BEMA

My parents threw away all of these things (even the vacuum cleaners and the dryer) when they got too dirty to function, because no one even told them THAT they could be cleaned. Cost them thousands of dollars over the years.

All I'm saying is that cleaning is not intuitive, and not knowing how to clean is not a moral failing, but it is something you can learn.

I like this video because it does a great job of introducing the basic foundations of house cleaning (and because he doesn't use bleach, which is a common allergy in addition to being awful to inhale). He also talks a little about how to clean a vacuum. And why you shouldn't put grease from your pots and pans down the sink drain. I also love that he mentions that different houses and different people have different needs and different versions of what clean and cleaning looks like.

This is another video from the same guy about cleaning and depression. This advice, especially at the beginning, can feel really really difficult and oppressive to hear. However, I find that it's generally pretty solid. But I'm autistic and so is he, so that gets a massive Your Mileage May Vary stamp on it.

I have a favorite part of this video. It's from 10:52 to 12:36. I think we could all use to hear that. There's a HEFTY pause after that one. I promise the narration does come back.

This is a pair of videos about how to correctly load and use a dish washer.

The first one is a quick 1 minute 30 second overview on loading. I can't find the exact video I'm looking for, so consider this a substitute for that. If I can find the one I'm looking for, I'll swap it in.

Here's a blog post about scrubbing brushes and how to clean them.

And a video for all cleaning tools, including scrub brushes. This video does use bleach. I'll try to find some alternatives to that.

How to clean a top loader (without the removable agitator thing). This should be done every 1-3 months depending on you unit, or every time you wash really soiled clothes.

How to clean a top loader (with the removable agitator thing). This should be done every month, or every time you wash really soiled clothes.

This video is for pet owners.

These carpet brushes are a LIFE SAVER if you have dogs. This thing allows me to go from vacuuming about 4 square feet before my vacuum is full to vacuuming half the living room (I don't vacuum often enough. You should vacuum weekly, and I just can't.). I have to unclog the vacuum less often. It fluffs up some of the flat spots in the carpet. And I also use the brush to shampoo my rugs in the spring.

A spot cleaner (or a carpet cleaner with a spot cleaner attachment) is another life saver, ESPECIALLY if you can afford to splurge on a heated one. I see them at Goodwill or at yard sales occasionally, and they're worth picking up. The shark one in the video is great too.

It's America's Housekeeping Book (1941). Available for free download on the Internet Archive. (Large PDF file at the link here).

The LISTS y'all. The step by step lists. The emphasis on efficiency and arranging spaces for the least resistance possible. The basic concept of "take a tray or basket into a room when you are tidying up so you can put things that belong elsewhere on it and take them out LATER in ONE GO".

hi angel sooo honestly asking about building strong hair BEFORE processing is so smart I've watched people fry their hair off because they skipped this step u're doing this the right way 🙂‍↕️

KNOW YOUR HAIR TYPE FIRST

Before you start any routine you absolutely need to understand your hair type because this literally determines how you should treat it. Fine hair is more fragile and can get overwhelmed easily, so it needs gentle treatments. Thick, coarse hair can handle stronger stuff and actually needs MORE intensive treatments to make any difference. Wavy and curly hair is naturally drier because oils don't travel down the hair shaft as easily so it needs more moisture than straight hair.

U can drop a strand of your hair in a glass of water. If it floats, you have low porosity (cuticles are tight, products sit on top). If it sinks quickly, you have high porosity (cuticles are open, products absorb fast but also escape fast) this tells you whether you need to focus on getting treatments INTO your hair or keeping them FROM escaping too quickly.

So what u will need for a STRONG HAIR is protein

Your hair is made of keratin protein and everyday styling, heat, and even just brushing can break down that protein structure over time. Building it back up is essential for hair that can handle whatever you throw at it whether that's heat styling, chemical processing, or just regular wear and tear.

DIY PROTEIN TREATMENTS :

Rice water rinse: Soak 1/2 cup rice in 2 cups water for 30 minutes, strain, use the water as a final rinse after shampooing this is gentle and perfect for beginners.

Egg mask: Crack 1-2 whole eggs, apply to damp hair for 20 minutes, rinse with cool water (NOT HOT OR YOU'LL COOK THE EGGS ) this gives stronger protein.

Store-bought options: Aphogee Two Step (for thick hair that needs serious help), Olaplex No. 3 (rebuilds broken bonds), or Shea Moisture Manuka Honey Treatment (gentler for fine hair)

Start with rice water once a week and see how your hair responds. If it feels stronger and more elastic you're on the right track.

DEEP CONDITIONING

Protein gives your hair structure but moisture gives it flexibility u need both for truly strong hair that won't snap under pressure. Dry, brittle hair will break no matter how much protein you pump into it.

DIY DEEP CONDITIONING TREATMENTS:

Coconut oil mask: Apply unrefined coconut oil from mid-length to ends, leave for a few hours or overnight, shampoo out thoroughly ( I highly recommend this )

Honey + olive oil mask: Mix 2 tbsp honey with 1 tbsp olive oil, apply for 30 minutes under a shower cap

Avocado mask: Mash 1 ripe avocado with 2 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp honey, apply for 20-30 minutes

Mayonnaise treatment: Apply full-fat mayo for 20 minutes (sounds gross but it's basically eggs + oil and it works!)

