If you’re extremely sensitive, you might break out in hives, and your eyes or lips might swell severely. The inside of your throat might swell as well, even to the point of causing difficulty breathing and shock. Dizziness, mental confusion, abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea also may accompany anaphylaxis.

If you’ve had an anaphylactic reaction in the past, carry medications with you as an antidote. Epinephrine is the most commonly used drug for severe allergic reactions. It comes only as an injection that must be prescribed by your doctor. You should also carry an antihistamine pill, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl, others), because the effects of epinephrine are only temporary. Seek emergency medical attention immediately after taking these medications.

If you observe someone having an allergic reaction with signs of anaphylaxis:

Certain essential amino acids are found to control the thinning and thickening of hair in laboratory animals. For example, when rats were fed a diet deficient in magnesium, they lost their hair in bunches. The situation was even more serious with some other B-vitamins. When rats were fed a diet low in biotin or inositol, they became hairless! This nutrient-deficient condition was found to be reversible. When the rats were fed a diet that was rich in B vitamins, it resulted in the complete restoration of hair.

Heavy intake of vitamin supplements, in some cases, have resulted in stimulating hair growth. Men deficient in vitamin B6 often lose their hair. When they are deficient in folic acid, some men became completely bald! As in case of animals, when normal intake of theses vitamins were restored, the hair also returned in most instances.

Taking large doses of vitamin A (100,000 IU or more daily) for a long period of time, on the other hand, can trigger hair loss, but stopping the vitamin A will reverse the problem. As in case of deficiencies, often the hair grows back when the cause is corrected.

Essential fatty acids (flaxseed oil, primrose oil, and salmon oil are good sources) improves hair texture. Prevents dry, brittle hair.

Raw thymus glandular stimulates immune function and improves functioning capacity of glands.

Dosage: 500 mg daily.

Caution: Do not give this supplement to a child.

B-Vitamins

B vitamins are important for the health and growth of the hair. Foods rich in B vitamins include beans, peas, carrots, cauliflower, soy beans, nutritional yeast, bran, nuts and eggs. Take a vitamin B-complex and supplement it with the following additional B-vitamins for best results.

Vitamin B3 (niacin) – 50 mg 3 times daily.

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) -100 mg 3 times daily.

Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) -50 mg 3 times daily.

Biotin

Biotin is very important for hair health. It is needed for healthy hair and skin, and may even prevent hair loss in some men. Eat plenty of foods high in biotin and/ or take it in supplemental form. Good food sources of biotin include brewer’s yeast, brown rice, bulgur, green peas, lentils, oats, soybeans, sunflower seeds, and walnuts. You can also use hair care products containing biotin.

Dosage: 50 mg 3 times daily.

Inositol

Inositol is vital for hair growth.

Dosage: 100 mg twice daily.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C aids in improving scalp circulation. It is important to maintain capillaries that carry blood to the follicles.

Dosage: 3,000-10,000 mg daily.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E increases oxygen uptake, which improves circulation to the scalp. It improves health and growth of hair. Since hair health is tied to the immune health, vitamin E is believed to stimulate hair growth by enhancing the immune function.
Dosage: Start with 400 IU daily and slowly increase to 800-1,000 IU daily.

Zinc

Zinc stimulates hair growth by enhancing immune function.

Dosage: 50-100 mg daily. Do not exceed this amount.

Other Nutrients That May Help Hair Health

Coenzyme Q10 – Improves scalp circulation. Increases tissue oxygenation. It is also very important for heart health. Take 60 mg daily.

L-Cysteine and L-methionine

Two amino acids belived to improve quality, texture, and growth of hair. They help prevent hair from falling out.

Dosage: 500 mg each twice daily, and on an empty stomach.

Diet/Food Therapy

A wholesome diet, rich in silica, calcium and iron, will help reduce or prevent hair loss. Green, leafy vegetables, especially sea vegetables, are good mineral sources. Raw oats provide silica. Dried fruits and cherry juice are rich sources of iron.

For women, thinning hair or hair loss can be a sign of a problem in the gastrointestinal tract. It could be a sign of insufficient stomach acids; It could also mean a deficiency of protein, zinc and other nutrients. Taking two acidophilus tablets after or between meals (four to six tablets per day) for two months will help.

For men, balding process can be slowed down by taking a low-fat diet. Some scientists postulate that the male pattern baldness is tied to increased testosterone levels during puberty. A high-fat, meat-based diet raises testosterone levels, and that may adversely affect hair follicles. For example, in Japan, male pattern baldness was very rare prior to World War II when the diet was lean and healthy. The Japanese now consume a more fatty, Westernized diet. Baldness is now increasing substantially among Japanese men. Eating low-fat foods may not stop hair loss; but it might help slow down the hair loss.

Anemia is one of the most frequent causes of hair loss. Eat plenty of iron-rich foods, like liver (Avoid if you are pregnant) and other organ meat, whole grain cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, eggs, dates, and raisins.

The hair is comprised mostly of protein. To encourage hair growth, adhere to a diet rich in protein. A recommended diet for this purpose includes calves liver, brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, and two tablespoons of granulated lecithin. Along with protein, these foods are also high in B vitamins, an important nutrient for hair.

European studies have found that soy protein reinforces hair and stimulates its growth. In one study, The hair growth increased by 15 percent. Tofu and soy milk are good sources of soy protein. Other good sources of protein are: low-fat cheese, eggs, fish, beans, brewer’s yeast and yogurt.

Another important nutrient for hair health is silica. Studies in the former Soviet Union have shown that silica therapy slowed hair loss. Organic silica added to shampoo was found to help prevent baldness, stimulate healthier hair growth and assure beautiful shine, luster and strength. Some scientists claim that they have effectively stopped further hair loss by adding silica to their shampoo. This can be applied externally to regrow already lost hair.

Silica is found in the outer coverings of potatoes, green and red peppers and cucumbers. Bean sprouts are also high in silica. Eat whole foods including sprouts.

Vitamin C improves the absorption of iron. Include a good serving of fruits and vegetables in your diet.

Vitamin E is important for healthy hair growth. Eat avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil on a regular basis.

If hair loss is due to thyroid dysfunction, eat more foods rich in vitamin A and iodine. Eat vegetables such as carrots or spinach in unrefined, cold-pressed seed oils such as flax, walnut or pumpkin seed and sea salt. Take turnips, cabbage, mustard, soy beans, peanuts, pine nuts and millet if there is a deficiency of iodine.

Caution: Excessive intake of Vitamin A can cause hair loss.

Three different kinds of lice infest humans:

• Head lice are usually found in hair, most often on the nape of the neck and behind the ears. Head lice infestation (pediculosis) is common in preschool and elementary school-age children. Adults can be affected, especially if they live in a household with children.
• Pubic lice (“crabs”) are usually found in the pubic area but may also be found on facial hair, on eyelashes, on eyebrows, in the armpits, on chest hair, and, rarely, on the scalp.
• Body lice live and lay eggs in the seams of clothing. The lice are only present on the body when they feed. Under certain conditions, such as may occur during natural disasters or war, body lice may transmit life-threatening diseases such as typhus, relapsing fever, and trench fever.

What causes a lice infestation?

Lice are spread easily from one person to another through close bodily contact or through shared clothing or personal items (such as hats or hair brushes). They can not jump or fly.

