Recipe: Smoked Eggplant Mash, toasted croute Patty (By Chef Jolly)

Welcome back! Hope you tried your hand at making them chickpea patties, and found the taste every bit worth the time spent making them. So as promised, I am back with recipe number 2, shared by Chef Surjan Singh Jolly at the Canola Bloggers Meet. This one is called Smoked Eggplant mash, with toasted croute.

So here we go!

Portion Serves 4

Ingredients

250g eggplant (large), smoked over coal ambers

2 tbsp canola oil

1 tbsp ginger, peeled and finely chopped

2 tbsp garlic clove, finely chopped

2 red onions, peeled and finely chopped

3 tomatoes, peeled and chopped

1 sprig coriander leaf washed and finely chopped

Salt to taste

1/2 tbsp lemon juice

3-4 toasted bread strips

Method:

1. Wash the eggplant, wipe it dry and place it on a char-grill/roasting tray and roast in a pre-heated oven at 250 degree C for 20 minutes or until the eggplants bake skin on.

2. Peel the skin and wash it under running matter, if you wish you can remove the seeds inside.

3. In a pan, add canola oil and all the ingredients listed above, except for the toasted bread strips.

4. Mix it all well and cook for 3-4 minutes.

5. Check for seasoning and serve the eggplant mash a spread on toast.

6. You can also this mash as a sandwich filler.

The Canola Bloggers Meet was organised by Canola Oil in association with Blogadda. For more information about Canola, you can check this website.

Recipe: Pan-fried Chickpea Patty (By Chef Jolly)

Hi there! In my last post about Canola bloggers meet, I had promised to share two interesting quick snacks recipes shared by Chef Surjan Singh (aka Chef Jolly) and here I am with one of them. So get ready to make super-quick-to-make and super-health-to-eat Pan-fried Chickpea Patty! Yes, Chef Jolly has given an interesting twist to your regular chickpea (kabuli chana) and turned it into a patty with a difference. Cooked in canola oil, it's light on the stomach and yet very filling.

So here we go!

Ingredients:

100g chickpea (Kabuli chana), boiled soft
50g malai paneer/curd cheese
2 tbsp canola oil
1/4 tbsp caraway seeds or cumin seeds
1/4 tbsp black cardamom seeds, crushed
1 medium spiced green chilli, finely chopped
30g coriander leaves, finely chopped
2 tbsp lemon juice,
1/2 tbsp asafetida powder
Salt to taste

Chef Jolly at work

Method:

1. Coarsely blitz boiled chickpeas using a food processor and add roasted caraway, curd cheese, black cardamom seeds, green chilli, coriander leaves. Mix well.
2. Add 1 tbsp canola oil in a hot pan and temper asafetida.
3. Add the chickpeas mix and blend again with salt to taste and lemon juice for tanginess.
4. Make small balls (table tennis ball sized balls), and use the centre of the palms to flatten them.
5. In a hot, non-stick bottom pan, pour remaining canola oil to pan-fry the patties golden brown evenly on both sides and serve it hot with a side dip, relish or chutney.

Alternatively, you may glaze it with canola oil spray and oven bake it at 200 degree C for 10 minutes on each side to serve it with a tangy dip.

And here it is - ready to it!

The second recipe is coming in the next post. Stay tuned. :)
The Canola Bloggers Meet was organised by Canola Oil in association with Blogadda. For more information about Canola, you can check this website.

Canola Bloggers Meet: To Understand Canola Better

Canola, the premium priced cooking oil being market by Canada is slowly and steadily making inroads into the Indian market. While the leading chefs and decision makers from the food industry are gradually acknowledging and promoting the health benefits of this oil, average Indian family still seems sceptical about Canola's relevance in their kitchen shelves. And this is why representatives of Canola Council of Canada are travelling across potential markets to spread awareness about Canola oil and promote its exposure in different types of cooking. To this effect, they recently organised a bloggers meet where health benefits of Canola oil were discussed in great detail.

