| How to Make Your Leather Jacket Softer Posted: 01 Oct 2020 01:00 AM PDT Leather jackets look and feel great, and they can bring your outfit together in any season. Unfortunately, leather tends to stiffen up over time, especially if you don't wear your jacket very often. Luckily, this is completely normal, and there are plenty of things you can do to fix that. In many cases, just wearing the jacket loosens it up. If this doesn't work, then try a few steps to soften and condition the jacket so it feels brand new again!
[Edit]Breaking In Your Jacket - Wear your jacket to loosen it up. This might sound too simple to be true, but it's not! Leather can get stiff if it's stored away for a long time. Wearing the jacket regularly might be all you need to soften it up a bit, so take it out once in a while to break it in.[1]
- Try to move around a bit while you're wearing your jacket. Bend your elbows, raise your arms, twist back and forth, and do some other motions to soften up the leather.
- There's no firm rule on how often you should wear your jacket to soften it. Every few weeks is a good goal.
- Crumple and roll around your jacket a little. Roughing up your jacket a little can help a too. Try rolling it in a ball, tossing it around, and bending it back and forth. This can work out stiffness and make your jacket more comfortable to wear.[2]
- Wear your jacket for a while after softening it up so it forms to your body.
- Wet your jacket to soften it. This might sound weird, but water actually helps soften leather. If you have to go out and it's raining lightly, wear your jacket and let it get wet. If you live in a dry area, or just don't feel like walking around in the rain, you could get similar results with a spritz bottle. Lightly spray the jacket to moisten it. The leather will soften and contour to your body better.[3]
- This is only meant for light rain, not a heavy storm. If you do go out in heavy rain, remember to dry the jacket before putting it away.
- You can also condition your jacket by wearing it out in all kinds of different weather, like snow or sun. All these different conditions will give your jacket a cool, worn look.[4]
- Move your arms around to help the wet jacket mold to you. While the jacket is wet, this is the perfect time to break it in a little. Move your arms, bend your elbows, twist around, wave, and make any other normal arm motions. As the jacket dries, it'll naturally form around these movements, and should be less stiff in the future.[5]
- Keep the jacket on until it dries. Whether you took your jacket out in the rain or spritzed it with a spray bottle, put it on and leave it on until it dries. This way, it'll mold to your body while it's soft.[6]
- If you got soaked in heavier rain than you expected, you can wipe the jacket down a little so you don't get too wet.
- Wipe the jacket with a dry cloth to get rid of excess water. Even if you wear the jacket until it's dry, there could still be some water droplets hiding. While some moisture is good for softening leather, storing your jacket while it's still wet is bad for it. Always wipe the jacket down with a dry cloth or towel to get rid of any excess moisture before putting it away.[7]
- You might always want to hang your jacket to dry completely before putting it away if you got soaked in the rain.
- Always dry your jacket at room temperature. Don't use a heat source like a radiator, or you could make it stiffen again.
[Edit]Conditioning the Jacket - Clean your jacket before any conditioning treatments. No matter what conditioning you use, you don't want any dust or dirt on the surface of the jacket.[8] You can wipe the jacket down with water and a mild detergent, or use a specialized leather cleaner. Either way, always clean the jacket before conditioning it.
- Remember to dry the jacket as well. Wipe it off with a towel and hang it to dry at room temperature.
- If you aren't sure how to clean your jacket, then it's best to bring it to a dry-cleaner to take care of.
- Apply a specialized leather conditioner to your jacket. Pour a bit of conditioner onto a clean rag and rub the conditioner into your jacket. Make sure you don't miss any spots.[9] When you're done, hang it up to dry. After a good conditioning, it should be nice and soft again.
- Instead of storing the jacket, you could also wear it right after. This will help it contour to your shape while it's soft.
- In general, a conditioning treatment will last about 6-12 months. You might have to reapply it once or twice a year to keep your jacket soft.[10]
- Try castor oil for a cheaper solution. Instead of leather conditioner, castor oil can also work to soften leather. Pour some oil onto a clean sponge and wipe it all over the jacket. Leave the jacket for a few hours and let the oil soak in, then store it away normally.[11]
- You can get castor oil at most pharmacies.
- If the jacket is still too stiff, you can do this treatment more than once.
