Secrets Of Professional Haircolor At Home

Long Blonde Curly Hair

Secrets Of Professional Haircolor At Home

Many people wish to color their hair, but due to the economic climate or other issues can’t visit a professional hair colorist.

As a licensed hairstylist I strongly advise that people find a way to utilize the advice of a professional colorist, if nothing else, to help select the appropriate shade, type of formulation and manufacturer.

If you can’t afford to hire them to professionally color your hair, ask if they might consider selling you a custom blended color system for use at home under their supervision.  When possible, try to achieve professional haircolor at home.

Explain your current financial situation to your regular hairdresser.  Ask them to help you color at home since you’re unable to do so at the salon.  Many hairstylists will offer suggestions on whether to go with a permanent or semi-permanent color, what shades to consider with regard to your base color and your best DIY color options.

Feel your hairdresser out before you ask for their advice.  Keep in mind that many hairdressers offer professional color services as part of their business so some may resist helping you unless you have a very good reason.

Some will offer you a package deal or discount on their services to make sure you don’t go a dangerous DIY route.  Others may offer minimal color coverage to keep the cost within your budget.

Gorgeous Brunette Hair Color From Phyto

Options

When you can’t afford to pay a professional colorist and your hairstylist is unable or unwilling to help you do your color at home, you can look into local cosmetology schools.

Many schools offer a full range of color services which are provided by only the most advanced students and fully supervised by a teacher or senior staff member.

Another options often overlooked is to become a hair color model for cosmo student’s or high end salons.   Granted, this is a more risky option, but it offers discounted hair color services and the possibility of making a long term connection with a new salon or colorist.

Do Your Research

Regardless whether you get professional hair color advice from your hair stylist, go to a cosmetology school or serve as a hair color model, arm yourself with the best color know-how.

Understand whether you should opt for permanent, semi-perm or temporary rinse-out hair color. If covering stubborn grey is your goal, permanent color is best.  Ditto if you want rich, vibrant color with lots of shimmer and shine.

Remember, permanent color permanently alters your base color regardless whether it is first lifted with bleach or applied to your existing base.

Rich Blue Haircolor From NAHA By Adriana Balea

Semi-perm color may not cover resistant gray and it only deposits color pigment on the top of the cuticle.  Which means it fades away after 18-24 shampoo treatments depending on whether you use hot water and the type of shampoo you utilize.

Always known as demi-perm will enhance existing colors and can help to blend grays.  If you have more than 25% gray hair permanent hair color is the only way to go for long term full coverage.

Select The Best Color To Complement Skin And Eye Tone

Once you’ve figured out the best type of hair color to embrace, make sure you take your time selecting the best color to complement your skin and eye tone.  Avoid selecting a hair color which might bring out orange, yellow or sallowness in your skin.

Determine whether your skin is warm with dominant tones of peach, olive or gold or cool with shades of pink or red.  Always utilize your skin tone to figure out which hair shade complements you best.

Remember that you will always get the best look if you stay close to your natural hair color.

Warm Versus Cool Skin Tones

Brunette Base Haircolor With Orange And Red Highlights

If your skin is cool opt for warm ash or neutral hair colors which will contrast the pink tones in your skin. Great hues include champagne and beige blonde chocolate and espresso brunettes and auburn red.

If your skin is warm opt for gold or red hair colors which will help cool down your skin tone.  Great hues includes honey blonde, strawberry, copper, golden brown, rich chestnut and mahogany.

Ultimately the best option when coloring your hair is to speak to a professional colorist or hairstylist for advice.  Determine if you can work with them to meet your financial and/or other challenges.

Summary

If you can’t work directly or indirectly with your professional colorist consider other options such as a cosmetology school or serving as a hair color model.

When all else fails, do your research in order to select the best shade for your skin and eye tones.  Take your time, go slow and head for the drugstore hair color aisles.

Another option is using a custom blended coloring system, which has professional colorists that will find your most flattering shade.

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Long Pointy Fingernails – Things You Can’t Do

Johnny Depp As Barnabas Collins

Long Pointy Fingernails – Things You Can’t Do

Johnny Depp recently made his first appearance on Ellen’s daytime talk show.  The primary reason for Johnny’s visit was to promote his latest role as vampire Barnabas Collins in the revamped Dark Shadows film.

Johnny was joined on stage by Michelle Pfeiffer who co-stars with the famous character actor.

During their TV chat, the famous blonde talk show hostess asked Johnny about the famous long fingernails he wore as part of his iconic costume.

Johnny revealed that once the nails were applied every morning, he had to leave them on all day during filming.  Michelle also revealed that Johnny gave her one of his freakishly long nails, which she still has in her possession, as a joke.

Ellen asked Johnny how he went to the bathroom with his very long pointed nails.  Johnny explained he had help from the crew.

Ironically long pointed fingernails can also be problematic for everyday women who are seduced by the same long talons sported by celebs like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.

Johnny Depp As Barnabas Collins With Long Fingernails

What are some of the things you can’t do with long pointed fingernails?

1. Unzip or unbutton your pants or skirt.
2. Buckle or tie a belt.
3. Fasten a barrette or hairclip into hair.
4.  Secure a ponytail with a pony elastic, pony cuff or similar.
5.  Open or position a bobby pin into tresses.
6.  Slip on tights without shredding them with nails.
7.  Hooking a bra.
8.  Texting on the phone.
9.  Inserting pierced earrings or affixing nipple rings or other body studs.
10.  Typing emails on iPad, notebook or laptop.
11.  Inserting or removing contact lenses.
12.  Any bathroom activity which requires use of toilet paper, tampons or other sanitary supplies.
13.  Using a tweezer for eyebrows or removing other facial hair.
14.  Inserting a diaphragm or other birth control devices of the rubber family.
15.  Put on Spanx or similar undergarments.
16.  Roll hair in hot rollers, pin curls or traditional rollers.
17.  Massage your scalp in the shower.
18.   Pet your cat or dog.
19.  Give a foot or back massage.

What am I forgetting.  Please share your own long fingernail challenges.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Hair Love From Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz On Today Show

Hair Love From Cameron Diaz

Actress Cameron Diaz was recently on NBC’s The Today Show where she was interviewed by anchor Ann Curry and she put her recent hair trauma issues to rest.

The purpose of the interview was to discuss Cameron’s role in the new movie What To Expect When You’re Expecting.

Ironically both Ann and Cam were wearing vibrant hot pink dresses.  Towards the end of the interview as she was wrapping up the chat Ann Curry leaned in towards Cameron and said “and by the way…I love your hair.”  Ann was referring to the media frenzy that surrounded Cameron’s recent short haircut where the actress told the media that she cried when she saw it because it was so short.

Cameron leaned over and said “by the way I love my hair too.”

Then the actress said “they’ve (the media) blown it way out of proportion.  She then exclaimed “I love my haircut.  It’s just, you know, when you have short hair and a little bit counts when it’s shorter.  My hair was already shorter and then it kinda went a little bit shorter and I wasn’t prepared for it.  But my girlfriend is the most amazing hairdresser.  I love her so much.  She did my hair today.  Thank you very much.  But…So I love my hair.”

Ann agreed and said “hair grows.”  When Cameron said “they’ve blown it way out of proportion” she was referring to the flurry of headlines which hit on May 3rd which announced that Cameron had cried over her new much short haircut.

What started to big hoopla?

Cameron Diaz

In an interview with Jay Leno, Diaz confessed that when she saw the latest haircut, “I just burst into tears and started crying, and I felt so vulnerable. For a woman to all of a sudden have no hair, oh my god.” The blonde beauty reported that she “sobbed and yelled, and her stylist started crying, too.”

Long History Of Hair Challenges

The 39 year old actress has had a long history with hair challenges.  She once shared about a very painful bleeding scalp from hair extensions applied to her head during filming of The Mask.  She also made waves with an array of shocking colors including raven black.

She told Leno about the hair cut experience “there was a little misunderstanding.  I said ‘Oh I just want a little bit off’ …and it went from here to here (demonstrating with her fingers).

Do It Yourself Hair

Cameron explained to Leno that she did apologize when she calmed down.  She said “I ended up writing her a few emails after, the next couple days, assuring her I wasn’t going to kill her,” Diaz said.

Cameron confessed to Leno that she had been getting Do It Yourself (DIY) treatments on her tresses for many years instead of paying huge amounts at Hollywood salons.   She joked: ‘I’m in her kitchen often with the cape around my neck, going, ‘I hope we’re not going to cook after that.”

Obviously Cameron is fine now as she explained to Ann on The Today Show.  As Ann Curry said “hair grows”.  Indeed it does.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Metabolic Syndrome Heart And Diabetes Risks

Metabolic Syndrome Heart And Diabetes Risks

Human Heart

Metabolic syndrome can put you at risk for serious heart disease, diabetes and it can make it difficult to lose weight.

According to the National Cholesterol Education Panel, The American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, metabolic syndrome is present if you have three or more of the following signs:

1.  A waist size greater than 35″ for women and 40+ for men.
2.  Triglyceride levels of 150 or higher.
3.  HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol)  of less then 50 in women, 40 in men.
4.  Blood press of 130/85 or higher
5.  Faster blood sugar of 110 or more.

Listed below are common ways to prevent and/or reverse metabolic syndrome:

1.  Stabilize your sugar by eating foods which are rich in magnesium.  Research shows that eating a magnesium-rich diet cuts your overall risk of metabolic syndrome 31% and also minimizes other risk factors.  A great food rich in magnesium is sunflower seeds.    Try to include fish, preferably oily fish, in your diet at least twice a week
2.  Lift weights to drop pounds.  Research shows that little weight as infrequently as 45 minutes a week will speed up metabolism and help maintain current weight or drop a few pounds. Lose weight so that your body mass index (BMI) is less than 25.
3.  Strive to get regular exercise, at least 30 minutes of moderate activity almost every day.  Walking 5 – 7 days per week is an excellent option.
4.  Keep stress hormones at bay.  Relaxing 30-60 minutes a day will help balance cortisol levels which can reduce risk of metabolic syndrome.  It will also help you manage your blood pressure which needs to be monitored closely. 

Human Heart

5.  Add 200 mcg of chromium and 400 mg of folic acid to your daily nutrients to neutralize metabolic syndrome.
6.  Monitor your blood sugar and avoid spikes.  Switch from refined grains to whole grains in order to minimize development of metabolic disease.
7.  Drink a daily glass of red wine to lower metabolic syndrome risk by more than 66%.  Wine can also lower spiking triglyceride levels as well as improving insulin sensitivity by 7% and raising HDL cholesterol by 10%.
8.  Eat a diet low in fat and rotate in a variety of fruits, veggies and whole-grain products.
9.  Stop smoking which can make all of the risk factors much worse.

If you’re unsure whether or not you have or are at risk for metobolic disorder ask your doctor to perform the following test:

•     Blood pressure measurement
•     Glucose test
•     HDL cholesterol level
•     LDL cholesterol level
•     Total cholesterol level
•     Triglyceride level

Diagnostic Blood Tests

Summary

Metabolic syndrome is a name for a group of risk factors which more often than not occur together.

Metabolic syndrome increases the risk for coronary artery disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Unfortunately metabolic syndrome is becoming more and more common in the United States.

Researchers are not sure whether the syndrome is due to one single cause, but all of the risks for the syndrome are related to obesity.

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10 Hair Tangling Dangers

Long Blonde Hair With Waves

10 Hair Tangling Dangers

Long hair is fierce, beautiful and with the popularity of extensions it is available to everyone – male or female.  So is naturally textured hair bursting with shiny waves, curls and kinks.

The devil is always in the details and hair – whether long, thick or naturally textured – can unexpectedly encounter a range of hair tangling dangers.  Even people with short or medium length strands as well as all textures  are not immune.

Listed below are some of the top hair tangling dangers:

1.  The wind – If you’ve ever had your hair whipped like a blender by a sudden burst of air you know what I’m talking about.  Although it seems relatively innocent, exposing your hair to the wind flowing through you hair in a convertible, at the beach or jogging can result in terminator strength tangles.

If you know you’re going to be in a windy climate or situation be sure to first secure your delicate strands to protect against tangles which can rip, tear and terminally tousle.

2.  Hot irons, rollers or similar -  Yes, it happens.  The reason?  Rushing to hot style hair or attempting to cram too much hair around a too-small hot rollers.  And no, you don’t have to reach for the scissors and cut out a big chunk of your long locks being held captive by a hot tool.

Instead, reach for the long tail of a teasing comb and slowly isolate individual strands to gently free them from the roller or iron.   Or get a patient friend or loved one to help free your hair.

Long Dreadlocked Hair

3. Wild love play – Yes your lover can cause as much damage to your hair as a fast ride in a convertible.  I had a sweetheart back in the day who loved to play with my hair leaving it in an total tangled mess.

What to do?  If you know you’re going to be hanging with a lover who loves to play with your hair or engage in other activities which might leave your hair vulnerable to a wild knot or series of knots, secure your hair in advance.

That might not work in the heat of the moment but if possible, keep your hair detangled, double up on the hydrating conditioners and braid or pony up your hair whenever possible.

4. Knob tipped brushes – It’s happened to me back in the day before I had to spend hours getting it unwound from my strands.  A brush might look innocent but the wrong one can wreck total havoc.

To prevent planting a brush into your head as a semi-permanent fixture be sure to select a 100% boar bristle brush without the tiny balls or knobs on the ends.  This is especially true if your hair is naturally textured, dry, damaged or prone to easy tangling.  If you do get a brush tangled into your hair, check out #2 above to remove that unwanted hair accessory.

5.  Improper hair cleansing habits – Delicate tresses can become impossibly detangled during cleansing if the proper habits aren’t cultivated.  The very best way to avoid cleansing tangles is to start the process with detangled hair.

HairTopia Hair Oil With Organic Jojoba Oil Base

That might sound like a no-brainer but you’d be surprised how many people jump into a shower with tangles or knots still in their hair.  Want to make tangles and knots worse?  Get them wet or blast them with hot water.

If you know your hair is prone to tangling you may want to even consider apply a pre-cleanser conditioner to pre-tangled hair.  Even a few drops of healing jojoba oil finger picked through terminally dry hair will help prevent cleansing tangles.

Other tips?  Always cleanse with lukewarm hair, rinse out shampoo completely, apply a rich conditioner in the shower and detangle carefully with a wide tooth comb from the ends to the tops.  Rinse well and finish with a cool water final rinse.  These tips will definitely help prevent tangles.

6.  Scratchy pillow cases and bed clothes – When possible consider sleeping on silk or satin pillowcases and bedclothes to help prevent hair tangles.

It took me a long time to figure out that my favorite cotton pillow cases and sheets were causing me to wake up with a horrible case of tangled bed head.  Guess what, silk and satin pillow cases, although a little challenging to get used to, helped cure my morning bed head.

Run, don’t walk to the nearest store and invest in better bedclothes to protect your strands from nighttime tangling terrors.

7.  Handbags, messenger bags, backpacks – Any time you slip a bag of any kind over your hair or position the strands adjacent to your head, there is danger of ripping, tearing, snagging and tangling.  The tangles can show up in any spot, but often the tangles will pop up where you position the straps.

When it comes to avoiding bag related tangles you have two basic choices.  You can switch to a different type of bag or you can wear your hair secured out of the way.  Easy peasy, right?

Hair Blow Dryer

8. Hair drying – One of the most common ways people get knots and tangles is by briskly rubbing their hair with a cotton towel after getting out of the shower.  I know, I know, rubbing your head with a rough towel can feel good in the moment, but long term this can ruffle the cuticle of the hair to the point it turns into human flypaper and tangles around itself.

Other hair drying dangers include directing a blow dryer nozzle towards your hair without first detangling it with a hair-friendly dryer.  Seriously, people do blow dry wet hair which hasn’t been first carefully detangled.

9. Chemicals – How do chemicals cause tangles?  Bleach, hair color and related color treatments may dehydrate hair to the point that it is dry, damaged and will tangle very easily.  The same is true of relaxers, perms or other chemical texturizers.

Even some types of hair products will add to the tangling dangers.  Shampoo products which are naturally drying, styling products which contain alcohol or other damaging chemicals can

10. Hair extensions – All types of hair extensions ranging from fusion and tape to temporary clip-ins may accelerate or worsen natural hair tangling tendencies.

Long Shiny And Detangled Hair

The biggest mistake people with extensions make is not keeping the base human hair detangled before, during and after the extensions are attached.

Regardless of the type of extensions you select, make sure to start with perfectly detangled hair.

While wearing fusion extensions it’s very important to detangle all of the hair on a daily basis to prevent natural hair fall from becoming tangled with the add-on strands.  It’s also important to detangle hair properly when the extensions are removed.

Summary

Depending upon your hair type, texture and length you may have your own list of things which cause your hair to tangle.

Bottom line, be aware of any hair tangling dangers and either completely avoid them or manage them appropriately.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Chemically Infused Beach Waves

Brunette With Beachy Waves

Chemically Infused Beach Waves

Who doesn’t want beach infused hair waves?  They never really go out of fashion reappearing every year during Spring Break and lasting until the Fall.

While it would be nice to know anyone could have natural beach waves without any muss or fuss, the reality is that only some hair can rock the look naturally.  The goal is to create a hairstyle which indicates a relaxed day at the beach.  Tresses which natural bend or texture have the best chance of forming  beachy waves.

Hair which is naturally straight, tightly curled or coiled is not easily converted into those lush undulated waves.  Ditto for hair prone to fuzziness or frizz.

While beach hair can be created on type of hair with an array of styling products and hot tools, the beauty industry offers chemical options.

Whenever you introduce chemicals to any type or texture of hair, there are known risks ranging from dehydration to split ends, tears and damage to the overall integrity of the hair.

For some, chemicals are an ideal solution for creating beach inspired waves.  It’s just never the solution for everyone.

Pravana Beach Wave Hair Blocks With Pick

How To:  Chemically Created Beach Waves

Chemically created beach waves are usually created with a semi-permanent infusion of texture through the use of traditional Thio or similar formulations.  Many of the professional hair manufacturers offer a chemical perming solution which can be used to create a beach wave on most types, textures and lengths of hair.  These are usually referred to as soft perms.

Keep in mind that perms are not always for everyone.  The pros and cons of a perm should always be discussed with your hair pro.

Keratin Restructuring Serum

Some companies like Pravana™ use a Thio-free Keratin Fusion Restructuring Serum designed to infuse hair with silk and human hair keratin.  Pravana advertises their chemical beach wave solution is designed to strengthen, protect and add shine to any hair transformed into a new beach wave style.  This is a new twist on traditional perms which do not use keratin.

Note:  Scruples has a product named Texture Wave which doesn’t use Keratin, but creates a similar wave pattern.

As part of their wave creation kit Pravana provides cosmetologists with their exclusive wave blocks.  These blocks are used to wrap the entire head after first being washed with a sulfate-free style shampoo.

Pravana Beach Wave Control Spray Mist

The newly washed hair is parted and then individual sections of hair are positioned onto the wave blocks.  In essence the Pravana blocks are a redesigned version of traditional perming rods used in the late 70s into the 80s.

Wrapping hair in foam blocks changes up the traditional and methodical way of providing a hair texture service with optional wave shapes and patterns.

The exclusive Beach Wave blocks allow for the creation of soft subtle waves which can be worn natural or styled with a curling iron for a tighter or more uniform curl.  The shape, size and placement of the waves are directly tied to how the hair is sectioned, how many blocks are used and how much tension is applied to the hair.

Chemical Reforming Lotion

Once the hair is wrapped as desired, a chemical reforming lotion is applied.  The lotion is applied to the most resistant sections of the hair first.   The hair is saturated from the bottom to the top making sure that all parts of the hair are completely covered.   The lotion is left on the hair from 3 to 25 minutes depending upon whether the hair is color treated, highlighted or chemical free (virgin).

The hairstylist will keep a close eye on the lotion infused hair to make sure it is not left on the improper amount of time.   After the lotion is allowed to set, it is completely rinsed with clear water for three minutes.  The hair is blotted and then a bonding lotion is applied.  The bonding lotion remains on the hair for up to five (5) minutes.

Pravana Sulfate Shampoo

After the bonding lotion is rinsed out of the hair, it is towel dried.  Pravana’s Keratin Fusion Restructuring Serum is then applied to the hair.  It is allowed to process for up to three minutes before it is completely rinsed out.  Hair is blotted again to remove excess moisture.

Final Steps

During the final step Pravana’s Beach Wave Control Mist is liberally applied to the towel blotted to keep hair soft and full of movement.

Although this type of wave perm is not radically new or different, the use of blocks allows for new wave designs.  The introduction of Keratin is designed to minimize the possibility of perm related damage and the development of frizz and fuzz.  Ultimately whatever tool you wrap damp hair around and coat with reforming lotion will result in a that shape.

Summary

Should you go with a chemical infused beach wave?  There are pros and cons depending upon your hair’s length, current condition (healthy or damaged) and your goals for rocking long term waves.  When in doubt discuss with your professional hair consultant or visit a stylist educated in chemical hair restructuring.

For more information on the Pravana Beach Wave Control visit: http://www.pravana.com/locator.php

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Redhead Hair Color Categories

Melissa Gilbert With Auburn Red Hair

Redhead Hair Color Categories

Redheads have a long history of being both loved and feared.  In ancient Egypt the most powerful witches and sorcerers often had flame hued tresses which made them even more feared.  Red hair is sill considered by many in the hair, beauty and fashion world to be powerful.

Paul DeArmas, creative director for hair at Fred Segal in Los Angeles has been quoted as saying red hair “is a sensual, rich and mysterious color that says strength.” Indeed, people who wear red tresses are often considered bold, brazen and strong.

One of the issues people who want to go red encounter is trying to select the proper tone and shade which complements their eye and skin tone.  If you select the right red hair color, your eyes and skin will look amazing.  Select the wrong color and it can overpower your eyes and skin tones.

There are literally hundreds of different hues in the red hair family ranging from deep dark auburn red on one side of the spectrum to light strawberry blonde on the other end.

There are also a wide range of red hues in-between including fire engine red, titian, brick, chestnut, flame, fire, copper, amber, honey, iced tea, ginger, paprika, Merlot, Burgundy, apple and cherry, to name a few of the colors in the red family.   Many of the reds merge with neighboring brunette or blonde hues to create a mash-up of red dominant hues.

Even when a red tone or hue is tagged with a name it is still subjective.  What one person might refer to as amber, someone else might think of it as iced tea or even honey.

Anna Trebunskaya Copper Red

Selecting The Best Red Hair Color For Your Skin And Eye Tones

If you want to amp up the color nature gave you or adopt a brand new hue, there’s a  perfect shade to flatter your eye and skin tones.  Check out the options below:

Skin Tone:  Fair Skin With Light Green Or Blue Eyes

Best Red Hair Choices:  Spicy, hot red hues.

If you have fair skin with a few pink or yellow undertones and light blue or green eyes you will look great with spicy or hot red colors like red pepper, fire, paprika, flame or bright salsa.

Former X Files star Gillian Anderson has creamy white skin, light blue eyes and looked spectacular with deep Titian red hair.   Even better, adopting a vibrant red hue will make light colored eyes look larger and emphasize their color.

If your skin is fair, but with lots of red tones the best red hair color for you are the yellow based reds such as honey, amber, light chestnut or iced tea.

Alicia Witt With Chestnut Red Hair Color

Before diving in and committing to a permanent hair color change be sure to  experiment with just a few highlights before making any permanent hair color decisions.

Once you take the plunge and color your hair red  if you decide you don’t like it, the transition time getting back to your original or a different hue could take anywhere from 6 to 12 months.

When testing more subtle highlights to test drive red hair, opt for strawberry or amber for blonde, copper or cinnamon on medium brown or deep titian or burgandy red on dark brown or black.

Skin Tone:  Olive or golden

Best Red Hair Choices:  Cool, plum reds

To offset the yellow in your skin, opt for cool reds.  That translates to iced tea or strawberry for blonde or light-brown hair.    Opt for mahogany or violet/red for medium brown strands.  Plum or auburn work for hair which is dark brown or black.

When going with a permanent red go one to shades lighter than you think you want it to be.  It’s always easier to go darker than lighter.

Marcia Cross Amber Red

Skin Tone:  Chocolate or black skin

Best Red Hair Choices:  Auburn accents

Chunky highlights and non-permanent rinses tend to work best on dark hair with dark skin.  Keep in mind that monochromatic red can look artificial against a dark complexion.

Instead add richness and dept by incorporating highlights of auburn, mahogany or violet red into the hair.  Because dark hair can often look flat, these highlights can add instant life and light reflections.

Or try a rinse in any of these shades, which will create a halo of red over your base color and bring out natural highlights.  Rinses can last four to six weeks.

Red Hair Maintenance

While red hair can be bold and brazen, its dye molecules are also the most vulnerable to fading because they’re larger than blonde or brunette ones.

Emma Stone's Hot Red Hair

Emma Stone recently confessed to Ellen that her natural hair color, contrary to popular opinion, is actually blonde.  She also shared that she loved the red hair which had been created for a movie role, but that it was very hard to maintain.

Color Fade Issues

The star of The Help noted that her hair grows so fast that when it’s dyed red she has to touch up the roots every 3-4 weeks and deal with how fast the red fades.

Eighty percent of color fade can be attributed to inappropriate washing.  When hair is wet, it swells, creating gaps for the color molecules to escape.  Before going into a pool or shower spritz hair with a sealant.

Brassiness

If your hair is prone to brassiness, ask your hair colorist or hair dresser for a product which will help to prevent brassiness and make color last two to three months longer

Red Haired Christina Hendricks As Joan Harris On Mad Men

Think red when you shampoo and condition.  A specially formulated color enhancing shampoo should be used every other washing to keep color fresh and make it last longer.  On alternate days, wash hair with a mild shampoo which will cleanse the hair without stripping the color.  Once a week use a vinegar shampoo to balance the pH of the hair and maintain the redness.

Celebrities With Red Hair Hues

Many celebrities over the last few years have embraced red hues.  Some celebrities are embracing red hues for their new dip dye or ombre strands.

Some of the famous celebrities with trademark hues include Melissa Gilbert’s bright auburn, Nicole Kidman’s strawberry red, Anna Trebunskaya’s copper red, Alicia Witt’s light chestnut and Marcia Cross’ amber red hair.

American Idol Colton Dixon Season 11

AMC’s Mad Men is a prime example of the popularity of red hair.  Christina Hendricks who plays Joan Harris is known for her flaming red hair.

Peggy Olson played by Elisabeth Moss started Season One on Mad Men as a dark haired brunette.  As the seasons of Mad Men have progressed from Season One to Season Six Peggy’s hair has lightened, brightened and taken on lots of red tones.

Red Dip Dye Trends

Red hair is also a very popular dip dye color because it can hold its own on just about every other type of hair color.  Both men and women have been rocking red tipped strands.

Even Colton Dixon, one of the top male contestants on American Idol’s current Season 11 rocked red dip dipped tresses for his last performance before eliminated.

Ultimately red hair can be worn by anyone either as a full blown base or a variety of highlights, low lights or dip dye splashes of color.

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Dip Dyed Hair Explodes For 2012

Dip Dyed Hair At Missoni Bolon Collection

Dip Dyed Hair Explodes For 2012

If you though the dip dye trend of having the ends of hair dyed a dramatic contrasting color was over, think again.

Prada’s Fall 2012 Runway shows were full of striking dip dyed tresses in a rainbow of hues.

Dip dyed tresses are more dramatic than Ombre which is more subtle with the darker roots slowly transitioning into lighter ends.

With Ombre hair color, the goal is to avoid any line of demarcation.  With dip dye hair color, a line of demarcation is highly valued since the line will help highlight the vibrant shades sprinkled throughout the ends.

Although dip dyed hair isn’t for everyone, it’s a look that is highly valued by fashionistas and hair color pioneers around the world.

Even better, the dipped dyed hair look is being adopted by both men and women of all ages, races and nationalities.

Prada is known for launching new fashion and hair trends.  The designer’s dramatic display of bandeau headbands a few years ago triggered a major headband frenzy.

Dip Dye Strands Of JesseJ

Now Prada’s use of dip dyed strands has triggered a frenzy of copycat dip dyed models in lookbooks, on the heads of celebrities and on blogs.  The fashion world has embraced dip dye which is the next best thing after Ombre.

Famed fashion house Missoni honored the dip dye trend in their recent collaboration with Bolon, the famed Swedish flooring company.

The collection is a creative merger of functionality and design which offers colorful woven flooring by Missoni Home.  The collection was showcased as part of 2012 Milan Design Week between April 17 and 22nd in Milan, Italy.

The models in the show honored the the three main color collections with vibrant dip dyed strands.

The collection featured three models which included Bayadere, Flame and Optical, with each offering a different color palettes, resulting in at least nine different patterns.  The Bolon by Missoni line is based on the quintessential Missoni design philosophy, combining an energetic and decorated Avant-garde style which is meant to be fun and fabulous.

Dip Dyed Hair Notes

Adam Lambert Turquoise Blue Dipped DyedHair

Listed below are some notes about the dip dyed hair trend to consider:

1.  Dip dyed strands are bolder and more vibrant then Ombre.  Unlike Ombre, dip dyed tresses usually have a line of demarcation.
2.  There are no rules when it comes to dip dyed color combinations.  Although the roots and top of the hair can be either light or dark, the ends usually consist of contrasting colors to make the ends look like they were dipped in a paint can.  For example, raven hair can be dip dyed platinum blonde or someone with a white blonde top can rock raven ends.
3.  Although dip dyed ends are usually just one color to create a more focused and dramatic look, there’s no reason you couldn’t add a rainbow of colors to the edges.
4.  The dip dyed effect can be created with clip-in or fusion hair extensions if you don’t want to risk damage to fragile ends.
5.  While it’s possible to create the look at home if you’re worried about potential damage or color disasters, see your professional colorist.

