Summertime Hair Loss Myths

Just in time for summer, Dr. Robert Leonard, chief surgeon and founder of Leonard Hair Transplant Associates, is setting the record straight on the top 10 myths of summertime hair loss in men and women:

1. Myth: Wearing a baseball cap or hats will cause thinning hair and loss of hair.

Dr. Leonard’s truth serum: Hats off to this myth!  No matter what your mother has told you, wearing a hat doesnot cause hair to thin or fall out.

2. Myth: Exposure to chlorine in swimming pools will cause hair loss.

Dr. Leonard’s truth serum:  Another dive in the truth department…chlorinated water can affect the hair shafts by drying them out and making them more brittle, but does not cause hair to thin or fall out.  Also, watch out for bleached hair---it has been known to turn green with exposure to chlorine!

3. Myth: Applying sunscreen to the scalp will cause hair to thin and fall out.  

Dr. Leonard’s truth serum: No!  If you have thinning hair, it is very important to use sunscreen on your scalp to prevent burn and worse.  In fact, one of the first hints that a person is losing his or her hair is, indeed, sunburn.

4. Myth: Swimming in saltwater will cause hair to dry out and fall out.

Dr. Leonard’s truth serum:  Keep surfing!  No, any saltwater activity, including swimming, does not affect your hair loss.  Genetics is the root cause (sorry) of 98 percent of hair loss.

5. Myth: Overexposure to sun and heat will cause hair to become brittle and fall out.

Dr. Leonard’s truth serum:  No again.  The main concern with overexposure to the sun is sunburn of the scalp—and it hurts a lot!  Growing more hair, either with medical treatments or with modern hair transplantation, are great options to consider if your hair is thin enough to get burned.

6. Myth:  Braiding your hair at an exotic beach stand will cause your hair to fall out.

Dr. Leonard’s Truth Serum:  Short term braiding is fine; it is true, however, that certain hair styles, such as long term, tight corn-row braiding can permanently destroy follicles and cause hair loss.  This is a preventable condition called traction alopecia.

7. Myth:  Sexy summer activities cause less hair to fall out.

Dr. Leonard’s Truth Serum:  Too bad about this one, huh?!?  There is no truth to the idea that the more sex you have, the less hair you’ll lose. But the good doctor still thinks it’s worth trying to bust this myth!

8. Myth:  Blow drying wet hair after a day at the pool or beach will cause hair to fall out.          

Dr. Leonard’s Truth Serum:  The truth is that there is no evidence that hair dryers cause thinning hair. However, too hot or too much drying may lead to brittle hair.

9. Myth:  Smoking cigarettes causes hair loss. 

Dr. Leonard’s Truth Serum: Let’s face it; cigarette smoking is medically
BAD for everything, including your hair.  Recent studies have found sufficient evidence to claim there is a significant link between smoking and hair loss. It's still uncertain whether the connection is due to the effects of tobacco toxins, but it is probably due to the fact that nicotine constricts blood vessel throughout the body, including those directly affecting individual hair follicles.

10. Myth:  Standing on your head during summer workout sessions will help your hair to grow.

Dr. Leonard’s Truth Serum:    Although increase in the microcirculation to the follicles does help to decrease hair loss (as is affected by low level laser therapy), standing on your head does makes blood flow to the head, but it has not been shown to be of any benefit with hair loss.

Saturday Nite Party Starter: Birdman, Pitbull & Jenny From The Block

Lady Gaga: Judas

...theres always Wham! & Daft Punk

Beachy Celeb Style: Maria Menounos

Maria Menounos hit the beach in Miami with beau, Kevin Undergaro, wearing a black bikini from Anika Brazil Swim, $130, http://www.anikabrazil.com.br! The host-turned-author took a well-deserved vacation, just days after her new book "The Everygirl's Guide to Life" hit #3 on the New York Times' Bestseller list!        

Red Carpet Beauty @ the METGala

Sofia Vergara at the Met Ball by Celebrity Makeup Artist Kayleen McAdams

Sofia Vergara wore a Carolina Herrera and it was all in the eyes for this beauty look!

