your entire body.

Better Digestion
A diet high in fiber, low in fat and low in sugar helps your digestive system work well. An adequate amount of water also helps waste travel through your digestive system. Exercise increases the action of your digestive system because much of the action of your intestines depends upon the action of the surrounding muscles. When you exercise regularly your body burns the calories you consumes and gets rid of waste more efficiently.

It’s Never Too Late
It’s never too late to start a healthy lifestyle. It is not hard to develop healthy habits. It just takes commitment and education. Research your options to start living a healthy lifestyle and develop a plan to get your body in its peak condition. You will feel better, look better and have a better quality of life.

When most people think of coconut oil, they merely consider its ability to flavor food. But the truth is that flavoring food only scratches the surface of what coconut oil can do since it’s a useful beauty product, offers healing powers, helps with weight loss and does much, much more. Seeing as how coconut oil has so many all-purpose benefits, it’s worth looking at this product more in-depth.              

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EXPELLED AND VIRGIN COCONUT OIL

There are different types of coconut oil that will provide the desired result you’re looking for. If you don’t want to add a coconut flavor or smell to a recipe, expeller pressed (refined) coconut oil is the perfect choice for you; it can be used for cooking and beauty treatments.

The most common type found in health food stores is virgin (unrefined) coconut oil. You can add the coconut oil to recipes in place of butter and other oils, and you’re also able to use this type of coconut oil as a beauty treatment on both skin and hair. Extra virgin coconut oil is the best oil to have for beauty-related treatments and can be used in the same way as the other oils mentioned.

THE HEALING POWERS OF COCONUT OIL

There is little that coconut can’t cure or treat, and it’s a one-of-a-kind oil that has become increasingly popular. Furthermore, coconut oil is great for fighting off various illnesses and can be applied topically or swallowed.

People who suffer from ulcers, urinary tract infections, yeast infections, gum diseases, and throat infections will benefit from taking coconut oil orally because it has anti-bacterial capabilities. You can also use coconut oil to promote a healthy immune system since it’s anti-carcinogenic, which means it prevents the spread of cancer cells.

As if those reasons aren’t enough, coconut oil can kill viruses that cause influenza, among other viruses, with its anti-viral capabilities. This oil is also a great antioxidant, so you can use it to keep free-radicals from damaging your skin.

If you’re looking for an inflammatory suppressant, then look no further: coconut oil is also anti-parasitic and can help your body absorb minerals and vitamins more efficiently. You can feed coconut oil to your animals to help keep fleas off of them, and children can eat small amounts with no discomforting side effects.

Here are just a few health problems that coconut oil will help relieve when it is taken internally:

• Acid reflux and indigestion (consume coconut oil after meals)
• Asthma (even in children)
• Bowel function
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Kidney Stones (helps to dissolve them)
• Migraines (if taken regularly)

HOW TO USE COCONUT OIL FOR HEALTH & BEAUTY PURPOSES

Coconut oil has been used in various beauty treatments for skin and hair. Taking coconut oil orally can improve the appearance of skin, boost your immune system, and help your hair look shinier. You can also apply it topically to reduce a lot of skin issues, as well as combat dry and damaged hair. Here is a list of ways to use coconut oil to enhance your natural beauty and health of your body.

Decrease Discoloration on Skin
A small amount of coconut oil applied to age spots (liver spots) will help to fade them gradually. It does require dedication and regular use of coconut oil though. If you have bruises, you can use this same method to encourage a speedy healing process while minimizing swelling. You’ll also be glad to learn that coconut oil is great to apply on small burns; it has a natural cooling sensation and helps to alleviate pain.

Soothe Skin Irritations
Skin goes hand-in-hand with coconut oil; they’re best friends because psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, stretch marks, and sunburn can all be treated using coconut oil. It’s great for damaged skin, and it helps even-out discolorations as well.

Use coconut oil as an aftershave because it won’t clog your pores, yet will alleviate pain associated with razor burn. Rub the oil onto your legs or face before shaving to help nourish and protect from possible cuts or razor burn. Bug bites are itchy and can be painful, but using the oil will soothe the uncomfortable sensation and helps to heal the bite faster. You can also use coconut oil on small cuts and scrapes to both protect from infection and speed up the healing time.

