Rub and restore

rub ‘n restore review – Red House West

Based on the subject of this post, you may be picturing me swirling gory animal skins bicep-deep in a steaming vat while an angry chemical-induced rash blooms on my face. Not so, not so! This really is leather dyeing the EASY way!

First, a bit of background. A few weeks ago I scored a gorgeous Rykken and Co. of Norway chair and ottoman from the 1960s. It is leather with bentwood and a beguiling corded back. Best of all, it rocks, swivels, reclines, and is unbelievably comfortable. I got it, along with three teak nesting tables, for $60! I could hardly believe my luck, but I also knew right away that the leather on the chair wasn’t going to work for me. It’s in amazingly good condition, but something about it read naugahyde to me and it was the color of an overripe–nay, festering–persimmon. Even that sounds better than it was, and honestly it looks better in pictures than it was in real life. It had a sort of gruesome, congealed tinge, and I knew I wouldn’t use it until I either reupholstered it or figured out a way to change the color.

In real life it was much worse than this picture suggests. I was so eager to change the color that I started before realizing I didn’t have a proper “before” shot.

In general I’m not a huge leather person and ultimately I think I would like to reupholster this guy in fabric, but with my Grandma’s couch still in tatters (I’m weighing about a dozen fabric options and leaning toward a silver gray mohair that I found a bunch of for a great price) I wasn’t about to sign up for another big upholstery project.

I searched the web, and didn’t come up with many options, until I stumbled on a company called Rub ‘n Restore. Rub ‘n Restore is a mother-daughter owned company in California that makes water-based dyes to recolor and restore vinyl and leather. I watched a YouTube video of dyeing a dark green couch a lighter tan color, and I poured over the reviews I could find to see if it was too good to be true that you could go from a darker to a lighter color using Rub ‘n Restore. The reviews were resoundingly positive, so I decided what the hey and ordered an 8 oz. bottle of the camel color.

Application couldn’t be easier: you just put a little of the dye on a slightly damp sponge, and rub it all around. The dye isn’t stinky at all and is really forgiving. At first it looks uneven and streaky, but that only lasts for the first few coats. You have to let it dry completely between coats, but I followed the recommendation of the company and used a hairdryer to speed up the process. With a quick blast from the hair dryer, drying time took about 10 minutes, and application of each coat on the ottoman took probably 5 minutes.

The final picture was taken after about 8 coats.

After completely coloring the ottoman, I decided that camel wasn’t the color I wanted after all. I was hoping for something less taupe, more saddle, so I contacted the company about whether I could mix another color into the camel. They emailed me right back, and said that cognac would be a good color to mix in to create a warmer tone. So I bought a bottle, did a little mixology, and came up with a color that I’m really pleased with. It’s a warm fawn color closer to what I was picturing than the camel color, and much nicer than the original crust-around-the-ketchup-bottle-rim color.

Because it wasn’t such a dramatic change, going from the camel to the camel+cognac color took only a few coats on the ottoman, and probably eight total coats on the chair. Here is the dyed and redyed ottoman next to the chair before I started on it:

As you can see there are lots of tufts and folds on the chair, but it was really simple to dye. You just sort of pull and smooth the creases back and rub the sponge over all of it. It honestly couldn’t be easier. If not for job and kid duties this could have been done in a single day, but I did it over several mornings and evenings. In fact there were a few mornings when I got dressed for work, went down to the basement to put on a quick coat of dye, and then headed out the door for the day. It’s not a messy process at all!

I’m really happy with the results, and I’m so glad that I can have this chair in my house now without cringing at the color, especially since it’s so comfortable. Oh, and here’s that gorgeous corded back I was telling you about:

Winifred is already doing her best to help the chair achieve a more distressed look:

And then Wolsey showed up to do his part too:

I swear this cat has brass balls (even though in reality he has none–spay and neuter!).

Okay, and now for the best part: Rub ‘n Restore has graciously offered to give Red House West readers 10% off if you want to try this magical potion! Just use the code RnR<3RedHouseWest at checkout. They have tons of amazing colors, including some fun ones like turquoise and buttercup yellow. Thanks for reading everyone, I hope you have a great week!

p.s. In case you’re wondering, Red House West is not affiliated with Rub ‘n Restore and did not receive any compensation or remuneration for this post. It’s just me, lovin’ on a product that actually works!

