Winter Hair Care Tips for Natural Hair

Consistency is the best way to see results in your hair. Natural hair takes more maintenance. It's more than going to the salon weekly/biweekly or having in braids consistently, or wearing sew ins, you need to be aware of the time you'll need to set aside to get the results you want to see.

"Since I started my transition I've used shea moisture, because that's the only brand I knew about at the time. I used the coconut and hibiscus line, the shampoo and the conditioner for wash, and after the styling products such as the style milk and the curl enhancing smoothie, you need your hair to air dry before going outside due to the cold," said Walki Perez, a Dominican criminal justice major from Queens.

Perez says trying out new and different brands of products work best for her during the winter. "I've recently used Carol's Daughter, I like it but I don't stick to just one brand during this time of the year, your hair gets used to it and then it just doesn't function well," she said.

Perez decided to go natural in January 2017. "My hair still curled, nut some of them would just stay straight; I decided to go natural to see my hair's full potential and repair all of the heat damage," she reported.

"When I went the first few months without heat my hair really changed, then I cut my hair in July and that's when I really started seeing change," said Perez.

She expressed that no matter the time of the year, and especially in the winter, it is important to always trim your hair and keep in mind your hair's health, over length.

Don't dry your hair with a regular towel, the cotton will soak the moisture from your hair. "Drying your hair with a t-shirt or a microfiber towel during your routine will help your hair keep its moisture especially in the winter," said Perez.

"Deep conditioning is important!" said N'aia Anderson, an African American Communications major from Queens.

"You can either make your own deep conditioner watching YouTube videos, or you can buy one and see if it works for your hair," said Anderson.

Perez showed the same sentiments, "You basically just do your regular shampoo routine, if you want extra moisture you could use a conditioner, detangle your hair, wash everything out, and then put the leave-in conditioner product on your hair for about 45 minutes," she said.

Learning how to train your curls and the shingling method will be useful when dealing with frizz and shrinkage during the winter.

"I also do a lot of hot oil treatments and moisturize my scalp more in the winter because my hair gets very dry," said Anderson. Any hair oil will do the trick.

"Get into sleeping with a bonnet," said Anderson, she explained it's the easiest way to put your hair down and just shake it out in the morning.

"In the winter it is also easier to just do protective styles to not damage your hair, such as braids, and updos," said Perez.

6 Hair-Care Myths You Need to Stop Believing

 

Think you know all about hair care? Okay, you might know a lot. But there is a ton of fake news out there about what makes your hair the healthiest and looking its best. Don't fall for 'em. Below, we've rounded up some of the six most common misconceptions about your crown of glory. You may be surprised by what you find!

Cutting your hair makes it grow faster.

"This is a myth and there is no science behind this theory," states hair surgeon Ken L. Williams Jr., founder of Orange County Hair Restoration in Irvine, California, and author of Hair Transplant 360: Follicular Unit Extraction. It comes down to the physiology of the hair growth cycle. "Cutting the hair shaft itself has nothing to do with the hair follicle that is located within the skin or the dermis," he explains. While trimming your strands will make unhealthy ends disappear, it won't encourage your hair to grow at a faster rate.

Washing your hair with cold water makes it shinier.

Well, the good news is you can stop torturing yourself with cold showers. "The temperature of the water has nothing to do with whether the scalp or hair is clean, or the appearance of the hair," says Williams. "You're getting a stimulatory effect [with the cold water — it certainly wakes you up — but that's all it's going to do." However, he states that conditioning the hair can affect its luster and help pump up the shine. Try Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Conditioner to keep your hair shiny and moisturized.

Coloring your hair will only damage it.

"There's a half-truth behind this one," says Williams. It has been recorded in medical journals that people who have used strong dyes have actually burned their scalp. "So it totally depends on the chemical, the dye, and the manufacturer you're using," continues Williams. In other words, every scalp is unique, so results will vary.

Split ends can be repaired.