- Rub petroleum jelly onto the jacket for another option. This can also help soften your leather jacket. Rub a small amount of petroleum jelly onto the jacket and let it soak in for a few hours. When you're done, you can store the jacket normally.[12]
- If there is still jelly left on the jacket, you can wipe it off before putting it away.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Breaking In Your Jacket - Water
- Spritz bottle
- Hanger
[Edit]Conditioning the Jacket - Clean rag
- Leather conditioner
- Castor oil
- Petroleum jelly
- Store your jacket away from heat. Heat can shrink your jacket and make it stiff.[13]
- Always hang your jacket from a wide, broad-shouldered hanger. Thin hangers can stretch out the material.
- Never fold your jacket when you store it. The creases can be permanent.
- Avoid covering your jacket with plastic. While you might think you're protecting your jacket with plastic covering, plastic dries out leather, so your jacket will be stiff and brittle the next time you take it out. If you want to protect your jacket, cover it with linen or cotton instead.[14]
- If you don't like stiff leather jackets, then you could also get a softer type of leather. Lambskin, for example, is softer and won't stiffen up as much.[15]
[Edit]Warnings - If you're using any type of conditioner, always test it on the leather before rubbing it all over the jacket. Dab a little bit on a small, hidden spot and leave it there for 24 hours. Make sure the leather isn't discolored, then you can use the conditioner.[16]
- Some websites recommend using coconut oil as a conditioner, but results are mixed. Manufacturers warn that this can leave a sticky or slippery film on the leather. You probably want to skip this one.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Stop Your Nails from Peeling Posted: 30 Sep 2020 05:00 PM PDT Whether your peeling nails were caused by washing your hands too often, exposing your nails to chemicals, or the general wear-and-tear of polish and manicures, they can make you feel self-conscious. Luckily, there are a few simple things you can start doing to help heal your nails and prevent peeling in the future. Take a break from painting your nails or getting manicures for a while and focus on rehydrating your nail beds with oils and lotions. Take preventative measures, like wearing gloves when you clean, using things like letter-openers to open packages instead of your fingernails, and taking a supplement to help strengthen your nails. [Edit]Treating Peeling Nails - Remove nail polish with an acetone-free nail polish remover. If you've noticed that your nails have been peeling, it's time to take a few weeks to help them heal before you apply more polish. In the meantime, get an acetone-free nail polish remover from your drugstore (acetone dries out your cuticles so it's best to avoid it), and use it to remove any polish currently on your nails.[1]
- Don't peel or chip nail polish. Doing so is really hard on your nails, and the act of peeling or chipping often strips away a layer of nail.
- Use cotton balls or swabs to apply the nail polish remover. Rub each nail gently until the polish comes off.
- If you currently have a gel or shellac manicure, you'll need to use acetone-based remover to get the polish off this time.
- Always follow up with a moisturizer after you remove nail polish. Even an acetone-free nail polish remover can dry out your nails.
- Trim your nails after showering to prevent them from splitting. In order to help your nails heal, you'll want to keep them short for a few weeks. After you shower, use a pair of nail clippers to trim your nails so that their edges are about even with the tips of your fingers. Repeat this once per week until your nails have stopped peeling.[2]
- Your nails will be softer after you take a hot shower or bath, making it the best time to clip them to keep them from breaking more.
- Make sure to use clean nail clippers. You can disinfect them before each use by washing them in warm water and dish detergent.
- File your nails into a rounded shape to keep them from snagging. Position a nail file so that it's parallel to the side of your nail, and then move the file from the side toward the center. From the center, move the file down across the opposite side. Always file in the same direction (don't saw back and forth—that increases the chances of your nails breaking or peeling more). Keep filing until you've shaped your nail into a round shape, rather than square.[3]
- Always file your nails after cutting them to get rid of any rough edges.
- Use a fine grit nail file to create a smooth surface on your nail. If you also want to reduce the length of your nails, use a rougher grit to file down your nail before smoothing it out with a fine grit nail file.
- Massage a |moisturizing oil into your nails and cuticles every day. There are lots of options for oil treatments—you can buy a special nail and cuticle oil from the beauty supply store, or you can use natural oils that you may already have at home, like olive oil, coconut oil, or argan oil. Use an eyedropper to put 1 drop of oil onto each nail, then massage it into your nail bed.[4]
- The oil will moisturize your nails, which will make them less likely to peel.
- Apply hand moisturizer regularly to rehydrate your damaged nails. While you're working on treating your peeling nails, remember to keep your hands and nails hydrated. Use a moisturizing cream multiple times a day, especially after you've washed your hands.[5]
- Start carrying lotion with you throughout the day so you can keep your nails moisturized even when you're on-the-go.
