Monday, March 15, 2010

See Red! The Rules for Ravishing Red Hair

See RED?
The rules for ravishing Red hair


Fiery red hair is something Hollywood has loved throughout the ages. Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, Bette Midler and Diane Keaton have all been redheads. These days, dazzling and talented actors Lindsay Lohan, Debra Messing, Susan Sarandon and Kirsten Dunst (in Spider-Man) are among those who make us covet the vibrant color.
However, from strawberry blonde to auburn, crimson to copper, there are so many ravishing reds available that it's difficult to know which is right for you.
The good news is that anyone can wear some shade of red. Some look natural and others don't - which is okay, if that's the look you're going for. The key is to learn which works best for you and then adjust your makeup, especially your lipstick accordingly.
Keep in mind, blue-red or red-red hair color doesn't exist in nature. People can wear those hues, and they can be very flattering and look almost natural if applied correctly. The only red hair that exists naturally is hair of red-orange tones. So if you want hair color mimics natural red hair, go with a red-orange shade ranging from the palest golden strawberry, or copper to the most intense red-orange.
When it comes to discussing Reds with your stylist, it would be best to communicate through photographs, because people often have different ideas about what a copper, strawberry or auburn shade looks like. A photo ensures that you are speaking the same language, thus working toward the same end result.
Once you and your colorist are on the same page, you need to think about your entire image before proceeding. For example, wearing a certain shade might require a complete change or modification of your makeup. If you're willing to do that, go for it. Just consider the cost, and make sure you get a makeup consultation and lesson from the salon before leaving.
Finally, know that red hair color fades faster than other shades because the red color molecule is the largest, making it the most difficult color for the hair shaft to hold on to. The key to long-term success is to use a shampoo and conditioner specially formulated to preserve red hair color from day one. The mistake many people make is to wait until the hair color starts to fade, then try to revive it. You will be much happier if you maintain your new red from the first day you wear it home. Your stylist can certainly talk with you about how to preserve your new color by using the right shampoo and conditioners.
Another way to ensure that your red lasts as long as possible is to ask your colorist about the color she uses. I personally use AFFINAGE Infinity Permanent Hair Color; bRed® Color Highlighting Cream; and bRed® Refresher Colors for all my Red hair services. With the latest DATEM Technology in AFFINAGE colors, I find it is longer lasting than traditional color and does not cause damage because it encapsulates the oxygen, reducing the action of the free radicals, which leads to no oxidization occurring and allows much deeper penetration of the pigment and conditioning base. This results in a longer lasting color and a superior finish to the hair. Wake up the world around you with a totally new look, try red and see what kind of fires ignite!

BEAUTY BANTER is a monthly column written by LeAnne Nguyen sharing ideas, technique and product knowledge to help readers obtain the most benefit from the time and financial investment you budget in order to look your best, all the time. If you have any suggestion or ideas about future topics, please contact LeAnne Nguyen at The Alternative Salon & Spa 858-485-7895 or leanne@TheAlternativeSalon.com

Friday, January 15, 2010

Skin Care In A Cup

SKIN CARE IN A CUP
By LeAnne Nguyen. M.E.
Based on the work of Shelly Burns, N.D.

For the last 27 years the Alternative Salon has been known for its excellent hair services for all our guests. What you might not realize is that we also have advance skin care services available.

Skin care services are provided by our Medical Estheticians. Our medical estheticians are highly trained, certified cosmetic therapists that are trained in helping to prevent the effects of aging, reduce the effects of aging and help those people with skin disorders or inflictions to remedy their skin problems.

A way to help maintain healthy skin tone and condition between facial treatments is through proper consumption of foods, minerals and nutrients. One of which is Green tea. Green tea, a longtime Chinese elixir, has been used historically to treat headaches, body aches, poor digestion, and improve life expectance. It’s also good for skin.

Due to the steaming process green tea leaves are left full of polyphenols, which serves as powerful antioxidants that help fight free radicals encountered from food consumption and environmental stress.

