Hair Health Collinsville hair salon

Nutrition and Hair Health

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More than ever, we are seeing an increase in hair loss and a decline in hair health. Anywhere you go, you will notice people walking around trying to hide thinning hair or complete hair loss by covering it up with wigs, teasing, styling, or even hats.

What if there was a way to prevent hair loss without having to take medications, going to clinics, or using expensive treatments? What if there was a way for hair to naturally look shiny?

There are treatment centers that have helped many people for these exact hair issues. You’ve seen all the products out there that reverse hair loss. Those products even help with shine and plumping up the hair. Every day, people search for online articles on tricks that can help the appearance of hair loss.

Hair Health Collinsvillie Hair SalonStudies are showing more and more that our nutrition is diminishing in the United States with cases of obesity and inability to fight diseases. Could it be possible that there is a relationship between nutrition and hair health? In the Twilight Series: Breaking Dawn Part 1, Bella becomes seriously malnourished because of her pregnancy. At the end, when the venom kicks in and breathes life back into her, you see her hair all of a sudden rejuvenate with color and health. This is a great example of how our diets can suck the life out us or breathe life back into our bodies. Malnutrition is a serious concern as our nation turns to processed foods, void of nutritional value and high in empty calories.

As our foods go through processing and sit on the shelves with preservatives, plastics and chemicals, they lose their natural nutrition and just become calories you use to feed your appetite. Most Americans have now heard that eating fresh & raw foods are the easiest and best way to get the nutrients you need. Foods in their most raw & fresh forms have the highest nutrient level than in any other form.

“How does all of this affect my hair loss?” Well, hair health starts from the inside. When you are malnourished, your body does not get the proteins it needs to grow healthy hair. Your skin starts drying out and to compensate, your body tries to produce more oils, which actually clogs up hair follicles causing hair to thin and eventually die out. Once the follicle is clogged with extra oil, it becomes very difficult to clear that follicle to grow new hair.

So, what should you do to improve your hair health?

  • Start now by cleaning up your diet with fresh fruits and veggies.
  • Juicing is a great way to get a lot of nutrients without having to eat a lot.
  • Cut out as many processed foods as possible (including white sugar, white flour, and white salt- these foods go through a bleaching process- adding bleach to our diets is a slow way to poison our bodies).
  • Cut out the chemicals in your diet, such as artificial sweeteners, monosodium glutamate (MSG), dyes, preservatives & hormone filled meats.
  • Read the ingredients on the food you buy before you consume that food.
  • Start researching new ways to add absorption-ready nutrients to your diet.
  • Add in supplemental vitamins (whole food vitamins are the best kind of vitamins- brands such as Standard Process and Zeal are a couple of examples of whole food vitamins- this kind of vitamin is made from food which is proven to absorb into your body better than any synthetic vitamins).

As Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Let your food prevent your hair loss, before it becomes a problem!

DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Please consult a physician before making any medical decisions based on this article.

5 Ways to Beat the Harsh Winter Weather

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If there was a survey done for people who love cold weather and who hate cold weather, the survey would probably be split down the center. Whether or not you love or hate the cold, the weather is harsh on your skin, hair, and health.

Here are 5 ways to beat the Harsh Winter Weather:

    1. Keep your body hydrated with a moisturizer that will absorb into your skin. Most moisturizers are made with parabens and other chemicals, which makes the moisturizer sit on the surface of your skin. If it is sitting on the surface of your skin, it will just get rubbed off. The best products to use are organic or all natural moisturizers, these will absorb into your skin and are jam packed with nutrients since they are made from botanicals instead of chemicals. Our favorite body moisturizer is Eminence Naseberry Body Lotion, which has an amazing fruity scent without having any chemical fragrance added.

