Tuesday, December 16, 2008

WAS I RAPED ???

Dear Alice,

In the beginning, I told my boyfriend that I don't want to have sex outside of marriage and he accepted that.

But then, about a week ago, I made a very big mistake and allowed him to take my clothes off completely and enter my vagina slightly. I know it was wrong and the following day I told him that I didn't feel right about it and I didn't want us to do that again.

Unfortunately, the very next day, we were alone together, and we got a bit carried away again. But when he tried to "enter" me, I said: "I think we should stop now, let's stop — ok? Please, let's stop now. I don't feel right about this." But he didn't... he spread my legs anyway and got on top of me. And he penetrated me quite deeply. As he was doing it, I was saying, "Stop, please, I really think we should stop," but I didn't push him away. I didn't physically PUSH him or something to make him stop.

I was quite shook up afterwards but I didn't know if I should be angry with him or not. We are still together and I don't even think he thinks he did anything wrong... DID he do anything wrong? Or is what he did alright because my body wasn't saying "no"? I didn't fight him physically. Do you think I was raped? I'm so confused and I've lost all my self-respect!

Please, I am lost.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Orange County Hair Salons

I'm desperate (a permanent state, I suppose, not only for me, but also for most of my fellow human beings). I've forgotten the reason why I'm on this Planet. My life seems so senseless, eating, sleeping, going to work, hobbies, of course, while all around me, the world is tumbling down. How do I put some meaning in my life?


Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Orange County Hair Salons


Try this one out. Hope you can help.

I'm a freshman with a problem. I have a roommate who masturbates every night and it makes me sick. She waits until she thinks I'm asleep and then really goes at it. One night she even woke me up after I was asleep. I find it disgusting to hear her moans of passion as she plays with herself. Should I tell her to stop or should I just find another roommate?

— Disgusted


Friday, May 16, 2008

Orange County Hair : Lori Drew Gets What's Due


Lori Drew charged over MySpace suicide
A Los Angeles federal grand jury has indicted a woman for her alleged role in a MySpace online hoax played on a 13-year-old girl who later committed suicide.
Lori Drew of St Louis, Missouri was indicted on Thursday on one count of conspiracy and three counts of accessing protected computers without authorisation to obtain information to inflict emotional distress. Each of the four counts carries a maximum possible penalty of five years in prison. Drew allegedly helped create a fake MySpace account to contact neighbour Megan Meier who thought she was chatting with a 16-year-old boy named Josh Evans. At the time of the incident, the Drews and the Meiers lived four doors apart in Waterford Crystal Drive, in the town of Dardenne Prairie. The Drew's teenage daughter and Megan were friends. The online relationship between "Josh" and Megan bloomed for several weeks before the tone suddenly changed. On October 15, 2006, Josh sent Megan a message saying, 'I don't want to be friends with you anymore because you're not nice to your friends'. That post triggered a flood of hate posts from other users. "All of Josh's friends and all of Megan's friends were calling Megan a whore, a fat ass. Calling her all kinds of god awful names," Megan's mother,Tina, told the ABC network in an interview last year. Meier hanged herself on the evening of October 16, 2006 after receiving cruel messages, including the last message sent from Josh which read: "the world would be a better place without you, and have a s**t rest of your life." After that, Josh's profile vanished from MySpace. It wasn't until several weeks after Megan's death that the Meiers discovered Drew's involvement in the fake MySpace profile. Drew, who was 48 at the time of the incident, has denied creating the account and sending messages to Megan. She claimed through her lawyers that she did not instigate the Josh Evans profile, nor did she use the fake profile to communicate with Megan. While she knew about the ruse, the lawyer said, she was apparently unaware that the Josh profile had been used to attack her neighbour's daughter. She claims the profile was the work of her teenage daughter and a teenage employee called Ashley Grills. Last month, Grills, now 19, went on national TV saying that while she was responsible for setting up the fake Josh profile, Lori Drew and her daughter were also involved in the cruel hoax. Grills also said she wrote the message to Megan about the world being a better place without her. The message was supposed to end the online relationship with "Josh" because Grills felt the joke had gone too far. "I was trying to get her angry so she would leave him alone and I could get rid of the whole MySpace," Grills said. Authorities in Missouri investigated Megan's death but failed to charge Drew after they were unable to find a law that she had broken. The charges being laid by federal prosecutors allege that Drew defrauded MySpace by helping set up a bogus profile, US Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien said this was the first time the federal statute on accessing protected computers has been used in a social-networking case. It has been used in the past to address hacking. "This was a tragedy that did not have to happen," O'Brien said. Both the girl and MySpace are named as victims in the case, he said. Drew will be arraigned in St. Louis and then moved to Los Angeles for trial. The indictment says MySpace members agree to abide by terms of service that include, among other things, not promoting information they know to be false or misleading; soliciting personal information from anyone under age 18 and not using information gathered from the Web site to "harass, abuse or harm other people." Drew and others who were not named conspired to violate the service terms from about September 2006 to mid-October that year, according to the indictment. It alleges they registered as a MySpace member under a phony name and used the account to obtain information on the girl. Drew and her coconspirators "used the information obtained over the MySpace computer system to torment, harass, humiliate, and embarrass the juvenile MySpace member," the indictment charged. After the girl killed herself, Drew and the others deleted the information for the account, the indictment said.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Laguna Niguel Hair Stylist Agrees! Still Digg'n Bobs


