Here's a question from one of my readers:

Is it true that shaving makes your hair grow back thicker?

The answer is

NO NO NO NO NO!

I'm going to continue this blog by explaining to you why it does not, and what my suggested methods of hair removal are, but if you take nothing else from this entry, please remember that shaving DOES NOT make your hair grow back thicker or darker.

The number of hairs you have and their consistency was genetically pre-disposed LONG before you ever even thought of removing them, and one little razor (unless of course it's a magical razor) is not going to change that. You have a certain number of hair follicles, and each of those follicles can only grow one hair. Therefore, no matter what your method of hair removal, your hair will NEVER come in thicker. 

Now, lets identify your choices in hair removal:

Shaving: Shaving cuts the hair off at the skin level, giving it a blunt edge, rather than the tapered edge that it naturally grows in with. This is why it may appear to be growing in thicker or darker after shaving, but I assure you, it is not. The results of shaving will last only a day or 2. Shaving is ok for pretty much all areas, although I would not recommend it on a woman's face (because of the stubble factor). I reserve it for areas where I plan to remove ALL hair (for example: Legs)

Waxing: Waxing removes the hair from the root. The results of waxing will last 2 - 3 weeks depending on how quickly your hair grows. Hair that has been waxed will grown in with a tapered edge, as if it growing in for the first time. Overtime, waxing will actually decrease the number of hairs that grow, because once a hair follicle has been damaged, it will not grow hair again. If you get a spot of blood, that follicle is dead. The downside, waxing can be pretty painful (and expensive if you have it done professionally - which you ALWAYS should do). The only hair that cannot be waxed is a man's beard, because the follicles can grown more than one hair and there is no consistent direction of hair growth. I recommend waxing for areas where you want controlled hair removal (for example: eyebrows, woman's upper lip, any female facial hair). I do not recommend waxing for areas with deep rooted hair (for example: legs and underarms- it's really just not worth the pain - in my opinion anyway.)

Depilatory Creams (Nair): Depilatory Creams dissolve the hair from the root, so they have similar results as waxing, but without the pain. Sounds great huh? It is, as long as you're not allergic to it. Make sure to do a patch test on the inside of your arm or behind your ear before applying to large areas. I suggest depilatories for areas with course, deep rooted hair that grows quickly (you know, the areas that have to be shaved everyday, but you can't even stand the thought of waxing) such as underarms and bikini areas, but be sure to use the "sensitive areas" versions, and again, I cannot stress the importance of a patch test. Trust me, there is nothing worse than an allergic reaction on your bikini line!

Tweezing: Leave the tweezing to touch-ups only. If you get a stray here or there, go for it, but when shaping or removing large amounts of regrowth, see a professional for a wax.

Laser-hair removal: Laser hair removal is a much more expensive and permanent procedure. It usually takes several pricey treatments to permanently remove the hair from any given area.

I hope this helps!

Send your beauty questions to [email protected] and I'll answer them in my next blog.

Thanks,

Bethany

Here’s another question from one of my readers:

My boyfriend’s eyebrows are out of control. How can he clean them up without looking girly?

This is a great question! I think guys avoid basic grooming because they’re afraid of looking too “metro” but the truth is, he can clean-up his look without going overboard.

Some girls go for that burly, un-kept look. They think hairy backs, beer guts, and dirt-encrusted fingers are sexy, but for the rest of us, a little grooming goes a long way!

I’m not saying guys need a weekly manicure or wax. I’m just suggesting a little at-home upkeep.

For courtesy’s sake, I think any guy who expects to be touching a female (or hopes to be touched) anytime in the near future should follow these basic steps:

- clean the dirt from under your fingernails. We all love a man who is good with his hands, but there’s no reason to carry the remnants around with you.

- Use a nail file once in a while so you’re not scratching us with your ragged edges.

- Use a little moisturizer after you shower. No girl enjoys waking up with brush burns from your sandpaper feet or gritty elbows. Here’s a little hint: ask your girl to apply it for you, this way you get a little massage and it’s an instant mood-setter. (or ladies, offer him a massage if you think you have to trick him into it.)

Now that I’ve completed that rant, lets move on to masculine eyebrow maintenance.

- With tweezers, remove any strays that really stand out, meaning the ones between his brows (on the bridge of his nose) or below the natural brow line, but do not re-shape the brow. Shaping and thinning the brow is what gives a feminine look.

