Archives for December 2014

Hairdressers will always be around. We always want gorgeous, healthy looking hair. But do you ever get the feeling that your hairdresser isn’t telling you something? They have secrets; secrets that they don’t want you to know. Luckily, we’re here to fill you in.

• They’d Rather You Didn’t Bring Your Kids

Ever showed up at the salon with your kids and thought you spotted a flicker of dismay across your hairdresser’s face? You were right. Hairdressers hate it when you bring your kids, especially if they are the type of kids who just can’t settle. Get a sitter for an hour, or book your appointment at a time when you haven’t got the kids. You want to enjoy your appointment too, right?

• Cutting Your Hair Won’t Make it Grow Quicker

You know all those rumors you heard about hair growing quicker when you cut it? It’s a lie. Your hair will look healthier. That’s about it. Hair is already dead, and therefore doesn’t know when you cut it. It’ll be shorter when you have it cut, and will definitely not feel compelled to grow. Don’t get us wrong; it’s great to have a regular cut. Just don’t be under this illusion!

• Root Touch Up Kits Can be Just as Good

Constantly going backwards and forwards to have your hair done? Root touch up kits can be just as good! Be careful though. If you have prominent grey/black roots, you might be better off chasing your hairdresser.

• No Product Can Fix Split Ends

All of those products on the market that claim to fix your split ends? They don’t. It’s a whole load of false advertising. They can make them look a little better for a short amount of time, but they can’t bond your hair back together and fix them. All you can do is take better care of your hair to avoid them.

Leo

• Some Foods and Supplements May Give You Salon Quality Hair

By eating right and taking a hair supplement, you might find that your hair begins to look salon quality at all times, rather than just after your appointment. Try incorporating lots of vegetables and fish into your diet to nourish your hair from the inside out. Healthy fats are best for healthy hair. Oh, and healthy fats don’t make you fat, so stop worrying!

• You Can Cut Your Own Split Ends

Forget asking your hairdresser to fit you in for a few split ends. Cut your own! There’s plenty of instruction online if you need help, and it’ll save you time and money. If you only have a small amount of split ends, don’t be scared to try it. If your split ends are severe, however, you should always visit the hairdresser.

Now you know the things your hairdresser doesn’t want you to know, you can make smart choices when it comes to booking appointments and what to have done. Just don’t tell your hairdresser that we told on them…we wouldn’t want to get in trouble. Thanks for reading!

 

If you’ve got a baby on the way, you’ll need plenty of supplies ready before they arrive. This way, you can ensure that you’re fully prepared. If we listed every single thing you needed we’d be here all day. The following items are the most important!

Lots of Plain Clothes

Lots of plain clothes goes for both you and the baby. Things like baby grows for the baby and clothes you don’t care much about are both essentials. This is because the baby is probably going to be sick on everything it owns, as well as everything you own. If worst comes to worst, they’ll do other things to your clothes too. You can’t be too precious about them, especially in their first year.

Diapers of Different Sizes

Diapers come in all different sizes, so make sure you have some of each size. Of course you only really need newborn diapers to start with, but make sure you don’t buy too many. Babies grow quickly, so you don’t want any to go to waste.

A Stockpile of Wipes

Wipes will become your best friends. They’ll wipe up spit up, food, and other gunk from your baby.

picture credit

Something to Stop Scratching

Babies are known for scratching themselves red raw. A product like Scratchsleeves could help.

A Changing Pad

You need somewhere comfortable to change your baby, so invest in a changing pad or changing table. Again, it’ll need to be wipe-clean material as you’ll get all kinds of substances on it over time.

A Stroller

You’ll want to take your baby out, so make sure you have a stroller ready. Make sure it has the features you think are important in a stroller. Read reviews online as well first.

Carseat

If you drive, your baby will need a carseat to come on trips with you. Make sure you install it properly so that it’s secure. Read reviews on car seats too.

Carrier

Carriers can be seriously helpful. They can allow you to spend time with your baby while still getting on with your regular chores. Your baby won’t feel neglected and you’ll still be able to clean the house, and do anything else you need to do.

Breastfeeding Accessories

The saying goes, ‘breast is best’. Make sure you have all of the breastfeeding accessories you need to make it convenient for both you and your baby.

Bibs

You can’t stop babies from making a mess, but you can at least try. Invest in a few bibs.

Dummies

These can help babies to calm down when they start to get upset. Some babies don’t take to them, but most do.

Toys

Toys help babies start to learn and grow from a young age. The sounds and colours they produce help to develop a babies learning mind. Toys with lots of textures, colours, and sounds are best.

Picture from futurestreet

If you make sure you have all of these supplies in advance, you can breathe a sigh of relief when your baby arrives. Enjoy your new arrival!

 

As progressive as we like to think our society is, there are still plenty of topics we have yet to allow into the open. Diseases such as bowel cancer, erectile dysfunction and mental health issues are all very much considered taboo subjects. This not only prevents sufferers from admitting they have a problem, it also prevents many from seeking help.

Image Source: Caitlin Regan

Bowel Problems

It’s not hard to guess why conditions of the bowel and colon are firmly established on the ‘unmentionable’ list. Symptoms caused by any disease associated with this particular part of the body are likely to be unpleasant.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is believed to affect between three and twenty percent of the population in varying degrees. Compare this with the fact that forty thousand people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year, and it becomes obvious that the these diseases are an integral part of many people lives. Despite this, we still won’t talk about them.

Psoriasis

Sufferers of this chronic immune disorder endure frequent outbreaks of cracked, inflamed and scaly skin. The skin can flake easily and large patches are often difficult to hide. The general reaction to seeing this condition is to shy away, increasing the embarrassment of sufferers. With a range of treatments only offering limited improvement at best, this condition can affect the day-to-day living of those suffering from it. Indeed, one-third of sufferers admitted to limiting their social interactions because of psoriasis flare-ups.

Mental Health Disorders

Mental health is the big disorder we all associate with social stigma. Many of us have witnessed first hand the abuse and disrespect people with obvious cognitive handicaps experience in public places. But have any of us ever gone to their aid?

The problem with mental health is that it can affect anyone, at any age or stage in life. Yes, life-changing conditions such as Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder have a proven genetic component, but they also affect people with no family history of either disease. Panic attacks and anxiety disorders are as much a condition of the environment as genetics, and they might just as easily strike you or me as they would the person standing next to us. There are a wide variety of treatments available. www.time-to-change.org details how Schizophrenia sufferers are supported in everyday life whilst the Panic Away Review gives a good indication of the level of relief available to sufferers of anxiety disorders.

What Are We Afraid Of?

This is the big question, and one that is difficult to answer rationally. None of these conditions are contagious, they might affect us just as easily as anyone else. The fact that they don’t is just luck of the draw. We are all so fearful of these diseases that we fail to talk about them, to educate each other, banish ignorance and bring them into the light of day. The reality is, this is the kindest thing we can do for sufferers. Treat them normally and hope others follow our example. At least then we know that we have done everything in our power to make the people living with these diseases feel better.