I first met Jason Apparicio more than 20 years ago and he was already on a surf board. I always admired his love for the ocean and his vibe.

Last year I went home to TnT (Trinidad and Tobago) for three months and saw that my 14-year-old nephew (Steve Aeschliman) was being trained by Jason, and so I decided to take some lessons myself.

 

Jason just seems to have been made for the water. The man is like a fish!

I was fortunate enough to also get to know Jason’s mom Helen and his wife and beautiful kids. I surfed with them too.

I asked Jason a few questions before he got on a plane for Indonesia.

A- At what age did you first get on a surf board?

J- I got my first surfboard at age 10.

How would you rate the waters in TnT for surfing, especially for people who are just learning the sport?

A- How would you rate the waters in TnT (Trinidad and Tobago) for surfing, especially for people who are just learning the sport?

J- The Tobago waters are the best for beginners and Trinidad’s for more advanced surfers. Needless to say it can be done in Trinidad too for the beginners.

A- How many classes do you think someone needs before he or she will feel comfortable on the board?

J- It could take a beginner six to 600 times to become a surfer, but it just depends on how bad he or she wants it, like everything else in life. But the average person takes about six to eight classes and then about a year of training to become a surfer that rides waves.

A- What is the biggest mistake beginners make when learning to surf?

J- If the beginners listen all should go well, but usually the biggest mistake is not listening.

What’s your ultimate surfing experience?

A- What’s your ultimate surfing experience?

J- I have been featured on nine covers of international surfing magazines, and this is my biggest accomplishment in surfing.

A- It seems to me that surfing is a great way to pull a community together. What do you think?

J- Surfing is really not a sport but a lifestyle that has trademarks of a healthy sport, but there’s more to it than the athletic side of it. Like in life, you have to devote yourself a lot to get good results, and this is what we do as surfers. We wait for swells for months.

 
A- I’ve shared loads of time with your mom, wife, and kids. They are beautiful! Your mom said you’ve always loved surfing. What do you have to say to kids who are interested in surfing?

J- Get a board and let’s ride some waves!! Blessings jah!

www.jasonapparicio.wordpress.com
The editing of this blog was done by Camile Lamb of the Perfect Words,Ink.

 

I would like to introduce you to  friend of mine, Giancarlo Lalsingh, I met Gian when I was home in Trinidad and Tobago and he had my attention from the minute we met.  He not only has a great smile he works hard for a great cause. Gian took me to patrol one night on the beach and it was the most incredible experience I ever had.

I then asked Gian if he would do a Q&A for my mens blog and he agreed.

 

Question:  What is S.O.S. and when did it start?

Answer:  S.O.S. stands for “Save Our Sea Turtles,” and it’s a small community-based group started in 2000 to combat the illegal hunting of nesting sea turtles in the Courland Bay area of Tobago. Even though sea turtles are listed as critically endangered, they are regularly killed for their meat, eggs, and shells in Tobago.

 

 

Q: How many types of turtles do you have coming to Tobago, and are they all endangered?

A: There are three species of turtles that nest inside Trinidad and Tobago; the Leatherback (Dermochelys Coriacea), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys Imbricata) and Green (Chelonia Mydas).  Two other species inhabit our coastal waters and nest sporadically on our beaches: the  Loggerhead (Caretta Caretta) and Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys Olivacea).

 

Q: What tracking methods do you use to follow turtle migration?

A: We currently use Flipper and PIT tags on nesting turtles in Tobago. This allows us to track the nesting patterns of individual sea turtles on our beaches and in some cases the migration from other nesting beaches in the Caribbean and offshore programs, some as far away as Canada.

Q: Explain the Adopt a Turtle Program?

A: The Adopt a Turtle Program allows individuals, groups, schools, and other organizations to take part in sea turtle conservation and contribute directly to our efforts. Persons can adopt a nesting sea turtle for a small donation (TTD $120.00 / USD $20.00) annually. For this small contribution, they get to name their own turtle and receive a certificate of adoption. At the end of the nesting season we send adoptive parents an update of their sea turtle’s nesting activity. Interested persons can contact us directly when in Tobago or through the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Network website (www.widecast.com).

 

Note:  When you donate via the WIDECAST website, under the section “Add Special Instrument to Merchant,” indicate: ”Please forward donation to SOS Tobago/ Turtle Adoption.”

 

Q: Is patrolling nesting beaches at night dangerous?

A: Patrolling at night does pose some risks, but generally it is not dangerous. We do take many precautions to ensure the safety of the turtles and ourselves by working with local game wardens, police and the armed services.

 

Q: How has the response been from the people of Tobago, and do you recruit assistance of all ages?