Diana Agron Of Glee With Vibrant Pink Dip Dyed Tresses

6.  If your hair is brunette or darker, you will need to first lift the base color and apply the desired dip dyed hue.
7.  When you’re starting out with blonde or light red base colors you may be able to apply the desired color to the ends without first lifting the base color.
8.  If you are unsure of the best color to dip dye your ends, take your time and look at the different celebrities who’ve adopted the trend.
9.  In some cases the color used to dye the ends of your hair, if the ends are porous, will become permanent.  However, the advantage of dip dyed ends is that if you get tired of them you can simply cut them off.
10.  Consider your skin and eye tone before selecting the color you select for dip dying.
11.  Hair of any length can be dip dyed but longer hair has a more dramatic outcome.
12.  Naturally textured hair can be dip dyed as well but unless worn straight, the ends may disappear into the natural texture.  Keep this factor in mind when selecting the colors to dip dye and where to place the concentrated color.

With Prada and Missoni showcasing the hot colored tip trends there’s no doubt dip dyed hair will be the hot color scheme for 2012.  Especially since it’s already such a popular hair hue look for celebrities around the globe.  Will you be trying dip dyed tresses?

HairBoutique.com Blog

Khloe Kardashian Ombre Hair How To

Khloe Kardashian Ombre Hair How To

Khloe Kardashian With Ombre Hair

The youngest Kardashian sister, Khloe, showcased her latest Ombre hair hue on Ellen’s show where she was greeted with screaming and huge applause.  Khloe told Ellen “you have such a nice audience.”  Then she quipped “I paid them all to be here.”

Khloe was wearing a vibrant tangerine jacket which is one of Spring 2012′s hottest colors.  Her trademark long brunette hair which is often Ombre enhanced, worked well against the orange of the jacket.   In fact, the orange jacket played off against her lighter ends and making them pop.

She wore a white tee underneath with a white open shirt as a bridge against the tangerine top jacket. Her black pants had a matching tangerine strip.

Khloe was on Ellen to discuss being on the cover of Cosmopolitan, her recent move back to California from Dallas and her new arrangement to act as a spokeswoman for Sears in their anti-bullying campaign.  She also discussed the new bedroom collection being launched by the Kardashian sisters and presented the audience with special gift certificates.

For her appearance on Ellen the youngest Kardashian sister ( June 27, 1984) wore her hair with a soft off-center part with lots of volume around the side and the top and loose cascading waves.  Her hair falls about halfway down her back.

Khloe Kardashian Ombre Wave Infused Hair

The base color appears to be a milk chocolate brunette which is seen from the roots to below the chin.  At the chin line her hair gets progressively lighter and more auburn in color which is part of her trademark Ombre.  There is no obvious line of color transition, but a soft and gentle transition.

Khloe’s hair color is created with balayage, a free form hair coloring technique.

How To

Can you do Ombre hair at home?   Anything is possible, but if you want the fabulous natural looking Ombre hair color Khloe wears, probably not.  Well not unless you’re a professional hair colorist who does your own hair color or you have a hair colorist in the family who does it for you.

However, if you want to try a DIY Ombre hair color, you might start by carefully lightening the ends just 1 subtle shade lighter.  Keep in mind that the key with Ombre is a gentle seamless transition of colors.  The goal is to give the appearance of natural coloring.  Avoid using bleach since it may damage your hair.

Consider the following DIY Ombre steps:

1. Select a permanent hair color which is the closest hue to your natural base color.  Follow the kit’s coloring instructions.  Apply the color from the roots, down to the middle length of your hair.  When in doubt you can measure you hair from the roots to the ends with a tape measure to help you decide where to stop with the first color.

2.  From the middle of the hair down to the ends use a hair coloring brush and apply a lighter color up from the ends of your hair to the middle slowly blending into the permanent color. Do it by sections to get that graduated effect.

Khloe Kardashian With Sisters And Mom

Kardashian Sisters All Wear Hair Extension

Another instant Ombre option is to do what Khloe does and have hair extensions applied which are pre-colored to create the duel tone appearance.

Khloe and all the Kardashian sisters wear fusion style hair extensions which are pre-colored to match their desired hair color.

Khloe’s hair along the roots and top are also colored and highlighted to pick up the colors throughout the middle and ends provided by the fusion hair.

One last option is to play with temporary clip-in extensions in different Ombre style hues to see if you enjoy the look.  If you do, you can either visit your professional hair colorist or start slowly working on lightening your own ends and middle.

Regardless of what direction you go with creating your Ombre color, always keep the ends properly trimmed.  There’s nothing worse then having beautiful hair color, but long straggly split ends.

Summary

Ombre can look great on anyone as long as you remember to always select hair color shades which work best with your skin and eye tone.  Ombre hair color works best on hair which is shoulder length or longer or else you look just like your roots are growing out.

Remember that the definition of Ombre is graduated color from dark to light.  If not done properly Ombre looks like a case of very bad roots.  When done properly like Khloe’s color, it can look totally cool, chic and current, regardless whether it is extensions or your own natural hair.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Hair Customers Hate To Wait

Great Clips

Hair Customers Hate To Wait

It’s the age old question for small business in any city – how do you keep existing customers happy and attract new ones?  The answer- Don’t Make Them Wait!

A recent survey commissioned by a well-known hair company – Great Clips Online Check-in – shows how much customers truly hate to wait.  Great Clips is the first ever hair salon brand to have an app that lets you check in via smart phone or computer

Check out the results below:

- 94% of those surveyed say they don’t want to wait more than 5 – 10 minutes at a retail business such as a hair establishment.

- Make a customer wait fifteen minutes or longer and 63% of those surveyed say it shows bad customer service and a lack of respect for their time while 52% say they will take their business elsewhere and almost half say they assume the business is badly managed.

-87% say they’d use a technology that cut down their wait and 2/3 say they’d download an app that saved their place in line at a retail business so they wouldn’t have to wait.

Clipping Hair

New Survey Reveals How Much Local Customers Hate to Wait!

Most customers, waiting for hair services or other retail services won’t wait more than ten minutes.  Whether it’s for a hair cut or other retail service, customers hate to wait.

In a new national survey* commissioned by Great Clips Online Check- In:

• 76% of respondents say a wait any longer than five to ten minutes at a retail business is unreasonable.
• 94% say a reasonable amount of time to wait at a retail business is 5 – 10 minutes or less.

If a retail business makes them wait fifteen minutes or longer:

• 63% say it shows bad customer service and a lack of respect for their time.
• 52% say they take their business elsewhere
• 48% say they assume the business is not well run and badly managed.

Hair Cutting

When asked what bothered them the most about a retailer:

Most often ranked as the #1 annoyance (in order):

• A rude staff
• They made me wait
• I paid too much

In other survey findings:

• 87% of respondents say they would use a technology that kept them from waiting in line at a retail stores if it saved them 15 minutes of waiting.
• 2 out of 3 respondents say they would use online check-in or download an app that saved their place in line at a retail business.

The survey also asked respondents for the most annoying time waster in their lives.

Most often ranked as the #1 annoyance (in order):

• Getting Placed on Hold
• Waiting in Line
• Sitting in Traffic

Great Clips Hair Salon Brand Introduces Time Saving Online Check-In

Great Cuts

Great Clips, a local hair salon brand and the first ever to introduce time saving online check-in, asked consumers about waiting as part of a campaign to introduce the new online check-in app.

The technology, which allows customers to check in from their desktops or smart phones, has trimmed haircut wait times from about fifteen minutes to five minutes, so customers can pretty much walk right in with little or no wait.

“In all our research, in focus group after focus group, we hear that today’s busy singles and families alike are stressed out, exhausted and short on time – and today, time is money,” says Rhoda Olsen, CEO of Great Clips. “Online check-in gives people back those few extra minutes that can take your day from good to great.”

Online check-in is already gaining steam, with more than one million customers checking in online in 2011.  In 2012, that number is even greater with an average 200,000 checking in online per month. With more than 80,000 new downloads of the app each month, it’s clear customers find it helpful.

About Great Clips, Inc.

Great Clips Online Checkin

Great Clips, Inc. was established in 1982 in Minneapolis. Today, Great Clips has more than 3,100 salons throughout the United States and Canada, making it the world’s largest salon brand.

Great Clips salons employ nearly 30,000 stylists who receive ongoing training to learn advanced skills and the latest trends. Make Great Clips your choice for value-priced, high-quality haircare for men, women and children.

No appointments needed, and salons are open nights and weekends. And, it’s more convenient than ever with Great Clips’ Online Check-In.

To check in online, visit www.greatclips.com or download the app for Android and iPhone. For more information about Great Clips, Inc. or to find a location near you, visit www.greatclips.com.

About Great Clips’ Online Check-In

Great Clips’ Online Check-In feature is powered by ICS Net Check In™, a patent-pending, internet-based technology platform developed by Innovative Computer Software. Online Check-in allows customers to remotely log in from a computer or smart phone and view the estimated wait time at surrounding salons.

Consumers can click the “check in” icon to add their name to the list at the Great Clips salon of their choice, and by the time they arrive they are likely next or almost next in line – saving precious time they might have spent waiting in the lobby for their haircut.

*This online survey was done by a third party.  The survey included 316 respondents, 172 female and 144 male (ages 30 -55).  *Full survey data available upon request.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Hair Covered Mammoth Raises Questions

Hair Covered Mammoth Raises Questions

Hair Covered Mammoth

If you preface any topic with hair, it will automatically get my attention.

Which is why the recent ABC headlines about a young hairy mammoth nickname Yuka found on the frozen tundras of northern Siberia caught my interest.

Even more interesting than the fact that the young mammoth was covered by a  type of hair was the discovery that its carcass was cut open by human hunters more than 10,000 years ago.

The well-preserved remains has pink flesh and lots of red-brown hairy fur still covering the body.

Prof. Daniel Fisher, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Michigan who has examined the remains, says there are clear signs that the mammoth was probably attacked by lions or similar wild animals due to the presence of bite and claw marks on the animal’s lower legs and tail. 

Rows & Rows Of Hair Extensions

Although the mammoth appeared to have been attacked by wild animals, the evidence points to it being ultimately killed and then carved up by human hunters who gained control of the prey.

Scientists report that they found that someone carefully and methodically slit the animal wide open, as if with a crude knife. Most of the internal organs were missing and presumed to have been used for immediate food.  The mammoth’s hairy fur covering was left intact.

While the scientists studying the mammoth are questioning a variety of factors, my biggest question was why the hairlike outer covering was not taken and made into coverings for the hunters or their families.  Humans were famous for wearing fur covered caps, skins and even boots to stay warm in cold climates.

Hair and bits of fur was also striped from dead animals and made into some of the earliest wigs.

Did this mammoth die before humans knew to use the hair and fur for their own protection from extreme temperatures?  I would guess that hunters in Siberia 10,000 years ago weren’t concerned with making wigs, but why not concerned with protecting their heads with fur?

Some of the scientists hypothesize that the hunters buried the remains after striping the obvious food with the intention of returning for the other usable parts of the animal.  The bones were also removed and buried next to the carcass.  Maybe the hunters did plan to use the fur, but never made it back to harvest it from the body.

Regardless, there’s no chance now that the hairy mammoth’s coat will make it to the fashion racks as a hat or wig.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Easily Lose 15 To 20 Pounds Of Fake Fat

Easily Lose 15 To 20 Pounds Of Fake Fat

Glass of water

Red Carpet bound celebrities understand the challenges of fake fat, which is really water weight.  When preparing to showcase their best selves for a film premiere, major awards show or similar, stars know that the average woman may be lugging around anywhere from 15-20 pounds of water weight.

Water weight can occur for a wide array of reasons ranging from over consumption of salty foods to hormones.  Even air can show up as fake fat.

Whether water weight is temporary due to your premenstrual cycle, or an ill-advised binge, this type of weight, known as fake fat, can be flushed quickly.  Some women only have water weight at certain times of the month, others have water weight all the time.

Other causes of chronic water retention might include, but not be limited to a high sodium diet, lack of exercise, food allergies (including lactose intolerance) or general dehydration.

Listed below are some well-known secrets for flushing water based fake fat in a matter of 7-10 days.

Before testing or trying any of the water weight removal recipes be sure to discuss with your primary health care provider to make sure it’s acceptable for your current state of health.

Fresh Lemons

1. Fresh Lemon & Water

Start each morning by sipping an 8 ounce cup of piping hot water infused with the juice of one half of an organic lemon (if possible).

To avoid damage to tooth enamel be sure to use a straw and rinse teeth completely with clear water after drinking.  A hot lemon juice helps to flush toxins from the liver along with excess moisture.

Jennifer Aniston is known to drink water with lemon juice on days following a heavy dinner. A lemon water mixture is great for releasing extra water weight due to its alkalizing benefits.  Hot lemon water helps to bring the acid-basic balance of the body back to its optimal level.  Water weight can occur as a result of heavy meals, stress or other body stressing issues.

Some weight loss experts suggest starting each morning with the hot lemon juice drink on an empty stomach followed by a light breakfast an hour or so after the lemon juice drink.  Others recommend drinking water all day which has a fresh lemon squeezed into the mix.  A fresh lemon infused water drink is often utilized by models who are trying to keep excess water weight from their frames.

Teapot For Brewing Chamomile Tea

2.  Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is a natural diuretic which is gentle on the body, but helps to eliminate and flush excess water weight.  Two or three cups of hot  chamomile tea sipped every day for two weeks is known to flush up to six pounds of water weight from the body over a two week period.

Combined with a water flushing nutrition program, chamomile tea will not normally harm the body like prescription or over-the-counter diuretics.

3.  Herb Infused Bath

Soaking 20 minutes a day in a hot tub will help to stimulate the kidneys to instantly relax excess water weight for up to four hours.  A hot bath is a temporary water weight banishing tool but it will help for the short term.

Adding a fresh herbal mixture of one ounce of Jaborandi Herb, Thyme Leaf, Angelica Root, Elder Flowers, Orange Peel & Oil and Kesu Flowers will also help

4. Detoxing Bath

Bathtub

This mineral bath, recommended by naturopath Linda Page, Ph.D is designed to help detox the body and help eliminate excess water weight:

Add the following ingredients to a hot bath:

1 cup of Dead Sea salts, 1 cup of Epsom salts, 1/2 cup of regular sea salt, 1/4 cup of baking soda
3 drops of lavender oil, 2 drops of chamomile oil, 2 drop of majoran oil, 1 drop of ylang-ylang oil

Soak n the tub up to 20 minutes.  Refresh the water as needed with warm water.

5.  Drink More Water

When you don’t drink enough water every day (48 to 64 ounces depending upon body weight) the human body produces a specific hormone which reduces the amount you release water from your body.  In essence the body works to retain more fluids so that you don’t become dehydrated.

To lose water weight drink more water and the body will trigger hormones which helps release stored water weight.

Red Apples

6.  Weight Loss Tea

Alicia Silverstone recommends the following tea for safe weight loss in her book The Kind Diet:

1/2 cup grated (into a pulp) carrot
1/2 cup grated (into a pulp) daikon radish
1/4 umeboshi plum
1-2 drops of shoyu
1/4 sheet nori ripped into small pieces

Bring the carrot, daikon radish, umeboshi plum and 1 cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan.  Reduce the heat, and simmer for about 3 minutes.  Add the shoyu and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes longer.  Add the nori, if using.  Drink hot.

7.  Taurine

With a physicians approval consider taking 1 to 2g of this powerful amino acid daily for up to two weeks.  This amino acid is excellent for preventing pre-menstrual bloat.

8.  Eat Cucumber

One cup of fresh cucumbers eaten every day will help flush excess water from the body and if eaten over a two week period can help flush as much as 5-6 pounds.

Fresh Carrots

9.  Exercise The Water Weight Off

Studies have shown that exercising just two hours a week can reduce water related bloating by a significant amount for the majority of people.

Why?  Exercise improves blood vessel tone so fluids are less likely to leak into surround tissues.  Exercise will also help to cause perspiration which can help flush out trapped fluids.

10.  Hit The Cocoa

Drinking approximately 10 ounces of hot cocoa a day can help banish water weight which is tied to lactose intolerance.

Cocoa speeds the breakdown of milk sugars flushing them quickly out of the body before they can cause water retention and bloating tied to allergic reactions to dairy products.

Studies have shown that when taking hot cocoa on a daily basis foods such as milk, cheese and diary may no long cause excessive water retention or fake fat.

Weight Scale

11.  Eliminate Gum From Diet

Many experts believe that introducing excess air into the body through chewing of gum, drinking of carbonated beverages and eating air filled foods will cause water retention and a bloated stomach.

Foods such as crisp apples, air-filled foods such as puffed wheat, whipped cream and related desserts will cause gas to form in the intestines.  This gas will cause the stomach to swell preventing you from fitting into your skinny jeans.

12.  Eating Diuretic Foods

While some food and drinks will cause water retention, others such as cucumbers will help keep the body well flushed.  Asparagus is a food known to help keep water weight at bay.   The asparagus root offers more water releasing properties that the tops.

Other water releasing foods include pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, watermelon and lettuce.

Summary

Consider experimenting with some or all of the known water weight reduction options above.  Remember, before undergoing any of the listed water weight reduction suggestions discuss your plans with your primary care physician.  Keep in mind that these suggestions are for temporary use to minimize or reduce water weight or fake fat.

If you resume your old dietary patterns of eating high salt foods, not exercising or eating foods known to cause water retention, the weight will return quickly.

To undertake a long term weight program to meet significant weight loss goals, you will need to incorporate a proper nutritional dietary program combined with a long term exercise program.

HairBoutique.com Blog

How To Chalk Dip Dye Your Hair

Multi Colored Strands And Dip Dyed Hair Color

How To Chalk Dip Dye Your Hair

When a new hair trend like dip dying is introduced it only takes a short amount of time before the trend morphs into one or more new directions.  Such is the case with chalk dip dying.  A version of chalk dying is paint dipping.

Before discussing chalk dying hair, it’s helpful to understand basic dip dying.  The technique originally was created with temporary, semi, demi or permanent hair color.

Dip dying means that the ends of the hair was dipped to create a different color from the roots and middle sections of the hair.

Dip Dying Basics

The concept of dip dying evolved from other industries such as the fashion world where fashions have been dipped to create unique patterns in the fabrics.  The color used for the dipping depended upon the starting based hair color and the desired result.  Dip dying hair isn’t complicated, but it did require a few tips and tricks to achieve the best results.

Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Kelly Osbourne, Kate Bosworth, Adam Lambert, Nicki Minaj and Lauren Conrad helped to push dip dying from the celebrity world into the mass market.   While true dip dying often involved contrasting colors, Ombre hair color was a distant cousin of the dip dye.

Dip dying doesn’t necessarily mean coloring only the ends.  It can also be used to create a series of multicolored sections of hair much like large chunky highlights and low lights.

Adam Lambert With Dipped Dye Spikes

Chalk Hair Dye

Although dip dying has been around for quite some time, depending upon which hair expert you talk to, chalk or paint dying has only really become popular in the last six months or so.

Whether you’re dip dying, chalk dying or paint dying, it’s important to choose the best hair colors for your current hair base.  Although light hair color bases such as platinum, blonde or light brunette can work with most colors, it’s also possible to create stunning dip dying results with dark hair colors.

Colorful hairstyles have become increasingly popular over the past several months.

Note:  One quick option for achieving the dipped dye look is to use brightly colored clip-in or fusion hair extensions.

Chalk Dye Tools

Chalk dye utilizes chalk instead of hair color to create contrasting chunks and stripes of color throughout the perimeter of the hair.  Water color paints may be used instead of chalk.

The advantage of chalk dye over traditional dip dye is that it’s temporary and will not damage the hair.  The disadvantage is that it can be messy and will start to dissolve when touched by any type of water or moisture.

Although you can experiment with many different types of chalk, fans of the technique have found that using soft watercolors may work better.

Dakota FAnning With Pink Dip Dyed Strands

Some fans of the hair look swear by Rembrandt pastels.  However, remember that when Rembrandt pastels are used it may permanently stain the hair, especially if it’s been bleached, dyed or is porous from chemical treatments.

How To Create Dip Dyed Hair Ends With Chalk

Whether you use chalk or a variety of water colors or pastels, the process is messy.  Be sure to wear old clothes you don’t mind getting messy.  Do the chalk dipping in a confined area that is protected with old towels or sheets.

To avoid staining your hands, fingernails or skin, wear latex style disposable gloves and apply a light layer of Vaseline or similar hair jelly around the hairline to avoid staining your face and skin.   Keep a spray bottle filled with warm water available along with sectioning hair clips and a tail comb for creating different sections.

You may want to use wax paper or white butcher block paper covering a flat surface.  When using a paint style brush to apply the chalk or water colors, if you lay the ends on the paper, it will prevent dripping or unnecessary mess.  It will also be easier than trying to paint against the rest of your hair.

Some chalk dippers suggest buying the best chalk from the art store.  Others recommend a variety of soft oil pastels producing water miscible oil paint.  Two popular brands include Rembrandt and Cray-Pas pastels.  Cray-Pas is harder to use and may not really provide a thick enough color.

Diana Agron With Pink Dipped Hair

When in doubt always be sure to only buy one tube of a particular paint brand and do a small strand test on hair in the back of your head where it won’t show in case you don’t want it to be visible.  Once you find a paint which you like which works with your hair.

For a list of other hair color brands which are water miscible (soluble) see list at end of this blog.Step By Step Instructions

Start on hair which is dry or slightly damp.  Decide if you want a diverse or precise pattern.  If you want a precise pattern and your hair is naturally wavy or curly you may wish to get your hair damp and blow dry your hair straight with a paddle brush and a blow dryer.  If you don’t care about the pattern you can chalk dip on top of your natural texture.

Follow the steps below to chalk or paint your hair:

Apply cream or hair grease to hairline to protect against unwanted colors.  Put on gloves.

1.  Section out hair with a tail comb or similar.  It’s easier to work with hair that has been presectioned.  Work on one section at a time and clip all other hair out of the way.
2.  Mix the paint or water color so that it has a consistency like icing unless you’re using chalk.  When using chalk you’ll use the sticks.
3.  Split the bottom section of hair in half.

Lady Gag With Dip Dyed

4.  Spritz bottom 3″ of hair with water bottle getting the section very damp.
5.  Use a hair paint brush and lightly feather your paint from the ends halfway up the strands.  If you use chalk, swipe the chalk stick onto the damp ends to transfer the chalk onto the hair.  Make sure you cover completely.

Note:  Alternatively take a section of damp hair, hold it taut and use fingers to rub colored pastels in a downward direction until the color completely adheres.

6.  To allow the color to set you may wish to apply a traditional hair coloring foil and fold it to allow the color to remain segregated from the rest of the hair as you work on the other sections.
7.  Move to the next section of hair. Split and repeat.  Alternate colors or even use similar colors on the same section.
8.  After you have finished coloring all the sections, allow them to remain in the foils.
9.  Unwrap one foil at a time.  If it’s still damp, heat the ends lightly with a blow dryer.
10.  Continue to unwrap and dry as necessary until all of the ends have been unwrapped.
11.  Style hair as desired.

Optional Dip Dying Techniques

There really is no right or wrong way to dip dye with chalk, water colors or paints.  You can do a quick chalk/paint dye by first braiding hair and then doing a random painting on different sections of the braids.  Or you can pull hair into an array of ponytails and randomly select different strands to paint or rub with chalk.

Experiment with a wide range of temporary color tools and techniques until you find the one which works best for your hair and goals.

Rembrandt Paints

There are several manufacturers producing water miscible oil paint, including:

1.  Grumbacher — “Max Artists’ Oil Colors” which are produced using alkali-refined linseed oil or sunflower oils.
2.  HK Holbein — “Duo Aqua Oil”, produced using an activator which alters the structure of the linseed oil. Duo is a product of Japanese company Holbein Works located in Osaka, Japan.
3.  Royal Talens – “Cobra” introduced in 2010, as a professional grade water mixable oil color, using a modified linseed oil. The range consists of 70 colors, 32 of them mono-pigmented and is compared in pigmentation and feel to Rembrandt professional oil colors. These paints can be mixed, thinned, as well as cleaned with water, or a series of mediums and varnishes are available to enhance the experience.
4.  Winsor & Newton — “Artisan Water Mixable Oil Color”, produced using modified linseed and safflower oil.
5.  Lukas — “Lukas Berlin” water mixable artists’ oil color.  A professional quality paint produced using selected pigments, modified linseed and sunflower oils as binders. Available in 24 colors in tube size 9 (37 ml) and 14 (200 ml).
6.  Reeves — a water-mixable oil paint of student grade produced is a school pack of 144, 12 ml (0.4 oz.) tubes.
7.   Martin/F. Weber Co. — This is a water mixable oil color produced to emulate traditional oil color  It will thin and clean up with water in place of solvents.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Cooling Fat While Exercising May Be Key

Ice

Cooling Fat While Exercising May Be Key

I’m always looking for secrets to getting the most from exercising.  I don’t really love to exercise, but understand it’s importance in creating and maintaining overall health.

The New York  Times reported recently that a study of athletes may have unlocked the key for overweight people who struggle with overheating while exercising.

The secret?  Adding cooling temperatures while exercising via cooling devices may be a huge game changer.

Someone who exercises and is at or near goal weight may not understand the issues overweight people face when their body starts to heat.

However, for  some people, carrying extra fat may prevent the body from naturally dissipating heat, causing a steep rise in the body’s core temperature which leads to becoming exhausted much faster.

The Body Overheating Quickly

Times reporter Anahad O’Connor explained that the possibility of the body overheating quickly and causing exhaustion may be a major hurdle for exercising for some overweight people.  Experts constantly advise Americans to exercise moderately for at least two and a half hours a week to achieve optimal health. 

Ice Water

When overweight people try to exercise, but become overheated and exhausted, they are more likely to abandon the commitment to work on their health.

Fatigue and exhaustion blocks the perceived benefit of exercising.  If an overweight person views exercise as a source of constant exhaustion they are probably going to avoid it.

The Times reported that researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found that simply carrying a cold thermos can have the same effect as wearing a cooling vest or similar.

Stanford University School Of Medicine Study

The Stanford study which has been published in The Circulation Journal found that obese women aged 30 to 45 with no other health problems who held in their hands while exercising had better results than those who didn’t carry the devices.

The women took part in three group exercise sessions a week for three months.

Ice Cubes

According to the Times, by the end of the Stanford study, those in the “cool” group had a better attendance rate than the controls — 98 percent versus 80 percent — and saw their aerobic activity progress at a greater rate. They increased their duration and speed on the treadmill, and had greater improvements in blood pressure, heart rate and waist size.

Freeze A Bottle Of Water To Hold While Exercising

Stacy T. Sims, lead author of the study said you can achieve the same effect by freezing a bottle of water and then holding it as you run or exercise.

Of course you still have to do the exercise but holding a cold bottle of water may give you more stamina and help in many other ways.

I don’t know if this works or not, but I’m definitely going to try it.  What do I have to lose, but maybe some extra inches?

HairBoutique.com Blog

Pregnancy.org Is Great Website For Parents

Pregnancy.org Is Great Website For Parents

Image Of New Baby

I recently became acquainted with Mollee Bauer, the General Manager-Publisher for the fabulous Pregnancy.org.  After meeting Mollee on a popular social media channel, I made a beeline for Pregnancy.org to check it out.

Although I’m not a parent or wannabe parent, I did write a hair and beauty column for a handful of pregnancy magazines in the late 1990s into 2000.  I think it’s fair to say I have awareness of what it takes to produce exceptional content in the pregnancy, baby and parent genres.

When I stopped by Pregnancy.org I was completely blown away.  The site’s mission statement is that they’re built “By Parents, For Parents™.”

Indeed, every aspect of parenting is covered from pre-baby, pregnancy and post baby to all the challenges of being parents and raising children to be good adults.  The site is very impressive and worthy of high praise.

Pregnancy.org was built to “educate, empower, and connect parents and people try to become parents.”  The purpose of the site is for “love of children” and the “desire to do” the “very best raising them to become good adults.”

If that doesn’t impress you away, they also note that they believe “parenting is a sacred responsibility and that education and communication will help us fulfill this responsibility the best we can.”

Pregnant Jessica Simpson

What Pregnancy.Org Offers Their Visitors

Pregnancy.org empowers their visitors by providing on-line webinars and educational events, forums that cover fertility, conception, pregnancy, labor, delivery and parenting and more.

They also offer podcasts, blogs, articles, pregnancy calendars and bbt charts.  Their many tools enable their visitors to track their fertility, fetal development and growth of wee ones. Pregnancy.org has an extensive video library which covers everything from getting pregnant to baby and beyond.

Hair And Pregnancy

The brilliant site offer some interesting and information articles about hair ranging from pregnancy and postpartum hair loss to addressing issues with bleaching, dying or highlighting hair during pregnancy.   There’s also celebrity hair talk and answers to questions such as whether laser hair removal is acceptable and when during the pregnancy cycle.

Since this website covers all stages of parenthood, they also address preschoolers, toddlers and children who pull hair or have other aggressive hair related behaviors.  All parenthood related hair issues are covered in a variety of formats from articles, tips, blogs and columns to forums.

Highest Of Ethics

Child And Father

Pregnancy.org is a for-profit site.  They make no bones about it.  However, they’re not just in existence to make money.  They have the highest of ethics refusing to advertise products which might be lucrative, but not necessarily of the highest ethics.

They pledge not to accept any sponsorship which directly or indirectly interferes with their published mission.  They also won’t accept advertising of products which they believe directly compromises their ethics.

Pregnancy.org also does community outreach.  They believe there are many people out in the community who need assistance and they do their very best to be there for them.

Community Outreach

We do community outreach. There are many folks out there that will need our help. We’re planning on being there for you!

Bottom line, Pregnancy.org is a group of people working together to create a common goal: the greatest resource and community for people who want to have kids, are pregnant, are raising children or even beginning to take care of our own parents. Nobody’s above, or below, anybody else.

