| How to Keep Hair From Getting Greasy Posted: 26 Jun 2018 05:00 PM PDT Having greasy hair can be embarrassing and frustrating to deal with. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to prevent your hair from becoming greasy. You'll want to adjust your shampooing routine, use products that won't contribute to more greasiness, and avoid some other habits that may be adding more oil to your hair without your knowledge. EditAdjusting Your Shampooing Routine - Don't wash your hair every day. Washing the grease from your hair may seem like the best solution at first, but daily washing actually causes your hair to produce more grease. Your hair tries to make up for the natural oils you're washing out each day, causing a cycle of increased grease.[1]
- Wash your hair only 2 to 3 times per week maximum for the best results.
- Wear a shower cap on days that you don't shampoo. Getting your hair wet without washing also causes natural oils to be stripped away and causes your hair to overcompensate in grease. To protect your hair from getting wet in the shower, secure it inside a shower cap.[2]
- Apply conditioner to your ends only. Hair that's prone to grease doesn't need more conditioning near the roots, it needs less. However, not conditioning your hair at all can cause your ends to get dry and damaged-looking. When you use conditioner after shampooing, apply it starting halfway down your hair and go all the way to your ends.[3]
- Be sure to always rinse conditioner thoroughly from your hair, or use a leave-in conditioner.
- On days that you're not shampooing, you can get rid of style creases or cowlicks by rinsing the creased parts of your hair and applying conditioner there as well.
- Use cool or lukewarm water when washing your hair. Hot water opens the cuticle of your hair and strips more natural oils from your hair. Hot water also causes your pores, including the ones on your scalp, to produce more sebum, or thick oil. This thick oil will start traveling down your hair strands from your scalp as soon as you leave your hot shower.[4]
- For the best results, keep your shower water as cool as you can, especially when rinsing shampoo and conditioner from your hair. Cool water closes the cuticle of your hair, which will help to keep moisture in.
- Use a coin-sized amount of shampoo. Using too much shampoo with each wash can lead to build-up and make your hair look heavy and greasy. When squirting shampoo into your hand to use, make sure you use no more than a large coin amount, like a quarter or two-pence piece. You may need more or less depending on the length and thickness of your hair.[5]
- If you accidently squirt too much shampoo into your hand, remove some of it before starting to apply shampoo to your hair.
EditUsing the Right Hair Products - Try a dry shampoo between regular shampoos. Dry shampoo, not to be confused with shampoo for dry hair, is a powder that many people use between regular shampoos to reduce grease and build volume. You can buy spray versions or ones that come in a shake container. Apply a few squirts or shakes to your roots if your hair is looking greasy, and rub it around on your scalp to absorb the oil and achieve a matte finish at your roots.[6]
- If you have dark hair, be sure to buy invisible dry shampoo so that you avoid getting a greyish tint at your roots from the white powder.
- Use a "purifying" or "clarifying" shampoo once a week. Your greasy hair may actually be coming from a greasy scalp, which can be remedied with a shampoo labeled purifying or clarifying. Choose a day of the week to use this type of shampoo, and on the other day that you wash your hair, use your normal shampoo that you like for your hair type.[7]
- If you like using matching shampoo and conditioner products, these shampoos do sometimes have an accompanying conditioner to go with them. You can use a purifying or clarifying conditioner for your ends, or your usual conditioner, on days that you use the purifying shampoo. However, keep in mind that clarifying shampoos tend to dry out your hair, so you may need a deep conditioner to restore the moisture.
- Avoid products for dry or damaged hair. Shampoos and conditioners that are designed for dry or damaged hair may leave a thin film on hair to seal in moisture and protect it from further damage. While this is good for hair that is actually dry or damaged, all it does to hair that's prone to oiliness is add more weight to the hair and make it look greasier.[8]
- Avoid "smoothing" or "gloss" products. Similar to products for dry or damaged hair, shampoos, conditioners, gels, serums, or sprays that are for smoothing or gloss add an extra sealant layer of product on top of the hair. Hair that's prone to greasiness needs less smoothness, shine, and gloss, not more.[9]
- To use hairsprays and serums on hair that's prone to greasiness, look for volumizing or products labeled "lightweight" instead.
