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

Monday Motivator – The invisibobble

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Ladies, I know it’s Monday and it can be difficult to get excited over anything except the thought of the end of the day. Well, that is about to change! This Monday Motivator is gonna change your life. Seriously, it’s gonna change your life. Do you dream of a day that after wearing your hair up all day and you let your hair down, there is no kink, no snags, no battles with that last hair entangled in the elastic? The gem I am about to introduce you to makes this dream a reality. Let me introduce you to ….

Monday Motivator - The invisibobble - That Girl in the Red Coat   The invisibobble!

The invisibobble was created for all hair types, from fine to thick, curly to straight. You can wear your hair up all day in a ponytail and when you let your hair down after a long day at work or with the kiddies, no one would ever know you sported your pony all day since there are no elastic kink marks or “hair dents” as I like to call them. The invisibobble places uneven pressure around your ponytail = no kink. The uneven pressure also delivers a strong hold without being too tight. The smooth surface of the invisibobble is a frictionless surface that doesn’t entangle your hair as easily as regular hair ties. Smooth surface = allows for less chances of snags, snaps or split ends.

Another perk to the invisibobble – no headaches! Yup! The uneven surface grabs hold of your hair without pulling at your hair…no more tears or winces when those fine hairs at the nape of your neck are pulled. No more whispers around the water cooler or playground wondering if you had an eyelift because your hair elastic is too tight.

The invisibobble is perfect for the gym – the artificial resin that makes up the surface of the invisibobble prevents bacteria from entering the bobble – a perfect hair tie solution for those with allergies or neuro dermatitis. The invisibobble is perfect for the beach or the kiddies swim lesson because it doesn’t absorb water, won’t wear out and can be taken out of wet hair with ease.

For great tutorials on styling your hair with invisibobble, for everyday and those special occasions check out their FAB! website http://www.invisibobble.com

beauty, Business, communication, Hair Care, health and wellness, That girl in the red coat, Women, writing

Listen for what you cannot hear

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Beauty – a combination of qualities, such as shape, color or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight.

I hear the familiar chirp of the Salon’s door chime and as I look up from my purchase order, I see two sparkling eyes staring at me from just above the counter. Standing on her tippy toes, a young girl reaches out her hand and with a squeal, shakes her hand, giving me a prompt to shake her hand. Her mother, standing behind her lets me know that the young girl is deaf, so she likes to shake hands since she cannot say the word hello. I smiled at the little girl, and gave her a wave hello. I came out from behind the counter and gave a “come with us” wave to the girl as I went to help her Mother find the product she was after. As I was explaining how to use the product, I felt a little hand grab mine and little fingers intertwine with mine. I looked down to those sparkling eyes and smile. The young girl pointed to my hair and let out another squeal. It seems her favorite color is purple and yours truly has a swipe of purple throughout my hair. So, I bent down and let her play with my hair. She smiled and squealed and ended up rubbing my head where it is shaved. I showed her Mother the testers of purple hair chalk so her daughter could have purple hair too. Her Mother applied it and once it was done, I motioned to the girl to follow me. I took her over to our biggest mirror, bent down to her level, smiled and pointed to her reflection that she too had purple hair. Her Mother signed it was time to go and as I walked to the counter, my new found purple haired twin kept holding my hand, smiling and squealing. As they were leaving, the Mother thanked me for my help and my kindness and told me that I had made her daughter’s day. Funny thing is, it was her daughter who made mine, and I was sure to let her know it.

After the Mother/Daughter duo left, it got me to thinking. How many other Salon’s had they been to? How many other shop’s had they been in? How many other people did the young girl reach out her hand, only to have it ignored? How many people forgot about just being kind? For a successful Salon, you need more than a great colorist, good coffee and fully stocked shelves. You need to be attentive, sympathetic and empathetic. You need to pay attention to the sights and sounds of your Salon and your clientele and customers. You need to take those extra minutes to explain how to style your client’s new ‘do, or to bend down and let a child touch your purple hair.

Taking a moment to be kind to another human being, especially a child, adds beauty to the world. Plain and simple.

 

beauty, Hair Care, That girl in the red coat, Women

Monday Motivator – Goldwell Sleek Perfection

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I know, I know. It’s Monday. I too did not want to face the morning. In my part of the world, the temperature was below zero and I knew the hardwood floor would be cold. Alas, there are mouths to feed and bills to pay, and hair to do. Thanks to a new found favorite from Goldwell, my Monday morning became a little less manic, and yours truly is having a good hair day. Yep…a good hair day, on a Monday. Let me introduce you to Goldwell Sleek Perfection

20150723_100721 …a Thermal Spray Serum to be used with your flat iron.