If you’re trying to become pregnant, currently pregnant, or a parent you need to check out this website and community.  It would be very advantageous to join so that you can take advantage of all the site has to offer.   Participate as much or as little as you want because regardless of your involvement, Pregnancy.org will always welcome you.

You can also check them out on Twitter at @pregnancyorg or Facebook at pregnancyorg.  Pregnancy.org is always growing and evolving, to become the best pregnancy and parenting site out there!

HairBoutique.com Blog

Wearing Emo Hairstyles Can Get You Killed

Pete Wentz With Emo Hairstyle

Wearing Emo Hairstyles Can Get You Killed

As crazy as it may sound to some, according to Reuters, at least 14 youths have been stoned to death in Baghdad over the past three weeks due to their hairstyles and Western-style clothing.

The style which was under attack is known as the Emo style.  In a campaign launched by Shi’ite militants, youths wearing Emo haircuts and fashions were the targets.

Ironically, this is not the first time that the Emo movement, which is very controversial has triggered violence.

What Is Emo?

Emo is often referred to as short for emotional.  It has a popular stereotype of being linked to emotional, sensitive, shy, introverted, or angst-ridden people and behaviors.  On the negative side it has also been associated with depression, self-injury, and suicide.

A form of punk music, Emo developed in the United States in the mid-1980s.  The Emo subculture has long been reflected in hair and fashion.  Emo fans and followers are known for their distinctive dress, often including tight slim-fit jeans, sometimes in bright color.

Fashion from the subculture also generally includes tight T-shirts with short sleeves emblazoned with logos from Emo bands.   Studded belts and black wristbands are common accessories as are various piercings.   Skull accessories and some types of tattoos are also used to represent the subculture in some circles.

Some males who adopt the Emo fashion also wear thick, black horn-rimmed glasses as well as distinctive earrings.   Pete Wentz, although tied to a later Emo Pop movement is considered by many to be a past poster boy for Emo hair and fashion.

Emo Hairstyles

The Emo fashion is also recognized for its hairstyles. Popular looks include long side-swept bangs, sometimes covering one or both eyes. Also popular is hair that is straightened and dyed black. Bright colors, such as blue, pink, red, or bleached blond, are also typical as highlights in Emo hairstyles. Short, choppy layers of hair are also common.

This fashion has at times been characterized as a fad. In the early 2000s, Emo fashion was associated with a clean cut look, but as the style spread to younger teens, the style has become darker, with long bangs and emphasis on the color black replacing sweater vests.

Emo Death Warnings In Baghdad

Reporting on the hair related murders in Baghdad, Ahmed Rasheed and Mohammed Ameer reported that the stonings have taken place in Shi’ite neighborhoods where lists are circulated naming youths who are targeted to be killed if they do not immediately abandon the Emo hairstyles and clothing.

Reason For Iraq Attack Of Emo Image

Why is the Emo image under attack?  Last month Iraq’s interior ministry labeled the subculture as being Satanic and ordering community police forces to immediately stamp it out.

At least 14 bodies of youths have been brought to three hospitals in eastern Baghdad bearing signs of having been beaten to death with rocks or bricks, security and hospital sources told Reuters under condition they not be identified because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Nine bodies were brought to hospitals in Sadr City, a vast, poor Shi’ite neighborhood, three were brought to East Baghdad’s main al-Kindi hospital and two were brought to the central morgue, medical sources said.   Six other young people, including two girls, were wounded in beatings intended as warnings, the security sources said.

“Last week I signed the death certificates of three of those young people, and the reason for death I wrote in my own hand was severe skull fractures,” a doctor at al-Kindi hospital told Reuters. “A very powerful blow to the head caused these fractures which totally smashed the skull of the victim.”

Iraqi Ministry Claims Emo Related Stonings Are Fabrications

After reports of the stonings circulated on Iraqi media, the interior ministry said this week that no murders on its files could be blamed on the reaction to “emo”.

“Many media have reported fabricated news reports about the so-called ‘emo’ phenomenon – stories about tens of young people killed in various ways, including stoning,” the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

“No murder case has been recorded with the interior ministry on so-called ‘emo’ grounds. All cases of murder recorded were for revenge, social and common criminal reasons.”

Clerics Denouce Emo Stonings

Iraq’s leading Shi’ite clerics have condemned the stoning actions.  Abdul-Raheem al-Rikabi, Baghdad representative for Iraq’s most influential Shi’ite cleric, Ali al-Sistani, called the killings “terrorist attacks”.

“Such a phenomenon which has spread among young people should be tackled through dialogue and peaceful means and not through physical liquidation,” Rikabi told Reuters.

After the demise of Saddam Hussein, most of Baghdad’s neighborhoods were under the firm grip of Sunni and Shi’ite religious militias which enforced strict dress codes.  As the militias presence disappeared many Iraqi youths began to experiment with Western styles even though the majority of Iraqi society remains extremely conservative.

Emo Backlash In Other Countries

Although Emo hair and fashions have generated the current news in Iraq, backlash against Emo fans is not new.  The movement has a history of being very controversial.

Time Magazine reported in 2008 that “anti-emo” groups attacked teenagers in Mexico City, Querétaro, and Tijuana.

In Russia, a law was presented at the Duma to regulate emo websites and forbid emo style at schools and government buildings, for fears of emo being a “dangerous teen trend” promoting anti-social behavior, depression, social withdrawal and even suicide.

In May 2010 in Saudi Arabia, the religious police in the city of Dammam arrested 10 emo girls for allegedly offensive un-Islamic behavior and dress.

Now in Iraq there is a real danger of dying for wearing Emo hairstyles and fashions.  Will this trend continue or is it just a temporary reaction by conservatives to the subculture?

HairBoutique.com Blog

Muslim Hairstyles On Turkish Catwalks

Turkish Fashion

Muslim Hairstyles On Turkish Catwalks

Two years ago, in the Spring of 2010, CNN covered an Islamic women’s fashion show in Istanbul, Turkey.  CNN revealed some interesting new trends developing on the catwalks.  Although the fashion shows highlight traditional Islamic clothing, the models are rarely Muslim.

The young women showcasing Muslim headscarves, carefully wrapped up coats, dresses, bathing suits and gowns are tall, leggy professionals from Europe, Latin and bordering countries.

Although the models are used to walking the runways in body baring outfits and an array of couture worthy hairstyles, for the Turkish show the primary goal for the body, and the hair, is to completely cover it.

Whereas fashion shows in Italy, Paris and New York are buzzing with famous fashion hair stylists and their legions of assistants, in the Muslim world hair is rarely shown outside the privacy of the home.

Although hair driers are used to prepare the model for the runway, it’s mainly to secure hair into tight ponytails, buns or other hairstyles which hug the head.   Since they have to wear two-piece bonnets on their head, their hair needs to fit snugly underneath.

Muslim Fashions For 2012

Muslim fashions typically only show the face and the hands.  The neck and ears are completely covered.  So is the hair.

Although hair is a no-show on the Turkish catwalks,  Muslim fashions are in big demand.  An exporter was quoted as saying the fashions are exported to 35 different countries with more to eventually follow.

Introduction Of Bright Colors

One positive trend in the Muslim fashion world is the introduction of brightly hued costumes along with a pastel hued swimsuit collection.

While the swimsuit still completely covers the Muslim body, the Hasema, as they are called, are manufactured to allow women to swim and exercise at the beach or pool while still following customs.   In the past Islamic burqa style fashions for women were traditionally gray or black.  Now they are brightly hued and very fashion forward.

Over the past few years Muslim women are following fashion trends, at least within the realm of color.  Which explains the introduction of rich hues such as pink, yellow and blue.  Sequins, rhinestones and Swarovski crystals are also making their way to the evolving fashion lines.

Fedora Topped Muslim Scarf

Muslim women are also demanding multiple options.  Dress designs which used to be limited to a handful now cover hundreds.

Will Hair Eventually Make An Appearance?

One question is whether or not the hood tops will start to become more fashionable and decorative along with the dresses.  Another question is whether hair will start to make an appearance as well under the hoods?

The answer to both questions is yes.  Muslim fashions for 2012 continue to leap forward in terms of styling and color.  Not only are the hood tops continuing to become more colorful and elegant, hints of hair may even peek out along the hairline.

The challenge is to maintain the traditional customs to keep hair and head covered.

For 2012 Muslim fashions have come along way incorporating leather, denim and even Fedoras which top the traditional scarves and hood tops.  Muslim fashion is big business and becoming bigger with each passing season.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Get Nicki Minaji Lips Instantly

Bobbi Brown Neon Lip Glosses

Get Nicki Minaji Lips Instantly

Katy Perry and Lady Gaga have pushed the  boundaries of hair color introducing an array of shocking shades from neon pink, purple and blue to lime green, orange and red.

As I mentioned in a recent blog, tangerine orange has been deemed the it color for hair, cosmetics, fashions and accessories.

Obviously neon colors, whether tangerine or not, are huge for 2012.  Make-up maven Bobbi Brown has thrown her lip glosses into the Day-Glo ring with a collection of Neon Lip Glosses ($23 each) which instantly allows anyone to channel Nicki Minaji, Katy Perry or Lady Gaga with a quick swipe.

At first glance the Neon Lip Glosses might seem like just too much but in all fairness the Bobbi Brown glosses are sheer.

While they look very intimidating in the packaging, when applied, they’re actually quite sheer.  Which means that you can walk on the Neon wild side with just a tiny pop of color.

Anyone who wants to celebrate the latest bright hues can tip toe through the Neon without major commitment and still channel a small pick of Minaji Magic.

OPI Tangerine Nail Polish

If you wish to jump onto the new Tangerine craze Stila offers there Stila Lip Glaze Gloss in Tangerine, Sweet Orange, Apricot, Peach, Honeydew and Mango.

If the thought of adopting tangerine orange hair color, eye shadow, lip stick or fashions is too intimidating you can also enjoy the hot color with nail polish.

Luckily OPI offers an array of tangerine shades.

Nail The New Tangerine Orange Shade

OPI’s Totally Tangerine from the Brights Collection provides a great pop of rich orange color.

Other options include OPI’s Osaka-To-Me-Orange  from the Japanese Collection,  OPI’s Tangerine Scene Psychedelic Summer Collection, OPI’s Y’All Come Back Ya Hear – Texas Collection or OPI’s Clubbing Till Sunrise from Sunrise South Beach Collection.

Tangerine Hued Earrings - Soho Beat From HairBoutique.com Marketplace

Tangerine looks excellent against skin which has either a natural golden hue from either a real of faux tan.

Tangerine Accessories

The gorgeous uplifting color can also be worn against peach, cream, olive or black skin and attract major attention.  Tangerine is a cheerful, optimistic color which brightens any dark day.

For other skin tones Tangerine might work better as an accessory such as earrings, rings, headbands, clips or similar.  Tangerine can also provide a fabulous pop of color when worn as shoes, scarves, belts or handbags.

Tangerine is a brilliant color which instantly attracts attention.

Tangerine looks spectacular when paired with dark shades such as blue or black. It also looks great with white, off-white and the lighter neutral colors.  Tangerine looks great with gold.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Hair Color Of 2012 – Reddish Orange Tangerine

Haley Williams With Tangerine Orange Hair Color

Hair Color Of 2012 – Reddish Orange Tangerine

Do you ever wonder where hot new hair colors originate?  I used to ponder that very question until a famous New York colorist told me yearly hair color trends spring from the interior design world.  At first I didn’t believe her.  Then I did a little research and discovered she was right on.

Not only does the interior design world influence those stunning hair colors your favorite celebrities showcase on the Red Carpets, the industry also has an impact on fabrics, patterns and overall design styles.

If you want a sneak peak of what to expect with regard to hair color and style trends you can look to the Pantone Color Institute® which  picks a color for every new year.  In 2011 the official Pantone color was Honeysuckle or PANTONE 18-2120.

Honeysuckle was replaced in 2012 with Tangerine Tango, described by the Pantone Color Institute® as “sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive,”  Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute® describes Tangerine Tango as “an orange with a lot of depth to it.”

It’s definitely a spirited reddish orange which provides a major energy boost.  It is definitely the appropriate color for 2012 as the world seeks to move forward, rebuild and recharge.  While you might not think of orange as sophisticated, when fused with red it definitely has that sense of drama and seductiveness.

Haley Williams With Tangerine Orange Hair

Eiseman explains Tangerine Tango is “reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset. Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

Will red orange bet he new go-to hair color for 2012?   Of course not for everyone,  but certainly those seeking a hair color in the red family may find themselves seduced by the tangerine hue.

While not everyone will head for their favorite colorist to turn their locks red orange, expect to see the color popping up on the catwalks and Red Carpets.

Fashion designers Tommy Hilfiger, Nanette Lepore, Cynthia Steffe by Shaun Kearney, Elie Tahari and Adrienne Vittadini are reportedly incorporating the sizzling tangerine into their 2012 Spring Collections.

The advantage of the tangerine hue is that it can be lightened for Spring and Summer but darkened for autumn into early winter.  It is also a departure from traditional black, red or the metal hued shades of the past.

Haley Williams With Tangerine Red Hair

It can work in a variety of ways in the fashion world as the key focus or in accessories such as handbags, shoes, belts, scarves or hats.

Expect it to show up on hair accessories such as headbands, crystallized clips, barrettes and hair pins.Tangerine Tango is also expected to take the cosmetics world by storm in 2012.  Although exotic, it’s considered friendly and non-threatening.

Tangerine can bring a sultriness when used as an eye shadow, on nails, with cheeks or on lips.

According to the Pantone Color Institute® Tangerine is a complementary opposite which flatters blue or green eyes. When paired with brown eyes, it brings out an amber cast.

If Tangerine is too dramatic for your hair, cosmetics or clothing, you can still enjoy the hue in your home with pillows, bedspreads or other accessories.

You may or may not want to paint a wall with the hot color since after all 2013 will usher in a brand new hue.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Kylie Minogue Big Curly Hair

Kylie Minogue On Cover Of Stylist Magazine With Big Hair

Kylie Minogue Big Curly Hair

The UK’s Mirror recently shared some photos of rock icon Kylie Minogue with big curly hair.  Her gigantic tresses could beam her back into the 60s or the 80s in a snap of the fingers or a click of the beaming machine buttons.

The Mirror was covering the news that Stylist magazine let 25 fashion designers, including Tom Ford and Chanel, dress Kylie up in a variety of stunning fashions.

The beautiful outfits were finished with eye popping, mouth dropping make-up and hair including Kylie rocking big bad hair studded with curls around the edges.

Kylie appears on the cover of Stylist Magazine for February 2012 which celebrates her amazing career spanning 25 years..  Ironically this world famous talent is being celebrated while the world mourns the passing of Whitney Houston.

Celebrating 25 Years Of Great Success As Recording Artist

Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE  (born 28 May 1968) — often known simply as Kylie — is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, showgirl, and actress.

After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing her career as a recording artist in 1987.

Kylie Minoque With Blonde Updo in 2008

Her first single, “Locomotion”, spent seven weeks at number one on the Australian singles chart and became the highest selling single of the decade. This led to a contract with songwriters and producers Stock, Aitken & Waterman.

Her debut album, Kylie (1988), and the single “I Should Be So Lucky”, each reached number one in the United Kingdom, and over the next two years, her first 13 singles reached the British top ten.

Her debut film, The Delinquents (1989) was a box-office hit in Australia and the UK despite negative reviews.

Kylie’s Career Played Out In Her Hair

The beautiful singer who has endured her own personal trials and tribulations (cancer, personal loss, public scandals involving lovers) during the course of her amazing career has always thrilled fans with her ever changing hair colors, lengths and hair styles.

Kylie has had ever imaginable hair style from her shaved head during her highly publicized cancer battle to stunning permed corkscrew curls in the 80s.  She’s had every imaginable color of hair over the years and continues to surprise fans and the media with her always changing style.

Kylie Minogue With Ringlet Curls In 2002

Using Kylie as a celebrity paper doll and dressing her up in a dizzying array of glam fashions with matching accessories, hair and lips was truly inspired.

World famous hairstylist Danilo who has worked with many rock princesses including Lady Gaga created the stunning hairstyles to go with the drop dead fashions.

Interview Questions With Kylie And Other Celebs

Accompanying the stunning array of fashions and accessories including Jimmy Choos were interview questions presented to Kylie by other celebrities.

Wisely Kylie explained why she no longer provides answers to every question she’s asked.  Forget about asking her nosy personal questions about her love life, whether she’s going to have kids and her health.  Kylie learned that she has the right to say none of your business.  Good for her.

As far as her hair goes Kylie might be more willing to answer questions if it’s appropriate and not too personal.

Or maybe not.  After all, sometimes talking about hair can be even more personal then asking about their procreation plans for the future.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Are 90s Hairstyles Making A Comeback?

Donna Mills - Knots Landing - Early 1990s Hairstyles

Are 90s Hairstyles Making A Comeback?

The UK’s Guardian, is reporting a return to the 90s and it’s decade of anti-fashion, major grunge and heavily tousled hairstyles.

Are we seriously headed for round two of The Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Donna Mills or Meg Ryan’s famous tousled shag or Demi Moore’s shaved head (GI Jane)?

Or what about the various renditions of the bob hairstyle which was very popular for those wanting to achieve a more finished style than some of the popular grunge inspired hair.

Donna Mills was one of the stars of TV’s Knots Landing which ended its long run in 1993.   Her early 90s shaggy hairstyle was much admired for it teased sexy layers and heavily frosted edges.

Johnny Davis, deputy editor of Esquire and former editor of The Face told The Guardian “Trends have a tendency to move in 20-year cycles,” says “In retrospect, we’ve come to realise that the 1990s was a very fertile period.”

Return of Versace

It’s not really surprising that there’s a renewed interest in the 90s.  Recently there’s been a proliferation of grunge on the catwalk.  For spring/summer 2012, D&G sent its models down the catwalk in signature 90s printed handkerchiefs worn as dresses. Isabel Marant re-purposed 90s-style hi-top trainers alongside over-sized flannel shirts.  Archetypal 90s label Versace was back doing couture for the first time in 15 years.

Geena Davis As Thelma With Big 90s Style Curls

Of course when a period is revived it often returns with an updated viewpoint.  Although Beverly Hills 90219, Melrose Place and Friends were popular in the 90s, will the 2012 version of hair line up with The Rachel, Phoebe Bouffet’s long hippie inspired tresses or long wave inspired hairstyle.

90s Movie Revivals

Thelma & Louise hit movie screens in 1991.  Who can forget Geena Davis (Thelma Dickinson) with her big head of curly hair which almost looked fake.  The actress actually has naturally curly hair.  For the movie it was styled to reflect the big teased curls of the era.

90s style movies such as Men in Black III, Scary Movie 5 and a follow-up to American Pie are all scheduled to hit cinemas in 2012.  These sequels bring back the golden age in cinema for teens which also included the wildly popular Clueless (1995) and Scream.

Kay Barron, fashion features editor at Harper’s Bazaar, thinks the 90s revival has been brewing for a few seasons, but “its moment is now”.

She adds: “The decade was all about extremes, and that is what we are seeing again now. Where Versace were bringing out the supermodels and sending them down the catwalk in neon, at the same time Marc Jacobs was focusing on grunge, with flannel shirts and beanies.

Some fashion watchers believe that returning to the 90s dovetails nicely with current social mood which calls for validation.

Linda Evangelista With 1990s Short Hairstyle

Return Of  Super Models

The 90s were ripe with super models such as Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen and Linda Evangelista, to name a few.   During the 90s Evangelista was famous for her array of vibrantly colored short hairstyles which were often combined with an array of short eyebrow skimming bangs.

All three are back in various new roles which also heralds the return to the 90s.  Campbell has signed with Roberto Cavalli, Christensen is modelling for Reebok and Linda Evangelista is modelling for magazine covers.

Women’s Hair

As the 1990s dawned, the big teased curly hairstyles gave way to sleeker curls with less backcombing.  Hair historians note that the hairstyles worn between early 1990 and 1995 were actually a revival of hairstyles favored in the 1960s.  As 1995 took hold, natural texture was replaced by straight, sleek, smooth hair.

Crops, chops and the pixie cut were also popular in the 1990s.  The Pixie was also an updated 1960s reinvention from the popular pixies of Twiggy and Mia Farrow in Rosemary’s Baby.

The Rachel haircut reportedly resembled elements of the Marlo Thomas haircut from TV’s That Girl.

Marlo Thomas In TV Show That Girl From 1960

Straight hair was  often styled with a short fringe cut just above the eyebrows.  This hairstyle is sometimes referred to as a hime cut.  Women with naturally textured or curly hair would rely on  relaxers to achieve sleek straight hair. In the mid 1990s this style went out or fashion until its revival in the late-2000s.

Men’s Hairstyles

Men’s hair became increasingly shorter from the early 1990s onwards. In the early 90s curtained hair (sometimes dyed blond) and small ponytails were popular among certain groups of men.

Side-partings were briefly popular in the mid-1990s before head-shaving had become an acceptable way of dealing with male pattern baldness. In the late 1990s variants of the quiff became popular among young professional men.

Teen Hairstyles

Long hair was popular for teens in the early to mid-1990s.  This included collar-length curtained hair, shaggy surfer hair popular among some Britpop fans and hard core dreadlocks.  This pattern changed in the mid-1990s when the bowl cut became a fad among skaters.

JenniferAniston Wearing The Rachel

Hip-hop fans wore a variant of the flattop known as the Hi-top fade.

In the late 1990s hair was usually buzzed very short for an athletic look although a few grunge fans grew their hair long in reaction to this.

Headbands and ponytail elastics, known as scrunchies, were popular with girls throughout most of the 1990s.  Popular hairstyles included side ponytails and bangs.

Summary

Will the hairstyles of the 1990s again become popular with women, men and teens?  It may already be happening.

Emma Watson has been named as the celebrity with the best hair for her super short pixie.    Men are also starting to sport much longer hairstyles and small ponytails are popping up in certain areas of the country.

It’s definitely true that fashion and hair trends often reappear in twenty (20) year cycles.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Does Hair Guru Ted Gibson Love Pink Hair

Katy Perry With Pink Hair

Does Hair Guru Ted Gibson Love Pink Hair

Ted Gibson is a hair god both inside and outside of the hair industry.  He’s been interviewed by countless hair and beauty magazines, not to mention on a dizzing array of appearances on

In an interview with BehindTheChair.com, in March of 2007, when asked about his favorite color he said “I love pink!  Who doesn’t?”   Does his love of pink extend to the hot new hair color trend sweeping the Red Carpets and fashion runways?

New Hair Inspiration

Probably.  Why?  Even though Ted doesn’t specialize in hair color (his partner Jason Backe is the color guru) he strives to keep hair “fresh each season.”

The famous hairstylist searches for new hair inspiration during his travels, by reading books and looking deep within himself to decide new directions to take his work. His favorite locations for gaining new inspiration includes The South of France, the Caribbean and New York City.

The Texas born hairstylist originally dreamed of growing up to become a Dallas Cowboy football player.  Life doesn’t always take us where we think we want to go and luckily for his many hair clients, Ted’s early life as part of a military family opened his eyes to beauty in many cultures.  After achieving great success in barber school, he knew that he wanted hair to be his life.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Emu Oil – Benefit Or Bane For Your Hair?

Emu

Emu Oil – Benefit Or Bane For Your Hair?

In the January 26, 1999 issue of Sun Magazine the amazing healing powers of emul oil was featured.  According to Sun,  Australian aborigines have relied on the large flightless emu for meat, feathers and medicine for thousands of years.

The oil extracted from emu fat is also treasured as a potent natural pain-killer.  It reportedly speeds relief to strained muscles, arthritic bones and damaged skin.

Hair and beauty experts have also raved about the hydrating and moisturizing effects of emu oil for dry, parched strands.  Animal rights activists have expressed outrage at the use of emu oil in hair and beauty products because the only way to harvest the oil is to kill the emu to extract the oil from their fat.

David Scott, president of Rate Enterprises, a company specializing in emu oil products said “we know that emu oil works well on just about anything you do with it.”

Modern Day Benefits Of Emu Oil

The Sun noted that Western science is only now catching up, using the powerful outback remedy effective against a host of modern-day ailments.  A study at Texas Tech University showed burns treated with emu oil healed 50 percent faster – and without any ugly scars.

Other experiments found aging skin increased in thickness by two to three times when treated with emu oil, eliminating wrinkles and age spots.  The itchy redness of psoriasis, eczema and other skin conditions will fade away thanks to the moisturizing oil.

Effect On High Cholesterol And Arthritis

Hair Oil

When taken internally, emu oil has even been claimed to lower unhealthy levels of high cholesterol.  Arthritis sufferers report that their agony gets rubbed away thanks to the analgesic oil, which is now used in the Arthritis and Joint Replacement Center of Tennessee’s Vanderbilt Hospital.

And sports trainers in the NFL, NHL, NBA and PGA are using emu oil to reduce joint pain and muscle aches for professional athletes.

Tests done at the University of Texas Occupational Dermatology Laboratory demonstrated emu oil’s power comes from two potent ingredients:  a penetrating agent called oleic acid and the natural painkiller liolenic acid.

“Chiropractors and occupational therapists are using the oil as a skin linricant to faciliate a better massage and to penetrate the muscle,” claims emu farmer Joe Cates.  He also says “the oil relaxes and holds the relaxation in the muscle better than other products they have found.”

FDA Warnings

The FDA U.S. Food And Drug Administration is not as sure about emu oil.  In fact, they included emu oil in their 2009 article on health frauds and listed the oil as #1 in Tip-Offs to Rip-Offs.   The FDA specifically warns they “determined that a pure emu oil product marketed to treat or cure a wide range of diseases was an unapproved drug. Its marketer has never submitted to FDA data to support the product’s safe and effective use.”

Honey

The FDA also warns of products like emu oil which claim to do it all.  The FDA states “be suspicious of products that claim to cure a wide range of unrelated diseases–particularly serious diseases, such as cancer and diabetes.

No product can treat every disease and condition, and for many serious diseases, there are no cures, only therapies to help manage them.”

The FDA also says “Cancer, AIDS, diabetes, and other serious diseases are big draws because people with these diseases are often desperate for a cure and willing to try just about anything.”

Personal Testimonial Warnings

Personal testimonies can tip you off to health fraud because they are difficult to prove.

Often, says Reynaldo Rodriguez, a compliance officer and health fraud coordinator for FDA’s Dallas district office, testimonials are personal case histories that have been passed on from person to person. Or, the testimony can be completely made up.  “This is the weakest form of scientific validity,” Rodriguez says. “It’s just compounded hearsay.”

Oils

Some patients’ favorable experiences with a fraudulent product may be due more to a remission in their disease or from earlier or concurrent use of approved medical treatments, rather than use of the fraudulent product itself.

Quick Fix Warnings

The FDA also says to be wary of talk that suggests a product can bring quick relief or provide a quick cure, especially if the disease or condition is serious. Even with proven treatments, few diseases can be treated quickly.

Note also that the words “in days” can really refer to any length of time. Fraud promoters like to use ambiguous language like this to make it easier to finagle their way out of any legal action that may result.

Can Emu Oil Cure Dry, Parched Hair?

Emu oil is recommended as a hot oil treatment to nourish the scalp, the strands and the ends.  It is also thought, but not proven, to help promote cell regeneration and wake up inactive hair follicles.

Can you use emu hair for your own tresses?  It never hurts to try a product which might help your hair.  Of course if you are against killing animals for use in hair or beauty products you may not wish to experiment with this famous oil.  Should you pay attention to FDA warnings?  Of course, but ultimately you have to make your own decision based on the results you see.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Zoe Saldana’s Modern Fresh Braided Chignon – How To

Zoe Saldana

Zoe Saldana’s Modern Fresh Braided Chignon – How To

Zoe Saldana stepped out in style at the 2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards® (SAGs) with a tousled chignon which was fresh and modern.  It was styled using Wella Professionals products.

The beautiful brunette’s hair stylist, Mara Roszak, provided her secret hairstyling tips on how you can create Zoe’s star-worthy hair style at home.

Mara explained that she was inspired to create Zoe’s hairstylist based on her gown.  She said “Zoe’s dress was so inspiring. I wanted to create a “not too perfect” up-do by adding texture and movement to the hair, while keeping it modern and fresh.”

Zoe dressed in a billowing white gown, with floral and sequin embellishments.  Many of the fashionistas were divided about her gown but Zoe definitely looked stunning in white.

The hairstyle Roszak crafted for Zoe was fun, fresh, flirty and showed off Zoe’s gorgeous skin tone, eyes and lips.

Step-by-Step Styling

1. Start by cleansing detangled hair in lukewarm with desired products and methodology. If your hair is brunette like Zoe’s it requires tender loving care (TLC).

Zoe Saldana Braided Chignon

You may wish to cleanse hair with a color safe formula or by utilizing a Diluted Shampoo (DS) formulation, a conditioner only wash (CoWash) or a low or no poo cleanse.

2. Rinse hair well and then apply a rinse-out conditioner from the top of the ears down to the ends. Separate hair into horizontal sections and detangle hair from the ends to the roots with a wide tooth comb or fingers.

3. Once hair is completely detangled rinse well with lukewarm water. Finish with a cool/cold rinse to close the cuticles and add shine.

4. Towel blot hair to remove excess water.

5. Apply the desired styling cocktail to your wet strands. Your styling cocktail may include, but not be limited to a defrisant, leave-in conditioner, mousse or styling cream.

6. Apply Wella Professionals Extra Volume Mousse to wet hair and rough dry with hands and a blow dryer.

7.  Once hair is completely dry separate hair into 2-3″ horizontal sections.  Use a 3/4″ barrel curling iron to add waves to the hair.

