My Clairol Shift-A-Shade Hair Campaign Reveal

Pre-hair/pre-makeup. Let's just call this the BEFORE.

Hair can say a lot. Like clothes, your hair can tell people about your taste (or complete lack thereof), your personal hygiene, and even your ability to make rational decisions. As I mentioned a few weeks back, my hair is usually laissez-faire, and while it’s not extreme in a bad way (since I’ve kept my natural brown and obviously wash it regularly), it also doesn’t really say anything at all. It’s just kind of there. Which, in a way, is just as bad as an actress wearing a little black dress to every single movie premiere. I needed a serious shade shake-up. Luckily, Clairol swooped in to save the day when they asked me to be a part of their Shift-a-Shade Campaign, along with a few other lucky Canadian blogettes. Our mission: show up at Hair on the Avenue in Toronto for a full-day video shoot complete with a colour consultation, makeup makeover and styling session. Um, love my job.

First up was my consultation with owner of Hair on the Avenue, the formidable Luis Pacheco. As he eyed me over, I pleaded to go anything but red (I’ve gone there before and let’s just say I was far from a ravishing redhead). I could see him considering the selection of Clairol Nice ‘n Easy boxes and then he honed right in on a rich brown: 5N/118A – Natural Medium Neutral Brown. My natural hair colour is a light brown and I’ve always wanted to go darker, especially for fall. Luis totally read my mind. Phew.

Next up was my consultation with makeup genius Patrick Rahme. My husband’s currently working on a start-up, we’re living in the midst of a never-ending house reno, and my two kids have just started JK and Grade 1 in a new school in a new city, so the stress and lack of sleep are starting to manifest themselves as subpar skin and under-eye bags. With the magic of a few smart makeup tricks from Patrick, I became a well-rested, bright-eyed beauty. Like I said, genius.

After my new hair colour had been applied, I met with super stylist Alexandra Melancon. I wanted help justifying some more expensive pieces and also hoped to test-drive a jumpsuit, so Alexandra put me in an expensive black one-piece and a cool little bomber, a perfect high-low mix for my new look.

And the darker, deeper AFTER. KaZOW! 

It’s amazing what a difference shifting a shade can make. With my new darker ‘do, I feel more stylish, more sultry, and emboldened to try more Clairol colours at home. My hair is shiny, rich and healthy-looking and I’ve already gotten so many compliments on my colour. Why didn’t I do this before?!

Check out the fun video from my day at Hair on the Avenue below and then try shifting a shade yourself. Oh, and be sure to use this $2 off coupon for Clairol Nice ‘n Easy when you do.

Thanks for the fun, Clairol!

Go bolder. Go warmer. Go deeper. Go golder. With our broadest spectrum of natural looking shades, you can change it up and still look like your most amazing you. Get inspired and #shiftashade. Nice n' Easy with Colour-blend Technology is available in 44 shades. For more information visit Clairol.ca 

Disclosure: This post was brought to you by Procter & Gamble via Mode Media Canada. The bloggers were compensated for the Clairol Shift A Shade campaign and were asked to review our products. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Procter & Gamble.

A Hair Save From Clairol

Anyone who knows me understands that my hair is not big on my list of priorities. It goes: family, friends, work, dessert, shoes, accessories, clothes, and then way, way, down, barely even making the bottom of the list is my hair. I shampoo and condition it. Sometimes I brush it. And, let's be honest, sometimes I don't even do that. I only bust out the dryer/straightener/curling wand in emergency situations where I’m called upon to look extra polished – say for a parent-teacher interview, an editor preview, or Fashion Week. So my day-to-day hair routine consists of (what I like to think of as) 'beachy' waves (read: let’s fall asleep on wet hair and see what happens) and loads of chignons, ponytails and cute hats. The first step, as they say, is admitting you have a problem: my life is a series of hair fails. 

So, when I was asked to partner with Clairol for their “Shift a Shade” campaign, complete with a colour update from Clairol Consulting Colourist, Luis Pacheco, a session with pro makeup artist, Patrick Rahme, and a fashion consult with super stylist Alexandra Melancon, to be documented at an all-day video shoot at Hair on the Avenue no less, I was stoked. It has been one of my perennial resolutions to make my hair a priority and given that I've started to sprout a few greys, colour seems like the best place to start. (if you can relate, print out this $2-off coupon for Clairol Nice n' Easy)

I've always wondered what it would be like to play celeb for a day and let a team of pros have their way with me. Or my hair at least. You know what I mean. Will they turn me into a bombshell Jessica Rabbit redhead? Or a bubbly blonde? Or perhaps I'll be transformed into a deep, dark, sultry brunette. I'll be sure to report back with my pics and the big video reveal from our Clairol shoot. Eeek! How exciting is this?! Stay tuned...  

Go bolder. Go warmer. Go deeper. Go golder. With our broadest spectrum of natural looking shades, you can change it up and still look like your most amazing you. Get inspired and #shiftashade. Nice ‘n Easy with Colour-blend Technology is available in 44 shades. For more information visit Clairol.ca.  

Disclosure: This post was brought to you by Procter & Gamble via Glam Media Canada. The bloggers were compensated for the Clairol Shift A Shade campaign and were asked to review our products. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Procter & Gamble. 

Jennifer Lawrence Covers Harper's Bazaar UK

Photos by Ben Hassett for Harper's Bazaar UK

Seriously, this girl is stunning. Perfect skin, grounded attitude, mad skills with the bow & arrow. I adore her, and I adore this femme fatale November '13 cover and feature for Harper's Bazaar UK. That is all. Oh wait, except for this:

 

Holt Renfrew Yorkdale Unveils New Beauty Hall

The new and beautifully improved Beauty Hall at Yorkdale's Holt Renfrew. Pics by Johanna Simmonds

With Nordstrom and the new Premium Outlets set to open shortly, Canadian retailers are stepping up their game to stay relevant. Holt Renfrew, never one to rest on her lofty laurels, unveiled its brand new beauty hall at Yorkdale Mall on Thursday and we were among the first to check it out.

The massive 10,000 square foot space includes 4 new treatment rooms where you can be spoiled by La Mer, Sisley, La Prairie and the Skin Lab, featuring Darphin, AmorePacific, Erno Laszlo and ReVive. Meanwhile, the hall features boutique-like shops for Chanel, Aesop, La Mer, La Prairie, Sisley, Jo Malone, Bobbi Brown, Kiehl's and Hermès. Customers can head to the Beauty Bar for skin-care consultations and makeovers, plus complimentary makeup brush cleaning and makeup bag overhauls, which will hopefully make the Holts beauty experience a little less intimidating.  

As a girl who just loves primping, I'm especially smitten with the new Primp and Polish Bar, a must-visit for blowouts, manicures, lash extensions and brow shaping. Not sure how you like that new red lipstick? Be sure to check out the clever camera wall where you can snap an 'after' photo and instantly share your look with friends on FB, Twitter etc. How fun is that?!

According to WWD, Holts plans to roll out the concept to other stores, too. “Yorkdale is the prototype for how all our stores will be made over,” said Wayne Peterson, divisional vice-president of cosmetics at Holt Renfrew. “We see all of our beauty halls converting. We will expand in the next two years.”

But the makeovers don't stop at beauty. Word is, Holts is completely renovating its Yorkdale store, with the beauty hall the first in a series of major changes for the store.  Expect the big reveal this Fall. Can't wait! x