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Long Lasting Looks

Long Lasting Looks

by | Nov 13, 2017 | November 2017, Polish, Stuff

Permanent makeup can be convenient—or a disaster. Do your homework.

These days, anyone with an Ebay or Amazon account can order a permanent makeup kit. That begs the question, how do you know if going under the needle for fuller eyebrows or a more pigmented pout is safe and won’t leave you disfigured or diseased? In the same spirit as with traditional tattooing, be smart and do your research.

The State of North Carolina requires cosmeticians doing permanent makeup and paramedical or artistic tattooists to be permitted. The permits certify that practitioners have completed health-related training and the permit’s guidelines mandate proper sterilization and waste disposal techniques and ban the reuse of needles. Tattoo and permanent makeup artists undergo annual OSHA health and safety training to make sure they’re fully in compliance with standard practices to avoid spreading blood-borne pathogens.

So, while the permit covers your health and safety bases, it doesn’t account for experience. The needle may be clean, but is it going in the right place? Is it even the right kind of needle? And what about ink coloration?

The permits cover a lot but they can’t cover everything.

Marnie Settle, unfortunately, learned this the hard way. When Settle wanted her eyebrows filled out, the most common permanent makeup application, she did what most people do—she Googled it. It wasn’t until after the fact that she realized she should have done more research.

“I went to a Raleigh provider, who is now out of business, and she didn’t measure my brows for shape and accuracy of length,” says Settle. “They turned out crooked and one was longer than the other and had a higher arch. In essence, I had two brows that didn’t match.”

Settle’s artist used a rotary machine, which caused scarring on both brows, and the pigment she used not only faded but migrated past the actual tattoo area.

“Some pigments can migrate, or leak, past the area of the procedure, making it look streaky or blurry,” said Stacey Heffner, a licensed cosmetician and the owner of Raleigh salon Fabulously Flawless. “The types of pigments used can make a huge difference in the end result and longevity of your permanent makeup.”

Heffner admits that, unfortunately, she has to do a lot of correction work for clients of people who aren’t properly trained or certified.

“The state does not require permanent cosmetic providers to hold any specific certifications to perform permanent cosmetics,” says Heffner. “Anyone can do it anywhere, without passing a test to prove they possess the abilities to perform these procedures and have artistic capabilities. So there are a lot of people doing it with no real training.”

In other words, you don’t have to prove that you’re skilled to acquire a permit. You also don’t need a permit to tattoo yourself, a loophole the lucrative online tattoo kit sales industry has embraced. Anyone can buy a machine online and give their face a permanent makeover.

“Many people wanting to do an at-home procedure are most likely not trained and may cause serious damage or incur infections,” says Heffner. “The tools may not be high-quality and they can penetrate the skin too deeply, causing scarring. Without people knowing about the types of pigments in these kits, they can also cause skin damage, depending on the ingredients. They can cause allergies, swelling, color migration, and infections. Knowing how to choose the correct color pigment is a whole other issue.”

According to Heffner, you can’t just pick a color that matches your hair. You also have to take your skin tone and skin type into consideration. Additionally, measuring the area to be tattooed isn’t as simple as looking in the mirror and drawing a line—think of all of those old-school hair highlighting kits with the skull cap. It always looks easier on the box.

In the end, Settle went to see Heffner at Fabulously Flawless to get her botched brow job fixed and now she is very happy with the end result. Settle says she would recommend the procedure to to others on one condition: Do your homework beforehand.

Here, we share Heffner’s advice for anyone who may be in the market for permanent makeup.

Know Before You Go

Certifications, Training, and Experience

Make sure technicians have a current, state-issued tattooing permit. Make sure they’ve received extensive training from a certifying institution that includes hands-on training with an instructor and that they’re not just a practitioner who has undergone an “apprenticeship.” Never let a “student” work on you.

All Permanent Cosmetic Professionals must have certification that they’ve completed their annual training for the OSHA Blood-borne Pathogens Standard Practices.

Precision and Artistry

A good permanent cosmetic artist should take measurements for particular procedures. They should show you the measurements and draw on the proposed shape before they begin, so the two of you can agree on the look and shape. They should offer you their artistic guidance.

The Best Tools

Make sure they use the highest quality color pigments for all of their procedures. Confirm they have a clean, sterile, well-maintained pigment delivery system. You do NOT want an artist who is using a rotary system. These are typically used in tattoo parlors, not for permanent cosmetics.

