Ask Karen - December 2001

I now currently have very long and straight hair, but my hair is dry, damaged and too thin from lost hair that fell out as a result of the damage that I did to it. Also, almost daily I tend to lose much more hair that is breaking off from using too much hair dye. I hope to get my hair to be thicker and healthier again. Can I use hair formula37? If I use this product, does H37 cause the hair on the legs or arms to grow faster or thicker?

Ceci

Thanks for your email. There are no reports of H37 having any impact to hair growth on the arms or legs. I am sure that anything is possible but H37 is designed to strengthen the organs of the body that grow hair on top of the head and not on the organs that grow hair on other body parts.

Can H37 help add thickness? For many people it does improve the thickness of their hair if they are suffering from chemical damage from dyes or improper hair care. However this is not the case for all people. It depends on each individual case and the current condition of the hair.

H37 will help strengthen hair so that it grows better and it will also help with dryness and brittle hair. Some people report hair getting thicker but over 95% report that it has definitely helped their hair to grow faster, stronger, longer while making it softer and healthier.

If your hair is naturally thin/fine, chances are very good, based on historical data that H37 will help give you stronger hair but it will probably not completely change the texture from thin to super thick.

December 17, 2001
Broken Hair?

I am a wanna-be ballerina. I have to wear my hair in a tight ponytail or bun every day for practice. Lately I have noticed a lot of little hair breaking off and now they remaining hair "sticks" out of my bun or around my face. What should I do to keep the broken hair from sticking up. Even better, what do I do in the future to prevent more broken hairs?

You have several options to help with your broken strands. You can use a dab of hair paste rubbed between your fingers and applied to your loose dry hairs to smooth them down. Or you can use a control stick. Aveda has their new Custom Control stick that works like a cross between a wax and a paste.

To keep the broken hair as soft as possible, use a moisturizing shampoo and rinse out conditioner when you shampoo. If you have fine or thin hair, use a light moisturizing formula. Medium to thicker curly or wavy hair would benefit from a heavier formula. Complete each shampoo with a cool/cold water rinse to seal the hair cuticle. Use a leave-in conditioner to help keep locks smooth and close frizzy ends.

If you must pull your hair up off your face, try softer buns that you hold in place with large combs, softer scrunchies, hair sticks or barrettes. If you must use hair bands, consider using the bungee type rather than the tighter elastic bands.

Whatever you do, avoid using plain rubber bands or bands that are not covered with plastic.

Avoid keeping your hair up except when absolutely necessary. Tight ponytails can put undue stress on hair roots and can cause all sorts of additional problems over time.

Remember to be gentle when taking your hair down to avoid pulling or stretching it.

December 16, 2001
Eggs For My Hair?

OK. So man I am so confused. I read that eggs don't really help the hair but then I read that some big hair guy said that eggs are really great for baby-fine hair, which is my hair trip. This article said something about using a bunch of eggs to plump up my hair. Any ideas about this?

Eggs for the hair are definitely controversial. Some experts believe that the proteins in the eggs, that can help baby-fine hair, can't make it into the hair cuticle. Some experts believe that eggs can plump up fine hair. What do I believe? A little of both.

I do know that raw eggs are not the safe foods that they used to be because of potential salmonella and other types of poisons that can be lurking in the eggs. I tend to be a bit of a worry-wort and so I err on the side of safety. When it comes to eggs I don't normally recommend that they be used because of the possible dangers.

With all that said, I do know that some trichologists recommend eggs for plumping up fine hair. I am not sure what "big hair guy" you are referring to, but I have heard of the following hair recipe for thin/fine hair.

1. Take 2-4 eggs (depending on your hair length and thickness) and separate the yolks from the whites. You want to keep the whites and dispose of the yolks. Remember to keep your hands washed before, after and during your contact with the eggs.

2. After the yolks are separated, mix warm water with the whites to create a thick rinse. You want to make sure that the rinse is not too thin.

