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One of the great things about hair products is that they constantly evolve and the Sedu hair iron is a great example of a hair product benefiting from Tourmaline. In fact Tourmaline has been used for many years in water filters and it’s only been in recent years that the benefits of Tourmaline could be harnessed for the hair industry. This article was written to try and explain exactly what Tourmaline is and why it’s used on hair straighteners.

Firstly, Tourmaline is a precious stone, whose colors include blue, green, pink, red, yellow, brown, black, bi-colored, tri-colored, and colorless. Tourmaline may be found in Brazil, Russia, Burma, Afghanistan, Malagasy Republic, Maine, California.

According to Egyptian legend the beautiful colors are the result of the Tourmaline travelling along a rainbow from the centre of the Earth up towards the sun. And on its way up it collected all the colours of the rainbow. This is why nowadays it is also called the “Rainbow gemstone”.

The name “Tourmaline” is derived from the Singhalese expression “tura mali”, which translates as “stone of mixed colours.” Ooohhh, now I’m intrigued. The very name already refers to the unique spectrum of colours displayed by this gemstone and no Tourmaline stone resembles another one. Tourmaline shows many faces and is thus excellently suited to match all moods and tempers. It does not come as a surprise, then, that ever since ancient days it has been attributed with magical powers. Tourmaline is supposed to be an especially powerful influence on love and friendship, lending them permanence and stability. I think it’s about time I gave a Sedu Tourmaline hair straightener to my boyfriend!

Tourmaline has been used for sometime now in specialist water filters but only recently has it’s benefits been used in the hair industry.

Why is Tourmaline used on hair straighteners?

It’s all very well and good that Tourmaline is a beautiful gemstone but I’m sure I’ve never seen any sparkling gems on my Sedu tourmaline hair straightener so why is it used. I’m going to get a bit technical here: Tourmaline plates on your straightener generate negative ions and far infrared (FIR) rays. The FIR help to lock in moisture in your hair and also remove static which causes your hair to Frizz.

Due to the concentration of these negative ions hair-straightening time is cut in half and your hair is left feeling much softer and shinier.

Main benefits

• Micro-porous technology (locks in moisture)
• Ion field technology (seals in natural oils)
• Tourmaline Negative ion technology (removes static)
• Tourmaline Infrared heat for deep, long lasting straightness

It just goes to show that even precious stones have many more applications than sitting on your finger or around your neck. Although I think I still prefer a big diamond ring any day.

A self confessed hair straightener fan Andrea Simpson has a website, http://www.a1-hair-straighteners.com/review.shtml, devoted to hair straighteners covering such products as the Sedu, Solia & Global Beauty Hair Straighteners.

First off, this isn’t that thing you studied in physics class relating to anodes and cathodes and some guy called Faraday. Here, electrolysis means one of the most popular and effective ways to permanently remove unwanted hair. Electrolysis has an outstanding track record of success and over a century of tested safety and effectiveness.

The reason that it’s so popular is that it’s fundamental. A hair-thin metal probe is inserted into the hair follicle and an electrical charge is delivered. This damages the follicle and inhibits its ability to produce hairs.

Supervised by a professional (the process is very tricky and there’s some pretty serious training involved) electrolysis is almost always successful, and the vast majority of consumers experience permanent results.

However (there’s always a however, right?), there are certain disadvantages, and a good deal of myth flying around when it comes to this kind of hair removal. First up, it’s not painless. Some customers manage without pain killers, others definitely do not. It’s no picnic for your bank balance, either. A simple session can cost $150, and for the more advanced processes, there could be a bill of between $2000 and $20000.

Regulations for electrologists vary by state, so it can be tricky tracking down the right one for the job. Be sure you’re confident, because poor application can result in partial-to-full re-growth, a spread of infection, even lasting skin damage. Done properly, electrolysis shouldn’t even puncture the skin.

