The '80s was a decade full of neon leg warmers, power ballads and big hair. But how did we get that big hair that was so bad it's good? A little bit of teasing and a lot of chemistry.
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Ms. Beautyphile helps us tackle the science behind perms and crimping and overall big '80s hair

​It’s the cold and flu season! AGAIN!

Sick people either stay home or go to the doctor. They do not come to the salon.

If you are not feeling well, please stay home and take care of yourself.

I know your time is valuable and you are thinking if I miss this appointment I don’t know when I’ll be able to get back in. Just know I will do my best to accommodate you ASAP.

More times than not, when you come to your appointment sick, even if you think you are feeling betting, within 2 or 3 days I come down with whatever you had myself and I can’t come into work and finish out the workweek, which is very inconvenient for me and the rest of my clients. Remember, too, that I do not have paid sick leave like most of you.

If I am feeling under the weather I will let you know as soon as possible that I need to cancel and reschedule your appointment. It is not fare to you that I come to work sick and get you sick.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a sniffle or the flu — STAY HOME! If you are too sick to go to work you are too sick to come in for your appointment. So PLEASE let me know as soon as possible if you are not feeling well so we can reschedule your appointment.

I will say this again, STAY HOME AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. I will do my best to accommodate you ASAP.
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Take Care,
Hair by Brian

Attaining and maintaining gorgeous, shiny hair—or at least finding a natural way to sufficiently hydrate parched strands and banish that itchy scalp—is probably somewhere on just about everyone's list of beauty aspirations. But since your real life to-do list is likely a mile long, a fast and easy solution would be nice. Unfortunately, many shampoo and conditioner combos just don't cut it—at least not on their own. Luckily, there's an affordable trick. Enter: argan oil. 

What is argan oil?

This liquid gold is derived from the kernel fruits of argan trees in Morocco, where it has been used as a natural topical and internal remedy for thousands of years. What makes it so beneficial? Studies show that 99 percent of argan oil is made up of triglycerides, or essential fatty acids, which have been shown to decrease skin inflammation and irritation. The remaining 1 percent is a powerful combo of botanical compounds, like antioxidant vitamin E. All of which is to say, argan oil is basically a hair hydrating hero. 

Benefits of argan oil for hair.

When applied to skin and hair, even a few drops of argan oil can work wonders. "It's great for many conditions, especially dry, damaged hair because its trove of fatty acids lock moisture into the hair follicle," says Bindiya Gandhi, M.D., an American Board Family Medicine physician and mbg Collective member.

And let's face it, avoiding split ends and frizz is tough when everything from blow drying and straightening to drying wet hair with a towel can cause damage. Thankfully, argan oil nourishes the entire strand from root to tip.

People also rave about argan oil's ability to increase hair growth, but at this point, no research can definitively back up those claims. It has been proved, however, that a daily scalp massage can stimulate hair follicles and increase hair growth and thickness. And since compounds in argan oil reduce hair loss and breakage, the combo may just be ideal for improving the thickness and texture of hair.

The fatty acids also help decrease any inflammation in the scalp due to dryness and may reduce hair loss associated with scalp irritation and inflammation, explains Gandhi, which is great news for those who suffer from dandruff or scalp burn. Basically, argan oil is an all-in-one solution to your hair woes—it tames frizz, hydrates skin on the scalp, and repairs damage from everyday styling.

How to use argan oil for hair and scalp health.

1. As a natural heat shield and split end treatment.

Since it's light and rich, argan oil can be used daily. "I use it on the ends of my hair to protect from heat styling damage," explains Gandhi. Instead of spraying a chemically laden product before straightening, blow drying, or curling, try applying a bit of argan oil. The protective oleic and linoleic fatty acids will coat strands, preventing the outer layer, or cuticle, from lifting—all of which lead to split or broken ends. Even if you're not styling, adding a touch of argan oil to wet hair is great for hydration and shine, as the oil has been shown to slow the loss of moisture.

Try it: Pump a dime-size amount of argan oil into your palm, rub your hands together, and pull them through the bottom 2 inches of your hair. Adjust for length and texture.

2. As a soothing hair mask for an itchy, flaky scalp.

For a dry, sunburned, or flaky scalp, try a weekly leave-in argan oil conditioning treatment. "Argan oil is full of antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and E, so it's great topically on skin," says Gandhi. This DIY hair mask kills two birds with one stone—it deeply hydrates your scalp and conditions hair in the process. It will leave your locks feeling silky, smooth, and nourished. And don't worry about it getting on your face or neck, as argan oil has wonderful anti-aging properties and can be safely used to alleviate skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and even acne.

