The weather is warm. You go for a swim in the pool. Even after taking all the measures necessary to prevent the pool water from reaching your hair, perhaps your tresses still get drenched ... and encounter chlorine. Fortunately, there are shampoos on the market that are specifically made to remove chlorine from your hair, but what if you want a cheaper or natural alternative?
Ascorbic acid is one option. There are quite a few experiments (and studies) out there involving the use of this form of vitamin C to neutralize chlorine in the realm of water treatment. Additionally, ascorbic acid can be purchased online or in certain health stores in capsule, crystalline, or other forms.
If you are interested in making your own mixture to remove chlorine from your hair, do read more about ascorbic acid as an option.
SOURCES:
VITAMIN C DECHLORINATION IN WATER SYSTEMS
VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)
ASCORBIC ACID REDUCTION OF RESIDUAL ACTIVE CHLORINE IN WATER (2000)
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Protective Style Lookbook || Elegant Cinnabun on Stretched Hair
By popular demand, this is a series showcasing various protective hair styles. Protective styling does not have to be boring. :o)
Model: Onyxbeauty1988
Difficulty level: 2/5
Description: Cinnabun on blown out or stretched natural hair.
My Switch from Table Salt to Less Sea Salt
Sea salt on the left. Table salt on the right. (In taking these photos, I realized that this table salt is not iodized. I usually go for the iodized version.) |
An international friend was using my seasonings to cook when he asked, "Why does it take so much of this salt to season this dish?". I jokingly replied, "Because it is fake salt". You see, all week he had been describing American food as tasting "different", from the rice to the fruits to the chicken to almost everything. And my reply would always be, "Because the food is fake. That is why I buy mostly organic or 'pure'." Fake was my short way of saying processed, genetically modified, pumped with hormones, etc.
So, I decided to do a demonstration by purchasing pure sea salt. I told him to try it and he said, "Yes! This is real salt." Then I began to question my basis for not using pure sea salt to cook. I have tasted sea salt before and have always had the reaction of, "Man, this is salty!" I just assumed that sea salt had way more sodium than table salt. Additionally, my table salt usually comes iodized. (Iodine is a necessary nutrient.)
So here I was, for the first time, comparing the ingredients lists on the back of Morton table salt and this new sea salt, and what do you know? They have the same percent daily value (25%) of sodium per serving! What does this mean? I can use less sea salt (and thus, less sodium) to season my dishes than I can table salt and still achieve the same flavorful result. (Plus, I was able to purchase iodized sea salt.) Me being the health conscious person that I am instantly felt dumb for having made this discovery so late. Lol.
Sea salt nutrition facts (LEFT). Table salt nutrition facts (RIGHT). (In taking these photos, I realized that this table salt is not iodized. I usually go for the iodized version.) |
MORE READS
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION - SEA SALT VS. TABLE SALT
Labels:
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Loo's Hair and Body
Friday, May 31, 2013
Protective Style Lookbook || Faux Twisted Bun (for Short Hair)
By popular demand, this is a series showcasing various protective hair styles. Protective styling does not have to be boring. :o)
Model: Kim
Difficulty level: 3/5
Description: Transform short chunky twists into a fake twisted bun in little time.
Skin Care || Black Women, The Sun, and Our Skin
Can we get sunburn?
Yes. Whether you are fair or dark, you can get sunburned though the lighter you are the more susceptible you are. (I'm medium-dark and have been sunburned a couple of times.)
Can we develop melanoma (a rare but dangerous skin cancer)?
Yes. Though rare, black people can develop melanoma. The root of Bob Marley's death was acral lentiginous melanoma (that originated under his toenail) and ultimately spread to other parts of his body. As a matter of fact, "acral lentiginous melanoma makes up approximately 50% of diagnosed melanomas in Asians and individuals with dark skin."[1]
Should we take protective measures against sun exposure?
Yes. Exposure to the sun can increase any risk of developing sunburn or melanoma. Additionally, it can hasten the signs of aging in our skin.
REFERENCE
[1] MELONOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Yes. Whether you are fair or dark, you can get sunburned though the lighter you are the more susceptible you are. (I'm medium-dark and have been sunburned a couple of times.)
Can we develop melanoma (a rare but dangerous skin cancer)?
Yes. Though rare, black people can develop melanoma. The root of Bob Marley's death was acral lentiginous melanoma (that originated under his toenail) and ultimately spread to other parts of his body. As a matter of fact, "acral lentiginous melanoma makes up approximately 50% of diagnosed melanomas in Asians and individuals with dark skin."[1]
Should we take protective measures against sun exposure?
Yes. Exposure to the sun can increase any risk of developing sunburn or melanoma. Additionally, it can hasten the signs of aging in our skin.
REFERENCE
[1] MELONOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Hair Diary || Braid-Out to Stretched Bun
Chunky braid-out using eight braids on wet hair. |
And now for more hair photos:
Bun on hair stretched from the braid-out. No combs. No brush. |
Bun on hair stretched from the braid-out. No combs. No brush. |
Bun on hair stretched from the braid-out. No combs. No brush. |
Mixology || A More Natural Bug Spray Recipe
Do you want an alternative to the chemical-based bug sprays out there? Are you interested in making a more natural bug spray?
Ingredients:
- ½ cup distilled water
- 1 tbsp alcohol
- 6-10 drops essential oil: use any of these alone or any combination – lemongrass, any mint, lavender, citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree, neem, geranium, and litsea cubeba.
Instructions:
Pour the alcohol into the spray bottle. Add the essential oils and shake well. Add water, leaving enough room at the top so it will mix when you shake it. If you use a large spray bottle, ingredients can be doubled or tripled.
For more DIY Natural Recipes, check out: DIYNatural Blog
- 1 tbsp alcohol
- 6-10 drops essential oil: use any of these alone or any combination – lemongrass, any mint, lavender, citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree, neem, geranium, and litsea cubeba.
Instructions:
Pour the alcohol into the spray bottle. Add the essential oils and shake well. Add water, leaving enough room at the top so it will mix when you shake it. If you use a large spray bottle, ingredients can be doubled or tripled.
For more DIY Natural Recipes, check out: DIYNatural Blog
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