Sber opens registration for AI Journey Contest 2022 with prize pool topping RUB 5 mn (~$80K)

Home News Sber opens registration for AI Journey Contest 2022 with prize pool topping...

Sber-opens-registration-for-AI-Journey-Contest-2022-with-prize-pool-topping-RUB-5-mn-(__80K)

Sber is accepting entries for its annual AI Journey Contest, an international online artificial intelligence (AI) competition. The competition winners will share the prize pool overshooting RUB 5mn (~$80K). This year’s competition is supported by Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (AIRI).

The four challenges available to contest participants are:

FusionBrain Challenge 2.0 — following last year’s challenge to design strong artificial intelligence, this time the participants will be asked to build a single multitask model that would successfully complete 12 sub-tasks in two modalities (visual and textual), including hidden sub-tasks known only to the organizers. All task descriptions are expressed in natural
AI4Talk — a highly complicated task for speech recognition and automated translation of the languages of indigenous peoples of Russia. The task, prepared by Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (AIRI), marks the International Decade of Indigenous

Also Read: Why Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) needs an Overhaul

AI4Biology — a bioinformatical challenge from AIRI and the Gamaleya Federal Research Centre of Epidemiology and The participants will be tasked with creating an algorithm for a faster and easier classification of bacteria by mass spectrometry. Such algorithms are in demand for disease diagnostics, infection treatment, environmental studies and other areas. The winners’ algorithm, given its sufficient accuracy, will be further implemented in actual laboratories.
AI4Sea — another challenge described as AI for Social Good. The participants are invited to develop an algorithm that will restore the actual fish capture level in the Russian Far East. The model is aimed at improving fishing forecast quality and eliminating the risk of marine resources misallocation as well as restoring historical data on the migration and population size of various species. The challenge has been prepared with the participation of the Pacific branch of the “VNIRO” (“TINRO”).

Alexander Vedyakhin, first deputy chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank:

“We are hosting a competition for AI and DS professionals for the seventh time, and every year we note both a growing number and geographical reach of its participants and their increasing expertise. Along the way the competition has gained international recognition, with professionals from different countries participating and winning prizes every year. We are constantly increasing the complexity of challenges considering the trends in AI technology development. Last year the participants of AI Journey Contest 2021 demonstrated over 2000 solutions, and this year we expect a more active participation given the rapid development of AI.”

Participants over 18 years old are eligible for the competition. The provided tasks must be solved before November 11, 2022. The competition is held on DS Works platform.

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How to restore an artificial wig: instructions and tips

Over time, even a high-quality artificial wig loses its former attractiveness - the ends begin to tangle and delaminate, the volume decreases, the curls gradually unravel. Some will not bother and go to the store for a new wig, but most will be puzzled by the question "how to restore a synthetic wig?" And here our article will come to your aid, in which we will tell you in detail, step by step, how to resurrect a wig from artificial hair, return it to its former smoothness and attractiveness.

2 key rules for the care of artificial wigs

DON'T be lazy! Wash your wig when it gets dirty. Professionals advise doing this after 12 uses, but it is better to independently assess the degree of contamination. If the curls have lost their original color, a large amount of dust and cosmetics have accumulated on them, it's time to start washing.
DON'T overdo it! Kanekalon and modacryl wigs should not be heat treated as high temperatures will damage the fiber structure. But thermofiber models are allowed to dry with a hairdryer, curl with a curling iron, straighten with an iron. But! You should not overdo it either - you must strictly observe the temperature regime and not exceed the exposure temperature indicated in the product passport.

How to restore an artificial wig at home

1. Resuscitation of artificial hair begins with a thorough wash. Before soaking, it is better to comb the strands, if possible. If they are very tangled, then this procedure should be carried out after washing.

2. For washing you need warm water, preferably boiled or with a spoonful of soda. You need to add 1-2 tablespoons of shampoo to it, it is better for colored hair (it contains less alkali).

3. Dip the item in the soap solution and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Then it remains to rinse it under running water at room temperature. The pressure should be in the direction from the roots to the tips. No need to rub the fibers hard, twist and pull.