For those of you familiar with my Salon Tales, you know that yours truly has fine hair, is a blonde (bottled, but blonde none the less) and is a die hard fan of aerosol flat iron sprays…until now. Goldwell Sleek Perfection is a non-aerosol spray that dries in an instant – you would swear it was an aerosol. Fast drying = no sticky residue or wet spots that sizzle when your flat iron makes contact. Goldwell Sleek Perfection reduces hair breakage up to 50%, leaves your hair feeling soft, silky and frizz free for up to 24 hours. ….and it smells wonderful.

The secret to this FAB! product are styling polymers enriched with Bamboo proteins that form an elastic film which is enhanced by their exclusive elastomer. *the polymer film also contains an integrated protection complex that consists of UV-A & UV-B filters, Pathenol and the agents that trap free radicals = long lasting color protection and hair that has a smooth, glossy surface with a natural feel and flexible hold.

For best results, apply to dry hair before using your flat iron. *That Girl in the Red Coat tip – flat iron your hair, section by section. Use a clip to keep excess hair out of the way, spray the section of hair you are going to flat iron and continue. I find this technique ensures an even coverage of spray and protection and I achieve a smoother look.

 

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

Monday Motivator – Schwarzkopf BC Color Freeze CC Control Cream

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It’s Monday. Again. The days are getting shorter, the wind is getting colder. Many people I run into are pretty glum. Well Beauties, for today, I can turn that frown upside down. I was given a FAB! product last week and as I received it I also heard my favorite phrase “Sara, give this a try and tell me what you think.”. Well, here’s what I thought…

 

For anyone who colors their hair, and loves their reds, purples and vibrant shades, meet your new bestie.

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Schwarzkopf BC Color Freeze CC Control Cream

First and foremost, the scent is heavenly. I found myself shaking my head like the girl in the “Gee, your hair smells terrific” commercial just so I could smell my hair. (for anyone over 40 – you get me.). This gem of a product is a weightless leave in cream that offers complete control with the added bonus of heat protection. BC Color Freeze CC Control Cream adds moisture while improving your hair’s elasticity and strength. Oh yes…and it offers 48 hours of frizz control – I knew that would grab your attention. For best results, apply evenly to damp/towel dried hair, apply desired styling products then style and blow dry as usual. Color Freeze CC Control Cream creates an even surface on your hair for an even distribution of your styling products – much like Schwarzkopf’s BC Moisture Kick Beauty Balm

Monday Motivator – Schwarzkopf BC Moisture Kick Beauty Balm

 

Schwarzkopf Bonacure has always offered a Color Care line. For all those who are die hard BC fans, no need to worry. The Beauties at Schwarzkopf wanted to create an even better product line to protect your investment in yourself and your hair color with their new pH Balancer Technlogy. Working with Lactic acid and Calcium Hydroxide, pH Balancer Technology tightens and stabilizes the hair’s matrix at it’s optimal pH of 4.5 = locks in color pigments for ultimate color perfection and anti -fade effect. Check out http://www.schwarzkopf-professional.ca for more tips and information.

The BC Color Freeze family of products also includes;

Color Freeze Sulfate free Shampoo – for long lasting color retention & vibrancy.

Color Freeze Rich Shampoo – for over processed tresses.

Color Freeze Silver Shampoo – for our blonde and silver Beauties

Color Freeze Conditioner – perfect for daily use.

Color Freeze Spray Conditioner – a leave in spray that helps with tangles and adds brilliant shine.

Color Freeze Treatment – a weekly conditioning treatment that provides in depth care that strengthens and smooth’s the hair’s surface.

Color Freeze Gloss Serum – revives dulling color, reduces frizz, helps to prevent breakage and adds instant shine. Can be used in damp hair or on dry hair.

beauty, Hair Care, That girl in the red coat, Uncategorized, Women

Monday Motivator – Joico Tint Shot

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Hello Beauties! I know…I know. It’s been a while. August was a CRAZY month so my tales were placed on the back burner. The summer of 2015, filled with sunshine, hard drives crashing, new hires, trips to the E.R., and more! It’s safe to say that yours truly was more than happy to greet September and feel the change in the air. Being that a new season is upon us, I thought it fitting to introduce you to a FAB! new product from Joico. Drum roll please…….

Meet Joico Tint Shot!

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The latest addition to Joico’s family of styling products. These gems will cover up your pesky grey’s and can also cover any thinning area’s throughout your scalp or hairline and give the illusion of thicker, fuller hair. Tint Shot was created with a Humidity Resistant formula so not only does it cover up your regrowth, it helps to eliminate frizz! Tint Shot contains Joico’s  Bio Advanced Peptide Complex – which repairs hair damage and can prevent further damage up  to 25 shampoo’s.

