Wicked Styles
Check me out!!
  • Home
  • Salon
  • Skin Care
  • Beauty Chat
  • Contact me

Pointers for picking the perfect hair for your big day.

1/14/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Pointers for picking the perfect hair for your big day...

I have been a hairdresser for 10 years and have done hundreds of bride’s hair for the “big day”.  I actually specialized in weddings for the first half of my career.  Stepping away from the chaos of wedding bliss to focus on the clientele I spent years building.  I have learned over the years some very important things that will keep you picture perfect for hours into the reception. 

1. Be realistic about what your hair will do! If your hair does not hold curl don’t ask for your hair to be left down and soft curls, especially in the middle of July.  Weather is a huge factor in how your hair will act that day so consider the possibilities (Rain, wind, heat, humidity) Hairdressers have hair spray not magic potions. 

2. Duration.  All of those magazine you are flipping through probably have picture perfect brides whose hair is loose with soft flowing curls.  They have this because their hairdresser just did their hair and is standing behind the camera ready with comb and spray in hand for any touch ups that might be needed.  Consider how long your ceremony, pictures, dinner and reception will be when picking a style. (And how long you need to be picture perfect for)

3. Have a trail run at least one month before the wedding date and try at least two different styles.  I have had lots of brides bring in one picture, be very set on how they want their hair and when it’s finished completely change their minds.  Sometimes they feel it doesn’t suit them or maybe it’s uncomfortable.  Bring lots of picture, bring style options and be open to suggestions.

4. If you see something being done you don’t like tell your stylist right then, you don’t have to be rude about it, but ask if it could be different or say you may prefer it another way.  There are a lot of pictures being taken of you that day and you will have them for a very long time.

5. Last but not least if a bobby pin has been put in and it hurts, is pulling, pinching or just feels weird say something so it can get taken out!  That pin will only feel worst as the day goes on so speak up when you can.

One little tip on make-up as well. I always feel that the make-up you wear on your wedding day should be a little darker and heavy then you normally wear.  It is better for showing up in pictures and it will suit what you are wearing. (It is usually the most dressed up you will ever be). BUT!!!! It should still look like you to the people you are with that day and see you in real life.  It should be a balance between the people who are giving you closes hugs and kisses and the photographer who is capturing those keepsake shots.

Those are my thoughts from my experience – hope they help
J

0 Comments

Tips for washing your hair

5/1/2012

2 Comments

 
Washing hair is, for lots of people, a daily part of their routine, but is that the best thing for it? My hair tends to be on the dry side, mostly at the ends.  I am very lucky that I can get away with not washing my hair everyday.  To be honest, in the last 2 years, I have only been washing my hair once or twice a week.  When I do wash (shampoo) my hair, as it air dries it becomes very puffy, big, and looks dried out so I try and avoid it as long as I can.  Tonight, as I look in the mirror at the roots of my hair they were starting to look dirty/oily, but the rest of my hair was fine.  I thought to myself do I really need to wash my hair?  Then another thought crossed my mind, do I have to wash all of my hair?  No! No I don’t!  So I didn’t.  I got in the shower and washed just the roots and made sure I didn’t lather it through the rest avoiding the ends.  Now my roots are clean and the rest of my hair wasn’t stripped of the natural oils that will help keep it healthy.  

The natural oils that your scalp produces are the best conditioner for your hair.  So how can you make sure that the ends of your hair are getting the benefits of this oil?  Avoiding daily washing if you can is the best thing.

If your hair is long, it is harder for the oils to get to the ends but a natural bristle brush works wonders moving oils from your scalp down the hair shaft.  

If your hair is curly, you are probably thinking “if I do that I am going to look like puff ball” and yes it is not going to be a great look for you.  I suggest to my curly haired clients that the best time to do this is the night before you are going to wash your hair.  The oil can stay on the ends for the night and if it gets completely out of control, braiding it or
pulling it back might get you through the night.  

What if your hair is oily? Sometimes if you have excess oil it is because constantly stripping the oils from daily washing can actually increase the sebum that is being produced.  It may be beneficial to go a weekend without washing it and then try an every-other-day schedule.  Dry shampoos are also great for oily hair absorbing most of the oils at the roots but not drying out the ends. 

With millions of dollars being spent on thousands of hair products one of the best ones is the one we produce ourselves for
free.

