Gel nails are perhaps the most natural looking of all nail additions and are definitely worth considering if you want to have longer and stronger nails which appear to be your own. You create gel nails by applying layers of an acrylic gel to the surface of your nails. These layers then combine and set to produce a solid nail. To harden the nails, they are then normally placed under an ultraviolet light or even sometimes simply an ordinary room light.

It can be difficult to apply gel nails yourself, although it is quite possible. It’s certainly a lot simpler to get a nail specialist to do the job for you, but if you do wish to try it yourself, the following is a method for using the acrylic overlay technique.

1. Buff the natural surface of your nail using a buffer to remove the shine. Don’t overdo it! Then shape the free edge of the nail plate to the correct size corresponding to your finger nail. Use a medium-grade emery board to do this.

2. Apply a drop of nail adhesive to the nail tip whilst holding it at a 45 deg angle with the tip against the outer edge of your own nail. Then slide the nail tip back and press it down when in position. Hold it in position for a few seconds until it is held securely by the adhesive.

3. Apply a single coat of acrylic bonding agent to the surface of your own nail only. Don’t get it on the acrylic tip.

4. A small amount of acrylic liquid and acrylic powder should be poured into separate glass containers. Using a brush, dip it into the acrylic liquid, then press it lightly against the dish to release any excess acrylic. Then sweep the tip of the brush across the surface of the white powder until it has picked up as much of the powder as it is able to carry, and the resultant ball is big enough to cover the entire nail. Then take the brush and place te tip with the acrylic ball in the center of your nail.

5. As quickly as you can, but without rushing, commence by pushing some acrylic into the cuticle region, working towards the sides and forwards to completely fill in your nail behind the acrtlic tip.

6. When completed and dry, tap your nail gently on the infilled area using the brush handle. The familiar clicking sound will indicate that the acrylic has fully set.

7. To finish, file and buff the nails as you require. Then apply a base coat varnish, some polish and a top coat. It is also a good idea also to apply a drop of cuticle oil to the cuticle.

Note that all nail enhancements will need filling every two to four weeks, depending upon how quickly your nails grow. This means filling in the area in front of the cuticle to blend in with the existing acrylic fill.

You can find more information on gel nails by Bianca Tavares in her regular contributions at Makeup Girl’s Makeup Tips.

No matter whether or not whether your favorite black hair style is braided, curly, locks, sleek and straight, short and funky or twisted and intricate, there are a few things that you should consider before deciding on what black hair style to choose for your next do.

Due to the versatility of the black hair style and black hair in general, ethnic hair styles include some of the most intricate and beautiful hair creations to be found among fashion-conscious people today. While many compete to make their black hair style more elaborate and beautiful than the next, many fail to observe basic hair styling fundamentals, which are vital to ensure that a black hair style compliments the wearer rather than detracts from his or her personal beauty.

Black hair style fundamentals

When choosing the right black hair style for you, it is important to pay special attention to your facial features and bone structure. The right black hair style can take the most beautiful facial features you have and make them absolutely stunning. The wrong black hair style, on the other hand, can completely mask those features and may even highlight features you would rather hide.

When choosing the perfect black hair style for your unique look, stylists should take into account your build. For example, close cropped black hair styles would not suit a person with a large frame, nor would a full-bodied black hair style compliment a person with a small frame. Making sure that your style and frame balance is the key here.

Stylists also should look at your face shape when choosing the best black hair style for you. There are five basic face shapes: oval, heart, round, square and triangular. All of these shapes can be beautiful, but one is ideal: oval. No matter what shaped face you have, achieving the perfect look involves picking the right black hair style that will make your face appear more oval.

Oval face shapes are identified by the perfect symmetry of certain facial features, such as the distance from the hairline to the bridge of the nose (between the eyes), from the bridge of the nose to the lips, and from the lips to the bottom of the chin. If your face is oval shaped, you will have a host of options when it comes to choosing your black hair style. This shape is the only one that is complimented by almost every black hair style imaginable. The oval shape is perfect for corn rows, braids and all other popular black hair styles.

