Understanding Salon Shine Treatments

Professional glossing treatments deliver impressive immediate results, and the effects typically last four to six weeks. Keratin treatments promise longer-lasting shine and require regular maintenance. If you’re maintaining glossy hair year-round, you need consistent salon visits and special maintenance products.

While these treatments deliver results, they’re fundamentally a temporary solution. The moment you stop the treatments, your hair returns to its previous state. It’s a cycle that keeps you coming back to the salon chair regularly.

Enter Beer Shampoo: The Natural Alternative

Beer shampoo for hair offers a refreshing alternative to salon treatments. Quality beer shampoos work by leveraging the natural properties of beer’s key ingredients—proteins from malted barley, B vitamins, and hops—to strengthen hair shafts and create that coveted glossy finish. Unlike salon treatments that coat the hair temporarily, beer shampoo actually nourishes and improves hair health over time.

The Science Behind Natural Shine

What makes beer shampoo so effective at delivering shine? The answer lies in its unique composition. The proteins in beer bind to the hair cuticle, filling in microscopic gaps and damage that cause hair to appear dull. This creates a smoother surface that reflects light more effectively—the very definition of shiny hair.

Meanwhile, the B vitamins—particularly biotin and niacin—work to improve overall hair health. Biotin strengthens the keratin infrastructure of each strand, while niacin enhances blood circulation to the scalp, ensuring your hair grows in healthier and shinier from the root. The hops in beer contain antioxidants that seal the cuticle and lock in moisture, preventing the frizz and dullness that comes from environmental damage.

This multi-faceted approach means you’re not just getting temporary shine—you’re actually improving your hair’s condition with every wash.

Comparing Results: Salon vs. Beer Shampoo

Users who’ve made the switch from regular salon treatments to beer shampoo report surprisingly comparable results. While salon glossing treatments deliver instant, dramatic shine, beer shampoo builds its effects gradually over two to three weeks of consistent use. The benefit? Once you achieve that shine with beer shampoo, it tends to be more sustainable and natural-looking.

Salon treatments often leave hair looking almost artificially glossy for the first week, then gradually fade. Beer shampoo, on the other hand, creates a more subtle, natural-looking shine that improves consistently as you continue using it. Many users describe it as the difference between wearing heavy makeup and having naturally glowing skin—both look good, but one feels more authentic and easier to maintain.

The Philosophy of Smart Beauty Choices

Making the switch to beer shampoo represents a broader shift in how we think about beauty routines. Just as some people search for years to find their forever perfume—that perfect signature scent that becomes part of their identity—smart beauty enthusiasts are seeking products that deliver consistent, long-term results.

Your forever perfume is an investment piece that defines your presence. Similarly, finding the right hair care routine that actually works can transform not just your appearance, but your entire approach to personal care. It’s about working smarter with effective solutions.

The Convenience Factor

Beyond the direct benefits of treatments, salon visits require time spent traveling to and from appointments, sitting in the chair for hours, and scheduling your life around treatment intervals. Many salon shine treatments also require specific maintenance products as part of your ongoing hair care routine.

Beer shampoo eliminates these time commitments entirely. You can use it during your regular shower routine, with no special timing requirements or follow-up appointments. There’s no need to purchase complementary products—beer shampoo works effectively on its own, though it pairs well with any conditioner you already own.

Making the Switch: What to Expect

If you’re considering transitioning from salon treatments to beer shampoo, here’s what to expect. During the first week, your hair might go through a brief adjustment period as it adapts to the new formula, especially if you’ve been using salon products. By week two, you’ll start noticing increased shine and smoother texture. By week three to four, most users report shine levels comparable to their previous salon treatments.

The key is consistency. Unlike one-off salon treatments, beer shampoo works best when used regularly as part of your hair care routine. Think of it as a long-term approach to hair health rather than a quick fix.

The Bottom Line

The beauty industry often promotes the idea that effective products must be complex or require professional application, but beer shampoo proves otherwise. You can achieve comparable—and in many cases, superior—results at home with consistent use.

Beautiful, shiny hair should be accessible to everyone. Beer shampoo proves that with the right ingredients and consistent use, salon-quality results are within reach. Your hair will thank you for making the switch to a natural, effective solution.

The post The Unexpected Ingredient That Delivers Salon-Quality Shine at Home appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

Jaipur, Jan 4: Discarded cigarette buds have morphed into refined sculptures at the hands of Jaipur-based artist Prashant Pandey as he incorporates one of the most ignored elements of urban litter into his distinctive artistic language.

