September 24, 1999
Natural Treatment For Lice?
Karen,
My 10 year old daughter just came home from school with her first case of lice of
the season. However, she has had lice before. I have used RID recommended by
the pharmacist at the local drug store but she claims that the RID makes her feel sick to
her stomach.
Do you know of any treatments that don't cause any side
effects?
A fast answer would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your help.
Peter
Answer
Dear Peter,
Head lice are very tiny, but they cause major problems. It is not uncommon for
kids to have negative reactions to the over-the-counter drugstore versions of lice
formulas. After all, these lice formulas are actually a form of insecticides and
they can cause everything from headaches, to nausea, vomiting and other reactions.
Some cases of kids experiencing tremors have also been reported.
It is definitely wise to be concerned about your daughter's reaction to the lice
remedy.
Luckily there are some "all natural" lice remedies that have
been proven to be very effective in actual clinical trials.
The Quantum HairClean 1-2-3 Lice Remover
kit that can be purchased by calling 877-542-3877, included some powerful, but safe and
effective essential oil treatments.
The Quantum remedy is a formula that you spray on the scalp and consists
of anise and ylang ylang essential oils. It also includes coconut oil and isopropyl
alcohol and a special lice nit remover comb.
The treatment needs to be repeated 2 times at least one week apart.
Clinical trials were performed on the Quantum HairClean 1-2-3 on
children in Florida's school system. The product was deemed to be very effective 98%
of the time. A one ounce kit costs approximately $16.99 and a larger 2 ounce version
costs in the range of $24.00.
The September 1999 version of Natural
Health Magazine has information about natural lice remedies.
In their review of non toxic lice treatments they recommend the Quantum
as well as Out-A-Hair which was designed and developed by
aromatherapist Julia Faller of Petaluma, California for her daughter, who suffered ongoing
and repeated lice problems.
The Out-A-Hair includes 8 essential oils and neem oil. The 2 ounce
kit with special comb can be ordered by calling 888-868-8331 and costs approximately
$18.49.
Ms. Faller's daughter was permanently cured of her lice problems after
just two treatments with the Out-A-Hair which includes such oils as bergamot, eucalyptus
and tea tree oil.
The Natural Health article also recommends combing as an all natural
lice killer. The Natural Health folks recommend combing through the hair with a
special nit comb every three days to remove the lice.
Whether you wish to use one of the all natural aromatherapy products is
a matter of personal choice.
Personally, I would prefer to try one of the aromatherapy based all
natural formulas, along with the brushing as a safeguard.
If you do not want to order either of the formulas recommended above,
visit or call your local health food store and ask them for advice on a safe, nontoxic
product to use.
You may also wish to visit a local aromatherapist and ask them to make
up a special treatment program for your daughter.
Susan Wormwood, an aromatherapist who wrote Essential Aromatherapy, A Pocket Guide,
lists lavender, manuka and tea tree oils as best for head lice.
She recommends that the oils be mixed in a good carrier oil and applied
through bathing, massage or rubbing the mixture onto the scalp.
Hope that gives you some insight into ways to try all natural
treatments. Many experts believe that lice are becoming resistant to the current
over-the-counter remedies. Therefore the products are being made more potent and
therefore more toxic to kill the parasites.
Best wishes,
Karen
September 20, 1999
Terrible Perm!!!
Dear Karen,
Just two days ago I had very long, beautiful straight hair. I was having a lot of
problems styling my hair because of the weight. My hair lacked body and would not hold a
curl at all.
I went to a hair salon in my area (N.J.). I asked for some advice. Everyone in the
salon suggested a spiral perm. Unfortunately, I took their advice.
My hair is TERRIBLE !!!!!!!!!!!!.
I can not even put a pick through it. It feels hard and straw like. My hair is
frizzy with NO curl. It looks as though it has been singed.
I have been crying ever since this happened. I just can not believe this happened
to me.
Not only is it severely damaged, I had to cut off almost 9 inches.
The kicker is they charged me for it and I paid. I did not know if it was normal.
She insisted that it would relax and curl up after two days.
