You can have great hair even on a budget

 

African American women have a tendency to spend more money on hair care than their counterparts of other ethnicities. In fact, a survey conducted by Design Essentials reported that black women are willing to spend about $107 on each trip to the salon, compared to the average consumer, who will dish out about $60 to have their hair done.

However, it's not necessary to break the bank for great hair. With a few investments and experiments, you can get a salon quality look without leaving home.

First, remember that your hair requires protein for strength and moisture for softness. There are many products that promise to provide one or both of these components, but finding the right one for you is often a matter of experimentation.

Also, it's worth it to splurge a little on a good ceramic flat iron or curling iron. These styling tools have come a long way in the past decade and allow ladies the sleek or curly look that they previously had to budget for – making them well worth the investment.

With the money you save styling your locks at home, you'll have more to spend on your favorite African American skin care products and, of course, the latest fashions.

 

Simple habits for healthy skin

 

No one's skin is exactly the same, which is why African American skin care products are specially designed to work for women with dry, oily or normal complexions. While every person's skin is unique, there are some universal rules that everyone should follow if they want to have a smooth, healthy complexion.

First, you should stay hydrated. Even though scientists have disproved the theory that you need eight glasses of water a day, you should still hydrate. Water can help flush toxins out of the body and moisturize the skin from the inside out.

One thing that you may want to try is spending a week swapping out alcohol, coffee and soda for water. If that sounds a little too boring for your tastes, then try green tea instead. This beverage contains antioxidants that protect the body from free radicals that may damage your complexion, and green tea extracts can be found in some of the best African American skin care products.

Next, everyone should adopt a health skin care routine that involves washing makeup off every night and regular moisturizing.

Finally, getting exercise can help improve circulation to the skin, which can improve skin's elasticity and tone. 

Hyperpigmentation is a common sign of aging among Asian individuals

 

In certain individuals, the signs of aging show on the face in the form of fine lines around the eyes or a less-than-defined jawline. But for women with ethnic skin, physical manifestations of getting older sometimes appear as hyperpigmentation, which is a discoloration of dark complexions.

Cosmetic dermatologist Jessica Wu recently told Skin and Allergy News that the patchy spots are a common sign of aging in individuals of Asian descent.

"Asian patients are more likely to seek help with pigmentation than wrinkles, so [dermatologists] should become familiar with hyperpigmentation disorders," said Wu, quoted by the news source.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that hyperpigmentation is the result of excess amounts of melanin in the skin. The condition can be caused by a number of factors, including sun exposure and inflammation.

In some cases, foundation or concealer may help blend the complexion. The NIH also recommends creams, such as Asian skin care products or fade creams for black skin, in order to minimize the appearance of hyperpigmentation.

It's important to note that products containing hydroquinone are potentially carcinogenic and have been associated with unsightly skin conditions.

Beauty tips before an office presentation

 

Before heading into a big meeting, do you check to make sure your African American skin care product is keeping your complexion flawless? If not, then you may be walking into a room full of people who are more distracted by the lipstick on your teeth than the important business you are talking about.

Recently, Skincare-News.com made some suggestions for things you should do before a big meeting.

First, the news source pointed out that those long days in the office can take a toll on the complexion, since workplaces often have dry air. The night before a major meeting, you may want to moisturize and exfoliate to ensure that your skin is fresh.

Next, the beauty website said that you should remember your nails.

"Polished nails are probably the last thing on a woman's mind as she prepares that last PowerPoint slide, but ragged nails and chipped polish are a faux pas in the professional world. Just as a job interview candidate should come into the office with neat, manicured nails, so should a professional woman during any big event," stated the beauty news source.

Finally, be sure to get a good night's sleep and use makeup to cover any dark circles you have under your eyes. While you want it to be clear in your work that you had many sleepless nights coming up with this presentation, you don't want it to show on your face!