Categories
Nails Sanitation

Misconceptions on Nail Care.

Fact & Fiction on Nail Care

In today’s society with all of the information out there, where do we find the facts about nail care?  Old wives tales, medical journals, local library, internet?  We want our hair, skin, and nails to look there best and we are constantly looking for the quick fix. sorry ladies & gents there is no magic solution for growing healthy hair & nails, we need to have a balanced diet, watch the toxins that we are exposed to, protect our nails from damage by wearing gloves when doing heavy cleaning, drink plenty of water to keep our body healthy and hydrated.

Here are some common misconceptions pertaining to nail care to watch out for.

10 Nail Myths to Stop Believing

1.  Myth.  Eating Gelatin will strengthen weak nails. While it is true that nails are made of a protein called keratin and that gelatin too is a protein, there’s never been any scientific proof that gelatin does anything to strengthen nails. Overall good nutrition, including a adequate protein, is the way to strong nails.

2.  Myth.  Enhancements should be soaked off every so often to “give nails a break”.  As long as your nail tech is using high-quality products and correctly applying them, there’s no reason to remove your enhancements.  In fact, this should be avoided, as removing artificial nails can be potentially damaging.  Ask your technician how to properly maintain your enhancements between visits, so you don’t get any cracks or other signs of service breakdown.  If you do decide to remove your enhancements, try a month of regular buffing and applying cuticle oil to add moisture and seal the nail.

3.  Myth:  Avoid nail products that have chemicals in them.  This would be literally impossible to do, because virtually everything you see and touch is a chemical (even purified water).  There is no such thing as a chemical-free nail product, we need preservatives to keep products from going rancid. That being said, improperly used chemicals can cause harm, so seek to understand the ingredients in the products your tech is using, but don’t avoid them altogether.

4.  Myth: Enhancements ruin natural nails.  Today’s nail products are dramatically advanced and don’t require your nail tech to damage your natural nails.  If you experience pain, discomfort, or thinned or damaged nails, it’s most likely due to nail tech mis-step.  Look at your natural nails after your tech files them, they should NOT look noticeably thinner.  Also, don’t pick, chew, bite or mistreat your enhancements, they should be used as jewels not tools.

5.  Myth.  Store nail polish in the fridge to make it last longer.  If you constantly remove the polish from the fridge, use it, and put it back, the shelf life will be the same as not refrigerated, however, if you seldom use your polish you can store it in the fridge to add to the shelf life, but please make sure you let the polish return to room temperature before you use it, or water condensation will affect its quality.  The BEST WAY TO INCREASE THE SHELF LIFE OF POLISH IS TO make sure it is resealed properly after use and to prevent the solvents from evaporating – do not add polish remover to polish it will ruin the product completely, and turn a high end polish into a useless polish.

6.  Myth. That green stuff on some people’s nails is mold.  Mold is not a normal nail pathogen. It rarely appears on nails, but it will appear brown or black, not green.  The vast majority of nail infections are actually caused by bacteria, including pseudomonas, which show up as green discoloration of the nail.  It’s illegal for your nail tech to make a diagnosis, he or she is not a doctor, as the nail tech should refer you to to a doctor for medical treatment.

7. Myth.  Plunging wet nails into ice water will make them dry faster.  Your nail tech does not do this in the salon, because it does not work!  To get the polish to dry requires the evaporation of solvents.  This is why the tech will put you in front of a warm fan or light.

8.  Myth. Never file back and forth on the natural nail.  Filing back and forth in its self won’t harm the nail plate, however, when using too much pressure, friction and the improper file grit, anything below 180 will cause excessive damage and peeling of the nail fiber.  If nails are brittle I suggest an application of a nail oil prior to filing, this will help to lubricate the nail and help with splits and peeling.

9.  Myth.  Cutting cuticles is good for nail health.  What you’re calling “cuticle” is actually the eponychium, cuticle is the dead skin that’s on the nail plate, whereas the eponychium is living skin.  Cutting the eponychium isn’t recommended, and is actually illegal in some states, because too often the living skin that protects the matrix is cut and infections occur.  Plus, over time cutting eponychium can lead to thickened scar-like tissue. Instead, soak your nails in a warm water solution for 10 minutes and push back with something soft like a towel, or use a liquid cuticle remover to dissolve the dead skin on top of the nail.

10.  Myth.  I should bring my own implements to a salon to keep myself from contracting an infection.  Let’s face it, the environment in your purse, (where you’re probably storing your nail implements) is much less sanitary than the environment of the nails salon that complies with Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology rules and regulations. Ask your nail tech or cosmetologist questions about her sanitation practices.  If you feel uncomfortable about the salon’s cleanliness, then leave without getting a service.  Remember it’s your health at risk.  For more information about sanitation in the salon, see our article Safety and Sanitation in the Salon.

I hope you find this information useful, and your next visit to the salon enjoyable.

 

 

Categories
Sanitation

Safety & Sanitation in the Salon

Cosmetology Professionals in the state of Oklahoma work under license of the State Board of Cosmetology.  Our State Board of Cosmetology works very hard to insure the safety of all citizens of our state by issuing and enforcing Cosmetology Rules and Regulations.  It is the responsibility of all salon professionals, workers, students, staff, instructors and salon owners to help maintain proper sanitation standards for their establishments.
In this article you will find more information about some of the new rules and regulations that will go into effect in July, 2012.

Consumer Information

The Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology establishes and enforces safety and sanitation practice standards, which preserve and promote health and safety for the citizens of Oklahoma.