Prevent or Slow Hair Loss

If you’re worried about hair loss, start using coconut oil to keep your cells happy. Apply coconut oil to the areas of your scalp you are most concerned about three times a day. This oil is also great to use as a hair conditioner by applying the coconut oil to the ends of your hair. You can also apply it to your scalp to relieve dandruff and dry scalp.

Tone Down Frizzy Hair
Apply coconut oil to your hair before shampooing since it cuts down on the frizz and promotes shiny hair. It will also help reduce split ends and damage caused by hot hair tools. Make it a hot oil treatment by soaking a towel in hot water, then, with a shower cap on your coconut covered strands, wrap the towel around your head and leave it on for 15 or more minutes.

Soothe Diaper Rash
For babies with sore bottoms, coconut oil is an organic way of relieving the pain and discomfort, and this method is compatible with cloth diapers. For babies with a dry scalp, rub coconut oil on the scalp to moisturize the dry skin. When you’re between feedings, your nipples can become dry, so put coconut oil on a cotton ball or cotton round and leave it on your nipples between feedings.

Moisturizing Lip Balm
Coconut oil is a great natural moisturizer for skin all over your body. Your lips become dry and chapped, so using coconut oil as a moisturizing lip balm helps to soothe your lips and prevents other issues with them. Put some coconut oil in a small container to keep in your purse; even if you don’t use it every day, you’ll have it with you in case of emergencies.


Antiperspirant

It may be surprising to learn that coconut oil is a great deodorant, and the power of it increases with the help of cornstarch and baking soda. This is a great all-natural deodorant to try for sensitive skin.


Brown Sugar and Coconut Exfoliate

Using coconut oil as a moisturizer is not a big secret, but it can also be used as an aid to exfoliate your skin. Combine coconut oil with brown sugar for an effective body scrub and exfoliate. Sea salt can also be used, but isn’t as gentle as sugar. 


Heal Skin around Eyes

To take care of puffy eyes, under-eye bags and wrinkles, dab coconut oil below your eyes as you would with an eye cream. It’s also gentle enough to apply to the eyelids before bed. Applying coconut oil to your skin will help strengthen connective tissue in your skin, which prevents wrinkles from forming and reduces the appearance of wrinkles that you already have.

Face Wash
Coconut oil is an all-around beauty miracle product because it not only acts as a moisturizer and exfoliates, but it can also be used as a face wash too. Mix together a half teaspoon of coconut oil with a half teaspoon of olive oil or castor oil, and use this instead of other face washes to wash your face. It’s best used on those with dry skin, but it is healthy for all skin types. Rinse the oils off of your face after letting it sit for a minute or two; pat your face dry and continue with the rest of your routine. 


Tame Frizz, Promote Curls

A little goes a long way, but you can also use coconut oil as a curl booster in your curly or wavy hair. Get a small amount and melt the oil in by rubbing it between your hands. Scrunch your hair to de-frizz your curls and add shine (stay away from your roots); this works for all hair types.


Makeup Remover
The best makeup remover is one that requires little-to-no rubbing at all, breaks up oils in the makeup, and leaves your skin feeling hydrated, rather than bone dry. Interestingly enough, coconut oil can do all of these things. Hold a cotton ball with coconut oil over your eyes for a few seconds before swiping the product off of your lids and lashes. Then continue using the oil to remove the makeup from the rest of your face.

Nourishing Massage Oil
Coconut oil proves to be great massage oil because it nourishes skin while allowing your hands to move around easily. A lot of massage oils sold today have no nourishing benefits to them, and tend to be sticky; however, coconut oil feels, tastes and smells great, and gives your skin a boost of nourishing moisture to boot. 


Tame Oily Skin

Although there are a lot of skeptics surrounding the use of coconut oil on oily and acne-prone skin, it’s truly nothing to worry about. Use a pea-sized dollop of coconut oil as a foundation makeup primer because this is said to reduce oily appearances.


