The Latest Trends in Men's Hairstyles

Today's men hair styles can be either long and textured or super short and tight and still be considered trendy and at the height of fashion. Some men hair styles require gel, mousse or pomade while others don't even need to be combed. The truth is that now more than ever there are numerous ways to achieve a stylish and trendy man hair cut. That means that there are a lot of different styles for men who are looking for the perfect man hair style to choose from.

While the man's hairstyle is less rigid than it was in the 80s and requires a lot less goo to accomplish, the modern man hair cut is still best served by a little styling. No, you do not need to spend hours in front of the mirror coaxing every strand into place, but a little gel never hurt any guy's hairstyle that I know of.

"great Hair"

Here are just a few of the latest trends in men's hair styles and how to style them:
Super short man's hair style. High and Tight, Fade, Spike, Clipper Cut and Crew Cut are just a few of the names given to the short male hair cut. By far the most popular style is the High and Tight or Fade. Characterized by a closely cropped clipper cut around the sides and back of the head with just enough hair on top of the head to comb, this style with its many variations accounts for about 75 percent of all popular styles today. With just a little bit of gel to spike up the top, mess it up a little or finger into place, this man's hair style will only take you seconds to achieve. While you may have to get it cut more often, about every three weeks or so, the ease of styling this man hair cut is what makes it a favorite among busy men today.
Medium length, textured men's hair style. Today's styles for men have a lot of texture and the same is true for medium-length styles (about 3 to 4 inches). These styles resemble the classic man hair cut of the past, but step it up a notch by using extreme texture and color to bring it all together. Most styles use a great deal of razoring and texturizing with notching scissors. To achieve this style pomade usually works best. Work product through dry hair and finger into place.
Long man's hair style. While most men do not wear their hair down their back anymore, the long hairstyle has made a somewhat shorter comeback. Perhaps the most recognizable example that I can give of this men's hair style is Ashton Kutcher. Long, textured and disheveled, this man hair cut is gaining widespread popularity. Again, this man's hair cut requires a lot of texture and works best with pomade.
As you can see from these few examples, male hairstyles are now far from boring. Gone are the days of cookie-cutter barber shop man hair cut. Here to stay is the trendy and styled cuts of today.
For further information on different types of men's hairstyles and how to find the right hairstyle for your face shape, read my article at http://medieval-fashion.blogspot.com
The Latest Trends in Men's Hairstyles
Michael Barrows' website gives great advice for good hair. Get your free ebook packed with hair style and hair care tips and advice, visit the great hair styles website.

Hair Loss: Biotin is Food for Your Hair

Biotin plays a significant part in the prevention of hair loss. Most nutritionists agree that biotin is one of the important vitamins for supporting hair growth. It is also commonly advised to take biotin to supplement medical treatments such Minoxidil or Propecia.

A deficiency of biotin may cause hair to become frail and unhealthy, and hair breakage, which may result in hair loss. Biotin also keeps your skin and nails healthy as well as being an important element of new hair growth.

Supplements are sometimes needed to return biotin levels to normal, but it is recommended to include biotin regularly in your diet. Two foods containing good quantities of biotin are liver and egg yolks. You would have to eat thousands of calories worth daily to get enough for your hair needs, which is why I would also suggest biotin supplements.

Hair

Foods full of biotin include brewer's yeast, green peas, oats, soybeans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, green peas, bulgur and brown rice. In terms of the egg yolks, your body's ability to digest and assimilate biotin decreases with high intake levels of protein. Biotin binds easily to proteins, making it unavailable to your body, which in turn causes biotin deficiency and hair loss. Try to steer clear of raw eggs in your diet, and cut down on protein powders and bars. Use one of the many shampoos that contain biotin and silica.

Additionally, those with type A blood don't have the ability to fully absorb B vitamins. Biotin is classified as a Vitamin B, so if you have Type A blood, adding higher doses of 5-8 grams twice daily will be needed to help prevent hair loss. At this time, there are no known side effects at this dosage level.

People suffering from heartburn, acid reflux, or GERD and who are taking antacids may absorb biotin less and hair loss may occur as a result. Therefore watch your use of over-the-counter antacids if you are worried about hair loss.

Hair Loss: Biotin is Food for Your Hair

Ms Boulay writes for Groominguy.com, where you read about home dermabrasion kits, and home hair removal methods [http://www.groominguy.com/home-hair-removal.php].

Great Uses For Tree Tea Oil

Tee tree oil has many curative powers and can be use to cure a lot of ailments. The reason comes from the fact that tea tree oil is a powerful antiseptic, germicide, antibacterial, and fungicide. This covers a lot of ground. Tea tree oil comes from the Melaleuca alternifolia tree. The oil is extracted by the distillation of the leaves and small branches of the Melaleuca tree.

The oil has been used by the Australian Aboriginal people for many years, and is just now becoming popular with the rest of the world. Some great uses for tree tea oil include the treatment of acne. This treatment is far more effective then most of the treatments that you can purchase from the pharmacist. To treat acne with tea tree you take a cotton swab soaking the end of the swab in the oil, then applying it to the effected area.

