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The Long Hair Loom
December Greetings!
I hope that you are enjoying this wonderful Christmas season! Now that winter is here, we have some tips that might help make your hair care more effective. In many ways, winter hair care needs are very similar to summer hair care needs. Extra conditioning and oil treatments work great both for stressed summer hair that has been in sun and pool a lot, but also for winter hair which is often dry due to dry heating in homes and businesses that create a dry atmosphere. Try to do REGULAR deep conditioning and oiling treatments, like once a week for really dry hair, and once every 2 weeks for regular hair.
Try wearing hats! You don't have to wear a ski hat to get your head covered. There are lovely, satin-lined hats out there that serve not only as protection, but style as well! They don't have to be expensive either. Check K-mart and Wal-mart out. My favorite winter hat came from K-mart. I got it on clearance for $1.00 and it's satin lined! You don't have to wear an updo, but when you are out in bitter weather, wrap your hair up and tuck it in your hat. When you pull off your hat, your hair can tumble down. You might even get some extra body out of it. If you just can't bear to wrap your hair up, be sure to keep your hair inside your jacket! Hair does not like freezing weather! If your jacket is rough, place a silk/satin/slippery scarf over the nape area and let it fall down the length of your hair, then slip your jacket/coat on. The scarf tipwill hang by your collar, so pick something that matches your coat.
You might need to change products as well. Just because something worked in the summer or fall, doesn't mean it will be as effective in the winter. You may need a heavier conditioner than you might currently be using. Can't afford a big change? Add some oil to your conditioner bottle. Start with 1 Tablespoon and see if that makes enough difference. Depending on your hair you can add up to 1/4 cup per bottle. I add even more to mine. It's fantastic! I use Grapeseed Oil, but you might want to try Jojoba, Olive Oil, or any good vegetable oil. You can even add oil to your shampoo to help boost it's gentleness and moisturizing capabilities. Since I mostly use shampoo on my scalp only, I stick with adding it to the conditioner, but if you use it on your length, consider adding a touch of oil there too.
If your home is dry, and many are in winter, use a humidifier. You don't have to be sick to use one!
Turn it on and let it add moisture to your hair while you go about regular, daily life.
Continue to drink water! Lots of us want to sip on hot drinks, but you can't forget water consumption. Water hydrates our entire body. Not only is it good for our organs and cleansing, but it keeps hair healthy and skin glowing! If you are going to sip on hot drinks, and we know we are, go for herbal teas that do not contain caffeine! Caffeine dehydrates you. If you do drink caffeine, drink an extra glass of water to make up for it!
Try wearing hats! You don't have to wear a ski hat to get your head covered. There are lovely, satin-lined hats out there that serve not only as protection, but style as well! They don't have to be expensive either. Check K-mart and Wal-mart out. My favorite winter hat came from K-mart. I got it on clearance for $1.00 and it's satin lined! You don't have to wear an updo, but when you are out in bitter weather, wrap your hair up and tuck it in your hat. When you pull off your hat, your hair can tumble down. You might even get some extra body out of it. If you just can't bear to wrap your hair up, be sure to keep your hair inside your jacket! Hair does not like freezing weather! If your jacket is rough, place a silk/satin/slippery scarf over the nape area and let it fall down the length of your hair, then slip your jacket/coat on. The scarf tipwill hang by your collar, so pick something that matches your coat.
You might need to change products as well. Just because something worked in the summer or fall, doesn't mean it will be as effective in the winter. You may need a heavier conditioner than you might currently be using. Can't afford a big change? Add some oil to your conditioner bottle. Start with 1 Tablespoon and see if that makes enough difference. Depending on your hair you can add up to 1/4 cup per bottle. I add even more to mine. It's fantastic! I use Grapeseed Oil, but you might want to try Jojoba, Olive Oil, or any good vegetable oil. You can even add oil to your shampoo to help boost it's gentleness and moisturizing capabilities. Since I mostly use shampoo on my scalp only, I stick with adding it to the conditioner, but if you use it on your length, consider adding a touch of oil there too.
