Natural hair colour lightners.

Hey Dolls,

Since I was a child I have been obsessed with haircare, I always boasted about my long perfectly straight hair but secretly always despised my pitch black hair colour, especially because my sister had brown hair. But I still never had the courage to just colour them and face any sort of damage. Therefore even now when I'm 21 years old, I still have untouched hair, but sometimes I use these tricks to make my hair colour almost brown. These tricks work for virgin as well as treated hair, also on any hair colour & type, so do let me know how these worked for you.

Lemon Juice

I heard about this tip first in the conversation between Skylar White & Marie Schrader in Breaking Bad. Being the curious kid that I am, I read up on this on Livestrong & found out that this natural beauty remedy has been around for forever, which is a testament to the fact that it actually works! According to Livestrong, when the citric acid in lemon juice heats up in the sun, it opens hair cuticles and lifts out the pigment. Just squeeze some lemon juice into a spray bottle, dilute with water (3 times the amount of  lemon juice), and then spritz into your hair before you head outside. (P.S. If you’ve ever used lemon juice to keep a cut apple from browning, you’ve already witnessed its amazing bleaching properties!)

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is another natural hair lightener, said to be more gradual than lemon juice and therefore better for brunettes. It can be applied directly or added to shampoo or conditioners. Click here for more information.

Rhubarb

Instead of bleaching, rhubarb and rhubarb root bring a yellow that gives medium-light brown or dark blonde hair a lighter hue. Some recipes use just the rhubarb stalk (boil in water, then use the liquid to rinse through hair), others combine it with the powdered rhubarb root or even chamomile, and some use wine to steep the rhubarb. Click here for recipe

Honey

I’ve never tried this one myself, but if anything I’m sure that honey would be deeply conditioning. As Livestrong explains, honey contains the enzyme peroxide, which is an effective lightener when mixed with distilled water to activate it. Plus, your hair will smell yummy and feel soft post-honey treatment. please also view this article for more information.

Beer

Yes, beer. Beer is another method that I’ve tried & I can swear by its lightening properties (Refinery29). Use a light beer of course, and just keep in mind that you might not want to try this method right before you go to a family get-togethers. Bonus: The B vitamins and proteins in beer will repair damaged stands too.


None of these methods are a true replacement for salon highlights of course. But if you’re just looking to add a little extra brightness to your mane, these all-natural methods are pretty impressive considering the ease, availability, and low cost. Also, keep in mind that you may not see dramatic results immediately. I recommend repeating these DIY beauty treatments frequently to gradually lighten your locks over time.

Hope you use these tricks & do let me know if you have ever tried any of these or any other DIY hair highlighters? 

XOXO,
Anshika Agarwal

Life Hack Tuesdays: Remove Egg Yolk Perfectly Everytime!

Hey Dolls,

Today I'm going to share with you this amazing trick I found on the Internet here, Its supposedly how Russians do it and I've tried over a hundredth time and it always works!

I specially do it when making Macrons to perfectly remove the yolk as a whole, its a great way to get your egg-whites separated!

All you need to do is follow these 5 easy steps!

1. Break an egg in a bowl (If you're quick enough you can do it directly on the pan too, works for me!) 
2. Take an empty plastic bottle (uncapped), give it a mild squeeze.
3. While still squeezing it place the opening on the egg yolk, don't press on it, you don't want the yolk to break.
4. Release the squeeze, it will vacuum the egg yolk in and you're left with your egg-whites! Mind Blown!
5. Try not to play with the egg yolk!

Do try this and remember don't waste the egg yolk, instead put it your hair and roots for 40 minutes before washing for smooth hair, this will give your hair all the proteins it requires to be healthy. Do let me know how did you like this trick by commenting or take a picture and tag me in the tweets or on Instagram, you can directly follow me by clicking on the respective icons on the top right corner. Take good care of yourself and keep smiling!

XOXO,
Anshika Agarwal

Life Hack Tuesdays: Use ice cubes to remove gum from your hair.

Hey Dolls,

We've all got scared at the thought of chewing gum in our hair, Haven't we? I've had nightmares about it as a kid because of this particular cousin of mine who always threatened with his fantasy of sticking a chewing gum to my hair while I'm sleeping, I guess it was because I was always really possessive about my hair. I hated cutting my hair short and I knew that if he did do that I would have to cut-off that section immediately to prevent all my other hair from sticking to it and then probably cut my hair further to make my hair look even. But I read this article which might save someone's pretty hair someday. *I haven't tried it but it sounds convincing so whats the harm in trying it before reaching out for the scissors?

Rub some ice on the chewing gum, It will harden the gum hence making it non elastic, making it easier to remove. You can also use this method for getting gum off the soles of shoes so thats pretty great right?

I hope no one has to use this tip but if you do please let me know how it worked, also check out my other posts, do subscribe and leave comments. I'm planning to do a giveaway soon so stay tuned, follow me on Twitter for more information.

XOXO,
Anshika Agarwal..

3 Reasons Why Baking Soda is the Best Kept Beauty Secret!

Of all the beauty ingredients out there, one that is totally a must is Baking Soda! Not only will they give you super soft skin and gorgeously shiny hair, but you can also create a super easy scrub that will help lighten areas like knees and elbows. The funny thing is, it’s so easy to use and give such great results!