Mission Viejo Hair Stylist Agrees! Still Digg'n Bobs

2008 is and would be such a big year for hair trends that it's not too hard to see why so many hair trends in 2008 might feel familiar. While 2007 introduced us to the pob, it'll be its cousin the bob that we'll be wearing in 2009. And it's much the same story with the fringe trend: it was already with us at the start of 2007, had lost popularity by mid-year, but was brought back for 2008 by hypermodel Kate Moss in a completely new way. This year hair trends will range from boy-short crops to natural long tresses, with bobs in-between. We'll also be wearing various shapes of feminine, masculine, and elegant to name but a few, all taking their cues from the same eras as their parent clothing trends. So read on to find out the hair trends you'll be wearing in 2008. The Bob It was only ever going to give way to a more traditional style: 2007's pob hair style and trend has given way to the bob in 2008, and it's perfect for the year. Amazingly versatile, there are so many ways to wear the pob this year that you're going to be perfectly on trend but still 100% unique. If you're more traditional wear it as a natural accompaniment to the revival of the 60's and 70's.. Or go the other end of the spectrum with something far more modern: a longer, blunt cut You can make it your own in plenty of other ways: fringed or fringeless, blonde or brunette, short at the back, or blunt cut all over.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Laguna niguel Hair Salon





80's hair styles: big hair
Hair styles of the 80s are the most diverse and humorous characteristics of this decade. In early 80s, the New Romantic fashion styles kicked off the decade with great hair experimentation. For a while there seemed to be a competition to see who could build the tallest hair, have the strangest angles, or a favourite of this site - how much plastic, metal and mousse you could fit into your hair and still keep your head upright. In this first part of on ongoing series, eighty-eightynine will look at big hair.

Big hair is not unique to the 80s - the 60s had the beehive and the 70s had the afro. What set the 80s hair styles apart was their diversity. The start of the decade saw the extravagance of strange hair colours and cuts. By 1984 the trends had settled and focused on one simple concept - volume. More hair was better. Bananarama had some of best examples of 80s hair - pretty much reflecting the fashions of the decade (but maybe not the best fashions) from cuts styles to volume and flicks. The 'Hair Bands' of the 1980s applied this style which was strongest around 1987-88. Your hair could go up, out and down. It could look like you put your head in a candy floss machine - as long as it wasn't straight - this was the ultimate sin in the early 80s (often met with the criticism 'she needs to do something with that hair').

By 87-88, the 70s started to return and it was suddenly OK to have a retro look. You could even have short hair provided it was bleached, dyed a bright color or spiked with hair gel).

Many accessories were available to assist with this process - you could tease your hair and stick it up with mousse. Some mousse even contained glitter or other sparkle pieces to give your hair 'extra interest and individuality'. If you think shampoo stings, try getting glitter mousse in your eyes - a common occurrence as some brands tended to flake.

Like any cultural period, bands of the 80s reflected styles of the decade. Below you will find images of Dave Stewart, Sisters of Mercy, Bananarama and more. If you want more 80s fashion, see the Leg Warmers section of this site.
Do we remember products like Spritz Forte and Fizz or Fizz Extra. They were definitely the it products for hold and volume. Aveda was the up and coming.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Laguna niguel Hair Salon

As stylists, many times it is not about hair. More often than not our thoughts and advice are heeded. Often a false self image is present and we realize the client is depressed. Or they open up and we receive a way to give.

Antidepressants: Selecting one that's right for you

Daunted by the choice in antidepressants? With persistence, you and your doctor should find one that works so you can enjoy life more fully again.

Antidepressant medications are often the first treatment choice for adults with moderate or severe depression, sometimes along with psychotherapy. Although antidepressants may not cure depression, they can help you achieve remission — the disappearance or nearly complete reduction of depression symptoms.

With scores of antidepressants available, finding the right medication for your situation can be challenging, though. Explore the decision-making process that may help you and your doctor find the best antidepressant for your situation.

Finding the right antidepressant for you

Finding the right antidepressant for your situation might take time. Each antidepressant has its own pros and cons, and until you try one, you won't know exactly how it'll affect you or how well it'll work. You may need to try several antidepressants before finding the one, or the combination, that works best for you.

In general, most antidepressants work pretty well for most people. So which antidepressant you and your doctor choose depends largely on:

  • Anticipated side effects
  • Your ability to tolerate these side effects and stick with the treatment
  • Cost and health insurance coverage
  • Previous experiences you or family members have had with antidepressants
  • Whether you're pregnant or breast-feeding
  • Your age
  • Your other medical and psychiatric conditions

Blood test may help in choosing antidepressants

A blood test may help make the antidepressant decision somewhat easier. The test, called the cytochrome P450, helps pinpoint genetic factors that influence your response to certain antidepressants (as well as some other medications). The test doesn't predict which antidepressant will work best for you. But it does help suggest which ones may not work, and which ones may have the greatest side effects specifically for you.

Approach to antidepressant treatment

Antidepressants are generally prescribed in a step-by-step treatment approach. When you're beginning treatment for the first time, doctors typically start by prescribing a type of antidepressant that's thought to be very effective and has the fewest side effects. If this doesn't work, your doctor may prescribe different types of antidepressants or combinations of two or more antidepressants and other medications. Don't give up until you find an antidepressant that's suitable for you — you have a good chance of finding one that works and doesn't have intolerable side effects.

First choices in antidepressants

Many doctors start by prescribing antidepressants known as SSRIs — selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. This is because the side effects of these kinds of antidepressants are generally more tolerable than those of other types of antidepressants, and they also generally work well.

Other common first choices include:

  • Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
  • Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)
  • Combined reuptake inhibitors and receptor blockers
  • Tetracyclic antidepressants

Second choices in antidepressants

The class of antidepressants called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) has been around longer than SSRIs, but TCAs are still effective. However, because TCAs tend to have more numerous and more severe side effects, they're often not used until you've tried SSRIs first without an improvement in your depression.

Last choices in antidepressants

The type of antidepressants called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) is often used as a last resort, when other medications haven't worked. That's because MAOIs can have serious side effects and require strict dietary restrictions because of rare but potentially fatal interactions. However, MAOIs can be very effective for some forms of depression. And newer versions of MAOIs that you stick on your skin as a skin patch rather than swallowing may have fewer side effects.

