Monday, January 31, 2011

How to lose belly fat ?



Excess belly fat can make a girl feel bad about herself, especially when she is constantly bombarded with images of the "perfect" thin, flat-stomached young woman. Girls who want to lose belly fat should be applauded for their decision to make healthier choices, but should also understand that a celebrity body is probably not healthy or realistic. If you are a girl who has unwanted belly fat or the parent of one, remember that a balanced diet, an exercise regimen and lots of support from loved ones are the best ways to lose weight.


Establish a Routine




  • 1
    Build a support system. Losing weight all by yourself is difficult. Share your plans with your parents and close friends. Ask your parents and friends to exercise with you to help you stay on track and to help you plan meals. Parents are especially important in this regard, because they buy the groceries and usually cook the meals.












  • 2
    Participate in meal planning and grocery shopping. The more control you feel you have over what you eat, the more successful you'll be.












  • 3
    Try new foods. Keep the weight-loss experience interesting by learning to cook and trying healthy new foods and recipes












  • 4
    Establish an exercise routine. But don't get discouraged just because you aren't running 10 miles a day right off the bat. Start by making small, reasonable, reachable goals and doing your best to meet them. Try walking short distances that you would normally drive, or even agreeing to walk the dog every day. Once you prove to yourself that you can exercise and enjoy it, it will be easier to make larger, long-term goals.









  • Tone Abs




  • 1
    Start an abdominal workout. The Mayo Clinic advises that the most effective way to strengthen abdominal muscles is not the traditional pushup; instead, young women should focus on "abdominal hollowing" and "drawing in the belly button." The Mayo Clinic explains that strengthening deeper abdominal muscles and lower abs is a better way to trim inches from the waist.












  • 2
    Work your deeper abdominal muscles. Get on your hands and knees and let your tummy relax. Take a deep breath. As you exhale, gently draw your belly button inward and toward your spine, tightening your abdominal muscles. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat five times. Work your way up to 10 to 20 repetitions.












  • 3
    Do pelvic lifts. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor. Tighten your abs and lift your pelvis slightly. Hold that position for 5 to 10 seconds and repeat five times. Try to work your way up to 10 to 20 repetitions.












  • 4
    Do pelvic tilts. Lie on your back, lift your knees toward your chest and relax your arms by your sides. Tighten your lower abdomen and lift your buttocks off the floor, aiming your knees at the ceiling. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat five times, working your way up to 10 to 20 repetitions.








  • Some of the yoga poses can also help put in toning the belly...  you can be like the pictures above if you work hard ~ good luck !!! let's work together !!

    -JOJO-





    How to Measure a Waist



    Knowing your exact waist measurement can be very helpful in determining your clothing size, and it is a good indicator of your feneral health. You can find out your waist measurement in just four simple steps.

    Things You'll Need:

    • Body measurement tape


    Instructions

    1. Find your natural waist. An easy way to do this is to stand in front of the mirror and bend at your side. The crease that forms indicates your natural waistline, directly above the belly button and below the ribcage.
    2. Stand up straight and relax your abdominal muscles. Wrap the measuring tape completely around your waist starting at the belly button. Begin at the spot on the tape where the measure reads "0." Make sure the tape is level around your waistline--not too loose, not too tight.
    3. Do not place the measuring tape over clothes. You'll get the most accurate results on bare skin. However, make sure the tape is not squeezing into your skin. The number that meets the "0" after you have circled your entire waist is your waist measurement.
    4. Remove the tape and jot down your measurement for future reference. A healthy waistline for a woman is between 32 and 23 inches. For a man, it's between 45 and 32 inches.

    -JOJO-

    How to Kill Shoe Odor ?



    Excessive perspiration from the feet causes shoe odor. The moisture from the perspiration provides the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and yeast, which cause shoes to smell. Shoe odor is most common in athletic shoes, but the problem can occur with any type of shoe. Foot and shoe odor is an embarrassing problem that many sufferers struggle with any time they have to remove their shoes around other people.

    Things You'll Need:

    • Cat litter
    • Old socks
    • Baking soda
    • Shoe deodorant spray
    • Odor-neutralizing insoles
    Instructions
    1. Fill a pair of old socks with cat litter, and tie a knot at the end of each sock to keep the cat litter from spilling out. Place one sock in each shoe and leave overnight. The cat litter with help absorb trapped moisture in the shoes as well as neutralize the odor.
    2. Sprinkle baking soda inside each shoe and leave overnight. Shake out the baking soda before wearing the shoes. Baking soda will help neutralize the odor of smelly shoes.
    3. Spray the inside of each shoe with a shoe deodorant spray. Allow the spray to dry completely before wearing the shoes.
    4. Place odor-neutralizing insoles in your shoes. Replace once a month.

    -JOJO-

    Oral & Dental Health Basics

    How to Brush??

