Hair Color or going gray

When researching all the chemicals in the products I've been using, one of the first things I looked up was hair color. I've noticed the last few times I colored my hair my scalp was burning, and felt sort of like a mild sunburn for a couple of days after. I was surprised to find out just how toxic the chemicals in hair dye, especially the darker hair dyes, really are. Several studies have been done, and it looks like the ladies who use darker hair dye have a significantly increased rate of bladder cancer and lymphoma. In fact, I was reading that with long term use, your risk goes up, to a 50% greater risk of cancer, if I remember right, these were people with 25 years of hair color use. So then I looked up "going gray". There's a whole website for that. It has tips you can use to help you along.
I tried just stopping cold turkey, but I couldn't stand the "stripe" down the middle of my head. I talked to the hair stylist, who convinced me highlights were the way to go. So I got highlights, which made me look blonde. (I did not have more fun) So then, I had a reverse stripe, which was darker. ugh. So my new option was temporary hair color. Still has chemicals, but less harsh. I colored over the highlights, as close to my natural color as I could find. It will wash out in "about 30 shampoos". So I'm hoping it will gradually fade away, and it will all blend together better, without the "stripe". If that doesn't work, I'm going really short till it grows out. I've convinced myself this is it! The last time I color my hair. Hope I can stick with it.
Check out "goinggraylookinggreat.com"

the Diva's Dirty Dozen

After turning 50 this year, and thinking, "holy crap, my life is more than half over", I decided to pay more attention to my health. Adding to that decision was the loss of several friends in the past few years to cancers. All nurses, all coworkers. Friends and I were discussing this, and how to improve our health, and we started thinking about all the toxins we are exposed to on a regular basis. A friend mentioned the Diva's list of toxic ingredients in health and beauty products, so I started checking it out. Another "holy crap"-I can't believe all the chemicals I've been putting all over myself all these years. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis several years ago, and I wondered why. Now I have a small cloud of suspicion.
I got the list, and started eliminating the bad stuff from the everyday things I've been using. I didn't go whole hog-just when I ran out of shampoo, I started researching a non-toxic brand. Then lotion, then laundry detergent, etc. Also paying more attention to what I'm eating, but that's a whole 'nother topic.
Here's the list-to get you started. Next time you're sitting on the potty-grab a bottle of something you've got in your bathroom and read the ingredients. It might really surprise and scare you!
1. the paraben family (methyl paraben, propyl, butyl, and ethyl parabens)
2. Urea compounds (imidazolindyl and diazolindy ureas)
3. Petrolatum
4. propylene glycol
5. PVP/V copolymer
6. sodium lauryl sulphate
7. stearalkonium chloride
8. synthetic colours
9. fragrances
10. phthalates
11. triethanolamine

Check out this and more information on organicdivas.com

Well, I did it. After 3 attempts, I figured out how to delete the doomed website attempt. Now I can focus on how to fix up this blogsite the way I want it.

7/13/2010-The Beginning

I'm not the most tech savvy person, but like my friends the bulldogs, I am stubborn when I want something. So I've spent a good part of the day trying to set up this blog. I hope it all works right. I first attempted a website, which I figured out is not what I really want or need. So I have to go back and try to get rid of my feeble attempt at website design.