3. Shampoo your hair, rinse well and then pour the egg white rinse over your hair. Saturate your wet hair completely. Leave on wet hair for 3-5 minutes. The idea is that the protein in the egg whites will plump up the hair cuticles.

Some hair experts suggest that you use an egg white mix as a setting gel. The only drawback is that the egg whites can be sticky and hard to manage.

Try the above recipe or if you really want great volume try PhytoVolume Shampoo and PhytoVolume Actif Spray or Amplify Shampoo and gel from Matrix. Both products are wonderful for building in immediate volume for thin/fine hair.

December 15, 2001
HairBoutique.com Marketplace?

I have been coming to HairBoutique.com since day one in early 1998. I have to confess that I had drifted away from visiting the site for the past 10 months and then decided to return when I saw a note about you in the National Enquirer of all places. How cool. I said to my wife, hey, I know that site. :-).

My eyes about popped out when I saw all the stuff in your store. I counted close to 1,000 items and over 50 different manufacturers. My my, how far you and Jeff and come since 1998.

So can you share a few secrets of what you have up your sleeve for 2002? I am hoping you will still keep the site growing but I can imagine you must work on "your baby" nonstop. Karen, I am so impressed with how you and Jeff had transformed a little hair site into this huge hair site.

It was so great to get your email and hear from you again. I am so glad that you saw us in the National Enquirer. I have to confess that I just love to get emails from people like you with such nice sentiments. Now you have done it. The worst thing you can do is get me talking about HairBoutique.com. :-)

Yes, HairBoutique.com is truly our "baby". Jeff and I work on the site seven days a week, nonstop. When I am sleeping (on those rare occasions that I do sleep) I even dream about hair related articles that would be appropriate and get up in the middle of the night to write about hemp for your hair, how your hair can catch a cold or just about anything hair related my twisted hair obsessed mind can think of at the time.

Jeff and I have added some great folks to help us with the daily requirements of running HairBoutique.com as efficiently as possible. Michelle is the friendly voice that answers the phones for orders and handles customer service issues. Jim is our talented warehouse manager who keeps us on daily shipping tracks (all orders that are in by 3:00 CST are out by 5:00 CST) and Tom has been instrumental in bringing in many of our hot new lines from the recent Battalia hair brushes to our custom hair jewelry from the Orient and our new lines slated for 2002. Jeff continues to improve the "behind the curtain" software wizardry of the site. We now host all of our own servers in-house unlike the early days when we paid for offsite hosting services.

We have grown from a one room office back in March of 1998 into a full office/warehouse complex complete with loading docks, staging, packing, and shipping tables, rows of product pallets and wall-to-ceiling racks stuffed to their carefully organized gills with SKUs for everything from the latest Conair blow dryers to the hottest Phytotherathie products. We currently maintain a fully stocked inventory of over 1,000 different products with more arriving on a weekly basis.

For 2002 we plan to really go bananas. Although we currently have a 800 phone ordering line, we recently signed a contract with a local call center that will eventually be able to take orders by operators 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We have also recently signed sales contracts with 10 of the largest hair and beauty manufacturers in the world and will be adding to all of our existing lines over the next 6 months. We expect to have over 2,000 consumer focused hair and beauty product offerings in place by the end of 2002.

HairBoutique.com hired a firm in 2001 to conduct a series of focus groups to determine detailed demographics of our daily visitors. Now that we know very specifically who comes to see us, we are going to get a lot more focused about meeting their informational and product needs. Look for some significant changes in that arena.

We will be slowly dropping some of our less popular lines and deepening our more popular lines like Weleda and Edwin Paul. As always, we will continue to be fully stocked with every item in the Phytotherathrie line (one of my personal favorites) and will expand our Conair offerings.

The only thing that slows us down is that we are required to make a significant upfront financial commitment to each new line that we bring into our HairBoutique.com store. Since we are self-funded we have to pay as we go and that slows us down sometimes.