Trying out antidepressants

Once you and your doctor have selected an antidepressant — whether you start with a first, second or last choice — it may take four to eight weeks for it to be fully effective in controlling your depression symptoms. In rare cases, it may take 12 to 14 weeks to achieve the full effects of an antidepressant. And with some medications, you can take the full dosage immediately. With others, you may need to gradually increase your dose. Talk to your doctor or therapist about coping with depression symptoms as you wait for medications to take effect.

If you have no significant improvement in your symptoms after six weeks, talk to your doctor about trying a different antidepressant or adding a second antidepressant or another medication. A medication combination may work better for you than does a single antidepressant.

You may have to taper off one medication before starting another. This is because potentially dangerous medication interactions, such as serotonin syndrome, and withdrawal-like symptoms can occur from an abrupt switch.

In rare cases, antidepressants simply might not work for you. You may need to consider other forms of treatment.

Side effects of antidepressants

All antidepressants can cause unwanted side effects. Not everyone experiences the same number or intensity of side effects, though. You may find that your side effects are so mild that you don't need to stop taking the antidepressant. Coping strategies also can help you manage side effects. In addition, side effects often go away or lessen within several weeks of starting an antidepressant.

If you experience unpleasant or intolerable side effects, don't just stop taking an antidepressant without consulting your doctor first. Some antidepressants can cause withdrawal-like symptoms unless you slowly taper off your dose.

Some antidepressants have the potential of causing serious or even life-threatening problems, such as liver failure or a dangerous drop in white cell count. While such cases are rare, it's important to get blood work or other tests on schedule and stick to your treatment regimen.

Precautions when taking antidepressants

Although studies have shown that antidepressants are generally safe, some precautions are in order when taking them. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now requires that all antidepressant medications carry black box warnings. These are the strictest warnings that the FDA can issue for prescription medications.

The antidepressant warnings note that in some cases, children, adolescents and young adults ages 18 to 24 may have an increase in suicidal thoughts or behavior when taking antidepressants, especially in the first few weeks after starting an antidepressant or changing a dosage. Because of this risk, they must be closely monitored by loved ones, caregivers and health care providers while taking antidepressants.

In addition, if you're pregnant or breast-feeding, some antidepressants may pose an increased health risk to your unborn child. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have, and together you can explore options to get your depression symptoms under control.



Sunday, May 4, 2008

Laguna Niguel Stylist Presents:



AHH! This one is for men. All the women get attention and advice.. Let's try shaving. Tho here at the salon in Mission Viejo I do not shave. i do shave myself and here to advise. shaving is reserved for the barber, not the hair stylist or rather a cosmetology licensed hairdresser, such as I.
STEP ONE: PREP Always shave after or at the end of a shower, to soften the beard, open the pores, and cleanse the skin. In a rush, a warm towel and splash of water can be used as a substitute. Use a great quality shave cream like Metro Men's Grooming Ultimate Shave Cream. Stay away from gels or products which contain menthol, which will close your pores and stiffen your beard. If you have a tough beard or very sensitive skin, you may wish to apply a Metro Men's Grooming Pre Shave Oil before you apply shaving cream. This will help further soften the beard and reduce razor drag. Shaving cream is ideally applied with a brush (badger hair is best) to soften and lift the beard. Place a pea sized amount of cream in the deep in the center of your brush and smooth the bristles together. Next, wet the brush well with hot water and apply to the face in a circular motion. If you choose not to use a shaving brush, work the shave cream between wet hands for sixty seconds or until a rich lather is produced. A good prep is vital to soften the beard and minimize irritation. Also, make sure you change your blade at least once per week - dull blades play hell on your face. STEP TWO: SHAVE Use a clean, sharp razor such as the Gillette Mach3. Start by shaving WITH the grain (the direction the hair grows). This will minimize cuts, irritation, in-grown hairs and razor burn. Glide the razor gently over your face. Avoid applying pressure and rinse your blade often. If you must have a closer shave, re-lather and shave lightly against the grain. If you cut yourself, apply a moist alum block on the area to stop bleeding. After shaving, close the pores with a rinse of cool water. If using a shaving brush, always hang the brush to dry with the bristles facing downward. STEP THREE: REPAIR AND PROTECT Many men make the mistake of stopping with step two, but the following is important to keep your skin healthy and protect from signs of aging. After rinsing with cool water, moisturize and protect your skin with a few pumps of Metro Men's Grooming Post Shave Repair. This will help soothe and moisturize the skin and promote healing. GETTING GOOD HEAD FIRST TIME HEAD SHAVERS, TAKE NOTE: Remember, a shaved head is not for everyone. If you are extremely thin, have an oddly shaped head or scalp problems, then a bald head is probably not for you. If you decide to go for it, remember it will always grow back if you don't like it. Shaving your head will dramatically change your appearance and may take a bit of time to get used to. Many men look great with a shaved head. But to pull one off, you must have confidence in your look. Always shave your head for the first time at the start of the weekend to give you time to get comfortable with your new look (and get some color on your white scalp) before you face your friends and colleagues. Allow yourself a good half hour to get the deed done for the first time. If you think you're ready, here goes.... NOTE: THERE IS NOTHING MORE UNATTRACTIVE THAN A BALD HEAD FULL OF BUMPS, RAZOR RASH, AND IN-GROWN HAIRS. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU PREP THE SCALP, SHAVE PROPERLY, AND PROTECT AFTERWARD. DO NOT SKIP ANY OF THE STEPS BELOW. THE FIRST TIME YOU SHAVE, THE PROCESS WILL TAKE ROUGHLY 30 MINUTES. WITH TIME AND PRACTICE, YOU WILL GET THE ROUTINE DOWN TO UNDER TEN. GOOD LUCK. STEP ONE: THE PRE-SHAVE (FOR FIRST-TIMERS) The first step in shaving your head is to remove as much of the hair as possible. Using a hair clipper with no guard, buzz the hair off as close to the scalp as possible. STEP TWO: PREP Always shave your head after or at the end of a shower, to soften the hair, open the pores, and cleanse the skin. Your shower should last at least 10 minutes. During the shower, lightly soap a washcloth and with a slight pressure glide the cloth all over your head against the grain. This will lift the hair for easier shaving. Rinse your head and the washcloth remain in the shower for few additional minutes. Next, apply a good shave cream and let it stand for a few minutes to soften the hair even more. I swear by Metro Men's Grooming Ultimate Shave Cream. Stay away from gels or products which contain menthol, which will close your pores and stiffen the hair. Shaving cream is ideally applied with a badger hair brush to soften and lift the hair. Never skimp on the preparation. This is vital to a good head shave! First time shavers should exfoliate the scalp before applying the shaving cream (veteran baldies, should exfoliate twice weekly). Use a loofa or special facial scrub. STEP THREE: SHAVE Always have a hand mirror available so you can check the shave from all angles. You don't want to miss anything. Also, shave your head at the sink and make sure you have bright lighting. Proper lighting very important. Use a clean, sharp razor such as the Gillette Mach3. Start by shaving WITH the grain (the direction the hair grows). This will minimize cuts, irritation, in-grown hairs and razor burn. Glide the razor down the sides and back and then from back to front on top. Avoid applying pressure (you don't want nicks or cuts) and rinse your blade often. Take it easy, pay attention, and be patient. You don't want to rush or get clumsy during this process. After completing the shave, apply a small amount of lather to your hands and rub your entire head, checking for rough spots (sometimes you can't see them), especially behind the ears and on the back of the neck. Shave over any missed places. If you must have a closer shave, re-lather and shave lightly against the grain. Remember, shaving an area over and over can cause razor burn, so try to avoid it. If you cut yourself, apply a moist alum block on the area to stop bleeding. After shaving, close the pores with a rinse of cool water. If using a shaving brush, always hang the brush to dry with the bristles facing downward. Shave your head daily. The process will be easier if you do. STEP FOUR: REPAIR AND PROTECT You will need to hydrate and protect the skin. Finishing with a good gel or balm is key to leaving the skin soft, smooth, and protected.. Remember, you should always wear sunscreen on your head. The skin on your head is more sensitive and very susceptible to skin cancer. First time shavers will want to get some color on their scalp. I recommend the use of a self-tanning cream rather than exteneded sun exposure. With time, your scalp will develop color and you will not have to apply self-tanning cream Be sure to buy a high-quality self-tanner and test it on a hidden part of your body to make sure the color looks natural. You don't want to walk around with a big, orange, bald head! : ) MAINTAIN I Shaving your head daily or every other day will ensure better results and keep you looking fresh. Always mositurize and apply a good sunscreen. Headshaving is so common now, several companies now make products just for bald guys. Ever seen a bald guy shampoo? No. Well, here you go. Now, go out and proudly show off that bald head of yours!

