- Monday, September 21, 2015
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When it comes to training for a career in the hair care and
styling field, we think in terms of Caucasian (or European) hair and “Ethnic”
hair. We are taught to recognize the traits of the hair found among the various
races: those people of Asian descent, of Indian descent, and of African
descent. Learning to identify these traits helps to see how the various
stereotypes are formed, but it is the practice of actually working with hair of
various ethnic types that helps you see that the stereotypes are often false.
Having grown up
hearing a wide variety of these stereotypes, it was educational for me to learn
just how many of the things I had heard are completely false. Here are some
examples:
“African hair feels harsh and scratchy.”
Ok, so I actually learned this was
false early on. In grade school I sat behind an African-American girl who wore
her hair in thick twists. One day, after asking, she let me touch her hair and
I discovered that it was very soft. It was only the tightly-kinked wave pattern
that made it appear that it would feel rougher.
Visual
appearances can often be misleading. Hair that is very kinky can look damaged,
which is why we gauge the health of the hair by feel. Personally, I think the
reason kinky hair became closely associated with damaged hair is a result of
the “home perm” revolution of the 70’s. There were so many badly-done perms and
cases of damaged hair that ended up kinked and frizzy, that kinky hair caused
people to be reminded of a badly done perm.
“Unless it is processed, African hair will be kinky and bushy.”
This is
completely untrue. African hair can be found in a wide range of wave patterns.
I have met women and men of African descent whose hair covers a range of wave
patterns, from almost straight, to smooth, tight coils. Yes, there are a larger
percentage of kinky wave patterns found among African hair, but even the kinky
hair varies from individual to individual.
It is only
societal pressure that has led women and men of African descent to resort to
chemical relaxing processes to make their hair smoother, and more like the
popular images of beauty; that, and the desire to have more options for styling
the hair.
“African hair is oilier/greasier than European hair. This is evidenced by the fact that water beads up on their hair.”
This is also
untrue. African hair actually tends to be no more or less oily than any other
ethnic group’s hair. The reason that water tends to bead up on African hair is
that the hair tends to have a more compact cuticle layer, which makes the hair
resistant to moisture. Water and other liquids cannot penetrate the cuticle
layer as easily, and therefore simply sits on the surface of the hair. This also
means that resistant hair holds moisture better and is usually in better
condition.
The compact
cuticle also means the hair looks shinier than hair with less compact cuticle
layers. The shine can be enhanced by the oils produced by the scalp, which
leads to overly-shiny or oily-looking hair, since the oil will be less likely
to penetrate the hair shaft.
When the hair
is processed, the cuticle layer is raised, and the hair becomes more porous.
The processed hair absorbs water and other liquids more easily, but also
disperses them more readily as well. This is why processed hair can often
become dry, brittle and rough-feeling.
“African hair is harder to style than other hair types.”
This is not
only untrue, but in my experience, is completely the opposite of the truth.
When it is healthy and in good condition African hair responds beautifully to a
variety of styling techniques. Natural African hair can be braided into
intricate designs and patterns and the wave pattern of the hair allows the
braids to hold tightly and stay neat and orderly. African hair can also hold a
curl beautifully. I have created curly hairstyles with African hair using both
wet roller sets and a Marcel iron. The ease with which the hair curls, and the
clean, defined look of the curls, makes for some truly beautiful styles.
African hair is
especially terrific for styling up-styles. The amount of body and the ease of
styling allow the hair to be used to create ornate hair designs with beautiful
results. In fact, other hair types usually need to be treated with a
significant amount of hair product in order to get the needed texture to create
the kinds of hairstyles that are easily designed with African hair.
The bottom line
for me is that the stereotypes and myths that have been perpetuated regarding
African hair are not only frustrating, but often have mean-spirited origins.
After learning the truth first-hand, I would in many cases prefer to work with
African hair than any other ethnic hair type.
- Monday, September 21, 2015
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When you think of skin peels, your first mental image may be of a sunburn aftermath, watching your skin painfully peel itself away to reveal the lower layers. Skin peels today are very different than the accidental sunburn, though: These acid based skin treatments are a healthy and safe way to slough the dead skin away to reveal the young, fresh looking skin below.
