Karen’s Opinion

Over the many years of having my hair try its best to turn gray, I have frequented many beauty salons. I have seen a big difference in the professionalism of each shop I have visited. You can see the results of the top stylists work and enhance your own style by watching be beautiful videos at Latina Media Venture’s website.

The shop I go to regularly is run by my friend and she does a terrific job on my hair. If she were not my friend, I am not sure I would have my hair done in her shop. After visiting other shops and seeing how professional they are in their attitudes and cleanliness, my hairdresser could use a few tips.

Thankfully, there are organizations in each state formed to guide graduates of beauty schools and are working to influence each state’s beauty and barbering profession.

For instance, in California, the PBFC or Professional Beauty Federation of California is a watchdog for legislature that effects the professional beauty industry. It has been instrumental in changes made to licensing and inspection procedures of shops for safety and cleanliness.

For those of you who are aspiring to become true professionals in the cosmetology industry and for those set-in-their-ways stylists who need a kick in the pants, check out PBFC.

Everyone wants to grow old gracefully. Some go under the knife to get that youthful look while others opt for a more natural way to maintain that healthful glow. The way to make peace with age can be found in the types of foods that we eat and the miracle ingredient they contain.

This hidden “miracle” is called antioxidants. They have graced the pages of magazines, medical journals and every product from hand cream to supplement pills. But what are antioxidants and what can they do to keep you looking your best?

Antioxidants are substances that fight the aging process that goes on in your body. They are not produced by the body so to get the benefit of these power-packed substances you must ingest them. A variety of foods contain antioxidants.

Let’s go back to the beginning. The body continually replenishes its cells. Through a process called cellular metabolism, the body produces energy, more cells and repairs any damage. One by-product of cellular metabolism is unstable molecules called free radicals.

Free radicals are molecules that damage your body. They are unstable because they are missing an electron. To get another one and become stable, free radicals will steal electrons from cells. That theft damages the cells in a variety of ways.

The results are visible and invisible changes to our bodies. The development of diseases like cancer, diabetes, arthritis and neurological deficiencies may begin to affect you as you age. Also, thinner skin wrinkles and brittle bones are a problem. Free radicals enter our body from outside sources as well: cigarette smoke, radiation and the sun’s UV rays. The more free radicals we encounter, the greater the damage that can be done.

Antioxidants have been shown to be of great help in the free radical problem. Antioxidant substances combine with free radicals and neutralize them. Once they are neutralized, they can no longer do any damage. Scientists don’t have any idea of a recommended daily dose of antioxidants to correct free radical damage and the diseases that come with age, but they do know that eating foods rich in antioxidants makes a huge difference in how we live.

Where do you find antioxidants? They are all around us. Look no further than your local farmer’s market or produce aisle in the grocery store. Fruits and vegetables contain the principle sources of antioxidants.

Examples of antioxidants include:
* Vitamin C
* Vitamin A
* Vitamin E
* Lutein
* Lycopene
* Beta-carotene

Certain minerals like zinc and selenium also function in the body. They are not antioxidants but they boost the immune system to fight against free radical damage.

Antioxidants are also found in nuts, legumes, cold water fish, seafood and red meat. So, eating a varied diet of fruits, vegetables and the foods just named will increase the amount of antioxidants in your system and help reduce the incidence of disease. Eating fruits and vegetables in their natural form instead of juices brings the benefit of other nutrients found in the foods. Juices also contain a lot of sugar that is not needed by your body.

Food does more than stave off hunger. Natural substances found there can cause us to live longer and stay free of disease as we age.

I don’t know about you but I do not like to be taken advantage of by the cosmetic industry. I went to the department store where I buy my foundation and got the same stuff I have purchased for years. I paid with my debit card so I didn’t notice the price I was charged. When I got home and went to put the amount into my check register, I was shocked. That little, itty bitty bottle of foundation was over $30.00. Now, I am willing to pay extra for a special pair of shoes or a fancy purse but this was makeup! I took that bottle back to the store and got my money back. My sister helped me pick out a makeup from the cosmetic department at our local grocery store. I like my new makeup.

I discovered a fantastic mascara. Volume Exact mascara by Cover Girl is wonderful. It goes on just thick enough to make my lashes look good without any clumps of mascara caking up. I found it on sale and bought three tubes. Woo hoo for me!

Do you have any favorites in your make up routine?

Ahh! I feel human again. What brought about this wonderful feeling? I got my hair highlighted and the roots colored. I was feeling like a grey headed woman. It was ugly. I had this gray stripe down my part and it was growing every day. Some of you look wonderful with gray hair, or as my sis calls it, chrome colored hair. I do not look good with gray hair. It must be the color of my skin because I feel washed out when I have gray hair showing up.

It isn’t just getting the gray colored that makes me feel good. It is the experience of sitting in the beauty shop and being pampered. Today was a bit rough though because my hairdresser’s son wrecked his car. She was dealing with the insurance company while doing my hair. I hoped she wouldn’t make a bad cut as she was finding out what they would and wouldn’t pay. Yikes!

The girls in the shop where I go to have my hair done are so much fun. They are very friendly. I have been going to this shop for over 20 years and have watched some of these gals become grandmas. Cindy, one of the beauticians, had a visit from her little 2 year old grand daughter today. Today is Cindy’s birthday and little Cama brought her a bouquet of balloons. I hadn’t seen Cama since she was in a carrier after being born. Here she was walking and bringing her Nana balloons. It was fun to be a part of Cindy’s moment.

I am home now and getting ready to go out for dinner. I have to make sure I don’t have any hair dye on my face. See ya….