designHouse Salon

Holistic Hair Salon Victoria BC

Do You Know The Best Foods For Healthy Hair?

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Back in February, our blog talked about the importance of eating the right foods for healthy, glowing skin. This month, we want to discuss a similar topic but this time, for your hair.

Strong, beautiful hair is what we all dream of but is difficult to achieve if you don’t know what to do. Although it may seem like healthy hair is unattainable, it isn’t. Starting off with the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair and scalp is a great place to start. If you want to take it a step further though, start focusing on your diet.

If you battle dry or frizzy hair, that could be a sign of poor health inside your body. Each individual strand of hair is made up of cells that contain a protein called keratin. In order to strengthen your hair, keratin needs to be nurtured with vitamins and minerals and hair growth vitamins only go so far. To ensure healthy hair, you need to start eating the right foods for healthy hair. We’ve outlined a list of foods that can help make your hair look its absolute best!

Almond Butter

Almond butter is one of many great foods for healthy hair. Packed with healthy fats, protein and vitamins, keeping your hair thick and shiny will get a lot easier. It’s also full of vitamin E, a key ingredient in hair health.

Spinach

Hair loss can be caused by many things, but mineral deficiencies can be a huge contributor. Women, in particular, are naturally prone to them but spinach can help curb that. Spinach is super rich in iron and helps the body produce more sebum, an oily secretion that conditions your hair. Spinach also has magnesium, omega-3 acids, calcium, and potassium to help your hair achieve a shiny look.

Greek Yoghurt

Greek yoghurt is super high in protein and vitamin B5, which assists with blood flow to your scalp as well as hair growth. Plus, Greek yoghurt is delicious and should be added to your diet anyway.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal isn’t just an easy breakfast meal, it’s also rich in nutrients. Loaded with fibre, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and iron, oats help your hair grow and can make it thicker and healthier.  

Eggs

Eggs are a morning staple, so this one shouldn’t be too hard to add to your diet. Loaded with a B vitamin called biotin, eggs are perfect for hair growth and maintaining healthy-looking hair.

Chicken or Fish

Lean meats such as chicken and fish are packed with protein. A lack of protein in your diet can lead to significant hair loss, so make sure you’re getting enough protein. It is incredibly important to your hair health.

Nuts

The fatty omega-3 acids from nuts help thicken your hair and boost your overall health. Our bodies are unable to produce these types of fats so we need to obtain them from the things we eat. Walnuts and almonds are high in these necessary acids, and also make a delicious snack.

If you need more information on how you can have the best hair possible or want to make an appointment, contact us here or come visit our hair salon in Victoria, BC. We’d be happy to help.

What’s the Difference Between Natural, Eco, Bio and Organic?

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Everyone wants their products to be natural, bio, eco or organic. In fact, we’re more health conscious and care much more about the environment than we did about 20 years ago. Marketers love to claim that their brand’s natural or organic products are better for your face and body. While that’s certainly true if the product comes through on its promise of health-conscious ingredients, it’s more important to do your research and find out what it all means.

While you may think natural and organic mean the same thing, they actually don’t. Marketers have this great ability to confuse us with what this all means. I’m sure anyone who reads this will agree they see natural skin care products as healthy and better than the alternative. Don’t let those labels fool you though. Do your research and find out if their claims are actually true before spending money. Some of the best skin care products in the world use natural ingredients, you just need to know how to find them.

As you can see, this can be confusing, so we wanted to outline the difference between these four labels.

Natural

Walk into any beauty product aisle and you’ll find natural skin care and makeup products everywhere, or at least, a product that claims it’s natural. Because the term “natural” is not regulated by the FDA, if a product has even a small amount of natural ingredients, a company can slap a “natural” label on it. If you got your product from a local producer, chances are good you have a real natural product, but make sure to ask about the ingredients. You should always remember to check the label of any product you find. If you read the ingredient list and can pronounce fewer and fewer words, the more likely the product isn’t as ‘natural’ as they’re claiming.