- Now for the most important part! Even if you can’t convince him to let you tweeze his brows, find a way to get him to let you trim them. Using an eyebrow comb, comb the brows upward and use cuticle scissors to trim the hairs. The cuticle scissors are curved, so they will keep the natural curve of the brow. Just trimming the brows will make a huge difference in your guys face.

Just tell him it’s like a haircut for his eyebrows…

Send your beauty questions to [email protected] and I’ll answer them in my next blog.

Thanks,

Bethany

Here’s a question from one of my readers:

I read your 2010 Makeup Trends blog, and I would like to experiment with different colors, but I don’t know where to start. How do I narrow it down to colors that are right for me?

I think this is a common problem. We don’t know which colors will look good on us, so we settle for boring neutrals. Here is how you can choose your most flattering shades for make-up, clothing, and even hair color. There are 5 basic categories for skin tones (summer, fall, winter, spring, and neutral). Everyone falls into one of these categories, and each of them has specific colors that are right for them. I’m going to help you determine which group you belong to so that you can always look your best!

First you want to determine if you are warm, cold, or neutral. The best way to determine this is to look at the veins on the inside of your wrist. If they look blue, you are cool. If they look green you are warm.  If you're unsure about your vein color. Compare with a friend. As a rule, if you have golden, olive or yellow tones to your skin/hair, you are a warm. If you have pink or peach tones to your skin and ashy hair, you are a cool

Now that you know if you’re warm or cool, you need to determine if you are a summer, fall, winter, or spring.

The warms:

Fall: Falls usually have very golden or olive complexions. They often have red or chocolate tones in their natural hair, and usually brown eyes.

Fall Colors are earthy tones such as: beige, army green, golden yellows, burnt orange, browns, brownish-reds

Fall Hair colors are: warm browns or reds or very golden dark blondes. Keep highlights to a caramel color, or red.

Spring: Springs have fairer skin than falls, but they also have a golden tone to their skin. They often have what we consider “dirty blonde” hair (naturally). It’s a very warm, golden blonde. And often they have green eyes.

Spring Colors are softer pastel tones such as: peach, aqua, golden yellow, brown

Spring Hair colors are: warm golden blondes, browns, and reds.

All warm-toned people should avoid very harsh colors such as black and pure white. Always go with brown or off-white/ivory/beige instead.

The Cools:

Winter: Winters usually have dark hair in an ashy brown or even black, their skin has a pink or peachy undertone, and their eyes are usually blue or brown.

Winter Colors are bold saturated jewel tones such as: royal blue, turquoise, royal purple, emerald green, or red.

Winter hair colors are: Dark. The Darker, the better… in my opinion.

Summer: Summers are usually blonde haired, blue or hazel eyed, and pink skinned. This is the “classic California blonde look”

Summer Colors are bold and bright tones such as: Pink, Blue, Green, Orange (think crayola classic markers)

Summer hair colors are: Blonde or ashy browns. This is the only group who should go for that bleach-blonde look.

The Neutrals:

Neutrals are the 0 negative of skin tones. It is extremely rare to be a neutral, but they are definitely the lucky ones. Neutrals can pretty much wear whatever they want. Of course darker neutrals should stay in the Fall and Winter families and lighter neutrals should stay in the spring and summer families, but they can mix it up.

Here is the tricky part: Some people are one tone in the colder weather, and another in the warmer weather. If you are a summer (fair and cool) naturally, but you tan with a golden tone, you will want to wear spring colors when you’re tan.

I personally am all mixed up. I have warm olive tones from my mother’s side – Mediterranean Germans (often mistaken for Italian), and cool red/pink tones from my father’s side – Native American & Scotch Irish so my season changes all the time. I fluctuate between a fall and a winter. It really depends on the day with me, so it's not always a sure-thing. You may have to experiment a little bit to find the right colors for you, but at least this gives you an idea.

I hope this helps answer your question! Send your beauty questions to [email protected] and I’ll answer them in my next blog, and don’t forget to stop by tomorrow for another dose of the beauty blog!

Thanks,

Bethany

Today is the 6th and final day of the "Inner Beauty Blog". I hope you have taken some of my suggestions, and I hope it's made your Holiday just a little brighter.

Today's Suggestion will require a little more effort than the previous ones, but I think it will also be with most rewarding.

