Beauty, Hair Care

Monday Motivator WOW factor

Leave a comment

…and here it is, once again. Monday. The snow is falling, the winds are blowing, Mother Nature has once again shown she is in charge. Facebook feeds are filled with school closures, road closures and delays. Parents are texting everyone they know, scrambling to find day care for their kids. When your week begins in chaos, you are left feeling out of control. There is one thing you can control…your hair. It may not seem like much, but you and I both know, when you are having a good hair day, it does make everything else seem a little more bearable. I may not be able to stop the snow from falling, or find you a babysitter on a moment’s notice but I can help you have a good hair day. Let me introduce you to some of my new found favorites from the Beauties at Color Wow. Meet Bionic Tonic Coconut Cocktail and Style on Steroids!

 

Color Wow Bionic Tonic Coconut Cocktail & Style on Steroids

 

I was first introduced to Color Wow 3 years ago when my rep brought in a root cover powder. In a word – AMAZING! Over the years, Color Wow has expanded their line to include shampoos, conditioners, treatments, styling products and tools among others. As you are well aware, yours truly is a bottled blonde, born a natural blonde – I have pictures to prove it, but a bottled blonde none the less. I have been coloring my hair for over 20 years, using a flat iron every day, so it’s safe to say, my tresses need all the help they can get. Let me tell you, I have tried more products than I can count and I have to say I am impressed. Here’s a break down of why I think you should give Color Wow Bionic Tonic Coconut Cocktail and Style on Steroids a go.

COLOR WOW Bionic Tonic Coconut Cocktail – this is a leave in supplement, not a leave in conditioner formulated for dehydrated, straw like hair. It mimics the natural lipid layer of your hair that is lost when chemicals, like color are applied to your hair. Apply a coin size amount to clean, damp hair before blow drying. Your hair will instantly feel smoother, have more shine, look more glossy and be frizz free thanks to this gem being humidity resistant. *this is a heat activated product – best results are when heat is applied.

* Color Wow offers two other cocktails –

  • Kale Cocktail – created for those of us dealing with breakage. It fortifies the bonds within the hair. With your first application your hair will be 50% stronger
  • Carb Cocktail – created for fine, limp hair. It bonds a high carb complex to the hairs surface to instantly produce mass and volume

COLOR WOW Style on Steroids – a texturizing spray created for color treated hair. This gem keeps your color vibrant and fresh. You may have found as I have that some styling sprays leave a cloudy film on your hair that dulls your color – Color Wow Style on Steroids does not! It contains moisturizing elastomers that give spring to your strands. Apply to dry hair before using a thermal styling tool like a flat iron or wand. Style on Steroids;

  • keeps your color vibrant
  • is never stiff or sticky – never a worry of strands sticking together
  • offers thermal protection
  • can be used as a refresher – apply in the morning to refresh yesterday’s style

* to add more volume to your ‘do – flip your head upside down, spray under layers and style as desired

* for a sexy, undone ‘do – spray throughout mid section and spread the product throughout your hair with your fingers. *great for separating curls

Check out their website – http://www.colorwowhair.com for more tips and tricks and to check out their complete line. Trust me Beauties, after using these products, the first words out of your mouth will be “WOW!”.

 

 

 

 

 

Beauty, Hair Care, lifestyle, That girl in the red coat, Women

Buttering up your Monday Motivator

Leave a comment

It’s Monday. It’s January. The February “blahs” are just around the corner. The view from my window…snow storms are threatening, skies are cloudy, the gleaming white snow has lost it’s sparkle and lays there, dull and grey. Before you pull down the shades and crawl back under the covers, I have a little something to help add a pop of color to your daily life and remind you that Spring will rise from her Winter slumber soon enough. Let me introduce you to Joico Color Butter.

From pink to purple, red to blue, Joico has created a color for you. Joico Color Butter allows you to try the vibrant shade you have always wanted, without the commitment! The color lasts up to 10 shampoo’s. Joico Color Butter is the perfect product to touch up vibrant ends, or to restore your existing vibrant shade until your next Salon visit. Here’s a few key features of this FAB! product;

  • Joico Color Butter is a nourishing color treatment. Yes. I said treatment. Color Butter both moisturizes and strengthens the hair. *Reduces breakage up to 44%.
  • Joico Color Butter is free of peroxide, ammonia, MEA and PPD.
  • Hair is instantly more vibrant and strong with healthy and glossy strands.
  • Washes out in 10 shampoo’s *Depending on the porosity of your hair.
  • The perfect product to refresh existing semi permanent pastel/vibrant colors.

