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If you’re a man who possesses hair so thick and luscious that you sometimes throw it into a casual up-do, and you’d like to keep it that way, THIS IS A WARNING.

Tight buns can cause baldness, meaning your man bun could put you at risk. Traction alopecia is a condition that occurs when someone wears their hair pulled back tightly over a long period of time. The result is not pretty: acute baldness around the hairline and temples. 

This condition is becoming more common in men as more guys put their hair up, dermatologist Sabra Sullivan told Mic.

"I see it probably once or twice a week," she said. "They're putting traction on the hair follicles that the hair is not really meant to take."

Doctors usually see this condition among women, but Sullivan agrees that the man bun trend may be leading to an increase of traction alopecia in men.

Traction alopecia worsens over time, so it could be a couple years until people start to notice damage from the 'do, according to Huffington Post Australia. 

C'mon guys! Protect your locks. We'd hate to see the likes of Jared Leto, Andrew Garfield, or, dare we say it, David Beckham looking as smooth as an 8-ball someday. 

Looking for a new, potentially less destructive hairstyle? Consider the man braid. 

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When mom Lin Kramer visited Party City's website to look for a Halloween costume for her 3-year-old daughter, she was very disappointed by what she found.

The "Toddler Costumes" section revealed a discrepancy between the offerings designated for boys and those for girls -- particularly in the category of career-related costumes. While there was a wide selection of empowering costumes marketed for boys, girls were left with sexualized and diminutive versions of these costumes and significantly fewer career-based options.

Unwilling to simply shop in the "boys" section or silently taking her business elsewhere, Kramer wrote an open letter to Party City.

"Please, Party City, open up your view of the world and redesign your marketing scheme to let kids be kids, without imposing on them antiquated views of gender roles," Kramer wrote in her letter, which she posted on her personal Facebook page and Party City's page on Sept. 14.

In her letter, the mom breaks down some of the differences between the "girl" and "boy" versions of certain costumes -- from the way they're labeled ("precious pirate" versus "rascal pirate") to the online descriptions ("cute cop" and "sassy and sweet" versus "realistic scaled-down police shirt" and "this protector of the peace has it all under control!") to the outfit designs themselves.

"When you look around at the police officers in your city or neighborhood, the uniforms they wear are probably substantially similar to the costumes you have elected to offer for boys," Kramer says. "However, the same cannot be said of the costume you market to girls. Generally speaking, real life uniformed female police officers do not wear short skirts and low cut shirts, but instead wear exactly the same slacks and shirts as their male counterparts."

She continues:

"While Halloween costumes are undoubtedly about 'make-believe,' it is unfathomable that toddler girls and boys who might be interested in dressing up as police officers are seeking to imagine themselves in the incongruent way your business apparently imagines them. Toddler girls are not imagining and hoping that they will grow up to become a "sexy cop" -- which is clearly what your girl costume suggests; rather, young girls, just as young boys, see and admire their family members and neighbors offering service to their communities and delight in the idea of doing the same. I am absolutely appalled that your business reinterprets girls' innocent and well-intentioned dreams into this costume."

Kramer also points out that of the 53 costume options recommended for boys, 16 relate to occupations, whereas only three of the 45 recommended girl costumes are career-related. Still, the mom adds, it may have been generous to include "cowgirl" in the three given that "she is clearly not appropriately dressed to be employed on any sort of working ranch." 

Toward the end of the letter, Kramer suggests that Party City simply include the toddler costumes  from the boys section in the girls section as well. She also emphasizes her mission of inclusiveness.

"While there is absolutely nothing wrong with little girls who enjoy and want to dress up this Halloween as a 'Light Up Twinkler Witch,' or a 'Doo Wop Darling,' or an 'Enchanted Stars Princess,' there is also absolutely nothing wrong with little girls who might wish to give the 'UPS Driver' costume or the 'Ride in Train' costume a try!" she says.

Shortly after Kramer posted her letter to the company's Facebook page, she received a response from Party City, she told The Huffington Post. The comment stated, "Hi Lin, thank you for reaching out to us. We appreciate the insight and will consider your feedback for the future. Thank you."

