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Have You Heard The Buzz About CBD Oil in Hair Care?
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is informational. It does not promote CBD products as medical cures nor does it take the place of your physician’s advice and or prescribed treatments.
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What You Need to Know about CBD Oils
CBD (cannabidiol) stories have been hitting the newswires like wildfire since the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill passed in December 2018.
Verbiage contained in the new Farm Bill removed hemp’s classification as a schedule one drug to that of an agricultural commodity, opening the floodgates for products containing CBD oil which offers health and wellness opportunities for salons and day spas.
To understand the magnitude of this change in classification, let’s start with the history of hemp.
- Cannabis is one of the oldest plants in history, one of the first plants grown on purpose because of its versatility. It was used for food, clothing and shelter, and the oils derived from the plant's seeds were used to light lamps.
- For 60 years, prior to its prohibition, Cannabis was the 3rd largest pharmaceutical medication prescribed by physicians. Companies like Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and Parke Davis all had developed medicines containing Cannabis.
- In 1937, Congress used an obscure name “marijuana” to ban cannabis because it didn’t want push back from the pharmaceutical industry. The paper industry and DuPont Chemical didn’t like competing with cannabis because of its superior properties. Once the pharmaceutical industry found out cannabis was grouped with marijuana and banned from use, it was too late.
- Hemp and Marijuana are not the same but they are both part of the cannabis family. While Marijuana was mainly known for recreational purposes, Hemp has huge medicinal benefits when used in part as a healthy dietary supplement.
Health Benefits
The medical discovery of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) was made in the early 1990s. Fewer than 10% of medical schools actually study literature on ECS in their classes, because it’s that new. That’s why many physicians are hesitant to allow or recommend CBD products. They don’t have the time to research it and pharmaceutical companies are not eager to educate them on products they don’t have to market yet. With increased public demand, the physician’s learning curve will get faster.
- The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is the greatest neurotransmitter system in the body. Its primary function is to promote Homeostasis (balance in our bodies). It affects mood, memory, motor control, pain perception, appetite, sleep and so much more.
- Literally considered the engine for balance in our bodies, ECS is connected to all other systems. Endocannabinoid hormones are present in every tissue in our bodies as well.
- In conditions where your nerves are not functioning well and you’re are experiencing difficulties with pain, anxiety, insomnia, all these things are related to a dysfunction in the endocannabinoid system. ECS affects your immune system which in turn affects your level of inflammation and how your body responds to injury and infection.
- The composition of the endocannabinoid system consists of two receptors, two hormones and enzymes. CB1 receptors live primarily in the brain and spinal cord; they help control your nervous system function. CB2 receptors are located all over the body concentrated in your immune system.
- The release of the hormone Anandamide (meaning bliss) causes you to feel blissful. Its function affects pleasure, food intake, sleep, pain relief, anxiety and stress--it acts as a bridge between mind and body. Migraines, Fibromyalgia, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome all caused by a deficiency of Anandamide. When Anandamides are low, pain is high.
- The 2AG hormone regulates the immune system. It protects your neurons and has an anti-inflammatory function.
- Enzymes produce and breakdown these hormones.
If Cannabis is so great, why hasn’t Big Pharma taken steps to own it already?
It’s because they were restricted. Due to the prior illegal nature of Hemp, pharmaceutical companies couldn’t conduct studies on the benefits of CBD Oil without damaging relationships with the Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Pharmaceutical companies are way behind the supplement industry because they have to go through decades of research before coming out with a product. Their hands have been tied by bureaucracy. This is why supplemental products containing CBD can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of pharmaceutical drugs. However, this is also why it’s so important to know the facts about CBD products and what to look for before you make a purchase.
CBD Oil and ECS
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is an informational paper. It does not promote CBD products as medical cures nor does it take the place of your physician’s advice and or prescribed treatments.
The Endocannabinoid System is fueled by our food supply. Our food supply is not as rich in nutrients as it used to be. CBD supports and mimics the ECS function with phytocannabinoids. CBD Oil is super fuel for ECS, full of linoleic acid and other key omega fatty acids to help rejuvenate the body.
- CBD can be made from full-spectrum oil or the CBD isolate and any variation in-between. In order to get full health benefits from using CBD products, it is important to use full-spectrum oil.
- Health Studies surrounding CBD proclaim it to be anti-bacterial which protects neurons, promotes bone growth, and reduces seizures and convulsions. More studies declare CBD can reduce blood sugar levels, suppress muscle spasms, and reduce inflammation.
Receptors impacted by CBD include Opioid receptors which affect pain : Dopamine receptors which affect memory and mood; and Serotonin receptors which affect anxiety and depression.
Full-Spectrum oil contains Cannabinoids, Terpenes, Flavonoids, Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Fatty Acids. Using full-spectrum oils are the key to getting the most benefit from your dietary supplement.
CBD is Safe.
CBD is safe when purchased from a reputable company. There has never been one instance of overdose with CBD. As CBD supports the Endocannabinoid System, it normalizes, putting a flat cap on overactive systems. Using too much is just wasting product.
What to look for when looking for the best in Hemp CBD Oil.
- Hemp must be from a Certified Organic Source – The Hemp plant acts as a sponge. If soils contain metals, pesticides, or other toxins they will end up in the extracted oils.
- Must be water soluble and fast acting – Most oils will only provide 6% absorption level. An 80-90 absorption rate along with a fast onset of action (5-15 minutes) is an important factor especially if someone is taking it for pain.
- Must be Third-Party tested – Ask to see third-party documentation from a known source on the specific branded product, not just CBD products in general.
- Must be Full-Spectrum Oil – Full-Spectrum CBD Oil provides a full entourage effect with side benefits as opposed to side effects.
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CBD Oil Hair Products Might Be
The Secret To Longer, Stronger Hair
By now, you’re probably at least a little familiar with CBD — you know, the other three-letter compound derived from the cannabis plant. Whereas the most ubiquitous cannabinoid, THC, is responsible for cannabis’ well-known psychoactive effects, CBD (aka, cannabidiol) delivers all of the health benefits — like decreasing pain, inflammation, and anxiety — with none of the high. Unless, of course, you get high on good hair days. Hair products made with CBD oil are on the rise, and they’re about to take your hair care game to a whole new level.
There’s a lot of confusion out there about what CBD oil actually is, though. CBD oil is oil that contains a concentration of CBD, which is derived from seeds of plants in the Cannabaceae family — including hemp and marijuana. Many CBD oils on the market are derived from hemp, since this plant has lower levels of THC (the “high”-inducing substance).
Researchers have discovered a wealth of benefits associated with CBD, including better sleep, mood regulation, and a boosted immune system… not to mention every millennial’s favorite: reduced anxiety. But as it turns out, the ingredient can also help stressed-out strands in the form of CBD-spiked shampoos, conditioners, and stylers.
“CBD oil contains all 21 known amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein,” Kevin Wachs, founder and CEO of Earthly Body (whose child company EMERA recently launched a line of CBD hair products), tells The Zoe Report. “Because of that, it helps to build up collagen and elastin, which are essential to hair strength.” He notes that by helping hair to build protein, CBD oil prevents breakage and even makes locks look thicker and fuller.
On top of that, CBD oil is high in antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E. “These three are the best studied of all the antioxidants — they protect us from pollution-induced free radicals,” Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, a Miami-based dermatologist with over 40 years of experience, tells The Zoe Report. In other words, the vitamin content of CBD shields hair from environmental damage like dryness and frizz.
“It’s also high in essential fatty acids such as Omegas 3, 6 and 9, so it helps to prevent moisture loss and keep hair well hydrated,” Wachs adds. “Additionally, one of the amino acids in CBD Oil, tyrosine, helps to maintain hair color.”
