Amped Asia Forums - Asian Entertainment Forums - Beauty/Health/Fashion

Why are some t-shirts better than others?

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:00:15 -0600

Size Differences:

Sizing differs dramatically from brand to brand. Not only does the general size change significantly, but the length and width proportions vary as well. Your figure and style will determine what brand will give you the best fit. Check out our sizing guide for details.

Fabric

Fabric determines many factors about a t-shirt, such as how well a t-shirt will hold its shape after wearing and washing. T-shirts can be made from 1x1 baby rib, jersey material, cotton spandex, among many others. If you want a t-shirt that is soft and flexible you may want to try fine jersey. If you seek a durable heavy fabric, interlock is a good option for you. Polyester/cotton blends are a favorite because they don't shrink in the wash or fade in the sun. To learn more about fabrics visit our fabric sample guide courtesy of American Apparel.

Color

Different brands offer different color options. Some companies such as American Apparel offer trendy colors and styles while others such as Hanes provide a spectrum of colors. Some brands offer color combinations that are more appropriate for corporate wear. Visit manufacturer websites to browse color options.

Regards
Ben Thomas

What's your latest purchase?

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:57:37 -0600

Hi,

So, what's your latest purchase that you have made? Can be anything you bought online or offline from tech, clothing, food etc.

There is this weird thing that i have noticed about shopping:

If i go out to shop for myself, i get confused and can't buy anything at all but if i go for shopping with someone of for someone else, i like almost everything i see and want to buy.
Is it common or its happening with only me?

Regards
Ben Thomas

How to print on T-shirts- I -What is screen printing?

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:53:40 -0600

Screens are basically stencils that are used to print directly onto clothing.

The first step in producing the screens which will enable us to print directly on the garments is to produce the films. Once your artwork is a suitable format i.e. vector based, which is created using a program such as Illustrator or Corel Draw then the artwork is broken down into layers, depending on how many colors are in your design. Once the artwork has been broken down into layers, each layer is then printed onto a clear film in black.

The next step is to prepare the screens ready to receive the artwork. Screens are produced using a mesh that is pulled tightly around a frame. The mesh is coated with a chemical that when put under a UV light turns hard. Once the mesh has been coated with the chemical the film and the screen are placed under a UV light, leaving the printed area of the film still in a soft state on the screen. When the screen is removed from the UV light the remaining chemical is washed off leaving the image on the screen.

This process is repeated for each color in a design.

Once all the screens have been produced the screens will then be fitted on the printing carousel. The colors are then applied to the t-shirt individually. The screens are pulled down and the ink is dragged across allowing the ink to penetrate the uncoated area on the screen. The screen is then lifted and the lower part of the carousel is moved around and the next t-shirt is waiting to be printed.

Its best to use light colored t-shirts for printing so that the print comes neat.

Happy Printing !

Regards
Ben Thomas

How to print on T-shirts- II -What is Vinyl Printing?

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:52:54 -0600

Vinyl printing is when a sheet of polyurethane (pu) vinyl is cut to produce a design which is then heat applied to the garments.

Vinyl printing is a method of printing that is generally limited to a 1 color print. The artwork is required in a vector format which is produced in a software package i.e. Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw, this artwork format produces the design in lines as opposed to pixels as in a jpeg image.

The artwork is sent in mirror image to the vinyl cutter, which is very much like a large printer, however instead of using ink it uses a blade. Once the image has been etched into the vinyl, the vinyl can then be removed from the cutter. The excess vinyl surrounding the image can be weeded (removed) from the backing sheet, once this has removed you will be left with your design.

The design is now ready to be applied to the garment using a heat press. The approx temperature of the heat press to apply the image is 160c, this does vary depending on the garment and the vinyl used. The garment is placed on the heat press base plate and the image can then be placed in the appropriate position on the garment, the heat clamp is then closed for approximately 10-15 seconds and then released. The backing film can now be removed from the garment and you are left with your design.

Its best to use dark colored t-shirts for printing so that the print comes neat.

Happy Printing !

Regards
Ben Thomas

8 Tips for a Healty and Shining Skin

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:59:09 -0600

Tip 1: Drink Water

Water has long been considered as the most efficient natural treatment or an almost free treatment for any skin condition because of its being alkaline, with pH 7.3. It prevents dehydration which is capable of producing sebum or oil from the sebaceous glands. Your skin needs water in order for it to function best, thus doctors and nutritionists suggest that a daily intake of between 6 to 8 glasses of water per day is highly needed.

