Yep, you read right, there is a such thing as a hair lice salon. Just the idea kinda makes my skin crawl. But owner Judy Butters says “its very common. It’s not disgusting.”

Judy recalled treating her five children for lice when they were younger. “I used to line them up and treat them, one by one.” And she often wished there was someone who could do it for her. Well, now she it that someone!

Her salon is located in the basement apartment of her Queensland home. Judy opened up the salon as means to get out of a job she was no longer enjoying. And with nearly half the children in Queensland estimated to have head lice, it seems she made a wise career move. Business wont be slowing down anytime soon.

Prices range from $27 to $57, depending on the length of your hair.

For more information go to: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25897613-5013016,00.html

Hair Extensions Guru

Whether you prefer to just let it grow, or to cut it short… There seems to be one common rule for summer hair… the easier the better.

Summer time is meant to be carefree. Right? It seems there is no point in spending hours doing your hair, if you are going to spend the day at the pool or beach. Plus, who wants to stand under a blow dryer when its scorching hot outside? Not me.

If you happen to have naturally wavy hair, go with it. Spritz a little texture spray and be on your way. And if your hair is long, you can always throw it up into a pony-tale. You’ll save a lot of time and money when you decide to work with your natural hair. For example: letting curls be curly and straight hair stay straight.

Using the right shampoos and products can allow you to go farther between hair appointments. It also keeps hair healthy, so that it still looks beautiful, even when you’ve done nothing with it.

For more information go to: http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1684596

Hair Extensions Guru

A new trend in hair length has been spotted.

The trend: When money goes short, so does the hair. It seems that most recently women have been cutting back. Literally. From every day women to celebrities such as Rihanna and Rachel McAdams. It’s being said that the length of a woman’s hair is an indicator of consumer confidence. Sort of like your modern day Hemline Index. For those of you who don’t know what I mean, allow me to explain:

Hemline Index: In 1926, economist George Taylor presented a theory which stated that hemlines on women’s dresses rise along with stock prices. In good economies, such as in the 1960′s, miniskirts are all the craze. And in poor economic times, such as the 1929 Wall Street Crash, hemlines plummeted overnight.

When there is uncertainty in the economy, women realize they have less money and less time to spend on hair. So naturally, the scissors come out. If you are wondering why these trends arent measured on men, well, its simple… Women are typically the ones in charge of the budget. So they are more sensitive to fiscal change. It seems these days women have more to worry about then their hair.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/business/worldbusiness/19iht-19lewin.17068071.html?_r=1

http://www.canada.com/Hair+length+shear+economic+indicator/1849277/story.html

Hair Extensions Guru

After the recent death of Michael Jackson it seems everyone has been trying to get a piece of him. Perhaps knowing very well that whatever pieces they get will be worth quite a bundle some day. But the most interesting way Ive heard of freezing him in time involves something that is already worth a whole lot of money… diamonds.

LifeGem, a Chicago based company that has the ability to convert hair into diamonds, plans to do just that with a few locks from Michael’s head. For those of you who cant remember that far back, or who were too young at the time, Micheal’s hair caught on fire during a 1984 Pepsi commercial filming. Apparently some of the hair was saved by John Reznikoff, who helped extinguish the pop stars hair while on fire. This is the hair that will be turned to diamonds.If you look closely at the photo above you can see Michael’s hair on fire. [in the back.]

The process isn’t complicated. The hair will be heated to 5,400 degrees. “Reducing it to carbon so it can be crystallized and turned into diamonds.”  Greg Herro, CEO for LifeGem said. It is basically the same process that occurs naturally on earth, only sped up significantly. It will only take 6 to 9 months. Rather than billions of years.

Jackson’s diamonds will be sold privately. But the company does plan to to offer one of the diamonds to Jackson’s children.

For more information go to: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-talk-michael-jackson-hairjul29,0,5500867.story

Hair Extensions Guru

Do you ever wonder how a  certain celebrity hairstyle might look like on you? Celebrities are expected to change their hairstyles as often as the rest of us change our clothes. Whether its for a role they are playing or just to remain ahead of the crowd.  The good news is their frequent hair re-dos leave the rest of us with many different references and ideas for our own hair, when we head off to the salon for a change.

Unfortunately not all hairstyles and colors look good on all face shapes and personalities. But have no fear, now you can try the hairstyle on, before making the big commitment. And no, im not talking wigs here. But a virtual salon chair! Simply go to: www.instyle.com/instyle/makeover/ Upload a frontal head shot of yourself, with your hair pulled back, and then check out how you look in hundreds of hairstyles!

It may seem a little silly, but you don’t buy a car without test driving. Right? So, before you run to the salon requesting the “Kate Gosselin mullet bob”… you may want to try testing it out virtually before you make a big mistake in reality!

www.instyle.com/instyle/makeover/

Hair Extensions Guru

By now I think we all know that getting hair extensions can be a long and expensive process. While there are a number of different application methods, much time is always taken to be sure they are put on correctly.