Good store-bought options: Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deep (budget-friendly), Moroccan oil Hydrating Mask (worthy), or ANY deep conditioner with ingredients like shea butter, argan oil, or keratin

alternate protein and moisture treatments. Week 1 protein treatment, week 2 deep conditioning, repeat forever !

Daily habits

Use a leave-in conditioner or oil on damp hair (even just a tiny bit of coconut oil or olive oil works)

Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase to reduce friction

Don't brush wet hair with a regular brush use a wide-tooth comb or wet brush

Protect your hair from sun with UV protection spray or a hat

Keep heat styling to a minimum and ALWAYS use heat protectant when you do

SCAAAALP CARE

Your scalp is where all the MAGIC happens. A healthy scalp = grows stronger hair from the root up so don't neglect this part.

DIY scalp treatments:

Use coconut, argan, or even olive oil. Massage for 5-10 minutes before washing to increase blood flow

Mix a few drops of rosemary essential oil with a carrier oil, massage into scalp, leave for 30 minutes before washing ( i highly recommend this)

Keep your scalp clean but not stripped. Overwashing removes natural oils that protect your hair MOST people only need to wash 2-3 times per week unless they have very oily hair or use a lot of products.

Lifestyle factors:

Get enough sleep (your body repairs itself during sleep, including hair follicles)

Manage stress (chronic stress can cause hair loss and thinning)

Stay hydrated (dehydrated hair is brittle hair)

And when it comes to nutrition like i know this might sound overrated or like you’ve heard it a MILLION times but eat A LOT OF FISH .. Omega-3, healthy fats, iron . It really helps also add chicken to meals eat your PROTEIN Don’t mix your meals with too much junk and don’t just rely on unhealthy food U can do a million treatments and masks but if you’re not eating right your hair’s not gonna be strong. Nutrition actually helps a lot .

THE TIMELINE

Strong hair isn't built overnight u need TO LOCK IN at least 2-3 months of consistent care to see real improvements in hair strength and resilience ur hair grows about half an inch per month so it takes time for healthy new growth to replace damaged lengths.

Timeline expectations:

2-4 weeks: You'll notice your hair feels softer and more manageable

6-8 weeks: Hair starts feeling noticeably stronger and more elastic

3-6 months: Significant improvement in overall hair health and resilience

The key is CONSISTENCY doing a protein treatment once and expecting miracle results won't work ofc but doing the right treatments regularly, week after week, will transform your hair's strength and resilience.

SIGNS YOUR HAIR IS GETTING STRONGER

Good signs:

Hair feels more elastic when wet (stretches slightly without breaking)

Less breakage when brushing or styling

Hair holds styles better and longer

Shinier, smoother appearance

Split ends are less frequent

Warning signs to watch for:

Hair feels stiff or crunchy (too much protein)

Excessive oiliness (too much conditioning for your hair type)

More breakage than usual (treatments might be too harsh)

The products I mentioned earlier are just suggestions I haven’t used all of them myself. So before you buy anything always always always do your research. Not every good product has to be super expensive look for things that fit your budget and still work well for your hair.

As for me, I’ve never dyed my hair but I do deal with things like shedding and hair loss so to cb to my strong hair areaone thing I highly recommend is rice water It’s actually really AMAZING i’ve been struggling with hair loss for years due over styling and cuz I don't wear a hat when I'm outside so last summer I used rice water consistently for about a month and I noticed real results. My hair felt stronger more elastic and it even started to grow again.

And speaking of elasticity if your hair feels stretchy or elastic after using a product, don’t panic. that doesn’t automatically mean your shampoo or treatment is harmful. Some people think that but it’s not always true Elasticity can be a sign of healthy flexible hair.

Now when it comes to shampoos pppplease avoid harsh ones. Look for something that suits your hair type. If you already have a shampoo that works for you, great stick with it! But remember hair care products aren’t forever. Over time, your hair changes so your routine should too.

For oils, I really recommend coconut oil but make sure it’s the real deal when you open the bottle u should be able to smell the strong scent of coconut. If it doesn’t smell like anything it’s probably not pure and for dry hair / ends olive oil is AMAZING for moisture. For hair growth, rosemary oil or rosemary water are great options too Just note: if you have dark hair rosemary might slightly change your hair color a liiil but not in a DRAMATIC way .

So if you dye or bleach your hair after doing all this prep just make sure to keep up the care but don’t overdo it , avoid pulling too tight or brushing aggressively. What you really need is deep hydration .. Use a hydrating hair mask once or twice a week something thick and rich that brings moisture back into your strands. Look for ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera, or glycerin. And don’t forget about protein treatments too , bleach strips protein from your hair, so you need to rebuild that strength little by little. Avoid heat tools for a while and switch to a sulfate-free shampoo to protect both your hair and color.

