INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Brew about 1–2 cups (240–470 ml) of organic coffee. The coffee should be organic, because non-organic coffees usually have added chemicals and preservatives. Be sure to use a dark roast coffee or espresso. This will help make sure your hair will darken with the coffee. Make this brew strong, by adding a little bit more coffee than 1–2 cups (240–470 ml) calls for.  You can brew the coffee however you want (a drip coffee maker, on the stove), but brewing your coffee in a single serve instant coffee maker might not brew the coffee as strongly as it should be to adequately dye your hair. Let the coffee cool and use it when it is completely cooled, or lukewarm. You can use any kind of conditioner to mix with the coffee. However, thicker conditioners might make application easier. Mix 1 cup (240 ml) of the brewed coffee, with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of conditioner, and 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of the organic coffee grounds. Use a spoon to mix all of these ingredients together. If you have longer hair, you can increase the quantity of coffee and conditioner used. The exact measurements are not a rule, but more so a guide. Apply this mixture to your hair using your hands, and consider using a wide-toothed comb to spread the mixture evenly through your hair. Once you have added all of the mixture to your hair, consider pinning your hair up in a bun to keep your hair out of your face as you let the mixture soak in. Leave this mixture on your hair for at least an hour. After an hour, the conditioner may start to dry and harden.  Apply this coffee mixture to your hair in a bathroom with a mirror so you can contain any mess and see what you’re doing. Drape an old towel (one you don’t mind getting messy) over your shoulders. This will prevent any of the coffee mixture from falling on your clothes and staining the fabric. Rinse the coffee and conditioner mixture out of your hair in the shower. Don’t add shampoo; simply let the water clean out the mixture from your hair. You may need to repeat this dyeing process a couple times to reach your desired results.

SUMMARY: Brew some coffee. Mix the coffee with conditioner. Apply the mixture to your hair. Rinse your hair.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Most autistic children engage in unusual motor movements – they jump, spin, twist their fingers, flap their arms, walk on their toes, and make strange faces. Like self-injurious behaviors, these motor movements are self-stimulating, but they are not harmful. Stimming helps children control their emotions, focus on tasks, prevent meltdowns from sensory overload, and feel good. (Tapping pencils, pacing, playing with hair, and tapping feet are all examples of stims that neurotypicals engage in too.) Never scold or mock your child for stimming, because this will harm their self-esteem and make coping more difficult. It is okay to casually let your child know that a stim looks odd. However, don't pass judgment or try to stamp it out of them. The stim may be very important to them. Let them choose whether it's worth the effort to redirect it or not, and give them your full support either way. If you spend lots of time engaged in playful interactions with your child, they will stim in moderation. Teach your child new games, and try to introduce imaginary play. Children who constantly stim are probably in need of more activity.  Trampolines, exercise balls, tree-climbing, swimming, recreational sports, and going on walks can help hyperactive children get the stimulation they need, so they can sit calmly during school. Keep plenty of fidget toys around. Your child may not sit still, but mild/moderate fidgeting can be enough to help them focus. Talk with teachers and aides to ensure that your child's peers learn good social skills and don't bully your child for being different. Autistic children should never be afraid to stim. Your child may enjoy playing with a doll's hair or fidgeting with a tangle. This allows your child to choose when they want to stim conspicuously, and when they prefer to stim in ways that don't attract attention. Encourage your child to explore with different stims so that they can choose the ones that are most comfortable to them.

SUMMARY: Recognize that stimming, or unusual motor movements, are a normal and healthy part of the autism spectrum. Teach your child that stimming is okay, and that everyone stims to some extent. Offer plenty of stimulating attention. Make sure that your child's peers understand stimming. Provide toys for stimming.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: For very tangled hair, use a wide-toothed comb. For regular upkeep of wavy hair or soft curls, use a paddle brush. Paddle brushes are flat, usually square, and usually have more bristles. This provides a larger surface area to run your hair through as you try to untangle it. The bristle material also makes a difference:  Boar bristles are a strong, natural material good for taming thick hair. Nylon bristles are softer and slide more easily, good for fine or fragile hair. More cushioning on the brush gives more flexibility but less pull. Some flexibility is good to avoid tugging, but keep the cushioning low if you have thick hair. Separate your hair into two halves, from front to back. Separate each of these in half again, on your left and right sides. Use clips to secure the sections you aren't currently brushing. If you have extra thick hair, separate into additional sections. Starting at the base of the head is an easy way to do it. After you have worked through a section, just leave it down and go to the one above, without the lower one getting in the way. Brush each section of hair starting with the ends. Tease out each knot or tangle with repeated downward motions. Once finished, brush downward from a slightly higher position. When your hair is wet, it is at its weakest. The cuticles (outer hair walls) are expanded, soft, and full of water. However, combing wet hair is less painful on the scalp, and may make it easier to untangle. Brush very gently, to avoid breaking the hair. When combing wet hair, a wide-toothed comb is safer than a brush. Progress to more and more narrow combs to get rid of smaller tangles.

SUMMARY:
Choose a brush or comb. Section hair into four quarters. Start with the lower sections. Brush in downward motions, starting at the end. Wet hair as a last resort.