Believe's Got A Gift For Everyone

Black Friday's past. Cyber Monday flew by and your gift-buying expedition is still only in the planning stages. If the thought of braving the mall gives you a headache or you dread getting that Amazon message that says your shipment won't arrive until January 8^th, we at Believe have got you covered. Here are gift selections for everyone you need to remember at the holidays. Come into Believe for one-stop shopping (and spend your extra free time making a wish list of things you want for yourself):

For your Mom: Unless your mother is Barbara Bush, she probably complains often about her gray or white hair. It's dull, it makes her looks old, she hates looking in the mirror. Bring her into Believe for a color rinse to replace that yellow tinge with a snowy and beautiful sheen or highlights to blend that gray into an intriguing salt-and-pepper mix. (Dad could benefit too. Tell him it will make him look distinguished.) Make an appointment now (or buy a gift card for future use.)

For your husband: Your husband probably grew up in a world where razors were plastic and came by the dozen and where his father's idea of skin care was a splash of Old Spice after the chin scraping. Well, times have changed and, while we aren't advocating guy-liner, it is no longer unmasculine to take care of your skin. Introduce your man to a great product for after the shave TEND SKIN. It will help keep his skin smooth and soothe irritation winters dryness.

For your boss: Hey, even managers need a little love. If you are stressed out at work, it's a good bet so is your boss. Get her (or him-- we aren't sexist) a scented soy candle from Zum. With rich fragrances like Myrrh (and metro-sexual ones like Pine), you can help provide a short mental vacation for your overworked boss and maybe they'll think kindly of you at bonus time.

For your sister: To make up for all those times she stole your clothes when you were kids, buy her a fabulous piece of jewelry from Japanese artist KAZUKO, who creates hand made unique and beautiful pieces that will help celebrate how unique and beautiful your sis is. The best part? You can “borrow” the jewelry when she's not looking.

For your daughter: Remember being a teenager where you sometimes had to get noticed to express your individuality or else you just faded into the crowd? Bring your teen (or tween) in for feather hair extensions and help your daughter shout to the world: “Look at me!” The extensions are fabulous fun and—the best part--are a lot less permanent than a tattoo or a pierced tounge.

For your grand-baby: Speaking of stress relief hardly anything matches the exhaustion of new parents. Everyone will get the little squirt toys and clothes. Invest in a set of Wee Baby skin care products by Zum and you can make the whole new family happy. This set of organic lavender body lotion, diaper cream, aroma-mist and soap is sure to help quiet a cranky little one and give Baby's parents what they need most—a little peace and quiet.

For the family dog: Fluffy isn't getting outside as much as the weather turns colder and, to tell you the truth, he's beginning to smell a little too aromatic. Get rid of that cabin fever smell by giving him a bath with Y.U.M. WASH Doggie Soap or give him a spritz with Y.U.M. mist. It's good both for his coat and skin and your nose. Bonus: Your house will no longer smell like a kennel.

For the omigod-we-are-having-a-gift-exchange situation: Don't have a clue what to buy Susie in the next cubicle? Come in to Believe and we will help make you up a custom gift basket based on any clues you have about old Sus...or check out our selection of gift baskets already created. You are sure to find one to save you at Secret Santa time or when you find out last-minute that Aunt Jennie is showing up at the holiday dinner.

Still feeling uninspired? At Believe the staff is well-trained in picking out the perfect gift, no matter who is on your list. Stop by or give us a call at 914-747-0778. We'll be happy to help (and glad to see you!) And remember, appointments for the holidays are filling up fast, so call today if you need spiffing up before that festive gathering. Hope to see you soon.

And They're Off!

Congratulations! If you are reading this, you have managed to live through Thanksgiving (and breaking bread with those family members you wouldn't have anything to do with if you weren't related), got a few bargains (and avoided getting trampled) on Black Friday. So far, so good.

But those two events are only the starting gun for the exhausting holiday season. You've got a long race to run, so we at Believe recommend you take this time (before you have none left at all) to take a deep breath and relax. Light one of our Zum Soy Candles and as you breathe in the lovely and long-lasting fragrance (like Frankincese and Myrrh and Pine) and feel your stress slipping away.

