Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The City Insight Writes About The Mobile Barber
Today is a BIG day for what I thought was a small business. My parents always told me that "someone is always watching you". You may think that you aren't being noticed, or you are flying under the radar, but that's not the case. Today, I had the honor of reading the first(of many) articles that was written about me and my business. I was contacted about a month ago and learned that I was going to be featured in an upcoming issue of The City Insight. It's true, hard work does pay off! Please take a moment to enjoy the article, as well as their site. http://www.thecityinsight.com/articles/2-triangle-business/710-the-mobile-barber-comes-to-you
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
How to Create a Good Hair Care Routine
Whether you're more of the "Classic" type or into the latest and trendiest hairstyles, a thorough yet simple hair care routine is critical to keeping your manly locks looking great.
1.Shampoo: Choose a nice, soothing aromatic shampoo that is appealing to one's taste. Shampooing daily with the rinse and repeat instructions is not a ploy to sell more products. A second shampoo gets the job done. The first shampoo prepares the scalp to be thoroughly cleaned by loosening up all the products that make hair look and feel great!
2.Tone: Gently massage your scalp as you shampoo. Use the balls of the fingertips in a "spider doing push-ups" fashion. This is an often skipped part of everyone's hair care routine. It's too bad because toning for a few minutes -- even after shampooing, not only feels great, but helps the scalp release natural oils from one's sebaceous glands. There's no special way to massage, although, try to avoid a circular pattern on long hair. Most of the oil is near the scalp. If no conditioner is to follow, gently towel dry the hair by squeezing to avoid tangles. A light, BB-sized dab of a moisturizing conditioner works miracles.
3.Condition: Moisturize your hair. Conditioner is an essential hair product if your hair is dry. An herbal rinse is better for those with oily hair. You can make both products yourself but they can be purchased for a few dollars at any popular pharmacy or salon supply store.
4.Groom: Get the right tools. You'll likely need the following:
1.Shampoo: Choose a nice, soothing aromatic shampoo that is appealing to one's taste. Shampooing daily with the rinse and repeat instructions is not a ploy to sell more products. A second shampoo gets the job done. The first shampoo prepares the scalp to be thoroughly cleaned by loosening up all the products that make hair look and feel great!
2.Tone: Gently massage your scalp as you shampoo. Use the balls of the fingertips in a "spider doing push-ups" fashion. This is an often skipped part of everyone's hair care routine. It's too bad because toning for a few minutes -- even after shampooing, not only feels great, but helps the scalp release natural oils from one's sebaceous glands. There's no special way to massage, although, try to avoid a circular pattern on long hair. Most of the oil is near the scalp. If no conditioner is to follow, gently towel dry the hair by squeezing to avoid tangles. A light, BB-sized dab of a moisturizing conditioner works miracles.
3.Condition: Moisturize your hair. Conditioner is an essential hair product if your hair is dry. An herbal rinse is better for those with oily hair. You can make both products yourself but they can be purchased for a few dollars at any popular pharmacy or salon supply store.
4.Groom: Get the right tools. You'll likely need the following:
- brush (natural bristles are best)
- comb (wide-toothed if you have curly hair)
- pick (plastic or metal tines)
- hair dryer (if it's less than 1000 watts, you're wasting your time)
- Don't be cheap about the styling products. Cheap ones will either dry out your hair or grease it up. Find good quality gel, pomade, mousse, and whichever other products that are best for your hair type. They may be a bit expensive, but you only need to use a little to do a lot.
- If you keep your hair cut very short, you probably won't need any styling treatments, as the oils from your scalp will be sufficient for your hair, and the short hair basically styles itself.
- Get regular haircuts and trims from your trusted barber.
- Massage your scalp with your fingertips or the pads of your fingers--not with your fingernails.
Friday, April 13, 2012
The Role Your Hair Plays In Your Career
Much ado is made about Black hair. Black women are known to be audacious when it comes to their manes. A billion dollar business has been spawned from our need to color, straighten, curl, and braid. Hair means a lot to Black people, but it can mean even more to our career.
Your appearance does not affect your ability to do a job, but it does impact your success. Keeping it basic can influence your salary as much as your work experience. Research shows that attractive people earn an average of 3% to 4% more than a person with below average looks – that comes out to about $230,000 over a lifetime. Even an average-looking worker is likely to make $140,000 more over a lifetime than an ugly worker.
Hair goes beyond aesthetics. It is personal and public: visible to everyone while also being an intrinsic part of our body. Blacks men and women carry a great deal of culture in their hair. Since that culture is not a mainstream one, appropriating hair to the workplace can be a tricky process.
Professional hair isn’t about texture. For most employers, particularly conservative ones, a professional hairstyle is considered neat, clean, and out of the face. Texture alone is not a deciding factor.
Granted, not every workplace has caught on to the trend. But, they’ll catch on or get left behind. Presenting a professional appearance is one thing, but altering who you are is another. If a company can’t accept your hair, they can’t accept you.
Appearance is important because you are the personification of who you work for. Employers have dress codes to ensure the staff maintains an appearance that promotes a positive image for their brand. Depending on your career, you may have to conform Monday through Friday, and save the mohawk for the weekend. But, a brush cut or a bald head isn’t the only way to be conservative.
Even with restrictions, you can find small ways to express yourself and set yourself apart from the crowd. If you’re an entrepreneur, you have even more freedom to allow your hair to make a statement about who you are and stand out from the competition. Hair is a powerful tool to project your personal brand. Don’t hide it.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Is Your Beard Right For Your Face Shape?
Properly trimmed and shaped facial hair can go a long way to enhance desirable facial features or take emphasis off weaknesses. How to choose the right beard for your face shape will depend on a few factors. While each face will have its own special considerations such as size of mouth, nose, and jawline, there are some general rules on how to choose the right beard shape for your face.