* Another Perk! Tint Shot contains Willow Bark which offers a cool, clean, soothing scalp sensation.

For best results, apply Tint Shot to dry hair. Shake well and hold 4-6 inches away from your hair. Spray in a light stream to desired area and allow to dry for  a minute before touching your hair, or applying your finishing touches with your styling products. * I recommend that you use your flat iron/curling iron before you apply Tint Shot.

* Another Perk! No worries of getting caught in the rain and your color running down your back or your cheek – Tint Shot stays put until you wash it out with your next Shampoo.

 

Available in four shades; Black, Dark Brown, Light Brown and Blonde, Tint Shot will soon become your best kept secret, and new best friend.

 

 

 

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

Perfectly Pai-sHau

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It seems every where you look, all your favorite hair care brands have an oil, or an oil enriched serum, all with the promise restoring our beautiful shiny hair. Some deliver for a moment or two, most leave a lot to be desired.  Well, ladies and gents, boys and girls, there is a new kid in town you gotta meet.

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Pai-sHau – a hair care system that delivers on all of it’s promises. Pai-sHau is restorative and reparative – leaving your hair with an extreme shine and healthier look from your first use and is created for all hair types. Yours truly was given the line to try, and after using these gems, I had to let you all know about this FAB! line. There are two features that make Pai-sHau different from all other lines out there. One –  is it’s Signature Exotic Tea Complex. With a blend of concentrated steeped teas from around the world that provide powerful rejuvenating benefits that strengthen, nourish and protect the hair. Two – Biphasic Infusion – Pai-sHau’s answer to an oil. Pai-sHau’s Biphasic Infusion is a potent rejuvenating concentrate – it’s advanced binary technology drives the Signature Exotic Tea Complex deep inside the hair cuticle to nourish the the hair’s structure by attracting moisture and locking it in. Antioxidants and amino acids surround the hair with a sheer veil of shielding properties known to provide thermal and environmental protection. (U.V. ect…)

Pai-sHau is a little line that packs a lot of punch! It consists of 5 products;

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Replenishing Hair Cleanser (shampoo) – concentrated with the highest grade ingredients making this undiluted formula “water seeking” = a gentler way to clean your hair. Lather then rinse.

Replenishing Cream Conditioner (conditioner) – designed to rehydrate dry and lifeless hair. Adds moisture without weighing down your hair. For best results, leave in for 1 minute then rinse.

Supreme Revitalizing Mask (conditioning treatment) – a potent yet weightless conditioning treatment. Infuses the hair with moisture with an added bonus of adding an anti-static barrier! For best results, leave in for 5 minutes, then rinse.

Biphasic Infusion(oil) – I cannot stress enough how FAB! this product is. I have fine hair and am weary of oils – they can make my hair greasy and lifeless in the blink of an eye. Pai-sHau’s Biphasic Infusion made my hair soft and shiny, it did not weigh down my hair nor was I left with a greasy residue – in my hair or on my hands. For best results – ALWAYS shake the bottle until well blended and apply to clean, towel dried hair. *Can be applied to dry hair after styling to smooth ends and control flyaways.

Style Souffle (styling cream) – a weightless styling agent that nourishes, repairs and styles your tresses. Formulated for all hair textures, infused with antioxidants to retain moisture during the styling process while offering control and manageability. For best results – apply to dry hair. Emulsify a small amount in your hands and apply scalp to ends, adding extra product for extra control if desired.

 

As you all know, I have fine hair and I can honestly say that not one product weighed down my hair, nor did the Biphasic Infusion (oil) leave a greasy residue. As I said before – it is FAB! The scent is unforgettably delightful, every product delivers on it’s promise and your hair looks, feels and smells beautiful -what more could a girl want?

beauty, health and wellness, That girl in the red coat, Women

Miss. Understanding

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My Birthday was this past weekend. Yours Truly is 43. My Birthday was as close to perfect as I had wished. I woke to a Happy Birthday smooch & smile from my beloved before he was off to work. I strolled into my kitchen for my morning brew to find a lovely hand written letter from my girl. I drove over to my parents home and had some morning coffee on the back deck, the sun shining on my shoulders and laughter filled the air. The forecast all week was for rain, yet not a drop fell. During my lovely lunch with my girl I received word from my beloved that he was coming home early. All day loving messages appeared via Facebook and text. We ordered my favorite pizza and caught up on our favorite show with our new found time – stolen time as I like to call it. I sipped my vodka & lemonade, with my feet up. It was a great day.

