 I have battled bad skin for decades, starting with pubescent “T-zone” acne, straight through to adult acne. I've been on antibiotics, medicated creams, TV and drugstore products; everything short of Accutane which is scarier that shit in my opinion. Interestingly enough, I didn’t have food sensitivities and IBS-like symptoms until after being on antibiotics for my skin for months and months. In my opinion, while minimized one type of acne, the antibiotic inadvertently created a whole new monster!
My most recent bout with acne was painful and embarrassing cystic acne on my jawline and neck. It’s looked inflamed and angry. After indulging in a pretty wheat/gluten heavy vacation in the Caribbean, my skin was a MESS! Not only was my skin a mess but my stomach was bloated and distended. It occurred to me that I was having an allergic reaction to the wheat/gluten I was consuming. Due to a nutrition program that I was on months prior to vacation I had been eliminating/reducing carbs (i.e. Wheat/gluten products). My skin prior to the trip was pretty clear and I was looking forward to NOT caking on makeup in the humid, tropical weather. So fast forward, after being home and off gluten for a couple weeks my skin did improve slightly, but it was still experiencing intermittent cystic breakouts. Around this time a Make Artist/Esthetician girlfriend of mine suggested that I find a face wash with papaya and pineapple enzymes. I found there are plenty papaya/pineapple products out there, but they were too expensive (or too cheap), so I concocted a toner/mask myself. I put a peeled, pitted papaya, and half a cored pineapple in a food processor, and puréed them. I steamed and washed my face with “Simple” face wash in the shower (“Simple” skin products around $6 at drugstore), and applied this “toner/mask” post shower with a cotton ball all over my face, let it dry for 20 or so minutes, rinsed and moisturize with “Simple” face cream. Note** you do not need to sit there trying to balance chunks of purée on your face, just the juice will do. I’m not gonna lie, it stung a little at first, but I powered through it. I noticed immediately the inflammation and redness was reduced. I used it a few times a week for starters, then gradually once or twice per week. Months later I took it a step further and started using a Clarisonic face brush (expensive, but AMAZING) in the shower with Simple face wash, then applying the toner/mask post shower, waiting, rinsing and moisturizing. My skin has been amazing lately and I feel totally confident going out in public now without a stitch of coverup! For work and play, I’ve totally been able to wear a lightweight CC cream for my daily “concealer” and it’s been really liberating! Things that helped MY skin: #1 gluten free diet #2 papaya and pineapple enzyme mask #3 Clarisonic face brush ~IMPORTANT~ do your skin a favor if you use a face brush (or washcloth), MAKE SURE YOU DISINFECT OR SANITIZE the brush head before EVERY use! Bacteria can build up on brushes (and washcloths) that can infect your skin if you are prone to acne! What are the benefits of papaya and pineapple in your skin? Papaya is nutrient and antioxidant rich Heals skin, and has antibacterial properties Reduces scarring, clears pigmentation Moisturizes, hydrates and nourishes skin Repairs damaged skin Is a natural exfoliant (removes dead skin cells in a non-abrasive way) Boosts collagen production and promotes elasticity and firmness Pineapple is full of antioxidants that prevent cell damage and fight against free radicals. Has Anti-inflammatory properties Treats swelling and irritation Increases collagen synthesis Contains vitamin C and amino acids Natural Exfoliant Hydrates skin Anyway, just thought I’d share. Hopefully this information and/or some variation of this regimen will help you or someone you know. I know there were times that I would have tried just about anything to clear my skin up. I am grateful to have found something that works for me and hope it will work for others too.
