What Is The Essence of Beauty?

There is nothing more rare, nor beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. 

To me that is the true essence of beauty. 

~Dr. Steve Maraboli 

Electrolysis Started My Business

How I Started My Business

I started my business with Electrolysis, in my home, as soon as I graduated from getting my Certificate in Electrolysis Training. My son was not into school yet, and I was building my clientele, little by little. When my son went off to school, I started searching for a place to put my beauty salon.


I opened the beauty salon in December of 1995, specializing in electrolysis, hair removal, and complete family hair care. My business grew quickly. Each year I tried to introduce and master a different product or technique, such as:

• Waxing with Nufree Nudesse  
• Perm wrapping, using different perm rods
• Coloring, using Matrix SoColor products and different ways of applying color
• Manicuring and artificial  nails
• Pedicures
• Special products such as the Scruples hair products, dealing with clients using well water and hard water, and Aquage

I was involved in our local Business and Professional Women's Foundation and went to annual hair shows in different places to keep up with the latest trends. This is where I got a lot of ideas for my clients.


When my son was in high school, I started substituting at the local Vocational school to get teaching experience.

Starting Cosmetology in Vo-Tech.

 My Education in Cosmetology Started in Vo-Tech.

After being in school for three years my desire, at the time, was to be a cosmetology instructor. I watched my instructor and thought, I really could make this more fun. This career is such a fun career. I thought in the back of my mind; I would love to teach this.

I became a mom very young in life, actually while I was a senior in high school. I knew how important it was to finish my schooling and in Pennsylvania 1250 hour were required to take the state board Cosmetology exam.  I took my test within the year I graduated. To become a cosmetology instructor in Pennsylvania 500 hours of extra training is required.

Seven years after graduating, I took my instructor training and got my Cosmetology Teacher license. The school I attended for my instructor hours also offered an Electrolysis class. I took that class and became a certified electrologist.

After graduating from my electrology course, I immediately became certified and began doing electrolysis in my home. When my son went off to school, I opened a beauty salon that offered cosmetology services to the whole family.

What Shampoo Should I use?

Do you ask yourself "What Type of Shampoo is good for me?"

Choosing the right shampoo can be easy if you know what to look for. 

Answer these questions:

• Is my scalp oily, dry, or sensitive?
• Is my hair colored or chemically altered? (perm , straightened).
• Is my hair Damaged?
• Is my hair fine and thin?
• Is my hair thick and wiry?
• Do I have Dandruff?
• Do I have psoriasis?

The links below will give you examples of shampoos that are good for:

 Oily scalp and hair - use a clarifying shampoo. My two favorites are Scruples and Paul Mitchell's clarifying Shampoos. You can also use dry shampoo between the wet shampoos.

 Dry Dandruff, oily dandruff, or psoriasis - use a medicated shampoo is best.  My favorite it Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Shampoo.

 Dry hair and scalp -use hydrating shampoo.

Damaged hair -use a low ph shampoo

Fine and thinning - use a protein base shampoo, keratin based.

Thick and wiry - use a moisturizing shampoo. I like Paul Mitchell's Awapuhi and Smoothing shampoos.

I hope you found these links helpful.
Please comment and let me know what you would like to see next.

Thank you

How To Shampoo Your Hair.

Steps on How To Shampoo

 Lets go back to the basics.

A lot of people don't know how to shampoo correctly, especially children learning personal hygiene.
One of the most frequent questions I am asked, “How often should I shampoo?”
I usually don't recommend shampooing everyday unless you absolutely have to. There are cases when you should shampoo everyday: a person who has over excessive oils, a person who has dirt on the hair and scalp due to dirty working conditions,  or a person who uses a lot of hair products should shampoo every day.

Naturally our skin dies and sheds all the time, even on our scalp. Environmental dirt particles, oils, sweat from our skin, and products we use,  gather on the hair and if not thoroughly cleaned off can cause some problems such as scalp irritations, scalp acne, and fungal growth.
The best way to get rid of this debris, and build up, is to brush the hair thoroughly and shampoo the hair and scalp enough to make the hair clean. Using the right shampoo helps, so it is important to find a shampoo that works for  you.
There are different shampoos designed for different purposes. I will have another blog describing different shampoos and the importance of brushing the hair later.

 To clean the scalp and hair.

1. Completely saturate the hair first.(about 1-2 minutes)

The  purpose:

• To help with evenly distributing the shampoo through the hair
• To soften the scalp debris 
• To loosen the scalp debris

2. Apply enough shampoo to produce a lather.

Why:

• The amount of shampoo a person uses can depend on length of hair, but for the first shampoo concentrate on the scalp area when applying the shampoo, that's where the oils are. Then work the suds out to the ends. Start with a quarter size amount to produce a lather.
•  Sometimes a good lather isn't produced the first shampoo because of debri, it's important to shampoo twice to make sure it is thoroughly cleansed. 
• You want to break up the oils and dead skin on the scalp so it will be completely removed. Don't be afraid to scrub the scalp, 
• Having hard water hinders a good lather. If that is the case, you may need a higher ph shampoo, such as a hair clarifying shampoo.

