Suds Do Not Equal Clean by Gina Rafkind

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:10:25 -0500

Do you think your shampoo, face cleanser and body cleanser need to lather up in order to get you clean?

The answer is..............absolutely not!

The sudsing ingredients that are added to these type of products are actually the ones that may cause some of the problems. They are possible skin irritants which can leave you with a few unfavorable side effects such as rashes, itchy skin, dry skin etc.

Two of these ingredients are:
~ sodium lauryl sulfate and
~ sodium laureth sulfate

It’s not clear how much of these ingredients enter your bloodstream and yes, you don’t leave your shampoo on for a long period of time.

But what about all the other products you use? What about the cumulative effect of all the chemical ingredients in all the products you use on your skin on a daily basis?

I have read many studies that have said that the chemical ingredients in products shouldn’t hurt you because they are in such small concentrations. But, they don’t talk much about the cumulative effect of the possible 10-20 products we may use daily and many studies agree that some ingredients do enter the bloodstream.

It is possible. What about the medicinal patches used such as nicotine? It’s put on our skin and the product works by entering the body through the skin into the bloodstream. So why can’t other ingredients from other products do the same thing?

I choose to use the most natural products I can. I know I can’t avoid all harmful chemicals, but I do have a choice as to what I use, and so do you.

What do you think? Do you ever think what is really in the products that you use on a daily basis? On yourself? On your children?
Share some thoughts by adding a comment below.

Benefits of Moroccan Oil

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:31:12 -0400

Moroccan Oil contains argan oil which is a powerful antioxidant, supplies UV protection and helps to strengthen the hair.

Moroccan Oil is actually a treatment for your hair.

So not only does Moroccan Oil enhance your hair by adding shine, it also helps to protect your hair from everyday styling, harsh environmental elements, and also helps prevent split ends the more you use it.

Who should use Moroccan Oil?

Every person, no matter what your hair type, can use Moroccan Oil.

If your hair is fine, you would use less compared to someone who has coarser, curly or wavy hair. It adds shine without leaving any residue to all hair types while helping to keep frizz in check on coarse and curly hair types.

Moroccan Oil is very light and does not supply hold so if you need hold, you can use a styling product as well.

To use Moroccan Oil for healthy, smooth and shiny hair, apply a small amount throughout damp hair and then style as usual. If you need more, you can always use a drop more on your hair when it is dry for those who have very coarse, frizzy hair.

Stop on by and pick up some Moroccan Oil at Mane Attractions
3.4 fluid oz (100 ml) $40.00

Add a Little Color to Your Life

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:06:01 -0400

Fall is here and it’s time to add a little spice to your hair.
This time of year, haircolor gets bold, deep and multi-dimensional.

Blondes get warmer, redheads get spicier, and brunettes get deeper with more chocolate and toffee tones added to the hair.

If you’re feeling like a change, have your stylist throw in some low-lights to add dimension. These can be bold, or more natural - all depends on your personality. Go with what feels good to you.

Talk to your stylist about your options. Haircolor is one of the simplest, and most fun ways to make a change, whether it’s bold or not.

New season, new look!
Go for it!

Image by Rickbooher via Photobucket

Brenda’s Tip of the Day

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:17:04 -0400

If you have to trim your own bangs, be sure to cut them dry. :)

Comb your bangs straight down and then comb them so all the ends meet in the middle and at the bridge of your nose where that little bump starts on your nose. Hold the hair between your fingers, exposing the amount you want to cut off and cut off those ends only.

image by emdot, via flickr at Creative Commons License

Gina’s Tip of the Day

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:46:59 -0400

Work with what you have.

I’m talking about hair, but this lends itself into many aspects of life. :)

Yes, there’s no reason why we can’t enhance what we have, but going to extremes to look or be differently than who we truly are can be quite exhausting.

Love what you got, learn to embrace it and live without regret!

Grace’s Tip of the Day

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:00:15 -0400

When styling your hair, know when it’s time to stop. :)

Healthy Hair & Scalp

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:35:23 -0400

Healthy Hair and Scalp
~ Tips to nourish your tresses

A Beautiful Mane
Thick, beautiful, shiny healthy hair is something that many people desire to have. However, we have whatever type of hair we were born with – thick, thin, blonde, red, brunette, curly, dark, coarse, fine, wavy or straight. Whatever type of hair we have, it is important to take care of it, and that starts with not only taking care of our scalp, but our entire being as well.

There are so many factors that influence and affect your hair and hair growth including stress, hormones, genetics, age, health, lifestyle, diet, nutrition and your environment. The health of our hair can, at times, mirror what’s going on inside of us internally, reflecting what kind of state both our mind and body is in. Many times after I start coming down with a cold, I realize that those few days prior to the onset of that cold, my hair was not behaving the same – it was not shiny and was very flat and lifeless. This has been the case most times so now when my hair reacts in this way I usually take it as a sign and start preventive measures such as taking certain supplements and herbal tinctures to strengthen my immune system.

Trichology is the science dealing with the study of the hair and its diseases. Trichologists specialize and are very knowledgeable in all types of hair and scalp conditions. They examine and study the hair shaft, the hair bulb and the scalp to find out what may be causing certain hair and scalp conditions.

