No More Kinky Business!!!

Exiting your morning shower signals the start of another day, another opportunity to let your radiant, beautiful hair shine on. Unfortunately you’ve already grabbed the towel and have started rubbing it furiously over your scalp. Now you’ve gone and done it, you’ve got the frizz.
 

Frizzy hair is very common among people; however there are various preventative measures you can take to keep the frizz at a minimum. First and foremost, start ending your showers by readjusting the temperature from hot to cold in the last couple of minutes. The cold water will seal the hair cuticles, diminishing your chances of split ends and frizzy pieces. Towel drying your hair is another common mistake. Allow it to air dry almost fully before blow drying. You can also keep it wrapped in a towel while eating your breakfast and applying your makeup and voila! A quick blow dry and style and you’re out the door.
  

Those of you out there with envious curly hair, unfortunately are the most prone to  frizzies.  When dampened, curly hair tends to retain more moisture causing the hair shaft to expand, allowing you to become vulnerable to a bad case of the frizz. Using shampoos that are geared towards frizzy hair is an excellent idea but make sure to do your research or ask your stylist which one would work best for you. All products containing Aloe Vera are also an excellent treatment for hair and scalp. Aloe contains cellular regenerators and allows for hair growth by stabilizing the hair follicles.
  

Digesting vitamins and the proper nutrition is vital. Vitamins such as B8, B5 and Omega three fatty acids will be a tremendous help in smoothing out your frizzy hair.  Foods containing these vitamins include; milk, walnuts, whole grain cereals and citrus fruits such as tangerines and lemons. The healthier your body and digestive system are, the healthier your hair will appear.
  

It goes without saying that the length of your hair and your regimen of maintaining it directly affects the amount of frizz you will have. Proper upkeep and trims are key for healthy hair.
  

So, next time you come across someone with an obvious case of the frizz; inform, educate and aid them on living a frizz free lifestyle. Who knows, it could be you or a loved one that the frizz creeps up on next.

Brushed Aside...

It feels like the old world is disappearing more and more with each passing day,  I miss Blockbuster! (haha)  In all seriousness though it seems to me that living in this time has had its positives in that we do not want for anything when it comes to information and convenience.  Everything we want is at our fingertips in seconds,  and new developments happen every second and not every day per say.  We have been shown so many wonderful advantages with tech advances in all areas of our lives.


What's funny though is that we seem to forget that we did things pretty darn well in the old days too!  When it comes to hairstyling in particular I feel like we have made advances,  realized in some cases that weren't advances at all and are now stating to go back the other way!  I mean think about it,  natural,  full,  beautiful,  healthy hair IS trendy!  Its never been anything but trendy.  The way in which we achieve this look,  and this type of healthy hair in general is to do very very little to your hair!  We try our best in salon to encourage our guests to take it easy every once in a while and not go overboard with their hair care.


As an example,  hair growth is something that cannot and will not be effected by anything expect good old fashioned natural care.   An example of this is a healthy diet,  Silica,  a good mix of B vitamins,  Rest,  and most importantly  do not put your brush aside!  Brushing the hair from root out to tip ( Like Marcia Brady used to!)  is a fundamental part of healthy,  enhanced growth.  Brushing your hair at the scalp and all the way through to the ends every morning and every night can make a massive difference in conditioning,  strength,  and vitality of your hair shaft.  Making getting it longer a lot easier overall.  The reason is simple,  brushing can stimulate the follicle level of the scalp with blood,  blood that is essential in the strengthening and support of the sustained and continuos growth.  


So the point is,  avoid always looking to what's "Hot" and new in regard to hair and try to realize that what's "Hot" is often what has always been...

What An Honour!

What an honour it is for us to able to do what we do,  especially when we are invited to partake in something this profound.  It is amazing to me that someone would spend the amount of time it takes to grow all of their hair out to 15 inches only to cut it of in a hair donation,  let alone 3 times!

That is exactly what happened Erin Lau showed up last Friday requesting to have us cut her hair off for donation a third time in our company history!  I had the pleasure of doing it for Erin the first time and this last time and its truly an honour.  Erin went from 15" inches of long hair into a layered bob landing at mid neck.  The hair was then packaged in an envelope and returned to Erin so she can bring it to Angel Hair for kids.  Erin says that  "it`s the least she can do" for kids that need so much.  We were thrilled to have been involved in such a wonderful gesture and hope to be able to help further in the near future.