Laguna niguel Hair Stylist Presents:


AHH! This one is for men. All the women get attention and advice.. Let's try shaving
STEP ONE: PREP Always shave after or at the end of a shower, to soften the beard, open the pores, and cleanse the skin. In a rush, a warm towel and splash of water can be used as a substitute. Use a great quality shave cream like Metro Men's Grooming Ultimate Shave Cream. Stay away from gels or products which contain menthol, which will close your pores and stiffen your beard. If you have a tough beard or very sensitive skin, you may wish to apply a Metro Men's Grooming Pre Shave Oil before you apply shaving cream. This will help further soften the beard and reduce razor drag. Shaving cream is ideally applied with a brush (badger hair is best) to soften and lift the beard. Place a pea sized amount of cream in the deep in the center of your brush and smooth the bristles together. Next, wet the brush well with hot water and apply to the face in a circular motion. If you choose not to use a shaving brush, work the shave cream between wet hands for sixty seconds or until a rich lather is produced. A good prep is vital to soften the beard and minimize irritation. Also, make sure you change your blade at least once per week - dull blades play hell on your face. STEP TWO: SHAVE Use a clean, sharp razor such as the Gillette Mach3. Start by shaving WITH the grain (the direction the hair grows). This will minimize cuts, irritation, in-grown hairs and razor burn. Glide the razor gently over your face. Avoid applying pressure and rinse your blade often. If you must have a closer shave, re-lather and shave lightly against the grain. If you cut yourself, apply a moist alum block on the area to stop bleeding. After shaving, close the pores with a rinse of cool water. If using a shaving brush, always hang the brush to dry with the bristles facing downward. STEP THREE: REPAIR AND PROTECT Many men make the mistake of stopping with step two, but the following is important to keep your skin healthy and protect from signs of aging. After rinsing with cool water, moisturize and protect your skin with a few pumps of Metro Men's Grooming Post Shave Repair. This will help soothe and moisturize the skin and promote healing. GETTING GOOD HEAD FIRST TIME HEAD SHAVERS, TAKE NOTE: Remember, a shaved head is not for everyone. If you are extremely thin, have an oddly shaped head or scalp problems, then a bald head is probably not for you. If you decide to go for it, remember it will always grow back if you don't like it. Shaving your head will dramatically change your appearance and may take a bit of time to get used to. Many men look great with a shaved head. But to pull one off, you must have confidence in your look. Always shave your head for the first time at the start of the weekend to give you time to get comfortable with your new look (and get some color on your white scalp) before you face your friends and colleagues. Allow yourself a good half hour to get the deed done for the first time. If you think you're ready, here goes.... NOTE: THERE IS NOTHING MORE UNATTRACTIVE THAN A BALD HEAD FULL OF BUMPS, RAZOR RASH, AND IN-GROWN HAIRS. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU PREP THE SCALP, SHAVE PROPERLY, AND PROTECT AFTERWARD. DO NOT SKIP ANY OF THE STEPS BELOW. THE FIRST TIME YOU SHAVE, THE PROCESS WILL TAKE ROUGHLY 30 MINUTES. WITH TIME AND PRACTICE, YOU WILL GET THE ROUTINE DOWN TO UNDER TEN. GOOD LUCK. STEP ONE: THE PRE-SHAVE (FOR FIRST-TIMERS) The first step in shaving your head is to remove as much of the hair as possible. Using a hair clipper with no guard, buzz the hair off as close to the scalp as possible. STEP TWO: PREP Always shave your head after or at the end of a shower, to soften the hair, open the pores, and cleanse the skin. Your shower should last at least 10 minutes. During the shower, lightly soap a washcloth and with a slight pressure glide the cloth all over your head against the grain. This will lift the hair for easier shaving. Rinse your head and the washcloth remain in the shower for few additional minutes. Next, apply a good shave cream and let it stand for a few minutes to soften the hair even more. I swear by Metro Men's Grooming Ultimate Shave Cream. Stay away from gels or products which contain menthol, which will close your pores and stiffen the hair. Shaving cream is ideally applied with a badger hair brush to soften and lift the hair. Never skimp on the preparation. This is vital to a good head shave! First time shavers should exfoliate the scalp before applying the shaving cream (veteran baldies, should exfoliate twice weekly). Use a loofa or special facial scrub. STEP THREE: SHAVE Always have a hand mirror available so you can check the shave from all angles. You don't want to miss anything. Also, shave your head at the sink and make sure you have bright lighting. Proper lighting very important. Use a clean, sharp razor such as the Gillette Mach3. Start by shaving WITH the grain (the direction the hair grows). This will minimize cuts, irritation, in-grown hairs and razor burn. Glide the razor down the sides and back and then from back to front on top. Avoid applying pressure (you don't want nicks or cuts) and rinse your blade often. Take it easy, pay attention, and be patient. You don't want to rush or get clumsy during this process. After completing the shave, apply a small amount of lather to your hands and rub your entire head, checking for rough spots (sometimes you can't see them), especially behind the ears and on the back of the neck. Shave over any missed places. If you must have a closer shave, re-lather and shave lightly against the grain. Remember, shaving an area over and over can cause razor burn, so try to avoid it. If you cut yourself, apply a moist alum block on the area to stop bleeding. After shaving, close the pores with a rinse of cool water. If using a shaving brush, always hang the brush to dry with the bristles facing downward. Shave your head daily. The process will be easier if you do. STEP FOUR: REPAIR AND PROTECT You will need to hydrate and protect the skin. Finishing with a good gel or balm is key to leaving the skin soft, smooth, and protected.. Remember, you should always wear sunscreen on your head. The skin on your head is more sensitive and very susceptible to skin cancer. First time shavers will want to get some color on their scalp. I recommend the use of a self-tanning cream rather than exteneded sun exposure. With time, your scalp will develop color and you will not have to apply self-tanning cream Be sure to buy a high-quality self-tanner and test it on a hidden part of your body to make sure the color looks natural. You don't want to walk around with a big, orange, bald head! : ) MAINTAIN I Shaving your head daily or every other day will ensure better results and keep you looking fresh. Always mositurize and apply a good sunscreen. Headshaving is so common now, several companies now make products just for bald guys. Ever seen a bald guy shampoo? No. Well, here you go. Now, go out and proudly show off that bald head of yours!