To use;

  • ALWAYS wear gloves and cover your clothing to avoid staining. If you happen to spill a little, wipe off counters and floors as soon as possible to avoid stains.
  • best results are on pre-lightened hair.
  • for a pastel/lighter effect, apply to damp hair. Leave on for 5-15 minutes, then rinse. You can follow up with a shampoo – Joico Kpak Color Therapy is suggested.
  • for true vibrancy, apply to dry hair. Leave on for 5 – 15 minutes, then rinse. Follow with Joico Kpak Color Therapy Shampoo.
  • for bolder results – apply Joico Color Butter 2 -3 times. *always rinse and blow dry in between each application.

Visit http://www.joico.com for more information on Color Butter. Their FAQ sheet answers any and all questions, for stylists and their clients alike.

I know there are many of you out there who scroll through Instagram or Pinterest and vibrant hair color peaks your interest. I also know many are fearful of the commitment to color and worry about the judgement that may follow. Thanks to Joico Color Butter, you can have commitment free color. Who knows, you may find that you can’t stop smiling at your reflection. You may find yourself hearing “I love your hair” as you are in the produce aisle. Take a chance. Try something new. …you know what they say… Everything is better with butter.

 

Beauty, Hair Care, That girl in the red coat

An Instant Monday Motivator

Leave a comment

Here we are, once again. It’s Monday. Our week and all the hustle and bustle that goes with it has begun. Calls to make. Emails to send. Early morning drop offs and after school pick ups arranged. Deciding what’s for dinner, laundry thrown in the dryer, drinking cold coffee as tears are dried over forcing our children to wear their toques and boots…it’s a Canadian thing. All the while, trying to get yourself dressed and presentable to the world. …oh, and it’s only 8:30 a.m.. I may not have all the answers or remedies for our Monday morning mayhem, what I do have is a a product that can help you have a good hair day. A little gem that makes your hair look freshly coiffed and ready to take on whatever Monday may throw at you. Let me introduce you to Joico Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo.

 

For those who are not familiar with Dry Shampoo – this product was created to give you the look and feel of freshly washed hair when you do not have the time to jump in the shower. Dry Shampoo is applied to dry hair in layers, starting at the scalp. *That Girl in the Red Coat tip – flip your head upside down, then start spraying from the root about half way down your strands – a little goes a long way. After spraying desired amount, brush through your hair. When too much is applied, your hair can tend to look and feel like there is too much product on your hair. You may have heard around the water cooler or at the school drop off zone that Dry Shampoo made someone’s hair look worse. More often than not, the product has not been applied correctly. Dry Shampoo is not meant to replace washing your hair entirely. It is best to use Dry Shampoo for maybe one to three days, (especially for those of us with fine hair) then jump in the shower and give your hair a good washing.

Dry Shampoo tips;

  • always apply to dry hair
  • apply in layers/sections from root to mid shaft – flipping your head over to have your hair hang down may make it easier to apply.
  • always brush the product through after applying to prevent build up in a specific area
  • Dry Shampoo is not a replacement for washing your hair! Recommended use is 1-3 days. Using Dry Shampoo everyday can make your hair start to look greasy and lifeless and may cause product build up on your hair.

Joico’s Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo is formulated for all hair types, from fine to thick and for all hair colors. It has a hold factor of zero, so it will not interfere with your other styling favorites. It creates volume, like after a fresh wash and rids the look of greasy or oily roots and strands. It is a fast drying aerosol so there is never a worry of your hair looking wet or feeling crunchy. Formulated with Aluminum starch, Willow and Manuka extracts, Joico Instant Refresh absorbs excess oil = easy to brush out without any residue on the hair. Joico’s signature Peptide Complex targets and reconstructs damaged strands and Soy Protein adds the gloss.

