Every year when Thanksgiving comes around, we gather with loved ones and eat turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie. But this time of year is more than just about filling our bellies. It's a time we should all take to give thanks. Thanks for what you ask? Thanks for anything and everything. Life is full of challenges, setbacks but also accomplishments. It's a mixture of good and bad but one thing we can all do is give gratitude for what we do have. Even the simplest things can bring joy. Be thankful for food on the table, the roof over your head, the loved ones in your life and a healthy functioning body. You can find joy in even much smaller things like being able to have your favorite drink in the morning or being able to tie your shoelaces. Some people don't have the simplest of necessities or abilities. Sometimes until you've experienced for yourself, it's hard to truly feel grateful for small things but we can all try in our own way. As a professional in the beauty industry we can be grateful to be able to pursue a career we love and enjoy each and every day. After all, being a stylist, barber, esthetician or nail tech was likely a choice. Being able to be creative for a living and making money from it is a dream for many and not always available for others. In the beauty profession you get to communicate with people, make friends in the industry, learn new techniques to advance your career and grow a business if you'd like. There are so many opportunities for beauty professionals, it's unlimited. Be thankful you can do what you love each and every day and show appreciation for the industry by making positive contributions whether that be in giving great haircuts, educating other professionals or providing services that clients want. On this note, we here at JATAI are thankful for YOU! You make what we do worthwhile because when we see what YOU can do with our products we are amazed and impressed by the wealth of talent and expertise you have. You have used our products in ways we didn't even intend and you make us want to always strive to be better and improve our products. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your dedication to JATAI products as well as your commitment to grow in the industry. As you grow, we grow and supporting a community of professionals is what we've always strived for. So Happy Thanksgiving! And Happy Holidays! Health and Wellness

If you are diabetic or know someone who is diabetic, it's important to know that nail care is critical to preventing further problems associated with the disease. Diabetics lack proper circulation and blood flow to the peripheral areas of the body and, therefore, lack sensation in the toes and fingers. This also makes them prone to poor wound healing as well. When you cut your nails (fingernails or toenails), you can expect that a nail clipper has the potential to cut you. As a diabetic, it's imperative that you make sure the care you give your nails are on radar. Your nails protect your body from infection and their condition is an indication of potential health problems including fungal growth. That's why it's important to conduct a routine investigation of the feet and hands on a regular basis to point out any cuts, changes in color, blisters or points of skin irritation. Keeping toenails and fingernails trimmed and clean is very important. One of the major protocols for diabetic foot care is to be sure to cut nails according to the shape of the toe or finger but be sure to not cut into the corners as that creates the potential for hangnails. It should be emphasized that skin should never be cut at the end of the toes. If toenails become thick you will need a more durable toenail clipper, use a nail nipper or have them trimmed by your doctor.   Here are some tips for foot care for diabetics: Check your feet everyday Have your feet checked at least once a year If you have a foot injury seek attention immediately Seek care if you have any cuts, wounds or ingrown nails Protect your feet by wearing comfortable shoes If you have corns or calluses, do not cut them off Wear customized footwear Look for ingrown nails, color changes, swelling, changes in temperature, change in sensation, cracks, sores, and ulcers. If you see any of these, please get checked out. Diabetics have special needs when it comes to caring for their feet. With special care diabetics can effectively prevent complications of poor wound healing by not creating a wound in the first place.   Health and Wellness

Blackheads are ugly eye sores. Looking in the morning mirror and closely examining those large pores filled with dirt and excess oil can drive one crazy. In order to remove them it's important to take a moment to properly learn how to get rid of blackheads in a safe and effective way. After all, we all want beautiful, smooth clear skin, but being gentle will prevent any scarring or unnecessary damage. To understand how to properly get rid of blackheads, you must first realize that although blackheads are embarrassing to look at, these are merely clogged skin pores. Medically, they are defined as an 'open comedone' and are normally seen at the first stage of acne before it develops into skin inflammation and infection. When excessive oil accumulation occurs, the oils are oxidized causing the oil to become solid leading to blocked pores. When oils first start to accumulate it is called a whitehead. At the whitehead stage the pore is still closed. However, once the pore opens and the oils start to oxidize, they become blackheads. So, blackheads and whiteheads both consist of dead skin cells, oil and sebum but the difference lies in whether the pore is open or not. Two Essential Parts to Blackhead Removal:   1. Preventing Blackheads Preventing blackheads will require some habit changes. Making a permanent daily routine of proper skin care is required to keep blackheads away. First, wash your face twice a day, once when you wake up and once when you go to bed. If you aren't doing this already, start this change today. Cleaning your face regularly will keep dirt and oil from excessive accumulation. When washing your face, use a cleanser or exfoliant with non-harsh chemicals. Using harsh chemicals may create more damage. Apply the cleanser to an exfoliating scrub and massage the skin where your blackheads occur in a gentle, circular motion. Do not scrub too hard as this can create damage. After rinsing, pat your face with a dry clean, fresh towel. Cleansers can act as a pore cleaner, but they can't remove debris deep into the pores.   