| How to Prevent Hair from Knotting Posted: 03 Apr 2016 05:00 PM PDT Knotted and tangled hair doesn't just look messy: it can also be painful and difficult to comb out, and it can lead to a great deal of breakage. There are many things that can cause tangled hair, including particular hair styles and heat products, but knots can also occur in the shower or when you dry your hair. Tightly curled hair is even more prone to knots, and it can also be difficult to keep long hair tangle-free. There are ways to remove knots once they form, but if possible, it's always best to take preventative measures that will stop knots before they form. EditPreventing Knots When Grooming - Brush your hair before you wash it. Always use a wide-tooth comb or a paddle brush with plastic tipped bristles,[1] and comb through your hair before showering. This will help stop your hair from tangling when you wash it.[2]
- As a general rule of thumb, don't comb or brush your hair when it's wet, as wet hair is more prone to damage and breakage.
- Shampoo properly. Wash your hair by focusing your shampooing on the scalp, rather than the hair, and never pile your hair on top of your scalp.[3] Use a natural shampoo that doesn't contain sulfates or harsh detergents, as these can dry out your hair.[4]
- Don't wash your hair every day, as this can strip your hair of oils, leaving it dry and more prone to breakage.
- Condition after you shampoo. After you shampoo, work a conditioner into your hair with your fingers and remove any tangles. When you have removed all the knots, gently comb through with a wide-toothed comb.[5]
- You shouldn't normally brush your hair when it's wet, but as long as you remove all the tangles first, use conditioner, and use the right comb, you can do this in the shower to distribute the conditioner evenly.
- If you have thick, course, and tightly curled hair, condition your hair twice daily as opposed to just once. Condition once in the morning or after you shampoo your hair, and again before bed with a moisturizer or leave-in conditioner.[6]
- Dry your hair gently. Instead of wrapping, twisting, or rubbing your hair, gently squeeze it with a towel to get out the excess moisture. It's also best to avoid heat products, such as blow dryers and flat irons, which can dry out your hair and leave it prone to damage and tangling.
- If you must blow dry your hair, towel and air dry it first to cut down on the blow dryer time.
- Moisturize hair regularly. Healthy and moisturized hair is less likely to knot and tangle,[7] so along with regular conditioning, try a weekly hair mask or deep conditioning.
- To deep condition, work a quarter-sized dollop of deep conditioner into your hair. Wrap your head with a shower cap or plastic wrap, and allow it to rest for 30 minutes to an hour before rinsing.[8]
- Seal the tips of your hair. After you condition your hair, apply a hair butter or oil to the tips. This will seal in the moisturizing conditioner and help smooth and relax the ends of the hair, thereby preventing them from coiling around themselves and forming knots.[9]
- This step can be skipped if you have fine or medium hair, but should be followed for hair that's thick, coarse, and tightly curled.
- Gently stretch the ends of your hair. This is particularly useful for tightly curled hair, as the stretching will prevent the hair from coiling around itself and forming single-strand knots. You can stretch the tips of your hair by wrapping the ends around rollers.
- You can also protect your hair from knots by using hair styles that stretch your hair, such as twists, braids, and buns.
EditPreventing Knots Throughout the Day - Tie your hair up when you're being active. If you're playing sports, swimming, or exercising, prevent your hair from knotting by wearing it in a braid, ponytail, or bun. The less your hair moves around and the less it gets matted with sweat and dirt, the more likely you are to be able to brush through it when you're done.
- Prevent damage to your hair and scalp by positioning your buns and ponytails in different spots on your head every time, and always make sure that such hair styles are loose.
- Protect your hair in the wind. Whether you're going for a summer drive with the windows down or if it's just a windy day, wrap your hair in a scarf, cover it with a hat, or wear it in a protective hair style to stop it from blowing around too much. Not only will the wind ruin your hair style, but it will also blow your tresses into a tangled mess.
- Care for your hair when you sleep. While cotton is a popular choice for bedding, hair can catch on cotton pillow cases as you sleep, and this can create knots. Instead, look for a polished cotton pillow case, or a smooth fabric such as silk.
- You can also wear a satin bonnet or wrap your hair with a protective fabric to prevent knotting when you sleep.[10]
- Get regular trims. To keep your hair healthy and remove damaged ends, you should trim your hair every eight months,[11] but if your hair is prone to tangling, consider trimming it every three months.[12] Removing knots can cause breakage, and frequent trims will remove split ends and broken tips, and ensure your hair stays healthy looking and radiant.