What are the symptoms of lice infestation?

The most common symptom of lice infestation (pediculosis) is itching in the affected areas. Symptoms vary depending on which type of lice is present.

• Head lice may not cause any symptoms early in the infestation. Itching on the scalp may develop weeks or even months after lice have infested the person. Scratching infested areas can make the skin raw. The raw skin may weep clear fluid or crust over, and it may become infected.
• Pubic lice cause severe itching of affected areas. Their bites may cause small bruise-like marks (maculae cerulea) on the torso, thighs, or upper arms. Pubic lice most often affect the genitals, but they may also appear in the areas around the anus and armpits, in body and facial hair, and on the eyelashes. If pubic lice infest the eyelashes, the edges of the eyelids may be crusted, and lice and their eggs (nits) may be seen at the base of the eyelashes.
• Body lice cause intense itching, especially at night. Itchy sores appear in the armpits and on the waist, trunk, and other areas where seams of clothes press against the skin. The lice and eggs (nits) may be found in the seams of the person’s clothing but are generally not seen on the skin.

How is lice infestation diagnosed?

A close visual examination for live lice or nits in the hair is usually all that is needed to diagnose an infestation of head lice. A health professional may examine the lice or nits under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis.

Pubic lice and body lice can also be diagnosed with a close visual examination of the affected areas or the person’s clothing.

How is it treated?

Lice and their eggs (nits) must be destroyed to get rid of an infestation. The most common treatment is a topical nonprescription or prescription cream, lotion, or shampoo to kill the lice and eggs. Sometimes a second treatment is needed to make sure that all the eggs are destroyed. When two or more topical treatments have failed to get rid of the lice, a prescription pill called ivermectin can be taken.

A new type of hair sealant that kills head lice by suffocating them is currently under medical review.

Some people have a lingering allergic reaction to lice bites that causes itching for 7 to 10 days after the lice and nits have been destroyed. Corticosteroid creams or calamine lotion may be used to relieve the itching. In the case of severe itching, oral antihistamines may be used.

Frequent scratching can cause a skin infection. In the most severe cases of head lice, hair may fall out, and the skin may darken in the areas infested with lice.

Medications

Both nonprescription medications and prescription products are available to treat head and pubic lice . Most products come as a shampoo, creme rinse, or lotion (topical treatment) that is applied to the affected areas, left on for a period of time, and then rinsed off. A prescription pill (ivermectin) is sometimes used to treat lice when two or more approved topical medications have not been effective.

A new type of hair sealant that kills head lice by suffocating them is currently under medical review.

Permethrin 1% creme rinse (such as Nix) is also a common first method of treating lice because it is safe and effective and continues to kill lice and their eggs (nits) even after the cream has been rinsed off. This product is available without a prescription.

When treating lice with medication, keep in mind:

• A second treatment 7 to 10 days after the first treatment is usually recommended to ensure that any lice that have hatched from eggs are also killed. Two treatments are also recommended for pubic lice.
• Itching may persist even after successful treatment. Do not reapply medicated products unless you are advised to do so by a doctor. Excess use of these products may increase the risk of negative side effects such as nausea, headaches, or more serious side effects.

If lice infest the eyelashes, petroleum jelly can be applied to the eyelashes several times a day for a week to kill the lice.

Generally, drugs are not needed to treat body lice-since the lice live in clothing, not on the body-unless the person is severely infested. Body lice are usually treated by washing clothing and bedding in hot water [130° (54.44°) or greater] in an automatic washing machine.

Medication Choices

Nonprescription products for head and pubic lice

• Permethrin creme rinse (Nix) is a common first choice for treating head lice. It kills lice and their eggs (nits) for 2 weeks or more after it has been rinsed off.
• Shampoos containing pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide (Pronto, Rid, A-200) are left on the hair for 10 minutes and then rinsed out. A second treatment is needed 1 week after the first to kill newly hatched lice.

A new type of hair sealant that kills head lice by suffocating them is currently under medical review.

Prescription products for head and pubic lice

• Permethrin cream (Elimite) is a cream that is applied to the skin or scalp and left on for 8 to 14 hours.
• Malathion lotion (Ovide) is applied to hair and left on for 8 to 12 hours before rinsing off. A second treatment must be done 7 to 9 days later if lice are still present.
• Lindane (Kwell, G-Well) is used as a lotion or a shampoo. It should only be used when other products fail to get rid of lice or when a person cannot use any of the other products. The shampoo may be used to treat head lice, and the lotion may be used to treat pubic lice.
• Carbaryl , which comes in lotion or shampoo form, is used only in Europe. It currently is not available for human use in the United States or Canada.

A prescription pill called ivermectin sometimes can be used to treat lice when the person does not respond to two or more topical treatments (treatments applied directly to the affected area).

Antihistamines, which help control symptoms of allergies, may be prescribed to treat the itching that often occurs with lice. These medications may cause drowsiness.

If there is a serious skin infection, antibiotics may be needed.

Other products that are less commonly used to treat head and pubic lice include benzyl benzoate, thiabendazole, and crotamiton. Trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra) is an oral antibiotic that sometimes can also be tried to treat severe cases of head lice.

Precipitated sulfur is not as effective as permethrin or lindane, but many doctors still use this product on very small infants, pregnant women, and nursing women because of safety concerns.

What To Think About

It may not be necessary to remove lice eggs (nits) following treatment, although some people may wish to remove them for cosmetic reasons.

Most products used to treat lice may cause side effects if they are not used properly. Never use a product more than two times (with less than 7 days between uses) without first consulting a health professional.

There is some concern that lice are becoming resistant to (can no longer be killed by) permethrin or other medication used to treat lice infestations.It is also possible that lice may persist after treatment because the medication was not used properly or because the person was reinfected by someone else who was still infected with lice.

In cases where multiple treatments have failed to get rid of lice or where resistance is suspected, some doctors are prescribing combinations of treatments, such as permethrin cream along with trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra).

The use of both scalp flaps, in which a band of tissue with its original blood supply is shifted to the bald area, and free grafts dates back to the 19th century. Modern transplant techniques began in Japan in the 1930s , where surgeons used small grafts, and even ” follicular unit grafts ” to replace damaged areas of eyebrows or lashes. They did not attempt to treat baldness per se. Their efforts did not receive worldwide attention at the time, and the traumas of World War II kept their advances isolated for another two decades.

The modern era of hair transplantation in the western world was ushered in in the late 1950s , when New York dermatologist Orentreich began to experiment with free donor grafts to balding areas in patients with male pattern baldness . Previously it had been thought that transplanted hair would thrive no more than the original hair at the “recipient” site. Orentreich demonstrated that such grafts were “donor dominant”, as the new hairs grew and lasted just as they would have at their original home.

For the next twenty years, surgeons worked on transplanting smaller grafts, but results were only minimally successful, with 2-4 mm “plugs” leading to a doll’s head like appearance. Brazilian surgeons led the advances toward “micrografting”, “minigrafting” and what is now called ” Follicular Unit Transplantation .” With microscopic dissection of donor pieces from a resected portion of scalp, individual follicular units containing but 1-3 hairs could be prepared, and individually relocated into needle punctures in the recipient areas. With current techniques, upwards of 50 grafts per square centimeter should be the standard.