Great Hair Secrets

Some other uses include the treatment of hair lice, the best way to use tea tree oil for hair lice treatment is by mixing 10 ml of the oil with 50 ml of your favorite shampoo. Then add 50 ml of vegetable oil, (any kind of vegetable oil will do). Mix this all together with equal parts of water. Soak hair in this mix and leave it in for ten minutes. Then go and wash your hair out thoroughly to get rid of the oily mix. There won't be any of those unwanted pest left in your hair alive.

Some other conditions that can be treated with tea tree include scabies, impetigo, dandruff, warts, Cuts, Abrasions, and a lot more. But as great as this wonder oil is, there are small groups that may have allergic reactions from the use of the pure oil on your skin. If you should be one of the unfortunate few to have a reaction, this reaction usually manifest as a rash. So when trying it for the first time it is best to use with moderation to make sure you don't have a reaction.

Great Uses For Tree Tea Oil

To learn more great uses for tree tea oil come visit.

How to Control Hair Loss Using Natural Sources

Hair loss is like an epidemic, a disease that affects a great population of the world. If you're losing your hair, you can actually control it using totally natural solutions.

It would appear that the normal thing to do is go out and make a purchase of the newest, and greatest edition of hair loss product. Of course this is what many people do, only to find out later that they wasted their money.

Great Hair Secrets

A better approach is to use a natural method. Did you know that your hair can come out for more reasons than heredity? It's true. Take note of these various causes of hair loss, then we will look at some ways you can treat these causes with very little effort:
1.) Chronic illness/sickness
2.) Prescription medications
3.) Overactive/under active thyroid gland
4.) Hormonal imbalances
5.) Low blood circulation in the scalp
6.) Lack of vital nutrients within the body
and the list goes on . . . . .
Well while we won't attack each of these in this article, specifically take note of number five in the list. Low blood circulation can cause you to experience thinning hair in no time. The reason this happens is because your follicles are like plants. Without a good supply of blood flowing to their roots, they will starve and die.
They use various nutrients from your blood to produce hair. Now there are several things you can to treat this problem. You can go out and buy one of those expensive laser combs that are supposedly designed to stimulate circulation, or you can apply the ancient method of Champissage.
Champissage is an old Indian way of massaging the scalp using certain oils in order to produce hair, relieve stress, as well as promote overal hair growth. The oils you will need are jojoba, coconut, and almond.
Massage these oils together into the scalp, using your thumbs and forefinger to lift and rotate the scalp. This will get your blood flowing quite fast, and it only has to be performed for 15 minutes each day.
How to Control Hair Loss Using Natural Sources
Of course this one 'natural technique' isn't the only one you need to know in order to get your hair back. Learn how to implement the other five causes above by downloading your free ebook here: Top Keys For Hair Growth

How to Grow Hair Back Over Bald Patches

Hair loss can be attributed to many different reasons including those you do yourself such as trichotillomania. This is when you pull at your own hair mostly due to stress leaving bald spots on your head. You can grow the hair back however if you follow a few simple tips. If you are one of those who does pull their hair the first thing you need to do is do your best to stop. In fact, once you stop pulling your hair out it will start to grow back.

Hair grows about half an inch a month and it's pretty difficult to get it to grow any faster than that. Adding vitamin supplements to your diet will give your hair nutrients it needs to grow healthy and long. Even taking prenatal vitamins have been known to give an advantage to hair growth. Some other tips you can follow include:

Great Hair Secrets

1. Getting your hair cut or trimmed on a regular basis will keep it looking neat and attractive. It doesn't help it grow faster, but it does remove damage.

2. Add orange juice to your diet as well as vitamin E to help prevent bald spots on your hair.

3. Exercising daily is not only good for your body it's great for your hair too.

4. Brush or comb your hair frequently; this stimulates the blood flow to your hair follicles.

5. Keep your hair always neat, clean and well hydrated. A well moist scalp will prevent the hair follicles from getting clogged with dirt and this will allow your mane to grow faster.

6. Don't use styling tools too often or harsh chemical products that can damage your hair.

7. Change your shampoo to an all natural one and use a good conditioner as well.

8. Take easy and regular steps to knead your head and crown on a bi weekly basis; this will make sure there is adequate blood flow to your hair to prevent bald spots.

9. Make sure you are getting lots of rest and slumber every night, sleep ensures that your mane grows at its fastest speed each night.

10. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to give your body the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

11. Drink at a minimum seven glasses of clean water each and every day. This will keep you well hydrated and healthy.

12. Finally, use coconut oil on your hair at least twice a week to get a nice healthy shine and help your hair to grow.

How to Grow Hair Back Over Bald Patches

If you wish to grow hair back then you need to use the powerful Mira hair oil proven to grow hair back in a few short weeks

Itchy Scalp Hair Loss? Here's Why

Itchy scalp and hair loss can be very frustrating and worrying, and there can be a number of factors which cause or aggravate the hair loss. The hair loss caused by itchy scalp problems is not always permanent, and will often grow back once the main itchy scalp problem is sorted out.

