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. 

Hold the Sunscreen Please!

Hello Sunshine, Yes!  The season of abundant sun is here!  
Your skin, hair and nails need the byproducts found in healthy doses of sunshine. Those byproducts would be Vitamin D and Vitamin K.  And with the epidemic at hand across America with 90% of the population being Vitamin D deficient I am thinking there may be a link to sunscreen on this. Call me crazy but... 
Beyond the beauty bennies, in that pretty orange ball up there, is long term preventive medicine. New research has found that low vitamin D is associated with premature death from many causes, not just bone disease. It also lowers blood pressure, breast cancer risk and lessens joint pain. Benefits also include increase in natural antidepressant, helps to heal psoriasis and improved brain power. (ok! I need more time in the sun for sure!) This recent article goes into great detail about the health benefits and the best sources for it. And one other article of interest goes on to say that sun exposure may help prevent - not cause - skin cancer for certain skin types! Very interesting read! With this new information at hand it may be time to rethink the chemical laden products that we all slather on to "protect" us from catching ANY rays on our precious skin. If you have fair skin that does not tan easily, I am not suggesting that you hangout on Tahoe all afternoon with no protection. But what I am suggesting, is that maybe we have gone a little too far. Healthy doses of 10 to 20 minutes of sunshine on our face and bodies we are discovering is what we need.  Then cover with some loose cotton clothing, and a fun, floppy hat rather than using a bunch of chemicals that may or may not be "protecting" us. These opinions are my own. I have done minimal amount of studying on the internet to come to the conclusion I have presented here. Please do your own research and decide what is best for you and your family. Thanks for stopping by for my controversial topic today. I would love to hear what you think or what information you are looking at when deciding on this subject. Please leave a comment below. Feel free to share with your friends, or "like" this on Facebook. Thanks for stopping in!
Michon :)

Painful Cracked Heels! What to do?

Hallelujah!! Summer is here!!
But along with it comes one of the things I struggle with every year, cracked heels.
I start wearing sandals and flip flops as soon as I have had my first pedi of the season and like clockwork, a month later, my heels are cracking and painful!
I consulted with a professional manicurist Kelly Holmes, and got some great tips on how to keep my heels, healthy and happy.
Kelly's top 5 tips for happy heels!

1. Moisten up your heels. Before going to bed apply heavy cream or ointment, such as Mango Extreme or Bag Balm, to your feet and then put on a pair of light socks to keep it on your skin through the night.
2. Exfoliate your feet. Purchase a little pumi stone from the beauty supply or your nail tech and scrub your heels in the shower every day to keep the build of dry dead skin from accumulating. 
3. Wear shoes in the garden. This isn't the most popular suggestion, but it will seriously decrease the amount of moisture being leached out of your skin by the dirt. Dirt is very drying to your hands and feet. 
4. Get a monthly pedicure. It is always a good idea to see a professional once a month to take care of those tootsies for you, offer suggestions on any problems she may see and just to plain ole  pamper yourself. 

Do you have any tips or tricks that you like to use in the summer to combat this problem?
I would love to hear them! Please feel free to comment below and share this with any of your friends.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hope you have a wonderful start to your summer and you are able to cool your heels and relax a bit! :)
 Michon :)

Kelly Holmes is a professional nail tech at Image Artistic Salon. She specializes in pedicures and is passionate about her profession. She is at the top of her class with sterilization and sanitation methods and continues to educate herself about the latest and greatest technologies in her craft. See her website here to schedule and take a look and "LIKE" her Facebook page to view examples of her work and learn more about her.

What is BRONDE or Bronding?

Celebrity Stylist Kim Vo coined the term "Bronde" back in 2011. Well, fast forward, and it is now one of the hottest trends going for Summer 2014.  It is a brunette with sun-kissed highlights. The highlights are strategically placed around the head, heavier in some places and lighter in others. The shades can range from a sunny pale yellow hue to a yummy dark carmel. The trickiest part about coloring darker hair is that you need to be sure you are using a tint with the right amount of ash or violet in the formula so that you don't end up being brassy and orange looking. I wouldn't recommend trying it yourself. Color correction appointments are much more expensive than just getting it done right the first time.
This is one of my favorite color techniques to do. Check out my Pinterest hair board to see all the beautiful brondes I just pinned to get a better overview of this trend that is taking hold.
Hope you have a beautiful week!
Thank you for following my blog and sticking with me.
((((Hugs)))
Michon :)

Behind the chair and at home...

Today's blog post is photo heavy!
I have several photos to share...
I am catching up on photos I haven't posted in a while so please forgive the photo heavy post here.
This is first photo is of a messy bun! The perfect look for summer fun!
My middle daughter Makayla has a ton of hair so she really makes this look good.

Last August she turned 16 and we had to do the big Sweet 16 party for her. After many hours on Pinterest and much debate she came up with a bunch of beautiful cakes that she thought would best suit her and her desires and interests at this landmark birthdate. After looking at all the cakes and the colors this is the cake that I secretly made for her. She was delighted thankfully. (Cake decorators are underpaid btw, this was a long painful process for me!)

Then my beautiful client Kerin. Have known her since she was a little girl and now she is a beautiful competent adult living on her own! Crazy! Anyhow I am getting melocholy here! She came in for low lights. Feeling bleached out from the summer sun and ready to get a little more adventurous!  She asked for red. The coloring in the photo does not do the red justice.

Then there is Jodi! Bless her heart. She was ready for a big life change including a job change. So she wanted to achieve something a little more styled but keeping the length. So this is what I came up with. We colored the grey and highlighted the top and length. Here is the result.

That's it for today kids!!
Thanks for tuning in and not giving up on me!
Hope you are all having creative, fantastic, happy days!
((((hugs))))
Michon :)

Men's Color

Lately I have been getting quit a bit of interest about men's color. And interestingly, they are saying they do not want to lose all their grey. Blended or less than prominent is the request. The problem for men is that with as short as most of them wear their hair you do not want to use traditional dyes and colors as you would for a woman. The line of demarcation would be too drastic against the white/gray coming in. There are a couple of answers I have found through the years that can help.

1. Grecian Hair formula. This has been a "go to" for men for years. The downside of this process is that the color quite often turns orangey or un-natural looking for many. 
2. Your stylist can weave some darker color into the over all color during a regular color appointment. This typically requires a hour to an hour and half depending on the amount and length of your hair.
3.  Redken Camo Color is a salon color created especially for men. It does not pull color on the brassy side as many colors can and it is semi-permanent. Which means it will fade off gradually, and it is fast! 10 minutes in the chair and your done! 
4. Brush on color with your stylist. This is my preferred method for men with shorter hair. After we achieve the desired length, I then go through very light handed and brush the predominantly grey areas and lift areas where needed, to create an overall look that is still has some "proof of wisdom," but does not look "too old." This appointment only takes and hour including the haircut. 

So if you feel like you are looking older on the outside than you feel on the inside. Don't despair! There are answers. Even right here in cowboy country Nevada. Guys are doing it. They may not be talking about it, but trust me. They are doing it! ;) 

Thanks for stopping in! 

See you next time, 

Michon :)

Spring Clean Your Pores

It's been a long dry, typical winter here in the high desert of Reno, NV. You may be used to this but your skin is not going to be reaping the rewards of it. Dry heat and low humidity can make your skin dull and flakey. Exfoliating or chemically removing dead skin cells can reveal bright new, fresh skin cells underneath. This is a great time of year to get a chemical peel or a microdermabrasion done. We are typically not out in the sun too frequently this time of year and you have less of a chance of getting overheated, which is something you want to avoid after a resurfacing treatment.
Here are 4 great reasons to do a little spring cleaning on your skin this month.

1. Reduces signs of aging. As you we age our skin becomes dryer and less elastic. It can also be rougher in texture and thicker. Multiple layers of dead skin can accumulate and create a duller appearance to your skin. Peels will remove this build up and brighten up your lack luster complexion. 
2. Help with trouble skin. Exfoliation helps acne-prone skin by sloughing off dead skin cells that may be clogging pores and causing blackheads and pimples. By properly removing a few layers of buildup you will see immediate results. Note: You must follow up with proper, non-comdemic moisturizer to replace the moisture lost so that you body doesn't think it needs to produce extra oil!
3. Minimizes pores. Dirt can get stuck down in those pores and before you know it they are clogged and will start to get congested and begin looking larger and larger. Clay masks work especially well on enlarged pores. Follow up with a nice exfoliation of chemicals or microderm usually results in removing at least a couple of layers of old dusty skin. 
4. Improves texture. As we age our skin naturally slows in cellular turn over. Chemical or manual removal of this buildup can help to speed up the skin renewal process. Beautiful fresh skin has to be generated to replace what has been taken. This process also encourages the skin to plump up there by minimizing fine lines and wrinkles.

So when you are done with your windows and your blinds and tired of all that buildup in your house all winter, don't forget your skin! It needs a little TLC as well. And now is the best time to do it!
Happy Spring Cleaning (if there is such a thing).
See you next time,
Michon :)

Why Use A Dry Shampoo?

As I have gotten older, my hair is not the greasy nastiness that it was as a teen. I can typically go 2-3 days without shampooing as long as I have something that makes my hair smell nice and clean. I finally found that product. Pureology has outdone it's self once again! This relatively new product has revolutionized the industry!  Even after a hard workout I can spray this "wonder spray" at my roots and style away and it still smells great with no tack, no flakes and no problems. There are a number of reasons that people are starting to look more and more at dry shampoos. Let's look at some.

1. Here in Reno, NV we have ABSOLUTELY NO, moisture or humidity in the air. Our skin and hair dry out here faster than most any place in the continental United States. As a result using traditional shampoo with or without sulfates can dry and damage your hair. If you can give up just two days a week of shampooing to use a dry shampoo instead you can expect stronger, healthier and longer hair. 
2. Water in many places is now in short supply. Plus we live in the desert! (if my children hear me say that one more time, they will probably kick me). Every little bit that we can conserve, especially  at this time of shortage will help! Right?! I found a great website here that gives 100+ more ways to conserve water and use it wisely. 
3. Better hair days. Many of my clients have commented on how much better their hair is the second day. This is because after a traditional shampoo your hair is more or less completely stripped of all oils. The dry shampoo approach allows you the benefit of using "the second day effect" more than just the second day! Fine hair and course hair clients alike have mentioned that their hair behaves better with a little product in it.
4. Convenience. In the locker room, after a long flight, after a long night... There are many times when it is frankly just too much work to start over. If your hair is even half way decent a couple of quick sprays from this magic can and you can be back in the game. Did I mention it smells amazing? 

Even if none of the rest of the steps above were true, which they are of course. I would still be sold on this awesome, product. Did I say how great it smells? :)

Now for a give away. Leave me a comment below about why you would or why you would not think skipping a day of shampooing would be a good idea. I will choose a random comment to win a free travel size of this fabulous new product. 

Thanks for stopping in! 

Hope you have a fantastic week! 

Michon :)