Boxed Wine vs Boxed Colour

If you find yourself reaching for that $10 box of hair colour sitting on the shelf, we promise you'll be happier grabbing a box of wine and booking yourself an appointment at the salon instead. Now I can see the appeal to DIY your hair for multiple reasons like convenience, time efficiency, and saving $$$ - but choosing box colour might just leave you at the salon with a $300-400 Colour Correction bill just to get the hair you wanted in the first place (Plus you'll still need the wine to get you through until your appointment).

I'm sure you've heard about box dye being bad for your hair, but you may have never learned why. Typically box dyes contain high levels of ammonia, metallic salts, henna, PPD's, and nitro dyes which are all extremely harsh chemicals that can be damaging to hair and are difficult or sometimes impossible to fix (hence the expensive colour correction bill).

Another thing you might not know about box dye is that they are progressive colours. Progressive colours have pigments that will build onto themselves each time you colour your hair, getting darker each time. This creates a lighter root where your hair has grown out and darker ends that still had pigment from the last time you used box dye. This affect won't happen at the salons due to the fact that the colour that we use doesn't contain henna or metallic salts, which bind to the hair.

One size does not fit all when it comes to hair colours. When choosing a boxed hair colour, you essentially have no way of knowing what the exact final result will be and before you know it, the beautiful blonde hair pictured on the box is further away from reality than when you started. It's also important to remember that each individual hair colour won't look the same each individual person and what suits one person, may not be the right fit for the next. At the salon, your stylist considers a combination of factors such as underlying pigments, skin tone, level of porosity, and grey percentage to create the perfect unique colour match for you. Often your stylist will also do a test strand to ensure you're getting the best results before going ahead with the rest of your hair.

Having a professional at a salon colour your hair means getting quality products and quality results the first time. If for some reason you don't like your results at Shear Bliss, we'll help you achieve the look you want asap!

P.S. Red wine contains antioxidants that fight free radicals which can help keep your hair shiny & healthy so it's better in more ways than one!

Winter Hair Survival Guide

We all know the feeling of our hair slowly drying out as seasons change and snow sets in. We wake up one morning noticing that the texture of our hair has started to slightly resemble that of the Grinch's. As festive as it may be to resemble the Christmas icon, it's not exactly the look we're going for. Here are 6 ways you can weather-proof your hair this holiday season:

1. Hair Masks: Add some moisture to your shower routine by swapping out your conditioner with a hair masque. Regularly using hair masques will help replenish and seal in moisture, as well as add smoothness & shine. Make sure you wash out any buildup with a clarifying shampoo before applying the masque. Leave it in for 10-15 minutes (as per the instructions on the label) and then thoroughly rinse out your hair. We recommend using one of these hair masques: Caviar Moisture Replenishing Masque ($49) or BC Moisture Kick Treatment ($25). Pro Tip: Use a wet brush to comb the masque through your hair for best results.

2. Silk & Satin: Fabrics such as cotton, wool and other coarse materials found in toques and pillowcases can cause damage to your hair. Try Lining your toques with a softer, gentler fabric like silk or satin to avoid extra breakage and split ends. You can also find pillowcases made with those materials to avoid your hair breaking while you sleep.

3. Hair Cuts: We highly recommend booking in a haircut or micro-trim regularly throughout winter. Hair cuts and micro-trims remove split ends caused by the hair drying out, which allows your hair to retain as much moisture as possible in the future. Bonus: You can add a nourishing hair treatment to your Haircut for $15! (Not available with micro-trims)

4. No Heat Styling: Another great way to prevent damaged hair this winter is to avoid using heat styling as much as possible. Instead, try putting your hair in a braid while it drys overnight for some curl, or invest in some no-heat styling products! If you aren't ready to put down the curling iron just yet, we suggest using a heat protecting spray to help avoid heat damage.

5. Hair Oils: Hair oils are the perfect product to add to your daily routine this winter! Hair oils combat dry and brittle hair by smoothing own the shaft and adding a subtle shine to make your hair look smooth & silky. Apply starting at the ends of your hair and working your way up to your roots. This allows the majority of oil to be absorbed where your hair needs it the most.

6. Wash Your Hair Less: The less you wash your hair, the better. Shampoos are made to remove dirt and debris, however, they also remove your hairs natural oils. Those oils are what nourish your hair throughout the day, so washing it too often can lead to dry, brittle hair. Try applying a dry shampoo for the in-between wash days, and use a clarifying shampoo every other wash to remove any product build-up. We recommend using OSIS Refresh Dust ($26.50) and BC Deep Cleansing Shampoo ($40). Less washing = Healthier, happier hair!

Let's face it, no one wants to run their fingers through rough, dry (grinch-inspired) hair all season. Winter can be harsh on your hair, but working at the steps above will help your hair stay looking soft and touchable all season. If you have any questions about more ways to weather-proof your hair, call 204-822-8077. If you would like to book a haircut and/or treatment, click the "Online Booking" tab at the top of the page

Photo Credit: Pexels