The procedure today

Pre-operative preparation

At an initial consultation, the surgeon analyzes the patient’s scalp, discusses his preferences and expectations, and advises him/her on the best approach (e.g.,single vs. multiple sessions) and what results might reasonably be expected.

For several days prior to surgery the patient refrains from using any medicines, or alcohol, which might result in intraoperative bleeding and resultant poor “take” of the grafts. Pre-operative antibiotics are commonly prescribed to prevent wound or graft infections .

Surgery

Transplant operations are performed on an outpatient basis, with mild sedation (optional) and injected topical anesthesia , and typically last about four hours. The scalp is shampooed and then treated with an antibacterial chemical prior to the donor scalp being harvested.

In the usual follicular unit procedure, the surgeon harvests a strip of skin from the posterior scalp, in an area of good hair growth. The excised strip is about 1-1.5 x 15-30 cm in size. While he is closing the resulting wound, assistants begin to dissect individual follicular unit grafts from the strip. Working with binocular microscopes , they take great care to remove excess fibrous and fatty tissue without damaging the vital follicular cells that will produce the patients’ first crop of new hair.

The surgeon then uses a fine needle to puncture the sites for receiving the grafts, placing them in a predetermined density and pattern, and angling the wounds in a consistent fashion to promote a realistic hair pattern. The assistants generally do the final part of the procedure, inserting the individual grafts in place.

The finest surgeons can place more than 50 grafts per square centimeter in order to get a good density and appearance. In a “megasession”, they may perform more prolonged surgeries, placing more than 2500-3000 grafts, reportedly even 6000 grafts, in one sitting. There is a recently reported case of 7761 follicular units transplanted in a patient, performed by Dr Victor Hasson in one 18 hour megasession.

New Technology

Newer procedures today allow for far less invasive surgery with optimal results. FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction), invented by Dr. Ray Woods and Dr. Angela Woods Campbell of Australia, allows the surgeon to select individual follicular units from a donor region and transplant them to the recipient region. This method uses a small needle to pluck out the follicular units, eliminating the need for the surgeon to excise skin from the back of the head. Benefits of FUE are quicker healing time, far less trauma, no strip scar, and the surgeon’s ability to individually select follicular units. Drawbacks are that the procedure is far more time intensive than traditional STRIP methods and thus is much more costly. A top STRIP doctor can transplant more than 3000 grafts in a day, while a top FUE surgeon is limited to 1000-2000 in a day. Furthermore, if too many grafts are harvested, a patient may get a “moth eaten” appearance in the back of his head.

An extension of the FUE procedure is BHT, body hair transplantation. A select group of surgeons are now successfully transplanting body hair to the head. In some cases, the body hair can take on many characteristics of head hair. However, the procedure is still in its infancy, and while there have been successful cases, more completed results are needed to give a better assessment. At this stage the hair transplant community sees body hair as a good “filler” between scalp hairs, and as an additional donor source when patients have run out of scalp hair to transplant.

Post-operative care

Advances in wound care allow for semi-permeable dressings, which allow seepage of blood and tissue fluid, to be applied and changed at least daily. The vulnerable recipient area must be shielded from the sun, and is not shampooed for about a week.

During the first ten days, virtually all of the transplanted hairs, inevitably traumatized by their relocation, will fall out (“shock loss”). After two to three months new hair will begin to erupt from the moved follicles. The patient’s hair will grow normally, and continue to thicken through the next six to nine months. Any subsequent hair loss is likely to be only from untreated areas. Some patients elect to use medications to retard such loss, while others plan a subsequent transplant procedure to deal with this eventuality.

“Hair lightening,” often referred to as “bleaching” or “decolorizing,” is a chemical process involving the diffusion of the natural colour pigment or artificial colour from the hair . This process is central to both permanent hair colour and hair lighteners.

All permanent haircolour products and lighteners contain both a developer, or oxidizing agent, and an alkalizing ingredient as part of their ammonia or an ammonia substitute. The purpose of this is to:

• raise the cuticle of the hair fiber so the tint can penetrate,
• facilitate the formation of tints within the hair fiber,
• bring about the lightening action of peroxide .

When the tint containing the alkalizing ingredient is combined with the developer (usually hydrogen peroxide ), the peroxide becomes alkaline and diffuses through the hair fiber, entering the cortex, where the melanin is located. The lightening occurs when the alkaline peroxide breaks up the melanin and replaces it with new colour.

Temporary Hair Colour

The pigment molecules in temporary hair colour are large and, therefore, do not penetrate the cuticle layer, allowing only a coating action that may be removed by shampooing. An example of use of temporary hair colour is for Halloween costumes.

Acid dyes are used to coat on the surface of hair, since acid dyes have a low affinity to hair, thus can be removed after a shampoo.

Temporary hair colour is available in various product forms including rinses, shampoos, gels, and others. This type of hair colour is typically used to give brighter, more vibrant shades or colours such as orange or red, that may be difficult to achieve with semi-permanent and permanent hair colour. This phenomenon is due to the fact that temporary hair colourants do not penetrate the hair shaft itself. Instead, these dyes remain adsorbed (closely adherent) to the follicle and can be easily removed with a single shampooing. However, even temporary hair colouring agents can persist if the user’s hair is excessively dry or damaged, conditions that allow for migration of the dye from the exterior to the interior of the follicle. While temporary hair colour products hold a lesser market than semi-permanent and permanent agents, they have value in that they can be easily and quickly removed without bleaching or application of a different dye.

Semipermanent

Formulated to deposit colour on the hair shaft without lightening it. This formula has smaller molecules than those of temporary tinting formulas, and is therefore able to penetrate the hair shaft. Has no developer, may be used with heat for penetration. It also lasts longer than temporary hair colour, keeping intact up to 8-14 shampoos.

Demipermanent

Uses a mild, creamy developer of a lower volume [3 to 7 volume or 1 to 3% H2O2] than permanent color. Lasts 2 to 3 months. Some demi products contain MEA’s [an ammonia substitute] which helps with penetration and can lift natural color, but not seriously. Penetrates the hair shaft slightly, leaves hair shiny, covers/blends some gray.

The American Board of Certified Haircolourists and most major manufacturers of hair colour now say one should colour the new growth area with a permanent colour to cover gray and touch up or refresh the ends and length of the hair with a compatible shade of demipermanent colour to protect the condition of the hair.

Most hair colour manufacturers offer a demipermanent hair colour tube and a permanent hair colour tube within their product line. However, lately, some hair colour manufacturers like Compagnia Del Colore from Italy have come up with a very ingenious and cost-efficient solution for hair colourists. By using an activator or 7 Volume Peroxide (2.1% H2O2) you can now use the same permanent hair colour tube and convert it into a semipermanent hair colour tube.

Permanent

This is mixed with developer and remains in the hair shaft until new growth of hair occurs. It’s used to match, lighten, and cover gray hair. Permanent hair colour generally contains ammonia, oxidative tints, and peroxide. The allergic reaction that comes from hair dye is generally one of sensitization to p -phenylenediamine (PPD). The reaction will most likely occur each time one dyes one’s hair and will probably get worse each time. The sensitization from the ingredients in hair colour can extend to sensitization of other products of same or similar composition, including but not limited to the dye used in textiles, sunscreen, rubber, and/or certain medications.