But where CBD oil really shines is scalp health. “CBD made waves in the beauty industry for its amazing benefits to the skin, and your scalp is no different,” Alli George, the marketing manager at Daintri, an online mecca for all things CBD, adds. “It’s regenerative for the skin, so it helps the scalp maintain necessary things to keep it healthy, like good blood circulation and quelling dandruff and sore or irritated hair follicles.”
It’s even been shown to stimulate hair growth, according to doctors. “People with receding or thinning hair may benefit from CBD use," Dr. Eshan Ali, the Beverly Hills Concierge Doctor, tells TZR. “Also, people with dry scalps show improvement from CBD oil.”
There is a bit of a gray area when it comes to selling CBD products, though. The initials are still controversial in some places due to their proximity to marijuana, and marijuana-derived CBD — even though it’s completely non-psychoactive — is still illegal in a handful of U.S. states (Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota) and in Canada, as well. But hemp-derived CBD is totally cleared for sale, which is why many CBD oil-boasting brands use the word “hemp” in their marketing. “A new trend that is emerging is that CBD companies are relabeling their products as ‘hemp’ only so that they don’t run into any issues selling them on the mass market via places like Amazon and Walmart,” George tells us. “In these cases, the products are the same.”
The key is to look for the words “hemp seed oil” on the ingredients list, which connotes CBD oil. If the product says “hemp extract” or just plain “hemp,” then it’s likely using ingredients from the entire hemp plant, which will dilute the concentration of CBD. “Regarding how they would affect hair, both will be beneficial in many ways,” George tells us, but notes that if you’re on the hunt for the full effects of CBD, you should “get the real deal.”
The good news is that both CBD oil and hemp are safe for anyone to use. “There is very minimal risk,” Dr. Ali says. “If anyone has an allergy to CBD, they may have a reaction, otherwise it is considered safe.”
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I Had A CBD Oil Scalp Treatment & My Hair Has Never Looked Or Felt Better
by Jacqueline Kilikita
Forget retinol or hyaluronic acid for a second, because this year, one ingredient has outshone them all: CBD. Otherwise known as cannabidiol, the component, which is derived from the cannabis plant, has been spotted in facial oils, moisturisers and masks from big name brands like Herbivore, mgc derma and The INKEY List to name a few.
Said to be rich in omega fatty acids, which are essential for skin hydration (something we're all in need of right now, thanks to winter temperatures and central heating zapping water from our skin), CBD is now making its way into haircare, and one London salon in particular is pioneering the use of the ingredient in an exclusive scalp and hair treatment.
Hari's hairdressers in Fulham is famous for its lush botanical decor, so the treatment seems apt, but with a high-profile celebrity clientele that includes Princess Eugenie, it's also somewhat unexpected. So what does it entail? Salon founder Hari worked closely with the experts at CBD oil brand Spirit of Hemp to create a four-part experience which is entirely unique. The Life Force oil, used throughout the treatment, is made up of hemp flower extract and blended with hemp blossom terpenes. It combines raw CBD oil with CBDA oil – the latter is the plant-derived compound before it goes through decarboxylation, a chemical reaction that removes the acid (A). Essentially, before it is 'treated'.
What I thought would be a simple scalp massage and a speedy blow-dry turned out to be one of the most relaxing and beneficial salon treatments I've tried – and as a beauty editor, I've experienced my fair share. According to the salon, the all-natural, non-toxic, 100% organic remedy is meant to "breathe life into lacklustre hair", leaving lengths revived and the scalp balanced, which is exactly what I needed having upset my hair and scalp after experimenting with too many different products.
The treatment began with a few drops (optional) of CBD/CBDA oil under the tongue for 6o seconds. I often take my vitamin B12 supplement this way, as it's said to find its way into the bloodstream quicker – but apparently, there's a knack to it, and micro-doses are most beneficial. In fact, both Spirit of Hemp and my therapist (who revealed she starts her day with a swig) mentioned that larger doses can sometimes have an opposite effect or do nothing at all. It tasted like a very strong, bitter olive oil with an extra green kick – not bad, but not great. It only took 15 minutes for my legs to feel lighter. At first, I wasn't sure if it was all in my head, but paired with a cup of hemp flower tea (much more palatable and packed with flavonoids, proven to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties), I was entirely zen.
While the same oil, combined with coconut oil, was slathered onto my roots, brushed through my lengths and massaged firmly into my scalp, neck and temples, I was given a CBD oil hand massage and left to relax under heat for around 30 minutes so that the treatment could work its magic by penetrating my strands and scalp. A hair wash, condition and blow-dry completed the treatment, and it's safe to say my hair has never looked or felt better. Softer, shinier, no frizz or flyaways and a hell of a lot stronger, too. And no, my hair didn't reek of weed.
At £125, you'd expect more from the treatment than simply instant results, and it does deliver. I noticed fewer flakes, my scalp didn't feel as itchy and my ends weren't as parched despite the straightener abuse. I also found that I could skip a hair wash, and as Hari himself explained while I was sitting in the chair, CBD oil has the ability to stabilise sebum production. Just like most salon treatments, this is a pretty great way to practise self-care, but all the little elements, like the massage, supplement and the tea, combined with the salon's hospitality, gives it an edge over others. I'm a CBD convert.
This article is from Refinery29
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4 Hair Care Must-Knows for Aquatic Athletes
Hitting the chlorinated water nearly every day is not always the healthiest for an aquatic athlete’s hair; however, with a focused hair care routine, you can aim for easier styling. Everyone has their own routine, but here are a couple of tips swimmers, divers, and all others – whether involved in aquatic sports or not – can rock a great hair day after intense time in the water. Grinnell College diver Jonathan Rebelsky and swimmer Gretchen Schreiner offer some tips to make sure their hair stays tame during the season.
1. Pre-Practice Hair Care Routine
First of all, know your hair type and how long you will be involved. Sometimes, swimmers have some product left over in their hair, causing their caps to slip off mid-practice and sometimes creating a slimy feeling in the water. Schreiner, who claims to have thin, straight hair, tends not to wash her hair before practice because of how easy it is for the cap to slip off. Rebelsky says that since he just dives, he only worries about rinsing his hair after practice.
As an extra precaution, Schreiner also has a certain way of making sure her cap stays secure. “I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I also do not wear my hair tied back under my cap, since I find the combination of the cap and hair tie pulls a lot more of my hair out during practice,” Schreiner says. Eventually, she just leaves her hair down, puts on her cap, tucks in her hair, and swims a full practice with her cap slip-free.
2. After-Practice Hair Care Routine
After jumping out of the pool, you will have that picture-perfect effect on your hair for a quick minute. However, once you hit the locker room, the tangles are pulling at your scalp. To keep them from getting any worse, Rebelsky uses an anti-chlorine shampoo – a popular product in the locker room – does a quick rinse and condition and finishes it off with a leave-in conditioner.
Schreiner sticks to her usual hair care routine of a regular shampoo, then conditions for about five minutes, which soaks up all the “chlorine grossness.” To follow, she rings her hair out and dries it with a towel, avoiding brushing to prevent breakage – but once in a while, the tangles need taming.
Both the swimmer and diver also recommend treating your hair to a deeper treatment once in a while. Rebelsky claims that a once-a-week almond oil treatment will leave his hair feeling healthier than ever. Schreiner treats herself to a clarifying treatment at a salon once or twice a year to hydrate her hair and remove pool contaminants: “It makes my hair feel like new!”
3. Handling Bad Hair Days
Once in a while, aquatic athletes may run into a time where they are rushing after practice and have little time to focus on their hair. Schreiner’s remedy for this is simply leaving conditioner in for a little longer. This quick step allows for the hair to detangle a bit more and remain silky before putting a comb to it.
Rebelsky is one of the lucky ones who claims to have no bad hair days. This is due to his consistent routine of keeping his hair healthy. Following the same hair care routine each day can lead to improved growth and shine, leaving little room for breakage and hair color changes to occur.
