Hair Care, health and wellness

For the boys…

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Today I bring you a tale of a delicate nature. Today’s tale is about hair loss. I know I usually come at these tales from a woman’s perspective, not today. Today I represent the men. Ladies – it is time to be kinder to our men, to remember that they like to look good  for themselves too. We always talk about how women hate their hair or hate the way they look…guess what? Men feel the same way too. I have heard too often a woman teasing her boyfriend/husband about his receding hair line or beer gut. That is not nice, plain and simple. Think about it – what would happen if he teased you about your roots or your muffin top? He’d be pushin’ up daisies and you know it.

Men feel they have no where to go or no one to talk to about their hair or lack there of. Well, here I am and I am going to shed some light for y’all. I have one word for you – NIOXIN.

Nioxin is a professional hair care line created to stop hair loss in it’s tracks and in some cases help the hair grow back. (*If there has been no hair growth in a spot for over 6 years – unfortunately no hair will ever grow in that spot again.). Nioxin is a 3 step program – The Cleanser(Shampoo), Scalp Therapy(Conditioner), and the Scalp Treatment(a leave on foam treatment). The key to this system is you have to use all 3 products. The Scalp Treatment is the kicker – it cleanses the hair follicle and rids the scalp of debris such as dead skin, product build up and DHT (Dihydrotestosterone). Big word – I know – look below…

*Testosterone converts into the toxin DHT which resides in the hair follicle

* Stress can cause over production of testosterone – so chill.

There are other regimes to help with hair loss on the market. I speak of Nioxin because I have seen first hand many success stories, both for women and men. It has won awards 10 years running. Redken has a line out for hair loss – IntraForce. It has been on the market for over 1 year now. I have had some clients try it and have yet to see major results, not like what I have seen with Nioxin. Nioxin has formulations for those who don’t chemically treat their hair – #1 for early stages of thinning, #2 for noticeably thinning. For those that do chemically treat their hair – #3 for early stages of thinning, #4 for noticeably thinning. Nioxin offers an array of styling products from pomades to gels to hairspray.

There are many factors that cause hair loss. Stress, diet, genetics, illness, medications, your teenager learning to drive. Next time you see your man frowning in the mirror or refusing to leave the house without a hat – show them my blog, forward it to their phone or their email. Let them know they are not alone and there is an answer. Remember ladies – you teach people how to treat you – so if you are constantly nagging and teasing what do you think you will get in return?

beauty, Business, communication, health and wellness, Uncategorized

Permission granted

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This tale is for all the women out there that are afraid of their voice. You know who you are. At some point we have all been her. You know the one…the one who keeps her opinions to herself , the one who doesn’t speak her mind, the one who goes along with everything out of fear of rocking the boat. The one who still speaks in a cutesy high pitched voice. The one who hates her hair cut so much she cries on her way home from the Salon but won’t tell her stylist because it might hurt their feelings or the stylist won’t like them anymore.  I know, we have heard all our lives, “be the good girl”, “just smile and be polite”, “boys don’t like girls who talk too much”, “the stylist knows best”. I have come to realize, all these lessons were taught to us out of fear. Our parents, teachers,mentors (take your pick) only knew fear, so that is what the majority of girls were taught, fear. Fear of what may happen if you speak your mind, fear of what may happen if you choose not to go with the flow, fear of being alone. As Maya Angelou says “when you know better, you do better”. Ladies, (and gents), it is time to “do better”.

Every day, I mean EVERYDAY, a woman will come into the shop or the salon, her eyes at the floor, mumbling a request. I make it my personal mission in life to raise these people up. I ask them what they need, what they are looking for and I always get the same response “I don’t know, what do you think?”. In turn I answer “I think you should have pink hair”…and then I give a gentle friendly giggle and tell her I want to help her feel better about her hair. I ask her what picture she has in her head of what she wants her hair to look like. 9 out of 10 women tell me they don’t like the style they have now, that their stylist doesn’t listen to them and that they hate the color of their hair. This is when I tell them “it is time to find your voice”. I reassure them, the world will not open up and swallow them whole if they speak their mind. That if they are able to yell at the girl at the drive thru for getting their coffee order wrong, I think they can talk to their stylist about what they want.

