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.

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"!  

HOLY SMOKES!!!!!

Normally its time to put forth a video showcasing the answer to a question iv`e  received but today,  I have to say...  I`m Exhausted!!!

I`m Exhausted because there have been few Saturday`s like this in my career,  today I had every single long,  thick haired, curly, wavy,  unbelievably massive haired client on my repetoir!   SERIOUSLY!  I blow dried more hair today than I have in my entire career combined!  I guess with the holidays on the way I was bound to get a day like this in there and well today was it!  


Everyone wants that smoothened out silky style and that means a workout for me people!  Holy moly if you think its hard on you to blow dry your own head of hair on a weekday morning imagine if 7 of you came in to see me in one day!  Well guess what... Today was THE day!  Anyway,  all i`m saying is at least I got through it with a smile :) 

Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin!!

Hey Everyone! This week`s Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin is more of an invite than anything else so please feel free to join us this Sunday October 23rd at our Yonge St. Location. We will be hosting a Cut A Thon between the hours of 10am and 4pm! All proceeds from the event will go directly to Little Dexter and his family who`s page can be found on facebook. A great little guy who needs our help, we will be performing cuts starting at $25 for just a cut or $50 with a blow dry! Your chance to get a great cut for a great price and support a great cause! Hope to see you there!

Whats your NAME?... evokesalon.com

So every once in a while we get a little silly... When we do you don`t really ever know what is going to come out of it. We will generally make a video to help showcase just how silly we can get! Anyway the other day a couple of stylists from the Yonge St. location decided it would be a good idea to make a video, a video that would showcase one of our stylists. That stylist was Ryan Yee, an up and coming artist at our Yonge and Eglinton location. Needless to say, after you watch this you will see just how wrong these videos can go when you step up and don`t really have content! Hilarious! Anyway the objective was to ask him what he enjoyed most about his job, and what he loves about his clients.... Check this out.

Wild On These NUTS!!!

Today we are going to talk nuts,  yeah you heard me!  NUTS!  I know,  I know quite inappropriate.   However nuts can be a great thing to speak about on a hair blog as long as you all manage to keep your minds out of the gutter.  Today`s question just so happened to relate to nuts,  hence the reason for our nutty review (I`m on a roll here).  Anyway,  lets get to the point shall we?


" Hi,  I am using the Moroccan oil for my hair when I blow dry it out,  is this the best product for my hair texture?  I have thick, coarse, curly hair."

YES!  it is a fantastic product for you to be using not just when you blow dry but also after on your dry hair as a smoothing product.  Moroccan oil hit it big a couple of years ago when they discovered that Argan oil was a fantastic moisturizer and protein enriching product for dry and frail hair.  The secret ingredient in this product is of course the nut from the Argan seed.  This nut,  when harvested and broken down reveals and incredibly lustrous and rich oil.  This oil is extremely rich in protein and in keratin which makes it a power pack for your hair!  The hair shaft requires protein for strength and keratin for lustre and softness,  few products combine both needs in one.  The fact that it occurs naturally in this nut is even more impressive!   Anyway,  great product for the hair when it is wet or dry because it leaves a beautiful feel on the hair shaft and produces an incredible shine.  I love it and use it on many of my guests.  

Don`t Rush! Pick The RIGHT Brush!

Hey guys,  hope you found yesterdays video post as hilarious as I did when I first saw it!   I think I need to take it back a little more serious today.  I know you all love the videos and interactive stuff BUT I think you really  would prefer some help with your hair.  I think the majority of our readers would prefer to hear about some good tips and advice,  well let`s be honest they probably would just prefer I move in and do it everyday!  Here we go with today`s question....

"Hi there I was just curious about what brush I should be using when blowing out my hair.  I have a bob cut currently and my stylist dries it with a flat brush that has white bristles.  He always seems to get it laying just right and I was wondering if I had trouble because I was using the wrong brush?  I have a round brush that I use.  What do you think?"

I think that to be honest you would have an incredibly hard time using a Denman brush ( which is what the flat brush with white bristles is called)  to dry your bob.  The stylists will always make that look easy because we have done it 1,000,000 times!  The Denman was the original brush used by Vidal Sassoon when he created the bob in the first place,  and it is an optimal tool to use when used correctly.  However,  if you do not have experience with it it can be difficult to get your hair to sit under well.  I recommend sticking with the tool you are more comfortable with ( the round brush) because it will achieve a great result and you can duplicate what he did with ease.  OR come visit me and I will give you lessons for like 2 years on how to use the Denman (haha)  anyway,  thanks for your question and have a GREAT day!

Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin!!!

