Introduction – Hair Color Misfires And Backfires

Demi Lovato – Ebony Hued Hair

I recently caught naturally brunette Demi Lovato on Ellen with newly minted summery blonde.  As much as I love Demi and admire her talent, I honestly didn’t like her blonde tresses.  I felt she was the victim of hair color misfires and backfires.

Even though I’ve attended cosmetology school and trust my own tresses to a professional colorist, I’ve been hating my own hair color every day since my last salon visit a few months ago due to a horrible hair color misfire.

The reality?  Whether you color your hair yourself, or at the hands of a professional, you’re still at risk of hair color misfires and backfires.  A seasoned professional colorist poses less of a risk then a DIY home color session, but mistakes may still happen.  Even in the very best hair color hands.

Cause Of Hair Color Misfires And Backfires

Why do hair color misfires and backfires occur?  There are a list of possibilities which might include, but aren’t limited to:

1.  Spontaneous DIY Color Selection – You were seduced by the never ending row of beautiful women with gorgeous hair color smiling back at you from the packaging in the grocery or drug store.  After spontaneously picking up a new box of hair color you applied it at home with the greatest of expectations.

Unfortunately the vibrant color on the box didn’t come close to matching they way it looked on your hair.  Or even worse, it clashed with your skin and eyes give you a sickly pallor. Read the rest of this post »

Introduction – Hilarie Burton Hair Chop

Hilarie Burton – Grey’s Anatomy – ABC.com

Hilarie Burton (born July 1, 1982) recently appeared on Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Lauren Boswell, a new craniofacial specialist.   During the season finale Dr. Boswell seduces Dr. Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) putting  her marriage to Dr. Callie Torres at serious risk.

Besides throwing a major monkey wrench into the long romantic Robbins/Torres plot line, the actress turned heads with her edgy Hilarie Burton hair chop.   The former host of MTV’s Total Request Live looked stunning in her sleek hair chop which is one of the hottest new hairstyles for 2013.

Hilarie who also currently stars as Sara Ellis on USA’s White Collar is loved by many fans for her portrayal of Peyton Sawyer on The CW’s One Tree Hill for six seasons (2003-2009).

Hilarie Burton Hair Chop How To

This year’s latest hair trend, a favorite of model Karlie Kloss, is referred to as a chop because it is an effortless, easy, low-maintenance style which looks natural, sassy and sexy.  The chop combines elements of a classic bob with a layered crop.

The hairstyle can be styled sleek and elegant or tousled and flirty.   If the chop haircut is combined with precision crafted color such as highlights, low lights or Ombre, it’s elevated to superstar hairstyle status.

Listed below is a step by step guide on re-creating the Hilarie Burton hair chop:

1.  Begin with a blunt hair cut scissored or razor ed into long choppy layers falling near or below the cheekbones.  The length should extend somewhere between the bottom of the chin and the top of the collarbone. Read the rest of this post »

Introduction – Prescription Diet Pills 2013

Meridia Weight Loss Drug

The world of prescription diet pills was rocked to its core by the controversial Fen-Phen drugs which triggered lawsuits and long term side effect nightmares for many who took the weight loss drugs back in the early 2000s.  Ditto with Redux which was linked with serious heart problems and pulled off the market.

Popular appetite suppressant Meridia (Reductil, Meridia and Sibutrex), a centrally-acting serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor structurally related to amphetamines (although its mechanism of action was distinct) was withdrawn from the United States and Canadian markets in October 2010 due to serious cardiovascular concerns.

Over-the-counter remedies such as ephedra has been deemed as dangerous, if not more so then Fen-Phen.  It was linked with many deaths including the high profile death of Baltimore pitcher Steve Bechler.

Diet Pills As Of 2003

In 2003 diet pills slipped into the closet even though they continued to be prescribed somewhat on the downlow by some physicians concerned with treating obesity.

