The Beauty Denominator

There are so many things you have to learn in school in order to graduate that only the basics of each course are taught and demonstrated. You are encouraged however to continue your education and if there is a certain aspect that you would like to specialize in you can take further courses and/or get an apprenticeship, but you always need to keep learning to stay abreast of all the new techniques and products.

Learning to take care of ethnic hair is also a requirement in order to graduate, specifically African-American hair because it needs very special attention. Working with overly curly hair requires special knowledge. Chances are if you are Caucasian you will never need to apply this knowledge, but it’s still a requirement.

Believe me racial snobbery isn’t limited to Caucasians. The general consensus of the African-American from my experience in school is that white cosmetologist have no clue about black hair. Granted the black cosmetologists have gone through these procedures all there lives and definitely are more versed in the special needs of that races scalp and hair needs.

Regardless everyone has to learn the professional way of taking care of overly curly hair. No one is perfect with all aspects of cosmetology and most prefer certain aspects of the field and specialize just like doctors. I personally love cutting and I love using my clippers. When I worked in the professional salon I can honestly say I saw very few African-Americans walk through our door unless a black stylist worked there.

I had many ethnic clients when I was in school and the older ladies asked for me specifically maybe because I was older and more mature and more patient with them. I was informed that my counterpart was a lot rougher on their scalp and I was told by our black instructor that a black child endures a lot of “toughening” up of the scalp so they will be able to endure all the tortures that they put their hair and scalp through growing up and they can’t afford to be tenderheaded.

You will learn all about chemical hair relaxers, soft curl perms, wraps, chemical blowouts, hair pressing (thermal hair straightening) and how to use the pressing combs correctly, how to do a weave and apply extensions, cornrows, finger waves and how to technically cut overly curly hair.

You will learn these things, but unless you get to practice them daily and extend your knowledge you will forget them because these services will not be important in your day to day career and you will concentrate more on the services that you do provide as your source of income and expand on them. I will share more of the techniques and things you will learn about ethnic hair care in future posts.

One of the most important services preformed in a beauty salon is the shampooing. When in school learn how to do this properly because this is where you will basically earn the trust of your client and be able to analyze the hair and scalp throughly.

You will learn the proper techniques in giving a shampoo. Some salons have a shampoo girl, but I always preferred to do my own, you need to establish that client trust. I always gave an awesome shampoo and by the time I was finished they were relaxed and ready to eat out of my hand. A lot of stylist make the mistake of not giving this service the importance it is due.

The shampoo bowl is a great place to recommend hair products and rinses etc. You should always know which shampoos to use for which type of hair. Some salons include a rinse with this service, but most charge separately. You should use the balls of your finger tips and never scratch the scalp and if your doing a chemical service you never want to over stimulate the scalp.

Stimulation and massage will make the blood circulate and this is good for the scalp and hair if a chemical service is not being done. Believe me people love having their scalp and head tingle in a good way and the messaging effect is very helpful with stress. I have had some of the grouchiest people upon arrival leaving with an actual smile on their face and when they reschedule an appointment and specify you by name and are willing to pay the extra few dollars then you know you have that clients trust. It’s an awesome feeling.

When you have a client in your chair, it should be all about them, never gossip and don’t spend your time talking to the other operators. It’s very rude to be chewing and popping gum in someones ear and above all else don’t have onions and garlic for lunch. You want to smell as pleasant as possible.

A lot of clients will usually shampoo their hair if it’s excessively soiled before going to a salon the same as some people will clean their house before they hire a housekeeper. People simply don’t want other people to think they are dirty.

Before you can work in a salon, unless you have an apprenticeship you will have to work on the clinic floor in order to get the experience and all of your credits you need in order to graduate. It is very difficult to actually touch a strangers head and person at first, but you will get use to it after awhile, but it’s always a very personal experience and trusting one on a clients part. So make sure you start that trust at the shampoo bowl and make them want to come back for more.

Which is better for you, liquid or pill form vitamins? The body absorbs up to five times better when vitamins are in liquid form over the pill supplements. The nutrients are absorbed faster, that is one reason vitamin water is so popular. A lot of people have problems when swallowing pills and would benefit from using liquid vitamin supplements. This works well with children and sick people also to make sure the are getting the nutrients they need to grow and for the sick to get better, just add it to their juice or water for maximum results or use a dropper and take orally.

People are trying to eat healthier, but there is every possibility that your still not getting sufficient minerals and vitamins from your food. The body absorbs about 10 to 20 percent of the nutrients in pill form supplements compared to 80 to 90 percent of nutrients in liquid form. Liquid vitamin supplements often contain more than one type of vitamin and other nutrients and are more effective and convenient in supplying your body with the vitamins needed. Usually the cost for buying the equivalent amount of vitamin pills to equal the results of liquid vitamins would cost a lot more.