- Take a break from regular polish, acrylic tips, and gel manicures. You may be tempted to cover up your peeling nails with a fresh coat of polish, or maybe you just love doing your nails or getting them done at a salon. But take 2 to 3 weeks off from applying any kind of polish to your nails. Your nails need time to hydrate and heal, and polishes, tips, and gel manicures will slow down the healing process and potentially damage your nails more.[6]
- Once you do resume painting your nails again, remember to not peel away old polish.
[Edit]Taking Preventative Measures - Wear gloves to protect your nails when you clean and do chores. Too much water on your nails can dry them out, as can cleaning chemicals. The next time you wash dishes or clean your house, put on a pair of rubber gloves before you get started.[7]
- This isn't just good for your nails—wearing rubber gloves also protects your hands from getting excessively dried out or irritated from cleaning products.
- Dry your hands completely any time they get wet. Although you might associate water with staying hydrated, it can actually deplete the moisture from your nails and skin. Don't let the water sit on your skin. Whenever you wash your hands or otherwise get them wet, use a clean towel to completely dry them off.
- Apply moisturizer afterwards to keep your hands and nails moist.
- Use something other than your nails to open packages. Don't scrape at labels, tape, or stickers, and avoid using your nails to open boxes, letters, and packages. Instead, use a letter-opener, box-cutter, or a pair of scissors to open packages.[8]
- Even opening soda cans with your nails can be harmful. Use your finger, a coin, or something else instead of your actual nail whenever you can.
- Resist chipping or peeling away your nail polish. When you do wear nail polish, don't peel or chip at old polish. Even if you notice it has started flaking off, resist the temptation to pull it away. This often peels off a layer of your nail as well as the polish. Instead, use an acetone-free remover to gently rub away old nail polish.[9]
- Especially if you have a shellac or gel manicure, you really don't want to peel it off. It can take months for your nails to recover from that kind of damage.
- Start taking a supplement like biotin, iron, or zinc. Biotin can make your nails stronger (and it also can be really great for hair growth), zinc may help if your nails have discolored areas, and iron can thicken nails that are on the thin side. Pick out one supplement to add to your daily regimen and stick with it for 3 to 4 months to see how your body responds.[10]
- You can also supplement your diet by eating more iron-rich foods, like spinach, legumes, red meat, and pumpkin seeds.
- Avoid over-buffing your nails while doing your nail-care routine. Buffing can remove layers of your nails, wipe away essential healthy oils, and possibly even catch on peeling sections. If and when you do buff your nails, buff each nail with only 6 to 8 strokes, and avoid pressing down hard on your nails.[11]
- Buffing can shape your nails and make them shiny, but if you're having trouble with peeling, you may want to skip this step for a few months until your nails are in better shape.
- Give your hands and nails some extra TLC after doing any kind of activity that is hard on them, like rock climbing, gardening, or painting.
- If your toenails are peeling, you can use the same methods to treat them and prevent additional peeling.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Treating Peeling Nails - Acetone-free nail polish remover
- Cotton balls
- Nail clippers
- Nail file
- Cuticle oil, or something similar
- Eyedropper
- Hand lotion
[Edit]Taking Preventative Measures - Gloves for cleaning
- Letter-opener or box-cutter
- Supplements like iron, zinc, or biotin (optional)
[Edit]References |
| How to Do Ballet at Home Posted: 30 Sep 2020 09:00 AM PDT Ballet is a beautiful art form to use for self expression or to stay fit. While taking a dance class is the best way to learn ballet, you can do basic ballet moves at home if you can't take classes or if you just want extra practice. Before you dance, warm up and stretch so your body is ready. Then, learn the 5 positions in ballet and practice basic ballet moves until you master them. When you're ready, build on your technique by following tutorials, doing video lessons, or attending a class. [Edit]Warming Up and Stretching - Choose a room that has space for you to move around. Make sure you have room to bend, leap, and move across the floor without bumping into anything. Remove any items that might impede your movement, like a coffee table or items on the floor. If your room doesn't have a ballet barre, use the back of a sturdy chair for support when you need it.[1]
- Cover the floor with a mat or rug if it's a hard surface. Don't do ballet on hard surfaces like concrete unless you put down a mat. Jumping on a hard floor can damage your joints, including your knees. Use an exercise mat or rug to cover hard flooring. Alternatively, do ballet in a room that's carpeted.[2]
- You can find rubber mats that are made for ballet online.
