The hairdressing industry is thriving. Whilst some people prefer to pay ten pounds for a quick trim, others are prepared to spend thousands of pounds to get the most modern, stylish or unique look. Our high streets are full of salons, covering their windows with photographs of the latest ‘doo’ and promoting their newest offers.

Whether you want your hair neatly trimmed, drastically cut, dyed, spiked, shaved, waved, curled, straightened, extended or plaited, there is always somewhere close by you can go and get your new look.

Hair products also over rule our shelves. There is wax, moose, styling sprays, heat protection sprays, shining sprays. However, it does not stop there. For instance, wax is not just wax. You have to chose which type you require, be it strong, wet look, non sticky or fluorescent.

Is this fashion craze a modern development, or has hair been a great cause of concern and a victim of experimentation for years?

The answer is, hair consciousness has been around for years. From Ancient civilisations to modern day, people have been flaunting and developing new and bizarre styles.

Take yourselves back to the Fifteenth Century for a moment- the era of Christopher Columbus. European craze at this time in history was to pluck your hairline to create a high forehead. Sounds strange today but back then it was the thing to do.

Wigs have been very popular all over the world for centuries. In Ancient Egypt Pharaohs used to wear long wigs, complete with plaits and accessorise. Other ancient peoples, including the Assyrians, Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans also wore wigs. Curiously, wigs are principally a Western form of dress. In the Far East they have rarely been used except in the traditional theatre of China and Japan.

After the fall of The Roman Empire the use of wigs vanished from the West for a thousand years, however, they were revived in the Sixteenth Century. People used them to hide their hair loss and to improve personal appearance. Hygiene conditions could be pretty poor with many people suffering from head lice. Therefore, one of the best solutions was to shave all your hair off and replace it with a wig. Genius. Fashionable and practical.

Wigs remained popular throughout the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries, becoming even more extravagant. In the Seventeenth Century Queen Elizabeth was famous for her red wig, whilst King Louis X111 and King Louis X1V of France set the trend for male wig-wearers.

Wigs were often full, thick and fell below the shoulders. White powdered, long ringlets were the order of the day often tied back with a black bow for men or decorated with flowers and garlands for women. Elaborate wigs worn by ladies consisted of mile-high coiffures and highly decorated curls to emphasize their social status. The fancier the better was the fashion with many ladies modeling “bird cage’ or maritime hair doos complete with model bird or boat.

There was, however, one problem with the large elaborate wigs. They took a long time to complete and often became the very favourite nesting place for vermin. Nice.

Male wigs became more subtle, as the Eighteenth Century continued and were adopted by many professionals. Full Female wigs were not in fashion in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Women would simply wear them if they had lost their hair and they were often connected with the symptoms of diphtheria.

During the early Twentieth Century, wigs were exchanged for regular trips to the salon to have hair curled and set by a large hair dryer. This would take up a lot of time, however, women were prepared to sacrifice their days to make sure they were in fashion.

The ‘Roaring Twenties’ saw a change in hair trends, curls and ringlets were swapped for short, sleek bobs or short, tightly waved, tight curl styles, continuing into the 1930s. More ladies had access to the cinema and were keen to follow the styles of their actress role models. Males wore shorter, rather conservative short back and side styles.

The war meant both ladies and gentlemen had to be practical due to warfare, hard working conditions and lack of shampoo. Many women opted to hide their hair away in a hair net or a head scalf, just exposing their fringes.

Post war saw the introduction of home hair curlers, reviving the curl. Although, curlers were practical, they were difficult to get used to and led to many an uncomfortable night, sleeping on the rollers for the price of fashion. Think Sandra Dee type curls and flicks. Eventually one of the first hand held hairdryers came on the market, connected to a pink plastic bonnet that fitted over the woman’s head to help with drying and setting styles at home.

Males donned crew cuts and thick sideburns, as well as the famous “duck tail”. The “porcupine” was also a hit. These styles were complete with excess starch and Bryl Cream. Think Elvis or James Dean.

The 1960s ladies exchanged ringlets for the beehive. The bigger the better was the trend and the most important product was hairspray. Mountain like styles were often complemented by blond streaks. Men proffered choppy, side-parted, bed-head styles.

The bouffant styles were soon replaced by long straight hair. As people got caught up in the progression of civil rights and women’s movements, fashion also adapted. Ladies skirts became tighter and shorter and their hair became longer and sleeker.

The rebellious nature of society continued throughout the 70s and 80s, with long hair remaining a feature of the hippie movement. Long, flowing, natural styles were preferred, accessorised with flowers and multi-coloured headbands. Madonna helped set the trend in the eighties with her ever changing styles.

