Fantasia Salon / Spa and Wig Specialists

Would you believe that some of the same makeup tips apply whether you are 15 or 50? How can that be? Well, it’s all about the “less is best” concept.

If you are 50+, it’s probably time to purchase your makeup at a salon or professional makeup counter. Unlike drug stores or mass -market retailers, which usually have no testers and really bad lighting, at a salon or professional makeup counter, you can try the products out, with the assistance of a makeup professional, and you can tell what you are really going to look like because the lighting is appropriate. Yes, you are going to spend more money than you would at Target or Walmart. But, doesn’t it make more sense to spend more and get it right then to go cheap, get the products home, and never wear them again because they don’t look good on you, and, then you keep repeating this process? What’s the definition of insanity? It makes more sense to spend more money, get something which is going to be good and flattering for you. This will save you both time and money in the long run!

You might want to seriously consider mineral makeup if you haven’t yet tried it. At Fantasia we sell Jane Iredale Skin Care Mineral Makeup and our staff and clientele have fallen in love with the products. In addition to being affordable, the products have natural SPF protection to protect your skin which is important whether you are 15 or 50+.

If you like eyeliner, remember that as you age, eyeliner can drag down the appearance of the lid, especially if the line is too thick. You might want to consider permanent pigment makeup for your eyeliner. You wake up with your eyeliner on and never have to give it a second thought. A lot of us baby boomers are in love with the permanent makeup concept. Personally, I’ve had the eyeliner, lipliner and lips done and it’s great. Linda Gutzkow works with Fantasia Salon and does a fantastic job with the permanent pigmentation makeup.

If you have never been one to learn the art of wearing makeup, this is where the salons and professional makeup counters really shine. You can go in and have a complementary make over. Obviously the sales people would like to sell you something but you don’t have to buy everything in one visit. Start with lipstick or foundation and build from there. Use their expertice to learn how to look your absolute best.

When you know you look good- your confidence level soars, whether you are 15 or 50+!

Hereditary influence is a factor in almost all cases of permanent hair loss. Temporary hair loss, on the other hand, can result from nutritional deficiencies, as well as other causes. If a proper diet is maintained, poor nutrition will be avoided and thus, this will help reduce hair thinning and hair loss. Here are a few facts which may help us re-evaluate what we should or should not be eating.

Did you know that a high fat and high sodium diet contributes to hair loss? This type of diet is harmful to our kidneys and increases the acidity of our blood which results in hair loss. Having a low to moderate fat diet may help slow down the hair thinning process. According to some studies, male pattern baldness is connected to high testosterone levels which may have resulted from a diet too high in fat and animal protein.

However, on the other hand, too low protein in one’s diet is not good for the hair as it can lead to hair loss since it can make the hair go in to a resting phase. So, balance is a good thing.
Mono-saturated fats such as those found in nuts and extra virgin olive oil encourage hair growth and revitalize hair follicles.

Too high carbohydrate diets are not good for healthy hair. Carbohydrates are converted to glucose during the digestion process. This raises the blood sugar level of the body which can promote hair loss. Avoid foods with high carbohydrate content such as rice, pasta and potatoes.

Alcohol lowers the zinc, vitamin B, vitamin C and folic acid levels in our body. Each of these are important for the health of our hair. Not to mention the fact that alcohol contains a high level of sugar and calories.

Caffeine decreases the levels of vitamins B and C, potassium and zinc in our body. This deficiency of vitamins strains the adrenal glands which increase levels of DHT, which as we’ve previously discussed, induces hair loss.

Anemia is one cause of thinning hair. Avoid anemia by eating lots of iron-rich foods such as dark green leafy vegetables, dried fruits, cherry juice, liver, eggs, raisins, dates and whole grain cereals.

Silica is another nutrient that helps improve the health of hair. It can reduce hair loss, promotes healthier hair regrowth, strengthens hair follicles and gives shine and luster to our hair. In studies done abroad, silica has been shown to slow down hair loss. An example of silica rich foods would be raw oats, green and red peppers, cucumbers and sprouts.

Be sure to incorporate iodine rich foods into your diet as they are very critical in maintaining the health of your hair. Use sea salt to flavor your food. Eat vegetables such as spinach, carrots, turnips and cabbage. Pine nuts, mustard, millet and cold-pressed seed oils such as pumpkin, walnut and flax seed oil are also rich in iodine.

Can we stop hair loss with diet alone? Maybe not but we can slow it down and be healthier in the process just by following some of these dietary guidelines.

