May 17, 1999
Trichotillomania - Hair Pulling
Question
Dear Karen,
Have you ever heard anything about a condition known as "trichotillomania" where a person pulls out their hair?
My daughter (16) has done this ever since she was five.
I have tried all sorts of things with almost no success.
How do I get my daughter to stop the hair pulling? Can you please tell me anything
you know about this hair pulling disease.
Tomina
Answer
Dear Tomina,
I've read some articles about
trichotillomania.
You are correct, trichotillomania is the clinical term for pulling out one's hair
constantly to the point where noticeable hair loss occurs.
Trichotillomania victims may pull hair from their heads or they may pull hair from
their eyebrows or eyelashes or other body parts that are less obvious.
It is commonly believed that hair pulling will increase during times of emotional
distress although this is not always the case. An estimated 1-2 percent of all
college students have a past or current history of this disease.
This particular disease is often categorized under the heading of psychological
disorders.
Although behavorior therapy tends to be the most successful option for treating the
disease, it might also be helfpul for you to consult with a medical or dermatologcial
specialist as well.
Addition information about your daughter's behavior can be found on the Web at the Trichotillomania Home Page provides a
good starting point for gathering information. You may also wish to check out the Trichotillomania Learning Center.
Best wishes to you,
Karen
May 17, 1999
Hair Loss From Pregnancy
Question
Dear Karen,
I had my first baby 1 month ago. I am losing a LOT of hair and it is really
freaking me out. Is this normal? How long will my hair fall out? Is
there anything I can do? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Karla
Answer
Hi Karla,
Congratulations on your new baby.
Yes....it is normal for many new mothers to experience hair loss right after their
babies are born.
Hair loss can be expected in many women to occur during the first 2-4 months after the
baby is born.
There is not much you can do to stop the hair loss.
What you can do is take very good care of your hair during this normal shedding cycle.
Your hormones are adjusting and you hair may change in other ways in terms of texture
or condition.
Make sure to use a good shampoo and conditioner. If your hair seems drier than
normal be sure to use a good hot oil or deep conditioning treatment to restore the natural
hair oils. Treat your hair with care during the postpartum cycle and all of the hair you
lost should regrow within 6-12 months.
Best wishes,
Karen
May 7, 1999
Prom Hair Help
Question
Hello,
My 8th grade prom is coming up in June which is real soon. I need
to find a look really quick!
My hair is chin length, and there seems to be not one
hairstyle for short hair.
I was thinking of wearing it down with twists and some
baby's breath...but I need your help in finding things like that...
Please help me.
Thank you
Laura
Answer
Dear Laura,
Thank you for your email.
For new hairstyling ideas please look through the many hundreds
of different hairstyle photos displayed in the Hair Boutique Gallery.
There are styles for women and men and brides. We are constantly increasing
the Hair Boutique Gallery and adding lots of offerings to help with hair styling ideas.
The Hair Boutique has a very large (over 250 items) Tips & Articles
section which includes lots of updos and dressy styles for proms, weddings and other special events which is
available for everyone who visits the Hair
Boutique site.
The Tips & Articles section is constantly being updated and there
are great ideas for all types and lengths of hair.
I try to constantly add information on the latest hairstyles which
includes the latest types of braids, crimping, hairknots and any twists. This new
information is almost always in the Tips & Articles sections.
Also, for general haircare and hairstyling information please review the
Hair Boutique's Styling
Section.
If you still have questions
after reviewing all the different hair Boutique sections I would like to recommend that
you post your request for individual hair help on the Hair Talk board.
Many people visit the Hair Talk board every single day and they are
willing to help with questions that they have personally dealt with. We also have
many hairstylists vist the boards
Thank you for visiting the Hair Boutique.
Best wishes,
Karen
May 17, 1999
Hair Knots At Neck
Question
Dear Karen,
I am always getting these tiny little knots at my hairline right at the
nape of my neck in the back. They are very annoying but sometimes if I don't deal
with them right away, they actually become somewhat painful.
