Erryns Health And Beauty

Haircuts help battle massive Gulf oil spill | SeacoastOnline.com

2010-05-17T05:14:00.000-07:00

Haircuts help battle massive Gulf oil spill | SeacoastOnline.com

New Dry Hair Cutting Trends

2010-03-13T07:11:00.000-08:00

The art of dry cutting hair is something that is not taught in beauty school. Most stylist learn their techniques through other stylist. Every hair show has a plethora of dry cutting techniques in every corner so if you are a stylist I urge you to take advantage of the learning opportunity provided at hair shows.

There are several advantages of dry hair cutting. You can see exactly what the hair is going to look like when it is styled and done. No worries about shrinking, excessive weight or the client being unhappy with the finished result. A few hairs taken out of the right spot can eliminate weighty areas and solve many styling problems. After all the most important thing is that your client can recreate the look at home with ease.

Alot of haircuts are simply impossible with wet cutting as well. The slicing techniques shown here using Hikari dry cutting shears would not turn out as well if done wet. Too much hair could be taken out very easily leaving holes.

Dry cutting is not something the novice stylist is able to master easily. Training is needed to perfect this technique. If you stylist is uncomfortable with the idea of dry cutting they really shouldn't attempt it until they have a little more education in this area.

There are some disadvantages of dry cutting. You need to take smaller sections than you do with wet cutting as you guide is more difficult to see. It also is rough on your shears and they need to be extremely sharp for best results. There are several brands of shears now that are made specially for dry cutting. Most of them are Japanese brands made of top notch materials to maintain their razor sharp edges for longer.

Dry cutting is great for curly hair as well! You can see exactly how the curl pattern lays when dry because you cant always cut curly hair 100% symmetrical. You also have no worries about where the length is going to end up dry.

Dry cutting can also take a little extra time and effort. The hair should be washed and dried then flat ironed for best results prior to cutting. Many stylist will perform the basic rough cut while the hair is wet and then cut the interior dry. Some prefer to do the entire cut dry. It really just depends on your comfort level.

In the end, the advantages of dry cutting far outweigh the disadvantages. Your clients will be amazed at the results and at how easy their hair is to style every day.

Gaining Control Over Your Cowlicks and Swirls

2010-03-12T12:05:00.000-08:00

GOT A COWLICK?

Has anyone ever told you to comb it another direction repeatedly and it will go away?
I bet you've tried that for years and nothing has changed. The cause of a cowlick or swirl is simply the direction the hair follicles are pointed. All the brushing in the world isn't going to "train" your hair follicles to do something else. The only thing really in training is you learning to cope with it!

Modern medicine does provide a permanent solution in the means of plastic surgery. Hair follicles can be surgically altered to point another direction. Some people have even resorted to electrolysis and waxing to damage the follicle growth of the hairs in the cowlick possibly resulting is softened hair growth or no hair growth at all.

Another great temporary option is a chemical restructuring of the hair. A good stylist should be able to apply a perm or relaxer directly at the root area of the problem. This will not completely remove the cowlick, but it can temporarily soften the growth pattern leaving it more manageable. This process will have to be repeated every few months to maintain so it is really best if the chemicals are only applied on new growth and not overlapped which could lead to breakage.

Of course most people do not have a problem with their swirls that warrant such painful and brutal measures. Most cowlicks can be tamed with product, styling techniques and the proper haircut.

The first step in taking control of your locks is admitting you have a problem. Just because you see a picture of a haircut you like, doesn't mean your hair will actually do the same thing as in the photo. Admit to your "problem area" and go with the flow.

Look for less structured styles with more of a free flow feel. This works especially well for people with wave or curl in their hair. Tousled messy looks are making a huge comeback. Sea salt and texturizing sprays are a great lightweight alternative to gel to enhance your natural locks.

If your hair has cowlicks in the front along your hair line avoid wispy bangs. You need weight to pull down counteracting the growth pattern. So styles with no bangs are ideal for people with hairline swirls. If your bent on having a bang, go for a heavy bang that will have enough weight to lay correctly. A side bang will camouflage the problem area easier than a full straight bang. If you do wear a full bang straight down it needs to be pretty weighty to mantain its shape.

Your blow dryer and flat iron will be your best friend. Make sure you dry your hair from soaking wet for best results. If you let the hair dry even a little it is forming the pattern of the follicle direction leaving your hair more difficult to shape when dry. Use a round or vent brush with a metal barrel which will heat up and help to set the new pattern in place while drying. After your hair is completely dry, Heat up your bang with the dryer and then use your cool button to rapidly cool the hair and set it in place.

For men's cowlicks, you have 2 choices....short and tight or longer and messy. The in between lengths just end up leaving you looking like a 5 yr old with a $5 haircut in a mans body. Try pomades and waxes for workable messy with a little hold.

If you have cowlicks at the nape line, your best bet is to keep your hair long enough to weigh down your cowlick. Or your can take advantage of the cowlick and wear a messy flippy look along the bottom of a bob style haircut.If you choose to wear it short, it must be kept short enough to avoid sticking out and looking messy. I dont mean messy in a good way either! Messy like the photo on the left looking like you have a rooster tail sticking out the back of your head! That haircut would look 200% better if someone just wacked that thing off the back!

If you can train yourself on how to work with your natural growth pattern, your hair will end up looking the best it can possibly look. You will probably even have people ask you "How do you do that? I want my hair like yours!"

Should I Change My Shampoo Every Few Months?

2010-03-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

You may find yourself falling in love with a certain shampoo and two months later it just isn't doing what it used to do for you anymore. So you constantly battle between shampoos trying to find one that works for your hair.

