Alchemy Hair Design and Spa, Victoria BC http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog Look good, feel great! Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:50:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 BACK TO SCHOOL http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1729 http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1729#comments Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:50:42 +0000 Christopher http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1729 Welcome Back Everyone! We hope you had a great summer! September is upon us now and we’re all getting ready for the season ahead. Many of us are going back to school and most of us are headed back to work! Time to start thinking about what’s coming in the next few months. Many of our clients book backwards from December at this time to make sure they have their Christmas appointments set and that it fits in the rhythm of their booking cycle. Space becomes limited so we encourage you to do so to ensure you get the times and dates that suit your needs. Let us help you book your next appointments or you can do it yourself online 24 hours a day 7 days a week at http://alchemyhairdesign.com/bookings.shtml Did you know... After getting a great service people want to maintain their look. In Fact 90% of people visiting a salon will purchase a product for their hair or skin within 48 hours. Often they will go to the Drugstore or Grocery Store and buy the wrong product recommended by someone who is not a professional hair or skin care provider and will be unhappy with the results. Although they tend to be more expensive, professional hair and skin care products will give you better and more prolonged results. They’re significantly better quality, perform better and are more concentrated so they last longer than drugstore products. Your hair colour stays true and vibrant longer and the results from your facial last from visit to visit. In the end, you get better results when recommended the right product by the stylist that worked on your hair or the esthetician that treated your skin and that protects your investment.

]]> http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1729 0 ALCHEMY – MASTER STYLISTS. http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1662 http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1662#comments Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:00:54 +0000 Christopher http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1662

Mastering the art of hair. At Alchemy, we’re always learning and growing. Sure there are rules to doing hair and as stylists, we all learn these rules in hair college. But as there are infinite hughes of blue there are also infinite shapes of eyes, cheeks, noses. There are so many vaying heads of hair - density, texture and growth directions. For every rule there’s an exception and as time goes on, we as stylists learn to navigate those varying face shapes and textures of hair. Mastering the art of hair comes with education and experience, but also from surrounding yourself with the best in your field. At Alchemy we strive to only bring the best people onto our team. We mentor them and give them the support to become all that they can be without stifling their creativity. What does all this mean to you? It means that each Alchemy Team Member, no matter what their level, is continually striving to perfect the Art of Hair. With the combined knowledge of over a half century of experience and the innate talent and exuberance of youth Alchemy creates a unique environment where a masterpiece is commonplace. Alchemy * It’s a beautiful world.

Thanks to Darcy Dommett Trainer and Owner of Studio 4 Athletics Victoria BC

]]> http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1662 0 ALCHEMY WELCOMES KATHRYN http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1656 http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1656#comments Wed, 21 Jul 2010 04:26:59 +0000 Christopher http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1656 Alchemy is very pleased to welcome Kathryn to our team! Kathryn comes to us from New South Whales and has been providing exceptional esthetic services for over 12 years. She has a meticulous nature and is very detail oriented. She loves to perfect brow shapes and is extremely passionate about all aspects of skin care and esthetics. So passionate in fact that she’ll soon be a contributing writer here on our blog site. Come in and let Kathryn show you what a difference great skin care and esthetics can make for you!

]]> http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1656 0 ALCHEMY FIGHT CLUB http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1625 http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1625#comments Thu, 15 Jul 2010 02:00:36 +0000 Christopher http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1625 Christopher and Tim went on Vacation to Puerto Vallarta and all we got were these Mexican Wrestling Masks!  Throw in a few martinis at Canoe Club and ALCHEMY FIGHT CLUB was born.  Soap not included.  

]]> http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1625 0 THE ALCHEMY TEAM SAY GOODBYE TO BECK…AND GOOD LUCK! http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1608 http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1608#comments Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:00:19 +0000 Christopher http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1608 The team here at Alchemy once again steel our resolve and say goodbye to our dear friend (Christopher) Beck.  Although Beck has only been with us for a short time, the impact he’s left on the salon will linger for a long time to come.  He’s chosen to move to Vancouver to pursue opportunities doing hair in the Film Industry.  His plucky demeanor, quirky sense of humour, positive attitude, and exceptional care for our clients will be missed.

To you, Beck-E, we say no matter where this road takes you, you’re always welcome home!  Best of luck Little Buddy!  *Sniff Sniff*

Ps.  You don’t even GO here!

SO LONG LITTLE BUDDY!


]]> http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1608 0 THE BEST SALON IN VICTORIA! Aww Shucks! http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1593 http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1593#comments Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:39:58 +0000 Christopher http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1593

TO SEE ALL OF THIS YEARS WINNERS CLICK HERE

THE CURRENT ISSUE OF VICTORIA NEWS IS IN NEWS STANDS AND ONLINE NOW.  CLICK HERE TO VIEW!

