If you follow fashion, you have undoubtedly witnessed the parade of starlets sporting hair extensions to boost the look of their own locks. Everyone from Beyonce to Kate Middleton has been photographed wearing the tell-tale swatches of real and synthetic hair. Jessica Simpson has even launched her own line of hair extensions. The idea of transforming short hair to long hair in a jiff appeals to consumers across all demographics, but evidence suggests the growing hair trend may have costly consequences.

Hair extensions cost between $300 and $3500, depending on whether the client chooses real or synthetic swatches. A partial head of hair starts at $150, while a full head of hair starts at $1300. Add to the base price the cost of labor, and the average client spends $800 to $1600. Monthly touch-ups add $20 to $50 to maintain the extensions.

These salon costs are quantifiable, but there is no telling the emotional cost that long-term use of hair extensions may cause. Salons use several methods to attach the extensions to the client’s real hair, including sewing and weaving. The most popular methods involve bonding with a form of hot glue and cold fusing with a form of protein-based glue.

As it turns out, the very weight of the hair extensions can cause the follicle to atrophy and prevent new hair growth. In severe cases, women develop a hair loss condition known as traction alopecia, and it can worsen and become permanent alopecia. Thus far, the only medical treatments available for alopecia have been topical minoxidal or hair transplants.

You can try less expensive clip-on extensions as an alternative, but some experts think the ultimate solution is to avoid hair extensions altogether.

Each generation embraces beauty treatments that are both ill-advised and laborious, according to UK Guardian columnist Hadley Freeman, author of The Meaning of Sunglass: And a Guide to (Almost) All Things Fashionable. After all, the old adage says, “Beauty is pain.” The hair extensions that currently reign supreme are the equivalent of what tanning beds were to the ’70s, hair perms were to the ’80s and glycolic peels were to the ’90s.

With that said, every generation rebels against the previous generation. Perhaps, the coming year will rush to embrace natural hair as the next best thing.

Courtesy JonathanLGardner via Flickr

Big hair is back, as evidenced by the trendsetting hairdos of the stars like Beyonce and Cheryl Cole. The backcombing, bumps, and beehive looks have actually given hairspray sales quite a boost. UK publication the Daily Mail reported that hairspray sales hit a record £173 million this year (just under $268 million).

With finances as tight as they are in this economy, women are searching for savvy ways to imitate their favourite fashion idols without breaking the bank. The majority of women simply cannot afford the regular salon visits required to achieve and maintain the look they want. Nearly four out of 10 women colour their hair at home, and among those aged 15 to 24, that number is closer to half. Home perms and DIY dye kit sales have made a 12 percent jump just in the last year. Home perms can enlarge a woman’s hair without shrinking her purse.

Money is not the only motivator, however, among the list of reasons for styling product sales. Many women report feeling more in control over the shades and tones of their hair when the color power rests in their own hands. Other women herald the timesaving benefits of at-home hair care. As DIY methods gain popularity, more and more blogs, videos, and websites are offering tips on how to get great locks on a budget. Many are finding they can follow a YouTube video and walk away with a fantastic do.

No longer gracing only the red carpet, big hair is all the rage everywhere these days. Voluminous, sexy locks are easy to achieve with a bit of teasing and a lot of hairspray. Hairspray alone accounts for 60 percent of hairstyling product purchases, making a dramatic comeback in recent years.

Big hair is not a new phenomenon. The ’60s rocked the beehive and the ’70s saw the afro. The keyword for the ’80s was volume. With plenty of diversity in cuts, styles, and colours, bigger continues to be better.

Courtesy JonathanLGardner via Flickr

Bouncy locks full of life and luster sends the message that though the wallet may be suffering, the hair certainly isn’t. For women who want to add some pep to their step without breaking the bank, there is good news. Big hair can be done on a small budget with a high-quality hairspray, root booster, and the right techniques. Backcombing and teasing can really add the volume.

For a night on the town or as the perfect juxtaposition to skinny jeans, big hair can make any woman feel absolutely gorgeous. Big hair exudes sexiness and epitomizes style. For an inexpensive way to look amazing this year, grab a can of hair spray and tease away.