What you may not realize is the problem could simply be a buildup from your shampoo, conditioner or styling products that is causing your hair to flop! You should only need to change your shampoo and conditioner if the integrity or texture of your hair changes. A good example would be if you go and get highlights and your hair is suddenly dryer and needs more moisture than it did before the highlights. Or if your hair changes texture as you age or you get a chemical service to change the texture such as a perm etc.

Alot of products tout the guarantee that they leave no residue or buildup. All products eventually leave a buildup on your hair despite what the manufacturers say about it. Ive learned this through my own personal trials with my hair. Ive found the cheaper the product, the faster it builds up. The ingredients in cheaper shampoos like Pantene or Suave are not as high grade as say a top shelf product like Pureology ,Aveda or Alterna. This is simply due to the fact the makers have to keep their costs at a certain level in making the shampoo to sell it for a certain price to their targeted market. The thin film left by all your hair care products can slowly build and build until you end up with a real problem. A higher end product may not build up to the degree a cheaper one will, but eventually the performance of the product will diminish due to minute deposits that do not rinse completely out. Even hairspray and gel build up can cause your shampoo and conditioner to not perform as well as they could.

But you say when I change my shampoo the problem goes away! It must not be build up. Well a different hair care regime may remove whatever was building up in your last shampoo/ conditioner, but may leave a new problem behind after several uses.

So before you throw in the towel on the shampoo that once did wonders for your hair, try removing the build up and give it a second chance!

You can buy a clarifying or detoxifying shampoo to use every once in a while and keep in the shower for a change and to get your hair squeaky clean again. Alternate this with your regular shampoo as needed. Once every week or two should be enough to keep the build up at bay.

Another great easy option is using a bit of apple cider vinegar mixed with distilled water. Use about 1/4 cup of vinegar per gallon of water for best results. You can keep this mixture in your cabinet to use as a quick rinse in the future and it costs very little to make. After you shampoo your hair run the mixture through your hair saturating it thoroughly. Make sure you rinse your hair very well after so you don't get mistaken for a salad! After you've rinsed well go ahead and use your conditioner. This can be done every few weeks for best results.

You can also use a bit of lemon juice mixes with water at the same ratio if the smell of the vinegar is just too much for you to handle. However DO NOT store the lemon juice mixture for use later as it can go rancid fairly easily. Only mix what you need for one use.

All of these techniques should remove shampoo, conditioner and styling product residue safely from your hair without damage. Your old fave should be working again!

Consider Cosmetic Tattoos as an Alternative to the Knife

2010-03-01T18:00:00.000-08:00

Tattooing has been used for centuries for body art in every culture in the world. Scientist have found mummified remains with tattoos dating back to 9500 BC. While this practice is far from a new concept, modern techniques have widened the usage of the application far beyond body modification. It has become a viable alternative to many plastic surgery procedures.

Permanent eyeliner and permanent eyebrow arching are becoming more and more refined and less "artificial" looking.This can be a great benefit to those who suffer from a lack of eyebrow hair or even eyelashes. Subtle shading of the lash or brow line can make the appearance of thin, sparse hair look fuller brightening overall youthful appearances.Even lip color can be enhanced and uneven formation of the lip line can be camouflaged leaving the lips looking
healthier and more even in shape.

More importantly tattooing is now used to camouflage the appearance of scars and surgery wounds all over the body. Pigments are carefully matched to the skin tone and injected below the skin carefully into the scar leaving droplets of missing pigment to fill in the white lines left from injuries or pigmentation losses. Plastic surgery can fix things under the skin, but generally leaves unsightly scars which you have to hide with makeup. This application can even be used in cases of skin grafting and burns as long as the scars that are left are white in color. Cleft palate scars, skin cancer scars, acne scars and more can benefit from this procedure.

Evening out skin pigment on the facial area is a wonderful idea as well! Years of sun damage can lead to pigmentation problems. Lasers can be used to remove dark spots but placed where pigmentation has been lost can only be fixed by reintroduction of pigment into the skin.

The best use of the tattooing process is probably for breast cancer victims who have lost their aureoles and nipples. Implants and skin grafts can replace the fullness of the breast, and reconstruct the shape of the nipple. The coloring and shading of the area though is something is left to a skilled medical tattoo artist.

It is good to know though most insurance companies will cover cosmetic tattooing that is used to cover scarring and reconstruction!

Tattoos for cosmetic purposes do fade over time and may need touched up now and then. The time between touch up largely depends on the skin being tattooed and how
well it holds the ink. Touch ups are usually less time consuming and less painful than the initial procedure.

What is it like to get a tattoo? Well the best I can explain it from personal experience is it feels like someone rubbing a hot match over your skin repeatedly. It
isn't exactly pleasant, but its a more of a discomfort than a pain. Tattoos performed on scars is said to be slightly more painful than on unscarred skin. Medical
tattoo artist operate in highly sterile environments. Needles come in single use prepackaged sterilized packs similar to any other sharps used in medical facilities.

Choosing your tattoo professional should involve more than a phone call! Go in and see the facilities. Ask to see photos of before and after pics. Get an in depth consult on exactly what they would recommend. Make trips to several artist before you decide on one! While you may think you LOVE the first one you visit, you need to compare the artist capabilities to make sure you are getting the best possible results. Tattooing is an art for and like any other art each person
sees things from their own viewpoint so make sure your artist can fulfill your visions.

Before you get a tattoo procedure done, check with your doctor! Medications like blood thinners and certain pain medications and any type of bleeding disorders and anemia can cause excessive blood loss during tattooing. Avoid any alcohol a few days before the procedure as well because alcohol thins your blood as well. You may think, ohhhh what does it matter if I bleed a little more. Well for starters, your bleeding back out the ink you just went through all the work to
inject! You also do not want scabbing of the area to occur. This can lead to scarring and leave the skin prone to infection.

