Ask Karen - July 2000

July 22, 2000
Where To Buy ARTec Online?

Question

Dear Karen,

Hi. I have read all your articles about ARTec and am perplexed as to why you do not sell ARTec in your wonderful Marketplace store? If you do not sell it but plan to, can you tell me when. If not, can you tell me where I can buy ARTec on the Net?

Thanks.

Justin Winters

Answer

Dear Justin,

In the past I officially asked ARTec if I could sell their products here at HairBoutique.com and they have refused. The hair care industry is extremely political and ARTec along with some of the other brands are strongly opposed to web sites selling to consumers. In fact, they term it "diverting" of products. ARTec and other professional hair care companies also worry, with good cause, about product counterfeiting.

ARTec's current policy states that they do not want their products sold on the Web directly to consumers under any circumstances.

Although I wish that ARTec would let us sell their products in our Marketplace, I have honored their current policies by not selling ARTec at HairBoutique.com

Although I love ARTec's products, their refusal to let me carry their lines here at HairBoutique.com has caused me to search for lines that would allow us the honor of carrying their products through HairBoutique.com. In my search I have found many great new lines that are more open to working with consumer oriented sites such as HairBoutique.com.

I found Knotty Boy which has a great shampoo for dreads, braids, dandruff and other scalp sensitive.  Their wax is the best on the market.

I also found Vain with its DirtyBoy/DirtyGirl product (great) and Philou's aromatherapy scented line. I currently have 10 lines that I am testing and considering adding slowly to our Marketplace store.

Even though I can't sell you ARTec, I will be happy to give you a list of online stores that do sell ARTec. I can't vouch for their standing with ARTec, but I can tell you that they appear to carry the ARTec products.

Some of the Web sites that currently sell ARTec hair care products (as of 7/2000):

• BeautyBuys - They guarantee the lowest prices of ARTec on the web.
• CosmeticsPlus - One of my favorite places to shop.
• LA Beauty - Free shipping as a special bonus.
• BeansBeauty - ARTec along with lots of other stuff.
• SimplyHair - All the ARTec products.
• Evans Enterprises - Appears to carry most of the product line.
• Joy Beauty - Mainly ARTec colorist collection.
• ESalon - Full selection of ARTec.
• BeautyBargains - ARTec at bargain prices. The HairStore - Full line of ARTec.

Happy Shopping.

Best wishes,

Karen

July 14, 2000
H37 - Wahoo

Question

Dear Karen,

Hi. I'm currently taking your HF 37 hair vitamins and its really working. I had to cut my hair short because a friend was fooling around and cut some of my hair off. This was last month and since then I started taking H37. It is amazing - it has really grown fast. In fact it has grown more than an inch in one month!??! WOW!

Can you tell me please what the average growth is with H37? Is it a inch per month or is it more?

Please write back.

Mike Casalena

Answer

Dear Mike,

Congratulations on your great hair growth results with H37. I am happy to see that you are a satisfied customer, which is what we strive for at HairBoutique.com.

What is the average hair growth with H37? There are a lot of factors that influence hair growth in general and H37 in particular.

In general, if all factors are equal, people report experiencing 1/2 inch of hair growth a month. We have had reports from people like yourself of 1 inch and in a few cases even more than 1 inch.

A lot of the benefits of H37 are tied to other factors like heredity, overall physical health, nutrition and stress factors. If someone follows all the basic principles of good hair care and growth, with H37 they should notice definite improvements in the overall health and growth of their hair.

Thanks for sharing this information and for permission to publish your testimonial on H37.

Best wishes,

Karen

July 9, 2000
How Does H37 Work?

Question

Dear Karen,

I have read so much about H37 and other hair vitamins that I am very curious about how they work. I have heard many pros and cons about whether hair vitamins really help the hair or not.

I have heard that the vitamins ONLY affect new growth of your hair and does not impact existing hair. I have also heard that they do not make hair grow faster or better.

Since my current hair is damaged and in need of help, does this mean that H37 will not help my existing hair?  Does it mean that if I take H37 my hair will not grow faster?

Thanks,

Jill

Answer

Dear Jill,

I receive a lot of similar questions about H37, hair vitamins and the impact that they have on hair.

In response to these questions I recently had a long talk with my personal Dallas based Chinese doctor (Dr. Stuart Mauro) who is a certified herbalist and acupuncturist. I have been going to him for over 15 years on a regular basis.

He originally reviewed the H37 vitamins before I started taking them (1 year ago) and he told me that they were (in his opinion) an excellent blend of amino acids and minerals and that they would not only help my hair, but my immune system, skin, nails and stress.  Which they really do seem to help.