As women, we worry about what people are thinking about us or saying about us. It is time to stop worrying. As my Dad often says “worry is a debt that never comes due”. He’s right. People are going to talk no matter what, it’s what they do. Live the life you want, have the hair style and color you want, wear the clothes you like. Find your voice, embrace it, walk with your head held high, make eye contact. If you are still a little worried you are going to hurt someone’s feelings – get them a present – buy them “knitting for dummies” and tell them “here is your new hobby.”.

beauty, Hair Care, health and wellness, Uncategorized

To go where no flat iron has gone before

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So, you are looking for a new flat iron. You see all these big words like Negative Ions,Tourmaline, Nano- Titanium. I know, you are thinking “What do I do?”, “What do I choose?”, “Where are Data and Jean Luc to help me decipher this language?”. Read on my friends, this should help you with your decision. To be honest, for home use, as long as the Flat Iron is a professional grade, it comes down to the price you want to pay. Heat is what you want. Most professional Flat Irons will achieve at least 400 degrees Fahrenheit at optimum heat. If you travel – look for “Universal Voltage”  – this means you can use that Flat Iron anywhere in the world and it won’t short out.(you will still need an adapter for the plug).

Look for these name brands and you know it is a Professional Salon quality flat iron;

AVANTI, BABYLISS, ZAZEN, CHI, GHD, FHI – Beware if you see these at a department store – they may not be the real deal – and when purchased any where other than a Salon – your warranty may be void with the manufacturer.

Negative Ions – Atoms that can stop the growth of bacteria & fungi which can result in healthier hair and scalp.

Advanced Ceramic Heater (MCH) – Refers to the heating element used to heat the plates in flat irons. Originally developed in Korea – now synonymous with top of the line quality.

Sol Gel Technology – A process that transforms nano particles of a material from liquid to solid, creating an ultra-high concentration, making styling tool plates stronger to resist chips and chemical corrosion and smoother for superior gliding through the hair.

Ceramic/Nano-Ceramic – A non metallic material that is durable, smooth and retains and distributes heat efficiently. A natural source of negative ions and radiates far infrared heat.

Tourmaline – A mineral and natural source of far infrared heat and negative ions – similar benefits as ceramic.

Titanium/Nano-Titanium – The highest electrical and thermal conductivity of a metal. The most useful properties of titanium are corrosion resistance and strength to weight ratio of any metal and is stable at ultra high temperatures. * AWESOME for thick/coarse hair

Far Infrared Heat (FIR) – To put it simply -helps to retain moisture deep in the hair shaft which results in less damage to the hair.

Once you find the Flat Iron you want, no matter what happens, please don’t throw it at anyone – you will just look like a fool – trust me.

 

 

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Some things you can’t “un-see”…

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I am an inquisitive person. There isn’t much I don’t want to learn about or see. That being said, lets begin today’s tale, shall we?

In my years in the beauty biz I have had many questions posed to me… “What is the difference between Root Boost and Mousse?”, “What is a good conditioning treatment?”, “How do I get the brassy tones out of my blonde?”. Many times I have had women (and men) show me their receding hair line, or their hang nail and ask what to do about it. There are a few things I nor any other person except your physician should see. “Excuse me…can you help me” is what I hear. As I look up, I see something I will never un-see. I kid you not, there was a woman standing by the counter, showing me the red bumps on her bikini line (and she did not look like Christie Brinkley nor have the body of Jillian Michaels – yeah – I said it). “Do you have anything that would help with this?!” As I looked over my shoulder, praying to see a camera, I answered “uh…yes, I do. You can cover that up now.”. I kindly let her know that next time all she has to do is tell us she has red bumps from waxing, we know what she is talking about, we know what it looks like.

Another thing for the physician – if your scalp has bleeding, oozing scabs on it, please don’t show me. If you must tell me..alright ….but don’t show me…I am sure I can picture it in my head. I know I am in a Salon, I know I have masses of product to sell you – what you need in this situation is a physician, pharmacist, exorcist…take your pick.

Last but not least….Hands. I know we have nail biters (I was when I was a child – no judgments), I know some of you pick at your cuticles…don’t recommend it but hey…whatever floats your boat. Just so you know (feel free to share this tidbit of info. with the masses), when your nails or cuticles are bleeding – not a good idea to be touching all the product on the shelves or opening up said products.

I wonder what I will see today….

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Do you know where that has been?

