Women and Pensions: What Women need to know and do by: Cindy Morus

While all workers need to save more for retirement, women face additional challenges because they have lower earnings, experience higher job turnover, step out of the work force to take care of children and/or parents and are employed in industries with low or no pension coverage. Women need to save at least 12% of their pay. This would include any retirement account contributions made before you get your check (such as 401k, 403b or deferred compensation). Your best savings vehicle is a tax-deferred account such as a 401k, 403b, IRA, SEP or Roth IRA because your earnings are sheltered from taxes until you retire. OR in the case of Roth IRA's you'll never have to pay taxes on your earnings because you paid taxes on the money before it was contributed to the account. Check with your tax preparer to see which retirement options are best for your situation. Just remember to "save early and often"! * Does your employer have a pension plan? Employers are not required to have a pension plan. You need to find out from your employer if a plan is offered. * Do you know what type of plan it is? There are two basic types of pension plans. A traditional plan promises a specified pension benefit at retirement usually based on the years you worked and your salary. A defined contribution plan, such as a "401(k) or 403(b) plan," maintains separate accounts for each person and retirement benefits are based on the amount in your account. These names come from the portion of the tax code that describes them. * Are you included in the plan? Pension plans do not have to include every worker. Some jobs may be excluded from the plan and part-time workers may not be covered. Check with your plan administrator (the person running the plan), personnel office or union representative to make sure that you are a plan member or to find out how to become one. * Have you worked long enough to earn a pension? Generally you must work five years under a plan to qualify for benefits, although some types of plans still require ten years of work to earn a benefit. Some plans require less than five years. Ask the person running your plan for a summary plan description which describes the plan and its requirements. * Do you know how much your pension will be? The summary plan description should tell you how your benefit will be calculated. Your employer may give you or you may request an individual benefit statement showing the value of your pension benefit. The individual benefit statement should show the benefits you have actually earned to date and a projection of your benefit at retirement. * Do you know what happens to your pension if you retire early? If your traditional plan allows you to collect pension benefits before "normal" retirement age (65 in many plans) your benefit may be reduced since you will be getting benefits for a longer period of time. * Do you know what happens to your pension if you change jobs? If you have not worked long enough to qualify for benefits, you will lose your pension. If you qualify for benefits, some plans will keep your pension until you reach retirement age. Others will allow you to take your money out in a lump sum. If you take the money, you will have to pay a tax penalty unless you roll the money over into another pension plan or IRA. * Do you know what happens to a pension if you or your spouse dies? In a traditional private pension plan, you may be entitled to receive a benefit from your spouse's plan when he dies. This "survivor" benefit is automatic unless both spouses agree, in writing, to give it up. If you are in a government plan or a defined contribution plan the rules may be different. * Is your pension insured? Most traditional company and union pension plans are insured by the federal government through the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). PBGC pays benefits up to a maximum guarantee if plans fall short. Plans where you have an individual account and government plans are not insured. * Do you have pension information from all your jobs? If you earned a pension at a previous job, contact the plan to get information on your benefit. Also, when you apply for Social Security, you can find out what private sector pension benefits you may have earned. Finally, contact PBGC for help in locating your benefits from a private sector plan that no longer exists. Be sure to keep all employment and pension-related records with other important papers. * Do you know what benefits your spouse's plan provides? If you are a beneficiary under your spouse's pension plan, you may request a copy of a summary plan description from the plan administrator (generally the employer) which describes the plan, your rights under the plan, and whether survivor annuities or other death benefits are provided under the plan. You may also make a written request for copies of plan documents and a statement describing your spouse's vested benefits under the plan. There may be a charge for the information and your request may have to be in writing. * Are you entitled to a portion of your spouse's pension benefit if you get divorced? As part of a divorce or legal separation, you may be able to obtain rights to a portion of your spouse's pension benefit (or he may be able to obtain a portion of yours). In a private plan, this is done using a "qualified domestic relations order" (QDRO) issued by the court. You or your attorney should consult with the administrator of your spouse's plan to determine what requirements the QDRO needs to meet. * Do you know the Social Security benefits to which you may be entitled? Your Social Security benefits will be based on your earnings during your working career. You may also be entitled to benefits as a spouse, ex-spouse, or widow based on your spouse's earnings. Periodically, you should verify that your earnings on file with the Social Security Administration are correct. * Can my pension benefits be reduced by Social Security or other government payments? Some pension plans offset a portion of your benefit by some of the amount you receive under Social Security. Likewise, if you or your spouse have a government pension, it may affect the amount of your Social Security benefits. Your plan administrator will be able to advise you. * Do you know how you can save for retirement if you do not have a pension plan? Anyone with earned income can put money into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Or, if you are self-employed, you can establish a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) or "Keogh" plan. About the author: Cindy S. Morus (www.phelps-creek.com) is a Certified Financial Recovery Counselor specializing in showing women and their families how to achieve financial well-being and peace of mind. She is also a Certified Credit Report Reviewer and Get Clients NOW!™ licensee. Contact her at 541-387-2995 or cmorus@phelps-creek.com She is also the publisher and editor of "Financial Fitness", an internet gazette dedicated to helping people improve their financial fitness no matter what decisions were made in the past.