Eco

The term “eco” is also not regulated, so while the label may make “green” claims, that eco product may be filled with chemicals. Don’t forget to check the label!

Organic

We hear the term “organic” all the time. Regulated by the FDA, organic products like organic makeup are certified and tested. The ingredients in these products are organically farmed and are always guaranteed to be pesticide-free and not genetically modified. If the products want to be deemed as strictly organic, the product has to be made of 95% organic ingredients, otherwise, you’ll see a label that says the product was made with organic ingredients.

Bio

If you’re concerned about where the ingredients come from and the environment they were in, bio products are for you. They step it up a notch from organic products and are as green as can be.

designHouse offers a lot of different types of organic, natural, eco and bio cosmetic products so feel free to check out our selection online or in-store. If you’re still confused on what the differences are and which type of products are best for you, come and visit us at one of our locations! Ask any of our stylists, they’ll be happy to help you find the right product.

How to Get Thick Hair with Eco-Friendly Natural Remedies

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We all dream of thick and luscious hair, but unfortunately not all of us are so lucky to have it. Both men and women of any age are candidates for having thin hair, or even worse, hair that’s thinning. Don’t worry though, you’re not alone. There are so many solutions available to remedy, if not improve, the situation. It’s important to know that, on average, we lose between 50 and 100 strands of hair each day, and when we shower, that almost triples.
 
Extenuating circumstances may also cause hair to thin such as pregnancy, extreme stress, weight loss, genes, medications, and various diseases among other reasons.
 
While hair loss treatment pills such as Propecia exist, there may be a more natural solution to solving the issue. It’s often difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of hair loss and thinning, but hopefully, with these 4 eco-friendly, natural remedies, we can help your hair become thicker.
 
Enhance Collagen Production
 
This is a little stinky but it could be worth it! An onion is a rich source of sulphur and can help in hair growth by increasing collagen production. Simply use onion juice and honey and put it on your scalp followed by a thorough rinse. Do this once every 2 days for about 2 weeks.
 
Make Your Hair Strands Tougher
 
Weak, brittle hair? Try a coconut milk mask! Coconut milk is loaded with healthy proteins and important fats, which can enhance hair growth. Take 2 teaspoons of olive oil with half a cup of coconut milk and warm it slightly. Massage the mask into your hair from scalp to ends. Then, put on your shower cap and wait! We recommend leaving this on for about 10-15 minutes then rinse with your regular shampoo.
 
Aloe Vera
 
Using Aloe Vera can soothe an irritated scalp. Aloe Vera is a powerful plant that has amazing healing and nourishing elements. What it does is help make your hair follicles stronger and help prevent breakage. You start by taking a small amount of gel and massaging it into your scalp. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes then rinse and use your regular shampoo.
 
Stop Fallout
 
If your diet consists of very little protein, you may be at a huge risk of having your hair thin or fall out. Vegetarians, for examples, are usually aware of different ways to incorporate protein into their diet and often make an effort to do so, but meat eaters can sometimes forget how important protein is for your body. A natural protein-infusing remedy is trying out a protein hair mask! Take half an avocado, an egg, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, and half a teaspoon of honey. Massage into your hair and scalp and leave on for 30 minutes then, as usual, rinse and shampoo the mask out.
 
Now, while there are tons of solution you can find online to help thicken your hair, these 4 are our some of our faves and a great starting point. They’re easy to do and most importantly, eco-friendly. Also, if you haven’t already, do yourself a favour and upgrade your regular shampoo to a more environmentally-friendly formula. Keep the natural streak going after you try these eco-friendly remedies. Head on over to our site and see our amazing selection of natural products.

Staff Q&A Series: Senior Stylist Rikki Heibert

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We believe in our staff and we want you to, as well. Our monthly Staff Q&A helps you get to know us individually and who we are outside the salon. This month we have Senior Stylist, Rikki Heibert.

