Head's Up For Swimsuit Season

The warmer weather means swimsuit season is right around the corner so it is time to break out the salads, but will dieting hurt your hair? Our hair needs nutrients to grow—just like a toddler. If we want to maintain that quarter-to-half inch growth per month (meaning we can trim the old dead ends on a regular basis), we better take a look at what dieting and weight loss can do to our hair.

Every vitamin, mineral and amino acid we take into our mouth circulates throughout our body—including our hair follicles (and skin and nails). So while the right shampoos, conditioners and styling products (like the carefully-chosen selection at Believe) is important, they are only part of the story. Here's some things you should consider to keep your hair healthy, shiny and beautiful:

You Really Are What You Eat

Fresh fruit and vegetables (well washed so heavy metals contained in pesticides don't make it to your insides) and plenty of water (2.2 liters or 9 cups for women and 13 cups for men according to the latest Mayo clinic guidelines). Take a multivitamin to avoid brittle hair and includes these foods to do your hair good:

• Vegetables: Broccoli, spinach and Swiss chard contain lots of vitamins A&C—which is what your body needs to produce sebum, the natural hair conditioner. Carrots, a great source of Vitamin A will help your scalp stay healthy.
• Legumes: Beans, particularly kidney and lentil provide plenty of protein and iron, zinc and biotin for good hair growth.
• Salmon: Truly the king of fish, salmon is a treasure trove of natural nutrients your hair will love. Salmon contains Vitamins B-12 and iron for scalp health, but it is also chock full of high-quality omega-3 fatty acids, vital for shine. (If you can't stand fish, a tablespoon of ground flaxseed a day will also do the trick.)
• Poultry: Chicken, duck and turkey are great sources of protein, without which your hair gets weak, brittle (and starts to lose its color!)
• Nuts: Walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid (one of the omega-3 fatty acids that helps the condition of your hair) and also has lots of zinc that, if you are lacking it, may cause hair shedding. (Other nuts to give a zinc boost are cashews, almonds and pecans.)
• Bacon: We know, we know...horror of horrors, especially when you are dieting, but in case you are tempted at the upcoming Mother's Day Brunch, bacon actually provides protein, zinc and Vitamin B for happy follicles.
• Eggs: Besides containing biotin and vitamin B-12 to help with shine, eggs are the best protein source you can find.
• Whole Grains: These don't only give your body long-term energy (to stick to that fitness plan?) but give you lots of iron, zinc and B vitamins to speed up hair growth.
• Beef/Lamb: These red meats not only give you b vitamins, zinc and protein but contains iron which you need for healthy (strong) hair and good growth.
• Oysters: They may not actually be an aphrodisiac, but they do provide zinc, leading to healthy hair.
• Diary Products: Besides providing the all-important calcium (needed for strong bones and hair), they also contain two high-quality protein sources--whey and casein.

Drastic Weight Loss Measures

If you are severely obese, you may be considering Gastric Bypass Surgery. One of the complications of that surgery is hair loss. To make up for the reduced calories, your body channels all nutrients to the organs that need them most—your hair doesn't make the cut. You body will send some strands in to resting stages and even may (temporarily) suspend production of new hair. Your hormones will be going a bit nuts after surgery, too, while the fat is being metabolized. The result may be some of your hair falls out.

To minimize the loss:

• Up your protein to 60-80 grams per day (ask your doctor).
• Consider putting off perms or color for a few months till your body adjusts.
• Avoid over-brushing and use a good brush when you do (we have a great selection at Believe).
• Indulge in scalp massages (Aestelance Oil Complex sold at Believe is great for massage) to send more blood to your scalp.
• Condition, condition, condition to make your hair as healthy as possible and minimize breakage.

Add biotin as a supplement (as you may have trouble getting enough with your diet restrictions).

Don't Neglect The Outside

You are probably cutting back on fats and oils to get into that bikini bod shape, so don't forget to add moisture to your hair from the outside as well. Use sulfate-free shampoo like Agadir, Chromastics or White Tea (all sold at Believe) to avoid stripping your hair of its natural oil, a light conditioner like Mud Mask after every shampoo, a dab of Aestelance butter to keep your scalp health and act as a leave-in conditioner and come into Believe once a month for a deep conditioning treatment. By the time you hit the beach, you'll be ready, inside and out.


Let Believe Keep The Holiday Insanity At Bay

If you've braved the mall (or even driven by it) you know ---things are crazy out there!

According to the National Retail Federation, fewer shoppers have completed their holiday buying compared to this time last year.

According to NRF's 2011 Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by Big Research, the average person had completed 46.5% of her shopping now- less than the 49.5% in the same period a year ago. Nearly 37 million people (16.5%) had not even started their shopping as of late last week, the survey says, while only 7.6% said they have completely finished shopping already.

