Tracey Middlekauff » beauty

Salon 411: Where Do You Work?

buskerdog — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:19:11 +0000

SALON 411: WHERE DO YOU WORK?

by Tracey Middlekauff
We asked stylists, owners, and other industry professionals to reveal the inside scoop on the salon biz, and they didn’t hold back! They shared the ups, the downs, the headaches, the disappointments, and the many, many rewards of a life dedicated to making people beautiful. Read on to see what we found out.

TO RENT OR NOT TO RENT? THAT IS THE QUESTION

According to the Professional Beauty Association’s (PBA) 2008 National Industry Profile, there are 778,000 professionals working in the hairstyling and cosmetology field, 33% of whom are self-employed. In addition, booth rental represents over a quarter of the sales at salons that rent or lease stations to stylists with one or more paid employee.

But those numbers don’t tell the story behind the scenes. Whether or not to rent or work on commission is a question that raises strong opinions, both from owners and stylists. Many owners feel that having their stylists work on commission fosters a greater sense of community than does filling their salon with renters. Sandy Poirier, who’s been featured on the Style Network’s show Split Ends and on TLC’s Miami Ink, owns the edgy, award-winning Boston salon Shag (shagboston.com). He says ,“I don’t rent chairs. You get stylists who bop from one place to another. I have a team. Booth renters are often out for themselves and the client suffers.”

Lissa Renn, formerly a commissioned employee of Rudy’s Barbershop (and named Los Angeles Magazine’s “Best Bargain Hairstylist”) recently opened her own salon, The Hive Los Angeles (www.thehive.la), which also employs commissioned stylists. New stylists with a small clientele work on a 50/50 split, while more established stylists receive a 60/40 percentage.

“We want our stylists to feel like a team working together rather than independent contractors,” she explains. “Also we would love to eventually offer benefits to full-time stylists who have been with us for at least a year. … With renters I feel more like a landlord than a friendly boss.”

Dayna Cakebread, owner of Belle epoque Salon (www.belleepoquesalon.com) in Portland, ore., feels differently. She loves leasing out her stations because, she says, “[I realized] that my best skills were with my clients and not with tracking paperwork. … I no longer boss or hold anyone’s hand. The stylists are responsible for themselves.”

Of course stylists — whether independent contractors or commissioned employees — often have a different perspective than owners. Kerry Joly works at Indra Salon (www.indranyc.com) in Manhattan. She currently rents her chair, but has also worked on commission in the past. She believes that working on commission is a great way to start out when you don’t have a large clientele. But renting a chair, Joly says, means that, “At the end of the day when you make your money you can take it home. Renting a chair is almost like owning a salon except without the hassles.” Joly admits to a downside, however: “When there is a slow period, the rent still has to be paid. It doesn’t matter how much or how little. No owner wants to hear any excuses.”

THE UPS AND DOWNS OF CHAINS AND PRIVATELY OWNED SALONS

Should you do it for yourself or for someone else? Both options have their good and bad sides — which environment you’ll thrive in depends a lot on your temperament.

Before opening Shag, Sandy Poirier worked at both chain and independent salons, and says he always felt stifled when working for someone else. “At a big chain, you have to conform to someone else’s vision,” he believes. Poirier likes to do things his own way, such as allowing stylists to start work at noon most days because “creative people work better later.”

And even though Lissa Renn looks back at her four years at the Rudy’s Barbershop West Hollywood location as “the best experience a budding stylist could ask for,” ultimately she felt the call to open her own shop. “Being my own boss would allow me to take my experiences from other shops and merge them to create the perfect salon experience,” she says. “I’m no longer going to work, I’m coming to play and have fun with friends while working hard to keep my life and surroundings enjoyable.”

While many stylists point to a tendency of some chain salons to emphasize quantity over quality, sometimes the difference is family. Nicholas Penna, along with his sister Laura, owns SalonCapri (www.saloncapri.com), an award-winning, small family-owned operation that’s been around for 40 years with two locations just outside of Boston. “The best thing about a family owned salon is the commitment and passion that a family brings to the business,” he says.