2 Comments

Linked to another

4/12/2012

0 Comments

 
I thought I would link to this great article blogged by Stephanie De Gasperis.  What wonderful things she mention about Skin Essence! 

http://www.barebeautybar.com/2012/03/essence-of-skin-care.html

Remember you can get the entire Skin Essence lihe right here on this site!
0 Comments

Protecting Your Skin Completely Naturally

1/26/2012

0 Comments

 
My skin is what you would call "fair". Ask me how much I would love to have a nice golden tan or not hear mid August "wow you are so white!"  There is just no way that my skin will tan and I learned at a very young age that a sun burn is not worth it. Even if I did burn it would not turn into a tan it would be red and blotchy then nicely peel off revealing my pail skin again. I have also learned that protecting my skin means more then avoiding a bad burn. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, it is estimated that 1 million new cases occur annually. One of the leading causes of skin cancer is sun exposure. In December I went to my doctor because a small mole on the side of my face looks different, slightly changed shape and colour. Next week I am having it removed and making sure I have it looked after. No matter if it is something or nothing it really makes me think about protecting my face and my skin. Sunscreen is one of the best things I can use to make sure my skin is not getting any ill effects from the sun. I have used sunscreen my entire life, in the summer when I knew I would be outside for a period of time. But what about the days that I am just out and about, the winter days that I have spent outside for the day? I have looked at the ingredients that are listed on a sunscreen label, I am not sure I can even pronounce half the words correctly. I thought to myself, is this really something I want to put on my face several times a week? So I have again turned to Skin Essences Organic for the perfect solution for my skin. The Canadian Cancer Society says that cancer now affects 1 in 2.6 women and 1 in 2.3 men. Numerous studies suggest that the increasing number of carcinogens in products, food, and the environment are the cause of these rates. Tropical Tradition is a 100% certified organic sunscreen with an SPF up to 30. I have been using this product for the last several weeks every time I walk out the door for the day. Last weekend I went snowshoeing for 3 1/2 hours and at the end of the day my skin felt great!! Usually I will at least get dryness to my skin, wind burn or sunburn. Not this time!! This time my skin was hydrated, soft and there was no redness at all. I also have peace of mind that I have ingredients like coconut oil and a natural form of zinc oxide absorbing into my skin instead of chemicals that can cause what I am trying to prevent.
0 Comments

How Long Should You Go Between Hair Cuts If You Have Long Hair?

1/18/2012

0 Comments

 
So one thing I have noticed over the years is some woman and girls with long hair go months even years with out cutting it.  Why do they do this I asked myself?  The reasons I am always given is because they are growing it out or they want it to stay as long as possible. I totally get it ladies, I am feeling the long hair right now too and am even guilty of leaving it too long between cuts.  This can happen very easily for a couple reasons, it is easy to get away with it because long styles hold their shape a lot longer and when it gets it to the long length you want you might not be sure what to do with it.  So what is the problem with leaving your hair for long periods of time without getting it trimmed or cut?  When hair is left the ends will eventually start to break and split.  Split ends can actaully be seen if looked at closely.  Over time that little split end will run up the hair shaft resulting in many inches of damaged hair.  Damage hair has a very dull, flat look and will cause your hair to knot and split even more.  I always suggest to my long hair clients to come in every 2-3 months even for a small trim to keep those split ends gone.  There is an old wives tale that says that if you cut your hair it will grow faster...well even though it might seem that way that is not what is actually happening.  What is happening is you are getting rid of damage, keeping your hair strong and preventing breakage.  Another thing to consider when growing your hair out to the desired length is if you have been trying for a while and your hair never seems to pass a certain length it probably never will.  Hair grows for a period of time and for each person that length of time is different.  And each individual person grows hair at a different pace as well.  So if your hair grows 1 inch a month for 2 years then you will only be able to grow 2 feet of hair.  On average hairs grow between 1/4 of an inch to 1 inch a month.  The amount of time can really vary from 2 - 10 years.  One of my clients questioned that saying "then how come I could grow my hair to my waist when I was a kid.?"  My response was "because you were a lot shorter:)"  So don't worry ladies getting a little snip sooner then later will help your lovely long locks. 
Long, short, straight or curly, I believe that the best looking hair is healthy looking hair! 

0 Comments

Are you sure Organic really means what you think it means?

1/11/2012

0 Comments

 
Why does Skin Essence Organics stress that their products are 100% certified organic? What does that mean and why is that different then other organic or natural products on the shelf?  100% certified organic means that each and every ingredient is certified as an organic ingredient under the Canada Organic Regime.  But are all products labled organic under the Canada Organic Regime 100% organic?  No!  Under the Organic Products Regulations only 95% of the contents of a multi-ingredient product actually have to be organic.
"Only products with organic content that is greater than or equal to 95% may be labelled as: "Organic" or bear the organic logo."  Got to wonder what might be in that 5%. These are the products that can carry the certification. What if we drop the word certified all together and you just see the word "organic".   Could a skin care or cosmetic company use that word if it wasn't?  Yes then can...but how do you ask?  According to New Vegetarian and Natural Health, "Most cosmetics companies  utilizing the term 'organic' on their label are using the chemistry definition of organic-meaning a compound that contains carbon." By using this definition  they could say that "a toxic petrochemical preservative called methyl paraben is  'organic' because it was formed by leaves that rotted over thousands of years to  become oil."   They also add that  "Nowhere do the  terms 'natural' and 'organic' take more of a bruising than in the cosmetic  industry."  Now lets take this one step further and drop the word organic and use the word natural.  The USA (where most of our cosmetics and skin care come from)  has no government regulations for the word unless it is refering to poultry and meats.  Think of how many times you have seen these words and have reached for a product because of what the lable claims.  With Skin Essence 100% Certified Organic Skin Care you have the reassurance that what you are wanting is what you get. 


http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/orgbio/stainte.shtml
http://www.organicformulations.ca/organic_beauty.htm
http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/difference-between-natural-products-organic-products-2417.html
0 Comments

My Personal Experience With Organic Skin Care

1/9/2012

0 Comments

 
I have used many products over the years from professional products to drug store brands.  I have very sensitive/temperamental skin and have never been satified with the products I have found.  Then I was introduced to Skin Essence Organics and Jennifer Lane Personal Care Products by Jennifer Lane.  Loving how they felt on my skin the first time I used them I was still not convienced that they would stay as great as they first seemed.  I have had that false feeling before, you find what you think is a great product because of the first impression it leaves, but then after daily use you realise that the product is not holding up to it's promises.  I kept using these wonderful natural products for 3 months and my skin keeps getting better and better.  I have people comment everyday on how great my skin looks.   I have come to the realization that the products that are full of chemicals and preservatives were contributing  to some of the problems that I had with my skin.  Cleasers that stripped my face of its natural oils, exfoliants that are too rough and lotions that don't absorb and sit on the top of the skin.  I decided in December that these were such quality, well made products that I could offer them to my clients with confidence.  Finding products that work as well as they promise, are organic and free of chemicals is such a great feeling - almost feels as good as my smooth skin ;)
0 Comments

Why Choose Organic Skin Care

12/30/2011

1 Comment

 
    By choosing to use  organic products, you can drastically reduce the amount of chemicals that enter  your body. Most skin care products on the market today have a combination of  synthetic ingredients that contain a variety of harmful chemicals and synthetic  preservatives.

    Plants that are not organic are often heavily contaminated with herbicides,  pesticides, and other chemical fertilizers. By choosing organic skin care  products, you can take comfort knowing that the ingredients placed on your skin  are nutritious, naturally raised and free from harmful substances.        

    To ensure you are  putting only the best and most pure ingredients onto and into your body, take  the time to read the ingredients label on the products you currently use. If  you are not familiar with the ingredients, then chances
are they should not be  applied to your skin. Truly natural products are not only safer, but they also  typically contain an array of beneficial nutrients that effectively heal damaged  cells and capillaries, thus reducing the signs of aging.
  • Studies have demonstrated that chemicals and synthetic preservatives can
    lead to pre-mature aging and various types of cancers/diseases.
  • Nutrients found in organic extracts effectively heal and nourish the skin,
    while helping to increase elasticity, resulting in healthier and more
    youthful-looking skin.
  • The human body absorbs approximately 60-70% of what is applied topically
    (absorbing nutrients into the blood stream and vital organs).
  • Organic ingredients do not face the same mass production as
    genetically-modified ingredients.
  • Organic ingredients possess an extremely high nutritional content ,
    benefiting the entire body.
  • Non-organic ingredients often contain dangerous pesticides, herbicides and
    chemical fertilizers.
  • To simply know that you are applying only the finest, most pure ingredients
    onto your skin.
  •    
    1 Comment

    hello

    11/17/2011

    4 Comments

     
    I have been a hairstylist for 8 years and so many of my clients ask me about styling their hair at home, products they should use for their hair type and tools that they need to achieve certain styles.  If you have a hair question
    please post with some info about your hair type and get professional advice that you can use at home :)
    4 Comments
      Follow Me on Pinterest

      Amy Wickenden

      I have been a hairstylist for 10 years.  I think it is very important for everyone to know how to work with their hair and get salon results at home.  Having hair that looks good makes you feel better and when it is easy to do at home you can walk out the door looking like you just left your stylist!

      Archives

      January 2015
      May 2012
      April 2012
      January 2012
      December 2011
      November 2011

      Categories

      All

      RSS Feed