Mild Sun Block
Coconut oil even has small amounts of SPF, which makes it great to use if you’re going to be outdoors for a short while – although it is still suggested that you use a sunscreen lotion with an SPF of no less than 15. Coconut oil applied to your hair before leaving the house in the summer can help protect your hair from the sun’s damaging rays.

Heal Tattoos
Body art is becoming more and more popular, and not too many people know that coconut oil is a great moisturizing tattoo healer. It will lessen the chances of infection, and moisturize your tattoo to a speedy healing process.


Make Toothpaste
If you’re out of your favorite toothpaste, you can mix baking soda and coconut oil to create one from scratch. Put the mixture on your brush and you’ll have clean teeth in no time at all.

Prevent Nosebleeds
Changes in weather can create nosebleeds, but using a Q-tip to apply coconut oil to coat the inside of your nostrils helps prevent them from happening.

REASONS TO EAT COCONUT OIL

There are plenty of reasons to apply coconut oil to your skin and hair topically, but the benefits of eating coconut oil are abundant too! Eating coconut oil regularly will help boost immunity among other things. Here is a list of ways coconut oil will help you. And note that you can add coconut oil to various foods or just eat it out of the jar. Before feeding coconut oil to children under 12, it’s best to consult their physician – although a lot of mothers who make their own baby food add small amounts of coconut oil to their food for the added nutrition.

TIPS FOR COOKING WITH COCONUT OIL

Coconut oil can be a great substitute for margarine and butter; just replace the amount of butter or margarine your recipe calls for with coconut oil. If you’re used to using butter, lard, Crisco, or Pam to grease your pans, you can try using coconut oil in its solid form to make your recipe a little healthier.

Also use coconut oil to sauté vegetables, add it to smoothies, put it on baked potatoes, or add it to almond butter or other nut jars of butter to make them creamier.

Mothers who Breastfeed

For mothers who are breastfeeding, eating three tablespoons of coconut oil a day will enhance the nutrients in the breast milk.

Healthy Bones and Teeth

Coconut oil can help your body absorb magnesium, calcium, amino acids, and other vitamins and minerals, which are very beneficial to your bones and teeth. The absorption of essential nutrients will also help your digestion, and coconut oil has saturated fats which keep indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, and other digestion-related issues in check.

HELPS WITH WEIGHT LOSS

When you eat coconut oil, you will see an increase of energy because it triggers your metabolism, betters your thyroid function, and increases your endurance. Coconut oil also helps to maintain cravings while increasing your metabolic rate.

Using Coconut Oil with Animals

As with humans, animals will benefit from eating coconut oil too, and most of the benefits we have with using coconut oil also apply to your animals. It’s best to ask your veterinarian for how much coconut oil you should give your pets; the basic formula for figuring out the dosage for your animals is to give them one-fourth of a teaspoon for every 10 pounds their bodyweight.

Feeding Coconut Oil to Animals

Feed your animals coconut oil by adding it to their food, water, or just giving it to them directly from a spoon to help maintain healthy digestive tract, relieve arthritis and ligament pain, and reduce hairballs and coughing.

You’ll be happy to know that coconut oil helps heal your pet’s dry skin, flea bites, eczema, itchy skin, cuts, and stings when applied topically. Applying coconut oil topically will disinfect cuts, bites, and other wounds that occur. Coconut oil is also used for the prevention and control of animal diabetes, weight loss, brain energy and reducing odors.

OTHER CLEVER USES FOR COCONUT OIL

The use of coconut oil for your health and beauty are abundant, but there are other reasons to keep coconut oil on hand. Use coconut oil to remove chewing gum from your hair by massaging the oil onto the gum stuck in your hair; this saturates the gum and hair around it. Leave the oil on your hair for half of an hour, and then use your fingers to roll the gum out of your hair.

Remove Glue and Make Soap

For arts and crafts, coconut oil and baking soda come in handy to remove leftover residue on jars and bottles from labels and tape. Mix together equal parts oil to baking soda, apply the paste to the sticky area, leave on for a minute or two, and then scrub off with a ball of foil, scrub brush or toothbrush. If you enjoy making homemade soap, try using coconut oil as a fat in the soap!

