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!

Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin !!!

So here is week seven of our Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin !!! series. Tonight I discuss the difference between natural hair colour and Professional hair colour. I touch on the longevity of both and how and why to choose the colour that is right for you!

Stop The Flakes !!!!

Alrighty so today we have a question from Mississauga.  The question for the day is regarding dandruff and how to remedy it in a natural way.  Stephanie asked:

"THIS DANDRUFF IS KILLING ME!  I guess it`s because of the season change but WHOA!,  It`s going crazy.  I have always had an issue with dandruff and would like some advice on a natural remedy to help calm it down! Thank you in advance"




Okay well considering we are talking about natural remedies it is unfortunately very difficult to guarantee this concept as a full blown cure.  However,  native peoples all over the globe have been using Tea Tree Oil for years as a cure for scalp irritations and burns.  In salon we have found that taking a couple of drops of certified organic Tea Tree Oil and mixing it into your shampoo works VERY well.  Tea Tree Oil can be found at any natural foods store and is relatively inexpensive.  It Works like a charm and can be used directly on the scalp also.  Please get back to me and let me know how it worked for you Stephanie, I would love some feedback. Hope that helped! And please continue to send me any questions you may have to dimauro.jon@gmail.com!

Volume!  Today we`ve got a question regarding volume.  Sandy in Milton asked 


"I find it absolutely impossible to find a product that will help me get volume that lasts!  Every time I go to the salon I purchase a "NEW" volumizing product that works for about fifteen minutes until my hair flops over and dies!  What is there that you can recommend me? Thanks"

Okay the first thing to consider here is the shape of your haircut Sally,  and to be honest I also would really need to take a look at your texture to give you a real assessment.  Now having said that, I do feel like I can give you some advice that seems to be a general rule when talking about volume.  The first thing I would recommend is to avoid putting conditioner ANYWHERE near your scalp.  Conditioner will often weigh the hair shafts down enough to stop you from getting any volume at all.  Another thing I would recommend is that if you are round brushing your hair at all,  you should look into maybe stepping down one brush size.  This will allow you to create more bend and establish more wave,  hence creating more volume.  One last thing... DUST IT!  I absolutely swear by this product! (I know, I know, you have A LOT of products) But maybe you just need the right kind.  This product is a miracle!  It is a talc powder that creates extra grit right at the root area, thus allowing for better support of your lift right at the root!  That will make it very very difficult for hair to fall after styling.


Hopefully that helped!  Please feel free to send me any additional questions to dimauro.jon@gmail.com!  Thanks for reading folks!

Short Or Long?

So today we have a question regarding layers and how to know what length is right for you!  Caitlin in Milton asked:

" My stylists always seem to want to cut my layers short on top! and I end up with this Christmas tree thing! Is it because of the short layering?

Well the simple answer to that question Caitlin is YES!!! I am so happy to have been sent this question because to be honest this is 90% of what I work on in the salon on guests!  It feels like every single time I get a new guest I have to spend the next two haircuts shifting her shape from heavy on the bottom and short on top to the opposite.  For some bizarre and unapparent reason most stylists still believe that cutting shorter layers in the top area will create volume.  I can tell you that haircutting is all about shifting weight, as gravity makes hair fall flat.  When cutting a shape the general rule is this, short hair pushes long hair and makes it look more full.  So the idea is to take that Christmas tree shape and invert it,  thus placing the shorter layers through the bottom and leaving the bulk and weight of the hair on top to create volume.  It works every time!


Hope that helped you out Caitlin and feel free to send me any more questions you may have to dimauro.jon@gmail.com

Saturday Nights Lights, Camera, Askin !!!

So here we are guys another Saturday Night! Which means it`s time for another Saturday Night Lights Camera, Askin !!!


We have a question today that is gonna suit the men who read our blog just fine. Tonight`s question comes in from Todd who wants to know what kind of trimmer I use and whether or not it would work for him. Check it Out!

Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin !!!

Here it is folks! Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin !!!
This week we received a great question regarding natural bristle brushes and how to use them. I hope you are all enjoying the NEW blog format as I am really pumped and excited to be able to share some great hair advice with you! Check Out the answer and let me know what you thought at dimauro.jon@gmail.com!


