“CUT IT OUT!” is suddenly much more meaningful than just being a signature catchphrase of Uncle Joey Gladstone on Full House. (Don’t tell me you don’t remember his accompanying hand gestures.)

According to their CUT IT OUT web site, it is a program of the Salons Against Domestic Abuse Fund, dedicated to mobilizing salon professionals and others to fight the epidemic of domestic abuse in communities across the United States.”

The Alabama-founded group works to build awareness of domestic abuse through awareness materials to be displayed in salons, the Adopt-a-Shelter initiative to involve salons in helping local domestic violence agencies, and training salon professionals to recognize warning signs and safely refer clients to resources. This would be a great program to implement in beauty and cosmetology schools, too!

Training sessions help salon professionals learn to identify domestic abuse and know what to do when they suspect it. Because domestic abuse victims are often held captive by their abusers, but still held to a high physical standard by the same captor, salons are often some of the few places that they continue to visit.

Kudos to CUT IT OUT for an important initiative that has already been backed by groups including Salons Against Domestic Abuse Fund – a partnership between Clairol Professional, the National Cosmetology Association, and Southern Living At HOME.

Is your salon or beauty school interested in getting involved with CUT IT OUT? Visit their site today to find out how!

Have you ever had one of those days where your hair just doesn’t want to cooperate? (Duh. Who hasn’t had a bad hair day?) I have found one of the best ways to combat those nasty hair days is to check in with Makeup and Beauty blog. They‘ve posted 101 hair tutorials just right for the average woman who wants to spice up her look, try a celebrity hairdo or just receive some hair tips.

This blog maps out 101 different tips and hairdos through list format. All you have to do is simply click the link and it will take you to a different website or blog detailing the certain look or tip. It’s pure genius! Just think – you can look through the list when you have a big night out with the girls, the interview for your dream job or a date with that special someone – and find the perfect hair style for the occasion. Not to mention, if you are a current or future professional hairstylist, you can get inspired to give fresh, new ideas to your hair design clients.

Let’s see if you can make the cut in styling your own hair. We want to hear from you about your bad hair days and how you survive them! Or drop us a comment if you’ve tried any of the tutorials and if they worked for you.

How is your hair looking these days? Is it a little dreary and dull? If so, the reason for your hair’s condition may not be what you expected…

According to some dermatologists and professional hairstylists, Americans are addicted to shampoo. A study by shampoo-maker Procter & Gamble revealed that we use about twice as much as our Italian and Spanish counterparts. As in, about 4.59 shampoos per week. All that shampooing sounds like it’s keeping us pretty clean, right?

Actually, these cosmetology professionals think too much shampoo can do more harm than good to some hair types. Many dermatologists say that daily washings strip the hair of its natural and beneficial oil (called sebum), and can damage the hair.

So, where did our obsession with shampoo come from? Some suspect that an article in The New York Times on May 10, 1908, started this trend. The article advised women that one shampoo every two weeks was a good cleanliness standard (previously, washing one’s hair once a month was the norm).

Now fast-forward to the 1970s. Farrah Fawcett’s hair is the American woman’s new beauty standard. On TV, Farrah’s face (and hair) is impossible to escape, even during the commercial breaks. A Faberge ad for Farrah Fawcett shampoo showcases some slow-motion beach running and shiny, flowing locks. The message is clear: buy this shampoo, use it every day, and you, too, will look like Farrah.

Today, consumers are rethinking their shampoo practices, for both ecological beauty and health-related reasons. Environmentalists know that less plastic waste is always better, so they diligently search for new ways to conserve. As for the health-conscious, they are concerned with taking better care of their locks. Michelle Hanjani, a dermatologist at Columbia University explains that, “If you wash your hair every day, you’re removing the sebum. Then, the oil glands compensate by producing more oil.” In what seems to be a vicious cycle, the more frequently you wash your hair, the more quickly it becomes oily again.

How often do you shampoo? How do you feel about forgoing shampoo? Have you ever tried any of the natural alternatives to shampoo? If so, what did you think of the results?

