FitSugar

Get Rid of Unwanted Hair: Sugaring

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:45:00 PDT

Unwanted hair - it's a fact of life. Many women choose to shave or wax, but there might just be a sweeter way. Have you ever heard of sugaring?

Also known as Persian Waxing, it's a method of hair removal that has been around for thousands of years. Similar to waxing, it's supposed to be less painful because it only sticks to the hair, unlike wax which also sticks to your skin.

It's made out of all natural ingredients including sugar (honey or molasses is sometimes used instead), lemon juice, and water. You can play around with different recipes and do it yourself, but I recommend having a professional do it for you.

First, the area is dusted with powder, then warm sugar solution is applied and spread around with a tongue depressor. A porous piece of cloth is then pressed onto your skin. Just like waxing, the strip is then quickly pulled off in the opposite direction the hair grows.

Fit's Tips: If you want to stir up a batch of your own, make sure you have a candy thermometer. You can buy pre-made sugar solutions such as Moom and Nad's and have a regular hair removal party!

Uh Oh! Watch Out For These 12 IRS Audit Red Flags

Kiplinger — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:06:09 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

The IRS audits only slightly more than 1% of all individual tax returns annually. The agency doesn't have enough personnel and resources to examine each and every tax return filed during a year. So the odds are pretty low that your return will be picked for review. And, of course, the only reason filers should worry about an audit is if they are fudging on their taxes.

However, the chances of being audited or otherwise hearing from the IRS increase depending upon various factors, including your income level, whether you omitted income, the types of deductions or losses you claimed, the business in which you're engaged and whether you own foreign assets. Math errors may draw IRS inquiry, but they'll rarely lead to a full-blown exam. Although there's no sure way to avoid an IRS audit, you should be aware of red flags that could increase your chances of drawing unwanted attention from the IRS.

1. Making too much money

Although the overall individual audit rate is about 1.11%, the odds increase dramatically for higher-income filers. IRS statistics show that people with incomes of $200,000 or higher had an audit rate of 3.93%, or one out of slightly more than every 25 returns. Report $1 million or more of income? There's a one-in-eight chance your return will be audited. The audit rate drops significantly for filers making less than $200,000: Only 1.02% of such returns were audited during 2011, and the vast majority of these exams were conducted by mail. We're not saying you should try to make less money - everyone wants to be a millionaire. Just understand that the more income shown on your return, the more likely it is that you'll be hearing from the IRS.

Read on for more red flags.

3 Common Hair Dilemmas Solved

Guest Writer — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 PST

Tabatha Coffey, the star of the much-loved series, Tabatha Takes Over, is known giving the most spot-on hair advice around. And over the next few months the talented hairstylist is sharing her top tips and tricks right here on BellaSugar. We're thrilled to present to you her first post! Take it away, Tabatha.

Hi everyone,
I got so many emails and questions on the below topics after I appeared on The Dr. Oz Show, I thought it would be great to write about them in my first blog. Here are some of my favorite products and tips for combating the hair-problem blues. See more when you keep reading.

Photography Tips For Your Holiday Greeting Cards

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 06:30:39 PST

Capturing fabulous family photos for your holiday cards isn't always easy, especially if you're wrangling little ones and pets for a sit-down photo session. You don't have to drop a fortune on professional sessions - you can DIY your holiday cards this year, save a bundle, and have some fun in the process. Make your family photo shoot go a little smoother by preparing your setting and camera equipment ahead of time, and get a handle on these basic photo tips and tricks before you begin.

Setting it up - Make sure your setting is well-lit to capture the best images. Natural lighting is best, but if you must use artificial light, bring in a few extra lamps and place them around your camera to prevent shadows and dark spots.
Use a tripod - A prerequisite to self portraits, a tripod will keep your image steady and blur-free.
Using the rule of thirds - Having been used since the 1700s, it's widely accepted that adhering to the rule of thirds helps to make your photographs, paintings, and videos more visually interesting and evoke feeling from the viewer. If you were to look into your camera's viewfinder, and imagine that there are nine lines running across the entirety of your image - three vertical and three horizontal - the rule of thirds states that your main focal point should be aligned with one of the linear intersections.
On looking good - You don't have to overdo it for photos. Keep your hair and makeup natural to prevent dating yourself, and check the duckface at the door. Since most people blink from the anticipation and shock of bright light and flash bulbs in their eyes, take two to three photos in a row to get used to the light. Additionally, use your flash if you're outside to prevent sun shadows on your pretty faces. Finally, shoot at eye level or above - shooting from below isn't flattering for anyone.
Keeping pets happy - Although you should clear the area of unwanted clutter, you'll want to keep your pet's favorite toy or treat handy for when it's time to snap the pic. A little coaxing goes a long way.
Have fun! - Posed images are nice, but your friends and family want to see the real you. Take plenty of images, and even consider using some funny outtakes to show your family's silly side.

