What can you do about Head Lice?

As we approach another school year, it's better to be safe than sorry  when  the school nurse calls you – your child  have been diagnosed with a case of head lice.Once lice are found your children may not be able to return to school until you have a treatment well at hand. Many parents don’t want to expose their children repeatedly to the toxic chemicals found in the over the counter treatments.   We have many mothers call the salon, and we'd like to post some help to find a option that can repel these intruders. One can use in the hair each time before they shampoo and also for something to apply to the hair in between.

The references for essential oils that work against lice both the live bugs and their eggs aka nits suggested using a blend that may include any of the following essential oils: Tea Tree, Lavender, Anise, Cinnamon Leaf, Oregano, Eucalyptus Globulus, Thyme, Cloves and Peppermint.

Other oils that may also work include: Bergamot, Spearmint, Naiouli, Marjoram, Petitgrain, Pennyroyal, Ravensara, Roman chamomile, Eucalyptus Citriodora, Clary sage, Jasmine, Lemongrass, Rosemary, and Ylang-ylang.

Several recipes suggested the use of Tea Tree. As in studies it was found that Tea Tree was able to kill both the adults and penetrate the egg shell and kill the yet un-hatched eggs by itself at about 83-93%. Another essential oil Oregano showed 100% kill of both adults and eggs. Two other essential oils, Anise and Cinnamon leaf, had high kill rates too. Below is a Basic Lice Blend that can be used to help kill and repel these unwelcome hair and scalp guests. Follow the suggestions for a Pre-shampoo treatment, Post-Shampoo, and a Hair Spray to help repel and prevent future infestations.

Basic Lice Blend

Tea Tree – 10 drops Lavender – 10 drops Oregano – 5 drops Peppermint – 5 drops Cinnamon – 5 drops

Blend in an amber bottle. You may want to double or triple this basic recipe to make it easier for use.

Step one Mix 1 ounce of Jojoba with 7-8 drops of the above blend. Massage into and on the hair. Leave in the hair wrapped in a towel for 1-2 hours. Shampoo hair, do not dry.

Step two Mix ¼ cup water with ¼ cup vinegar, add 7-8 drops of the above Basic Lice blend. Shake well, then rinse the hair with this. Do NOT rinse with water. Comb the hair out thoroughly using a ‘nit’ comb (available at most pharmacy’s). Rinse or wipe the comb to remove debris, dead lice and nits between combing strokes. The vinegar helps to remove the glue that holds the eggs to the hair shafts. After combing thoroughly, let the hair dry.

Step three The day after the shampoo, rinse and combing - Spray on the following - To 8 ounces of our Body spray OR distilled water add 10 drops of the basic lice blend. Spray on the hair once daily between shampooing. If desired increase the Lavender to make the blend more pleasant for use as a hair spray. A light spray misting is all that is necessary.

If necessary repeat Steps One and Two every 5 – 7 days for up to 2 weeks. You can continue Step Three as long as desired as this should help to keep the lice away. If irritation develops discontinue use.

Lice biology

• The life cycle of the louse is about 4 weeks. Approximately 8 days are spent in the egg stage, which is the hardest stage to kill. The eggs then hatch into tiny lice (first instar nymphs), then into second and third instars and finally into adults. Female lice are larger than males.
• Lice eggs are opaque. If they are clear, it means the lice have already hatched out.
• Healthy lice and eggs are found only within 1 cm of the scalp. They are transmitted by head-to-head contact, not by combs, brushes or furniture, and neither do they live in school buildings or home carpets.
• Head lice are not a sign of bad hygiene. They prefer clean hair to dirty hair.

Control

• It may take several months for a person to become sensitised to the presence of lice, so when treating the affected person it is also important to check all people who have been in close contact with the person during that time. Look at the roots of the hair for lice, eggs, lice faeces (black specks) and cast skins. Faeces and skins may also be found on pillows of the affected person.
• Treat only those people who show signs of lice.
• Make sure that enough of the treatment product is used, and follow the instructions as to how long to keep it on the hair. Do not leave it on for less than the suggested time.
• Shampoos in general will not kill lice as the solution is too weak by the time the extra water needed for hair-washing has been added. This applies to both conventional lice shampoos and those containing essential oils. It is much better to use an aqueous or alcoholic lotion or a conditioner base.
• Comb the hair well afterwards to remove dead and dying lice.
• Repeat the treatment after a week, unless told otherwise.
• If the protocol states that the procedure should be repeated every 2 days, or even more often, this implies that the treatment is not effective on lice eggs.

