Being Aware Is A Beautiful Thing

Now that school is back in full swing here in Washoe County and we are all getting ready for back to school conferences with our children's teachers this is a great time to be made aware of the food allergies that may be affecting your children or others in her classroom.  My friend Caroline aka the Grateful Foodie has some great ideas to help you, help your student's teachers and protect all of our children in the classrooms.

1. Learn about how Washoe County School District manages students with Food Anaphylaxis (Anaphylaxis is that the life threatening allergic reaction is called) by checking out, “Management of Students with Food Anaphylaxis”.  This policy outlines the guidelines parent volunteer, teacher, staff, bus drivers and the roles of others who will interact with students.
2. Ask if there are students in your child’s class with life threatening allergies and how you can be supportive.  If there are students with food allergies, suggest or bring in non-food items for celebrations.  For example: paper airplane making activities, bubble play, short and easy crafts, bracelets, etc.
3. Understand that Life threatening allergies can include being allergic to foods, insect bites (bee stings), latex and other items--there is no limit.  
4. Even though an item might not directly contain an allergen, there might be risk of that allergen accidentally being in that product due to cross contact with equipment used in manufacturing.  Therefore, if an allergic student is going to consume an item you are bringing in, beware that the product still may not be safe--seek guidance from the teacher or allergic student’s parent.
5. Walk in the shoes of the allergic student and ask yourself if you are including that child.  If you bring in cupcakes for the entire class, will you address the allergic students and bring something special for them and choose an item that will include them?  Or, will you simply ignore them?  Exclusion sometimes impact a child’s self worth and has a greater impact that seen. 
6. Search for resources for safe items, such as the the Safe Snack Guide produced by Snack Safely.  Note: always speak to the teacher or parent before presuming items are safe.  

Embracing all students who deal with any sort of health concern is a wonderful way to teacher diversity, tolerance and support.  It’s inspiring to witness classmates rally around food allergic friends and insist upon safe options for school celebrations or activities.

Stay Beautiful, 

Michon :)

Caroline writes about all things food allergy, asthma, baking and life at www.gratefulfoodie.com. She is a firm believer in the statement, "It takes a village". 

It really does when you are dealing with invisible disease and lack of education.

She has two beautiful children that both suffer from food allergies so she knows first hand the problem and is determined to help raise awareness.  She is a fantastic Facebook friend if you want to keep abreast all things allergy related.

Burner Hair

As the epic event begins to transform our biggest little city into something that resembles a scene from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome some of our locals love to participate as well.
This is a great time of year to try something completely unexpected and daring. After all everyone will just think you are "one of those people"! In case you don't happen to know what Burning Man is check out my link.
This guest of mine is headed out to the playa with an amazing 10 foot sculpture! This event is  definitely on my bucket list. Maybe next year if I can get a sponsor I will head out with my fun team mates from Schwarzkopf Professional and we can build an sculpture of the blackhead for corporate office! hehe
Today I just wanted to answer a couple of questions I frequently get about these vibrant colors.

1. Will it show up on dark colored hair? No. In order for color to show up this vibrant you must be working on level 8 or lighter hair (color pictured above is a level 8). If you wish to achieve this vibrancy on darker hair you will have to pre-lighten. 
2. Will it wash out? Yes. Depending on the harshness of the shampoo you are using it can actually wash out rather quickly. 
3. What if it doesn't wash out or leaves an undesirable shade, is there a way to get rid of that? Yes. Any salon professional will be able to help you gently remove any residue easily with a mixture called a color wash. 

If you are headed out the Playa this week, Please stop by my blog post from last year that includes all the tips and tricks for keeping your hair from getting trashed this weekend! 

Have a great rest of your week. 

Thanks for stopping by, 

Michon :)

What do you Believe in?

For anyone that has sat in my chair while I have done their hair in the last two years or so I am sure it will come as no surprise to you that I believe in the power of positive thinking. I love to think Big and I love to help others. I found a project last month that I feel passionate about that I would like to share with you here, that encompasses both the power of thinking Big and the helping part! ;)

"B E L I E V E"

To me this piece of art is a must stay for Reno! It was located in the City Plaza and will return if we make it happen! They are asking for donations to keep the massive metal sculpture on display permanently in downtown Reno.

• I believe that Reno is a beautiful place with an amazing spirit. 
• I believe this sculpture is a beautiful addition to the downtown area.
• I believe that the residents of this town will make it happen. 
• I believe that this sculpture will inspire many for years to come.