With gentle breezes and warm, sunny days just around the corner, I’m already penciling in some of my summer plans. And by now, I’ve learned not to neglect my skin during these warmer months. Every time I walk into the drugstore or my favorite department store, I see new evidence that the skincare market is booming. The shelves are lined with skin creams and potions that all make pretty awesome-sounding claims, but it can be hard to know where to begin.

What’s a good way of getting back to basics and choosing the right product for your skin? The answer yet again lies in understanding the ingredient list. But as always, talk with your licensed esthetician or dermatologist to get a professional opinion on what products will work for you.

In her article “What Are Those Ingredients?” Stacy Colino asks some dermatologists to decode some of the most common skincare ingredients. Here are a few of the big-name players:

1. Vitamin C:
• Also known as: ascorbic acid, L-ascorbic acid, ascorbate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl palimate.
• Great for: almost all skin types, except very sensitive skin
• Treats: aging and sun damage

2. Salicylic Acid
• Alias: beta hydroxy acid (BHA)
• Great for: normal and oily skin
• Treats: acne and skin irritation

3. Ferulic Acid
• Alias: 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid
• Great for: normal and dry skin
• Treats: aging and sun damage

4. Retinol
• Alias: retinoic acid, retinyl palmitate
• Great for: normal and oily skin
• Treats: aging, acne and sun damage

5. Idebenone
• Alias: ubiquinone, coenzyme Q-10
• Great for: almost all skin types
• Treats: aging, irritation and sun damage

6. Hyaluronic Acid
• Alias: sodium hyaluronate
• Great for: almost all skin types, especially for dry skin
• Treats: aging

7. Green Tea
• Alias: epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
• Great for: almost all skin types
• Treats: aging, irritation and sun damage

8. Niacinamide
• Alias: nicotinamide
• Great for: dry skin
• Treats: aging, irritation, sun damage

9. Alpha Lipoic Acid
• Alias: lipoic acid
• Great for: almost all skin types, except very sensitive skin
• Treats: aging and sun damage

Some of these wonder ingredients have pretty long aliases, but paying attention to the label next time you’re in the skincare aisle can pay off for your skin. Have any great brands to recommend for skincare during the warmer months? Let us know!

Why not turn your passion for fashion into a profession?

The cosmetology field employs creative people in every city, in every state in the country. According to a national survey released by the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences in December 2007, nearly 53 percent of salon owners had job openings for trained and educated beauty professionals. That’s right. Even in this economy, job openings in the world of beauty are still flooding in.

Nearly three quarters of them, though, said that they had a hard time finding qualified applicants. If that doesn’t scream opportunity, I don’t know what does! More than half of the salons in the country are full-service salons, so they offer all kinds of different beauty services to their clients such as hairstyling, nail services or makeup. There are tons of spots open around the country for people fresh out of cosmetology school and equipped with the hands-on training and knowledge to do an awesome job in real life.

So for all you beauty-loving, makeup-obsessed, creative people who have a passion for fashion, why not turn that passion into a profession? Whether you’re fresh out of high school and just beginning to consider a career or you’ve been in the working world for a while and want a new direction, have you thought about a career in beauty?

These days, it can be difficult to escape talk about the “R word.” I’m talking about the recession. In tricky economic times, it’s only natural for people to tighten their belts a little and trim down their extra expenses. That may mean cutting out certain luxuries, like eating out or taking a vacation.

So, where does the beauty industry fit into this equation? For businesses that are willing to adapt to the current economic situation and get creative, there are bountiful opportunities to attract new and existing spa customers.

Don’t let the shaky economy discourage you if you’re considering a career in the beauty or spa industry – spas around the country are finding ways to keep the foot baths and the massage tables occupied. Most are even flourishing and hiring more than ever.

Consider San Francisco’s spa industry. According to one online reference site, SpaFinder, there is one spa for every 5,100 San Francisco residents (this compares to about one spa for every 15,300 New York City residents). How does a business in this competitive environment stay afloat?

Here are a few ideas from some San Francisco spa directors:

1. Most importantly, get creative! Find ways to differentiate your spa from the competition and to keep your clients coming back.
2. Try out new ideas for payment programs or membership drives.
3. Attract eco-savvy customers by offering green facilities and spa practices, or break into another untapped market of potential spa-lovers.
4. Design customizable service packages. The InterContinental San Francisco I-Spa offers its customers a personalized membership program (similar to those offered at a gym).

