I didn’t think a reality television show could get more entertaining than our beloved Jersey Shore and the craziness that is Snooki, but alas, there is a rival. And while it may not be the most original of ideas to bash the same state and its inhabitants over and over again, I still find myself mesmerized by Jerseylicious (the title alone speaks volumes). This Style Network show follows the hair stylists and makeup artists of a New Jersey salon. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I actually know the types of people portrayed on this show or if it’s actually hysterical, but just like a typical train wreck of a reality show, I can’t look away.

On last night’s episode of Jerseylicious, the Gatsby Salon was buzzing over the possibility of being featured in a New Jersey magazine. A “secret shopper” type of customer would be from the magazine and size up the salon for their professionalism and overall success as an upscale salon. Of course the customer that was the mystery writer turned out to be the one that was around for a crazy time in the salon. And Gatsby has been named a finalist.

What reality television show would be complete without drama? This episode’s drama included a fight that ensued between a hair stylist (Tracy) and an aspiring makeup artist (Olivia). It was Tracy’s birthday and she was having a safari-themed party at her apartment. She decided to invite the entire Gatsby staff – except for Olivia. To retaliate, Olivia decided to throw her own jungle-themed party at the same time as Tracy’s. You can only imagine the drama, which involved a screaming match in the parking lot and a lot of smack-talking.

The lines that came out of their mouths were pretty hysterical. Some of these included:

“She likes to copy everything of mine: my hair, my nails, and even my cell phone covers. She’s like a Chinatown knockoff.” – Tracy in reference to Olivia
“It was like the Civil War. I felt like the Mason-Dixon line!” – Anthony (the only male hair stylist on the show) in reference to his meddling between Tracy and Olivia

The worst character was Alexa, the head makeup artist. She refers to herself as a “Glam Fairy” who trains others to get their wings. It was like she was living in lala land, but was actually really mean to everyone. I think that it’s good for makeup artists and hair stylists to come up with a philosophy to live by in order to beautify others, but Alexa used bad puns and references constantly throughout the show. And she’s not a nice person either.

Oh, and I forgot to mention the stereotypes portrayed in the show. Of course we have the big hair, crazy nails, fake tans, and crazy outfits. And let’s not forget about the accents (although I have been made fun of a time or two for my New York accent). If you haven’t seen Jerseylicious yet, the picture you have in your mind is probably correct. Check it out yourself for a fun salon experience and some mindless entertainment!

-Amanda Fornecker

As much as we love school here at SpaBeautySchools.com, we totally sympathize with every student who has their stressful moments. That’s where a massage therapist comes in. And if you’re studying to be a massage therapist, then you’ll know just the right place to visit when it comes time for your very own massage.

When I think of a spa school I immediately associate it with massage, even though there is such a wide variety of spa schools out there. And there are even more specific specialties, which is great for those who want to branch out. Some of these include hot stone massage, acupressure, and chair massage. You may even become involved with working on a cruise line and choosing between western and eastern massage.

Massage therapy is a helping profession for sure. And there are so many education options within this spa career. You can earn an associate or bachelor’s degree and then specialize with a certification. You can also attend a spa school and pursue your education even further. The options are endless and with more education you’re sure to have even more opportunities for massage therapy jobs (and even higher salaries). In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the field of massage therapy will grow by 19 percent through the year 2018. That’s certainly faster than the average. In May 2008, it was estimated that the highest 10 percent of massage therapist earned more than $33.47.

So what are you waiting for? Go get a massage to ease your stress or tension from school or work and consider the career of a massage therapist. You may be next…

Research a career today!

-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

I finally watched Jessica Simpson’s The Price of Beauty and I must say that I actually enjoyed it. Jessica is trying to educate America on the different ways of life that exist throughout the world. And in the meantime she gets to travel to some fabulous destinations!

This week, Jessica traveled to one of the fashion capitals of the world – Paris. Here, she focused on models and the runway. Throughout the show there are various facts popping up on the screen that give you statistics and little bits of information that the audience has probably never realized before. One such fact included: fashion models are thinner than 98% of women. That is completely crazy. We always knew models were stereotypically thin and tall, but that is quite a statistic.

During the episode, Jessica spoke with a fashion model who faced the horrors of anorexia. She was so thin and sickly that it was sad to see. And the point of this was certainly to educate viewers on the realities of the dangers of the life of a fashion model. It’s intense and sometimes very dangerous.

It was great to see Jessica feeling rather comfortable (and at times vulnerable) in her own skin. It was interesting to have her walk the runway, yet be so nervous. You’d think that a pop singer superstar wouldn’t get the nerves Jessica faced when walking the runway. But we could see that she is just like a typical young woman who can easily be intimidated in an unfamiliar situation.

I think the main takeaway from the show is that beauty exists in many shapes, sizes, and colors. But true beauty is being able to be comfortable and happy with yourself. The true price of the elusive term “beauty” can have serious consequences when we let others define it for us. Skinny doesn’t have to be beautiful – and in the case of that French fashion model, it was certainly out of control.

I really enjoyed Jessica’s show. I think it shows us a side of other cultures that we might not normally see, even if we visited the country. I intend to continue watching, as Jessica seemed less ditzy (than how she has been portrayed in the past) and more endearing. In the coming weeks, I hope to see the many ways beauty is defined and what the true price of that may be.

-Amanda Fornecker