Monday Motivator – most popular reviews

August 20, 2018 That Girl in the Red Coat Leave a comment

Good morning all! Here we are, Monday has arrived. Over the past months I have had many inquiries about many different hair products from flat iron sprays to conditioners. So I thought I would re-post a few of my most popular blogs/reviews to date to help you all along on this fine Monday. When you are having a good hair day, any day, even Monday can be a FABULOUS day! Click on my provided links to find out more!

This gem from Schwarzkopf is a god send for all the natural blondes, bottled blondes and silver hair Beauties

https://thatgirlintheredcoat.com/2016/08/09/a-blondes-best-friend/

A little breakdown on conditioning treatments

https://thatgirlintheredcoat.com/2015/07/17/product-101-conditioning-treatments-to-heat-or-not-to-heat/

One of the most vegan, EU compliant hair care lines around!

https://thatgirlintheredcoat.com/2014/04/22/honestly-onesta/

Loved using mousse in the 80’s but aren’t sure about what to use now? Here’s your answer!

https://thatgirlintheredcoat.com/2015/04/28/product-101-mousse-hunting/

With over 6 years of archived tales and more reviews to come, yours truly has an answer for you. Yes, it’s true, you too can have a great hair day, everyday.

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

Product 101 – Mousse hunting

April 28, 2015 That Girl in the Red Coat 1 Comment

As promised, my tales are aimed to educate and enlighten. Today’s tale is the first chapter in a new series, Product 101. Each chapter will focus on a specific product and it’s hold factor, shine factor and an explanation of how to use the product for the best styling results. Everyday I meet a customer, lady or gent, who tells me “There are so many products. I have a counter filled with products that didn’t work. How am I supposed to know what I need?”. It’s at this moment I tell them they have come to the right place…and now I am telling you the same thing.

Everyday, I mean it, everyday, I meet a woman who believes she is destined for flat lifeless cuts and styles because she has fine hair. I am told that her hair is “too fine” and that all products “weigh it down” or “make it greasy” or “the volume never lasts”. It’s usually at this moment they say “You are so lucky to have thick hair that holds your style.”. When I inform them that I have baby fine hair, just lots of it, they always say “NO WAY!”. Yes way. When they ask what I use, for some reason when I mention I begin with mousse, most women interrupt me, telling me that mousses don’t work because of the reasons mentioned above. It’s usually at this moment I ask them “when you bake a cake, if you miss one ingredient, what happens to that cake?”. They all have the same answer – the cake won’t turn out. Same goes for your hair and styling your hair.

I am a firm believer in giving your hair style a good base and I prefer to use mousse for it gives all over hold and fullness. I have used mousse when I had a pixie cut, a perm and with my current style. There are many mousses to choose from and I know it can be overwhelming. Mousses are created for all hair types, colored, permed, thick or fine. Some offer humidity resistance, some offer shine, some help with static. There are three things to know about mousse;

1 – there are mousses that offer volume with a soft to medium hold

2 – there are mousses that offer volume with a firm hold.

3 – mousse should be applied to damp/towel dried hair

That’s really about it. It comes down to the hold factor you are looking for, price point and scent. Being me I have compiled a little list for you of some of the mousses I have used personally and are favorites of my customers and the clientele of our Salon;

These gems will create volume with a soft to medium hold factor.

Nioxin Bodifying Foam – A lightweight mousse with a medium hold factor created to give your hair a thicker, fuller look and feel. Good for all hair types.

Moroccanoil Volumizing Mousse – A medium hold mousse that creates a fuller look. Created for fine to medium hair types. I found that it gave my hair fullness, but not as much volume (height) as I like.

KMS ADD VOLUME Styling Foam – A medium hold mousse that has a medium shine factor. Formulated for fine hair – a nice mousse for all hair types.

Paul Mitchell Extra Body Sculpting Foam – A long lasting, flexible hold factor that offers brilliant shine. A lovely mousse if you have curly hair – don’t let the “extra volume” scare you off. Many of my girls with curls like the shine and the soft control this mousse offers. Good for all hair types.

Matrix Biolage Whipped Volume – A medium hold mousse that delivers natural shine and softness. Can be used on all hair types.

If you desire a firm hold and mega volume and control, the following gems are right up your alley! *if your hair feels sticky – you have used too much. I recommend dispensing an amount of mousse that resembles an egg, emulsify the mousse in your hands (rub hands together), then distribute it evenly throughout your hair and blow dry.

ISO Daily Foam – Offers a firm hold, weightless volume and control . This mousse is a great tool for setting and sculpting styles from roller sets to faux hawks.

Joico JoiWhip – An alcohol free formula that offers a strong hold factor with long lasting volume and body. A lovely mousse for curly hair. *gotta admit – my favorite. I have tried all mousses and for 25 years, I always go back to Joico.

