designHouse Salon

Holistic Hair Salon Victoria BC

Make Self-Care A Part of Your Weekend

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We all know that we should look after ourselves but most of us get caught up in the daily frenzy of life and forget to check in. How are we supposed to look after others when we aren’t looking after our own selves? This is such an important question to ask and serves as a reminder to take that extra time to do something just for YOU. Taking some time for a little TLC enables you to be a better mother, friend, wife and overall person…and maybe just more tolerable to be around. We’re here to provide some tips for sinking deeper into relaxation and developing those self-care weekend rituals.

10 Tips For a Better You In Just 2 Days

  1. We love the use of essential oils as a form of relaxation. Blends of lavender, peppermint, or lemon are not only soothing but make your home smell amazing!
  2. Envision the laziest day in your pj’s and then do just that! Get comfy and kick around the house all day while wearing a hairmask and order food in. We especially love the Nounou mask by Davines, its perfect for dry and damaged strands. nounou
  3. The ultimate luxury is to take a long hot bath. Fill up your tub with some muscle relaxing Epsom salts or even coconut oil to reveal glowy hydrated skin.
  4. Part of self care can also be productive! By doing some of those pesky weekday tasks on the weekend can free up some time during the week. Try to do some cooking so you can have prepped meals for the busy week ahead. This leads to less stress, saving money and eating healthier.
  5. Treat yourself to that salon service you’ve been putting off! The weekend is the perfect time for some pampering like a new cut, colour or blowout. Getting your makeup done is a great way to distress as well. Here at DesignHouse we offer a full range of salon and makeup services even on a lazy Sunday!
  6. Turn off your phone. According to PopSugar “disconnect from technology and turn off all work-related business. If that’s also impossible, try deleting all your social media apps just for a day — see how you feel when there’s no pressure from the outside world, (source). ”
  7. If you have the full day to yourself Vega suggests “Pre-planning your perfect solo adventure. Maybe it’s packing up the car and going on a day trip. Maybe it’s committing to seeing 5 (or 2 or 10) new places in your city, (source).”
  8. Crack open that book that’s been sitting by your bedside for the last couple months. Unplugging from technology and choosing a book instead Superheroyou outlines how “reading for just 6 minutes helps you relax, (source).” We’ll gladly take that relaxation over some screen time! bedside book
  9. Having a journal can be a great way to get your ideas down, brainstorm and also keep you on track with your goals. A great way to optimize this time can be making lists to help organize you for the busy week ahead.
  10. Get outside for a walk! Getting the blood pumping and your body moving can help clear your head and make you feel really good! Going with a friend or family member makes it a great time for a chat as well. lake lookout

Super Sleek Hair Courtesy of Davines

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sleek hair

WE…

  • all love silky straight sleek hair that automatically elevates a simple look but re creating it at home can be a daunting task.
  • would all like to believe that one day we’ll wake up with perfectly straightened sleek hair but honestly it takes a little effort for even the straightest hair.
  • all have to work at varying degrees to get that smooth look but with some tricks even the curliest can achieve sleek tresses.

 

Starting with a smoothing shampoo and conditioner should be your first step. According to Style Caster “If your hair is prone to frizz and fly-aways, then you should be using frizz-reducing, smoothing shampoos and conditioners.” The Oi line from Davines offers a great starting point to achieving a smooth look. With the ability to give hair shine and body you’ll be well on your way to the silky look.

The next step is looking to pick a flat iron that’s right for your hair type. There are endless varieties of flat irons on the market but getting one that is the right width and has the right heat setting is essential.  Total Beauty provides a great outline, “look for flat irons that use ceramic, tourmaline or titanium metals. They will heat more evenly causing less heat damage to your hair.” Investing in a high quality straightener will in the long run lead to less hair damage and better overall performance.

Using a heat protectant on the hair shaft can make a huge difference when it comes to avoiding that fried hair look. Melu shield by Davines is by far one of the best heat protectants on the market. “A-listers like Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Aniston are fans of the brand, which came out of the Bollati family’s commitment to combining high-grade natural ingredients with first-rate scientific rigor, (source). ”

melu

It is suitable for all hair types and protects from blow-dryer and hot tool stress. It contains rosemary extract which is a powerful antioxidant that nourishes the hair and gives it a beautifully smooth, shiny finish that’s impervious to static.

