ModernGear Women: Makeup for your hair - Porosity by White Sands

In the grand spectrum of things, I have pretty good hair. I'm not speaking in terms of the actual style, as I'm often a wash-and-wear girl, but more about the actual health of my hair. I don't over-style with damaging heat, I don't pick and pull at it and obsess over split ends...but I do colour it.

I have regularly have a lighter shade or two added to it, since the days when they used to call it "frosting" and used that god-awful torture device of the plastic cap and crochet hook. So, even though I regularly use a masque for my hair and really good quality products, I do still have some dry and flyaway ends.

I really like a new product that was sent to me for testing, that treats just those problems.

Porosity is a leave-in spray created by the hair care product manufacturer White Sands. I've started using it after washing and towel-drying my hair. As per the instructions, I spray on just a light spray - four little pumps is actually enough to get a nice fine mist to cover my entire head.

The first thing I noticed was the wonderful scent of the product - just nice and fresh, feminine, not too flowery. (I am terrible at describing scents but my nose knows when it smells something good...I would say this spray smells almost candy-like).

Then I noticed that the fine mist almost looked like it might make my hair greasy, but as an experienced product tester I knew to reserve judgment until the product had a chance to dry, to see what the final results would be. And I was suitably impressed - it dried to a lovely shine and softness, and I would describe it as kind of sealing my dry ends.

Turns out my experience was exactly what White Sands created Porosity for - calling it "makeup for hair", adding shine and revitalizing dry, damaged hair. We certainly conceal blemishes on our face, and Porosity does this for our hair.

The information that was sent along with Porosity also says that the product can be used to improve the effectiveness and performance of salon services, but I haven't tested this so can't really verify those claims yet. I've probably only scratched the surface of what the product can do, seeing as there are supposed to be four main uses for it:
*bleach highlights - speeds up processing time and results in more even lighter tones and less damage
*color processing - if added to color, enhances tone and gives shine
*pre-wrap for perms - equalizes porosity to give consistent curls
*styling application - adjusts moisture balance and texture of hair

I can definitely speak to the effectiveness of Porosity in the styling side of things, so if anyone out there has used it for salon services, do let us know in the comments!
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ModernGear Women: The Braid-y Bunch

In the Games of Style, we're seeing a new move - the half-up, half-down, sometimes partial braid.

Of course there are those of us who have been alive long enough to know that this is not really new at all but a throwback to earlier hippy days, but like all trends that get pulled out of the closet and get dusted off, today's fashion lovers are making it their own.

What I like most about this new version is that it's being seen on the heads of women wearing all sorts of outfits - from jeans and tees...

Nicole Richie rocks the half-up, half-down partial braid.

to couture on the red carpet, in a wonderful hippy-meets-high-fashion mélange.

Minka Kelly looking positively nymph-like in a gorgeous gown at the Speed Racer premiere.

Also being seen a lot lately is the half-up, half-down with a twist...

Mandy Moore, Nicole Richie and one of the girls from The Hills (sorry, I don't watch it) - master the half-up, half-down, with a twist

...and the braid is making a guest appearance in other styles, too:

Lauren Conrad is a big fan of the braid...

Some trends (Uggs, short short skirts) we don't want to see any longer than we absolutely have to - hippy hair with braids, though, I'd like to stick around. Click here to read rest of story...

Attention Vancouver! Two things of note...

My friend Lance from The Lounge Hair Studio is looking for make-over models for a spot on Urban Rush!

Here are the details:
Models would need to get the color done between now and Monday afternoon, and then be at the Shaw station from 11-3 on Monday, April 21st.

First come, first served - if you are interested and can make the time commitment, send lance@loungehairstudio.com a current photo of yourself, or call him at 604.351.1419.

Call now! It's not often that you get the opportunity to have your hair done for free by a great colorist...Lance travels around the world teaching people how to do what he does...he works magic, I can tell you that from personal experience.

Also from personal experience, I would like to share a must-attend event - the opening of the Vista D'Oro Farmgate Shop!
I've been out to this great farm shop several times - once buying a tomato plant (that a neighbor killed when he was tasked with taking care of it when we were traipsing across Europe!) and our favourite Rhubarb Vanilla jam, another time taking my parents there to check it out.

They have cooking classes, plants, preserves, and all kinds of yummy gourmet goods. If I was in BC, I'd head there this weekend.


Vista D'Oro Farmgate Shop
20856 4th Avenue
Langley, BC
Ph: 604.514.3539


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ModernGear Women: Tress stress

Moving to a new country is stressful - there's just no way it can't be. Packing up everything you own and relocating to a new place, saying goodbye to everything and everyone you know...but when we recently moved from Vancouver, BC to Long Beach, CA, the hardest part wasn't saying goodbye to friends and family, because at least I knew they'd call, e-mail, and come to visit. It was saying goodbye to David.