    What Is the Right Way to Brush?
    Proper brushing takes at least two minutes — that's right, 120 seconds! Most adults do not come close to brushing that long. To get a feel for the time involved, try using a stopwatch. To properly brush your teeth, use short, gentle strokes, paying extra attention to the gumline, hard-to-reach back teeth and areas around fillings, crowns or other restoration. Concentrate on thoroughly cleaning each section as follows:
    • Clean the outer surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth
    • Clean the inner surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth
    • Clean the chewing surfaces
    • For fresher breath, be sure to brush your tongue, too


    What Type of Toothbrush Should I Use?
    Most dental professionals agree that a soft-bristled brush is best for removing plaque and debris from your teeth. Small-headed brushes are also preferable, since they can better reach all areas of the mouth, including hard-to-reach back teeth. For many, a powered toothbrush is a good alternative. It can do a better job of cleaning teeth, particularly for those who have difficulty brushing or who have limited manual dexterity.

    How Important is the Toothpaste I Use?
    It is important that you use a toothpaste that's right for you. Today there is a wide variety of toothpaste designed for many conditions, including cavities, gingivitis, tartar, stained teeth and sensitivity.


    How Often Should I Replace My Toothbrush?
    You should replace your toothbrush when it begins to show wear, or every three months, whichever comes first. It is also very important to change toothbrushes after you've had a cold, since the bristles can collect germs that can lead to reinfection.


    Help your teeth to stay healthy by doing brushing your teeth at a correct way..I share this with all of you because i went to dentist that day.. and the doctor said she want to teach me how to brush my teeth i was like HAR???? im 21 this year and now you going to teach me how im going to brush my teeth? Then i go on google and search for the right way of brushing teeth to double check am i doing it a right way.. but i found out Im doing it at a correct way... but i misout one which i did not brush my tongue.. is that the reason why she want to teach me to brush my teeth?? luckily no one there if not i felt very embrassing.. HAHA

    -JOJO-

    Sunday, January 30, 2011

    Wearing concealer


    Concealer can be your best friend or your worst enemy, depending on how you apply it. Here's how to get it just right.

    What are concealers for? Do I really need one? Why do they make all those funny coloured green, pink and lilac things? How can I cover circles without making it look worse than when I started? Simmer down. All will be revealed - and then I will show you how to conceal it all again!

    One of the most common errors is in the selection of a colour. I personally suffer from dark shadows that have garnered comments like 'What happened to your eyes?' and 'Hang on, you've smudged something under your... oops, sorry, did you get in a fight?' It really gets the day off to a fantastic start I can tell you.
    The problem those of us with really dark circles have is that we want to cover them completely, so we head straight for the lightest colour we can find. Wrong! The darker the circle, the darker the concealer should be. If you try to cover with something light, you'll have the end result of a muddy ashen smudge that's not much better than what you started with.

    Dark shadows
    Always test the colour of a concealer OVER your foundation. If the effect is invisible, you have the correct shade. If you insist, you could drop one shade for dark circles but you will have to be much more cautious with your application. White rings under your eyes look just as bad as dark ones.
    To keep things as natural as possible, apply your foundation first and then top up the cover on only the inner half of the under eye. This way if you have the beginnings of fine lines, you are not adding weight to the outer half and showing off the problem.

    You will get the most natural cover with a brush. Any old lip brush will do the trick. You have much more control with a brush than you have with your fingers.
    If you prefer to use your finger, opt for your ring finger, as it is weaker and will apply less pressure to the delicate skin.

    If it starts to look too heavy, apply a tiny bit of your eyecream over the top to wash it down a bit.
    You can mix the concealer, if it is too heavy, with some eyecream and make it a 'treatment' concealer.


    Bags & puffiness
    Puffs and bags are much harder to cover; it is far easier to draw attention away from them.
    Again using a brush (once you have applied your foundation), paint a slightly lighter concealer into the dip under the bag. The best products for this have light-diffusing particles. The effect is that you want to bounce the shadow under the eye-bag away. Heavy concealer will always make bags look worse.
    When you are desperate, you can resort to the make-up artists' trick of using a touch of haemorrhoid cream to reduce the swelling temporarily. Please only do this if you are in a state of desperation. It really works, but shouldn't be done often.


    Red nose and cheeksIf you have ever tried a green colour corrector, you know that it usually looks worse then the red did! Sure it cancels out the red, but then your face looks like cement and you have to use an even heavier foundation to cover that up.

    There is a little miracle product by Decleor called Perfecting Tint, which is a sheer green gel that you can apply both under and/or over the foundation. It also helps to thicken and strengthen the capillaries to make them less visible.

    You can also try Shiseido's excellent Colour Control Stick which can be worn under, over or even without concealer or foundation.