Henna is a deposit-only hair colour whose active component, lawsone, binds to keratin and is therefore permanent. Henna may be removed with mineral oil; however, it is considered “permanent” because it does not wash out with shampoos or rinses. It is often mixed with other plant dyes, such as indigo , turmeric , and senna , to change the colour. Allergy to henna is much rarer than allergy to permanent hair colours. It is also considered a conditioning treatment.

Using a plant-based colour, specifically henna, can cause problems later when trying to do a permanent wave (perm) and other permanent hair colour. Discoloration can occur on hair that has been previously tinted with henna; hennaed hair typically cannot be curled. Breakage could also be an issue.

Special Effects

Special effects include highlighting and vivid, unusual hair colours such as green or fuchsia. Highlighting can range from temporary to permanent, using the techniques listed above and a special application process. The techniques required to apply highlighting can be difficult for an individual to perform upon him/herself. One can create looks that range from subtle highlights acquired during a day at the beach, to more dramatic looks, such as bold, chunky highlights.

The more exotic, bright dyes typically contain only tint, and have no developer. These are typically sold in punk -themed stores (such as comic book and music stores), but are rarely available at commercial hair dressers. Colours range from blood red to seafoam green. Many shades are blacklight reactive. Individuals with darker hair (medium brown to black) are advised to use a bleaching kit prior to tint application for the full effect of the colour. Some people with fair hair may benefit from prior bleaching as well, as the yellow undertones of blonde hair can make blue dye look green. These dyes are less permanent, and tend to “bleed” onto other fabric even when dry. Users should anticipate staining of light-colored pillows for a week or so after application.

Problems Related to Colouring Hair

When coloring one’s hair it is always advisable to visit a professional hair colourist as there are many mistakes a person could make, as well as some serious consequences. The following are some of the problems that may occur as a result of applying hair colour:

• Different color outcome compared to what was expected.
• Breakage of hair stands.
• Loss of hair.
• Dry scalp.

What You Should Know About Hair Color ?

Celebrities almost always have their hair colored by professional hairstylists. These stylists do not use the type of kits sold in drugstores but use special dyes that they can mix and match themselves to get more specific, custom–tailored results. This is sometimes necessary to get a natural looking result because your natural hair shade often has undertones that will prevent the drugstore color result from looking like it does on the box. However, sometimes celebrities do wear drugstore shades, like when they are endorsing commercial hair colors. For example, Heather Locklear, Milla Jojovich and Beyonce are wearing L’Oreal hair shades in those commercials. So it is possible to get a pretty hair shade from a box. But you can bet that they did not apply the color themselves. However, with practice and experimentation you can master the art of getting salon-level results at home in some cases (although not all). This article will help you decipher which type of hair dying you can do by yourself from which type you should leave to the professionals. The advantage of coloring hair at home is that you can save a ton of money every year, but the disadvantage is that it may be difficult to achieve a flattering result.

When you color treat your hair you can perform strand tests, where you apply color only to a strand that you snip off your hair. This way, you get to preview final results of your color and decide if you want to go through with it, unlike with a perm where you don’t have a clue what the result will be. The most important, first steps when coloring hair are performing an allergy test and a strand test . Do not get so excited that you skip these two steps or you may end up with a head covered with scabs or a color that makes you contemplate calling out of work. First, you must understand that there are several different kinds of hair dyes available in a drug store. There are temporary color s that rinse out during the next shampoo, but they do not make significant differences in dark hair. Semipermanent colors last through four to six shampoos, but they do not lighten hair or make significant changes in color either. You should be forewarned that these products often do not disappear as soon as they claim to. Some people even end up having to grow their ’semipermanent color’ out. Permanent color remains in the hair, but the roots require retouch every 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the difference between the color you choose and your natural root color (see What about the roots?). This is the only type of hair color that will do a satisfactory job of covering gray. These can lighten hair and make significant changes, but often do not produce satisfactory results. If you are not satisfied with the result you can not get your exact natural hair color back without growing your hair color out, which takes years. This is why for all types of color, one should perform a strand test, according to the package directions. This step is crucial, it shows you what color will end up on your whole head. Don’t skip the strand test because of impatience, to do so may results in tears and the need to plot out how you will be able to hide from the world. It only takes 20 minutes and can save you immense agony.

Using Hair Color If You Wish to Go Blonde

You can not go blonde with permanent hair color if your hair is dark brown or darker. You must double-process your hair (also called ‘bleaching’). (See “To Bleach or Not to Bleach”). This process consists of bleaching the color out of the hair so it is left a pale lemon yellow to white shade and then toning it down to the desired color with a toner. We recommend only doing this at a salon. Your hair dresser may instead choose to “foil” your hair, where your strands are wrapped in packets of foil, using one or two colors (a darker and lighter shade of blonde gives hair more dimension which makes it look more natural). The foiling will be followed up by a “glaze”, which seals in hair color, adds color and toner, and adds shine. Look for a salon that specializes in hair coloring, or “European hair color”, as you will want to allign yourself with an expert for these complicated processes. Foiling can be expensive (between $80 to $150 on average for 1 to 2 colors and a glaze). You usually have the foiling done with 1 or 2 colors on the first salon trip (the second color costs extra), followed by a glaze (also extra). The next time you go back in about a month, you will usually have just a root touch up and a glaze treatment which is less expensive. The foiling is done at about every third salon visit. If your hair is medium brown or lighter, you can usually achieve blonde without double processing. If you try a regular blonde dye, but find that it does not ‘lift’ your color to the light level you desire, try a super-lightening one-step blonde shade, such as the shades in the Les Blondisimes collection, by L’Oreal, or those in the Ultra Blonde shade collection, by Clariol. These shades take you to the lightest level of blonding possible in one step, which means that your hair is more toward the medium brown end of the continuum, it may appear yellow (referred to as ‘gold’ in the industry) or orange (referred to as ‘brassy’), especially after fresh color fades or when under fluorescents lights. It may also have a grayish or greenish cast. You can neutralize this, however, if you are willing to experiment with different shades. It may take a few tries to get a satisfying result.

Neutralizing Blonde Color:

If your blonde shade is too yellow (gold) or orange (brassy), look for a blonde shade with the words champagne or ash in the shade name. Try this shade instead next time. Another option is to look for a product known as a “drabber”. This can give the hair an “ashier” appearance, thus neutralizing gold tones. Follow instructions carefully to avoid going overboard on the “ash” which can make hair appear greenish or grayish.

If your blonde shade is too green or grayish, look for a blonde shade with the words golden or warm in the shade name. Try this shade instead next time.

Another option for those wanting to neutralize their blonde hair color is to use color enhancing shampoos which help to neutralize brassiness. These shampoos, however, do not make significant differences in the hair color but will help to maintain ashier hair color longer without it fading to brass, thus keeping the color neutralized longer (Revlon or Clairol). Also look for shampoos for color treated hair that deposit a small amount of hair color to counteract brassy tones (usually the one’s formulated for brassy blonde contain small amounts of violet dye).

