Hormones that cause skin changes may also cause changes in your hair during pregnancy. For some women , hair is longer, thicker, softer and shinier and normal hair loss decreases but for some hair becomes oily, dry, dull and brittle. Whether you have problems or a beautiful hair, practice good hair care while you go through the change of pregnancy. A regular routine includes: Brushing, brush in moderation with a good bristle brush preferably natural or nylon. Bristle should be widely spaces which can reduce breaking of hair. Washing, select a clear, mild shampoo with as few additives as possible. Wash your hair with warm water as with cold water hair doesn’t clean well and too hot water removes natural oil and weakens hair. Conditioning, Hormonal changes during pregnancy can make your hair dry and dull. Conditioner coat the hair to protect it from excess drying, to reduce tangles and to restore shine and makes it manageable.
This is my third post on the seriesHow to look and Feel Good During Pregnancy. As I mentioned in my first post of this series .that during pregnancy there are innumerable hormonal and chemical changes takes place which causes changes in your skin too. Changes like stretch marks , complexion colour change and spider vein, diminishes or disappear after delivery. However , neglecting these changes may infuriate skin problems during pregnancy. Therefore it becomes even more important to take good care and maintain regular care routine of your skin during pregnancy which includes cleansing, thinning, toning and moisturizing. Lets discuss Skin Care process in detail:
Cleansing : Your skin needs special attention while you are pregnant. Cleanse skin once or twice a day. A complete cleansing removes surface oil, stale oil, perspiration and bacteria that accumulate during the day. A good cleansing agent is gentle, non irritating, easily removed and economical. A pure mild soap is the best cleanser. It is easily rinsed away and inexpensive. Problem result when you use harsh soap, scrub too vigorously, don’y rinse thoroughly or fail to use moisturizing lotion after washing.
Perfume, deodorant, antibacterial agents and medications added to cleanser may cause irritation and allergic reactions. Exotic oils, herbs, fruits and vegetables may also be irritating. These are included for advertising effect and add nothing to the cleansing value of the product.
When cleansing, moisten your face and apply lathered soap or rinsable lotion to your face and neck. Wash with gentle, circular motions. Rinse several time with clear, warm water and pat nearly dry with a soft, clean towel. Come morning, a warm to comfortable hot water wash may be all that’s required to remove away oil accumulated during the night.
This is my second post on the series How to look and Feel Good During Pregnancy. Multiple studies have shown that dressing good adds to confidence. The symbolism behind what you wear has more of an impact on your behaviour and self confidence than clothes themselves. The good news about having a pregnant bump is that you can get away with a lot during pregnancy, such as body-clinging tops (remember for once your body is firm not flabby). Experiment with styles, colours and clothes you’d usually avoid. Dressing the right way during pregnancy will definitely enhance your pregnancy glow.
Allowances for an expanding figure are usually incorporated into ready-to-wear maternity clothing and sew-at-home patterns so you can wear your usual size. Sweat glads and oil glands become more active during pregnancy. They contribute to increased perspiration and may cause chilling or overheating. Select fabrics in weights that maintain comfortable body temperature as they absorb and release body perspiration. On personal note I have seen people buying maternity clothes much before it is actually needed. This makes them feel foolish and disappointed as it might not fit. So my advise to all the newbie momies is – it is wiser to wait for a maternity wardrobe until you really need it.
I am writing”How to look and feel good during Pregnancy” series because somewhere I feel there are lot many women like me who have not taken enough care of themselves both physically and mentally during their pregnancy and after effects are really nasty. Hair thinning , flaking and dry skin are the most common after effects. Mood fluctuations , depression , not feeling confident, feeling vulnerable and anxious are few things which makes them mentally feeble. So this series is about positivity, how to feel and look good during pregnancy,
When you are pregnant, you reflect a special beauty about you that is unparalleled at any other time in your life. Yet pregnancy can be difficult as you anticipate and adjust to the changes in your body. Even though you may be thrilled about being pregnant, you may not be thrilled with the way you look. Your figure, skin, hair and nails may change. You may feel insecure about your appearance. You may feel frustrated by the decision about ” what to wear” or defeated by a limited selection of maternity clothes – often at affordable prices.
But you don’t have to feel anxious or insecure about the way you look. As an Image Consultant I can help you look and feel terrific, even glamorous, if you follow my tips. Gone are the days of secrecy and seclusion surrounding pregnancy. Today, You are encouraged to maintain your usual lifestyle during the maternity months. You can work, exercise, entertain and enjoy until your baby is born.
Being attractively groomed and neatly dresses will help you look and feel terrific. Use your cosmetics and clothes as an outward expression of the beauty developing inside you. I will be giving you tips on four factors :
Layering is the key to make all season clothes work for you. It leads to style, individuality, versatility, insulating effect and exciting interest in a wardrobe. Layering allows for creative dressing at its best.
Apart from comfort, layering can offer much more than that. There are number of benefits which layering can suggest, lets discuss all of them.
Temperature Control
To add warmth during winter season one can layer several pieces of clothing. Air trapped between layers of fabric and heated by the body increases the insulating effect of the clothes. If the temperature rises one can always remove a layer to feel better. Natural clothing fabric absorb body moisture, allowing it to evaporate. It is therefore better to wear natural fiber garments next to your skin for the most efficient effect.
