Kim Vo's Beauty Tip For Green Pool Hair

Okay, this sounds crazy, but if celebrity hairstylist and master colorist Kim Vo, tells you to try this, I would. The Vietnam native has one of the most beautiful heads of blonde hair around. He knows color, believe me.

Today, he mentioned ketchup. It's summer now, and that means lots of pool parties, and lots of laps. So if your bottle-blonde hair turns a nasty green, don't fret. Kim has a simple solution. Just apply ketchup to your locks, massage in, and let it sit there for a few minutes. Then jump in the shower and rinse thoroughly. Shampoo, and rinse again. It really works. The green is gone!

According to Anne Marie Helmenstine, a chemistry expert, the culprit is the copper, not the chlorine.

"It isn't the chlorine that turns blonde hair green. Oxidized metals in the water bind to the protein in the hair shaft and deposit their color. The metal that produces the green tint is copper, which is most commonly found in algicides, though it naturally occurs in some water. The bleach that is added to a pool may be responsible for oxidizing the metal, but it's not the cause of the color.

If your hair turns green, you can remove the discoloration by using a shampoo that chelates the metal. To some extent, you can prevent copper from binding to the hair by sealing the hair cuticle with a conditioner before swimming. Rinsing your hair immediately after leaving the pool will help protect it, too."

Hmmm. We kind of like the simple ketchup idea better.

By the way, Kim Vo is one of the hottest hairstylists around. He has tended to the long, lovely tresses of Teri Hatcher, Kate Hudson, and Pamela Anderson. And this evening, Kim will be presented as one of the lead judges in Bravo TV's Shear Genius reality series. The second season is premiering at 10 PM/ET/PT with hostess Jacyln Smith. Twelve contestants head to Los Angeles to compete for $100,000. Get ready to lather. Rinse. Compete.

How Safe Are The Vitamins You're Popping?

Apparently, half of us pop vitamins and supplements on a daily basis. That's what the American Dietetic Association has surveyed. That all sounds fine because beauty really begins from the inside. But do you exceed the dosages? Do you need all these pills? Is there a vitamin overload?

Some medical experts seem to think so, and that's been the buzz in the headlines today. Watch what you are popping for vitamins, because you could mess up the inside of your body.

Vitamin A (retinol) Great for skin, bones, teeth, and vision. Too much Vitamin A, however, can cause birth defects in pregnant women. Too much can also make your hair fall out and skin turn yellow. On the other hand, too little Vitamin A can also cause birth defects. Limit dosage to 5000 IU.

Vitamin B6. Builds a strong nervous system. But high doses can damage arms and legs. Limit dosage to 100 mg.

Vitamin B9. Folic acid is necessary for healthy blood. Too much folic acid, however, can bring about nausea and insomnia. Limit dosage to 1000 mcg.

Vitamin C. Folks around the globe all applaud the good stuff in Vitamin C, especially for keeping colds at bay. But overdosing on it can cause indigestion, diarrhea, and gastro-intestinal problems. Limit dosage to 2000 mg.

Vitamin D. We've all heard about the welcome benefits of Vitamin D, to prevent cancer and other ailments. Dr. Weil raves about it. But too much of a good thing can go badly, like kidney stones and kidney damage. Do not exceed 2000 IU.

Vitamin E. Faithful Vitamin E takers swear buy this golden supplement, calling it one of the great anti-oxidants of all time, a pill that maintains good cardiovascular health. But overdosing on E can cause serious bleeding and even congestive heart failure. Plus, latest medical studies now show that E has 'no proven clinical benefits.' Do not exceed 400 IU.

There you have it. Please keep a record of all the vitamins and supplements you take, so that your primary care physician has a good idea of how you're treating your body.

Pretty Feet Sans Calluses And Cracks

I was just talking to a girlfriend last night about her feet. She has a stubborn callus under her foot, and she wants it gone. Now. She mentioned Ped Egg which is a little device seen on television that targets hyperkeratosis, or thickening of the skin. In other words, your foot calluses.

A few reviews about Ped Egg turned up good news. But most critics say the product works best on lightly callused feet. As one reviewer put it: Using Ped Egg is like "rubbing a fine cheese grater across the bottom of the feet." Ha ha. In other words, it won't do much to wear away a thicker callus.