Heart shaped faces are usually broader through the forehead and taper to a point at the chin. You can make this shaped face appear more oval by positioning the weight of the black hair style at chin level, or by wearing bangs in shorter black hair styles. Keep in mind that the goal is to minimize the forehead and to bring prominence to the chin.

Round faces are just that: round. They have wide cheekbones and are usually smaller through the forehead and chin. The goal here is to minimize the cheekbones. Black hair styles with height in the bang and sides cut toward the face usually work best.

Square faces have a bold forehead and an angular jaw line. Black hair styles with soft edges, and a great deal of texture directed toward the face really suit this shape. The length should be kept longer than jaw length to draw attention away from the jaw, but, at the same time, that length should be layered. A straight, sleek black hair style would only serve to accent the angular lines of the face.

Triangular shaped faces are angular at the jaw line, but narrow through the forehead. They can be treated much the same way that square faces are treated, with one exception; more height and fullness is needed throughout the crown and bang areas of the black hair style to make this section of the face appear larger.

Now that you know what types of black hair styles to choose to make you look your best, the only limits are your imagination and your stylist’s creativity.

Michael Barrows’ website gives great advice for good hair. Get your free ebook packed with hair style and hair care tips and advice, visit http://www.great-hairstyles.com.

Whatever your reasons for a tan, whether it is to prepare yourself for a tropical vacation or to simply look more beautiful, there are many sunless tanning products on the market to choose from. Or possibly, one visit to an indoor tanning bed may give you that golden brown glow for that special evening. If you are the type that loves to lie on the beach for that UV-induced tan, remember that using a top-quality tanning bed lotion is your best form of defense. One popular item is sunless tanning spray. This product is available at many spas and high-end salons and applications range anywhere from $25 to over $100. Sunless tanning spray contains DHA, which is applied as a fine mist to the entire body. The DHA reacts with skin cells on the surface of the body, causing them to turn brown. Most tanners that use this method experience dramatic results and are pleased, too. Sunless tanning usually lasts from five to seven days.

Whatever type of spray you decide on, it is usually oil or water-based. If you choose this method of tanning rather than lying on your local beach or tanning bed, some type of skin protection is needed. Sunless tanning spray has been approved since the 1970’s. It is colorless and any change to the tanner’s skin is purely chemical. After an application, you may smell a slight odor which will disappear after you shower and will not stain your clothing.

Sunless tanning spray is not recommended for everyone, especially if you have flaky or dry skin or even very fair skin. With dry skin, a spray tan could end up patchy and actually accelerate the shedding of dead skin cells. If you have very light skin pigment, the tan may end up too dark afterward. Remember that indoor tanning beds have many benefits, so when choosing which form of tanning best suits your needs, it all depends upon these factors.

By Terry Price- Are you going on a tropical holiday and want to get a jump on the sun? http://www.tanningbedslotionsupply.com/sitemap.html -Choose from one of our top 10 suntan products today! http://www.tanningbedslotionsupply.com/top-ten-sunless-tanning-products.html

Fall’s the time to repair the price paid for ‘fun in the sun’ and prepare for cooler, dryer air. Then experiment with the season’s new looks!

As healthy as being outdoors can feel, the ultraviolet rays of the sun can damage skin cells through sunscreens and sun blocks.** Chlorine and other chemicals in hot tubs and pools, salt water at the beach, and super-conditioned air can leach away nutrients and cause dryness. What to do? Have some fun … create a ‘spa’ environment in your bath area and follow these simple steps.

Step one in reversing the effects of summer is to remove the dead surface skin cells that have built up. For your face, select a mask or microdermabrasion product that’s appropriate for your skin type (dry, normal, combination, oily, blemish-prone). Also pick an exfoliator made specifically for the lips. For your body, choose a scrub or buffing cream. If you have sensitive skin, avoid scents and perfumes since they can be irritants. Then follow the product directions for application and use, massaging gently.

