December
20,
2002
Taking Hair Vitamins - Difficult To Swallow Pill
Question
Dear Karen,
I am very interested in trying the Viviscal hair vitamins that
you sell at HairBoutique.com. However I have to confess that I
have a hard time taking vitamins. When I was a child I
actually chocked on a daily vitamin tablet. Since that point I have
not been able to really take vitamins well. I am also
interested in your HairTopia but I understand you have to take a lot
more pills every day with the HairTopia and that concerns me even
more than the Viviscal. Maybe I am just being a big baby but I
thought you might have dealt with this issue and could suggest
something. I really want to grow longer and healthier hair and
am sold on the benefits of hair vitamins. They are just a difficult
pill to swallow.
Kristyne
Answer
Dear Kristyne,
I had my own life
flashing in front me several years ago when a large Vitamin B pill
got stuck in my throat. After the panic subsided I figured out
how to get the pill down safely. Since that point I developed
some pill-swallowing techniques that really help.
I am currently taking
Viviscal myself with great results but the advantage that HairTopia
has is that you the pills are in small capsule form. Many of
our HairBoutique.com customers open the capsules and pour them into
their morning juice or protein drink. It is a painless way to
take a pill. Viviscal is a great product but it is not a
pill. It is a tablet. You could smash the pill and take
it with yogurt if you are willing to try that approach.
However, here are some
tips that should help you to take Viviscal or any other vitamins
easily:
1. Never rush your
pill taking process. Trying to swallow a pill as you are
running out the door to catch the carpool is a recipe for
disaster. Plan to take your pills when you can be calm and
undistracted.
2. Take any pills
when you are sitting up or standing which will ease a smooth and
quick passage down your throat. Start by taking a deep breath to
instantly relax your body and throat.
3. Take your pill
or tablets with cool water, milk or juice. Never down a pill
with your morning Starbucks. A hot beverage may cause any
medications to dissolve before it ever reaches your
stomach.
4. Soften your
throat in preparation for the pill by taking a few sips of your
milk, water or juice before you actually take the pill. After taking
a sip or took pop the pill in your mouth and take a big gulp from
your liquid. Continue drinking until you have finished the
process.
5. Never try to
cram a whole handful of pills down your throat. Some people
can take more than one pill at a time. You may not be one of
those people. Pace your pills carefully so that you are
relaxed and comfortable at all times.
6. Be cause not to
toss a pill into your mouth like you would toss a peanut. It
can have the same effect as a tossed peanut, which is causing you to
choke. The best approach is to place the pill as far back on
your tongue as you can reach.
7. If the pill
doesn't seem to want to go down, stop forcing it. When in
doubt spit the pill out. Pills are cheap and
replaceable. Your life isn't.
8. Learn how to
administer anti-choking treatments by using your fists or the back
of a chair. If you know that you are prepared you will remove
your fear of the pills and be able to swallow easier.
9. If a pill gets
stuck use an anti-choking procedure. You might only think you
are choking. Try drinking liquids first to make sure the pill
is really stuck
10. Experiment
with different pill easing methods that will make it easier for you
to swallow. Some people do best by taking their pills while
eating yogurt or other soft foods that help the throat stay moist
and receptive to pills.
If you really have a
problem with pills ask for capsules and open them into your
juice. Always have a contingency plan which will immediately
remove a lot of the fears. Remember that fear can always make
a bad situation worse.
Some vitamins prohibit
that you take them on an empty stomach. Be sure to know the
best way to take the vitamin for maximum results.
Many pharmacists
recommend that you avoid lying down for at least 30 minutes after
taking any pills since this can slow the natural progression of the
pill through your esophagus and down into your stomach.
Follow any pill taken
directions closely. They are usually provided to help you
maximize the benefit of the formula. Unless specifically
prescribed by a medical doctor pills should be taken as early in the
day as possible when the body is most active.
Best wishes,
Karen
December 10,
2002
Vitamin B or Folate?
Question
Dear Karen,
I often seen B vitamins referred to as folate and then
sometimes it is called folic acid. I must admit I am
confused. I know that the B vitamins are good to take for
growing hair and also for general health benefits. My doctor
told me that the B vitamins also will help prepare for a healthy
pregnancy which I am hoping to have in the near future. Can
you clarify some of this for me?
Dottie
Answer
Dear Dottie,
The B vitamins may be
referred to in a number of ways. The most common terms are
Vitamin B, multi-vitamin B, folate or folic acids. All of the
terms are correct. However, as you may have suspected, there
are differences. Contrary to some opinions B vitamins are not
always added to all supplements.
Folate actually is used
to define the B vitamins that are naturally found in foods such as
orange juice, strawberries, greens, asparagus and
legumes.
Unlike folate which is
naturally occurring in certain food groups, folic acids are the
synthetic form of folate that is specifically added to vitamins,
supplements and foods that are vitamin fortified such as rice,
pasta, breads and some forms of cereal.
Always read your
labels. Although some vitamins and foods may claim to have B
vitamins or folic acids, they might, in reality, contain a very
small amount. Look for foods that claim to be enriched and
then check for the total amount of vitamin B or folic
acid.