Polish Furniture and Kitchen Utensils

Polish and clean wood furniture and leather items with coconut oil; mix coconut oil with a small amount of lemon to polish and clean wood furniture, cabinets and shelves. But before using the mixture on your items, test it on a small area to be sure you like the results of using the mixture.

When you’re polishing leather, just using coconut oil will due. You can also use coconut oil and lemon to cleanse and polish wood cutting boards, spoons, and bowls in your kitchen. If you happen to have a bronze statue, then you can use coconut oil to keep the statue shiny and deepen the bronze color.

Insect Repellent

If you’re prone to attracting insects and suffer from itchy bites, use coconut oil and peppermint oil extract to massage onto the exposed skin. This mixture will keep insects away more effectively than store-bought repellants with fewer chemicals.

With so many uses for coconut oil, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be using it! Don’t forget to share “Health Benefits of Coconut Oil & Beauty Uses” article with your friends!

You are on a fat loss mission. With intense workouts and a strict diet, you lose fat from most parts of your body except your tummy. Sounds familiar? Join the club. Most people wanting to lose weight face the same problem. Burning fat from any part of the body is much easier when compared to the belly region. No wonder it’s called ‘stubborn’ fat. But, don’t give up yet as we have found a possible solution to flatten your stomach quickly. Curious much? Read on to know more.

Before we tell you about the magical drink that can burn your belly fat, first let’s understand why exactly it is difficult to lose weight.

WHY IS IT HARD TO BURN BELLY FAT?

When you binge eat, the first area that shows signs of weight gain is definitely your stomach. Not just poor eating habits, having a desk job can also easily add a few inches around your waist. Inactivity leads to muscle loss, which lowers your body’s capacity to burn calories. This is why you will notice the fat getting accumulated around your abdominal region. You might even start eating less and exercising more but to no avail.

A bulging stomach is not only an ugly sight but also spells danger as it could be a sign of heart disease.

Here are the reasons your belly is refusing to budge.

• BOOZE

Drinking alcohol could be adding more calories than you can imagine. It widens your waistline. Now you understand why your stomach is called ‘beer’ belly?

• AGE

A girl in her teens is more likely to lose weight quicker than a woman who has reached 30. The reason is simple. As you age, your metabolic rate goes down, and so does the body’s ability to burn fat. Hormonal imbalance and menopause translate to more fat around your tummy. So, if you are in a relaxed mode thinking you have a lifetime ahead of you to lose weight, this is a wake-up call.

• EXERCISE

When you make a plan to workout, make sure you consult a fitness instructor. What worked for your friend need not necessarily work for you. Speak to a trainer who will recommend activities/exercises depending on your body type and its capacity. For example, a person with low hemoglobin cannot run as the heart takes double the effort to pump blood due to lack of iron in the body. So, it helps to know your body’s strength and weaknesses before starting any exercise. You don’t want to end up with another health issue, do you?

• WHAT’S ON YOUR PLATE?

When you talk of belly fat, it’s more often than not linked to inflammation. If you are having too much of outside food or what’s called junk food like chips, aerated drinks, processed foods, it can thwart your body’s ability to burn fat around your belly. Always stick to natural foods as they have anti-inflammatory properties.

• STRESS

One of the leading contributing factors to weight gain these days is the rising levels of stress. Hectic work schedules, increased domestic responsibilities, the environment at home and work – all these can lead to an increased level of stress. How many times haven’t you reached out for a bottle of beer or a pack of French fries to get over your pressures? The comfort that these foods give will increase your emotional eating indulgences. Besides, the stress hormone cortisol is linked to visceral fat. The bottom line is to stay calm. Meditate, take up a hobby or your favorite sport to bring down your stress levels.

• LACK OF SLEEP

The best way to lose weight is to get enough sleep. Lack of sleep leads to low energy levels that make you reach out for sugary stuff, which ultimately leads to weight gain.