It’s the same question we always ask right around this time of year: What do I get So-and-So? You comb through catalogs and websites, amble past store shelves, and maybe even straight up ask them what they want. If you’re looking, maybe they’ll tell you. Sweet! Pressure is off! If not, you’re back to square one: coming up with great holiday gift ideas for your loved ones.

Well, if you have someone on your list who’s a beauty lover, we’ve got a solution for you: A new online Zazzle store that features unique beauty-centric designs that you can put on everything from tote bags to T-shirts, hoodies to iPhone cases.

For fashionistas, trendsetters and those who love to stand out, check out the #TrendsFollowMe design. A sassy and clever play off the Twitter hashtag, the T-shit comes in 11 different styles and colors – including long sleeve, basic and with a layered look. If you know someone going to or considering beauty school, it comes in black, which makes it perfect for many cosmetology school environments.

For an edgier look, check out the Life on the Edge design, which features a straight razor nod to barbering and an amazing vintage tattoo style. You can get this design in over a dozen different T-shirt styles, as a hoodie, or even as an iPad case or sticker.

All of the options are under $50, which means you don’t have to break the bank to find unique holiday gift ideas for beauty fans or barbering or beauty school students that tick off both the fun and functional checkboxes.

Get fashion gurus and divas and other important people in your life crossed off your Christmas gift lift by visiting the Cosmetology Clothes Zazzle store.

We love fun and funky new beauty ideas, so it’s no surprise that we’re fascinated by the outrageous and awesome Violent Lips, temporary lip tattoos that are growing in popularity. Kim Kardashian just posted a picture of her wearing them on her Celebuzz blog, and they’re cropping up all over the entertainment scene on singers, actresses and models who all have a flair for wearing bold beauty and makeup trends.

Personally, we’re all about a product that lets us experiment with no repercussions, which is exactly what Violent Lips offers. Pick out one of their wide variety of colors and patterns, put them on, and then dazzle people out on the town. They last 4-8 hours and can be removed simply by applying an oil-based makeup remover to your lips.

And with Violent Lips’ selection, you can be as funky as you want. Go racy with red fishnets or leopard print. Go wild with cupcake sprinkles, stars or checkers. Or go fabulous with their Glitteratti collection, our personal favorites, especially with the upcoming holiday parties. Spakrle is a big makeup trend everywhere else on your face – why not your lips?

You can get your hands on Violent Lips at Sephora or Ulta, or - better yet - you can just go straight to the source and order from their website. Bonus: They’re offering a 20% off and free shipping coupon, plus they have a whole page of tips and tutorials to help you apply them. Sounds good to us!

Like most women, you probably have invested in a number of pricey skin care products that aim to help women achieve healthy, clear skin. But have you ever stopped to think about how your makeup might be affecting the quality of your skin? If you are still using makeup from the last decade, you could be contaminating your skin. A recent study performed on British women revealed most women continue using their old makeup well past the product’s expiration date. Furthermore, the study also revealed that 89% of women were unaware of the fact that their makeup has an expiration date, although in many cases it is not listed clearly on the product.

While most women understand the risk of sleeping in makeup (although 81% of us regularly do so), few actually understand the implications that can arise from using expired makeup. Old make-up can cause a host of skin problems including skin infections, acne, sties and peri-oral dermatitis, a condition that causes the development of rash-like red bumps. If you are one of the 60% of women who shares their old makeup with friends, you are not only exposing yourself to harmful bacteria, but also exposing your friends as well.

Considering the staggering cost of most makeup, it is understandable why many of us, 68% to be exact, only replace make-up once it runs out, opposed to when the product expires. So the next time you get ready to apply that year-old mascara and eyeliner, think again. If you’ve been using old makeup, check out some of our recommendations for proper makeup usage and disposal.

Eye Makeup
Of all makeup items, mascara is the one you will need to replace regularly. According to the study, most women kept their mascara for a year, even though it should be replaced every two to three months. Mascara can breed icky bacteria that can lead to eye irritation, conjunctivitis and sties. While most women keep their powdered eye shadow for 180 months, it should be replaced each year. Cream-based eye shadows can grow bacteria more quickly than powders and should be replaced every 6 months. Liquid or pencil eyeliners should be replaced four times a year.