Goldwell Top Whip – An ultra strong hold factor that delivers long lasting volume with an extra boost of heat and color protection.

RUSK Mousse – A little can that offers BIG volume and maximum hold. Great for all hair types.

Schwarzkopf OSIS Grip – An extreme hold mousse that offers a lasting hold, natural shine and an anti-static effect. It also helps prevent heat damage. A great mousse for shorter styles that desire hold without the fuss.

Sebastian Mousse Forte – A strong hold factor that offers volume and heat protection. This mousse is great for defining waves and curls and offers all day frizz control.

To recap – there are mousses that offer volume with a soft to medium hold – perfect for a more soft, natural look, feel and hold. There are mousses that offer volume with a firm hold – perfect for the more demanding sculpted and textured styles, or for those who want all day volume and hold that we don’t have to check on throughout the day. …or if you are like yours truly, forever in love with big hair, everything eighties and vertically challenged…wait for it…there you go.

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

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

December 8, 2014 That Girl in the Red Coat 1 Comment

As you know, yours truly has fine hair, lots of it, but fine none the less. For many years I thought I had thick hair, so I was buying products formulated for thick hair. No wonder my hair wouldn’t hold a style or why my curls were fabulous in the bathroom but the minute I stepped outside my curls would disappear, and the only volume I could achieve was via my Walkman. (children of the 80’s, you know what I am talking about – born after 1990 – Google it). Today’s tale is for my fine haired Beauties. I have found some FAB! products for fine hair, tested on yours truly and my daughter, who has her Mother’s tresses, by yours truly.

RUSK Anti Frizz Spray

The newest addition to the RUSK family, the Styling Collection, features this lovely hairspray. It offers all day humidity resistance, a strong hold that is workable and weightless and offers color protection with a light, fresh scent. Check out their other FAB! products at http://www.rusk1.com

Sexy hair. Not familiar with this line? Well, let me introduce you. My new favorite is from their style sexy hair line. Meet 450 Headset. A thermal setting spray that locks in curls all day or keeps your flat ironed strands sleek all day. Adds shine and thermal protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It has a waterless formula that offers all day humidity resistance. *it kept my girl’s curls in for 2 days. sexy hair offers products for all hair types, from straight and sleek to curly. If you are looking for volume – sexy hair may be your new best friend. Check ’em out at http://www.sexyhair.com

One of the newest members of the Joico family – HEATSET. This truly is a blowout perfecting creme. It is formulated for all hair types, yet light enough for the finest of strands. Using HEATSET while using your blow dryer can reduce breakage up to 25%. It reduces drying time, detangles, defrizzes and offers heat protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. *it layers well with other products, such as mousses and root boosts. It won’t get too sticky or weigh down your hair or your style.

Another new addition to the Joico family – IRONCLAD. A thermal protection spray. Use IRONCLAD *on dry hair, with your flat iron or curling iron to protect your hair from the heat of the appliance. IRONCLAD helps reduce frizz and static for up to 72 hours, adds shine and has a soft, weightless hold.

I have to admit, this gem is my new best friend. The latest addition to the Joico hairspray family. FLIPTURN offers a very strong hold factor that is still workable – you can brush through it and keep your desired style or begin again. It is a volumizing hairspray that adds shine and volume for up to 72 hours as well as thermal protection. A cool feature of this hairspray is it can be sprayed upside down, side ways or right side up without clogging the nozzle = any style can be achieved. * It smells heavenly! For more information about these FAB! Joico finds, check out http://www.joico.com

Okay…this gem doesn’t add any hold or volume, but it is sparkly, and there is always room for a little sparkle. Joico’s GOLDDUST, a glitter/shine spray. A perfect end to a perfect style. Heading out to a holiday party or just want to jazz up your grocery store attire – use Joico’s GOLDDUST and turn some heads.

Beauty, Business, communication, Hair Care, Uncategorized, Women, writing

Tales of Truth – Part 8

April 3, 2013 That Girl in the Red Coat Leave a comment

Gather ’round ladies and gents, girls and boys, it is time for that girl in the red coat’s Tales of Truth. Just when I think I have seen and heard it all, I hear the chirp of the shop’s door chime and VOILA!, more tales to be told. As I have stated before, all these tales are true, they are based on actual events. The tales are not those of fiction, unfortunate, yet true.

(before I begin our first tale – let me give you a little background tale) In Canada, we are slowly getting rid of our beloved penny…not the Penny from The Big Bang Theory…the currency. We can still accept pennies as payment, we are no longer giving them back with change. Now on with the tale. As I was finishing ringing through a customer’s purchase of RUSK Wless hairspray, I told her the total was $19.85. She looked into her wallet then looked up at me with the most terrified look in her eyes. I asked her “Is everything alright?”, to which she responded with “No!”. I asked her what was the matter to which she responded “I don’t have a nickel. I only have 5 pennies!”. So, I said “Okay, that is fine.” to which she said “Are you sure you won’t get in trouble for taking pennies now that they are abolished?”. I took a breath, told myself not to show it on my face, and explained to her the new “rules” about pennies to which she sighed “thank you for telling me, I was so scared every time I opened my wallet!”. …thank god she never worked the underground railroad.

