Let Us Get You Ready With a Valentines Day Makeover

February 6, 2017 By design house

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.

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!
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!
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.
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.
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

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

Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes

January 26, 2017 By design house

We all know to keep our faces clean by using fresh washcloths, clean pillowcases and not touching our faces throughout the day. But did you know one of the worst culprits for the buildup of dirt, and oil on the skin can actually be found in the makeup brushes you use everyday? Not washing your brushes properly can lead to pesky breakouts and bacteria build up. According to Makeup Geek “The bacteria along with your natural oils transfer onto your brushes every time they come in contact with your skin. “Makeup lovers are known for investing in high quality brushes to obtain the best blending and coverage techniques but if these brushes aren’t washed properly and cared for they can quickly deteriorate. Attached is a simple guide to cleaning your makeup brushes simply and effectively:

Step 1: Choosing a Cleaner

There are numerous makeup brush cleansers on the market but look for one with a natural formula and simple ingredients. “It’s also worth mentioning that there are specially formulated brush shampoos on the market. A gentle clarifying or baby shampoo will do the trick just fine though”, says Lauren Conrad. Baby shampoo is a great cleanser for deep cleaning brushes, as it’s gentle enough. Cleaning brushes shouldn’t be complicated or expensive, it’s best to keep it simple.

Step 2: Rinse

Rinse your makeup brushes downward under the faucet to loosen up caked on makeup and oils. According to The Every Girl, “Make sure to keep the bristles pointing downwards, avoiding the area where the handle meets the head. If water gets in there, it can loosen the glue that holds the bristles together!”

Step 3: Suds Up

Dispense a dime size amount of baby shampoo or brush cleaner onto the palm of your hand. Gently swirl the brush around in the product using your palm to work the brush into a rich lather.

Every Day Minerals (https://www.everydayminerals.com/store/stories/cleaning-your-makeup-brushes/)

Step 4: Rinse It Up

Rinse the brush and again swirl it around in your palm to get all the last bits of makeup lifted off of the brush. Rinse until the water runs clear.

Step 5: Lay to Dry

Slowly towel dry brushes by slowly squeezing excess water out. Shape the bristles and lay them out flat to dry overnight. Your brushes require up to 24 hours to dry, so we recommend cleaning your brushes after you’ve applied your make up for that day.
Makeup brushes should be expected to last for years, especially if they’re looked after properly. Look for high quality brushes that use synthetic fibers and use non-toxic glue as well, as these are the best green alternatives.

If you have any questions, call us at 778-433-4393 or visit us at 1701 Douglas Street in the Hudson Building! Be sure to book your makeover with our in house makeup artist too!

How Often Should You Be Conditioning Your Hair?

January 19, 2017 By design house

Hair stylists and colourists will agree that shampooing your hair everyday is damaging and contributes to a rough, and dry hair shaft. The question that remains is, is this also true for conditioning your hair?

BeautyLish explains it best, “All winter we’ve been stressing the importance of moisturizing your mane, but it’s also important to follow the “everything in moderation” motto.” While conditioner can be the savior for dry, damaged hair, too much can cause greasy, lackluster strands. The biggest defining factor with conditioning truly depends on hair length and type. Below are some tips to consider when looking at your conditioning habits.

Conditioner is like face moisturizer

Think of conditioner like you would your facial moisturizer. “They create a seal of natural emollients that hydrate and nourish your hair throughout the day, making it healthier, shinier, and more resilient to damage.” Conditioner makes the hair easier to style and hold a look. A good indicator of whether your conditioner might be too rich is if you can’t style your hair properly. Any limp or greasy strands are hard to handle and manipulate, and if this is happening you might want to get a lighter conditioner.

Length plays a big role

A good general rule of thumb is the longer the hair, the more you need conditioner. This is especially true on the ends of long hair. As the hair grows and goes longer between trims there is a potential increase in getting frizzy split ends.

Check out your hair texture

Is your hair fine? Or is it thick? Your hair texture is usually the easiest way to determine what kind of conditioner is best suited for your hair type. Flat fine hair types generally need a lightweight conditioner that will provide volume and some hold. Davines make an amazing lightweight conditioner for fine hair types called DEDE which ensures hair follicles aren’t weighed down. Thicker, coarser hair types can withstand a heavier, creamy conditioner. Especially for damaged hair types, having that bit of extra weight can provide much needed nourishment and frizz control.

Conditioner for Guys

According to GQ, “Conditioner, for example, is one of those take-or-leave products that really depends on your hair type and length.” It really comes down to the length of the hair and how often you’re getting it cut for men. If you’re getting hair trims once a month, using a 2 in 1 shampoo is all you need. The longer it gets the more susceptible it is to damage, therefore needing more conditioner.

How much and how often?

Style Caster says “Talk to any stylist about conditioning your hair, and most will tell you, that although it’s important, you should go light on product—only applying from mid shaft down to ends. Conditioned hair is stronger, yes, but heavy formulas will weigh down the hair and make styling almost impossible.” Using a small amount after you shampoo a couple times a week is the best method to figure out the perfect amount for your hair type. “Less cleansing allows your skin to do its natural job of conditioning.” This allows your hair to balance itself and also keep the scalp hydrated and happy.

Still feeling confused? Come in to DesignHouse Salon and we can help you get the right conditioner for your hair type.

Chic Ways to Store Your Favourite Cosmetics

January 12, 2017 By design house

If you’re like us, you probably have a larger than normal makeup collection that tends to get out of hand. Knowing this, we’ve thought up some great tricks to re-organize your makeup drawer that’s not only thrifty, but incredibly unique. Here at DesignHouse we like to champion sustainability, and reusing old items is a great way to do some spring cleaning.Below is some inspiration and guidance towards organizing your cosmetic collection:

1) Shoe Organizer as a Makeup and Hair Product Divider:

hanging

A shoe organizer is one of the easiest ways to organize an unruly makeup situation. With perfectly sectioned off pockets you can quickly divide products into groups and having see-through pockets is a must!

