Beauty School Directory Blog

Archive for March, 2009

Learn Your ABCs: 5 Warning Signs of Melanoma

Posted on: March 25th, 2009 by Beauty Schools Directory No Comments

Phaedra Connolly - Esthetician

Phaedra Connolly, RFS is a licensed Medical Esthetician with Associates in Dermatology in Orlando, Florida. She specializes in the prevention and treatment of skin cancer, acne and anti-aging. She graduated valedictorian in her class at the Florida College of Natural Health.

Melanoma is the most deadly of all skin cancers. In fact, this year 46,000 new cases will be diagnosed and 7,700 Americans will die from melanoma.

But being aware of the warning signs of melanoma could help you to recognize this potentially deadly cancer. Your trusted and trained esthetician will be on the lookout for these warning signs, but you see yourself every day. If you have a lesion that falls into any of the following categories, make an appointment with your dermatologist for an exam as soon as possible.

A = Asymmetry – Test your mole for asymmetry by drawing an imaginary line down the middle. Do the two halves match? Ordinary moles are usually round and symmetrical, while most early melanomas are asymmetrical.

B = Border – Ordinary moles are round or oval and have well defined, smooth, even borders. Melanomas often have ragged, uneven, or notched borders. Also, spreading of pigment (color) from the border of the mole into surrounding skin is a warning sign of melanoma.

C = Color – Ordinary moles are usually one color throughout and are usually brown, tan or flesh-colored. Melanomas may have several colors (black, brown, red, white, blue) or an irregular pattern of colors.

D = Diameter – Moles can be many different sizes, but ordinary moles are generally less than 1/4 inch (6 millimeters) in diameter, which is the diameter of a pencil eraser. Melanomas may be as small as 1/8 inch, but are often larger.

E = Enlargement/Evolving – Ordinary moles usually do not change over time. A mole that suddenly grows in size or rapidly becomes elevated is suspicious for melanoma.

Now that you know what to look for, here are some suggestions to protect yourself from skin cancer.
• Avoid the sun and/or seek shade between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are at their strongest.
• Cover up by wearing light colored, tightly woven clothes that cover well.
• Wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses.
• Use a quality, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 – and reapply at least every two hours.  Clouds do not screen out the damaging rays of the sun.
• Do a monthly self-exam to check for unusual marks or changes in your skin.
• Get a regular exam from a board certified dermatologist – once a year if you’ve never had a skin cancer and more often if you have.

The sunny days of summertime are approaching quickly. What do you do to protect yourself? Do you have any favorite sun protection products?

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New Jersey Banning Brazilian and Bikini Waxing

Posted on: March 18th, 2009 by Heather 10 Comments

I’ll spare you (most of) the innuendos and personal anecdotes, but it’s difficult when a story like New Jersey banning Brazilian waxes crosses your desk. The wise cracks write themselves.

It’s difficult to understand what New Jersey is trying to accomplish by banning Brazilian waxes. With do-it-yourself home waxing kits available at any drug store, a ban on professional bikini waxes will push New Jersey salon customers to try their hand at it, which will undoubtedly lead to more burns and pain than a wax done by a licensed esthetician. The two bad experience customer complaints leading to this legal action are merely a shadow of the burns people will self-inflict.

In fairness to the New Jersey government, they are suggesting enforcing an existing ban, not creating a new one. However, why not remove the law altogether, so reputable beauty salons can offer the waxing service and implement safety regulations so those who are injuring their clients can be fined?

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t trust anyone – not even myself – but a trained cosmetology professional to do a procedure like that on me. What are your thoughts on this hairy situation? (I’m sorry! I tried!)

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Bravo’s Shear Genius Season 3 Casting Call

Posted on: March 13th, 2009 by Beauty Schools Directory No Comments

Bravo is looking for licensed hairstylists to give them the opportunity to show America their beauty talent and creativity on the set of Shear Genius Season 3! Bravo says you do not need years of experience if you are licensed, “but no matter what, you do need to be creative, highly skilled, and ready to compete for $100,000!” Specifically, they are looking for “amazing stylists” who can cut and color and who are over 21 years of age. So this is your big chance to put that cosmetology education to great use!

To be considered, they ask that you bring a mannequin head with hair and mannequin stand, your own shears, water bottle and anything else to show off a graduated bob cut, a signed application and Certificate of Veracity, your portfolio, a copy of your cosmetology license, a recent work resume, a recent photo of yourself and a photocopy of your driver’s license or government-issued photo ID. And of course, they’re looking for your mad skills and big imagination.

What a huge opportunity for those recent cosmetology school grads who trained in the art of hair design and other beauty services. And holy smokes! $100,000 is a lot of money. Here is more information about the Bravo Shear Genius casting call. It looks like they’ll be having open casting calls in Los Angeles, Austin, Nashville, Chicago, New York and San Francisco. So what are you waiting for? You didn’t go to beauty school for nothin’!

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How much is too much?

Posted on: March 11th, 2009 by Beauty Schools Directory 3 Comments

Some companies have gone to the ends of the earth to seek out the miracle ingredient that can help anyone with enough cash turn back the hands of time.

