About your Permanent Wave

I am including some advice and suggestions in this post on how to take care of your new Professional permanent wave.

1. Contrary to some belief permanent waves are not permanent and unless your hair has some natural wave it should have a perm to help support the style.

2. Your experienced professional hairstylist should discuss your hair care problems plus the style and type perm best suited for you and your hair prior to the permanent.

3. You should expect your permanent to relax approximately fifteen percent (15%) after the first shampoo and style. It is always advisable to wait at least twenty four hours before shampooing the new permanent and remember that constant blow drying and stretching with the styling brush or curling iron requires the hair to be conditioned during each shampoo to help it keep its elasticity and sheen.

4. It is wise to let the Stylist do your style within one week after the perm to see that the condition and results are satisfactory. The Stylist and Salon will be glad and happy to correct any permanent that does not perform as you and the stylist agree it should after this service.

5. With the newer Styles of today and the fast pace of our society many people choose to do their own hair. Most Salons will be glad to prescribe the proper P.H. balanced shampoo and conditioners you should use to keep your CROWNING GLORY looking healthy and alive.

Grandma's Apron

This is really nice..... I hope you enjoy it just like I did....

The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that it served as a holder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken-coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled it carried out the hulls. In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner. (Dinner is now the evening meal)

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron" that served so many purposes.

REMEMBER THIS! "Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughter sets hers on the window sill to thaw."

Duck Hunters in Michigan

This is a story from a radio program. It is a true report of an incident in Michigan. I realise this has nothing to do with hair etc. but thought you might like to hear about how two duck hunters missed the duck!

A guy buys a brand new Lincoln Navigator for $42,500 and has
$560 monthly payments. He and a friend go duck hunting in winter, and of course all the lakes are frozen. These two guys go out on the lake with the guns, the dog, and of course the new vehicle. They drive out onto the lake ice and get ready. Now they want to make some kind of a natural landing area for the ducks, something for the decoys to float on. In order to make a hole large enough to look like something a wandering duck would fly down and land on, it is going to take a little more effort than an ice hole drill.

So, out of the back of the new Navigator comes a stick of dynamite with a short, 40-second fuse. Now these two Rocket Scientists do take into consideration that they want to place the stick of dynamite on the ice at a location far from where they and the new Navigator are standing, because they don't want to take the risk of slipping on the ice when they run from the burning fuse and possibly go up in smoke with the resulting blast. They light the 40-second fuse and throw the dynamite. Remember a couple of paragraphs back when I mentioned the vehicle, the guns and the dog? Let's talk about the dog: A highly trained Black Lab used for RETRIEVING. Especially things thrown by the owner.

You guessed it, the dog takes off at a high rate of doggy speed on the ice and captures the stick of dynamite with the burning 40-second fuse about the time it hits the ice. The two men yells, scream waving their arms and wonder what to do now. The dog, cheered on, keeps coming. One of the guys grabs the shotgun and shoots the dog. The shotgun is loaded with # 8 buckshot, hardly big enough to stop a Black Lab. The dog stops for a moment, slightly confused, but continues on. Another shot and this time the dog, still standing, becomes really confused and of course terrified, thinking these two geniuses have gone insane. The dog takes off to find cover, under the brand new Navigator. ----BOOM!---- Dog and Navigator are blown to bits and sink to the bottom of the lake in a very large hole, leaving the two idiots standing there with this "I can't believe this happened" look on their faces.

The insurance company says that sinking a vehicle in a lake by illegal use of explosives is not covered. He still had yet to make the first of those $560 a month payments! And you thought your day was not going well? Poor dog! :-(

Dirt Road

What's mainly wrong with society today is that too many Dirt Roads have been paved. There's not a problem in America today, crime, drugs, education, divorce, delinquency that wouldn't be remedied, if we just had more Dirt Roads, because Dirt Roads give character. People that live at the end of Dirt Roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride. That it can jar you right down to your teeth sometimes, but it's worth it, if at the end is home...a loving spouse, happy kids and a dog.

We wouldn't have near the trouble with our educational system if our kids got their exercise walking a Dirt Road with other kids, from whom they learn how to get along. There was less crime in our streets before they were paved. Criminals didn't walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew they'd be welcomed by 5 barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun. And there were no drive by shootings. Our values were better when our roads were worse!

