We flew into London and took the train half hour from Gatwick airport to Brighton for our first night. This was my first time on the english coast and I loved it. The town was adorable, colourful houses, small winding laneways, quaint old pubs and beautiful restaurants. It had a vibrancy to it that felt modern and alternative even though it was so old and historic.

We explored the pier, walked around the laneways and did some great vintage shopping. I brought some cool art back for the studio and all in all would recommend Brighton to anyone planning a trip to London since it’s so close it’s possible to do as a day trip.

I then proceeded to spend 3 full days in London proper, my partners friends were getting married (this is what brought the trip on to begin with), and so we had a couple days of wedding related festivities to attend. I managed to squeeze in a tourist day on the last day and explored the British Museum, SOHO and Buckingham Palace. We were fortunate to have sunny skies for our trip and it made the experience so much more enjoyable (we encountered rain last time we were there).

We left London and flew to Lisbon on day 5, although we were in Portugal for 5 days, we only spend one night in Lisbon. Truthfully I wish we had spent more time there. This was my second time visiting Lisbon and the love I felt for it last year was reignited the moment we arrived. Lisbon is truly such a magical place. If you like a bustling city feel, with amazing food, gorgeous architecture and never ending roof top patios then Lisbon is the spot to visit. We visited some of our favourite spots from our last trip there and then managed to squeeze in a couple new places as well in our quick little 24 hrs there. I also managed to squeeze in a haircut with the stylist who cut my hair there last summer. I’m not saying we went to Lisbon so I could get a haircut, but I’m not denying it either…

We regretfully departed Lisbon and took the fast train up north to Porto for the remainder of our trip. Eager to visit a new city we had heard so much about, we spent three and a half days exploring. Although stunningly beautiful (the architecture of the churches and old tiled buildings is mesmerizing), we didn’t love it the same way we loved Lisbon. We found a couple of great spots, good vintage shopping, an unreal natural wine bar, and a mind blowing woman owned restaurant that I wish we could have eaten at every day. However all in all, I loved the food and general vibe of Lisbon more. I also wasn’t able to find a good coffee anywhere, and this is so important to me when I travel. I would definitely go back, I would like to be proved wrong, but I don’t think I would go for more than two days.

If you’re interested in any of my google maps pin lists with my favourite spots in either Lisbon or Porto please feel free to reach out and I’ll gladly share that with you!

We’ve been back for two weeks and I’m already day dreaming the next visit to Portugal. Do you have a city or country you feel drawn to? I’d love to talk about it at your next appointment!

Til then

xox

Tiff

It’s hard to believe two years has already gone by since I opened the doors to my little studio in Parkdale. I had no idea how much I or the studio would grow in those two years. I’ve learnt so much about what it is to be a stylist, a business owner, a co-worker etc in these last two years. I want to share some of the reasons why I chose to go out on my own, my business model and what’s in store for the future of the studio and myself.

Like many covid brought a lot of confusion and a lot of clarity. I had placed so much of my identity in my profession and when that was taken away from me I was left to really get down to the root of “who am I?”. I was so caught up in the flow of my industry I never stopped to think if I was truly happy with what it represented and if that resonated with who I am as a person.

I always felt different and a little like a black sheep weirdo my whole life. A lot of the beauty industry is cliquey and petty and it felt cut throat trying to stay ahead of that. When we came back from lockdown and tried to assume business as usual something felt off for me. It felt unauthentic to try to resume a way of operating that didn’t serve me anymore. I didn’t want to rush my clients, or juggle more than one colour at a time. I was sick of feeling like a conveyer belt of blondes and wanted to invest my time into my craft and my client experience. The busy-ness of my previous salon atmosphere didn’t feel cohesive to this mentality, it was loud and chaotic and it felt disruptive trying to have meaningful conversations with clients over the sound of blaring house music and blow dryers.

With encouragement from my partner at the time, I began to consider going out on my own. It was scary, and as someone who’s always had imposter syndrome combined with being super hard on myself, it made it even more terrifying. I had tremendous support from my family and friends, and this is what helped me get past all the doubt that I might fail. At the end of the day, if I didn’t try, I was failing myself. I opened the studio completely on my own, with physical help from friends and family to put it together, but fully financially backed by me. 2 years in and I’m fully out of debt from opening and couldn’t be prouder of myself. I. Did. That.

My vision for Golden Hour was always to create a space where artists feel empowered to be independent while feeling supported by their peers. I wanted a space where people like myself could service their clients in a safe and comfortable atmosphere, free of gender construct, and with a professional caring touch. All artists at Golden Hour run their own business within our studio and have the freedom to choose their schedule, income and services with zero input but all the support from me. What’s resulted in this is the most amazing team I could ask for. We have 3 hair stylists, a nail artist, and a permanent make up artist in house. Everyone is so talented and because we’re all supported by each other I truly believe we do some of our best work in this space.

