It seems that all countries have their own ways of paying for road improvements. While America, and most others, take money from our paychecks to fund the rebuilding of our cities, Burma takes donations. Donations of hair that is. Specifically the central city of Mandalay.

Monks have been overseeing the donation of the hair of close the to 30,000 women, some as long as 4 feet. The donations are in an effort to make money to repair the roads and build new bridges surrounding the Alaungdaw Kathapha pagoda. [The pilgrimage site said to contain the remains of Buddha's disciples.] As of now, access to the pagoda is very limited. As some sections can only be reached by foot or by elephant.

One part of the repaired roads will be called “Shwe Hsan Nwe bridge,” or “Bridge of Golden Tresses”.

For more information go to: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/burmamyanmar/5597590/Thousands-donate-hair-to-fix-pagoda-road-in-remote-Burma.html

We all know that summer is a time of fun and adventure. And whether you spend your days lying in the pool or out in the sun, these adventures come with some harsh elements. But with the right hair care, you don’t have to worry about starting the fall season with destroyed hair.

Here are a few tips to help protect your locks over the next few months:

Chlorine: Depending on the type of hair you have, chlorine behaves differently on different colors. Blondes tend to start looking a little green. And brunettes can often feel the slimy chemicals in their hair. There are many products out there to help with the effects of a pool. One is Malibu swimmers after-swim solution. Or you can use their swimmers shampoo to help fight chlorine buildup.

Sun: Sitting in the sun all day can do much damage to healthy hair. But this damage can be avoided by applying a leave in conditioner while you are sitting outside. The conditioner will act as a barrier between your hair and the sun. Paul Mitchell Color Care line has a lot of good options, which are like sunscreen for your hair. Whatever you pick just make sure it says “UV” on it.

Water: Wet your hair in clean water first, before diving into the pool. Our hair absorbs water. If your hair is already wet, it can’t absorb the chlorine water. Also be sure to rinse after you get out of the pool.

Skin: We all know to layer the sun block on our faces and arms… but what about our hair. If your hair is in a braid, or if you have very thin hair, part of your scalp can be showing. Make sure you sunscreen these areas too.

For more information go to: http://www.abc15.com/content/style/beauty/story/4-ways-to-protect-hair-from-sun-chlorine-this/27fIdup_nEasWqj5fhStGw.cspx

Do to the recent economic situation it seems you can find all kinds of freebies, if you look in the right places.

And with Father’s Day coming up whats better then a free hair cut for dad? Reamir & Co. is offering free hair cuts to dad who have lost their jobs due to the economic Recession. Not only will dads be looking good, but a new hairdo will perhaps enhance their chances of finding a new job quickly.

June 16th-17th Will be the day for free hair cuts. And June 18th-20th Free products [values at over $37] will be given away to dads who have recently lost their jobs.

*Dads will need to have proof of job loss to be eligible.

If you don’t happen to live in NYC, where Reamir & Co. is located, then be sure to search your area for other freebies. I bet you will be surprised at how many offers you find!

For more information on this deal go to: http://www.examiner.com/x-6945-NY-Beauty-Trends-Examiner~y2009m6d9-Free-Haircuts–Grooming-Products-For-Fathers-That-Have-Lost-Their-Jobs

http://www.reamir.com/

It seems to have become quite typical that when a celebrity suddenly chops their long locks off we all assume she is pulling a Britney and has gone mad. But in Kristen Stewart’s case, the decision to cut was a smart one.  Stewart, known best from the Twilight series, is set to play Joan Jett, in The Runaways.

But cutting her hair for the role is just the beginning. Kristen has also been having vocal lessons, practicing her guitar skills, and hanging out with Joan Jett herself, who is to be the films executive producer. Kristen admits they even spent New Years together, “I spent, like hours, just talking to her.”

And who will play Cherie Currie you’re wondering? Miss Dakota Fanning of course. Who also co-stared in New Moon with Kristen Stewart.

For more information go to: http://www.examiner.com/x-1780-NY-Celebrity-Sightings-Examiner~y2009m6d9-Kristen-Stewart-chops-off-her-hair-to-play-Joan-Jett

In efforts to get his students’ attention, a teacher in Crystal Mn put himself on the line. He challenged his students that if 4,000 dollars could be raised, he would cut off his hair. Hair that reached the middle of his back and hadn’t been cut in 30 years! Its a big cut and a big change. But it’s for a big cause.

Megan Nurnberger, a 6th grader at the school, was diagnosed with Leukemia least year. And it was while she was trying to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, that Mr. Wright came up with the hair challenge.

Well, the students were so motivated to see Mr. Wright without his hair that they ended up raising more than 5,500 dollars! And the students chanted “Shave his head!” as Megan got to cut off the teachers ponytail!

It is stories like these that should remind us that we can all make a difference and help a little, if only we use our heads. And our hair!