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Besides earning more money and becoming even more profitable, what do you think the goals of designHouse Salon are?

To create a welcoming environment for guests and team members where they feel like part of a family. Also, to provide our guests with beautiful hairstyles while respecting the environment and each individual’s health, and to set an example in the beauty industry and our community to take further initiatives for healthy living and protecting our environment.

What do you contribute to the team that makes you stand out? What do/should clients come specifically to you for?

What makes me stand out are my communication skills and customer service. What I love about our industry is the relationship building and taking part in a guest’s hair journey and, sometimes, life journey. When my guests come to see me, I work hard to make sure they feel comfortable and free to express themselves however they need to while they’re here. I understand that a hair service is not just about beautifying the hair, but also about allowing for nourishment/relaxation of the mind, body and spirit.

What does Sustainable Beauty mean to you and why is it an important focus?

It means that, at a time when so many products are mass produced with toxic chemicals and an unnecessary amount of packaging, we can take actions that reject the norm and help to protect the environment and/or neutralize our carbon footprint while still doing fashionable hairstyles.

Why should people come to designHouse Salon over the TONS of other available options?

Firstly, because they will always feel taken care of by our team no matter what stylist they see. Secondly, they can feel good about their contribution to the environment by paying an eco fee with their hair service and supporting a business with environmental initiatives. Lastly, they can feel confident knowing that DH is always growing and improving to better accommodate their needs.

What about the beauty industry excites you and why?

I absolutely love working with people and the diversity of our industry. I appreciate getting to know a guest’s uniqueness in their personality and their hair and collaborating to design a hairstyle and salon experience just for them.

Tell us about your background. Where are you from? What have you accomplished?

I grew up in Nanoose Bay/Parksville. My upbringing was island life at its finest — lots of outdoors adventures, roadtrips, playing in the ocean. I knew at a young age that I wanted to do hair, it just made sense. Well, it was that or become a therapist, which would be a ton of school and I was never great at sitting in a classroom without getting distracted and goofing off. I moved to Victoria the day after I graduated from high school and soon after, attended cosmetology school. I totally nailed the exam 100% and by the end I was also the only person still in my class (last woman standing I suppose). I went on to work at Arq for the next 8 years where I honed my hair skills, worked on photo shoots and organized salon events. I worked for Redken for 5 years facilitating education as well as babe extensions doing education. I have also travelled to Vegas, Montreal and Mexico for hair events and also did hair in Toronto for 6 months.

When you aren’t working, what are you doing? Hobbies, interests, etc.

Fun activities and adventures! Surfing, hiking, swimming, boxing, yoga — basically anything active especially if it’s outside and my dog, Lizzie, can come along. I also looove good coffee and listening to music. My guilty pleasures at the moment are trampoline parks, waterslides and 90s hip-hop club bangers.

Do you prefer Cinnamon or Vanilla?

I can’t pick one… they belong together.

If you could grant a co-worker a superpower, who and what would it be?

A coworker? I would give Robin the power of multiplying herself so she can have extra Robins to assist her at work and in life. I would give Aaron a self-healing power like Wolverine so when he hurts himself at the trampoline park he won’t be limping around for weeks. 🙂

What’s your go-to midnight snack?

Trail mix. popcorn. Chips. Annie’s mac and cheese. Salty and crunchy things.

Name 2 things you want everyone to know about you?

  1. I love comedy… mostly stand up. Although that doesn’t mean I’m funny but I’ll try really hard to get a laugh anyways.
  2. I can’t lie. Not even a white lie. The truth always comes out.

And lastly, name 3 things on your bucket list.

  1. Learn to speak fluent Spanish
  2. Go To University
  3. Live in a Camper Van

How to Determine the Best Hairstyle for Your Face Shape

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Source: Pretty Designs

Let’s face it, we all want to look our best and our hair plays a big role in looking and feeling good. Not every hairstyle is going to look good on you though because we all look different. We all have diverse face shapes and sometimes it’s hard to find a look that compliments it. Fortunately for you, we’ve come up with some styles that’ll suit some of the most common face shapes. Continue reading below and find out which will look best on you!