Tip 2: Watch Your Diet

Nutrition plays a vital role in skin health too. Specific foods such as those acidic foods and dairy products are said to be effective in causing an allergic reaction in some people. Also, one of the widely debated topics in the area of nutrition today is chocolates. Some say that chocolate does affect the condition of the skin, while others say it doesnâ€™t. Whatever the result may be, the best advice is just to follow a nutritious diet that has a number of fresh fruits and green-leafy veggies, as well as fiber.

Tip 3: Consider Exfoliants

Many experts say that exfoliating your skin is another great way to attain a beautiful skin. So, try to invest in a good body exfoliant or â€œloofahâ€�, as it is commonly called, as it is capable of eliminating the dead skin cells from your body. Accordingly, this should be done once or twice a week so to free the skin to breathe. Whatâ€™s more, exfoliants help to put off ingrown hair from developing.

However, it is essential to avoid using any body exfoliant on the skin on the face. The main reason for this precaution is that the facial tissue is more sensitive and finer than those tissues of the body.

Tip 4: Consider a Healthy Routine for Facial Care

When it comes to facial skin care, getting into a healthy beauty routine is not bad. Most of the doctors today greatly suggest that you cleanse, moisturize and tone your skin twice every day. When cleaning, never fail to remember cleaning the area on the neck, including your face. Apply a moisturizer or neck cream after.

Before going to bed at night, always bear in mind to remove all make up. Clean your skin before you sleep, no matter how tired you may feel. It was found out that during the night, the skin goes through a process of elimination and cannot breathe properly if it is clogged with make up. And, you may also find out that sleeping with your make up on will cause your skin to â€œbreak outâ€� with spots on it.

When it comes to shaving for men, some men may experience shaving rashes. For many, these rashes lower their self-esteem, but this is actually not a big problem to think about. There are a lot ways to avoid rashes. Perhaps one of the best is to make sure that when shaving, the razor strokes are following the direction of hair growth. Thatâ€™s simply it!

Tip 5: Heal Your Feet

When it comes to skin care, the feet are often neglected. So, if care you found no time for a professional pedicure, try to fill a football or basin with warm water and add your favorite essential oil. Soak your feet for about fifteen minutes. Then, dry them and apply a rough skin remover onto them. Rinse this off and dry you feet well. And, if you consider pedicure, simply add some body cream to your feet for an easy and quick fix pedicure.

Tip 6: Avoid Too Much Exposure to the Sun

One of the most common precautions when it comes to skin care is avoiding too much exposure to the sun. As you may know, over exposure to sunlight causes sunburn. So, while current sun blocks only block out the UVB rays and still let in harmful UVA rays, it is still wise to cover up before venturing into the hands of Apollo. If possible, use a wide brimmed hat while tending your garden to keep the sun from your face.

Tip 7: Exercise

Aside from considering a healthy diet, exercising your body also helps keep your skin healthy. Note that a proper exercise does not only keep the body fit by regulating the oxygen; it also improves the glow of the skin as well.

Tip 8: Take Enough Rest

One common problem that face people is stress; the one which is not normal. It was found out that when a person is stressed, the adrenal cortex converts adrenal androgens to the hormone testosterone in male and female, which in turn results in overactive sebaceous glands. These adrenal androgens are released causing a double amount of testosterone, causing the face to be oily, while other areas of the body are still dry from dehydration. So, taking proper rest that includes 6 to 8 hours of undisturbed sleep daily is the best way to rejuvenate the skin.

Find out what wonders can lemon do for your health!!

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:18:09 -0600

Hi everyone,

Check out this really good health benefits of lemon.

Lemon is a small, egg-shaped, edible citrus fruit with a yellow rind and a juicy, sour pulp, rich in ascorbic acid. Not known to everyone lemon has got numerous health benefits.