8.  Rotate the direction of the iron to alternate the curl. Work around the head from side to side.

9.  Loosely pull the hair back into a low pony  and secure it with an elastic the same color as the hair.

Zoe Saldana's Braided Chignon

1o.  Split the pony into two sections.

11.  Braid both sides.  Wrap the braids into a bun positioned at the nape of the neck.

12.  Secure the bun with bobby pins the same color as her hair.

13.  Once hair is wrapped up into a bun and securely pinned, apply a dab of  Wella Professionals Bold Move styling paste to fingertips and define a few pieces around the hairline.

14. Finish by spraying hair all over with Wella Professionals Stay Firm hairspray.

Summary

Zoe’s hair looked healthy and shiny.  Her hair style can be re-created on any type, texture or color of hair, but to achieve the updo, the hair needs to be shoulder-length or longer.

If hair is naturally textured it may work best when dried straight to make it easier to twist into a bun like Zoe’s.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Emma Stone’s Polished Updo – How To

Emma Stone 2012 SAG Hairstyle

Emma Stone’s Polished Updo – How To

Emma Stone stepped out in style at the 2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards® (SAGs) with a flirty updo, styled using Wella Professionals!

The beautiful redhead’s long time hair stylist, Mara Roszak, provided her secret hairstyling tips on how you can create these star-worthy styles at home.

Mara explained “Emma’s dress was my inspiration. I wanted to create a smooth, polished up-do with a bit of a modern 50′s feel.”

Emma Stone rocked a little black dress which was simple, but sexy.  She went quirky in a three-quarter-length strapless black dress with stunning lace details. “The Help” star played up the fun aspect of the Alexander McQueen design with platform shoe which showed off her sexy legs.

The hairstyle Roszak crafted was fun, fresh, flirty and showed off Emma’s gorgeous skin tone, eyes and lips by framing with a sleek side-swept panel of hair along one side.

Step-by-Step Styling

1.  Start by cleansing detangled hair in lukewarm with desired products and methodology.  If your hair is red like Emma’s it requires tender loving care (TLC).  You may wish to cleanse hair with a color safe formula or by utilizing a Diluted Shampoo (DS) formulation, a conditioner only wash (CoWash) or a low or no poo cleanse.

Emma Stone Updo

2.  Rinse hair well and then apply a rinse-out conditioner from the top of the ears down to the ends.  Separate hair into horizontal sections and detangle hair from the ends to the roots with a wide tooth comb or fingers.

3.  Once hair is completely detangled rinse well with lukewarm water.  Finish with a cool/cold rinse to close the cuticles and add shine.

4.  Towel blot hair to remove excess water.

5.  Apply the desired styling cocktail to your wet strands.  Your styling cocktail may include, but not be limited to a defrisant, leave-in conditioner, mousse or styling cream.

6.  Part hair to the side.  Apply Wella Professionals Velvet Amplifier to wet hair,

7.  Separate hair into 2-3″ horizontal sections and blow dry with a round boar bristle or paddle brush to create a smooth finish.

8.  Once hair is completely dry, add a pump of Wella Professionals Mirror Polish to hands.  Apply the Polish lightly to hair, starting at the ends, to smooth out any fly-a-ways.

Emma Stone Red Carpet Updo

9. Use a teasing brush.  Separate out some of the crown hair.  Tease the crown to add a little height

10.  Once the crown area has been teased to the desired height pull all of the hair into mid-height ponytail.

11.  Twist the ponytail  wrapping it into a bun.

12.  Secure the bun with bobby pins in the same hue as the current hair color.

13.  Finish by spraying hair all over with Wella Professionals Stay Firm hairspray.

Summary

Although Emma has transitioned through a range of hair colors from platinum to her current luscious red, her hair looks healthy and shiny.

Emma’s hair style can be re-created on any type, texture or color of hair, but to achieve the updo, the hair needs to be shoulder-length or longer.  If hair is naturally textured it may work best when dried straight to make it easier to twist into a bun like Emma’s.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Coconut Oil Hair Treatments Prevent Damage

Hair Oils

Coconut Oil Hair Treatments Prevent Damage

Hair oiling is a very big topic in the natural hair community.  It’s also important for anyone with long hair or who is trying to grow their hair long.  Applying oil to the hair is often done as a pre-cleansing treatment, after washing and styling hair as a sealant or in-between hair cleansings to seal and protect.

One of the big concerns with hair oiling is selecting the very best oils to use on the hair.  The list of potential oils which can be used for oiling hair is very long ranging from sweet almond oil, coconut oil, mineral oil and sunflower oil, to name a few.

The key to finding a great hair oil is to find one which not only penetrates the hair shaft, but also assists in preventing protein loss of the treated hair.

Evaluating Three Of The Most Popular Hair Oils

Extensive studies utilizing a strict methodology evaluated and compared the properties of mineral, sunflower and coconut oil on hair.  The ultimate goal of the experiments was to cover different oil treatments as well as the the effect of these treatments on various hair types.

Coconut

After evaluating three of the most popular hair oils – sunflower, coconut and mineral – The National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine published a report which shows coconut oil to be superior for preventing damage to human hair of all types.

The oils were tested utilizing the Taguchi Design of Experimentation.

Sunflower oil (SFO) was tested because it is thought to make an excellent hair oil.  It’s considered excellent because it’s the second most utilized base oil in the hair oil industry.

Sunflower oil is a popular hair oil base because it’s odorless at ambient temperatures and has non-freezing properties.

Mineral oil (MO) is also a popular hair oil formulation because it’s non-greasy and much cheaper than sunflower or related vegetable oils.

Coconut Oil Is Only Oil Found To Reduce Protein Loss

The findings clearly indicate the strong impact which coconut oil application has to hair, as compared to application of both sunflower and mineral oils.

Hair Oils

Among the three tested oils, coconut oil was the only oil found to reduce the protein loss remarkably for both undamaged and damaged hair when used as a pre-wash and post-wash grooming product.

Both sunflower and mineral oils do not help at all in reducing the protein loss from hair.  This difference in results could arise from the composition of each of these oils.

Ability For Oils To Properly Penetrate The Hair Shaft

Coconut oil is a triglyceride of lauric acid.  It’s a principal fatty acid and has a high affinity for hair proteins.  Because of its low molecular weight and straight linear chain, coconut oil is able to successfully penetrate inside the hair shaft.

Mineral oil, being a hydrocarbon, has no affinity for proteins and therefore is not able to penetrate the hair.

Oils

In the case of sunflower oil, although it is a triglyceride of linoleic acid, because of its bulky structure due to the presence of double bonds, it does not penetrate the hair fiber, consequently resulting in no favorable impact on protein loss.

Summary

When evaluating whether to use coconut, sunflower or mineral oil on your hair, keep in mind that coconut oil has been tested and compared to both sunflower and mineral oil.

In those tests, coconut oil was found to be the only oil which can successfully penetrate inside the hair shaft.  Coconut oil also has a high affinity for hair proteins and will help in reduce protein loss from the hair.

When it comes times to reach for a product to oil your hair, reach for the coconut oil for its proven hair benefits.

HairBoutique.com Blog

PCOS And Women’s Hair Loss

WomensHairLoss

PCOS And Women’s Hair Loss

Women suffer more intensely from hair loss than from men.  However, a lot of progress has been made in diagnosing the underlying cause of hair loss specifically for women.

There can be a wide range of causes for the loss but one well-known cause is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

PCOS is known to impact nearly 60 per cent of women worldwide now have some degree of PCOS.

PCOS is a hormonal disorder which can definitely cause hair loss, a range of scalp and skin problems as well as leading to infertility.  It’s even found among school children. PCOS is tied to excess androgen.

PCOS Diagnosis And Symptoms

Confirmation of PCOS is done through an ultra sound scan which shows multiple small cysts which are old unruptured follicles with eggs in both the ovaries.  The abnormal hormonal ratio by increase in LH:FSH ratio more than one can be established by a lab test on day 2 of the cycle.

Hair Clippings

Known symptoms include, but are not limited to the following:

• Hair thinning, hair loss, flaky or irritate scalp
• Reduced stamina, lethargy, chronic fatigue
• Excessive weight gain with difficulty losing weight regardless of dietary measures
• Acne or frequent skin infections which might include fungal infections
• Dark color behind neck and underarms
• Irregular periods or late cycles
• Hirsuitsm in which male pattern hair growth occurs in women.  This can include excessive hair on the face, chest, abdomen and legs
• Difficulty in conception  or getting pregnant
• Frequent Miscarriages
• Reduced interest in sex (libido) and reduction in lubrication during intercourse
• Early incidence of diabetes, high BP and high cholesterol

Medical Research Into PCOS

Hair Follicles

Research  by Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, St. Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College and top British trichologist Philip Kingsley  uncovered a ink between hair loss in women and PCOS as far back as 2000.

The research was based on a PCOS study which evaluated women with thinning hair.  The researchers discovered that 72 per cent of women with thinning hair taking part in the study actually had PCOS.  As a result of this studies researched believed that PCOS may cause hair follicles to literally decrease in size ultimately resulting in weaker, thinner and falling hair.

Researchers noted that other possible symptoms of PCOS may include a flaking or compromised scalp.  The most common symptoms are irregular periods, weight gain, facial and chest hair growth as well as adult acne.

A High Protein Diet Can Help PCOS

According to Reuters Health, January 2012, Danish researchers have determined that a diet high in the ratio of protein to carbohydrates can help women suffering from PCOS.

“Replacing carbohydrates with protein in ad libitum diets improves weight loss and improves glucose metabolism and seems to offer an improved dietary treatment of PCOS patients,” Dr Lone B. Sorensen told Reuters Health by email.

In an online paper in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Dr Sorensen of the University of Copenhagen and colleagues note that most dietary interventions for PCOS have focused on energy restriction. Indeed, many women with the condition are obese.

Human Heart

Because the Danish team wanted to know whether replacing carbohydrates with protein might be helpful, they recruited 57 women and assigned them through rank minimization to eat either a standard or high-protein diet. Neither group had any kilojoules restriction.

The High-Protein Diet

The high-protein diet provided more than 40% of energy from protein, 30% from fat and the remainder from carbohydrates. The standard diet derived less than 15% of energy from protein, 30% of energy from fat, and more than 55% from carbohydrates.

More than half the women dropped out over the course of the six-month study. Seven women left because of pregnancy; another 23 did so for other reasons, leaving 27 to be evaluated.

The high-protein diet produced a significantly higher weight loss than the standard diet (7.7 vs 3.3 kg). Women on the high-protein diet also lost more body fat (6.4 vs 2.1 kg), and had a significantly greater reduction in waist circumference.

The high-protein diet also led to greater decreases in glucose, which persisted after adjustment for weight changes. This positive effect was thus independent of weight loss.

Lab Tests

Summing up, Dr Sorensen said, “This study shows that it is not necessary for PCOS patients to follow energy-restricted diets because protein satiates so well that a high protein diet will induce a spontaneous reduction in energy intake.”

Summary

There is as yet no cure for PCOS, but experts who specialize in women’s hair loss issues have experienced positive results with hormonal treatments, nutrition and exercise.

Treatment goals are based on specific symptoms, be it hair loss, infertility, excessive hair growth, obesity, risk of heart disease or diabetes.  Anti-androgens or laser techniques or electrolysis may reduce excessive hair growth and clear acne.

Some experts have noted there is also no guaranteed way to get hair which has already been lost to regrow.  The only known way to minimize hair loss is to prevent it through early diagnosis and treatment.

If you’ve noticed an ongoing change in the condition of your hair or scalp and are troubled by other symptoms of PCOS, its worth visiting your primary physician for an accurate diagnosis through the tests referenced above.

Medications that stimulate ovulation can help women with PCOS become pregnant.

It’s important to be treated if PCOS exists.  Why?  More than 50 per cent of women with PCOS will have diabetes or pre-diabetes around the age of 40-50 years.   Also, the risk of heart attack is 4 to 7 times higher in women with PCOS than women of the same age without PCOS.   Why?  women with PCOS are at greater risk of having high blood pressure and  have high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Pre Shampoo White Clay Hair Pack

White Clay

Pre Shampoo White Clay Hair Pack

This pre shampoo clay conditioning pack is designed to deep clean and hydrate hair.  It will work on most types, textures and conditions of hair with special benefits for dry, damaged or brittle strands.

The clay will cling to dirt and product residue from the hair shaft while providing enrichment for the scalp.

Although there are many types of clay used for a variety of beauty treatments, white clay known as kaolin (kaolinite) is the most gentle.  Black, green or red clay can be too harsh for tresses.

When white clay is combined with rich nourishing oils like coconut and jojoba the result is a perfect pre-shampoo hair mask which deep cleans while moisturizing the cuticles and the scalp.

While the white clays pulls dirt, debris and product build-up from the hair the coconut and jojoba oil creates a thin layer on top of the hair sealing in needed moisture.

coconut

Ingredients

1/2 jojoba oil (organic if possible)
3 tablespoons of coconut oil (organic if possible)
4 tablespoons of powdered white clay (kaolin)
1 cup of distilled water
Optional – 4-6 drops of rosemary*, lavender, ylang ylang or vanilla essential oil
*Do not use if pregnant or suffering from high blood pressure.

How To Mix

In a small saucepan placed on a low heat flame (not the microwave) heat the oils until melted.  Remove from heat and allow to slightly cool for use on the head.  With a separate clean bowl pour the 4 tablespoons of white clay.

Slowly add a small amount of water to the clay until it forms a paste.  You may not need to use all of the water.  Stop adding water after a thick paste is formed.

Drizzle the oil slowly into the paste until all of the oil has been completely added.

Jojoba Hair Oil

Apply To Scalp And Hair

Apply a quarter sized glob of the newly created paste to de-tangled damp hair starting at the scalp.  Massage gently into the scalp with pads of clean fingers, being careful not to use the fingernails which can create tiny tears in the scalp or cause other damage.

Be sure to only use the pads of the finger and never the fingernails.  Do not attempt the massage if you have ragged or rough skin or nails which can damage the scalp.

After gently massaging the mask into your scalp, apply any leftover mask to dry or damaged sections of tresses.

Before applying this mask to your entire head of hair, try it first on the scalp and on isolated sections of the strands.  If the mask works well for your hair then experiment with doubling the recipe and applying it more liberally to all of your strands.

Cover With Plastic Cap Or Wrap

After gently massaging the mask into the scalp and part of the hair, cover with a clean plastic shower cap or plastic wrap.  Allow the mask to remain on hair for 15-30 minutes.

Shampoo In The Shower

Rinse, Cleanse, Detangle, Towel Blot

Rinse the mask from the hair in the shower with lukewarm water.   After mask has been removed proceed with your desired hair cleansing system such as Diluted Shampoo (DS), Conditioner Only Wash (CoWash), Water Only (WO), Low Poo or full shampoo.

Enhance the value of the pre-shampoo treatment by making sure to apply a rinse-out conditioner after the cleanse/shampoo  and rinse cycles.  Apply rinse-out conditioner from ears down to the ends.  Separate hair into horizontal sections and detangle from the ends to the roots with fingers or a wide tooth comb.  Rinse well.  Finish with a cool water rinse.

Towel blot to remove excess moisture.  Apply any desired leave-in detanglers, conditioners, styling creams or defrisant products.  When possible either air dry without heat or set hair in pin curls or traditional rollers.  Dry under a hood or bonnet dryer.  If preferred you may wish to braid or wet bun hair for creation of natural waves.

Note:  This hair mask was derived from a similar recipe provided in Secrets of the Spas:  Pamper & Vitalize Yourself At Home by Catherine Bardey – Copyright 1999.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Best Hair – Beavis Or Butt-head?

Beavis And Butt-Head Pompadour Hairstyles

Best Hair – Beavis Or Butt-head?

Are you a fan of Bevis and Butt-head?  If so you know that they are famous for a wide range of antics as well as their trademark big hair.  Bevis has brunette hair which is sometimes not coiffed as big as Butt-head’s blonde helmet.

It’s unlikely, based on their characters, that either of the teens spend any time creating their hairstyles and they just form based on their natural texture.  Either they have very thick hair which naturally billows up and out or they don’t wash their hair.

Ultimately the teens either have bad bed head or consciously work hair dryers to get their big pompadour style hairstyles.

If you had to choose which hair would you vote as the best?  Personally I would select Butt-head because of his vibrant blonde hair which seems to fit his personality best.

What Is Beavis & Butt-head

Beavis and Butt-head is a famous animated television series created by Mike Judge and co-starring two unique teens from Highland, Texas.  It has a cult following around the world.

The series originated from Frog Baseball, a 1992 short film by Judge. After seeing the short, MTV signed Judge to develop the concept. Beavis and Butt-head originally aired from March 8, 1993 to November 28, 1997.  It was revived in 2011 and began airing on MTV on October 27th.  The popular show has been a source of controversy as the show has been claimed to promote dangerous behavior.

Reference to Beavis & Butt-Head In Movies

Beavis & Butt-Head Models

In 1996, the series was adapted into the animated feature film Beavis and Butt-head Do America.  References to Beavis & Butt-Head have appeared in over 100 different major films including Knotting Hill starring Hugh Grant as William Thacker.

In the film Thacker was trying to uncover the secret name of movie star Anna Scott played by Julia Roberts.  At one point he guessed Beavis or Butt-Head.  Of course it was the wrong name, but it was funny.

Hatred For Hair Bands

Beavis and Butt-Head are socially awkward, rock/metal-loving delinquents who are undereducated, barely literate, dim-witter and with an obvious lack of empathy or moral scruples.  Their most common shared activity is watching music videos or being involved in a variety of schemes.

It’s ironic with their wild hairstyles that they are extremely vocal in their hatred for generic 1980s “hair bands” since in some ways their hair spirals out of control like some of the bands they detest.

Bands who received considerably large amounts of criticism during the tenure of the show included Poison and Grim Reaper.

Beavis And Butt-Head Exhibit

Beavis & Butt-head

According to Laist.com, Beavis and Butt-head are making a rather disturbing appearance in Santa Monica this month as part of “Conjoined II,” an exhibition at Copro Gallery.

Featuring “more classic sculptures, lifelike models, surreal assemblages, mixed media paintings, life sized toys and other conjoined works in 3-D,”  the exhibit includes two sculptures of the animated duo created by special makeup effects artist Kevin Kirkpatrick.

Special Hair For Lifelike Molds

The teenage delinquents are humanized in Kirkpatrick’s works, making it hard to look at and even harder to look away. Several photos of the sculptures can be seen on Kirkpatrick’s Facebook page, where he writes, “Just finished these fellas for the Conjoined 2 Art Show. It was like a little boot camp. I started from scratch 2 and a half weeks ago. I’m very tired, but very happy. Special thanks to Nicole Michaud for the beautiful hairwork, and Jason James for help with the molds.”

Indeed the hair on the sculptures is spectacular and really seems to fit the two obnoxious teens.  If you must have the sculpted pair of Beavis and Butt-head they are  for sale for $14,000.  “Conjoined II” displays at Copro Gallery in the Bergamot Station Arts Center from January 21 through February 11.

Summary

Which hairstyle do you like best?  Beavis or Butt-head’s?  Do you think they have exagerrated bedheads or just big hair that they consciously style into their own versions of a pompadour?

HairBoutique.com Blog

Waves + Curls = Wurly Hair

Long Blonde Wurly Hair

Waves + Curls = Wurly Hair

When natural curls and waves merge on one head of hair the result can range from loose ribbons of curls intermingling with lush bouncy waves or random sinuous snakelike waves dotting a head full of curls.

Sometimes the curls stay hidden at the nape of the neck, like my own hair.  Other times they pop up around the hairline, along the top of the head or at random points.

Wurly hair can be fine/thin, medium or thick.  Wurly hair can be straight on top, wavy throughout the middle and curly underneath or vice versa.

When someone has hair which is neither straight, strictly curly or wavy, it is often referred to as wurly.  Sometimes curl embellished waves are known as wurls.

Just as every type and texture of hair have their own care and styling needs, the same can be said for wurly hair.

When the ideal hair care and styling techniques are applied to wurls, the results if beautiful pops of spirals, well placed kinks and coils and loose fat waves.

Rachelle Lefevre - Red Wavy Curly Hair

Start With A Great Cut

The key to great wurly hair is to decide whether you wish to amp up the waves and intermingle curls, amp up curls instead of the waves or go for a completely intregrated look.  Work with a hairstylist who understands wurls for an ideal haircut which addresses the different textures throughout your hair.

The ideal cut makes the difference in making wurly hair look good while growing it out.  Sometimes layers carefully carved into the texture will help.

Listed below are some general hair care, color and styling tips for wurly hair:

Cleansing

Wurly hair tends to have the same dryness challenges as more tightly curled or coiled hair.  This means that wurls needs moisture, moisture, moisture.

1.  Cleanse only when necessary.
2.  Experiment with Diluted Shampoo (DS), Conditioner Only Wash (CoWash), Water Only (WO) or a combination.
3.  Utilize hydration infusing products designed for your hair type, texture, condition and length.
4.  Always detangle before cleansing.  Use fingers or a wide tooth comb working slowly from ends to the roots and work in horizontal sections.

Long Wavy Curly Hair

5.  Rinse well after cleansing and apply a rinse-out conditioner from the ears down to the ends.   Detangle hair while in the shower working in small horizontal sections using a wide tooth comb or fingers.
6.  After rinsing out the conditioner finish with a cool or cold water rinse.

Styling

1.  Towel blot – don’t rub – wet hair.  Depending on your end goals you may wish to try plopping which helps form ringlets and curls.  Wet bunning wrapped to amp up waves is an ideal option to show off those loose ribbons.
2.  Apply a styling cocktail which addresses your primary hair type, texture and needs.  Your ideal styling cocktail might include a defrisant, curl or wave enhancer, styling mousse or leave-in conditioner.
3.  For best results wurly hair responds best to air, diffuser or hood drying.
4.  To enhance waves and curls attach a long finger diffuser to your blow dryer.   Allow hair to nestle into the cup of the diffuser and blow dry on a low, cool setting.
5.  If you prefer, create a traditional wet set by separating hair into 2″ sections and set on large rollers.  Sit under a hood or cap dryer until dry.
6.  Rag rollers or pin curls will also help to amp up the waves and curls.

Short Wavy Curly Hair

Methods like plopping, scrunching or twirling wurly strands can help enhance the texture in some, but not all cases.

Some things that often help are cleansing with the Conditioner Only Method which really helps tone down frizziness.  It also helps to avoid touching the hair while it’s drying while using products to enhance the texture.

Hair Color

1.  When highlights and low lights are applied properly they look spectacular on wurly hair.  With wurly hair it’s best to avoid changing the overall color more than 1-2 shades because the lines of demarcations can show very prominently, especially with longer hair.
2. Any color touch-ups should be limited to the roots only to overlapping color, creating color lines or the danger of color becoming too dark over time.
3.  Too much color applied over time can damage the cuticles and make wurly hair harder to control, more prone to frizz and splitting.

Medium Length Wurly Hair

Ideally highlights and low lights should be randomly applied to the hairline and throughout the interior to create a natural burst of color without danger of damage.

Other Wurly Hair Tips

Many wurlies so not comb or brush strands after drying due to the fact hair may get horribly poufy.  Other people with wurly strands will finger pick to arrange their strands.

Summary

If your hair never dries or fall straight without blow-drying or flat-ironing you fall into the wurly hair category.

For people who follow the Andre Walker hair classification system you would fall into the 2 category.  Or wurly hair might be classified as 2c/3a.

Ultimately wurly hair requires discovering the best hair cut, style, care and products which work best for your own hair type, texture, length and condition.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Emma Watson Crop Is New Iconic Hairstyle

Emma Watson Iconic Pixie Haircut

Emma Watson Crop Is New Iconic Hairstyle

In a Modern Salon Blog dated 06/08/10 writer Melissa Hill discussed the The Death of the Iconic Hairstyle.  Hill interviewed famed colorist and Matrix Artistic Color Director Patrick McIvor and L’Oreal Professional Portfolio Artist Amit Abraham to uncover who was next in line to claim the title of iconic hairstyle.

Although Farrah Fawcett Major was known for “The Farrah” followed by Jennifer Aniston’s “The Rachel”, McIvor and Abraham told Hill they believed the era of the iconic hairstyles which have graces thousands of heads over the last hundred years was over.  Finished.  Done.

Why?  McIvor and Abraham pointed out that with the current trend towards complete individualism in hair, fashion and lifestyle, the climate isn’t right for the rise of a new iconic hairstyle.

No More “Rachels”

Patrick McIvor told Hill “In the past, you could always go, ‘that’s the trend.’ Or you go, ‘no, it’s the wrong color.’ Now today, the trends are always customizable. You’ll never see them in their purity. Kids don’t want their MySpace pages to look the same, they don’t want their cars to look the same, they don’t want their phones to look the same.”

He continued “So why do we think they’re all going to walk in with a picture of Rachel’s haircut? It’s never going to happen again, because culturally they never participated in it. We did. So that’s the thing that’s really cool about right now.”

Justin Bieber

Individualism

Amit Abraham  noted “Individualism is so in right now, especially in fashion and clothing. Look at bags—from Marc Jacobs to Louis Vuitton to Coach. It’s such a wide spectrum. Ask anybody, ‘what is the in fashion right now?’ If they can actually give you an answer, I can tell you I don’t think they know what they are talking about.”

Abraham added “There is nothing that will dictate what’s in fashion anymore. Consumerism plus capitalism plus everything that’s evolved from that, really opens the door for individualism. Whatever you can afford.”

Emma Watson’s Cropped Hairstyle Steals Iconic Hairstyle Crown

The Wall Street Journal has other ideas about the death of iconic hairstyle.  They obviously don’t agree with McIvor and Abraham’s 2010 predictions.  Recently the WSJ proclaimed that Emma Watson’s short cropped hair was the fastest rising search for celebrity haircuts on Google.

Not only was Emma’s short crop an indication of a new shift in women’s hairstyle from long to short, her newly proclaimed iconic hairstyle had beaten out Jennifer Aniston’s hair as the most popular for two years in a row (2010, 2011).

Lady Gaga

The Harry Potter star’s photo has been popping up at hair salons all over the globe where hairstylists are under siege to duplicate her trademark pixie hairstyle.  Her short hairstyle has taken on true iconic hairstyle proportions.

Iconic Hairstyles Will Continue To Occur

Even though McIvor and Abraham’s believe that the current age of individualism has ended the era of the iconic hairstyle, Emma Watson has proven that theory to be null and void.

While Emma has won accolades for her stark pixie hairstyle, Justin Bieber has won acclaim for his famous hairstyle which, until he cut it off in early 2011, consisted of a long swoop over the forehead style fringe.

The Bieb’s famous hairstyle is still being copied even though the pop star has moved on with a series of new cuts and hairstyles.

Meanwhile for those people who want to totally rock their individuality Lady Gaga offers lots of great inspiration with her constantly changing hair hues, lengths and mind-bending styles.

Will Lady Gaga’s hair attain iconic hairstyle status?  Probably not like Farrah, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Watson and Justin Bieber, but certainly no one will forget some of her over-the-top styles.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Zoe Saldana Volume Updo Hairstyle How To

Zoe Saldana At Hollywood Palladium - December 4, 2011 - Los Angeles, California

Zoe Saldana Volume Updo Hairstyle How To

Actress Zoë Saldaña (born June 19, 1978) had her breakthrough role in the 2000 film Center Stage and later gained prominence for her roles as Anamaria in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Uhura in the 2009 film Star Trek.

She was spectacular in her demanding starring role as Neytiri in James Cameron’s Avatar.   The beautiful actress raised in The Dominican Republic and New York also had a lead role in the action film Colombiana.

In 2002 she co-starred in the film Crossroads with none other than Britney Spears.  In that film Zoe was asked to do the unthinkable.  She had to act like she was prettier and cooler than Britney Spears.  As Kit, Saldana played a high-school prima donna (who eventually gains humility) on a coming-of-age road trip.

The film was Brit’s Hollywood debut and the role required Zoe to be mean to just about everyone on set.  The beautiful actress confessed to Allure Magazine in February of 2002 that she “fun playing bad”, but left her attitude in front of the camera.

Once the camera stopped rolling Zoe told Allure “I would always say ‘I’m so sorry’ to everyone I’d be mean to” and luckily there were no hard feelings.

The film was directed by Tamra Davis, produced by David Gale, written by Shonda Rhines (Grey’s Anatomy) and starred Britney Spears.  Co-stars included Dan Aykroyd, Kim Cattrall, Anson Mount, Taryn Manning, Justin Long, Beverly Johnson and Jamie Lynn Spears.

Zoe Saldana At Hollywood Palladium - December 4, 2011 - Los Angeles, California

Zoe told Allure that filming Crosswords was like being in the girl’s locker room.  She confessed “we would talk about so many female things in the makeup trailer that Anson Mount (the only main male co-star) would walk out (of the trailer) pale and trembling.”  Saldana said “It was a very vagina-oriented environment.”

“Avatar” actress Zoe Saldana and long-time fiance Keith Britton have split after being together for 11 years. The two have “amicably separated after 11 years,” Saldana’s rep said in a statement to Access Hollywood on Saturday.

Hairstyle How To

Whether wearing her hair long and sleek or styled up into a range of twists, chignons or buns, Zoe’s tresses always looks fantastic.  Celeb hairstylist Mara Roszak is Zoe’s go-to hair guru.

At a recent appearance on December 4th, 2011 at The Hollywood Palladium Zoe wore her hair in a romantically messy hairstyle.  Zoe’s hair was styled into a mid-back twisted chignon nestled under a nice crown hair bump, a center part and two strands of hair flowing freely on either side of her face.

Even though Zoe’s hairstyle was tousled and messy, it was still full of texture which gave her a fun, edgy look.