But the same doesn’t go for the reverse of having the extensions removed. There are several different ways to removed the the extensions. And when they are not removed properly, extreme damage to the clients actual hair is often done. Typically salons know one removal method really well, and stick with it. Unfortunately if that removal method doesn’t coincide with the type of extension, the type of attachment method and the clients type of hair, it can leave them with severe hair loss.

There is a company called The Take Down Remover who specializes in proper removal of extensions and they offers training classes worldwide. They train in over 20 different removal methods, so that salons can practice many different techniques and use the right one with each client.

For more information go to: http://www.bignews.biz/?id=806831&pg=1&keys=Salons-hairglue-hairloss-hairextensions

Hair Extensions Guru

A national hair competition will be held in Las Vegas later this year to determine which salon is the “Supreme Salon.” Three salons are chosen from each city and then those three compete for the title. But even if they aren’t the winner, its a great chance to showcase your best work and get your name out there.

The judges don’t just look at hair. They also pay close attention to makeup and the performance put on by the stylists.

This is something the salons spend weeks preparing for. Choosing which style they’d like to show off and what style will best show their talent. But the competition it self only lasts 7 minutes per group. The salons do a great job of putting on a show by using props and other tricks to grab the audiences attention.

For more information go to: http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=10753935

Hair Extensions Guru

So last time we talked about how to handle your hair when it comes to things like chlorine and sun exposure. But how about the choices we make for our hair, before we ever hit the watering hole?

Coloring: No matter what color you choose, sun exposure is going to lighten your locks.  Over highlighted hair leaves a girl, or boy, looking washed out. And your if you spend too much time in the pool or sun, your hair can turn unsightly shades of orange and yellow. Go with something natural and choose a color safe shampoo to make your shade last longer.

The cut: Going with something mid length and layered leaves you with lots of options and the ability to change your look from day to day. Something too short means your stuck with the same look every day. And something too long is heavy and makes hair more a victim of the elements outdoors. Of course, don’t go with a certain length just because you feel your age dictates so. You don’t have to cut off all your hair when you turn 50. Just try to avoid cuts that look like you are trying, too hard, to be young.

Conditioning: Lets face it, conditioning is just smart. Hair becomes course after much time spent in the pool or at the beach. So taking care of it before you hit the sun will put you ahead of the game. There are lots of types of treatments to strengthen your locks. Varying from type of hair to what it is you are trying to do.

For more healthy hair tips go to: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2009/07/16/hearstmagbeauty354058.DTL

Hair Extensions Guru

Transplanting hair onto someones balding scalp is something they’ve been able to do for awhile now. But this most recent development is something I hadn’t heard of til now… Transplanting eye brows!

Ive learned that hair transplants can be done all over the body, and are being done all around the world. The most popular transplant is of course the scalp. But also popular are eye lashes, beards, mustaches, chest hair…its like a hair relocation program!

Mindy McGinty, an aesthetician, had her eye brows tattooed on years ago. Unfortunately the color the the tattoo faded over time to a salmon orange color. [let this be a warning for everyone!] And since orange eye brows was not the look Mindy [or anyone] was going for, she had to have the tattoo removed by laser. Which also destroyed the hair follicles.

She tried several fake eye brow looks. From powdering them on to something called “fauxbrows” which fell off when she moved her face. It turned out the only option for her was a hair transplant. Doctors stole hair from her head, and implanted the follicles into her brows. Who’d a thought?

To learn more about the hair transplant process go to: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31836945/ns/health-skin_and_beauty/

Hair Extensions Guru

Highlights are a great thing. They do wonders in so many ways. For example: adding dimension and shine to flat and dull hair… they can make your summer tan stand out… or make your face sparkle… But most importantly they make your hair look healthy. However visits to the salon cant be quite spendy. But don’t worry, there is another way… Do it yourself! Read on for the method that will work for you.

Spray-on highlights: Maybe you have heard of Sun-In? If not you can find it in any store/pharmacy. It simply stripes the color from your own hair to replace with a golden brown. This product goes for only 5.00 but if you happen to have a lemon in your fridge that will work just the same. Simple apply to wet hair while you are sitting out in the sun, and what your locks begin to glow.

Skullcap Highlights: You can buy the cap at most beauty stores. Tie to your head, and begin pulling bits of your hair through the holes in the cap. There is a special tool to do this. And this way you get to pick and choose how many and where you want your highlights. If it is the sun kissed look you are going for then only pick and choose a few highlights here and there. If you are wanting a more frosted look then you will want to add several more.

Paint-on Highlights: This is perhaps the most commonly used these days. It comes in a kit with a bristled applicator and bleaching formula. This way you get to add as little or as much bleach as you want. This kit will come with hand instructions to help you through the process.

Extensions Highlights: If you aren’t interested in coloring your actual hair, this is the way for you. Hair extensions come in a variety of clip on color and lengths. So it is easy to find some that work for you. However, to receive the best effect this way it will be best you use human hair extensions, which can be quite costly.

For more information go to: http://www.examiner.com/x-1116-Norfolk-Beauty-Education-Examiner~y2009m7d10-How-do-I-add-summer-highlights-to-my-hair-at-home

Hair Extensions Guru