Beauty

Chicks rule

April 11, 2012 That Girl in the Red Coat Leave a comment

Finally! A line of hair care products developed for unruly and/or curly hair. When you look in the mirror and you see something that reminds you of Animal from the Muppet show -this product is for you. When you arise each morning and your head looks like the squirrel’s nest outside your window – you are gonna love this product. Ladies, you may even find yourselves walking away from the wigs and hair pieces that mock you each day.

The line of which I speak is MIXED CHICKS. It a word….miraculous. No matter what your race, be it latin, black, white, asian or any beautiful mixture of race, if you have curls or unruly locks this is your new best friend. I have many women come into the shop and I swear I hear the angels sing and see the heavens open up when they see our MIXED CHICKS display. Daughter’s no longer run away when they see their mother’s with a hairbrush or comb in their hands, women actually like to look in the mirror once more and yes, they can actually run their fingers through their hair. I have seen it with my own two eyes.

Mixed Chicks

The MIXED CHICKS line consists of Shampoo, Deep Conditioner, Leave In Conditioner and styling products. All developed for unruly hair and curls, to control, define and eliminate frizz. I know, good thing you are sitting down right?

The Shampoo lather’s nicely and removes build up. There is now a new addition, a Sulfate Free Shampoo.

The Deep Conditioner nourishes the hair, a great detangler and prevents breakage – more suited towards coarse/curly hair. * no more screams from your children when you are combing out their hair.

The Leave In Conditioner is lightweight, non sticky and helps to define and add moisture to your curls all the while controlling frizz.

The Hair Silk controls fly aways, helps reduce split ends and adds shine ( can be used on wet or dry hair)

The Straightening Serum is a thermal protectant for styling that is humidity resistant (it also cuts drying time)

These ladies have done their homework. The MIXED CHICKS products are all Cruelty free and Vegan. Can’t find a salon who carries these pieces of heaven? Check out their website – http://www.mixedchicks.net

Be sure to get a manicure, you want your nails looking fabulous as you are running your fingers through your hair once more.

Beauty, Hair Care, health and wellness, That girl in the red coat, Women

You should hear sizzle at the stove….not at the vanity

April 9, 2012 That Girl in the Red Coat 2 Comments

STOP!!!!! Back away from the oil and the flat iron. Put them down. Think about what you are about to do. Does it make sense to add oil to dry hair then proceed to place a 400 degree flat iron on top of it? Picture a frying pan, picture it heating up to 400 degrees, picture oil being placed in the pan – what happens? What sound would you hear? EXACTLY – it would sizzle. Someone, somewhere started an ugly rumor that you can use oil and flat irons together. If you are trying to get your hair to the texture of wet cotton, you are well on your way.

All professional product lines have a product meant to be used with a flat iron. Thermal Protection Spray. They come in an aerosol format or your old school enviro friendly pump bottle. Whenever you use a flat iron it is highly recommended to use a Thermal Spray. It creates a barrier between the heat of the flat iron and your hair. It also helps to prevent breakage and damage that can be caused by flat irons (or curling irons for that matter). Here are a few gems;

SOMA – Prism Shine Spray – adds shine and thermal protection *Almost all SOMA products aide in thermal protection

JOICO – Ironclad – a humidity resistant fast drying , non sticky formula that offers protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (Aerosol)

JOICO – SmoothCure Thermal Styling Protectant – a humidity resistant formula that offers up to 3 days of frizz free performance. Formulated for curly, coarse hair. *also protects that hair against the heat of a blow dryer.

GOLDWELL – Sleek Perfection – a humidity resistant formula that offers frizz free, sleek results for up to 24 hours.

BAIN de TERRE – Magnolia Thermal Iron Protector – Humidity resistant and adds shine – (Aerosol)

Some other FAB! flat Iron sprays;

KMS – Free Shape Hot Flex Spray (formally Flat Out) – Humidity resistant

PAUL MITCHELL – Hot off the press – helps to strengthen the hair and reduce frizz – (Aerosol)

AG – Firewall – the newest addition to the AG family – (Aerosol)

Your hair is not made of Teflon, protect it, nurture it, it’ll make you feel beautiful, I promise you.

Beauty, Fashion

Back in Black….going Retro

April 8, 2012 That Girl in the Red Coat Leave a comment

We all love our stylist. They lift our spirits and our hair out of the depths of despair. It is time to give back. A little known fact – your stylist isn’t wearing that apron or smock because it’s cute. They are hot and full of static and not always comfy. They wear them to protect their clothes. Sure the bleach and color looks fabulous in our hair, on your stylist’s wardrobe….not so much.

There is an answer, a hidden jewel I found at the Toronto ABA ( Hair show). The company is Retro Metro Salonwear. Their lines of salon wear are bleach proof, snag proof and can be thrown into the wash at the end of the day with the towels if you wish. Retro Metro Salonwear has the cutest tops and even pants! They offers smocks and cover ups for those who prefer to wear them. Even better – although the line is for Salon professional’s the tops are trendy enough to wear on a night on the town. The line is created by a hair stylist and is proudly Canadian made.

