With the rise of box dyes and people resorting to colouring their own hair mainly to save money has resulted in confusion between semi, demi and permanent hair colour.
I will try to explain the difference in this article.
Choosing a hair colour can be difficult due to the fact that everyone’s hair is different. Your colorist will have definite opinions about demi-permanent colour versus semi-permanent colour and will consider individual factors such as the degree of porosity that determines how readily your hair will accept colour, how vivid your natural colour is the overall health of your hair, and your hair wash habits.
The primary distinction between semi-permanent and demi-permanent hair colours is their durability after repeated washings and exposure to sunlight. In comparison to permanent hair colour, both methods are temporary, with demi-lasting up to 30 washes and semi-lasting about 5. Here’s how to determine which method is optimal for your hair and your desired hair colour results.
HOW DOES SEMI-PERMANENT COLOR WORK AND WHAT IS IT?
Permanent hair colour contains potentially damaging ammonia, whereas semi-permanent hair colour does not. It is used by mixing it with a low-volume developer that activates hair colour with a low level of peroxide to lift the outer cuticle so that pigment can lodge there without affecting the innermost fibres of the cortex. Before shampooing, demi-permanent hair colour is typically applied to dry hair to deposit pigment on the surface layer without lightening the natural hair colour.
WHO IS BEST SUITABLE FOR TEMPORARY COLOR?
If you’re looking for a temporary hair colour change, or if you want to shift your tone from cool to warm or vice versa, demi-permanent is the most effective and least damaging option. It affects natural hair sufficiently to darken it and is an excellent choice when grey hairs begin to appear, making them appear as natural highlights that blend with your overall colour – with less distinction as hair grows out. Additionally, demi-permanent colour is ideal for revitalising faded ends. If you’re curious about how to care for bleached hair, demi-permanent colour is an excellent way to revitalise brassy and dull blondes.
HOW DOES SEMI-PERMANENT COLOR WORK AND WHAT IS IT?
Low-maintenance and short-lived, semipermanent hair colour requires little upkeep. This temporary, “deposit-only” hair dye is also known as a toner, stain, and gloss. In contrast to demi-permanent colour, semi-permanent colour does not require a developer and is typically applied to freshly washed hair. It does not alter the hair colour as much as it adds depth and vibrancy to the tone.
WHO BENEFITS MOST FROM SEMI-PERMANENT COLOR?
If you’re new to colouring your hair, or a “colour virgin” in salon parlance, semi-permanent hair colour is the best option. It is the most temporary hair colour method – and the least risky as it can be washed out quickly and easily if the results aren’t to your liking. If you’re curious about how often you can dye your hair, this method gives you more flexibility. It’s also the best way to indulge adventurous fashion whims as often as weekly and makes for full-spectrum Halloween hues.
Semi-permanent hair colour can also prevent blonde hair from turning brassy or red, as well as keep red from fading, which is typically the first colour to lose its vibrancy. Curious about how to eliminate brassy hair? Your colorist can add semi-permanent colour to a masque or conditioner to create a personalised toner for use between salon visits.
And since we’re talking about colour, you may be wondering:
WHAT IS LONG-LASTING HAIR COLOR?
Permanent hair colour involves the use of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide to lift the hair cuticle and alter the structure of melanin and keratin, the pigment and protein responsible for hair colour and texture, respectively, in order to deposit dye. Permanent hair colour can lighten, darken, or alter the tone and lasts up to eight weeks, though monthly root touch-ups may be necessary. Permanent colour can completely cover greys.
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?
If you’re considering experimenting with trendy hues such as pink, blue, or purple, blonding expert Cyd Charisse suggests the following: The longer you wait between colour services, the greater the fading of your hair colour. Not willing to commit? “Try small pops of colour on layers underneath that can be hidden or featured less prominently if they fade, or use clip-ins for the ultimate commitment-free method.”
Your preferred cleanser and frequency of washing will determine how long your colour will last. Many of our tips for coloured hair, such as washing less frequently or opting for a detergent-free formula, will help you get more bang for your buck. You will consider New Wash, which is often referred to as the colorist’s soulmate, to be your hair’s best friend, especially when it comes to preserving the colour and keeping your hair looking and feeling absolutely brilliant with intense shine.
All of your arguments boil down to three questions. If all your answers are no to all three questions , there will most likely be a problem.
Conflict is difficult to resolve if viewed in as Who wins or Lose.
Most of the time, it involves both logical and illogical feelings. That thing you’re arguing about, whether at home or at work, is about what’s said and what’s not said. It is about what is visible and what is hidden.
The problem is that most of us focus on the surface and ignore what’s beneath. That is a mistake. So how can you move to resolving emotionally entangled conflict?
Oprah Winfrey is someone I admire because she is no stranger to conflict, and she is in a good position to comment on it given her background as an interviewer. She has addressed complex issues such as suicide, infidelity, mental health, sexual abuse, and others, all of which involve deep-seated conflict.
She’s interviewed nearly 30,000 people via her shows,” she says, ” they all had one thing in common.”
What exactly was it? What did everyone have in common, whether a firefighter or a PhD, a dental hygienist or a software engineer?
“They all wanted validation,” Oprah says.
She wasn’t referring to ego-stroking compliments like “You’re such an amazing wife” or “I can’t believe what an incredible boss you are.”
No, she was referring to something more fundamental, and crucial, when it comes to connecting through conflict: validating what someone is saying and validating that it is important to you.
When Oprah spoke at the Stanford Graduate School of Business about career, life, and leadership, she mentioned this. She specifically stated that all of your arguments boil down to three questions, and only three questions:
Did you hear what I said? Did you notice me? Did what I said make any sense to you or matter?
In other words, whether your partner is upset because you arrived home late yet again, or your employee is trying to convince you that they need another member on their team, what they really want is to be seen. Being heard.
They want to know if you’re really listening to them and care about what they’re trying to tell you.
This does not imply that you must grovel or strikeout, or that you must immediately change the topic or become accusational (for example, by bringing up a previous situation or disagreement).
It does, however, imply that you should begin by not defending yourself or addressing the “content” of the argument.
If you truly want to calm the person down and resolve the conflict quickly, the best thing to do first is to make them feel understood—and that what they’re saying matters to them.
“You are correct; I have been working late a lot. I know it’s inconvenient not to have me home for dinner. I want you to know how much it means to me.”
“I understand. On the team, you’ve been juggling a lot lately: managing schedules, responding to clients, and liaising between the team and the engineering department. I see and appreciate everything you’ve done.”
According to Oprah (and every other psychologist ever), when someone feels that you see and care about them, its a game changer. The nervous system of the individual relaxes. Their tone becomes softer. The problem appears to become more manageable.
You can most likely relate. If you dig deep enough, almost always, when you have a problem with someone, it’s because you didn’t feel seen or heard.
It’s not just that your previous partner use to ignore; you felt overlooked, unimportant, frustratingly angry or powerless.
When you feel like the other person is seeing you and listening to you (deeply listening, not just saying they’re listening) when you share your distress, you begin to feel different.
You no longer feel alone; you feel as if they’re on your side.
You are feeling supported.
Try it with your children, your husband, your wife, your boss, and your friends, as Oprah suggests. Verify them.
I notice you. I understand. And what you say is important to me.
There are many different statistics that suggest why franchises are such a popular option in the UK for aspiring entrepreneurs and have higher success rates than running your own independent business. In fact, according to What-Franchise 80% of new franchise businesses are still running after their first five years. However, with so many to choose from, how do you know which one will be right for you? You can learn more about why franchises have much higher success rates below and also where you can find the best franchises for sale in the UK.
