Fall/Winter 2011 Hair Trends and hAiRT Show at Hair on the Avenue.

July 27, 2011 | 6 Responses

Are you looking for something to do in the city this weekend? Hair on the Avenue collaborated with local artists to bring us hAiRT, an art exhibit open now until July 31. On display is an original artwork created by Toronto-based artist Natasha Gouveia.

“I was really moved when I saw the work of Natasha Gouveia,” says Luis Pacheco, founder and co-owner of the Yorkville salon. “The mood and textures in her canvases were similar to our projections for Fall/Winter hair trends so we asked her if she would join us in presenting her upcoming collection,” explaining how the partnership developed into a multimedia show.

The hAiRT show also showcases the salon’s first hair film, called Hazel, which highlights the dark side of hair trends for Fall/Winter 2011.

The exhibit is open to the public at Hair on the Avenue, 112 Avenue Rd. Call (416) 922-0112 for more information and salon hours, and visit www.NatashaGouveia.org to see more work by the event’s featured artist.

Hair Trends for Fall/Winter 2011

Photo credit: Keeshan PR
Styling: RAC boutique

If you’ve been wearing your hair lazy and carefree all summer, you better say hello to your hair tools to rock these Fall/Winter hair trends. “The last two seasons had a real laissez-faire attitude in the styling. This season has a really transformative style with an almost mischievous attitude,” says Anthony Ingraldi, co-owner and lead stylist at Hair on the Avenue.

Industrial Sleek: Not for the shy types, the boldest look of the season is cut short to the neck and smooth around the face à la Emma Watson.
A Fascinating Hive: Inspired by the Royals’ fascinators, two-tone hair, whether natural or supplemental, is the new fascinator for this look.
The Shattered Monroe: The shattered wispy bob is asymmetrical and is the perfect style to transition out of summer into the fall.
Rockabilly Chic (my favourite!): This edgy but feminine look combines old-school ’40s rock with ’80s Tiffany-style crimp in a fresh new style.
Mermaid Wave: The top is sleek with a wet look, while the rest of the hair is crimped and brushed out to give a halo effect.

Close-up of Rockabilly Chic
Photo credit: Keeshan PR

Warm tones dominate colour trends for the colder weather. Pacheco predicts the following colour trends:

Aubergine and Raven Blue: Brunettes will be enriched with deep plums and night blues.
Rose Gold: Blondes will be warmed up with a rose that’s deeper than strawberry blonde.
Amber Red: Reds will lean towards honey amber tones.

(Very Tall) Models with Luis Pacheco and Anthony Ingraldi
Photo credit: Keeshan PR

Are You As Excited As I Am? Gimme Fall Now!

I’m in love with the colour trend predictions for this season. The thought of deep plums on brunettes is driving me crazy! Doesn’t it sound perfect for the season? I think I’m ready for fall now!

Maintain Beautiful Skin with fresh.beautiful: the skin studio.

July 1, 2011 | 12 Responses

There’s a new skin studio in town! fresh.beautiful: the skin studio recently opened its doors in Toronto on busy Queen Street and I took advantage of their opening week special: $35 for preserve + nurture treatments. I finally met the pretty Stephanie (yes, the genius behind BlushPretty) who also performed the treatment on me.

Stephanie and the fresh.beautiful studio

The new fresh.beautiful studio is located near the busy corner of Queen and John Streets. It is a small space, but very bright and spacious. There are no private rooms in the space, nor do you need to take any clothes off for the treatments.

As a makeup artist, Stephanie had many bridal clients asking her how they can get that glowing beautiful skin on their big day. What a better way to build a relationship (and good business, too!) than to help treat and nurture their skin? That’s how fresh.beautiful: the skin studio was born.

The first treatment, preserve, is a crystal microdermabrasion. By using small crystals and a little vaccuum thingie (that’s the scientific term), the top layer of the skin is sloughed away to reveal a newer, smoother layer. It didn’t hurt at all, except for a little stinging on my cheeks around my nose, where my skin is quite sensitive. The sensation is a lot like a cat licking your face, borrowing the words of Lisamarie of Beauty Crazed. Oh, and just in case you didn’t believe it was working, check out my face dirt in the after below. How attractive!