Green tea also is rich in vitamin K, which allows calcium to be formed in the matrix of bones and supports mental acuity. Green tea also has thermogenic effect, which aid in weight loss without causing unwanted side effects, such as the “jiffers”.

Drink 6 to 10 cups of green tea daily, preferable by steeping the leaves, will provide you with all the benefits associated with its polyphenols. Decaffeinated green tea has all of the antioxidant benefits without the caffeine side effects.

In support of all the benefits that Green tea has to offer, The Alternative Salon & Spa is now serving all variety of Green Teas to our salon guests. Whether you like your tea hot or cold, we encourage our guests to raise a cup to Green Tea and reap the benefits.

The Alternative Salon & Spa specializes in promoting beauty from within. Our Medical Esthetic Division is now offered a FREE Oxygen Facial and Skin Analysis. For more information please check us on line at www.WALEMAInc.com. Our salon & spa is located at 16777 Bernardo Center Drive, Suite E-1, in the Plaza Shopping Center.
858-485-7895

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Sun Signature Article - December 2009

Sun Signature Article - December 2009

Live well and live long; make a transition in your life using a healthy food system

One of The Alternative Salon and Spa’ s philosophy on health and beauty has always been about “Beauty From Within.”

Live Well and Live Long is one of the Transitions Lifestyle Sys- tems. We at the Alternative Salon and Spa are now proudly offering instruction and seminars on this healthy lifestyle system.

Two of every three Americans have weight challenges. There are 300,000 deaths per year due to unhealthy dietary habits and physi- cal inactivity. Being overweight is also a risk factor for osteoarthritis. What’s worse, 15% of all children are overweight in America.

Americans spend $33 billion annually trying to fight the bulges, and yet there is No Magic Bullet to fight being overweight.

In most cases, ‘diets’ are not the correct answer to make permanent weight and health adjustments. It takes a lifestyle change, a change in the foods people choose to fuel their bodies to make you a more healthy person.

The pounds did not accumulate overnight, and we cannot expect to reduce the pounds overnight. Plan- ning, life changes, assistance from others, knowledge and a change of diet are required to accomplish this goal.

The general adage, “Believe in Yourself,” begins with being able to “Say it to Yourself” that you will make a change in your lifestyle to accomplish your goals to wellness.

Get rid of the word “Diet” (who wants do anything that starts with the word “die” anyway?).

Instead of buying “Diet Foods,” replace it with words like, “choos- ing healthy” foods. Instead of “I am going to be on a diet” (after the holiday of course), replace the concept with, “I am on my way to a better and healthier ME.”

Instead of (in your mind) thinking how dreadful it is to be on anothe diet (possibly another yo-yo one), replace your mind set with, “I am so excited about the new and healthier life style I chose for myself.”

Any words or actions that express your own freedom of choice could only empower, excite, encourage and reinforce your desire to want to change; to be good to yourself because YOU totally deserve it!

If you say to yourself that you are excited about starting something new, you will begin to believe what you say and your body will do whatever it takes to get you there. A lot of times it is not what you experience (based on previous ex- perience or assumptive feelings) or even believe that get you started on something. It is what you “SAY” to yourself that jump-starts and sets things in motion.

In the case of gaining control of your health and jump starting your new life style (never about losing weight, who wants to lose anything?), you may have to trick your mind, bypass the experience and the belief and go straight to “SPEAKING” it first!

Transitions Lifestyle System is an extensive plan that covers ev- erything you’ll need to get fit and trim, not just a set of foods you can or cannot eat. In fact, a big part of the Transitions Lifestyle System is helping you make wise food choices while still eating normal, diverse foods.

Transitions Lifestyle System plan doesn’ t focus  just on food, like many other systems. The Transitions Lifestyle System provides a total-system approach that promotes healthy food choices, behavior modification and menu plans.

The Transitions Lifestyle System includes: low-glycemic index (GI) meal plans (you’ ll    find    out    what this really means), a daily journal to guide you, weight-management supplements to accelerate weight loss, entrees, bars and shakes to keep you on track, behavior modifi- cation, support materials to ensure your success, an interactive website to track your progress and more.

