​Forget retinol or hyaluronic acid for a second, because this year, one ingredient has outshone them all: CBD. Otherwise known as cannabidiol, the component, which is derived from the cannabis plant, has been spotted in facial oils, moisturisers and masks from big name brands like Herbivore, mgc derma and The INKEY List to name a few.
 
Said to be rich in omega fatty acids, which are essential for skin hydration (something we're all in need of right now, thanks to winter temperatures and central heating zapping water from our skin), CBD is now making its way into haircare, and one London salon in particular is pioneering the use of the ingredient in an exclusive scalp and hair treatment.

Hari's hairdressers in Fulham is famous for its lush botanical decor, so the treatment seems apt, but with a high-profile celebrity clientele that includes Princess Eugenie, it's also somewhat unexpected. So what does it entail? Salon founder Hari worked closely with the experts at CBD oil brand Spirit of Hemp to create a four-part experience which is entirely unique. The Life Force oil, used throughout the treatment, is made up of hemp flower extract and blended with hemp blossom terpenes. It combines raw CBD oil with CBDA oil – the latter is the plant-derived compound before it goes through decarboxylation, a chemical reaction that removes the acid (A). Essentially, before it is 'treated'.

What I thought would be a simple scalp massage and a speedy blow-dry turned out to be one of the most relaxing and beneficial salon treatments I've tried – and as a beauty editor, I've experienced my fair share. According to the salon, the all-natural, non-toxic, 100% organic remedy is meant to "breathe life into lacklustre hair", leaving lengths revived and the scalp balanced, which is exactly what I needed having upset my hair and scalp after experimenting with too many different products.

The treatment began with a few drops (optional) of CBD/CBDA oil under the tongue for 6o seconds. I often take my vitamin B12 supplement this way, as it's said to find its way into the bloodstream quicker – but apparently, there's a knack to it, and micro-doses are most beneficial. In fact, both Spirit of Hemp and my therapist (who revealed she starts her day with a swig) mentioned that larger doses can sometimes have an opposite effect or do nothing at all. It tasted like a very strong, bitter olive oil with an extra green kick – not bad, but not great. It only took 15 minutes for my legs to feel lighter. At first, I wasn't sure if it was all in my head, but paired with a cup of hemp flower tea (much more palatable and packed with flavonoids, proven to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties), I was entirely zen.
 
While the same oil, combined with coconut oil, was slathered onto my roots, brushed through my lengths and massaged firmly into my scalp, neck and temples, I was given a CBD oil hand massage and left to relax under heat for around 30 minutes so that the treatment could work its magic by penetrating my strands and scalp. A hair wash, condition and blow-dry completed the treatment, and it's safe to say my hair has never looked or felt better. Softer, shinier, no frizz or flyaways and a hell of a lot stronger, too. And no, my hair didn't reek of weed.
 
At £125, you'd expect more from the treatment than simply instant results, and it does deliver. I noticed fewer flakes, my scalp didn't feel as itchy and my ends weren't as parched despite the straightener abuse. I also found that I could skip a hair wash, and as Hari himself explained while I was sitting in the chair, CBD oil has the ability to stabilise sebum production. Just like most salon treatments, this is a pretty great way to practise self-care, but all the little elements, like the massage, supplement and the tea, combined with the salon's hospitality, gives it an edge over others. I'm a CBD convert.
 
This article is from Refinery29

If you shower before bed, you’ve probably wondered whether sleeping with damp hair is a problem. Maybe you’ve heard it could make you sick, or that it can damage your hair or skin. What’s the truth?

Let’s address the “it can make you sick” myth first.

“This idea seems to fit into the old bit of folklore that getting yourself chilled and wet will cause you to come down with a cold,” says Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

While this idea persists, Schaffner says it was long ago disproved. It’s true that you’re much more likely to catch a common cold during the winter months. But this has to do with the ways respiratory viruses proliferate and spread, he says. “You cannot catch a cold from being cold,” he adds.

Another wet-hair rumor is the idea that harmful bacteria will colonize your pillow. Illness-causing bacteria and viruses don’t appear spontaneously, and so you’re not going to make yourself ill by getting your pillow a little damp at night, Schaffner says.

But there is a possible exception. Some research has shown that pillows—especially those made with synthetic materials—can harbor asthma- or allergy-triggering molds and fungus. These microorganisms tend to do well in damp environments, and so do dust mites, says Dr. Payel Gupta, a board-certified allergist and spokesperson for the American Lung Association.

Gupta says there’s no evidence that people who sleep with wet hair experience more allergy or asthma symptoms, so any concerns about wet hair are theoretical. But if you wake up with a stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, breathing problems or other allergy or asthma symptoms—or even if you don’t—you should wash your pillow cases and sheets in hot water at least once a week to reduce your exposure to any potential irritants.