AND... Make sure you give MUM a BIG hug for us!





Jon Di Mauro

The Danger of Hair

Who needs bugs bunny anyway?! This little feature is all about hair and pretty funny I must say. I thought it was cool and probably done by like a college student or something. There are three short cartoons that all have their own little funny moments. There is some serious danger in hair and these cartoons show you some of it!





Jon Di Mauro






So as per Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin!!!
Here Is Another Answer!


Corie in Edmonton Asked "Does Anyone use gel anymore?"


Yes! for sure we do! and more now than over the past ten to fifteen years as a matter of fact. The reason is more and more styles are coming back that require a gel to achieve the look. As an example that awesome 80's look where women were slicking their hair back and coming it with gel. Also, needless to say Mad men has been very influential when it comes to gel! Hope that helped and yes please embrace the gel again! Light hold of course!


Hope to get more of your questions sent my way at 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!

Here it comes...SUN !!! What are the Best Summer Hair Products??

Best Summer Hair Products

So it looks like slowly and steadily the sun is arriving! Thank Goodness cause this winter weather was really starting to get under  my skin! So, when we start moving into this warmer we need to change our arsenal of products also. So what are the best summer hair products? With the warmer weather and sunshine we start to require more UV protection and coverage.


Our skin feels the brunt of the UV ray damage but we would be fooling ourselves to think that our hair does n`t feel the same change. There are many products out there that care for the hair and its UV exposure, however very few of them protect, moisturize and REPAIR the hair from its UV exposure.


A lot of product manufacturers feel that as long as they have included a built in sunscreen then they are doing what is necessary to protect the hair shaft and therefore it should not need repair. Unfortunately this is far from true, and the minute that your hair is exposed to the sun and its damage it requires repair. There are a couple great lines out there that DO however recognize that a moisture restorer and protein replacer really make all the difference.

One such line that we know and love is made by the Italian product line Davines Haircare.  They have a line I am absolutely in love with called SU. This line is phenomenal when it comes to covering all aspects of sun exposure. From before care meaning protection and prevention to after recovery and vitamin replacement, I stand behind it all. I have seen its capability first hand in the Mexican sun and can say that it is unlike anything I have ever used. Its Argan Oil content is high and therefore replaces lost moisture and protein incredibly well.


Anyway, enjoy the weather to come but make sure you  have an incredible arsenal of defence and repair ready to go for when you need it. Check out Davines` SU line you won`t regret it. 


P.S If you are going somewhere or have just been let me know in the comments below, I will get you a sample to try and would love your feedback. I know one guest I gave it to recently loved it! Evie help me out here! 




So as per the Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin!!!
Questions that I have been mailed let`s get to an answer!


Hilary in Brampton asked "What is a good colour to lighten to for summer?"


Hilary I have to say that that solely depends on what your current base colour is and what your skin tone looks like. However I can tell you that in our salon most of our guests have started to go at least 2 to 4 levels lighter than what their current base colour is. The most common tones are blondes that marry well with your natural colour, applied very finely for a nice natural feel. Hope that helped, however you should book a consultation with your colourist and get a clear picture of where you would like to go. :)

If Only Your Hair Was THIS Perfect!

So I had to put one out there for my anime loving, comic book reading, computer savvy techies! (We Love You) Anyway I thought this was a cool way of merging our worlds. We LOVE hair and you LOVE video games! I saw this vid and thought WOW this guy has some serious talent. Now I have to be honest when I say he does have many other versions of this vid but he has a tendency to maybe drag them out a bit (I can relate... He Loves what he does) This video however has a cool blend of awesome music and some serious drawing! I for one have always wished I could draw like this and admire his skill. I mean he dissects this drawing amazingly and gets an awesome result. I can`t do this! and wish I could, Can anyone relate?





Jon Di Mauro

Is It Cheating?

WoooHoooo now were talking! I am so happy that you guys have come around and are starting to really ask a lot of questions! This week has been phenomenal! I have more questions then I know what to do with, and I am very grateful for all the interaction!

