A staggering ninety per cent of men believe that their partners are natural beauties, with less than a third of women believing this to be the case, a new survey has revealed.

The research, conducted by leading home hair colour brand nice 'n easy said that 45 per cent of women surveyed admitted to having at least one beauty secret, while 23 per cent confided that nobody (even their friends) really knew the extent of their beautifying.

Top of the beauty confidential list is waxing or bleaching their moustache, with 27 per cent confessing that this would be the worst beauty secret that their partners could discover.

Other thing topping the list were the fear of partners discovering underarm hair (35 per cent), stubbly legs (23 per cent) and grey roots (12 per cent).

As well as helping women to cover up these beauty faux-pas' and look their personal best, the research revealed that the beauty secrets could in fact be healthy for relationships.

Although men prefer the natural look, they have no idea how much effort goes into it

Of the British men polled, 87 per cent said that they did not mind if their partner kept some of their beauty rituals secret, a view that is supported by women, with 70 per cent who keep a beauty secret from their partner believing it to be a key to a good relationship.

The beauty rituals women prefer to keep secret are:
1. Waxing or bleaching moustache (94 per cent)
2. Waxing bikini line (90 per cent)
3. Whitening teeth (90 per cent)
4. Applying fake tan (79 per cent)
5. Plucking eyebrows (41 per cent)

Women and men are as different as chalk and cheese. Men always find it difficult to understand women. Or so they proclaim. 

But believe us, we are not that difficult to understand. Just try to keep the communication channel open and see how things fall into their place. Here's a guide of some of the things women wish men automatically understood (and remember it's neither astro-physics nor micro-biology).

1. We know men are low in EQ (Emotional Quotient) but make an effort to understand emotions. But remember we don't like men who can't control their emotions. Cry babies (oops men) are not what we are exactly looking at in life..

2. When we talk, pay attention to what we are saying. Don't just nod your head and continue watching the cricket match on television.

3. Your mother might be great in the kitchen and can whip up gourmet dishes in no time. But sorry we can't go on listening to your running commentary on her remarkable culinary skills.

4. We believe in the power of communication. So, talk, fight but don't just go into 'silent' mode. Leave that mode to your mobile phones.

5. All of us love a dash of chivalry in our partners. So be courteous and show us that you are well brought-up.

6. Don't brag. Showing off really acts against you. Be subtle about your fat pay packet, your swanky car and the like. That shows your class.

7. Don't think that you own us. So, behave accordingly. Like men folk, we also like our own space.

8. Romance comes naturally to us. We love it when a man expresses his love. So, please show us that you love. Say it through flowers, dinners, gifts and of course count surprises as an important element of our DNA. Understand these basic points and act accordingly

9. Don't try to give us lessons on moral science. And for heaven's sake don't comment on a low-neckline dress. That's a very cheap thing to do.

10. Don't crack jokes on our family members, close friends. Show your great sense of humour with a touch of sensibility..

Cocktail - a film whose young and fresh vibe clicked big time with youngsters. While two girls in love with the same boy is not a new theme, while watching this fun live-in couple it sure seemed that finally, casual indeed has become cool and acceptable in relationships. But, scratch the gloss and one realises that biases hide beneath. Because even in a 2012 film like 'Cocktail,' the film's hero Gautam is liberal enough to be in a casual relationship with the free-spirited Veronica, but chooses the salwar-kameezed-kitchen-queen-bahu Meera to take home. Are we as a race suckers for traditional ends or is it merely confusion of whether to commit or not that's affecting relationships aaj kal? TLS finds out...

Blame it on conditioning

Saying that Indians - young or old - are not mentally prepared to take accept casual relationships, Sohni Chakrabarty, a media professional, explains the confusion thus: "Since childhood our minds are strongly conditioned to not accept casual relationships. And we see a reflection of this in Cocktail. It's an underlying generation war that we all face everyday. So, when the when the hero introduces the conventional and very traditional Meera to his Maa instead of his real partner - the bold Veronica, we all could actually identify with it. It may be an ugly truth, but then this is the truth that adds confusion in our relationships."

Happy ends

While a free spirit and care-a-damn attitude may take you through your youth, many youngsters admit that in the end it's the wedding altar that brings most people happiness. Siddharth Bharti, a lifestyle event manager, says "People do flaunt casual relationships, but they are simply fooling themselves. Deep down they all know they have to commit when reality bites and here's where the confusion sets in. And often this confusion leads to break ups, complications, sometimes even infidelity etc etc."

Love does happen

If seeking a happily-ever-after end leads to confusion in some youth, then for some like Joe Mehta, who has been in a casual relationship, it's the love that happens between two people that confuses youngsters. "While a live in begins with no-strings attached, eventually one partner does fall in love and pines for commitment. And if the other doesn't, it not only ends the relationship it also adds more confusion to the bond," she adds.

Careers versus commitment

Giving his take on this confusion Dr Rajan Bhonsle, a relationship expert says, "In olden times, women were not career oriented. Today, that has changed. They don't want to give up their careers and play a lonely wife to a rich man. But they fail to understand that career opportunities keep coming, while commitment happens once. Sticking to your partner and working things out when they go wrong is the key to a lasting bond. Also, a clear two-way clear communication between parents and children is important. While young adults should assertively say, 'We want to live differently than you,' parents should accept that their kids will make choices different than theirs."

Bold themes Vs formula

Film: Kya Kehna
Year: 2000
Highlight: Preity Zinta showed what it's like to be a teen mom.
Film's end: Bold as she walks away from the 'father'

Film: Salaam Namaste
Year: 2005
Highlight: Showed a live in relation and ends up in girl getting pregnant. She vows to raise baby alone. Bold.
Film's end: Tame. After emotional drama, love happens and boy marries girl. Vows are meant to be broken

Film: Love Aaj Kal
Year: 2009:
Highlight: Film begins with a hero-heroine break-up party. Girl marries her boss while her ex suffers from depression. Bold.
Film's end: Timid. Theirs was true love. They circled the globe before it dawned on them