Category: Health & Wellness

5 Hair Strengthening Tips You Should Be Using

by Emmanuel

Whether you have your natural hair, colored or processed hair, a wig, hairpiece or extensions, all these hair types have one thing in common: they need to be strengthened on a regular basis. There are many ways to strengthen the hair, but without knowing the correct way to go about it, you can actually cause damage by overdoing it. Here are 5 tips to effectively strengthen your hair.

Protein Size Matters

Just like your body, your hair needs protein and other nutrients to stay healthy. Protein helps rebuild and strengthen hair strands, maintaining your hair’s health. Without enough protein in your hair, it will become damaged, with snags causing split ends. Hair processed for wigs and hairpieces can become depleted and will continue to lose protein without extra treatments. The protein your hair needs is a molecular size, which is very small, meaning that it can penetrate into the hair and stay there.

Keep Hair Regularly Moisturized to Avoid Permanent Damage

When your hair is in need of moisture, the cuticle rises. Once it does so, it doesn’t close down and there is nothing that can bring it back to its original state. Therefore, it’s important to prevent this from happening by maintaining the amount of moisture in your hair. Regular protein treatments can help with this, as well as conditioning clean hair.

Spray Conditioner Coats the Hair Without Adding Weight

A coat of light spray conditioner in the morning can lubricate the hair without weighing it down. Leave in conditioner prevents the hair from tangling, which causes it from needing more moisture. Spray generously throughout the day, particularly in the morning as you’re beginning your day and in the evening as you’re winding it down, but also throughout the day as your hair becomes exposed to heat, cold or friction, for added protection.

Avoid Exposing the Hair to Friction to Avoid Breakage

The most common exposure to friction for your hair is your pillowcase. We recommend using a satin pillowcase, as its texture stops the friction against the cuticle. If you don’t have a satin pillowcase, wrap your hair in a silk scarf for the same effect. Other sources of friction include hats or caps that can be tough on hair, which weaken the hair when there’s too much direct contact with the material.

Comb Gently and Avoid Heat

Start from the bottom of the hair and work your way toward the scalp. You’ll want a quality comb or hairbrush, so avoid plastic to prevent your hair strands from being strained. Fiber-based brushes tend to work well against breakage. Avoid too much exposure to heat, as that can easily weaken the hair. Direct heat from hair dryers and styling tools are especially harmful, so opt for minimal heat.

Keep your hair looking beautiful everyday by giving it strength, elasticity and moisture. These tips can help you preserve your hair’s health. Want to continue maintaining your beautiful hair? Contact our team today!

Pregnancy and Hair Loss: From Glow to “Oh No!”

by Emmanuel

As we mentioned in our February newsletter, we’re celebrating the pregnancy of one of our stylists, Clair. She and her fiancé are expecting a baby boy in the coming months. This got us talking about pregnancy and its effects on hair and the scalp.

Many women look forward to the “glow” of pregnancy.  During this exciting time, higher levels of hormones can cause many physiological changes – bright, shiny skin and fast growing, fuller hair.  Increased estrogen in the body extends the growth phase of hair, resulting in reduced shedding and changes in texture which can make for seemingly fuller locks.

Valentine’s Day Prep – Homemade Shaving Cream

by Emmanuel

Valentines Vintage Handmade Hearts over Wooden Background. Valentine over Wood. Retro Styled Wallpaper. Valentines Day. Paper Tag labeling.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Whether you’re going out for a romantic dinner or staying in for the evening, we all want to look and feel good.

In preparation for your night, I have a recipe to make homemade shaving cream. 

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup virgin coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 10 drops essential oil (of your choice)
  • Glass container of your choice

Directions:

Blend all ingredients together in a blender or stir really well with a fork and place the mixture in your glass container. Make sure to shake well before each use.

If you have a recipe you would like to share, please comment below. Otherwise for more health and wellness tips and recipes, sign up for my blog update here.

Remember…Beauty Begins Within

– Jeffrey Paul 

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Is Your Shampoo Causing Hair Loss?

by Emmanuel

We all have a favorite shampoo. You know, the one that makes your hair smell like vanilla and promises shinier, thicker and healthier tresses. Maybe you chose that shampoo based on the recommendation of a hairstylist. Or, maybe you began using it because your best friend swears by it or you read that it’s your favorite celebrity’s secret to her gorgeous locks. But have you ever really read the ingredients of your shampoo and considered how they interact with your hair and your scalp?

The recent buzz around claims that certain conditioning cleansers and dry shampoos cause hair loss has many wondering if their favorite shampoo could be causing damage that can lead to hair loss, too. While those products may not be causing direct hair loss, the wrong product on the wrong hair type can certainly cause hair and scalp issues, including dreaded hair loss.

Give the Gift of Healthier Hair & Scalp

by Emmanuel

christmas-shopping

Whether you’re looking for a special holiday gift for someone special or just looking to pamper yourself with a present, we have some ideas to make that holiday search a little easier.

Below are five suggestions that our team has compiled to help you look better, style easier or add health to your scalp and hair.

GHD Styler Flat Ironghd-styler – If you have been using the same flat iron for longer than three years, it may be time get a new one. Over time the temperature control can go bad and create “hot spots,” which can damage your hair. The GHD Styler has a one-of-a-kind thermostat inside constantly keeps the gold plates at the proper temperature to allow straightening on all hair types and lengths. The best part is you can use it to style your hair in a flat sleek look or with the perfect curl. We love that in just 20 seconds the iron is at full heat and ready for styling. A protective plate guard allows you to pack up after use. The GHD Styler also comes with a two-year warranty.

