Latest news with #moisture
News24
6 days ago
- Health
- News24
Cold weather hair SOS: Your complete guide to winter hydration
Whether you're trying to prevent damage or already battling with a thinning hairline. These tips will see you into spring and summer with healthier hair The cooler temperatures bring drier weather for those of us in the inland provinces, or wet weather if living in some coastal areas, but both scenarios leave us battling with dry hair. You need to make sure your hair is hydrated and moisturised, and these tips will see you through the cold months. UP THE MOISTURE Your edges and hairline in particular are at even more risk to the harsh winter weather and can become extremely dry. Cut back on the shampoo that can dry out your hair even more, and rather wash your hair weekly with conditioner. Your hair and scalp will remain clean and moisturised. Use a moisturising deep conditioner at least once a week to help repair your hairline and retain moisture, and apply a water-based moisturiser to your hair and hairline twice a day to keep your hair hydrated. Braid sprays containing glycerine and oil are an easy and excellent choice to keep your hair moist and soft. Read more | Essential winter care tips for natural hair ADD OIL Hair growth tends to slow down during the winter months, so if you're looking to gain a few centimetres, massage natural oils into your hairline for a few minutes twice a day. Use oils such as castor and coconut around the edges of your hairline to help increase blood flow and keep your hair hydrated. Castor oil also helps to thicken hair, which is a great help if your hairline is suffering. Adding an oil will also help to seal in the extra moisture you have been applying regularly. SILK FOR YOUR HAIR Your cotton pillowcase may feel warm and soft, but it's a nightmare for your hair, especially in winter, as cotton soaks up moisture. It's best to sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase all year around, but make sure you do this in winter to keep your hair from breaking and losing moisture. A satin or silk scarf is also an option for evenings. Be careful, too, of loose hair brushing up against cotton jackets and coats as it could cause split ends. Read more | 4 Essential tips for long-lasting braided styles LESS MANIPULATION Constant styling contributes to a weak hairline, and your hair is at its most fragile during the colder season. Avoid this by wearing easier styles such as braids, twists, weaves and wigs. These styles also keep the hair protected from the harsh winter elements. But never add extensions to a broken hairline as it will add stress, and your hair underneath will still require regular moisture and conditioning. Always avoid overly tight braiding along your hairline. If you are feeling too much tension, that means your hair is styled too tightly. You may not notice problems straight away, but over time your strands will weaken and break. Be sure to remove these hairstyles after four to six weeks, and give your hair a break in between. Don't add to the extreme elements by applying harsh, excessive heat on delicate edges. Always use a heat protectant styling product and turn down the heat on your hairdryer, flat iron or other tools. This may mean drying your hair will take longer, but there will be less heat damage. However, if your hairline is already damaged, it's best to avoid heat styling.
CBS News
7 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
What is corn sweat, and why is it making Michigan hotter this week?
Corn sweat is a very real phenomenon, and the Midwest has to deal with the excess heat during the late-summer days because of it. Corn sweat is exactly what it sounds like: moisture given off by corn. With large swaths of corn fields in the Midwest and even into Michigan, the amount of moisture in the air increases on hotter days. Corn cools itself through a process called evapotranspiration, where moisture is released into the air directly as water vapor. The equivalent moisture is equal to almost 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of water for every acre every day! Dewpoints can jump into the 70-degree range anytime we get a good round of heat. Having an abundance of corn near its peak can give it an added boost. On a hot day like this week, on Thursday, you can even feel the difference yourself. If you stand near a corn field, you'll feel the excess warmth and moisture content.
