Of all the issues facing women in today's busy societies, one that is always foremost in their minds is hair care. It's bad enough that hair styles come in such a variety of shapes and sizes, many ladies choose to completely alter their look on a regular basis. 

The good news is that for every particular style of hair, there's always a corresponding series of tips. So let's take a look at one of the most prevalent hairstyles: straight hair.

Keeping straight hair manageably straight can often seem like an uphill battle. How many times have you returned from a visit to your favourite hairdressers, admiring your latest sleek, straight hair makeover in the mirror – only for the style to fall apart. There can be several reasons for this to happen. The weather can sometimes be responsible for hair disasters. Excessive humidity in the atmosphere, right down to full-on rain downpours, can play havoc with the style that seemed so perfect a matter of hours beforehand.

Removing knots

Here is what you should know about hair care for straight hair. First of all, it is all too easy for straight hair to gather unseemly waves and kinks if it is left unattended. What you want to do in the first instance is ensure that your hair is tangle free – especially if there is any likelihood of it getting wet (when those pesky.

Tugs and tangles can easily be removed with some careful brushing. It's important not to be overly zealous while trying to remove these knots, as attacking the tugs with the brush will cause damage to the hair. Instead, use calm even strokes, going back to the problem areas and repeating the brushing process until the hair resorts to its natural straightness. 

Washing

WashingThe next part of the process is to ensure that your street hair is rinse thoroughly. Afterwards, select a shampoo and pour a small portion into your hand – about the size of a coin. Now vigorously rub your palms into one another so you build up a considerable lather. Next, you work this shampoo into your hair, using your fingertips to really get the foam right into your scalp. This is important because you must ensure all your hair receives treatment, down to the roots. Also, avoid piling the hair up on top of your head.

A common question asked about straight hair care is how often to apply shampoo? While it may seem tempting to wash on a daily basis, it is not necessary to perform the task so frequently. Every second day will suffice, or even a couple of times a week. 

Another important tip is not to scrub your scalp if your hair is at all oily, is this will exacerbate the condition.

Conditioning

After shampooing it is important to apply a good conditioner. This will ensure that you hair maintains a healthy sheen, as well as making it far easier to untangle. Use a wide-tooth comb to rinse out the conditioner as you shower.

Drying

When finally drying your hair, avoid rubbing too hard. Instead, use more of a ‘blotting' technique, as it is far better for your hair to remove the dampness slowly and surely. Once you have performed a cursory drying out, comb the hair again to ensure the shape is maintained. 

Maintaining that straight style

The most effective way to ensure your straight hairstyle remains intact is to visit a good stylist every 4 to 6 weeks. As straight hair is especially prone to split ends, your stylist will ensure that these are tackled regularly. 

Looking after your eyesight is amongst the most crucial aspects of personal health care. These precious organs enable you to interact with the world, so here is what you should be doing to keep them in peak condition.

Diet

The link between what you put inside your stomach and how your eyes perform may not seem too obvious. Nevertheless dieting as an integral part of eye care. Amongst the best types of food to eat to ensure your eyes remain in excellent condition are fruit and vegetables.

The old adage about eating carrots to enable you to see in the dark might seem like a piece of folklore. However there is a lot of truth in the potency of these little vegetables. Carrots are root vegetables that come pre-packaged with a lot of natural substances excellent for your eyes, such as beta carotene. This is very helpful because it is an anti-oxidant that has the effect of considerably reducing your risk of macular degeneration.

Other vegetables that you should be looking out for include Brussels sprouts, peppers and broccoli. The reason why these vegetables are all terrific for eye care is because they are bursting with Vitamin C. They might not be the greatest-tasting vegetables when eaten on their own, but next time you are preparing a main course, it might be useful to consider trying out any of these as a side dish - for their medicinal qualities! If you can't bear the thought of tucking into Brussels sprouts, then why not chop them up as an additive for hummus, or yoghurt?

Sardines have long been regarded as good for your eyes. The reason for this is the fact they contain fats called omega-3. Unlike the nastier fats that are the nemesis of dieticians and weight control nutritionists across the globe, these fats are good for your body. Amongst the key properties they possess is the fact they protect the little blood vessels in your eyes.

Spinach was certainly good enough for Popeye, but he had good practical reasons for relishing this stuff! Along with sweet potatoes, they contain the same beta carotene you find in carrots. Spinach also has Vitamin C, as well as other natural ingredients, such as zeaxanthin and lutein. The best way to enjoy sweet potatoes is to slice them up into chips and gently stir-fry them with olive oil. Spinach can be added, either as a side dish, or a dip.

Eye care

When looking after your eyes directly, the things that have to be considered include avoiding damaging the surfaces. If you are a contact lens wearer, then undoubtedly your optician will have advised you not to wear these for periods exceeding 19 hours or so. Not only would this cause discomfort to your eyes, it can lead to permanent site damage.