Q.    What type of license is required?
In Oklahoma, cosmetology, facial and nail technology may only be performed by individuals who hold a valid state license and who work in a licensed facility or hold a valid work permit.

Q.    How can I tell if a person performing cosmetology is properly licensed?
All licenses and work permits must be posted in public view with a current photo attached.   You may call the Board of Cosmetology and ask for license/permit verification.

Q.    Are cosmetology establishments inspected?
Oklahoma cosmetology salons are inspected at least twice a year to ensure safety and sanitation compliance and to ensure all persons providing cosmetology services hold a valid license/permit.  The most current salon inspection sheets must be posted in public view.

Services

Q.    What services can a cosmetologist provide and what are some of the things I should look for when receiving these services?

“Cosmetology” includes the practice of bleaching, cleansing, curling, cutting, coloring, dressing, removing, singeing, styling, waving, or similar work, upon the hair of any person by any means, and with hands or mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances.  Non-permanent removal of hair services may be performed with these devices as long as there is no puncturing of the skin, or by use of cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions, or creams, massaging, cleansing, stimulating, exercising, beautifying, or similar work, the scalp, face, neck, arms, bust, or upper part of the body, or manicuring the nails of any person.

A cosmetologist may hold themselves to be a Beautician, Beauty Culturists, Beauty Operator, Cosmetologist, or Hairdresser.

  •  All tools and implements used on a client must be disinfected prior to each use.
  • Chemical services may include permanent waves, straightening, lightening, or coloring of the hair.
  • When receiving permanent wave services, a preliminary test curl may be taken to determine how the hair will react to the permanent.
  • For color services, a pretest may be done prior to the treatment to determine the development time, color results and the ability of the hair to withstand the effects of chemicals.
  • For all chemical services, a towel and/or other sanitary neck strip must be used to keep the full length protective covering (i.e., shampoo cape, drape, smock) from coming in direct contact with a client’s skin.  The towel and neck strip will protect the client from solution that may drip during the service.
  • Chemical solutions must be removed from the skin immediately on contact.  If you feel chemicals dripping on your skin or any burning sensation, inform the cosmetologist immediately.
  • Some chemicals may have strong odors; they should not cause you discomfort.  Salons should have adequate ventilation to keep the odors from lingering.  If the chemical odor causes you any discomfort, inform the cosmetologist immediately.

The mission of the Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology is to safeguard and protect the health and general welfare of the people of the state of Oklahoma by performing a variety of services from developing curriculum for cosmetology schools to administering examinations for prospective practitioners of the cosmetology arts.

The Board of Cosmetology licenses and regulates the profession of cosmetology, esthetics, manicuring, instructors and establishments where these services are performed. It also regulates health and safety issues in schools approved by the Board. Anyone who provides these types of services including but not limited to, haircutting, hairdressing, nail care, skin care and the application of make-up must be licensed by the Board.

What’s New

Rule changes effective July 1st, 2012

175:10-7-5.  Sanitizer(s) required for use in cosmetology schools and related establishments
(a) Every precaution shall be taken to prevent infection by sanitizing all cosmetology tools.
(b) All items shall be cleaned/sanitized by removing all visible debris from an item or surface by using
soap/water or a cleaning agent.
(c)  Items shall be rinsed thoroughly in plain water.
(d) Items shall be placed in a wet sanitizer, which is a large, pan-type container which may be of plastic,
enamel, stainless steel, or rubber and shall be fully immersed in an EPA approved disinfectant prepared according to manufacturer’s directions.  The items must stay immersed for full contact time according to manufacturer’s instructions in order that item or surface stays moist with disinfection for all pathogens listed on the label to be effectively destroyed.
(e)  Combs may be disinfected in a cylinder jar by immersing in an EPA approved disinfectant prepared according to manufacturer’s directions.  The combs must stay immersed for full contact time according to manufacturer’s instructions in order that item or surface stays moist with disinfection for all pathogens listed on the label to be effectively destroyed.
(f) If an autoclave is used to sterilize items after disinfection, in order to destroy all microbial life
(including spores), periodic testing and maintenance must be performed on system according to manufacturer’s instructions.
(g)_ All disinfected and/or sterilized items must be stored in a dry/closed cabinet, drawer, or other
closed/covered/light type container without fumes.

175:10-7-6.  Sanitizing agents for use in cosmetology schools and related establishments
(a)  Disinfectants for use by cosmetology establishments and schools shall be used only if
registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as a disinfectant to achieve its intended purpose in accordance with the product label.
(b)  To sanitize and minimize corrosion of metal instruments, immerse and wipe thoroughly with an EPA approved disinfectant or spray with approved oil base sanitizer and store in a cabinet or closed container free from contamination between use and service for each patron.
(c)  All disinfection immersion liquid must be changed daily or sooner if visibly contaminated.
(d)  All customer contact items, including neck rests, arm rests and seats, must be cleaned and disinfected between customers.

175:10-7-31.  Manicuring equipment
The use of the credo blade or knife is prohibited for use by licensees.

SUBCHAPTER 9.   LICENSURE OF COSMETOLOGISTS AND RELATED OCCUPATIONS

PART 5.  DEMONSTRATORS; COSMETIC STUDIOS; TRADE SHOWS; GUEST ARTISTS; WIG DRESSING; OTHER PRACTICES OF COSMETOLOGY

175:10-9-55.  Practices of cosmetology
(a)  Only licensed Facialist/Estheticians and Cosmetologists, as defined in Title 59 O.S. § 199.1 (5) and (10) may perform threading and body sugaring.
(b)  Only a licensed Facialist/Esthetician or Cosmetologist may perform eyelash extensions.