So having said that I decided to answer a really good one that I received here on our blog. I think that with the sheer volume of questions that I have received I may have to try and answer some of them this way. I will also be answering  a couple of them through our "Saturday Night Lights Camera Askin" segments so stay tuned on Saturday nights at 8pm!

Alright so here we go! Sarah in Hamilton wrote me on Tuesday and asked a really great question that I am sure all of you have asked yourselves at some point. " If I see another stylist am I Cheating on my Hairdresser?"

I love it! Awesome, Awesome Question!  However I must say that it all depends on your feel for the situation. I will say that in our salons we have a token statement that we all believe in and live by posted at the front of the salon. This sign is posted in that spot for a very clear reason we live by it as a team and hope our clients embrace the philosophy. Here it is....

Now needless to say the situation is different if you are not seeing a stylist within the same four walls (however some of you may feel like that would be even worse!)  I guess the point is that you should feel as though loyalty between you and your stylist should only be there IF your stylist satisfies all your needs. If that IS the case then you have a stylist who listens to you, observes what you need, articulates the possibility or impossibility of achieving it and why, and also works with you to build towards your goals.  Because let`s face it some of you ask for some really crazy things and we cannot deliver them or you don`t even realize that what you are asking for requires WAAAYY more work then your are willing to do!

BUT... at the end of the day it all comes back to whether or not your stylist has articulated that to you clearly.  I feel as though I am confident enough in my abilities to have clients see other hairdressers experience what they can do and then... come back home.  I feel as though I give each client literally ALL of my care and attention,  hoping they see the value and love what I do.  Now, there is the other side of the coin also, let`s not forget that if you are unhappy with what your stylist has done... They know!  (That may be the little secret of the day here).  Not only do they know they don`t like the feeling. After all if they are a good stylist then they want to make you happy.  And if they aren`t doing that it is clear to them.

I guess they best way to look at is like any other relationship you have,  in that if both parties aren`t satisfied it will be evident and end regardless of how much you strive for better.  Anyway, make sure you set clear expectations for your stylist and they receive them well.  If you have decided to move on and try something else remember... your not salvaging what was already lost.

Please let me know if you found this helpful Sarah,  and for everyone else I would love to know what you think! Chat soon.....

Jon Di Mauro

Dare To Care... Go Green!!! Green Circle Salons

Here is a peek at what went down at this year`s Green Living Show which took place this past weekend at the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto`s Exhibition Place. We were involved in the show with our guest artist Ryan Yee performing haircuts live at the Green Circle Salons booth. Ryan went down and contributed his time to an awesome cause as all of the hair that he cut down there went directly into hair boons! In our salons we work closely with GCS (Green Circle Salons) to lower our emissions as a salon and an industry as a whole. All hair cut in our establishments is given to GCS so that hair boons can be created and used for oil spill situations. We also recycle our foil with GCS and are proud to be green establishments! Check Out This Video!!!



We love Green Circle Salons!


Jon Di Mauro

Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin!!!

So here we go! I got asked the first question!!!
I have to say I am a little shocked that in this whole week I only had one person email needing hair help! I know you`ve got more to ask than that! Anyway I am really happy to have gotten Claire`s question and hope this answers it. Thanks again Claire for interacting with us!

With The Spring Comes The Birds !!! How to Put Your Hair in a Bun.

So I am super pumped by this weather! I feel reborn every time I look outside and see the sunshine and people skipping along the street wearing less and less.  The spring is an awesome time to start cleaning up and putting life back together, especially after the hibernation that has been the last six months!


With the spring comes the birds, yes the birds. They are flying back at an awesome rate and making their way back home to us.  Now, those aren`t the only birds making their way back either... So are bird`s nest buns! I've been asked "how to put your hair in a bun." Yes, I mean those high buns that originated during the late 50`s and early 60`s.  They are back again because as we know fashion works in cycles and this isn`t the first time they`ve made a comeback.

