Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Stim-U-Lax

Eduard Zavurov giving a customer the Stim-U-Lax treatment at his Arizona shop.  Date unknown.


You may remember this vibrating device which the barber rubbed on your neck after a shave or a haircut.  The Stim-U-Lax, patented in 1933, is a handheld massager which many of us recall fondly from our youth.  Surprisingly, the Stim-U-Lax is still being produced today.

Vintage Stim-U-Lax with original packaging.








Current model by Oster.  As you can see, the design hasn't changed much since the 1950s.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Wonderful Vintage Barbershop Pic


Ypsilanti, MI.  Courtez R. Hall's barber shop, on North Huron.  Circa 1913.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Friday, February 1, 2013

Men with Ponytails: Fashion Faux Pas?



The male ponytail, despite its slight moment of popularity during the early 90s "Euro-trash" trend, is a modern fashion faux pas. Today, the only males who proudly sport ponytails are bikers and heavy metal fans. Neither of these categories epitomize contemporary style and fashion.

Although supporting evidence is slim, one speculates if the propensity toward ponytails isn't somehow evolved from a childhood spent in a low-income rural neighborhood or trailer park, where "rat tails" are a common phenomenon among young males. The "rat tail", which in many respects may be considered a baby ponytail, is a ridiculous style which is seldom worn in affluent and sophisticated urban areas. Left to his own devices, a boy wearing a rat tail will most likely grow up to be a man wearing either a ponytail or (even worse) a mullet, condemned to not only a life of bad hair, but a life of low-paying and back-breaking manual labor as well.

Is this intended to imply that a person's hair style determines that person's lot in life? Yes, of course. We live in a world where image is everything, and success is largely dependent not on how well one performs, but how well one looks. Naturally, there are exceptions to every rule. After all, fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld has a ponytail which borders on mulletness. However, if you happen to be the head designer for Chanel or Fendi like the German-born Lagerfeld, then you can wear your hair any way you darn well please and no one will say a thing about it.

Since 99% of us aren't Karl Lagerfeld, this means that male ponytails are not only a fashion abomination, but also a hindrance to meaningful employment. Sure, there are plenty of ponytailed jerks riding around in Mercedes and BMWs, but these men probably have lucrative jobs in the adult film industry, where one is expected to look like a complete tool. It's a job requirement for their chosen profession. In the real world, most men with ponytails end up with less-than-enthralling careers in dusty factories and auto repair shops.

The moral of the story? The male ponytail is only acceptable for certain professions: German fashion designer, adult video producer, and those guys at Jiffy Lube who change oil. The rest of us would be well-advised to adopt a hair style that does not require rubber bands.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

How to hold haircutting shears properly



Knowing how to hold the shears properly is the first step toward giving a precision scissor cut.  Surprisingly, mastering this skill is trickier than it may seem- it requires a steady hand and a lot of practice.  In the following article, I discuss the basics when it comes to holding the shears- a must-read for all of you do-it-yourself haircutters out there!

(read the article here)

Friday, July 13, 2012

Causes of Abnormal Hair Growth

Hirsutism is a term which refers to excessive or abnormal hair growth.  Just as baldness is a blanket term which may include pattern baldness, alopecia, or trichotillomania, "hirsutism" is a blanket term which applies to various conditions resulting in excessive hair growth.  Moderate and severe hirsutism is referred to as hypertrichosis, and may include localized hypertrichosis (abnormal hair growth on one specific part of the body), or generalized hypertrichosis (abnormal hair growth on the entire body).  Hypertrichosis can also be congenital (present from birth), or acquired (developing over time).

Since there are many different types of hirsutism, there are also many different causes of hirsutism.   Here are some of the most common causes of hirsutism or hypertrichosis:

Hormones:  Testosterone and estrogen are the two hormones which most directly impact hair growth.  These hormones are present in both males and females to varying degrees.  Mild hirsutism can often occur in older women, since females produce higher levels of testosterone as they age.  Hormone replacement therapy may be a viable option for those who suffer from mild hirsutism caused by hormonal imbalance.  Mild hirsutism can also be treated by shaving, waxing, or electrolysis.

Genetics:  Although genetics account for a relatively small percentage of those who suffer from hirsutism, it is one possible cause of hirsutism or hypertrichosis.  Some forms of generalized congenital hypertrichosis, for example, are often linked to genetics.  Since there is no "cure" for genetic hirsutism, treatments often include shaving, waxing, or electrolysis.

Medications:  There are many drugs and medications which result in hypertrichosis.  Some drugs, like minoxidil, are specifically used to grow hair.  In other drugs, hirsutism is an unwanted side effect.  Drug-induced hirsutism has been linked to the following drugs and medications: acetazolamide, cyclosporine, diazoxide, latanoprost, psoralen, and streptomycin.

Porphyria:  Porphyria is a systemic disease which often occurs with exposure to certain chemicals.  Hexachlorobenzine, which is a chemical fungicide sometimes used in agriculture, is one such chemical which may lead to hepatic porphyria.  Hirsutism is a common symptom in some forms of porphyria, including hepatic porphyria.

Injury:

Some experts believe there is a link between cerebral injuries and some generalized forms of hirsutism.  Until recently, it was believed that phenytoin, a drug used to treat brain injuries, was responsible for this type of hirsutism.  However, recent studies have found that generalized hirsutism is common in patients suffering from brain injuries who have never taken phenytoin.


Malnutrition:

 Low-carbohydrate diets have been linked to vellus hypertrichosis, which affects the growth of hair on the arms and legs.  This form of hirsutism has also been linked to anorexia, bulemia, and other eating disorders.
Cancer:  Specific types of hirsutism, such as localized acquired hypertrichosis, can be a symptom of some forms of cancer.

With so many various causes of hirsutism and hypertrichosis, it is difficult to find a "cure" to this condition.  In some cases, such as acquired hypertrichosis, hirsutism may even indicate a more serious health condition such as cancer or porphyria.  Therefore, before beginning any treatment for hirsutism, it is a good idea to seek professional medical advice.

Author's Note:  A very extensive and informative guide on the various forms of hypertrichosis can be found online at: http://www.hypertrichosis.com
Sources:  Hordinsky, Maria K.; Amy J. McMichael (2008). Hair and Scalp Diseases: Medical, Surgical, and Cosmetic Treatments (Basic and Clinical Dermatology).
Clark, Jennifer (October). http://dermatologytimes.modernmedicine.com/dermatolo gytimes/issue/issueDetail.jsp?id=10462
Milady's Standard Textbook of Cosmetology (Milady Publishing, 2000).

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