The next day, I woke up in a funk that I could not shake. I found myself on the verge of tears more than once. I found myself being nit picky over the smallest of things and my mind was not on my side – bringing up moments from the past that are best laid to rest and forgotten. At first I blamed the good ‘ol hormones (may have had the stupid cut out – hysterectomy – but still have the ol’ ovaries). Then, as anyone battling anything, I went through the list of people, places and events that were the true cause of my anguish. Once my mental temper tantrum was over I had a realization. Well, that and calling my hubby to see what wine he wanted with dinner and upon hearing his voice choked up and started to cry. My realization you ask? I have not been taking care of me. I was making time for everyone else. I was worrying about everyone else’s happiness and contentment. I was being the understanding ear for everyone’s issues and problems…and I had reached my fill. My funk and my angst was on me, and me alone. (…anyone who knows me knows how much I love that…). As I sat pouting on my front porch I realized why I had been so happy on my Birthday. On my Birthday I had made myself a priority, done what I wanted, spent my time with the people of my choosing and enjoying the gift of time. I had a funk the next day because I wanted more and deserved more. In short, I was kicking my own ass. Kicking my own ass for knowing better, but not doing better.

The reason for this glimpse into my personal life, you ask? To save you a mental temper tantrum (they’re exhausting and bad for the face) and to save your friends and loved ones wincing wondering when your head may begin to spin around. To remind you and myself that we are just as important as those we make a priority in our lives. A reminder to take a minute and take a breath. A reminder that cleaning and washing can wait until tomorrow. A reminder that no amount of dusting and polishing your living room can clean a tarnished spirit. A reminder that understanding the plights of others is a good thing, as long as you don’t begin to misunderstand yourself in the process. A reminder that although the truth may not always be pretty, there is nothing uglier than a lie and not being true to yourself is the biggest lie of all.

Take a moment for yourself when you can. Do what makes you happy. Celebrate yourself, everyday. Plain and simple.

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

Monday Motivator – Joico Texture Boost

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So it’s Monday…and what a Monday it has been. Between waking up 7 times through the night for no apparent reason, spilling my coffee…twice and then arriving at the shop to be a witness to our computer monitor’s demise…all before 9:30 a.m., it’s safe to say, yours truly was not impressed and certain phrases were being thought….and uttered. The only saving grace of my Manic Monday was my hair. Thanks to Joico and their FAB! Texture Boost, at least I was having a good hair day.

Joico Texture Boost Joico Texture Boost

This gem from Joico is a Dry Wax Spray. Yep, you read that correctly, a Dry Wax Spray. Joico Texture Boost delivers the pliability and texture of a wax without the sticky residue – in your hair and on your hands. With it’s ultra fine finishing mist (that smells wonderful), you can achieve movable texture with a flexible clean touchable hold. Joico Texture Boost is a styling agent that can be used on all hair types, from fine to thick, straight to curly. *It’s an awesome styling tool for achieving that tousled, beachy wave for curls. As you all know, yours truly has fine hair. This product did not weigh down my hair at all. I also live in South Western Ontario and the Humidex is at an all time high this week, and in my experience all waxes made my ‘do become a sticky matted mess or my textured tresses gave up the battle against the humidity and I looked like I hadn’t styled my hair at all…until Joico’s Texture Boost.  For best results, use on dry hair.

 

beauty, Hair Care, That girl in the red coat, Women

Monday Motivator – The WET Brush

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Happy Monday Beauties! I know, I know, it’s Monday and you’re thinking what’s there to be happy about? Well, let me tell you. Today product in my Monday Motivator series is going to put a smile on your face and silence the whines and screams of your children…and before you ask, it’s not a vodka and tonic. Let me introduce you to…drum roll please,

Wet Brush The WET Brush!

This gem is a life saver and a sanity saver. With it’s trademarked Intelliflex bristles this brush glides through knots and tangles with ease, no matter your hair type- fine or thick, curly or straight. The WET Brush can be use on wet hair or dry hair. There is no pulling or tugging on the hair or scalp. I own one. My daughter owns one. My girlfriend’s own one. Their daughters own one. Some of the gents in my life own one as well – it’s a gem to use on beards. Every woman that has bought one from me at the shop has come back to purchase one for her sister, her bff, her neighbor, you name it. My first experience with this brush was over 2 years ago, when all my reps. (10 of them) were talking about this new brush and only one of them, Sylvie Balan from KAO – a FAB! rep. if I do say so myself offered me a brush to try out in our Salon. After using it on our first client, we were sold. It used to take our stylists 30 – 40 minutes to comb out this client’s hair. With the WET Brush – 5 minutes.