4. The Don’ts of Haircare
There are certain actions that can make it harder for aquatic athletes to keep their hair healthy, leading to hair drought, breakage, and oiliness. Schreiner says that a shampoo more than once a day can lead to hair drought: “If I have a full day of swimming, lifting, and running, I rinse my hair off to remove sweat after each practice, but I don’t wash my hair until the end of the day.” She highly agrees that a hardworking day calls for full treatment at the finish! On the other hand, Rebelsky feels that no “don’ts” exist in the world of hair care.
At times, being greatly involved in aquatic sports can make it difficult to take care of your scalp. It may take some time to find what works best for your hair. Try some of these suggestions and others as many times as needed, because what work for others may not work for you. A little experimenting can’t hurt, but don’t go overboard. Cheers to many happy and good hair days ahead!
All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.
This article is from Swimming World
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Six years ago, I was 30 and had a healthy, thick, wavy black mane.
Today I’m 36 and half my hair is gray and wiry.
My son, Gus, was looking at a picture of me from when I was 30 and asked: “Dad, how did you get so old, so fast?”
Great question, son.
Going gray didn’t happen overnight. I remember spotting a few gray strands in my late twenties. A few years later, I saw some more. Then one day I woke up, looked in the mirror, and saw as much salt as pepper.
I’ve never freaked out about going gray and have never thought about dyeing my hair back to its youthful color. Even in high school my friends described me as grandpa-like, and I actually always looked forward to getting older.
But while I’ve never worried about going gray, I have been curious about it.
What caused me to go gray at such a relatively young age? Was it stress? Genetics? A combination of both?
And now that I have gray hair, do I need to do anything different with my hair care and grooming to make it look its best?
To answer those questions, as well as get the scoop on dyeing your hair for those men who’ve considered it, I did some research and talked to Thad Forrester, owner of Hudson / Hawk Barber & Shop.
Why Does Hair Go Gray?
Each one of your hairs grows out of a hair follicle, and each follicle contains cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce two types of pigments, or colors: eumelanin, which is dark brown or black, and pheomelanin, which is reddish yellow. Eumelanin and pheomelanin blend together to give you your hair color. (Dermatologists will often refer to eumelanin and pheomelanin simply as “melanin.”)
When melanocytes in the hair follicle start to die, the strand of hair gets less melanin as it grows and takes on a more transparent color. Gray hair is hair that’s still getting a bit of melanin, but not enough to lend the hair its youthful hue. White hair is hair that’s not getting any melanin at all. Once a melanocyte cell dies, there’s no resurrecting it — it’s dead forever, and it will never produce melanin again. Barring some breakthrough in bioengineering (or dyeing your hair), once hair goes gray, it’s gray for good.
Besides giving hair its color, melanin also helps make hair smooth and lush. Consequently, gray, melanin-deprived hair often gets a wiry or coarse texture and it becomes increasingly difficult to style and manage.
So that’s the mechanism behind hair going gray — its pigment-producing cells die. But what causes those melanin cells to expire in the first place?
Scientists don’t really know.
Age certainly plays a factor and is of course why we associate going gray with getting old. As you get older, all of your body’s cells start to die and malfunction, including the cells that make hair color.
But some people go gray sooner and some people keep their color well into old age.
What gives?
There’s a popular theory that stress causes people to go gray. To bolster this argument, you’ll often see side-by-side pictures of American presidents the day they started their term and the day they ended their term. The President of the United States is arguably one of the most stressful jobs a person could have, so if a man grays considerably during his administration, we figure it was the stress that caused it, right?
Well, maybe. And maybe not. While there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that stress causes people to go gray, scientific studies that have looked into the matter have been mixed. There’s some evidence to suggest that stress hormones could disrupt melanin being delivered to your hair strands, which would cause it to go gray, but again, it’s not conclusive. With the graying of presidents’ hair, it could just be a function of getting older; 8 years is a fairly long time, after all.
So stress may or may not play a role in when you go gray. The most significant factor, according to science, is likely your genetics. If your parents went gray at a young age, then the chances of you going gray young are increased.
So what do you do when you start going gray yourself? Should you dye your hair? If you don’t dye it, do you have to change anything with your hair care? Let’s explore those questions.
Should You Dye Your Gray Hair?
To dye or not to dye. That is the question.
Graying hair is less disconcerting to men than losing hair, and unlike Western women, who are pressured to maintain their youthful looks, and hair color, for as long as possible, we males generally have the luxury of letting the aging process take its natural course. Gray hair is distinguished on a man. It makes him look wise, seasoned, and sometimes even sexy.
But if you’re in your 20s and 30s, gray hair can feel like it’s prematurely taking the sheen off this last season of youthful virility. And an older man who works in a youth-driven industry, or is back on the dating scene after being divorced or widowed, may also feel pressure to look less stodgy. If you fall into these categories and/or simply feel the desire to dye your hair, keep the following considerations in mind:
If there are just a few spots of gray on your head — like at your temples — you might consider dyeing only those patches with something like Just for Men AutoStop. With this kind of product, you don’t have to dye all of your hair (though you can), just the parts that are going gray. It’s relatively easy to use (you just comb it in and let it sit for 10 minutes before you shower), and it lasts for up to 8 weeks.
If you’re already pretty salt and peppery and you want to color all of your hair, do so gradually. If you go from George Clooney to Keanu Reeves overnight, people are going to notice. To gradually color your hair back to a more youthful color, try something like Just for Men Control GX which is hair dye in a shampoo; as you use it over the course of a month, more and more of your gray is colored, and you can stop once you’ve achieved the desired effect.
A lot of men’s drugstore/DIY hair dyes don’t actually cover all of your gray, and that’s okay; it can look more natural to still have some showing.
The downside of off-the-shelf/DIY hair coloring products, especially if you’re dyeing all your hair and want close to 100% gray coverage, is that you’re limited in the colors you can choose from. As Thad explains, “Natural hair colors and tones are extremely varied, but [men’s] color dyeing products give you like four color options to choose from — black, dark brown, light brown, and blonde. If you color with a product like that, it’s not going to match your natural hair color and things are going to look off.” When your hair’s a monotone color, it looks flat and fake, like you rubbed your hair with shoe polish.
Thad says if you truly want a better-looking end result, you need to visit a professional who specializes in hair color: “The reason women look great when they color their hair and men typically look bad is because women pay a professional a lot of of money to make it look as natural as possible, while a man will typically opt for the DIY approach. Professional hair colorers can do a better job of matching natural hair color compared to what you can get out of a box.” Traditional barbers typically aren’t trained in hair coloring, so you’ll need to visit a salon.
But before you book an appointment with a hairdresser or pick up a box of Just for Men, consider the many downsides of coloring your hair (always thoroughly read through the Amazon reviews for dyes to understand what you’re getting yourself into):
1. You have to dye your hair every 3-8 weeks. Every month and half or so (depending on how fast your hair grows, how often you get your haircut, and how frequently a particular formula of dye is applied), you’re either going to have to visit a hairdresser to dye it, a process that can take up to an hour, or go through the rigmarole of dyeing your hair at home (which is considerable: you’ve got to apply vaseline around your hairline to keep it from staining your skin, clean up stains on your countertops and hands, and so on).
2. You have to keep dyeing it for-ev-ver (or until your age surpasses your vanity). To keep your hair colored, you’ll have to keep up the dye jobs indefinitely. Once you stop, your hair, especially if it’s gone predominantly gray, will look funny growing back. Before you start dyeing, imagine yourself signing a contract with Just for Men, agreeing to use their product until 2050. As that’s essentially what you’re doing, if you’re not comfortable with that commitment, think twice about starting to color your hair.
3. It costs $$$. Getting your hair colored at a salon can cost $25-$100. That’s really going to add up over time, which again, can be decades.
