Please let us know how your hair experience was with Lucia Gabriela.

All around the world, we encounter cultures who follow the cycle of the moon for different aspects of their life. For example:

• body detoxing
• setting new goals
• releasing bad spirits and energies
• buying a home
• starting a business
• getting married
• starting a family
• losing weight, etc.

For the past 30 years, I have being applying this practice to every aspect of my life. For example, when I get my hair colored and cut, when I plant my bulbs, when I transplant my flowers, when I cut my daughter’s hair, etc.

So how can you benefit from this incredible information?

Following the phases of the moon and the location of the zodiac signs.

Guidelines to using the moon and the zodiac signs in your favor the next time you get your hair done:

To grow your hair faster: Trim the ends of your hair during the new moon and the first phase when the moon energy and light is increasing. Try to get your hair trimmed or cut when the moon is in the house of Scorpio, Cancer, Pisces, Taurus or Capricorn.

To grow your hair thicker and fuller: Trim or cut your hair only during the Full Moon and when the moon is in the house of Scorpio, Cancer, Pisces, Taurus or Capricorn. If you really want to get fuller hair, cut it in the house of Cancer.

To grow your hair slowly: Trim your hair after the full moon, especially in the last phase, and when the moon is in the house of Aries, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius or Gemini.

To thin out your thick hair: Trim it when the moon is in the house of Virgo.

To color your hair: Do permanent, semi-permanent, or highlighting when the moon is in the house of Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Capricorn, Virgo or Libra. You can still color your hair when it is in the house of Gemini or Leo, but it is recommended that you ask for a color glaze at the end to moisten your hair. If you color your hair when the moon is in the house of Sagittarius, Aquarius or Aries, you have to get very deep moisturizer treatments for 30 minutes and weekly treatments at home.

Chemicals Perms or Straighteners: The best time to do them is when the moon is in the house of Cancer and Scorpio. You still can treat your hair with chemical perms and straighteners in the other houses, but avoid doing them when the moon is in the house of Aries, Leo or Sagittarius. Instead apply deep moisturizer treatments with keratin, jojoba oil, argan oil, avocado oil or special oils with omegas and vitamins.

Avoid doing anything with your hair in the Moon Void of Course. This is the time your hair needs to rest.

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I have been working in the field for many years, and I am a professional with an open mind. I am also very conscious of my surroundings. I have experienced great results by applying some of these simple guidelines to achieving beautiful hair. I have also used the moon and the zodiac with cosmetic clients and in other areas of beauty. If you have any questions or would like to experience a change in your beauty quest, contact me for a free consultation.

Feature Image Picture by www.free-candle-spells.com

There are a lot of ways to control and make hair work in our favor. One of them could be a clean ponytail, right? Well, that is not always practical!

Expensive deep moisturizers and anti-frizz styling products can control some percentage, but even the most expensive ones will not do it all. I have been using Moroccan Oil and the Essential Oils from Alfa-Parf. They do help a lot, but still for those real humid or hot days they are not the panacea.

You may see different types of permanent or temporary anti-frizz relaxers and straightener products that will claim to eliminate up to 90% of the frizz everywhere. Out of so many choices, which one is good for your hair? It depends on various things:

• hair texture
• goals
• how often you get your hair done
• regrowth or lack of regrowth
• days before washing
• after treatment conditioners
• after treatment care
• budget

I have worked with:

• Free-formaldehyde
• Keratin Straightening
• Keratin Straightening with 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.03% formaldehyde
• Caribbean Dream Relaxer (a permanent anti-frizz straightener, relaxer, and soft wave relaxer without harsh and toxic chemicals and smells)

I am adding to my services the organic free-formaldehyde, Keratin. Every product in the market will achieve different results. It all depends on your needs and expectations and who is performing the work on your hair. As a client, you have to learn not just what the products do but also the different factors that affect the outcome and how long the treatment will last.

Let me explain what happened last year in this industry and to clients’ expectations, thanks to a huge factor that a lot people don’t know about. Products like Keratin Straightening were well-tested and even endured maximum capacity in the hottest summer in history, where temperatures reached 105% last year. Even products like the Japanese Straightener, permanent relaxers and Caribbean Straightener were all tested at full capacity.

We have to recognize that each person’s hair is different and responds uniquely, and a person’s response to a particular product is based upon his or her own personal experience and preferences.

Let me give a clear example. Let’s say:

• Client A has light, fine, virgin and wavy hair.
• Client B has heavy, fine, virgin and wavy hair.
• Client C has thick, single process colored and wavy hair.
• Client D has thick, high-lighted and wavy hair.
• Client E has thick, virgin and curly hair.
• Client F has thick, virgin and very curly-kinky hair.
• Client G has thick, single-process colored and very curly-kinky hair.