If you remember, last year Canola had tied up with renowned chef Kunal Kapoor for a Cook for Cause event, where I got to be a part of the team of bloggers who cooked for the lively kids from the NGO Katha, an NGO that works in the field of community development, child welfare, education and literature. This year, besides the informative session of Canola facts, it was popular chef Surjan Singh (aka Chef Jolly) and his interesting recipes that added the fun element to the otherwise focussed-on-facts event.

Now before delving into the finer details about health benefits of Canola oil, here's a recall of the canola oil trivia I have shared before.

• Canola Oil comes from the crushed seeds of canola plant. These seeds are tiny and resemble poppy seeds, though they are brownish-black in colour.
• Canola and rapeseed plants look similar but their oils are very different. Canadians researchers used traditional plant breeding to eliminate the undesirable components of rapeseed and created 'canola' - a contraction of Canadian and ola.
• Researchers say canola is very stable oil that doesn't break down at high temperatures, so it's ideal for sautéing, stir-frying, deep-frying and other high-heat applications.
• Its smoke point - the temperature at which it begins to smoke and degrade - is one of the highest of all cooking oils at 242 degree centigrade.

As mentioned above, the focus of this meet was spreading awareness about the health benefits of Canola oil, and Canola panel, represented by Mr. Bruce Jowett, Vice President of Marketing Development, Canola Council of Canada, Ms. Ritika Samaddar, Registered Dietician and Nutritionist and Chef Jolly.  While Mr. Jowett shared interesting insights on the latest consumer research on edible oil consumption patterns, Ms Samaddar talked about the various health and nutritional benefits of canola oil and how it helps you get fitter.

Here are some pointers that will help with a better a understanding of how canola oil works is good for health - 

• Low is saturated fats - Canola oil is slow in saturated fat. Saturated fat raises the bad LDL cholesterol in the blood and has been linked to increased risk of coronary heart diseases.
• A source of omaega-6 fat - Omega-6 must be consumed in diet and is important for the brain and for the growth and development of infants.
• High in omega-3 fat - Omega-3 fat must also be consumed in our diet, as it helps protect against heart attacks and strokes.
• High in mono-unsaturated fat - Mono-unsaturated fat may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by lowering bad LDL cholesterol in the blood and helping control blood glucose.
• Cholesterol and trans fat free - Trans fat raises bad LDL cholesterol and lowers good HDL cholesterol.

While Mr. Jowett and Ms Samaddar emphasized the health benefits of the oil, Chef jolly explained about the texture and taste of the oil, explaining how the oil adapts to most Indian cuisines and leaves no lingering smell. He also prepared two interesting snack items,which were cooked in canola oil, and also shared the recipe of the same (sharing the recipe in the next post). The event was rounded off with high tea, with a sumptuous spread of delicacies cooked in canola oil.

Chef Jolly cooking with canola oil

High tea spread cooked in Canola oil

The Canola Bloggers Meet was organised by Canola Oil in association with Blogadda. For more information about Canola, you can check this website.

Miss Claire Transparent Mascara - Review

Am not much of a make-up user. My make-up kit or rather utility kit has hardly ever gone beyond a few bare essentials - lip balms, BB creams and mascara, which I only apply off and on. For people like me, who are wary of using make up, the regular black mascara sometimes tends to get too obvious, in the sense that I would feel too made-up if I were to apply mascara every day. And that's where transparent mascara comes to my rescue. It gives the much needed boost and volume to my eyes-lashes, while staying inconspicuous. So the latest addition to my measly looking make-up kit is the Miss Claire Transparent Mascara.

Okay, so I did not buy this one on any recommendation. The cosmetic shop I bought it from had just one option - saying that this was the one that sold the most and was also used by professional make-up artists. I took his word for it. And it has every bit been worth it.

Packing and Product Details:

This one has no external packaging, just a clear plastic wrap sealing the cap of the plastic tube. Since the tube is transparent plastic, one can see the gel content inside, and make out the thickness of the gel and also the quality of the application brush. Also there is no other detail about the ingredients, as in what has gone into the making of the gel.

About the product:

Miss Claire Transparent Mascara is a clear gel mascara, with medium consistency that is neither too runny nor too thick. On application, it gives a nice even texture and is very light on the lashes and also dries out quick. Though it claims to add volume and length to the lashes, but I'd say that this claim is a bit far fetched. However it does define the lashes and makes them look glossy and distinctive. In all it's a good product to use to make your eyelashes look all groomed and glossy.