The artist believes cigarette waste carries intimate traces of human presence. “These remnants hold breath, habit and time. They are private gestures left behind in public spaces,” he said, offering a glimpse into his ethos.

His solo exhibition, ‘Biography’, will be presented at Gallery Maskara during Mumbai Gallery Weekend 2026.

The exhibition features more than 70 sculptural works made entirely from discarded cigarette buds. Each sculpture uses around 5,000 of these pieces of urban disuse. In total, over 3.5 lakh butts have gone into creating the body of work, the artist said.

The material was collected over several years from the streets of Jaipur and from public smoking zones at airports, restaurants and other shared spaces.

“I have been working with cigarette buds since 2010. It took me five years to complete this project,” Pandey said. “What we discard often reveals more about us than what we choose to keep.”

Pandey said he was drawn to cigarette buds because of their invisibility despite their abundance. “They are everywhere, yet rarely noticed. That contradiction makes them powerful,” he said.

The works resemble leaf skins, anatomical membranes and floating cellular systems. The exhibition moves away from the lifespan of objects and focuses instead on the silent stories embedded within them.

“Rather than moralising, ‘Biography’ functions like an archaeology of everyday gestures,” the artist said.

Beyond his contemporary practice, Pandey has also been involved in major cultural projects. He was part of the team that worked on the sculptural execution of the Ram Darbar idols at the Ram Temple complex in Ayodhya.

The project required meticulous craftsmanship, traditional sculptural discipline and close collaboration with master artisans, highlighting the artist’s ability to move between experimental contemporary art and classical sacred forms, Pandey said.

The exhibition will open with a preview during Mumbai Gallery Weekend from January 8 to 11. It will remain on view at Gallery Maskara from January 12 to February 28.

The post Jaipur-based sculptor turns ‘invisible, yet abundant’ cigarette litter into works of art appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

Amanda V Varvocks, an Australian tourist who reached the town on Thursday, said she was confined to her hotel and rued the “lack of information” from the government.

Leh town was rocked by violent protests on Wednesday during a shutdown called by the youth wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) to press for advancement of talks between the centre and Ladakh representatives with regard to the primary demand of statehood and extension of the sixth schedule of the Constitution to the region.

Four people died and scores of others were injured in the firing as police and paramilitary forces struggled to control the situation amid rampaging crowds indulging in arson and stone-pelting targeting the hill council headquarters and a BJP office.

“This is nothing short of a nightmare…we have planned a visit to different places during our stay here, but the administration is not forthcoming. We have paid for our visit to Pangong Lake and also received the permit, but they are not allowing us, saying there is no signature on the slip,” Vorvoks, also known by her nickname Mandy, said.

Accompanied by Indian citizen Anuj Handoo, who works in a private bank in Delhi-NCR, she said the lack of clear communication from the officials is frustrating and urged the government to give a clarification so that tourists can decide whether to continue their stay or cut short their visit.

“The problem is only in the town where we are being forced to stay. There is no issue at other places, but they are not giving us any information,” Vorvoks said.

The tourist said she had visited many places in India, and it was her long-cherished wish to visit Ladakh. “The wish was fulfilled, but I would not have liked it this way.” She said the hotel staff are also concerned about their guests, as they are running low on essential supplies due to the security lockdown.

Handoo said they have been trying to get the official’s signature on the permit slip for visiting Pangong Lake for the last two days, but could not succeed due to the curfew.

“We are returning on October 2 and want the government to appoint a nodal officer to facilitate the smooth movement of tourists,” he said.

Handoo said they have heard that some foreign tourists were cleared for the trip and have left for the lake.

“Most of the tourists are staying in their hotel rooms,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Ladakh administration has asked job aspirants appearing in the examination for selection of civil judge (junior division), being conducted by the J&K Public Service Commission, to produce their admit cards, which shall be treated as curfew passes during their to-and-fro movement.

“In view of the restrictions currently put in place, candidates belonging to Leh and Kargil are hereby informed that they will be allowed to travel to Srinagar or Jammu (in J&K) for appearing in the examination (on September 28) on production of their admit cards, which shall be treated as curfew passes during their to-and-fro movement,” an official announcement said. (KDC)

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Film: Songs of Paradise

Directed by Danish Renzu
Top Trending on Amazon Prime from 29 August 2025

Produced by: Farhaan Akhtar Excel, Danish Renzu, Renzu Films, Shafat Qazi, Apple Tree

Cast: Saba Azad, Soni Razdan, Zain Khan Durrani, Taaruk Raina, Lillete Dubey, Sheeba Chaddha, Shishir Sharma, Lalit Parimoo

From its grand premiere in Mumbai, graced by Bollywood legends including Hrithik Roshan, Alia Bhatt, Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Mahesh Bhatt, Farhan Akhtar, and many more, Songs of Paradise has mesmerized audiences across the globe.