When it comes to the health of your hair and skin, there may be a few other legitimate reasons to worry about water-logged locks.

“Generally, it’s thought not to be good for hair to sleep with it wet,” says Dr. George Cotsarelis, a professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. Over time—anywhere from a few days to weeks or months—water can degrade a hair follicle’s protective outer layer, which is called the cuticle, he explains. Once that cuticle breaks down, water can penetrate it and rupture the follicle’s inner cortex. The resulting damage can lead to breakages, he says, as well as a loss of shine and elasticity.

But it’s worth noting that almost anything you do to your hair—from brushing and blow-drying it to coloring it or exposing it to the sun--can damage it. While sleeping with wet hair may not be optimal, using conditioner can help restore and repair it, says Dr. Adam Friedman, professor and interim chair of dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Friedman says the same is true of any potential skin issues that could arise from sleeping with wet hair. If you’re a side or stomach sleeper, pinning wet hair between your pillow and the skin of your face could cause some irritation, he says. Also, as the water in your hair evaporates, this could promote dryness on your face or scalp, he adds.

But a lot of people sleep with wet hair and don’t seem to have any problems, he says. And in some cases, wet hair may actually be a helpful sleep aid. Research has shown that cooling your head at night helps calm the brain’s metabolic activity in ways that promote sleep onset and restorative ZZZs.
​
There may be some mild risks associated with going to bed with wet hair. But of all the health concerns you could worry about, this one shouldn’t keep you up at night.


This was found at TIME.com

​Hitting the chlorinated water nearly every day is not always the healthiest for an aquatic athlete’s hair; however, with a focused hair care routine, you can aim for easier styling. Everyone has their own routine, but here are a couple of tips swimmers, divers, and all others – whether involved in aquatic sports or not – can rock a great hair day after intense time in the water. Grinnell College diver Jonathan Rebelsky and swimmer Gretchen Schreiner offer some tips to make sure their hair stays tame during the season.

1. Pre-Practice Hair Care Routine

First of all, know your hair type and how long you will be involved. Sometimes, swimmers have some product left over in their hair, causing their caps to slip off mid-practice and sometimes creating a slimy feeling in the water. Schreiner, who claims to have thin, straight hair, tends not to wash her hair before practice because of how easy it is for the cap to slip off. Rebelsky says that since he just dives, he only worries about rinsing his hair after practice.

As an extra precaution, Schreiner also has a certain way of making sure her cap stays secure. “I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I also do not wear my hair tied back under my cap, since I find the combination of the cap and hair tie pulls a lot more of my hair out during practice,” Schreiner says. Eventually, she just leaves her hair down, puts on her cap, tucks in her hair, and swims a full practice with her cap slip-free.

2. After-Practice Hair Care Routine

After jumping out of the pool, you will have that picture-perfect effect on your hair for a quick minute. However, once you hit the locker room, the tangles are pulling at your scalp. To keep them from getting any worse, Rebelsky uses an anti-chlorine shampoo – a popular product in the locker room – does a quick rinse and condition and finishes it off with a leave-in conditioner.

Schreiner sticks to her usual hair care routine of a regular shampoo, then conditions for about five minutes, which soaks up all the “chlorine grossness.” To follow, she rings her hair out and dries it with a towel, avoiding brushing to prevent breakage – but once in a while, the tangles need taming.

Both the swimmer and diver also recommend treating your hair to a deeper treatment once in a while. Rebelsky claims that a once-a-week almond oil treatment will leave his hair feeling healthier than ever. Schreiner treats herself to a clarifying treatment at a salon once or twice a year to hydrate her hair and remove pool contaminants: “It makes my hair feel like new!”

3. Handling Bad Hair Days

Once in a while, aquatic athletes may run into a time where they are rushing after practice and have little time to focus on their hair. Schreiner’s remedy for this is simply leaving conditioner in for a little longer. This quick step allows for the hair to detangle a bit more and remain silky before putting a comb to it.

Rebelsky is one of the lucky ones who claims to have no bad hair days. This is due to his consistent routine of keeping his hair healthy. Following the same hair care routine each day can lead to improved growth and shine, leaving little room for breakage and hair color changes to occur.

4. The Don’ts of Haircare

There are certain actions that can make it harder for aquatic athletes to keep their hair healthy, leading to hair drought, breakage, and oiliness. Schreiner says that a shampoo more than once a day can lead to hair drought: “If I have a full day of swimming, lifting, and running, I rinse my hair off to remove sweat after each practice, but I don’t wash my hair until the end of the day.” She highly agrees that a hardworking day calls for full treatment at the finish! On the other hand, Rebelsky feels that no “don’ts” exist in the world of hair care.