New York City dermatologist Francesca J. Fusco, who consults for Unilever, notes that split ends are equal opportunity offenders, and when left untreated, hair becomes dull, dry, and tangled. "Split ends cannot be repaired once a split occurs and cannot be resealed or closed," she states. The reason: A split end is caused when the protective outer layer of your hair, the cuticle, is damaged. "The best treatment is to get regular haircuts trimming the ends,"' adds Fusco. They can't be resealed, but if you want to give them some extra TLC, use the Oribe Split End Seal which helps restore your hair.

Dry shampoo is better than washing your hair with regular shampoo.

Dry shampoo can be misleading since it doesn't actually clean your hair. Fusco explains that the scalp needs to be hydrated and washed with shampoo. It also needs to be rinsed. "It is fine to use dry shampoo in a pinch, but nothing replaces...water and wet shampoo," she concludes. Try using the Best of Beauty-winning L'Oreal Paris Extraordinary Clay Rebalancing Shampoo for purified and hydrated roots.

Fine hair shouldn't be conditioned.

"This is false — both hair and scalp need to be conditioned!" states Fusco. "Proper shampooing and conditioning nourish the scalp, allowing healthy beautiful hair to grow and also helps to condition the hair." She advises people of all hair types to look for a shampoo and conditioner that is formulated specifically for both hair and scalp, such as Dove DermaCare Scalp Pure Daily Care.

Hair care tips after Balayage

BALAYAGE, a hair coloring technique, has been a craze these days among women who want to experiment on a new look. And I am, actually, one of those.

For someone who has piano black hair, I wanted to find out how I would look if I finally opt for a lighter shade for my mane. So, I visited High Definition Salon along Quimpo Boulevard (just in front on Pan de Pugon). With the magic hands and expertise of Ariel Isod, I was able to have the hair color I have been dreaming of.

After four hours of treatment, my extra black mane is gone. It was already replaced with graduated, natural-looking blonde; the way I have always wanted it to be.

However, such process of highlighting the hair may pose a threat to the so-called crowning glory of the descendants of Eve. In fact, beauty hubs do not suggest hair rebonding after someone had a Balayage treatment.

Below are some hair care tips I have gathered to maintain the healthy glow of our blonde or brunette looks following a Balayage:

Limit washing the hair. Of the many sites I visited for tips, this is the most common recommendation. Accordingly, frequent washing (or use of shampoo) may damage the dyed hair, no matter what color we have. And if we had our hair bleached, the more we need to follow this advice.

Turn to dry shampoo, instead. Since it is not good to keep on washing our hair, dry shampoo is the answer for us to continuously look fresh. When applying dry shampoo, we have to ensure, though, that we are able to remove all the residue, or else, anyone might think that we are rich in dandruff. Haha! By the way, Etude House and Watsons are selling dry shampoo.

Make deep conditioning treatment a weekly habit. Bleaching can make the hair "ugly" if we do not know how to take care of our hair. Considering that it can make our hair dry and brittle, it is important that we use deep conditioner once or twice a week. In the local market, Pantene, Loreal and Neutrogena have one. We can also scour for other brands.

Avoid applying heat. Honestly, I am a fan of electric hair curler and iron. Since we just had Balayage, using these "beautification weapons" may greatly damage our crowning glory.

Heat protectant spray can be an armor. If we think that we cannot really avoid heat, then, we should use heat protectant spray before letting those electric appliances touch our hair.

Leave-on conditioner is another trick to follow. Once we had our hair bleached and dyed, there is a huge chance it will get super dry and brittle. To fight this, we need to apply leave-on conditioner when we come out of a shower and before running a comb through it.

Did I say heat? Well, that includes the sun. If it is unavoidable to go out, we can spray something that protects our hair from the UV rays. We can also use a hat to cover our entire head to help keep the natural moisture of our hair.

These are only few of the many ways we can protect our bleached and dyed hair. If you have some more there, please share them with me.

An Afro styling authority shares her best hair care tips

This 15 September marks World Afro Day, a celebration of the unique position of Afro hair, and who better to celebrate with then award-winning stylist and industry authority Charlotte Mensah.

Between running her own salon, Hair Lounge on London's Portobello Road, and an eponymous product line – plus styling stars such as Janelle Monae and Eve - Mensah is also a fierce advocate for education.