Joseph Stezzi is the CFO of Rizzieri Salons, Spas and Schools (www.rizzieri.com), a small chain in the Jersey/Philadelphia area. He admits that adding just one extra location more than doubles the amount of work involved in running the business, but he adds, “You’re able to brand yourself in a bigger space. Multiple locations are great for branding and marketing and making money.” Plus, he says, “We have an ideal situation because we have a family member in all locations, someone with the passion of an owner.”

For some, though, sacrificing peace of mind and a personal life doesn’t always justify the rewards of ownership. Chris Murray is the Philadelphia District Leader for the Bubbles Salon chain (www.bubblessalon.com), and before joining the company he managed, owned, and operated his own salon. Business, he says, was great, but the stresses — dealing with building codes, licenses, taxes, insurance, and more — were legion. “I made a business decision to get rid of the headache of all those responsibilities and bills and chose to work for a company that would provide excellent benefits and compensation, and offer a pleasant work environment. … I felt it was a fair trade off to be able to do what I love and be able to have more time with my family.”

But Rhonda Piraino (www.hairbyrhonda.com) just may have figured out how to have the best of both worlds. She rents a studio in a Salon Suites Concept in Dallas, so she’s technically an owner/stylist, and she wouldn’t change a thing (except, of course, paying self-employment taxes and not having health insurance).

“I have all of the benefits of salon ownership with none of the headaches of having employees,” she says. “I set my own hours and prices. I design and decorate in my own style. I use the lines I want … once you have a solid clientele built and make the move to the concept, it’s nearly impossible to go back into a commission salon or booth renting a station in an open salon.”

LOVE IT, HATE IT, CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT IT

For every frustration in this industry — and there are many — there’s something that makes it worthwhile, something that makes you love it — it’s the reason you still get excited to get up and do your job each and every day. Here’s what makes some top stylists tick.

Federico Calce, owner of Federico Salon in New York

(www.federicosalon.com)

Dislikes: Dealing with employees on a day-to-day basis, especially when they’re late to work, temperamental, or if he has to fire anyone.

Loves: Dealing with women, whom he considers the most beautiful creatures on earth. “When you speak of women, you speak of beauty. You can’t speak of one without the other.”

Karly Dolmer, owner of Crown of Jewels Salon

(416-686-5759) in Toronto

Worst Part of Owning a Salon: The worry. “It’s a seasonal business, and when it’s slow it’s very slow.”

Could Do Without: “People often think hairstylists are crazy and flakey. Drugs and alcohol used to be a big part of the business and that stigma has never quite gone away.”

Loves: “The best part of owning a salon and being a stylist is loving what I do. I arrive at work every day happy to be there and glad I chose the career path that I did.”

Rick Fogarty, owner of Plan b Salon in Cambridge, Mass.

(www.planbsalon.com)

Could Do Without: “The lack of ethics and professionalism in the industry.”

Loves: “The creative ability and the people. Here in Harvard Square the demographic is so diverse and intelligent. The people truly are the most interesting I’ve had the pleasure to meet.”

Sandy Poirier, owner of Shag

The One Bad Thing About Owning a Successful Salon: “I don’t want the stigma that no one can afford us or get an appointment, it’s not true. That’s my new marketing thing — that we are accessible.”

Most Satisfying Thing: “Seeing every chair filled with happy clients. Seeing my own vision come to fruition.”

Look Sharp

buskerdog — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:17:57 +0000

Look Sharp

by Tracey Middlekauff

Think fitted, tailored, chic, and, of course, fabulous, and you’ll never have to worry about being a style dud again.

As the co-host of TLC’s What Not to Wear, Stacy London is adept at turning the dull into delicious and the trashy into tres chic. And she’s much more than just a pretty face with an eye for creating the perfect wardrobe: London is brainy, tart-tongued, and quick-witted. She holds a B.A. from Vassar with a double major in philosophy and German literature, and she was a member of Phi Beta kappa.