 

A: The response has been a positive one, but there are still some people who continue to hunt our beloved endangered sea turtles. This is compounded by the continued legal harvest allowed by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, despite being a signatory to numerous international treaties that mandate us to protect sea turtles. It is important that Trinidad and Tobago ratify such commitments as sea turtles migrate vast distances throughout their lifetime and require international conservation efforts to ensure their future survival.

We accept people of many ages to participate in our efforts, however, persons who volunteer for night patrols should be 18 or older. Younger persons can take part in nightly organized turtle watches, public and school education events, daytime nesting beach checks, and nest excavations.

 

Q: What would you like to say to your readers that would convey just how urgent the need is for help to make S.O.S. a bigger success?

A: A Native American proverb says: “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” Our efforts are about making sea turtle conservation a success in Trinidad and Tobago through community outreach, education, research, and eco-tourism. Globally, sea turtle populations continue to decline as a direct result of the actions of human beings. People should remember that everything they do, however small, has an effect on the environment we share with all forms of life.

 

Q: What is the funniest experience you have had so far with your job?

I’m not sure I could describe it as “the funniest experience,” but I’d certainly describe it as the most back-breaking! I once had to help a Leatherback turtle, which can weigh upwards of 1,000 pounds, who only had three flippers. The turtle was called “Little Miss Sunshine.”  Leatherbacks nest in 2-3 year cycles and lay 5-10 nests in one cycle every 10 days. This particular turtle was missing a back flipper, probably due to a shark attack, and was unable to move her bulk up the beach to nest.

Turtles prevented from nesting will ‘dump’ their eggs at sea, where the eggs will surely die. The first time I encountered this turtle I was on patrol by myself and had to jump into the sea, help move her 1,000-pound body up the beach, and dig her nest chamber for her. No easy feat for a person that barely tips the scales at 140 pounds!  She must have appreciated the effort, because the next three times she nested I was on patrol and had to repeat this performance followed by a sore back the next day! All worth the effort!

Thanks To S.O.S and all my fellow Trin-bagonians for your love to our beautiful islands!!

As you become more knowledgeable about your haircut and the products you use, breaking bad habits can change the finish of your haircut. It seems some hairstylists think the sign of a good haircut is hard edges lining the hairline but that is not always true.

The hairline is the outline of the growth of hair on the head.  When men go to a barbershop, typically the cuts are pretty conventional.  Military fades are clean with great blending and the slightly longer cuts sport very strong shapes and edges.  I commend good barbers for these techniques, often delivered with speed and great results. But as hairstylists, we should be ready to change it up a bit and soften those sharp edges to deliver a more modern, up to date look.

When a man chooses to wear his hair a bit longer, there is no need to always wear a carved haircut. The edges (aka hairline) don’t have to be cut exact with the trimmers.  In fact, there’s no need for trimmers at all.

When you look at the back of the head it’s not naturally a perfect square shape, nor is it an extreme even line all the way from ear to ear. Some stylist even trim the hair past the outer edges of the hairline creating a whole new hairline shape.

 

 

 

 

 

The alternative is a “natural hairline” and natural can be a very good thing.

 

 

 

A natural hairline means the outline of the hair growth is left soft, tapering off without going past the outline growth. It can be cut with a straight edge razor or even a feather razor. If trimmers are used, it’s done subtly then softened with the straight razor.

 

This is a modern, less dated look. Some men have great hairlines, so why should we as hairstylists treat it as though we are doing the lawn?

 

My male model came to me with a couple of weeks worth of growth after having his hairline severely edged. He was not terribly happy with the outcome but could not articulate the reason why. But he was Unhappy! I assured him he still looked great but admitted he was a perfect example of “hairline done wrong.”

Using the razor I softened the back hairline and used the scissors around the ear and on the sideburns. I went through the haircut and added some texture to the top, along with some point cutting.

 

 

I noticed that his hair was thinned out a lot so I refrained from doing any blending or texturizing with the thinning shears.

 

In the end, we were both happy with the results and he was handsome once more!

 

Need a little creative help?  Give me a shout out here at Comessenyc.blogspot.com and Portfolio Salon in Coral Gables, Florida!

 

Happy styling!

Antonio Gonzales

I am writing today about the challenges men face with fine, wavy, medium length hair.

Getting the right cut…

In the past, if you’ve gotten a bad hair cut and now need to find a new hairstylist, beware if he or she spends seconds with the consultation before cutting. Be sure you have a hairstylist that asks questions.

The hairstylist maybe really talented, but if you’ve had problems in the past, it means there must be something you are not getting. Communication is key. It is only natural to want to avoid this uncomfortable situation but it is best to ask for a full consultation first. At this time your potential hairstylist should be asking questions to better understand your hair, your needs and your desires.

Here are some key questions I ask my clients to decide what’s best for their hair and a positive outcome.

1) How often do you shampoo?
With fine hair shampooing too often makes the hair too dry and fly-away. I recommend every 2-3 days.

2) What shampoo are you using?
Most of the time when I ask this question, men say they hate using their wives shampoo. Keep in mind, wives often have color treated hair and use a heavier shampoo, too heavy for men with fine hair.

3) What conditioners do you use?
Once again guys, you cannot use your wife’s conditioner, it is likely to be too heavy. Also, instead of shampooing on the second or 3rd day, rinse only (while working oils off of the scalp) and use a little conditioner.

4) What styling products do you use?
This is a huge problem for men because they are not given enough directions on how to use the product they purchase or options on how to style their hair.

On this model I used Boost by Orlando Pita to help smooth the frizz and break down the wave while blow-drying by hand. The idea was to have the hair look natural and not too styled. After the hair was dry, I added some Elevate, by Orlando Pita as well to add texture leaving it with a “slept in” look. A little sexy…no?

For those of us that make the sea and sun a big part of our lives dry hair is a serious issue. With my readers in mind, I did some research; I scoured blog after blog, read article after article on what salt does to the hair…

I have fine, curly, chemically unprocessed, virgin hair and spend a lot of time in the ocean. As with most people with curly hair, I find salt water adds a definition to my curl that I love. The problem with the definition that I love, oh so much, is the salt that creates it sits on my hair and eats away at it like termites on a log; okay that’s a bit extreme, but at least you get the picture .

After surfing, I generally only rinse with fresh water but it still leaves my hair dry and my scalp even dryer so I’ve devised a plan that works to protect my hair and would like to share it with you free of charge!

Me Surfing (Article to come).

Moroccan oil launched on the scene a few years ago, taking the market by storm in a variety of treatments, oils, and creams; I was lucky enough to score some for free last year at New York Fashion Week and this summer, it’s saving my hair, like the big, bad, super hair hero it is. As with most products, though, it’s not recommended for everyone; Moroccan oil, an actual oil, is heavy and contains healing properties for different hair types.

The most important step in my defense routine, I apply a dime-sized amount of Moroccan oil to my hair before I’m off to brave the big, blue, salty sea. The oil eases the impact of the salt on my hair as I surf or swim. After swimming, I literally take tap or bottled water and rinse my hair thoroughly. If you did nothing more, adding these two steps to your routine will have already made a huge impact so far.

Taking my defense a step further and depending on when I last shampooed, I sometimes do one of the next three steps when I get home after the beach.

1) I shampoo and then apply a light pea size amount of oil after towel drying; for my hair type, this helps with the hair recovering from the shampooing process while replacing the hair’s natural oils.

2) There are times when I leave the beach, rinse with fresh water, and actually add oil before shampooing. I know it sounds weird, but adding some oil before the shampoo helps dilute the strength of the shampoo on salty hair.

3) If I’ve recently shampooed, I will then rinse with fresh water after a swim, add a bit of oil and avoid shampooing all together.

And guys, when I say add oil I mean a pea sized amount, adding any more than that can leave you looking like the whole of Exxon paid you a visit. I’m always careful to use little as it goes such a long way!

(Please keep in mind that other oil-based products may do the trick, but this is what I had in my cupboard and it works really well.)

First being introduced to surfing some seven years ago while visiting Hawaii I have had it in my mind to take it up as my sport of choice. First its such a healthful beach activity and because you look so hot standing on a wave (smile). There was a problem though, I was then living in New York and had no desire to surf the icy waters off Long Island, so my plans to take up the surfing life had to be set aside.

Since my recent relocation to Miami’s South Beach I’ve been all about hitting the beach, running along the sand each morning and realizing my inner Ocean lover was emerging once more. Then two months into my new life while on a visit to my family in Tobago, I finally gave in to the call of the sea and decided to wind surf. My sister steered me to Radical Sports Tobago, on the island’s spectacular Pigeon Point Beach. There I met Brett Kenny, their go-to-guy for all things water sports. We decided I should go for windsurfing first but I have to admit to a certain degree of initial nervousness because not only did it look like it might require a great deal of strength but the water was full of what appeared to be pro-level surfers. As you can imagine such a sight can be a bit intimidating but I needn’t have worried.

Down to the shore I went with board and sail in hand and my instructor Dwight by my side. There he remained and proved to be such an amazing teacher that within two days I was gleefully sailing “off to the horizon” thinking that while windsurfing wasn’t as hard as I’d first feared … it was even more fun that I’d imagined.

If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Tobago and have a taste for the beach and surfing I highly recommend Radical Sports Tobago for their excellent teaching staff, state-of-the-art equipment (for beginners and pros alike) and unmatched service. Next up for me … Kite Surfing (ask for Brett or Nigel) I’ll be the one heading towards Miami!!

When I worked in New York at Orl’o Salon in NYC, 90% of my male clientele had their hair colored with their wife’s consent. While it’s something not always talked about, men having their hair colored is a norm in society today. One of the main reasons men color their hair was for their image at work. Perhaps they needed to look younger for a prestigious job or because of their place as trendsetters, my Orl’o Salon male clients knew the value of looking “naturally” youthful.

Baliage It Baby!
I feel Baliage is one technique that helped build my male clientele. It’s natural approach for men, wanting to cover gray or add lighter tones, looked incredibly natural and better than traditional all over color or foils (for highlights). Baliage also grew in better – looking very natural even when these clients were way past due for a refresher.

The Application
Whether going light or dark, there are several baliage techniques to choose from. Depending on hair length, we can be selective in our approach. To apply color, I sometimes use a brush and spatula for longer hair, a comb and small brush for medium length hair and a for very short hair I use a mascara wand to get close enough to the scalp and a well blended finish. If I attempted to use foils on medium length or very short hair, the results are just plain un-natural. Bold stripes or spots anyone? Guys, chances are most of the male celebrities whose hair you admire were not foiled.

Know The Difference
If you are presently a foil client for highlights, take a hand mirror and look at the back of your head where the highlights are. The results you want are highlights that are blended into the natural color and are not jumping out at you. Depending on how much gray you are covering, the all over technique of applying a color that is dark enough to cover gray can be a bit un-natural. When you color your grays, you should not hear your colleagues say “dude, you colored your hair! What you should hear is, “hey you look great, what is different?”

To Baliage Or Not To Baliage?
Choosing baliage depends on how much gray you have and how long your hair is. Surprisingly, the type of work you do also affects this decision. As you can imagine, a Lawyer and a rock star will want two totally different things. The type of baliage technique your hairstylist chooses will be the deciding factor on what is right for you and your lifestyle.

Help! I’ve Fallen And I Can’t Get Up!
To all hairstylists I say don’t be afraid of what you don’t know. There is no better time than now to get the right education to give your clients effective and modern techniques. For the client that wants baliage but their hairstylist is unable to do it, it is time for a change! It is totally worth it. Call other salons and ask if they baliage. If so, ask for a consultation. No matter which stylist you choose, in order to better explain yourself, bring a picture of the hairstyle and color you wish when you meet for a consult.

Be Fearless
Clients should demand better results and hairstylists should dare themselves to be a better. I truly believe this simple statement. I’ve learned when I dare myself to be better, I ultimately get more clients and easily keep the ones I have.

Under the Heading, “Live and Learn” … K.Y. Jelly/Lubricant is widely considered an excellent hair styling product and has been used by both men and women for decades to keep their hair shiny and manageable even on the worst of hair days. As odd as that might seem many of my own clients swear by it, particularly guys with curly or frizzy hair.

While I personally haven’t experimented with this product as yet I would recommend frequent shampooing to avoid product build up and overly limb hair if you want to give it a try. I’m also told that K.Y. makes a great lip gloss and cuticle softener so I do hope pharmacy clerks will someday stop immediately jumping to conclusions.

Guys, You’ve got to realize that your hair has a lot to say about you and that job you’re after. Dream jobs are hard enough to come by without having your hair betray you at the interview. You never want your talents overshadowed by a bad cut and you never want to be passed over because of a mullet or some other cut that screams ‘old school’ or worse.

If you’re lucky enough to be called in to discuss your future your first thought should be about what today’s man should look like because you don’t want a review that says, “Nice guy, well spoken, great resume but not the image we’re looking for.”

Looking good and current is important both in and out of the workplace and that starts with a good haircut that works with both your face shape and hair texture. Keep in mind that product plays a big part in a great cut and maybe more so in a bad one.

Here then are some tips to getting your new great cut …

1. Ask yourself how long you’ve worn your current style. Honestly, if you can’t remember or it’s been more than five years you’re way overdo for a change.

2. If you feel your hairstylist is a bit old fashioned you’re overdo for a change in stylist too. Look around and when you see a style you like, ask where it was done. You’ll have solved at least one problem.

3. Talk to your stylist about the image you’re trying to project and the products that are right for you.

4. Begin to pre-book your appointments to keep your haircut looking fresh and well maintained. We all have some kind of digital calendar in our pockets so put yours to good use.

5. Yes, hair loss sucks, but at some point we have to embrace it. If this is you I recommend wearing a shorter style.

Now The Don’ts;
1. If you get a 15-minute haircut it will look like a 15-minute haircut. It simply takes more time than that to produce a cut that will last and look good.

2. Please do not use your nose trimmers to ‘fix’ your sideburns, leave the maintenance to the professionals.

3. Don’t go for any style using words as Feathered, Mullet, Frosted or Fades. Leave the Marine Cuts to the Marines or to the face and head shape that can support it.

My Male clients include members of virtually every walk of life, from young actors and musicians to bartenders and businessmen and to all I say, “ Guys, you’ve got to give your hair some TLC if you want it to work for you”!