I fell in love with hair again over the last two years and I want to continuously challenge myself to learn and be better at what I do. I am always trying new techniques, watching videos and chatting with fellow stylists. With only a year left on our lease in Parkdale, I’m already thinking about where Golden Hour can go from here. I have visions of a beautiful open concept space for us, and am always on the lookout for commercial real estate. Golden Hour is just getting started and amazing things are to come in the future.

Don’t ever let anyone make you think you can’t reinvent the wheel. Someones doubt is really just their fear and fear has no place here in creativity.

xox

Tiff

All hair should be heat protected, I say this so often (sorry not sorry), but did you know the sun is a heat source your hair needs to be protected from as well? If you are a blonde who likes their hair bright or ashy this is especially important as the sun can bleach out your toner and leave your hair straw like and yellow, like leaving an iron on a crisp white shirt for too long. If you are someone who heat styles their hair, heat styling and then adding in the sun is grounds to totally fry your hair, leaving it feeling brittle and looking dull. The best way to avoid this is to use products on the hair that have UVA/UVB protection in them. Amika's Mirrorball shampoo and conditioner is a great product for this as it has UVA/UVB protectant and protects the hair from air-born pollutants which are impossible to avoid in the city. The Shield is another great product, it has anti-humidity properties, heat protection, and UV protection. This goes on dry hair and feels completely weightless, so you can reapply as needed. The failsafe for heat protection is always to wear a hat, which thankfully is cute and trendy right now, but if you need to wear your hair down, these products will keep your hair safe while doing so.

Swimming is a huge contributor to damaged summer hair, whether in chlorine, salt water, or lake water, there is chemical and mineral build up that will occur that can dull your colour, dry your hair and in some cases even shift blondes to orange/yellow/green tones that are so difficult to remove from the hair. This can be hard to avoid, when possible I suggest wetting the hair prior to getting into the pool or lake/ocean, this will ensure your hair is already full of water so that the damaging waters don’t have much room to live in your hair strands. If you’re someone who swims lanes, you really should be using a swim cap, and if you can avoid dunking your hair in the water, a cute little clip up goes a long way.

Sunscreen is so important and you should ALWAYS be wearing sunscreen, but there are certain sunscreens that can actually damage hair extensions and discolour them as well as your own blonde hair. These sunscreens contain the ingredient avobenzone, a chemical in sunscreen that tints the skin and hair (and if you’re wearing white clothes it’ll tint those too). It’s best to do your due diligence and check the ingredients list before using or purchasing sunscreen, some examples that do not contain this ingredient include Sunbum Mineral sunscreen or this Neutrogena sunscreen stick, generally most mineral sunscreens should be safe.

Stay safe and use these tips to keep those locks luscious this summer!

Til next time besties,

XOX Tiff

Dark healthy hair is really having it’s moment in the spotlight and I’m so here for it. It looks luxurious, full, soft and so shiny. Healthy hair has this air of wealth to it the same way glass skin does right now. Gone are the days of frazzled ends and dull blondes. Don’t get me wrong, I still love a healthy shiny blonde, but it’s been all about the blondes for a while and brunettes deserve their time in the spotlight too.

Most of the time when I’m getting this request it’s clients wanting to return to the dimensional glowy colour they had as kids when the sun would provide seamless highlights and we weren’t heat styling our hair to oblivion. Hand in hand with the so-called “clean girl aesthetic”, which I’ve change to “low maintenance luxury” to be more inclusive, this version of brunette gives ribbons of slightly lighter browns and deep blondes to keep your colour from looking flat and lifeless. This is done similarly to any blonding services, but uses a very mild lightener and processes for half the time meaning little to no damage to the hair is done and is really easy to achieve whether you’re an existing brunette or a blonde tinting back.

Maintenance on a service like this is akin to a traditional balayage, with foiling being done twice a year, or every 6 months, but with interim toners in between services (every 3 months), to keep the colour glossy and vibrant. The beauty of a colour like this is there’s no one shade, there’s so much variety and ability to customize, and you can tone down your blonde in a way that wont impact you being able to be blonde again if you so choose (so long as you aren’t going more than 2-3 shades darker than your current colour).

So what do you say, dare to give this trend a try and take a walk on the *slightly* darker side? You know where to find me if so.

Til next time besties,

xox Tiff

I find clients often aren’t sure when or if they should include this in their services when booking online. There are certain instances where I don’t think it’s necessary but also certain instances where I won’t lighten the hair without it.

If you’re curious when and if its the right service for you, this blog will hopefully provide you with answers.

What They Are

Bond builders aid in the colouring process by ensuring the disulfide bonds that would normally be broken down during the service are being repaired along the way, leaving the hair feeling virtually untouched. This helps the hair to not feel rough and mitigates the risk of breakage.

