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Friday, July 1, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Summer haircare tips from celebrity hairdresser Alain Larivée
Summer months often remind us of times at the beach, or hanging outside on a patio with friends, while drinking a cosmo. For many people, however, summer is also the time for a constant battle to tame frizz, maintain bounce or repair damaged hair. Read on, as Alain Larivée, the Canadian Creative Consultant for the John Frieda Professional Haircare division of KAO Brands Company, gives Bohemia Magazine‘s readers some tips to maintain that fresh summer do.Text by Katherine Ellis.Photos courtesy of Alain Larivée, KAO Brands Company and rock-it promotions.
Even though Alain Larivée is one of the go-to hairstylists in Canada, do not judge his haircutting abilities on his own personal coiffure. “I am the type of guy who is always in desperate need of a haircut,” says Larivée. “We just don’t have the time!”
Since he was recruited as the Canadian Creative Consultant for the John Frieda Professional Haircare division of KAO Brands Company in 2007, Larivée has been a hairstylist at the last two Gemini Awards and three Genie Awards, as well as many other Canadian events. He recently returned from a trip to Toronto where the John Frieda team styled Elaine Lui, host of Lainey Gossip on CTV’s etalk, as well as her crew, for her sixth annual S.M.U.T. Soirée – an event where the talk show host dishes on celebrity gossip.
Larivée has cut and styled the hair of many celebrities, including Nina Dobrev of Vampire Diaries fame, Sarah Polley, Shannon Tweed and Wendy Crewson, to name a few.
“As much as superstars are superstars, they are still human beings, they are still people. [...] they have basic hair care needs [too],” he says. And the number one hair-related problem that women have is not taking the time to analyze and determine their hair type: be it oily or dry, straight or curly, the list goes on. This can affect the cut and style you are trying to achieve.
“If we take, for example, the summer time, the number one problem people are dealing with is humidity,” says Larivée. “Curls are in this year, and we are seeing a lot of beach waves, easy styling care-free hair. But there is always the woman who really likes to blast out her [coiffure] and have that really straight shiny hairdo; the issue is: how do I solve this?”
Larivée explains that women often go to their existing tried-and-tested solutions that have achieved the desired look in the past, but are not necessarily working now. For those seeking that pin-straight look, Larivée suggests using a keratin protein-based product, including sprays.
Prepping your hair prior to any styling with proper shampoo and conditioner is important too. Make sure it’s something that will benefit your hair type and the style you are trying to achieve. “I don’t expect everyone to pick up the bottle and read the labels,” says Larivée. “But if you take the time to read the instructions on the back of the bottle, [...] that’s a good starting point.”
Larivée also stresses that women should find the right hairstylist, and not just someone who is following the trends. “My famous quotation is ‘Trends are meant to influence, not dictate.’ And that is what you need to be aware of as a consumer – this is the trend, but does it work for my hair type?”
As for when he cuts his clients’ hair, Larivée’s reflex product is putting in a serum after a shampoo and conditioner. “The serum will help seal up the cuticle of the hair, and comes out with the next shampoo,” he says. “When worked through wet hair, it will help you hold your style and will control the cuticle of the hair.”
A new favourite is the Touch-up Flyaway Tamer by John Frieda. Resembling a mascara brush, Larivée explains that the product (which contains Inca Inchi oil) helps strengthen hair and repair damage, including those flyaway baby hairs. “I won’t do a photo shoot without it, or a live television broadcast. [...] Every time I try it out on somebody new, it ends up in their purse,” he says.
Larivée believes that his greatest accomplishment to date is his appointment as the Canadian Creative Consultant for John Frieda. There, Larivée works with other big names in the hair industry, including Luigi Murenu and Harry Josh.
“It’s really cool to find myself in a position where I work for a company that has a strong basic philosophy that matches my personal philosophy –[providing] quality hair care, transformative hair care, listening to and analyzing, and identifying people’s needs and solving them. I think that is what the big part of my success is.”
Full article
Alain Larivée and the CAJH staff can be followed on Facebook at the following link: http://www.facebook.com/CAJHMC?v=wall
For more on John Frieda products, go to: http://www.johnfrieda.ca/en-CA/Home/
Monday, June 20, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Rebecca Anderson, qui aime d'amour son coiffeur Alain Larivée.
Photo: Marco Campanozzi, La Presse
Il y a une personne qu'aucune femme ne tromperait pour tout l'or du monde. À qui nous avons dit, souvent dès notre première rencontre: à la vie, à la mort, chéri. Qui? Mais notre coiffeur, pardi! Pour les heureuses élues qui en ont un, bien sûr. Les autres, l'âme en peine, errent, éternellement insatisfaites. Portrait du rapport amour-haine que nous entretenons toutes avec notre coiffeur.