It really doesn't seem to matter whether Iwear jewelry or not, although
some types of clasps on necklaces make the problem worse. So I now avoid wearing
necklaces with catches that can grab my hair and knot it.
What can I do to avoid getting these knots? I love having longer
hair and the knots seem to get worse the longer my hair seems to grow.
It also does not seem to make any difference what type of clothes that I
wear. The knots seem to happen under all sorts of conditions wearing all sorts of
clothes.
I love the Hair Boutique and gets lots of great help from AskKaren I
have not seen this question before in your column so I hope that you can help me.
Thank you Karen.
Joanna G.
Answer
Dear Joanna,
Yes, I am very familiar with the tiny knots. I have learned that I only
personally get them when I wear certain types of neckaces . Like you I have learned to
avoid the clasp type of necklaces. I also can not wear some necklaces that have a
type of herring bone pattern. My hair gets stuck n the herringbone without fail.
Besides jewelry, there are many things that can cause the tangling of your nape hair
and it is hard to predict exactly what the absolute cause is.
I can only hazard some guesses of what might help stop or lessen the tangling.
Hair care products can sometimes be the culprit. Ironically the tangles may
happen because of improper rinsing which would allow a long time buildup of shampoo and
conditioning products.
The nape of the neck is the hardest place to reach when trying to rinse out shampoo or
conditioner.
It is possible, that over time, the area has retained products that make this area of
the hair tangle more easily.
To make sure that this is not the cause, be sure to pay extra attention to rinsing this
area of your head when you shampoo. If you shampoo in the shower you may want to
bend over at the waist when you do your final finse. You may also want to keep a
large pitcher handy and douse the area good. If you wash at the sink or in a bathtub
be sure to really get a lot of rinse water on this area.
On the flip side, you may not be getting enough conditioner on that area of your head.
Therefore please play special attention when you apply the conditioner that you
have completely covered this area.
The little hair tangles and knots can also be caused by a variety of factors which
includes the movement of your hair making contact with your clothing.
Although you did say it doesn't matter what you wear you may want to pay close
attention to the how quickly and how severely the hair tangles and knots form. You
may notice a distinct pattern that can be tied back to the clothing items that you wear.
Some materials are a lot more abrasive to hair than others. Many experts recommend that
you sleep on a satin pillowcase which is smooth and will not tangle hair. What
happens if you wear a silk or similar item of clothing close to your hair?
Static electricity plays a big part as well. Clothing that retains this static
electricity can interact with your hair and cause it to tangle more than other fabrics.
Using a good clothing softener will help cut back on clothes that grab your hair.
I have also had a lot of great luck prevent underhair tangles by using Aveda's
Curessence spray or ARTec's detangler spary. I will either spritz a little on my
fingers and carefully finger comb the underside of the hair with the detangler or I will
spray directly onto the hair. Try it, it may help.
Weather conditions can also play a part. Many people report having higher tangles
when humidity is low. A friend of mine reports that tangling for him is reduced
during the Spring and Summer months when humidity is higher in the air. Another
trick that he uses is to do deep conditioning treatments to JUST the underside of his hair
where it tangles the most. He has reported to me that this works very well.
In general, keeping your hair on a regular routine of conditioning will help a lot as
well.
Of course there is always the option to wear your hair up off your neckline in a
ponytail or updo. This should help. If you have a few stragglers of hair left
you may want to apply a good setting gel to keep the loose hairs in place.
As soon as you notice the tangles it is best to use a wide toothed comb or a good pick
to remove them. The longer tangles are allowed to remain...the worse they become and
the more that they may hurt.
Please remember to be careful when you remove tangles. Tangles are split hairs
waiting to happen.
Please let me know how this all turns out for you. I love to get feedback on the
AskKaren suggestions.
Best wishes to you,
Karen
May 2, 1999
Question
Hi,
I have very curly, dry hair. When I say dry, I mean extremely
brittle.