What should I do? I can not continue having my hair like this. Is there any thing
at all I can do?
Any advice would be deeply appreciated. I am terrified.
With sincere gratitude,
TG
Answer
Hi,
I am so sorry to hear about your horrible perm experience. I
understand how awful it must be for you to go through this.
Please read (click here) Hair
Boutique Tip 051 in the Tips & Articles section that details a similar
event for Belinda of Ireland who had a terrible spiral perm experience about one year ago.
Belinda paid a lot of money to have a spiral perm and the results were horrible. She
demanded her money back and got it...after a fight...which the article details.
What can you do with about your horrible perm?
There are several options you can exercise:
1. Call the salon and insist on speaking to the manager and tell them you want
all of your money back.
If you paid by check and they refuse to refund your money, stop payment on the check.
If you paid by credit card, call the credit card company and tell them you want the charge
removed because you did not receive satisfaction for your payment.
Credit card companies are very good about taking care of their consumers.
If you paid by cash, you may have a harder time getting your money refunded.
Unfortunately, once a salon has your cash, they may not be willing to refund it. With a
check or a charge card, you at least have a chance to get a refund.
Be sure you tell the shop first before stopping payment on your check or calling the
credit card company to avoid any charges of fraud against you from the shop.
2. Keep detailed records of everything that happened from the beginning.
Be sure and write down the name of the person you talk to at the salon when you call to
request a refund. Time to note exactly what they say.
Date and timestamp your conversations with the salon and keep it with a receipt for the
perm...if you have it.
Write down all the facts about what has transpired from the beginning until the end.
Sometimes our memory fades with time and it is important to write this all down
before you forget.
Also make a special note of the date and time you had the perm, the name of the
stylist, what transpired, how your hair turned out, how much you had to have cut off
because of the perm, how much it cost, how you paid, etc.,
Record any and all details. You may eventually have some legal recourse but will need a
detailed record of everything that has transpired if you want to pursue the incident.
3. If the salon offers to "make it up to you" insist that you get a series of
deep conditioning treatments, shampoos and blow drying treatments but do not accept
any more CHEMICAL TREATMENTS. You can also accept a "credit" in
products like shampoos and conditioners.
Most reputable salons with a reputation at stake will try to make good services
experiences by unhappy clients.
If the salon in question refuses to give you your money back and you don't want to
pursue the options in #1, insist upon a series of deep conditioning treatments equal to
the amount of the perm treatment.
Most salons will offer deep conditioning treatments where they apply a good "hot
conditioner" and then put you under a hood hair dryer for 20-30 minutes. They will
usually charge $20-45 dollars for the treatment depending on a variety of factors. So ask
what they charge for the conditioning treatments before you agree to treatment to make
sure you get your money's worth.
4. If you don't like option #1 and don't want to risk going back to the salon, call
your attorney and ask them to send a letter letting the salon know what a unsatisfactory
job they did and that you want all of your money back. If they refuse, discuss your legal
options with your attorney.
5. In the short term.....at home...try deep hair conditioning treatments to soften the
hair.
Use extra virgin olive oil and heat until warm, not hot, and then apply to the permed
part...avoiding the scalp area. Wrap in a plastic shower cap and then wrap a hot towel
over that (I use my clothes dryer to heat my towels). Leave on for about 1 hour...longer
if you like...then use a good moisturizing shampoo to wash out the oil.
Aveda Shampure, ARTec Smoothing and Aubrey Organic Honeysuckle Rose are the most
moisturizing shampoos I have found to date.
Phytologie has a few that are great but it depends a lot on your hair type and since I
am not sure what to recommend post perm for that line, I would stick with the 3 I
mentioned.
6. After shampooing the olive oil out, rinse your hair really well, then slather a good
deep conditioner on. Aveda Curressence and ARTec Smoothing are both very softening. Leave
on in the shower for at least 5-10 minutes. Rinse with cool to cold water to seal the
conditioners in.
Towel blot your hair and then try applying Phtologie's Phyto #7 or #9 leave in
conditioner or similar product. I have found that the Phyto#7 or #9 will soften just
about any type of dry or tangled hair.