- Warm up your body by doing 5 minutes of low-impact cardio. Your muscles need to be warm before you do ballet to help you avoid injury. To quickly warm up, walk or jog in place for about 5 minutes. If you like, finish your warm-up with a series of squats, lunges, and jumping jacks.[3]
- Make sure you warm up before you stretch because stretching cold muscles increases your risk of injury.
- Stretch your muscles after you're warmed up. Once your body's warmed up, stretch your muscles so they're ready for your ballet moves. Here are some stretches to try:[4]
- Do a forward bend: Stand up straight with your feet together and your toes pointing forward. Hinge forward at your waist and reach down to the floor. Go down as far as you can and try to touch the floor. Hold for 30 seconds.
- Do a wide-leg stretch: Sit on the floor and spread your legs out in a "V." Point your toes up into the air. Lean forward and reach between your legs as far as you can. Hold for 30 seconds.
- Stretch your quads: Your quads are the front of your thighs. Stand up straight with your legs together and hold onto a chair for support. Lift 1 leg behind you and grasp the top of your foot with your hand. Pull your foot into your butt. Hold for 30 seconds, then switch legs.
[Edit]Practicing the 5 Positions in Ballet - Start with first position because it's the easiest. Stand up straight with your legs together and your heels touching. Turn your toes so they point outwards in a "V." Then, lift your arms in front of you to make an oval. Your fingers shouldn't be touching.[5]
- Point your toes out as far as you can. At first, you might only be able to make a narrow "V." However, you'll become more flexible over time and may eventually be able to turn your toes all the way out.
- Do second position to add more ballet moves. Stand tall with your legs spread slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Point your toes outward away from your body. Spread your arms out at your sides, keeping them rounded and at about shoulder height.[6]
- Like with first position, only turn your toes out as far as you comfortably can.
- Try third position to help you gain experience. Stand up straight and cross your right leg over your left with the heel of your right foot in front of your left arch. Then, curve your right arm in toward your body while keeping your left arm out to the side. Alternatively, cross your left leg over your right and curve in your left arm.[7]
- You can do third position with either your right arm and leg or your left arm and leg.
- You might put your arms into third position as you perform leaps and jumps.
- Add fourth position when you're flexible enough to do it comfortably. For an open 4th position, place 1 foot in front of the other with your heels aligned and your toes pointed out. Lift the corresponding arm over your head with your arm curved. For a closed 4th position, cross 1 leg over the other and align your front heel with your back toes. Then, lift your arm over your head, keeping your arm curved.[8]
- Sometimes you may put your arms into fourth position during leaps and jumps.
- Perform 5th position when you're ready to advance your technique. Place 1 foot in front of the other with your toes pointed out. Close your feet together with your front toe in line with your back heel and your back heel in line with your front heel. Then, lift your arms gracefully over your head, keeping them curved. This position is difficult so don't attempt it until you're flexible enough to do it.[9]
- Like with the other positions, you may do leaps and jumps with your arms in 5th position. It's okay to put your arms in 5th position when you're just a beginner. It's the footwork that's challenging.
[Edit]Doing Beginner Ballet Moves - Do demi pliés in first position. Get into first position by standing with your legs together and your toes pointed out. Lift your arms out in front of you and form them into an oval. Bend your knees and slowly lower your body down toward the ground, keeping your heels flat on the floor. Squeeze your muscles in as you come back up. This is called a demi plié.[10]
- Pliés are pronounced as Plea-AE.
- You can hold onto a ballet barre or the back of a chair for support if you need it.
- After you can do a demi plié, move on to the grande pliés. It's the same move, except that you lift your heels off the floor.
- This is similar to a squat but you have your heels together and your toes pointed out.
- Do tendues in first position. Stand up tall with your heels together and your toes pointed out. Push your foot against the floor as you slide it out to the front, side, or back. Lift your heel to point your toe. Then, slowly lower your foot from the point down to the floor and drag your foot across the floor back to first position.[11]
- Tendues are pronounced Ton-DUE.
- After you master the first position, try tendues in the other positions.
- You can use a tendue to transition from first to second position. Do a tendue to the side, then lower your foot to the floor instead of bringing it back in.