Nordstorm's has a new beauty treatment out specifically for stubborn foot calluses. It's by Lippman Collection Get Off Callus Softener ($29, 3.38 oz). Lippman's zeroes in on calluses, cracks, corns, and fissures. It smoothes the skin and helps wear away the hyperkeratosis.

You can also soak your feet, and pumice stone the heck out of them. But that method, too, seems to take forever. Pumice stones work better on elbow dry skin. Probably one of the best items to use on thick calluses is the almost dangerous Callus Razor. You can pick one up for about $10. This beauty foot device actually shaves away dead skin. These razors come with replacable double-edged blades.

A note of caution, callus razors take some practice. We're not kidding here. If you push too hard on the razor device, you can slice off a bit too much skin, and end up with bloody feet. But these razors are your best bet for removing thick, dry skin from under your feet.

After all, it' summer. And a gal's gotta have pretty feet sans calluses and cracks.

Dr. Perricone's Cosmeceuticals Battle Inflammation

What does inflammation have to do with aging?

Everything, according to Dr. Nicholas V. Perricone. The Connecticut-based dermatologist claims his research shows that, "controlling inflammation can help delay and even reverse the signs of aging."

Dr. Perricone is no stranger to the world of skin care and cosmeceuticals. He has authored several books and has gotten attention for his unique approach to fighting wrinkles. It's a 3-tiered philosophy he strongly believes in:

Diet. Anti-inflammatory. Foods like avocado, fresh water fish, nuts, lean protein, and olive oil

Supplements. Omega 3. Alpha Lipoic Acid. Vitamin C Ester. Beauty on the inside.

Topicals. Skin treatments that are formulated with patented sciences.

"We no longer have to age the way our parents did." That's what Dr. Perricone says, and his 3-pronged approach to younger, healthier skin revolves around that theory.

Dr. Perricone has introduced new packaging to his skin care line. The boxes, jars and tubes are now flashier and prettier.

Celebrities like movie star Uma Thurman are gaga over Dr. Perricone's skin care treatments.

His top seller:

The Instant Fix Duo--- Ceramic Skin Smoother ($75.) Ceramic Eye Smoother ($50.).

The skin smoother instantly smoothes and fills in lines and wrinkles. Pore size is reduced. Skin brightens, frims and tones.

The eye smoother instantly fills in lines and wrinkles around the delicate eye area. Discoloration improves.

Dr. Perricone has a topical treatment for just about every skin problem out there. From acne to sagging skin to dry complexions, and more.

The new book from Dr. Perricone:

Ageless Face, Ageless Mind:Erase Wrinkles & Rejuvenate the Brain
"From his vitamin line to his superb skin care products, Dr Perricone has not only helped me look better but has improved my overall quality of life."- Uma Thurman

To learn more: http://www.perriconemd.com/.

Hemp Seed Oil Gives You High Hair

Hemp seed oil is legal, so let's get that out of the way. In fact, hemp oil is now commonly used in a number of beauty treatments---shampoos, hairsprays, conditioners, etc. It's got good properties in it, that can strengthen your hair. And don't worry, your hair will get high in volume, but not high off the THC, because there is not enough of it in there to get you stoned.

Marijuana and industrial hemp both come from Cannabis sativa L, but the plants are cultivated in very different ways. Industrial hemp makes use of the seeds and fiber, whereas pot plants are harvested for their flowering tops and leaves.

When hemp seed oil is extracted from the hemp seed itself, it comprises 35% of the total seed weight. It is full of essential fatty acids.

Naturelle Hemp Haircare, distributed by the Zotos beauty company, offers a lovely line of hemp seed oil hair styling products. I found them at:

http://www.sallybeauty.com/

http://www.harmondiscount.com/.

Naturelle features: Hemp hydrating shampoo, Hemp hydrating conditioner, Hemp volumizing shampoo, Hemp volumizing conditioner, Hemp Firm Hold Shaping Spray. and my fav:

Naturelle Hemp Volumizing Root Lifter ($6.49, 8.5 oz., aerosol can). This stuff rocks! I'm always going on and on about big hair and big volume. The can is shaded a pretty green with a pot, er, hemp leaf on the front.