In saying this though, it is vital that you take swift action to properly diagnose the problem and search for suitable remedies and treatments in order to avoid long term scarring from the itchy scalp irritation, and thus enable your hair to begin growing back.

Great Hair Secrets

Here I'd like to tell you about a few common reasons for itchy scalp hair loss and what you can do to alleviate the problem.

Folliculitis - strong ingredients in shampoos can damage hair follicles and lead to infections such as folliculitis.

Symptoms are normally small, white-headed pimples around one or more hair follicles. Deep folliculitis will often result in larger painful red boils.

If left untreated the folliculitis can significantly injure the hair follicle resulting in localised areas of scarring and bald patches where there are no visible follicles; this is known as "cicatricial alopecia".

Antibiotics are often used to treat folliculitis, but as with all antibiotics they can lead to a resistance to the antibiotic used. Natural remedies containing Tea Tree Oil or Lavender Oil can be extremely effective in treating the itchy scalp hair loss of folliculitis, particularly in the early stages, and can help to stimulate hair growth.

Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) - a superficial fungal infection of the scalp. It is caused by mold-like fungi called dermatophytes, and the symptoms include red, itchy patches on the scalp, hair loss and, if left untreated, can also lead to cicatricial alopecia.

The skin might peel or scale and be red and itchy, with swollen blisters or a rash (that can spread) that appears as black dots.

The rash, being highly contagious, is normally treated with over the counter products containing miconazole, clotrimazole, or similar ingredients. Sometimes prescription medications are needed to clear it up.

There are many natural products that can be used to aid the healing process and act as natural antibiotics, but it must be stressed that ringworm is an aggressive fungus requiring close monitoring and appropriate treatment.

Psoriasis - said to affect some 2.5% of the US population (about 7 or 8 million people) psoriasis is a fairly common, non-contagious skin disease in which the skin cells replace themselves too quickly and cause red lesions covered with scale to appear.

Scalp psoriasis is said to affect at least half of all psoriasis sufferers and is characterized by white scales on patches of very red skin, often accompanied by severe itching and possibly temporary baldness on the affected areas.

Using a shampoo containing zinc pyrithione (in its natural form) can be extremely effective at combating psoriasis and itchy scalp hair loss in general, as it has very strong anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.

Home remedies using birch or avocado oil are also extremely effective in soothing and healing psoriasis.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis - similar in appearance to eczema (Atopic Dermatitis), this is an inflammatory reaction to the proliferation of a yeast called Malassezia (or Pityrosporum Ovale). It produces toxic substances that irritate the skin. This yeast is always present on the scalp in small numbers and feeds on the natural oils produced there.

Imbalances in the levels of oils (sebum) on the scalp, (often due to harsh shampoos, conditioners and hair dyes) can cause the yeast to multiply and grow, resulting in dry redness, flaking, itchy scalp and sometimes cause temporary hair loss. The flakes of skin are normally characterized by a yellowish colour and oily texture.

Since the dermatitis is generally caused by the use of harsh shampoos and the stripping and drying out of the scalp, it is advisable to use a shampoo containing only natural ingredients like Tea Tree Oil which will not only help to fight the infection but will control the yeast and condition the skin, as well as maintain the natural pH balance of the scalp. Adding Rosemary Oil to the shampoo can work wonders, in addition to using simple home remedies containing Manuka or Tea Tree Oil, as well as Lavender to stimulate hair growth.

Itchy Scalp Hair Loss? Here's Why

There are many simple remedies for itchy scalp hair loss that you can make in the comfort of your own home.
Check out my itchy scalp and hair loss page which will give you tons more information on the causes of your itchy scalp hair loss and how to cure it.

For a Free ebook telling you some little known herbal cures that your doctor never told you about, go to my website and download a copy now --> http://www.natural-remedy-help.info/signup.html

Secret Mission Impossible Theme Party Ideas for Kids and Adults

Want to hear a secret? Mission Impossible is all the rage. Ever since the Mission Impossible series of movies, the secret agent genre has seen a revival. James Bond had become dead and dull, no one had thought of making Frederick Forsythe's Bourne series into movies yet and there was no action in the secret agent game. But ever since Tom Cruise toned up and put on a wireless headset, a tight black tee and slick smile, secret agent movies are everywhere. Spies never had it so good. And people love it - for teenagers and adults, the secret agent Mission Impossible lifestyle is the definition of cool.

For your Secret Mission Impossible party, make sure you get everyone to wear ultra-fitted clothes - tight long pants or pencil skirts and fitted shirts or tees for both the men and women. If you go to a spy party, you have to dress the part. Slick back hair or tie it in a simple pony tail. Food should be classy and casual, such as cocktails with little umbrellas and plates of cucumber sandwiches.