People did not worship their cars more than their kids, and motorists were more courteous, they didn't tailgate by riding the bumper or the guy in front would choke you with dust & bust your windshield with rocks. Dirt Roads taught patience. Dirt Roads were environmentally friendly, you didn't hop in your car for a quart of milk you walked to the barn for your milk. For your mail, you walked to the mail box.

What if it rained and the Dirt Road got washed out? That was the best part, then you stayed home and had some family time, roasted marshmallows and popped popcorn and pony rode on Daddy's shoulders and learned how to make prettier quilts than anybody. At the end of Dirt Roads, you soon learned that bad words tasted like soap.

Most paved roads lead to trouble, Dirt Roads more likely lead to a fishing creek or a swimming hole. At the end of a Dirt Road, the only time we even locked our car was in August, because if we didn't some neighbor would fill it with too much zucchini.

At the end of a Dirt Road, there was always extra springtime income, from when city dudes would get stuck, you'd have to hitch up a team and pull them out. Usually you got a dollar...always you got a new friend...at the end of a Dirt Road! !

Todays Hairstyles versus the 60's

The ultimate shaped face is of course oval. Just imagine the outline shape of an egg with the small end of the egg as your chin. There are many shapes from pear to apple and then some in between. Then there is the square compared to a rectangular box. This is where the correct hairstyle can improve the look making it resemble the perfect oval shape. For eons the Professionals have relied on the fact that in order to look great one should wear a hairstyle that compliments the face shape.

That being said, as you watch the female news reporters today there is no way they take any of these facts seriously. Being in the Beauty Profession, I some times flip channels because of their hairstyles. Today we are seeing reporters that should be promoting fashion along with news. I realize that some cute little female reporter with an oval face can wear her hairstyle any way and still look beautiful, but then the rest try to copy that hairstyle because at the time hers is long and straight. Maybe some have not looked at this because of the reporters flimsy attire but ask yourself as you flip channels on your television why do they all try to look alike? You would think the CEO’s of the networks would demand that something be done to improve the looks of their female news reporters. In the past the National Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Association almost dictated the new annual hairstyles as guides for the season. Even the President’s wives looked forward to promoting their hairstyles.

This article appeared in the Las Vegas Sun on January 14, 1963: Las Vegas will be the hair fashion center of the United States this week and several thousand of the leading hairdressers from all parts of the nation meeting at the Flamingo Hotel for the 43rd annual convention for the National Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Association convention visitors are also being accommodated at the Dunes, Tally-ho, Tropicana, Sands and Riviera hotels. This was the preview of the fall and winter hair fashions. One of the new ‘Dandy’ Hair Fashions Forecast was the Fine ‘n’ Dandy Coiffure. It was especially designed for that all-important event in a young lady’s life, her first formal party. Featured is the elegant small head look. Soft bangs of brushed waves and an extra note of interest to the eyes which are further emphasized by the wave crescents at the sides. I realize this is my opinion and I would certainly welcome any different point of view. http://www.hairarchives.com/private/archivesnew.htm

I Wish You Enough!

A friend told me this story the last time she was flying to California. I thought it was very touching and that it would be interesting to those who are or have reached their golden years. Of course it should be interesting to everyone since it is one of those facts of life that many folks face daily. This is just another one of my post that touched me and my hope is that you will also be touched.

At an airport I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together.

They had announced her plane's departure and standing near the security gate, they hugged and he said, " I love you. I wish you enough."

She said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy." They kissed him goodbye and she left.

He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever?"

"Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me. So I knew what this man was experiencing.

"Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever goodbye?" I asked. " I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is her next trip back will be for my funeral, " he said.

"When you were saying goodbye I heard you say 'I wish you enough." May I ask what that means?"

He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He paused for a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more.

"When we said 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain them," he continued and then turning toward me he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."

He then began to sob and walked away. My friends and loved ones, I wish you ENOUGH!!!

God's time Management for you!

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course!!!! Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME.

Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. You can deposit into it a morning prayer to Almighty God, praise and worship of Him, joy unspeakable and full of glory, continual prayer all day long—for others and for your own needs, thanksgiving, meal times, and snack times, tithes and offerings of pure love for the Creator of all good things, Bible reading and study, (and don’t forget to add interest—lots and lots of interest,) meditation, and a bed-time prayer as a final deposit along with sweet dreams.