Academic excellence aside, London just couldn’t ignore the siren call of fashion — perhaps it’s because she grew up in New York City, one of the fashion capitals of the world. And after a summer internship in the PR department at Christian Dior in paris, she was hooked.

She got her start as a fashion assistant at Vogue, and later became senior fashion editor at Mademoiselle. She’s styled photo shoots for a host of edgy publications, including Nylon, Contents, and Italian D, and worked with celebs such as Kate Winslet and Liv Tyler, and with high-end designers including Vivienne Tam and Rebecca Taylor.

As if she didn’t already have enough massive fashion cred, London also wrote a book in 2005 on style, Dress Your Best: The Complete Guide to Finding the Style That’s Right for Your Body, along with her What Not to Wear co-host Clinton Kelly.

And don’t even get her started on shoes! She owns over 300 pairs and counting, and has a soft spot in her heart for stilettos, particularly anything by Christian Louboutin. So who better to ask for advice about some of our fashion conundrums than this smart, insightful, shoe-hoarding style guru? After all, the beauty business is all about image, and it’s crucial to be able to pull off the right look for your workplace. There’s no need to look sloppy or tragic — just follow Stacy’s common sense guidelines, and you’ll always be fierce.

As you know, some hair salons require stylists and employees to wear a uniform or conform to a dress code. in general, do you think this is a good idea to maintain a certain overall consistency and quality of look, or do you think it takes away from a stylist’s individuality?

It’s not a question of whether or not uniforms are a good idea. Some salons feel that the individual style of each hairdresser takes away from the overall image of the salon. Consistency in the sense of a uniform is about the overall image the salon is trying to convey to the client, and each individual hairdresser is working as a part of that whole, not a separate entity in him or herself. For me, it isn’t a question of whether one is better than another, but the focus is clearly different.

What, in your opinion, are elements that make for a really sharp uniform and/or dress code? How can owners accommodate different body types and still make everybody look good in basically the same outfit?

Fit is essentially the most important look for a uniform. Ideally having universally flattering shapes, like A-line skirts or flat front trousers will work for any size. Ideally, each hairstylist should also be able to tailor his or her uniform so it will fit as well as possible.

For hair stylists who have to wear a uniform, do you have any tips on ways that they can infuse the look with their personality and sense of style without straying too far from the required look?

Accessories such as shoes and jewelry can help make a uniform look more personalized, but if the salon requires a uniform, don’t go crazy. There is a reason they are looking for a more cohesive look for the salon overall so if you stand out too much, it defeats the purpose of a uniformed staff to begin with.

For stylists who are allowed to wear whatever they want, do you have any general guidelines or tips that they should keep in mind in order to project the right look? How much look is too much? Why is what a stylist wears important at all if theycan do hair well?

Image is always important. If you are allowed to wear whatever you want, you should base your look on the kind of client you want to attract. Going for the young trendy type? Wear edgier pieces. Looking for a more traditional client? Tone down the trendiness and go for modern classics. regardless, make sure your clothes fit well.

What about stylists who work at a relatively casual salon? What is just too casual?

Too casual is untailored, unkempt and messy. No tears, no stains, no missing buttons, and no using safety pins in place of missing buttons or broken zippers.

Since stylists are on their feet all day, do you have any advice about how to combine comfort with fashion when it comes to shoes?

There are great comfort shoe lines that look chic and fashionable like Taryn Rose, Naturalizer and Sacco comfort. Wedges and stacked heels will also give more support than stilettos. Look for rubber soles for cushioning as well. I just got great Balenciaga booties with rubber soles!!!! Super chic.

Do you have any examples of stand-out well-dressed stylists? What do you like about their look?

Nick Arrojo. Frederic Fekkai. Ted Gibson. Oribe. They are chic but have individual flair and their clothes ALWAYS fit well.

