Just Need A Fan Now.

 Just let a fan push air across ice for a nice cold breeze.

Preventing Sunburned Scalps

It's a beautiful sunny day.  I'm sure we've all applied our sunscreen to our bodies, face, ears, neck and feet. We're supposed to wear a hat or cover our heads so we don't damage our hair but don't tell me there are times when you spend hours in the sun without a hat or covering?  I know I've done it because it is too hard to wear a hat or covering when I'm in the water.

I've been extremely lucky and haven't burned my scalp but I know it can happen.  I just don't want to smear my normal sunscreen over my part or scalp because it's generally got zinc oxide in it and the idea of using it on my head make me gross out.

Our scalps are the highest thing on our body and closest to the sun.  Consequently, it burns sooner than the rest of our body.  Although most people who suffer scalp burns don't get severe ones, they can lead up skin cancer on the scalp.  Melanoma of the scalp is more rare than regular skin cancer, it can be more deadly because it is harder to find due to being covered by hair.  In addition,  hair on the head can make it harder to identify or treat scalp melanoma.  It is estimated that 95% of people do not use sunscreen on their scalps yet 5% of melanomas are identified on the scalp. 

There are sunscreens out there that are designed to use on the scalp because they list they are a scalp sunscreen on the label or it is found in the list of the body the sunscreen works on.  Most of the sunscreens that can be used on the scalp are either spray, oil, or powder form. 

When looking at buying a sunscreen for you scalp, there are a few things to keep in mind.  First, look for a sunscreen that is rated at 30 SPF or higher, usually the higher the better.  Make sure it is a broad spectrum sunscreen.  It is important to keep in mind the type of hair you have because the hair makes it harder to apply sunscreen.  If you have thick hair, think about applying it to your part and hairline.  If you have thin hair, it is best to get it in the part and on your head as much as possible because thin hair does not offer the same protection that thick hair does.

It is recommended one use sprays, oils, powders, or sticks but one can use regular sunscreens.  If you choose to use a powder, look at one that is a color close to your own hair color so it looks more natural.  Any of these products can protect your hair from sun damage.  In addition, if you pull your hair into a pony tail or bun, it will offer more protection to your scalp. 

So if you use sunscreen everyday, it is important to use sunscreen on your scalp.  This is even more important if your hair is bleached or colored because exposure to the sun can lighten or damage the hair.  If you haven't thought about using sunscreen on the scalp, do it because you'll protect yourself from possible cancer and help your hair.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Ways To Cover Your Hair In Hot Weather.

 

In the last column, I explored ways to help protect your hair in hot weather.  One of the ways was to cover your hair but many of us, need a little help with that.  I grew up, enjoying the sun and wind on my hair and I put up with the tangles and broken strands because I didn't want to wear a dorky hat.  Now as an adult, I realize, wearing a hot or anything designed to protect my hair is not dorky but smart.

One of the first things recommended is to begin wearing a hat.  The hat can be worn over the hair and can be something like those worn by the Rat Pack or it can be soft and made out of cloth.  My problem is trying to find one that fits over my hair when it is pinned up since my hair is down to my rear.  I've got a couple that meet that criteria. In addition, one can wear a baseball cap which allows you to wear a ponytail under the cap.  If you want something snazzier, use a fedora or even one of those hats rated to protect you from the UV rays.

If you aren't into hats, look at wearing a turban instead.  Make it out of material that matches your mood or your outfit.  In addition, turbans range in style from those of the 1940's and 1950's, to ethnic, to unique. If you do a search for turban tutorials on Youtube, you'll find dozens of videos showing you how to do it.  Be sure to use turban tutorials for women to the search parameters otherwise you'll get a lot on tying mens turbans.  Most turbans use either a head scarf or a long strip of fabric.  

Speaking of head scarfs, there are other ways to use them to cover your hair.  Some ways of tying the head scarf will cover your head while others are used in a head band effect.  Hair scarves come in two main styles, square or rectangular.  One of the easiest ways to use a head scarf is to style your hair and wrap the scarf around your head and tie it at the nape of your neck.  This way it keeps your hair out of your face.  Another way is to take a square hair scarf and fold it in two so you have a triangle.  Place it so you tie it at the nape of the neck and the material covers your hair.  If you want you can tie the tip of the triangle into the knot at the nape to hold it down. 

The other choice is to tie the ends together at the top of your head so a bit of hair is showing but the rest of it is covered, almost like a turban. To create a slightly different look, instead of tying the triangular scarf under your hair at the base of your neck, tie it on top of your hair so it looks more like a cap. These styles are meant to be worn all day. 

On the other hand, if you want something that can be taken off and put on again easily, you'll need larger square scarves, you can again fold one in half and place it over your hair, tying it under your neck so it can easily be removed when you get where you are.   Another choice, one popular with Grace Kelly, is to fold the square scarf in half to form a triangle, place it on your head but instead of tying it under your chin, you'll wrap the ends around your neck before tying.

Hats, turbans, and scarves, oh my!  Between Youtube, and websites on the internet, you'll find a lot of different ways to construct turbans and tie scarves so you'll never get bored.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day!

Keeping Hair Healthy In Hot Weather.