Okay. So this is a little more esoteric than my usual beauty blog posts, but I really love this thing guys!! We need to make it stay! If you want to contribute and help it happen click the picture below to learn more and to contribute as much or as little as you like to make this sculpture a permanent piece of art here in Reno.

I believe in you! Thank you for helping us make this a reality! 

And thank you for checking into my blog. 

Make it a beautiful week and I will see you soon! 

Michon :)

How to have a stress free wedding day.

The last thing you want be doing on your wedding day is worrying. The way you look in front of all those people and on those irreplaceable photos is important to every bride. So plan ahead and get the consultations out of the way. Here are some quick tips for the bride to be to take into consideration. 

1. Consult with your stylist. If you are lucky enough to know exactly how you want to wear your hair on the big day talk to your stylist about it. When a client tells me they are getting married in 8 months all I think about when I am cutting and styling their hair at that point is what we need to do to get their hair the length, the color and in perfect condition for that photo op. 
2. Bring photos. The internet is such an amazing source for ideas. Just google wedding hair and your screen will be full of ideas that you can show to your stylist. Try a different one every time you get your hair cut till you find the one you know will work for you. 
3. Clean, dry product free hair. Hair needs to be completely dry, unless you have fine hair that "needs" the blowout. Avoid using conditioners or leave in products that can make your hair slippery and hard to work with for your updo. 
4. Look like yourself. Get your makeup done a couple of times before the big day and make sure you are getting the look you want. The perfect shade of foundation and lip stick are the most crucial things in my opinion. 
5. Wear falsies. Eyelashes may make you feel a little self conscious at first, but you will love the way they look in the photos. Have your professional help you find the style that is right for you. 
6. Lipstick. You are going to be kissing a million people that day. You do not want to be leaving your lipstick all over everyone nor do you want to be reapplying. I recommend finding a shade in this brand. It will last all night guaranteed. 

Hope these little tips help you have a stress free wonderful day. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog. 

See you next week! 

Michon :)

Save Your Hair this Summer!

My middle daughter is a brunette. She loves being a brunette. She wants nothing to do with highlighting her hair. Her biggest concern this summer is how to keep her curly locks protected and especially how to keep them from lightening up. So this post is for you cutie! :)

1. Soak it first. When swimming in chlorinated water, always soak your hair with tap water before jumping in. Think of a sponge. If you soak it in water first, then throw it into a bucket of bleach it is going to soak up a lot less of the bleach than it would if it was dry. 
2. Always use a shampoo designed for color treated hair. These products use the most gentle cleansers on the market to prevent "lifting" of deposited color. So even though your hair is not colored you want to use a the most gentle shampoo available.
3. Use a conditioner for color treated hair. Using a rinse out conditioner helps your hair to be less tangled, easier to comb or brush through and consequently less damage occurs to your ends. The more damaged your ends the lighter they will become. These types of conditioners typically have a sunscreen in them as well. 
4. Use a leave in treatment. Look for products that have sunscreen in them to protect your hair from UV rays. They also work well to help keep your hair from getting tangled.
5. Keep it covered. When possible wear a big floppy hat, a fashionable scarf, cowboy hat or a baseball cap when you are going to out in the sun for extended periods of time. The sun is your worst enemy when it comes to keeping your dark chocolate hair from melting to milk chocolate. 
6. Treat your ends. Apply a little argon oil in the evening before bed and braid it before bed. This will give your ends the much needed drink from a day of dehydration and keep it from getting damaged and tangled while you sleep. 

And before you do all that get a trim. Trimming the split ends will not only make your hair appear darker but it will keep them from splitting up higher. Below you will find links for my favorite UV hair care. Hope you are having a fantastic week and enjoying all this heat while protecting your hair! 

Thanks for stopping by,
Michon :)

Colour Fanatic by Pureology

BC Sin Protect
Shimmer Oil Spray

BC Sun Protect
Spray Conditioner

BC Sun Protect
Treatment

Reno's Keeping America Beautiful!

Happy Fourth of July Week!! WTHeck happened to April, May and June? I'm i the only one in a time warp here?! So this is not only the most blistering, hot week of the year so far, but it is a happenin' week here in the Biggest Little City! So many beautiful things to do this week! Here is a list of my favorites.