Immediately after its screening, national and international media hailed the film as one of the finest works of art cinema in recent years. Streaming now on Amazon Prime in hundreds of countries with subtitles in multiple languages, it has already achieved a distinguished place on the global stage.

At the heart of this cinematic masterpiece lies a moving tribute to Raj Begum — the first woman to sing on Radio Kashmir, celebrated as the ‘Nightingale of Kashmir.’ Danish Renzu’s direction brings alive her extraordinary journey, her struggles, and her unmatched contribution of over 2,000 songs, most of them rooted in Sufi tradition.

The film also highlights the timeless importance of women’s empowerment, challenging orthodoxy and reclaiming music as a source of spiritual ecstasy rather than suppression. In one of the most talked-about moments, Saba Azad, draped in an ancient Kashmiri veil, turns what was once seen as confinement into a powerful symbol of strength and rebellion. Her performance has been widely hailed as transformative — establishing her as one of the finest performers of her generation.

Supported by a stellar cast including Soni Razdan, Zain Khan, Tariq Raina, and Masrat-ul-Nisa, and enriched with the music of Abhay Rustum Sopori, the film triumphantly weaves Kashmiri art, music, and history into an unforgettable cinematic tapestry.

Beyond cinema, Songs of Paradise connects generations — echoing Kashmir’s 5,000-year-old cultural legacy, from the ancient Harwan Buddhist tiles engraved with musical motifs to the living memory of Raj Begum’s voice.

Today, the songs of the film are trending worldwide, becoming part of weddings, homes, and celebrations. Social media is abuzz, and audiences everywhere are calling it not just a film, but an artistic revolution from Kashmir that extinguishes hate with harmony.

Songs of Paradise is more than a film — it is a renaissance of Kashmir’s cultural heritage, a beacon of art, and a cinematic treasure destined to live on for generations.

The post Review | Danish Renzu’s film ‘Songs of Paradise’ enhanced status of Kashmir culture at global level appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

On Tuesday, the actor took to his Instagram, and shared a BTS picture from the sets of the film. The picture shows the actor peeking through the clapperboard. The 86th scene from the film shows a close-up shot 1 of the actor giving his 1st take.

Salman can be seen dressed in combat fatigues featuring a jacket with insignia, and other layers of the old Personal Camouflage Disruptive Pattern Material (PC DPM). Since the Galwan stand-off happened in 2020-2021, the character has been dressed accordingly. PC DPM was replaced by the New Battle Dress Uniform (NBDU) of the INCAM (Indian National Camouflage).

The new uniform was unveiled on January 15, 2022 during the 74th Army Day Parade in New Delhi. The new pattern was designed in collaboration with NIFT.

The picture also features a wound running down the actor’s side face. He wrote in the caption, “#BattleOfGalwan”.

The film is based on the Galwan stand-off between India and its expansionist neighbour, China on June 15, 2020 during the thick of the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in India.

The Indian and Chinese troops clashed in the Galwan Valley, eastern Ladakh. It was part of a larger border standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The clash turned violent when both sides attempted to patrol disputed areas, leading to hand-to-hand combat.

The fighting resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers, while China also suffered casualties. This was the deadliest India–China face-off in over four decades, escalating tensions and prompting both nations to increase troop deployments and engage in diplomatic talks to avoid further conflict.

Currently, India and China have mended their relationship, and have opened multiple channels as a part of diplomacy as India struggles against the tariff imposed by the USA, the arch-rival of China in the west.

The post Salman Khan shares picture in combat fatigues from the sets of ‘Galwan’ appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

The 14-track album is a soulful tribute to Kashmir’s timeless melodies, blending tradition with contemporary artistry. Featuring exquisite recreations by acclaimed composer Abhay Sopori, Songs of Paradise captures the essence of Kashmir like never before.

Alongside Masrat Un Nissa, who has become an overnight sensation in Kashmir, the album brings together a stellar lineup of voices: Zartasha Zainab, Taaruk Raina, Munir Ahmad Mir, and the legendary Kailash Mehra, who makes a powerful comeback with the eternal Dil Tsooran.

A celebration of Kashmir’s music, culture, and storytelling, Songs of Paradise is not just an album – it is a revival of a heritage that has inspired generations. With its universal appeal, it promises to leave music lovers enchanted.

The post Danish Renzu’s ‘Songs of Paradise’ full album launches – A musical treat for all appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

Armani died at home, the fashion house said.

