Halloween can be an excellent time for many different beauty professionals. It’s one of the holidays that people are willing to go all-out for in order to make their costumes as true as possible. Here are some careers that can lend a hand, just like Casper the Friendly Ghost.

The makeup industry will certainly be in demand for Halloween in order to point people in the direction of the best Halloween makeup. From the glam to the glitter to the gore, a makeup artist can help transform a person into their costume for the night.

Hair salons also may see a spike in appointments on Halloween, as the perfect hairdo is a must for many costumes. Last year, my friend (who does not have bangs) went as Sarah Palin and didn’t want to change her hair for just one night. So, she found a salon to give her just the right look that helped put the finishing touches on her costume.

Wardrobe stylists can come in handy to find just the right items for your costume of choice. Even if you don’t know what you want to be, a wardrobe stylist can help pick out pieces from your existing wardrobe to match your interests and make you the perfect Halloween costume!!

Nail technicians may be up to their ears in orange and black nail polish. They may even paint on different holiday designs, like a witch or pumpkin, onto nails. The possibilities here are definitely open for a nail technician to be creative.

Those are just some of the parts of the beauty industry that can spook you up during Halloween. It’s the perfect holiday to use your creativity and talent on anyone! Happy Beauty Halloween, everyone!!

-Amanda Fornecker

Have you ever been to a student beauty salon? If not, you should definitely consider it, especially if you’re looking to save a few bucks during the recession. Student salons have become increasingly popular during this time and you’re definitely in good hands, despite what you may think.

In fact, student salons have experienced supervisors on hand to watch over and answer any questions students may have. And though it may take a bit of extra time, it’s totally worth it. You wouldn’t want someone rushing through a beauty service you’re paying for no matter how skilled they are.

Another advantage of a student salon is the great specials they have throughout different times of the year. For different services that suit you best, you may find great deals from students who really care about what they are doing. And you’ll be helping them out by giving them the opportunity to have more experience.

I recently talked to some individuals from Empire Beauty Schools and you can certainly see the increases occurring in the beauty industry throughout this recessionary period. For an interesting inside look into the beauty industry, click over to Recession Boosts Biz for Beauty Schools.

-Amanda Fornecker

October is breast cancer awareness month. And as the daughter of someone who has recovered from the disease (thank goodness!), I love to hear all the great efforts of those who try to eradicate this disease from the radar. And the beauty industry is just one of the many that are getting involved.

Companies like Bare Escentuals, DuWop, Decleor, Shiseido, and others will be donating part of their proceeds from particularly designated products purchased by consumers to Cancer and Careers, a resource for working women with cancer. This is great news for the organization that was founded in 2001 that helps women who have been diagnosed with cancer to deal with how to tell their places of employment and what to expect.

Additionally, the State College of Beauty Culture (Wausau, WI) plans to hold its annual Cuts for Cancer fundraiser to donate money to local charities. Pink merchandise will be sold by the faculty and students of the beauty school and a cut-a-thon on October 29 will bring clients, who have at least 10 inches of hair to donate to Locks for Love, for free cuts and styles.

It’s so nice to see the beauty industry coming together to do something for a good cause. Keep up the amazing work!!

-Amanda Fornecker

Routines. They are very much a part of our everyday lives. From brushing your teeth to cooking a meal to even going to bed at night, there are certain things that you just do every day. A few weeks ago, I proposed a little riddle to all my estheticians out there. Today, I sit here and write to you about my very own solution. I had been having serious issues with my face again – the worst it had been in about four years. But I’m no longer a teen so I was extremely frustrated. Here, I learned a little something about routines and why you should (or shouldn’t) stick to them.

A long time ago, when I first encountered my first real pimple, I started using a well-known product called Proactiv. It worked great for a while. And then one day it stopped working. I can’t even tell you why this is. I tried many things and finally found that products with high contents of benzoyl peroxide worked best for me. I switched that routine up after years of having it work because I wanted to try new products. And for some reason I refused to acknowledge this change as my problem.

It has now been a few weeks and my face (although not perfect) has gotten so much better. My lesson here has been to continue on a routine that has proven successful over time. It is also great to have the occasional esthetician or dermatologist weigh in on your face from time to time. They have professional experience and training that can help you along the right path.

I know it’s not much but I think it’s very important to stick with what works for you. Everyone is different so what works for me may not work for you. But once you find the right solution, you’ll feel so much better!

-Amanda Fornecker