The root lifter gives you "vital amino acids and proteins to nourish and reinforce your hair against damage." Plus you get volume and thickness, shine, style memory, and a special humidity resistance factor, all-in-one.

You can use the hemp seed root lifter on towel-dried hair or dry hair. Just shake, spray at roots, blow dry, air dry, or use a diffuser for maximum fullness.

Why not try a product that truly comes from nature, where everything, including the seeds and fiber, can be formulated into such wonderful beauty treatments.

Oil Blotting Papers Zap Away Shine And Grease

Oil blotting papers have been around for many years now, and with good reason. There are plenty of brands on the market to choose from. And these tiny squares that resemble tracing paper, are a valuable beauty item.

You know you need oil blotting papers when you have very oily skin. And that's easy to identify. You have greasy skin with lots of unattractive shine, and you feel like washing your face every couple of hours. Some of it is genetics, and some of it has to do with your menstrual cycle. And some of you might just produce too much sebum. In other words, your sebaceous glands are working overtime.

You often hear about the 'T-zone,' when it comes to oily complexions. The 'T' area involves the forehead, nose and chin. That zone has the most oil-producing ability on the entire face. And many of you probably notice more breakouts and or acne in the T-zone.

The best oil blotting papers to buy, are the ones with flaxseed oil in them. Linen and rice paper are also wonderful oil absorbers. These three are able to mop up the shine and grease, and leave your face looking matte and pretty again. It would be wise to stay away from oil blotting papers made of mineral oil or powder, because those can clog your pores.

Oil blotting papers usually come in a little compact. You take one out at a time, and simply press these small sheets against your face, and watch the oiliness lift away. They're convenient, too, easy to tuck away in a purse or pocket to be used throughout the day.

One to try is Jane Iredale's Natural Facial Blotting Paper Compact made with flax seed ($11, for 100 sheets). Fore more information, visit:

http://www.janeiredaledirect.com/product_Facial+Blotting+Paper+Compact_8797.htm.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids To The Rescue

There are so many skin care words being floated around these days, that it really gets dizzying to the average customer. AHA, tretinoin, glycerin, alpha lipoic acid, DMAE. And on and on.

Today, we are going to concentrate on AHAs or Alpha Hydroxy Acids. The AHAs are commonly referred to when re-building skin. In other words, these chemical formulations are designed to improve roughness, uneven pigmentation, lines and wrinkles. But these AHAs can also do a number on your skin, if you aren't cautious. Alpha hydroxy acids are not for the faint of heart.

Alpha hydroxy acids are actually made from gentle ingredients like fruit and milk sugars. The beauty of using an AHA on your face is quite appealing. These acids are able to penetrate deeply into the skin. Their main focus is to exfoliate, or remove dead skin cells, and increase cell turnover. In the end, AHAs return the skin to a smoother texture, firmness, and healthy appearance. The skin is rejuvenated, and the big bad wrinkles and sun damage start to slowly fade away.

There are five major AHAs found in skin care treatments (use concentrations of 10% or under). Higher concentrations are best applied by dermatologists, since the side effects can be tough going:

Glycolic Acid....made from sugar cane
Lactic Acid.......made from milk acid
Malic Acid........made from pears and apples
Citric Acid........made from lemons and oranges
Tartaric Acid...made from grapes

AHAs are great for thickened, oily, pimpled, and sun-damaged skin. When applied, their formulations can dry out the skin, but can also cause burning, itching, peeling, redness, and even scarring, if the acid is too harsh. You must be very careful when applying an alpha hydroxy acid because of the irritation and sensitivity to sunlight. If you don't arm yourself with a good sunscreen, you will turn red, and yes, even your face can hurt with a stinging senation.

If you can get through the nasty side effects, your face will love you back. Alpha hydroxy acids can work wonders and rescue damaged skin, as long as you gradually work up to their applications, be smart in the sun, and let your dermatologist work along with you.

Here's one of the more popular AHAs to try:

M.D. Forte® Skin Rejuvenation Lotion I ($55).

It combines Alpha Hydroxy Acid with a boost of Vitamins A and E to renew and rejuvenate the skin reducing the visible signs of skin aging. Helps diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles, defend against future skin damage, and promote healthy looking skin. Consult your physician prior to use.