The fashion designer failed to appear at his runway shows in June as he was recovering from an undisclosed illness.

He was planning a major event to celebrate 50 years of his signature Giorgio Armani fashion house during Milan Fashion Week this month.

The post Fashion designer Giorgio Armani dies at 91 appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

There was a time when Kashmir was known less for conflict and more for its music, poetry, and breathtaking landscapes. A time when the Valley’s beauty was measured in verses and melodies rather than headlines of violence. Danish Renzu’s Songs of Paradise harks back to this gentler era, weaving a cinematic ode to one of Kashmir’s greatest voices, Raj Begum, the first woman to sing on Radio Kashmir and later revered as the “Melody Queen of Kashmir.”

Set in 1954 Srinagar, the film follows Zeba (Saba Azad), a young woman with a gift for song, who dares to step into spaces where women were not welcome. She is the only woman in the recording studio, eating lunch in solitude, navigating a workplace without even a toilet for her, and yet her voice becomes a defiant act of presence. Through the eyes of a young music researcher, Rumi (Taaruk Raina), we meet the older Zeba (Soni Razdan), who reflects on the battles she once fought, for dignity, for respect, for the simple right to sing.

Renzu’s film is steeped in nostalgia, not only for the soundscape of Radio Kashmir but also for the syncretic culture of the Valley. Here, music bridges divides, poetry shapes thought, and a young girl’s song becomes an assertion of identity. This is not the Kashmir of modern Bollywood thrillers obsessed with terrorism; it is a Kashmir of weddings, gardens, rivers, and radio waves humming with possibility.

The performances form the film’s beating heart. Saba Azad’s Zeba is a portrait of understated rebellion, her shoulders hunched in public, her words measured, her presence demure, until she takes her place before a microphone. Then, her voice soars with a confidence the world has denied her. Azad captures Zeba’s humility and quiet determination with remarkable precision. In turn, Soni Razdan mirrors these traits in her portrayal of the older Zeba, her expressions weathered with time but still luminous with resolve. Together, Azad and Razdan seem less like two actresses playing the same character and more like one woman glimpsed through the prism of time.

The supporting cast enriches the journey. Sheeba Chaddha brings sharpness to the role of Zeba’s orthodox mother, while Bashir Lone as her tender father lends her dreams a fragile hope. Shishir Sharma, as the Ustad who recognises a lotus blooming in muddy waters, and Zain Khan Durrani as the poet Azaad, who later becomes her husband, provide Zeba the guidance and encouragement she needs, embodying the men who helped her step into the public light.

Music, naturally, is the film’s crowning glory. Abhay Sopori recreates Kashmiri melodies with reverence, while Masrat-un-Nisa’s haunting voice, which performs Zeba’s songs, feels as though it belongs to the crackling radios of the 1950s. Each song brims with longing, evoking a world where music was not merely entertainment but heritage and faith.

If the screenplay occasionally falters, smoothing over Zeba’s obstacles and rendering her rise more effortless than it likely was, the atmosphere makes up for it. Renzu’s restrained, classic storytelling style lets the film breathe like a long ballad, filled with small, tender moments: Zeba humming at her window, hesitating before sitting too close to a male composer, or lowering her eyes even as her voice soars across the Valley.

At its core, Songs of Paradise is less about struggle and more about celebration, the celebration of a voice that refused to be silenced, of a culture remembered through song, and of a Kashmir where music and poetry once reigned supreme. And in the seamless duet of Saba Azad and Soni Razdan, the film finds its most lyrical note. The film is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. (Courtesy: Filmfare.com)

The post Songs of Paradise Review: Lyrical and Poetic Period Drama appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

The film, which draws inspiration from the life and legacy of Padma Shri awardee Raj Begum, will stream exclusively on the platform in India and over 200 countries and territories from August 29.

Presented by Excel Entertainment and produced by Apple Tree Pictures Production and Renzu Films Production, the film is directed by Kashmiri filmmaker Danish Renzu and produced by Shafat Qazi and Renzu. It stars Saba Azad and Soni Razdan in dual timelines as Noor Begum, a character based on Raj Begum, alongside Zain Khan Durrani, Sheeba Chaddha, Taaruk Raina, and Lillete Dubey.

Described by the makers as a poignant tribute to resilience, identity, and courage, Songs of Paradise revisits the story of Kashmir’s first prominent female playback singer, whose music and defiance not only challenged societal barriers but also inspired generations of women.

Manish Menghani, director and head of content licensing at Prime Video India, said the film offers “a fresh and emotional perspective rooted in Kashmir’s rich musical legacy” and will bring to life “a remarkable lesser-known true story of resilience and independence.”