Feeling that Party City's Facebook response left something to be desired, Kramer shared her letter with a local current events group she's involved with online, but after other members requested a link to her post on Party City's page, the mom saw that her letter had been deleted. Kramer says she posted her letter on the page again and found that within 20 minutes, that post had been deleted as well. She then discovered she had been blocked from commenting, sharing and writing posts on the Party City Facebook page.

"Incensed at the censorship of a perfectly civil consumer concern, many members of this small internet group began sharing the letter from my page," Kramer told HuffPost, adding that she shared her story with Women You Should Know, which led the letter to gain more traction. Within 24 hours of that article's publication, the mom regained the ability to interact with Party City's Facebook page.

Kramer is pleased that her story is reaching a wider audience. "I hope, by reading my letter, others will be encouraged to pause and critically think about what they are seeing -- and accepting -- from retailers," she said. "When there is a difference between a 'girls' item and a 'boys' item, I hope that people will think critically and ask whether there really needs to be, or should be, a difference between the two items."

A Party City spokesperson issued the following statement to The Huffington Post in response to Kramer's story:

Party City values customer feedback and appreciates our customers taking the time to share their opinion with us. Nothing we carry is meant to be offensive and we supply Halloween costumes suitable for all styles, tastes, and budgets.

We expect parents to be as involved in their children's costume selections as they are in selecting their everyday wardrobe, and we encourage parents to shop with their children. We supply the types of products that our customers, and specifically parents, demand, and the Girls Cop Costume mentioned by Ms. Lin Kramer is one of our most popular costumes.

We understand this is a sensitive issue. Party City is always evaluating how to make shopping in our stores and online a fun, welcoming experience and her feedback has been shared with the costume manufacturers and leadership teams at Party City. If Ms. Lin Kramer would like to speak directly with a Party City team member, she's welcome to contact us and we hope to connect with her soon.

The mom told HuffPost that she also hopes that Party City and other businesses will be more willing to foster open dialogue about these issues. 

As for Kramer's daughter, the toddler has recently taken an interested in Mary Poppins, so her parents are acquiring materials to make a DIY costume of the classic Disney character. 

As a mom, Kramer says, she felt impelled to share the letter for her daughter's sake. "For me, it's important to speak out because I want to be able to honestly tell my daughter when she's older that I tried my very best to make this world a better place for her."

H/T Women You Should Know

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On Friday, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hosted a state dinner at the White House in honor of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the United States.

The guests included a wide range of past and present administration officials, diplomats, Silicon Valley executives and cultural figures, including Madeleine Albright, John Kerry, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, ballet dancer Misty Copeland and R&B singer Ne-Yo. 

Below, some photos from the evening: 

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Michelle Obama made a jaw-dropping appearance alongside President Barack Obama as they welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House for the State Dinner on Friday. Dressed in a custom, off-the-shoulder black Vera Wang gown, FLOTUS' famously-toned arms were on full display.

She first teased her glamorous evening attire on Instagram while giving us a "first glance" at the State Dinner. Even though the photo was taken in a dimly lit dining room, we were still able to see Obama's stunning side-swept curls and nude nail polish color.

This isn't the first time that FLOTUS has worn the Chinese-American designer's pieces for a major fête, as she donned a similar off-the-shoulder Wang dress at this year's Kennedy Center Honors. Yet, the mermaid fit and tulle skirt of this State Dinner gown proves why she tops our list of the best-dressed first ladies. 

Do you agree?

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Another day, another Kim Kardashian photo shoot. 

The reality star appears on the cover of Sorbet magazine's latest issue, looking like a glam rock goddess with her fashion BFF, Riccardo Tisci. Fittingly, the theme of the issue is BFFs. On the cover, Kim is seen hugging the Givenchy creative director and even showing a tiny hint of a smile. 

In the rest of the images, which were shot by Ezra Petronio, the 34-year-old looks gorgeous. She's sporting an array of black garments, likely all Givenchy, as she channels her inner boho-goth-glam-rock chick (and maybe a little Stevie Nicks). 

So dark. So mysterious. 