«Mon coiffeur? Mais je l'aime! D'amour!» Rebecca Anderson ne se fait pas prier pour louanger les multiples talents de son coiffeur chéri. Il faut dire qu'elle le suit, littéralement, depuis plus de 10 ans. De salon en salon, de quartier en quartier, malgré tous ses déplacements, elle lui a toujours été fidèle. Toujours.
À l'écouter parler, on dirait presque qu'elle parle d'un amant. «Je l'aime, parce qu'il comprend ce que je veux, dit-elle. Il n'essaye pas de me changer. Il respecte qui je suis! Et quand je le quitte, je n'ai pas l'impression d'être quelqu'un d'autre.»
Le tromperait-elle? «Non, jamais.»
Catégorique, vous dites? Il faut dire que Rebecca ne l'a pas toujours eu facile avec les coiffeurs. La dynamique trentenaire se souvient encore, quand, enfant, elle sortait du salon, en pleurant, systématiquement. «En Nouvelle-Écosse, tout le monde avait de gros cheveux, se souvient-elle en riant. Plein de spray net. Ça me traumatisait. Je détestais aller chez le coiffeur. Chaque fois, je rentrais chez moi en pleurs.» Depuis qu'elle a fait la rencontre d'Alain, de CAJH Maîtres Coiffeurs, c'est le bonheur. «Lui, je lui fais confiance. Il a toujours dépassé mes attentes...»
Même son de cloche de la part de Laurence Pasteels, une coquette brunette aux longs cheveux légèrement colorés. «Quand t'es control freak comme moi, tu cherches quelqu'un qui va t'écouter, te comprendre. Pas dire: «Oui, oui, mais n'en faire qu'à sa tête».» D'où son coup de foudre pour Roxanne, de chez Narcisse et Echo. «Quand je l'ai trouvée, ça a tout de suite cliqué. Non seulement on s'amuse, mais en plus elle ne va jamais me rater.»
Il faut dire que nous cherchons toutes des qualités différentes chez notre coiffeur. Pour Rebecca, c'est l'effet-surprise, dans la mesure où le résultat ne la dénature pas. Laurence aime sentir «qu'elle le vaut bien», dit-elle en parodiant la pub de L'Oréal. L'ex-publicitaire Anne Darche, spécialiste des comportements des consommateurs, avoue quant à elle: «Pour moi, la qualité des magazines est importante! C'est parce qu'il y a quelque chose «d'aspirationnel», chez le coiffeur», justifie-t-elle.
La psychologue Annette Richard n'est pas surprise d'entendre que les femmes ont de grandes attentes quand on parle de coiffeur. «C'est relié à notre apparence, notre image corporelle. Bien sûr, on peut se raisonner et se dire que ce n'est qu'une coupe, mais quand ça touche à notre image, ce n'est jamais à prendre à la légère. Cela touche qui l'on est, intimement.»
En prime, nos coiffeurs traversent souvent avec nous des moments charnières de nos vies. «Un mariage, un début de grossesse, des funérailles. Nous vivons beaucoup d'émotions avec nos clients, c'est sûr qu'on établit un rapport spécial», fait valoir le coiffeur Alain Larivée. D'où la fidélité, donc, comme suite à cette intimité tissée au fil des ans.
Des hommes aussi fidèles?
Vrai, les hommes seraient aussi fidèles à leurs coiffeurs que les femmes. Chez Dru, certains suivent les propriétaires depuis 30 ans. Hommes comme femmes. À la blague, on dit même que les hommes seraient plus fidèles à leur coiffeur qu'à leur femme... Mais est-ce si vrai? Les observateurs en doutent. «On ne peut pas négliger que, culturellement, il existe davantage d'exigences, en terme de normes et d'apparence, pour les femmes. Pas une femme ne peut être insensible à ça», reprend la psychologue Annette Richard.
La psychanalyste Marie Claire Lanctôt Bélanger, attrapée par pur hasard à la sortie de son fidèle coiffeur (pour qui elle traverse la ville depuis 30 ans), abonde dans le même sens. «Le coiffeur travaille à nous rendre désirables, analyse-t-elle à froid. C'est assez bizarre quand on y pense: il travaille pour que les autres hommes nous désirent.» En allant chez le coiffeur, poursuit-elle, les femmes envoient aussi un message à qui veut bien le voir. «Faire attention à ses cheveux, c'est dire que je fais attention à moi. Il y a quelque chose de la non-négligence et de la désirabilité.» Et puis, ultime paradoxe, signale-t-elle: «Le coiffeur, c'est finalement quelqu'un qui m'aide à être moi-même».
«Celui qui me donne une version améliorée de moi-même, renchérit Anne Darche. Ou de ce que je souhaite projeter de moi-même.»
