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What’s Damaging My Hair And How Can I Fix It?

Our hair goes through a lot on a daily basis – washing, brushing, being tied up and even being exposed to various pollutants and climates. All of these can have an impact on the condition of your hair.

Common signs of damaged hair are showing a frizzy or wiry appearance, feeling dry and looking split or frayed at the ends. With the proper maintenance and changes in your daily hair-care routines, your luscious locks will be back in no time.

woman drying hair

In this post, we have a closer look at what the most common causes of hair damage are and how you can rectify them.

Chemicals

It’s common knowledge that many colour and styling products can contain harsh chemicals that leave lasting damage to your hair’s health. Fortunately, there are some permanent hair colour solutions and bleaches available that aren’t as harmful and even include conditioners that help to restore any harm done during the treatment.

It is, however, a lesser-known fact that a lot of everyday hair-care products such as shampoos and conditioners contain high quantities of unfriendly ingredients that can have negative impacts on the condition of your hair.

Examples of such chemicals include: Sulphates
Parabens
Phthalates
Polyethene Glycols
Formaldehyde

A lot of these substances are found in cheaper, commercial shampoos and conditioners and can leave your hair feeling dry and lifeless. Try opting for products containing more natural ingredients such as aloe vera, essential oils and natural extracts. They may be a little pricier, but you may find that they are better value and work wonders on your hair!

Excessive Brushing

Did you know that there are even do’s and don’ts around hair brushing? We all have our unique methods but are we creating more damage with each stroke?

Experts have suggested that an average of twice a day is the ideal amount depending on your hair type. Consultant trichologist, David Adams explains that excessive brushing can increase the likelihood of split ends by damaging the hair cuticles from too much friction.

Furthermore, a crucial factor is ensuring that you are using the correct type of brush. If you have fine hair, you will want something gentler on the strands such as a detangling brush with soft bristles. For thicker, more wavy hair, a brush with more bristles made of nylon may be a better choice.

Heat

Frequent exposure to heat has the potential to weaken the structure of your hair strands and creates long-lasting and even permanent damage. Common culprits include curling irons, straighteners and blow dryers.

Unfortunately, as heat damage is often irreversible, a common recommendation is to opt for the chop. However, there are prevention methods and ways of managing the health condition of your hair whilst trying to grow it out.

A common sign of heat damage is dryness and split ends so go for regular trims and give your hair lots of hydration through good quality hair masks and organic, leave-in conditioners.

This isn’t to say that you can never use your heat styling tools, however, it is advised that you keep use to a minimum. It is also recommended that temperatures should be set to no higher than 148 degrees Celsius (300 Fahrenheit).

Diet

A lack of micronutrients in your diet can have a major impact on the quality of your hair. Like the rest of your body, your hair needs the right nutrients to grow and keep healthy and such deficiencies have been connected to hair loss and thinning.

The main nutrients that can affect your hair are essential vitamins, zinc, iron, protein and essential fatty acids. Let’s have closer look at each -

Vitamins: These include A, B12, C, D and E and can be found in leafy greens, fish, red meats, and seeds.

Zinc: This is vital for the growth and repair of your hair and can be found in whole grains, red meat, seeds, dairy, and eggs.

Iron: Similar to zinc, iron aids in hair growth and deficiencies are a commonly linked to hair loss. Iron-rich foods include beans, red meat, dried fruit and fortified cereals.

Proteins: Around 85 per cent of your hair is made up of keratin, a protein that gives your hair strength. Protein-rich foods include cheese, red meats, fish, quinoa, greens and tofu.

Essential fatty acids: More generally known as omega-3 and are vital for the development of healthy cell membranes and boosting hair growth. Foods containing essential fatty acids include olive oil, sunflower oil, oily fish such as salmon or mackerel, walnuts and avocados.

Have you been guilty of not giving your hair the treatment it deserves? Give your hair some TLC by following the above tips and we promise you’ll be amazed by the results.

