HEALTHY LIVING

11 Hair Mistakes You’re Making That May Be Ruining Your Luscious Locks

Published

9 years ago

07/06/2017

I remember the day I killed my hair. I had just finished an at-home straightening treatment that reeked of rotten eggs, and I was trying to style my new coif. But my locks were oddly limp and lifeless, the bangs clingy to my forehead. I reached up and pulled at some of the strands around my face, only to have them break off in my hand. This is just one example of the many hair mistakes I’ve made in my life.

Over the years, I’ve done some major damage to my hair. I’ve bleached it, dyed it, straightened it. I even shaved it on the aforementioned day when my hair died. I got a lot of props for being bold and confident – basically a Puerto Rican Sinead O’Connor without a ripped-up picture of the Pope – but the truth was that I had pushed my poor follicles to their limit. But even without the constant coloring and heating, there are plenty of ways women ruin their hair. From daily rituals to one-time occurrences, here are all the ways you’re ruining your hair – and how to turn things around and make your hair the healthiest it’s ever been.

1)You Shampoo Too Much

I frequently fall prey to this one, as I live in New York City and feel the need to wash my hair every time I ride the subway. But the experts seem to agree that no matter what type of hair you have (or how often you use public restrooms) washing your hair every day is detrimental to maintaining healthy, shiny locks because it strips your mane of necessary oils. Jill Soller-Mihlek, a hairstylist at Dvir Salon (which has locations in both Brooklyn and Manhattan), recommends washing “only every second or third day, or alternate with a conditioner-only wash.”

2)You Use Crappy Shampoo

I used to pride myself on paying the least amount of money possible for a shampoo that smelled like coconuts. But I noticed that my hair wasn’t too happy with this money-saving decision. Although shampoo doesn’t have to be expensive to work well, it needs to contain the right ingredients. “Many shampoos contain harsh detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate that can dry out your hair,” says Soller-Mihlek, who suggests switching to a sulfate-free shampoo.

Try: Oribe Hair Care Signature Shampoo, $39, Amazon

3)You Use the Wrong Shampoo

Who knew that there was so much you could be doing wrong with your shampoo? But it’s true, it’s not just about shampooing less frequently or using a sulfate-free shampoo. Take note of your hair type or coloring proclivities and go from there. “Some shampoos can wreak havoc on colored hair, so it’s important to use one formulated for color-treated hair if you color your hair,” says Soller-Mihlek. “If your hair is very oily and lacks volume, you probably don’t want a shampoo with heavy moisturizers, just as if your hair is on the frizzy or poofy side, you wouldn’t want to use a volumizing one.”

Try: Biolage Colorlast Shampoo & Conditioner Duo, $36.50, Amazon

4)You Condition Wrong

Slathering on conditioner can result in a false sense of hair security, what with that silky, soft feeling it gives your locks. But there’s a good chance that whether you’re leaving conditioner on too long or just using it too often, it’s weighing your hair down or making your scalp feel filmy.

Try: ArtNaturals Daily Hair Conditioner with Argan Oil, $14.95, Amazon

5)You Condition Your Roots

Guess what? Your roots are doing just fine, thank you, and don’t need to be conditioned! Conditioner is meant to give moisture back to the parts of your hair that need it,” explains Soller-Mihlek. “This usually means the mid-lengths and ends -not the roots.” Soller-Mihlek adds that “the only time conditioner needs to go on your roots is if your are doing a conditioner-only wash.”

6)You Blast Your Dryer on the Highest Heat

It’s tempting to blast your hair during your at-home blowout. After all, says Soller-Mihlek, “the higher the heat, the smoother the blowout.” But according to Women’s Health, super-hot settings actually cause the water in your hair to boil (eep!), which can result in cuticle damage (plus, OMG, you’re boiling your hair!). But there are ways to minimize the damage, says Soller-Mihlek. Most importantly, she advises using a heat-protection product. Another tip? “Rough dry the hair at a medium temperature until it’s about 50% dry before you go in with a brush and turn up the heat, and lastly, try not to let the dryer nozzle have too much contact with your hair,” Soller-Mihlek says. “If you aim the air down the hair shaft, you can hold the nozzle just above the hair and still get a smooth finish.”