As far as the site goes, we will be adding many new articles along with new galleries, interviews with hair care experts and lots of hair tips. We have a few surprises up our sleeves that I can't really tell you about but if you come back on a regular basis, you will see how we plan to improve the site in many different ways.

Thanks again for writing. Emails like yours make all the hard work, sweat and tears seem worth the effort.

December 11, 2001
I Hate My Haircolor?

All my friends were dying their hair for Christmas and so I decided that I should do the same. I applied a gorgeous Raspberry color to my blonde hair and even though the box looked great, now my hair looks pinkish. What should I do to get the color out right away?

When possible, head for the nearest color correction expert and have the color removed professionally. There are some amazing products available for colorists to utilize when correcting hair color blunders.

If your used a home-haircoloring kit then dig the box out of the trash and dial the toll-free number on the box for consumer help. Most of the home haircolor companies like Clairol and L'Oreal have hair color experts on hand to help during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. Be prepared to retrace your steps of what you did to your hair. You will definitely need the box because they will ask you for certain code numbers that are on the box.

If the color you used is semi or demi-permanent, you can speed up color fading by applying a hot oil deep conditioning treatment like Phytotherathrie's - Huile d'Ales, or a home grown olive or almond hot oil treatment to your newly colored dry locks. Leave the hot oil on your hair for 15-30 minutes. To help the oil penetrate into your hair shaft, wrap your hair in a warm towel. Shampoo the hot oil out of your hair in water that is warm. Since the hot oil will not make your hair dry, you can repeat the hot oil treatments as needed.

Another trick is to apply Prell shampoo that is available at any major drug or retail store, to your newly colored wet hair. Leave the Prell on your hair for 5-10 minutes and then rinse in warm water. Many stylists swear by this secret for removing hair color from the hair.

Although some of these tricks can help, it is always best, when possible to seek advice from a color expert.

December 10, 2001
Frizzy, Puffy Hair?

What makes my hair get all puffy and frizzy? My hair seems to swell and get bigger as the day goes on and I hate how it looks. It really drives me crazy but no one seems to know what to tell me to do about it. Any help would be appreciated.

When hair is damaged, dry or porous it will absorb moisture from the air and the environment, causing it to swell and get bigger. As dry hair swells and grows with the moisture it is sucking up, it becomes frizzy and puffy and difficult to manage. This problem is much worse if your dry, damaged hair texture is naturally curly, wavy or a combination of the two.

The best way to deal with your hair and to counteract the puffiness is to use a good humidity blocking leave-in conditioner. My favorites are Phytotherathrie 7 and the heavier 9 along with Aveda's Styling Curessence which I have used alternatively for years. I have naturally wavy/curly coarse hair and the leave-in conditioners make a huge difference.

The key is to work the leave-in conditioner into your hair while it is still damp. Towel blot your hair first to remove excess moisture, apply the leave-in conditioner, detangle with a great pick or wide toothed comb and then dry your hair or pin it up and let it air dry.

If your hair is especially fine or thin, you may want to use a lightweight balm or leave-in product.

December 9, 2001
Christmas Gift To Stylist?

I read your AskKaren August 10, 2000 notes about tipping my stylist and I never felt really comfortable. Yes, I know that some people believe in tipping but it is not something I do well. So I decided to take the other option you suggested and give a really nice Christmas gift. Well now I am really torn. Do I spend the amount equal to what I would tip or do I just buy something that I think she would like? What should I do? I am going nuts.

I certainly understand your dilemma. Do you need to spend a certain amount of money related to how much you spend in the salon? Not necessarily. Any gift from your heart is a wonderful gesture. If you are concerned about giving an appropriate gift from a monetary amount, figure how much you spent over the past year with your stylist and then budget 15-20% of that total for your gift.

