Hair Care - Facts and Techniques You Need to Learn

I started my career as a beautician at seven when I opened my own bedroom salon. I painted nails, braided hair, and I even applied makeup like a pro. You can say that I have always had an interest in beauty, and I naturally attended beauty school immediately after I graduated high school. When the time came to find a job, I started my own salon with a small loan from my mother. I wanted my salon to be special, so I worked with clients to teach them what I knew about hair care techniques. Throughout the years, I have learned that most people know very little about their hair. They believe that the hair needs to be washed every day and they also think that conditioner is enough to treat dry locks. I started this blog so I could educate the public on a larger scale about hair care.

Schnauz Pores: That's No Blackhead, It's Sebaceous Filament

Articles

Are you a gentleman who is constantly engaged in a war against blackheads on your nose? Have you adjusted your diet to rule out oily foods and tried all kinds of acne creams, but still find yourself in front of the mirror every morning staring at what looks like a tiny mountain of baby cannoks on your face? If so, those pain-in-the-asteroid blackheads may not be blackheads at all. 

The Invincible Enemy

Those tiny black spots you see all over your nose are the tips of sebaceous filaments, a white, waxy substance that fills your pores in order to deliver moisturizing sebum to your skin. The sebaceous filaments look black because the otherwise white sebum darkens when exposed to air.

While you may feel alone in your struggles, you aren't. Every single person has sebaceous filaments on their nose, they're just more apparent on people with larger pores. You can't get rid of them, either. Without them, the skin on your face would be a dry, cracked, scaly mess. 

Fortunately, while these enemy sebaceous filaments cannot be destroyed, there are things you can do to reduce their visibility.

Clean Up the Nose Zone

By cleaning your face thoroughly every day, you'll remove the dark, oxidized caps of your sebaceous filaments, thus naturally making them less apparent.

Begin your face-washing routine by washing your hands; bacteria can travel from your hands to your face and clog your pores, resulting in breakouts and skin irritation. Next, splash your face with lukewarm water. Apply a dime-size amount of facial cleanser to one palm, and then use the fingers of your other hand to massage the cleanser into your face with a gentle, circular motion. 

Be selective about the facial cleanser you choose. You're looking for a gentle cleanser that is hypoallergenic. Never use regular body soap when washing your face—it contains compounds called surfactants that are known to irritate sensitive facial skin.

When you're done applying the cleanser to your face, rinse again with lukewarm water and then use a clean, dry, soft towel to pat your face dry.

Employ a Cloaking Device

Now that your pores are clean, you can further conceal your sebaceous filaments with the right men's cosmetics. You'll want to find a blemish concealer that matches both your skin type and your skin tone. 

Dry Skin—If your skin tends to be dry, visit a men's makeup counter and ask to see their line of liquid blemish concealers. Liquid concealers work best for those with dry skin types because powder concealers cake-up on rough, dry skin.

When working with liquid foundation, it's crucial that you match your skin shade exactly. To match your skin shade, dab a bit of concealer on the back of your hand and rub it in. If it's undetectable, you've found your shade. The color of your hand and the color of your face are usually the same because they are exposed to the same amount of sun.

When applying liquid concealer to your face, dab a small amount under each eye, along the length of your nose, and on any other facial blemishes. Once in place, blend it in by gently rubbing it with your fingers in an outward motion.

Oily Skin—If your skin tends to be oily, look for a liquid-to-powder foundation. Liquid concealer alone will streak on oily skin, and powder concealer alone tends to wear away fast with this skin type. A combination of the two, though, perfectly covers up skin problem-areas.

Liquid-to-powder concealer is applied to the face in the same fashion as liquid concealer.

Neutral Skin—If your skin is neither dry nor oily, a light, even dusting of powder concealer on your entire face and neckline will provide ample coverage.

If you're losing your war against blackheads, and you feel like your nose is being overtaken by huge pores, you're focusing your efforts in the wrong place. Learn more about treating sebaceous filament and covering it up by talking to local dermatologists or cosmetic experts.

Share

15 January 2015