4. To restore the brightness of the color to the hair, you can apply a tint balm, and then rinse it thoroughly under running water. Lubricate the fluffy tips with hair oil - this will make them softer and more manageable, giving the hair a natural look.

5. Now dissolve the fabric softener and some water in a bowl. In this mixture, it is worth holding the wig for 1-2 hours, and then take it out, wring it out a little and, without rinsing (this is important), lay it out on a dry terry towel to dry.

6. After 2-3 hours, when the hair is dry, combing can begin. This must be done very carefully, move slowly and carefully. The procedure can take an hour or two. If there are nodules, they can be cut with nail scissors. The bangs are combed last.

7. After the curls are put in order, you should shake the wig, put it on your head or a blank, and give the hairstyle the desired shape.

8. If the wig is made of thermal fiber, it can be curled with a curling iron or hot rollers. Kanekalon models should not be exposed to high temperatures, but this is not required. These products have a "memory" effect and always return to their original shape after washing.

If the condition of the wig is very bad

In this case, we recommend using the proven method of restoring artificial hair, the essence of which is a long soak in Lenor conditioner. You can also use a cheaper balm or household fabric softener. So, we begin resuscitation of a wig that has lost a decent look:

1. Pour Lenore or any other conditioner into a bowl. It can be diluted with 1-2 cups of warm boiled water. Soak the wig in this solution and leave for 4 hours.

2. When the time has elapsed, remove the product from the lenor solution and allow it to dry. Rinse and rinse DO NOT NEED! It is enough to put it on a terry towel and leave it alone for several hours.

3. When hair is dry, start brushing. To do this, use a comb with rare teeth. In order not to damage the curls, divide them into small sections and gently comb, starting from the tips and moving towards the base.

Don't worry, the wig won't smell like Lenore. Only a pleasant smell will remain, no stronger than from washed clothes. But on the other hand, you will comb the curls much faster and easier and put them in order.

4. If the tips are very tangled and look like a washcloth, scissors will help to correct the situation. The ends after such a haircut do not look very aesthetically pleasing, especially if you do not have hairdressing talent. Therefore, we advise you to use a thinning razor. This device is inexpensive, but even without special skills, you can profile the tips and give them a beautiful, neat shape.

5. All that remains is to restore smoothness to the strands, and here an iron will come to the rescue, or in extreme cases, an ordinary iron. The main thing is to handle kanekalon and modacryl wigs very carefully, since these materials are based on algae and under the influence of high temperature the fibers will simply collapse. You need to iron the strands through a dense cotton fabric, at a minimum temperature, without steam.

Before ironing, be sure to check the reaction of kanekalon to the set temperature. You need to do this at the tips, preferably in inconspicuous areas.

After the procedure, artificial hair will become smooth, get rid of “fluffiness” at the ends, and acquire a well-groomed appearance.

What about natural wigs?

Question "how to restore natural hair wig ?" occurs rarely. Although such products are more expensive than artificial ones, they serve for more than 3 years without losing their original beauty. If you properly care for a natural wig - comb it gently, dry it away from sunlight and heat sources - then it will not require complex restoration manipulations.

The advantage of natural hair is that it can be curled and straightened as desired. To give volume and shape, it is allowed to use thermal curlers, curling irons, irons, and if you want to change the color, just repaint the curls in the desired shade.

Easy Maintenance Synthetic Wig: 5 Tips for Choosing

1. If you don't have time to maintain your wig, then initially choose a darker palette of colors - black, chestnut and chocolate shades. Blonde, ash and red hair get dirty faster. Curls darken by 2-3 tones, become dull. Too light strands acquire a grayish tint and do not look aesthetically pleasing.

2. Cheap, poor quality products are made from synthetic fibers that are much thicker than a human hair. Sometimes they resemble a fishing line, and this immediately catches the eye of others. High-quality wigs are made from modern, high-tech materials - kanekalon and thermal fiber. Such artificial hair looks as natural as possible. They are devoid of the shine characteristic of cheap synthetics, and caring for them comes down to regular washing and combing.

