MTips

How Estheticians Can Increase Their Clients
By Candace Webb
How Estheticians Can Increase Their Clientsthumbnail Estheticians typically work in a relaxing environment.

Estheticians devote their careers to helping clients achieve and maintain beautiful skin. They do not hold medical degrees and typically use waxing, light chemical peels and facials. A strong client base is vital to an esthetician. Word of mouth, marketing and sales tools can all help an esthetician grow her client base.

Topic To Increase Their Clients:

• Spa Treatments
• Medical Schools

To Increase Their Clients Difficulty:

• Easy

To Increase Their Clients You’ll Need:

• None

To Increase Their Clients Instructions:

• Referrals – Building professional relationships with local physicians can help increase an esthetician’s client base. Request a meeting with each physician, bring brochures detailing the services you provide and ask the physician to refer patients to you who wish to have beautification treatments. Dermatologists may have their own chemical peel service. Assure those physicians that you will offer other treatments and not interfere with their chemical peel business. All other physicians can send patients desiring peels to you in addition to those who want other services.
• Word of Mouth – Happy clients become great marketing tools. Printing a stack of coupons for clients to take into their social circle can garner results. The esthetician can provide a discount on a client’s next service for each new person she brings to the business through word of mouth advertising. Maintaining a database of referral information will help the esthetician know which client makes the most referrals. Discounts should apply to services such as chemical peels or facial treatments so the client’s skin becomes a walking billboard for the esthetician.
• Advertising – Radio, television and print publications offer advertising for sale. Esthetician ads should always include a photo of someone with flawless skin. The idea is for the audience to believe that if they go to the esthetician, their skin may look as beautiful as the model’s in the ad. The ad can offer discount coupons to first-time users, which will also increase the client base.
• Service Exhanges – Partnering with massage therapists, cosmetologists and others in the beauty industry will help build an esthetician’s client base. Offering to trade services or put a package together that includes several services for a flat rate brings new clients to the office.

How to Bustle Tuck a Skirt
By Erin McWhorter
How to Bustle Tuck a Skirtthumbnail Bustle-tucking is also a common practice for modern day wedding dresses that feature a long train.

When attempting to transform a long skirt train into an elegant gown or outfit, bustle-tucking is an easy solution that can be approached as a Victorian vintage-chic trend. There are several ways to bustle-tuck skirts, but the main goal is to keep the longer bottom from getting trampled on while making the skirt look fuller. Each design for bustle-tucking a skirt features the same basic principal of gathering the material from the train and skirt and then securing it to the body of the dress using buttons, hooks or ribbons.

To Bustle Tuck a Skirt You’ll Need:

• Skirt with train
• Sewing pins
• Pen
• Scissors
• Needle
• Thread
• Button

To Bustle Tuck a Skirt Instructions:

• Hang the skirt or dress in front of you with the train fully extended. Gather the material of the train in the center from the back of the garment.
• Lift the gathered material to the body of the garment, and determine where the button should be placed. The bottom of the gathered material should be equal with the length of the garment. Each side of the gathered material should also be equal.
• Pin the center of the gathered material in the desired position. Check that both sides of the gathered material are equal. Check that the length of the material from the gathered point to the bottom is even with the bottom of the garment so it will not appear too long or too short in the back.
• Determine the placement of the button on the body of the garment, and mark with the pen. Determine the placement of the button hole, and then mark it with the pen. Unpin the gathered material.
• Cut the button hole on the train of the garment where the pen marking is. The appropriate size of the button hole will allow the button to easily slide in and secure the material. Hem the button hole sides using the needle and thread.
• Fasten the button to the body of the garment (according to the pen marked placement) using the needle and thread. The button should be securely fastened to uphold the weight of the material.
• Double-check all stitching. Attach the train to the button on the garment body. The material that is gathered and buttoned should fall even with the bottom of the garment.

How to Perform Cable Flyes
By Aubrey Bailey
How to Perform Cable Flyesthumbnail Cable flyes target the chest muscles.

The pectoralis muscles make up the bulk of the chest muscles. These muscles are used for pushing out away from the body and pulling in from both sides to the front of the body. Exercises like push-ups, bench presses and flyes strengthen the pectoralis muscles. Body builders concentrate on the chest muscles to build bulk and add definition to the upper body. Cable flyes strengthen the pectoralis muscles and target the upper and inner parts of these muscles for added definition.

