The 80s Called

Scrunchie Liker writes:

I love my scrunchies, but they are so hard to find. I know they are shunned, but they are so great when I need to get my long hair out of my face. I have them in an assortment of colors, but the elastic is starting to stretch out and they are all almost to the point of no longer wearable. Are scrunchies that bad, that they are so hard to find in stores?

In a word, yes. There are plenty of more stylish ways to keep your hair out of your face. A cute headband may be a good option, or maybe this is a sign that it's time for a sleek new haircut.

If you don't want to give up your ponytail, rest assured that plain elastic bands have evolved since scrunchies were in style. They no longer have that painful metal bracket, and they come in a variety of sizes, thicknesses, and styles so you can find one that holds your hair back without giving you a headache.

Not convinced? You may not be able to buy scrunchies anymore, but you can always make your own.

Not Just For Fatties Anymore

Alan asks:

Can I use Desitin to prevent chafing in the heat, or is it only for infants?

Ah, yes, the dreaded chub rub. Anyone whose thighs touch has certainly felt the sandpapery chafing, most common in the summer months, when sweat and general stickiness contributes to a perfect storm of awfulness.

There are a ton of solutions for chub rub. I've never heard Desitin mentioned, but baby powder, body lotion, and commercially-available anti-chafing creams are usually the first solutions. I would try anything you think might work, but I haven't had any luck with topical cures.

I've had to go with simply wearing pants for most of the summer, but when a skirt is necessary or wished-for, there are other options. A lot of people wear Spanx or other long-line shaping garments. If that's your thing, great, but I can think of few things I'd like less than trying to pull on a girdle in 90+-degree heat - and then having to wear it for the rest of the day, sweating all the while. Girdles, while very useful in certain instances, are not very breathable, and certainly not very summer-friendly.

No, for those days that simply insist on breezy peasant skirts and sweet eyelet dresses, you can try cotton bike shorts, men's boxer briefs, or Thigh Society underwear.

Please write back and let us know how the Desitin works!

Black Socks With Bermuda Shorts, Too, Right?

Sickened writes:

My coworker smells so bad, it's like feet. it's warmer out these days so it's gotten worse. I put a fan on my desk to blow the stench away from me back onto her, but it does get overwhelming. I even started to talk about how many times a day I shower in the summer because I hate thinking I might smell. No dice; she doesn't fall for it. Is there a better way that may work to tell her she stinks like a foot? Passive aggressive doesn't work. We're not very friendly but we do have to work in the same office. I don't gossip, but I am sure I'm not the only one offended by her aroma. She usually wears tyvek sandals with socks, so I wonder if it IS her feet.

Sickened, does your company have a competent Human Resources division? Usually I like direct, polite confrontation, but this is one of those areas that can go bad with lightning speed, so I suggest you make a discreet inquiry to HR about your options with a coworker who has poor hygiene. They'll hopefully already have some sort of policy in place to either pull Smelly aside and deal with her directly, or some way to notify Smelly's immediate superior that something needs to be done - without getting you involved.

Also, I'm dying to know what you do that wearing sandals with socks is appropriate work attire. I mean, from a fashionable standpoint, sandals and socks are never appropriate attire, but in the workplace? No. You might suggest a change in dress code, too, while you're at it.

Trust Me: I'm An Expert

Rafaella Mastroantonio writes:

Is there a way to stop the underneath boob area from sweating, or should i just line my bra with tissue? It's hot and I am drippy.

No, seriously: I'm an expert. I have breasts, and I lived in Phoenix, and I sweat. A lot.

My solution has always been baby powder. When you get out of the shower, powder the undersides of your breasts. It won't exactly stop the sweating - if you're very active or outside for a long period of time, you'll still sweat some - but it will prevent odor and the baby powder will absorb most of the sweat, saving your bra from sweat damage.

You can also try applying a regular antiperspirant/deodorant under your breasts, but I've found most commercial ap/d to cause pimples or rashes on the chest.

I also try to wear only breathable natural fabrics in warm weather, preferably cotton or mostly-cotton items. Wearing a black tank under a white shirt will also help, as long as both layers are thin, because the black of the tank top will absorb heat from your body, while the white shirt on top will reflect heat coming at you from the environment. Loose clothing is preferable to tight, and in that vein, make sure your bra fits. If you're small enough, you may be able to find all-cotton or moisture-wicking bras, and that will help the problem, as well.

You can also try Cleavage Coolers, little tubes you stick in the freezer to cool, and then stick down your bra to cool you. I can't vouch for effectiveness, but sticking ice on your tits can't make you hotter. Temperature-wise, that is.