What works? A nice bottle of wine (if your know that your stylist drinks), a gift basket (cookies, fruit or mixed goodies) or even special gift certificates work well. As I mentioned in my AskKaren column, my own stylist is addicted to Starbucks. Every year I give her a special set of coupon books for her favorite lattes along with other coffee related gifts. She loves it because it shows that I have taken the time to know what she likes and also that I appreciate the great care she takes with my hair.

If you are still unsure of what to do call the salon manager and ask for suggestions. Explain your general price range that you want to spend and ask if your stylist has special likes and dislikes that the manager knows about.

Unless you know your stylist really well you should probably avoid giving personalized gifts of lingerie or clothing. Scented candles, body lotions, foot and hand cream baskets are all items that can be a thoughtful way of saying thank you.

December 8, 2001
Shampoo Schedule For Winter?

I have noticed that when I wash my hair every other day or even every 3 days, my highlights and color stay a lot brighter during the winter months. I told my hairstylist and she said that it was best to shampoo every day but use a color saver shampoo like Mine Blue Monday or Aveda's Blue Malva. She couldn't really tell me why and so I am confused. I want to follow my own feelings about this but wanted to know what you thought?

Although I am sure your stylist meant well, ultimately you are the one that has to live with your hair. If you feel better only washing every other day and don't have problems with an itchy scalp or other problems, then follow your heart. Unless you are going to the gym or undertaking some activity that makes you perspire heavily, shampoo when you feel your hair needs it.

It is true that shampooing has been proven to speed up color loss. So using a color saving shampoo does help a lot. Your stylist is right about that fact. Also, using hot water for shampoos will speed up color loss. So even if the winter months get frosty, try to hold the line at warm water showers.

December 7, 2001
Hair Static?

I am not lucky to live in a warm climate and so in winter I bundle up. Unfortunately my hair turns into a static mess more often that I like. Someone told me that I could use a sheet of fabric softener to tame my flyaways. Yes, that works but it feels yucky to me. Any other suggestions?

Static results from a lack of moisture in the air. And yes, it is true that a fabric softener sheet can work when lightly brushed over the top of hair. You can also spray your brush with a bit of Static Guard and use that as well. Although both methods work, I would not personally recommend it on a regular basis, only for emergencies. Instead, I would recommend that you get cozy with a good leave-in conditioner that you can use on a regular basis to protect from static frizz.

If you bundle up, make sure that you choose silk or wool hats and scarves. They tend to absorb static. When possible avoid wearing synthetic materials which tend to encourage hair static. As extra insurance you can spray a light amount of static minimizer into your hat, hood or scarf to help prevent cling.

If you have a static hair emergency you can try the fabric-softener sheet or you can massage a tiny blob of leave-in conditioner, hair gel or even hand lotion into the palms of your hands and smooth over the top of your hair for instant relief.

December 6, 2001
Hair That Is Dull As Dishwater?

My hair is dull as dishwater. I want to get the silky, shiny, swing thing going on. How do I do that when my hair seems to lack luster or shine. It just hangs them like a lump. Any ideas?

True hair shine starts from the inside and radiates out. Good eating habits and healthy hair care habits go a long way to building a shine quotient for your hair.

To get radiant shine you need to make sure that your hair cuticle lays flat and smooth. Remember that you get more light reflection from a smooth surface than from a rough one.

If you have hair that is medium to thick in texture, naturally curly or wavy, you should shampoo with a product that is rich in moisturizing nutrients. Some good moisturizing shampoos include Phytotherathrie Phytocadamia Shampoo, ARTec Smoothing Shampoo, Edwin Paul Luxury Shampoo, Aveda Shampure or Philip B.White Truffle Shampoo.

To keep hair soft and moisturized, deep condition once a week, or as needed with deep conditioners like Edwin Paul Deep Conditioner, ARTec Moisture Pak, Phytotherathrie Phytocitrus Mask or Aveda Curessence conditioner.

If you have naturally curly or wavy hair you will may need to establish a regular moisturizing system of shampoo and rinse out conditioners that you use on an as needed basis. Deep conditioning would also be helpful.