Well, you get the concept. Do you think that everyone is going to have the same results with the same product, for example, the Keratin? Of course not! And let’s also imagine for a moment that they all received the exact results requested. Their response will also depend on how they perceive the results. You got that right! Everyone’s hair is totally different, so the results will be different.

Now, on top of all those different factors, let’s add the WEATHER! Let’s also factor in which products were used and who treated your hair.

Since the Keratin and other products have been put in the professional beauty market, they were not put in at their maximum capacity and tested for frizz-control. The summer of 2010 was the “test” year.

2010 was one of the hottest summers in history.

Now, if we take every single type of client and put them through every hot summer since 1980, do you think that the results of humidity and frizz control will be the same each summer year and for each client? You got that right! Absolutely NOT!

Now, what do you think this summer is going to be? After having a harsh and long winter, I predict that it will be another humid, rainy and hot summer. Maybe an Indian Summer. It is just the way Yin-Yang works. The planet will need to ultimately balance out the weather. Let’s see how it goes. I hope that we have a splendid summer because I don’t have air conditioner in my house!

OK, so now you’ve gotten the point. What can you do to get the best out of the keratin or other services? If you get the Keratin Straightening without formaldehyde, I suggest getting it done every 10 weeks to build the keratin in your hair. Remember no formaldehyde in the product is like giving a super great keratin treatment to your hair without any side effects. One of the new options that I am providing to my clients is an organic formaldehyde-free keratin. So far the feedback has been great. I have yet to test it on a hot day. I will update you with the results.

If you get the Keratin with formaldehyde, get it done every 12 to 16 weeks. I suggest not waiting any longer than that time interval. You will be grateful when that super hot, humid day and stream rolls around. Remember, you need to build keratin in your hair to endure the heat and humid conditions.

If you want to be clever, get your keratin services in the spring, once during summer and depending on your hair, a final time in the fall. If you do that, your hair will stand great on those “bad hair days” for others. And you will have vibrant hair that endures, saving you time and money.

If you get the Caribbean, Japanese or any other chemical straightening, do it in the spring and summer. Also, with some services like regular relaxers or Japanese straightening, you will need to get a deep intense treatment every 3 weeks because of the harsh chemicals they use for those services.

The Caribbean straightening is great. The hair still looks and feel alive after the services are done, in comparison with other services.

Summer 2011 is on the way and let’s make sure YOU are ready for it!

If you have any question you can request a free consultation for any of my services.

Our skin is the largest organ in our body, so it should be very important to take care of it properly. Chlorine causes many problems to our internal and external organs like skin and hair.

The skin gets very dry and lacks its natural moisture. The hair gets very brittle, frizzy, dry and lacks shine. Using a chlorine, fluoride and mineral filter in the shower will not only improve your health, but you will also see an immediate and major improvement in your skin and hair! If cold showers damage you, imagine the damage that you get from hot showers and the chloride steam that penetrates your lungs and pores. Yeah, you got that right. It is very toxic and dangerous!

And even worse, that long, hot shower or bath is actually making the situation considerably unhealthier, because heating releases the chlorine from the water stream itself, and it proceeds to surround us in a cloud of highly caustic, concentrated poison gas that we breathe the entire time. Moist air also travels through your home, so everyone else in the house gets to breathe it too – your friends, your kids, your dog and your canary.

Health risks of showering in unfiltered, chlorinated water include asthma, pulmonary edema, breast and bladder cancer, premature aging, skin infections (because chlorine kills the beneficial organisms our skin needs to stay healthy), dry hair, fatigue, birth defects and more. In fact, showering in chlorinated water is as damaging and aging to your skin as overexposure to sunlight. Chlorine can even make your eye conditions worse, burning your retina and causing tearing and irritation.
Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/030905_shower_filters_water_quality.html#ixzz1CFmCIvOR

Because the hair is able to preserve its natural moisturizing oils, it becomes softer and healthier when chlorine is removed from shower water. When the body is able to retain its natural moisturizers, the need for costly lotions and moisturizers is greatly reduced.

To learn more: http://www.allaboutwater.org/wholehousewaterfilter.html

I highly recommend getting shower filters. You will see the difference in your whole body in a short period of time. Color, Straightening and Keratin clients will get the benefit of longer-lasting treatments. Everyone will get the benefit of saving money in expensive products to treat their hair and skin. YOU WILL NOT JUST SAVE MONEY LONG-TERM BUT YOUR HEALTH WILL ALSO BENEFIT!!!

The Caribbean Dream Relaxer and Retexturizing System was created to work with naturally curly hair only. Now you can choose 4 different textures to create the hair you always dreamed of.

