4/22/26 - Earth Day, Hair Care, and Allergies

Wednesday 4/22/26

Celebrate:

"In God We Trust" Day

Administrative Processionals Day

April Showers Day

Chemists Celebrate The Earth Day

Girl Scout Leader Day

International Mother Earth Day

National Jelly Bean Day

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Earth Day - The theme this year is "Our Power, Our Planet."

Created in 1970 because of a public concern over pollution.

The first Earth Day was a national "teach-in" on college campuses, modeled after protests against the Vietnam War. The date was chosen to fall between spring break and final exams to maximize student participation.

The event is credited with launching the modern environmental movement. It created public pressure that led to the creation of landmark U.S. environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.

You don't need to attend a large event to participate. Small changes in your daily routine can have a significant collective impact. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Declutter and Donate: Go through your home and donate usable clothes, books, and electronics. This keeps items out of landfills and gives them a second life.

Reduce Single-Use Plastics: Take the plastic swap challenge by replacing disposable items like water bottles, straws, and snack bags with reusable alternatives.

Start Composting: Set up a small bin for fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and eggshells. Composting reduces the large amount of food waste sent to landfills.

Conduct a Home Energy Audit: Look for energy wasters like lights left on in empty rooms or drafty windows. Simple fixes can lower your energy bills by 5% to 30%.

Cook a Plant-Based Meal: You don't have to change your whole diet. Even one plant-based meal helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with meat production.

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A major study released today suggests that when you eat might matter more than what you eat for long-term health. People who fast longer overnight and eat an early breakfast were found to have significantly lower BMIs than those who skip breakfast or eat late.

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Better Homes & Gardens reports that the "Cool Neutral" era is officially dead. As of April 2026, the dominant design philosophy is "Atmospheric Earthiness."

Forest, olive, and emerald greens are now considered "the new go-to neutrals," replacing grays to create "cocooning" spaces.

Designers are reporting that sharp edges are "out." The highest-ranked furniture for 2026 features chunky, rounded forms and modular sofas that emphasize comfort.

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How's your hair?

86% of Americans use shampoo on a regular basis (at least once a week)

24% 2-3 times a week

14% Daily

13% Once a week

9% Every other day

When it comes to conditioner, things are different.

21% never use it.

Those who use it 2-3 times a week are

35 % Frizzy hair 

33% Wavy Hair

27% Thick hair

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106 million people in the United States live with asthma or allergies, and climate change is making it worse. 

You know that thick yellow dust covering everyone's windshields right now? Most people blame that for their itchy eyes, but it’s actually a bit of a red herring.

That heavy yellow stuff is usually Pine Pollen. Because it’s so large and heavy, it mostly just falls and sticks.

The Real Villain: The pollens that actually make you miserable (like Oak and Birch) are microscopic and light. They can travel up to 30,000 feet in the air and hitch a ride on the jet stream. You could be sneezing in New York because of trees that pollinated in South Carolina three days ago.

A viral hack moving through Reddit suggests swapping your pillowcase every single night during peak season. Since your hair acts like a pollen magnet all day, you’re essentially face-planting into a pile of allergens every night.

Other remedies from Reddit.

Showers showed up in the discussion a lot. Before bed, after you've been out.

Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain that is a fantastic natural antihistamine. You can buy it as a supplement too.

I also like to use a little smear of vaseline inside my nostrils to trap pollen before I breathe it in.

And peppermint is another great natural antihistamine - a cup of peppermint tea always helps me breathe.

Many add some local raw honey to their diet. It may or may not work to help with your allergies. Might just be a placebo effect. (check for it at your local farmers' markets)

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Today's Useless Fact of the Day - The Earth weighs approximately 13 quadrillion pounds, but it’s actually losing weight. Every year, about 95,000 tons of hydrogen and helium escape the atmosphere into space.

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