Say Goodbye to Summer Hair & Skin

Whoosh! Hear that sound? That is summer flying by (does it get shorter every year or just seem that way?) The start of classes is right around the corner, parents are rushing everywhere to get their kids off to school (or—gasp--college) and the lazy days of beach-going and sun-tanning are soon to be behind us...But, even in the midst of this seasonal insanity, you can start getting your hair and skin ready for autumn.

Here's a few hints and tips to try until you can get in to see us at Believe for a good cut, a deep conditioning treatment, some new (not bleached out) color and some fabulous products to hydrate your skin:

Remove the buildup: Between sweat, salt and all the conditioning creams gels, pastes and waxes you've been using to keep your hair from turning into summer straw, your hair cuticle is filled to the brim with products—making it less receptive to even welcome additions. Use this quick at-home recipe to clear out the buildup and get your hair ready for some much-needed moisture: Mix ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar with a quart of distilled water and one tablespoon of nettles or comfrey root (grab it from your garden or a health food store.) Boil the herbs and water together and let them steep for 20 minutes. Cool, strain out the herbs, and mix in the vinegar. Pour it through your hair, let it work for a couple of minutes and then rinse it out. (By the way, if you use this same infusion—in larger quantities—in your bath, you can take the sting out of late-season sunburn and make it turn brown by the next day.)  Then schedule a deep conditioning treatment with us and get our recommendations of what to use to start replacing some of your hair's vital moisture with products like  AESTELANCE PROTEIN & MUD OR AGADIR MOISTURE MASK (smells delicious) and SHINE TREATMENT VIALS that we carry at Believe.

Exfoliate summer scales: Your skin has its own summer version of scaly skin (tanning and peeling create a million little flakes you can't see, but certainly feel in the form of constantly itchy skin.) Use a natural loofah to scrub your skin down every shower and when you have a moment to yourself, put a handful of leftover nuts or seeds (pumpkin or sunflower) along with fresh herbs (like lavender or rosemary) into a clean coffee grinder. Grind till they are a coarse meal. Pour ¼ cup of the meal into a bowl, mix with enough yogurt to make a paste, and rub all over your body. Dry skin left from the summer sun will scrub right off. Once you are smooth as silk, keep it that way with GOAT'S MILK AND ESSENTIAL OILS ZUM BODY LOTION, a fabulous product we have here at Believe. 

(Btw, Goat's milk is very similar to our own skin's PH, so it works awesomely with our bodies.)

Emergency hair conditioner: If you cram in that last-minute day at the beach and your hair tells the tale, use this emergency conditioner until you can get in to see us at Believe for that deep conditioning treatment your hair really needs: Pour a shot of vodka and a few drops of any essential oil, a half of a ripe avocado and some mayonnaise into a blender. Mix it together, slather on your hair, wait 20 minutes and rinse. Voila! Shiny, healthier hair (but this is only a stop-gap measure. Your scalp and hair cuticle need a serious assessment and long-lasting products. We've got both at Believe.)

Way too soon the cool winds of autumn will come along, ready to play havoc with your hair and skin (followed closely by that time when we cover all exposed part with mufflers and scarves and hide our much-abused hair under scratchy hats, compounding the damage.) Call us for an appointment at Believe, now! Make the time to give your hair and skin the deep conditioning, moisturizing, cut and color you need to face the changing seasons looking and feeling your best. 

Enjoy the last days of summer and we hope to see you soon at Believe.

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!)

Light Up Your Face--Highlights and Lowlights

Have you ever seen a really bad hair-coloring job? You know the type that looks like a bottle of ink got spilled on someone's head? (This is often seen on men who grab a box of Just for Men and dye their own grey away. Guys: Step away from the dye bottle!)

At Believe, we've seen (and fixed) quite a few.

The reason bad dye jobs look so ...well, bad, is that nature didn't give us one color hair, but multiple colors that blend into the rich tapestry making our color shine. Whether its the gorgeous copper tones in brunette hair, shiny platinum in blonde hair, or that hint of lovely dark blue that shimmers for those of you lucky enough to possess jet black hair.

So what to do if your base color is fading or grey hairs are showing up to make you look older than your years? Come into Believe to get your hair colored but consider adding highlights or lowlights to bring out the depth and beauty of your hair.

