Summer Hair Trends

Every year trends change. Whether they are for hair, make-up, nails, or clothes, you always need to be in on what's hot and what's not. The summer time is when people let lose and have fun, but it is also when you can make a great statement when you go out. This summers hair trends have been done before, but there are ways that they have been refreshed to make them new again. Here are some of the latest hair trends for this summer.

Super Straight Hair.
Having super straight hair can take a lot of work for some hair types, and can cause damage. You should first make sure your hair is in good shape. Start by using daily treatments to build up your hair strength. Once your hair is in good shape, you can straighten it. First use a heat protecting spray. This will help to keep your hair from receiving extra damage. After you have applied the spray, straighten your hair from roots to ends, using small one inch sections. Keep your flat iron under 400 degrees. After you have fully straightened your hair, lightly apply an oil over it. The oil will help to restore some moisture into the hair, and give your hair an added shine.
To change up the straight look, you can move around your part and try something a bit more dramatic, or you can pull part of it back and pin it.
   

Great Blow-outs
Great blow-drys are achieved by using good shampoo and conditioner as well as the right products for your hair type. To achieve a great blow-out, a stylist will apply products of there choosing to freshly washed hair. Different products work for different hair types, and it is best to use products that your hair dresser recommended for you. Then they will ruff dry the hair at the roots. After the ruff drying, they will section your hair into smaller sections, and use a round brush that best suits your hair to round brush your hair. The end style could be straight, flipped out, flipped under or have a wave to it but all styles will be smoothed down, frizz free, and long lasting.
Change up your blow-dry from what you normally get. If it is always straight, add some curl to the ends, and if tend to keep your hair flatter, have your stylist add a volume booster and give you lots of volume and movement in your hair. You can also change up your part, to create volume on top and a different look.
 

Low Buns & Ponytails
Putting you hair in a high ponytail or a messy bun is the easiest way to style your hair while always on the go. While they may look cute for some occasions, they are not cute for all. Try to change it up a bit. Pulling your hair back in a sleek ponytail is good for any job interview, or even for an everyday look. If you always put your hair in a ponytail, try a sleek bun. All you have to do is wrap the hair around the ponytail and secure with a hair tie. It is really simple and easy. You can change up the bun, if you are going out to a nice dinner or to a special occasion like a wedding by creating your own bun. Put your hair in a ponytail and secure. Lightly tease small sections of the ponytail, but make sure all of the teasing is underneath. Take the hair and form a bun by tucking it underneath the ponytail and securing it with bobby pins. Make sure the hair is smoothed. Add a light coat of hairspray to help smooth fly away's. You can also add braids to your hair to make it more of a relaxed feel.
 

Fringe or Bangs
Having bangs is great to hide imperfections people may see in themselves. If you like more of a softer look, try a side swept bang. You can make it really soft by keeping it choppy or more dramatic by having a deep angle. If you have strong features and want something more daring, then a shorter straight across bang would be a good look to enhance your features. If your not sure you want short bangs, go for the side swept grown out bang. They are longer so you can wear them down or pull them back depending on what you want.
  

Hair Accessories
Hair accessories are an easy way to add a little something extra to any look. If your wearing your hair down or in a simple bun or ponytail, dress it with a head scarf to add a pop of color. If you want to add a little bling, use a rine-stoned headband. To glam up an everyday look, add a big bow for a headband. It is a cute way to combine together your hair and outfit. If you are going to have your hair in an updo, set it off by adding a rine-stoned clip or even some flowers to really make your hair stand out from all the others.

Braids
You can never go wrong with a braid. They can add class to any look, and go from casual to classy in a matter of minutes. For a low-key look, go for a side hanging braid. If your want to add a little something to an up-do, braid a section before doing the up-do. If you want a look that is good for any occasion, add a rope braid or french braid in your bangs, and curl or straighten your hair. It is a look that can be casual or for a special occasion and it works great for short hair. 

  

Short Hairstyles & Cuts
Short haircuts are making a comeback. From the pixie cuts to a bob you can have a short hairstyle but still feminine. If you want something edgy and easy to style, go for a pixie cut. You have a bang in the front, but the rest of your hair is short. If you want something a bit more girly try a bob. A bob can be any length from just above your shoulders to right below your ears. They are easy to style, and it still looks good at the in-between stages. To make the cut a little more edger, get an angled bob. In the angled bob, the hair is shorter in the back and longer in the front. You have to keep up on the look and get it cut every 6 weeks. The short cuts all look really cute paired with bags.
  

