By Alfonso Gonzales

As the weather in the Valley starts to cool and the holidays approach, the change in temperature signals a change in fashion and style. A quick and easy way to change with the season and stay fresh and current is to transform your hair.

With the holidays just weeks away, you’ll want to sport the latest looks at the office party and nights on the town. Follow the Hollywood socialites and A-list celebrities this season and you’re likely to see some common hair trends that you can adapt to fit your style.

This season’s bob is hot, and you can see it worn on several celebrities. It is clean, yet versatile. The long bob, blunt bob, textured bob, and bob with a fringe are popular ways to modernize a classic style. Long bobs fall past the shoulders in length. To update this look, your stylist can add layers or even texturize the ends to add movement to the hair. Layers and texture will transform the look from a static, crisp style to a softer, more feminine feel once weight from the hair is removed. To capture an even edgier look, adding multiple uneven layers or “shredding” the hair will create a contemporary style sure to attract attention.

This season, several bobs include fringe, formally knows as bangs. Turn the pages of celebrity gossip magazines and you’ll see stars sporting their new bobs with various lengths of fringe. The Kate Moss fringe, for example, is nothing more than a long textured bang, so long that some pieces cover the eye. Moss’s bob has varied lengths that create movement and volume. Short and long pieces within the cut create movement and allow versatility in how you style your hair. You can have the look, too, so be brave—try it and embrace your wild side.

For those of you not ready to give up your longer hair for a bob, there are plenty of upstyles or updos for your holiday gathering. This season, you’ll see a combination of styles worn up and down. If you’re looking to style your hair into an updo, try a soft look that’s loosely pinned. Hair that flows with voluminous curls creates an elegant style that is always clean and classic.

The Hollywood glamour of the 1930s and 1940s are foundation for this season’s styles for hair left down. These styles have been updated with natural curls that are fanned away from the face, either with a middle or side part. Although reminiscent of a classic period, these styles can be modernized with texture and styling.

Whatever your plans are for this holiday season, consider a new look for your hair. Even a subtle change can bring fun and excitement to your holidays.

By Donna Parr

Ah, luxury! How we define it has changed a lot in recent years. Many things that were once considered luxuries have become available to a considerable number of people and are considered by some to be almost or completely necessary: a large home in an upscale neighborhood, the best schools for the kids, impressive cars with all the bells and whistles.

As for personal care, those of us who live in the Valley are fortunate to have the best of everything at our fingertips, from high-end salons to day spas and resort spas that seat us in the lap of luxury. Whether you consider them extravagances or necessities, there is a host of services here in the Valley that will indulge and pamper you to a wet-noodle state, unable—or unwilling—to break out of your newly acquired bliss. Even better, you’ll be a Valleyite with better skin, hair, and nails than you ever dreamed you could have.

Let’s start at the top, with your hair. It’s not difficult to get a good haircut at any of the fine Valley salons, but if you’d like just a bit more, many places offer treatments that go beyond the basics. Scalp massages are relaxing and beneficial treatments that rejuvenate the scalp. Conditioners can add body and a healthy shine to complement that top-of-the-line haircut. One new treatment is a coco de crème masque that uses essence of coconut to give the hair a sumptuously silken feel.

There are manicures and pedicures, and then there are Manicures and Pedicures. Pedicures particularly come in new pampering versions, including the golden pedicure, billed as the most delightfully decadent of them all. Your feet are scrubbed, bathed, and wrapped with a combination of pure gold and the moon goddess flower Artemisia, and then finished with a golden body polish and topped off with a gold dusting for shimmer.

Spa treatments run an amazing gamut of pampering, incorporating everything from real gold to chocolate, wine, and flowers. Most are combined with aromas designed to relax, de-stress, and generally transport you from the daily domain into another world. The gold facial begins with applying a 24-karat gold-leaf mask to the face, and some spas use gold in a body treatment that’s an extension of the golden pedicure. Beyond the effects of mere indulgence, the end result is smoother age-defying skin.

Are Valley body treatments luxuries, necessities, or something in between? In today’s complicated world, if your stress factor hits twelve on a scale of one to ten, maybe a little luxury now and then is one of the better investments you can make for your well-being.

By Alfonso Gonzales, Master Stylist

Hot temperatures are right around the corner. Whether you’re out on the playing field or in the gym, the summer is going to require you to have simple on-the-go haircut that can be easily styled to accompany your active summer lifestyle. Three hot hairstyles will surely keep you stylish with little effort.

Soft, natural-looking hair has always been a “current” style. This is true in your haircut and color. Really, less is more, even if it’s just adding a hint of color or a trim to enhance your current style. Recent fashion trends have reintroduced the classic bob with a twist: you will find a lot of disconnection happening in the hair. This means each hair section may not match completely. This may sound strange, but when done correctly, your hair will look soft and sexy. Another form of disconnection may be in the bangs. Bangs could be cut so they can wear as a full seductive bang or a playful side sweep. In fact, bangs are hot and are for most of you. See how bangs accent a classic shattered bob with Katie Holmes, and notice how Heidi Klum is sporting a full strong bang.