- Try oil-absorbing sheets in grease emergencies. The oil-absorbing sheets that you can buy for your skin also work well on greasy hair. These thin paper sheets blot out oil regardless of the source. Carry a packet of these sheets in your wallet or purse, and simply blot grease spots out of your hair when you're on the go.[10]
EditChanging Habits that Contribute to Hair Grease - Eat a diet low in carbs and trans fats. Trans fats, like those found in many fried foods, vegetable shortening, cookies, crackers, margarine, chips, and baked goods, contribute to greasy hair and skin without providing any nutritious value to your body. Try to limit these foods entirely, and reduce the amount of saturated fats you consume through meat and dairy products.[11]
- High carbohydrate, high sugar foods also cause your body to produce more sebum, or thick oil, on your skin – including your scalp and hair. Baked goods and foods high in processed white flour (white breads and pastas) should be replaced with whole grains, low-starch vegetables, legumes, and fruit.
- Continue eating sources of good fats, or foods with essential fatty acids such as nuts, seeds, fatty fish, and unrefined whole grains. These foods provide your body with fats that it needs, and deficiencies in these fats can actually have a negative impact on your skin and hair health.
- Touch your hair less frequently. Touching your hair transfers oils from your fingers and hands onto your hair. Try to touch your hair as little as possible when you're not styling it. If you need to fix your hair, use a clean brush or comb instead of your fingers.[12]
- Avoid heat-drying as much as possible. Dry heat, much like hot water, tends to strip hair of its natural oil, causing it to overcompensate by producing even more oil. Allow your hair to air-dry after washing it as often as possible.[13]
- Clean your hairbrush. Brushing takes grease from the scalp and moves it down the hair follicles, so you should take hair to clean your hairbrush regularly. Remove hair from your brush as often as possible. Clean your brush once a week by squirting a few drops of dish soap into it, adding water, and rubbing the ends of the bristles with the soap suds. Rinse all the soap from your brush and let it air-dry.[14]
- Because brushing moves oil down your hair, you should also avoid overbrushing. Try to brush your hair only when it is tangled or when you are styling it for the day.
- Use accessories or an updo to hide grease. Since you should be trying to wash your hair less often each week, it can be frustrating seeing grease in there after 1 or 2 days of not shampooing. Try adding a bit of dry shampoo, and use clips to twist pieces of hair away from your face. Or do your hair in a ponytail or messy bun after adding some dry shampoo.
- If your hair looks so greasy you can't stand it even after trying new styles, throw a hat on it instead of reaching for the shampoo bottle right away, and wash your hair the next day instead.
- Ask your stylist or other trusted friends about what they do for greasy hair. They have some more ideas that will work well for your particular hair type.
EditSources and Citation
Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found
|
| How to Deal With a Codependent Family Member Posted: 26 Jun 2018 09:00 AM PDT Codependency is a learned behavior that often runs in families. Since it is learned, it can often be passed down through generations. At its core, codependence is a behavioral condition that impacts an individual's ability to have healthy, mutually-beneficial relationships. If you have a family member who is codependent, you may feel smothered or manipulated. It may feel hard to break the cycle. You can move past it, though, as long as you can recognize and detach from codependent behaviors. EditInteracting with Your Family Member - Read up on codependent behavior. To recognize codependency, you have to know what it looks like. Taking time to educate yourself will not only help you see if your family member fits the description, it will also help you understand their mental state. Only a mental health professional can diagnose codependency, but some telltale symptoms include:[1]
- Low self-esteem
- Constant people-pleasing
- Little to no boundaries
- Caretaking as a means of control
- Painful emotions
- Understand that you cannot cure your family member of codependency. Codependency is a mental health condition. Like many other mental health problems, it's not something you can cure or eliminate for your family member. They may not even recognize it as a problem, and instead, think that they are getting along just fine with you and your other family members.[2]
- Don't expect your family member to see their behavior as codependent if they haven't already come to that conclusion on their own. Trying to force your family member to see your perspective may only make matters worse.