At your next appointment, be sure to give this website to your stylist. If he/she is on Facebook or Twitter- send them the link. They will thank you for it. Check it out for yourself – the Wrap Top is beautiful.

http://www.retrometrosalonwear.com

Beauty

Pump up the Volume

April 5, 2012 That Girl in the Red Coat Leave a comment

I know, now you have that song stuck in your head. ( MARRS was awesome in the 80’s) Let that be our anthem. Let us bring back life to the lifeless strands upon our heads. There are many products that will offer volume and will have you walking down the street like you are on the catwalk’s in Paris, you may even find yourself speaking with a hint of an accent, you will be that fabulous.

Now, all volumizing products are not the same nor do they have the same applications. A good volumizing shampoo and conditioner offer a great starting point, a base if you will. All the professional product lines offer such products. Here are a few that are well loved by the masses;

– REDKEN Body Full – formulated specifically for fine hair, baby fine hair.

– JOICO Body Luxe – Women have come back to hug me after trying it

– Sebastian Volupt – smells wonderful

– KMS Add Volume – the bottles are pretty enough for the ladies – cool enough for the men

The key to a great mass of hair on your head is styling product (extensions don’t hurt but that is another tale for another time). Root Boost. This product is meant to be sprayed directly at the root then rubbed in. It will offer volume at the root of your hair. Looking for all over fullness? Mousse is the answer. Mousse is applied all over the hair and scalp. Both these products are meant to be used on towel dried hair, put ’em on dry hair and you have transported yourself back to 1987. Here is another little list for you all;

– ROOT BOOSTS –

KMS – Add Volume Root and Body Lift

BIG & SEXY – Root Pump and Root Pump Plus

REDKEN – Body Full Weightlifter

– MOUSSE –

JOICO – JoiWhip – awesome volume – Alcohol free

REDKEN – Body Full Instant Bodifier – a liquid mousse, not foamy

ALTERNA BAMBOO – Abundant Volume Weightless Whipped Mousse – Paraben free, Organic, Vegan.

OSIS – Grip – Cool can for the gents

There are so many exciting ways to have a great hair day everyday! Today was a sampling of what is to come. Ladies and gents, go forth and find your product and strut your stuff.

Beauty

You are not crazy…it’s just not the same

April 3, 2012 That Girl in the Red Coat Leave a comment

* That girl in the red coat note * as of spring 2013 Sebastian has heard our cries and have returned Shaper and Shaper Plus back to their original formulation.

I sit here, in mourning of a lost product. Our beloved Sebastian Shaper Plus is no longer with us. Sure, it sits on the shelf, in a slim new can that fits comfortably in your hand but it is not the same. You see, the product is different because of the VOC legislation (VOC =volatile organic compound). I guess saving the planet is worth it.

Since the loss of my beloved, I have been on a journey to find it’s replacement. To save you all some heartache, frustration and the embarrassing hissy fit that may ensue on the salon floor I have compiled a list of products that my customers and I have found to be a suitable replacement. All of these products are humidity resistant and have a firm yet workable hold just as Shaper (sniff) Plus had.

Sebastian ReShaper – one of the newest addition’s to the Sebastian family

Goldwell Big Finish Hairspray

RUSK Worx Atomizer * non flaking!

KMS Hair Stay Maximum Hold Hairspray * adds shine!

ISO Daily Finish Hairspray

Joico Joimist Firm

AG Ultradynamics * No build up/non flaking/cruelty free ( nice to bunnies)

Oh Shaper Plus: you were there at my first dance, my first break up, my first solo spider kill, my first bad perm, my first good perm. Yes, I wear black at the salon everyday, today was in honour of Shaper Plus.

Beauty

A little respect

April 1, 2012 That Girl in the Red Coat Leave a comment

Respect. Easy to spell out in song- thank you Aretha, easy to pronounce. From what I am seeing as of late not so easy to give. We all have been there, dreaming of walking out of the salon looking like Dorothy Hamill, Farah Fawcett, Cindy Crawford or Posh Spice (choose your decade), and when we leave we look more like Sinead O’Conner. The thing to remember is the next stylist you see DID NOT DO THAT TO YOU!

Everyday I am witness to a stylist being persecuted for something she did not do. I understand that the perm of ’87 ruined your chances at prom queen. I understand that sitting in the chair of a stylist with a two foot mohawk and telling him to do what ever he thinks is best wasn’t your best moment. These encounters that have scarred you for life do not give you any reason to disrespect a new stylist. I understand your apprehension of trying out a new stylist – I once had a stylist spray static guard in my hair before using a curling iron, yep, it really happened. I looked like the flying nun for a week.

Believe it or not, there are actually many stylists out there that love what they do. They want you to look good and feel great – you are their advertising! When looking for a new stylist never be afraid to ask them about their work. Here are some examples;

– where did you receive your education?

– how long have you been doing hair?

– are you familiar with any new color techniques?

– if you have curly hair ask if they are familiar with cutting curly hair

Any professional stylist should not be offended by such questions. If they are, move on to the next. If you have a friend who’s hair always looks great – ask who she goes to. Many stylists will offer a free consultation and then you both can discuss what look you are after and hold hands as you recollect the horrors of hair you have survived.

Again, I cannot stress enough, show respect. Not just for the stylist and the general public but for yourself. If you are over the age of two, sorry to tell you, stomping and shouting are no longer allowed.