My rating - 4/5.

Wella Color Up Your Life Bloggers Meet

Wella Bloggers Meets are all about infotainment - latest information about products and services from the Wella Professionals' world seamlessly weaved into an entertaining event!  The brand's recently held bloggers meet was one such do, where Wella Professionals and Wella Expert, one of India’s best known hair stylists - Sapna Bhavnani interacted with bloggers in the Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle category and introduced the all new 'Oil Infuso Colour Service'.

Sapna highlighted how Wella Professionals newly launched ‘Oil Infuso Color Service’ provides long lasting color results and takes care of hair health. This unique service has color infused with Wella Professionals Oil Reflections to protect hair from damage. And this coming from an hair expert who herself is pretty popular for her hair colour experiments, makes sense indeed.

Wella Professional Experts

How Oil Infuso Colour Service works

Wella Professionals OIL REFLECTIONS special formula, with Vitamin E, creates a protective barrier around the hair, neutralizing free radicals and protecting against damage. During color service with Wella colors, oil nourishes hair and enhances structure. The service helps protects hair protein, locks in moisture and provides long lasting color results hence offering the desired color results while taking care of hair health.

Expert-speak

Here's what Sapna Bhavnani had to say about Wella's Oil Infuso Colour Service - “Oil Infuso Color Service is especially formulated with the power of oil that infuses color with properties to protect hair from damage. After experiencing the service myself I am confident that with this color service, you will look great, achieve long lasting results without comprising on hair health.”

Besides detailed information about this new hair colour service, the meet saw lot of photo op fun too! And with Sapna being her usual peppy self, no wonder everyone wanted to get clicked with her. Besides, there were quirky props aplenty to keep click-happy bloggers occupied with their camera! :)

Posing with the props!

To know more about Wella Professionals, you can check here. Also if you have any concerns about hair color, this old post can help you with that. Looking forward to your views. :)

Simple and Soothing Dal-Roti

If you were to go by food stereotypes, my family is the most unlikely Punjabi family one can come across. Pure vegetarians, we stay away from heavy spices as much as possible. While we have our fill our fill of rajma-chawal, kadhi-chawal and winter quintessential aaloo ke paraanthe with white butter, it's simple, non-spicy regular food that rules on the dining table. From the mundane ghiya, tinde, tori in summers to gaajar, gobhi, matar et al in winters, we all love veggies and in combination with salad, raita, chutney and achar, roti-sabzi makes for a dominant feature on our dining table.

Now since a few members of the household are regulars on the London-Delhi route, a lot of international cuisines too have been jostling for a place in the regular menu. Variety of sandwiches, fusion experimental stews, spaghetti, easy on spices enchiladas made out of a variety of tortillas...these too keep featuring regularly on the dining table.

But when it comes to dinner, nothing makes us happier than the regular dal-roti. A few days of a different menu - veggies, or pasta or spaghetti or eating out - and there would come an uniform chorus from everyone - some light dal tonight please! Right from Papa Puri to the oh-so sophisticated been-there-done-that Beta Puri, everyone would go - yeah some respite from fancy food please. Make dal tonight! Comfort food, stomach soother, call it what you will - nothing brings our family together than a simple dal-roti dinner. Moongi dhuli, moongi sabut, masoor ki dal, urad ki dal, maahi ki daal and what not - but for us kids in the family, it's always peeli daal, orange daal, green daal...and yes, kaali daal! Hahah...

This is how an almost perfectly laid out dinner looks like on our dining table - yellow moong tadka daal tempered with chopped onions and garlic paste and beautifully garnished with coriander leaves, fluffy rotis slobbered with home-made ghee, neat ringlets of onion, capsicum and tomatoes for salad and mint chutney to add some spice to the otherwise moderate meal! And ll of this ready to be washed down with diluted salted lassi! Wholesome, isn't it?