Here we are again guys with another episode of Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin!!! And this one had to be especially good considering the fact that this weekend is a longer one! My ugly mug has to be up there just a little longer on the blog this week! Anyway hope you enjoy it as I touch on the difference between flat ironing and blow drying your hair straight. Believe it or not one is worse for your hair than the other... Check Out This Vid!

The Quick Dry Love Glove!!!

Have too much hair?  Are you having a hard time figuring out how to get all that hair dry fast enough?  Well,  you are in luck!  I was asked a question that directly relates to the situation and we are using a solution in salon that rocks!  One that makes it faster,  easier,  and a lot more fun to get it dry fast!  Check it out...

"Hi Jon,  I am enjoying your "Look Of The Day" and all the hair advice,  thanks for putting it out there.  I finally have a question to ask of my own,  I was wondering if you new any other ways that I could dry my hair quicker and with a little more ease.  I am a new mom and finding the time to dry my hair correctly is hard to do.  Thanks for your help and keep up the fun!"

Okay so before I get started I gotta say that I absolutely love this product!  I mean we have been using this product in our salons for the past couple years and we have never had any problems.  We use it on most guests and have seen them last quite along time for the amount of usage they get!  The product is called the "Hand Dry Hair Glove" an amazingly innovative tool that allows you to dry your hair faster and smoother before picking up your brush and blowdryer.  I love it and recommend it to most guests,  even if you have fine hair.  The only difference is that for a fine haired client it will be even more effective!  Anyway, awesome product great results at a fair price ($24.95 Canadian per pair) Check them out they work great!

All Knotted Up!

So today folks we have a question from a new mom! She tells me what most new mom`s do... That they have 0 time for sleep, let alone hair styling! I think we can help her out though, you guys be the judge and let me know what you think or ask your own question at dimauro.jon@gmail.com.


"Hi there, I have just been blessed with my first little bundle of joy and although any form of rest is hard to come by I am soo in love! One part of me that isn`t very happy with this new change is my hair, do you have any tips for quick ways I can throw my hair up? I feel like if I just knew a way to tie it up then I would`nt look so frumpy. Thanks for the tip in advance! :)"


I have to admit that due to the fact that I am a man, and more precisely a man with short hair I don`t have very much experience at putting my own hair up! BUT... Luckily I have just the right staff to help you out. This is Lindsay Plaskett showing off her skills and how! Check out the work she creates in this video using nothing but knots and a couple bobby pins!

Hey, Is This Safe?

So here we are with another week in front of us... For most of you this started yesterday,  but as stylists we are accustomed to a work week that starts on Tuesday and ends with Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin!!!  I hope you have all had a GREAT weekend and are settling in to a relaxing summer when not in the workplace!  Today we have a great question that will pertain to some of you right now and some in the future ( others not at all for obvious reasons!)  Check it out...

"Hi, my name is Jessica and I am currently 2 months pregnant.  I have about 40% grey hair and I am dying to colour it!  These roots are just viscous,  what do you think,  is it safe?"

Well,  I think the simple answer is MAYBE.  I know that sucks and that it really isn`t an answer at all but it is the truth.  There is no hard core proof that hair colouring during pregnancy is for sure a detriment to you and the baby BUT,  that does n`t necessarily mean that it isn`t.  It`s possible that some of the chemical compounds in hair colour can cause Cancer and or birth defects for you and or your new born,  however it is believed that one would have to use them in extremely high doses for them to have this effect.  These quantities would be far greater than the amount you would be exposed to when colouring your hair every month or two.  I must say that I have told many clients that during the first trimester of your pregnancy I encourage you to avoid their use,  however like anything else the choice is for you to make.  A safe alternative to try would be using colour systems that have a lower ammonia base to them and that can attest to less PPD content in their product.  Another way to go would be to consider using a vegetable base colour during your term such as Herbatint.  These are safe and effective ( just difficult to change)  in achieving the desired tone your`e looking for.  I hope this answered your question Jessica,  I know it is a tough decision,  let me just say this,  If you were my guest...  You would have to convince me to colour. Send me your queries to dimauro.jon@gmail.com

Saturday Night Lights Camera Askin !!!

Alright guys here we are again on Saturday Night! Whoohooo!!! Hope you are all gearing up for cottage country or something fun like that. Anyway before you take off for the weekend here is another segment for Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin !!! Tonight I talk about mens styling products and what is hot right now, Check It Out!!!

NEW!!!