Another hot look is the medium-length textured haircut. Layers have been texturized, giving the hair uneven lengths for more movement and versatility. This is a great look for all types of hair, including straight and curly. Textured layers add movement as well as volume to the hair. Whether styled with a flatiron or blown dry with a round brush, the look is modern. The best tool a stylist can use to get this result is a razor. The hair is cut at different lengths to give a softer look. Some stylists may refer to this technique as removing weight in the hair. Any length or texture of hair can benefit from adding some form of texturizing to the hair.

Finally, the short, croppy haircut is made for summer. Short and sassy is the best description for this style, and the best face shape for it is oval. Having the hair cut above and around the ears and leaving the front bang wispy makes it hot and modern. Styling is easy, and the look is versatile. Using light pomades or hairspray, you can make the style look neater and sleeker. Using heavier waxes will give you a wild and sexy look.

Whatever your plans are for the summer, you’re sure to have a current stylish look that will be easy to style and take you to the next level of sassiness. Have fun!

By Cynthia Boggs

The three most glorious months of the Sonoran Desert are here, bringing 80-degree days, spring desert flowers, lots of blue sky, and the sun. Everyone is getting out his or her bicycle, going to the park, and hiking.

Along with all this fun comes the question of how to keep your skin healthy and soft in this dry air and intense sun. Fortunately, we who live in the North Valley are surrounded by some of the most luxurious spas and salons in the world, each offering its own signature methods to entice you to come in and get your skin looking as young as you feel!

The number-one most popular treatment is the scrub. This treatment goes by many other names—body buff, exfoliation treatment, skin polish—but whatever you want to call it, it is fabulous. A vast array of ingredients is used to remove those dull skin cells: powdered French coral, coarse salts from the Dead Sea, crushed bamboo, white sugar, brown sugar, even poppy seeds—all are very effective. Most spas mix in aromatic oils of lavender, sandalwood, sage, lemon, and sometimes vanilla to create a centuries-old sensory experience of peace and balance.

Increasing numbers of spas are building water-therapy rooms to perform these treatments. Most include a comfortable table to relax on while a warm rain bar filled with water nozzles mist you from head to toe and envelope you in a fragrant beauty fog.

Wraps come a close second in popularity, and an innovative assortment of recipes does the work beautifully. A favorite is the seaweed-gel wrap, a treatment in which warm emulsified seaweed is painted in a thick layer on your skin, and then you are swathed in warm sheets and blankets, like a heavenly cocoon. Seaweeds are used worldwide to replenish the trace elements and minerals that we lose to the dry air, and the seaweed actually acts like a skin food that nourishes us.

Ahhhhh, the massage. Actually, the massage is two treatments in one, combining the power of touch to sooth the muscles with the hydrating benefits of massage oil. Hot stone therapy massages are also appealing and somehow translate into a body therapy that remind us of Arizona’s magnificent stone landscapes and the healing power of the desert. Most often, the stones are basalt rocks tumbled to a smooth finish and warmed in a water bath to the perfect temperature; they often hold an even heat on the body for fifteen minutes, which gives enough time to relax a tight muscle, allowing a truly deep therapeutic experience.

Whichever body therapy you choose, know that here in the North Valley are some of the best skin-care and massage therapists in the world waiting to rejuvenate your sun-kissed body with expert care and a treasure of treatments.

By Alfonso Gonzales, master stylist

Fried hair. Split ends. Wilting curls. Fading color. Does this describe your hair? Even in the Valley, where the winter weather is more tolerable than in other cities, high pollutants during this time can play havoc with your do. Taking a trip to the salon will revive your hair with the right conditioning treatment. One of two treatments may be the right prescription for your damaged hair.

Is your hair feeling flat or lifeless? No bounce or shine? Has it lost its elasticity? Sometimes hair is abused by color, shampooing too often, blow-drying, or ironing (flat or curling). Consider a protein treatment. Protein is a source of keratin, a major building block of hair structure. When your hair loses its stretch or movement, your hair may lack keratin, and would benefit from a protein treatment.

Does your hair crackle with static electricity? This sometimes occurs when the hair becomes too dry or is faced with unusual exposure to pollutants in the air. Dull color and lackluster shine often accompany high levels of static electricity. This conditioning treatment replenishes the moisture in the hair, and revives the color and shine that might be temporarily lost.

Conditioning treatments can be used on all types of hair—curly, long, or short. They can also be applied to hair that has been permed, straightened, or colored. The treatments are not for women only—men also are brought to recognize that conditioning treatments add shine, body, and protection to their hair.

Your scalp can also benefit from either treatment. Sometimes the scalp can get dry, causing flakes. We don’t want that! Your stylist can assess your hair and determine which treatment will add the right zip to your hair.

