beauty

Seeking treatment

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In need of psycho analysis? This isn’t your kind of blog. Your hair is brittle and resembles that of the friendly scare crow in the Wizard of Oz? Read on my friends, read on. Treatments are important, for the health of your hair and the vibrancy of your hair color. Also, to keep silent the screams of the neighbourhood children every time you leave your house.

Treatments. You have your conditioning treatments, your oil treatments, your protein treatments, weekly treatments and so on. Before you go and start rocking back and forth wailing, get a hold of yourself. It is not that complicated. The purpose for each treatment is written on the packaging. No description? Put it down and walk away. All conditioning treatments are not the same, nor are they for all hair types. Just because the word “treatment” appears on the bottle doesn’t mean it is one. (come on…we have all heard of and been victim to “one size fits all”).

The following are treatments that are cream based treatments that can be used once to twice a week. (* all hair types = fine,thick, curly etc..)

JOICO – Kpak RevitaLuxe – the newest addition to the Kpak family. This award winning treatment is in a word, miraculous. It corrects damage that has been done and prevents further damage. Each time you use it your hair becomes stronger, softer and more moisturized. This gem can be used on all hair types. * Awesome for blondes

UANS Crema – great for dry hair and split ends – all hair types * great detangler and for maintaining wigs & extensions

REDKEN All Soft Heavy Cream – for dry brittle hair – rebuilds surface protection – all hair types

MIXED CHICKS Deep Conditioner – reconstructs damaged areas, makes curls manageable and a great detangler – for curly,unruly hair, thick or fine

GOLDWELL Rich Repair 60 Second Treatment – adds softness and moisture to dried out hair – for all hair types * can be a bit heavy for fine hair

SOMA Reconstruct – Rebuilds your hair cuticle back to a healthy state – for all hair types *Vegan and Cruelty free (loves bunnies)

A treatment takes 2 – 15 minutes. If you have time to sing in the shower or ponder how to remove the ring around your tub while you lather your tushie – do it with a treatment on your hair – you are there anyway.

 

beauty

Chicks rule

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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

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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;

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

 

Joico Iron Clad

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

 

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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.

 

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

 

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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

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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

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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

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* 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

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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.

 

 

beauty

Oil and hair..they just don’t mix….

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At least once a week a mother and her teenage daughter come into the store. As the mother begins to tell me about the oily hair her daughter has and how horrible it looks, out of the corner of my eye I see the young girl slowly shuffling towards us. In every scenario, with every mother, the young girl is staring at her feet. Then shifts her eyes upwards as if to pray to the almighty to quiet her mother and transport her to anywhere but the place she is standing. Daily life for these young ladies has enough struggles, oily hair does not need to be one. I can help with the oily hair. With the mother…gotta leave that to Dr. Phil.

In my experience, many young girls between the ages of 10 – 14 have at one time or another suffered from oily hair or an oily scalp. ( Poor kids…couldn’t wait to be a teenager). There are many professional salon quality shampoo’s that can stop the oil in its tracks. Here are a few that have given hope and yes, even a smile to a teenage girl.

For extremely oily hair –

– Senscience Specialty Shampoo

– RUSK Sensories Purify Shampoo

– AG Peppermint Wash

For normal to  oily hair –

– Joico Daily Care Treatment Shampoo

– Matrix Biolage Cooling Mint Shampoo

– ISO Daily Cleanse Shampoo

One thing I can promise you is that although it seems oil companies have a hard time cleaning up excess oil, these products do not.

beauty

So many shampoo’s…so little time….

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Shampoo. The makings of a great day or a terrible day. I have heard that starting your day off with a great breakfast makes for a great day. That slogan must have come from a bald man.

We have all been there. Thinking we were being ripped off at the Salon so we went to the drugstore for our shampoo. Two days later and $7.00 out of pocket, we return to the Salon wearing a hat to buy our shampoo. Professional products make a difference, not only with our hair but with the world! Bear with me….AG Hair products, Moroccanoil and countless other  products are not tested on animals, Soma hair care products are 100% vegan, Alterna Bamboo hair care is sulfate, paraben and gluten free. Paul Mitchell plants trees and doesn’t harm bunnies. These products are more concentrated than the drugstore brands so you do not need to use as much. Being low in sulfate or sulfate free means you won’t get a lot of suds – you don’t need to add more shampoo – just add more water.

Here are a few knock outs for you. The following products are products that customers have raved about…

For volume – Redken Body Full , Joico Body Luxe  (formulated for fine hair)

For dry stressed hair – Goldwell Rich Repair

For shine – Alterna Bamboo Luminous Shine

For blondes – SOMA Blonde/silver shampoo ( one of the only purple shampoos that adds moisture and strength while removing brassy tones)

For ethnic hair – MIXED CHICKS ( the name speaks for itself)

All of these shampoo’s are color safe which means you will retain your $200.00 color that much longer.  We protect our designer clothes, we read the labels and wash them accordingly. We wax and buff our cars to keep the paint looking shiny. We take our pets to the groomer’s for heavens sake, it is time to remember you. It is time to like your reflection once more.

 

beauty

Step away from the color….

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We all have them, the “trust me” friends who can “make ANYONE blonde”. After meeting women with every hue of orange hair imaginable I am here to tell you, the friend lied.  Hair color is an  art and a science. The art comes down to the application and placement of the color. The science comes down to assessing the color level of your hair, the porosity and the over all health of the hair. If you are still stuck on the word porosity – my point has been proven. Go see a stylist. Sure the commercial’s lead you to believe that your perfect hair color is just a box away, not always the case….unless of course the hint of moss green or carrot orange is the look you are going for.

Are you a brunette longing to be a blonde? Do you long to be a red head? Tired of being pale and ashy and want some warmth to the tone of your blonde? Here is the answer. GO TO THE SALON. See a professional stylist. Would you perform your own root canal? Probably not. Perform your own yearly pap smear? Don’t see that happening.

The stylists are professionals (most of them at least). Color and color theory are constantly changing. How color processes on your hair depends on your health, if you are on medications, the level of your hair’s porosity, what products/color lines you have used in the past 12 months. Please, save yourself heart ache and potentially hundreds of dollars in color corrections and hats. You are worth it.  Go see a stylist.