It will definitely help detangle and soften your hair tremendously. If this does not
help, I am not sure what to recommend. You hair should be ultra soft or at least a lot
better than it is now post-perm.
Letting your hair air dry will also help seal in the Phyto #7 or #9.
If you don't want to mess with olive oil (it can be a pain and very messy) go to a
beauty supply store that carries ARTec and get ARTec Moisture Pak deep conditioner.
Note: I would recommend calling before
you go to any shops or beauty supply stores. Some shops have a wider selection than
others.
It has never failed me. Follow directions on the package, wash your hair, towel
dry it and then slather the Moisture Pak on. It will soften just about any dry hair. Leave
it on as long as you can.
If you don't have access to a large beauty supply store then go to the nearest beauty
salon that carries ARTec or Aveda and buy the products.
I know that these products are more expensive than a lot of products, but you are in a
hair crisis at this point and need to get some moisture back into your hair to avoid
further damage such as split ends or other damage that perm chemicals can cause.
There are lots of other lines that carry good conditioning treatments...I am just
recommending the ones that I know work for me and a large number of the Hair Boutique
visitors.
What happened?
It is really hard to say since there are a multitude of factors that could have
occurred.
Although I can not say for sure without looking at your hair, it is a possibility that
the perm solution may have been too strong for your hair type or that the solution was
left for an inappropriate amount of time or did not get properly rinsed out. It
could also be that the stylist was not well versed in perming your type of hair. It
is hard to imagine what really happened.
One thing to remember. Hair needs to rest in between chemical treatments. Please
do not let the salon talk you into having another chemical treatment for at least 30 days.
While some hair specialists are more lenient and think that you only need to wait 7-14
days between chemical treatments I tend to be more conservative in my opinion.
This is because of all the email I receive from people who have experienced damage from
chemical treatments that were not adequately spaced.
If I can help in any other way...please let me know.
Best wishes,
Karen
September 16, 1999
Need Hair Style Examples
Question
Karen
I don't understand WHY a hair website like Hair Boutique does not have pictures of
various hairdos.
Since you don't have photos could you direct me to a site that has at least 20-30
different photos I could look at for women.
FJ
Answer
Dear FJ
The Hair Boutique has always had galleries of
photos with tons of hair style examples.
We currently have a Gallery section with over 800
styles for women
and several other hair galleries including a men's gallery, two long hair galleries and
two bridal hair galleries.
You can reach the Hair Boutique Gallery section right from the front
page of Hair Boutique or you
can go in the back door to the main
Gallery page.
We also have a huge Tips & Articles section
which features hair articles on all sorts of hairstyles. Many of the articles
features photos.
Jeff and I are in the process of redesigning Hair Boutique and will be
adding both a searchable database of hairstyles as well as special exclusive hair
galleries from well-known stylist around the US and other countries.
Best wishes,
Karen
September 15, 1999
Bra Head Bands - How Do I Wear Them?
Question
Dear Karen,
 I
must compliment you on your new jewelry line. I love all the new items you offer and
the prices are right for my budget minded pocketbook.
I was glad to see you were selling the new bra headbands. I have been
thinking about buying them ever since my local Limited store starting carrying them.
However, I do have some questions because I am not quite sure how to wear the bands
and I never want to ask at the Limited because I don't want the sales clerks to know that
I don't know about these bands.
I hope you can answer my questions.
What type of material are the bra bands made out of? Are they really
adjustable and can they be worn with naturally curly hair?
I have curly hair that I like to wear off my face. Are the bands designed for
a certain age group or can women in their 30s wear them?
Can the bra bands be washed or dry cleaned or neither? Is it better to wear
just one band that is split to look like two or better to go for two separate bands?
Any thoughts?
If I were to order a bra band from the Marketplace and I could not figure out how
to use it or did not like it, what are my options? I know that you advertise a 100%
money back guarantee but is that a limited policy?
I appreciate your help on these questions. Whether you select this question
for AskKaren or not I would appreciate an answer when you have time.
