How Healthy Is Your Hair?

As we head into the cold winds and heated homes of Fall and Winter, now would be a great time our hair health a checkup. If you've got lots of damage, frizz, split ends or if that perfect sunny day on the beach dried the life right out of your mane, now is the time to get it in shape---before the leaves blow and the snows fly.

But first you have to know what's happening, so get a strong light and a good mirror and check out your hair:

• Is it dry and flyaway? Stop by Believe for a deep-conditioning treatment right now (you should also schedule one a month until we get your hair in better shape. You should also use a leave-in conditioner like AEstelance's Butter.
• Is it broken all along the length? Consider treating your hair with kid gloves for a while. Shampoo less often and then only with a conditioning shampoo like Semi De Lino Color Protect. Don't blow dry your hair. Instead pat it (don't rub) dry with a towel and let it air dry whenever possible. Use a wide tooth comb on wet hair, never pull with a brush. And about the brush—use a natural bristle brush that has widely-spaced bristles and is gentle on your hair.
• Does it look fried or dry? Put away the hot rollers and flat-iron and use your hair dryer (only when necessary) on the coolest setting.
• Are you sporting split ends? Come into Believe for a trim. We will save the length while getting rid of those tired old ends (their 15 minutes in the spotlight are over...)
• Is your hair getting thin? If you see more of your scalp then you used to (or worse—find ever more hairs in your brush) you might be having a reaction to medications or suffering hormonal changes (for example, many women suffer hormonal hair loss when they are pregnant.) Make an appointment with your doctor if you think this may be the case. If you see an actual bald spot, it could be a sign of alopecia areata, a disease that causes such patches. Or maybe you started dieting (be careful and keep eating a balanced diet. Your skin, hair and nails will be the first to reflect it if you don't.) Also watch how tightly you pull your hair into a ponytail or braid. You can literally pull your own hair out over time—it's called traction hair loss.
• Does your hair look dull with no shine? To get shiny healthy hair (like those women on the commercials, flipping their manes in slow motion) is largely an inside job. We at Believe can recommend some shine-filled products like the Chromastics line or even apply a clear semi-permanent glaze. But when it comes to dull lifeless hair, you are what you eat. Try salmon, packed with high-quality protein, vitamin B-12 , iron and essential omega-3 fatty acids to support a healthy scalp. If you are a vegan, you can add twp tablespoons of ground flaxseed daily to get the same omega-3 fats from a plant-based source. Spinach, broccoli and swiss chard add vitamins A and C, need to produce the oily substance known as sebum—your body's own hair conditioner. Walnuts, cashews, pecans, and almonds provide zinc, which helps keep hair from shedding. Poultry (with its protein) makes hair strong and less faded (eggs work, too.) Last, but never least, low fat dairy, particularly that all-important yogurt, are great sources of calcium which is very important for hair growth.
• Does your hair have no bounce? Get the rest of your body bouncing. Exercise gets your blood pumping and that circulation goes right to your hair follicles, shaking them out of their summer slumbers. Take advantage of the cool weather to walk daily (or even run) and see the benefits in your hair (and skin.)

Now is the moment to make your change-of-season hair appointment at Believe (soon enough, you'll have to drive through slush...ugh!) so come in and see us and share a glass of cider while we come up with a strategy to get—and keep---your hair healthy. We are waiting for you here at Believe and can't wait to hear all about your summer.

Let Believe Make Mother's Day Special

Mother's Day started in England in the 1600's when Mothering Day was declared by the Church as one Sunday when servants and other working class stiffs were allowed to take the day off and travel to their homes to visit Mum. Naturally, when The Puritans came to this country, they cancelled the day off as slothful (those people really knew how to wreck a good time...)

It was up to Julia Ward Howe (who wrote The Battle Hymn of The Republic) to resurrect Mother's Day in 1870 to put behind all mothers the horrors of The Civil War and to celebrate peace and motherhood. She tried to hijack the 4th of July as the day, but had to settle for July 2nd, when women in 18 cities came together to celebrate. The holiday stayed in July until around 1883 (when Julia stopped footing the bill for the celebration.

Mother's Day was resurrected again in 1908 by Anna Reeves Jarvis of West Virginia, who wanted mothers from both the Union and Confederacy to come together in friendship. When she died, her daughter lobbied the local church to host Mother's Day to honor her mother and gave out carnations (her mother's favorite) to all mothers in attendance-thus beginning the tradition of giving flowers to Mom on the day.

Soon Senator Elmer Burkett of Nebraska, proposed making Mother's Day a national holiday (his fellow senators shot the notion down even though 46 states were already holding Mother's Day services.) Anna Jarvis, Jr. quit her real job and made getting Mother's Day made into an official holiday her lifeswork and, in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed Mother's Day-the second Sunday in May--into law. By 1948, when Anna Jarvis died (mad that she hadn't been allowed to copyright the holiday's name) Mother's Day was being celebrated in 40 countries. It is celebrated a little differently (and at different times) wherever you go:

• In Mexico-The mother is usually treated to a song sung by her family, or a serenade by a hired band, followed by a family brunch.
• In Finland- Mom gets breakfast in bed.
• In the UK- violets are given and a Simnel Cake(a glazed fruitcake both baked and broiled, based on a folk tale) is served.
• In Yugoslavia -Mother's Day is celebrated by tying the mother up and not letting her go until she gives the family candy and treats. (She gets to tie the kids up on Children's Day soon after.)
• In Ethiopia-a feast is made with girls bringing butter, cheese, vegetables and spices, while the boys bring a bull or lamb. The mothers and daughters then ritually anoint themselves with butter on their faces and chests. They dance while the men sing songs and the celebration lasts three days.

Here in the USA, florists sell the most flowers for Mother's Day, restaurants claim it is the busiest day of the year and, according to Hallmark (who ought to know), 96% of American consumers buy something for the holiday.

We, at Believe, love Mother's Day! Some of us are mothers ourselves and all of us are happy to pay tribute to the women who gave us life or changed our life or helped us grow into women ourselves (yes, even our mother-in-laws.)

To help you celebrate, here are some suggestions for great gifts from Believe for Mother's Day:

• Zum Organic Goat's Milk Soaps has come up with a specially selected scent for the big day—Zesty Coriander and Lime
• 20% off on natural bristle hair brushes (offer to brush Mom's hair 100 times like in the old days.)
• 20% off on Believe soy candles
• 20% off on all jewelry, including Minh-thu Silk Paper Necklaces 
• Blow-dry gift cards (only $25)

Or buy Mom a Day of Beauty at Believe. 

How about a refreshing facial, a relaxing massage, a cut and color and a luscious manicure? Call us today to arrange Mom's special day. And if you are just flat out of time, run by and pick up a gift card--worth any amount you choose. It let's Mom pick her own special treat (and you still get credit for getting her a gift.)

To all mothers everywhere, the staff at Believe wishes you a wonderful day!