| How to Use Voodoo Floss Posted: 25 Mar 2019 01:00 AM PDT Voodoo floss is a compression band that you can use to increase mobility and flexibility in your body. You can also use it to prepare your body for a workout. Wrap the band at your hip to increase hip mobility and stretch your sore hips. You can also use the band on your feet and ankles to increase flexibility and prepare for a run. Using the band on your wrist, forearms, and knees can help relieve pain from working with your hands or running. EditUsing it for Hip Mobility - Start the voodoo floss just below your hip. Place the end of the floss on top of your thigh, then wrap the floss once around. You shouldn't be wrapping it as tightly as possible – use about half of the stretch/tension available in the band.[1]
- Continue wrapping the band down your thigh. Start overlapping the band as you continue to wrap it around your thigh. You should use an overlap of about . If you start to feel any tingling or pain, you're wrapping too tight.[2]
- Tuck the end of the band under the previous strip. Once you get to the end of floss, you'll need to secure it so the band doesn't come loose. Take about of the end of the band and pull it up and then tuck it under the previous strip.[3]
- Swing your flossed leg backward and forward. Use the leg that's not wrapped for balance, standing with your knee slightly bent. Then start gently swinging the leg that's wrapped from the hip. You should feel your hip extending, particularly when you swing forward. Repeat this motion for 15 to 20 reps.[4]
- Swing your flossed leg side to side. Stand so the foot of your anchor leg is slightly behind your hips. Then swing your flossed leg side to side in front of your anchor leg. Your leg should make a 30 to 45-degree angle as it swings out. Repeat this for 30 seconds.[5]
- Perform 5 to 10 squats. Stand with your legs just more than shoulder-width apart. Your feet should be pointing slightly away from center. Then squat so that your knees extend just over your feet and your butt almost touches the floor. Perform 5 to 10 squats, squatting as deeply as you can.[6]
- Perform a lateral lunge. Stand with your legs more than shoulder-width apart. Then lunge to the side of the flossed leg. Your feet shouldn't move – the lunge movement should come from your hips. Perform 5 to 10 reps.[7]
- Remove the band. You shouldn't use the voodoo floss for longer than 2 minutes at a time. Once you've finished your set, remove the band immediately.
- Repeat the exercises using the voodoo floss on your other hip. If you're looking to increase mobility in both of your hips, wrap your other hip in the floss. Then perform each of the exercises on that hip.
EditIncreasing Ankle Mobility - Start in a seated position. It's easiest to wrap your foot and ankle while you're seated. You can sit on a chair or workout bench. Then cross the leg you're wrapping over the opposite leg. You should rest your leg just above the ankle, so you can get to the ankle to wrap it.[8]
- Begin wrapping at the arch of your foot. Place the end of the floss on the top of your foot at your arch. Then wrap the floss around your foot about 3 times, slowly moving back toward your heel.
- Make sure your foot stays in a neutral position as you wrap your foot and ankle.
- Skip over your heel and begin wrapping your ankle. Once you reach your heel, let a little extra floss through your hands and begin wrapping the ankle.
- You'll need to skip your heel to make sure you still have enough range of motion to work out your ankle.
- Wrap the floss the rest of the way up your leg. Once you've wrapped your ankle, continue wrapping the floss up your calf. You should still be using about 50% tension. Once you come to the end of the floss, tuck the end under the previous strip.[9]
- Flex and rotate your ankle while seated. Once your foot is wrapped, extend your leg out so your foot is off the ground but your knee is still slightly bent. Flex your foot back and then point it forward. Then you can rotate your ankle, moving it both clockwise and counterclockwise. Flex and rotate your ankle for about 1 minute to warm up the tissue.[10]
- Perform toe raises. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Then slowly lift your heels off the ground, bearing the weight of your body on your toes. As soon as you reach the top of your range of motion, slowly lower your heels back to the ground. Then raise them off the ground again. Do this for 20 seconds.[11]
- Perform dorsiflexion. Once you've done toe raises for 20 seconds, add a dorsiflexion to the end. When you lower your heels back down, bend slightly at the knee and lower your body until your knees are just over your feet. Then raise your body back up, take the weight off your heels, and do a toe raise. Repeat this whole process for about 20 seconds.[12]
- Hop for a few seconds. Once you've flexed and stretched your ankles, hop on both feet, bringing them just off the floor. This will warm up the tissue well if you're planning on going for a run after.[13]
- Remove the band. Once you've finished your exercises, remove the band. You don't want to have it on for longer than 2 minutes at a time. If you'd like to increase mobility in both of your ankles, wrap the other ankle and repeat all of the exercises.[14]
EditFlossing Your Wrists and Forearms - Hold the band in your hand and begin wrapping your wrist. Holding the end of the band in the hand you want to wrap. Then use 50 to 75 percent tension and begin wrapping your wrist, overlapping the band slightly.
