We love a good origin story, and not just when it comes to superheroes. Pomades have undergone several transformations, from ingredients used to the class that uses them. No matter what, we’re happy that these tubs of grease have stood the test of time, making guys look sharp generation after generation.

We’re also thankful that bear fat is no longer a main ingredient.

Read on for a bite-sized history of pomades.

Where does the word “pomade” come from?

“Pomade” is derived from the French word pomade, which means “ointment.” Pomade comes from the Latin pomum (fruit, apple) and Italian pomata (apple). That’s because pomades were originally made with mashed apples (as well as animal fats and herbs).

Pomades were originally used as ointments and only later as hair products.

Historical Timeline:

18th Century

• Pomades are exclusively used by gentry and thus associated with the upper class.

19th Century

• Bear fat becomes the main ingredient in pomade.

Early 20th Century

• Petroleum, lard, and beeswax replace bear fat as the main pomade ingredient.
• 1930s to 1940s – Introduction of Murray’s Superior Pomade, Brylcreem, and Royal Crown Hair Dressing.

Fun Fact: All of these brands are still in existence today.

• Film idols like Cary Grant and Rudolph Valentino popularize the shiny, well-combed look that is easily achieved by the average Joe with inexpensive hair products. Brilliantine and hair oil go into heavy rotation.

Mid 20th Century

• Dixie Peach Hair Pomade is a hit with teenage boys from WWII through the 1960s.
• 1950s – Pomade becomes irrevocably associated with the glitzy rock and roll era (Elvis!).

​Today

• Pomade production and popularity pick up major steam as the slick, groomed look goes into style. Hairstyles like the pomp and quiff require pomade for the best hold and shine.

 
This brief history is brought to you from The Pomades Blog

One of the well known underlying causes of thinning hair, and receding hairlines is having an iron deficiency. One way to measure iron in the human body is to take the ferritin levels, which can correlate to the amount of iron the body stores.

Ensuring your body maintains appropriate ferritin levels will help prevent the onset of further loss of hair in some cases. Low ferritin levels can preclude more serious health conditions, and should be addressed.

What is A Low Ferritin Condition?

According to the Mayo Clinic, having low ferritin levels is essentially having low iron in your blood.

Ferritin is a blood cell protein that contains iron, and a test that shows low ferritin can help medical professionals understand how much iron your body is storing.
Anemia is a serious medical condition, and having low ferritin levels can be a sign of iron deficient anemia which may also be a precursor to hair loss.

Low ferritin can occur for a variety of reasons including; inadequate intake or nutritional deficiency, malabsorption due to disease or the body’s reduced capacity to absorb iron, excessive loss of iron through various issues including menstruation or gastrointestinal losses, and functional iron deficiency in which iron is stored, but not adequately supplied to the bone marrow.

If you believe your hair loss might be associated to issues of low ferritin it will require a blood test to make that determination and then some medical work up to understand what is actually causing the iron deficiency in the body.

How Does Low Ferritin Impact Your Hair?

Having low ferritin levels, or being iron deficient, has been shown to cause thin, lifeless hair. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, which puts the body in a state of survival and causes accessory functions such as maintaining and growing hair to cease.

While losing small amounts of hairs on a daily basis is normal, having low ferritin levels can accelerate symptoms of hair loss and thinning hair.

In fact, low ferritin is one of the more common causes of hair thinning seen in women.

Hair is unable to grow in a healthy manner and is likely to fall out before reaching any significant length, which leads to individuals complaining of ability to only grow short hairs in some areas.

As hair is merely falling out prematurely, this issue is reversible once the levels of ferritin are addressed within the individual.

In the 2013 article, Iron Plays a Certain Role in Patterned Hair Loss, the authors discuss their research on the role of low ferritin in hair growth.

As hair is a consistently proliferating organ, it requires sufficient blood supply to grow full, long, and healthy.

The research found that when matched for age and sex, those individuals with low ferritin were more likely to have symptoms of thinning hair.

Participants who took an iron supplement to address low ferritin levels showed improvement in hair density and hair length when compared to the control group.