Monday, April 28, 2008

Melanoma and Red Hair





Red-hair gene tied to melanoma

It's no secret that fair-skinned redheads have a higher risk of melanoma. Now, an Australian group has identified the genetic link. People with dangerous variants of a gene called the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) have at least double the risk of contracting skin cancer, even if they have medium or olive skin, researchers said here today. "The [variants] associated with red hair are the ones with greatly increased risk of melanoma," says Richard Sturm of the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, lead author of the study. Redheads are known to have about a five times higher risk of melanoma than people with dark hair.

Although exposure to ultraviolet light places people at risk for melanoma, genetic factors also play a role. People face a high risk of melanoma if they have fair skin, red hair, blue eyes, freckles, or a tendency to react to sun by burning rather than tanning.

Sturm's group has spent the last few years trying to pinpoint the specific genes that underlie these risk factors. They focused on the MC1R gene because it varies greatly among Caucasians, he says, and because variants of the gene specify whether a person has red hair.

The type of MC1R gene a person carries also determines whether he or she produces the kind of melanin typical of fair-skinned people, called pheomelanin, or that typical of brown-skinned people, called eumelanin. "It's the gene that determines your tanning potential," Sturm says.

Because of the protective effects of eumelanin, dark-skinned peoples - such as African-Americans or Australian aborigines - generally do not develop melanoma, although they can develop other forms of skin cancer and other sun-induced skin damage such as premature aging.

In a small preliminary study, the Australian team examined 111 people at high risk and 109 people at low risk for three types of skin cancer. The researchers then checked to see which alleles of the MC1R gene were present. The results showed that the presence of any of the three alleles for red hair triple the risk of skin cancer and melanoma.

To confirm these results in a larger study, the Australian team tested for variants of the gene in 459 Australians with melanoma and 399 research participants who did not have melanoma.

People with one of the three dangerous MC1R variants were twice as common in the melanoma group as in the control group. People who were homozygous for the red-hair alleles had four times the incidence of having skin cancer as people with the wild-type MC1R gene. But even carriers with darker hair and medium or olive complexions had more than twice the risk of developing melanoma.

Sturm plans to develop a genetic test that could let people know their risk more accurately than a self-assessment of skin and hair color. Still, everyone, no matter what his or her genetic make-up, needs to limit sun exposure, Sturm says. "Anyone who thinks they're protected because they have a wild-type genotype is fooling themselves.

This was extracted from an article I was reading.

Graying hair and Skin Cancer



Cause of gray hair may help in finding the cause of skin cancer

Surprisingly, researchers have found the one of the factors that can cause graying hair may also prove to be a cure for skin cancer. In a study published in the on-line medical journal 'Science', scientists have found ample similarities between the causes of your hair turning grey and the highly deadly form of skin cancer known as melanoma.