- Treatment in the form of psychotherapy is available. However, your family member likely won't seek it until they come to their own conclusion that there are no other options.
- Look at where the codependent person is coming from. You should not feel like you need to withstand emotional manipulation in any sense. However, it is also important to understand that a codependent person may not know they are manipulating you. In their mind, they are often being supportive and doing the best possible thing for you. Understanding whether a person is or is not intentionally trying to manipulate you can help you figure out how you want to interact with your family member.[3]
- Do not use this to try and justify their actions in your own mind. Simply remember that a codependent person is not operating in the same frame of mind as you. Their actions are being guided by a mental health problem.
- Consider whether you are influencing the codependent behavior. In some cases, codependency can be an overcompensating reaction to another person's behavior. Think honestly about whether you are engaged in any activities or behaviors that may be feeding a family member's codependency.[4]
- For example, codependence is often seen in the parents and spouses of addicts. The codependent person may feel an endless obligation to take care of the addict for fear of what would happen if they don't.
- Think honestly about whether you have behaviors and tendencies that might be feeding into a codependent person's behaviors. If so, you may be part of a codependent relationship.
- Detach from your family member. Detachment doesn't mean that you will never see or speak to your family member. Instead, detachment means separating your family member from their manipulative behaviors. Respond selectively to only those things that are a part of your family member's life or personality, and not that which is a part of codependency.[5]
- If, for example, your mother asks for some fashion advice about shoes, this is a normal and healthy interaction. If she comes to your house to replace all of your shoes because she believes you aren't getting the best arch support, this is a codependent action.
- Establish personal boundaries. You may or may not choose to communicate those boundaries to your family member. You should, however, take some time to set boundaries with which you are comfortable. Consider your personal health and ask yourself what do you need to stay physically and mentally healthy on a daily basis. Build your boundaries around that.[6]
- If, for example, it is important for you to have time every evening to wind down and disconnect for the day, make a boundary that says you will not answer calls, texts, or social media after a certain time.
- If you do choose to let your family member know about your boundaries, state them as fact. You don't need to rationalize them. You can simply tell your family member, "I've decided I don't want to be on my phone or computer after 7 pm anymore." Then, stay steady on your new policy, even if they argue or disagree.
EditRemoving Yourself from Codependent Situations - Find the right way to say no. Part of codependent relationships is familiarity and "button-pushing."That is why in some situations, it may help to say no and distance yourself from your codependent family members, at least temporarily. Finding the right way to say no will depend on the situation, but it can empower you to walk away when things get rough.[7]
- In some cases, when codependent behaviors are not spiraling or threatening your sense of self, you may use a calm response. These could include, "Sorry, I just wouldn't be comfortable doing that," or "Yes, I see that you don't have the same point of view; we are not communicating."
- In situations where you feel it is important to disengage quickly, a simple "No," or "I can't do that," will work. You don't owe anyone an explanation. Your family member may develop an emotionally-charged response, but you are not obligated to meet their emotions.
- Practice nonviolent communication. Violent communication is a form of communication that causes harm, often through coercive or manipulative language. You can start to remove yourself from a codependent dynamic by practicing nonviolent communication. This can help strip the violent communication of its power, and help you detach from the controls of codependency.[8]
- Nonviolent communication relies on explaining how you feel without blame or criticism and expressing your needs with empathy.
- For example, instead of saying, "You always try to control me! Stop!" you may say, "When I hear you telling me that, I feel like I don't have personal autonomy. I value being able to make that kind of decision for myself. Would you be willing to let me do so?" Using "I" statements helps communicate your point without assigning blame or causing your family member to get defensive.