    If using a colour corrector, apply the smallest amount possible, then apply your foundation. Once that has set, once more apply the tiniest amount of the colour corrector. You will find the effect is much more natural when you do fine layers that if you try to do it all in one whack.

    If not using a colour corrector, apply your foundation as per normal. Then, using a concealer that you've tested over the foundation, apply nearly dried concealer over the foundation in light patting strokes. You can achieve this by dabbing the concealer onto the heel of your hand until it is nearly dry, and then apply it to your face. The reasoning behind this is that if the product is too wet, you will remove any cover you have achieved with the foundation. Then reapply a bit of foundation in the same way.
    Always work in layers when covering excess redness. It is better to stay in control than to pile it on. Once you have gotten the desired effect, rub your hands together really fast until you feel a build-up of heat. Then, press your hands over your cheeks for about 5 seconds. What you will achieve is the same effect as letting your makeup settle for a while before leaving the house. It will give you what you normally have to wait 30 to 45 minutes for naturally!

    Tips from the catwalk
    When you are truly desperate and puffy, haemorrhoid cream can be applied very thinly to the eye area to reduce extreme puffiness. It also helps with jawline contours and overall puffiness. This is not an everyday solution. This is for cases of emergency, but I don't know many make-up artists or models that don't carry a tube.

    If a terrible spot arrives at exactly the wrong time (is there ever a right time?), don't fight nature and cake concealer all over it. Instead, use an eyeliner and turn it into a beauty mark. It is already raised slightly and looks extremely natural. Only your best friends will know.

    Colour correctorsHere's a quick guide to colour corrector/enhancers so you get that all-important match:
    Green: Cuts and tones down redness
    Apricot: Brightens cooler skin tones
    Peach: Brightens cooler skin tones
    Rose: Lifts sallow complexions and gives a glow
    Lilac: Cuts excess yellow in the skin and lifts sallow complexions
    Blue: Takes down orangey skin tones, also corrects bad self-tan applications!
    Bronze: Brightens and lifts nearly all skin tones. Gives a healthy sun-kissed look
    Gold: Accentuates golden skin tones and suntans
    Silver: Brightens cooler skins. Usually only done in the evening!
    Yellow: Brightens warmer skin tones



    -JOJO-

    Wake up tired eyes


    With the festive season upon us, our social calendars are brimming with nights out with friends, family and colleagues. But the nights out and party makeup can take their toll on your eyes, making them look tired, dull and puffy.

    No one knows how important it is to look after the sensitive skin around your eyes better than Simple. That’s why Simple came up with the Simple Advisory Board; made up of a team of experts who give their tips and advice on getting your skin in tip-top condition, inside and out.

    New Simple Radiance Brightening Eye Make-Up Remover Pads,  remove even stubborn waterproof mascara, while relying on the goodness of mango and skin-loving nutrients to hydrate and soothe the delicate eye area.

    new Simple Kind To Eyes Revitalising Eye Roll-On, A cooling massage in a tube, it’s designed to refresh tired eyes with its innovative rollerball applicator. Cucumber extract and vitamin goodness help reduce puffiness and dark circles without using harsh chemicals.

    As always, Simple uses only gentle ingredients – with no perfume, colour or harsh chemicals – making all products suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive, leaving you with happier skin, for a happier you!


    -JOJO-

    Saturday, January 29, 2011

    Can Your Liver Make You Fat?

     

    Where do these toxins come from?

    As part of our modern lifestyle, these days our livers get put through their paces by a wide variety of toxins. Some of them are very tough to avoid, like pollution in the air or chemicals in the water we drink. Others are less obvious, but no less troubling.

    Food is the worst culprit. The processed and packaged food that you buy in the supermarket can contain a bewildering array of preservatives and chemicals. Even foods that look fresh, like meat or vegetables, contain artificial toxins that are hidden from view. Good examples are the heavy use of pesticides on farmed vegetables, the thin layer of wax used to keep apples looking fresh, and the hormones pumped into beef and chicken (buy organic to avoid all of these!).

    Medical drugs are another culprit that can really slow your liver down - never take more than you really need. Even beauty products can impair your liver function, as their chemicals seep into your bloodstream.
    Avoiding all toxins is virtually impossible. However, if you are conscious of what you are eating and drinking, you might be able to lessen the load on your liver. Give it a chance to break down that extra fat!

    What are the symptoms of a clogged liver?

    A healthy liver should help with all kinds of health issues. Here are a few that you might recognize. The symptoms of a clogged liver include:
    • Constipation
    • Bad breath
    • Fatigue
    • Foggy brain
    • Weak immune system
    • Allergies
    • Headaches
    • Acne
    • Excess fat (especially on the abdominal area)
    Most importantly, cleaning your liver will allow it to process fat more efficiently, and help you to drop those last few pounds.

    How can you make your liver healthy again?