One-on-One Health Coaching is free. We are there to assist, to encourage and to celebrate your success every step of the way.

The Alternative Salon and Spa will be hosting Transitions Life Style System Informational Semi- nars on the following dates and times:
Jan. 4, Lunch & Learn, 12:30 p.m.
Jan. 4, Evening Seminar, 7 p.m.
Jan. 18, Lunch & Learn, 12:30 p.m.
Jan. 18, Evening Seminar, 7 p.m.

Future hosting of "Holostic Appproach to Home-Cooked Meals” will be presented in a demonstrative format shortly after each seminar. Look for Part 2 of Live Well and Live Long segment in the January 2010 issue of The Sun Signature.

The future hosting of “Holistic Approach to Home-Cook Meals” will be announced in the January article.    The seminars are free of charge, however, reservations are strongly recommended.

For more information, contact The Alternative Salon & Spa at (858) 485-7895.

View The Alternative Salon website
View LeAnne's information at The Alternative Salon

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Sun Signature Article - November 2009

Sun Signature Article - November 2009

In a changing world, some things don't change

Everyday, we experience changes in our lives. Some of those changes we mark and remember as pro- nounced or drastic, some, we don’t even notice.

If we have any influence on those changes, most of us would strive to make every change an improve- ment to our lives and the lives of those around us.

Some of the most difficult life changes are those that happen in our workplace. The Alternative Salon & Spa has undergone ma- jor changes in the last year that include new management, product modifications, decoration of the salon itself and other minor physi- cal changes throughout the salon. Even the way we make coffee and serve cookies has changed!

However, the salon itself, The Alternative    Salon,    with    it’ s    cre- ative stylists and services, friendly atmosphere and    willingness to do what’s best for customers and the community of Rancho Bernardo, is still in the same place it has been for the past 27 years.

The Salon has addressed many therefore, let’ s take  advantage  of change and make today a better day than yesterday.

What future changes might you see at the Alternative Salon? We will bring in additional talent to The Alternative while expanding hours to serve our customers more conveniently. We look forward to seeing full wedding services ranging from customized mineral makeup to airbrush makeup, creat- ing a flawless look for an unforgettable wedding day.

We will also introduce dietary nutrition analysis and recommen- dations to promote beauty from the inside out. Other changes might include hair extension services, Japanese hair straightening sys- tems, Brazilian Keratin treatments and the latest and hottest hair care treatment from Hollywood.

Come enjoy the quality of 26 years of service to the North County Inland area. 

Remember, you are the beauty, we can only enhance it.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Sun Signature Article - October 2009

Sun Signature Article - October 2009
By Nancy Canfield

When LeAnne Kordis, owner of The Alternative Salon and Spa was working on her PhD in Behavioral Therapy, she never realized where she’d be putting that education to work.

As her “bread and butter,” she trained as a hairstylist and makeup artist, eventually earning her li- cense as a Medical Esthetician. That required five years experience under doctors such as plastic surgeons, and three years of study. She also added acupuncture to her skill set.

The more LeAnne worked with people on their hair, skin and scalp, the more she learned the complex- ity of their dissatisfaction with their appearance. It came from within, and LeAnne wanted to apply a more holistic approach.

Eventually, she branched out to include Healing Beauty, or medical tattooing, especially for cancer pa- tients, in terms of giving a woman back a part of her that disappeared, her aureola.

The Susan Koman Foundation has invited LeAnne to write ar- ticles for them.

When patients complete chemotherapy, they may be left with no eyebrows or eyelashes; tattooing is a better alternative to false hair which may come off inopportunely.

“Tattooing helps people feel more normal, because they look it. The prescription for health and beauty go hand in hand with feeling good about yourself. “Women wear many hats, have many emotions; they’re multi-faceted,” LeAnne says.

In counseling clients, LeAnne found that many people are the victims of domestic violence either as children or adults. In fact, that was the thrust of her PhD dissertation, trying to help young victims to cope with their past and become successful despite their pain. Lots of image issues there.