·       For skin I wanted her to have a silky, light look; I used COVERGIRL NatureLuxe Silk Foundation in Nutmeg and set that with COVERGIRL Clean Pressed Powder in Warm Beige and used COVERGIRL Cheekers Blush in Plumberry Glow. This gave her a warm look with soft cheeks.

·       We wanted to make the focus of this look the eye so we went with a strong black liner but as a subtle cat eye rather than a harsh line. In order to give the liner staying power, I like to layer different products.  I started by lining the eye with into a cat eye shape with COVERGIRL LiquilineBlast Eyeliner in Black Fire and then went over that same line with COVERGIRL LineExact Liquid Liner in Very Black.

·       I then blended dark chocolate brown eyeshadow starting from the outer corners and blending in towards the center. Along the bottom lash line I used the COVERGIRL LiquilineBlast Eyeliner in Brown Blaze and blended the liner with a black shadow to set it.I then used two coats of the COVERGIRL LashBlast Fusion Mascara in Very Black to thicken the lashes and finish her look.

Salma Hayek at the Met Ball by Celebrity Makeup Artist Kristofer Buckle

Salma was wearing the last gown Alexander McQueen made! I used peach and gold to add heat to the neutral browns in the smoke around Salma’s gorgeous brown eyes.

·       First, I blended in COVERGIRL NatureLuxe Silk Foundation in Nutmeg to accentuate her golden complexion.

·       I used COVERGIRL ExactEyelights Eye-Brightening Eyeshadow in Vibrant Brown to add drama to the upper lashline using a soft brush. Then with a flat lining brush used a metallic black closer to the lash line. Then, I added two coats of COVERGIRL LashBlast Fusion Mascara in Black for extra pop!  On her cheeks I used a peachy pink color, COVERGIRL & Olay Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush in Plush Peach.

·       Lastly, I used a gold eye shadow on her cheek bones to give her an ethereal glow. To finish her look, I used COVERGIRL LipPerfection lipcolor in Sultry.

Kristen Stewart at the Met Ball by Celebrity Makeup Artist Beau Nelson

Kristen was wearing a stunning Proenza Schouler gown and she and the designers decided they wanted a striking smoky eye with a nude lip for her beauty look.

·       I started by applying COVERGIRL NatureLuxe Silk Foundation with a synthetic brush in a circular motion to give her skin an even, radiant glow and added a touch of concealer where needed.

·       On her eye, we wanted to try something a little different than the traditional smoky eye, so I started by lining the entire eye with COVERGIRL LiquilineBlast in Black Fire then and smudging it all around the eye. I then went over it close to the lash line with the COVERGIRL Line Exact liquid liner in Black for added drama and diffused the edges. To set the liner, I applied the black shade of COVERGIRL Smoky ShadowBlast in Onyx Smoke so the black would stay in place all night and finished by lining the inner rim of her eye with the LiquilineBlast.

·       I then curled her lashes and applied COVERGIRL LashBlast Fusion in Black, 2 coats on the top and one on bottom.

·       On her face, I created a contour using a taupe/brown blush and added a touch of shimmer with a NARS highlighter.

·       On Kristen’s lips, I first applied foundation to create a nude canvas and then COVERGIRL LipPerfection lipcolor in Kiss, applying it in a tapping motion with my finger. I finished her lips with COVERGIRL ShineBlast Lip Gloss in Glow, which she took with her along with COVERGIRL Clean Pressed Powder for a quick touchup later.

·       Kristen loves to always try something different and we’ve never done a smoky eye that stayed so close to the lashes, it was almost a little punk.

Taylor Swift at the Met Ball by Celebrity Makeup Artist Lorrie Turk

To enhance Taylor's stunning J. Mendel couture gown, we went with a dramatic eye, strong lip and perfect dewy skin.