 

    1. No matter if it’s from blowing your nose, wind or dry air, your face can get chapped from the winter weather. Help protect your face from drying out, chapping and flaking by using a facial routine. First, wash your face Beat The Harsh Winter Weatherwith a skin nourishing cleanser (without alcohol or chemicals) like Eminence Blueberry Soy Exfoliating Cleanser. This Cleanser is designed to exfoliate and prepare your skin to receive a moisturizer. Next, use a masque high in anti-oxidants to fight skin irritants, such as Sugar Plum Revitalizing Masque. Then, use an organic or all-natural moisturizer (without parabens and chemical fragrances), like Sugar Plum Whip Moisturizer which is designed to hydrate, sooth and calm the skin.

 

    1. Cold & flu season is here! What is the flu? The flu is a virus that attacks when the immune system is lacking in Vitamin D and your stress levels are high. What do we do about that? Boost your immune system naturally with foods that are high in anti-oxidants and omegas. Here are 5 foods that help boost your immune system:
      • Rosemary – anti-microbial, anti-septic, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, astringent, diaphoretic, anti-oxidant, circulatory stimulant
      • Garlic – anti-inflammatory, stimulates immune system, thins mucous
      • Ginger – calms nausea, improves circulation, anti-inflammatory
      • Sage – rich in essential oils, anti-oxidant, astringent, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-catarrhal (helps remove excess mucous)
      • Thyme – anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-catarrhal, helps resolution of cold & flu and lower & upper respiratory infection

      Make sure to avoid foods that are highly processed foods that are high in white sugars & white flour.

 

    1. Dry hair is the ugly expected in the winter-time. How should you combat this war we all fight? There are several ways to do this. First, use a moisturizing or hydrating hair cleanser & conditioner such as Deva Concepts No-Poo Zero Lather Cleanser & One Condition or Health Factor Shampoo & Conditioner from S-Factor. These products will add moisture to your hair, ultimately leaving your hair looking healthy & shiny, as opposed to dry, dull and matte.

 

  1. Dry air also causes frizz and un-tamed locks. Keep your locks under control with an anti-frizzer or tamer. Use a product like Smoothing Lusterizer by S-Factor or Silky Smooth Moisture Serum by S-Factor. If you prefer an oil to a creme, try Dream Drops by S-Factor. You can also go with a spray de-frizzer like Oh Bee Hive! by Bed Head, Spoil Me De-Frizzer by Bed Head, or Weather Proof by Sexy Hair.

How To Refresh Your Summer Skin

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collinsville salonsDid your skin get caught by the sun this summer, with less than desirable results?
Then pop in Sizzor Shak and pick up these products from Eminence! They will repair any current sun damage and protect you from future rays.

  • Tropical Vanilla Sun Cream SPF 32 – UVA/UVB protection for all skin types
  • Persimmon & Cantaloupe Day Cream SPF 32 – ultra-light moisturizer for oily to normal skin
  • Stone Crop Hydrating Mist – Heals irritation and reduces pigmentation

Facials – Just What The Doctor Ordered

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Did you know that getting a facial with Lucy is good for your health? Even insurance companies are encouraging their clients to regularly schedule relaxing activities,like:

  • Lying quietly with your eyes closed
  • Listening to soothing sounds – waterfalls and music
  • Detoxifying your skin through warm wraps, hot stones, and massage
  • Aromatherapy to enhance your senses and lift your mood
Hair Health Collinsvillie Hair Salon

4 Ways To Make Your Teeth Look Whiter

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Here are a couple tips on how to get your teeth brighter & whiter!

  • Get them professionally whitened at Sizzor Shak.
  • If your teeth are looking a bit dull, wear a bright lipstick.
  • Add a little bronzer to your make up routine. The darker your skin tone, the whiter your teeth will appear.
  • Chew some sugar free gum. The whitening kind will scrub off surface stains on your teeth as you chew.

Is Your Hair Aging You?

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Turn Back The Clock

The world’s top beauty experts agree – your hair color is the greatest tool you have in your battle against aging. Here are some tips on keeping your hair young and glorious:

    1.) First rule: There needs to be contrast between your hair and your complexion; otherwise you will look washed out and pale, which makes you look older.

