Vivid Colours - What You Need To Know!

Rainbow hair, sand art hair, unicorn hair or mermaid hair,  it's all over the web these days.  Whatever you want to call it, vivid colours are here to stay!  Thinking of dipping a toe (or diving in!) to the brightly coloured pool?  Vivids have no age limit, but require a little more of a commitment than regular hues.  

Prepping The Canvas

In order to work properly, vivid colours require the hair to be pre-lightened.  Skip this step, and they're down the drain in one wash - which can be a great thing if you're naturally light and trying out a fashion shade for a special event.  Most people want their colours to last as long as possible, so lightening is generally a must.  Some colours - such as blue, silver, or pastels - need a base of almost white, where others can go on darker levels.  If you have colour on your hair already, it may take a few sessions to lighten your hair enough to get the shade you want.  Sometimes, it's not possible to do without compromising the hair.  Your stylist can help you choose a shade that gives the kick you're looking for without over-processing your hair.  Vivid highlights are great, but vivid fry-lights - not so much.

 Make It Last

Vivid shades last longer when washed in cool water, with a shampoo and conditioner designed specifically for their type of pigment.  Tinted conditioners can also help keep your shade fresh and vibrant.  It's best to wash as little as possible, no more than 3 times per week.  Dry shampoo is about to become your best friend!  

 In addition, there are a few things that will strip your rainbow tresses faster than you can say "My Little Pony".  If you're thinking of a full-head makeover, you'll need to avoid the following things.  Chlorinated pools are the number one culprit - if you need to swim, keep your hair out of the water with a bathing cap or bun.  UV rays, either from tanning beds or direct sunlight, will also fade your vivids faster - cover up or stay in the shade.  Finally, make sure you're using the shampoo recommended by your stylist.  Ingredients such as sulfates (a lathering agent) and sodium chloride (salt) break the colour down much faster than shampoos designed to work with the specific molecules in direct shades.

 Is It For Me?

With vivid hair becoming more accepted, there's a way for everyone to wear a little colour.  If you're wanting are more conservative look, try a few peek-a-boo pieces that flash when you hair move.  Into trying trends?  Ombre colouring looks amazing with brighter shades!  The bonus of this technique is that as the hair fades, you'll get a few different looks, but not have to touch up your regrowth regularly.  Ready to go all out?  Choose a single shade or a vibrant melting technique, but be aware that a full-head service can be more time-consuming and costly than the average colour, since it's 2 full colour services in one appointment.  Consult with your stylist to get an estimate of the time and cost involved. 

"I'm Too Old For This!"

Allow me to present 3 women very near and dear to me.  The woman in the top pictures is my Mom, age 59.  The bottom left is my Aunt J, age 64.  Finally, the bottom right is my Nanny, who had her first Vivid colour at the age of 89!  She's already planning her next visit, and wants to go brighter than the pastel blue.  She's proof that if you like it, you can rock it - at any age!

  

How To Get A Great Colour!

 

With new techniques emerging every day, having your hair coloured can be a daunting task.  How can you make sure you get the results you're looking for?  Do you want dimensional colour, highlights, balayage, ombre?  Going blonde?  Which tone - ash, neutral, beige, gold, honey?  A great stylist will be able to guide you through the terms and help you get the beautiful colour you want - whether you were born with it or not - but here are some tips to help.

Honesty is the best policy.

Just like being honest about your routine will help your stylist give you the best cut for your lifestyle, you have to be honest about what you've put on your hair.  If you used box colour, let us know.  Colours are complex chemicals, and although it's rare, there can be a chemical reaction.  You could end up with breakage, or worse.

On a similar note, even if you coloured your hair back to your natural shade, the colour is still there!  Your hair grows about half an inch a month, so if you have 12 inches of hair, that's two years worth of potential chemical reactions.  If we know what we're working with, we can devise a game plan to get you there.

One more thing - if you've ever had a reaction to colour in the past, please, please, please let us know.  There are a lot of product options out there, and if you have a sensitivity, we can likely work with you to get your colour where you want it to be.  However, we want you to be safe. 

Say What?

With all the different types of colour, it can be overwhelming to describe what you want.  This is where the pictures come in handy!  Show us what you mean, for both the overall look and the colour.  Stylists view colour in terms of levels, with a level 1 being the darkest, and a level 10 being the lightest.  You likely see "dark brown" in a different way than we do.  Bring pictures as a starting point to describe the colour you want.

Keep it real.

Sometimes, the look you want isn't achievable in one session.  If you've been colouring your hair black for years and want to go blonde, it's going to take a while.  We're not trying to get more money out of you, we're trying to save your hair.  Drastic changes or colour corrections can take several appointments, especially if the integrity of your hair is in question.   

Roots are for trees.