Compliquées, les femmes, croyez-vous? Demandez-le à leur coiffeur ...
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/vivre/mode/beaute/201106/14/01-4408949-mon-coiffeur-a-la-vie-a-la-mort.php
À l'écouter parler, on dirait presque qu'elle parle d'un amant. «Je l'aime, parce qu'il comprend ce que je veux, dit-elle. Il n'essaye pas de me changer. Il respecte qui je suis! Et quand je le quitte, je n'ai pas l'impression d'être quelqu'un d'autre.»
Le tromperait-elle? «Non, jamais.»
Catégorique, vous dites? Il faut dire que Rebecca ne l'a pas toujours eu facile avec les coiffeurs. La dynamique trentenaire se souvient encore, quand, enfant, elle sortait du salon, en pleurant, systématiquement. «En Nouvelle-Écosse, tout le monde avait de gros cheveux, se souvient-elle en riant. Plein de spray net. Ça me traumatisait. Je détestais aller chez le coiffeur. Chaque fois, je rentrais chez moi en pleurs.» Depuis qu'elle a fait la rencontre d'Alain, de CAJH Maîtres Coiffeurs, c'est le bonheur. «Lui, je lui fais confiance. Il a toujours dépassé mes attentes...»
Même son de cloche de la part de Laurence Pasteels, une coquette brunette aux longs cheveux légèrement colorés. «Quand t'es control freak comme moi, tu cherches quelqu'un qui va t'écouter, te comprendre. Pas dire: «Oui, oui, mais n'en faire qu'à sa tête».» D'où son coup de foudre pour Roxanne, de chez Narcisse et Echo. «Quand je l'ai trouvée, ça a tout de suite cliqué. Non seulement on s'amuse, mais en plus elle ne va jamais me rater.»
Il faut dire que nous cherchons toutes des qualités différentes chez notre coiffeur. Pour Rebecca, c'est l'effet-surprise, dans la mesure où le résultat ne la dénature pas. Laurence aime sentir «qu'elle le vaut bien», dit-elle en parodiant la pub de L'Oréal. L'ex-publicitaire Anne Darche, spécialiste des comportements des consommateurs, avoue quant à elle: «Pour moi, la qualité des magazines est importante! C'est parce qu'il y a quelque chose «d'aspirationnel», chez le coiffeur», justifie-t-elle.
La psychologue Annette Richard n'est pas surprise d'entendre que les femmes ont de grandes attentes quand on parle de coiffeur. «C'est relié à notre apparence, notre image corporelle. Bien sûr, on peut se raisonner et se dire que ce n'est qu'une coupe, mais quand ça touche à notre image, ce n'est jamais à prendre à la légère. Cela touche qui l'on est, intimement.»
En prime, nos coiffeurs traversent souvent avec nous des moments charnières de nos vies. «Un mariage, un début de grossesse, des funérailles. Nous vivons beaucoup d'émotions avec nos clients, c'est sûr qu'on établit un rapport spécial», fait valoir le coiffeur Alain Larivée. D'où la fidélité, donc, comme suite à cette intimité tissée au fil des ans.
Des hommes aussi fidèles?
Vrai, les hommes seraient aussi fidèles à leurs coiffeurs que les femmes. Chez Dru, certains suivent les propriétaires depuis 30 ans. Hommes comme femmes. À la blague, on dit même que les hommes seraient plus fidèles à leur coiffeur qu'à leur femme... Mais est-ce si vrai? Les observateurs en doutent. «On ne peut pas négliger que, culturellement, il existe davantage d'exigences, en terme de normes et d'apparence, pour les femmes. Pas une femme ne peut être insensible à ça», reprend la psychologue Annette Richard.
La psychanalyste Marie Claire Lanctôt Bélanger, attrapée par pur hasard à la sortie de son fidèle coiffeur (pour qui elle traverse la ville depuis 30 ans), abonde dans le même sens. «Le coiffeur travaille à nous rendre désirables, analyse-t-elle à froid. C'est assez bizarre quand on y pense: il travaille pour que les autres hommes nous désirent.» En allant chez le coiffeur, poursuit-elle, les femmes envoient aussi un message à qui veut bien le voir. «Faire attention à ses cheveux, c'est dire que je fais attention à moi. Il y a quelque chose de la non-négligence et de la désirabilité.» Et puis, ultime paradoxe, signale-t-elle: «Le coiffeur, c'est finalement quelqu'un qui m'aide à être moi-même».
«Celui qui me donne une version améliorée de moi-même, renchérit Anne Darche. Ou de ce que je souhaite projeter de moi-même.»
