The History Of Razors – most likely tidbits left out of beauty schools‘ history classes.

30,000 B.C.
Cavemen get vain. Smart archeological people figure out that the earliest shaving razors were made of flint blades, which started out incredibly sharp, but dulled after use. Yes, cavemen used disposables.

3000 B.C.
Metal mania. Thanks to a lot of metal clanging and banging, copper razors (which make for a more “permanent” solution) make their way into the mainstream… well, if you want to call Egypt and India the mainstream of the B.C. era.

1500 – 1200 B.C.
Designer razors. Leave it to the Scandinavians to bring style to the art of shaving. Razors discovered from this time period were adorned with etchings of cool stuff like horses, and came in cute leather carrying cases. Seriously!

500 B.C.
Alexander the Clean Shaven. Apparently the “great” one was obsessed with having a smooth complexion. Legend has it that he wouldn’t be seen in battle before shaving.

300 B.C.
B.C. Barbershops. A rich Greek businessman, Publicus Ticinius Maenas, decided that he was too rich to shave himself, so he brought over professional barbers from Sicily, and started a fad. In fact, in Rome, a popular 21st birthday ritual included a first-shave party to celebrate adulthood.

50 B.C.
All hail the beardless. Speaking of Rome, Julius Caesar was very into personal grooming, down to plucking stray hairs with tweezers. As they say, when in Rome… shave like the Romans do.

1066 A.D.
Razor trickery. William the Conqueror defeats King Harold in the Battle of Hastings, in some part thanks to his army’s calculated decision to shave their faces and cut their hair to resemble monks. The deception meant that King Harold’s spies underestimated the enemy threat, and the rest is history.

1500
New world barbering. Archeological evidence indicates that the Aztec Indians of North and Central America created razors from volcanic glass. The first hot shave?

1770
The book on shaving. Perhaps it’s no surprise that a Frenchman literally wrote the book on shaving as an art form: The Art of Learning to Shave Oneself (La Pogonotomie). Sort of like a beauty how-to article, the guide may also be the first to introduce the concept of “safety” razor.

1847
Who you calling a hoe? The hoe-shaped razor (resembling the farming tool) that we recognize today can be credited to English inventor William Henson. It’s all about a comfortable grip.

1901
Shave safely. King Camp Gillette (you know, the-best-a-man-can-get guy) teams up with an MIT genius named William Nickerson to perfect the safety razor, complete with double-edged, disposable and replaceable blade. Side note: Isn’t Nickerson a funny name for a guy who wants others to shave without getting nicked?!

1914
The war on facial hair. Gilette’s popularity skyrockets worldwide after he cuts a deal with the U.S. Armed Forces to give every enlisted soldier a safety razor and blades as part of their off-to-war care package. Foreign soldiers are envious, and European sales soar.

1921
Invention intuition. Adapting a military idea for a practical use inspired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jacob Schick to invent a new razor – the Magazine Repeating Razor. Similar to how a magazine clip contains bullets, this razor housed replacement blades right in the handle.

1928
No water required. Schick invents and patents the first electric dry shaver, great for roaring ‘20s men on the go.

1970s
Back to basics. The disposable razor, not popular since the stone ages, makes its way back into mass popularity. Cheap to make and easy to use, all of the major razor manufacturers offer a throwaway option.

Today
Headline-worthy beards. If you’re a celebrity, sporting a beard represents a lifestyle choice. Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Conan O’Brien, Joaquin Phoenix – need we say more?

Via: Spa Beauty Schools

After a two week long twitter frenzy where followers were campaigning to win Professional Japanese Hair Shears, a winner has finally been chosen. Beautyschool.com is proud to present the winner of the Professional Japanese Hair Shear Twitter Contest via video, and also kick off the launch of their brand new YouTube channel. Look for us (username beautyschooladvice) and subscribe to stay up-to-date on the latest contest news and beauty school information.

Who claimed our pro shears (valued at $229)? Watch the video below and discover for yourself which contestant is the winner. If today wasn’t your lucky day then check back for another amazing beauty giveaway coming the beginning of June! Thank you to everyone who entered the twitter contest and special congratulations to our lucky winner! And if you’re not already, follow us on Twitter – @BSDiva.

In some states like Virginia, officials are asking for a bigger percent when barbers, hairstylists and cosmetologists get their cosmetology state licenses. The Virginia Board of  Cosmetology has proposed almost doubling the license fees for individuals and facilities it regulates.