How to Put Your Hair in a Bun

What I really like about the newest version of this older look is that today we are wearing it with an edgier feel.  Ladies are dressing it up as an everyday look and sporting it with jeans, heels, and t-shirts! This look originally was dressed up quite a bit more, with ball gowns and dangly earrings being a necessity to sport it.  I love the new twist on and you know what, as much as I am NOT a fan of the jersey shore crew, maybe just maybe Snooki had something to do with this! 

It is a timeless classic that is relatively easy to achieve and looks great worn so many ways. Here is a little run down of how to achieve this style:

1) Start by pulling your hair up into a high pony at the top of your head.

2) Divide the ponytail in two by taking a section and splitting it in half.

3) Next, HEAVILY and I mean HEAVILY back comb and tease each side of the splitten pony. Make sure you have a lot of width and poof on each section (Like I mean HUGE).

4) Then brush them down just a little to smooth them out.

5) Now you can wrap the hair from one section around the other at the base of the pony to create what looks like a top knot.

6) Fold the other section over that base and start to pin it in place.

You should have what looks like a ball shape on top, wrapped by the other piece.

7) Tug out a couple of pieces to make it look more full, spray, shine spray, and your off!

Hope you found this helpful and that you rock this look out on your next date to a fancy dinner in your gown, OR when you head out to the mall for a little shopping and lunch with a friend.

Jon Di Mauro

Greasy?... eeewww!

Yeah it is,  it`s gross! Not for anything but as a stylist I gotta say that we don`t exactly love having you in on your forth day without a hair wash! No... Seriously!

Especially when there are some great ways for it to not be as evident that it has been that full four days! With all of the dry shampoos out there on the market place I am truly confused as to how people aren`t just all over these products. There are so many benefits to a good dry shampoo that I believe anyone who has a longer length or even mid length hair and pushes out that one extra day NEEDS to know about. 


Now let`s make one thing clear, any self respecting hairstylist would want for their clients to be pushing out that one extra day (simply because less washing = less dryness).  However you`ve got to be prepared.  And being prepared today means owning, understanding, and using a great dry shampoo.


Dry Shampoos are meant to be a quick fix to the shampoo dilemma, in that they will not replace good old fashioned water and shampoo. However, what they will do is give that clean, fresh, and workable hair you want on the "lazy" day. They are meant to be applied at the scalp area and massaged or brushed through the hair. Once you have completed that you can then move into starting to restyle the days look. As an example, if you had a flat iron curl set in your hair and you did it on Tuesday and today is Friday and it needs a restyle you would:

1) Take sections of hair elevate them and spray the dry shampoo at the root.       
2) Then you would massage the product into your scalp and run it through your ends.
3) Next, use your brush to brush out all your hair.
4) Last step, take your flat iron and restyle those curls girl!


It`s just that simple and can leave you feeling cleaner, restyled, ready to take on the rest of your day with a fresh "new" style. There a couple that we have found work really well at our salons, one of which is Dirty Secret from Tigi`s Rockaholic line.  Its light weight, smells like fresh lemon, and is not that pricey of a product.  Anyway sorry to come out harsh in the beginning but WHOA I needed to get that one off my chest.  Hope it helps you help me!  ;)

Jon Di Mauro

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

Seriously Rockin "hair" by The Cowsills

This is the latest Youtube video to put a HUGE smile on my face! Anyone who watches this video will immediately be brought a wonderfully huge grin. I mean what I find amazing about this clip is that most of us will watch this and think that there is NO way, I repeat NO way that this whole group isn`t high while recording this! First of all hair should never ever be this big! Second of all, they either hair more than life itself or got paid A LOT of money to dance around like this.


The funny part about it though is that this was a group that did the family jam well before the Partridge family did their thing! This family was seriously PUMPED on hair! It looks to me like the one thing that had them all moving and shaking... Literally. I think that big hair is back, and if not all the way yet than very soon. However, Cowsills I don`t think its coming back like this! Check Out this CrAzY tune performed by "The Cowsills" in concert in (1969)...





Jon Di Mauro

Saturday Night Lights, Camera, Askin!!!

So here I am interacting! Send me your hair questions cause i`ve got your answers! Check Out This Video for more details!

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