How about you spend Christmas Eve or Christmas Day volunteering at a Homeless Shelter or Children's Hospital?

If there's any group of people who need a little extra Christmas Cheer it is those without health, family or the material possessions we are all so accustomed to.

Here's a list of Shelters in the area

Bethlehem Haven

Fifth Avenue Commons

905 Watson St

Pgh, PA 15219

412-391-1348 

East End Cooperative Ministry

250 North Highland Ave

Pgh, PA 15206

412-361-5549

HSP of Pgh

3017 Cohutta St

Pgh, PA 15212

Light of Life Rescue Mission

10 E. North Ave

Pgh, PA 15212

412-258-6100

Whale's Tale

250 Shady Ave

Pgh, PA 15206

412-661-1800

Here is the volunteer information for Children's Hospital

 http://www.chp.edu/CHP/Volunteer+Services

Merry Christmas,

Bethany

Welcome to Day 5 of "Ways to Give Back at Christmas Time".  For those of you who are new to the "Beauty Blog", I update the blog Monday - Friday with hair, skin, nail, make-up and other beauty tips, but the past week or so has been dedicated to inner beauty. We all get so caught up in the craziness of the Holidays that we forget to focus on what Christmas is supposed to be all about...

Love, Hope, and Generosity.

(and don't forget Family, that's my favorite part)

Please take a few moments to read this and the other 4 entries on ways to give back this holiday season, and maybe even try a few of them out. I promise it will make you feel good!

Today's suggestion is:

Send a Care Package to Children in Need

I actually got this idea from my mother's Kindergarten Class. There is a child in her class who was adopted from the Ukraine this summer. As a service project, the class is make blankets (the fleece ones you cut fringe around and tie together) and they are sending them to the orphanage that this little girl came from. If these children can be generous enough to give up their play time to make something for children in need, certainly we can make an effort.

...who says adults can't learn something from a 5-year-old?

Here are a few ideas for care packages for children:

toiletries

Diapers

Comfortable clothes and shoes

stuffed animals

blankets

anything you think they may need would be appreciated, I'm sure.

These packages do not have to be expensive. Even one item is something they didn't have before.

Here is a list of orphanages in the area:

http://www.clpgh.org/research/pittsburgh/history/orphanages/dir.html

Another option would be to send a care package to the troops overseas. Below is the link to a website that will give you ideas about what to send, how to send it, and where you can send it to.

http://www.anysoldier.com

And the best part...neither of these ideas are limited to the Holidays. You can send care packages all year round!

Tomorrow will be my last "Inner Beauty Blog". Starting after Christmas, I will go back to the original Beauty Blog, so if you have any beauty questions, please send them to [email protected], and I will answer them in my next blog.

Thanks, and Merry Christmas!

Bethany

Here is another way to give back at Christmas.

We all send Christmas Cards to our Family and Friends, or if you're like me, you buy them, and never get around to sending them, so they get them with their gifts...oops! I swear one of these years I'll get them out!

Either way, you're going to buy some Christmas Cards so why not get UNICEF cards?

24, 000 children in underprivileged countries die each day from preventable causes. UNICEF works in over 150 countries to bring children health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. 

To find out more abut UNICEF or to donate or volunteer. Go to:

http://www.unicefusa.org

I'm not even asking you to give them your money or your time. All I'm suggesting is that you buy your Christmas cards, which you're going to purchase anyway, from them. They are beautiful cards, and the proceeds go directly to save the lives of children.

And the best part? You don't even have to go out of your way to get them. You can buy them at your local Hallmark!

I hope you consider taking my suggestion, and I hope all these good deeds are making you feel good!

Merry Christmas and thank you,

Bethany

Are you the girl who has everything? This year, in leu of Christmas gifts, have your friends and family donate to charity in your name.

Maybe you have a soft spot for needy children, or veterans, or the homeless, or the elderly. Whatever your favorite Charity, help them out this Christmas. 

I had dinner with a friend the other night, and I was asking her if she was done with all her shopping yet, and she said that she had barely started. I was so surprised to hear this, but as she explained her traditions to me, I began to understand. Her and her sister have a shopping day together and buy each other gifts, she gets the same thing for her dad every year, and her mother requested that they donate to charity in her name. What a wonderful thing to do!

I was so impressed! I just had to share it with you!