Each night the time bank burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day’s deposits to the fullest, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against “tomorrow”. You must live in the present on today’s deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, blessings, peace of mind, prosperity, and success! The clock is running.
Make the most of today.

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade; or ask someone who has had a heart attack and missed a year of life; or ask an elderly person in a nursing home.

To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby; or the cancer patient whose doctor just told him, “you have one month left.”

To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper; or ask the single parent who just lost her job and won’t have a pay check for food or rent.

To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet or the African child waiting for an air drop of food, or a wounded soldier waiting to be carried off the battlefield.

To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train or ask the astronaut counting down to blastoff.

To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident, or ask a person who fell asleep in bed smoking.

To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics; or the Lord, Jesus Christ, who will return again in the twinkling of an eye.
Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with you because He invented it—in the beginning.

And remember that time waits for no one. Time marches on. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present!! Hours are such priceless things—each one of them has sixty wings—with which they fly on their unseen track; and not a minute ever comes back.

Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their heart to us. And if you have a friend who prays with you, you truly are blessed. Show God how much you love Him. Use your gift of time by investing it in Him.

Show your friends how much you care by investing your time in them—love them, pray for them. Show someone who does not know God how much you love them—take time to pray for those who spitefully use you or who persecute you .

And then it's Winter

I thought this was worth posting because it does hit home to all those thinking of retiring and to those who have already reached that thresh hold. It has nothing to do with hair except that at this age for some there is none and for others their appearance including their hair and makeup is very important.

It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. But, here it is:

The winter of my life and it catches me by surprise. How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my life go? And where did my youth go? I remember well ... Seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like. But, here it is ...

My age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be. Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore. It's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will ... I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things. But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last, this I know, that when it's over - It's over!

Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done and things I should have done. But indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime.

So, if you're not in your winter yet ... Let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life, please do it now! Life goes by quickly. Do what you can today, because you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not! You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life . So, live today, and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember.

"Life is God's gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to God, and those who come after. Make it a fantastic one!"

One's Attitude in Life!

I was struck by this story about one's attitude in life. Some are born with it and others have to cultivate it but as we travel the road of life I believe this 92 year old lady has it right. Her 5 point rules of how to be happy is really your attitude once you reach those golden years. As you can see her attitude toward her well coifed hair and appearance tells you plenty about her attitude. This is her story:

The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready.

As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window. "I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room.... just wait."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it ...

"It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away, just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. My advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories. Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less. No one can go back and make a brand new start. Anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

Have a Love Affair!

Having been an employee and an employer over the years, I’ve come to realize that this little tid-bit should be the focus of every employee today. Everyone from the CEO of a large Corporation to the janitor is employed by some one. With this in mind, wouldn’t it be great if everyone had a love affair?

You say you love me but sometimes you don’t show it. In the beginning you couldn’t do enough for me. Now you seem to take me for granted. Some days I wonder if I mean anything to you at all. Maybe when I’m gone you’ll appreciate me and all the things I do for you. I’m responsible for the food on your table, for the clothes you wear, for the welfare of your home and for the thousand and one things you want and need. Why, if it weren’t for me you wouldn’t have the car you drive. I’ve kept quiet and waited to see how long it would take you to realize how much you really need me. Cherish me…take good care of me…and I’ll take good care of you.
Who am I? I’M YOUR JOB!!

A Master Painter's tip on how to apply Make-up

Any painter can tell you that for best results you don’t apply the new coat over the old if that old coat has deteriorated. You wouldn’t be applying new make-up unless the old job had deteriorated so take a tip from the master painter and completely remove the old work before applying the new. Believe us that’s the only way to obtain that fresh, clean, well groomed appearance you intended when you sat down at your dressing table.

Chit Chat finally sent three tips of the ten on how and what to apply to the finished look. Hope to get the rest soon. She says when applying your blush you should use a round tip brush and make sure to blend the blush well around the apple of your cheek. To make your eyes stand out try the curler for your lashes and add 2 or 3 coats of mascara.