Do you want softer, smoother, more supple skin? It’s going to cost you. It costs $230 to purchase just 2 oz of Crème De La Mer. Why is it so expensive? It probably has something to do with one of its main ingredients: a rare sea kelp that is harvested twice a year and transported back to the lab on ice. However, according to its creator, Dr. Max Huber, it’s not the fancy ingredients that make this skin miracle happen – it’s the way they are distilled. The fermentation process, which takes three to four months, includes harnessing the powers of both light and sound.

Think that’s expensive? Compared to Switzerland’s La Prairie, it’s a steal! A few of La Prairie’s products also purport to harness the miracles of the deep. Ingredients like sea water and caviar in products sporting $500 price tags have people asking why eat this appetizer when I can put it on my face?

This company doesn’t just rely on the treasures found under the sea. When it comes to beauty, La Prairie leaves no stone unturned. Just 1.7 ounces of Cellular Cream Platinum Rare costs $1,000 thanks to its star ingredient – you guessed it: platinum. Rarer than gold, platinum’s unique ability to bond with the human face insures ageless performance by protecting your skin’s DNA. Its most expensive product boasts an even heftier price tag: $2,000. Although caviar is included, the limited edition Jeweled Skin Caviar Luxe Cream is probably so expensive thanks to its packaging. This refillable jeweled jar features 2,400 Crystallized Swarovski elements and targets the makeup jar collector audience.

Do They Really Work?

Although many people have seen results from these products, there isn’t an unbiased consensus among the scientific community on whether they’re worth it. In fact, most experts say that maintaining a youthful glow has less to do with spending exorbitant amounts of cash, and more to do with taking care of yourself. So, protect yourself from the sun, stay hydrated, eat a healthy diet rich in omega threes, exercise regularly, and of course, avoid smoke at all costs.

Want to see more outrageously priced products?

Forbes Magazine published a list of the 14 most expensive skin products it could find. Here’s a list of more really expensive skin serums and wrinkle solutions:

1. RéVive Intensité Volumizing Serum
Price: $600 per oz.
Star ingredient: Keratinocyte growth factor.

2. Sisley-Paris Sisleya Elixer
Price: $582 per oz.
Star ingredient: Extract of weeping willow.

3. Clé De Peau Beauté La Crème
Price: $475 for 1 oz.
Star ingredient: Actually comes with a silver spoon.

4. Dermagenetics DNA Test & Custom Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream
Price: $400 per oz.
Star ingredient: Your DNA. After your genetic propensity for wrinkling is tested, you receive a customized night cream.

5. Natura Bissé Inhibit-Dermafill
Price: $385 per oz.
Star ingredient: Octapeptide and black pepper extract.

6. Kanebo Sensai Ex La Crème
Price: $368 per oz.
Star ingredient: Extract of apricot kernels.

7. Dermalab Swissline Cell Shock 50% Pure Cellular Extract
Price: $331 per oz.
Star ingredient: Pure cellular extract.

8. Darphin Replenishing Anti-Wrinkle Serum
Price: $310 per oz.
Star ingredient: Iris isoflavones and essence of mamaku.

9. Valmont L ‘Elixir des Glaciers
Price: $288 per oz.
Star ingredient: Extract of coneflower, sea buckthorn and rosa moschata.

10. N.V. Perricone M.D. Neuropeptide Facial Conformer
Price: $285 per oz.
Star ingredient: Peptides and neuropeptides.

11. Orlane Hypnotherapy
Price: $277 per oz.
Star ingredient: Red tocol arctic cranberry.

12. AmorePacific Time Response Skin Renewal Crème
Price: $235 per oz.
Star ingredient: Green tea.

13. Guerlain Sérénissima
Price: $210 per oz.
Star ingredient: Patented H-Captine Complex.

14: Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lifting Eye Crème
Price: $100 per oz.
Star ingredient: Crushed South Sea pearls.
So, how much is too much?

How much would you pay for these top-of-the-line cosmetic products? Do you know of any that accomplish the same goals with a much smaller price tag?

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Beauty School = Fast Path to Success

Posted on: March 4th, 2009 by Beauty Schools Directory No Comments

Do you dream of working in the exciting field of beauty? Good news! There are more reasons to pursue your goals today than ever before. Thanks to the growing demand for personal appearance workers, beauty professionals are experiencing increased earning potential, greater job security and more employment options. According to the International Spa Association, despite the massive layoffs in the U.S., the beauty industry continues to experience significant hiring growth, with jobs rising 31 percent in 2008.

Of course, before you can start enjoying these benefits, you’ve got to go to beauty school and pass your state cosmetology licensing examination. It also means you’ve got to start thinking about covering tuition costs – and that probably has you scouring the city for beauty school on the cheap.

More good news! Many beauty schools offer niche-specific, specialized beauty training programs that cost less and take less time than typical cosmetology programs. For example, esthetician and nail technology programs can require less than 1/3 of the hours that cosmetology programs take. Shorter programs are roughly 1/3 of the cost, too. That means you can start working in the field – and earning money – faster.

And of course, if you are already enjoying the benefits of working in the field as a skin care specialist or nail technologist, there’s nothing stopping you from quickly getting the training you need to become a fully-licensed cosmetologist, right?

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