Aftercare is generally pretty simple. Leave the dressing on for a few hours if applied. Make sure to gently wash away any oozing plasma left over on the area because it causes a scab to form which you do NOT want. Most times A&D ointment is recommended for aftercare. Neosporin is not recommended but they should tell you what you need to use over the area. Redness and irritation should be minimal and be soothed by a cold compress.It should be totally healed in a few days. Again avoid anything that will thin the blood until it is healed. Don't use anything abrasive on the would like a washrag. Clean hands and some antibacterial soap is just fine. Pat dry don't rub. It will feel like a pretty good sunburn for about 48 hours no biggie.

So now that you know the ins and outs of cosmetic tattooing, consider it as an option before deciding to go under the knife!
The dangers are significantly less and alot of times the results are far better.

THE BIG TEASE! How To Tease Your Hair.

2010-02-25T13:52:00.000-08:00

So you want that OOMPH but every time you try to tease your hair for volume, it ends up STILL falling flat and looking like a hot mess.

Teasing takes a little practice but once you get the hang of it, you will find it to be a valuable skill in your hair styling.

I find it best to start with my hair already completely dry , straightened or curled. Do not use any type of firm hold styling product before beginning the teasing process because you need to be able to easily comb through the hair and smooth it over the teased sections without any added pulling to get through the hairspray because it will just pull out the teasing in the meantime.

Now decide where you want the volume to be .Your want your teasing to start about an inch in front of where you want the volume and continue to about 3 " BELOW where you want the volume. This will give you a good support base to keep your style in all day.

Begin taking small horizontal sections about 3 inches wide and a inch thick from the top. It is much easier to work from the top down.

Tease beginning about 1/2 inch down on the shaft.Once you tease the half inch nearest to the scalp you can work down the shaft a few inches and tease. This gives you a good locking base for your section to make sure it stays as close to your scalp as possible through the day.

Now once you have your first section teased go ahead and move onto the next section. Once you have the 2 sections teased you need to take both sections and lock them together by teasing the divide between them. This is a really important step most people do not know to do! If the sections are not locked you will not have a good base and your hair will fall in between the sections leaving you looking lumpy and ratty in a few hours. Every section needs to be secured to the others to make one solid piece of teasing. Keep flipping the sections you tease up towards your eyebrows and pick up the section below and tease it into the rest.

After you have completed your teasing all around your head take a FIRM hold aerosol spray and give it a good spray all around the teased area. Spritz hairsprays are not good for this sort of styling because they take too long too dry and make your hair wet in the process leaving your hair hard to smooth over. Make sure the spray is 100% dry before moving the hair.

Now you are ready to begin the smoothing and placing process. I like to use a natural boar bristle brush to do my smoothing working from the top down the hair shaft .If you use a vent brush it is easy to pull out your teasing while smoothing so be careful! Use your fingertips to gently hold the teased "nest" in place while you style the bottom of the hair.

Once you have it where you want it give your style a good spray with a medium hold spray. If you have a good base to your teased section a medium hold spray is all you should need.

Remember practice makes perfect hair!

Baby Hats? Learning To Know When To Stop a Fad

2010-02-14T13:35:00.000-08:00

I was walking in the mall this week with my teenage daughter and we kept noticing people who looked fresh out of a cartoon with fads and clown colored clothes all over the place!

I mean I'm all for a good fad now and then but WOW when do you know where to stop? There are teeny tiny hats made for leprechauns in every store.

From an editorial standpoint I can see the attraction on camera but when you see a 14 yr old chubby emo wannabe girl with pink hair and a baby hat you just gotta sit back and laugh.

I guess there is a time and place for everything is the key to wearing a fad successfully.

Take a look around and if you see your desired fad purchase worn in a way or place that is laughable, it is probably for the best that you steer clear of it.

If your not at a club or event where everyone is wearing tiny hats, and no one is taking photos of you, then you just look like you have a really fat head and cant get a hat to fit you.

Make sure the fad you choose fits the rest of your "persona" too. Only wearing one fad a time is recommended, but at least choose and ensemble that is complimentary to the fad you are wearing.

Be careful you aren't the next victim of People Of Walmart!

hehe check out the daisy dukes and the sweet converse shoes !

Erryns Health And Beauty On Facebook

2010-02-14T13:26:00.000-08:00

SO I guess its time to get out of the stone age and ditch Myspace for good. Its like an abandoned playground anymore even with all they are trying to do to revive it .

We now have a Facebook page which we would LOVE to see everyone join in the fun! We are having a contest this month to see who has the worst salon horror stories( you know how I love a good salon horror story!)

Become a fan and join in! Even if you dont have a horror story yourself, you have the chance to vote for your fave story and help us decide on a winner.

Check out the discussion board for all the details!

I will be adding coupons, contests, tips and tricks and a great topics for discussion for all! I already spend WAYYYY to much time on FB so this will only add to my time management problems I am sure but HEY its my time to spend however I choose right!

Hope to see you there !

Long Time No Blog!

2010-02-14T13:17:00.000-08:00

Busy Busy Busy!
Besides keeping our business up and running we have had some HUGE changes in our personal life. Blogging just became an afterthought.
My grandpa became ill and had ot be moved into an assited living facility and we had the wonderful task of auctioning everything off and helping both grandparents set up new living arrangments. I am gratful they are still around to do these things for...but it does consume quite a bit of time.
On top of all of that we bought a 150 yr old house in dire need of renovation and have spent countless hours remodeling. There has been days on end where I look at nothing but a wall all day sanding and painting, stripping wallpaper and patching holes. Its still not done but at least the worst is out of the way!