Are you a regular visitor to the salon, or is one visit every few months more your speed?  Certain colours, like high-lift blonde, require monthly visits to keep them looking great.  If you don't have the time to maintain your colour, consider a low-maintenance option, like ombre or balayage.  

Through the looking glass...

If you happen to glance in the mirror while your colour is processing, don't panic.  Every colour line looks different while it develops - some blondes may look purple or yellow while they process, for example.  The colour reacts with the oxygen in the air, so the way it looks on your head doesn't mean anything when it comes to the final result. 

How To Get A Great Haircut!

Ever left the salon feeling like you hadn't been listened to by your stylist?  Like you didn't get the style you asked for?  Sometimes it seems like stylists speak a different language, and you're right - we often do!  

So now what?  Do you need to learn to "speak stylist" to get the style you want?  Nope - but we'll let you in on some salon secrets to help you make sure you get what you want!

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Words are subjective - a bob might mean shoulder-skimming to you, but chin-length to your stylist.  Pictures are a great place to start.  Just keep in mind - we can give you Jennifer Anniston's haircut, but not her face!

It's a comb, not a wand!

Sure, you may love the choppy crops that are popping up everywhere - but your hair might not.  Keep in mind that your hair texture might not work with the style you want.  Even if you have the same hair as the woman in the picture, yours won't look exactly the same.  She's likely been Photoshopped to remove cowlicks and flyaways, and most celebs are wearing extensions for either length or volume.

Honesty is the best policy.

Most stylists will ask you about your morning routine, and how much time you're willing to spend on your hair to get the look you want.  Be honest with us, and with yourself.  If you're not really going to flat-iron your hair every morning, a sleek bob might not be the best choice for your wavy hair.

Show and tell.

"Trim" means different things to different people.  When in doubt, show us your definition of a trim.  It could be half an inch, or it could be 3.  As well, if you want "just the split ends off", that could mean a lot more length than you wanted.  Split ends will keep travelling up the hair shaft, and if you've neglected your hair for a while, the damage could be halfway up the length.

The right tools for the job.

Sometimes your stylist will make suggestions for take-home products.  We're not doing this just to sell you something, honestly.  Those products are like "liquid tools" to help you re-create the style at home.  You won't get the same results without them.  We use them because we know they'll deliver, and we want you to be able to get the style you want.  Ask questions!  We'll gladly show you how to use them, how much to use, and what they add to your style. 

Spring Cleaning!

Does your make-up drawer look like this?

While Mother Nature doesn't seem inclined to let us experience spring any time soon, at least we can make the best of the extended time spent indoors!  Here are some tips for "spring cleaning" your hair and beauty products.

To Toss Or Not To Toss?

If you're anything like us, you've likely got a collection of make-up that you can't remember the last time you wore it!  While it may not have an expiry date on the bottom, make-up has a shelf life.  It's a great idea to write the date you opened the product on the bottom of it, too.  These guidelines start from the day you open the package, and the product should be tossed if it's been open longer than the following list.

Powders & Eye Shadows - 2 years
Cream Eye Shadows - 12 to 18 months
Foundation & Concealer - 1 year*

*Water based foundation expires after a year, oil based can last up to 18 months.
Lipstick & Lip Liner - 1 year
Mascara & Eyeliners - 3 months 

Storage Solutions 

Make-up should be stored in a clean, dry space with little to no humidity (so the bathroom isn't the best idea) and out of direct sunlight.  Sunlight can break down the preservatives in products, causing them to expire more quickly, and warm, moist air or steam helps bacteria multiply.  Storing things like lipstick and perfume in the fridge can help them last longer.  An added bonus - if summer ever gets here, your chilled scent feels refreshing in the heat.

Switch It Up

Sure, the seasons haven't changed yet, but we can dream, can't we?  It's time to take stock of which products to switch out as the seasons change.  Creamy winter moisturizers should swap out for lighter lotions (with at least an SPF 30!) and moisturizing shampoos and conditioners can be replaced with lighter versions to enhance summery waves.  Keep in mind that skin tones change with the seasons too, and be sure your foundation doesn't look like a mask!  Try a tinted moisturizer instead.

Trends To Try

Spring make-up trends are showing up now on the runways.  Brows are back, with a fuller shape than in the past.  Remember, full doesn't mean bushy!  Brows frame your face, so keep them neat and groomed.  Lashes are full and flirty, and pastel shadows are taking over.  For more of an evening look, swap the cat-eye winged liner for smudged lines, or rock a red lip.  Both of these looks are best paired with a neutral face, so pick one or the other to avoid looking like you're playing dress-up.

My First Haircut

Of course, we all want sweet pictures like this one when baby visits the salon for the first time!  The truth is, it's not always that easy.  So, from our stylists, some tips to make that first snip easier on both of you!