Second, apply toner that contains 0.5-2% salicylic acid to shed the dead cells from the upper layer of the skin as well as decrease any inflammation. Overusing products with salicylic acid can irritate the skin so only use it a few times per week.   Third, take precautions. Only use cosmetics that are water-based. Oil based products may clog your pores. This means applying an oil-free moisturizer and an oil-free sunscreen. Do not use excessive make-up. If you wear makeup, be sure to remove it by using a good make-up remover. The heavier the make-up, the more likely it will clog your pores. Stay away from humidity and pollution if possible. This deadly combination allows debris to collect and stick to the skin aggravating blackhead formation.   2. The Physical Removal of Blackheads Squeezing your skin for blackhead removal has the potential to further block your pores resulting in blackhead formation. This is a common mistake. The best way to remove blackheads is to use a blackhead remover. This is a more sterile and accurate way of extracting a blackhead to prevent damage and minimize scarring. Other removal tools on the market such as suction probes, using a pore vacuum or skin spatula can aggravate skin issues and lead to irritation. Using tools like these on sensitive skin is probably not a good idea. The same goes for blackhead strips. Using blackhead strips may cause more inflammation instead of less! Plus, these strips only work on the surface and may be painful during the blackhead removal process. To remove blackheads, you will first want to open the pore for easier extraction by using a steamer or placing a warm wet towel over the blackhead for 5 minutes. A great time to do this is after a shower. Use a quality blackhead remover tool or a comedones extractor for best results. Clean the blackhead tool or blackhead extractor with rubbing alcohol or an antiseptic solution to sterilize the tool before and after blackhead removal. There are usually 2 sides to a blackhead extraction tool. Gently press the side of the tool that best fits the blackhead and push it against the skin with the blackhead in the center of the hole. Be sure you do this gently to avoid skin damage. Slowly rock the tool back and forth to loosen the blackhead for 30 seconds or until removal is achieved. If it doesn't come out easily, you may need to steam your face longer. Be sure to buy a quality extractor tool. This is your skin, so it's important to prevent any unnecessary scarring and infection due to low quality implements. One that is recommended is the Seki Edge Blackhead Remover. It has two sides with different size holes and it's made of Japanese stainless steel. Lastly, if you don't feel comfortable doing this yourself or your home attempt at blackhead removal is being stubborn, you can see an esthetician or dermatologist who can easily do this for you, but it won't be cheap. It's best to see a professional to remove blackheads when there are complications such as a possible infection. And if you've got a serious situation, maybe it's time to see Dr. Pimple Popper! Regularly removing blackheads and closing the pores afterwards can help to reduce the size of your blackheads when they come back. It is very difficult to completely get rid of blackheads to the point where they don't return. But with constant careful attention you can minimize pore size over time which makes them less noticeable. Health and Wellness

When you are trying to make a good first impression, you want to make sure you look well put together. If you have a cowlick in your hair, bad breath, and a wrinkled shirt, how do you think people will perceive you? One area that is often overlooked is the condition of your hands. So often people don't take care of their nails. If you bite your nails or if you have hangnails and your cuticles are peeling, you best believe that people notice. They may not say anything but it is definitely observed. If you want to make a good impression on someone and let your physical demeanor indirectly tell someone you ARE put together and that you have everything under control from head to toe, your hands are a great place to start. If this seems absurd, think about how often we use our hands to gesture and convey a message. We use our hands to do just about everything and if they are in view to that person who you are trying to make a good impression, that person will definitely notice whether they are groomed or not. So ask yourself, do you have dry cuticles? Do you have hangnails? Do you have skin that is peeling off your cuticles? Do you bite your nails? If you answered yes to any of these, you need this next bit of information. Let's talk about cuticle care for a bit. Cuticles are the small area of skin that immediately meets the nail. They act as a barrier and, therefore, play a role in the health of your hands by preventing infection. By keeping your cuticles healthy you are keeping your nails healthy too and leaving a lasting impression.   5 Cuticle Care Tips:   Keep Cuticles Moisturized If they are dry and white , they are probably also peeling which could lead to infection. Your cuticles are always 'thirsty' for moisture and when they are dry they look very unhealthy. Every time you wash your hands with soap and water or take a shower, you are stripping your hands of moisture. And if you don't replenish the moisture with lotion afterward you are dehydrating you cuticles. Make sure you moisturize your hands every time you wash your hands to help prevent hangnails and dry looking cuticles.   Push Back Cuticles Correctly The proper way to push back your cuticles is to use a cuticle remover to soften thecuticles. (You do not want to push back or remove cuticles when they are dry). Use a cuticle pusher such as the Seki Edge Cuticle Pusher (SS-303), which is an excellent stainless steel pusher to easily push back the cuticle from the nail. By pushing back moist cuticles, this is much safer to prevent tears and damage.   Trim Hangnails Hangnails are very unattractive and very painful if they get out of hand. So it is important to address them early on to prevent bleeding and tearing. Having a sharp cuticle nipper handy at any given moment can help to prevent this annoyance. The ¼ Jaw Cuticle Nipper by Seki Edge is a great choice for a nipper. Stainless steel and sharp, this nipper works very well for removing hangnails and excess cuticles. Having cuticle care tools at your disposal is very beneficial for these timely problems. Be sure to keep hangnails off your hands at all times.   