Click the News Clipping to go to Vic News Archives

]]> http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1593 0 ALCHEMY WELCOMES ARLANA! http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1572 http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1572#comments Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:30:09 +0000 Christopher http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1572

]]> http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1572 0 DON’T FORGET TO BOOK YOUR SUMMER APPOINTMENTS! http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1559 http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1559#comments Sat, 05 Jun 2010 03:41:55 +0000 Christopher http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1559

]]> http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1559 0 The Wild Lilies Gala To Benefit Breast Cancer http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1523 http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1523#comments Sat, 05 Jun 2010 03:01:10 +0000 Christopher http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1523 Christopher attended the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s Wild Lilies Gala in Victoria last weekend.  It was a fantastic evening with great prizes, entertainment and great company — not to mention a giclee of the Emily Carr work “Wild Lilies” was up for auction.  There was an extremely strong spirit of support during the event and a significant amount was raised to support the Foundation’s work.  My date was Linda Morris, the CEO of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and a great friend. Here are some hilights from the evening as well as a write-up in Victoria News about the event.

Linda Morris CEO CBCF and Louise Denis Volunteer and Organizer

Wild Lilies by Emily Carr A spectacular Giclee was up for auction at the Gala

Linda Morris CEO CBCF

Corinne Coell Gala Chair and Host Vicki B

Gala Chair Corinne Coell and Host Vicki Gabereau

Leon Leontaridis performed

Click the article to see full size.  For more information on the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, their goals or how to contribute go to http://www.cbcf.org/en-US/home.aspx

]]> http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1523 0 MENS’ SUMMER ISSUE http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1487 http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1487#comments Sat, 22 May 2010 20:00:28 +0000 Christopher http://alchemyhairdesign.com/blog/?p=1487