What do you think about the current economy and its effect on spas and other health and beauty businesses? Do you have other ideas for how the beauty industry can weather the storm?

Professional cosmetologists use a wide array of equipment to achieve desired looks – equipment they begin to acquire the very first week of beauty school.

After you begin your cosmetology training, it’s time to start investing in everything from shears, clippers and brushes to mannequin heads and more. Many of the professional items included in your student kit can stay strapped to your tool belt years into your professional cosmetology career.

Most cosmetology schools provide student kits and simply include the cost in your tuition. Other schools give you contact information for trusted beauty vendors so you can make your purchase directly. In either case, you will occasionally need to purchase miscellaneous items that are not already included in your kit.

Here is a handy list of sites you can count on to supplement your beauty supplies throughout your training. You can find everything from extensive student kits to smocks and bottles of hair dye.

•    Burmax
•    Jazz-z
•    Universal
•    Sally Beauty Supply
•    My Cosmetology Kit
•    Beauty Kit Solutions
•    Professional Beauty Network
•    Makeupart.net
•    Universal Techniques
•    Marlo Beauty Supply

Unveiling the contents of your student kit is really exciting – it’s kind of like unwrapping your future. It also means that you’ll have at least one mannequin head of your very own!

So what’s in your cosmetology kit? What did you need to purchase that wasn’t in the original package? And if you’re already a professional licensed cosmetologist practicing in the field, what did you get in your original cosmetology student kit that you still use today?

When it comes to health, you’re proactive. You don’t smoke cigarettes, you exercise and you even steer clear of cleaning products containing harsh chemicals. But, have you taken a look inside of your cosmetic bag? The laws regulating the ingredients that can be used in makeup and personal care products are more like loose guidelines. It’s up to you to be an informed consumer or beauty professional.

Find out exactly what you’re primping, priming and preening with. Environmentalist and author, Adria Vasil, gives us a list of ingredients to avoid when it comes to cosmetic and personal care products.

Here are the top 10 culprits, their crimes, and their aliases:

Culprit #1: Diethanolamine (DEA). Commonly found in bubbling, foaming and fizzing products like shampoos, soaps and body wash.
Crime: Suspected carcinogen. Repeated use has been linked to increased cases of kidney and liver cancer.
Alias: Look for names like Cocamide DEA or MEA, Lauramide DEA.

Culprit #2: Formaldehyde. Found in many brands of skin, hair and body care products, antiperspirants and nail polish.
Crime: Known carcinogen. Besides increasing your risks of getting cancer, exposure may cause joint pain, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, loss of sleep and more.
Alias: Look for names like DMDM hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl urea and quaternium-15

Culprit #3: Parabens. Found in shampoos, conditioners, skin creams and deodorants.
Crime: Endocrine-disruptors. Parabens mimic female hormones and have been found in breast cancer tumor samples.
Alias: Look for the word “paraben” or any other word with the suffix “-paraben”, including methylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, propylparaben, etc.

Culprit #4: Petrolatum. Commonly found in lip products.
Crime: Interferes with skin’s natural cell development and can cause chapping, irritation and premature aging This substance is derived from a non-renewable crude oil, which people aren’t even supposed to breathe. Mineral oil is also petroleum-based.

Culprit #5: Phenyledediamine (PPD). Found in permanent hair dyes – especially darker shades.
Crime: Suspected Carcinogen. Frequent use has been linked to bladder cancer.
Alias: Also called P-diaminobenzene.

Culprit #6: Phthalates. Found in deodorants, shampoos, sunscreens, skin care body care and baby products.
Crime: Hormone disrupting chemicals. Many of the compounds that fall into the “fragrance” category are suspected carcinogens and toxins. Reported symptoms have included headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, allergic skin irritation and more.
Alias: Often listed as an ingredient called “fragrance.”

Culprit #7: Sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate (SLS) (SLES). Found in detergents, car wash soaps, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers. And, also in cosmetics, toothpaste, hair conditioner and most of the products that bubble and foam.
Crime: Known skin irritant, suspected carcinogen. Linked to both malformation in children’s eyes and to immune system damage.

