It's an acetone-eat-polish world out there. In nail salons everywhere, the different brands of polishes have always been close to indistinguishable from each other, but not anymore. Shellac has shown up on the scene, and is taking the manicure world by storm. Celebrities have been using Shellac for years now. US Weekly reported in 2011 that Rihanna was using the polish. In an issue of InStyle, Katy Perry was seen donning a purple hue of CND's Shellac. 

Rhoda Underhill, the owner of Glayze Nail Care Studio in Corinth, Maine, has been using Shellac for over a year. She says that close to 95 percent of her clients are using Shellac. What sets the polish apart from the others? The simple answer is maintenance. 

What is the first thing people see? Your beautiful face of course! Are you taking care of it? Thought about what will happen when you don't? Wrinkles or worse - sun damage! I don't know about you, but I am all set with that. Put your best face forward and take care of your skin!

I bet most of you don't think twice when you see the perfect pair of shoes or handbag. You have to have it, and you'll pay top dollar. It's time to have that attitude about your skin. Start taking preserving your best asset and your personal billboard to the world. Invest in a good quality skin care regime and use sunscreen every day. Those shoes and bag are going to be outdated in a few months - don't let your face be.

The lazy days of summer are upon us. We all have felt the humidity in the air lately, haven't we? We have an extended amount of daylight right now, and I believe you should spend it wisely - not in the bathroom trying to fix your hair. Maine summers are just too short to be fussing over your hair, but humidity causes a challenge when it comes to styling hair. You can fight it, or you can stop trying so hard.

Put up the hair dryer for the summer. You're just going to sweat to death while you use it anyways. Hang it up and let it stay there until fall. I suggest turning on the fan in your room while you get ready. Let your hair catch some fresh air for the summer and air dry it. Humidity causes frizz, and adding more heat to it from your hair dryer isn't going to help. I also scrunch my hair while on my way to work with the ac cranked and the windows cracked. You may chuckle at this, but I get the most compliments on my own hair when I have done nothing but let it do its thing that particular day. This will be true for you too, I promise.

Common questions get answered

How do you know when it's time for a new style, or maybe even a new hairdresser?

This can be a tricky situation. Personally, I always let my clients know that need to tell me if they are unhappy. You have to communicate with your stylist. If you are unhappy with your hair or you want change, you should voice that to them. Your stylist should also be checking in with you and suggesting changes every now and again to keep your look updated. You should feel amazing when you leave the salon. You also should leave the salon knowing you had a great experience and feel that you want to go back. If either of those things are not true for you, you need a new hairstyle and/or a new hairdresser!

The trend this year appears to be a June wedding. In fact, the most popular request that I received was June 15. I'm not sure why, since in past years June is usually a slow wedding month with the unpredictable weather we have here. Regardless, wedding season is in full swing, and this is my favorite time of year as a hair stylist. I enjoy up-styles so much. They allow me to be super creative, and each one is unique. Having been a part of many weddings, I have learned a few things that I can share with all of you brides-to-be in hopes I can help you avoid a few of the common mistakes I see.

Our hair sure does take a beating with all that we do to it. Most of you wash it every day (you need to stop doing that), blow-dry, curl, flat-iron and spray hairspray on it. How many of you really give it a day of rest? Let's start this Sunday - every Sunday from now on, try giving your hair a break from all of that.

Hair products, minerals in the water and toxins in our environment build up on our hair. Even though I don't want you to wash your hair every day, I do want you to use a clarifying treatment once a week to cleanse your hair of all the buildup. This buildup will cause you to have bad hair days and will also leave your color looking dull and even brassy. With summer coming, this is definitely something you want to include in your hair care regime right along with your kiddos who swim in the pool. Using a clarifying shampoo will gently cleanse your hair from the inside out. I do warn you to either ask your hairdresser what they recommend or simply use a baking soda rinse at home (baking soda paste mixed with water or your daily shampoo). Don't just get any old clarifying shampoo from the store down the street. Many of those are way too harsh on your hair. The point of clarifying your hair is to properly cleanse it, not 'strip' it and make it dry and brittle. Always ask a professional.

I only shampoo my hair once or twice a week and actually have gotten to the point where I dread the days I do have to shampoo my hair. On those days I have to start over with my hairstyle and spend the most time on my hair. I have been telling all my clients for years to stop washing their hair every day. I spend upwards of 30-45 minutes sometimes giving my clients the ultimate blow-out style only for them to wash it out in the next 12 hours. If we are going to spend hours on our hairstyle and make it look its best, then let's get the most out of it. How do you make your hairstyle last longer you ask? Enter the world of Dry Shampoo.

Many new clients tell me that they are looking for a haircut that works with their face shape. I get it - you want a new style that flatters your face and makes you look your best. Here's what I want you to really consider, and it addresses more than the shape of your face: What type of hair do you have? What is your lifestyle? How often can you maintain your look? If you don't know the answers to these questions, then it won't matter at all if your haircut flatters your face.

Do you know how many things your hair stylist knows about you simply by working with your hair? Your stylist has a perfect view of your hair, scalp and skin when doing your hair. Everything - and I mean everything - that goes into your body comes out on your hair. Often times when there is something going on, good or bad, within your body, your hair will tell the story.

I have been doing hair for more than 10 years now, so these are things I have learned along the way. I speak for myself and not every single stylist out there. But it's something to think about. If your stylist notices changes in your hair and suggests you see a doctor, listen. Some of the things that I can tell simply by looking at someone's hair and scalp include pregnancy, new medications, poor diet, diabetes (or the potential to get it), drug use, thyroid issues, cancer (the need to have a mole checked), stress and more.

After last week's heat, I think it is safe to say that summer is here for good. We all know how quickly a summer in Maine goes by, so let's not spend all kinds of time doing our hair and makeup and getting ready. Get outside and soak it up while you can. Here are some quick and easy tips to simplify your hair and makeup routine this summer.

Nothing says summer like a few blonde highlights. Nothing can leave you feeling brighter inside and out. But all the lightener that is leaving you with a great new look is just the beginning of the beating your hair starts to take as the weather gets warmer. Sun exposure and chlorine wreak havoc on your hair. This is the time when you should be protecting your hair at home by adding a leave-in conditioner to your routine to replenish the moisture you are losing this summer. I also recommend scheduling an in-salon intensive hair repair treatment. Paul Mitchell recently came out with their Awaphui Wild Ginger KeraTriplex intensive in-salon treatment that is amazing! It will leave your hair 80 percent stronger after the first treatment and really does help to repair dry or split ends. This treatment offers intense strengthening, moisture and shine to transform your dry, damaged hair.