August 28, 1999
Last Resort Help For Dandruff?
Question
Hi Karen,
(I viewed all of your Q&As since 1998 and did not find the answer I was looking for so
here goes...I did, however, learn a great deal -- you're answers are so thorough!)
As background, I'm concerned about synthetics and chemicals and have recently tried to use
hair care products that contain them. Can you please help me address two issues.
I haven't been able to find a (no chem/synth) shampoo that helps me deal with dandruff
effectively.
I've tried using almond oil, as well as Weleda's Rosemary oil, to massage in my scalp
before shampooing.
Separately, I've also tried Aubrey's Calendula shampoo, but to no avail.
Can you please recommend a (no chem/synth) treatment for dandruff?
Thank you! I hope you can finally help end this search!
May
Answer
Hi May,
It hink you are on the right track with the Weleda rosemary oil.
However, I think you may need to add some additional ingredients and possibly leave
a dandruff scalp treatment on over night.
I will not promise that the recommendation will work, but it is something you can try.
You will have to evaluate the results for youself.
I am including a good dandruff scalp oil recipe and shampoo recipe that I
discovereded a few years ago in the book: A Self-Help Guide to
Natural Healing with Essential Oils by Valerie Gennari Cooksley.
One of my friends who has very long hair (to her thighs) developed a case
of dandruff. In her case it was due to (according to her doctor) a change in her
hormones.
She tried the aromatherapy based scalp and shampoo remedies and had great
results.
When using the scalp oil it is important to remember that everyone's hair
and scalp responds differently to various treatments.
While I have always personally had great luck with aromatherapy for a
variety of problems including dry hair and ends, not everyone does.
Hopefully the following remedies will help with your stubborn dandruff
problems.
Scalp Oil Treatment For Dandruff
Ingredients:
2 tbls Jojoba oil
1/2 tsp carrot seed oil
10 drops of Lavender essential oil
5 drops Rosemary essential oil
3 drops Cedarwood essential oil
Carefully mix the jojoba and carrot seed oil in a small dark colored glass
bottle. You can usually find dark brown or dark blue bottles at most health food
stores.
Add the rest of the essential oils in the exact proportions and shake
gently to mix well. Label the bottle for future use.
Apply the oil to your scalp at night after brushing your hair and scalp
completely.
This will help dislodge any scaliness or dandruff.
Pour several drops on your finger tips and then massage into your scalp.
Be careful to massage just your scalp and not your hair.
This dandruff remedy, if applied directly to hair, may cause a buildup of
oil which you would want to avoid.
Leave the oil on your scalp overnight. Be sure to put a towel over
your pillowcase to avoid any oils staining your bed linens.
You may or may not want to use a plastic shower cap. Some experts
believe it is best to let the scalp breathe overnight.
Others believe that it is best to hold in bodyheat which will allow the
oils to penetrate into the scalp better. Again, you must be the judge.
Dandruff Shampoo
Ingredients:
40 drops of Lavender essential oil
20 drops of Rosemary essential oil
10 drops of Birch essential oil
10 drops Cedarwood essential oil
Carefully mix all of the essential oils together. Be sure to
use only real, not synthetic oils.
Add the oils to an eight-ounce bottle of shampoo (use whichever one you
currently prefer) and shake very well to mix completely (you can use a recycled old
shampoo bottle for mixing).
It is best when adding essential oils to use a neutral based shampoo or a
natural baby shampoo that you can buy at any health food store.
It is also acceptable to use an all natural dandruff shampoo. These
are also sold at health food stores.
I think Aubrey Organic makes great products but you can also ask a health
food store expert to advise you on other brands that might also work great on dandruff.
A neutral base shampoo gives the essential oils a better chance to work.
Note: It is
important to remember that you should never apply essential oils directly to your skin or
scalp. They must always be diluted in some sort of carrier oil (carrot seed oil,
evening primrose, borage, jojoba and sweet almond).
Use the shampoo daily or every other day. Use a small amount to
massage into your wet hair.
Massage for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing completely. Rinse several times, ending
with a cold water application.
Cold water helps to close your pores and stimulate scalp circulation.