Now while this meal to me is fulfilling to say the least, my only grouse is the 'steel ke bartan' they are served in. If you would have noticed I wrote 'almost perfectly' laid our dinner, and it's these steel ke bartan - the pateelas, the dongas and the kadchis that dilute the beauty of the food, and add that 'almost' to the perfect dinner! If only all that food came served in elegant and trendy dinnerware, it would add much beauty and visual appeal to the dinner table. Something like the gorgeous  Melamine range from Borosil - comforting and delicious home-made food served in these trendy dinnerware would so compliment each other! And I am sure the dal and the chutney would look much more appealing arriving at the dinner table in smart microwavable casseroles instead of the clumsy dongas! 

Ah, looks it's time for some kitchen-ware shopping from Borosil right away - to add a huge dash of class, colour and trend to the kitchen and the dining table! So I will take your leave now. Hope you enjoyed the post, do share what your favourite food/meal is! :)

This post is a part of My Beautiful Food blogging drive by Borosil, in association with IndiBlogger.

Product Review: Aloe Veda Turmeric Clarifying Face Wash

I am not a regular product reviewer, but it was the goodness of Aloe Veda Turmeric Clarifying Face Wash that prompted me to write about it. I reckon we all use face washes - many that promise a fairer skin, many promising cleaner pores, while quite a few assuring us of reducing fine lines and wrinkles. But at first glance, Aloe Veda Turmeric Clarifying Face Wash offered nothing. An unpretentious bottle that talked about the ingredients inside.

First detail to catch my attention was Sulphate Free, for there are not many face cleansing products in India that cut out sulphate from their ingredient list. So what is so special about a product being sulphate free? Here are a few pointers-

• Sulphate is a chemical added to produce more foam/lather in the hair and skin cleansing products. Most common sulphate is Sodium Lauryl sulphate, used in shampoos, toothpastes, and other cleansers.
• Sulphate strips the skin and scalp of natural oils, which are essential for skin's health.
• They can cause skin irritation and in the long run, do more harm to skin and scalp.

Second detail on the pack was Paraben free. This term too has been in vogue of late. Here's why the tag paraben-free matters-

• Parabens are chemical preservatives used to increase the shelf life of cosmetic products.
• Lately there have been studies and reports that say parabens may be linked to breast cancer and fertility issues.
• In some studies, skin problems such as dermatitis, and skin allergic reactions have been linked to parabens.

These and some more details on the pack and I was sure that I wanted to let go off the the excessively foamy and fragrant face washes I have been using, and try something organic and frill-free for a while. And having learnt about the ill-effects of parabens and sulphates, I was keen to try this product.

Key Ingredients: Turmeric Paste, Vitamin E, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Aqua, Cocamidopropylbetaine, PEG 7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerine, Polyquaternium 7, Decyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate

Product Description on Bottle: This clarifying sulphate-free formula contains turmeric paste and turmeric oil that controls acne blemishes, blackheads, dark spots and hyper pigmentation. The Aloe Vera nourishes the pores, removes toxins, and cleans make-up without stripping the skin's natural oils and moisture content.

My Take:  I have used this face wash for a month now, and it has really helped clear out blemishes and has evened out my skin tone, thanks to the abundant turmeric extract in it. I have a combination skin, and it cleanses the skin really well, neither drying it nor leaving it oily. Moreover since it's chemical free, I feel reassured that there's no side effect on the sly happening. Again, because of absence of sulphate, it's not very foamy but lathers well.

Pros of the product:
- Chemical free formula

- Non-foaming, so washes off easily
- Spill-free packaging
- Easy on the wallet - 100ml bottle for Rs. 160
- Shelf life of 2 years

Cons of the product:

No con really, but it has no artificially added fragrance and smells strongly of turmeric.

Note: Some skin types may be allergic to certain natural ingredients. So it's always advisable to do a patch test before using the product.

Split Ends Free TRESemme Tresses!

I HAD never much cared about shampoos for quite a few years of my life. Thanks to my close cropped hair, details like this ABC shampoo was good for curly hair, or this XYZ  would turn a mass of rough hair into something that even Rapunzel could get envious of - did not concern me at all.  So long as it cleansed my hair good, ANY shampoo was good for me. 

But then just a few months ago, a severe attack of boredom made sure that I abandon my (now)old indifferent hairstyle and opt for something new, something different. AND So, I started growing my hair long, to escape the monotony of twiddling my fingers when it came to big and small chit-chats with friends about this hairstyle and that, this awesome shampoo and that! The boring close crop HAD to go!

But you know how it is, trying to grow back your hair after keeping them really short for a quite a long time. So while the monotony of short hair gradually withered away, I was left with some perennial hair woes - rough hair, stubborn frizz and yes, SPLIT ENDS! It did not take me long to realise that for those dealing with hair woes on a regular basis, happiness is something else! 

So, it was no long that the perennial hair woes had me too discussing sundry shampoos and the miracle they promised to work on different hair textures! And needless to add, details like ABC shampoo is good for curly hair, or this XYZ  turns rough hair into something that even Rapunzel could get envious of - now concerns me big time! And talking of hair woes while there are a few shampoos that promise healthy and and lustrous hair, there are not many that assure you of 'split end free' hair! Yes, and this was why TRESemmé's SPLIT REMEDY range of shampoo and conditioner got me all curious and excited! 

Thanks TRESemmé India for the lovely hamper

TRESemmé, the international hair care brand is on Mission Beautiful Hair, turning every hair woes stricken lady into gorgeous ramp ready Rapunzel! While their different shampoos and hair strengthening conditioners are taking care of the tricky tresses, their stylists are enlightening pretty young things about the various ramp ready hairstyles! Not long ago, (the times when I was indifferent to the fancy world of niche shampoos) a few of my friends had become fans of TRESemmé, all thanks to their collection of products suited for different hair types and hair problems. There’s Keratin Smooth Shampoo & Conditioner for frizz-free hair, then there's a whole range of Smooth & Shine products for rough and dry hair. And for those who have issues with humidity and windy weather playing spoilsport with their hair, they can opt for Climate Control range of products. And the pretty young things stricken by the hair fall problem should definitely try Hair Fall Defense range of products, which has, besides a special shampoo and conditioner, an anti-breakage treatment masque to nourish the damaged areas. And coming to the hair issue I was plagued with - split ends - and lo and behold, this magic potion from TRESemmé was here to tackle that!

Scissor-free solution to split ends

This beautiful TRESemmé Split Remedy Shampoo and Conditioner combination has won many a sceptical hearts and its goodness is being lauded by those perennially woebegone about their otherwise gorgeous hair's split end issues. Why, even I was one of them till about a month ago - worrying about my hair woes. But I must say that it was a pleasant surprise to see my hair look smoother and of course healthier.

And for this I had TRESemmé Split Remedy to thank, for it’s not often that one gets to experience the pleasure of professional hair care in the comforts of one’s own home, without having to step out to visit a salon! With lesser split ends, my hair looks smoother and I can wear it loose for as long as I want. Moreover, with this magical solution on my side, I no longer need to worry  about my hair suffering wear and tear at the beach or in fact any where outdoors!  I can be out for as long as I want, come back home and use  my magic hair potion and voilà post shampooing and conditioning my hair feels as  gorgeous and shinier as ever! One look at them I feel re-assured that split-end woes and bad hair days are now a thing of the past.

So friends, if you like me of yore, are indifferent to niche shampoos, or are still stuck with the thought that there's no solution to split ends besides regular visits to the salon, rest assured that there indeed is a 'scissorfree solution to split ends! :)
And yes, how about this for a parting shot? ;)

The sample for this product review was sponsored by TRESemmé India in association with IndiBlogger.

My Recharged Hair, Courtesy - Sunsilk Natural Recharge Shampoo & Conditioner

In my post about  why I wanted recharged hair, I had  ranted about how dull and lacklustre my hair was. So much so that I often had to resort to hiding them under scarves and caps and hoodies.  But then I had also hinted that my bad hair days were soon going to a thing of the past for I had just stumbled upon this awesome shampoo and conditioner combo that offered full-proof solution to all my hair woes!

And for all you who were left wondering about what that magic potion is....here it is!