Then another tip for your eyes would be to use a light color over all of the lid. Then apply a darker shade for your upper outer lid. After that use the darkest of the three, if your eyes look hollow, applying to the crease of the eyelid. This should be well blended. She suggest you may want to check out Arbonne’s make-up because their products are all botanical and pH-correct. Skin care pH of 5.5 ensures maximum benefit therefore eliminating possible skin irritation.

An Evangelist Son needs a Hair Cut

A young boy had just got his driver’s permit and inquired of his father, an evangelist, if they could discuss the use of the car. His father took him into the study and said to the son,

“I’ll make a deal with you. You bring your grades up from a C to a B-average, study your Bible a little, and get your hair cut and we’ll talk about the car.”

The boy thought about that for a moment and decided that he’d better settle for the offer, and they agreed.

After about six weeks the boy came back and again asked his father about the car. Again they went to the study where his father said, Son, "I’ve been real proud of you. You’ve brought your grades up, and I’ve observed that you’ve been studying your Bible and participating a lot more in the Bible study class on Sunday morning. But I’m real disappointed seeing as you haven’t had your hair cut.”

The young man paused a moment and and said, “You know, Dad, I’ve been thinking about that, and I’ve noticed in my studies of the Bible that Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, and there’s even strong argument that Jesus Himself had long hair.”

To which his father replied, “You’re right, son. Did you also notice that they all WALKED everywhere they went?”

Who invented the Cold Wave Permanent?

In 1938, Arnold F. Willatt invented the cold wave, the precursor to the modern perm. It used no machines and no heat. The hair was wrapped on rods and a reduction lotion containing ammonium thioglycolate was applied. This chemical breaks open the disulfide linkages between the polypeptide bonds in the keratin (the protein structure) in the hair. The disulfide bonds give hair its elasticity, and can be reformed with chemicals. Next, an acid neutralizer lotion was applied, (hydrogen peroxide), to close the disulfide bridges again and the hair was reformed to the shape of the rod. The entire process took 6-8 hours at room temperature.Perms today use this method with sodium thioglycolate instead of ammonium thioglycolate, at a pH of 8 to 9.5. This method takes only 15-30 minutes until the neutralizer is applied to bring down the pH and rebond the hair.

In the 1970s, acid perms were invented. These use glycerol monothioglycolate instead and contain no ammonia. They are sometimes called buffered waves. This perm is slower but gentler to the hair. Heat is usually added by placing the client under a dryer, after covering the wrapped head with a plastic cap. The reaction is endothermic and the additional heat causes the pH to rise from 6.9 to 7.2.

Other types of modern perms include exothermic perms, which are self timing and self heating; and neutral, or low pH, thioglycolate free perms.The permanent relaxer straightens the hair instead of curling it. The same chemical methods can be used for this, but the hair is not wrapped around rods. This process is commonly used by African-Americans and others with naturally curly hair.

There are two parts to a perm, the physical action of wrapping the hair, and the chemical phase. Both of these can affect the result. Important physical variables involved are what type of rod is used, how the hair is wrapped and how end papers are used. The two most common types of rods are straight and concave; each giving a different curl effect. The wrapping method is either spiral or croquinole, and various types and positionings of end papers can be used with any combination of the above. Generally, smaller rods will produce smaller, tighter curls and increase the appearance of shortening the hair.
The chemical solution used in the perming process is determined by the client's hair type and the pH of the solution. Classic alkaline perms are used for stronger, coarser hair. They work at room temperature and usually contain ammonium thioglycolate in the pH range of 9-10. Acid perms are used on more delicate or thinner hair. They require outside heat application and usually contain glycerol monothioglycolate in the pH range of 6.5-8.2.Due to the harsh nature of the chemicals, it is important that contact with the skin be minimized. Modern chemicals are less irritating, but measures should still be taken to reduce contact with anything other than hair.
A poorly performed permanent wave will result in breakage of the disulfide bonds through chemical reduction, because it fails to fix the newly formed bonds. This results in hair that is no longer elastic and flexible, but brittle and fragile. At this point, even combing the hair will result in hair loss. The hair shafts will experience fracture where they exit the scalp. Because the bulb of hair has not been removed though, the hair follicle is not damaged and the hair will regrow; however, the temporary hair loss may be distressing.Home perms

A number of brands of home permanent kits are available, but their numbers have decreased as permanent waves are not as popular as they were in the 1980s. The first popular home permanent was the Toni brand. The Toni company used a set of twins to advertise their products — one with a salon perm and one with the home perm. Another brand that was a household name in Britain in the late 1960s and 1970s was Twink.

Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perm_%28hairstyle%29

Are You satisfied with your Make-up Job?

Next time you see a make-up job that just screams that it is a make-up job, let it be a reminder to check your own artistry. You should never actually see the rouge, powder or lipstick, just the effect. Makeup is certainly one of those jobs that’s worth doing well if it’s done at all so take pains and make it smooth. Chit Chat says that many make up Artist will remind you not to use either black or white as shadows in your eye makeup. The light colors could be light beige and if a dark color is desired one could use either gray or darker shades of brown. If your complexion is in the Olive tone you should not use the gray shades. The blush and lipsticks are usually a close match but those with blonde hair or a light color should use one of the pink shades, Just remember that these colors should blend. Even those with shades of brunette hair could use a peach color and those red heads can use the bronze colors. Chit Chat reminds all that these are just suggestions and as she explained before one should experiment with the many shades in the base colors for the desired look. If the natural look is your choice just use a brown mascara. I keep reminding my friend Georgie that Chit Chat still hasn’t given us the 10 tips in applying make-up that the average working gal could use.

Chit Chat says, Brush Brush Brush!!

I just found out from Georgie that Chit Chat is the Educational Director of a Cosmetology School. It’s sure nice now that I know all the tips and advice comes from a professional adviser. Her latest tip is sound advice. I can remember in the Harper Method School I attended it was mandatory that a thorough brushing was performed before any one was shampooed. So, she says, use that brush and use it often! Every woman should give her hair a thorough brushing every single day and you’ll be surprised with the improvement you’ll see after just one week. Try it this way. Lean over so your hair falls forward and beginning at the nape of the neck, brush over the scalp and clear out to the hair ends. Work all the way around your head with the same stroke and let your scalp feel those bristles. Drag the brush through the hair with a good strong pull. If you’re doing the job correctly your arms will tire and your whole scalp will tingle. Remember, everyday for a week. Then check results. They’ll be there!

Martha Matilda Harper's Life Story

This Post may interest our friends and others who might wonder why would the life Story of Martha Matilda Harper be posted on this persons Blog? We have been interested in the story of Martha Matilda Harper’s life in the beauty industry since I first entered the profession with my wife in the late “Fifty’s.” It so happened that we graduated from Adolph’s Harper Method franchised Cosmetology School in Atlanta, Georgia. In those days the only way one could be employed in a franchised "Harper Method" Salon was to graduate from one of her franchised Schools. And so it was that her Harper Method system was one of the reasons we continued in the Beauty industry. This story lets you know that women could be successful even in the 1800’s if they had the fortitude and a dream. Permission to post this information can be found in the writers URL at the end of this post.

First, this is a biography. It uncovers the story of the woman behind the "Harper Method," following her as she escaped her poverty-stricken family in northern Canada, traveled to New York, and became one of the premier business women of her day. Martha Harper's life embodied most of the characteristics of the classic Horatio Alger myth. Indeed, Plitt sees her as "a female Horatio Alger." (p. 3) Born in 1875, the daughter of an abusive, ne'er do well dreamer, she was bound out to servitude when she was only seven. Like a Horatio Alger hero, she had "luck" as well as "pluck." When she was twelve, she went to work for a physician, who shared his secret formula with her -- a hair tonic that would make hair and scalp both healthy and beautiful. Armed with this knowledge and 60 silver dollars, Harper left Canada at the age of 25, settling in Rochester New York, where she went to work once more as a servant -- this time for a prominent attorney, Luther Hovey, and his wife Charlotte. There she adopted the Christian Science religion and, relying on the contacts the Hoveys provided her, acquired an office in the Powers Building, "the showpiece" of downtown Rochester. (p. 24) From these inauspicious beginnings, she launched an international corporation that she ran until the 1930s.

Harper's story is a compelling one. Yet the biography is the weakest portion of the book. Pitt relies too heavily -- perhaps because she had no other choice -- on "official" and often suspect company sources. Moreover, the narrative is dotted with qualifiers -- "probably," "perhaps," and "may have" -- which indicate that too many of Pitt's assumptions are based on plausible guess work rather than hard fact.

