designHouse Salon

Holistic Hair Salon Victoria BC

Easy Fixes for Winter Hair Woes

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We are SO lucky to be a hair salon in Victoria, B.C! Although some Victoria residents wish it snowed more around here, we’re actually pretty lucky it doesn’t get too cold — for the sake of our hair, of course.

The cold weather can wreak havoc on your hair, making it dry and brittle. Winter air is cold and dry, therefore NO moisture is getting into your hair. Here are some easy tips on how to prevent this moisture loss and keep your hair looking sleek, smooth and healthy all winter long.

Use Leave-In Conditioner

Leave-in conditioner will help to lock in moisture and control that static. For extra-dry hair (or extra-staticky), use this and your usual in-shower conditioner.

Put Down The Hot Tools (At Least Sometimes!)

Using blow dryers and other hot tools isn’t the best for your hair anytime but it’s especially damaging in the winter when your hair tends to be extra dry and brittle.

Except for fancy events when you have to “do” your hair, try an up-do for everyday use like a bun, braid or simple chignon.

When you must use hot tools, DO NOT forget to protect your hair. Try something like DAVINES Your Hair Assistant Blowdry Primer.

Wear Hats — Correctly!

Hats can be a necessity in cold weather, and also to throw on over messy hair. However, wool and other common hat fabrics can occasionally rough up the hair causing breakage and split ends.

The solution to this is to line your hat in silk before putting it on!  Simply wrap your hair in a silk scarf then slip your hat on, or find an old silk scarf or blouse you can attach to the inside of your hat so it’s always ready. A wee bit of work will save your hair!

Wash Your Hair Less Often

Your scalp can get dry (it IS skin after all) and that can lead to dryness and flakes. Shampooing less frequently, and with the correct formula (one we recommend is DAVINES NaturalTech Nourishing Shampoo) will allow your hair and scalp to retain the moisture it needs.

Use Deep Conditioner

Your hair enjoys a refreshing dose of moisture every so often, especially in the cold winter months. At least once a week replace your regular conditioner with a deep conditioning or hair mask treatment to add some much-needed TLC. We love the way DAVINES NaturalTech Nourishing Building Pak makes our hair feel!

Ban Hot Water

Hot water is an enemy to dry skin and hair, so turn the hot water down in the shower as far as you can handle. Then turn the dial WAY down to cool when doing your final rinse. Hot and warm water opens up the hair cuticle to receive the moisture but cold water seals it up securing the moisture you’ve just added.

Invest In A Cool-Air Humidifier

We’re not saying that everyone must run right out and pick one of these up, but if you already have one it’s worth digging out. If you’ve tried everything on this list and are still having trouble with dry, staticky hair, this may be worth the investment.

Dry air heating at home and at work at this time of year literally sucks the moisture out. So it may be necessary to put it back IN with a cool-air humidifier.

We wish you a happy hair season! For any other hair inquiries, or to pick up some of our recommended products, please visit designhousesalon.com.

New Year’s Resolutions

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January 1st is THE time for New Year’s resolutions but if you’re like us, we’re rarely able to stick to them. The start of the New Year is both magical and exciting and there’s nothing wrong with having a few attainable New Year’s resolutions. We want to encourage you to make mini-goals for yourself and keep them, too! Below is a short list of some of our favourite resolutions and how to stay accountable.

New Look

This has got to be one of the easiest and most attainable resolutions out there! Committing yourself to a new look is thrilling and all it takes is a bit of extra budgeting. A new look can be anything from a couple of new wardrobe pieces to a haircut or colour, or even a change in your makeup. DesignHouse has a full array of options to help you with this one! You can pick from our hair, makeup or health menus. → http://designhousesalon.com/

Detoxify Your Life

This has become increasingly popular over the last couple of years. Detoxing your home or makeup bag is something that you can do throughout the year. “It can be overwhelming, but if you decide on a few simple things to tackle as a new year’s resolution, by the end of the year, you’ll be another step along the path of green and healthy.” As you run out of products you can switch them to non-toxic alternatives. This makes it easy on your wallet while benefiting your body and household. We love Jusu Body products for your skin and body care. https://wellfedbeauty.com/collections/jusu-body-products

Commit to Exercise

Committing to an exercise regime is essential to your overall health. So many people go fast out of the gate in January and either lose motivation or get injured. The key here is to start slow and work yourself up to more intense and consistent exercise. Another tip is to pick an activity you actually like. Whether it’s yoga, running, weightlifting or swimming, choosing a workout you enjoy will increase your chances of actually going.