Ritesh Sidhwani of Excel Entertainment called the film “a timeless tale of a champion and torchbearer for artists from the culturally rich land of Kashmir,” while director Danish Renzu said it is “a heartfelt tribute” to Raj Begum, “the first female voice at Radio Kashmir” who dared to dream when it was an “unspoken taboo.”

Danish Renzu added: “Songs of Paradise is a heartfelt tribute to Padma Shri recipient Raj Begum, the first female voice at Radio Kashmir. The film tells an emotionally stirring story inspired by her music, legacy, and grit during a time when societal restrictions bound women within both emotional and cultural confines. It is the story of a woman who dared to dream when dreaming itself was an unspoken taboo. Saba Azad and Soni Razdan beautifully embody the protagonist across two distinct phases of life in this poignant portrait of a true legend, complemented by unmissable performances from a stellar ensemble cast. Thanks to Prime Video, audiences across the world will now be able to witness her story—one that has long deserved a place of pride.”

The post Prime Video to premiere Kashmiri musical drama ‘Songs of Paradise’ on August 29 appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

“Every Indian has a favourite mango, and fierce regional loyalties have long fueled passionate debates over which variety reigns supreme,” says Pushpesh Pant, a Delhi-based historian and culinary expert. In his acclaimed book Mangifera indica: A Biography of the Mango, writer Sopan Joshi captures the fruit’s significance: “Good mangoes are not just eaten; they’re admired like fine jewellery. The rules of the mango push the best produce toward those willing to pay the highest price.”

As per a BBC report, India grows more than 1,000 varieties of mangoes, each reflecting its region’s character. Northern and eastern cultivars like Langra, Dasheri, Chausa, and Himsagar are known for their intense sweetness. Southern varieties often carry a more complex sweet-sour profile. Meanwhile, the famed Alphonso from western India owes its legendary status to a perfect balance of sugar and acidity.

So central is the mango to Indian life that the flowering of the tree often marks the beginning of the agricultural year. The great poet Ghalib once called the mango “a sealed glass of honey,” and countless poems, books, and essays have been dedicated to its allure.

At once an indulgence and an emblem, the mango continues to inspire devotion — now with an unexpected endorsement from science, suggesting that this cherished fruit may not only please the palate but support health too.

Can People with Diabetes Eat Mangoes? New Research Challenges Old Beliefs

“Mangoes are an essential part of the Indian summer — their sweetness, variety, and cultural significance make them hard to resist,” says Dr. Rahul Baxi, a leading diabetologist based in Mumbai.

But behind this simple question lies a tangle of myths and confusion. Some believe mangoes should be completely off-limits for people with diabetes, while others go so far as to claim that mangoes can reverse the condition.

This fear has led many with diabetes to avoid mangoes altogether. But emerging research is painting a more nuanced picture — and for mango lovers, it’s surprisingly optimistic.

A second eight-week randomised trial published in the Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders – conducted at Delhi’s Fortis C-DOC with Indian Council of Medical Research funding – has reinforced the findings. Thirty-five adults with type 2 diabetes who replaced their breakfast bread with 250g of mango saw improvements in fasting glucose, haemoglobin A1C test (HbA1c) which measures average blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, weight, waist circumference and HDL cholesterol. These markers are key indicators of diabetes control and overall metabolic health.

Rethinking Mangoes and Blood Sugar

Two recent Indian clinical trials suggest that when consumed in moderation and in place of other carbohydrates (like white bread), mangoes may actually support better blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes.

To understand why that matters, it helps to recall the difference between diabetes types:

• Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body produces little or no insulin.
• Type 2 diabetes — which accounts for over 90% of cases globally — involves insulin resistance and is closely linked to excess weight, age, ethnicity, and genetics.

India is home to an estimated 77 million adults with type 2 diabetes, and another 25 million who are prediabetic, according to the World Health Organization.

A pilot study involving 95 participants — soon to be published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition — compared the glycemic responses of three popular Indian mango varieties (Safeda, Dasheri, and Langra) to white bread.

The findings? Mangoes produced similar or even lower blood sugar spikes than white bread over a two-hour period. Continuous glucose monitoring over three days further revealed that people with type 2 diabetes experienced smaller post-meal glucose fluctuations after eating mangoes.

In a country where mangoes are celebrated through seasonal festivals and family traditions, the idea that people with diabetes must avoid them altogether is both disappointing and unnecessary.

The post More than a summer treat, mangoes may actually support blood sugar levels: Experts appeared first on Greater Kashmir.