So I decided that today I would take the opportunity to let you guys know that I changed the set up of our video sections above.  We now have organized groupings of all our videos and have updated them to include everything we have posted on Youtube.  We have included a section dedicated to our Satuday Night Lights, Camera, Askin! section,  along with a section dedicated to Testimonials and celebrity video.  I feel like the best way to get you guys involved in the sights and sounds that make evoke unique is to create great video footage for you to experience!  So we as a team have created quite a few videos to keep you abreast of what it is that a truly inspired hair team does on a regular basis.  The video sections above are broken up in four categories ( Yes we have THAT many vids!)  The first section is Video and is self explanatory.  In the Video section we will house all the videos that do not fit into another section (i.e. videos that we take at cool hair shows or when we perform an AWESOME makeover!)  Then we have a section for Tutorial videos,  self explanatory yet again!  All things educational can be found here, and believe me you will ALL love the knowledge shared.  We then have our Testimonial/Celebrity video section,  An area that mixes great testimonials from clients and celebrity clients alike.  Lastly we have our Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin section,  and for all of our regular readers out there this area is where you can recap Saturday`s video tip!  
Hopefully you all see the value in this new set up and enjoy the content that can be found there.  Thanks for reading guys,  and we love interacting with you!

Shave It Off !!! I Dare You!

So I was asked a very basic question the other day which I thought was a great one. I was asked what I thought was the trendiest look out there right now. An awesome question because I really feel like the latest video we put out there as a salon kinda answers that question for me all at once! Here is the exact question and our video answer!...


"Hi my name is Jessica, I live right here in Toronto and I have started to see quite a few funky cuts on the street. I am the type of girl who loves to do edgy looks and was just curious what you thought the latest trend was for cuts?"


I think this video will definitely answers Jess` question well! Check it out and email me your questions at dimauro.jon@gmail.com!

I Hope You Go BALD!

This is NUTS!
There really isn`t very much more to say than that. I mean, I know that this is the second video day in a row and I know that what you really want is hair tips (which I promise will be back soon, like tomorrow) but c`mon I had to post this vid! When you watch it you will definetly understand why! Let`s put it this way, it involves a group of weirdos who decide that deodorant or hairspray are good things to spray onto your hair before you apply a flame to it! As a stylist I am pleased to see people having a great time with their hair, and believe me we love the business and you will definitely need that fixed! However, as a regular everyday dude, I think these guys are idiots and should be left bald! I mean there are quite a few guys out there that have been thinning out and would love the hair these dudes have! Believe me the last thing they`d do is set it on fire! It just goes to show you that at this point even people with absolutely NO talent can end up on YouTube! Check This Out...





Jon Di Mauro

Make Sure You're Weddy!

So, we have moved into the spring and with that comes Bridal season. This season for salons is crazy busy!  This means that if you have a specific hairstylist who does your hair, chances are his or her time could already be spoken for! I know that many brides in the making have already made the call, but for those who haven't yet, soon (or now) might be a good idea!


As a stylist I am amazed at just how nonchalant some clients can be regarding hairstyling for their wedding. If you are getting married this coming spring or summer, then you should already have your appointment booked to see your stylist of choice. Also, if it is important to you to have your whole bridal entourage together that day, then they are gonna need to have their appointments booked too. Just as fast as venues are booked, your hairstylist may be as well. Let`s not forget that at this time of year there are a lot of people tying the knot. Check out some more bridal hairstyles here.


Your appointment on the big day should bring together everything that you've envisioned.  All of the details: the ideas, the concepts for your style, the pinning, the curling, the height, and anything else that your look entails, MUST be decided on well before! For every bride, we recommend you have a trial at least one month prior to your big day. The trial should be included in your final price and should be booked as a longer appointment (like at least an hour and a half). During this appointment you will show pics, clarify your wants, listen to recommendations, and of course perform the entire style. Every single step included, and every single pin placement should be reviewed. This way you won`t end up sharing the same expression Kate Hudson showed in Bride Wars...

Do your research ladies! More and more salons are realizing that this is a HUGE day for you, and they`re starting to put together really great wedding packages that you and your girls will love! As an example, what`s wrong with a bridal mimosa at 9am? Absolutely Nothing! Anyway, what I`m saying is, look into what it is they offer and that you get the most value for your money. More importantly, make sure that you see eye to eye and jive with your hairstylist. The way to find that out (unless you`ve already got one) is to make sure you book a consultation right off the bat. If the hairdresser is open and listens well, chances are they will have patience and be able to give you exactly what you need.


These are a couple of important things to make sure you have in place for the months leading up to your big day. I am sorry if I stressed you out but... someone had to kick your butt into gear! Get on it girl and make sure your big day is EXACTLY what you`ve dreamed of; you deserve it. I could talk about this all day! Moral of the story...  Make sure your Weddy!


Jon Di Mauro

Ruffled Feathers!!!