Virtual Perfection: Getting Your Web Site Right

buskerdog — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:22:26 +0000

VIRTUAL PERFECTION: GETTING YOUR WEB SITE RIGHT

by Tracey Middlekauff
Think your web site isn’t that important? Think again. As your virtual calling card, it’s often your only chance to make a good first impression with potential clients, business partners, and employees. As such, it’s crucial that your web site convey the right message about your salon.

WHAT’S YOUR POINT?

The first thing to consider, according to spa and salon business expert Andrew Finkelstein, owner of the Beauty Resource, is to ask yourself what your site should do for you. In other words, what are your goals with it? “It’s either there for you as a vanity plate,” he says, “or you intend to attract and retain clients and/or other people associated with the business, such as staff or agents.” You may also decide that you want your site to sell product. “The cult of personality site is okay if you decide that you don’t need the site to work for you,” he says. “If it’s just there for vanity, that’s fine as long as you have the time and money to spare.”

But chances are, you do need the site to work for you. If you’re trying to attract agents, book jobs or photo shoots, and appeal to other high-end salon pros, then slick highly-designed sites such as those used by Aldo Coppola (www.aldocoppola.it) or Biguine (www.biguine.com) are perfectly appropriate. If, however, you’re a smaller business looking to attract and retain clients, you may want to consider something a little less grand and a tad more functional.

Kimberly Acworth, owner of the Indulge Salons in York, Pa., (http://theindulgesalon.com) says that her goal in creating an attractive, simple, and user-friendly site was to make money and drive customers to her salon. To that end, her site is all about the client, including pages dedicated to problem solving by hair type, pages with coupons, and a coherent message throughout. Her site, she says, “Is just one more way to support my customer and [tell them] why they should continue to come to our salon.”

David Spagenthal, co-owner of the Timothy John Salon in Manhattan (www.timothyjohnsalon.com) says that he and fellow owner Timothy John intended the site to be used in part for advertising, and also “to convey the feeling of the salon on the page.” They both wanted the look of the site to mirror the quality of the work performed in the salon. The site’s clean lines, warm colors, and easy, intuitive navigation certainly work together to inspire confidence in new and returning clients. “It’s definitely helped our business grow,” he says.

For Aura Mae, owner of Azarra Salon (www.azarra.com) in Tacoma, Wa., a successful site for her small, four-employee salon “is going to minimize the time we have to spend on the phone. All questions should be answered online.” To that end, Mae’s site is a simple, stripped-down model of pure functionality.

To further connect with clients, Mae maintains a blog as part of her site. “Why not? It’s free!” she points out. Plus, she says, this helps potential clients get a taste of the salon. “Pre-screening the client means you’re more likely to attract repeat customers,” she says.

MUST HAVES

Sure, goals can vary — but to effectively communicate with your intended audience there are some basics that every Web site worth its salt should contain, and it all starts with the home page. First and foremost, make sure that your contact information is there (and on every single page). After all, no matter how elegant, functional, and innovative your site is, if no one can figure out how to get in touch with you, it’s all for nothing.

It’s tempting to make your home page all about you, but as Finkelstein points out, your future clients don’t care about you they care about themselves. What can you do for them? Are you the right fit? “You have to speak to [your potential clients] right up front,” he says.

As Aura Mae points out, even if people don’t find you online they’re probably going to research you there. “Every salon needs at least one page, with your phone number, address, hours, and general pricing information,” she says.

You should also include photos or video clips of your work so that potential clients can get a sense of your aesthetic. General pricing information is important as well. “I like transparency and authenticity,” Finkelstein says. “The client wants to know how much it’s going to cost — why not let them know?”

As long as you have a Web presence, consider adding an online appointment feature. While some clients will still prefer to call and speak with a live human being, the convenience of online booking is attractive to many.

Always remember what you want your site to convey, and stay on message. Keep it simple, keep it easy, and above all keep it user-friendly.