Reference:   Birch Hill Happenings Aromatherapy, LLC

Are there Dangerous Ingredients in your Hair Color?

  As an independent hair stylist, I started using Ammonia Free Color almost 4 years ago when the alternatives was just hitting the market.  With a apprehensive  doubt at that time from both industry and clientele, Ammonia Free Color is now becoming the "norm" on the shelf and in salons.   I have spoken in many previous articles about the "green marketing" of hiding MEA, and other toxic substitutes, and how one always needs to be aware of what you are investing in, especially if you have allergies.

Regardless of whether you decide to dye your hair by yourself or have it done professionally at a salon, you may be doing your hair – and your health – more harm than good.     A large amount of hair dyes contain toxic chemicals and ingredients that can break down your hair follicles, irritate the scalp, and even cause a slew of health problems including allergies or cancer.  It’s important to learn about the extent of damage these ingredients can cause, especially if you color your hair on a regular basis.

Kasia stylists are experts in Ammonia Free Color, and are happy to create an alternative option.    Consider the following facts before your next hair coloring session:

Potentially Harmful Ingredients in Hair Color

Some of the most commonly found ingredients in hair color that can be dangerous to your health or just damaging to your hair include:

Resorcinol: A toxic compound commonly found in many drugstore hair colors and products used in professional hair salons.

Para phenylene diamine (PPD): PPD is a potent allergen and highly suspected carcinogen that may be linked to several health problems, including cancer. Studies by COLIPHA, the European cosmetic regulatory body, have confirmed that PPD causes bladder cancer.

Ammonia: Commonly used to lift the color out of the hair, ammonia is very damaging to the hair and scalp, and over time, can make it difficult for your hair to retain any type of color. This alkaline compound is used as a catalyst when using hydrogen peroxide, but tends to separate the cuticle of the hair.

Any hair color without ammonia most commonly contains MEA ( mono-ethanolamine ). MEA is effective at performing the first step of a color application – it OPENS the cuticle. However, because the MEA molecule is 3.5 times larger than ammonia, it cannot penetrate the hair as effectively.  When depositing the artificial hair color deep into the strand. 3.5 times bigger in a molecule is more than enough to render it not NEARLY as effective. Covering gray will not be nearly as long lasting, sufficient lightening {required to produce amazing blond and red shades} will just not be there.  Having tried MEA in a few hair color, it does not fully  rinse out of the hair, which can lead to progressive darkening and dulling.

Alternative Options to Harmful Ingredients in Hair Color

Take the extra step in protecting your hair and your health and consider making the switch to natural, plant-based dyes, essential fatty acid technology, and nourishing  botanical ingredients and extracts so that your hair retains its essential compounds, looks and feels stronger, with longer lasting results.

What does Kasia Organic Salon use?  

Mastey De Paris, a family business in Valencia, Calif.,  offers zero-ammonia permanent hair dye.  It “gently opens” the hair shaft with a proprietary amino-acid based alkaline agent, so there’s no MEA, either, said Erick Calderon, the vice president for business development..........

“In time, women will go into a salon and ask, ‘What color do you use? Does it have ammonia?’ ”

Contact Kasia Salon today and receive $20 OFF your first hair color! 

The Cocktail of a Chemical: Informed Beauty Guide.

We tend to forget that the skin is the largest organ of the body,and every day we apply a chemical cocktail of substances in ignorant bliss, there is continual studies suggesting that up to 60% of anything applied topically can be absorbed into our bodies. As the average woman uses up to 10-14 different skincare and cosmetic products each day, this calculates a high level of different chemicals each year seeping into our systems.

So why does this matter?

