Essential Grooming for Women: Top Tips and Hacks for Looking Your Best with Just a Little Effort!

In order to look good and definitely for personal hygiene as well, Grooming is essential, for it not only enhances one’s self-esteem but contributes a great deal in evolving one’s individuality. Personal grooming doesn’t just refer to the application of makeup or wearing fancy clothes, it entails a healthy body and maintaining it, involves wearing clean clothes, maintaining body and oral hygiene too.

Grooming becomes essential because, in a society, people need to look presentable and approachable. It needs to be followed religiously so that looking good visually in addition to having a pleasing personality becomes second nature to you. In that respect, personal care and hygiene include washing your body in its entirety every day, keeping your scalp and hair clean as well, brushing and flossing your teeth and donning fresh clothes at least twice a day. These healthy habits prevent the onset and habitation of bacteria inside your body.

Poor hygiene and poor sense of dressing will pull down your entire appearance and portray your personality as sloppy and lazy, whilst good hygiene and grooming routine will enhance your style. For instance, consider your hairstyle, commit to spending at least 3 minutes if not more in combing or brushing your hair and following simple to keep hairstyle and at the first opportunity you get, consult a professional to find out what style suits your hair and body structure.

Skincare is another essential aspect of personal grooming. A proper skincare regime to keep your skin hydrated and maintain its natural glow, following a healthy diet and necessary lifestyle requirements will go a long way in maintaining your body and mind. In today’s competitive environment being personally and professionally made up enhances one’s individuality, however, it doesn’t warrant going overboard. Learn to apply basic makeup quickly and easily and you can pick up some easy tips online from blogs or videos on how to go about it.

Be mindful of hair removal from unwanted areas like underarms, arms, and legs. Since the upper lip area usually has a dark shade, it should be clean as well, in addition to having clean shaped eyebrows. Exercise regularly to maintain your healthy muscles and work on your posture. When donning perfume, don’t put on too much of it or choose a strong scent. Go for a mild fragrance and apply it just a wee bit on your pulse points.

Besides being clean and dressing well, how you carry yourself also speaks volumes about your personality. If you look beautiful but have a funny gait or tend to speak awkwardly, it can affect your interaction with others and impact your self-esteem as well. Your choice of words and the way you speak should be intelligent and polished and you should avoid using words that are condescending, derogatory or abusive.

Speak using small sentences with meaningful phrases and in a manner that attracts people to you. Your dressing style should also be classy and to the point, depending on your personal or professional requisites. Use minimal jewelry for everyday wear and dress sensibly. Your accessories should be impressive but practical as well and your clothes should suit your body type and enhance your persona. Maintaining your personal grooming style also extends to your eating habits. Dining etiquettes make a great impact and hence you should make yourself familiar and adept at following the dos’ and don’t’s of dining properly.

Grooming involves a delicate art of cleaning and maintaining every single part of one’s body for a pleasing personality and appearance. In India, women are usually known for their long and dark hair and since times immemorial, hair care has played a significant role in a person’s outer appearance. Usually, most women look great and well-kept and in doing so, one doesn’t need to spend on super expensive products.

When it comes to hair care, to begin with, you need a clarifying shampoo as a key essential for hair care. This will help not only get rid of dirt and any buildup caused by hair styling products but also restore shine and softness to the hair. Some essential steps in hair care involve washing your hair alternate days for deep cleansing, conditioning for detangling your hair and combing your hair with a wide-tooth comb to get the knots out after a shower, trim your hair regularly. Some of the leading hair care products in India include shampoos, hair conditioners and hair serums to upkeep your hair on a regular basis and these products are easy to find and are just as easy on the pocket as well! They nourish your hair from root to tip leaving them silky soft and lustrous.

A healthy mind and body don’t just mean being of sound mind and disease-free, but also feeling good and comfortable through the day. One way of achieving this objective is by maintaining good personal hygiene. Personal habits like washing your hands, bathing, brushing your teeth, flossing may be dull and routine, but they are an essential part of personal care, that not only make you feel good about yourself but also prevent all kinds of toxins, bacteria, viruses from invading your body. From showering daily to staying dry and clean, staying hydrated, brushing and flossing your teeth every day, using a mouthwash to eliminate plaque and enhance oral care, shaving your underarms, arms and legs, keeping your intimate areas clean and dry, cleaning your ears and wearing clean and dry clothes are some essential steps to personal care and hygiene.