Below I listed a few charities that I find worthy, and the links to their websites:

The Make-A-Wish Foundation:

we all know about make-a-wish. They help grant wishes to terminally ill children.

http://www.wish.org/

Angel Tree:

This is an interesting one. They help provide gifts to children of inmates, and to "transform the lives of these families" It's not something I ever considered, but I think it's a great idea.

http://www.angeltree.org/angeltree-home

Most local churches and food banks have programs where you can donate money or toys to children in need as well.

Disabled American Veterans

http://www.dav.org/

Or your local Veteran's Association

Dreams for Seniors:

Like Make-A-Wish, but for Elderly people

http://dreamsforseniorscharity.org/

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals:

http://www.aspca.org/

American Humane Association:

http://www.americanhumane.org/

or your local Humane Society

Another idea is your local homeless shelter or any Hospital.

I hope this helps. Merry Christmas!

Thanks,

Bethany

Yesterday's "Lets Say Thanks" blog made me think that maybe I should dedicate the Beauty Blog to Inner Beauty from now until Christmas. 

I'm going to give you some suggestions about how you can "give back" this holiday season in order to help you make your insides as beautiful as your exterior. 

Yesterday I suggested the "let's give thanks" program, which literally takes no effort at all. It is a simple click of the mouse.

Today, Im going to suggest something that takes a little more effort, but it just as meaningful and should make you feel just as good.

1. Give up that great parking spot.

When you're out doing your last minute shopping this Christmas Season and you are having a stand off for the second-from-the front spot outside the mall, let the elderly couple, or the woman with 3 kids have it and walk from the end of the parking lot.

Let me tell you a little story directly related to this very subject:

Last weekend a friend and I were leaving the mall. We are parked relatively far away, and we're carrying all of our bags when we hear a "beep" next to us. When I looked to see what the problem was the woman in the SUV was motioning for me to hurry up. It turns out that she wanted our parking space and we weren't getting to it fast enough for her. So much for Christmas cheer right? This totally changed my mood for the rest of the afternoon. As much as we wanted to get in the car and sit there until she drove away just for spite, we didn't. We decided to "Rise Above" and let her have it anyway.

I know you're in a hurry, and you're stressed out, and you have A MILLION things to do, but guess what? So does everyone else, and if people were a little bit more considerate of each other it might make for a much more pleasant experience for everyone.

It may not seem like much to you, but it might make their day.

2. Donate a Toy to a needy child.

You've all seen the collection boxes or been asked at the register of the toy store if you would like to donate a toy or money to a underprivileged child, and most of us just blow it off, for one reason or another. It's so easy to justify it, or to say you don't have the money, but as you're buying the 50th thing for the child in your life to open on Christmas morning think about the children who don't have anything to open.

Would you rather your child have the 10th star wars figurine or toy truck that he's not going to play with or the socks that match the slippers that go with the robe that match the jammies that you got her, or would you rather another child have at least one thing to open? 

I don't think most of us have any idea what a child would feel like if Santa didn't come to their house. I certainly know I don't! 

Be honest, there is at least one person on your christmas list that won't miss a $5 or $10 gift, and if they could give it up to make Christmas for a child, they probably would.

These are just 2 simple ways to make someone else's Christmas brighter and to make your insides just a little prettier, and it requires hardly any effort at all

I hope you choose to take my suggestions. I wish you a Merry Christmas, and a happy and healthy New Year

Thanks,

Bethany

Today I'm focusing on inner beauty, because we all need to slow down and look at the big picture at this time of the year. We are all so caught up in what we have to do, and where we have to go, and what we're going to wear that we loose track of what the season is all about....

Love, hope, and giving.

I received a facebook invitation for the "Lets Say Thanks" Program, and I think this is great!

"Let's Say Thanks" is a program funded by Xerox that sends Thank You cards to the troops in Iraq.

All you have to do is go to: 

http://www.letssaythanks.com ,choose a card (most of them are designed by kids), enter your name and City, and choose a message for the card, then Xerox will print and send the cards FOR FREE!

I work in Administration for a school-age childcare company and I passed this along to all 9 of my centers for the kids to do. It takes 1 minute of your time and it will definitely make the day of a man or woman 6000 miles away who is out there fighting for your freedom.

Lets remind them why they risk their lives for us!

Also, check out the "from the soldiers" section on the left hand side of the website. This is where the soldiers get to write back and say thanks.

