sarcasticgal1221's advice column

asksarcasticgal1221

advice column ask question view feedback favorite columnist advicenators

Q: Ok..I have reeeally curly hair. I want it to be straight but when I try to straighten it there are 2 problems:
1. It takes me 1 and a half to 2 hours to get it completely straight.
2. My hair only stays straight for a day or overnight..even if I just straightened it.

Are there any easier ways to make my hair straight and make it stay straight for a while?

Thanks ahead of time. I will rate high for helpful answers.

Sincerely-
Curly wanting to go straight

You could try chemical straightening, but this is very bad for your hair. Of course, so is straightening it, but that is besides the point.

Try some cream before you blow dry it. I am not sure what it is called, but do that John Frieda makes some sort of cream that you can use before you straighten your hair to make it better.

After you straighten it, put more cream on, but only a little bit.

What kind of straightener do you have? I think ceramic ones are best.

Good luck.

Q: does anyone know how to get rid of excima!
please don't say go to the dermatologist
i'll rate high

Hydrocortizone cream. You can get it at Walgreens, CVS, Osco, Rite Aid, or whatever drugstore you have near you.

Q: um i just put this under a random category but...im going on a really long road trip in a few days and im gonna need some serious entertainment...any ideas besides anything that involves reading?(i cant read in the car, makes me feel sick and stuff) thanks soo much i rate

Movies, Music (bring LOTS of extra batteries), car games (such as out of state liscence plates, look for certain features on cars like one headlight missing, etc), writing, drawing, food, you could try books on CD, and some card games that don't require much room.

Q: 14/f

How often should you change the your razor head for shaving your legs/under arms/pubic area? There's nothing on the box. I use Venus if that helps.

Whenever the blade gets dull and you are not getting as good of a shave as you think you should be. I usually change mine about every 10 to 14 days, but I shave every day, and I should probably change it more often. You basically just have to get used to it by trial and error.

Q: I have a rat. And i was wondering from anyone who knows anything about them. What can be done or given to a rat to keep it amused. I open the cage everyday and let him run up my bookcase(where his cage is situated) but I don't know if this is efficient enough? Anything would be appreciated.
Thanks a lot,
Anthony

Get him a partner so they can take over the world!

Or an exersize wheel. Maybe go to your local pet shop and see if they have any rat toys.

Q: I'm thinking about getting the top of my ear periced does anyone know how much it hurts? and if it is worth getting it done?

If you are talking about the cartelige, then no it does not hurt. Other might disagree, but I do not think it does.

Why not get it?

Q: i am going to defer enrollment to College for one year in order to train for tennis and hopefully get a scholarship. Has anyone taken a year off after high school, and if so, do you have any suggestions as to how I could continue studying (community college, etc...) I have already been accepted to a University (Drexel) and also accepted for my deferral request. Also, if I want to apply to other universities can I still do so? Does deferring hurt my chances of acceptance? Thanks!

I defered for a year before attending University, but I was I was studying in a religious school for that year.
As for applying to other universities, the fact that you are enrolled somewhere else will not hurt your chances, because the schools do not know. Unless you were accepted Early Decision, there should not be any issues with applying other places.

Q: Hello. I am 14 years old, and have secretly been cutting for 3 years. I have never told anybody before, but I am wondering if I should. Would it be in my best interest to get help?
I have a lot of trouble trusting people,though.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

You should absolutely tell someone and get help. It may not seem so at the time, but it will be the best move you can ever make.
If you have trouble trusting people, it may help to talk to a stranger. I know that there are websites with communities for helping people who cut.
You should also know that laws about patient/therapist privacy do not apply to minors when they are harming themselves. In other words, it is allowed for a therapist to tell your parents that you are cutting yourself.

Q: I posted this to a single person, before I knew it could be answered by anybody with an account;
I am a 17 year old male, and came across your site by accident, or possibly fate. I have a big social problem. I've always been described as "the different one". I was always the one who did his work in class, or didn't do things exactly the same way as everybody else. I was just different like that since primary school. (I'll just say at this point that I'm not gay. A lot of people ask that when you say you're "different") The problem is, I've never been able to shake certain difficulties I've had as a result of being unusual. So now I find myself at 17; I've never been to a party where I've drunk. I've never been kissed. I've never had a girlfriend. Nobody knows who I am, nobody seems to care. I find it difficult to make friends, because I feel socially awkward, because everybody expects me to know things that I don't, because I never developed those social skills. Most of the friends I do have are the poisonous kind. They will be friendly some days, but only because it benefits them. At other times they seem totally unfriendly. I feel like I'm tied into keeping them, because it's not as easy as just pretending they don't exist, and if I alienated them, then I wouldn't have anybody left.
I don't want to become "normal" (if that exists as something to become), I would just like to know how I can fit better into the social structure of school life, and develop general social skills. I feel like I got expelled from the school of social interaction as a kid, and now I've found out there's no adult ed. class.
Thanks,
SilentOne

For starters, don't worry that you have never had a girlfriend or been drunk at a party. I survived high school without going to any "typical high school" parties, and after seeing some friends who did, I can honestly say that I much happier having not gone to any.

I would also tell you not to worry so much in high school It sucks a lot having few friends, I know that very well. But once you get out of high school, people tend to mature and act like human beings as opposed to animals. Maybe go to social events involving people who are already out of high school. They tend to be more mature and have a better idea of what is important in life.

Just stick it out and don't worry. Your time will come and you will meet people who are just as awkward as you are and you can all laugh about it together.

Q: is it normal to get a cold in the summer? because i think i have one i have a really soar throat and my nose is sooo stuffy! also what can i do to help get my nose unstuffed?