No Tangles!!!

So every once in a while there is a brilliant invention,  from the little pizza tables inside your delivered pizza ( You know the one that keeps the box from squishing it)  to the amazing Apple iPad.  There are also some great ones in the hair world like feather hair extensions and the TiGi curl stick which we have covered.  Today I am bringing you another one that we are absolutely thrilled with in the salon,  the particular one that I have chosen to post above is called the Tangle Teezer which was the original.  This brush is phenomenal!  There are different lengths of bristles which makes it easier to get to the tangles on the outer and inner layer of your hair at the same time ( BRILLIANT).  They were also intelligent enough to make the bristles flexible enough,  to ensure that the brush ALWAYS gets through your hair. 

We are selling these things like hot cakes in the shop and the sale is an easy one considering it saves time and damage!  A great tool that I recommend you all take a look at this holiday... It will make you very very happy you did!

Family Day Break! For Your Hair Too!

So we are about to head into a much needed and very deserved holiday weekend,  one that the government decided a few years ago would be a nice addition to out list of already great holidays!  Well,  while our minds and bodies need to rest I am sure that for some if not most of our readers hair needs it too.  All the styling and primping and prodding can and should come to a rest this weekend.  I mean your sitting on the couch and chillin with the fam,  do you really need to have that hair all smoothened and flat ironed out?  I will venture to guess not!


So,  having said that lets take a sec to look at some of the ways to be treating your hair this weekend.  For most of us a little moisture slash protein combo never hurts,  so why not try using a Moroccan or Macadamia Oil treatment for seven minutes in the shower this weekend.  The combination of protein and moisture is seldom found with such great balance as in these two great lines.  The key ingredient in both products is the Argan Oil.  An oil extracted from the Argan seeds of Morocco,  it has a fantastic balance of being high in omegas creating dense and rich protein,  while leaving the hair feeling softer and more moist than ever before.  The objective here is not to sell product but to let you know that when you are having a hard time finding the ideal moments to treat your hair you MUST take full advantage of stat holidays!  You need rest.... ALL of you!

How To Apply Clip In Hair Extensions

A great tutorial for someone who is looking to start using extensions on a daily basis, these extensions are great and easy to use. They are inexpensive and easy to use while being long lasting and an effective way to create extra length...

Bangs Done By... You!

I must admit that my pet peeve is seeing a guest after she took the blades to herself! BUT this girl has cutting bangs herself down to a science, Check this out....

Connecting With Mommies....

So we love mommies!  No,  really we love to style their hair talk baby and share ideas and tips with them!  There exist not a better time to be there for one of your clients.  I mean they are retaining 90% of the hair they would normally have lost while they were pregnant and they haven`t got any time at all to work with it!  They need our support and help as much as we have the knowledge and ability to help them and it makes for a great success story.  

While a woman is pregnant she often just requires a little bit of styling advice,  a way to get that hair off her face and neck while maintaing a stylish and graceful look.  And it doesn`t end there,  because they cannot seem to understand why soo much more hair is now staying on their head!  (The body naturally retains the hair it should be loosing as a means of warm and protection and also maintaing a good vitamin balance... its quite incredible).

Its gets better after baby is born though,  because now mum is trying to figure out why handfuls of this stuff just keep falling out "Am I Gonna Lose It All?!!".  We have the luxury of being located in two areas of the city where mommies and strollers are as common as traffic lights,  and we relish the chance to work with them in these awkward times.  Anyway here is a link to a group called Mommy Connections that we work very closely with here in the Bloor West area.  We have been working with Karen and her organization for about two and a half years now and have really enjoyed the "connection". Having been around prior to the birth of their children its always amazing when they give you that first call letting you know that they need help up the stairs for their next appointment because these strollers are heavy! Its always our pleasure in every case.

http://bit.ly/wy5sHe

Awkward...

This is the best way to waste your professional hair products and lose a lot of the friends you currently have! In all seriousness though this may be a great tip video for all the mums out there having a hard time getting the gunk out of their daughters favourite friend!

Braided Buns anyone?

Now this girl has the braided bun down to a science! Check out this tutorial vid, I thought she did a really simple and easy to interpret version of this look... Very Well Done!

What`s Trending?...