It also helps to follow with an apple cider vinegar rinse which is great for
eliminating dandruff and for normalizing the scalp.
If you prefer, you can use a health food store hair rinse. Any
herbal hair rinses that contain vinegar are some of the most beneficial after-shampoo
rinses you can use.
Vinegar, when diluted in a herbal infusion or floral waters, helps to
normalize the scalp's delicate pH balance.
It also successfully removes oil and shampoo residue from the hair. Since
you are adding oils to your shampoo base, it is important that they are removed in either
the shampoo or rinse cycle.
More On Dandruff
Dandruff can be caused by a variety of factors including poor cirulation,
change in hormones, fungal infection or overuse of high alkaline shampoo or related
products.
Many dandruff treatments inc salicylate components.
Some herbs specifically contain salicylate properties which makes them
perfect for use in shampoos or massage oils designed to treat dandruff.
The herbs that contail salicylate include meadowsweet, birch, willow bark,
wintergreen, poplar and black haw.
Most herbalists and aromatherapy experts only recommend birch as the best
herb or plant for use on the scalp. When used directly, this and all other herbs or
oils should be diluted to .2% or less.
If you do not have a lot of knowledge of aromatherapy or herbs, it is best
to work with a herbalist or aromatherpaist that can guide you and prevent any allergic or
other potential reactions.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Karen
August 22, 1999
Detangling Hair?
Question
Dear Karen,
How do I detangle my hair after i have wahsed it without tearing or
ripping it. My hair seems so tangled all the time. What am I doing wrong?
JK
Answer
Dear JK,
There are many things you can do to control tangles.
Preventing tangles is something that you should do long before you shampoo
your hair.
It is important to detangle your hair every night before you go to bed.
Hair tends to knot during sleep. Make it a regular practice to brush or pick
any tangles out of your hair every night.
One trick that I use is to apply a few drops of Aveda Beautifying Oil to
the palms of my hands and then I apply the oil to my newly brushed and detagnled hair.
I leave the oil in over night to add moisture and contiioning to my hair while I
sleep.
The Aveda Beautifying Oil contains a high concentration of jojoba oil
which is very conditioning for all types of hair.
Before you step into the shower make sure that you have carefully
detangled your dry hair. Use a good, snagfree, wide toothed pick or comb or a soft
brush to remove tangles.
If your hair tends to be dry, it is a good idea to use a moisturizing
shampoo like ARTec's Smoothing shampoo or Aveda's Shampure. This keeps you hair soft and
less likely to tangle.
After you shampoo it is best to apply a good "rinse-out"
conditioner to your hair.
I personally love ARTec's Smoothing conditioner which works well for
chemically treated or naturally dry hair.
Long hair Super Model Kirsty Hume is a fan of Paul Mitchell The Detangler
and swears by it.
Carefully work the "rinse-out" conditioner through your hair
with your fingers and then rinse your hair. Make sure that your last clear water
rinse is cool to cold water which also will help with tangles.
Carefully towel blot your hair with a thick towel .
It is important to remember that any water left over from your shampoo and
rinses may have diluted the conditioner that you applied in the shower which means that it
is not as helpful for knots as a leave in spray will be.
So if your hair tends to tangle, you will need to use a good leave-in
detangler and conditioner.
I personally love Aveda's Curessence but Kirsty swears by Bain de Terre
Herbal Conditioning Seal which is also a very good leave-in detangler. You can also try
Pantene Pro-V Light Spray conditioner if you love the Pantene line.
Apply the detangler to the ends and middle of your hair where hair tends
to tangle more.
If your hair tends towards oiliness or flatness you will want to avoid
spraying extra conditioner on the roots or top part of your hair.
Use a good wide toothed comb or pick to detangle damp hair. Never
ever use a brush on wet hair which can tear your hair.
Start at the bottom of your hair and work up towards the top. Take
your time and detangle small sections at a time. Be careful not to pull. Hair
is most fragile when it is wet so handle damp or wet hair with care.
If you live in an area of high pollution you may want to use a good
clarifying shampoo at least once a month to remove toxins from your hair which make make
it more prone to tangling.
Other detangling tricks are to sleep on a satin pillowcase and perfrom
regular deep conditioning treatments.