Super Shiny Hair

Baking Soda is AhhhMAZING at removing any residue or film that may linger on your hair after you wash it. To create an invigorating shampoo that gets rid of any build up, mix one tablespoon baking soda with your shampoo, then wash and condition as usual!

Beautiful Knees and Elbows

Getting your knees to match your elbows really shouldn't be that difficult, but it is! Luckily this scrub makes it a whole lot easier! Mix together lemon juice and baking soda to create a paste, then rub on elbows and knees daily! Refrigerate excess! The lemon will naturally lighten skin and the baking soda removes dead skin making this concoction very effective!

At Home Microdermabrasion

It’s so easy to get a super amazing microdermabrasion at home with baking soda! All you really need to do is mix a tablespoon of baking soda with your favorite face wash and voila, an instant and very effective face wash!

Homemade Hair-Oils'

Our hair is the sole most important factor which contributes to the difference in the way we look, Change your haircut and Voila! you have a makeover there itself. But not always it tends to behave itself, do they? That's because they are not happy, in short happy and well nourished hair makes everyone happy! so how do we do the magic?

Like the skin, Everyone's hair is individual and it varies from person to person in terms of color, texture, body, bounce density and length. Hair types may be classified broadly as normal, dry, greasy & combination. Normal hair has healthy sheen & is manageable. Dry hair is usually caused by external factors like excess heat, bleach, chemicals in our hair products, faulty diets & lack of proper hair care.Greasy hair is usually caused by hormonal imbalance also weather, humidity & bad diet. Combination hair is very greasy at the scalp and has dry split ends.


Every hair type needs proper nourishment and care. Hair-oils are an excellent way to achieve it.Does oily hair need oil too? Yes its all about finding the right combination of right oils. Here are few recipes for common problems.


http://bombaygirl07.blogspot.in/COMBINATION HAIR

Ingredients;
4 Stems of Aloe Vera
1 Liter (32 oz) olive oil
2-3 drops of Juniper oil
0.5 tsp camphor powder

Cut the aloe stems and scrape out the gel, mix with olive oil. Simmer for 30 mins until the gel floats on top. Whisk the oil with a hand beater, add camphor powder and juniper oil when cool. Store in bottle and use regularly.

 OILY HAIR

Ingredients;
1 Litre (32 oz) coconut oil
1 cup fresh neem leaves or 2 tbs neem powder
Simmer the ingredients for about 30 minutes on slow and let it stand for an hour and strain. Store it in a bottle.


http://bombaygirl07.blogspot.in/
DRY HAIR

Ingredients;
500 ml (16 oz) almond oil
250 ml (8 oz) castor oil
250 ml (8 oz) olive oil
50 ml (2 oz) Grape seed oil
Simmer the ingredients for about 30 minutes on slow and let it stand for an hour and strain. Store it in a bottle.

The Ultimate guide to Bangs

http://bombaygirl07.blogspot.in/

Bangs are one of the easiest ways to change your look without having to sacrifice length of your hair or make a dramatic change in color. But for such a quick hair makeover, there’s still a lot to consider before making the cut. As you know, I recently cut bangs myself, so I thought I’d share a few of the tips I learned in the process. Here is my comprehensive beauty guide to cutting bangs…

Get inspired.From blunt, heavy bangs to wispy, side-swept bangs, there’s a lot of variety in the fringe family. Before making the cut, I suggest you spend plenty of time looking through magazines or on Pinterest and gathering inspiration. Then, take these reference images to your hairstylist when you go to get your bangs cut. When I cut my fringe, I had a modern Brigitte Bardot look in mind and I brought along plenty of inspiration images to work with.Find the right fringe for your face.Once you identify what type of bangs you like, ask yourself how they will suit your face. While short, micro-fringe may have looked chic on Audrey Hepburn, that doesn’t mean it’s right for everybody. Blunt, eyebrow-length bangs are a good option if you have a long, narrow face because they will make your face appear more oval. Soft, side-parted bangs look lovely on heart-shaped faces. Long, side-swept bangs look good on almost anyone. You can straighten them or wear them wavy if you have natural curls. However, everyone’s face shape and hair texture is a little different, which leads me to my next tip…Try on a hairpiece.Even if you have a whole collection of inspiration images saved at this point, you’ll still want to try your bangs on for size. After a rather unfortunate bob incident a few years ago, I’ve made a habit of visiting a wig store before making any drastic changes to my cut or color (it makes for a pretty fun adventure). Find a clip-on bang that matches your hair color and texture as closely as possible, and see what you will look like before making the actual cut.Be prepared for monthly maintenance.Many people don’t realize how fast their hair really grows until they have bangs. While most hairstylists don’t charge just for bang trims, it can be a pain to keep running back and forth to your salon every six weeks. Side-swept bangs require less maintenance, but blunt cuts can start falling across your eyes as soon as four weeks after you last cut them. So, unless you’re a pro when it comes to at-home trims, be prepared to stop by your stylist regularly to maintain the shape and length of your fringe.One more thing to remember is that you can always trim more but you can’t grow it back immediately, so start with longer bangs and go from there. Also, know that when the time comes to grow out your bangs, the process may take a while. Be prepared to get creative with your hairstyles and hair accessories while you are waiting for your fringe to grow long enough to blend in with the rest of your hair.Are you considering cutting bangs?