Be Careful of Products Used on Your Nails If you wear nail polish, you more than likely use an acetone-based nail polish remover and polish treatments that contain formaldehyde. Any products made before 2007 likely contains formaldehyde. These chemicals may cause irritation of the cuticle skin and cause dryness. If you use these products regularly, it is important to take extra care of your cuticle condition.   Don't Bite Your Nails! When you bite your nails you actually damage your cuticles at the same time. This puts your nails at risk for infection by harmful bacteria that find their way into the body. Biting your nails cause your cuticles and nails to separate. Often times nail biting is a nervous habit. But once you become aware of this bad habit, it's imperative that you make a conscious effort to quit because it is damaging to no only the health of your cuticles but also to your overall first impression to people. Nails that are bitten on a regular basis are often very short and jagged, something most people are not attracted to. So take a look at your cuticles and evaluate your own cuticle care. If you have noticeable hangnails, bitten nails, and dry cuticles you may need an intervention. Taking good care of your nails and overall hand condition is one of the first things people notice when it comes to first impressions and yet it is often one of the most overlooked. Take care of your nails and cuticles and you will be one step ahead of most.   Product, Health and Wellness

Hey hey beautiful women! We could all use some TLC and pampering now and then right? After all we work really hard, take care of the kids (if you're a mom), cook dinner, do the laundry, and multitask like no other! Don't we deserve some downtime? It's ok to think about ourselves once in a while. Here are 10 beauty tips for women. Do all 10 this weekend and you will feel like the world's most gorgeous woman! 10 Beauty Tips 1. Get your Beauty Rest It's true. We need our rest. Sleep allows us to recuperate from a long day. If we wake up tired from a lack of sleep the rest of our day is shot! We are less productive, sluggish, and we mope around like a gorilla...just without all the hair. And yes...we really do look like that so get at least 6-7 hours of sleep...please!!   2. Eat 7-13 Servings of Fruits and Vegetables EVERY DAY Yes....7-13. That may seem like a lot, but did you know that the antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables repair and strengthen our cells? If we are not feeding our internal and external organs the right food, how do we expect to look beautiful too? Our skin is the largest organ we have! So eat up!   3. Read a Personal Development Book We all have issues, problems and frustrations. If we don't deal with negative thoughts properly, guess what is found on our face? A frown. And those wrinkles will sit in with the change of the wind. If we can improve ourselves as people, it is easier to be happy, be positive, and be the most amazing woman in the world. Your beauty is not just about physical beauty, but really your inner beauty is what makes you truly beautiful. Personal development books give INNER beauty tips for women!   4. Use Coffee Grounds as an Exfoliant Think twice before dumping out those coffee grounds. Did you know they are a great natural exfoliant? Isn't it wonderful that coffee has so many purposes? Just take dried out coffee grounds and add a dab of honey to a small amount of grounds. Mix it up and apply to your face. Scrub in a circular motion. Rinse with warm water. You will notice your dead skin cells have been scrubbed off leaving your face looking fresh and radiant. 5. Get Moving! When was the last time you exercised? If you have to think about it, you are not doing enough. Exercise is a great way to feel amazing. Endorphins, which release happy feelings, get you pumped and energized. Plus, it allows you purge toxins from your body through sweat. Now exercise doesn't mean lifting the remote control to change the channel. Go out and take a jog, go swimming, dance or take a class at the gym. Just do it at least 30 minutes, 3 times a week.   6. Get a Manicure and Pedicure What woman doesn't feel beautiful after a manicure and pedicure. When you are done you look at them and smile because they just look so beautiful. Ever seen some ugly looking nails that look like they've been beat to death? Your hands and feet work all day long. They deserve some care once in a while.   7. Go Green with Cosmetics and Household Products Think of all the chemicals we come into contact with on a daily basis. Have you ever taken a moment to look at the ingredients? If you can't pronounce them you probably don't know the meaning. There are thousands of chemicals that can be harmful to your health. It might not seem like a lot upon one exposure to a minute amount of one chemical, but think of the cumulative effect that harmful chemicals can have on your health and your beauty. It can be toxic!   8. Listen to Relaxing Music while Meditating Whether it's the sound of birds or the ocean, doing relaxation techniques can really create piece of mind and calmness in your body and life. Having the ability to temporarily escape the chaos of everyday life is important to remain sane. Demands from loved ones and work can leave you exhausted physically and mentally. Take some time to just listen and meditate. 9. Get a Makeover How fun is that? Getting a makeover can be exciting, fun and adventuresome. We need an occasional change so why not get a whole new look! Plus, make-up artists that you can find at major department stores give some great beauty tips for women with regards to make-up selection and techniques.   10. Drink Lots of Water Many people don't drink enough water. Granted we may drink iced tea or diet soda or drink soup, but this is not pure water. It is essential to drink water throughout the day. Take your weight in pounds, divide by 2 and this is how many ounces of water you should drink every day. Water cleans out the system of toxins and hydrates your skin. Are you drinking enough? So that's it! 10 Beauty tips for women! You deserve to be beautiful for just being you. Love yourself and give your heart, body and soul what it needs once in a while. Cheers!   Health and Wellness