Have you ever heard of Vibe, well it’s an all in one liquid supplement which I’m excited about, it is produced by the company Eniva. I am thinking about becoming a independent associate for them, but I’m still undecided even though I signed up you can visit the Eniva site and make up your own mind to the great potential.

I would prefer to just buy it at the store, but as far as I know it isn’t available in stores at least not around here. You can purchase at retail prices or sign up and get preferred customer prices, that’s the basic reason for my signing up. If you sign up you have to use a code number: 374769

This product is recommended for use for the following:

• Individuals who want to keep their youth
• Those looking to maintain a normal weight
• Professionals who live hectic lifestyle who need an easy nutrition solution
• People trying to overcome a recent health challenge
• People who want to maintain a healthy lifestyle
• Those looking to help fight off and support their immune system
• Moms who want to make sure their families and children are getting proper nutrition
• Athletes who want that natural edge to enhance their playing abilities
• Individuals who want to maintain a healthy heart and cardiovascular system
• People who want a very safe, all natural, and effective supplement at affordable prices

They also offer, Waters for life and it is a healthier choice for refreshment products. Eniva products are health focused - no sugars, artificial ingredients, stimulants, or calories and absorption is much better and faster for all the nutrients.

Just one ounce of VIBE is equivalent to nutrients found in:

• 11 Tomatoes-Vitamin A
• 5 Cups Green Tea-(EGCGContent)
• 12 Orange Slices-Vitamin C
• 30Broccoli-Selenium
• 71 Cantaloupe-Vitamin E
• Certified Organic Aloe Vera
• 25 Asparagus-Calcium
• 19 wheat slices-Zinc
• 10 cups green beans-Folate
• 96 Blueberries-Antioxidants

PLUS a comprehensive blend of healthy nutrients from whole-food sources

Women have always used natural, organic, herbal skin care products on their skin. They have made their own for years and you can find many recipes on the internet or check your local bookstores, but the shelf life is much shorter than synthetically produced ones that have preservatives included and just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it can’t harm your skin when it starts to break down. So you need to use caution and there are a lot of natural products being produced by companies that are not 100% natural. Some are produced with natural preservatives, but like the homemade produced products they have a much shorter shelf life and cost is higher.

When women became more active in the outside working world they became more dependent on the simpler forms of manufactured skin beauty care products. Now we see more people going back to the natural organic preparations that our fore mothers used. However before making your own natural, organic, herbal skin care products be sure that you know your skin type and if you live in really hot, humid climates you will want to use oil free products. Make sure that you know the application and uses for these natural skin care products. Any product regardless if it’s synthetic or natural can be useless if not used properly.

Organic products are skin friendly and inexpensive to make and can help to prevent some skin disorders like psoriasis and eczema if you know the proper applications. You can have younger, healthier skin for a long time. Invest in a book of organic recipes and make sure you know which organic fruits and vegetables are good for each condition or type of skin. Cucumbers, turmeric, ginger, papaya, and apple have a very refreshing and vitalizing effect on your skin. Some essential and herbal oils, are known for their moisturizing and antiseptic properties.

People have indulged in milk baths for years and it possesses good cleansing properties. Ground oatmeal and milk combined make a good cleanser and most skin care companies have a milk skin care line. Ground oatmeal is really good for oily skin and is utilized in many organic skin care regimens. When making organic facial masks the use of ground oatmeal can be combined with any of these ingredients milk, egg, fruits, and honey. Sounds like a great breakfast.

Wheat germ and wheat germ oil are often used in organic skin care procedures. It’s rich in vitamin E and is known for its moisturizing and exfoliation properties. Wheat germ, combined with other organic materials, is used in preparing facial masks for normal and dry skin types.

Yogurt and sour cream are also popular for their exfoliation and moisturizing properties. Organic honey is widely used and helps in the retention of moisture also making the skin glow. Rose water and lavender are popular as toners.

Using combinations of various organic materials that complement and enhance each other’s effectiveness can help to over-ride any harmful effects that may form them. We have always known about the Aloe plant and the use of aloe vera for it’s healing and soothing qualities on the skin from sunburns and cuts. I use to always keep a plant and would use the fresh aloe vera because it’s a great natural hydrant for your skin.