Such aromatherapy has been used for centuries and not always just for stress relief. Aromatherapy uses essential oils—the pure essence of plants—to provide psychological and physical benefits, as well as taking care of your general well-being.

Essential oils that are inhaled (like those found in our Zum Candles) not only trigger a reaction in the brain, but the natural “constituents” supply therapeutic benefits (for example, eucalyptus essential oil can help ease congestion—the natural origin of modern remedies like Vicks VapoRub.)

The Greeks, like the Chinese, Indians and Iranians before them, recognized the medicinal and aromatic benefits of plants. Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, practiced fumigations for both aromatic and medicinal benefit and used myrrh (like in Zum's soy candes) for its aroma, anti-inflammatory properties and to heal wounds. An ancient Roman, Discorides wrote a book called De Materia Medica that described the properties of 500 plants.

But it was in the 11th century when essential oils truly began their heyday. A coiled cooling pipe which allowed plant vapor and steam to rise was invented by a Persian named Avicenna. By the 12th century a nun, Hildegard, made lavender famous for its healing properties and when the Black Plague decimated the countryside killing millions, essential oils were used by “the first responders” to stave off the disease. Eventually books were written and knowledge shared (an alchemist named Paracelcus, invented the word “essence”) and during the 16th century, people could buy oils at apothecaries. In fact essential oils and herbal remedies made up most of the medical toolbox until the late 19th century.

In the early part of 20th century, a French chemist, René-Maurice Gattefossé, was working with essential oils, testing their aromatic use, when he burned his arm badly. He plunged it into the nearest liquid available, which was a vat of lavender oil. The burn healed quickly and with no scarring. He began a study of the healing properties of essential oils and named the procedures aromatherapy.

Here are the seven most popular essential oils in aromatherapy and their uses:

Lavender--is used for relaxation, insomnia, and as a disinfectant, for adding fragrance to linens and delicates, and even for use of scalds and burns. Eucalyptus--is used to ease mental exhaustion and depression, add energy, treat colds and flu, and help shorten viral infections. Lemon---is used to relieve stress, anxiety, mental fatigue and tension and also as an astringent and antiseptic. It's good for itchy skin conditions like eczema and also on oily skin. (It even helps cut grease on dishes—just put a drop or two in the dishwater.) Peppermint--is used for stress, depression, tension and upset tummies and as a stimulant. It will also help clear the sinuses. Rosemary--is used to treat stress, help concentration and memory, relieve muscle aches, pains and migraines, ease arthritis, help skin problems (including acne) and even get rid of cellulite. Tea Tree (Australian)--it is used as an antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial oil. It treats acne, sunburn (and other burns) and even helps get rid of warts. Ylang ylang--is used as an anti-depressant, sedative, antiseptic (and even aphrodisiac!) It is also good for acne, and oily or irritated skin. It is also considered a hair tonic (to help hair grow) and is even good on insect bites. There are a few don'ts when it comes to essential oils: They should never be used undiluted on the skin. They should always be applied via a carrier oil like sweet almond, apricot kernel or grapeseed oil, else their powerful concentration can irritate. Don't use the oils if you are pregnant or have high blood pressure (it’s always best to consult your medical practitioner before using anyway) and don't use on kids or pets (essential oils can be toxic to them both.) If you are prone to allergies, it is best to do a patch test first. But, used properly, essential oils can help you relax and Zum soy candles are a perfect way to bring some of the benefits of aromatherapy into your busy life. May we suggest you use them as the light source around a tub filled with fragrant bubbles? The lovely seasonal fragrances of Pine and Frankincense will whisk you away to a forest in Vermont or the palace of a King. Let the holiday rush wait a bit and catch your breath now before the Season gets into its full swing. (After you towel off, we here at Believe will even help you get great gifts for everyone on your list.) Till then, remember to be good to yourself.

Counting Our Blessings

Soon will be the day we stop to give thanks and it seems to us at Believe that one day really isn't enough. It will take many days—truly every day—to give thanks for all the blessings in our lives.

Another wonderful year is almost behind us and it would not have been so fabulous if it hadn't been for all our awesome (and loyal) customers. You make our jobs interesting, fun and fulfilling and with all the stories you share, you make us feel a part of your families, just as we feel you are part of ours.