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Thank you so much for coming!!! Axis NYC second edition...that's a wrap! Stay tuned for our next show...Feb 21st-23rd, 2016 at Pier 92! #AxisShow

A video posted by Axis Show (@axisshow) on Sep 19, 2015 at 4:42pm PDT

@ferchidelapuente and her #butternation hand dyed dress

A photo posted by Butter Nation (@butternation_bn) on Sep 22, 2015 at 11:30am PDT

Apothecary day #HerbalistMade #BotanicalBeauty #PlantMagic #EarthTuFace #HoneyMask

A photo posted by Earth Tu Face (@earthtuface) on Sep 23, 2015 at 1:31pm PDT

showing spring '16 at Capsule NY with California Collective | email info@crescionicollection.com for appointments ⚫️ sept 17-19

A photo posted by crescioni (@crescioni_ca) on Sep 8, 2015 at 5:51pm PDT

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Fact: you don't need several different curling irons to achieve a curly hairstyle. With just a flat iron, hair oil and some texturizing spray, you can create beautiful, beachy waves.

When using a hair straightener to curl your hair, it is important to prep hair with a heat-protecting oil and work with one-inch sections at a time. Flipping the flat iron away from your face and alternating the direction of your curls helps to mimic a loose wave pattern.

Watch the video below for the full tutorial on how to curl your hair with a flat iron, including a tip that anyone with fine hair needs to know to maintain long-lasting curls.

And as an extra bonus, learn how to protect your hair and keep it healthy when using a straightening iron.

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Friends, your dream closet just got a major upgrade. On one hand, it's kind of surprising a device like this doesn't exist already. On the other hand, who cares, it's a-comin' our way soon enough. 

Meet the LG Styler, a wardrobe that basically acts like an at-home dry cleaner. The slim closet will steam, press and deodorize your clothes in minutes. How does this futuristic "Jetsons"-like contraption work, you might wonder? All with the touch of a button. See for yourself: 

Inside the closet, hot steam fills the space to begin the de-wrinkling and deodorizing processes. The hangers then gently shake back and forth to remove wrinkles, followed by the release of your preferred aroma to get your clothes smelling fresh. For pants, there's a separate press area that will keep creases crisp.

The wardrobe doesn't exactly clean clothes that have stains on them -- it simply refreshes garments that need some perking up. Though LG has not divulged a release date or price point for the closet, the company's website says that it is "coming soon." Looks like we'll have plenty of time to get organized before it arrives.   

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Have you ever wondered what the inside of your favorite artist's bedroom looks like? Have you fantasized about the sculptures and paintings that might adorn her living room, turning an apartment or house into a habitable museum?  Have you questioned whether he showcases his own work or a mish-moshed collection of his friends? Does she relish throw pillows? Does his kitchen table look like a masterpiece itself?

The people who collect art are unique -- and the artists who collect are an even more specific bunch. Unlike the philatelists (those who study and commonly collect stamps) and the coin enthusiasts of the world (sometimes referred to as numismatists), art collecting is frequently done at a slower pace. Instead of frenetically acquiring valuable artifacts, paintings and photographs are often painstakingly chosen according to intensely personal and subjective standards. Sure, the prickly art market can help some predict the monetary potential of a new ceramic centerpiece, but it can't help an artist who collects judge the aesthetic reaction they're going to have living and often working with that centerpiece.

"Artists who collect ... generally fall into two categories," Robert Storr, dean of the School of Art at Yale University, writes in the forward to the new book, Artists Living With Art (Abrams). "First come those who can't resist owning things that catch their eye and in some way remind them of roads not taken or possibilities that they have not exploited." And then, he adds, there are "those who immerse themselves sequentially in specific types of work or periods in art history." The two paths to art collecting result in different yet wildly beautiful sets of interior scenes, as obsessively curated rooms possess canvases, carpets, chairs and candles that mirror a person's overarching relationship to color and form.

While we can theorize about the intentions of living artists like Chuck Close, Marilyn Minter, Mickalene Thomas or Rashid Johnson, sometimes the best method of understanding an artist's collecting persona is to take a peek into their homes, the places where they stash their troves. Thanks to editors Stacey Goergen and Amanda Benchley, we have that opportunity.

