Category Archives: Blog

Strange and Bizarre Beauty Habits of the 1600’s

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Women had some strange beauty practices in the 1600’s!

In the mid 1600’s applying makeup or ‘painting’ had become part of the fashionable Lady’s routine which achieved a porcelain perfection and doll-like face. Painting the face and decolette with a face paint called ceruse was popular but not without consequences to all who used this paint because it was composed of a high quantity of lead. That high quantity of lead in the pigment not only corroded the skin but caused hair loss, a disaster for eyebrows and the hairline.1600's 1

Fortunately, the popular plucked hairline was fashionable but, eyebrows were more difficult to disguise. In 1700 a solution was found to the eyebrow issue with mice hide! The hide was cut to the desired shape and glued in place.

 

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A light dabbing of rouge on the cheeks was also applied. Not only were women using mice hide for eyebrows they were also using insects to create the rouge they wore. Red dye was made from the dried bodies of the female insect the cochineal. The rich scarlet dye   was moistened on Spanish wool and rubbed into the cheeks and lips.

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Beauty spots or ‘patches’ were also worn and made of black silk or black velvet. Where the beauty spot was applied meant different ways to flirt depending of the placement of the patch.

In the corner of the eye: was for passion1600's 4

Situated at the corner of the mouth: was to show off a  pretty smile1600's 6

In the middle of the cheek: was to show gallantry

In the day’s of the 1600’s the patch or beauty spot came in handy to also cover small pox scars and moles.

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Towel Dry and a Good Cry is about a young girl, new to the hairdressing business, that learns all too quick that there is more to standing behind the chair than just cutting hair.  A story full of laughs and tears lies and fears with characters you’ll love, hate or will leave your jaw hanging open!

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.

14th Century Hair and Beauty

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Fourteenth century women wanted to be beautiful as well as fashionable. Few cosmetics were available and  women were shunned upon using them because it was considered vain and sinful. Fourteen century hair and beauty was regarded as a gift from God. Women conformed to this idealised standard of beauty, by stripping away their individuality rather than add to it.

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Eyebrows were tweezed next to nothing for a look of delicateness and vulnerability.

14th century

The desire for a high forehead prompted ruthless plucking to bring the hairline up as far as the top of the head and the sides of the face were plucked clean to create an elongated oval look.

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Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Towel Dry and a Good Cry is about a young girl, new to the hairdressing business, that learns all too quick that there is more to standing behind the chair than just cutting hair.  A story full of laughs and tears lies and fears with characters you’ll love, hate or will leave your jaw hanging open!

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.

 

 

 

 

11th Century Women’s Hair History

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Here’s a little 11th century hair history.

lady 3

During the eleventh century, early Christians set themselves against woman wearing any type of makeup or cosmetics; it was believed to be vain and sinful. The hair was the only acceptable expression of beauty that that could be done to enhance their femininity. Women grew their hair to their knees and created beautiful braids with their locks.

Myth or not, this cloak of femininity was never so utilized as when Lady Godiva made her first naked protest clothed only in her hair in 1057.

Lady Godiva 2

The eleventh century noblewoman was married to the Earl of Mercia and Lord of the Coventry. Lady Godiva pleaded with her husband to lessen the crippling taxes of the time. He agreed if she would ride horseback naked through the market square with only her hair to cover her.

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Her husband kept his promise.

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Towel Dry and a Good Cry is about a young girl, new to the hairdressing business, that learns all too quick that there is more to standing behind the chair than just cutting hair.  A story full of laughs and tears lies and fears with characters you’ll love, hate or will leave your jaw hanging open!

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.

 

 

Seven Years

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A friend of mine’s journey

Kathy Rhodes

At some point life boils what’s in your crucible down to the salt of you. It did to me. June 28, 2008. My husband died.

It has been a long and incredible journey of grief and healing, of learning things I didn’t want to learn, of giving up things I didn’t want to give up, of building a whole new life. As hard as it was to fathom that I had to build anew, it was a given. It happened by default. The old life existed no more. As much as I tried to gather in all the residuals of that old life, I could not.

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My journey of loss, grief, and rebuilding is presented in a memoir published in 2013: Remember the Dragonflies. It’s all there: the loss, the raw pain, the sheer agony, how I dealt with the pain, how I dealt with the “why” of it…

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The Reason For Green Hair In The Summer

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Why does blond hair get that tinge of green to it from swimming in pools?

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It’s the chlorine and copper in the water.