Why are franchises more successful than other business opportunities?
Buying a franchise is one of the safest ways to run a business. There are many reasons why franchises are more successful than other business opportunities, such as buying a company for sale or starting up your own business from scratch, but today in this article, we will list the five main reasons franchises tend to have such high success rates in the UK.
Franchises are supported by a proven system.
When you buy a franchise, you’re buying into someone else’s proven system. Franchises are tried and true, which means they already know what works and what doesn’t—so that can save you a lot of time and money. For example, when buying a franchise, don’t try to reinvent any wheels; accept what is working for them and change only things that won’t disrupt their growth. It might seem obvious, but many entrepreneurs try to do things their own way—which means it can take twice as long to get going, or the chance of failure can dramatically increase when you buy a franchise. You don’t have to worry about this since all you need to do is successfully replicate the proven system to get customers through your door as early as possible.
Some franchises offer pre-built marketing tools.
Franchises give you access to brand-name products that may already be market-tested. In some cases, like Subway or McDonald’s, these brands are easy to recognize and well known by consumers. You’ll also have access to a company-branded marketing kit that can get you started with your advertising efforts immediately. To help ensure franchise success, many franchisors take a hands-on approach with new owners and offer lots of training and support during the first year of business. This is in addition to any experience you may gain while working at a franchise location part-time before purchasing it full-time.
Franchises are usually cheaper to start than independent businesses.
Starting a new business costs a lot of money, and most small businesses operate on thin margins. Franchises can offer their start-up packages at relatively low prices because they already have equipment and employees. This doesn’t mean that franchising is cheap; however, it can help you save money when compared to starting your own operation from scratch. The average franchise for sale in the UK usually costs around £10,000 to £55,000. However, every franchise is different, and you need to remember not all franchises are created equal each one is different. For example, some franchises might be very expensive depending on their brand recognition and location, but there are some low-cost franchise investment opportunities that usually cost £1,000 to £10,000. The bottom line is every franchise is different. This is why it’s crucial to do research before investing.
Franchises save time and money upfront.
You’re not on your own when you buy a franchise. The company that owns it will help you get started, offering training, business planning, and marketing support. All of those things cost money—and require time—but when you buy a franchise, you don’t need to worry about spending either. That gives you more time and money to focus on building your business into something profitable. In many cases, a franchise can also help new owners land their first customers since they already have brand recognition in their community or market segment.
It’s easier to get access to funding with a franchise.
You’ll be able to get access to funding easier with a franchise, mainly because there are support networks behind your franchisor. Also, banks are more likely to provide loans to someone who has invested in a proven system rather than starting their own business from scratch. Many franchises will provide you with advice on applying for financing and give you tips on what types of businesses work best with their brands. And if things don’t go as planned, many will offer help in finding investors or other capital sources should you need it down the road. In short, franchise owners are somewhat protected from market fluctuations and competition—and can focus more on doing what they do best: making money for themselves and their franchise brand.
Is now the right time to invest in a Health, Hair & Beauty Franchises?
We all like to look & feel good, which is why regardless of the economic climate, health & beauty franchises for sale, and the beauty industry generally tends to be very stable.
This trend is set to rise with beauty products representing around 6% of all retail sales in the UK, sectors such as cosmetics. Makeup continues to grow.
Another growth area is the use of vitamins or supplements, including many people that like to use protein powders or other protein supplements to enhance their look & gym performance.
With the industry trend of increased health & beauty, spending likely to continue a business within the sector could be highly lucrative.
Facts and statistics around the beauty industry:
The UK boasts £28.4 bn beauty product and services industry, a report reveals. The UK’s beauty industry contributed a total of £28.4 billion in 2018 to the nation’s economy. Resulting in a valuation of the UK’s consumption of beauty products and services in 2018 at £27.2 billion.
The industry itself directly employed 370,200 people. With a further 220,300 jobs being supported through its supply chain and wage-related consumer spending contributions.
The UK’s beauty industry contributed a total of £28.4 billion in 2018 to the nation’s economy. Resulting in a valuation of the UK’s consumption of beauty products and services in 2018 at £27.2 billion.
By 2019, this market was worth over 1.74 billion British pounds. On the retail side of the spectrum. Over the past decade, UK retail stores specializing in cosmetics and personal care increased their turnover from selling such products. Going from 2.7 billion in 2008 to over 5.3 billion British pounds in 2018.
Best Types Of Beauty Businesses For Sale To Invest In
What types of beauty businesses are the best to buy? As an investor, you have many decisions to make when choosing which type of beauty business for sale to invest in, but one of the most important factors is your own personal preferences and career goals. If you’re looking to buy into the beauty industry, it’s important to choose the right business model that will give you the potential to make money while still allowing you to enjoy your time as an entrepreneur.
Going it Alone or Franchising
If your servicing a very exclusive sector and you just want a small exclusive business with you having sole responsibility then going it alone might be more appealing to you. But it is worth taking a course in small business management and marketing, it will help you enormously.
If you decide to go the franchise route, when you buy a franchise, you buy a system – an entire method of doing business. Franchises have an established system in place that you must follow to distribute the franchisor’s products or services using the franchisor’s trade or service marks. Having a proven system already in place eliminates the guesswork and errors a common business owner would normally face.
With the help of a franchise, you can:
A. Duplicate a real, genuine business that allows you to help others.
B. Set up a business that consistently provides an impressive return on investment.
C. Put together a business that helps you assist real people with genuine needs.
D. Develop a meaningful career path for yourself that has rewards for years to come.
E. Have a full supportive management team around you
F. Benefit from global branding and marketing
G. Benefit from established supply line, retail etc and much more
1) Hair Salon Businesses For Sale
The salon business is a booming market right now. If you are looking for one of the most lucrative beauty businesses for sale, it’s hard to top hair salons for sale. You can find everything from salons in up-and-coming neighborhoods to high-end salons downtown. An established salon with a proven clientele will always be in demand and is an asset worth taking into consideration when deciding what type of beauty business for sale might be best for you.
2) Hairdresser Businesses For Sale
Most hairdressers for sale are small businesses and can be found everywhere. The market for hairdressers is relatively steady, particularly if you’re looking at specific demographics and types of clients. Hair salons often specialise in a certain type of clientele or offer services that may not be as popular with others. Some salons specialise in hair colouring and require less investment than buying a full-service salon. Before you buy a hair business opportunity, it’s important to know what your options are; looking for specialist services such as hair extensions, hairloss treatments, wig making etc., are niche sectors that could yeild more from your investment than a traditional hair salon. When buying hairdressing businesses for sale, research those that might best fit your lifestyle and goals and attract high paying customers.
A larger hair salon franchise may be a good choice if you want to join an established team with experience, retail sales, clientele and branding.
3) Nail Salon Businesses For Sale
If you’re interested in buying a nail salon business for sale, it’s important to remember that different types of nail salons for sale offer different services. While some focus on manicures and pedicures, others might be focused on offering more specialised treatments like nal extensions, nail art or vn pedicures. If you want to work with private clients, you can find nail salon business opportunities that operate out of homes. A larger nail salon franchise may be a good choice if you want to join an established team with experience and plenty of clientele already built up.
