Mayonaise and hair!

   "Should I put mayonaise in my hair, cover it with plastic and sit in the sun?" Would you put hair conditioner on your sandwich? Probably not, it wouldn't taste very good at any rate. From time to time we get questions about old folk remedies and home beauty treatments that were used by people before the advent of modern hair care products. There was some merit to using these household items as part of their beauty regimen. Take the basic ingredients in mayonaise, egg yolks, vegetable oil and lemon juice. Some vegetable oils are rich in vitamin E and antioxidants, egg yolks are a good source of lecithin and colesterol and lemon juice can help to restore the hairs PH balance if you know how to use it and that is what your hair needs.
    To begin with, there is a reason why  mayonaise needs to be refrigerated. Left out in a warm environment it is a perfect breeding ground for harmfull bacteria to multiply in. So if you're going to apply it to your hair and sit out in the sun for a period of time, I hope you don't have any cuts or scratches on your scalp. You might end up with an infection.Imigane that, botulism from your beauty treatment. Try to explain that to your doctor. Besides, this practice is not nearly as effective as the modern hair care products that were developed to address the specific needs of your hair.
   So please, use your mayonaise, but use it on your sandwich. If you're having problems with your hair, ask your Stylist wich treatments and products would be best for your hair.

I think my hair has stopped growing.

   If you have been trying to grow out your hair and it seems like it isn't getting any longer, here are a few things to consider. First of all, like all things in our body, hair length is controlled by our genetic code. It will get to a certain length and then break off or fall out. The reason that you don't notice it is that hair is regenerative.You are constantly losing and regrowing hair so that when it gets to its genetically programmed length it seems like your growth cycle has come to a halt.
   Another thing to consider is the illusion of length. Your hair grows a half an inch to an inch per month. If your hair is three inches long when you start growing it out, your monthly growth is noticable. When it gets to be ten inches long, your monthly gain proportionately isn't as great, giving you the illusion that your growth rate is slowing down. It's not that it is growing any more slowly, you just don't notice the gains as much.
   Remember that your hair grows from the inside, out making it important to stick with a good, balanced diet. Vitamin and mineral supplements may help you with your quest for long, luxurious locks. Check with your local health food store as they have the latest information on nutritional supplementation. Make sure that you are using a professional haircare regimen at home. Listen to your hairstylist, they know what is best for your hair.This will keep your hair in it's optimum condition, allowing you to keep it on your head for a longer period of time.

Are Salon products really better?

   The short, simple and direct answer to this question is yes but  there are many reasons why professional products are better. The products that you buy over the counter are made by soap companies and not by companies run by highly trained haircare professionals that are concerned with your hairs' health and well being. They aren't too particular about the ingredients that they use so long as their sudsy concoctions smell good and lather well and they have little if any concern about the effects these products will have on your hair. Many of them are alkaline enough to strip out the beautiful color that your stylist has created for you, or they contain substances that will coat the hair with a waxy build-up that leaves the hair limp, lifeless and hard to control. Many of their formulations are cut with up to 70% water, making it less expensive to buy but much more expensive to use since it takes more of their product to do the job.

   Another thing to consider is the fact that Big Box stores don't have a team of highly trained professional haircare specialists, randomly roaming the shampoo aisle, that will examine your hair and direct you as to wich products are best for you. Nobody knows your hair as well as your stylist, so take the time to listen to their reccomendations. They stand behind the products that they use and sell and most of them offer a money back garauntee if you are not satisfied, a benefit that you won't find at your local grocery or drugstore. Just for fun, try taking a half used bottle of shampoo back to the Big Box store that you bought it from and ask for a refund because it's drying out your hair. See what they'll do for you.

   Salon products are made by companies that have devoted their entire focus to your hairs' health. They formulate their products using the finest ingredients and the latest technology leaving you with shinier, healthier hair that is easier to manage and always looks its best. They are more expensive to buy but you use less,so they aren't much more expensive to use.

  

Staff Pick of the Week

   Winter has finally come to NWI, blowing snow and bone chilling temperatures. You don't want to leave the house with wet hair and we have a product that will help you get out the door with time to spare. Blow Dry Spray by KENRA, is one of our best selling products. It cuts your blow drying time by 25% while providing intense heat protection, helping to eliminate breakage caused by thermal damage. It's light weight formula detangles, smoothes and softens, helps to control frizz and resists humidity for long lasting, healthy looking results. So, come in and treat your hair to some Blow Dry Spray today!