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Copper is used in swimming pools to keep the algae under wraps. We’ve all seen what copper does to roofs and other copper things over time.

copper roof

Chlorine, sun and air oxidize the copper, which gives the hair a greenish cast.

Always be sure to use clarifying shampoos or swimmers shampoo’s to help combat getting green hair.

Check out my post on: Home Remedy For Green Hair Caused By Chlorine And Copper

https://judydeluca.com/2015/04/14/home-remedy-for-green-hair-caused-by-chlorine-and-copper/

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Towel Dry and a Good Cry is about a young girl, new to the hairdressing business, that learns all too quick that there is more to standing behind the chair than just cutting hair.  A story full of laughs and tears lies and fears with characters you’ll love, hate or will leave your jaw hanging open!

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.

Memorial Day and the United States Flag

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memorial-day-wallpaper

On Memorial day, the United States of America’s flag is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-mast position, where it remains until noon. After the hour of noon the flag is raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day.

FlagHalfMast

The half-mast position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service for their country.

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The flag, raised by the living, symbolically means a promise to not let the memory of our service men and women’s sacrifice be in vain.

Meorial-Pics

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Towel Dry and a Good Cry is about a young girl, new to the hairdressing business, that learns all too quick that there is more to standing behind the chair than just cutting hair.  A story full of laughs and tears lies and fears with characters you’ll love, hate or will leave your jaw hanging open!

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.

 

The Latest Rage in Men’s Haircuts And Beards

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Men’s haircuts have set a new path in fashion in the last two years. Sleek and clean-cut haircuts have moved in as the latest trend in men’s hairstyles. Pompadours were popular last year and now we are seeing several new versions of that style emerge.

No longer popular is the scruff of going without shaving for two days, goatee’s, and soul patches. The new trend for men and facial hair is a full, well groomed, beard.

Here is a little gallery of the newest trends for men.

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Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Towel Dry and a Good Cry is about a young girl, new to the hairdressing business, that learns all too quick that there is more to standing behind the chair than just cutting hair.  A story full of laughs and tears lies and fears with characters you’ll love, hate or will leave your jaw hanging open!

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.

 

 

 

Sunscreens Shelf Life

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sunscreen

Good to know info. Sunscreen’s active ingredients typically have a two year shelf life. Date yours when you open it and throw it out in two years. If your sunscreen starts to change color, separate or smell funky, pitch it.

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Towel Dry and a Good Cry is about a young girl, new to the hairdressing business, that learns all too quick that there is more to standing behind the chair than just cutting hair.  A story full of laughs and tears lies and fears with characters you’ll love, hate or will leave your jaw hanging open!

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Henry David Thoreau

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Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau, a Harvard graduate, was an American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor and historian. He was born July 12, 1817 in Concord, MA and died May 6, 1862.

Thoreau’s books, articles, essay’s, journals and poetry total over twenty volumes.

This is one of my favorite quotes written from his journals:

November 16, 1830:

The question is not what you look at, but what you see.

Henry David Thoreau

 

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Towel Dry and a Good Cry is about a young girl, new to the hairdressing business, that learns all too quick that there is more to standing behind the chair than just cutting hair.  A story full of laughs and tears lies and fears with characters you’ll love, hate or will leave your jaw hanging open!

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.

 

Key Ingredients To Look For In Anti -Aging Products

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skin 1

Many skin care experts recommend these key ingredients in skin care products for fighting the aging process, co-enzyme Q10, Vitamin C and E, Flavonoids, Idebenone, Lycopene, Hyaluronic acid and Retin A. These are all ingredients to look for in anti-aging products.

You don’t have to spend a million dollars, either. Many drug store lines have some of these ingredients and are very affordable. Always consult a Dermatologist’s advice if you are not sure what is best for your skin and age.

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Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Towel Dry and a Good Cry is about a young girl, new to the hairdressing business, that learns all too quick that there is more to standing behind the chair than just cutting hair.  A story full of laughs and tears lies and fears with characters you’ll love, hate or will leave your jaw hanging open!

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.

 

 

The Shag Haircut Is In For Spring And Summer

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Back in the early seventies a hairstylist by the name of Paul McGregor

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created the shag hairstyle for Jane Fonda in the movie, Klute,Shag-260x300 inspiring a whole new trend. Many celebrities helped launch this unisex haircut that lasted throughout the decade.

shag

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I’ve always said, being in the business as long as I have, what goes around comes back around only with a new spin on it. This ‘new’ shag hair cut has lots of choppy layers making this style very care free to wear short or long.

shag 8shag 11

Celebrities are making this cut a sure comeback for spring and summer!

shag Alexa Chungshag5shag Vanessa Hudgens

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Towel Dry and a Good Cry is about a young girl, new to the hairdressing business, that learns all too quick that there is more to standing behind the chair than just cutting hair.  A story full of laughs and tears lies and fears with characters you’ll love, hate or will leave your jaw hanging open!