Thanks,
Melissa
Answer
Dear Melissa
The bra headbands that
are currently "hot" right now come in all sorts of different materials from a
satiny ribbon finish to denim and cotton and I have seen them with all sorts of
"adornments" like rhinestones and flowers.
The bra headbands that Jeff and I sell at the Hair Boutique Marketplace
have the satin/ribbon look and have a tiny butterfly emblem that is the same color as the
band.
The little butterfly is a very elegant little "nice touch"
that attracted me to these particular bands over other types of bands that are now
available.
Before anything is sold in the Marketplace,
Jeff and I and the other Hair Boutique staff members test the products on ourselves.
I personally meet with the various jewelry designers and manufacturers
here in Dallas and pick out every hair jewelry item myself. After I personally
select the items that I think the Hair Boutique visitors would like, I test a sample on my
own hair before I decide to sell it in the Marketplace.
Price and quality is a major concern for us and I know that people who
visit the Hair Boutique trust that we will not recommend products that we don't personally
use and believe in.
Every product that is sold in the Marketplace
from the hair jewelry to the hair vitamins are
packed & shipped from the Hair Boutique offices in Dallas, Texas. We do not
drop/ship any of our items from other locations.
That guarantees that we can be very timely on our mailings because we
know that people like to receive their orders as soon as possible (with a little help from
the US Mail).
Jeff and I sincerely want everyone to have a good experience with the
products that they buy from Hair Boutique. Therefore we stand behind our 100% money
back guarantee on all our products except for our video tapes which can be returned if the
tapes are defective.
There are no hard and fast rules for who can wear the bands or how they
should be worn. It is all a matter of personal taste. I have seen women AND
men wearing the bra bands and I have seen them all ages from very young to very old.
They are 100% adjustable and work just like a bra strap. They have
a little buckle that lets you adjust the tension on the bands to be as tight or loose as
you desire.
Each bra band ordered from the Hair Boutique come with step-by-step
instructions for use.
Whether you wear one band and split it or two bands depends on what your
goals are for the bands. Do you want to use the bands to hold your hair back or do
you want to use the bands as accent pieces? They work in either scenario.
Curly hair looks great with the bra bands. The photo above shows a
curly haired model with the popular bra bands. She is wearing two separate black
bands and is using the bands to hold the hair at her crown smoothly back from her
face. Which is one of your goals.
I would not recommend that you throw your bra band in the washer.
I would recommend that you either carefully hand wash it or cool water or have it dry
cleaned.
It is probably best not to wash the bands at all, if possible, but if
you must, be as gentle and careful as possible because they there is a slight chance you
may not be happy with the results.
Thank you so much for writing. I hope that I have answered all your
questions. If not, please write again.
Best wishes,
Karen
September 14, 1999
Is Hair Ever Too Long?
Question
Dear Karen
I recently got engaged and my future husband  thinks that I should
cut my waist length hair because it is too long.
Is there some rule about how long hair can be before it is considered too long?
I have always admired Crystal Gayle's hair and hoped that someday I would have floor
length hair like she does.
I am sad because I love my hair and have been growing it for over 20 years.
I don't want to go into the marriage upsetting my future husband but I am at a loss of
what to do.
Can you help me by giving me some suggestions on what I can say to convince my finance
to let me keep my hair?
Thanks for any help you can give. I love The Hair Boutique and have been coming
to visit from almost the beginning of the site. Thanks for being here.
Susannah
Answer
Dear Susannah
This is a really tough question to answer since
what I would personally do may not be the same as what you would do.
I have never heard of any rules stipulating that hair can only be
grown to a certain length before it is considered too long.
You're right, Crystal Gayle has gorgeous hair and it goes right to the
floor.
Is her hair too long? That is a questions that involves personal
preferences. I personally would love to have floor length hair. Others
wouldn't.
I am not sure what determines your future husband's reasons for wanting
to cut your hair. Maybe he has a specific reason that you can talk about.
I would suggest that honesty is the best policy and that you should
gently tell your future husband that you really love your hair and don't want to cut it.
Explain to your future husband how much your hair means to you and that
you would like to keep it.
Hopefully if he understands how much you love your hair he will
understand your need to keep it.