1. I LOVE this first one... Scheels is offering a flag exchange from now till the 3th of July! Just to make sure that we are all flying beautiful new flags for the 4th the American Legion will be collecting tattered and torn flags (to be disposed of properly) and giving you a new one for only $10! Available to the first 100 customers! Check it out!
2. Artown is in full swing as of today! This is one of my favorite events of the year! We get to enjoy every venue imaginable almost every day of the month for this awesome event. As with most hairdressers, I would be little more than a starving artist if it wasn't for my current occupation. Here is a link on how to get the app! You will have every event at your fingertips on your phone everyday! Happy Artown hunting! haha
3. Hump day is about to become a little less lame. Reno's newest food truck event is sure to help your mid week blues be a little easier to bear. The event takes place at the McKinley Arts and Cultural Center, next to the beautiful Truckee River. Every Wed from 5-8. 
4. I am super excited about Genoa's Americana Celebration. This small town girl loves the nostalgic feel of that quaint small town and all the old fashion, family celebration that goes along with it. The event is sure to be a huge hit. Get there early for best parking.
5. And if you are having a stay close to home celebration here is a great place to start looking for some ideas that are fun and creative to get your celebration off on the right foot! You have plenty of time to get the supplies needed for the celebration of the year right here! 

Those are my top picks for how to keep it beautiful this week and weekend here in the Biggest Little City. There are so many others that I didn't mention you should drop by Visit Reno Tahoe dot com to see a complete list of all the fun things going on this week.  Please stay safe and make sure you have some representation of red white and blue on your nails, in your hair or on your eyelids! 

Happy American celebrations!

See you next week! 

Michon :)

Short Summer? Keep it beautiful!

With the new "Balanced School year" here in Washoe County this year, many of my young school age friends are having more than a tough time finding employment this summer. I mean really, who wants to hire a person to train them for 6 weeks just to have them leave again. Enter the new generation of self employed, self motivated and self starters to find the answer. 

I would like to introduce a friend of mine that is one of the brightest, smart, young entrepreneurs in the beauty industry. She has a passion for makeup and specializes in Bridal Looks and Makeovers. Heidi is heading off to beauty school this fall after graduating from Galena High a couple of weeks ago. But she is not waiting till fall to get a jump on the career path she has chosen. She has signed up as an independent beauty consultant  with Mary Kay for her summer job. 

I thought is would be interesting this week to hear from one of the beauty industries "up and coming" to see what Heidi's best tips would be on how to stay beautiful and keep it cool this summer. Here's what she has to offer.

1. Self tanner! We should all be minimizing our exposure to the sun. But if you are going to hang out at Tahoe this summer you need some color. Just remember to exfoliate before, to avoid streaks.
2. Mary Kay carries this great set of products called Satin Hands. This includes a hand softener, a smoothing scrub, (which works great to scrub the self tanner off your hands after applying) and a hand lotion that moisturizers for 24 hours and will last through up to three washes! You can use these products on your feet for great summer feet! But I do suggest getting a pumice bar to scrub at your heels also.
3. UV protection for your hair. No, your hair cannot get sun burnt but the sun can fade hair color and dry it out. Bumble and Bumble makes a UV hair primer for $24. You also want to use this to avoid burning your scalp.
4. Are you trying to grow your hair? I sure am! Here are a few things I do to help hair growth. Massage your scalp for at least a minute a day (I do this in the shower). Minimize heat damage by simply not using heat stylers as often and using heat protectant when you do.
5. Now that we are all wearing shorts, we tend to shave our legs more often. Using baby oil gel as your shaving "cream" allows for your razor to last longer and it helps moisturize your legs at the same time! 
6. Typically your makeup is more minimalist in the summer so one of the best assets to play up is a beautiful full lip. I have a line of  lip sticks called True Dimensions. I think this line is a grab because it is an anti-aging lip stick! The lip stick contains ingredients to help boost collagen in your lips which makes them look fuller. And they come in 20 different shades!
7. Did you know that layering a scented lotion over a matching scent perfume intensifies the scent and it will last twice as long? This is helpful when you are out in the sun breaking a sweat.
   
   
   Do you have some great summer tips you would like to share? We would love to hear them! Please post a comment below. Share with your friends! Sharing is caring!! ;)
   Thanks for stopping by the blog! See you next week! 
   Michon :)
   
   
   
   Heidi Hunter is an independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay that lives here in Reno. She is passionate about her new up and coming career and excited to help others discover their ideal beauty experience.  
   You can shop Heidi's Mary Kay page here.
   You can also see contact Heidi on her business Facebook page here.