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So there I was, restocking the shelves when out of the corner of my eye, I saw her. Standing in front of the 8 x 10 sign which read “please do not try on the polishes – we have color swatches to show their true color” she was opening up the bottle of China Glaze Kiwi-Colada and just before the brush hit her nail I stopped her. “Please do not try on the polish unless you are planning on buying it” (service with a smile as usual). Then another favorite of mine “Well….how am I gonna know what the color’s gonna look like?”. (Did I mention said customer is in her 40’s?). So, I showed the sign, and the array of color swatches in front of the China Glaze collection and assured her that is the color after two coats had been applied which she responded “How do you know?”. Really? Do people hear themselves? So I let her know that I was the one who had made the swatches, had applied the colors, and labeled them to make her choice that much easier. (What I really wanted to say was “you aren’t Cinderella and this isn’t a fairytale”, alas….I kept my decorum. ).

Ladies and gents, I know you all like the newest things, the shiny packages, the pretty little bottles. I know you are itching to try that new cream or try on the new scent. If the package is labeled “tester” – go ahead, test it out….proceed with caution, but go ahead. I say proceed with caution because you don’t know who just tested the tester. At my shop we clean the lids and bottles of the testers we use. Most of the hair products our stylists use in our Salon, so our customers are invited back to the Salon to try the hair products. In the store, it’s mostly just the hand creams. Why you ask? As I just stated – you never know who just tested the tester. That being said – if there is not a “Tester” label – do not try it. Seriously, would you want to buy a used product? Didn’t think so. I may be turning 40 but I can still hear the crack of a lid opening 500 feet away. (and by the way…at my shop…you open it and try it…..you buy it sweetheart).

Back to the tale of the misguided polish painter. After she realized that I was telling her the truth, she told me she always tries on polish…everywhere she goes, that she had just tested colors at WalMart. I told her that I didn’t think that was a good idea, since she didn’t know if the woman she just saw do the same thing had a fungal infection on her nail. I swear I saw her shoulders roll forward as she looked down at her multi-colored nails. To top off the conversation and to make my day I got to hear the best question of the day… “Does this mean that I shouldn’t try the lipstick testers on my lips?”.

Common sense isn’t that common.

beauty, communication, health and wellness, Uncategorized

What you see is what you get

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I have decided. I have another mission. I am going to use my blog not only to educate the masses about their hair and the professional products they need to use, I am going to raise up the masses as well. It is time ladies and gents, time to like what you see when you look in the mirror, or when you ponder idea’s of yourself.

If you think you are ugly, guess what? Ugly is the only thing that will come out of your mouth and ugly is all you will ever see, not only in your reflection, but in your daily life. I am not trying to get all “Law of attraction” on you, it is just a fact. There was a time when yours truly thought she was too ugly to go to a Broadway show. Yep, sounds stupid, doesn’t it? I had gotten in my own way. I had let the negative ideas about myself and my looks to take control. Long story short, I went to the show. The car ride there probably wasn’t the best memory for my boyfriend (now my hubby…gotta be true love). I truly thought that when I arrived the doorman or usher would look at me like “what is she doing here?”. I ended up loving the show and no one escorted me out of the building. I actually got a compliment on my dress and hair while powdering my nose. I confessed this to you all so you are all clear – I know of what I speak.

Yes, I admit, we were not all blessed with the beauty of Christie Brinkley (have you seen her?!?! All I can say is  WOW!).I know that we all do not have the athletic abilities of the William’s sisters (..the tennis champions…come on people, keep up with me now.). What we all do have is something unique about us. A cute dimple where no one but you and that special someone knows its location, you can recite 18th. century prose at the drop of a hat, you are a cancer survivor, you can juggle. Whatever it may be, however small and silly you may think it is, it is a part of you and it should be celebrated. I know, I can hear you all now “But people will think I am conceited”, “Oh, that would make me seem too proud”. Now, if you walk around town or post on facebook every hour that you are so awesome…yeah…a little conceit. If you think it…not conceit. That is called liking and loving yourself my friend.

Find that one thing you love about yourself. You have great feet, your hands look like a hand model’s hands, you have long eye lashes so you don’t need mascara, you know 5 languages, you can make a killer pot roast, you can run like the wind blows as Forrest Gump would say. Whatever it is, embrace it. Once you start to truly love one thing about yourself, all of a sudden you will love something else, and so on. If you decide not to see the good things about yourself and decide you are not lovable, one thing I can guarantee – you won’t be seeing many Broadway shows.

beauty, health and wellness

Do you have a minute?

