Friday, November 30, 2012

Cutting Through Cutbacks

Times are tough and many have a choice: Either buy groceries, buy gas, or cut back on the haircuts. Barbershop visits are one of the first things to go. Customers go from every week, to every other week, to once a month. This is where www.themobilebarber.com helps you out. Save time and money starting today.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

No Shave November

Fellas, November is upon us! Let those beards go! No more shaving until December 1st.

What originally started as a trend to increase awareness about Prostate and testicular cancer has developed into a large-scale trend, with men of all ages attempting their own month of no shaving. The American Cancer Society says there are about 8,500 new cases per year, and of those more than 300 men will die. A man's lifetime chance of having testicular cancer is about 1 in 270. Testicular cancer is one of the most curable forms of cancer. Because treatment is so successful, the risk of dying from this cancer is very low. Whether you are competing with some of your buddies, or showing support for a loved one, let's help raise the awareness. It is never to early to get checked out. Now get out there and grow that manly beard!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Cold Weather and Hair Care

Cold weather can have a negative effect over our hair so it is necessary to maintain a proper hair care routine. Wind and everything else that comes along with the cold season can make our hair unmanageable.
The cold weather is here, so we can say goodbye to summer.  It is all about the cold seasons now, which do have their advantages. No more heat, no more sun damage, but that doesn't mean that during the cold we don't have to protect our hair. Winter and cold air can dry out your hair so make sure you apply a deep conditioning hair treatment every week.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Why Is Your Hair Dry?

Listed below are some common causes and solutions of dry hair.

Possible Causes
  • Shampooing too often
  • Use of shampoos with harsh sulfates
  • Use of products with alcohol which can also be drying
  • Not drinking enough water
  • Sleeping on a cotton pillowcase or using a cotton scarf, which rob hair of moisture
  • Overly porous or low porosity hair
  • Not using water based hair moisturizers
  • Not sealing moisture in with an oil or butter
  • Improper hair pH
  • Excessive use of heavy products w/out proper cleansing (build-up)
  • Color treated hair (notorious for dryness)
  • Too much chlorine (from swimming pools or tap water)
  • Salt (from ocean water)
  • General weathering from the elements
  • Mechanical damage from over manipulation (which leave the cuticle vulnerable)
Solutions
  • Increase water in-take
  • Pre-shampoo with an oil that can penetrate the hair shaft like coconut oil
  • Cleanse with moisturizing shampoos or ones that contain milder surfactants like Coco Betaine, and always follow up with a conditioner that moisturizes well
  • Use a water based leave-in conditioner after your wash and conditioning routine, and seal it in with a butter or oil while damp or wet
  • Explore protective styling to help retain moisture
  • Use deep conditioners weekly. Some may need to apply indirect heat through a shower cap, steamer, hair therapy wrap, etc., while deep conditioning
  • Evaluate if your water is hard or soft and if it needs to be treated
  • Protect your hair, when going swimming, with conditioner and a swim cap or use of a product specifically designed for sun/chlorine/salt, such as Ouidad Sun Shield
  • Determine the pH of the products you use in your hair and adjust the ratios/products accordingly
  • Always use a heat protectant when styling with heat.
  • Sleep with a satin pillow case and/or satin scarf
  • Be patient and gentle when handling your hair
Find out WHY your hair is dry. After you establish this, you can determine how best to combat the issue.  A well moisturized head of hair is a happy one!



Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Fighting Razor Bumps

What are razor bumps?
First of all though, it is worthwhile understanding what razor bumps actually are, and what causes them in the first place. Knowing this makes it easier to eliminate the cause of the problem, and hopefully, razor bumps will be a thing of the past.
Although razor bumps can sometimes seem like pimples, this is only half true. What happens is that when the hair is cut on an odd angle, this tends to make the hair grow back at the same odd angle and, unfortunately this angle can make the hair curl back into the skin.  When the hair actually penetrates the skin, the skin then starts reacting to this intrusion, and sees it as an infection, which of course, our own antibodies kick into action and surround the spot with their germ killing abilities, which are what results in the slight swelling and redness all too common with razor bumps.
If this infection gets more out of hand, and a staphylococcal bacterium enters the site, then we have a more serious problem that needs specific antibiotic treatment from a medical practitioner. But we don’t want it to get that bad! How to get rid of razor bumps is easy, when we know how. The following steps take focus on how to take care of your neck.

Step 1: Don’t shave everyday
The first recommendation is to give your skin a rest, where possible. If it is not vital to look clean shaven every day, leave it for a day or two, to give your skin a break from the constant abrasion that the razor blade can cause. You might even consider using an alternative shaving device like an electric shaver, on these in-between days.

