Back on the Jello Train/Loving the Cod Liver Oil

OK, I have to admit, I fell off the Jello train for a couple of weeks. I did. It's just so jiggly and kind of weird -- I don't dislike it, but it's not exactly something I crave. I made a huge batch of it last night, though. I think the key to tolerating that sugary gelatin snack is to add a little creativity. In this case, I added chopped apples to some strawberry Jello. I'm sure that sounds crazy, but in all honesty, it's not that bad.

Here's a tip: If you decide to grow your hair out, it might be best to start with a blunt haircut, like a bob. I started with an angled, layered style, and I've been regretting that. As you might be able to tell in earlier photos, it was angled down in the front -- a popular style for those who are planning to keep their hair short. As my haircut has grown out since Thanksgiving, though, it has looked a little crazy in the front. The angles started sticking out and looked really thin. So... It took me a few days, but last week I worked up enough courage to trim them myself. I ONLY trimmed the front angles, and the result is good. I'm happy with the even ends now, and didn't have to go to a hairdresser (besides -- a hairdresser probably would have trimmed everything). Can't trim the hair too much! Every millimeter counts at this stage. Must get it to my shoulders.

I've added cod liver oil to my growing list of supplements. It's an additional source of Vitamin D and other beneficial nutrients for general health. Thankfully, Vitamin Shoppe sells it in capsule form, so I don't have to swallow teaspoons of, well, oil from a fish liver. Eww. However, I know the greatest concentration of fish oil nutrients is found in the liver, so I made the purchase. Trust me... The capsules are the way to go. But even the capsules smell a little, if you're dumb enough to actually hold the bottle up to your nose and take a whiff (apparently I'm dumb enough, because out of curiosity, I did exactly that). Cod liver oil is said to have other benefits, too -- it helps with joint pain (good for my shoulder issue) and relieves migraines. So in a nutshell, I now love cod liver oil.

Coconut oil -- great for cooking, not great for oily hair

Coconut oil is a wonderful product -- I recently discovered it, and have heard that it has wonderful health benefits. I have started using it for cooking. I also read that it can be used as a scalp treatment for healthier hair... So I decided one day last week to give it whirl.

I scooped up what I thought would be a good amount -- about a teaspoon -- and let it melt, then massaged it into my scalp. I sat for an hour, as instructed. I shampooed it out... And then shampooed again. My hair was very oily for two days! I probably should not have tried this treatment, as I have somewhat oily hair to begin with. As I applied the oil, in the back of my mind I remembered a time in school when a classmate attended a youth group event one weekend -- a "yuck night" event. Someone poured baby oil in her hair, and I remember hearing the complaints about how she couldn't get all the oil out for days.

To make a long story short -- it took two days to get all the coconut oil out, and another day after that before I could style my hair. (Not that it has much of a style anymore, though... My cut is growing out, and it has lost all of its shape. I refuse to cut it, though, because the length is what I need, and I can finally pull it into a ponytail!!)

If you're going to use oil on your hair, my advice is to use a CONSERVATIVE amount. For example, I use the Weleda rosemary oil, but I only use three drops at a time for my entire head, and it works well. Weleda truly makes a great product. So... I think I will stick to the rosemary oil for my hair, and save the coconut oil for the kitchen.

I have discovered Rainbow Henna hair color, and I love it.

I have been a hair dye fanatic for 12 years. Unfortunately, once you start coloring your hair, it's pretty hard to stop unless you miraculously find a box or salon dye that matches your natural shade. I have never been able to match mine, so every couple of months -- for 12 years -- I've had to touch up my roots, try a different shade or cut my hair short to let the damaged dyed hair grow out.

I was at that point again this week. Actually, with my goal of growing my hair out as quickly as possible, the roots are a good sign, because they sure keep reappearing quickly! I just touched up my roots three weeks ago and this week noticed half an inch of roots.

I decided to switch to henna hair color, which supposedly helps hair grow more quickly. It is definitely healthier for the hair -- all organic, no chemicals, doesn't strip the hair shaft. This is not the first time I've been drawn to henna; I considered buying it about six months ago, at my favorite local co-op. However, the salesperson was apparently listening more to her conscience than to the cha-ching of the cash register that day, because she talked me out of the henna, saying it was too messy and difficult to apply. I appreciate a salesperson who tries to be honest with me... BUT...