Dandelion, lime flowers, chamomile, and rosemary herbs, are known to possess cleansing properties. They are most effective when combined with other herbs like tea. Tea also plays a role in herbal skin care. Tea extracts have been used for treatment of skin that has been damaged by UV radiation. Green tea is very popular and has many claims to it’s credit for the cure all of weight loss and anything else that ails you. I have taken the green tea supplements before.

Acne (pimples, black/ white heads, and cysts) which is a disease of the skin and if you have over active sebaceous glands can develop anywhere on your body, the worse place of course is your face and can be especially devastating for teenagers and young adults that have so many problems trying to fit in and be accepted. You should learn early how to be proactive in cleansing your face and watching your diet because something you think is minor could develop very quickly into a very serious matter.

A balanced diet will help with those overactive glands when your teenage years begin and cleanliness. You should take a shower after any activity that makes you sweat profusely. Some people with overactive glands shower at least twice a day and especially if you live in hot, humid places.You should use a mild, water soluble cleanser that is oil and soap free. Females should always remove make-up with a make-up remover before going to bed. Cleansers are very effective in removing excess oil, pollutants, grease, and dirt from your skin.

Be sure to keep your makeup brush and any and all equipment you use on your body clean. Wear clean, soft, comfortable fitting cotton clothes and try to avoid tight fitting garments that make you sweat faster, specially if you already suffer from acne.I know it’s hard to resist the impulse to squeeze and pick at them, but try not to touch them because it can lead to permanent scaring.

I see new products advertised daily and if the over the counter products and balanced diet don’t help you, you should see a dermatologist for advice and treatment. If it is really bad there are techniques with lasers that can help. Your Dr will be able to advise you.

Blackheads/comedones are a hard worm like mass of sebum that form usually on the forehead and nose in the ducts of the sebaceous glands. Whiteheads/Milia are common disorders of the skin specially with fine dry textured skin and can occur anywhere on the neck and face and sometimes on the chest and shoulders. The sebaceous matter forms under or in the skin because the pores may be too small to let the sebum escape. They are hard, small and round and resemble a seed. I suggest you seek the help of a dermatologist.

More on this topic at a later date. Related: acne articles

I have been working on this new template for 2 days. I’m not that technical or knowledgeable working with code, but I try hard. I was looking for a new template for awhile now because the other one wasn’t very pleasing to look at, but I was more concerned with adding content at the time and wasn’t thinking about the outside beauty of the thing I was trying to create. But with all things, if something doesn’t look pleasant then people wont stick around.

Most templates can be very expensive so I was lucky to find this one for only 5 dollars. I know it’s not fancy or elaborate, but it looks better than the other one. I liked the other colors, but these seem more peaceful and spa like for me.

I would really like some feedback. I know there are still some things I want to do with it, but for the moment I will leave it as is and concentrate on content again. Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated if you have the time. This is the weekend so I hope everyone has a great one.

We all know we are suppose to eat a balanced diet to get the correct amount of vitamins for our bodies, but do we know which foods have which? Of course nutritionist have been telling us for years how to eat and how much from the 4 food groups.

1. meats, poultry, fish, dry beans and peas, eggs, and nuts;
2. dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt;
3. grains
4. fruits and vegetables.

It now seems there are a lot of vegetarians so there is a new food group: legume, vegetable, fruit, and whole grain. I personally will stick with the old food group for now, but even still we don’t always get the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients we need and some people can’t take pills, so they can take vitamins in liquid form and actually it is reported that the absorption rate for liquid vitamins over regular vitamin pills is at least five times better.

Below is a list of vitamins and the food sources you can get them from.

* vitamin A - raw carrots, yellow fruits & vegetables, dark green fruits & vegetables, sweet potatoes, winter squash, spinach, cantaloupe, milk, eggs, butter, liver.

*vitamin AB- wheat germ, oranges, beans, spinach and other leafy greens, and mushrooms.

* vitamin B1- brewer’s yeast, whole grains, sunflower seeds, beans, blackstrap molasses, brown rice, organ meats, pork, seafood, and egg yolk.

* vitamin B2- brewer’s yeast, whole grains, legumes, nuts, almonds, fruits, organ meats, blackstrap molasses, milk, yogurt, chicken, leafy green vegetables.* vitamin B3 -lean meats, poultry & fish, brewer’s yeast, peanuts, peanut butter, beans, sunflower seeds, milk, rice bran, and potatoes.

* vitamin B4- wheat germ, soybeans, fish, egg yolks, organ meats, brewer’s yeast, and legumes.

* vitamin B5 organ meats, egg yolks, legumes, whole grains, wheat germ, fish, salmon, brewer’s yeast, peanuts and peas.