Culprit #8: Talc. Commonly found in blush, baby powder, garden pesticides, antacids and more.
Crime: Suspected carcinogen. Talc may contain asbestos-like fibers and has been linked to ovarian and lung cancers.
Alias: Magnesium Silicate Hydroxide, talcum powder

Culprit #9: Toluene. Commonly found in nail polish.
Crime: Long-term exposure can cause damage to the nervous system, liver and kidneys.
Alias: methylbenzene or phenylmethane

Culprit #10: Triclosan. Found in everything from dishwashing detergent, trash bags, footwear to antibacterial liquid hand soaps, toothpastes, deodorants, face and body washes, acne treatments and more.
Crime: Suspected hormone disruptor and carcinogen. It has been associated with thyroid dysfunction and can convert into carcinogenic dioxins when exposed to sunlight in water.

Have you thought about the beauty products in your makeup bag? If you want to do some more in-depth investigation, the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep offers a safety guide for cosmetics and personal care products. You can type in any product that you’re interested in and it will give you a hazard rate.

So, how will this list affect your makeup bag? Will you pay closer attention to what you’re buying in the cosmetics aisle? Will these potentially cancer-causing ingredients affect your buying decisions? Share your thoughts here!

If you’re anything like me, you find something you like and you stick with it. I’m definitely not known among my friends as the “adventurous one,” because I usually stay loyal to anything I already know that I like.

However, one thing I can’t resist experimenting with is a great fragrance. This week, I found a cool online feature from one of my favorite magazines, Real Simple. This article listed some fragrances that are perfect for dreary winter days. A new fragrance really can be a refreshing break in your winter routine.

I’m no perfume scientist (or esthetician, or makeup artist), but this article did a great job of separating and categorizing scents and fragrance notes. Here are some of their favorite fragrances that cost less than $50. Because smelling nice doesn’t have to break the bank!

Soft and Warm Fragrances
These fragrances share an amber base note (the base note adds depth to a fragrance and serves as its foundation). Amber scents are often described as rich and powdery, with a hint of sweetness.

Try these “soft and warm” fragrances:
• GapBody White Amber Eau de Toilette, $28
• C.O. Bigelow Chemists Perfume Oil in Amber, $15

Spicy and Flowery Fragrances
These floral scents are a little bit deeper and richer than the light, summertime florals. These scents are described as complex and inviting.

Try these “spicy and flowery” fragrances:
• Ralph Lauren Notorious Body Lotion, $45
• Susanne Lang Midnight Orchid 72, $50

Woodsy and Earthy Fragrances
Fragrances with woodsy, earth notes often combine the strength of masculine scents with more delicate, feminine notes.

Try these “woodsy and earthy” fragrances:
• Kiehl’s Original Musk Essence Oil, $16
• Tokyomilk Parfum in Dead Sexy 06, $28

With all of the rage and pressure to go green, there are some places that are taking that to heart. I ran across this great article about greening your schools. The article I’m referring to is Do Colleges Need Green Czars?  And I found out that colleges and universities are hiring people dedicated to making their schools more eco-friendly.

The ‘campus sustainability coordinators’ are people hired to help make the changes to an old school. Or they are brought in at the developmental stages of the new buildings to make them green.

This topic piqued my interests because some schools use more energy than others. I wanted to know which of these schools are turning over a new leaf. When you think of it – a cosmetology school might use more electricity and energy than a standard college. My thoughts about this were from the fact that cosmetology schools use a lot of water and energy for their styling tools. So I wanted to know if beauty schools were following suit in hiring Green Czars to transform their schools into eco-friendly ones.

After some digging – I found that some cosmetology schools were taking the initiative in going green. Some Aveda schools use energy-efficient light bulbs and water sensors to help control the use of water. Some have even set-up a recycling program to help curb the waste that is piling up in the trashcans.

It is good to know that some schools are taking responsibility and learning of the impacts that they have on the planet. Now, it is up to you to research the beauty school you want to go to and find out if they are helping the problem. And if they’re not doing all they could, you can become your own kind of “Green Czar” and help out once you’re a student!