Kirsty Hume reported saturates her beautiful long hair every month with
jojoba oil for at least 30 minutes. A good hot olive oil treatment will also be
helpful in preventing tangles.
Weekly rinse-out deep conditioning treatments will also prove beneficial
to controlling knots. Try ARTec's Moisture Pak to condition and soften.
Best wishes,
Karen
August 21, 1999
Can You Retrain Hair?
Question
Dear Karen,
Is the theory of "training one's hair" a myth, or is it
really possible to alter the direction one's hair grows?
I had surgery to repair my frontal hairline, but the hair has a little
lift to it, which stands in
slight contrast to the hair behind it.
Is it possible to train that hair to fall flat against my face again?
Please reply, even if you don't select this as a letter to post.
Thanks.
Stacy M
Answer
Hi Stacy,
I have talked to a few of the hair experts that I call for questions and they are equally
divided on the answer to your question.
Half of the hair experts say that hair grows a certain way based on
genetic structure and other factors.
Therefore, in their opinion, it is not possible to "retrain
hair". Just as curly hair is a genetic thing and you can't "train"
curly hair to be straight. You can use chemicals to straighten hair there is no
other way to train it to change structure.
The other half of the hair experts said that with small patches of hair and some
repetitive action, you can impact the hair to lay flat against your face.
The bottom line is that you can try, hope for some good results, but understand that
genetics do play a part in whether the hair will co-operate or not.
I know this doesn't help much but one thing I have found about the topic of hair....since
hair is different for everyone, the results of what happens with hair can not always be
adequately predicted or controlled.
That is why some people can grow hair to their ankles and others can only
grow it to their bra strap.
Thanks for taking the time to write. Sorry I could not give you a more conclusive
answer.
I will tell you that one of the stylists suggested that you use a strong...yet not too
strong....amount of scotch tape to tape the hair in question to the front of your forehead
every time that you wash it.
The hair expert claims that will help train the hair to fall forward onto
your face.
I know that as a teen with wavy bangs, taping the hair did help a lot for me. I was
able to get straight bangs every time. I used just plain scotch tape and taped my
hair to the top of my eyebrows.
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best wishes,
Karen
October 18, 1999
Gray Hair Coloring At Home
Question
Dear Karen,
I have lots of gray hair but I can't afford to go to a
stylist or color expert to have my hair blended and colored. It just costs too much
money on my budget.
I know that you are a big consumer advocate for hair care and
so I was wondering if you could please
recommend some products that i could buy at the local Wal-Mart or similar stores.
JK
Answer
Dear JK,
If you are just starting to go gray, semipermanent color cna usually do the trick and
can generally offer complete coverage.
Products that are designed to cover gray with seimpermenanet color include L'Oreal's
Advantage and Clairol's Loving Care. Both products are for do-it-yourself at home
and can be used by both men and women. The products coat your hair with color and
wash out within 12 to 20 shampoos.
If your hair is at more than 35-45 percent gray, you can select a longer-lasting
semipermanent (also called demipermanent) color formula.
Semipermanents penetrate the hair, and their acid compositions causes the hair cuticle
to close tightly, locking in the color.
This type of coloring - which fades graudally and last as long as six weeks - can be
done in a salon or at home with products like L'Oreal's Casting Tone-on-Tone and Clairol's
Lasting Color by Loving Care.
The best option for complete coverage of gray is permanent color, which chemically
lifts out color and deposits the new hue. The color will fade a bit with time, and
roots-hiding touch-ups are needed about every three weeks.
To stretch the life of hair color, use color-enhancing shampoos, like ARTec and Aveda's
color shamoos.
Clairol has a product called Colorhold Colorcare, which deposits
small amounts of pigment particles. The ARTec and Aveda would need to be purchased at a
salon but the Clairol can usually be found at most retail outlets.
Best wishes,
Karen
August 12, 1999
Is AskKaren Real?
Question
Dear Karen,
Do you really receive email for AskKaren or do you just write
fictional letters? I was curious because the hair care problems seem to be real.
Is there a set of questions that people ask the most often?
Also, do you answer the questions yourself or does an assistant help
you?
