2012 Hairstyling Tips and Misses

From Emmy updos, to long silky tresses a la Kim Kardashian, to short cropped sophisticated Kiera Knightley looks, you can choose a style and own it this year. Even if you have zero time in the morning or all the time in the world, we have the best hairstyling tips for you this season in addition to some common mistakes you want to avoid.

What Works versus What Doesn’t

1.      Routine haircuts are essential to maintaining healthy hair.  Going six months without a haircut actually makes styling and shaping harder for your hairstylist. Go every 4-8 weeks and keep your tresses beautiful!

2.      Do not work with too much hair at once. You see professionals do this all the time with their nifty montage of clips – pin up excess and work from the bottom up. This gives your hair a more finished look that will last longer.

3.      Pay attention to your roots. When using styling product, really concentrate on your roots and brush up and out to get more volume or straight down to get a more flattened look. The healthier the roots, the healthier the mane.

4.      Don’t bake the good stuff! In other words, don’t expose your hair to the highest heat setting on your flat iron/curling iron unless you have very coarse or extremely curly hair. Do not keep heat on one spot too long either. Mist with a thermal styling spray for added protection.

5.      Use the right brush! Many women do not use the right size brush for their hair. Here’s the rule: under the chin, use thin (i.e. 1” round brush). Anything longer, use a 2” or 3” round brush.

6.      Apply product to wet hair. Your hair is much more responsive to product when it’s freshly washed and it’s also much easier to distribute.

7.      Do not allow mousse/gel to let your hair arrive DOA. Control, control, control! Do not overdo the product on dry hair otherwise your tresses will come out looking greasy, shellacked, or flat.

8.      Use the right product. Yes, there are tons of product sitting on shelves, in salons and staring you in the face every time you pick up a magazine, but only a select few are right for you.

9.      Allow your hair to set. Whether you are using a dryer or an iron let your hair cool down afterwards. You are ruining your work if you brush through warm curls or let go of the round brush when your hair is still hot.

10. Quit horsing around! Let your ponytail be healthy too. Do not use rubber bands or elastics with metal clasps as they will snag your hair and create split ends. Also, do not pull your hair back when it’s wet or pull it back too tight – allow it to dry and use some styling cream for a more finished look.

Check back next week for more hairstyling tips!

Much Love,

Debbie Schade

CEO/Special Effects Salon & Spa

Small Business and Stress: How to Cope

Do you feel like this tower of rocks? Perfectly balancing on a mound of work and obligations ready at any moment to fall flat on your face? As a business owner, stress management is a huge concern especially when things continue to pile up. So, how do you cope with stress in your small business?

On average, the more stressful a work environment is, the greater the chance of developing coronary heart disease which is the leading cause of death in the United States. As a business owner, you not only have to think of yourself, but your employees as well. Do they feel stressed? Do you convey your stress onto your staff? And, more importantly, you need to delegate responsibilities to your team.

Small business owners try to do it all; from handling one-on-one relationships with clients, to paying the monthly bills, to sending out mass emails, managing payroll, and much more. The problem: you are trying to be too many people at once! You are not a bookkeeper, and an accountant, and a business owner, and a manager, and a salesperson, and a spokesperson, and a receptionist, and a social media guru, AND a blogger…you get the idea.

You cannot possibly tackle all of these responsibilities and manage to keep the towering mountain of rocks from crashing down! Plus, more responsibility means more stress. So what do you do? Figure out which members of your team are good at not just cutting hair, mowing the lawn or answering phones.  There is hidden talent everywhere you look and a good small business owner knows how to find it. This may mean a boost in salary of some kind to keep things fair, but will mean all the difference in your day-to-day stressors and level of responsibility.

So what am I really trying to say?  Let GO! 

Take a deep breathe, and let parts of your business you are holding onto like a dog with a bone, go. This allows you to focus on what is really important, like your customers.

Still having a hard time? Find a friend or family member who knows what you’re going through, needs an extra couple bucks a week and is willing to help. Then you’re not outsourcing to people you don’t know or trust. However, remember one crucial fact: the less personal business gets, the easier it is for you to do your job effectively. In a phrase: choose your team wisely, grasshopper.