Splinter removal can be one painful act. That needle-like object piercing through the skin seems like it would be just as painful as removing them. Splinters come in various shapes and sizes. But usually the smaller ones hurt the most. Why? Because they are difficult to remove. Some people use glue or tape, while even others use potatoes (believe it or not) for splinter removal. Here are some simple steps on how to remove a splinter properly to avoid further pain or possible infection.   1) Do not attempt to squeeze the splinter out. If you do, sharp splinters might push themselves further in if aggravated. Even worse, it may even break into smaller pieces. By understanding how to remove a splinter properly, you will see that you will not need to be doing any squeezing. 2) Wash and dry the spot with soap and water. But be gentle. This is to prevent infection. Make sure you pat the wound down to soak up excess water with a paper towel. 3) Sterilize the implement(s) you will use with an antiseptic solution or even a hot flame to prevent infection. 4) Inspect with a magnifying glass. By seeing the splinter up close, you can see the best way to approach your splinter removal. Depending on how the splinter is angled, this will dictate the best way to take it out. 5) Splinter Removal. There are several ways to accomplish splinter removal. The best ways are to use the tweezers method, needle method, or nail clipper/razor blade method.   3 Ways to Remove Splinters   How to Remove a Splinter with the Tweezers Method This is probably the splinter removal method you are most familiar with and is best used when the splinter is protruding from the skin. If it is sticking out horizontally use the needle method or the nail clipper method. You may want to numb the area with ice if it is a sensitive area after cleaning it. Sterilize the tip of the tweezers with rubbing alcohol or a hot flame and hold the magnifying glass to see where the splinter is sticking out of the skin. Using the tweezers, grab the splinter at the head making sure not to grab any hair or skin. Again, don't attempt to squeeze the splinter while pulling it out. When you do this you actually encourage the skin to grip the embedded end. This may lead to splinter breakage. Pull the splinter out in the direction it went into the skin.   How to Remove a Splinter with the Needle Method Splinter removal using a needle is the best method when there is a thin layer of skin over the splinter. If the splinter is set deep in the skin, this is not a good method to use. First you will need to sterilize the needle. Then, using the magnifying glass, see where the splinter entered the skin. Stick the needle in at the opening and gently apply upward pressure opening the skin above the splinter. By pulling the skin apart this should expose the splinter allowing you to now use the tweezers method to remove the splinter. You may need to use the needle to nudge the splinter out and loosen the skin around the splinter if it's stubborn.   How to Remove a Splinter with a Nail Clipper/Razor Method This method is best used when a splinter is buried under thick skin that is not very sensitive. The heel of the foot would be a prime example. To use this splinter removal method, sterilize the edges of the clipper or razor with rubbing alcohol. Clip or cut the skin parallel to the splinter. It should not hurt. Gently pull the skin apart to see the splinter. Then, use the tweezers method. Once the splinter is removed, be sure to disinfect the area with hydrogen peroxide, saline peroxide, alcohol pad or some other antiseptic solution. Also an antibiotic ointment may help to prevent infection. Natural antiseptics include raw organic honey or tea tree oil. Removing a splinter can seem like a squeamish task, but if done correctly, it can be painless. Now that you know how to remove a splinter, you can be sure that your splinter removal experience will be done in a cinch.   Product, Health and Wellness, Tweezers

If you suffer from nail biting, you know that it's a habit that seems hard to quit. A condition called onychophagia, the practice of biting your nails is one that often starts during adolescence and usually tapers off by age thirty. Nail biting is more prevalent among guys than girls and it's a habit that can leave your nails looking unsightly and ugly as bitten nails are easy to recognize as they are cut close to the skin. But from a health standpoint, it can even leave your nails susceptible to infection. Knowing how to stop biting your nails can save your nails from more permanent damage. But how does one learn how to stop biting your nails? If you suffer from nail biting it's probably a habit that you've tried to quit at some point or another, but the habit somehow finds itself safely nestled in your daily routine. Nail biting can become habit forming because it gives you a sense of control. Before you jump in, however, it's critical that you first make a decision and make a commitment to learning how to stop biting your nails. So let's take a moment to find out how to stop biting your nails.  2 Main Approaches to Stop Nail Biting:   1. Physical Barrier There are several different ways to physically separate yourself from your nails to prevent nail biting. If you are a woman you can put nail polish on your nails so that if you bite your nails they leave a nasty taste in your mouth. You can also physically separate your nails from your mouth by putting your hands in your pockets every time you get the urge or putting band-aids on your fingers so you can't bite them. Physical barriers may only work temporarily or as long as the barrier exists. The more effective way on how to stop biting your nails, however, is to make behavior changes.   2. Behavior Change It's really important to identify WHY you are biting your nails. Are your nail biting habits a result of stress, anxiety, nervousness, self-consciousness, or boredom? When you can identify the real reason why you bite your nails, you can recognize those triggering moments that compel you to bite them. Going through this process requires patience and awareness. Do you tend to bite them when you have thoughts that make you nervous? If so, it's important to look further and identify what is triggering your nervousness and how you can remedy your nervousness. Perhaps this is a call for stress management techniques that can reduce nervousness and thus prevent nail biting. You can apply this concept to any emotional state to more deeply explore this behavior trigger. When you learn how to stop biting your nails through behavioral triggers, this can be all you need to get rid of this annoying habit. Part of behavior change can also be replacing your habit with a better one. For example, if you feel you have a need to put something in your mouth, instead of putting your fingernails in your mouth, try putting carrot sticks in your mouth. This will help you to replace a poor habit with a good habit so you can get your veggies at the same time. Just be sure to not replace a poor habit with another poor habit or worse habit. Other alternatives are chewing gum or squeezing stress balls. You may even want to distract your hands with a hobby so they are focused on the hobby and not on your mouth. Knowing how to stop biting your nails from a behavior standpoint can really make all the difference.   