Health and Safety Guidelines

Q.    What health and safety guidelines should I watch for?

  • Is a current facility license posted in public view?
  • Are valid licenses posted in public view?  Photocopies are not acceptable.
  • Are the licensees performing only those services for which they are certified/licensed?
  • Is the establishment clean?  Are work areas cleaned after each client?
  • Are clean towels and linens stored in a clean area?  Are soiled towels and linens put in a covered receptacle?  Is a clean towel provided for each client?
  • Do the licensees wash their hands before and after serving each client?
  • At the workstation, are clean items stored separately from soiled ones?  Are the combs, brushes, and instruments clean?
  • Are proper disinfectant procedures being carried out?  Instruments must be cleaned with soap and water, then totally immersed in disinfectant that has been registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as having demonstrated tuberculocidal, bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal activity.   Items that cannot be disinfected must be disposed of.

I hope you, as a consumer, will find this information helpful.  It is important for all of us to work together to insure the safety and sanitation of our salons and schools, and therefore keeping all of us safer.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact me.

 

Categories
Beauty Business Motivation Scholarships Skincare Students

Why Cosmetology is a Secure Job Choice

Recently one of my students asked me a question, “Ms. Penny, do you think robots will ever do our work?’  Well, I said, as of now no.  People love the one on one attention they get with their hairdresser and a robot cannot give them the personal attention they want and need. 

This week I found this article about hairdressing, outsourcing, and robots, so I thought our readers might find these facts interesting.

Hairdressing made the front page of the respected national business newspaper, The Wall Street Journal, July 5th in an article that pointed to the security of personal-service professions in an uncertain economy. Written by Neil Shah and David Wessel, the article “Why Hairdressers Are Secure: Their Jobs Can’t be Exported” compared the growth of personal-service professions to the overall job rate, as well as to middle-skill jobs that were susceptible to automation or exportation:

“Before, during and after the recession, demand for one sort of worker has been persistently strong: jobs that involve assisting or caring for other people—from fast-food worker to home-health aides to nail polishers.”

“These occupations have one thing in common: They aren’t easily automated or outsourced abroad. “You can’t send people to China or India for a hair cut,” says Israel Kakuriev, 37 years old, who has been cutting hair in midtown Manhattan for the past 20 years. Nor is there, yet, a robot that can cut hair or hold the hand of an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s or do all the chores that flight attendants do.”

As the article continued, David Autor, an economist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, noted a 36% increase in personal-service jobs between the years 1989 and 2007.  Then the article points out that between 2007 and 2010, as the total number of jobs in the U.S fell by nearly 6%, the number of personal-service jobs actually increased by 2%.

Another graph in the story compared the growth of jobs in different careers from 2007 to 2011, according to the government’s Occupational Employment Statistics. That chart showed hairstyling jobs growing at 4% and jobs as manicure and pedicure technicians at 6.7%. Other personal-service jobs that grew were personal and home-care aides at 37.8%, nonfarm animal caretakers at 21.5%, home-health aides at 10.8%, child-care workers at 9.5%, fitness trainers and aerobics instructors at 5.2%. That was all during a time when the rates of overall jobs declined 4.5% in the U.S.

facial massage

As MODERN SALON MEDIA announced the WSJ article on its Facebook pages, thousands of followers liked it and posted their own personal stories of how cosmetology has provided a rich and rewarding career. See below to read just a small selection of these comments and please share your own experience with a comment.

This story followed closely on the heels of Ted Gibson’s announcement that hairdressing finally will get a nod from the Academy Awards with the new Oscar competition category of “Make Up and Hairstyling.” While Gibson says this is a step in the right direction, he continues to campaign to get hairstyling recognized as it’s own category.  All in all, it’s been a big, positive news week for the beauty business.

Timika Whitaker: “My career compared to my friends is great. I get to make my own hours, I get to decide how much money I’m gonna make…I have job security and business is always getting better. I love what I do and it’s always getting better.”

customer service

Kimberly Humphries-Turner: “I love my job and the people I have met along the way! What a blessing to do what you love and love what you do! Sometimes I’s not just the style…it’s the bond you create and the lasting friendships that count most when somebody trusts you with their hair. As far as secure, a robot won’t ever do my job and it certainly won’t be replaced with being made in China. As far as money if you stick to it, stay committed and continue to educate yourself, take positive criticism and do the things necessary to promote yourself…THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!”

Megan E. Gasiorowski: “I’ve been a stylist and been in the corporate world. Like a wise one once told me, your boss or your managers may not like you and as a result can terminate you, however all of your clients can’t fire you, especially in one day. The job security you get as a stylist is priceless. Plus, our salaries are hard to cap. We’re unstoppable!”

Jennifer Schaefer Lovell: “I worked in marketing for 12 years after college. I decided it was time for a career change and decided to pursue my passion of hair. I went to cosmetology school when I was 31 years old and I’ve never looked back. I love, love, love my job!”

Michelle Candino Kauhl: “I can honestly say in the past 19 years that I have done hair, the economy has not touched my business at all. I am actually business. I love my career, and I have lawyer and teacher friends who all said you can’t make any money are finding themselves not making money. I am single, I own my own house, I have two vehicles paid off and have money in the bank.”

cosmo loves - Copy

Sy-Tac William Loc: “I got two college degrees but couldn’t find a job so I opened a dry cleaners. The business went down hill with the economy. Cutting was my passion since I was 14….About a year ago I got my cosmetology license. Now I love what I do, and make a very handsome living.”

