Archive for June 2nd, 2006
Beauty Genesis International Makes it Simpler and Easier to get Simply Healthy Hair at Home
Chicago, IL (BlackNews.com) Our lives are complicated enough, but getting healthy hair shouldn’t be. Its time to SIMPLIFY.
Beauty Genesis International, a 100% minority-owned developer, marketer and distributor of exceptional healthy-lifestyle focused hair, skin and body care products,
recently launched Simply Healthy Hair, a 4-part Health & Growth Program featuring the latest and most complete hydrating, protecting and lightweight natural oil designed to make it simpler and easier for hair to become breakage and split-end resistant in less time and with less fuss.
“Since 9/11, there is a shift in consumer attitudes and purchasing habits towards products and services that help save them time, while prioritizing the things that are important in their lives,” stated Beauty Genesis Business Manager Johnathan Carthon.
This trend toward a simpler lifestyle has carried over into the hair care market with a focus on products to make life easier for consumers to achieve healthy, strong, more manageable hair.
“Our one of a kind program was created with these insights in mind- to save consumers time and to acknowledge the things that really matter in life - faith, family, friends and freedom. Consumers do not have time to waste looking though the store aisles for products that meet their hair care needs. Simply Healthy Hair gives consumer the essential products they need to achieve healthier, faster growing hair,” stated Carthon.
Simply Healthy Hair features high concentrations of Grapeseed Oil, which unlike other natural oils, delivers multiple healing, protective and moisturizing benefits for maximum results on dry, damaged chemically-treated hair.
”Grapeseed Oil is truly an amazing natural oil,” exclaimed Carthon. Beyond providing excellent hydration, conditioning and silky shine to dry, damaged hair, it doesn’t compromise body, movement and hair agility.”
In addition, unlike Olive, Jojoba, Avocado or Carrot Oils, it delivers up to 50 times more anti-oxidants that help protect the hair against environment damage and air-borne pollutants. It also helps reduce the risk of heat styling damage, by deflecting high temperatures up to 450 F, compared to Olive Oil which burns at a much lower temperature, which can lead to heat damage.
Simply Healthy Hairs 4-part program consists of:
* Part 1: Cleanse- Hydrating Shampoo
* Part 2: Condition- Hydrating Conditioner
* Part 3: Strengthen & Protect- Leave-In Conditioner & Body Booster
* Part 4: Shine & Style- Hydrating & Nurturing Shine Crme, Sparkling Shine Hair Polish
These five products are currently available in an all-in-one Simply Live. Healthy Start Pack which has a suggested retail price of $19.99; and can be found exclusively online at www.simplyhealthyhair.com
Simply Healthy Hair is the first line of healthy-lifestyle focused hair care product from Beauty Genesis International (BGi.). BGi. was started in December 2004 and is committed to conceptualizing, marketing and distributing innovative retail and professional beauty care products for todays and tomorrows global consumer.
For more information contact Beauty Genesis Intl. at 888-700-0108, email us at customerservice@beauty-genesis.com or visit us online at www.beauty-genesis.com
June 2nd, 2006
By Maggie Kalogeropoulos
Fact: A man’s hair is the first thing many women notice. You’ve got to have a stylish coif… but the most expensive haircut in the world won’t help you if you’ve got weed-like hair sprouting out the collar of your shirt or waving at her through your ears and nose.
Hair removal doesn’t end at shaving your face. Now that summer’s here and your body’s on display, it’s about time you get rid of all that unsightly hair.
Here are some of the hair-prone areas you should pay special attention to.
Chest
When you’re going shirtless at the beach this summer, you need to make sure that your chest hair is under control. The amount, pattern and coarseness of chest hair varies from man to man, but just as with any other type of body hair, it does have the tendency to grow a little out of control if not maintained. So, if you plan on rocking that pool party in style this summer, I recommend you clean up the grizzly mess under your shirt. You’ll look neat and clean, and you’ll be able to show off those muscles you spent all winter working on.
How to get rid of it: It’s your prerogative to go bald — bodybuilder-style — or to keep what Mother Nature gave you. If you’re getting rid of it all, try waxing or using the Bodygroom. If you’ve decided to take this route for the long-haul, electrolysis is another option. Shaving is a quick and convenient option for removing your chest hair; Philips’ Norelco Bodygroom groomer is a great way to get the job done.
If you’re solely interested in cleaning up your natural look, you can (carefully) use a pair of small scissors. Or if you’re natural look is a little shaggier than most men, use a pair of clippers or, the Bodygroom trim function.
Neck Up
The back of your neck, your ears and your nose should be the No. 1 priority, since these are the parts that are prominently on display. If you’ve got hair growing on the back of your neck — whether it’s dark and coarse or light and fine — it should be removed. Your haircut will look sleeker and it won’t look like your neck hair is an extension of a horrendously hairy back.
As for your ears and nose, you need to upkeep the hair in these areas on a regular basis. Make it a part of your daily routine to check these parts out in the mirror every morning. If you see any hair peeking out, trim it.