Step two is to moisturize the newer, younger skin you’ve revealed. Liberally apply a facial moisturizer (paying special attention to the neck and décolleté), eye cream, lip balm, and body lotion (or cream), allowing time for the products to be absorbed into your skin. You want to replace the moisture that’s been stripped away during cleansing, restore what’s been lost during the summer and start to protect against cold weather and dry indoor heat.

Now, after each cleansing, apply moisturizers and, if necessary, increase the intensity of the products. At night, use a specially formulated product for your face that works while you sleep. For problem areas such as elbows, knees, hands and feet, put on extra lotion or cream (wear mitts and footies to bed, as needed). During the day, continue to wear sunscreen or sun block to protect your skin from ultraviolet rays.

As sun exposure or a tan fades, adjust your foundation and/or powder to a lighter shade. Test the shade along your jaw line to blend with both your face and neck; watch to see if it “disappears” into your skin.

The lighter, sun-kissed colors of summer typically transition to darker, earthier colors in fall. If you’re trying to adapt the season’s shades or find the hues that work best for you, try these "tricks."

For eyes, eye shadows with a base or elements of color opposite that of your eyes (on the color wheel) will make your eyes stand out the most. Consider a wide spectrum of the colors that are in style. If teal’s fashionable, experiment with different tints of blues and greens and blue-greens. Mix colors or tone them down with neutrals until you find the ones that complement your face and wardrobe.

For cheeks and lips, the most flattering colors are usually the ones that pick up the natural warm tones in your face.

Once you’re ready, enjoy the season!

**For skin abnormalities, please consult a board-certified dermatologist.

© Copyright 2005. Charlotte Maddox. All rights reserved.

Charlotte is an experienced independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay Inc.

Register on Charlotte’s Mary Kay Inc. web site to receive a monthly email newsletter, Beaut-e-News(tm), with tips & techniques and a seasonal mailing of the "The Look" catalog with free samples plus the latest in skin care and color looks (complete privacy ensured).

http://www.marykay.com/charlottemaddox

Sun worshipers around the world love to get outdoors when the weather warms up and the days get longer. After all, do you remember the endless days of dark, cold weather in the winter and how you wanted to get outdoors! Years ago, sun tanning used to be a carefree pastime, but no longer. Overexposure to the suns UV rays may cause premature aging, blemishes and scars, or even skin cancer. Using a bit of precaution such as purchasing a good tanning lotion or attending one of your local sunless tanning salons is a good first step to protecting yourself.

When it comes to sunless tanning, it actually refers to the process of getting a good suntan without the sun as the term implies. There are many different types of tanning lotions and products on the market to help get that perfect tan. There are sprays, pills, powders, lotions, indoor tanning beds, and sunless tanning salons. Although the results vary with each method, a little understanding of what a suntan is may help.

The Sun emits three types of UV radiation, more commonly referred to as ultraviolet rays. They are UVC, at 100 to 290 nm, UVB, at 290 to 320 nm, and UVA, at 320 to 400 nm. The UVB rays and UVA rays are the most harmful. Although UVB’s are easier to protect against, both types cause damage. Our skin produces a substance called melanin that absorbs these rays in order to protect our DNA. When we use a tanning bed our body produces melanin, which darkens our skin and we tan. Purchasing the best tanning bed lotion available is a good first step to ensuring your protection. Sunless tanning options range from just a few dollars for creams or a few hundred dollars for sessions in a tanning booth.

By Terry Price- Have a look at what sunless tanning technology offers today! http://www.tanningbedslotionsupply.com/related-pages.html - Tanning bed lotions are your shield of armor! http://www.tanningbedslotionsupply.com/indoor-tanning-bed-lotion.html

Common pitfalls of plastic surgery are those involving before and after pictures with photographic tricks or attractive models instead of the surgeon’s patients, that are publicly displayed in printed ads, online advertisement or broadcasted by TV,audio-visual or specific tele-shopping and infomercials.

Before and after pictures are useful to help you make the decision to have cosmetic surgery when they are real, but not advisable as criteria to select a surgeon, since no ethical surgeon can guarantee results this way, but if so, be sure to get his promises in writing.