This study states that the loss of hair color is caused by a gradual dying of adult stem cells that generate the melanocyte cells which in turn make the pigment in hair follicles. The melanocytes produce pigments that makes our hair appear brown, blond or red. When the stem cells, from which melanocytes are made, become depleted in hair follicles, there is a subsequent loss of pigment producing ability and consequently, your hair loses color and turns grey. A striking similarity is seen in skin cancer, as same stem cell system fails to work correctly in the formation of malignant melanoma cells. These are cells that manufacture pigments that proliferate uncontrollably and produce cancerous tumors known as melanomas in the skin.

The authors of this study are focussing more of their attention towards finding some solution to the problem of skin cancer and not merely on stopping the graying hair. Scientists are hopeful that this discovery could lead to a successful treatment for melanoma, which can prevent the deadly form of cancer from spreading or even forming in the first place. Thousands of people develop this type of cancer in America and worldwide, but unfortunately it is an aggressive form of cancer that is very difficult to treat successfully. It is estimated that malignant melanoma kills approximately 7,900 Americans each year.

More research and findings are needed to successfully establish a definite relationship between gray hair development and melanoma cancer, which would lead to a better understanding about the growth of malignant melanoma cancers. This understanding would help in making a cure to curb the unwanted growth of these cancers.

It is said that most scientific discoveries are revealed by accident, and such accidents are always welcomed in the scientific community, for, they lead to many astounding and wonderful concepts that have helped mankind. This study may be one example of an accidental discovery that leads to a significant advance in the treatment of disease.

From a hair stylist in mission viejo.



Sunday, April 27, 2008

Hair Color: A Colorful Review


A STYLIST IN MISSION VIEJO CALIF.

Here in Mission Viejo salon where I work....I was chatting with Sofia..Well maybe in a dream.

No matter if you live in Europe or in the United States. It does not matter if you are famous we all want to be the best we can be. Hair color is crucial to enhance or detract. South Orange County hair does not have many celebrities but we have a lot of wanna be ones.

A look back on hair's colorful history reveals its dark and sometimes laughable past. Hair styling here in Orange County might be a bit uninteresting at times but really for the most of the people..we look pretty damn good..well except around that Market Place area. The hair fashion police should patrol and arrest some of the women that go out of the house looking like Rosanne Barr on a bad day.

Most women who describe themselves to a blind date start with their hair color. Why?

Partly because we all bring up weight last. Even slender women are sensitive on this one. But more so, because of the emotional connection between a woman and her hair color is based on thousands of years of psychological mystique.

When you select a hair color, you not only make a statement about yourself, you tell the world who you are and with whom you want jot be associated.

A pretty heady concept for what seems simply cosmetic, but recall what Jane Russell, Liz Taylor and Sophia Loren did for brunettes. Raven-haired beauties owe their reputation for being sultry and exotic to such silver-screen sirens. Then, there's Jennifer Lopez and Catherine Zeta Jones!

As for redheads, Rita Hayworth and Maureen O'Hara forever secured the idea that those formerly dubbed as "carrot-tops" are both fiery and passionate (an idea Nicole Kidman helps along), while blondes were never looked at in the same way after Marilyn and Mansfield.

Of course, Madonna has made every color hot!

Rumor And Humor

Hair color history is filled with both rumor and humor, but its timeline does reveal what we're attracted to when we select a color and where the roots of cultural attitudes lie.

Archaeologists believe that cave men used minerals, insects and plants to paint their bodies and hair to appeal or repel, though no one has yet discovered the first color to bewitch the Neanderthal man.

In 27 BC (which could be thought of as "pre-carrot-top"), the Gauls dyed their hair red to indicate class rank. But in the Dark Ages, red was associated with witchcraft. Probably because the first documented natural redhead, an actual genetic error, appeared in Scotland about this time.

Queen Elizabeth gave regal red its proper place in history when her auburn tresses were imitated to reflect royal class and today Fergie carries on the blueblood torch.

Blonde, it seems, has always been considered the most alluring to men. Roman law decreed that yellow or blonde was to be worn by "women of the night," perhaps the first indication that blondes were having more fun.

Renaissance women favored golden hues, by then considered angelic, and enhanced them by mixing black sulfur, alum and honey, applying it to their hair and spreading their tresses over a brimless hat until the sun helped them achieve the shade they desired.

Centuries later when bleaches were developed, Hollywood's blonde bombshells put the angelic image to rest and created the blonde "bad girl" who is synonymous with sexy.

While brunettes, who make up more than 60 percent of the population, never got the reputation or social attention that blondes and redheads did, they always had the greatest variety of shades to choose from, since early hair color, such as henna, indigo, sage and chamomile, could only darken hair—not lighten it.

Because so much of the Asian, south American and African population fell into the brunette category, it came to connote exotic to Europeans.

Hair Color Formulations

As attitudes about color changed, so did hair color formulations. Egyptian henna (now experiencing a resurgence in popularity because of its natural appeal) and mixtures made from plants and insects were the first hair colors. Natural ingredients, limited as they were, remained the essence of hair color until the 19th century.

In the 1800s, men began using silver nitrate to darken their mustaches and in 1825, the first real hair color formulation was developed.

Grecian Water—a mixture of distilled water, silver nitrate and gum water—was highly popular until it was discovered that after repeated usage it turned hair purple. As history is inclined to repeat itself, hair now turns slightly green when "gray coverage" products that contain metallic salts, continue to oxidize on hair.

In 1859, a German student, working with coal tar, diluted it with alcohol and the result was a purple dye. This lead to the first synthetic dye to be used on fabrics and hair, and later, to 20th century dyes, which were compounded from petroleum products.

Modern formulations, which can look natural and leave hair in beautiful condition, were fast to follow, rapidly changing attitudes about hair color and the women who use it.

Color Hair With Pride


In the '20s, henna re-emerged as the color of choice. The '30s saw hair color go back in the closet because only 'loose girls" used it. By the end of the '30s, women admitted they colored their hair – and reveled in it. Still, tints could only darken hair and harsh bleach was required to lighten it.