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Check Points for Landlords While Renting Their Properties

Renting out your property, be it a house, a flat, or an office, can fetch you a handsome monthly income. In many parts of the world, people have made renting houses out and making it a permanent part of their regular earnings. They invest in building or buying a property often in a run-down state, doing it up, and then renting it to have a regular monthly income. However, renting property isn’t as easy as it might seem.



The responsibilities of landlords are vast and can often come with unexpected costs. If you are a landlord and planning to give your property for rent, here is a checklist that will help make the process smooth for you.

Fix the Rent Amount

The first step to renting your property is fixing your rent amount. You cannot fix an amount that you like, rather it is an extensive process, you have to research the market and see how tenants respond to different rent fees and what you are offering for that amount. To ensure monthly rent payments hit your bank account, the rent guarantee scheme helps you manage things.

Sign an Agreement

Both the tenants and the landlord can drift away from the terms and conditions, and to stay on one line, it is important to sign an agreement, to which the tenants and the landlord mutually agree. A legal contract between both parties ensures the safe handling of the rented property. Your agreement should be duly signed and the terms and conditions should be clearly put across.

Investigate the Tenants

To whom you are lending your property is quite an essential and difficult task. Before signing the agreement with tenants, do some basic checks. Not every person is reliable and failing to find honest tenants could mean they could default on payments or damage your property. Have an interview with your potential tenants, and check their ID and if they have the right to rent in the UK. Keep a copy of their important details and contact numbers so if an emergency situation occurs, you can contact them and you could present something as proof.

Prepare Your House

cleaning floor

Obviously, as you have expectations from your renters; similarly, they would also have certain demands from the landlord. They might want to have some changes in your property or some renovations, this is the time to do the DIY home improvements needed. You probably cannot get away with renting out the home as it is, without it being up to date and there is always room for certain improvements. Since tenants have to pay you, they become choosy, and because of the increased availability of rental homes, their expectations are much higher than in the past. Clean your home and ensure appliances are working and in good condition.

Understand Your Responsibility

Apart from the agreement that ensures guaranteed rent for landlords, the landlords also need to act responsibly in certain ways. The advantages of renting your property are numerous, such as the ease of tax breaks, and the ability to generate income that covers the bills and possibly even creates a profit. But being a landlord is a huge responsibility; you'll need to stay aware of repairs and maintenance, collect rent timely, work on your homeowner's insurance policy, and try to avoid wear and tear on your property by keeping an eye on your tenant's housekeeping skills. So before you decide to rent your property, do some research to ensure you are personally prepared for it.
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Which DIY Projects Can Improve The Value Of Your Home

We are a nation of DIY'ers in the UK. There is nothing we like better than spending an afternoon drilling, sanding and sawing. With house prices at a record high, making home improvements by doing it yourself, can really add value to your home as well as making your home more comfortable for you and your family. In this article, I will look at which DIY projects can improve the value of your home. This post is in conjunction with Brandon Hire Station who spoke to industry experts George Clover and Daisy Jones on their views.

Let's begin!

Improve your front door

front door
Spending time improving your front door can add to the curb appeal of a property. It's inviting you into the home and needs to be attractive. If you have peeling paintwork then sanding a door down and repainting can make the door look better instantly. Also replacing the door furniture such as a knocker and letterbox all help if they are damaged or corroded. Your front door will be the first thing your prospective buyer sees if they are looking through estate agent details. If you have the money, having a new front door fitted is great but can run into thousands of pounds so do it yourself and save money too.

Paint your home in light colours

Painting your home in light colours can help improve its appeal to buyers. White, cream and neutral shades will help depersonalise and brighten up your home and make it look clean and inviting. You want the buyers to be able to think that they can move in without having to do much to your home and a lick of paint certainly helps. You may love your home in shaded of orange, red and dark blues but think about repainting it to help it to sell.