We are thankful, too, for all the bounty we have—enough to eat, a great place to work, warm homes with strong roofs—but we are ever mindful that there are lots of people who don't have those advantages...those for whom bad luck or bad health has made their roads rockier. We at Believe are very grateful to be able to share what we have and lessen their burden just a bit.

Thanks to all who helped us support Pink Hair For Hope, The Sullivan Family (in memory of Grace Caeli Sullivan), The Hillside Food Outreach, Tina Gambino, Expressions, Locks of Love, Hope's Door, The Pleasantville Music Festival, The Pinwheel Project, Emma Konrad and PCD, CPD and CF, Westchester Autism Center, The Endometriosis Foundation, Ava-(who is fighting Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia), and the Graj Family Kidney Donation Event this year and please remember to keep giving. (We believe the good you do comes back to you...)

 Personally, I would also like to thank my husband Stewart and my son Koebbe who are always the wind beneath my wings. Polly Hunter, Bruce Rennie and Nadine Mockler who, because of their belief in me and their financial support, Believe Beauty Lounge became a reality this year and please remember to keep giving. (We believe the good you do comes back to you...)

Shannon, the General Manager here at Believe shared some of the things for which she is grateful, too:

• My parents, who taught me not only to be a good person but instilled in me a wonderful and solid work ethic (do the job, do it well and never quit until it's done.)
• My boyfriend, Vinny, who is always there for me (even through some tough times) and helps me stay grounded.
• My boss, Lisa, who teaches me everyday, not only about hair and running a salon, but about life. She has shared lots of invaluable lessons.
• Thanks, too, to our assistants at Believe, Sarah, Jackie and Alexa who help me keep everything running smoothly and help me pick up the pieces when things get bumpy and everything falls apart.

Shannon and I and all of the staff here at Believe know we are blessed to get to do what we love and work with and for such loving and generous people. We hope you are able to slow down your busy lives enough this Thursday to clearly see your own blessings

… and we hope those blessing multiply in the coming year.

Keep every day a day of Thanksgiving.

Lisa, Shannon and the staff at Believe

Shine On!

You may be forgiven if your summer hair gets a little drab, dull and worn out from the sun and salt, but now that autumn is upon us, you've got no excuse for not having hair so shiny it competes with all those holiday lights already popping up everywhere.

First a little lesson in what makes hair shiny. When the cuticle of the hair shaft lies nice and flat, it provides an even surface to reflect light. This smooth outer layer also repels the moisture that causes frizz—a real shine inhibitor.

And here's something you may not have known: Using only moisturizing shampoos and conditioners can actually interfere with the shine of your hair by building up dulling residue on the shaft.

What do to? About once a week, try an acidic finishing rinse after you wash your hair. The acids tighten up that outer layer of cuticle, letting more light bounce off that newly-smooth cuticle, making your hair even more lustrous. You can even whip up a simple acid wash right in your own kitchen. Try one of these rinses:

• Beer: After shampooing hair and washing out the suds, pour a bottle of beer into your hair and massage it in for a few minutes. Then rinse well with cold water. This beer rinse even helps give your hair body.
• Lemon Juice: After shampooing and rinsing as usual, mix the juice of a lemon with 1½ cups of water and pour through hair, before rinsing with cold water. Prepare for shine galore!
• Apples Cider Vinegar: Combine the juice of a ½ lemon (careful—it might lighten your hair a little) with 2 Tbs of the vinegar and 1 cup of water. Massage into hair and scalp and rinse with cool water to correct hair's pH and bump up the shine.

Now that you've gotten the gotten the gunk out, don't forget to put some good stuff in. Come into Believe every month for a deep conditioning treatment to beat winter stress and, once a week at home, apply a deep conditioner or heavy duty mask formulated to boost shine (while protecting the outer layer of hair). MOISTURE MASK BY AGADIR WITH MORROCAN OIL and AESTELANCE MUD MASK and IDEN TREATMENT and all are carried at Believe.