Try: XTAVA Allure Ionic Ceramic Hair Dryer, $36, Amazon

7)You Use a Flatiron Without Protection

Using a flatiron is like having a drunken one-night stand with a stranger: inadvisable, potentially dangerous, and something you may regret later. But we do it anyways in our quest for straight hair. When you do decide to straighten your hair, use protection in the form of a thermal protecting spray – otherwise, all that heat can cause breakage and split ends.

Try: Rusk Thermal Shine Spray, $12, Amazon

8)You Use a Flatiron on Wet Hair

“Why would you flat iron wet hair,” Soller-Mihlek asks. “Why would you do that? Who does that? Don’t do that.” She’s right; your hair should be bone-dry before you start to iron it. Even a little leftover moisture from a protection serum can cause your locks to sizzle and scorch like bacon in a frying pan.

9)You Don’t Trim Your Split Ends

When growing out your hair, you may distance yourself from the salon thinking a cut would defeat the purpose of your master hair plan. But know that your split ends have a master plan of their own. “The thing about split ends is that they don’t just stay at the ends,” warns Soller-Mihlek. “If you don’t get rid of them with regular trims, they will continue to split all the way up the hair shaft, and when you finally decide to get a trim, you’ll need to cut a lot more to get it looking healthy. Even if you are trying to grow out your hair, I always recommend a teeny ‘microtrim’ at least every 6-8 weeks.”

10)You Brush Your Hair Too Much

Disney makes brushing your hair seem so glamorous (especially if it’s done with a dinglehopper), but in reality, there’s such a thing as too much brushing. “Brushing too much can cause split ends and make your hair frizzy,” says Soller-Mihlek, who explains that using “a good detangling brush” – she likes the Tangle Teezer ($11.99 on Amazon) and The Wet Brush ($7.83 on Amazon) – “will help to get the knots out without roughing up your tresses too much.”

Tangle Teezer, $10.99, Amazon; The Wet Brush, $9, Amazon

11)You Go Crazy With the Bleaching

We all kinda already know that bleach is bad for our hair, but we do it anyway. “It’s still the best way to get a nice pale blonde,” says Soller-Mihlek. But she suggests going to a salon that uses Olaplex. “a great product that can be added to the bleach mixture to prevent breakage, and help mend already damaged hair.” Moms-to-be, take note: Soller-Mihlek herself has “personally switched to highlights instead of a double-process blonde – it not only saves half of my hair from any chemical processing, but it’s safer for preggo ladies like me because the bleach doesn’t come into contact with the scalp,” she says.

HEALTHY LIVING

Grow healthier plants, use less water by improving soil

Published

3 weeks ago

04/30/2026

bowienews

(Feature Impact) Almost every gardener knows the frustration: One corner of the garden bursts with life while another struggles to hang on. Flowers are slow to open, vegetables disappoint and the soil seems to drink up water and ask for more.

However, seasoned gardeners know the difference between a struggling garden and a thriving one almost always comes down to what’s beneath the surface.

Success Runs Soil Deep

The change in seasons can leave soil compacted and depleted, so spending some time giving it a boost can set the stage for strong, healthy plants. It may also be easier than many gardeners think to give soil the help it needs. Blending in amendments like biochar improves soil health, helps retain water and locks in nutrients.

An easy-to-use yet powerful conditioner that helps balance soil pH, Wakefield BioChar boosts soil fertility and supports stronger, healthier plant growth. Once it’s mixed into soil, biochar becomes a powerhouse worker. It holds onto water like a sponge, slowly releasing and making the water accessible, so plants continually receive moisture and gardeners need to water less. It also makes nutrients more available to plants, resulting in healthier gardens and greener lawns.

An Easy-to-Use Boost

When planting in the garden or pots, biochar should make up approximately 10% of the soil mix. If you’re setting up a garden bed, mix it into the soil to a depth of 4-6 inches (1 cubic foot is plenty for a 4-by-8-foot garden bed). For trees and shrubs, adding biochar directly to the roots helps them get off to a strong start and supports healthy growth.