Converting a bedroom into an office

home office

With many people working from home these days adding a home office can be a great selling point. Daisy Jones from Hewitt Adams suggests that this is a good idea and can add value to your property. This works well, especially if you have four bedrooms or more. If you have the space, this can also be used as a little place to get away from the family, and chill, I know we all need that sometimes don't we?

An extra toilet downstairs

Industry expert George Clover states that installing a downstairs toilet if you do not have one, can be appealing to prospective buyers and according to Checkatrade, a downstairs loo can add up to 5% to the value of your property. It's also a plus point if you have guests and don't want them to go upstairs to use the toilet, and it's useful for family and friends with mobility problems too. 

Adding an extra room

floor plan

According to George Clover, an extra bedroom with an ensuite is likely to add £50,000 to the value of your property. That's a lot of money! It doesn't have to be a bedroom though as adding any room can add some serious value to your home. If you are thinking of doing this then it's best left to the professionals although you can do some of the internal DIY yourself. If you are considering an extension be sure to think it through and write down exactly what you want before hiring an architect or designer. Then get at least three written quotes from builders on the costs of building materials and labour and the time it will take before committing.

So these are some DIY projects that can improve the value of your home. Brandon Hire Station spoke to George Clover of Helmores Estate Agents in Crediton and Daisy Jones of Hewitt Adams in Heswall for their expert opinion. Check out this campaign with Brandon Hire Station on which DIY trends can impact the value of your property. 

*Collaborative post

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Can You Use USA Dollars In Dubai? If Not, Where Can I Exchange Once There?

If you are travelling to Dubai and you are wondering if you can use the USA dollar then here you will find out if that will be possible or not. Dubai is a city in the United Arab Emirates and the official currency is Emirates Dirham (AED). Therefore, you will find most places in Dubai accepting the AED. Worry not if you have USA dollars though because you will learn where you can exchange your money.

dubai exchange

Before diving into how you can exchange the USA dollar for AED, it is important to note USA dollars are also accepted in Dubai. Hence if you have the USA dollars and you are applying for the UAE tourist visa extension, you can pay using the USA dollars.

That being said, the exchange rate of the United States dollar to the United Arab Emirates' currency, the Dirham is fixed at AED 3.67 to 1 USD. This is the single most significant fact that you need to be aware of regarding currency exchange in Dubai.

This indicates that you may anticipate buying and selling US dollars at fixed rates of AED 3.66 and AED 3.68, respectively, regardless of market conditions.

All exchange rates, with the exception of those of the US dollar, are fluid and subject to constant adjustment. In Dubai, the majority of stores take US dollars as payment; nonetheless, it is usually to your advantage to carry some Dirhams with you. One may exchange currencies in Dubai at the airport, hotels, banks, or currency exchange counters located throughout the city.

The majority of the airport's bank counters close between the hours of 10 and 11 pm. However, at the airport, there are a few currency exchange desks that are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Doing your work at shopping malls is both the easiest and most convenient way to get your work done. At least one branch of a renowned money changer chain may be found in each and every shopping centre and mall in the country. These locations follow the same schedule as the mall itself in terms of when they open and when they close.

Refer to the following list of top money changers in Dubai to increase the number of Dirhams you have available for your vacation. Simply because they offer reasonable prices and a well-deserved reputation for providing high-quality service, these locations come highly recommended.

The fact that money exchange chains offer competitive exchange rates and a widespread presence in convenient areas makes them the provider of choice for a lot of tourists. These chains, in general, provide consistent pricing across all of their locations.

Where Can You Exchange USD For Dirhams?

Airports
Metro stations(Not all of them)
Shopping Malls
Major Hypermarkets/supermarkets


What You Should Know About Exchanging Money In Dubai

If you want to avoid paying exorbitant fees and discover the greatest bargains when exchanging currency in Dubai or any other foreign location, it is essential to educate yourself before making the transaction.