Am I Losing My Hair?

   This is a question we here from time to time in the Salon and one that is of great concern to anyone that thinks they are experiencing this situation. It is quite natural for us to lose hair. Hair is a regenerative substance and goes thru a specific growth cycle that is unique to each individual. Once it reaches its genetically predetermined length it falls out, clearing the follicle and making way for new growth to occur. The average human has between 100,000 and 300,000 hairs on their head at any given time and sheds an average of 80 to 300 hairs a day, enough to clog the drain and fill up the bristles in your brush but not enough to be concerned with.
   If you feel that you are suddenly losing more than that, here are some considerations for you. Some of the more common causes for hair loss are genetics, pregnancy, a change in diet, stress, hormonal/chemical imbalances in the body, changes in medication and the onset of menopause. Here is a quick checklist for you to consider.
   Take a look at your family history. If many people in your family tree have thinning hair, particularly as they age, there is a good chance that you will experience the same thing and there isn't much that can be done.  
   Are you or do you suspect you might be pregnant? If not, you can move on down the line.If you are this could be the reason for your sudden hair loss.
   How is your diet? Many of us, in our quest for a slimmer, sexier body commit to strange, unhealthy diets, some of wich can be dangerous to your health over a long period of time. Eat a well balanced diet and excercise frequently. Regular aerobic excercise will make you look better, is good for your heart and general well being and since it increases circulation it will indirectly have an effect on your hairs' health as well. Increased circulation= increased nutrients being supplied to the hair follicle, wich means increased hair growth.Consider adding a good multi-vitamin/mineral supplement to make sure you are feeding your body what it needs.
   If you have exprienced an increase in your stress levels, this could be the answer to your problem. Any sudden or dramatic changes in your life such as the loss of a loved one, loss/change of job or a change in your relationship status can increase your stress levels enough to trigger hair loss.
   Are you going thru menopause? If you are, enough said.
   If you can't find the reason for your hair loss in the list above, you should check with your physician. Sudden hair loss can be an indication of many different medical conditions that require a doctors care such as thyroid, heart and circulatory problems, diabetes, and hormone/chemical imbalances in the body. If you think that the reason for your hairloss is medical in nature, don't hesitate. Call your physician today.
 Another thing to think about is how well do you take care of your hair? Breakage caused by chemical and thermal damage, tho technically not hair loss, sure can seem like it at times. Be kind to your hair. Take the time to condition regularly, cut down on flat iron usage and listen to your stylist when they recommend products to you. They know what is best for your hair.
   So, eat a healthy diet, excercise regularly, try to reduce sources of stress in your life, listen to your stylist and check with your Dr to make sure there isn't something wrong with your health. I hope this has been helpfull. Please feel free to share your comments and questions with us.
  

Let's get on with it........

   It's been a busy beginning to 2012, lots of commitments, lots of promises to fulfill, resolutions and all of that sort of thing. As always I'm lookking for questions to adress on our page for the upcoming year. I did see a Dr. on the television this morning talking about hair loss in women. I think I'll start with that next week. It is certainly a question that comes up once in awhile in the Salon.What does everyone want to know about?
   I know that many of you have made a committed yourselves to a new, stronger, healthier and slimmer body to don in the year to come. Don't forget that you'll need a new look to go along with the new, sexier you. We plan to post more pictures of what's going on in the Salon including our interpretations of what the fashion and style gurus have in store for us during the year that lies ahead of us. So, Good Luck and best wishes from us and please, share your questions and comments with us.

Happy New Year!!!!!

   The Holidays have come and gone and the New Year is upon us. It lies in front of us like a book full of blank pages waiting to be filled with our hopes, our dreams, our desires. I, like many of you, reflecting on the year just passed, have made promises to myself that I intend to keep, losing weight, excercising, eating better, quitting smoking...... the list goes on and on. But the most important promise I've made is to devote myself to those that I serve and to continue my commitment to excellence. I would like to thank everyone of our Guests for making us what we are.

   We would like to welcome Katie Hayes as the newest member of our staff. Katie is new to our industry and brings with her new, fresh ideas that she would like to share with you.As soon as I can pin her down for a few minutes, her bio will be posted along with the rest of ours.With all of this weight loss, excercise and changes for the better, don't forget to schedule an appointment for a new look for the New Year.