4) Barber Businesses For Sale
Barbering is a business that goes well beyond cutting hair. The health and wellness of your clients are just as important as their looks. Barbering services can include relaxation and pampering, a haircut and style, hot towel shave or facial wax, tanning.. not to mention retail sales opportunities. If you’re considering buying a barbers for sale or other beauty business for sale, here are some considerations to make before signing on the dotted line: What licenses do I need? Can I afford to pay for any renovations required for compliance? Is there parking for my potential clientele? How does social media work into my marketing strategy? Are there potential leads out there that could convert into customers without too much extra effort from me?
5) Beauty Salon Businesses For Sale
Buying a beauty salon business from a current owner is also an option. Before you buy, be sure to ask as many questions as possible so that you can make a fully informed decision. The best way to do that is by talking with other salon owners in your area who have purchased beauty salons and asking them what they did right—and wrong—as well as if their initial expectations for return on investment matched reality. If you decide buying a beauty salon for sale is for you, make sure to do thorough research before investing in any salon business opportunity.
Salon Awards winner 2021
Dream Big Have Faith. Lean In
My dream began in 2000, to set up a #hairextensions and Hairloss Specialist Salon Franchise model.
5 years later, winning several awards I am excited to report that we have just been accredited by the Quality #franchise Association and have gone live in the national and international Franchise Directories. It has been a challenging journey and just like when you pass your driving test, the real driving begins when your in the car alone.
I am so looking forward to seeing replica of the salon and brand throughout the UK and Europe and assisting #investors in my initiative become viable #businesses within their own right. This is the link in the UK directory
Don’t let your dreams be crippled by doubt and fears. lean in!
Looking for Entrepreneurs to set up their own Hair Extensions & Hairloss business. Checkout our Franchise Opportunity which includes Business Plan, Raising Finance, Training and launching your businness with full support. Click to have a chat http://bit.ly/3jYM20b
Every year more and more people are suffering from hair loss caused by illness, medication, stress, chemical treatments, damaged hair. We help treat and or disguise thin, short, bald patches, damaged or sensitive scalp on all hair types, gender or age.
We offer a non evasive hair regrowth treatment with a REVOLUNARY equipment known as iGrow.
If you need help to start the hair regrowth journey to restore your edges, bald patches, thin hair or slow growing hair, book a consultation with Need a Hair Makeover and let’s see what we can do.
About the Equipment
iGrow’s proprietary Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) technology utilises a highly effective combination of red laser and LED light diodes, to stimulate and energise cellular activity causing an uptake in the natural function of the hair follicle.
What makes the iGrow Laser Hair Rejuvenation System different to other laser treatments?
Unlike other hair laser treatments, iGrow uses a combination of LED and laser technology at a clinically proven wavelength of 655 nano-meters. The unique design of the iGrow helmet is specially contoured to cover your entire scalp for the most effective treatment possible in the shortest amount of time.
Also the distribution of the low-level laser and LED lights inside the iGrow helmet ensures that the treatment targets exactly the parts of your scalp that need it most every time.
The iGrow system promotes hair growth and energises hair follicles, combating hair loss. With regular use, iGrow will produce thicker, fuller hair in just 6 months
Number of Treatments
There are several packages you can choose from to suit your budget.
What to do prior to treatment
Arrive with your hair clean and free from any hair care products
How long is each treatment
Each treatment under the IGrow system is for 20 minutes. There is no heat involved with this treatment.
Styling hair after treatment
We can style your hair after treatment for a surplus fee. Let us know upon your arrival and prior to your treatment.
Aftercare
We recommend you do not wash your hair for at least 48 hours after the treatment.
Recommended number of treatments
It is recommended that the first course of treatments should consist of up to <12 sessions to see hair growth results in 6 months.
I assist various clients from various backgrounds to overcome or disguise hair loss or damaged hair challenges. Most of them want to learn how to stimulate faster, stronger healthier hair growth. There are many hair growth products in the market place but, I am going to take a look at Castor Oil in particular today, mainly because it is a natural product and not many people understand it’s properties.
Castor oil is a thick, odorless oil made from the seeds of the castor plant. Its use dates back to ancient Egypt, where it was first used as lamp fuel and later for medicinal and beauty treatments — Cleopatra reportedly believed the oil would brighten the whites of her eyes.
Today, most of the world’s castor oil is produced in India. Modern research backs up some of its traditional uses, including laxative effects, anti-inflammatory properties, and the ability to help induce labor.
While studies continue to investigate other potential health benefits, castor oil is considered safe if used as directed, and can be found in a range of skin and hair care products sold today. Pure castor oil is also available at many specialty health stores.
You can put the oil directly on your skin and scalp or take it orally in small amounts. Some people also make castor “oil packs.” Castor oil packs are made of cloth that is soaked in castor oil and applied to affected areas. Because of its potency, castor oil is not used in cooking or added to food.
Firstlys we must outline that there are two types of castor oil available.
• yellow castor oil, made by cold pressing fresh castor beans
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• black castor oil, made by roasting the castor beans and then using heat to extract the oil
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Further on in this article we will outline the differences, uses, benefits and risks.
Nutrition Information
A one-tablespoon serving of castor oil contains:
• Calories: 120
• Protein: 0 grams
• Fat: 14 grams
• Carbohydrates: 0 grams
• Fiber: 0 grams
• Sugar: 0 grams
Castor oil is a good source of:
• Vitamin E
• Omega-9 f atty a cids
• Omega-6 f atty a cids
More than 90% of castor oil’s fatty acid content is ricinoleic acid. Research shows that this omega-9 has pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects. When applied to the skin may help relieve issues like joint pain and menstrual cramps.
Potential Health Benefits of Castor Oil
Castor oil is a common ingredient in many beauty products. It’s rich in essential fatty acids that moisturize the skin, and research continues to study how their properties may be effective in treating common skin conditions.
Castor oil has also been used to help pregnant women with delivery for centuries. In fact, a survey from 1999 found that 93% of midwives in the U.S. used castor oil to induce labor. While further research is needed, one study found that castor oil initiated labor in 91% of women with little to no childbirth complications.
Other potential health benefits associated with castor oil include:
Laxative Properties
One of castor oil’s most traditional uses is to stimulate digestion, relieving temporary constipation. Modern research has found that this effect is due to the oil’s high levels of ricinoleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid that acts as a natural laxative.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Studies show that castor oil’s ricinoleic acid reduces swelling and pain caused by inflammation. Research suggests that, when applied to the skin, castor oil may reduce arthritis symptoms more effectively than prescription topical treatments. More studies are needed to confirm this effect in humans.
May Heal Wounds
Castor oil’s fatty acids are natural humectants, substances used to moisturize the skin by preventing water loss. This effect can promote good skin health, relieve dryness, and soothe skin inflammation.
It may also have the potential to accelerate wound healing. Castor oil is a triglyceride that has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Research shows that, when applied to the skin, it may prevent infection, reduce inflammation, improve localized blood flow, and shed damaged skin cells — all of which help skin’s healing process.
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Treats Some Skin Conditions
Castor oil can benefit overall skin health, but may treat specific skin conditions as well. Though there’s a lack of clinical research, its combination of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and moisturizing effects is thought to help treat some causes of acne. One study showed that castor oil also fights fungal infections, which may help relieve hard-to-treat fungal acne.
Other studies have found castor oil helpful in the treatment of melasma, dandruff, and ringworm.
Potential Risks of Castor Oil
When applied to the skin, castor oil is considered safe for most people to use. However, its dermatological effects are still being studied, so be sure to follow your doctor’s advice when treating any skin conditions.
If you take it internally, castor oil’s potent fatty acids can pose health risks. Castor oil is a powerful laxative. It is recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a way to relieve temporary constipation, but it isn’t suitable for long-term treatment. Use castor oil in small amounts and be sure to consult with your doctor to make sure it’s safe for you.