What is Your Face Shape?

We may think we all have round faces, but that is definitely not true. Things like your hairline, jawline and length of your face all determine your shape. Take a look at the image above, pull your hair all the way back while looking in the mirror and figure out what your face shape is. If you still can’t tell, take an eyebrow pencil to the mirror and trace your face!

Oval Face

If your face length is longer than it is wide, you have an oval face shape. Some celebrities who have this face shape include Rihanna and Bella Hadid. Consider trying out a pixie cut, layer your hair, do a middle part, or take the ultimate risk and get bangs. The best styles are the ones that keep your hair away from your face.

Square Face

Square-shaped faces tend to be wide. This face shape includes a prominent jawline and a forehead and cheekbones that are almost the same width. Think Olivia Wilde. When you’re choosing a hairstyle for a square face shape, choose something that accentuates the square nature of your face. If you are looking to stand-out, get some blunt bangs or a short bob.

Round Face

Round face shapes have no prominent angles as your face is roughly the same in width and length. But don’t worry, people with round faces are often considered to have “baby faces” and tend to look younger. Kirsten Dunst and Miranda Kerr both have round face shapes and they look great! The main goal of your style is to elongate the face and make it look more oval. Leaving a small piece of hair untucked on one side of your face will do the trick. If you do a deep side part, your eyes will trick your brain into thinking your face is narrower.  

Heart Face

Heart Shape faces are wider at the hairline and temples and taper to a small narrow, pointed chin. In this case, your forehead will usually be the prominent feature. Tyra Banks and Reese Witherspoon really own this face shape. When choosing your hairstyle, you’ll either want to accentuate your face shape or make the bottom half of your face look wider. If you’re doing the former, you’ll want to pull your hair up into a high top-knot. Side parts with long curls also look super cute and chic. If you want to keep it safe, shoulder length hair looks best as it adds volume to the bottom of your face and makes it look like you have a wider jawline.

Oblong Face

This face shape is the same as an oval shape, just a lot longer. Celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker or Liv Tyler have this shape. The key here is to make your face look wider. A hairstyle with curls and big waves will achieve this look.

Make an appointment with designHouse today and get the best possible look for your face shape!

Staff Q&A Series: Senior Stylist Sara

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We think the world of our staff and we want you to think the same, too. Hence, the beginning of our new blog series, Staff Q&A. Trust is an essential component to any successful hair stylist-client relationship and we believe that by getting to know our stylists a little better, you’ll feel comfortable coming to them with all your hair care needs. Whether you’re a regular client or new and curious about who we are, get ready to discover our favourite people.

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Besides earning more and more money to grow and still be profitable (like any business that wants to thrive), what do you think the goals of designHouse Salon are?

  1. Provide quality services that not only meet but exceed client expectations.
  2. Make everyone feel welcome and taken care of.
  3. Operate as sustainable as possible to minimize our carbon footprint

What do you contribute to the team that makes you stand out? What do/should clients come specifically to you for?

My willingness to teach clients and coworkers about proper styling tools and the importance of creating rituals to improve quality of not only hair but life as well.

What does sustainable beauty mean to you and why is it an important focus?

Sustainable beauty is important because I care about planet earth, mother nature and all earth’s plants and inhabitants. When you not only care about yourself but also your environment that is shared with others, this caring is contagious in the sense that people will, in turn, make sustainable choices for themselves as well as encourage others too.

Why should people come to designHouse Salon over the TONS of other available options?

It is nice to see and hear about other salons becoming more aware of our environment, however, dH (designHouse) has set the standard for sustainability way higher than any other salon as well as supports a team environment. By supporting dH, clients can feel good about minimizing their carbon footprint as well as support an active business of the local community.