I’ve been passing along some things I’ve been reading about how you should accentuate yourself as you age. Maturity is a badge of honor to be respected with good taste. There comes a time when all the extra bling and fabulousness of fashion, hair, and makeup is best when toned down. Wisdom carries with it a confidence and sophistication which allows you to do less and achieve more. We are no longer screaming to be looked at, grasping for status or hipness. Less is more makes a statement in and of itself that doesn’t require bright lips, over-the-top earrings, or a crazy hip belt to bring it forward.

Here are some great guidelines for aging gracefully:

• Avoid drawing attention to your mouth with bright or dark lips
• Avoid drawing attention to your aging eyelids with frosted eyeshadow
• Avoid drawing attention to aging hands with bright nail polish and a multitude of attention-grabbing rings
• Draw the eye to your face with the neckline interest and earrings
• When in doubt, leave it out

I’ll be the first to tell you I personally like funky. However, I find these days I like funky within reason. There are some hairstyles I might have worn a few years ago that I will passon today. The same with clothes. While I really like the boho look, there are somethings I just can’t bring myself to wear today that I would have worn only a few years ago.

I must admit I still like bling in purses and shoes. That is one addiction I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to break. There’s just something about the gold with the stones in shoes and purses. I guess since they aren’t drawing attention to the aging parts of my body I’m okay, besides, I’ve always said my feet are one of my best assets, so I don’t mind drawing attention to them. The only sad thing is that they are covered up for over half of the year!

Because Fantasia specializes in hair loss solutions for women (and men and children), we obviously discuss hair loss a lot. In this post, let’s define the different terms used for various forms of hair loss as there are several.

Diffuse hair loss: This is a gradual thinning of the hair as opposed to bald patches and is the most common form of hair loss in women. The replacement of old hairs by new hairs is slowed down so that the hair becomes sparse and the scalp can be seen clearly through the hair. Causes for diffuse hair loss can be numerous and can include stress, restriction of the blood supply, a poor nervous system and hormonal influences.

Androgenetic alopecia, also referred to as female pattern baldness: This is often linked to hormonal changes with the hair loss following events such as menopause, childbirth or as a result of stopping or starting oral contraceptive pills. The hair loss is generally more uniform over the scalp than in the male counterpart. If you remember our discussions on DHT being the hair loss culprit, that is the cause for this type of hair loss. The hair follicles are genetically predisposed to be over sensitive to DHT and become smaller and smaller over time, leading to eventual hair loss.

Telogen effulvium: This occurs when the growing phase of the hair is interrupted prematurely causing the hair follicles to enter the telogen (resting) phase of the hair cycle earlier than normal. Two to four months later, following the normal cyclic pattern, diffuse shedding of the hair begins. When this happens there are not enough hairs left in the anagen, or growing phase and the result is diffuse thinning of the hair.

Pregnancy: Hormone levels increase as pregnancy begins and slows down the hair growth cycle. Hair that should stop growing continues to grow beyond the usual life cycle. Often this means that the hair appears to grow thicker as more hairs are present than normal. After the birth, hormone levels change very quickly, the hairs that were growing beyond their normal life span enter the telogen or resting phase and begin falling out. This can sometimes appear to happen all at once and cause concern to the new mom.

Late onset thinning: This is diffuse hair loss across the scalp as density is reduced gradually. This is due to age-related hormonal changes as the natural reduction of oestrogen/progesterone production results in the hair follicles becoming smaller and smaller. These follicles then produce finer and finer hair until there is a general reduction of over all density.

Alopecia areata: This loss is very common and will affect 1-2% of the population at some point in their lives. Typically the hair loss is patchy and most sufferers are children and young adults (less than 40 years of age), though, it can affect people of all ages. The hair loss is usually sudden and manifests itself in small, smooth-skinned patches that are likely to gradually widen with time. It can also affect the sufferer’s nails, giving them a pitted, ridges or brittle appearance. The exact cause is unknown, although current theories are that it is an auto-immune disease, stress or that it has a genetic basis. If the hair loss progresses until all the scalp hair is lost, it is known as alopecia totalis or- alopecia universalis if all body hair is lost.

Psuedopelade: is characterised by the development of small, smooth patches without any clinical changes other than transient erythema (redness.) The initial patch is usually on the crown of the head, but can occur anywhere on the scalp. It’s generally regarded as a clinical syndrome, which may be the end result of any one of a number of different pathological processes due to a weakened immune system.