I knew I would miss him terribly. For months now, since I was introduced to him by a friend, he's put up with my quirks and my demands, my need for chocolate, wine and a little head massage. He hasn't minded when I have shown him pictures of other women, or of me in better days, printed from my computer, torn out of a magazine, saved on my video iPod. Oh, my David, how I miss you.

Couldn't I have asked him to come? Well, maybe...but the A Salon might have missed him. He was, you see, my hair stylist.

I will forever remember him as the man who emboldened me to take risks, to try new things...to cut my hair. He helped me be confident enough to take me from this:
to this:
At the time I wondered if it was maybe a bit drastic - I mean, I loved my long hair. I could wear it in braids, a ponytail, long waves, straight...but it was awfully boring. No style whatsoever. When I switched salons and stylists, I knew it was time. I had been longing for style, for panache, for punch, for a Posh Spice bob. So I got one.

Then after a while I decided I was tired of the sides being longer - I am a chronic hmmm...how do I term this? Hair-putter-behind-ears-er. Notice how Posh never shows her ears? The woman has incredible self-control to leave it out, on top of her ears. (To say nothing of that whole not eating thing. And being away from Becks on tour...anyhoo...) So I am back to growing it out again, somewhat. Here's kind of where I am today, though this was just out of the shower and not styled.

I am not doing much with it these days beyond this...I am 25 weeks pregnant and know that soon, I'm going to want to just put it up in a bun or ponytail again while I have something a lot more important to focus on, and by the time the immediate needs of the wee one are taken care of, my hope is that it's grown enough to be able to achieve one of these yummy looks:

Courtney and her fabulous hair

Lucy Liu of the beautiful waves fame

Jennifer and her healthy blonde locks

Marla has a great sweep
Would love Kate Walsh's healthy hair. (And her healthy cleavage).

Angelina and her beautiful side part

I know, I know - the pictures I've provided are of women who are lucky enough to have the best of everything - stylists, lighting, Brad Pitt (ahem, sorry, I digress)...and I am a lowly style writer and trends podcaster but I have thus far failed to mention my secret weapon: Michelle.

Michelle, My Belle.

She's the new girl in my life, from Bella Salon in Long Beach, CA. I haven't loved my cut and color this much since, well, since David! She's fashionable, a mom to a sweet young boy, and just generally gets me.

Not to mention the products I picked up last time I was there. As a style and beauty writer who regularly tests out new products to be able to write about them effectively, I am a bit of a product slut. My favourite spray-in conditioner is Schwarzkopf Bonacure Hairtherapy Moisture Kick, and I will never, ever stop using it. (I've taken the liberty of finding it for you so you can try it too! I got mine for $18.00CAD from a salon in Vancouver, but it's available for $13USD on Amazon.)



It smells amazing and fresh, it's lightweight and it un-frizzes my hair like nothing else. But I've added a new batch of weapons to my cache, from France - mais oui!

Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin 2 Shampoo

and

Kerastase Nutritive Nutridefense Masque

The Kerastase products feel absolutely indulgent because of their heady scent and incredible quality. This isn't drugstore stuff, people. Michelle explained to me that the conditioner comes in this sort of tub packaging because it's a true hair masque, and the French believe that a woman deserves spa treatments, even when at home.

I get results that are incroyable when I start first with the great, thick shampoo and rinse well, then take a dollop of conditioner about the size of a quarter and run it through my hair, then wrap it in a towel (a warmed towel is even better), and sit back in the tub with a copy of Vogue, letting the masque works its magic. (The Vogue is essential... hee hee)...a nice rinse and my hair is lustrous, shiny, manageable, and smells gorgeous. My hubby has commented on this on many an occasion.

I'll also leave you with just a bit of advice as to how to find your Michelle. I arrived in Long Beach not knowing a soul - certainly not any sources with whom I could trust my hair. I couldn't make plans to get back to Vancouver to see David when I was getting shaggy or had my roots showing. So I did the only thing I could - found a girl with pretty hair, followed her, and unabashedly asked her where she got it done.

We can't be shy about such things, girls. Allay your tress stress when you've lost your David, by being observant, bold, taking such matters into your own hands, and for the love of God, invest in some great product.

Contact info:
A Salon
Century Plaza Hotel & Spa
2nd Floor 1015 Burrard St.
Vancouver BC
Canada V6Z 1Y5
Tel 604.697.5321
Email info@asalon.ca
Web www.asalon.ca

Bella Salon

5852 E Naples Plz

Long Beach, CA, 90803

(562) 856-3700

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