Compliquées, les femmes, croyez-vous? Demandez-le à leur coiffeur ...
| Silvia Galipeau La Presse |
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/vivre/mode/beaute/201106/14/01-4408949-mon-coiffeur-a-la-vie-a-la-mort.php
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
How To Fight Frizzy Hair
Frizz. Just whispering the word we swear makes our hair start to curl, if not our toes. Humid, hot, summer weather not only makes our hair expand, but the thought of blow drying and running tools through our hair becomes an idea too hot to bare. If you do go to the trouble, by the time you've completed your AC-free commute, what was in your bathroom sleek has morphed to eek. We spoke to Alain Larivée, John Frieda Canadian creative consultant and owner of Montreal salon CAJH Maîtres Coiffeurs about how to keep hair smooth and frizz-free through summer's humid assault.
First of all, what causes hair to frizz? The cuticle of the hair wants to draw moisture in to the hair shaft, so if hair is at all dry or the cuticle is not sealed it will draw in moisture from the air. While you may think that dry, winter weather is the time when you should be doing most of your deep conditioning, summer is just as important as healthy, moisture rich hair won't be as frizz-prone as damaged where cuticles are rough and left open in the hopes of catching a drink.
"If you don't prep the hair shaft properly then you'll get frizzy results," says Larivée. He says that's why it's so important to use frizz-fighting products every step of your routine, from shampoos and conditioners to serums and stylers. These have been formulated to seal moisture into the shaft and keep the cuticle sealed and flat, so it doesn't open up and draw in moisture from the air.
Know your hair type, too. "A very common problem with fine hair is that a lot of the straightening products are really heavy and can weigh down the hair," says Larivée. "I work with [John Frieda] 3-Days Straight, which is a very light spray, and it's really, really not heavy whatsoever." For those with course strands, he recommends a three step approach: a weather proofing shampoo and conditioner in the shower and then working through the hair with a comb a style sealant cream. "The action of the comb from root to end, and spreading the hair product evenly throughout the hair shaft, the hair will behave the same all over the head," he says, "not just in the areas where your hand has touched it with the styling product."
You shouldn't be afraid to embrace your natural hair texture and miss a few straight days. "Start with a curl-inducing shampoo—working with a shampoo that will encourage the natural curl formation of the hair," says Larivée. "My number one trick is I do a mixture: 'How do I use the products I have and blend them into a product I want?' Use a styling foam, like a curl boosting foam, and into your foam put the size of a dime of a straightening lotion in order to get frizz control. Your giving your curl the anti-frizz properties you want to have in your styling products. Comb it throughout your hair and let your hair dry naturally and your hair will stay beautiful until you wash it." And while you've likely heard this before, he can't emphasize enough the importance of leaving hair alone. "When you are letting your hair dry naturally, as it dries, don't play with it," he says. "Once it's fully dry the curl formation will hold into the hair shaft."
Technique is also important and Larivée says to take special care with how you form wet hair when letting it dry naturally. Start with adding your serum or styling product to sopping wet hair. Hair will feel smoother because the moisture has been locked into the shaft. "Preserve that feeling by sculpting the hair into its formation, if you come in and start scrunching the hair as you're drying you're going to look like Bon Jovi did in the '80s," laughs Larivée. "If you want to add motion and volume to the hair, what I usually try and tell people is squish the hair and leave it in clumps, leave the hair in its beautiful formation, don't rub fingers through it and scrunch it. Scrunch equals 1980s, and squeeze equals more where we're at as far as style goes."
If you are going to go the heat styling route, don't try and take shortcuts by flat ironing large sections of hair. "With thick sections, you cook the two outer layers, and the middle part never gets smooth because it never gets enough heat," says Larivée. "Be methodical—work section by section. Take the time, do it right and just touch it up as you need." And don't ignore the cool button on your dryer, it closes the hair shaft sealing in shine and helping the cuticle lie flat.
Lastly, Larivée has a reminder: "If you're going to the beach, if you're going to be playing out in the sun, hanging out in backyard, make sure your hair is protected from the elements. The nastier you are to your hair, the more often you're going to have to go to the salon is the bottom line."
John Frieda's new styling tool collaboration with Conair will be available exclusively at Walmart this July and features ionic technology and ceramic coating, important for smoothing hair and sealing the cuticle.
1. John Frieda Volume Curls 1 1/4" Curling Iron (C$49.99)
2. John Frieda Full Volume Dryer ($69.99)
3. John Frieda Flat Finish 1" Straightener ($89.99)
From shampoo and conditioner to creams, sprays, foams and serums make sure you're buying the right product for your hair type, and like Larivée says, don't be afraid to mix two to get the combination you want.