On Monday mornings, your coffee may be cold, your toast may burn, your children may fight over who gets the blue cup, your hubby may forget where his keys are, but you will have a good hair day. Sometimes, it’s the little things that can make all the difference in our day.

 

 

 

Beauty, Hair Care, Women

Soft and strong hair? Yep, it’s possible!

1 Comment

You can ask any of my coworkers, family members and friends… at least three times a week I am complimented on my hair. The cut, the color and it’s condition. You see, I am a bottled blonde. Yes, I was born blonde, then I slowly became a brunette, and during pregnancy my hair turned dark brown and stayed that shade. When my grey’s began to spring up (at 31 thank you), I decided to start adding blonde highlights, that soon turned into more highlights that became what I have today, blonde on top, dark brown underneath with hints of magenta peeking through. Psst…a little secret…blonde on top masks the grey hair…when they pop up I can say it’s more platinum blonde. Back to the tale at hand. I want to share the secret to my good hair days and the lovely condition of my tresses. In a word… Joico Kpak. I could go on and on, singing the praises of this FABULOUS line. Instead, let me share my past tales of Joico Kpak and their complete line. Created for all hair types and hair woes.

15 minutes is all it takes

The Color Therapist is in

 

Luster-licious

The Joi of a Monday Motivator

Joico Kpak Color Therapy Dry Oil Spray – That Girl in the Red Coat

Monday Motivator – Joico Kpak Color Therapy Dry Oil Spray

 

Trust me, if you chemically treat your hair, using Joico Kpak will have you being complimented on your hair too.

 

 

 

 

Beauty, Fashion, Women

… if the shoe fits

Leave a comment

As some of you may know, and some of you may not, yours truly has returned to my old stomping grounds. Years ago, I managed the Ladies section of a shoe store. It’s not your run of the mill shoe store – a slow day is 250 pairs. This past July, the manager and owner and I sat down and I was asked to come back, and on my terms. Four shifts a week, only one late night and no management responsibilities. Just selling. Go in, do my job, go home. I explained my long term goals for my blog, my writing, my consulting and my life. I came to realize a while ago, do what you gotta do until you can do what you want to do. Plain and simple.

I have been back in the Ladies section for 6 months now, and although it was over 8 years ago when I ran the section, one thing has not changed. Women are insecure about their feet, their shoe size, what they look like and what people think. Too many women are forcing their foot into a shoe that is too small, or refusing to try on a pump because they are “too old for those now”, or, the saddest of all, buying a shoe they do not like because their partner says they like it. I may not be able to help you out of a bad marriage, or help you get your boss off your back, or get your kids to behave. What I can do is give you the “what’s what” about shoes and footwear. Here we go;

  • the average size of shoe sold in the Ladies section in 2018 was a Ladies size 9 – 10. Yes. You read that correctly. 6 – 7 is no longer the average size. There is no longer any need to be embarrassed about your size 10’s ladies.

 

  • Many companies offer an array of sizing, from size 4 to size 13. …and yes, the size 13’s are just as cute as the size 4’s.

 

  • European Sizing – this always throws ladies for a loop.  Here’s your go to chart;

                                                                         35 = size 4 – 4.5

                                                                         36 = size 5 – 5.5

                                                                         37 = size 6 – 6.5

                                                                         38 = size 7 – 7.5

                                                                         39 = size 8 – 8.5

                                                                         40 = size 9 – 9.5 

                                                                         41 = size 10 – 10.5

                                                                         42 = size 11 – 11.5

                                                                         43 = size 12 – 12.5

                                                                         44 = size 13 – 13.5 

  • Here’s a little helpful sizing tidbit – * many children’s shoes and men’s shoes are the exact same style as Ladies shoes.

A child’s size 4 is a Ladies 6

A child’s size 5 is a Ladies 7

A child’s size 6 is a Ladies 8

A men’s size 8 is a Ladies 10

A men’s size 9 is a Ladies 11

A men’s size 10 is a Ladies 12

 

  • Unless you have always dreamed of having bunions and hammer toes, or both…NEVER purchase shoes that are too small, EVER. Think about it. If the shoe is too small, with every step you take, the joints of your toes have no where to go but up (hammer toe) and out (bunion). Unfortunately, for some of us, bunions and hammer toes may run in the family – try not to give them any more help.

