Archive for Friday, January 12, 2007
Mountain Chic 2
Protect your eyes and hair this winter
Advertisement
Hair care
Dry winter air makes for bad hair days.
"Just like summer, you should use SPF products because you are so close to the sun," said hair stylist Lisa Mayo of Champu Hair Studio in Steamboat Springs. "Moisturizing products, shampoo and conditioners are great because it is so dry here, especially in the winter."
Redken makes a hair care line with SPF. Mayo also uses the moisturizing shampoo and conditioners from Kenra.
One way to combat dryness and increase the oil in hair is to limit the number of times you wash your hair.
"I really don't think you should, honestly, wash your hair every day in the winter unless you are exercising and sweating a lot," Mayo said.
Another byproduct of the dry air is static electricity, which prompts fly-aways or hair sticking to clothes and necks. Mayo said hairspray can make matters worse.
"That's a big issue," Mayo said. "Silkening gloss or spray is a really good way to keep your hair laid down without static."
At Home, Winter 2007
Skin isn't the only vulnerable part of the body when exposed to ultraviolet rays. Your eyes also can be damaged by the sun's rays. Dr. Mark Helm, an ophthalmologist, and Dr. Gary Migues, an optometrist, say sunglasses and goggles are essential while on the ski mountain or during other outdoor activities during winter.
"The snow has the highest percentage of reflectivity of UV rays," Migues said. "It's almost like staring at the sun. That's the concern with snow blindness - the ultraviolet rays will burn the eyes."
Most of today's goggles and sunglasses provide 100-percent UV protection. The increased cost of sunglasses and goggles reflects the improvements manufacturers have made to protect the eyes.
"In this day and age, you get what you pay for," Helm said. "You get better optics and materials."
The dry winter air above Steamboat can dry eyes out. Migues suggests removing contact lenses before sleeping, and Migues and Helm said lubricant eye drops work great for Steamboat's conditions.
Helm suggests Systane, which is available over the counter and can be used with contact lenses.
Look for the words "artificial tears" or "lubricant" when shopping for eye drops.
"What you get away with in areas of high humidity or at sea level you can't get away with here," Migues said.
Nutritional care
The rush to hit the slopes shouldn't trump the need to eat breakfast or at least pack a snack.
Pam Wooster, a dietician with Yampa Valley Medical Center, advises people - especially skiers and riders from out of town - to eat regular meals.
"You get busy and distracted, so we tend to neglect a few things and not get a good routine going," Wooster said.
If guests have access to a refrigerator or a cooler, pack it with sandwiches and fresh fruit and vegetables. They offer healthy alternatives to french fries and pizza.
Pack cereal bars, nuts or dried fruit for an on-mountain snack.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Post a comment (Requires free registration)
Posting comments requires a free account and verification.