We all grew up with home highlighting kits and probably spent at least one Saturday afternoon having our friend paint on highlights for us (this was probably not the same friend we let iron our hair on our mother's ironing boards--since we stopped speaking to her after that scorching incident.) As we should have learned then, but bears repeating now: Do not try highlighting at home. This really is a job for professionals (like us here at Believe.)

Highlights and lowlights are spot hair color processes. Depending on what look you wish to achieve, they can be used separately.

Highlights are when thin or thick strands of hair are lightened (at least two shades lighter than the rest of your hair and this doesn't have to mean you make your highlights shades of blonde only. Got dark brown hair? Consider caramel highlights or brown highlights with black hair.) Try not to go more than three shades lighter than your hair color (unless you are opting for rock-star highlights like lavender, electric blue or crayon yellow. In that case, throw the rule book out the window and let's rock!)

The object of highlights is to brighten up your color and draw attention to your face (that's why highlights are applied to frame your features.) Add as many or few as you like—we can always add more—and remember, the thinner the highlight, the more natural the look. If you want them to stand-out, go for chunky highlights. Also, you don't have to refresh your highlights every time you come get your hair colored (unless you want to change out the tone for another.) Every other time will do.

Lowlights can also pump up the drama in your hair—but in a more subtle way. For these, think or thick strands are made two or three shades darker than your natural color. (Because they are less noticeable, lowlights have to be refreshed only every third time or so you visit Believe to have your color done.)

Of course, you don't have to stick to either high or lowlights alone. You can mix it up by asking for tri-colors! Highlights are added near the top of your hair (to make you shine like the star you are) and lowlights near the bottom (to give the illusion of more volume and dimension.) Tri-colors are tricky things. It takes a little artistry to get the right look (good thing Lisa, the owner of Believe is one of the few Master Colorists in Westchester, eh?)

Call at Believe and make an appointment to come in for a consultation. We'll be happy to show you how highlight, lowlights and tri-colors can add some va-voom to your color. You'll be turning heads in no time!

Baby Skin

There is little on earth smoother than a baby's skin and keeping it that way just takes a little know-how. So, whether you've just had a baby or have the joy of caring for a new grandchild, here's a little refresher on how to keep that bundle of joy's skin healthy, soft and sweet-smelling.

Some Problems You Might See

• Diaper Rash: This is the rash most often seen on a baby's skin. It can be caused by diapers that are too tight, wet diapers left on too long or even an allergy to diapers, detergents or baby wipes. Make sure you do baby's laundry in mild detergent (fragrance-free and hypoallergenic) and avoid fabric softener. Use wipes with no chemicals, change the baby often, and let the little one go diaper-less (on a towel) if he or she does develop diaper rash. Air is the best cure.
• Prickly Heat: Small pinkish red bumps appear on babies (usually during the summer or in an overheated house in the winter) around their neck, armpits, diaper area or skin folds. They are caused by a baby sweating. Dress the baby in layers and unwrap them one-by- one when they start heating up. They really won't get a chill.

Acne: Yes, even newborns get acne! It starts in the womb, when babies are exposed to their mother's hormones, which boosts oil production in the skin. Clogged oil glands lead to pimples. Don't do anything to them―they will clear up by themselves in a few weeks.

• White Bumps or Milia: 50% of newborns get these little white bumps on their nose and face. These are caused by dry baby skin that blocks oil glands. These, too, will go away in a few weeks.
  
  

How to Care For Baby's Skin

• Ditch The Powder: Remember the old days when we all powdered babies' bottoms? No more. Experts are worried that babies can inhale fine particles of talcum powder, causing them lung trouble. Corn starch-based powders are safer, but yeast, which causes diaper rash, feeds on cornstarch, so you may want to do away with it, too.

Watch For Sunburn: Avoid direct sun if the baby is under 6 months old (they burn and dehydrate much too quickly). After 6 months, buy a cute baby hat (that covers their forehead and the back of the neck), take an umbrella, and use strong sunscreen developed especially for babies. You can even put zinc oxide on baby's ears, lips and nose. Sunglasses are good, too, to protect the little person from the sun's bright rays. But, if you took every precaution and the baby still gets mild sunburn, apply a cool cloth to the area for 10-15 minutes a few times a day. For more severe sunburn, get the baby to the pediatrician.