Summer is a time of being outside, of having fun, and of trying to keep our hair in decent shape, especially  if we already apply heat via curling irons or blow drying it.  During summer, we expose our hair to the bright light of the sun and it can dehydrate our hair, making the strands more brittle thus facing long term damage.  

In addition, exposure to either salt water or fresh water can damage our hair further.  If you love swimming in the ocean, the salt can dry on the hair, making it feel horrible while the fresh water can add bacteria, dirt, or microbes to the hair.

The last thing that can effect your hair during the summer is wind.  The wind blows your hair, causing it to create small knots or tangles which can lead to split ends.  It doesn't have to be windy for your hair to suffer from wind damage.  One can experience damage by having the windows open, or riding on a motor bike.  There was a reason you saw the leading lady wear a scarf when she was heading down the high way in a convertible car. 

There are several things that can be done to cut down on damage to hair over the summer.  Start the summer by getting your hair trimmed so all the split ends are gone and your hair is as healthy as possible.  Don't forget to use a hair mask between one and three times a week.  After shampooing our hair, use a hair mask instead of conditioner and leave it on for a nice long time so it has the chance to really soak in.  Hair masks are designed to rehydrate hair so it looks and feels so much better.

Summer is also a time that many people suffer from more frizz due to the humidity in the air.  Use a hair serum to help counteract the frizz and help with blow away strands.  A good hair serum will lock in moisture and reduce split ends.  Since it is hot in the summer, get rid of your blow dryer because the air around you will help remove moisture and dry it at the same time.  If you keep using the blow dryer, curling iron, or other styling tool, the heat from them can remove any extra moisture you've manage to return to the hair.

An unfortunate side effect to hot weather is that it can cause the scalps oil production to increase.  This increased production of oil can clog pores and make your hair much greasier.  One way to avoid this is to find a gentle shampoo that naturally cleanses your hair. Go back in time and wear a cute hat, or scarf to protect your hair from the sun and wind.  Wearing a hat or scarf will keep protect your hair from UVA and UVB rays and keep your scalp from burning.  

Remember your hair changes from season to season and it is important to change your routine.  Don't be afraid to switch to a heavier duty conditioner if your hair becomes dryer or to a lighter conditioner if your hair is oilier during the summer.  If you swim in a pool regularly, be aware of exposing your hair to chlorine which can really damage your hair.  I used to think my mom wore a swim cap to keep her hair dry but I realized it also protected her hair from the chlorine.  If you do not want to wear a swim cap, think about not washing your hair until after your swim because the natural oils can help protect your hair.  Just wet your hair before you go in because wet hair is less likely to absorb chlorine.  As soon as you get out of the pool, at least rinse your hair of the chlorine.  If you want to shampoo and condition your hair, look for a shampoo that will get rid of the chlorine.

Check back on Wednesday for something on ways to cover your hair so it stays healthier this summer.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Happy July 4th

 

A Necessity In Hot Weather.

 

Best served on hot days.

Wearing Makeup In Hot Weather.

It's summer.  The heat in some parts of the country is extremely high, high enough to make your makeup look a bit off.  For me, I tend to sweat it off or feel as if I'm suffocating. Fortunately, there are things one can do so one looks spectacular and fresh in hot weather. In addition, there are so many possibilities one can go with in hot weather.

One thing to keep in mind is that sunscreen is a must to help protect your skin.  There are many sunscreens designed to be used on the face and they are extremely light so it doesn't feel as if you have anything on your face.  It is best to put the sunscreen first on after you've cleaned your face and before anything else.

Take time to look for multitasking makeup so you can use fewer products while achieving the look you want. For instance, clear mascara can be used on your brows in addition to your eyelashes. One can use cream or powder blush on the cheeks or as eye shadow. Highlighter can be used in the same way as blush. Although the use of primers are often recommended during hot weather to keep the makeup on, too much primer can make your skin look unnatural. Instead, use a primer only in your T-zone.  

Rather than using a primer, consider a good hydrating moisturizer or lotion because they are water based and cause foundations or other makeup to adhere to your face.  If you want a bit of color use a tinted moisturizer instead of foundation since the moisturizer will provide a bit of color.  On the other hand, if you really want to wear a foundation, look at using a liquid matte because it remains on the skin better than a creme or glossy foundation.  A matte contains no petroleum or mineral oils so it won't crease on your skin and remain smooth. When applying the matte foundation, dab it on in light layers, and place a bit more on areas that need it.

If you have a blemish that needs covering, used a concealer that is sticky rather than creamy because it will stay where applied and is nicely pigmented. In hot weather, one should use little face powder to control the shine because powder can be over applied.  Instead think about using a powder puff wrapped with  blotting paper to control the shine. 

When it comes to the eyes in hot weather, consider wearing eye shadow primer under a powder eye shadow, or use a non creasing creme eye shadow under powdered eye shadow for a look that stays. In addition, think about using a gel eyeliner topped with a powder shadow on the top.  As far as lipstick, choose either a matte lipstick or a sheer lipstick but not too glossy.  The final step is to keep a handy hydrating spray around to apply throughout the day.

I tend to go with the sunscreen and a light application of makeup around the eyes so they pop and a bit of lip gloss for a very natural look. Even on the hottest day, I tend to look cool and I stay cooler.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.