At times, being greatly involved in aquatic sports can make it difficult to take care of your scalp. It may take some time to find what works best for your hair. Try some of these suggestions and others as many times as needed, because what work for others may not work for you. A little experimenting can’t hurt, but don’t go overboard. Cheers to many happy and good hair days ahead!

All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.


This article is from Swimming World

By now, you’re probably at least a little familiar with CBD — you know, the otherthree-letter compound derived from the cannabis plant. Whereas the most ubiquitous cannabinoid, THC, is responsible for cannabis’ well-known psychoactive effects, CBD (aka, cannabidiol) delivers all of the health benefits — like decreasing pain, inflammation, and anxiety — with none of the high. Unless, of course, you get high on good hair days. Hair products made with CBD oil are on the rise, and they’re about to take your hair care game to a whole new level.

There’s a lot of confusion out there about what CBD oil actually is, though. CBD oil is oil that contains a concentration of CBD, which is derived from seeds of plants in the Cannabaceae family — including hemp and marijuana. Many CBD oils on the market are derived from hemp, since this plant has lower levels of THC (the “high”-inducing substance).

Researchers have discovered a wealth of benefits associated with CBD, including better sleep, mood regulation, and a boosted immune system… not to mention every millennial’s favorite: reduced anxiety. But as it turns out, the ingredient can also help stressed-out strands in the form of CBD-spiked shampoos, conditioners, and stylers.

“CBD oil contains all 21 known amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein,” Kevin Wachs, founder and CEO of Earthly Body (whose child company EMERA recently launched a line of CBD hair products), tells The Zoe Report. “Because of that, it helps to build up collagen and elastin, which are essential to hair strength.” He notes that by helping hair to build protein, CBD oil prevents breakage and even makes locks look thicker and fuller.

On top of that, CBD oil is high in antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E. “These three are the best studied of all the antioxidants — they protect us from pollution-induced free radicals,” Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, a Miami-based dermatologist with over 40 years of experience, tells The Zoe Report. In other words, the vitamin content of CBD shields hair from environmental damage like dryness and frizz.

“It’s also high in essential fatty acids such as Omegas 3, 6 and 9, so it helps to prevent moisture loss and keep hair well hydrated,” Wachs adds. “Additionally, one of the amino acids in CBD Oil, tyrosine, helps to maintain hair color.”

But where CBD oil really shines is scalp health. “CBD made waves in the beauty industry for its amazing benefits to the skin, and your scalp is no different,” Alli George, the marketing manager at Daintri, an online mecca for all things CBD, adds. “It’s regenerative for the skin, so it helps the scalp maintain necessary things to keep it healthy, like good blood circulation and quelling dandruff and sore or irritated hair follicles.”

It’s even been shown to stimulate hair growth, according to doctors. “People with receding or thinning hair may benefit from CBD use," Dr. Eshan Ali, the Beverly Hills Concierge Doctor, tells TZR. “Also, people with dry scalps show improvement from CBD oil.”

There is a bit of a gray area when it comes to selling CBD products, though. The initials are still controversial in some places due to their proximity to marijuana, and marijuana-derived CBD — even though it’s completely non-psychoactive — is still illegal in a handful of U.S. states (Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota) and in Canada, as well. But hemp-derived CBD is totally cleared for sale, which is why many CBD oil-boasting brands use the word “hemp” in their marketing. “A new trend that is emerging is that CBD companies are relabeling their products as ‘hemp’ only so that they don’t run into any issues selling them on the mass market via places like Amazon and Walmart,” George tells us. “In these cases, the products are the same.”

The key is to look for the words “hemp seed oil” on the ingredients list, which connotes CBD oil. If the product says “hemp extract” or just plain “hemp,” then it’s likely using ingredients from , which will dilute the concentration of CBD. “Regarding how they would affect hair, both will be beneficial in many ways,” George tells us, but notes that if you’re on the hunt for the full effects of CBD, you should “get the real deal.”

The good news is that both CBD oil and hemp are safe for anyone to use. “There is very minimal risk,” Dr. Ali says. “If anyone has an allergy to CBD, they may have a reaction, otherwise it is considered safe.”

This is from The Zoe Report

What You Need to Know about CBD Oils

CBD (cannabidiol) stories have been hitting the newswires like wildfire since the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill passed in December 2018.

Verbiage contained in the new Farm Bill removed hemp’s classification as a schedule one drug to that of an agricultural commodity, opening the floodgates for products containing CBD oil which offers health and wellness opportunities for salons and day spas.  

To understand the magnitude of this change in classification, let’s start with the history of hemp.

