Sure, we would all love to color our hair the second we see a quarter inch of growth, (usually after six to eight weeks from the initial coloring), but life has a funny habit of getting in the way. Whether you're busy with the kids or under a deadline at work, finding time to color your hair can be challenging. When that happens, try these proven tricks to hide your roots.

1. Cover with Curls

One of the easiest ways to distract others from noticing your roots is a head full of curls. When your hair lays straight and flat against your head, the line between your roots and your colored hair is more visible — curl your hair and it gets a little softer. The same goes for adding volume at the roots — a little lift goes a long way.

2. Wrap it Up

Though ponytails or other tightly pulled back styles can emphasize roots, that doesn't mean you're out of luck when it comes to easy, I-woke-up-late, hairstyles. Head wraps or turban-style headbands that you slip around your head (not under your hair in the back back) can actually cover roots and you'll still look stylish.

3. Change Your Part

Often gray hair grows in clumps, says Scibelli. Play around with your part to see if switching it from one side to the other uncovers a less gray portion of your hair. It may even be as simple as moving it over an inch or two from where you usually part it or just shaking your hands through it to create a messier part.

4. Spritz on Dry Shampoo

Colored dry shampoos can cover roots temporarily. They also help extend a blowout, which has the added bonus of protecting your color from further fading. Shampoo and water are hair color's top nemesis and can cause a great deal of fade. Try temporary hair color that you brush on with a mascara-like wand; it will wash out with your next shampoo. 

5. Stay Close to Your Natural Color

Not straying too much from your natural hair color to begin with, will help make sure you're roots aren't overly noticeable as they grow out. Scibelli recommends staying within two shades — either lighter or darker — for the most flattering, believable results. Highlights, which only color portions of your hair (versus a single process, which colors your entire head the same color) also grow out less noticeably. 
http://styleunited.com/TipsAndTrends/article/5-Ways-to-Hide-Your-Roots 

Whether it's running after small children, trying to get a quick workout in the gym between work deadlines or an extremely late night out, many of us deal with the dreaded second and third-day dirty hair. Last I checked, our days aren't becoming any less crazed, so it's time to get down and — considerably less — dirty. Here are a few simple remedies:
 
1. Dry Shampoo

Just shake or spray on a little bit of this oil-absorbing, powder-like shampoo into your hair, massage lightly, wait a couple of minutes and brush out. Voilá! Fresh, clean hair without a hint of the greasies. Dry shampoo can extend blowouts for days, as well as give you that perfect follicular pick-me-up after a workout. (All without leaving the ashy residue that regular baby powder can leave, especially for those of us with darker shades.) If you have bangs, dry shampoo is a must. Hot, humid summer days will no longer be your foe with the assistance of this miracle worker.
 
2. Accessories

When in doubt, deflect. Draw your acquaintance's eye away from an impending oil slick with a beautiful hat, headband or pin. However, placement is key. A lovely pin isn't going to look so lovely placed near a greasy scalp! Pull your hair into a low ponytail and place a pin or ribbon toward the base of the ponytail. Or wear a beautiful scarf covering the front of your hairline. Hats are always a chic way to camouflage dirty hair. Textured wool berets and newsboy caps are perfect for the winter, whereas straw fedoras and lightweight cloches are lovely in the warmer months.
 
3. Updos 

There's a reason hair stylists usually request day-old hair for updos. Squeaky-clean hair can sometimes be too "slippery" to hold certain shapes, so now is the perfect time to put that extra hair texture to work. My personal favorite that works for most hair types is a simple low bun. Don't spend buckets of time trying to perfect your updo, either. "Perfect" updos often end up looking matronly; don't fret if you have a couple loose strands here and there. For an everyday look, unstructured is best.
 http://styleunited.com/TipsAndTrends/article/From-Dirty-to-Purty-How-to-Camouflage-Dirty-Hair 

And her living hair...

The character Medusa (then known as Madame Medusa) appeared sometime in the 60's and was created by Jack Kirby, one of the legends of the comic book art field. She was working with a villain named The Wizard. She later became part of the Wizard's team of super villains called the Frightful Four, and battled the Fantastic Four.

She had been suffering from amnesia, and was unaware of her true origin until she was contacted by her family: The Unhumans. The Unhumans were a race of mutants living on the moon. There they had a society that worshipped the Terrigen Mists. When exposed to the mists, they were granted powers. Medusa had been granted the power of Living Hair.