• ARE YOU HEALTHY?

When was the last time you did a complete body check up? Every person must get a full body examination done at least once a year. Your body’s requirement, ability, and condition change depending on what you eat and the environment. So, keep a check on the changes in your body. People with thyroid issues and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) are more likely to face difficulty in losing weight as compared to their healthy counterparts.

Now that you know why you are not losing weight, let’s take a look at the magical cure to lose belly fat. This is a simple solution that will drive all your weight loss worries away. So, all set to know what it is? Here you go…

Caffeine-free teas can be as tasty and effective as coffee, honest, our writer Giulia Mele (an Italian caffeine addict) discovered after testing out the 10 best caffeine-free teas for morning energy

The scent of coffee is a delightful ritual of my mornings that cheers me up even in those wintery blue London days, and by the way it’s THE thing that can wake me up.  I’m Italian you see and I drink single espresso without sugar, bring a mocha wherever I go, and I have never considered the idea of living without caffeine. What a test this was!

WHY CAFFEINE FREE?

• Caffeine-free and herbal teas keep you hydrated, which helps your body and mind function on a higher level, boosting your performance and concentration at work

• Decaffeinated tea allows to reduce some of the potential problems associated with caffeine, especially risks of cardiovascular disease, like stroke
• Both decaffeinated and regular teas are rich in natural phytonutrients called flavonoids, powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and immune system benefits
• Consumption of this tea results in good digestion, keeping your stomach healthy and giving you softer skin
• Tea and especially coffee contain high levels of caffeine that can contribute to some negative effects such as insomnia.

• Modulating coffee intake helps minimise symptoms of having had too much such as jitters, irregular heartbeat, anxiety and adrenal fatigue
• Herbal teas can be found in so many variations and flavors and most of them contain traces of nutrients that support overall health.

So it happened, I had two tough weeks, crossing my fingers every morning and wondering if the tea of the day would work, and I had lots of fun tasting such a huge variety to find the ones I loved.

At the end of the two weeks I made it, sans caffeine. Here they are the 10 best caffeine-free teas for morning energy, you you want to skip the caffeine (or have less)

The mountain pose is one of the foundational asanas in yoga. An asana is a Sanskrit term for posture.

You’ll see it as a warm-up pose and part of a Sun Salutation Series or Surya Namaskara in Sanskrit. It is a sequence of 12 poses or asanas that is traditionally done in the morning, facing the rising sun, explains author, Krishan Kumar Suman, in the 2006 book.

This pose is deceptively easy. You begin by standing tall with a straight spine.  Your big toes should touch. But if you find it difficult, you can keep your feet apart slightly.

Keep your arms at your side with your palms facing outward. Hold the pose for at least 30 seconds, working your way up to a full minute.

The mountain pose will improve your posture and balance while strengthening the muscles in your lower body.

Last week I promised I’d share some of my “secrets” (they’re not secrets) as to how I keep my hair long and healthy. It’s something I get asked about a lot and sometimes I just want to say “IT’S EASY TO HAVE LONG HAIR, JUST STOP CUTTING IT” but there *is* slightly more to it than just ditching the scissors.

People will inevitably offer different advice when it comes to this sort of thing (“Get your hair cut every six weeks! No, get it cut once every six years! Condition it before washing! But not before you’ve made a mask out of avocados, honey and wishes!” Etc) but I can only speak from my experience of what works for me.

I’m not a hairdresser (although I have had the privilege of working with some of the best in the business) and my main experience of long hair is just, errr, having it. But I’ve had long hair for over a decade and I BLOODY LOVE LONG HAIR so hopefully a few of the tips below will be vaguely helpful.

I know that some of the points below will be non-negotiable for some women (avoiding coloring and avoiding heat especially!) so if you have to do these things then just be aware that they are inevitably damaging. You can, of course, have long healthy colored hair, but if you don’t want to ditch the bleach you’ll need to up the ante with conditioning treatments and so on. 