Fake testimonials implying that anyone can get these results of people sharing their experiences may only be a marketing plan whether viewed on TV, through the internet, heard on the radio or at the surgeon’s office; they have a powerful influence in the patient’s final decision. Pitfalls can not be easily detected due to the impossibility to verify the authenticity of any given testimonial or the identity of the "happy patients".

Because the purpose of testimonials are considered to be a way to solicit patients, most professional societies and State medical boards prohibit the use of testimonials to advertise Plastic Surgery. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) considers this marketing tool a violation to the code of ethics of 97% of certified surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, members of ASPS.

Impressive sounding surgeon’s credentials or a plastic surgery procedure that does not name the surgeon may be listed as pitfalls of plastic surgery. While it is obvious to expect that a surgeon has the proper training, credentials and experience to provide the plastic surgery procedure or service you are seeking, remember that many physicians may call themselves plastic surgeons or cosmetic surgeons with training. In fact, in most states any physician may perform any procedure without peer scrutiny and no training requirements.

Since there are no requirements that the physician be is a trained surgeon, anyone may claim to be a board-certified surgeon simply by joining a sound-a-like organization, but the true meaning is that The American Society of Plastic Surgeons enforces one of the most rigorous ethical codes in the medical profession, so the best way to find out a surgeon’s facts is consulting only surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Other pitfalls of plastic surgery are those offering dramatic results with superficial treatments, minimal or non-invasive procedures, no risk or little risk and downtime as well as a variety of products, procedures or manipulations without mention of the doctor’s qualification, board certification or his/her specialty. These promises are designed more for marketing reasons than a real therapeutic value.

These individual procedures may be inexpensive, but offers only little or temporal improvement, so it is necessary for multiple sessions before seeing positive results, raising in the mean time the costs, often comparable to the total cost of the plastic surgery. Non surgical procedures with high tech names suggest new approaches to youthful appearance and the expectation of major effectiveness.

All these issues make it difficult for patients to separate plastic surgery hype from reality.

Matthew Leo is the publisher of http://www.CosmeticEnhancement.info, http://www.AcneMedicine.info and http://www.ADietGuide.com websites.

When you expose yourself to extra ultraviolet radiation whether it is from outdoor sports or too many days at the beach, it can cause your skin to age faster than normal. When you tan, the sun or a tanning bed will take away skin oils that make your skin elastic and young. So to prevent premature aging, use some common sense and purchase some good skin care products or a tanning lotion. You will find many different types of products on the market, ranging from moisturizers, masks, toners, cleansers and sun blockers. Cleansers, in the form of gels or creams can deeply clean the skin. Tanning bed lotions are essential with tanning booths.

Facemasks, and a variety of products from exfoliants, mudpacks and others, will help peel off the old skin. Remember to pick a toner that will remove the stubborn dirt lodged in your pores, and it should be non-stringent. Depending on the type of skin you have, your choice of moisturizer should be specific. Many tanning bed lotions come with a built-in moisturizer.

Sun blockers will shield your skin from damaging radiation and tanning bed bulbs. There is an almost infinite variety of skin care products such as eye creams that are meant to lessen facial lines. Several excellent tanning lotions have antiaging formulas built-in as well as with protectors that will prevent your lips from chapping due to scorching temperatures. Choose a product that has an SPF factor ranging from 5 to 15. Professionals who operate tanning salons, models, actresses and actors, all invest in vast in good skin care products to protect their skin. After all, their livelihood depends upon the health and suppleness of their skin. Try to stay away from synthetically-produced substances and purchase naturally-occurring ones, when it comes to purchasing tanning lotion. Have fun tanning on your favorite beach or tanning bed today.

By Terry Price- Tanning has never been easier or more affordable, even in the dead of winter! http://www.tanningbedslotionsupply.com/our-affiliates.html - The banana boat sunless tanning spray is truly a superior product! http://www.tanningbedslotionsupply.com/banana-boat-sunless-tanning-spray.html

You see them on the cover of magazines, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Aniston, Faith Hill, all with long sexy beautiful hair styles. Does it seem like just yesterday they had much shorter hair?

