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

Fact Check: Test What You Know About Heart Health

Published

6 days ago

02/05/2026

bowienews

(Family Features) As you age, your doctor’s interest in your cholesterol level is likely to increase. That’s no coincidence. High cholesterol and age are two significant risk factors for heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States.

You may not be able to slow the hands of time, but elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, is one of the most significant addressable risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Uncontrolled high LDL-C can lead to death, heart attack, stroke or the need for a coronary revascularization.

While statins are considered first-line treatment for people with high LDL cholesterol, an estimated 29% of patients stop taking their statin within the first year, based on findings published in the “American Journal of Cardiology.” Up to 30% of people have some degree of statin intolerance, according to research published in the “Journal of Clinical Lipidology.”

Test your heart health knowledge and learn more about managing your risk factors, including high cholesterol, with this quick quiz:

1. Do cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, claim more lives in the U.S. than all forms of cancer and accidental deaths (the Nos. 2 and 3 causes of death, respectively) combined?Yes. Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of men and women in America and worldwide, killing more people than both cancer and accidents each year.

2. According to the American Heart Association, which of the following are true?

Men are more likely to have heart attacks at a younger age than women.
Women experience different symptoms indicating potential heart disease.
Women have a higher risk of fatality because their symptoms are frequently misunderstood or misdiagnosed, leading to delayed treatment.

All are True. While many factors are at play, one major underlying issue is historically, women simply haven’t been well represented in clinical trials of heart-related conditions. However, Harvard Health reports that culture is slowly changing and some of the gaps are starting to close.

3. Does statin intolerance mean statins are not effective?

No. On the contrary, statins are the standard of care to lower LDL cholesterol. However, some people cannot take statins at any dose because of statin intolerance symptoms such as muscle pain, while others may have their LDL cholesterol remain uncontrolled because they are not able to take higher doses.

4. Are women more likely to be statin intolerant than men?

Yes. According to the National Institutes of Health, being female is a risk factor for statin intolerance.

5. If a person is statin intolerant, are there other treatments available to help lower their uncontrolled LDL-C?

Yes. Alternative treatments are available for people with statin intolerance. A health care provider can help explain what options are available if you experience potential statin-associated side effects.

6. Are muscle-related symptoms typically the most common side effect of statins?

Yes. Muscle pains or cramps (myalgias) are the most common symptoms people experience. Your health care provider may run tests or change your medication to address these symptoms.

For more information on statin intolerance, talk with your health care provider or visit statinalternatives.info.

How to Lower Bad Cholesterol

LDL cholesterol, commonly referred to as “bad” cholesterol, leads to plaque in your arteries, reducing blood flow and potentially damaging your cardiovascular system.

If your bloodwork shows elevated LDL cholesterol levels, you can take steps to reduce it.

Eat a healthy diet low in saturated and trans fats and high in fiber, with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Get at least 30 minutes of exercise daily, and if you carry extra weight, work to lose it.
Talk to your health care provider about cholesterol-lowering medications, which can help lower bad cholesterol and reduce the risks associated with heart disease.

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:
Esperion

HEALTHY LIVING

5 Tips to Get Organized

Published

2 weeks ago

01/29/2026

bowienews

(Family Features) Getting organized and making the most of your home’s storage space can be a daunting task. To help keep clutter at bay and streamline organization throughout the house, consider these tips for revamping your closets and designated storage areas from the experts at ClosetMaid.

Find closet systems and other organization hacks at ClosetMaid.com.

Watch video to see how to get organized!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=QhFTPH2Bo3I%3Fmodestbranding%3D1%26rel%3D0%26showinfo%3D0

SOURCE:
ClosetMaid

https://youtube.com/watch?v=QhFTPH2Bo3I%3Fmodestbranding%3D1%26rel%3D0%26showinfo%3D0

HEALTHY LIVING

Smart Gaming: How Parents Can Keep Kids Safe Online

Published

3 weeks ago

01/22/2026

bowienews

(Family Features) Playing video games can be a fun, social experience. However, online gaming also poses real risks, especially for kids. As a parent, you don’t necessarily need to be a gamer yourself to help keep your children safe when the controller is in their hands.

Consider taking proactive steps like these to create a healthy online gaming environment for kids of all ages.

Check System Privacy Settings
As a first line of defense – before your child even starts gaming – spend some time in the device or console privacy settings. Here you can turn off sharing, disable location tracking, limit microphone and camera access and restrict how other users can interact with your child’s profile. Similarly, many games and platforms include built-in privacy settings that can be tailored to your child’s age and online experience. These settings may allow you to limit who can view your child’s profile or send a friend request, message or voice chat.

Research Games
Because not all games are created equal, look up game ratings through a service such as ESRB before buying or downloading to understand the maturity level of the game and determine if it’s appropriate for your child. To take it a step further, read reviews from other parents or watch gameplay videos to see if you deem not only the content but also the social interaction acceptable.

Use Facial Age Estimation
Online platforms are increasingly looking for ways to keep users safe, and that includes added levels of verification. As part of a multilayered approach to safety, Roblox is the first online gaming platform to require age checks for users of all ages to access chat features, enabling age-appropriate communication and limiting conversations between adults and minors. These secure age checks are designed to be fast, easy and secure using Facial Age Estimation technology directly within the app.

“Our commitment to safety is rooted in delivering the highest level of protection for our users,” said Matt Kaufman, chief safety officer at Roblox. “By building proactive, age-based barriers, we can empower users to create and connect in ways that are both safe and appropriate.”

Once age-checked, users are assigned to one of six age groups: under 9, 9-12, 13-15, 16-17, 18-20 or 21 and older, ensuring conversations are safe and age appropriate. Age checks are optional; however, features like chat will not be accessible unless an age check is completed. Chat is also turned off by default for children under age 9, unless a parent provides consent after an age check.

Keep Personal Information Private
It’s seldom a bad idea to be extra cautious when interacting with strangers online, even if they seem friendly enough while playing the game. Teach children what information not to share, including their full name, address, birthday, school name, phone number, email address, passwords or any photos that may contain any personal information (like a house number or school logo) in the background. Also encourage a screen name and generic avatar for added privacy.

Turn on Parental Controls
Designed to allow parents a supervisory role in their child’s online gaming experience, parental controls on many platforms include the ability to set schedules and limit playtime, restrict access to certain content or social features, require a password for purchases or set a spending limit.

Avoid Clicking Unfamiliar Links
Player profiles and in-game chats may include links to external sites, including those promising rewards or cheat codes. Because they can be used to gain access to personal information, remind your children to ask an adult before clicking any unfamiliar links while gaming so they can be verified as trustworthy.

Employ Privacy and Security Tools
While system or console-specific settings allow parents to set content restrictions, approve downloads, manage friends lists and more, additional layers of security are sometimes necessary. Extra safeguards such as antivirus and internet security software, DNS (domain name system) filtering and two-factor authentication can also be enabled to help keep kids safe online.

For more tools to help parents make informed decisions and support their children’s gaming experience, visit corp.roblox.com/safety.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock (father and daughter playing video game)

SOURCE:
Roblox