The Beauty Denominator

There are basically 4 types of behavior patterns. See which personality type fits you best. I actually see some of my traits in each one and I’m sure you will also. With me it basically depends on the type of person I am around. Pick the number that best describes you below and check your personality type.

Are You:

1. Friendly and always smiling?
2. Able to make snap decisions?
3. Always thinking before acting upon something?
4. You always find it hard to make decisions? 

This is for entertainment purposes only. Check your number below for your personality type.

1. Energizer : Has a friendly smile with a twinkle in the eyes. They will look at you when they speak and usually will speak first without being spoken to. They have a warm personality and you can actually hear the laughter in their voice. They will offer you a handshake and they speak with their hands, but usually they will greet you with a hug or a touch.
2. Regulator: These are quick thinking and assertive people and will tell you exactly what they think, they can also make snap decisions. They are very opinionated and organized. They speak with confidence and will offer a firm handshake. These people are definitely leaders.
3. Analyzer: These are thinkers and are self contained and will wait to be introduced. They are watchers and will maintain their space. Usually they will stand with their arms folded across their chest and they will discuss activities with you, but never anything personal.
4. Cooperator: These are passive people and have a hard time making decisions. Even if they know the answer to something they will not volunteer the information. They will not offer opinions about anything and they are the followers, they don’t like to lead and will offer you a very soft handshake.

Did you see yourself in one of these types? Leave me a comment and let me know which fits you best. Maybe you have the characteristics of two, but which is closest to the real you?

When learning to cut hair there are 4 basic cuts and everything else is just a combination of these. When you learn these 4 basic cuts you will be able to design your own cuts. The designs you can create are limitless.

4 Basic Cutting Forms:

1. Solid form: Is a length progression that has the top layer longer than each layer underneath, but, all lengths will fall to the same level and form an angular shape because of the weight build-up underneath.The top layer forms an unbroken, smooth surface texture.
2. Graduated form : Is more of a triangular shape. This also is a lengthening progression from top to bottom and the ends look like they are stacked on top of each other. You can see the activated surface. The weight is above the perimeter line and not at the bottom.
3. Increased Layer form: Is an elongated shape with the shortest layers starting at the top and progressing in length and this form has a totally activated surface and you see no noticeable weight anywhere.
4. Uniformly Layered form: This is the round form. This cut has consistent lengths, all lengths are the same and has an activated texture. This shape follows the curve of the head and this is the one I did for boards.

I love all the tools and the different uses for each. You will learn to use the razor, shears, taper shears and clippers. You will learn how to do the same cut using each of the different tools. Not the tapering shears those of course have a different purpose.

This of course was the part I liked best at beauty school, designing and carrying out the cut. I absolutely detested manicures and I didn’t like having someone perform a pedicure on me, but that was something that had to be done to get a grade.

You have to remember I was older and my poor old feet had been around a lot longer and I have ingrown toe nails and you should not work on anyones ingrown toenails. You should refer them to a Dr. for special care. I did not want my toes touched. The care of feet are very important and that is something I will discuss in another post.

You can read more about texture and form and the way a designer needs to think and see . Related hair posts: Physical Properties Of Hair , Technical Terms For The Study Of Hair

How many directions are we expected to go in at one time? With all the demands of work, family, community involvement, making time for your self and various other activities. How do we find the time, especially when we start having children. It doesn’t matter what circumstances you are in it is always the same. Never enough time for all the demands on our life. Well we have to find a balance and learn to prioritize.

Family, work, community life, and time out for oneself are all wonderful goals. They are all important parts of our mental and emotional lives, helping us stay connected and offering fulfillment. Unfortunately what happens is that maybe one thing begins to swallow the other things. Or, even more likely, we run around constantly harried and unhappy, seeking balance, but unable to achieve it because we think that balance means appropriating equal time to everything we are doing.

True balance, however, involves prioritizing. It is not about devoting equal time; finding balance about achieving equanimity in your private life, feeling good about what you are doing without feeling constantly rushed. This means that sometimes you have to cut back. You may have to say no to being on a committee or two. You can still be involved, but not as heavily.