I know that Ann Landers has secretaries that write a lot of her
responses and I just figured you may do that instead of answering yourself.
Thanks! Keep up the good work, no matter how it is done. I
find the AskKaren column to be very informative and helpful.
Tom
Answer
Dear Tom,
I personally receive an average of 25-30 emails every day specifically asking
hair care related questions.
While people do address the email to AskKaren, I get lots of emails from people who
just write to me personally at The Hair Boutique with problems and concerns about their
hair.
I really wish I had a secretary or someone to help me because sometimes I can't always
answer all my email personally, although I make an effort to do so.
Sometimes I receive the same hair questions so many times that I will write an article
about it and then refer future writers back to that article as a starting point.
I write every single AskKaren response myself. I also write all the articles published
with my byline for the Tips & Articles section.
While the staff is growing at The Hair Boutique, we are still small.
Jane Bullock will answers questions that are specifically related to short hair (her
specialty) and Spencer Kobren answers hair loss questions.
Shelley Pryor, the Hair Boutique's official hairstylist will often give me some
suggestions for hair care help.
I also have 10 other specialists and hair experts that I can call on from time to time
for help (just like Ann Landers does). :-)
JerkyFlea is the
guy I may ask about celebrity hair while Terri and Jay-Robert Edwards
are the ones that know about hair extensions.
My friends at KnottyBoy
can answer dreadlock questions for me. Mike Trobee of H37 and
SalonWeb fame is an expert on hair chemistry and hair vitamins. He has
helped me many times (thank Mike)
We also have many visiting writers and hair care experts who contribute articles about
hair care.
One of Hair Boutique's most frequent contributors is the well known Victoria Wurdinger who
writes for many hair magazines like those put out by Harris Publications.
The Hair Boutique also has Mike Hinz who is a photographer specializing in long hair
and we receive assistance from Dave Tichnor from The International Long Hair Club with
hair growing tips.
A special note, William is our visiting hair color expert, and he hangs out on the Hair Talk board.
Thanks for your kind words. What question do I receive the most? I think
the big winner is always how to grow hair back faster after a disastrous cut.
Best wishes,
Karen
August 11, 1999
Hair Color Gone Awry
Question
Hi,
My name is Jessica and I need your help!! And fast!! Okay, I will tell you the whole
story starting from the beginning. Okay here goes.
I just got my hair hair cut and it looks like Meg Ryan's new do. I loved it, but many
months before I had used a lightening dye and lightened my hair just a bit.
Looked fine, but my roots had come out so much. So I decided to highlight my hair. Well
that also looked really good.
But then my friend got her hair highlighted and did not like it
so she got the bright idea to dump all the left over highlighting stuff in my hair. It
turned like a bleach blonde orangish color and looked terrible.
So I called the company and they told me what to do so I had to dye it
again with two different colors, one of which was a reddish and other other my natural
color dark blonde. So I did it and it turned red!!!
Wow!! Anyways, I stayed with it for a couple of weeks and it totally
faded!!!
So I got the bright idea on this Monday to dye my hair again.
And I used a golden blonde color because that is the color that I want
my hair to be, and well of course it turned red again but only this time it is kinda sorta
a reddish orange color. And once again I called the company and they told me that would
have to dye it again and a dark color this time like darker brown color.
So I have no clue what to do and I am going shopping tomorrow when is
the only time that I can get more hair color.
And I have a big problem, I have a wedding to go to this weekend and I
don't want to have red hair!!
So please help me because I don't want ugly hair anymore and I sure do
not want it to all fall right out of my head!!
PLEASE, PLEASE help me as soon as you possibly can!!! Thank you
soooooooo much for your time!!!
Thanks again,
Jessica
Answer
Dear Jessica,
Hair coloring is very complicated. It can take color specialists a long
time to learn how different base colors will work with different formulas. To add to
that mix, each color line from the individual companies can make the matter more complex.
I strongly recommend that you stop trying to fix your current hair color problems
yourself.
While the experts at the home hair color companies (Clairol, L'Oreal) can offer great
help, you have applied so many different combinations to your hair that it may be beyond
their capabilities to diagnose your problem and help over the phone.
