8 steps to healthy skin, hair and nails

As dietitian Cindy Williams explains, beauty really does come from the inside...

Glossy hair, strong nails and glowing skin may be signs of a great beauty regime, but the importance of a great diet shouldn't be underestimated.  Food contains lots of beauty nutrients, which people have used for thousands of years, inside and out. Today we can wash our hair and moisturise our skin with honey, rosemary, rosehip, avocado or olives, to name a few. A French woman I know attributes her beautiful skin to the olive oil she rubs on her face and hands while cooking.

There's no magic food that will keep us looking forever young, but diet (and lifestyle and attitude) does affect how your skin looks and ages. Take these eight food steps to strong, healthy skin, hair and nails.
1.  Protein – the building blocks

Skin, hair and nails are mostly protein. These proteins – keratin, collagen and elastin – ward off wrinkles and provide strength and elasticity. Most of us eat plenty of protein from meat, chicken, fish, legumes, eggs and dairy foods. But remember the movie 'The Devil Wears Prada'? Miranda Priestly's assistant is desperately trying to lose weight and proudly describes her new diet: "Well, I don't eat anything and when I feel like I'm about to faint, I eat a cube of cheese." Chances are she was seriously low on protein and eventually her skin, hair and nails – the parts of the body she most wants to look perfect – would suffer.

If protein is so important, is more better? With serious burns or wounds, the body needs extra protein to repair the damage. And athletes in heavy training have higher protein requirements. But huge steaks and protein shakes don't build bigger muscles or better skin. If we eat more protein than we need, our body converts it to fat and stores it – usually where we don't want it.

8 ways to use honey to pamper your skin and hair

Legend has it that honey was Cleopatra’s preferred weapon in her beauty arsenal, and now science is catching up to what many women have known for years. Honey, especially raw or unpasteurized, is a fabulously versatile and all-natural ingredient to use on skin. It’s full of antioxidants, which are good for wrinkles and aging skin. It is antibacterial, which helps with acne treatments and prevention. It clarifies skin by opening up and unclogging pores. It’s also a great moisturizer that soothes irritation and blemishes, and it leaves a lovely afterglow. Try the following recipes for an effective, at-home spa treatment.
1. Moisturizing honey masks

Make sure your hair is pulled back from your face before starting one of these recipes. Your face will feel clean and soft afterwards.

1) Scoop a generous spoonful of honey into your hand and spread all over your face. Rub it into your skin and let sit for 5-30 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
2) Combine 1 tbsp buttermilk, 1 tsp honey, and 1 egg yolk. Apply to clean skin and let sit 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
2. Honey facial cleanser

Honey is good at dissolving makeup residue, especially when mixed with a gentle oil. Combine honey and jojoba OR coconut oil to create an easily spreadable texture. Rub it into your skin, avoiding eye area, to loosen makeup and unclog pores. Rinse with warm water.
3. Honey almond body scrub

This scrub is finger-licking good. The texture from the ground almonds exfoliates the skin, while both the almonds and honey moisturize. Combine 2 tsp. ground almonds and 2 tsp. honey to form a paste. Rub into your face with a circular motion. Rinse with warm water. You could easily increase the quantities to treat your whole body.

7 Gorgeous Ways to Style Wet Hair

Go from shower to out the door in no time.

Whether it's because you sleep in, go straight from the gym to work, or are long overdue for a new hair dryer, sometimes, you just don't have time for a post-shower blowout. And even though we don't recommend opting for wet hairstyles often—it can be damaging to your strands—we don't want you to look like a hot mess, either. So next time you're shower-fresh and in a hurry, go for one of these styles to look totally put together—even if you're not.

The Loose Triple Bun

Not only will this bun look like you spent much longer in front of the mirror than you actually did, but the loose twists will make for a faster air-dry time and give you messy waves.

French-Braided Bun

Wet hair can be limp and lifeless, so create the illusion of volume on your damp strands by upgrading your go-to top knot with a French braid.

The Braided Crown

You know the hair around your face is often the first to dry—and first to frizz up—so take care of it with this look.
The Gibson Knot

This might be the one exception where wet hair is easier to work with than dry hair—and you'll have this ultra-chic tuck to show for it when you try this style.

Dutch Braided Top Knot

Bonus: Top this off with a headband, and you'll be professional in the front, party in the back.

8 Ways to Keep as Much Hair on Your Head as Possible

Not all shedding is unavoidable

If you've ever freaked out about how much hair you've been shedding recently, you're fears aren't unfounded. According to the American Hair Loss Association, women actually make up 40 percent of those experiencing hair loss. But before you jump to any conclusions, know this: Everything from your diet to your hairstyling habits could be affecting how many strands you lose. Try these simple expert-approved tips to keep your head of hair full and healthy. 