MISTAKES TO AVOID

It can be tempting to get fancy and show off, but slow-loading sites, complicated Flash pyrotechnics, and just about anything that needs a plug-in are huge turnoffs for many people. “Flash is great, but the purpose of getting someone to your site is to get them to stay awhile, and Flash stops that,” Finkelstein says. “You’re saying, ‘I’m going to take your time, I’m going to make you wait, and that sets a bad tone.”

Adds Spagenthal, “We live in New York, and people don’t want to wait. They want the information now!”

It’s also important to be accurate. David Ranson of Basement Broadway (www.basementbroadway.com) designed the Timothy John Web site, and says, “Things like a poor design, spelling errors, or an outdated price menu can undermine a client’s confidence in your ability to help them look their best.”

NOW WHAT?

Once you’ve figured out your goals and gathered ideas, it’s time to actually design the site and get it online. Before you reach for the nearest DIY template, however, you may want to reconsider and find a real designer. “You’d probably agree that it’s not such a good idea for me to cut and color my own hair,” Ranson points out. “Technology changes rapidly — and it’s not just computer hardware that becomes obsolete. Web browsers and browser plug-ins are constantly being updated in ways that can affect site operation or performance. Commonly used software programs like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Dreamweaver are expensive to purchase and upgrade. And who do you call when you hit a snag or your site crashes?”

When shopping for a designer, make sure to look at sites he or she has designed, and speak to other clients about their experiences working together. The perfect designer might be right under your nose in the form of one of your own clients — if you’re on a budget, maybe you can even work out a barter arrangement for services!

While it is the designer’s responsibility to help you create the right look, it’s your job to provide the appropriate content. To help clients stay organized, Ranson encourages them to think of the site in outline form, “with each page as a Roman numeral and each page’s content as points under that Roman numeral.”

Filmmaker, web marketer, and educator Yianni Stamas maintains that strategy is even more important than design: “The more keyword specific each page is, the more likely it will be indexed by Google.” Stamas recommends taking one of his online Web marketing classes at www.videofilmweb.com/takeaclass. And Finkelstein suggests checking out the Web Site ToolKit, available at http://www.actionplan.com/mkttools.html, which he says will help you learn how to create a site that really works for you from a marketing standpoint.

Of course, once the site is launched the work doesn’t end — you have to keep the site current and updated or risk losing potential business. “It’s alive and organic,” Finkelstein says. “If you haven’t updated the site since 2005, what does that say about you?” You can either have your designer do updates for you (of course you’ll provide the content) or you can do them yourself. If you go that route, Ranson suggests you hire someone to customize a content management system for your salon.

Sure, getting a web site up and running is a lot of work, but do it right and it will be worth it in the end. As Kimberly Acworth points out, “Is anything worthwhile ever easy?”

Show and Tell: Why Every Stylist Should Blog and Vlog

buskerdog — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:16:46 +0000

SHOW AND TELL: WHY EVERY STYLIST SHOULD BLOG AND VLOG

by Tracey Middlekauff
Stylists, it’s time to get your blog on. Blogging is a perfect — not to mention inexpensive — way to increase your name recognition, get your message out there, and communicate with both current and potential clients. Simply put, it’s one of the best bang-for-the-buck marketing techniques around. Go the extra mile and incorporate vlogs — video blogs — into your strategy, and you’ll reach an even wider audience.

Dr. Scott Testa, professor of marketing at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, points out that the end product in the hair business is visual: “So ultimately the idea is to effectively communicate these visuals to your audience.” And what better way to do that than with a blog that’s peppered with great photos and interesting vlogs?

Elline Surianello is the founder and CEO of LeMetric Hair Center, Inc.,a New York-based salon and affiliate network that focuses solely on women suffering from hair thinning or hair loss. She initially began blogging and vlogging (www.lemetric.com & www.youtube.com/lemetrichaircenter) because she wanted to share the story of her own struggles with alopecia with other women, but it turns out it’s helped her business as well.