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.

 

 

 

The Legend of the Easter Egg

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For Christians, the Easter egg is the reminder of Jesus rising from His tomb and bringing new life.  The hard shell of the egg represents the sealed tomb of Christ and the inside of the egg, containing new life sealed within, represents His resurrection from the dead.

risen Christ

The Easter egg originated by Christians of Mesopotamia who stained the eggs red in memory of the blood of Christ shed at His crucifixion.  The Christian Church officially adopted the custom, regarding the eggs as a symbol of the resurrection in A.D. 1610.

Legend has it Mary Magdalene was bringing cooked eggs to share with the other women at the tomb of Jesus, and the eggs in her basket turned brilliant red when she saw the risen Christ.

red egg

Today, coloring eggs in bright colors holds tradition as well as chocolate eggs.Easter eggschocolate egg

 

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Towel Dry and a Good Cry is about a young girl, new to the hairdressing business, that learns all too quick that there is more to standing behind the chair than just cutting hair.  A story full of laughs and tears lies and fears with characters you’ll love, hate or will leave your jaw hanging open!

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

 

 

 

Legend of the Lenten Pretzel

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Pretzel

The pretzel, being symbolic of prayer and penance during Lent, is a small but powerful instrument in bringing families to God.

Lent is a period of fasting and self-denial.  Praying, fasting and penance, at this time, is an imitation of our Lord’s fasting for forty days and forty nights in preparation for Easter.

In the Roman Empire the faithful kept a strict fast.  No milk, butter, cheese eggs, cream or meat were eaten during Lent.  They made small breads of water, flour and salt to remind them that Lent was a time for pray and penance.  They shaped these breads in the form of crossed arms for in those days they crossed their arms over the breast while praying.  They called the breads “little arms” (bracellae). From this Latin word Germanic people named them pretzels.

Many Christians follow this tradition with their children and I’ve included a little story of how Josie and her family celebrate this tradition in my sequel to Towel Dry and a Good Cry , Towel Dry and an Alibi, that I’m currently working on.

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Towel Dry and a Good Cry is about a young girl, new to the hairdressing business, that learns all too quick that there is more to standing behind the chair than just cutting hair.  A story full of laughs and tears lies and fears with characters you’ll love, hate or will leave your jaw hanging open!

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.

 

 

 

Happy St. Josephs Day

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st. Joseph’s Day, March 19

Judy De Luca

St. Joseph

I’m currently writing the sequel to my first novel Towel Dry and a Good Cry, entitled Towel Dry and an Alibi. In the story, Josie and her family are celebrating St. Josephs Day, a Christian holiday. Here is a direct quote from the sequel, (still untitled!).

There is a Catholic tradition my mother makes a big deal out of every year on March 19, St. Josephs Day. The focus of this holiday is on “St. Josephs Table,” a feast that includes breads, vegetables, egg dishes, pasta and desserts.  It’s like a Catholic Thanksgiving, to me.  Legend has it, during the medieval drought and famine, Sicilians prayed to St. Joseph, the patron of workers and the guardian of family. When the famine subsided, they attributed it to the saint and promised to honor him each year with a feast. The main pasta dish my mother always prepared was a meatless red sauce…

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Ever Wonder What pH Stands For?

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ph

We see pH balanced on so many hair products. Ever wonder what the pH means? It means Potential of Hydrogen. It’s a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration of a substance, what we know as acid or alkali. On the pH scale 0 is extremely acidic, 7 is neutral and 14 is strongly alkaline. Most peoples skin is between 4.5 and 5.5, meaning a little acidic.

MSPS_14L_pH2.

Extremely high acid or alkaline in products will damage the hair. So when you see pH  balanced shampoo you know that it is safe for your hair.

Judy DeLuca’s Latest Novel

Towel Dry and a Good Cry is about a young girl, new to the hairdressing business, that learns all too quick that there is more to standing behind the chair than just cutting hair.  A story full of laughs and tears lies and fears with characters you’ll love, hate or will leave your jaw hanging open!

Available at your favorite ebook store

www.youtube.com/toweldryandagoodcry

www.facebook.com/judydelucaauthor

Follow me on Pinterest for more beauty info and tips.