Article: People from the South are known for their slow drawl. They have a drawn out way of saying their words, especially their vowels. Part of sounding really Southern is matching the slow pace of southern speech. Another aspect of a Southern accent is mixing together some of your vowels. For example, “pen” and “pin” should sound the same, like a mixture between the two words. It’s the same with “tin” and “ten.” "Get" comes out "git," and "just" as "jist" or "jis" (almost drop the t). A Southern lilt involves drawing out vowels to the point where, sometimes, they sound like two syllables. For example, “bill” turns into “bee-hill” and “short” becomes “showat.” Practice using a lilt on Say your words as though there is no “g” at the end.  This is common to most Southern accents. For example, say “fixin’” instead of “fixing” and “fishin’” instead of “fishing.” You don’t have to do this with words like “thing” or “dog,” but words with an “ing” should lose their “g”s. “Fixin’” is also a word commonly used by people with Southern accents, when you’re trying to do something. As in, “I’m fixin’ to go fishin’ this afternoon!” Perfect a few phrases that you know you can say exactly correctly. Maybe they are phrases you learned from the book you read, ones you’ve copied from a movie you watched, or ones that you learned from a friend or family member from the South. Before you tackle the entire accent, work on these phrases. "Jist-a-minute" and "Jist a second" are common. Remember that many people speak with genuine Southern accents. A person who speaks with a Southern accent does not have the option to switch it off. If you imitate a Southern accent with the intent of poking fun at the speech pattern, you might offend or otherwise disrespect people who speak with Southern accents. Consider also that the Southern accent is sometimes associated with certain stereotypes and subcultures. This is perhaps most notable in a particular stereotype of Southerners as ignorant, uncultured, and poor. Ask yourself whether it is discriminatory to imitate a Southern accent in this context.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Speak slowly. Mix your vowels. Speak with a lilt. Drop your “g”s. Perfect a few phrases first. Be considerate.
Article: If you’ve been coloring your hair for years or you tried an at-home relaxer a few months ago, your stylist needs to know that. Hair which has been chemically processed may be too damaged to undergo chemical straightening. It could lead to your hair being dry and brittle, or it could even break off during the process. During a strand test, your stylist will apply a small amount of the straightening solution to a strand of your hair in an inconspicuous spot, perhaps near the nape of your neck. This will allow the stylist to see how your hair reacts to the chemicals and will let them know if it is safe to proceed with the treatment. Most permanent hair straightening treatments will take at least 2-3 hours, and Japanese straightening may take as long as 8 hours for the first treatment. Bring a book with you or download a game on your phone so you’ll have something to entertain you while you sit in the chair. It's important to follow your stylist’s aftercare advice carefully to protect your hair. If you choose Japanese straightening, you will be advised not to wash your hair for 2-3 days after treatment. Depending on the treatment, you may also be told to avoid using heat styling, which can increase the risk of breakage on your fragile hair. For keratin treatments, you may need to refrain from wearing your hair in a ponytail for 2-3 days to avoid setting a permanent crease into your newly-straight hair.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Be honest with your stylist about your hair history. Request a strand test. Bring a book or download a game so you don’t get bored. Follow aftercare instructions.
Article: If you include too much salt and refined sugar in your diet, then your body is more likely to retain water. Just like not drinking enough water, this will keep your face and cheeks looking puffy from all of that retained water. Though you can't give up on salt and sugar completely, try cutting salty or sugary foods out of your diet and eating foods that are low in salt or sugar. and cut calories to lose weight. The best strategy for losing weight in your cheeks is to change your diet and work on overall weight loss. Identify your target weight and make this your goal. Then, cut back on calories by eating more healthy, low-calorie foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Try downloading a calorie counting app to keep track of how much you’re eating each day. Record everything you eat and drink in the app and stay within your daily caloric limit to start losing weight. Water is the best thing to drink when you’re dieting since it has no calories and it helps you to feel full between meals. Not staying well hydrated may also result in water retention, which can cause your cheeks to look puffy. Drink water whenever you are thirsty to stay well-hydrated.  Keep a water bottle with you at all times and refill it throughout the day. Drink extra water if you’ve been sweating excessively, such as after a workout or when you’re out in warm weather. Drinking alcohol may cause your cheeks to look puffy, so avoid drinking alcohol whenever you can and only drink moderately if you do drink. Moderate drinking is defined as no more than 1 alcoholic drink per day for women or 2 per day for men. One drink is equal to 12  fl oz (350 mL) of beer, 5  fl oz (150 mL) of wine, or 1.5  fl oz (44 mL) of spirits. Try swapping your evening cocktail for a cup of chamomile tea or a mocktail made with sparkling water and fruit juice. This is the recommended amount of moderate cardiovascular exercise for general well-being. Doing this amount of exercise each week will also help you to burn more calories and lose weight. You can work out for 30 minutes 5 times per week or break up your 150 minutes in a different way.  If you prefer, you can do 75 minutes of vigorous exercise instead, such as running or doing high-intensity interval training. Make sure to choose a form of exercise that you enjoy so you’ll be more likely to stick with it. For example, if you enjoy dancing, take a dance class or follow along with dance aerobics videos online. Getting a good night’s sleep each night may also help to promote weight loss, so make sleep a priority. Go to bed early enough to get at least 7 hours of sleep per night. Some other strategies that may help to promote a restful night’s sleep include:  Making your bedroom a relaxing place, such as by getting a nice set of sheets and keeping it clean, cool, quiet, and dark. Turning off screens at least 30 minutes before bedtime, such as your phone, computer, and TV. Avoiding caffeine in the afternoon and evening.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Take it easy on the salt and sugar. Adopt a healthy diet Drink more water to promote weight loss and reduce cheek puffiness. Consume alcohol in moderation or avoid it. Exercise for 150 minutes per week to help promote weight loss. Get more sleep to promote weight loss.