First A Little About the Hair Strand
Hair is mainly comprised of protein (keratin) and water. Each hair strand is made up of 3 main components - the cuticle, cortex and medulla.

Cuticle: This is the outer layer of the hair shaft or strand. It looks like layered shingles on a roof. It is a barrier that helps protects each hair from environmental stressors as well as all the abuse it takes from us including blow drying, flat ironing, chemical processes and more. When your hair is healthy and shiny, these shingles will be laying down nice and tight and flat. The more damaged your hair is, the more these shingles will lift up and away from the hair shaft, giving a less shiny appearance and thus, less protection.

Cortex: The cortex makes up most of the weight of the hair strand. This is where the hair’s strength, color and elasticity are contained. Hair’s pigment, which is called melanin, is contained in the cortex and this determines your hair color - both natural and when you change it with hair coloring products. This is a very important area of the hair strand and it contains many fibers that are held together by many bonds. When these bonds are broken and not reformed, the hair strand will become weak. This is why it is so important to have a healthy scalp and hair care routine.

Medulla: The medulla is located in the very center of the hair strand and is comprised of protein. In fine hair, there is no medulla in the hair strand. However there usually is one in thick and coarse hair. The function of the medulla is not really known. If I were to guess, since fine hair is usually more fragile than thick or coarse hair, it would make sense to guess that if you have a medulla, your hair is naturally a little stronger – but that’s just my opinion.

If you don’t have hair, it’s even more important to take care of your scalp. Follow the tips to keep your scalp healthy, soft and nourished. And definitely do not forget the hat and/or sunscreen!

Some Hair Growth and Scalp Facts
Hair is actually considered dead. The live portion exists underneath your skin - in your scalp where hair receives (or not), all its vital nutrients from your blood. Also, we are constantly shedding dead skin cells so if we do not regularly remove those cells, as well as sweat, from our scalp by cleansing and massaging the scalp, then this will affect hair growth.

Hair grows out of our scalp through the hair follicle. Did you know that the shape of the hair is what determines whether your hair is straight, wavy or curly? If you had a cross section of the hair strand, straight hair is round in shape, wavy hair has an oval shape and curly hair has a flat shape – kind of wild, isn’t it?

At the base of your follicle is the root of your hair - it is called the papilla. This is where each hair strand gets nourished through your blood. This is why it is so important to be aware of what you put into your body, such as food, drugs/medication and alcohol, because they go into your blood and can affect hair growth. But also be aware that your mind can also affect your hair growth in such cases as how we react to stress as well as negative thought patterns because these can affect the blood flow which nourishes our hair.

The hair bulb contains the papilla and this is what you see at the end of a hair strand when you pull one out.

Hair grows an average of ½ inch a month. We lose about 50-100 hairs every day. If you lose much more than this amount steadily, then you may want to consult your health care practitioner.

Hair & Scalp Care Tips:
• Do a gentle scalp massage prior to shampooing your hair. Use a little plant oil such as sesame, olive or jojoba to massage scalp.
• Wear a hat in the sun to protect hair and scalp from sunlight.
• Keep hair combs, brushes and tools clean.
• Avoid wearing hair tightly clipped back in barrettes or hair ties so to avoid damaging the hair.
• Avoid excessive use of chemical sprays and drying shampoos.
• Do not use very hot or very cold water to shampoo hair.
• Give your hair a rest by not shampooing and blow-drying every day.
• Do a warm hair oil treatment weekly to condition your hair and soothe and nourish your scalp. Depending on your hair length, use ½ teaspoon or up to 2 teaspoons of carrier oil such as coconut, sesame or jojoba. You can warm the oil by putting it in a heatproof measuring cup and then place it in a hot-water bath until it gets warm. Massage carrier oil onto your scalp and brush it through your hair. Wrap your hair in a plastic shower cap and cover with a wool hat. Leave on for about an hour and then shampoo your hair using a gentle, non-drying shampoo.
• Use essential oils to add additional benefits of cleansing and conditioning hair and scalp. (Stay tuned for future post on this topic).
• Do consult your professional hairstylist for tips and products that would be best for your hair type and condition.

The numbers of hairs on the head vary with the hair's natural color. Redheads have about 90,000; People with Black hair have about 108,000 and Brunettes are said to have about 140,000. And lastly, blondes may not only have more fun, they have more hair too - they have about 140,000.

Client Comments

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 11:13:01 -0500

“I come to Mane Attractions because of the amazingly wonderful people who work
there and who throw their hearts and souls into making my family look good.
The warm, small-town atmosphere they've created reflects the care and love
they put into everything they do--from the way they welcome us when we walk
in, to the way they treat us while we are there, to the beautiful results we
leave with. What I find most amazing is that they continue to cut and
highlight my hair even though I am totally inept at styling it in between
visits and I am really a walking un-advertisement; they never make me feel
inadequate about that. Mostly, my family and I come to Mane Attractions
because every person who works there cares, and so we care back. We are very
grateful.”
~Ellen Arian