Other Notes To have healthy nails, it's important to eat healthy. Making sure you get adequate vitamins and minerals from a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and drinking a lot of water is important to have strong nails as they grow out. If you have brittle nails, they will break easier and you are more tempted to bite them. If your nails are growing well and they are growing out nicely, be sure to trim them with some good nail clippers. Cutting off sharp edges and hangnails is imperative to prevent temptation. Keep your nails trimmed and filed regularly. Be sure to also use moisturizer to keep your hands nourished to prevent skin tears and dry, brittle skin. If you want to know how to stop biting your nails, try some of these techniques. But remember, you must first be committed to stopping. Without the commitment you will forever continue to cycle. Behavior changes often require you to continue trying even when you've had a relapse. Soon enough, your nail biting will stop, but it must start with your will to do so.   Health and Wellness

If you're a man who needs some eyebrow help, don't click away. While women do way more to keep their eyebrows trimmed and tidy, men do nearly nothing. But they definitely should. There are several problems that men encounter with their eyebrows. Uni-brows Unruly long eyebrow hairs Bushy eyebrows Sparse eyebrow hair All of these problems can be solved by yourself at home. They are quite easy to address and just requires some simple know-how. But if you're too scared or unwilling to give it a try, there are professionals ready and waiting for you. So why are these even a problem? And why do men need to do anything about their eyebrows at all? First and foremost, eyebrows are a defining feature of your face. Like women, eyebrows can really change the way you look. Thick eyebrows vs. thin eyebrows will make you like a different person and someone with a unibrow vs. no unibrow will change up your look dramatically as well. Unruly eyebrow hairs just make you look ungroomed which makes people think you don't put enough time into your physical appearance. Perhaps you don't care, but if you're reading this, you probably do. So here's how you can fix these issues at home with these DIY measures and some professional measures as well. Eyebrow Issues and How to Fix Them Uni-brows A uni-brow is when you have hair in between the eyebrows. So instead of having two eyebrows it looks like you have one long one. This is generally unattractive and can be a focal point of your face. If your uni-brow is thick, this makes it even worse. So how do you get rid of a uni-brow? Simple. Take some eyebrow tweezers and start plucking the hairs in between the eyebrows. You will need to look in the mirror and grasp the hairs as close to the skin as possible so you can get a good grip on the hairs. It's best to use a slant tip or round tip tweezer so you can get the best grip. To know how much to pluck, take a ruler and place it vertically to the side of your nostril up to your eyebrow. Your eyebrows should not go beyond the edge of your nostril. Everything in between you should pluck. In the illustration above, see where eyebrows should start and stop. If you have a lot of fine hairs in between, you can also take a wax strip and wax the area, but you should practice at home waxing in a separate area before trying it on your eyebrows. Uni-brows are a big no-no, so if you're not comfortable tweezing here, ask your significant other or a girl friend who can help you. Unruly Long Eyebrow Hairs As you get older some eyebrow hairs just keep growing and growing. Maybe it's hormonal, but they don't seem to be a problem until you've reached your older years. For hairs that just seem to keep growing, they will often start to curl and grow with a mind of their own. The simple remedy is to trim your eyebrow hairs. What you'll need is a small comb and makeup scissors. Take the small comb and comb the eyebrow hairs up. Slightly tilt the comb away from you. You will see eyebrow hairs sticking out of the comb. Take the makeup scissors and trim any hairs that stick out of the comb. This helps to keep all of the hairs a uniform length. Repeat this along the full extent of both eyebrows. If you have unruly eyebrows but don't want to do it yourself, ask your stylist or barber to trim them for you whenever you go to the salon or barbershop. They can also show you how to trim them at home if you so desire. Bushy Eyebrows When your eyebrows are very thick, there isn't a lot you can do, but there are a few things you can manage on your own to keep them in check. Thick eyebrows are hereditary and while you can't easily thin them out, you can keep them in a nice shape. Since bushy eyebrows are very noticeable, any changes you make to your eyebrows will be noticeable as well. Usually, when eyebrows are bushy, not only are there many eyebrow hairs but the actual hair strands are coarse. So the thickness of each hair strand stands out quite a bit. First and foremost, follow the steps above if you have a uni-brow or unruly eyebrow hairs. After addressing these two things, you may notice your eyebrows are already less bushy. Then, you can pluck some hairs so they have a nice shape. Be sure to not over-pluck the hairs as this can lead to over-shaped eyebrows. Simply removing some hairs at the bottom of the eyebrow (above the eyelid) will lessen the thickness of the eyebrows. Don't remove eyebrow hair from the top, only from the bottom. Lastly, be proud of your bushy eyebrows. They define you and add character. As long as you keep them tidy and groomed your bushy eyebrows will look fantastic.   