If your home is dry, and many are in winter, use a humidifier. You don't have to be sick to use one!
Turn it on and let it add moisture to your hair while you go about regular, daily life. Continue to drink water! Lots of us want to sip on hot drinks, but you can't forget water consumption. Water hydrates our entire body. Not only is it good for our organs and cleansing, but it keeps hair healthy and skin glowing! If you are going to sip on hot drinks, and we know we are, go for herbal teas that do not contain caffeine! Caffeine dehydrates you. If you do drink caffeine, drink an extra glass of water to make up for it!
Do you take supplements? You might want to try adding Flaxseed Oil, Borage Oil, Evening Primrose or Fish oils into your supplement routine. If you already take them, you might want to increase them. This will help with the dryness in your skin and hair. To help you understand oils a bit more...
Omega-3 and Omega-6 are the two main oil categories, and you want both.
Omega-6 includes linoleic and gamma-linolenic and are found unsaturated vegetable oils like...borage, grapeseed, primrose, sesame and soybean oils. Look for a supplement that gives you around 240 mg of GLA per dose. This is not the mgs in the gel cap or serving of the oil you are taking, but rather the dose of GLA's in that serving. Please not if you have or have had breast cancer or are at high risk of getting it, avoid Evening Primrose Oil and choose another from the list. Evening Primrose can effect your hormone balance, which is beneficial in most women, but not those with breast caner risks.
Omega-3's include alpha-linolenic and eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA) and are found in fish oils, and certain vegetable oils like... canola, flaxseed, and walnut oil.
The idea is to get a balance from both types of oil, so be sure to take an oil from each list, or find one that mixes the two types together. If you don't like to take oil supplements be sure to choose food groups that contain these oils. Munch on walnuts and grind up some flaxseeds. Eat sesame seeds and fresh fish.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 are the two main oil categories, and you want both.
Omega-6 includes linoleic and gamma-linolenic and are found unsaturated vegetable oils like...borage, grapeseed, primrose, sesame and soybean oils. Look for a supplement that gives you around 240 mg of GLA per dose. This is not the mgs in the gel cap or serving of the oil you are taking, but rather the dose of GLA's in that serving. Please not if you have or have had breast cancer or are at high risk of getting it, avoid Evening Primrose Oil and choose another from the list. Evening Primrose can effect your hormone balance, which is beneficial in most women, but not those with breast caner risks.
Omega-3's include alpha-linolenic and eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA) and are found in fish oils, and certain vegetable oils like... canola, flaxseed, and walnut oil.
The idea is to get a balance from both types of oil, so be sure to take an oil from each list, or find one that mixes the two types together. If you don't like to take oil supplements be sure to choose food groups that contain these oils. Munch on walnuts and grind up some flaxseeds. Eat sesame seeds and fresh fish.
Another supplement I want to mention to you is Vitamin E. This is also great for hair and skin with dryness problems. Start with 400 IU and work up to 800 IU if needed. There are various forms of Vitamin E, but the alpha-tocopherol form is the most potent form, so read your labels. If you take other supplements, make sure you have some zinc in there. Vitamin E likes zinc... it helps it to work better for you. Zinc is another supplement associated with help for dry skin. You can take up to 50 mg of zinc, but no more than that (although you may not need that much... depends on how great your problem is). The zinc lozenges are a good way of getting your zinc since it is better absorbed. Be sure to take it when you have eaten something, as zinc on an empty stomach can cause stomach upset.
Now... finally... the news you've been waiting for! We are having a hairstick Christmas time give away! Please click on the below link and follow the instructions there to participate! Winners will be chosen on Monday!
We hope this will be a wonderful time of reflection for you on the true meaning of Christmas, and a beautiful time of sharing and caring with those around you!
Long May You Grow,
Fox
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