Best wishes on your future wedding. Thanks for visiting us at Hair
Boutique.
Best wishes,
Karen
September 11, 1999
Hair Extensions In Australia
Question
Dear Karen
Can you refer me to a hair extension expert in
Australia? I though I read somewhere that you had interviewed someone who did hair
extensions in that area of the world?
Tomas
Answer
Dear Tomas,
I think you are probably thinking of our friends, hair extensions experts Jay and
Terri Robert-Edwards at Akinda Magic.
They are located in Australia and are the best of the best.
Here is their info:
PO Box 707, Woollahra
NSW, Australia 2025
Phone: 02 9332 3550
Free calls in Australia 1-800-6-MAGIC
Fax: 02 9332 3537
Email: info@hairextensions.com.au
September 10, 1999
Progesterone Cream & Hair Loss
Question
Dear Karen
After coming off progesterone cream I started
losing hair. It's been 7 months and I am still waiting for the re-balancing.
Will HF-37 help me even if my hormones are in this state? I am getting re-growth, but
not fast enough to counteract the amount that falls out. I still have about 85% of
my hair.
It's a daily battle and I am using Nioxin topically to help my scalp be conducive to
re-growth?
Thanks for your help and response.
Carol R.
Answer
Dear Carol,
Unfortunately there are no guarantees when it
comes to dealing with hair loss problems. There are some things that do work very
well for some people.
I will tell you that when I started personally having thyroid problems about one year
ago, my hair got very dry and I noticed that I was losing more hair than is normal for my
average hair cycles.
After all the years of growing my hair, when it started falling out it made me nuts. I
tried everything to help. I did find four things that seemed to really help my
hair a lot.
Please keep in mind that what worked for me may or may not work for you.
I found help for my own thyroid related hair problems with:
1. H37 vitamins (taken religiously every day).
2. Essential Fatty Acids (EFA).
3. Protein drinks every morning for breakfast combined with following the Zone
Diet.
4. Daily scalp massage using a variety of essential oils (basil works great for me).
Personally I have always noticed, a direct correlation between
the softness and health of my hair and skin to whether or not I take EFA.
I have tried Vitamin E and flaxseed oil and I think, for me, flaxseed it the best of
the lot. Of course this is also a personal thing.
When I tried the H37 vitamins, I noticed a direct correlation to how my hair felt.
It seemed to stop falling out as much and actually getting thicker, less dry and
healthier.
I also switched to an all natural shampoo and conditioner (Aubrey Organic) which
appeared to help with the dryness.
My hair seems to be doing pretty well now, but I watch it constantly to monitor any
changes. For me, I notice the most fallout, if it is happening, when I wash it.
When I am on my 4 point program that I outlined above my hair seems to maintain a
stable pattern and the dryness and additional loss of hair seems to decline.
I can not promise that H37 or any of the "hair remedies" that work for me
will help you. I do know that it helped me and it has helped others.
Unfortunately, hormones will tend to impact the hair. That is why women who are
pregnant will often notice changes in their hair growth and loss cycles as a result of
over or under production of hormones.
I can not really address the impact or results of using Nioxin since I have limited
experience with it, but if it seems to be helping you, then I would recommend continuing
your current path.
If you think you are losing ground with your hair, I would recommend consulting either
a dermatologist that specializes in hair loss for women or a hormone expert.
I am a big believer in vitamins and the wholistic approach. They seem to make a
difference in how I look and how I feel.
I have been personally going to an acupuncturist for over 15 years and get regular
massages for my body and my scalp.
My acupuncturist (Dr. Stuart Mauro - 214-521-2001) has been working with me to monitor
my overall health since the thyroid problems (I am also seeing an endocrinologist) and
recommends that I try to get more rest and sleep (hard for me to do since I am
always so busy) as an additional support to my body, my skin and hair.
I hope this helps with your questions. If you have more, please email me. I would love
to help as much as I can.
Hang in there, I can totally relate to what your are experiencing.
Best wishes,
Karen
September 9, 1999
Aveda's Detox Shampoos
Question
Dear Karen
I started to use Aveda's Detox shampoo at the
recommendation of my hairstylist who happens to love the Aveda product line.