No matter what your stand is on the war, these people need and deserve our support and a little touch of home.

Thanks!

Bethany

P.s. If you don't take this quick, easy, FREE opportunity to do something nice for someone else....SHAME ON YOU!

With 2 weeks and 2 days to go until Christmas, it's definitely crunch time and if you're anything like me, you still have ALL of your shopping to do!

Here I will give you gift Ideas for ANY budget, and the best part, they're all from the SAME store, so you can buy for mom, aunts, cousins, girlfriends, and co-workers all at the same time!

Everything listed in the Blog is from Ulta and to make it even more convenient, they have 4 locations in and around Pittsburgh!

The Plaza at the Pointe

15275

North Hills Village Mall

15237

Monroeville Mall 

15146

The Stacks at the Waterfront 

15160

Or shop online at www.ulta.com

Click the link below each item to view it on the ULTA website.

* = my favorite in the group!

Gifts under $5

1. jasmine Labelle Cosmetics 3pc lipgloss ornament set $2.99

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2209065&productId=xlsImpprod1650093&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat80045

2. Jasmine LaBelle Cosmetics 13 piece eyeshadow set $4.99

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2209076&productId=xlsImpprod1650117&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat80045%20cat1090001

*3. Jasmine Labelle's nail kit Gift Set $4.99

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2209070&productId=xlsImpprod1650101&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat80045%20cat1090001

4. ULTA Lipcolor Pallette $4.99

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2209277&productId=xlsImpprod1640743&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat80045%20cat1070003%20cat120283

5. ULTA Smoothie Ornament $4.99

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2210425&productId=xlsImpprod1640703&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat1070003%20cat1090001%20cat120283%20cat120199

5 Gifts under $10

1. Bodycology Shower Gift Set $5.99

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2211602&productId=xlsImpprod1650003&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat1110003

2. Booth's Ginger Sugar Body Scrub $6.49

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2125623&productId=prod2125623&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat110022

3. Jasmine Labelle Cosmetics 85-piece costmetics palete gift set $9.74

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2209060&productId=xlsImpprod1650103&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat80045%20cat1090001

4. Burts Bee's Bee Keeper Tin gift set $9.99

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2212329&productId=xlsImpprod1650167&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat80045

*5. ULTA Bath Mug Gift Set $9.99

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2211470&productId=xlsImpprod1640707&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat1070003%20cat120283%20cat120199

5 gifts under $15

1. Bourjois Purse and Nail Polish Gift $10.00

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2156283&productId=prod210020&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat80068

2. SJ Creations Spa Cosmetic Bag Gift Set $13. 49

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2212033&productId=xlsImpprod1650011&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat1110003

3. Jasmine LaBelle Cosmetics 20 Piece Glam-to-go Beauty Gift Set $14.99

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2209079&productId=xlsImpprod1650111&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat80045%20cat1090001

4. Essie Classic Color Duo French Manicure Polish set $14.00

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2212360&productId=xlsImpprod1690025&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat80045

*5. ULTA Fabulous Lashes Mascara Gift Set $14.99

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2209705&productId=xlsImpprod1640741&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat80045%20cat1070003%20cat1070001%20cat120283

5 Gifts under $20

1. The Smell of Christmas Reeds & Diffuser Set $16.00

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2213837&productId=xlsImpprod1650051&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat100004

2. Essie Polish Mini Gift Set (4pk) $17.00

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2212367&productId=xlsImpprod1650233&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat80045%20cat80006

3. ULTA around the clock Beauty Gift Set $17.99

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2210815&productId=xlsImpprod1640725&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat80045%20cat1070003%20cat1090001%20cat120283

*4. SJ Creations Exclusive Marabou Luxury Slipper Gift Set $18.74

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2212035&productId=xlsImpprod1650013&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat1110003

5. Burts Bee's A Few Favorite Things Gift Set $19.99

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2212334&productId=xlsImpprod1650173&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat1000003

For those of you looking for a more expensive gift:

The have a bunch of Fragrance Gift Sets ranging from $30.00 - $50.00

These include Fragrances by:

Clavin Klein, Elizabeth Arden, Burberry, Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton, DKNY, Clinique, Juicy Couture, Giorgio Armani, Lancome, Stella McCartney, Estee Lauder, Ralph Lauren, Sean John...and more..