This week it was celebrity news that easily dimmed the daily buzz about the presidential election. Obama and McCain were no longer the subjects of water cooler conversation. They both took a back seat to the doomed relationship of Anne Hathaway, the much speculated Guy Ritchie-Madonna-A-Rod love triangle, and Christie Brinkley's nasty divorce from Peter Cook. There was one happy piece of celebrity news that almost got lost during this most scandalous time: Angelina Jolie entered a hospital in the South of France to begin the birth process of her twins. At last, a breath of fresh air in the middle of this down and dirty week!

Pregnant women always seem content and fulfilled. This is especially obvious when a woman with child serenely touches her swollen belly. Undoubtedly, pregnant women often are at their most beautiful. Even with super-charged pregnancy hormones perking in their bodies, it is essential that they take care of their appearance. They will probably have to modify and adjust their maintenance routine as their body changes.

When you’re pregnant, the key to looking beautiful is accepting and dealing with the changes your body is going through. And everything does change. The amount of estrogen released in your body increases. As your belly grows, your may notice a change in your hair. Some women see that their hair has become limp and lackluster. If this happens to you, don't worry. This change is temporary. In the meantime, use styling products that add volume and shine, making the most of your new hair texture. On the other hand, you may be like most women and experience your dream hair during pregnancy. It grows faster, becomes thicker, and has a more radiant look. Luxuriate in your hair during your pregnancy, because you may well have some hair loss after the birth of your child or shortly after you stop breast feeding. Do not panic if this happens. Almost as soon as you notice you have less hair, you will see new growth around your hairline. It is simply a process of your hormones returning to their normal levels.

Some women feel the need to cut their hair to a more practical length during pregnancy or when they become new mothers. This is not always the best idea. Many women carry baby weight in their face. Hair that has long layers can give the illusion of a thinner face. Hair that is long enough to tie back is also easier for those days when you are too tired to be bothered with your hair.

Pregnancy and hair color has become a major issue for women, especially for women who have grey hair and become pregnant. The thought of a protruding belly and grey roots is more than many woman can handle. Even though there is little scientific evidence suggesting hair color during pregnancy is harmful to the baby, I always tell my clients to follow their doctor's recommendations. Some doctors suggest not coloring hair during the entire pregnancy; others suggest not doing it for the first trimester. Be sure to ask your doctor about highlights. Remind her or him that with this process, the hair color does not touch the scalp. Highlights can camouflage grey hair. Low lights (highlights with tint) can camouflage and cover grey.

The maternal instinct develops during the gestation period. The mother begins to protect her child even before birth. The instinct to take care of herself, however, can wane once the child is born. It is essential to take care of yourself to maintain a healthy mental attitude. This time with your child should be one of the most joyous times of your life. Look beautiful and be happy.

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