I truly believe that we are responsible for creating our lives. In essence we are the proverbial puppeteers that influence everything we are, do and achieve whether we are conscious of it or not. We’ve been conditioned by the ‘blame game’ that has created a belief that events happen ‘to’ us rather than the realization that we are the sole player deciding the next move in our journey.

We often hear people speak of ‘life experience’ however seldom acknowledge experience is simply the name we have given our mistakes from the past. The observation that I have begun to make in myself is to take responsibility for my current reality, and to look back on past events only as a way to observe the lesson behind any happenings. In the past, I have looked back on events as an excuse to shape my belief systems.

Working in the salon every day is really like working in a living laboratory where there is an opportunity to interact and learn from all the different people that walk through the door. I see my career as not just ‘doing hair’, it’s a true reflection of who we are as people and what drives us to certain points in our life. Whether we choose to remain unconscious to our actions or choose to observe and learn is completely our own decision. Either way is neither right nor wrong, it just is.

Recently in the salon, I was faced with the most challenging guest that I have ever encountered in my career. Never before has a guest addressed me so directly and aggressively. It was clear to me after the consultation this woman was there only to get her hair needs met and I was simply the person who had to do it.

In times prior to this, it would be quite easy for ego to take control and simply refuse service due to her behavior. Now, on my journey it is my goal to accept everyone as they are: both a student and a teacher. There is so much we can learn from each other if we take the time to reflect on it and understand the opposing position.

During the service what I came to realize is that the week previous to this, my own behavior and ways of interacting had been extremely dominating and direct. Upon mentally reviewing my week, it became apparent to me that perhaps certain meetings could have been handled with more awareness and finesse. My ‘aha’ moment came when I realized this woman was a direct mirror reflection of who I was being. Wow.

The greatest outcome of that champagne moment was when there was an energy shift. The guest’s language and approach suddenly became more respectful of me as the professional explaining my methodology and approach. The shift from resistance to understanding was the secret ingredient in enabling my own personal growth after one haircut.

Of course, I am human and probably will slip back into old habits of living. It is these events that demonstrate a mirror effect to keep us on our toes and continually growing our life experience. As soon as we create awareness of our own cause and effect an inner transformation can instantly be observed.

Test yourself this week, to willingly put yourself in a situation you would normally avoid whether it’s a difficult conversation or an activity you fear. Facing the situation head on with the only purpose being love, it will be amazing to see the outcome and opportunity to learn from your experience.

As the glitter of the holiday season begins to fade, a great amount of people begin to look forward to their vacation plans to many hot and gorgeous places. It is always that attempt to shake the bleak winter doldrums that inspire us to research the most relaxing destinations. Something I always neglect to remember is the amount of photos that are taken on these excursions!

Returning from the beaming rays of sunshine proves to be difficult for me as I am not a winter fan, to say the least. When I look back on the pictures that my friends and I have taken it becomes apparent that more times than not, we all could have looked a little bit better (even though we were relaxing). So what are some things to consider for your beauty planning while away on vacation?

Prepare before you go - Along with your antacids and sunscreen take a look at the change in climate of your destination and ensure you have all the essential beauty care products. Key items to protect your hair is Kérastase Soliel suncare products for hair- essentially sunscreen for your hair, protecting colour and locking salt and chlorine out. Not only does this reduce the actual damage to your lovely locks but also reduces fading in colour.

Vacay-Colour - It is inevitable with all the action you will be doing in the water that your hair will be under more stress than usual (even with the appropriate products). Water is the number one aggressor on hair colour (because of its high oxygen levels) and even if you wear a hat, water is still found in the humidity of the tropical climates. Your Colourist will be able to formulate a plan that will help your colour last longer. Make sure you explain your travel plans and get them to recommend the best suggestions for longevity.

Photo: Contributed

Humid Styling - The tropics are well known for high humidity levels that we rarely experience in the Okanagan. My advice is to roll with it. It is very difficult to fight against moisture that is in the air, so when styling, experiment with new ways to wear your hair using its natural texture.

Wavy long hair always looks gorgeous after it has been bathed in the ocean water and dried on a chaise lounge. The products that you prep your hair with in the morning will protect it from salt and sun. My best friend Brandie always gets spectacular results when she fixes her hair in a loose top knot at the crown of her head with an elastic. When her hair is dry, she takes it down, gives it a fluff at the roots and perfection!

For our lovely fine haired friends your best bet is styling product. Find styling aides that utilize anti-humectants to make your style last longer. I wouldn’t suggest spending a lot of time with a flat iron, as the humidity will create frizz within minutes.

Aprés Sunshine - After sun exposure, bath your hair in a luxurious moisturizing shampoo meant for sunny environments, followed with a after sun care masque that you must leave on for a minimum of three minutes. The reason for the extended period of time is due to the higher viscosity (thickness) of the masque - it takes twice as long as crème conditioner to penetrate the hair’s surface.

Post Vacation - Once your return to the valley after some much needed R&R be sure to have scheduled a hair cleansing and conditioning reservation with your Stylist. They will use a professional grade cleansing shampoo to remove any excess chlorine, salt and over saturated product from your hair. I always suggest following a cleansing reservation with a deep conditioning treatment for hair and scalp, like Kérastase Chronologiste. This relaxing treatment includes a head, neck and shoulder massage along with the treatment for scalp and hair care.

Now you are set to experience the most relaxing vacation while owning your style in photos that will be around for a very long time. Relax, enjoy.

Photo: Contributed

It has been proven that the holiday season can be one of the most stressful events in life falling after the death of a spouse or divorce. The pressure that we put on ourselves to create the perfect holiday experience for the people we love around us is quite often the culprit behind our agony.