1. John Frieda Frizz-Ease Weather Works Shampoo (C$10.75)
2. John Frieda Frizz-Ease Weather Works Conditioner (C$10.75)
3. John Frieda Frizz-Ease Take Charge Curl-Boosting Mousse (C$10.75)
4. Fekkai Marine Summer Hair Smooth Sailing Anti-Frizz Cream (US$24.00)
5. Living Proof Wave Shaping, Curl Defining, No Frizz Styling Treatment (from US$15.00)
6. John Frieda Frizz-Ease 3-Day Straight Styling Spray (C$14.99)
7. Oscar Blandi Jasmine Oil Serum (from US$16.00)
Do you have a frizz-fighting technique? Do you let your hair air-dry in the summer or are you loyal to your blow dryer?
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Washing minus the suds
Dry shampoos can save time and add oomph!
Ann-Marie Colacino, Special to QMI Agency
While daily bathing may be de rigueur -- thank goodness! -- there's a dirty little secret women are increasingly adopting to cut down time spent on their 'do.
This growing market is dry shampoo, which allows users to forgo everyday lathering and still look fabulous and even feel fresh. What's more, some products even promise to add body and volume to limp locks.
We hold the fat on our lattes, find our faux glow in a bottle, so why not get a shampoo without the rinse? Women's ever-busy lifestyles require it, says writer Kelsey Malenchak, the creator of Toronto-based fashion and beauty blog The-dressingroom.ca.
"So many of us have jam-packed schedules that it becomes nearly impossible to always look done-up," points out Malenchak, who uses a dry product five times a week. "When you think of all the time we spend washing and styling our hair, using dry shampoos can give hours back."
Blow-dry bars becoming more and more popular is another reason women turn to no-rinse treatments, says Alain Larivee, John Frieda's Canadian creative consultant and owner of Cajh hair salon in Montreal.
Women want to extend these "investments" as much as possible, he explains, referring to the good old days when women first used mass marketed dry shampoos to hold onto to their salon-derived '60s beehives and bouffants as long as possible.
"It's really great for that trade show weekend "¦ and you got your hair done at the salon the day before leaving," says Larivee. "[Dry shampoos can] give you that extra mileage."
So how does it work? Available in wet, powder or aerosol form, dry shampoo essentially absorbs the excess oils and dirt on the scalp.
Most of these products contain rice starch, which has a translucent quality to it, and some use neutralizing odours and astringent ingredients. Customers can also find all or mostly natural products too.
Malenchak says she prefers dry sprays because they are easier to use then powders; however, she find the powder (if used properly) boost longevity.
"The trick [with dry sprays] is to shake the bottle after every spray. The formula separates from the gas quickly in the bottle and causes a block so it's important to shake constantly."
When it comes to powders, she offers this tip from her blog: "Try squeezing the bottle on an angle to get a puff of the powder rather than sprinkling it directly on the hair."
Deciding on what works best depends on a person's lifestyle and needs, says Charles Booth, founder of LaCoupe. "A major reason for their new popularity is that people have discovered that they give fabulous body to fine hair. And you can achieve all sorts of unique looks that are tousled and fun."
To get great results, Booth recommends using dry shampoo in moderation. He warns that if overused some of the aerosol powder sprays can make hair look dull. He suggests starting with a little, aiming near the roots and brushing it through.
Larivee agrees that brushing is key. "There's a reason they're called classic habits, it's because they are a good thing to do."
A dry history
When it comes to dry shampoo, what's old is new again. The lack of suds dates back centuries. According to the Encyclopedia of Hair: A Cultural History by Victoria Sherrow (Greenwood Press, 2006), during the slavery era in colonial United States Africans brought their own hair care methods with them to North America. To cleanse and groom strands they used what could be found in their new surroundings, including kitchens. Due to the lack of running water in homes, a form of dry shampooing was created using powder, starch or cornmeal.
http://www.torontosun.com/life/fashion/2011/04/12/17965121.htmlThis growing market is dry shampoo, which allows users to forgo everyday lathering and still look fabulous and even feel fresh. What's more, some products even promise to add body and volume to limp locks.
We hold the fat on our lattes, find our faux glow in a bottle, so why not get a shampoo without the rinse? Women's ever-busy lifestyles require it, says writer Kelsey Malenchak, the creator of Toronto-based fashion and beauty blog The-dressingroom.ca.
"So many of us have jam-packed schedules that it becomes nearly impossible to always look done-up," points out Malenchak, who uses a dry product five times a week. "When you think of all the time we spend washing and styling our hair, using dry shampoos can give hours back."
Blow-dry bars becoming more and more popular is another reason women turn to no-rinse treatments, says Alain Larivee, John Frieda's Canadian creative consultant and owner of Cajh hair salon in Montreal.
Women want to extend these "investments" as much as possible, he explains, referring to the good old days when women first used mass marketed dry shampoos to hold onto to their salon-derived '60s beehives and bouffants as long as possible.
