Many of you are looking for products, cuts and styling tips that will keep your hair looking great – regardless of the temperature.

WHY DOES FRIZZ HAPPEN?

Hair is made up of dead cells bonded together by proteins. When it’s humid, the moisture outside is absorbed by the hair. This disrupts the proteins, resulting in frizz.

Some people are born with naturally frizzy hair, while others grow into it. Frizz is most commonly found in people with curls or waves, but people with straight, damaged hair can also experience it.

HOW DO I PREVENT FRIZZ?

Our best piece of advice is to keep your hair healthy.

Try to have your hair trimmed every 4-6 weeks. Split ends can make frizzy hair look even worse – especially when the humid weather hits.

In between cuts, we recommend a weekly deep conditioning treatment. Try Masque Oleo-Relax Slim by Kérastase. It’s an intense serum for thick, curly hair that will tame even the most rebellious locks. We like this product because it provides an effective barrier against humidity, while adding extra nourishment.

Before you blow dry apply a little Oleo-Relax serum to the palm of your hands, rub hands together and apply to the hair starting with the ends through to the mid shaft – but don’t go too close to the roots. This will provide your hair daily frizz control. Spritz with the Oleo-Relax spray (you’ll want to aim for an arm’s length distance) after your blowdry to seal the hair shaft and your set!

(As an added bonus, this product smells great. Our stylists – and a number of our clients – swear by this line).

Frizzy hair will also benefit from a natural bristle brush that can help straighten and distribute natural oils (you can learn more about brushes here).

STYLING TIPS

The key to anti-frizz styling is to make sure you’ve removed all the moisture from your hair.

Use the “divide and conquer” technique. Blow dry in small sections, finishing with a shot of cool air to seal the cuticle.

Cold temperatures can work wonders on the hair. Try ending your shower with a blast of cold water – if you can stand it – to provide additional protection against humidity and add shine.

But remember, no styling tips and products are 100% fool-proof. If your hair isn’t fully responding to anti-frizz products on a particularly humid day, consider giving in to your curls.

Your frizz may never go away completely, but with a little planning and the right products, you’ll be ready for whatever weather Mother Nature decides to throw at you this summer.

(photo credit)

We’d like to raise a toast to all the women who double as chauffeurs, psychologists, playmates, confidantes and chefs every single day.

To the women who put their children first and who work just as hard on their families as they do on their career – we salute you.

It’s important to celebrate our mothers, and we’d like to help you say “thank you” to the special mother in your life.

We are running a special contest for Mother’s Day. We’d like to offer one special mom a makeover session she won’t soon forget. Something to help her celebrate herself and the person she is.

Your session will consist of:

-       A wash, cut and blow-dry with our Artistic Director, Monzer plus a full makeup application with one of our talented artists (cash value: $150)

-       A two hour style session with Tracie Brown of Ultimate Images (cash value:$170)

-       A one hour, multiple-outfit photo session and one 8X10 print photo from Doxa at A Picture in Time (cash value: $250)

That’s a $570 value!

To enter, leave a comment on our Facebook page letting us know why your mom deserves to be celebrated, or fill out a ballot at the salon. We’ll draw a winner on Monday, May 14^th.

Good luck!

Rules: Prize cannot be redeemed for cash and cannot not be used in conjunction with any other promotions. Prize must be claimed by July 13, 2012. Winner must have hair, makeup and photo-session done on the same day.

It will help keep your hair healthy in between visits to the salon and make it easier to style, while helping to maintain your hair’s health.

But finding a good brush is like finding a good pair of jeans: it takes a lot of searching. And when you find one that works, stick with it (and buy two, so you’ll always have a backup!)

And like jeans, the perfect brush is not universal. Your hair type and style will determine what works best for you.

There are a few brush types we recommend here at Salon Monzer, so we’ve put together a brief primer for you.

Round, wild boar bristle brushes

We like round brushes for a number of reasons. First of all, they work with nearly every hair type and style. Second, they’re versatile and come in a variety of sizes, and – most importantly – they’ll make your hair look great!

A round natural bristle brush will smooth out your hair, create shine and add volume.

Try: Acca Kappa’s natural round bristle brush. It’s easy on the hair and creates superior shine.

We tend to prefer natural bristles because they’re easier on the hair than plastic ones, but there are a few combination brushes that we do recommend.

Round wild boar bristle/nylon brushes

Coarse hair can benefit from a combination of synthetic and natural bristles. Nylon bristles have more strength than natural bristles and, when combined, you’ll get more resistance and pull – which is perfect for thick, unruly and stubborn hair. This type of brush will also provide you with an added boost of shine and volume.

Round thermal brushes

Many round brushes are made out of aluminum or ceramic, so that they can hold heat better and speed up the drying process.

This brush easy on the hair and best suited for people with fine and delicate hair. It’s one of the best brushes for creating a curl and, as an added bonus, thermal brushes tend to work with the hair instead of against it — saving you from painful tangles, yanks and pulls.

Paddle brushes

We use our Acca Kappa paddle brushes often at the salon. They’re a great tool for brushing out the hair prior to a blow dry. They can also be used to loosen product from the hair before a wash.

Paddle brushes with natural bristles are great for maintaining shine because they distribute your natural oils throughout the shaft of the hair and they’re also a preferred choice for de-tangling.This type of brush works well with low maintenance hair that doesn’t require a lot of styling.

If you’re looking for a simple brush out with lots of shine, this is your tool.

A children’s hair brush

“Hair brushing” and “children” don’t usually go hand in hand – but the Knot Genie brand of brushes is a pain-free method to rid your little ones of nasty tangles.

The Knot Genie has teeth that are different lengths. When brushing, they bend at various angles, gently untangling the hair. This helps maintain health and creates a superior shine.

And it doesn’t just work for kids. We have many adult clients who swear by the Knot Genie!

We love to talk brushes here at the salon. Feel free to drop by with a question any time!

Effortless style, casual chic and natural beauty are a few words that come to mind. The underlying theme is one of “easy elegance”. Low maintenance styling – made possible with a high-quality hair cut – reigns supreme.

We’ve also been seeing a revival of the iconic updos, voluminous curls and graceful braids that were popular in decades past.

The 2012 spring season is all about letting your natural beauty shine through.

If you’re looking for information on the products, styles and techniques that will be popular in the months ahead, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got all that information – and more – in our 2012 spring trends report.

Casual ponytails: The casual ponytail is nothing new, but this season, casual, de-constructed hairstyles are all the rage. A ponytail is a great way to cover-up a bad hair day (we all get them from time to time, even the pros), and, if done right, the look can easily transition you from the boardroom, to soccer practice, to a night out on the town.

And the best part?

Ponytails are incredibly low maintenance. In fact, we can show you how to create one in less than three minutes.

Product recommendation: Conceal fly-away hair and add shine with Elixir Ultime from Kérastase.

Big blow outs: Put away the straightener and celebrate your curls!

Bouncy waves, brushed out curls, and big blow outs are huge this season. The more volume, the better.

For an added bounce, try drying your hair upside down until your hair is slightly damp. Apply mousse and then blowdry with a round brush (we recommend the acca kappa brush).

Product recommendations: If you’re prone to frizz, a couple of drops of Kérastase’s Sérum Oléo-Relax applied to towel-dried hair will keep your ‘do in check, without weighing it down. If you need something a little more heavy duty, apply Mousse Volumactive to slightly damp hair, blowdry out and finish with a dab of Serum Oleo Relax. Rub it through your hands and then through your hair, starting at the tips.

Side-swept bangs: Easy, breezy bangs are a causal look that works with most face shapes and hair types, and they’re totally on-point this season. Bangs are an easy way to transform your look, with minimal commitment.

Side-swept bangs tend to work better with hair that’s shoulder length or longer. Part your hair to the side and blow-dry it using a medium round brush to add wave and bounce.

Product recommendation: Hold your bangs in place with Spray Double Force from Kérastase – it’s a tried and tested classic that the professionals love.

The “wet” look:  We’ve seen this look on spring runways and in high-fashion magazine spreads.

While it’s not the easiest style to pull off, it is possible –provided you have the right cut and line of styling products in your arsenal.

Blow-dry wet hair until it’s completely straight. Apply Crème Oléo-Relax Slim and an intense leave in smoothing crème from the roots to ends, and comb through the hair. Complete your look with a finishing spray.

Product recommendations: Try Kérastase’s Chroma Sensitive Fixing Hairspray  for a long-lasting hold without the residue. This is a great product that will maintain your hair’s natural movement and reveal shine throughout the day.

We would love to sit down with you and discuss this season’s trends and see how they can work for you. Drop us a line anytime at: 905-842-7222.

Great style doesn’t happen overnight, but we’re happy to help you along the way!

We’ve got a great staff here at Salon Monzer and each of us has their own unique skills.

But one thing we all have in common is our ability to listen.

In fact, listening is a big part of what we do.

That’s why we offer hair consultations to all of our clients.

Our stylists know everything there is to know about hair. A one-on-one discussion is a great way to tap into that knowledge base, enabling you to make an informed decision about your ideal cut and colour.

We want to know how much time you’re willing to spend on styling your hair each day and how often you’ll be able to come in for touch-ups. We need to know your likes, and more importantly, your dislikes. Hair is supposed to be an extension of your personality, so we want to make sure we avoid colour tones and styles that you don’t like.

We also want to better understand your expectations. Something that looks great in a magazine might not suit your hair type or your lifestyle. Before we even begin to wash a client’s hair we like to make sure we’re all on the same page. Sometimes that means adapting the desired look to your unique style, which we can easily do by adding longer bangs or fewer layers, for example.

Another reason why we recommend hair consultations is that they give you the opportunity to convey your  abilities in styling your own hair.  Our stylists will keep this in mind so when they blowdry your hair they can show you a few simple  and effective styling techniques and products that you can easily use at home. This will allow you to look fabulous every day, and not just when you leave the salon.

These are just a few of the many things we keep in mind when we set out to create a great hairstyle and look for our clients – and it all starts with a consultation.

And the best part…?

Hair consultations are free at Salon Monzer – so book yours today!

Question:

My daughter is coming home from university for the weekend and would like to get her hair cut. Saturday is the only day she is available, but her stylist is completely booked.

Is it wrong to use another stylist when your regular one is unavailable?

Answer:

Most of our clients have developed a close relationship with their hair stylist, so we understand the desire to use the same one exclusively.

That being said, schedules aren’t always so accommodating.

Your stylist won’t be angry with you for booking an appointment with someone else. This happens from time to time here at the salon, and it has never been an issue.

We work as a team here at Salon Monzer and we encourage our guests to get to know all the members of our staff.

That way, if your stylist is booked up or on vacation you’ll have a “back-up” you know you can trust.

Another reason we encourage our clients to try different stylists is because each member of our staff has a unique skill set. Some of our stylists are colour experts while others are fantastic at creating updos. If you’re looking for a new cut, we have stylists who can create a look that perfectly suits your face shape.

And if you’re popping in for a quick style and blow dry, we have stylists who specialize in that as well.

In short, there is absolutely nothing wrong with using a different stylist at the same salon. In fact, we encourage it!

Visit the “Team” section of our website to book your appointment today.

Have a question for Azi? Send her an email!

Some members of the Salon Monzer team (from L-R): Renata, Tatiana, Azi, Anna and Laura.

This may go against the grain, but I’ve always believed you should have fun with your makeup so go ahead and experiment. When you have the right tools you can dramatically transform your look.

Of course, a few pointers from a professional always helps – so today, I’d like to share some quick tips that I use to achieve an easy daytime look. As an added bonus this transitions into a dramatic evening look simply by adding a darker colour or a bit of shimmer to the eye area.

Tips

- Use an angled brush with a longer handle to apply your eye makeup. If you don’t own an angled brush, I recommend adding one to your beauty kit, as it will help you create a dramatic corner.

- Try to apply your eyeshadow in a sideways “V” shape, starting with the outside corner of the eye and applying light pressure. Work in more colour to help define the shape of your eye.

- Experiment with a few different colours and combinations before you settle on your “signature” look. I’m a big fan of Beauty Addicts eyeshadow products because they come in a palette of four that can be blended together easily. You’d be shocked at how many colours combinations you can create from just one palette!

Here’s how you can create a flawless look in three easy steps:

1. Use your angled brush to apply a darker shade of eyeshadow on the outside corner of the eye (using the “V” shape technique described above).

2. Choose another colour and apply it starting on the inside corner of the eye.

3. Sweep the shadow half-way across the lid, and blend the second colour in with the first.

And when you’re too busy to do your makeup at home, come and visit me at Salon Monzer!

Alisha is available for:

• Consultations
• Makeup lessons
• Makeup application (bridal, prom, night out on the town)

Contact Salon Monzer to book an appointment.

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