Make Bath-Time Relaxing: Temperature is the thing babies complain about most when it comes to the bath. Test the temperature of the water with your wrist or elbow. It should be around 90 degrees. Keep a warm, wet washcloth on the baby's tummy for the duration of the bath, which, for infants, should last about 5 minutes. Wash the baby with a hair and bath product like Indigo Wild's Wee Bar Soap from their Lavender Lullaby Collection. The gorgeous scent will calm the baby down, while making him/her smell great, too. Pat, rather than rub, the baby dry afterwards.

Try Baby Massage: Put the baby on his/her back. Use a mild lotion like Indigo Wild's Wee Body Lotion. Warm it in your hand and rub gently around baby's face and temples, then down the tummy, using a circular motion. Rub each little finger and then down to the legs and feet, gently rotating the ankles and remembering to rub each toe. Turn the baby over and do the neck, shoulders and back. (Easy does it on the pressure.) Having listened to your soft voice and followed by being wrapped in a snuggly nightgown, the baby is ready for a great night's sleep (which, if you are watching a baby, you can certainly use, too).

At Diaper Changing Time: Indigo Wild also makes a lavender-scented Wee Rub for use on baby's bottom (instead of those medicinal smelling ointments) and even makes Lavender Lullaby Wee Mist to spritz the general area of the aromatic diaper pail (it works great on stinky summer dogs, too!)

We carry all of Indigo Wild's Lavender Lullaby products for babies (we always send them out as gifts to our friends who are expecting or have just welcomed a baby!). All are hand-made with totally organic ingredients like goat's milk, meadow foam seed oil, shea butter and sunflower oil. They smell so good, you'll never go back to Johnson & Johnson products again. Stop by Believe and see the whole line and congratulations on your new addition!

Twisted, Beaded, Braided-Give Us A Head With Hair

From real laurel leaves in classical Greece to gold-encrusted replicas in Imperial Rome, hair ornaments have been used throughout the ages as objects of beauty and as social messages.

In ancient China, the ji ceremony awarded 15-year-old girls a hairpin that showed she was old enough to marry. Auspicious birds and beasts, such as the dragon, phoenix, duck, deer and the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, were also popular. The deer denoted success. The duck assured marital bliss. 
The five petals on a plum represented blessings, high-salary, longevity, luck and wealth. When Chinese lovers had to part, they often split a hairpin―both of them keeping a half until they were reunited.

Tibetans, women in some African tribes, and Native Americans, braided the hair and adorned it with silver, stones, bones, beads and feathers--while in the Middle East, Muslim women had to hide their hair under veils with their real hair shown only to their husbands. (Married Orthodox Jewish women still wear wigs to this day for that same reason and so as not to distract men from their prayers.) Indian women had no such restrictions. Their hair was often as decorated as their saris.

Renaissance women plucked their hairlines to give the coveted high forehead look and then covered their hair with nets of pearls or jeweled caps and the hardly-ever bathed ladies of Queen Elizabeth's court took to wearing velvet headbands (no doubt to keep their dirty hair away from their faces.)

The 18th century might take the cake when it comes to historical hair ornaments. Women hair was piled high―very high―over wire cages and held together with starch and horsehair. Atop the towering coiffures (requiring several hours and ladders to create) were fantastical models of birds' cages (with live birds,) war ships with flags flying, and entire bowls of fruit (long before Carmen Miranda brought the latter to Hollywood.) Not only were these hairstyles hard to sleep in (custom made to accommodates their necks, leaving their hairstyle in tact) but the material used to create the towering style proved a perfect nest for vermin.

Practicality came back in fashion after the excesses of the 18th century. First lady, Dolly Madison, introduced jeweled turbans and the flappers of the 20's fit headbands snugly over bobbed hair.

 In the '30's few women could afford anything more than “bobbie pin.” Hairnets used during a day's work in the factory for the Rosie the Riveters of World War II, gave way to fashionable nets called “snoods” for evening. “Lady Day”-- Billie Holiday-- became famous for the gardenia behind her ear and the fashion was taken up by film stars like Dorothy Lamour. The 1950's saw the helmet hair of Doris Day, which didn't allow for lots adornment, but the long and loose hair of the 60's more than made up for it.