When it comes to bond builders there are so many on the market, I’ve tried a solid handful but tend to favour Brazilian Bond Builder. This is dealers choice and honestly not necessary for the client to know, but I like to be forthcoming so clients know what’s being used on their hair. In addition to BBB I use K18. Never together, because it’s not necessary, but interchangeably. I tend to use K18 more on my super dry, sensitized hair clients, where BBB is good for just about anyone.

When to use them

BBB is great for any colour service if you’re looking to keep the integrity of your hair in tact. It helps ensure your hair stays strong and feels relatively unchanged after colouring. Is it necessary for every colour? No. But I wouldn’t deny someone if they asked for it. However if you are someone who already has lightened hair and wants to be lighter, someone who has fine or curly hair, or someone who heat styles their hair a lot, then I won’t lighten your hair without a bond builder. I’ll often suggest you use k18 at home as well in between colouring appointments.

I am not in the business of frying my clients hair and have no problem saying no if someone asks me for something I think will result in frazzled broken ends, even with a bond builder. But if I think it’s possible to achieve your desired colour with a bond builder then I’m all game. I like to be transparent with my clients and ensure they are involved in the process and have a say, but at the end of the day, I am the professional and I’m here to mitigate risk of damage and ultimately say no when the risk outweighs the reward.

If you never have, consider trying a bond builder in your next colour service if you’re curious about the results!

Til next time,

xox Tiff

I see a lot of scalps, A LOT, and I see more angry scalps than happy ones. What makes a scalp look angry? Redness, flakey dryness, over production of oil, thick oily dandruff etc. Shampooing the hair is about the scalp, not the hair. The cleanse removes build up including dry skin, product, sweat and oil. A clean scalp is a healthy scalp, and a clean scalp means strong healthy hair. Scalp is skin, so putting the same effort you put into your skincare routine will only yield you great results. Think a comfortable scalp and healthier hair.

So how the heck should you be washing your hair? Although this is a nuanced question, and every scalp needs something different, I can give you a general guide to follow.

Double cleansing is key here. There is no instance where one shampoo is enough. That first shampoo is important, it helps to break down the build up of oils and product that have accumulated since your last wash. For this I like to use a gentle clarifying shampoo accompanied by a scalp brush as it goes the extra mile and also removes build up from pollutants and minerals in your water. This shampoo will yield barely any bubbles, this is normal, try to spread the shampoo across both hands and pat it around the scalp adding water to spread it out. The second shampoo is the one that actually cleans your scalp, this will give you more suds and those suds will trickle down to help keep your ends clean. This is where I recommend using a shampoo catered to your hair type, for example, a shampoo for fine, or damaged, or shiny hair etc.

Your conditioner is for your hair exclusively, and is typically applied to the mids and ends. For this I recommend using whatever you feel your hair is needing, be it moisture, repair or shine. It is important to add a mask into your routine at least twice a month to help really keep your ends strong, soft and shiny. The longer the hair, and the more you colour or heat style, the more important a mask is. Longer hair = older hair, it’s been through it and deserves to be treated nicely.

Post shower I will always put some type of a leave-in conditioner in my hair, whether its a spray, oil, or cream, this just helps seal your ends and bonus if it features heat protection. Even if you aren’t heat styling your hair, it’s important to use heat protection, things like saunas, or being out in the sun are sources of heat that your hair needs protection from, not just styling tools.

Anything beyond this is fully up to you, whether you want to use styling aids or finishing products, I can always make personalized recommendations for my clients. Not a client? Book in a blow out and we can have a full product consult alongside.

I’ve linked the products I currently have in rotation in my shower below, as well as placed them in a photo carousel. For reference my hair is fine, I have 2b/2c curl type, and my hair is colour treated with a balayage so I like to protect my colour and keep my ends hydrated.

clarifying shampoo

Regular shampoo

Conditioner

Mask

Leave-in Conditioner

I’m always open to suggestions for blog posts, if you guys have any burning hair and beauty Q’s please shoot me a DM!!

Til next week besties,

xox Tiff

Please stop putting food in your hair. It truly does not work, and it’s so gross and wasteful. People who think coconut oil is safe scare me the most, that stuff has such a high burning point and is so hard to remove from the hair, if you put that in your hair and it isn’t fully washed out, the second you touch a hot tool to your locks they are FRYING. There are certain naturally occurring substances you can put on your hair, rosemary oil for example, is great for your scalp. Massaging this oil into your scalp helps to increase blood flow to the follicle and can aid in keeping your scalp hydrated and stimulated, which in turn promotes healthy hair growth. However in order for new hair to grow, there needs to be a healthy follicle with blood supply. If your follicles have lost blood supply, or you don’t have a follicle present, hair cannot just grow out of thin air. It doesn’t work like that.