* vitamin B6 - meats, bananas, chicken, baked potatoes, organ meats brewer’s yeast, blackstrap molasses, wheat germ, chick peas, fortified cereals, whole grains, oats, and peanuts.

* vitamin B7- egg yolks, liver, unpolished rice, brewer’s yeast, sardines, legumes, whole grains

* vitamin B8 -whole grains, citrus fruits, molasses, meat, milk, nuts, vegetables, brewer’s yeast

* vitamin B9- dark-green leafy vegetables, organ meats, root vegetables, oysters, salmon, milk

* vitamin B12- organ meats, fresh fish, pork, eggs, cheese, milk, lamb, bananas, kelp, peanuts.

* vitamin B13 -root vegetables, liquid whey

* vitamin B15 -brewer’s yeast, rare steaks, brown rice, sunflower, pumpkin & sesame seeds

* vitamin B17 -whole kernels of apricots, apples, cherries, peaches, plums

* vitamin C - citrus fruit, cabbage family, chili peppers, asparagus, rose hips, strawberries, melons, broccoli, brussel sprouts and cranberry juice.

* vitamin D- sun, salmon, sardines, herring, milk, egg yolk, organ meats, sprouted seeds, sunflower seeds, fortified milk, and liver.

* vitamin E - cold-pressed oils, vegetable oil, eggs, wheat germ, whole grains, organ meats, molasses, nuts, mayonnaise, peanuts, sunflower seeds, sweet potatoes and yams.

* vitamin F- unsaturated fats, vegetable oils, butter, sunflower seeds.

* vitamin K- green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, safflower oil, blackstrap molasses, cauliflower, fruits, beets, potatoes, seeds, dairy products, meats, and produced from bacteria in the stomach.

* vitamin Q- soybeans, pinto beans, legumes.

* vitamin T - butter, egg yolk, sesame seeds, raw seeds.

* vitamin V- raw cabbage, leafy vegetables, sauerkraut.

Women love getting manicures and pedicures, it’s very relaxing and they feel beautiful and well groomed afterwards. The technical term for the nail is Onyx and it shows the condition of your health. In most cases doctors can diagnose your condition by examining your nails. A healthy nail is flexible and firm with no ridges, smooth and curved without blemishes and slightly pink in color.

The average growth rate of the nail is around 1/8? a month and grows much faster than your toe nails, but as you know the toe nails are much thicker and definitely harder. They grow much faster in the summer time than winter months. Children’s nails grow a lot faster than older people and it would take around 4 months to replace a nail.

Did you know that your thumb nail grows the slowest and the fastest is the middle finger. When I went to school I didn’t mind learning about the nails because that was interesting, but I have never wanted to be a nail technician, but it was something I had to learn in order to get my cosmetology license. I have a nail technician certificate also encase I want to get a job as a manicurist, which I don’t.

Nail technicians are not doctors and should never try to treat any diseases of the nail. We have to learn what we are allowed to treat and when we are suppose to refer the client to a doctor. If it’s a simple blemish or just some simply irregularity then we can help, but always avoid treating nails that are sore and irritated and show any sign of infection.

At a later date I will post more about the nails, but right now I want to discuss fungus and mold of the nails. Nail fungus and molds are contagious and can be spread and should never be treated in a salon. I have seen a lot of women develop mold because of wearing artificial nails for so long. In such cases a technician may remove the artificial nails, but with extreme caution and always wear protective gloves.

Nail mold is usually caused because moisture gets trapped between the natural nail and products used to enhance the nail, such as gels, acrylic , tips and wraps. In the early stages it appears yellow-green and in later stages it gets darker and if it isn’t taken care of will turn black and have a foul odor and the nail will probably fall off.

If your nails have any discoloration that starts spreading toward your cuticle and starts turning darker then it is probably a fungus and you should have it checked. There has been much said about using vicks salve to treat nails with fungus, but I really have never known anyone personally that has used this remedy till a few months ago and that would be my partner Bill.

His big toenail has been black since he came back from the Vietnam War. He always calls it his ugly toe. He read an article a few months back that said if you use vicks salve on your nail it would get rid of the fungus. The house has had the vicks salve smell (which consists  of camphor, menthol, cedarleaf oil, turpentine oil, nutmeg oil, thymol and eucalyptus oil) for over a month now, but we don’t mind because he is so delighted with his big toe, that is so pretty now. So I know first hand that it worked for Bill.

The men of today are becoming more aware of the importance of skin care and that’s a good thing.The male skin is different than female skin because it’s thicker and the pores are larger and because they have more active sebaceous glands it tends to be oiler, but it varies from person to person. Avoid using after shave that has an alcohol base. To minimize cuts and nicks use the swivel head razors when shaving and don’t be so rough you just want to remove the hair and not your skin. Try not to scrape and scratch your skin.