The native Ghanaian founded the Charlotte Mensah Academy which offers less fortunate, young Ghanaians an opportunity to learn a vocational skill, while her charity, L.O.V.E (Ladies of Visionary Empowerment) is aimed at furthering the education and empowerment of young women in Africa.

She spared some rare free time to talk curly hair care, with top tips for transitioning to natural and the conditioning treatments that actually work.

"The biggest mistakes I see women making with their hair include not having regular enough treatments, not getting their hair frequently trimmed, having too many chemical treatments and not adding enough moisture.

"When transitioning from chemically treated to natural hair, moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. Don't forget – because most natural, transitional hair soaks up moisture like a sponge. Have regular trims every four-to-six weeks to maintain your style and keep the ends healthy. And don't forget to take five minutes to pamper your hair before bedtime. That means moisturising if necessary, securing the ends and covering overnight with a silk scarf.

"I recommend investing in certain products and brands: moisturising shampoos that contain humectants which attract moisture, or conditioning shampoos to treat dry, brittle hair. Also a hair oil that will seal in moisture. Try the Aveda Dry Remedy range, Mizani True Textures range and my Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil range. For a hair treatment, try the Manketti Oil Conditioner – a multi-tasking product that can be used as a deep penetrating conditioning mask. This is applied to the hair, combed through with a wide tooth-comb and left on for 15-20 minutes.

"I'm always asked the same question 'Why isn't my hair growing? I always explain that there are a number of factors that equate to this issue. Your diet and lifestyle as well as genetics, all play an important role in hair growth.

"My top tip is quite simple; if you don't make your personal health top priority your hair will show it."

A Nordic Mythology Inspired Shoot with Missy Dress Design Gowns

It's always an immense pleasure to feature this lady's designs – I'm talking about  the inimitable Missy Dress by the way, one of the New Zealand's most talented independent British designers and a highly recommended member of our wedding directory, Little Book For Brides.

Jo's designs carry the most beautiful bohemian signature and the two gowns used in this particular shoot are full of the kind of hand-crafted detail I adore Joanne for. But who better to talk you through these images than the designer herself.

I love working with the Norwegian creative team Missy Dress – they have such a particular aesthetic, both dreamy and intricately detailed, that resonates so perfectly with my style.

I adore this atmospheric coastal styled shoot they organised early last summer using my gowns. Missy Dress (the Day Dreamers) are a creative partnership between photographer Mona and stylist Barbro, and they also have the talents of an extended network of other collaborators to call on, as in this shoot where Mari provided the gorgeous flowers. The location was an area near the tiny charming town of Stavern, where Missy Dress are based.

One beautiful summer afternoon, Missy Dress took these lovely fey creatures (fraternal twins) to the beach where they grew up, for a shoot with a couple of my very own Missy Dress gowns. The pale caramel coloured embellished tulle ‘Lotis' dress and the custom tinted wisteria French lace ‘Langtry' style.

The results are just gorgeous, with a hint of wild Nordic mythology about them; long hair and languorous poses evoking the havsrå of the deep fjords and coastal shallows.The havsrå (sea wife) can take many different forms, but often appears atop rocky outcrops as an incredibly beautiful woman with long flowing hair. They can foretell the future, thus there is often a mysterious air of melancholy about them.

Coty Selects R/GA to Lead Creative Duties on Its New Hair-Care Brands Clairol and Wella

Beauty giant Coty has picked R/GA to handle creative marketing for its recently acquired hair care brands Clairol and Wella after a creative review.

Effective immediately, the agency will lead efforts to promote Clairol in the U.S. and Wella worldwide. Its consulting practice will also handle other unspecified brand strategy duties.

"Appointing R/GA will bring a new level of creativity and excitement to the Wella and Clairol brands," read a statement from Coty svp of retail hair color and styling Rosa Ajjam, who called the news "a key part of our strategy to reinvigorate the retail hair category." She added, "R/GA shares our bold ambitions and we're confident that they are the right fit for the brands."

R/GA global chief strategy officer Barry Wacksman said, "The beauty category overall and the retail hair category in particular are ripe for disruptive innovation. R/GA is incredibly excited to work with Coty on its ambitious transformation of the venerable Wella and Clairol brands."