Great Hair Secrets

Try a party game for your secret Mission Impossible party - invent one or buy one at your department store. Make sure that everyone participates. Invites should be cryptic and give only enough information for your guest to get there. Choose a simple theme like black and white. Play the theme from spy movies as a soundtrack to your party and to stand out as the host, you can even wear dark glasses (as long as you don't trip over something indoors). Use your mobile phone headset to look more like a cool secret agent from Mission Impossible.

If you pull it off well, a Secret Mission Impossible party has the potential to be a great night. It doesn't take much to capture the atmosphere and plan a fantastic party.

Secret Mission Impossible Theme Party Ideas for Kids and Adults

About this Author

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for Secret Mission Impossible party supplies and fun party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free holiday printable games and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Themes including Secret Mission Impossible Party Supplies to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Leino

Reverse Thinning Hair - Safe Ways to Naturally Thicken Hair

Most people especially men, may not admit it, but they want to stay young and look it. Well if you're losing your hair because of alopecia, then it makes this a bit harder to achieve.

This article outlines a few methods that are all totally natural and proven to reverse any thinning of your hair with ease. Getting right into the meat of things, one step towards thicker hair is to provide the hair with the right nutrients.

Great Hair Secrets

They many B-vitamins are excellent sources for feeding your follicles. A lack of one of them called biotin has been linked with thinning of the hair and even brittle fingernails. You can take 3,000 mcg of biotin as a daily supplement and watch as your hair begins to naturally thicken in just a matter of weeks.

It's been called "hair food" because it works so well to make hair grow. Reversing the effects of baldness can also be achieved by changing the types of shampoo you use. Most as you're probably aware contain a ton of additives.

These chemicals are there to supposedly aid in cleansing and coating the hair strands. However a lot of folks are noticing their hair become thinner from using them. A simple way around this is to avoid them all-together.

Aim for herbal shampoos and those with natural ingredients such as aloe vera, green tea, and rosemary. They're sure to reverse thinning hair as they give your hair more body and fullness. Put all these great tips to use and you'll find yourself in a much better situation.

Reverse Thinning Hair - Safe Ways to Naturally Thicken Hair

About this Author

Fighting hair loss naturally is the true way to go that leads to faster results. You can experience some easy and powerful techniques to naturally regrow hair in a flash with the help of this site here: [http://www.hair-loss-secret.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_Litmon

Halo Hair Extensions

True or Faux?

Finally - great quality hair extensions that everyone can afford. Halo Hair Extensions is ready and waiting to give everyone a better hair day.

Great Hair Secrets

With a range of different hair extension options, including 100% human Indian Remy hair in over 30 colours, four lengths. The latest developments in applications for the consumer and professional market, plus a versatile synthetic hair range which can be heat styled up to 220°C.

The Halo Clip In hair extensions are a perfect and easy way to create instant length or va va voom volume. In less than five minutes a full head of luscious locks can be clipped in, giving you that little but of confidence for first day at work nerves or adding a little glamour to your Saturday night outfit. What's more the clip in Halo extensions won't damage natural hair the day-after-the-night-before as they are simply clipped out. Available in half and full head sets, already cut to size with pre sewn on clips - it couldn't be easier. RRP's from £24.99 for synthetic hair and £39.99 for human Indian Remy hair.

For more permanent hair-enhancement try the virtually undetectable Halo Micro Loop. Dubbed 'the lunch hour hair extensions ', as it takes approximately an hour to apply a whole head, this technique is the evolution from the traditional stick tips. A more hair-friendly option, as no heat is used in the application of the extensions, instead the strands are applied in three easy steps using the removable plastic loop; 1. Thread the plastic loop attached to the Halo Hair through natural hair and start to pull 2. This action will effectively thread the Halo hair onto natural hair, keep pulling through until the loop is fully detached 3. Once the Halo hair is 10mm away from the scalp, pinch the ring to hold the strands in place. Voila - great hair in no time!

The Halo Micro Loop is sold in bundles of 50 strands and are available in 100% human Remy Indian hair only, in 30 natural and vibrant colours and 20" length.

Halo Hair Extensions

For more details about Halo Hair Extensions, instructional videos and customer reviews simply visit http://www.halohairextensions.com to see why you deserve a Halo.

Winter Hair Care Tips For Black Hair

The winter is here and in full effect in Michigan; which means a change of wardrobe, driving conditions and should mean a change in your hair care regimen. If you were lax in your hair care during the warmer months, you may have survived with minor damage, but if you do not take some serious precautions during the colder months, come Spring, you will definitely regret it. Because the winter months can wreak havoc on your hair, it's very important to choose low maintenance styles so that you do not have to comb or brush often. It's also a great idea to incorporate a routine that causes very little stress on your hair such as letting the hair air dry instead of blow drying it; finger combing the hair instead of using an actual comb; or if you do use a comb, use a wide tooth comb. Also, chose good moisturizing hair care products that do not contain mineral oil, paraffin, petrolatum, SLS or SLES, as all of these cause dryness.