Follow the steps below to create Zoe’s Hairstyle:

Zoe Saldana

1.  Cleanse detangled hair in lukewarm water utilizing a product or formula designed for your hair type, texture and condition.  You may prefer to utilize a Diluted Shampoo (DS), Conditioner Only Wash (CoWash) Low Poo or similar alternative cleansing system.
2.  Rinse shampoo from hair and then apply a rinse out conditioner from the ears down to the ends.  Separate hair into 2″ horizontal sections and detangle from the ends up to the roots with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb.  3.  After hair is completely detangled rinse and finish with a cool or cold water final rinse.
4.  Towel blot to remove excess moisture.
5.  Apply a leave-in styling cocktail with may include, but not be limited to leave-in conditioner, styling mousse and a defrisant.  Work leave-in styling cocktail completely through hair from roots to ends.
6.   Apply a root lifting spray to the roots, massage into the hair and comb through.
7.  Take small sections of hair in a 100% boar bristle back combing brush.  Overdirect to give lift at the root.  Blow dry each section over a small, round, boar bristle brush.
8.  One hair is completely dry run through the strands with a flat iron to polish strands.
9.  Separate hair into two sections – front and back.  Separate the two sections at the back of the ears.
10.  Create a center part in the front section and separate out the two sides.  Curl lightly with an iron and allow to nestled into the sides of the face.

Zoe Saldana in May 2011

11.  Lift hair at the crown and back comb to create the desired height for a hair bump.  Smooth hair down lightly with fingers.
12.  Take the remaining hair and pull into a ponytail with the base positioned at the middle of the back of the head.  Twist pony in a clockwise direction until entire pony is twisted until it forms a knot.  Gently push the knotted pony up and against the hair bump.  Pin to maximize the hair bump and secure the twist at the back.  Use bobby pins the same color as your hair.
13.  Finish with a firm hold hairspray.
14.  Insert fingers into the hair along the side and throughout the back and gently lift to create more of a tousled finish.  Arrange the sides so that they float against the face.

Optionally you may wish to use a thin headband positioned at the crown to help increase the hair bump and push it up.  Or you may wish to use hidden bobby pins.

Summary

Zoe loves to wear her hair in similar twisted hairstyles.  Sometimes she positions the hair mid-back and sometimes at the nape of the neck.  She also changes up her hairstyle with different parts and alters the volume at the crown and along the sides.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Jessica Simpson Pregnancy Accessory

Jessica Simpson Flaunting Pregnancy

Jessica Simpson Pregnancy Accessory

The media is all abuzz about Jessica Simpson’s most recent spotting on the Red Carpet for NBC to promote her upcoming Fashion Star show.  The 31-year-old singer joined Nicole Richie on Friday in California to promote the upcoming new show.

Jessica was later seen stepping out onto the red carpet heading to the NBC after-party.

The big talk is all about how heavily pregnant Jessica has gotten.   The beautiful blonde is using her pregnancy as her #1 fashion accessory.  Jessica appeared at the NBC after party event in a very tight black sequined strapless gown which left nothing to the imagination.

Her only other accessories included gorgeous high studded heels and her engagement ring.  Jessica is famous for wearing very high heels, even to the pool, to add inches to her height.

While some fashion critics applauded her attire and obvious enjoyment of her pregnancy, other critics felt she took her look from classy to trashy.

There is also a lot of speculation about how far along Jessica is.  Although she officially announced her pregnancy on Halloween, she has yet to provide an official due date or the sex of her baby which many believe she has been told.

Jessica Simpson On Halloween 2011

Jessica has been very open about her pregnancy and confessed to the media she liked wearing clothes which showed off her stomach.  She obviously was telling the truth since she has been spotted in an array of very tight fitting clothes since she showcased her pregnancy dressed as a Mummy for Halloween.

Jessica Alba Post-Baby Body Admiration

Recently Jessica took to Twitter to let Jessica Alba know she looked amazing after shedding all her baby weight from her recent second pregnancy.

Jessica Alba responded by expressing how sweet Jessica was to provide compliments on her post-baby body.

Jessica Simpson let her Twitter followers know that she was going to use Jessica Alba as her inspiration to get her body back after she had her baby.

Although there was some initial rumors that the fashion entrepreneur was going to sign with Weight Watchers after having her baby to be paid to shed the weight, this proved to be a false information and neither Simpson’s camp or Weight Watchers ever confirmed a deal.

Great Looking Hair

During her pregnancy Jessica has received lots of kudos for her hair which has looked absolutely stunning.  Going even lighter with her trademark California blonde, Jessica’s hair is long, lush and shining.  Her beautiful hair and face just add to her total pregnancy glow.

Although it’s been indicated that Jessica is due in February, only time will tell when she actually has her baby.  Of course in the meantime look for Jessica to continue to show off her growing baby as she continues to work right up to when she goes into labor.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Hair Product Expiration Guidelines

Hair Care Products

Hair Product Expiration Guidelines

Do you know what’s lurking in your hair care shelves in your bathroom?  I am definitely a pack rat with my hair care products.

I try so many different products in any given year I often have dozens of shampoos, conditioners, detanglers and styling products stacked up in my shower, on the rim around the bathtub, on the floor outside the shower and under the sink.  Well, you probably get the picture.

Sometimes I’ll use a product just once and decide it just won’t work for my hair type, texture, condition and length.

I should just toss it at that point but I can’t bring myself to throw away good money.  Often I will offer it to my friends, family or HairBoutique.com team members.  Other times it will sit and languish under my sink.

Hair Care Product Expiration Labeling

Unfortunately hair care products don’t have an eternal shelf life.  Their ingredients do expire over time.   Currently The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) does not require hair products to have any kind expiration labeling.

Okara Defrisant Shampoo In Squeeze Delivery Tube

A growing number of professional hair care lines are providing expiration dates on their own products.   Expiration dates usually begin from the time you first open your hair care products.

Although unopened, sealed hair care products are considered safe for up to 3 years, experts believe this decreases to approximately 1 1/2 years after the products has been opened and exposed to air, heat and light.

Impact Of Contact With Human Skin

The shelf life of shampoo, conditioners and hair styling products such as creams, gels and balms rapidly lose their viability when they come in contact with human skin.

This is because of the bacteria that is naturally present on the skin and under the fingernails.  Another factor which rapidly decreases shelf life is when the product is diluted from exposure to drops of water.

Go With Sprays And Controlled Packaging

One trick to minimize shelf life deterioration is to only buy hair care products which are packaged in spray containers.  In the hair care industry hair care products which are packaged in individual sealed potions or in sealed containers will last much longer than products which are not.

They may cost more when packaged in tubes than jars but you have to consider the benefit or less potential for contamination and a longer shelf life.

Phyto 9 Squeeze Tube Delivery System

Other great options are shampoos which closed tops which offer a pump or squeeze bottle delivery.  This minimizes body contact.

When products are sealed or segregated due to packaging, there is much less change of contamination or dilution.  Squeeze tubes versus jars where you have to insert your fingers is always a good choice.

Over the past few years some hair care companies have packaged their products in bottles which are designed to minimize contact with human skin, fingers or water.  These type of products also last longer than those which are open source.

Three Years Is The Rule Of Thumb

Even with the best packaging, unopened products naturally expired after three years, even when stored in a cool environmentally controlled area away from heat and sunlight.  Over time oxidation will occur and any added fragrances will start to slowly disintegrate.  Ditto for preservatives.  Always keep products you’re not actively using in a cool, dark place.

Some hair experts point out that more natural products have an even shorter shelf life due to the composition of their more natural preservatives and aromas.

Kenra Styling Foam Pump Delivery

Although three years is the suggested rule of thumb for unopened products to be used by, if you open a products after three years and it looks, feels and smells alright, it’s up to you whether to use it or not.  However, once you do open a product which has been stored in a dark climate for three years you should use it up very quickly.

Keep Your Own Records

When in doubt it’s always best to keep your own records.  Hair experts suggest writing down purchase and/or first use dates with a permanent marker on all hair care products.   Remember to use a marker which will not wash off in the shower.

Some people keep a expiration notebook in a bathroom cabinet and write down product details.  If you wish you could add purchase and first use dates to hair product details.

Harmful Bacteria And Infections

Although expired hair care products can be annoying because they smell bad, become discolored or lose their ability to work as desired, there is a secondary issue.  If you use expired or products harboring harmful bacteria on scalps with abrasions, open sores, rashes or similar, there could be a risk of added infection.

Phyto Spray Bottle

The risks of infection from contaminated or spoiled products are multiplied when these products are shared with others such as family or friends.

General Tips For Dealing With Hair Care Products

— Always smell your hair care products before use, especially if it’s been awhile since you used them.  If they have an unusual odor, color or texture they may contain bacteria and should be immediately discarded.
— Always make sure that all hair care products are kept tightly closed and stored out of  direct sunlight, as this can destroy the preservatives, aromas and ingredients.  This is especially true for all natural or organic based products.
— Don’t use any harsh or chemical hair treatments or related products if you currently have a scalp irritation, rash or breakouts.
— Never add any liquids to products unless directed by the manufacturer.
— Keep hair care products away from drops of water during use.
— When possible opt for hair care products packaged in spray bottles or closed delivery systems to avoid contamination from skin or fingernails.
— Don’t share your hair care products unless necessary.
— Avoid sampling hair related products at drug or department stores. Ask instead  for small unopened samples.  Bacteria can be spread from person to person by hands and fingernails.  Don’t share hair care samples with complete strangers.

Mason Pearson Brush

— Keep hair brushes, combs and related hair styling tools clean and sanitized.  This includes the handles of blow dryers, hots irons or electric rollers.  Use a sanitizing cloth to wipe down all hair tools when appropriate.
— Mark your hair care products with purchase and first use dates with an indelible or waterproof marker.
— Know your retailer.  Many retailers will police their inventory keeping an eye on expiration dates.  Others will not.  If a hair product is covered in dust on the shelves it may be a bad sign.

Summary

Although the federal government doesn’t currently require hair care companies to post suggested expiration dates on products, some manufacturers do provide suggested use guidelines on their packaging.

Hair care products which are unopened and stored in a cool, dark location will generally last three years.  Some believe you can use them longer if they’re not all natural, organic or have special ingredients.  Whether you toss an unopened product after three year or not should be determined by smell, color and product functionality.

Never use questionable hair care products on scalps with abrasions or open sores.  When in doubt, toss it.  The health of your scalp and hair isn’t worth any risks.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Felicity Jones Long Straight Hair – How To

Felicity Jones Long Brunette Hair

Felicity Jones Long Straight Hair – How To

Felicity Rose Hadley Jones  (born 17 October 1983) is high on the list of It Girls to watch for the upcoming Red Carpet awards season.

The It Girls jockeying for top position including Felicity, Rooney Mara (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo), Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene) and Shailene Woodley (The Descendants).

All are working around the clock with some of Hollywood’s hottest stylists to nab the very best gowns, accessories, make-up and hairstyles.  Everything has to align on The Red Carpet.

Many Hollywood watchers are predicting that Felicity will rise to the top of the It Girl heap for 2012.  Named the new face of Dolce & Gabbana cosmetics, the lithe Brit, who also appeared in Burberry’s fall 2011 campaign, has been stunning celebrity watchers with her Audrey Hepburn-like glamour.

Ms. Jones plays a love-struck college student in the indie film “Like Crazy” and is winning fan and critic raves.  She also has snagged one of the top stylists in Hollywood, Jessica Paster.

The beautiful English beauty has long dark hair with stunning limpid eyes.  “She came to my house, she’s so sweet,” Ms. Paster said. “I love chai lattes, and she brought me and my assistant, Brie, a chai latte.”

Felicity Jones With Long Brunette Hair

Ms. Paster continued, “She loved the Givenchy, the resort collection, and Alexander McQueen.”  The women also sought inspiration from “pictures of old actresses, their styles, their silhouettes” and classic films, Ms. Paster said, adding that her client was smitten with Grace Kelly in “Rear Window.”

When Felicity appeared at last  month’s Gotham Independent Film Awards, where she won the breakthrough-actor award, Ms. Jones was radiant in an understated, mint-colored Proenza Schouler shift.

She’s making a name on the Red Carpets by mixing flirty, gamine looks, like the floral Dolce & Gabbana cocktail dress she wore to the New York premiere of “Like Crazy,” with more modern and subdued choices.

Felicity Jones Long Straight Hair

Felicity Rose Hadley Jones (born 17 October 1983) is an English actress from Birmingham. She is best known to television audiences for her role as the school bully Ethel Hallow in the first series of The Worst Witch (she was replaced by Katie Allen for series two and three) and its sequel Weirdsister College.

Felicitys also co-starred in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s feature Cemetery Junction. She starred opposite Anton Yelchin in the 2011 drama Like Crazy.

Long Straight Hair – How To Style

Felicity Jones Long Brunette Hair With Fringe

Whether the beautiful actress wears her stunning auburn hair bone straight or up in a stunning twist, there’s no doubt her hair will look spectacular.

To copy Felicity’s traditional long hairstyle with a hint of waves complete the steps below:

1.  Cleanse detangle hair in lukewarm water with a product designed for your hair type, texture, current length and condition.  If your hair is chemically colored, highlighted or lowlighted you may wish to use a product designed to maintain your color.  You may want to consider a Diluted Shampoo (DS), Water Only (WO), Conditioner Only Wash (CoWash) or a Low Poo formula.
2.  Rinse shampoo from hair completely.
3.  Apply a rinse out conditioner from the ear lobes down to the ends.  Separate hair into 2″ horizontal sections.  Detangle from the ends to the roots with fingers or a wide tooth comb.
4.  After hair has been completely detangled rinse well and finish with a cool or cold water rinse.
5.  Towel blot hair to remove excess moisture.
6.  Apply a drop or two of weightless shine serum to the palms of your hands and mix well.  Finger pick the serum  through damp locks.
7.  Blow dry hair completely straight with a large, round, natural bristle brush for volume and fullness.  If you prefer use a paddle style brush.

Felicity Jones in "Like Crazy"

8.  If you want to add volume or length consider adding some well-placed clip-in hair extension sections.
9.  Lightly mist the hair with a glossing or shine spray for high dazzle shimmer without an oily or greasy look.

Personal life

The beautiful actress currently lives in Bethnal Green, in London’s East End, with her long-term boyfriend, Ed Fornieles, who is a sculptor and conceptual artist.

She and Fornieles met at Oxford when he was at the Ruskin School of Art.

She met fellow actress Keira Knightley in The Treasure Seekers. They remain in touch, although Felicity says she is closer to Carey Mulligan.

Keep a lookout for Felicity Jones on the 2012 Red Carpets.  She is sure to win accolades for her hair, fashions, beauty and charm.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Hair Teasing Brush

Monroe Teasing Brush

Hair Teasing Brush

Sarah Palin recently unveiled a crown based hair bump.  It’s definitely a unique retro hairstyle which adds new flair to her previously sleek appearance.

Although volume infused hairstyles were wildly popular in the 1950s and 60s, the hairstyle has remained popular in some areas and with certain age groups.

For 2012 expect retro hairstyles utilizing teasing for volume, increased body and texture to be more popular than ever before.

How To Achieve Target Hair Bumps

There are many ways to achieve a hair bump ranging from a variety of hair clips or hair accessories to clip-in hair pieces and good old 60s style backcombing.

Of course you can combine old fashioned backcombing with hair clips or bands to achieve a very nice hair bump at any point on your head.

The best way to backcomb hair to achieve the smoothest finish is to use a 100% boar bristle teasing brush.  A teasing brush is specifically designed and manufactured for use for teasing or backcombing hair.

The brush area on a teasing brush is usually much more narrow than on a traditional styling brush.  Teasing brushes are designed to be used on very small amounts of hair at a time.

Marilyn Teasing Brush

Advantages of Small Hair Teasing Brushes

These little brushes have lots of advantages including, but not limited to:

1.  They are the best tool for creating volume and lift in long heavy hair.
2.  Teasing brushes are small, but work quickly and easily to create lots of volume from the roots to the middle of the strand.
3.  A teasing brush creates a much smoother finish than a traditional rat tail teasing comb which leaves a more ragged finish.
4.  Teasing brushes are ideal for fine, thin or overly soft hair.
5.  A great teasing brush costs less than $10.
6.  Great for spot backcombing on sassy ponytails, volume infused twists of tousled buns.
7.  Perfect for retro 50s and 60s hairstyles such as bouffants or beehives.
8.  Will create volume on just about any length of hairstyle from super short to very long.
9.  Can be used on any part of the hair from the top of the head to the sides or back.
10.  A teasing brush is ideal for hair which is more prone to damage from a comb.
11.  Great for fine or thinning hair.

12.  Creates soft lift as well as smoothing frizzy pieces.

Denman Dress Out Hairbursh D91 Long Hair

13.  Bristles of brush are less likely to pull or snap hair because of the bristle size.
14.  This type of brush makes it easier to get all little hairs to stay together for a well teased effortless result.
15.  Can work on all hair textures from curly and wavy to coily.
16.  Teasing brushes tend to do more teasing in less time with less hair breakage.

While it’s possible to use a regular boar bristle styling or small paddle brush for backcombing large sections of hair at one time, for small sections or for exaggerated volume a backcombing brush is ideal.

Depending upon the manufacturer, teasing brushes will have plain or textured handle for a firmer or more comfortable grip.

Teasing brushes may also sometimes have a tapered tip or a few longer bristles for easier separation of the hair during back combing.

Teasing or back combing hair should never be performed every day since it may create damage over time.

Phillips Teaze 2 Concave Shape Hair Brush

How To Back Comb With Teasing Brush

The best approach is to divide and conquer.  Before you start figure out what areas of your hair you want to backcomb for the most volume.  Separate the target hair into very small sections.  Make sure that each section has been pre-straightened and is completely free of tangles.

Each target section is brushed from the end of the strand down to the roots in quick sharp brushing bursts.  By brushing hair from the ends to the roots you are actually brushing hair in the opposite direction you would normally brush hair in.

Normal brushing involves brushing from the roots to the ends.

Volume and body are created by brushing up from the ends which ruffles the cuticle.  Once the desired volume and lift is achieved, use fingers to gently brush and shape the section so that it is smooth.

Finishing Steps

Finish with a blast of firm hold hair spray or related styling products.  The goal is to ensure the teased section will hold its shape and body for as long as possible.

Repeat the teasing or back combing process with each section of hair until the entire area or all of the hair is properly volumized.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Deron Williams Fade Hairstyle

Deron Williams Fade Haircut

Deron Williams Fade Hairstyle

Deron Michael Williams (born June 26, 1984 in  Parkersburg, West Virginia), nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player (point guard) currently playing with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League. The popular B-Ball player was drafted 3rd overall in the 2005 draft by the Utah Jazz, for whom he played before being traded in the middle of his sixth season to the Nets.

He is a two-time All-Star and a gold medal winner at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The Deron Williams Fade

The 27 year old Williams isn’t just known for his basketball chops.  He’s almost as famous for his hairstyle known as The Deron Williams Fade.

Even though he left Salt Lake City and the Utah Jazz he’s remembered almost as much for his hairstyle as he is for his court moves.

Deron Williams Hair

Williams forced his move to the New Jersey Nets by refusing to sign a contract extension with Utah.   Then he stunned the basketball world by signing with a Turkish team, Besiktas.

New town, new season and new haircut.  With his move to New Jersey, Deron has modified his Utah style fade.  Maybe because all the old fans in Utah are still rocking The Deron Williams Fade.

Or maybe he was just bored with his famous haircut, which he famously had before every game.

Deron’s Hairstyle Still Wildly Popular In Utah

Ironically, even though Deron is playing for a competitor, barber shops from Salt Lake City and surrounding areas are reporting an increase in the demand for his fade hairstyle.

In Utah The Deron Williams Fade is even more popular than the George Clooney hair cut, which is a type of Caesar and the Justin Bieber shag.

A Caesar + A Fade + 360 Waves

Deron has let his hair grow longer on top since he left Utah and went to the New Jersey Nets.

By letting his length grow out on top Deron’s natural hair texture is more pronounced and his hair appears styled with a hint of 360 waves along the top (see to the side).

Deron Top Of Caesar Fade 360 Waves Haircut

360 Waves

In traditional waves, hair is cropped short to the head in the styling of a Caesar Haircut. Then, the hair is brushed forward on the sides, front, and down to the neck in the back. This technique creates the resemblance of water waves in the hair.

Deron’s Caesar Hair Cut

The shape of the cut is very much like a Caesar, but it’s fades along the sides and along the back.   The Caesar cut is a men’s hairstyle which is always in fashion.  It’s very popular with a wide ranges of ages and ethnicities.

The Caesar cut is a short cut with a horizontal cut fringe which hugs the top of the hairline.  The hair is usually layered to around 2-5 cm (1-2 inches) all over the head.

The cut is named after Julius Caesar, whose images frequently depict him wearing his hair in such a manner.  Over the years several male celebrities including George Clooney have been famous for rocking the famous haircut.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Bad Hair Habits – How To Break

Blow Dryer

Bad Hair Habits – How To Break

Unlike a bad food, smoking, drinking or recreational drug program, bad hair habits won’t make you fat, cause cancer, ruin your liver or get you arrested.  At least in the majority of cases.

However, bad hair habits, over time, can cause an accelerated hair shedding, split ends, damaged strands or a variety of other strands sins which may cause you as much heartache as the habit.

Examples Of Bad Hair Habits

What are some known bad hair habits?  Not everyone will agree, but some of the most common include:

1.  Using your fingers to pull, rip, tear or snag split ends.  This is a big no-no since you’re not really eliminating the obvious split ends, you’re just extending the damage with your fingers.
2.  Cutting your split ends with a dull scissors.  This is almost as bad as trying to pull the ends off with your fingers.  Dull scissors will also extend the damage of the splits.
3.  Pulling your hair out.   Some people do this when they see gray, silver or white hairs.  Others pull out strands that seem wiry or a different texture than the rest of the hair.
4.  Using fingers to rip and pull out knots.  A dear friend of mine constantly has her fingers in her hair ripping and pulling at knots.  Yes it’s good to use fingers to gently detangle.  However, pulling or ripping out knots and then throwing the little hairs on the floor is probably not the best for strands.  In fact, it can cause split ends.

Naturally Textured Hair

5.  Scratching your scalp with your fingernails.  Scratching may worsen any itching or sensitive area.  Sharp fingernails can also leave tiny little abrasions on the scalp.  Also, no matter how clean your hands and nails are, if you scratch you may spread or introduce bacteria which can trigger a whole chain of scalp issues making the itching worse in the long run.
6.  Neglecting your roots so long that you have to tell people you’re trying a new Ombre hair color look.  Of course you’re not fooling anyone but it’s a good excuse, right?
7.  Cleansing your hair in steamy hot water. Yes, this is one of my own sins.  When the weather gets nippy I want to stand under a hot steamy blast of water until my skin turns red. It’s not great for my hair or my skin so I resist but I lust for that hot water every winter.
8.  Not detangling before washing hair.  You’d be surprised how many people don’t carefully detangle their hair before jumping into the shower to cleanse.  Now if you have short or stick straight hair it’s not a problem.  But if you have curly, wurly, naturally textured or long hair then you’re just asking for hair breaking tangles.
9.  Skipping those necessary visits to the salon.  You know who you are and why you’re skipping.
10.  Overusing your hot tools.  I had to give my blow dryer away to avoid blow frying my strands in cold weather and never hot iron because of the damage it does to my hair.

Note:  For the best salon equipment visit our Twitter friends at http://www.amsalonequipment.com/

Of course there’s lots of other bad hair habits and hopefully you’ll share them with me in the comments section.

How Our Enviroments Direct Our Bad Hair Habits

Model Getting Hair Cut

The big question is how to break those bad hair habits.  When researching that question I stumbled upon this great article at NPR by  Alix Spiegel.  The article is excellent and well written, but it’s long so I will summarize.  According to Spiegel and her research and it’s been proven that our environments come to unconsciously direct our behaviors, even behaviors that we don’t want, like smoking, overeating and yes, doing bad things to our hair.

I’m not really surprised by Spiegel’s article.  My trainer once told me that I should never eat anywhere in my house, but at my kitchen table.  Why?  because if I eat sitting on the couch and watching TV, my environment would take over.  I would lose track of what I was stuffing into my face.  It was good advice and very true.  I try very hard never to eat while I’m on my couch and it does make a difference.

It’s also true that if I cleanse my hair in the South bathroom shower, the water never gets very hot so I’m not tempted to scorch my skin and hair.  Yes, I make myself wash my hair in that bathroom because I know I won’t be as tempted by the thrill of steam.

Overcoming Environmental Cues

Psychologist David Neal, of Duke University says that “People, when they perform a behavior a lot, outsource the control of the behavior to the environment.”

Hair Dye For Grey Hair

Which means if you’re trying to stop mistreating your hair, you will have to overcome those environmental cues which have become so deeply ingrained that they are hard to resist.  Which is why we sit on the couch and eat Pringles when we don’t need to, regardless of our resolutions to stop.

Disrupt Your Environment In Some Way

To battle bad behaviors then, one answer, according to the experts, is to disrupt your  environment in some way. Even small change can help — like eating the ice cream with your non-dominant hand.

What this does is alter the action sequence and disrupts the learned body sequence that’s driving the behavior, which allows your conscious mind to come back online and reassert control.

To break bad hair habits this might look like giving away your hot tools, or locking them up, so it’s hard to use them to blow fry your hair.  Or turning down the hot water heater to avoid the urge to scorch your strands.

Other disruptions might be buying professional high quality scissors and keeping them close at hand to distract you from using your fingers or dull scissors to snip those splits.

Take the time to make a list of any bad hair habits you might like to break and then analyze where you’re most likely to be tempted in your own environment to indulge in those habits.

Conair Hood Dryer Available At HairBoutique.com Marketplace

Do you tend to pull your ends while you’re watching TV or while you’re on the phone?  Instead of letting your fingers idly pull and rip, maybe you should take up knitting, crochet or some other related activity.

My trainer used to have me do leg lifts and stomach crunches while I watched TV.  Although a pain, it did keep me from stuffing my face or picking at my split ends and it did help me get my daily exercise worked into my schedule.  While that may be a little crazy for most, but hey, you get my drift.

Summary

Most of us think of ourselves as controlling our behavior, willing our actions into being, but according to the experts it’s not that simple.   It’s as if over time, we leave parts of ourselves all around us, which in turn, come to shape who we are.

For more information visit:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/01/02/144431794/what-vietnam-taught-us-about-breaking-bad-habits

This blog has been dedicated to honor our fabulous Twitter friends – AM Salon Equipment – at http://www.amsalonequipment.com/

Please stop by and tell them that HairBoutique.com said hello or check them out on Twitter at AMSalonEquip.

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Hairy Bed Bugs

Billy The Exterminator Steaming Bed Bugs In Florida

Hairy Bed Bugs

Since my own hairy encounter with a bed bug infested hotel room in West Hollywood some years ago, Ive been researching and writing about the little bloodsuckers.

And yes,  I’ve experienced a few bouts of passing paranoia over my close call where I literally escaped with my blood intact.

Unfortunately, bed bugs are an increasing problem which some bed bug experts label as epidemic.  Even A&E’s Billy The Exterminator had an episode dedicated to battling a major bed bug infestation in Florida.

It was very informative, but still creepy.  Billy used scalding hot steamers to kill the bugs, but it was noted that it is an ongoing process that is not cleared with one treatment.

As the bed bug population has exploded, a lot of  misinformation has followed.  Luckily the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been busy putting together helpful facts about Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Non-Chemical Treatments and even Pesticide Treatment Alerts.

Bed Bugs Attacking Hair And Scalp

Recently I received two different emails from people who were bitten on their scalps, along their hairline and throughout their hair and roots.  This seemed surprising since NBC Dateline consulted with Dini M. Miller, Ph.D., an associate professor in Urban Pest Management at Virginia Tech’s Department of Entomology to answer some of the questions viewers e-mailed Dateline about bedbugs.

Dr. Miller pointed out that while bed bugs can get into hair, they really don’t navigate as easily on areas of densely popular strands.  Why?  Unlike fleas and lice that have bodies or claws that are specifically designed for navigating through hair, the common bed bug does not have these modifications.

Bed bugs need to set their front claws in a particular position so that they can insert their mouth parts into the skin just so, in order to be in the proper feeding position.  Hair can make this difficult for them.  Or so it was thought.

However, while bed bugs prefer to feed on hairless bare skin, if they’re hungry enough or the swarm is large enough, they will in fact bite the scalp, the hairline and throughout the strands.  While many people report bites on their face or some other less hairy areas, they have been reporting biting in the hair.

If you’re bald or suffer from thinning hair it’s even more likely they will bite your scalp, face, hairline and near the line of any hairy sites on your body.

Ultimately, no body part is really safe if you insert your body into a bed bug infested bed, couch, room or house.  Hair or not hair, they will not be stopped once they have you in their detection zones.

Products To Protect Hair And Scalp From Bed Bug Bites

Unfortunately there is no shampoo, conditioner or other treatments known to protect hair, scalp or related areas like the hairline or face from bites.  At this time we are not very good at curing bed bug problems.

There is no pesticide or application method that works 100 percent of the time.  Even fumigation which can cost up to $20,000 in some cases can not completely eradicate bed bugs at one time, which is why it is best to find them and prevent them from coming to your home or abode.

What The EPA Says

The EPA strongly suggests use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) which is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management which relies on a combination of common-sense practices including taking precautions against getting bitten by proper bug infestation identification and management.

The EPA is concerned that any use of pesticides used to manage the pests do the least possible damage to people, property, animals and the environment.

Non-Chemical Treatments and even Pesticide Treatment Alerts.

Bed Bug Pesticide Alert

Many people are concerned about the growing bed bug problems and question whether new pesticides will be made available to the public to fight the battle.

There is news of companies currently developing new bed bug pesticides.

Why?  Dr. Miller pointed out that  all pesticides, including those for managing bed bugs labeled for use in the United States must be registered by the EPA.  To get an EPA registration, the pesticide product has to be thoroughly tested for acute and chronic effects on mammals (laboratory rats and dogs), the potential effects on birds, fish, and honeybees has to be documented, and the environmental fate (half-life) of these products in water or soil also must be quantified.