The agency once included brands like L'Oreal among its client roster, but has not produced any major campaigns in the beauty space for the past couple of years.

This review began after New York-based Coty finalized its merger with P&G's specialty beauty business in October 2016, thereby acquiring the aforementioned brands in addition to cosmetics staples like Cover Girl and Max Factor, fragrances including Hugo Boss and Gucci and other assorted hair care products.

WPP's Grey had been lead creative agency on both Clairol and Wella before P&G and Coty finalized the merger late last year. In February, Grey officially resigned from its duties on all brands involved in the deal including Cover Girl a few days before that brand went to Droga5. At the time, several parties claimed that budgetary concerns may have played a role in the decision. A Grey representative declined to comment.

According to the latest numbers from Kantar Media, P&G spent approximately $40 million on paid media promoting Clairol in the U.S. in 2015, $25 million in 2016 and $7 million in the first quarter of this year. Most campaigns for Wella are based in Europe, and global spending totals for the two brands were not available at the time this story went live.

More Health Problems Reported With Hair And Skin Care Products

We rub, pour, sprinkle and spray them all over our bodies, so you'd hope cosmetics would undergo serious safety oversight before they get into our hands. But in fact, the cosmetics industry is largely self-regulated, with no requirements for approval before going on the market. And once on the market, there are few systems in place to monitor the safety of personal care products.

"You can start making a cosmetic and start selling it the next day without any kind of permission from the FDA," says Steve Xu, a resident physician in dermatology at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University and author of a study on problems with personal care products published Monday.

If you suspect that a product has resulted in an "adverse event," such as a rash, nausea, stress, or even death, you can report it to the manufacturer or tell the Food and Drug Administration. And while that might get you an apology and some coupons, there is no guarantee that your case will be investigated, or that a manufacturer will report it to the FDA.

Last December the FDA for the first time publicly released data collected by its Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition on adverse events related to food and cosmetics since 2004. Before, someone would have had to file a Freedom of Information Act request with the agency to gain access to reports of safety problems.

Hair care products, skin care products and tattoos were most commonly reported as the source of problems, according to the analysis by Xu and colleagues at Northwestern, which was in JAMA Internal Medicine.

The most common complaints, according to Xu, were hair loss or breakage and local skin irritation. Baby products, personal cleanliness products, and hair care and coloring products were found to have the highest proportion of serious adverse events, including serious injuries, hospitalization and death.

From 2015 to 2016, the number of reported adverse events more than doubled. This leap, Xu says, was driven largely by complaints of hair loss and skin irritation associated with WEN by Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioners. In 2014, the FDA announced that it was investigating WEN products.

Although the FDA had received only 127 complaints about these products by that time, the manufacturer had received about 21,000 complaints, according to the FDA. Unfortunately, manufacturers have no legal obligation to report adverse events to the FDA. So the FDA has asked the public to submit complaints about WEN conditioners directly to the agency. Many of the 2016 complaints, says Xu, were a direct result of that call to action. The agency also welcomes reports on problems with other personal care products through its online MedWatch system.

Guthy-Renker, the marketing company behind WEN products, said in a statement to NPR after the story published, "We welcome legislative and regulatory efforts to further enhance consumer safety across the cosmetic products industry. However, there is no credible evidence to support the false and misleading claim that WEN products cause hair loss."

In an editorial also published in JAMA Internal Medicine, former FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf and his co-authors say there needs to be better premarket assessment and postmarket surveillance of cosmetic products. Substantial improvements to cosmetics regulations, they say, would require more support for the "chronically underfunded" FDA, mandatory registration of cosmetic products, and modernization of cosmetics oversight, based on systems the FDA already has in place for drug and device monitoring. With these changes, they write, "we can achieve the high levels of safety people in the United States have a right to expect."

10 simple ways to take care of your hair in this heat

The mercury is soaring, and so is the worry for women--how to maintain a style statement, and not spoil our hair in this heat? Figuring out how not to lose the cool with open hair this summer is a big deal, and we have the perfect answer for you.

We spoke exclusively to celebrity stylist and hair expert, Priscilla Corner--a State-Registered Senior Hair Dresser with the Hair Council of UK, and a consultant at June Tomkyns in Kolkata. Corner showed us some very easy ways to take care of your hair in this summer heat.