Fun Colored Hair
The last big trend of the summer is having fun colored hair. Whether you want to try something  new that's permanent or temporary adding bright or pastel colors can give you that change you are looking for. The favorite colors for the summer are lavender, blue and mint green. If you are really daring, you can go for the all over color. If your not sure about the whole head, add some highlights or low-lights. If you just want a touch of a different color, try a peek a boo. A peek a boo is a small section of hair that is colored differently then the rest. 
  

Head to your nearest and best hair salon to try out one of these fun summer trends on yourself. You will stand out from everyone else, and make a statement. Remember to take good care of your hair. 

~aphrodite

Protecting Yourself From UV Exposure

Now that the warmer weather is here, and you are going to be outside enjoying it, remember that you are being exposed to UV rays. UV exposure can be harmful to your skin and your hair. UVA rays are aging rays that cause wrinkles in the skin. UVB rays are burning rays that cause sun burns and skin cancer. Preventing damage to your skin and hair is much easier than reversing the damage after it has already happened. Here are some ways to help prevent sun damage to your hair and skin.

Body
When you apply sunscreen to your body, be sure to apply it to your entire body. Even the areas that are covered by clothing can get skin cancer. You should apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside, the spray kind is the easiest to use. Avoid sun exposure after applying perfume. Some of the chemicals in perfume can remove the sunscreen, which can lead to a sunburn. Re apply sunscreen every 2-4 hours you are outside. Water and sweat can help to remove sunscreen, so it is best to always reapply after being in water or performing a physical activity.

Hair
Many people do not protect there hair when they go in the sun. The suns rays over a period of time can be just as damaging as bleaching your hair. The most common way to protect your hair is to wear a hat. If a hat is not your style, make sure to apply sunscreen to your part and hairline. Before you go in the sun, use a deep conditioning treatment, preferably one that has vitamins a, c, or e in it. They are essential to keep your hair strong and healthy. Do not use hair spray, it sits on your hair and offers no protection. Instead find and use products that soak into your hair. Do not wash your hair everyday, but when you do, if you have spent a lot of time outside use a deep conditioning hair mask to re-hydrate your hair. 

Face
When you do your daily face cleaning routine, include a moisturizer that has an SPF in it. The extra SPF will help stop damaging sun rays from aging your skin. Before applying sunscreen, apply an antioxidant serum. It will add a layer of extra protect onto your face. Apply the sunscreen on your face, but avoid your eyelids. The skin on your eyelids is so thin, that the sunscreen can actually soak right through it and cause damage to your eyes. If you are going to be wearing make-up while outside, use mineral make-up that have ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc in them. The titanium dioxide acts as a sunscreen, and the zinc helps as a healing device for sunburns and other skin irritations. On your lips, add a layer of lip balm with SPF in it. It helps prevent dryness, cracking, and sunburn.

To insure the best protection from the sun, check to make sure your sunscreen has not expired, that you limit your exposure time between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm, and that you are constantly reapplying sunscreen while you are outside. Skin cancer is easily treated and prevented. Avoid going outside without sunscreen, and tanning beds to lower your risk of getting skin cancer. Follow these tips to healthier skin and hair.

~aphrodite

What Your Skin Needs At Any Age

At every stage in life, your skin needs something different to keep it healthy, break-out free and glowing. There are different products and things you can do to keep your skin healthy at any age. Everyone should have a skin care regimen that they use everyday. This will tell you what you need to keep your skin looking great at any age.

20's. In your 20's it is the prime time for skin care. What you do now will effect how your skin looks from here on out. The number one thing to do is to use sunscreen on a daily basis. An SPF of 20 or higher is best. Sun screen will help to reduce anti-aging and help to prevent skin cancer. Also, use a light weight moisturizer every day. It helps keep your skin from getting too dry, and helps maintain a healthy level of moisture in your skin. You also need to exfoliate your skin. For normal skin exfoliate 2-3 times a week, but if you have oily skin, try to exfoliate everyday to help cut down the oil. It is also important to wash your face twice a day. Washing your face clears your skin of dirt and bacteria which cause breakouts. The better you take care of your skin now, the better it will be in the future.

30's. In your 30's your skin becomes much drier. The drier your skin, the more you can see fine lines and wrinkles. The best thing you can do is to update your moisturizer to one that is more hydrating. The more hydration to your skin, the better it is to help decrease your fine lines. In your 30's you also tend to get dark under eye circles. Use an under eye cream to help smooth out the lines, and decrease darkness. Look for products like caffeine and ginseng because they help to reduce puffiness.

40's.  The main thing you need to concentrate on for your skin in your 40's is anti-aging. Start using anti-aging products on a daily basis. You may see that your skins natural glow is beginning to fade, this is because the skin cells are not coming off as quickly and are more flaky. Go get a mild glycolic peel on a weekly basis. It will remove the dead skin cells off of your face, and having it looking better then ever.