Health Line
14-07-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Tips and Tricks for Curly Hair
Curly hair can often lack moisture and dry out more easily than straight hair, making it more difficult to care for. That's why it's important to know the best ways to keep your curly locks in top condition. The amount of curl in your hair is influenced by your hair follicles, which are determined by your genetics. People with curly hair tend to have more oval or asymmetrical follicles. If you're looking to add more bounce and shine to your natural curls, read on for tips and tricks for keeping your hair healthy and nourished. How to take care of naturally curly hair With curly hair, you'll always want to focus on products that help add moisture to the hair and avoid any hair product that's going to dry out or weigh hair down. Choose the right shampoo and conditioner Look for a shampoo and conditioner specifically designed for curly hair. In general, look for products that include: natural or essential oils like coconut oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, and avocado oil aloe vera keratin shea butter hydrolyzed silk and animal proteins panthenol and provitamins plant extracts While you may not want to wash your hair every day, when you do wash it, use a mild shampoo that contains gentler cleansing agents and added conditioning agents. If your hair is oily or dirty, you should still use a stronger clarifying shampoo once every 1 or 2 weeks. Always follow shampooing with a conditioner to help lock in moisture. Pre-shampoo treatment If you have very coarse or curly hair, you may want to try using a pre-shampoo treatment. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to condition only after cleansing. You can use a conditioner both before and after you shampoo. Coarse, curly hair tends to lose moisture very quickly. Using a conditioner before shampooing, in theory, helps to protect the hair strand so that the shampoo won't strip the hair of its natural oils. Hot or cold water? Hot water tends to strip moisture from hair and leave it dry. Washing hair with cold water and avoiding hot water will help you retain moisture and strength. Avoid over-shampooing Shampooing every day isn't a good idea for people with curly hair. Shampooing can strip the hair of its much-needed natural oils. You may need to experiment with a cleansing schedule to see what works best for you. In general, try shampooing every other day or every 3 days. Choose the right brush or comb Curly hair is often dry and brittle and can break easily when combed or brushed. To avoid breakage, try brushing or combing curly hair in the shower. Start with a wide-tooth comb to break up any knots. You can also comb while the conditioner is still in your hair to make it easier and to ensure the conditioner coats all your strands. When choosing a hairbrush, invest in a high quality brush with natural bristles instead of plastic. A boar bristle brush can help spread natural oils from the scalp through the ends of the hair. Another option is not to use a brush or comb at all. If you have particularly springy curls, try applying a leave-in conditioner and then raking through wet hair with your fingertips. Heat styling curly hair Most stylists recommend letting curly hair air dry because using a blow dryer can make it frizzy and damage it. If you want to use a blow dryer or straighten it occasionally with a straightening iron, it's important to use some sort of heat-protecting spray or treatment before you do so. Look for a spray containing silicone or keratin to seal the cuticle and make it more resistant to heat damage. Researchers suggest keeping the hair dryer 6 inches or more from the surface of the hair when blow-drying. You can add a diffuser attachment to your blow-dryer to help limit how much direct heat hits your hair. Avoid split ends Split ends are hard to avoid completely. Also, there's really no way to repair them except by cutting them off. The best way to avoid split ends is to be very gentle with your curly locks. To prevent split ends: Use a detangler when brushing to avoid pulling and yanking. Try not to tie your hair back into tight ponytails or buns. Make sure to use a wide-tooth comb. Stay away from heat tools. Get a trim from a professional stylist roughly every 2 to 3 months. How often should you wash your curly hair? If you want to jump in the shower and wet your locks every day, you probably shouldn't use a cleansing shampoo each time. On some days, you can even just rinse with water and then apply a conditioner. On other days, use a mild shampoo to avoid stripping the hair of its natural oils. Every 1 to 2 weeks, use a regular clarifying shampoo to help remove any buildup of styling products. Learn more about how often to wash curly hair. Sleep routines for curly hair Sleeping on your back can put too much weight on your hair follicles, leaving your curls looking messy, frizzy, and knotty. If you have curly hair, sleeping on your side or on your stomach is likely the best way to maintain curl health. Wrapping your head in a bonnet or headscarf can also help protect your curls as you sleep. Consider using a hair mask, essential oil, or leave-in conditioner before bed to help tame your curls and add moisture as you sleep. Learn more sleep tips. Hair masks for curly hair You can create a DIY hair mask from common household ingredients. These masks are meant to be applied overnight and then washed out in the morning. Masks containing honey, coconut oil, banana, and avocado add moisture to hair and work well when used overnight. If your curls are very dry, consider using a hair mask once or twice a week. Oils for curly hair Keeping curls hydrated can be difficult because natural oils don't travel down the hair shaft easily. Adding some natural oils before bed can help with this. Any of the following oils may do the trick: coconut oil olive oil avocado oil jojoba oil argan oil castor oil grapeseed oil Leave-in conditioners for curly hair Try spritzing in a bit of leave-in conditioner containing keratin before bed. This may help strengthen damaged hair strands and make your hair easier to style in the morning. What not to do if you have curly hair Curly hair is delicate, so avoid the following: products containing sulfates, alcohol, harsh chemicals, and fragrances using clarifying shampoo more than once a week sleeping on your back using heat styling tools more than once or twice a month rinsing with hot water in the shower pulling your hair into a tight ponytail or bun all the time fine-toothed combs trying to detangle dry hair Hairstyles for curly hair You may want to avoid pulling your hair back into a tight ponytail or bun. This causes the curls to lose their formation, and a tight hair tie could easily cause breakage. Try these hairstyles for curly hair: loose ponytail or bun loose braids half up/half down wear it down, letting your curls air dry naturally with the help of an overnight hair mask or leave-in conditioner You can also ask your stylist to cut in some long layers to help remove some of the bulk and add shape. Long layers will ensure your curls are still weighed down a bit, but will keep them tame. Takeaway The biggest thing to understand about curly hair is that it tends to dry out easily and craves moisture. You'll need to avoid washing out its natural oils and most likely invest in hair products that add moisture to the hair in the form of oils, butters, proteins, and natural plant extracts.