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As I sit here, enjoying my morning brew, the sun shining on face, my mind keeps wandering back to one thing. Today’s tale is about self worth. Every day at the shop I meet a woman who is a shadow of her former self. There she is, buying pomade for the hubby, flat iron for the daughter, colored gel for the son…nothing for her. As she is keying in her PIN on the debit machine, she utters oh so quietly “oh…don’t look at me…I am a mess…no time for me today.”. Honey, there is always time.

Now, before you go off the deep end or jump on the soap box about how busy you are…..take a breath. If you have time to watch the Jersey Shore or Dr. Phil…why not do your nails while you watch. Got time to check on your crops in Farmville? You have time to check out some beauty advice/ info. blogs… http://www.thatgirlintheredcoat.com  – tell your friends. No time to shop for you? Guess what?!?! You can do it online! Go to http://www.sephora.com – the Mecca of all that is beauty. Professional hair care lines like the ones I have mentioned in previous posts. When you order you get to choose free samples! Samples you get to choose! It is brought to your door! It’s like Christmas – without all the family drama. Yes, I am excited. Trust me, after one visit, you will be hooked. The first time I saw a Sephora Store – I let go of my daughter’s hand (Calm down….my husband was there).

With the right products you can be the woman you know you are on the inside. You know the one…she is the one that won’t shut up, the one that you let kick your butt every time you put yourself last – let’s shut her up. When you are with your stylist – tell him/her your schedule – tell them you need help and ask what products/techniques you should use that can achieve what you want in the least amount of time. They exist people…I can look pretty good in 30 minutes – from in the shower to out the door. ( Yes, I tend to toot my own horn…when you are good at something, do it)

I am a mother. I know the internal struggles we face everyday about who to put first or what to do first. Ladies, it is alright to put yourselves first every now and then – not just for yourself, but for your family and friends. Come on now, admit it. Most arguments or pans being thrown are due to lack of time to ourselves. Save yourself some tears and your family a call to the Mental Health unit. Brush your hair, paint your nails, gloss your lips, go for a run. If the guilt is too great, think of it as teaching your family patience. Let them know that good things come to those who wait for Mom to take a moment.

beauty, health and wellness

Go ahead….be yourself…it will be alright

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This is more of a reminder than a tale. A reminder that you are wonderful just as you are. Every where you turn, someone or something may make you feel like you need to change or if you have just the right product all will be well and all your dreams will come true.  As Glinda the good witch from the Wizard of OZ told Dorothy – you have had it all the time. You have all the answers, you know how wonderful you are. It’s time to show everyone else.

Don’t be afraid. Don’t worry what others may think. In my experience, the ones who scorn us are the fearful ones, who wish they had the courage to step out into the sunlight, instead they cower in the darkness. As I have said before, the others are probably talking about you already, so give ’em a juicy story to tell. Embrace your faux hawk. Show off your ink. Want to be a blonde? Go for it. Recovering from Chemo? Show of your beautiful baldness or treat yourself to that black bob wig you’ve been eyeing. Paint your cat eyes (not your cat’s eyes….), wear that red lipstick. Dress how you want, man or woman.

If you want a change, make it for yourself, not for anyone or anything else. Love yourself. Embrace the laugh lines – reminders of your happiness, love the wrinkles – proof of a life lived.

The more you become true to yourself, the more your true life begins. The path that you once couldn’t find on a map will reveal itself.

It’s okay to be yourself, you have my permission.

beauty, Hair Care, health and wellness, Uncategorized

Save your shoulder checks for changing lanes…

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Dandruff. The enemy of the little black dress and the tuxedo jacket. The bully to our self esteem. No longer will you have to check your shoulders each time a greek god or goddess approaches you, no longer will you be referred to as a human snow globe or asked if it is snowing outside. Sad but true – these nasty phrases are uttered by children masking themselves as adults.

There are many reasons for dandruff. Sometimes it is hormonal changes, sometimes seasonal changes. It can be a cruel genetic joke that runs in your family. There is hope, I promise you. The products of which I speak are professional Salon quality products and they only cost about $2 more than the department/drug store brands. The active ingredient in the following products is Zinc Pyrithione, which helps reduce itching and flaking. It has antibacterial properties which can help reduce dandruff and scalp conditions that cause dandruff.