For more information go to: http://www.kbmt12.com/news/local/47149522.html

Researchers claim to have found a way to treat cancer, that doesn’t cause patients to loose their hair. The treatment, which is led by Queensland University, involves shutting down cancer causing genes in tumor cells, without killing healthy tissue. It’s a technology which can inactivate individual genes. The team has observed an average of 70% reduction in tumor size, on a cervical cancer mouse.

This is big news in the development of cancer cures. Up until now, patients have relied on surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. And while millions have benefited from these treatments, they also underwent many challenging side effects, including incredible sickness and substantial hair loss.

To package these treatments safely is a complex process. The drugs currently have to be packaged in lipid rich carriers because they are unstable in room temperature. So clearly there is still much to learn and perfect in this process. But the researchers are so excited about their findings and what this will mean for future cancer patients.

To learn more go to: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Health–Science/Cancer-drug-that-wont-cause-hair-loss/articleshow/4620075.cms

We have a new beauty treatment on our hands. Literally. It’s called Minx Nails. Rather than using liquid polish to color your nails, Minx nails uses solid nail coating type stickers. They are heated and then applied to your nail, and last roughly 4 weeks. And the main appeal for this over liquid polish… no chipping! The process is quite simple really:

1. Pick your color

2. Place Minx under heat lamp to make flexible.

3. Re size to fit your nail shape.

4. Use heat lamp to shrink-wrap the Minx covering

5. File to remove excess film.

6. Enjoy!

To learn more about this product go to: http://minxnails.com/

Who isn’t looking for ways to cut back these days? And in whatever ways possible. It seems to me that extravagant beauty treatments would be the first things to go. As they are not a matter of survival or personal growth. But according to Debbie Brinson, who owned Krimpers, a St. Petersburg, Fla., salon, for 34 years, beauty doesn’t have to be sacrificed completely.

“What’s going to make me look good for the longest period of time?” is a question Brinson is often asked by her clients these days. And she has a list of do’s and dont’s that she claims will allow women to go further between hair treatments, without having to cut them out completely.

1. Condition: Using the proper conditioner, religiously, will help keep your hair in good shape longer.

2. Hide your roots: Going for many “dimensional” shades will hide growth longer than a single color will. And keep in mind that if you are a natural brunette and want to be blond, the maintenance is going to be more expensive. And vice versa.

3. Picking the right cut: Short hair and bangs will require more frequent hair cuts to keep your hair the length you want. If you are willing to grow your hair out you will only need a trim every few months.

4. Bangs: Never cut your own bangs. It will cost you more to have them fixed if you mess them up than to come in and have them done in the first place.

The bottom line is you don’t have to sacrifice your beauty and self image during these times. Just be smart about the choices you make!

For more information go to: http://www.abc2news.com/content/financialsurvival/yourbestadvice/story/Trimming-costs-on-hair/z5v6pWts2Ey7LVtHvb9PLg.cspx

Known as the “laser ablation” method, this new tool can detect what a person eats, or changes in their diet. It can also detect their travels between different countries. And all with the study of a single strand of hair. The tool works by picking up variations in sulfur concentration on the hair.

While there are some techniques out there with some similar capabilities, this new tool is the only one which uses a laser to pick up the exact proportions of the sulfur isotopes. The laser allows for a much higher resolution.

This method was developed by researchers from LGC Chemical Metrology Lab and University of Oviedo in Britain and Spain. Who claim this technique will be helpful for investigators who are tracking terrorists. But it could also be helpful to detectives everyday work. Determining where an unidentified body came from… Or determining if a suspects claimed whereabouts are true…

For more information on this go to: http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-45807.html

Students of the North Coventry Elementary School recently participated in the local Relay for Life through the Kids For A Cure program. And as a way to challenge the students to meet their fundraiser goal, which would ultimately go to the American Cancer Society, the principal, James Melchor, and many teachers promised what they called “The Purple Hair Dare and Bare Dare”.

Well, the students raised more then $4,000. So on Wednesday morning the kids all watched, with shrills and bubbling laughter, as their principal and three faculty members had their hair dyed a brilliant shade of purple, while two other staff members shaved theirs all off.

Along with the execution of “The Purple Hair Dare and Bare Dare” promise, students were introduced to Anthony Nucifora, a kindergarten schoolmate of theirs. Anthony underwent chemotherapy for his Stage 4 hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer. And while he lost his hearing during the chemotherapy process, he won his battle with the cancer, and today is cancer free.

The school nurse spoke about healthy living and steps we can take to avoid getting cancer. Like eating healthy and not smoking. And the assembly demonstrated that even children can get cancer. But children can beat it as well.

For more on this story go to: http://www.pottstownmercury.com/articles/2009/05/28/news/srv0000005443991.txt