This beautiful Sunsilk Natural Shampoo and Conditioner hamper has won many a sceptical hearts. But then more than the ribbons and leaves and beautiful packaging, its the goodness of the shampoo and conditioner that is being lauded by those perennially woebegone about their messy hair issues. Why, even I was one of them till about a month ago - worrying about my hair woes. And I must say that it was a pleasant surprise to see my hair look good not just in air-conditioned rooms but also stand strong against the  wear and tear at the beach - sun, sand and salt - and still going strong!

So what it is that works for Sunsilk Natural Recharge range? Here are a few pointers -

What works for Sunsilk Natural Recharge

• Sunsilk Natural Recharge Shampoo is infused with Ginseng plant root and oil that strengthen and nourish the hair.
  Ginseng is a herbal plant that is believed to restore and enhance normal well being and is currently one of the most widely bought herbal supplement.
• The shampoo and conditioner have been co-created with Jamal Hammadi, who's an expert in natural ingredients.
• A big plus - this one is Parabens-free. So you don't have to worry about chemicals ruining your hair and health.
• The fragrance of both the shampoo and the conditioner is pretty mild and soothing, so you if you have an aversion for shampoos with strong overwhelming fragrance, this one's another winner for you.
• I have frizz-prone hair, and was happy to see the conditioned controlling the frizz factor.
• The shampoo and conditioner combo are both pocket friendly. The 80ml pack of both the shampoo and the conditioner costs Rs. 60, while the 180ml pack of both is for Rs. 132.

Check check - Reality Check

And now time for some reality check too! My hair have taken well to Sunsilk Natural Recharge shampoo and conditioner, but then I will be frank in acknowledging that some of its claims have gone a bit overboard. 

• The shampoo claims of thicker, fuller and 5 times stronger hair, but well, am yet to see this kind of result. My hair feels healthier, yes, but 5 times stronger? No.
• If you have dandruff prone hair, then this on is not going to be of much help. It will clean your hair al-right, but dandruff issues will persist.
• Again this shampoo is no remedy for hair fall issues.

So that's about it with the reality check, not much to bog us down, isn't it? Plus the pros far over-weigh the cons. I have been using this shampoo & conditioner combo for over a month now, and I am really satisfied with the results.  I can go swimming, go trek in the sun and in general be outdoors this summer without worrying about my hair looking dull and dry.  If I am confident about my hair looking healthy and happy today, I have Sunsilk Natural Recharge to thank. :) 

This review has been written for a blogging drive organised on IndiBlogger, in association with Sunsilk.

#DovePlay: Befriending My Hair

This beautiful song from Dove got me dreaming. Dreaming about lustrous long hair. Lustrous long hair that cascades over my shoulders. Cascades over shoulders and does not get tangled and messy. Oh see, the train of thoughts. Ah, wishful thinking. 

Then there are Rekha's two beautiful braids! They too keep making an appearance off and on. Sigh!
What? You don't know the story of the braids? Did I never tell you all how infinitely jealous I was of Rekha's awesome long braids in the movie Khoobsurat! Every time I come across the movie, besides the beautiful songs, it is just her hair styles that attract all my attention. And in the movie, more often than not, she is shown sporting this same braided hairstyle.

Miss Goody-Two-Braids

As a school girl I so longed to have long hair - long hair tied up in two beautiful braids, with red satins ribbons adorning them. I so longed to play with them, shifting them across the shoulders, making false moustaches with them or just playfully toying with them absent-mindedly.  Too bad that my mother thought short hair were easier to look after and were less coming consuming when one had to get ready for school - one hurried swoosh of the comb and you were done. All my pleading to let me grow my hair would fall on deaf ears and a quick trip to the hair salon once a month would ensure that I had my hair neatly chopped and all in place, like a good school girl. 

And then that short hair so became me that I took it in my stride - my cropped hair style, or rather the lack of it. But then off and on, the deep desire to have lustrous long hair stirs around in some deep dark corner of both mind and heart and tries its best to make its presence felt. More so when I see women with beautiful hair flaunting their crowning glories, playing with them - so confident, so proud.