The current cosmetology license fee for barbers, cosmetologists and nail technicians to get a cosmetology license is $75. The cost covers validation for two years. The board has propose nearly doubling this fee and charging $140 to obtain a two year license.

“It’s reflecting the increased cost of doing business,” said Mary Vaughn, the director of communications, legislation and consumer education at the state Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.
Increasing this fee would also cause other licensing fees to rise. Licensing fees for salons and other facilities also would increase from $115 to $225. Licensing fees for beauty schools would go from $145 to $255.

Why the big increases? Is it really necessary? The Board for Barbers and Cosmetology says it needs the fee increases because the agency is self-supporting. The Board’s side is they rely on the fees to cover the costs for its operations, which include inspectors’ salaries and website management.

The proposal was approved by Jim Cheng, Virginia’s secretary of commerce of trade, this past April. The licensing fee increases are now waiting for Gov. Bob McDonnell’s signature. Upon signature the higher fees would do into effect immediately. To see what all the old and new proposed fees are for all areas of beauty in Virginia, visit http://snipurl.com/va_fees

State law requires all individuals employed in barbering, cosmetology, nail care, waxing, hair braiding, tattooing, body-piercing, esthetics and hair braiding to have a valid issued by the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology. For questions, contact the Virginia State Board of Cosmetology.

Do you love to win free beauty products? BeautySchool.com has teamed up with Hair Royalty to giveaway a pair of Bushido professional Japanese hair shears – a $229 value! These sleek and sassy shears would be a great addition to your cosmetology kit.

Enter to win professional Japanese hair shears by following these three easy steps:

1)   Log on to Twitter
2)   Follow @BSDiva
3) Retweet the following message up to once a day during the duration of the contest:

Want to WIN professional Japanese shears from Hair Royalty? Follow @BSDiva and RT this to enter. Pick me! http://bit.ly/i1XYO0

The contest ends May 18th. The lucky winner of the professional Japanese hair shears will be announced on the BSDiva Twitter profile, BeautySchool.com, BeautySchoolsDirectory.com, and MySocialBeauty.com shortly after the contest closes.

All you have to do is enter! Get the full details and official rules here.

BeautySchool.com would like to thank Hair Royalty for donating the Bushido Japanese hair shears for this contest. Hair Royalty designs and sells “apparel, jewelry, accessories and gifts for the hairstylist to display the passion that is within”. Want to show off your love for the beauty industry? Check out the Hair Royalty store!

You’ve seen them out there making headlines, raising eyebrows and perking paparazzi. It’s a simple pleasure we take in life by seeing celebrities in their “not-so fine” moments, especially when those moments are fashion and makeup mishaps. You know, when the celebrity in question looks more like they just got out of a stint in the slammer than off the red carpet. Well, today ladies and gentlemen (more so ladies) is your lucky day because this is a list of top celebrity fashion disasters. Enjoy!

Nicole Kidman
This one’s tough because Nicole Kidman typically radiates beauty and she does so subtly – never flaunting the vibe that she’s 1,000 times prettier than you like some celebrities do. But, this makeup mishap is just too hard to ignore. Next time Nicole, make sure you check your makeup in different lighting before you grace the presence of hundreds of flashing cameras.

See For Yourself: http://bit.ly/sq4jIp

Lindsay Lohan
Remember when it was semi-funny to make fun of Lohan’s absurd run-ins with the press? Well, it’s far past the road of funny and the car has really just taken the path to pitifully sad. Talk about a celebrity fallout. Well, despite the massive amounts of negative comments she already receives, Lindsay so eloquently lands on this list as well. In fact, finding a picture to encapsulate Lohan’s fashion disasters was probably easier than beating a 4-year-old in a spelling bee.

See For Yourself: http://bit.ly/u4OAeh

Christina Aguilera
Remember when Christina first hit the music scene with her “Genie in a Bottle” hit? Then you probably also remember her looking cute and innocent and not…well, like this. Although Christina has finally gone back to emphasizing her true beauty look as of late, the above picture really displays that whole drag look-alike phase that she went through during her “Dirty” period.

See For Yourself: http://bit.ly/v5zHjp

Mischa Barton
Mischa Barton is beautiful, there’s no denying that. But, sometimes even the most beautiful women can look straight up scary if their makeup application shares a closer resemblance to the aftermath of a fight than a trip to the salon. In this particular case, it looks like Barton just got double punched in the eyes. Is that black bruising or eye shadow?

