life & style / 10 theotherpress.ca No shampoo week 2: stuck 1n grease limbo » Coping with the transition phase Sophie Isbister Life & Style Editor Mlifeandstyle @theotherpress.ca ’m two weeks into my no- shampoo experiment and my life is starting to feel likea combination of the musicals Grease and Hair. For real though, it’s oily—very oily. This is to be expected; my hair is naturally really oily anyway, so during this “transition phase” (as the gals in the Facebook low-poo/no-poo community page call it) it’s no wonder my So instead of focussing on my progress (because there is no progress when you live in grease limbo), this instalment every day feels like a bad hair day. Whether you're trying to stop using shampoo like me, or even just trying to goa few days between washes, these strategies should give you the knowledge you need to keep it going. First, brushing! The Facebook community suggests brushing your hair frequently with a boar bristle brush natural fibres of the brush are supposed to be good for your hair, and frequent brushing distributes your scalp’s natural oil throughout your hair’s length, having a conditioning effect on dryer hair. Dry shampoo is also an : option for those oily days : between washes. I’m not using : any store-bought products on : my hair for this experiment. : I’m going full-hippie, which ; means making my own dry : shampoo out of cornstarch, : cocoa, and essential oils—see : sidebar for recipe! I only use it : in emergency situations (read: : not every day), but it makes the : roots look a little less greasy, : and also can give your hair a : nice scent, depending on the : essential oils you use. Having a good style in your : hair can also make it appear hair is overproducing like crazy. : less greasy. In fact, there are : alot of styles that hold better : in oily hair than in clean hair! : As someone with very fine and : straight hair, I’ve always had a will focus on ways to cope when : really hard time making up-dos : stay in place—not anymore, : since my hair is now always : infused with its own natural : oils. Braids are alsoa great way: : to get your hair off your face and : : neatly tucked away. : My favourite style these : days has been a top-knot. This : is really easy to do: just brush : your hair upward (this part is : : important!), then gather it allin : : a ponytail very close to the top of : (available at any drugstore). The : YOUr head. Backcomb the ponya ; : bit, then wind your hair around : the base of the ponytail and : secure in place with bobby pins. : : This look can also be dressed up : : witha headband or bandanna,_: : further hiding your oily shame. : : Asock bun also works really well : : with greasy hair. : Braids continue to bea challenge for me. I think the : real trick is exercising your : arms so they don’t hurt so : much! I’ve had minor success : just pulling all my hair back : ina French braid. And fora : casual day at school or work, : I’ve been working ona single : French braid that goes along my : hairline, and then gets pulled : into a low side bun. When all else fails, try complaining! The Internet is : great for this when your friends : are tired of listening; whether : you find support on Facebook, : Reddit, or Twitter, support is : there for any struggle that may : come your way while you kick : the shampoo-habit. Everyone : says it should start getting : easier for me, so | hope my : next instalment is a lot more : positive! Simple dry shampoo recipe Ingredients: e 1/4 cup cornstarch e 1/4 cup cocoa (optional) e A few drops of essential oil Combine all the ingredients in a sturdy Ziploc bag. Use cocoa if you have brown or dark hair, but omit if you have blonde hair. Use any kind of essential oil like sweet orange. Once the ingredients are combined, store in a jar and apply to the roots of your hair with an old makeup brush. By www.gracefullittlehoneybee.blogspot.ca Google Glass is the future » Will the Google technology be the first truly hands-free mobile platform? Aidan Mouellic a Staff Writer was recently having a phone conversation with a friend who described something that they were drawing, and it make me think: “Wouldn't it be cool if] could see what they were seeing?” Then I thought about the devices that Google is working on. With their Google Glass wearable technology, my dream will bea reality soon. Google Glass is not avail- able to the general public yet, although Google has released batches to American testing crews. These lucky few, called Explorers, are able to purchase the devices for $1,500 before : the masses get a chance. The : Explorers have been praising : the device, while the rest of : the Glass-less world seems : to be apprehensive about the : technology. The main feature : of Google Glass is something : called a Heads-Up Display : (HUD), which shows infor- : mation ona tiny screen right : infront of your eye. HUDs are : typically found in fighter jets : and other high-end aircraft, but : now you can have one strapped : to your face showing you your : emails—if youre American : and have $1,500 to spare. The Google Glass HUD can : show the wearer map-based : directions, photographs, videos, : email, and other really cool : geeky stuff that gets kids like me : : excited. But despite the poten- : tially great capabilities of the : Google device, not everyone is : excited for its release. The term “glasshole’” is already part of the : vernacular of those who fear : that users of the technology will : beassholes. Why would some- : one think that? Well, because : Google Glass has a built-in : camera that shoots from the : user’s perspective, many believe : that this technology will be used : : to invade the privacy of others. : The eyewear is also rather : bulky and makes the user look : a bit silly, but considering how : new the technology is, bulk- : iness is to be expected—‘gos : era cellphones, anyone? : Even though Google Glass is : : ugly, potentially controversial, : and not that cool (yet), [know that it’s the future. When the : technology makes it to the mass : market it will change the way we : experience mobile communi- : cation. It will immerse us in our : conversations. Using a handheld : cellphone right now is sort of : like listening to theatre on the : radio—it’s one-dimensional and : lacks depth. As muchas I love : radio programs, film is much : funner and more engaging. : When we speak on our phones all we have is sound; our tele- : phone conversations lack colour. I realize that statement is amazing; having their voice : in the palm of my hand is : amazing. But we can take it : : further with the technology that : : Google is introducing. Google : Glass can immerse us in our : mobile interactions by seam- : lessly linking visual and audio : components of conversations. I want to be able to have : my friends show me in realtime : what they are drawing, and : Google Glass will let me do that. : Imagine talking with someone : onthe other side of the world : and being able to see what they : see—Google Glass will let us : converse with others as if we are : : standing right next to them. : might make me sounds ungrate- : : ful for cellphones, but I’m not. : Speaking ona small cellphone : to someone who is sometimes : thousands of kilometres away The possibilities for Glass : are vast and I can't wait to try it : out and see how refined it will : get with time. Currently, cell : phonesare astonishingly good, : yet they still lack the ability to : create a hands-free, immersive : experience for users. Google Glass might deliver the Holy : Grail of communication excel- : lence, and I can’t wait to find out.