designHouse Salon

Holistic Hair Salon Victoria BC

Staff Q&A Series: Master Stylist Cory

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We want you to get to know the people that do your hair because trust isn’t earned overnight. Our monthly Staff Q&A helps you learn a little bit about who we are outside the salon. This month, we focus on California bombshell, Cory.

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Besides earning more money and becoming even more profitable, what do you think the goals of designHouse Salon are?

I think one of our biggest goals has always been to educate our clients on the importance of sustainability in the beauty industry. I want to make sure each person leaves our space looking and feeling like a million bucks!

What do you contribute to the team that makes you stand out? What do/should clients come specifically to you for?

I like to build a strong bond with my clients and co-workers. I feel like being a caring and sensitive friend has always taken me far in life and I feel that it is something that is appreciated by coworkers and clients alike. I also love huge transformations and makeovers!

What does Sustainable Beauty mean to you and why is it an important focus?

To me, sustainable beauty means making people look and feel their best, while also taking care of the environment. This is important because people shouldn’t have to choose between helping the world and helping themselves. They should feel good about looking good.

Why should people come to designHouse Salon over the TONS of other available options?

We care about every person that walks through our door. Our service and attention to detail separate us from the competition. We are also a Green Circle Salon, which means that we strive to contribute very little waste to the environment.

What about the beauty industry excites you and why?

I love that boundaries are being broken down. The term “beauty” can mean so many things now. The classic definition of what is beautiful no longer applies and expressing yourself through your style is incredibly exciting!

Tell us about your background. Where are you from? What have you accomplished?

I am originally from California, but my story really begins after moving here, meeting my boyfriend and having a beautiful daughter. They are by far my biggest accomplishment!

When you aren’t working, what are you doing? Hobbies, interests, etc.

When I’m not working, I love going on adventures with my boyfriend, Drew, and daughter, Chloe. I also love exploring the island, horseback riding, painting, jewellery making and planning my next vacation spot.

Do you prefer Cinnamon or Vanilla?

Both!

If you could grant a co-worker a superpower, who and what would it be?

I would grant Matt the power to magically make me food of my choosing mainly because he’s always at work when I am — and I’m usually hungry!

What’s your go-to midnight snack?

Chocolate.

Name 2 things you want everyone to know about you.

  1. I’ll never say no to chocolate;
  2. The best gift you could give me is to be kind to animals (via a donation to BCSPCA)

And lastly, name 3 things on your bucket list.

  1. Scuba dive with a whale shark;
  2. Skydive;
  3. Eat a chocolate croissant in France.

Do You Know The Best Foods For Healthy Hair?

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Back in February, our blog talked about the importance of eating the right foods for healthy, glowing skin. This month, we want to discuss a similar topic but this time, for your hair.

Strong, beautiful hair is what we all dream of but is difficult to achieve if you don’t know what to do. Although it may seem like healthy hair is unattainable, it isn’t. Starting off with the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair and scalp is a great place to start. If you want to take it a step further though, start focusing on your diet.

If you battle dry or frizzy hair, that could be a sign of poor health inside your body. Each individual strand of hair is made up of cells that contain a protein called keratin. In order to strengthen your hair, keratin needs to be nurtured with vitamins and minerals and hair growth vitamins only go so far. To ensure healthy hair, you need to start eating the right foods for healthy hair. We’ve outlined a list of foods that can help make your hair look its absolute best!

Almond Butter

Almond butter is one of many great foods for healthy hair. Packed with healthy fats, protein and vitamins, keeping your hair thick and shiny will get a lot easier. It’s also full of vitamin E, a key ingredient in hair health.

Spinach

Hair loss can be caused by many things, but mineral deficiencies can be a huge contributor. Women, in particular, are naturally prone to them but spinach can help curb that. Spinach is super rich in iron and helps the body produce more sebum, an oily secretion that conditions your hair. Spinach also has magnesium, omega-3 acids, calcium, and potassium to help your hair achieve a shiny look.

Greek Yoghurt

Greek yoghurt is super high in protein and vitamin B5, which assists with blood flow to your scalp as well as hair growth. Plus, Greek yoghurt is delicious and should be added to your diet anyway.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal isn’t just an easy breakfast meal, it’s also rich in nutrients. Loaded with fibre, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and iron, oats help your hair grow and can make it thicker and healthier.  

Eggs

Eggs are a morning staple, so this one shouldn’t be too hard to add to your diet. Loaded with a B vitamin called biotin, eggs are perfect for hair growth and maintaining healthy-looking hair.

Chicken or Fish

Lean meats such as chicken and fish are packed with protein. A lack of protein in your diet can lead to significant hair loss, so make sure you’re getting enough protein. It is incredibly important to your hair health.

Nuts

The fatty omega-3 acids from nuts help thicken your hair and boost your overall health. Our bodies are unable to produce these types of fats so we need to obtain them from the things we eat. Walnuts and almonds are high in these necessary acids, and also make a delicious snack.

If you need more information on how you can have the best hair possible or want to make an appointment, contact us here or come visit our hair salon in Victoria, BC. We’d be happy to help.

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 Rikki Heibert

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We believe in our staff and we want you to, as well. Our monthly Staff Q&A helps you get to know us individually and who we are outside the salon. This month we have Senior Stylist, Rikki Heibert.

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Besides earning more money and becoming even more profitable, what do you think the goals of designHouse Salon are?

To create a welcoming environment for guests and team members where they feel like part of a family. Also, to provide our guests with beautiful hairstyles while respecting the environment and each individual’s health, and to set an example in the beauty industry and our community to take further initiatives for healthy living and protecting our environment.

What do you contribute to the team that makes you stand out? What do/should clients come specifically to you for?