EditRemoving Knots - Work in small sections. Tie or pin up the majority of your hair, and leave a small section of hair free. Once you detangle that section, start a new bun or ponytail to keep the detangled hair separate, and move on to a new section of tangled hair.
- Finger comb your hair. On the first section of hair, start near the tips and run your fingers through your hair to remove knots and tangles. Combs can actually make knots tighter, so untangle what you can with your fingers first.[13]
- As you detangle the bottom of that section of hair, move up the strands and continue removing knots until you reach the top of your hair.
- Apply water and conditioner as necessary. When you encounter particularly nasty knots, apply some watered down conditioner to the area. Let it sit for a couple minutes, then go back to detangling with your fingers.[14]
- Repeat with a comb. Once you've removed all the knots you can with your fingers and can easily run your fingers through the entire length of your hair, gently comb through the same section with a wide-tooth comb. Like before, start at the bottom and work your way to the top.
- Divide the section of hair into even smaller sections if you have trouble running the comb through.
- Add more conditioner as needed to help loosen knots.
- Use a needle on tough knots. If you come across a knot that you can't loosen with your fingers or the comb, insert the needle of a safety pin into the center of the knot and move it around to loosen the knot.[15]
- Trim the knot as a last resort. In case you come across a knot that you absolutely cannot remove with conditioner, your fingers, the comb, or the safety pin, you may have to trim it off. Use sharp barber scissors, and make sure you remove as much excess hair from the knot as you can before making any cuts. Try to work the knot down toward the tip of the hair as far as you can to minimize the amount of hair you have to trim.
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| How to Remove Fabric Paint from Clothes Posted: 03 Apr 2016 09:00 AM PDT Removing fabric paint from clothes is no easy task, but it may be possible, depending on the severity of the stain and the type of fabric you are dealing with. The most important thing to remember is to start treating the stain as soon as you can. It is much easier to remove paint that is still wet than it is to remove dried paint. If worst comes to worst and you are not able to remove the paint from your clothing, you may be able to use some tricks to salvage your clothing. EditRemoving Wet Paint - Deal with the stain immediately. The sooner you start fighting the stain, the better your chances will be of getting it out. If you have wet paint on your clothes, take them off right away and attempt to wash the paint out.[1]
- If you can't take your clothes off, try washing the stain out with them still on. This is better than waiting to deal with the stain and allowing the paint to dry.
- Avoid applying any heat to the stain. Many fabric paints are set by heat, which means they do not fully harden until they are heated, usually by an iron. To avoid setting the paint while you are trying to remove it, do not apply heat of any kind to your clothing until the stain is 100% removed.[2]
- Do not use hot water when washing your clothes.
- Do not put them in the dryer or use a hair dryer to dry the area you washed unless you're sure the stain is really gone.
- If your fabric paint does not set with heat, you may use hot water when rinsing the stain out, but be sure to read the bottle thoroughly to make sure.
- Remove any unabsorbed paint. If you got a large amount of paint on your clothing and not all of it has absorbed into the fabric, remove as much of it as you can before you start washing it. This will help prevent the paint from spreading to clean sections of the fabric.[3]
- To remove paint from the surface of the fabric, try blotting it up with a paper towel or gently scraping it off with a putty knife.
- Try not to rub the paint into the fabric as you do this.
- Flush the stain. Once you've gotten as much paint off of the surface of the fabric as possible, bring your garment to the sink and run the stained area under water until the water runs clear. It's best to do this from the clean side of the fabric in order to avoid accidentally rubbing the paint into your clothing.[4]
- Remember to use cold water to avoid setting the stain.
- Always read the care instructions before you start washing your fabric. If tag on your garment says that dry cleaning is required, do not attempt to wash out the stain.
- Hand wash with a detergent. Once the stain has been thoroughly flushed, apply some detergent to the affected area and scrub. For the best results, use one part detergent and one part water.[5]
- You may have to scrub and rinse several times to remove the paint.
- Dish soap or laundry detergent should both do the trick.
- If rubbing the stain with your hands is not effective enough, try scrubbing the area with sponge or a brush. An old toothbrush works well for small stains.
- Machine wash your clothes. Once you've gotten as much paint out as you can by hand, put your garment in the washing machine on a cold water setting with plenty of detergent. This should get the rest of the stain out.[6]
- Do not use hot water to wash your clothes or put them in the dryer unless the stain is completely gone. If the clothing still has a stain after it comes out of the washing machine, let it air dry and follow the steps for removing dried paint.
- Do not machine wash garments that call for dry cleaning or hand washing, as you may damage the fabric. Always follow the care instructions.