- Detach for a longer period of time. If your family member's codependency is dictating or dominating your life, you may not want to selectively detach. Instead, you may find it more beneficial to detach completely for a longer period of time. This could be anywhere from a day to a period of years, depending on their behavior and your needs.[9]
- In these situations, you may choose how detached you want to be. For example, you could decide you don't want to be around your family member without other people around, or you may decide you don't want to be around them period.
- Always leave a situation if you feel it is potentially dangerous.
EditMaintaining Healthy Relationships - Expect change to be slow. Change in codependent behavior comes slowly, but believe that your attitude can help encourage change. Remember, though, that change often involves dealing with big emotions and overcoming large personal fears. These are not easy, and they will take time.[10]
- Initially, codependent individuals may react with anger or aggressive outbreaks. Try your best to not react to these outbursts. These are fear-driven reactions that you should not indulge or let impact you.
- If there are moments where you are frustrated, try not to engage in anger. Instead, take a deep breath and think about what you are going to say before you say it. If you need to, you can even excuse yourself for a minute until you feel calm enough to return to the situation.
- Focus on your personal health and wellbeing. When you're dealing with a codependent family member, it can sometimes be easy to lose track of your own wellbeing. Try to not let your family member's actions distract you from your daily duties such as work and school. Beyond your daily duties, pick a few things each day that you do just for you, and stick to them.[11]
- For example, you may make an evening routine out of going for a run, then taking a hot bath afterward. Look for things that both prioritize your personal health, and help you relax and detach from the stress of your codependent family member.
- These practices will become a type of self-care, which is critical for coping with and moving on from codependency.
- Treat other family members as if they are emotionally mature. Just because one family member is codependent does not mean that everyone in your family will be. Try not to let your codependent family member's behavior dictate how you interact with the rest of your family. Treat them as if they are emotionally mature unless they give you a reason not to do so.[12]
- For example, this could mean simply asking someone directly for the thing you want, instead of going through a process of detachment to avoid manipulation.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found
|
| How to Plant Lavender in Pots Posted: 26 Jun 2018 01:00 AM PDT Lavender plants are beautiful and fragrant plants that thrive in warm dry climates. Not all climates are great for them, so sometimes they need a little extra care to grow well and produce the blossoms you would like. But, with the correct lavender variety, right potting conditions, and care, you can have a thriving potted lavender plant in almost any place you live. EditSetting up the Right Growing Conditions - Select a variety of lavender that suits your climate and space best. There are 45 different species of lavender with hundreds of varieties, so try narrowing your search by what you want lavender for. Lavenders in general are drought tolerant, but don't handle the cold very well.[1]
- If you live in a climate where the winters are very hard, you can still grow lavender plants, but you will probably have to treat them like annuals and replace them each year.
- Uses for lavender include landscaping, dried buds, culinary, crafts, fresh cuttings, and essential oils. There are different varieties that fit each of these uses differently.[2]
- Look for large pots. Lavender plants can grow to the size of a small shrub, so a large pot for starting will allow for this growth. 12-16 inch containers are the sizes you should look for. Do not look a pot with an attached saucer as this will limit efficient drainage. Remember that lavender plant roots are susceptible to rot if the soil retains water too long.[3]
- It would be best if the pot had multiple draining holes to further encourage quick drainage. You can drill extras if the pot you choose only has one drain hole.
- Fill the bottom 1-2 inches of your pot with the packing peanuts or gravel.[4] Even it out along the bottom, but it doesn't need to be perfect. Make sure this material isn't falling out of the draining holes.
- Pour some of your potting mix into your pot. This mix should fill about a quarter to a third of the rest of the pot, or about 1-inch above the gravel or packing peanuts. Again, it doesn't need to be perfect, but don't fill the pot so full that the plant hardly fits and don't under-fill it so the plant sits too deep in the pot.
- You will need well-draining alkaline soil from a garden or department store. This soil is a common product in the garden section, so it should be easy to locate.[5] Ask an employee if you have difficulty locating the right soil.