Sometimes it means telling your kids that they can only do two extracurricular activities
instead of four or five. Most kids do not want to feel any more rushed than you do, and assuming that it is necessary for them to participate in four different activities outside school can mess up their sense of balance.

We are constantly bombarded by advertisers with messages of time saving devices, and we read in magazines about tricks that will help us run our lives more efficiently. But the gadgets advertisers sell often only add to the cacophony, not slow it. And often time following tips to make life more efficient just leads to using the extra time to frantically try to do something else.

The truth is that our society has become so busy that balance is not really sought. We are expected to run here and there, ashamed if we have a few minutes of idle time, and balance, which is crucial for our mental and emotional selves, is often overlooked.

What you need to do is figure out what is important to you, and what kind of life you want to lead. If work is the most important thing to you, do a little more work and cut back in other areas. If you feel like work is taking over your life and not leaving enough time for family, try to use your time more efficiently at work. Or leave community involvement out altogether so that if you cannot take time off work you are spending time with your family instead of rushing back out the door to plan some event.

The hardest part of achieving balance, however, is looking for it for yourself in time to spend alone or in adjusting your diet so that your physical self is in balance with your mental and emotional selves. If getting time alone is something you would like to make a priority, but you don’t have time, then something definitely needs to give.

Most people really only need and hour or two to do something that they really enjoy doing each day, whether it is reading, watching a ball game, taking a walk, gardening, or just sitting or lying still, thinking about whatever comes to mind. This is one of the most important things you can do to help yourself achieve balance. Do a little less so that you can spend more time with yourself.

In order to keep your scalp healthy and avoid disorders you must keep your scalp and hair clean and stimulated. Make sure you massage your scalp, it’s very important to keep the blood circulation flowing and it is good to use a balanced ph shampoo which is short for potential hydrogen.

The ph scale range is 0 to 14. The amount of hydrogen determines whether it will be more alkaline or acid balanced. The acid rating is okay if it is between 0 and 6.9 and if it is more alkaline the rating will be between 7 to 14. The higher the alkaline in shampoo means that it is very strong and harsh and will make your hair dryer and more brittle.

The acceptable ph balance would be between 4.5 and 6.6. You can make a harsh shampoo acid balanced by adding one of the following: citric, lactic, or phosphoric acid. I was taught in school that any thing green was a stripper and we did a test with the original prell and it did actually strip wax off the floor. I just recently bought some of the old prell and I do not recommend anyone using it, but I bought it for the stripping ability because I am stripping color from my hair and it really does the trick for that without using a harsher chemical.

The upper most layer of the scalp sheds all the time and replaces itself just like skin does. This is a natural process and the horny scales should not be mistaken for dandruff. If instead of naturally falling off and it accumulates on your scalp and hair then it is dandruff.

Dandruff which is medically called pityriasis is an excessive shedding of the surface cells or the epithelial. They are small white scales on the scalp and hair. If you neglect dandruff and it is very excessive it could lead to baldness. As I was taught in school dandruff is thought to be of an infectious origin and contagious and you can spread it by sharing combs, brushes, and hats.

There are 2 types of dandruff, the dry kind-pityriasis capitis simplex which would be itchy with lots of small white scales on the hair and scalp. It can be caused by poor circulation, improper dieting, lack of nerve stimulation, emotional and glandular disturbances and also uncleanliness. You should use mild shampoos not harsh along with antiseptic scalp lotions and ointments combined with massage.

The greasy or waxy type- pityriasis steatoides which would be the white scales mixed with sebum and they stick to the scalp in patches. You are advised to get medical treatment. Your doctor can prescribe a medicated shampoo that can help reduce the excessive shedding, be aware that by using the strong medicated shampoo it can affect the color of your hair if it has been tinted or lightened.

I am going to make a post related to a couple other post I have done on hair and I have them listed at the bottom if you want to go back and read them. Personally I found the study of hair exciting. I will be adding some terms in this post taken from my notes at beauty school.

• Trichology: The study of hair which is an appendage of the skin, but is absent of nerves.