Then, in 1950, came the first real breakthrough that lightened hair without bleach. Clairol introduced Miss Clairol Hair Color Bath, which lightened and tinted in a single step, making blonde an easy thing to be. With this watershed discovery, color took off.

Spray-in colors became popular in the '50s, and the '60s saw the introduction of shampoo-in color. Henna re-emerged as a favorite and by the '80s, women had the choice of temporary, permanent, semi-permanent and now, semi-permanent color, which combines the gentleness of semi-permanent with no-fade properties of permanent hair color.

In addition to henna, we now have vegetable dyes, to satisfy those with a "natural" bent.

Laboratories throughout the world are now working on the first laser color. While lasers can lighten in a nanosecond, the process has yet to be controlled. Unless you want to go from black to white blonde (or maybe hairless) in a lightening flash, forget lasers for the time being. They're more perfected for use in hair removal.

Given all these modern choices, the biggest question women now face is "What's best for me?"

But before you make the leap, consider this: While you might be tempted to select a color based on your wildest fantasies, your best bet is to match your eye color and skin tone. In general, cool skin and eye tones are best complemented with cool or "ash" shades.

Warm, golden skin and eye tones look most natural with warm hair colors, such as golden blonde, burnished brunette or red. Any color can be warm or cool, depending on its primary base. The manufacturer's name usually indicates into which category a color fails.

Natural Hair Color

If you prefer a natural look, also stay within a few shades of your natural hair color. (Hairdressers refer to shades as levels. Those levels range from one, which is black, to 10, which is pale blonde.) Go a bit lighter or darker, more golden or red, but avoid going from rich, dark brown to blazing red, unless daring is your style.

Also, the farther you move from your natural hair color, the more obvious your roots will be as they grow out.

Women who defect from brunette to auburn may not have to touch-up their roots for as long as two months, but if you're brunette and want to be a pale blonde, you can expect roots to be visible in as little as four weeks.

As for color categories, temporaries wash out, semi-permanent shades slowly fade in four to six weeks and permanent colors are just that. So, if you're certain you like the color, it's less costly to choose a permanent hair color.

At Home Hair Color

Hair condition matters, too. If your hair is permed or relaxed, semi-permanent color is an advantageous choice because it's gentler on hair that's been previously exposed to chemicals. (Never bleach relaxed hair.)

The new semi-permanent or long-lasting semi-permanent colors, the newest color category, combine gentleness with long-lasting shades for one of the best choices yet. And if you're just experimenting, sheer or slightly tinted color glossers add healthy looking sheen and shine without noticeably altering your natural color.

Whatever color you choose, use a color refresher shampoo to extend the life of your hair color—and your budget.

To create a quick color rinse at home, steep chamomile flowers and use when the water has cooled to extend a blonde; mix rosemary with strong, dark tea to add luster to a brunette; try saffron to brighten a red.

Experiment with customizing an herbal rinse yourself, but avoid acidic fruits, such as lemons, and strong vegetable colors. Over time, their effect is too uncontrollable, as thousands of women in the Ukraine

and Russia can attest from using a beet juice rinse to achieve red. As hair grows out, the uncolored re-growth takes on some color while the older, porous ends grab and retain lots. Sun exposure enhances the effect. The result looks like the rings of a tree stump—in several shades.

Read hair color instructions carefully and when in doubt, always do a test on a small strand first. But if you've made a mistake, don't hide under a hat for months. Salons have color removers that take you right back to where you started, where hopefully, history won't repeat itself.

Summary

A look back on hair's colorful history reveals its dark and sometimes laughable past. Archaeologists believe that cave men used minerals, insects and plants to paint their bodies and hair to appeal or repel, though no one has yet discovered the first color to bewitch the Neanderthal man.

Hair color history is filled with both rumor and humor, but its timeline does reveal what we're attracted to when we select a color and where the roots of cultural attitudes lie.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Chemotherapy and hair loss: What to expect during treatment



Chemotherapy and hair loss:

Find out what to expect when it comes to chemotherapy and hair loss. Plan to use your energy staying healthy rather than worrying about how you look.

You might not think about how important your hair is until you face losing it. And if you have cancer and are about to undergo chemotherapy, the chance of hair loss is very real. Both men and women report hair loss as one of the side effects they fear most after being diagnosed with cancer.

Whether or not you have hair loss from your chemotherapy depends mostly on the type and dose of medication you receive. But whether you can maintain a healthy body image after hair loss depends a lot on your attitude and the support of your friends and family.

Chemotherapy and hair loss: Why does it occur?

Chemotherapy drugs are powerful medications that attack rapidly growing cancer cells. Unfortunately, these drugs also attack other rapidly growing cells in your body — including those in your hair roots.

Chemotherapy may cause hair loss all over your body — not just on your scalp. Sometimes your eyelash, eyebrow, armpit, pubic and other body hair also falls out. Some chemotherapy drugs are more likely than others to cause hair loss, and different doses can cause anything from a mere thinning to complete baldness. Talk to your doctor or nurse about the medication you'll be taking. Your doctor or nurse can tell you what to expect.

Fortunately, most of the time hair loss from chemotherapy is temporary. You can expect to regrow a full head of hair six months to a year after your treatment ends, though your hair may temporarily be a different shade or texture.

Chemotherapy and hair loss: What should you expect?

Hair usually begins falling out 10 to 14 days after you start treatment. It could fall out very quickly in clumps or gradually. You'll likely notice accumulations of loose hair on your pillow, in your hairbrush or in your sink or shower drain.

Your hair loss will continue throughout your treatment and up to a month afterward. Whether your hair thins or you become completely bald will depend on your treatment. Generally, you can lose about 50 percent of your hair before it's noticeable to other people.

It takes about four to six weeks for your hair to recover from chemotherapy. In general, you can expect about a quarter inch of growth each month.