    Replace the artificial sweeteners

    Even though something may contain no calories, it can still slow down your liver. Artificial sweeteners contain few calories, but they are toxic for the liver and indirectly contribute to weight gain. Sometimes choosing a little organic honey will actually help you lose weight more than the artificial sweetener.

    Stay off the processed food

    Avoid all processed food, deep fried food and junk food. These are full of preservatives and other chemicals that your liver needs to process. Check the ingredients on everything you buy and avoid anything that contains too many ingredients that you don’t recognize.

    Quit the cigarettes & alcohol

    You can do your liver a big favor by laying off the cigarettes and alcohol. Let your liver focus on metabolizing fat, rather than fixing your body after a big night out!

    Buy organic

    The reasoning for this is kind of similar to the processed food. Meat and vegetables are produced commercially, and there are often few restrictions on what pesticides, hormones and chemicals end up in your food. Buying organic food may be a little more expensive, but organic farmers comply with strict regulations that mean your food is much more nutritious and healthy.

    Do a liver detox

    Give yourself a head start by doing a liver detox. Here are a few simple guidelines to follow:
    • Start your day with a simple liver tonic. Just add a 1/4 squeeze of fresh lemon to warm water.
    • Stick to organic fresh-pressed juices, fresh raw fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds and whole grain foods as much as possible.
    • For an extra liver boost, eat artichokes, cinnamon, rosemary, turmeric and dandelion leaves. These are all super liver boosters.
    • Some veggies are rich in sulfur, which helps to detoxify the liver. Here are a few to try - garlic, onions, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, and Brussels sprouts.


    You can also try this liver detox recipe once a day. Its a delicious, easy drink to make. Just add all ingredients to the blender and voila!
    Liver detox drink
    Liver Detox Recipe
    A handful of spinach
    1 apple
    1 banana
    1 lemon (squeezed)
    Half a chili pepper (optional)
    1 garlic clove or as much as desired (optional)
    1 glass of water



    -JOJO-

    How to get a flat stomach

     

     

     

    So you've lost weight but your stomach isn't shaped the way you'd like it. If you think its due to bloating, see our tips below. If not, then it probably time to start with the crunches! Here are 3 simple exercises to work your abs.
    • The Plank
      1. Lie face down on a mat, resting on your forearms and with your palms flat on the floor.
      2. Push off the floor, raising up onto toes and resting on the elbows.
      3. Keep your back flat, in a straight line from head to heels.
      4. Tilt your pelvis and contract your abdominals to prevent your rear end from sticking up in the air.
      5. Hold for 20 to 60 seconds, lower and repeat for 3-5 reps.

    • Reverse Crunch
      1. Lie on your back and place your hands on the floor or behind the head.
      2. Bring your legs up into the air, with your feet crossed and knees bent to 90 degrees.
      3. Contract your abs to curl the hips off the floor, pushing your legs further up towards the ceiling.
      4. Lower and repeat for 12-16 reps.

    • Bicycle Crunch
      1. Lie on your back and place your fingers behind your head.
      2. Bring your knees up towards your chest and lift your shoulders off the ground.
      3. Straighten your left leg out while simultaneously turning the upper body to the right. Your left elbow should almost touch your right knee.
      4. Switch sides, bringing the right elbow towards the left knee.
      5. Continue alternating sides in a 'bicycle' motion for 12-16 reps.

    I would like to share this with you ..my way of tonning up my stomach
    1. try to stuck in your tummy to your maximum
    2. hold your breathing
    3. hold that pose for 30 second
    4. do that whenver you are standing

    tell you what? it really helps to tones up and tighten the stomach muscle..


    -JOJO-

     

    Threading

    Popular in Asian cultures and now gaining popularity worldwide, threading has pretty much taken the eyebrow grooming world by storm. The method is intriguingly simple; a cotton thread is pulled along unwanted hair in a twisting motion, to trap hair in a mini lasso and lift it right out of the follicle.


    Threading has been hailed for its cleanliness, precision and permanent results. It's been sworn by people who say they have never been able to achieve the same results through tweeting. waxing or sugaring.


    The downside to threading is that if  it's done incorrectly by an inexperienced threading professional, the hairs can break and re-growth will be faster.


    That aside, this ancient art is no doubt the way forward for shapely eyebrows that last!




    EMBROIDERY v.s TATTOOING 




    Embroidery 


    Compared to eyebrow tattooing, embroidery is quicker and less painful, while generating a more natural result. Special needles are used to penetrate the skin and thread in the color, ensuring it stays within the epidermis and dermis. This way, the depth of the needle prongs are restricted, reducing unnecessary damage and skin exfoliation.




    Tattooing


    Eyebrow tattooing became popular in the 1920s along with the pencil thin eyebrow and the advent of the silent film era. Once associated with the vain or fashionable. eyebrow tattooing is today a common procedure.