Andrea Cwynar: “The article forgot to mention ‘one of the hardest-working bunch out there’ and ‘the cheapest shrinks available.’”

Jenn Purdy: “This has been an amazing 10-year career for me! I am fortunate to have worked with many amazing people. I love that we can continually learn, every day! I have gone from an apprentice to owner. I was able to start a family and fall right back into the profession. I am a proud military wife, and will never have a problem with employment wherever we go. How many other professions have these amazing qualities?”

Ted Gibson: “It’s been a great week, and hair is on the ballot. (Oscars)”

Alexandra Mansoor: “I have many friends that have chosen a more ‘traditional’ career oath and unfortunately cannot find jobs in their field, so even though they have a degree, they’re working retail or in the food industry. Not very fun for them and they’re very overworked. I have a lot of work, but I’m having a blast with my job as a cosmetologist and nail designer and am making a good living!”

manicure

Kate Farlow: “A few girls who were in cosmetology school with me in 2007 quit. They decided they wanted to do other things. Well both of those girls went back to cosmetology school recently. I guess they realized that with this economy, it is the place to be. Starting up is tough, but give it a few years and things will be nice when you get that solid clientele built up!”

George Stockman: “I have always been proud of what I do, although at certain times in our culture I feel I have been looked at as undereducated compared to all the over-educated rocket scientists out there. For 35 years, I have never been out of work and I’ve owned my own salon for nearly 30 years and have always been in demand. Early in my career, I have many friends who worked in factories who kinda took their shots at me—after all they were making big union money. But after two or three years into owning my own business, the factories shut down and some of those big money guys were asking me to help make their mortgage payments.”

Cedric Swift: “I’ve been a stylist for 30 years and I’m so grateful for the benefits it has brought me. Now, I am an instructor trying to inspire others to go for it and make it their life passion.”

April Lacy: “Being in the industry is one of the best careers out there! I am free to do what I want with my image including tattoos and my personal style. I can be so creative and I really enjoy changing people’s lives and image of themselves. And the best part about my industry is it will never die, hair always needs to be cut and people love to change it!”

hair collage

Shirley Montross: “I am in my 30th year in this industry and feel blessed every day that I love what I do. We always say you never see a stylist in the unemployment line.”

Crissy Weaver Finney: “After 25 years, I still love my job as a cosmetologist. Each day is different and I have the best clients ever! I love being creative and always learning more. Some of my friends and family members are not happy in their lives because of their jobs. It’s just a job to them. I am so very grateful I have chosen this path in life. It’s inspiring, motivating and creative. When you see the smile on your client’s face when you are finished it makes me so happy and proud that I made someone feel good about themselves.”

Jessie Stewart: “As a student that is about to get out in the force of ‘hair design’ I’m completely happy making this choice. I’m retired military, and I know that no matter what people are going to go get their hair done. Even in the great depression, there were stylists making money…I am top of my class and making a name for myself already just while in school. I can only think what will come.”

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Renee Jones: I am proud to say that I had a wonderful 25-year career with an owner that recognized the importance of fighting to make the public aware of all that goes into becoming and maintaining our professional. I was treated as a professional from my owner, I conducted myself as a professional with my clients and coworkers, and I did what needed to be done to keep up the education to maintain that level of professionalism. I had insurance, I invested in our 401K. I went to work every day and I listened to my clients and respected my coworkers and owners. Because of that I was able to retire after 25 years. You get what you give.”

Penny Miller:  I am very happy with my career in cosmetology.  I enjoy coming to work each day and sharing my information with my students and helping to inspire them to make a better life for themselves.  This is a wonderful profession, that allows you to help others in some shape and form each and every day.  You have the power as a hairdresser to improve someones day, each and every day of your career if you choose to do so.  What a wonderful way to make a living.  You can work anywhere, any time, with job security.  You get to meet fun and interesting people, and salon life is never boring.  Get on track with your cosmetology career and enjoy the ride.  Best wishes with your career, you get out of it what you put in.”

Categories
Fashion

Big Hair & Curls on the Runway for 2012

How to Interpret Runway Designs.

Fashion Runways will show a wide variety of looks from designers around the world.  I love to see all of the new designs and check out the fabrics, colors and textures that are being shown for each season. Find your favorite designer and then you can work on your personal hair design.

When doing hair it is a good rule of thumb to mimic the designs in the hair. For instance, if silks and soft colors are in, then soft natural shades will be in for that season in hair color, and soft curls will be in also.  If masculine lines are shown for that season then shorter hair styles with a lot of structure will be in for the ladies.  If natural fabrics are being used then natural hair color, with casual styles will be a hit.  These are just a few examples of what might be seen on the runway.  Some designers will be street friendly and others will be way out there.

Here is an example of a show I recently saw and enjoyed the designer, Rocco Barocco, with his mix of soft flowing fabrics and bright colors for summer.

As you can see for Spring/Summer 2012, long, soft pretty curls are in. Soft flowing fabrics, with bright sparks of color. So we need to add accents of brightness to our cosmetic pallet such as hot pink lip color with a muted color scheme on the rest of the face. Accents seem to be on femininity.

To achieve this hair style at home here are a few tips & tricks.