There are a number of things you can use on your actual hair, pure Argan or jojoba oil are just two examples. However these are only going to give superficial results. Meaning shine and softness. You cannot change the texture of your hair without chemical assistance, and you cannot reverse damage, period. Hair is strong while simultaneously being sensitive. People love to say their hair “can take it” when it comes to chemical services, but guess what, you aren’t invincible and neither is your hair. Everyone’s hair has a breaking point, be it with heat or colour, eventually that shit will give up and either snap off or disintegrate. My job is to prevent that from happening. With technology like K18, it is possible to maintain the damaged hair from becoming further damaged, however the only real cure is a good old fashioned hair cut, and laying off the colour and hot tools for a while.

I often stress the importance of science in haircare, natural ingredients are very important, we don’t want a bunch of synthetic crap all over our hair and skin and going down our drains, but a little science is necessary to make sure those natural ingredients are supported in a way that we can optimize their power. So where sometimes I don’t mind if clients want to use pure derivatives and natural products, there are other instances where they should be used in conjunction with professional products. Especially if your hair is colour treated. Why spend $400+ on your colour only to destroy it with products that aren’t colour safe.

This leads me to my next topic, you should not be washing your hair every day, but you also shouldn’t be letting your hair go more than 7 days without washing. Washing every 3-7 days depending on your hair texture is the sweet spot. We don’t want to wash our hair too often because you are constantly messing with the PH of your scalp and stripping your hair of its natural protective oils. However if you’re going over a week between washes, especially if you’re someone who uses dry shampoo, your scalp is likely so itchy and has so much build up from oil, sweat and product. This is clogging your follicle, when your follicle can’t breath it can become damaged, hair will fall more, and when new hairs try to grow in, if the follicle isn’t clean and clear, the new hairs will grow in thin and weak.

Subscribe to my blog if you want to know my product recco’s and hair wash routine tips and tricks, as I’ll be talking about that in next weeks post! Til then, leave the mayo for the sandwiches and the eggs for the baking.

xox

Tiff

If you follow a couple simple tips, not only will you help make your stylists job easier, but you’ll likely have a better experience yourself.

Do

• Bring snacks if you’re having a long service done. We have coffee, tea and water for ya but if you think you’ll get a little peckish we encourage clients to bring something to eat.

• Dress comfortably. You’re going to be sitting for several hours so come prepared in something that is comfortable to do so.

• Feel free to bring entertainment for while you’re processing. I’ve had clients bring books, or knitting or their laptop if they have to work (you can use our wifi!) but it helps keep you busy while you wait for your colour to be ready.

• Have inspiration photos prepared for us so we can have a clear picture of what it is you’re looking for.

• Relax during your shampoo! Let us do the work, this means no lifting your head as more often than not this will result in us soaking your clothing. Let your head sit heavy in the sink and we will guide you if we need you to move.

Don’t

• Wear your nicest or favourite clothes. We try our best to keep your clothing and bags safe but the nature of the job is colour, and if your arms are out from under the cape or your leg is exposed there is always potential you will come into contact with colour which can permanently stain.

• Wear chunky necked sweaters or hoodies without a top underneath. the nape of the hair needs to be free to be washed properly and the hair needs to lay flat, unobstructed to ensure your haircut is straight and even.

• My favourite and most important tip, I cannot stress enough, please stop showing up to your appointments with dirty hair. It can affect the power of the colour having to go through layers of oil and product buildup, it can dull and coat our scissors, and it’s also just plain gross to be handling dirty hair. Hair may be the nature of our profession but it doesn’t mean we’re obligated to handle your week old, post work out, soaked in cooking smells hair.

• Show up late without notice. We understand sometimes life is chaotic and things happen, but we schedule our appointments methodically for a reason. Your appointment time isn’t an approx, if anything it isn’t even when you should show up, the appointment time is when your booty should be parked in our chair and our consult begins. So showing up for your appointment 3-5 minutes early is what you should be doing. Or you risk not being able to receive a full service, or causing your stylist stress as they scramble to stay on track for the rest of the day.

• Be a bobble-head. If you move your head around a lot when you talk try your best to refrain, as this can cause the foils to slip and bleed leaving lines of demarcation all of your head, it can also lead to an uneven haircut, both things are easily avoidable by staying still. If this is difficult for you because of a medical condition then let’s discuss how we can make adjustments to avoid oopsies and still deliver a beautiful result.

For everything else in between just ask us!! I truly love when my clients reach out to me looking for clarity on things. It not only means they deem me as approachable, but also that they respect me and the process. I have the utmost respect for my clients and do my best to show up to work every day with that mentality to dedicate time and skill towards their vision, when that respect is reciprocated it is part of what makes the job so fulfilling and mutually beneficial.

