NEW ON THE BUSINESS SCENE: ELECTROLYSIS: THE `BARE' FACTS ABOUT HAIR REMOVAL

There are four basic routes to hairless skin shaving, depilating, waxing and electrolysis.

Shaving is the least expensive and most popular, but hair grows back quickly because it is cut above the skin. The latter, electrolysis, may be most costly, but it is also most permanent.

"The removal of unwanted hair is becoming a trendy fashion," says Peggy Shumate of Cape Girardeau, a Certified Clinic Electrologist (CCE). "Everyone men and women want to look their best and feel comfortable"

Health and beauty professionals say increasing numbers of men are ridding their bodies of excess hair.

"Some athletes are ridding themselves of hair which they say can be a deterrent for them," said Shumate. "A bicyclist says leg hair creates wind resistance, swimmers may shave their bodies before a race for that hundredth-of-a-second edge."

Most people, however men and women just don't want unsightly hair.

Shumate, who recently opened Shumate Electrolysis, has completed a year-long course in electrolysis at Knoxville, Tenn., where she received her CCE. She is also a member of the National Commission for Electrologist and the Society of Clinical and Medical Electrologists.

"Electyrolysis is the most permanent means of removing hair, noted Shumate. "There are other means of removing hair, but they do so only temporarily. Within days or weeks, the hair reappears."

The reason for this, Shumate explains, is that the hair is protected within a follicle and no amount of plucking or chemicals can stop hair growth permanently.

"Electrology, when performed by a trained professional electrologist, destroys the growth center with a minimal discomfort," she said. "Hair properly removed through electrolysis will never return."

Unwanted hair, called "hirsutism," or "hypertrichosis," in most cases is caused by genetic background (heredity), organic disorder or artificial stimulation. Electrolysis is not a new process. The original medically-recognized technique used by eletrologists was invented in the 1800s.

Electrolysis uses galvanic direct current to produce a chemical reaction that destroys the hair's growth center. After each follicle is treated, the electrologist removes the hair with sterile tweezers.

"Excess hair is commonplace," said Shumate. "Experts estimate that up to 80 percent of all women have excess hair."

Additional information concerning the process is available by contacting Shumate Electrolysis, telephone, 339-1480.

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Auto Tire and Parts Center, headquartered in Cape Girardeau, recently opened its 16th store.

The company's latest operation is located at Bloomfield.

"We're proud to be a part of the Bloomfield community," said Jim Underhill, vice president of sales and marketing for Auto Tire and Parts. "The new store is off to a good start."

The new location offers access to one of the largest automotive and heavy duty machine shops in the area. Auto Tire and Parts was founded more than 80 years ago, in 1909, with one store in Cape Girardeau. The firm now has 16 stores, 15 of them in Southeast Missouri and one at Chester, Ill.

The company provides a large inventory of both foreign and domestic automotive, agriculture and truck parts, along with a complete line of DuPont Automotive Paint products. The company's warehouse is located at 212 S. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau.

Alan Slaughter is manager of the new store. Slaughter and Bloomfield officials were on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. In attendance were Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce president Melvin Staggs and Chamber member Tom Wethington. Also at the ceremony were Bloomfield Mayor Carol Blue, and Auto Tire and Parts representative, Jim Underhill.

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Bridgeport Realtors Inc., has joined the Prudential Real Estate affiliates as its charter franchisee in Cape Girardeau.

Roger Skinner and David Dormeyer, owners of the company, said the newly-affiliated firm will be known as the Prudential Bridgeport Inc. Realtors.

"Our goal is to provide unparalleled services to our customers," said Skinner. "The benefits that Prudential offers to our clients and agents, and its superior national image, make this affiliation a logical step in the progression of the company."

As a franchisee, the Prudential Bridgeport Inc. Realtors automatically becomes a member of Prudential Referral Services, a national computerized relocation network which provides detailed market information on more than 5,000 communities in the U.S.

Prudential Bridgeport Inc. Realtors was founded in 1979. Prudential started awarding franchises in 1988, and has 1,073 offices representing 28,545 associates. The firm reported 1992 sales of $34.9 billion.

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Ross Furniture, 116 South High, Jackson, has added Justice furniture's new Charter Collection to its line.

Angie Wilson, sales manager for Justice Furniture, was in Jackson recently to discuss the new Charter line.

Ross Furniture at Jackson and Perryville, is owned by Charles and Eddie Rose.

The two stores have carried the Justice line 14 years.

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R.V. Production Inc., a screen printing and embroidery design company, recently opened at 1606 Independence in Cape Girardeau.

Jeff Vandeven, who recently returned to Cape Girardeau from the Kansas City area, and Bruce Robert are owners of the new business.

Vandeven, a graduate of Kansas State University, with a bachelor's degree in fine arts with emphasis in graphic design, has worked the past five years in a college book store. He is a graduate of Notre Dame High School here.

Robert, a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with a marketing management degree with emphasis on sales, has worked in sales the past five years.

The new business will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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Styles on Video is a sister-company to New Image, which has been in beauty salons more than a decade.

"The styles on video process takes only a few minutes to complete," said Lysa Rhodes, who recently opened a new business, "Styles on Video Presented by Lysa's Imaging."

Rhodes visits various hair salons in the area and makes videos of different hairstyles on persons.

"We make videos of 12 hair styles on a person," said Rhodes. "They can then select a hair style of their choice."

Rhodes and her husband, Scott, recently returned from Los Angeles, Calif., where they trained and received a license to operate the imaging system.

Rhodes has already arranged to operate the system at a number of area salons, including Mane Attractions, The Designing Team, Special Effects and Style Shop.

"We also conduct Styles by Video home parties for groups of 10, said Rhodes.

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Niswonger Auto Body Inc. has moved into a new building at 135 LaSalle St.

The firm, which employs four persons, was founded in 1987 by Jamie Niswonger on Independence St. in Cape Girardeau. It moved to a LaSalle St. location four years ago.

"We're in a new and larger building there now," said Niswonger, who has 24 years experience in auto body and paint work, six of them in his own business.

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Hobart Sales and Services is in a new location.

The food equipment firm tripled its space when it moved to 711 Good Hope, from its previous location at 231 S. Ellis.

The company sells all types of food equipment for commercial kitchens, including mixers, slicers, grinders and/or stoves.

"We sell to supermarkets, restaurants, hospitals, or prisons any business or entity that uses a commercial kitchen," said Ted McClelland, owner of the firm since 1982.

The company calls on accounts in 35 counties in Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and West Kentucky, and employs nine persons.