When your hair starts to grow back, it will probably be slightly different from the hair you lost. But the difference is usually temporary. Your new hair might have a different texture or color. It might be curlier than it was before, or it could be gray until the cells that control the pigment in your hair begin functioning again.

Chemotherapy and hair loss: Can hair loss be prevented?

No treatment exists that can guarantee your hair won't fall out during or after chemotherapy. The best way for you to deal with impending hair loss is to plan ahead and focus on making yourself comfortable with your appearance before, during and after your cancer treatment.

Several treatments have been investigated as possible ways to prevent hair loss, but none has been absolutely effective, including:

  • Scalp hypothermia (cryotherapy). During your chemotherapy, ice packs or similar devices are placed on your head to slow blood flow to your scalp. This way, chemotherapy drugs are less likely to have an effect on your scalp. Studies of scalp hypothermia have found it works somewhat in the majority of people who have tried it. However, the procedure also causes a small risk of cancer recurring in your scalp, as this area doesn't receive the same dose of chemotherapy as the rest of your body. Most people who try this procedure find it to be uncomfortable and very cold.
  • Minoxidil (Rogaine). Applying minoxidil — a drug approved for pattern hair loss in men and women — to your scalp before and during chemotherapy isn't likely to prevent your hair loss, although some research shows it may speed up your hair regrowth. More research is needed to understand whether minoxidil is effective in regrowing hair after cancer treatment.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC

Chemotherapy and hair loss: How to make the best of it

Your hair loss generally can't be prevented or controlled, but it can be managed. Take the following steps throughout your treatment to minimize the frustration and anxiety associated with hair loss.

Before treatment

  • Be gentle to your hair. Get in the habit of being kind to your hair. Don't bleach, color or perm your hair — this can weaken it. Air-dry your hair as much as possible and avoid heating devices such as curling irons and hot rollers. Strengthening your hair now might make it more likely to stay in your head a little longer during treatment.
  • Consider cutting your hair. Short hair tends to look fuller than long hair. So as your hair falls out, it won't be as noticeable if you have short hair. Also, if you have long hair, going short might help you make a better transition to total hair loss.
  • Plan ahead for a head covering. Now is the time to start thinking about wigs, scarves or other head coverings. Whether you choose to wear a head covering to conceal your hair loss is up to you. But it's easier to plan for it now rather than later. Ask your doctor to write a prescription for a wig, the cost of which may be covered by your health insurance.

During treatment

  • Baby your remaining hair. Continue your gentle hair strategies throughout your chemotherapy treatment. Try using a satin pillowcase, which is less likely to attract and catch fragile hair. Use a soft brush. Wash your hair only as often as necessary. Consider using a gentle shampoo. Stay away from shampoos with strong detergents and chemicals that can dry out your scalp, including salicylic acid, alcohol and strong fragrances.
  • Consider shaving your head. Some people report that their scalp feels itchy, sensitive and irritated during their treatment and while their hair is falling out. Shaving your head can reduce the irritation and save the embarrassment of shedding. Some men shave their heads because they feel it looks better than the patchy hair loss they might be experiencing. Also, a shaved head might be easier for securing a wig or hairpiece.
  • Protect your scalp. If your head is going to be exposed to the sun or to cold air, protect it with sunscreen or a head covering. Your scalp may be sensitive as you go through treatment, so extreme cold or sunshine can easily irritate it even more. Having no hair or having less hair can make you feel cold, so a head covering may make you more comfortable.

After treatment

  • Continue gentle hair care. Your new hair growth will be especially fragile and vulnerable to the damage caused by styling products and heating devices. Hold off on coloring or bleaching your new hair for at least six months. Besides damaging new hair, processing could irritate your sensitive scalp.
  • Be patient. It's likely that your hair will come back slowly and that it might not look normal right away. But growth takes time, and it also takes time to repair the damage caused by your cancer treatment.

Chemotherapy and hair loss: Cover your head

Covering your head as your hair falls out is a purely personal decision. For many women hair is associated with femininity and health, so they choose to maintain that look by wearing a wig. Others choose hats and scarves. Still others choose not to cover their heads at all.

Ask your doctor or a hospital social worker about resources in your area to help you find the best head covering for you. Look Good...Feel Better is a free program that provides hair and beauty makeovers and tips to women with cancer. These classes are offered throughout the United States and in several other countries. Many classes are offered through local chapters of the American Cancer Society. Look Good...Feel Better also offers classes for teens with cancer, as well as a Web site especially for men.

Radiation therapy also can cause hair loss

Radiation therapy also attacks quickly growing cells in your body, but unlike chemotherapy, it affects only the specific area where treatment is concentrated. If you have radiation to your head, you'll likely lose the hair on your head.

Your hair usually begins growing back after your treatments end. But whether it grows back to its original thickness and fullness depends on your treatment. Different types of radiation and different doses will have different effects on your hair. Higher doses of radiation can cause permanent hair loss. Talk to your doctor about what dose you'll be receiving so that you'll know what to expect.

Radiation therapy also affects your skin. The treatment area is likely to be red and may look sunburned or tanned. If your radiation treatment is to your head, it's a good idea to cover your head with a protective hat or scarf because your skin will be sensitive to cold and sunlight. Wigs and other hairpieces might irritate your scalp.


Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Hair Loss and Cancer

There has been a lot of loss throughout the years. Many many of us have lost friends and loved ones to cancer. Many of us have many friends that are survivors. In the business I am in I have been exposed to the many emotions that disease can bring.
Hair loss and the possibility of it can be very emotional for women. So much is placed upon a woman and her hair. Long beautiful hair,full hair..playboy bunny hair, Pamela Anderson hair.
I do believe there is power in shaving it off completely just bfore it all does. You own it,you are one with it. When a partner shares in it's removal, it can be such a powerful and uniting event. Love is what is experienced at it's deepest level. Take hold of each other. Man to man,Woman to woman. A unique experience can take place while holding on to a razor to clean the head and give power to health.