How to get rid of it: For your ears and nose, you can use the specialized trimmers that are made specifically for this problem, like the Philips Norelco MultiTrim. Regarding the back of your neck, you’ve got a few options: You can go the traditional route with a razor and some shaving cream or you can use an electric razor. And for the really brave men, waxing is an option.
Back
A hairy back is never okay. This is one place that should be bald — always. It’s a non-negotiable grooming tip. This rule also extends to the shoulder area.
How to get rid of it: Unless you have someone to shave your back every few days, you’re going to have to turn to waxing for this problem. If you have the cash to invest in eliminating your back hair forever, electrolysis is the ultimate choice.
Groin
What to do with hair in the groin region is a personal call. While there’s no set rule on how you should be maintaining the hair here, it’s advised that you keep it nice and neat — if you want to keep it at all. It’s easy to overlook this body part while you’re grooming for the summer because she can’t see it — at least not right away. But why not give your nether region a trim (or a complete shave) for when she does? Trust me, she’ll notice and appreciate the effort you’ve put into grooming yourself.
How to get rid of it: Shave it. Use a groomer like the Bodygroom that gives you the option of going hairless or just giving the area a little clean-up. Remember: This is an area you’re going to have to maintain on a regular basis since the hair will grow back almost immediately.
June 2nd, 2006
By PAULA SCHWARTZ
A spritz of lemon juice will help the sun lighten your hair.
“It’s an old wives’ tale from back in the day when they didn’t have bleach,” said Joel Warren, a colorist who is an owner of the Warren-Tricomi salons in Manhattan and Greenwich, Conn.
“Probably some blond girl went out, put it in her hair and it got lighter and, you know, it started a tale.”
Lemon juice is just not strong enough to make a difference, Mr. Warren said. “I mean, it takes a lot to change your color,” he said. “You need peroxide or ammonia.”
But Roger Clemens, professor of molecular pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Southern California, said the acid in lemons, combined with oxygen and the sun’s UV rays, causes acid oxidation, which highlights or lightens hair. “It’s not an old wives’ tale or myth. It’s scientific fact,” he said.
Of course, going out in the sun without lemon juice can lighten your hair, too. But the acid in the lemon juice serves as an accelerant, he said.
The active ingredient is the limonene in lemons, which is most concentrated in the rind, said Dr. Francesca J. Fusco, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center. “It acts as a weak bleaching agent when exposed to sunlight,” she said.
It is most effective on lighter hair, the experts said. “The results with darker hair may not be so desirable, such as orange or orange-red,” Professor Clemens said.
While lemon can get the job done, it’s not powerful enough to harm the hair — at least not enough that it cannot be reversed with the use of a good conditioner, Professor Clemens said.
But Mr. Warren said hair color should best be left to the professionals.
“I can’t promote stuff,” he said, “that doesn’t say, ‘Come to my salon and get your hair done.’ “
June 2nd, 2006
By SALLY WADYKA
The answer is obvious to anyone who has spent the day biking, lolling at the pool or just walking on a cloudless day.
“After a day on the beach, my hair just feels fried and I feel like I need to use a deep conditioner the next day,” said Kathy Green, an editor in New York at Fitness magazine.
Sun-soaked hair can become dry, frizzy and faded, no matter what its color or type. It loses its overall look of health over time and can be more prone to breakage.
As awareness of the overall dangerous effects of the sun has increased, the beauty industry has rushed to offer protection for hair. About 40 new products have come on the market in recent years, according to Mintel Global Products Database, promising to do everything from “creating an invisible shield” to infusing hair with nutrients.
Advertising slogans aside, it is not clear how effective the products are in shielding hair or even preparing it for a day under the sun’s glare. Much depends on how much is used, when and how well it is applied.
But dermatologists acknowledge that the sun has a potent effect on hair. “Ultraviolet radiation damages and structurally changes the protein in the hair,” said Dr. Zoe Diana Draelos, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., who is listed as a paid consultant to a number of beauty companies, some of which manufacture hair-care products.
Considering that hair isn’t technically alive, it does consist of a rather complex structure. The cortex, at the center of each strand, is made up of proteins and also houses the melanin pigments that give hair its color. Surrounding it is the cuticle, which acts as a protective barrier.
“When hair is in its best, healthiest state, the cuticles — which are like fish scales — lie flat, and that allows them to reflect more light and make hair look shinier,” said Uliana, owner of Uliana Hair Studio in New York City. But dyes or bleach used to color hair work by penetrating the cuticle, which makes the scales stand up. “And the more the cuticle is opened, the rougher, coarser and frizzier the hair strand will be,” she said.
It also stands to reason that the more open the cuticle is, the easier it is for ultraviolet radiation to penetrate the cortex and wreak havoc.
“Studies on human hair show significant damage to UV-exposed hair, as contrasted with hair that hasn’t been exposed to UV rays,” said Dr. Laurie J. Polis, director of Soho Skin and Laser Dermatology Group.