See For Yourself: http://bit.ly/svJcxm

Carrot Top
This is believed to be comedian Carrot Top… in drag? Nope, just Carrot Top being himself. There is so many things wrong here that this picture should be in one of those children’s activity magazines (like Highlights) where you have to circle everything that is out of place in the picture. Although, this picture would probably only have one circle – the entire image.

See For Yourself: http://bit.ly/tggnMC

Our favorite celebrities always seem so put together—perfect hair and glowing, flawless complexions. We’d all like to replicate their look but most of us aren’t willing to shell out the big bucks that they do to look that good.  How can you be red-carpet worthy without spending a fortune on spa treatments and blowouts at the salon?  We’ve picked out a few celebrity make-up artist tips that won’t break the bank.  In fact, these items can all be purchased at your local drugstore.  No need for a shopping trip to Rodeo Drive!

Five Inexpensive Hollywood Beauty Tricks:

1. Primer: Okay, some stars really are born with perfect skin.  But most of them have a little secret called skin primer.  Most skin primers are silicone-based and act as a thin layer that fills in fine lines, large pores and acne scars. The result? A smooth, flawless complexion! Give skin primer a try and you’ll understand why Hollywood make-up artists call it the under-make-up make-up.

2. Skin Illuminator: Where do all the stars get their glow? Skin illuminators!  Most skin illuminators are pearlized shimmer creams that you put under your foundation or mix with your foundation for a fresh, glowing complexion.   Celebrity make-up artists warn that skin illuminators should not be confused with shimmery powder, which can end up looking like a sparkle-overdose.

3. Fast Lash by Tweezerman: Medication to make your eyelashes grow? Expensive.  Fake eyelashes? Messy and inconvenient.  The trick to get quick Hollywood lashes?  A secret to the stars—Fast Lash by Tweezerman.  In fact, it’s one of the most requested products for celebrity photo shoots and special events.  You first coat your lashes with regular mascara, then use Fast Lash which looks like a normal mascara tube but really contains dry white flakes.  These pieces of harmless polyester fiber act as a lash builder when you add another coat of regular mascara.  You’ll end up with thick, luscious lashes!

4. Blue, Yellow or Orange Concealer: You may not believe us, but putting these colors of concealer under your eyes will actually make them look better– trust us!  Blue-based concealer helps reflect light and makes eyes look brighter.  For even darker under-eye circles use yellow or orange concealer which will neutralize the darkness beneath the eyes.

5. Shampoo With Dimethicone Copolyol: Ya, we can’t pronounce it either. What we do know though is that shampoo that contains this ingredient has a little extra “oomph!”  Next time you need to purchase shampoo, make sure it has this volume booster in it.

Love makeup beyond just reading about it. Consider going to a makeup artist school and becoming certified.

Wal-Mart has recently been at the center of fiery controversy—revealing a product line that has the parents of young girls upset about the damage it could cause with their impressionable daughters.

The culprit?  Some shimmery pink lip gloss and purple eye shadow from Wal-Mart’s new make-up collection, GeoGirl.  The new cosmetics line which is marketed as makeup for young tween girls—ages 8 to 12—features products that are priced at a reasonable $4- $6.

The problem?  Some parents are outraged that Wal-Mart is targeting young girls with makeup and forcing them to grow up too quickly. In the collection’s defense, the products are as harmless as nail polish, light pink blush, lip glosses and colorful eye shadows—mostly meant to be fun and for play.

Haven’t young girls and tweens always loved to play dress-up and play with make-up? For many of us, our love for Bonne Bell’s Lip Smacker glosses and Wet & Wild nail polishes come to mind from our own childhood.  In fact, according to a marketing research group, NPD Group found in a 2009 study that tweens were the only age group who actually increased their spending on cosmetics during the recession.

So, we’re asking what’s the big fuss about?  Should young girls not be allowed to play dress up with some age-appropriate makeup?  Tell us what you think! How old were you when you were allowed to start wearing makeup?  Do you think Wal-Mart was out of line for marketing cosmetics to 8 to 12 year olds?

Kate Middleton’s makeup look is classy and natural. With the Royal Wedding, makeup artist Sansia shows an easy step-by-step process to get the Rimmel London makeup look mirroring America’s latest obsession, Kate Middleton. For more Kate Middleton makeup looks, check our Liz Pugh’s makeup tricks and tips on the Rimmel Facbook page.

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Lead in Lipstick and Other Lipstick Myths

Sexy, vibrant, and ultra sleek, lipstick is an essential ingredient in any girls make up bag. As much as women love the satiny shades, rumors and wives tales abound about its safety and uses. Are these claims fact or fiction? Get the full scoop on the top four lipstick myths by reading further.