- Consider professional cleaning. For delicate fabrics that cannot be washed at home, your only option is to bring the garment to a professional cleaning. A dry cleaner may be able to remove wet or dry paint stains from delicate fabrics like silk, but there is no guarantee.[7]
- You can also consider professional cleaning for washable fabrics if you were unsuccessful at removing the stain yourself.
EditRemoving Dry Paint - Scrape off as much paint as you can. Before you begin to remove a dried paint stain with chemicals, you should attempt to remove as much dried paint as you can manually. Depending on the amount of paint that is on the fabric, you may be able to scrape some off with a blunt scraper like a putty knife. You may also be able to use a stiff wire brush to remove some of the dried paint.[8]
- Be careful not to rip the fabric as you try to remove the paint. If none will come off, move on to the next step.
- Apply a solvent. Once you have removed as much excess paint as you can by scraping and brushing, you will need to soften the remaining paint with one of several alcohol-based solvents. Chances are you already have one of these products at home. Apply a small amount directly to the paint to begin loosening it.[9]
- Rubbing alcohol, turpentine, and mineral spirits are all effective solvents for acrylic paint.
- If you don't have any of these ingredients on hand, you can also try an acetone-based nail polish remover or even hairspray (as long as it contains alcohol).
- If none of these products work for you, try visiting your local home improvement store and buying a cleaning product that is specifically designed for removing paint.
- For stubborn stains, you may have to let the solvent sit on the fabric for a while before you start scrubbing.
- Solvents are very harsh, so be careful with delicate fabrics. Acetone will damage fabrics like acetate and triacetate.[10] Natural fibers like silk and wool are also easily damaged, so always test the solvent on a hidden area like an inside seam before using it.
- If your garment cannot be treated with solvents, bring it to a dry cleaner to be professionally cleaned.
- Scrub the stain. Once the paint molecules begin to break down from the solvent and soften, scrub as much of the paint away as you can. Use a brush with stiff bristles for the best results.[11]
- Once you've gotten most of the paint out, you can move the garment to the sink and continue scrubbing it with detergent and cold water.
- Machine wash your clothes. After you have finished hand-washing the stain, put your clothes in the washing machine and wash them in cold water with plenty of detergent.[12]
- Remember to avoid applying any kind of heat to your clothing unless you are sure that the stain is gone.
EditSalvaging Your Clothes If the Paint Can't Be Removed - Hem your clothing. If you got paint on the bottoms of your pants legs or sleeves, you may be able to modify your clothing slightly to get rid of the stained area. Simply raise the hem to convert your long pants to capris or your long-sleeved shirt to a 3/4-sleeved shirt.
- You can hem your own clothing if you know how to sew, or you can bring it to a tailor to have it professionally done.
- Make it look intentional. Fabric paint is meant to be applied to fabric, so one way to save your garment is to simply apply more paint. Create a fun design for your clothing incorporating the stain. No one will ever know that you didn't intend to get paint on your clothes.[13]
- Don't try to cover up the paint stain with a new paint color that matches the fabric. This will never look good!
- Cover the affected area. If you don't want to apply more paint to the fabric, think about other ways you could cover it up. For example, you could attach a decorative patch or even cover the area with sequins.[14]
- If you don't like to sew, you can find iron-on patches for clothing.
- Reuse the fabric. If you can't think of any way to salvage your garment, but you really like the fabric, you may be able to make something else out of it. For example, if you got paint on your favorite blouse, try making a throw pillow out of the unstained portion of the fabric. You may also be able to cut a large shirt with a paint stain into smaller pieces to make a child's shirt.
- This will require sewing skills. You can find patterns for making clothes online. If you don't know how to sew, find a tailor who will make custom clothing with your fabric.
- Sometimes it is just not possible to remove fabric paint from clothing, especially if you are dealing with delicate fabrics.
- If your stain does not seem to be coming out, you can try letting it soak in soapy water or a solvent.[15]
- In the future, always wear work clothes when you are painting.
- Always read the care instructions on your clothes before attempting to remove stains. Delicate fabrics may not hold up to harsh cleaning methods.[16]
- Solvents may caused the colors in your fabric to bleed, so it's best to test them in an inconspicuous area first.[17]
- If your clothing has wet paint on it, don't put anything else in the washing machine with it.
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| How to Prepare a Cat for Air Travel Posted: 03 Apr 2016 01:00 AM PDT Just like their human counterparts, cats can feel stress and anxiety when traveling.[1] Removing your cat from her familiar environment can throw her for a loop. Therefore, you should put careful time and consideration into preparing your cat for air travel. Your extra effort will help make the travel experience less stressful for the both of you. EditPreparing Your Cat for Air Travel in Advance - Take your cat to your veterinarian. Travel, especially air travel, can be difficult for cats. You want to ensure your cat is healthy enough for the flight. Your veterinarian will examine her and make sure she is up to date on all of her vaccinations. If your cat has an illness, ask your veterinarian how it can be managed or treated (if possible) prior to your flight.