The Asian-Themed Wedding by: Blake Kritzberg

Asian-themed weddings are on the rise. At first this might come as a surprise. After all, nothing could seem further from the Laura Ashley vision we summon for the word, “wedding.” And in fact, that’s one of the forces behind the popularity of the Asian-themed wedding: how it turns things upside down. In fact, in a Chinese wedding, white is bad (it’s the color of death), and red and black are good (they’re the colors of luck and prosperity). You might wonder whether brides that plan Asian-themed weddings are Asian themselves (or marrying someone who is). Sometimes! Surprisingly often, they aren’t, and the choice is aesthetic. Today’s trends break down into two main types of Asian weddings: the Japanese or "Zen" style, which values simplicity and nature, and the more riotous Chinese style, which bristles with bright colors and shiny fabrics. Although either choice may surprise your older guests, you may find a deep expression of personal values in an Asian-themed wedding. After all, the usual wedding is a type of pageant: the couple pretends to be royalty for a day, and lavishly entertains a large party —while racking up the debt. But brides drawn to the Zen-style ceremony sometimes want to avoid the pageant, and simplify the ceremony (ironically, this can result in greater elegance for the price tag). This type of bride might read "voluntary simplicity" books, ponder the environment, enjoy an uncluttered house or apartment with a handful of Japanese accents (Shoji lanterns and screens, for example), or find herself attracted to natural materials. She might feel freed by a simpler wedding gown, and carry an unfussy bouquet of calla lilies. Her centerpieces might be lanterns surrounded by black and white stones. For favors, she might give out fortune cookies placed in take-out boxes and topped off with chopsticks. Other brides find aspects of the western tradition stifling, so they mix up their ceremony with Chinese zest. This bride might dress her bridesmaids in glowing red (or slinky black) Cheongsams, dresses with high collars and slit sides. She'll hand them parasols instead of nosegays, and pass out chopsticks for their hair. Her own gown might be of gorgeous brocade in red, orange or gold. Perhaps she'll wrap up the ceremony with a butterfly release and hand out lucky bamboo stalks as wedding favors. This bride doesn’t mind charting her own course in social affairs, and she loves the Chinese devotion to parents and children. In either case, the Asian-themed wedding may be a great way to tie your ceremony to some very personal values. Perhaps the thought of one crossed your mind, but you thought you had to be Asian! Don't worry: Asian traditions and trends have gone deep into parts of American culture since the 1960s. So maybe it's time to ask yourself: which type of Asian bride are you? About the author: Blake Kritzberg is the proprietor of "Wedding Favor Ideas". Stop by for wedding favor ideas, Save-the-Date eCards, and a free wedding screensaver, plus reviews of all major wedding planning software titles: http://www.favorideas.com

Synthetic Hair Extensions Create Choice Hair Styles for Fashion and Hair Loss Clients by: Perriann Rodriguez