With many of the synthetic ingredients used in everyday skin care being potentially toxic to humans, you may like to reconsider some of the following:

Petrochemical derived ingredients (such as mineral oil) are extensively used in skin care as they help prevent water loss. While this may seem beneficial, they actually prevent the skin from breathing by forming an occlusive barrier, disrupting the skins normal functioning.

Parabens (a common preservative) have demonstrated oestrogen mimicking activity which disrupts the body's normal hormonal balance. In addition, parabens have also been shown to cause abnormalities in cell reproduction, an issue also associated with cancerous cells.

Sodium Laurel Sulphate (SLS) (a foaming agent) used in toothpaste, shampoo and foaming cleansers. Numerous trials showed that SLS can increase transdermal water loss causing the skin to become dehydrated and cause skin irritation.

Phthalates are a group of synthetic chemicals that are used in the production of various substances such as plastics, beauty products and artificial fragrances. Phthalates can interfere with reproductive tissues in both men and women leading to issues such as infertility and birth defects. Specifically it targets the testes in men and breast tissue in women.

Parfum and synthetic fragrances are the most common cause of adverse skin reactions. Propylene glycol is implicated in contact dermatitis, kidney damage and liver abnormalities. It also damages cell membranes causing rashes, dry skin and surface damage.

Finding safe and natural products can often be confusing - at Kasia Organic Salon, we have removed any guessing game from your "Beautiful Health" hair, skin, and service needs.

Ultimately, what you use on your hair or skin is an individual choice, and issues such as skincare goals, sensitivities or allergies, and personal values need to be taken into consideration. If you do choose to avoid ingredients such as those above the best way to do so is by reading product labels and making an informed decision. But if reading packages is not your style, it's usually safe to say that organic ingredients are best.

Kasia Organic Salon continues to launch options that are safe for you and your family.  Drop us a line or stop in for a consultation and learn more about our Ammonia Free Hair Color, Smoothing treatments, Medical Grade Facials, and more! 

Article Source: Ananda Mahoney

What is Lifestyle Ageing?

  Wrinkles can be caused in a number of different ways. Twin studies verify that lifestyle choices can cause a significant difference in the appearance and wrinkling of the skin. In fact the argument can be made that while we cannot control our chronological age – we can control lifestyle aging to a significant degree. In other words LIFESTYLE AGING is the area in which we can make most impact in regard to our skin's appearance, particularly when it comes to premature aging.

How does aging effect your skin?  There are two basic types of skin aging.

Intrinsic and extrinsic, or in simpler language .....  chronological and lifestyle/environmental. 

Intrinsic aging  is how the skin ages chronologically or biologically in relation to age. Biological aging includes processes like, the slowing of collagen production, enzymes which attack collagen and elastin and the loosening over time of the dermal/epidermal junction. Most creams target this type of aging, largely ignoring extrinsic aging factors.

Extrinsic aging  is caused by environmental and lifestyle factors – and exactly what Kasia Organics Skin Care addresses. Lifestyle Aging can happen as a result of stress, diet, excess sugar, UV damage, smoking, pollution and so on. It is important to be aware and devoted to lifestyle aging and the environmental factors which cause us to age, targeting the cause as well as the symptom.

With a holistic approach to anti-aging at Kasia, we focus on each person and the significance of everyone ages differently for different reasons.

 

Learn more about our Kasia Beautiful Health Skin Care and Medical Facial Program!

Get NO STRESS Facial approach with Doctor Office Results!

             Kasia Beautiful Health Skin Care Void of Parabens, Synthetics....

Full and Center Trend in Kim Kardashian's Bun!

  Minnesota's native Kris Humphries new love, Kim Kardashian has been highly noticed around the Eden Prairie Costco and Twin Games as she warms up to her soon to be hubby's stomping ground.  She is definitely known for her thick and rich hair, and if you notice she usually wears down with a center part.  Looking forward to her wedding "doo" - do you think it will be up or down, center part or side?

"Ok, this blog is far from idolizing Kim, but it is to pull  the current trend in hair right now.  Did you catch it? 