Overall, if you stay consistent with these tips you’re definitely on the right track !! Good luck 🪄

Alchemy ⚜ Antidote to Anxiety ⚜ Attachment ⚜ Autopsy

Art: Elements ⚜ Principles ⚜ Photographs ⚜ Watercolour

Bruises ⚜ Caffeine ⚜ Color Blindness ⚜ Cruise Ships

Children ⚜ Children's Dialogue ⚜ Childhood Bilingualism

Dangerousness ⚜ Drowning ⚜ Dystopia ⚜ Dystopian World

Culture ⚜ Culture Shock ⚜ Ethnocentrism & Cultural Relativism

Emotions: Anger ⚜ Fear ⚜ Happiness ⚜ Sadness

Emotional Intelligence ⚜ Genius (Giftedness) ⚜ Quirks

Facial Expressions ⚜ Laughter & Humour ⚜ Swearing & Taboo

Fantasy Creatures ⚜ Fantasy World Building

Generations ⚜ Literary & Character Tropes

Fight Scenes ⚜ Kill Adverbs

Food: Cooking Basics ⚜ Herbs & Spices ⚜ Sauces ⚜ Wine-tasting ⚜ Aphrodisiacs ⚜ List of Aphrodisiacs ⚜ Food History ⚜ Cocktails ⚜ Literary & Hollywood Cocktails ⚜ Liqueurs

Genre: Crime ⚜ Horror ⚜ Fantasy ⚜ Speculative Biology

Hate ⚜ Love ⚜ Kinds of Love ⚜ The Physiology of Love

How to Write: Food ⚜ Colours ⚜ Drunkenness

Jargon ⚜ Logical Fallacies ⚜ Memory ⚜ Memoir

Magic: Magic System ⚜ 10 Uncommon ⚜ How to Choose

Moon: Part 1 2 ⚜ Related Words

Mystical Items & Objects ⚜ Talisman ⚜ Relics ⚜ Poison

Pain ⚜ Pain & Violence ⚜ Poison Ivy & Poison Oak

Realistic Injuries 1 2 ⚜ Rejection ⚜ Structural Issues ⚜ Villains

Symbolism: Colors ⚜ Food ⚜ Numbers ⚜ Storms

Thinking ⚜ Thinking Styles ⚜ Thought Distortions

Terms of Endearment ⚜ Ways of Saying "No" ⚜ Yoga

Compilations: Plot ⚜ Character ⚜ Worldbuilding ⚜ For Poets ⚜ Tips & Advice

Alchemy ⚜ Antidote to Anxiety ⚜ Attachment ⚜ Autopsy

Art: Elements ⚜ Principles ⚜ Photographs ⚜ Watercolour

Bruises ⚜ Caffeine ⚜ Color Blindness ⚜ Cruise Ships

Children ⚜ Children's Dialogue ⚜ Childhood Bilingualism

Dangerousness ⚜ Drowning ⚜ Dystopia ⚜ Dystopian World

Culture ⚜ Culture Shock ⚜ Ethnocentrism & Cultural Relativism

Emotions: Anger ⚜ Fear ⚜ Happiness ⚜ Sadness

Emotional Intelligence ⚜ Genius (Giftedness) ⚜ Quirks

Facial Expressions ⚜ Laughter & Humour ⚜ Swearing & Taboo

Fantasy Creatures ⚜ Fantasy World Building

Generations ⚜ Literary & Character Tropes

Fight Scenes ⚜ Kill Adverbs

Food: Cooking Basics ⚜ Herbs & Spices ⚜ Sauces ⚜ Wine-tasting ⚜ Aphrodisiacs ⚜ List of Aphrodisiacs ⚜ Food History ⚜ Cocktails ⚜ Literary & Hollywood Cocktails ⚜ Liqueurs

Genre: Crime ⚜ Horror ⚜ Fantasy ⚜ Speculative Biology

Hate ⚜ Love ⚜ Kinds of Love ⚜ The Physiology of Love

How to Write: Food ⚜ Colours ⚜ Drunkenness

Jargon ⚜ Logical Fallacies ⚜ Memory ⚜ Memoir

Magic: Magic System ⚜ 10 Uncommon ⚜ How to Choose

Moon: Part 1 2 ⚜ Related Words

Mystical Items & Objects ⚜ Talisman ⚜ Relics ⚜ Poison

Pain ⚜ Pain & Violence ⚜ Poison Ivy & Poison Oak

Realistic Injuries 1 2 ⚜ Rejection ⚜ Structural Issues ⚜ Villains

Symbolism: Colors ⚜ Food ⚜ Numbers ⚜ Storms

Thinking ⚜ Thinking Styles ⚜ Thought Distortions

Terms of Endearment ⚜ Ways of Saying "No" ⚜ Yoga

Compilations: Plot ⚜ Character ⚜ Worldbuilding ⚜ For Poets ⚜ Tips & Advice

"Old friend" (maybe even lovers once)

"Old friend" (you say it so softly with too much knowing in your voice.)

"Old friend" (who left first? I dont remember now)

"Old friend" (the only thing i do remember)

"Old friend" (is that love doesnt really die)