4. Dyes can be harsh on hair. Hair dye contains chemicals that can sometimes make your hair fall out. Gray hair ages you, but so does thin hair.
5. No matter how natural the hair color, dyed hair never looks completely natural on a man. No hair dye — even those created by a salon — completely matches your original hair color, and even when it’s close, it still doesn’t look quite right, at least on older guys: our brains are used to seeing older women with colored hair, but don’t expect to see older men with such, so when you see a guy with a 50-year-old face, but completely jet black hair, it just registers as being a little off. You realize he dyes his hair, calling attention to it, and his age, and making him seem a little vain and insecure — the very opposite effect from what he’s looking for!
For these reasons, Thad and most male barbers recommend that men who are starting to go gray just let the process take its course. “It’s just easier to manage than dyeing your hair, [and] it looks good, and shows a lot of confidence in a guy,” Thad said.
Embracing the Silver Fox: How to Take Care of Gray Hair
As mentioned above, gray hair is caused by a reduction in melanin. Besides causing your hair to turn gray, a decrease in melanin also makes your hair wiry and harder to manage. So if you decide to embrace your gray hair, there are some changes you’ll need to make to your grooming routine to ensure your new silver mane looks its best:
1. Opt for a shorter haircut. If your hair is still thick, despite the fact it’s going gray, Thad says you still have a lot of options on how to cut and style it. “There are a lot of men with longer gray hair that look good.” (Paging Sam Elliott.) If you’re going to go longer with your gray mane, ask for a cut with more texture. A textured cut involves the barber cutting your hair at an angle which gives it some volume and movement compared to cutting your hair straight across.
While it’s possible to go long with gray hair, Thad likes to steer men with graying locks to cuts that are short on the sides and a little longer on the top (think Clooney). “I like to use clippers on the sides and the back and use some textured cuts on the top,” he said. “A short haircut lets you hide or blend the gray more compared to longer haircuts. Short gray hair is also easier to manage and style than long gray hair. Also, there’s something about a short haircut that takes the years off of a man’s face, so if you’re worried about gray hair making you look old, a shorter haircut can counteract that.”
2. Use a product with a bit of shine. As gray hair loses its natural shine (thanks to the lack of melanin), Thad recommends avoiding completely matte hair products when styling: “Matte products make your hair look a bit dull which is something you don’t want to do when you have gray hair because gray hair is already dull.”
Thad likes semi-matte hair products for gray hair, which have some shine, but not so much that it looks unnatural. A couple specific recommendations from Thad were Cardinal Atlas texturing clay and Firsthand Supply texturing clay.
One product that I’ve had success with on my gray hair is Mitch Construction Paste. It holds my hair without getting crunchy, has a bit, but not too much, shine, and includes conditioning ingredients to reduce some of the wiry-ness of my grays.
3. Don’t shampoo your hair as frequently. Thad told me that most men, including men with no gray hair, shampoo their hair way more than they need to. But shampooing your hair less frequently is even more important when you have gray hair. “Every time you shampoo your hair, you’re washing away your hair’s natural oils. You only need to shampoo your hair a few times a week. This is especially true for men with gray hair since gray hair is already naturally drier,” he said.
Instead of shampooing every time you shower, do it every other day or so.
4. Consider a hair oil. To tame the wirey-ness of your gray hair, try a hair oil, which softens and moisturizes the hair. If you’re having trouble with the coarseness of your gray hair, Thad recommends rubbing in a few drops after you shower.
5. Consider using shampoo and conditioner made especially for gray hair. Once a week use what’s called a “purple shampoo.” It’s called a purple shampoo because it’s, well, purple. They’re designed to make your gray hair look bright and vibrant rather than dull and yellow. Thad recommends talking to someone who specializes in hair color before you start using a “purple shampoo,” though, because while “They can help remove brassy tones from your hair over time . . . it’s possible to overdo it with these shampoos.”
If you reduce how often you shampoo, and use the right hair product and perhaps a hair oil, your gray hair will be in good shape, and you can confidently step into your maturity and enjoy your status as a silver fox.
This article from the blog Art of Manliness
(Guys: you might want subscribe to this blog. Their posts are full of great information.)
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Is It Bad to Sleep With Wet Hair?
If you shower before bed, you’ve probably wondered whether sleeping with damp hair is a problem. Maybe you’ve heard it could make you sick, or that it can damage your hair or skin. What’s the truth?
Let’s address the “it can make you sick” myth first.
“This idea seems to fit into the old bit of folklore that getting yourself chilled and wet will cause you to come down with a cold,” says Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
While this idea persists, Schaffner says it was long ago disproved. It’s true that you’re much more likely to catch a common cold during the winter months. But this has to do with the ways respiratory viruses proliferate and spread, he says. “You cannot catch a cold from being cold,” he adds.
Another wet-hair rumor is the idea that harmful bacteria will colonize your pillow. Illness-causing bacteria and viruses don’t appear spontaneously, and so you’re not going to make yourself ill by getting your pillow a little damp at night, Schaffner says.
But there is a possible exception. Some research has shown that pillows—especially those made with synthetic materials—can harbor asthma- or allergy-triggering molds and fungus. These microorganisms tend to do well in damp environments, and so do dust mites, says Dr. Payel Gupta, a board-certified allergist and spokesperson for the American Lung Association.
Gupta says there’s no evidence that people who sleep with wet hair experience more allergy or asthma symptoms, so any concerns about wet hair are theoretical. But if you wake up with a stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, breathing problems or other allergy or asthma symptoms—or even if you don’t—you should wash your pillow cases and sheets in hot water at least once a week to reduce your exposure to any potential irritants.
When it comes to the health of your hair and skin, there may be a few other legitimate reasons to worry about water-logged locks.
“Generally, it’s thought not to be good for hair to sleep with it wet,” says Dr. George Cotsarelis, a professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. Over time—anywhere from a few days to weeks or months—water can degrade a hair follicle’s protective outer layer, which is called the cuticle, he explains. Once that cuticle breaks down, water can penetrate it and rupture the follicle’s inner cortex. The resulting damage can lead to breakages, he says, as well as a loss of shine and elasticity.
But it’s worth noting that almost anything you do to your hair—from brushing and blow-drying it to coloring it or exposing it to the sun—can damage it. While sleeping with wet hair may not be optimal, using conditioner can help restore and repair it, says Dr. Adam Friedman, professor and interim chair of dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Friedman says the same is true of any potential skin issues that could arise from sleeping with wet hair. If you’re a side or stomach sleeper, pinning wet hair between your pillow and the skin of your face could cause some irritation, he says. Also, as the water in your hair evaporates, this could promote dryness on your face or scalp, he adds.
But a lot of people sleep with wet hair and don’t seem to have any problems, he says. And in some cases, wet hair may actually be a helpful sleep aid. Research has shown that cooling your head at night helps calm the brain’s metabolic activity in ways that promote sleep onset and restorative ZZZs.
There may be some mild risks associated with going to bed with wet hair. But of all the health concerns you could worry about, this one shouldn’t keep you up at night.
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We don’t all have the same skincare routine, so it makes sense that we shouldn’t take the one-size-fits-all approach to our haircare regime, too. However, we have a hard enough time choosing a shampoo, do we really need to also decide on which way to wash our hair? Yes, actually.
Of all the different ways to wash your hair out there (and there’s far more than you’d think), choosing the right one for you could mean the difference between a frizzy ‘fro and defined, shiny curls. But to keep things nice and simple, we’ve narrowed the field down to conditioner-only washing and double cleansing (rinse and repeat), and asked the pros to weigh in on each side to give us their reasons for why you should go down the co-cleanse or double cleanse route…
Co-cleansing is great for: Coloured, curly or coarse hair types
The pro says: “Co-cleansing, or conditioner-only washing, is what everyone is talking about in the world of hair innovation, as more and more people are choosing to ditch the styling tools and opt for a natural finish. Although it works on all hair types, this formula is most suitable for coloured, curly and coarse hair types that are prone to frizz and dryness,” explains Sam Burnett, owner of London’s award-winning Hare & Bone and winner of 2017’s Most Wanted Hair Trend award.