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I need to give a serious shout out to Glam Seamless for making the "Hair World" a better place with their tape-in hair extensions! Their color selection is fantastic and the quality is stellar! I've been doing extensions for a long time and have tried many different brands of hair. Typically these others brands will look nice initially, but quickly get dull and eventually matted together at which point it's already time for new ones. Some of these other brands come out of the package smelling like plastic, even though they are 100% human hair; Strange...and kind of gross. These other brands range from super cheap to hella expensive (aka over priced). The quality of hair that Glam Seamless offers is hands down, my favorite! From blue black to bleach blondes, they have it all: Pre-colored ombre, multi-toned, pastels, fashion colors. The hair is soft (and odorless) out of the package and stays soft for multiple applications. I can speak from my own personal experience it doesn't get tangled and matted. All of their prices are listed on their website, so there are no surprises. Typically, I recommend two packs (40 wefts total) for most (not all) people. If you are trying to add thickness to your existing length you may be able to get away with one pack (20 wefts). A free consultation would determine if you are a good candidate for tape in extensions, which length is realistic for blending into your current hair style, color(s), price for materials and labor, and setting up an expectation for home care and future maintenance/re-taping. At the consultation, should you decide to move forward with this amazing service, I do require a non-refundable 50% deposit on the material, which of course, is deducted from the final cost at the time of service. Typically it takes about 5 days to receive the hair once it's ordered. I am obsessed with this hair and I know you will be too! Give me a jingle to set up a free consultation! Kristy Walters (503)713-7202 #glamseamless
 Joico K-PAK Color Therapy Luster Lock WINS!! We all suffer at some point from dry, brittle hair. You always hear "use coconut oil...use mayonaise.., use this or that deep conditioning product". Truth is I've never really been sold on deep conditioners, until I found Joico K-PAK Color Therapy Luster Lock. This stuff is legit! I stumbled upon sample at my supply house and got instantly hooked! Although my hair was in considerably decent shape (thanks to Olaplex) after processing it to remove the layers of black, it was definitely dry and unhealthy feeling. Luster Locks is total instant gratification and restored my hair unbelievably fast. I started using it twice per week for 5 minutes after shampooing, and now I down to once a week. Packed with Manketti Oil and Argan Oil, Not only does Luster Lock seal and repair the outer protective layer of your hair, it creates an amazing smoothness to help prevent breakage while styling. And extra bonus, it smells delicious! Joico K-PAK Color Therapy Luster Lock is available now at Elevations Hair Design for $15, and well worth every penny!  One of the questions a Hair Stylist asks their client is “How often do you wash your hair?” All too often the answer is “Everyday...I have to! Otherwise it looks greasy”. So here’s the thing, when you shampoo your hair, you are stripping it of its natural oils. This triggers your sebaceous glands to produce more oil, causing your hair gets oily faster/daily. Naturally the answer for most, would be to stop washing your hair so frequently and let the oil glands readjust, but seriously who wants to walk around with grease-head?
I’ve had medium to long hair most of my life (until recently, I chopped it;) and I was most definitely was an Everyday Shampoo’er. Blow drying would take 100 hours every day (exaggeration, obviously) then I discovered dry shampoo. It’s been around forever, I remember my grandmother used it when I was a kid, but the world of Hair Products has come a long way since then. I’ve tried many dry shampoos, but my fave is Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo ($16 at Elevations Hair Design). It doesn’t have a clay-like texture or funky odor, it absorbs oil, and actually gives volume for days! Yes, DAYS! Since using Dry Shampoo I only wash my hair twice, maybe three times a week. It saves time and more importantly, it saves my color! You can also take the cheap and cheerful, DIY At Home approach and make you own dry shampoo using Baking Soda and Cocoa Powder (as recommended by my fellow Stylist, Maria). In a small container mix up some baking soda and a small amount of cocoa powder, use an old blush brush to apply to the root area. Be careful to apply it sparingly to avoid a powdery buildup; remove excess powder from the brush by tapping it on the lip of the container before applying. If the powder looks a little too warm or orangey on the root, add more baking soda to the mix or use dark cocoa powder instead. Typically dark cocoa powder is best for medium/dark colored hair, and regular cocoa powder for light/medium colored hair. Brush your hair to distribute the powder down the hair shaft. It’s almost too easy;)   Meet Annie! I have doing her hair for years and have had to WORK to style her hair smooth. With her naturally curly, frizzy hair, heat-styling is a MUST if "smooth" is the goal! Frizz Control was a B*TCH!... until now! Fortunately, there is a solution with the continuously progressive technologies of Keratin Smoothing Systems. I've tried many in the past and while