• Layers of the hair:

1. Cuticle -Is the outer transparent, scaly part that protects the cortex.
2. Cortex-Is the largest inner layer or middle part. This is what gives the hair strength and elasticity and this is the ability to stretch and bounce back 50% wet and 10% dry. The cortex is also the part that contains the pigment called melanin that gives hair color.
3. Medulla- Is the core or central part that holds the pith or marrow, round cells but not everyone has it. It may be absent in people that have fine and very fine hair.
4. Follicle-Is a tube like inversion through which the hair grows to reach the surface of the skin.

• Root-Lies within the follicle below the skin.
• Shaft or stem-Is the part that grows above the skin.
• Arrector (Pili)-Is a muscle on the underside of the follicle and this is what makes the hair stand up on end. It gives the hair a charge.
• Sebaceous- Are oil glands and overactive glands produce dandruff. There are usually 1 or more glands attached to each root.
• Sebum - Which is produced by the sebaceous gland is an oily natural secretion which gives luster and pliability and keeps your skin supple and soft. this production is influenced by diet, blood circulation, emotional disturbances, endocrine glands, and drugs.
• 3 main structures of the root:

1. Bulb-Lower part of the root.
2. Papilla-Is the Mother of hair this is where all the nourishment flows through to the hair
3. Follicle-Is the tube depression that encases the root of the hair.

• Hairstream- Is when the hair follicles flow in the same direction.
• Natural Part- Is when 2 hairstreams slope in opposite directions.
• Whorl- Is when hair grows in a circular motion like on the crown.
• Cowlick- Is when a tuft of hair stands up on any part of the scalp.
• Keratin- Is the protein found in horny growths and that includes nails and skin.

Long hair is for adornment and protection and the technical terms for the hair on different areas of the body are as follows:

1. Barba- The face
2. Capilli- The head
3. Cilia- The eyelashes- protect from dust and light glare.
4. Supercilia- The eyebrows -short or bristly divert sweat.
5. Lanugo- Is the soft downy hair on the face and the rest of the body and it helps the evaporation of perspiration.

There are 3 main hair shapes: straight which is round, wavy which is oval, and curly or kinky which is almost flat. Anyone regardless of their race or nationality can have straight, wavy or curly follicles. I have kinky- wavy hair and believe me it has caused me grief all my life. Humidity deepens natural waves, heat causes hair to swell and expand and absorb moisture and cold air contracts hair. I hate cold, but at least my hair behaves better.

It is difficult trying to decide which type face mask is right for you and your skin type. Do you buy the already prepared ones and just follow directions not knowing really what all is in it or do you make your own at home or simply just go pamper yourself and have it done at the spa. Now the spa is fun and relaxing, but not everyone can afford it all the time. Always remember to use a toner and moisturizer.

A few ideas are listed below, but feel free to experiment and have fun.

Dry Skin -2oz. avocado(fresh), 1oz. oj, 1tsp. acacia honey, 1 tsp. molasses, and 5 drops Chamomile essential oil, put in blender or hand blend, if it’s too thick add a little more oj. Start at the neck and spread upward. You can leave this mask on for 30 minutes or so to get the full benefit.

For damaged, sensitive, or sunburned skin try this one.

1 tablespoon unsalted butter softened, large crushed strawberry. Do you have normal to dry skin use a 1 inch slice of cucumber pushed through a sieve, use a tablespoon of lemon juice for oily skin, or try adding 1 egg yolk if you have very dry skin. In a bowl, beat the butter and your chosen ingredient. Apply the mask as soon as it is combined and leave it on your face for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove with a wet, warm washcloth.Bananas are rich in potassium, calcium, and phosphorous and are great for dry and sensitive skin and will make your skin soft and smooth.

Tomatoes, apples, and cucumbers are great for their soothing, astringent effect and strawberries are slightly astringent, but will stimulate also.When using the fruits and vegetables above, either slice thinly or crush and use your gauze as mentioned in the previous post .

All skin types will benefit from the egg white mask. Simply beat the whites till fluffy and apply to your face. It tends to dry and tighten and cleans impurities from your skin.

Try this one for really oily skin.