"It's really great for that trade show weekend "¦ and you got your hair done at the salon the day before leaving," says Larivee. "[Dry shampoos can] give you that extra mileage."
So how does it work? Available in wet, powder or aerosol form, dry shampoo essentially absorbs the excess oils and dirt on the scalp.
Most of these products contain rice starch, which has a translucent quality to it, and some use neutralizing odours and astringent ingredients. Customers can also find all or mostly natural products too.
Malenchak says she prefers dry sprays because they are easier to use then powders; however, she find the powder (if used properly) boost longevity.
"The trick [with dry sprays] is to shake the bottle after every spray. The formula separates from the gas quickly in the bottle and causes a block so it's important to shake constantly."
When it comes to powders, she offers this tip from her blog: "Try squeezing the bottle on an angle to get a puff of the powder rather than sprinkling it directly on the hair."
Deciding on what works best depends on a person's lifestyle and needs, says Charles Booth, founder of LaCoupe. "A major reason for their new popularity is that people have discovered that they give fabulous body to fine hair. And you can achieve all sorts of unique looks that are tousled and fun."
To get great results, Booth recommends using dry shampoo in moderation. He warns that if overused some of the aerosol powder sprays can make hair look dull. He suggests starting with a little, aiming near the roots and brushing it through.
Larivee agrees that brushing is key. "There's a reason they're called classic habits, it's because they are a good thing to do."
A dry history
When it comes to dry shampoo, what's old is new again. The lack of suds dates back centuries. According to the Encyclopedia of Hair: A Cultural History by Victoria Sherrow (Greenwood Press, 2006), during the slavery era in colonial United States Africans brought their own hair care methods with them to North America. To cleanse and groom strands they used what could be found in their new surroundings, including kitchens. Due to the lack of running water in homes, a form of dry shampooing was created using powder, starch or cornmeal.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Blonde ambition: Hair care tips for blondes
Advice on achieving and maintaining this season's hottest hair colour -- blonde.
Do blondes have more fun, and do gentlemen prefer them? While we may never know the answers to these questions, one thing we do know for sure is that blonde hair comes with its own set of rules on how to care for it.
“Blonde hair has a finer shaft in terms of diameter,” says Alain Larivée, owner of CAJH Maîtres Coiffeurs and Canadian creative consultant for John Frieda. “Hair has three layers, the medulla, the cortex and the cuticle and in naturally blonde hair there is no medulla.” This makes blonde hair finer, more fragile and more susceptible to dryness.
And when it comes to colouring blonde hair, you have to pay attention to hair health, texture and density, says Stacey Staley, owner of Blonde, a salon in Toronto. “Existing blondes can be more porous, delicate and dry, especially if they have been trying to find the right colour and stylist for them. And you cannot sacrifice health for colour,” she says.
And here’s some interesting findings: the folks at Garnier Nutrisse conducted research and found that the preferred shade of blonde differs around the world. Here in Canada, we tend to prefer a blonde that’s not too yellow or brassy or ashy, something that’s more beige blonde. Whereas in the United States, golden blonde is the most popular tone and in Europe, ash blonde is the hottest shade.
Whatever your blonde, here are some tips and tricks from the pros on achieving, caring and repairing your best blonde hair ever.
Problem: Blonde hair whether natural or coloured has a tendency to yellow.
Solution: Using a tone restoring shampoo and conditioner with neutralizing elements will help, says Alain. Also, stick to products that won’t create that undesired yellow tone, he adds.
Try: L’Oreal Paris Color Radiance Protecting Mask with UV Filter.
Problem: Your tresses are dry and fragile.
Solution: Natural blonde hair does tend to be fragile and if you’ve overworked it, it needs some TLC ASAP.
Try: Kerastase Ciment Thermique. “This is my favourite miracle repair product,” says Stacey. “It’s lightweight, protects against heat damage and does a mini treatment every time you blow dry or iron it in the hair.”
http://www.ellecanada.com/beauty/hair/blonde-ambition-hair-care-tips-for-blondes/a/43946
Friday, April 8, 2011
Tendances cheveux été 2011: les années 70!
Un vent des années 1970 souffle sur les coiffures de l'été 2011. Grâce aux conseils d'expert d'Alain Larivée, consultant en création pour John Frieda, on s'inspire des années 70 et on apprend à réaliser sept coiffures hippies ou disco en criant ciseaux.