Every two months or so you may want to actually feed your hair by mashing one ripe avocado (use the rest for fresh guacamole--yum!) and mixing it with 1 Tbsp. olive oil and 1 tsp. baking powder. Work the mixture through hair. Leave on for 15 minutes, and wash out really well. It will really help you ramp up the shine.

To get a real mirror-like finish (and help that cuticle lay even flatter) use some of the great shine-enhancing products we carry at Believe like AESTELANCE LUSTRE.

The trick to these is to avoid putting the product on the roots (don't go any closer than 1½ inches from the roots) and always apply these products to dry hair. Generally speaking, pomades and waxes are good for thin hair and oils and serums work better on thick or coarse hair—but stop by Believe and we will give you a free consultation about which shine enhancer will work best for you.

Also, when drying hair, aim your blow dryer down the hair shaft, which smooths the cuticle (otherwise air pushes the cuticle up and along comes frizz.) Once your hair is almost dry, hit the cool button to seal the hair cuticle, which will help keep your hair smooth and silky.

The holidays are right around the corner and it is the season to shine! Make sure your hair does it's “part”(get it?)

And be sure to stop by to see us at Believe before any of those big holiday parties. We'll make you a shining star!

Cold Winds, Warm Rooms=Dry Hair

Our mothers used to sing us a nursery rhyme that read, “The North winds will blow and we shall have snow, and what will poor robin do then? She'll sit in a barn to keep herself warm with her head tucked under her wing.”

The rhyme kept running through our heads as we watched the unbelievable Halloween snow! But it wasn't just our heads we wanted to tuck away...it was our hair. We at Believe know what those cold winds (and the overheated places we go to get away from them) can do to our hair—dry it right out until it feels (and sometimes looks) like straw in poor robin's barn. That's why we stock products from Agadir International—which contain a miracle substance known as Argan Oil.

Argan Oil comes from the fruits of the native Moroccan Argan tree (Argania Spinosa). Each tree can live up to two centuries! Since getting the oil is a labor-intensive process usually done by women (all the fruits must be shelled and crushed before the oil can be pressed out of them), the precious Argan Oil is one of the rarest oils in the world. But Moroccan women have long known the secrets of the oil and have used it in skin care (and their diets) for hundreds of years.

The oil is high in essential fatty acids including linoleic acid (omega-6) which stimulate intracellular oxygenation, which helps restore the balance between fats and water content in the cells of your hair—often lost in harsh weather. These fatty acids not only help repair the hair, but protect it also. Adding to the wonderful properties, the oil contains high levels of Vitamin E, which is a powerhouse when it comes to neutralizing free radicals and antioxidants in the hair shaft. This makes the oil perfect for regenerating and nourishing dry hair. Aragan Oil is also high in lipids, including omega 9 oleic acid helping nourish, moisturize and improve hair's elasticity—a real boon when you are constantly taking a hat on and off (which breaks hair). Argan Oil even helps cut down on that annoying hair static we all get in cold weather.

The fruit of the Argan tree (sort of a cross between a walnut and almond) produces an oil that is lightweight and not greasy. It has a very low molecular weight, so it penetrates right into the hair shaft without weighing the hair down. It can, therefore, be left in the hair for continuous conditioning. The result? Healthy, shiny, moisturized hair. Another benefit of using products rich in Argan Oil is that you won't suffer from that itchy, dry scalp that the cooler weather brings. The oil even helps stimulate hair growth and helps with those nasty tangles and split ends, too. Argan Oil has been called the “Wonder of the 21^st Century” and we, at Believe, have to agree.

All Agadir products are even on sale this week with 20% off. Stop by Believe and try the products we carry that contain this miracle oil. We've got the whole fabulous line. 

 Once you do,we're sure you will stop hiding your head under your wing.

Grab Life By The Tail

OMG. We read the headline on the web: “Skinny Girl Bethenny Frankel Creates The Skinnygirl Ponytail.”

How it got to be hers, when ponytails have been around as long as –well, ponies—is beyond us, but if you are looking for a stylish solution to get your long hair out of your way, we at Believe, hereby clue you into not only “Bethenny's ponytail”, but some other great ideas, too:

“Bethenny's” Tail: Brush out your hair with a paddle brush till smooth. Gather hair at crown of head and secure with an elastic, pushing the tail forward to create a mini-pompadour. Secure with two bobby pins, one on either side of the elastic. Smooth stray hairs at front and spray. Use either a curling iron (in small sections) or a ceramic flat iron on the tail itself.