I have been coming to Hair Boutique for some time and I know
that you have used Aveda in the past and had some good luck with the line.
I have been using the Aveda Detox shampoo about 2-3 times a week and
I am concerned that it is really harming my hair.
I thought that maybe my hair was getting more split ends and more
dryness because of the summer heat. However, I am beginning to suspect that I may be
using the Detox shampoo too often. Is that possible?
I tried the Aveda Rosemary Mint for "equalizing" but that
did not really seem to help much. I heard that the Curessence and the Revitalizing
Conditioners might help "recondition" my hair. Any thoughts on that?
Lorrie
Answer
Dear Lorrie,
The goal of any detox shampoo (there are several different brands on the market besides
Aveda) is to remove hair care product buildup.
I should also mention that clarifying shampoos also perform the same function as a
detox shampoo.
Yes, it is true that I have used the Aveda Detox shampoo off and on for years.
The product has worked well for me when I needed a detox shampoo product.
The stylist that originally convinced to try it cautioned me that I should never use a
detox shampoo....no matter what brand...more often than about once every 2-3 weeks.
He also told me to use the Aveda Detox only if my hair had a lot of buildup from styling
gels, conditioners or related hair care products.
It is my opinion that you should limit your use of the Detox shampoo to just once every
few weeks. I am not sure that the Detox is causing you to get split ends, but it is
certainly possible that the Detox shampoo is drying out your hair to the point that the
ends are more fragile and more prone to breaking.
While I personally love ARTec's Moisture Pak as my deep conditioner of choice, I had
very good conditioning results with Aveda's Curessence. I also had good results with
the Aveda Revitalizing Conditioner when I first started using it. Over time that
product stopped working as well on my hair as it had in the beginning.
I did really get great results with the Aveda line for many years. At the current time
(9/99) I am using more natural hair care products like Aubrey Organics. I am also
testing several "all natural" brands. This is just a personal choice I have made
related to recent thyroid problems. However, I highly recommend both the Aveda and
ARTec product lines. They are of the highest quality and provide excellent results.
The key thing to remember is that everyone is different. So a product that may
work for me, may not work for everyone else.
Best wishes,
Karen
September 4, 1999
How To Finger Rake Hair
Question
Dear Karen,
My boyfriend has very long hair and he almost
never uses a comb or a brush. Instead he uses his fingers to "comb" his
hair. He calls it "raking" and says that it is better for his hair than
using a real brush or comb.
Can that be right? I don't want to bug him about it but I think maybe he is
not helping his hair by not brushing and combing it. I was taught that you should
brush your hair 100 strokes a day.
Have you have of this finger combing process? I apologize if this is a stupid
question. I am just curious.
Jena J.
Answer
Dear Jena,
Thank you for writing. No question is every stupid in my book.
I can understand if you have never seen someone do finger raking (also known as
finger picking) before, that you would have questions.
The number one problem that can happen with long hair is breakage. Your
boyfriend is actually doing a very good thing when he "finger rakes" or
"finger picks" his hair. This is because the human fingers are softer (in
almost every case) than combs and brushes and much less prone to "snag or rip"
hair when used as a type of comb or detangler.
My Hair Boutique co-webmaster Jeff Hines and I both "finger rake" our long
hair most of the time.
I rarely brush or comb my hair except to smooth it from time to time.
Brushing can actually break the hair of done incorrectly or with a brush that has
spokes that are prone to rip or tear the hair. This is also true if you use the
wrong type of comb.
If you do want to brush or comb your hair, use only the finest quality brushes and
combs to protect your hair from breakage. Avoid excessive use of brushes.
I will only use a very smooth big toothed hair pick for stubborn tangles or when my
hair is very wet. I have found that finger picking does not work well on my hair
except in the bang area, when it is wet.
Other people are able to easily finger pick or rake their hair when it is wet.
I have never had much luck with wet hair because of the wavy texture of my
own hair.
I encourage everyone with any length of hair to "finger rake" or
"finger pick" their hair to detangle it. You will have to be
your own judge on whether it works better your hair when it is wet or dry. In some
cases, it works equally well.
