Home Care Partners, a Washington-based nonprofit home care agency, believes that elderly patients who suffer from dementia will benefit from receiving reiki therapy. The federal administration on aging has agreed to support them with a $250,000 two-year grant to try it out.

Anger, agitation, fear and restlessness are common side effects of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Reiki can relieve stress, reduce anxiety and even help diminish pain in dementia patients, according to Home Care Partners’ education manager and trained reiki master, Marie Muller. “We hope that our clients with dementia who become agitated and stressed will find reiki calming,” says Muller. Anita Graham, a reiki master based near seattle, echos Muller’s sentiment. “I treated a frail 88-year-old with Parkinson’s-related dementia,” Graham recalls. “The staff at her facility reported that she wouldn’t speak, about 10 minutes into the treatment she said, ‘I’ve never had anything like this before.’ At the end of the treatment she related that she was going ‘home’. I felt moved by witnessing this woman’s expression of comfort and making sense out of her dying process.”

Although it has not been scientifically proven effective, the practice of reiki has been determined safe by the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Home Care Partners has trained 36 aids who will be reporting observable changes in patients, and will also offer training to the family caregivers and workers at adult day programs next year. This article was taken from the November 2011 issue of Day Spa Magazine, page 90.

Reiki is great for anyone not just those who have dementia. If you have questions on Reiki or would let to schedule a session at our Rochester salon call (507) 285-1888 and make an appointment.

Be sure to stop in and check out all our new products and pre-book your holiday hair appointments to be certain you can get in with your favorite stylist!

Massage is a great gift for anyone, but especially beneficial for someone who is expecting. A pregnancy massage is not the same as any other massage you may receive. Depending on what trimester the mother is in greatly affects what type of massage the therapist will choose to give. There is pressure points that cover the entire body and some of these points can be harmful if held in the early stages of pregnancy. These same point are useful at the end of your pregnancy to help your body and baby better prepare for delivery and in some case even cause labor to begin. Our massage therapist Heather Pilgrim specializes in pregnancy massage, she has an excellent track record with trying to help induce those who are close to their due date. She recommends a 90 minute massage for the best result but can accomplish a lot in 60 minutes as well. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment you can visit our website or call 507-285-1888

DON’T be afraid of bulky sweaters     DO add a belt at your waist to show off your fabulous figure!

DO wear fancy, eye-catching earrings to dress up your wardrobe. Last falls button-down shirts and boyfriend blazers look great with some dangly catch-the-light earrings

DO try adding shades of purple. Add purple accessories to any simple outfit to give it that extra pop!      DON’T pile on the purple from head to toe. (Kids might mistake you for Barney!)

DO wear camouflage in moderation. DON’T layer more than one piece per outfit.

DO walk on the wild side with animal print accessories.   DON’T wear them all at once. Wear any one look-at-me accent as a great finishing touch.

DO learn to love Khaki, Camel, and Beige. Time to give black a little break!   DON’T  do the same shade from head to toe, be sure to mix it up!

DON’T say good-bye to your long summer dresses or skirts. Wear them through the cooler months this fall.  DO pair them with cute with cropped jackets or cinched-at-the-waist tops.

DO embrace the Mad Men look. Vintage dresses are no passing trend and for a good reason! Retro looking dresses are festive and always flattering, they are appropriate for casual outings and more formal events when dressed up with jewelry.

DO show off classic plaids and pleated skirts. Avoid the school girl look by wearing more sophisticated color such as black, ivory, and brown.

DO give clogs a chance. Try investing in new-shape rustic clogs, they can be very chic with everyday outfits.   DON’T try dressing up your clogs, keep it simple.

DO buy more boots! They work with so many different outfits! Just be sure that you are staying true to yourself, if its doesn’t work with your personality don’t try to force it.

Kenra Blow – Dry – Spray not only dramatically decreases blow-dry time but leaves your hair feeling sliky smooth with an incredible shine! Lightly spray into damp hair, you can layer with other products or use it alone, and blow-dry hair as normal. This product also provides intense heat protection from damage and breakage which allows you to style your hair the way you like it without sacraficing damage to your hair. If this product isnt sounding good to you yet it also eliminates frizz while resisting humidity, allowing you to have a good hair day while your co-workers struggle. Still not sure? Ask your stylist if they think it is a good fit for your hair and have them use it in your hair at your next appointment!

1. Don’t be intimidated by conditioner. People with fine hair sometimes don’t understand how much conditioning curly hair requires. Shampoo less frequently, once or twice a week is plenty, and condition liberally. Enjoy collection contains several products that are great for curls; styling oils like Moroccanoil are also excellent.

2. For girls, learn how to braid to control frizz. The best way to learn is to find a mom who is experienced with curly hair or ask for a tutorial at your salon.

3. Another great way to “set” curly girls’ hair is to simply apply a gel or lotion created for curly textures, such as Enjoy shaping lotion, while the hair is still wet, then create sections, divide the sections in half, twist and go!

4. For boys, keep the hair short – it’s easiest!

5. Forget relaxers, they’re not suitable for kids and with all of the great products and techniques available, they’re not necessary.

6. Curly hair is expensive hair, so when your daughter becomes a teen, tell her that its time to get a job!

7. When it comes to products, you will have to experiment. Hair types vary widely, so expect to try a variety of formulas and combinations to come up with the best solutions for your kid’s curls. If you feel lost, ask your stylist! They can point you in the right direction.

Myth No. 1: Cutting Hair Makes It Grow Faster and/or Thicker

False

Shorter hair often looks and feels thicker but cutting your hair won’t alter its normal biologically determined growth rate or overall texture.

