Teeth Whitening Tips

Does a megawatt smile have to cost megabucks? After all, some dentists have questioned the safety and effectiveness of home-whitening kids. We went to the experts to learn the truth about whitening your teeth.

The first thing to know, most teeth-whitening products can’t reduce every type of stain. “They’ll help if you have surface stains caused by things like coffee, smoking, and wine,” explains Lyndon Cooper, D.D.S., Ph.D., former president of the American College of Prosthodontists. “They can also help some intrinsic stains, caused by things like too much fluoride.” But if you have stains caused by trauma or a genetic problem, these products won’t help.

If you’ve always had yellow teeth, you should see a prosthodonist—it could be one of the more severe types of stains. If your teeth gradually discolored over the years, however, the problem probably exists on the surface, meaning you can whiten them without the aid of a professional. Here’s how.

• Whitening toothpaste: “These have bleaching chemicals and a mild abrasive that helps clean the tooth,” says Dr. Cooper. “And you don’t need to worry about the abrasive scratching your enamel.” If your teeth can handle the brushing, they can usually handle the paste. Just don’t use them more than three times a day, and consider combining the toothpaste with one of the other methods below.
• White strips: “The bleach enters the pores of your teeth,” Cooper says, “and lightens the inside of the enamel, making them up to two shades lighter.” A common concern is that bleach dehydrates the tooth, causing white spots, but it’s not a major problem. “The tooth recovers very shortly after bleaching,” Cooper says. “Avoid wine, coffee, and chocolate for up to 40 minutes after whitening,” he says. “These bleaching products open up the pores in your teeth, exposing them to anything you put in your mouth afterward.” Another thing to keep in mind: Sensitivity. If the strips cause any pain, stop using them and see a dentist or prosthodontist.
• Dentist-supervised bleaching trays: Haven’t heard of ‘em? A dentist customizes trays to your teeth and gives you a whitening agent to use at home. How long you keep it in your mouth and how often you use it depends on the prescription. Unlike the white strips, this whitens all of your teeth—not just the ones in the front. Not just that, it allows for a higher concentration of bleach, which is why this method is the most effective. The drawbacks: “Just be extra careful if you have sensitive teeth,” says Dr. Cooper. “This should be supervised by your prosthodonitst or dentist, because of the high levels of bleach.” It will also set you back at least $300. Dr. Cooper has one last piece of advice: Begin your teeth-whitening regimen—even whitening strips—a few weeks before your annual dentist visit. “This way your dentist can address any sensitivity issues,” he says. “And if the product doesn’t work, he or she can determine if the discoloration is more serious.”

How To Remove Blackheads Step By Step

Blackheads are hard to get rid of but not removing them early makes it very difficult and painful later on. They’ll also leave big holes in your skin when you finally get them out. Follow these steps to extract blackheads.

Step 1 – Exfoliating Scrub

1. Exfoliate your face thoroughly with a facial scrub for five minutes.
2. Focus on the areas with the most blackheads like your nose, lip area, forehead and cheeks.
3. Rinse with warm water.

Step 2 – Facial Steam

1. Add two tablespoons of baking soda to a pot of water and bring it to a boil.
2. Drape a towel over your head and steam your face for five minutes.
3. This opens your pores and softens your skin making extraction easier.

Step 3 - Extraction

1. Use clean fingers or facial sponges to gently squeeze your skin on either side of the blackhead until it pops out.
2. For deep stubborn blackheads use a blackhead extractor. Gently press down over the blackhead until it comes out.
3. Wipe a clean cotton ball soaked with astringent over the area to sterilize.

via: black-women-beauty-central.com

15 Body Tips for Men

1. Just because back hair is hard to shave doesn’t mean you have a green light to let it go unchecked. Buy an extended shaver specifically for back hair to make the process easier.
2. Sunless tanning lotions aren’t only for female skin. Apply the lotion after you shower, and remember to wash your hands immediately after application.
3. An obvious tip is to shower every day. When showering, use soap and water on every nook and cranny. It’s amazing how many people out there think that a shower consists of standing under the water for five minutes.
4. Drink plenty of water because it will make your skin look healthier, and you younger.
5. Whether or not you choose to completely shave your pubic hair is a personal choice; however, you should at least trim your pubic hair.
6. While you’re in the barber shop, make sure they shave the back of your neck to prevent it from getting too hairy. Also, check the back of your neck in the mirror from time to time to ensure that it’s clean-shaven.
7. If you tend to sweat a lot, try trimming your armpit hair. The less hair there, the less bacteria, which will make you smell much better!
8. David Hasselhoff may have thought his chest hair was hot, but it’s definitely not. If you have what looks like a small animal on your chest, you should shave it off immediately.
9. Those who have trouble keeping their body hair under control might want to consider hair removal treatments. Laser, electrolysis and waxing are three common methods for taking care of the problem.
10. By exercising and eating healthy meals, you’ll gain more energy, and become a happier person all-around.
11. One essential shower product you should always have is body wash. Body wash tones, moisturizes and softens your skin, which are three things that soap doesn’t always do.
12. Never leave the house without first applying deodorant! Keep a stick in your car or locker at work if you tend to forget.
13. If you don’t feel like sunless tanning lotion is doing the job for you, perhaps you should visit the salon and jump in a tanning bed.
14. Don’t become a tanning addict. Tanning beds are great for getting a quick, streak less tan, but over-tanning can lead to wrinkly, leathery skin when you get older.
15. Just like your face, your body needs to be exfoliated once a week so that you don’t get body acne. Find an exfoliating body wash at any drug store, and make sure you actually use it!