I've had good and great results, the processing solution for many of these treatments, despite them being Formaldehyde-free products, have harsh, seemingly harmful odors during processing. Just recently, I decided to try the Peter Coppola Keratin Smoothing System which is a Aldehyde-free & Formaldehyde-free Keratin Treatment. This system contains a low pH mechanism to soften and smooth the hair without the concern of harmful chemicals. It is infused with vital Keratin amino acids and damage-reversing Ceramides. The processing time took approximately 2 hours, there was zero odor during processing, and I'd say the results were pretty impressive! The cost for this in-salon treatment starts at $175+ (or $125+ if bundled with color service), depending on how much hair you have, and the results last 3+months! This treatment is maintenance-free except for the use of sulfate-free, sodium chloride-free shampoo and conditioner which range from $8-$20 per bottle. Consultations are free of course, so whenever you're ready to stop fighting the frizz give me jingle and we'll make something happen! -Kristy Walters
 Tape In Extensions are legit! Instant gratification Ladies! Each application last for 4-6 weeks and hair wefts can be reused 3 or more times. This tape-in technique, is unlike any other method of extensions out there, adding length and thickness to almost any hair type without the damage! There are 4 natural colors, ranging from Dark Brown to Blonde for easy matching or contrasting. Fashion colors are also available at an additional charge. The installation is astonishingly quick, painless and the results are seamless, and so natural looking. The medical grade adhesive is designed for hair, so with proper care, tape won’t weaken until you're ready to have them removed by your Stylist. This method does not allow for individual strand breakage as many other methods of extensions typically do. No messy glue or clumsy, uncomfortable clips necessary. At home care is easy too. A sulfate-free shampoo is necessary to gently cleanse the scalp without scrubbing, followed up by a sulfate-free conditioner on the mid-shaft to ends. Wash your hair in one direction. Avoid washing your hair upside down. Scrunching up your hair or rubbing it harshly will cause tangling! After rinsing, gently wring out the excess water. For extra smooth result, add a leave-in conditioner or serum mid-shaft to tips. Gently comb through any tangles or use a loop brush specifically for extensions, If possible let them air dry, or if you need a blow dry, apply a heat protectant first and be careful not to heat up the bond/tape strip as it can weaken it and cause sliding. I recommend sleeping with your hair in one or two braids to prevent excessive tangling. This service takes approximately 60 minutes. The cost of this service is as follows: $165 per "bundle" includes materials and labor thin hair averages............1-2 bundles medium hair averages....3-4 bundles thick hair averages......... 5+ bundles Reapplications.... $80 for each bundle, which includes re-taping, and residue removal Reapplication recommended every 4-6 weeks, or with every other color retouch service. A partial color retouch can still be done as usual, around your extensions to prevent damage to the bond.
 What is OLAPLEX? Olaplex is an incredible product that is added to color/bleach formula and allows you to process your hair to its maximum potential without jeopardizing the integrity of your hair. This single ingredient is free of silicone and oils, and essential rebuilds broken bonds in the hair during and after chemical services making them stronger than they were before. Olaplex works on virtually every hair types. Asian, Caucasian, African American, previously chemically processed and virgin, doesn’t matter…it works! The Hair Perfector No.3 Take Home treatment has amazing additional benefits and is recommended for between salon visits to maximize the bond rebuilding process. MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE with OLAPLEX I’ve been coloring my hair dark (some would describe as “black”) for 10+ years. Over the years I have tried to remove some of that dark pigment out, but the lightening process left my hair a hideous orangey/red color. The only way to decolorize my hair completely would have meant over-processing the heck out of it, risking a major breakage, a.k.a. “chemical haircut”. Boooooo…thumbs down. With pastels and silvers being all the rage, I thought why not give Olaplex a whirl and pre-lighten my hair for a much lighter fashion color…pastel purple. To achieve these pastel colors the hair must be decolorized to a yellow- or platinum- blonde. I posted a kind of play by play of my process. Obviously, this was not all done in one sitting, but after a few processes, mission accomplished! I am positive that the ONLY way I could have pulled this of is with Olaplex. I’ve been using the Hair Perfector No.3 once a week and the condition of my hair is unexpectedly pretty good considering everything it’s been through. Highly recommended!! This service is available to all my color clients starting at $15, plus the at home treatment is $18. Small price to pay for healthy, strong beautiful hair in my humble opinion:) Please email or call/text me at (503) 713-7202 with questions about this product.
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AuthorKristy Walters - Owner of Elevations Hair Design. Archives
October 2024
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© 2024 Elevations Hair Design | All Rights Reserved