Before and After Photos

Ask to see photos of past clients so you can get an idea of their style, technique and overall ability. A good artist should have lots of pictures of each type of procedure on offer.

Check Reviews

It is also a good idea to read online reviews and check ratings for various permanent cosmetic providers; ask for client references too.

Pricing

You should never let price be the determining factor when it comes to permanent cosmetics. Low prices or promotions that seem too good to be true often speak to a technician’s lack of experience. The end result may not be what you wanted, or worse, you may need to find a qualified professional to fix mistakes that are made by a novice, which in the end will cost you more money.

Correction Policies

Ask what their correction policies are. If you receive a service and you’re unhappy with the results, you will want to know what their commitment to you is to correct it.

Set Up a Consultation

Schedule a consultation! Good communication between you and the artist is important, so you need to feel comfortable with the person you choose.

Rucking Around

Rucking Around

by | Oct 16, 2017 | Do, October 2017

Rucksack – from German dialect, Rucken (back) + Sack (sack)

Rucking is simply walking while wearing a backpack. You can run with the backpack, squat with the backpack, do pushups with it, but regardless, you’re still rucking. We asked Danny Stokes, founder of the Capital Ruck Tour, for more information on this fitness trend and his upcoming event.

For those unfamiliar with rucking, how would you explain it?

In the U.S. Army, Soldiers refer to a backpack as a rucksack, and in order to be prepared for the missions that require carrying a heavy rucksack for long distances, soldiers will train by doing a ruck march. In Army lingo, the “doing a ruck march” shortened to simply going for a ‘ruck.’ This term has spread to the non-military population, as companies like GORUCK lead ruck challenge events.

There are varying levels of intensity and difficulty involved with rucking. It can be carrying a 10-pound rucksack of groceries a few blocks home from the store to carrying a 45-pound ruck for over 24 hours, with no sleep, covering up to 40 miles while performing fitness tasks along the way, as with the GORUCK Heavy Challenge.

The events I’m leading this year for the Capital Ruck Tour (CRT) are on the easier side of the spectrum, where participants usually carry a light ruck of 15-20 pounds. Rucking helps develop strong shoulders, your back and trunk and leg strength. It’s also a rewarding social activity, as people tend to socialize and build fellowship

Why would I want to go rucking?

People ruck for physical fitness, or to prepare for endeavors that require carrying a load for a long distance, such as a backpacking trip. People ruck to relieve stress, decompress or as a means of transportation while carrying their necessities with them. Rucking is basically the same as hiking, although hiking indicates trails and wilderness, and some people hike without a backpack. Rucking also occurs on trails and off-road, but the majority happens in urban or city environments, on sidewalks and pavement. Rucking is usually not associated with racing, although GORUCK did a race series recently.

Do I need special equipment or can I just throw a few bricks into a backpack?

No special equipment is required. A backpack with any contents will suffice. Bricks work, although I’d wrap them in duct tape or pad them inside your rucksack.

Tell me about the Capital Ruck Tour.

The Capital Ruck Tour began in February this year and will end this November and stops at all 50 state capital cities, plus four other locations. Each ruck event begins in the early evening, usually a short distance outside the city, and covers a route of 15-20 miles, culminating at the city’s Capitol building normally around midnight. The purpose is two-fold: to bring people together while conducting an outdoor physical activity and to raise money for Operation Enduring Warrior (OEW).

How many participants do you expect in Raleigh?

Currently there are 30 people registered for Raleigh, however I expect that number to increase to approximately 100 participants.

Tell me a little bit about where the donated money is going.

Participants pay $30, half of which is donated to OEW, a veteran services organization. OEW is an all-volunteer, veteran-run, non-profit organization with the mission to honor, empower and motivate our nation’s wounded military veterans through a program of mental and physical rehabilitation. I am a team athlete with OEW and strongly believe that the organization is helping overcome the veteran suicide epidemic.

Haunted Hair

Haunted Hair

by | Oct 2, 2017 | October 2017, Polish, Stuff

Christoper Nieto of Nieto Photography

Hair should be fun. It should be an extension of who you are – your personality, your style, your sense of whimsy, or lack thereof. So why should Halloween be any different?

On a holiday surrounded by wacky outfits, hidden identities and a mix of scary monsters and fairy princesses, Halloween is our chance to physically take a chance, morphing ourselves into something creative and daring.

Gone are the days when your only options were rubber masks and itchy clown wigs. No longer are you stuck with something around your scalp smelling of acrid plastic, making you sweat off your makeup before your evening has even started. Welcome to “Halloween hair.”