50's. Once you hit your 50's, your estrogen level begins to drop, which causes your skin to produce less of its natural oils. Instead of using a light moisturizer, switch to a heavier cream. Look for products that have a hyaluronic acid. The hyaluronic acid pulls water to the skins surface, giving it a plumper and glowing appearance. Not only is dryer skin a problem, but so are fine lines and wrinkles. The most prominent place for wrinkles is a round the mouth, which is caused from smoking, drinking through a straw, and talking. Use a firming cream. It is effective but not a permanent solution.

60's. In your 60's, you will notice that your skin is much thinner and dryer, this is from the lack of your skins natural oil production. Your skin is now more sensitive to certain products. When washing your face use a mild, soap and fragrance free cleanser to prevent irritation. Your skin also begins to sag, and instead of getting injections, use a plumping sebum. It will not give you the full effect of the injections, but it will help to firm and tighten the loose skin.

As we get older, our skin begins to loose moisture and firmness. If you have a great beauty regimen and are using the right products, it will help your skin stay in great shape. You should also get facials about once a month to really get great skin results. 

~aphrodite

Aphrodite's Essential Oil

Using oil on a daily basis has many benefits for your body. Natural oil is good for your hair, skin, and nails. Aphrodite's Essential oil is the perfect thing to use to help improve the overall look, feel and health of your body.

Aphrodite's Essential oil is a unique formulation of all natural oils. It is made up of 13 different types of oil, that work together for an amazing health and beauty treatment.

Hair Benefits
Apply the oil to your hair about 1 hour before shampooing to help detangle and smooth down your hair. Use a quarter-sized amount on a daily basis. It helps to keep your hair and scalp from drying out, along with eliminating frizz, increasing elasticity, while adding a great shine. It also helps your hair grow beautifully, healthy, and strong. 

Skin Benefits
When used on the skin, Aphrodite's oil has great restorative, nourishing, and revitalizing effects. After you shower, mix  the oil with your lotion and apply on your arms, legs, and any other places you have dry skin. The oil soaks in to help relieve the dryness. You can add a small amount in with your moisturizer for softer skin. It is even gentle enough to remove your eye make-up.

Nail Benefits
Aphrodite oil deeply penetrates the skin to insure healthier skin around the nails. Using the oil keeps cuticles soft, which helps them from becoming damaged. When used daily, it can help to restore moisture into dry cuticles and help brittle nails resume there natural strength. 

Come in today and experience all the benefits of Aphrodite's Essential Oil. We use it in every service, and you can even purchase some to use at home. We hope you have smooth skin, beautiful nails, and healthier hair.

~aphrodite

At Home Treatments For All Hair Types.

Treatments can be great for your hair, and should be done once a week if you have damage to your hair. If you do not use the proper treatment for your hair type, it can end up having negative effects like to much oil, frizzy hair, and dry hair. Here are some treatments you can try at home for in between salon visits.

1. Basic Treatment. A basic treatment is one that works for all hair types. In the shower, apply a deep conditioner from the mid shaft of your hair to the ends. Let it sit on for 5-10 minutes, then rinse. If you have damaged hair from excessive coloring, or using to many heat products on it, let it sit in a towel after a shower for 10 extra minutes then rinse. You will have softer feeling hair. For best results do this treatment about once a week.

2. Fine Hair Treatment. If you have fine hair, using anything that is heavy and with lots of oils will weigh your hair down. Use a deep conditioning treatment, that has a volume booster. It will keep your hair soft, but when you go to style it, it will help you add the volume you desire. Do not use this too often because it will cause your hair to build up excess oil. Start out using it once a week for one month, then do every other week.

3. Medium to Thick Hair Treatment. Look for products that have natural oils in them. Oils like avocado, argan, coconut, sunflower, or almond will help to repair damaged hair. They will also help give a natural shine, and help your hair to grow stronger. Use this treatment as often as you find necessary but no more then once a week.

4. Coarse Hair Treatment. Every morning, use a quarter sized amount of an all natural oil to smooth the ends of your hair, and make easier for styling. Once a week use a deep scalp and hair mask, preferably once that nourishes the hair. It will help to smooth down and make your hair softer, so it is easier to manage and style.

5. Colored Hair Treatments. If you color your hair, it is more damaged then it would be normally. To help restrengthen your hair, use treatments that are enriched in keratin. The keratin soaks into the hair shaft, adding moisture back into the hair. For a greater effect, add the oil based treatment to your conditioner and let it sit on for 10 to 15 minutes so it can really soak in. Do this once a week and your hair will start to feel and look much healthier. 