What about the beauty industry excites you and why?

Being able to make people feel good about themselves. Sometimes without even noticing, we can make a big difference in people’s day/mood/life/confidence.

When you aren’t working, what are you doing? (ie. Hobbies, interests, etc.)

Lately, I have been into low to no cost activities like hiking, cooking, and am currently one world away from beating Super Mario Bros.

Do you prefer cinnamon or vanilla?

Easiest question yet! CINNAMON! So much that 2% makes me a special “Sara Latte” with cinnamon steamed into the milk.

If you could grant a co-worker a superpower, who and what would it be?

EMERALD: I would grant her super wings to fly anywhere in the world at any time so she could come back quicker.

What’s your go-to midnight snack?

Salty: stove-top popcorn with butter, salt, and yeast flakes

Sweet: Toast with peanut butter and honey

Name two things you want everyone to know about you.

  1. I beat cancer
  2. I love nature

Name one thing on your bucket list.

Walk the Great Wall of China.

Five Reasons To Go Green

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Going green is no longer a fad or trend, it’s a lifestyle that’s here to stay. At designHouse, we’re 100% committed to the green way and urge others to jump on the environmentally-friendly train, which means being conscious of the products you buy and the choices you make in your everyday life. So before you pick up your favourite cosmetics or cleaning supplies, check out our top five reasons for making the switch.

It Tastes Good

When it comes to veggies, opt for organic, local and seasonal rather than produce that’s clearly not in season anymore. Organic tends to taste better and fresher, uses less energy, and supports local farmers. It’s an easy way to help the environment while boosting the local economy.

Less Chemical Exposure

Want to breathe cleaner air? Go all-natural. Eco-friendly products use fewer chemicals and are generally less toxic than traditional products, ensuring you won’t be spraying chemicals into the air every time you clean your kitchen.

And here’s another way to limit daily chemical exposure. “The average woman absorbs more than 4 pounds of cosmetics during her lifetime” so by changing up your beauty routine, you reduce the chemicals you put on your skin, improving your overall health.

Reduce Waste

Creating anything requires a lot of energy and everything from your coffee beans to your car impacts the environment. The same goes for water. By making a green switch, you reduce packaging waste and energy and water consumption. “It can take 2,700 liters to produce the cotton needed to make a single t-shirt” and “about 37 gallons of water to grow the coffee beans and process them to make one cup of coffee“, so think about that the next time you’re buying a coffee.

Cut Down On Clothes Shopping

If you weren’t already aware, “the apparel and textile industry is the second-most damaging industry on the planet“. Every time you buy from fast-fashion retailers, you’re contributing to an industry that pollutes more than any other except oil. We know buying from local designers or green brands can be more expensive but think of it as an investment. Buying quality pieces will not only last longer but you’re likely to take better care of it. And every time you put it on, you’ll feel good about your purchase.

An alternative to buying new is to search for vintage and second-hand stores. Vintage never goes out of style and with more consignment stores popping up, you’re sure to find unique, quality pieces. And as you add to your closet, consider donating old clothes to second-hand stores or charities. Non-profit organizations like Dress For Success or Wear 2 Start Society in Victoria, BC take your donated clothes and give them to women in need. If you’ve got unique pieces in great shape, look for a consignment store near you and make a bit of extra cash.

You’ll Feel Better About Yourself

Speaking of feeling good, doing any good for the environment is a sure-fire way to improve your mood. By making greener choices, you know you’re making a small impact on the world and people around you. Why wouldn’t that make you happy?!

So how does our salon make a green impact? All the products we use, sell and promote are sustainable, as is our approach to hair and beauty. Even our building, The Hudson, uses sustainable approaches like geothermal heating and a full recycling program. Looking for eco hair and beauty products to get you started? Check out our online shop, Well Fed Beauty, or come in and talk to us, we’ll point you in the right direction.