designHouse Salon

Holistic Hair Salon Victoria BC

How to Get Your Hair Summer-Ready

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Our favourite time of year has come! In fact, after a cold and rainy winter, summer can’t come soon enough. With that taste of summer we got in Victoria last week, we realize summer’s just around the corner, so it’s time to think about super cute summer looks. Summer may be fabulous but the sun and heat have the potential to wreak havoc on your hair. The last thing we want is to have bad hair while you’re out enjoying the sun on the beach or on the many patios Victoria has to offer.

To achieve that gorgeous, summer-ready hair, we’ve put together a list of tips so you can not only enjoy the heat but keep your hair feeling healthy!

 

Get A Trim

I’m sure a lot of you have been cooped up inside binging your favourite movies and tv shows on Netflix. So while you’ve been lounging in comfy clothes all winter, getting a haircut may have fallen off your radar. Now that summer’s on its way and you know you’ll be soaking outside in that sun, booking an appointment in your nearest eco salon for a trim is imperative. Cleaning up your split ends and taking some of that bulk out of your hair is essential.

Treat Your Hair

Time to bust out those organic hair products. Winter can leave your hair feeling super dull. With summer almost here, you’ll be in the sun, on the beach, out and about and generally outside more often. This can be tough on your hair. Treating yourself to a conditioning treatment like some of these can not only prepare your hair for the heat and sun but also stop the frizz (who doesn’t hate that!?). Hydrating your hair is essential if you want to protect or undo any damage that you may have caused to your hair. Plus, it’ll add that extra bounce we’re sure you’ll love!

Eat Healthy

We delved deep in a previous blog on what to eat if you want healthy hair, but we think it’s important to mention it again. If you want shiny, strong hair, you must provide your hair with the right nutrients and tons of water. Keep your diet high in protein including lean meats, fish and various dairy products. Don’t forget to eat your greens and delicious fruit too, which will not only help your hair look great but make you feel great.

Stay Away from Heat

We all use hair dryers, curlers and straighteners but in the summer, try your best to stay away from them and enjoy your natural hair. Adding heat to your hair when it’s already hot isn’t the best idea.

Clean Hair, Don’t Care

We know you probably don’t wash your hair every day, and you probably shouldn’t, especially if you have curly hair, but in the summer, heat and humidity can make your hair greasy and you’ll likely crave a clean head of hair. Don’t be afraid to wash your hair more often because having a greased-up head of hair is never a good look!

 

Now, if you’re wondering why we didn’t mention colouring your hair for summer, that’s because later this month, we’ll have an entire blog devoted to how to get that perfect colour with the hottest 2018 trends.

Book an appointment with designHouse hair salon in Victoria, BC today to get your hair summer-ready. Go online to book the stylist of your choosing or give us a call — your hair will thank you come June.

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.

What’s the Difference Between Natural, Eco, Bio and Organic?

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Everyone wants their products to be natural, bio, eco or organic. In fact, we’re more health conscious and care much more about the environment than we did about 20 years ago. Marketers love to claim that their brand’s natural or organic products are better for your face and body. While that’s certainly true if the product comes through on its promise of health-conscious ingredients, it’s more important to do your research and find out what it all means.

While you may think natural and organic mean the same thing, they actually don’t. Marketers have this great ability to confuse us with what this all means. I’m sure anyone who reads this will agree they see natural skin care products as healthy and better than the alternative. Don’t let those labels fool you though. Do your research and find out if their claims are actually true before spending money. Some of the best skin care products in the world use natural ingredients, you just need to know how to find them.

As you can see, this can be confusing, so we wanted to outline the difference between these four labels.

Natural

Walk into any beauty product aisle and you’ll find natural skin care and makeup products everywhere, or at least, a product that claims it’s natural. Because the term “natural” is not regulated by the FDA, if a product has even a small amount of natural ingredients, a company can slap a “natural” label on it. If you got your product from a local producer, chances are good you have a real natural product, but make sure to ask about the ingredients. You should always remember to check the label of any product you find. If you read the ingredient list and can pronounce fewer and fewer words, the more likely the product isn’t as ‘natural’ as they’re claiming.

Eco

The term “eco” is also not regulated, so while the label may make “green” claims, that eco product may be filled with chemicals. Don’t forget to check the label!

Organic

We hear the term “organic” all the time. Regulated by the FDA, organic products like organic makeup are certified and tested. The ingredients in these products are organically farmed and are always guaranteed to be pesticide-free and not genetically modified. If the products want to be deemed as strictly organic, the product has to be made of 95% organic ingredients, otherwise, you’ll see a label that says the product was made with organic ingredients.

Bio

If you’re concerned about where the ingredients come from and the environment they were in, bio products are for you. They step it up a notch from organic products and are as green as can be.

designHouse offers a lot of different types of organic, natural, eco and bio cosmetic products so feel free to check out our selection online or in-store. If you’re still confused on what the differences are and which type of products are best for you, come and visit us at one of our locations! Ask any of our stylists, they’ll be happy to help you find the right product.

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

How to Determine the Best Hairstyle for Your Face Shape

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Source: Pretty Designs

Let’s face it, we all want to look our best and our hair plays a big role in looking and feeling good. Not every hairstyle is going to look good on you though because we all look different. We all have diverse face shapes and sometimes it’s hard to find a look that compliments it. Fortunately for you, we’ve come up with some styles that’ll suit some of the most common face shapes. Continue reading below and find out which will look best on you!

What is Your Face Shape?

We may think we all have round faces, but that is definitely not true. Things like your hairline, jawline and length of your face all determine your shape. Take a look at the image above, pull your hair all the way back while looking in the mirror and figure out what your face shape is. If you still can’t tell, take an eyebrow pencil to the mirror and trace your face!

Oval Face

If your face length is longer than it is wide, you have an oval face shape. Some celebrities who have this face shape include Rihanna and Bella Hadid. Consider trying out a pixie cut, layer your hair, do a middle part, or take the ultimate risk and get bangs. The best styles are the ones that keep your hair away from your face.

Square Face

Square-shaped faces tend to be wide. This face shape includes a prominent jawline and a forehead and cheekbones that are almost the same width. Think Olivia Wilde. When you’re choosing a hairstyle for a square face shape, choose something that accentuates the square nature of your face. If you are looking to stand-out, get some blunt bangs or a short bob.

Round Face

Round face shapes have no prominent angles as your face is roughly the same in width and length. But don’t worry, people with round faces are often considered to have “baby faces” and tend to look younger. Kirsten Dunst and Miranda Kerr both have round face shapes and they look great! The main goal of your style is to elongate the face and make it look more oval. Leaving a small piece of hair untucked on one side of your face will do the trick. If you do a deep side part, your eyes will trick your brain into thinking your face is narrower.  

Heart Face

Heart Shape faces are wider at the hairline and temples and taper to a small narrow, pointed chin. In this case, your forehead will usually be the prominent feature. Tyra Banks and Reese Witherspoon really own this face shape. When choosing your hairstyle, you’ll either want to accentuate your face shape or make the bottom half of your face look wider. If you’re doing the former, you’ll want to pull your hair up into a high top-knot. Side parts with long curls also look super cute and chic. If you want to keep it safe, shoulder length hair looks best as it adds volume to the bottom of your face and makes it look like you have a wider jawline.

Oblong Face

This face shape is the same as an oval shape, just a lot longer. Celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker or Liv Tyler have this shape. The key here is to make your face look wider. A hairstyle with curls and big waves will achieve this look.

Make an appointment with designHouse today and get the best possible look for your face shape!