Off late, thanks to varied awareness initiative taken by the government, NGOs and social entrepreneurs, the field of feminine hygiene has become a top priority for women all over the country and this has also led to an increase in demand for different hygiene products like intimate washes, organic sanitary pads, washcloths, panty liners, tampons, urination devices for women, intimate wipes and menstrual cups. Such products have not only made life easier for women, even during the difficult days but also help them maintain their personal hygiene.

Women usually don’t see their lives without makeup! And it’s like second nature for most to put on some eyeliner, kajal or lip gloss before leaving the house. Like any other part of the body that needs care and maintenance, makeup also requires regular overhauling, as using the same product day in and day out can be challenging to your hygiene. Makeup can lead to the growth of bacteria, germs, lead to acne and invite infections, if not stored and used with care. When it comes to using makeup, it is essential that you wash your face every morning before applying anything to avoid trapping dirt or bacteria in your pores. You should avoid sharing your makeup with anyone as germs get transmitted easily through beauty products.

If and when you try out samples at a store, ask for disposable applicators and or wipe out the products you’ve tried with a wet tissue. Always shut your bottles and makeup boxes tightly and store them at room temperature. Sanitize your tools like tweezers or lash curlers with isopropyl alcohol and be sure to wash your makeup brushes and applicators regularly as well. Use makeup with clean hands and use sharpened pencils and liners. Don’t forget to wipe your face clean of all makeup every night to avoid getting breakouts or blocked pores. Ensure to replace your old makeup with a new one every 3-4 months. From a demand and use perspective, lipsticks to primers to eyeliners, there are plenty and more makeup products available in the market that not only beautifies you but also make your skin look better.

Your skin acts as a natural barrier to chemicals, pathogens and against abrasion and with proper hygiene, you can keep your skin healthy, while maintaining the natural oils and fats in the outer skin layer. With a healthy mix of in-house microbes that will protect your skin from disease-causing pathogens to avoiding the use of harsh skin products for cleansing, reducing your stress levels to eating a well-balanced diet, removing dirt and grime from your skin every day with mild cleansers to choosing the appropriate moisturizers and salves that will keep your skin hydrated, skincare and hygiene is an essential part of personal grooming. You should avoid touching your face unless your hands are clean as the germs in your hand can lead to breakouts, using warm water to wash your face can make it dry and damage the skin, not every skincare product’s meant for you, hence choose wisely and according to your skin type. You need to have a regular skincare routine as not following it can have adverse effect on your skin over a period of time. Don’t get pulled into fancy labels, cheap prices and fragrant products as they may not be suitable for your skin necessarily.

Most skincare brands in India have a whole range of cleansers, exfoliators, face masks, hydrating creams, body lotions and more to help you maintain routine skincare and cater to all kinds of skin types.

The cornerstone of keeping sound health is a balanced eating pattern and enjoying a variety of healthy food that include whole grains, vegetables, fruits, fat-free dairy, healthy fats and lean proteins. Women, in comparison to men also have some additional nutrient requirements through different stages of life that require maintenance and constant change.

Comparatively, women have less muscle and more body fat, they need fewer calories to maintain a healthy weight and activity level. And whilst, physical activity is a must for both men and women, nutritional healthy may differ according to different age groups. For instance, from the age of 19 to 30 years, women need calcium to build strong bones and healthy muscles as well a healthy heart, while at the age of 31-50 years, Folate (Vitamin B) is much required as is magnesium to support infinite body functions, build on bone strength and prevent bone loss, regulate blood sugar and pressure, also reducing the risks of heart disease or diabetes. As you approach menopause, your body produces less estrogen making it susceptible to an increased risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and other illnesses.

Hence you require Vitamin B12 to keep your brain and nervous system healthy and produce more red cells. While most nutrients come from the food you eat, these days owing to lifestyle changes and presence of chemicals in almost everything, there are a variety of healthcare products and nutritional supplements to help maintain your health & nutrition levels with a healthy blend of vitamins, minerals, fatty & amino acids and are available in the form of health drinks, powders, capsules or pills.

It is natural for your body to sweat, especially when performing a physical activity, for it’s a natural way of regulating body temperature. But the following odour that emanates from perspiring can be awfully bad and embarrassing. Whilst sweat is typically odourless, the bacteria that builds up on your sweaty skin and reacts with the natural oils, leading to bacteria multiplication is what causes the smell. The best way of fighting body odour is to wash it away with regular baths/showers and using antibacterial soaps, especially in the underarms and feet and then drying yourself well to prevent further bacterial breeding. The next step to maintaining hygiene is to use antiperspirants or Deodorants which mask the odour and wear breathable fabrics such as cotton, silk or wool according to seasonal requirements.