Another impact of low ferritin on the hair is related to the body’s reduced ability to produce red blood cells, which will reduce the overall red blood cell count in the body.

According to the University of Rochester, red blood cells require iron to form normally and to carry oxygen throughout the body.

At the base of each hair follicle, there is a network of blood vessels that connect to the root of each strand of hair (See Fig. 1 above).

Red blood cells typically carry oxygen to the hair through these systems of blood vessels, which carry oxygen and supports healthy hair growth. Hair is not typically able to sustain normal or healthy growth without adequate supply of oxygenated blood.

Side Effects of Low Ferritin

Having low ferritin levels, or essentially being anemic and low in iron, can lead to a variety of negative symptoms.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute states that the type and severity of symptoms related to low ferritin will vary depending on the level of iron deficiency.
One of the most common signs of low ferritin is fatigue, or feeling tired.

Other symptoms of low ferritin levels are associated with the poor transfer of oxygen throughout the body including dizziness, headaches, or shortness of breath. Further signs include brittle nails and sore or swelling of the mouth and tongue.

One unusual side effect of low ferritin is that it can cause the unnatural craving of non-food items such as dirt or paint, a symptom referred to as pica.

Symptoms of Low Ferritin

• jaundiced, pale or yellow skin
• extreme tiredness
• dizziness
• heavy menstrual cycles
• digestive tract bleeding
• blood in the stool
• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• brittle nails
• hair loss
• pounding or “whooshing” sound in the ears
• restless leg syndrome
• craving non-food items

Ways to Increase Low Ferritin Intake

The only way to determine whether or not you have low ferritin levels is to consult a physician, who will have to perform a blood test in order to ascertain ferritin levels.

If it is determined that you do have low ferritin, this issue can be relatively easy to address.

While low ferritin levels can be addressed through diet, individuals who are known to have deficiencies would likely benefit from some measure of supplementation.

There are many ways to increase the ferritin levels in your body, including eating foods with high levels of iron and taking prepared supplements that are available on the market or in the form of a prescribed medication.

Numerous common food items have varying levels of iron, many of which can be incorporated into a healthy diet.

While there are supplements and medications to help increase ferritin levels in the body, this should be done so in consultation with a medical professional.

Eating a healthy diet, high in iron and other essential nutrients, will help support positive overall wellbeing which reduces the symptoms of hair loss and hair thinning associated with anemia, and a poor diet.

What Are Some Ferritin Rich Foods?

• Red Meat: the largest food groups that contain high amounts of iron to help raise ferritin levels in the body is red meat. While most meat contains some iron, the highest concentration of iron levels will be in the organs such as the liver, heart, and kidney. I wouldn’t recommend too much red meat as it is hard for the body to digest. Some people can thrive on red meat and for others it doesn’t suit their body type at all.
• Nuts: most nuts contain iron levels, and are generally a healthy snacking option that can be eaten on the go
• Dried Fruit: containing high quantities of iron, commercially available dried fruits are a healthy snack to address low ferritin
• Iron Fortified Foods: many foods have had iron added during the production, a simple means to address low levels of ferritin in many people. Many breakfast cereals, and enriched flour, have been fortified with iron

Conclusion

Having low ferritin levels can be a sign of more significant health issues, but may also lead to hair loss or hair thinning without progressing to more serious cases of iron deficient anemia.

There is significant evidence to suggest that low ferritin levels may be associated with hair loss, as it can affect blood flow and oxygenation of the hair follicle.

There are numerous ways to ensure your body has enough iron to maintain high levels of ferritin, including making some healthy adjustments to your diet or using a daily supplement.
​
Ensuring your body does not have low ferritin levels is important for your overall health and having strong, resilient hair.
 
This information was found at Hairguard
​

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
and
Channel NewsAsia

That’s the conclusion of three experts with diverse experiences in the CBD space participating in last week’s Well + Good Talks panel discussion at Made by We in New York City. They emphasized that the challenge for brands in the skyrocketing CBD trade is demystifying exactly what they’re selling amid a flood of hemp-related products.