Myth #1: There is lead in lipsticks that are cheap.

This rumor is primarily spread by way of an email message from a friend. It claims that once high priced lipsticks have been marked down to incredible prices because it was discovered that they contained lead. The message goes on to say that you can test your lipsticks at home by rubbing them across a gold ring. If the lipstick color turns brown or black, then it contains lead.

In fact, many lipsticks do contain a small amount of lead. However, these amounts are present only in minute amounts. The FDA, which is responsible for the safety of consumer cosmetics, has tested several brands of lipstick. The results show that any lead found in lipstick is well below the recommended levels to ensure health and safety. They plan to continue to monitor the levels by ongoing testing and reporting. You cannot test for the presence of lead at home. This requires sophisticated scientific equipment.

Myth # 2: Wd-40 can remove lipstick stains from clothing.

Wd-40 has been a petroleum-based staple of American households for years. The claim, usually circulated by e-mail, is that it will remove lipstick stains from clothing. There is a lot of information on the web from people who have tried this and say it doesn’t work. However, according to the official WD-40 website, it is listed as a way to remove lipstick stains from carpeting and clothing.

Myth # 3: Lipstick can cause cancer.

This relates back to the hoax about the lead content of lipstick. The reasoning is that by swallowing or absorbing the lead present in lipstick, a woman can get cancer. The American Cancer Society debunks this theory, citing FDA studies that show that there is not enough lead present in lipstick to cause cancer. Lead poisoning causes fatigue, weight loss, and mental sluggishness. A person is far more likely to be poisoned by lead from old paint or old toys than by wearing lipstick over several lifetimes.

Myth #4: The average woman will swallow up to six pounds of lipstick during her lifetime.

This one has been circulating for many years and is absolutely false. Depending on the source, the amount of pounds ingested varies between three and ten. The rumor began appearing sometime in the 1990’s.

Considering that a normal rube of lipstick contains approximately 3 grams of product, you would need around 151 tubes to make a pound. To reach six pounds, you would need an astronomical number of lipstick tubes to make up six pounds. In addition, that is assuming that the woman actually ate the whole tube, which we know is not the case. Lipstick ingestion can only occur when the product is licked off the lips or is absorbed into the skin. Thus, only a very small amount of the product applied is actually consumed.

If you are looking for cosmetology scholarships to apply to, consider applying to Marinello’s School of Beauty’s third annual Raw Talent High School Beauty Scholarship challenge. Eight students will be awarded cosmetology scholarships and prizes totaling $33,750. Just think you would be one step closer to realizing their dreams of pursuing a career in the beauty industry. Over the past two years, Marinello has donated $60,000 worth of scholarships to students beginning their careers in the beauty industry.

What are the prizes? The first place cosmetology scholarship is $10,000 toward tuition at any of the 46 Marinello campus locations. Second through fifth place scholarships are valued at $5,000 toward tuition, plus the top five winners will also receive a valuable Apple iPad to help with their studies. Sixth through eighth place winners will receive a Professional Makeup Workshop with Kit which will be utilized as they complete their coursework.

How to enter: There are two ways pieces involved in the Raw Talent Scholarship contest. All high school seniors interested in pursuing an exciting career in the beauty industry are encouraged to apply at www.marinello.com/scholarship. The first element is the hands-on portion. Applicants will need to contact Marinello Schools of Beauty campus location in their area to schedule an in-person visit between April 18 through April 29, 2011. Candidates interested in the Cosmetology program will complete a formal updo hairstyle befitting a special event, and those interested in the Esthetics course will execute a full make-up routine. All candidates must bring a model with them during this hands-on portion, and then appointed personnel will take before and after photographs of the candidates’ work, which will then be submitted for review.

The second element is the essay portion. Candidates will be required to submit an essay about what they will do to make a difference in the beauty industry. The essay will be reviewed by the High School Scholarship Committee at the corporate headquarters of Marinello Schools of Beauty and will be graded on content, spelling, syntax and grammar. All essays need to include a Marinello application, and can be submitted as early as March 25, 2011, but the deadline for submission is April 29, 2011 at midnight.

“Marinello is delighted to present the Raw Talent Scholarship competition again for the third year in a row,” said Dr. Nagui Elyas, President and COO, Marinello Schools of Beauty. “We firmly believe in fostering creativity and beauty in our community and see no better way than to offer students the opportunity to join the Marinello family and achieve success for their future.”