Janis Joplin and the other hippies of the time braided beads, feathers, jewels, stones―anything at hand―into their wild manes and it's been anything goes pretty much ever since.

When Bo Derek rose from the water in the movie “10”, cornrows (for white women) interspersed with beads came into fashion. Hair sticks like those in ancient Japan made a comeback.



Sex In The City's Carrie Bradshaw put damn near anything in her hair―including a bright blue bird for her wedding to Mr. Big. Paris Hilton popularized extensions (a take on the African American weaves) and Believe is riding the wave of that popular trend by offering colored extensions (one or two in different colors make for a fun statement at a party or the beach) and we even have feathers to weave into your Summer 'do.

All too soon the cold winds of winter will make us cover our heads with hats and scarfs. Why not let your Hair fly--adorned-- in the breeze? Take a page from the lyrics for the namesake number of the musical “Hair”:

Give me a head with hair...

                                                                 Knotted, polka-dotted

                                                               Twisted, beaded, braided

                                                    Powdered, flowered, and confetti-ed

                                           Bangled, tangled, spangled, and spaghetti-ed

At Believe, we are all singing. Come in and let us decorate your Crowning Glory with fun extensions (and think about giving the one with feathers a try. C'mon, you only live once!)

When the cat's away...

Every boss in America holds their breath a little when they go on vacation and have to leave their business in the hands of their staff...everybody but Lisa Koebbe Bevan, owner of Believe, that is.

She gets to head on down the highway knowing her business is safe, sound and running like clockwork, thanks to Believe's Manager, Shannon Marriott.

“Shannon is my right-hand woman,says Lisa. "She's smart, intuitive, hard-working and the clients love her, almost as much as I do.”

There is a lot to love. Not only does Shannon lend a hand on the styling side (blow-drying, helping with the fun extensions-some with feathers—Believe uses as fundraisers for charity, doing color for select clients) but is a whiz at the administrative side of the business.

“I set appointments, order supplies, send out email blasts, run payroll and make sure things run on schedule,Shannon says. "Sometimes that does mean lighting a little fire under Lisa's rear end, I admit.”

In return, Shannon is learning a lot. She gets to observe, up-close and personal, the workings of her boss, Lisa, who is a board-certified colorist (one of only 2,500 in the country). Shannon, who studied Cosmetology in high school is ever enthusiastic about adding new techniques and tips to her stylist toolbox. But Shannon is equally grateful to interact with (and learn from) all of Believe's great clients and staff.

“I majored in Communication and minored in Business at the University of Albany and I get to use my education every day in my position here at Believe, says Shannon. "I am learning about how people work together, how best to communicate with the varied personalities of the staff and, most importantly, how to meet the needs of our clients and keep them happy.”

Shannon, who has been with Lisa for three years (she answered an ad in the Pennysaver and Lisa is still thanking her lucky stars) will be manning the ship on July 19^th and 20^th while Lisa is away for a short vacation.

“I'll be doing color and blow-dry sessions, answering the phones, scheduling appointments and will try to find time to even get a little cleaning done,says Shannon. "I like being busy and this summer at Believe is keeping us all hopping...and that's a good thing.”

Call Shannon now to schedule your Believe appointment before leaving for your own vacation.

Learning About Layers

Fireworks aren't the only things hot this time of year. The temperatures are soaring and so is the humidity. Besides making you feel like there is no real point to taking a shower, humidity either makes you frizz up like Ronald McDonald or makes your hair as limp as a dishrag.

Help your hair beat the heat--without having to cut it all off—with the perfect solution...lovely layers. Whether your hair is long and luscious or short and sassy, layers are the way to add volume and body to your hair, despite the sizzling weather, and here at Believe we know how to make the most of your hair type.

If your hair is fine, you know those baby hairs of yours lay as flat as a rug at the first sign of ---well, almost anything. At Believe we can add long surface layers adding texture and volume. We'll create irregular lengths (with some fancy snipping) and not just blunt your hair horizontally (like the little Dutch boy haircuts you got when you were little) but vertically all around the perimeter. We can add texture by notching the ends with scissors (putting a little AESTELANCE BUTTER with Rosemary, Basil & Sandalwood oils in adds even more texture.) Really short hair is no problem to layer, too—you can spike it up (ask us for CHROMASTICS SPRAY GEL with sunflower seed oil, a natural sunscreen,which we carry at Believe) or, on really hot days, just run your fingers through it and off you go.

