Elements Salon

To those of you who have been visiting this page (I get notices daily) first of all, Thank You...but I suppose it may be time (possibly past time) for me to remove my business page, seeing as how we're about to hit the 6 months mark since retiring from the business. Yes. I do hold on to what I love. Sometimes a bit too tightly.

I've left this page up for those of you who asked me to leave "how-to hints" about the most common dilemmas on caring for your hair, as a going away gesture. Plus, and possibly the real reason, permanently closing this chapter of my life has been a difficult journey, in and of itself. Letting go of the last 51 years in the hair industry is kind of a big thing for me.

But let go, I must.

As with everything, change must have its way so that the future may be fully embraced.

If you have been featured on this FB Page, you will have until the end of November to save it. Only 7 days away. You may want to save some of it for the sake of memories, or simply because you loved that particular featured hairstyle.

It's been a true honor to be a part of your lives. Of this industry...

Giving thanks for you and all that Mary's Place, South Side Salon & Day Spa, and finally, Elements Salon has brought my way, here's wishing you a very happy and grateful Thanksgiving week!!!

Today is the last informational day from Elements Salon. Retirement from the industry is only one day away. However, my website will stay up for a few more months while waiting for the renewal time to arrive. During these next few months you can find so much info from that site, mostly in the "BLOG" area. But for now...

DAY 9: (9 of 9) Masking dandruff…not treating it

It amazes me that anyone on the planet would think oils and pomades would mask dandruff, and “get them by”. Too often we try an easy fix, which doesn’t address the real issue. There is a difference in those dry flakes that fall out easily when running fingers through your hair…and dandruff. The first is an issue with dry scalp and can be treated by using less styling products, shampooing frequently to loosen the cells turning over faster than they should be, and rinsing the scalp with a product called “Sea Breeze”…it’s an astringent that can be found over-the-counter at various retail stores.

To identify real dandruff, scratch your head then look under your fingernails. Is there evidence of what seems to be “wet & white” stuff? This stuff will cling to your nails (and hair). It has to be either washed or scraped off. That is dandruff. If it’s dry and flakey, and easily brushes off whatever it’s on, most likely it’s an issue with dry scalp, which comes mostly in the winter months where there is just too much dry heat in our homes, and/or too much product laying on the scalp for too many days. Dandruff will not just go away when the seasons change. Since it’s an inflammatory scalp disease unrelated to dryness, a shampoo with salicylic acid, zinc, selenium sulfide or tar, will be needed to eliminate the wet flakes. If not taken care of, it will make your finished styles look droopy and oily, and you will always be scratching that itchy scalp. Healthy scalp equals healthy looking hair.

There are many ways of styling the hair to make it look flattering…some more simplistic than others. They all have one thing in common, that being a healthy environment from which to grow. The skin is the largest organ our body has and the entire host needs care. Bacteria find places conducive to multiplication. The warmth they find in covered places such as the scalp, is such a place. To neglect proper cleaning and care will result in damaged hair and even hair loss.

Be passionate about maintaining the health of your hair, just as you are about the rest of your body.

DAY 6: (6 of 9) Not every brush is created equal

Choosing the wrong brush can not only ruin your style, it can get snagged in your hair and cause that dreaded breakage. Generally, the longer your hair, the larger in diameter your brush should be. I find it hard to work with the boars hair bristled brush (unless there are nylon bristles mixed in), because of how easily it tangles and mats the hair, especially if you're in a hurry.

I actually prefer the wire or hard plastic (or nylon) brush…the ones with those tiny round balls on the end. Just be extra careful, because even those can get tangled in the hair if the brush has lost its rounded tip, and/or, you’re not sectioning and blow-drying small sections at a time. A word of caution: over time, when working with plastic, the tips will fray and become split on the ends, or they will lose their balled ends. Toss the brush and purchase a new one, if you don't want damaged hair strands.

To create volume, use a round brush; to smooth hair, a paddle shape is best for long hair. If your hair is short, and you like the “close-to-the-head” look…just style with your fingers as you blow-dry.

Here's a great link to find the perfect brush designed for your personal hair type.

Hair 101: Find The Best Hair Brush For Your Hair Type | Redken When it comes to hair tools, not all brushes are created equal. Find the best brush for your hair type & achieve salon-quality results effortlessly.

DAY THREE:

(3 of 9) Forcing tangled hair through a comb from roots to ends

Although a comb is easier on fragile wet hair than a brush is, tugging it from scalp to ends can cause mid-length breakage. Have you ever noticed all those tiny hairs waving in the wind? That’s from this sort of treatment, or from yanking ponytail holders out of the hair instead of gently unwinding them. If there are tangles in the hair, first spray a little leave-in conditioner on the surface, then work your way up the hair strands by combing tangles out of the hair from ends to root, not the other way around.