A hair color specialist will be able to look at your hair and determine what colors are
needed to achieve the color you want.
One thing that does concern me is that repeated re-coloring can ultimately damage your
hair from the constant application of chemicals.
Please call your regular stylist and ask for a recommendation on a color expert that
can do a repair on your hair and get the color where you want it.
You may also wish to post a question Attention William to the Hair Talk board. William
is the Hair Boutique's hair color expert. However, William will have the same limits
that the phone experts have since he will not be able to see your hair.
Best wishes,
Karen
August 10, 1999
Aveda Beauty Oil Composition
Question
Hello Karen, I hope it's okay to ask you a question by direct
E-Mail. I posted a question in Hair Talk about Aveda Beauty Composition. I have used it
once and I must have done something wrong.
My hair is just a little past my shoulders and I ended up using more than one third of
the bottle . Do you wet your hair first? (I didn't) Also, do you ever apply heat? Thank
you for any help you might give.
Sincerely,
Connie
Answer
Dear Connie
The generally recommended form of application is to use about 8-10 drops of the
The Aveda Beautifying Oil per application.
If your hair is excessively thick or long, you may want to use a few drops more, but to
use 1/3rd of the bottle would probably be more than you need for hair that is a little
past the shoulders. Too much oil and your hair would tend to get very oily.
While the oil does work well on scalp conditions (such as dry scalp) it is important
not to over saturate the scalp with the oil.
Follow the following steps if you are going to use the oil directly (without mixing
with any other oils). Pour a few drops at a time into one of the palms of your hand
(make sure you have clean hands so as not to mix the oil with any other leftover residues)
and then use your fingertips to carefully massage the oil into your scalp.
If you wish to apply the oil to the ends and middle of your hair, massage the oil into
both palms and then smooth your palms over the ends and the middles of your hair letting
the oil transfer from your hands to your hair.
I used to always think that the best approach was to apply the oil directly to hair
that was not wet. However, a stylist recently convinced me to try applying the oil
when my hair was damp and that seemed to work well too.
Like everything else, there are several variables that determine what works best for
you. Hair that is extremely porous would probably benefit most from applying to oil
to hair that is completely dry. Some hair would probably benefit most from applying
the oil when the hair is damp.
Yes, you can also use heat with the oil. Apply the oil to the parts of the hair
or scalp that need it, wrap your hair in a plastic shower cap and then sit under a hood
dryer. Or wrap you shower capped head in some hot towels (taking them directly from
a hot clothes dryer is always a good solution).
Question
Howdy,
I am a 25 year old guy with very dry hair. I have read many times that you
recommend the Aveda Beautifying Oil as a good oil treatment. Can you tell me what
ingredients are in the oil and where I can buy it?
Thanks,
Roy
Answer
Dear Roy,
Yes, I am a big fan of Aveda Beautifying Composition Oil. It was
recommended to me by my stylist, Shelley Pryor. She explained that while the
Beautifying Composition is advertised as a "conditioning oil for the body" it
actually is designed to be a multi-purpose compound that works to condition dehydrated
skin.
It is also designed to work as a hair and scalp treatment on extra-dry
conditions.
The oil is touted as being designed to closely resemble skins' own
oil. It consists of a high concentration of jojoba (Buxus Chinesis) Oil as well as
extracts of Arnica Montana, Comfrey (Symphytum Officinale) Bergamot (Citrus Bergamia),
Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) Oil, Rosemary Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) and Fragrance.
The generally recommended form of application is to use about 8-10 drops of the The
Aveda Beautifying Oil per application.
You can buy the oil from any Aveda Concept Store. While it is somewhat expensive
(expect to pay about $18-21 dollars per bottle, if you use it wisely, it will last a long
time.
You can use the oil on your hair, your face, your skin, or a combination. You can
also mix the oil with other carrier oils like almond and sesame. I have experimented
with mixing and personally prefer almond oil.
Of course you can use the oil directly without mixing.
August 9, 1999
Curly Hair - Just Frizz
Question
Karen,
Hi, my name is Yuri and I saw some of your comments to some guy
named Jeff about getting rid of his frizzy hair.
My hair is really curly; it just refuses to fall down curling up
in an afro.