Another option for those with a medium brown hair color, who seeks a natural-looking blonde shade, is to dye the hair with a ‘dark’ blonde shade . This will ‘lift’ the natural color to a dark blonde which should be free from undesirable tones. You can then use a highlighting kit in a few weeks, and your hair will look even lighter. (See, “If You Wish to Highlight”). The dark blonde shade, or “base”, will then make you look as though you were a natural, dark blonde who had highlights done, and that is a very flattering look. Any brunette with dark eyebrows who dyes her hair blonde has the option of lightening her eyebrows with a cream bleach , (usually found in the hair depilatory section of a drugstore), such a Jolen. You can then darken your brows to a dark blonde shade using a taupe or blonde eyebrow pencil. Use soft feathery strokes to apply eyebrow color, then brush eyebrows upward to blend. Seal with a brow sealant. This will balance your coloring and make you look more natural. If you leave very dark brown eyebrows alone, you will resemble Madonna during her “Who’s That Girl” stage. Or maybe you want that look. To each, her own.

If you’ve colored your hair yourself and it always seems to turn brassy or yellow quickly, you might want to let a professional take over. It is easier for a professional hair stylist to get your hair color to be that “ideal shade”. Plus a professional hair stylist can add a glossing treatment after the coloring process that helps seal in the hair color for longer- this trick is used by celebrity hairstylists. Sometimes brassiness if caused by dull hair. Try using shine sprays or glossing serums to subtly revive your locks.

Using Hair Color If You Wish To Go Red

Generally, you should dye your hair as close to your natural color as possible. If you do plan to make a drastic change, do not dye your hair red with drug store hair color dye! Go to a hair dresser, unless you want a punk look! It is very hard to get a believable red shade, red dye often looks apple-red, or even purple or pink. If your hair is naturally red and you just want to cover gray, you may be able to get a believable red shade, but always do a strand test first to preview hair color results. If you really want red, but don’t want to pay salon prices, try a hair glaze which falls in the semipermanent family (Glintz by Clairol). This way you can get a subtle hint of red, which is usually more flattering, and turn back if you don’t like it. Hair glazes also make the hair shinier.

Using Hair Color If You Wish to Go Brunette

It is usually painless for brunettes to dye their hair at home. However, do not expect to look perfectly brunette under all kinds of lights. Commonly, hair dyed brunette shades can look purplish or reddish in certain fluorescent lights, but some people like this look. Some shades do not produce this effect and look very natural, however. Whether your hair will take on these tones depends on your natural color and what shade you pick. A good rule of thumb is to not use shades darker that medium brown , even if your hair is naturally dark brown. Shades darker than medium brown often appear very black with odd color tones (like red and purple). If you want to dye your hair black use a dark brown dye for the most natural effect and less purple and reddish tones than a pure black color would produce.

Using Hair Color If You Wish to Highlight

This is also an easy one. Get your highlighting, frosting, foiling, or any other process that deposits color to only certain areas of you hair done at a salon.. The lightening solution is almost as intense as bleach and can look severe, when done by an amateur. Highlighting done at home can sometimes end up looking like zebra stripes because of the tendency of amateurs to highlight in big chunks. Highlighting done at a salon, by someone who specializes in the process, on the other hand, can look beautiful and very flattering. Salon professionals give you a choice of highlighting shades to use in your hair, unlike at the drug store where you have little choice. They also can create highlighting that is very subtle and that looks natural. It is worth the extra money, since you only need to touch it up every 3 to 6 months. To find a salon professional that specializes in highlighting, consult your phone book and look for this service listed in the salon ad. The exception to this rule is if you want the “big chunky highlight look”. Then you may be okay with a drug store highlighting kit. Another exception is using Color Experte by L’Oreal. This kit, is not necessarily a highlighting kit but the premise is that there is a base tone that you color your hair with first, and then a lighter shade to add a lighter or highlight shade.

What Can I Do to Keep My Hair Color Longer?

To preserver your new hair color even longer use a shampoo designed for color treated hair (such as Colorvive by L’Oreal, this particular one contains UV sunscreen). Another option is to use a color enhancing shampoo (Revlon or Clariol). These shampoos help maintain hair color by depositing a touch of pigment on the hair. They generally are used every other time you shampoo your hair. For example, if you dye your hair golden blonde and it tends to fade to brass quickly, the blonde color enhancing shampoo will deposit some blue and brown pigments on the hair to counteract the orange-like tone.

If your hair color has radically faded and you are due to touch up your roots, touch them up and apply the rest of the hair color to the rest of your hair for a lesser amount of time. The instructions that come with your hair color will tell you how long to keep the solution on this part of the hair. (usually for about 10 minutes). If the rest of the hair does not need to be touched up, however, do not touch it up until necessary, to give your hair a chance to rest.

What about the roots?

How often you touch up your roots is your personal decision, basically you touch them up when they start to bother you. There is a new product by Clairol called Root Touch-Up , which will cover the roots in as little as ten minutes flat. It comes with a special comb that makes the application process very easy. The point to this is that instead of making the ¼ inch parts in the hair and covering every single root area like you do during a normal hair coloring touch up, you instead just cover the roots that show all the time, like in the front and back of your head and down your part.

Or you can just touch them up when they really, really start to bother you. This will depend on what the natural color is and what the dye color is and the difference between the two. If your natural color is very dark and your dye color is very light and you can’t stand the sight of roots, then you may want to touch up your hair as often as every 3 weeks. If your natural hair is very light and your dye color is very light (or dark and dark) then you may want to put it off for a whole 6 weeks. After all, touching up the roots is not the most pleasant experience that there is. It takes a lot of patience, not to mention maneuvering. You must aim to cover all of the roosts without rubbing mixture into the scalp (which will cause irritation). The best method is to divide the hair into sections by parting it, and clip each section out of your way except for the one you will be working on first. Use the tip of the applicator bottle to make ¼ inch parts to squeeze the solution onto, until the entire root area is covered. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with your color exactly, especially concerning times. You will find that it is extremely difficult to do the back of your head yourself. So what is the solution? If you can’t find a friend to do the roots at the aback of your head for you, get a three-way mirror. Or if you have a bathroom with walls on each side of the sink hang mirrors on each wall. You will then be able to color the back of your hair with ease. You will also feel that you have more control styling the back of your hair, so it will be a worthwhile investment. With time you will find the root touch-up process much easier because you will have developed the skill and will have gotten much faster at it.

To Bleach or Not to Bleach

If you have dark brown hair or darker and wish to go blonde, as said before, you cannot achieve a blonde color with permanent dye. Permanent dye is a “one-step” process. It takes only one step (coloring the hair) to achiever the results. Hair as dark as yours requires a “two-step” process to achieve a blonde result. It must first be lightened with strong lightening agents that are found in permanent dyes. This process is sometimes referred to as “bleaching”. Bleaching leaves the hair a very unflattering bright yellow or bright white . The hair must then be toned down to a softer, more natural looking shade. This process is referred to as “toning”.

If you are considering bleaching your hair, you must think very seriously first , because it is a very harsh process which requires intense maintenance and care. Do not bleach your hair yourself with drugstore bleaches and toners! These bleaches are very severe and cause the hair to become brittle and frizzy. As if that’s not bad enough, the toners often look gray, too green, or too brown.

We hope that we have eliminated bleaching your hair yourself as one of your options, because the poor hair color result is just not worth the damage. Salon bleaching is a little less damaging, but still very brutal on the hair, not to mention very costly. You will notice a lot of hair falling out on your clothes and in your brush. You will notice that your hair feels frizzy unless it is constantly moisturized, which closes the door on a few styling options. Your roots will also be obvious because your salon will advise you to only touch them up about every month or so, because the process is so harsh. Because of the contrast between our dark natural color and the bleached hair, the roots will be very obvious before this time. It will cost you a great deal of money to keep touching up your roots and applying toner every month. The toner tends to fade very quickly which will leave your hair a bright yellow or lighter for a week or so. Many clients opt to have toner applied between visits, because of this, which costs extra money. In addition to all this, because the toner is a mixture of may different pigments. It can look green and violet in some fluorescent lighting.