Whisk one egg white in a bowl until the peaks are stiff. Add 6 drops of witch hazel and 6 drops of lemon juice to the whites. Then, gently put the mixture on your face but be sure to keep it out of your eyes. Leave it on your face for about 15 minutes before rinsing well with warm water.Yogurt and buttermilk can be used for all skin types and has a mild astringent effect. You can make up your own masks by using a combination of many ingredients.

Honey has a hydrating effect and it helps tone and tighten it is good for all skin types, but sensitive skin will really benefit from a warm honey mask, not hot. Some people mix honey and oatmeal or almond meal and make a paste using milk. You can purchase all kinds of ingredients at health stores and they usually tell you the benefits of use.

Related:

Beauty Treatments Right In Your Own Kitchen

Using Face Masks And Packs

Face masks and packs are basically the same except the pack is heavier and thicker in consistency, often clay is used in a pack and these are recommended for normal and oily skin and are applied directly to the skin.

For dry skin masks are recommended and depending on the ingredients used and whether you buy them or make your own from organic natural fruits, vegetables, herbs, dairy, eggs, and oils you may have to use gauze or cheesecloth, as it is normally known to hold them on the face.

Some people are allergic to certain prepared masks or may be afraid of unknown ingredients and prefer to make their own. When using fresh fruit and vegetables you will notice that they will not adhere to the face and stay in place because they get runny this is when you would use the cheesecloth.

Maybe you and a friend or your husband will help you. Have fun and relax giving each other a facial. Cut a piece of gauze large enough to cover the neck and face. Be sure to cut out a place for your eyes, nose, and mouth even though you can breathe through the thin gauze it will make it more comfortable.

When applying the mask start at the neck and spread upward over the face. You may need to apply a second layer of gauze to hold it in place. Place your eye pads on and sit back and relax for 10 to 15 minutes or until dry then start at the neck and roll the gauze up and away from the face. Finish your clean-up with a moist towel or pads, apply an astringent and moisturizer and see how refreshed you feel. Men also enjoy facials.

A hot oil mask is recommended for dry, scaly or skin that is inclined to wrinkle. I recommend a salon for the most beneficial results because most people do not have an infrared lamp, but you can do it at home also just prepare your gauze and moisten it in the hot oil and apply to your neck first continuing up over the face, place your eye pads on and sit back and relax for 10 minutes if using an infrared lamp make sure it is about 24 inches from the face and the time would be 5 to 10 minutes. Roll the gauze away starting at the neck after clean up be sure and use an astringent and moisturizer.

Related:

Make Your Own Facial Masks 

Beauty Treatments In Your Own Kitchen 

Skin care is a very big concern for the women of today with so much air pollution and sun damage plus all the stress and poor dieting it’s no wonder we spend so much money on lotions and potions that are recommended to cure all. Skin care products are being developed every day for the modern women on the go. It’s a multi- billion dollar industry and everyone wants a piece of it.

We do need to keep our skin hydrated so it doesn’t become dry, dull, and irritated and knowing which lotions are right for your skin type will take a little investigating on your part. Sometimes you can get samples of a product before you invest lots of money in a beauty system. There are so many products out there it’s hard to know what will be right for you. It seemed so much easier in our Grandmother’s time.

When using lotions always try to get hypoallergenic.They make lotions for different parts of your body and you need to make sure you use a moisturizing lotion on your face because body lotions tend to be too harsh for your face. Moisturizers also come in different intensities so be aware of your skin type, dry skin needs more intense moisturizing. If you have oily skin you still need to use a light moisturizer because all that oil means that your hydration levels are off.

Special eye creams are developed for hydrating around the eye area and help in preventing and treating wrinkles. Never pull on your skin especially around the sensitive area of your eyes, always use a patting motion instead of a rubbing one. You really don’t have to spend a fortune to have beautiful skin we just need to be educated in how to care for our skin and keep it clean and hydrated. We all know the importance of drinking plenty of water, it keeps us hydrated from the inside.