Til next time besties,

xoxo

Tiff

Whether you like it cropped or for your length to flow there’s a cut for everyone that can take your style to the next level.

Starting with my short hair lovers. It’s no secret bob’s have been making a serious statement since last summer, from a super cropped french bob, to a shaggy bob with fringe there’s tons of room for all textures to be accommodated at this length. If you tend to wear your hair straight more often then not, then a soft beveled bob looks amazing accompanied by a simple blow out, for those with wave or texture to their hair they like to embrace, then a french bob, or a bixie (bob-pixie hybrid) is an amazing option. Examples are shown below.

The mid length baddies have all been showing up showing me the same inspo photo in the studio lately. I can’t even hate on that because it’s a fabulous haircut. Minimal layering, it gives effortless while still looking polished (the quiet luxury trend everyones hopping on), great if you like a blow’n’go look, for those who like a little more mess and chaotic good in their life, a long fringe and shaggy face framing layers are the perfect way to get va va voom. Both cuts give the cutest framing pieces when you’re sporting a claw clip or a ball cap. As seen below.

This brings me to the long luscious locks some of you have spent time and patience growing out. A common issue long haired clients have is how to have a style with long hair without it looking just … long. One of my favourite trend right now for those who are a little more bold is the hush cut. All the rage in Korea, these cuts give beautiful shape and movement while not compromising on length. If you like something a little more on the safe side, simply adding in some face framing layers will elevate the look and open up the face in a way that looks stylist and intentional. Great if you feel like your hair is weighing you down.

I love when clients show me photos of their fav influencers for inspo because often times I can look at multiple photos of the same person to see how their hair moves and other ways they’ve styled it to get a better idea on what cut they have and how to give my client the benefits the see that match their hair and every day routine.

If there are any trends you’re seeing and loving with cuts this season please share them with me! I am always looking to grow my Pinterest inspo boards and love to see what you are all liking!

Til next time besties,

xo Tiff

I am a skilled stylist and my time is precious. Because of this I like to weed out the clients whose expectations are unrealistic, or to whom my services may exceed their budget. It’s nothing personal, but I need to know that if you’re coming in to see me, that what you want is not a miracle, and that you’re okay paying what it costs for my level of work and experience.

One of the most pivotal parts to the consult is when I ask clients for inspiration photos. What typically follows are usually photos of people with the most luxurious hair. I mean I get it, that hair is GOALS, but unless you have thick or full hair, the only way your hair is looking like that is with a full head extension install.

Another common oopsie I see in inspiration photos are clients with a natural level 5 or lower base colour (all my true brunettes), sending me photos of girls with a natural level 7 or lighter (light brown to dirty blonde) base. This is an issue because the darker the hair is naturally, the more underlying pigment you will need to fight through to lift the hair, the more raw and exposed it leaves the hair when lifting that light. This means if you are a dark brown naturally and want a platinum blonde, it will take you longer to achieve this, and your hair will be more prone to damage and being sensitized, not to mention more underlying yellow pigment in the hair. This equates to needing to use less hot tools, more frequent toners and trims, and needing to use a lot of masks and oils to replenish lost moisture.

I’ve created Pinterest boards with great inspo for colours, cuts and at home styling for my clients to browse and get inspiration from. I update these weekly and am constantly trying to keep them trendy, fresh and with a multitude of options for all hair densities and lengths.

If you stick to inspiration photos of people who have similar hair types to you, there is less room for disappointment when your hair doesn’t look exactly like the girls in the photos. If your hair is shorter, try looking at colours on bobs or medium length cuts, if your hair is fine try searching for fine haired colours. Keep in mind those people having a similar natural colour to yours and for everything else, ask your stylist! We are here to give our professional opinions, and speaking for myself at least, we want to give you realistic expectations and not promise what we can’t deliver.

Til next time besties,

XO Tiff

I’ve seen clients through amazing hair transformations with something as simple as a regimented trim schedule. This can be made more affordable by booking dry trims in between your haircut services, for which I charge $60 vs a full cut which is $95+. A dry trim is essentially a maintenance trim without the wash and blow dry. It’s super quick and takes roughly 20 minutes, easily squeezed into a lunch break or quickly after work.

A dry trim essentially removes the bottom 1/4” of hair where splits may have formed in the last 8-10 weeks since your last cut to ensure those splits do not continue to split up further or higher into the hair shaft. This also means because the splits are being controlled, you won’t need to cut off as much every haircut, which is what subsequently allows you to maintain the growth.

By trimming a little bit more frequently, you’re slowly going to catch up to those split ends that have gone up further than a trim can reach, and THIS is the key to having your ends look FULL and healthy, vs thin and scragley.