"Scalp massage helps to stimulate the scalp and remove dead skin cells—both of which encourage healthy hair growth," says Philip Kingsley, a trichologist (someone who studies scalp and hair health) and founder of Philip Kingsley Haircare. Use the balls of your fingers to massage the shampoo into your scalp, moving from the hairline to the back of the head. This move boosts blood flow and stimulates the hair follicles for growth.

"Brushes that cause a lot of traction call pull hair out from the follicle," says Kingsley. "If done repeatedly, this can lead to permanent hair loss." Always start towards your ends (not your roots), moving gently from section to section.

"Hair is at its most fragile [and prone to breakage] when it is wet, being that the protective cuticle is slightly raised," says Robert Dorin, a hair-restoration surgeon at True & Dorin Medical Group in New York City. Always wait until your hair has fully dried before putting it in a ponytail or brushing it through.

Another simple fix: "Instead of wrapping hair in a towel turban, which can cause breakage, gently pat wet hair with a towel to soak up excess moisture," says Jill Crosby, a celebrity hairstylist in Los Angeles.

"Too much UV exposure from the sun can damage your hair, weakening it and causing it to appear dull," says Dorin. "This is because the keratin proteins in the hair break down when exposed to UV rays." Not only does he recommend seeking shade (year-round, ladies!), he suggests spritzing strands with a hairspray that has UV protection prior to sun exposure.

3 Things Every Girl With Curls Needs in Her Beauty Kit

Oh, curls. If you've got 'em, you've probably tried smoothing things out to see how the other side of the shaft lives. But times, they are a-changing. Globally, more of us have naturally curly hair. And "there's a newfound interest in authenticity," says psychologist Vivian Diller, Ph.D. "Curls tell people 'I'm real. I can let go.'" (We think she means losing the death grip on your flatiron.)

Still, some of us need a nudge. Inspiration: Dove's new "Love Your Curls" campaign encourages women to relish their above-the-neck curves. And last year, actress Halle Berry reportedly took her ex to court for straightening their daughter's hair.

When it's not making waves, this hair type is turning heads. So whether you were born curly or just wanna join the club, check out the April 2015 issue of Women's Health (on sale today!) for all the tips you'll need to rock a gorgeous mane.

In the meantime, here's the three must-haves every curly girl needs to spiral into control:

1. Diffuser: "It blows evenly dispersed air, not gusts of wind, so curls won't frizz or form flyaways," says hairstylist Tippi Shorter. Choose one with fingers, like Conair Pro Universal Tourmaline Finger Diffuser attachment ($10, sallybeauty.com), which cradles your curls and maintains their shape as they dry.

2. Microfiber towel: It's much softer than terry cloth or cotton, so it won't create friction that can cause fuzz. And since it absorbs more water from strands, it helps products penetrate better. Try DevaCurl DevaTowel ($12, devacurl.com).

3. Wide-tooth comb: Because a brush spells breakage for curls. We like Ouidad Double Detangler Comb ($26, ulta.com).

Bonus: Not born with bends? Suave Professionals Sea Mineral Infusion Moisturizing Body Shampoo and Conditioner ($3 each, at drugstores) can make texture easier to achieve.

Ready to show off your curls? Enter our #CurlyHairContest!
Insta before-and-after pics of your coils, and you could win every product featured in our April 2015 curly hair story! Here's how:

1. Follow @WomensHealthMag on Instagram.
2. Post your best before-and-after photo of your straight to curly transformation*, tagging @WomensHealthMag and #CurlyHairContest.
3. ENTER HERE for your chance to win by 4/21/2015.

*The judging criteria includes the best hair transformation from straight hair to curly hair in one of the following categories as included in our April issue story, #Curlyhairdontcare: tight coils, loopy soft curls, or defined and beachy waves. Hair will also be judged on its overall health and shine.

Why Is My Hair Too Dry? Get Some Instruction

Having dry hair is the biggest problem and you want to get rid of them by applying some understandable and affordable ways. But you don’t get something like this because it is too hard to get applicable things as you like to shiny hair. Rough massy and dry hair is the biggest problem especial in winter season, so if you want to get rid of roughness and dryness then apply these hair care tips on your hair, I assure you that you will be able to get beautiful and dandruff free hair. Read the given tips as you want something to be careful and applicable.

Why Is My Hair Too Dry? Get Some Instruction

Avocado Oil as a Best Hair Care Product:

It is the best hair care product and will help you to prevent your hair from roughness and dryness. It is full of vitamins and proteins which will help you to get healthier hair as you want to get shiny and straight hair. Make the mask of avocado oil, egg and banana, when the mixture is get ready then apply this mixture on your hair. You have to blend these things in a blender until they get the shape of cake better.

Then apply this mixture on your hair, this mask will help you to get shiny hair and you will also be able to get rid of all the hair problems, it is the biggest hair cure mask. You have to apply this mixture on your hair for ten minutes, and after it washes your hair with some shampoo which you use regularly to wash your hair.