3. Pay attention to the base of the wig. The best option (in terms of price and quality) is tress with monofaliment inserts. This is a light transparent net with hairs woven into the cells - due to this, the effect of natural hair growth is created. In such a wig, the greenhouse effect is not formed, the scalp breathes freely, and your own curls do not suffer from overheating. And another important plus - you can model any hairstyle, comb your hair in different directions, which allows you to hide some of the flaws of artificial hair.

4. The length of artificial hair also plays an important role. It is much easier to maintain a short haircut than long curls. But on the other hand, you can experiment with long curls, create complex evening hairstyles, and if you get bored, there is always the opportunity to shorten your hair and make an actual haircut.

5. In a poor quality artificial wig, the color will be solid, and this immediately betrays its “unnatural” origin. The modern industry allows dyeing artificial fibers in heterogeneous shades, creating an ombre effect, highlighting, etc. If you want the hairstyle to be as natural as possible, you should choose models with different shades of hair that are close to the natural color.

How to care for your synthetic wig

In order to avoid problems and questions about how to restore the hair of a wig and give it its former smoothness and beauty, you need to learn a few rules from the very beginning:

special products or shampoos with a low alkali content.
Do not wring out or twist wet hair after washing - this will cause irreparable damage to their structure.
Comb only dry hair, and do it with a wide-toothed comb or massage brush.
Do not dry the wig near heaters, hang it on clothesline.
It is recommended to store on a stand, in a paper box or a cotton bag.

Follow the care instructions and recommendations given by the specialists of the Parikof store, and then your wig will delight you with its appearance for a long time.

3 proven ways to get your hands clean

Dust and dirt in the garden eat into the skin, clog under the nails. Hands look sloppy and unkempt. But even after dacha work, a manicure can be beautiful. Protecting your hands is easy if you do not neglect these simple procedures.

Protect

Before working in the garden, also apply a moisturizing and protective cream to your hands and put on gloves. To prevent dirty nails, paint with a colorless polish or gel polish. They will create a layer that prevents dirt from clogging into the pores of the nails. And one more piece of advice. Before starting work, scratch the lightly soaked soap with your nails. Then the dirt will not get there. Then put on gloves, and after work just wash your hands. But be careful: if you have a broken nail or a torn cuticle, this procedure will cause discomfort. In these cases, you can glue the nails with a band-aid. To save your manicure, choose gloves with a latex or nitrile coating for "dirty" work. Pay attention to thickness. Thin latex medical gloves will tear immediately. It is better to use cotton-lined gloves, which will also protect your hands from sweat. Choose a size that fits snugly around your hand. Then it will be comfortable to work, and dirt will not get inside.

Look after

The drier the hands, the more dirt eats into them. That is why the skin needs to be moisturized, and especially before gardening. You can also help the skin from the inside - drink more water, add more oily fish to the diet, salads with vegetable oils, or drink a vitamin complex. It is important not to forget to apply cream on your hands every day. It is advisable to do this at least 2 times a day. During the summer season, periodically make simple hand masks. To do this, use any of the natural ingredients: honey, vegetable oil, fatty cottage cheese, sour cream, grape pulp.

Here are some interesting recipes from ingredients that you will probably find in your country house:

Pick a cucumber from the garden, remove the skin from it and grate the pulp. Apply this mixture on your hands and put on gloves. The ideal scheme for applying the mask is every other day.
Dig up a couple of potatoes, peel and make a pulp out of them. If there is milk in the refrigerator, add it to this mixture. Rub your hands, put on gloves and soak for 3 hours. It is very useful to make this mask before going to bed.
Take a piece of bread and soak it in water. Apply the resulting mixture on your hands for half an hour. This mask is best done every day.
Pick a couple of strawberries from the beds. Rub them with fat sour cream or cottage cheese and apply on your hands for 20-25 minutes. Do this mask every other day.
Grate the zucchini and mix it with vegetable oil. Rub the mixture on your hands. Wash it off after half an hour.

Wash

If the hands are moistened and protected with latex or gloves, washing them will be easy. You can do this with a bar of soap. But sometimes garden dirt eats deep into the skin. For these cases, enterprising housewives came up with many interesting ways. But not all of them are hand safe.

Recommended hand cleaning methods:

Make a bath with lemon pulp or citric acid. Apply this natural remedy on the skin for 5-10 minutes.
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