Skin peels use acids, especially alpha and beta hydroxy acids, to gently dissolve the dead skin cells that may be clogging up your face and causing acne and other problems. The interesting thing about skin peels is that they don’t have to cause visible peeling. While some of the older versions of skin peels actually required you to peel a mask off your face, today’s acid based skin peels are gently applied on the face until the product starts to ball up. Inside these tiny balls are your dead skin cells. You simply wash the face completely to remove the products, along with all the dead skin, from your face.
The acid peel process is quite painless. You may notice a slightly redder look in your skin in the day just after the peel. Ideally, you should avoid excess sunlight for the first day or so since your fresh new skin is particularly sensitive at this time.
The key thing noticed by most people about skin peels is a certain glow. Many people say that they look considerably younger, or that they appear to be more rested even when they haven’t quite had enough sleep. Skin peels help undo the environmental damage that we subject the face to each day, in an easy way!
- Friday, September 18, 2015
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Your hair tells a story about you. Sometimes unhealthy hair looking is exactly that unhealthy. Color treatments, blow drying, over washing, they all give hair a
tired and dry appearance. If you practice good hair hygiene and still your
strands are lifeless, frizzy or missing, the problem may go deeper.
Hair Falling Out
Hair follicles go
through a resting stage. Medically, this is called telogen state. A shock
to your system like trauma or an illness can push your follicles into telogen
and bald patches form. Crash diets and drug use are culprits, as well. When you
drastically cut calories, you might find yourself losing handfuls of hair. It
will grow back on its own over time.
Pulling your hair too
tight can result in patches of bald, too. Today’s trend toward hair extensions
is part of that problem. Leave the extra hair pieces out for awhile and let
your hair grow naturally. Too much tension can damage the follicles and lead to
permanent hair loss.
Brittle Stands
Brittle hair that breaks
easily can mean too much time in the sun. If you have thinning hair, this leads
to a sunburned scalp, too. Instead of letting your hair and scalp bake on beach
day, you need hair products that contain a sunscreen for protection. That, plus
a stylish hat, will keep your hair healthy while you enjoy some rays.
Lackluster Hair
What you eat affects
your hair, too. To grow luscious hair, your body needs the right balance of
nutrients. Protein
·
Iron
·
Omega-3 fatty acids
·
Zinc
·
Vitamin A
These essential
nutrients in the right balance keep healthy hair growing. Avoid low calorie
diets that leave hair dull, as well. For best results, think heart-healthy.
·
Salmon and walnuts for
protein
·
Spinach and carrots
for vitamin A
·
Whole grains
·
Green vegetables
·
Low-fat dairy
Your heart and your
hair will thank you.
There is more to
beautiful, healthy hair than you might think. It has as much to do with how you
treat your body as how you treat your hair.
- Friday, September 18, 2015
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While feminism and the body-positive movement are making incredible progress on how women are been treated and viewed by the world, some people take these messages to be all-inclusive. Which is to say, if you are not walking around bare-faced with dowdy clothes and a simple hairstyle, you are not standing for women.
This is, Not True! For the women who enjoy donning makeup, incorporating extreme fashion trends, and getting extensions or weaves, keep reading to learn how being yourself and doing your own thing is always in style.
Recent videos and photos demonstrating #thepowerofmakeup have gone viral around the web. Why? It’s a notice to all the style-shamers that wearing makeup or any accessory meant to enhance your appearance, doesn’t mean a woman is insecure or trying too hard to get a man’s eye. Just like when you played dress up, painted your nails, and stole Mommy’s lipstick as a kid, wearing makeup is fun! Women (or men) do it because they like it and it helps them express themselves.
One thing is for certain: no one can be you. Like you can. It’s one thing that every human has as an advantage. You can easily mimic someone else’s style, and end up being a shade less authentic. So, don’t get down on yourself about the stigma of painting your face or rocking extra long hair.
