Article: If you hear or feel a crackling or popping sound/sensation when you extend your finger or thumb, it is a good bet that you have trigger finger. However, it is vital that you have this diagnosis medically confirmed, especially if you have not had the condition previously. You need to rule out other, possibly serious, conditions. Your fingers extend and bend by way of tendons, which are essentially flexible bands that stretch and retract to move the attached bones. They are protected and lubricated by tendons sheaths (basically tubes). If a tendon sheath becomes inflamed (due to repeated use or another medical condition), it can narrow and cause the tendon to scrape or even get caught in place, causing the locking, popping, and crackling sensations of trigger finger. Being female and/or over age 40, and having diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis can make you more susceptible to trigger finger. Most often, though, it is suffered by people who use repeated gripping motions with their hand(s), such as carpenters, farmers, factory workers, and musicians. It is important to go to the doctor to diagnose trigger finger, because sometimes people mistake a fracture or dislocation for the condition. Your physician can determine the severity and proper treatment of your condition, and can also rule out potentially-dangerous infections that can occur at the site of inflammation. Treatment for trigger finger can range from rest to surgery, depending on severity. Splinting is a common first-level treatment, especially for milder forms of the condition. Studies indicate that splinting for a period of around six weeks is roughly as effective as a cortisone shot in the joint, another common treatment for trigger finger. There are several types of splints and you can splint your finger continuously or only during times of rest. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment option for you. Before trying to splint your finger, confirm with your doctor that you can and should splint your affected finger(s) yourself. Self-treatment without proper medical advice is not recommended. Splint your finger temporarily until you can receive proper medical attention. Do not engage in long-term splinting on your own initiative, however. Improper or prolonged splinting can cause joint damage, obstructed blood flow, and/or skin infections.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Visit your doctor. Discuss treatment options. Confirm that you can and should apply splints yourself.
Article: To keep your hair color looking fresh as long as possible, the dye needs to settle in your hair. Washing your hair too soon after you color it can rinse some of the dye out so your hair color fades more quickly. For the best results, avoid washing your hair for at least 24 hours after you dye it. If you feel the need to clean your hair after dying it, just rinse it with cool water and scrub your scalp gently with your fingertips. Shampooing your hair every day can not only strip away its natural oils but the color as well. Keep your color fresh by washing every other day, every third day, or even just once a week if your scalp isn't naturally very oily. If your hair looks dirty, greasy, or limp between washes, use a dry shampoo designed specifically for color-treated hair to soak up excess oil at the roots and add volume. When you do wash your hair, it's important to use the right product. Opt for a shampoo designed specifically for color-treated hair to avoid stripping the color. The formula should be sulfate-free and contain silicones, which help preserve the color by sealing the cuticle. You may want to use a color-depositing shampoo for color treated hair. Not only does it work to prevent the dye from fading, it actually contains color that it leaves behind on the hair after you wash to freshen your color in between dye treatments. When you wash your hair, avoid applying the shampoo all over your locks. Instead, concentrate the product at your roots, where your hair is the oiliest, and build up a lather. Once you've created a lather at your roots, you can work some of the suds down the length of your hair just before you rinse it out to make sure that it's all clean. Hot water opens your cuticles and may allow color to wash out and cold water closes them. Conditioner, as the last step in the washing process, should be rinsed with cool water so that you can clean and condition your hair and then close the cuticle as fast as possible to minimize color loss. Don't rinse your shampoo out with cool water, because then you'll close the cuticle before you've gotten the chance to apply the conditioner, making conditioning your hair purposeless. While using cool water to rinse your hair can prolong your color, there may still be minerals in it that strip the dye from your hair. Consider adding a filter to your showerhead to remove minerals such as lime and iron so they don't ruin your color. A shower filter can also remove chlorine, heavy metals, and soap buildup that may fade your color. If you already have a filter attached to your sink, consider washing your hair in the sink instead.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Wait to wash your hair. Wash your hair less often. Use a shampoo for color-treated hair. Focus the shampoo at your roots. Rinse your hair with cool water after conditioning. Add a filter to your showerhead.
Article: You don't have to dye your hair to make it scene, but it's a fun way to express your style. In this section, you'll see some suggestions on where to add dye to your hair; for information on the process itself, see the Related wikiHows at the bottom of the page. Dyeing the tips of your hair along a straight line is called "dipping" (because some people actually do dip-dyes). This is a low-risk way to add color to your hair, because if you don't like it, you can always cut it off instead of having to wait for it to grow out. Try doing it in a color that's opposite the rest of your hair (blond tips if you have dark hair, or dark tips if you have light hair), or in a bright color such as blue or purple. Select streaks of your hair to dye a color that contrasts with the rest of your hair. You can do streaks in one color, or in several colors, and make them narrow or wide. If you work or go to school somewhere that doesn't allow you to have dyed hair, streaks might be a good choice. You can place them strategically, so that they won't show up when you put your hair into a ponytail. A popular scene look is dyeing an entire section of your hair a different color than the rest of it; for example, making your bangs and front layers blond, and keeping the rest of your hair black. For something a little more subtle, you could dye the underside of your hair a bright color, and keep the rest of it a more natural shade. If you want to go all-out, you can dye your entire head of hair a bright color. Note that most unnatural colors are semi-permanent, so you'll have to re-dye regularly to keep the look up. Black hair is good for any length, on any gender. Try red, blonde or black if you don't want to be too outstanding. Try wearing a shirt that's the same color as what you're interested in. If it seems to go well with your skin tone and eyes, it will probably look good in your hair. If it makes you look washed-out and tired, try something else.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Add some color to your hairstyle (optional). Dye the tips. Add streaks. Dye a whole section of your hair. Dye all of your hair. Figure out what might look good on you.