Source: Flickr user Wolfgang Lonien

Jennifer Aniston's Go-To Guy Explains 3 Dos (and 3 Don'ts) of Hair Color

Jaime Richards — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:45:13 PDT

Celebrity colorist Michael Canale has been working his artistic magic for 30 years, and he counts Jennifer Aniston, Denise Richards, and Nicole Kidman among his celebrity clientele. He's seen a lot of trends come and go through the years, but it's a natural-looking color job that he finds to be the most flattering. He explains, "For me, I think it's trying to use what God gave you already - enhancing the hue and brightening around the face." And when it comes to what feels fresh now, Canale says ombré is still in, but there's a more updated way to do it. So to see his top hair-color dos - along with a few don'ts - just keep reading.

Peach Fuzz Removal: Methods That Work (and Ones That Don't)

Jaime Richards — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:05:00 PDT

Vellus hair, which is endearingly known as peach fuzz, is the short, fine, lightly pigmented hair that can appear on the face, neck, and other areas of the body. While it's often barely noticeable, many people have their own reasons for wanting to rid themselves of it. As you may know, peach fuzz is a tough thing to remove permanently, but there are a few things you can do to temporarily eliminate its appearance. So to see which treatments work, and which ones don't, just keep reading.

Sugaring 101: All About This Hair Removal Technique

BellaSugar — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:00:14 PDT

Looking for a sweet way to remove hair? Sugaring might be just the thing for you. This centuries-old method provides longer-lasting results than shaving, and it's less painful than waxing. It just might be a (relatively) easy way to get rid of unwanted fuzz during beach season. Get the scoop - watch now!

5 Smart Ways to Avoid Awkward, In-Between Hair

Jaime Richards — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:01:14 PDT

Change is good, but sometimes it's the getting there that's the hardest part. From unwanted flips to dealing with the shift from Summer to Fall, to see five different ways you can make any hair transitions you're going through all the more smooth, just keep reading.

Threading, Sugaring, and Waxing: Health Risks of Hair Removal

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 02:01:00 PDT

Women go through all kinds of hoops when it comes to beauty, especially in the quest for smooth hairless skin. From waxing to sugaring, threading, and beyond, check out the health risks involved when it comes to common hair removal techniques.

Shaving - Probably the most common way to remove hair since it's fast, cheap, and easy to do yourself. With shaving, there is a risk for nicks, ingrown hairs, and the dreaded razor burn. If you forget to change out the blades, dull or rusty metal may cause irritation or infection. Shaving can also cause folliculitis, an infection in the hair follicle usually caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus (staph) or a fungus.

Waxing - A layer of wax is applied to your skin, and a strip of fabric is placed on top. Once the wax is dry, it adheres to the hairs; pulling the strips off of the skin pulls the hairs from the root. Depending on the location of your body, waxing can be extremely painful; it hurts to have your hair pulled from the root, and the wax also adheres to your skin, taking skin cells with it as it's removed. Waxing can cause irritation and inflammation, especially if you have a reaction to the chemicals in the wax, and, if the wax used is too hot, there's also a risk of burning the skin. If your skin is not held taut when pulling the wax strips off, bruising may occur. Some people also suffer from postwax breakouts or scarring if they have sensitive skin. Once the hairs begin to grow back, you may find painful raised bumps (ingrown hairs), especially under your arms or your bikini area since the hairs tend to be coarse and curly. Waxing should be avoided if you are using Retin-A, Accutane, or antibiotics. These medications make the skin thin, which means more than hair will come off during a waxing service. If you are using Renova or alphy hydroxy, check with your aesthetician before scheduling an appointment.

Read on to hear about sugaring, depilatories, threading, and more.

Stinky Strands: How to Get Rid of Smelly Summer Hair

Jaime Richards — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 03:05:31 PDT

Much as it stinks to say it, sometimes hair can smell not-so-fresh. "The more oily your hair, the more prone it is to picking up environmental pollutants, such as smoke, cooking odors, and other strong scents, that will make it smell," Glenn Lyons of the Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic explained to the Daily Mail. And while the cause of smelly hair can be attributed to many factors - from actually having dirty hair to fungus infections to changes in hormone levels - there are a few ways you can get your hair smelling sweet this Summer. Find out various ways you can take the stench out of your strands when you read more.