- Your veterinarian will need to complete a health certificate for your cat, certifying she is healthy enough for travel and has all of the required vaccinations. The health certificate requirements may vary according to your destination, so confirm these requirements with the airline before your appointment.[2]
- There are time restrictions on health certificate completion. Airlines typically require health certificates to be completed within 10 days of a flight, but confirm your airline's specific time restriction.[3]
- Ask your veterinarian to microchip your cat for easy identification.[4] If your cat is already microchipped, consider asking your veterinarian to scan the microchip to make sure it can be read.
- If your cat is on medication, ask your veterinarian about how you can continue to medicate your cat on your day of travel.
- Purchase an airline-approved carrier. If you have not traveled by plane with your cat before, you may need to purchase an airline-approved pet carrier. Call your airline or search the airline's website for pet carrier requirements for cabin and cargo travel. Generally, a 'cabin' cat carrier should be made of a durable fabric (e.g., nylon), be well ventilated, and have a zippered top and side door. Your airline may also require the carrier to have a soft removable bottom pad.[5]
- A good cargo carrier should be made of sturdy and durable plastic and have a secure door latch.[6]
- Make sure the carrier is large enough for your cat to move around and be comfortable in.
- Encourage your cat to spend time in her carrier. Your cat will need at least 1 month to get ready for air travel. During this time, invite your cat to spend more time in her carrier. Make it look inviting by putting some of her creature comforts inside of it, such as comfortable bedding and favorite toys.[7]
- Leave the carrier open at all times in a location where your cat frequents, such as her bed or a scratching post.[8] This lets your cat explore her carrier at her leisure and without fear of you closing the door when she steps inside of it.
- Consider spraying cat pheromones inside the carrier so it smells familiar to her.[9]
- Feed her in the carrier so she can have a positive association with it.[10]
- Practice closing the door when she is inside of it (after you've given her time to explore it). Start by closing the door for a few seconds, then opening it and immediately giving her a treat. Slowly increase the amount of you leave the door closed before opening it and giving her a treat.[11]
- Take your cat on car rides. When your cat is comfortable with her carrier, place her inside of it and take her on car rides. Start with short car rides — just around the block and back. As she gets more comfortable with car travel, take her on longer rides.[12]
- Secure the carrier in the car with a seatbelt.[13]
- Take your cat to a desirable location, such as back home — not the veterinarian's office.[14] Give her a treat at the end of the car ride if she behaves well (no scratching or incessant crying).
- Staying still in the carrier while the car is moving may be a bit bewildering to your cat at first, but she will get used to it over time.
- Try to start the car rides at least a few weeks before your flight.[15]
- Acclimate your cat to loud noises. Not only is the plane noisy, but the airport can be noisy too. When your cat is comfortable with car rides, take her to the airport and sit outside with her in the carrier.[16] The loud noise and commotion may be terrifying for your cat at first, so it will probably take a few trips to the airport before your cat becomes used to the loud noises.
- You could also take her inside the airport, near the flight check-in area.
- Give your cat some treats to reward her for good behavior.
- Allow a few weeks for your cat to get accustomed to airport noises.
- Trim your cat's nails. If your cat's nails are long, she could use them to scratch up the interior of her carrier during the flight.[17] If she has to travel in the cargo area, she could get her nails stuck in the carrier's bars, which could lead to injury.[18] If you are not comfortable trimming your cat's nails, have your veterinarian do so.
- A cat's nails should be trimmed once every 10 days to 2 weeks, so time the nail trimming so her nails do not become long again before the trip.[19] If you will be away from home for a long time, bring some nail clippers with you.