Foundation and Concealers
The study of British women also revealed that women tended to keep their concealer for two years, even though it should be replaced every 12 months. Generally, powder and stick concealers can last up to a year, while liquid concealers, which are more prone to breed bacteria, should be tossed after 6-12 months. If you buy your foundation in bulk, don’t worry. Unopened foundation can last for a few years.

Storage and Cleaning
Unfortunately, most of us store our makeup and makeup brushed in our moisture-rich bathrooms. You can extend the life of your favorite products by storing them in a dry, dark place. If you find you have frequent acne breakouts, you might be one of the 72% of women who never wash their make-up sponges or brushes. Be sure to wash these items regularly and you will surely see a difference in your skin.

The other day, a Groupon popped into our inbox promoting photorejuvenation, and even though we work in the beauty industry all day, we had a little trouble defining exactly what it was that we now had a coupon for. We could kind of break it down – “photo,” which generally has to do with light, which we’re a fan of; and “rejuvenation,” which is always a positive thing in our books – but what were the down-and-dirty details of this procedure?

Basically: what, exactly, is photorejuvenation? (Hands down, estheticians – we know you probably have the answer already!)

Photorejuvenation is a skin treatment that uses intense pulsed light (which you might see just referred to as IPL) to treat certain skin conditions and sometimes remove wrinkles caused by UVA and UVB exposure. Apparently it can be used to:

• Lighten or remove sun spots, age spots or other brown discolorations
• Lighten or reduce rosacea, dilated blood vessels or broken blood vessels

And (to lesser effect):

• Improve skin texture through collagen stimulation
• Improve pore size by temporarily reducing oiliness

So, in general, this procedure improves our skin’s tone and texture. It’s non-invasive, only really affects the very top layers of the skin and is filtered so that no UV damage is possible, so a lot of the time, the only side effects people feel are flushed skin that’s akin to a very mild sunburn. Most places that offer photorejuvenation require 3-5 initial treatments for optimal results, and after that, you might have to come back for a maintenance treatment every few years or so.

Seems pretty harmless, right? Why NOT get it?

There are a couple of things to keep in mind – like tanning. Most places don’t recommend the procedure if you have a tan or tanned skin, so it’s not for everyone. Also, some people may experience more extreme side effects, like burns or blisters, scarring, or changes in pigmentation. It’s rare, but it’s still possible. Your best course of action is to go to a professional skin care specialist and consult with them about whether photorejuvenation would be a good option for you.

There! That’s it in a nutshell. We’re planning on this being just the first in a series of articles that explores some of the high-level, high-tech skin care services that fabulous estheticians are offering these days, so be on the lookout for explorations into dermal fillers, sclerotherapy and more!

And then be on the lookout for the Groupons that are sure to pop up.

It seems like there’s a smartphone app for anything and everything these days. Now the beauty industry is even benefitting from our mobile devices.  You can check prices, read reviews, and test out hairstyles and nail polish colors with a simple click on your cell phone.  What’s next — sampling perfume scents and trying on lipstick?  Ok, maybe not yet, but here are our current top five favorite beauty apps for your iPhone or smartphone.

1. OPI’s iPhone app — Before you head to your manicure check out OPI’s iPhone app.  Instead of wasting time at the salon you can “try on” shades virtually.  The app gives you the chance to check out OPI’s latest colors without having to use any finger nail polish remover!

2. Sephora to Go — Our favorite beauty store now comes in the palm of our hand! Literally! This app allows you to shop, review past purchases, make a shopping wish list, post ratings and reviews, and scan bar codes for product information.

3. TotalBeauty.com — Never pay for a beauty product you don’t like or won’t use again! With this app you can read unbiased reviews of 45,000 products on your phone before you go shopping.
4. iStylist Makeover — This app allows you to load a photo of yourself and see how you’d look in a wide range of hairstyles and colors. Want to see what others think? Easy! You can post the potential hairstyle on Facebook.
5. MakeupTagg — With MakeupTagg, you can find makeup recommendations based on your eye color, hair and skin tone.  The best thing about it?  You receive three suggestions for each makeup category and at different price points depending on what you want to spend.