If you have thin or baby fine hair you need to take a little different route to get great shine. Heavy moisturizing shampoos, conditioners and deep conditioners may weigh your delicate strands down. Use a mild moisture shampoo like Edwin Paul Mild Shampoo or a shampoo that builds in volume along with moisture like Matrix Amplify.

Unless you feel the need, skip the rinse out conditioner and go straight for a light leave-in conditioner or a light detangler. Go light on the styling gels which can cut down on the shine.

Other shine enhancers for all hair types include using cold water as the final rinse, rinsing with apple cider vinegar and directing any air flow from your blow dryer downwards from the roots to the ends.

December 5, 2001
Hair Manners?

I was recently at a restaurant when I was a young lady with the cut that I have been wanting forever. I wanted to ask her where she got her hair cut and for the name of her stylist but decided that might be inappropriate. What do you think?

Most people would be incredibly flattered if you politely inquire who cut or styled their hair. If tell someone that you admire their hair and want to make an appointment with their stylist, 99.99% of all people would be incredibly flattered.

When I lived in Triangle, Virginia back in the 70s that is exactly how I found a great stylist. I saw a women in a restaurant with a great feathered style and I complimented her on her hair. I asked for the name of her stylist. She not only wrote down the name and number of the stylist but drew me a map with detailed directions.

I think you should give this method of finding a great stylist a whirl the next time you see a hair cut or style that you like.

December 4, 2001
Sinusitis & Hair Loss?

I was diagnosed with chronic sinusitis about one year ago. My doctor put me on a course of antibiotics that did not work. He put me on a stronger antibiotic which did work but shortly after I started taking it my hair got really dry and started to break off. My doctor admitted that one of the side effects of the drugs is hair loss, hair dryness and other hair problems.

What should I do? I love my hair and my doctor seems to think I am making a mountain out of a molehill about this and should just be happy that I am getting relief from my sinus problems.

Yes, it is true that many medications may cause hair problems ranging from hair loss to hair breakage. I totally understand your problem. Yes, many doctors will be more concerned with handling the medical issues with less regard for the cosmetic side effects.

Is your doctor right or wrong? Obviously he cares about helping you combat your sinusitis and that is very important.

Ask your doctor if he can switch you to a comparable medication that is free of the hair loss/breakage symptoms. If your doctor seems less than thrilled about this topic you might want to call and talk to his nurse. She may be able to offer you some options.

In the meantime look at cranking up your vitamins, especially your B vitamins, or looking into taking a hair growth vitamin that will help you counter the effects of the sinus medications.

December 3, 2001
Quick Hair Growth?

I went to a hair salon with my boyfriend to watch him get his hair bleached. While I was waiting one of the stylists started telling me how cut my waist length hair would look in a Britney Spears jagged razor look. I finally agreed to have just a tiny bit of hair trimmed. Next thing you know I have hair to my shoulders.

My boyfriend hates it and I am just sick. I have cried every day since I left the salon. I called an attorney who said that since I agreed to have my hair cut that there is nothing legally that can be done. However, I was hoping you could tell me any secrets you know about making my hair grow back really fast.

I am so sorry to hear about your hair. It is unfortunate but it happens more often than most people know. We could go into all the reasons and possible preventions but at this point I want to address your primary concern which is growing your hair back as quickly as possible.

This question is the most frequently asked question I receive. For reference I wrote a special article (Hair Growing Tips) that covers a lot of your questions about what can be done to help hair grow back.

I have to be honest and tell you that there is no magic bullet or secret formula that will instantly grow hair from the shoulders to the waist. The only way to make that happen is to invest in some hair extensions.

Are there things you can do to maximize your hair growing potential? Yes, absolutely. Hair is a direct reflection of the overall health of your body. If you follow a good nutritional plan, drink lots of water, take vitamins, exercise, get good rest and try to limit stress in your life, you can help your hair grow at its genetically predetermined speed.

