Fuzzy Faces For Fall Are Back At Believe

Autumn is here and with that first hint of cold weather, the man in your life may be itching (excuse the pun) to grow some facial hair. We also know that, left to his own devices, he would probably just grow the hair out, wash it with bar soap, take some scissors to it if it got too long and call it a day. But you (being a woman and a reader of Believe's blog) know better. If its a beard he's hankering for, here's some hint on how he can look more like Johnny Depp and less like Zach Galifianakis.

First, let's talk about beards and facial shapes. Just like a great hairstyle can divert from our weak features and enhance our best ones, so to can a beard do the same for men.

If a man has a long face, he'll need a beard that is fuller at the sides and shorter at the chin. Adding width to the sides will make his face appear shorter.

The exact opposite is true if he has a round face. Then he'll want to go longer at the chin to add length. Keep the sides short and no bushy sideburns (a goatee looks good on round faces.)

If the guy has a square face, he should have the beard longer at the chin and shorter at the sides to give the illusion of a longer face. (Goatees work with this shape face, too.)

Small faces should have small facial hair. Just like large jewelry on a small woman, a big beard can overwhelm a little guy. Keep things in proportion.

With a large face, the opposite is true. Go big or go home and then just follow the tips above about face shape.

If a guy has an oval face, congratulations! He's got what is considered the ideal shape and can wear any facial hair he chooses.

Here's a few beard styles for him (and you) to consider:

Van Dyke Beard -This is a moustache combined with a goatee (or Soul Patch--see below) with no hair connecting the two and no hair covering the cheeks. By the way, there was a Van Dyke--he was a 17th century painter--so maybe this will bring out the creativity in your man.

The Goatee -This is confined to only the chin area and can be short, broad or of any fanciful shape (think Hunger Games). By attaching it with a moustache and a small beard bridge, it is called a French beard and is great for man with small chins.

Soul Patches -This feaures a small patch of beard under the lips and above the chin with no mustache (and no other facial hair). It can be triangular pointed and requires only a minimal amount of trimming.

Stubble Beards-Like those made famous by such men as David Beckham often sports is a two (or more) day growth of beard and gives your man a tough guy image. (This type of beard may make a kind of tough guy of you, too, if you get razor-burned by this beard. Take care of your own skin while kissing him.  Rub some emollient, like Aestelance Butter around your own lips and jaw after some heavy smooching.) An electric razor hovering just above the stubble is the way to maintain this type of beard.

Full Beards-To avoid looking like a member of  the ZZ Top band, Brad Pitt on his bad days or Charles Darwin, your man has to keep his full beard well-trimmed and pay attention to its maintenance and condition. Treat it just like the hair on his head--get it cut well (we are happy to do this a Believe), maintain its shape (we at Believe will teach you how) and use shampoo like Aestalance G and conditioner like Chromastics TriOrganic Light Conditione to keep the beard hair in tip-top shape.

Chin Curtain Beard -Easy to maintain, this is grown only on the lower part of the guy's face along the jawline, from cheek to cheek. It looks sleek and slightly historic.

Sideburns Beards-Coming down from the temples and running along the jawline, whether or not its accompanied by a moustache, this type of beard is for the guy who is an individualist. Bring your guy into Believe to consult on just how busy those sideburns should be to suit his face and we'll even teach him to use a trimmer to keep that Civil War look from taking over.

Caring for the new beard:

Have him use the same shampoo and conditioner on his face as he does on his head.  Good ones carried at Believe include Camellia Sinensis (green tea extract) and Annuus (Sunflower) Seed extract.

If his beard is gray, conditioning is key because grey hair can grow thicker and more bristly than colored hair. The conditioning will help soften the beard (and help you with that kissing problem.) Try Chromastic molding cream or Aestalance Butter.

For unruly beards, a dab of conditioner like Aestalance Hydrate will work wonders.

To give his beard the best shape possible, make an appointment at Believe and have his beard trimmed professionally.

A clear shaving oil will allow him to see what he is shaving at home and will help ensure clean lines around his beard.

Choose a trimmer with an adjustable trimming guide for mistake-proof trimming and consider buying two clippers. A full sized clipper will make overall trimming easier, while a small fine-toothed trimmer will cut closer and allow him to get a clean outline.

Keep the beard smooth and free from tangles by using a fine tooth comb through the beard in the direction of the hair growth.

If his beard is graying or a dramatically different color from the hair on your head, make an appointment at Believe and we will dye it for him (avoiding the mess and keeping him from dyeing his neck, his chin skin and the whole bathroom.)

Invest in a wall-mounted mirror with a telescoping arm for your new bearded wonder. This will prevent him from having to lean across the bathroom counter and ensure he can get a close up view for trimming.

We've got more tips (including the latest styles) for those men who want to sport a moustache this fall or winter. Check back here soon for our blog about 'staches. For now, call Believe soon for an appointment for that guy in your life so we can get his beard off to its best start.

(And don't forget to come in for your pink hair extension through October. Only $10 and all money goes to Pink Hair For Hope to fight breast cancer.)

Are You Ready To Be Blonde?

We talked last week about lightening your hair (and how you should come into Believe to have it done by Lisa, the Master Colorist or one of the talented and trained staff here instead of reaching for the Clairol) but this week we’d like to talk about the different facets to going blonde. Blonde isn’t just a color—it’s a lifestyle.