Make sure that any
formula that you take contains at least 150 micrograms (mcg) in
order for you to get benefits. If you wish to get pregnant you
should re-evaluate your dosages at least one month before you
attempt to become pregnant.
Why? Medical research
has discovered that the B Vitamin family has been shown to prevent
up to 70% of neural tube defects like spina bifida.
The Institute of
Medicine recommends that woman who wish to become pregnant should
make sure that they receive at least 400-600 mcg of Vitamin B per
day for at least one month prior to becoming pregnant and then
during the entire pregnancy. This is because neural tube
defects have been proven to occur in the first month of fetal
development.
Many women do not meet
this recommendation. According to the March of Dimes less than 30
percent of childbearing women consume enough Vitamin B to insure
good health and healthy pregnancies.
Vitamin B is a very
important vitamin for growing strong, long and healthy hair as well
as promoting overall health and a healthy baby. Make sure you take
the time to understand the various nutritional options that are
right for you and your body.
Best wishes,
Karen
December 5,
2002
Headbands
Question
Dear Karen,
I recently noticed that you have added a wonderful new
selection of headbands to your store. I love headbands but I
don't know where to start. Are there some guidelines for
selecting and wearing headbands? If so, any advise you can
share would be much appreciated.
Donna
Answer
Dear Donna,
I am a sucker for any
type of hair accessories from headbands to claw clips and
barrettes. Adding hair jewelry and related accessories to the
Marketplace is my responsibility and I must confess that I love to
shop for new hair toys. Trust me, I love being a hair accessory
guinea pig and trying out new hair accessory inventions.
The basic guideline for
selecting headbands or any type of hair accessory or jewelry is
simple. Select items that are compatible with your hair
length, type and needs. Headbands can be worn by anyone with
short or long hair that is thin, thick or somewhere in the
middle. Headbands are fashionable for all ages and for all
types of people.
Headbands come in a
dizzying array of options from the soft elastic headbands to the hot
new silk bandeaus. Headbands come in every type of material
imaginable from the buttery soft France Luxe tortoise-like materials
to the fun "bra-bands" that Bumble & Bumble introduced
a few years back.
When determining your own
headband needs consider the following:
1. Do you want a
headband that is functional or just an accent piece? Headbands
were originally designed to hold back awkward bangs and keep hair
out of the face and eyes. Accent pieces add edgy dimensions to
a number of hairstyles. The Smoothie headband line includes
bands with special "teeth" to create a raked look.
The Karina line includes headbands with special clips to create
instant hairline twists.
2. Will your wear your headband for work or daily activities or
will you use it to add instant dazzle for even wear? A sleek
bob can be instantly jazzed up with a rhinestone or pearl encrusted
headband.
3. Is your hair long or short? Short hair, as a rule, is
more compatible with the thin spaghetti headbands that might get
lost in a full head of long hair. Thick bandeaus would
overpower thin or fine hair or shorter crops and bobs. Yet
they look fabulous with thick or long locks.
4. Avoid the temptation to wear excessive hair
accessories. If you decide to wear a headband, either as an
accent piece or a hair aide, limit other accessories that would
compete with your band. If you select a wide band ala Cameron
Diaz in Charlie's Angel scale your earrings and other jewelry to the
size and color of your headwear.
5. Understand the limits of every headband. While they
can be wonderful for many hairstyles, they will not work for
everyone in every occasion. A crystal encrusted headband will
stick out like a sore thumb at work while a plain Hello Kitty band
can definitely ruin a dressy attire.
If comfort is a key factor for selecting a headband remember that
teethless bands are less likely to cause any type of hair
pinching. Some people prefer headbands with teeth to help hold
the band in place. Others complain of "headband"
headaches. Again, this is a personal preference centered
around the length, type of needs of your hair.
Some headbands come equipped with special tips made of cloth,
leather or rubber to minimize the potential of any stress to the
area behind the ears.
If you are worried about hair pulling or snagging, select
headbands that are made with soft materials. While hard
plastic bands offer the option of the latest styles and colors, they
may be harder to wear because they are not as pliable and will not
conform as softly to the scalp.
Remember that the more expensive the jewel encrusted headband,
the more likely that the jewels will not be glued to the band.
Some bands will have the jewels sewn to the band while others might
have pronged settings. Make sure if prongs are used that they
will not snag or rip delicate strands. Glued jewels generally
make the band less expensive but there is a bigger risk of losing
the jewels than when they are sewn or set into the band.
Once you find a headband style or shape that works well for you
hair, stick to that model or models that are similar. Many
curly girls love elasticized bands like the metal free headbands or
current versions of bra bands that will fashionably and comfortably
hold back a cascade of curls with ease and comfort.
Price is another personal preference. Headbands are
available for a few bucks to thousands. The price of a
headband depends on the material that is used and whether it is
studded with diamonds, crystals or other precious
stones.
Select a color that either complements your current hair and eyes
or your outfit. If you are wearing headbands for functional
reasons you can also select bands that blend well with the color or
you hair for a type of camoflauge action.
The bottom line after all is said and done is to select headbands
that you love. If a band works well for your hair but you
don't like the way it looks, you won't enjoy wearing it and it will
gather dust in a drawer somewhere.
Best wishes,
Karen
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