After a number of years down- town San Diego, LeAnne brought her talents to Rancho Bernardo in 2004, intent on providing more personalized services.

Located in the Bernardo Plaza for the past year, right near Mas- sage Envy, LeAnne and her staff of 20 are ready to help you improve your image. Give her a call and find out how at (858) 485-7895.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Sun Signature Article - August 2009

Sun Signature Article - August 2009
Beauty and professional makeup offered at The Alternative Salon and Spa


The Alternative Salon & Spa aesthetics staff are a team of pro- fessional makeup artists with combined experience of over 20 years in wedding, personal and formal makeup.

They offer custom mineral make- up and individual/small group makeup courses.

“It is our mission and passion to dedicate our skills in helping every woman attain her own con- fidence and beauty through our personalized makeup services and education,” says Leanne Kordis, owner/manager of the Salon. Mineral Makeup and its benefits

Mineral Makeup is a new trend. Everybody is talking about mineral makeup and how it is revolution- izing the cosmetics industry.

But why is it so popular ?

First of all, high quality mineral makeup is made from 100% pure earth minerals and therefore con- tains no chemicals such as talc, fragrance, oils, additives, dyes and chemicals that usually irritate sensitive skin and can be damaging to pores.

Besides its natural contents, Min- eral Cosmetics, especially Mineral Foundation offers many benefits:
• Hydration, which keeps your skin dry
• Provides excellent sun protec-tion
• Gives a perfect and silky luminous look
• Provides long lasting and flawless make up coverage because it absorbs the excess oil and is suitable for all skin tones and skin types from oily to dry and hyper sensitive skin.
• Mineral Powder is recom- mended by most Dermatologists for severe acne, rosacea, skin allergies and eczema because the minerals actually heal the skin and nourish it which is ideal for hiding dark, red spots, broken capillaries, rosacea and acne scars, without creating irritations to the skin
• Mineral Powder can be applied after a chemical peel, microderm- abrasion or laser resurfacing with no risk of inflammation or allergic reaction
Mineral Makeup also does not clog the pores and protects the delicate areas of the skin
• Mineral Makeup works well for mature skin because it reflects light and camouflages fine lines and wrinkles
• Mineral Makeup is light and allows your skin to breathe.

With all these benefits mentioned above, no wonder mineral makeup is now gaining huge popularity in the cosmetics and beauty industry.

Mineral Makup is suitable for all skin types and ages.

Mineral Make Up Quick Start Pakages are available at our spe- cial price now until Aug. 31, 2009. Contact LeAnne at The Alternative Salon & Spa for more details at. Or, go online at: www.MotivesCosmetics.com/ExoticBeauty.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Sun Signature Article - July 2009

Sun Signature Article - July 2009
Introducing Facials for the Scalp


The Alternative Salon & Spa would like to introduce a new Hair Restoration from Nioxin. It’s called SCALP RENEW.

Our scalp is an extension and part of our skin. Like our skin, the scalp develops layers of dead skin cells, sebum plugs and build-up from products and harsh environments which contribute to miniatured, weak hair.

Nioxin, SCALP RENEW, is the first in-salon service of its kind. Think of it as a “facial for the scalp!”

SCALP RENEW is an anti-aging treatment that utilizes a patent-pending Natural Dermabrasion technology to restore scalp and hair health. SCALP RENEW is formu- lated to dissolves away the effects of aging. You will see the immediate results as this special scalp therapy will open follicle sites and increases cellular turnover. You will also see progressive re- sults over time as the scalp treatment add- ed density and strength to hair and increases collagen pro- duction.

SCALP RENEW can be used immediately prior to a hair color, relaxer or perm service. SCALP RENEW will not impact hair color at all. SCALP RENEW therapy should be used once every 4 -6 weeks. Application more often is not recommended and will not make the product more effective.

The Alternative Salon is located in Rancho Bernardo Plaza Shopping Center at 16777 Bernardo Center Drive, Suite E-1. Call (858) 485- 7895 to make an appointment.