The harsh cold and frosty winds can cause excessive dryness and dandruff, and if you don't retain or replenish the moisture in your hair, damage will soon follow. The best way to combat this is by protecting the hair. During the winter, I never leave out of my house without my hair being covered. I generally wear a satin or silk scarf under my winter hat to preserve the style as well as prevent direct contact with the harsh material most hats are made of.

Great Hair Secrets

In the winter the air becomes extremely dry and harsh; inside and outside. In order to retain moisture in your hair during the day, it is good to use a humidifier to emit humidity in the air inside of your home or office. This will not only combat dry and brittle hair, but can help prevent or minimize dandruff.

Many women opt to wear protective styles during the winter. Protective styles are styles that guard the ends of the hair from the elements; buns, braid extensions, and weaves are a few protective styles to consider. Each of these styles are generally low maintenance, and if maintained properly will allow you to preserve as much of your hair as possible throughout the winter months.

If you choose to wear a bun, it's important to make sure that the hair is not pulled back too tightly, as this may cause stress on the hair line. It is also a good idea to take the bun down every night and lightly mist the ends (about the last 2 inches of hair) with a good moisturizing spray such as Growth by Sweet Nature by Eddie; and then lock in that moisture with a heavy oil such as castor oil. This will leave the hair super soft, strong and moisturized in the morning.

Braid extensions are also a great choice for winter months. If you follow these simple tips, not only will you preserve your hair, but you will have much stronger, softer and healthier hair come Spring. If you are going to use synthetic braiding hair such as yaki, kanekelon or other synthetic fibers, it is best if you soak the hair in apple cider vinegar and then rinse in cool water before getting your extensions put in. Synthetic braids come coated with a chemical that causes our hair to become dry; this will strip the chemical away. Another way to reduce dryness is by spraying the hair with a braid spray every day, again the Growth Spray by Sweet Nature is an excellent braid spray. You don't have to drench the hair; a fine mist throughout the extensions will suffice

Weaves are considered protective only if they are sewn in and your own hair is cornrowed, out of harm's way. In this case, the only thing that is essential to retain moisture is to make sure that it is replenished on a regular basis. Depending on the quality of the weave, it's a good idea to run water through the hair on a regularly, followed with a good moisturizing spray.

Regardless of which protective style you chose to rock during the winter, it's important to make water your best friend; drink plenty of it and let it run through your hair often. You don't have to shampoo your hair every time you get it wet, but just letting water run through your hair will restore lost moisture. When I wear braid extensions, I let water run through my braid every other day; although I wash them only once a week. I also try to kick up my water intake to no less than sixty or so ounces a day.

The best way of all to combat winter damage is to be proactive. If you start out with your hair strong and healthy before the winter, it will be a lot easier to maintain and preserve during winter. Adopt a weekly routine of washing with a moisturizing shampoo void of SLS and SLES; a good deep conditioner, and good moisturizer that does not contain mineral oil, petrolatum or paraffin, as these ingredients lead to dryness.

Winter Hair Care Tips For Black Hair

I am a healthy hair care specialist, creator of Sweet Nature by Eddie comprehensive healthy hair care system, author of Relaxed or Natural, You Can Have Beautiful, Healthy Hair, and the owner of http://www.fabulousblackwoman.com

The Secrets of Selecting a Quality Bosal and Mecate Rein

Finding a Bosal and Mecate/bosal rein: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!

Bosal sets that don't cause pain to your horse.