What do you think I can do?
Answer
Dear Yuri,
When it comes to really curly hair like yours you have some options, but they
are limited.
- You can cut your hair really short which will eliminate the curls and hopefully a lot of
the problem.
- You can let your hair grow longer and hope that the weight of the hair will loosen some
of the hair.
- You can use temporary "straightener products" like KMS Flat Out or ARTec
Smoothing Serum.
- You can have your hair chemically straightened.
- You can have dreadlocks put into your hair which will allow you to grow your hair a lot
longer without the curls.
I wish I could give you more options but these are the best that I can offer at this
point.
Best wishes,
Karen
August 8, 1999
Hair Won't Grow?
Question #1
Karen,
About 1 1/2 years ago I cut my hair to chin length. It has only
grown 1/2 an inch.
Any ideas on how to get it to grow faster if there is a way??? Thanks!
Meghan in Maine
Answer
Dear Meghan
When hair seems to stop growing it can be due to a number of variables
including:
- Illness
- Your current hair cycle
- Genetics
- Misuse of products
- Poor nutrition
- Stress
If your hair seems healthy generally, but just is not growing, there are many possible
reasons. One possible cause is that your hair has reached its maximum growth
potential. Another cause could be that your hair is in a dormant cycle of growth.
At times hair does temporarily stop growing as part of a dormant cycle.
Many types of illness from thyroid problems to other illness can impact the hair in a
major way. If you hair is dry or you are experiencing loss, I encourage you to
consult with a dermatologist or specialist. You can also see your personal doctor
and discuss this with them.
Stress can cause hair to stop growing and in worse case scenarios can even cause hair
to fall out.
Do a serious evaluation of all of these factors. If everything seems
fine.....look at the foods you are eating and consider changing your diet. The Zone
Diet has proven effective in assisting hair growth in a lot of cases.
Also, consider adding supplements as an extra plus. The H37 vitamin formulas
are great for overall hair and skin and it is balanced to provide a good supplement for
your entire body.
Remember, treat your hair kindly and this also improves its chances for growth.
Avoid harsh shampoos and sprays, limit use of hot hair care appliances and do hot oil
treatments to strengthen your hair.
Best wishes,
Karen
August 7, 1999
Making Hair Grow Fast?
Question #1
Dear Karen,
My hair used to be long..all the way down my back. Recently I have let someone trim it
to shoulder length. I'm not happy with this length and would like it to grow longer.
How would I be able to accomplish this within a short amount of time? Are there any
vitamins I should take?
Are there any products out there that I may use? Please let me know. Thanks!!!!
Arathi
Question #2
Dear Karen,
I recently cut my hair...so you're thinking..."yeah, and?"
Well, I went from a Gwenyth Paltrow short to a super short spikey pixie cut...and I
HATE IT!!! I realize that some people can pull this hair cut off...I'm not one of these
people, I don't have delicate features like Anne Heche or Liv Tyler so it's really not
working for me...
I didn't realize it was going to look like this and I was wondering if you could give
me any tips to make it either grow out faster and/or make it bearable until it does.
I was going for a Sharon Stone pixie but it didn't really work out that way.
HELP!!!
Angeline
Question #3
Hello,
My question is about growing out a short hair style. Do
vitamins and certain shampoos really help? If so, can you recommend good one?
I prefer shampoos that are all natural and not tested on animals. Thanks a million.
A. Gilstorf
Question #4
Hello....I have my hair cut in a short bob...I want it to grow out but then I change my
mind...my hair comes to my chin and now that I want it to grow back. It won't.
I have thick hair...what should I do...I try not to use heat. I air dry it, I
brush it, because every time I let my hair grow out I get it cut again.
I also have highlights. How can I get my hair to grow back?
I have tried products as African Pride. It doesn't work. Please, please,
please help me.
Shaniqua Jackson
Question #5
Dear Karen,
I'm thinking about going really short, like.... Bull cut short, and I think it
will look good. But I'm not sure it will be good in the long run, how long would it take
to grow back to at least back length?
Thank You,
Loni
Answer
To Everyone Wanting To Grow Hair Faster:
Unfortunately there is no magic bullet to make hair suddenly grow
from short to long.