“I wouldn’t say that my vlogs result in a direct conversion of clients, but they have certainly contributed to and enhanced my brand’s reputation,” she explains. “These videos support what I do, what I’m promoting next, and they legitimize me. Women see the real me and know who I am before they walk through my door. … How do I talk about something like women’s hair loss, and women’s hair loss replacement, without showing the women what I mean?”

And the best part is, it doesn’t have to seem like work at all. “The videos are so much fun,” she says. “I love it because I am a total ham! Vlogging gives me a platform to speak out on something that may be a hot topic on any particular day, and that is just so me!”

Another reason to blog is to get a higher search engine placement for your salon. Cookie Cutters and Haircuts for Kids is a chain with over 40 stores in the U.S. and Canada. Before they began their companywide blog (http://blog.haircutsarefun.com/blog/cookiecutters), they showed up on the third or fourth page in online searches using relevant keywords. But according to company VP Larry Shelton, that’s all changed now.

“Blogging with Compendium Blogware (compendiumblogware.com) has been very helpful in moving our brand up in search queries without having to redo our site in an expensive search engine optimization scheme,” Shelton says. “Blogging basically got the same or better results.”

And sometimes it’s just nice to blog to help educate and inform. Ava Gardner began her blog, coiffedchaos.blogspot.com, because she wanted to share her “experience and expertise with fellow colleagues as well as women looking for an honest and open conversation about their hair,” she explains. “What blogging does for me as a 22 year veteran in the business is that it allows me to express my feelings on different aspects of being a hair stylist from a behind-the-chair perspective. … It is imperative that women have access to information that can help them make the best decisions for their hair if they care for their hair at home and don’t have access to a professional hair stylist. My goal is to provide comprehensive information about caring for your hair with a twist, by providing topics that are cool and interesting that are meant to spark open and honest conversations about hair care.”

And getting started is pretty low stress, thanks to blogware (blog software) such as Wordpress and Blogger. Shelton doesn’t recommend embedding photos and videos until you’re comfortable with the basics, and if it gets too technical for you, you should definitely hire someone to show you the ropes.

Surianello — by her own admission initially very tech-shy — says, “My advice is to find someone who you can trust, to be a part of your team, and to handle the admin, tech, and maintenance side of this, so that everyone is being most efficient at what they do best. If you’re scared to get started, find someone who knows what they’re doing and can walk you through this one step at a time. Gradually the lingo and the methods become clear, and over time, as you adapt, there is more and more you can take over on your own. Eventually, it becomes fun to log on and see who’s doing and saying what. The reach and return is just so vast.”

Just as in real life, there are rules and etiquette in cyberspace — at least if you want your blog to be effective. Dr. Testa says, “You want to represent yourself in a professional fashion. Don’t write something you wouldn’t want Mom and Dad to see!”

If you’re an employee and you want to start blogging, Dr. Testa recommends running it by your boss first, or at least putting a disclaimer on your site. And it (hopefully) goes without saying that you need to spell check your text, and whatever you do, don’t neglect your blog. “You need to either be in or out,” Testa says. “You should update 2–3 times week.”

Don’t worry about how you’ll generate enough content: Your inspiration is all around you in the form of your clients. Post before and after hair photos. Talk about interesting articles you’ve read and new styling techniques. Share the scoop on products that you’re passionate about. “Questions that your customers are asking you are starting points for what you should talk about,” Testa says.

And Surianello offers this advice: “If you talk about what you know and what you love, your message will flow naturally and you’ll be fine.”

Business Resolution Solutions

buskerdog — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:32:34 +0000

Beauty Myths Busted

buskerdog — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:54:12 +0000

Beauty Myths – Busted!

Get the facts on looking fabulous.

by Tracey Middlekauff Posted: Tue., Sep. 25, 2007 , 4:21 pm EDT

Don’t be bamboozled by beauty myths. We’ve set the record straight on some common misconceptions concerning your face, body and hair. Read on to learn the real deal.