What makes me stand out are my communication skills and customer service. What I love about our industry is the relationship building and taking part in a guest’s hair journey and, sometimes, life journey. When my guests come to see me, I work hard to make sure they feel comfortable and free to express themselves however they need to while they’re here. I understand that a hair service is not just about beautifying the hair, but also about allowing for nourishment/relaxation of the mind, body and spirit.

What does Sustainable Beauty mean to you and why is it an important focus?

It means that, at a time when so many products are mass produced with toxic chemicals and an unnecessary amount of packaging, we can take actions that reject the norm and help to protect the environment and/or neutralize our carbon footprint while still doing fashionable hairstyles.

Why should people come to designHouse Salon over the TONS of other available options?

Firstly, because they will always feel taken care of by our team no matter what stylist they see. Secondly, they can feel good about their contribution to the environment by paying an eco fee with their hair service and supporting a business with environmental initiatives. Lastly, they can feel confident knowing that DH is always growing and improving to better accommodate their needs.

What about the beauty industry excites you and why?

I absolutely love working with people and the diversity of our industry. I appreciate getting to know a guest’s uniqueness in their personality and their hair and collaborating to design a hairstyle and salon experience just for them.

Tell us about your background. Where are you from? What have you accomplished?

I grew up in Nanoose Bay/Parksville. My upbringing was island life at its finest — lots of outdoors adventures, roadtrips, playing in the ocean. I knew at a young age that I wanted to do hair, it just made sense. Well, it was that or become a therapist, which would be a ton of school and I was never great at sitting in a classroom without getting distracted and goofing off. I moved to Victoria the day after I graduated from high school and soon after, attended cosmetology school. I totally nailed the exam 100% and by the end I was also the only person still in my class (last woman standing I suppose). I went on to work at Arq for the next 8 years where I honed my hair skills, worked on photo shoots and organized salon events. I worked for Redken for 5 years facilitating education as well as babe extensions doing education. I have also travelled to Vegas, Montreal and Mexico for hair events and also did hair in Toronto for 6 months.

When you aren’t working, what are you doing? Hobbies, interests, etc.

Fun activities and adventures! Surfing, hiking, swimming, boxing, yoga — basically anything active especially if it’s outside and my dog, Lizzie, can come along. I also looove good coffee and listening to music. My guilty pleasures at the moment are trampoline parks, waterslides and 90s hip-hop club bangers.

Do you prefer Cinnamon or Vanilla?

I can’t pick one… they belong together.

If you could grant a co-worker a superpower, who and what would it be?

A coworker? I would give Robin the power of multiplying herself so she can have extra Robins to assist her at work and in life. I would give Aaron a self-healing power like Wolverine so when he hurts himself at the trampoline park he won’t be limping around for weeks. 🙂

What’s your go-to midnight snack?

Trail mix. popcorn. Chips. Annie’s mac and cheese. Salty and crunchy things.

Name 2 things you want everyone to know about you?

  1. I love comedy… mostly stand up. Although that doesn’t mean I’m funny but I’ll try really hard to get a laugh anyways.
  2. I can’t lie. Not even a white lie. The truth always comes out.

And lastly, name 3 things on your bucket list.

  1. Learn to speak fluent Spanish
  2. Go To University
  3. Live in a Camper Van

Great New Products To Try In 2018

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If you haven’t already made the switch over to sustainable, organic, green beauty products, this is your year to do it. 2018 is predicted to be THE year of green beauty so it’s a great time to start off with some new products.

Elate Cosmetics

Elate is hands down the BEST cosmetics line we’ve ever found! Skin-loving ingredients, cruelty-free, vegan and a huge variety of formulas and colours, this line really knows what they’re doing.

And if that wasn’t cool enough, the paper packaging is actually made with wildflower seeds for your garden. Cool, eh? Talk about sustainable packaging!

Unlike some other green skincare, Elate is always on trend with colours that reflect exactly what their customers are looking for.

Not sure where to start? The Elate Full Tint Foundation is one of our bestsellers for a reason. It feels great on the skin and you can feel good about supplementing your skin with natural vitamins and minerals while getting the coverage you need. Oh, and the lipsticks! Try the lipsticks, trust us!

Davines

We are proud to offer the DAVINES line of products at designHouse Salon! No matter what type of hair you have, and what needs it has, look no further than Davines!

Davines believes that a balance between beauty and sustainability is of utmost importance. It’s so refreshing to find a product line that not only treats your hair right but treats the earth right too.

While Davines offers a large variety of products for all hair needs, the one we recommend most is Your Hair Assistant Blowdry Primer. This particular product is not only one of our bestsellers, but was named Elle Magazine’s Green Award Winner! You won’t believe how it transforms your hair.

Jusu Body Products

Your skin is your biggest organ and what you put on it also gets INTO it. It’s best to use natural products all over, but since your arms, legs and torso take up a lot of real estate on your body, switching to body care first is the best place to start.

Don’t you want to use the healthiest products that you can? And isn’t it even better when those products don’t harm the environment? With Jusu body products you can be reassured that whatever you put on your body is giving it the best supplementation and hydration, with no negative side effects.

Jusu offers scent-free products which are wonderful for those sensitive to scent. But we’re partial to the invigorating Eucalyptus Mint scent and awakening Vanilla Peppermint scented products. You’ll be refreshed, hydrated and smelling lovely!

We’re extremely proud to carry all these products at designHouse Salon. Being the most popular destination for Holistic Beauty Hair Services on Vancouver Island, our reviews speak for themselves as do these products. We’re proud that these brands match our high standards. Please come down to one of our locations, we’d be more than happy to help you find the best products suited for your body, skin, and hair care needs!

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.