How many microbeads is a clean face worth?

Put down that facial scrub and exfoliating body wash.

You may not realize it, but if you use these types of products, you may be releasing as many as 94,500 tiny plastic beads into the environment with every wash.

Experts at the U.K.'s Plymouth University recently decided to figure out just how many microbeads get washed down the drains everyday — and the numbers they found were staggering.

Richard Thompson, a professor of marine biology at Plymouth, found that a single wash may contain as many as 94,500 microbeads. An entire tube could hold upwards of 2.8 million of them, and once used, they are all destined to make their way into the world's rivers and oceans.

Personal care products that use tiny exfoliators usually contain microbeads, the industry term for the miniscule plastic balls that provide a scrubbing action in everything from toothpastes to body washes. The beads are designed to wash down the drain and take dirt and oils with them. But the problem is that once in the drain, they make their way into waterways and may poison marine animals that mistake them for food.

The beads ranged in size from 0.01mm up to 1mm. "Their size means they can pass through sewage treatment screens and be discharged into rivers and oceans," Thompson told The Sunday Times.

They may also be combined into a sewage sludge, which is sometimes spread onto farmland.

You won't believe these insane Easter bonnets that people actually wear

When you think of an Easter bonnet, what comes to mind? Perhaps a woven white or tan hat with a soft dome shape on top, a not-too-stiff brim and maybe ribbons or small flowers in pastel colors for decoration.

It's probably safe to say you don't imagine a heavy, four-foot-tall headdress packed with brightly colored wrapped Easter presents, Peeps or plastic butterflies.

But if you've ever been to Fifth Avenue in New York City on Easter, that's exactly what you'd see. In an annual tradition that dates back to the 1870s, "celebrants don festive finery and show off their very best bonnets" for the Easter Bonnet Parade on NYC's most fashionable thoroughfare.

The headgear that makes an appearance on this day can be elegant, wild, Easter-related or not at all connected to the holiday. Yet the level of outlandishness rivals even that of other "huge hat holidays," such as the Royal Ascot or Kentucky Derby.

Check out some of the eye-popping creations from previous Easter bonnet parades that make this stuffed-rabbit-in-a-basket-with-ducks monstrosity (above) seem tame in comparison.

Believe it or not, we're starting off on the more subdued end of the spectrum. This woman looks lovely in a soft yellow paper-and-butterfly-topped hat with a dramatic dip in the back.

Lest you assume Easter hats are just for women and girls, think again. Gentlemen of all ages and their furry companions get in on the fun with costumes to match what's on their heads.

Seriously her hat is as big as she is. How is she not falling over?

Peeps are to Easter what candy canes are to Christmas. The difference is that Peeps are disgusting, so why not glue them to a hat? They're practically inedible anyway.

No Easter-themed decoration is off-limits. So if you want to raid your local Target for baskets, eggs and tacky cardboard bunny decorations and assemble them on top of your head, go for it.

This bearded, tattooed man proudly sports plastic neon flying pigs in a San Francisco park for an Easter hat competition.

This parade reveler seems to have obstructed viewing thanks to the pile of presents on her noggin. Meanwhile the child next to her stays warm in a fuzzy (and reasonably sized) blue floral Easter hat.

The bright sunshine seems to be growing the giant flowers on the top of this hat while we watch.

Upside-down Easter baskets are a common choice for the base of these bonnets. However, this one looks more suited to be a table centerpiece than a headpiece.

A forsythia-and-cornucopia-inspired yellow Easter bonnet channeled the spring sunshine even when the temperature wasn't bringing the warmth.

You've heard the term carrot top, right? This foursome who donned giant carrots give the phrase a whole new meaning. Maybe some of the giant bunnies in the other hats can have a snack.

Not sure what's in the hat, but it's colorful and just adorable framing her smiling face. Happy Easter!

How to choose clothes that will last

In generations past, members of a household would have made a family's clothing. Even in wealthier homes, lace-making and embroidery were common hobbies; even if clothes weren't sewn at home, seamstresses and tailors were close by. It wasn't so long ago that this was still the case. I was raised by my grandmother, who made about half my clothes until I was a young teenager.
Besides creating clothing that fit the wearer perfectly, home sewers also knew fabrics well and could tell by eye and feel if a given cloth would last or fray after a few wears. They also could tell if something was sewn well using proper techniques, or if it was thrown together cheaply.

Because my grandmother taught me to sew and what to look for in a well-made garment, I can tell whether something is good quality or not. But very few of my friends can do the same. The sad part is that poor quality plagues all levels of the fashion marketplace. It's not just cheap, fast fashion that tends to fall apart after a few wears. But even pricier brands, which used to boast quality materials and workmanship, have a wider variability in quality than you'd expect.

That fast fashion, by the way, refers to clothes that quickly go from the catwalk to the retail stores to capitalize on fashion trends. It is often sewn by people — sometimes children — who are paid poorly, abused and overworked. But consumers want those low prices, and they don't think about what paying bottom dollar means for the people who make the clothes or what it means for the planet's landfills, which are already full of discarded clothing.

Here's what to look for so you can invest your money in good-quality pieces for yourself of loved ones — and know they will last.

Are you washing your hair the right way?

How much do you really think about washing your hair? Likely, you jump in the shower, throw on some shampoo, maybe some conditioner, rinse and call it a day.

If that's your routine, you may be doing your hair and scalp a major disservice.

Depending on if you're talking to your stylist or your dermatologist, reading a beauty article or watching an infomercial, you may think you're washing your hair too often or not enough. There's confusion about what kind of products to use and how much to apply. And what about drying it? Is air drying the only safe way to go without damaging your hair?

"There's a lot of confusion and misunderstanding and bad advice," says Chicago area, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Shani Francis. "Every unique person has their own individual needs about how to care for their hair."

