A few months ago, I noticed a different smell in the water every time I turned on the tap. I finally realized that chlorine had been introduced into the water as the main cleanser. It seemed very strange to me that such a harsh chemical would be used in water, but I didn’t really give it another thought. Then I read that the Paul Mitchell Schools are teaming up with LifeSource Water Filter Systems in an effort to minimize the damaging effects of such a change.

According to a press release last week, Paul Mitchell Schools says that chlorinated water makes it difficult to color hair, damages skin, and even speeds up the aging process. Who wants that?!

Paul Mitchell will now use the filter systems, beginning in two of their campuses, in an effort to reduce the amount of chlorinated water they use. This change comes after Paul DeJoria, founder of Paul Mitchell Schools, realized the benefits of using the water filter system in his schools – he had been using LifeSource in his house for 18 years now. It only made sense to transition the switch to his business for a more effective education for his beauty students and better salon treatments. Now, Paul Mitchell Schools students will reap the benefits and see great results in all their hard work.

And this is not the first beauty school that decided to do this. In 2006, Federico Beauty College began the same initiative.

-Amanda Fornecker

If this story isn’t motivation to go get a wardrobe styling degree, then I don’t know what is. It’s summer so we know what that means: Jersey Shore is about to come back and fill a void in our gym, tanning, and laundry-deprived lives. And what better time for JWoww, 23, to come out with her very own clothing line: Filthy Couture. I wish I was kidding…

According to the Daily Mail, JWoww decided she wanted to start her own clothing line to cater to a certain group of people. That is clearly evident when you view the collection of risque pieces. “I don’t want to sell to the masses,” she said. “I want to sell to just people that like my stuff.” Isn’t that how most designers work? They design with a specific person in mind that will like their style and then put out their collection. Not everyone will like it, but that is something they know going into this business. And the name? Well it comes from JWoww and her cast mates referring to techno songs they like as “filthy beats.” Groundbreaking. The name of the collection makes me think that she’s masking a smelly line and pretending it’s fancy.

To add insult to injury, I attempted to watch Jersey Couture on Oxygen this weekend. That was a huge mistake. I couldn’t sit through a whole episode. The sisters seem pretty clueless when it comes to fashion and especially business. Then you have their mother who wanders around the store the whole time screaming – that’s just the volume at which she speaks. In fact, the son is the only sane one it would seem. And he was designing t-shirts that had nothing to do with the merchandise they sold in their store. As he picked up the phone to help a customer, the mother (and owner of the store) was talking so loudly – he couldn’t hear the customer. How unprofessional.

It’s stories like these that should motivate us to do a better job. As a wardrobe stylist you can actually use your creativity and love of fashion in an enjoyable career. With your experience in school and in internships you can actually be a respectable wardrobe stylist who works their way up over time.

Leave the craziness to reality television that is sometimes entertaining and research a degree today!

-Amanda Fornecker

Photo: MTV.com

The Bellus Academy of Beauty & Spa recently hosted an evening in San Diego to honor those who have been working hard to further the beauty industry. By providing mentoring and externship programs, these businesses and campaigns work tirelessly to give the community a further knowledge of beauty careers and the beauty industry. And they have even pledged scholarship money to help those looking to get into a beauty career.

“These beauty industry leaders have inspired so many others with their knowledge and generosity by taking students under their wing and serving as mentors,” said Lynelle Lynch, President of Bellus Academy. ”By nurturing the future of the beauty industry and sharing their passion for their jobs with the community, it has helped us take another step further in changing the perception of beauty as a fallback career. Beauty industry professionals are just that – professional, while also being creative, business-minded and in love with what they do.”

Businesses and campaigns were given the special award at a ceremony on June 9, 2010. Some of these honorees included the Hard Rock Hotel, the Travis Parker Salon in La Jolla, The Loft in Escondido, The Doves in Santa Monica, and Salon Radius in Del Mar. Through campaigns, such as We Love Our Jobs, those in the beauty industry have been able to give more than $1 million in scholarships to deserving and aspiring beauty students. This just shows us that there are lots of opportunities in fields that we love. And the beauty industry is just one more.

-Amanda Fornecker

This story proves that it’s never too late to go back to school – and enjoy it! Ann Dauk is an 85-year-old beautician who decided to go back to school after being in a salon for almost 70 years. At the age of 17, Dauk began styling in a hair salon at a time when cosmetology schools and degrees were not as popular as they are today. She recently told a Minnesota news station that she decided to get with the times and officially obtain her re-certification.

Dauk learns not only from the instructors at her Mankato cosmetology school, but also from the other students. In fact, Dauk is able to influence the students around her, as well. She’s one of the most outgoing and excited students at the school and seems to be enjoying every minute of it.

The point of this is that it really is never too late to go back. No matter what you’re interests or experience, you can always go to school to pursue your dreams. Sometimes it’s after the kids have grown up and grandkids are on the way. Other times it’s solely to go after a goal. And then there are times when you’ve been in an industry so long, you want to brush up on the latest skills out there.

No matter what your dream, you can always have the option to go back to school. You just need to do the research first. Get started today on a career path that will help you fulfill your goals.

Check out this link for more on Dauk’s story.

-Amanda Fornecker