A good conditioning treatment can last for several weeks if you follow the treatment with good products and care at home. Always use a gentle, professional care shampoo recommended by your stylist. A regular conditioner should be used as part of your daily regimen. By doing this, the hair will continue to be protected and will retain the glow from the original treatment. Supermarket shampoos often have high levels of detergents that will strip the hair, removing the moisture and nutrients deposited on the hair from the conditioning treatments.

Most people think that having a conditioning treatment at the salon takes hours, but this is certainly not the case. Professional treatments are concentrated and work pretty quickly. It is very important to pay attention to treating and maintaining the hair and scalp. Hair is an important part of your persona. Therefore, conditioning treatments should be a crucial part of your visit to your hairdresser. If you’re not getting a conditioning treatment, you’re not listening to your hair.

By Cynthia Boggs

While most of the country is dreading the next few months of miserable winter weather, we in the Valley of the Sun are singing praises to the Weather Channel. Even so, we’re not entirely safe from the effects of our lovely climate. Specific skin issues arise as the summer recedes and the dry, cool weather begins to take over. It’s important to take note of these issues and do what is necessary to keep our skin healthy and looking great.

After the monsoon season ends in September, relative humidity typically takes a tumble to as low as three to four percent. This presents a great challenge in keeping our skin moist and supple. Drinking forty to sixty ounces of water per day helps, and so do moisture-rich creams, supplemental serums, and treatment masks that deeply hydrate the skin.

Sunblocks and screens are even more important, as the mild winter weather affords more opportunity for golfing, bike riding, hiking, and simply enjoying the warm sun and the outdoors. Beauty spas get increasing requests for smoothing scrubs and hydrating wraps as their clients seek relief from the combination of low humidity, high sun, and colder weather.

When choosing skin-care products to use at home, look for nondrying cleansers and toners. Use seaweed- and marine-based products that use nutrifying elements of the ocean to heal and soothe dry skin. Another tip: Increase the amount of Omega 3, 6, and 9 fats in your diet by adding more fish or fish oil supplements, which help keep the skin supple.

Avoid products containing alcohol and peeling AHAs in creams. Products that contain Retin-A, alpha-hydroxy acids, and salicylic acid should also be used sparingly at this time of the year, and then only on a skin break-out, not the entire complexion. They are usually too powerful and can trigger certain eczemas and other more severe dry skin conditions. Also avoid sleeping with the furnace on at night, as the ultradry air it circulates increases dehydration of the skin.

An additional challenge faced by many Valley residents is the use of allergy medications, which dry out more than the sinuses; they also dehydrate your body from the inside out. If you do use these medications, a strong skin-care regiment is doubly important.

Soothe and melt away your stresses of the day by pampering your skin with the many luxurious healing spa treatments or home skincare products designed for dry skin. Consistent skin care, both in a spa and at home, will keep you looking and feeling youthful and healthy. Always remember, the best skin care isn’t a luxury, but a necessity—especially for Arizonans.

By Martin Haworth

How Nature’s Skin Care Ingredients Can Work for You

Botanical skin care products are carefully created from plant extracts—pretty much as pure and natural as you can get. And that’s their secret: users are moving away from the “manufactured” and “artificial” that have become the norm in modern times. So, what are the benefits?
With a tendency away from manufactured and artificial products, especially for use on or in the body, the time has come for organic purity. Many people, men and women alike, are seeking alternatives to the chemically created ingredients that have transformed our lives.
As our societies become more affluent, we can afford to be more choosy. And that’s what millions of people are now becoming: selecting natural ingredients and, indeed, getting back to basics.
Botanical skin care ingredients and products fit the bill perfectly. After all, nothing can be perceived as more natural for your skin than something that has come from the very heart of nature.
Here are some key aspects of why botanical skin care makes the difference:
•    They are carefully extracted from plants in their purest form.
•    Many—although you might have to check this out with individual products and ranges—have zero artificial ingredients.
•    Because they are natural, they are less likely to cause irritation, though sensitive skins may always suffer some problems with whatever you use.
•    Botanical skin-care products are often sourced in ways that benefit those who need it most, sometimes in third-world countries that need the income.
•    Natural products are less likely to harm the environment when you are finished with them.
•    Botanical skin care products are now becoming available everywhere, so even the biggest and most convenient stores carry them.
•    There is a huge online market with all sorts of niches developing, which is great for small business, and possibly the economy as a whole.
•    Finally, these natural ingredients have stood the test of time. Many of them have been used through the ages with remarkable consistency, so you can be assured that they do their job—and safely, too.

Got the message? Botanical skin care is a solution that benefits almost everyone. With the choice available now, you have every opportunity to benefit yourself, others who need support—and the environment too!

What could be a better result for everyone than the growth in availability and variety of botanical skin care products worldwide? Time to take a look around and give them a try!