| How to Preserve a Corsage Posted: 04 Oct 2018 01:00 AM PDT A corsage worn during prom, a wedding, or another special event can be turned into a beautiful keepsake if you preserve it properly. You can choose between many different preservation methods depending on how long you want the process to take and what you want the flowers to look like when you're done. If you take a few steps to preserve and display your corsage, you can create a lasting reminder of your special night. EditAir-Drying Your Corsage - Make sure the flowers and other corsage elements are tightly fastened together. The stems will shrink slightly as the flowers dry, so if one or more flowers in the corsage seem loose, fasten them together with a rubber band, twine, or ribbon. Don't tie them so tightly that the stems bend, however - if bound too tightly, the flowers won't fully dry underneath the bindings.[1]
- Air drying works best on freshly bloomed flowers, so start the drying process as soon as possible.
- Hang the corsage upside down. Fasten it to a hook or hanger, and hang in a cool, dry place with good circulation. It's best to keep the corsage out of direct sunlight as it dries, in order to minimize fading.[2]
- Leave the corsage for 2-4 weeks, until fully dry. Check in on your corsage regularly over the next few weeks to make sure it's drying. Once all the petals and leaves seem completely dry, carefully remove the corsage.[3]
- Spray your corsage with hairspray. Air drying can leave flowers a little bit brittle and prone to crumbling, but a coat of hairspray can help protect them. Use an aerosol can, rather than one with a spray pump, in order to spray more evenly.[4]
EditDrying Your Flowers with Silica Gel - Find or purchase an air-tight container and silica gel. Silica gel is a desiccant which will wick moisture out of your corsage, helping the flowers dry quickly and thoroughly while maintaining their shape. It can be purchased online, or at a local craft supply store or florist shop.
- Silica gel can be pricey, but it tends to produce better results than other desiccants and can be reused several times, until it turns pink.[5]
- If you're in search of a cheaper alternative, fine sand, cat litter, or a mixture of one part borax to two parts cornmeal all absorb moisture well and can be used in place of silica gel.[6]
- Make sure your flowers are well-hydrated, but dry on the surface. If your flowers have already started to wilt, rehydrate them by recutting the stems at an angle and setting the corsage in a container of water for a few hours, until the petals perk back up. Wipe off any surface water when you're done.[7]
- Bury your corsage in the silica gel. Layer some desiccant in the bottom of the container, add your corsage on top, face up, and then sprinkle more desiccant lightly over the corsage until it is buried. Make sure the silica gel gets in every crevice, but be careful not to crush the flowers.[8]
- Seal the container and store your corsage in a cool, dry place. Check your corsage every couple days, and remove when dry. Depending on how much moisture your flowers contained when you first started the process, this method may take anywhere from one to several weeks.[9]
- Try not to over-dry your flowers, or your corsage will be extra prone to shattering.
- Unearth your corsage after a couple of weeks. Pour out the desiccant until you can reach your corsage. Remove it carefully and gently brush off any remaining desiccant that's stuck to it.[10]
EditDisplaying Preserved Corsages - Set preserved corsages in a small vase or container. Set the base of the corsage in a small glass, basket, or decorative container to make it look like a tiny bouquet, and put on a shelf.
- Place the entire corsage inside a large glass bottle. If you have a clear glass bottle or vase with a wide mouth, drop your preserved corsage inside. The bottle will display your corsage while protecting it from breaking.
- Drop your corsage into a shadow box. These boxes are similar to picture frames, but are much deeper, so they can hold items that aren't flat. They can be found at your local frame or craft supply store.[11]
- Shadow boxes can be used to display your corsage alongside other objects from your special night, such as a photo, invitation, or piece of fabric from your event outfit.
