Say NO to the overdose red and pink this Valentines Day and embrace the beauty of Green. Here are a few easy steps to ‘go green’ on the most romantic day of the year.

• Gift your loved one cards made from recycled paper.
• If you take being eco savvy, very seriously why not consider sending an e-card. There are plenty of adorable cards offered by a multitude of companies that offer online services.
• If you want to savour chocolates whilst saving the planet, why not hunt for some organic chocolate that is made without preservatives and not shipped from miles away.
• Why not buy your darling a fare trade product. There are plenty of stores that promote the fair trade concept, so shopping can be a breeze.
• Profess your love with organic or locally grown flowers.
• Make a donation to an environmental organization on behalf of your sweetie.
• Buy him or her organic, locally produced natural fragrances, bath salts and creams.
• Enjoy a candle light dinner, with locally grown vegetables, accompanied by delicious organic desserts. Set the mood right with organic candles if you can find them!
• If you want to gift your darling jewellery, consider something that is 100% natural or even chic vintage jewelrley that is recycled.
• How about enjoying a romantic getaway in a wildlife reserve or park, or even hotel that promotes eco friendly living.

Designer Chocolates
Chocolates are a perfect degree regardless of the stage of your relationship. Get a box that emits class, not something from the drugstore. An array of chocolates is a safe bet if you don’t know whether she’s a caramel girl or more into truffles.

Bed & Breakfast Getaway
Bed & breakfasts offer an unique mix of comfort and luxury. If you’re looking to sweep your partner off her feet nothing can be like a romantic trip.

Hand-Dipped Strawberries
Strawberries in chocolate are a trademark treat; they wonderfully mix the romantic with fantasy, without being too obvious. Buy these pretty and tasty treats. Or better yet make them yourself.

Flowers
While a bouquet of red roses may be a bit overzealous for a first date, other flowers may send your message perfectly. Do some research and choose carefully; gardenias denote secret love while yellow roses mean friendship. Just be sure to order your flowers in advance to avoid Valentines Day price hike.

Heart-Shaped Pendant
Pendants were practically designed for giving to new girlfriends. They’re sweet and tailor-made to make her swoon daily.
 

You must be aware of incidents that have taken place recently which made you think twice before going to a salon or maybe even held you back from visiting the salon to fulfil your requirements. This is quite a common misunderstanding among the community which has to be corrected.
Corrina Sansoni of Salon Stephanie’s, Kandy, has presented some facts that will make you aware of the Do’s and Don’ts that you should follow when visiting a salon.

1.     Don’t hesitate to check the salon’s and technician’s certification. Just because a salon is open and everyone seems to be having a good time it doesn’t make it legitimate. Before you book an appointment you can also check whether there were any filed complaints earlier and don’t fail to look up for customer reviews.
2.     Don’t be afraid to inquire how your salon cleans its tools. Are they sitting out uncovered? Are the hair combs and scissors covered in dust? It takes up to 10 minutes for tools to be sanitized properly, not just a quick spray from a sanitizing can. Also make sure to ask what chemicals are used in the cleaning process. It’s up to you to make sure they do it right and any reputable salon will be more than happy to walk you through the process.
3.     When getting a pedicure done, make sure the foot bath is cleaned thoroughly. If the nail technician doesn’t ask you to wash your hands and feet before your pedicure, odds are she didn’t ask the person before you either and that’s how the bacteria spread. Hence, be alert about it.
4.     Most salons have good records of cleanliness. But there are some tools that cannot be sanitized. E.g. card board nail buffers, facial sponges and foam cubes used to spread your toes. Hence, it is recommended that you bring your own tools to a nail salon. This prevents you from getting someone else’s infection. If you do this keep your tools clean and wipe them with hydrogen peroxide after each use.
5.     When you visit the spa or salon, and you want to get a body massage or facial done, look to the cleanliness of the towels and bed spreads. Also inquire about the oils, creams and herbs that will be used for the massage.
6.     Before getting a hair cut, inspect the conditions of the chairs, combs and scissors, because they could spread lice and dandruff.
7.      If you are a pregnant woman, a little pampering is good for your self esteem. But once you are inside the salon, be concerned about the strong smell of chemicals like acrylics and ammonia, which is enough to knock you off your feet. To avoid such a mishap, be seated in the most ventilated area of the salon. Masks can also be worn to minimize the amount of fumes you are breathing in.
8.     If you want to colour your hair, always carry out the allergy alert test as instructed and allow a full 48 hours for any reaction to develop.
9. Before you get a waxing done look to the quality of the wax and make sure its not too hot which could cause skin burns.
10.     When you walk into the salon for a makeup, make sure the makeup artist is using disposable sponges on you. Yet if you’re not sure, it’s always better to take your own makeup sponges and brushes to the salon. Also make sure to see to the quality of the make up that is used on you.
11. Finally, but most importantly, get a comprehensive knowledge about each and every beauty product the therapist is going to use on you. Inquire about its make and quality, and see for the expiry date and also see for any ingredients that might cause allergies.
12.  Hence, by practising the following measures, it is most possible to avoid any unfortunate incident that could take place when you visit the salon. Always remember to choose the best salon for you and don’t fail to get yourself pampered during this Christmas season.

It’s a new 9 to 5.

Steel Blue launched a brand new line of work wear for women recently at their showroom at No. 357A R.A De Mel Mawatha Colombo 3.

The collection is aimed at the modern Sri Lankan female executive who aspires for sophisticated, contemporary and fitting clothing. Steel Blue uses a multitude of nontraditional designs such as extensive use of contrast and artistic stitching to give each and every shirt a different look. Every shirt comes in limited edition to give exclusivity to the customer. The store also takes custom orders for those who have something particular in mind.

At the launch Steel Blue founders Shabina Mahuroof and Jeeshan Mirza stated “Steel Blue now offers very stylish work wear for fashion forward women. Everything you find here is something different and has that wow factor. We can also proudly say that Steel Blue has the largest collection of women’s shirts in Sri Lanka.”