    2.) Go back in time – find a photo from your childhood and have your stylist copy that color. Most times, you’ll find that color will be very flattering.

    3.) For dark hair, try adding some caramel or toffee highlights to break up your hair style and brighten your face.

    4.) For lighter brown hair, choose dark blonde lights that will frame you face and enhance your complexion.

    5.) Blonde hair can turn ashy as you age and really wash you out. The goal is to have your stylist create pale, golden lights in your hair. These will add a warm glow to your skin.

    6.) Adding highlights and deep conditioning treatments will keep your hair shiny and healthy, definitely the hallmarks youthful beauty!

9 Makeup Tricks Every Woman Must Master

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Follow These Tips & Get The Attention You Deserve!

  1. MASCARA – Keep it Fresh! The newer your mascara is, the easier it will glide and the less it will flake. When applying, press the wand into the base of your lash-line and wiggle it to separate out the individual strands. Sexy lashes are thick at the base and then taper at the ends in a natural, seductive way.

    2. Photo Credit: Kyle Weber

  2. BLUSH – Pink looks good on every woman, giving her a natural flush. The trick is for you to find your “go-to” shade and keep it on hand to brighten your cheeks and lips. To give yourself and enchanting glow, choose a creamy blush and mix it with some moisturizer. Blend and beautify!

  3. KEEP EYES BRIGHTt – Dark circles are a major beauty buster. Use a fast absorbing eye cream in the day, then apply a corrector specially made to cover those dark tones. Finish with a concealer that is a shade lighter than your foundation and set with powder.

  4. WEARING RED – While this may not be your regular look, you still need to know how to apply a bold red lip! Use a very sharp lip liner that is the same color as your red and smile a bit as you outline. This makes the lip-line tight and your outline precise and perfect. Fill in the lips with the side of your liner and then apply the lipstick with a lip brush. Do NOT try to rub out any mistakes- the red will smear and stain. Instead, use your concealer as an eraser.

  5. FOUNDATION – Do you feel like your foundation makes you look unnatural? A great trick is to apply the makeup all over your face, then blot your cheeks to remove most of it off the sides of your face. This enables your blush to brighten your face without looking fake, and your foundation to perfect your complexion without looking overdone.

  6. EYELINER – Liquid liner is tricky but it is important to master for a truly glam eye. Practice your application techniques when you’re planning a night in so that you have it perfected for a big night out.

  7. CHEEKBONES – Contour your beautiful face by making those cheekbones pop! Three shades –light and shimmery along the top of your cheekbones, a deep nude under, and a peachy shade in the apple area – and your set to wow the world.

  8. SMOKY EYES – Here’s the How To: Start by lining the inner rim of your lower lashes, smudging the color into the lash line so that there is no gap between your lashes and the liner. Close your eyes and do the same to the upper lash line. Use your fingers to smudge it in, and then sweep a dusky shadow of your choice over your lid and into the crease, blending up and out.
  9. BROWS – First things first … don’t overdo the tweezing! Bold brows are hot and sexy. Use a spoolie brush or a clean mascara wand to smooth them out, and lightly use a brow pencil or a slanted brow brush to perfect their shape. Add a highlighting shadow under the eyebrow to give it lift. Now you’ve got a perfect frame for the masterpiece that is your face!



7 Ways To Winterize Your Hair

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Need to prepare your hair for winter?

Here are some tips to start now before Jack Frost takes up permanent residence for the season!

Photo by: Kyle Weber

  1. Choose a new shampoo. What you’ve been using all summer is not going to work on dry winter hair. Chose a quality product that will repair and protect your locks.

  2. Wash your hair less. Shampooing washes out the bad stuff — it also washes out the good stuff, like the protective oils that your hair needs in order to keep its strength and shine.

  3. Dry your hair carefully. Rubbing your head with a towel will damage the hair shaft by roughing up the outer layer, making your hair look dull and dry.