Hopefully, if you hear these phrases or terms discussed by a doctor, health professional or anyone; you will now have a better understanding as to what they are talking about. Should you or a loved one suffer with hair loss for any reason, Fantasia Salon is here to help you find the best solution for your situation.

Let’s talk about the importance of being current. Have you ever been around someone when all of a sudden you have this odd feeling of nostalgia? I’ve been in homes like this but I’ve even been around people who have changed nothing in decades. I happen to be someone who really likes change whether in the home or in fashion and beauty so I really don’t get it when someone never changes anything. I have a friend whom I love dearly, who has not changed her hair since we first met over 30 years ago. Since that time, I have changed hair styles and colors who knows how many times.

I have another acquaintenence who has the Donna Douglas, Ellie May Clampet thing going on and I think the Beverly Hillbillies went off the air in the 70’s! What’s really bizzare about this is that she is a hair dresser! (She does NOT work at Fantasia, in case you are wondering!)

Keeping current does not have to be an expensive challenge. That is of course, unless you have to have designer everything! The best way to keep abreast of trends is magazines. You don’t even have to buy the magazines, you can hang out at Barnes and Noble and scope out the latest fashion trends. Or how about TV? Oprah is always discussing the hottest, latest and greatest both on her TV show and in her magazine!

Here are some things you should never do/wear/own - particularly if you are over 40!

• a micro mini
• combat boots with formal wear
• white panty hose
• frosted eye shadow
• chunky platform shoes
• dark brown lipstick
• butterfly barrettes
• extreme low-rise jeans
• visible underwear
• spiral perm

In stead, learn what is age appropriate and how to look “modern”. You can look current and youthful without being over the top. Our image should reflect the person we have become, not the person we were.

Here are some “do’s” when it comes to dressing age appropriate.

• Create symmetry with your hair, clothes and makeup - this will make you your most attractive
• Avoid fads; know and wear your trends as soon as you see them emerging
• Update your classics regularly, with trends in color, line and texture
• A little bling goes a long way, when it comes to accents, less is more
• It’s easy to become outdated, looking current keeps you alive and in the game

Age-appropriate is not expressing who we once were, but about declaring who we have become!

The accepted belief among physicians is that most hair loss is due to a combination of genetics and hormonal changes, such as menopause. The less common form of hair loss, alopecia areata, is believed to be am immune response gone awry in which the hair patches fall out and may never grow back.

Are there natural remedies that can help with hair loss? There are and we’ve talked about some of them before but a refresher course is not a bad thing.

If your hair loss begins around the onset of menopause, you can maintain hormonal balance, hence hair thickness, with herbs containing plant-based estrogens such as dong quai or ashwanganda. Other herbs that exert mild estrogenic effects include damiana, black cohosh and sage.

Another great choice is saw palmetto because it blocks the formation of DHT which, if you remember is a culprit in hair loss in both males and females.

A simple test done at the doctor’s office can determine if you have an under-active thyroid which is a contributor to hair loss. If this is the case for you, adding iodine-rich sea vegetables such as kelp to your diet help boost thyroid function and supply essential minerals needed for proper hair growth.

Prolonged periods of emotional stress are a definite factor in thinning hair in women. Stress may trigger hair loss by weakening the thyroid and adrenal glands. A B-complex supplement to support the nervous system during and after stressful times would be a great idea. Also, the Chinease herb fo ti will help nourish the adrenals and act as an adaptogen to help the body better cope with physiological or emotional stress.

Sometimes hair thinning can be a result of malnutrition. A lack of essential fatty acids needed for healthy cell membranes, can contribute to hair loss, skin diseases and depressed immune response. Fish oils are the most common dietary sources of essential fatty acids. If you are a vegetarian, you can supplement with flax-seed oil to prevent hair from becoming dry and brittle.

So, as you can see, there are natural approaches to help stop hair loss. Since we are a hair-obsessed culture, and thinning hair can make people- especially women- feel unattractive, unhealthy or stigmitized, it’s good to know we can exercise some control with what we put in our body. So yea, herbs (vitamins and minerals) to the rescue!

When it comes to hair loss in women, there are many myths out there. As we have previously discussed, hair loss in women is very common and over 30% of women will experience thinning hair at some point in their life.

When you research female hair loss, you should determine what is real and what are the myths when talking with your girlfriends. That is if you are even discussing these things with your girlfriends. I’ve heard women say things like: I know your salon could really help my friend who is going bald but it’s not something I’m comfortable talking with her about. Hopefully this friend will find out about Fantasia some how, some way.

Let’s explore the top 10 myths about hair loss in women.