Also Read: Get rid of all your hair woes with these home remedies

1. Washing your hair is a must: Increase the number of washes in a week. It will avoid accumulation of sweat on the scalp, and keep your hair clean and shiny.

2. Choose the right shampoo: Use a shampoo that addresses the problem of sweat, and does not strip your scalp. You cannot have a good building if the foundation is weak, so you have to have a strong scalp to maintain good quality hair.

3. Shampoo to suit the purpose: Use moisture or hydration shampoo and NOT creamy or heavy shampoo during summer.

4. How to use conditioners: The trick is to mix water with conditioners and use a little diluted version. It will not make hair feel heavy yet keep it moisturised.

Also Read: 4 summer-friendly fashion trends that should surely find a way to your closet

5. Oiling is a must: Use light weight oil only for summers. For example Keo Karpin, Emami hair oil or Almond oil will give strength to scalp and hair. Your grandparents still have lovely hair due to oiling of hair regularly, and some traditions are actually going to help you maintain beautiful hair.

6. Aroma reduces stress: So take a break on your weekly-off, and spend some time oiling your scalp with scented oil. Aroma works wonders because the oil will go away and fragrance will stay.

7. Do not touch: People who have frizzy hair should avoid touching there hair too much. The more you comb your hair, the more you turn it into a ticking bomb. Coconut oil when applied on frizzy hair for two to three hours eases the frizz.

Also Read: 10 ways to keep that stink away during summer

8. Losing sleep over hair loss: Two drops of rosemary essential oil is a fabulous recipe when mixed with regular oil of your choice. Apply it on your scalp only, and you'll have a stress-free and rejuvenating sleep.

9. Right time for a hair cut: The hair grows faster in summer making it the perfect reason for you to chop the crop. There are more split ends due to tying of hair, and pinning up too--the hair cut avoids this for sure. A hair cut can change how you look in the same attire, giving you an easy makeover.

10. Hair spa time has come: Just as your body needs nourishment, the hair deserves it as well. So find time out this weekend and engage yourself in a relaxing spa.

Do not wait for a weekend to get a hair massage from your loved ones at home. The good 'champi' is a miraculous way to de-stress and heal naturally.

Skin care and hair care: Combat changing seasons with these expert tips

Winter has finally said goodbye and summer is knocking at the doors and with this changing weather, one should take extra care of hair and skin by using a nice face wash and right natural replenishing shampoo and conditioner, say experts.

Rashmi Shetty, Dermatologist and advisor on Pond’s skin panel says that it’s important to keep five key factors in mind when it comes to ‘skincare tips to combat changing seasons and they are Humidity, Temperature, Pollution, Exposure to UV rays and Lifestyle Changes.

She also lists the factors that one should keep in mind for the skin during the changing season.

* Summer gets too hot and too humid, and our face tends to get dirty and dull. This is why it is important to use a good facewash, like one with activated carbon so it can remove the dirt particles that pollution and air cause.

* Summer also requires moisturisers and creams that are very light and hydrating. The right texture of a moisturiser is an important thing to keep in mind.

* One can also use creams that have skin lightening ingredients. Something enriched with vitamins that don’t over sensitise the skin but can combat dullness and dark spots.

Daniel Bauer, hair care expert of TRESemmé, on the other hand, lists tips to keep in mind for hair.

* While it’s hot and humid, there is no excuse for your hair to look like a crow’s nest. Cooling down in the pool or a dip in the ocean is great for you, but not for your hair. Chlorine in swimming pools can strip away the natural oils that coat your hair, while sea salt literally sucks the moisture from your hair and can sometimes interact with your hair dye, making it fade much sooner.

Nobody wants this! Lost hair oils and moisture will gradually comeback to your hair, but the right natural replenishing shampoo and conditioner will help aid the recovery.

*Use the right shampoo and conditioner for each Indian season as using the same shampoo and conditioner all year round will only work sometimes.

* Usually in summers try and just stick to braids and top knots. With the right hair care, you can leave the buns and braids behind this season and have fantastic open wavy or beach hair all year round. Just cheat with the right shampoo and conditioner.