The biggest benefit of co-cleansing is that it doesn’t disturb or affect the placement and direction that the hair naturally falls. This is ideal for people wanting to achieve an undone finish with minimal-to-no styling. By gently cleansing the scalp, it creates less frizz overall, while thoroughly cleaning the hair follicles. Differing from traditional shampoos, co-cleansing shampoos, such as the KMS MoistRepair Cleansing Conditioner, do not disturb the cuticle as much, making it much smoother and softer. This particular formula has been created to ensure the hair is balanced and refreshed without stripping its natural oils and nutrients, which we need to keep hair looking shiny and strong. By minimising the detergent used (commonly found in traditional lathering shampoos), it keeps the hair more moisturised and conditioned.”
Double-cleansing is great for: Fine or weak hair and those worried about scalp health
The pro says: “It’s an urban myth that we shouldn’t wash our hair every day. Our scalp is an extension of the skin on our face so we need to look after it similarly,” says Kay McIntyre, owner of the award-winning mcIntyres salons in Scotland.
“Double cleansing helps to promote scalp health, which means healthier, stronger hair. With the removal of all impurities on the scalp, the hair can easier penetrate the follicle so there’s no chance of weakening. In the salon, we always promote double cleansing for the most effective removal of residue on the scalp. The first wash removes the oils, letting the second cleanse deeply clean, unclogging the follicles. Many people believe that the sebum that builds up on the scalp (within only three hours of washing) helps to protect the skin. However, sebum provides no benefits. In fact, as the oily sebum creates a film over the scalp, it stops the promotion of healthy hair growth as each new strand must fight through a barrier, causing stress and weakening the hair. I’m an ambassador for Nioxin, which specialises in products for fuller-looking hair, so scalp and hair health is at the core of what I believe. This is why I promote double cleansing to anybody who wants stronger, thicker, fuller looking hair – and who doesn’t want that?”
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Shape Up!
Hairstyling products for 2019 prep, prime, shine and secure the latest looks.
Finished hair with polished flair is the top hairstyling look for 2019 as seen during Spring/Summer 2019 Fashion Week, according to Redken global creative director Guido Palau.
“There was a nod to more finished hair this season,” he said. “From the Marc Jacobs Show featuring vintage hair color tones, to the finished hair at Prada, to the fashion-inspired hair at Miu Miu, we saw a mix of natural textures celebrating individuality. With a contrast to these more ‘dressed’ looks, which seem to be well-received. There must be something in the air and a desire for polish.”
Anthony Turner, lead stylist for Moroccanoil, agreed that sleek styles are all the rage right now. At the Missoni 65th Anniversary Show - Spring / Summer 2019 Collection, Turner created a minimalist, almost graphic hairstyle in perfect 1990s fashion.
“I thought of a simple, smooth, elegant look that could highlight and complete this extraordinary collection, so rich in content. Straight hair, graphic and squared on the back; deliberately loose for a slight touch of sweetness,” he said about the hairstyles. To celebrate Missoni’s 65th anniversary, select looks were dedicated to menswear, complemented by a super-sleek, high shine hairstyle.
“It’s something old, something new, something borrowed, and something ‘true’… this is how I would describe Esquire Grooming’s Urban Block,” said Trevelle Baker of the Esquire barber team at Farouk Systems.
Today’s modern beauty consumer is savvy; she reads labels and also looks up ingredients to learn about their origin.According to Fabian Lliguin, founder and president, Rahua by Amazon Beauty, Inc., New York, they also read reviews and ask questions.
“Consumers seek products that are clean yet effective, non-toxic, with plant-derived ingredients that are safe for their health, their family and for the environment. They also look for natural, fresh-smelling herbal scents derived from fruits, herbs and flowers,” he told Happi. “Retailers are hot on this movement and stores across the nation that cater to this category are expanding.”
Lliguin noted that natural retailers like The Detox Market, Follain, Beautycounter and Aillea are popping up to meet this demand. Sephora has instituted a “clean beauty” section and high-end salons like Butterfly Studio Salon in New York have brought in clean beauty hair and skin brands.
According to Ecovia’s latest personal care report, North American sales of natural and organic hair care products was expected to reach $1.35 billion in 2018—or about 9.5% of total hair care product sales. At press time, hair styling-specific figures were unavailable.
“The hot trend right now in stylers are products that provide shine, volume, fullness and softness which coincide with the trend for healthy, shiny, bouncy full hair,” said Lliguin. “Rahua products such as Legendary Amazon Oil serves as both a treatment and styler, as the light as air formulation provides a natural shine without the use of silicones and without weighing the hair down. Rahua Leave-in treatment also has a dual purpose of conditioning while keeping the hair controlled.”
Shoppers seek products that work and actually do what they say they do. According to Glamsquad artistic director Giovanni Vaccaro, specifically, they are looking for smoothness, volume, texture and heat protection.
“Consumers are more educated today and they want products that keep hair healthy. Products that extend the style are also very popular,” he told Happi.
Pantene is the official hair care partner for the 2019 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival which is scheduled for April. The hair care brand will host an “immersive onsite activation” with an engaging experience for festival-goers where they can play, shape and style their look at Pantene styling stations inspired by the latest “festival hair trends.” While there, attendees will also have the chance to sample or purchase various Pantene products, including those that can help recover and repair post-festival hair— no matter how wild the style.
“With 20 million people going to music festivals every year and 93% of them using styling products or tools to up their festival look, Pantene saw a great opportunity to enable personal expression to go to the next level,” said Ilaria Resta, VP-hair care for North America, Procter & Gamble. “At one of the premier events where music and self-expression are celebrated, we want everyone to be able to reveal their personality through their hair and help them achieve the look they want.”
To prep consumers ahead of festival season, Pantene launched its #FestivalHair Capsule Collection Kit with every festival and summer hair essential, including nutrient-infused stylers like Pantene Dry Shampoo and alcohol-free Airspray, and On-the-Go Frizz Iron and conditioning treatments such as Pantene One Step Nourishing Hair Masks and the new Intense Rescue Shot— the brand’s first at-home rescue treatment imported directly from Brazil, which just launched in the US. The kit comes with a festival-ready, reusable zipper bag was available for pre-order on Amazon in January.
On a more local level, New York City’s Glamsquad beauty service is branching out into finished products with a new line of hair stylers. With a unique approach to R&D, Glamsquad gathered an in-depth understanding of what people are really looking for when it comes to their beauty products through the 500,000-plus appointments they’ve booked since launching in 2014! The Glamsquad collection’s products prime, protect, perfect, style and stretch, ensuring that one’s look lasts the second (or third) day.
The Glamsquad products span from a The Untamed Texturizing Finishing Spray formulated with açai fruit oil to infuse moisture and prevent dryness, vitamin B to boost hair elasticity, hydrolyzed vegetable protein to strengthen hair over time and polymers to provide a matte finish; to Essentially Multitasking Oil featuring marula, flax and babassu oils and can be used as a styler or finisher to instantly smooth, soften and condition; to The Iconic Blowout Lotion which protects against heat damage up to 450°F for a full, shiny and flawless blowout all with one product. Formulated with beeswax for lasting shape memory, argan oil for shine and hydrolized quinoa to prevent stubborn tangles, this product is also cruelty free and free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates and mineral oil.
Unilever is thinking big with Spring hair launches from Suave and Dove. Recognizing that more women are joining the non-wash day revolution, Suave is adding Suave Professionals Between Washes Volume & Fullness Dry Shampoo. The shampoo cleans and refreshes hair for easy maintenance on non-wash days. The formulation removes oil and adds lift to any style. Meanwhile, the lightweight formula of Dove Volume & Fullness Mousse, formulated with collagen, boosts roots for fuller, healthier-looking hair with a medium hold, according to the brand.
At L’Oréal, consumers cut down on styling time and skip the flat iron with Garnier’s new Fructis Sleek Shot In-Shower Styler, which can be mixed with shampoo to provide faster, easier blow dry styling and lasting sleekness. The technology coats every hair strand evenly from root-to-tip with a flexible, hydrophobic polymer to smooth hair in the shower. The formula, infused with argan oil and Fructis’ new and innovative “sleeking” technology results in 24 hours of smoothness, shine and frizz control plus heat protection against breakage, said the company.
Also, new from Garnier are Fructis Men’s Stylers, a line of easy-to-use styling products that are said to deliver typical putty, pomade and cream in an “unexpected” new liquid formula. There are no dosage mistakes with Garnier’s liquid styling technology; the formula goes on evenly and does not stick or clump, said the company. These liquid styling products allow for effortless styling with just the right amount of hold, resulting in hair that is soft with no waxy coating.
L’Oréal Professionnel added Liss Control & Web to its arsenal of stylers. According to the company, this duo of products is ideal to shape any style. Liss Control is a gel-cream hybrid that smooths, controls and adds a sleek finish. Top it off with Web, a multi-purpose design sculpting paste, to add structure or a tousled finish. It can be used on wet, dry, styled or air dried hair.
Add polish and body to all types of tresses—no hair dryer required—with Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger No-Blowout Hydrocream. This lightweight styling cream speeds up air-drying, defines natural texture and prevents frizz for a more refined take on the effortless air-dried look, said the company. The formula is infused with a ginger tea mango fragrance, a fresh and effervescent tropical mango with notes of Italian bergamot, Sicilian lemon, green tea, lily, ginger, jasmine, musk, wood and spice.
Additionally, new at Paul Mitchell for 2019 is Invisiblewear Cloud Whip for controlled texture with defined style. This multi-tasking formula is infused with velvet flower to condition, control and define hair for a dry, touchable texture with a clean finish, according to JPMS. The Invisiblewear Air Gel is touted as a light-as-air hair gel with a unique, no-residue formula that adds volume and gives definition with a flexible hold. It is ideal for shorter hair and second-day restyling.
OGX expanded its styling collection with new formulas and package sizes. New OGX Natural Finish + Aspen Extract Texture Dry Texturizing Spray creates instant fullness with a dry touch finish that holds lift and supports shapeless hair. According to the company, it offers a non-tacky finish that’s neither stiff nor heavy.
“Shoppers are looking for products with natural ingredients that are going to provide a solution for their hair needs—whether it’s to achieve a certain style or enhance curl definition,” noted Nicola Chung, senior brand director, Sundial Brands, Amityville, NY. “In today’s consumer world, shoppers are looking to family and friends, influencers and YouTube for product recommendations and product knowledge. This shopper isn’t just shopping in one place for beauty. She is shopping multi-channel for all her beauty. In addition, price and product benefits are main drivers in purchase.”
Sundial just launched Coconut Custard Make It Last Wash N’ Go collection under its SheaMoisture banner. The formulas help achieve a defined wash-and-go for a range of textures. Made with natural, certified organic and Fair Trade ingredients with a bond-building complex that enhances natural curl patterns, the five-piece range extends the life of natural hair styles between washes. Also new under the SheaMoisture banner is Coconut & Cactus Water Hair Care. Designed for fine/medium hair, the four-piece set blends two powerhouse waters—coconut and cactus—to deliver weightless nourishment while leaving strands light and bouncy, according to the company.
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This is just a short list of movies to try and catch this month
that have a pretty good “Tomatometer” and MetaCritic rating.
March 1st
Apollo 11
Climax
Mapplethorpe
Transit
Woman at War
March 7th
Photograph
March 8th
Gloria Bell
3 Faces
Black Mother
An Elephant Sitting Still
March 15th
Ash is Purest White
The Mustang
March 22nd
Relaxer
March 29th
Diane
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You’ve likely long been touting the benefits of professional beauty products, due to their better ingredients and less harsh chemicals. But how much of that is truth versus marketing hype? One hairstylist, Jacqui Swanson ( @jacqui.swan) of Jacqui Swan in Visalia, California, decided to put her hair on the line and test how much, if at all, her hair would be affected by drugstore shampoo. Well, the proof is in the pudding, as they say, and after a week of using the non-pro stuff, her hair color had dramatically faded and her hair felt brittle and way less healthy. We talked to her about why she wanted to do this challenge, and if she would ever try anything like this again. And be sure to check out the highlights section on Swanson’s Instagram page @jacqui.swan for the Shampoo Challenge for yourself and to share with your clients. What motivated you to do the Seven Day Drugstore Shampoo Challenge?
There was a week in the salon where four new clients in a row showed me these beautiful photos of bright blondes and vibrant vivid tones with all the hopes and dreams of having that hair when they left the salon that day. Expectations were running high. After explaining what their hair would have to go through to achieve their dreams, they were all on board. But when I asked what shampoo they used at home, two said Pantene and the other two said Head & Shoulders. And one of those two didn’t even use conditioner because the bottle says 2-in-1! When I was trying to explain what it means to take care of their hair once they get home, it was like I could see their ears close. They were no longer listening. I was frustrated. While venting to a fellow stylist a few days later I said, “I know what I’ll do, I’ll use what they use and show them it’s wrong!”
What were the criteria for the Challenge?
Wash my hair hot water every day for seven days with drugstore shampoo and conditioner. Style it with non-professional products every day as well. I knew I was the perfect candidate because I have the same hair as most of my clients: a natural level 4 that’s lightened to a level 9.
What did you expect to happen to your hair after seven days? Why would you want to risk potential damage?
I expected it to feel like crap. Very dry and stiff. I knew that even though I was putting my hair at risk of feeling horrible, I also knew that any damage could be easily reversed with the right treatments. I was actually more excited to show how it would look after using great hair products.
How quickly did you notice a change in your hair? Did you notice your hair health or color change first?
I very quickly noticed a change in the quality. I normally can get away with blow drying it with my fingers and it looks nice. Not in this case. My ends looked frayed, as if I needed a haircut, but I had just got one two weeks before. It only got more tangly and more unmanageable with every wash. I noticed the hair health first, but the color was visibly different after one wash, and after two washes the vibrant pop of color was gone.
Which products did you use, and was any one better than the others?
I purchased Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo and Conditioner, Head & Shoulders Green Apple Anti-Dandruff 2-in-1, Pantene Leave On Detangling Milk, Dove Dry Shampoo and a Garnier Fructis Damage Repairing Treat. Not “Treatment.” “Treat”—whatever that means.
- The Fructis Mask was garbage; it didn’t do anything. But what do you expect for $3.00?
- The Pantene leave-in wasn’t the worst product I’ve ever tried, but knowing what a good leave-in conditioner will do, it doesn’t stack up.
- I hadn’t used Head & Shoulders in 12 years, and I have to say they have improved their formula. I used it two times and I didn’t get the buildup I remember (but I only used it twice), and I wasn’t nearly as itchy as I expected I would be (I have a horrible dandruff). But I also believe it isn’t an everyday shampoo. You should be switching between it and something else. And first and foremost it is NOT a conditioner! Two-in-one’s are junk.
The main thing I noticed about all of the products was the strong smell. They really get people with the smell. It makes them believe it’s working. But do you really want to wash your hair with perfume?
I can see in your before and after picture that your color definitely faded over the course of seven days. How much of that do you attribute to using these products vs. actually shampooing your hair every day? How often would you shampoo your hair regularly?