Center Parts and Buns!    Use these tips:

• Prep your towel dried hair prior to washing and conditioning with Hamadi Shea Leave in Cream or Kasia Restore Oil.
• Using a larger bristle round brush, blow dry the hair making sure to elevate the sections above the part for root volume.   Use  Onesta's  Volumizing Mousse on the roots if your is extra thick or dense.
• Using a larger barrel curling iron, take larger vertical sections and slightly twist them. Start the curl near the root for lift and then roll the section horizontally making sure the ends are wrapped all the way into the curling iron.
• Allow the curls to cool and separate lightly  with a  comb.
• Spray with Simply Organic Hair Spray for a finish

Buns are quick and easy as it only takes a hairband and a few bobby or hairpins to secure. This type of style is fabulous for summer wedding hair or a simply solution to a casual maxi dress: bonus: it accentuates the bare neck, decollete and shoulders. Center parts are great because its a fast fix to elongate the face shape and in some cases it can visually accentuate hair length as well.

Photo Credit: Emerson Salon

Stop the Split End Manifesto!

  Whether you are growing your locks out or maintaining your recent professional cut from Kasia, there's no hair enemy as fierce as the dreaded split end!

The Kasia Hair Team can agree that the number one complaint of clients when coming in for a cut are their frazzled ends.  Old or young, chemically treated strands or your savaged natural hue, you stand at risk of experiencing this science.

"Split ends occur when the outer protective layer of the hair cuticle wears away because of external stressors such as heat styling, excessive pony tails, environmental stressors and chemically derived products that break the hair down over time,” explains Kassie, owner and stylist at Kasia Organic Salon.

There is no return back once the internal structure of the hair is exposed, it becomes weak, thirsty and damaged, resulting in split ends,” says Kassie.

The Way

While there is one road to ridding your luscious locks beaten up ends in having them snipped off, there are several ways to nurture your noggin’  between salon appointments to improve the look of damage and prevent more splits from occurring.

Condition and spread: Apply Kasia Weighless Conditioner or Restore Hair Oil Treatment in the shower, slowly run a wide-tooth comb through hair until all the tangles are out. This prevents the harsh pressure and breakage that results from trying to brush out hair that is roughed up from a towel-dry.

Mind your heat tools: The cheap blow-dryer or half off flat iron that barely heats up may be a tempting snatch, but inexpensive tools tend to dangerously overheat over time and burn ends into splits.  Do your homework and  use a brand recommended by a pro.

Be gentle: Treat your hair as a well-worth asset!  Just like the new suite you purchased, it will last longer and look better as you present yourself to the world

Use as natural and non-chemcially derived products as possible to achieve a long term health and shine to your locks.

Get your Omega’s, Protein, folic acid and biotin:  Nutrients literally build the proteins that make up your hair strands. B vitamins folic acid and biotin of  in particular,  have been shown to supplement hair health, length and thickness.

Folic acid helps the production of red blood cells, which powers the growth of hair. Foods rich in folic acid include green leafy veggies, oranges, soybeans and wheat. Biotin strengthens both hair and nails through its metabolism of fats, carbs and proteins. Brown rice, lentils, peas, sunflower seeds, walnuts and soybeans are all rich in biotin.

Antioxidants give you the anti aging protection against the diseases and help slow down the aging process of your skin, cells, tissues and organs. The main antioxidants found in food include vitamins A, C and E, the minerals selenium and zinc and all of the phytonutrient carotenoids.  Antioxidants keep free radicals from ravaging your body and stealing the life from your cells.

Critics used to claim there was no evidence that topically based products affected skin aging. Over the years, a remarkable number of published studies have proven these skeptics wrong! Science clearly substantiates the role that free radicals play in causing skin aging and the fact that topically applied antioxidants confer significant protection and can even partially reverse some aspects of skin aging. Indeed, various animal and human studies have proven that low molecular weight antioxidants, especially vitamins C and E, as well as alpha-lipoic acid exert protective effects against free radical damage (oxidative stress) (Podda et al. 2001).

Essential Fatty Acids offer anti aging benefits to dry skin, hair, and nails.   EFA’s will give your body the nutrients it needs for smooth, glowing skin and healthy hair and is even known to help balance hormones.