The 90s was almost a free for all with people experimenting with all kinds of ideas, yet there were still those styles which were more popular than others. Tight pony tails with two, bleached strands of hair framing the face was a popular look amongst teenagers. The guys also thought they were cool when they shaved their heads leaving just a thick fringe at the front- this was almost always bleached too.

So, it seems that hair trends constantly change. So what is next? People rule out the Chav look. However, give it a few more years to catch on and the impressively slicked down, comb streaked, high pony tails, complete with mis-matched scrunchies may come into fashion. I believe the large silver hoop earring and tracksuit attire compliment this look even further.

Patrick is an expert Research and Travel consultant. His current interest is in Heathrow Terminal 5 Parking, Airparks Luton.

Ok, Ok, I know, everyone has to chip in. After all, we all live on this planet, right? So honestly, I don’t mind the recycling every object that comes into my home. I don’t mind all the sorting and bins and the 245 different brand numbers on the bottom of plastic items. I don’t mind the chemical deprived household cleaners that seem to work OK and smell a lot nicer. I don’t mind the smaller model car that has; gasp and count them, four cylinders although I will admit to missing my big block Chevy.

My point is I am trying. I can buy organic with the best of them, I watch my energy and water usage and count my carbon footprints. I consciously try to reduce my garbage and I and filter my water too. I can reuse plastic bags and buy swirly looking light bulbs. However there is one “green” issue I just can not abide by. I’m talking about those ugly re-usable shopping bags. I mean, whose idea was that, and why do they have to be so darn ugly?

There is no way in heaven I’m gonna walk around with a ugly colorless store branded re-usable shopping bag over my arm. I have to draw the line somewhere and that is it. No way am I going to pair my beautiful shoes, vintage purse and designer outfit with a faded green looking canvas bag, even if it is just from the store out to the car and then in side to the kitchen. Gosh darn, doesn’t someone have to stop and say enough!

So girls, I’ve given this a lot of thought, and here is my green but still very fashionable opinion: Go out and get yourself a beautiful beach bag or two or three. Beach bags can be for towels, books, ipods, books, lotion, valuables, and yes even groceries. If you don’t care for colorful beach bags, get a few fine looking leather book bags.

Choose carefully and keep in mind they will have to go well with any outfit you happen to be wearing when you wander into the store. The ideal bags should be big, and heavy duty, with thick fabric and well sewn seams. Throw those beautiful bags in the back seat of your car and the next time you have to shop, you can do it in style and still living a green lifestyle!

Chris Jensen is a contributing Author of Jetfly Blog. For more related articles and reviews visit Jetfly Fashion & Style Blog now. Also, for the Best up-to-date related Online Products, check out Jetfly Women’s Beach Bags Shop for Todays Current Online Deals.

One of the important factors of a fashion magazine is that it helps to determine why certain materials are used for certain styles. You will find that two or more materials are used at times in styling an outfit. A wise designer planning an outfit for herself will not be inclined towards a material simply because she likes the texture and the fall of the material. This is where fashion magazines help you to select the right kind of material for the design of your choice.

While designing a garment, certain materials are used for certain sections of the garment and not simply whatever may catch your fancy. For example crepes are manufactured to be used for clinging styles and not fluffed up designs. Materials such as taffetas, organdies and crisp batistes are used in suit styles where fluffs are involved, as against the crepes, which are used for the clinging styles. A very important point to be observed is that fabrics are designed to suit styles and styles to suit fabrics.

Color Suggestions

Studying individual designs helps in making the right selection of pattern and material. Then comes the choice of color to be adapted to the lines of the garment and the fabric used. The end result will be a pleasing and appealing garment.

A factor to be considered, though, when choosing colors, is that the color portrayed in the fashion plates will not be an absolute replica of the color produced by the textile manufacturer. Neither would a true outline of the garment as it will appear with fabric, be presented in the magazine by fashion designers.

However, it is possible to get suggestions from the color plates shown in fashion magazines, once you have understood about lines. Keeping this knowledge on lines in mind, you will be able to give prominence to a color that will most effectively bring out the garment. You will be able to bring out the soft, silent tones or tints of a color where desired, while you choose a fabric that will best bring out the lines suggested by the designer in a fashion drawing.

Interpreting Fashions

In the market, you will find a number of fashion magazines that suggest only style tendencies, color and fabric combinations. Such magazines will still be of value, if you have studied patterns and lines. It will help you with ideas and suggestions to incorporate in your garments.

In most cases, you would be able to apply these ideas even more successfully than the artist himself in his drawings. You would be able to bring out the practicability of the garment by adapting it to the material to give a harmonious outline to suit you.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about magazines and comics. When looking for magazines and comics, we recommend you shop only at the best magazine and comic stores for fashion magazines, used fashion magazines, and comics.