Set an Intention

“Adulthood is full of distractions and responsibilities that pollute our minds, and can easily divert our attention away from our intention.” This may sound a bit on the hippie side but trust us, it makes a big difference. Commit to waking up in the morning and taking a moment to set an intention for the day. This could be that you’re going to practice being grateful or showing kindness to a stranger. Whatever you choose, it should be meaningful to you.

Accountability

This is a BIG one! Just because you decide on a New Year’s resolution doesn’t mean you can stick to it without some accountability. It’s important to include others in your resolutions not just keep it to yourself. By voicing your plans to friends and family, you’re forcing yourself to answer to them as well. This strengthens these relationships and means you automatically get a cheer team!

Good luck on your New Year’s resolutions, ladies! Have a happy New Year from the DesignHouse family!

How to Beat the Winter Blues

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This time of year can be rainy, cold and downright depressing. If you suffer from the winter blues or even seasonal depression, these long grey periods can seriously affect the way you function day-to-day. Relationships can take a turn for the worse and the motivation to workout, cook and care for yourself can be greatly diminished. We’re here to tell you that we care. We’ve felt how you feel many times and it’s hard to stay strong when all you want to do is have cozy days spent at home. We’re not just a hair salon, we’re a place that prioritizes the health of our clients. Here’s a small list of some of the best ways to take that extra bit of care this winter.

Get Outside

We know the last thing you want to do is actually be outside and wet but trust us, it’s the best thing for you. “Spending time outside (even when it’s chilly!) can improve focus, reduce symptoms of SAD, and lower stress levels.” Even getting out for a 20-30 minute walk and reconnecting with nature can be very beneficial. Bonus: if you have a pup, make sure to take them too!

Pamper Yourself

Taking time out of your busy week to pamper yourself is essential to staying grounded and connected with how you’re feeling. So many of us get caught up with day-to-day life and forget to schedule “me time.” Pampering doesn’t have to mean a bath, it can be reading time, painting or even booking time at your favourite salon. We’ll look after you the minute you walk in the door and ensure you leave happy and rested. http://designhousesalon.com/

Hot Yoga

Getting some exercise is one of the biggest tips on this list! Exercising regularly keeps those endorphins happy and helps destress the body and mind. We’re all guilty of slowing down our intense workouts once the winter comes but consider giving hot yoga a try. You get the added benefit of some very tropical heat and the calming aspect of yoga in one. Yoga also forces you to turn inward and check in with how your day was. Use this time to work through anything bothering you.

Help Others

Being a volunteer and working for others can make a big difference in your mindset. When you’re of service to others, you put their needs before yours, helping you get out of your head and remind you of what truly matters.

Make Your House Brighter

Living in a dark and gloomy environment can put a damper on your mood. Consider adding soft ambient lighting, twinkle lights or a lighter paint colour on the walls. “Keep your blinds and curtains totally open during the day, and if necessary, trim the bushes around your windows. Use bright colors on your walls and light-colored upholstery.”

The winter blues can get to everyone and one of the most important things to know is you’re not alone. If all else fails, paying a visit to your doctor or going to see a counsellor is never a bad idea. Take care of yourself and do what’s best for you first.

Green Holiday Gift Guide

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The holidays are an incredibly exciting time to practice gratitude, appreciate the power of connection (hello, friends and family) and also be eco-conscious. Many of us get carried away and forget that all these products, packaging and wrapping paper gets thrown into the recycling or landfill. This is a shame and detrimental to the wonderful Earth we live on. So, we’ve compiled a small list of some great companies that care about the environment and wish to make the smallest footprint possible. By buying gifts from these companies, you’re showing retailers what kind of values you wish to put your hard-earned money towards. We have developed personal relationships with some of these companies as well as built partnerships based on a mutual love and understanding of living a green and conscious lifestyle. Lot’s of these companies are local too, one more good reason to shop and support small businesses! So without further adieu, here is our Green Holiday Gift Guide!