No Formaldehyde, No Aldehyde, No Ether, No Peroxide,
No Lye, No Harmful Thio, “No Brainer!”

Retexturizing System for
Waves
Frizz Killer/Hair Tamer
and Relaxer

The Keratin Treatment is an innovative process that transforms the hair in its entirety. The treatment is keratin-based. Keratin is the primary protein of the skin, hair and nails. This natural substance gives hair its ability to return to its original healthy, shiny and smooth state.

Unlike other products available on the market, such as relaxers or the Japanese Thermal Conditioning, the Keratin Treatment straightens the hair without damaging or changing its texture. This treatment can be used for all hair types, including chemically treated hair (ie, colored, permed, relaxed, highlighted and bleached hair).

The Keratin Treatment is also known as the Brazilian Keratin Treatment, Brazilian Straightening System, Progressive Straightening, Brazilian Blowout Escova Progressiva, Keratin Straightening, and other names.

The application process lasts anywhere from 1.5 to 4 hours depending on the length and thickness of the hair. After the product is applied, it is sealed with a hot iron which traps moisture, hydrates the hair and creates a glossy finish. Results are visible immediately after treatment is completed, and clients are amazed. Hair looks healthy and youthful, and it resembles children’s hair.

Taking care of the hair after the Keratin Treatment is effortless. The amount of time required to style the hair will decrease dramatically, in some cases it’s wash and go. Other cases require some blow drying and minimum styling time. This treatment restores hair resiliency; humidity, rain or sweat will no longer affect the hairstyle. No more frizzy hair!

The results last two to four months; the treatment fades progressively as hair is washed. As clients repeat the treatment every few months or so, they will be able to observe the improved quality of hair grown after the Keratin Treatment.

This revolutionary process was developed in Brazil, and is now available in the US and other markets in North America, Latin America and Europe.

What you should know more in detail about this treatment

Brazilian Keratin Hair Straightening or treatment is an intense treatment that softens, smoothes, controls, eliminates frizz, adds shine and most importantly, gives protein back to your hair while relaxing it. It does not use any strong chemicals to open and close the hair cuticle in an effort to straighten it, interfering with the structure of the hair shaft.

Keratin is a natural protein that comprises approximately 88% of your hair. The Brazilian treatment penetrates the hair, repairing internal damage, and coats the hair, preventing further damage. The treatment is keratin-based and is high in sulfur and the amino acid, cystine, making it tough, elastic and insoluble. These qualities are fundamental to the strong structural role keratin often plays in nature. Keratin is a major component of horns, hooves and wool. In fact, keratin is the main protective substance in our hair, skin and nails. This is not a permanent straightening but a natural treatment. Therefore when the product is gone, your hair will go back to its natural form.

Who can get this treatment?

It’s recommended for all types of hair: virgin, colored, highlighted, previously straightened, kinky, curly, and wavy hair. The wonderful part about this treatment is that it lasts for a long time. You can expect up to 3-4 solid months of beautiful smooth and straight hair. It can be used over any kind of straightening, and it works better over colored or chemically treated hair. You can go into the pool or ocean 4 days after this treatment. It will remain in virgin hair for 2 months, and any other type of hair for 3-4 months. I now carry the 24 hours formula, so no more waiting!!!

What about formaldehyde?

If you are concerned about formaldehyde, the product itself is almost all pure keratin and formaldehyde is only a very small percentage of it. The FDA approved 3% formaldehyde; the higher the percentage, the smoother and straighter the hair. After all the controversy, companies still carry from 0.5% to 3% .

Keratin Straightening will relax and straighten your hair, while maintaining its natural body.

The difference between formaldehyde (various percentages) and formaldehyde-free is how much the curl is relaxed. The higher the percentage of formaldehyde, the softer and more relaxed the curl.

There are two types of melanin, eumelanin and pheomelanin which are found in various ratios in each individual hair strand.

• Eumelanin are oval-shaped dark granules that range in color from brown to black and are insoluble in solvents, resistant to chemical treatment, and have a complicated chemical structure. Darker levels of hair have a higher concentration of eumelanin.
• Pheomelanin are diffused small particles that range in color from red to yellow. Their shape is different from eumelanin and they are more soluble. Pheomelanin usually occurs in lighter shades of hair, making light hair easier to lighten.
• Gray, white or non-pigmented hair is considered by many to be the same, although there are subtle differences. Gray hair is a gradual loss of pigment in the hair resulting from a decrease in melanin production. The hair appears to have an absence of pigment, but it is not completely devoid of melanin. In white hair, melanin may be completely absent or dormant.