If these beauty and fashion concepts echo the YOU that you want to share with the world, then embrace them. Put your unique mark on fashion and beauty like only you can and express yourself however you’d like. Remember, when you are wearing what you love, you will always look your very best—and that never goes out of style!
- Friday, September 18, 2015
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You're going out and you need to glam up... fast! What to do?
"Just focus on your eyes," says celebrity makeup artist Molly R. Stern. "You can change your look, add drama, or go from day to night in about 60 seconds." Here, the freshest ways to score attention-grabbing eyes in no time.
Go all out on lashes
 |
| Photo: Bellevue Massage and Spa |
To maximize the eye-opening effect, get the wand as close to the root of your lashes as possible, then wiggle it up in a back-and-forth motion, instead of just sweeping out, says Silver: "You’ll be amazed at how much more mascara you deposit this way."
Brighten up with liner
 |
| Photo credit: Chanel |
Good news: You don’t have to stress over pairing the right shades, thanks to new dual-ended liners that do the color matching for you. Try an eye pencil with a bright color on one side and white on the other. "Highlighting [the lower lash line] area with white brightens your eyes," says Stern.
Try a (colorful!) smoky eye
 |
| Credit: Karen Pearson |
Here's how: Use a dense brush to deposit color on your lid, from the lash line up to your crease, using small back-and-forth strokes. Then go in with another brush and apply a slightly darker shade on the outer part of the lid, blending slightly into the crease. "Building color gradually over the lid and smudging your liner are essential," says Passerella.
- Thursday, September 17, 2015
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This Hub offers up a variety of tips and tricks on how to apply makeup that work for both everyday and special occasions.
Allow Yourself Enough Time
There's nothing that sets up a makeup disaster better than being in a rush and not really knowing what you are doing. Applying makeup is a skill, and as with any skills, it takes some practice to learn to do it well and quickly. You never know when something is going to go wrong, and when makeup goes wrong it might be something simple or something that requires starting over entirely. If you are going to try something new with makeup, or use a new product that is really different than whatever you've used before, do a makeup practice run ahead of time.
Start With a Clean Face
Makeup goes on best over clean skin. Washing your face about a half hour before you are going to start putting on makeup is recommended as then your skin can relax after the washing. This will not only let your skin tone return to its normal shades and tones (hot or warm water will change the appearance) but it allows the pores to close back down, which keeps makeup out of them. Don't do really harsh scrubs, as these can really open up the skin surface and allow the oils and chemicals of makeup to get into the pores, which leads to breakouts later.
Know What You Are Doing With Your Hair Before You Start Your Makeup
If you have to do hair styling as well as your makeup, know what you are going to do with it before you do any makeup. Be sure that anything you might do to your hair as far as washing or wetting it is done prior to doing makeup, as one wrong splash could ruin it. Some hairdos require curlers or putting the hair up in some way, and if all you'd need to do is take the hair down and quick style it, then you'll want to do that prior to your makeup. Also, make sure you have a way of keeping your hair out of your face while you do your makeup.
Have A Well-Lit Place To Apply Your Makeup
Even though you may wind up in a dimly-lit restaurant or club, have a well-lit location to do your makeup. When I was in high school, my mom kept all her makeup in the bathroom, but would bring it out in a little basket to the kitchen to makeup her eyes, as there was a mirror on the wall there that had much better light. Being able to see what you are doing makes for a cleaner and more even application. You don't want to look like a painted clown if you make yourself up in dim light and then find yourself standing someplace bright. Put the makeup on in good light, and then check it in more dim light to see the effect if you know you are going to be out someplace darker. If you need to make the look more bold, you can always add more easily. Removing too much makeup is much more difficult.
Less Is More
Applying just a little makeup is usually a better choice than applying a lot. Running short on time? Just powder your face, line your eyes, brush on a touch of shadow, apply lipstick and go. You can use the exact same makeup for daytime work and a night out dancing, just by applying it lightly for day, and then doing a quick but bold touch-up in just minutes.
Original version of this post appeared on Hubpages.
- Thursday, September 17, 2015
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