All around the Triangle people are booking appointments at salons or with local stylists to match their hair to their costumes, from wild mermaid tresses and massive pink unicorn braids to decade hair – the wild manes of the 80s and the sleek pin curls and victory rolls of the 60s.

“I have gotten to add greasy green extensions that I made by cutting up a pretty terrible Joker wig to a Heath Ledger Joker costume,” said Kristi Martinson, co-owner of WINK Hair and Makeup. “It’s interesting because I have to blend the extensions in with very short male hair. It can be challenging, but the challenge makes it so much more exciting.”

Halloween hair appointments are on the rise, especially those involving curls, braids and anything to do with Game of Thrones. Who doesn’t want to look like Daenerys Targaryen these days?

Depending on your budget and the amount of time you are willing to sit in the salon chair, options are endless. Extensions, for example, are a lot more involved than glam waves or braids, but can make an impact on your costume.

“We use extensions and temporary color upon request,” said Martinson. “We have put flowers, feathers, tiaras and some interesting forms to add some structure. I once used a red solo cup covered in a taupe sock to help build a Cindy Lou Who do.”

Creativity and lack of fear are key when going all in with your costume hair, though remember that Halloween is one day of the year and avoid anything too permanent, especially color. A little red added to mermaid tresses, some black or white in a ghostly halo, or a multi-colored braid demonstrating the peace, love and harmony of the 1970s can go a long way, but just be careful of how you achieve that look.

“I would say if you want to try a crazy color for the holidays, ask your stylist about getting Peek-a-Boo color or a spot-light color,” said Naomi Chriscoe of Sky Parlor Salon. “It’s subtle and easy to cover with the rest of your hair, but super fun. Whatever you do, don’t permanently color your hair! It will not be cheap to fix your permanent holiday mistakes. Try a cheap wig off eBay if you must DIY a fun color, or try using hair chalk.”

While salon appointments are on the rise, it is not impossible to get a Halloween look on your own. We asked the experts and their advice was simple – practice! The more you play around with your hair, the better you will get at styling it. Ballerina buns, genie ponytails and Greek goddess updos are all manageable on your own. And if you are really talented, you might even be able to pull off an Audrey Hepburn twist.

“And don’t be afraid to backcomb,” said Martinson. “Just make sure you condition your hair before washing it so you don’t do too much damage or hurt yourself trying to brush it out.”

So whether you make an appointment with a stylist or brave your own hairbrush this Halloween, have fun with it. The crazier, the better.

“You can only find so many up-styles in wigs at the store, and having plastic hair on your head will be heavy and itchy, said Chriscoe. “Talking to your hair stylist about your ideas to see what suits you best is the wisest option. Of course, if you want all-over neon green hair for the holidays, it would probably be best to buy a wig.”

“When it came time for me to transform into Heath Ledger’s version of The Joker, I could think of only one person to pull it off, Kristi with WINK. I have short brown hair, the Joker has long yellowish green hair. She took hours to dissect a store bought Joker wig and actually make it into clip in extensions! She then painted my hair greenish with some spray and began to clip in the extensions to create the look from The Dark Knight. As you can see from the photos, she nailed it.”

— Joe Bunn, Owner/DJ, Bunn DJ Company

Changing Lives

Changing Lives

by | Sep 15, 2017 | Do, September 2017

Looking down over the edge of the Wells Fargo Capitol Center, it’s easy to get a little nervous­— especially if you are in a harness preparing to rappel off the side. The breeze kisses your face, the rope rests firmly in your grasp, and in 30 stories, your feet eventually plant firmly on the ground. You have conquered the challenge, and maybe in turn have come to understand a small portion of what it’s like for others who face daily challenges in their lives.

On September 30, participants will rappel off of the Wells Fargo Capitol Center in a fundraiser for Special Olympics North Carolina, providing continuing opportunities for adults and children with intellectual disabilities. The event, Over the Edge, has more than doubled in turnout since its inception eight years ago.

“It’s our most unique event,” said Leslie Moyar, Director of Development for NC Law Enforcement Torch Run. “Our goal is to have 200 people go over the edge. Some people have a lot of experience; some have never touched a harness.”

For those who have never touched a harness, or may see the task at hand daunting, there is now a way to get familiar with rappelling.

When Joel Graybeal heard that former East Cary Middle School’s principal, Dr. Kerry Chisnall, wished he had a place to practice for his rappel in 2012, a lightbulb went off in his head. Why not run a training event at Triangle Rock Club? It seemed like the perfect fit.