How this high-end hair tools brand blows away the competition

If the aughts are remembered for any single runway trend, it will arguably be long, stick-straight hair. Locks that look as if they’ve been pressed at the laundry and shaped by a razor’s edge adorn magazine covers year after year, and the style shows few signs of slowing down in 2017.

ghd, a high-end hair tools retailer, isn’t the brand solely responsible for iconic hair styles. It is, however, one of the most notable names in hair care — specifically, high-end straighteners and hair tools — and a market leader in the UK. Though the company is primarily renowned for its straightening irons, it also makes dryers, curlers, brushes and combs, and styling products.

Hair tool tech 

One of the reasons ghd tools tend to be on the pricier side is because of their patented technology. The Eclipse straightener, for instance, uses "tri-zone technology" and a series of six sensors to maintain constant temperature, minimising damage to hair while taming even the unruliest of tresses with a single stroke.

"When GHD was launched back in 2001, it revolutionised the way hair was styled – from the way in which hairdressers could work, to giving women the power to easily achieve a professional-looking style at home," GHD CEO Paul Stoneham told Marketing Week in a 2013 case study. "Our ongoing quest is to launch products with groundbreaking technology of professional stylist salon quality that make life easier for our clients."

Strength of brand

Since the company’s inception in 2001 in Leeds (by three entrepreneurs and just £15,000, mind you), the brand has seen great success. It’s estimated that ghd hair tools are used and sold in more than 50,000 salons worldwide. In 2016, the company was acquired by the U.S.-based company Coty, the world’s third-largest beauty firm, for £420 million.

ghd’s products have also been endorsed by a litany of A-list celebrities and fashion icons; the company partnered with the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2013, and has been called "The Rolls-Royce of irons." The comparison to a luxury automobile is accurate, down to the price point —ghd hair tools cost enough for fashion-focused social media influencers to refer to them as "investments."

As with any brand that has an eye to the future, ghd is well equipped for the fashion world of tomorrow: Its ecommerce business is booming; its state-of-the-art technology promises to stay on the cutting-edge of hair care, no matter what fashion trends may come and go.

Another reason why ghd is relatively future-proof lies in the company’s strength of brand: On top of exquisite branding and edgy, effective advertising campaigns, ghd’s network of big-name brand ambassadors keeps ghd front and centre in beauty blogs and fashionista circles around the globe.

Even the businesses’ name evokes power and emotion: After all, who hasn’t experienced the confidence-boosting power of a truly good hair day?

Here’s a Jobs Fix That Both Democrats and Republicans Like

There’s a dubious and ridiculous form of regulation holding back the U.S. economy, some would-be reformers say, and it’s lurking in your local hair salon.

Occupational licenses have proliferated in recent years. Back in the 1950s, fewer than 5% of jobs required a license; but today, economists say, that figure is closer to 25%. And we’re not talking about licenses that are unambiguously necessary to protect public health and safety, like those for medical doctors and nurses, or commercial airline pilots. Rather, these are licenses for jobs ranging from auctioneers and make-up artists, to hair-braiders and even fortune tellers.

Economists, including some of former President Obama’s top advisors, have argued over the years that these regulations are often inconsistent from state to state, and create an unnecessary burden on jobseekers. President Trump's administration, which has been broadcasting its commitment to job creation, clearly agrees.

In a speech Thursday, the new acting chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission, Maureen Ohlhausen, announced the launching of a task force to tackle the issue. The "Economic Liberty Task Force" will start by launching a web site devoted to the topic. “I challenge anyone to explain why the state has a legitimate interest in protecting the public from rogue interior designers carpet-bombing living rooms with ugly throw pillows,” Ohlhausen said.

Her speech didn't offer many specifics about how exactly the FTC will crack down on overburdensome licensing requirements, but Ohlhausen did say the agency seeks "to partner with stakeholders, including state elected leaders and other officials, to eliminate and narrow overbroad" restrictions that do little in achieving health and safety goals.