- Wrap the floss up to your elbow and then back down. Overlap the floss slightly as you wrap it up your arm from the wrist. Once you reach about from your elbow, reverse direction and start wrapping the floss back down your forearm toward your wrist.[15]
- Tuck the last strip under the previous band once you're finished.
- Swing your arm from a downward position to back behind your shoulder. Stand with your arm hanging down at your side. Then swing your arm up, curling it as you would if you were lifting a weight, until your hand touches your shoulder. Then return to the starting position and repeat the motion.[16]
- Perform a wrist extension against a wall. Extend your arm so that your palm is up and your elbow is almost completely straight. Then press your hand against a flat surface – a wall is best. Relax your wrist as you pull it away from the wall. Then repeat the motion.[17]
- Make sure your shoulder remains in a neutral position – don't push so hard that your shoulder moves.
- Perform a wrist extension against the floor. Kneel with both knees on the floor with your legs and feet extended behind you. Start with your arms extended and palms up. Then bend forward and place your palms on the floor so your fingers are pointing back toward your feet. Rock slowly back and forth on your hands and knees to extend your wrists.[18]
- You can also reverse your hands so that the top of your hands are on the floor while your fingers point back toward your feet.
EditFlossing Your Shoulders - Ask a friend to wrap your shoulder. Stand with your arm resting on a friend's shoulder. Your shoulder and arm should be in a neutral position – not extended or flexed in any way. They should place the end of the floss on the top of your shoulder, slightly down from the top joint. Wrap it once for an anchor strip, then use 50 percent tension to continue wrapping.
- You might start to feel occlusion – some pressure and tingling in your hand – that's alright for this particular wrap.
- Make sure they wrap the end under the previous strip.
- Flex and extend your arm. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, with your arm at your side and your fingers pointed toward the ground. Then raise your arm up, reaching toward the ceiling. Then swing your arm down and back, making about a 30-degree angle with your arm. Repeat this for 10 to 15 reps.
- Swing your arm across your body. Start with arm extended out to the side. Your elbow should be almost straight. Then swing your arm across your body so that it's parallel with your chest, keeping your elbow straight. Then swing your arm back out so that it's extended at your side. Repeat this movement for 15 to 20 reps.[19]
- Perform pass-throughs holding a stick or dowel. Hold a stick or dowel in front of you, so that your arms are just over shoulder-width apart. Lift the dowel up and over your head, extending your arms behind your body. Then bring the dowel back to the front. Repeat this for 15 to 20 reps.[20]
- Use a dowel to press overhead. Hold the dowel with your arms just over shoulder-width apart. Raise the dowel so you're holding it above and slightly behind your head. Then bend your elbows and bring the dowel back down until it rests against the nape of your neck.[21]
EditUsing Voodoo Floss for Knee Pain - Begin wrapping the knee below the kneecap for anterior knee pain. Anterior knee pain occurs at the front and center of the knee. Start the floss just below the kneecap. Wrap the floss around your knee, moving up toward your thigh and overlapping each band. Tuck the end into the previous band.[22]
- Begin wrapping your leg above the kneecap for lateral knee pain. Begin the floss on the outside of your leg. Then pull the floss from the outside of your knee, across your leg, and toward the inside of your thigh. Continue wrapping, working downward toward the top of your knee. Tuck the end into the previous band.[23]
- You shouldn't wrap your knee if you have lateral knee pain. The entire band should be wrapped around your leg just above your kneecap.
- Use the voodoo floss below your knee for pain under the kneecap. Start the floss on the outside of your leg, just below your kneecap. Then wrap it over the front of your leg, working toward the inside of your thigh. Overlap the floss as you wrap it, tucking the end into the previous band.[24]
- Perform 20 to 30 squats. Stand with your feet just over shoulder-width apart. Keeping your back straight, bend at the knees until they are just over your feet. Then push into the ground and raise your body back up.[25]
- Although there have not been scientific studies proving the efficacy or safety of using this tool, many people have experienced the benefits of increased mobility and reduced joint pain from using these bands appropriately and as recommended.
- If you begin to feel any pain, tingling, or occlusion in the body part you're wrapping, unwrap the floss immediately.