  1. Get your hair in the best possible condition.  A trim and the proper selection of shampoo, conditioner and styling product is a must. Ask your professional for their recommendations.
  2. Use a heat protectant such as Quick Curl & Roll the hair back and off the face with either a curling iron, or hot rollers and pin the hair in place to allow to cool.
  3. Now pause, and allow the hair to cool.  This is an excellent time to do your makeup. HINT: Experiment with just a few new colors at a time.
  4. After the hair is fully cooled. Mist the hair slightly with a soft hold hair spray, Now unroll the hair starting in the lower nape area and working up.
  5. Divide each curl into 2 or 3 pieces for a more separated effect or brush out for a softer wavy effect.
  6. Backcomb the entire head making sure to add strong base support for added lift and support.  Spray each section with a soft hold spray for additional staying power.
  7. Smooth down the hair and separate as needed. Try not to remove too much backcombing.
  8. Finish with a mist of medium or firm hold spray to lock everything in place.  Enjoy your new runway look!

I hope you enjoy this look, and if you have any questions or would like us to help you with your new design, please contact me.

Categories
Hair

To Curl or Not to Curl….Are “Perms” back???

Texture Services for 2012.

Clients are constantly asking me what’s in and what’s out in the hair industry.  Ease in styling the hair is the main thing.  If we, hair dressers, could make your life a little easier why not do it?  This is where texturizing services come in.

Do you have flat hair that won’t hold curl? Do you want bouncy, full hair?  Do you want curls that stay in all day?  Well then a volumizing, texture service may be the answer for you.  The days of the old standard perm is out.  Beach waves are in!  The new texture services offer a more organic, modern curl pattern that is not so “set” and “structured”, it moves, it flows, and it feels soft and silky. The chemicals are more gentle on the hair often infusing keratin protein into the hair, therefore, making the hair stronger and healthier after the service, helping the hair to style easier and faster.

 

What about hair that is already curly, wavy, or frizzy?

Can anything be done to help eliminate the frizz?  YES!  A smoothing service may be right for you.   Texture doesn’t have to be curl, or waves, it can be straight and less frizzy.  Technology has come a long way in the last few years and now you can straighten the hair completely with chemicals, or just reduce the amount of frizz, and keep your waves or curls.  Again these products are infusing protein into the hair therefore reducing the frizz and helps to block out extra humidity that often causes the frizz to happen.  Don’t confuse these products with the Keratin Blowouts that contain formaldehyde & have recently been pulled off the market by the FDA for possible health hazards.  These new chemicals are completely safe if done in a professional salon that has been trained in all of the safety precautions that are associated with any of these chemicals.

We are at an advantage, this day and time, with a wide variety of chemists who are constantly looking for new chemicals that can make our jobs easier, our hair stronger, healthier, and easier to care for, the days of one shampoo, one style gel and one hairspray are over. We now have endless options as far as hair care products, chemicals, and at home maintenance items to help may our styling easier.  Professional Salons should carry a selection of different products to help custom blend the proper regime for you at home.  Don’t hesitate to ask your hair care provide for his or her recommendations.

We have come a long way baby!

 

 

Categories
Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy Basics

Penny Miller - Owner and Educator of P.M.C.A.
Penny Miller – Owner and Educator of P.M.C.A.

What is Aromatherapy and why does it work?

Aromatherapy is the practice of using the natural oils extracted from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of a plant to enhance psychological and physical well-being.

The inhaled aroma from these “essential” oils is widely believed to stimulate brain function. Essential oils can also be absorbed through the skin, where they travel through the bloodstream and can promote whole-body healing.

A form of alternative medicine, aromatherapy is gaining momentum. It is used for a variety of applications, including pain relief, mood enhancement and increased cognitive function.

There are a wide number of essential oils available, each with its own healing properties.

Aromatherapy History

Little is known about the history of aromatherapy, or where it originated specifically, but the Egyptians are credited with developing one of the first distillation machines to extract oils from certain plants — cedarwood, clove, cinnamon, to name a few — which were used to embalm the dead. The practice of using infused aromatic oils as a mood enhancer, however, is thought to have roots in China.

The Greeks also played a role in the history of aromatherapy. Megallus, a Greek perfumer, developed a fragrance he called megaleion, which consisted of myrrh. The “father of medicine” Hippocrates is said to have practiced aromatherapy (before it was dubbed so) for healing purposes. Greek mythology claims the gods were gifted with the knowledge of perfume and fragrance.

The actual term “aromatherapy” first originated in 1937 when French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse invented the word after a burn incident spurred his curiosity about the healing power of essential oils. On the heels of Gattefosse’s “discovery” that lavender oil helped to cure his burn, French surgeon Jean Valnet used essential oils to help heal soldiers’ wounds in World War II, proving the medical benefits of aromatherapy.

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Today you can find a large range of products with aromatherapy properties. Aromatherapy is used largely in the cosmetic and beauty industry, not just for fragrance but for the benefits of the essential oil used in the product. If you are interested in more information about aromatherapy blends, essential oils, and the benefits of these different oils click here to find out more.

 

 

 

 

Categories
Cosmetics

Ancient Cosmetics

Ancient Cosmetics. 

The current cosmetic market is filled with countless types of makeup in a world of different color variations. Today we even have trained professional cosmetologists for a variety of jobs from personal makeup artists to help with particular events or occasions to specialized costume cosmetologists on a movie set. However, makeup is a very old idea. With the rise of ancient civilizations and of a distinct ruling class, the intention of trying to improve one’s individual looks to show off one’s power, wealth, or even accentuate a person’s natural attractiveness brought about the rise in the cosmetic industry. The use of red ochre as a type of decorative body paint can be traced back to early prehistory even. The only problem is that these founding cultures had not yet developed our modern synthetic blends for makeup that mostly hide imperfections and to highlight features that are considered to be beautiful on the face of the wearer. Without these early pioneers in cosmetics though, we would not have taken the steps to create our modern cosmetic market.