The Side Tail: Spritz styling spray like SCRUPLES WHITE TEA EMBRACE on small sections of hair and make waves with a curling iron (wide barrel is best.) Use your fingers to sweep waves into a tail on one side of your head. Secure with elastic and use one bobby pin to hold it in place. Use flexible hairspray to avoid a stiff look.

The Messy Tail: Begin with unwashed hair (yes, we mean it. Unwashed hair is more manageable for this style.) Spray roots with volumizer like AESTELANCE VOLUME and let air-dry. Scrunch hair as it dries. Part hair in the middle or off center (or even use a zig-zag part.) Use your fingers to rack your hair back at the nape. Use an elastic to secure the tail (not too tightly) so it sits below the center of the back of your head. Secure with bobby pins above the elastic and crumple the tail itself with your fingers.

The High & Tight Tail: Spritz with volumizing spray like WHITE SAND INFINITY (GOOD FOR STRAIGHT OR CURLY HAIR) Dry straight (use a diffuser if you have curls). Tease a section (at the roots) at the top part of the back of your head to give your hair volume. Brush hair back into tail high on the back of your head above the ears. Secure with elastic. Pull the top of the tail up and out. Put some gloss, like AGADIR MOROCCAN ARGAN OIL through the tail using extra on the ends. Be careful of this one if you have a high forehead. It can make you look bald from the front. Bangs are your friends with this style.

The Pouffed Tail: This one makes use of volume at the crown to give the style (and the wearer) some height. Position your fingers in front of both your ears and pull them straight up. Hold the hair in one hand and use a wide-toothed comb to tease the roots with the other. Spray the roots. Hold till the spray dries. Let go of the hair and smooth into a tail, holding it with an elastic.

The Sleek Tail: Either blow-dry or flat iron your hair straight (this look requires no wave.) Spritz fly-aways at your hairline with spray and brush hair straight back into a tail. Secure with elastic. For extra shine, run a shine serum through the tail itself.

The Junior High Tail: Use mousse like AGADIR VOLUMIZING STYLING MOUSSE or spray for volume as your blow-dry and then pull your hair straight on to the top of your head (above your eyes.) Make sure the rest of your hair is flat to the scalp and sleek. For some more bounce, tease the tail right where the hair meets the elastic. Spray. Cover the elastic with a bow (remember, you are young at heart!)

Tip For All Tails: To cover the elastic in your pony tail styles, pull a strand about the width of a pencil from the bottom of the tail and wrap it around the elastic. Leave two inches to pul down through elastic. Secure with bobby pins

Whichever ponytail appeals to you, stop by Believe to buy the products you need to make each one work (or if you need a little help in finding the perfect ponytail for you.) With your ponytail and the help of us at Believe, you can swing into the cooler weather.

Ant in your pants? It could be itchy skin!

Unless you are truly tough (or the owner of lots of fleece or flannel shirts), you probably have been toying with turning on your home's heat. (Maybe you already gave in to temptation some cold morning.) If you haven't turned that dial yet, you soon will as November chilly winds start blowing. And you know what that means (besides the smell of burning dust in your ducts and a heating bill that will cross your eyes)...dry skin.