If you have thick hair, we will use chunkier layers in your cut, softening the ends with a razor to add a little swing to your style. We can go a bit shaggy (if you've got nice soft hair) or rip it up with some asymmetrical layers (from short to longer on the sides) for deconstructed coolness.

Round faces would do better with weight off the sides (this makes your face look skinnier) and wide foreheads look better with more top layers, letting your hair glide to fuller near the bottom. If your hair is straight, thick, and not too long, we can give you uniform layers, too (but don't try this with really long hair unless you are going for that Cave-girl look.)

If you have coarse hair, make sure you pick an experienced stylist (may we suggest the great staff at Believe?) as layers in this type of hair can be hazardous if not done carefully (you'll have ends popping out all over.) It takes a stylist who has a little sculptor in her (and we are Michelangelo of hair, we promise.)

Sculpting is also needed if you have curly hair. You have to be careful of the cut so it doesn’t grow out in a circular shape—or worse still, a pyramid. If your hair is long, surface layering should be long and, if your hair is short, you'll want uniform layers to control the curls.

If your hair is as straight as a board, be careful that your layers are blended in well, else it will be like seeing a painted wall with every brushstroke showing. Depending on how hip your are, you can get entirely different lengths cut into your hair. You can have real cowlick short hair on top or slightly longer to frame your face and longer at the bottom. Experiment! Be brave! Your hair will grow out.

We at Believe will be glad to consult with you about your hair type (taking into consideration your facial shape, too) and help you discover how layers can add bounce and body to your summer style. Call us soon though (because even the hardworking staff at Believe takes a vacation—Lisa will be gone July 16-23 & July 29 & 30) so call today.

Beards On Vacation--Get Growing!

Flip flops instead of shoes, tan legs instead of pantyhose, T-shirts instead of business suits...all signs of summer vacation. But, at Believe, we know of one more: Beards! Throwing off the tyranny of daily shaving, more and more men are choosing to grow beards and summer vacation is the perfect time to get growing.

Here's a few tips to get your beard off to a good start:

• Make a commitment: Just like anything worth doing—like running or learning a new language—growing facial hair takes a while and you should commit to a certain time period to see it through. Don't quit in the middle and the results could be great!
• Seeing is believing: You should at least try to grow a beard once in your lifetime. Until you do, you'll never know if you suddenly sprout a full red beard (though you are a blond) or if it will come in silver (so distinguished) or if you have bald patches on either side of your chin just where your dad did. You can't fight genetics, but how do you know that your great-great-great granddad wasn't Blackbeard (whose luxuriant facial hair—into which he wove lighted sparklers—made the ladies swoon and the men quake in fear)?
• Tell everyone else to put a cork in it: Make a pact with your wife, kids and friends that you want to try to grow this beard and that, for awhile, you will look like a beach bum. Ask that they hold their opinions until the growing season is complete. (Your opinion is the one that counts in the end anyway.)
• Prepare to be a little uncomfortable: Yes, yes, as your beard grows in, it will be itchy, but let it grow for six weeks—no cheating. Don't trim it, shape it, or cut it during this time. Just let Nature takes it's course (and try to look like you are deeply pondering the problems of the universe while scratching your beard.) Wash it with gentle shampoo, like AESTELANCE  G  and condition it with IDEN TREATMENT. A little extra moisturizer like ZUM BODY(in assorted scents) rubbed into the skin beneath your beard will also lessen the discomfort.
• Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow: Even if you have only a goatee or a luxuriant mustache in mind for the finished product, why not let everything grow so you will have more hair with which to decide how you want it styled in the end? You can always cut hair off, but it takes a while to grow back.
• Get it professionally trimmed: Make an appointment and come into Believe for us to professionally shape your beard. In the trade, this is called “designing a neckline.” Usually where the beard grows to its upper limit on your cheek is best left natural. Our trained stylists will then take into account your jawline, the measurement from your sideburns to the proper section of your neck, your ear placement in correlation to your jaw—many things that will make your beard look natural, clean and neat. (This is not a job for amateurs! Come let us teach you how to trim your beard properly or visit us at Believe every time you need a trim and enjoy a little pampering. You deserve it.)
• Put down the dye: Here is the problem with do-it-yourself beard dyeing—the final result looks like you are wearing a fake beard. Products like “Just For Men” dye your beard (and usually parts of your neck, ears and bathroom counter) one flat shade making it appear much darker than your hair and looks as unnatural as if you had dunked your chin in shoe polish. If you truly can't stand the grey, come on in to Believe. We are experts at multi-tonal dyeing and can help hide the grey in a way that won't scream out “I dye my beard!”
• Don't be hasty: Put off the decision to ditch the beard until after your “neckline design” appointment at Believe. If you then decide to shave it off (or leave a soul patch/imperial or a luscious mustache) we can do it for you. Trust us; Our sharp scissors, professional handling of a beard trimmer and follow-up skin care will save you from lots of bumps cuts and ingrown hairs.