·       First, I started on her eyes, brushing on COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers 1-Kit Shadows in Golden Sunrise from the lash line to the crease.  Then, I applied Brown Smolder from her crease to just below her brow, which gives a very natural, yet dramatic look to the eye.  Also, I used Snow Blossom in the inner corner of her eyes to add highlight.  I lined the top of her eyes with COVERGIRL LiquiLine Blast Eyeliner in Brown Blaze and smudged it up a bit, and to add more depth just at the lash line, I  followed with COVERGIRL LineExact Liquid Liner in Very Black.

·       On the bottom lash line, I used COVERGIRL LiquiLine Blast Eyeliner in Brown Blaze and followed with a little of the Brown Smolder Shadow to smoke it up a bit. To finish the eyes, I used several coats of COVERGIRL LashBlast Volume Blasting Mascara in Very Black for a super glamorous look.

·       To perfect her beautiful skin, I used COVERGIRL NatureLuxe Silk Foundation.  It leaves her skin dewy, but not shiny--I love the finish of this foundation.  To hide any shadows underneath her eyes, I patted on COVERGIRL TRUconceal Concealer.  I finished her skin by lightly brushing on COVERGIRL TRUblend Pressed Powder.

·       On Taylor's cheeks, I used COVERGIRL TRUblend Minerals Blush in Shimmering Sands.  It gives a shimmery flush of color---very pretty.

·       For dramatic and long lasting lip color, I used COVERGIRL LipPerfection Lipcolor in Tempt -- this is such a beautiful wine color.

Celeb Spotting: Patrick Dempsey

Patrick Dempsey was spotted heading out of LAX with his wife, wearing his favorite John Varvatos shades! McDreamy sported the John Varvatos Classic Navigator V760, $250 available at http://www.johnvarvatos.com.

Top 10 Mother's Day Coupons

Mother's Day is meant to be a day of reflection and appreciation for all of the hard work mothers so gracefully take on. For some however it brings pure panic. What do I get mom this Mother's Day? What does mom even like? Will she still love me after she sees the gift I got her? How much do I have to spend?

For most mothers a simple "thank you" or "I love you" is more than enough. But we all know that a little gift of
appreciation can speak volumes, and every super mom is more than deserving.

Here's a list of 10 Mother's Day coupons that will help you save on the pefect gift for mom.

Coldwater Creek
If you can find stylish apparel, chic accessories, and cozy home decor all in one shop then you're sure to make mom proud this Mother's Day. Shop Coldwater Creek for the perfect gift and receive free shipping plus 25-percent off your order with coupon code AFLC451.

1-800-Flowers
You can never go wrong with a bouquet of flowers. This Mother's Day 1-800-Flowers is offering free shipping and no service charge on their Mother's Day Collection. Select from a gorgeous collection of Mother's Day arrangements and gifts, and apply coupon code MDAY46 during checkout.

DSW
They say flowers are the way to a women's heart, but be assured that a stellar pair of shoes can achieve the same outcome. This year let mom pick out a fabulous pair of shoes with a DSW gift card and receive a $10 bonus card with each purchase of a $50 gift card.

Teleflora
Teleflora can help you find mom's favorite flowers and have them delivered right to her door. This year you can even receive 15-percent off your order by using coupon AFPX15 during checkout.

Sears
You can always rely on Sears to help you celebrate Mother's Day in the finest fashion and save. Shower your mother with stunning jewelry and receive 20-percent off by applying the coupon code MOTHER20 during checkout.

Ann Taylor
At Ann Taylor find an additional 25-percent off sale styles with coupon code EXTRA25. Mom will love their classic and stylish apparel and accessories, and you can enjoy awesome savings.

Nine West
Nine West boasts a stylish collection of shoes, bags, and accessories. Find chic accessories at Nine West for your stylish mom and receive free shipping on all orders.

Snapfish
Capture your favorite memory with mom this Mother's Day and create the perfect photo gift. Use the coupon SHIPIT20 to receive free shipping on orders over $20.

FragranceX
FragranceX has an impressive collection of women's frgrances, skincare, and makeup so you're sure to find mom something she'll love. Use the coupon code FREE during checkout and recieve free shipping on your order.

Kate Spade
If your mom loves nothing but stylishly chic and trendy fashions Kate Spade is the place to find the perfect Mother's Day gift. Right now receive free shipping on all orders plus $50 off orders of $250 or more with coupon YOCSP11.

Lotty Dotty: Interactive Tshirt Line for Girls with Flair!

Lotty Dotty, a Paris- based clothing company is proud to introduce their new interactive tshirt, allowing girls to play dress up with a “paper doll like image” displayed on each shirt. Stemming from the fond memories of founders, Shevanne and Maya’s passion for playing dress up with paper dolls, they created a line of clothing to reflect the love and desire inside every little girl's imagination. 

 The unique design allows the consumer to create an outfit by simply changing the clothes on the doll. Glam your doll up for a party, or dress her down for a casual lunch date using the mini accessories you can choose from. The screenprinted character has a beautiful colored Velcro bathing suit which allows one to attach the mini-outfits specially created for the dolls.

 The outfits chosen are special because an array of emerging designers from around the globe specifically create these mini collections for the Lotty Dotty line. This provides the opportunity for designers to showcase their work and gain recognition with web site promotions in addition to exposing their designs on Lotty Dotty tshirts.

Not only can you be stylish and creative with Lotty Dotty, but you can also help save the planet with the use of organic cotton and bamboo, as well as recycled material to produce the clothing. Lotty Dotty strictly works with environmentally and socially conscious companies and donate a portion of their profits to an established and transparent charity.

Each piece has a specific signature name and look, so every shirt is totally different. Spice things up with a blonde loving Lola bombshell! Since Lotty Dotty is tailored to each customer age range and size, there are two types of dolls offered. There are preadolescent (ages 4-10) as well as adult dolls (ages 12-50) that can be dressed and undressed directly on the tshirt.

The prices for the bow dress range from $50-$90 and additional dresses are sold separately between $15 to $45. The collection is available in stores in France and Italy such as Le Closet, Aloa, My Optics, Le Chateau and Temporary Concept Store.

Win It: Ferrum Professional Styler

EverSoPopular is pleased to offer one lucky reader the chance to win the brand new Ferrum professional styler valued at $160.00. 


To enter Share your most harrowing hair story in the comments section and check back in we will reply to the winning comment by May 16. The contest is only open for US Residents. 

GET FAT HAIR NOT FLAT HAIR WITH THE NEW FERRUM PROFESSIONAL STYLER

FINALLY A FLAT IRON THAT WON’T FRY AND DRY

www.Ferrumiron.com

The concept behind a styling tool is to make hair look smooth and sleek. Most flat irons do exactly what the name says: They make your hair flat!  Just because women want to tame their frizzies or make curly hair straight does not mean they want hair that is limp and lacking fullness. What’s more, many who already have straight hair want the option of curls or soft waves. Traditional flat irons can’t do that. Some women find themselves going through a three step process of drying their hair with a traditional blower, using a flat iron to straighten and then a curling iron to achieve body. Who has that kind of time to spend on their hair? The inventors behind Ferrum understand these hair woes and provide a state-of-the art styling tool that delivers PHAT hair.

What Makes Ferrum Different? The answer lies in the technology of the VSS System which is a combination of a non-heated padded fabric element and a tourmaline coated ceramic plate. The real distinction of this tool is the fabric padded side. The fabric is a combination of lightweight, anti-static polymers that allows the hair to "breathe" while straightening. In combination with the pad, the styling result most closely resembles blow-drying; which tends to give hair exponentially more volume than flat-ironing. Since the fabric padded side is non-heated, the Ferrum styler doesn't burn all the moisture out of the root of the hair giving it a much more vibrant, "bouncy" look. A flatiron will fry and dry out your hair between two solid hot plates. The Ferrum styler will allow your hair to rest on glide on a soft surface, allowing hair to breathe and retain more of its  natural moisture, shine and volume.Think of a flatiron as "frying" and drying out your hair between two solid hot plates. Allowing your hair to breathe and rest on a softer surface allows for a much healthier styling experience.

When flatirons were first created they were clearly an inferior alternative to going to a salon for a professional blow out. Women turned to flat irons to try to mimic the sleek look provided by a professional stylist. Most who have used them would say that their hair lacks the same “oomph” as a blow out. In the quest to simply get their hair straight,  the consumer has come to accept flat and damaged hair as an inevitable part of using a flatiron. With the Ferrum Professional Styler, women do not have to merely make the choice between frizzy and flat. Although Ferrum is not to be used to make wet hair dry, once hair is dry the tool can be used to achieve a pin straight look without losing volume. It can also curl the hair or give it gentle waves. For those who want or need to use a heated styling tool daily, the best news is that the Ferrum will not break the hair.

To Maximize Ferrum’s results hair stylist and inventor Barbara Abbasi has some styling tips:

• Make sure your hair is completely dry. Two things change the composition of hair- heat and moisture. If your hair is wet it will be much less manageable.
• Always start straightening with the pad facing out (i.e. the pad should be "under" your hair)
• Begin styling from the root. The benefit of our product is that you can get very close to the root without burning your scalp.
• When styling use a slow and steady motion from root to tip
• Volume can be controlled with the angle at which you style. For increased volume turn rotate your hand so your wrist is closer to your head.
• If you want a sleeker, less voluminous look, finish by doing an extra stroke with the pad facing inwards.
• The Ferrum styler is composed of unique materials. Allow ample time for the styler to heat up. The results will be worth it.

Protect Your Style

• To keep your hair styled perfectly for the whole day or night, use a lightweight finishing spray to keep your hair in place.
• Take good care of your flat iron! It's a great piece of equipment and not exactly cheap to replace, so simply storing it in a heat proof pouch - or using one for safe travel - will help you protect your iron and keep using it for a long, long time. You can also set your iron down on this heat proof surface during styling to protect counters from possible heat damage.
• Clean your flat iron from time to time - frequently if you use leave in conditioners or heat serums, every week or so if not. Build-up on the plates can cause your hair to snag and shorten the life of the plates themselves. Heat your iron and then wipe it down with a non-abrasive cloth - use a flat iron cleaner if you use leave-in treatments frequently, but avoid chemical solvents not meant for cleaning your iron.

How To Make the Perfect Bowl of Pasta

Sauce Expert Reveals Tricks of the Pasta Trade

Pasta is one of the staples of the American diet, but it need not taste like a staple.

“It is so much more than just grabbing a jar of generic sauce at the store, boiling some water and mixing it all up in a bowl,” said Dave Hirschkop, the namesake of the Dave’s Gourmet (www.davesgourmet.com) line of sauces and veteran pasta and sauce aficionado. “There are subtle secrets in every step of the process, from choosing the sauce, boiling the water, and plating the finished meal that can take an everyday dull meal and turn it into a gourmet dining experience.”

He should know. His sauces have been named tops in the industry by the Sofi Awards two years running, making him a recognized expert in designing the perfect bowl of pasta. His tips include:

• Choosing the Pasta -- If you want a great pasta experience, choose a variety of pasta that receives the sauce and spices well. Thinner more delicate shapes should pair with lighter thinner sauces. Pick pasta made from durum wheat and a slightly rougher pasta or shaped pasta holds the sauce better.

• Choosing the Sauce -- Good marinara is made primarily from tomatoes, not tomato paste. If your sauce ingredients list paste, water or sugar as the first ingredient, then you need to put the jar down slowly and back away from it.  Some sauces make a better base so don’t be afraid to doctor it with meat, cheese, or fresh veggies.  Also, to keep your pasta love life interesting, experiment with different flavors of sauce (tomato cream, butternut, wild mushroom, etc.).

• Boiling the Pasta - Use plenty of water, add salt to it, and never put dry pasta in the water until it has reached a rolling boil. Stir occasionally and, once the pasta nears the minimum cooking time on the package start tasting it. Take the pasta out when it is al dente or a little firm.  The pasta will continue to cook a little after you take it out.
• Heating the Sauce – For an even more flavorful pasta dish take the pasta out of the water a few minutes early and let it finish cooking in the sauce.

• Plating the Pasta - When you strain the pasta, do not run water over the pasta unless you are making a cold pasta salad.  Make sure to strain really well as nobody likes watery pasta. Place a ladle of sauce at the bottom of your serving bowl before dumping the cooked pasta in. Then, ladle generous amounts of sauce into the bowl, and toss the pasta so the sauce is evenly distributed. Then you can add extra sauce to each plate according to your dinner guests’ taste.  You might want to garnish each plate with some fresh basil or even parsley.  Freshly grated Parmesan or Parmesan Reggiano is a great touch and tasty.

• Preparing the Bread - The bread is important, because at the end of the meal, a good textured bread can be used to soak up the excess sauce in the plate. To make the most of the bread, bake it for 6-8 minutes at 350 degrees. This will make for toasty nooks and crannies that will capture the sauce in your plate without letting the bread go limp or soggy.  Garlic bread can also be a delicious alternative.

“A great pasta meal is all about the details and the creative flair,” Dave added. “If you take care to pay attention to those details and put forth a tiny bit of extra effort, every pasta meal at home can be a gourmet meal you can be proud of.”

FRIZZ FIGHTER TO THE RESCUE

It's that time of year: The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the pool party invites are piling up. But all that summer heat and humidity is making your hair a frizzy mess. Instead of grabbing the first chemical-laden strand smoother on the store shelf, fight your hair faux pas with the all natural and organic hair serum, SILKt

á

ge.

SILKtáge is a rejuvenating styling serum made with Camellia and Monoi oils. No silicone, no parabens, no chemical preservatives. Awesome for all hair types. Just a couple drops of SILKt

á

ge will leave you de-pouffed and frizz-free.

Check out these before and after shots

For centuries, India and the Orient have known about the magical healing powers of pure botanical oils Today, SILKtáge Rejuvenating Styling Serum draws from this ancient wisdom to create a modern day organic hair oil serum made from the most luxurious and exotic botanicals to de-frizz, nourish and protect all hair types.

 

The quintessential benefits of SILKtáge Rejuvenating Styling Serum lie in its signature ingredients; Camellia Oil (also known as Green Tea Oil) and Monoi Oil, an infusion of Tahitian gardenia flowers soaked in coconut oil.

SILKtáge nourishes every hair type, especially dry, stressed, frizzy hair because it strengthens hair from the root and restores moisture lost from styling heat, chemicals, and the environment. This proprietary Organic Camellia, Monoi Oil-infused blend, along with the delicate essence of Organic Geranium, Organic Rosemary and Wild Harvested Palmarosa essential oils is rich in the vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids that healthy hair needs to shine naturally.

SILKtáge uses 100% pure ingredients:

No synthetic fragrance             No paraben                             No phony color                         No alcohol
No silicone                                No petroleum                          No preservatives

 

Benefits of using SILKtáge:

* Eliminates frizz and flyaway    * Adds vitality to color and highlights  

* Improves the health of the hair           * Tames thick and unmanageable hair 

* Moisturizes dry hair and scalp   * Promotes healthy hair growth

* Reduces breakage and split ends   * Creates smoorther, straighter, blow-dry 

* Adds protective shine   * Safe for color-treated and permed hair

HOW TO USE: For daily conditioning and rejuvenating effects, use before and/or styling. Tap a few drops into palm and smooth into wet or dry hair. Concentrate damaged and rough ends. For extra conditioning, apply to length of hair and scalp before shampooing and leave on for 30-60 minutes. Overnight is better. Follow by shampoo and conditioner. SILKtáge Rejuvenating Styling Serum retails for $39 (3.4 fl. oz.) at www.EmtageHair.com.