 

  • Unless you are on the beach, going barefoot is a no no. The older we get, the more support our tootsies need. The tendons supporting your arch run from the base of your big toe to your heel, and then up to your knee and they need your support. If you have ever had heel pain, or gotten out of bed and felt like you stepped on broken glass – that’s your arch begging for support. I have suffered from the evil Plantar Fasciitis and quickly learned that walking barefoot around the house was no longer an option. So I wear my Birks (Birkenstock) instead of slippers.  For those of you who just can’t imagine wearing these, give this brand a go – Vionic – created by Podiatrist’s. Their selection of sandals are cute and colorful.  I have to admit…every once and a while I wear my fuzzy slippers – I’m Canadian and our winters tend to be chilly.

  • When it comes to winter boots – water proof means water proof. The boot has a water proof membrane between the soles of the boot. I want you to imagine an Oreo cookie. The cookie parts are the soles of the boots, the cream center is the water proof membrane. *** Temperature grading on a winter boot means that your foot will stay cozy and warm if you are moving or not.

 

  • We all can walk in heels. We can. You have to walk like the models on the runway. Plain and Simple. Put one foot in front of the other and sway your hips and VOILA! You are walking in heels. * Walking with your feet side to side like you do in sneakers is the reason why you waver and look like a baby deer learning to walk or feel unstable. Imagine you are on the runway in Milan and strut your stuff sister!

 

  • For those who wear Orthotics, do not fret. You are not doomed to wear “old people shoes” for the rest of your life. Many companies offer and array of Orthotic friendly foot wear, from sandals to heels, knee high boots to slippers. …and they are cute too. Clarks, Aravon, Biotime, Romika, Ugg…just to name a few.

Something I want you to remember Ladies. If you like the shoe, buy it. Stop worrying about what others will say or think. Stop worrying you are too old to wear certain shoes. If you like sparkles on your shoes, BLING! away. If you like the way you look in stiletto’s, wear them like you’re on your way to your personal Vogue shoot. It’s like I tell my Ladies that shop in my section, if people are looking at your shoes instead of you, you need to tell them to get a new hobby.

Be your own beautiful. …and if the shoe fits, wear it.

 

Beauty, Hair Care, health and wellness

Monday Motivator

Leave a comment

It’s the first Monday of 2019. The holidays are officially over. The kids are back in school. For those of us in retail, holiday hours have come to and end. Our schedules are no longer filled with office Christmas parties and Holiday open houses. Life, for the most part, is getting back to normal, back to the daily grind.

All our Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram feeds are filled with “New Year! New Me!” quotes and memes. Many a fine lady and gentleman are seeking something new, be it a diet plan, a fitness regime, and as always, a new hair style. I began this blog, 6 years ago, to educate the masses about their hair. Which products to use, which products were for specific hair types and most importantly, how to use them. From pomades to flat irons, I tried to cover all the bases and answer any and all questions. As I sat down with my trusty laptop with my coffee in hand, I decided today would be a great day to go through my archives and share my what’s what of hair products, styling tools, etc. . Knowledge is power my friends, and with the proper tools and know how, the one thing you will be sure of is your hair. With all the happenings in the world today, it may seem silly and trivial to be worried about your hair. The way I see it, if you feel good about yourself, when you like your reflection and feel confident in yourself, you tend not to worry about the little things like split ends and are more aware of what is going on around you… it gets you out of your own way. So without further adieu here are a few articles to help you have a better understanding of your hair, your hair products and maybe, just maybe, a better understanding of yourself.

 

Thinking of an at home color experience?

Proceed with caution…

 

All flat irons are not meant for all hair types…

Would a flat iron by any other name still be as good?

 

Before you pick up your favorite shampoo at the discount store…

Divert your attention

 

A what’s what of hair products 

What does this do?