A mans face can dehydrate very easy because of all the shaving. Therefore moisturizers should be used, whether it’s in gel form or cream. A lot of shaving foams and gels already have moisturizers added, but a little extra wont hurt.Using upward strokes pat and massage gently. To make sure your skin will be healthy now and later only takes a few minutes and it isn’t difficult.

Men, just like women should use a water soluble cleanser and not soap on the face to remove dirt, pollutants, and grease and to keep the pores from clogging.Cleansing twice a day is recommended.I recommend using skin care products that have natural ingredients like aloe vera and sea salt just to name a couple and lavender and tea tree for natural antiseptic products.

The men care products are turning into a big money making industry and that’s good that you guys are learning to care about your skin and remember just because your skin is less susceptible to developing skin cancer than a females it is still important that you use sunscreen to protect from uv radiation. Try the sunscreen with moisturizers and welcome to the world of healthy skin.

More and more people are starting to worry about their vitamin and nutrient intake and many are turning to vitamin water. One of the most popular would be Glaceau vitamin water. They have many delicious flavors to choose from. The bottles are clear so people are concerned that the vitamins and nutrients are breaking down because of uv, but it is a uv coated bottle and shelf life is about 9 months so I’ve been told.

All Glacaeu vitamin water is made using distilled water with natural flavorings so you will get the maximum effects of the vitamins and they are absorbed better and faster giving you better hydration. They have b-vitamins and calcium which help increase your metabolism, however a lot of people are concerned with the crystalline fructose, which is 70% less sweet than regular sugar. A lot of the flavors are really good and it is infinetly better than drinking all that soda.

If you are dieting you will have to add in the 125 calories per bottle however if you exercise it will burn off quickly and you still absorb the vitamins. Some people do not consider this as an athlete’s drink because it has less electrolytes than Gatorade and some others, but then some swear by it, but as we know there are pros and cons for everything.

Some people have reported getting upset stomachs and the “trots”, but most were drinking it on an empty stomach and since it is so rich in vitamins you only digest those and nothing else and a lot quicker since your stomach is empty and it is not saturated with anything solid. Even when I take regular vitamins I have to eat a piece of toast or something or I get sick. Here are a few of the actual nutrition facts for a few of the drinks, always read the label.

There are 2.5 servings per bottle and for each serving the following applies.

Defense

Calories 50; Total Fat 0g; Sodium 0mg; Total Carbohydrate 13g; Total Sugar 13g; Protein 0g; Vitamin C 60%; vitamin B3 10%; vitamin B6 10%; vitamin B12 10%; vitamin B5 10%, Zinc 10%

Vital-t

Calories 50; Total Fat 0g; Sodium 0mg; Total Carbohydrate 13g; Total Sugar 13g; Protein 0g; Vitamin C 60%; vitamin E 20%; vitamin B3 10%; vitamin B6 10%; vitamin B12 10%; vitamin B5 10%

Stress b lemon-lime

calories 40, total fat 0g, sodium 0mg, total carbohydrate 9g, sugar 8g, protein 0g, vitamin B2 25%, vitamin B3 25%, vitamin B5 25%, vitamin B6 25%, vitamin B12 25%, vitamin C 60%, st johns wort 25mg, kava kava 25mg

Revive fruit punch

calories 50, total fat 0g, sodium 0mg, potassium 30mg, total carbohydrate 13g, sugar 12g, protein 0g, vitamin A 10%, vitamin B3 10%, vitamin B5 10%, vitamin B6 10%, vitamin B12 10%, vitamin C 60%, vitamin E 10%, gotu kola 25mg, American ginseng 25mg

Glaceau vitamin water is available in a wide variety of flavors including perform lemon-lime vitamin water, formula 50 vitamin water, defense vitamin water, vital-t vitamin water, endurance peach mango vitamin water, rescue green tea vitamin water, multi-v lemonade vitamin water, stress b lemon-lime vitamin water, revive fruit punch vitamin water, focus kiwi-strawberry vitamin water, essential orange-orange vitamin water, balance cran-grapefruit vitamin water, power-c dragonfruit vitamin water and energy tropical citrus vitamin water.

The company was formed in 1996 by J Darius Bikoff who is the founder/ceo and Mike Repole president of the company and it is recognized as the leader in the vitamin water field. Coca Cola bought the company in May of this year for 4.1 Billion. A lot of celebrities had invested in the company and I’m sure they have made a bundle off of the deal.