If you plan to stay in Dubai for an extended period of time or if you intend to make significant financial investments there, such as purchasing real estate or automobiles, you should think about opening a bank account there. Exchanging money is a common option for tourists from other countries. However, you should also consider opening a bank account there.

1. Beware Of ‘Zero fees’ Services


While you are away from home, it is highly possible that you will come across businesses that advertise that they can provide currency exchange for 'zero fees' or 'no commission.'

However, this offer is too good to be true because the companies providing these services still need to earn a profit. They will typically offer you a low exchange rate that is not reflective of the actual rate being offered on the market, and they will keep the difference for themselves.

The real exchange rate is also referred to as the mid-market rate, and it is the rate that banks and other financial institutions use in order to convert one currency into another on the international market.

If you do a search for the currency pair that you are using on Google or use a currency converter online, you will probably find that the exchange bureau or bank is offering you a considerably lower value for your money than what it is actually worth.

2. Familiarise Yourself With The Exchange Rate


Now that you are aware that currency exchange businesses do not typically offer their customers the genuine mid-market rate, you should verify the base rate before you go to exchange your money so that you can recognize a poor bargain if you encounter one.

3. Avoid Money Exchange In Airports Or Hotels


In this particular instance, it is unfortunate that one must pay a price in order to enjoy convenience. Airports and hotels are common places to exchange currency at the last minute; nevertheless, these establishments are frequently the worst places to do so because they provide the worst exchange rates and charge the highest transaction costs.

4. Check If Your Personal Bank Operates In Dubai


In the same way that you would use ATMs while you are at home, you are able to withdraw cash from them when you are in Dubai. However, before you begin utilizing automated teller machines (ATMs), you should first determine whether or not your home bank has any connections with local banks in Dubai.

When they do, then it is possible that you will be able to withdraw cash without having to pay any additional costs from the ATM for the opportunity of doing so. Notifying your bank that you will be using your card while you are away from home is something else you should do before you leave the country.

5. Choose To Be Charged In The Local Currency - AED (Dirham)


When you are using an ATM in a foreign country, you can be asked if you want to be charged in the local currency or in your own country's currency. This is not a good idea, as it implies your money will be converted at an undisclosed exchange rate and you’ll likely pay an extra cost for the conversion. Choose to be charged in the local currency if you want the pricing to be more equitable.

Below are the Top Money Exchange Places in Dubai


(1) UAE Exchange

(2) Al Ansari Exchange

(3) Al Ghurair Exchange

(4) Lulu International Exchange LLC

(5) Sharaf Exchange L.L.C

(6) Orient Exchange Co. LLC

(7) GCC

(8) The Index Exchange

(9) Rajhi Exchange

(10) The Asia Exchange Centre

(11) The Ravandi Money Exchange

(12) Khalil Exchange LLC

(14) The Habib Exchange Co LLC

(15) The Emirates India International Exchange

(16) The City Exchange

(17) The Joy Alukkas Exchange

(18) The LM-Exchange

(19) Multinet Trust Exchange

(20) Redha Al Ansari Exchange

(21). Al Rigga Metro Station

(22). Emirates Metro Station

(23). Emirates Tower Metro Station

(24). Internet City Metro Station

(25). Burj Khalifa Metro Station

(26). Rashidiya Metro Station

(27). Oud Metha Metro Station

(28). UAE Exchange Station

(29). Jebel Ali Metro Station

(30). Etisalat Metro Station

(31). Union Metro Station

(32). Salah Al-Din Metro Station

The fact that just 12% of people living in the United Arab Emirates are natives, while the remaining 88% are foreigners, means that exchanging money won't be an issue in Dubai.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robeena Brown is a travel blogger & destination expert living in UAE, working for local tourism companies like Arabiers. If you’ve been looking forward to touring Dubai, getting a visa and/or extending stays and exploring the city, you can follow her on social media.

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5 Ways To Grab A Bargain

We all like a bargain don't we? I mean who doesn't get a buzz out of buying something at a great price? With the cost of living creeping higher and higher, everyone has had to tighten their belt in the last year, and many people have never had to do this before. But there are some things you can do to get a bargain. Let's have a look at what they are.

Make a list

shopping list
If you are looking for something specific make a list. This will help to keep you focused and stop you from wasting money. This applies if you are going shopping for groceries, shopping for clothes or shopping for big ticket items such as a TV or bed. The internet here is also your friend to research the best deals before you buy. You can use comparison sites too.  If you are looking for deals from a specific store, then it can be a good idea to sign up to emails for the latest offers.  

Collect coupons

Another money-saving move is to use discount coupons. Discount coupons are often printed in magazines and leaflets that you get free through the door and in the back of magazines you buy. Many companies also have loyalty cards these days, and it's worth signing up for these for discounts on everything from coffee to groceries to toiletries.  Signing up for loyalty cards is a good idea to earn discounts on a range of items and you can even get your shop for free! They love coupons in the US and we bargain-loving Brits are starting to love them too. 

Save a pot of money

saving money

If you can afford it and can wait then if you put aside an amount every month you are in a great position to pounce when the offers come in. For example, if you need a new laptop then saving an amount of money every month throughout the year can help you have the cash ready when you need to buy, this can mean you are in a great position when the Black Friday or Boxing Day sales are on. You won't have to rely on finance meaning it will be cheaper for you to make that big purchase. This relies on forwarding planning and some disposable income so it's not for everyone but can definitely be worth doing. 

Use social media

Using social media is a great way to keep up to date with the latest offers from companies big and small. Follow your favourite companies on Twitter and Facebook to see when they have offers on, discounts and deals.  You could make a Twitter list with your favourite companies so you can see when they have offers and discounts. Sometimes following a certain hashtag can help you spot the deals too, such as #deals #blackfriday #boxingdaysales #discounts and #sales. Be quick though as sometimes these deals can go quick.

UK Deals And Giveaways

UK Deals and Giveaways

A specific Facebook group I love is UK Deals And Giveaways. UK Deals And Giveaways has 285,000 followers on Facebook and over 300000 online in total. The Facebook group is brilliant as they have dedicated admin and fans of saving money, who post the latest, greatest, and best deals available online and in-store. They also have a website where you can spot the trending hot deals. Every offer on their website is categorised so it's easy to search for, and there are many deals from Kids and Toys, to Fashion, to Home and Garden to Groceries and much more. If you like entering competitions they have those too as well as freebies and samples, perfect for trying something for the first time or even taken on holiday. Whenever I am on the lookout to buy gifts for a family member I search the group to see what offers are on. Some of the best deals at the moment are Addidas trainers with 45% off and Hugo aftershave at half price. 

So here are 5 ways to grab a bargain. What's the best bargain you've had?

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How To Create A Perfect Email Newsletter In 2022


Email marketing is an old communication channel — it appeared before social networks and targeted advertising. People say that email marketing is gone, others that it's ineffective. But if it were so inefficient and useless, why would you get a bunch of various emails in your inbox every day?

laptop

Of course not and many companies understand this. In fact, it's hard to create an effective email newsletter that will be read. The more practice you have, the easier this task will become. Business owners invest heavily in email marketing strategies and business promotion. They increase sales while others speculate about the future of this communication channel.

In this article, I will tell you why you need to pay attention to email newsletters; how to build an effective email marketing strategy and drive traffic to your website.


How to Build an Effective Email Marketing Strategy


  • Choose the best time to send emails

Having strategy is good, but it won't work if you don't take into account people's interests. You can read a lot of articles about the best time to send emails on the web — we won't delve into details and describe by days and hours. We just want to draw your attention to the fact that the success of your email marketing campaign depends on the timing and frequency of your emails.

It's worth noting that your target audience also plays a significant role. Use analytics data to understand when users read your emails and click and follow the company's blog.

Remember that someone will send emails several times per day, adhering to certain email marketing templates, and for someone — three times a month is enough. It all depends on your business field.

  • Use video content in your email newsletter
video content

It's a well-known fact that video content surrounds us everywhere today. Video is a great way to show emotions, reveal the topic, and convey crucial and not-so information to the client. There are various types of video content that you can include in your email newsletter, so don’t ignore this opportunity.

Experiment with video content — it works well as entertainment and as a part of promotional campaigns for a new product. For the email newsletter, shoot short videos of up to two minutes. It's not necessary to hire one more person for video editing. You can just use some proven and user-friendly video editing software like iMovie for Windows and Shotcut, which even a beginner can master. Moreover, don't forget to mention the video in the subject line and title — this way, your email will have a better chance of being opened.

  • Personalise your emails

Personalisation increases the overall effectiveness of the email newsletter and makes users see it as a letter from a friend. There is nothing worse than sending irrelevant or dry emails to the client. It's a direct way to lose your base. The strategy works best when a client opens an email from your company and understands that this isn't a general newsletter but personalized content.

Consider this information when composing a letter and choosing an email marketing automation tool. First, you should address your client by name in the subject line or headline. In addition, personalize your email newsletter with individual bonuses, offers, discounts, and coupons. It will significantly increase conversion and engage your customers.


  • Use the same template for all emails

man checking emails


The method works well when the structure and design of all emails look the same every time. This way, the client gets used to receiving regular newsletters from you, and you don't need to spend half a day deciding on the design and best fonts — you should think over email newsletter content only.

For instance, you can send your customers articles like “Top 5 Products of the Week” or “Last Week’s Most Popular Content” weekly. In addition, allow readers to benefit from your newsletter. Make it useful. How? Share essential tips, help people feel better, and inspire them.

As a result, the use of email marketing templates allows you to:

  • Save time: you don't need to compose a new letter every time by having a ready-made template at hand. 
  • It's enough just to replace the main blocks with information and start sending emails;
  • Increase brand awareness: with a corporate template, your emails stand out and are remembered and associated with you and your company.
  • Add interactivity

One way to improve the effectiveness of email marketing campaigns and increase metrics is interactivity. For instance, you can ask your customers to share their opinions on a service provided or your business expansion plans. People always like when companies ask their opinion. They begin to feel important and needed, and you, in turn, understand what they want. Therefore, offer customers interactive surveys and polls. They're engaging, simple, and, most importantly, don't take much time.

Plus, add infographics, animations, GIFs, and more. Use simple services to create this content like Infogram and GIPHY, or hire an email marketer who will do everything perfectly. In any case, this method will have a beneficial effect on your business promotion.

  • Add an avatar
man on laptop


An avatar is a necessary element of your email newsletter. Numerous companies ignore this point or simply don't pay attention to it. And this is a mistake. It's much nicer to receive an email from a company with a brand logo. So the recipient immediately sees whether it's worth opening the letter or not. Certainly, not all of your emails will be read, and you should accept this as a fact. But to neglect the avatar is a gross mistake.

Make sure that the image is visually perceived and doesn't turn into something incomprehensible from pixels. Moreover, you can't upload any picture you like. It must be your logo, brand name, or something that customers associate with you. If you put something else, you can confuse people.

Wrapping Up

In theory, everything looks easy and simple, but, in practice, it may seem harder. If you want to win your client's heart, the email must be sent at the right time and to the right audience.

Apply newsjacking, use current information trends to promote your brand, and send memes to subscribers (if appropriate). Users don't like to read promotional emails. You can solve this problem by making commercial messages look like neutral ads. For instance, say that a new product is on sale, prices are reduced, and delivery terms are updated.

In general, be creative, value your customers, and invest not only money but put your soul into business promotion and your company's email marketing strategy.

We wish you the best of luck, and stay safe!

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