It is then again that the wishful thinking makes a comeback. I say wishful thinking for lustrous long hair cascading over my shoulders is a distant dream for now. I had really short hair till about a few months ago, and its only now that they have started to touch my shoulders. Despite my best efforts at growing them long and strong, the results, I must confess, have been far from satisfactory. The hair seems to be growing at snail's pace and that too sans any cheer - they look dull and drab, lacklustre to be more precise.

They are far far off from the  dreams I have had about them. But then this playful melodious song from Dove has now got me all motivated. May be redemption is near, and may be my hair will live and grow - and grow beautiful and healthy at that. So that one day I will tie them in two beautiful braids, adorn them with satin ribbons and will play with them - shifting them across my shoulders, making false moustaches and what not. :)

This post is written for the Dove Go Play blogging drive on Indiblogger, in association with Dove.
Photo Credits: www.youngistan.in, unboxedwriters.com

Time to Recharge My Hair, Recharge My Life!

I absolutely love flying kites and guess what, I have been faring quite okay till now! However the only glitch in this smooth sailing is my unruly hair! When out there on my super breezy terrace, I can either keep my unruly hair in control or fly the kites with gay abundance. Both of them DO NOT go together! You see... my hair have a mind of their own. Chance or no chance, they try and defy gravity and are always on the lookout for opportunities to be on their own and fly around in different directions. So my only option so far has been to bundle them together in a rubber band, pin up the loose strands and then put on a cap to keep them all in place, and of course in control too! Too bad, this effort makes me look more like a stuck-up woman on a mission, rather than a girl having fun flying kites.

Sigh! 

Before I amuse you more with my scary-hairy stories, let me start from the start - the school days when I was not allowed to cut my hair, and still they refused to grow the way I wanted them to grow! Wonder if there was some conspiracy theory at work! Anyways, so the moment I was independent enough to take my own decisions (read - what clothes to wear, what hairstyle to keep) the first thing I did was to get my hair sorted! Yes, I opted for a no-nonsense, easy to manage cropped cut. And the hairstyle remained so for a really long time. 

But now, after almost 5 years of really short hair, when boredom has finally set in, I have decided to give my hair a chance again! But looks like they still don't actually deserve a chance. I pin them hard, lest the loose strands rebel and incite the pinned crowd too! Time and again, I hide them under scarves and caps! 

And in all these hair woes, its my travel photos that go all awry! Random non-posy photos are a strict no-no, for I wouldn't know which different directions my hair would have decided to turn to, making me look more like a frenzied traveller than a happy tourist! On the other hand, the posy photos are boring, for they look all made up! Imagine - Every single hair in place! How so? Thanks to the many pins! And if they fail, there's always a cap, a scarf or your jacket hoodie to take care of things!

Dull hair under the hood please!

Needless to say all these shenanigans to tackle my perennial bad hair days, take quite a heavy toll on my routine! Pack the hair, unpack the hair, plot about keeping them in place, worry about their dullness, worry why they are not shiny enough despite the fancy shampoos and spas, and last but not the least worry about how to hide them in more fashionable ways!

Too much of worrying, isn't it! And this is why I want to recharge my hair!

Let them be so smooth, shiny and recharged that I never ever wish to hide them under caps and scarves!
Let them be so beautiful and recharged that I never ever have to dig into my handbag to sort them out right before a random photo shoot!
Let them be so recharged that the next time I go on a holiday I spend more time frolicking in the pool than worrying about chlorine's ill effects on my hair!
Let them be so bright and beautiful that I remain ever ready for all the fancy parties and get-togethers that my friends organize, that too right after office hours!
Let them be so recharged that all my photos look naturally beautiful!
Let them be so happy and recharged that I remain ever ready to face any camera pointing my way! Yay! 

And now it looks like my bad hair days are soon going to be history, for I have just stumbled upon this awesome website that offers solutions to all our hair woes! And from what I see, this site has all the magic potions to recharge and rejuvenate all kinds of lacklustre hair! And if the magic works, it is sure going to recharge my life too! 

All new Sunsilk hair coming soon!

This post has been written for 'Recharge your hair, recharge your life' blogging drive sponsored by Sunsilk, in association with IndiBlogger.