Fatty Acid (Omega 3) anti-aging benefits and reduction may be directly linked to cell inflammation. They help to keep the cells healthy and reduce the inflammation that may occur in the cell when omega 6 levels are too high.

Use leave-in conditioner or treatment oil: A leave-in conditioner will add extra protection that stays on strands as you heat and style your hair. Consider Kasia Restore Hair Oil Treatment, which you apply after every wash on towel-dried hair for best results.

Sunflower oil (comprised in Kasia Restore Hair Oil) contains fatty acids and are essential to hair health and effective in preventing hair loss from male and female pattern baldness and alopecia areata.

Lastly, get regular cuts: As stated, a good cut is the only way to fully get rid of split ends, regular trims provides the best protection against them. The longer you wait, the greater your split ends will make way up the shaft. It might sound oxy-moronic, but hair that remains the healthiest are those that receive frequent trims.  Especially if you're trying to grow longer, healthier hair.  The Kasia Organic Salon Hair Team suggests  getting a cut or trim at least every six to eight weeks.

Essential Nutrients for your hair and skin with antioxidants, cold pressed oils and fatty acids 

Kasia Organic Salon provides beautifying services with a side of environmental awareness. Put your eco-conscience and its cranial encasement at ease during your services at Kasia.

The former nurtures noggins with customized blends of essential oils, repairing damaged follicles while helping to prevent dandruff, some hair loss, and scalp irritation.

With the health of your head restored, a skilled scissor shaman will get to work on the style.  We are devoted to designing looks that let each client's personality shine through, so whether you are fun and flirty, serious and sophisticated, or enraged and enamored, you'll leave the salon with a 'do' to match your personality.

How to tame your inner-FRIZZ!

I hope you are enjoying your summer!   As you know, this is the season that the inner-frizz comes out to play therefore enjoy our Beautiful Health Hair TIP below! 

Why does this happen to our lovely locks?

When the hair shaft has a lack of moisture on the "inner court," those little hairs start  looking for moisture in the atmosphere and end result,  drifting away from the long hairs.

Example:

When it rains, the extra moisture in the air means extra frizz… little hairs are coming out to do the rain dance.   The H2O is good for them, but the frizz coming out to play is annoying for you, the owner.

What's the key?

When you are looking to control frizz, you need a supple amount of  MOISTURE in the interior of the hair shaft. When hair has enough interior moisture it stops trying to pull water from the outside air.

Recommendation for the Informed Beaute'

Kasia Restore Hair Serum is a top seller at Kasia. Our clients love it due to it's purity of cold pressed Organic oils, as well as it's effects of long term moisture control and restructuring the health of the hair. We created  Kasia Restore  Serum to smooth away frizzy hair without any silicone, which causes  irritation and sensitivity as well as  build up over time becoming very difficult to remove.

We absolutely love what Shea Leave In Hair Cream.   It is ver versatile and enhances waves and curls, tames frizz, or may be used as a straightener for thick hair.  With a fantastic citrusy aroma of exotic verbena, lemon, lemongrass & palmarosa essential oils.

Do you have weight-loss resistance?

I absolutely LOVE Women to Women resources.  In alignment with Marcel and the foundation of Functional Medicine, there are reasons that in the pursuit of weightloss, it is not achieved.

Enjoy the posted article and starting checklist of possibly causes in your personal journey to a HEALTHY WEIGHT!

As a culture, we believe that if you simply stop eating so much and just get more exercise, you can always lose weight. Personal trainers, nutritionists, and even well-intentioned healthcare practitioners relay this message to women every day. Yet there are still women out there who can’t lose weight. Are they lying about what they eat and about how much they exercise? I don’t think so — because I was one of these women.

In my 20’s I joined Weight Watchers and drove myself crazy weighing and measuring every morsel of food I put in my body. I never missed a workout, never cheated with food, and every time I got on the scale, I’d find I only lost a mere half-pound or even gained. I know that Weight Watchers works well for some people, but it didn’t work for me. And now I know it was because I had something called weight-loss resistance.

