Crystal extensions and hair feather extensions chic for holidays!

It’s not too early to be contemplating new hair ideas for the holiday season. I mean really, did anyone else find spring and summer to breeze by with barely the time to notice? Well that was my experience . . . too much peripheral stuff was going on in my household this year, it involved a move . . . but now we’re about settled.

Anyways, now is a good time to ponder, or mull over some hair ideas for the upcoming holiday season. You know how quickly an unexpected invitation can come your way for some unexpected soiree . . . so don’t be caught trying to figure out a distinctly unique and charming new hair style at the last moment. . . I’ve been there, done that, it doesn’t usually work.

The trend this holiday season in hair may be best described as “casual elegant,” . . . ahhhh, perfect if you ask me! An elegant hair accessory is the key in making your do’ exceptional! Here are a few hair ideas for this season, just to get you pondering . . .

This elegant black feather and silk bow by Goody, is at Target for just $6.99 and can be worn to accent a chignon, a French twist or anywhere to secure hair up and away. This Colette Marlouf blue feather clip makes the look and can be found online at marieclair.com.

These chic Swarovski hair crystals come in a variety of colors with loads of different way to wear them. The real beauty is they are easy to put in and take out. Why bother fussing with hair crystal strands that need to be sewn or glued in when it can be this easy? These hair crystals are on invisible strands with 8 crystals per strand, 10.1/2 ” long and are held firmly in the hair by two small magnets. And, all this for only $5.99 per strand . . . gimmee, gimmee!

A lovely swarovski crystal barrette , just $18.50, will amp up any soft, casual, hairstyle and make it holiday ready. Curl your hair, pull one side up and secure with this barrette, or create a half updo or a low, mussy, ponytail, many options really! Or, try a rose clip or two like these at marieclaire.com,worn to pin down a fringe with a deep side part. This creates a 30′s retro look to your locks . . . which by the way, is another hot look this season!

Barb Quinn on Google+  

For further discussion on hair accessories you might want to check out these other articles:

• Hair Accessories
• Accessories for Hair Make Easy Wedding Updos
• Fall’s Hottest Hair Accessories
• Hair accessories — scarves, barrettes and other hair thingies
• Hair Accessories are Big
• Hair Sticks Make Captivating Hair Accessory!
• Hair Headbands and More Sparkle this Season!

Barb Quinn on Google+  

Join the Beard and Mustache Crowd and be Charitable at the Same Time

Men worldwide are joining forces to raise money for men’s health initiatives by growing a beard or mustache for a month. Men will be encouraged to seek sponsorships, in  November its mustaches in a movement called Movember and in December men will be encouraged to grow their beards out in a movement called Decembeard.

In 2010, over 64,500 men participated and got on board, raising $7.5 million for Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG, the Lance Armstrong Foundation. With the additional goals of changing established habits and attitudes men have about their health, to educate men about the health risks they face, and to act on that knowledge

I for one will be cheering my brethren on to come and join those of us who wear proudly wear a beard or mustache. In my case the last time a razor touched my skin was in 1976. Of course I’m biased, but I think clean-shaven men are boring looking, they all look the same.

Throughout history a well-groomed beard or mustache and/or beard has been a mark of class and distinction. The clean-shaven fashion trends ebb and flow, but beards and mustaches always return.  But in the twentieth century beards and mustaches fell out of style. Men all started looking alike just at the time when women where going the opposite direction. Women are way ahead of men in having the courage to change things up and experiment from time to time.

Could it be that we are seeing the beginnings of another movement back towards beards and mustaches? Barb Quinn seem to think so, she recently wrote a good article Beard and Mustache Styles are Back! in which she sees a definite trend in the celebrities. The recent trend toward the 5 o’clock shadow scruffy look bodes well for men who are tired of the clean-shaven look and just maybe will start are march toward the return of look of manliness. Please help me urge men everywhere to jump on the Movember band wagon.

Trichotillomania – A hair pulling epidemic

I hang out once a week with a group of psychologists who are friends of mine.  They know how passionate I am about all aspects of hair.  Recently a friend made me aware of an anxiety disorder which affects children and women of all ages, trichotillomania. After hearing some heart breaking stories I decided it was time to do my due diligence to educate myself about this disorder and realized it is debilitating to the inflicted.  “Trich” suffers pull out their own hair and experience a temporary euphoria from doing so.  After they pull out their hair they are depressed and have no desire to leave the house and live normal lives.

After some searching I found an expert in the field of trichotillomania,  Noelle Spinosa of Noelle Salon in Massachusetts (NoelleSalon.com).  Spinosa works with trich on a day-to-day basis and I recently was able to interview her, here are the highlights of that interview:

Q & A with Noelle

• How did you start working with hair loss and trichotillomania?

• Amazingly, the clients came to me. There is a lack of support and treatment centers for hair loss disorders and I made helping women and men with hair loss a passion and word started getting around.
• What types of treatments do you offer?

• We help our clients on an aesthetic level by giving them their “hair back” we give them their will to live a normal life and feel like themselves.
• What types of hair loss do you work with?

• Everyone knows that hair loss occurs for different reasons, but trichotillomania an impulsive control disorder needs more attention and compassion.
• Who suffers from Trichotillomania and why?

• I find that most clients with trich start pulling their own hair in their pre-teens and teens and the cycle goes on for their entire life unless they are treated and it is treatable.  We have clients that are highly educated Physicians, lawyers and professionals.
• How do you help them?

• I use a hair extension technique, not the type you see on celebrities, but custom-made hair extensions that are microscopic and hidden in their own hair.  These tiny attachments are filled with human hair that matches their own and trich clients just stay away from them and what is amazing is that their own hair starts to grow back
• Do you offer any other types of treatments?

• I have clients that have pulled their hair at the entire top of their head and they require what is called a Hair Replacement System.  This system covers the entire affected area.  We tie the system in place – NEVER shaving any portion of their own hair.
• How does this help them long-term?

• The hair systems blocks them from touching their hair.

• Will they have to wear this forever?

• Some clients have done such extreme damage to their hair follicles by over pulling that they will never sprout new hair.  I encourage them to wear they systems to look better. I also encourage them to seek insurance coverage for the hair replacement system and provide them with all the documentation they need. Clients with hair extensions eventually do not need to wear them at all once their hair grows in.
• What about medical attention?

• I strongly encourage they seek the help of a psychologist and psychiatrist. I have a referral list of medical professionals that work with this condition.  Some experts do not agree on the use of medication for this treatment, but SSRI’s (selective seretonin reuptake inhibitors) have helped.
• Is there anything else they can do?

• I treat them aesthetically and talk about the disorder while working on them.  I know that life challenges bring out this disorder so I strongly encourage them to seek some holistic approaches such as meditation, yoga and stress relief remedies.

This interview was a real eye opener and made me appreciate my own hair and I am honored to help the trichotillomania community!
Barb Quinn on Google+