Archive for September, 2010

The Tria home laser hair removal system is a product that is getting a huge boost in buzz thanks to its FDA approval as a legitimate permanent hair removal solution. Hype aside, the question is not only if it will work, but will it work for you, is it safe, and does it make sense for you to buy? Laser hair removal is a proved method for permanent results, but those results are not equal for all, and in some cases the Tria nor any laser hair removal system will work.

The basic premise of laser hair removal is that the laser reacts with the melanin in skin to work its way to the root of hair follicles which it then burns out so the hair will not grow back. The theory is simple and it works well for most people. Before we go any further let’s discuss who it will work the best for and who it is not suited for. People that have very fair skin and dark hair are the best candidates to achieve successful results. People with light hair -natural blonds specifically, and people with dark skin are the worst candidates. The laser simply has too much trouble identifying the are to be affected or in the cases of those with dark skin the laser may cause burns to the skin rather than the follicle root.

The Tria laser hair remover has one thing going for it aside from FDA approval which is of extreme importance and that is safety. Before the unit will emit a beam you have to remove the base of the unit and hold it against your skin until you get the green light. It takes about a second. You then hold it up to the main body of the unit that contains the laser so the green light triggers the red light on the unit to go green. You put the charger back in its place and you are ready to go.

The Tria has three settings – low, medium, and high. Low is the least effective but also the least painful. Medium works pretty well for most people, but of course the high setting is really the best. While I anticipated pain akin to what I’ve experienced from commercial laser hair removal units, the pain associated to the Tria on the high setting wasn’t too bad, no worse than a rubber band being snapped against your skin. Some may tolerate pain a little worse than others, but the Tria isn’t so much pain as mild discomfort you adjust to rather quickly.

The Tria is easy to work with and it only took about 40 minutes to completely finish one leg – I have a particularly long leg so for others it may go quicker. There were no hitches in the the Tria’s use nor were there any moments it seemed as if

The Curly Girl’s Guide to Hair Care

As every woman with curly hair knows, there are significant differences in how you care for your hair as compared to your straight-haired friends. For instance, do you even own a brush? Probably not! There are many things that every curly-haired diva needs to know about caring for her hair. Those tips and tricks are outlined below.

1.Never brush curly hair. Using a brush on curly hair causes the curls to unravel and become frizzy in just a matter of moments. If you have no other options, only use a brush on wet hair. If possible, use a pick on wet hair to untangle the hair without promoting frizz. If you have no styling tools, using your fingers can be perfectly acceptable. Mimic the motion of a pick and stop after the tangles are loosened.

2.Use an anti-frizz cream. Apply several pumps of an anti-frizz cream to you palms and work it through your hair, focusing on the roots and back. Because you sleep on the back of your hair, it is prone to more frizz than the front sections, so concentrate the cream in that area. Most creams can be applied to wet or dry hair as needed. Start by applying it after towel-drying your hair and before using other products. Use it throughout the day to prevent frizz from popping up.

3.Use a specialized shampoo and conditioner. There are plenty of shampoos, conditioners, and styling products designed for women with curly hair, so take advantage of the new specialization in products to get something made just for your hair type.

4.Avoid heat-styling. Especially in the spring and summer, let hair dry naturally to maintain health and bounce. Apply a styling cream or gel and scrunch hair in your hands. Re-scrunch periodically as the hair dries, but let it dry on its own. Finish with hair spray or finishing spray.

5.Get regular trims. Because curly hair is more prone to damage than naturally straight hair, it is important to get regular trims to maintain the health of the hair.

6.Don’t fight it. Your hair will probably look a little bit different every day, depending on the products you use and the weather outside. Fighting with your hair to make it look a certain way will cause it more harm than good, because the extra products and tools you use to coerce it will end up causing damage. Accept that it has a mind of its own and settle with controlling it, not dominating it.

7.Don’t run your fingers through your hair. While straight-haired girls have the luxury of flipping their hair back and forth and playing with it, when curly girls try that, their hair puffs up into a frizz ball. Running your fingers through your hair will break down the product you have applied, which is keeping your hair in check and preventing it from expanding. If at all possible, leave your hair alone during the day. If you do need to refresh your style, flip your head over and massage your scalp, scrunching your dry hair before flipping your head back over. This will wake the curls back up and, though the style will deflate again throughout the day, it is a non-product-based way of keeping your style intact.

Curly hair certainly requires maintenance that straight hair doesn’t, but the benefits of having a unique style are certainly worth it! Stop following hair care guides written for straight hair and you will learn to love your curls as much as your envious stick-straight friends!

Every woman has her own idea about the best beauty products out there. I mean you have those who swear by Mary Kay and some who swear by Avon. I personally swear by Neutrogena. But beauty is not only skin deep. The best beauty product out there comes from the heart and is worn as a smile.

