When we think about health we normally think about our overall health or whatever is not working.  We rarely think about our skin and even less about our scalp.  When it comes to the head we focus on the health of the hair.  Ironically the health of the hair is often  related to the health of the scalp.   We only pay attention to the scalp when we have a problem.

​We all have seen the  commercial's  promises that your hair will look beautiful using essential oils, moisturizing treatments and heavy conditioners.  They have a beautiful model or celebrities promoting it .  In watching this one particular commercial, I knew this company would have problems because they didn't understand the purpose of shampooing.  When we take a shower and shampoo the purpose is not to wash the hair.  We are cleansing the scalp and removing excess build up of oil, dead skin and messaging to stimulate the blood flow in the  scalp to keep it healthy.  If the scalp gets plugged with oil, dirt, heavy conditioners and waxes the scalp essentially suffocates and the hair falls out and cause eruptions on the scalp.  The scalp needs to breath just like the skin on the rest of the body.

​The hair can fall out for many reasons.  It can fall out if balding is hereditary.  People lose their hair if they are having problems with the thyroid.  Certain medications can cause the hair to fall out.  Autoimmune diseases or a vitamin deficiency can also be the culprit.   There are several scalp problems that can develop outside of or in conjunction with hair loss they are seborrhic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis, eczema, dandruff, tinea capitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic reactions, alopecia simplex, alopecia areata, dermatitis hepetiformis ( a skin manifestation of celiac disease.) I want to state right now  it is NOT normal to have your hair brush fill up quickly with hair or you shower drain to quickly get filled up with hair.  You should be able to comb condition through the tips of your hair in the shower without a handful of hair coming out.  If you see a lot of hair on the floor that is NOT normal.  It doesn't matter if your hair is long you should not be losing a lot of hair.  Many women think that the amount of hair they are losing is normal.  If you are unsure ask a doctor if it is normal the amount of hair you are losing.  Your body is quick to communicate when something is wrong; be quick to listen.  Don't settle or give up even if you go to the doctor and they do a blood test and everything comes out normal.  You know your body the best; be its advocate.  It is the only body you will get.

​I know someone who has celiac disease and she has a bad reactions if she uses a shampoo with wheat in it. She will itch like crazy and her scalp would be inflamed with red blister like bumps and the scalp will be soar.  Recently, she had her scalp react as if she was using a shampoo with gluten or oats in it so she started checking her shampoo and conditioner ingredients and it was not the shampoo or conditioner.  Then she realized that the melatonin she was taking to sleep had wheat in it.  She has been itching about the same amount of time she has been taking the melatonin.  The melatonin ingested gave an outward manifestation of the celiac disease.  The itching can be unbearable. 

​Itchy scalp is a common problem.  Keep a food journal and see if after you eat something if it causes the scalp to itch.  You can always try the elimination diet to be more exact on what you are allergic to.   People are allergic to more things than they are aware of.  Your body will not always react in the clinical way of an allergy so don't disregard that it may be an allergic reaction.  If the itchy scalp is caused by dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis than you can get a shampoo that has selenium or zinc pyrithione ingredients.  Some natural ingredients would be virgin coconut oil, tea tree oil, Aloe Vera gel, lavender oil (calms inflamed skin).

​Whatever health issues or scalp issues you may have or whatever shampoo you choose be sure to message your scalp thoroughly.  Message with your fingers in a circular motion applying pressure to the scalp. You want to make sure that the scalp is clean but more importantly the blood circulation is stimulated.  If you can't adequately give yourself a scalp message you can ask your salon if they have scalp messages and go to the salon for one.  If the salon doesn't know what that is don't go back.   A stylist should be educated in giving a scalp message.

​Our skin and scalp is the largest organ and it is the first line of defense in keeping us healthy.  If your skin, scalp or nails are showing something is wrong don't ignore it.  Work hard to figure out with or, sadly in some cases, without  your doctor what your body is trying to communicate to you.  In some cases, it just may save your life.

As we are in autumn we get to enjoy the warmness of fall and its rich colors.  As you look at the colors of autumn, which are red, brown, yellow & orange, they are not only beautiful colors to wear and create different styles with clothes they should inspire you to warm up the most important part of your look.  You may ask what is that important part?  Only the part that is 80% of your look, your face and hair.

In the spring and summer, it is fun to have blonde high lights and use them to brighten up your look.  Now that we are in fall it is a great time to warm up your look by putting in warmer tone low lights or by changing your overall color by a shade or two darker.  You will be surprise at how by just changing the color of your hair it will warm up the look of your skin tones.  The fall is also the perfect time to give your hair a break from all of the bleaching of the high lights.  Often after summer the hair suffers from a lot of damage from bleaching, sun, ocean and chlorine. Over the course of fall and winter let your hair get healthy by getting warmer tones put in it.  Low lights uses 10 volume peroxide so it is so much gentler on the hair.