To Perform Cable Flyes You’ll Need:

• Bilateral cables

To Perform Cable Flyes Instructions:

• Attach handles to the top of the cables. Stand in the center between the two pulleys.
• Reach up at an angle and grab a handle in each hand.
• Stand with your feet staggered, placing one slightly in front of the other.
• Pull down on the cables keeping your elbows straight. Bring your arms down and in front of your body until your hands meet. Hold for three seconds and slowly return to the starting position. Repeat eight to 10 times and work up to three sets in a row. If you cannot complete one set, lower the amount of weight on the pulley.

Studies on Texting as a Possible Health Risk for Teens
By Kristyn Hammond
Studies on Texting as a Possible Health Risk for Teensthumbnail Texting may be making it harder for teens to avoid peer pressure.

Researchers are beginning to ask about the potential health ramifications of teen texting. Since 2010, two important studies have given researchers an idea about the increase in teen texting and the potential link to high-risk behavior, such as drinking, smoking, using drugs and having multiple sex partners. While the information is still new, these two studies demonstrate an increased need for study concerning for teen texting.

Studies on Texting as a Possible Health Risk for Teens Instructions:

• Case Western Reserve School of Medicine – In November of 2010, researchers from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine released the results of its survey study, on the effects of hyper-texting on teenagers, at an annual American Public Health Association meeting. For their study, they defined hyper-texting as anyone who sends more than 120 texts during an average day. As part of their study, the researches from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine sent out more than 4,200 anonymous surveys to students in 20 public schools around the Cleveland area. Researchers designed their study to investigate any correlation between excessive texting and any increase in student’s willingness to participate in high-risk activities.
• Case Western’s Findings – Case Western’s study discovered that, among the students they surveyed, hyper-texting students were 40 percent more likely to have tried smoking, 43 percent more like to binge-drink and 41 percent more likely to use drugs. Students were also 55 percent more likely to get into fights, 350 percent more likely to have sex and 90 percent more likely to have a history with four or more sex partners. Researchers suggest that parents strongly moderate their children’s use of texting as a means of communication.
• Pew Internet – In April of 2010, researchers from Pew Internet and the American Life Project released the results of their study that focused on the frequency that teenagers use texting as a form of communication. Their anonymous survey included 800 randomly selected students who were polled in 2009 between the months of June and September. Their study focuses on the amount of time that teenagers spend using social media sites, cell phones and texting. They also divided their research by age, providing information on the way teens increase their use of these technologies from year to year.
• Pew Internet’s Findings – Pew Internet’s study revealed that, among the students they surveyed, the average number of teenagers who send and receive more than 100 texts in an average day is one in three. Their research also shows that from the age of 12 until 17, teens use texting more each year, with the highest average at age 17. Their research also showed that girls are more likely to send texts, 80 a day on average for girls and only 30 a day on average for boys.

How to Make a Spoon Pincushion
By Chelsea Hoffman
How to Make a Spoon Pincushionthumbnail A spoon pin cushion is a creative alternative to the traditional tomato pincushion.

A spoon pincushion is a folksy and creative item that not only serves a purpose, but it allows you to “upcycle” junk flatware. Make them for yourself or as gifts to people who share your love of sewing and crafts. A spoon pincushion can be customized according to your personal tastes.

To Make a Spoon Pincushion You’ll Need:

• Large tablespoon
• Fabric
• Scissors
• Cotton balls
• Hot glue gun with glue

To Make a Spoon Pincushion Instructions:

• Cut down a square of fabric measuring 5 by 5 inches. Denim, canvas and sturdy cottons are ideal fabric choices to use as a pincushion. However, you can select any fabric texture, color or pattern you want.
• Spread the small square of fabric with the faded side facing upward. Cover the center of the square with 1/4 cup of cotton balls.
• Fold the top left-hand corner of the square inward diagonally, covering the center of the square. Squeeze a dot of hot glue on the top side of the corner folded fabric. Pull the bottom right-hand corner upward in a diagonal direction, adhering the underside of the corner to the glued topside of the other corner of fabric. Squeeze a dot of hot glue on the top surface of the second folded corner.
• Pull the top right-hand corner downward in the same fashion as the previous steps, adhering it to the glue. Squeeze a dot of glue on top of it, and pull the final free corner of the fabric to it. This leaves you with a puffy pillow of fabric.
• Squeeze a quarter-sized amount of hot glue into the center of the reservoir of the tablespoon. Immediately press the folded sized of the pin-cushion part to the glued spoon. Press firmly and let it dry for one minute before releasing your hold. This completes your spoon pincushion.

The Effects of Isotones on a Cell
By Kristen Bailey
The Effects of Isotones on a Cellthumbnail Isotonic solutions are neutral to cells, and are used for many purposes in scientific research.