OH and we moved our ENTIRE inventory to a new location. Our last location was busting at the seams and we were renting storage facilities for the overflow! That ended up being a 2 month process getting it all set back up. Moving truckloads of bottles liquids is not much fun I tell ya!

So blogging is something that has been on the back burner for some time but IM BACK!

Take care all and hope all is well :>

Myth Busting On Sun Protection

2009-07-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

Awareness of the risk of skin cancer has driven alot of people to sunless tanning methods and using sunscreen for protection. But have you ever wondered about how safe from the risks of skin cancer you really are? And what is the difference between UVA and UVB rays?

Basically in a simple nutshell, UVB rays are the rays we all love to hate. The ones that give us nasty sunburn and melanoma. So you put your sunblock on and go happily about your life assuming that your protected against the sun because you don't turn red.

Then there are the sneaky UVA rays which don't tell you what they are doing. There is no redness, no visible sign to look at and say hey I need to get out of the sun. They are the real culprit of premature aging, skin leathering and even cancer. The UVA rays penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin tissue wreaking havoc underneath the visible. The importance of UVA protection has been somewhat of a mystery to most and is just recently being marketed to the mainstream with broad spectrum sunblock.

There is a common misconception that using a tanning bed or booth is a safer way to tan. Some wil even tell you there is absolutely no risks at all.

Tanning Beds are NOT I repeat NOT a safe alternative to natural sunlight! These beds give off between 50% to 100% more harmful UV rays than natural sunlight and have the same damaging effects if not more! The only difference is you get your damage in controlled amounts possibly avoiding an uncomfortable sunburn and you spend less time working on your tan than you would laying out in the sun.

Then there is the whole deal with SPF protection. Here in the US you can get sunblock with SPF 70+. So how do you know how much SPF you need? Should everyone use mega strength sunblock every day?

The Skin Cancer Foundation has always recommended use of at least SPF 15 for every day use. Sunscreens chemically absorb the UV rays to a certain degree. No sunscreen will block 100% of the rays from the sun but SPF 15 should absorb about 93% of the rays from the sun. SPF 30 absorbs about 97% of the harmful rays and SPF 50+ blocks about 98%. So twice the SPF factor does NOT mean twice the protection.

When choosing the proper SPF protection from your skin, you need to factor in your natural skin type. If you are a fair skinned person who burns at the first sight of sunlight, those few extra percentages may make a difference in how long you can stay in the sun. If you have a previous experience with skin cancer, you also need to be extra careful.

And just because you have naturally darker skin or have developed a "base tan", this does not mean you are impervious to the effects of the sun. While you may not burn as easily, damage still occurs causing premature aging, sagging and cancer. You will need to use at least 15% SPF broad spectrum sunblock.

It is best to apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and reapply 15 to 30 minutes into your sunny day. You should reapply your sunblock every 2 to 3 hours. Theoretically sunblock should last 5+ hours, but it really depends on your skin, the activities involved such as swimming and sweating and that particular brand of sunscreen and its ingredients. Don't wait until you see signs of redness to apply sunblock. The redness is a sign of damage occurring and you have another 15 to 30 minutes of damage that can happen before the sunblock takes effect.

For the life of me I cannot understand why people think they need a tan . Beautiful skin shouldn't be judged by its color. Dry leathery skin isn't pretty. Beautiful, healthy, fresh skin is what we all want no matter what color we are.

So be that beautiful flower that you are and share what you know. Maybe you will save someone's life or at least keep them from looking like an old work boot.

At The Hair Trade Show June 2009 (photo album)

2009-07-08T07:15:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post with some photos of all the stuff that happens at a hair show. It is a fashionista's heaven!

Bold Brilliant Hair Color For The Everyday Woman

2009-07-07T18:30:00.000-07:00

A few photos from my last hair show showcasing "unnatural" hair colors in all their glory!

This yellow is my favorite. For so long Ive had a distaste for the yellow tones that to me signify an under processed shade of blonde. But used as an accent color it simply pops in a brilliant but somewhat understated.

Brilliant teal placed strategically throughout the crown area accentuates this strong bold haircut.

The dark base color serves as a perfect backdrop for the panels of brilliant color.

This is not particularly my favorite haircut on this model but I love the sheen this magenta and purple gives off. Her base color is still a natural brown but the pop of color give it a whole new dimension.

This is by far one of the most versatile cuts that just about any woman can wear. She has orange and pink panels of color mainly through her part area on the top layer.I also like how the natural color has been left in her bangs.Sometimes unnatural colors can look harsh right up against the skin.

Now this model has an all over brilliant copper red with very fine yellow streaks placed delicately throughout providing somewhat natural highlights but with an overall vibrant feel.

I think the key to wearing a strong hair color without looking "trashy" is all in the cut and style. If your going to go for a bold color, get a bold cut to compliment the overall feel.

Nail Salons " Dirty Secrets"

2009-07-06T15:41:00.000-07:00

A day at the nail salon for a manicure and pedicure is supposed to be a nice relaxing time. Being pampered and prettied and taken care of. You look around and it seems clean enough, no trash on the tables, everything put away. The customer that went right before you looks plenty happy. So after a quick wipe down on the tub and a trip to the back to get her tools together, you manicurist calls you over and your ready for your turn.

Your in trouble already! Dirty foot spas and implements are the 2 major violations in nail salons. The drains and tubing inside the foot tubs get skin particles and bacteria inside of them.Simply a wipe down will not sufficiently clean the tub out. It needs to be filled all the way up and ran for several minutes with a sanitizing solution made for the job. It is better to wait for a clean tub than risk a nasty infection.

Most people also shave their legs prior to getting a pedicure. After all you don't want someone massaging your stubble. But shaving leaves tiny cuts which serve as perfect entrances for microscopic bacteria and fungus. Let alone diseases like Hepatitis and AIDS. So avoid shaving at least 24 hours prior to your pedicure.