• Cannabis is one of the oldest plants in history, one of the first plants grown on purpose because of its versatility. It was used for food, clothing and shelter, and the oils derived from the plant's seeds were used to light lamps.
• For 60 years, prior to its prohibition, Cannabis was the 3rd largest pharmaceutical medication prescribed by physicians. Companies like Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and Parke Davis all had developed medicines containing Cannabis.
• In 1937, Congress used an obscure name “marijuana” to ban cannabis because it didn’t want push back from the pharmaceutical industry. The paper industry and DuPont Chemical didn’t like competing with cannabis because of its superior properties. Once the pharmaceutical industry found out cannabis was grouped with marijuana and banned from use, it was too late.
• Hemp and Marijuana are not the same but they are both part of the cannabis family. While Marijuana was mainly known for recreational purposes, Hemp has huge medicinal benefits when used in part as a healthy dietary supplement.

Health Benefits

The medical discovery of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) was made in the early 1990s. Fewer than 10% of medical schools actually study literature on ECS in their classes, because it’s that new. That’s why many physicians are hesitant to allow or recommend CBD products. They don’t have the time to research it and pharmaceutical companies are not eager to educate them on products they don’t have to market yet. With increased public demand, the physician’s learning curve will get faster.

• The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is the greatest neurotransmitter system in the body. Its primary function is to promote Homeostasis (balance in our bodies). It affects mood, memory, motor control, pain perception, appetite, sleep and so much more.
• Literally considered the engine for balance in our bodies, ECS is connected to all other systems. Endocannabinoid hormones are present in every tissue in our bodies as well.
• In conditions where your nerves are not functioning well and you’re are experiencing difficulties with pain, anxiety, insomnia, all these things are related to a dysfunction in the endocannabinoid system. ECS affects your immune system which in turn affects your level of inflammation and how your body responds to injury and infection.
• The composition of the endocannabinoid system consists of two receptors, two hormones and enzymes. CB1 receptors live primarily in the brain and spinal cord; they help control your nervous system function. CB2 receptors are located all over the body concentrated in your immune system.
• The release of the hormone Anandamide (meaning bliss) causes you to feel blissful. Its function affects pleasure, food intake, sleep, pain relief, anxiety and stress--it acts as a bridge between mind and body. Migraines, Fibromyalgia, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome all caused by a deficiency of Anandamide. When Anandamides are low, pain is high.
• The 2AG hormone regulates the immune system. It protects your neurons and has an anti-inflammatory function.
• Enzymes produce and breakdown these hormones.

If Cannabis is so great, why hasn’t Big Pharma taken steps to own it already?

It’s because they were restricted. Due to the prior illegal nature of Hemp, pharmaceutical companies couldn’t conduct studies on the benefits of CBD Oil without damaging relationships with the Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Pharmaceutical companies are way behind the supplement industry because they have to go through decades of research before coming out with a product. Their hands have been tied by bureaucracy.  This is why supplemental products containing CBD can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of pharmaceutical drugs. However, this is also why it’s so important to know the facts about CBD products and what to look for before you make a purchase.

CBD Oil and ECS

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is an informational paper. It does not promote CBD products as medical cures nor does it take the place of your physician’s advice and or prescribed treatments.

The Endocannabinoid System is fueled by our food supply. Our food supply is not as rich in nutrients as it used to be. CBD supports and mimics the ECS function with phytocannabinoids. CBD Oil is super fuel for ECS, full of linoleic acid and other key omega fatty acids to help rejuvenate the body.

• CBD can be made from full-spectrum oil or the CBD isolate and any variation in-between. In order to get full health benefits from using CBD products, it is important to use full-spectrum oil.
• Health Studies surrounding CBD proclaim it to be anti-bacterial which protects neurons, promotes bone growth, and reduces seizures and convulsions. More studies declare CBD can reduce blood sugar levels, suppress muscle spasms, and reduce inflammation.

Receptors impacted by CBD include Opioid receptors which affect pain : Dopamine receptors which affect memory and mood; and Serotonin receptors which affect anxiety and depression.

Full-Spectrum oil contains Cannabinoids, Terpenes, Flavonoids, Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Fatty Acids. Using full-spectrum oils are the key to getting the most benefit from your dietary supplement.

CBD is Safe.

CBD is safe when purchased from a reputable company. There has never been one instance of overdose with CBD. As CBD supports the Endocannabinoid System, it normalizes, putting a flat cap on overactive systems. Using too much is just wasting product.

What to look for when looking for the best in Hemp CBD Oil.

• Hemp must be from a Certified Organic Source – The Hemp plant acts as a sponge. If soils contain metals, pesticides, or other toxins they will end up in the extracted oils.
• Must be water soluble and fast acting – Most oils will only provide 6% absorption level. An 80-90 absorption rate along with a fast onset of action (5-15 minutes) is an important factor especially if someone is taking it for pain.
• Must be Third-Party tested – Ask to see third-party documentation from a known source on the specific branded product, not just CBD products in general.
• Must be Full-Spectrum Oil – Full-Spectrum CBD Oil provides a full entourage effect with side benefits as opposed to side effects.

This is from Salon Today