Sparse Eyebrow Hairs On the flip side, having little eyebrow hair can be problematic. Since eyebrows define your face, if you don't have much of an eyebrow, you lose structure and definition. On top of that, if your eyebrow hair is light, this makes your eyebrows stand out even less. However, having sparse eyebrow hair doesn't mean you don't have a uni-brow or unruly hair. So follow the steps for a unibrow and unruly eyebrow hair above. When taming unruly hair with sparse eyebrow hair, be sure not to cut off too much. Since you don't have much hair to begin with, taking off more will just make your eyebrows even less noticeable. You can also pluck them slightly at the bottom if they are growing in weird places. But you can also draw them in if they are too light. Now, you might be thinking that guys don't wear makeup. But there is no harm in using a bit of makeup to define your face. And it doesn't have to be a lot, just something to give your eyebrows a pop. Most women won't think it's strange. In fact, they will likely approve of it if it complements the face. Take an eyebrow pencil that matches the eyebrow color and lightly drawing over the eyebrows to slightly darken it. This will create a nice illusion that the eyebrows are thicker. Blend it in with an eyebrow brush if necessary. Hey, if women can improve their looks with makeup, why can't men? Another way to fill in some gaps is to do microblading. This is something that women do already to add the illusion that their eyebrows are thicker and darker than they are. This is a form of permanent makeup where a professional will put ink into the skin around your eyebrows to improve the shape and thickness.  This is not completely permanent and would need to be redone every year or two. It could last longer but it just depends on skin cell turnover. With microblading you don't have to worry about drawing in eyebrows everyday. Done right, the eyebrows look natural. If you don't think you can manage your eyebrows in these manners, a professional is always a good resort. You can have your eyebrows threaded by an esthetician or have your significant other help you if you trust them. It's best to get a woman's opinion on how to shape your eyebrows, especially if she maintains her own eyebrows already. She may have some extra tips and tricks not mentioned here. Outside of the issues noted above, maintaining eyebrow hairs is not too difficult. Eyebrow hairs grow constantly so regular maintenance is needed. Men's eyebrows should not be over plucked or overly shaped, but they should look groomed and maintained. Eyebrow issues are not just for women. They are for men too and it's time for more men to take notice of their eyebrow hygiene and do something about it. So guys, are you ready?   Health and Wellness

When the sun is out and you're ready to have some fun, so are your feet. Whether it's putting your toes in the sand or walking in flip flops, your feet are going to take a little beating. After all those months of being covered in socks and shoes, the warmth brings freedom for your feet. But with feet and toes being exposed, are they in good shape to be seen in public? Because you can be well dressed, have great hair and even a nice manicure, but if your feet don't match the bill, it's a bit embarrassing. So how can we get our feet looking their best? Follow these simple DIY steps to having great looking feet without spending an arm and a leg. DIY Steps for Sandal Ready Feet Remove the Calluses Dried, hard calluses are unsightly and can even be painful. File down hardened skin with a callus remover and smooth out the skin with a callus reducer. By removing dried, cracked skin, you make room for fresh new skin to make an appearance. Filing calluses is quite simple. But the thicker the skin, the more you will need to work at it. Once you file down the callus and smooth it out, the skin underneath will be soft and supple. Some callus removers are pretty harsh so be careful not to scrub too hard once you get closer to fresh skin.   Trim Toenails Keeping nails trimmed and tidy is key to nice looking toes. If you have overgrown toenails, it can look quite unattractive. Use a good toenail clipper to trim your nails. If the nails are thick, make sure the nail clipper is strong enough to cut through them. For very thick toenails you may need a nail nipper which have jaws that can cut through the toughest of nails. Cut your toenails straight across to prevent ingrown toenails and then file down any rough edges with a nail file. You want to cut your nails so that a little white part is still present. If you cut it all off, you've likely cut off too much.   Get Rid of Any Fungus or Other Growth Sometimes nails can get fungus (yeast or mold). It's nasty and can be difficult to get rid of. If you have any cracks in the nail or skin surrounding the nail, fungus can get in and cause an infection. If you're not sure what toenail fungus is, it's generally characterized by a discolored look and the nail can get thick. It can also be distorted in shape, brittle, crumbly or ragged. It can even smell! Toenail fungus is much more common than fingernail fungus so be sure to keep an eye on your feet for these signs. Unfortunately, nail fungus is not that easy to get rid of. Treatments include oral anti-fungal drugs, medicated nail polish and medicated nail cream. In more extreme measures, surgery might be necessary. If the fungus infects the areas between the toes and skin, this is athlete's foot. This is caused by allowing your feet to get sweaty while wearing tight-fitting shoes. Athlete's foot can lead to an itchy, scaly rash. To treat Athlete's foot, be sure to keep feet clean and dry. Change your socks regularly and wear ventilated shoes. There are some home remedies that may help but if the fungus doesn't respond to them, it can can be treated with topical anti-fungal medications or even prescription drugs.   Give Your Feet Some TLC Your feet get a beating every day. It's important to take care of them so they last you a long time. Keeping your feet clean and hydrated will keep the skin in great shape. Give your feet a massage once in a while and stretch out those arches. Give your feet some TLC and they will thank you for it. If you're ok with people touching your feet, opt for reflexology from a professional who can rub out any knots. You'd be surprised by how much stress sits in your feet. Keeping feet moisturized will help keep the cracks away, help prevent calluses and keep your skin hydrated. The more hydrated they are, the softer the skin will be.   Add a Little Color If you're into nail polish, get some color on those toenails. They can often look plain and naked without it. Have fun with it! Nail polish on the toenails can last a long time so it's not high maintenance. If you've taken care of all these, your feet must be ready for summer. So slip on some sandals and show off those beautiful feet of yours!   Health and Wellness

