Top ten beauty mistakes

A new study says nine out of 10 women admit to making grooming mistakes. The study has been conducted by professional hair care website Hairtrade.com, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“We all make hair and beauty mistakes but the good news is they can easily be put right and by doing so, may even save you time and money,” said a spokeswoman from Hairtrade.com.

Here are the 10 most common hair and beauty mistakes:

Washing hair too much:



You may believe that by washing your hair every day, you’re keeping it squeaky clean and in top condition. You’re wrong. Washing locks frequently means you strip them of their natural oils and are actually doing more harm than good.

Applying too much conditioner:



People apply conditioner all over their hair, like the way they do it with shampoo. The hair at roots is new and healthier, thus doesn’t need conditioning.  Concentrate on the ends.

Not using a heat protector:



There really is no excuse for not protecting hair while using hairdryers and straighteners. Blasting hair with heat without shielding it will leave it dry, frizzy and in poor condition.

Tying your ponytail in the same place:



If you wear your hair up in a tight ponytail, try not to tie it in the exact same place every day. It can cause too much tension on the hair and over time, weaken it.

Forgetting to wash make-up brushes:



It’s one of those jobs you know you should do but just can’t be bothered to. If you fail to give your brushes a good clean, not only will you have mixed colours, you are also allowing bacteria to build up. Aim to give your brushes a clean once a week. Use a mild shampoo to clean each brush, and then leave them to air dry on a towel.

Neglecting your neck:



As part of your daily skin care routine, don’t stop at your chin, make sure you carry on and take care of the thin, delicate skin on your neck. This area can be prone to showing signs of ageing, so it is really important to look after it.

Over-treating and over-covering spots:



It’s too easy to apply every spot cream you have to your face as soon as you have a breakout, but don’t. Make sure you always follow the pack instructions to the letter. Likewise, don’t mix it with make-up as your skin needs time to breathe.

Applying foundation before moisturiser dries:



Moisturiser needs time to dry, so give it a minute before you start applying your foundation. The creaminess of moisturiser can cause make-up to thin out, so if you apply too quickly, you’ll get a streaky look.

Over-plucking eyebrows:



If you pluck too close to the mirror you find yourself looking at every hair, rather than the overall shape of your eyebrows. This can leave you with thin, uneven brows. Instead use a large mirror and take a couple of steps back so you can see your whole face.

Not using a base coat:



If you never leave the house without a new design or colour on your nails, then they may become prone to yellowing. Constant decoration can change the natural colour of the nails. Always apply a base coat to prevent staining.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2014.

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