- Mix the soil with your hands to break up any dirt clods.[6]
- You can also add 1 Tablespoon of lime to the potting mix to increase the alkaline quality of the soil.[7]
EditPlanting Your Lavender Plant - Remove the Lavender plant from its current pot. Squeeze the bottom of the pot your lavender plant is in. This helps loosen the lavender and its dirt ball from the smaller pot. Tilt the lavender sideways and pull gently on the plant's base. With the loosening of the previous step, the lavender plant should ease out of its old pot.[8]
- The dirt should be solid enough that it feels like it will come out in one chunk if handled gently.
- Handle your pot-less lavender gently to avoid breaking the dirt and damaging the roots as well as the foliage above the dirt.
- Now you're ready to pot your lavender plant in the new pot!
- Place the lavender plant in the center of the pot. Nestle it into the dirt that is already in the pot for security. The base of the plant should sit 3-inches below the rim of the pot.[9] Gently break the surface of the lavender dirt ball with your fingers to release some of the roots.[10]
- Root binding happens when a plant has been in a small pot too long and the roots rival the dirt for space. This makes the dirt hard and unless the dirt and roots are loosened, the roots will not expand in their new pot and the plant will soon die.[11]
- Most potted plants won't be root bound, but it's a good idea to loosen up the roots and dirt a little to ensure the roots get a healthy start.
- Fill the rest of the pot with your potting mix. Fill it only up to the top of the dirt ball around the lavender plant's roots.[12]
- Don't pack the soil around the Lavender plant. The soil needs to stay loose for effective drainage.
- Spread a half cup timed-release fertilizer over your potting soil. Sprinkle the fertilizer on the soil and then scratch the fertilizer into the soil with a fork.
- Timed-release fertilizer can be found at any gardening or farm store and will release fertilizer as the plant is watered.
- An example of a timed-release pellet fertilizer is alfalfa pellets. They are organic and contain triacontanol, which is a growth stimulant.[13]
- Some soils come with fertilizers like alfalfa pellets already mixed in, so you may not need to do this.
- Mulch your lavender plant. Turkey grits or white landscaping pebbles work best for mulching lavenders. Lay the mulch on the soil in a 2-inch thick layer up to the base of the plant.[14]
- This mulch is great for preventing rot in the roots and stems of the plants.
- The white color of turkey grits and white landscaping pebbles will reflect sunlight back to the plant which will stimulate growth. The mulch will also encourage air circulation and quick drainage.
- These materials are inexpensive and can be found at farm and pet stores and some garden stores.[15]
EditCaring for Your Lavender Plant - Drench your plant in water. Water when the soil is almost dry. They need to be watered heavily so the plants get enough moisture. However, lavender plants must also be watered infrequently so the roots aren't in contact with moisture long enough to rot.
- Depending on where you live and what season it is, infrequent watering could mean weekly or biweekly.[16]
- Place pots where they will get at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight. Shade reduces growth and fragrance of the lavender plants.[17]
- Place on concrete surfaces in cooler temperatures to amplify the heat the plants receive.[18]
- Store your potted lavender plants in a garage or indoors during the winter to protect them. Freezing temperatures and snow aren't handled very well by lavender plants.
- One danger of leaving your lavenders in pots in the cold is that if there is enough moisture in the soil, it could freeze and crack your pots. The plant can handle the freezing, but your pots are less likely to.
- Prune your lavender plants. Lavenders should generally be pruned around August, but pruning time varies depending on what your climate is like. Use a pair of good pruning clippers to snip bunches of the stems away.
- As a general rule, prune at least a couple of months before winter sets in.
- Pruning a large lavender plant will take very little time with good pruning clippers
- Snip the stems about three fingers above the new stems that are springing up around the base of the plants.
- Pruning each year can potentially extend your lavender's life to ten years if your climate will allow the plant to live through winter.[19]
EditThings You'll Need - Lavender plant
- Alkaline potting mix
- Packing peanuts/loose gravel
- Fertilizer
- Turkey grit/white landscaping pebbles
- Pruning clippers
EditSources and Citations
Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found
|
No comments:
Post a Comment