After washing and blowdrying hair, prep hair for straightening by misting a heat protectant on the hair clipping it back in small sections. The thicker the hair the more sections there should be. Start half an inch down from the root to maintain some volume and slowly move the flat iron down the hair shaft. Maintaining a steady hand and pace throughout the process. Continue for the bottom and mid sections of the hair. “For the final sections near the crown of your head, lift hair off your scalp and get the iron as close to your roots as possible, pressing firmly while drawing the iron straight outward from your head to achieve a flat, smooth finish, (source).” Finish with a smoothing oil to firm down fly aways and add some weight to the bottom of the hair. The Oi oil by Davines fights frizz and detangles, while providing shine and a smooth finish.

oi oil

What Kind of Hairbrush Should you Use?

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girlhair

Hairbrushes are one of those beauty tools that are often overlooked but did you know using the right one for your hair type can make a huge difference in the health and styling of your hair? Different shapes, sizes and bristle types all contribute to getting the perfect brush for your hair type. Take a peek at this breakdown before you pick up another generic plastic hairbrush!

Bristles:

Natural bristle hair brushes are high end and when it comes to distributing oil in the hair and versatility they take the cake. “The gold standard is the natural boar bristle, which is gentle on the hair, helps smooth the cuticle, and redistributes sebum throughout the strand to moisturize and create a beautiful, glossy finish”, Style Caster.

Synthetic brushes are non-absorbent and won’t contribute to distributing the oil along the hair shaft. They also aren’t flexible so you have to be careful when it comes to hair breakage. The price tag is definitely cheaper but investing in a natural bristle brush is usually better.

 

hairbrush

Mixed brushes are great for thick unruly hair types as the natural brushes mixed with nylon can be really great for detangling. These brushes can also add some serious shine! One of the most well known brushes and “considered by pros to be the Rolls-Royce of brushes, this investment piece boasts a gentle, detangling mix of nylon and natural boar bristles”, InStyle.

Brushes:

Paddle: These brushes are the best for natural straight hair types. Style Caster defines it as “Paddles are made for straight hair and straight styles, also best to use before flat ironing. It would be the ideal brush for anyone that feels that their hair straightens easily when heat is applied.”

yellowbrush

Round: Looking for that perfect blow out? The round brush is your best friend when looking for even heat around the hair shaft and control of tension. According to Pop Sugar, “round bristle brushes also help create serious volume.”

Wide Tooth Comb: Perfect for detangling, especially in the shower with conditioner.

Fine Tooth Comb: A great tool for teasing the hair while also being useful when making parts or sectioning areas off to straighten them. According to Slice they’re “perfect for all hair lengths and types, the teasing brush is used for backcombing, which adds significant amounts of volume to parts of the hair at the root.”

 

Here at designHouse we strive to give you personalized attention and answer all your questions when it comes to the health and maintenance of your hair. Picking a hair brush can seem trivial but having some guidance to get the right type for your hair can be really helpful. Pop by and say hi at 1701 Douglas Street (in the Hudson building, downtown Victoria BC) and we can help you get the right hair brush suited for your needs.

How Often You Should Wash Your Hair

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washinghair
www.shape.com

Have you ever wondered how often you should wash your hair? This seems to be in constant debate and ultimately depends on a variety of factors including hair type, length and activity level. InStyle provides a great starting point for understanding the negative effects of washing everyday. “While some choose to lather up daily, washing too often can do more harm than good, and strip your strands of essential oils.” Some women can make a blow out last a solid week where others get an oily unmanageable scalp after a couple of days. Style Caster describes it best “How processed your hair is will also come into play, too. The reason is, the oils in your scalp don’t travel down the hair shaft as quickly in hair that’s coarse, curly or processed as it does for gals with fine hair.”