Jusu Body

This Victoria-based company has phenomenal eco-friendly business practices and utilises every part of their juicing process. Jusu Body is entirely vegan, non-toxic and a high-performance body care line. Think about switching out your Body Shop or Lush buys for this. No synthetic fragrance is used and they use only the gentlest ingredients.

Elate

We’re happy to get behind Elate cosmetics since their company motto encourages women to treat putting on their face as a ritual. With a full range of lipsticks, foundations, cream blushes and eye shadows, there’s a little holiday glamour look for everyone in the mix. With a large focus on veganism and cruelty-free cosmetics, this is a great line to gift your vegan and celiac friends. “We believe no human or animal should ever be harmed to create our products.” They operate with great intention, one of the many reasons why we love this company.

Davines

With recyclable packaging and a full range of shampoos, conditioners and styling treatments, Davines has a little something for everybody. We especially love gifting their hair masks, as this time of year wreaks havoc on a variety of hair textures and types. “The beauty that we believe in is based on appreciation for individuality and celebration of diversity. This is why we consider ourselves as a tool for our customers to express their own uniqueness.” This attention to individuality and the planet makes for a potent, meaningful mix.

designHouse Gift Card

We had to give a shout-out to ourselves! Gifting a loved one a fresh new haircut, dye, or treatment, is a great way to show that you love them and care. Sometimes, we forget to pamper ourselves or take that time to decompress. Gifting a salon treatment is an automatic relax session. Call us at 778-433-4393 or grab your gift card online!

This is not an exhaustive list, by any means. However, this contains some of the very best companies that we feel show the people in your life that you care about them and the world around us. Have a wonderful, happy holidays and see you soon!

What’s New With Jusu?

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Green body care is incredibly popular right now, especially if you’re located on the West Coast. Founded and based here in Victoria, BC, Jusu has a strong ethical basis and belief in a zero-impact lifestyle, their backbone of the company. Jusu Body’s attention to detail regarding their all natural, plant-based personal care products are “because what you put on your body is just as important as what you put in it.” The value system, their attention to sustainability, our planet and ethics all made them the best choice for designHouse. Everything is chemical free, pulp-infused and 100% natural. We want to highlight some new goodies that have hit the designHouse shelves from Jusu in time for the colder months up ahead.

Facial Cleanser: Jusu has a beautiful line of cleansers with something for every skin type.

  1. Lime Chamomile: Designed to clear, purify and balance, this cleanser is perfect for oily skin types.
  2. Lemon Tea Tree: This citrus blend brightens and uplifts normal skin types!
  3. Oats and Honey: For all the dry skin sufferers, this deeply hydrating formula that locks in moisture is designed to reveal your skin’s natural radiance.

Facial Moisturizer: Moisturizer is an essential component to properly hydrated skin.  Finding the right weight of moisture can be tricky but luckily Jusu has a full range designed for different skin types.

  1. Vanilla Jasmine: This moisturizer is designed for normal skin types that need balancing and hydration.  
  2. Neroli Primrose: Renew dry skin types with a floral and herbal formula.
  3. Green Tea Rose: Incredibly healing and hydrating, this moisturizer is packed full of rose and green tea.
  4. Coconut Lime: A detoxifying formula designed for oily skin types. Get rid of impurities with this gentle moisturizer.  

 

Lip Balm: Everyone knows having the right lip balm to protect lips is a must-have in every girl’s makeup bag or purse. Winter has arrived and no one wants the pain of cracked, dry lips. Jusu’s lip balms contain virgin coconut oil, a moisturizing champion. Combine that with hydrating, antioxidant rich ingredients, your lips are sure to get a boost! They also contain organic Shea Butter, a natural sun protector that increases cell regeneration. This leads to increased anti-aging, and supports natural healing. Did we mention they’re also vegan and have never been tested on animals?

 

Last but not least, we want to highlight Jusu Body’s Body Lotions. A luxurious body lotion is the cherry on top when it comes to protecting skin from the harsh outdoors. These lotions are designed to leave skin incredibly soft, using the highest quality natural ingredients to get the most out of your skin care. With four different varieties, you can choose between scented or scent-free.

  1. Ginger Citrus
  2. Eucalyptus Mint
  3. Vanilla Peppermint
  4. Scent Free

 

Jusu body is a great resource for all your natural body care needs. Wanna get some? Visit us in person or visit our online store!