Ready to take your passion for the beauty industry from the smartphone into real life? Start looking into beauty school today!

Deidra Rains, Rains Foto

Freedom, Art, Respect, Community, Unity
By Guest Blogger: Valerie Reed

A night of hair, makeup and fashion? Yes! FARCU (Freedom, Art, Respect, Community, Unity) is brining all of those and more for this one-night event. On September 30th, at the Beaumont Club in Kansas City, come see local hair and makeup artists showcase their passion and talent on the runway!

The stylists include Mitsu Sato Salon, Jason Finney of Xenon, Shannon Layton of Shannon’s Place, Kristi Darby of Pigment Pie, Jen Thomas of Last Tangle, Sharlene Henthorne of Inner Hippie, Jami Hamilton Jewelry Designs, Artistic Beauty, and more!

Aside from all the glitz and glam of the runway creative show, live, digital art, and a visual arts gallery will also be showcased, along with an Art of Culture Influence lecture.

Need more reasons?
• Network with salon owners and fellow cosmetologists
• Surround yourself with inspirations and opportunities to learn from seasoned stylists
• Encouragement to continue in your studies and to grow as an artist

If this sounds like the event you have been waiting for, contact Valerie Reed at vkreed@gmail.com for tickets. Tickets are just $10, however, one lucky reader will receive two free tickets.

How To Win Free Tickets

Leave a comment to this blog answering the following question:

Why did you choose to enter the field of cosmetology and what are your goals?

New to FARCU? Here is what you need to know:
Started by Angela Luttrell, is a haven for artists of all kinds; cosmetologists, musicians, stylists, designers, writers, painters, photographers, the list goes on and on.  Founded with a belief of strengthening the Kansas City arts community, it has done just that. Through events and networking, FARCU has become an artist-marketing tool.
“Our goal is to provide awareness of art and how it has made an impact in our past, present, and future cultures. Within the awareness we strengthen each arts community.” – Angela Luttrell
Find FARCU on Facebook

O.P.I. is taking the perfect polish to a whole new meaning with its Axxium Soak-Off Gel Lacquer. Now you can have over 40 of your favorite O.P.I. colors, and have the color last up to 3 weeks with no chipping, no smudging and no color fading.

Unlike regular nail polish, Axxium is a gel based nail polish painted onto the natural nails with a brush, followed by drying under a UV lamp. The whole application process can take around an hour, because the nails have to be placed under the UV light after each coat is applied: base coat, two color coats and a top coat. Voted by Allure for a Breakthrough Award, Axxium’s benefits include the color lasting longer, the polish being dried before leaving the salon and the gel having the capability of being applied onto your natural nail bed.

The negatives? The negatives to the Axxium polish are the gel polish has to be soaked off (usually at a salon which can cost extra), the Axxium manicure is more expensive than a regular manicure and some of the nail bed growth will show.

New to many salons, O.P.I.’s  Soak-Off Gel Lacquer has made it easy to achieve natural nails, with a long lasting polish, in the colors we love. Make sure to get your practice with it in nail technician school.

Beauty school students dream of making the world a little more stunning. Beauty Schools Marketing Group (BSMG), the company that works with the well-known cosmetology school directory websites BeautySchool.com and BeautySchoolsDirectory.com as well as the beauty social networking site MySocialBeauty.com, wants to make that vision become real for hardworking students that want to pursue a career in cosmetology.

“We’re excited to announce that we are now taking applications for a $2,500 scholarship,” said Bridget Duffy, Director of Beauty Schools Marketing Group. “There are so many students who dream about entering the cosmetology field, but are worried about how to pay for the cost of school. We wanted to help make these dream careers a reality.”

Candidates will be selected based on their answers to various questions, including their most meaningful achievement and how it relates to their future in cosmetology and what issues they think are most important in the cosmetology industry today.

To apply for the beauty school scholarship, visit: http://www.beautyschool.com/beauty-school-scholarships

Watch the beauty school scholarship official rules here: