Ace Spa & Massage Blog

Have you ever spent hours on curling or styling your hair just to walk out the door and have it ruined by the heat of summer? This is every girl’s common problem when getting ready for a warm, summer night out at a cookout or camping at the beach. With these hair styles, you can do your hair quickly and not worry about it for the rest of the night. The three biggest styles right now are beach waves, braids and up-dos. If you use some of these ideas your hair will look great all summer long.

Beach waves

This style is super fun and easy for a day at the beach or a night out on the town. All you have to do is put water and salt in a bottle, more or less, saltwater and then spray it into dry hair and scrunch. The salt keeps your hair in that scrunched style but doesn’t way it down like product. Thus leaving you with soft, natural waves, giving the impression that you just you may have just stepped out of the ocean. Once you see what I am talking about and see how easy it is to do it on your own hair, you will be absolutely obsessed.

Braided dos

There are a million different braided dos but I will just introduce you to a couple. One that is my personal favorite is the original fishtail braid. It has been around forever but there are a couple of ways you can fancy it up. You can do the fishtail bun, once you have a fishtail braid completed roll it up into a bun and then pin it low. You can leave it loose and messy or you can make it neat and tight. You can also just leave it as a braid but add a flower or a cute bow. Either way it is a great do for summer. The second braided do I love is the upside down French braid bun. I will show you an example of this but I would like to explain it first. This can be a little challenging for those that aren’t great at French braiding but don’t worry you will perfect it soon enough. You just flip your hair upside down and French braid the underneath from the bottom to the top where your bun sits, then just pull all the remaining hair together and through it up in a messy bun. It is so simple but so cute and unique.

Up-dos

Just like the braided dos there are many different updos but one that is simple for anyone to do is the sock bun. I wear the sock bun all the time, it is good for work, going to the beach or even going out. It only takes two minutes to do this hair style; all you need is a sock. You take the sock and cut the toe out of it and roll it up, then put your hair in a ponytail, slip the ponytail through the sock and roll the sock down, rolling your hair into it as you go. It will be awkward at first but once you get it in place on your head it will look fabulous, make it your own by pulling your bangs to the side or wrapping a braided piece of hair around the bun.

As you can see there is an endless amount of summer hairstyles to choose from. You can even mix and match different trends, like some of the ones I have shown you that have a braid and an updo.The most important thing when choosing which one to wear is comfort. You do not want to have to go out and worry about your hair all night, believe me I’ve been there. But with these hair styles I have shown you, even in the sweat of the heat, your hair will still look fabulous.

There are so many flaws that women want to fix on their bodies today. I don’t find shame in that at all; the one downfall though is the harmful chemicals it takes to erase those flaws. In this post, I will go through some natural remedies that can solve the same problems but with natural ingredients. I have tried some of these and plan on trying all of them, so far, I am just as satisfied as if I were buying a three hundred dollar cream or paying for a one hundred dollar treatment. Let me tell you about these exciting methods to try!

Cellulite Remedy

I personally have never tried this but I think they may be on to something with the caffeine in the remedy. Mix half a cup of caffeinated coffee beans and olive oil. All you have to do is put it on your legs on the area you want to treat and then leave it on for a little while. You repeat it about two or three times a week and do it for a few weeks. It may take a few months and you should try to exercise along with it to keep your legs tight but there is a good chance it reduce some cellulite, worth a try.

Puffy Eyes

All you need for this is egg whites. You have to beat them until stiff but then you just apply it under the eyes. Then you let it dry and then and then rinse it off. This would be great for maybe an early morning or if you aren’t getting enough rest.

Pearly Whites

I know all girls examine their teeth before they have to go to something important. Big dates, important interviews or a wedding or party, sometimes they are not up to par. You can use this remedy for fast teeth whitening and it’s cheap. Just mix mashed strawberry into baking soda and apply it to your teeth. Let it sit on there for a few minutes and then rinse and brush. Instantly whiter teeth, this one is a life saver!