    Who and Why


    Eyebrow embroidery and tattooing are ideal for woman with over-plucked brows, gaps or scars where the hair hasn't grown back, suffering from hair loss and who want a more definite brow shape.


    The benefits of both include:

    • Hassle free eye liner for those with contact lenses
    • Minimal make-up required
    • No eye liner smearing, especially for oily skin
    • Enhancement of pale and small eyes
    • Dramatic and more defined eyes. 

    -ANGELINE-

    The Fun Of Shoe Lacing (2)

    Welcome back to the shoe lacing methods. Thank you for staying with us. Today's list will start from the 12th method. Happy reading!
     

    Double Back Lacing 
    This method looks interesting plus holds very firmly, but is terribly awkward to tighten. The lacing first runs down the shoe, then doubles back up the shoe. There's two variations shown: One with hidden verticals at the bottom, the other with a visible crossover.

    Double Back Lacing diagram 1Lacing Technique 1 (hidden verticals, shorter laces):
    Double Back Lacing picture 1 1. The lace is run straight across (grey section) and the ends are fed in through the second set of eyelets from the top.


    2. The ends are crossed over each other, then fed in through the second-lower set of eyelets down the shoe (skip past one set of eyelets).


    3. Repeat step (2), criss-crossing down the shoe two sets of eyelets at a time.


    4. At the bottom, run each lace end vertically between the bottom and second from bottom eyelets.


    5. Double back and work back up the shoe, criss-crossing through the vacant sets of eyelets.

    Comparative Length = 106%
    Laced area uses more (about +6%)
    Longer laces needed (about +3%)
    Shortens lace ends (about −5%) 

    NOTE:
    The hidden verticals at the bottom make this the neater of the two variations, plus it consumes less shoelace and therefore doesn't shorten the ends by quite as much.

    Double Back Lacing diagram 2
    Lacing Technique 2 (visible crossover, longer laces):
    1. The lace is run straight across and the ends are fed in through the second set of eyelets from the top (grey section).


    2. The ends are crossed over each other, then fed in through the second-lower set of eyelets down the shoe (skip past one set of eyelets).


    3. Repeat step (2), criss-crossing down the shoe two sets of eyelets at a time. Up to this point, this method is identical to the above method.


    4. At the bottom, cross the lace ends and run them diagonally between the bottom and second from bottom eyelets.


    5. Double back and work back up the shoe, criss-crossing through the vacant sets of eyelets.

    Double Back Lacing picture 2
    Features:
    Stays very tight
    Terribly awkward


    Comparative Length = 116%
    Laced area uses more (about +16%)
    Longer laces needed (about +7%)
    Shortens lace ends (about −14%)
    Double Back Lacing picture 3
    NOTE:
    The visible crossover at the bottom makes this the messier of the two variations, plus it consumes extra shoelace and therefore shortens the ends by a little more.


    Bow Tie Lacing 
    This method "lengthens" ends because it consumes the least amount of shoelace. The laces cross over on the outside and run vertically on the inside, forming a "bow-tie" outline.

    Bow Tie Lacing diagram 1
    Lacing Technique 1 (for EVEN numbers of eyelet pairs):
    1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends are fed in through both bottom eyelets.


    2. Both ends are run straight up the inside and emerge through the next set of eyelets up the shoe, thus introducing a "gap".


    3. The ends are crossed over on the outside and are fed in through the next set of eyelets up the shoe.


    4. Repeat steps (2) and (3), alternating between running straight up on the inside or crossing over on the outside, until both ends reach the top eyelets.

    Bow Tie Lacing picture 1Features:
    Minimal look
    Comfort "zones"
    Loose fit
    Comparative Length = 75%
    Laced area uses less (about −25%)
    Shorter laces needed (about −13%)
    Lengthens lace ends (about +27%)
    NOTE:
    Instead of placing gaps every second set, their positions could also be strategically chosen to coincide with tight areas of your shoes, thus giving those parts of your feet more "breathing room".


    Army Lacing 
    This inside-out version of Bow Tie Lacing is used on combat boots by various armies. With the crossovers on the insides, the sides of the boots can flex more easily. 

    Army Lacing diagram
    Lacing Technique:
    1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends emerge through both bottom eyelets.

    2. Both ends are run straight up on the outside and are fed in through the next set of eyelets up the shoe.

    3. The ends are crossed over on the inside and emerge through the next set of eyelets up the shoe.

    4. Repeat steps (2) and (3), alternating between running straight up on the outside or crossing over on the inside, until both ends reach the top eyelets.
     
    Army Lacing picture 1Features:
    Allows more flex
    Loose fit
    Harder to tighten

    Comparative Length = 70%
    Laced area uses less (about −30%)
    Shorter laces needed (about −14%)
    Lengthens lace ends (about +27%) 
    NOTE:
    Combat boots are notorious for being made of thick, sturdy leather that does not flex very easily, making them firm.