If you’re someone who feels like they can never get ahead of the damage, be it heat, colour or a combination of the two, then I would encourage you to follow a schedule of dry trim, 8-10 weeks later dry trim again, and 8-10 weeks later a full wash, cut and blow dry (you would repeat this schedule on an ongoing basis.) If you do this for one year I promise you will see growth, and a change in your hairs health. If you feel like that’s too high of a commitment for you, (I get it were in a recession and also time is precious), at the very least introduce one dry trim in between your standard haircut schedule and see the difference a change that small can make.

I’ve included a perfect example below. My client and I have been adhearing to a regular trim schedule for over a year now. When she first started coming to me her hair was blonde, damaged and could not grow properly. We’ve taken a couple years to really baby her hair and get it back to peak health.

If this blogpost has peaked your interest at all I encourage you to reach out to me to chat further, I love to educate my clients and help them achieve their dream hair.

My coveted professional tips for keeping it healthy, if you don’t like or want to work with your hair’s natural texture, are as follows, in no particular order;

• Try using dry shampoo to extend your style so you aren’t having to apply heat as often. When used correctly dry shampoo allows me, a fine haired girlie, to go 5 days without washing, and be able to wear my hair down while still looking clean. This should either be applied at night on day 2, or applied in the morning of day 3 and blow dried into the hair to absorb the oils present. Brushing your hair with a natural bristle brush will also help distribute oils from the roots to the ends which are usually what suffer with dryness when you are over heat styling.

• You should always ALWAYS use heat protector. This is non-negotiable. It’s like going into the sun in the hottest climate and not wearing sunscreen but expecting to not get sunburnt. If you’re someone who doesn’t like the feeling of product, I get it, but you can easily get a leave in conditioner that has heat protection that will do nothing more than nourish those dry ends and keep things soft. The Wizard by Amika is great for this. If you want something with a bit more moisture, like a cream, I would suggest Amika’s Supernova. If you are an air dry person and just want something for dry styling then I would suggest Amika’s The Shield, an aerosol anti humidity spray. This has no hold but heat protects and creates a barrier on the hair to also protect from humidity. Crucial in Toronto summers. Moral of the story is, there is something for everyone, so you can’t make excuses for not using one. If you can apply skincare, you can apply haircare.

• TURN. DOWN. YOUR. HEAT. You bake cookies at 350 y’all, why are you frying your hair at 400 or 425? JAIL, immediately. If you turn that tool down, you will still be able to style your hair but you will be much less likely to burn it to the point of no return. If you need to turn your tools up that high to work then chances are that tool needs to be replaced. The only people who should be using tools at max heat are professionals who know what they’re doing and can work quickly, and people who have naturally very coarse strands.

• Stop cheaping out on your styling tools. This one is so important, you don’t need to spend $600 on a Dyson, but you shouldn’t be spending $60 on Revlon or Conair and thinking it’s going to do the same job. Hot tools, when taken care of can last you years. One of my curling irons I use daily in the studio lasted me 6 years and I used it multiple times a day, 5 days a week, and it only cost me $110. Ask your stylist for help, we are a built in personal shopper. We can give you options in a multitude of price ranges. Who better to advise you than the person who knows your hair and your budget? For example here is my favourite flat iron, I just ordered this for a client after I styled her hair and she could’t believe how smooth it glided through her hair and how well it styled at low heat. If you’re a curling iron person then here’s a great one as well, not a bank breaker but this will likely last you years and really help save the damage.

I love to style my hair, I love being able to change my look with a curling iron or straightener, variety is the spice of life, but what good does it do when your hair breaks endlessly, and no matter what you do it looks unhealthy? Try these tips for 3 months and I would love to hear about your results! I promise it will only get better from here.

DISCLAIMER

These tips will only work for you if you are also someone who frequently trims their hair. If you don’t cut your split ends off, they will continue to split and the cycle is endless. People who tell me their hair doesn’t grow, 9/10 times it is because they do not trim frequently enough. This may sound counter intuitive if you’re trying to grow your hair, but I assure you, it is not. I would guess you’d rather have all your hair grow long and strong vs only have 3 strands grow long on one side. Correct me if I’m wrong!

Til next time bestie’s

XO

Tiff

Share Tiffany’s Substack

When lockdown first hit, I went from wearing makeup daily to forgetting how to even fill in my eyebrows. (An exaggeration, your girl still loves a full beat). I began to focus on taking care of my skin so that I could like how I looked without makeup. Controversial statement, but between working in the beauty industry and societies chokehold on how women present themselves, I didn’t feel beautiful unless I had a full face of makeup on, I know, sad.

