Base Coat and Top Coat -- the Absolute Bread in the Nail Polish Sandwich

Base Coat and Top Coat -- the Absolute Bread in the Nail Polish Sandwich

Ciao bella,

Years of experience as a nail tech truly proved to me and my clients that the right base coat and top coat are essential during a manicure session. They both help to make the polish adhere to the natural nail. They also help to prevent chips and breaks of the natural nail. Some colored polishes especially non-professional colors have a strong pigment and when a base coat is not applied will stain the nail with pigment that is a yellow or orange tint. If you are getting a pedicure always insist you want a base coat applied to your toes before polish. Some techs take a short cut by not applying the base coat. Even when applying your own polish always use a base and topcoat on nails and toes!

Base coat works like a double sided sticky tape. After applying base coat, polish color will effectively bind to natural nail providing a receptive to polish forming a tight bond. Base coats contain plasticizers which act with a flexible element causing the natural nail to bend and not break. They also contain cellulose creating that double sticky layer so polish will adhere to natural nail as well as the polish.

Top coat, usually clear acts as a sealer that is applied on top of top dried polish and very tip of natural nail to ensure long lasting results of polish. Top coat also provides a high gloss shine and should dry in a few minutes. Nitrocellulose is responsible in adding the high gloss shine. Top coats also contain plasticizers for flexibility. Nail scientists formulated these two remarkable coatings with different mixtures of ingredients to create a long lasting manicure. We professional nail technicians thank them for that and all their extensive research to make our industry a successful and healthy environment! For a natural nail consult, call me anytime!

Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!

--Mary N. DiZazzo-Trumbull

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at www.allthatzazz.com. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com.

Essential Oils Can Make Your Day

Essential Oils Can Make Your Day

Ciao bella,

Ahhhhhh -- Aromatherapy! It can bring you back to childhood, a trip to Italy, Nana' s cooking or just a marvelous state to put you in a better mood! As of this moment I have incorporated a "lemon tonic" (smells more like lemon meringue pie) into my Natural Nail Manicures! Essential oils are used professionally to enhance a salon experience, use as a room air freshener, and also to create perfume. Why not bring it into your life!

There are rules of the trade when using Essential Oils. They should always be diluted with a carrier oil. There are many such as sweet almond oil, grape-seed, rose hip or soybean etc. You cannot use an Essential Oil in its pure form. Mixing 3 or 4 oils together with a carrier oil can be pure heaven!

Investing in an Aromatic Book or just searching for different scents and their qualities can prove most therapeutic when put to use, quite easily!

Here are some Essential Oils and their qualities:

Lemon. Booster for immune system, refreshing, uplifting, relieves anxiety and depression

Chamomile. Calming properties soothing skin that is itchy, has eczema, soothes nerves and anxiety.

Cinnamon. Antiseptic use, relieves tension and exhaustion.

Lime. Mood elevator, energizes, refresher, also aids in fatigue

Jasmine. Relaxing, calming, rids depression

Ginger. Aids in aching muscles and joints, good for circulatory issues, nervousness, sharpens senses

Geranium. Astringent, balancing, tension and fatigue relief, antiseptic properties

Lavender. Calming, soothing, mood lifter, relaxing

Frankincense. Stabilizer, soothes and calms, developer for inner strength

Marjoram. To treat migraine, general headache, depression, stress and anxiety

Thyme. For better memory and concentration, muscle aches and pains, fatigue relief

These Essential Oils are just a few of the many that are used in bringing to you good Karma!

So take a whiff and feel it!

Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!

--Mary N. DiZazzo-Trumbull

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at www.allthatzazz.com. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com.

My annual "Ready Your Pool/Beach Bag for Summer 2012"!

My annual "Ready Your Pool/Beach Bag for Summer 2012"!

Ciao bella,

We are lucky New Englanders this year with our mild winter and balmy breezes felt in March! How I wish our cabana poolside was open those days! Wow what weather! However the many times our seasons change and we are not ready! This list is intended to prepare all of us "Glamour Girls" a happy, safe and healthy summer in the sun!

1) Sunscreen- SPF of at least 30 to 50 to prevent damaging rays preventing sunburn. Read the label since it is important to apply before exposure, reapply after swimming and timely reapplication!

2) Keep hydrated with water/coconut water or your fav flavor! Freezing the bottle the night before will stay cold for a while.

3) Cover-up and hat with brim. Hats can also be found with an SPF of 50 or 30

4) Fabulous sunglasses!

5) A pretty turban when the hat comes off while swimming will protect the precious color and health of your hair! Gals don't think for a minute that the sun and warm weather don't wreak havoc on the head!

6) Sunscreen lip tint to prevent scorched lips!

7) Pocket tissues/wet towelettes

8) LUSH's "Breath of Fresh Air" just a spritz feeds your face with aloe, vitamins and minerals. A cooling refresher that smells like the sea! An anytime pick me up!

9) Ipod filled with your fav tunes with earbuds or mini speaker from chicbud.com!

