color Archives - Loreeebee

Gray is not my color. My hair started to turn gray when I was just 14 years old, yes 14! The boys in my classes at school used to fight to sit behind me so they could pull out the strands of gray from my very long hair. Good thing I have always had lots of hair.

By the time I was 30, my hair was very gray. This picture of me and my siblings was taken when I was 34; I’m the sister with the gray hair…

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….even though I am the youngest sister and second youngest sibling. Very annoying, even though I knew it was hereditary; my father was totally white by 30.

When it was streaky gray (like the picture) people actually asked if I had it colored that way. It did kind of frame my face I guess. The straw that broke the camel’s (gray) back came later that year (still 34) when my eldest son started junior kindergarten. For a Hallowe’en party in his classroom, I dressed up as Snow White. When I took my wig off at the end of the day, one of the children said “that must be Matthew’s grandmother, she has white hair” That was when I decided that gray is not my color.

So, for years (twenty some now) I have tried various colors on my hair. I have always admired red hair on other girls, and because my dark brown hair always had natural reddish highlights in the summer, I have always aimed for reddish brown. The problem is with so much gray, the reddish brown sometimes comes out orange and I HATE orange. Even at expensive salons my hair would come out too orangy/coppery for my liking.

The solution? I finally discovered how to get the color I want by combining two shades. Yes, DIY haircolor. I do it myself, saving myself lots of money and the annoyance of paying for the wrong color. I start with a medium dark brown on the roots, then spread the rest of that color throughout my hair, then add a reddish brown in streaks on top of the medium brown, avoiding the roots. This phote was taken in the summer when my hair is always lightened by the sun, but you get the picture…

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Over the years I have tried many DIY hair color products too. My choice these days is Belle Color by Garnier, in shades 50 (medium brown) and 65 (chestnut brown)…

It reminds me of a commercial (I cannot remember which one) where Penelope Cruz proclaimed (with her sultry, sexy accent) “the color I want is the color is get”

I love these Garnier products because they make my hair silky smooth (others leave it coarse and tangly) even before I condition it. Each box of hair color includes a pouch of conditioner that contains argan oil, a well-known miraculous treatment for hair…

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The Garnier products are creamy (not drippy) and offer 100% gray coverage. They also have an almost pleasant smell, unlike others that reek. My color lasts three to four weeks before those returning gray roots are too obvious to hide. It is so unfair that dark roots look much better than white ones and are even quite fashionable (apparently)

These Garnier products can be purchased online through Amazon here:

CHESTNUT or MEDIUM DARK BROWN

So, if gray is not your color either, try your hand at your own conconction of color!

Cloudy or Murky

If your urine is cloudy or murky instead of clear, it could mean you have too much protein in your urine. This excess of protein may indicate that your kidneys are not functioning properly due to kidney stones, a tumor, or other disease states. Cloudiness can also indicate a bladder, vaginal or urinary tract infection. Extreme cloudiness (so cloudy that it is almost milky) can indicate the presence of fat or mucus.

Colourful Urine

Urine that is dark yellow usually indicates dehydration. Although your first output of the day is typically darker yellow and more concentrated, especially if you have had a good night’s sleep, it should not stay that way throughout the day.

Although some medications may cause orange urine, an extremely dark orange colour can indicate impaired liver function caused by a blockage or obstruction, infection, cirrhosis, or hepatitis.

Urine that deviates from the yellow color to pink, red or dark brown often means there is blood present. This can indicate a urinary tract or bladder infection, an enlarged prostate gland, or the presence of a tumor.

Some foods and supplements or vitamins can cause your urine to be discolored and or exhibit a pungent odor. Examples include curry, garlic, beets, berries, asparagus, and B vitamins. Synthetic dyes in medications, vitamins, and some food can result in a blue or green tinge.

Frequency

The frequency of your need to urinate is also significant. If you cannot go almost four hours without the need to find a bathroom you should investigate this need. The reason could be temporary like pregnancy or excessive water, caffeine, or alcohol consumption. It can also indicate weak pelvic floor muscles, or more critically, a bladder infection, stones, or tumors.

Conclusions

Remember that anything you eat, drink, swallow, breathe in, or even ingest through your skin is removed from your body through your kidneys and liver into your urine.

The moral of this post is to convince you to keep an eye on what your urinary output is telling you. Keep these variations in mind. If drinking more water does not fix the variation by rehydrating your body or helping the filtration process of your kidneys and liver by diluting the offending source, be sure to seek medical advice.