designHouse Salon

Holistic Hair Salon Victoria BC

Curly Girl

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Curly Hair. It’s a blessing and a curse but with the right tips and a little magic product even the wildest hair can be (relatively) tamed. What curly haired girl hasn’t heard from her straight haired friends that they would pay good money to swap places? Sound familiar? We’re big believers in embracing your natural texture and working with it! We’re here to talk curls and also give you some great education in how to embrace them! [Read more…]

Grow, Grow, Grow Your Hair!

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Unfortunately there’s no magic pill or potion that will transform your hair into a ‘mermaidey’ masterpiece overnight but with some dedication and a few tips even the stubbornest hair can grow. The biggest hurdle is the having the patience to let your hair do it’s thing. Hair grows anywhere from ¼ to ½ an inch a month so it can definitely be a bit of a waiting game. Below are some of the easiest tips to implement when looking to grow your hair incredibly long:

  1. Lay Down the Brush: Many women obsessively brush their hair to rid it of tangles and knots, which can cause a large amount of breakage. The important tip here is looking to brush your hair from the ends up instead of starting at the root. By starting at the ends you’re able to rid hair of tangles and also do it more gently to prevent breakage.

  1. Scissors are Your Best Friend: It may seem counter intuitive but regular trims are actually one of the best things when it comes to growing your hair. According to Cosmopolitan “Although getting regular trims to snip splits won’t make your hair actually grow faster, it will keep tips looking healthy and prevent splits from working their way up strands, requiring you to chop hair off more often, (source).” Getting a tiny trim (we’re talking an 1/8th of an inch) off every 10-12 weeks will prevent split ends from starting in the first place.
  2. Apply an Oil or Mask Weekly: Hair is several years old by the time it’s past shoulder length making some extra love important to keep it happy and healthy as the rest. By using an oil treatment before shampooing residue is left aiding in healthy scalp and overall hair. Leaving some of Davine’s Oi Oil on the hair for 10 minutes before shampooing acts like a treatment that is sealed into the hair.

  1. Sleep on Satin: Cotton pillowcases can actually lead to breakage and the friction can rough up the hair shaft. “Cotton is actually not the ideal consistency you want when trying to grow your hair, (source).” By choosing a satin or sateen pillowcase you’ll wake up with fewer tangles.
  2. Wash Your Hair Less: Washing your hair everyday can be one of the worst culprits for inhibiting hair growth. The use of harsh detergents in conventional shampoos can lead to stripping of the essential oils leaving hair dry and frizzy. “Only wash your hair 2-3 times per week, and don’t feel weird about it – you’re doing your hair a huge favor!  Remember, less is more.” Using a gentle shampoo like DEDE by Davines is a great option as it won’t strip away oils but still leave you feeling cleansed and refreshed.

Now that you ‘re equipped with some tips paying a visit to DesignHouse can help you further. Whether you need a trim or are looking for some ways to style your hair in the awkward growing out phase we’re your people!

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