So how do we free ourselves of holiday stress? I wish I had the answer to that complete question, alas I am a hair stylist not a wizard. Let’s start simply on discovering how to relieve some pressure from looking fabulous at upcoming Christmas parties and creating high fashion looks that won’t break the pocket book.

This past year’s hair trends have been beautiful and elegant with the influence of old Hollywood reinvented with polished and unpolished sophistication. My favourite aspect of this season’s trends is how simple the looks are. Professional hair stylists are undergoing training on how to make their work look as though the salon guest did it themselves- the less perfect the better.

Working with texture and loose wave has also influenced the re-emergence of permanent wave services which we will continue to see build momentum into the next season of 2012. I personally experimented with a texture service and placed a slight wave in the top section of my hair to create movement and drama with basically no work at all.

The key to any beauty look is to create something that works with the amount of time that you have in your schedule. Don’t judge yourself negatively if you only have 10-15 minutes to complete a look, this is only a challenge to conquer by finding styling techniques that accommodate your situation.

Multipurpose Morning Styling: If you know that you have an event in the evening, begin your day by styling your hair in a way that it can be reworked into an elegant style. Think if you want to wear a style that is sleek or one that has volumous texture. I’m always a huge fan of taking wavy hair that has been tossled and bringing it back into a messy ponytail with lots of volume on the crown. If you plan to wear volume at night, avoid flat irons and an abundance of smoothing products in the morning.

Plan your look: All stress in life can be reduced by planning. A speaking coach once told me with reference to speaking in a seminar ‘if you fail to plan, you plan to fail’- the same is true in day to day life. We all know that December will be filled with festivities, research online how-to videos and rehearse two looks that you can use throughout the month. Here  is a link to L’Oréal Professionnel’s Youtube address with videos to review.

The Backup Plan: Sometimes our plans fail, and your hair may fall flat. I like to keep wide satin ribbon or sparkly hairpieces in my session kit to tie or pin into hair that has gone array. This added drama will leave those you encounter distracted from any mishaps you had.

Schedule It!: Now that you have your looks planned and ready to go, ensure you schedule your styling time in to your day (in between picking up the kids, making dinner, walking the dog and creating homemade canapés for the party- KIDDING). If you are leaving from work, pack your supplies in the morning and slip off to the washroom on your lunch break and create some afternoon hairstyling magic.

Wearing your hair with confidence will give you the extra spark in your step when you know everyone at the party will be wondering how you pulled it off with your life of commitments. I encourage you to not beat yourself up about your challenges, instead find simple solutions that make you smile.

Check out L’Oréal Professionnel’s Social Lights self styling campaign for the holidays on Youtube and watch their how to videos and a find a look that works for you.

One of the most challenging questions for me to answer as a professional hair stylist is:

“If you could do anything, what would you do with my hair?”

This is not for a lack of ideas or inspiration but rather the fact that I am not the one who has to wear that particular fashion accessory with confidence every day. Your look is far more than a two hour visit to the salon. It is the only accessory that you wear 24 hours a day, in any season and also naked. Can you name a different item in your wardrobe that you wear that much?

When people visit the salon chair, there is often the misconception that your stylist is going to become a wizard and have an answer to a feeling of something lacking within yourself. This could be simply boredom, emotions from home or work and sometimes a reflection of how you feel about yourself on the inside. Your hair is the perfect place to begin a transformation of change to feel better - you just need to make the choices on your terms.

Although your stylist probably has countless hours of training on the latest trends and may have just returned from a creative cutting class, it does not mean that those looks are going to work for you. It is a really unfair position to put your professional in, if you are unable to communicate your expectations clearly on what a realistic change means to you.

Here is where I usually begin the discussion with my guests in order to find a complete look that they will wear with confidence and be able to replicate after they leave the chair:

Long or short: Are you searching for a change that is going to take you from long to short? Are you mentally prepared for a transition and parting with something that has grown along with you for years? If you are truly ready to create a beauty breakthrough, get your stylist to position your hair in the mirror and show you what you would look like with a shorter style.

Be realistic: When you are searching through magazines and circling pictures of hairstyles you like, take note on the styling. Do you have enough time in the morning to blow-dry and curl your hair? Most celebrities appearing in magazines have ‘hairdresser hair’ meaning it has been styled by a professional which on average still takes 30 minutes to one hour. What does your lifestyle actually permit you to spend on your hair?

Texture: Time is something that we just cannot get enough of and is the only thing in the world you cannot get back. Embrace your natural texture and selected styles that work with it. If your hair is sleek and straight, rock it! If it’s curly and coarse, own it! It is a part of who you are and changing it will require time.

The Fringe: Sometimes this is referred to as ‘bangs’. The true purpose to a fringe is to create a focal point on the face. For instance a wider set, full fringe will add width to a long face, a close-set fringe like Vogue Editor-in-chief Anna Wintour will make a wide face look smaller. A side swept fringe is a great option to add softness to any face shape. Be sure to choose a fringe with purpose, not just because.

Photo: Contributed

Condition: Again I am going to ask you to be real for a moment. Have you been caring for your hair as you would a $400 cashmere sweater? This is the only way you can ensure a seamless transition into a new colour of the season. Consult with your hair stylist on a product prescription to ensure you are caring for your hair appropriately before any colour change procedure.

A change in season is the perfect time to visit the salon before you buy the hottest fashion trends. Unlike that new sweater that you are allowed to wear in front of your friends a maximum of twice a week your hair needs to radiate the true you.

I challenge you to step outside of your personal comfort zone that is influenced by your past experiences and begin to look at beauty with new eyes. Be realistic and walk into the salon with utmost confidence in yourself and your hair care professional.  Together you can create a masterpiece.