via: beauty-tips.net

Homemade Treatments for Hair Growth

There are a variety of treatments that have been passed down from generation-to-generation, and are said to improve hair growth and minimize baldness in both men and women. Here is a list that we've compiled of the most popular home remedies for hair growth:

Cayenne pepper and olive oil can be combined to promote blood circulation to your hair follicles.

To create this, you'll need 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper and 2 cups of olive oil.

1. Mix them together, and then store the mixture in a dark bottle so as to protect the solution from the sun.
2. Let the mixture meld together for two weeks before you begin applying it to your scalp and hair regularly.
3. Let the mixture sit on your hair for half an hour or more before you use shampoo and conditioner

Recommended usage is every other day.

Another pepper treatment involves the use of Castor oil and vodka!
To create this treatment, you'll need one large jalapeno pepper, 0.5 cup of vodka, and 2 tablespoons of Castor oil.

1. Begin by dicing the pepper up into small pieces, add the vodka, and let the mixture meld together for 10-15 days.
2. Once you've waited long enough, spoon the peppers out of the vodka, and then add the Castor oil and shake well.
3. Massage onto your scalp, and allow it to rest on your hair for an hour before washing with shampoo and conditioner.
4. You can also sleep with this treatment on your locks (use a night cap to avoid ruining your pillow)

via: beauty-tips.net

Top 5 Grooming Tips for Men

1. Get Rid the Gray Hair
The fastest way to take years off of your look is to get rid of gray hair. It's less noticeable and more natural to begin coloring your hair when you first begin to go gray. An easy-to-use product formulated specifically for men, such as Just For Men Hair color, can be used at home to cover gray hair with natural looking results.
If your beard and mustache turns gray first, the makers of Just For Men Hair color have a brush-in gel in a no-drip formula that's perfect for covering facial hair.

2. Go Short if You are Balding
Balding is another common problem among men. Opting for a comb-over just dates your look. Get comfortable with your changing look and opt for a modern short haircut.
When men begin to lose the hair on their heads, they may begin to notice unwanted hair in other places, like their nose, ears or back. Be sure to trim or wax unwanted hair for a clean, contemporary look.

3. Protect and Pamper Your Skin
The best way to prevent wrinkles and skin cancer is to protect your skin from sun damage by using a daily moisturizer with sunscreen.
A good daily skin care routine includes cleansing, followed by a gentle facial exfoliate scrub, which also enhances shaving ease and comfort. Follow with a moisturizer containing sunscreen for day and at night a moisturizer with AHAs to encourage skin regeneration.

4. Pay Attention to Hands and Feet
Don't forget to include your hands and feet in your grooming routine. Well-manicured nails and toes contribute to good hygiene and grooming habits. Make time to clip and file your nails at home.
Foot odor is a common problem among many men, and is relatively easy to treat. Scrub your feet daily and dry them completely. Insert a pair of Odor-Eaters Insoles into your shoes, which will absorb wetness and odor.

5. Extend the Life of Your Razor Blades
All you need is a bottle of mineral oil and some rubbing alcohol.
After shaving, thoroughly clean and dry your razor blades and then completely immerse the razor head in a shallow dish filled with mineral oil. Use the rubbing alcohol to wash away the oil next time you need to use the razor.
By immersing the blades in oil, you stop the oxidization process that dulls their sharp edges. A daily mineral oil soak can double or even triple the life of your cartridges.

via Beverly Smith

Quick Grooming Tips 4 Men!!!!

1. If you don't iron your clothes, remove them immediately from the dryer so wrinkles don't set.

2. In hot weather, wear light-colored, cotton clothing and socks. This will absorb less heat and "sweat stains" will be less visible.

3. Consider trimming your arm pit hairs in warm weather. Less hairs, less bacteria, less smell. Think about it.

4. Don't be reluctant to trim or tweeze any stray eyebrow hairs.

5. Good dental hygiene means a dazzling smile.

6. Open your eyes. If hair is the frame for your face, the eyes are the windows. Use eye drops to whiten the whites of your eyes for a fresher, younger look.