THIS!  This shot pretty much sums up the time period and era that we in salons are currently bringing back to life.  I know that I included a shot of a pretty Parisien woman smoking a cig,  but come on does anything sum up this period better?!  I mean the pin curls,  the deep skip waves,  the chignons,  and french rolls,  AWW what a time to be a busy little stylist.


The wave of trend right now has taken us into a period that we first saw in the 20`s and then saw repeated in the 60`s.  A period where women were whole heartedly "pin ups",  in every sense of the word they looked perfect and exuded perfection.  The amount of time that was taken to achieve the looks they wore with regularity was very excessive,  and therefore for done in salon for the most part.  It was very common for a woman of that period to have her hair styled on a Tuesday at a professional salon and leave it until that Saturday night.  They would get some serious self life out of there styles because they would absolutely pummel themselves with a chemical shower of spray and setting lotion!  


Other styles common of that period were softer and more natural,  provided you were a woman who already had that texture of hair.  It was easier on those ladies because they were able to avoid the whole step of setting curl into their hair before they styled it.  This is a period that most confident stylists are very happy to recreate because it became the basis of our basic education in styling school.  


Embrace it ladies,  and PLEASE allow me to help you by coming in and having us do the work!  It would be our pleasure.  If any one has any questions they would like answered on how to create this curl by yourself,  or quick ways to achieve these timeless looks drop me a line and I would LOVE to get back to you!

Bohemian Waves Baby!

This is a video I found extremely helpful and interesting... This is THE way to create phenomenal and smooth wave and curls without using any heat or damaging your hair in any way. I would recommend some light workable hairspray but that`s it...

Hanz De Fuko`s In The House!

So we are pretty pumped about the new range of hair care products we are carrying at our Bloor St location called Hanz De Fuko! I gotta admit I was sold by the name (HeHe). Anyway check out this cool vid where Rasmus shows you a couple of cool styling tips using the Scheme cream. We are loving this Certified Organic and Paraben free mens styling range!...

Epic Cat Battle... Oskar vs. The Hair Dryer!

Although this little kitten is absolutely adorable and somehow this made me laugh out loud, I gotta ask.... Is The Pet abuse?

Bringing Back The Warmth...

I think we are all trying to warm up or something!   The amount of young ladies coming in to the shop over last couple of weeks asking for warmer reddish/ coppery tones is CRAZY!  I have to say though that we are truly loving it.  These tones are always so much fun to create because you get the opportunity to test out your colour line.  These are the tones that tell you what kind of colour your product of choice can really produce.  It takes a lot of pigment depth and shine to create a really impressive red tone.  Yesterday I posted one that was done on the weekend by our up and coming talented Alanna Janes at our Bloor Street location.  The vibrancy was amazing and she had some phenomenal dimension and shine to the colour (the stuff that makes a colour great).  


I think the trend started to really kick into full effect in the late summer month of August when we started to notice a lot more requests for warm and rich copper tones.  Everyone seemed to be looking for that auburn look (maybe it was Rihanna rich red that started it out).  Anyway since then it has taken off in our shops as more and more guests are coming in looking to go back to these shades.  This makes us really happy in our colours departments as we are always up for a challenge and are pumped by our results!

The Future Is Now...

So thank you all so very much for coming to this crazy little blog everyday and reading/skimming/watching or whatever it is you do when you get here.  The other day I posed a question on our Facebook page and asked what you all thought about the prospect of spending 25% more for your technical services (Hair Colouring,  Straightening etc...)  and I was given some phenomenal feedback that I very much appreciated.  The reason of course is that as a salon we are now moving into what we believe in and feel will be the future of this great industry. 


To start to offer services in your professional environment that are different and are cutting edge is always a plus as a salon owner.  Having said that I believe we are all aware that sometimes we are a little resistant to change.  From guests to staff  this will be a real test,  remaining optimistic in the face of a new colour when you are soo comfortable with you are currently using will take adjustment.  I believe as do my staff and partners that this is the way the world is heading.  I for one have started to make REAL change in my life through diet, environment, and above all cosmetics.  From choosing shampoos that are Gluten Free,  Certified Organic, Local,  and Vegan to choosing styling products that are free of plastic i`ve done it all with real success.  I now feel that we as a salon owe it not only to ourselves but also to our guests to try and show them that they can achieve the same great colours and styles while minimizing their exposure to harmful ingredients,  and being kinder to the environment at the same time.