Le long ondoyant à la Xanadu
À mi-chemin entre le disco et le bohème, les belles du défilé de Gianfranco Ferré arboraient des ondulations soignées, d'inspiration Xanadu. «Une façon simple de donner de la volupté aux chevelures pleine longueur», constate le coiffeur. Mode d'emploi: «Pour qu'elle ait l'air en santé et soit bien lustrée, on lave et revitalise d'abord sa chevelure avec un duo traitant. Une fois essorées, on enduit ses longueurs de mousse. On sèche ensuite toute la masse avec une brosse plate. Puis, section par section, on frise les cheveux au fer à boucler de large diamètre, en concentrant le mouvement sous le menton. On laisse refroidir les boucles cinq minutes, avant de les étirer avec une brosse en poils de sanglier, pour les aérer, les gonfler et les discipliner. On termine en fixant la mise en plis sous un nuage de fixatif luminescent et léger.»
À mi-chemin entre le disco et le bohème, les belles du défilé de Gianfranco Ferré arboraient des ondulations soignées, d'inspiration Xanadu. «Une façon simple de donner de la volupté aux chevelures pleine longueur», constate le coiffeur. Mode d'emploi: «Pour qu'elle ait l'air en santé et soit bien lustrée, on lave et revitalise d'abord sa chevelure avec un duo traitant. Une fois essorées, on enduit ses longueurs de mousse. On sèche ensuite toute la masse avec une brosse plate. Puis, section par section, on frise les cheveux au fer à boucler de large diamètre, en concentrant le mouvement sous le menton. On laisse refroidir les boucles cinq minutes, avant de les étirer avec une brosse en poils de sanglier, pour les aérer, les gonfler et les discipliner. On termine en fixant la mise en plis sous un nuage de fixatif luminescent et léger.»
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Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Brassy hair: You has it. But here are 5 neat things that can help restore your formerly blondelicious locks
I don’t know if my blonderexia is spreading or what, but over the past few weeks, I’ve received a number of reader pleas for help with blonde hair gone brassy.And you know what? In the same way that the Hair Club guy is not only the president but also a client, I’m not only a brassy hair fixer-upper, but a sufferer too.
That’s right—not even 24 hours ago, the talented Alain Larivée, co-owner of CAJH Maitres Coiffeurs in Montreal and Canadian creative consultant for John Frieda, kindly informed me that I maybe kinda sorta had a wee tinge of brass developing in my colour. Yep, and I just had it done too. But see, that’s the thing about brassiness. It operates in stealth mode, creeping up on you ever-so-slowly if you’re not careful, and sometimes it takes an expert to point out that yes, Houston, we have a problem. (Although you would think that somebody could’ve informed Mischa Barton, above, before hers got to this point, right?)
Anyway, you and I don’t have to suffer the same fate. When you’re a blonde, you’ve got to be vigilant, always vigilant, to protect your colour. So from one blonderexic to another, here’s how.
BLONDEXERIC TIP #1: GO FORTH AND BUY YOURSELF SOME PURPLE SHAMPOO
When you colour your hair, you’ve got a little rainbow of colour molecules (red, yellow, blue) deposited into the hair cuticle. But because they’re the smallest, it’s the blue ones that go MIA first, leaving you with the red and the yellow. And you know what those shades produce… orange! So purple shampoos and conditioners are freakin’ GENIUS, man. Being the opposite of orange, their violet pigments shut that brassiness down, restoring your colour to its former glory.
Probably the least expensive option around is the Sheer Blonde Colour Renew line from John Frieda, which is what Alain used on my hair yesterday:
There’s a shampoo, conditioner and mousse, and although they say you need to use ‘em three times to see results, I SWEAR that when I met up with a friend last night, she told me (unprompted) that my hair looked blonder. (Meaning better, of course.)Other options: Joico Colour Endure Violet Shampoo and Conditioner; Matrix SoSilver Shampoo; AG Hair Sterling Silver Toning Shampoo and Conditioner.
BLONDEREXIC TIP #2: BUT ALTERNATE IT WITH REGULAR COLOUR-PROTECTIVE PRODZ TOO
You only need to use the purple shampoo a few times a week (you don’t want your colour to go too far the other way, after all). Alternate it with shampoos, conditioners and masques specifically for colour-treated hair but without the violet pigment. They’ll help nourish it and ensure your locks look soft, healthy, hydrated and shiny.
In addition to the Essensity lineup I mentioned here, I’ve been using Schwarzkopf’s BlondeMe Blonde Brilliance Intense Treatment. But there are tons of options out there—just look for the words “colour-treated hair” on the label. Ojon just came out with this new range, called Color Sustain:
BLONDEREXIC TIP #3: INVEST IN A SHOWER FILTER
Another thing you can do to protect your $150-a-pop blondification investment is to make another investment: in a good shower filter. Besides the fact that the chlorine and iron deposits in our water are probably not the nicest stuff to imbibe, they can also make colour fade and look dull. And the iron, specifically, can add to the reddish, brassy tones.
