teachers do a double take

Short hair styles are great for school because they are so easy to care for and they really make a statement. Short hair says to the world: "I'm confident enough to get rid of all that hair I used to hide behind. Now you get to see the real me dermes!"

But making the cut won't be easy if you've had medium length or long hair for a while. After all, some of that hair has been with you for years. So to help you make the decision whether to "go short or go home", here are some of the pros and cons of changing to one of the new short hair styles:

Pros:

A time saver, especially in the mornings when you're in a rush.

Can be easily washed every day.

Requires much less care and conditioning than longer hair.

Looks sporty and fresh.

If you don't like your short hair style, just wait a few months for it to grow a bit and try another short cut.

Your earrings finally show!

Cons:

If you've never had short hair, it can take some time to get used to that "exposed" feeling.

Short hair styles need to be cut more often, every 4 to 6 weeks, to keep them in shape.

You might have to use more styling products than when your hair was longer.

Some people will try to convince you that guys don't like short hair on women, but don't buy it! This is about your style, your comfort, and your confident new look.

How Do I Know if Short Hair Styles Are Right For Me?

One of the best ways to decide which short hair styles suit your face and hair type is to consult with a stylist you trust. Bring along some magazine pictures of styles you like so you can discuss their suitability with your salon pro. He or she will take into account factors like the shape of your face and the thickness of your hair before recommending a cut.

A great innovation lately has been online hairstyling tools that let you try different virtual styles before you make the first snip. These websites allow you to upload your photo and overlay various hairstyle images onto your headshot, with excellent results. It's a great tool that's easy and fun to use. (Suggestion: Invite your friends over and throw a hairstyle selection party !)

So before you make the leap to any of the new, short hair styles, do some research and find the one that suits you best. The new virtual styling tools are an exciting way to update your look without the stress and uncertainty.

The Pillar Procedure

aul Younan was making choking sounds as he slept. Though he thought he was sleeping through the night, the 33-year-old woke up exhausted each morning. The diagnosis: obstructive sleep apnea nsf 53 certified water filter.

His airway was being blocked when tissue in his throat collapsed. The potentially life-threatening problem is a result of a narrowed airway and flabby tissue in the throat caused by obesity, hormones or other factors.

None of the treatments were appealing: laser scarring or surgical removal of the tissue, or wearing a bulky air mask as he slept. Then Younan heard that the Pillar Procedure, approved by the FDA this year, might work for him.

Under local anesthesia, tiny implants are put in the palate to prevent collapse. "It's fascinating technology," says Tucker Woodson, an otolaryngologist at the Medical College of Wisconsin, who has used the Pillar for some of his patients Polar M200.

The Importance of Sleep

In the hospital, you need uninterrupted sleep as you recover, but hospital noises can be as loud as a jackhammer. So a growing number of hospitals are taking steps to reduce noise pollution. 

At Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, administrative nurse manager Elodia Mercier implemented a SHHH (Silent Hospitals Help Healing) plan after patients rated noise control as important to a satisfactory visit. She measured decibel ranges and identified sources of excessive noise (shift changes, squeaky carts). Signs now line the hallways urging patients, visitors and staff to keep it down. Staffers put beepers on vibrate mode, and the volume on the intercom was lowered.