How often should you wash?

You may have been brought up to wash your hair every day, but daily shampooing may not be necessary. It all depends on your hair and scalp type, says the American Academy of Dermatology.

If your hair or your scalp is oily, you may need to wash more often, maybe even every day.

Chemically treated hair from coloring or other processes may be dry, so it's probably better to wash less often.

Your scalp makes less oil as you get older, so you may need to shampoo less often.

Curly hair is often drier, so it usually doesn't need to be washed every day.

One way to tell if you're washing enough is to check for flakes in your hair. They could be a telltale sign that you're not shampooing as often as you should. In any case, Francis says don't go more than a week between washings.

"Even for the kinkiest, curliest textures, the scalp still needs to be cleaned weekly," she says.

How to wash your hair

Don't just jump in the shower and start washing. This process may take a little longer, but you should end up with healthier hair.

Start with a little prep work. Many stylists suggest first brushing through your hair to get out all the tangles. If you brush or comb hair later when it's wet, you're more likely to have breakage. Francis says kinkier and curly hair is better managed when wet, but only with finger detangling not a comb or brush.

Then apply a small amount of coconut oil just to the hair, avoiding the scalp completely. Leave it on for 15 minutes or more, if you have the time. (Ideally, you could leave it on overnight, but remember to wrap your hair in a towel to protect your pillowcases.)

Wet your hair. Apply a small amount of shampoo, about the size of a quarter, mostly to your scalp. Any more than that and you can start damaging your hair. "Shampoo removes all of the dirt and oil from your hair, and then it starts stripping away essential oils and lipids that prevent dryness and breakage," hairstylist Nathaniel Hawkins tells Allure. Shampoos that are specifically for curly, color-treated or dry hair typically are the most gentle.

Don't scrub your scalp and hair vigorously. A rough shampoo can hurt the cuticle, and cause tangles, frizz and flyaways. Instead, gently massage the shampoo into your scalp with the pads of your fingers and smoothly run the shampoo through your hair.

Rinse thoroughly, and then maybe condition, depending on your hair. Curly, dry or chemically treated hair almost always needs conditioning. In fact, you may want to try a dab of leave-in conditioner to help lock-in moisture. Use conditioner just on the hair and not on the scalp. Fine hair, however, doesn't always do well with conditioner, Francis says. One trick she suggests is spritzing on some vinegar or adding a little to your shampoo. Vinegar is acidic and helps close the cuticle and lock in the moisture. (The only downside is you might smell a little like a salad.)

If you're not leaving in the conditioner, rinse and rinse again. If you color your hair, turn the temperature down. Cooler water will keep your color from fading faster, according to Allure.

The bride wore rolls and rolls of toilet paper

Here comes the bride, all dressed in ... double-ply?

Not all wedding gowns are traditional, but few are made out of toilet paper. In a recent contest, people with some serious creative flair were asked to whip up bridal attire using basic bathroom TP.

The rules are simple: Contestants obviously must use toilet paper. They can use any type of tape, glue, and/or needle and thread. The dress must be able to be worn and taken on and off. The model can't be sewn, taped or glued into the dress.

And the results are ridiculously amazing.

Instead of swathing their models like mummies, these toilet paper artists have crafted delicate masterpieces ranging from form-fitting numbers with intricate cutouts to retro designs with capes or tassels.

There were more than 1,500 entries in this year's Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest. The 13-year-old competition is presented by Cheap Chic Weddings and Quilted Northern (of course).

Take a look at the awe-inspiring gowns, including the 2017 winner:

It took Kari Culetto,Las Vegas actress and mother of two, three months to craft her winning entry, which she calls "Quilted Enchantment." The gown's 1,500 hand-cut butterflies and a six-foot cathedral train earned the raves of judges and the $10,000 first prize.

"It kind of feels like I'm dreaming right now," Curletto told Reuters after her win. "Halfway through I was going to quit. I was crying and thinking, 'Well, I just can't do it. It's too much,' and a butterfly flew into my yard and landed on my hand."

For three years in a row, Virginia florist Ronaldo Cruz has won the fan favorite entry. His off-the-shoulder lacy gown features intricate snowflake shapes and is modeled by his niece, Danika.

"I don't draw or sketch anything," Cruz tells The Virginian-Pilot. "I just do what comes to mind."

Carol Touchstone's vintage creation includes 135 tassels, more than 6,500 strips of twisted toilet paper, and 6,000 beads. She used nearly three dozen rolls of two-ply toilet paper and two rolls of "vintage peach" Quilted Northern that she found online for the accompanying headpiece.

Touchstone owns a vintage clothing store and has worked in fashion and interior design.

"It's a great conversation starter," Touchstone told the Miami Herald. "I tell people I make wedding dresses out of toilet paper, and they say, ‘Oh, OK,' and then I show them the photographs and next thing I know, there are four or five people gathered around."

Freelance designer Van Tran of Brooklyn was the winner of the 2016 design competition. For this year's contest, she made a form-fitting pantsuit with lace trim.

"I've made a whole clothing collection out of used paper cloths, so this competition is a natural fit for me," she told the New York Post.

New Jersey artist Susan Masarek used white duct tape, glue and needle and thread to make her gown. It's sleek with a cape and pillbox hat, calling to mind Jackie Kennedy, circa 1963.

It's the fifth year Mansarek has competed, each time as a top 10 finalist.

"I don't think anybody is trying to say you should make your wedding dress out of toilet paper, but it's a nice way of saying I think we can bring that cost down in some ways," Masarek told NJ.com. "One message (that) is very important is not to go into debt for a big wedding and paying for it for years and years when you should have a wonderful, beautiful wedding and not going into debt to do it."