EditMaking Other Travel Preparations - Book your flight. Airlines are often limited with how many pets can travel in the plane's cabin. For this reason, you should book your flight well in advance (1 month or more) to increase the chances of your cat staying with you in the cabin.[20] When you call to book your flight, ask if the airline allows pets on the plane, and if your cat can travel in the cabin. Because of your cat's small size, it is preferable for her to travel in the cabin rather than the cargo hold.[21]
- Expect to pay an extra fee for your cat, which may be up to $100. Be aware that, if your cat can travel with you in the cabin, her carrier will count as one of your allotted carry-ons.[22]
- When you book your flight, make sure to get a locator number for your cat that is associated with your seat number.[23]
- Try to book a direct, nonstop flight. Also, avoid booking a flight for the middle of the day in the summer.[24]
- Check your cat's ID collar. Your cat's ID collar should have several tags: one with your contact information (name, address, cell phone number), and one tag each for rabies vaccination status and your cat's license.[25] Remove any collar accessories, such as small trinkets or charms, that could get easily snagged on a part of her carrier.[26] Make sure her collar is appropriate for travel 10 days before your flight.[27]
- Make labels for your cat's carrier. This is particularly important if your cat will be traveling in the cargo hold, but would also be a good idea for cabin travel. The label should contain your own contact information, as well as contact information at your end destination.[28] For example, if you will be staying at a hotel, write down the hotel's name, address, and phone number on the label.
- Place a label on the inside and outside of the carrier, in case the outside label comes off during the course of travel. In addition, if your cat will be traveling in the cargo hold, make a few large 'Live Animal' labels and place them on the outside of her carrier.[29]
- Make the labels at least a few days before your trip so you will not have to rush to do it on the day of travel.
- Prepare bags of dry food for your cat. Cats should travel on an empty stomach to prevent vomiting or elimination accidents in the carrier during the flight. However, if your flight gets delayed for several hours or more, it would be a good idea to give your cat a few nibbles of food to keep her from getting too hungry.[30] If your cat is in the cargo hold for a long flight, attach a bag of food to the carrier with feeding instructions.[31]
EditPreparing Your Cat on the Day of Air Travel - Keep your normal routine. As much as possible, keep a calm and normal routine on the travel day. Cats do not always respond well to change, so a sudden change in routine could increase your cat's anxiety and stress levels and may cause her to act out (e.g., eliminate outside of her litter box). Keep calm in your preparations and try to maintain her normal feeding schedule so she uses her litterbox as she usually would.[32]
- Once you put her in her carrier, she will not be able to eliminate again until after you arrive at your destination. Keeping things calm and normal will help her empty her bladder and bowels before you place her in the carrier.[33]
- Feed your cat 4 to 6 hours before your flight. Maintaining a normal feeding schedule may be tricky if your flight is less than 4 to 6 hours before her regular mealtime. During your month of preparation, consider gradually adjusting her mealtime so it will coincide with the 4- to 6-hour window of time before your flight.
- Alternatively, you could try to find a flight that time that would fall within 4 to 6 hours of her regular mealtime.
- Once you have fed her before the flight, do not feed her again until after you arrive at your destination.[34] You or the flight staff may have to feed her, though, if you have an international flight or a flight with multiple stops.
- Your cat can have water up to 1 hour before the flight.[35]
- Give your cat her medications. If your cat is currently on medications, schedule their administration according to your travel schedule.[36] Do not give your cat a tranquilizer before your flight! Tranquilizers can affect your cat's ability to regulate her body temperature, which can have serious consequences if she is traveling in the cargo hold.[37]
- Secure your cat in her carrier. Before you leave the house, make sure your cat is securely within the carrier. An airport can be a frightening place for cats, and you do not want to give her any opportunity to bolt out of her carrier.[38] To make the carrier more comfortable for her, make it smell familiar (e.g., cat pheromones, her bedding, clothing with your scent on it).[39]
- If you must take her out of her carrier at airport security, keep a very firm hold on her.
- Ask the airport security staff if you can go through an alternative screening where your cat can stay in the carrier.[40]
- Keep your cat calm. Whether your cat will be traveling with you in the cabin or in the cargo hold, practice some verbal and nonverbal communication to keep her calm before the flight. For example, look at her in her carrier and blink slowly until she blinks back—this is a positive form of communication for cats. In addition, you can talk to her reassuringly before and during the flight.[41]
- Air travel with a cat involves a lot of preparation. The better prepared you are, the better the experience will be for you and your cat.
- Organized your cat's documentation (health certificate, vaccination record, locator number, photo of cat) and keep it with you in your carry-on luggage.
- If your cat is prone to motion sickness, your veterinarian can prescribe some motion sickness medication for her.[42]
- When you arrive at your destination, keep your cat in quiet room with a little bit of water and plain dry food so she can destress and get used to her new surroundings.[43]
- Do not place a lock on her carrier, in case you or the flight staff need to get her out of her carrier quickly.[44]
- Persian cats should not travel in the cargo section, since their facial structure can make it hard for them to breathe.[45]
- Pets can become injured, lost, or even die in the cargo hold of a plane.[46] Avoid cargo travel for your cat as much as possible.
- Do not put your cat through the X-ray machine at airport security.[47]
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