Have a look on some of is health benefits:

a) Add the juice of half a lemon to the early morning tumbler of hot or cold water, for a clear complexion.

b) Lemon juice is an excellent treatment for dandruff and greasy hair.

c) The high vitamin C content of the lemon has been used for hundreds of years to ward off scurvy among sailors and travelers. There is little sodium, so the fruit is good as a flavoring for those on a low salt diet.

d) Have sore feet? Try soaking them in warm water and rub them further with freshly squeezed lemon juice. While hot water opens pores, lemon juice provides a cooling and astringent effect. Apart from foot relaxation, this method is also believed to induce sound sleep as it has a relaxing effect on your foot nerves.

e) Lemons can be rubbed directly onto skin and left for about 2 hours before rinsing. This is good to reduce wrinkles and treat blemishes. The treatment will work better if followed by olive oil after rinsing. It works by speeding up skin renewal and uncovering a fresh new layer of skin. However, it is important not to do this before going out in the sun as it will have a bleaching effect.

f) The skin of lemon dried under the sun and then ground to make powder can be applied to the hair for a few minutes before bath which relieves head ache and cools the body.

g) Lemon has been used for many years in gout and rheumatism. Lemon-juice is a diuretic. It, therefore, gives relief in kidney and bladder disorders. It has been used in destroying intestinal worms. It prevents vomiting and helps to cure hepatitis and other innumerable diseases.

h) The most valuable ingredient of lemon, next to vitamin C, is citric acid, of which it contains 7.2 per cent. Lemon contains more potassium than apple or grapes, which is beneficial to the heart.

Tell me how you liked it!

Mono/Double Eyelid

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:24:04 -0500

Hi!

Recently my friend revealed that she really wanted to find some makeup techniques better suited to her mono/double lid eyes. By this, I mean that she has one monolid eye and one double-lidded eye.

Her main concerns are that because her eyes are not the same, they seem uneven all the time. She would like to know if there is any way makeup could create an illusion of more "equal" eyes, if there were any methods you guys would be willing to share with her, and if there were any styles better suited for mismatched eyes. Since she's not very good at makeup, she would also like to know how hard the methods you suggest are.

Also, on a half-digressed note, my friend would also like to hear your opinions on getting double-lid surgery on her monolid to even her eyes out.

What do you guys think? Please help! Thanks for your time!

What goes with a leather jacket?

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:11:23 -0500

I just bought a black leather jacket for 500 dollars. Yes I super overpaid but that's not the point. What do you think goes well with that in terms of shirts and shoes? What color and style?

sexy undergarments

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:14:58 -0500

Last week I have brought many clothes and foot wear. I have brought some my undergarments from http://www.verysexybikini.com/ and I have got many various styles of bikinis there. I have purchased my 3 Pairs of foot wear also. I am happy after all this.

You don`t have to do 30 min workout everyday

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:42:52 -0500

if you are an everyday workout type , or you wanna be , and sometimes you are too lazy to do it right ,,, you know do 50 time push ups or etc.

I found an amazing video for Dr. Mehmet Oz ... it has only 7 min workout if u do it right , it will be enough for ur body in the morning..

Air Purifier

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:46:02 -0500

It nearly the allergic season and I am trying to buy an air purifier for my home, but don't know which one to get. My mom has bad allergies to pollen, dust, and etc. so an air purifier is a must. I also want to keep our home smelling fresh too!

Do you guys have any good recommendation? Thanks everyone! I appreciate it

Allergies

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:47:48 -0500

sorry if this is the wrong place for this thread but it says health and allergies are a part of health i think? :S

so i wanted to ask, how do you know what you're allergic to, how did you find out, and what happens to you when you have an allergic reaction. cause for some it might just be a few sneezes whereas something like peanut allergies are life threatening?

last night at my friend's house i found out i'm allergic to cats >< it wasn't the first time i'd been to her house but it was the first time her cat was inside with us and the first time i'd patted her cat. for me the reaction was similar to the symptoms i got for hayfever.

All Black

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:38:51 -0500

If an employer says to wear all black is it ok to wear pin-stripped pants? the pants are black but the pin-stripes are pale white. would this be considered all black?

Sunblock

Sat, 02 May 2009 23:20:16 -0500

Do you use sunblock? What brand? What SPF (sun protection factor) is it? Are you fair-skinned?

I'm very light-skinned, and burn easily, so I apply sunblock before I leave the house. I use Hawaiian Tropic products of SPF 60 and higher Pleasant fragrance, too...

How do I tell a girl she needs to lose a little weight?

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:12:27 -0500

Ok so before anything I'll state the situation. I met this girl 6 months ago and she looks normal. I went on a couple date with her and havnt seen her since. I really like her and talk to her every week. I saw a couple of recent pictures and it looks like she gained some weight. How do I tell her to lose weight without offending her or pushing her away? I want to tell her both for aesthetic and health reasons.

Will I look better with longer hair?

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 14:48:10 -0500

My skin is a tad bit darker then most Asian celebs I see so I was always iffy about growing out my hair longer. I'm not talking about a mullet or anything but I don't want to get a 3 1/2 in the sides and back anymore.