Myth: Chocolate, sweets, and fried foods cause acne.
Fact: Don’t blame that last slice of pizza for your pimple; blame your genes and pesky hormones instead. Hormonal fluctuations brought on by your period, menopause or even stress can spark increased sebum (oil) production, leading to bacterial growth that can cause a “plug” in your pores. Result: a pimple. Those food cravings you get around your period or when you’re stressed are probably what are behind this myth — eat greasy food, touch your face, plug your pores and presto! You’ve got a blemish. To fight acne, Diane Madfes, MD, a New York dermatologist and spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology, recommends cleansers with salicylic or glycolic acid and topical creams with vitamin A or retinol. Got sensitive skin? Look for products that contain lactic acid.

Myth: Drinking lots of water will “plump up” your fine lines and wrinkles.

Fact: Dr. Madfes calls this one a “partial myth.” The skin on your face does need to get moisture, both internally, from the fluids you drink, and externally, from your moisturizer. But you don’t have to gulp down H20 exclusively — it turns out, things like juice and tea will also get the job done. While drinking liquids won’t eliminate those fine lines and wrinkles, drinking enough to keep your skin well hydrated — about six to eight glasses per day — will allow it to regenerate and look its healthy best. And in a pinch, you can always apply a topical cream to temporarily plump up those fine lines.

Myth: The higher the SPF in your sunscreen, the better.
Fact: A higher SPF number is not necessarily better. The most important thing is that your sunscreen is broad-spectrum, meaning it protects against both the UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays of the sun. If you reapply often, a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen is just as effective as an SPF 50 one; the 50 might just buy you an extra 20 minutes in the sun.

Myth: You can repair a split end.
Fact: While certain products can temporarily “seal” split ends, the only way to get rid of them is to cut them off like a freeloading boyfriend. To prevent (or at least delay) them, try to cut back on the heat abuse from flat irons, curling irons and hair dryers.

Myth: For shiny hair, brush it 100 times each night.
Fact: It may have worked for Marcia Brady, but it’s not going to work for you. Brushing can pull out hair that wasn’t ready to fall out, and it can weaken or even break individual strands. For shiny hair, you’re much better off using a good conditioner and shine serum. And never brush your hair when it’s wet — always use a wide-tooth comb.

Myth: If you have cellulite, you must be overweight.
Fact: Anybody can get cellulite, regardless of weight. That dreaded dimpled look is actually caused by tiny fibrous bands under the skin, which pull down around pockets of fat. It can get worse as you age, because the collagen in your skin loosens, but the fibrous bands don’t. Exercising to increase muscle and reduce fat can help, but there’s no permanent, easy solution. According to Dr. Madfes, firming creams such as Clarins Total Body Lift (link) can temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite by causing constriction in the skin — good to know if you really want to don that miniskirt and paint the town red!

Myth: Cocoa butter prevents stretch marks.
Fact: Actually, anything from baby oil to hand lotion will work. It’s not the cocoa butter, it’s the massaging and gentle stretching action when you smooth in the cream that preps your skin to stretch without leaving telltale “marks” behind. If you already have stretch marks, Dr. Madfes suggests prescription retinoid creams — but you can’t use these while you’re pregnant.

Myth: Green tea boosts your metabolism.
Fact: Despite all the hype over green tea — which does have many health benefits — there’s still no magic weight-loss bullet. Recent studies have indicated that roughly six to 11 cups of green tea per day may increase the rate at which you burn calories after a meal, but that’s not the same as raising your metabolism. According to Suzanne Farrell, registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, the only proven way to do that is to exercise, build muscle and eat throughout the day. As for green tea supplements? Farrell doesn’t recommend them: “You’re just being a guinea pig,” she says.

Beauty By The Numbers

buskerdog — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:23:18 +0000