 

AC/DC isn’t just a band…not all blow dryers are created equal 

Blow out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Monday Motivator

Leave a comment

When we hear the word December or see the month on our calendar our thoughts automatically turn to our holiday to do lists. Be it trim the tree, buy that perfect gift or lighting the menorah. In my corner of the world, December also means pulling out every toque (winter hat for my non-Canadian friends), scarf, parka, and the endless search for the lost mitten or glove, that you find in June. December can be a beautiful and magical month. Fresh fallen snow, crisp fresh air. The sun peeking through the snow clouds to remind us of the hope of spring. Running into old friends which result in impromptu dinners or drinks, the list of possibilities are endless. One thing is for certain, many of us will keep our toque’s on, for the ever present static and frizz that goes along with December weather is always waiting to make an appearance. I do believe we have Canadians to thank for the “pom pom hats are in” fashion statement. Before you scour Amazon and every apparel shop at the mall for a toque to match every outfit, I have some good news for you! Even though the calendar states it’s December, there is still humidity in the air, hence our frizz. Mix that with the dry hot air from our furnace, static is not to far behind. Combing through my archives I have compiled a list of blogs about fabulous hair products that will keep your frizz and static the furthest thing from your mind. You’re welcome.

 

The Joi of a Monday Motivator

 

Monday Motivator – Onesta Smooth + Shine

Onesta Smooth & Shine – That Girl in the Red Coat

…a FAB Monday Motivator

 

Fine and FAB! finds – That Girl in the Red Coat approved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

communication, lifestyle, parenting, Sunday Confessions, Women

Sunday Confessions

Leave a comment

 

Over the past weeks something has been occurring that has left me, well, a little perplexed. As you know, I have returned to the shoe store 4 days a week. I have been assigned to my old stomping grounds, the Ladies section. I found myself checking the calendar last week to assure myself that it was 2018. I felt like I had gone back in time. Why you ask? Well, it seems that the 1950’s mentality that the man has final say in how the money is spent and he decides what shoe or boot you should be wearing still exists. I shit you not. I have witnessed women telling me they loved the fit of the shoe, that it didn’t hurt their bunion and it was exactly what they were looking for only to have their significant other say “You chose that? Seriously?”. I have also been witness to a man telling his wife she was kidding herself to think the boot she was trying on looked good. I have lost count of the moments I watched the light fade from a woman’s eyes, her head bow down and heard her say “you’re right.”. Women that I know make their own money, women that are lawyers and doctors telling me that they have to get the “OK from the boss” before purchasing their shoes. Pardon my french, this is bullshit and it needs to stop.

What I am about to say may ruffle some feathers, of this I am sure. As women, we teach people how to treat us. Sure, it is a jerk move to belittle your wife. On the flip side Ladies, you let it happen. You have a voice. You have an opinion. You know what you like and don’t like. You know how to treat people and how you want to be treated. You know what is kind and what is not. It really is this simple. Both men and women need to call each other out on inappropriate behavior and comments. Trust me, I have seen women belittle their husband’s footwear choices as well…which is ridiculous if you stop and think about it. Unless you are a part of the psychic network, there is no way to know how a shoe feels and fits on someone else’s foot. I don’t care if it’s a loafer that has bunnies all over it, if the person likes it, it feels good on their foot and it brings a smile to their face, simply smile and let them buy the god damn shoe. Here’s a little go to list for you;

  • Do not tell anyone how the shoe on their foot feels. It makes no sense, you cannot possibly feel what it feels like on their foot and you sound like a fool.
  • Do not tell a women her ankles still look fat when she is trying on high heels
  • Do not tell your 40 year old wife her shoe choice reminds you of your Mother
  • Do not tell your husband he needs “old man shoes” to match his “old man hairline” …yes, I am sad to say I have heard this on more than one occasion
  • When your 10 year old daughter has large feet and needs a ladies size 11, do not say “if this keeps going she’ll be wearing ugly clodhoppers for life” – first of all, that’s mean and ugly. Secondly, most shoe companies make cute shoes and boots up to a Ladies size 13.
  • If you have a job and make your own money, you should not need your spouses approval to buy yourself shoes, man or woman.
  • Never make fun of someones choices. Trust me, I think there are a lot of ugly shoes out there. Key words are “I think”. Just because I don’t like them does not mean someone else will adore them.