A lot of what it takes to grow hair longer is tied to your own genetic
blueprint.
Some people can grow hair at the average growing rate of 1/2 inch per
month.
Some people grow hair faster and some grow it a lot slower. It
depends on how your genetics are wired. Overall hair will grow (not accounting for
problems like illness) at a rate of 1/4-1/2 inch.
All things going well, you can expect your hair to grow from 4-6 inches
per year. Of course this is a very individual thing and is based on your genetics.
Yes, you can maximize the growth cycle by eating a healthy diet,
exercising and taking vitamins to give you extra insurance that your body is getting all
the minerals and nutrients that it needs.
I personally like the H37 vitamins and have been taking them for a few
months now. I like how the vitamin helps my hair and my skin look and feel better.
Is it making my hair grow faster? It is my belief that it is helping maximize
my own natural growing rate. (Note: We will sell them at The Hair Boutique
Marketplace within the next week).
As far as products go, it is best to use the highest quality hair care
products you can.
I personally love ARTec's Smoothing shampoo and conditioner for my hair
type. Everyone needs to use the products that work best for them. The key is
to use the best products that you can afford that works best for your hair type.
For all natural, no animal testing, I love the Aubrey Honeysuckle Rose
combinations.
Remember that your hair need to be as healthy as possible to grow. Therefore,
besides eating right, taking vitamins and using good hair care products you need to avoid
using hot blowdryers, curling irons or other heated appliances that will weaken the hair.
It is also important to do regular deep conditioning treatments, have the ends trimmed
on a regular basis and be patient. If you do all the right things, your hair will
grow and be gorgeous.
What can you do to make it more bearable while it is growing out? Here are a few
things that worked for me:
- Headbands - the new Bumble & Bumble brabands are very cute and would hold back
"awkward stage" bangs & layers.
- Little clips & an assortment of hair jewelry.
- Changing parts to de-emphasize any awkward layers or hair that is hard to manage.
- Using lots of good gels (I love Aveda Confixer) to help hold hair back.
- Wearing hair brushed behind the ears.
- Putting hair in little ponytails or braids.
Be creative, be patient, eat right, use good products and consider taking vitamins like
the H37 hair growth
vitamins. You hair will reward you with growth.
Best wishes,
Karen
August 6, 1999
Hair Destroyed By Chatty Stylist
Question
Dear Karen,
I am devastated. What do you do when your stylist totally
ruins your hair?
I have been going to her for a long time. Usually she is great.
This last time she and I picked out a great spiral curl look together.
While she was working on my hair she got busy talking to someone else
and my hair turned out to be a "hair horror".
Instead of the gorgeous cut that we had discussed I ended up with a
SHORT cut with nothing but frizz to show for it.
The cut was free and she wants me to come back to perm it but I can't
even leave the house looking like this. I desperately want it fixed.
Do I go back to her or try someone else? Help! I am so upset.
Whit
Answer
Dear Whit
I am so sorry to hear of the agony you are going through with your horrible hair
experience.
Unfortunately the damage is already done. A free haircut was the very least that
the stylist could have done. I think she should pay for the perm as well, or at
least give you a hefty discount.
I personally would give your a second chance. She obviously knows that she
screwed up badly and wants to try and make it right.
Since you have had good luck with her in the past, why not give her a chance to try and
fix things for you and I bet she will be very conscientious in the future.
I would talk to her about the situation. I am sure she knows that you are very
upset, but ask her to clarify how she will resolve this current mess and what she plans to
do in the future to avoid a similar situation.
Please let me know how it turns out for you.
Best wishes,
Karen
August 5, 1999
Using Heated Hair Styling Tools
Question
Dear Karen,
I have several questions about using heated hair styling
tools. So many people have told me so many different things that I am
confused.
1. Can use of heated styling tools like curlers or blowdryers
really hurt your hair? Is there any way to still use these items and not damage the
hair?
2. Which is better, a curling iron or hot curlers?
3. Can you recommend a curling iron that you think is the
least damaging and works best on the hair? What about heated curling brushes?