All in all, we feel that bleaching the hair, in both a salon or at home, has more disadvantages than advantages . We feel that those with dark brown hair or darker that really want to be light-haired, should lighten their hair a few shades lighter than their natural color (perhaps to light brown) and then have a salon put highlights in their hair. This will inflict much less stress on the hair and on the wallet. It will also look more flattering and believable with dark eyebrows.

If you are still considering bleaching your hair answer these true or false questions:

1. T F I do not mind hair that is frizzy, if it is the color I want.
2. T F I have a lot of time to devote to my hair care regimen.
3. T F My hair is worth spending a great deal of my money on.
4. T F I do not mind having dark roots for about one or two weeks a month.
5. T F I do not mind if my hair takes on odd tones in certain lighting.

If you answered false to any of these decisions you may regret your decision to bleach your hair. Bleached hair takes a long time to grow out , and the part that you will be trying to grow out will be significantly more damaged that the rest of your hair, not to mention the fact that your hair will be severely two-toned for a long time. Bleaching should be a life-long commitment, if you want to avoid having such an awkward hair grow-out stage.

How does Gwen Stefani’s bleached platinum blonde hair look so healthy?

Gwen Stefani’s hair is bleached platinum blonde, yet it always looks so healthy. Celebrity hairstylist Mark Slicker, who has worked with Amanda Bynes says that Gwen must take very good care of her hair. Bleached hair needs a heavy protein deep conditioning treatment several times a week (the conditioner must have protein in it because protein is removed from the hair during the bleaching process and needs to be replenished). Gwen must also make sure to protect her hair from the sun. You can try one of the hair oils that contain an SPF or you can apply sunscreen to your comb and then run it through your hair if you just have to go out into the sun.

What if I already bleached or colored my hair and want a change?

What if you already colored your hair and want to go back to your natural hair color: Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the awkwardness of growing out your hair color. If you have bleached or colored your hair a light shade, and want to go back to your natural hair color, you can lessen the severe contrast of dark roots in light hair by getting the roots highlighted at a salon, in a shade close to the hair color your are growing out, especially in the front and sides. The hair will blend better. Then when you have cut all the one-tone lightened hair off, you can stop highlighting and let the natural hair color grow in. The highlights will look fine at the bottom of your hair. Do not buy a product that says it can remove hair color thinking you will get your natural color back. You do not get your natural hair color back. What it actually does is bleach the hair, leaving the hair a bright yellow or white.

If you have bleached your hair and would like to go to a one-process darker color, it is a good idea to grow the roots out long enough so that you can snip a lock of hair from the bottom of the back of our head that you will not miss. This lock of hair should have enough natural color at the roots to do a strand test. If you like the new color, then apply it to the root area only! Do not apply the dye on top of hair that has been bleached. You will damage the hair even further! Just be patient and let the bleached hair get long enough to cut it off . You won’t miss it!

It is also a bad idea to dye a one-processed color on top of another one-process color , unless it is in the same color family (blonde, red, brunette). For example, if you dyed your hair black and want to go blonde, you may wind up with green or orange hair, or another strange color, because the black pigments were too heavy to lift. If you cannot wait to grow your black hair out to go blonde, then visit a salon professional. You may have to have your hair “stripped” of the artificial color. Unfortunately, this does not bring you back to your natural color, but to a bright blonde or white, similar to what “bleaching “does to the hair. If you are a natural blonde, this may not be so awkward to grow out. If not, the salon professional may then be able to tone this color down in some way, depending on the makeup of your natural hair pigments. Do not attempt this at home with drug store hair color removers. You will often get a green result.

If you had dyed your hair blonde, it is usually OK to go from dyed blonde hair to other colors, but you should keep in mind that the blonde hair was lightened, and therefore is more porous and will absorb more pigment. Therefore, strand tests are crucial, to be sure you are getting a soft, believable result. It is much harder to go from hair that was dyed a brunette shade to a color in a lighter color family (blonde, red) because of the pigmentation of brunette dye. You should also visit a salon for this, in case your hair will require being stripped to remove some of the dark pigment, and make the hair more receptive to a lighter shade. Remember, switching hair colors is not like changing underwear. There is a lot of risk of “bad color” and potential damage. To be on the safe side, visit a salon and ask if it is advisable.

Aside from its function of keeping hair neat and attractive, a hair cut can also be enjoyed at a similar level to a massage. While fingers and cutting instruments tend to the scalp and hair, the recipient of a hair cut may experience warmth and tingling sensations around their head, neck, and shoulders. A hair cut done with care and precision can be rewarding at pragmatic, physical, and emotional levels.

There is a thriving world market in cut human hair of sufficient length for wig manufacture and for the production of training materials for student hairdressers and barbers . In less developed countries, selling one’s hair can be a significant source of income – depending on length, thickness, condition, and colour, wig makers have been known to pay as much as US$40 for a head of hair. In the United States , cut hair of at least 10 inches (25 cm) length may be donated to a charity , such as Locks of Love .

History

• In the 17th century, Manchu invaders issued the Queue Order , requiring Chinese, who traditionally did not cut their hair, to shave their heads like Manchus. The Chinese resisted. Tens of thousands of people were killed due to their hairstyle.
• In the 1920s, the evangelist Billy Sunday popularized the phrase “long-haired men and short-haired women”, a term he meant to encompass his disapproval of radicals , liberated women , homosexuals , and Greenwich Village artists.
• Until the Beatles came along, classical music was called longhaired music , because a longer style was popular among male orchestral musicians and conductors.
• In 2006 , Virginia Senator George Allen became involved in a political controversy that turned, in part, on the difference between a mullet and a Mohawk .