What is Ricin
Castor beans naturally contain the poison ricin. If you chew and swallow castor beans, ricin can be released and cause injury. Ricin is also in the waste that is produced in the manufacture of castor oil. Castor oil does not contain ricin.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that it is highly unlikely to be intentionally exposed to ricin unless you were to actually eat castor beans. The CDC also indicates that ricin has been the focus of medical experiments to kill cancer cells.
Some health risks associated with castor oil use include:
Allergies
Some people may be allergic to the castor plant and experience itching, swelling, or rashes when using castor oil.
Physical Discomfort
Ingesting too much castor oil can cause nausea, cramps, dizziness, and muscle weakness. Use it as advised by your doctor and don’t take it on an empty stomach.
Pregnancy Concerns
Because castor oil may help induce labor, pregnant women should avoid it. There is also a lack of research on its effects on infants, children, and breastfeeding women.
Medication Interactions
If taken with diuretics, adrenal corticosteroids, or licorice root, castor oil may reduce the potassium content in your body to dangerously low levels.
Overdose
Taken orally, large amounts of castor oil can be poisonous. Symptoms of overdose include abdominal cramps, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Use castor oil as directed to avoid unintentional overdose.
Digestive System Damage
Long-term laxative use can cause damage to your digestive system and can even cause electrolyte abnormalities or dehydration. While castor oil can provide occasional constipation relief, you should talk to your doctor to discuss treatment options before consuming it
Using Castor Oil for Hair Growth
The most popular oil for hair growth is Black castor oil, which is made by roasting the castor beans and then using heat to extract the oil
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Because the method of starting with roasted beans was developed in Jamaica, black castor oil is often referred to as Jamaican black castor oil.
There are, however, many people who, supported primarily by anecdotal evidence, feel that using black castor oil on their hair promotes hair health and hair growth.
One way that proponents of black castor oil support their position is by aligning it with the benefits of other essential oils.
Although there are indications that many oils, such as peppermint oil (according to a 2014 studyTrusted Source) and lavender oil (according to a 2016 studyTrusted Source), have potential as hair growth-promoting agents, there is a lack of qualified studies on black castor oil and its effect on human hair.
• Benefits
• How to Use It
• What to Look For
• Side Effects
• Precautions and Concerns
Castor oil is often praised as a natural solution for hair growth. An age-old remedy long used in traditional medicine, castor oil is said to moisturize the scalp, ease dandruff, and leave your hair smooth, strong, and shiny.
Sourced from the castor bean, castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid—a type of fatty acid known to fight inflammation.1 When applied to the scalp, it is thought to promote healthy hair growth and prevent hair loss.
This section discusses the benefits of castor oil for your hair along with how to use it. It also covers what to look for when choosing a castor oil product and the possible side effects you may encounter.
Benefits
Some of the claims you may have heard about castor oil’s benefits for hair include:
• Castor oil increases blood flow to the scalp, which promotes healthier hair.
• Applying it just once a month can boost hair growth up to five times the usual rate.
• Castor oil can moisturize a dry, irritated scalp.
• Castor oil’s antibacterial and antifungal properties can reduce dandruff.
There is very little evidence to back up the claims that castor oil specifically can improve hair health and growth.
There is, however, evidence that individual nutrients in castor oil, including vitamin E (tocopheryl acetate), increase blood flow to the scalp and promote hair growth. This explains why vitamin E is so commonly used in hair loss products.2
Castor oil is also a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. Antioxidants prevent free radicals from damaging the body’s healthy cells—a process known as oxidative stress that leads to hair loss.3
Additionally, castor oil contains omega-6 fatty acids—a type of essential fatty acid that promotes hair growth and reduces inflammation in the hair follicle.4
Recap
There is no scientific evidence that applying castor oil to your hair can boost hair health and growth. More research is needed, though, since specific nutrients in castor oil, like antioxidants and vitamin E, are well known to have these effects.
Learn How and Why Hair Forms and Grows the Way It Does
How to Use It
If you’re interested in using castor oil for hair growth, try rubbing just a few drops of the oil into your scalp. You can also massage a few more drops into your hair’s midsection and ends. This may protect against breakage and improve your hair’s texture.
Castor oil is heavy and very sticky, making it difficult to remove from your hair. It’s best to dilute it with other natural oils like coconut or jojoba. This can also tone down the scent of castor oil, which many people find unpleasant. Simply mix one part castor oil with two parts of another “carrier oil.”
There are no exact guidelines for how long you should leave castor oil on your hair. Leaving it in too long can actually dry out your hair and scalp, though, so it’s best to wash it from your hair after two hours or so.
Many hair care experts recommend using castor oil no more than once a week. Using it more frequently than that can cause buildup and lead to issues like matting.
What to Look For
When shopping for castor oil, you might see some products that say “cold-pressed” on their labels. This means the castor seeds are pressed into oil without the use of heat or harsh chemicals. Many people say that cold-pressed oils are the best quality and more nutrient-rich than those processed with heat.
One of the most popular castor oil products for hair care is Jamaican black castor oil. This variety is made with roasted castor beans and the ash produced by the roasting process. Jamaican black castor oil is said to be especially good for thick, dry, and/or coarse hair.
Like any oil, castor oil has a shelf life. Once opened, it can start to go rancid after about one year, so keep that in mind when choosing a product and storing it at home.
Side Effects
There’s some concern that using castor oil as a hair treatment may lead to acute hair felting—a rare disorder in which the hair becomes tangled into a hard mass. Since the condition is irreversible, the only solution is to cut off the affected hair.5
It should also be noted that consuming large amounts of castor oil can be extremely harmful and trigger a number of adverse effects, including:
• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Hallucinations
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath and chest pain
• Skin rash
• Throat tightness
Applying castor oil to your hair shouldn’t cause these problems, but make sure that you or others don’t accidentally swallow it.
Precautions and Concerns
Castor oil can stain your clothes and towels. Take care to cover your head with a shower cap, an old t-shirt or towel until it’s time to wash your hair. This will prevent the oil from dripping onto your clothes or other items. Keep in mind that your hair may require two applications of shampoo in order to completely remove the castor oil.
If you’re thinking of using castor oil as a remedy for hair loss, remember that hair loss may be a sign of an underlying health problem. Therefore, it’s crucial to talk to your doctor as soon as possible if you notice unexplained hair loss.
Summary
Castor oil is popular among natural beauty enthusiasts, who claim that applying it to your hair can boost your hair’s health, shine, and growth. There is no scientific evidence to support these claims, although some nutrients in castor oil, like antioxidants and vitamin E, are known to be beneficial for hair health.
A Word From Diane Shawe
Hair loss is not just a symptom of getting older. There are many medical conditions that can lead to hair loss, including thyroid disease and alopecia areata. You can also lose noticeable amounts of hair during periods of severe mental or emotional stress.
If you find yourself losing large clumps of hair or you’re suddenly developing bald spots, get in contact with your doctor. When an underlying health condition is to blame, applying castor oil won’t help.
Types of Castor oil and Uses and
CASTOR OIL seeds
Castor oil, also known as a #1 grade Castor oil for products like soap making and general use-
Castor oil is a widely used renewable, bio-degradable and eco-friendly product. It is useful in a wide range of D-I-Y applications including: Soap and lotion making, blending of lotions, salves, creams, shampoos, and more. It is Vegetable Based, has no animal derived products, and there is No Animal Testing on our Castor Oil. It is GLuten free, and contains no Wheat, no Peanuts, no dairy, egg, fish, and is also solvent free .