It has only been until recently that mental health has been taken more seriously. In the past, discussing mental health was taboo. People shielded away from topics related to depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism, PTSD and more. But millions of people experience mental health issues each and every day. We can't ignore the impact mental health has on everyday life. According to Kaiser Permanente, about 16 million US adults suffer from depression every year. This is no small number. This includes all kinds of people and it even includes hair professionals. It's no wonder that in order to shed light on this issue, May has become Mental Health Awareness Month and specifically May 27th has been declared National Hairstylist Mental Health Awareness Day. Hair professionals generally love their job. However, like anyone, they can have their ups and downs. With busy schedules and having to deal with clients all day, it can definitely lead to stress. Having a high level of unpredictability, high work intensity, always trying to satisfy people, listening to other people's problems and dealing with negative feedback from clients all contribute to strains on mental health. And let's not forget the intense stress that hair professionals had to go through during the worst part of the pandemic. Salons and barbershops had to remain closed. Not being able to work and make money was incredibly stressful. Anxiety and depression can lead to decreased work performance, reduced concentration, aggressiveness, isolation or emotional outbursts. Mental health issues can also turn into physical health issues such as fatigue and illness. So what are the main mental health issues hair professionals deal with? The most common are stress, anxiety and depression. At the workplace there are a number of factors than can contribute to these mental states. Having a healthy work environment is important for a healthy mind. Problems with co-workers and bosses such as poor communication, mis management, harassment and a lack of teamwork can make hair pros more anxious and possibly depressed. It's important to have regular dialogue with management and make sure issues are being addressed and not pushed under the rug. Clients can also exacerbate mental health issues. If clients show up late, are no shows, complain too much or vent too much about their own problems, these can take a toll. The daily toll of client issues day in and day out can overwhelm hair professionals if the problems become too much. Hair professionals often joke that they are like therapists. But in reality this information overload can be burdensome. Real therapists have to learn how to not take their clients' problems home with them and so do hair professionals. On the flip side, hair professionals should become familiar with the signs of mental health issues so they can offer resources to clients for help if need be. Here's a video where Ivan Zoot discusses how to not take client problems home with them. If you are a hair professional it's important to identify when you need help. If you are feeling stress, anxiety or depression, remember you are not alone. Many people go through these feelings. What's important is how you deal with it. First and foremost, if you are feeling any of these, find some time to take a break and relax. Perhaps get a massage, meditate, do physical activity or talk to a trusted friend or family member. If the issue is more serious, maybe seek professional help. If you're having difficulty identifying what you are feeling, write it down in a journal or diary. This documentation can help identify any patterns in your thoughts and feelings. Much anxiety comes from thinking about the past or the future. Focus on the present and do what needs to happen today for a better future. Take regular breaks during the day so you don't experience burnout. Neglecting your hydration and nutrition throughout the day can lead to mental tiredness and fatigue. Mental health is not something to be taken lightly. It affects each and every one of us in one shape or form. It's important to acknowledge when unhealthy mental health issues arise and get the help necessary to work on the issues at hand. Stylists and barbers are a unique subset of the workforce that deal with a number of people every day. Let's take this month to spread awareness of mental health for hair professionals and send the message that there's no need to feel ashamed for having stress, anxiety and depression. But we must all do our part to help ourselves feel better and direct anyone who may need professional help. Health and Wellness

Do you have brittle nails? Discolored nails? Pitted or ridged nails? If you do, these may be key indicators of a more serious health problem and should not be taken lightly. In addition to the health concerns this may bring, unsightly abnormal looking nails are also detrimental to a polished healthy and hygienic appearance. This is because the condition of our internal health is often a direct reflection of our outer health. However, when you are eating the right foods, you improve your overall health and appearance and the condition of your nails improve as well. So what are the problems associated with unhealthy nails? Pale nails can be a sign of anemia, congestive heart failure, liver disease, and malnutrition. White nails with darker rims can indicate liver problems such as hepatitis. Yellow nails may be a sign of fungal infection. And if the infection gets worse, it may become thick and crumble. Bluish nails or clubbing of the nails may mean the body is not getting enough oxygen and may indicate an infection of the lungs. If you have spooned nails, this could be a sign of iron deficiency anemia. Rippled or pitted nails can be an indication of psoriasis or inflammatory arthritis. There are many other warning signs your nails can tell you. One way to achieve healthy nails is by eating the right foods. Any kind of nutritional deficiencies can lead to a poor immune system and disease such as the ones described above. When your body is out of balance, your appearance will be out of balance as well. So what are important steps to take in order to have beautiful healthy nails through healthy eating? First of all, eating processed food has poor nutritional value and will not give you the nutrients you need for healthy nails. Cookies, chips, processed meats, desserts, soda, candy, fried food, and French fries provide zero benefit in terms of nutritional value. With poor nutrition, nail growth can be hindered and leave your nails brittle and weak. However, by including the appropriate foods that contain