SCALP WOES? MEGAN CAN HELP!

What is Dry Scalp?

It occurs from using harsh hair products and/or harsh shampoos and conditioners, hard water, winter weather and dry skin, over washing, over brushing, and/or scratching your head when you shampoo or condition it. 

If you must shampoo your hair every day, I recommend using a dry shampoo. Alterna’s Caviar Anti-Aging Dry Shampoo 

is one of the best and it is made from a French clay instead of talc, as talc can be toxic and may be cancer-causing.

Sun and high-heat hair appliances also dry out your scalp. Also, if you don’t condition your hair, it may result in dry scalp. Dry scalp is commonly mistaken for dandruff, which is it not. 

Real flakes are large and waxy in texture. Dandruff is a medical condition caused by a fungus causing the shedding of skin cells.

What is Oily Scalp?
It is caused by poor hygiene, hormone imbalances, and genetics. “Doctors at Derma Doctor diagnose heredity as the single main cause of excess oil production in the scalp.” 


“Dihydrotestosterone, a hormone and genetically linked trait, is one of the main factors. 
If your relatives and immediate family have a history of oily scalp, then chances are that you will, too.”

Avoid brushing your hair vigorously, as doing so will bring the oil down into the rest of your hair.

MoroccanOil Scalp Re-balancing Treatments:
A 10-minute in-salon invigorating scalp massage treatment, which increases scalp circulation and balances my clients’ scalp issues.

These treatments are infused with essential oils such as organic ginger, lavender and geranium extracts, which calm and improve the condition of your scalp and the quality of your hair. 

The treatment oil sets in your hair for 10 more minutes. Further care is taken by shampooing your hair with MoroccanOil Moisture Repair Shampoo and conditioning with MoroccanOil Moisture Repair Conditioner. 

These hair care products further moisturizes both your hair and your scalp and are color safe, sulfate, phosphate, and paraben free.

 Finally, I blow dry your hair after applying the MoroccanOil Treatment, which revives, strengthens and conditions the hair, as well as reducing the hair’s drying time.

Note: I also offer both the MoroccanOil Dry-No-More and the Oil-No-More Professional scalp treatments for your DIY use.

****Call: 773-683-8635 for your free consultation at Hair by Megan B!

There is one ’70s beauty trend I’m game to try this spring when, apparently, we’ll all be dressing like Charlie’s Angles. That is the marbled fingernail. Goes well with platforms, roller skates, high-waisted flares and a retro baseball tee sans bra.

Marbled nails might look easy now that the likes of WAH are on the scene, but it’s not a project to be undertaken with little time or patience. The first time you do it, be prepared to spend a couple of hours — at least — toying around with process until you get it to work just right for you.

Factors that you’ll have to take into consideration — and tweak accordingly — when doing this:

***Nails done by: Hair by Megan B. https://www.facebook.com/HBMB123

Water type: hard or soft water? Figure it out. I found filtered water is best.

Nail polish types: Some brands of polish work better than others. Some won’t work together, some will. Trial and error with your set of polishes helps.

Nail polish colours: Keep color theory in mind and how pigmented your polishes are. Caramel on greige looks pretty smokin’ ’70s, but I don’t like pearlised pastels nor am I a fan of high-contrast colors.

What you have on your cuticles: You’ll spend more time cleaning up than varnishing if you don’t prep right. Oil works the best to make the polish on your cuticles and fingers wipe up easily.

Tools: You need to set up your kit before you start. You need:

Must-have
1. A small bowl or cup of tepid water and extra water (or nearby tap) to refill after each finger.
2. Orange sticks (Lots. Of. Them.)
3. Cottom balls/pads (Lots)
4. At least two nail varnish colours
5. Remover
6. Scotch tape
7. Newspaper

Nice-to-have
1. Concealer brush
2. Other colours
3. Remover pen

Steps:

1. Clean up nails and cuticles so you’ve a good base. Marbled nails don’t give any wiggle room to poorly groomed hands.
2. Clean nails with remover.
3. Put the tepid bowl of water atop newspaper on a surface close to refilling source and near a bin to discard orange sticks and cotton as you go.
4. Shake varnishes to mix and place atop newspaper, unscrewing caps.
5. Alternating varnishes, drip a large-ish drop of varnish on the water’s surface and let disperse. Repeat with next color for concentric circles.
6. After several rings of varnish are on the water’s surface, use tip of an orange stick and gently pull it across the surface of the concentric nail varnish circles, creating patterns. Play with timing and pressure so the varnish doesn't cling to the stick.
7. Put tape around the nail area on sides of the finger to protects the skin from varnish.
8. Then, finger nail flipped towards the varnish, immerse finger and hold it submerged without touching the bottom.
9. After removing finger from water, quickly pull away the tape from your finger that was  protecting your skin from the varnish.
10. Let it dry and then apply a top coat.
11. Repeat on each nail.

It’s not a quick process but the more often you do it, the quicker it gets. It’s more an occasional activity than an every day must-do beauty treatment.

But the 1970s were all about lavish excess, weren’t they? Consider this a 70s-style excess you can easily work into your post-millenium beauty routine.

And there’s not a stroke of blue eyeliner or feathered, frost hair in sight.

Beauty Battle: Vanessa Hudgens vs. Ashley Tisdale

Instead of sticking with their usual sun-kissed glows, young starlets are pushing the boundaries and trying new, right-off-the-runway makeup trends. Case in point: Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale, both alums of Disney's High School Musical, opted for dramatic blush to highlight the apples of their cheeks.

Ashley opted for a candy-cute image by swiping on a coat of cotton candy-pink lipstick and gloss, but the rest of her hair and makeup styling suggest California surfer chic. With thick black liner defining her top and bottom lash lines, she effectively brings attention to her eyes, which are framed by her shaped-to-perfection brows. Her twisted and tousled hair complete her relatable look, while her flushed cheeks add a finishing flourish to her sun-kissed skin.

Vanessa, on the other hand, left her wholesome Disney image in the dust by wearing striking makeup inspired by the glamour of Old Hollywood. Her deep plum eyeshadow brings out the honey hue in her brown eyes, while thick black lower lashes make them appear larger. A magenta lip color worked perfectly with her look and melted seamlessly into the darker pink color sweeping her cheekbones.

Which gorgeous gal do you think works bold blush best? Send me your comments!