Egypt

The ancient civilization of the Nile River Valley known as Egypt is one of the most notable records of early cosmetic use. Countless papyrus scrolls exist with some of  their cosmetic recipes, and archaeologists have even found some containers with the residue of these makeup mixes.  The natural tinted clay pigment known as red ochre was the favorite way for Egyptians to rouge their cheeks and lips. The most famous makeup of Egyptians is probably their eyeliner. Even modern makeup artists still enjoy using at least simple black eyeliner to accentuate the eyes of the wearer and sometimes pull a line of the black pigment outward from the corner of the eye to closely resemble paintings and decorated, painted busts that have been collected as artifacts from this ancient civilization. The original black pigment the Egyptians used was called kohl.  However, it was made from a combination of different materials rather than a single item from nature. By grinding together burnt almonds, ochre, oxidized copper, malachite, lead, and crushed antimony one creates a dark black powder that would then be applied with a small stick to give the effect of more almond shaped eyes when put along the edges of the upper and lower eyelids. This special combination was also thought to reduce eye infection and to help restore failing eyesight in addition to reducing the glare of the powerful Egyptian sun. Modern scientists have investigated these ancient claims to find out that the combination of minerals can prove to be helpful in small amounts as an eye antiseptic and easily help with glare as even football players know to apply black paint beneath their eyes to help reduce the whiteout effect of a brightly shining sun.

Before the ancient Greeks invaded Egypt to establish the ruling Ptolemys and adopted several of the ancient Egyptian cosmetic combinations they did have their own techniques for the beautification of the human form. Since the Greek goddess Aphrodite was considered to be the human personification of beauty and drawings and raised relief carvings of her were everywhere, the Greeks were pretty set in their standard of beauty. Normal women who were not Aphrodite used cosmetics to increase their public appeal. A mixture of honey  and olive oil was frequently applied to skin to give it a lighter color, act as a moisturizer, and give the skin a shimmering quality. Rather than using the Egyptian formula for kohl, Greeks would merely grind used charcoal and mix the powder with olive oil to create eye shadow instead of using eyeliner. Crushing iron oxide (rust) into a powder could be used as a rouge colored blush. Also, the ground iron oxide was frequently mixed with olive oil (the basic staple for Greek cosmetics and everyday life) and beeswax to make a paste for a type of lipstick or lip gloss to redden lips. However, cosmetic use was light in Greek  women as they preferred as natural a look as possible to create the ideal beauty. Depictions of Aphrodite never showed a woman slathered in makeup with artificial beauty enhancers; therefore, Greek women truly attempted to keep makeup as light as possible to live up to these expectations of beauty. They really preferred to use the skin mixtures to increase what nature had given them rather than cover things up with foundation or concealer like in modern times or even during the major reign of the Roman Empire when makeup was considered to be the height of beauty and expressions of wealth and status.

The ancient Romans were very close in their take on makeup as our modern world. The wealthy and affluent Romans were patrons to cosmetology as fashion was pretty much standard for the different levels of society. Therefore, to show their wealth and status, the Romans (particularly Roman women) were very much into extravagant makeup and elaborate hairstyles—even stylish wigs. Since Romans were prominent leaders in the slave trading of the ancient world, they felt as though a few select slaves could prove useful in helping to act as the cosmetologists of early history. These slaves were the ones who came up with new inventive styles for wearing makeup and arranging locks of hair. The higher quantities of makeup and the more expensive the mix of ingredients would be a sign of a woman’s status in society and the wealth of her family. Hygiene was of great importance to Romans. Each new Roman urban area would always have the building of a large bath, or bathhouse. Aristocratic and wealthy women would also apply moisturizing creams after their social bath in the changing rooms of the bath building. Roman women were also some of the first habitual makeup wearers and would have multiple layers of makeup to create a perfect or ideal look on the canvas of a woman’s face (whether they were attractive to begin with or not). The first layer of makeup would consist of a paste like foundation to completely cover the skin of the face and make it appear lighter in color. The average Roman woman who wore makeup would usually have a foundation of chalk, orris root, and a small amount of fat to make it thick enough to cover any facial imperfections. Really wealthy women would go all out though with a foundation of white lead paste as it was a better mixture to lighten the skin, cover flaws, and create an overall look. However, since the foundation was poisonous (even though the civilization did not know the dangers of lead based makeup) many rich women who wore it a lot (as in daily) would get sick or even die without a solidly known cause. Following in the way of the Egyptians, the Roman women would achieve red pigmentation in their lips and cheeks with red ochre. The makeup to beautify the eyes though was of special importance. Again, Romans took a leaf from the Egyptian cosmetic book to use kohl as both an eyeliner and even an eyebrow pencil since emphasis of the eyebrows were very important. Ground saffron and crushed malachite stone were used for colored eye shadows—saffron for red-oranges and malachite for green.

As you can see, cosmetics have come a long way over the years. Things you may want to consider…. What ingredients are in your current cosmetics?  Are they water, cream, oil or silicone based?  New ingredients are invented daily and technology and trends change to look, feel and texture of cosmetics. Everyone is different and enjoys a different feel & look to their cosmetics, & it is most important for you to get your  “perfect fit” in your cosmetic regime.  Drop by and see us and we will be happy to help you with your cosmetic needs at Penny Miller Cosmetology Academy.

Categories
Scholarships

Scholarship Information @ P.M.C.A.

