It’s official. Soap and water are overrated. With the new Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo from Joico, there’s no need to spend extra time washing your hair – revitalize it and your scalp. This fast-drying aerosol leaves hair feeling clean and smelling fresh in no time flat. So sleep in, head straight to work from the gym or pull an all-nighter—Joico’s Instant Refresh has got you covered!

The unique Instant Refresh formula features an advanced blend of aluminum starch, willow and manuka extracts, all helping to absorb excess oil and leave hair soft and velvety with none of the dreaded white residue common with other dry shampoos. Small, oil-absorbing particles won’t clog follicles; but they will offer a little extra lift while extending the life of any hairstyle. Continue Reading

We are shedding the layers and letting our hair down, spring is back in season!

This year is all about bright colours, healthy hair, clean skin, and matte nails.  Go wild with colour or shed that winter frizz with serums; we love what this season has to offer.

Aveda Invati Exfoliating Shampoo, Thickening Conditioner and Scalp Revitalizer

Thin hair, don’t care!  New from Aveda, the Invati line of a shampoo, conditioner, and scalp revitalizer will have your fine locks filling up in no time.  The Invati system is clinically proven to reduce hair loss by 33 per cent to help guests keep the hair they have longer.

Shampoo (200 ml) and conditioner (200 ml) $27 each, Scalp Revitalizer (150 ml) $69 at Aveda salons.

 Bioderma Sensibio H2O

Looking for a makeup remover safe for your sensitive skin?  This holy water is perfect for cleansing and removing makeup while reducing redness, soothing an irritated epidermis, and so much more. With cucumber extract and a clear water texture, Sensibio perfectly cleanses and removes the most stubborn of makeup, even waterproof, and respects skin balance like clear water.  A must for any beauty enthusiast!

$22 for 250 ml at Shopper’s Drug Mart.

 Clarisonic PLUS Sonic Skin Cleansing System

 Get a deeper clean on your facials with this handy little tool.  The Clarisonic PLUS Sonic Skin Cleansing System is the cream of the crop when it comes to clean skin.  In just 60 seconds, the micro-massage action removes six times more makeup and two times more dirt and oil than cleansing with just your hands alone.  With three different speeds for the face and body, your skin will be feeling smooth and clean in no time.

$259 at Sephora.

Joico Power Spray Fast-Dry Finishing Spray

Sick of hairsprays leaving your hair sticky and stiff?  Joico’s new hairspray, infused with their innovative AquaLastik™ technology, gives clients the ultimate in long-lasting control with shine, strength, and protection.  It also delivers the power you need with the flexibility you like.  Perfect for stylists, this hairspray keeps strands in place while maintaining pliable, true restyleability for up to 72 hours.

$16.99 for 300 ml at salons.

Essie Matte About You matte topcoat

From Nonoo to Karen Walker to Tibi and Rebecca Taylor, matte nails were all over the runway at New York Fashion Week. Give your clients the matte treatment with Essie’s Matte About You, a matte topcoat that tones down even the glossiest of colours.  Be on trend this season with a full matte nail, or a matte French mani complete with glossy tip for nails that are oh so stylish.

$9.99 at professional salons.

Make Up For Ever Technicolor Palette

From green to blue to even this season’s “it colour”, yellow — bold, bright hues are popping up everywhere.  Always on trend, Make Up For Ever releases their spring palette, Technicolor, inspired by the cinematic transition from 1930’s Hollywood black and white to Technicolor, this palette gives you a rainbow of options, with some safe neutrals thrown in.

$50 at Sephora.

Schwarzkopf Professional BC Bonacure Oil Miracle Liquid Oil Conditioner

Magic in a bottle!  This miracle potion is a leave-in conditioner uniquely designed to deliver nine different benefits.  Working in two phases, the spray-on conditioner combines an oil phase, which supplies hair with a soft, radiant shine, and a care phase that is infused with properties that work towards controlling frizz, supply nourishment, and help repair damaged hairs.  Perfect for spring, this lightweight conditioner seals the hair cuticle to help lock in moisture and prevent the recurrence of dryness and frizz for lasting comfort.

$19.21 for 150 ml at spaboutique.ca

butter LONDON Sweetie Shop Collection

We get a major sweet tooth every time we lay out eyes on butter LONDON’s spring collection.  From the minty-green Fiver to the apricot Kerfluffle to the bright citrus Jasper, this collection makes us want to grab some cotton candy and thin mints and paint our nails every colour of this pastel rainbow.

$17 each at butterlondon.ca or The Bay.

Finding a mousse that delivers weightless volume without altering the texture of the hair can be quite the task. Most styling mousses tend to stiffen the hair when adding a volumizing boost; but now you can achieve full blown body without the crunch! Joico introduces a new luxurious whipped foam with the latest in technology that produces thicker, fuller strands and a flexible style memory. Joico’s new POWER WHIP Whipped Foam Mousse delivers on the promise to add exceptional body while keeping hair soft to the touch.