Traceye
Answer
Dear Traceye
My personal opinion, based on my own experiences, is that use of hot blowdryers,
curling irons, hot curlers and heated straightening tools can and will, over time, do
damage to hair.
Therefore, it is best, to save the use of these appliances or tools for special events.
It is always best to let hair "air dry" when possible.
If you must use heated tools, ALWAYS apply a good protective leave in conditioner first
to create a bit of a buffer between the heated appliance and the hair cuticle.
As far as which is better...curling iron or hot curlers...it depends on what you are
trying to accomplish. A curling iron will give a much more defined curl because
irons generally get a lot hotter than rollers.
Heated curlers will give a looser, softer, less defined curl. They also apply a
cooler temperature to the hair since your hair is not pressed against a hot curling metal
iron barrel.
Hot brushes act a lot like a curling iron but they are more dangerous. This is
because if you are not careful the brush can become easily tangled in your hair which can
be disastrous to untangle.
While I never personally use hot rollers or curling irons on my hair because of the
potential damage, I have heard excellent things about both the Remington Smart Setters for
hot rollers and the BaByliss curling iron.
A Hair Boutique visitor swears by the Remington Smart Setters because of the excellent
curls it creates for her.
Best wishes,
Karen
August 4, 1999
Static Hair Problem
Question
Dear Karen,
My hair seems to be prone to static and becomes very flyaway.
What can I do to stop this?
TM
Answer
Dear TM
A good trick that seems to work for a lot of people is to lightly spray your
hairbrush with hairspray before your brush and style your hair. This trick should
tame your static hair electricity, yet avoid a heavy application of hairspray to your
hair.
Best wishes,
Karen
August 3, 1999
Where To Get Hair Extensions?
Question
Hi Karen,
I am interested in the getting hair
extensions whilst I am in America in September.
I was thinking of getting hair extensions (blonde) about 30cm long. Currently my
hair is about 15cm long per strand.
Can you please give an estimate of how much this would cost and how long it would
take.
Thank you for your help.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Kellie B
Queensland, Australia
Answer
Dear Kellie,
I have to confess that I have very little knowledge of hair extensions.
Hair extension experts - Jay & Terri Robert-Edwards have recently unveiled their new site
heir new site heir new site
which is based from Australia.
You can also write to Terri with
any questions about hair extensions.
For more details check out the article that Terri wrote for The Hair Boutique about hair extensions.
Best wishes,
Karen
August 1, 1999
Making Hair Grow Faster?
One of the most frequent questions that I get to AskKaren or The Hair Boutique
is how to make hair grow faster. Here are some of the most frequently asked
questions with my answers.
Question
Dear Karen,
I would like to know how can I make my hair grow faster. I want it to be
waist-long.
Renán
Answer
Dear Renan,
Unfortunately there is no magic bullet, pill or formula that will
help grow your hair any faster than your personal genetics allow it to grow.
On an average, hair grows at a rate of 1/4 to 1/2 inch per month.
The good news is that there are several steps you can take to maximize
your genetic potential.
These steps include keeping your hair trimmed every 6-8 weeks to prevent
split end damage, eating as healthy as possible (The Zone Diet is excellent for growing
hair) and using good hair care techniques.
Use the best hair care products you can afford, do regular hot oil treatments
and avoid hot blow dryers or other similar tools that will dry out of break any new
growth.
A key factor to growing waist-long hair is patience and having a good plan of action.
This includes finding the best hair stylist that specializes in long hair as
well as doing "all the right things" to encourage your natural hair growing
cycle.
You may also want to consider the advantages of taking the H37 vitamin supplements for hair growth.
The Hair Boutique is devoted to providing the best hair care and growing information
possible.
Be sure to check out all the great hair growing tips
and
articles (there are over 250) in the Hair Boutique's Tips & Articles
section.
For a great hair growing chart, go to the International Long Hair Club's
site.
Webmaster Dave Tichnor has provided a great reference guide for how hair generally grows.
Best wishes,
Karen
By submitting your question, you grant HairBoutique.com permission to
publish it. Due to the volume of mail we receive, Karen regrets that she cannot respond to
every question. To Ask Karen your questions send e-mail to: askkaren@hairboutique.com |