The cost of having a product registered is now estimated to be around $100 million.  This cost automatically limits the number of products which ever make it to the marketplace.  Also, there has been a 10 to 15 year trend in reducing the number of pesticide products which receive registration for use in the indoor environment.

Bottom line, it’s very difficult to get new pesticides registered which are specifically labeled for indoor use which is different from  agricultural use.

Like the EPA, many people have concerns about applying chemicals where children or pets sleep or play.  But, if bed bugs should become as big a problem as they were at the beginning of the 20th century, the public may demand that the federal government accelerate the registration of  pesticide products which are effective against bed bugs.

Meanwhile, the EPA has their own warnings about using pesticides indoors to combat bedbugs.  The EPA pesticide warning are listed below:

• Never use a pesticide indoors that is intended for outdoor use. It is very dangerous and won’t solve your bed bug problem.
• Using the wrong pesticide or using it incorrectly to treat for bed bugs can make you sick, may not solve the problem, and could even make it worse by causing the bed bugs to hide where the pesticide won’t reach them.
• Check if the product is effective against bedbugs — if a pest isn’t listed on the product label, the pesticide has not been tested on that pest and it may not be effective. Don’t use a product or allow a pest control operator to treat your home unless bed bugs are named on the product label.
• Before using any pesticide product, READ THE LABEL FIRST, then follow the directions for use.
• Keep in mind that any pesticide product without an EPA registration number has not been reviewed by EPA, so we haven’t determined how well the product works.

For more information about bed bugs or EPA guidelines for management, control and elimination visit http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/bedbugs/.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Mercury In Hair

Mercury

Mercury In Hair

If you’re struggling with ongoing hair problems which include dull, lank, dry or damaged hair, the environment may be partially to blame.  Especially if you consume healthy foods, drink the proper amount of fluids and treat your tresses with tender loving care.

Many people may not be aware  there are a lot of toxic compounds floating around in the air which may lead to chronic hair challenges for some.

Some of the more insidious toxins which are known to currently exist and can directly impact hair  include mercury, arsenic, chromium and nickel.  More than 60 air borne toxins have been identified.

When mercury is deposited in the hair it can cause a range of problems.  How does mercury make its way into the hair?

Hair, Mercury And Methyl-Mercury

Mercury is also a current environmental poison which can be ingested through some types of seafood which absorb methyl-mercury from air-borne mercury which migrates from the air to water.   People may be injured by neurotoxins from eating fish. Even babies still in the womb can suffer mercury related damage.  Mercury can also settle into the hair causing a myriad of ongoing problems.

Platinun Blonde With Short Hair And Long Fringe

Whenever environmental toxins like mercury enter your body through food, air or other means, the blood carries the toxins.  These environmental pollutants are deposited into hair follicles as well in various organs of the body.

When they’re carried to the hair, they are trapped permanently in the cortex of the follicles where they remain until they are cut off.

Fish With High Mercury Concentrations

Species of fish which are high on the food chain, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, albacore tuna, and tilefish contain higher concentrations of mercury than others.

As mercury and methylmercury are fat soluble, they primarily accumulate in the viscera, although they are also found throughout the muscle tissue.  When this fish is consumed by a predator, the mercury level is accumulated.

Since fish are less efficient at purging the toxing than accumulating methylmercury, fish-tissue concentrations increase over time.

Thus species that are high on the food chain amass body burdens of mercury that can be ten times higher than the species they consume. This process is called bio-magnification. Mercury poisoning happened this way in Minamata, Japan, now called Minamata disease.

Shark

Note:  What You Need to Know about Mercury in Fish and Shellfish

Good News – Mercury Hair Toxins In 2012

However, there is some good news about hair toxins for 2012.  Fox News has reported that The Environmental Protection Agency has just announced that they are implementing a wide range of new limits on a range of environmental pollutants.

Starting in 2012, the amount of mercury which power plants can release into the air would be monitored and limited by the EPA.

Mercury is considered a serious pollutant because it settles into water from the air, where it’s transformed into methyl-mercury and then picked up by fish which people ultimately eat.

There is a rising concern that some people may become ill from ingesting neurotoxins after eating fish contaminated with mercury. In some cases, even babies still in the womb may potentially suffer damage.

Mercury which is ingested from food, taken in by the lungs or which settles onto the hair from the air can also migrate to the cortex of the hair causing ongoing challenges.

Fine-particle Pollution Causing Gases

Air Pollution

Fine-particle pollution causing gases will also be carefully restricted to minimize their known dangers. Some of the more insidious toxins which will be monitored and restricted by the EPA include arsenic, chromium and nickel.

More than 60 air toxins will be cut by the new EPA restrictions.

Studies have indicated that fine-particle toxins, some only a 30th as wide as a strand of human hair, have been shown to lodge inside the lungs and travel to the heart or other parts of the body.  As many as 11,000 deaths and 4,7000 hearts are thought to occur every year as a direct result of inhalation of these various toxins.

By establishing new regulations which reduce these known environmental toxins  it’s believed that many thousands of premature deaths and thousands of heart attacks will be prevented.

It’s also believed that less toxins in the air and water will result in less people being subjected to poisons which can be absorbed into the body and ultimately harm hair, skin and eyes.

The American Lung Association

Lungs

The American Lung Association (ALA) was pleased with the new EPA regulations since these identified gases and air-borne toxins have been proven to worsen asthma, bronchitis and related chronic lung diseases.    They are also known to be carcinogenic.

Even though the EPA and ALA are encouraged by the new protective regulations, the coal industry had harsh criticism for the new environmental rules.

Coal industry leaders expressed concern that there would be a loss of jobs in that sector as a result of the new EPA rulings.  They also noted that new regulations would result in rising  costs and the fear that electricity may become less dependable as a long term energy source.

It is estimated that more than 400 power plants in at least 40 states over the next year will be impacted.  The top 12 percent of the power plants in the country will be required to meet the new EPA regulations designed to eliminate known pollutants, toxins and carcinogens.

Treatment For Mercury In Hair Or Body

Research on the treatment of mercury poisoning is limited. Currently available drugs for acute mercurial poisoning include chelators N-acetyl-D, L-penicillamine (NAP), British Anti-Lewisite (BAL), 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS), and dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA).

Naturally Curly Shoulder Length Hair

In one small study including 11 construction workers exposed to elemental mercury, patients were treated with DMSA and NAP. Chelation therapy with both drugs resulted in the mobilization of a small fraction of the total estimated body mercury. DMSA was able to increase the excretion of mercury to a greater extent than NAP.

Summary

While the new EPA rulings on environmental toxins for 2012 offer great news for those who suffer from serious and chronic lung conditions, it also will minimize potential damage of toxins to hair and skin.

Ultimately some of the known toxins which plague the hair and scalps of many people will be controlled by new EPA regulations targeting these  poisons.

Meanwhile if you eat a lot of fish or seafood and suspect that mercury has settled into your hair you may wish to consult a specialist who can help you work on detoxing the mercury or other toxins from your hair.

For More Information On Hair Mercury Or Environmental Toxins Refer To:

http://www.epa.gov/tri/

http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/pollutants.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(element)

HairBoutique.com Blog

Hair Oiling With Apricot Kernel Oil

Apricots - Kernels Are Use For Hair Oils

Hair Oiling With Apricot Kernel Oil

Apricot Kernel Oil is known as Prunus armeniaca.

It’s a cold-press oil refined from the dried kernels of apricots.   Its consistency and texture resembles sweet almond oil.  It’s rich in vitamins A, D & E and in both oleic acid and linoleic acid.

It’s a polyunsaturated oil which penetrates hair effortlessly without leaving any type of oily residue like olive or jojoba oil.

This is considered a carrier oil which means it can act as a base oil for mixing with essential oils (EOs) which can’t be applied directly to the skin, hair or scalp.

The oil is good as a  leave-in oil conditioner due to the fact it’s very light, non-greasy yet a rich oil which can be easily absorbed into the hair and skin.  It’s excellent for sealing hair to keep moisture in the hair.

Apricot Kernel Oil is high in Vitamin E and Vitamin A which makes it great for providing hydration.  It is a great oil for conditioning, healing or sealing.

Apricot Kernel Oil can be used in the following ways:

1.  Added to shampoo or conditioner to impart extra softness and moisture.
2.  Used as a pre-shampoo or post-shampoo treatment to soften new hair growth

Apricot Kernels Used For Apricot Kernal Oil

3.  Applied to wet or dry hair directly to boost moisturizing effects and add shine to hair
4.  It’s emollient properties make it great for ongoing conditioning and hydration5.  Use as are-treatment oil treatment before chemical hair treatments
6.  Leave-in oil after hair has been washed and/or dried.
7.  Deep conditioning treatments in between shampoo sessions or as a temporary or overnight treatment.
8.  Treatment for split ends on a regular basis.
9.  Daily oiling for long tresses to protect from ongoing damage
10.  Oiling to add shine, soften or for other hair care options.

It can be mixed with a wide range of essential oils (EO) depending the goals you wish to accomplish with a mix.

The product is frequently used as a massage oil.  Because of it’s moisturizing and conditioning formula it is thought to aid in the repair of the skin’s elasticity in prematurely aged skin.

Good Alternative To Sweet Almond Oil

According to Natalie Marx of The Jerusalem Post, Apricot kernel oil is a good alternative to sweet almond oil for people with nut allergies. Apricot kernel oil is similar in texture and color to almond oil, but costs slightly more. It is rich in vitamin E, a quality that gives it a longer shelf life than the typical oil.

Like almond oil, apricot kernel oil is absorbed into the skin, so it won’t leave people feeling greasy afterwards.

Method of extraction

Apricot Kernel oil is expeller pressed/partially refined.  It’s natural expeller pressed oil from raw almond kernels and exceptionally rich in fatty acids.

Summary

This is one of the most useful, practical, and commonly used oils. It is great for all hair types as an acting emollient.  It is best known for its ability to soften, soothe, and re-condition the scalp, hair and the skin. It’s truly marvelous as a carrier oil and is equally superb for addition to all hair, skin and related body care products.

According to The Arab Times Online “massaging face with apricot kernel oil moisturizes the skin and slows down the aging process.”

Apricot Kernel Oil can be found at most natural or organic food stores.   It has the shelf life of approximately 6 months to 1 year.

For More Information:  

Alternatively Speaking: The other ‘miracles’ of oil

HairBoutique.com Blog

Baby Bump Is Out For 2012

Jessica Simpson 2011 Baby Bump

Baby Bump Is Out For 2012

The commonly used Baby Bump has officially fallen out of favor.  It was included on the Lake Superior State University 2012 List of Banished Words.

As reported by CNN the northern Michigan school released its 37th annual list of words and phrases that it believes should be forever “banished” from the English language.

Although the list focuses on current slang and related media words, some of the classics also make the list.

Should Baby Bump Be Banished?

And yes, the list includes commonly used words such as baby bump. Why the complaints about baby bump?

The term which is used to describe a pregnant woman’s baby embellished rounded belly has become linked with popular celebrity accessories.  In fact, at the 2011 Golden Globes and Oscars Red Carpet so many female celebrities were pregnant that Guiliana Rancic deemed it the hottest new accessory.

List Of Recommended Words For Banishment

How does the school get their list of recommended words?  Lake Superior State University in Sault Sainte Marie on the Canadian border solicites people online to nominate terms they consider tired, overused or simply annoying.

Anderson Cooper

Based on those submissions, the judges at the school decided to put the following on this year’s chopping block: “amazing,” “baby bump,” “shared sacrifice,” “occupy,” “blowback,” “man cave,” “ginormous” and “the new normal.”

In their minds nothing could be worse than amazing baby bump or ginormous man cave or a combination of the other words.

It’s very interesting to see baby bump make the list because in the world of celebrities it is a commonly used media splash word.

Pet Parents, Win The Future, Thank You In Advance

Other words which have been unofficially sentenced to exile for excessive and inappropriate use include  “Pet parent,” “win the future,” “trickeration” and “thank you in advance” also have been unofficially sentenced to linguistic exile for the crimes of excessive and inappropriate usage, according to .

Amazing

The word “amazing” is currently considered to be one of the most overused adjectives in the English language and topped the list of submissions according to the university.  To demonstrate it’s blatant overuse it was pointed out by people submitting annoying words that Anderson Cooper uses it a lot.  In fact, one person commenting noted that Anderson used it three times in the opening 45 seconds of his program.

Banish The Man Cave

Some men are offended by the hot new man cave term.  Apparently it’s taken on a whole new meaning which can be offensive to some men who view it as a room filled with large flat-screen TVs blaring sports or porn with remote holsters, coolers stuffed with beer, large stuffed animal heads and ginormous recliners.  Oops, there’s that other annoying word – ginormous.

“Ginormous”, according to feedback received by the university, seemed particularly irritating.  Many contributors of the word complained that its usage shows a lack of proper education and was offensive.   Some claimed that the use of ginormous had a ring of high school drop-out language.

Word Banishment List History

Lake Superior State University’s annual “word banishment” list was first created at a New Year’s Eve party in 1975. The school now claims to receive tens of thousands of nominations every year.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Jennifer Aniston Hair Battle

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston Hair Battle

Jennifer Aniston has lost the hair battle for best hairstyle to Emma Watson for the second year in a row.  Ironically Jen who is still dominating the media with rumors of her elopement with actor Justin Theroux has never wanted to be known for her hair.

During the days of Friends after The Rachel had just blown up salon phones around the world Jen’s publicist literally would hang up on editors from publications which wanted to discuss her famous hair chop.

I know that info for a fact since one of the editors I was working with at the time was hung up on more than once when she started to discuss the famous haircut.

Of course the world has come to find out that Jennifer actually hated The Rachel even though it really did make her famous.  She didn’t like the cut or the style but she did like the fame.  Except she wanted the fame for her acting skills, not her hairstyle.

Unfortunately the famous member of the Aniston-Pitt-Jolie love triangle has never really been able to escape the media’s obsession about her hair color, length, style, texture or product use.

Emma Watson Hairstyle - Sideview November 2011

Maybe she’s finally getting a break.  It seems that the gorgeous Emma Watson has been stealing all the popularity away from Jen.  Yes, as Heidi Klum says on Project Runway, one day you’re in and the next you’re out.  It seems that Jen’s mane popularity is cooling off faster than a pizza in a snow storm.

Luckily for Jen she has that romance with Justin Theroux and the promise of a future pregnancy.  Maybe she will even go the Pitt-Jolie route and have twins and then adopt children from around the world.

But her hair?  It may be out for good.  And her world famous hairstyle Chris McMillian?  He will definitely need to try and find another high profile client if he wants to hold on to his title.

Emma Watson And Justin Bieber Hair

The Wall Street Journal reported that the fastest rising searches for celebrity haircuts on Google are for Emma Watson and Justin Bieber’s swish.  Not Jennifer Aniston as it has been in the past.  Hairstylists are being inundated with requests for Emma’s hairstyle.

The love for Emma’s short cropped hairstyle is a new shift for the majority of women who up until recently was more obsessed with long lush hairstyles.

Hair History

As history shows, hair lengths, colors, styles and textures cycle through periods of up and down cycles where they’re popular and then they’re not.  The super short hairstyle trend has been gaining steam for the past few years with the celebrity pixie cut movement gaining a solid foothold.

According to the Journal, these styles are evidence of a big shift in hair trends, since for women, “short hair hasn’t been trendy since the ’90s,” and because men “may justifiably feel sheepish about asking for the Justin Bieber hair cut.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Hair Strength Improvement Plan

Blow Dryer

Hair Strength Improvement Plan

What really is the strength of hair?  Hair scientists have discovered over time that human hair is surprisingly strong.  In fact, a single hair can support a load of about 100 grams before breaking.

Some hair experts content you could even spin rope out of hair!

This information about the strength of hair may have been what inspired the writers of TV’s Grimm to create a Rapunzel-like character who used her hair as a type of whip to strangle one of the bad guys.

What Makes Hair So Strong?

What makes hair so strong?  The keratin protein of the cortex is responsible. The long keratin molecules in the cortex are compressed to form a regular structure, which is not only strong but also flexible.  Hair is 97 percent protein and 3 percent moisture.

Unfortunately in the name of beauty humans undercut the natural strength of their hair with improper care of the scalp, excessive or improper use of shampoos and styling products, hair dyes, chemicals and hot tools.  Over time the hair will start to degrade and become damaged.

When hair becomes damaged it will weaken causing it to shed, break, split or rip.  Also, the scalp may start to flake and the strands can become brittle, dry or even feel spongy.

Water With Ice Cubes

If you have suffered through hair damage how do you get your natural hair strength back?  There are a variety of methods which can help.  Of course it can take some time to destroy your hair so be prepared for it to take some time for the damage to be repaired.

Unfortunately when hair is over-processed or mishandled it can become so damaged that the only option is to have the damaged areas removed to help the rest of the hair recover.

Two key components are important to maintain natural hair strength:

A.  Protein which strengthens and fortifies the hair both internally and externally
B.  Moisture taken internally (water) and applied externally (to hydrate)

Listed below are the options for an ideal hair strength improvement plan:

1. Review your dietary program.  Are you eating a protein rich food plan?  Hair needs protein to maintain it’s strength and that means lean meats, fish, eggs or similar healthy proteins.

If you aren’t eating as well as you should opt for a vitamin specifically formulated to help make your hair healthy and strong and provide all nutrients your hair needs.

HairTopia Hair Vitamins

2.  Amp up the protein treatments. Apply deep conditioners or similar to help repair the surface damage.  The appropriate hair care formulas with proteins, vitamins and moisturizers can actually strengthen vulnerable weak spots which may be prone to breakage.

Look for products advertised to help repair hair damaged.  Products which contain hydrolysed proteins or hydrolysed proteins with keratin are generally best able to penetrate into the body of the hair providing nourishment and recovery.  Schedule a deep conditioning treatment every four weeks, to help maintain healthy and flexible hair.

3.  Hydrate. Remember that hair needs both internal and external moisture for strength.  Keep hair hydrated internally by drinking the proper amount of water and similar liquids throughout the day.   Always use moisture enhancing pre-shampoo, rinse-out, leave-in and deep conditioners.  When appropriate you may also wish to do a pre-cleanse moisturizing treatment.

4.  Minimize cleansing sessions. If you are currently shampooing your hair every day experiment with only cleansing every other day or just 3 times a week.  If you must shampoo every day then experiment with alternative cleansing formulas such as Diluted Shampoo (DS), Conditioner Only Wash (CoWash), Water Only, Low Poo or a combination.

Eggs

5.  Cut the heat. Never cleanse hair in scalping hot water.  Lukewarm is ideal.  Skip the blow dryer and hot styling tools when possible.  If you can wet bun and air dry that is ideal.  If not, use a blow dryer set on the slowest and coolest speeds.  Minimize the use of your hot tools, especially hot irons which can cause substantial hair damage over time.

6.  Break with chemicals. Although vibrantly healthy strong hair can handle some chemical processing, if your hair is damaged it’s best to take a break from chemical processing whenever possible.   Regardless of public opinion when hair is first chemically colored and then relaxed, permed or straightened it can destroy the natural strength of the hair.  If you must use chemical processing try to stick with just one at a time.

7.  Consult a professional. If your hair is extremely damaged and you aren’t achieving noticeable improvement results through your own efforts it might be wise to consult a hair expert who specializes in damaged hair treatments.  They can work out a long term plan for you to follow which will help you recover the strength of your hair.

8.  Have damaged areas removed. Although it’s often hard to say good-bye to hair you’ve been growing for awhile, if it’s beyond repair, have it removed so that the rest of your hair can start to recover.

Other Possible Hair Strength Destruction Factors

The environment can also play a part in causing damaging.   Allowing hair to be exposed to wind, sun, surf or excessive temperatures can weaken it.  Always apply appropriate sunscreens or other protective products.

Summary

As you embark on your hair strengthening program take the time to evaluate the styling tools you use.  Some types of combs and brushes will rip and damage hair.   Finishing any cleansing regime with a cool or cold water rinse will close the cuticle and help retain the necessary moisture needed by hair.

If you have additional questions about your own hair please email me at AskKaren.com.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Hair Frizz Busting Spray – How To

Paul Mitchell Long Wavy Hair Image

Hair Frizz Busting Spray – How To

One of the best oils for adding instant hydration and eliminating frizz is jojoba oil.  Aloe gel is also great for adding moisture while controlling frizz.

Dehydration and frizz are both is an ongoing challenges for naturally curly, wavy or textured hair.  Aloe gel also helps to define texture (curl clumping, waves, coils, kinks, ringlets or similar).

It’s important to keep long hair or naturally dry hair hydrated to prevent tangles, breaks, splits or similar.

Jojoba Oil + Aloe Vera Gel + Glycerine & Essential Oils

When you combine jojoba oil with aloe vera gel and mix in a little glycerin, essential oils and  you get a home made frizz busting recipe for a wide range of hair types, textures, lengths and conditions.

The recipe can be used as a leave-in detangling conditioner or as a pre-shampoo treatment.  It can be used on wet, damp or dry hair.  If preferred, it can be applied before wet bunning.

This basic recipe has been around for many years and has appeared on a wide range of long hair (Kimberlily’s long hair anti-frizz recipe), naturally textured and similar hair forums, including HairBoutique.com’s Hair Talk Forum which was one of the very first hair focused forums on the Web since the mid 90s.

Aloe Vera Plant

While this recipe may not work for everyone, it can work wonders for others.  It’s not recommended for thin or fine hair which may be weighed down by the oil and aloe gel.

Ingredients

This recipe can be cut in half or doubled depending upon the length, type and current condition of your hair.  This formula is ideal for naturally curly, wavy, kinky, coily or textured hair.

1 large glass or ceramic round bowl
4-8 ounce mister bottle or similar (sterilized before each use)
1 small whisk
1 funnel or similar
1 tsp organic jojoba oil (5ml)
1 tsp glycerin*
2 tbsp** aloe gel (30ml)
distilled water

Optional – 10 drops essential oil (EOs)

Substitution note: aloe juice is not as good & doesn’t last as long as gel.  Fresh aloe from the plant also does not last as long as a commercial aloe gel product.  If possible, select an aloe gel product without allantoin (pain reliever).

Note: This recipe can be altered as desired, but to work properly, requires jojoba oil or similar and aloe gel or similar as part of the base.  Without either the results will not be the same.

Aromatherapy Dark Blue Glass Bottles

Instructions

Mix the aloe gel, jojoba oil and glycerin together in the bowl.  Use the whisk and beat the ingredients together until they completely emulsify.

Apply the desired drops of essential oils and stir to combine.  Pour mixture into a mister bottle or spray bottle using the funnel to transfer without spilling.  Be sure to use with a good spritzer pump.  Store in a cool, dark area or refrigerate if possible.

The result of this recipe is a gel like consistency.  Be sure to dilute it with water to your own desired thickness.

Before using the formula apply cool distilled water (only distilled will do) to the bottle, shake well and then spritz onto damp hair as a leave-in conditioner.  Keep away from eyes in case irritation occurs.

It can also be used on dry hair and then finger picked through to add hydration.  This recipe will last for up to 10 days if refrigerated.  Pitch if it starts to develop a spoiled aroma.  If you wish you can experiment with adding your own preservative from citric acid (1/8th teaspoon) and ascorbic acids (1/16th teaspoon).

Benefits

Ringlet Infused Long Hair

This formula is known to enhance existing texture such as natural curls, waves, kinks and coils.  It can transform natural waves into looser curls.  Many people who have tried this or a similar formula report great results.

It is a great alternative for sprays which have a heavy silicone base.  The downside is that it requires the time to make and store.

Cautionary Notes

A little bit goes a long way with this formula.  Avoid applying directly to roots or on hair which is fine or thin and might be weighed down by the formula.  It may leave hair looking oily so you may wish to dilute with more water or only use as a pre-shampoo treatment.   The formula can also be used on dry skin.

Glycerin Pros And Cons

*Glycerin tends to work best in hot, humid temperatures where there is an excess of moisture in the hair.

Some hair types and textures do not respond well to glycerin which may pull moisture from tresses or cause a build-up over time.  If that’s case with your hair then experiment with making the formula leaving out the glycerin.   If you live in a cold climate you may wish to experiment with eliminating the glycerin or reducing the amount.

Honey is similar to glycerin but very sticky.  If you wish you can experiment with substituting a small amount of honey for the glycerin on a trial basis.  Vitamin E oil may also be a good substitute.

HairTopia Oil With Organic Jojoba Base

Alternative Options

This hair frizz busting recipe can be modified with the following options.  Experiment with the following ingredients which can be substituted or added to existing formula:

Aloe Vera Gel

A similar gel can be made from fenugreek seeds, flaxseeds or linseeds if there is a known aloe vera gel allergy.  People allergic to onions and/or garlic are often also allergic to aloe vera.

Oils – Substituted For Jojoba Or Added To Mix

Light organic (when possible) oils are the best and include, but are not limited to:

- apricot kernel oil
- argan oil
- broccoli seed oil
- camellia oil
- grapeseed oil
- sweet almond oil
- extra virgin olive oil (1/4 teaspoon of olive oil since it is heavier than jojoba)

Not Recommend
- coconut oil is not generally recommended because it may separate and may be too thick.  If you wish to use coconut oil experiment with fractionated coconut oil.  Castor oil is also too thick to mix effectively.

Coconut oil historically will clog up the mister dispenser or just float to the top and not be easily mixed.

Medium Length Red Curly Hair

Added Ingredient Options
- 1 teaspoon or a spritz of Lemon Juice
- jasmine water,  rose water or any other organic floral essence water can be used instead of distilled water which eliminates need for EOs or added aroma ingredients.

Essential Oils – Optional

Mix in 2-4 drops or as desired.  Start with one oil at a time to experiment with the aroma.  When in doubt use less than more.

Listed below are some popular EOs to use:

Frankincense
Rosemary
Lavender
Ylang Ylang
Patchouli

Other Essential Oils To Experiment With

Clary sage
Jasmine absolute
Vanilla
Cinnamon
Sandalwood

**Tablespoon is equivalent to 15ml. A teaspoon is equal to 5ml.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Michelle Parker Hair War Fundraiser

Missing Mom Michelle Parker

Michelle Parker Hair War Fundraiser

Florida mom Michelle Parker, 33, has been missing since Thursday, November 18th shortly after her appearance on “The People’s Court” television show aired.

Her sudden and unexplained disappearance has been the focus of national headlines and talk shows.

The reason for the media interest in Parker is the fact she was battling ex-fiance Dale Smith over a $5,000 engagement ring.  After hearing both sides, People’s Court Judge Marilyn Milian ordered Parker to pay Smith $2,500.   Smith was also the father of Parker’s 3-year old twins.

Just a few hours after the episode aired, Parker dropped her 3-year-old twins off at Smith’s condo for scheduled visitation. Parker’s 2008 black Hummer H3 was found the following day in a parking lot on the west side of Orlando.

Decals for Parker’s Glow mobile tanning business had been removed from the windows, police said.

Police initially said that Smith was cooperating and was not considered a suspect, but during a press conference on Monday Orlando Police Chief Paul Rooney named Smith as the primary suspect in Parker’s disappearance. Rooney did not elaborate on why Smith was considered a suspect, but detectives have said he has refused to take a polygraph test.

The family of Michelle Parker are determined to keep her case alive in the news.  More than a month since Michelle Parker disappeared and right before Christmas, the Parker  family continues to spread the word about Michelle.  They are also raising money for her the care of her twins as well as to continue the search.

A local Orlando, Florida establishment, Graffiti Junktion, worked with the Parker family to organize Hair Wars.  The goal of the competition and fundraiser was to help promote ongoing awareness for Michelle.  And to raise money of course.  One of the club’s bartenders used to work with Michelle and wanted to organize the event to help Parker’s family.

Lauren Erickson, Michelle Parker’s younger sister said “Us being a family of hair stylists, its cool.”  She said “They have platform artists doing hair art”.  Top stylists battled all night turning hair styles into art.

The family says benefit events like Hair Wars keep Michelle’s face out in the public and give them hope.  “Anytime we come across a first its difficult, I remember the first dish I made she liked and she wasn’t there, it was hard, now it will be the first christmas without her,” said Erickson at the event.

The family is hoping and praying for a Christmas miracle.  Lauren Erickson was wearing her sister’s earring to honor her.  She explained “My mom bought them for us last year, I lost mine and my mom brought these over for me today, so I have my little jingle Michelle balls on.”

The Orlando Police Department is continuing to search for Michelle.  They’re still doing searches, getting search warrants and digging through information.   Erickson said “It was really good to see all those people in an office doing everything they can with boxes of information that they’re going through.”

If you have information regarding Michelle Parker, call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Cheryl Cole British Hair Icon Of 2011

Cheryl Cole With Volume Infused Blonde Hair

Cheryl Cole British Hair Icon Of 2011

A survey by hair loss treatment MediGro discovered that Cheryl Cole, Judge of UK’s X Factor was voted hairstyle hair icon for Britain for 2011.

The 28-year-old Cheryl  beat out hairstyle heavyweights Kate Winslet, Rihanna and Beyonce.   She even beat out Kate, The Duchess of Cambridge and Kate’s younger sister Pippa.

Whether her hair hue is blonde or brunette, long or short, sleek or texturized, Cheryl can do no wrong as far as Britain’s celebrity hair watchers are concerned.   They are envious of her big beautiful tresses.

Cheryl is always changing up her hairstyle and has thrilled fans when she was brunette and bouffant or blonde and sexy.  It doesn’t matter.  The women in the UK just love her hair.

At least the majority of the 5,000 women in the U.K. who voted in the poll.

Even the singer has been long admired for her hair color, length, texture and hairstyles, she came under attack in 2009 when she was the face of a L’Oreal shampoo which claimed to revive limp and lifeless hair.

