Cutting a Dog's Paw Hair

Long hair between your dog’s paws can hinder traction, causing it to slip or skid while walking on smooth surfaces such as tiles and wood floorings. You must regularly trim the hair between your dog’s paws, to reduce the incidence of accidents and prevent dirt from accumulating between the paws. Use grooming scissors once a week, to trim the hair between your dog’s paws as part of the overall grooming process.

Run a fine-toothed comb through the hairs between your dog’s paws. The comb will help to untangle knotted hair and easily remove any debris lodged between the paw pads.

Open the paw pad by holding it firmly with your forefinger and thumb. Apply gentle downward pressure towards the sides and spread the toes open with the rest of your fingers. Holding your dog’s paws in this way will enable you to give each paw a proper trim.

Carefully trim the hair between the paw pads with small-bladed grooming scissors. Cut the hair between all the paw pads, such that the length is even and in line with the pads.

Tips

- Cut out any matted hair that you observe while grooming your dog’s paws.

How to Add Cocoa to Crisco to Make a Great Smelling Body Cream

Creating beauty products at home is safe, fun and a highly effective means of personal care. Expensive creams and lotions restore essential oils and reverse drying and the damaging effects of pollution, aging and sun exposure. You can obtain a lot of these same beneficial effects by using inexpensive Crisco and mixing other products in the food aisle such as cocoa to make your own emollients. You can achieve the desired results with little hassle. Does this Spark an idea?

Make sure you have no food allergies to Crisco, which is essentially a vegetable shortening made of cottonseed oil, by applying a small dab to your inside wrist, rubbing and waiting a few minutes for any negative reaction.

Keep the Crisco at room temperature after you have done the patch test. This will make it less irritiating when you rub it on after a shower.

Apply a few drops of baby oil to a tablespoon of Crisco to assist in smoothing on the product and mix well. The oil will trap the moisture in the skin and help with hydration.

Add a quarter teaspoon of cocoa to the Crisco and baby oil mixture and once again mix well. The Crisco, which is essentially colorless and odorless, will take on a warm brown sheen and a rich fragrance.

Add shimmer powder as a final ingredient to create a glowing effect when you smooth it on your legs and arms.

Tips

- Experiment using a little less and then a little more until you get the combination of Crisco and cocoa to your liking.

About Zenmed Derma Cleanse Acne Treatment

ZenMed's doctor-formulated products address a number of skin problems, such as acne, rosacea, eczema, stretch marks and other scars. The brand offers multi-product "systems" for each of these conditions.

ZenMed skincare products combine natural and medicinally proven ingredients. The brand offers "reasonably priced products" but doesn't resort to cheaper alternatives in its formulas. Does this Spark an idea?

The ZenMed Brand

ZenMed, which integrates Eastern and Western principles, created the Derma Cleanse treatment in 1999.

The company's products include face masks, gels, creams and capsules to treat blemishes and scars internally and externally.

ZenMed products do not contain parabens, petrochemicals, animal ingredients, synthetic dyes or fragrances.

Derma Cleanse Acne Treatment

ZenMed offers a large selection of products for facial acne, body acne and post-acne discoloration and damage.

The basic Derma Cleanse system treats three different skin types: combination skin, oily skin and mature/dry skin. Each of these treatments include four different products.

The combination skin system includes the AHA/BHA (alpha hydroxy acids or beta hydroxy acids) complex for exfoliation and pH balance, facial cleansing gel, sebum regulating moisturizer and acne gel.

The oily skin system includes the gentle cleansing gel, botanical acne mask, acne gel and the sebum-regulating moisturizer to detoxify the skin.

The mature/dry skin system takes a spa-like approach for older people who suffer from frequent breakouts. The package includes the gentle cleansing gel, sebum-regulating moisturizer, AHA/BHA complex and a renewing serum.

Instructions for Use

According to ZenMed's "Frequently Asked Questions" page, the brand sells full-size bottles, which should last between two and four months.

Use the Derma Clease system twice a day for the skin. Each system's page includes specialized instructions for the use of the products.

The brand claims that the user should see a difference within three days of using the ZenMed Derma Cleanse acne treatment. The company, however, advises the customer to be patient while using the products, as the Derma Cleanse system is intended to create long-term results.

Users should use sunscreen while outside. Generally, they should avoid going out into the sun as much as possible, as the skin is more sensitive to sun damage.

Pregnant and nursing women should avoid the intake of the capsules included in the Derma Cleanse Acne Treatment.

Considerations

Before purchasing the Derma Cleanse Acne Treatment, the user must identify her skin type. A number of diagnostic tests can help the user determine whether she has oily, combination or dry skin.

The user should also read reviews on websites, such as RateItAll or Amazon.com, to find out whether the product can improve his skin. He should consult his dermatologist and ask whether medical professionals recommend ZenMed products for such skin conditions.

How to Purchase

One can purchase the ZenMed Derma Cleanse Acne Treatment on the official ZenMed website or other Internet-based stores, such as Amazon or eBay.

The ZenMed website has "Frequently Asked Questions" sections as well as live customer support if the consumer has any questions about his order.

