During a break in the day, I approached Karen to introduce myself. “Your hairstyle is terrific,” I told her. “I work in a salon and I have to tell you that your cut really complements your face. You have a great look.” She thanked me and we continued to talk about the camp and her role as a hospice volunteer for a local hospital.

Later on, Karen and I found ourselves together again in working on a craft activity for the camp. I made another comment about her great hairstyle. She smiled and said, “I’ll let you in on a secret – it’s a wig.” And she went on to tell me her story…

I lost my father to pancreatic cancer in 1954 when he was only 37 years old, and I was only 9 years old. A few years later, alopecia areata came along and claimed most of my beautiful naturally curly auburn hair. The only psychologist in the small town where we lived advised my mother that it was a delayed reaction to my father’s death. My high school years are extremely painful memories due to my appearance and lack of confidence caused by my drastic, but thankfully not total, hair loss. Fortunately for me, one of my high school teachers suggested to my mother and me that I should wear a wig to improve my appearance which would greatly enhance my ability to have a successful career in life. My teacher’s wife, who was a cosmetologist, did all the research, made all the arrangements, and they drove my mother and me to St. Louis to purchase my first hair prosthesis. From that day forward, my appearance, self-esteem and life changed drastically for the better.

Karen went on after high school to be a court reporter, a career that required her to be up in front of a lot of people. She says she could have never done a job like that had it not been for her teacher’s help with her appearance. Today, she volunteers with adults and children who have lost a loved one, she writes about grief and healing for different publications, and she also works with stray rescue.

Karen has several wigs – she told me that she has an extra one just for her kick boxing class. She has purchased the brands Jon Reneau, Rene of Paris, Noriko, and Raquel Welch – all brands that we carry at the Wig Shak in Collinsville (Metro East St. Louis area)! And she has had a great result with them. As she stated earlier, having a hair prosthesis not only enhanced her looks ( and she looks GREAT! ) , it changed her entire life. And her confidence has spilled over to benefit every person to which she has given her time and care.

To make your own beauty treatment, puree 3-4 good sized strawberries along with the juice of one lemon and ½ cup of plain yogurt. Let the treatment chill in the refrigerator, then apply liberally to your face and neck. This facial helps to tighten your pores and lighten skin discolorations that are common from sun exposure. After rinsing, be sure to apply an SPF lotion, as Vitamin C makes you extremely sensitive to UV rays.

A new technology using Blocks instead of the old perm rods give the hair a soft, unique wave and cushion the hair to keep it from frizzing. The blocks are also designed to help hold the perm in during processing instead of leaking off of the hair before it has a chance to soak in.

“This unique application and gentle formula contains no thio, and utilizes natural cysteamine, a natural amino acid, to realign the hair’s internal bonds to create a soft, sensuous wave. This gentle formula is safe for color-treated hair and incorporates Keratin Fusion Restructurizing Serum to infuse hair with silk and human hair keratin amino acids which strengthen, protect and add shine.” (http://www.curlstylist.com)

So, to add shine, volume and wave to your hair, get the Beach Wave- a PERFECT summer style. Call now for your appointment 618-345-6446.

THE SLEEK LOOK:
We recommend letting your hair air-dry then flat iron your hair with a heat protectant and hairspray in one, which we would recommend Straight Sexy Hair: Smooth and Protect.

LOOSE UPDO LOOK:
We would recommend letting your hair have a little wave by using Redken Fabricate through out your hair then letting it air-dry. Then use a loose ponytail and pull your hair up into a little bun.

All of these products can be purchased here at the Sizzor Shak Salon & Color Spa.

1. Spritz your brush with a shine enhancing spray like BedHead’s Superficial Smoothing Liquid. This spray will control the fly-aways & frizz, while adding a delicious scent to your hair.

2. To create just the right amount of bounce, use your brush to comb your hair straight back and secure it right between your nape & your crown.

3. Take a piece of hair from the underside of your ponytail (about a pinky’s width will do). Wrap it around your hair elastic & secure with a bobby pin. Then, spray it with Phyto Organics VaporGel, a firm hold micro-gel mist that adds flexibility and texture, along with UV protection.

Apply these 3 tricks & you’ll be on your way to achieving the perfect ponytail. For more information on products that will increase the beauty of your hair, stop by & see us at Sizzor Shak – Your “voted #1″ Collinsville salon.

1. REPUTATION MATTERS
Discover what people are saying. Ask around & read reviews. Collect as many different testimonials & opinions as possible to determine whether that salon is a good fit for you. Remember that a reputation can say a lot about how a salon values their guests.

2. EXPERIENCE NECESSARY
Look into the history of the salon. Find out how long they have had their doors open. You can almost always conclude that the longer a salon has been in business, the more experienced stylists you’ll find along with a superior educational system to train the new stylists in understanding the tricks of the trade.

3. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR
It’s not always necessary to pay top dollar for a haircut. However, remember this general rule of thumb: “The cheaper the price of the cut, the cheaper the look of the cut.” You definitely get what you pay for. Find a salon that guarantees and stands behind their work. Linda Weber, owner of Sizzor Shak Salon & Color Spa, says: “Never settle for a discount image at a bargain price; invest in the quality of your salon service. The way you will look and feel will pay priceless dividends in all aspects of your life.”

4. THE PERFECT FIT
You want to feel comfortable and trust the salon you choose. You want to love working with your stylist and share the experience with your friends. Just remember, if you’ve found a salon that you love, but you feel like you haven’t quite connected with a certain stylist yet, continue to match up with different stylists at the same salon. Consider asking the front desk who they’d recommend as a stylist specifically for you.  Finding the perfect fit of the right salon with a talented stylist who understands your unique style & personality will leave you with a renewed sense of confidence every time you walk out that door.

So next time you’re in the market for a new salon, keep these 4 Tips in mind to help you find the best salon in your area. You’ll be happy that you did.

Your smile has the capacity to make you look younger & more attractive. Mark Stibich, Ph.D. says that “The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don’t go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day — you’ll look younger and feel better.”

Smiling acts as a mood-shifter, a stress-reliever, an immune system-booster, and an endorphin-releaser among many other things. Smiling creates a positive aura that will draw people into knowing you in a deeper, more meaningful way. You’ll feel more confident, happier, & attractive.

And here’s the kicker: it won’t cost you a dime! It just takes a little effort, sincerity & discipline to form this priceless habit. Aside from that, smiling is absolutely free & the return-on-investment will bring you things that money cannot buy!

Put smiling to the test & see how it will change your life!