Cheryl Cole With Wave Infused Blonde Hair

Long History Of Hair Extensions

Ironically Cheryl tresses consisted almost totally of hair extensions which she’s been very open about wearing.

Cheryl historically has worn 100% human hair extensions custom colored to match her base hair hue.  Reportedly the extensions were meticulously applied as individual strands with a fusion attachment method.

The claims of trickery and fakery regarding the L’Oreal advertisements were tied to the fact that Cheryl openly wore hair extensions and wouldn’t even benefit from the shampoo she was promoting.   Even with the scandal over her hair extensions and the L’Oreal shampoo promotion, the British women still love Cheryl and want her hair color, length and styles.

The former Girls Aloud singer still has a contract with L’Oreal even after all the flap about her hair extensions.

Cheryl was reportedly criticized for her fashions and hairstyles on the American version of The X Factor.

Cheryl Cole With Long Brunette Waves

She was axed after just four days on the show and replaced by brunette singer Nicole Scherzinger.  Some now question whether Nicole was a better choice than Cheryl might have been.

During her time on the US version of The X Factor Cheryl was a brunette who had adopted a volume infused 70s style bouffant hairstyle.

After leaving the show the brunette star changed her entire look.  She appeared in June of 2011 showcasing a dramatic hair makeover with sleek, sassy buttery blonde strands.

Her fans loved her hair when she was brunette and now that she is blonde.

The same hair icon poll discovered that a quarter of the UK popular have dyed their hair lighter in 2011 while 21 choose a darker hairstyle.

Also, one third of the nation’s women regularly use hair straighteners.  26 per cent use dry shampoo to maintain their hair for more than one day.

Surprising the survey found that on an average UK women spend as much as 45 minutes styling their hair daily, equating to 273 hours a year.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Colette Malouf Hair Accessories

Colette Malouf

Colette Malouf Hair Accessories

Hair accessories designer Colette Malouf is famous for her beautiful hair accessories which she has been creating since 1986 when she designed and created her first hair accessory.

She opened her own business in 1987 after seeing how popular her first design became.

The native New Yorker, raised in Soho, the child of fashion grew up in her family’s glamorous lounge wear business “Perfect Negligee”.   Stunning ostrich feathers and jeweled caftans were key ingredients in the family business, proving ongoing inspirational for Colette.

A true New Yorker, Colette grew up amidst the art and design scene of downtown Manhattan.

As a child Colette would sneak into her grandmother’s closet which was full of amazing 30s, 40s and 50s designer clothing and accessories from Schiaparelli, Dior, Norell and Hattie Carnagie.

Jewel encrusted heels, crocodile handbags, white kid gloves and black resin cigarette holders fueled her inspiration when she began creating her own hair accessory lines.

She says, “I am all about ‘sculpting’ the hair with my hair accessories to help women achieve the shape they want,” she says.  With that goal in mind she has not only created some amazing hair accessory designs, but matched them to hairstyles they were designed to enhance.

Colette Malouf Hair Styles

Colette Malouf Rock Crystal And Mesh Embellished Hair Comb At HairBoutique.com

Colette has developed the stick twist, the figure 8 twist, the chignon twist and the mane frame which is a scarf like ponytail hair style to showcase and incorporate her hair accessory designs.

The hair accessory designer takes inspiration from everywhere from street style to high fashion. Her design aesthetic is a unique melding of artistic craftsmanship and elegant styling.  Colette also is inspired by her love of yoga.

Some of her ideas for creating amazing accessories have resulted from her attending yoga retreats in Costa Rica, Tulum, Mexico, Sicily and St. John.

Colette has become an undeniable industry leader, fundamentally redefining the role of hair accessory designs in women’s styling.  She has also translated the spirit of her distinctively elegant hair collection into a line of costume jewelry.

Her Accessories In The Top Fashion & Beauty Magazines

You’ve probably spotted her work.  Her beautiful hair accessory designs have been showcased on the hit series “Sex and the City” and “Gossip Girl”.  She also have collaborated with fashion idols Michael Kors and Derek Lam.

Colette Malouf Crystal Pomegranite Headband - Eggplant At HairBoutique.com

Her hair accessory collections have also been featured in the pages of top fashion and beauty magazines and on the likes of Oprah, Halle Berry and Anne Hathaway.

The designer was featured in New York Magazine as one of fashion’s young rising stars.

She has eighteen (18) stores in Asia and has expanded into the Middle East.   The designer has a special affinity for the Middle East since she is Lebanese.

Colette says that “being born into a Lebanese family” makes her “proud to share my vision with women in the Middle East.”  In fact, Colette has said that her alltime favorite food is Tabouli.

Colette hopes to expand into Brazil because she had a lot of family there and believes that should be her next direction.

A member of the CFDA since 1993, Colette mentors students at Parsons School of Design in New York City on a regular basis.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Khloe Kardashian Embraces Dallas

Khloe Kardashian

Khloe Kardashian Embraces Dallas

Khloe Kardashian has just recently moved to Dallas with her husband Lamar Odom who was traded to the Dallas Mavericks.  Already the Kardashian sister is showing her wish to embrace Dallas by putting on a special toy drive for the Children’s Hospital of Dallas.

The star said on her blog:

“Everyone is just so nice (in Dallas) and we already feel at home. So in the spirit of kindness and giving, I’ve decided to host a toy drive for the Children’s Hospital of Dallas so that we can bring smiles to all of the amazing children spending their holiday there.”

Khloe use to do the same thing at home in Los Angeles.  She also wrote on her blog:

“I already do a lot of work with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and now that I live here, I want to start doing work with this hospital.”

The toy drive took place today (Wednesday, 12/21/11) at City Hall Plaza from 12 pm to 2 pm.   Khloe promised all who attended that she would sign autographs and take photos as long as an unwrapped gift was provided.

What a kind and thoughtful thing to do.  Khloe is not only beautiful, she has a big beautiful heart.  I’m sure everyone here in Dallas is going to fall madly in love with Khloe.

All reports indicate that Khloe’s toy drive was a huge success.  Thank you Khloe.  We are so glad you’re here in Dallas now.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Paula Patton Spills Mission Impossible Secrets

Paula Patton

Paula Patton Spills Mission Impossible Secrets

Actress Paula Patton co-stars in the new Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol as an agent who kicks some serious booty.

Paula appeared on the Today Show with Hoda and Kathie Lee and discussed how she had just had a baby when she had to get in shape to play a spy.  At the time she got the role her son was just 5 months old.

Paula said even though she had just had a baby with husband Robin Thicke “they hired me anyway and I wanted to do all my own stunts.

I had to do a lot of physical training, which got me back in shape (from the baby) which was a good blessing.”

Role Was A Long Shot

The beautiful actress admitted that getting the role was “a long shot” and she told them “come on guys, don’t waste my time” because sometimes they bring in all the actresses, they want to see everyone.  At the time Paula didn’t they they were really serious about her for the role, but the producers wanted her and “kept pursing her” for the role.

She said she never thought in a million years she would get the film.  Brad Bird was the producer on the film. Paula said JJ Abrams was also one of the producers and he was “very nice to her.”

Ultimately Paula had to audition with Tom (Cruise) for the role.  She had to do a screen test with Tom.  She loved meeting him and working with him and said “he’s so kind and really willing to share the spotlight” with her and the other actors in the film, Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg.

On The Edge Of 124th Floor In Dubai

Paula shared her reactions to working on location in Dubai on the 124th floor of a very tall building.  Paula said “there a moment when Tom falls and Jeremy (Renner) catches Tom’s legs and I catch Jeremy’s legs. And when we began that they whole window cut out and I was far back away from it and I could wear a harness because my dress was so tight and so a stunt man was holding onto my ankle, but by the 6th take we were so close to the edge.  I saw Tom and he was like “hey Paula, how you doing?”

She said that Tom has “no fear in him at all” when doing the stunts in the movie. She said “I have more fear than he has, for sure, and I’m inside.”  Paula said while he was hanging out of the window on the 124th floor “he was smiling.  He loves it.”

How does Paula balance a very busy acting and appearance career with a young child who is almost 2 years old and a busy celebrity husband?

The actress said “I’m very thankful, I have an amazing mom. Honestly, I couldn’t do any of it without her.  She’s my angel.  Don’t get me started, I’m all chocked up for the Holidays.  But you know what it is? As you ladies know, you just get less sleep and you figure it out.  You just put one foot in front of the other.  And he’s the most important thing in the world to me, my son.  You just put him first and everything else just kinda falls into place.”

How do Paula and her husband keep their relationship hot?

Paula said “Desire.  The truth is that we all have ups and downs in our relationship but we have an intense passion for each other and somehow we don’t want to be with anyone else so we figure it out.  And he’s pretty cute you know.. so….”

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Debra Messing Divorce Drama

Debra Messing

Debra Messing Divorce Drama

Sometimes couples stay together for the sake of the children.  In the case of actress Debra Messing and her husband Daniel Zelman, they’re living together in order to continue to raise their son as a family.

The difference is that Us Weekly broke the news this week that the 43 year old actress and her husband of ten years have mutually agreed to separate and ultimately divorce.  Yet the couple with their only son is still living together. “The decision was mutual,” Messing’s rep told Us in a statement. “They remain supportive of one another and committed to raising their son as a family.”

There’s lots of reasons these days that people who are divorce, getting divorced or attempting to celebrate still live together.

Due to the current economy and job market all sorts of unusual couple situations have evolved.  If the couple wish to divorce but can’t afford to move into separate residences there could be the need to co-habit while working towards a divorce.

While at first thought this might seem to make things awkward for Debra and Daniel, apparently not.  How committed? A source told Us that the former couple “have been separated the better part of the year but continue to live together in New York for Roman,” their 7-year-old son.

The family recently relocated from Los Angeles to NYC (where Messing and Zelman first met as NYU students), where she’s been filming Smash, the buzzed-about new NBC series due in February.

The split is “very amicable,” a source revealed.  Despite their formally secret separation, Messing and Zelman attended Bette Midler’s Halloween bash in matching costumes. The former Will and Grace actress gushed to the media last month about her family’s holiday plans in NYC.

“We love to go skating at Wolman rink, and go see plays . . . Looking forward to putting on the snowsuit and stomping through Central Park.”

Meanwhile Debra is getting ready to return to NBC in a new series which will premiere in early 2012.  It’s receiving lots of buzz,  maybe even more sore than her unusual marital situation.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Teresa Giudice Husband Joe Indicted

Teresa Guidice

Teresa Giudice Husband Joe Indicted

Teresa Giudice is famous for her ongoing role on Bravo TV’s Real Housewives Of New Jersey (RHONJ).  She was one of the original cast members of RHONJ and is one of the remaining housewives.

While Teresa has had lots of personal successes as a result of RHONJ it has also brought the spotlight to the ongoing troubles of her husband Joe.

NorthJersey.com reported that authorities told them that Joe was  indicted by a New Jersey grand jury yesterday (Tuesday) on the charge of fraudulently obtaining a driver’s license.  According to the site, the indictment charges the 40-year-old Real Housewives of New Jersey hubby of using false identification and impersonating his brother, Pietro, to obtain a New Jersey driver’s license in June 2010.

The charge of wrongfully using identifying information is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, NorthJersey.com reports. The impersonation charge carries a maximum 18-month prison sentence.

Joe was also in the news in 2009 when he and his wife filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy citing $11 million in debt.  According to the Newark Star-Ledger, Joe was accused of hiding assets from the court.

Teresa Guidice

The paper alleged that U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge, Morris Stern, signed off on a settlement between Joe and the trustee, John Sywilok. The agreement does not apply to Teresa, who is still pursuing a discharge of her debts.  In September of 2011, Joe withdrew his bankruptcy filing to deal with his debts.

Teresa (nee Gorga) (born May 18, 1972) has been very outspoken about a variety of topics.  She is a true Jersey girl who was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey.  She has been quoted as saying “I’m a Jersey girl. No one can knock me down.”  Teresa met her husband Joe in New Jersey and they have been together for more than 10 years.

Teresa claims that “People make fun of Jersey girls, but I think they’re just jealous.” (Season 1 – Season 2).  Theresa’s  parents immigrated from Italy and raised Teresa and her brother Giuseppe, in an Italian Catholic home.

Teresa and Joe have four daughters, Gia (born in 2001), Gabriella (born in 2004), Milania (born in 2006) and baby Audriana (born in 2009, with whom she was pregnant during the season one reunion show).

Teresa

Teresa’s first book, Skinny Italian, a lifestyle title that teaches authentic, healthy Italian cooking was on the New York Times Bestseller List.

Her newest cookbook, Fabulicious!: Teresa’s Italian Family Cookbook came out on May 3, 2011.  It also was on the New York Times Bestseller List

Teresa has a 3rd cookbook planned titled ‘Fabulicious–Fast & Fit!’ due to come out in the Spring of 2012.

Additionally, she is a committee member for her former co-star, Dina Manzo’s charity, Project Ladybug.

Will Joe’s latest problems cause problems for Teresa?  Probably not.  This lady just picks herself up from any troubles, dusts herself off and keeps on living her life.  She will probably do the same with this latest news about Joe being indicted.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Barber Blows Whistle On Hair Burning Punishment

Fire

Barber Blows Whistle On Hair Burning Punishment

Police were tipped off in Abingdon, Maryland by a barber and the barber’s salon owner who were concerned by obvious burns on the head of a boy who visited the hair care establishment.

The boy’s father, Steven Helgason, 44, was arrested in his home after he allegedly used a homemade blow torch out of a can of Axe deodorant to burn his son’s hair as punishment for misbehaving.

The police allege the father of 8 children used the blow torch to burn his children’s hair as punishment for misbehaving.

One of Helgason’s sons told police he was stripped and hung upside down before the blow torch was applied to his head by his father.  The son said that his father would spray a can of deodorant and lighting the liquid so that a flame would erupt from the canister.

The oldest boy also told police he would sometime use the blow torch on his younger siblings after being ordered to by their father.

Model Getting Hair Cut

Other children in the family said they had been burned ‘hundreds of times’ by their father’s home made blow torch.  In the investigation that followed three of Helgason’s eight children, aged from six to 13, told police they had been injured by the blow torch.

Helgason, has prior convictions for assault and child abuse.  Harford County State’s Attorney Joseph Cassilly said investigators are still trying to ascertain why Helgason allegedly burned his children.

‘It’s very strange. It’s not clear, but it does not appear this was an issue of discipline or excess discipline or anything like that,’ said Cassilly,  ‘These allegations are very unusual, and that’s one of the main reasons we asked for no bond.’

Officials said Helgason was divorced by his wife in 2006 following an domestic violence incident but he retained custody of seven of their children.

Cassilly said ‘Any child abuse case is troubling, but given the number of children that were involved here, this is certainly something that’s very upsetting, because hopefully the mother will get re-engaged in some of this.’ He continued  ‘They were separated so what knowledge she had isn’t clear and I don’t think we’ve finished our investigation to that point yet.’

Helgason was booked into jail and charged with four counts of second-degree child abuse. He is currently being held without bail.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Tintin Rocks Iconic Orange Hair

Tintin

Tintin Rocks Iconic Orange Hair

Tintin, a beloved European character has landed in the US in a 3-D animated film “The Adventures of Tintin.”

The film opened overseas two months ago.

Tintin is famous for a lot of things but hair is definitely part of his signature.  The character was created by Belgian illustrator Hergé in 1928 while he was working at a daily newspaper.

Part of what makes Tintin so recognizable and adorable is his orange tuft of hair which is pointy and extends skyward from his hairline.  It’s doesn’t hurt that his orange hair tops an adorable round face, button nose and soulful eyes.

Tintin, a boy journalist with an enterprising spirit and a trusty dog named Snowy, became the star of a series of “Adventures of Tintin” comic books that Hergé illustrated until his death in 1983.

The character seemed an ideal match for the director Steven Spielberg, who said he saw much of himself in Tintin and sought to adapt his adventures into a feature film.

Even when Tintin was played by a human character, the hair was carefully constructed to represent the vision of spiky orange hair envisioned by Hergé.

The addition of the orange hair really does make the character unique and adorable.  It’s amazing how hair can make sure a difference.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Girl’s Hair Set On Fire As Prank

Fire

Girl’s Hair Set On Fire As Prank

The Daily Mail Reporter today provided details about Scaffolder Robert Stockell, 21, who decided to play a prank on a sleeping teenage girl last June by using a cigarette lighter to set her hair on fire.

According to The Daily Mail, Stockell, who had been drinking at an all-day house party, crept up to 17 year old Elise Groves as she lay on a sofa sleeping at a party.

He ignited an aersol can next to Groves’ ear and then walked off as the flames spread.  Groves awoke to feeling a burning sensation around her hand and face.

She fled the party after putting herself out.  She was discovered by police in severe pain with second degree burns to her hand, arm and shoulder.

Groves needed plastic surgery for her hand.  It was reported that it was difficult for her to make a fist or to extend her fingers. She is still receiving treatment.

Stockell was arrested and was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm.  He has been jailed for nine months.

The house party was designed to echo the MTV show in which participants play dangerous stunts on each other.  Stockell and his friends would play bizarre drinking pranks including shaving each other’s eyebrows.

Unfortunately for Elise Groves, she was at the wrong place at the wrong time.  She had been at the party but had fallen asleep.  According to Defense Counsel Paul Hague, Stockell was standing behind her head and was initially going to lean in and shave off her eyebrows.

For some reason he went back to the kitchen, lit a can of spray which started to flame and left it near her ear and it set her hair and part of her face and hands on fire.

Defense Attorney’s Explanation

Hague said in Stockell’s defense ‘It was a reckless and stupid joke but it is different from an act which intended to hurt but it was the part of culture of this group and the gang of friends who were stupid when with drink.”

He also said ‘Shaving eyebrows was common place with the girls – they all accepted and pleaded guilty to that. It’s not bullying it’s horseplay, stupidity and everyone was part of it. It’s recklessness and the injury flows from that.

Hague offered additional explanation for Stockell’s behavior by saying ‘The offence happened during a weekend of excess – drinking too much, too much time and too much money. He became part of this group six months prior to the offence.

‘Before this he had been with his girlfriend for three and a half years before they finished and then he fell in with this group. It was heavy drinking horseplay at the weekends and when he was not, he was hard working young man.

‘He’s away from parental control, earning good money and at the weekend he drinks too much with this group and involved with horse play. Although the injuries are unpleasant they are not of the worse sort.’

Judge’s Response To Stockell

Judge Robert Altham wasn’t amused by Stockell’s pranks.  When passing sentence he said ‘The culture at the party was not only drinking but practical jokes, shaving eyebrows, jokes played on you and what you did fell in that environment, but what you went on to do was on a different level.

‘Everyone knows how unpleasant burns are. These were sustained when she was unconscious and in no position to look after herself.

‘What you did plainly went beyond a practical joke and if you take drink that affects the risk you play. You will do immensely stupid things and you will do something again. The ongoing effect on her is one of degradation and humiliation.’

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Emily Maynard Next Bachelorette

Emily Maynard

Emily Maynard Next Bachelorette

Beautiful blonde Emily Maynard will be coming back to ABC to be the next Bachelorette.  She will be given another chance at love since her engagement to two time Bachelor Brad Womack failed.

Emily was the fan favorite on The Bachelor season 15 and everyone was rooting for the 25-year-old single mom to win.  After she won Brad’s heart and a stunning engagement ring, things began to unravel until the engagement was kaput.

“It’s basically a done deal,” a source close to Emily told Life and Style, before adding that the single mother of one “hasn’t signed the contract yet, but she’s fully on board.”

The inside source told Life and Style that ABC believes she’s the perfect choice to be the next bachelorette.  ABC reportedly gushed that “Emily is America’s sweetheart. Fans are going to be thrilled! Everyone loved her.”

Emily was engaged to Brad in the season finale of “Bachelor” last March. In July, however, the couple announced that they have decided to end the relationship. At that time, the children’s hospital event planner tweeted, “I don’t want to be the Bachelorette,” but it looks like she may have changed her mind.

Even though Ashley Hubert, the runner up in Emily’s season was The Bachelorette, some of the bachelor expressed disappointment to the camera that Emily wasn’t The Bachlorette.  When Ashley found out she was heart broken.

It’s true that everyone love Emily.  If she’s coming back as ABC’s next Bachelorette the ratings will be through the roof.

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X Factor’s Steve Jones May Be Fired

Steven Jones

X Factor’s Steve Jones May Be Fired

There’s lots of rumors floating around that X Factor host (US) Steve Jones will not be coming back for round two of the reality TV talent show.

The British host is allegedly being fired from his job after he failed to win love of the American audiences during the debut season of Simon Cowell’s show.

The Daily Mirror reported “There have been mistakes and he just doesn’t seem to have the knack for dealing with contestants.”

The Mirror also reported “The executives at Fox have already decided not to renew his contract and so, short of a miracle happening, it is pretty much a done deal that he will not take part next season.”

I can agree that Jones seemed almost wooden when interviewing several of the contestants and unlike Ryan Seacrest who seems to genuinely care about the Idol contestants, Jones appears to be cold hearted about their eliminations.

In fact, Jones infamously blurted out “the dream is over” when announcing the elimination of girl group Lakoda Rayne. Member Hayley Orrantia took over the microphone and corrected the host for his off-script verbal stumble, saying the dream was most certainly not ending at that moment. 

The elimination of Lakoda Rayne was heart breaking from a number of viewpoints.  Paula Abdul, Simon and the X Factor producers had created the group from individual contestants.  Lakoda Rayne was controversial from the start, but Paula was devastated when they were eliminated.  For Steve to appear flippant at that time was not cool.

“The X Factor” press conference was held at CBS Television City on Monday, December 19 in Los Angeles but it is yet known whether Jones is kicked out. The 34-year-old himself admitted that he has no idea whether he would be rehired. “Fingers crossed, I’d love to come back. [We'll] see what happens,” he said earlier this month.

Reportedly Jones has been privately told he finished on the show and reportedly was very distressed to hear the news.

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Selena Gomez Family Tragedy

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez Family Tragedy

Selena Gomez will turn 20 on July 22nd in 2012.  Her mom, Mandy, was former stage actress Amanda Dawn Cornett and had Selena at a very young age with her husband Ricardo Joel Gomez.  Mandy and Ricardo divorced when Selena was 5 years old.  Selena was raised as an only child by her hard working mom.

Mandy, who is in her mid-30s, married Brian Teefey in 2006.

Recently Selena tweeted about the fact her mom Mandy and stepfather Brian were expecting their first child together.  Selena tweeted that she was looking forward to being a big sister.

Sadly Mandy miscarried on December 16th which was a family tragedy.   Selena, 19, was immediately notified of her mom’s miscarriage.  Selena was so devastated by the news that she cancelled her Dec. 17 concert in Chicago and Dec. 18 date in Seattle, E! News reported.

She had been at Power 106′s Cali Christmas 2011 in Los Angeles — the show where her boyfriend Justin Bieber performed with Drake — when she quickly left to head home.

Boyfriend Justin Bieber was very supportive of Selena, Mandy and the rest of the family.  x17Online.com took pictures of Justin at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center yesterday visiting Selena and her mom.  Justin looked as devastated as Selena was.  Very sad.

So was Demi Lovato who immediately stepped up to send love to her longtime BFF after she heard the news.   Demi tweeted Selena on December 17th “I love you”.

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James Franco In Linda Lovelace Film

James Franco

James Franco In Linda Lovelace Film

Insiders say that actor James Franco, 33, is in negotiations to play Hugh Hefner in the Linda Lovelace biography with Lovelace as the current title.

Almost a year ago there was a rumor that Franco would be starring as the husband/producer/pornographer of the late Linda Lovelace – Chuck Traynor.

Now the word is that Franco will assume a much smaller role as the infamous Hef who is the Playboy founder.  The filmmakers are Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman who Franco worked with on Howl.

Peter Sarsgaard is said to be taking on the role of Chuck Traynor with the Linda Lovelace role be played by Amanda Seyfried.

Franco’s part in the film is said to be relatively small and limited to just one scene which will be shot in a single day. 

Amanda Seyfried

Franco’s scene will be the one that sees Hefner welcoming Lovelace and her husband to the Playboy Mansion for a screening of her famous film “Deep Throat.”  The “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” actor will bring a unique perspective on Hefner to the film.

“Lovelace” will be based on Eric Danville’s “The Complete Linda Lovelace”, a biography published in 2001, a year before the iconic star died. Lovelace was just a schoolgirl in Florida before she met and married Traynor, who transformed her into the world’s most famous porn star.

She is famously known for starring in a 1972 hardcore porn movie “Deep Throat”, which was one of the highest grossing independent films of all time.

Amanda Seyfried is being joined by Hank Azaria who will play “Deep Throat” helmer Jerry Damiano, Bobby Cannavale and Chris Noth who will star as the porn film’s financial backers Butchie Peraino and Anthony Romano respectively, as well as Robert Patrick who will portray Lovelace’s father John Boreman who is ashamed of his daughter’s fame.

The production of the movie is set to begin this week in Los Angeles. The film is also supported by other notable stars including Sharon Stone as Lovelace’s mother, Juno Temple as her best friend, and Wes Bentley as her second husband.

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Kobe Bryant Cheating Caught By NBA Wives

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant Cheating Caught By NBA Wives

If you watch any of the Bravo/TV Real Housewives reality TV shows you might think women just battle, bitch and fight with each other all the time. While that might be true in some circles, in others, women have each other’s back.  Especially when it comes to catching their men cheating on them.

Women live by a different code when it comes to protecting their sisters from men who are doing them wrong.  Which is exactly what happened to Kobe Bryant.

TMZ.com has reported that a secret underground society of trained women spies is responsible for feeding intel to Vanessa Bryant that eventually led to her filing for divorce from hubby Kobe Bryant.

Those women spies?  The basketball wives of the NBA. And yes, they do stick together.  Don’t get on their bad side or you might as well move out of town.

TMZ.com reported on an inside source who said that Kobe’s teammates were blabbing to their wives and ladies about the superstar’s exploit with other women.  Lots and lots of other women. Those women told Vanessa the scoops they received from their men.

According to TMZ’s sources, the players would swear their wives to secrecy before dishing on their fellow ballers, but that secrecy is rarely kept.

The women all share information with each other about other guys around the league.  Partly it’s to guarantee that word will get back to them if their man ever steps out on them.  Or if they need to build a good case to present to a killer divorce attorney.

Vanessa Bryant filed divorce papers on Friday after she learned about his latest rash of infidelities with lots of women.

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Hair Raising Cardiac Cardinals

Phoenix Cardinals

Hair Raising Cardinals

I grew up in St. Louis before the St. Louis Cardinals moved to Phoenix, Arizona and were replaced by the St. Louis Rams.

Back in the day I used to watch the St. Louis Cardinal football team play with my dad who just about had a heart attack every week.  In fact, the St. Louis Cardinals were called the Cardiac Cardinals because their hair raising plays would leave fans with their hair standing on end, clutching their chests and worrying that they were having heart attacks.

Seems like the Cardinals move to Arizona didn’t diminish their DNA.  As recently reported by Sports Illustrated.com (SI.com), the team has a habit of pulling games out of the fire even when they trail at halftime.

While they don’t always win when they trail at halftime, every time they do win, it’s been after trailing at the half.

So it seems that the Cardiac Cardinals who could raise the hair on just about any fan’s head are alive and well and making their fans sweat.  Of course the good news about the Cardinals is that they offer lots of thrills and chills.  They’re never boring, that’s for sure.

Not only are they still giving fans potential cardiacs, they winning a lot of games.  Even better.  In fact, they recently beat the Cleveland Browns 20-17 in overtime to put them at .500 (7-7) for the first time in awhile.

Living in Dallas for the past 30 years has made me a hard core Cowboys fan, but I still keep one eye peeled on what’s happening with the widowmakers in Phoenix.  The Dallas Cowboys?  That’s another story for another day, thank you very much.

No matter the situation never count out the hair raising cardiac cardinals totally out until the fat lady sings.  Or maybe that’s in opera?  Oh yeah, there’s something about a clock and whistle.  Silly me.

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Water Tips For Hair, Beauty And Fitness

Water With Ice Cubes

Water Tips For Hair, Beauty And Fitness

Although many of us take it for granted, water is one of the best tools we have for nourishing our hair, enhancing our beauty and improving our health.

1.  Proper hydration of the scalp and roots is essential for healthy strands. 

Lack of the proper amount of daily water may disrupt normal functions of the body.  Water is responsible for circulation to the roots.  Water transports nutrients to the scalp and the roots of the hair which helps the hair grow strong and healthy.

2.  Water is critical for removing product build-up, shampoo or similar cleansers from the hair.

3.  When used as a final rinse, cool or cold water will help to close the cuticles and seal in any conditioning agents.  It will also add natural shine.

4.  Ice cold water is the finest skin toner you can ever use.  Plus it’s very inexpensive.  Ice cold water stimulates cells, improves circulation and helps to shrink or close pores.

Water With Fruit

How to tone your skin: Empty a tray or two of ice cubes into a basin.  After putting your favorite skin moisturizer or face cream on your face.  Splash the icy water all over your cheeks, chin, neck, and eyes.  Pat dry with a clean soft towel.  Your skin’s surface most likely has firmed up with lines becoming less visible.

5.  Ice cold water can also offer a fast  lift for your breasts which aren’t as high or as firm as they used to be.

How to tighten your breasts: After a hot shower, turn on the cold tap.  Splash handfuls of  cold water all over your breasts.

Your breasts should firm up  and have an instant lift.  The cold water also gives your heart a healthy boost of circulation.

6.  Soothe aching, swollen feet from long hours of standing and wearing high heels.

How to soothe feet: Sit on the edge of your tub and run each foot under warm water.  Switch from warm to cold and then to hot.  Then switch to cold again.  The constant changing of temperatures will help your feet feel soothed in minutes.