It’s also a natural way to improve a lawn’s look and performance. To add biochar to your lawn to prepare for warm weather, spread it evenly across the grass, either by hand or with a broadcast spreader for larger areas. Aim for a thin, even layer to ensure all parts of your lawn benefit from its properties, improving long-term soil health. For newly planted lawns, mix 1 cubic foot of biochar into every 100 square feet of soil, making sure it penetrates 2-4 inches deep.

No matter where you use biochar, water regularly for the first week to activate its benefits. Watering helps biochar settle into the soil and start working, as its porous structure holds moisture, helping keep gardens and lawns hydrated.

Sustainable from the Ground Up

Not only does biochar deeply nourish your garden or lawn, it also helps create a more sustainable environment for years to come. It’s made by heating natural materials, such as organic wood waste, in a way that stores carbon rather than releasing it into the atmosphere as greenhouse gases.

The process – called pyrolysis – locks carbon into a stable form that doesn’t break down as quickly as mulch or compost and transforms into a light, porous material that stays active, season after season, to ensure nutrient-rich soil for years to come.

Beyond the Lawn

It isn’t just for providing plants with healthier soil. Bring biochar along on camping trips, as it also works wellfor composting toilets and has the added benefit of controlling odors and absorbing waste, making it a sustainable option that can be composted afterward.

It can also be used as livestock bedding as it absorbs liquids, neutralizes odors and can be mixed with manure to create a more nutrient-rich compost for plants and crops.

Learn more about planting healthy gardens and green spaces at WakefieldBiochar.com/grow.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock (woman gardening)

SOURCE:

Wakefield BioChar

HEALTHY LIVING

A parent’s guide to navigating picky eating with confidence

Published

4 weeks ago

04/23/2026

bowienews

(Feature Impact)For families with young children, mealtimes can often feel like negotiations or even battles. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Picky eating is one of the most universal challenges families face.

With the right strategies, parents can reduce stress, build healthier habits and help children become more confident, curious eaters. Dr. Lauren Loquasto, senior vice president and chief academic officer at The Goddard School, and registered dietitian Ali Bandier, founder of Senta Health and member of the Expert Council at Little Spoon, share these insights and guidance to help parents navigate picky eating.

Why Young Children are Picky Eaters

Picky eating isn’t just common; it’s an expected part of early childhood development. In fact, it would be more surprising if children didn’t experience a picky eating phase.

Picky eating is a natural expression of independence. As children enter toddlerhood, they discover they can assert control, and food becomes a typical place to do it. They can’t decide whether to go to school or take a bath, but they can decide whether to take a bite of broccoli.

Avoid the Power Struggle

The key for parents: stay calm, consistent and neutral. Pressuring children only makes picky eating worse.

Telling your child they must try one bite, celebrating excessively when they do eat a vegetable or resorting to negotiation (“three more bites then dessert”) can actually reduce their desire to eat. It also creates a dynamic that only reinforces the power struggle.

Instead, recognize the division of responsibility when it comes to eating. Parents decide what food is served, when it’s served and where meals happen. Children decide whether to eat and how much to eat. As a parent, you can’t force your child to eat; recognizing this is critical to reducing the mealtime tug‑of‑war and creating a calmer, more predictable environment for the entire family.

Exposure, Not Pressure

Young children often need repeated, low‑pressure exposure to a new food before trying it. Offering broccoli once likely isn’t enough. It’s important to offer it repeatedly, without commentary, bribing or coaxing.

Trying new foods is more than just ingesting them. Touching and smelling are steps toward tasting and acceptance. Involving children in food preparation – washing vegetables, stirring batter, mixing ingredients – lets them gain familiarity without the pressure of having to eat. Inclusion in this process increases curiosity and that curiosity is often followed by a willingness, or even desire, to try the food.

It’s also important for parents to model desired eating habits. If you want your child to try salmon but you’re eating pizza, they’re unlikely to want to eat the salmon. Daily family mealtimes – often dinner in busy households – where you’re modeling manners and eating the food you want your child to eat is key.

The Importance of Routines

For young children, routines provide structure, predictability and comfort. A consistent meal and snack schedule helps children learn what to expect and can reduce not only their anxiety around mealtimes, but parental anxiety, too.

Notably, there is no right or wrong schedule; every family needs to figure out what works best for their circumstances. What matters is setting a schedule and maintaining consistency. For example, if you provide a snack between breakfast and lunch, do it every day, not just a few days a week. This helps children know what to expect and feel comfortable.