She later married the king of the Unhumans, and served a short while as a substitute member of the Fantastic Four. Her sister, Crystal, also has long hair, but only about waist length.

Medusa's hair (according to the 'official' sources) is about six feet long. But posseses incredible tensile strength and elasticity. It can be extended to nearly 40 feet, but loses strength doing so. At its normal length it is about as tough as steel cabling of equal diameter. When it is 'relaxed' it retracts to around her knees or to her ankles, or floats around her depending on the artist.

Medusa's power is described as a special form of telekinesis that only affects her hair, and it is that same telekinesis that relays the sense of touch back to her when she is using her powers. She can do as many as six or seven things at once using her hair alone.

She cannot fly, although she had glided before, as well as whipped her hair around like a fan to generate wind. She can climb buildings quite well with her hair, or move quickly across the ground.

Medusa (and the other Unhumans) often make guest appearances in other comic books. They also had a recent short run of their own book (a six-issue mini series I beleive.) So if you want to see more, keep looking!

A person's genes determine the hair color since before his or her birth. The determinants for hair color are known as melanocytes. These cells form the natural hair colors, or pigments and distinguish between black, brown, blonde and red. Depending on the percentage of each pigment, the person has blonde, brown, red or black hair. As the melanocytes decay and you begin to lose pigment , the hair becomes a gray or a whitish color.


If you do not like the hair color you have, we can change it. I use Goldwell hair color and products. Stop in for a free consultation or schedule an appointment. 446-1313

Are you ready for all the holiday pictures...posed and random? 
1. Get a nice haircut that complements your face.
2. Get some fresh color in your hair to brighten up your face.
3. Eyelash extensions will brighten up your eyes and make them appear larger.
4. Get an airbrush tan to add a healthy glow to your skin.
5. Get a manicure for a clean polished look. (We now have CND Shellac)
6. To relax before a stressful family visit, get a scalp treatment or a pedicure. 
7. Don't forget to get your eyebrows and lips waxed too.

We have gift certificates available too. Call to schedule your appointment; 446-1313.

We have all heard that every snowflake is different with its own unique shape. But, did you also know that they all have six sides? Montana holds the record for the largest snowflakes ever recorded. They were 15 inches in diameter. Stampede Pass here in Washington averages 430 inches of snowfall a year. Snowflakes fall at a speed of 3.1 miles per hour. In order for a snowstorm to be classified as a blizzard, visibility must be at 1/4 mile, winds must sustain speeds of 35 miles per hour or more and it must last for 3 or more hours.

The answer to yesterdays riddle: He was bald. (Congrats, Tonia and Allie)

Women once believed that boiled nettles made your complexion smooth and even. Some used curdled milk on acne. In ancient Greece, women would lighten their hair with arsenic and their shampoo was made out of ashes. Women in Spain would eat clay in hopes that it would maintain their porcelain complexion. They would paint their faces with a powder made of white lead, pulverized bone and whale blubber. Ancient Egyptian women’s perfume was also used as a cure for lung, intestinal and liver problems. 

Come by the salon and check out the assortment of beauty products we have available (no ancient secrets). 

Once your hair has been damaged from chemical processing (perms and color) or heat (flat irons and blow driers) it may appear duller or more likely to frizz. Hair shine greatly depends on how smooth the cuticle is. The cuticle is the outer layer of your hair shaft. Once the cuticle scales pull away from the shaft of hair and no longer reflect light as well, your hair will frizz. This is why the hair appears dull and unmanageable. Once the cuticle is damaged, there is no repairing it (I don’t care what all the commercials say). I do have some treatments and some products that will coat the cuticle and make your hair more manageable while you wait for the damage to grow out. Stop by the salon for a free consultation.

I went to a class about website design in Newport yesterday. What a great class!!! I would like to thank the Newport Chamber for hosting the class. It was very informative and as you can see I have a website up and running in less than 24 hours.

Now let's talk hair...Did you know???
The average scalp has 100,000 hairs. Redheads have the least at 80,000; brown and black haired persons have about 100,000; and blondes have the most at 120,000. That is more than a thousand hairs in each square inch.

If you have any questions, let me know and I will find the answer.