Mondays are tough enough, why not start it off with a little less pain and frustration. Save your mascara from watering eyes due to a nasty tangle, silence the screams and end the morning and evening tears of your children when they see you approaching them with brush in hand, do yourself a huge favor and get yourself a WET Brush. Plain and simple.

 

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

Product 101 – Conditioning Treatments…to heat or not to heat.

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Today’s tale is the next chapter in my Product 101 series. My focus today is on Conditioning Treatments. Everywhere you look…facebook, twitter, pinterest and the ever impressive infomercials, everyone has the “best conditioning treatment EVER!”. This may be true. What I also know to be true is that all Salon Professional Hair Care lines offer a conditioning treatment and depending on your hair type and hair diagnosis, it very well could be the “best EVER!”. Not all conditioning treatments are created equal, just as every head of hair is not created equal. Some of us have dried, stressed strands due to chemical damage…demanding to go from brunette to blonde in one sitting. Others due to mechanical damage…forgoing a flat iron spray to protect our tresses with our daily rendezvous with our flat iron. Some of us are facing dry, lack of lustre hair due to good ol’ DNA. Whatever the reason, we all deal with dry, stressed hair, and this is when a conditioning treatment can become your new best friend.

Being me, I have compiled a little list. A “things to remember” list, if you will. Feel free to share.

– Conditioning Treatments are created to repair your hair, by saturating the cuticle & cortex with moisture, which in turn adds moisture back into your hair, adds elasticity and strength, and restores shine and lustre.

– rinsing with cool water locks in the moisture

– not all conditioning treatments are created for all hair types. Read the label.

– too much protein/keratin in the hair is just as bad as not enough. Always follow the directions of the conditioning treatment. If it is to be used only once a week, only use it once a week. *too much protein/keratin = fuzzy head (not a professional term, but it works).

– after 20 minutes, most conditioning treatments have done all they can do. You can wrap your head in a towel overnight if you so desire. I myself prefer a comfortable slumber.

– not all conditioning treatments require heat. Using heat with a conditioning treatment that does not require heat can result in greasy strands and/or lifeless tresses.

– all Salon Professional conditioning treatments are Color Safe

…and being me, here are some conditioning treatments that have been tried and tested by yours truly and our Salon/Shop clientele.

 No heat is required for these gems.

Joico Kpak Revitaluxe – the newest addition to the Kpak treatment family. This gem restores the level of the hair’s porosity, adds moisture and detangles. It doubles your hair’s resistance to future breakage by up to 94%. Kpak Revitaluxe is created for all hair types – strong enough to penetrate the thickest of strands, yet light enough not to weigh down baby fine strands. For best results, apply to freshly washed hair and leave on for 3-5 minutes, then rinse.  *this gem is one of the reasons this Girl in the Red Coat can be a blonde.

Joico Kpak Intense Hydrator – the name says it all. This treatment offers immediate hydration to the driest of strands and is created for all hair types. For best results, apply to freshly washed hair and leave in for a full 5 minutes, then rinse.

Goldwell Rich Repair 60sec treatment – yep! you read that correctly. 60 seconds. That’s all you need. This treatment will regenerate your hair up to 100% in 60 seconds. It restores the damaged hair structure from the inside out while providing softness and shine. Created for all hair types. *for finer strands, less is more.

 

 If you like to heat it up – these are for you.

AG  reconstruct – reconstructs extremely dry, damaged hair while rejuvenating the scalp. AG reconstruct is paraben free, gluten free and contains no salt. They are a cruelty free Canadian company. Apply to freshly washed hair, leave in for 2-5 minutes, then rinse. *to create a more intense treatment, apply heat for 20 minutes.

UANS CREMA Intensive Reconstructor – a self sealing conditioning treatment that adds moisture and restores elasticity. It can be used once a week, or as often as needed. Apply to freshly washed hair, leave in for 2-5 minutes, then rinse. *to create a more intense treatment, apply heat for 5 – 10 minutes.

DevaCurl Heaven in Hair Treatment – an intense moisture treatment for all curl types that is silicone free, paraben free and sulfate free that can be used once to twice a week. With this gem, more is best. Apply to freshly washed hair, apply a liberal amount and leave in for 15-20 minutes, then rinse. * for best results, once the treatment is applied, place hair under a plastic cap and apply heat.

In the age of Ombre, Sombre, Balayage, Brazilian BlowOuts and daily use of thermal styling tools, conditioning treatments are a must have. Not only will your hair look and feel fabulous, you are protecting your investment in yourself and you are ensuring that your hair stays in optimal shape and condition for further color, chemical and thermal adventures.