Try these treatments to help repair the damage that is done to your hair on a daily basis. You will soon have healthier looking and feeling hair.

~aphrodite 

7 Hot Nail Trends For The Spring & Summer

Nail trends are quick and easy ways to add a pop of color or make a statement to any outfit. The 7 biggest trends in nails are solid colors, tips, nail art, pastels, neutrals, glitter, and textured polishes. Here are the hottest nail trends, along with the hottest nail colors.

1. Solids. Solid colors work good for any occasion. If you have darker skin, do all white nails. For a color that goes great on all skin tones, try coral. To keep your look classic, use red nail polish. If you like to match your lipstick and your nail polish, fuchsia is the color to use. And for a metallic look, use silver but add an extra layer to make it extra shiny.

  

2. Tips. Nail tips don't just have to be the classic french white, you can do colored tips as well. Do a twist on a french manicure with one color underneath, and another color as the tips. You can also add glitter at the tips in place of polish. Try a reverse tip with the bottom of your nail in a different color then the rest of your nail. It will make a statement and have people noticing your awesome manicure.
  

3. Nail Art. Nail art can be done with stickers or free handed. You can do the ombre nails just by using different polish colors and a sponge. Use a fine tipped polish to draw designs on your own nails, or buy the sticker decals to put on your nails. Any way you do the design, it will make your nails stand out from all the rest. 
  

4. Pastels. Pastel colors are not only in for clothes, and hair, they are also in for nails as well. You can use a coral, baby blue, baby yellow, or even a lilac for your nails. You can even match them with your out fit for the day. Try also to combine two colors together and do half the nail one color, and half the nail another color to mix it up a bit.
  

5. Neutrals. Neutral nails can go with any thing you wear and for any occasion. The key to the neutral nail trend is to use a polish that matches your skin tone, and not just use a clear or a neutral color. The best results are if you go a little bit darker then your skin tone, to get the full effect. Make sure you have a nicely done manicure before painting your nails.

  

6. Glitter. Glitter nail polish is just about always in style. The biggest glitter nail polish colors that are in right now are light pinks or peaches, emerald greens, and darker blues. To really make the glitter come out, use a color that matches the glitter as a first layer (after your base coat) and put the glitter polish on top. It really adds an extra pop to your polish.
   

7. Textured. Textured nail polish is one of the newest and biggest nail trends of the year. The textured polish look gives an edge to the normal manicure. You can try the sand polish, foil finish polish, or even the latex like polish. They all give a different texture then the normal polish that you can not only see but feel as well.
  

These are the 7 hot nail trends for spring and summer. All of these trends can be done at home or in the salon. If your nails are in bad shape, then you can even get all of these trends (except the textured one) done in shellac, which will help make your nails grow healthier and stronger. It also doesn't chip. Try out these nail trends to add a new twist or pop of color to your style.

~aphrodite

4 Myths About Acne

Acne can be caused by stress, hormones, oily skin, dry skin, and numerous other things. There are myths out there about what causes acne and what some solutions are that can help prevent or heal it. These are 4 know myths about acne and what you should do instead.

1. Not washing you face before bed causes acne. While you should wash your face every morning and every night, not washing your face before bed will not cause any more acne. Acne is caused by an over production of sebum on the skin, which also causes your face to be oily. If you already experience breakouts, you should wash your face before going to bed to help prevent them from getting worse.

2. All foods with sugar and dairy cause breakouts. This myth is partly true. Foods rich in dairy and gluten are known for being related with breakouts. To help reduce acne breakouts, load up on foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. This doesn't mean to skip the dairy all together, just keep your servings on the lower side. Sugary foods do not cause breakouts, when ate in moderation. If you eat various amounts of sugary foods on a daily basis, it can cause your insulin levels to increase which can produce acne. Try to cut down on the sugary foods to put your body in better health.

3. Prescriptions are better then over the counter. Prescription products are stronger then over the counter products, and can be even worse. They can cause dryness, irritation, redness, and burning if not properly used or given. Try over the counter products every day for 6-8 weeks. If you do not see a decrease in acne, then consult a dermatologist so you can get the problem solved with the right products.

4. Toothpaste will help get rid of a zit. Toothpaste when put on a zit, will dry up any excess oil but also dry's out your skin. The combination of products causes peeling and irritation to your skin, and should only be used for cleaning your teeth. If you are looking for a different way to reduce a zit, crush an aspirin, put it into a cup of water and apply over night. The aspirin will reduce the swelling and redness to help it heal faster.

These are four acne myths that have been busted, and four ways to correct them. I hope you have healthier, and better looking skin.

~aphrodite