You may have allergies. Try taking Benadryl or Sudafed for a few days and see if you feel any better. If you do, you can, go to a doctor and ger perscription medication.
Hot tea will probably make you feel better as well.

Q: okay just a couple of weeks ago i had to go to the hospital fer a few weeks and they found out i have FSGS a form of kidney disease..and now i have to take steroids (not the kind fer sports and making you strong) but they have all these really bad effects on me and body swelling is one of them my face and stomach are really swollen and it makes me feel really uncomfortable taking pictures or going swimming...

should i feel this way??

A friend of mine had to go on steroids for Chrone's disease, and I seem to remember that he had some uncomfortable reactions to it which I think are normal.

But you should definitely contact your doctor to be sure, especially if you are worried or it is intefering with your life.

Q: Ok..If I'm around loud noises I feel like really nausious ((Sp.)) and like I love to go dancing but my "friend" and I clog and his shoes that he has to wear for his like dancy deal are so loud that i feel sick when im around the noise...does this happen to anyone or do you know what i should do?

((and i cant stop going dancing or stay away from loud noises because I'm around them at work))

Try ear plugs. Or see if there is anything you guys can do to make the shoes a it quieter.

Q: Since your Jewish I was wondering if you could tell me more about becoming official, because like i said before I was raised Christian and I would like to become an offical Jew.

Well, first of all, I would suggest doing a lot of research before making that decision. It sounds as though you already have done research, but a site you might want to check out is aish.com. It is mainly geared towards people who want to convert or who are Jewish and do not know much about their religion. (There is also a great Kabbalah section :P)

Next, you should realize that Judasim is more than a belief, it is a way of life. There are changes to your everyday life when you decide to become an Orthodox Jew. (I don't know what branch of Judaism you are in interested in, there are many different ones.)

If you decide that you really want to do this, it is a long process. Usually it takes at least a year or more to go through the entire converstion process. It involves learning the Laws and the Torah, and ends with imnersion in a mikva, or a ritual bath, but you'd learn more about that before you do it. You should research synogogues in your are (if you live in the US, I may be able to help you find one) and talk to the rabbi there.

Q: You answer my Kabbalah question..but I was wondering what do you belive in?

I am Jewish and have been since birth. Kabbalah in actually something that I always been very interested in. It just really bothers me when people see it as a separate entity than the religion that it is part of and provides a deeper understanding for. It's like pseudo-Judaism.

Q: my parents are so over protective. im 13 and they wont even let me jog aroung my block or go to the mall with a friend it gets on my nerves cause my dad always bring up these stories of about these 25 yr olds who get kidnapped raped and killed i told him to sign me up 4 self defense if hes so paranoied but he just gets mad he wont listen. Please help @ this rate i will be a prisoner without freedom and locked away in a tower at age 45.

thanks ill rate high!

Talk to your dad about why he is so overprotective. Are you the oldest daughter? Is your neighborhood really dangerous? Has he had any bad experiences? What if you go jogging around the block with a few friends? Try to talk to him and get the whole story. Then you could bring up the self defense class. If he just gets angry again, ask him why he is angry.
The main thing is to just show him that you are mature and know how to handle situations.
What does your mom say about all this?

Q: Ok my family is very strong believers in Christianity but I believe in Kabbalah (which is very very different). I've never said anything about it b4..I just went along with them and went to church and stuff. Well I guess that because it's never caused a problem before. Now they know that my boyfriend isn't a Christian and they're all like you can't be with him..and see I've been with him as long as I can remember and I love him to death. If I tell them I'm not a Christian I'm really afraid that they'll either ground me forever and treat me like crap or send me to bording school. What should I do? Because I can't go the next two years without my man.

Well, Kabbalah is not exactly something that you can beleive in on its own. Kabbalah is a part of Judaism. As you probably know, Judaism is very different than Christianity. I would suggest doing some more research before saying that you beleive in it.
If you really feel that Judaism is right for you, then you should talk to a rabbi in your community about converting.
If you have any other questions, I'd be happy to answer.

Q: i live around chicago IL, and were having a drought, so its really hot around here. it gets really humid - and my hair is naturally wavy. if i scrunch it and wear it curly, it gets frizzy, and if i straighten it and wear it straight, it doesnt stay striaght, it puffs up etc. i have to go to summer school every day from 8-12, and i have very thick and quite long hair, what are some easy hair styles that i could do quick in the morning that doent look sloppy?

First of all, I'd gardly call what we are having a "drought." :P

You should not ever go outside with wet hair. That will only make it frizzier. Don't be afraid to put stuff in your hair. After you shower, put in mousse. A lot of it. I actually use some hair cream and then mousse, but you may not want that much crap in yours.

As for styles, you can experiment with braids, twists, ponytails... Also clips are very good. If you get a large clip, you can twist your hair up and clip it.

Straigtening hair is very very very very bad for hait. It dries it out, which only makes it more frizzy. You may also want to consider using moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, or a deep conditioner.

The bottom line is, humidity is nobody's friend, and unless you obssess over your hair, there will always be a little frizz.

Q: EEk I have alot of blackheads and the facewash im currently using isnt working! DO u know anything that works beter? Like gets rid of the blackheads? Please! THanks

I like Clearasil's Daily Face Wash. It comes in a blue and red bottle.

Q: okay well today is my sisters birthday, she is turning 8, i made her 2 cds with all of her favorie songs on it, adn nowi have to make cases for the cds. what should i put on it, ive already got the songs listed but what sort of picture should i out on it, shes having a beach party, so if that helps out!! but please help, i need ideas... thanks!