Here’s what I do…

1. Rarely use heat styling.

There are lots of heat protecting products you can buy these days but the protection they offer doesn’t compare to avoiding heat styling altogether. I straighten my hair perhaps twice a month at the most and when I do straighten it I make sure it’s completely dry before starting so I’m not “steaming” my hair.

I try to avoid drying my hair in general and whilst I may rough dry my hair once every ten days or so, I’ll rarely sit under the hair-dryer til it’s bone dry. Generally, after a shower, I just tie my hair up (wet) into a loose bun and let it dry naturally. (I am aware that for some people this would result in epic frizz!).

If you blow dry your hair every day then to cut back would probably feel really drastic, but if you can change when you wash your hair (at night rather than before work, for example) you may find it easier.

And of course, *always* use heat protectors on your hair before stepping near hairdryers, wands, curlers and straighteners! I really adore this Bumble & Bumble one (£20.50).

2. Only use thick fabric hair ties.

Hair elastics can put an enormous amount of stress on the hair, leading to breakage and even hair loss if you tie really tight. I only use thick fabric hair ties to put my hair up and I’ve noticed *such* a difference in breakage since I discovered them a couple of years ago. They don’t have any metal so individual hairs can’t get trapped and the thicker size means they’re much more forgiving on each delicate strand.

I pick them up wherever I see them and most recently have bought in Accessorize but they don’t seem to have them online. Claire's sold them in various colors though and on Amazon, they are ridiculously cheap. (£1.32 for 12 with free delivery!).

3. Only brush with a Tangle Teezer.

I assumed Tangle Teezers was a Dragons’ Den gimmick item until one was used on my hair in a salon six or so years ago. I bought one there and then and haven’t looked back. In fact, when I forgot mine on honeymoon (A MISTAKE I HAD NEVER MADE BEFORE NOR SINCE) I genuinely contacted local suppliers to see if there was *anyone* who could get a Tangle Teezer to Mauritius before I shaved my head in a comb-induced rage.

You have to try a Tangle Teezer to appreciate how gentle they are but if you have a lot of hair – be it because your hair is thick or long – then trust me when I say a Tangle Teezer will prevent your hair from going through a lot of unnecessary damage and breakage.

4. Brush hair in sections STARTING WITH THE BOTTOM.

Regardless of what you use to brush, it really makes a huge difference to your hair if you brush it in sections, starting from the bottom and only working your way up once any tangles at the mid-lengths and ends have already been dealt with. Brushing top down from the get-go will only make your hair more tangled and damaged.

5. Don’t bleach or color your hair.

I have regularly wanted to colour my hair and have had consultations about it only to be told that I will have to sacrifice the length if I want a new colour. Bleaching is not good for your hair – that’s just a fact – and whilst you do see blonde girls with long luscious locks, it’s not an easy thing to achieve. If you want to hit the bottle you need to be aware of just how much more care and attention your hair will need.

It can of course be done, but if you have fine hair then a drastic change of colour – especially if you’re going lighter – will require a lot of TLC to maintain. Don’t be fooled by celeb pics of long and healthy bleached hair (or at least be aware that they probably have a live-in hairdresser!).

6. Protect your hair from the sun.

It’s really easy to forget to protect your hair from the sun but if you’ve ever felt your hair whilst sunbathing on holiday, then you’ll know how incredibly hot it can get. I *always* protect my hair with a UV product in the summer and I haven’t yet found a product I like more than label.m’s Protein Spray. 

Yep, I’ve mentioned Protein Spray approx 100 times before in videos and on the blog but it really is a fantastic product for protecting from heat and the elements. Oh and it smells like HEAVEN.

Of course in the midday sun you should really protect your hair (and face!) with a wide brimmed hat, but I am not ready to morph into my mother and tell you that just yet.

7. Either trim regularly or be prepared to take off a decent amount when you do get a haircut.

There are two camps when it comes to growing hair – those who say you need to trim regularly for your hair to grow and those who say just leave it for as long as possible. I fall into the latter and I don’t get my hair trimmed regularly,  but I did have about six inches off.

I can “get away” with leaving my hair for a longer time between cuts because of the fact I do all the other things in this list, but you’ll be able to tell when your hair is looking scraggy or you need a cut simply to bring some shape back into your style again.