... I have been reading "The Maker's Diet," by Jordan Rubin, to learn about healthier foods, lifestyle and personal care. I HIGHLY recommend the book to anyone and everyone seeking better health. One section discusses herbs that are especially helpful, and guess what's on that list... That's right, it's henna! The book explains that henna is antibacterial/antifungal; therefore, it's very healthy for the scalp. I have heard that antifungal treatments can encourage hair growth, so it sounds good.

I discovered a lovely little health-foods store just miles from my home, and moseyed over to the store to buy some Rainbow Henna yesterday. I applied it this morning. I LOVE IT. First of all, I know it's much healthier for my hair and just might encourage some growth. That's fantastic. Second, it doesn't smell like a chemical plant; it smells earthy and looks like mud. It was EASY to mix up -- the container recommended using 4 oz (the whole container), but my hair is still short so I just used 2 oz. It was more than enough for short hair. Just boil some water (or coffee, for an extra boost of brunette) and stir, stir, stir. I grabbed an old paint brush and applied it to my hair. It was as easy as applying dye from a box, and although it dripped a little onto my forehead, it did not stain my skin. Then I just bundled it up in some plastic wrap and sat for an hour. It was easy to rinse out (warm rinse, cool rinse, shampoo and you're done).

I am extremely pleased with the results. My hair does not look fake; it looks natural and healthy. I chose the Light Brown shade, very close to what I already had, so there wasn't a major color difference, but my hair glows now. There's a radiant, warm golden brown sheen to it. It's very shiny and feels quite a bit thicker (henna coats the hair, as opposed to chemical dye, which strips and then re-tints the hair). I am completely satisfied. I will never use chemical dye again. Also interesting: According to the directions, the more times you use the henna dye (it can be applied every four to six weeks), the healthier your hair will be. It it not just hair color; it's basically a scalp treatment with the added benefit of beautiful natural-looking color. It coats the hair and adds texture and thickness.

Asian food for longer hair? Yes, please!

In my quest to have long hair, I am researching a variety of treatments and remedies -- and not just supplements. Hair health is directly tied to diet, and as I've written in previous posts, I'm certainly trying the Jello. That's starting to become a little routine, though.

I love Asian food. Put a plate of sushi in front of me and I'm a happy girl. Hibachi? Yum! So, I was very happy to discover that certain Asian foods can help with hair health. They are: miso soup, salmon, rice, seaweed, soy and green tea. OK, OK, so salmon isn't just an Asian food. It is in a lot of sushi, though, so it counts, along with rice and seaweed. In fact, this is great news to any sushi lovers who are trying to grow their hair! And there's nothing like a simple bowl of miso soup to warm the tummy. So, this is all a great discovery.

Green tea is a superfood in my book. I love it. It tastes so natural and refreshing, and it's loaded with antioxidants, which are good for not only hair, but also skin, immunity and general well-being. It has just a wee bit of caffeine, too, so when I need a little caffeine kick in the afternoon, or when I'm suffering from writer's block, I make a big mug of green tea and keep going.

If you don't like sushi, that's OK. Try a kelp supplement instead of the seaweed, or grill up some salmon if you don't like it raw. Just make sure you're chowing down on a variety of healthy foods. Asian food is extremely healthy, so it gets a thumbs up from me.

"Let it grow" blog -- photo update

Here's the end-of-January update photo! As you can see, it's definitely growing. At Thanksgiving, right after my last haircut, the hair along the back of my neck was actually buzzed in order to sit flat. Look at it now -- about an inch and a half longer! Something's working.

It looks thin at the bottom. That's just the layered haircut, though. Argh. Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow... And just say "no" to haircuts!

I've decided that rewards are sometimes necessary in order to reach a goal. So... When it gets to my shoulders, I am going to add some highlights. I was born a brunette, yes, but I have always been partial to blonde... But just highlights! No more crazy late-night runs to Walmart to get a box of ultra-damaging "extra light blonde" like I did in college. It's thin enough... I don't want to damage my hair. I just want to enjoy once again the artificial kiss of the sun known as highlights.