The Round Face
When shaping the beard for a round face, go a bit longer at the chin to add length and make the face appear less round. Avoid bushy sideburns and keep the sides of the beard short. In lieu of a full beard, a goatee is often a good option for a round face.
The Long Face
Exactly opposite of the round face, the long face requires a beard which is fuller at the sides and shorter at the chin. The goal here is to add width to the sides and make the face appear less long. Make sure to avoid abrupt changes in length so the shaping is not obvious.
The Square FaceSimilar to shaping a beard for a round face, the beard for a square face should be shorter at the sides and longer at the chin to add length to the face. Once again, a goatee is also a good option for men with square faces.
The Large Face
Since the face is large, any small facial hair or beard will appear out of proportion and make the face appear bigger. Keep the beard fuller and the mustache larger.
The Small Face
Small faces require small facial hair. Larger, fuller styles will make the face get lost and appear out of proportion.
The Oval Face
The oval face shape is considered the ideal shape and requires no special shaping to balance facial features. Do whatever you like and you'll look great.
The Round Face
When shaping the beard for a round face, go a bit longer at the chin to add length and make the face appear less round. Avoid bushy sideburns and keep the sides of the beard short. In lieu of a full beard, a goatee is often a good option for a round face.
The Long Face
Exactly opposite of the round face, the long face requires a beard which is fuller at the sides and shorter at the chin. The goal here is to add width to the sides and make the face appear less long. Make sure to avoid abrupt changes in length so the shaping is not obvious.
The Square FaceSimilar to shaping a beard for a round face, the beard for a square face should be shorter at the sides and longer at the chin to add length to the face. Once again, a goatee is also a good option for men with square faces.
The Large Face
Since the face is large, any small facial hair or beard will appear out of proportion and make the face appear bigger. Keep the beard fuller and the mustache larger.
The Small Face
Small faces require small facial hair. Larger, fuller styles will make the face get lost and appear out of proportion.
The Oval Face
The oval face shape is considered the ideal shape and requires no special shaping to balance facial features. Do whatever you like and you'll look great.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Why you need a regular Barber
Unfortunately, many men today are missing out on the benefits of having a regular barber. Modern men just end up going to the closest unisex salon or barbershop to get their hair cut. And each time they get they go, they end up with a different stylist and are forced to explain over and over again how they’d like it done. But “a little off the sides” means one thing to one barber and another thing to another barber. Stylists also have the tendency to try to correct what they see as mistakes that a previous barber/stylist made. Consequently, a man who goes to a unisex chain salon walks out with a completely different haircut at each visit. Not a good thing if you’re trying to maintain a consistent image.
Every man needs a reliable, skilled barber in his life. Having a regular barber will ensure that you get a consistent, sharp haircut everytime. You can get a trim before a big interview without gambling on whether or not you’ll come out looking like you were attacked by Edward Scissorhands.
Good barbers have a memory like an elephant. As you visit a first rate barber regularly, he’ll become familiar with the many contours of your head and the complexities of your hair and will know how to cut and style your hair just the way you like it. You’ll be able to walk in and simply ask for “the usual.” Plus, your barber can become a good friend, someone you can be comfortable shooting the breeze with and look forward to seeing every week.
Every man needs a reliable, skilled barber in his life. Having a regular barber will ensure that you get a consistent, sharp haircut everytime. You can get a trim before a big interview without gambling on whether or not you’ll come out looking like you were attacked by Edward Scissorhands.
Good barbers have a memory like an elephant. As you visit a first rate barber regularly, he’ll become familiar with the many contours of your head and the complexities of your hair and will know how to cut and style your hair just the way you like it. You’ll be able to walk in and simply ask for “the usual.” Plus, your barber can become a good friend, someone you can be comfortable shooting the breeze with and look forward to seeing every week.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Common Hair Myths
For years we have been taught old wive's tales about our hair. We all have heard them. Here are a few of the most common myths about men's hair.
Myth: Shaving will make my beard grow faster.
Fact: Your body does not know that your beard is shaved or long and full. Hair is basically protein and keratin and has no blood supply. Men often believe that shaving causes the beard to grow faster and thicker, but facial hair typically grows thicker and faster as you age.
Myth: Growing my hair longer will hide my baldness.
Fact: Actually, growing your hair longer makes the thinning and baldness appear much more noticeable. If you can see scalp on the top, cut the sides short enough so you can see an equal amount of scalp. This will help take the emphasis off of the thinning area.
Myth: Baldness comes from my mother's side of the family.
Fact: Hair loss is entirely genetic and can come from either side of the family.
Myth: Wearing tight hats can make me bald.
Fact: The hat would have to be so tight that it cut off the circulation to the hair follicles. If that were the case, the hat would be too tight for you to wear comfortably. Wearing a tight hat can,however, cause hair breakage and damage.
Myth: Shaving will make my beard grow faster.
Fact: Your body does not know that your beard is shaved or long and full. Hair is basically protein and keratin and has no blood supply. Men often believe that shaving causes the beard to grow faster and thicker, but facial hair typically grows thicker and faster as you age.
Myth: Growing my hair longer will hide my baldness.
Fact: Actually, growing your hair longer makes the thinning and baldness appear much more noticeable. If you can see scalp on the top, cut the sides short enough so you can see an equal amount of scalp. This will help take the emphasis off of the thinning area.
Myth: Baldness comes from my mother's side of the family.
Fact: Hair loss is entirely genetic and can come from either side of the family.
Myth: Wearing tight hats can make me bald.
Fact: The hat would have to be so tight that it cut off the circulation to the hair follicles. If that were the case, the hat would be too tight for you to wear comfortably. Wearing a tight hat can,however, cause hair breakage and damage.
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