Generally speaking humans can grow hair at 1/2 to 1 inch per month. There are some exceptions to every rule but for the most part, a healthy body can grow between 6 and 8 inches of hair every year.

Although I understand your sadness at losing your hair, the bright side to this tragedy is that you have the opportunity to start over and grow a really healthy spectacular head of hair by following a good hair growing plan.

HairBoutique.com has over 1,500 articles that deal with the care and feeding of hair. Our many messageboards are chock full of hair growing tips and hints. If you enter key words in the Search box on every page you will get an instant list of the thousands of tips and articles at your disposal.

I hope you will make yourself at home here at HairBoutique.com and let us know how we can help you grow back your beloved locks.

December 2, 2001
Spell For Hair?

A friend of mine at work told me that you can do a spell to help your hair grow faster and healthier? Is she nuts or do spells like that exist? I am not a big believer in spells but would enjoy playing around with a recipe if you have one.

I know that on top of all your hair wisdom that you are a talented expert in metaphysical topics. I read your astrology/hair article in the Winter 2002 hair magazine, Short Cuts and was impressed with your humor and wisdom.

You probably wouldn't remember me but I attended an astrology lecture you gave on the Norway cruise ship a few years ago. The topic was using astrology to buy the best Christmas gifts for your loved ones. I still have the notes and use the tips every year when I buy for my friends.

Thank you for your kind words. You made my day. Who could have known that my lecture tours on the cruise ship circuit would come back to haunt me. :-) Thank you though. I am very touched and appreciate that you remember me.

Yes, there are published spells for helping hair grow longer and healthy. Do they work? It depends on your religious beliefs and intent.

One hair growth spell that I read about years ago was called Delilah's Delight Hair Spell and it was devised by Yasmine Galenorn.

The spell instructs you to establish a nightly ritual where you carefully detangle and brush your hair while focusing your energy on having lovely, healthy hair.

After you have carefully brushed your hair (to avoid pulling or harming your hair) you should take some hot oil with lavender aromatherapy oil added and massage your scalp.

As you massage your hair close your eyes and visualize the type of hair you would like to grow. Visualize releasing all the tensions from your day and watching them float out of your body and ultimately your scalp.

Once you are completely relaxed finish your ritual by saying 20 times "Hair that gleams in gentle streams, make of me a glowing dream. Hair that falls, when sirens call, let my inner beauty beam."

Please be warned. This spell may or may not work depending on your belief systems and your willingness to stick with the nightly care and love of your hair. You can substitute your own favorite oils if you prefer a different relaxation formula.

December 1, 2001
Hair Shape?

A friend of mine has gorgeous straight hair and I have super wavy hair. We often joke that we would love to switch hair types. What actually determines what shape that hair grows into?

Researchers discovered that the shape of the hair follicle is what matters when looking at hair shape. Totally straight hair like the hair of your friend comes from a straight, cylindrical follicle. Wavy hair is shaped by a combination of the cylinder shape and a modified "s" shape. Kinky hair often experienced by blacks is shaped like a full helix. Curly hair is shaped in a "s" loop.

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

December 18, 2001 Will H37 Grow Hair On Arms & Legs?

December 17, 2001 Broken Hair?

December 16, 2001 Eggs For My Hair?

December 15, 2001 HairBoutique.com Marketplace?

December 11, 2001 I Hate My Haircolor?

December 10, 2001 Frizzy, Puffy Hair?

December 9, 2001 Christmas Gift To Stylist?

December 8, 2001 Shampoo Schedule For Winter?

December 7, 2001 Hair Static?

December 6, 2001 Hair That Is Dull As Dishwater?

December 5, 2001 Hair Manners?

December 4, 2001 Sinusitis & Hair Loss?

December 3, 2001 Quick Hair Growth?

December 2, 2001 Spell For Hair?

December 1, 2001 Hair Shape?

December 18, 2001
Will H37 Grow Hair On Arms & Legs?