Another reason why salon products are better than store brands is because they come with recommendations made by a beauty professional. Your hairstylist or nail stylist know what type of hair you have and they know what problems you are trying to correct. They can use their knowledge of the products that they represent as well as their knowledge about you to select the hair, nail and skin care products that will produce the best results for you.

The third reason why salon products are better than store brands is that salon products are made with quality ingredients. Salons products like Aveda, Paul Mitchell or Biolage, utilize the best ingredients. Many salon brands also searches for natural ingredient sources that are safe for the environment and good for your skin and hair. This is a big advantage over store brands that use synthetic ingredients or ingredients that are gathered from pesticide laden fields or from animal by products. If you are looking for a product that will be safe and effective, your best choice is to go with a salon brand.

To find the answer you must first look at the structure of hair. Below the skin is the hair follicle, the sebaceous gland and blood vessels. The hair itself is made up of protein. When you brush your hair it causes the sebaceous gland to produce sebum. This oily substance coats and protects the hair from the elements. It also stimulates the blood vessels to provide the nourishment your hair needs. Brushing your hair and or massaging the scalp are beneficial to hair health.

With commercial products, most shampoos and conditioners contain harsh chemicals and synthetic products. In shampoos, that means it can over clean your hair and strip it of its precious oils. Now you need to condition it to replace the oils. It can harm the scalp and hair follicles. It is the same with laundry detergents. They are loaded with fillers and less actual soap so that they can sell you more detergent. It’s a money making strategy that has worked so they will continue to do so.

Now if you are like most people, you’ve read the labels but don’t have a clue as to what the ingredients really are and what their function is. Here it is in layman’s terms:

1) Distereate and propylene glycol or glycol are petroleum based (crude oil). They are very cheap which is why they are widely used in the cosmetic industry.
2) Isopropyl alcohol is another very cheap solvent.
3) Propylparaben or Methylparen are preservatives that are synthetic. The human body typically does not understand synthetic, it understands organic.
4) Cetearyl alcohol is an emulsifier and it can be natural or synthetic. Synthetic is often used because it’s cheaper and easier to produce.

These petrochemicals are absorbed through the skin, then down through the organs and tissues. Many believe that long term exposure to these toxins can cause permanent damage anywhere in the body, and yet, governments have sided with big industry to not require them to disclose what these products contain or what they really are. Instead we have big fancy names you can hardly pronounce let alone understand.

The solution? It’s not as hard as you think. It’s as close as you health food store or even your own fridge. Here are some tips:

1) Buy a natural liquid soap from the health food store. Also purchase some essential oils such as lavender (for all hair types), rosemary, clary sage, cedar wood, birch and peppermint (for hair loss) bergamot, rosewood, eucalyptus etc. Also purchase natural oils such as olive, jojoba, or avocado. Here’s what to do; in a clean spray bottle, pour in about ½ a cup of distilled or spring water. Add 1 cup of liquid soap. Then take 2 tsp of your vegetable oil and add 10 to 20 drops of your chosen essential oils. It can be just one or several combined oils. Shake gently. There you have it. Simple as that! (Essential oils always need to be in a vegetable oil base because of its concentration). You should not need a cream rinse after that because oils will be replaced.

2) If you need deep conditioning, try saturating your hair in mayonnaise or warmed olive oil. Wrap tightly and cover with a shower cap and let rest on the hair for approximately 20 minutes, then rinse out. You can also take 2 egg yolks and whisk them until frothy, then add some warm water. Pour over hair and leave on for 2 minutes then rinse well.

3) It’s a good idea to do a final rinse on your hair with something acidic such as cider vinegar, lemon juice, beer or even milk. Add any of these ingredients with some water to rinse your hair with to restore the alkaline/acid balance of your hair and scalp, and take off any residue you may have left on your hair.
There are many good natural recipes for healthy hair but these are a few things to get you started in the right direction. Experiment with different essential and vegetable oils to find what you like best. Natural, your body understands, so here’s to a good hair day!

About the Author:

Willie Jones is an author/researcher who is dedicated to helping people find the resources, books, news and information on health and wellness and other related issues. http://www.allabouthair.info
Article Tags: hair, oils, synthetic

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Article published on July 04, 2006 at iSnare.com

What different kinds of hair dryer’s are available?