Much Love,

Debbie Schade

CEO/Special Effects Salon & Spa

Healthy Food for Beautiful Skin

Healthy Food for Beautiful Skin

Did you know most anti-aging creams or other novelties in a jar are not only expensive, but less and less based on actual science? Instead of spending over $200 for an overnight cream in a 2 ounce jar, start looking into how healthy food can improve your skin.

Lifestyle is important, not the amount of money you spend on products.  “The things you can do to beautify your skin are remarkably similar to what you can do to strengthen your heart, control your weight, lift your mood and live longer and better.” So, let’s get on the same page shall we?

The top five foods to improve skin resiliency, tone, complexion and overall health are:

1.      Whole Grains – benefit: clear and moisturized skin. Grains instead of processed food can clear up your complexion tremendously.  

2.      Nuts (especially almonds) – benefit: young and soft skin. Nuts are primarily antioxidants. Vitamin E combats skin-aging free radicals, holds moisture (relieving dryness and making skin look younger). Almonds, pistachios and walnuts also contain a ton of omega-3 fatty acids which is another amazing skin nutrient.

3.      Red and Green Vegetables – yes, eat your veggies it will make your skin bright and smooth! Carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach are the real winners in this category because they are full of beta-carotene which is converted to Vitamin A (an antioxidant) and, in turn, can give you anti-acne benefits as well.

4.      Citrus Fruits – benefit: smooth and taut skin. Citrus fruits are a primary ingredient in most beauty creams and aid in the body’s production of collagen (think taut skin, not saggy and old!)

5.      Oysters – smelly, but good for meeting your omega-3 fatty acid and zinc requirements to give you smooth, clear and glowing skin. Yup, you’ve heard of the “Mediterranean diet” and it works! Increasing omega-3 intake actually decreases inflammation which directly correlates to older-looking skin.  These fatty acids can also keep the heart’s arteries clear, increasing circulation which is also crucial to skin health.

While beauty in a jar may seem like an easy fix, a cheaper and much healthier way to go is to include some of these ingredients in your daily diet. Eating the right food will make your body glow from the inside out!

Much Love,

Debbie Schade

CEO/Special Effects Salon & Spa 

Hot Stone Massage

Hot Stone Massage Demystified

When walking into any spa, you want to make sure you know enough about the treatments you are receiving rather than saying “where the heck did all my money just go and why?”

I remember walking into a spa in Manhattan, which will remain nameless, and received my first ever sugar body scrub. I understood the concept, but did not really understand the technique. The massage therapist came in, did not introduce herself and proceeded to “take the skin off me” for 45 minutes. I was not well covered and felt embarrassed, exposed and completely bewildered (not to mention violated). It was the worst spa experience I ever had.

So, when it came time to try a hot stone massage, you bet your buns I did my research…thoroughly!

Hot stone massages are not very different from your regular Swedish or deep tissue massage.  The whole concept of a hot stone (basalt - heat retaining) is to warm the areas on your body (back, feet and hands) so your circulation really gets cranking and your muscles relax faster.  This allows the massage therapist to get in there and work out all the kinks beyond what you would normally experience from a massage – depending on an intensity you feel comfortable with.

Guess what? The warmth of the hot stones also calms the nervous system!  Some additional healing properties are also known to make hot stone massage more worthwhile than a traditional massage. You can tackle issues such as:

1. Back pain and aches
2. Poor circulation
3. Osteoarthritis and arthritis pain
4. Stress, anxiety and tension
5. Insomnia
6. Depression

While the concept is not complicated, it should make sense that a hot stone massage should be done to your comfort level.  Know what you’re paying for and what to expect from your experience.

We are always here to help should you have any questions!

Much Love,

Debbie Schade

CEO | Special Effects Spa

631-477-2265

A Nail Salon How-To

A Nail Salon How-To: Preventing Fungal Infections

30 to 35 million people suffer from some kind nail fungus every year! How can you prevent infections and still have wonderfully beautiful nails/toenails?  The solution is simple enough and can be extremely cost effective if done at home or at the right salon.  Here are a few tips to get you started:

1.      Keep your nails short, dry and clean.  Eliminate the growth of fungus underneath long nails by keeping them short.  Completely dry your hands and toes after showering or washing your hands as bacteria love moist areas.

2.      Don’t trim or pick at the skin around your nails.  Any open areas on your skin, which is your primary defense against fungal invaders, leaves an opening for harmful germs and bacteria to enter your body.

