Organic Hairdressing
Jul 1st, 2010 by James
Revolutionary new hair extensions!
A less toxic more practical alternative to the hair extensions generally used in salons.
Jun 30th, 2010 by James
Using gentler alternatives to the toxic polishes and nail products used in most salons.
Jan 13th, 2010 by James
This is a totally natural and environmentally safe way to remove chlorine from your shower water.Highly recommended for sensitive skin and eczema, asthma and chemical sensitivity
Chlorine is a toxic chemical element occurring naturally as a poisonous, greenish-yellow gas with an irritating, pungent odour. It is universally used to disinfect public water systems.
Chlorine dries out skin significantly faster than chlorine-free water and can cause irritation to sensitive skin or make damaged skin worse. Many asthma sufferers find that inhaling the toxic steam of chlorine as it evaporates in the shower gives a tightening of the chest and aggravates the sinuses and lungs. Chlorinated water can also irritate the eyes, leaving them red, itchy and burning.Chloramine, although a more stable compound, contains chlorine and ammonia and is also used to control bacteria in tap water. Its harmful effects present the same health risks as pure chlorine.
The e.w.g cosmetic data base rates chlorine – moderate to high hazard
The new technology used in the Vitamin-C Shower Head astonishingly uses a natural vitamin to instantly remove the harmful chlorine in water we use to shower. As water passes through it, the Vitamin-C Shower Filter releases the exact amount of pharmaceutical-grade vitamin C to neutralise all chlorine and chloramine. When the water is turned off, the Vitamin-C Shower Filter stops releasing the vitamin, prolonging its life.The Vitamin-C Shower Filter works in any water temperature (hot or cold), any water pressure ( high or low) and in any quality of water (good or poor).
Ideally, we would filter out all the undesirable chemicals from our shower water. However, unless you have a whole house water filter , this is not possible. This is because filtering water at the showerhead is problematic — the water moves fast, making filtering difficult, and the water is typically hot, which is also undesirable for filtering.
So basically, if you are filtering your shower water at the showerhead, you can only really hope to remove chlorine from the water. Shower filter manufacturers who claim otherwise should probably be viewed with skepticism. But chlorine is certainly one of the first you’d want to remove from your shower water. Anyone who has swam in a swimming pool with high levels of chlorine, can tell you that it dries and irritates the skin, makes hair brittle, and causes eyes to become red and itchy. Also, inhaling the toxic steam can aggravate the sinuses and lungs. But it’s not only chlorine that’s in municipal water these days, increasingly cities are adding chloramines to the water. Chloramines are more stable compound, containing chlorine and ammonia. Unfortunately chloramines are more difficult to remove from water.
However, there are filters out there that will remove 100% of chlorine and chloramines from your shower water: vitamin C-based shower filters. These filters have a simple method of operation: the shower water passes through the block of vitamin C, and the chlorine is converted to inorganic chlorides. .
Another common type of shower filter is the KDF filter, which uses copper and zinc for filtration. KDF filters remove free chlorine by reversing the electrochemical process that originally separated the chlorine from sodium in a brine solution. KDF filters, however, have a important limitation: they do not remove chloramines. Also, KDF shower filters are affected by water pressure. When the water pressure is not high enough, water can’t pass through the KDF powders. KDF filters also tend to get clogged very quickly. I’ve seen some buyers on Amazon reporting that their KDF filters get clogged after a couple months.
Some shower filters use activated carbon. This is effective in reducing certain organic chemicals and chlorine in cold water. Chlorine is attracted to and held (absorbed) into the surface of the carbon particles. However, the efficiency of absorption is quickly nullified when the water becomes warm. The lifetime of an activated carbon shower filter is very short. An activated carbon shower filter gets clogged very quickly by the dirt it is meant to stop.
So I recommend a vitamin C shower filter, I’ve used these filters for about a year in my salon and my home, they remove 100% of the chlorine and chloramines from your shower water, and will last about 6 months before the cartidge needs replacing.
The cost of these filters is £60.00 this includes the shower head and two cartidges, replacement cartriges cost £6.00 each,they are available in the salon on by phoning 01535 636529.
Jan 13th, 2010 by James
Water used externally can be even more hazardous than water you drink. Showers and to, a lesser extent, baths lead to a greater exposure to toxic chemicals contained in water supplies. The chemicals evaporate out of the water and can be inhaled .