So we ask that you give us a little time to work out the kinks and get going but we do want to letter you all know that soon ( very soon) we will having some GREAT alternatives to your current hair care regime that WILL allow you,  me,  and our staff,  the whole environment in general a chance to rest a little easier.  So stay tuned....

Holy Caboki!

Okay this tripped me out when I saw it! How do you feel about this?





The Magic is Immense...

Get That Roxy Wave!

A very cool way to create the sexy beach look you all want! AND its shown to you by a company that knows beach looks...ROXY. Personally I love their clothes and the company image as a whole. Thought you might wanna check this cool vid cause I got a kick out of it....

Enough Of The Silicone!... Try Silica!

So we are continuously trying to find out ways to better the condition of our hair are we not?  I mean I don`t think I know one person who doesn`t want fuller,  thicker,  shinier, or more lustrous hair.  One of the previously listed is for sure on your wish list.  Men for example are trying desperately not to lose it,  or if that isn't the issue then they could definitely use more shine.  Women always want more of it to aide them in creating more volume,  and if thats not the case then I am sure they too want more softness,  less frizz and a lot more natural shine.  We all know that what we put in IS what we get out and we are sure that we have all heard the little tricks ( "Add more protein to your diet" or "Make sure you take enough Vitamin B").  What we may not have heard is that Silica could be your hair`s secret weapon!

Our Hair at 90 micrograms per gram is almost as rich in Silica as our bones at 100 micrograms per gram,  and is a major component of hair and most of all of healthy hair!  Using a good Silica supplement can make a massive difference in the vitality of your hair.  Make Silica a part of your daily routine to help revitalize limp and lifeless hair,  as it can help to prevent baldness,  stimulate the growth of healthier hair, and provide a beautiful lustre,  strength and shine.

Free As Her Hair...

If she ever gets sick of the music industry I think she may already have her next career lined up! I mean she not only dressed the Christmas windows at Barneys completely in hair this year, she preceded it with this!...





And WE LOVE HER for it!

Ponytail Days...

Well,  it finally came.... Old man winter.   On days like this the best thing to do is figure out a great way to put your hair up because under that tuque there is much else to do!  On days when we inevitably have to wear a hood just to avoid our faces being soaked really have we got other options?


I am a firm believer in the side pony,  its simple,  effective and quite stylish.  It can be dressed up or down depending on the attire being worn,  and is a very feminine and flirty.  There are so many great tutorials available on line that show you creative ways to achieve them and then how to hide your elastic and polish them up with some product and spray.  It`s a great option for snowy days and for days when we to get out of the house fast and still look great. 

This Deserves A Bow!

One Of The cutest styles I have seen performed on the internet! This girl is a fantastic artist who obviously knows her stuff! Check Out This great tutorial!....

Hair-O-Matic

I think that this is something that most of you have dreamed of having at one point or another. With this great future invention comes some positives for sure BUT also some negatives... I will let you be the judge.
P.S. Great Writing and Direction by Rosie S. Miles!

Bloor and Yonge Tie The Knot!

So THIS is what happens when our Yonge St. and Bloor St. locations work separately but together.... We Tie The Knot Baby!!!!  This is a post I have been waiting to put up until I finished with the New Year`s resolution posts of last week.  Greg Di Biase and Murielle (Di Biase?)  Tied the knot on October 22, 2011 and we are soooo happy for them!  Greg is a guest of mine at our Bloor St. shop while the lovely Murielle has been client of ours up at Yonge and Eg for some time now.  They looked gorgeous as you can see for yourselves and had a beautiful ceremony at the prestigious One King West.  Murielle`s hair is coloured up at Yonge by Michelle Ang while Julie Hasen was responsible for the bridal style.  Guys we wish you both a magical marriage filled with love,  respect, happiness and most of all FUN!  Glad you guys were able to bring our salons together on your big day of coming together!

