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

Knot That %*#@ !!!!

Wanna know what`s trending and hot right now in the hair world?  Its pretty simple actually... Laziness!


Funny because I feel like that has been a hair trend for years in certain circles!  Anyway funny enough I`m not kidding at all because easy is the new style when it comes to hair fashion.  The best part is it`s not that new because it seems like we have been on this trend for a couple of years.  
The latest in the long line of clever, quick and easy ways to throw your hair up with style is the double knot.  The easiest possible "updo"  I think I may have ever seen or done!  All there is to it is exactly what it sounds like you literally just tie your hair in two knots!  


Start by taking your hair into a middle section at the back.  After you have the two sides of your head separated,  you then wind them up into what feels like two wind wound up ropes.  Then simple tie a knot with the two sides,  once completed you then tie it into another knot,  and place it in the position you want at the back.  Take a couple of bobby pins and pin it down for security,  once that`s done a little spray should finish it off great and you are on your way!  So chic and practical! 

C`mon Baby... Let`s Do The Twist!

Hey Folks! Hope everyone is well and dry on this rainy rainy day. I think that slowly and steadily this awesome summer is passing us by :(
As much as I am gonna hate that, at least we have had a beautiful one filled with sun and fun! Well, it`s not over yet and as I am writing this the sun has just come out again! Anyway let`s get to today`s Million Dollar question!


"Hi Jon, I have started to take notice of this trend that we are so obviously living out right now, and that is VINTAGE! Its all over the place, from furniture and nic-naks, to clothing and accessories it is everywhere. My favourite "old-time" hair style is the french roll and I was wondering if you had any videos that I could watch to help me learn how to do one on myself? Thanks and keep it up, I have really enjoyed reading and watching your content."


You Are In LUCK !!! We DO have a video that showcases exactly that! Lindsay Plaskett is one of our most senior stylists at our Yonge and Eglinton location. She is not only a phenomenal stylist for other people but also is AMAZING at styling her own! Anyway I have to have you take a look at this video because I am astonished that it is exactly what you asked me about! I think you will take a lot out of this vid and I hope you master it after this! Thanks again for your kind words and I hope to keep you interested in our content. Thank you for your continued readership.

Love is in The Hair!

Hey Guys, Hope you enjoyed that AWESOME long weekend! I had a blast hangin with friends and just enjoying the beautiful weather and each others company. I hope you all had a chance to do the same. Anyway, it is bridal season in full effect right now so I am not surprised that I recieved this question today, and I look forward to answering it with another one of our interactive vids!


" I am looking into various hair options for my wedding day in October and I was wondering if you had any way of showing me what a common experience at evoke looked like? I have heard so many great things about you guys and look forward seeing what you guys can do".


We do have some video to show you (As Always!... What? We wil love video!) Anywayb this was a wedding party that made the day so easy in that they were sweet, organized and of course had beautiful hair! You will see what I mean fromm this next clip. I hope this gives you a good background of just what it is that we do. Please do not hesitate to contact us for a complimentary consultation at either of our locations. evoke in Bloor West Village can be reached at (416)766-4247 and our central location can be reached at (416)b 482-4247. Thanks again for your question!

Tight Buns!

Hi Guys! Today we have a question regarding buns, ohh yeah that sounds sexy! Ha Ha! Anyway in all seriousness Tammy from Newmarket is gettin married this summer and wants to know if there is any video of us doing classical buns that are low and sleek. I have a video from one of our photo shoots this past year that I think will do just fine. Hope she gets a good feel for what we are able to do, Check out her question and our video to follow!

"Hi Jon, I am getting married this coming August and have yet to find a hair style! Anyway I really like polished buns that are placed slightly off center. Have you got any video of this type of look? Maybe it will be worth the drive from Newmarket!"

Rockin` Out the side Pony!

Hey everyone! Today we have a question that came in from Jessie in Toronto that I think will be of use to you all. Jessie says that she has noticed more and more side ponies replacing the standard one and wanted some help on how to achieve the look. Easy enough when you have a self styling genius like Lindsay Plaskett in your ranks! Check out his fast and effective way to achieve the look we all love!


" Hi Jon and LOVE THE BLOG by the way! I was wondering if you had any videos showcasing side ponytails? I love the "How to" videos! Thanks."


So here we are with Lindsay getting right into this look, watch the movements her body makes as she does this also, because I for one believe that if you can make achieving the look comfortable than you will succeed in achieving it with consistency. Check This Out!

Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin!!!

Today we have some style ideas for all of the brides out there getting ready for their BIG DAY! We are gonna talk about what the "feel" has been in bridal over the past little bit, and how to get the Look yourself! Anyway, enjoy the vid and I hope that you are all having a GREAT Canada Day weekend!

Flat It OUT!

Hey Folks! Today we have a question from Candace in Milton. Its a great question because its one that we all ask a lot!


"Do I need to Blow dry with a brush before I flat iron?"

