What Is A Blackhead?

A blackhead or comedone is caused by excess oil that mixes with dead skin cells forming a thick, sticky substance. A blackhead or an open comedone looks like a large, dark pore. The black in a blackhead isn't dirt. It's dried oil and the skin cells that gather in the opening of hair follicles.

A whitehead or closed comedone, has skin growing over its opening and looks like a small, hard white bump. You can often get blackheads and whiteheads from using oil-based makeup and hair-care products. A lot of sweating and humidity also causes them.

Treatments:

Products with salicylic acid work well; Dr. FeelGood Skin & Scalp Antiseptic and Imperial Touch Razor Bump Solution. Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA). BHAs, in addition to exfoliating the top layer of skin, brighten dull skin and clean out clogged pores by getting into the oil glands and breaking down dead skin cells to target blackheads.

Facials is another way to treat blackheads. A facial cleans, exfoliates and nourishes the skin.

What NOT to Do:

Self-extracting. One false move, and you could end up with an infected cyst. If you're desperate and feel you have to take matters into your own hands, do it after a hot shower, when pores are soft and dilated. Apply gentle, even pressure around the pore using a comedone extractor - available at drugstores. But extractions are only a quick fix.

Over-scrubbing your skin. Dirt doesn't cause blackheads. So don't overdo it by washing your face too often. This can irritate and dry out your skin, which could cause more acne to develop

Dull, Dry, Brittle Hair Remedy

There are some of us who fail in the basics of hair care. Thus ending up with dull, dry, brittle hair. In order to have sleek, shiny , beautiful hair you must be quite dedicated.
A shiny head of hair means that the scales of the cuticle, the protective covering of each hair strand, are smooth and flat against the hair shaft. Intact cuticle cells are flat,smooth and glossy. Shine is created when light is reflected across the cuticles. A smooth hair cuticle looks like a roof with all the shingles lying flat, however day-to-day styling, heat processing, and coloring cause those shingles to lift.
The best reflection occurs when the cuticles have a healthy coating of sebum, which is natural hair oil. Dull hair that doesn’t shine is usually lacking in the necessary moisture to reflect light. Hair that is deficient in moisture and natural oils will absorb the light rather than reflect it. Sebum can be damaged or completely striped from the hair due to a wide range of internal and external
factors including hormonal imbalances, harsh shampoo formulas, chemical processing, improper use of hot styling tools, weather and the environment.
A hidden shine stealer can also be located in your faucet. Mineral loaded hard water can build up on the unsuspecting cuticles. Hard water is a fact in 85% of American homes according to the U.S. Geological Survey. If you have tried everything to increase your shine with limited results, consider that your water may be causing your lifeless hair. When in doubt try using bottled water
for a few days for your final rinse. Let the results speak for themselves.
You should notice an improvement to your hair by following these basics of hair care tips:
1. Shampoo as often as necessary according to your hair type. Use a moisture enhancing shampoo that strives to maintain your hair’s natural oil mantle; Dr. FeelGood Silk Protein Shampoo.
2. Condition often. Do it every time you shampoo. Choose nutrient-rich conditioner which moisturizes and fill in tiny cracks in the hair shaft; Dr. FeelGood Conditioner .
3. Gently pat hair dry, never pull or rub with coarse towels. Wet hair is fragile, and any friction will rough up the cuticle.
4. Get glossy. Make sure that your shine serum is water soluble--look for cyclomethicone on the label; Dr. FeelGood Hair Polish. Glossiers help restore shine and balance hair.
If done regularly these hair care tips will help condition, moisten the hair along with providing a remarkable shine.