- If you have continual pain even after using the floss, see a doctor.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Clean an Eyelash Curler Posted: 24 Mar 2019 05:00 PM PDT You probably already know how important it is to clean your makeup brush and sponges, but it's sometimes easy to overlook the need for cleaning tools like your eyelash curler. Even the metal surfaces on your eyelash curler can harbor bacteria, which could potentially lead to an eye infection, especially if you share your curler with someone else. Luckily, cleaning your eyelash curler is super easy! Disinfect the curler once every 2 weeks or so, and wipe it down after each use to keep it clean. EditCleaning and Disinfecting the Curler - Dip a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol. The best way to disinfect beauty tools with a metal surface is with 70% isopropyl alcohol, which you can find at any drug store, dollar store, or supermarket. Saturate a cotton ball with the rubbing alcohol, then gently squeeze it to remove any excess.[1]
- If you don't have a cotton ball, use a cotton pad, paper towel, or washcloth instead.
- Avoid using tissue, as it's less sturdy and may fall apart while you're cleaning.
- Wipe the curler all over with the cotton ball. Use the cotton ball to cover every surface of the eyelash curler, including all of the metal, the handles, and the rubber pad on the inside. As you're cleaning the curler, keep rotating the cotton ball so you're always using a clean surface. If you need to, switch to a second cotton ball.[2]
- Press the cotton ball down into the hinges and joints in the curler to make sure you don't miss any spots where bacteria could be hiding.
- Rinse the alcohol away with cool running water. Although the alcohol will dry on its own, leaving no residue, it can dry out the rubber strip on the eyelash curler. To avoid this, rinse the top of the curler thoroughly under running water after you wipe it down with the alcohol, especially around the pad.
- Avoid getting water in the metal joints on the curler, as this could cause them to rust.[3]
- Dry the eyelash curler with a soft, clean towel. Once you've rinsed the alcohol off of the curler, gently pat it with a towel until it's completely dry. Turn the curler in different directions as you dry it, and try to shake out any water that might have gotten into the joints.[4]
- Allowing a metal eyelash curler to air-dry could cause it to rust.
- Try using a face towel, a washcloth, or paper towels to dry the curler.
- Remove stubborn gunk with a blowdryer and a soft cloth. If there's makeup residue or another sticky substance on your eyelash curler, alcohol alone may not be enough to remove it. In that case, hold the curler by the handles and heat it for about 30 seconds with your blowdryer. Then, when the gunk starts to soften, wipe it away with a soft cloth or even another cotton ball soaked in alcohol.[5]
- This buildup can promote the growth of bacteria, so it's important to remove it.
- Use the pointed end of an orangewood stick to get into crevices. If there is any gunk stuck inside of tight crevices of the eyelash curler, take an orangewood cuticle stick and wrap a wisp of cotton from a cotton swab around the pointed end. Then, dip the cotton in a small amount of oil, such as olive or coconut oil. Insert the pointed end of the cuticle stick into the gunky areas of the eyelash curler and work it around to clean them out.
- Repeat as needed with a new cuticle stick to clean other gunky spots.
EditKeeping the Curler Clean - Don't curl your lashes after you put on mascara. If you put on mascara before you curl your lashes, you'll coat the curler in mascara residue. Not only will this make the eyelash curler harder to clean, but it's also bad for your lashes. For best results, put on your eyeshadow and eyeliner first, if you wear them, then curl your lashes, then apply mascara.[6]
- Mascara can make your eyelashes brittle, so they're more prone to breaking if you curl them with mascara on.
- If you wear liquid eyeliner, let it dry completely before you curl your lashes.
- Wipe down the curler with eye makeup remover after each use. Even if you curl your lashes before you apply your mascara, some makeup residue might get on your eyelash curler, along with oils from your skin. To keep your curler clean, wipe it down thoroughly with a makeup remover pad or a cotton ball or tissue dipped in eye makeup remover. Make sure to wipe down all of the metal, the rubber pad, and the handles.[7]
- If you'd like, you can use baby oil instead of makeup remover.
- Replace the rubber pad every 3-6 months. Even with regular cleaning, the rubber pad on your eyelash curler can be a hiding place for bacteria. To avoid an unpleasant eye infection, replace this strip at least every 6 months, although every 3 months is ideal.[8]
- You can purchase replacement strips from a beauty supply store that carries your brand of eyelash curler, or from the manufacturer's website.
- Even if it has been less than 3 months and the pad looks cracked, replace it.
- Replacing the pad will help to reduce your risk of infection and prevent broken lashes.