I talk to women every day who spend hours at the gym, who starve themselves regularly, and just can’t figure out why they aren’t losing weight. Weight-loss resistance is extremely frustrating, and often isolating. If this sounds like you, the first thing I want to say is I believe that you are not a closet eater and that you are doing everything you can. The reality is, there may be a metabolic imbalance blocking you from weight loss, and once you resolve it, the weight will melt away, stay away, and allow you to maintain a healthy weight.

What is weight-loss resistance?

Weight-loss resistance arises when a woman develops or has a preexisting metabolic imbalance that makes losing weight and maintaining healthy weight extremely challenging, despite her best efforts to eat less and exercise more.

Here are the six core systemic imbalances that greatly contribute to weight-loss resistance in women:

• Hormonal imbalance (including thyroid dysfunction)
• Adrenal imbalance (chronic stress)
• Neurotransmitter imbalance
• Digestive imbalance
• Systemic inflammation
• Impaired detoxification

Six ways to address weight-loss resistance

We often see a combination of the above imbalances in stubborn weight-loss resistance, but as we begin to work with a woman, we see one that generally predominates. Here are six fundamental measures you can begin to apply today. We have found each of these beneficial to a woman’s efforts — no matter how entrenched her weight-loss resistance.

1) Understand your unique physiology. Work with a functional medicine practitioner or join a program like our Personal Program for Healthy Weight to identify any metabolic imbalances keeping you from weight loss. Once you find out what your imbalance is, you can tailor your nutritional plan and lifestyle changes to re-balance your system.

2) Get the best raw materials. I suggest eating three well-balanced meals and two snacks each day. Organic fruits and vegetables are always good choices, but also be sure each meal and snack includes some high-quality protein like legumes, nuts, fish, or lean organic meats. If you are often on the go, a snack shake made of whey protein and almond milk or water is also a great choice.

Along with regular meals and snacks, successful weight loss is facilitated by including certain vitamins, minerals, and cofactors in your diet. In particular, chromium, zinc, vitamin C, D3, and the B vitamins are essential for healthy metabolism. So be sure to include a high-quality multivitamin–mineral complex like the one we offer in our Personal Programs to support your weight-loss efforts.

3) Move your body. Even if you’ve felt discouraged by your fruitless workouts of the past, regular exercise is integral to a woman’s health — especially to shake off extra pounds and maintain that healthy weight. Overcoming weight-loss resistance and resetting your metabolism will generally require a little sweat — but for those short on time, bursting or interval training is a super-efficient option.

4) Address stress and emotional health. For some, rebalancing your body may be as easy as ending a troubling relationship! I had one patient whose weight-loss resistance was rooted in stress. Her husband was cheating on her and embezzling money from her. Dumping him helped her to lose 40 pounds without doing anything else! So take the time to explore what’s working and not working in your life, because these things truly do influence your make changes and sustain healthy habits.

5) Find time to restore and SLEEP. Quality sleep is something we all compromise when we’re overscheduled. But if you’re serious about losing weight, sleep has to become a top priority. Not only does a good night’s sleep allow our body time to restore itself, sleep plays an integral role in how hungry we feel. Studies show that getting too little sleep causes us to consume more calories. Eight hours of sleep between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM is ideal when you want to overcome weight-loss resistance.

6) Gain the benefit of a supportive social network. Research shows that people who join together in their weight-loss efforts are more successful. Whether you find a partner to start your new weight-loss plan with, join a larger group, or simply take advantage of our Member Advocates and Wellness Coaches, gaining connection with others can really help you lose.

Could weight-gain be in your genes?

New research in genetics is helping us to understand that genes cause some to metabolize fat differently than others. This means that certain kinds of food and exercise may be better for some than others.

While some women may lose weight on a lower-fat diet, others may benefit from a more Mediterranean-style diet.2 While some women lose more weight with endurance-style exercise, others may do better with strength training. In other words, we’re all different!

I’m not sure why our culture is always trying to put us in a box, one where the same solutions work for every person. Mother Nature proves to us again and again that we are all unique. What works for you may not work for your girlfriend or your sister. Our differences in shape, size, color, genetics, and personality are all worthy of embrace and celebration. You deserve to find out what’s lying at the core of your weight-loss puzzle and we can help you get there.

Reference: womentowomen.com