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When it comes to post-baby body image, Zoe Saldana thinks there's too much pressure on moms to "bounce back."

At a go90 app launch event in Beverly Hills, the actress shared her thoughts on motherhood in Hollywood and her own journey after giving birth to twins Bowie and Cy in November 2014, People reports.

“Throughout the years that I’ve been in this business, women that hide in a cave and they don’t come out until they’re a size zero," Saldana said. "And that is a very misleading message to send out to women, especially when women here in L.A. are the skinniest women out there, and that should concern us. We’re too busy thinking about our appearances and not really thinking about our mental health first as well.”

Saldana thinks new moms should not be expected to return to their pre-pregnancy clothes and activities immediately after giving birth. "You have to give yourself time," she said.

For new moms who feel like they need to "bounce back three months after having a baby," Saldana offered this advice: "Breastfeed. Stay home. Sleep. Your kid is only three months old. Like what are you going to the gym for? Catch up on f**king reruns of some sort.”

The famous mom kept these messages in mind in the months after her sons were born. “I definitely took a break," she said. "And I trusted that my body was going to bounce back when it was ready. I never wanted to push myself.”

Rock on, mama!

H/T BabyCenter

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If you happen to be a proud parent of a redhead, why not make Halloween easier by working with your little one's relatively unique natural asset? Even without an accompanying costume, a kid's red hair can remind people of famous carrot tops, so choosing a redhead-specific costume could mean less work for you. Plus, it's totally adorable.

Here are 16 Halloween costume ideas for redheaded kids.

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What you've heard: Shaving is a great exfoliator.
The truth: Actually, the primary benefit is hair removal -- shaving can remove peach fuzz that lasers miss, and it's much cheaper than the hair-removal treatment electrolysis. You do get some exfoliation, says Francesca Fusco, MD, a dermatologist in New York City, but if sloughing off dead skin is your main objective, at-home peels, acid-based products and in-office exfoliating treatments are more effective.

What you've heard: You need a special facial razor.
The truth: They can be helpful, as they're smaller than your standard razor and easier to maneuver around the curves of your face, but any single-blade razor will work. The single blade helps to minimize the chance of nicks and ingrown hairs, says Nada Elbuluk, MD, who is an assistant professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center.

What you've heard: Shave against the grain, like you do on your legs.
The truth: You want to shave in the direction the hair grows. And as you shave, think about the way men do it, pulling the skin taught to get the closest shave possible. A few more beginners' tips:

• If you're using anti-aging retinol products at night (the recommended time to apply them), you should shave in the morning, as putting the products on freshly shaved skin could cause irritation. 


• Start with a clean face, and use shaving cream if you're using a standard razor (battery-operated facial razors don't need it). 


• When you're done, apply a moisturizer with sunscreen and avoid any products with potential irritants, such as retinol or acids.

What you've heard: Shaving is a great option for anyone.
The truth: If you're on any kind of acne medication, especially prescription isotretinoins, don't shave, says Dr. Fusco, as those meds increase sensitivity, so you're more likely to be left with irritated skin. And women with any active skin problem --such as cold sores, impetigo, acne or eczema -- shouldn't shave until the problem is fully healed, because shaving could aggravate the area and make the issue worse, says Dr. Elbuluk.

One more note: If your facial hair is coarse or thick, especially around the chin or jawline, get it looked at by a doctor before you start shaving it off. It could be a sign of an underlying hormonal issue and your doc can't diagnose based on hair that's not there anymore.

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Like most things in life, Halloween is more fun with a friend -- or five. What's Cher without Dionne? Or one creepy "Shining" twin without the other? Or Ginger Spice without Baby, Scary, Sporty and Posh?

For all the women out there who prefer to play dress up with their BFFs on Halloween, here are 18 fun costume ideas that require a buddy or two. (They also don't require an insane amount of time, money or effort.)

For more clever Halloween costumes for women see below:

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Regram from @aw - the world's most beautiful bride. The best Girl. Love forever.

A photo posted by Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) on Sep 20, 2015 at 10:47am PDT

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