With the advent of hair extensions, you too can achieve these glamorous long celebrity hair styles and have long hair in just a few hours. Maybe you are not preparing for your next movie role, or the cover of a magazine, but you can certainly take advantage of this popular trend to get instant long, thick and even highlighted hair.

Hair extensions involve attaching human or synthetic hair directly to your natural hair using one of many different methods. The extensions offer a natural, "looks like it grew out of your head" look that can quickly fix hair issues such as a bad hair cut, thinning hair or just give you long hair when you want it.

Hair extensions come in many shapes, sizes and prices. They are not a one size fits all type of product. Research into the various methods is essential to have a successful outcome. There are different hair extension methods for thinning hair, thick hair, curly hair, straight hair and more.

These six steps to hair extensions covers all the bases for researching hair extensions.

Step One: Determine if hair extensions are for you. Do your research on what is involved in getting and maintaining hair extensions and what they cost.

Step Two: Discover how the hair extensions are attached. Which method would be best for your hair? Perhaps schedule several hair extension consultations with hair stylists in your area.

Step Three: Select one or more hair extension methods and research the company thoroughly.

Step Four: Select a salon that offers the method your are interested in and make an appointment for a consultation.

Step Five: Check the salon and stylist out. Are they qualified to do hair extensions?

Step Six: Schedule your appointment to get the hair extensions. Understand what you must do to care for your brand new long hair style.

While following these six steps will not alleviate all issues associated with hair extensions, it may make your selection of a hair extension method and salon much easier.

For more detailed information on each step listed above, refer to www.hairresources.net

Perriann Rodriguez is the founder of Hair Resources, http://www.hairresources.com and http://www.hairresources.net online resources for trendy hair styles, hair extensions information, hair style trends, E-books, worldwide beauty salons and more.

Rodriguez is also the author of the number one best selling E-book on hair extensions, "2005’s Most Popular Hair Extensions", and "Wedding Hair Styles" both available at the online bookstore on http://www.hairresources.net

Visit Hair Resources for better hair days!

When it comes to avoiding burns, whether it is from a full day at the beach or a tanning bed session, a few commonsense precautions should be taken. If you have ever used a tanning bed before, you will know what an enjoyable experience it can be! Occasionally, you can end up with sore and burned skin, known as tanning bed burns. Regardless of the source of your burn, your skin will feel tender, and there is a chance of permanently damaging your skin as well. There are two common sources of burns from indoor tanning beds. It is from an overexposure to UV rays, or the tanning bed user has not applied enough protection against UV rays.

The proper tanning bed lotion will give you this protection. Use only the best ones on the market, and you will find that for the most part burning will become nonexistent. A good lotion will actually stimulate production of melanin and when more melanin pigments are produced, it will allow you to enjoy your tanning bed experience longer.

You will find also that most tanning lotions will have a built-in moisturizer that will help your skin keep its youthful and elastic look. Using a good tanning lotion will help you keep a vibrant healthy tan, without getting your skin too leathery. Use goggles in indoor tanning beds to protect your eyelids from burning. They are specially designed to give 100% protection against UV radiation. Common sense goes a long way and one of the first and simplest things you could do to protect yourself from overexposure to UV rays is to simply limit your time on the tanning bed. If you are a first-time user of a tanning bed, limit your first day to only a few minutes and gradually introduce yourself to the tanning process by increasing time increments progressively. Usually burns occur when people ignore safety warnings and precautions. But most of all, having an enjoyable tanning bed experience starts with just good old commonsense!

By Terry Price- Are you looking for a tanning booth expert in your local area? http://www.tanningbedslotionsupply.com/articles_1.html -How about Strongsville, Ohio? http://www.tanningbedslotionsupply.com/sunless-tanning-salon-ohio-strongsville.html

As the editor for Hair Resources, I visit many beauty and hair related websites. Over the last year I have noticed a growing popularity of the search term Sedu Hair Styles and even more popularity of the Sedu Flat Irons.

So, I had to check out this growing trend to see what Sedu Hair Styles are all about. The original mission statement of the company Sedu Beauty, established in 1991, is to transform every Nonhairless female species on the planet into a Seductive beauty, Sedu for short. It turns out that they also have many male admirers.