  4. Make sure your hair is dry before you head outside – wet hair can freeze up and break off!

  5. Deep condition – c’mon, you know you need to do it! Ask your Sizzor Shak stylist about our deep conditioning treatments.

  6. Use a leave in conditioner with your hot tools.

  7. Pay attention to your diet – what you eat nourishes your body, including your hair. Eat right, drink lots of water … it’ll make a difference!

Stop on into Sizzor Shak on Main Street in downtown Collinsville (across from Ashmann’s pharmacy) & one of our receptionists or stylists will show you exactly what products you’ll need to keep your hair healthy & moisturized this winter!

“FALL”-ING Out of Summer

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Is your Summer Hair bringing you down this Fall?

Photo by: Kyle Weber

As the seasons shift, it can really affect the way you feel about the way you look. When you wake up on a chilly morning and have to spend extra time trying to dig out that sweater you packed away last April, it is easy to get upset and discouraged. Then you head to the mirror and find that you have to pile on extra bronzer in order to retain that summer glow that is quickly fading as the days get shorter. And your hair … all of the sudden it seems unattractive and impossible to deal with.

Sizzor Shak understands that new season slump. We suggest that you take your solution from Mother Nature – when she begins to change her style, so should you!

Summer’s style differs greatly from Autumn’s, and you are probably discovering that your summer tresses are no longer as lovely as they were when you were poolside. Here are some tips and tricks to help you make the transition along with our good friend and guide, Ms. Nature!

  • Get those ends trimmed! The sun, the pool, the highlights – these are the things that make summer fantastic! Your hair suffers, though, so getting an inch or two taken off the ends will revive it and give it a healthy bounce.
  • Dive in Deep … Deep Condition, that is! Make an appointment to have your stylist give you a professional treatment. At Sizzor Shak, we use a four step conditioning process that will smooth and seal your hair, giving it the healthy nourishment that it needs.
  • Don’t be afraid of the dark! Those blonde streaks that you loved all summer long are starting to fade, so why not try something new? Low lights are a great option, especially if you like to keep the dimension that highlights and lowlights offer. Another great option to consider is all over color. Just chose a shade that is slightly darker than your natural color, and you’ll find yourself loving the shiny, rich color. And get your eyebrows tinted to really frame your face.
  • OR pick a whole new color! Reds are really on trend this year and you can give Mother Nature some competition with some Fall Colors of your own! Be bold, be dynamic … there are so many amazing colors out there and you can really wow yourself, your friends, and all your natural surroundings!

Photo by: Kyle Weber

What About Spray Tanning?

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[quote]Dear Sizzor Shak,

So I got out my spring and summer clothes last weekend. When I put on my favorite white shorts, I realized how pale I was! You couldn’t tell where the shorts ended and my legs began!

I have been trying to be more sun conscious, but I don’t know if it’s worth it. Self-tanning lotions always leave me looking orange and streaky, but if use the tanning bed I know that I am really hurting my skin. But I feel really unattractive without a tan, and I really hate it!

What should I do? I don’t want to feel this way all summer.
Help!
Betty White[/quote]

Dear Betty,

While the sun has a lot of positive benefits, there are definitely some negative effects and we commend your choice to be sun conscious. You should be proud of yourself!

At the same time, we understand your desire to have some color in your skin. And nowadays, there are better formulas of self-tanner that will make your skin bronze, not orange. The best we’ve found can be sprayed on, as opposed to rubbed on. This helps lessen any streaks and gives your tan a smoother finish.

Have you considered a professional air-brush tan? It is by far the highest quality and most natural looking tan available. Your spray tan is professionally applied in privacy by a trained technician and the process takes 5-10 minutes. As it is sprayed on, you will immediately notice a natural looking tan that will continue to develop over the next few hours, and lasts for 5-7 days.

So in your endeavor to go from Ms. White to Ms. Bronze, we suggest you give spray tan a try. It is definitely a good alternative to sunburn, skin cancer, and wrinkles. We think you’ll like it – and you’re legs will look great in those white shorts!

The Shak Staff