On popular way to use castor oil is in soapmaking. It is a very useful, beneficial oil in soap making. It is typically used in relatively low percentages depending on the over-formulation and what other oils are used. The addition of the right amount of pure castor oil may enable soap to trace quicker, and make better soap. Plus. castor oil adds the benefit of better and more stable lather. Castor oil is an excellent moisturizer as it attracts and holds moisture to skin. Check your superfatting chart. Sometimes using castor oil will require more sodium hydroxide since it has a high ricinoleic acid content. In softer products, like shampoo bars and skin-care products it is excellent. In the right combination with over vegetable oils, however, it makes a very nice moisturizing and wonderfully emollient, hard bar of soap. Try castor oil in salves, balms, shampoos, hair oils, and other thick emulsions for the skin and hair. It is in all kinds of specialty formulations as a natural emollient and applied to the skin and hair as a softener.(keep away from eyes!)
Many customers tell us they use castor oil as a mole repellant in their yards. They blend it in hose end yard sprayer and spray in the mole holes to rid it of those pesky critters. One recipe passed along to us says to blend in 1 tablespoon of pure Decyl Glucoside with 12- 14 Oz of Pure Castor Oil. For a pump type sprayer add 1 Oz of Decyl Glucoside surfactant to every 32 Oz of Castor oil and then the balance of water up to 2 gallons to treat the mole holes. Spray at least half a gallon in and around the holes. Retreat as necessary. * In tougher situations try adding 2 Oz of natural NEEM OIL to the blend. This will also help with other pesky insects too.
Did you know that pure castor oil is a natural product, made from the beans of the castor plant which can be grown in any tropical region?. The world’s largest producer of castor oil is India, with China and Brazil being a far-distant second and third place.
It’s reported that castor Oil is one of the oldest,most versatile ingredients in use. The evidence of the use of castor oil goes all the way back to ancient Egypt. It has been found in tombs over 4,000 years old. There are other documented uses of castor oil in India, China and other ancient sites that date back thousands of years. In ancient times in the Netherlands, it was called “Wonder Oil” and was thought to be a cure for a multitude of ailments.
Castor Oil still has many useful applications today,from us as a cosmetic ingredient, to an industrial chemical and a specialty chemical. It is also a popular natural polyol, it is used in an increasing number of specialty applications, replacing traditional petroleum based polyols. Another advantage of Castor Oil is that it is not made from a food source so it is really not subject to the controversies that can arise with other plant based oils that are more traditionally used as a food source.
• CASTOR OIL INCI Name: Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
• CAS no: 8004-79-4
• EINECS no.: 232-293-8
What is SULFATED TURKEY RED CASTOR OIL
Sulfated Castor oil, is also called “Turkey red” castor oil
Sulfated Castor oil CAS 8002-33-3 Formula: C18H32Na2O2S
Sulfated Castor oil, also known as “Turkey Red” has a wide range of uses including: Soap and lotion making, blending of lotions, salves, creams, shampoos, and more. It is the only castor oil that completely disperses in water and will not leave an oily ring around the tub when you use it in your products to emulsify colors, fragrance and essential oils.
Features of Sulfated Castor/ Turkey Red
• Turkey Red Castor oil completely disperses in water.
• Use it to emulsify fragrance and essential oils so they disburse completely in other water-based products
• Use for superfatting liquid soap so it remains transparent
• Excellent humectant & moisturizing properties
• Has a typical sulfated castor oil odor but is easily disguised in formulations using typical fragrance and essential oils.
Sulfated castor oil. also known as Turkey Red oil is very useful since it will completely disperse in water. It contains all of the same humectant and moisturizing properties of Cosmetic Castor Oil but in a water soluble form. Castor Turkey Red is a common addition to bath products, natural soaps, lotions etc. Try using it to formulation balms, shampoos, hair oils, and other thick emulsions for the skin and hair.
Sulfated Castor Oil is also seen in formulations as a natural emollient and applied to the skin and hair as a softener. (keep away from eyes!)
PEG 40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL
PEG 40 Hydrogenated Castor oil – is also a very popular derivative of castor oil
PEG 40 Castor oil, also known as Castor oil ethoxylate (POE 40) is a Multifunctional Oil-in-Water Emulsifier, surfactant, foam booster.
PEG 40 Castor oil is a multifunctional non ionic surfactant used as fragrance builder and fragrance solubilizer, emulsifier. PEG 40 can be incorporated in to a formulation to help solubilize PLUS act as a foam booster, which benefits the formulator by possibly eliminating a secondary surfactant, or lessening the use of a secondary surfactant for example.
In some formulations it is a good replacement for polysorbates used to incorporate fragrances and oils in to water based blends like shampoos and body washes. Whether you are making creams and lotions, floral waters, room and fabric sprays, body washes, shampoos, even bath bombs, and need a good solubilizer for colors, fragrances, give PEG 40 Castor oil a try.
It is a safe, easy to use, vegetable derived non ionic surfactant, and serves a number of useful purposes.
Out side of uses in the personal care formulations, ethoxylated castor oil POE 40 is found in lubricants, specialty formulations that have applications in metals, textiles and other areas too.
Non Ionic – Compatible with non-ionic, anionic, and cationic ingredients and products.
Useful as a surfactant (foam booster.) As an emulsifier, solubilizer, and foam booster. Miscible in both oils and in water Use in a heated oil, or in cool down phase at 1% to 10%, although it’s safe to use up to 100% (Neat) on skin.
Cloud Point: 185°F (85.0°C)
Black Castor oil (Jamaican Black Castor oil)
Cold pressed Black Castor Oil (Jamaican Black Castor oil) also known as JBCO
Jamaican Black Castor Oil, JBCO for short, is a liquid extracted and cold-pressed from roasted seeds of the castor plant, known by the botanical / latin name Ricinus communis Seed
The difference between “regular ” castor oil and Jamaican Black Castor oil are that the seeds are roasted before the liquid castor oil is extracted from the seeds, This roasting process means that the oil has a dark burnt orange to reddish-brown appearance. It also has a different fragrance – it is a roasted nutty fragrance.
Roasting the seeds also raises the pH level of Black Castor Oil which results in a preferred ingredient for making many hair and cosmetic formulations.
Black Castor Oil, or JBCO is very popular in skin and hair care products and formulations. Many cite that the JBCO improves hair growth, and use it to massage in to the hair. Other sources cite that the black castor oil may improve circulation, to help stimulate follicles. Products made with the black castor oil often advertise that it helps moisturize the hair and eliminates hair split ends, and it is used as an alternative to, or even in addition to traditional hair conditioners.
Typical Uses: Skin and Hair Care, hair conditioning, personal care products, Medicinal type topical products, Ayurveda
A local Dudley salon owner has been nominated for the third year running as a finalist in not one or two but five categories. Dudley is going through a major investment makeover and retailers are feeling the buzz coming back to Dudley.
Need a Hair Makeover Hair Extensions & Hairloss Specialist Salons were overall winners in two categories for the 2020 most coveted prizes. 1. Best hair Extension Salon West Midlands and 2. Best creative image.
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Now Need a Hair Makeover Hair Extensions and Hairloss Specialist Salon West Midlands has been announced as finalist in five categories for the Salon Awards 2021.
Best Salon Best Customer Experience Best Salon for Hair Extensions Best Refurbished Salon Best creative Image
The salon which is renowned locally, now awaits the awards ceremony in November 2021, to see if they have been crowned the overall category winner.