From Abe Lincoln to Jerry Garcia and Jim Morrison to Sigmund Freud, famous men have been almost as celebrated for the facial hair as for their deeds. Should you decide to join such renown company (and agree with an anonymous ancient Greek who said, “There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless—boys and women—and I am neither one,” call us at Believe to make an appointment for that shaping and put down the razor!

Saving Your Skin From The Sun

Though we all love to look tan (somehow it even makes us think we look skinnier) not much could be worse for us than laying out soaking up the sun. The ultraviolet A & B rays (called UVA and UVB) are what damage your skin and lead to wrinkles, brown spots, sun damage and, all too often, skin cancer. A tan is just your body's way of trying to shield itself from those harmful rays.

Tanning booths aren't any better even though they advertise that they only use harmless UVA rays. True, UVA rays take longer to cause harm, but in the end, they cause damage anyway as they go deeper into the skin than UVB rays.

You could be in greater danger if you have certain risk factors for skin cancer, like:

• You have light eyes or fair skin or blonde or red hair.
• You have had serious sunburns or sunburn easily.
• You played outside a lot as a child or laid outside to get tan or used tanning beds as a teenager.
• You have lots of moles, freckles or birthmarks.
• You have a family history of skin cancers.

How to avoid skin cancer?

Avoid the sun--especially from 11 am -3 pm. If you can't, wear clothes made from tight-woven fabric with long sleeves and wear a wide-brimmed hat.

Stay in the shade (and remember up to 80% of the sun's rays go through clouds and can penetrate water up to one foot below the surface. The rays also reflect off water, snow and white sand.)

Wear wrap-around sunglasses that are rated to block at least 99% of UVA sunlight.

Use sunscreen rated 15 SPF or above. Apply a half an hour before going out in the sun and reapply often--especially if you are sweating or swimming.

Check yourself monthly for signs of skin cancer and alert your doctor to any new marks or changes.

So, now that you are up on how to protect yourself from skin cancer what can you do to get that beloved golden glow? Stop by Believe and pick up one of the hottest products around (even featured on The Today Show) Dr. Dennis Gross Glow Pads.

What Is It? An anti-aging self tanner in the form of a single step pre-soaked towelette containing Active Vitamin D, Microencapsulated DHA and Soy Proteins that delivers color deep into skin to prevent fading through surface exfoliation. Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids exfoliate, tighten pores, eliminate blackheads and help fade existing sunspots for an even, streak-free glow.

Who Is It For? Anybody who wants professional results at home to transform dull texture & tone into radiant, glowing skin better than Mother Nature herself reducing the need for foundation and concealer.

Why Is It Different? An Alpha Beta Glow Pad is the only anti-aging, exfoliating sunless tanner that contains active Vitamin D (the sun vitamin) to provide smoother, healthier skin and natural radiance year-round. Microencapsulated DHA and Soy Protein deliver color deep into skin to prevent fading through surface exfoliation. Provides odorless, streak-free application & long lasting customized color. Prepared and packaged for convenient and easy use.

How Do I Use It? Apply evenly to face and body AM or PM. Increase the number of repetitions to achieve a deeper glow. Wash hands immediately after use.

There you have it--a gorgeous golden tone with all the benefits of a tan with none of the risks. Stop by Believe and get your glow on.

Here's to a healthy summer!

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.