Thin or fine hair won’t grow thicker in response to a haircut. Give more volume to your hair by using volume enhancing hair care products, ask your stylist about experimenting with a hair fattening blunt cut or getting a texturizing perm or color treatment.

Myth No. 2: Split Ends Can Be Repaired Without Trimming

False

The only sure-fire way to remove split ends is with a scissors.  While some hair care products can temporarily hold split ends together, it will only lasts until your next shampoo.

Myth No. 3: Split Ends Will Get Worse

True

Uncut split ends can move up the hair shaft towards your roots.  Split ends that are not cut off will over time develop into splits that will spread and split part if not all of the entire hair.

Some ends can actually tear multiple times so that your split ends have splits.

Myth No. 4: Hair Grows Faster On Different Parts Of The Head

True

There is some scientific evidence that the growth rate of hair may vary on different parts of the head for select people.  There is also some indication that the growth rate of hair on babies may be faster on the crown than on any other parts of the scalp.  Usually the growth rate differences are very marginal and will not impact the hair appearance in any way.

Myth No. 5: Hair Will Always Remain The Same Texture

False

Although you may be born with straight or curly hair, there are many cases in which your hair’s texture can be permanently altered such as pregnancy, certain medications, chemotherapy, age and other variables can cause your texture to be temporarily or permanently altered.

Myth No. 6: Coloring Hair During Pregnancy Is Harmful

False

Although some physicians will disagree, coloring the hair during pregnancy will not be dangerous to the baby. When in doubt, always get your physician’s permission.  Most experts believe that the key danger with hair coloring is not the application to the scalp but the inhalation of the strong chemical odors.

Myth No. 7:  Virgin Root Hair Should Be Treated Differently

True

The hair that is closest to the roots will react differently to color  and chemical treatments.  Hair color applied directly to the roots will process differently then color applied on hair that has already been treated.

Myth No. 8: You Need to Wash Your Hair Everyday

False

Your own natural oils are the best conditioner for your hair. It’s possible to cleanse hair without fully washing it. You could use water only or stop by the salon and try a dry shampoo.  When deciding whether to wash your hair every day or not consult with your hair professional and take into consideration your hair type.

Myth No. 9: Rinse Out Conditioners Do Not Provide Benefits

False

Rinse out conditioners applied to your hair right after washing will leave a deposit of moisturizing proteins and other ingredients on the hair shaft providing hair that feels softer, shinier or better conditioned.

Myth No. 10: Wearing Tight Braids, Ponytails Or Buns Causes Baldness

True

Traction alopecia is a very real hair loss condition that may result from wearing tight ponytails, cornrows or buns over an extended period of time.

Over time, hair breakage or loss as the result of tight, stressed styles can become permanent. Avoid this potential problem by opting for looser styles that minimize scalp tension.

Myth No. 11: Sleeping With A Wet Head Causes Scalp Fungus

False

Scalp or fungal diseases can’t be caught from sleeping with wet scalps.  Scalp fungus or infections requires prior involvement with infected sources such as humans, tainted hair care tools or animals. As an example, ringworm can be spread by infected animals.

Myth No. 12: Sharing Combs And Brushes Can Spread Scalp Diseases

True

It is a fact that lice and other parasites can be transported from scalp to scalp through the sharing of combs, brushes and other hair care tools. Never fear Salon Chic uses barbicide (a strong sanitizer) on our combs and brushes between each client!

Myth No. 13: Lemon Juice Will Bleach Hair Blonde

False

While some naturally light haired people may notice a slight lightning or brightening after prolonged sun exposure soaked in lemon juice, the majority of people will not see any obvious change in their hair lightness or brightness.

Myth No. 14: Salon Products Are Identical To Drugstore Products

False

While there is an exception to every rule, salon products are generally manufactured to contain higher quality, more expensive ingredients that are designed to consistently provide more intensive cleansing, moisturizing and conditioning results.  The quality ingredients found in salon products are not usually found in drugstore brands.

Myth No. 15: Swimming Pool Chemicals Can Turn Hair Green

True

Frequent swimmers with natural blonde or chemically highlighted hair that is extremely porous may experience the development of green tints and shades over time.  This problem can be prevented with regular use of moisturizing shampoo and conditioners that provides a natural barrier to chlorine and related chemicals.  Our Enjoy Clarifying Spray works great to break down any build up from chlorine or styling products.

Myth No. 16: Brushing Thinning Hair Makes It Fall Out Faster

False

As long as you use a good brush on your hair, normal daily brushing will not accelerate the normal loss of hair from the scalp.  If your hair is suffering from a hair loss condition like alopecia brushing will only cause you to lose hair that is already ready to fall. Excessive brushing is always discouraged under any circumstances.

Myth No. 17: Hair Care Products Advertised As Natural Are Chemical Free

False

Not all hair care products sold in health food establishments are completely natural and may contain chemicals like SLS.  When in doubt read the label.

Shampoo Cleansing Ingredients To Avoid:

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
Ammonium Xylene Sulfonate
TEA Lauryl Sulfate
Sulfur (in dandruff shampoos)
Selenium Sulfide (in dandruff shampoos)

Myth No. 18: Brazilian Blowout Is Safe

False

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration warned in April that a hair-care product, Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution, contained unacceptable levels of formaldehyde and salon workers have reported headaches, nosebleeds, burning eyes, vomiting and asthma attacks after using the product and other chemical hair-straighteners, which is why Salon Chic does not offer Brazilian Blowout.