Schedules also help parents resist “secondhand cooking.” When a child refuses the meal offered, parents often scramble to make alternatives, but this teaches the child if they hold out long enough, a preferred food will arrive. Instead, calmly remind your child when the next snack or meal will be: “OK, you don’t want to have the yogurt and fruit. That’s fine, but I’m not going to make something else. Snack time is in two hours.” This builds trust and reduces anxiety for everyone.

With patience, low-pressure exposure and consistent routines, most picky eaters gradually broaden their palates and mealtimes become more enjoyable for the whole family. For more parenting guidance, including the Parenting with Goddard blog and webinar series, visit the Parent Resource Center at GoddardSchool.com.

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:

The Goddard School

HEALTHY LIVING

Prepared and aware: Travel safety tips for 2026

Published

4 weeks ago

04/23/2026

bowienews

(Feature Impact) From beach escapes to international adventures, travel is still a top priority for millions of Americans, particularly during the warm-weather seasons. However, in light of evolving global events – and the changing travel advisories that often accompany them – preparation and awareness are key.

Travel planning should be exciting, and being a prepared traveler ensures you can focus on making memories rather than managing surprises. That means doing your homework before you go, remaining cautious and aware while you’re there and being ready to respond should the unexpected happen.

As you pack your bags, the experts at ALG Vacations recommend taking proactive steps like these to stay informed, protected and confident no matter where your adventures take you.

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Research Your Destination

Familiarize yourself with local customs, transportation options and any travel advisories tied to your destination, which often vary by region, not country. If you’re heading abroad, consider enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) offered by the U.S. State Department. The free service provides real-time, destination-specific updates about health, weather, safety and security, and makes it easier to contact you in case of an emergency.

Consult with a Travel Advisor

One of the most effective safety measures is working with a professional travel advisor. Advisors monitor travel advisories in real time, understand geographic nuances and regional differences within destinations and can provide verified information directly from destination partners. If plans need to change, your advisor can recommend alternatives and help manage rebooking options.

Consider Travel Insurance

Preparation also means protecting your investment. Unexpected events – from flight cancellations and changes in advisory level to medical emergencies and weather delays – can happen at any time. Travel insurance adds an extra layer of protection, helping cover eligible expenses and providing peace of mind. If you elect coverage, review policy options carefully to understand what is and isn’t covered by your plan.

Share Your Plans with Someone at Home

Before departing, provide a trusted friend or family member with copies of your itinerary, lodging information and contact details. This ensures someone knows where you are and how to reach you in case of an emergency, flight disruption or unexpected change in plans.

To find more tips, or to connect with a travel advisor and benefit from personalized expert guidance on your spring excursion, visit TravelAdvisorsGetYouThere.com.

Frequently Asked Questions About Safe Travel to Mexico

Many of Mexico’s popular beach destinations – including Cancun, Riviera Maya, Costa Mujeres and Tulum – are operating as normal and welcoming visitors under a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution advisory, which encourages travelers to remain aware of their surroundings and follow standard safety precautions, but does not discourage travel.

Stay informed of changes to advisory levels through official updates from the U.S. Embassy and the STEP program and consider these questions frequently asked to ALG Vacations travel advisors when planning your trip.

Is it safe to travel to Mexico right now?
Travelers should follow the U.S. State Department’s official guidance. If visiting a destination in Mexico under the Level 2 advisory, which is a common advisory level globally that also applies to destinations such as France and Italy, exercise standard travel precautions.
Has the Puerto Vallarta shelter-in-place order been lifted?
Yes, the shelter-in-place guidance affecting Puerto Vallarta has been lifted. However, travelers
should regularly monitor official sources for updates or changes.
Are Cancun, Riviera Maya, Costa Mujeres or Tulum experiencing disruptions?
Airports in Cancun, Cozumel and Tulum are operating normally. Hotels, cruise ports and tourism services are also fully operational.
Are Los Cabos operations impacted?
Los Cabos tourism operations remain fully operational, including airport activity, ground transportation and hotel and resort operations.
What are some alternative destinations?
For those who may be exploring alternative plans, consider these popular spring destinations both domestically and abroad: