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Wouldn’t it be awesome if every day was a good hair day? We spend a great deal of time every week with a blow dryer held to our head, fixing our locks.  It feels amazing when we know our style turned out just right but many days, we walk away feeling like we have wasted a lot of time and it still doesn’t look good.  I mean, it just falls flat about 5 minutes after you style it, doesn’t it? There may be some pointers that you could use if you struggle with this, too. We have listed some below for you:

• Start with wet hair. You can gently towel-dry so it’s not dripping wet, but don’t rub too hard (it’ll get tangled). For the smoothest, most long-lasting results, avoid “rough drying” — fluffing the hair with your hands while drying. While it saves time, it makes hair frizzy.
• Don’t use too much product. If your hair is fine or oily, it’ll become limp. Put a bit of product only the ends, if needed.
• This takes more time but is WORTH it.  Divide your hair in sections, and start in front because this area tends to dry the quickest. Using a round brush and plenty of tension, aim the blow-dryer at the roots and move it along the length of your hair to the ends. Heating the hair in the direction of the cuticle helps keep it smooth and fights frizz.
• For volume and height, hold each section up and in the opposite direction from the way you want it to lie. For extra bounce, pin each section up after drying to let it cool. This helps set the curl so your hair doesn’t go flat the minute you walk out of the bathroom.
• To make your blow-out last, spray your hair lightly and then leave it alone. Avoid brushing it out or running your fingers through it — this will break up the bounce and make it go limp. RESIST that temptation.  Just messing with your ‘do too much after you are done can leave it flat.  It is better to spray and go!

We want to wish all of our blog readers a very Happy New Year! Here’s to a prosperous, beautiful new year!

We’ve had a pretty mild winter so far, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to escape the cold temps and head somewhere for a vacation in the next few months. Have you made plans? Don’t forget to also plan ahead for your beauty treatments to get your bod ready for the beach and pack your sunscreen! Remember, we also carry UVB accessories like hats and sunglasses!
If you are taking your family on a trip, these are some great places to consider besides the ever-popular Florida destination:

•  Turks and Caicos:  Nestled in the beautiful, exotic Caribbean islands, Turks & Caicos is a top contender in popularity  for families with children of all ages.   There are so many opportunities for families to unite, have fun together and explore a piece of paradise.    A fun, unique attraction is the Conch Farm  which is the only farm that raises conchs,  tour the Turks & Caicos Museum, go whale watching for the giant humpback whale, relaxing together on the white-sand beaches, swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving  as well as bird watching and enjoying beach barbecues.  Lots of fun in the sun!
• Bahamas:  As this popular family vacation destination is just a few short hours from the coast of Florida, your vacation travel budget can go far enabling you and your family to enjoy more fun together.  There are so many tours and activities available.  Some examples include dolphin encounters and swims, jet-ski adventures, kayaking trips, stingray encounters, parasailing, sunset cruises, snorkeling and scuba diving, native shows, biking tours, jeep tours, sub tours and glass bottom boat rides, fishing, sea lion encounters.  White-sand beaches, turquoise waters, ethnic cuisine and beautiful exotic flowers and warm climate all make this destination a fun and relaxing location to visit.
• Dominican Republic:  With at least 800 miles of coastline along the azure waters of the Caribbean sea located at the east end of the island of Hispaniola, Dominican Republic welcomes families who will find that the many all-inclusive resorts in the country are ideal for vacations.  Of course beach activities abound  with water sports like jet skiing, kayaking, river rafting, wake-boarding, water skiing, surfing and kite-boarding as well as day trips to visit the local national park, Ocean World Adventure Park for close-up encounters with dolphins, sharks and tigers,  horseback-riding and whale watching during the months of January through Mid-April.
• Kauai, Hawaii:  Kauai is the garden island in the Hawaiian chain.  You and your family will find an abundance of activities  that are family friendly.  There is so much to explore and do, for instance Hawaii Movie Tours, Captain Andy’s Sailing Adventures, the South Pacific Dinner Show, Kauai Zip Line Adventure, dinner cruise, helicopter rides, Kauai Children’s Discovery Museum, Koke’e Natural History Museum, visit some of Kauaii’s nine amazing and varied state parks.  Hawaii’s temperate climate draws families to vacation there year-round.
• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico:  Many exciting opportunities are available for your family to make memories together that will last a lifetime.  This area is one of Mexico’s most popular destinations where you can participate in a wealth of activities including day cruises, canopy tours,  relaxing on the warm beaches, horseback riding, sailing, mountain biking, hovercraft riding, an evening experiencing a true Mexican Fiesta, sea turtle encounter, sea kayaking, swimming with dolphins or sea lions, deep sea fishing or whale-watching.

Oh, and here’s a 2012 vacation fashion tip–bright hues are popular for those getaways right now.  Think clear, vibrant orange hues and striking bright pink shades. They will look beautiful with your sunless tan that you apply before you take off! Bon voyage!

This time of year, even though it is fun and exciting, leaves most of us walking around feeling frazzled and sleep-deprived.  You have too much to do and just not enough time. Throw into the mix that you want to look glamorous for those multiple holiday parties you will be attending.  We have some answers for some common questions this time of year:
Q: I’ve had too many late nights recently and my complexion is looking a bit dull. How can I look like I’ve had an early night even though I haven’t? 
A: Add a hint of radiant light with glominerals Bronzers or Revision Intellishade. Apply these luminizers anywhere you want a subtle, natural glo that can instantly brighten your complexion. The perfect finishing touch! The Clarisonic is a great way to exfoliate your skin for a quick glow.


Q: I’ve got a few parties to go to in the coming week and I’m worried about oily shine ruining my makeup before the evening is over at these parties. How can I control the shine without caking on powder?
A: Dust your face with glominerals perfecting or finishing powder and finish with a spritz or two of hydration mist to set your makeup for the night. Tuck some oil blotting papers in your purse–these can be your best friend if you hope to avoid too much powder.
Q: I have quite a lot of larger, open pores.  Is there anything I can do to minimize my pores when I prepare for my holiday gatherings? I’m self-conscious about them. 
A: There are products available that will help reduce the appearance of larger pores.  One to check out would be SkinMedica’s Rejuvenation Toner or Obagi’s Pore Therapy.
Belladerm would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We are here to help you find solutions for YOUR beauty questions.  Stop in or call us today!