As the moisture leaves your epidermis, it causes little cracks and eventually you start getting itchy. Besides keeping a long-handled back scratcher beside your bed and favorite chair (find one here www.backscratcherworld.com) what can you do about that itch?
Here's a few tips:
Buy a humidifier: Either go for a whole-house one (expensive, but it helps your whole family) or at least one by your bedside that will run quietly for eight-hours or more. Most importantly, buy one that is highly-rated for being mold resistant. A great selection can be found at www.allergybuyersclub.com.
Keep fats in your diet: Smart fats with omega-3 oils like those in walnuts, salmon, sardines, soy, flax and eggs can help keep you hydrated.
Water yourself like a thirsty plant: Oils and creams can't produce moisture, only help it stick around. Drink water constantly. It's not only good for your moisture levels, but helps flush toxins out of your body and every part of you benefits from that.
Stop parboiling yourself: Cut down on those great-feeling-but-tough-on-your skin steamy showers and long hot baths. You are stripping your skin of oils each time. Make the water less hot and the showers or baths shorter. Use soap only on the truly necessary areas and just warm water wash the others. If you are a bath lover, soak a few minutes before you add bath oil to the water. You need some moisture to be absorbed before you seal off your pores.
Use moisturizing soap: ZUM's Dragon's Blood is a perfect choice. It breathes life into scaly skin with the restorative resin of the Dracaena tree,and infused olive, coconut, palm and castor oils, in a goat's milk base. With pure essential oils, it even smells earthy and sweet while it's slaking your dry skin's thirst. (Yes, we sell it at Believe.)
Slather yourself with moisturizer: Don't let more than a few minutes pass after that bath or shower before you fill all those open pores with delightful moisture. For your body or face, we recommend ZUM Organic Body Lotion with essential oils.
Exfoliate weekly: Get rid of the little pieces of skin (often invisible) that keep any moisturizer you apply from soaking into your skin. Slough it off with Zum Sea Salt Soap. Invest in a long-handled loofah to scrub your back (just make sure to dry it thoroughly between uses.)
Take menopause into account: If you're a “woman of a certain age,”menopause may be part of your dryness problem. As estrogen diminishes and the ratio of hormones change, not only does your body's oil production slow down, so does its ability to retain moisture. (You'll probably see this first on your elbows or the T-zone of your face—but it may show up on your legs, scalp and nails.) Talk to your doctor about HRT therapy if the problem gets bad or consider natural alternatives like adding Black Cohosh to your diet.
Don't forget the sunscreen: Just because its getting colder and the sky looks overcast, don't think those harmful rays went away. Put an ounce of broad spectrum sunblock SPF 15 or higher on all exposed skin.
Start now and get a jump on those winter winds. You'll be able to face the season silky, smooth and much-less itchy (and we all need a little more comfort.) See you soon at Believe.

Curls Are Cool (Really!)

You know the drill—the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. If you were born with stick-straight hair, you've spent half your life in rollers or connected to a curling iron. But for those of you with natural ringlets --who don't always love what nature gave you—here's a few tips to help you love (or tame) those curls of yours:

Frizz Is Not Pre-Ordained: Curly hair is often dry and nature abhors a vacuum. Not enough moisture in your hair? The humidity in the air thinks your curly hair is the perfect sponge to soak up its moisture and dives right in. Your hair cuticle expands and—voila!—frizz central. What you have to do, Curly Head, is get there before the humidity does and keep your hair full of good moisture. Wash with a moisturizing shampoo like AGADIR made with argan oil, deep condition with AGADIR moisture mask regularly and style with RICCI fortified with keratin to keep your hair plumped up and full of moisture. When humidity (and frizz ) come a' calling, your hair can say, “Sorry, no room at the inn...”

You've Gotta Be You: Ok, truth time. If the weather is humid, you hair is going to curl. No need to spend hours straightening it. Sometimes you just can't fight City Hall. Why not try accepting what you cannot change and let it curl, let it curl, let it curl? It works for Bernadette Peters, Melina Kanakaredes and Taylor Swift. Why not give it a shot? Let the real you out to play (at least every now and again.) Flat-haired women will envy you as you stroll by with those bouncy curls.

Want To Be A Straight Shooter: I didn't convince you to let your curls fly free? Ok, you can straight out those ringlets—it's just going to take some doing. Consider a La Brasiliana Keratin Treatment (one of the services we provide at Believe) and you'll have months of gorgeous straight hair. Give us a call and we will tell you all about it and make an appointment for you. Or you may want to invest in a ceramic flat iron (we at Believe can also help you learn how to use it properly.) You'll get straight hair with no risk of burning,

Make Friends With Your Drier: Remember, sometimes absence makes the heart grow fonder. Let your hair air-dry as long as possible and only use the blow dry when you must (and then only with a diffuser). Cup your curls in the palm of your hand and dry from underneath.