To preface this my skin isn’t AWFUL by any means, I have some mild rosacea, occasional hormonal acne on my chin and a tiny bit of scarring from said hormonal acne, my skin is also sensitive, just like my feelings. I spoke with friends who I consider skincare guru’s and watched a multitude of TikTok’s and youtube reviews before deciding I’d never buy skincare from Sephora again. Keep your points besties, that price tag is not for me. I swapped all my over-priced mid products from Sephora as I used them up, and started switching gears to Korean skincare. The reason being two main selling points, firstly the most obvious was price. That shit is AFFORDABLE oooo honey, skincare that works and my cleanser doesn’t cost me over $20? Sign me up. The second reason was CLEAN ingredients, and truly clean ingredients. None of this Sephora clean seal of bullshit.

Over time, my skin adjusted to my new products, the texture changed, the hormonal acne became less frequent (also in part to my diet and lifestyle), and I began to almost dislike how I looked with foundation on, because my natural skin was just too good to cover up. You’re probably wondering “when the hell is she gonna give us the product list?” I’m getting to it. But I want to preface with a couple key points.

• I eat a primarily plant based diet. Whole foods, grains, avoiding a lot of processed food, not eating meat. I don’t drink alcohol often, maybe once a week, I don’t smoke, and I get a full nights sleep every night.

• I am someone who gets botox, this helps with my skins collagen production and is part of skincare regimen.

• I go for facials, not often, but at least 3-4 times a year. Mostly microdermabrasion, but I did recently try a Morpheus8 treatment (very recent so the effects haven’t fully kicked in yet, but at dinner last night a friend told me my face looked like the paris filter, so clearly something good came of it)

All this to say, topical products alone aren’t always enough, at least if I want to keep my 36 year old face looking 26, which I do.

The Product Breakdown

My morning routine is often rushed and lazy because I like to spend as much time as possible sitting on the couch with a coffee and my animals before work. I usually do not wash my face in the morning, this is because I wash my face before bed, and I want those healthy oils built up overnight to keep my skin hydrated. Instead I will splash some water on my face to wake me up and then dive right into the products.

Every product is linked, I’m not saying you have to buy these to have good skin, but it will give you an idea of price and ingredient list and some places you can find similar products. If you live in the city, I get a lot of my stuff from Propr Life at Ossington and College.

I use a toner from the Ordinary , it’s gentle and exfoliating and gives me a good base for my hydrators.

After toner I apply a hyaluronic acid to help my skin better absorb my moisturizer.

Then moisturizer on my face and neck.

And finally sunscreen , 50spf ONLY if you want to avoid looking like Mr. Burns when you’re 50.

None of these products cost more than $50 and they work better than drunk elephant could EVER.

At night my routine is a little different, I do a double cleanse even if I didnt wear any makeup that day.

I use this oil cleanser it’s fragrance free, limited ingredient and feels like a dream on the skin. Followed by this waterbased cleanser .

My only splurge product is my Skin Ceuticals retinol which I use 2-3 times a week. I didn’t want to mess around with this and wanted a product that I knew was backed by medical aestheticians for actually doing it’s job.

Then my plush skin secret weapon , vegetable glycerin. Sounds kooky, but glycerin is arguably better for moisture absorption than hyaluronic acid. It is a natural humectant and LOVES hydration. I apply a thin layer of this 10 minutes before my moisturizer, allow it to sit and then put my moisturizer over top. It’s best to do this at least an hour before bed as your skin will feel damp while it’s absorbing and you want it to absorb into your skin, not your pillow case. When I wake up in the morning my skin is always so plush and dewy (this is why I don’t wash my face in the morning, I want that moisture to stay put).

That’s it, that’s all. I now love my lil bare face and my makeup routine is super paired down if I even wear any during the week. I still put on a full beat for a night out or if I’m feeling spicy but I don’t feel like I have to anymore and that is a W for me. I love to talk about this stuff with clients, so if you’re ever curious or have amazing tips to share when you’re in my chair then let loose, let’s hear it!

If you’ve read this far then thanks for caring about me and my face. You a real one.

So many new trends are over the top, taking things that are already in great working order and making them convoluted and extravagant for the gram, but air touch highlights live up to the hype. Offering an end result that provides maximum lightening throughout the ends with the softest root imaginable, a stylist and client's dream. Max blonde AND low maintenance, sign me up.  

How is the air touch technique done? With each thin section taken, a high-speed blow dryer, along with a taught grip of the ends, is used to push new growth out of the way exposing only the longer and stronger hair. By moving these new, shorter hairs out of the way, and only colouring the stronger longer hairs, you’re able to make all of the ends very blonde, all while having a soft blend that teasing or feathering alone could never provide. When the hair is rinsed and toned at the end, the hairs that were not lightened provide depth and blending at the root giving the look of a balayage, while still having blonde strands that go up to the scalp. Truly something that, thus far, has not been able to be replicated without this technique.  

Wondering if this service is for you? My personal opinion on who this technique is suited for primarily are people who wear their hair smoothed, heat styled or naturally straight. The best hair to execute this technique on, in my experience so far, has been hair that is silky, whether that’s natural texture or done using a straightener. The hair also needs to be very clean and fluffy in order to get the hair to separate with the blow dryer. So definitely do not be showing up to your appointment with dirty hair. You don’t have to want to be platinum blonde either to do this service, it’s possible for it to be done using a darker toner. However, this is not for those who just want a touch of balayage as it is a full coverage look.  

Wondering what this service will cost? Be prepared to pay more than a traditional highlight or balayage service, as this technique is time consuming and meticulous. It’s best to consult with your stylist as it will depend on how much hair you have and if you’re looking to do a full or half head. As always please reach out and ask if you have any questions about air touch highlights! My inbox is always open.  

Subscribe now

Are hair extensions going to ruin your hair?

Honestly, the short answer is they can. But I don’t think that’s a sufficient answer for anyone, at least not for me, so let’s get into the why. 

Hair extensions are a fabulous tool available to those who want long, luxurious locks. They can give your everyday look a major va va voom factor and bring you main character energy instantly. As someone who’s worn extensions on and off throughout the past 15 years I can confirm that long, thick hair DOES in fact make you feel powerful and like you’re THAT BITCH.  

On the downside, I hate to break it to you, but they unfortunately aren't for everyone. Not every stylist is equipped with the skill, knowledge and quality products to carry out this service. It can be overwhelming when you're newly diving into the world of extensions, it’s not cheap, nor should it be if you want it done right. I’m going to help you understand who a good candidate is, why you might not be, and who to/not to trust to execute the hair of your dreams.  

THE IDEAL STYLIST 

Here’s how to weed out the sketchy extension stylists. My number one rule for this, is; 

  do not go to someone who is not a licensed hair stylist.  

This may seem like a no brainer, but you would be so surprised how many people watch a YouTube video, and then start offering extensions at home with hair they buy from amazon and not a damn clue about the biology of hair and the scalp. These people are always cheap and accessible and will always say yes to anything you want. They're the devil on your shoulder when you’re ready to sell your soul. You might get lucky with them, but chances are they will damage your hair. Even if not right away, it will happen over time. I can guarantee that.  

When you aren’t properly trained in the biology of the hair and scalp, it's easy to install or recommend the wrong type of extensions for someone. Something too heavy for fine hair or applied with too much tension, for example, on someone with a sensitive scalp this could cause damage to the follicle as well as irritation and headaches. Things you wouldn’t know to look out for unless you knew the science of hair and skin.  

My second rule to weed out the hair extension con artists; 

Ask where the hair is coming from 

It’s important to know where your stylists source the hair from for a couple reasons.  

Is this hair ethically sourced? Are the people who are selling their hair appropriately compensated and treated ethically? 

What is the quality and what is the company's policy? Will this hair last me, or will it feel dry and like straw or shed a ton within 8 weeks? If you have a bad batch of hair, which happens occasionally, will they replace the pack of hair for you? 

You want to make sure you’re putting your money somewhere you feel confident and any stylist who does extensions should be able to answer these questions as these should be concerns for them as well!  A couple companies I love to work with for this include Canadian female owned and operated company Philocaly, and Bellami.  

THE IDEAL EXTENSION CLIENT 

Let’s say you find the perfect stylist to install your extensions (it's me, duh), the first thing I will discuss with potential clients is maintenance. Extensions are work, albeit easy work (for me at least), but they are work, so if you’re not prepared to take your homework seriously, that means brushing the hair multiple times a day, avoiding oils and conditioners near the root, sleeping in braids, only professional hair products, and treating them like the investment they are, then don’t bother. This isn’t for the low maintenance clean aesthetic get up and go people, sorry folks.  

Whether for fullness or volume you have to have STRONG hair. If your hair is fragile or fine and you don’t take proper care of the extensions, your hair will become damaged, hard stop. There's no way around that. As an extension expert I’ve seen it all, clients who come in wondering why their extensions aren’t lasting and I can see where they’ve ripped their hair out of the root from brushing too hard, or the buildup of product and dead skin accumulating around the adhesive from not properly washing, one time I had a client come in with her extensions so matted together from being in a pool with it loose that we had to CUT HER ACTUAL HAIR to take them out. You can’t hide this stuff from us hun! We’re like Santa, we see it all!  

The most important aspect of being an ideal client for extensions is trusting your stylist's advice and being willing to INVEST financially. Extensions, at the end of the day, are a LUXURY service. They are an extra, a frill, a lil treat, so if you want them done right, done well and to look REAL, then you've got to be okay with paying money... Thats it that's all.  

So, back to the question at hand, are extensions damaging for your hair? They can be yes, if you don’t see the right people to have them installed, and if you don’t take proper care of them, call it user error. But in the right hands they can really boost your confidence and give you a major glam moment. Just remember to trust the professionals and advocate for yourself by asking questions!