Implements that use a razor blade to cut off callouses are not only dangerous, but illegal! Infections can be extremely dangerous from these type of implements and can spread quickly into the bone and leg and can even lead to limb loss and death.

Implements should be sterilized with a hospital grade autoclave. This takes time, not just a quick wipe down. If you see your manicurist use and implement and stick it back in her drawer with the other implements, she probably isn't cleaning them. Be aware of these little actions because it can mean your life and health could be at risk.

Files should be santizeable and washable.Wooden files and sticks are to be discarded after use.

All surfaces should be cleaned with a disinfectant solution before you sit down and your manicurist should wash his/her hands before touching you.

Alot of people choose to bring their own implements and files in when getting a manicure or pedicure so don't feel awkward or paranoid for doing so. It is a legitimate health risk and at any time you feel uncomfortable about the cleanliness of your nail salon, call your local board of health and inquire about any problems you may see occurring in the salon. You can also go online and check with the State Board Of Cosmetology in your state to see the rules and regulations of salon sanitation for your area.

Most salons are inspected less than once a year. It can be as long as 5 years between inspections in some areas who just simply do not have the manpower to inspect salons more frequently. Fines can be as low as $25 for a major violation that can cost you pain and suffering. Salons are rarely closed for violations and the majority of salons have major problems. So don't assume just because their salon license is valid, that it must be clean.

Take your own health into your own hands and don't be a victim of unsanitary nail salon practices. Take a minute and check out the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology rules and regulations (I live in Ohio but every state in the US should have similar sites.Here is a PDF file from the news section at the Ohio State Board Of Cosmetology that has a news article from FOX news showing some of the dangers that exist http://www.cos.ohio.gov/uploads/File/danger_lurks_in_dirty_salons.pdf

The Greek Goddess Look

2009-06-30T05:59:00.000-07:00

When they say what goes around, comes around they really mean it! It may have taken thousands of years for Greco-Roman styles to become popular again (toga party fashion excluded), but thank goodness it did. It brings us back to the simplicity of classic beautiful elegant design. Gladiator shoes, maxi dresses and beautiful draping and braiding in clothes topped off by a classic Grecian hair style can be seen every where you turn.

Maybe if all us women band together and embrace this trend our men will too! I personally wouldn't mind if there were sexy Spartans on every corner. Think of the money to be made in full body waxing....

But enough of that mindless banter and back to the topic of Greek Goddess hair. To get this look I would suggest a curling iron between 1" and 1.5 " for soft big curls. Another great option is buying a set of hot rollers. I know...soo 80's right? But once you get the hang of hot rollers you can set your hair in just a few short minutes, and get dressed or whatever while they set.

Once you hair your hair curled, flip your hair upside down and shake, using your fingers to mess the curls. Use a wide toothed comb or large pick to gently back comb the root area for volume and texture while your head is still upside down. Don't flip your head over yet! Before you do use a workable aerosol hairspray all over and finger through your hair separating loose curls.

Pull your hair up in sections and pin in place leaving random loose curls loose. Use a firm hold aerosol hairspray to set the style in place.Pull it all up or just part of it up.Or leave a side pony tail. Putting it up in sections leaves you the option of stopping at any time when you feel it looks right. Controlled messy is the key here.

Accessorize with a braid or twist the sections as you pin them in place. There is no set pattern of design for this look which make it easily creatable since you can rework it until it looks right.

Be Back Bloggin Soon!

2009-06-16T18:24:00.000-07:00

To those few who may be checking back on my blog I wanted to say thanks and don't give up on me yet!

Ive had alot of family drama going on that has my mind wrapped around it. Plus its summer break from school so adjusting to everyone being home all the time is kind of stressful. (I'm sure the moms out there can relate)My Grandpa has been on and out of the hospital so Ive been running there alot. But I consider it a blessing, not many people my age have their grandparents around and all 4 of mine are still living.

But I do have alot of drafts started I need to finish up and publish, but every time I try to do it someone needs something from me as usual. But I am making a definite effort to get my blogging rolling again.

Take care all and be well!

Flat Iron Wars: Chi vs GHD

2009-05-31T21:33:00.000-07:00

If you've researched flat irons both CHI and GHD probably have come up as the most known names in the industry. Heres the scoop on the real history behind the iron wars.

Farouk Systems USA came out with CHI irons. They were by far the best styling tool that had ever been manufactured. Every stylist owned a CHI iron. Alot of time and effort went into the research and development of the CHI iron. Then sadly one day Farouk Systems USA was sold and product manufacturing was outsourced. Cheaper quality irons resulted from the manufactuer changes. Problems with electrical wiring shorting out became synonomous with the once hailed and renown CHI brand.

Enter GHD> GHD stands for Good Hair Day.Much simpler and way more catchy than cationic hydration interlink ! GHD marketed its irons to 2 places.BSG which is the main supplier to most professionals and Sephora. Every BSG store you walk into has a mannequin head and a GHD iron. GHD representatives come and stand by the head and pressure stylist to try the GHD while bashing CHI for its problems.

I have 2 of the original CHI irons and I have tried the GHD irons more than once and argued with the reps over the quality difference I see in my original CHI irons and the GHD irons. The original CHI Irons are the basic black ones that say Global Beauty System on the side.I never thought for the life of me I would find another iron I was satisfied with! The GHD does not compare to an original CHI iron in any way shape or form. Anyone who has an original CHI will tell you this. Now the more recent CHI irons are a sad disappointment and the GHD irons blow those ones away.