In biological research, isotonic solutions are critical to the success of many tests. They are used to dilute or buffer samples while protecting cells and organelles from damage. A solution’s tonicity depends on the concentration of solutes or particles dissolved in the solution. This concentration must match the concentration within the cell for the solution to be isotonic.

To Dispose of Sharps Containers in Tennessee Instructions:

• What Are Isotones? – The Latin root “iso-” means “same.” “Tonic” refers to the osmotic pressure between two solutions. Osmotic pressure is the amount of pressure needed to prevent osmosis into a cell completely contained by a semipermeable membrane. Therefore, isotonic solutions have equivalent osmotic pressures, and would not flow into one another if separated by such a membrane. In medicine and biology, a solution is often called isotonic if it has the same osmotic pressure as a typical human cell.
• Isotonic Solutions – Most common isotonic solutions have the same amount of solutes — such as salt — as cells or blood. Because the solutions have the same osmotic pressures as the cells, they have no effect on the cells’ volume. The cells neither take on nor lose water or fluid, because their surrounding environment is neutral, and neither pushes in nor pulls out fluid across the cell membrane. Many sports drinks are isotonic, designed to replace fluids and electrolytes without damaging cells.
• Hypertonic Solutions – If a solution is hypertonic, it has a higher osmotic pressure than the cells or solutions it is being compared to. When cells are placed in hypertonic solutions, the higher concentration of solutes outside the cell causes the cell to lose fluid in an attempt to match the concentration of its environment. This makes cells shrink and wrinkle, a phenomenon known as “crenation.” In plant cells, this causes the cell membrane to shrink back and pull away from the sturdier cell wall.
• Hypotonic Solutions – Hypotonic solutions have lower osmotic pressures than whatever they are being compared to. Therefore, they have a lower concentration of salt or solutes than the cells. In order to match the lower concentration, cells will take in fluid to dilute the concentration of solutes within themselves. This causes the cells to expand, but the membranes can only extend so far. After a certain point, the membranes burst and the cells die. This is known as “osmotic shock.”

How to Dispose of Sharps Containers in Tennessee
By Lindsay Zortman
How to Erase Tattoosthumbnail Erase tattoos of any size with laser treatment or removal creams.

According to Reuters Online, approximately 25 percent of people between 18 and 30 years old have a tattoo. Initially a tattoo is a sign of something meaningful and important in life, or maybe it is a piece of artwork you admire or a way to remember someone. As time changes, so does your relationships, views on tattoos and working environments. These life changes sometimes make it necessary to remove or erase a tattoo. Laser removal and creams are two ways people can change the look of a tattoo and even erase them completely.

To Dispose of Sharps Containers in Tennessee You’ll Need:

• Soap
• Rag
• Tattoo Removal Cream

To Dispose of Sharps Containers in Tennessee Instructions:

• Place the needle into a puncture-proof container, such as one made from durable plastic. You may also use a container specifically designated for sharps; ask your local pharmacist for advice on where to find these containers.
• Secure the container. It should have a tightly fitted lid, such as a screw-on cap. Tighten the cap or lid securely.
• Affix a biohazard label to the outside of the container. If you do not have a biohazard label, place a piece of white masking tape on the container. Use a black marker to write a label indicating that the container has biohazard waste.
• Dispose of the sharps container in your local landfill or place it in your trash.

How to Lighten Bonded Teeth
By Sabrina Ashley
How to Lighten Bonded Teeththumbnail Even with bonded teeth you can get a whiter smile.

Tooth-bonding is a technique used in cosmetic dentistry. Different methods exist for bonding but, in most cases, composites of various particles — silicon dioxide, for one — are bonded to the teeth with a synthetic resin. Bonding helps to close spaces between teeth or fixes chipped or broken teeth in the front of the mouth. Bonded teeth need special care because they stain more readily than tooth enamel.

To Lighten Bonded Teeth You’ll Need:

• Whitening toothpastes for bonded teeth

To Lighten Bonded Teeth Instructions:

• Use a tooth-whitening toothpaste made for bonded teeth. Bonded teeth are delicate so they need a special whitening agent that’s not too harsh. The website My New Smile suggests using Supersmile or Rembrandt.
• Place a small amount of toothpaste onto a soft toothbrush. A toothbrush with soft bristles is best for bonded teeth.
• Brush the teeth in a circular motion for no less than two minutes.
• Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Brush in the morning and in the evening to keep bonded teeth looking their best. Rinse your mouth with water after brushing.
• See a dental hygienist in a cosmetic dentist’s office. Standard tooth polishing is abrasive to bonded teeth. Dental hygienists in the offices of cosmetic dentists know how to whiten teeth properly without damaging the composite.
• Visit a dental hygienist twice a year for a teeth cleaning. Regular cleaning of bonded teeth is important to get them to last and remain in good condition.