Beyond this, the process can be mind-numbingly tedious, and in some cases, completely ineffective. A large area of hair is tough to treat, and since there are so many variables relating to your personal follicle characteristics and the amount of epilation (hair removal) you seek, accurate re-growth rates are almost impossible to determine. It’s true that the vast majority of consumers are happy with their results, but published studies show that around 8% are not satisfied. There’s nothing official to guarantee 0% re-growth, so don’t trust anyone who claims it.

It’s probably worth mentioning that home electrolysis kits, the ones that look like mechanical pencils with a 9-volt battery, are almost never recommended. Put simply, the chances of success are much less, while all the risks are increased. So, while you’re searching for a registered, state-licensed hair removal professional, how about a bit of science?

There are actually three types of energy used in electrolysis. Galvanic alters the salt and water in the skin around the probe to produce sodium hydroxide, or lye, which, if there’s enough, can damage the cells that cause re-growth. Thermolysis works by vibrating the water in your skin, and heating it until the cell is damaged. Blend is a kind of hybrid of these, which heats the lye to make it more caustic. This is probably the most effective method, and therefore the most deserving of the right professional application.

The bottom line? Electrolysis works, but you have to use your head. St. Louis ophthalmologist Charles Michel was practicing it back in 1875, so it shouldn’t be too scary. Take your time, do your research, and check out the big guys:

• AEA (American Electrology Association)
• IGPE (International Guild of Professional Electrologists)
• SCME (Society of Clinical and Medical Electrologists)
• ESNE (Electrolysis Society of the Northeast)
• IBE (International Board of Electrologists)
• COPE (Canadian Organization of Professional Electrologists)

Tamra Cantar is a freelance writer on topics of interest and has a website dedicated to providing the visitor with useful information and resources for hair removal. Visit http://electrolysis-hair-removal.gohairremoval.com for more information on electrolysis and other hair removal procedures.

For decades in this country men and women alike have been in search of the best way to remove hair and keep it off. A smooth, hairless body seems to be a trend that is here to stay as people are discovering its benefits and how easy it can really be to maintain such a look. Whether suffering from the excessive hair growth of hirsutism or simply looking to keep unwanted hair off, there are many methods, but none quite as long lasting and easy as laser hair removal New Jersey.

How Laser Hair Removal Works

Laser hair removal can be as specific and targeted as the few stray hairs on the eyebrows. At the same time it can remove hair from large areas such as the back and legs. The specific, targeted beam of light can zoom in on the roots of hair anywhere. This light then deadens the root causing the hair to fall out and not grow back.

Laser hair removal treatments are generally done in ½ hour to 45 minute sessions. Sometimes it takes 3 or more sessions to completely kill the roots of the whole area where hair removal is wanted.

After a laser treatment session, the skin may be a little red or irritated, but this usually goes away within a short time. The process is so non-evasive that you can return back to work. It makes going on your lunch hour or before work a viable option.

The Benefits of Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is permanent as soon as the individual hair root is deadened. This makes the process one of the most desirable hair removal systems for many people who don’t ever want the hair to grow back.

Laser hair removal is also able to complete this task over large areas of the skin. Men often want a hairless chest or back and women often remove hair from their legs – - both large areas and often too painstaking for waxing, tweezing, or removing with an epilator.

The laser technology associated with this form of hair removal is safe and effective for unwanted hair anywhere. It can be used to remove female pubic hair in place of bikini waxing, sugaring, or crème hair removers. It works on armpits, eyebrows or individual stray hairs that may form on the face, breasts, and abdomen.

Caring for Skin After Laser Removal

Skin may be slightly red and a little sensitive following the laser removal procedure. This will go away quickly and painlessly.

Laser removal of hair does not affect tanning. You will still get the same quality of suntan as before being exposed to a laser, although you should not tan immediately following the procedure since skin will be highly sensitive to sunlight for a short time after laser treatment.