GHD irons are not exactly cheap either! You can expect to pay between $200 and $300 for one. I have heard from an inside source that the PACKAGE ALONE costs the company about $11 which is of course passed on to you. Makes you wonder what was skimped on to afford such expensive packaging! I would rather have $11 worth of quality instead of a box I am eventually going to pitch.

I decided if my CHI irons die I need to be prepared to purchase a replacement.Over the past 2 years I have tested tons of irons because I decided I do not want to risk a bad CHI and I don't want a GHD. I am not impressed by their pushy sales tactics nor their irons and fancy boxes.So I set out on a mission to check out every flat iron I could get my hands on.

Right now by far my favorite winner for new #1 iron is Infrashine. They are a relatively new company and their irons are just emerging as a major player in the tools department. I tried out an Infrashine iron at a hair show the beginning of May in Cleveland Ohio and haven't stopped thinking about it since. No preconceived notions it just felt right to me.

So June 1st I was at a hair show in Nashville Tennessee, and was sitting having a cocktail with some of the vendors( they all know me cause I'm a hair show roadie )

And guess who I had the privilege of meeting! A man named Paul who is one of the big wigs at Infrashine. When we started talking I had no idea who he was. I asked what he was selling at the show and he meekly replied "oh we sell tools, stop by if you wanna look at any" So stupid me starts to say "well I may do that I'm in the market for a new iron, and the Infrashine is my fav right now!" And I continue to brag on my Original CHI irons. So he starts to tell me about the history of Infrashine.....They made the original CHI irons! When Farouk was sold, the developers got together and came up with an even superior iron and named the company Infrashine. There is actually a little sensor inside that detects when the iron needs heat and deliver heat within 1/16 of a second. Paul had tons of irons disassembled so you could see the actual guts behind the machine and I was highly impressed with the design of the infrashine irons.

Paul actually gave me an Infrashine Redline Iron for free (I love free stuff!)and told me to pass on my unbiased opinion of it. I got home and have used it for 2 weeks straight and I actually gave my mom one of my original precious rare original CHI irons, which is something I thought I would be buried with.

I do not carry nor sell this product.I am not pushing you to purchase this iron because it benefits me in any way. The iron is AMAZING. The people seem great and down to earth which is a definite bonus in my book!

So in the battle of CHI Vs GHD..........Infrashine wins in my books

Here is the link to the Infrashine website, If you are in the market for a new iron I highly reccomend you check them out before making a big purchase.

http://infrashine.com/

Adventures With A Crimping Iron & A Four Year Old

2009-05-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

This is Aislyn Blue my youngest of 3 kids.My oldest is a girl as well and when she was little I was really into the braids and clips and unique updo type hair do's.Anything unique was my motto back then.

With Aislyn, I tend to let her locks flow more freely and I love the natural look on her.Maybe I am drawn to natural beauty more due to ageing and fading youth myself.

But the chronic stylist in me couldn't resist trying out my newest crimping iron on her.

I used my Conair infinity deep waving iron.I really love it.The temperature goes up to 395 degrees!

I find that important when using a crimping iron.If it isnt hot enough to wave in 3 or 4 seconds, your hand get tired out before your done, and you apply less and less pressure causing the waves to be less defined.

I rubbed a little anti frizz serum through her hair and crimped it in sections about 4 " wide and 2 " thick starting at the nape area.

I sprayed each section with TIGI Rockaholic Fun Times Flexible Hair Spray and crimped my way down from roots to ends.

I just used my fingers to separate the waves a bit and place them where I wanted to go.

She is a hairy little thing as you can see and the whole process took about 15 minutes.

Were going on day 2 and her hair still look great!

Amazing New Updo's At The Cleveland Hair Show

2009-05-19T17:31:00.001-07:00

This was one of the hair models who was kind enough to allow me to take a photo of her outside between shows. And yes that is her hair around her neck! Ive posted some random pics from the cleveland fashion focus show in the sidebar, but I forgot my camera so they are crappy cell phone pics.

The front is done with a loose french braid across to the side, I couldnt get a good pic of it on my camera.
I love the messy yet polished look of this do. The hair around the neck may be a bit much for every day wear, but the shape of this look is divine.A refreshing change for the everyday curls of the average updo.

Lemon Juice To Lighten Hair

2009-05-19T15:46:00.000-07:00

Everyone has heard of using lemon juice and laying out in the sun to streak your hair.

Lemon juice on its own will do nothing to your hair as far as color goes.When mixed with UVA/UVB rays from the sun lemon juice will have a lightening effect on the hair. This process takes about 5 hours sitting in the sun to work so make sure you use a good sunscreen!

Lemon juice is naturally acidic in nature. Alot of hair care products use citrus extracts to help balance the pH of hair.The natural pH of hair is around 5. pH is measured on a scale of 0 to 14 with 0 being extremely acid in nature and 14 being extremely alkali. A pH of 7 is considered neutral.Lemon Juice has a pH of about 2. So if your hair is on the alkali end of the pH scale, the acid will balance out the pH levels in your hair leaving it softer and more manageable.

However overuse of lemon juice will cause your pH levels to get out of whack and end up too acidic. This can leave your hair feeling dry and damaged.

Lightening with lemon juice works best on those with already light hair. If you use it on hair that is darker and that has red pigments in it, you can end up with brassy orange streaks because the lemon lightening system just isn't strong enough to break through the red molecules in your hair.

If you do choose to use lemon juice to lighten your hair, make sure you wash it out well and use a good conditioner that does NOT contain other citrus extracts to keep your pH levels in check.

Also avoid using heat on top of the lemon juice.That means no blow dryers, no flat or curling irons, nothing. Think of how as kids you used lemon juice as invisible ink.Once the lemon juice on the paper was held over a heat source, it turned brown and showed up for reading. It will do the same thing in your hair which totally defeats using lemon juice to lighten the hair.Plus it is nearly impossible to remove that brassy effect without resorting to bleach and harsh chemicals.