    This lacing eliminates crossovers that would hold down the sides of the boot, allowing the leather to crease more freely. These corrugations can be clearly seen especially near the ankle area.


    On the other hand, if you prefer to have a more rigid lacing, such as for parachuting, marching, or for preventing ankle injuries in rough or slippery terrain, Ladder Lacing would be a better choice.


    Train Track Lacing
    Inside segments running straight across, the result looks like train tracks, and holds very tight because of the doubled laces through eyelets.

    Train Track Lacing diagram
    Lacing Technique:
    1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (gray section) and the ends emerge through both bottom eyelets.

    2. Both ends are run straight up on the outside and are fed in through the next set of eyelets up the shoe.

    3. The ends are run alongside each other on the inside and emerge through the same set of eyelets on the other side. This will be a tight squeeze because it will be the second pass of shoelace through those eyelets.

    4. Repeat steps (2) and (3), alternating between running straight up on the outside or straight across on the inside, until both ends reach the top eyelets.

    Train Track Lacing picture 1
    Features:
    Neat look
    Holds very tight
    Harder to tighten

    Comparative Length = 112%
    Laced area uses more (about +12%)
    Longer laces needed (about +6%)
    Shortens lace ends (about −11%)

    Train Track Lacing picture 2
    NOTE:
    This lacing works best with thinner or flat laces because most of the eyelets have to accommodate two passes of shoelace.


    Double Helix Lacing 
    This patented method has the laces angled one way on the outside and the other way on the inside. The resulting double helix reduces friction and allows faster, easier lacing.

    Double Helix Lacing diagram

    Lacing Technique:
    1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section), with the left (blue) end emerging through the bottom left eyelet while the right (yellow) end is fed in through the bottom right eyelet.


    2. The left (blue) end runs diagonally on the outside and is fed in through the next higher right eyelet, while the right (yellow) end runs diagonally on the inside and emerges through the next higher left eyelet.


    3. Repeat step (2), using the opposite colors at each repetition, following a double spiral (or "Double Helix") path until both until both ends emerge through the top eyelets.

    Double Helix Lacing picture 1Features:
    Decorative look
    Fast & easy
    Less wear & tear


    Comparative Length = 100%
    Identical length to basic Criss Cross Lacing

    NOTE:
    The left and right shoes can be laced in reverse (mirror image) so as to end up with a symmetrical look.


    Double Cross Lacing 
    Running three steps forward (on the inside), one step back (on the outside). The result is short, wide crosses overlapping tall, narrow crosses. There's three variations shown: One with a gap at each end, the second without gaps, the third with the overlapping crosses interwoven.

    Double Cross Lacing diagram 1
    Lacing Technique 1 (with gaps, shorter laces):
    1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends are fed in through both bottom eyelets.


    2. The ends are crossed over on the inside and emerge through the set of eyelets three rows higher up the shoe (skip past two sets of eyelets).


    3. The ends are crossed over on the outside and are fed in through the next lower set of eyelets.


    4. Repeat steps (2) and (3), each time crossing over on the inside and going up three sets of eyelets, then crossing over on the outside and going down one set of eyelets, until both ends reach the top eyelets.

    Double Cross Lacing Picture 1 Comparative Length = 95%
    Laced area uses less (about −5%)
    Shorter laces needed (about −3%)
    Lengthens lace ends (about +6%)






    NOTE:
    Looks symmetrical on shoes with even numbers of eyelet pairs (eg. 8 pairs). When used on a shoe with an odd number of eyelet pairs (such as the sneaker at left), there will be a gap at only one end of the lacing (either the top or the bottom), while the underlying crossover at the other end will appear squashed.

    Double Cross Lacing diagram 2
    Lacing Technique 2 (no gaps, longer laces):
    1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends are fed in through both bottom eyelets.

    2. The ends are crossed over on the inside and emerge through the set of eyelets two rows higher up the shoe (skip past one set of eyelets).

    3. The ends are crossed over on the outside and are fed in through the next lower set of eyelets.

    4. The ends are crossed over on the inside and emerge through the set of eyelets three rows higher up the shoe (skip past two sets of eyelets).

    5. Repeat steps (3) and (4), each time crossing over on the outside and going down one set of eyelets, then crossing over on the inside and going up three sets of eyelets, until both ends reach the top eyelets.

    Double Cross Lacing Picture 1 




    Comparative Length = 95%
    Laced area uses less (about −5%)
    Shorter laces needed (about −3%)
    Lengthens lace ends (about +6%)

    NOTE:
    This method looks symmetrical on shoes with even numbers of eyelet pairs (eg. 8 pairs). When used on a shoe with an odd number of eyelet pairs (such as the sneaker at left), there will be a gap at only one end of the lacing (either the top or the bottom), while the underlying crossover at the other end will appear squashed.

