designHouse Salon

Holistic Hair Salon Victoria BC

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 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.

What is a B Corporation?

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Davines made big news when they became recognized internationally as a certified B Corporation at the end of November this year. We first want to define what being a B Corporation is and what traits a company has to possess in order to gain the widely recognized certification. “At the end of November 2016, Davines Group and its 2 brands – Davines and Comfort Zone – became a B Corporation® , a new type of company that meets the highest standards of overall social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability, (source).”Davines consistently displays awareness regarding its ethical and social practices making it only a matter of time before a official certification was met. “Davines Group was born with the aim of being a business with a positive impact both on people and the environment. Through the years, we have carried out this goal with different projects, such as our Ethical Chart and our Sustainability Report , (source).” First let’s define what exactly a B Corporation is:

B Corporation: B Corps are for-profit companies certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance. This includes accountability, and transparency. “B Corp is to business what Fair Trade certification is to coffee or USDA organic is to milk, (source).” There are currently over 2100 Certified B Corps from 50 countries and over 130 industries working together toward 1 unifying goal: to redefine success in business.

The next question is how does a company get evaluated in order to become a B Corp? and how does Davines rank in all of this?

Certification: B Corp certification is a long process that usually takes years from application to certification. “To become certified, we had to meet the requirements of the nonprofit B Lab®, which measured “what matters”, meaning the performance of the company regarding five fields: workers, governance, community, customers and environment, (source).” B corporation’s are able to publicly claim an identity as an organization interested in both shareholder and stakeholder success. By having an identity that is clear customers are able to witness the difference in industry norms.

“B Lab certifies companies based on how they create value for non-shareholding stakeholders, such as their employees, the local community, and the environment. Once a firm crosses a certain performance threshold on these dimensions, it makes amendments to its corporate charter to incorporate the interests of all stakeholders into the fiduciary duties of directors and officers, (source).”

Davines’ evaluation ranked a 99 out of 200 and for a company of it’s size is incredibly positive. Davines excelled in various areas including: The analysis of the product life cycle (SLCA) based on their environmental and social impact, the reduction of materials for the packaging of our products, through a lower environmental impact choice and a more responsible product design, the reduction of our waste, and an increase in the percentage allocated to recycling, the involvement of all suppliers in the certification path, the attention to the welfare of the company staff.

Here at DesignHouse we are incredibly fortunate to not only carry Davines products but also posses the same values and ethics surrounding our own business. Want to learn more about Davines? Contact us at 778-433-4393 or on our contact page!

 

Journeys in Sustainable Beauty

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In fulfilling our promise to exceed your expectations, our journey takes us to Thailand and Cambodia, each place offering an opportunity to learn and to give, and to make a positive impact in the lives of others.

Davines Hair on Stage

We are proud to represent Victoria as Davines’ flagship salon of Vancouver Island at “Hair on Stage” from November 14th to 16th in Bangkok, Thailand. This spectacular event provides us a chance to network with like-minded individuals interested in “sustainable beauty.” Here we can get together to share ideas, projects, and trends from around the world, and learn from internationally renowned hair designers, like Davines Artistic Director, Angelo Seminara, three-time winner of the British Hairdresser of the Year award. We are thrilled to attend this creatively enriching, innovative, and eco-friendly style experience.

Held at Asiatique the Riverfront on Thailand’s major river, Chao Phraya, the Davines Hair on Stage coincides with the annual Loy Krathong, a festival of floating baskets. Traditionally, the festival is held on the 12th full moon of the Thai lunar calendar, and people pay respect (for abundance) and ask forgiveness (for pollution) from the river goddess. As the lit baskets float down river, some people believe that they take away negativity and bring good luck.

bangkok-chao-phraya-bridge

Kate Korpi Salon and Academy

In keeping with bringing about positive change, our journey takes us from Bangkok to Phnom Penh, Cambodia to the Kate Korpi Salon and Academy, a Davines sponsored, not-for-profit hair school. We’ll be volunteering from November 29th to December 6th to help transform the lives of trafficked young women, men, and children through education and empowerment. We believe that holistic beauty not only includes environmental sustainability, but also social responsibility in taking steps to help others in order to make our world a better place.