I hear the familiar chirp of the door chime and look up to see a woman, staring at me. “Hello! Do you need my help with something today?” I ask. “I have a question for you about hairspray.” she says, then stares at me again. Dear lord…here we go. “What is your question?” I ask. She shuffles closer to me, bows her head and in a whisper asks “Is it safe to use hairspray?”. So, I did what anyone would do in this scene, I whispered back “why wouldn’t it be safe?”. (during all of this, all I could picture was the Eiffel tower in the background, a couple of cigarettes and a black briefcase containing “zee meecrofilm”.). It seems her sister in law told her that all hairsprays will change your hair color and that is why her hair was looking “brassy”. I told her that it was safe to use hairspray, that it will not change her hair color and that her sister in law needs a new hobby other than surfing the net. She bought two cans of Sebastian Shaper Plus.

It was about 10 minutes to closing. It seems the most interesting events happen to me within the first 20 minutes of my day or the last 10 minutes of my day at the shop, and most of the time without a witness. (I really gotta get a camera). Back to the tale at hand. A woman comes up to the counter asking for an appointment for a hair cut. I explain the Salon was closed but would be open again the next day and there was an opening for a cut if she wanted to take that appointment and come back the next day. She said she had to think about it and left. Within seconds she was back, I assumed to take the appointment. NOPE! “Have you accepted Jesus Christ into your heart?” is what she came back for. Before I could say a thing… “If you haven’t…do you want to be saved?!?….Oh, I wanted to be saved alright.

“Is this hair color temporary?” (there is a lime green sign that says “temporary color”). “Yes, it is. It will wash out within two washes, with shampoo”, I answer, with a smile, to which she answered “Pfft…two washes…that ain’t temporary. I know temporary and that ain’t it.”. …yep…this is my life.

Beauty, Business, communication, Hair Care, health and wellness, Uncategorized

Save the alcohol for your martini

July 14, 2012 That Girl in the Red Coat 1 Comment

Ahhh, the sounds of summer. Children playing in the streets squealing with delight as they hear the ice cream truck, the roll of the waves at the seaside, the chime of a bicycle passing you on the sidewalk, the whimper of a woman fighting the battle with frizz and losing. Yep, we have all been there. We have all been her…you know who…the woman who turns into a five year old little girl yanking the brush through her hair and stomping her foot exclaiming “I hate my hair!!” sending every man within a 10 mile radius to make a run for the hills. (who could blame them, honestly.).

Today’s tale is about alcohol free products. Alcohol free products are less drying and some have found that using alcohol free products helps eliminate frizz and said products have been known to save a marriage or two. (of course a glass of alcohol has been known to do the same but that is another tale for another day). The best way to eliminate frizz is finding the magical combination of alcohol free AND humidity resistant…don’t be so doubtful…such products to exist…read on. Since all these products are Salon professional, they are all color safe.

I have compiled a list of some of the favorite products sold at my shop that are alcohol free;

JOICO JoiWhip Mousse – adds great volume and hold (a little goes a long way…too much and can tend to be sticky…dispense so foam is about the size of a small egg)

GOLDWELL Glamour Whip Mousse – adds volume and hold

RUSK Jelle Gloss – Works great as a setting lotion or for that slicked back look

AG – Liquid Varnish – A serum to add shine, can be used on wet or dry hair (a little goes a long way…use too much and you will look like Danny Zuko from Grease)

AG – Spray Varish – A shine spray, to be added to hair after you have the look you want, just with a little more shine. (lightly mist it over your hair)

MOROCCANOIL oil treatment – use on wet hair to reduce drying time and to control fly-aways

MOROCCANOIL Glimmer Spray – A shine spray, apply to add shine to your lovely locks.

SOMA Hot Body – A volumizing gel, great hold and no flaking.

Now, the list of alcohol free and humidity resistant products…told you they existed;

SOMA Curly Cue – an awesome gel formulated for curls, keeps them soft and bouncy, and free of frizz

SOMA Prism Shine Spray – a lightweight shine spray that never leaves a build up or greasy look.

SOMA Rage out – a styling cream that can be used for straight or curly styles.

SOMA Solace – A cuticle sealer. Meant to lock that cuticle shut so no matter what the weather, the humidity cannot open up that cuticle and create frizz.

I hope this helps silence the tantrums and whimpers from behind the bathroom door, if not… I can give you a great apple-tini recipe, you will still hear the whimpers, they will just become more bearable.