• Hair loss is a male only problem
• Female pattern baldness doesn’t really exist
• Only elderly women have thinning hair
• Brushing and combing hair too often causes hair loss
• Washing your hair too often causes hair loss
• Hair loss is a result of too much dyeing and bleaching of the hair
• Standing on your head will grow new hair
• Shaving your head will make it grow back thicker
• Wearing hats can cause hair loss
• There is no help for female pattern hair baldness

If you believe any of these, you need to continue your research because you are off track. Part of the reason treating female pattern baldness is such a problem is that there are so many misconceptions out there as to why, when and to whom it occurs.

The DHT hormone is produced by both the sexes. In the men it’s produced in the testicles and the adrenals. In women it’s produced in the ovaries and the adrenal glands. In the men, DHT, can become the villain as it binds to the hair follicles, thereby retarding their growth and cutting of their blood supply. What happens then is the hair thins and eventually falls out.

In women, hair loss is usually caused by hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiencies, stress or diseases. Illness and medications can cause hair loss. Thyroid, diabetes, kidney failure and lupus can all lead to hair loss. Polycystic ovary syndrome in adult women and teenage girls can lead to hair loss.

Medications such as acne medications can cause hair loss. Amphetamines in diet pills and chemotherapy are widely known to cause hair loss. Alopecia areata causes hair loss on the scalp and sometimes the body. This is an autoimmune disease, which means one’s own immune system causes damage to it’s self.

Once you understand the causes of thinning hair in women, you can then learn how to end the hair loss and reverse the effects. At Fantasia, we specialize in providing solutions for hair loss in men, women and children. We would love to work with you to help you find the best solution so you can get back on track with your life.

For many adults, particularly women, exiting the teen years does not always guarantee peaches and creme skin.

Sometimes, the problems of adolescence persist. Teen acne and adult acne are different; teen skin tends to be very oily while adults with skin issues often suffer with dry skin.

With the teens, typically males suffer acne in greater numbers than females and with adult acne, the problem tends to be more prevalent among women, often accompanying pregnancy, menstruation and menopause.

Unfortunately it’s difficult because, unlike the teens, adults cannot be told they are going to “out grow” the acne. However, there are a lot of treatment options out there, you just need to take the time to discover what’s going to work for you.

It’s not one size fits all, that’s for sure. Different things will work for different people.

Acne occurs when the skin’s oil glands over produce, clogging the skin’s pores. This causes growth of naturally occurring bacteria, which releases enzymes that cause the skin to swell and redden and can lead to whiteheads or blackheads.

Pre-menopausal women, who produce less estrogen, are more prone to acne. No matter what the cause of the acne, it can change a person’s overall appearance and even one’s life.

One acne sufferer who dealt with severe acne until her late 20’s, said she tried a bunch of things to no avail. Then, she found an esthetician who worked with her over a two year period, and helped her clear up the acne. They did several glycolic acid peels and a rigorous skin-care regimen. The former acne sufferer reports that her self-confidence skyrocketed after her acne cleared up. In her opinion, the most awful part of acne is what it does to a person’s self esteem. This particular person became so confident, she left her former career as an interpreter for the deaf and went to school to become an esthetician. Today she is a supervisor at a spa, helping others with skin care issues.

Facials can be a great help for those suffering with adult acne but you won’t be able to turn things around with a single facial. This is where it is helpful to work with an esthetician to establish a treatment plan. Usually Spas offer packages where you can save on the cost of facials by purchasing several at once.

Other treatments proven to be beneficial are BLU-U treatments and PPx Therapy. These are FDA approved devices for the treatment of acne. There are also laser facials where a device heats up the upper dermis layer of the skin, stimulating collagen growth. As with facials, this is not a one time treatment. Typically you would need about 4 treatments to begin noticing a difference.

There are many treatments available today for adult acne but you will have to experiment (and spend some money) to see what is the best treatment option for you. Fortunately, with modern technology, there are ways of beating acne, not only the scourge of adolecsence but some adults as well.

A make up and fashion artist has recently written a book and gives us some very useful information regarding fashion, hair and skin-care beauty tips. These tips are primarily geared for women 45+ years of age.

In his opinion, there are five fundamentals, line, proportion, color, texture and accent. The eye follows a line. The faster the eye moves across the line, the longer and slimmer the line appears. If you want to appear as tall and slim as possible, you want as few breaks in line as possible. Line is created in the entire silhouette of your body and in each individual part that makes up your silhouette. This would include the hairline, the neckline, the jawline, the brow line and the lip line.