Acne Scars Gone

I have used this one before and it works miracles, literally. Some of you may have bad acne scars left over as a reminder of your teenage breakouts, I can definitely relate. I had never used anything that lightened or clear up the acne scars but this does the trick. The remedy is a cooled down mixture of white, hot tea and apple cider vinegar. All you do is apply it to your face and then let it sit for a half hour. After you rinse it off, you can immediately see the difference. I think it helps restore your pH because it is a perfectly, balanced, pH solution with the vinegar as an acid and the tea as a base.

Dry Skin

This remedy is great for the cold, dry, winter months. Mix avocado with honey and let it sit for a few minutes and then wash your face with whatever face wash you use. I have never had smoother skin than after I tried this remedy. I loved it because sometimes moistures can leave your face heavy and greasy, this just soaked right into my skin, I love it!

Age Spots

Gladly, I have not gotten to this stage of my life yet, but it is a great remedy to know for when I do. For all you ladies that have earned your age spots, listen to this little trick. Mix onion juice and apple cider vinegar and apply it to your face, let it sit and then rinse and wash. To get best results do it every day for a few months. It is that simple; this is a great one for men too, especially if they feel uncomfortable about buying age creams and treatments from stores.

Fine Lines and Crows Feet

This one is great, I am already starting to get some lines on my face, so maybe I can eliminate them early, we will see. This one only uses one ingredient so it is not expensive at all. The good thing is that most of the stuff in these remedies are usually already in the kitchen. Take the juice from white grapes and apply where ever the unwanted lines are and then let it sit and then rinse. You have to do it a couple times a week until you get the results that you want.

Wrinkle Remedy

I have definitely seen how expensive wrinkle creams can get. If you are really worried about wrinkles but can’t afford a cream, try this. I haven’t tried it but it would definitely be worth a try. The preparation for this remedy is a tad weird, soak almonds in milk overnight and then grind or chop the almonds finely and mix that with the milk that it set in to make a paste. Add some honey and apply the paste and let it sit, then rinse it off and do it two to three times a week.

A Sugar Exfoliate

I love exfoliating my skin, there is nothing better and it just reforms your face back to normal. It gets rid of all the dead skin, grease and dirt. This particular one that I like to use is packed with other goodies that revitalize your skin too. You mix white sugar, brown sugar, coconut oil and strawberries. Rub on to face and then rinse off, it get rids of so many impurities, it is truly amazing. The great thing about this is that it is not bad for your face so you can use it almost as much as you would like.

Minimize Pores

This trick is a great one to have if you need it. Minimizing the pores can almost change the whole appearance of your skin. You can do wonders just by combining egg whites and corn starch; it sounds gross but trust in me it works! Apply to your face and then let it sit for a while. After you rinse it, you will be amazed in the difference. You may want to try it over a sink; it can get a little messy.

Healthy Scalp, Beautiful Hair

I know most girls are obsessed with their hair, I know I am! I get really disappointed in some of the hair products out there. They all just seem to weigh my hair down and don’t give me the shine or the bounce that I want. I am going to tell you a couple different things to try. One thing is egg whites; mix them with some olive oil and a little bit of water. After that massage all over hair and let it sit and then rinse it. I just did this the other day and after my hair dried and I could see the difference, it was unbelievable. Another great one is apple cider vinegar; just put some on your scalp after you shampoo your hair and then rinse it out. If you keep your scalp healthy and vitalized it really will make a world of difference, your hair will be shinier and it will have great body. Another option if you really want to go extreme is washing your hair with no shampoo, I will tell you about the process in a second.

I am actually in the process of starting to do this with my own hair but it takes awhile. I would try to wait for a six month period where you don’t have much going on because it can make your hair a little crazy at first when it is trying to get used to the change of not using shampoo. For shampoo you use baking soda and for conditioner you use vinegar. It sounds weird but it does eliminate all the bad things that products leave in your hair. Also, it doesn’t dry your hair out or weigh it down. It is amazing all around!

I urge all of you girls to at least try a couple of these amazing tips. For all you men out there that are a little adventurous, feel free to try them too! There are many reasons why these remedies are better than buying products but I will leave you with three to think about. One it is less expensive, why spend hundreds of dollars on products when you could grab something out your pantry and get the same results? Secondly, it is better for the environment, all the toxins in the things we buy are affecting us and the environment.

