CLEANING BEAUTY CARE IMPLEMENTS 

We intend to do it, maybe even every time we use them. But washing our combs and brushes really isn’t at the top of any “to-do” list I’ve seen.  Even a quick rinse is helpful, but over time brushes, combs, and styling tools tend to develop a buildup of hair-care products.

Over time, this buildup will begin to flake off the comb or brush and you may mistakenly believe that you have developed a case of dandruff.

Step 1:  Remove all old and tangled hair from your brushes as possible. Be gentle as vigorous brushing with another brush or comb can damage the bristles of your brush, leaving sharp ends that can leave micro-cuts on your scalp. This can lead to scalp infections.

Step 2:  You have a choice of how to clean your brushes and combs. Many people use warm water and a bit of shampoo. White vinegar is another excellent choice too. Soaking for five or ten minutes in this solution will loosen dried on hair care products that can then be easily rinsed away.

WARNING #1:  Soaking wooden handled brushes is not recommended as it damages the wood. Far better to wash under warm water with a bit of shampoo, rinse immediately, and then dry with a towel and then a hair dryer.
 

WARNING #2:  If your brush has an air gap underneath the bristles, a quicker wash and dry is also preferred as these types of brushes can retain water in that gap, which can turn to mold. The only way to fix this is to replace the brush.
 

Step 3:  For those really stubborn residue deposits, pull out an old toothbrush. You can even use an old toothbrush head from a power toothbrush, this works especially well! Just be sure to mark the toothbrush head as a cleaning implement so you don’t ever put it in your mouth! 

Step 4:  Air dry on a cotton towel to absorb any moisture.
 

Step 5:  Check your blow-dryer. Most of them have a lint trap that keeps dust from entering the blow-dryer. A dry toothbrush works very well to remove this from the screen. Doing this once a month will extend the life of your blow-dryer motor.
 

Step 6:  Look at your curling irons and other heat tools. If there is evidence of product buildup there, take a damp cloth (either water or white vinegar) and gently rub the surface of the COLD and UNPLUGGED tool until all the product residue is gone.

THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS

According to John Donne, “No man is an island.”

As much as we might sometimes like to just hibernate in a cave, most of us don’t have that option. Living as part of a society requires the ability to work well with others whether at work, in the grocery story, the church parking lot, or on the drive to and from work. We have a basic expectation that everyone follows the rules.

But what happens when things seem to fall apart? The driver next to you cuts you off? The shopper beside you throws their single item on the checkout counter just as you approach with a buggy full of groceries?

Our initial reaction might be to give back exactly what we received. And while that might give you a fleeting moment of satisfaction, deep down, you’ll be disappointed with yourself and worse, you might possibly need that very person’s influence sometime in the future.

Remember the story of a family heading to Disney World, cut off just as they approached the entrance? The driver pounded on his horn, and flashed a hand gesture universally known to be rude and crude. Later that week it turns out the man who cut him off was the hiring manager for the job he applied for. As you may have guessed, he didn’t get the job.

In polite society, we learn to control our tempers, and perhaps even give the benefit of the doubt to people who might be rude to us. Why? Because our entire world revolves around relationships.

Every interaction we have with another human being depends on a relationship built somewhere.

Many people are having trouble finding work today. Those who do find jobs discover that it depends on who they know to get them in front of a hiring manager.

The use of basic manners makes everyone’s life easier. But the deeper issue is the development of relationships. With all the computer systems that answer our customer service calls, most people indicate that they would much rather talk to a human being.

The next time you have the inclination to just blow your top, remember that everyone is a human being, and might need your compassion. Or they could be that hiring manager who will remember your behavior in the Disney World parking lot.