How to Make Your Curls Hold

http://bombaygirl07.blogspot.in/

Every girl wants her hair to look as good at the end of the night as it does when you step out of the salon. And as a girl with stick-straight strands let me tell you… there’s nothing more frustrating than spending 45 minutes curling your tresses only to have your perfect waves fall flat before you’ve made it out the door. So with New Year’s Eve in mind, today I’m sharing a few secrets for flawless, lasting curls. Without further ado, here are a few useful tips I’ve come across…

Start with day-old hair.

Your hair’s natural oils give your hair texture and make your strands more moldable. So if you plan on curling your hair, don’t wash it for a day or two. If your scalp feels too oily sans shampoo, sprinkle a little dry shampoo along the roots and leave the rest dirty.

Skip the deep conditioner.

Deep conditioning treatments have a tendency to weigh hair down and make it harder to style. So if you know you’ll be curling your hair, stick to a lightweight conditioner and save the more intense hydrating treatments for another day.

Pick the right products.

Many people make the mistake of piling on products after curling and using nothing before. But stiff, crunchy curls are not the goal here. So before you take a curling iron to your mane, start with a light weight styling lotion to give your hair some texture. It’s also a good idea to use a heat-protecting product so you don’t fry your strands. Once you are done curling your whole head of hair, finish by misting your curls with a light hairspray (I recommend Elnett Volume Extra Strong Hold). Use just enough hairspray to make your strands stay without feeling stiff.

Use the right tools.

Having the right tools makes all the difference. To begin, make sure you’ve selected an iron with the right size barrel. For hair that doesn’t hold a curl well, I recommend a ¾-inch barrel. The curls will be tight without looking ringlet-y, and will loosen as the day goes on. If your hair holds a curl better than mine does, choose a 1-inch iron for instant beachy waves. Also, if your hair always falls flat, consider investing in a professional grade curling iron. For a long time I was trying to curl my hair with a drugstore brand, and it was only when I switched to a higher-end iron that I realized my hair could hold a curl. I recommend aNuMe curling wand or the Sarah Potempa Beachwaver if you’re willing to invest, or Hot Tools to get the most bang for your buck.

Try the post-iron pin.

 Once you release your hair from the iron, simply pin the curl to your head until it sets. Once your entire head is pinned, mist it with hairspray. Then, carefully unpin your curls and comb through them with your fingers.

Braid before bed.

This timesaving trick is the one I use most often. If you know you’re going to curl your hair the next day, sleep with it in a braid or two (depending on how thick your hair is). The next morning you will wake up with instant textured waves—the perfect canvas to take a curling iron to.

Do you have any tricks you use to curl your hair?

I hope that all of these tips help!

also check out my tip to grow your hair.

Hairbrush and Comb guide

http://bombaygirl07.blogspot.in/

With makeup brushes, having at least 10 basic brushes is recommended. But with hairbrushes, you probably only need 2 or 3 brushes tops. Choosing the right hairbrush has everything to do with your hair type and how you style your tresses on a regular basis. The curly haired girl is not going to need a paddle brush most of the time, and if you have a pixie cut there’s no need for a detangling comb.

So, without further ado, here are the brush basics…

Paddle Brush: A multitasking brush great for detangling hair, ensuring that you get a smooth blowout, or adding volume to your crown.
Shop It: Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush

Bristled Round Brush: Another multitasking hairbrush great for adding waves, bounce, and shine to your blowout.
Shop It: Fekkai Large Round Brush

Ceramic or Metal Round Brush: A vented brush, which allows air to pass through and dry your strands from every angle. The metal barrel heats up under your hairdryer, acting as a curling iron during your blowout.
Shop It: Drybar Full Pint Medium Round Brush

Boar- and Nylon- Bristled Metal Brush: A versatile brush that has a use on both curly and straight hair. Boar bristles are great for creating tension, so if you have curly hair, this is a good brush for a blowout. If you have thick straight hair, this is also a good brush for adding curl.
Shop It: Warren-Tricomi Salon Small Thermal Metal Brush

Small Boar-Bristled Brush:  A small brush ideal for taming unruly bangs.
Shop It: Mason Pearson Pocket Boar Bristle Bush

Boar-Bristled Oval-Cushioned Brush: A multitasking brush good for just about anything other than a blowout. This brush can be used to smooth down flyaways, brush out curls, and softly tease the hair.
Shop It: Mason Pearson ‘Handy Bristle’ Hair Brush

Detangling Hairbrush or Comb: A hair tool designed to detangle wet hair.
Shop It: Tangle Teezer Detangling Hair Brush

Parting or “Rat Tail” Comb: A basic styling comb with a tapered handle. The head can be used for finishing and styling, while the pointed handle can be used for parting or separating sections of hair with ease.

Shop It: Mason Pearson ‘Tail’ Comb