Types of haircuts

• Afro , a hairstyle popular with people of African and Melanesian descent, it is often considered symbolic of Black racial pride; however the hairstyle can also be worn by non-Blacks who have loosely curled hair
• Bangs
• Bantu/Zulu knots , haircut of African origin consisting of many small buns.
• Beatle haircut or ‘Moptop‘, after the fashion of the early Beatles , is a hairstyle that is fairly thick all around and neatly cut. This hairstyle was relatively new to Americans at the time, but not an uncommon British haircut. During the height of ” Beatlemania ,” “Beatle wigs” were sold.
• The Beehive , a large ” big hair ” style popular in the 1960s .
• Big hair , various styles denoting a lot of volume.
• Bouffant , another “big hair” style.
• Bun
• Blowout hair anywhere from a quarter inch to 2 inches taped up with gel. Often worn by Italians and guidos.
• Buzz cut , also called a butch cut; short all over.
• Bob , a short cut for women, first popular in the 1920s , considered a sign of a liberated woman .
• Bowl cut or “Moe”, after the Three Stooges character.
• Caesar cut , a short men’s cut with longer bangs, also called a Clooney cut ; widely popular among men from the early 1990s to the present.
• Chelsea girl , shaving the crown and occiput of the head, and leaving the front, back and often the sides as fringes.
• Chonmage , a samurai ’s topknot; the hair on the top of the head was usually shaved, and the rest of the hair gathered together and tied in a topknot; a modified version is still worn by some sumo wrestlers.
• Comb over , combing hair over a bald spot.
• Cornrows , raised, continuous braids , woven closely to the scalp; originating in indigenous Africa , they remain a popular African American hairstyle.
• Crew cut , similar to buzz, originally worn by college rowers in the 1900s to distinguish themselves from football players, who had long hair (to supplement the inadequate helmets of the time).
• Crop , a very short woman’s cut.
• Croydon facelift ,the hair is pulled back tight and tied in a bun or ponytail at the back.
• Devilock , short in back and on sides, long in front.
• Dreadlocks , where hair is divided into many long, matted plaits; well known as a Rastafarian hairstyle.
• Duck’s Ass , combed long on sides, parted in back, also called ducktail or southback; the parting in the back caused the hair to stick up, hence the name. Also known as a “D.A.”.
• Emo hair
• Fauxhawk , a fake Mohawk: short on the sides and back, medium length on top pushed up in a Mohawk direction, a portmanteau of the French ‘faux’ (false) and ‘ Mohawk ‘.
• Feathered , the defining features of this style were the Side Parting and the length which varied from just showing the ears to almost shoulder length, this style rose dramatically in popularity during the 1970s but died down in the mid 1980s ; it is slowly gaining back popularity; Tim Brooke-Taylor used to have this hairstyle.
• Finger wave , popular in the 1920s and 1930s .
• Flattop , just as it says, when combined with a D.A., called a “Detroit” because the flat top is not always compatible with a round head, there is often a spot on the top that is buzzed shorter, almost to the point of being shaved; this area is called the landing strip .
• Flip , a medium to long cut where the sides are symetrical and curled away from the neck
• Fofa , short to medium length on the sides and back, with a receding hairline from the forehead back due to a natural baldness; usually found on distinguished gentlemen and derived from the style of the monks .
• French braid Unlike a regular three-strand braid, a French braid starts with small sections of hair at the crown of a person’s head, and intermittently, more hair is added to each section as the braid progresses down the head.
• French twist A classic “updo” in which long hair is gathered into a ponytail , then twisted together, and finally tucked and pinned together along the length of the roll.
• Goatee Connect - This is where a thin line is made of the side burns and connects into the beard. Usually done with a shape-up.
• High and tight , cut/buzzed very short (or even shaved) on sides and back up to the crown where the hair is left longer, can be a variation of crew cut or flattop.
• Hime cut , a women’s hairstyle consisting of straight cut side bangs and frontal fringe
• Hi-top fade , popular style worn by African American males in the early late 1980’s and early 1990’s . Popular endorsers included Kid ‘n Play and Grace Jones .
• Hockey Hair , short bangs with medium length “flipped up” hair in the back and sides.
• Horseshoe Flattop , sides are shaved and back is shaved to the top of the head, making the remaining hair looks from above like the top is cut like a horseshoe.
• Induction cut , the very shortest of hairstyles, without actually shaving the head with a razor.
• Ivy League Cut, or “Princeton”, cut short and tapered at the back and sides and cut close (about ¼ inch) across the crown of the head, but getting a little longer (up to 1.5 inches) at the front of the head. It provides a little more flexibility in terms of styling while still having a crisp “buzzed” appearance.
• Jheri curl , a perm that loosens the curls of a person with coarse hair; known more for the oily residue of the chemicals used (“Jheri Curl Juice”) than the actual style
• Japanese hair straightening , a process that takes usually wavy or curly hair and breaks the cystine bonds by way of chemicals, then a hot iron reorganizes the structure of the hair leaving it soft, super-straight and healthy looking.
• Khokhol , also spelt ‘chochol’ and ‘chachol’, a Slavic name for a longer tuft of hair left on top or on the front side of the otherwise cleanly shaven or shortly cut man’s hair.
• Layered hair , where the top layers of hair are cut shorter than the layers beneath.
• Liberty spikes , the hair is arranged into long, thick, upright spikes.
• Low and tight , cut/buzzed very short (or even shaved) on sides and back up to a line above the ears but below the crown, hair is left longer above this line.
• Messed up Hair , looks like you have just got out of bed, usually for men, created using wax or putty.
• Mohawk or ‘Mohican’, long hair divided into sections which are then braided and worn down, both sides are shaved or buzzed, long and usually spiked in the middle.
• Mullet , this Haircut is popular with young men and became popular in the mid- 1980’s , the haircut is short in the front and long at the back of the head.
• Odango , a women’s hairstyle consisting of two long pigtails emanating from two perfect ” spheres ” of hair on the top of the head; Made famous by Sailor Moon .
• Ofuku , worn by apprentice geisha in their final two years of apprenticeship; similar to the wareshinobu style; also called a momoware (“split peach”) because the bun is split and a red fabric woven in the centre.
• Pageboy , a Womans hairstyle in which the hair is almost shoulder-length except for a fringe in the front.
• Perm , or “permanent wave,” is a chemical-induced curling of naturally straight hair; originally created electrically with an apparatus resembling an electric chair ; among African-Americans , a perm is the straight or large-curled look created by chemical relaxers.
• Pigtails , long hair is parted in the middle and tied on the sides, often curled into ringlets (hence the name).
• Pixie , a very short hair cut for women that almost resemble school boy looks.
• Pompadour , big wave in the front, named for Madame de Pompadour aristocratic fashion leader of pre-Revolutionary France , mistress of Louis XV of France ; Elvis Presley had one.
• Ponytail , a hairstyle where most of the wearer’s hair is pulled away from the face and gathered at the back.
• PushBack , a hairstyle worn by Si.
• Quiff , a hairstyle where part of the hair is put up high on the top of the head.
• Recon , a radical version of the High and Tight , with the sides and back cleanly shaved very high up the head, intentionally leaving a very extreme contrast between the longer top hair and the shaved sides.
• Rattail , is a male with all of his hair cut short all over except for a long strip of his hair growing in the back of the middle of his head typically at about ½ inch to an inch wide and can be as long as all the way down his back, but it is mostly found on a boy under 14 years old but some men wear one too. Occasionally females wear a rattail also.
• Relaxer (chemical) typically done on black women, this is the process of making kinky or course hair staight. Timed applications are required. Read instuctions before application.
• Ringlet :
• Ronaldo cut: shaved head except for the front thirdish which is buzzed.
• Shape-Up : This is where the barber cuts around the hairline making it visible
• Sidelock : Long in front of the ears, short in back. The hair that is directly over the ears is allowed to grow long, but it is combed forward, in front of the ears, where it is sometimes twisted or curled if there isn’t a natural curl to start with. The opposite of the Tom Hanks backward sweep cut, or the Duck’s Ass cut. Compare payot in Numbers 6:5 .
• Tape-Up : Same as shape-up but part of the sides are lightened, in a skin tape-up the part of the sides are cut off.
• Taper fade
• Tonsure : This haircut is most identifiable with European monks; having a rim of hair about the head with the top shaved off.
• Updo : This haircut is where the hair is put up on the top or back of the head and is commonly used for formal events such as weddings and proms
• Wings , a new hairstyle similar to the Beatles cut but with the side and back bangs flipped up, occasionally by the use of a ballcap , usually worm with medium-long haircuts.