Once your hair *does* look like it needs a cut, don’t delay it or split ends can lead to breakages which is the opposite of what you want for long healthy hair. And always take off at least the minimum amount your hairdresser advises, there’s no point only asking for half an inch off and expecting it to be healthy.

8. Use decent products to wash your hair.

Perhaps this goes without saying, but find the right hair products for you and *your* hair. Everyone is different, (If you don’t want to watch the video just read the text in the video description for a list).

9. Treat yourself to hair masks.

I’d like to say I use a mask every week but it’s probably more like once every ten days. Yep they smell heavenly and leave your hair superbly soft, but the long lasting effects are important too and a decent mask really will make a noticeable difference to your hair’s overall condition.

10. Protect hair when swimming.

If you swim in chlorinated water, you *need* to protect your hair. Swimming caps aren’t for protecting your hair, they’re for keeping hair off your face and making your stroke more streamlined. Before putting your swimming cap on you need to saturate your hair with freshwater as this will help prevent your hair from absorbing as much chlorine, then at this point you can also put in a protection creme or a leave-in conditioner.

I rarely bother putting a special product in to be honest, but I *always* make sure my hair is really wet with fresh water from the showers before I step foot in the pool.

11. Don’t wash hair everyday.

If you do a lot of sweaty exercise then I can see why this wouldn’t be an option, but as somebody who obviously doesn’t spend much time working up a sweat (lol) I only wash my hair a couple of times a week. When I do wash it I always shampoo twice to make sure my scalp is super clean. I also only use warm water rather than searingly hot water. A healthy scalp is important for healthy hair.

12. Don’t be tempted by extensions.

I’ve never had hair extensions, but I know enough people who have had them and seen enough dodgy disasters to know that they’re a bad idea if you want to grow your own hair.

If you really can’t grow your own hair then I can see why extensions would be alluring, but just remember that shortcuts nearly always come with pitfalls. It’s no different to nail extensions or eyelash extensions, inevitably some damage will occur to what’s naturally there to allow the extensions to stay in place.

13. Make sure you’re in good health and getting the right nutrients.

If your hair is thinning or breaking more than what’s normal for you, it’s always worth investigating with a doctor in case something else is going on. All sorts of things can cause problems for your hair, from thyroid issues to anaemia to fungal infections.

I take omega 3 supplements because I’m vegetarian and I’m always very aware that I miss out on the fatty goodness that most people can get by eating fish.

These aren't your average makeup tips and tricks.

1. Turn a pencil eyeliner into a gel formula with the help of a match or lighter.

Hold your black, green, burgundy, etc., kohl eye pencil (which typically creates a thin, harder-to-apply line), under the flame for one second, let it cool for 15 seconds, and then watch the consistency change right before your eyes. Finally, glide on your newly made gel liner for an instantly smudgier formula.

2. Cover your eyelid with white liner to make any eyeshadow shade pop.

To make a sheer or less pigmented eyeshadow appear more colorful on your eyelid, take a white eyeliner pencil, like makeup For Ever Kohl Eye Pencil in White, and run it over your entire eyelid. 

3. Draw your cat-eye first, and then fill in the open space for a perfect winged liner application every single time.

4. Use a spoon to create the perfect winged liner.

Holding the stem of a spoon against the outer corner of your eye, draw the straight line as the first step for your cat-eye. Then, flip the spoon so it's hugging your eyelid, and use the rounded outer edge to create a perfectly curved winged effect.

5. Draw a slanted hashtag at the outer corner of your eye, and then blend it for an instantly smokey effect.

To create a super-easy smokey eye, draw a hashtag symbol right before the outer corner of your eye and then blend it out with the smudger at the other end of your eye liner.

6. Use that same spoon to avoid mascara marks on your upper eye lid.

Hold the spoon so it's hugging your eyelid, and then apply your mascara like you normally would. As you sweep the mascara wand against your lashes and back of the spoon, watch as the residue coats the back of the utensil rather than your skin.