The same precaution can be stated about wearing spectacles. If you have visited to your local multiplexed to watch a 3-D film, then only where the special 3-D glasses for the duration of the future never for any period of time afterwards. Also remember not to stare at your mobile phone too early in the morning, or late at night. When you look at object very close vs very far away you use different body muscles so it's good to look at distant objects like trees untill your eyes completely focus on all the detail and that might take a few mins, or even 30 mins. The Y-thai team do this and we have 20/20 vision, yeah, even after writing and posting so much with computers hehe.

A large part of maintaining curly hair is down to how you go about washing it. Styling hair like this is tricky enough, but before you get that far you should really follow a particular course of action.

The easiest way to achieve this is to set yourself a list of steps. The first is straightforward. When you come out of a shower, resist the urge to rub your hair vigorously with a towel. Instead, what you really want to do is to dab it gently, in a ‘blotting' motion. This will allow the towel to absorb moisture, rather than you going for an impatient all-out-assault to get that hair dried! Energetic rubbing of wet hair will only cause damage and this will eventually lead to that nemesis of all curly haired individuals – frizzy hair!

Of course, if you're hair is on the coarse side, it will require more focused attention. What you want to look out for is a silicone sealant that you can apply to the length of your hair prior to styling, or using any products. As you introduce this sealant, you should avoid applying it to the hair nearest your scalp. The good news is that there are various options available on the shelves of both supermarkets and more highly-specialised salons.

For fine curly hair, a slightly different course of action is required. Rather than a sealant, you should employ a silicone spray, and apply the minimal amounts to the length of your hair. As before, you want to ensure this gets into you hair thoroughly, but avoid the hair growing nearest to your scalp.

Lightweight styling gels are available if you only require minimal hold. If you require a firmer, longer-lasting effect with your products, there are many styling liquids and cream gels on the market. If you are in any doubt about which products to invest in, simply ask the assistant at the counter who will be able to provide you with all the advice you require.

To consider is what to do as you hear begins to dry. Allowing this to occur naturally is by far the best option. Alternatively, if you are pressed for time, using a blow-dryer is perfectly acceptable, provided you have it set at low heat and blast, and use a diffuser attachment. Controlling the force of the blast that is being directed at your hair will allow your curls to better maintain their consistency. As you work through your hair, squeeze the curls gently, lifting it at the roots as you proceed. A good tip here is to apply a styling cream in the first instance.

Those nine months of pregnancy are obviously fraught times for women. But there are many activities you can indulge in, in order to make the experience pleasant, and more importantly, as healthy as possible. After all, as well as your own wellbeing, your primary concern will be that your baby is given the best possible start.

Deciding what to eat during this period is one of the most crucial decisions to take. The good news is that just because you happen to be pregnant is no reason why making diet choices should be too onerous. Even if you find out you are to be the mother of twins or triplets, you can still choose from a variety of foods in order that you (and your unborn) get access to a full range of delicious nutrients.

A common question asked by expectant mothers is what foods are safest for me to eat? Fruit and vegetables are a great choice. As well as being relatively inexpensive, these are packed full of minerals, fibre and vitamins. You should aim to be eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables on a daily basis, during the pregnancy. The best aspect of eating these is the fact there are now so many to choose from, all of which can be easily prepared in various ways.

You should also be considering eating a variety of starchy foods. This includes rice, pasta, potatoes and bread. Foodstuffs such as these are excellent sources of vitamins, fibre and energy. In order to maintain a healthy balanced diet during the nine months, it is important to inject your daily intake with these, along with the fruit and vegetables mentioned. When eating bread it is preferable that you choose the wholegrain varieties where possible. Brown rice or pasta is also much higher in fibre.

Your diet should also include a range of protein sources. The best examples of this are eggs, beans, fresh fish, tinned fish, and meat. In the case of the latter, always opt for lean meat. When it comes to preparing these dishes, it is important to ensure that chicken, pork, or even burgers or sausages, are thoroughly cooked through.

The old adage that states everything in moderation is acceptable certainly applies to pregnancy eating. It is only natural that you will feel like supplementing your diet of fruit, vegetables, starchy food and proteins with a rationed amount of drinks or foods that are relatively high in their content of fat and sugar. The key aspect of this, of course, is rationing. While there is no need to be completely abstinent, and it is still okay to enjoy the occasional sugary fizzy drink, crisps, or biscuits, it is important not to over-indulge.

Many women develop all manner of cravings during this period, but what should always be lurking at the back of your mind is the fact that eating too much sugary food can lead to you putting on too much weight. While this is not ideal at the best of times, during pregnancy it can have adverse effects on your health by increasing your blood pressure. Where your baby's health is concerned this should obviously be avoided.