The answer to this question depends on a couple of different factors. If you have extremely thick curly dense hair with lots of frizz then I would say yes. The difference is that yopu want to try and avoid excess hot tool damage, so we try to encourage our guests to not use the brush first because its extra tool usage on your hair. If you can avoid that middle step and go straight on with your hot iron then you can cut the damage in half. However, if you have got thick curly and dense hair then in order to get it that straight you may need to get it smooth with a brush first. Ideally you would want to be able to just rough dry your hair and start running a comb and flat iron through if possible. Hope that helped and that you are getting geared up for this awesome upcoming long weekend! Send me your questions folks to dimauro.jon@gmail.com!

Vitamins!!!! They Make a Difference!

Today we have a question coming in from Lindsay in Oakville, Ontario.  Lindsay voiced a concern regarding the density of her hair and how if possible she could get more strength, health, density, and vitality out of her hair.  Here is Lindsay`s question and our answer!...

"Okay so my hair never progressed from the baby hair stage!  I have the thinnest, limpest, baby fine hair in the world and am dying to know if you have any tips on how I can make it fuller and stronger.  There isn`t anything I can do with this and i`m scared that at this rate by 40 their won`t be any left! "

Okay Lindsay I will start by being direct.... 

What you were given is what you have :(

However that does not have to be a bad thing! I would love the opportunity to work with your hair! I am only 40mins away in Bloor West Village! 

Okay in all seriousness I DO respect the client hairstylist relationship but I would have to see you shape to see if there was anyway of progressing it.  Having said that there are things you can do on your own to make a change.  First and foremost I recommend that if you are not currently eating a lot of meat and other protein rich foods then you kick up your intake.  There are a lot of ways to get those nutrients from foods, like Hemp Oil or even Pumpkin Seeds.  The main ingredient you are looking to take from those foods is B vitamins! They are so important in relation to healthy hair, skin and nails! B Vitamins, B vitamins, 

B vitamins!  Anyway If you are already in the loop and doing these things then it could be that your hair requires a different shape to create lift.  Let me know if you have any more questions and I hope that helped Lindsay thanks!

Bend It Like Lindsay !!!

So I got asked a question by Mary in Saskatoon! I didn`t know people in Saskatoon were reading this blog! That makes me very happy by the way! Anyway, Mary asked:


"I am seeing so many women sporting these awesome waves and I know that they do not occur naturally! My friend Sarah has straight hair and always seems to have these waves, I have to know HOW DOES SHE DO IT!? Also, like a lot of your customers I don`t really have a lot of time in the morning, so does it take a long time?"


I figure the best advice I can offer you Mary is to show you a video of stylist Lindsay Plaskett (phenomenal hair artist) doing flat iron curls on herself. She is really a master at self styling and it shows in this clip. Fast, easy, and very effective the flat iron is an amazing tool when it comes to many forms of styling, especially waves! Check Out The Vid and let me know what you think at dimauro.jon@gmail.com!

Colouring Your World !!!

So today we have a question that came in from Linda in Ottawa!  Awesome! They read our blog in Ottawa!  Anyway Linda asked 


" I am always very confused when my colourist talks about whether he should use a semi permanent colour or a permanent colour when giving me a solid colour.  I cannot for the life of me figure out the difference?"

So really the difference is simple... Commitment level!  Basically Semi permanent hair colour is for those who are a little afraid of taking the big jump into hair colour.  Semi`s are colour that over time will wash out and not really be visible anymore.  They tend to be less intrusive and because of their "lighter" overall chemical composition do not last as long or require as much commitment.  Permanent hair colour on the other hand enters the hair shafts cuticle layer and deposits itself right onto the cortex layer of your hair shaft.  Therefore it makes itself (just by the sheer nature of it) a lot harder to get rid of hence requiring more of a commitment to maintain.  Another difference is when it comes down to chemical make up.  Semi`s use a lower peroxide level to develop, and generally have lower ammonia compounds.  The opposite being true regarding permanent.


Hope that answered your question and please feel free to send me any more your questions to dimauro.jon@gmail.com

Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin !!!

So here we go folks another webisode of Saturday Nights Lights, Camera, Askin !!!
Tonight I address a question sent to me by Larissa in Toronto who asked about cool rinses after shampooing. Thank you for continuing to engage and ask questions! You can send me your questions at dimauro.jon@gmail.com! I look forward to hearing from you!

Get Gator Strength !!!

I don`t know how many of you have long hair and CANNOT get it to stay up in a pony! I mean I hear about it all the time! Or maybe you just have a tough time blowdrying and finding a clip that will actually hold when you're sectioning? Well, there is help!

There are phenomenal clips on the market now that I use every day and swear by; they are called Gator clips. These things are AMAZING. I have been able to hold a tonne (literally) of hair out of my way as I blow out one section before moving on to the next. In the past it would take a stylist at least two clips at a time to hold the hair of a woman with long, thick, flowy locks, but not any more! These things are phenomenal! Seriously!