Products like Sun In have the same problem when heat is applied so use carefully and wisely washing thoroughly after your sun time lightening session.

Gails Makeup Contest For May WIN COOL STUFF

2009-05-19T15:10:00.001-07:00

OK so Gail from Oogle makeup and I have been working on getting the contest together for all you readers so make sure to head over to her blog and check it out!
Ive done the easy part(donating little gifts) and she is doing all the major work! I will be giving out a $50 gift card as well for the first place winner for you to spend at Erryns Health And Beauty! We just added hundreds of new items and hundreds more will be added before the contest end which is June 7th.
Enter to win and cool stuff for FREE !!!!!
Here is a video bit about the contest

Tangles Knots Tears & Kids Hair

2009-05-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

Combing out tangles after a bath can be one of the most grueling tasks of the day.Tears, whining,bribes are issues familiar to any mom just trying to take care of your little ones hair.

Although kids shampoo's are tearless, they do lack conditioning and can leave hair full of knots and tangles. When your little one is able to avoid getting shampoo in his or her eyes, switch to a shampoo that meets the growing needs of their hair.Also don't skip the conditioner! Apply it from the nape down, let it sit for a minute or two while everything else gets scrubbed and rinse it with a cup of water down the back.Keeping the conditioner just on the back of the hair helps keep it from running into their eyes. You can also gently rough detangle the hair with your fingers while the conditioner is in the hair to help release some of the major knots.

After the bath you can use a leave in light detangling spray to help with the tangles.My girls both had/have long heavy hair and detangler does little to nothing for them. If you have this problem too, try an anti frizz serum like Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum.These products contain oils that help not only fly aways and static, but help the tangles slide out alot easier.

Use a good large cushioned paddle brush for detangling and a softer natural bristle brush for finishing when dry for the least painful haircare.

Tie it up! If your little one takes a bath before bed, use a soft scrunchy or pony tail holder that wont break their delicate hair and tie it into a loose braid or pony tail. This helps for the next morning to keep the knots down.

Little men have issues all of their own! Bed head, cowlicks and not being able to sit for more than 5 seconds to let you fix them up. A quick easy fix when you have to head out is keep a spray bottle around with half water and half soft hold liquid gel mixed together in it. Boys always think getting sprayed is a good time! A little hold to keep things in check and the water helps redirect the bedhead back to its normal position.

Of course your always going to have gum, candy and other sticky stuff to contend with along the way. Try using ice to harden the sticky goo and chip it away little by little.Or you can try a product with oil of some sort to soften the mess and help it slide out.Alot of people use peanut butter, margarine or mineral oil. I prefer the ice method so I don't have to wash the oil out after.

Lock up the scissors as best you can, but if you have older kids chances are, there will be experiments in hairdressing. It happens to the best of us.Try not to panic and cry. Its just hair no big deal, it grows and it gives you a good story to tell! Take lots of pics to show future boyfriends/girlfriends. And make a trip to the salon and get a game plan to grow it out.

Don't skimp on cheap junk products for your little ones hair. Time is money, and getting the right product for his/her hair will save you oodles of time, and save your baby oodles of tears. It is worth the investment to make both of your lives simpler.

The Battle Of The Bald, Should I Have Surgery?

2009-05-16T20:00:00.000-07:00

I do understand men are vain about their hair.Some more than women! Loosing your hair can be a traumatic experience for anyone.

There are clubs and doctors and all kinds of products out there that go to unbelievable measures to restore hair to its original position.If you are contemplating having your scalp dissected and relocated, why not try giving bald a chance before you scar up your head!

Keeping your hair cut short lessens the impact of the balding effect.

More and more men are looking hot and sexy with a fully shaved cranium.

Check out these pics of stars with their pre-shaved and post shaved looks

I personally think all these men look much better in the bald.If you feel too naked bald try growing a goatee or play around with the facial hair growth in different styles until you find your look.

Shaving it off is an easy painless process that can be reversed at any time! Just don't shave it for a week or two and VIOLA! you got hair again.Then you can carry on with your medical intervention.But you may love being bald! And don't believe that women only like men with hair.Its all about your style. A bad hair plug job isn't going to make the ladies ooh and ahh over you.Combing what hair your have left over your naked scalp is definitely going to scare them off.Being confident is the key. A shaved head says ya, I may have lost my hair, but who cares! I'm still a tough sexy man beast.

Just make sure your putting some sunscreen over your newly nekkid scalp so you aren't miserable when it gets burned!

I would love to hear from some other ladies out there. What is your viewpoint on bald men? What advice do you have to give to a man who is considering hair transplant surgery? I think alot of men would love to have a woman's honest opinion without having to ask.

Should I Color My Gray Hair?

2009-05-16T06:13:00.000-07:00

Gray hair is distinguished. Makes you look wise.

Ya right!

Some people can pull off the beautiful snow white locks look. It all depends on your age, original hair color and overall appearance.Not everyone is so fortunate to gray beautifully and gracefully.

Some people gray into a mousy off gray color. Or their gray turns salt and pepper with shades of gray varying from white to steel gray.Spotty gray patches usually start at the temple area and leave the back of your hair dark.

A good way to judge how you are going to gray and how early is to look at your parents and see how much gray they had at your age and how they grayed through the years.Chances are you'll take after one of them!

Coloring gray all over can bring you to a whole world of maintenance you may not be ready for.If you have a family history of heavy graying early (under 40) then stay away from all over color.

Your looking at eventually having to color your roots every 4 to 6 weeks to hide those unsightly roots from screaming " IM TRYING TO NOT LOOK OLD!"

Some great alternatives to all over color!