Water is the enemy. You want to keep water especially hot water away from your hair as much as possible. Pair that with basically washing with dish soap and say sayonara to your hair color. I am on the opposite side of the spectrum. I should wash my hair more. I say I wash my hair every three or four days, but it’s really like every five.
Do you think that this fade would have been just as prominent on someone who didn’t have a vibrant color, but more of a natural color?
Vibrant-toned hair definitely sees a more dramatic depletion in color, but any way you swing it hair color is going to fade, whether it’s natural or vivid. But when you’re investing a lot of money to get it done, take care of it. Would you put your designer bag in the washing machine?
How do you think stylists can best talk to their clients about the problems of using drugstore product? How do you educate vs. sell?
That’s exactly why I did this. I was struggling to find a way to get the point across. As stylists, we can give our clients all their hair dreams. But if they don’t maintain it properly at home, when they come back, they may complain that it didn’t last, like we did it to them. Many of my young clients come in every three months. That’s four days out of 365 that I’m taking care their hair. They are taking care of it the remaining 361 days. It truly isn’t about me making money off of you buying products or forcing you to spend a bunch of money. I don’t care where you go: Find professional hair brands you like, find good deals and use them!
The response from clients has been amazing! “You convinced me, I need to take better care of my hair!” many have said. Is the answer that every stylist needs to do this to show their clients? I don’t know, but this has been the biggest conversation starter for me to get clients to open their ears to what we’re saying.
What was your biggest takeaway from this experiment?
That people wanted to know how to take care of their hair without knowing they wanted to know. It’s all about getting the conversation started. The amount of messages from girls with questions about what they should use for their hair situation shows they just haven’t been taught how to care for their hair with the hair trends they want. Maybe messaging someone is easier than asking in salon.
Would you ever try anything like this again? (At-home hair color, for example?)
My hairstylist says no. [laughs] But really, that’s a tough one. As a working hairstylist I know if I colored it with at-home color how hard it would be to come back from that and my hair wouldn’t make it. And that’s damage only a haircut will help. But I am thinking of some ideas for future experiments. This was way fun!
Have you ever been more reluctant to shampoo your hair than after this challenge?
I don’t think it’s possible for me to wash less than I already do. [laughs] But no, it didn’t. It definitely made me appreciate professional styling products more than ever.
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Episodes:
My Favorite This Month
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Variety Studio: Actors on Actors, a series of half-hour specials that take you inside the biggest films of the year through candid conversations between some of today's most acclaimed actors.
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"Boy Erased" star Nicole Kidman and "Vice" star Amy Adams' full conversation for Variety's Actors on Actors presented by Amazon Studios.
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15 Proven Ways to Make Your Hair Grow Faster
From supplements to lifestyle changes, these are the most effective ways to amp up your locks.
Most of us are not only tied to our hair physically, but emotionally, too. It’s an extension of our identity—an important part of our physical appearance that gives us a keen type of confidence. That’s why it’s so common to feel incomplete after your hair starts thinning or falling out. While it’s perfectly normal to shed strands (in fact, most people lose 50 to 100 hairs per day on average), large clumps of hair should not be falling out and clogging the shower drain, explains celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons, whose clients include the Kardashians.
One of the biggest culprits that cause thinning hair is simply aging. “As women go through menopause, they create less estrogen and progesterone, which leaves their hair more susceptible to the effects of androgens (testosterone), hormones that thin the hair and slow down its growth,” says Erum Ilyas, MD, a dermatologist at Montgomery Dermatology in Pennsylvania. “Aside from aging, certain autoimmune conditions (frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planopilaris) can cause hair loss and result in inflammation at the base of the hair follicles, which can actually scar the hair follicle and has a risk of permanent hair loss.”
Other less severe factors may be to blame for thinning hair, too. “Crash dieting, surgeries, family stress, new jobs, having the flu, long distance travel, you name it—all can have a direct impact when it comes to shedding of the hair and its inability to grow faster,” says Dr. Ilyas. “When a major stress occurs, there is a shift in the hair cycle of growth and less hair follicles are stimulated to grow.”
Vitamin deficiencies caused by a poor diet, such as a lack of iron and vitamin B12 deficiency, have been linked to thinning hair as well. If you’re someone who hops on and off the latest diet bandwagon, especially if those diets are quite aggressive, your hair follicles can be impacted, causing aggressive fall out with no new regrowth.
The good news: Although some hair shedding is inevitable, there are plenty of solutions and tricks of the trade to help you grow a fuller, thicker head of hair relatively fast (though patience is a must!). Here, hair and skin experts share their best kept secrets for healthier and longer hair.
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San Francisco Events
March 2019
Theater, Ballet, Warriors Basketball & More
March is a great time to visit San Francisco. The rainy season is almost over and there are plenty of fun indoor and outdoor activities. The biggest event this month is the annual Saint Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade.
Other highlights include Golden State Warriors Basketball and the several performances for Hamilton on stage at the Orpheum Theater. Click the links below for more details on this month’s top events and activities.
Berlin & Beyond Film Festival
Dates: 3/8 - 3/14
Read more about the festival on their page
International Ocean Film Festival
Dates: 3/7 - 3/10
Info on this year's festival
International Chocolate Salon
Date: 3/11
Find details on the International Chocolate Salon website
Saint Patrick's Day
Festival & Parade: Saturday, 3/16
Holiday Date: Sunday, 3/17
Get more details about Saint Patrick's Day festivities in SF
Game Developers Conference
Dates: 3/18 - 3/22
More details about the conference
Human Rights Film Festival
Dates: 3/21 - 3/23
More information on this annual festival
Whiskies of the World
Date: Friday, 3/23
Tickets: Available on their official website
Bay Area Brew Fest
Date: 3/23
Read more on the festival's website
SF Giants Exhibition Games
Dates: 3/24, 3/25 & 3/26
Find out more about the Giants, ballpark, and tickets
March Events Calendar:
A full calendar of all of the top events this March.
San Francisco Festivals in March 2019
St. Paddy's Day, Beer, & Other Fun Events this Month
San Francisco festivals in March 2019 will help you celebrate the holidays, sample local beers, and check out new independent films. Highlights include the Saint Patrick's Day, Human Rights Film, and Ocean Film Festivals.
Click on the photo below for details about this year's events.
What to do in The Bay Area
Below are some links to other happenings in the Bay.
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Prepare your desired toppings.
Working one ball at a time, take a dough ball and flatten it on a surface with your hands. Starting at the center and working outwards, use your fingertips to turn and stretch the dough until ½ inch thick. Let the dough relax 5 minutes then stretch again until it’s about 10-12 inches in diameter.
Use your fingers to press dents into the surface of the dough then brush with olive oil. Let rest another 10-15 minutes. Repeat with the second ball of dough.
Lightly sprinkle a pizza peel with cornmeal. Then transfer stretched dough to the peel.
Spread each pizza with about ½ cup tomato sauce, cheese, toppings, a large pinch of salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Be careful not to overload your pizza with toppings as it will prevent the crust from baking evenly and getting crispy on the bottom.
Sprinkle cornmeal on the pizza stone then slide the pizza onto the stone in the oven.
Bake pizza one at a time until the crust is browned and the cheese is golden, about 10-15 minutes.
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Dyeing. Bleaching. Earthworms!
The Horrifying History of Hair Dye
Hair dye is by no means a new invention. In fact since early recorded history, people (particularly women) have been transforming their locks, just not in a way we – or anyone with even an ounce of sanity – would guess!
Rome: DIY Bleach and Horror
In early Rome, it wasn’t uncommon for ladies to attempt to colour greying hair with a root touch up, because apparently women aging has never been ok.
Anyway for this grey be gone, a concuction of boiled walnut shells, ashes and, er, earthworms, would be ground together to form a lovely dark paste.