It’s a good idea to use a clarifying shampoo to get that shiz outta there, and then install a filter like the one I’ve been using from Jonathan Product:
This is called the Beauty Water Shower Purification System (available at jonathanproduct.com) and seeing as I’ve been obsessed with it for years, I was overjoyed when they sent me one to try. It’s a two-step filter that takes out chlorine, synthetic chemicals and heavy metals, replacing them with healthy, pH-balanced potassium ions. Both skin and hair feel softer and hair colour lasts longer—hooray! It’s $95 and should last about six months or so… but you can also check out your local Home Depot or hardware store for similar options.
BLONDEREXIC TIP #4: GO BACK TO THE SALON FOR A TONER
Although they come in all kinds of shades, in this situation your hairdresser will be using one with a violet or blue base (same principle as the shampoo) to brighten and restore your colour. Expect to pay around $40+.
BLONDEREXIC TIP #5: TRY AN AT-HOME BRASS BANISHER
You can also do the toner thing at home, thanks to a couple of products from our friends at L’Oréal Paris, who make the Colorist Secret Brass Banisher…
…or Clairol, who has Natural Instincts Brass Free:
Both are ammonia-free and can be safely used in between colourings… but just to warn you, reviews are mixed (and that’s why I chickened out of trying the L’Oréal Paris one myself). You’ll definitely want to check out Makeup Alley here and here before you take the plunge, because some peeps are saying “I LOVED IT!” and others “HOLY CRAP THIS SUCKS!” It’s hard to say whether it was a user execution thing, or if the prodz might produce iffy results on certain hair colours… so I’ll leave it with you to decide. Because I like to give you options!Are you a fellow blonderexic?
How diligent are you about taking care of your colour?
Ever tried any of these tips?
Friday, March 11, 2011
STEVE COLLINS AND JOE LOFARO
For the past five days, a team of over 200 has toiled over every detail of tonight’s Genie Awards.
“Amendments have to be made to the stage, the lighting, making sure that all the cameras are
in the right places and are going to work seamlessly, so there’s a lot of preparation that goes into the show,” said Sara Morton, CEO of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.
More behind-the-scenes preparations have also been taking place at Sublime Hair Studio in
Ottawa which is finalizing preparations today for styling the hair of stars from movies such as
Incendies and Barney’s Version.
“Right now it’s quite a frenzy because we’ve got a collection of looks for red carpet that we’ve put together,” said Sonia Mirchandani, owner of Sublime.
Top-notch Montreal hair- stylist, Alain Larivée, has partnered with Mirchandani this year to style Canada’s favourite celebs’ hair at The Arc Hotel before the red carpet show kicks off at the NAC.
Mirchandani is looking forward to styling Juno-award winner Serena Ryder’s hair, while Larivée has his heart set on this year’s host, William Shatner.
“The day styling is done at the Arc Hotel. We have a studio set up for the day for the red carpet stuff, and then all the finishing stuff is done back stage (at the NAC),” said Larivée.
JOE LOFARO/for METRO
For the past five days, a team of over 200 has toiled over every detail of tonight’s Genie Awards.
“Amendments have to be made to the stage, the lighting, making sure that all the cameras are
in the right places and are going to work seamlessly, so there’s a lot of preparation that goes into the show,” said Sara Morton, CEO of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.
More behind-the-scenes preparations have also been taking place at Sublime Hair Studio in
Ottawa which is finalizing preparations today for styling the hair of stars from movies such as
Incendies and Barney’s Version.
“Right now it’s quite a frenzy because we’ve got a collection of looks for red carpet that we’ve put together,” said Sonia Mirchandani, owner of Sublime.
Top-notch Montreal hair- stylist, Alain Larivée, has partnered with Mirchandani this year to style Canada’s favourite celebs’ hair at The Arc Hotel before the red carpet show kicks off at the NAC.
Mirchandani is looking forward to styling Juno-award winner Serena Ryder’s hair, while Larivée has his heart set on this year’s host, William Shatner.
“The day styling is done at the Arc Hotel. We have a studio set up for the day for the red carpet stuff, and then all the finishing stuff is done back stage (at the NAC),” said Larivée.
JOE LOFARO/for METRO Sublime Hair Studio owner Sonia Mirchandani takes a business call on her cellphone while getting her hair dried by Montreal stylist Alain Larivée. They will team up to head the hairstyling team at tonight’s Genie Awards.
http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/798168--what-it-takes-to-make-genies-pop
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Don't miss my pre Genie Awards interview on 'A' Morning Ottawa at 8:45.a.m.
Check back here if u miss it we will be posting a link for those of you who will be hard at work.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Cajh is the Official Hair Stylist of the 31st Annual Genie Awards. For the 3rd year in a row Alain Larivée will lead a team to style our celebrated Canadian artists in cinematic achievements. The Genie Awards are given out to recognize the best of Canadian cinema by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.