    Double Cross Lacing diagram 3
    Lacing Technique 3 (interwoven):
    1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends are fed in through both bottom eyelets.


    2. The ends are crossed over and are fed in through the set of eyelets three rows higher up the shoe (skip past two sets of eyelets).


    3. The ends are run over the top of the previous crossovers and are crossed over on the outside before being fed under the sides to emerge through the next lower set of eyelets.


    4. The ends are fed under the previous crossovers before being crossed over and fed in through the set of eyelets three rows higher up the shoe (skip past two sets of eyelets).


    5. Repeat steps (3) and (4), simultaneously crossing over and either weaving over or under the previous crossovers, until both ends reach the top eyelets.

    Double Cross Lacing Picture 2
    Features:
    Decorative look
    Harder to tighten
    When interwoven, terribly difficult to tighten

    Comparative Length = 95%
    Laced area uses less (about −5%)
    Shorter laces needed (about −3%)
    Lengthens lace ends (about +6%)

    NOTE:
    Although this interwoven variation looks great, it is terribly difficult to tighten or loosen. It's best used on low shoes or sneakers, which can be removed without loosening and thus disturbing the interwoven sections.


    Hash Lacing 
    Like Double Cross Lacing, this method is also created by running three steps forward, one step back. The result resembles a diagonal series of hash (#) symbols. There's two variations: One with a gap at each end, the other without gaps.

    Hash Lacing diagram 1
    Lacing Technique 1 (with gaps, shorter laces)
    1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends emerge through both bottom eyelets.

    2. The ends are crossed over on the outside and are fed in through the set of eyelets three rows higher up the shoe (skip past two sets of eyelets).

    3. The ends are run straight down on the inside and emerge through the next lower set of eyelets.

    4. Repeat steps (2) and (3), each time crossing over on the outside and going up three sets of eyelets, then running straight down one set of eyelets on the inside, until both ends reach the top eyelets.

    Hash Lacing picture 1
    Comparative Length = 80%
    Laced area uses less (about −20%)
    Shorter laces needed (about −11%)
    Lengthens lace ends (about +24%)






    Hash Lacing diagram 2
    Lacing Technique 2 (no gaps, longer laces):
    1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (gray section) and the ends emerge through both bottom eyelets.

    2. The ends are crossed over on the outside and are fed in through the set of eyelets two rows higher up the shoe (skip past one set of eyelets).

    3. The ends are run straight down on the inside and emerge through the next lower set of eyelets.

    4. The ends are crossed over on the outside and are fed in through the set of eyelets three rows higher up the shoe (skip past two sets of eyelets).

    5. Repeat steps (3) and (4), each time running straight down one set of eyelets, then crossing over on the outside and going up three sets of eyelets, until both ends reach the top eyelets.

    Hash Lacing picture 2
    Features:
    Decorative look
    Harder to tighten


    Comparative Length = 97%
    Laced area uses less (about −3%)
    Shorter laces needed (about −1%)
    Lengthens lace ends (about +3%)

    NOTE:
    This method looks symmetrical on shoes with even numbers of eyelet pairs (eg. 8 pairs). When used on a shoe with an odd number of eyelet pairs (such as the sneaker at left), there will be a gap at only one end of the lacing (either the top or the bottom), while the crossover at the other end will appear squashed.


    Lattice Lacing
    Forms a decorative lattice in the middle of the lacing. The laces are crossed at a steep angle, allowing them to be woven through each other. There's several variations shown: One with single verticals on the inside, one with double verticals, plus several variations for different numbers of eyelet pairs.

    Lattice Lacing diagram 1
    Lacing Technique 1 (single verticals, shorter laces):
    1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends emerge through both bottom eyelets.


    2. The ends are crossed over each other, run diagonally upwards on the outside and fed in through the third-higher set of eyelets up the shoe (skip past two sets of eyelets).


    3. Both ends are run straight up the inside and emerge through the next set of eyelets up the shoe.


    4. The ends are crossed over each other, run diagonally downwards on the outside and fed in through the third-lower set of eyelets down the shoe (skip past two sets of eyelets).


    5. Both ends are run straight up the inside and emerge through the next set of eyelets up the shoe.


    6. The ends are crossed over each other, run diagonally upwards on the outside, then fed under the sides to emerge through the top set of eyelets (skip past two sets of eyelets).

    Lattice Lacing diagram 2
    Lacing Technique 2 (double verticals, longer laces):
    1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends emerge through both bottom eyelets.


    2. The ends are crossed over each other, run diagonally upwards on the outside and fed in through the third-higher set of eyelets up the shoe (skip past two sets of eyelets).


    3. Both ends are run straight down on the inside and emerge through the second-lower set of eyelets down the shoe (skip past one set of eyelets).