If you are one of the procrastinators, take heart. We, at Believe, can solve your shopping dilemma and it only will take one stop—and a restful one at that. We'll give you a hot cup of herb tea and, while you sip, Santa's elves (cleverly disguised as the Believe staff) will check off the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

We even have some sales (so you won't miss the department store experience), Buy a White Tea Restorative Shampoo and Conditioner and you get a White Tea Daily Conditioner free (slip it in your own stocking!) or make everybody left on your list happy and get them a Zum Body Basket, now 20% off, with Zum Bath Salts, Zum Body Lotion and two Zum soaps in your choice of scents. (If the recipient is not yet a fan of Zum, they will be after this gift. Zum is addicting.)

Get the men in your life a fabulous after-shave, Tend Skin, guaranteed to baby his skin through the harsh winter you know is right around the corner. Add to your best friend's jewelry collection with a unique piece from the Japanese artist Kazuko and butter up all the babies in your life with Wee Baby products (the lavender scent helps the little ones sleep—and may even inspire visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads! Fido and fluffy are part of the family,too, and Y.U.M Wash Doggie Soap and Y.U.M mist will keep your home filled with holiday scents (instead of kennel smells.) Speaking of scent, be sure to stock up on Zum soy candles in wonderful scents like Myrrh (the Wise Man were on to something there.) Or cover all your bases by having the staff at Believe whip up a custom gift basket or come by and see the ones we already have waiting for you. If all else fails, Believe offers Gift Cards so your friends and loved ones can choose their own gift after the holiday.

While you are here, treat yourself...Get a festive red hair extension for $10 and we'll donate the money to charity (also to help those less fortunate, bring in any hair product you aren't using anymore –even half empty—and we will give you 20% off a product we recommend to substitute for it. We'll donate the used one to the Women's Shelter). Don't forget to make a appointment for a Conditioning Treatment and Blowdry (for $50) or a $25 Blowdry that will have you looking your best for that holiday party or church service. We've still got a couple of openings left.

When it comes to gifts, Believe's got you covered but hurry in. Our holiday hours are 10 am-7 pm Tuesday, December 20th through Friday, the 23rd. We are closed Christmas Eve for festivities for our own relatives and friends, but we'd love to see you—our other family—to wish you Happy Holidays.

 

You Deserve To Be Treated Like Royalty

Legend has it that thousands of years ago an emperor named Shen Nung was traveling through his empire, when he grew thirsty and a servant was dispatched to find water. What the servant brought back was brackish and foul—not fit to pass the lips of the ruler, but it was the only liquid available. 

So Shen Nung, being a resourceful leader, ordered the water to be boiled. When it was sufficiently boiled, the water was again presented to the Emperor. At that moment, a leaf blew into the Emperor's cup, who took it as a sign, so he left the leaf in until it had steeped and tea--as a drink for royals --was born.

Some teas were just for the royal court and White Tea was given as tribute to the Emperor himself. It was the tea used for the original (and now famous) Japaneses Tea Ceremony. Love of this particular tea grew and by 1885, tea plants were cultivated (and grafted) to specifically develop White Tea.

But the Chinese couldn't keep this wonder plant to themselves forever. Recently the benefits of White Tea have become known in the West, where it was discovered that the tea not only offered health benefits when drunk (it is full of antioxidants and may lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and even prevent cancer) but was an amazing addition to beauty products as well.

At Believe, we carry a line from Scruples called the White Tea Luxury Collection including:

Sulfate Free | Restorative Shampoo

Sulfate free, fade resistant formula

Restores and nourishes hair leaving it silky, shiny and soft

Gently cleanses while preserving salon hair color and texture services

Protects and tames hair

Use as a body wash for luxuriously soft skin

and...

Soothing Daily Conditioner

Tames, detangles, smoothes, seals and improves hair's integrity

Extends the life of your hair color and texture investment

Weightless formula for daily use

Enriched with nourishing botanicals and vitamins

Leaves hair unbelievably silky and shiny

We are happy to order the other fabulous products in the White Tea Luxury Collection like Restorative Conditioner, Magical Serum, Medium Hold Gel, Leave-In Miracle Foam Conditioner,
Satin Paste, Velvet Molding Gloss and Embrace Luxury Hold Hair Spray if you absolutlely fall in love with the line (and we think you just might.)

What is so special about the White Tea line from Scruples?

• Acts as a moisturizing lotion for hair, adding radiance, shine and condition.
• Contains sunscreen to help prevent hair color from fading.
• Provides thermal protection from heated styling tools.
• Creates unbelievable body and manageability.
• Makes a great styling cocktail when combined with any Scruples styling product for added conditioning.
• Remarkable perm pre-wrap to protect and condition.
• Add to hair color and lighteners for extra moisture and scalp protection.
• For a porosity equalizer, apply to hair prior to refreshing the ends with hair color.

So don't the salt and sun of Summer wreck havoc with your hair. Treat yourself like royalty with Scruples White Tea Luxury Collection. Come in and try this fabulous line of products at Believe.

(Psssst: Hurry in. The Scruples products are on-sale right now!)