The book also offers a gendered interpretation of Harper's achievements. It describes the difficulties that women once had in establishing themselves and being taken seriously in the business world. Pitt argues that had Harper been a man, she would be ranked among the leading innovators of business practices in her day. She also maintains that Harper's determination to foster a sense of community among her employees was a tactic that a woman would be particularly likely to embrace. While suffragists talked about women's capabilities, Harper quietly turned real women into strong and capable entrepreneurs. For her, women's leadership in her company was not accidental; it was essential. "Dismissing the traditional capitalist competitive approach of "owner-take-all," Harper emphasized the values of cooperation and mutual support, shared her profits with other women, changed her employees' lives and gave her "girls" real financial security and personal freedom. (p. 5) Pitt's analysis here is solid -- albeit somewhat hagiographic -- but it tells us nothing new about the problems women faced in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Finally, Pitt analyzes Harper's contributions to the world of business, stressing her innovative, even visionary techniques, techniques that have become commonplace in the modern world. The "Harper Method" was, in fact, virtually identical with the modern franchise system. At its peak, it included a worldwide network of shops, owned by individual "Harperites" -- mostly working class women -- who ran their businesses following the dictates of Martha Harper. The Harper system "integrated recruitment, training, and job placement. It offered a soup-to-nuts system of indoctrination, skill building, and ownership." (p. 117) Harper trained the women, taught them how to market their goods, how to treat their customers, and how to maintain a high and consistent quality of service. She occasionally introduced new "scientific" products and techniques to the Harperites, and required them to take occasional refresher courses so that they would continue to represent the company in the best possible manner. Perhaps because of her Christian Science faith, she emphasized healthy -- rather than simply beautiful -- hair. For that reason she eschewed the use of the hair dyes (unless they were organic) and permanents that became increasingly popular after World War II. Unlike her contemporaries, Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein, she tried to steer clear of business strategies that targeted the middle class, and democratized the beauty industry. She was not interested in persuading her customers that beauty was possible for any woman for the price of a few cosmetics. For Harper, health was the basis of beauty; externally applied products were mass produced facades designed to hide rather than enhance a woman's assets.

While Harper was ahead of her times in some ways, she represented a bygone era in others. She may have empowered working class women; yet she sought only elite women as customers. Even during the depression, she told "her girls" to continue charging upscale prices, hoping to differentiate her business from those led by others in the beauty industry. She wanted her goods and services to be better, not cheaper.

In the 1930s, when Harper's mental and physical health declined, and her husband Robert MacBain gradually assumed control of the business, it became increasingly clear that Harper had not built a business that could go on without her. MacBain abandoned many of her core principles, adopting a more "masculine" strategy, and the enterprise lost much of its distinctiveness. He stressed outer rather than inner beauty; he allowed the use of dyes and permanents. He did not share his wife's determination to recruit servant girls to run the franchises. In a sense, Martha Harper's was more a personal than an economic triumph, a product of her charisma and her drive. No other business imitated the Harper Method in her era, and it died with her.

Citation
Sheila L. Skemp, "Review of Jane R. Plitt, Martha Matilda Harper and the American Dream: How One Woman Changed the Face of Modern Business." EH.Net Economic History Services, Aug 12 2002. URL: http://eh.net/bookreviews/library/0525

What to do with Dry Hair?

Dry hair is a real problem---ask the woman who owns some. Oily hair is bad, but dry hair is no picnic, either. Dry hair is dull hair, and it looks the same after you shampoo it, as it did before. Along with dry hair, you may also have a dandruff problem. Although dandruff is more often a condition associated with oily hair, people with dry hair get dandruff too. Common dandruff is simply a layer of skin shedding from your scalp. When the skin cells get trapped on your scalp by your hair and clump together you have dandruff. And dandruff can make your hair look dull.

Dry hair can result from external factors, such as exposure to harsh chemicals, Permanent waves and Dyes, cheap Shampoos, Chlorine in Swimming Pools, Blow dryers and Curling Irons and too much Sun. Chit Chat finally sent this tip direct instead of going through Georgie. She says that one should always brush their hair no matter the condition but the difference between dry and oily hair is that in one you remove the oil and the other you add the oil and conditioners. Her recommendation is to start with a Professional Salon treatment first but if you don’t have time you can give yourself this treatment at home with the following products: Start with Arbonne’s Skin conditioning oil that is used on your scalp and hair. The botanical blend of avocado oil, olive oil and grape seed will re-hydrate your hair. Only use a small amount and massage it into your scalp and through the hair thoroughly. Wrap your hair in a towel or plastic wrap and soak in a hot tub for 15 minutes. Shampoo twice to ensure removing the excess of the product. What a great way to condition your hair and scalp while at the same time relaxing in a great bath. Thanks Chit Chat for this information.

Help for Excessive Oily Hair!

If excess oil just makes you boil, remember this! Oily hair is best treated by frequent shampooing. You should experiment with various shampoos to find which seems to best check the excessive oily condition. Once you decide which shampoo is best for your particular condition use it often. Some circles say you should use tepid water but those experienced in the business recommend that hot water should be used because it helps to remove the oil immediately with the proper shampoo. In extreme conditions hair should be shampooed each day always remembering that if the hair doesn’t squeak after the first shampoo a second should be used. You should decide the number of shampoos per week depending on your particular problem. Another tip is to massage the scalp good and leave the suds on for at least two minutes. Another myth is that you should not brush your hair but correct brushing corrects the cuticle direction and gives the hair more sheen after the shampoo. Make sure to brush your hair thoroughly each day and make sure you remove the oil from the bristles of the brush by using a dry cloth or absorbent cotton rubbed through the hair with separate strands held away from the head. This will pick up most of the excess oil. Those with oily hair will most likely have oily skin, It has been proven that oily skin deters wrinkles if the skin is cared for beginning in early life. So, Chit Chat says don’t let it make you too upset over your oily hair and skin and to follow known treatments for your oily skin and hair.

History of the Permanent Wave Machine

Marjorie Joyner
An employee of Madame Walker’s empire, Majorie Joyner, invented a permanent wave machine. This device, patented in 1928, curled or "permed" women’s hair for a relatively lengthy period of time. The wave machine was popular among women white and black allowing for longer-lasting wavy hair styles. Marjorie Joyner went on to become a prominent figure in Walker’s industry, though Majorie Joyner never profited directly from her invention, for it was the assigned property of the Walker Company. Marjorie Joyner was born in 1896 in the rural Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and moved to Chicago to study cosmetology. Madam Walker was a Chicago business women who had come to fame as the beauty product supplier to hollywood star Josephine Baker. Marjorie Stewart Joyner invented her wave machine as a solution to the hair problems of African American women, however, she never profited from her invention. Madame Walker owned the rights.

Marjorie Joyner became the Director of Madame Walker's beauty schools. Together with Mary Bethune Mcleod, Majorie Joyner founded the United Beauty School Owners and Teachers Association in 1945. She also volunteered for several charities that helped house, educate, and find work for African Americans during the Great Depression.

Madame Walker was a St. Louis washerwoman turned entrepreneur, who in 1905 invented a method to soften and smooth black women's hair. Joyner worked for Madam Walker's company. For further information on the History of Permanent Waving click on the about.com address Below:

http://www.inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bljoyner.htm

Yes Sir, "That's My Baby"

Hairstyles of the 1920s created more controversy in hair fashion than in any other period of American culture. And one hairstyle, known simply as ¾ “the bob,” would be at the center of this great debate. First introduced during the Great War, the bob haircut would eventually cause a revolution in the way women would wear their hair ¾ forevermore It all started in 1915 with the debut of the Castle Bob, named after the celebrated ballroom dancer Irene Castle. While cutting her hair for convenience, little would she know that she would forever be associated with triggering a revolution in 20th-century hair fashion. The Castle Bob would be the first indication of things to come ¾ the rage of short hair.The bob haircut was simply a blunt cut, level with the bottom of the ears all around the head. It was worn either with bangs or with the hair brushed off of the forehead. It was a simple look but a drastic departure from the long feminine looks created by Gibson and Marcel.

To those who appreciate the history of Hairstyling and where the beginning of liberated WOMAN began just click on the below link to "Professor" Bill Edwards Yes Sir, "Thats My Baby" web Site. http://www.hairarchives.com/private/1920s.htm