Some of the trends that I have seen at the hair show is using colors like burgundy, copper, dark gold as a low lights and it not only gives interest to the hair but it warms up the hair. An example which most people have seen is someone with dark hair putting in a burgundy low lights.  The burgundy low lights created interest to the dark hair and gives depth to the hair. When the low light color is setting if you sit under a steamer it will moisturize the hair as the color is depositing. The steamer also gives a shine to the hair unlike the hooded blow dryers that cooks the hair.  Look at autumn not only as an opportunity to change your look but also as an opportunity to do something healthy for your hair.

Did you know that getting a hair cut can change your whole appearance?  With fall coming it is the perfect time to spice up your look for the either back to school or getting back in the swing of things.  A great haircut with some highlights or lowlights or balayage can make you look as young as you feel.  Through the artistry of getting the right haircut and color it can rejuvenating your look.

Some years ago Dr. Fleming and Dr. Meyer asked me to do a make-over on two men.  By analyzing the men’s facial features and the structure of the head I was able to give a hair cut that not only made the men feel like they had more hair but it actually made them look younger.  Those photographs are on this web site under Article then click Everyman’s Guide to Hair Replacement.

How is the technique that I used on these men applied to women of varying ages?   How can a haircut make the woman look sexy, young, trendy, elegant, attractive, and vibrant?  In creating a hair cut, I look at the woman’s hair as she is wearing it when she comes into the salon.  I have to see if there are areas of her present hair cut that are too short or which areas are too long.  Then I analyze her facial features and see which areas I can open up and make more visible and what facial features need softening.  In creating a hair cut, the goal is to create harmony and balance.  Through creating the right hair cut the client’s face will look brighter, as if she had a face lift.  What a great way to enter into fall and the holiday season then with the right hair cut that makes you feel vibrant and alive.  

When the New Year begins so many people make New Year resolutions that involve either getting in shape, loosing weight, getting organized or some other self-improvement.  This motivation only intensifies as summer is approaching. Have you considered improving your image?  If you have, you may have considered getting a new wardrobe or maybe go to the mall and have someone do your make-up to see how you can look different.  People tend to change things that seem pretty safe so if they don’t like the new look they can go back to the old look.  If you really want to improve your image take a hand mirror into the bathroom.  This takes a lot of courage!  First, look at yourself in the bathroom mirror.  This view shows you the basic image of yourself.  As you get closer you begin to see more details of your face.  Now turn sideways and hold the hand mirror in front of your face but angle it 45 degrees so that you can see your image in the mirror in front of you and to your side.  Now you are able to see in detail your side profile.  This would show you your facial structure, such as jaw line, cheek bones, and nose shape.  As you continue to turn slowly around, look through the mirror in your hand to see your image in the bathroom mirror.  You will be able see the hair line when you lift up your hair, the shape of your head, the nape area.  You will be able to see features that you like about your face and head and features you want to soften or if possible hide. 

You may wonder how you can soften or hide the features that you may not like.   It is not an easy task unless you have experience in this area.  Plastic surgery is what most people think is the answer to alter what you don’t like about yourself but the problem doesn’t get solved.  As one part gets changed it tends to create more areas that need to be changed.   Getting the right hair cut could balance the face and the overall image of a person.  An experienced hair designer will be able to create a hair cut that will soften sharp features on a face and cover imperfections of the head.  Remember that the face and hair is 80% of your look.  Since that is true, creating a new image needs to start with your hair.

In a day and age where plastic surgery and the focus on image have been so rampant, there has been so much talk about image consultation.  What is image consultation?  Image consultation is the study of the anatomy of a persons facial, hair, and bone structure.   The stylist begins by analyzing the face.   The facial structure deals with the shape of the person’s face. When we look at a face we see its individual features.  For example some people have square jars or they may have larger ears or some may have high cheek bones. The bone structure is a study that should be important part of any hair stylist.  The stylist needs to look past the obvious bone structure and look beyond the obvious of the shape of the cranium.  Some people have scoops and swellings of the skull that the hair stylist needs to know about in order to compensate in the hair cut.  Each skull is different and each hair cut should be specialized for that skull.

It is important for the stylist to study the hair structure.  The stylist needs to examine the natural pattern of growth and find the cowlicks and the pattern of the hair line. The hair texture, density or the thickness of the type of hair needs to be examined as well.  The studying of the person as a whole is analyzing their height, shape, personal style, and life style.  The information the stylist gathers will influence the type of style that he creates for the client. 

What has been described is more of the textbook description of image consultation.  I want to explain from a hair designer’s point of view.  A hair designer is like an artist is some ways.  He takes a person who may be tired of the look they have right now or maybe it is not working for them.  The stylist analysis his client and can see in his minds eye how more beautiful or handsome he can make the person by creating a style that compliments the face.  It would be like putting the right frame on a painting to make the painting really stand out.  When the stylist creates the right style and conscientiously does his best work the hair cut should last about two to two and a half months.  If the hair cut is done right even in the growing process the hair will still look good.