Apply cosmetics will be save also after a laser treatment. Laser hair removal doesn’t usually dry skin, but you may want to choose a cosmetic with a moisturizer just to keep skin radiant and healthy looking.

Ciara McNamara publishes for the information source at http://www.laser-hair-removal-tips.com. The writer is publishing on issues like laser hair removal New Jersey.

Choosing a good hair restoration clinic is no doubt the most difficult task for any one deciding to go for a hair transplant. With thousands of hair transplant centers and hair transplant clinics mushrooming all over USA it is in fact quite confusing to track down a good hair transplant center.

The following article provides you with a good lead on how to go about choosing the right hair transplant center with a well regarded hair transplant surgeon performing the hair restoration surgery and with affordable hair replacement.

Questions to consider when choosing your prospective hair transplant surgeon and clinic

Before and during your contact with your prospective hair transplant surgeon and clinic, you need to look for signs and signals that this surgeon and clinic is capable of providing you with a quality result – a natural looking hair transplant. Unfortunately there are a number of clinics and surgeons out there that do poor quality work. Before, during and after the clinic interview there are some questions to ask yourself privately to try and reduce the risk of getting a hair transplant from a cowboy surgeon.

How did you find out about the clinic and the surgeon? In the yellow pages or by personal recommendation? A personal recommendation by someone who has already had a transplant from the clinic / surgeon you are considering is best. If you don’t have a friend or colleague who can give you a recommendation, it’s okay to start with an advertisement or even the yellow pages, but you need to do more footwork to find out whether the surgeon / clinic is good.

• How long has the clinic / surgeon been in business? If the clinic / surgeon has been around for a few years it suggests they must have a regular stream of (presumably satisfied) customers to stay in business.
• What reputation does the surgeon / clinic have? These days with the availability of powerful search engines on the internet it is fairly easy to find out other peoples’ opinions of the clinic / surgeon involved. Just type in their name and see what comes up.
• What reputation does the clinic / surgeon have in the business and legal arena? You could check with the better business bureau or equivalent in your area and check for any lawsuits brought against the clinic / surgeon. Often this can be done online. Contact your state medical board to see if any complaints have been filed against your hair transplant doctor or hair transplant clinic.
• What qualifications does the surgeon have? Is he/she a member of a professional organization specifically for the hair transplant profession? There are a few professional organizations (eg. In North America – The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons (ISHRS)) that attempt to improve hair transplant standards and ensure members do quality work. Membership of these organizations is not a guarantee that the surgeon is good, but it helps.
• In your contact with the clinic what is your general impression? Is the clinic in its own physical location or is it run from the back office of a general practice? Many hair transplant and cosmetic surgery clinics are in standalone buildings, others may be attached to larger dermatology clinics, each of which is valid. But some “clinics” are run by renting time in a surgery to do the operation and the only physical location may be a rented office not connected to a medical establishment. These small operations with a limited or no permanent location give cause for concern. They are harder to monitor and more difficult to contact if things go wrong.
• What is your impression in the interview? Does the surgeon sounds like he / she knows what they are talking about? Do they show pictures of their own work? Do they explain the risks as well as the benefits of hair transplantation?
• Do you feel some personal compatibility with the surgeon? You will be having a relatively intimate, albeit professional, relationship with this individual over a period of time if you have multiple hair transplant sessions. You need to feel comfortable with who you are dealing with.
• How pressured do you feel to sign up for the hair transplant? If you feel unduly pressured it is better to walk away. Give yourself time to think about it. You can always sign up later or find a different clinic. Clinics and surgeons that push hard to get you to sign up may be losing sight of their professional conduct requirements – to put the patient before profit.
• Prior to the surgery, did you actually meet with the surgeon who will oversee the transplant? Or did you just interview with a representative consultant, a nurse, or a technician? You should expect to see the surgeon at least once prior to the actual surgery. If you don’t see the surgeon before the procedure, or get only limited information, walk away from this clinic.
• Who will actually conduct the surgical procedure? It is not necessarily going to be the surgeon who will conduct the procedure form start to finish. Hair transplants usually involve quite a lot of people. If the surgeon is not going to be present and the procedure is to be done entirely by nurses or technicians, this is cause for concern.
• Is your hair transplant surgeon’s practice dedicated solely to surgical hair restoration? And if not, what percentage of his/her practice is? How many hair transplant operations does the surgeon conduct in a week/month/year? Some clinics and surgeons are exclusively focused on hair transplantation, they do nothing else. This is another indicator that the clinic and surgeon have extensive experience in hair transplantation.