    4. Repeat steps (2) and (3), each time running diagonally upwards on the outside or straight down on the inside, until the ends are fed under the sides to emerge through the top set of eyelets. 

    Lattice Lacing picture 1
    Features:
    Very popular!
    Decorative look
    Harder to tighten

    Comparative Length = 122%
    Laced area uses more (about +22%)
    Longer laces needed (about +10%)
    Shortens lace ends (about −20%) 
    Lattice Lacing picture 2 






    Lattice Lacing with fat laces really accentuates the weaving.

    Lattice Lacing picture 3
    NOTE:
    It's easier to do the weaving and get all the "Overs" and "Unders" correct if you firstly complete the left (blue) end, then weave the right (yellow) end in and out.


    Zipper Lacing 
    This method "locks" the laces at each eyelet pair. Great for lacing skates tightly because the lower sections hold while tightening. It also looks interesting, a bit like a giant zipper.

    Zipper Lacing diagram
    Lacing Technique:
    1. The lace is run straight across the bottom (gray section) and the ends emerge through both bottom eyelets.

    2. The ends are looped under the laces where they feed under the sides of the shoe.

    3. The ends are crossed over each other, then fed under the sides to emerge through the next set of eyelets up the shoe.

    4. Repeat steps (2) and (3), alternating between looping under or crossing diagonally, until both ends reach the top eyelets.

    Zipper Lacing photo 1
    Features:
    Decorative look
    Holds very firmly
    Harder to tighten

    Comparative Length = 106%
    Laced area uses more (about +6%)
    Longer laces needed (about +3%)
    Shortens lace ends (about −5%)
    Zipper Lacing photo 2
    NOTE:
    Keep the lower sections tight while working on the upper sections. Zipper Lacing is a bit like tying a half-knot at each eyelet, which holds quite firmly. This makes it a great lacing for skates, boots, climbing shoes, or any footwear where very firm support is needed.


    Riding Boot Lacing 
    This method is for riding boots (motorbike or equestrian) that are joined at the top and that loosen near the ankle. The laces zig-zag from both ends and are tied in the middle.

    Riding Boot Lacing diagramLacing Technique:
    1. The lace is run diagonally (grey section) and emerges through the bottom-left and top-right eyelets.

    2. The left (blue) end is run straight across on the outside and is fed in through the opposite eyelet on the right side, then diagonally on the inside to emerge through the next eyelet up the left side.

    3. Repeat step (2), zig-zagging upwards until the left (blue) end reaches the middle-left eyelet.

    4. The right (yellow) end is run straight across on the outside and is fed in through the opposite eyelet on the left side, then diagonally on the inside to emerge through the next eyelet down the right side.

    5. Repeat step (4), zig-zagging downwards until the right (yellow) end reaches the middle-right eyelet.

    Riding Boot Lacing picture 1
    Features:
    Neat look
    Unusual layout
    Special purpose

    Comparative Length = 109%
    Laced area uses more (about +9%)
    Longer laces needed (about +4%)
    Shortens lace ends (about −9%)

    Riding Boot Lacing picture 2
    NOTE:
    This method is not really meant to be used on normal shoes, boots or sneakers, although it can be used on them to achieve an unusual look. It's specifically intended for riding boots in which the part that is tightened and loosened is at the middle of the boot (near the ankle). This means that they lace up from both ends and fasten in the middle. On boots such as these, the sides come completely together, hiding all the angled underlying sections of shoelace.


    One Handed Lacing
    Eliminates the need to even tie a knot by leaving one end loose. The friction of the eyelets is sufficient to keep the lacing fairly tight.

    One Handed Lacing diagram
    Lacing Technique:
    1. Take a lace that's slightly shorter than usual and begin by tying a knot in one end.

    2. Feed the un-knotted end of the lace from inside the top right eyelet and pull it through until stopped with the knot snug against the eyelet.

    3. Zig-zag the lace through the eyelets down to the bottom of the shoe similar to Shoe Shop Lacing.

    4. The loose (blue) end can simply be tucked into the lacing to keep it from being stepped on.


    One Handed Lacing picture 1
    Features:
    Disabled use
    Surprisingly easy
    Loose fit

    Comparative Length = 88%
    Laced area uses less (about −12%)
    Shorter laces needed (about −25%)
    Lengthens lace end (about +17%)

    One Handed Lacing picture 2
    NOTE:
    Have the most tension at the top of the lacing and very little at the bottom. With the knot holding the bulk of the tension at the top end, the friction of the lace passing through every eyelet is sufficient to stop the bottom end from slipping out even though it is "loose". (This works best with either small eyelets or fat laces).

    To tighten, start at the top of the lacing and work towards the bottom. To loosen, start from the bottom of the lacing and work towards the top.



    Stay tuned -- More To Come!!





    :: SHIN ::