Try it: Split your hair into two parts like you're making pigtails. Pump a quarter-size amount of argan oil into your palm and rub your hands together. On one side, start from the scalp and massage oil down to the tip of your hair. Add more oil if necessary. Repeat on the other side of your head, then massage and work the oil all over your scalp. Wrap your locks in a top bun, pop on a shower cap, and let that argan oil work its magic for 20 to 30 minutes.

3. As a conditioner booster for ultra-dry hair.

If you find your hair particularly dry, brittle, or tangled and need a simple fix, try combining a few drops of argan oil with your existing conditioner on a daily basis (or however frequently you wash). It's high volume of fatty acids works to smooth frayed hair cuticles (the outermost part of the hair shaft). Plus, the boost of vitamins will leave locks shiny and nourished.

Try it: Pump the desired amount of conditioner into your palm, then add 3 to 5 drops of argan oil. Apply to your hair as you normally would and allow it to sit for about 5 minutes before rinsing. 

What to look for when buying argan oil.

When purchasing argan oil, look for 100 percent organic argan oil without any fillers, water, alcohol, preservatives, or additional chemicals. "And make sure it says 'Made in Morocco,' because that's where it naturally originates," explains Gandhi. It should come in a dark glass bottle, like olive oil or wine, and be kept away from the sun. Don't forget that a little bit goes a long way, so even though it may initially seem like a pricey purchase, it's often worth the money. Plus, you can use it all over your face and body, too, making it an incredibly versatile purchase.


This article is from MindBodyGreen

When you hear about businesses with a high environmental impact or activities with a high carbon footprint, you are probably more likely to imagine heavy machinery, engines and oil rather than hairdressing. Yet hairdressing, both as a sector and as an individual activity, can have a massive carbon footprint.

Hairdressing uses high levels of hot water, energy and chemicals. Similarly, in our homes, heating hot water is typically the most energy intensive activity. For the cost of a ten-minute shower that uses an electric immersion heater, you could leave a typical television on for 20 hours.

So while it helps to turn lights and appliances off, the real gains in terms of reducing energy usage are in slashing our use of hot water. A quarter of UK emissions are residential and, of those, the vast majority come from running hot water. The longer it runs and the hotter it is, the more energy intensive (and costly) it is.

Little changes, big results

Most people use too much shampoo and wash their hair too often. A daily routine of shampooing your hair twice followed by a wash out conditioner uses annually about 14,222 litres of water and 1252kWh of energy, costs about £245, and has a carbon footprint of 500kg of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e).

On the other hand, if you shampoo your hair twice a week (supplementing that with a dry shampoo if needed) and use a leave-in conditioner, you will use annually just 613 litres of water and 55 kWh of energy, produce a carbon footprint of 25kg of CO₂e, and cost yourself about £27 a year.

Research has also revealed how shampoo can contribute to pollution. Maybe this in part explains why sales of shampoo have fallen over the past few years in the UK – with many people choosing to wash their hair less often.

Washing your hair less doesn't just save you money, it's also much better for your hair condition. It can also help to limit the ageing effects of over exposure to hot water and chemicals on your skin.

Increased awareness

My latest research project looks at the issue of sustainability across the hairdressing sector. Not only is the hair sector a high user of resources, but hairdressers probably talk to more people than any other occupation – and are in a great position to pass on advice about lower resource hair care.

From speaking with hairdressers, it seems that ever since the episode of Blue Planet II in which David Attenborough explained how a whale mother was still carrying her dead baby which, it was claimed, had been poisoned by plastics (though scientists working on the show have confirmed there was no actual evidence to prove this) salons have been seeing a massive increase in clients wanting to know that their hairdresser is doing their bit.

Our research has found that many hairdressers are keen to make changes that are better for the environment. The opportunity to present their industry as part of the solution rather than part of the problem is very attractive to hairdressers, as it boosts their sense of professional identity and pride in offering a well informed service.

Sustainable stylists

A large focus of the project has been on equipping hairdressers with the skills and knowledge required for them to talk to their clients about sustainable hair care. There are many products out there that are better for the environment, not because they have "organic" or "eco" on the label, but because they reduce the need for hot water.

Dry shampoo is a great example. It is fast, convenient, and great at festivals and on the move. It also makes hair easier to style, is cheap and avoids the need for any hot water. Similarly, leave-in conditioner avoids the need for an extra rinse and again makes hair easier to style. It is also fantastic at giving body to fine hair, and saves water, energy, money and time.