How to finger rake?
Remove any rings with sharp points or jewelry that could snag or tear your hear.
I got my hair caught in a gold bracelet once and learned the hard way to remove all
potential "hair pullers" from my fingers and arms.
I also encourage people not to finger pick if their hands are very rough, have cuts or
they have bandages that can catch and rip the hair.
Hold your hand with your palm pointed towards your hair and then spread all of your
fingers evenly. Run or glide your fingers through your hair to gently remove snarls
and tangles. Start at the top of the hair and work gently down to the ends.
Take small sections of your hair at a time. Remember to be gentle.
Don't rip or pull the hair.
Note: It is also important to remember
that hair that is wet is in its most fragile state.
Here are two of my personal long hair secrets:
Secret #1: If my hair is especially dry or tangled,
I spray a good detangler like Aveda's Curessence Spray (or similar product) on my fingers
to lightly coat.
While my fingers are damp from the detangler spray, I finger pick through the dry or
tangled parts. The detangler spray is transferred from my fingers to my hair and
viola, the tangles drop away like magic.
Secret #2: Sometimes I will use a tiny amount
of Aveda's Beautifying Oil (just 4-5 drops) and rub the oil on my fingers before I
"finger rake".
The Beautifying oil (which has a high concentration of jojobo oil) helps distribute
much needed moisture through my hair. It does not make it greasy or oily. I
find that the Aveda Oil gently coats my hair shaft as I finger pick adding softness and
shine.
Hope that helps.
Best wishes,
Karen
September 2, 1999
Dhorie Gemonimo
Question
Dear Karen
I really am a big fan of long hair. Recently a friend of mine mentioned the
name Dhorie Gernonimo to me and said that she had really gorgeous long hair.
You seem to know so much about long hair and hair in general, I was wondering if
you had heard of this lady and what you can tell me about her and her hair. Also, do
you know where I can see photos of her hair?
The other lady that is known for her hair is Diane Witt. I have been to her
site which I found from the Hair Boutique Links section, but I am wondering if you can
tell me anything more about her. She seems to be somewhat hidden from the view that
I never see nor hear much about her.
Thanks for a fabulous website. The first time I visited Hair Boutique I spent
6 hours straight glued to all the articles and tips.
Charles J.
Answer
Dear Charles,
Thanks for the compliments about Hair Boutique. Jeff and I appreciate your visits
and your interest.
Ms. Dhorie Geronimo was a winner in a long hair
contest held in London sometime in the early 1980s.
During the time that she won the contest she was mentioned in
various U.S. newspapers. Although I can't tell you which ones for sure, I do know
specifically that she was mentioned in the L.A. Times.
If you wanted to do a search on Dhorie in libraries, I would recommend
that you check microfiche for the LA Times during that time period.
While I have actually searched for more information about Dhorie on the
Net, I have not found any new current information.
Frank Ploen, the Webmaster of The
Long Hair Site, has three fabulous photos
of Dhorie in his
Xtra Length hair section that
shows Dhorie's incredible long hair in three different poses.
While you are looking at Dhorie's photos you may want to stop and look
at some of the other gorgeous photos that Frank has in his Xtra Length hair section. Frank has done a
fabulous job of putting together some gorgeous photos.
For more information about Dhorie I would recommend that you send email to Frank. I am sure he can point you
in the right direction if he has any additional information.
Frank also sells CDs with various editions of his site and he may even
have photos of Dhorie on one of his CD editions that you could purchase.
From what I have heard about Diane
Witt, she is a very private person. From what I have gleaned from
various people, Diane lives on the West Coast. Her daughter, Alicia Witt,
is the beautiful red haired actress who played Cybil Shepard's daughter on her recently
cancelled television program.
I have heard that Diane is always flattered by the attention and
interest in her gorgeous hair, but values her privacy and does not make many public
appearances.
For any additional information about Diane you might want to email David Starr, who does a great job as the
webmaster of the Diane Witt site.
I have had email correspondence with David and he is very helpful and
works hard to provide the best information on Diane possible.