In countries like India, where the climate is mostly hot and humid, hygiene and cleanliness are an important part of personal grooming and using does or body mists and perfumes can save you from body odour and make you feel relaxed and refreshed all the time.

A key essential in personal grooming requires a well-kept hairstyle but before you style your hair beautifully, you need to be aware of your hair type, texture and the kind of products you can use to maintain that style. Your hair type is determined by the size, shape and thickness of your hair follicles. For instance, if you can wrap your hair in a ponytail with an average-sized rubber band just once, then your hair is thick, if you wrap the band two to three times then it is medium and any number more than that means your hair is fine. Hair textures also vary between being straight, wavy, or curly. Once you have established the texture of your hair and the type, it becomes easier for you to identify the hair styling products to use. From trimming your hair to blow drying it and using varied styling methods like straightening, perms, etc, there are a variety of styling products, tools and methods to maintain your hairstyle.

Oral Care isn’t just about brushing your teeth, but keeping it and your mouth healthy as well. And this requires a healthy routine of brushing, flossing, using an antibacterial mouthwash regularly, getting dental treatments every now and then, consulting a Dental Specialist for any changes to your health or the advent of special conditions re your health or lifestyle, use of dental appliances, following a healthy and nutritional diet plan, avoidance of alcohol or other substance abuse and regular dental check-ups. To keep up with oral care in view of personal grooming, there are a number of products available in the market that include toothbrushes, mouthwash, toothpaste, teeth whitening products, breath fresheners, dental floss, tongue scrapers, etc.

Women have different reasons for seeking a massage. As we age, the skin naturally starts losing its suppleness and with massage factored into your personal grooming and self-care routine, you can benefit from increased blood circulation, oxygen and nutrients flow throughout the body, which not only benefits your overall skin tone but also restores some of your body’s elasticity.

A healthy body is a healthy mind and no matter what your reasons are for getting a massage, the advantages are infinite. For instance, it can help you relax and give you some ‘me’ time, help you unwind after a rigorous workout at the gym, ease the discomforts from the difficult periods, help stimulate your sympathetic nervous system, lower your blood pressure and overall heart rate, boost your immune system, activate your adrenal glands, secrete more happy hormones, and temporarily block the pain signals to your brain, which gives your relief from aches and pains. Besides getting massages from professional therapists, you can also indulge yourself in self massages or use massage oils for your ‘me’ time to de-stress and rejuvenate.

Every human being’s body structure and shape differs from the other depending on their genetics, growth and development pattern, etc. Your body type makes it easier or difficult for you to ascertain the kind of clothes you should wear. For instance, if you have a straight body shape then you can experiment with layered or jacket style or anarkali dresses, as they accentuate your shape well. Alternatively, you could explore pairing printed leggings with belted kurtis for casual wear and look at dresses that have collars, turtle or high necks, v-neck, sweetheart or scoop necklines.

A pear-shaped body type essentially has narrow shoulders, small bust and large hips which makes it a delight to don ethnic wear. While a saree flatters a pear-shaped structure in fabrics of georgette, synthetics or crepe, when it comes to Kurtis, you’d play around with ones that have high side slits and are made in straight cuts. Go for wider necklines. For an apple body shape, if you love wearing revealing outfits or body-hugging clothes, don then smartly and you’ll rock the dress! On formal occasions, you can try an empire waist anarkali that’s accented with a wide hem, with a dupatta on one side or go with a heavily embroidered saree with a long-sleeved blouse in a contrast colour. Fabrics like georgette, chiffon, silk or crepe flatter your body type and necklines like Vs, high collars, scoops or sweethearts work well for you. Workaround with colours, hairstyles, accessories and footwear to make the most of your well-groomed personality.

What constitutes the routine of personal grooming also entails following it through to completion. If you choose to use hair removal products to take care of unwanted facial hair, it should be done in a pain-free, efficient and time saving manner or if you plan to trim your hair, clean and cut your nails or remove dead skin, the products you use should make it easier for you to do all of this at minimal cost, efficiently and in as less time as is possible. Here are a few easy hacks to help you become a Diva in no time!