- Perform releves in first position. Stand tall with your heels together and your toes pointed out. Slowly lift your heels off the ground as high as you can. Pause for 2-3 seconds, then slowly lower your heels back to the floor.[12]
- Releve is pronounced "rel uh VEY."
- After you master releves in first position, try them in the other positions, as well.
- Perform sautés when you're ready for a basic jump. Do a demi plié in first position with your core engaged and your upper body lifted. Then, spring off the ground and land in a demi plié. As you jump, lift your feet up heel to toe, then land by putting your feet down toe to heel.[13]
- Typically, you'll do sets of 4, 6, or 8 sautés. Pay attention to your form so that each sauté is performed correctly.[14]
- Once you master this, practice doing it in second position.
- Do an échappé to shift from first to second position. Start in first position with your heels together, your toes pointed out, and your arms curved into an oval out in front of you. Do a demi plié, then leap off of the floor in a sauté. Open your legs and land in second position with your legs spread slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and your arms spread out at your sides.[15]
- An échappé is pronounced A-sha-PAY.
- Do several jumps shifting from first to second, then second to first.
- You can also do an échappé to shift from fifth to second position.
- Perform grand jetés to add leaps. Grand jetés are leaps where you extend 1 leg in front of your body and 1 leg behind your body. Place your arms in fourth or fifth position. Take a small hop forward with 1 leg, then leap into the air to do your grand jeté. Split your legs and extend them out straight with your toes pointed.[16]
- Jeté is pronounced Zha-TAE.
- Jump as high as you can without overexerting your body or bending your knees. With practice, you'll be able to jump higher and spread your legs further.
- Try grand battements to incorporate kicks. A grand battement is a kick with a pointed toe and straight leg, which you can do to the front, side, or back. Put your arms in second position. Brush your foot across the floor, then lift it up into a kick. Lift your kick up as high as you can, pointing your toe. Keep your standing leg straight as you kick.[17]
- Grand battement is pronounced GROND Bot-MAH.
- When you're doing a grand battement to the back, lean forward slightly but don't bend at your waist.
- Try to lift your leg at least 90 degrees off the ground, but don't push yourself further than your range of motion can go. As you practice, you'll be able to lift your leg further off the ground.
- You can do grand battements with your arms in other positions as you get better at ballet.
[Edit]Advancing Your Technique - Watch ballet tutorials online using sites like YouTube. If you can't afford lessons, video tutorials are a great alternative. While they're not as helpful as learning from a teacher, tutorials can teach you basic ballet if you practice several days a week. Look for tutorials for moves you want to try, then follow along carefully.[18]
- Subscribe to ballet channels that you find helpful.
- Keep in mind that you'll likely need lessons if you're wanting to become an advanced dancer. However, video tutorials are a great way to start and can help you enjoy ballet as a hobby.
- Follow along with a video lesson. Video lessons are available on DVD or streaming sites. These lessons are taught by professional teachers, so they can teach you advanced moves. It won't be the same as working one-on-one with an instructor, but these lessons will help you develop your dancing technique.[19]
- Look for video workouts online. Watch a preview of the workout before you buy it to see if you can follow the instruction.
- Pick a video that's at your level. If you're a beginner, look for a step-by-step video to help you learn.
- Take classes in person for personalized instruction. Attending classes with an instructor allows you to get feedback on your form so you can make improvements. Additionally, you'll learn ballet faster and safely proceed to more advanced moves. Attending classes will also give you the opportunity to learn choreography and perform in front of an audience. Look for classes in your area by searching online.[20]
- If you've been practicing at home and can't afford classes, ask the school if they have a scholarship or internship program. You may be able to earn a scholarship if you show talent and dedication, or you might be able to get a class discount if you help out around the studio.
- Listen to your body and respect its limits. It's okay if you can't jump high or point your toes all the way out. You'll get better with practice!
- Get someone who is experienced and good at ballet to watch you. They can give you feedback on how to improve.
- Ballet at home can be suitable for dancers who are only looking for basic technique, but it can't make up for real classes. Having a teacher to correct you is crucial if you're planning on getting serious about dance.
- Start with the basics and work your way up to advanced dance moves.
- Ballet takes years to master, so be patient and enjoy the process. You'll get better each time you practice, so keep going!
- Ballet takes time and practice! If you want to get good at it, you should practice daily.
[Edit]Warnings - Don't try to dance pointe unless you're working with an instructor. You can injure yourself if you try it on your own.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário