October is Blindness Awareness Month and we are honored to be able to spotlight Chelsea Nguyen, a licensed cosmetologist and image consultant, who helps empower men and women who are visually impaired by teaching them non-visual hair, makeup and grooming techniques. In this inspiring episode she’ll share her tips and tricks, as well as talk about the some of the technology available to help the visually impaired identify colors and prevent wardrobe mishaps, and even shares ways that fully-sighted individuals can donate their time to help out.According to the CDC, approximately 12 million people 40 years and over in the United States have vision impairment, including 1 million who are blind, and an estimated 93 million adults in the United States are at high risk for serious vision loss.
PRODUCTS MENTIONED:
CHI Spin & Curl Ceramic Coating Curler: https://amzn.to/348voom
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SHOW NOTES:
3:45 – How Chelsea Nguyen learned to teach the visually impaired
10:07 – the first step in application is identifying the facial features
10:47 – How to apply foundation
14:45 – Technology to help you identify color. Chelsea explains the Be My Eyes app and how to sign up to volunteer.
17:35 – A testimonial from a visually impaired woman who used Chelsea’s services
20:55 – How to apply eyeliner
24:12 – How to apply lipstick and identify different colors
26:40 – Hair tips
MORE OF CHELSEA’S TIPS
Hair Styling Tips:
1. The CHI Spin & Curl is the curling iron mentioned that beeps and is safe for anyone to use – especially if you are blind or visually impaired. She uses this tool to teach her blind and sighted clients and students how to curl their hair safely and independently.
2. Another way to create easy and safe curls in straight hair is to first spray and dampen your hair with curl activator all over. Then braid your hair where you want it to be curly. Secure the ends with silicone rubber bands and leave the curls overnight. Once the hair is dry in the morning, undo the braids and …. Voila! You have curly hair without using a hot curling iron. To keep the curls lasting longer and help them looked more defined and shiny , apply shine serum on the mid-lengths and ends of the curls and then spray it with a medium hold hairspray to lock in the curls.
Makeup Application Tips:
1. Put liquid foundation in the Refrigerator so that you can feel the coolness of the liquid foundation when you apply it non-visually and can know through the temperature where you last applied your foundation.
2. Apply makeup with fingers instead of makeup sponges or brushes so that you can feel where you are applying your makeup.
3. When you are blind and you can’t see your own eye brows to fill them in or draw them in, use a plastic reusable eyebrow stencil and a smudge-proof and waterproof eyebrow pencil to help as a guide to fill in your eyebrows.
Nail Grooming Techniques:
1. Instead of trimming your own nails with nail clippers and accidentally cutting too deep into your nail bed, regularly use nail files to file down, shorten and shape your finger and toe nails to a comfortable and desirable length.
Oral Hygiene Tip:
If you are blind or have low vision and you can’t see the tip of your toothbrush to apply toothpaste on it, squirt some toothpaste into your mouth instead and follow with brushing your teeth. You’ll never miss your own mouth so this technique makes your brushing routine a lot easier and faster and keeps your bathroom sink and countertops clean
Assistive Technology for the Blind:
Here are various apps that help blind people see their surroundings, identify colors, objects and give sighted guide assistance.
1. Be My Eyes: http://bemyeyes.com
2. Aira: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aira/id…
3. Tap Tap See: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/seeing
For complete step-by-step guidance on how to do your own health, beauty, grooming and hygiene techniques, Chelsea’s team offers one-on-one or group online/virtual blind beauty classes via Zoom, FaceTime or Skype.