We loved dong Freda’s 40’s makeover one of our regular clients
Need a Hair Makeover Hair Extensions and Hairloss Specialist Salon impressed the judge’s thanks to its commitment to meeting customer needs, making their mark as an established business locally, providing an exceptional range of hair extensions and disguising hairloss techniques to clients and for their exception salon design and interiors.
You can now book your consultations online
Commenting on the result, Diane the owner said; “To be named as a finalist in not just one but five categories for the third year highlights how hardworking and commitment can pay off. With hundreds of entries for each category and a panel of judges that excel at looking for the finer details, just to make the shortlist is an outstanding achievement. What also makes it more important is the fact that we have also had to deal with a pandemic and closure.”
The Salon Awards celebrate and acknowledge the success of the most creative, dynamic and innovative hair salons, hairdressers and barbers across the country through county awards events.
As a hair industry professional, these businesses are part one of the most exciting business sectors, and this is an opportunity to be recognised professionally for the great work that they do in there home county.
To find out more about their services products and what they won visit:
Every year more and more people are suffering from hair loss caused by illness, medication, stress, chemical treatments, damaged hair. We help treat and or disguise thin, short, bald patches, damaged or sensitive scalp on all hair types, gender or age.
We offer a non evasive hair regrowth treatment with a REVOLUNARY equipment known as iGrow.
If you need help to start the hair regrowth journey to restore your edges, bald patches, thin hair or slow growing hair, book a consultation with Need a Hair Makeover and let’s see what we can do.
Checkout the IGrow 12 weeks plan
iGrow’s proprietary Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) technology utilises a highly effective combination of red laser and LED light diodes, to stimulate and energise cellular activity causing an uptake in the natural function of the hair follicle.
This three- to six-month process treats hair thinning and loss, by effectively growing new healthy hair that is thicker, fuller and more vibrant.
Checkout our online appointment booking system. Easily book a consultation online. http://bit.ly/3CuPzuO
You may also want to read our article on How #hairloss may be linked to a disfunctional liver by Diane Shawe https://bit.ly/2ADbMN6
Washing and conditioning hair after a perm, colouring, balayage, relaxer or texturing is not enough any more. The same clients who come into the salon today, want to leave with drastic (healthy) softer, silky hair. Social media and home treatment kits and the daily use of high temperature straighteners, have meant that any salon worth its salt need to invest in OLAPLEX!
Clients want to go from brown to platinum in less than two sittings had to contend with the dryness and damage caused to their hair so as to covet platinum blondes, perms, red hair and more, all came with a hefty price. Inspired by the desire salons and hairdressers have to take their clients to the next level, without damage, is why OLAPLEX exists.
The Olaplex range repairs the 5 types of damage listed below:
• Chemical services such as colouring, perms, relaxers and keratin treatments
• Thermal damage from electrical tools such as straighteners, curlers and hairdryers
• Mechanical damage from brushing, tugging and styling hair
• Environmental damage including the sun and humidity, extreme weather and pollution
• Lifestyle or Physiological changes including age, stress, undergoing medical treatment, hormone changes
What is the hype about?
Non-toxic, vegan and cruelty free, the allure of Olaplex products lie in their proven results and critical acclaim. Used by salon professionals all over the world, Olaplex has been featured in the prestigious pages of Glamour, USA Today, Refinery29, Teen Vogue, Byrdie, InStyle – and many more besides.
The Olaplex range features a whole suite of treatments which have appealed to celebrities, hair professionals and beauty gurus of all ages. And when we say beauty gurus, we mean readers like you.
Why should salons use OLAPLEX?
You’ll notice that the range has a key focus on one word in particular – Bond. From bond building to bond maintenance and smoothing… Olaplex are pretty bond obsessed. Ok, we get it, they’re very sleek and sophisticated products, but there are no classified secrets behind the science here. To explain the importance of the bond obsession, it’s time for a quick introduction to hair biology.
Damaged hair prior to bond repair
Hair is fibre. Composed of the keratin protein, your hair consists of millions of disulfide bonds, which hold the protein structures of your hair shaft together. These bonds can be damaged by high levels of heat, chemical treatments, excessive brushing and environmental exposure. Basically… anything from hair straightener addiction to extreme colour treatment can interfere with the long term health of your hair, as these stressors can damage your hair bonds.
Step in Olaplex. Each product contains the patented ingredient bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate. It sounds super fancy but long story short, this ingredient works on a molecular level to help repair the disulfide bonds in your hair.
Olaplex works on all hair types and textures. If you get your hair coloured professionally, your stylist may have even recommended using Olaplex between salon visits to help nurture your hair after your treatment.
The holy grail of hair is to fix damage, which is where OLAPLEX started. Today, we have a line of 9 products that address rebuilding hair while tackling other hair concerns such as moisture, frizz, and heat protection. Our heritage began in the salons, inspired by the needs of professionals, and has grown to the at-home line we have today because of it. You ask, and we listen. There are no other products other than OLAPLEX on the market that rebuild broken bonds in the hair, period. Only OLAPLEX products can take that bond-building technology and pair it with moisture, smoothing, and protection.
OLAPLEX has elevated salon services forever, and with more use and heads of hair treated with OLAPLEX, we develop products based on clients’ needs.
How It Started:
Stand Alone Treatment | Performed in-salon using OLAPLEX Nº.1 and OLAPLEX Nº.2, this treatment is the first, only, and strongest bond-building treatment available.
OLAPLEX N°0 acts as an intensive repair booster working in tandem with N°3 to receive your most intense repair. This means 68% more repair & 3x stronger hair when used together. This can be added to hair colour or most chemical treatment.
Introducing the newest product to the range, the no.0 is a professional- inspired treatment that primes hair for deeper repair with the highest dose of patented Olaplex technology of any of their take home treatments. It rebuilds hair bonds, strengthens and protects hair integrity. For best results it is advised to use as the first step in a two-part system with N°.3 Hair Perfector. Use once or twice a week, three if you have severely damaged hair. Apply to dry hair, fully saturating each section and leave on for 10 minutes before applying the no.3 which you leave on for a further 10 minutes
OLAPLEX Nº.1 | (Professional Use) Inspired by these in-salon Stand Alone Treatment, Nº.0 is used as a primer to amplify the bond building. No.1 is meant to mitigate damage during chemical services.
Exclusive to professionals, the Olaplex No.1 Bond Multiplier is a concentrated first salon step that rebuilds broken disulphide bonds and begins the process of preventing damage and repairing hair. Mix Olaplex No.1 with your client’s chosen hair colour, lightener or toner to help prevent hair damage and keep the hair in the best condition possible. Please note that this product isn’t available as a single product and comes as part of the Salon Intro kit.
OLAPLEX Nº.2 | (Professional Use) When lighten your client’s hair to levels never thought possible before, without compromising the integrity of the hair.
Bond Perfector No. 2 can also be used as a mini bond building treatment and as a cutting lotion.
No.2 finds more single sulfur hydrogen bonds and crosslinks them back together WITHOUT chemicals working against it. So don’t skip it
Exclusive to professionals, Olaplex No2 Bond Perfector works to rebuild and restore broken bonds, ensuring the strongest, shiniest, and healthiest hair possible. Apply to the hair at the back wash after all processing has been completed, leave for 20 minutes and rinse to get the best out of this product.
OLAPLEX Nº.3 Hair Perfector | The first at-home bond building treatment. Repairs the hair internally. The second in-salon step continues to rebuild and restore any remaining broken bonds. REMEMBER: Clients can purchase this as ongoing and aftercare.
