Joliv’s Weblog

• A collection of some interesting, quirky bits of hair trivia. Enjoy!
• Hair is dead protein once it has appeared from your scalp.
• Hair is a reflection on the overall condition of your body. A healthy strand of hair should stretch by about 30% before it breaks.
• Each hair on your body comes equipped with a tiny muscle that can make it stand upright.
• The average number of hairs on the head is 100,000.
• Hair is the fastest growing tissue in the body, second only to bone marrow.
• Asian hair grows the fastest, has the greatest elasticity and, and is least prone to balding.
• Hair grows faster in warm weather.
• Female hair grows more slowly than male hair.
• Male hair is denser than female hair.
• 90% of scalp hairs are growing and 10% are resting.
• It is normal to lose 100 hairs per day from the scalp.
• Elderly people have slower hair growth and diminished hair density. Over 50% of men by age 50 have male pattern hair loss. And over 40% of women by the time they reach menopause will have female pattern hair loss.
• In ancient Egypt, the priests plucked every single hair from their bodies, including their eyebrows and eyelashes.
• Humans have about the same number of hair follicles as a chimpanzee has.
• Trichotillomania (TTM), is a problem characterized by the repeated urge to pull out hair fibres mainly from the scalp, though the focus can also be on pulling eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, nose, pubic or other body hair. It is a condition in which the affected individual plucks or pulls out their own hair resulting in bald patches. The general causes of Trichotillomania may be anxiety disorders or mood problems.
• Traction alopecia is also a hair-pulling disorder. But here the cause may involve things like tight hat bands or tight braids. If bands are used to tie tight pony tails, or cornrow hair styles are used then the roots of the hair are pulled on (traction). And when the traction continues for a long time and the same hair is repeatedly stressed, then the hair sheds off and the follicles in the skin can become damaged. The hair may eventually stop growing leading to permanent scarring alopecia. Traction alopecia is a substantial risk in hair weaves, which are usually worn either to conceal hair loss, or purely for cosmetic purposes.
• Uncombable Hair Syndrome (UHS) is a rare disease in which the hair grows in silvery-blond or straw-colored, stands out straight from the scalp and is impossible to comb. Affected hair is dry, curly, brittle, and progressively uncombable, eventually taking on a “spangled” or shimmery appearance, most likely due to the reflection of light off the irregular surface of the shaft and only scalp hair is affected. It is normally seen in early infancy and childhood and is most likely to disappear as a person grows up.

Why use a conditioner?
For the hair to shine and look healthy, it is essential to follow a shampoo with a conditioner. A conditioner is not oily. It relaxes the cuticles of the hair; adds shine to them and gives a bounce to the hair follicles.
Even people with greasy hair need conditioning
People with greasy hair dread using conditioners because they think it will aggravate their problem of oiliness. But the fact is that even dull, oily hair needs conditioning for fullness. However mild conditioners suitable to oily hair conditions should be used.
Right way of applying the conditioner
After the shampoo is washed off & hair is soaking wet, squeeze out the excess water from the hair, take some conditioner in your palm considering the length of your hair. Conditioner too should be applied end upwards. Don’t put the conditioner on the scalp directly and leave the ends to fend for themselves. Remember always that ends have been dead a very long time. Treat them gently. Combing the conditioner through the hair is a good procedure to help even out its distribution. If hair is very dry, then reapply the conditioner, rinse off and blot the whole head dry with a towel.
Home made conditioners
At home, one can use the readily available and easy to use conditioners like beer, egg, aloe vera, lime juice, black tea etc. Each one of them can be used alone or mixed with one another to enrich their property.
* Beer is a good conditioner which prevents split ends. Aloe Vera, added to beer, helps to strengthen the hair roots and promotes hair growth.
* Egg yolk applied on the hair makes it stronger healthier and softer. Egg white is suitable for oily hair while the yellow yolk is meant for dry hair.
* Black tea and lemon juice enhance the color of the hair and helps it to set easily.
* Henna is also a good conditioner for oily hair.
* Another homemade conditioner for oily hair can be made by adding 1 tsp vinegar to 1 tsp lemon juice in a mug of water.

Some views on conditioner
There is much debate about what conditioners achieve-some people claim that they do nothing more than make the hair smell nice. In fact, what they do is they make your hair easier to brush and get rid of the problems of static electricity which give rise to fly-away hair. If your hair is extra curly, brittle or bleached then a conditioner is a must.

A rich hair-conditioner

Check out this simple recipe for a rich hair-conditioner:

Ingredients:
6 tbsp castor oil
4 tbsp lanolin
2 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp of any vegetable oil
1 cup water
3 tbsp glycerine
2 tsp of cider vinegar
2 tsp scrapings of Pears soap

Method:

Melt the oils and lanolin using the double-boiling method. Add water to the oils along with other ingredients, beating rapidly until it is mixed properly. Cool it and preserve it in a glass bottle.

Application: 

Apply 1 tbsp of this mixture to dry hair. Then drape a hot towel around it for 5 minutes and then rinse off with cold water. This conditioner suits all types of hair.

If your hair is too greasy, then add 1 tsp of lime juice before using it and if your hair is very dry then beat in an egg before use.

Here are some easy do-it-yourself recipes to make your own hair conditioners. These are suitable for hair types and you can get equally superb results as you would by using well-known, expensive hair conditioners.

Sunflower oil hair conditioner

Ingredients:

Wheat germ oil 5 tbsp
Sunflower oil 5 tbsp

Procedure:

Mix the two oils and warm the mixture. Massage it on the head and wash off with lukewarm water to which 1 tbsp of lemon juice has been added.

Cider vinegar hair conditioner

Ingredients:

½ cup cider vinegar
2 pints of water

Procedure:

Mix all the ingredients together and leave on hair for 2 minutes. Rinse off. It gives your hair plenty of bounce and sparkle.