I have tried numerous conditioners to soften my hair, but none of them
work.
I don't really care about price, I just want to find a conditioner that
can really keep my hair soft.
Perhaps, you might be able to recommend a conditioner and even a shampoo
and a gel that won't further dry out my hair.
I am a white male with dark brown hair (almost black hair) if that might
help you determine what would be good for me.
Thank You Very Much,
Bret
Answer
Dear Bret,
Although my hair is not curly, my hair is on the dry side because
I have it highlighted 4 times a year. So I constantly have to work on keeping my
hair moisturized. I would be glad to share my own personal secrets for combating dry
hair.
For dry hair like yours that is actually brittle, I can recommend some
additional steps you might take in addition to changing your shampoo and conditioner to a
more moisturizing formula.
Since your hair is so dry and brittle it is very important to remember
to treat your hair just like very delicate old silk. Which means treating it very
gently and carefully to prevent the brittle or dry hair from breaking off.
Shampoo & Conditioning Tips
Here are some shampoo and conditioners tips that may help:
1. Always detangle your hair with a wide pick comb before you
shampoo.
Yes, you could use a brush, but if your hair is dry and brittle, it is
better to avoid brushes as much as possible. If you do use a brush, use one that has
a soft bristle that will not tear or rip your hair in any way.
2. Use only lukewarm water to shampoo and rinse. Never use
hot water on your hair. Hot water will actually strip the natural oils from your
hair making dry hair much drier.
3. Be frugal on the amount of shampoo that you use. The best
method to follow is to pour about a dime sized portion of shampoo into the palm of your
hands, rub together with the water to form a lather and then apply to the crown and roots
of your hair.
Focus the majority of the shampoo on your scalp. Let any suds flow
gently down the rest of your hair and carefully pat the shampoo into the ends to avoid any
unnecessary rubbing or stretching of the hair.
Hair is most fragile when it is wet. This method will allow the
shampoo to cause minimal damage to your hair.
4. After you have rinsed well to remove all shampoo residues, use
a good rinse out conditioner. Slather on the conditioner. Target the areas of your
hair that are most brittle and dry. Let the rinse out conditioner stay in your hair
for at least 510 minutes before rinsing.
5. Rinse well to remove all conditioner residue.
Use cool to cold water as your final rinse. This step is important
because it seals in any moisture your hair retains from the conditioners. It also
closes and protects the hair shaft and adds shine.
6. Carefully towel blot your wet hair. Be sure not to rub
the hair which can break easily when wet. Hair is most fragile when it is wet and
dry/brittle hair is the worst at this stage.
7. If possible, let your hair air dry. If you absolutely
must use a blow dryer, use it on the slowest, coolest setting and for as short a period as
possible.
8. Avoid the sun, hair and pool chemicals, convertible cars and
salt water or air without using a protective hair covering.
Special Conditioning For Dry To Brittle Hair
I would recommend that you consider hot oil treatments as often as
possible until your hair recovers to a less dry condition.
Hot oil treatments can be time-consuming but they will ultimately help
to alter your hair's dryness.
Recommended Deep Treatments For Dry/Brittle Hair
I would recommend that you consider hot oil treatments as often as
possible until your hair recovers to a less dry condition.
Hot oil treatments can be time-consuming but they will ultimately help
to alter your hair's dryness.
ARTec Moisture Pac
1. One
of the best deep conditioning products currently available is ARTec's Moisture Pac (which
I personally use and highly recommend).
This product is great because you just cut open the pack and apply it to
newly washed hair. Then you let the Pac remain on the hair for as long as you can.
Although the package directions say to wash the treatment out after a
certain amount of time, you can actually apply the Pac, wrap your hair up in a towel and
let the product soak into your hair as long as possible. I have done this many times
with some great results.
ARTec Moisture Pac is the product that many professional salons (that
endorse ARTec) use for deep treatments.
The way that salons use Moisture Pac is that they section the hair,
apply ARTec Moisture Pac and then usually have you sit under a hood dryer for 20-30
minutes.
