Life has been very exciting and a dream come true for Ted Gibson. He gets to do something he loves every day and inspires many throughout the country. And now he can do this even more regularly. This celebrity hair stylist and salon guru has not only became the resident expert on everyone’s TLC favorite “What Not to Wear,” but also just recently partnered with the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) in their Beauty Changes Lives campaign.

Through Beauty Changes Lives, people can become educated on what a beauty career really means and how they might fit into that kind of world. It’s through having people like Gibson in support of his very own chosen career, that others may become inspired to do the same.

Gibson began speaking at conferences for AACS just last year but has since become a main face for the organization. In a recent press release, he said the following about his passion and work with the AACS: “My career in the beauty industry has allowed me to blend both my creative and entrepreneurial drives. The career has truly provided life changing opportunities and I feel both humbled and privileged to be part of this effort to raise awareness of beauty careers.”

Gibson has worked with the likes of Anne Hathaway, Demi Moore, Diane Sawyer, Jessica Alba, and more. His work has also appeared in countless magazines, including Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Cosmo. He also has two very successful salons; one in New York City and one in Washington, D.C. For more information on his latest job, check out BeautyChangesLives.org.

-Amanda Fornecker

Photo: Gibson with Lynelle Lynch, president of AACS

One of the most difficult parts of school, in my opinion, is choosing the right one. Once you’ve picked your school, you just need to go the distance to make the grades and be successful. Here, I’ve picked out some articles that may help you in your quest for choosing just the right school.

How to Choose a Beauty School
Beauty school includes a wide scope of professions. So with a few interviews from those who have been there, done that, and made it to the top, you’ll find sound advice that you may find helpful as you search for and make the big beauty school decision. Preparation, personality traits, and curriculum expectations are just some of the great things you can read about and learn more about here.

How to Choose a Cosmetology School
Cosmetology is a more specific category of beauty. Cosmetology school is where your beauty career begins but it can be overwhelming picking the right one. Here, we guide you along the path to looking at reputation, programs, quality, and skill sets. Once you’re in, you’ll be able to explore cosmetology careers and pick just the right specialty for you.

How to Choose an Esthetician School
Esthetics is an even more specialized field of the beauty industry. It deals with skin care and makeup application. Choosing an esthetician school involves licensing options, esthetician school visits, and talking to those who have already walked in your eager shoes.

Picking the right school, no matter what your specialty, involves taking care, research, and time. But with the right information you can choose the right beauty school for you and start out on a successful career path.

-Amanda Fornecker

I have naturally oily hair. That means that I can wash my hair in the morning and by the end of the day it will look completely terrible. Hair is actually great at absorbing oil so the longer it takes you to wash your hair, the greasier it will look. It’s just a known fact.

That helpful little tidbit has come in handy. Matter of Trust, a non-profit organization, has teamed up with cosmetology schools and salons throughout the country to collect hair clippings in order to help soak up the oil from oil spills. In particular, there is a great demand at the moment due to the big BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. What they do is have cosmetology schools and salons send in their clippings (all different hair types are accepted) and they make them into mats or stuff nylons to make booms. These are then used at the site of an oil spill to help the oil spill cleanup efforts. How cool is that?

And you may think you may not be able to make a difference, but every little bit helps. Just going in for your regular haircut (which is usually done every six to eight weeks), you generate a lot of hair clippings that will contribute to having enough hair to make a mat. Matter of Trust even accepts dog hair and fur from pet salons. And though we may really want to donate to Locks of Love, we aren’t always cutting at least 10 inches off our hair each time we go to the salon. The program through Matter of Trust is just another way to make a difference. Inquire at your salon to see if they participate in this great effort.

For more information on Matter of Trust and what they do, check out this YouTube video.

-Amanda Fornecker

Spring has certainly sprung across many states throughout the country, which brings a longing to get out of the house more and show off some of your latest fashions and beauty treatments. Here, Gina Pieper of Empire Beauty Schools, has just the kind of professional Spring tips to take advantage of the hottest trends and get heads turning!

What are some spring makeup trends that you suggest trying this season?
Spring time is the season to try new things – specifically pastel colors are a huge trend this spring. You can’t go wrong with the intense pastel eye shadow colors – like MAKE UP FOR EVER Diamond Pink, Diamond Turquoise or Diamond Purple. I recommend stopping in at your favorite make up counter and trying out a pastel shade you have never tried before that goes with your skin tone and see what you think. In addition, pastel colored manicures are going to be everywhere, especially lilacs and creamy minty greens!

Is there a particular look or product you’d suggest trying for lips?
A perfect sheer, barely there lipstick that pairs well with pastel colors is Viva Las Vegas by NARS – it’s one of my favorites! It complements all skin tones and lends a great finish to the lips.

What is a must-have makeup item for spring?
If I had to pick one thing for you to try for this spring, it would be HD Powder. I like HD Microfinish Powder by MAKE UP FOR EVER and E.L.F Cosmetics also makes a great new HD Powder. HD Powder completely evens out your complexion for a drop dead gorgeous, flawless finish. It works on all skin tones to help hide any imperfections and gives a soft-focus look.

What are two spring hair trends you suggest trying?
If you are looking for a different style this spring, I recommend trying the beachy wave. For this look, curl your entire head of hair in spiral curls that are loose on the top and loose on the ends. For some pieces, don’t curl the ends in order to get that fun, messy, beachy look! Another easy spring hair trend to try is adding a flower above your ear or even above a side ponytail in the back. When wearing a side ponytail, it should be sassy, so make sure it has a lot of texture. You can curl it and even backcomb it to add body and place at the nape of the neck for a flirty look.

As a hairstylist, what are your thoughts on getting hair extensions for the season?
This spring hair extensions are definitely in, but if you’ve been watching TV recently, (I won’t name any names) there are some pretty fake looking extension applications! I really like the look of Fusion extensions. I recommend getting human hair so you can style it with your flat iron or curling iron. I recently had some extensions glued in and they looked great, but they only lasted about a week until they started to feel uncomfortable. When spending money on human hair extensions, don’t try to glue them in at home because it can result in breakage, and just look really BAD! If you are looking for a good deal, check out a reputable beauty school near you, Empire Beauty School has 100 different locations, and the students are very talented!

-Empire Beauty Schools