Best wishes,
Karen
September 1, 1999
H37 - Karen & Jeff's Opinions
Question
Dear Karen
I have been reading all the comments on Hair Boutique about H37 and noticed that
you and Jeff have taken it with good results.
I have been coming to Hair Boutique since almost the beginning and I know that you
personally do not recommend anything that you have not personally tested and feel is good.
I appreciate that, but I have some questions that I need answered about H37.
You have stated in previous AskKarens that you believe that hair will grow or not
grow depending on the overall health of the individual. Is that really true?
Why?
Are there certain foods that I should eat that will benefit my hair more than
others? Are their foods that will harm my hair more? Can you elaborate on some
of these?
Any additional information you can provide would be helpful. While I am
interested in taking H37, I want to make sure that I don't spend the investment and then
shoot myself in the foot in other ways. Sort of like joining a gym to get healthy
and then smoking 2 packs of cigarettes.
If I take H37 without trying to improve my diet in other ways, will it still help?
Thanks for considering my email for publication. I am a big fan of you and
the Hair Boutique.
Tommie J.
Answer
Dear Tommie,
Thanks for the kind words about Hair Boutique. Yes, I do not endorse products
that I do not first test on myself (much to the horror of my hair at times) and I
personally am taking H37 for my own hair, with good results. Jeff also took it with
good results, as did Hair Boutique's Jane Bullock
You are correct about the role that nutrition and good health play with regard to hair.
In a lot of ways, the hair acts as an indicator of the general overall health of the
body. It can also react dramatically when the body is under several stress. It
is a known fact that some people with high fevers will lose all of their hair. Also,
severe stress or trauma can cause temporary baldness. So yes, I do believe that the
overall health of the body is important when looking at hair health and growth patterns.
While H37 will help in many ways with both your nutrition and hair, you also do
need to look at the overall health of the body.
Another important factor to keep in mind is the health of the scalp. How fast
hair grows, and the condition it is in as it grows, in my opinion, is directly tied to
several different factors, which all tie back to overall health.
Nutrition is a key factor in hair growth and overall scalp and hair condition.
What foods should you eat? Unfortunately, in our modern times, many foods which
are normally good for the overall body, thus good for the hair and scalp, have been
"modernized" to the point that the foods are not nearly as nutritional superior
as they used to be.
Modern use of pesticides and supplemental manufacturing processes, in many ways, have
altered the food supply to the point that some foods have lost some of their nutritional
"punch". Foods that used to be very rich in natural vitamins and minerals
are now altered by the food processing industry. Additives and colors and fillers
are often used.
That is where organically grown products make a difference. Also, vitamins (like
H37) and herbs can be used as supplements to "put back" some of the nutrients
that are lost during the food processing and manufacturing process.
Wherever possible, if you are eating for the benefit of your hair, it is
best to eat fresh and unprocessed foods (organic when possible) and avoid canned, frozen
or heavily processed foods.
Foods that are rich in Vitamin B are excellent foods for hair health.
You are also right about consuming things that are "bad for your hair".
While these items are generally bad for your health, they do impact the hair.
Two well-known detriments for fast-growing and healthy hair are:
- Caffeine (coffee, tea, colas, chocolate)
- Tobacco (all products that use tobacco)
Caffeine and tobacco both act like drugs on the human body and it impacts digestion and
circulation. To have great hair, you need to be able to assimilate and digest
nutrients in the foods you consume and you need good circulation to nourish the scalp and
the hair follicles.
Excessive use of both caffeine and tobacco will negatively impact the overall health of
the body and can be detrimental to fast growing, healthy hair.
As a direct result of problems with circulation, excessive stress can cause problems
with the hair and scalp. Nervous tension can cause tightness to the entire body,
including the scalp and the neck. This can form a circulation barrier for blood that
needs to feed the scalp and the hair.
The first of these is nervous tension - whether due to conflict or to anxiety - which
almost always reflects in the muscles of the neck. Head and neck massage will
help minimize this problem and open up circulation to the scalp which will help grow
healthier hair overall.
Hope that helps.
Best wishes,
Karen
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