By using natural things, we aren’t emitting any harmful chemicals into the air, land or water. Lastly, it is so much better for you. I can’t even explain to you the amount of difference you will notice. Using these natural remedies we can not only beautify ourselves but also make our bodies healthier. Just give these a try, you won’t be disappointed!

With summer approaching fast, girls do not want to wear a lot of makeup because it is so hot and it will melt off. Girls don’t want to do their hair because after being in the sun, every hair style will eventually go limp. Girls have to have at least one way to show their style that can sustain even the hottest days. That’s why we have nail art…I will show you a couple different nail art trends that are hot right now!

One Nail Contrast

This trend is very simple for anyone to do. You can fancy it up or keep it casual. All you have to do is paint all your nails one color and then add a pop to one nail on each finger. The contrast nail can be any which nail you like; most girls like to do the middle finger nail or the ring finger nail. This contrast nail can have a pattern or glitter or simply be a contrasting color to the rest of your nails.

I have even started painting my nails a color that goes well with everything, a nude or a gold or silver. Then, with every outfit I just change the contrasting nail color to pull my look together or match the bag I am carrying that day. You can also do it the opposite way by painting all your nails with a design or glitter and then having one nail a solid color, both ways are trendy. Here are a couple of examples that I have found that really show off this trend.

So you can see here that you can go completely all out with a design or just keep it simple, either way it will look unique and give your look something special.

Summer Nail Art

Another big nail art trend is summer nails. There are many ways to do this trend, from painting summery images onto your nails or just using bright, summer colors. Summer colors tend to be more bright and vibrant, pinkish red, orange or nude. You want to stay away from the dark blues, purples and definitely not black. Some girls will put anchors or a stripe, fun patterns is what the summer nail is all about.

Another summer art trend is painting fruit on your nails, I know that this sounds weird but if you do it tastefully it can look super cute. I have seen watermelons, lemons, apples and many others that are super unique but look great.

The most important thing about nail art is that you make it your own. Everyone has their own different style and attitude, express it in your nails. Just play around with different ideas and feed off of other nail art you see. This trend is growing fast so I am sure it won’t be long before we see a lot of other cute, nail art trends going around. Like I said before, it is hard to show off your style in the heat of the summer but if you follow some of these nail trends, your nails will be the hit of any summer cookout.

With these few tips that I will introduce you to, you can look beautiful all day, regardless of the sweat and water you encounter during the summer. It can be a challenge to keep your face looking pretty in the heat but worry no more!

Choose the Right Colors

In the summer we don’t want to see any dark, rich colors. Say goodbye to smoky eyes and dark, red lips. Instead, we want neutral tons with a pop of color here and there. Try a rosy cheek stain to give your face that summer glow. You can also try a coral lip or an orange lip. The one main thing to remember is that we don’t need a lot going on, we want to keep it light, just a hint of color here and there to accentuate your natural glow.

Go Waterproof

Recently, many companies have been providing a lot more products that are water proof. Now they even have waterproof eye shadow and even some cheek stains or lip tints. Also, the formulas for the waterproof mascaras and eyeliners are much better and resist the water without it clumping up or flaking off. If these products don’t do it for you, you can even put regular product on and cover it with the waterproof products.

Stay-proof Your Eye Shadow

In the summer we want to stay away from cream eye shadows, they don’t stand a chance. We want to use a powder eye shadow over a primer. The primer helps give the eye shadow something to hold on to and it will be less likely for it to melt away. This tip can be used all year round to keep your eye makeup looking fresh all day long.

Make-up with SPF

Another helpful hint for summer makeup is using products that have a SPF already in them. This way you do not have to try to put sunscreen on over your makeup, which can get extremely messy. They have primer, lip tints and even some cheek stains that have SPF in them. This way you can look great and protect your face at the same time, double plus!