Spa Relaxation

7.  You can use water to relieve stress and strains from daily life.

How to relieve stress: Turn out the bathroom lights, climb into a warm bath and immerse yourself into a womb-like cocoon of water for at least half an hour. Choose a quiet time free of intruding sounds or family distractions.  Create your own deprivation tank which is a great way to clear your mind and calm your thinking.

8.  How to amp up the benefit of your moisturizer.

How to get maximum benefit from your moisturizer: Don’t towel off your face and body completely.  Leave it slightly moist.  While your skin is still damp, smooth on your favorite skin soothing moisturizer.   It’s an old beauty secret to lock water in, keeping skin supple and youthful.

9.  Supermodel Christie Brinkley says her biggest beauty secret is H2O.

How to reverse super dry skin: Brinkley said that she not only drinks at least eight glasses a day but she mixes water with her fruit juice to make it less concentrated.  She also adds slices of fruit to fizzy water.  She points out that not only is it low in calories, it tastes great.

Once while filming in a super dry climate where her skin become totally parched she discovered that drinking lots of water was the only thing that keep her face smooth and hydrated.   Since that point water is her go-to solution for all of her beauty treatments.

Bathtub

10.  Drinking water at room temperature is much better than cold or hot water.

Water at room temperatures is best for flushing out toxins and impurities which are responsible for fat and cellulite deposits.  It works in harmony with the body’s own digestive system.

11.  If you’re traveling in a country where the local water supply doesn’t promise to taste good or can be risky because of contaminants, remember to drink bottled water and use it for your teeth, washing your hands and your face.  Never ask for ice when ordering your drinks.

12.  Always avoid swimming in a chlorinated pool with a tampon inserted.  The chlorine in the water can creep up as the water is absorbed and cause irritating yeast infections.

13.  If you’re plagued by bladder infections and feel a sudden attack coming on (constant need to urinate,  fierce burning when urinating), drink a pint of warm water straight down.   Do it quickly and don’t take sips. It’s not fun to drink down, but it helps flush out the kidneys for a quick fix.

14.  A wonderful way to hydrate skin is to use water as a spritzer or spray. Use a small spray bottle and fill it with a mineral water such as Perrier or San Pellegrino, and store it in the refrigerator. A few times a day, lightly spray your face, holding the bottle about one arm’s length away, with the mineral water. This is also excellent for the entire body.

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Khloe Kardashian At First Mavs Game

Khloe And Kourtney Kardashian

Khloe Kardashian At First Mavs Game

Khloe Kardashian has always been my favorite Kardashian.  Maybe it’s because she just seems so real compared to the rest of her family.  Or maybe it’s because she’s so outspoken and always seems sincere.

She certainly has the very best hair of the bunch.  Right now she’s rocking some gorgeous Ombre strands which extend to her waist.

Even her controversial ex-brother-in-law Kris Humphries told the media that Khloe is the only real member of the entire family.

The 27-year-old reality star definitely stands behind her man.  When Lamar Odom was recently and unexpectedly traded from the LA Lakers to the Dallas Mavericks.  Khloe never questioned whether she would move to Dallas with her husband.  Once his trade was final, Khloe announced she was following her hubby to Big D.

Now Khloe was spotted all smiles cheering on hubby Lamar Odom in his first game playing for the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Odom, 32, put up 14 points and seven rebounds in the pre-season game against Oklahoma City.

The Mavs lost the game (by a score of 106 to 92) but according to ESPN, Odom received a warm welcome from the crowd.

The Mavs are excited to have Khloe as part of their team family. Mavs’ owner Mark Cuban told Extra, “we all decided that Khloe is the official favorite Kardashian of the Dallas Mavericks. She’s welcome with open arms.”

Khloe, who tweeted earlier this month, “I ride or die for my Lam,” is looking forward to life in the Lone Star state. “I’m excited,” she wrote to a fan. “Heard only great things!”

Having lived in Dallas for close to 30 years I can promise Khloe that the people will open their hearts to her and bend over backwards to make her feel welcome.

HairBoutique.com Blog

Joe Jonas Food Poisoning Drama

Joe Jonas

Joe Jonas Food Poisoning Drama

TMZ has reported that the 22-year-old singer was rushed to the emergency room at Children’s Hospital L.A. Sunday.

Jonas’ rep confirmed to Us Weekly that he was treated and released, but declined further comment upon the circumstances around the situation.

TMZ says Jonas complained he was experiencing severe stomach pains. An insider tells Us that the musician — whose exes include Ashley Greene, Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift — was suffering from “food poisoning.”

The “Just in Love” singer appeared to be feeling much better late Sunday evening, as he joined his younger broth Nick, 19, for sushi at Katsuya.

Really?  How ill could Jonas have been if he was able to eat sushi just a few hours later.  In fact, most people suffering from food poisoning often are unable to eat solid foods for some time after recovering.

Did Jonas really have food poisoning or was there some other situation happening?

HairBoutique.com Blog

Elizabeth Taylor Script Gets Big Bids

National Velvet

Elizabeth Taylor Script Gets Big Bids

Many interesting possessions of Elizabeth Taylor were auctioned off recently pulling down huge sums.  One interesting item which was auctioned off was the script for National Velvet.  The movie launched Elizabeth’s career when she was just 12 years old.

Although the script was originally thought to fetch $2,oo0 to $3,000 dollar it was sold for $170,500.  Which was a shocking amount. 

The script was sold to a private buyer and was bound in purple leather.  The entire Elizabeth Taylor auction brought in $154.2 million dollars!

Many experts suggested that the entire auction had a halo effect due to the brilliant light around her amazing career.  That halo effect is what is thought to have sent prices soaring at the frenzied auctions.

The five-day sale of her dresses, jewels and artworks fetched an incredible amount which will go to her estate.

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Hair Weaves, Wigs And Spanx Used To Smuggle Drugs

Hair Weaves And Hair Extensions

Hair Weaves And Spanx Used To Smuggle Drugs

Federal prosecutors today announced the unsealing of an indictment charging 12 people with smuggling as well as attempting to smuggle cocaine and heroin from Panama into the United States.

Although drug smuggling is not that unusual for today’s times, what is unusual is how the drugs were smuggled by the ring.   Assistant United States Attorney Robert Kravetz said the smuggling network involved female couriers with packets of uncut cocaine and heroin sewn into Spanx who tried to cut the border between Texas and Mexico.  A cucumber  aloe mixture was used to fool the drug sniffing dogs.

After several couriers were caught with drugs in their Lycra infused underwear, they resorted to sewing drugs into their hair weaves and wigs.  They also used a different array of aromas to try to hide the drugs with no  great success.

After receiving the drugs in Panama, the couriers traveled by bus or plane to Mexico, then attempted to cross on foot into the United States at Texas border towns including Laredo, McAllen and Brownsville.   Authorities said the ring distributed cocaine and heroin to street-level dealers in downtown Wilmington; Elkton, Md.; and Avondale and Kennett Square, Pa.

Authorities said 10 of the defendants named in the indictment are either in custody or under supervised release, including three alleged couriers in Panama for whom authorities are seeking extradition.

All defendants named in the 20-count superseding indictment, are charged with possession with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine and one or more kilograms of heroin, and conspiracy to smuggle similar amounts of those drugs. Each of those charges carries a mandatory prison term of 10 years upon conviction, and a maximum sentence of life.

Kravetz estimated that the drug network allegedly smuggled or attempted to smuggle at least 15 kilograms of cocaine and five kilograms of heroin over a three-year period starting in 2008.

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Kevin Federline Sends Britney Best Wishes

Kevin Federline

Kevin Federline Sends Britney Best Wishes

As was recently reported Britney Spears recently got engaged to her longtime parter, Jason Trawick.  In fact, Britney was spotted wearing her new engagement ring over the weekend.

Following the announcement of his ex-wife’s new engagement Kevin reportedly told Australia’s TV Week “I’m really happy for her — I think he’s a great guy.”

Kevin, known as K-Fed, is in Australia filming the weight loss reality show “Excess Baggage”.  He also reportedly said “She’s happy; she’s doing really well. I want to say she’s in a good place.”

He said “I haven’t spoken to her much since I’ve been over here — both of us have been busy with her being on tour — but I do know from talking to the kids and talking to the kids’ teachers that they’re doing really good. It’s a good step in the right direction. I’m totally happy for her.”

It’s no surprise that K-Fed had nice things to say about Brit’s new engagement.  The divorced couple who went through some really rough times together have seemed to make peach with each other.  At one point Kevin reportedly joined Britney on tour to look after their two young sons.

K-Fed is often spotted with his two sons by Britney as well as the new baby he has with his  current partner, Victoria.  Don’t be surprised if K-Fed, who split with Britney in 2007, might get an invite to Brit and Jason’s wedding.

It’s nice that the couple have been able to make peace for the same of their two boys.Kevin Federline Sends Britney Best Wishes

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What Is Echinacea?

Echinaea Flower

What Is Echinacea?

At this time of year colds and influenza becomes a big concern.  Especially during the Holiday season when people mingle in larger groups than normal.

Due to the economy, changes in health insurance coverage and other issues, more and more people are searching for alternative treatments for minor health concerns such as colds and flu viruses.

Echinacea has become more popular as an option and is often combined with golden seal as a herbal alternative for amping up the immune system to block cold and flu viruses from taking hold.

Used By Native Americans

Echinacea angustifolia was widely used by the Native North Americans on the Plains for its general medicinal qualities.

Native Americans learned of E. angustifolia by observing elk seeking out the plants and consuming them when sick or wounded, and identified those plants as elk root.

Echinacea was one of the basic antimicrobial herbs of eclectic medicine from the mid 19th century through the early 20th century, and its use was documented for snakebite, anthrax, and for relief of pain.

In the 1930s echinacea became popular in both Europe and America as a herbal medicine.

Echinacea Goldenseal Liquid Herbal Formulation

Echinacea Is A Flowering Plant

Of course echinacea still falls under the category of folk remedy.  You should always consult with your primary health care physician before taking any type of herbs or alternative treatments.

The generic name Echinacea is rooted in a Greek word – echinos, meaning sea urchin.  It references the spiky appearance and feel of the flower heads.  Echinacea plants also reseed in the fall.  New flowers will grow where seeds have fallen from the prior year.

Echinacea pronounced ek-i-NAY-sha is a genus of herbaceous flowering plant in the Asteraceae daisy family and is a popular alternative herbal style of treatment believed by many to help with cold and influenza prevention and treatment.

Species Of Echinacea

Echinacea is also known as purple cone flowers, a North American plant group with nine species, three of which are relatively believed to help with cold and influenza preventatives.

Cold And Flu Properties

The three species valued for their cold and flu properties include:

1.  Echinacea angustifolia – Narrow-leaf Coneflower
2.  Echinacea pallida – Pale Purple Coneflower
3.   Echinacea purpurea – Purple Coneflower, Eastern Purple Coneflower

Fields of Echinacea Flowers

The flowering plant  is generally found in eastern and central North America and thrives in moist to dry prairies and open wooded areas.  It blooms from early to late Summer and are tolerant of drought conditions.

Does Echinacea Really Work?

Some people swear by echinacea or combination remedies as their secret to preventing or minimizing the impact of colds and flu attacks.  But does it really work for everyone who takes it?  Absolutely not.

There is not one single remedy – prescription drug or alternative – which works 100% for all people of all ages.

There are a vast number of variable which have to be considered for any type of remedy.  The same hold true for echinacea.  While some fans of alternative treatment swear by it, others find it doesn’t help them.

The truth of whether echinacea works or not and who it works for is generally a matter of personal experience.  I personally have been taking echinacea or echinacea goldenseal formulations for close to 30 years and believe it helps.  But it doesn’t help some of my family and friends who have tried it.

After much research I found that the liquid caps available from Gaia Herbs work best for me.  Herbal teas or herbal pills, not so much.   Which confirms my opinion that everyone needs to do their own research, talk to their own health care professionals and make their own decisions.

Note: We do not sell Gaia Herbs at HairBoutique.com.  I mention them because they work well for me.  I am sure other brands may work just as well but I can not recommend any that I have not personally tried.

Not A One Dose Treatment

Echinacea Drops

Proponents of echinacea assert that it is not a “one-dose” treatment, and that in order to work effectively, a dose should be taken at the very first sign of any cold symptoms.

Subsequent doses are called for every two to four hours after the first dose, including during the overnight sleeping period, until the cold symptoms have disappeared.

The several species of echinacea differ in their precise chemical constitution, and may provide variable dosages of any active ingredients.

Possible Side Effects?

Also consult with your primary care physician before taking echinacea to make sure you don’t have any side effects.

When taken by mouth, echinacea does not usually cause side effects. One of the most extensive and systematic studies to review the safety of echinacea products concluded that overall, “adverse events are rare, mild and reversible,” with the most common symptoms being “gastrointestinal and skin-related.”

Although more rare, echinacea may cause nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, itching and rash.   Echinacea has also been linked to rare allergic reactions, including asthma, shortness of breath, and one case of anaphylaxis. Muscle and joint pain has been associated with echinacea, but it may have been caused by cold or flu symptoms for which the echinacea products were administered.

Isolated Cases Of Rare Side Effects

Echinacea Supreme

There are isolated case reports of very rare and idiosyncratic reactions including thrombocytopenic purpura, leucopenia, hepatitis, renal failure, and atrial fibrillation, although it is not clear that these were due to echinacea itself.

There are concerns that by stimulating immune function, echinacea could potentially exacerbate autoimmune disease and/or decrease the effectiveness of immunosuppresive drugs, but this warning is based on theoretical considerations rather than human data.

There have been no case reports of any drug interactions with echinacea and “the currently available evidence suggests that echinacea is unlikely to pose serious health threats for patients combining it with conventional drugs.”

As a matter of manufacturing safety, one investigation by an independent consumer testing laboratory found that five of eleven selected retail echinacea products failed quality testing.

Four of the failing products contained levels of phenols below the potency level stated on the labels.  One failing product was contaminated with lead.

Scientific Reviews

Medical Doctor

Multiple scientific reviews, trials and meta-analyses have evaluated the published peer reviewed literature on the immunological effects of Echinacea.

Reviews of the medicinal effects of Echinacea are often complicated by the inclusion of a wide range of mixtures.  Some formulas are based solely upon Echinacea while others are combinations.

Also, some formulations are offered in higher potency or delivery systems than others.  Some use the roots versus other parts of the plants and some are offered as extracts and expressed juice.

There are also three of the nine species known to help with cold and flu conditions and may be used alone or in combination with each other.

Contradictory Claims Of Echinacea – It Works, It Doesn’t Work

Evaluation of the literature within the field generally suffers from a lack of well-controlled trials, with many studies of lower quality.  The results tend to be contradictory.    Depending upon what studies you read, echinacea works or it has no effect.

A 2007 study by the University of Connecticut combined findings from 14 previously reported trials examining echinacea and concluded that echinacea can cut the chances of catching a cold by more than half, and shorten the duration of a cold by an average of 1.4 days.

Medical Professional

A 2003 controlled double-blind study from the University of Virginia School of Medicine and documented in the New England Journal of Medicine stated that echinacea extracts had “no clinically significant effects” on rates of infection or duration or intensity of symptoms.

The effects held when the herb was taken immediately following infectious viral exposure and when taken as a prophylaxis starting a week prior to exposure.

An earlier University of Maryland review based on 13 European studies concluded that echinacea, when taken at first sign of a cold, reduced cold symptoms or shortened their duration.

Use Of Expressed Juice And Similar

The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) assessed the body of evidence and approved the use of expressed juice and dried expressed juice from fresh flowering aerial parts of Echinacea purpurea for the short-term prevention and treatment of the common cold.

According to their recommendations:

1.  It should not be used for more than 10 days at a time.
2.  Children under the age of one should not take it because they have immature immune systems.
3.  It is generally not recommended for children between 1 and 12 years of age.
4.  Not recommended for use in pregnancy and during lactation.

Sick Boy In Hospital

Popular Beliefs And Traditional Use

Echinacea is popularly believed to be an immunostimulator, stimulating the body’s non-specific immune system and warding off infections and also being utilized as a laxative. A study commonly used to support that belief is a 2007 meta-analysis in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

The studies pooled in the meta-analysis used different types of echinacea, different parts of the plant, and various dosages. This review cannot inform recommendations on the efficacy of any particular type of echinacea, dosage, or treatment regimen. The safety of echinacea under long-term use is also unknown.

History Of Echinacea Use

Echinacea angustifolia was widely used by the early Native Americans for its general medicinal qualities. Echinacea was one of the basic antimicrobial herbs of eclectic medicine from the mid 19th century through the early 20th century, and its use was documented for snakebite, anthrax, and for relief of pain. In the 1930s echinacea became popular in both Europe and America as a herbal medicine.

According to Wallace Sampson, MD, its modern day use as a treatment for the common cold began when a Swiss herbal supplement maker was “erroneously told” that echinacea was used for cold prevention by Native Americans who lived in the area of South Dakota.

Lab Tests

Although Native Americans didn’t use echinacea to prevent the common cold, some Plains tribes did use echinacea to treat some of the symptoms that could be caused by the common cold.

The Kiowa used it for coughs and sore throats, the Cheyenne for sore throats, the Pawnee for headaches, and many tribes including the Lakotah used it as an analgesic.

Active Substances

Like most crude drugs from plant or animal origin, the constituent base for echinacea is complex, consisting of a wide variety of chemicals of variable effect and potency. Some chemicals may be directly antimicrobial, while others may work at stimulating or modulating different parts of the immune system.

All species have chemical compounds called phenols, which are common to many other plants. Both the phenol compounds cichoric and caftaric acids are present in E. purpurea, other phenols include echinacoside, which is found in greater levels within E. angustifolia and E. pallida roots than in other species.

When making herbal remedies, these phenols can serve as markers for the quantity of raw echinacea in the product. Other chemical constituents that may be important in echinacea health effects include alkylamides and polysaccharides.

Blood Cells

Poor Process Control?

As with any herbal preparation, individual doses may vary significantly in active chemical composition.

In addition to poor process control which may affect inter- and intra-batch homogeneity, species, plant part, extraction method, and contamination or adulteration with other products all lead to variability between products.

Root Of Whole Plant?

As with any plant, the chemical makeup of echinacea is not consistent throughout the organism. In particular, the root has been promoted as containing a more efficacious mixture of active chemicals.

A 2003 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Taylor et al. 2003) found that when echinacea products made from the entire plant were taken after the second cold symptom appeared they provided no measurable beneficial effect for children in treating the severity or duration of symptoms caused by the common cold virus.

A 2005 study in the New England Journal of Medicine (Turner, 2005) focused on several root extracts, but still found no statistically significant effects on duration, intensity, or prevention of symptoms.

Summary

Does echinacea work to help boost the immune system and help block cold and flu viruses from attacking?  There is a lot of conflicting opinions about the value of this herb.  Ultimately you need to do your own research, form your own opinions and always check with your primary care physician.

References

Foster, Steven, “Cold Comfort” Longevitiy Magazine, February 1996, 32
Canlas J, Hudson JB, Sharma M, Nandan D.,”Echinacea and trypanasomatid parasite interactions: Growth-inhibitory and anti-inflammatory effects of Echinacea”. Pharm Biol. 2010 Sep;48(9):1047-52

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Amy Acker In Once Upon A Time

Amy Archer

Amy Acker In Once Upon A Time

Amy Acker is joining Once Upon A Time to be an love interest for a famous fairytale character.   Reports indicated that Acker will play characters in both Storybrooke and the fairy tale world that was!  Not that unusual since that’s how most of the characters are portrayed in the series.

Acker (born December 5, 1976) is best known for her roles on the television series Angel as Winifred Burkle (2nd – 5th seasons) and Illyria (5th and final seasons).  She won the 2003 Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television for her portrayal of Winifred Burkle/Illyria.

Acker is also known for her role as Dr. Claire Saunders/Whiskey on Dollhouse.   Acker guest starred in ten out of the thirteen episodes of the first season and three episodes of the second season. She was on Alias as Kelly Peyton.

In 2005, she joined the cast of Alias for its final season, playing the villainous character Kelly Peyton. Acker graduated from guest star to fully credited cast member as the show entered the final episodes in April and May 2006.

Also in 2005, Acker provided voice acting for the character of Huntress on the animated series Justice League Unlimited.

Acker guest starred on fellow Buffyverse actress Alyson Hannigan’s show How I Met Your Mother, in which she was reunited with Angel co-star Alexis Denisof (Hannigan’s real-life husband), who had a recurring role on the show.

In 2010, she was a series regular in the ABC drama Happy Town, portraying the character Rachel Conroy. She also co-starred in Whedon’s comedy/horror movie The Cabin in the Wood.  She starred in FOX series Human Target season one finale as the mysterious Katherine Walters.  She make one appearance in 2010 on CBS’s The Good Wife.

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Kris Humphries Claims Kardashian Shows Are Sham

Kim Kardashian And Kris Humphries

Kris Humphries Claims Kardashian Shows Are Sham

Kris Humphries signed an ironclad Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) which prevents him from spilling the beans about his time with the Kardashians.

However, his friends and family didn’t sign NDAs.  His friends are coming forward and sticking up for him by claiming the Kardashian brand and their shows are a complete sham.

Although the friends of Humphries are sticking it to the Kardashians to support their friend reportedly respects Khloe Kardashian Odom telling friends she is truly the only authentic one among the Kardashian sisters.

Kris has supposedy told his friends that Kim’s reality shows are a total sham. He doesn’t think there is anything real about the shows at all.

Yes Humphries is hurt so of course he’s going to strike back.  But insiders dish about a variety of incidents which occurred during his time with Kim and the family.   Supposedly Kris exposed the missing diamond earring scene from the last season of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

After Kris playfully threw Kim Kardashian into the Bora Bora waters, she cried and cried because her precious diamond was thought to be lost forever, but then miraculously, one of her younger sisters found the earring in the ocean, where the group had been swimming.

It was probably 6-8 feet deep, and Kris commented to Kim how unbelievable it was that the valuable earring was found as the current in the ocean in Bora Bora is very, very strong.  Kim just said, ‘I know,’ with very big smile on her face.

Too bad Kris signed a NDA.  Can you only imagine what kind of dirt he could spill.  Too bad he can’t write a book like his dad is.

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J.R. Martinez To Be First Time Father

J.R. Martinez DWTS Champion

J.R. Martinez To Be First Time Father

J.R. Martinez, 28, won the hearts of Dancing With The Stars (DWTS) fans and viewers and ultimately snagged the Mirror Ball Trophy with his partner Karina Smirnoff.

Now the Iraz war veteran has announced that he and his girlfriend Diana Gonzalez-Jones are expecting their first child — a girl — next spring.

Martinez tweeted the news on Saturday “First thing that crossed my mind when we found out we were having a girl: All the #emotional feelings, all the #beautyproducts, and the #OMG’s.”

Martinez and Gonzalez-Jones met on the set of soap opera’s All My Children in 2008.  He landed an acting role and she was working on set as an assistant.

Although Martinez and Gonzalez-Jones were only friends for two years, to avoid crossing the workplace lines, he told Access Hollywood that the friendship changed into something more.

“Finally, something happened, something clicked, and I just said, ‘[Do] you ever look at me differently than just a friend?’ And she kind of paid attention to it, and here we are! It’s great.”

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Grimm Whips Hair Back And Forth

Whip My Hair Back And Forth

Grimm Whips Hair Back And Forth

NBC’s Grimm is a fascinating series based loosely on the Brothers Grimm fairy tales.  Episode 7 which aired on December 16th had some interesting references to hair interwoven throughout the episode.

The episode was titled Whip My Hair Back And Forth.  It may or may not have been related to Willow Smith’s popular Whip My Hair hit video where she swings a very long section of hair around her head.

In Grimm’s episode there is a scene where a mysterious person with very long Rapunzel-like hair is used to literally break the neck of a murderous villain who just happens to be a drug dealer protecting his hidden pot fields.  The hair was used like a killer whip.

The murderous villain aka drug grower was trying to kill two innocent hikers who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.  They were saved by the killer hair whip and live to tell the police.  Unfortunately they don’t get a good look at the person who is the owner of the long hair.  During their investigation the police (Grimm’s Nick and Hank) figure out it’s an unsolved kidnapping case.

Grimm - Whip My Hair Back And Forth

And what about the mysterious person who can break a man’s neck?  It’s a missing girl who was kidnapped and held captive in the woods where she grew up as a feral young woman with ankle length hair strong enough to whip around and break a man’s neck.

Yes, the episode is a modernized take on Rapuzel, but instead of a tower, the feral young woman has been locked up in a hunting blind high up in the trees of the dark forest.

While investigating the dead body Nick found very long hairs by the dead body.   He also noticed a woman with a long ponytail and prominent sharp teeth running through the trees.

Of course in Grimm there are all types of creatures and this mysterious long haired woman is from the blutbad race.

Grimm - Whip My Hair Back And Forth - Blutbad

Blutbads can change into wolf-like creature which means demonstrate wolf-like teeth.

The long hairs found at the murder scene matched those of Holly Clarke, a missing girl who disappeared from her mother’s back yard nine years earlier.

Ultimately Nick recruited his blutbad friend and they went into the woods and rescued the missing young woman.

At the end of the series she was shown with her mother identifying the man who kidnapped her so many years before.  Her hair had been cut but was sleek and smooth.

While the episode was fascinating and entertaining, it seemed rather unrealistic.  Could someone with ankle-length hair literally break a man’s neck by using the hair like a whip?

If so, would they be able to literally kill someone with their hair?  Of course anything is possible but of course Grimm is based on fairytales.

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Rapper Slim Dunkin Murdered In Atlanta

Rapper Slim Dunkin

Rapper Slim Dunkin Murdered In Atlanta

Atlanta police say the rapper Slim Dunkin who was in his early 20s was gunned down Friday evening in a city music studio as he was preparing to record a video.

Police Maj. Keith Meadows said the rapper, whose real name is Mario Hamilton, was fatally shot in the chest after getting into an argument with another individual. He was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The rapper resided in the Atlanta area but was originally from Detroit.

Major Meadows told the AP late Friday that police have not been able to identify the shooter. He said investigators have been interviewing those who were inside the studio. He said as many as 20 people were inside the small office-type building at the time of the shooting, which took place around 5:30 p.m., but they were in different places.

Police have not recovered the handgun that was used. Investigators remained at the scene late Friday evening. “Right now we’re just trying to … identify who may have seen what, really just trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together,” Meadows said. “It seems everybody witnessed something very different. We’re just trying to go back and make sense of everything.”

Slim Dunkin had appeared on a number of songs with the rapper Waka Flocka Flame. The website MTV.com reported that the Brick Squad Monopoly rapper was on a solo track and had recently released a 20-track mix tape that featured Gucci Mane, Roscoe Dash and Pastor Troy.

“It appears the victim was scheduled to do a photo shoot,” Meadows said of Friday’s events. “Before the video shoot took place, it appears the victim and suspect got involved in a verbal altercation. We don’t know what that altercation was about.”

“The suspect produced a weapon, discharged that handgun one time, striking the victim in the chest,” Meadows said.

The website AllHipHop.com last February described Slim Dunkin, a Detroit native, as an up-and-coming talent with “a unique lyrical ability and style all his own.”   In an interview with the website, he described himself as someone “trying to provide for his family by making something out of nothing just trying to beat the odds.”

“I don’t have amazing lyrical ability I just know how to speak on what I been through and where I came from,” he said. Asked what to expect from him in 2011, he responded: “Music, music, music!”

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Michael Jackson’s Hair Lives On

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson’s Hair Lives On

Michael Jackson’s three children were recently on Ellen’s daytime show to promote Paris Jackson’s new acting career.  Michael’s legacy will live on through his kids.

And it will live on through his hair.  Specifically the hair stolen from New York’s Caryle Hotel when Michael was staying there.  Online memorabilia company Gotta Have Rock and Roll sold the hair for $11,000

OnlineGamblingPal.com purchased the King of Pop’s hair.  The company has billed the new item as a way for “The King of Pop To Rock and Roll Again.”

The site issued a statement explaining its decision to “immortalize a small part of a truly peerless entertainer:”

“The ball itself will be made to the highest professional standards, ensuring it will be eligible for use at any licensed casino’s roulette table.

Indeed, considering Jackson dedicated his life to entertaining millions, the prospect of this very special ball captivating crowds at roulette tables seems like a fitting use for it.”

Ultimately The King Of Pop’s hair will live on in the world of casinos.

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Jane Fonda’s Plastic Surgery Regrets

Jane Fonda In Hollywood

Jane Fonda’s Plastic Surgery Regrets

Jane Fonda is 73 years old.  When you hit your 70s, no matter how much care you take of your skin, you start to look your age.  It happens.  Your choice?  Accept it or fight it with injectibles or plastic surgery.

Jane was determined to accept aging gracefully and never to bow down to the pressures to have plastic surgery.  She even make a fairly public pledge that she wouldn’t get it done and talked about her resolve.

But that was then.  Jane is still very active in her career and has recently snagged a big new role on HBO.  To keep her edge as an older actress competing for limited roles she has to look her very best.  At the same time she doesn’t want to look artificial.

Jane decided after weighing all her options to go ahead and have plastic surgery but with a caveat.  She told her plastic surgeon she wanted to keep her crow’s feet to avoid looking artificial.  Jane wanted to look refreshed, but natural and still be able to play women in her age bracket.

On a recent Rosie Show appearance she discussed her decision to go under the knife and why she’s not proud of herself.  Jane feels badly about going back on her public promise not to have plastic surgery.

Jane explained the turning point which led to her decision, “I was walking down the street and I saw a reflection of myself in the window and it scared me, because I feel so good and I look so tired.”

Even still, she only had minimal work done,  requesting to remove the bags from under her eyes and to have a little nip and tuck just underneath her chin.   “I’m not proud of it at all,” Jane said of her procedures. “I wish I was braver.”

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