Crystals (before and after my treatment)

After the crystal microdermabrasion therapy, I was treated to nurture, the cold laser light therapy. You know when you go get your hair done and you always look forward to the shampoo? Well, this is the shampoo of the preserve + nurture combo. A cold gel (anti-aging or anti-acne) is applied and massaged on the skin in circular motions. While I was lying there, I was thinking “wow, this is nice, they even massage your face before you get the laser.” Wrong! The massager thingie (again, scientific term) is the laser. Of course, because there’s a laser involved, your eyes need to be closed and covered for this part.

I sent a few questions to Stephanie after my treatment, so here’s a short Q&A.

How often do you recommend going in for a preserve (crystal microdermabrasion) and nurture (cold laser light therapy)? How about for someone who has pretty problem-free skin?
I recommend someone come in for a treatment at least every 5 to 6 weeks if they have problematic skin or skin that needs a bit of attention. It also depends on whether or not they need (or want) just crystal microdermabrasion, just cold laser light therapy, or both. I always suggest that the client does both treatments though because they really do complement one another. They do two totally different things to the skin, but work so well together. As for someone who has impeccable skin, like YOURSELF (aw shucks!), once every 8 weeks is good enough. I’m not here to give you treatments you don’t need. I’m here to help your skin when it needs it… I’d never ask a client to come more often than necessary. It’s not my style.

My skin looked and felt incredible a week or so after my treatment, but can you tell us about some of the long-term benefits of getting the preserve + nurture treatments.
Each client experiences benefits differently – that’s why fresh.beautiful: the skin studio tailors therapies and treatments according to your needs. Some long-term benefits include: reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; reduction in the appearance of age spots, dark spots or acne scars; brighter, healthier looking skin, and my personal favourite: a more even tone and texture.

You have great skin yourself! What are your three favourite skincare products to keep your skin in such good shape?
You want me to choose just three? Yikes. Well, definitely Consonant Body Foaming Face Wash. I use it for my own skin and all my clientele’s skin. It’s the bomb (do people even still say that word?) (yep, we do! ). To moisturize, I like Josie Maran Argan OIl. The bottle is cumbersome and not very portable… but the oil itself — A.W.E.S.O.M.E. It’s neither greasy or slick. It absorbs so quickly that my skin is instantly moisturized. And my third great skin product would have to be water. I drink at least 2 litres everyday.

My skin is usually in pretty good shape (I chalk it up to good genes!) but I definitely noticed a difference after my treatments. Right away, I noticed that my face cream absorbed more quickly and easier. My skin was baby butt smooth, and my nose pores — my problem areas — are less visible and no longer congested.

Have You Had a Crystal Microdermabrasion or Cold Light Laser Therapy Before?

What was your experience? If you’re curious, this is definitely something I’d highly recommend to anyone. I’d do it again maybe a week before a big event or vacation, whenever I want my skin to be in perfect shape.

Hello! Notice Anything Different?

June 21, 2011 | 32 Responses

This is a game I play with my boyfriend all the time. Boys don’t usually notice when I had something done or did my hair / makeup differently. Can you spot the difference?

Before (The kick-ass lipstick is Joe Fresh Fuchsia, BTW)

After

I got highlights for the summer! I’ve been thinking about getting them ever since the weather got nice here in Toronto. I showed this photo of the beautiful Rashida Jones (girl crush alert!!!) to my hair stylist:

I love how sun-kissed and natural my highlights turned out. Oh, and my lovely hair stylist is Melissa on Have Some Tea, Look Fabulous. She is one of the talented ladies from LIFT Beauty Boutique. If you’re in Toronto and are looking for a fabulous hair stylist, Melissa is your girl! Besides hair styling, she is also a talented musician, so she usually has some awesome chill tunes playing while you get your hair done. Give her a try, and if you do, tell her I sent you!