  1. Fine hair is one of the worst culprits when it comes to holding volume and being able to prolong a wash. Because of this, fine hair types are easy to over wash causing a dry hair shaft. “If we’re talking normal, fine hair, shampooing 3 times a week is sufficient. Look for something that is light in conditioning, as any added weight can cause the hair to become lifeless” according to InStyle”
  2. Thick haired ladies are lucky when it comes to wash frequency. These girls can usually prolong a blow out for up to a week and don’t need to wash their hair as frequently. Thick haired girls usually benefit from a smoothing shampoo with keratin or argan oil infused to tame their tresses as they can get out of control.
  3. Curly haired girls can hold out on the frequent washes as oil from the scalp takes longer to make it’s way down a curly hair strand than a straight one. These ladies need to spend extra attention on looking for a moisturizing shampoo that won’t weigh the curl down. Curly hair tends to be on the dry side so using a moisturizing shampoo twice a week at most should do the trick.loveshampoo
  4. Damaged/Chemically straightened hair types need to look for gentle shampoo that should not be used more than once a week. According to Free People, washing damaged, heavily bleached hair will make it grow faster, have less split ends and make it more resilient to chemical processes.dedeshampoo

So what do we take away from this?

It’s not just hair type that plays a role in the frequency of how often you should wash your hair but also using the right products for your hair type as well. Using green products such as Davines line of amazing hair products is a smart alternative when it comes to hair products, as they don’t contain the same harsh sulfates as conventional shampoos. This ensures your scalp is left gently cleansed but not stripped which actually encourages more oil production. Davines DEDE Shampoo is great for fine hair types, providing lightweight moisture and gentle cleansing. Curly hair types work great with the Love line by Davines as it provides heavier moisture and works to define and de-frizz curly hair types.

If you have any questions about Davines shampoos, please visit our website at http://designhousesalon.com or call us at 778-433-4393 🙂

Let Us Get You Ready With a Valentines Day Makeover

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dh4
www.maneaddicts.com

Whether you’re single, coupled up or married, Valentines Day doesn’t have to be the cheesy chocolates and roses that you’re used to. Getting dressed up and going out for Valentines Day can be an opportunity to feel confident and also try out a new hairstyle or makeup look. The team at DesignHouse loves doing special event hair and makeup even if it’s just a touch up. By having a pro look after your look you’re able to relax… after all Valentines Day is all about getting pampered right? We don’t want it to be complicated and that’s why we’ve got you covered with some ideas and info to get you started.

dh2

  1. Looking for an easy but still sexy look? Romantic, soft wavy hairstyles are the way to go as they’re suitable for a variety of face shapes and lengths of hair. It’s one of those styles where you really can’t go wrong!
  2. A soft up-do is a great way to look put together while still having your hair off your face. It’s a great simple date look, and according to Byrdie “this messy yet polished do can be dressed up or down.” This look works best for women wanting something more low maintenance and is great for shorter hair types!
  3. A blowout is one of the easiest ways to get date-worthy hair fast and easy. We’ll start by prepping the hair with a wash and condition then move on to making your strands silky with a bit of volume. A blow out with leave your hair manageable for up to a week making it great not just for Valentine’s Day date night.
  4. A vintage inspired makeup look is a beautiful way to create some interest and glamour without going overboard. The Every Girl provides the inspiration for this look, “something you might choose if you really want to make your date’s heart flutter. It’s a bit sexier with winged eye liner, a bold red lip, and vintage-inspired waves.” Creating a soft cat eye and adding a pop of colour to the lips is all you need.
  5. Romantic date makeup using golds, bronzes and light pinks are a staple when it comes to Valentine’s Day looks. This colour scheme is versatile and works on a variety of colouring whether you’re a blue-eyed brunette or a brown-eyed blonde. “Classically lined eyes and blushing cheeks are simple, pretty, and perfect for any evening out, Allure.”  Enhancing natural beauty with light colours and a bit of metallic shimmer ensures you feel confident while still looking like yourself.
http://theeverygirl.com/2-simple-beauty-looks-for-valentines-day
http://theeverygirl.com/2-simple-beauty-looks-for-valentines-day

Want help getting Valentine’s Day ready? We offer a variety of services to help you feel your best and we’ll get you ready without the stress of trying to recreate a look yourself. We’re committed to creating the look you want while also being eco conscious and using non-toxic products. We can book you in for an up-do, style or makeup application at our salon in downtown Victoria. Call 778-433-4393 or visit our website http://designhousesalon.com