INPUT ARTICLE: Article: A well-balanced diet of whole foods, fresh fruits, and plentiful vegetables can do wonders for your skin. A healthy body means healthy skin! In turn, healthy skin is more likely to be free of blemishes, imperfections, uneven complexion issues, and red or dry patches. Eat fruits and vegetables of all colors to ensure you get a rich variety of vitamins and minerals. Eat foods that are rich in vitamin C, which can help make your skin paler. Vitamin C also promotes skin elasticity because it helps the body with collagen production. Consume foods and drinks that are high in antioxidants. This can help fight the signs of aging, including dull, discolored, and wrinkled skin. There is such a thing as too much water, but your skin and body still need to be hydrated for proper health. Drink when you are thirsty, especially if you are exercising. Hydrating your skin should help keep it from becoming dry and flaky, and it may even promote a "glowing" appearance. Cardiovascular exercise is great for your heart and lungs, and it also promotes circulation. Strong circulation is essential for healthy skin. Exercise also reduces stress, which can help alleviate conditions that cause redness (e.g. acne and eczema.) People who suffer from skin conditions like rosacea, psoriasis, or eczema should exercise in cool environments to avoid flare-ups. Moisturize before and after a workout to keep the skin happy. To take care of your skin: wash it daily with a gentle cleanser, exfoliate once or twice a week, and moisturize daily. Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells, which can leave your skin looking fresher and cleaner. Dirt can often contribute to darker-looking skin. Like exercise, a skin massage can promote healthy circulation. Before bed, take a few moments to massage lotion or aloe vera thoroughly into your skin.

SUMMARY: Eat a healthy diet. Drink water. Exercise regularly. Keep your skin clean and moisturized. Massage your skin.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Wash and condition you hair. Section it off into 1 to 2-inch (2.54 to 5,08-centimeter) square-shaped sections using the handle of a rat-tail comb. Mist each section with water, then apply a moisturizing hair cream to it. Braid each section of hair. A simple mixture of castor oil and coconut or oil will work just fine for this. You can also use your favorite braiding cream instead. Buy some braiding hair that has a water wave texture. Select a thin strand, find the middle, then hold it behind your first braid, about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) above the root. You should have three strands: a left synthetic strand, your natural braid, then a right synthetic strand. Braid these strands together until you reach the end of your natural braid. Split the synthetic hair into three sections, then braid them together for about 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 centimeters). You can also simply twist the two strands into a rope braid instead. Buy a package of pre-made faux locs. Slide a crochet hook or a latch hook through the base of your braid, close to the root. Catch the top of the faux loc, then pull it back through the braid to form a 1-inch (2.54-centimeter) long loop. Pre-made faux locs are strands of synthetic hair coiled into a tube. Choose faux locs that match the color of your braiding hair. Give the loop a slight twist first, then slide the hook under the braid. Use the hook to catch the rest of the faux loc. Hold the loop with your fingers, then slide the faux loc through the loop. Gently tug on the loc to tighten the knot. Unravel the top of the faux loc a little. Wrap it around the braid, letting it coil back into its natural shape. Do this for 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 centimeters), then stop. Find the bottom of your faux loc. Slid the tip of the crochet or latch hook up through the loc until it comes out the top. Scrunch the loc down the hook as needed to get it all to fit. Do not catch the braided part that includes your natural hair. Instead, catch the part that only contains the synthetic braiding hair. Gently tug down on the hook, pulling the braiding hair and the braid down through the faux look. Slip the hook off of the hair. If there are any loops of braiding hair sticking out the side of your loc, tug downward on the braiding hair. Slide the faux loc up and down the braiding hair as needed to adjust the look. The faux loc won't cover all of the braiding hair, but blend into it. Since your hair is already all braided, all you have to do is add faux locs to it. It would be easier, however, if you start from the bottom of your head, and work your way upwards.

SUMMARY: Start with freshly washed, braided hair. Pick a braid to start with, then add some braiding hair to it. Braid the two together. Finish off with a regular braid for a few inches/centimeters. Pull a faux loc through the base of your braid. Pull the rest of the faux loc through the loop. Wrap the faux loc around the braid. Push the hook up through the faux loc. Catch the braiding hair with your hook. Slide the braiding hair down through the faux loc. Repeat the process for the rest of your hair.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: One of the main signs of heavy bleeding (also called menorrhagia) is having blood clots in your flow. For this diagnosis, blood clots the size of a quarter or larger are considered to be connected to heavy bleeding. Check your pad, tampon, and the toilet for blood clots. Blood clots will look like regular menstrual blood, except they will be more solid, almost jelly-like. Smaller blood clots are normal, and you don't need to worry about them. If you're changing your pad or tampon more often than every 2 hours, you have what's known as heavy bleeding. Heavy bleeding can prevent you from doing things you love, if you're constantly worried about overflow. For instance, if you're changing your pad or tampon every hour (for several hours in a row) and its soaked each time, that's considered heavy bleeding. Generally, periods last 3 to 5 days, though 2 to 7 days is also fairly normal. If your period is lasting longer than 10 days at a time (that is, if you're bleeding for that long), that is a sign that you're having heavy bleeding. Cramping can also be a sign of heavy bleeding. As noted, large blood clots are a symptom of heavy bleeding. These blood clots can be difficult to pass, causing heavier cramping. Therefore, if you notice heavy cramping, that could also be a sign of heavy bleeding. Anemia is when you don't have enough iron in your blood. It often occurs in people who lose large amounts of blood. Usually, the main symptoms are tiredness and lethargy, as well as feeling weak. "Anemia" can actually refer to any type of vitamin deficiency, but generally, low iron is the most common when it comes to menstruation problems.

SUMMARY:
Look for blood clots. Notice how often you change your pad or tampon. Pay attention to the length of your period. Look for cramps. Watch for the symptoms of anemia.