How to Control Flushing
By Bridget Lewison
How to Control Flushingthumbnail There’s no need to hide when flushing is kept under control.

Environmental and physiological triggers sometimes cause the small blood vessels in the facial area to react, causing redness or flushing. Sometimes the cause of flushing is obvious, such as being embarrassed, eating spicy food or a sensitivity to alcohol. Simply avoiding the triggers usually keeps the redness under control. Some conditions that cause flushing, however, are more persistent, requiring cosmetic, natural or medical treatments. A common cause of chronic flushing is roseacea, which affects about 14 million Americans.

To Control Flushing You’ll Need:

• Antihistamine
• Cold compress
• Ice chips
• Green-tinted concealer
• Anti-inflammatory cream
• Cucumber
• Honey
• Cold milk
• Ground oatmeal
• Aloe Vera
• Zinc oxide
• Witch hazel

To Control Flushing Instructions:

• Take an antihistamine. Flushing triggered by temperature extremes, such as taking a hot shower in the morning, is often prevented by taking the medication, according to Paul Lazar, M.D., a professor at Chicago’s Northwestern University Medical School. Flushing caused by a reaction to histamines, such as those found in red wine, is also alleviated with the use of an antihistamine. Use with caution, however, as antihistamines sometimes cause drowsiness.
• Cool off. Apply a cold compress if the flushing is caused by exposure to heat or an allergic reaction. Hot flashes related to menopause also cause flushing. Lowering the temperature of the skin reduces inflammation and redness. Ice chips in the mouth also provide a temporary remedy by triggering a response in the body that decreases flushing, according to Dr. Jonathan Wilkin, director of the Dermatology Division at Ohio State University in Columbus. Also avoid eating hot foods; let them cool down a bit before consuming.
• Apply concealer. Some skin conditions, such as roseacea, cause persistent flushing and redness. Use a green-tinted concealer under foundation to neutralize red tones. Anti-inflammatory lotions also calm skin conditions that cause redness. “Redbook” contributor Winnie Yu suggests products that contain licorice extract or feverfew, which are touted for their anti-inflammatory properties.
• Whip up a homemade face mask to reduce redness. Combine 1/4 peeled cucumber, 2 tbsp. cold milk, 1 tbsp. honey and 1/2 cup finely ground oatmeal in a blender until smooth. Apply to clean skin for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water, followed with a splash of cold water. Pat dry and apply moisturizer. Aloe Vera gel, zinc oxide and witch hazel are also natural, soothing topical treatments for flushed skin.
• See a dermatologist for a diagnosis if home remedies are not able to control flushing. Some conditions that cause a dilation of blood vessels are controlled with prescription medications that reduce inflammation or treat infection. In some cases, surgery is an option. For example, visible blood vessels are often treated with laser therapy.

• Avoid niacin. This common supplement is a cause of “niacin flush.” To avoid this reaction, reduce dosage and take an anti-inflammatory over-the-counter medication.

• If the flushing is intense and doesn’t subside, or if a prescription drug is the suspected cause, consult a physician immediately, as these are signs of a potentially serious condition.

How to Treat Skin Necrosis Pain
By Elyse James
Skin necrosis is the death of skin cells, which is caused by disease, infection or a surgical procedure such as plastic surgery. This condition is typically localized in one area of the skin that does not receive enough oxygen or blood. There are both surgical and non-surgical methods of reducing the effects of skin necrosis.

To Treat Skin Necrosis Pain Instructions:

• Consult your doctor as soon as you notice any areas on your body that might be skin necrosis. In its early stages, skin will turn a purple color, then eventually black. If you notice skin discoloration, contact your doctor who might be able to provide you with pain medication to temporarily relieve the pain you are feeling.
• Talk with your doctor about using antibiotics or topical creams to treat the necrosis and prevent it from worsening. If the necrosis is in its beginning stages, these treatments might be enough to heal the area.
• Elevate the area if possible to improve the blood blow to the area. Since necrosis is caused by lack of blood reaching the area, it is important to improve the circulation. Try propping up the area on a stack of pillows to keep it elevated.
• Avoid applying pressure to the affected area, which can cause the condition to worsen and become more painful. If there are stiches in place (usually in the event of a surgical procedure), you might have to consult a doctor to have the stitches removed in order to reduce some of the pressure and increase circulation.
• Discuss with a surgeon the possibility of a process known as debridement. This is a surgical procedure that is used on the most severe cases of skin necrosis. During this procedure the affected skin is removed with a scalpel.