You may be old enough to remember the commercials that said “If I only have one life, let me live it as a blonde” or the ones that promised blondes have more fun…but what do you really need to consider before you join the bevy of blonde beauties?

No need to go all Harlow—You are probably too mature for platinum hair: Hair color ranges in shade from deep black (level one) to that white blonde of the Nordic race (level 12). Unless someone hails from Iceland, you’ll rarely see anyone past puberty with anything lighter than a level seven. So unless you want to be glaring, think golden, wheat, ash or even the lightest brown. Those shades will look more natural.

Keep the right temperature: Everyone knows now about winter, spring, summer and autumn colors in fashion and how one season suits your skin type best. It is the same with shades of blonde. There are cool and warm shades. Bring in color photos of blonde shades you like (and hate). At Believe, we will use our years of experience to help you pick the shade that will best suit you.

Going blonde is one thing, staying blond is another: Make sure you are ready for the maintenance your new color will require. You might have gotten away with looking a little faded as a brunette or even a tad orange-ish as a redhead, but dark roots in your new blonde ‘do just look trashy. Get ready to have your hair colored (by us at Believe, please) every 4 weeks or so.

Change your hair products: Coloring your hair blonde requires bleaching products that may change the texture of your hair. You may need less shampooing and more conditioning. Use a sulfate-free shampoo like Chromastics Tri-Organic , a conditioner like Iden Treatment and a reconstructive treatment mask at home like Agadir Moisture Mask. Schedule a deep conditioning treatment every month with us here at Believe. When it comes to farm references, you want hair like corn silk, not like hay.

Pay attention during the process: If you have hair that is on the scale (see above) at level seven or higher, you may get to become blonde with just highlights. Darker than that and you need a “single process” or even a “base breaker” or maybe both, depending on how dark your natural hair is---we’ll educate you on this when you come to Believe for lightening. You’ll need to know to allow enough time at each appointment or if <sob> you ever decide to get your color done at some other salon.

Glazing is not just for donuts: There are sheer shade glazes that are a non-peroxide treatment that add the perfect shine to your new blonde look (and seal in that glisten-in-the-sun look).

Stop by your favorite department store makeup counter: Duck the women spraying perfume and ask for a free makeover. Your new hair color will require new lipstick certainly and maybe new brow and lash color as well. The opinion of a stranger is good here as they won’t be “blinded” by the old you—they’ll only see the dazzling blonde you are now.

Everyone’s got a blonde joke: And they are guaranteed to trot it out when they see your new color. Grin and bear it. They’ll soon run out of steam. You’ll have the last laugh knowing you look younger (lighter hair does that), that you can now be that hot blonde your partner is now ogling, and that now when people meet you, they’ll be wondering if you are having more fun. At Believe, we hope the answer is a resounding “yes!”

Does Your Hair Have The Humidity Blues?

We haven't even yet hit the dog days of summer and already it feels like stepping into your shower when you walk out your front door.

 The bad news is The Farmer's Almanac predicts a hot, wet summer for our area, full of thunderstorms and high temperatures. The good news is that we at Believe have some tips to help keep the humidity from wrecking havoc with your hair.

When dampness is in the air, hair suffers in three ways: It gets frizzy, flat, or so big you look like a 1940's country music star.

As a general tip, keep your hair moisturized and in good condition. Use a deep conditioner like Agadir Masque once or twice a week, halfway down the length of your hair to its ends. Towel dry it (by blotting, not rubbing)—retiring your hair dryer for the season if possible. Ditto with your straightening iron. The heat from both can damage your hair and make your problems worse. If you have to use a hair dryer, use the diffuser. And, in the sun, wear a ventilated hat. Letting the sun bleach your hair (and make leather of your skin) went out with the Gidget movies.

To deal with the frizz, use a small amount of a silicon-based smoother like Chromastics Tri Organic Extreme just on the frizzy areas. Don't overdo or you risk making your hair look greasy. An amount about the size of a pea is about right. Rub your hands together to emulsify the product and then lightly apply to hair. During the day, make your favorite hand lotion do double duty. Moisturize your hands with it and then rub your hands lightly over any frizz that springs up. (Your hair will smell good, too.)

If your hair goes flat, make sure you are using a shampoo like AESTELANCE G that doesn't leave a heavy residue (such residue gets even weightier when combined with the moisture in the air on a humid day.) You might also want to try a spray-on voluminizer like Chromastics Tri Organic Spray Gel (spray it on your roots while you hair is damp). For a styling product, use AESTELANCE Volume for a light hold and use a flexible hold spray like Scruples White Tea Embrace to finish the style. Other tricks include gentle teasing of the roots (done with a comb) to add volume, and spraying hairspray on the roots at lunchtime, then holding the hair straight up with a brush till the spray dries. A quick gentle brushing and voila—instant volume!

This YouTube video shows the effects of humidity on hair: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU9JDCt5Hto. Your hair shafts actually poof up enough that you might resemble your neighbor's poodle. If that's the case, you may have to admit you can't fight Mother Nature. Pull your hair back in a classic chignon for the office, a sexy tight top knot (allow a few tendrils to curl down the back of your neck) for a dinner out, and horsetail braids and side-swept ponytails are perfect for a weekend shopping or a day at the beach.

We at Believe are here to help, of course. Whether it's recommending products, giving you a great layered cut to help fight the Flathead Syndrome or teaching you the latest braids--come by and share a refreshing iced coffee or tea and let us help you win the battle against humid hair. We look forward to seeing you soon.