1. Brush hair dryer
Combines drying and a brush for easy hair styling. Warm air flows through the brush, so while brushing your hair, you also warm it to the style you want it in one easy step.
2. Handheld hair dryers
The most common type of hair dryers used to dry one’s hair with a brush or other styling aids.
3. Bonnet hair dryer
This works by putting on a helmet like in the oldtime salons. These dryers are used with hair that is set in curlers or conditioning hair treatments and can be operated hands-free. Today, they come in portable and light versions with heat settings that can be adjusted.
4. Wall mounted
They are similar to the handheld hair dryers but come in a wall mounting design for safety, eliminating electrical shocks in wet bathrooms, as they can be mounted to a wall within one’s reach but off of the countertop. Usually they are a lot smaller than the handheld units and may not have a lot of features.
5. Ionic hair dryers
This has a fitted ion generator that releases negatively charged ions which penetrates each hair and hydrates it from the inside reducing static charge that can cause frizzy hair. This results in smooth and glossy hair that rests flatly.
6. Professional hair dryers

These are durable compared to retail hair dryers and offer many features such as ion and infrared heating technology. This also means they are more complex, having a variety of speed and heat settings. A professional hair dryer can handle long hours of professional use in beauty salons.

Professional hair dryer versus standard hair dryer: What’s the difference?

Professional:
- Has several power settings, or a dial that goes from off to full power for maximum control
- Has a full range of heat settings
- Designed to tolerate frequent use
- Come with an AC adaptor motor which provides the dryer with extended life
- Often designed with a narrow barrel nozzle that, along with the AC motor, deliver a faster flow of air.
- True cold setting that actually cools air, not just takes
- Gentler to the hair because they have lower wattage output
- Less energy needed = less electric bill!

Standard Retail:
- Often has only one power setting, sometimes more
- Often has no cold air setting or limited heat settings
- Will not sustain long hours of every day use

Regardless of which model you choose, make sure that your hair dryer has at least the following specifications:
- Wattage of about 1,600
- Light weight
- Features different heat and power settings
- Auto shut off
- Nozzle to direct better heat flow
- Cool air setting to set hair into place
- Removable filter

Blow dry your hair like a pro:
1. Shampoo and condition your hair well.
2. Dry your hair by wrapping it with a towel and squeezing off excess water. Never rub your hair with a towel as this can cause split ends.
3. Comb your hair carefully making sure that you comb all the knots and tangles out.
4. Face the mirror.
5. Apply and massage onto hair any styling product that you have chosen.
6. If you want added volume. Bend your head down, brush hair downwards while drying the hair. After which you can then go back to your normal position, and continue drying your hair in sections.
7. If you have long hair, use a clip to separate hair into sections, drying the bottom sections first.
8. Starting at the back, dry the hair section in the nape of your neck first.
9. Directing airflow from the root of the hair to the end, work your way up at the back of your head. Drying from the roots to the ends will prevent the hair cuticle from wearing out so as not to give your hair a dull look.
10. Keep on drying the hair until you reach the crown of your hair.
11. After the back, blow dry the sides and the front of your hair into sections. To create a style and body, hold the dryer on the curling brush for a couple of seconds and remove the heat. Leave the brush in place until it cools, then take it off.
12. When hair is completely dry, brush and style as you desire.

Prevent split ends! Here’s how:
- Towel dry the hair first
- To protect your hair, use thermal hair products or leave on conditioners every time you blow dry your hair
- Point the airflow down to the hair shaft to smoothen the cuticles
- Do not hold the dryer too near to the scalp. Instead, hold it at least six inches away from your head while moving it continuously

About the Author:

For more great hair dryer related articles and resources check out http://hairdryer.haircarehaven.com
Article Tags: brush, dryer, hair

Read more articles by: Julia Brown
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Article published on February 05, 2006 at iSnare.com

Salon hair care simply means the frequent visiting of a salon and professional hair stylist to ensure that your hair is healthy. Healthy hair is beautiful hair and there is no getting around this simple fact. For some, trimming their hair at home has become part of their routine. But a professional hair stylist can offer a level of expertise that will ensure that you have the hairstyle – and color - that looks best on you. And most important to remember is that salon hair care does not have to mean expensive hair care.

There are many high-end salons today that offer superlative service with expensive price tags. Depending on where you live, it is always possible to find hair salons that offer just as quality salon hair care at a much lower price and the answer lies in overhead. Look for smaller salons that have fewer stylists and are located just a little bit off the beaten path. It’s a simple equation; when their rent is cheaper your salon hair care is cheaper.

Salon hair care will mean a professional cut and style along with a thorough shampoo and conditioning treatment. If you have particularly dry hair then salon hair care is imperative to maintaining a healthy level of moisture in your hair.

When it comes to color, salon hair care is the way to go in order to find the color that is right for you skin tone. More than anything, color that is not done professionally can go horribly wrong. Stick with the experts when it comes to coloring – and caring for - your hair; you won’t be sorry.

