Posts Tagged ‘chemicals’

Nails represent an important part in the appearance of a person and lot of attention has been put on making it more attractive as much as possible. Many cosmetic products are available in the market which is designed to make the nails appear better but probably not to make them healthier. Thus, knowing what’s best for the nails health and using cosmetics appropriately, would give the best results in having a good looking nails.

There are several factors which can damage or hinder the proper growth of a nail and that would make the nails unhealthy. These can be,

* Poor nutrition

* Infections

* Damage or injury to the nails

* Un-conducive environments such as wet and humid conditions

* Harmful practices such as nail biting and smoking…etc.

If these factors can be avoided, many of the problems associated with nails will be relieved and following measures will give a better idea in what exactly to be done to relieve these factors from taking effect.

* Keep the nails cut short and straight

By keeping the nails short, there would be less possibility of injuries and when it’s cut across and straight, the possibility of ingrown nails would be lesser. Thus, the measure will help to allow growing of the nail in a uniformed direction and to avoid infections following injury.

* Avoid the nails from getting wet all the time

In certain instances, a person might be involved in industries needing constant contact with water and thus making the nails socked and wet all the time. This could even happen at home as well. When someone wears shoes and socks for a long time, especially in warm and humid conditions, the same thing could happen. Therefore, preventing such long term exposure to wet and humid conditions are vital to keep your nails healthy and frequent drying would be beneficial to avoid fungal infections from settling on the nails.

* Prevent exposure to chemicals and detergents

At times of household cleaning and work related to handling chemicals, make use of a pair of gloves in order to prevent direct contact and thus the damage to nail and the nail bed.

* Take a nutritional diet

Diets rich in vitamins and other nutrients, including proteins, would have to be taken in balanced way to maintain healthy nails. At times, certain deficiencies can give rise to nail changes which can discolor or even damage the nails in the long run.

It is been accepted that consuming less sugar, fats and alcohol will promote better nutrition for the nails.

* Keep the nails moisturized

A person should practice applying moisturizer to both finger nails and the toe nails in order to prevent excessive drying of these structures.

* Do not bite your nails

Frequent biting will damage the nails as well as make them grow abnormally. Therefore, avoiding such practice is empirical for healthy nails and applying bitter tasting nail polish would tackle the problem to a certain extent.

* Don’t pick on the cuticles

Trying to remove or picking on the cuticles can damage the nail bed and thus gives rise to abnormal growths, infection and other complications. Therefore, such practice should be avoided.

* Lookout for problems

Always check your nails consciously to identify any changes and initiate treatment early.

* Avoid smoking

Due to its effect by making the nails stain, avoidance of such practice would help in maintaining the nails healthy.

Babies have very sensitive skin.  When you are holding your newborn in your arms, you may notice how fragile and easily irritated their skin seems.  Many newborn babies either have dry skin almost immediately, or suffer from dry skin by the time they’re six months old.  As a parent, here are tips that I’ve learned to help to care for your baby’s dry skin.

Dress for Success

Babies have sensitive skin that is easily irritated by fabrics.  When picking baby clothes, pick out clothes that feel good as well as look good.  Natural fabrics are best.  My babies were always happiest in cotton (organic when possible).  Natural fabrics “breathe” better than synthetic fabrics, and so allow better circulation on your baby’s delicate skin.  Cotton helps your baby to stay at the right temperature rather than getting cold or over-heated. 

Moisturize

Moisturizing your baby’s skin can both help their dry skin and be a great bonding experience for the two of you.  Babies benefit from skin to skin contact, and rubbing lotion or oil into their skin helps to make sure that they get this comforting touch.  When choosing a moisturizer for your baby’s skin, I recommend buying not just a natural product, but one that is certified organic.  Chemicals can easily irritate or be absorbed by your baby’s skin, so it really is worth buying a good organic product.  You can use either an organic oil (Green People or Burt’s Bees).  Make sure to spread it gently.

Don’t Over Circulate

My skin is easily dried out by central heating, standing in front of a fan, or spending time out in the wind.  If I can feel it affecting my skin, then think how it feels to a newborn.  Make sure than your baby’s bed is not directly next to any heating vents, heaters, or fans.  Angle car vents off of them so that the air isn’t blowing directly in their faces, and consider putting up a shade on strollers on very windy days.

Seek Help if Needed

If your baby’s dry skin seems painful, inflamed, or otherwise worrying, don’t hesitate to consult your pediatrician or other healthcare provider.  My daughter developed eczema when she was still only a small baby, and it was very helpful to talk to our doctor, get it properly diagnosed, and get advice.  If you’re worried about your baby’s skin, talk to someone about it.

You cannot remove a tint with a tint.  The only way to remove color from hair is with commercial products used to remove penetrating tints.  Always follow the directions precisely when using these products.  These products are tint or color removers that have been formulated to diffuse the pigment and may be mixed with hydrogen peroxide.  Before using the products, your hair needs to be checked for damage or dryness and a conditioning program should be performed before using the color remover to prevent further damage.