Dr. Mauro also reviewed the Edwin Paul vitamins before I started taking them and gave another thumbs up.

Dr. Mauro told me that contrary to popular opinion hair is not completely dead as the majority of people believe. Hair vitamins help in many ways. The sebaceous gland is actually stimulated by the nutrients in H37 or any other similar vitamin formulation which works on fortifying and strengthening the liver.

As hair grows it naturally hardens and is fed from tiny blood vessels inside the hair follicle. Hair is also lubricated by sebum from the sebaceous glands that are actually located in the skin at the hair root. That is why hair will react by becoming softer, fuller and shinier.

According to Dr. Mauro, hair is really not dead. It is still alive in many respects. The H37 stimulates, strengthens and nourishes the cells that control hair growth. It also helps produce more sebum which softens the hair and makes it healthier.

At any rate, every single hair is made up of three separate layers.  The soft, inner core of the hair, the medulla, is where the blood vessels deliver the actual nourishment to the hair from the vitamins or other nutrients we consume. It helps the hair grow and achieve new softness, strength and health. Which in turn allows the hair to grow better and even potentially faster than when it is not healthy and it may not grow at all.

Dr. Mauro told me that without a doubt he believe that the hair vitamins, if they have the proper composition of nutrients, minerals and amino acids, will help hair grow to the maximum of its genetic potential.

Also, Dr. Mauro told me the specific reason that my hair feels softer and fuller is because the vitamins are stimulating the sebaceous which is producing more sebum and this natural oil is being absorbed throughout the length of my hair making it feel softer, more moisturized and fuller.

He also said that if you take enough vitamins and they help the hair achieve a proper balance, the hair will revert to its most natural genetic state. In my case, my hair is naturally wavy and coarse.

That is why, in his opinion, that when I take Edwin Paul vitamins my hair seems wavier. His thought was that the Edwin Paul hair vitamin composition might be a better equalizer for
my particular hair needs than the H37 and that would encourage my natural hair texture - waviness.

One last thing, diet is extremely important to the condition of the hair which must have proper natural oils to remain healthy. In today's world, very few people eat the right foods that will completely nourish their hair.

Even if they try, the Earth's soil is depleted from a lot of nutrients and minerals that humans need, thus supplementation of vitamins makes a big difference.

Hope this helps,

Best wishes,

Karen

July 8, 2000
H37 Vitamins - When To Take?

Question

Dear Karen,

I am curious. What is the best time to take my H37 hair vitamins?

Ceilia

Answer

Dear Ceilia

The first thing to remember is to always take your H37 vitamins with a meal. Never take your H37 or most other vitamins on an empty stomach. This would subject you to the possibility of a niacin flush. Although they are not dangerous, they can feel a little itchy. Better to avoid them when possible.

Scientific studies have actually shown that the best time of day to take vitamins is early in the day. The worst time to take them is right before bed. The reason for this is that the digestion system is at its best in the early part of the day and at its slowest towards nightfall.

When possible try to take your H37 and any other vitamins earlier in the day.

Best wishes,

Karen

July 7, 2000
Herbal Infusions For Your Hair?

Question

Dear Karen,

I have heard that various herbs can help hair grow faster and help do a variety of beneficial things for the scalp and hair in general. Can you shed some light on this?

Thanks,

Frank

Answer

Dear Frank,

Yes, herbs can provide many benefits for hair and herbal infusions (small amounts) can be added to shampoo or conditioners to give hair an added boost. Also, you can add the herbal infusions to hot oil treatments or as part of a final rinse or as a scalp massage.

Different herbs can provide different benefits. These include:

• Normal hair: Chamomile (light hair) elderflowers, fennel, horsetails (stimulates the scalp and helps with growth) nettle, rosemary and sage (dark hair only).
• For Dry and/or Damaged hair: Chamomile, comfrey, elderflowers, linden flowers (helps to lighten hair), marshmallow, parsley, sage (dark hair)
• Oily hair: Lavender, lemon balm, peppermint, rosemary, southernwood, thyme, yarrow.
• For added body: Rosemary and nettle.
• To create extra shine: Sage, cleavers, linden flowers, marigold, nettle, parsley
• For toning the scalp: Cleavers, linden flowers, marigold, nettle, parsley, sage.
• To improve hair growth in general: Nettle, rosemary, thyme, yarrow, basil (my personal favorite)
• Acid balance enhancer: Raspberry leaves
• To add great fragrance: Jasmine, lavender, rose, rosemary, thyme, violet

I have used many of the formulations above. All of the work differently.

Please remember, that what works on my hair, may or may not work on anyone else's hair. The best approach is to experiment and find the best formula for your own personal hair.

Best wishes,

Karen

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