Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The Albas Honor Us Yet Again!

We're so thrilled to have made a wonderful discovery!

In People Magazine's August 30,2010 issue, they featured a 25-page feature on Hollywood's cutest babies. Actress Jessica Alba's little fashionista Honor Marie was chosen as the "Best Dressed" baby and we noticed that in one of her photos, she was wearing our Parker clippy in Shocking Pink!

Check out the topmost photo!




And here's the lovely mom and daughter on the cover:


The No Slippy Parker clip is a rhinestone glitz organza baby bow available in 6 colors. Here it is in Shocking Pink :)


We are so grateful for all the moms, not just celebrity moms, who continue to trust No Slippy Hair Clippy to be a part of their girls' lives! Thank you so much! Such warm, continuous support inspires us to keep getting better.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Hair Discipline 101 Part 1

Back-to-school season is here! Moms, are you ready? It’s back to crazy morning routines, hectic school activities and tons of homework and projects. And right in the middle of this storm is you!

When you get stressed out, so do your tresses. So before your hair starts throwing tantrums and turns frizzy, unruly, and unmanageable, here are a few tips that may calm down your unruly mane.

Issue #1 Frizzy Hair

As with any battle, if you must know your enemy. Then you can figure what tactics to use for the defeat. This battle with frizz will end in your favor if you understand what you are up against! When the outer layer of your hair (cuticle layer) opens and moisture gets in, your hair swells up. This is when frizz happens. It is oftentimes because of the layers of your hair get pushed in unnatural directions due to weather or poor hair care.

Solution: Before heading out, keep your hair hydrated by using a leave-in conditioner. Avoid heat-styling because high temperatures zap your hair of any moisture it has. If you really must heat-style, then keep flatiron and blow-dryer use to every two days.

Issue #2 Unruly Hair

The key is to work with your hair—not against it. Especially with curly hair, which tends to be a little more challenging to tame.

Solution: To help all the hair to move in the same way, use a flexible-hold gel and twist in the direction of the curls. Make sure your hair stays hydrated. Going for regular deep-conditioning treatments will also do wonders for your hair. On particularly humid days, keep your hands off your hair because less touching means more chances of your curls staying in place.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

No Slippy Hair Clippy in "Grown Ups"!

What a lovely surprise to see our No Slippy Hair Clippy Sage clip in the movie "Grown Ups"! It was worn by actress Joyce Van Patten!


The movie stars top comics Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider. You can see the photo of Joyce van Patten wearing our Sage clip here at IMDB! See, No Slippy Hair Clippy looks just as adorable on grown ups too!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Got Gray?



What do you do at the first sign of gray hair? Do you accept it, hide it? No matter how you look at gray hair, it’s something we’ll all eventually have to face, no matter how young we are at heart! Here are some helpful tips from Marie Claire:

Caring for Gray Hair
Gray hair is gorgeous, pure refinement. But make sure you prevent it from yellowing! Preserve the subtle balance between salt and pepper by using iridescent shampoos and products.

For women who find that their gray hair tends to be wiry, dry, and brittle, the good news is that it can retain softness and manageability if you give it the right care. Hair experts recommend moisturizing, clarifying shampoos and conditioners, some of which are formulated for gray hair.

Go for regular deep conditioning treatments at your salon to keep hair healthy and moisturized. Scalp massage can also help stimulate hair follicles and increase blood flow to the scalp.

Lastly, don’t pluck! As tempting as it is to pull out that one gray strand that’s sticking out stubbornly, if you pluck hair, you run the risk of disrupting the hair cycle. This means you can lose that strand of hair for good!

Concealing Gray Hair
If you wish to hide the grays, you can go for tone-on-tone coloring. This adds subtleties to your color and makes the grays fade into the rest of your hair. If you have over 50% of gray hair, you can go for oxidation coloring. It is best to choose a color that is one or two shades lighter than your natural one.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Flattering Date-Night Hairstyles for Every Age

Every now and then, we ladies need to take our mommy hats off and enjoy romantic date nights with our partners too! Of course it’s a must that we look our best, so de-stress those tresses and update your hairstyle with these fine suggestions from RealBeauty.com:

If you’re in your 20s…

Tousled Curls
Go glam with bouncy curls like Blake Lively. Wrap 1-inch sections of hair around a large-barreled curling iron, making sure to alternate directions with each piece. Spray with a flexible-hold hairspray to set the style.