Our ecohair project, run in association with the Vocational Training Charitable Trust and the Hair and Beauty Industry Authority, provides a sustainable stylist certificate at no cost, once hairdressers have completed the training programme. The salon owner can also obtain a sustainable salon certificate to let customers know these things are important to their business.

Getting certified as a sustainable salon has numerous benefits, and not just in terms of reputation. Adopting the changes as part of the scheme saves the typical salon 286,000 litres of water, 24150 kWh of energy and £5,300 a year.

And with new research showing the increased threat of climate change and the need for urgent behavioural change, it is great that simple alterations to our hair care routines – and where we choose to get our hair cut (you can find sustainable salons here) – can make such a difference to the planet we call home.

When you hear about businesses with a high environmental impact or activities with a high carbon footprint, you are probably more likely to imagine heavy machinery, engines and oil rather than hairdressing. Yet hairdressing, both as a sector and as an individual activity, can have a massive carbon footprint.

 Hairdressing uses high levels of hot water, energy and chemicals. Similarly, in our homes, heating hot water is typically the most energy intensive activity. For the cost of a ten-minute shower that uses an electric immersion heater, you could leave a typical television on for 20 hours.

So while it helps to turn lights and appliances off, the real gains in terms of reducing energy usage are in slashing our use of hot water. A quarter of UK emissions are residential and, of those, the vast majority come from running hot water. The longer it runs and the hotter it is, the more energy intensive (and costly) it is.

Little changes, big results

Most people use too much shampoo and wash their hair too often. A daily routine of shampooing your hair twice followed by a wash out conditioner uses annually about 14,222 litres of water and 1252kWh of energy, costs about £245, and has a carbon footprint of 500kg of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e).

On the other hand, if you shampoo your hair twice a week (supplementing that with a dry shampoo if needed) and use a leave-in conditioner, you will use annually just 613 litres of water and 55 kWh of energy, produce a carbon footprint of 25kg of CO₂e, and cost yourself about £27 a year.

Research has also revealed how shampoo can contribute to pollution. Maybe this in part explains why sales of shampoo have fallen over the past few years in the UK – with many people choosing to wash their hair less often.

Washing your hair less doesn't just save you money, it's also much better for your hair condition. It can also help to limit the ageing effects of over exposure to hot water and chemicals on your skin.

 Increased awareness

My latest research project looks at the issue of sustainability across the hairdressing sector. Not only is the hair sector a high user of resources, but hairdressers probably talk to more people than any other occupation – and are in a great position to pass on advice about lower resource hair care.

From speaking with hairdressers, it seems that ever since the episode of Blue Planet II in which David Attenborough explained how a whale mother was still carrying her dead baby which, it was claimed, had been poisoned by plastics (though scientists working on the show have confirmed there was no actual evidence to prove this) salons have been seeing a massive increase in clients wanting to know that their hairdresser is doing their bit.

Our research has found that many hairdressers are keen to make changes that are better for the environment. The opportunity to present their industry as part of the solution rather than part of the problem is very attractive to hairdressers, as it boosts their sense of professional identity and pride in offering a well informed service.

Sustainable stylists

A large focus of the project has been on equipping hairdressers with the skills and knowledge required for them to talk to their clients about sustainable hair care. There are many products out there that are better for the environment, not because they have "organic" or "eco" on the label, but because they reduce the need for hot water.

Dry shampoo is a great example. It is fast, convenient, and great at festivals and on the move. It also makes hair easier to style, is cheap and avoids the need for any hot water. Similarly, leave-in conditioner avoids the need for an extra rinse and again makes hair easier to style. It is also fantastic at giving body to fine hair, and saves water, energy, money and time.

Our ecohair project, run in association with the Vocational Training Charitable Trust and the Hair and Beauty Industry Authority, provides a sustainable stylist certificate at no cost, once hairdressers have completed the training programme. The salon owner can also obtain a sustainable salon certificate to let customers know these things are important to their business.

Getting certified as a sustainable salon has numerous benefits, and not just in terms of reputation. Adopting the changes as part of the scheme saves the typical salon 286,000 litres of water, 24150 kWh of energy and £5,300 a year.

And with new research showing the increased threat of climate change and the need for urgent behavioural change, it is great that simple alterations to our hair care routines – and where we choose to get our hair cut (you can find sustainable salons here) – can make such a difference to the planet we call home.

This is from Phys.org
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