Working Scholarship Requirements

At Penny Miller Cosmetology Academy we believe that excellence in precision hair cutting and image design, evolves from carefully selecting members to our team, a commitment to excellence in a continuing educational program, creative stimulation, and a positive and a professional  team environment.  Our goal is to reach higher levels of excellence in meeting the student and the client’s needs. We want all of our valued clients to be able to visit any member of our team with confidence.  All student work is supervised by our educators and master stylists.  The working scholarship program is designed to help potential salon professionals come on board and get the education they deserve.

Student must meet the following requirements to qualify for the P.M.C.A. Work Scholarship program.

  1. Fill out application with all necessary documentation.
  2. Provide short essay (250 words or less) as to why you think you can contribute to the professionalism and be an asset to the cosmetology field.
  3. Provide three personal letters of reference.
  4. Maintain 90% attendance.
  5. Maintain a 3.0 GPA.
  6. Follow all rules, regulations and ethic standards of P.M.C.A.
  7. Maintain monthly payments without fail.

Benefits of Program

  1. Learn the Value of Excellent Customer Service.
  2. In depth training in salon operations.
  3. Learn how to grow your business.
  4. Learn how to Market your business.
  5. Learn the need for a Team Environment.
  6. Extended training in advanced hair services.
  7. Students establish positive work habits.
  8. Students learn how to self motivate.
  9. Improved stylist performance.
  10. Build self-esteem.
  11. On-going education.
  12. Learn how to Network, with others in and out of your field.
Categories
Famous People

Vidal Sasoon passed away at age 84

Vidal Sassoon, Hairdresser and Trendsetter, Dies at 84

May 9, 2012.

Vidal Sassoon, whose mother had a premonition that he would become a hairdresser and steered him to an apprenticeship in a London shop when he was 14, setting him on the path that led to his changing the way women wore and cared for their hair, died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles.

A spokesman for the Los Angeles police, who were called to the home, on Mulholland Drive, confirmed the death, attributing it to natural causes. Mr. Sassoon was known to have leukemia.

Mr. Sassoon brought a kind of architectural design to the haircut in the late 1950s and early 1960s, developing a look that eschewed the tradition of stiff, sprayed styles with the hair piled high and that dispensed with the need for women to wear hair curlers to bed and make weekly trips to the salon.

For Mr. Sassoon, the cut was the thing — just about the only thing — and he fashioned his clients’ hair into geometric shapes and sharp angles to complement their facial bone structure. His short, often striking styles helped define a new kind of sexy. They were also easy to care for and maintain — the wash-and-wear look, it was sometimes called — and they helped propel the youthful revolution in fashion (and just about everything else) that gripped London and then America and the rest of the world in the 1960s.

One of his early clients was the mod fashion designer Mary Quant, who created the miniskirt. Referring to it in a 2010 documentary film about him, she said to him, “You put the top on it.”

“He changed the way everyone looked at hair,” Grace Coddington, the creative director of American Vogue, said in an interview on Wednesday. “Before Sassoon, it was all back-combing and lacquer; the whole thing was to make it high and artificial. Suddenly you could put your fingers through your hair!”

Ms. Coddington, who was a model for Mr. Sassoon in the 1960s, wore the original version of the quintessential Sassoon style known as the five-point cut, a snug, sleek helmet with a W cut at the nape of the neck and a pointed spike in front of each ear.

“He didn’t create it for me; he created it on me,” Ms. Coddington said. “It was an extraordinary cut; no one has bettered it since. And it liberated everyone. You could just sort of drip-dry it and shake it.”

Mr. Sassoon’s salon on Bond Street in London became a hive of beautiful people, as did the ones he opened on Madison Avenue in New York in 1965 and, afterward, in Beverly Hills. Eventually he operated more than 20. Roman Polanski used the London salon for his film “Repulsion,” starring Catherine Deneuve, and he later created a sensation when he paid Mr. Sassoon $5,000 to cut Mia Farrows  hair for “Rosemary’s Baby” and invited the news media to see it. The very short cut became Ms. Farrow’s signature, and the film proved to be a fine advertisement for him.

“It’s Vidal Sassoon!” Ms. Farrow says to a shocked character in the film. “It’s very in.”

Mr. Sassoon became a business pioneer as well, creating a line of hair products under his name. The shampoos, conditioners and other products were famously sold in television commercials featuring a woman with a lustrous head of hair and the handsome, debonair Mr. Sassoon at her side, declaring, “If you don’t look good, we don’t look good.” Sales reached more than $100 million annually before he sold the company in 1983.

“He was the creator of sensual hair,” John Barrett, founder of the John Barrett Salon at Bergdorf Goodman, said Wednesday. “This was somebody who changed our industry entirely, not just from the point of view of cutting hair but actually turning it into a business. He was one of the first who had a product line bought out by a major corporation.”

Born in London in 1928, Mr. Sassoon was the child of poor parents. After his father left the family, he was raised partly in a Jewish orphanage until his mother remarried and reunited with Vidal when he was 11. He was an avid soccer player as a boy — and a lifelong fitness devotee — but he turned to hairdressing after his mother claimed she had had a vision of his future. She took him to a local shop where the proprietor decided the boy would do as an apprentice because he had good manners.

The shop was in a working-class neighborhood, and young Vidal, dreaming of better things, took elocution lessons to rid himself of his cockney diction. Meanwhile, he joined a Jewish organization that battled in the streets with the Mosley-ites, anti-Semitic British fascists who were followers of Oswald Mosley. In 1948, he traveled to Israel and fought in the war for its independence.

Mr. Sassoon opened his first salon in 1954.

