How App-propos

Beauty aficionadas are becoming app-happy.

Whether you have a smart phone permanently attached to your hand, your BFF is your new iPad 2 or you can’t leave home without your iPad, your greatest love is staying connected with the world — your world. And, there’s no better way to do this than through apps. Originally developed as business tools for execs on the go, mobile apps have quickly morphed into entertainment and informational tools for every topic under the sun. They’ve also become a way of life for many digital divas that reach for their mobiles while shopping, to receive their daily doses of tips and tricks or are simply bored and want to be entertained by their favorite pastime — beauty.

Pravana ChromaSilk iPhone Color Formulator App

This handy color app allows you to access Chromasilk color swatches and automatically calculate suggested formulas based on application type, existing color, percentage of gray and targeted results. Availability: iPhone (Pravana.com/colorapp).

MyMatrixFamily APP

Join the Matrix stylist community, find friends and connect with Matrix Design Team Members like Patrick McIvor, Nicholas French and Chrystofer Benson via the new MyMatrixFamily APP, a program that enhances your experience while visiting MyMatrixFamily.com via your mobile phone. Availability: Android, followed shortly by iPhone and Blackberry. (MyMatrixFamily.com).

Style Station

Access “The Break Room” (think Facebook for salons) via Redken’s new Style Station mobile phone app. Additional features: haircolor swatches and level finder; news about the latest haircolor trends; featured formulas sorted by level and end result; and a custom timer system for chemical processes (multiple settings with individual ring-tones). Availability: Android and iPhone operating systems.

(RedkenSalon.com/skills/stylestation).

Get App Savvy

For readers who’ve just entered the mobileapp arena, here are a few things that youneed to know.

Mobile apps (short for applications) are software programs designed for low-power devices such as smart phones, Android Tablets and iPads. Some mobile apps are only available for a particular operating system (e.g. Google Android or Mac), while others have software programs available for multiple systems. Many apps are free; fee-based apps can cost as little as 49 cents.

Google Android Tablets and Mac iPads require different software programs than their mobile phone counterparts. However, for Mac, some apps contain both iPhone and iPad software, essentially giving you two apps for the price of one. (Intel: Later in 2011, Google will be releasing Alien Dalvik, a program that allows Android apps to run on several non-Android operating systems).