The way they work is that there are hinges in the front and in the back, the one in the back controls the clips opening and closing function. The Hinge in the front however is the real prize! This hinge makes it possible for the clip to create like an elbow effect and therefore hold more hair in place in the middle space. One arm drops down and the other bends as you stuff more hair in the clip!  So you would imagine that if you have a lot of hair this is the right clip considering it just keeps wanting more and more of your hair!


Anyway they are normally sold in packs of three or four and usually go for anywhere between $8 - $15 dollars per pack. I love them and can`t get enough of these things! Check them out at your salon or closest beauty supply house. Quick tip that I hope makes your life easier and helps you get a grip!


Jon Di Mauro




So as per Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin!!
Here is another answer!


Mary in Woodbridge asked " I just bought a new flat iron and want to know if there is any products you recommend I use before I start flat ironing?"


First of all Great question Mary and thanks for asking! Yes I would recommend that you look into getting a good thermal protectant product. These products generally come in oil or cream form and are designed to protect the hair shaft from excessive heat application. They are made to be applied on wet hair and used during your rough drying and flat ironing. I will not even touch a guests hair with my iron unless a thermal product has been applied. A great one to use at a fairly good price is Flat Out by KMS and it retails at about $12-$18 dollars a bottle. Hope this helped Mary and thanks for your question!


Hey guys send me your questions to dimauro.jon@gmail.com! Thanks for reading!

YES!!! this was REALLY funny!

If you can get past the cursing in this video, it's HILARIOUS!! It had me in stitches! I can`t say I felt bad for her just based on how funny this prank is. I know that`s not very nice, but come on, have you never pulled a prank on any one before?! Now that I think about it, I am very happy that I posted this skit AFTER April 1st! At least my stylists will have to wait a year before they get me with a shtick like this!
Has anyone ever tried anything like this on you? If so, PLEASE share it with us because well... I would love to post your story if you do!







So as per the Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin !!!
Questions that I have been asked lets get to an answer!


Brenda in Whitby asked "Why is it that my hairdresser LOVES those stupid thinning scissor?"


Brenda I cannot thank you enough for asking that question! Thinning shears were introduced to the hairdressing world with the idea that a client needs to have bulk removed from her hair if she has a lot of it. I for one WILL NOT EVER USE OR ALLOW THINNING SHEARS TO BE USED IN OUR SALON. There is a very good reason also, I feel they are a cop out. They are simply a means for the stylist to get in and out of your haircut in a great amount of time (30mins). Great in terms of money making that is! They cause excessive amounts of damage as they severely destroy the hair shafts cuticle layer. Which is the outer most layer of each hair shaft, creating Frizz that is unworkable and an overall lifeless hair shaft! Anyway hope this helped and please do not allow for them to be used on your hair.


Send me your questions to dimauro.jon@gmail.com I would LOVE to help you out too!

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

I Swear, Great Bridal Hairstyles !!!

Bridal Hairstyles

   With spring around the corner a new and exciting season is about to get under way.  For us as stylists it is an exciting time of change, as we start to look ahead to spring and even summer trends. Bridal hairstyles are what excites us about this season!

   It’s one of the most important and monumental days of your life, and definitely the most photographed. It’s your wedding day. Stress levels are running high and your mind is running a mile a minute with to do lists and last minute preparations. One part of your day however, should be a definite deal, set in stone, no changes necessary. Those ladies, are your hair plans.

   You’ll want to be sipping champagne and bonding with your bridesmaids, making memories that will last long after the cake is cut on your big day. In order to execute this fantasy you will need a little leg work first. Deciding on a Salon and stylists for the big day starts well before the wedding. 

   All brides should make several consultation appointments at different salons to experience the various approaches to style and creativity. These consultations are usually free of charge and bringing a digital camera and a friend would definitely be in your best interest. Trying to recall the differences from salon to salon will be difficult without visuals. 

   On the big day at your chosen salon you should expect smooth and efficient service that gets you the bridal hairstyles you want. Some salons go the extra mile and make the day even less stressful allowing the brides make up team to work alongside them. Lyndsay Plaskett, a bridal hair specialist at Evoke Salon says “Use of salon space for make-up artists is definitely an option. If we are able to compact that time for her and her party and relieve that stress level just a bit, than we’ve done our job”. 

   The internet is a great tool to use while researching salons and bridal up dos. Some salons provide videos with examples of different bridal styles for you to view. You can also read reviews and testimonials from clients. In any case, deciding on a salon and stylist two or three months in advance of the I – do’s is recommended. Ask about the groom and his party as well.

   Most salons should be able to stagger appointment times to clean up the guys with a quick shave and trim and avoid the bad luck run-in between the bride and groom. Make a consultation appointment with a wedding stylist and be amazed at the beauty they’ll create. It’s a stylists’ mission to make sure you and your bridal parties’ vision of beauty is produced through their creativity and excellence. So relax, you’ll know you’ve found the perfect hair style when you’re looking in the mirror and you can’t imagine your wedding day without it. Just like the groom I suppose... :)

Jon DiMauro