If you find yourself saying something to your spouse that if anyone else said to them, they would end up with a fat lip…you probably shouldn’t be saying it either. This applies to everything, not just foot apparel. Be kind. Plain and simple.

 

 

Beauty, Hair Care, health and wellness, lifestyle

Monday Motivator

Leave a comment

Here we are. Monday has arrived. Yours truly lives in Canada and most of us are waking up to frost on our windshields and snow on the ground. We are also greeted with moans from our children about having to sport their toques (hats for my non Canadian readers) and winter boots…such a fun morning ritual that lasts from November to April, if we are lucky. With the change in weather, many of our children have to deal with our moans about our hair. Weather and temperature changes can make our tresses dry, make our hair stand on end with static and frizz is ever so present….until today! I have covered these hair woes in the past, so for your reading pleasure, today I will share my links to my articles that will give you tips, tricks and information about hair products that can moisturize your dry ends, dry scalp and ease and even eliminate your frizz and static.

 

Monday Motivator – KMS Tame Frizz de-frizz oil

 

The Joi of a Monday Motivator

Monday Motivator – Joico Humidity Blocker

That Girl in the Red Coat

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

Pai-Shau Line – That Girl in the Red Coat

Perfectly Pai-sHau

 

Here’s hoping that one of these tales will give you the product that you’ve been searching for.

 

DID YOU KNOW? You can search my blog for a tale that suits your purpose! For example, simply type “frizz”, “damaged hair”, “Joico”, or “Moroccanoil” in my search bar and any and all blogs concerning your key word will pop up for your reading pleasure.

Wishing you a good hair day today, and everyday.

 

 

Business, communication, lifestyle, That girl in the red coat

… oh the things I hear

Leave a comment

As you know, I have been in the retail/customer service biz for over 30 years now. Yep. 30 years. From running the first central dispatch for Pizza Hut Canada back in the 90’s, to selling everything from hairspray, shoes and luxury vehicles. Over the decades, there has always been one commonality. The strange, the rude and the down right odd things people say to salespeople. In sharing these zingers, my hope is to bring a smile to your face and if you happen to know anyone who behaves/speaks like this, maybe together we can help them. …and yes, I am sorry to say, the following have been said to me. I constantly have to remind myself “do not show it on your face”. I can’t make this shit up.

  • “Will this boot shrink?” – a woman asked me if the Hunter rubber boot she was trying on would shrink in size. I asked her if she meant would it stretch. Nope. Her concern was it would shrink.

 

  • “This sandal is too big…look how much my foot moves!” …she was trying on a flip flop.

 

  • “How am I supposed to hold the hairspray?” …the can stated it was “hard to hold”. …psst…that means the hold factor of the spray itself.

 

  • “If I never use the back seat why do I have to get a 4 door car?”. I let the gentleman know we offered a 2 door sedan. “Oh, 2 doors won’t do.”. …sigh

 

  • A couple did not think it was fair that they couldn’t get approved for a car loan. We explained that they hadn’t paid their phone/cable bill in 9 months to which they said “well, they changed our plan and we didn’t like it so we won’t pay until we get what we want!”. …FYI – that’s not how that works. If you don’t pay your bills, your credit rating plunges and lenders aren’t a fan of bad credit.

 

  • “I need a shoe that fits my Orthotics.” I asked her if she had them with her. “Oh no, I never wear them.”.

 

  • “These are men’s shoes! There is an “M” on the box!” …we were in the ladies section. FYI – an “M” = medium width. A “W” = wide width.

 

  • “Can you tell me where my toe is?” … a woman trying on a 4 inch pointed toe stiletto heel.

 

  • “Is there enough room in this shoe for growing room?” … a question posed to yours truly from a woman in her 40’s. I let her know that her feet have probably stopped growing to which she said “Yeah, but what if I gain weight?”.

 

  • “Are these slippers slippery?”

 

  • A woman came in looking for winter boots. She picked up a pair and asked if they were winter boots. I let her know that although there was fur inside the boot it was a fashion boot. It had no thermal grading and was not waterproof or water resistant. I was told I didn’t know what I was talking about because “anything with fur is for winter.”.

I could go on, but I would get carpel tunnel, so I shall save more for later. Enjoy the giggles Beauties.