2. You can use hot oil in
a variety of ways. My favorite off-the-shelf oil is Aveda's Beautifying Composition
which you can only buy at Aveda concept salons. It is a combination of jojoba and
other oils that are designed to keep the hair soft and shiny.
3. I also use a Rosemary oil made by Wella that
I buy at Whole Foods. This oil has a jojobo oil base and contains hair helping
rosemary oil as well.
4. You can make your own (at home) hot oil
treatment by heating a high quality extra virgin olive oil in the microwave or on top of
the stove until it is warm to the touch. Not hot, just warm.
After you have heated the oil separate your hair into
sections and use a cotton ball or even your own fingertips to apply the oil to the driest
and most brittle parts of your hair. Avoid using a lot of oil on any parts of your
hair that are not brittle.
After you have applied the hot oil, wrap your entire
head in either plastic wrap or a towel that is heated. You can heat the towel in a
regular clothes dryer. A plastic shower cap will also work. The more heat you
can apply via the towel or plastic, the better. Leave the covering on your head for
at least 30 minutes.
Sometimes I will leave hot oil on my hair for an
entire day if I am at home working.
If you find olive oil to be too heavy you can also use
sesame, avocado or almond oil. Make sure it is top quality though.
5. You can also take less drastic measure by
applying the Aveda Beautifying Oil or Wella Rosemary oil directly from the bottle to the
palms of your hand. Rub the oil into your palms and then lightly apply the oil to
the brittle parts of your hair.
Warp your hair up in plastic wrap (Sara works) or a
good insulated shower cap. Then sleep on the treatment.
Shampoo the next day. This treatments helps add
additional moisture while you are sleeping.
6. You can also rub just a drop or two into the
palms of your hands and apply lightly to your hair as a leave-in conditioner or to add
shine. This also adds the benefit of selling in moisture.
Products For Brittle Hair
Shampoos that add moisture:
- ARTec Smoothing
- Aveda Shampure
I have personally used both on an alternating basis
for many years. I have used Shampure for over 8 years. I personally believe
the ARTec Smoothing makes my hair softer and more moist with the Shampure coming in
second.
While I have also found the Phytologie products to
have a very beneficial effect on my hair, I still prefer ARTec's Smoothing overall.
Rinse Out Conditioners that add
moisture:
In the rinse-out conditioning class I prefer ARTec
Smoothing and Aveda Curessence. Both leave my hair silky soft with my preference
being the ARTec Smoothing conditioner.
Leave In Conditioners that add
moisture:
Even though I use the ARTec Smoothing shampoo and
ARTec Smoothing conditioner I still often use a light leave-in conditioner to seal the
hair shaft from environmental toxins like smog and dirt.
I use a variety of products including Phytologie's #7
and #9. The Phyto products come in a tube. Apply a small dab to the palms of
your hands and carefully massage it through your hair.
Other Tips For Treating Brittle
Hair
Chemical treatments like color, perms and
straightening may potentially break dry or brittle hair. Avoid these treatments as
much as possible.
Also, avoid the sun, chlorine in pools and cars with
convertibles without extra hair coverings.
Sometimes brittle hair results from inadequate oils in
the diet. I have found that taking flax seed oil capsules from the health food store
helps. A combination EFS (Essential Fatty Acid) tablet may also help with your hair
if you take it on a daily basis.
If you prefer, try a little olive oil as a substitute
for butter on breads. Olive oil is a super moisturizer for hair, skin and will add
moisture to the entire body.
I hope that gets you started. Please let me know
if you have any other questions.
Best wishes,
Karen
Karen has graciously agreed to answer your hair care questions. Although Karen
would like to answer all of your questions personally, due to the large volume of e-mail
that she receives, she may not be able to do so.
Please check this page first to see if she has already answered your question.
Please don't ask a question if it has already been answered here. Remember, this is a free
service - please be polite.
To ask Karen your question send e-mail to askkaren@hairboutique.com |