More than 50% of people living in the United States are considered overweight.  Many people struggling with weight problems haven’t investigated taking prescription diet pills since effective formulas have historically proven dangerous due to the many serious side effects.

In some regards prescription diet drugs have remained a well-kept secret over the years since the Fen-Phen and Meridia related problems.

Fast forward to 2013 and the prescription diet pill industry is getting ready to make a big comeback with the introduction of two new prescriptions designed to address weight loss, Belvig and Qsymia (Qnexa) which are both designed to assist with appetite control and suppression.  It’s important to note that Osymia, unlike Belvig, is a combination of Phentermine + Topiramate (Topamax). Read the rest of this post »

Introduction – Celebrity Hairdresser Kenneth Dies

Jackie Kennedy – Wikiepdia

Kenneth Everette Battelle was born April 19, 1927 in Syracuse, New York and grew up to become known simply as Kenneth, the quintessential hairdresser who took the hair world by storm in the 1950s.

The world of hair lost another great stylist on May 12th when Kenneth died at the age of 86 in his home in Wappingers Falls, New York.

Some hair experts suggest that he was the first hairdresser to be referred to as a celebrity hairdresser.  This is open to debate since others believe the celebrity hairdresser title was first bestowed on Vidal Sassoon who became a hair icon in the 1960s.

Whether he was the first celebrity hairstylist or not, Kenneth did achieve international fame for creating Jacqueline Kennedy’s bouffant in 1961.  Jacqueline Kennedy was just one of his many famous heads.

Kenneth’s clientele over the years included Marilyn Monroe, Gloria Vanderbilt, Lauren Bacall, Diana Vreeland, Lucille Ball, Katherine Hepburn, Judy Garland and Audrey Hepburn.

He also coiffed famous high-profile socialites such as Brooke Astor and Happy Rockefeller as well as styling hair for photo shoots for many of the world’s leading fashion magazines.  His salon was in New York City’s famous Waldorf Astoria hotel.

In 1961 he became the first, and only, hairdresser to win a Coty Award.  In 2003 he was profiled in Vanity Fair Magazine which included images of some of the famous women whose hair he styled.

Although he achieved fame and esteem in the world of hair, he was beloved by his clients, many who were extremely loyal, staying with him until the very end of his career.  Regardless of his place in the hair history books, Kenneth considered himself to be just a hard working hairdresser who put his clients first. Read the rest of this post »

Introduction – Kirstie Alley’s Hair Should Pass Abercrombie & Fitch Cool Test

Kirstie Alley On ABC’s Dancing With The Stars

Abercrombie & Fitch chief executive, Michael Jeffries, was a media target for the brand’s message of only wanting cool kids coming through its doors.  Beloved Dancing With The Stars star Kirstie Alley recently took to Twitter to slam Jeffries for the company’s refusal to stock items in larger sizes.  Kirstie Alley’s hair should pass Abercrombie Fitch’s cool test.

Not to mention Kirstie is amazingly cool in so many other ways.

Does Abercrombie & Fitch deserve the media blast they received after explaining why they only want the thin and the beautiful kids in their stores?  Most experts believe they do.  They also support Kirstie, who is definitely cool due to for her long luscious locks, willingness to share her weight battles with the world and her concern with the wrong message Abercromie is sending to young people.

Especially now in the era of bullying where kids are harassed over their body type, individual characteristics, race and gender.  They’re bullied for being different or not cool in any possible way.

Obviously the message sent my Abercrombie plays into bullying by promoting the ideal that only thin and beautiful people are cool.

Abercrombie & Fitch Refusing To Stock Larger Sizes

The media dust-up started with a May 3 Business Insider story about Abercrombie, unlike its prime competitors, refusing to stock clothes in XL and XXL. The story resurfaced comments made by Jeffries to Salon in 2006, in which he said his business was built on sex appeal and therefore “we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don’t market to anyone other than that.” Read the rest of this post »