Don't Stop Brushing: Yes, we know you look like a poodle after you brush, but you do want to distribute the natural oils from your scalp down the hair shaft. Try brushing your curly hair with a natural bristle brush for two minutes at night before bed and rinse it in the morning. The condition of your hair will improve, I promise.

Did I Mention Conditioning? It's worth mentioning again. Deep condition at least once a week with a hair mask like TREATMENT and every now and then rub a little olive oil on your scalp and down the hair shaft. Brush through, put a shower cap on, and sleep in the oil. Wash it out in the morning.

Headbands Hide All Manner of Sins: If you've got to run, put a headband over your damp hair. It'll make the crown flat, and the curls stick out the ends, like you actually meant to do it. You could start a signature headband collection. (It used to work for Hilary Clinton.)

Keep Curly Hair Well Cut: Make an appointment at for a good haircut. Our stylists understand curly hair (and the frustrations of it) and will help you come to love—and not loathe—those curls. Call us today!

Which hairbrush is right for you?

Brushing your hair is a ritual that's not only good for you as it helps circulation and brings blood to the hair roots, but relaxing, too. (Don't overdo it, though. The 100-strokes-a -night from our grandmother's day is an old wives tale that can lead to breakage and hair loss.) But you need the right tool—the perfect hairbrush.

Here's how to choose (and you don't have to be a stylist to keep several different kinds in your arsenal):

• Round Brush—This has 360-degrees of bristles in a circular shape and is a must-have since it suits so many purposes. This brush will help straighten (or curl) hair and give fine hair volume. A smaller version gives tighter curls and a larger version can curl just the ends. Or you can hold your hair straight while you blow. Make sure you can wind your hair all the way around the circle at least once—that way you will get the right size brush for your hair.
• Paddle Brush—This is a flat brush with a cushion surface and ball pins at every bristle's end. It is perfect for thick straight hair since it smooths out the hair shaft and makes it “longer” (or appear so) without pulling. This brush also helps massage the scalp. It's not the brush for short or fine hair (it doesn’t add volume and is no help in detangling.)
• Cushion Brush--This is a smaller version of a paddle brush and good for all lengths of hair. It helps distributes your hair's natural oils, which makes for shiny, healthy hair.
• Vent Brush—This brush has holes at its base (either only up the middle or all over the surface) which lets air pass right through the brush, speeding up blow drying. With bristles that are widely spaced, it also adds volume and helps shape the hair.
• Styling Brush--This one is super thin with just a few rows of bristles—it's like a rat tail comb --and helps shape lots of different styles.
• Ceramic Brush--This is a speciality brush and best to stay away from if your hair is treated with chemicals or damaged, as the metal center of the brush heats up, using the heat from your blow dryer. While this can add volume, it can also damage fragile hair. Best to talk to your stylist here at Believe before you buy it (and maybe have a quick lesson in its use.)

Classic Brush—These brushes have a half-round head with five, seven or nine rows of stiff nylon bristles. The head of the brush has a slightly round shape to create a slight bend in the hair—and it is good for creating sleek (but not perfectly straight) hairstyles.

What about bristles?

• Boar bristles--Are made from the hair of a hog and are great because they close the cuticle layer of your hair (helping up the shine factor.) Boar bristles are used on soft flexible brushes (good for kids) but are weak and are therefore sometimes mixed with nylon bristles to last longer.
• Nylon bristles—These can actually be made of rubber or plastic, too. The stiffer and more closely placed together the bristles are, the more control you can have of your hair.
• Porcupine bristles—No, they aren't made from a hedgehog, but tufted bristles are grouped together (usually boar and nylon bristles combined) making these bristles great both for pulling through thick hair and controlling fine hair.
• Metal bristles--Unless you are wearing a wig, you don't need metal bristles. Even if they have soft rubber tips, they are too hard on human hair (good for dogs, though).
• We've got a great selection of brushes at Believe. Come on in and we will be happy to help you select which brushes will be perfect for your hair. (And, while you are here, be sure to pick up your last-minute tickets to the “Dancing With Our Stars” fundraiser for the Hillside Food Outreach to be held October 15^th. Our own owner, Lisa, is one of the “stars” and bruised and broken though she is after weeks of rehearsal, she is ready to shine! Come cheer her on...