Kate Korpi Salon and Academy is a high-end, western-style hair salon and academy currently staffed by Guest Artists from around the world. The pricing model is set to attract people who have the means to pay, and all profits go to supporting the academy with the hope of creating a self-sustaining operation after three years. Eventually the students will become the teachers, or move on to have their own salons, or work in other high-end salons. At risk youth and traffic survivors will learn the fundamentals of cosmetology, and also develop their confidence, self-esteem, and life skills, which will help them create a career path to secure employment.

If you’re a stylist, or just interested in learning more about how to help, visit the Justice and Soul Foundation for more information on how to become involved with this life transforming and rewarding volunteer experience. If volunteering is not an option available to you, donations are gladly accepted to help with costs for the students. A little or a lot, all is appreciated as it goes to helping students get food, clothes, and housing, as well as pay for tools, tuition, and psychological support. In order to make a difference, as Mahatma Ghandi said, “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. … We need not wait to see what others do.” Or simply put, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

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Sustainability Matters in a Hair Salon

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In this day-and-age, it is becoming increasingly common to find more and more businesses taking steps to becoming sustainable and environmentally friendly. We at Design House Salon, your favorite Victoria-based salon, is proud to be at the forefront of this movement as a holistic hair salon. We are not just setting standards that exceed expectations of our highly-valued clientele, we’re raising the bar for other industry leaders to follow. We do this within every facet of our business—from our warm inviting atmosphere built with recycled materials to the very hairdressers that we employ. It takes a special kind of hairdresser to constantly be excited about making conscious choices to be more environmentally friendly.

 

The Ripple Effect

 

When salon owners and hair dressers care about becoming sustainable, these conscious choices become a movement. The movement spreads from the salon owners to the hair dressers, to the clientele. Everyone taking part in the salon gets involved, and all of this excitement evolves into happier staff and happier clientele.

 

Our staff are more than satisfied with their job because they know that they’re employed with a hair salon whose vision is doing the right thing and making a difference in the world. Socrates said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” We can’t change how other salon owners, or businesses operate, but we can share our experience and do our part to reduce our own personal carbon footprint.

 

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A Sustainability Conscious Hair Salon

 

At Design House Salon, we’re not just talking the talk, we’re walking the walk when it comes to the practice of sustainability. In fact, our hair salon was a proud recipient of the Eco-Salon Design Award of the World. Our sustainable efforts include our product line as well as the salon itself. When we first started becoming more sustainable, we decided to focus on the products we’d like to retail and use on clients.

 

This focus quickly led us to Davines, a “sustainable beauty” product line that’s so eco-friendly that even the packaging is reusable and, yes, food grade safe. When selecting the location of our salon, we opted to locate within the confines of a beautiful historical building that we then upgraded by taking a fully-stainable approach from heating to LED lighting.

 

We’re completely environmentally friendly when it comes to laundry. Our laundry equipment is energy efficient, we use a non-detergent laundry ball, and we wash with cold water only. In addition to all of this, we’re avid recyclers—we pretty much recycle anything we can get our hands on. As a matter of fact, we were the very first salon in Victoria to create and implement a recycling program. Thanks to the assistance of Green Circle Salons, Design House Salon recycles salon hair, all salon materials, and all salon chemicals.  If it’s recyclable, we’ll make it happen.

 

All of our hair products are environmentally friendly—not just the hair care products, but even the foils. Instead of the traditional foils that most salons use, we’re proud to use the non-biodegradable version. If it’s not recyclable, we won’t use it. So how do all of these sustainability efforts ripple down to the lives of Design House Salon clients? In our continued efforts to create sustainable solutions, and to keep the movement “moving,” we’ve developed programs that actively get clients involved. We’ve rolled out programs that involve things like discount incentives which get clients motivated to return product containers when they’re empty, as well as fun-filled contests. We’ve done all of this and much more. Why? Because the environment is important to our salon—our world in which we live is important to us.

 

 

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Be sure to check us out online and to book an appointment, or, call to book your next appointment at 778­433­4393.  We set the standards for sustainability practices in the industry and we are really excited to exceed your expectations.