If you’re in your 30s…

Sleek Blow-out
To get Amy Adams's straight and sleek style, use the nozzle attachment on your blow-dryer and a big, round brush. Keep the nozzle pointed downward to eliminate frizz. For extra volume, pull the brush and dryer higher toward the ceiling, and roll the brush through your hair a few times. Finish it off with a few drops of hair serum.



If you’re in your 40s…

Super Shiny Waves
To get gleaming strands like Julia Roberts, try an at-home gloss the night before your big date. This non-chemical treatment enhances your hair color and adds shine without weight or greasiness. If it's her waves you want, use a 1 1/2-inch curling iron to create loose spirals.



If you’re in your 50s…

Angled Bangs
Long, side-swept bangs are sexy because they obscure one eye, plus they flatter every face shape and soften your features. Need further convincing? Just check them out on the ageless Madonna.



Of course, the easiest solution to any hair issues are fashionable hair accessories! You can simply dress your hair with a cute flower clip or headband, like the ones we’ve created at No Slippy Hair Clippy. Enjoy your date night out in style!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

New 'Thank You' Notes!

We always delight in receiving personal 'Thank You' notes from parents who loved our No Slippy Hair Clippy hair accessories. So we are thrilled that we received two new ones!

In June, journalist and author Laura Ling received a BabyMakes3 basket from BopStar Baby's Mary Leonore, which includes No Slippy hair clips and this was what she wrote:


Dear Mary Leonore,

It was such a nice surprise to receive the beautiful assortment of baby goodies. Thank you for thinking of us!

Each of the items you've put together is incredibly useful. Not to mention fun!

Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated.

With warm regards,
Laura, Iain and baby Li

In July, CBS-TV's "The Early Show" correspondent Maggie Rodriguez also received a BabyMakes3 basket from BopStar Baby with No Slippy hair clips and wrote:

Dear Mary,

Thank you very much for the "Bopstar Baby" basket you sent for my family. It was a beautiful surprise. I've had a chance to use some of the products and they're absolutely wonderful. My five-year-old daughter wants to wear her "baby Legs" every second of the day. I just can't get her to take them off! I know they will be quite useful for my son as well, when he starts to crawl. The "No Slippy Hair Clippy" products are beautiful. I'm so glad I discovered them as I intend to continue using them. The "Boo-Boo Beankies" are great. What a genius idea!

Thanks again for your thoughtfulness.

Sincerely,
Maggie Rodriguez
CBS

We simply cannot thank you enough, ladies! We are very happy that you liked the products. Getting great feedback like these inspires us to keep getting better :)

Please feel free to write us your feedback on our hair accessories as well! We look forward to getting to know more about our market and finding out new ways to wow you and your little ones.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Beautiful Updos for Busy Moms

Are you too busy to think about your hair? With the hectic schedules we lead, especially this back-to-school season, we sometimes limit the choices of our hair styles. We either pull it up, or wear it down, and nothing in between. Since it’s No Slippy’s mission to make the world prettier one girl at a time, we thought this week was perfect timing to share some hair tips that might inspire you to try a new hairstyle!

What we’re seeing is a lot of cool up-dos that are easy to do, and can take you from day-time chic to classy evening attire quite effortlessly. Looking fabulous all day and night, what a concept!

Braid ‘Em Up
Braids are all the rage everywhere, even celebrities and runway models are showing up in braids. And they can’t be any easier! Just braid your hair as you normally would, but for a stylish twist, braid slightly to the side so you can wear the braid out over your shoulder and then secure it with a pretty bow for an ultra feminine look.


Go Messy
This is your go-to hairdo for “no-time, stressed out” days because the messier it is, the better! Simply gather your hair loosely at the back of your neck with an elastic band or bobby pins. You can leave pieces out at front to frame your face.



You’ve Been Framed
If your hair is not long enough for an up-do, do some face-framing tricks. Pin your hair back at the nape of your neck with bobby pins. Keep it secure by arranging the bobby pins in an “X” fashion. This will make a low ponytail minus the elastic band. Then gently take away one side of your hair’s front section. Flat-iron that section so it dramatically frames your face. It may not stay up as long as the other up-dos, but it’s a high-fashion look that requires low effort.



Accessorize!
Almost any hair woe can be fixed with fashionable hair accessories. The simple addition of a headband to a low bun instantly adds character to the hairstyle. Try one of our No Slippy® clips or headbands! They’re sure to give extra pizzazz to any hairstyle!


Half and Half
If you have extra-thick hair, a half-up ‘do is a great choice. This will take a little more time, but the results are worth it! Apply a golf-ball-size amount of mousse on your hair and then blow-dry it until about 75% dry. Backcomb the hair at the crown of your head. Using a round brush, dry your hair the rest of the way through. Pin up the front section of your hair with bobby pins and then curl the ends.



Lopsided Bun
Here’s a fun twist to your good old bun. Pile your hair high, but instead of securing it with an elastic band, split the ponytail into two parts. Twist each part into the base of the ponytail and then secure.


These are all ideas that might give some flair back to your hair. Try one and see, you just never know until you try!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

We're in the Top 50 Hair Blogs!



We are very pleased to be included in the Top 50 Hair Style Blogs compiled by Spa Beauty Schools!

With the desire to give readers their best-tressed in blogs around, Spa Beauty Schools made a rundown of what they consider as the top 50 hair blogs! Here's what they said about No Slippy Hair Clippy:

No Slippy Hair Clippy
Dedicated to "making the world prettier, one girl at a time," the makers of the No Slippy Hair Clippy started this blog to give some ideas about snazzing up a hairstyle with pretty accessories.

Hairriffic because: There's nothing cuter on a little girl than a pretty bow or hair clip, and you'll definitely find some cute ones here.

You can find the rest of the list here!

Our lovely model is wearing No Slippy Hair Clippy's Emily Bow.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Helping Kids Appreciate What They Have

Did you know that on average, kids are exposed to 360, 000 ads by the time they graduate from high school? Yikes!

It’s no wonder they are always under tremendous pressure and influence to get their hands on all the newest fashion staples: the most stylish clothes, the hippest shoes, the trendiest hair accessories. In turn, parents feel the tremendous pressure to buy those things for them!

As most parents know all too well, sometimes it’s easier to just give in to what our children want than have to battle with them why they can’t have what they want. Yet on the other side, we also know that getting our children everything they want is not a good idea either. It's our job to help them understand why that's so.

The key is to help them appreciate what they already have… sounds so simple, but it’s no way simple when kids are directly targeted daily by media, even toddlers!

Try your best to make them understand how fortunate they are on a global level. Show them examples in your own community of people who may not be as fortunate as they are. If there are opportunities in your community for them to participate in programs to help the homeless, by serving meals for example, encourage them to join. Nothing beats a first-hand experience. Your kids will come back with a better idea of how less fortunate people live.

Such experiences will not only help them appreciate what they have, but it will help foster in them a sense of social responsibility. It will be very beneficial to them and to the world around them if they can begin learning at an early age to appreciate what they have and to share when they can, and give back.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Teaching Your Kids about Savings

Young children don’t usually grasp the general concept of money until somewhere between the age of 3 and 4. So they expect to get whatever captures their fancy and expect you to get it for them, like picking fruit from a tree. It’s there, and I want it, so pick it for me mom!

But you can begin teaching your kids early on the value of a dollar and the importance of saving money. According to WC Randall of Edward Jones Investment, take your next bank visit as an opportunity to teach them the concepts of a bank and what you are doing with your money. Make things simple. Take the following short explanation as an example:

The nice people that you are giving the money to are called “tellers.” Then when you give the money, tell them that this is called a “deposit.” The money you are depositing to the teller is placed in a “checking account” or a “savings account” to keep it safe. This is so that mommy doesn’t have to carry a lot of money with her all the time.

Explain to them that the money that stays in the savings account earns interest and becomes more money. Mommy’s plan for how to save and spend that money is called a “budget.” Tell them that if you follow this budget, you can be sure that there is enough money for you to use on things you need to buy and pay for. If you save more, it means you can possibly afford more in the future, like splurging a little on your budding fashionista’s No Slippy Hair Clippy collection!

It might not be easy for kids to grasp right away, but it will be helpful for them to become familiar with the words that are commonly used:

Deposit- to put money into an account
Withdrawal - to take money out of an account
Teller - the person who takes deposits and withdrawals
Savings Account - an account where money is left to accumulate interest and grow
Interest - the money earned by the money in a savings account
Checking Account - an account where money is deposited and that checks draw from
Budget - a plan for saving and spending money

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Celebrating 1000 Fans! Plus a Discount Code

In celebration of No Slippy Hair Clippy's 1000 fans on Facebook, we have decided to give away a $25 gift certificate on purchases made at www.hairclippy.com!

We posted the giveaway on our Facebook Fan Page and invited all our fans to join simply by commenting on our post! Overnight, we received 33 fantastic comments and with the help of a True Random Number Generator chose one lucky winner:


Comment #27 belongs to Maryann Spindler Eden! Congratulations and we hope you and your little one enjoy all the No Slippy Hair Clippy hair accessories!


To all our fans, whether in Facebook or not, we cannot thank you enough for the continued support! You can look forward to more fun styles and exciting giveaways soon!

Currently on-going is our 30% off on EVERYTHING on our website! Simply use this code during checkout: nshc810. Expires August 11, 2010 at midnight!

Have fun shopping and enjoy our hair accessories for all the ages and stages of your girls :)

Monday, August 9, 2010

Explaining Money Matters to Your Kids

It’s a fact: we’re living in challenging times. But while we are struggling with our personal financial budget deficit, we can learn from it too. As parents, our natural instincts tell us to try to deal with it alone, and not involve our family, but as we try to shield our kids from it, they can easily see through our façade, and see what’s happening, at least our frustration.

Nobody is immune to the hardships of raising a family, and the financial stress that has been more apparent the past few years.

So this week, I wanted to give some helpful hints on how to have a talk about money matters with our kids, and about my recent experience with regards to money and budgets and my son Austin.

Though it’s difficult at times, it’s also a good reason to begin the conversation with our kids, even if when they are young. Children between ages 3 & 4 may be too young to understand entire concepts, but they can grasp general concepts, like buying something with money.

This weekend I went shopping for back-to-school clothes with my 16-year-old son Austin. (Now I do admit that boys are much easier on the pocketbook and less costly than teenage girls, so I’m feeling a bit fortunate about that!) My shopping experience with him was insightful and positive, and I wanted to share it:

I gave Austin a budget for our shopping event, and that was all I could spend. I wanted him to try to make conscious decisions, and make sure each purchase was what he needed, not necessarily what he wanted. So before we went off to Kohl’s Saturday, I asked him, what did he need most? He told me pants, shorts and some socks, and a jacket. I knew right away the jacket would put us over budget because he likes expensive brands for jackets, and besides, we live in California, and don’t need a jacket right now. So with that said, he agreed to put off purchasing a jacket for winter until September sometime. I was amazed that we came $9 under budget! He got exactly what he wanted, felt good about it, and we didn’t over spend.

Funny, he wouldn’t show me his jeans and shorts when he was trying them on, just that they all “fit” and not until we got home, did he model ALL his clothes! So that’s a 16-year-old's way of saying, I love my clothes! He also said thank you as we left the store, and I could tell he was very pleased. So I was pleased that he stuck to the budget, didn’t give me a hard time about buying more clothes (the “I want” list) and was satisfied with what he got.

How are money-related decisions made?
A chorus of “But Mooooom, all my friends have it!” should make it obvious to you that children want things and they want them now. It’s the instant gratification generation, and all that marketing via TV, Web, etc… makes it even harder for them to understand “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” like that Rolling Stones' song! It’s best to explain to your kids the difference between wants and needs and let them know that right now, the money you have is only for necessities. This sounds easy, but it’s not. My kids have finally gotten to the age where they do understand it better, but getting them there took a lot of patience.

Is the family on a budget?
You need to make it clear that your financial situation differs from that of other families, and that they should not compare. They may see friends who always have the latest gadgets and gizmos, and wonder why they cannot have the same. Let them know that at this time, your family is on a budget and money must be spent wisely for things the family needs, not what the family wants.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Finding Me Time

Most moms will tell you that there simply isn’t enough time for some “me” time. As a mom, you might even feel guilty to crave for time for yourself. But you don’t have to! We need to take care of ourselves so that we can better care for our family. This isn’t the concept most of us have adopted, and certainly the one that doesn’t come naturally for many of us, myself included. Yet to stop and smell the roses once in a while really does make a difference. It can be as easy as refreshing ourselves, like having a facial or pedicure.

One easy way to pamper yourself is to give yourself an instant makeover. Bring out your favorite dress and pair of shoes, spritz on some perfume, style your hair with your favorite hair accessories (hopefully they’re No Slippy Hair Clippy®!) and for a few minutes, just sit back, relax and do nothing! (Is that even possible?!) Maybe take 5 minutes to take a walk outside and just breathe in some fresh air…it’s only 5 minutes, but that 5 minutes can make all the difference.

Here are some more suggestions from Parents Connect:

Take some time out for yourself at least once a month. Just once in a long month, leave your little one to grandma or to a dozen other relatives who think you have the cutest baby on earth. Or make a deal with your husband—once a month, one takes the baby out for the evening while the other will relish having the house to himself/herself.

Turn your bathroom into a spa. Enjoy a long bath. Invest in some expensive salt, oil, or bubble bath, light some aromatic candles and play relaxing music. Nothing beats a relaxing, warm soak.

Splurge on some inexpensive indulgence. Body lotion that’s worth $20 may be too much, but at the end of the day, it's still just $20. And you totally deserve it! You’ll be surprised how special one little purchase can make you feel.

Make it all about you and make it a habit. It’s not being selfish to take a break every now and then. Your body needs it! Besides, your little tot is going to grow up real fast and you will need strength for the years to come. Replenish yourself whenever you get a chance!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Balance Your Life

Parenting is probably one of the toughest jobs in the world. But even though the challenges seem to call for superhuman powers, you are not super woman. Believe it or not, it’s okay to take a break and ask for help every now and then!

This week, we’re offering some tips on how to take care of yourself. After all, you want to feel your best to be able to give your family the best. So when you are beginning to feel like you’re the poster child for stress, give yourself an instant style boost by clipping on a cute flower! It’s amazing how a flower in the hair can brighten up your day!

No Slippy® offers many style options that perfectly complement busy lifestyles. Our hair accessories are guaranteed non-slip, so once you put them on, you never have to worry about your hair, or if your clip is going to stay in. Why not vacuum in style, or grocery shop! You can even match your little girl, and do a Mommy and Me style while out and about!

Here are some more tips from Parents Connect to get some balance in your life:

You can't solve every problem. Your life spins out of balance when you spend too much time trying to fix unfixable problems. When you inevitably fail to fix the unfixable, you get even more frustrated and try harder to keep things from going off track. It is important to realize when some problems are simply unsolvable. Know what you can change, and what you cannot. It’s easier said than done, but it does help with the stress.

Go with the flow. When you emotionally resist life’s ups and downs, you can end up blaming yourself over circumstances you cannot control. So next time you're stuck in traffic, or the dishes are piled a mile high in the sink, or the kids decide to choir their tantrums in unison, tell yourself, “This all will pass” and take three deep breaths, and exhale out slowly. It won’t magically make things better, but it will help put yourself in a calmer place.

Play some music. Numerous studies have suggested that music does wonders for stimulating the human brain. Listening to music or singing a song activates the right and left sides of your brain and helps you feel less stressed.

Work out. Getting active might be the least of our priorities when we are stressed out, but it really does work wonders! It also uses both sides of your brain, so when you exercise, you’re actually making yourself stronger both physically and mentally. Even a short walk with the stroller, and putting yourself in a different place or different surroundings can be helpful.

It’s going to be okay. The truth is, we can't control everything, and maybe that’s a good thing! The ups and downs are all part of life. We need to trust letting go of the things we cannot change or do anything about. Sometimes, it’s breaking it down into smaller focused goals, one task at a time, one day at a time, one minute at a time, that can ease those overwhelmed feelings.

Monday, August 2, 2010

No Slippy Hair Clippy Salutes Army Moms

Motherhood is already one tough challenge to tackle.

With the pressures of everyday living, making sure your little one is getting the best care possible, and juggling all the tasks of being a mom, it’s no wonder we sometimes feel like throwing in the towel! Add this to the challenges of military life and it can be doubly overwhelming.

To honor these military mothers and families, and to show appreciation for the sacrifices that they make for our country, we have joined in the biggest baby shower ever—the Stork Strasse, the US Army baby shower for moms stationed in the US Army Garrison Wiesaden in Dexheim, Germany!

To be held this August 5, 2010, this baby shower gathers together top baby brands from America and Canada to shower these new moms and their families with awesome gifts to celebrate the arrival of their new bundles of joy.

No Slippy Hair Clippy has donated its award-winning non-slip hair accessories for the new moms, to enjoy with their baby girls and big sisters.

The giant baby shower will reach wives from multiple bases across Germany. It was set up because civilian support is often overlooked for troops and families deployed overseas.

With Stork Strasse, we hope to change that and to make sure our military families are not left out, and know we are truly grateful for their service.