Dance! Get Your Blood Pumping For Healthy Hair

As you may know, Lisa, the owner of Believe, has strapped her dancing shoes on for charity and will be one of the featured dancers at “Dancing With Our Stars”, October 15 at the Matrix Center in Danbury, CT (tickets are still on sale: $65 buys you dinner, drinks and the show, ($100 and you can attend the after-party fun)—who we hope is Lisa! All money raised goes to Hillside Food Outreach, so stop by Believe to get your tickets now! Or visit www.hillsidefoodoutreach.org or call Westchester 914-747-0095, Putnam 845-225-3393 or Fairfield 203-702-4881 for tickets.)

Despite some aches, pains and even a sprain or two, Lisa is not only getting her body in better shape, but keeping her hair in good condition, too. There is a direct correlation between increased circulation and hair health. Poor circulation, especially to the scalp, can actually starve your hair and speed up hair loss (guys that have thinning near their temples usually suffer from poor circulation—sometimes a hereditary condition.) Age is a culprit too. Like everything else as we get older, our circulation slows down. Arthritis is another catalyst. If you have arthritis, have regular shoulder and neck massages to increase blood flow to the head.

High cholesterol may also be to blame (it thickens our blood and keeps it from reaching the smallest capillaries at the roots of our hair.) Sebum, too (the oil our scalp produces) can clog pores and choke off hair growth. Use cider vinegar as a hair rinse after shampooing to break through the sebum “crystals” that form.

 Poor circulation makes its presence known if a few ways—tingling in your feet, muscle cramps, wounds or sores that are slow to heal, a blue-ish tinge to the fingernails—even a low sex drive. If you have any of these symptoms you should talk to your medical practitioner, since good blood flow is vital to good health.

Once you get the go-ahead from your doctor, you can up your exercise to get the blood pumping. Not only will your body get more shapely and strong, you will notice a difference in your hair. It will get shinier, with more bounce (your skin will appear clearer, with better color, too.) Whether its dance, like Lisa (even just in front of your Wii) or running around your neighborhood or even yoga (inverted positions make blood flow to your scalp), increased circulation is one way to ensure healthy hair. Aerobic exercise strengthens the heart muscle and improves its pumping efficiency.

Some foods and herbs are believed to increase blood circulation, too. Give them a try and track if you notice a difference:
Garlic and onions may help prevent plaque buildup on the walls of your arteries (and lower cholesterol.) Garlic has, for centuries, been considered a blood purifier.
Dark Chocolate contains flavonoids that reduce high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It also may improve blood flow (and it even ups the serotonin in your brain—the chemical that makes you feel good.)
Olive oil not only helps lower cholesterol, but has antioxidants helping reduce the risk of heart attack and increasing blood flow.
Ginkgo is well known for helping to improve the circulation for the whole body.
Nuts (and sunflower and pumpkin seeds) help protect the heart from cardiovascular disease and help blood vessels to dilate—keeping the blood circulation flowing.
Chili peppers contain capsaicin and there is a whole school of thought that this chemical protects the heart, helps unblock any blockages and increases blood flow.
Hawthorn Berry is a well known herb for improving heart function and blood circulation. One good type of hawthorn to buy is as Hawthorn drops.

Other things you can do to improve circulation:
Get rid of stress—just like your muscles tense up when you are stressed, so does the tissue on your scalp. This squeezes capillaries and lets less blood through to the roots.
Use the right products on your hair. We do pile tons of products on our hair and sometimes we need to stop and clarify our scalp. Switch off between your regular products and use GL Shampoo and MUD MASQUE conditioner to keep the roots of your hair unclogged and your scalp free of sebum and debris.
Scalp massage is invaluable. To keep proper blood circulation for a healthy scalp, massage your scalp 5-10 times a day (Bonus: this will help with stress too.) Come into Believe for an evaluation of your scalp's health and we'll be happy to treat you to (and teach you how to give yourself) a perfect scalp massage.

While you are at Believe, don't forget to buy your ticket to “Dancing With Our Stars.” It's going to be a night to remember. See you soon!