How to Strip Oil Out of Your Hair

Cooking oil splattering in hair, the use of cooking oil to loosen extensions, killing lice with essential oils or just not washing your hair for several days can all lead to an oily scalp or hair. The excess oil will not only make your hair look dirty, but also weigh it down. Washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo multiple times may be enough to remove the oil, depending on your hair type and type of oil. Absorb oils by sprinkling baby powder in the hair if washing your hair doesn't remove all of the oils. Use astringents as a last resort. Although they will strip the oil from your hair, they also strip oils that condition your hair and scalp, leaving your hair dry, brittle or straw-like. Does this Spark an idea?

Wash Your Hair

Pour a quarter-sized drop of a clarifying shampoo into the palm of your hand.

Rub the shampoo into your scalp. Massage the shampoo into your hair, working from the scalp down to the end of your hair.

Rinse your head under running water to remove the shampoo from your scalp. Repeat the process up to two more times.

Apply a moisturizing conditioner to your scalp and head to restore moisture to your hair. Allow it to sit in on your hair for one to three minutes. Rinse clean under cool running water.

Baby Powder

Sprinkle baby powder liberally over your scalp and throughout your hair.

Allow the baby powder to soak up the oil in your scalp and hair. Leave the baby powder on overnight, if possible.

Wash and condition your hair as described in Section 1.

Witch Hazel or Lemon Juice

Combine 1/2 cup of witch hazel or lemon juice with 1 cup of room temperature water. This will act as an astringent to strip the oil from your hair.

Pour small amounts of the liquid astringent into your hair and scalp, massaging it into your hair so it is fully absorbed.

Place a shower cap over your head to keep the liquid from drying out. Leave the astringent in your hair for one hour.

Wash and condition your hair as described in Section 1.

How to Choose Lotion for Oily Skin

Oily skin can be frustrating. Prone to clogged pores and breakouts, it can feel dirty and difficult to manage. There are a few upsides to having oily skin: this skin type ages less quickly, and today's market offers many options specially formulated for this skin type. Moisturizing is an especially tricky step in the care for oily skin. Choose a lotion that is best for you. Read on to learn how. Does this Spark an idea?

Understand that oily skin requires special skin products designed to keep pores unclogged. Do not simply use a moisturizing lotion designed for normal skin when your skin is actually oily. Lotions designed for normal skin often include oils as an ingredient. Use this and you'll do yourself more harm than good.

Don't feel that you must apply a lotion to oily skin. Sometimes young people with oily tendencies do not require a moisturizer at all--only other skin care steps, including thorough cleansing. If your skin is nearly always oily, you may want to go without using a lotion and see how that affects your skin.

Look for labels that indicate a formula has been specifically made for your oily skin type when purchasing a lotion at a drug store. Some also include acne-preventing ingredients, since oily skin is often prone to breakouts.

Find the word "balancing" on certain lotions created for oily skin. These products balance the oily aspect, keeping skin dry, yet soft.

Stop by a skin care counter, such as in a local mall or department store, and ask a cosmetologist for recommendations when looking for a lotion for your oily skin. They may have a great product in mind for you, or they may give you several samples to try at home.

Tips

- Apply lotion conservatively to oily skin. A little bit can go a long way.

How to Cut Hair to Look Thicker

Some people are not naturally blessed with thick hair, but there are creative ways to give hair the appearance of having more volume. In addition to styling techniques, the right haircut can make hair look fuller and healthier. A bob or bob variation haircut will give the look of a full, healthy head of hair and is easy to style and maintain. It is cut straight around the head, usually at the jaw line or just below the jaw. Keeping hair short and in one layer will add lift and volume naturally. Does this Spark an idea?

Determine the length of the bob haircut. For a fuller face, a longer bob is a more suitable choice. For a narrow face shape, a shorter, chin-length bob will look best.

Separate the hair into sections: right side, left side, right top of head, left top of head, left nape of neck and right nape of neck. Clip sections into place to hold.

Wet hair. Comb the top section of hair in front of the face and determine the length of the bob. You may choose to keep the front and sides of the bob longer, which is called an angled bob. Cut hair at the desired length.

Use a comb or ruler to determine the angle of the bob around the back of the head. Cut around the nape of the neck until you reach the front section that is already cut.

Unclip the hair one section at a time. Cut the remaining sections to match the hair already cut. Use the previous cut sections as guides, and cut from back to front, angling the front sections if desired.

Dry the hair. Use a flat iron to straighten and smooth if desired.

How to Make Body Scrub With Olive Oil & Brown Sugar

Homemade brown sugar and olive oil scrubs are beneficial to your skin because they help to gently exfoliate the surface layer of dead skin cells. They also remove dirt and excess oil. This leaves your skin clean, rejuvenated and moist without clogging your pores. You can use a homemade brown sugar and olive oil scrub on your face, but they are also good for areas of your body that are dry like your knees, elbows and feet. Does this Spark an idea?

Measure 1/4 cup of olive oil and 1/2 cup brown sugar.

Pour both the olive oil and the brown sugar into a small mixing bowl.

Blend olive oil and brown sugar together. Mix with a spoon or clean hands until the two ingredients are well-blended.

Apply the scrub in the shower. Massage onto your skin in a circular motion.

Allow the scrub to sit on your skin for one minute. Rinse off with warm water.

Tips

- Add 1 tsp. of vitamin E oil to the scrub for its skin healing properties.

Warning

- Do not use a brown sugar scrub on blemished or broken skin because irritation may occur.