Olaplex treated hair
The original take-home treatment is a global bestseller and the product that put Olaplex on the map. No.3 is not a conditioner, it’s an at-home treatment that reduces breakage and visibly strengthens hair, improving its look and feel. It is known to visibly reduce breakage and strengthen the hair, improving the look and feel of all hair types. Perfect to retail on to your clients, it’s advised to use it once or twice a week on damp hair, applying from roots to ends. Suitable for
OLAPLEX Nº.4 | Bond Maintenance Shampoo maximizes cleansing by repairing the hair and increasing manageability.
The only shampoo in the range, No.4 protects and repairs hair from everyday stresses such as damage, split ends and unwanted frizz. How? It uses Olaplex’s bond rebuilding technology to repair and cleanse while also imparting moisture, strength, and manageability with every wash. Colour safe and perfect on all hair types, the No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo is available to purchase in two sizes. Ideal for salon treatments and selling on to clients for at-home use, we advise you to concentrate on the roots when applying. If required, it can be used daily on your client’
OLAPLEX Nº.5 | Bond Maintenance Conditioner is a bond-building conditioner that moisturizes the hair.
Ideally used in conjunction with No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo, the Olaplex No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner restores, repairs, and hydrates without adding excess weight to hair. The highly moisturising reparative formula eliminates damaged frizz for strong, healthy, shiny hair. Perfect on all hair types, the No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner is available to purchase in two sizes. Ideal for salon treatments and selling on to clients for at-home use, apply evenly to the ends of the hair. If required, it can be used daily on your client’s hair.
OLAPLEX Nº.6 | Our answer to the perfect leave-in. Hair repair, moisture, reduced frizz for up to 72 hours and increased manageability.
The Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother is a highly concentrated leave-in smoothing cream, which prevents frizz and flyaways in your client’s hair for up to 72 hours. Capable of protecting all hair types, including coloured, coiled and chemically treated; this silky cream strengthens and moisturises hair while also speeding up blow dry times, resulting in hair feeling smooth and silky. Apply a tiny amount of the product into damp or dry hair, focusing on putting it on your client’s mid-length to ends. Comb your client’s hair and then style it as you wish!
OLAPLEX Nº.7 | Bonding Oil is the first oil of its kind to rebuild the hair while protecting against heat to 450ºF, protecting against UV rays, adding shine, increasing manageability, and moisturizing the hair.
The Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil is a highly concentrated, ultra-lightweight, reparative styling oil dramatically increases shine, adds softness and strength, and enhances all hair types and textures. Ideal for clients who use heat tools daily, the No.7 Bonding Oil provides heat protection up to 450°F/230°C. And that’s not all. This golden bottle also contains UVA/UVB protection, making it perfect for the summer months. All you have to do is apply a few drops to your client’s wet or dry hair before styling. Here’s a bonus: this small bottle is perfect to sell to your clients if they need a treatment to carry around and their hair needs a quick refresh
OLAPLEX Nº.8 | Bond Intense Moisture Mask is OLAPLEX’s newest addition, an intensive moisture mask for all hair types, with bond building.
The Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask is a multi-benefit hair mask perfect for adding moisture, body and shine to all hair types. Infused with Olaplex’s bond-building technology, this mask is scientifically proven to add four times more moisture, twice as much shine and an unbelievable 96% more body than a regular hair mask. Capable of strengthening and repairing the most fragile of your client’s hair, all you have to do is apply the mask on damp hair from the mid-lengths to ends for ten minutes, and then rinse out. Once you see this mask’s more than visible results, your client will want to skip the styling stage!
Can I use Olaplex myself at home?
Looking for a hair makeover?
Olaplex No.3, No.4, No.5, No.6 and No.7 are available to be used at home.
Can I leave Olaplex on overnight?
Yes, you can leave Olaplex No.3 on overnight, but ensure it’s wrapped up so it doesn’t come into contact with your face or eyes.
WHAT’S A BOND?
Our hair contains millions of disulfide bonds.
These bonds give the hair its structure, strength and stability. When disulfide bonds are broken, it results in damage.
OLAPLEX restores damaged and compromised hair by repairing from the inside out with our patented single ingredient, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate.
Once all the bonds are intact and in alignment, you have healthy, beautiful, shiny, touchable hair.
I was five years old when I first heard the phrase or taunt ‘Blacky’ I had played with all my neighbours on the street and in the garden when I was little, looking back my neighbours were black, white and asians. We use to love playing tick. My mum picked me up from my new infant school and I asked her what was a blacky.
She politely asked me were I had heard the phrase and I told her some kids were calling us it at school. She said to take no notice and focus on learning and doing as the teacher said. So I did, but for the next 7 years I could now describe all the various ways I was racially profiled, abused and taunted by both teachers and my classmates without realising it back then. I can now on reflection ask ‘How did that white young child understand to start calling me blacky when I didn’t even know they were white or indeed that I was black? I just saw Jane who was my best friend, she had freckles and ginger hair.
In view of this whilst conducting my mini research for this article, I began to understand that simply making throw away statements as to what racism is and peoples assertion that it may or may not be stamped out was coming from a place of pain, helplessness, denial or plain historical orchestrated planning.
One thing we can all agree on is that racism is alive, it is fed, it has been modernised, debated clinically, psychologically, intellectually, emotionally from generation to generaion.
Contrary to a dictionary definition, racism, as defined in social science research and theory, is about much more than race-based prejudice—it exists when an imbalance in power and social status is generated by how we understand and act upon race.
The UN does not define “racism”; however, it does define “racial discrimination”. According to the 1965 UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
The term “racial discrimination” shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin that has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.
UN Racial Discrimination 1965
Racism exists when ideas and assumptions about racial categories are used to justify and reproduce a racial hierarchy and racially structured society that unjustly limits access to resources, rights, and privileges on the basis of race. Racism also occurs when this kind of unjust social structure is produced by the failure to account for race and its historical and contemporary roles in society.
So with this in mind, when the slogan ‘Black lives Matter’ descended into competing factions like ‘Blue lives Matter’ or ‘All lives Matter’ I became a little confused as to why visually seeing a unarmed, handcuffed man’s life being snuffed out in broad daylight by an appointed officer sworn in to defend all people, along with insurmountable evidence going back hundreds of years starting from yesterday could then generate competitive slogans in retaliation to minimise what we all saw and witnessed as being equal to everything else?
I then discovered that racism in itself is not a simplified one paragraph statement in a dictonary, it’s not about setting up a Diversity department with one member of staff having no power to affect real change from the board of dircectors, investors, recruitment and legislation.
From Race transitioning into racism, oppression, cruelty and suppression this little child has grown up to be a sophisticated adept monster.
So began my education into the 7 forms of Racism which I have best summarised below (reminds me of the 7 deadly sins)
Racism takes seven main forms, according to social science. Rarely does any one exist on its own. Instead, racism typically operates as a combination of at least two forms working together, simultaneously. Independently and together, these seven forms of racism work to reproduce racist ideas, racist interactions and behavior, racist practices and policies, and an overall racist social structure.
Representational Racism
Depictions of racial stereotypes are common in popular culture and media, like the historical tendency to cast people of color as criminals and as victims of crime rather than in other roles, or as background characters rather than as leads in film and television. Also common are racial caricatures that are racist in their representations, like “mascots” for instance or the “Angry Black Women” for instance.