But it wasn’t just dark haired ladies getting in on the gross dying action, blondes were also having fun (groan).
Trust me, you’re not gonna wanna touch that hair when you find out how the Romans dyed it.
In this era, blonde hair was used to mark sex workers.
This was done either by using blonde wigs (taken from Germanic folk the Romans had handily invaded) OR by dying the hair.
Now if you thought earthworms were bad, then you’re going to want to strap in for the next bit, because all kinds of no.
To achieve blonde hair, a woman’s hair was slathered with anything from ashes to pigeon shit and then pissed on.
I know. I’m sorry.
BUT, this grimness does actually have some science behind it! See pee contains ammonia which acts as a bleach, which in turn, helps dye hair blonde.
Isn’t history the best?!?
I’m sorry…it only gets worse from here
Elizabethan Pain and Price-tags
Elizabeth I bought lip liner to the world, as well as using lead to lighten your skin (you win some you lose some) but it wasn’t just makeup that Lizzy was pioneering; she was also waaay ahead in the hair game!
A queen of iconic hair, it’s perhaps unsurprising that a lot of women in her court wanted in on Lizzys legendary locks.
And so ladies would pluck back their hairlines to achieve that trademark high Elizabethan forehead (ouch!)
Colouring was also a big thing, with red and blonde both the beauty ideals of the day.
Blonde was achieved with a seriously expensive mix of cumin seeds, saffron, oil and celadine, effectively pricing anyone but noble borns from the faux blonde hair racket.
Still, you can’t knock a good false blonde down and women once again resorted to pissing on their heads to bleach the fuck out of their hair.
I’m sorry blondes, I promise this is probably the last mention of pee bleach.
Luckily, going red was a much nicer process.
Elizabethan ladies opted for henna, a method that is still really popular today.
Note: I’ve been dying my hair red for over a decade; the success rate of a decent colour using henna is like 0.0001%, so don’t be trying no Elizabethan dye jobs at Home.
The 1600s: It get’s better. I guess…
In 1602, Sir Hugh Platt published, Delightes for Ladies; a handy guide of hints, tips and recipes for women. Hugh even included some hair care know how that didn’t suggest dead insects or piss as hair dye ingredients!
But, don’t applaud just yet!
Yeah. Turns out Hugh reeeally didn’t like women having hair; suggesting using sulphuric acid to dye their locks a fetching blonde.
Don’t worry though, Hugh makes it clear you shouldn’t touch the acid, just rub it all over your scalp.
Thankfully by the end of the 1600s, wigs took over from highly dangerous chemicals.
These wigs not only allowed women to turn thier hair into towering pieces of ornate artwork, but also play with colour.
Marie Antoinette was a huge fan of pastels, with her wig collection looking a lot like a very hairy sweet shop!
Sadly all pastel haired dreams must come to an end and the French Revolution did away with the trend for spectacular coloured wigs.
In its place was the Titus.
A groundbreaking short hair cut that both acted as a protest to the French Revolution and meant women didn’t have to spend hours piling on pounds of hair.
But sadly the Titus was all about looking natural, meaning hair dye was out…
Damn you the Titus’s simplistic natural beauty!!!
But then in 1856: Everything changed
A teenage science nerd called William Perkin was trying to synthesise quinine (a medicine now used to fight maleria) to impress his teacher. Because. Nerd.
Sadly, William totally failed.
BUT he did accidentally create a purple shade, which he dubbed Mauvine.
This was the first synthetic dye!
Mauvine went on to help medical research, build up the textile industry, create new types of food manufacturing and tons more!
But let’s be real, the real success here was opening up hair to a whole rainbow of chemical colours!
By the 1920s women were all over chemical hair dyes!
Sure you left the salon with a burning scalp, but your hair was really pretty, so fair trade right?
OBVIOUSLY NO
Messing around chemicals is a dangerous game. Then putting that mess on your head is basically asking to be maimed.
Nobody is a better testimont to this than Hollywood star, Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow’s nickname was, The Platinum Blonde.
This meant, that as well as acting, being the blondest blonde in Hollywood was basically Jeans number 1 priority.
But this was no easy feat. Nobody was naturally that blonde.
So Jean went to extreme lengths to reach her famed platinum hue.
According to Alfred Pagano, Jeans hairdresser:
“We used peroxide, ammonia, Clorox, and Lux flakes! Can you believe that?”
No Alfred I can’t believe that!
Mainly because mixing literal household bleach (Clorox) and ammonia creates a highly noxious gas which can ultimately lead to kidney failure.
Jeans hair was dyed using this deadly deadly mess ONCE A WEEK FOR YEARS.
How is that shit even legal???!!!???
Thousands upon thousands of women attempted DIY versions of Jeans famous platinum dye recipe, with sales of bleach and ammonia sky rocketing
Thankfully the trend was short lived.
Jeans hair all fell out, which meant she stopped dying it and went to wigs.
But the deadly dyes effects remained.
Jean died of kidney failure aged 26. It was a slow and painful death: almost certainly down to her famed hair dye recipe.
Mercifully, Jean was one of hair dyes last casualties.
By the 1950s mainstream brands like L’Oréal were selling hair dye that dyed hair blonde by lightening, rather than replying on bleach, or you know…piss.
The following decades were defined by hair colour, from the bright colours of the 1980s to the highlights of the 1990s and early 00s (oh hey ‘The Rachel’!)
Now it’s estimated around 70% of women dye their hair , which is pretty unsurprising when you release what a historic love affair we’ve had with colour (and that we know longer need pee to be on trend!)
This was interesting, where can I find out more? Fashions in Hair, the first 5000 years, by Richard Colson is a cracking book. But its retail price is mighty expensive, so best bet for that one is checking out your local library!
Another great (and affordable…) read is Face Paint, The Story of Make Up, by Louise Eldridge, which looks at historic beauty trends.
This juicy tidbit of history was found at F Yeah History History…but better
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Successful measurement of vitamin D in human hair
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New York City authorities have introduced new guidelines making harassment or discrimination in workplaces, schools or public spaces based on hair texture or style punishable by fines of up to $US250,000.
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Why Toymakers Were Originally Horrified The Little Mermaid's Ariel Had Red Hair
Hair. It’s way more important to a Disney Princess than one might assume. And not just for Rapunzel (Mandy Moore), who makes awesome use of her flowing locks in Tangled. No, the color of a character’s hair can also make waves, as when toy companies found out that Ariel of The Little Mermaid was going to be a redhead. Basically, they freaked out.
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“Great haircut, where did you get it done?”
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Invest in yourself.
Trust in me.
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In case you missed this announcement, I switched to a new online booking (scheduling) site in August. Make sure you update my contact information with information below.
Copy and paste this link to my contact information
http://squ.re/2o06gtX
Label it as Online Booking, if that helps.
You can click on the the "Book Now" button above, too.
Once you've clicked the link, please sign in using the link in the upper right corner, this will also help assure I don't end up with a duplicate contact record for you. You will sign in with your mobile number, hopefully the same one I have for you.
You'll then receive a text with a code to enter to complete your sign in.
From there you'll be able to book an appointment. If it's the first time you've scheduled an appointment yourself, you will be ask to enter your credit card information. Eventually you will see your previous appointment history here as well. You should only have to sign in once depending on which device or computer you use to sign in. That's been my experience, anyway.
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No App - No Problem: Add to Home Screen
Square Appointments doesn't have an app for you to download, but you can add a handy little button to the Home Screen of your smartphone or tablet.
The link below will take you through the steps on how to add a "button" to your smartphone or tablet.
How to Add Websites to the Home Screen on Any Smartphone or Tablet
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Leave me a quick review on Yelp! by the end of the day and I will pass along a special thank you on your next appointment. It’s my way of saying thank you and how much I appreciate you for being such a great client. |
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