Save Money
Layering allows you to extend your clothing wear by using your summer clothes into fall by layering the pieces. You can reduce your buying if you will learn the art of layering. For example wearing sleeveless blouses which one usually wear in summers with a jacket or a sweater in winters can help in saving money.
We are born without any preconceived idea about ourselves. As we grow older, we gain experience with ourselves, with our surroundings, and with others. We perceive our bodies and begin to develop ideas about ourselves that impact our lives.
There are six important Development levels, if achieved can lead you to achieve your goals.
PositiveBody Image : This is how you perceive your physical self- the mental picture and ideas you have about your body size, shape, strength,coloration,features, and so forth. It begins to develop early in life and evolve over time. Body Image can be negative, positive,accurate or inaccurate. particularly as we form or perceive this image in comparison with others and in relation to cultural fashion ideals of what is considered attractive and what is not. Some steps which can enhance your Body image:
Explore your personal body image with its strengths and limitations
Confront thinking distortions related to your body
Challenge misleading assumptions about body appearance
Accept and love who you are
Be comfortable with your body
Have positive experience and positive affirmations with your body
When you open your closet and see it filled with clothes, yet feel you have nothing to wear, it’s likely the clothes don’t work for your life style, your personal style, or work together in ways that reflect you the way you want to be seen. The typical tendency is to go out and buy more”stuff”- to buy into the latest “must have” list. The opposite tendency is to stop buying anything, assuming that what you want is not available or cost too much. In either case, seize the moment and overcome the fear of fashion. Look at yourself and your clothes in the light of an objective wardrobe evaluation.
Benefits of Wardrobe Evaluation
Wardrobe Evaluation defines your likes and dislikes, defines your personal style. It helps you in knowing what you need to add or discard from the wardrobe. It helps you make better use of the clothing you already own. It aids in saving your time and energy in shopping, sorting,dressing,cleaning,pressing,repairing and replacing. It will also helps you create and maintain an attractive,healthy self-image, knowing that your clothes enhances your appearance. Think of the functions of wardrobe evaluation as rewards. Experiencing any of these rewards makes the time and effort worthwhile.
Clothes Sorting / Grouping
Clothes you love or like and wear often go in the first groups.
Clothes you don’t particularly like and may dislike, but must wear anyways because they are what you have, make up the second group
Clothes you never wear, regardless of whether you like them or not, belong in the third group.
“You never get a second chance to make a great First Impression”- Will Rogers.
So why not make some extra effort to make your first Impression work’s in your favor. The four elements of first Impression which helps in creating positive image are Clothing, Grooming, Body Language including Etiquette and Vocal Communication. When you use them judiciously, they help you project the right image and thereby create powerful First Impression. Since First Impressions are formed during the first few seconds of meeting the stranger, they are largely formed on the basis of visual cues. Over 80% of the message you covey is visual in nature therefore visual cues form the critical Elements of First Impression.
The elements that hit the stranger in front of you first are clothing and Grooming. The next element to seep in is your Body Language and Etiquette. Last is the Vocal Communication by which you are judged. Yet, they work in tandem when creating First Impression.
Remember, First Impression aren’t about creating inaccurate impression that are not true to the Inner You, but of keeping away wrong impressions that fail to reflect the Inner You accurately.
How will you know out of these four elements which require greater focus and how can you implement them? Well as I already mentioned about three important factors that influences First Impression i.e You, The Stranger and The Situation, plays a vital role here. More importantly, none of the individual pieces of these Elements live in a world of their own. They are interlinked and all linked to the Inner You, your Inner Life. It goes without saying that a little knowledge is your worst enemy. In such a case ignorance is better than implementing a few and letting the others lie as they are. It is the artist in you who would know how to implement the four elements, not only to create positive First Impression, but also to make sure you don’t send out conflicting signals.
While the ground rules and the technique come from the science, skill in creating powerful First Impression is the Art. Art is about taking what Science has on offer and putting it to use in differing situations. When you use a combination of the artist and the scientist, you will end up creating unique First Impression that turn out to be Lasting Impression. They will not be the replica of all the impressions that others are creating around you.
Take care of the Elements and implement what is right for the Inner You and the Outer situation. You shall automatically project a unique you.
First impressions are not only quick to form , they last forever. You owe it yourself to create powerful First Impression because your success, happiness and fulfilment depends on them.
Every first impression is contextual. It is based on a situation where a stranger in front of you is trying to maximize benefit to herself/himself company and minimizing pain. It also depends on stranger and their perceptions, knowledge and experience. It is what the stranger considers important in the given situation and the characteristics they want to see in you and the way they sees themselves. And the most important factor is “YOU“. What kind of image would you like to portray? Image is your identity, it’s you in the eyes of others.
To create a postive you need to put in extra effort as negative image or impressions are tough to correct.
The unforgiving thing about First Impression is that, once formed, they are imprinted on the brain practically forever, making them lasting Impression.
Once the first impressions are formed there are certain repercussions:
Imagemakeover 