Damaged hair can be caused by blow drying, wind, harsh shampoos, or hair that has been over processed by the use hair chemicals. Build up of hair spray and styling agents can cause problems.  Hair should be clean properly and prepared prior to color removal.  After the color removal, process the hair should again be conditioned so the porosity of the hair can be evened before applying more color.  A waiting period is recommended before applying any chemicals to the hair.

It is not recommended to perform this procedure yourself.  You need a professional hair colorist who can accurately assess hair damage and recommend a proper color remover.  If the hair color is extremely dark, hair damage can occur when using the color removal chemicals.  Always let your colorist know what you have done or put on your hair.  If you are planning to do it yourself you need to educate yourself regarding the chemicals you will be using and have someone help you.

After you have pre-conditioned your hair prior to using the color remover; then after you have removed the color you need to normalize the hair PH with a finishing rinse.  Wait until you have reconditioned the hair before any more chemicals are put on the hair.

How do you determine if hair is damaged?  Hair is damaged if it is over-porous, brittle and dry, has breakage caused by no elasticity or give, color absorbs or fades very rapidly, when wet it has a spongy feeling, or if the hair shaft feels rough and you can see split ends.  Any of these conditions present can cause problems unless you pre-condition your hair before a treatment and after.

Always use quality hair products that have been formulated to use with various chemical treatments.  Your hair colorist can recommend such products.   It is a good practice to either condition your hair at home with a leave in treatment or make an appointment at your salon for a conditioning treatment between chemical appointments.

You cannot remove a tint with a tint.  The only way to remove color from hair is with commercial products used to remove penetrating tints.  Always follow the directions precisely when using these products.  These products are tint or color removers that have been formulated to diffuse the pigment and may be mixed with hydrogen peroxide.  Before using the products, your hair needs to be checked for damage or dryness and a conditioning program should be performed before using the color remover to prevent further damage.

Damaged hair can be caused by blow drying, wind, harsh shampoos, or hair that has been over processed by the use hair chemicals. Build up of hair spray and styling agents can cause problems.  Hair should be clean properly and prepared prior to color removal.  After the color removal, process the hair should again be conditioned so the porosity of the hair can be evened before applying more color.  A waiting period is recommended before applying any chemicals to the hair.

It is not recommended to perform this procedure yourself.  You need a professional hair colorist who can accurately assess hair damage and recommend a proper color remover.  If the hair color is extremely dark, hair damage can occur when using the color removal chemicals.  Always let your colorist know what you have done or put on your hair.  If you are planning to do it yourself you need to educate yourself regarding the chemicals you will be using and have someone help you.

After you have pre-conditioned your hair prior to using the color remover; then after you have removed the color you need to normalize the hair PH with a finishing rinse.  Wait until you have reconditioned the hair before any more chemicals are put on the hair.

How do you determine if hair is damaged?  Hair is damaged if it is over-porous, brittle and dry, has breakage caused by no elasticity or give, color absorbs or fades very rapidly, when wet it has a spongy feeling, or if the hair shaft feels rough and you can see split ends.  Any of these conditions present can cause problems unless you pre-condition your hair before a treatment and after.

Always use quality hair products that have been formulated to use with various chemical treatments.  Your hair colorist can recommend such products.   It is a good practice to either condition your hair at home with a leave in treatment or make an appointment at your salon for a conditioning treatment between chemical appointments.

Babies have very sensitive skin.  When you are holding your newborn in your arms, you may notice how fragile and easily irritated their skin seems.  Many newborn babies either have dry skin almost immediately, or suffer from dry skin by the time they’re six months old.  As a parent, here are tips that I’ve learned to help to care for your baby’s dry skin.

Dress for Success

Babies have sensitive skin that is easily irritated by fabrics.  When picking baby clothes, pick out clothes that feel good as well as look good.  Natural fabrics are best.  My babies were always happiest in cotton (organic when possible).  Natural fabrics “breathe” better than synthetic fabrics, and so allow better circulation on your baby’s delicate skin.  Cotton helps your baby to stay at the right temperature rather than getting cold or over-heated. 

Moisturize

Moisturizing your baby’s skin can both help their dry skin and be a great bonding experience for the two of you.  Babies benefit from skin to skin contact, and rubbing lotion or oil into their skin helps to make sure that they get this comforting touch.  When choosing a moisturizer for your baby’s skin, I recommend buying not just a natural product, but one that is certified organic.  Chemicals can easily irritate or be absorbed by your baby’s skin, so it really is worth buying a good organic product.  You can use either an organic oil (Green People or Burt’s Bees).  Make sure to spread it gently.

Don’t Over Circulate

My skin is easily dried out by central heating, standing in front of a fan, or spending time out in the wind.  If I can feel it affecting my skin, then think how it feels to a newborn.  Make sure than your baby’s bed is not directly next to any heating vents, heaters, or fans.  Angle car vents off of them so that the air isn’t blowing directly in their faces, and consider putting up a shade on strollers on very windy days.

Seek Help if Needed

If your baby’s dry skin seems painful, inflamed, or otherwise worrying, don’t hesitate to consult your pediatrician or other healthcare provider.  My daughter developed eczema when she was still only a small baby, and it was very helpful to talk to our doctor, get it properly diagnosed, and get advice.  If you’re worried about your baby’s skin, talk to someone about it.