Check Out The link to see more of their beautiful day... http://bit.ly/yPZmIB

Just Like A "Pledge"

So today is the last day that I am going to bother you guys about your new year hair resolutions.  I mean it, this is really the last one ( I have a tendency to be long winded... Hehe).  Today we are going to discuss your product cabinet,  I know its a touchy one!  Most of you out there are quick to spend that little extra on yourself when it comes to nice things (Pandora charms, Leather Boots, Fancy jeans etc...)  There is absolutely NO problem with that if you can afford to do it.  I am all for the work hard and play/spend hard mentality especially when its earned.  What confuses the heck out of me is why some of you have not adopted that same mentality when it comes to your hair care regimen.  I mean I continue to hear from some of you that your shampoo of choice is a Drug store brand (Any one of them,  They are all equal!)  Or that you cannot switch to professional product because it doesn't leave your hair feeling silky enough.  I must admit that this really confuses me considering the type of ingredients used in these brands.  Most of you would probably be absolutely stunned to know that most of the "Big Name" brands you find in a drug store are literally only one or two ingredients away from being the same thing you clean your floor with!


What we need to remember is that these companies that are producing shampoo and conditioners along with other styling aids for hair are also producing toilet bowl cleaners and dog food!  Ever heard the old adage " Do One Thing Really Well"  This does not in any way apply to these companies.  How can a major manufacturer that produces everything from toothpaste to household cleaners and tupperware really know how to truly tailor a product for hair and scalp?  I know,  its in the research,  and I can see that BUT there are HAIR companies out there doing the same research... Just specified to what it is they do... HAIR.  I was always under the impression that you not only get what you pay for but that anyone who is a specialist in one area charges more and IS more capable and qualified.  The truth is that the conditioner "feels silkier"  because it is,  its FULL of silicone and therefore is coating your hair shaft and not actually creating any longer term moisture repair or damage control.  To me its never more clear,  in hair as in life what you put in is what you get out.  John Lennon said it best when he said "The love you make is the love you take".   So enjoy those boots and those fancy new charms but remember... Your hair needs some love and affection too!

Seduced By Smooth!

Today we are going to cover the second last in our series of potential new year resolutions.  Tomorrow being the last one I listed in the blog entry regarding possible hair resolutions,  products of choice.   I hope you have been getting a lot out of these because all of them keep us in business and you spending your hard earned dollars!  


These are a few ideas that can help you to minimize your exposure to damage and at the same time keep your hair looking healthy, happy and shiny!  We are going to talk about flat ironing today and figure out a couple of ways to avoid excessive use of this amazing yet damaging tool.  So,  we should start by looking at how you can start to get a little more time out of each wash.  Start by using a good heat protective product.  These are commonly called smoothing balm or relaxing fluids.  They are designed to go on the hair shaft wet and not only create an easier smoothing experience but also keep away humidity.  When the humidity is kept away the style can last longer,  not just in the summer months but also in the winter.  Another way to get a bit more time between washes is to avoid applying any "finishing" products aft flat ironing.  An example of these are shine drops or oils,  these can add the humidity you are trying to fight back onto the hair shaft.  When the hair has been ironed it is at its flattest point and therefore reflects light very well.  Meaning you will not need to enhance the shine as it should already be there very intensely.  If you find that the iron has left you with a little bit of static,  believe it or not I recommend a fabric softener sheet!  It is by far the best way to control that static without applying a topical product.  It will control the static AND ensure that you avoid that keep your style looking smooth and "soft"!  

Should I Dry It... Again?

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!!!!  We at evoke hope that you have all had a beautiful and relaxing change of year.  So I think we still had a couple of topics to discuss for our resolution list!  The last one we covered as a potential hair resolution was washing and how and why we should try to minimize the amount of washes we do in a week.  


Today we are back with yet another topic to discuss,  a touchy one I might add... Blowdrying.  I for one can say that I have a multitude of guests who insist on drying their hair every single day.  For the record I DO NOT recommend or indorse that in ANY WAY.  The last thing your hair shaft needs is to be pulled and stretched every single day.  Most of you are unaware that the entire point of blowdrying with a brush is to stretch the hair shaft out and create a "smoother" more "polished" finished.  The problem is,  in order to achieve that desired look you must elongate and therefore damage the hairs integrity.  We do this by pulling on the cortex layer with our brush and changing the hairs elasticity.  There are only so many times that we can stretch out and elastic until it gets that one little dry spot and just snaps! 


Other options include,  using a clever google search (evokehair on Youtube! ) to find great tutorial videos that will give you one more day without that shampoo and mandatory blow out.  Or working with the currently very stylish braids that are being fashioned all over the place.  Both are great ways to still look trendy and professional without putting your hair through the ringer.  Or we will see you in a couple of months for a very expensive moisturizing treatment and some pricey take home solutions.... The choice is yours baby!