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh measured the volatility of two chemicals commonly found in water supplies: trichlorethylene (TCE) and chloroform. The former is a pollutant found in ground water and the latter a by product produced when chlorine is used to disinfect water.Sprayed through a nozzle, 50 per cent of the chloroform and 80 per cent of the TCE vaporizes. A bath produces only half as much vapour due to the greater total surface area of the shower droplets. The longer and hotter the shower, the more the chemicals build up in the air; levels are four times greater after a 10 minute shower than a five minute one. The Pitssburgh researchers estimated that people in houses would receive from six to 100 times more of the chemicals by breathing the air around showers, baths, dishwashers and washing machines than they would by drinking the water.
Studies from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the National Academy of Science have attributed between 200 and 1000 cancer deaths each year in the United States to ingesting chloroform in drinking water.
Many water suppliers add a disinfectant to drinking water to kill germs such as giardia and e coli. Especially after heavy rainstorms, your water supplier may add more disinfectant to guarantee that these germs are killed.
Chlorine. Some people who use drinking water containing chlorine well in excess of EPA’s standard could experience irritating effects to their eyes and nose. Some people who drink water containing chlorine well in excess of EPA’s standard could experience stomach discomfort.
Chloramine. Some people who use drinking water containing chloramines well in excess of EPA’s standard could experience irritating effects to their eyes and nose. Some people who drink water containing chloramines well in excess of EPA’s standard could experience stomach discomfort or anemia.
Chlorine Dioxide. Some infants and young children who drink water containing chlorine dioxide in excess of EPA’s standard could experience nervous system effects. Similar effects may occur in fetuses of pregnant women who drink water containing chlorine dioxide in excess of EPA’s standard. Some people may experience anemia.
Disinfection Byproducts
Disinfection byproducts form when disinfectants added to drinking water to kill germs react with naturally-occuring organic matter in water.
Total Trihalomethanes. people who drink water containing trihalomethanes over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Haloacetic Acids. people who drink water containing haloacetic acids over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Bromate. people who drink water containing bromate over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Chlorite. Some infants and young children who drink water containing chlorite could experience nervous system effects. Similar effects may occur in fetuses of pregnant women who drink water containing excessive amounts of chlorite.Some people may also experience anemia.
Nov 10th, 2009 by James
Take approx five hairs hold at the base and stretch gently between your fingers.
Healthy hair should stretch approx 30% of its length and then return, if it doesn’t this can be due to:
- Lack of moisture – no stretch
- Lack of protein – stretches but doesn’t return
- Lack of protein and moisture – stretches and breaks
Oct 15th, 2009 by James
James Wood Hairdressing joins a national network of hairdressers who are offering specialist services to people who are suffering from hair loss
My New Hair was established by Trevor Sorbie in 2006 as a not for profit organisation to support people with hair loss in particular to train hairdressers to style and personalise wigs so that they have a more natural look. My New Hair has established a network of 180 hairdressers across the UK, which the organisation has trained in wig cutting. The organisation was granted charitable status in July 2009.
James took part in training led by leading hairdresser Trevor Sorbie this not only covered working with and fitting wigs but also included training with specialist cancer nurses.
This part of the training was designed to help My New Hair associates put even the most vulnerable clients at ease, allowing the nurses to answer questions and share their professional knowledge and insight with the group.
This training added to James’s experience and training in complimentary health means he is able to offer a compressive service to hair loss sufferers. This includes styling/shaping wigs, most wigs require shaping to suit the clients head and face shape otherwise they look like wigs.
It’s also important that people know how to care of the wig, including what products to and not use. If hair loss is following cancer treatment then as it grows back it requires special care, as both the hair and skin can be very delicate and sensitive.
Appointments for these services can be booked at the beginning or the end of the day so as to offer privacy. There is a dedicated website www.mynewhair.org offering tips for clients selecting, and caring for wigs.
We have treatments that will dramatically improve any of the above. Here are some interesting links to articles related to this subject;
Oct 1st, 2009 by James
From the list of ingredients on the back of a bottle of shampoo or a tub of moisturiser, they appear to contain more chemicals
than toilet cleaner. Ammonium Lauryl, Magnesium Chloride, Zinc Pyrithione, Methylisothiazolinone… it is mind-boggling to consider what substances we are putting on our hair and faces to look good.
Nowadays, however, a growing number of people are questioning the contents of the lotions and potions in their bathroom cabinet,
and making efforts to find a more natural beauty routine.
Read more…