According to articles on MedicineNet and related health sites, apples offer numerous health benefits due to their richness in fiber (especially pectin), antioxidants, and polyphenols such as quercetin. 

Key health benefits highlighted in 2024 and earlier articles include:

• Heart Health: The soluble fiber (pectin) and antioxidants in apples help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Blood Sugar Management & Diabetes Risk Reduction: Apples have a low glycemic index, and their fiber and polyphenols slow down glucose absorption, which helps stabilize blood sugar levels and is associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• Gut Health: Pectin acts as a prebiotic, feeding beneficial gut bacteria, which promotes a healthy gut microbiome and may protect against chronic diseases.
• Weight Management: Apples are high in water and fiber, making them filling and low in calories, which helps promote fullness and reduces overall calorie intake, aiding in weight loss efforts.
• Reduced Cancer Risk: Antioxidants in apples may help prevent certain types of cancer, including lung, breast, and digestive tract cancers, by keeping cancerous cells from multiplying.
• Anti-inflammatory Effects: Apples contain anti-inflammatory substances, such as quercetin, which help reduce chronic inflammation in the body and may protect against conditions like asthma.
• Brain Health: The quercetin in apples may help protect the brain from damage caused by oxidative stress and has shown potential protective properties against neurodegenerative diseases in animal studies. 

For maximum benefits, it is recommended to eat the whole apple with the peel on, as the peel contains a significant amount of the beneficial fiber and antioxidants. Health experts suggest eating one to two apples per day as part of a balanced diet. 

MEASLES: What Salon and Spa Professionals Should Know

As a salon or spa professional, you work closely with clients every day, creating a safe and welcoming environment. But did you know that a single case of a highly contagious disease—like measles—can spread rapidly in settings where people are in close contact? At the Salon and Spa Professional Association (SSPA), we are committed to keeping you informed about emerging health issues that can affect your workplace. Understanding measles and other communicable diseases not only protects your clients, it safeguards your team, your business, and the broader community. Staying informed and proactive strengthens both our industry and the trust clients place in us.

Current Health Information

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that spreads easily through airborne droplets or direct contact with respiratory secretions. Although the disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, outbreaks continue to appear, largely among unvaccinated individuals and travelers returning from abroad. Awareness and vaccination remain essential tools to prevent the spread of this illness.

Minnesota experienced a significant measles outbreak in 2024, with a total of seventy confirmed cases statewide. The outbreak primarily affected unvaccinated individuals, especially children aged one to nineteen years. Most cases occurred in Hennepin County, which accounted for 88 percent of the total, and twelve individuals were hospitalized during the outbreak. The outbreak was notably concentrated within the Somali community, prompting increased public health efforts, including vaccination campaigns and community outreach. As of October 1, 2025, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has confirmed eighteen measles cases statewide. These recent cases are linked to both domestic and international travel, and all affected individuals were unvaccinated.

My Favorite Go-To Product: Leave-In Conditioner

I’ve been a big believer in leave-in conditioners for over 40 years, and for good reason—they truly make a difference in the health and manageability of hair. Unlike heavy creams or rinse-out conditioners, leave-ins are lighter in weight, don’t cause buildup, and can be used on both wet and dry hair.

What sets them apart is their staying power. Leave-in conditioners continually hydrate long after application, offering benefits that regular conditioners can’t. They detangle, prevent breakage, improve elasticity, nourish, protect against color fading, control frizz, guard against heat, add shine, and make hair easier to style.

HAIR DYE ON EYEBROWS OR LASHES: YES OR NO?

The short Answer: No — Using scalp hair dye on eyebrows or lashes is not recommended and can be dangerous. 

Why You Should Avoid Using Hair Dye on Eyebrows? While some people try using hair dye on their eyebrows, it's important to know that hair dyes are not formulated for use near the eyes. The skin around the eyes is extremely thin and sensitive, and the eyes themselves are highly vulnerable to irritation or chemical injury.

Finance 101 for Creatives: A Quick Guide

Finance can feel intimidating for anyone, but it’s often especially overwhelming for creatives. I’ve seen it firsthand with friends, clients, and family members who followed their passion for beauty only to find themselves suddenly drowning in the business side of things.

If that sounds familiar, here are a few foundational finance tips to help you get started:

1. Create a Budget

Want a head start? Send me an email for a budget template!
Understanding your fixed and discretionary expenses is essential. You need to know exactly what it takes to stay afloat. Your business can’t grow if you’re constantly stressed about paying bills, taking care of yourself (and your family), or enjoying life.

Sunscreen for Hair and Scalp 

We always emphasize the importance of sunscreen for our face and body, but did you know your hair and scalp need protection too?

The scalp is skin, like any other part of the body; it’s vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancer. Around 10% of melanomas occur on the scalp. As we age and hair begins to thin, the scalp becomes even more exposed, often directly facing the sun's rays.

But your scalp is not the only one at risk. Sun exposure can damage your hair by breaking down its proteins, leading to dryness, brittleness, and color fading, whether your hair is natural or color-treated.

What can you do?

Spring 2025 Color Trends & Their Impact on the Beauty Industry

As the seasons change, so do the trends in beauty and fashion. Spring 2025 brings a vibrant and versatile color palette that offers endless opportunities for industry professionals. From hairstylists to estheticians, these trends can inspire new services, marketing strategies, and retail opportunities. Understanding how these colors influence beauty and personal style is essential for staying ahead in the industry. Here’s a look at the top color trends for Spring 2025 and how professionals in the hair and beauty industry can incorporate them into their work.

Spring 2025 Color Trends

1. Mocha Mousse / Chocolate Brown – The neutral of the season, offering a rich and versatile base that pairs well with a variety of shades. Perfect for classic hair colors, rich brunette tones, and warm makeup looks.
2. Wispy Pink / Tea Rose – A soft, delicate shade ideal for pastel hair tones, soft blush makeup, and subtle highlights.
3. Moody Plum / Eggplant Purple / Maroon – A deep, rich hue that exudes sophistication, making it a perfect choice for bold hair color transformations or dramatic makeup.
4. Crisp Blue / Icy Blue – A fresh and timeless shade, excellent for cool-toned hair colors, eye makeup, and fashion-forward nail designs.
5. Clementine / Marigold – Vibrant and energetic, this zesty citrus shade can inspire warm, golden balayage or sunset-hued makeup trends.
6. Butter Yellow – A soft pastel alternative to white, offering a subtle way to brighten up hair color, fashion styling, and nail aesthetics.
7. 24K Gold – A deeper, more radiant yellow that can be incorporated into golden blonde hair colors, shimmery makeup, and eye-catching nail art.
8. Siren Red / Cardinal Red – Bold, fiery hues that make a statement in hair, lipstick, and nail polish trends.
9. Periwinkle – A universally flattering shade that balances cool and warm tones, making it a standout choice for vibrant hair colors and bold eye makeup.
10. Frog Green / Minty Green – A fresh, grassy hue that adds a pop of color to creative hair dyes, fashion-forward accessories, and playful makeup looks.
11. Cream – A timeless staple in fashion and beauty, providing an elegant base for hair color, wardrobe styling, and classic makeup applications.

 Incorporating Color Trends into the Beauty Industry

Top 5 Causes of Dry, Dehydrated Skin – And How to Treat It

Dry, dehydrated skin can feel uncomfortable and look dull, often leading to flaking, redness, and premature aging. While some dryness is temporary, chronic dehydration can make skin more prone to irritation, fine lines, and uneven texture. Understanding the key causes of dryness is essential for restoring your skin’s health and maintaining a radiant glow

1.   Harsh or Inappropriate Cleansers

One of the most common reasons for dry skin is the use of harsh or inappropriate cleansers. Many skincare products contain sulfates, alcohol, or strong exfoliating agents that strip the skin’s natural moisture barrier. This leads to a tight, uncomfortable feeling and increases the skin’s vulnerability to external irritants. To prevent this, choosing a gentle, hydrating cleanser like a Milk Cleanser or a Gentle Sensitive Cleanser is crucial. Washing your face with warm (not hot) water can also help preserve essential oils, ensuring that your skin stays balanced and nourished.

2. Cold Weather & Low Humidity

Top 3 Reasons Why Health Insurance is an Absolute Must

We take our health for granted until something goes wrong. Medical expenses can be staggering, and the last thing you want during an illness or injury is the additional strain of financial hardship. Here are the top 3 reasons why everyone needs health insurance:

1. Protection From Catastrophic Costs

Unexpected medical emergencies happen. Accidents, serious illnesses, and hospitalizations come with enormous bills. Health insurance acts as your financial safety net against these staggering costs. It helps you manage expenses and reduce your out-of-pocket payments, so you don't have to deplete your savings or go into debt over medical care.

2. Access to Preventive Care

SUMMER FOOT CARE

Now that it's summer and your client’s feet have emerged from winter hibernation here are some tips for summer foot care.

Professional Pedicures are designed to give basic care to your feet and toes. Each step of a pedicure is designed to help keep our feet healthy. Here are just a few of the important steps to a professional pedicure.

IT'S ALL IN THE NAME

Someone told me that we should change the title of advanced practice esthetician to “Master Esthetician”. I wondered why master? The answer is, we would follow the terms used by colleges across the country for those who have completed a master's program. Because several other states use the term Master such as Washington State, Utah, and Virginia, that brought up another question what makes the name those states chose right? If we follow terms used at the college level, would our basic esthetics 600-hour certific progam be a Bachelor of Science in esthetics and the next level would be Master Esthetician? Interesting!

Then I thought, do people really believe they are master estheticians? I don’t think we ever master esthetics and I also believe Minnesota chose the correct name for our profession. Yes, Advanced Practice Esthetician fits our profession perfectly because we continually learn, grow, and practice. We do this by attending continuing education classes, workshops, events, reading articles, doing research and sharing our knowledge with others.

Look around! Our product lines change, formulas change, and there are new emerging ingredients. Equipment has changed and will continue to change. Just look at the technology behind the equipment we are using today. Machines that exfoliate and deliver specialized ingredients to the skin by using water, or our LED and Microneedling equipment which has grown and improved over the years.

As estheticians, we consistently practice by working with clients, working with new products and ingredients, bringing in new equipment, working with new procedures, and sharing knowledge. If we stop growing, learning, sharing, and practicing it’s time to get out of the business. I am proud of this profession and proud to call myself an Advanced Practice Esthetician. How about You?

It’s that time of the year! 

Open Enrollment for health insurance in Minnesota is November 1 - December 15th for health insurance coverage effective January 1, 2024. MNSure has an extended enrollment from December 15 - January 15th for coverage effective February 1, 2024

Anderson Benefit Partners can help you find out if you qualify for assistance, explore your options, and enroll! We are
MNSure certified and works with over 250 individuals and families to obtain their coverage through MNSure.

Important to note, you don’t pay any more (or less) when you work with us! Our job is to help you understand your options and make the right insurance choice for 2024. This is also a great time to explore your dental, vision, and life insurance needs.

Walz signs off on legislation prohibiting employers from entering into non-compete agreements with employees or independent contractors

Minnesota is banning employment non-compete agreements and restricting provisions that require non-Minnesota laws or venues for disputes.

The law will become effective on July 1, 2023, and will apply to agreements entered into on or after that date. Minnesota’s changes follow many other states that have statutorily limited restrictive covenants but are separate from the FTC’s proposed (and still pending) ban. 

Why Do We Need Health Insurance?

Why do we need health insurance?  Statistically speaking, less than half of Americans have $1000 ready in the event of an unexpected illness or injury.  The role of health insurance in today’s environment is partially to provide financial protection in the event that an individual has a major health event.  In this scenario, the insurance plan pays 100% of the charges after the individual’s out-of-pocket limit.

The other, less mentioned reason for maintaining coverage is to ‘Access’ care.  If an individual is uninsured, it may be nearly impossible to schedule an appointment to treat an illness or injury for non-emergency care.  Insurance is the guarantee of payment for the care providers.  When we shop for your plan, we discuss the providers you use or would like to use and propose options that fit that need.

In addition, health plan shopping is only available during open enrollment (November and December) or with a qualifying life event - like losing other coverage.  It’s important to know that when enrolling with a qualifying event, we have a limited time to report the event and make a plan selection.

Hey there friends at the Salon Spa Association, Mike at Anderson Benefit Partners here. I wanted to put together a message for you that speaks to the end of the COVID public health emergency.

As you may or may not know, that formally ends as of May 11th. And in Minnesota Minnesota has started the unwinding process of the guaranteed public programs that have been in play since April of 2020.

So beginning in April, communication will be sent out for medical assistance renewals. Renew in July and then every month you know, May would target August, and so on and so forth. If you are one of the 1.5 million people in Minnesota that are currently enrolled in a public program, action will be required to renew your coverage.  Medical assistance will renew the month it was approved and Minnesota care will renew at the end of this year during our regular open enrollment period for January 1st. https://mn.gov/dhs/renewmycoverage/

Are YOU ready for EARTH DAY?

Did you know?   Senator Gaylord Nelson, the junior senator from Wisconsin, had long been concerned about the deteriorating environment in the United States.  Then in January 1969, he and many others witnessed the ravages of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Earth Day 1970 would come to provide a voice to this emerging environmental consciousness and put environmental concerns on the front page. 

In 2009 the United Nations started calling it INTERNATIONAL MOTHER EARTH DAY and is now recognized worldwide with 190 countries taking part in EARTH DAY. Today, over a billion people across the world participate in EARTH DAY. 

The Biden administration declared a public health emergency (PHE) for Monkeypox - 4/4/2022

Salons and Salon Professionals should be aware of this new public health threat. Monkeypox (MPX) is a rare viral illness. Anyone can get MPX, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Since mid-May 2022, cases of MPX have been identified in the U.S., where cases don't normally occur. MPX symptoms often include a rash that can look like pimples or blisters. The rash can appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body.  

Here are two helpful links to learn more:

HOW TO SMOOTH LINES AND WRINKLES  AND MINIMIZE PORES

Does it seem like every time you look in the mirror your pores look bigger and there seems to be a new line or maybe even a wrinkle? Are you wondering, how did this happen overnight? How do I minimize those expanding pores, smooth those lines, and soften those wrinkles?

Even as an esthetician I look in the mirror and ask myself these questions, how about you?

If you do maybe it’s time to do a self-recheck and remind ourselves what causes pores to look larger, lines to appear, and wrinkles to show up. And just maybe, we should also take the time to do what I call a Reboot of our own home skin care program.