Holistic means ‘whole’ and holistic health focuses on the whole self: mind, body and spirit.  The practices used in holistic therapies are also sometimes referred to as alternative medicine.  These holistic and alternative approaches to medicine may not be a part of mainstream health care, but they are growing in the world of cosmetology.  The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine , a research group, has found that 38% of American adults use some form of alternative medicine.

People may think that the holistic health industry is separate from cosmetology, but that simply isn’t the case.  Cosmetology has extended far beyond hairstyling alone.  Many cosmetology schools offer programs in esthetics and skin care, nail care, hair care and massage therapy.  Each of these areas of cosmetology can work well with a holistic approach to health.  Cosmetology schools and beauty schools focus on outward appearance, and many people may not realize that outward appearance is often a reflection of our health.  When we are stressed, we may have tense muscles or more skin breakouts.  If we aren’t eating right, we might have brittle hair and nails.  All of these outward issues may be indicators of bigger problems.  As a society we need to be less stressed and focus more on our health.

Cosmetology and holistic health can work together to reach this goal.  We need to focus on our minds, bodies and spirits, and we need to be training future cosmetology professionals to help their clients find that same focus.  Getting a beauty treatment can help relax your clients.  As an esthetician, you can give advice on not only soothing broken out skin, but also mind/body/spirit exercises that can help prevent skin problems from coming back.  A session with a massage therapist can calm clients’ muscles and keep them relaxed as they go through their busy lives.  The health of the whole self is linked to outward appearance, so the cosmetology industry and holistic health industry should work more closely together to help our society become and remain healthy.

What about you? How does your cosmetology school or beauty salon tie holistics and alternative medicine into your services?

License to massage feet
A wave of new trends in the beauty industry has stepped up in the U.S. – one in particular is gaining recognition: foot massage. Not only are people willing to shell out $15-$30 for a foot rub, but The Board of Barbering and Cosmetology in California has also recognized a need for regulation. In a recent article about regulating foot massage parlors, some business owners are feeling the pinch from the Board.

These businesses are being subjected to closings and fines when their employees can not produce proper certificates. Since foot massage is still new to the U.S., state officials feel that foot massage falls under the regulation of the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. And, beauty schools do not teach the very narrow field of foot massage.

To become licensed, employees would have to take classes that would also involve nails and hair care . Since the employees are only dealing with feet, many business owners think that there should be no regulation until the proper laws are set in place.

BeautySchool.com wants to know … what’s your opinion? Is the board warranted in pushing for more regulation of foot massage parlors?

I must apologize because I’m about four days overdue for my review of the homemade sugar scrub. To be completely honest, I haven’t had time to try it yet! We’ve been busy at home preparing for a shindig this weekend, so my focus has been on improving the quality of our yard for an outdoor party, rather than the quality of my skin! And since that party is this weekend, there’s a good chance I won’t be able to make the sugar scrub until next week. Forgive me, please!

In the meantime, for this Friday post, I found an incredibly interesting article about feet. It’s long, so I thought today was a great day to share it so you could take your time this weekend to read it and soak it all up. There are some theories that I’m not sure I agree with - mainly - “shoes are bad for our feet.” Maybe in a world where all floors are made of powdery white sand or clover, but I can’t imagine how getting a nail stuck in your bare sole would be “healthier” than wearing the average shoe?

Going barefoot is just not a solution for this day and age. But problems with our feet are not going to change either way. So what can we do? Buy good shoes, give your feet appropriate rest, get pedicures and foot massages, and of course, see a doctor if your feet are especially ailing you. Or, become a person that can help alleviate the problem by going to massage school or learn to be a nail technician where you can give pedicures!