- Save pieces of dried flowers that break off from the corsage. Mix them with other fresh herbs and scented oils to create potpourri and display them in a shallow or clear bowl, or mix into a soap base and add other scents or exfoliants such as oatmeal to make your own hand soap.[12]
- Professional florists often offer corsage preservation services. Professional drying or freezing methods will usually leave your flowers less likely to fade or crumble, and florists can often replace any damaged blooms before preserving. However, these services can be costly.[13]
- If you're okay with cutting your corsage apart, pressing the flowers can be a great way to preserve them. Lay out your flowers as flat as possible in the middle of a heavy book lined with paper, close the book, and stack more books or heavy objects on top. Change out the paper liners about once a week, until all the moisture has been drawn out.[14] Pressed flowers can easily be framed, or flattened between two glass panes held together with electrical tape.[15]
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| How to Care for Newly Pierced Ears Posted: 03 Oct 2018 05:00 PM PDT It's important to take good care of your newly pierced ears so they'll heal properly. Clean your ears twice a day while they heal and avoid handling your piercings when you don't have to. Be gentle with your piercings to avoid injury or infection and enjoy your new fashion statement! EditCleaning the Piercings - Wash your hands with antibacterial soap before touching your ears. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly right before handling your earrings. This will prevent you from transferring bacteria to your ears with your fingers. Use an antibacterial soap to ensure that your hands are as clean as possible.[1]
- Lather your hands with soap and wash them for a full 10-15 seconds to kill germs.
- Clean your ears twice a day with soap and water. Lather a mild soap between your fingers until it is foamy. Gently rub the soap onto the front and back of your piercings. Carefully wipe your ears with a clean, wet cloth to remove the soap.[2]
- Use a saline cleaning solution as an alternative to soap and water. Ask your piercer to recommend a sea salt-based cleanser to care for your newly pierced ears. This will clean your piercings without over-drying the skin. Swab the front and back of your piercings with the cotton ball or swab saturated in the cleaning solution.[3]
- There is no need to rinse your ears after applying the saline solution.
- Apply rubbing alcohol or an antibiotic ointment twice a day for 2-3 days. Disinfecting your ear piercings will cut down the chance of infection and speed up the healing process. Dab rubbing alcohol or antibiotic ointment to your ears with a cotton ball or swab.[4] Discontinue this after a few days, as prolonged of these treatments can dry the sites of your piercings and make it harder for them to heal.[5]
- Rotate the earrings gently while the skin is still wet. Grasp the back of your earrings and rotate them carefully right after cleaning the area. This will prevent the piercings from closing too tightly around the jewelry while they heal. You should only do this while your ears are still wet.[6]
- Twisting your new piercings when your skin is dry may cause it to crack and bleed, resulting in a longer healing time.
EditAvoiding Injury and Infection - Leave your starter earrings in your ears for at least 4-6 weeks. When you first get your ears pierced, the piercing technician inserts starter earrings. These earrings are made from hypo-allergenic materials that are safe to keep in your ears. Leave them in your ears both day and night for at least 4 weeks or your piercings may close or heal improperly.
- The hypo-allergenic earrings should be made of surgical stainless steel, titanium, niobium, or 14- or 18-karat gold.[7]
- If you get a cartilage ear piercing, you will need to leave the starter jewelry in for 3-5 months while it heals fully.[8]
- Always wash your hands before touching your ears. Unnecessary handling of your piercings can lead to infection. Avoid touching them unless you are cleaning or inspecting them. If you do need to touch them, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water first.[9]
- Avoid swimming while your piercings are healing. Swimming can lead to a transfer of bacteria to your new piercings, resulting in an infection. Steer clear of pools, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water while your ears are healing. If you use a hot tub, avoid submerging your body deep enough in the water to get your ears wet.[10]
- Be careful with items of clothing that could snag on your earrings. Keep your clothing away from your earrings while they heal. Pulling or friction can cause irritation and slow down the healing process. Avoid wearing hats that cover your ears and be careful when getting dressed and undressed to avoid injury.[11]
- If you wear a veil, choose a fabric that won't snag easily. Try to wear very loose veils and avoid wearing the same veil multiple times without washing it.
- See a doctor if you notice signs of infection that last several days. If your ears are painful and swollen a week or more after you get them pierced, they may be infected. Visit your doctor to have them checked if you notice pus or thick, dark discharge. Infected skin around the piercings will also likely be red or deep pink in color.[12]
- Serious piercing infections may require drainage and oral antibiotics.
- Brush and comb your hair carefully to avoid snagging your piercings.
- Wear your hair up to avoid getting it caught in your piercings.
- If your cartilage piercing is causing you pain, try to sleep on the opposite side to avoid putting pressure on it.
- Seek immediate care if your earlobe tears.
- Wash your pillowcase every few days to help prevent infection.
- Make sure the piercing studio is clean, hygienic, and qualified before you have any piercing done.
- If you have long hair, try putting your hair up to avoid getting it caught on the piercing.
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| How to Get Rid of a Fake Tan Posted: 03 Oct 2018 09:00 AM PDT If you end up with a streaky, uneven, or orange fake tan there are many options for getting rid of it. Start by loosening the color deposit on your skin with items like lemon juice, baking soda, and whitening toothpaste. A steam or swim may also help to even out your color. Next, exfoliate your skin with a towel, scrub, or exfoliating mitt to remove the fake tan. EditLoosening the Color from Your Skin - Apply a tan remover with ammonium oleate within 4 hours. Ammonium oleate is a mild form of bleach that won't harm your skin. For an instant fix to a bad fake tan or unsightly streaks, apply a tan remover containing this ingredient to your skin. This option is only suitable for removing a freshly-applied fake tan and will be relatively ineffective once the tan has set.[1]
- Rub the product onto streaks or problem spots and leave it there for 5 minutes, then rinse it off your skin.
- Purchase a tan remover at a pharmacy, beauty supply store, or online.
- Spread a lemon juice and baking soda paste on your skin if the tan has already set in. In a small bowl, combine equal parts lemon juice and baking soda. Stir the mixture with a spoon until it forms a paste. Spread the paste over the surface of your skin and let it sit for 5 minutes until you see the fake tan fading.[2]
- Remove the paste from your skin with a clean, wet cloth.
- Coat sensitive skin in baby oil and let it sit for 10 minutes. If abrasive or acidic ingredients irritate your skin, use baby oil to loosen your fake tan instead. Pour the oil onto your hands and rub it onto your skin. It will loosen the fake tan color from the top layer of your skin.[3]
- Coat your entire body with the oil and leave in on for a full 10 minutes.
- To avoid a mess, get into your empty shower or bathtub to apply the baby oil.
- Use whitening toothpaste to remove streaks or stains on your skin. The active whitening ingredient in the toothpaste will cause your fake tan to fade, but it is better suited for small applications to problem areas. Squeeze a dot of whitening toothpaste onto your finger or an old toothbrush. Rub the toothpaste onto your skin in a circular motion until the fake tan begins to disappear.[4]
- Add a drop of water to the toothpaste if it is hard to spread.
- Once you are done, rinse your skin thoroughly to remove the toothpaste.
- Swim in a chlorine-treated pool if you don't mind showing off your tan. While you may be embarrassed to step into a pool with an unsightly fake tan, it is an excellent option for loosening the color. Chlorine will break down the fake tan buildup on your skin, making it easier to scrub away afterward. Spend at least 20-30 minutes in the pool to allow the chlorine to work.[5]
- Shower the chlorine off your body and scrub your skin gently to slough away the color.
- Sit in a steam room for 30 minutes if you have access to a spa or gym. Steam can soften your skin enough to loosen the color of your fake tan. Sit in a steam room for a half hour for the best results. Be sure to drink water before going into the steam room to prevent dehydration.[6]
- Exit the steam room immediately if you experience disorientation, weakness, or dizziness.
EditExfoliating the Skin - Rub a wet towel on your skin in circular motions to lift the color. Wet a towel with clean, cool water and wring it out. Exfoliate your skin by rubbing the towel over it in small circles. The wetness and abrasiveness of the towel should help to remove the fake tan.[7]
- Use an old towel as it will likely be stained by the fake tanner.
- Apply an exfoliating scrub to dry skin to remove a stubborn fake tan. While most exfoliating scrubs are designed to be used on wet skin, they are more abrasive and effective if applied to dry skin. With clean hands, apply the scrub to your skin and rub it in circular motions to lift the fake tan. Once you have worked the scrub into your skin thoroughly, rinse it off in the shower.[8]
- Massage your skin with an exfoliating mitt or glove for an easy solution. Exfoliating mitts and gloves are made of an abrasive material designed to slough away dead skin. Wet one of these gloves or mitts and gently run it over your fake tan in circular motions. This should break up the color deposits on your skin to fade the tan.
- Focus on hands and feet, where self tanner mistakes like streaks and blotches tend to occur.
- A fake tan can continue to develop on your skin for 3 days after it was applied.
- Avoid a streaky, uneven fake tan by exfoliating your skin beforehand.
EditThings You'll Need - Fake tan remover
- Baby oil
- Lemon juice
- Baking soda
- Whitening toothpaste
- Clean, wet cloth
- Exfoliating scrub
- Exfoliating mitt or glove
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