I live in the great state of Texas. People are extremely friendly here. I grew up in New Mexico and people are not as friendly there. In addition, if you look at their faces, they are sad and angry looking. In Texas people seem to have permanent smiles glued to their faces and are stereotyped as being “larger than life.” Why? Because they are always happy and smiling! Don’t believe me? Check out the wrinkles on their faces. They have permanent wrinkles on their faces that show where their smiles form.

Wrinkles are everyone’s dreaded “growing old” indicator but they are inevitable. Even if you get plastic surgery it eventually catches up to you. Wrinkles also tell your age and how your life has been in the past. You all know someone who is happy all the time, and I’m sure you might know someone who is sad all the time. Look at their faces. Watch them smile. Those who smile a lot have wrinkles that form a permanent smile and those who frown have wrinkles that look angry and sad all the time. The one thing I love about my fianc’s handsome face is the wrinkles around his eyes and mouth. They hold so much happiness and comfort in them. They also contribute to his handsomeness. I knew him back in high school and was in love with him. I look at pictures of him from high school and realize he was inexperienced and young. He looks older now and experienced and thankfully the past years have made him smile. He always looks happy and beautiful. Thank God for those wrinkles!

Keep up that beauty regimen, because taking care of you also contributes to beauty and happiness, and embrace those wrinkles! Take care of those beautiful smiles (I suggest Colgate), moisturize that beautiful skin on your face (I suggest an oil-free moisturizer-doesn’t have to be expensive), and most of all, SMILE!

Ways To Easily Remove Chewing Gum From Hair

When we think about it, it is pretty easy to get chewing gum in one’s hair. This is especially true if that someone happens to be a child. Young children have a tendency to chew gum and somehow, inexplicably, wind up getting in their hair and being a nightmare to get out.

This can lead to minor problems. As most people know, it is easy enough to get gum in hair but it’s not so easy to get it out. If you are the victim of a chewing gum nightmare please do not use scissors to cut it out. There are several ways to remove the gum from hair.

Sometimes, it seems the more you try to remove the gum from hair, the more tangled it gets. So use gentle methods to get it out. Do not go for messy methods, otherwise it may get embedded. There is a popular method called the ice cube method. Place several ice cubes in the plastic bag and hold this onto the gum. The gum should freeze and harden. It will be easier to break off and remove from hair afterwards.

If not, then use the second method but it is quite messy. Warm one teaspoon of vinegar and massage it into the hair all around the chewing gum. The gum will dissolve. Once the gum is removed wash with shampoo.  

Another method is by using cooking oil, but baby oil works faster. All you need to do is massage it around the gum until it is removed.

Eggs whites also work on chewing gum in hair. Place the egg whites on the affected spot and until the gum is removed. Shampoo as usual and rinse.

Another method to apply is by using simple and everyday butter. Melt the butter and put on the affected area. It should remove easily. After that, shampoo as usual.

A lubricant called ether also works as an aid in the removal of chewing gum. Apply to the gum and work into hair. You will also need a good shampoo and conditioner to help speed up repairing any damage. If none of the methods work then call the hair dresser. Do not put any harmful chemicals on it.

The last method is to cut the gum from hair. This is the last method if you are ready for bad hair cut because of chewing gum accidents.

Men Have Skin, too!

Though they may not talk about it as often and you do not find nearly as many skin care products targeted toward men as women, men have skin to care for, too! In fact, men are even more predisposed to conditions such as acne because the production of male sex hormones, androgens, can produce acne. Men and women produce androgens, but men produce more, especially during puberty. These hormones affect the sebaceous glands and hair follicles and can begin the acne sequence. There is a theory that those who experience the most severe forms of acne also secrete the greatest amounts of the male hormone.

What can men do?

Keep hands off your face and avoid squeezing the pimples, which can spread infection and cause permanent scarring. Avoid the use of oily moisturizers and creams. Eat a balanced diet. Choose a hairstyle that keeps your hair off your face, because the oil in your hair will transfer to your face. Wash your face twice daily to remove surface oils, dead skin and dirt. Do not scrub your skin. Change your sheets and pillowcases often, even as much as every night for the pillowcases, until you get into maintenance mode. Remember that acne may get worse before it gets better and it takes at least 1 month of any type of treatment or therapy to evaluate its effectiveness.

What kinds of acne treatments are effective?

In general, look for products that contain Benzoyl peroxide, Salicylic acid, Tea Tree Oil, Resorcino and/or Sulfur for best results. In severe cases, your doctor may prescribe a prescription medication such as tetracycline, erythromycin or clindamycin. Other treatment options include: Vitamin A/Retin A (the acid form of vitamin A retinoic acid or isotretinoin), isotretinoin (Accutane), hormone therapy, dermabrasion, plastic surgery (skin grafts), collagen treatments and Ultraviolet (UV) Therapy. There is no limit to treatment options. Eat fruits and veggies, drink lots of water, exercise regularly, develop and use a skin care regime, keep your face clean and untouched by oil-makers. Remember that oily skin usually slows the formation of wrinkles and smile!