Hair Origin
A developing fetus has all of it’s hair follicles formed by week 22. At this time there are 5 million follicles on the body. One million of those are on the head, and 100,000 are on the scalp. This is the largest number of follicles we will ever have – follicles are never added during life. As the size of the body increases as we grow older, the density of the hair follicles on the skin decreases.

Hair Anatomy
Hair has two separate structures – the follicle in the skin and the shaft we see.

Follicle – The follicle is a stocking-like structure that contains several layers with different jobs. At the base of the follicle is a projection formed like sticking a finger in the bottom of a stocking and pushing it in a small amount. This projection is called a papilla and it contains capillaries, or tiny blood vessels, that feed the cells. The living part of the hair is bottom part of the stocking surrounding the papilla called the bulb. This bottom part is the only part fed by the capillaries. The cells in the bulb divide every 23 to 72 hours, faster than any other cells in the body.

The follicle is surrounded by two sheaths – an inner and outer sheath. These sheaths protect and mold the growing hair shaft. The inner sheath follows the hair shaft and ends below the opening of a sebaceous (oil) gland, and sometimes an apocrine (scent) gland. The outer sheath continues all the way up to the gland. A muscle called an erector pili muscle attaches below the gland to a fibrous layer around the outer sheath. When this muscle contracts, it causes the hair to stand up.

The sebaceous gland is important because it produces sebum which is a natural conditioner. More sebum is produced after puberty. The sebum production decreases in women throughout their lives. The production also decreases in men, but not as much as in women.

Shaft – The hair shaft is made up of dead, hard protein called keratin in three layers. The inner layer is called the medulla and may not be present. The next layer is the cortex and the outer layer is the cuticle. The cortex makes up the majority of the hair shaft. The cuticle is formed by tightly packed scales in an overlapping structure similar to roof shingles. Most hair conditioning products attempt to affect the cuticle. There are pigment cells that are distributed throughout the cortex and medulla giving the hair it’s characteristic color.

Phases of Hair Growth & Hair Shape

Hair Growth Cycle
Hair on the scalp grows about .3-.4 mm/day or about 6 inches per year. Unlike other mammals, hair growth and loss is random and not seasonal or cyclic. At any given time, a random number of hairs will be in various stages of growth and shedding. There are three stages of hair growth: catagen, telogen, and anagen.

Catagen – The catagen phase is a transitional stage and 3% of all hairs are in this phase at any time. This phase lasts for about 2-3 weeks. During this time growth stops and the outer root sheath shrinks and attaches to the root of the hair. This is the formation of what is known as a club hair.

Telogen – Telogen is the resting phase and accounts for 10-15% of all hairs. This phase lasts for about 100 days for hairs on the scalp and much longer for hairs on the eyebrow, eyelash, arm and leg.

During this phase the hair follicle is completely at rest and the club hair is completely formed. Pulling out a hair in this phase will reveal a solid, hard, dry, white material at the root. About 25-100 telogen hairs are shed normally each day.

Anagen – Anagen is the active phase of the hair. The cells in the root of the hair are dividing rapidly. A new hair is formed and pushes the club hair up the follicle and eventually out. During this phase the hair grows about 1 cm every 28 days. Scalp hair stays in this active phase of growth for 2-6 years. Some people have difficulty growing their hair beyond a certain length because they have a short active phase of growth. On the other hand, people with very long hair have a long active phase of growth. The hair on the arms, legs, eyelashes, and eyebrows have a very short active growth phase of about 30-45 days explaining why they are so much shorter than scalp hair.

Hair Shape
The amount of natural curl a hair has is determined by it’s cross-sectional shape. Hair that is most similar to a circle is straight and hair that is flattened and elliptical is curly or kinky. The more circular the shaft is, the straighter it is. The more elliptical the shaft is, the curlier or kinkier the hair. The cross-sectional shape also determines the amount of shine the hair has. Straighter hair is shinier because sebum from the sebaceous gland can travel down the hair more easily. The kinkier the hair, the more difficulty the sebum has traveling down the hair, therefore the more dry or dull the hair looks.

• Legend has it that St. Jerome (c. 340-420 AD) invented glasses.

• The Chinese claim that spectacles originated in Arabia in the 11th century.

• Nero watching gladiatorial contests with an emerald suggests that he used glasses. The emerald may well have had other uses, as a gem, as the sporting of the green colours of the Emperor, as an amulet – for emeralds had a reputation for strengthening the eye – and so on. Presumably Nero was short-sighted, but what is known about his sight rather suggests the photophobia of the albino, for which indeed he may have used green glass as a protective.

• Some ancient Roman patricians overcame vision impairment by getting a slave to read to them- not a significant contribution to the evolution of spectacles!

• In 1268 Roger Bacon made the first known scientific commentary on lenses for vision correction.

• Marco Polo, journeying to China in 1270, is said to have observed elderly Chinese using spectacles.

• Walter Bayley’s Briefe Treatise touching the Preservation of the Eyesight, consisting partly in Good Order of Diet and partly in Use of Medicine, was first published in 1586. Bayley was physician to Queen Elizabeth, but his knowledge of ophthalmology extended to little beyond doubting the efficacy of urine for bathing the eye and recommending ale as strengthening the sight!

• The religious teacher Sofronius Eusebius Hieronymus (340 – 420 AD) is portrayed with a lion, a skull and a pair of reading glasses. He is the patron saint of spectacle makers.

• John Isaac Hawkins, the inventor of trifocals, coined the term bifocals in 1824 and credited Dr. Benjamin Franklin with their invention.

Zenni Optical was on FOX news! recently, if you have prescription they can custom made for you and send you at your door step.

Normally the glasses range from low to high price, it totally depends on your choice and design you choose. Zenni Optical $ 8 Rx Eyeglasses is a good choice for low budgets, with few bucks can buy a good frame.

While the idea of saving money is always attractive, there’s often a price attached and this is no exception.

Consider the downside. Going to your local doctor, or a renowned specialist at a big medical center, for an operation is risky enough. Just look at all the release forms you have to sign before a surgeon will touch you. They do this because they know things sometimes go wrong in the operating room.

But what if something goes wrong in a foreign land, thousands of miles from home, in an operating room where no one speaks English, in a country that wouldn’t know a lawsuit from a pantsuit?

Yes, it’s scary but there is an upside. A medical vacation may be worth the potential risks, especially if you would not have been able to have the treatment because you either didn’t have health insurance or the insurance you do have wouldn’t cover it.

Let’s say you need stomach surgery that would cost $30,000 in a typical U.S. hospital. That same procedure, including airfare and a hotel room for ten days where you would stay during your recovery period will cost you less than $5,000 in India.

Dental work for one medical tourist would have cost $7,000 here. But he spent just over $3,000 in the Philippines, and that included two round-trip airline tickets for him and his companion.

If you’re thinking about this option, there are a number of things to consider. After cost, the most important aspect of traveling to a foreign country for a medical procedure is safety. Medical tourism can be helpful for dual purpose. save money and get cure.

You want to find a hospital or medical facility that has a highly trained staff and the equipment to handle any of those things that could go wrong during or after a medical procedure. One way to do that is to determine that the facility has been certified by the Joint Commission International (JCI), a wing of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).More information can be obtain at Medical Tourism Wiki