THE BOYS OF SUMMER From ALCHEMY HAIR DESIGN AND SPA

With only six weeks until the kick-off to Summer,  the weather’s getting hotter and the clothes are getting smaller.  Everyone’s thoughts turn to looking better.  Alchemy has your MEN’S guide to getting your Summer-Sizzle on!  (You’re welcome, Ladies!)  Spare Tire: Outside on a sunny day, you’re going to want to wear something cooler, lighter and smaller.  Those few extra pounds that we all gain over the winter months will be exaggerated by summer clothes.  Talk to Darcy, Liz and the crew at Studio 4 Athletics.  They’ve got solutions to help minimize that mid-section and get you feeling better about wearing summer clothing.  Board shorts, running shorts, walking shorts, swim trunks… need I say more? Martial Arts Training, Yoga, Spin Class, Cardio, Samba, Ballet, Capoeira, Personal Training and more there’s plenty of fitness options to choose from! Studio 4 gets you in shape for those shorts and lends confidence to better enjoy the summer season!  Sporty Lid! Who doesn’t want to be outside on a sunny summer day?  Between work, outdoor sports, camping etc., you don’t want to be spending a lot of time on your hair.  Summer is a great time to get a short sporty wash-n-go cut.  Talk to one of the talented stylists at Alchemy to find out what’s current and what will work with your summer timeline.  Throw in a few highlights around the front for that sun bleached summer look!  Protect Your Skin: Don’t skip over this part!  If you’re in your 20’s and 30’s you might think “Who Cares?” but once you start getting into your 40’s and begin seeing the consequences of poor skin care and sun damage you’ll be kicking yourself.  Trust me!  The best course of action to keep your skin healthy is to get facials 4 times a year: Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall.  It helps regulate your skin and prepare it for the change of season.  Past that, it’s simple: Cleanse: Cleanse twice a day.  Get a good quality cleanser for your skin type.  Do Not Use Soap.  Soap will strip your skin of moisture. Exfoliate: Exfoliate once or twice per week.  You naturally slough off dead skin cells over time, but as we age that natural exfoliation slows down and skin gets dull, clogged and wrinkled, leading to ingrown hairs and pimples.  Exfoliating helps keep your skin clearer, and slows down visual aging. Moisturize: Moisturize after every cleanse.  Over time, skin loses moisture and eventually loses elasticity.  (like the elastic on an old pair of underwear!)  Keeping skin moisturized prevents wrinkles and helps ward off pimples and acne.  Using a good moisturizer in combination with drinking plenty of water will make the most of your complexion. SUN CARE: If you spend a lot of time in the sun it’s VITAL to have a good sunscreen.  Sun damage is not only unattractive and aging, but it can also lead to melanoma which can be deadly.  Alchemy recommends  Dr. Renaud sun care.  Trust me when I say this stuff ROCKS!  It’s a moisturizer WITH SPF.  We took it with us when we were in Hawaii and had the best tan of our lives — until we ran out!  We got some drug-store stuff and promptly burnt to a crisp.  On the golf course, on the beach or just in the back yard, Dr. Renaud sun care is a Summer staple.  Don’t leave the house without it!  Manscaping Despite all the comedic jabs and pokes at manscaping, keeping your body hair groomed not only looks better, but women will appreciate it! As the days (and nights) get warmer there’s more of you exposed therefore more of you should be kept well groomed.  Now I’m not suggesting you need to be waxed from head to toe.  (It’s called “Manscaping–Not Clear-Cutting!) Degrees of waxing and trimming remain up to the individual, but in general it’s good to keep yourself well maintained be it on the beach, golf course or at that company BBQ.  The general rules are as follows: Get an inexpensive set of clippers with “gards” to keep chest hair and armpit hair at a reasonable length.  If you can braid it and put beads on it–IT’S TOO LONG! Unibrow–No excuses!  There should be TWO not ONE!  Come see Katie and she’ll take care of that in no time! If you have hair on your back and shoulders it’s good to have it waxed.  It looks overall better.  (More like man–Less like beast)  Waxing also lasts longer and usually results in less rash and irritation than shaving.  Alchemy is also one of the Very Few Salons that offer Men’s Bikini and Brazilian waxing for those who prefer to wear smaller beachwear.  It sounds daring, but it’s really not and again: your wife or girlfriend will appreciate it!  Come in and talk to Katie about the waxing services that will best suit your needs and lifestyle.  Don’t be shy–she’s not! Last word: Manscaping is not just for the Metro’s. It’s a great way to make yourself look better with your summer clothes on–and off!  Best  Dressed  There’s a time and a place for certain clothing.  The crew at Alchemy will help you take the guess work out of what to wear, when and why.  Golfing requires a good pair of walking shorts.  They’re dress-casual and usually appropriate for conducting a little business out on the green.  You can pair it with a golf shirt or a short sleeved cotton dress shirt.  Depending on wether you’re attending a Company BBQ or a Casual Social BBQ you may want to wear walking shorts for Casual and Capris for the Company BBQ.  Business related events should mean less of  you is showing.  Cotton dress shirt or golf shirt for Company events and Tank and T shirt for Social will keep you feeling cool and looking cool!  Pair it with some leather slides, sandals or flip-flops.  DO NOT wear socks with sandals.  It may seem West-Coasty but it comes off Hick.  After all Socks = Warm Feet, Sandals = Cool Feet.  Capiche?  Board shorts for example are great for when you’re boogie boarding or surfing.  They’re designed to keep you comfortable on your board.  They’re not necessarily best for beachwear because they result in Farmer-style Tan Lines — Not Hot!  For the Beach you should invest in a decent pair of Square-cut swim trunks.  They come off looking more manly than the standard euro- speedo and give much more appealing tan-lines.  Open toe shoes:  If you’re wearing sandals, slides or flip-flops get a pedicure!  Well groomed feet and toenails look great in sandals.  Yellow overgrown nails, overgrown cuticles and split calluses do not look good.  Even David Beckham gets a french polish!MEN’S MUST-HAVES FOR SUMMER  Here’re Alchemy’s Picks for The Hottest Men’s Products to keep you looking Cool all summer long with Bumble and bumble and Dr. Renaud!  Bb Tonic Shampoo & Tonic Lotion: Great for keeping the scalp stimulated and for encouraging hair growth.  Tingles and soothes.  Wash & Go! Bb Thickening Shampoo, Conditioner and Thickening Spray:  Promotes volume and thickness for guys that are concerned about thinning.  Bb Thickening Serum:  Increases each individual hair’s diameter by up to 8% over 12 weeks.  Bb Gel:  Strong hold with no flaking!  Leave wet or blow dry.  Bb Sumotech: Soft remouldable texture with hold and flexibility.  Bb Surf Spray: Beachy texture for that Surf Stud look  .Pro-Science Skin Care For Men From Dr Renaud.  Cleanse::  Not your Girly Cleanser!  Designed for MEN, this cleanser balances your skin’s PH, soothes irritated freshly shaven skin, leaving your face feeling fresh and clean.  Keep it in the shower and use it on your face instead of soap.  You should cleanse twice a day.  Moisturize: Follow up with the Vitalizing  Solution for Oily Skin or for Normal to Dry Skin.  This moisturizer soothes, hydrates, protects, and repairs.  Use it after each time you cleanse. for younger, healthier, clearer skin!  SunCare from Dr. Renaud: Moisturizer WITH SPF!  The best tan of your life while protecting your skin from sun damage.   This is  ALCHEMY’S NUMBER  ONE MUST HAVE  for YOUR BEST YOU this Summer!  *All products shown are available at Alchemy Hair Design and Spa. We’ve got all your Summer Solutions!  Alchemy  Your Best You!


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