The power of representational racism—or racism expressed in how racial groups are represented within popular culture—is that it encapsulates a whole range of racist ideas that imply inferiority, and often stupidity and untrustworthiness, in images that circulate society and permeate our culture. While those not directly harmed by representational racism might not take it seriously, the presence of such images and our interaction with them on a near-constant basis helps to keep alive the racist ideas attached to them.
Ideological Racism
Ideology is a word that sociologists use to refer to the world views, beliefs, and common sense ways of thinking that are normal in a society or culture. So, ideological racism is a kind of racism that colors and manifests in those things. It refers to world views, beliefs, and common sense ideas that are rooted in racial stereotypes and biases. A troubling example is the fact that many people in American society, regardless of their race, believe that white and light skinned people are more intelligent than dark-skinned people and superior in a variety of other ways.
Historically, this particular form of ideological racism supported and justified the building of European colonial empires and U.S. imperialism through the unjust acquisition of land, people, and resources around the world. Today, some common ideological forms of racism include the belief that Black women are sexually promiscuous, that Latina women are “fiery” or “hot-tempered,” and that black men and boys are criminally oriented. This form of racism has a negative impact on people of color as a whole because it works to deny them access to and/or success within education and the professional world, and subjects them to heightened police surveillance, harassment, and violence, among other negative outcomes.
Get a Copy from Amazon Books by Diane Shawe
Discursive Racism
Racism is often expressed linguistically, in the “discourse” we use to talk about the world and people in it. This kind of racism is expressed as racial slurs and hate speech, but also as code words that have racialised meanings embedded in them, like “ghetto,” “thug,” or “gangsta.” Just as representational racism communicates racist ideas through images, discursive racism communicates them through the actual words we use to describe people and places. Using words that rely on stereotypical racial differences to communicate explicit or implicit hierarchies perpetuates the racist inequalities that exist in society.
Some Comedians often paint a picture to a wide audience. Study has shown that storytelling can form the most embedded images into the subconscious mind, wrap that into laughter another very powerful emotional tool to stimulate memory and feeling, it is easy to see that monkey joke being repeated time and time again for instance. It is viewed as harmless by the presenter because it was packaged as a joke by a well known commedian.
Interactional Racism
Racism often takes an interactional form, which means it is expressed in how we interact with each other. For example, a white or Asian woman walking on a sidewalk may cross the street to avoid passing closely by a black or Latino man because she is implicitly biased to see these men as potential threats. When a person of color is verbally or physically assaulted because of their race, this is interactional racism. When a neighbor calls the police to report a break-in because they do not recognise their black neighbour, or when someone automatically assumes that a person of color is a low-level employee or an assistant, though they might be a manager, executive, or owner of a business, this is interactional racism.
Hate crimes are the most extreme manifestation of this form of racism. Interactional racism causes stress, anxiety, and emotional and physical harm to people of color on a daily basis.
Institutional Racism
Racism takes institutional form in the ways that policies and laws are crafted and put into practice through society’s institutions, such as the decades-long set of policing and legal policies known as “The War on Drugs,” which has disproportionately targeted neighborhoods and communities that are composed predominantly of people of color. Other examples include Stop-N-Frisk policy that overwhelmingly targets black and Latino males, the practice among real estate agents and mortgage lenders of not allowing people of color to own property in certain neighborhoods and that force them to accept less desirable mortgage rates, and clerks and judges automatically assuming that the presence of a black person in court must be a defendant and not a solicitor or barrister. (recently reported)
Institutional racism preserves and fuels the racial gaps in wealth, education, and social status, and serves to perpetuate white supremacy and privilege.
Structural Racism
Structural racism refers to the ongoing, historical, and long-term reproduction of the racialised structure of our society through a combination of all of the above forms. Structural racism manifests in widespread racial segregation and stratification on the basis of education, income, and wealth, the recurrent displacement of people of color from neighborhoods that go through processes of gentrification, and the overwhelming burden of environmental pollution borne by people of colour given its proximity to their communities. Structural racism results in large-scale, society-wide inequalities on the basis of race.
We can see this when local areas that have enjoyed house prices being maintained and an assumption made that having ethnic people move into the area automatically result in house prices going down. But on the other hand a run down area could be rejuvenated automatically as soon as white people move in forcing residents who have been deprived for years to move out.
Systemic Racism
Many sociologists describe racism in the U.S. and U.K as “systemic” because the country was founded on slavery and racist beliefs that created racist policies and practices, and because that legacy lives today (more so in the U.S) in the racism that courses throughout the entirety of our social system. This means that racism was built into the very foundation of that society, and because of this, it has influenced the development of social institutions, laws, policies, beliefs, media representations, and behaviors and interactions, among many other things. By this definition, the system itself is racist, so effectively addressing racism requires a system-wide approach that leaves nothing unexamined.
But here is the cunnundrum, when what is seen as the norm to white people who have only known to do what they have been doing all along, when they believe their model is already superior and any alternate model from which to compare in order to modify would diminish their position, I would go as far as to say it would be like asking a fish to fly when its only experience has been to swim in water. The fish could end up experiencing stress and trauma or even fear. All of these emotions have a reactionary response, not dissimilar to the person being continuously discriminated against as described above.
Here me out here… However according to Darwin’s Theory of Evolution man evolved from fish and became acquainted to both Land, Sea, Air and Fire. An intelligence beyond all other creatures on earth. All around the world we can now see evidence of what man can create and sadly what he can destroy.
Sociologists observe a variety of styles or types of racism within these seven different forms. Some may be overtly racist, like the use of racial slurs or hate speech, which some people have identified and tried to be political correct whilst others use it to hurt and hammer home their pain, fright or anger.
There are some policies that intentionally discriminate against people on the basis of race. Others may be covert, (but isnt the act of covert implying complicitness?) kept to oneself, hidden from public view, or obscured by color-blind policies that purport to be race-neutral, though they have racist impacts.
While something may not appear obviously racist at first glance, it may, in fact, prove to be racist when one examines the implications of it through a sociological lens or the feedback and complaints presented by the reciepients. If it relies on stereotypical notions of race and reproduces a racially structured society, then it is racist.
Due to the sensitive nature of race as a topic of conversation some have come to think that simply noticing race, or identifying or describing someone using race, is racist. Sociologists do not agree with this. In fact, many sociologists, race scholars, and anti-racist activists emphasise the importance of recognising and accounting for race and racism as necessary in the pursuit of social, economic, and political justice. (We must however agree that the earth contains different races and that will not change unless we destroy ourselves)
Both sides of the isle often digs in because they are operating from fear. We see the oppressor become more erratic and seek to use the legal system, government, army or commercial power to justify and repackage their unfair practices whilst crushing modernisation and equality by all means necessary using disinformation to divide and sow mistrust.
What are we evolving into? Is it so painful and unjust to want to see the whole world share in our further evolution economically, geographically, socially, environmentally, policically or religiously?
With over 7 billion consumers on this planet perhaps to be serviced by almost 2 billion suppliers, designers, developers, farmers, educationalist and health specialist the list goes on why does a few elite societies prefer to move us towards destruction because they are apposed to equality and human dignity?
We have the luxury of history, it has shown us time and time again the fall of hugh empires imploding because the rulers have abused their fellow man, become corrupt, greedy, uncaring and cruel. Surely we can do better and not repeat history.
So if both parties are blinded by the ‘I lose you gain’ principles one has to ask, is Racism taught and if so who is doing the teaching?
There is more than enough for everyone to enjoy
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result
Albert Einstein
So where do we go from here? There are two side to every coin, one side could not exist without the other. What I find troubling is there are some people who want to do the same thing over and over again to achieve exactly the same result as before. A chilling thought.
There are 
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