Great Hair Secrets

If you are looking for a mecate rein for the first time, you might be surprised at the price range. A Bosal can range from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. Let's face it, quality costs.
Unfortunately, the less expensive bosals that are not tightly braided, with few plaits and made with inexpensive leather or cheaply processed rawhide can peel the hide right off the horse nose and leave blisters and bare spots around the jowls. I know we have all seen those bare spots and know that most bare spots are caused from ill fitting equipment. The white spots are caused when ill fitting equipment has severely damaged the underlying tissue causing unbelievable pain to the horse.
There are several things you want to look at when buying a bosal. A quality Bosal is made from rawhide braided over a core that is also made of rawhide. You can sometimes find a bosal with a metal core, but most professionals will not use these because they are too rigid.
You want to find a bosal that is flexible enough so it can gently shape around the face of your horse. Go to a tack shop and compare the .00 bosal to the higher end bosal. You will notice a different in the stiffness, the rigidity and the flexibility within the core itself. Bend the bosal a few times, give it a few twists, and see how it feels in your hands. Is it giving and forgiving? Can you shape it while it is in your hands? Will it Flex and recover? It should be soft and flexible. Image how an inflexible bosal will feel to your horse. An inflexible bosal will leave your horse no way out to be released from any pain. That is how most behavioral problems start.
Your horse is looking for that release and back to a place of comfort so look for a bosal that is built on a rawhide core to provide for the most flexibility. You will be thankful that you spent the extra cash, because a quality bosal is almost impossible to wear out.
Take a good look at the braiding. Can you tell how many plaits are in the braid? Next, you need to take a look at how many "plaits" in the braiding that have been used in the making of the bosal.
Here is how to tell how many "plaits" are in the braid.
Look at just one of the laces and count how many rawhide laces are going under it. If you count 3 just multiply by 4 and you have a 12 plait braid. A quality bosal with have at least a 12 plait braid on the cheeks but you want more on the nose band. Since the weight of the bosal will be carried on the nose of your horse, you want the lacing to be made of thinner, softer laces. I like at least a 24 plait braid on the nose.
The more plaits in the braid the finer the leather the braider used and it makes the weight from the bosal softer on the horse. So the more plaits the braider used the more the bosal is going to cost.
Now run your hand over the bosal. Is it rough in your hands? Does the braid have high spots and more bulk that pulls on your skin? If it does, it will pull on your horse's skin as well.
The area where the bosal rides is over soft, sensitive tissue so you want to look for the bosal that glides across your own skin. The cheaper bosal have less plaits and the leather or the rawhide is bulky and they have high spots that will tear the shin.
Also, I suggest that you look for American made leather and rawhide, because it truly does matter how the leather or rawhide was processed. The chemicals alone used on imported materials can also cause damage to your horse.
Also remember, that in America when we talk about leather we assume the leather came from a cow, however, a lot of the newer, less expensive items comes from imported leather. Now you are looking at the possibility that the leather is made from water buffalo. Leather that is made from water buffalo has more natural oil, it is stiffer, not as flexible and severely chemically processed, some even being processed with urine. So take that into consideration with the imported leather. It is important. One easy way to tell if the leather is water buffalo, is to smell it. Water Buffalo does not have that leather smell and it always seems to have oil on it. It is slicker.
Like most training equipment you want to look for a piece that will last, that is right for you, your training methods and your horse. I have seen more customers buy cheaper equipment and pay for Vet bills later. Ask yourself, how much is it worth to you not to inflict any pain on your horse? That is the largest price both you and your horse will pay.
As you look the bosal over, you will notice that the bosal has a large knot at the back of the bosal. This knot goes behind the horse's chin. The knot provides weight so that when a rider touches the mecate the shift in weight is noticeable to the horse. You will want to check to see that the braid is tight and when you are first starting a horse, you want one with some weight to the knot to help the horse respond to the pull.
Bosals come in a variety of diameters. To start out a green horse, you want a bosal with a larger diameter. Most experienced trainers start with the 3/4 inch bosal. It has more weight for an easier feel for the horse and spreads the pull over a larger area. As training process you can go to a smaller diameter.
The colors in the bosal and the design can get intricate which will raise the price significantly in a bosal. They look great, but for all practicality, you can save a few bucks and skip the design. However, they sure look pretty in the show ring.
The making of a Quality Mecate Rein.
Let's start with the right size.
Do you want to know what size Mecate rein to use for your newly purchased bosal? Most people, even trainers have no idea what size or how many strands it should have. You want to use a mecate rein that is a least as thick as the diameter as the bosal. So if you purchase a 3/4 inch bosal look for a 3/4 inch mecate rein.
The standard length for a Horse size Mecate is 22 feet. If you are using the mecate on a Cob size horse or pony, you might like the 16 foot ones better. Don't worry 22 feet sounds like a lot of rein, but you once the mecate is tied correctly, part of the reins is used for a lead.
When looking for your mecate rein, remember again, quality matters. Try not to buy a mecate rein made out of tail hair. It will be "prickly" in your hands forever. Tail hair is course and stiffer than mane hair. On the market, tail hair is more readily available so it is less expensive and the hairs are also a lot longer so it makes it faster to make the reins.
But trust me when I tell you, that you will never be happy with the feel of a tail Hair Mecate in your hands. Mane hair is finer, thinner, and softer than tail hair. When you first use mane hair, it might feel a little prickly until the fine hair ends wear down, but use a Mane hair mecate rein a few times and it becomes baby soft, tail hair does not.
Making a mecate rein is very time consuming. A quality mecate reins is hand-twisted by a master braider with mane hair. When a master braider twists the reins by hand this allows him to create endless combinations of patterns all boldly designed and done in a multiple of colors using natural mane hair. We hardly every have two patterns come in exactly the same pattern.
The price of the mecate rein will depend on a several things. First, is whether he mecate is made from tail hair or from mane hair. The most preferred is the mecate made from mane hair.
Let's look at how many Strands of hair the Mecate has. It is Easy to tell how many strands the mecate is made from. Just count how many strands there are before the pattern repeats.
If the rein is a solid color, give the rein a twist in the opposite direction of the twist. In a quality mane hair braid the hair stands easily separate and it is easy to count the number of strands in the rein. The higher number of strands will add a lot more strength and provide for less stretch in the rein.
The third thing that will determine the price is the material used in the center of the mecate: its' core. While you have it twisted in the opposite direction, check to see what they have used for the core of the braid. Is it horse hair? The center should be a core of Braided Horse hair. By using horse hair as the core, the flexibility will remain in the mecate.
Have you ever noticed a mecate reins that never seems to never unroll and goes in all directions? This is because the manufacture used inferior material for the core of the rein. So while you're twisting and looking, take a look at the core.
Another great thing about having the entire rein made of horse hair is the fact that you can easily maintain the rein and wash the rein without any damage. Make sure you learn to care for your new mecate reins.
From this point on the colors of the bosal and the mecate are all most endless. Some horseman chose a one ear or a no ear headstall, but a brow band headstall will help stabilize the Bosal as well.
The Secrets of Selecting a Quality Bosal and Mecate Rein