EditThings You'll Need - Cotton ball
- 70% isopropyl alcohol
- Clean towel
- Water
- Eye makeup remover
- Replacement pads
- Blowdryer (optional)
- Get a new eyelash curler once every 1 to 2 years to ensure that the curler has enough tension to work properly.
- If you have a heated eyelash curler, follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning it.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Decide Whether Working at Home Is for You Posted: 24 Mar 2019 09:00 AM PDT Working from home has been said to be "the way of the future," giving employees the freedom to work in an environment that is comfortable to them. There are many advantages to working from home, including the elimination of commuting, increased flexibility with hours, and renewed focus on productivity. However, working from home isn't for everyone and requires serious consideration before you make the move to telecommuting. EditEvaluating Your Finances - Set realistic expectations regarding finances. You should sit down and go over your finances to determine whether working from home is a financially sound decision. In some cases, there will be no change in your pay if you are just doing the same job from home. If you will be taking a significant pay cut, you can make a list of ways that you could potentially change your lifestyle to fit your new budget. [1]
- Develop a budget. Once you have all of your finances set out in front of you, it may become clear that working from home is not feasible from a financial standpoint. It will be helpful to evaluate if you will have to work an additional job on top of working from home or work more hours to justify the move. Having a budget will clarify whether your life will dramatically change by working at home. [2]
- Include all of your necessary expenses such as housing, utilities, groceries, and other regular expenses.
- It may be helpful to create a spreadsheet and track your spending currently and compare that to what you will have available with your lifestyle change.
- Discuss your interest in working from home with someone who you trust. It will be helpful to take the time to sit down with someone you trust such as a spouse, friend, supervisor or mentor, to discuss your interest in working from home. You will likely need the support and understanding of your employer, family or spouse, and friends if you do decide to continue with this endeavor.
EditManaging the Workload - Create a plan to be disciplined at home. Employees who work from home can be more successful and productive than those who work in the office, if they are disciplined and stick to their work. If you slack off, you will end up paying for it in the long run, especially if you are working for a company that tracks your productivity. [3]
- Start by writing down your goals for work. Creating a list will keep you on track and motivated in a potentially distracting environment.
- Avoid distractions by downloading extensions for your web browser that block social media or other websites that are not work-related. Additionally, an app for your phone that limits time spent on distracting apps can be helpful for maintaining focus.
- Evaluate whether you're highly motivated and organized. The idea of working from home is very attractive, but it requires a lot of commitment and discipline. You have to be passionate about working from home, in addition to organized, motivated, and attentive. You can take a personal inventory and make a list of the qualities that you possess that will help you with working from home.[4]
- You might find that you have to work on being more organized by cleaning up your workspace and clearing your head.
- Additionally, you may need to put effort into communicating clearly with your office by being logged into a chat with your coworkers or keeping your phone close by for any calls that might come in.
- Speak to your boss or manager about what they are looking for in a remote employee. It is likely that you will be required to communicate about your work more often than if you were in the office. Prove to them in your work that you are motivated, trustworthy, and able to prioritize. Ensure that their idea of an ideal remote employee is the same as what you are looking to accomplish.[5]
- You might be required to change the way you communicate with your employer throughout the day, and it will be necessary to know this information as soon as possible so that you can adequately prepare.
- Determine if you're comfortable being alone. Some people find it easy to be alone, but if you are an extrovert or you enjoy being social, then the isolation that comes with working from home may not be something you can tolerate. Spend a practice day by yourself in your home, getting some work done, and see if it is something you could do over long periods of time.
EditBalancing Work and Home - Determine if you have a quiet space that you could use for working. Some people need a separate area that is dedicated solely to working, and you should consider whether that will be necessary for you. Evaluate whether or not you would be able to carve out a space just for working at your home if this is important to you. You will likely need a private and comfortable area to complete all of your necessary work during the day.[6]
- Plan a work schedule. This will help you create a normal hourly routine and take your position as seriously as you would any other job. You may have to filter your calls, tell family and friends not to disturb you when you are working, and decline invitations to be social during your established work hours. You should be firm and disciplined with your hours and act as if you are truly in the office during this time.[7]
- Ensure that you will have time to devote to activities outside of work. While it can be tempting to commit a lot of time to work, especially when working from home, leisure time is important for productivity as well. Planning to devote time to a hobby, spending time with friends, or just having time to reflect will positively affect your personal and work life.[8]
- Rate how important working from home is to your success. It will be important for you to evaluate whether working at home will help you achieve both your personal and professional goals. Try writing down a list of reasons that you want to work from home. Ask yourself if these reasons will continue to motivate you for a long period of time, and if they will help you also achieve your personal goals.[9]
EditSources and Citations
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