With innovative AquaLastik™ technology Power Whip offers the ability for stylists and consumers to achieve weightless, exceptional volume with a natural looking finish. Dispense into hands and work through clean, towel dried hair for pumped up body and support. Power Whip’s flexible finish never leaves hair looking or feeling stiff and tacky, but keeps styles manageable while offering structure. Continue Reading

Craving a hairspray that doesn’t leave hair feeling sticky and stiff? Most hairsprays claim the ability to re-style and to apply layer over layer, but they fail to deliver, leaving you instead with unnatural feeling and tacky-looking hair. No more broken promises! Joico introduces a new ultimate-hold hairspray with the latest in technology that delivers the power you need with the flexibility you like. As a stylist, you crave both exceptional hold and a natural feel – Joico’s new POWER SPRAY Fast-Dry Finishing Spray delivers on the promise to help stylists transform hair, by keeping strands in place while maintaining pliable, true restyleability for up to 72 hours!

Power Spray is not only the ideal styling companion, it will be your best friend. With innovative AquaLastik™ technology it offers stylists (and consumers) the ability to restyle with softness and hold. Brush it out and change the style, or re-apply without feeling like you’re caking-on more product; mist lightly with water and re-style what you’ve already applied – Power Spray’s restyleability never leaves you with a dirty messy feeling, but a freshly applied, newly-styled look and finish that’s soft to the touch. The innovation of AquaLastik™ technology gives clients the ultimate in long-lasting control with shine, strength, and protection. Continue Reading

With high-rise styles that need to be locked into place, it can be tough finding a gel that will give ultimate shine with an ultra-firm hold. Most gels keep your style looking stiff and unnatural, often leaving you with unsightly flakes and never lasting through the night. Not anymore! Joico introduces a new ultimate hold gel with the latest in technology that delivers the power you need with the flexibility you crave. Whether you’re a stylist – or just sporting a great style – you need both exceptional hold with a natural look and feel. Joico’s new POWER GEL Sculpting Gel delivers on the promise to help individuals create innovative, textured looks that defy gravity and keep flyaways in place! Continue Reading

Oh the weather outside is frightful… luckily, your hair, nails, and skin don’t have to be as well.  We compiled the coolest beauty products that would make anyone a little more cheerful this holiday season.

1. Make Up For Ever Holodiam Powder #302 & #303

What says “holidays” more than a little glitter?  Make Up For Ever packs on the punch with these limited edition Holodiam Powders in shades 302 (plum with pink, purple, and turquoise highlights) and 303 (white with blue, green, and gold highlights).  Sprinkle some of this “fairy dust” on your lids for a glamorous smoky look (302) or use it as a highlight to brighten up your day or evening (303).

Available at Sephora. 

2. The Man with the Golden Gun 18 Karat Topcoat by OPI

Show me your “goldfingers”!  As part of their limited edition Skyfall collection, OPI has released a special topcoat with real 18 karat gold flakes to layer over any mani.  Rock it on its own or layered over another colour.  Remember though, make sure it’s shaken, not stirred.

$37.50 at Chatters Beauty Supply and Salon.

3. Bangstyle Flexible Hold Spray                 

No, this grunge bottle isn’t a can of spray paint; instead, lock in style with a flexible hold with Bangstyle.    Create soft, touchable hold without the sticky residue.   Every hairstyle is a work of art with Bangstyle.

$20, available at select salons.

4. Joico K-PAK Revitalize Bio-Advanced Restorative Treatment

The winter weather can be harsh to your precious locks.  Joico’s K-PAK Revitalize Bio-Advanced Restorative Treatment actively repairs, restores, protects, and hydrates hair, correcting damage while protecting against future damage.

$24.95, available at Chatters Beauty Supply and Salon.

5. Deborah Lippmann She’s Always a Woman nail lacquer trio

The perfect shades for the holidays, this fab mini trio of Deborah Lippmann nail lacquer’s is perfect for any gal on your list.  From the taupe Putty In Your Hands, to the royal blue My Prerogative, to the festive and fabulous Raspberry Beret (complete with 3-D micro glitter), this set will have you looking at your nails all night long.

$26, available at Holt Renfrew and Murale.

6. Make Up For Ever All Eyes on You kit

From a smoky eye, to a subtle highlight, Make Up For Ever’s All Eyes On You kit is the must have for the season.  This five-piece set includes cult-favourites like their HD Microfinish Powder, Smoky Lash Mascara, and the incredible Aqua Eyes liners.  Oh, and let’s not forget the universal Aqua Cream in a gorgeous pink shade, perfect for any skin type.

$65 at Sephora.

7. It Factor Simply It Quick Blowdrying Smoothing Lotion

In a rush but you just washed your hair?  Instead of having frosted tips (the bad kind), apply this smoothing lotion to your freshly washed locks before your blowdry to speed up the process.  It Factor’s VaporBoost system speeds up drying time by up to 50 per cent while providing UV and heat protection. Get freshly dried hair in a flash!

$22 USD at Amazon.com

By Shayna Wiwierski

Damien Carney jumps on a plane the way most people hop on a bus.

Between splitting his time between three cosmopolitan cities (New York, London, and Los Angeles) and heading up his own mobile hairstyling academy, Carney is the international artistic director for Joico Laboratories, Inc., one of the leading salon beauty brands in the world.  Add to this the accolades of being one of the most influential hairstylists of our time and having received numerous awards, not to mention that even a single appointment with him has a year-plus waiting list, and it’s obvious to all that Carney is a bonafide hair legend.  However, although he has achieved what most stylists only dream of, to him he’s just plain ol’ Damien. Continue Reading