KMS Head Remedy – Dandruff Shampoo – gentle cleansing and color safe.

AG Control Dandruff  Shampoo – Gentle cleansing, Canadian made & cruelty free, color safe.

JOICO – Daily Care Treatment Shampoo – * this baby is created for any scalp problem – not truly a dandruff shampoo, many clients have had luck if their dandruff was due to hormone/seasonal changes. Color Safe.

If you suffer from severe dandruff, psoriasis or seborrhea try the following (you can hug me later)

SMART SOLUTIONS Problem Hair & Scalp Shampoo – ***AWESOME RESULTS*** This little gem is paraben free, sulfate free, sodium chloride free and color safe. It also helps reduce frizz. This product relieves dryness, controls the oil on the scalp and hair and eliminates flaking.

Steer clear of the cheaper brands – they mask the problem. Sure, no flakes as you use it but once you stop flakes come back. The products I have listed for you are formulated to treat the dandruff/scalp condition and in many circumstances, the dandruff becomes a thing of the past.

beauty, health and wellness, Uncategorized

I didn’t pay for that…

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It happened again. How many of these tales begin with this phrase? To my dismay, many of them. The reason for this blog.  I heard the door chime and looked up to see a woman hobbling into the salon, wincing with every step. I knew something was up for it was a chilly morning and although she had on a winter coat she was wearing sandals. She came up to me, a mixture of pain, despair and anger in her eyes – the same look I have seen at Christmas when a parent NEEDS THAT TOY. She pleaded for my help, “I can’t go back there! What can I do? Do you sell anything I can use to fix this?” she cried. I came out from behind the counter and silently reminded myself “do not look horrified – keep it together” & “where is my hand sanitizer”. As I turned the corner I saw it. The results of a poor pedicure. I’m not talkin’ poor polish placement people. I am speaking of infection. Fungal infection. The results of an unsanitary Salon, poor cleaning and sanitizing of tools and pedicure implements.

Now, I know how great pedicures feel and how pretty your hard working tootsie’s look with a diamond or flower on your big toe and the bonus of the pedicure costing only $15.00! I cannot stress this point enough – more often than not – you get what you pay for! Yes, there are some Nail Salon’s that are affordable and do great work. There are many more that do not. When going to your next nail appointment, remember to look for or ask about the following;

– When you sit down – make sure the manicure table / pedicure chair is clean – not being cleaned as you sit there.

– Make sure it is new water in the pedicure basin

– For a manicure/gel removal – if you see a bowl of acetone – don’t put your hand in it (refer to blog – put my hand…where?) Ask for the proper removal system.

– All tools should be clean – all Nail Salon’s should have the proper cleaning solutions. Ask to see what they are using to clean the tools – if it is Windex and paper towel – RUN. Most Salon’s will keep your personal nail files/emery boards in a separate container for you and use them only on you at each visit.

– Visiting a Nail Salon for the first time? Make sure the nail files/emery boards are new – fresh out of a new package. Look at the tools they are using – if the nail tech blows on the credo knife or wipes it on her pant leg before she begins….not a good sign.

– This is a BIGGIE! – if you see something that looks like white powder on any tools they are using – it’s not powder – that is someone else’s skin or nail. Yeah – I said it. The jig is up. Ask for another tool to be used.

-Another BIGGIE! – those brown marks on the stainless steel tool or nail bit – not rust my friends – potentially dry blood.

Clean tools and implements and a sanitary environment will protect you from fungal infections, but more importantly from blood born diseases, such as forms of hepatitis.

I know, you think I sound like a raving lunatic. So be it – call me crazy. I can take it. What I cannot take is seeing women and men being mistreated by unprofessional shoddy work. Just because someone says they are an Nail Tech or Esthetician does not mean they are one. Esthetician’s and Nail Tech’s should have a diploma to prove they have had formal training – not only in services but in sanitizing and disinfecting their tools, and protecting their clients and themselves.  ( * If the diploma has rainbows and stars on it…..you may want to reconsider the chair you are sitting in)

If you are at a restaurant and there is a water mark on your fork and you are able to ask for a new fork or if there is food stuck on your plate and you will ask for your dinner to be complimentary,  I think you are able to do the above.

The only fungus coming home with you should be the mushroom’s on the pizza you picked up on your way home.