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Hair stylists . . . don’t miss your chance to get funky and shine!

So you think you can style hair?  Now’s the time to put your imagination, talents and skills where your mouth is! The North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) is once again taking entries for the most highly esteemed photo competition of its kind!

Thousands of hairdressers participate in this rivalry for one of 13 coveted North America Hair Styling Awards given annually and it’s open to any professional who would like to give it a go!  Both hair stylists and photographers are recognized in this competition. This is a great opportunity for growth and recognition in the industry. Any hairdresser who has participated in a hair competition will attest to the many benefits received whether you take home a prize or not . . . and this competition is one of the best!

Kris Sorbie, 2011 Master Stylist of the Year

NAHA 2012 has 13 categories which you can enter. Every year they add something new and this year “Newcomer Stylist of the Year” category was added to the competition.  Categories include subjects like, Avant Garde; Hair Color; Salon Team; Make-up Artist of the Year and Student Hairstylist of the Year and more.  For some inspiration just take a look at my article on some of the creations that took home rewards in previous years.

The NAHA 2012 will be held at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, July 22, 2012 during PBA Beauty Week. Entries are due by February 9, 2012. So don’t delay, and get started now to be part of this great opportunity.

Barb Quinn on Google+  

Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Most Suitable Hair Styling Products for Guys

A guy should not only focus on the clothes he wears. He should definitely have the hairstyle to complete the look, and what better way to create the hair than to know the perfect hair product. Knowing the current hairstyles is not enough. It is essential to keep up with the latest trends in fashion and you should have the hairstyle to go with it.

During the years, hairstyles for men are persistently shifting. If you would notice, best dressed guys have adjusted to more modern hairstyles. In doing this, they can get a hold of their unique personalities while embracing the hottest trend. In this case, you have to know the hair styling product that would be perfect for your new hairstyle.

Pomade

If you are into the ‘messy’ look, pomade is your best choice. A small amount would be sufficient to give texture and body to your hair. Use medium-weight pomade (try Graham Webb Wax Pomade) to hold hair waves together. You can catch Ed Westwick, Mark Ronson and Robert Pattinson styling with pomade.

Mousse

This is a hair product that will go with any hairstyle. On wet hair, it will give you a shiny and sleek look while on dry hair, you can style your hair the way you want it. It will also keep your hair in place during the day without any sticky residue.  For a smooth look, I suggest applying a small amount of mousse like L’Oreal Tex Aero Mousse, and blow-drying hair with a large round brush. Celebrities like Lapo Elkann Ryan Reynolds and James Franco make use of this product.

Gel

Any type of hair will hold in place if you use good gel product. You can use it in different styling techniques such as freezing, molding, scrunching or even sculpting. Dispense a nickel-size amount of gel in one hand and use both hands to rub it into your towel-dried hair. Using gel will assure you that heavy blustery winds are never a problem. My recommendation here is American Crew Styling Gel. Gels are commonly seen with celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Jake Gyllenhaal and John Ham.

Hairspray

Shine and thickness can add versatility beyond just holding power. My recommendation here, is the award-winning
TIGI Catwalk Your Highness Thickening Gel Creme. In just a few sprays, you can create a desired look without getting dirty hands. Leonardo Dicaprio, George Clooney and Javier Bardem are frequent users of hairspray.

Guest contributor Mary Albert is an editor of  Happyhealth the review center of the med alert system and other similar items. Additional information is available at www.happyhealth.net.

Barb Quinn on Google+  

Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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Tutorial for getting the right shampoo

By: Melanie Scott

Are you one of the estimated 80% of Americans who shampoos their hair every day? If so, then you must go through boatloads of shampoo and conditioner every month, which means you are also exposing yourself to the boatloads of chemicals contained in those hair care products. Should you be worried? Answer: maybe.

You might think that all those chemicals you use to get your hair clean and shiny are just fine because you only use them for a few minutes a day and then wash them right off. Unfortunately that’s only half the story, as these chemicals stick around (literally) by attaching themselves to your hair and by being absorbed into your body through your scalp. Washing your hair every day might make you feel clean and healthy, but it might not be the best thing for your hair – or the rest of your body.

What to Watch For

So what can you do to avoid harmful chemicals in your personal hair care products? Start by reading the labels and finding out what’s actually in your favorite shampoo before you lather up. There is a bewildering array of ingredients that manufacturers use in their products, but here are a few to think twice about before you buy:

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). This is a very common shampoo ingredient, and it’s used to rid your hair of oil and leftover styling products. Sodium laurel sulfate is a strong chemical that is also used to degrease engines and clean concrete floors. It’s really good at getting your car clean too. Just learning all that might make you want to avoid SLS, but (even worse) this chemical has been linked with hair loss, eye damage and brittle hair, and if it gets mixed with other chemicals, it can produce cancer-causing agents such as nitrosamines.
• Ethanolamines (DEA/MEA/TEA). These are used in shampoos to give you a rich, foaming lather, which makes you think your shampoo is working better. There are multiple types of DEAs, and they too are common shampoo ingredients. But they’re also easily absorbed by your skin. High levels of these chemicals have been blamed for liver and kidney damage
• Phthalates. Do you like shampoos that make your hair smell great all day?  Then you probably like hair-care products that contain lots of phthalates, or fragrance chemicals. Some researchers think that these chemical agents can affect your immune system and possibly your reproductive system. So think carefully before you pick a shampoo off the shelf just because it smells yummy.

Choosing a Safe Shampoo

Before you take a vow never to shampoo your hair again, remember that there are some things you can do to get clean hair while at the same time limiting your exposure to all those potentially nasty ingredients.

• SLS-free shampoos. These are easy to find, or you can pick shampoos that use sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) instead. SLES is generally agreed to be less toxic than SLS, but it can still get out those sticky hair styling products you use.
• Organic or natural hair care products. These are also a popular way to avoid getting a daily dose of carcinogens – but you do have to make sure they really are organic and natural. Labels can be deceiving sometimes, so go for products that are USDA-certified organic if you want to be sure.
• Shampoo less often. This doesn’t mean you have to go around grossing everyone out with your oil-slick bangs. You can use dry shampoo instead. It absorbs all the grease and dirt that accumulates between washes, plus it’s easy to use and generally has fewer harmful products.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure that you’re the one controlling what you put on, and in, your body. Check those labels and keep your wits about you – or you too could succumb to the dangers of shampoo.

Barb Quinn on Google+  

Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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