Synthetic Fiber Hair Extensions Create Choice Hair Styles for Hair Loss and Fashion Clients By Perriann Rodriguez From the beginning of time, women have cared for their hair. As far back as 4000-300 B.C. Egyptian women and even men are shown with various wigs and elaborate hair styles. Hair is a contributing factor to ones confidence and serenity. Our culture strongly identifies femininity with a thick, lustrous head of hair. Images of full bodied, shining hair are synonymous with female attributes, sexuality, desirability and vigor. Thinning, dry, lusterless hair is identified with illness, old age, and poverty. Every generation goes thru more and more transformations and capitalizes on current trends of Hair Styles. The big Hair Style trend these days is in full swing in Europe and is just starting to spread in the United States. It is the trend of Hair Extensions. Hair extensions involve the attachment of human or synthetic hair to your existing hair to create a more full or long look immediately. Hair extensions can add instant body, length to your look and can also help with hair thinning and hair loss situations. There are many different methods of hair extensions on the market today, some good, some not so good. Mark Sharp, co-founder and creative director of Mark Glenn Hair Enhancement of London, England and Glenn Kinsey, co-founder and managing director have taken revolutionary steps in developing a fiber hair extension method that not only doesn’t damage the existing hair but can even improve the condition of the hair. They have transformed the lives of women who suffer from varying degrees of hair loss caused by conditions such as alopecia, trichotillomania, genetic factors, stress and post-operative trauma. The Mark Glenn extensions, commonly known as MG extensions, use no glues, bonding solutions, threads, weaves, injections, and nothing is stuck on the head. They are attached using a very fine braid. A small section of existing hair is split into two. The fiber hair is also split into two to make the braid and is finally wrapped around the base of the hair, protecting it. The fiber is then "sealed on itself" using a heat tool (which is no hotter than a typical pair of curling tongs or crimpers). This creates a tiny plastic seal. It's important to point out that during this process, your own hair is safely "cocooned" inside the fiber so it doesn't come into direct contact with any heat. Therefore, your own hair stays in perfect condition. For hair loss or thinning problems, the extensions are applied with non-allergic mesh and the fiber hair is woven thru the mesh to create the look. Glenn Kinsey of Mark Glenn Hair Enhancement has joined us today for a brief question and answer session on their fiber hair extensions. Welcome Glenn and thank you for joining us today! We have a few questions for you about your wonderful hair extensions. Question: I understand that you and Mark have previously worked with human hair extensions. Why did you switch to synthetic fiber extensions? Answer: Several reasons: 1. Weight - human hair is twice the weight of fiber and therefore feels “heavy” on the head – at its worst, this increased weight and stress on the hair can cause “traction alopecia”. In addition, human hair is porous – it soaks up water – which can significantly increase the weight when wet. 2. Tangle – human hair tends to “matt” and “tangle” – this is because the surface of human hair has little “spines” on it, that look like roof tiles under a microscope. Because this “alien” hair isn’t being conditioned by the natural oils that condition your own hair, these “spines” tend to “stick out” and tangle up with the other hairs on your head. Consequently, you do need to use quite intensive conditioners to keep the hair in good condition. Fiber, however, has a smooth surface and therefore is less likely to tangle. 3. Glue - human hair extensions are typically applied with glue and removed with acetone – a recipe for damage, the results of which we regularly see in our studio. Our method doesn’t use any chemicals. 4. Colour match - a stylist using human hair would typically take a swatch of the client’s hair and send it to a human hair supplier who would then pick the closest colour from a specific range. We actually colour-blend our hair with the client in front of us – taking into account all the different subtle shade shifts that may exist in their hair – to get an absolutely perfect match 5. Ethics – there’s a great deal of mystery surrounding the origins of human hair used in extensions and it’s very difficult to track the exact source. A common source for top quality hair is from female Russian prisoners, for example 6. Look and feel – fiber looks and feels just like real hair but is much kinder to the hair and is much easier to style and take care of. Question: What percentage of your clients gets hair extensions for hair loss issues versus fashion? Answer: The split is approximately 50/50 Question: You have developed your own branded method (MG extensions) for applying fiber extensions. What is unique about your method in comparison to other methods available? Do you plan to patent your application method? Answer: We have a proprietary technique for working with female hair loss, for which clients visit us from all over the world. For fashion purposes, we’ve amalgamated several different methods and added our own unique adaptations to create a technique that creates a beautiful look Question: Why do you feel that fiber extensions are superior to human hair extensions? Could you apply human hair extensions using your method if a client really preferred human hair? Answer: See above. Apart from using pliers and a metal clip (which is great fun through airport metal detectors and very uncomfortable when you lay your head on a pillow!) the only way to apply human hair is with glue. Question: What training and education is involved for stylists doing MG extensions? Answer We work in teams of two people – a “lead” and an “assist”. Team members start out as an “assist” and then, after about 12 to 24 months, progress up to a “lead”. “Leads” are the ones that direct the work. Our training is very intensive and “on the job” to allow team members to experience the bewildering array of both styles and techniques, as well as the differing types of hair loss they may encounter. Question: What are the legal requirements in England for doing hair extensions?Answer: Sadly, there are no specific legal requirements for hair extensions over and above those for a normal hair salon. Question: What are the minimum requirements for someone wanting hair extensions? Length of hair? Stable hair loss? Have you turned down clients for hair extensions and why? Answer: We regularly turn away clients no matter how much they want hair extensions, if we don’t think it’s going to look sensational! For fashion work, the main reason is length of existing hair – for the best results, the clients hair needs to be at least 4 to 6 inches long. This is because you need existing hair to conceal where the extensions are attached. For our clients with hair loss, there can be a whole range of reasons, from too little existing hair to hair loss that hasn’t “stabilized”. Question: There are some hair extensionists that don’t recommend getting fiber extensions because of esthetic reasons. Can you describe the quality of the fiber hair, where it is made and why these recommendations are not valid? Answer: We only use a beautiful, hand-made fiber that is absolutely undetectable from the real thing in look, feel and behavior. It’s actually more expensive than some human hair! Cheap fiber is truly awful, akin to “Barbie-doll” hair. You only tend to spot bad extensions – we pride ourselves on the fact that, in general, no-one even suspects our clients have extensions and we have a large number of celebrity clients that, in some cases, even the media haven’t spotted that their hair isn’t their own! Question: You mention on your website, http://www.markglenn.com that the fiber extensions do not damage your hair and can even improve the condition of your hair. Can you explain how they can improve the condition of your hair? Answer: First of all, we don’t use any chemicals. Secondly, your own hair is “cocooned” and protected inside the extension and continues to grow as normal. Thirdly, when the extensions are removed, they just slide off your hair leaving no mess or residue. Because your hair has been protected in this way over a few months, the condition of your own hair often improves. Question: What is the maintenance schedule for fashion and hair loss fiber extensions? What happens if you do not follow the maintenance schedule?Answer: For fashion, you’d need to either remove the extensions after three months or have them removed and replaced. Initially, the extensions are attached at the base of your hair. However, your hair will grow at around half an inch a month so the extensions start to grow down your own hair. If you leave it longer than 3 months, there’s a risk that the newly grown hair above the extension may start to matt and tangle and, in the worst-case scenario, dreadlock. For hair loss, the particular technique we use demands that clients visit us every six weeks for similar reasons – the “mesh” can start to feel a little loose if it’s left for much longer than 6 weeks. Question: If someone has very thick hair and wants only to lengthen it, why wouldn’t you just apply the extensions to the ends of the hair, instead of at the roots? Answer: Because you’d see a “bump” where the extension is attached. Question: Can you treat fiber extensions the same as your own hair? I.E. shampooing, conditioning, curling, brushing, etc Answer: Yes – wash it as normal, blow dry, curl, condition, brush – just like the real thing. And because the fiber is actually non-porous, you don’t need to use expensive products on the hair, e.g. conditioners, because they’ll have no effect on the extension hair itself. The only thing you have to avoid is direct, sustained heat e.g. hot-iron straighteners etc. Rollers etc. are fine. Question: Are there any restrictions? Can you color or perm the fibre extensions?Answer: You can’t perm the extensions but you wouldn’t need to – you can achieve the same look using rollers, for instance. Colour has no effect on the extension hair, again, because it’s non-porous. This is great for clients who continue to have their “roots” done, in the knowledge that the colour won’t affect the extension hair. Question: On an annual basis, what would a typical client pay for Fashion and Hair Loss Fiber extensions including maintenance schedules? Are the majority of the costs associated with cost of the materials or the labor? Answer: Costs do vary from head to head and style to style. Since we have two people working on a client’s head at the same time, cost is predominantly based on the amount of time it takes with each particular client. On average, a fashion client would pay around GBP Ł1,500.00 per year and a hair loss client, around twice as much. And bear in mind that you don’t need to visit a hairdresser since we take care of all this during appointments. Question: Your Hair Loss fiber extensions qualify for funding from medical plans in England. Did you have to go thru a certification process for this funding? Have any of your clients outside England received payment from medical plans in their country?Answer: Because of the way the UK health system works (which is funded by the Government) it very much depends on the attitude of local health authorities rather than a specific “test”. Some health authorities are happy to fund their patients, whereas others are not, preferring the cheaper option of providing wigs. We’ve yet to have someone from outside the UK who’s funded by a health plan etc. Question: Do you plan to offer training to stylists outside your salon so that other salons in the world can offer MG Extensions? Answer: Not at present, although it’s something we may consider in the future. Question: Are there reputable salons in the US that you would recommend? Answer: Since the majority of our techniques were developed in-house and are therefore unique to us, it’s unlikely you’d find anyone locally who does things in quite the same way. The fact that, currently, we have clients that visit us from 14 different countries, seems to confirm this. I so wish I could recommend others, but we simply haven’t yet come across anyone who provides a similar result to a similar standard Thank you very much Glenn for your valuable input!! For additional information about Mark Glenn Hair Extensions, visit their website located at http://markglenn.com About the author: Perriann Rodriguez is the founder of www.hairresources.comand has published hundreds of articles in magazines, newspapers and trade journals. She is listed in the US Register of American Writers and the 2004 Who's Who of Executives and Professionals

Laser Hair Removal: Your Choice? by: Noel Matthew

If you have heard all the facts about laser hair removal, you already know your answer to that question. But, although it is heavily advertised, most people actually do not know all that much about laser hair removal. But, this is okay because you can find quite a bit of the information you need to make a decision on it right here on the web. Laser hair removal works by targeting the dark material on the skin. There are many more facts that you need to know though, before you can make a decision. How It Works How does it work? Laser hair removal works through a light wavelength that targets these dark colored materials on your skin. This is usually the pigment of the hair. It works through a hand held device that targets these areas and removes hair from them. It works the best on those with fair colored skin and dark colored hair. The darker the skin’s pigment the more difficult the procedure of laser hair removal will work on you. What To Know Although laser hair removal has been around for a long time, it has only been used commercially for a handful of years. In that time period, many have found great success with this process. But, the hair removal is not always permanent. Hair that does come back can be lighter in color in some people. For others, it does remain gone. Laser hair removal is quite expensive as well. Problems With Laser Hair Removal When used properly, there are few problems, medically speaking, that can occur during laser hair removal. Yet, many people complain that it is a painful process. You will not be given any medication, as the pain isn’t horrible, but it is uncomfortable. Also, if done wrong, laser hair removal can cause a number of issues such as burns, skin that is discolored for months at a time, lesions, and patchy hair regrowth. About the author: For more information please see http://www.laser-hair-removal-help.co.uk

Laser Hair Removal: A Basic Understanding by: Kathlene Capelle

Laser hair removal is one of the newest cosmetic procedures available today. The process is to permanently remove hair from any part of your body that you wish by the use of a light at a designated wavelength, which is projected into the skin by way of a laser hand held instrument. What the laser accomplishes, after it's reached into the interior of the skin, is to focus on the hair's pigment. The laser destroys the follicle of the hair but does not damage the remaining hair tissue around it. While laser hair removal can be quite effective and has been so for many, it is new, and, as compared with older hair removal treatments, relatively untested. What this means is that we really don't know yet just how safe or unsafe it might be and the potential for side effects. The other issue with the newness of this laser hair removal process is that no one has used it for long enough to have continuity of statistics that would indicate the rate of response to the laser hair removal treatment and the rate at which the hair grows back after each laser hair removal treatment. Two of the most important elements to consider in qualifying potential laser hair removal candidates are skin color and hair color. 1. Skin Colour. Light skin makes laser hair removal easier to perform. Due to the lighter pigmentation, the laser hair removal results happen more quickly. Fewer treatments are required, and better, faster results are obtained. People with darker skin can be treated, but results are slower. They just have to be content with the knowledge that it will take longer to see results and a greater number of treatments are probably going to be needed. 2. Hair Colour. Laser hair removal works best on dark hair. The reason for the difference is the pigment pheomelanin, which is found only in red or blonde hair. It is very hard for a laser to penetrate pheomelanin. On the other hand, the laser goes easily through eumelanin, the pigment found in black and brown hair. Treatment costs can add up to more than $1,000 as multiple treatment sessions may be necessary to obtain optimal results. This is largely due to the fact that laser hair removal is most effective for hair which is in the anagen phase (the growth phase). Since hair grows in cycles, not all of the hairs are in the anagen phase at any given time. Thus, more sessions are necessary to target hairs while they are in anagen. How much and how long an individual respond to complete hair removal by laser hair removal differ from case to case. So, no hair removal clinics can guarantee 100% permanent results by a certain period. Consumers are nevertheless well advised, to consult with licensed professional and reputable laser hair removal centers. About the author: Kathlene Capelle is a writer for beauty tips and advice. She believes in harnessing one’s inner and outer beauty for self confidence and achievement to the fullest potential. For more articles, tips and resources, please visit her site at http://www.Hair-Removal-Central.com

Hair Replacement And Restoration Techniques by: David Riewe

There has been a great deal of progress in the field of hair replacement and restoration in the past few years. Surgical techniques have improved greatly from the days when hair replacement first began. All hair replacement techniques involve the use of your own hair; therefore, hair replacement candidates must have some healthy hair, usually at the back and sides of the head. The process is a relatively safe procedure when performed by a qualified surgeon, however as with any surgery there are risks. Candidates must be checked for uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood-clotting problems, or skin that scars excessively, as these conditions may make healing difficult. Small pieces of hair growing scalp grafts are removed from areas of the scalp with healthy hair and are placed where hair is thinning. There are three major types of grafts: punch grafts, mini-grafts, and micro-grafts. Punch grafting takes about 10-15 hairs and places them in the scalp. This was the first type of technique to be developed, and when first developed caused a patchy look in many candidates. The technique has been improved since the first days of being developed, and the new mini-graft technique has also been added as an option. Mini-grafts contain only 2-4 hairs per graft, and therefore look much more natural. Micro-grafts are still smaller grafts that contain one to two hairs each. To maintain healthy circulation of the scalp, grafts are placed 1/8th of an inch apart. Local anesthesia is usually sufficient for these procedures, and several procedures are usually required to achieve the desired result. Post-surgery, a period of approximately 10 days of no sexual or strenuous activity is recommended, as strenuous activity may cause bleeding from the graft areas. Of course surgery is a serious option, and often an expensive one as well. For those not wishing to undergo surgery for either reason, the option of non-surgical hair additions is often explored. Many professionals have developed techniques to add hair to existing hair on your scalp that look very natural. Weaves, fusions, bonding, cabling and micro linking are some of the techniques used to bond hair to the existing hair or scalp non-surgically. Many jokes were made in the past about wigs and toupees, and they have gained an unfavorable light amongst many people because they were so obvious on the wearer. Today’s toupees and wigs are often made of real hair and are very well styled, causing them to look ore natural on the wearer. These hairpieces are held in place by affixing adhesive to the scalp and stay in place through vigorous exercise. Of course you will need to seek a professionally made toupee in order to make it worth your while, and you should purchase at least two so that you can maintain them properly, servicing one while wearing the other. A professionally styled and fitted toupee is expected to cost upward of $600 to $1000 in today’s market. Of course no one wants to go through the embarrassment of wearing the obvious “rug” on top of your head, so if you are not willing to spend the money it takes to purchase a professional toupee then it is probably best to not wear any hairpiece at all. Structured hairpieces as they are called are a semi-surgical approach that permanently attaches hair to the scalp by stitching the hair to the bald scalp. This procedure is not recommended, as it is a process that involves introducing a foreign material to the scalp. Most ethical surgeons do not perform this procedure any longer as they are generally deemed to be ethically inappropriate. If this procedure is recommended to you, get a second opinion from a trusted physician. A much safer procedure is hair weaving, yet this can only be used if hair is thinning and large balding areas are not present. The process is also called hair intensification or hair integration. Strands of synthetic or real hair are braided or weaved into your own existing hair giving an appearance of a full head of hair. This procedure does have its drawbacks, because it can make the scalp difficult to access, interfering with proper hair and scalp maintenance necessary for the health of your remaining natural hair, and this method can also stress existing hair since the artificial hair introduced through weaving is attached to it. This method is usually expensive, costing several thousand dollars per application, and being that because of the aforementioned drawbacks it can only be left in for a few weeks at a time it is usually impractical for the average person. It is highly recommended that one seek professional assistance with these procedures from licensed beauticians or barbers, and have a patch test done to the skin if using adhesives to test for skin sensitivities. Extra care must be taken to maintain cleanliness of the hair and scalp when wearing added hair in order to maintain the health of existing hair and the scalp in general. Of course, if you are undergoing chemotherapy or are in the early stages of diagnosed alopecia areata then these procedures should be avoided as the hair they are connected to is likely to fall out as well. Either waiting for a period of time or obtaining a full prosthesis is recommended in these cases. Yet still there is another type of treatment which is a spray of micro fibers made up of the same substance that hair is made of: keratin. If your hair is simply thinning, while you are investigating a more permanent solution to your hair loss problems or in the process of employing a particular process that takes some time, you can use these substances to cosmetically produce the appearance of thicker and fuller hair. The substance is marketed under several different names, one such being TopikŽ. Being a temporary solution it is relatively inexpensive, and can provide some immediate aesthetic results to bolster confidence and optimism as you work on more permanent solutions. About the author: David Riewe is the Editor of Daves Health Buzz. Daves Health Buzz covers a wide variety of health and wellness related topics. Warning: This report may be helpful to your hair!http://www.daveshealthbuzz.com/hairlossprevention/

Hair Removal Solutions: Laser Hair Removal And Others by: Sam Natarajan

Fear no longer the ignominy of unwanted body hair. If you have been willing to walk should somebody show you the way, you have come to the right place for hair removal solutions. Here we present some of the popular hair removal solutions like laser hair removal among others which can offer you the flight of fantasy that you have been seeking for so long to become truly beautiful. Laser hair removal: The latest technology in the long list of hair removal solutions, laser hair removal offers a easy to use, extremely effective method to get rid of unwanted body hair and is long lasting in its effect. Men and Women alike have benefited from this superb technology which promises unwanted hair removal from virtually any part of the human body. The principle of hair removal by laser is based on the fact that thermal agitation of the hair follicle and bulb under the skin causes the bulb to destabilize, break down and forego the capability of regeneration. Thus laser hair removal is precise and effective in hair removal. Shaving: The most common and the oldest hair removal solution in the market today and world different from laser hair removal. Shaving is a self administered hair removal solution in daily use by both men and women for getting rid of body hair. The equipment required is low-tech : a shaving razor, brush and cream is all that you need. However the application is limited to only areas on your body that you can see and reach and is not definitely applicable for the tender areas on the human body. This is not a permanent hair removal solution as well. Tweezing: Otherwise called plucking, this method involves using a pair of tweezers to pull the hair out of the skin to ensure hair removal. This method is particularly painful and suffers from the same drawbacks of shaving in terms of permanence of effect and areas of applicability. It is hard to imagine that laser hair removal and tweezing essentially are solutions to virtually the same problem. Electrolysis: Before the onset of laser hair removal, electrolysis was widely touted as a very effective method for hair removal. It’s different from hair removal by laser in the sense that, instead of a laser beam destabilizing the hair root, it’s an electric current that does the same job. This treatment also needs to be administered for a longer period of time as compared to laser hair removal and is definitely not for the faint hearted. In our opinion amongst all the options of hair removal available in the market today, laser hair removal seems to be the most promising. Its just a matter of time before the technology becomes so prevalent that even for the unfortunate few for whom cost is a hurdle, it will be within reach of their financial boundaries! About the author: Visit our articles section at http://www.Laser-Hair-Removal-For-You.comfor more such practical advice, tips and hair removal information. Š 2005, Sam Natarajan. You may publish it at no cost, as long as the links are left intact, made live, and this notice stays in place.