3.      Choose a reputable manicure and pedicure salon.  Make sure the instruments used at the salon are sterilized or go all out and bring your own – this particular hint is highly recommended by www.mayoclinic.com. 

It’s important to remember nail fungus can spread from nail to nail, so if you’re giving manis or pedis at home or are a nail technician by trade, wash your hands after touching a nail that looks suspect. 

Also, as sad as it sounds, try to prevent covering nail fungal infections under a coat of nail polish and give up artificial nails.  Both nail polish and the use of artificial nails collect excess moisture and can exacerbate an infection.

For the best results at home, use the following items:

Nail clippers

Nail file

Moisturizer

Our nail technicians are here seven days a week to help with any problems or concerns you might have.

“I just blow-dry my hair and put on mascara and lip gloss, and I'm ready to go. I really don't get long nails. They're so Edward Scissorhands.” ~ Kelly Clarkson

Much Love,

Debbie Schade

CEO/Special Effects Salon & Spa

631.477.2265

Make Over Makeup

Make Over Makeup

Move Over Drab

Fall colors and hues are right around the corner and the end of summer is almost here *sigh* but your makeup is in desperate need of a makeover.  The best way to get over the end of summer blues…buy a bottle of wine or two, call up some of your buddies and go from drab to glam.

Remember, putting on makeup is supposed to be fun and relaxing with the end result being a beautiful and more radiant you (only on the outside because we all know how wonderful you are on the inside!)

Start with the basics: a good primer to prep the face for your foundation, moisturizer to keep the skin glowing, and maybe some Retinol based product to firm everything up (should you need it, of course, we all wish our skin was still in its 20’s).  

Quick tips to make your makeup routine flawless, fast, and FUN:

1) Always use a good moisturizer and/or primer before applying any concealer or foundation.  This will actually prevent the overuse of products and make the application itself much more natural looking.

**Insert sip of wine or two and quick giggle with friends**

2) Using a mosaic powder is a quick and easy way to brighten up any complexion and can be reapplied throughout the day to freshen up without getting cakey on the skin.

3) Remember, color is great to play with, but in the right way.  If you create a bold eye shadow look, play it down on the bright lipstick and vice versa.  You’re making a beauty statement one way or the other, but with both being too bright, you’re making a beauty faux pas.

4) Replace your mascara every 3 months (if used daily).  Mascara has a notoriously short life span, tending to dry out and clump after just a few weeks.  By using fresh mascara, you can be guaranteed an effortless application and no mid-day flaking.  Also…skip the bottom lashes.  It can be aging on any eye.

Much Love,

Debbie Schade

CEO | Special Effects Spa

631-477-2265

P.S.  “The most beautiful make-up of a woman is passion.  But cosmetics are easier to buy.” ~Yves Saint Laurent

Excessive Sweating: Don't Sweat It!

Excessive Sweating: Don’t Sweat It!

We walked into work this morning caked in humidity, covered in sweat (from the car to the front door) and, even worse, with bad hair!  The real issue: sweating too much and the negative effects it can have on the body. “In hyperhidrosis, the body's cooling mechanism is so overactive that it produces four or five times the amount of sweat that you need.” This can amount to liters worth of valuable water shed from your body every day! 

How do you combat excessive sweating, especially when it affects your daily life?  Here are a few tips:

1. Lower the amount of stress in your life – yep, stress is the number one thing to nix off your list so get crackin! 
2. Bathe 1 or 2 times a day and don’t scrub your skin too much – dry your skin well afterwards.
3. Use a deodorant with antiperspirant and try putting it on at night before bed.
4. Keep an extra shirt tucked away somewhere at all times (just in case).
5. Limit hot drinks (coffee – gasp!) that will make you sweat more.

Stress relieving massages with specific treatments to drain your body of excess fluids (lymphatic drainage, for example) is a great start to tackling this embarrassing problem without all the hassle of trying fancy at home tricks or seeing a physician.

Take some time to relax, be calm and, hopefully, collect your thoughts and conquer the days ahead – stress and sweat free!

Much Love,

Debbie Schade

CEO | Special Effects Spa

631-477-2265

p.s. “There are so many things that we wish we had done yesterday, so few that we feel like doing today.” ~Mignon McLaughlin