2) Magnetic Makeup Board

Bustle (https://www.bustle.com/articles/37679-14-diy-makeup-organizer-ideas-that-are-so-much-prettier-than-those-stacks-of-plastic-boxes)

Such a unique way to showcase some of your favourite palettes and compacts from the brands you love! Simply glue small magnets onto the backs of your makeup compacts and put up a magnetic board on a wall of your choice! We love this idea from Bustle, magnetic boards don’t have to be plain and can even be a great piece of artwork.

3) Use Cake and Cupcake Trays

Re-purposing cute trays that you would occasionally use in the kitchen can add a fun and even vintage feel to your makeup counter.

4) Use A Spice Rack as a Product Holder

Great use for an old spice rack that’s been sitting in your cupboard! Cosmo provides this tip as spice racks can hold perfumes (and nail polish!) in place and also showcase them side by side. Spice racks are already a space saver, who says they can’t be used for your favourite makeup products?

5) Use Small Flower Vases

Using small flower vases that you already have. Fill vases with coffee beans, rice or plastic beads and stick makeup brushes upright ensuring you can grab them easily.

6) Mason Jars

DIY Playbook (http://thediyplaybook.com/2013/04/mason-jar-organizer.html)

What can’t you do with mason jars? They’ve become the perfect DIY jar as they instantly add some interest to the most basic craft. You can group them in a corner or even mount them on the wall, making them a great versatile organizational tool.

7) Old Candles

Cleaning out old candles and using them as jars is an easy and cheap way to repurpose plastic or glass you would have thrown out. By gluing them into a pyramid shape they take up less space and look beautiful on a counter or desk. According to Life Ann Style, “You can remove the wax pucks by placing the candle in the freezer. Freezing the wax will cause the wax to shrink and you can easily pop out the wax puck.”

Hopefully we’ve given some great tips and tricks to get started on the organization process! We also want to highlight Elate cosmetics magnetic palettes. They make an easy built in organization tool as you can pick and choose what colours to put in your palette making them great for travel or keeping out the specific colours you’re currently using. Drop by DesignHouse Salon to take a peek at the palette options or check out our website.

The New And Improved Hair And Beauty New Year’s Resolutions

December 29, 2016 By design house

sparklers

Gone are the days when New Year’s resolutions equated to a new form of torture. This year, start a new trend by loving yourself and cutting yourself some slack. Women are more empowered than ever to work with their natural beauty and attributes that define them as an individual. Take advantage of this mentality when approaching this 2017 New Year’s resolution. We’ve listed our favourite goals to improving hair and beauty in two New Year’s Resolution’s checklists below.

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The New Beauty Resolution Checklist

Remove the old to reveal the new: The key to beautiful skin is to exfoliate dirt and bacteria to reveal fresh skin underneath. If you haven’t already, add this step to your skincare regime. It isn’t necessary to perform this step every day. Sticking to exfoliating at least once a week provides clear and balanced skin. We love Sacred Nature’s “Gommage” as it gently exfoliates the face and body with jojoba beads.
Maintain Consistency: Maintaining youthful skin comes down to properly caring for it everyday. Using an oil to remove makeup, followed by gentle cleansing and moisturizing ensures skin is properly looked after and hydrated. We recommend Sacred Nature’s cleansing oil, perfect for removing makeup and dirt .
Clean your makeup brushes: The buildup of oils and dirt from daily use hinder the amazing benefits of wearing cosmetics. Bacteria collects on the brushes, creating a breeding ground for acne and skin irritation. By keeping them clean, your skin will be kept healthier which lessens the chance of accumulating excess bacteria. Having a makeup artist show you specific brushes and their uses can also be very helpful. Simplifying your makeup routine can begin will eliminating unneeded brushes.
Use face wipes sparingly: Face wipes are a fast option for removing makeup after a fun night out. However, the chemicals used to achieve this aspiration are quite harsh on the skin. These products aren’t for everyday use. They can, in fact, strip away necessary moisture from the skin. A better alternative that removes makeup just as quickly is olive oil, jojoba or coconut oil. They are gentle but effective for these needs, without draining the moisture levels of the skin.
The #1 skin rule: When it comes to the face, don’t touch it during the day. Women who touch their face after their makeup application usually experience more breakouts. The unseen bacteria and sweat that collects on the hands can clog the pores and lead to blemishes.

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Get Inspired with the New Hair Resolution

Book a style consultation: Gone are the days where women get stuck with a bad haircut. A stylist will work with you and should also listen to your specific needs and maintenance level. All of our hair consultations are complimentary to ensure you get what you deserve. Can I get a Hallelujah? Take a peak at our options here → http://designhousesalon.com/hair-menu/.
Breathe in new life with a new colour: A fresh colour or semi permanent dye can enrich the hair and also provide an easy way to change up a style. Colour swatches and a discussion with your stylist should be the first step.
Learn how to achieve the perfect style: Stylists will take the time to show you how to achieve your new style at home. Being introduced and also educated on new products and tools can make recreating the look not as tedious.

When choosing a New Year’s resolution, focusing on positive changes are integral to looking and feeling your best. This New Year’s can easily be kicked off with a hair and makeup makeover that is easy to maintain and also attainable.

Here at DesignHouse Salon we perform and offer a variety of beauty packages. We encourage our clients to ask us about our options in order to get the right fit and also achieve the makeover that fits their lifestyle. Be sure to check us out online at http://designhousesalon.com/ or call to book your next appointment at (778)433-4393.