To Shakespeare’s age-old question, “what’s in a name?” I would answer with one word: Prada. For example, even though Prada goods are definitely made with quality materials, consumers usually buy Prada items for their reputation more than their style. Gucci products are the same way. After all, Prada has been one of the biggest names in the fashion industry for several years now and their products have become symbols of wealth and status in many societies.

An authentic pair of Prada sunglasses will probably cost about $300 dollars, but there are plenty of imitation brands on the market with the same look about them that are much more affordable. For some reason, a lot of people really want genuine Prada products though. If you fall into this category, you can buy directly from Prada retailers or ask stores for certificates of authenticity.

Whether you choose to buy imitation or authentic products, the most important factor to consider is the kind of protection they give your eyes. If possible, buy glasses with one hundred percent protection against UV rays. And, if you spend a lot of time exposed to the glare off of water and snow, polarized lenses would probably be a good idea too. For people with extremely light-sensitive eyes, wide frames and large lenses can help block out additional light as well.

In addition to the status symbol and the protection that sunglasses provide, many people pay close attention to their style. For example, Prada accessories and clothes are known for having a Bohemian flavor to them. The shape of the lenses, the color of the shades, and the size can depend on anything from personal preferences, individual face-shape, a person’s wardrobe, and how the glasses will be used. For example, yellow shades are better for dawn and dusk sports like fishing because they augment available sunlight while darker colors would probably be a better choice for skiers and snowboarders.

Another thing to keep in mind when you buy a pair of sunglasses is comfort. When you try them on, check to make sure that they don’t slide around on your nose when you move your head and that they don’t lift up and down every time you smile. If the glasses are too tight, it can be even more annoying than being too loose though because consistent pressure on your temples and the bridge of your nose can cause headaches.

Sometime, you won’t have the opportunity to try glasses on in person. For example, if you buy a pair online, you won’t be able to see how they fit until they arrive. With this in mind, make sure that the online stores you use have a good return policy and that they offer competitive prices to make the risk worth the investment.

Sunglasses Only (http://www.sunglassesonly.com/store/prada-sunglasses/) is both a walk-in and online store. Their products are authentic and they are very mindful of customer needs. At their website you can find everything from Gucci to Prada sunglasses. The author, Art Gib, is a freelance writer.

Since the 1960′s, the fashion world has taken a stand on numerous social causes. The antiwar movements and women’s rights are just a couple of the areas in which the fashion world has made strong statements. More recently, fashion has taken to assisting and speaking for individual charitable causes and in some cases, it has been questioned just whose best interests are involved.

A prime example of this has been the partnership between Gucci, Prada and Armani and UNICEF; the United Nations Childrens Fund. The reasons and motivation behind this particular collaboration have been questioned by some international groups and, perhaps most telling for the United Nations, by the very front line workers who would receive the proceeds.

Senior staff members of UNICEF have strongly stated their displeasure with the charity’s close ties with the world of glamour and celebrity, saying it is both demeaning to the work that the UN is doing as well as having a strong smell of hypocrisy about it.

UNICEF staff in Pakistan and India have spoken against the alleged working practices of the French conglomerate PPR (formerly Pinault-Printemps-Redoute), the owners of Gucci and whose Asian suppliers have, for a number of years, been linked to sweatshops in Mumbai and Karachi.

One long term employee of UNICEF has stated that, for him, this partnership with Gucci has been the final straw and that the feeling among workers is nearly unanimous that the UNICEF name is being hurt by this undertaking.

Another problem arises with the close ties between celebrities and nearly every major humanitarian disaster. Putting up with the star and his or her entourage is bad enough, but the connection in the public’s eyes between celebrity and disaster relief cheapens and degrades the entire effort, claim the front line ground workers.

According to some, the current desire of fashion companies to align themselves with charities may have more to do with covering numerous sins than to strike a chord in people’s conscience. These critics say that many firms are just looking for a cause to jump on and that associating with a good cause will provide an enormous bump for sales.

To be fair, the fact that the fashion industry in general and specific companies in particular benefit from alliances with international charities is only to be expected but the key will come down to the perception of the public and the workers involved.

If both the company and the charity gain by such an effort; fine. It is only when the goals of the charity are seen to be compromised and the message diluted that both partners should be looking long and hard at exactly why they are collaborating in this venture.

The Teacher (aka John Pawlak) has been involved in education for over 25 years. He has developed a series of fashion websites which include:
Coach handbags, footwear and accessories.
The Fashion Universe.
Timepiece Collections.