7. Add saline solution to a flaky mascara formula to re-wet it.

You're only supposed to keep mascara for three months, because beyond that point, it can collect bacteria and lead to eye infections. However, if your mascara dries up within those three months, revive it with a couple drops of saline solution.

8. Hit your eyelash curler with a hair dryer to heat it up, so your lashes curl easier.

Blowing hot air on your eyelash curler will help your lashes curl easier and stay curled longer; it works the same way heat changes the pattern of your hair and holds a curl with a curling iron. To do it, hit the lash curler with your blow dryer until it heats up, wait until it cools slightly but is still warm (you want to be sure not to burn your eyelid), and then clamp down on your lashes to curl them.

9. Dust on translucent powder in between coating on mascara to plump up your lashes.

10. Apply eyelash glue to false lashes with the tip of a clean bobby pin. 

Use the tip of a bobby pin to evenly disperse the glue along the base of your falsies. Then, wait a few seconds for the glue to get tacky and apply!

11. For long-lasting lip color, swipe on your shade, lay a tissue over your mouth, and then dust translucent powder over it to set the color.

This process may seem extensive, but the payoff is worth it. Not only does the translucent powder set a bold shade, making it instantly long-wearing, but the tissue acts as a shield to your lip color, protecting it from lightening or losing it's vibrancy. 

12. Mix loose pigments with a salve or petroleum jelly to make your own custom lip gloss.

If you have loose eyeshadow pigments that you're obsessed with and want to wear as a lip shade, blend it with a little bit of a salve, like VMV Hypoallergenics Balm, or petroleum jelly in a spoon and swipe it onto your lips. Voil!

13. Perfect your Cupid's bow by drawing an "X" on your upper lip first as a guideline.

To make the Cupid's bow part of your pout look perfect, the easiest and quickest way is to take a lip liner in the same shade as your lipstick and create an "X" at your Cupid's bow. Then, apply your lipstick as you normally would and voil!

14. Conceal dark circles and puffy eyes the right way by creating a triangle with your cover-up.

You might be a fan of dotting on your concealer in the spots you need it, but the best way is it to actually apply it in a triangular formation with the base of the triangle directly under your lashline and the point toward the bottom of your cheek. This shape helps conceal any redness at the bottom of your eye and at the sides, and then instantly creates the illusion that your face is lifted, since the brightest point is the most intense under your eye.

15. Make contouring look more natural by using a pencil, pen, or makeup brush handle as your guide to finding exactly where your cheekbone is.

Not everyone's face is created equal, so where your BFF might be applying her bronzer might not be the best place for you to contour. To tell where you should be dusting on bronzer, roll a pencil, pen, or makeup brush handle right below your cheekbone (directly in the pocket underneath the actual bone) to find the right angle for your face. Once you've found the correct placement, dust some bronzer on your face using a contouring brush, and then diffuse the color so it looks natural. (Tip via makeup artist Lauren Cosenza.)

16. Map the contours of your face with a gel eyebrow pencil, since it's easier to apply precisely and blend in.

After you've applied your base, mark the areas you want to contour — the hollows under your cheekbones, your temples, along your hairline, jawline, the sides of your nose, the tip of the nose, and the crease of your eyes — with a deeply colored brow gel pencil, like IT Cosmetics Brow Power Perfector Gel Pencil in Auburn. Brow gel pencils are really concentrated, yet very smudgeable, and it's easy to control the placement of their dark pigment, making them perfect for contouring. Next, use an all-over cream highlighter, like Mac Cosmetics Cream Colour Base in Luna, on the tops of your cheekbones, on the center of your forehead, the bridge of your nose, the center of your chin, and on your Cupid's bow. (Tip via makeup artist Lauren Cosenza and this tutorial.)

17. Blot your face in a pinch with a clean toilet seat cover.

Initially, yes, this sounds gross, but both blotting papers and toilet seat covers are made out of similar fabrics and will help sop up excess oil on your skin. So, if you're in a pinch and headed to the bathroom to freshen up anyway, grab one of these covers and pat it over your skin to decrease any excess oil on your face.