Step 2: Soften Your skin
It is common knowledge that warm water opens the pores of our skin.  Of course, hairs grow out of pores. The principle here is that if we warm the skin first with warm water, this will soften the skin, making it more subtle. This will result in the hair being cut at a more even angle. The only downside to this treatment is that it will take time. But to eliminate this problem, it is possible to have a mirror in the shower and to shave at the end of a shower, when the skin is already moist and warm. If this is not possible, then you will need to hold a moist warm face cloth over your face for about 5 minutes, to achieve the same level of moisture and subtleness.

Step 3: Proper shaving methods
The importance of this cannot be over-estimated. Further to this regime, when you want to know how to get rid of razor bumps, you need some good quality shaving cream.  You also need to not rush this. Ideally leave the shaving cream on for 5 minutes to enjoy maximum moisture. Here is another very important aspect. Be careful to shave with the grain of the hair, never away from it. You will know when you are rubbing against the grain of the hair because this will be more prickly and abrasive, than if you are rubbing with the grain. Shaving with the grain, and only once, none of this scraping over the same spot, will reduce the occurrence of razor bumps.

Step 4: Take care of Your skin.
Now, the final process requires you to apply an after shave lotion. This is because your face is most susceptible to razor bumps just after you have shaven, so the purpose of applying after shave is because it reduces the growth of bacteria, the nasty cause of shaving bumps.

Step 5: Leave the bumps alone!
Last but not least, don’t irritate any bumps any further! Don’t pick or scrape them. This is only going to inflame the cells even more. However now that you know how to get rid of razor bumps the correct way, and if the odd one or two might still persist, then there are special preparations on the market that are antiseptic or alcohol based and there are natural products also, like tea tree oil or witch-hazel which are equally as effective.
Give it time, and be patient, and the results will happen. Just remember that razor bumps do go away and you can enjoy a fresh looking complexion again.

*I recommend using the Shea Moisture Shave Tea Tree Herbal Bump Preventer after you shave.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Hair Growth Tips

Many men want to grow their hair longer but have trouble doing so. There are many reasons why it can be challenging to grow hair. Although black hair grows just as fast as other types of hair — roughly a half inch each month — it is often very curly, fragile, brittle, and dry. This makes black hair susceptible to breaking, and the more it breaks, the shorter it seems.

While genes and diet play an important role in how long hair grows, how you care for your hair may play an even larger role in growing black hair. Here are some hair growth tips for black men.

Trim off damaged and split ends regularly, as they will interfere with the hair growth process.

Keep hair clean. Clean hair and a clean scalp help hair grow faster. When hair is dirty, the dirt clogs the hair follicles, which makes it more difficult for hair to grow. But try not to shampoo every day, as black men’s hair is easily damaged, and daily shampoos can actually cause breakage. Cleanse with conditioner instead.

Rinse hair only with lukewarm water. Hot water dries the hair and makes it brittle.

Lubricate your hair. Applying a moisturizer to the hair can greatly reduce the amount of split ends and breakage and promote growth. But be sure to use only a little so your hair doesn’t become oily.

Add vitamin B supplements to your diet, as vitamin B has been shown to help increase the rate of hair growth.

Bone up on protein either by eating a high protein diet filled with meat, fish, eggs, avocados, nuts, and beans, or by adding protein supplements to your drinks, as protein strengthens hair and encourages growth.

Increase your folic acid intake. Folic acid is critical to hair health and growth. You can easily eat a diet high in folic acid by making soybeans, green vegetables, and carrots a part of your daily menu.

By following these simple tips, you can easily grow your hair to get any look you want.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Are You Keeping Up With The Trends

Many of today’s haircuts can quickly become overwhelming. Recently, black men have taken it back to high top fades just to make a statement. Some popular choices are the bald fade, edge up or the classic tapered cut. Some guys might even keep it short and simple so their cut is easy to maintain. Today’s men are given many more options for creating cool and hip looks with very short hairstyles.

Remember to keep it sharp whatever you choose and always be unique. Wearing the same hairstyle that everyone else has is very yesterday. If you have 360 spin’n waves make sure your lines are razor sharp. This will let everyone know you have class and you are serious about your hair. Don’t be afraid to also take a new turn and have The Mobile Barber carve out something unique and stylish giving your hair edge. Before you have your barber fade your hair advise him how you want it first. Don’t be shy and just ask for a fade so you can avoid mistakes before they happen.

You can sport a Mohawk or something that will attract the ladies without ever having to say a word. Just remember that your hair should never have limits and at the end of the day you are the technician of your own image. So just be original with whatever style you decide to sport and go for it.  Haircuts have many different forms of expression it is up to you to contribute your own unique style to the arena. Remember that going with a style that fits your personality will compliment you best. It is also always a good idea to create a hair style that will fit your face and attitude. The key to creating a good hairstyle is to do what works best for you.