Wellness Series: How to Live Pain Free – Part 4

by Emmanuel

Your health is something that you really need to think about with a total body approach. One of the areas we tend to forget about when working on our posture is our hip flexors. Because most of us sit in an office chair for many hours a day, this creates a tightening in our hips, as well as our back and chest. In our final installment of this video series, today’s stretches with Mark Roozen will show you a stretch that works on your hip flexors and your back.

Using a stick to help with balance and control, begin swinging your leg back and forth. Be sure to standing tall and straight up. By kicking your leg back and forth, you are opening up your hips and allowing your back to straighten.

Want to read more about how to live pain free? Make sure to subscribe to my blog. You can enjoy many other health and wellness tips. For more information on Mark Roozen, check out his blog.

Remember… Beauty & Change Begin Within,

– Jeffrey Paul 

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Wellness Series: How to Live Pain Free – Part 3

by Emmanuel

Sitting in an office all day hunched over your desk, looking at a computer can really cause back pain. This can actually create a domino effect, as back pain can cause a whole new host of health issues. I challenge you to take care of your back with Mark Roozen’s series of back exercises.

Today, I would like to introduce to you stick squats:

  1. Hold a stick with arms apart above your head.
  2. Sit in a chair position (squat), making sure your hands are still above your head, not bending over.
  3. Carefully stand back up with a straight back.
  4. Repeat this squatted position 5-10 times.

This exercise works on your shoulder flexibility, shoulder rotation, posture, core, lower back mobility, and ankle mobility. This will open your backside up so you can get back to work pain free!

For more health and wellness tips, make sure to subscribe to my blog. For more information on Mark Roozen, check out his blog.

Remember… Beauty & Change Begin Within,

– Jeffrey Paul 

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Wellness Series: How to Live Pain Free – Part 2

by Emmanuel

Here is the second installment of my Wellness Series on “How to Live Pain Free.” Did you know that your posture can even affect your breathing? And if you are not getting the right amount of oxygen, it can lead to a host of problems, including making you feel fatigued? Watch this video to experience Mark Roozen’s, our strength and conditioning coach, first exercise to living a pain free life.

  1. Take a stick and place your hand on each end.
  2. Bring your shoulders back by rotating the stick around your head.
  3. Repeat this motion going the other direction.

By doing this motion at home or in your office, it should help straighten your posture and stretch out your back, giving you more energy for your day.

Stay tuned to next week, when I show you the next video in this series. For more health and wellness tips, make sure to subscribe to my blog. For more information on Mark Roozen, please visit his blog.

Remember… Beauty & Change Begin Within,

– Jeffrey Paul 

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Wellness Series: How to Live Pain Free – Part 1

by Emmanuel

I want to share with you some wonderful health and wellness tips from my friend, Mark Roozen. Over the next few weeks, I am going to show you a video series in which he will be our strength and conditioning coach. Mark is going to walk us through some easy steps to living a pain free life, using different exercises we can do at home or at work to help straighten our backs.

Because many of us spend a significant amount of time sitting, we often have tight, painful back issues. I am confident this series is going to help us sit up straight and live pain free!

For more health and wellness tips make sure to subscribe to my blog. For more information on Mark Roozen, please visit his blog.

Remember… Beauty & Change Begin Within,

– Jeffrey Paul 

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Summer Treat That’s Tasty & Great for the Heart!

by Emmanuel

smoothie-pic

We still have a little bit of summer left, so here is a great recipe for you to try at home. Plus, who can refuse something that tastes good and is good for you?! In my book I have other recipes that are good for your heart and are cancer fighting like this one.

Just use the amazing VitaMix blender to make a healthy smoothie that tastes incredible. To make this tasty treat, you will need the following:

  • 1 cup Strawberries
  • 1 cup Red Grapes
  • 1 cup Greek Yogurt
  • Ice
  • Water

This recipe provides 160 percent of your daily vitamin C and is great at preventing heart disease. This delicious smoothie will help you live long, live well, and live beautiful on the inside and out!

Remember…Beauty & Change Begin Within,

– Jeffrey Paul 

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The daily habit you need to get where you’re going

by Emmanuel

Do you ever wonder where you are going in life?  Wouldn’t it be easier if there was a road map, guiding us down the correct paths and avoiding those that would cause disappointment, harm, or trouble? Wouldn’t it be easier to tailor our daily habits and choices if we knew exactly where we’re headed?

While we’re not born with a tangible map to hold in our hands, we are born with the guidance of something else – our Creator.  Instead of the broken puzzle pieces that we would be without Him, if we stop, listen, and trust in Him to lead us, we will find our greatest destinations in life.  With His help, we are no longer broken and jumbled, rather we are complete and will find great blessings.

How To Maintain A Healthy Immune System During The Back To School Season

by Emmanuel

9.24 Blog

For those of you with school-aged children, you know all too well that it is that time of year where the whole family needs to maintain a healthy immune system. The close contact of kids during the school day means lots of hands touching and not always getting washed.  So what do you do to make sure your family stays healthy? Natural, simple solutions are my keys to success, here is a solution that has helped my family, and staff, protect against seasonal & environmental threats!

Natural Sunscreen

by Emmanuel

Dark tanned body in summer with sunscreen lotion ** Note: Shallow depth of field

I don’t know about you, but I’m not okay with all those chemicals in sunscreen. Now that I have been blessed with two granddaughters it is important for me to help keep them protected from the sun, but without all the chemicals that can be found in sunscreen.

My friend, and our outstanding health and wellness expert, Marisa Dicenso-Pelser, shares some of her natural sunscreen recipes that have 30 SPF+ that are not only great for kids, but for you as well!