the important nutrients vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, zinc, iron and protein, you can maximize your potential for healthy nails. Nutrient-Dense Foods for Healthy Nails Vitamin A Kale, carrots, parsley, spinach, sweet potato, broccoli, mango, tomatoes, apricots, cantaloupe, nectarines, watermelon. Look for reddish/orange colored fruits and vegetables   Vitamin B (Vitamin B-12 and Biotin) Vitamin B-12 sources include meat, chicken, milk, fish, shellfish, and fortified cereal. Biotin is found in high concentrations in boiled Swiss chard, brewer's yeast, fortified cereal, egg yolk, legumes, nuts, and milk. B vitamins, in general, are found in whole unprocessed food. Whole grains, potatoes, bananas, lentils, chili peppers, tempeh, beans, yeast, molasses   Vitamin C  Orange juice, citrus fruit, berries, parsley, broccoli, bell peppers, papaya, kale, cauliflower, mustard greens, Brussel sprouts   Calcium Broccoli, collard greens, turnip, low-fat yogurt, mozzarella cheese, blackstrap molasses, sesame seeds, sardines, spinach   Folic Acid Spinach, black beans, navy beans, kidney beans, collard greens, asparagus, garbanzo beans, lentils   Zinc Seafood, meat, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, turkey, low-fat yogurt, boiled green peas, mushrooms   Iron Kale, whole grains, liver, prunes, molasses, soybeans, lentils, spinach, tofu, sesame seeds, kidney beans, pumpkin seeds, garbanzo beans, navy beans, protein foods   Healthy nails are a direct correlation of what you eat. Making sure you put the right foods in your body helps to achieve not only healthy nails but also a healthy inside so you can minimize your risk for serious chronic disease. Remember that your appearance is directly related to internal health. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and optimizing beauty regimens with the right beauty tools can bring out the best in your nails and overall health. If you are eating healthy, then taking care of your nails and hands with manicures is a secondary step to maintaining healthy nail beds and skin. See How to Do a Manicure at Home in 7 Easy Steps article.   Health and Wellness

Helping the environment is a topic that has gained momentum over the years. With billions of people roaming the planet comes billions of pieces of waste that either take years to break down or never degrades at all. The collection of plastic, metal, treated wood, styrofoam, glass and other synthetic materials as well as hazardous chemicals pollutes our land, oceans and air. We are slowly killing our home. As the human population continues to evolve and develop new technologies to move us into the future, we also leave behind a daunting task of eliminating decades of accumulated waste. We hurt ourselves, wildlife, ocean life and just life itself. So how do we attack this seemingly hopeless issue? We must remember that every person's contribution makes a difference. Doing your part may seem little, but it can inspire others to do the same and if it can save one animal, one plant or make any impact at all, then it's well worth the effort. They say that good deeds often go unnoticed. But whether they are noticed or not, do you need someone to pat you on the back to do the right thing? The effort needs to come from your heart space and for the simple thought that you want to help. So as a hair professional, what can you do to do your part? Hair professionals have a unique lifestyle in that they use certain chemicals and tools on a daily basis. Whether that's shampoo, hair color, foil, scissors, razors, combs, brushes, blow dryers or extensions, these products are used on the regular. It's important to recycle where you can, dispose products properly and buy consciously. Let's look at recycling. The good thing is that most tools used on a regular basis are not disposable. You use them for a long time. Scissors, brushes, blow dryers, flat irons, curling irons, razors and clippers (among others) can be used for years. But when a blow dryer craps out or your clippers break, do you just throw them in the trash? It's important that any electronic equipment gets taken to a proper electronic recycling center. It's generally free to recycle them so be sure to check with your local city and see if there are any nearby recycling centers that will take your old electronics. If the equipment is still functioning but you just don't want it anymore, perhaps try to sell it or give it to a friend. Someone else can benefit from the remaining life of the product. If the product uses replaceable blades such as razors or clippers, be sure to recycle the blades. If the blade is made completely out of metal you can collect the blades in a provided container or sharps container and take it to a local pharmacy where they should be able to recycle it for you. You can also take it to a recycling center that accepts metal.   For wet good products like shampoo, conditioner, hair dye, toner and other liquids you might use, try to buy the bulk containers so you can minimize your plastic use. Then you can keep a smaller bottle to refill as needed. Reducing the number of containers you use minimizes the number of plastic bottles that get trapped forever in our oceans. You can also do your best to use products that use recyclable plastic. Believe it or not, not all plastic is recyclable. Be sure to check the bottom of the plastic for the triangle recycle sign. For liquids you can also try to use chemicals that are not only healthier for the client but healthier for the environment. Reducing the use of toxic chemicals can reduce the amount of toxins that get in our water or soil. Outside of the salon or shop, we also have normal daily life activities. Carpool if possible to reduce gas usage and air pollution, bring your own reusable grocery bags to the market, buy eco-friendly products when available, donate old clothing and shoes to the needy for further use, recycle paper, use your old food waste as compost for a garden and use your own water bottle. Be mindful of what kind of consumer you are because paying attention to how our lives impact the environment is important to creating awareness within yourself. So for this Earth Day, we challenge you to identify at least one new habit that you can implement and maintain in your daily life that can help the environment. If you can do more, that's great, but take the thought and turn it into action. We all have a part to play so let's give back to Mother Earth and show her how grateful we are to have such a beautiful place to live.   Health and Wellness