About the Author:

For easy to understand, in depth information about salon hair care visit our ezGuide 2 Hair Care.
Article Tags: care, hair, salon

Read more articles by: Michelle Bery
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Article published on April 26, 2007 at iSnare.com

Getting a referral to a hair salon by family and friends could be a good way to begin your search. But do not stop there. As you may already know, no two hair stylists take the same artistic approach to their work. That means that a particular stylist or hair salon may do a fantastic job on your Cousin Suzie’s long layers and still not be quite able to pull off your short textured crop. That does not mean that your cousin’s hair salon is inferior in any way. It just means that you need to find a hair salon that is more suited to your particular style and needs.

The easiest way to find a hair salon suited to your needs is to ask people with hair styles similar to what you want for a referral to their hair salon. These may be people you know or complete strangers that you see while you are out shopping. Do not be shy. If you see a cute style that you have been unsuccessfully trying to achieve, ask the person which hair salon they go to. You may never get a chance to do so again.

Another thing that you can do to make sure that you choose the right hair salon is to schedule a consultation. A consultation allows you to "feel out" a hair salon before making a commitment to a stylist that you may regret. During a consultation, you can observe the different techniques that the staff at the hair salon is using and how they interact with their customers. A consultation also gives you the chance to vocalize what you want and receive feedback from a professional, all before the first snip is made. Most hair salons also have a portfolio that you can look through of before and after pictures, which can give you a sense of what kind of work do.

During your search for the right hair salon, there are some red flags that can be easily detected that can warn you of impending disaster if you choose a particular hair salon. Here are just a few:

" Dirt and grime. A clean hair salon is mandated by the state, but some salons still tend to push the envelope where cleanliness is concerned. Look for sanitary procedures such as the use of clean combs and brushes, sanitary neck strips and a clean work station. If a hair salon feels dirty, do not frequent it. Look at it this way, if the stylists of a particular salon do not take enough pride in their hair salon to keep it clean, why would they take pride in the work they put out the door?

" Professionalism. The hair salon is a professional place, and you should feel like you have stepped into a den of luxury not one more suited to the Saturday nightlife. Again, it’s all about pride. Professionals who take pride in their work will strive to create the right atmosphere for their customers.

" Communication. Communication is vital in a hair salon. Observe how the stylists interact with their customers. That is how they will interact with you.
In the end, it may take a little trial and error to find the right hair salon, but you can make your search easier by following the above advice. Always keep in mind, though, that choosing the wrong hair salon is not a death sentence. Simply brush yourself off and keep looking.

About the Author:

Michael Barrows’ website gives great advice for good hair. Get your free ebook packed with hair style and hair care tips and advice, visit http://www.great-hairstyles.com
Article Tags: hair, salon, work

Read more articles by: Michael Barrows
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Article published on November 15, 2005 at iSnare.com

Hair salons are to women as bars are to men. Almost like a social get-a-way. Except women don’t get drunk and ragged at the hair salon, they get sexy and hot. Women go to a hair salon for a number of different reasons that are hair related. Maybe you are looking for a simple hair cut; you can go to a hair salon and get that done. Some men actually go to a hair salon to get a hair cut because they just don’t trust a regular barber to do a good job on such an important part of the body. But, for the most part, women are the ones attending a hair salon.

Hair salons are ideal because they always have a licensed and certified professional beautician that knows what he or she is doing. They can do a number of things that most hair barbers couldn’t do. They have the proper tools and supplies to do whatever you want when it comes to your hair. So if you have long enough hair, hair salon professionals can turn it blue and make you look like Marge Simpson if you really wanted to. Hair salons are great because they can do almost anything with the head of hair on your skull.

People drop by the nearest hair and beauty salon to be pampered by hair stylists or beauticians. They have their hair cut and styled, their eyebrows shaped, and their nails colored. Not only that, beauty salon also offer spa services like body scrubs, skin lightening, body wrapping, herbal wraps, massage, facials, waxing, anti-acne treatments, derma abrasion, and the like.

A hair salon doesn?t have to be luxurious. It can be started with moderate capital. You just need to choose a perfect location. Your hair salon should be situated on one of the busiest streets in your town. In other words, look for a place with easy access from all parts of your town. Next, you need to offer your customers a clean and safe atmosphere. Cleanliness is a major factor that could bring you clients again and again. It is very important that you have well-trained salon personnel because customers will not come back if they do not trust the work of the personnel.

So, there you have it. As long as you provide consistently high customer satisfaction, you?ll succeed in this kind of venture. Excellent service, quality products, comfortable atmosphere, and an acceptable price: Try to offer these things to your customers, and they?ll keep on coming back to your salon.