beautygeeks

This isn’t a bad image to see on a Monday morning, huh? No, it’s not a gratuitous inclusion of spiffy male bod, it actually relates to the subject matter. I did crop most of the chippie out, though. My boss made me do it.

I’ve heard many folks grumble that neither laser hair removal nor electrolysis has solved their pesky hirsute issues. Nicolette Oakwell-Morgan, director of operations at OMI Hair in Toronto, has heard the same thing. “We see so many clients who have spent thousands of dollars elsewhere on laser hair treatments without any significant results,” she says, citing misinformation and lack of education in the industry as key problems.

When it comes to permanent hair removal, your body hair’s growth cycle is important but so is your skin and hair colour, hair texture and location. As well, according to Oakwell-Morgan, few people know or advise consumers that the follicle needs a certain level of natural moisture to be vapourized effectively by a laser, and that each treatment has to be carefully timed to catch each cycle of growth just as the hair starts to show. And it turns out laser technology isn’t the final answer to a hairy situation. Read the rest of this entry »

What’s the point in going straight if a) it’s hard to do, b) it’s hard to maintain, c) you’re left with sticky residue and d) you can’t justify the ouchie to your wallet? Sheesh.

Well, that’s one four-part life question I can answer with TRESemmé Heat Tamer, a protective spray that guards against heat-styling damage as it eases the straightening process. Yeah, baby, it’s a multi-tasker.

When I straighten my thick, wavy hair, I usually have to soak my hair, blot excess moisture away, apply straightening cream and anti-damage serum, do a basic blowdry with my super-hot blow dryer and a paddle brush, smooth with a round boar-bristle brush and the dryer, then finish with a few passes of a pro flatiron. Whew! But TRESemmé Heat Tamer spray cuts the first four steps to one: I can dampen my hair, add straightening product and protect from heat all in a generous misting. Post blowdry, for extra straight-styling help and heat protection, I can lightly spritz each section again just before I run it through the flatiron.

The result? Katie-Holmes sleekness that feels light and clean as though there isn’t a lick of product in it, and it stays straight all day. As for the wallet ouchie, there isn’t one: 236 mL, $6.99.

I’ll be going straight more often.

TRESemmé Heat Tamer is available at drugstores and mass retailers.

I’m wary of this green trend in beauty. Not that it isn’t a good idea — reducing the amount of chemicals we put on our skin or into the ground is smart. But how much of it is truly green (natural or organic)? Is it as effective as what we’re used to? How much is just marketing?

Live Clean haircare address those concerns head on. The shampoos and conditioners are, respectively, 99 and 96 percent plant based, formulated without sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS, a chemical cleanser), phosphates, diethanolamine (DEA, which boosts lather and texture) or parabens (chemical preservatives). Ingredients include ECOCERT-certified organic botanical extracts such as rosemary, chamomile, lavender, eucalyptus and white tea. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve decided Fridays should be for posts about things that start with F. Fun. Frivolous. Freaky. Fitness. Fashion. Fierce… well, you get the idea. Today it’s about LookFab. Or free! if you wanna get persnickety.

If you live in downtown Toronto or are planning on trekking in over the weekend, stop in at 144 Bloor St. W and take a little a tour of the LookFab space. You’ll meet four different beauty stations, each of which addresses specific beauty areas such as hair, face, cosmetics or body. Young, perky, pretty things will tell you all about shower gel, moisturizer, foundation and more; take no notice that they’re in fact a bit young for some of the skincare products. What does it matter when you’ll exit with a freebie-bag of stuff like Venus Divine shower gel, the new Venus Embrace razor (which rocks), and a Cover Girl Lash Blast mascara (the big orange one Drew Barrymore’s all about; it also rocks) to try out at home? In fact it’s a chance to see how it feels to be a beauty editor for a few minutes.

Get the feeling by 5:30 pm on Sunday, though — that’s the last day for the Toronto location. Calgary is the next stop, from May 22nd to June 5th.

And isn’t persnickety a fantastic word? Even if it doesn’t start with F?

Sheesh. Tinkering with the Chop it OFF post to include Lisa Festa’s photos and re-position the others took me hours, but it’s done.

And yes, hours. I’m still learning this blogware. In the words of Brett Butler as Joy’s mother on “My Name is Earl,” season one, “don’t judge me.”

Sheesh, sheesh. Now it occurs to me I could have called the post Haircut 100. Anyone else cool enough to remember that new-wave Brit band from the ’80s? (Good golly they look nerdy in their “Love Plus One” video! Well, I was a nerd in high school. Whatev.)

Of course I don’t think everyone should go cut off their hair this minute. Giselle Bundchen? No way, uh-uh. Celeb stylist Sam McKnight, responsible for Princess Diana’s jaw-dropping Harper’s Bazaar-cover hair as well as many of Giselle’s cover looks, would weep. But some people should take the short cut. Maybe this checklist will help?

1) Your hair is nothing but long and you only ever wear it in a boring ponytail. C’mon, be honest.

2) Your hair is long and thin and straight — and stringy. And you only ever wear it in a boring ponytail. The right shorter cut will add body and swing to thin, straight hair.

3) A shorter, modern cut that works with your hair texture is a style update for your face and your wardrobe.

4) You’re 5′5″ or less. A shorter chic style will make you look taller. Really.

5) You have misbehavin’ hair. A good shorter cut that makes the most of your texture (like my cut does for me) will put you in charge, maybe for the very first time.

6) You have loads of split ends. Split ends travel up the hair shaft if left unchecked. Your hair will look much healthier and be much more manageable if you cut all your splits off.

Okay, now let’s go see someone about a little snip-snip.

I’m a copycat. I admit it. Also, I’m a little slow….

Way back in October 2007, P&G Beauty PR manager Lisa Festa, 47, had her long, straight hair chopped off for donation at the Pantene Beautiful Lengths kick-off in Toronto. Already a gorgeous woman, post-cut Lisa was unfairly more striking and modern in a just-below-chin-length, chic textured shag by Justin German, co-owner of Shagg Salon. In fact, that crop was a stadium-wave to the power of the right cut in making someone look (even) younger. I took note. Read the rest of this entry »

This is a blog about receiving compliments. “Omigod, you have the most gorgeous skin,” or “I love your bag,” or “awesome shoes” – who doesn’t love hearing stuff like that? It makes you smile, even makes your day, doesn’t it? In fact, just having an opportunity to compliment someone else is a mood lift!

Superficial? Sure. But I’ve been saying for years (and celeb hairstylist Ted Gibson better back me up here on account he’s one of the people to whom I’ve said this): The first part of “superficial” is SUPER!, and damn if “super” isn’t just a great, feel-good word.

So this blog is going to help you get compliments. Lots and lots of great compliments, on your skin, your complexion, your hair, your makeup, your style, your clothes and your accessories.

Practice saying “thank you” gracefully. It’ll look good on you.