Facial packs and masks are good for your skin which I will talk more about tomorrow. They can be made from just about anything. You can make them your self at home. Masks can be found for any skin type they work to help tighten your facial pores and smooth your skin’s appearance. They also come in many varieties containing many different ingredients. Some with mud components to soothe and smooth your skin and masks to help with acne. You can use a mask once or twice a week.

If you make your own from fruits and vegetables then you may have to use gauze for some because they wont adhere to your skin. Most masks are made so that you just apply them to your skin and wait. While you wait the mask will begin to dry and you may feel your face tightening. This is normal and indicates the mask is doing its job. After waiting for 10 to 15 minutes, you will need to rinse the mask off of your face. You can do this with a wash cloth, or you can use water alone then apply an astringent. Always use a moisturizer after your mask to replenish the hydration that was lost.

Skin care for women is very important and we should start good habits early before any problems develop. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Not everyone is born with perfect features and by experimenting with makeup we can learn how to enhance our good features using highlighting and minimize the features that we don’t like with shadowing.

When using two shades of foundation we need to blend carefully so we don’t have a line of demarcation( a strong contrast in color). For highlighting your good features you would use a shade lighter than your regular foundation and for shadowing you would use a darker color for minimizing the features we don’t like.

Above is the basic eyebrow arch, but in order to offset some characteristics of the face we sometimes need to alter the arch to suit an individuals face. Reshaping and learning to use an eyebrow pencil can achieve many things.

If you have a very high forehead then you might consider raising the arch a fraction in order to detract from the forehead be careful to not make it a thin, round line you do not want to walk around looking surprised at everything.

If you have a low forehead then you will want a lower arch in order to make your forehead appear higher.

To make a long face appear shorter, you can make the brow line almost straight, but do not go past the outside corner of the eye.

To make a round face appear more narrow you might want to try a higher arch. Start your line right above the inside corner and extend it too the end of the cheek bone.

To make a square face appear more oval you will want a higher arch on the end above the outside corner of the eye and extend it outward.

In order to make a wide forehead appear more narrow in a triangular face you will start your lines right above the inside corner of the eye and arch slightly at the end only and extend to the end of the cheek bone.

If your eyes are too close together then widen the distance between your eyebrows and extend the lines outward and for wide set eyes to appear closer you would start your lines closer to the inside corner of your eye .

Experiment with different techniques and have fun creating those stunning looks. You might want to visit a make-up expert for some great inside tips and techniques that will help with the shape of your face and how to highlight your best features and it’s fun to get all that special attention.

The shape and color of your eyebrow has much to do with the harmony and expressions of your face. In order to have the perfect makeup, your eyebrows need to be well groomed and shaped for your face so the eyebrows are very important. Most people have no clue how to properly shape the eyebrow. If your eyebrows are just a line you will look astonished all the time. Some years ago people liked the skinny look and would even shave their eyebrows and draw them where they wanted them. If your eyebrows are too thick they tend to darken the face.

The eyebrows should be equal and matched or corrected if they are not. You can always use an eyebrow pencil making short strokes to fill in any imperfection or eyebrow powder and a brush. They should be smooth and matched with the natural color of your hair. Some people have them tinted in salons if you are blonde you could go a light brown or if you are brunette, black would work. Avoid harsh contrasts between the eyebrow and natural haircolor.

If you are uncomfortable about shaping your own eyebrows then go have them waxed. It’s not expensive and it only takes a couple minutes. It’s amazing how much of a difference in appearance such a small thing can accomplish. I always enjoyed shaping the brow line. Usually the redness goes away quickly and if you dab milk on it will take the sting away and lessen the time of the redness if you have really sensitive skin.

My eyebrows are very light and sparse so I always have to use an eyebrow pencil, I then take a soft toothbrush and brush over them to blend. Use face cream at night on your brows and massage them in order to have smooth and shiny eyebrows. If they are thick you can also comb them with one of those little mustache combs.

Usually when using mascara it should match with your eyebrow color or coordinate so you don’t have a harsh contrast between the two. Sometimes I use my mascara on my eyebrows, but I have to be very careful and just lightly touch them after I blot the excess from the mascara brush. The eyebrows are a very important part of your overall look.