CNA
04-07-2025
- Health
- CNA
Do you need to be worried about mould in your air-conditioner?
Air-conditioners can save lives and keep us comfortable on blistering days. But they may also carry health risks – namely, those related to mold. This was recently highlighted, when the manufacturer Midea voluntarily recalled about 1.7 million air-conditioners because of a design flaw that encouraged mould growth. While that flaw made mould growth more likely, any air-conditioner can get mouldy, no matter how well designed it is. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the risk. WHY DO AIR-CONDITIONERS GET MOULDY? It's simple: Moisture. Whether you have a window unit or central air, the basic process is the same. Air-conditioners work by repeatedly converting a refrigerant from gas into liquid, and back to gas. As the refrigerant evaporates, it absorbs heat from the air via a cold component called the evaporator coil. A fan blows over the coil, pushing cool air into the home, while hot air is pulled back outside and the refrigerant is condensed back into liquid to restart the process. As warm air cools, it produces condensation. Think of the way water droplets form on the outside of a glass when you pour cold water into it. In air-conditioners, a drain pan collects this water, and well-designed systems allow it to flow outside rather than remaining stagnant. But those systems can malfunction, or simply be imperfect. That means moisture may sit inside your air-conditioner for an extended time, leading to mould growth, said Mark Mendell, a former air pollution research specialist at the California Department of Public Health and former staff scientist and epidemiologist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Dr Mendell's research focused on the health effects of mould in indoor air, not on air-conditioners specifically. But the process he described can occur in any kind of air-conditioning system, he said. 'There will be water collecting that's not really draining properly, and maybe it's dirty. And the air blows over this into your home.' WHAT ARE THE HEALTH RISKS? Despite the ubiquity of air-conditioners and their tendency to get mouldy, there is not much scientific literature on the health effects. One of the few such studies, published in 2003, found that when the cooling coils and drain pans inside office air-conditioning systems were irradiated with ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and fungi, workers reported fewer respiratory and other symptoms. For the most part, though, we must extrapolate from broader research that has examined the health effects of dampness and mould in indoor environments, but not specifically in air-conditioning systems. A review of that research published in 2011 concluded that exposure to dampness and mould is associated with exacerbations of asthma, coughing, wheezing and upper respiratory symptoms, but it did not establish that mould was the cause. Another review published in 2015 found enough evidence to say that dampness and mould were a reason for exacerbations of asthma in children. Researchers have found that these types of symptoms are more common in buildings where people can see or smell mold, Dr Mendell said, but studies haven't proven connections between symptoms and measurements of specific fungi levels. It's possible that researchers haven't measured the right kinds of mold, or that other factors are involved. 'It seems likely that some dampness-related microbiologic exposures will turn out to be the cause of the health problems, but we just don't know for sure yet,' Dr Mendell said. WHAT PRECAUTIONS CAN YOU TAKE? Basic air-conditioner maintenance, such as regularly cleaning filters, can help prevent mould growth. Many window units have a light that indicates when cleaning is needed, but once or twice a month is a good rule of thumb. Whether you have window units or central air, controlling humidity in your home, with a dehumidifier if necessary, is also helpful. And it's a good idea to keep your home clean in general, because that will limit the amount of dust, a food source for mold, that can get into the air-conditioner. Running an air purifier can remove both dust and mould spores. But these precautions aren't a panacea. You should inspect your air-conditioner periodically, especially if it's been unused for an extended period, such as over the winter. Mould may be visible around the vents, and a flashlight can help you look deeper. If you're up for it, you can also disassemble a window unit according to the instructions in the manual, to more closely inspect and, if necessary, clean the coils and the drain pan. here.
Washington Post
03-07-2025
- Climate
- Washington Post
Monsoon season brings the promise of rain for the arid southwestern US
ESPAÑOLA, N.M. — Clouds build up in the early afternoon and gusty winds push in every direction. The skies darken and then comes the rain — often a downpour that is gone as quickly as it came. This seasonal dance choreographed by Mother Nature marks a special time for the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is when residents clasp their hands, hoping for much-needed moisture to dampen the threat of wildfire and keep rivers flowing.
