Simple Tips To Protect Your Hair This Summer From The Sun

Here at Haven Salon we are asked by clients all the time about how they can keep their hair protected and healthy from the summer sun. Below are some tips that we share frequently with our clients.

• Hats – Well that was easy. It really is that easy. There will be nothing better than wearing a hat and having the hat absorb those rays versus your hair. There are lots of trendy and fun hats that would work perfectly for your beach vacation. 
• Keep your hair moisturized – The sun actually breaks down the protein that is found in the which will cause your hair to dry out. Keeping your hair moisturized and well conditioned will assist you in having your hair turn brittle and dry. 
• Sunscreen – I know I know, who wants greasy sunscreen in their hair. Well, the best protection is to place a barrier between your hair and the sun. If you’re not wearing a hat, the second best way is to get that SPF to assist in that barrier. You can actually mix 3 teaspoons of UV protection with a 1 1/2 cup of water and place in a spray bottle. Shake and spray!
• Be careful of products – Avoid products that have alcohol in them. Don’t put any alcohol or citrus based (lemon) in your hair. This aids in oxidation which in return will damage your hair in the sun. Haven carries a wonderful product by Davines called Su. This is a solution for protection for both your hair and body. Stop in and grab some!
• Put it up – Twisting your hair into a bun or pulling it up will assist in protecting it. Use a wrap to assist in the process. It’s a great summer look too. 
• Don’t wash it as much – Skip a day if you can on washing your hair. The natural oils will help keep your hair healthy in the sun. 

Stop in the salon for some amazing products that you should pack for your trip!

Hot Nail Trend Colors for Spring 2016

Picking a color for your nails during spring and summer is a detail that cannot be ignored. When planning your trip to get your nails done you want to be equipped with what is trending right now. Below is just a few of the hot nail color trends we were able to see during Fashion Week.

• Yellow – a mellow yellow. This isn’t your every day yellow. OPI’s I Just Can’t Cope-acabana will make you stand out at any pool party or picnic.
• Blue – Blue isn’t a new color to nails and at times is considered a risky choice. This season we are seeing royal blue and navy. Navy with a touch of glitter and sparkle is really a hot choice. Royal blue is the color to wear all on its own. Ask us for OPI’s Rich Girls & Po-boys to create this stellar look. If you’re looking for the more sparkling navy look try Vinylux’s Midnight Swim or Peacock Plume.
• Opaque/Light Pink– This has been hot for quite some time. It’s not going away. A nude or opaque that is creamy in its look is still an easy decision. Wearing this on a natural shaped nail is the way to go. A real great color for the beach or weekend at the lake. One other thing we see is adding some shimmer and shine to the nude. Giving it a more 70s look and feel. Try one of our favorites here at Haven OPI’s Bubble Bath or Let Me Bayou A Drink.
• PURPLE PALAZZO PANTSCharcoal – If you want a modern look, this is the choice. We saw the charcoal gray in the fall and it’s momentum into spring is strong. Believe it or not, this is a cool color with its inky feel. Want more pop, try using something on the metallic end of the charcoal scale. We carry Vinylux’s Asphalt.
• Apple Red – Snow White red is what we like to call it. We don’t think classic red will ever go out of style. We are just seeing it more and more. A classic that probably will always be on a list. OPI has one of the rudest reds out there, their Big Apple Red.
• Chrome Silver– And not just any silver, metallic. You see lots of celebs on the red carpet sporting this silver metallic. It’s great for short nails. We see the holographic effects in lots of these silvers giving you a disco ball effect on your nails. Ask us for Vinylux’s Silver Chrome.
• Matte Black – maybe not understood by many but the matte black look is in full effect. Vinyl’s Black Pool and OPI’s Black Onyx are two we would recommend for this look.
• Rosegold – Another great color for short nails. A sparkling (not overly sparkly) gold with a tint of pink. Creates a nice clean look to those well manicured hands. Inquire with us about Vinylux’s Chiffon Twirl.

Nails are a big part of your Spring and Summer look. Don’t forget to treat yourself to some of the hot trends happening this season in nails. Book your appointment for a manicure and pedicure.

Professional Hair Products Vs. Drug Store Products

The debate is as old as I can remember, what’s the difference and does it matter if I use professional hair products or drug store brand products? Well, the reality is, it matters. We’re not going to get into the obvious reasons you should consider changing to professional products for your hair, but we are going to list the scientific reasons you should consider switching it up.

Let’s talk about ingredients. Below are a few ingredients you will find in your products detailing what to look for, and more importantly, what ingredients you should never use on your hair.

• Alcohol – We know what alcohol does to hair. It leaves it dry and damaged. Most drug store hair products have a great deal of alcohol in their ingredients. Be careful. Look at the contents of your shampoo, and other products and determine the ratio of alcohol. If you want damaged and dry strands keep using your store bought products.
• Water and Wax – Take a look if water is the first ingredient. Think about it, you’re getting a diluted product. Cheaper in price? Yes. But you’re getting less product and using more of it to get the job done. Wax is another common “filler” for over the counter drug store brand products. 
• Sulfates  – What is this and why is it hair care products? I didn’t know either until I became a stylist. Sulfates are the salt of sulfuric acid. A standard ingredient in most products, it is what helps you get the lather and suds in your shampoo. All those suds dry out your hair and leave it damaged along with stripping your color.  Be careful about the amount of sulfates in your products. Sulfate free products are good but may not leave your hair feeling clean. Pay attention to the amount of sulfates in your products.
• Parabens- Parabens are the preservatives beauty lines place in their products to help with their shelf life. Parabens have been debated in the research world. Why take a risk? Avoid them if you can.

Let’s look at some of the sustainable products we carry here at Haven Salon and Spa:

Davines – company takes great care in choosing the ingredients they put in their products. The Italian company started with a small laboratory and has provided high-end styling products for over ten years.  They use natural ingredients. Davine’s keeps their consumer safety a number one priority.

Milk Shake – Their philosophy is one we can stand behind. “To bring hair back to their natural state is the main philosophy that follows into making of every z.one concept’s professional hair care product. From shampoos and styling products to color and bleach, our products don’t just perform their primary task, they treat and condition your hair inside and out. The company’s secret formula? The right mix of natural ingredients and the latest innovations in hair care technology.”

Our skincare line from France is marine based and been independently family owned for generations. The fundamental research team is focused on identifying and studying new algae, plants or marine micro-organisms with high skincare potential.
Stop in and ask us questions about any of the products we carry at Haven Salon and Spa. We can help you pick out the best products for you and your hair and skin.

Wedding Hair Trends for Spring 2016 Brides

We love brides. Here at Haven Salon and Spa we enjoy working with bridal parties and are honored to be part of their big day. Probably the most monumental day of their lives. We take it very serious and work directly with the bride and the bridal party to see their vision and create the best looks for their special day. 

We like to keep on top of what is trending in all things wedding hair. This Spring 2016 is really exciting when it comes to hair. We wanted to share a few of them with you.

• The new take on a Midsummer Nights Dream. Hair isn’t so primped and proper for this look. A part in the middle and either straight or wavy curls. Adding a halo or florals completes this look. 
• The playful whimsical braids. We like to call this more of the romantic bride. Multiple braids along with a pony tail with playful crisscross effects.
• Imperfect curls with flowers is a huge hit this spring. Using curls to create dimension and not a perfect curl look, but more of free flowing curl littered with small flowers or sprigs (like jasmine) throughout the hair.
• Let’s face it, Bohemian is here. Huge hit this wedding season is the whole Bohemian, sort of unkept hair. Think of a gypsy with some class. Messy buns with braids and strands. We see all kinds of braids being used. Fishtail, french, you name it. This gives the hair so much texture. 
• Vintage Glamour is hot this season. Not only with hair but we see it with makeup as well. Curls, lips and cat eyes are a hot trend in wedding fashion.
• Not so perfect Chignon. Chignon is basically a low lying pony tail or bun. The Chignon is a classic hair style and per wikipedia : Chignons are generally achieved by pinning the hair into a knot at the nape of the neck or at the back of the head, but there are many different variations of the style. They are usually secured with accessories such as barrettes and/or hairpins. Chignons are frequently worn for special occasions, like weddings and formal dances, but the basic chignon is also worn for everyday casual wear. This Springs take on the Chignon is a bit different. It’s not such a neat and tight pin. It’s much more carefree and untamed. It’s also including more knots and braids to the total over all effect of the look. 

What we can say for the Spring 2016 wedding season is it’s full of care free and not so stiff styles. We are loving these trends. All of these are timeless and definitely show stoppers. Let us help you with the perfect Wedding Hair that you deserve on your special day. Contact us to schedule a consultation. 

Top Reasons Why Taking Care Of Your Skin Should Be Your New Years Resolution

The new year brings new beginnings and good intentions about changing behaviors that hold us back in achieving the very best out of our lives. The dreaded New Years Resolution. This year, make it an easy one, start taking better care of your skin. It’s only your body’s largest organ! That should be reason enough, right? Your skin helps protect your internal organs from the outside world along with regulating your body’s temperature. It’s your body’s PROTECTOR.

Skin is constantly growing, with cells dying and new ones created every day. If you take care of your skin, it’s amazing how it can fight aging along with protecting you from diseases.
Why your resolution should be all about your SKIN:

• How You Look – Let’s be honest, physical appearance is important to everyone. Skin that is unhealthy may give a dull and an overall unhealthy appearance. Saggy, blotchy or dehydrated skin can affect your overall appearance to the world.
• Let’s Get Healthy – We all think of getting healthy this time of year, which involves going to the gym and making a commitment,  but your skin is just another piece of “getting healthy”. Not having proper skin care habits can affect the overall health of your skin. Unhealthy skin can lose its elasticity, which leads to that thin appearance.

Your Skin Care Regimen Should Involve:

• SkincareCleanse – You want to keep your skin clean, but don’t over do it. Don’t over cleanse your face because that will remove the skins natural lubrication. Try to stay away from bar soaps that can be way too harsh for your face and dry out the skin. Find a cleanser that is right for your skin type.  Ask us about your skin type and we can assist you in a proper cleanse regiment.
• Moisture – Moisturize your skin, especially if you have dry skin. Did you know that moisturizing your skin while it’s still damp will help lock it in. Don’t overdo it, too much can clog those pores and will leave you with some unsightly breakouts.
• Fixing It – Now it’s time to talk about repairing. What specific problems and problem areas does your skin have? Do you have wrinkles or sagging skin? Do you have dry areas or blotches? Knowing what your issue are will help you add the suitable products to your daily routine. Example: if you suffer from large pores using Microspheres to fill in the pores should be part of your regiment. Have acne? There are many options and new and wonderful products specific in treating this condition. Discuss any issues of concern with your skincare professional so that you include the specific products.  Microdermabrasion Treatments are an effective resource for those with fine facial lines, wrinkles, age spots, clogged pores, texture issues, light scarring, discoloration, sun damage and even stretch marks.
• Why Wait? Prevent – Yep, don’t wait for problems to appear, prevent them. Sunscreen is the first line of defense in your arsenal. You can now purchase products that include sunscreen in your moisturizer. Whatever you do, use a sunscreen with SPF 15 and when you’re out in direct sun apply a stronger SPF.

We encourage you to receive monthly skincare and body treatments for a more effective preventative and repairing process to your routine. Knowing your skin is crucial to your overall health. Start the New Year with healthy skin that will glow and make people take notice!

7 Reasons You Should Leave Coloring Your Hair To A Professional

What’s wrong with coloring my hair using a box color? Where do we begin? The stylist here at Haven Salon and Spa are trained professionals. The time and education spent on learning the art of coloring is a large portion of our training. There are several reasons we feel that you shouldn’t attempt to color your own hair. We have outlined a few of them below.

What we considered “Boxed Color” from your drugstore or supermarket is created to adjust color for many different hair types. Your professional stylist and colorist will understand the texture of your hair and the exact color combinations to mix so that they achieve the desired look. One size DOES NOT fit all in this situation. Box color has a flat percentage of developer versus a professional, determining what is best for your hair. What one person may receive one to Box Color using box color and another may receive an outcome completely different. We see this often in blondes that use box color that often turns the hair into an unpleasent orange mess.

1. Let’s talk DAMAGE. Coloring your hair does not mean ruining your hair. The most common reasons for damaged hair is due to the application of the color. Placing one color from root to end is not the proper way to apply color, but you won’t find that disclaimer on the box of color from the drugstore.
2. Speaking of Application, there’s nothing like having your hair colored by a professional that understands how to apply the color properly. Applying color and avoiding the dreaded “banding of color” (dark spots) it must be done from regrowth to the demarcation line. We know, it’s technical in nature, but that’s why we are the professionals. Most people that apply their own color at home are either leaning over their sink or having an untrained friend do the dirty work.  That’s just going to be poor application, uneven and can cause some serious damage to your hair let alone some crazy effects that could happen.
3. You think it’s going to save you money? Think again. You will eventually have to see a professional stylist to fix it, and that’s going to cost more than just a color and cut from a reputable salon. Fixing anything that wasn’t broke is much more expensive than just doing it right the first time. Having someone take a box color and then switching it to professional color isn’t as easy as wiping the slate clean. There’s a lot more in the process and will take time to fix it. Months even years to get your hair back to a healthy state.
4. Your box color you used for years has a new formula! Uh Oh! What do you do? The same box color you’ve used for years now is NEW. You’re excited, but the results are different. Where did your color go? It doesn’t look the same. Yep, they can make changes and not warn you and you end up with a different result. A professional formula NEVER CHANGES for you. We can recreate your color for as long as you want it to be the same. No guess work about it.
5. You will not look like the celebrity on the box or on the commercials. You really don’t believe that these celebrities and models actually use that box color? They spend thousands of dollars with stylists who are certified to color hair. Don’t believe the hype.

You DESERVE it! Leave the work to us. You deserve to come and enjoy having your hair colored and styled by a professional. We will take excellent care of you, walking out of our salon feeling beautiful, confident and relaxed.