“I made up my mind then that if I was going to be in hairdressing long term, I wanted to change things,” he recalled in the documentary “Vidal Sassoon: The Movie.” “I didn’t have a picture of what hair should be, but I had a definite picture of what hair shouldn’t be.”

Over nine years — inspired, he said, by Bauhaus architecture — he evolved his geometric style.

“When I looked at the architecture, the structure of buildings that were going up worldwide, you saw a whole different look, in shape,” he said. “My sense was hairdressing definitely needed to be changing.” He added: “To me hair meant geometry, angles. Cutting uneven shapes, as long as it suited that face and that bone structure.”

A breakthrough came in 1963 when he cut the long hair of the Hong Kong-born actress Nancy Kwan into a bob with sharp face-framing points; photos of what became known as the Kwan bob or the Kwan cut or simply the Kwan appeared in British and American Vogue and on fashion pages around the world.

Mr. Sassoon is survived by his fourth wife, Rhonda, and three children. A daughter, Catya, died of a drug overdose in 2002.

Especially in the early days, Mr. Sassoon was a disciplinarian as a salon keeper, known to send employees home if their shoes were not shined or to admonish a client touching her hair in mid-cut with a slap of the comb. As he developed his ideas, he did not always have patience with clients who wanted things their way rather than his. Once in frustration, he confessed, he threw a pair of scissors in the air and they stuck in the ceiling.

Clothes designer Mary Quant, one of the leading lights of the British fashion scene in the 1960's, having her hair cut by another fashion icon, hairdresser Vidal Sassoon.

Rebecca R. Ruiz contributed reporting.

Categories
Motivation

Self Motivation Tips

Have you ever asked yourself,  What can I do to get motivated?   How can I get all the stuff I have to do, done?  What am I doing wrong?  Why won’t it all work?  If you try hard enough you will find more and more excuses to help you not to succeed.  These days, it seems that self motivation is a thing of the past.  People are happy to do a job half way, and they feel that you are lucky if they do it at all.  So in our current society, how can we get past all these excuses, and find a way to motivate ourselves???

I was reading an article on self motivation tips, and I thought others might appreciate these tips also.  So here it goes.

  1. Set Goals.  The first and foremost of these self motivation tips is, of course, to have goals or dreams that we actually work towards. There should be something to make us get up and get out of the bed in the morning, right?What kind of goals?It is important to identify realistic and attainable goals that really inspire us, and get us moving.

    These can be business, work, school or personal goals – short term or long term goals – it is something that you like, that you are working on right now, or planning to work on in near future.

    Setting and pursuing goals is also a great way to find happiness in one’s life.

  2. Breath Life into your Goals.Equally important self motivation tip is it to verbalize them (say them out loud enough for you to hear), talk about them with family or close friends or associates, and write them down (stick it where you can see everyday).In other words, breathe life into your goals, and make them as real as they can be, to you.
  3. Prioritize.  If you have multiple goals, don’t be overwhelmed. Can you pursue them together? You can have a business goal of making so many sales in the next six months, and an independent personal goal of finishing landscaping your yard this summer.On the other hand, if multiple goals demand your full attention, don’t try to get them all done at once. Instead decide which one is your most important objective at the moment, prioritize, and put your focus on just one of those at a time.Prioritizing is also one of the commonly suggested stress prevention tips.
  4. Get it done NOW.  Avoid procrastinating the tasks that you need to do, to achieve you what you want to achieve. Simply put – it is better done today, than tomorrow.Why?Again, to put it simply – because once you are done with a certain task, you don’t have to do it tomorrow anymore! Tomorrow can be focused on something else, and that makes you that much closer to your goal.

    What if what you are working on is not something you necessarily enjoy, but have to get it done anyway? Realize that procrastination still doesn’t help. Because, the sooner you work on getting it done, the sooner you are done with it. There is no way out here.

    Keep this in perspective, however. Don’t procrastinate doesn’t mean don’t take a break! Don’t procrastinate beginning your task, or keep moving with your task; but, by all means take a break as necessary. A little break every now and then, away from your work, is essential to keep your motivation levels right.

  5. Reward Yourself.  Reward yourself on each significant step you take towards attaining your objectives.   If your goal or dream is really long term, divide it into plenty of short term goals, which are easier to track. And reward yourself every time you successfully complete your mini-goal.What kind of reward?Well, little nothings here and there, a movie, a dinner, an outing, your favorite piece of cake, whatever it is that you really enjoy. No need to go all out here.
  6. Visualize.What about the times when you are bound to be a bit let down? We all do, every now and then, don’t we?Visualize your “end product”, spend a second imagining realizing your goal, whatever it is that you are working for, now. Make it real in your mind. Enjoy the feeling. Savor it. You will know that you need to keep doing what you are doing now, to get there soon enough.If this is one of those things you just need to get done, you can still use the visualizing technique in that circumstance too. What would happen if you don’t do it? Spend a second on the worst case scenario, and that might help get you on feet as well.

  7. Mistakes Happen.

    If you hit a stumbling block? It’s part of the design. You will make mistakes along the way. Be patient, and work your way around it. Learning from mistakes and moving forward is how we end up gaining self confidence.
    Remember this..

    The more the mistakes, chances are, the closer you are to the success you want.

Final Word…

Stay healthy. Eat well – healthy eating is fun. Exercise. Sleep well – with good, positive thoughts in your mind – before you lie down. A regular, consistent routine with these good habits, adds up to your overall levels of motivation, and makes rest of the self motivation tips work better for you.

If you take care of your body & keep your mind stimulated it will do wonders for your own self-motivation.