If you would like more facts about mecate reins and especially how to properly tie them onto a bosal, just sign-up to receive our free e-book, The Mecate Rein, on the Knot-A-tail website.

Taking Care Of Your Hair Naturally

Your hair is your crowning glory and most people want it to look lustrous and natural so it's a wonder so many of us over process our hair with hair color and other treatments. This processing can damage your hair and leave it dried out and dull. Of course, there is a plethora of products on the market that will claim to restore the natural beauty of your hair, but doesn't it makes sense to use natural remedies instead of shampoos and conditioners that are loaded with chemicals?

Here's some natural ingredients you might want to try on your hair. Not only will they make your hair look great but these will cost you a lot less than those expensive salon products.

Great Hair Secrets

Oil
Plain old everyday cooking oil will work just as good as any hot oil treatment and is a great way to rehydrate your hair. Take a couple of tablespoons of oil and work it through your hair paying special attention to the ends. If your hair is dry on the ends but greasy on top, skip the top and just massage it into the ends. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then rinse out thoroughly. Your hair might feel a little greasy after this and you might want to experiment with the amount of oil until you get it just right.
Another way to use oil to give your hair more moisture and make it shiner is to use an oil and honey mixture. Try 2 tablespoons oil to 1 tablespoon honey and massage into your hair. Let it sit for 10 minutes then rinse thoroughly. Don't shampoo it out, simply rinse it and then style your hair as you usually would.
Eggs
Eggs are good food and they are good for your hair too! In fact, eggs are one of the best natural hair conditioners around so don't be afraid to use it on your hair. You can make an egg mixture for your hair by beating one egg and ½ cup water. Massage it into your hair and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then simply rinse it out and style your hair.
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise can act as a deep conditioner and is especially good on dry and over processed hair. Look for real mayonnaise (not salad dressing) in the store. You want to use it on your hair while it is dry and slather it on, massaging it into every hair follicle right down to the ends. Then wrap your head in plastic wrap (yes, the kind you use for wrapping up food) and let sit for 25 minutes then rinse and style. Yes, it can be kind of messy but will really add shine to your hair!
Maple Syrup
This is another great, but messy natural hair conditioner. Use 100% pure maple syrup and massage it into your hair. Let sit for 10 minutes then rinse thoroughly and style your hair as normal.
But what good is shiny silky hair if it is dotted with flaky dandruff? If you suffer from these annoying flakes you might want to try some of these natural remedies to treat your scalp:
Grapeseed extract is said to be great for helping eliminate dandruff and you can add it right to your shampoo. Speaking of which if you are using a commercial shampoo, you want to be sure to use one that has tar extract as this will help to treat the dandruff.
Using an apple cider rinse can help control dandruff as well. Mix ½ cup water and ½ cup apple cider vinegar and apply it to your hair. Leave in for 1 hour. Wash your hair, rinse and style.
Taking Care Of Your Hair Naturally

How to Increase Hair Growth - 6 Natural Ways to Increase Hair Growth

When you're battling hair loss, a really good way to fight it is to increase the speed of your hair growth. But instead of heading over to your favorite drug store, we're going to go over a few simple ways to help speed up your hair growth without having to spend so much money.

Here are 6 Natural Ways To Increase Hair Growth

1. Do Scalp Shifting

Using the pads on your fingers, firmly place them all over your scalp and move your skin in a circular way, do this for about 5 minutes.

Great Hair Secrets

2. Put Red Bell Pepper On Your Head

The spiciness of this fresh herb will speed hair growth by over 50%. Put a few slices in boiling water for about 10 minutes, then let cool for 15 minutes. Then apply it on your scalp for 30 minutes, then rinse away.
3. Eat More Protein

Hair is made out of protein, therefore, by taking in more protein you are promoting rapid hair growth. Foods such as fish, chicken, cottage cheese, whey, peanut butter, and steak are high in protein.
4. Take A Biotin Supplement

Biotin works great for your skin, nails, and especially for your hair. There are currently no toxicity levels known for Biotin so it's best to take the high potency supplement of 5,000 mcg per day.
5. Take A Magnesium Supplement

Just like Biotin, Magnesium is hair food. This helps with nerve stimulation and also relaxes your muscles.
6. Drink 6-8 Glasses of Water Daily

Did you know that your body takes in new impurities every day? A good way to flush your system of these impurities to take in a sufficient amount of water every day. Water is the element which gives life, and it also keeps your body pure. Sometimes your body will hold on to substances that harm your hair's natural balance, so it's best to clean out your system every night, simply drink 1-2 glasses of water before bed should be enough.
How to Increase Hair Growth - 6 Natural Ways to Increase Hair Growth

No No Hair Removal - Does it Work?

