Use a towel to draw out excess water from your hair. Always refrain from rubbing your hair in the towel to get rid of the water--this causes frizz! Instead of wrapping your hair with a bath towel, opt for a soft cotton t-shirt, a cotton pillowcase, or a microfiber towel. To reduce the amount of time you spend blow-drying your hair, let your hair air-dry. Wait until your hair is at least 50 percent of the way dry. This will also decrease your hair's exposure to heat, which can dry out your frizz-prone locks and increase the volume of your hair. While your hair is still damp, apply an anti-frizz cream. Before blow-drying, apply a heat protectant spray. This will help prevent your hair from drying out. Using a comb, divide your hair into 5 sections. You will have two sections in the back, one on each side, and one on the top of your head. Clip the sections in place. Start with the section on the top of your head. Pull the hair taut against your forehead. Place a round brush at the roots and slowly move it down the length of your hair. Follow the brush with the barrel of your blow dryer down the entire length of your hair. Repeat as needed. Repeat this process on the side sections and then the back sections. Apply a smoothing serum or anti-frizz cream to your hair for a sleek finish.

Summary: Squeeze excess water from your wet hair. Allow your hair to air-dry. Protect your hair. Divide your hair into 5 sections. Blow-dry your hair.


As children get older, play games like “name that tune” or “finish the song”. These are simple games where a parent hums part of a song and the child guesses what song it is. In “finish the song”, you start singing a song and then pass it to your child to finish the second half of the song.  Action songs and dancing are also fun ways to get children involved as they experience music throughout their entire body. Simple action songs include “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”, “Wheels on the Bus”, and “London Bridge is Falling Down”. These songs are particularly effective for wiggly children because it gives them a positive association with music. Developing a true love of music comes from more than just listening to music. To truly develop a musical appreciation in your children, show them music in a variety of forms, such as books about music or instruments, musical movies, concerts, and musical games.  Visit the local library to find suggestions of age-appropriate musicals and books that are available for checkout. Local newspapers should also have listings of community events, such as concerts and plays. Together, these tools can be used to create a strong sensory environment that will make music a major part of their childhood. Introducing children to your favorite band or musical genre will also help them get interested in music, as they will feel your excitement and passion.  Set a good example by telling your child why you like a particular band or by taking a moment to explain the lyrics of your favorite song. This will help them to appreciate music on a deeper level. It isn't until a child is around eight years old that they pick a favorite genre to listen to constantly, so expose them to plenty of different genres early on in order to expand their horizons. Learning combined with movement is more likely to be retained, so songs and music paired with dancing can create fun memories that will stick with your child.  It doesn't matter if you're not a great dancer yourself, the point is just to let loose and have fun and create happy musical memories with your child. Give your children the freedom to be creative with music and movement and let them explore the many styles of music, from hip-hop to salsa, swing to rock 'n' roll. Once your child is old enough to truly appreciate music, get them involved in musical groups.  Younger children can start in age-appropriate music, such as Kindermusik or Gymboree, and dance classes, and older children can begin to learn an instrument on their own or in lessons. Allowing your child to have a say in what area of music they would like to pursue will help them feel engaged and will increase the quality of their love and learning. From private lessons to youth bands and dance classes, any class or organized group that involves music will be beneficial for your child. Encourage your children to give performances at home with what they learn in their music classes. Reward them for practicing with kind words or prizes and make the home a positive environment and extension of what they learn in class.  Listen carefully to your child when he is playing his instrument or singing. In this way, his self-esteem will be stronger and he will try harder. Find ways to improve his playing, but do not be overly critical or look for perfection. Let the child compose his own music. If your child plays an instrument, encourage him to compose his own music, then praise his efforts.

Summary: Play musical games. Expose your child to different areas of music. Introduce your child to your favorite band. Incorporate dancing into your music education. Get your kids involved in music groups or classes. Encourage your child to practice at home.


The bathroom is often the most convenient place to store your makeup. The heat, humidity, and high levels of airborne bacteria can promote the growth of mold and yeast as well as contaminate beauty products. Keeping your cosmetics in a cool and dry closet or room may keep them from going bad or causing an infection.  Consider storing products in a clear acrylic drawer or heavy plastic cosmetics bag. This can make it easier to find products and prevent contamination with fingers. Place creams, serums, and other liquid makeups in an easily accessible spot in your refrigerator. Fill a small vase with colored marbles and place your brushes and applicators in it. A clear straw dispenser is another option that keeps brushes and applicators dust-free. Try a hanging makeup travel bag to keep your cosmetics organized. Fingers can harbor bacteria and oils that degrade your makeup. Touching makeup only when necessary may keep it from going bad quickly. It may also keep it fresher for a longer period of time. Consider using brushes instead of sponge applicators to put on your makeup. Brushes sweep up less product and may not press as much oil into the product. Transfer a small amount of product to a different container. Use this on a daily basis and replenish from the original container, which can keep products from drying out.  Getting small, clear, and reusable containers has several advantages. First, small containers ensure that if you do contaminate your product, you don’t lose the entire product. Second, clear containers help you more readily identify your products. Finally, reusable containers save you money—and the environment. Label your products to more easily identify or organize them. Most people love the look of long and voluminous eyelashes. Applying mascara is the way many people achieve this look. However, a common thing people do is “pump,” or quickly insert and remove—the mascara wand. This can actually dry out the mascara and cause bacteria to grow in the tube. Making a concerted effort to not pump your mascara may extend its life and keep it fresh. Cosmetics brushes and sponge applicators can harbor a lot of bacteria, oil, and dust that may degrade your makeup. Clean your makeup brushes and with some soapy water every month and place them on a paper or cloth towel to dry. Wash sponge applicators after every use and replace weekly.
Summary: Store products properly. Touch your cosmetics sparingly. Use smaller containers. Avoid pumping mascara. Clean brushes and applicators regularly.