The flat irons by Sedu are rated the best by consumers and are mentioned as being preferred by top hair stylists around the world. Okay, this has definitely got my attention now.

I went to the company website, over at www.sedubeauty.com and saw many pictures of before and after using the Sedu Flat Iron. The after pictures all showed silky smooth and noticeably shiny straight hair, as opposed to the before pictures that showed very curly, frizzy or downright unmanageable looking hair.

I do have to admit that I was a little skeptical after seeing the photos. I kept looking on the website for the little disclaimer that says ‘Results not typical….etc.’ that you always find in weight loss advertisements. But no such disclaimer can be found.

For review purposes, I ordered a 1-1/2 inch Sedu Ionic Flat Iron from one of the authorized sellers listed on the company website. The package arrived late one afternoon, just before I had to go pick up my daughters from school. I had only about 10 minutes to spare before I had to leave, but I was really anxious to try out this flat iron.

Here is an account of what happened next. My hair was freshly washed and dried, so I just put a small amount of Biosilk Silk Therapy that the company recommends you use before flat ironing. My hair is very thick and about shoulder length. I actually have to clip up most of my hair and start flat ironing from the bottom layer. With my old flat iron, it usually takes a good 15 minutes to iron my hair, with not all that great results.

Time Line:

3:10 p.m. I plug in the Sedu Ionic Flat Iron; put it on the hottest temperature

3:10 p.m. and 25 seconds later. The green light is blinking indicating that the iron is ready to use. I start with the bottom layer, gradually letting more hair down until I have run the flat iron over all my hair. With this iron you only have to pass it one time over your hair. With my old iron I had to run it thru several times to get good results. P.S. You definitely don’t want to touch your hair after running the flat iron over it. It is VERY HOT.

3:18 p.m. I’m done!!!!

My hair looks absolutely awesome. It is smooth and silky, just like in the pictures. And, it actually stayed that way for almost two whole days before I washed it again. Several people asked me the first day and the next day if I got my hair cut or just went to the salon.

Important factors to consider when flat ironing your hair on a regular or daily basis is the wear and tear it will produce on your hair, perhaps causing split ends or even damaging your hair. If you visit many hair related forums, damaged hair from flat ironing is a frequent topic.

Dennis Huang, the brand manager for the Sedu line, says that the Sedu Flat irons are made from Tourmaline, a precious stone. This stone was used because it generates up to 6 times more negative ions upon heating than traditional ceramic irons. The extra negative ions along with gentle far-infrared heat guarantee soft, smooth, frizz-free silky straight hair without heat damage. Also, Sedu’s patented ultra-smooth plates guarantee smooth straightening motion without pulling, snagging or breaking the hair.

Huang mentions that many flat irons on the market have very rough surfaces on the plates. He adds, “Most irons cause hair damage because essentially you are straightening your hair with a heated sand paper.”

Many hair stylists recommend using some sort of silicone based product on the hair before flat ironing in order to protect the hair. Sedu Beauty recommends Biosilk Silk Therapy and Sedu Heat Protectant. They also recommend using lower heat settings for different types of hair. If you have bleached, fragile, damaged or fine hair—use the lower temperature setting. If you have normal hair and use the iron regularly, use the middle range of temperatures and if you have coarse, thick, ethnic or resistant hair that is in a healthy condition you can use the maximum heat for best results.

In short, my conclusion, 8 minutes and a Sedu Ionic Flat Iron has made a huge difference in the way my hair looks and feels. It is THUMBS UP from Hair Resources.

Now all I need is a weight loss product that works in 8 minutes!

Perriann Rodriguez is the award-winning author of 2005’s Most Popular Hair Extensions and Wedding Hair Styles E-books, available at http://www.hairresources.net

Rodriguez is also the founder of Hair Resources, http://www.hairesources.com and http://www.hairresources.net online resources for today’s hair styles, hair extensions, worldwide beauty salons and more.

Visit Hair Resources for better hair days!