Keratin, the building material for hair, belongs to the largest group of proteins known as polypeptides. The smallest components of polypeptides are the various amino acids. Skin, cartilage, feathers, nails, claws, and silk consist mainly of polypeptides. One group of polypeptides are the fibrous proteins. Some of these are collagen and keratin. To date, approximately 24 amino acids have been identified in the composition of proteins.

In the composition of hair, the proportional content of individual amino acids in the helix (fiber) is very different from that in the matrix (filler).

Amino acids combine with proteins in a unique way, forming chains. The amino acids are inter-connected by short links (amide link) with the rest of their structure projected to the side.

For example (R) is one of the 17 different residual amino acids.

The illustration is a schematic diagram of the cross-links forming the residual structures. These cross-links determine the spatial structure of the polypeptide chains.

The alpha helix is a polypeptide chain. It has been shown that the alpha helix is wound into a right-handed spiral.

Several of the helical spirals are wound as a protofibril. The cross-links (see the previous illustration) operate within the helix, but more especially between the chains and the matrix.

The filler substance itself also has strong cross-links. These links and chemical influences are of crucial importance in the permanent wave process.

The protofibrils are connected to a single multi strand cable known as the microfibril.
Hundreds of microfibrils form an irregular bundle of fibers, the macrofibril. The cable strand (fiber strand) is made up of many macrofibrils. The hair shaft, in turn, is made up of these cable strands.
The medullary (or medullar) channel containing the medulla is located at the center of the hair shaft. Its structure has not been fully identified as yet. What is known is that the medullary channel is partially filled with a spongy horn-like substance displaying sizeable cavities in places. The space in between the fibrils (cable strands) and the scale layer (cuticle) is filled with matrix (filler substance). This filler substance consists of proteins, not in the form of helical spirals, but in the form of amorphous (shapeless) substance.

The hair shaft is surrounded by the cuticle (scale layer). This consists of numerous scale layers (up to 10), positioned on top of each other with their edges always pointing towards the end of the hair. Filler substance is located even between the scale layers, holding the individual scale layers together. The proportion of filler material has been enlarged in the diagram.

We split a hair open in order to examine its internal structure.
Examining the hair by cutting a cross-section is prevented by the filler substance (matrix). Its characteristic plasticity is not altered, even at a temperature of – 273 °C.

The action of cutting a cross-section produces a spreading effect, blurring the fine definition of the internal structure of the hair.

Magnification x 20.000 clearly shows the coarse composition of the hair structure.

Together, the cable strand bundles from the fibrous core. This is surrounded by several layers of scale.

The hair is held together by means of the filler substance, which determines the elasticity of the hair.

A longitudinal section through the hair shows the medullary channel. The medullary channel is not present in each hair, or sometimes only partially present. (In terms of cosmetics and treatments for hair, the medullary channel is insignificant.)

There are three main reasons to get highlights: 1) to control red or orange undertones in dark brown to light brown hair, especially when you want to go lighter and be in the golden family. 2) to get a brighter and softer look around your face. 3) to get a chic, fun and cool look.

There are so many colors, tones and shades of highlights:

For blondes there are colors that go from yellow undertones to white/ash undertones, for example, honey, butter, beige and platinum.

For brunettes there are colors that go from orange undertones to yellow undertones, for example, dark caramel, light caramel, chestnut and auburn.

For redheads there are colors that go from violet undertones to yellow undertones, for example, wine, eggplant, auburn, marigold, honey, light caramel, and strawberry blond.

There are different looks:

Chunky highlights for long hair are OUT. For short hair they are still IN, depending on the haircut and style.

Pieces highlights are thin than rather than chunky. Pieces looks good on short hair with layers, medium length with layers, and long hair with layers; the layers are the key. Pieces add dimension and contrast to the hair. It is very important to know how to style your hair with these highlights.

Natural or blended highlights are very fine; they look like sun-kisses. These types of highlights are for customers that like very natural looks.

How often you should do it?

I recommend touching up every 10 to 14 weeks. If you do it too soon, your hair will become too dry, porous and broken. If you leave a long time in-between, there is a chance that your colorist won’t be able to pick up the same pieces, and the original highlights will get lost.

Every time you get highlights, ask for a reconstructive or protein treatment to balance the pH of the hair and prevent damage and frizz. The hair texture of you hair is going to take from 2 to 4 weeks to recover and go back to its normal shape. Remember that this time is very critical; the way you take care of your hair now is going to affect the condition of it later.

Perform moisturizing treatments at home twice a week with products rich in protein, Vitamin E, enzymes, and aloe. Use products like Logics DNA and Phyto Organics. Do not over-blow, use a dry/curling iron, or flat-iron your hair. Do cool rinse after shampoo. Do not use products that have a lot alcohol in them. Give your hair time to heal.