Restoring Dignity: Coping with Cancer

How much we take for granted!  This was my exact thought upon reading this article:  http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/06/living-with-cancer-look-good-feel-better/?nl=health&emc=edit_hh_20130611

Health and beauty is not all about vanity and self-absorption.  It is about representing yourself in such a way that is respectable and truly reflects yourself.  Women who have to go through radiation and chemotherapy may not understand the fullness of this treatment for cancer and the negative affect is has on their outward appearance.  I believe we all take our hair and features for granted.  We never fully realize their purpose or impact on us until they are gone.

Cancer is such an ugly and harsh word that is forever becoming a common reality for humans to learn to deal with and maneuver.  Learning to fight, heal, and cope is a lot of this battle.  Part of the coping does include allowing others to help get us back to a presentable comfortable self that we can look at in the mirror and say, "Yes, this is the new me...and although it is not the old me, I will embrace my new look!"  

It might seem like a little thing--penciling in someone's vacant eyebrows, applying a fresh palate of colors to a seemingly peaked chemo drained face and helping find a wig of their liking--but, it makes a huge impact on our self-esteem and perception of self.  This is not vanity as much as it is restoring a person's dignity.  This is where the health and beauty field can assist in this healing and coping of such a disease.  

Just how beautiful it is to help someone feel a little bit more comfortable in such a situation.  I truly believe it will help them feel better in the short and long term.  

Another very cool little find?  The company, Ski and Livi, was established to empower women dealing with cancer through their very unique jewelry line.  This might be something to consider if you know someone who has lost their hair or will be due to chemotherapy and radiation treatments.  What is the uniqueness behind Sky and Livi?  They create diamonds through a lock of hair.  

Check them out: http://skyandlivi.com.  What brilliance!

Beauty knows no limits....

Catie Manning, Hairdresser

Self-Appreciation: Best Gift ANYONE Can Give

Today, as I was going through my daily ritual of reading the news as it comes through my news feed, I came across an article to which the subject matter really made me disturbed. This is a positive response of removal of a "new image" of Princess Merida, the beautiful red-headed young woman from Disney's movie Brave. Disney created a "Sexy Merida" for a coronation ceremony late last week to which caused some major grief, rightfully so.

'Brave' (Photo: Walt Disney Pictures)

"This one character may not do any damage to a girl's psychological development, per se," said Dr. Robyn Silverman. "But Merida joins a barrage of thin, sultry characters for girls, making her yet another facet of our sexed-up, thinned down messaging." 

As a human (I cannot just say one gender faces this more so than the other), as men and women alike, we are faced with so many body image perfectionist ideas to which we can majorly lose sight of what makes us unique. Everyone is shaped differently. Everyone is colored differently and not one person is like another. Comparison is unfair and how boring of a world this would be if you looked like every other person! BOOOOORRRINNGG!

Take a look at this campaign that Dove created a while back. It illustrates a good point: how we perceive ourselves is not always how others perceive us.

One step in health and wellness is shaping, molding, and being honest with our skewed perception of ourselves. It is embracing our flaws and imperfections as much as it is realizing what our needs are to feel good about ourselves inside and out. Health and wellness is full body endeavor to which takes an extreme amount of honesty, heart, perseverance, and dedication to embrace everything God made us to be. So what if we have large thighs, bags under our eyes or our rear end is "too big". This is what makes YOU uniquely you. Instead of looking negatively on what you don't like about yourself, why not say one thing positive about yourself?

Next time you are brushing your teeth and look up into the mirror to clean the excess toothpaste off your lips, try saying something you love about yourself in a positive fashion. This is not to be a vain attempt as much as it is to recognize qualities you possess that have a positive impact. If there is something you do not like about yourself, it is up to you on whether you want to change it. There are means to do so if that is your choice, but before you go changing yourself, appreciate who and what you are first.

I want to challenge each and everyone today to really find self-appreciation. To me, that is more important than trying to look and act like someone you are not. Appreciate who and what you are. There is only one you in this world. Be yourself. Allow it to be so! That is simply the best gift that anyone can give to themselves!

Catie Manning, Hair Stylist

Catie's Confidence Check-list

"Confidence is the only key. I know a lot of people who aren't traditionally 'beautiful'-- not symmetrical or perfect-bodied or perfect skinned. But none of that matters because all that shines through is their confidence, humor and comfort with themselves. I can't think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself."  – Emma Stone

I am a firm believe that true beauty is found on the inside and radiates through the being to which the beauty is possessed. That is the "glow" affect some people possess. Their beauty radiates! What people deem beautiful is what they see on the outside as that is our first impression. We all make assessments regarding one another's looks, styles, fashions, attitudes or lack thereof, but I will be the first to tell you – if you look and feel good about your outer appearance it will boost your confidence and allow you to feel as beautiful as you can be!

For many young women and men alike, this world is about comparison. We are always trying to measure up ourselves to the next person. Well we shouldn't do that. We should really spend some time getting to know ourselves, our likes, our dislikes, what clothes we feel best and look the best in. Since everyone is created individually with our own personalities and designs, it is simply unfair to think you should be like someone else on this earth! Embrace who and what you are then let your confidence speak.

Something that pairs with your confidence and builds your credibility would be attention to your outside appearance. Since first impressions happen daily, draw awareness to your outside. This will reinforce your new found confidence and help you approach life in a new way. When you look your best you too will feel your best.

Here is morning check list that I use to make sure I am looking/feeling my best. I encourage you to make a check list of your own and boost your confidence! This shouldn't take you more than an hour. My Confidence Check-list is down to a half an hour. I do some prep (like making sure your bag and clothes are laid out the night before) and that cuts down on my time spent pulling myself together in the morning.

Catie's Confidence Check-list:

1.   Shower: wash hair, body then face – ask yourself, “do I need to shave?”

2.   Analyze your face: do you need additional eye cream today? If not, continue with your face cleansing routine

3.   Analyze your hair: where do you want to part it? What hair products should you use today?

4.   Blow dry your hair (if necessary)

5.   Apply your make-up

6.   Brush your teeth and apply deodorant

7.   Apply lotion to your arms and legs

8.   Get dressed and flip on some music to jam to!

If I don't go through my check-list fully, I don't feel my best or if my morning gets rushed: it starts everything off on the wrong foot and I feel less confident. Or perhaps you are guilty of my favorite step skipped – forgetting the deodorant (you know the whole 'sure' or 'unsure' thing)! What can you do? You freak and everything is off...sigh.

Whatever you do for your "Confidence Check-list" remember to keep it simple and realistic. Accents are best whether it is wearing a headband, scarf or light make-up...these accessories accent your reflected inner beauty. Don't be afraid to do your thing and let that confidence show. There is only ONE YOU in this world and you owe it to yourself to shine. :-)

Catie Manning, Hair Stylist