Blog Posts by Carol Belanger

Dry hair - avoid over washing your hair and consider a shampoo containing humectants or that offer a low ph balance. Shampoos that have a high ph or ph balancing shampoos often lift the cuticle of the hair thus allowing moisture to evaporate from the hair.

Reduce static electricity - Cut down on static electricity by dampening your hair brush before brushing.

Wait before you shampoo after coloring your hair. Did you know that every time you wash your hair you open the cuticle of your hair? Therefore, after coloring your hair wait at least 48 hours before you shampoo allowing the color to seal.

Braided hair - For those that braid their hair use a gel to smooth down uncontrolled hairs. Place a small amount of gel on your fingertip or hairpin and and move the stray hairs into the braided section.

Flexible but styled - Want a soft look but still want your hairstyle to stay in place. Spray some hairspray in the palm of your hand and smooth over the surface.

Dry

Venus ProSkin Moisture Rich RazorOur Shine beauty guru project for June was to try out the new Venue ProSkin Moisture Rich Razor. This razor has moisture bars located on the top and bottom of the razor thus a shaving cream is not necessary. These moisture bars contain a blend of body butters and is dermatologist tested so even the most sensitive skin can benefit from the moisture bars.

The razor was easy to handle and large enough that it did not slip out of my hands as some of the smaller disposable razors do. Also the head of the razor was by far larger than the more inexpensive disposable razors.

The packaging was exceptional as I did not have to fight with it like some of the hard plastic packaging. The razor comes with a second moisture bar and I was disappointed that the second moisture bar did not come in its only little case, so I had to keep the entire package to hold the second moisture bar. It also came with a small suction cup to hang your razor in the shower which I really love.

On first

Sunscreens have been in existence for quite a long time and unfortunately we still do not know the effectiveness of these ubiquitous creams and sprays. For instance there is no consensus on whether or not sunscreens actually prevent skin cancer. The Food and Drug Administration's 2007 draft on sunscreen safety regulations say: "FDA is not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use alone helps prevent skin cancer" (FDA 2007). In a newly published study (Green 2011) of sunscreen users it found that that people who use sunscreen daily appear to have a reduced risk of melanoma, while other studies conclude that sunscreen users are at increased risk (Gorham 2007). No one has the final answer.

There is evidence that sunscreens may increase the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, for some people. There are many studies on the assessment of skin cancer and sunscreens and still there is not a valid answer. Skin cancer and melanoma cases have increased in the last 10

Well I am overdue for a haircut/trim and a hair dye. This led me to the question should I dye my hair first and then a hair cut or vice a versa?

I dye my own hair at home; or rather I talk my husband into doing it for me, lol. He isn't the neatest or very gentle but he is thorough and gets every strand.

I have asked a few of my friend lately and naturally I get two different opinions. So I thought I would put this question out there and see what others do.

So do you dye your hair first or cut it first?

Hope you will stop by and visit my sites on skin care and hair care.

Did you know there is a direct correlation between healthy hair and your health? Hair problems such as dry brittle hair, hair thinning, hair loss and flaky scalp can be an indicator of a health condition or lack of nutrients in the body

Dry, Brittle, Dull and/or Hair Breakage - there are basically three reasons for this hair condition. The first is self-inflicted by the use of blow dryers, flat irons, chemical processes, pulling the hair to tight with pony tails, braids and excessive sun exposure. All of the above damages the cuticle layer of the hair shaft. The second is lack of protein and/or moisture to the hair. The omega 3 fatty acids found in salmon, flaxseed or fish oil supplements will play a role in keeping the strands strong, healthy and shiny. Lastly is low levels of parathyroid hormone which causes calcium to fall and phosphorous to rise. However, if this is the case you will also notice scaly skin.

Limp and Thin Hair - thinning hair is not the same as hair loss.

Split ends of the hair shaft are a result of damage to the cuticle layer. The cuticle layer is the protective layer of the hair. It consists of overlapping cells much like shingles on a house and protects the cortex (the second layer of the hair) and the medulla (the marrow of the hair). Depending on how well the overlapping cells are woven determines your hair porosity (how porous your hair is). You can read more about hair porosity and simple tests to determine your hair porosity at my blog post.

Now that we understand the hair's structure, let's take a look at why we get split ends. For the most part, split ends occur in dry and/or brittle hair and occurs when the cuticle layer as been stripped away from the end of the hair. Dry and brittle hair is a direct result of not providing enough moisture and/or protein to hair.

In order to take preventative measures against split ends we first need to do an assessment of the hair's health. In order to do this assessment test you

Porosity is a term used in hair care to describe the hair's ability to absorb and retain moisture. A good analogy would be to consider your hair like a sponge. When the sponge is new it is very porous and absorbs water thus it has good porosity. On the other hand an old sponge where the tiny holes have been damaged does not absorb water as well as it used to.

The hair shaft is made up of cuticle layers which are actually overlapping scales. When the cuticle layer of the hair is tightly woven and compact it has low porosity as it inhibits moisture going in and going out. Low porosity hair is resistant to hair coloring and perms and must be softened to open the cuticle layers prior to a treatment. The best remedies for low porosity hair are deep conditioning products and products rich in moisture and/or products that contain humectants which will attract moisture to the hair.

High porosity hair on the other hand has an open cuticle layers and absorbs moisture and color

Just released on April 11, 2011 and April 18, 2011, Proctor and Gamble have recalled its Clairol Natural Instincts products. This was a voluntary recall by Proctor and Gamble stating that the products may produce an unwanted color effect. This recall covers the United States , Canada and Puerto Rico . From what I understand the Revitalizer sachets in these products create the unwanted color. Proctor and Gamble however that the products in the kit remain safe to use but do not use the Revitalizer Sachet.

Below are the products that have been taken off the market, however if you currently own one of these products you should contact Clairol or the retailer where you purchased it at.

Natural Instincts Shade 16 Light Auburn (Spiced Tea)

Natural Instincts Shade 35 Brown Black (Ebony Mocha)

Natural Instincts Creme Shade 03G Light Golden Blonde (Honey Creme)

Natural Instincts Creme Shade 7.5 Dark Blonde (Maple Creme)

Natural Instincts Creme Shade 21G Medium Golden