So, yesterday we covered a really hot trend in Undercutting. We make it a priority to stay current and so today, today we are gonna cover yet another really hot trend... Feathers! Right now we are seeing a resurgence of an older trend from the late sixties and early seventies. At that time hippies were runnin wild! Flowers and feathers in your headsets were a necessity! Well, its true in fashion just like in life that what goes around does come back around. There are a couple of companies that have started producing these feathers and are rockin it out making some great products. We really like the brand and approach of this company Fine Featherheads. We feel like this is a trend that again will be hot for the spring and summer months ahead. These easy to use, cool coloured, easily maintained extensions add dimension and style to your look. Slowly but surely we are starting to see more celebs sporting them also. Anyway check out this video for a look at the style, and feel of this upcoming trend!





Jon Di Mauro

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME !!!

Okay although I must admit I have seen some pretty cool cuts done by people on themselves (yeah, yeah strange I know!) 99.9% of the time it ends like this. I think its amazing that there are so many talented and creative individuals who feel it`s okay to attack their hair with scissors! and I cant lie it can work depending on what you`re doing. However, you have to be someone who is okay with maybe lookin a little grungy! If you work in the corporate world I cannot stress to you enough that this is not for you. Now, having said that some people are a little more daring and care just that much less. It takes guts and confidence to grab a pair of kitchen scissors and start going to work on your head! Even this young lady (Gash) seems daring enough and then... Well take a look for yourself. I`ll tell you this, it got a great reaction out of us!





Jon Di Mauro

evoke salon Hits Up the 2011 ABA !!!

ABA 2011 was on fire! We love to get out there and see what is happening in hair, staying current depends on it. evoke prides itself on trying to stay ahead of the trends and see what is next, soo we HAD to attend the year`s biggest show in our city! Here we take you on a little journey of the ABA showing you some of the bigger stages and overall show feel. We love going on the Monday because you always find a lot of students who are pumped and into it, who we are inspired by. This year there were some great stages and exhibitions, with lots of the bigger brands well represented. Matrix had a cool theme in that they had two exhibits, with one main stage and a side trailer.


We got to mingle with some old friends and collegues in a laid bak setting and take in some of the work on display for a change! We were also very impressed with the Procter and Gamble stage. It was impressive that all thier brands were represented, and they had a real prescence after taking a whole corner of the convention centre.

Hats off to L`Oreal and Redken also who had some great set-ups and talented artists to match. A trend that we embraced in our shops over the last little bit is under-cutting. Remeber the 90`s guys and gals? it back huge and with great colour placements and hard base lines to match! We love this edgy look! Anyway, Great show, we were happy to get the chance to share some ideas and inspiratrion. Check this Out!









Jon Di Mauro

An Icon in style... Liz.

I know that people have been pumping out blog entries regarding Liz Taylor like crazy over the last couple of days,  we have lost a real icon.  Liz Taylor in her heyday was a real beauty.  She set new trends in hair and fashion that lots of other celebs only dreamed of.  Liz was around to watch and be part of one of the most inspirational times in fashion and hair.  She was one of the first celebs who was really able to embrace her sexuality and show that on film.  Many stars during that era were pushing the envelope in style and fashion, such as Audrey Hepburn, Twiggy and of course Liz herself. She sported this phenomenal short style early on and it caught like wildfire,  sparking a generation of women to take the plunge and try out short locks on their own.

It didnt stop there either because as time went on she realized that this new form  of exposure worked for her. She really was a sex symbol and could live that out not just in her amazing beauty.  She personified the lead actress and star,  and influenced so many young women in her time.  As she got older (two or three husbands in ; ) ) She started to take on the role of elegance that we have come to see from her.  Liz was always an elegant women but she went from being pretty much a sex symbol,  to be sultry and sophisticated.

 

She rocked out some awesome styles over the years and looked amazing during the 70`s and 80`s.  I was particularly attracted to her look during the seventies.  I mean just look at this photo of her all waved out and smokin!  She really did have some of the most beautiful features we have seen on a woman! Beautiful eyes,  gorgeous cheekbones and of course that amazing hair.  

One last shot to showcase just how great she looked sporting an absolute signature 80`s look.  I think she pulled of a look that a lot of women tried to during that time and failed miserably!  C`mon girls you know what i`m talking about,  tell me you looked good when you hair was styled like this! Well, good but not Liz good. Maybe I have a bias...

Anyway, Liz will live on in our hearts for years to come and be remembered for much more than her hair.  I for one will always remember her in Cleopatra and be in love!  Liz Taylor... an icon the world and hair industry alike will never ever forget.

Jon Di Mauro