Avocado hair conditioner

Ingredients:

Avocado paste ½ cup
Olive oil – tbsp
Egg yolk- 1 egg

Procedure:

Beat the egg and mix avocado paste, add olive oil and blend well to get a smooth consistency. Apply this for 30 minutes on your hair and then wash off with lukewarm water. This paste performs the twin tasks of a rejuvenating hair pack as well as a conditioner.

Mint after Shampoo Rinse

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons of mint leaves
900 ml boiling water

Method:

Follow the instructions on how to make a basic infusion or herbs. Use it as the last rinse after washing your hair.

Parsley after shampoo rinses

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons of parsley
900 ml of boiling water

Method:
Same as above.

Celery after shampoo rinse

Ingredients:

Celery leaves
Lemon juice

Method:
Make a basic infusion of celery leaves. Whenever you have to use it, just mix it with a tsp of lemon juice and use it as the last rinse for your hair.

Tea leaves after shampoo rinse

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of tea leaves (the ones which you use to prepare tea)
900 ml boiling water

Method:
Make an infusion of tea leaves, but let the simmering time be not more than 5 minutes. And as illustrated earlier, use it as he last rinse.

Here are some more after shampoo rinses which use chamomile and rosemary.

Besides the after-shampoo herbal rinses mentioned here, you should also try some of these easy-to-make protein rinses to lubricate and condition your hair. However make sure that you do it on an easy day, when you are not going out.

Wheat germ rinse

Take 4 T of powdered wheat germ and tie it up in a muslin bag. Soak the bag in 1 pint of water for 3 hours. Squeeze the bag and use the solution to rinse your hair.

Oatmeal rinse

Fill a muslin bag with 4 T of powdered oatmeal and soak the fastened bag in a pint of water for 3-4 hours. Squeeze out the milky white liquid and use as a last rinse.

Herbal after shampoo hair rinses

You can make your own terrific hair rinses with some of the herbs and ingredients from your kitchen. All you have to do is make a basic infusion by boiling 4 tbsp of these herbs with 900 ml of water. After the water has boiled let it simmer for around 15 minutes. Remove from heat, keep it covered for around 3-4 hours. The herbs will settle down at the bottom. Strain and store it in a bottle. While washing your hair, after you are done with shampooing and rinsing, just put 2 tsp of any of these herbal rinses in a tumbler of water and pour this water on your head as the final rinse. All types of hair benefit with the usage of these hair rinses. But if you have oily hair which tends to become lifeless in a day or two of washing, then you should not forget to use any suitable after shampoo hair rinse. It will give your dull, limp hair shine, smoothness and lustre and make them look bouncy.

Changing temperatures mean a change of routine, no matter which part of the world you live in. Knowing a little about how skin functions in the winter, and tweaking a few habits, can make all the difference between a dull winter complexion and glowing radiance.

Moisturise Your Skin

During winter, always keep the skin moisturised. Even oily skins need moisture, as the outer layer can get very dry.
Those with oily skins should use light moisturising lotions, especially after cleansing. After a bath, apply a body lotion while the skin is still damp. It helps to seal off moisture.

Look after your Lips

And don’t forget about your lips. Chapped lips are often the most noticeable problem for a lady in the winter. Use a highly moisturising lip balm which provides a protective barrier against the elements.

Exfoliate

At least once a week. This will remove dead cells and allow the skin to absorb extra moisture. The oil which we all complain about in the summer is no longer being produced because of cooler winter temperatures and central heating.
Therefore the skin looses the water which should be retained in the lower dermis of the skin. This can lead to premature aging of the skin and fine lines.

Beauty sleep!

Money can’t buy the benefits of a good nights’ rest. Your oxygen levels will drop if you don’t get enough sleep, meaning that your cells will not be renewed as quickly.
This is when degenerative skin aging sets in. Try to get seven, if not eight hours of rest a night to achieve absolutely gorgeous benefits!

This homemade hair-pack conditions as well as imparts shine and bounce to lifeless, dull hair. Start using this pack twice a week for a month before your wedding or special occasion.  Soon you will have shiny, breathing, voluminous hair sans dandruff. Be prepared to expect compliments galore.

Ingredients:

1 tsp honey
1 tbsp apple juice
1 tbsp fenugreek seeds
Yoghurt/curds
Method:

Mix all the ingredients and apply it on your hair. Leave for 25 minutes and then shampoo.

Indulge yourself with this awesome raspberry mask – a sheer delight for your skin. The natural acids from fresh, organic raspberries together with the goodness of pure honey and cream refresh and invigorate your skin to give a beautiful, healthy glow.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons honey, preferably organic
2 table spoons oat flour
3-4 drops of lavender essential oil
1/2 cup raspberries, preferably organic

Method:
Except for oat flour, mix all of the ingredients except oat flour and pour it into a bowl. Then add oat flour to thicken the paste and get the desired consistency. Apply to a clean face, avoiding the undereye area immediately after mixing, allow the mask to sit for 30 minutes, and rinse with warm water followed by a splash of cool water.

Ginger invigorates, and oil soothes. Try this double dose for dry skin.

Ingredients:

2-inch piece of fresh ginger
2 teaspoons light sesame oil
2 teaspoons apricot kernel oil
2 teaspoons vitamin E oil
½ cup cocoa butter

Method:

Preheat oven on lowest setting. Finely grate the ginger just enough so that you have about an 1/8 teaspoon of ginger “juice.” To obtain the juice, squeeze the freshly grated ginger over a small bowl. Place the ingredients (including the ginger) in a glass container and heat just until the cocoa butter is melted and the oils are blended. Pour into a clean, dry container and store in a cool dry place. You can add a few drops of orange or other essential oil for a nice twist.