The global legal cannabis industry is expected to triple by 2022 to $32 billion, according to research from Arcview and BDS Analytics, with beauty and personal care expected to nab a fair share of sales. The Brightfield Group projects revenue in the CBD sector will hit $22 billion by 2022. Despite the large figures, CBD beauty remains a nascent segment subject to misunderstanding, fear and hype.

A Well + Good study of 1,000 readers, who are leaders in embracing wellness trends, revealed one in four have tried CBD, suggesting the ingredient isn’t quite as ubiquitous as the buzz around it implies. Senior editor Jessie Van Amburg said they want to grasp the science behind CBD-based products. That’s been a tall order, especially because there are a myriad of products on the market with questionable claims.

A lack of federal regulation has made CBD marketing a free for all. When Anthony Saniger, founder and CEO of Standard Dose, was prepping the launch of his online resource—and soon to be physical store—centered on CBD products, he discovered brands with misleading packaging. “They didn’t say truthful things,” he said. “They listed a certain milligram of CBD, but they didn’t have anything [in the product]. They were saying, ‘We cure everything,’ which is kind of snake oil.”

To cut through the clutter, Saniger said Standard Dose features a glossary of terms on its website. Brands available on the site not only provide their lab testing, but Standard Dose conducts its own to verify the testing results supplied by brands. Saniger asserted, “I tell people to double check that the product is a really good product and does not have THC because, if it does, you may get high.”

There’s a need for more transparency and greater testing in the industry, stressed Chelsea Leyland, a medical cannabis and epilepsy activist. “In terms of purchasing, you have to see first if there are even cannabinoids in the product,” she said. “I feel fed up and disappointed when I see companies calling themselves a CBD product when, in fact, it is mascara with a hemp oil in it. You are essentially lying to the consumer.”

Leyland pointed out hemp was legalized in the U.S. last year upon the passage of the Farm Bill, which played an enormous role in setting off the current CBD rush. “So, when you see products in a gas station or Whole Foods, they are derived from hemp,” she explained. Although CBD is derived from hemp, hemp oil without it has infiltrated the consumer goods universe.

Beyond not getting what consumers pay for, Leyland underscores the dearth of regulation and testing can be dangerous. She said, “You need testing to ensure quality and testing for metal since cannabis sucks up toxins from the ground.”

Compounding the problem, the experts agreed that, without the proper product vetting, users could potentially apply or ingest THC and, as a result, have an undesired high. Van Amburg said, “CBD is not supposed to get you high, but there is a study talking about how, when some CBD products were sampled, some of them had 53% THC.”

As CBD products spread, Mary Pryor, co-founder and CEO of Cannaclusive, recommended caution in selecting an outlet for purchasing them. “Here are some red flags…bodega CBD, normally not the way to go,” she said. “The reason is because that CBD is being sourced from places where there is not a regulated market, and there are a lot of additives or concerning growing procedures.”

As the industry gets sorted out, one myth being debunked is that sales will be driven only by millennials and gen Z. Saniger admitted his initial playbook was hyper-focused on young consumers. But after an 80-year old woman asked him about CBD for arthritis, he shifted gears to be age inclusive. “It is not the trendy thing to just add to your coffee to have fun,” he said. “It can help with serious issues people are dealing with and, hopefully, [there will be] trials to help figure out how to cure these things.”

Peering ahead, Pryor said the industry will be delving into the wide array of cannabis components such as THCA, THCB, CBC and CBG in addition to CBD. She said, “This is what everyone is working on now. Most pharma companies are paying to get greater extractions to get hybrid versions. That’s the next wave. People are looking outside just the CBD category.”

Saniger is dialed into finding out how terpenes, which give cannabis its odor, can be mixed with cannabinoids for custom blends. “Everybody’s combination is very different, and I am excited to see what those differences are and how we incorporate them into products,” he said. “I’m looking for how we can have better absorption rates, especially in beauty products. Also, how we can get smarter using technology that will help develop those things, especially in the beauty space.”
​
This is from Beauty Independent