Lowlights: Pulling darker color through in the same manner as highlights can lessen the amount of grays while leaving some here and there.This helps buffer the line of demarcation (regrowth line) so you can go longer between colorings.This is also alot easier to grow out if you decide to let the gray do it's thing.

Streak It: If you have your natural color on the majority of your hair, but seem to be graying up top, take a tip from Stacey London and leave a gray streak! This says "Im not hiding the gray, I'm proud of it" Use your gray to accessorize and look classy, not old and haggered.

Demi Permanent Color: Demi permanent color will not give you 100 % gray coverage.It will blend the gray hair into your natural color making them look like natural sun kissed highlights. Demi permanent color lasts 4 to 6 weeks and eventually fades back to your natural color.If you go with permanent color your going to be in every 4 to 6 weeks for touch ups anyway.With demi permanent your not rushing in because you look like hell, you can go au naturale for a week or two if you cant get in for an appointment.

Semi Permanent Color: Again not gray coverage but gray blending.Lasts 4 to 6 shampoos and will just buffer the look of gray for special occasions without any commitment.

If you do decide your finally ready for going gray and want out of the commitment you made when you colored your hair, use the same techniques to grow your natural color out gracefully.

One of the biggest mistakes I see people make when coloring their hair to hide gray is coloring it too dark. Go for a lighter shade instead of your original hair color. A softer color looks more gentle against aging skin.Darker colors can look harsh and accentuate dark circles and wrinkles.Also a lighter shade will blend easier with regrowth leaving less of a line of demarcation.

Another problem with coloring gray hair is that gray hair has no underlying pigment to blend with the artificial hair color. This can cause color to look flat and lifeless.Natural hair colors are made of different shades of the same color.One flat color all over on any hair doesn't look natural.Shades of brown or blonde that are similar blended into your hair will give you the softest most natural looking color.Put the lighter shades where your hair would naturally be lightened by the sun like toward your face and on the top layer of the hair.

If your comfortable with having gray hair then by all means, let it go and be proud of it!

But if your gray makes you feel old and makes you self conscious, fight it off for as long as possible.

Just remember, when your 80 and you have black hair, people know its fake and it just looks funny. Plan for going gray eventually and make wise decisions.

Idiotic Sayings

2009-05-01T10:46:00.000-07:00

I kind of have a problem with dissecting what people say to the point where it doesn't even make sense to me anymore.But I hate when people say things because that is just what you say in that circumstance without thinking it through.I do it too, I know, but when I notice I'm doing it I obsess over it until I'm about to loose my mind!

Same difference....I hear this alot and I don't get it.When your trying to express that 2 things are alike...why would you say they have the same differences? Are they the same or are they different? I mean both lard and toxic waste are bad for your body so are they the same since they both are bad for you even though they are completely different? How do you compare difference? AHHH this one really gets me baffled I cant think about it too much or I get dizzy.

Unthaw...ya I know some people who say they are going to unthaw some meat for dinner...so are they going to eat frozen meat? My son has the same "literal" issues I do and when he was little I would say, "would you like me to make you a frozen pizza?" and every time he would reply, "no mommy I would like a cooked pizza" like I ever handed him a frozen Tony's and said go at it.

More than I can count....really? I mean for real? wow........ Skip using this one unless it is literall more than you can count like grains of sand, stars in the sky or blades of grass.If you are referring to something under a trillion or so, just say alot of times or you just look like you dropped out of school in 2nd grade.

You did not!....Yes I did, I just said I did, why are you arguing with me...

They...Who are they are why do you listen to them? They could be a group of morons for all I know.I don't care what they say.Give me names people!

You cant have your cake and eat it too....What the ? Who came up with this one? So you can only eat cake you don't have? How exactly does that work? Why would you have cake you cant eat? Another really baffling statement.

If its not one thing its another...GENIUS! No S**T!

It is always in the last place you look....Why would you keep looking for it after you find it? Of course it is the last place you look.

I could care less...This is generally said when a person means something doesn't mean anything to them. So by stating you could care less implies that you care at all, because if you didn't care, you couldn't care less. Try putting a different verb in place of care and see what happens. "I could smell less" So you must have an odor to be aware you need to have less of an odor. "I could run less" Well honestly I couldn't run less if I tried.

literally.... This is usually said to express the sincerity of something that is not literal. Example " I am so hungry I could literally eat a cow" Ill call you on that one! I want to see you eat the fear factor parts of the cow!

I could go on for hours on this, literally....

Excuse Me Ma'am, But May I Have Your Hair?

2009-04-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

If you had a choice to choose any hair in the world, would you change what you have?

I honestly can say my hair is the ONE thing I wouldn't swap for anyone else. Body.....well I would love to swap that with Evengeline Lily ....maybe with a little more hips and booty.... But I could definitely work with that.And I could actually AFFORD to eat a few Twinkies without guilt, ahhhhhh forget it, I would trash that body too.Ill just make do with with my fluffy body.

Everyone wants what they cant have. People with straight hair getting perms, people with curly hair getting straighteners, changing color, thinning hair, putting in extensions to make it longer, thicker and fuller, will it ever end?

Long before plastic surgery, women changed their hair and makeup to enhance their looks.

Now you can get fat sucked out of your body and formed into a Brazilian butt!

You would think that the options would be limitless by now on what you can do with your hair, but alas we are limited truly by mother nature in this aspect of beauty.

The closest thing to a real change is to have your own hair moved from one location to another, but its the same hair just in a different place.

I have a little poll on Erryns Health And Beauty Home Page titled May Fun Beauty Poll

So check it out and put your vote in!

I'm hoping against all hope that maybe some of you will realize, the hair you fight with and curse every day, is probably envied by someone else!