3.  IMPORTANT! Rinse thoroughly.

   This will help to eliminate all loosened debris, which if not thoroughly rinsed can cause scalp irritation and itching when the hair is dried.

4.  Shampoo the second time using even less of shampoo.

    The better the lather the cleaner the scalp and hair become. This second scrubbing ensures the debri is being lifted from the hair and scalp.

5. Rinse thoroughly again leaving no lather, whatsoever!

The hair should be squeaky when you're completely rinsed. If not, you may need that third shampoo.
If you have oily scalp, work in a dirty environment, or use a lot of products, you may want a third scrubbing.

6. Apply conditioner, if needed, but only after a complete rinsing.

Personal hygiene is important, don't forget to cleanse all the areas of the body where there is hair.


Hopefully, this has helped you or someone you are teaching how to shampoo their own hair.

Basics of Bushing Hair

Why we brush our hair

To remove dirt and lint

Dead skin, environmental dirt, and oils from your scalp accumulate on the hair and brushing helps to remove it, especially before shampooing.

To stimulate scalp

Using a boar hair or natural bristled hair brush can stimulate hair growth. It also massages the scalp for good blood flow. Try to get in the habit of brushing your hair before bed, especially if you want your hair to grow.

To give shine to hair

Brushing gives luster and shine to the hair by distributing the natural oils from your scalp onto the hair shaft.

When to use a brush?..............................When hair is dry and as often as possible!

Brushing your hair, for at least 3-5 minutes, once or twice a day is just one way to keep our hair and scalp healthy!

Beauty is Not Always Appearence

You don't have to be a hairstylist to make others feel beautiful.



My Nana would say:

"Beauty is as Beauty Does."

Beauty Is:

Helping- Be Happy to lend a hand, pitch in, go the extra mile.

Being Kind- Enjoy the moments when you help someone, just because they need the help. 

Giving- Provide supplies or possession you are blessed with. Share!

Sacrificing- Give when you know someone truly needs it more then you.

Being positive- Attitude is everything in a Beautiful person.

These are just a few examples of Beauty. Please share your thoughts of  what "Beauty" means to you in the comment box below.

Thank -You 





Hair Styles for Over 50

Hair Styles for Over 50

Your hair style should not determine your age!

I was once told, "at your age you should be wearing your hair shorter."

I was in my thirties at the time and decided to see how long I could grow my hair.

I am in my fifties, with shoulder length or longer hair now, and people think I am in my thirties.

I still color my hair, but that is what I like to do!

1. How is your body changing?
As people age things change: we may gain wisdom, a new member of the family, a few pounds. When it comes to our hair and bodies,  we all can relate to the changes that take place. Some may notice hair loss, color loss,  texture changes to coarse and wiry or fine and delicate, and even our skin changes. What was once vibrant and shiny is now dull and lifeless.

There are many reasons for the changes in our hair and skin. Men and women can have hormonal changes, vitamin loss, diseases. Our bodies are constantly changing.
As we age, nature takes its coarse and we have to learn how to deal with those changes.



2. What length do you desire?
Many people ask me about styles that are attractive for the over 50. There are so many things a person can do to enhance their hair after 50.

Some embrace the gray and just need an attractive cut. In those cases, do you want to grow longer hair or go with a short cut? I have seen so many women with the longer gray hair styles and they are very attractive. The key to longer hair over 50 is maintaining the condition with trimming the dry ends. Keep the style simple, especially with those that have thin and delicate, a cute bob cut with little layering.
For those of you with coarse, some layering or no layering. It all depends on how curly or wavy the hair may be and what you are trying to achieve.

3. Will you use tools? 





Another factor to think about is how much time and effort do you want to put into that style? What are you willing to do to get that style?
Depending on your hair, do you need to curl it with an iron or straighten it with a straightening iron?

When talking with your stylist, explain what you are interested in doing to maintain  the style explain what your desires are and then choose something that you will feel confident in.
Also, don't be afraid to mix it up, hair always grows, try a short style then let it grow out to something long.  The length of hair should not determine your age.


4. Will you use product?
If your hair is fine you may need a product to give it thickness. If it is thick and wiry you may need something to help make it feel soft. If it's curly you may want to use something that, with the help of a straightener , will help make it straight. There are shampoos and conditioners, styling gels and creams, and hair sprays that can be used to help.



5. Will you color?
Keeping colored hair natural looking, over 50, is the key to looking younger.
If you are interested in coloring your hair, I recommend using shades from level 5 - 10.
Using anything darker will look fake and usually will show aging skin spots, and lets face it, wrinkles. The lighter the hair the less shadowing.

Complementary Darker shades, levels 5-6





Lighter shades 7-10



If you are over 50 and struggling with your hair style, I hope this helped in your quest to find a new and complementary "do". I hope some of your questions were answered. Please comment and give feedback.

Thank-you.