Among other things, prolonged exposure to both the sun’s heat and radiation will dehydrate the hair, in much the same way repeated use of a blow dryer, straightening iron or curling iron will.
“Dehydration leads to splitting and loss of the cuticle layer,” said Kevin Mancuso, owner of the Kevin Mancuso Salon in New York City. “And when you lose components of the hair that are critical for retaining moisture, that’s when you get into trouble.”
The damage can translate into hair that looks limp or wild, is less resilient and is more vulnerable to other assaults, like daily blow drying and styling.
And then there is the color. Ultraviolet rays photoxidize the melanin in the core and break down the disulfide bonds that give hair its strength, said Ken Klein, president of Cosmetech Laboratories, Inc., a consulting laboratory that develops skin and hair products for the personal-care industry. Even healthy hair will lose its vividness.
“And when you’ve already made your hair lighter by coloring it, it’s even more susceptible to fading,” Mr. Mancuso said. So hair that has been colored a rich chocolate brown can become brassy. A warm red can turn orange. And natural-looking blond can suddenly look platinum.
Beauty companies, recognizing the impact of the sun, have been developing new hair-protection products — everything from shampoos (like Davines Alchemic Shampoo) to styling sprays (Ojon Shine & Protect Glossing Mist), as well as leave-in conditioners (Kiehl’s Leave-In Hair Conditioner, Fekkai’s Sun Bandana invisible protect/condition), color protectors (John Frieda Radiant Red Color Envy daily color sealer) and so-called sun shields (Phyto Plage protective sun veil). The cost ranges from $6.50 to $28. But many hairdressers and dermatologists question the effectiveness of the products. “A shampoo or conditioner that you rinse out will offer absolutely no protection,” said Paula Begoun, a consumer advocate and the author of “Don’t Go Shopping for Hair-Care Products Without Me” (Beginning Press, 2004). She likens the notion to slathering sunscreen on your skin, then taking a shower and expecting the protection to survive the washing and toweling off.
Related
Hair-Color Recipe: A Dash of Sun, a Pinch of Lemon (June 1, 2006)
Leave-in conditioners and styling products made to be left in the hair, rather than washed out, could potentially offer some benefits, though using enough to cover the entire head could leave hair looking as if it had not been washed in a week.
“The problem is evenly coating the sunscreen on each hair shaft,” Dr. Draelos said.
Some products (J. F. Lazartigue Protective Hair Cream) may even promise a certain level of SPF protection, but don’t be too quick to assume that does the trick. The Food and Drug Administration, which sets guidelines for SPF ratings, has no approved method for measuring the level of protection offered for hair.
The fine print on a label will often explain that the SPF rating refers to the protection the product offers the scalp — should the product even reach the skin. Still, the scalp is a valid concern, Dr. Polis said. “The scalp is right there under the hair and that skin is often exposed and it can burn and does get skin cancer,” she said.
Instead of protection, some preach prevention.
“When hair is more moisturized it will help reinforce the overall structure of the hair, making it stronger and more resilient against the sun,” said Nicole Howard, director of product development at Bumble & Bumble, a New York City-based hair products company and salon.
Mr. Mancuso said he recommends that his clients switch to more moisturizing shampoos and conditioners during the summer. “It seems to help buffer the dehydrating effect of the sun,” he said.
The best plan might be something altogether different: a hat.
Even then, Dr. Polis said, not all hats are created equal.
“One with lots of open spaces won’t offer much protection,” she said.
But perhaps the best solution is to stick to the shade.
“Your hair, like your skin, is just going to be happier when you don’t bake it in the sun,” Ms. Begoun said.
June 2nd, 2006
Hair normally has a moisture content of approximately 10%. If your hair’s moisture content drops below this level the key is to increase the hair’s ability of attract and retain moisture. This is accomplished by using moisturizers.
Good ones have “humectants” that not only replace lost moisture but actually attract moisture and retain it in the cortex of the hair.
Essential fatty aids (EFA’s) are great moisturizers. One of the best and most cost effective essential fatty acids is safflower oil. It is the kind you can buy to cook with. It is rich in EFA’s.
The scalp produces the best EFA’s called sebum. The problems is once the hair grows past the neck line or does not have direct contact with the scalp the scalps natural oils can not be utilized throughout the hair shaft.
You can manually replace the lost EFA’s by:
• Placing 1 or 2 drops of safflower oil in your palms and rub them together.
• There should only be enough to make your hands “shine” in the light.
• Carefully take your hair (while dry) and “scrunch” the small amount of oil to the ENDS first and work toward the scalp.
• Leave this in your hair.
• 1-2 drops of safflower oil on dry hair is so small, you won’t notice it is there.
Doing the above as often as necessary will ensure your dry hair will have the proper amount of humectants to attract and reatin moisture. The key is that a small amount will go a long way.
June 2nd, 2006