The move comes as Republican governors in Nebraska, Arizona, Missouri, and Wisconsin are also seeking to remove licensing restrictions. In his State of the State address last month, Missouri Governor Eric Greitens pointed to a Missouri law that requires hair braiders to undergo 1,500 hours of training for a license. “That’s 30 hours per week of training for almost a full year…to braid hair,” he said. “We need to end frivolous regulations like these so that our people can start their own businesses and create jobs.”

Licensing requirements vary widely from state to state, according to research presented to the Senate last year by President Obama’s former top economic advisor, Jason Furman. In Iowa, Washington and Nevada, over 30% of the workforce carries a license.

It takes three years of training to become a licensed security guard in Michigan, but only 11 days in other states. Cosmetologists are required to train for 16 months before they can get a license in South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska, while New York and Massachusetts require less than 8 months, Furman said.

So why do these requirements exist in the first place? Advocates of the regulations argue that they add a needed layer of consumer protection, and that they can boost an overall agenda of vocational training for workers who don't quality to go to college. But critics note that licensing regulations are often pushed by industry groups as a way for incumbents to protect themselves from new competitors.
These restrictions are also worrisome because they hold back worker productivity and the job market in several key ways.

First, the more stringent requirements reduce mobility of workers from state to state. Military spouses, who frequently have to move across state lines, are often impacted. So too are immigrants, who may be unnecessarily prevented from applying their past work experience to similar jobs in the U.S.

More importantly, overly burdensome training requirements often impose expensive upfront costs that low-income workers, in particular, can struggle to shoulder. As a result, these people can become excluded from the job market or perpetually stuck in low-wage jobs.

How to Make Your Hair Soft: 5 Natural Ways

Dry, frizzy hair can be one of your worst nightmares. We know how hard it can be to battle brittle hair or even think about stepping out on a bad hair day but not anymore.

Regular hair-drying, pollution or over exposure to the sun, these are just some of the reasons that can make your hair dry. Besides this, some people may have naturally dry hair. The first step to bring back your hair’s shine and moisture
is to identify the cause and then work to repair the damage.The hair gets moisture from the roots. Therefore, avoid doing anything that makes your scalp dry especially during winters.

The good thing is that you don’t always have to depend on expensive salon treatments. Fortunately, there are few natural ways to bring your locks back to life. Here are some great ingredients you will find right in your kitchen and how to use them as suggested by Ragini Mehra, Founder, Beauty Source.

1. Egg and Yogurt Mask
If you have dull and lifeless hair in winters then yogurt and egg white is the perfect solution for you. Eggs can be a great source of protein for your hair
while soothing yogurt can help reverse hair damage caused by product build up and air pollution.

2. Coconut Milk, Avocado and Jojoba Oil Hair Mask
Coconut milk is rich in protein, very high in fats, making it great for moisturizing and strengthening. Avocado is rich in fatty acids making it very moisturizing for your hair. Jojoba oil promotes hair growth. Mix the three for shiny tresses.


3. Milk and Honey
Use a half to a full cup of milk (at room temperature) and add either one or 2 big tablespoons of honey. Allow it about an hour to work and then rinse it off using my regular shampoo. This wonderful pack won’t weigh your hair down or make it greasy but give it wonderful shine and softness instead.

4. Papaya Mask
Dandruff is a common problem in winters because of a dry scalp. Papaya prevents balding as helps boost hair growth by strengthening the roots as well as controls dandruff. Mix together 1 skinned papaya with 1/2 cup of plain yogurt. Let it sit for 45 minutes before you rinse it out.

5. Apple cider Vinegar, Honey and Almond Oil
Apple cider vinegar acts as a great conditioner. Mix two tablespoons of honey with one tablespoon of almond oil and one tablespoon apple cider vinega
r. Rub this mix all over your tresses gently focusing on the dry, damaged bit and ends. Leave it on for at least half an hour and then rinse off.

Oiling your hair regularly is a secret that all girls with great hair know. Massage oil into your hair, section by section starting from the scalp to the ends and then pack in a warm towel for 15-20 minutes. Oil locks in extra moisturizer, hydrates hair in the cold weather and gives you soft and shiny locks. Natural oils are such as coconut, olive, castor and almond oil are great for restoring shine and moisture to the hair.