Are you interested in using No No Hair Removal but wondering if it does really work? With many hair removal products available, people are worried that they might get those that do not work. Unfortunately, non-working devices do exist.

No No Hair Removal - Does it Work?

Great Hair Secrets

The good news is that there are still brands available on the market today that can give great results for people who want to remove unwanted hair and one of those is No No Hair. These proven to work hair remover brands are the ones that you should be looking for. The only things that separate these working products are their unique features. If you will decide to choose No No Hair, below are some of its unique features that are worth reading.

No No Hair Removal is safe for all hair types and skin colors. It can also effectively remove your embarrassing facial hair without any hassles. Unlike other products, No No Hair is cordless and convenient to use. Affordable price is another great thing about this product. If you will compare it to other brands that work, this is much cheaper. This device is not complicated to use. You can remove unwanted hair in just three easy steps with this product. Other great unique features of this product are narrow Thermicon tip that last up to 4 times longer, adjustable treatment levels, battery status indicator and slim design with LCD status screen. The only thing that this product cannot give is permanent results. However, it can still provide long-term results and will reduce hair growth by up to 94%.

Above great features are the ones that No No Hair Removal can offer. If these features are not enough for your satisfaction, then it is a good idea to look at other working products so you can find the best that suites you. Just remember to do your research carefully to avoid non-working devices.

No No Hair Removal - Does it Work?

For a limited time, No No Hair Removal is offering a free trial. If you want to see if this offer is still available, head over to No No Reviews or http://www.hairremovalreviewsonline.com

Hairstyles For Oblong Faces

When you look at the mirror, you want to believe that you have the perfect oval face. But when you copy the hairstyles that look good on oval faces, you end up with something that is far from perfect. Perhaps you do not have an oval face. You may in fact have an oblong face.

What is an Oblong Face Shape?

Great Hair Secrets

The oblong face looks almost like an oval face but it is characterized by a face length that is longer than ideal. The ideal face length, which is the distance from the hairline to the tip of the chin, should be one and one-half times longer than the length across the widest part of the face. This ideal face length can be found in the oval face shapes. If the face length is longer, then the face shape is already considered oblong.
The oblong face is not ideal for many hairstyles, but it does not sentence your hair to a lifetime of unflattering hairstyles. In fact, it is very possible to look gorgeous and stunning with your oblong face. Think of Liv Tyler, Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, Sarah Jessica Parker, Niki Taylor, Stephanie Seymour, and Gabrielle Reece. All that you need to do to accentuate an oblong face is get an appropriate and flattering hairstyle. A hairstyle, of course, is a personal choice and should reflect a woman's unique personality. But there are some rules to follow for the oblong face.
Rules for the Oblong Face
Bobs and layers will look great on the oblong face. But the first thing to remember is that the hairstyle should never add length to the oblong face. This means that extra long hairstyles, such as those that end beyond the shoulders, should be avoided. Short bobs are preferable to long bobs. But then you probably saw Gwyneth Paltrow wearing hair that goes beyond the shoulder. She looked adorable. The truth is that Gwyneth has one or more hairstylists who fuss with her hair at every instance. They keep her hair at an ideal volume so Gwyneth's hair stays stunning. For women like us who can't hire a hairstylist on a retainer, the key to an attractive hairstyle is to keep the hair shorter.
Unfortunately, not all short hairstyles will look good on the oblong face. Short hairstyles that add height to the head, such as the pixie crop and the spiky hair, will only make the oblong face look longer. The recommended short hairstyles are those that add volume to the sides of the face, to restore a more desirable balance. These short hairstyles should have layers and may end in sassy flicks. The chin-length bob that caress the jaw line will also look gorgeous.
And lastly, the best hairstyles for the oblong face are those that come with bangs. Bangs that are soft and wispy will give the illusion of shorter face lengths. And if the jaw is strong, the bangs will make the face look more feminine. For a daring look, the brow-skimming bangs will be great on the oblong face. Most styles of bangs are recommended for the oblong shape, as long as they do not add vertical lines to the face. Lastly, if you have the time to spend a couple of hours at the salon, you may want to try having wavy curls.
Hairstyles For Oblong Faces


About The Author
Paul Jones researches and provides article content for womens' health, beauty and fashion. Choose Your New Hairstyle at HairDoHairstyles.com where you will find 100's of Pictures of Hairstyles along with hairstyle advice. Try out the Virtual Hairstyle Demo before you cut. Learn how you can "Plan The Perfect Wedding on A Shoestring Budget." Its all in a neat little e-book.