Steve Harris specializes in various topics like hair transplant centers and affordable hair replacement. He has also authored a book on surgical hair restoration. Please visit http://www.hairrestorationadvice.com/.

Today’s article is all about hair loss and home remedies. While there are a LOT of products on the market today that claim to slow, stop, prevent or reverse hair loss, there are many other ways to attack hair loss that don’t include using strong chemicals or prescription drugs. Granted, some are effective and some are not, but the only way to know for sure (just like using Propecia) is to try them for yourself. I’m going to list a few possible ways to treat hair loss and let you make up your own mind on their effectiveness. Just to remind you all…I am not advocating any type of hair loss treatment, simply because every person is different and what might work for you might not work for someone else!

Okay, the first type of home remedy can be categorized as “herbal”. Many folks, including myself, have begun using certain herbs to combat all sorts of problems…anything from aging skin to a lack of energy to, you guessed it, hair loss. Here are some of the more popular herbs pertaining to hair loss…

Stinging nettle: Also known as Urtica Diocia, this herb has the ability to block the conversion of testosterone into DHT (DHT is often the cause of male hair loss). An optimum dose of 50-100mg per day in capsule form is recommended.

Ginkyo biloba: this herb is thought to improve blood circulation to the brain and skin. It is believed that the increased flow of blood to the brain area delivers more nutrients to the hair follicle thus promoting hair regrowth. A recommended dose is 120-160mg of dry extract each day spread over three doses.

He Shou Wu: Also known as Polygonum Multiflorum, this herb has traditionally been used to reduce hair loss and can be taken in capsule form or as a tea.

Pygeum Africanum: This herb is derived from the bark of the evergreen tree and it works like green tea. It is used to treat male pattern baldness. You should take 60-500mg per day in pill or capsule form.

Saw Palmetto: Also known as Seranoa Repens, this is a favorite choice for many men due to its ability to slow hair loss and encourage hair regrowth. Many commercially prepared hair loss treatments use this herb as a base but it can easily be found in its pure form. A dose of 160mg twice each day is recommended, but be sure the ingredients are made from the berry extract not the dried berries themselves.

The second type of home remedy for attacking hair loss are external preparations that are applied to the hair and scalp directly. Some of these may sound odd, but you never know until you try, right?

Safflower Oil: Also known as Carthamus Tinctorious, safflower oil applied to the scalp acts as a vasolidator that dilates blood vessels. This allows more blood to deliver nutrients to the hair follicle thus creating an environment conducive to hair regrowth.

Aloe Vera: You can rub Aloe Vera into your scalp each night. It’s believed that the herb activates the production of nitric oxide and contains an enzyme called superoxide dismutane. These two substances combined may stimulate hair regrowth in those suffering from male pattern baldness.

Red Pepper: Also know as Capiscum, you can apply Red Pepper to the scalp as a poultice. It irritates the scalp and stimulates blood flow to the base of the hair, which may encourage renewed hair growth.

Onion: Yes, onions. Some believe that rubbing the scalp with an onion before shampooing may actually stimulate hair growth…your mileage may vary!

There are many more home remedies that may aid in hair growth or regrowth. I will talk about these in future articles. Thanks for reading and take care!

Dave McCloskey is a long-time hair stylist who wants to share some of his knowledge with folks on the web. For more information on male hair loss: www.computtel.com/haircareblog.