DO...

DO bring your child into the salon before the first cut.  Ask one of the stylists to talk to them, maybe sit them in the chair with a cape.  This gets the child used to the sights and sounds of a salon before the big day.  

DO have realistic expectations.  Children are squirmy, and while your stylist will do the best she can, sometimes that neckline will be a bit crooked if it's a matter of safety.

DO bring another shirt for your child.  When they move around, little hairs sometimes sneak down under the cape (and some children just won't wear one!) and get itchy.

DO let the salon know that this will be the first cut.  They can place your child with a stylist who works well with them, and make sure to save you a snip of hair for the baby book.

DO book during a slower time of day.  Sometimes other staff can be there to help if needed.

DO bring a distraction for your child.  Bubbles, a favourite toy, or a small video player are great.  But...

DON'T...

DON'T bring food!  Hair sticks to everything (trust us, we know!) and you'll end up with a sticky, hair-covered, uncomfortable baby.

DON'T hover.  Stay for the first snip and a few pictures, but many children are more relaxed with Mommy and Daddy out of sight.

DON'T bring siblings.  They are often more of a distraction for your child, and salons are dangerous places if you can't give a child your full attention.

DON'T force it.  If your child is having a full-blown panic attack, reschedule the appointment.  Stylists would rather have the cancellation than the safety risk.  You want this to be a positive experience, not a negative one.

 

All "Charged" Up!

Remember when you were little, rubbing a balloon along your head to get this look?  Back then it was fun, but now - that winter static in your hair is driving you nuts!  However, a few simple changes to your beauty routine can free your hair of static cling.

Switch Your Suds

With dry air outside, and dry heat inside, winter can dry your hair even without the sun.  Changing to a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner helps to re-hydrate your strands and cut down on the drying effects of indoor heating.

Toss The Plastic

Plastic brushes can create more of an electrical charge through your hair, especially if you brush a lot during the day.  Wooden combs and brushes, or ones with natural bristles such as boar-bristles, won't conduct electricity, and are also gentler on your hair.

Style Smart

Adding a little shine serum before drying can create a barrier of protection for your hair.  If you can, allow your hair to air dry before styling.  If your style needs the blow-dryer, look for one with a ceramic core.  Heat produced by ceramic dryers has a negative charge that helps keep static at bay.

Glaze It Up

A clear shine glaze from your stylist not only creates a mirror finish, it also protects the hair, helping to keep the moisture inside the strands.  These can be applied right at the shampoo sink, and usually process within 20 minutes.  

Quick Fixes

If you're caught with a bad case of static cling, here are a couple of quick fixes!  1. After using hand lotion, run your fingers through your hair.  The residue of the lotion will temporarily calm the fuzzies.  

2. A light mist of hairspray or shine spray on your brush will help keep the static out of your ponytail.

3. If all else fails, an unscented dryer sheet is a great fix.  Hold the sheet near your hair, but not touching it.  Glide it over the top layer of your style, and kiss static good-bye. 

Purple Ribbons

 October 12, 2011.  Seal Beach, California.  Salon Meritage. 

September 12, 2012.  Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Cost Cutters Salon.
October 18, 2012.  Casselberry, Florida.  Las Dominicanas M & M Hair Salon.

October 21, 2012.  Brookfield, Wisconsin.  Azana Salon & Spa.

What do all these dates have in common?  All four are the dates of deadly shootings that took place in hair salons.  All four shootings were committed by estranged partners of salon employees.  All four shootings were senseless acts of violence that shattered the lives of families, friends, and communities.

A salon should be a place of community, of acceptance.  A place where we can go to feel at ease.  A place to escape our day to day lives, relax, and take care of ourselves.  

You may be asking, what does this have to do with us?  We're in Canada.  It's safer here.  Although domestic violence is on the decline, the statistics are still alarming.  

On average, a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner every six days.

On any given day, 3000 Canadian women, along with their 2500 children, are living in an emergency shelter to escape domestic violence.

What should I do if I think someone is being abused?

• If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or the emergency number in your community.
• Put her safety first. Never talk to anyone about abuse in front of their suspected abuser. Unless she specifically asks for it, never give her materials about domestic abuse or leave information through voice messages or emails that might be discovered by her abuser. However, abuse thrives in secrecy, so speak up if you can do so safely.
• If she wants to talk, listen. If she doesn’t, simply tell her she does not deserve to be harmed and that you are concerned for her safety. Ask her if there is anything you can do to help, but don’t offer to do anything that makes you uncomfortable or feels unsafe.
• If she decides to stay in the relationship, try not to judge her. Remember, leaving an abuser can be extremely dangerous. Sometimes, the most valuable thing you can offer a woman who is being abused is your respect.

Let's all come together to end domestic violence.