I was thinking something like this but a little bit shorter and natural black.

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/769/gackt7lb.jpg

So do you guys think?

eX

beanies

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:33:01 -0500

Who looks better in a hat??!!
PARK JAE BEOM
T.O.P

What kind of J-rock hair should I get?

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:23:48 -0600

I just got my hair dye back to a brown, so now I can start off with a clean slate [[my hair was orange/pink before]]. I need advice on what Asian hairstyles to put my hair into or cut to. J-rock or Visual Kei would be extremely appreciated
Pics of my hair: Sorry for blurryness.....my hand isn't steady.

Stretchmarks: Pls help...

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:21:22 -0600

I am pregnant and want to know if anyone has had any luck with skin care for stopping stretchmarks? I have heard that some are not safe to use and can harm my baby but I am so confused by which ones are ok and actually work to prevent stretchmarks, as I happily grow into my 9 month bump!

Top 10 fitness trends for 2009

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:52:49 -0600

The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America’s leading authority on fitness and one of the largest fitness certification, education and training organizations in the world, today announced the top ten fitness trends for 2009 based on an annual survey of its extensive worldwide network of personal trainers, group fitness experts, advanced health and fitness specialists and lifestyle and weight management consultants. Findings conclude that boot camp-style workouts, which were named the most popular workout in 2008, will remain the top fitness trend in 2009. Additionally, consumers will tighten their wallets when it comes to staying in shape in a struggling economy.

“The overarching theme for fitness in 2009 is getting more bang for the buck,” says ACE’s Chief Science Officer Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D. “Consumers will engage in workouts that provide multiple benefits due to time and economic limitations. We will also see continued trends from 2008 including boot-camp style workouts, technology-based workouts, out-of-the-box programming and an increased interest in fitness for those who are over 50 years old.”

1. Boot Camp-Style Workouts:
These are still very popular because they give you a total-body workout that’s varied, fun and challenging. You burn a lot of calories (up to 600, says ACE), get a great cardiovascular workout, and strengthen your muscles with high- and low-intensity exercises like pushups, squats and lunges. You don’t usually get as much muscle fitness benefits in other aerobic exercises.

2. Budget-Friendly Workouts:
With today’s struggling economy, more people will cut costs to stay in shape. Of the ACE-certified professionals surveyed, 48 percent said gym memberships will go down in 2009 and 52 percent said fewer people will hire personal trainers. Look for more people to use the resources around them as their gym and equipment.

3. Specialty Classes:
Yoga and Pilates will stay strong, but dance-based classes will be all the rage in 2009! Zumba combines South American rhythms with cardiovascular exercise. And Bollywood, ballroom, Afro-Cuban and other exotic dance styles are getting more popular thanks to shows like Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance.

4. Getting Back to Basics:
Even though many exercises and equipment are becoming more advanced and trendy, trainers will continue to focus on basic movements and techniques with their clients again.

5. Circuit Training:
Studies have shown that interval training that combines strength training and cardio at different intensities is more time-efficient than doing the traditional aerobic and weight training sessions. As circuit training gets more popular, many gyms are even setting up their own circuits for their members.

6. Kettlebells:
The reason for the surge in working out with kettlebells is that it gets back to basic training that requires functional, whole body fitness. The movements work your entire body, especially your core, as you lift and control the kettlebell.

7. Boomer Fitness:
The 50+ audience keeps redefining our expectations about age, vitality and life, and has highlighted the importance of physical activity as we age. Since September 2007, AARP’s fitness initiative for boomers—aimed at providing a wide range of affordable fitness services to its 39 million members—has been going strong.

8. Technology-Based Fitness:
From iPods to Cardio Cinema to exergaming (i.e., Wii Fit, Expresso Bikes) the latest in technology will continue to infuse itself in all aspects of fitness. In 2009, look for more interactive video games that have fitness benefits, as well as new inventions to make exercising a more engaging experience.

9. Event or Sport-Specific Exercises:
Even with all the new and trendy workouts, sports or recreational activities will still be a popular way to stay in shape. Playing a friendly game of basketball or volleyball, training for a marathon, or taking a day-long bike ride are just a few examples.

10. Mixing It Up:
Research shows you’ll get similar if not better results if you mix things up. For example, do low-intensity cardio with intervals on some days, then switch to high-volume, low- intensity weight training with low-volume, high-intensity training on other days.

Source: American Council on Exercise