10) Flip flops/Havianas are quite stylish!

11) Nice big towel! Great prints to express yourself.

So that just about wraps up the list for this season's pool/beach bag! And don't forget to get tip top toes for flirty flip flop feet with LUSH's "Happy Feet" kit!

• Geo Phyzz foot/bath bomb soak, Stepping Stone foot scrub, detoxifying Volcano foot mask
  
• Fair Trade Foot Lotion to keep heels hydrated and great massage! I adore this kit when there wasn't time to get a professional pedi! My husband and I gave one to each other! So gals enjoy the summer! Live, laugh and love everyday!
  

Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!

--Mary N. DiZazzo-Trumbull

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at www.allthatzazz.com. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com.

Vidal Sassoon; Architect of Hair 1928-2012!

Vidal Sassoon; Architect of Hair 1928-2012!

Ciao bella,

So as life goes we have lost another icon of the Beauty World. Vidal Sassoon, who wanted to be a star soccer player, ended up a star Master Stylist. Coming from an orphaned background, and abandoned by his father at age 3, he rose to the pinnacle of success throughout the world!

Raised in London, he apprenticed with a hairdresser at age 14 during WW II. His vision promoted an attitude where women would not be chained to sets and perms at the salon. He opened his first salon in 1954 in London. His modern styles introduced us to geometric shapes and perms inspiring wash and wear cuts. The classic "bob" cut became one of his signature styles and was redesigned by a hair cutting technique. Blunt and geometric shaping brought Vidal to the forefront of his industry! Always designing hair with low maintenance in mind he revolutionized the cosmetology world, sweeping the sixties with his mod trend! Cutting with precision, he produced asymmetric coifs attracting Hollywood stars, models and singers becoming "king of the cut"!

The Beauty Industry is a better place since Vidal Sassoon developed his salon, schools and product lines in a legendary fashion. His famous quote "If you don't look good, we don't look good" should be the mantra for all salons and spas!

He will be the most celebrated architect of hair this generation will ever see. May God bless him and his family. May the legend live on!

Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!

--Mary N. DiZazzo-Trumbull

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at www.allthatzazz.com. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com.

All That Zazz on The Road

Post-Gazette readers gathered, Saturday, May 12th, at Pagliucca's Restaurant to hear "All That Zazz" columnist Mary DiZazzo-Trumbull offer beauty tips. Post-Gazette columnist Freeway popped in to add his two bark's worth to the procedings.

West End Museum Remembers Boston's Burlesque Era

The West End Museum came alive with the celebration of Boston's Burlesque Era with costumes from celebrated performers. The closing of the exhibit, which was curated by Mina Murray, burlesque head mistress of The Boston Academy of Burlesque Education, was Friday, May 11th. The closing evening featured the Boston Babydolls, founded in 2006, who strutted their stuff! The director/producer Scratch of the Boston Babydolls looked on, proud of his troupe!

Betty Blaize, Mina Murray, Mary DiZazzo-Trumbull, and Bettysioux. Photo by Renée L'Abbe.

Beautiful Is Burlesque!

Beautiful Is Burlesque!
Ciao bella,
A few weeks back my husband David and I experienced a rare opportunity in Boston which used to be an every night occasion here in our fine city! The West End Museum gave us an evening of fine music and Burlesque. We admired a display of some of the best Burlesque Costumes from back in the day! Bright feathery gowns with embellished scarves, gloves and a few other "small things" set the tone of what was to come! Elaborately decorated g-strings and pasties set Burlesque dancers apart from other adult entertainers!

We enjoyed Kristen Minsky, of Providence, R.I., fan dance while sexy music was played by the well-known John Licata Sextet! Certainly reviving a nostalgic atmosphere the band played on and on!

Some other famous Burlesque gals were Sally Rand whose notorious fan dance wowed audiences for decades! She caused a national scandal by performing her first "obscene" dance at the 1933 Chicago's World Fair! Then went on to become the World's Greatest Fan Dancer!

Ann Corio was called the Burlesque Queen of Broadway and is well known for her acting as well. She performed at our very own Boston's Old Howard Theatre as well as the famous Minsky's Burlesque. Catch some wonderful black and white full blow-ups behind the bar at Scollay Square on Beacon Street of some of these divas.

A recently retired beauty (2009) is Angie Pontani. She incorporated ballet en pointe in her routine and worked a square of chiffon like a butterfly. This Miss Erotic World donned exquisite long brunette, wavy locks, which enhanced her delicate, graceful and seductive moves!

At Hubba Hubba in Cambridge, years ago, David and I met Dita Von Teese. In the pouring rain we made it to meet this adorable Burlesque Queen! Best known for her Burlesque act "Le Bain" where she swishes and splashes in a giant bubble bath in a giant Martini Glass! Her vintage style is reminiscent of the past and reflects in her stage performances!

So have in little fun in your life when "you take it off, but not all off"!

Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!
--Mary N. DiZazzo-Trumbull

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at http://www.allthatzazz.com/. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com.