Triangle Rock Club (TRC) is an indoor mountain climber’s dream. Colorful handles of different sizes line the walls, covered in powder from previous ascents. Ropes dangle over blue padded floors. And, in the back room, a belay ledge allows for rappel practice.

“We simulate a shorter version of the rappel with the same equipment,” says Graybeal, Managing Partner at TRC. “We have an opportunity to use our facility in creative ways to help others.”

With no other easy way for Over the Edge participants to get accustomed to the equipment, Graybeal shows pride in coaching everyone through the process, though the extent of the coaching varies from participant to participant. “We’ve never not succeeded in getting someone to participate,” he adds.

With approximately 160,000 visitors to Triangle Rock Club’s Wake County facilities, the Triangle boasts a large climbing community. Along with helping Over the Edge, TRC has also raised more than $130,000 for the Durham Ronald McDonald House through climb-a-thons.

“We want to use our facility to change people’s lives,” he says. “You’ll notice not one person in here is wearing headphones. We want to create an environment that is interactive, supportive and engaging.”

This same attitude is also exhibited through Special Olympics NC. Athletes are never asked to pay a fee to participate in Special Olympics programming, so athletes have access for free, allowing them to show their skills, develop friendships and experience joy through sport.

“Fundraising events like Over the Edge are very important because they allow us to continue using the power of sports to transform the lives of people with intellectual disabilities,” says Moyar.

It Takes a Village

Over the Edge does not happen without the support of the community. The Wells Fargo Capitol Center provides the use of its building for three days, from set up through the event day. WRAL sends a team member over the edge, promoting coverage of the event. This year spectators can watch meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth tackle the rappel. And Café Carolina runs a cookie donation drive prior to the event, raising anywhere between $20,000 to $27,000 during the six-week promotion in its stores. They also play host to spectators and participants, feeding staff and providing water. You can visit sonc.net for a full list of sponsors.

Things to Know

Where: Wells Fargo Capitol Center, 150 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh

When: September 30, 2017

How to participate: Raise $1,000 for SONC

Fun fact: You can rappel in pairs! Ropes are side by side, so conquer this challenge with a friend!

Dinner No Dishes

Dinner No Dishes

by | Jul 31, 2017 | Eat, July 2017 / August 2017

Please your party crowd with a food truck

When my husband requested that our favorite food truck cater his 40th birthday party, I was intrigued, but skeptical. We’ve catered parties before and I’m not the housewife who insists on making everything from scratch, showing off my culinary prowess to friends and family. But we’ve never had a giant truck park in our driveway.

It turns out that my husband had the right idea.

Barone Meatball Company rambled into our driveway, started its meal prep, and by 6 p.m., had the windows open ready to serve. With a party of approximately 100 people, I was grateful to have the crowd outside (instead of gathered around my kitchen island) while also giving them something fun to experience.

“We’ve noticed a general trend toward food truck catering in the past few years, which is growing exponentially,” says Ross Resnick, CEO and founder of Roaming Hunger, the leading provider of turn-key food truck catering.

Food trucks are taking a huge bite out of the $12 billion catering industry, especially now that they have become more available and mainstream.

“It was consumer demand that brought food trucks into the catering space. Anything from birthday parties to large corporate events, food trucks became in-demand at consumer locations,” says Resnick.

It is this demand that food trucks need to keep business going.

“When you park in the street you know there are people there, but you don’t know if they’ll come to the truck,” says Stephen Dewey, owner of Barone Meatball Company. “You know how much business you are going to do coming into it, rather than hoping for business. It’s easier to be prepared.”

When Dewey first began the business, he would book five to 10 private events per year but is now doing two to three a month. And he’s not alone.

“There are so many trucks now that I’ve never even seen, I’ve only just heard about,” he says. “The more trucks that are out there, the more people know about us. I don’t think we’ve hit that saturation point, though.” Dewey, once a Sous Chef at Bella Monica Italian Restaurant, says that while one day he hopes to have a brick and mortar location, he never wants to give up the truck. “It’s my favorite thing to see people who travel and follow [us]”.

With new companies like Roaming Hunger, it is now easier than ever to pluck a truck off of the street and park it in your front yard. Basically, you are bringing a portable commercial kitchen to your door with nothing to clean up afterwards.

“Food trucks provide a laid back, social environment that gets people out of their chairs,” says Resnick. Food trucks often became a key ingredient of the experience at an event. Essentially, food trucks bring a fun environment and delicious food to locations that traditional caterers are ill-equipped to handle.”