Primer First

This is one of the more important tips, put primer on as the base of your makeup. By doing this you make your face a clean canvas for the makeup of your choice. By priming first it will give the makeup something to sink into and have a lot less of a chance of melting off. Just like the eye shadow trick, it works the same way.

Bring on the Glow

If for some reason your face does start to shine in unwanted places, just blot the sweat off and then add some glow. Using bronzer is great because after you blot your face, you can just dust on some bronzer and look brand new again. I suggest blotting your face with grease papers; they are thin papers that just soak up the grease when you touch it to your face.

If you have always had trouble doing your makeup in the summer, in a way that actually allows it to last all day, try these ideas in your daily routine. They will make a world of difference and you won’t have to reapply makeup all day. Also, as one last tip, remember it is important to look great but even more important to keep your skin healthy on these hot, sunny days, so always keep SPF in your routine as well. Enjoy!

Visiting a salon or hairstylist for the first time is always a bit scary. Women who had bad experiences at a salon know all too well. So how do you prevent a hair disaster at the hair salon? Follow these three tips!

Tip #1: Do your research!

Before I go select a salon, I ask people in my inner circle (typically the ones with hair I envy). Yes your friends, family, co-worker, etc… are great references for a salon. They have your best interest at heart, not the salon.

If you don’t have hair envy for a person in your inner circle, go online. Online reviews are everywhere from restaurants to plumbers. Entering the salon’s name and the word review will typically pull up websites containing reviews on the salon. Read the reviews and look for specific details on a person’s experience. Sometimes people can go overboard on minor details, such as the décor. Focus on lack of customer service (long wait times, rude receptionists and stylist), stylist not following directions when specific directions were given, and poor up keep of the shop (dirty towels not stored away out of view, unsweep hair).

Once you have a salon or two in mind, review the salon’s website or call the salon. You want to verify they provide the service you looking for. If you looking to have extensions added or a sew-in, these services are not standard services and your salon may not perform the service. Hate to waste your fuel and time only to find out the salon you chosen doesn’t do the service.

Of course you can’t leave everything to your stylist imagination. Last time I went to the salon to get highlights and overall base color, I brought a picture (via my Iphone) ofHalle Berry with the hair color and highlights I wanted. Bring pictures will get your idea of what you want across better than any word description and hand gestures you put up.

Tip #2: Observe your surrounding

When you arrive at your selected salon, look around. Going back to the focus of the reviews. You are there in person and you find the dirty towels, unswept hair, and poor customer service. Don’t take the chance. You can always find time in the near future to see another salon but you can’t grow your hair back in the next month when the stylist fails to identify a relaxer over conditioner due to poor labeling. Start a conversation with the receptionist. Tell him/her the services you are looking for and request the best stylist for the job. Ask them how long the stylist been working for the salon, how busy they are (busier they are is a sign of happy repeat customers), and what they specialize in. You can get a lot of upfront information about the stylist without annoying them from your receptionist.

Tip #3: Let’s Talk!

You need to have a talk/consultation with your stylist prior to any service being provided. I went to a salon one time where they immediately shampooed my hair without a consultation (never again). You need to inform them about what you expect. Remember the pictures even for basic styles or colors. You might even bring a picture of yourself with a hairstyle you want again. The stylist should provide good customer service by informing you the steps he/she will be taken and how long they expect the service to take. Once you have gotten your vision across and you are comfortable with the fact that the stylist knows what you want, let your stylist proceed.

Now the talk at beginning doesn’t stop there. Throughout the process stay alert especially during specific moments, such as hair cutting, highlight applications, and weave in closures. Speak up if you see the stylist cutting too much, highlighting larger sections than what was discussed, or sectioning the weave part of the enclosure on the un-preferred side.

Some other reminders.

A stylist might specialize in extensions and weaves application but may not be great at cutting hair. It’s okay to see multiple stylist to get the right style. Once you find that great stylist, make sure to book your next appointment prior to leaving the shop. You might had been a walk-in this time around and was lucky but next time he/she may not be available.

Hopefully with these helpful tips, you’ll find your next salon visit a pleasant experience and a picture perfect hair style.