Here are some rules regarding lines:

• Diagonal and vertical lines slenderize
• Round adds pounds
• Horizontals add heft
• Square evokes masculine
• Oval evokes feminine

The human eye is attracted to symmetry and balance. Studies confirm that babies are more attracted to a face that is balanced and proportionate. The eye is drawn to the culprit of disproportion. Imbalance creates disharmony and wherever it is, we notice. Whether it’s your hair in relation to your face, your hips in relation to your shoulders or your eyes in relations to your lips, balance in figure and features is a desired goal.

Color incites feelings in us. Our eyes are drawn to color. Wherever you put color on your body, the eye will rest for a moment. It makes the most sense to have color near and around your face because that is where the attention should be.

When it comes to color, think warm and cool. Most people look best with either warm colors or cool colors near their face. You should understand what warm and cool colors are, and which look best in your hair, your makeup and the clothing near your face.

It’s not just color; hue and intensity also create balance. When you wear black pants, your butt looks smaller than when you wear white. People look at the light colors first. Use color blocking to your advantage. Whether in your hair, makeup, or clothes, use light colors on areas you want to look larger or get more attention, and use dark colors on areas you want to minimize.

Textures can accentuate or minimize. It can add heft or slenderize. By increasing texture where you want fullness, and decreasing it where you want slimness, you can create balance and proportion. The bulkier the texture, the heavier you will look. Texture can also hide or reveal any flaws. Wearing anything shiny or sparkly will instantly reveal and draw attention to any imperfection.

Texture can also be created with patterns. Large patterns expand what they are placed upon, and small patterns diminish. Texture draws the eye to or away. Adding texture to a haircut will give movement and help to create the illusion of more fullness. Too much texture adds fullness but eliminates shine. When it comes to hair, too much texture in not a benefit.

As one ages, the texture of the makeup one wears needs balance. Dewy draws attention to wrinkles and uneven texture faster than satin over cellulite. Too much matte will remove any glow, creating a corpse-like look. Balanced texture is always flattering.

Here are important texture tips:

• Avoid shiny or frosty makeup. Ditch dramatic frosts, extreme gloss, dewy foundations and sparkly bronzers and blushes.
• Consider adding texture to hair for fullness and bounce or minimizing texture for shine.
• Choose flat matte clothing texture for the most slenderizing look.
• Wear bulky textures where you want to increase focus and fullness.
• Consider that shine and sparkle, which catch light, are best worn over a smooth surface.

Accents are the ultimate attention getters. They give any outfit a boost. Accents include buttons, scarves, jewelry, bows, metal ornamentation, stones, fabric, prints, glass and ceramic. You can make any outfit come alive with the right theme of accents.

Think strategically about the placement of accents. Use them to attract or distract; to add excitement and interest; to create a mood, feeling or attitude.

Imagine your concerns if your hair is your trademark and you find you are losing it because you are pregnant. That is where celebrity Ashlee Simpson finds herself these days. She’s pregnant and becoming very concerned about her hair loss. It’s certainly not all that uncommon as postpartum hair loss affects 40-50 percent of women. Other celebrities have gone public with their struggles with postpartum hair loss. Debra Messing, Cate Blanchette aned Gwyneth Paltrow have all discussed this. But, unlike the average, everyday woman, who does not have a team of hair stylists to mask the effects, this can be a very upsetting situation.

While hair can be at it’s best during pregnancy, the stress and delivery of a child and the tremendous hormone fluctuations associated with the process may cause significant hair loss. The rise in hormones during pregnancy helps keep a woman from losing her hair. But, after delivery, the normal hair loss which was delayed during pregnancy occurs in a short period of time. Postpartum hair loss is called telogen effluvium and is a temporary condition that normally spans 3-4 months. Once hormones stabilize, new mothers can expect their hair to re-grow over another span of 3-4 months.

Telogen effluvium does not cause permanent hair loss. If, however, a woman has female pattern hair loss, often once the hair grows back, the overall hair density is less than it was before pregnancy. Many women report that they first noticed their hair becoming thin after their first child was born. The good news is that today there are non-chemical, non surgical solutions for postpartum hair loss.

New mothers experiencing postpartum hair loss suffer added psychological stress during an already stressful situation. The most effective treatments for telogen effluvium are time and emotional support. When it comes to pregnancy, it doesn’t matter if a woman is a celebrity or not. Every new mom needs the support of loved ones to get through this blessed and stressful time of her life!

Just knowing there are good solutions out there for postpartum hair loss can perhaps eliminate some of the stress!