Archive for Hair care
Are you a daring beauty?
Posted by: | CommentsHello Toxic Beauty readers! And now on a personal note…
For years, I stayed with the same look…afraid to change or go for something new in the fear that I wouldn’t like it. As a result, year after year, I had the same hair color, the same cut, and pretty much the same style. As I got older, I realized that beauty could be fun, flexible, and changable…and if you didn’t like the result, it is easily changed back. On my 33rd birthday, I decided to make a big change. I had been blonde since I was 18 and I decided to go brunette….even as I told the hair dresser what I wanted, I had doubts. Even as she applied the dye to the very first strand, I wanted to scream at her to stop! For those faithful readers of mine, you already know I went through with it. When I drastically changed my hair color, I posted before and after pics (see it here!) I loved my new hair, although it did come out a bit too dark for my taste. Nature helped me along throughout my summer in the sun and my hair lightened to a gorgeous shade of brown with golden highlights.
When I got the color change, I wasn’t quite satisfied with the cut….so I changed stylists….many people are afraid to change stylists…using such arguments as: “I have been going to her/him for years…how can I change now?” Well if you don’t change at some point or another, you can never discover how beautiful you can be. A new stylist can give you a fresh look you never thought of before. I had my hair cut into an asymmetrical bob and loved it so much….I recently went back and had it reshaped with more of an angle. Now I am thinking of going even shorter (think J Lo in “Enough.”) Yes, I just watched that on TNT 
What do you think? Should I go short?
One thing I made sure to do before I drastically changed my style is research. I researched different cuts online and found an awesome website where you can upload a picture or yourself and try on any hairstyle, even celebrities! Go to thehairstyler.com to see what you can look like with a totally different style.
Being daring has it’s place…one area in which you should not be daring is in the beauty and personal care products you use. If you see an ingredient that is not safe, but you still really want to try that product, ditch it anyway. Beauty is not worth sacrificing your health and I’m sure you can find a similiar product that will not harm you or your body.
So when you have that niggling doubt and are thinking about changing up your look….go for it! Get that hair color you have always been curious about…cut your hair and go for a funky style! And if you totally hate it….don’t blame me…it’ll grow back! LOL Until next time, stay natural, stay beautiful…Robin
A dye job to die for…
Posted by: | CommentsI recently took the plunge and dyed my hair. I’ve come to realize that hair color is quite changeable and can give you a fresh look. This was the first time I had dyed my entire head because for years I was highlighting it. Until two years ago, I was using regular hair dye at the salon, not realizing what kinds of toxins and chemicals I was putting into my body. Yes, the body does absorb what it put into the hair and scalp. Normal hair dyes can be very damaging to the hair and scalp. I have heard stories of allergic reactions, hair breakage and even hair loss. Is it worth it to risk your health for your hair? I don’t think so.
Most commercial hair dyes contain coal tar, a derivative of coal. Hair professionals and people who dye their hair often are the most at risk for the effects of coal tar. Studies show that people who are exposed to coal tar dyes on a regular basis (at least once a month) are more at risk for developing bladder cancer than others. Check your hair dye box and look for the following ingredients:
4-methoxy-m-phenylenediamin
2,4-diaminoanisole
4-chloro-m-phenylenediamine
2,4-toluenediamine
2-nitro-p-phenylenediamine
4-amino-2-nitrophenol
If you see any of these, better safe then sorry…toss that box! Alternatives include henna hair color, which is a natural plant derived colorant. Although henna is great for darker hair, it cannot lighten hair. I have gone to the salon to get highlights with organic hair color. Now that I have actually dyed my hair with all over color, I would be more likely to go to the health food store and buy a box of organic hair color too. As you can see, plenty of options exist. You do not have to put up with that grey! So say no to coal tar dyes…and yes to organic beauty and health!
An Organic beauty make-over!
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Before
Many women like to treat themselves to an occasional day at the salon. Even in today’s struggling economy, we deserve to treat ourselves every so often. My motto is, if you look good, you feel good. As a birthday gift to myself, I made an appointment with my hairstylist. I was ready for a change! After years of being blonde, I dyed my hair a rich dark brown with a few highlights.
Now you might be wondering, I thought she was organic and she dyes her hair?? Well I am organic and that goes for my hair color too. Although rare, you can probably find a salon that uses organic hair color near you. I found my stylist 3 years ago and never looked back. When she was applying the dye to my hair, there was no smell! If you’ve ever used a box of dye before, then you have experienced the horrible odor. I used to dye my mother’s hair and cringe at the smell. What makes dye smell so “chemical?” I think you can probably guess… If the smell is this bad, what is it doing to your body? Stay tuned for more on the dangers of hair dye next time…And let me know what you think of my new do’! 
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After
