Shopping!

I love shopping. Especially if it involves carousing through vintage shops. You can find such interesting things that are reminiscent to ones youth. There are so many vintage shops spread all over Toronto. In Roncesvales Village you can find Mrs. Huizenga at 121 Roncesvalles Ave. Shoppers be forewarned, you must take the time to scrummage though every bit of this store to find it's fascinating treasures. You don't want to miss a thing. On my first visit I found a fantastic pair of boots. On my second visit I discovered a Paddington Bear pendant (I loved Paddington as a child). If you are young at heart or just love all things old check out Mrs. Huizenga. Who knows what treasures you may find, maybe even me!

Address the Tress

This weekend I wanted to ride my scooter, visit my Mom, go long boarding and hit the Esprit/Lacoste sale. I didn't do anything. An evil debilitating migraine visited me instead. I did manage to think about this post. Here are some of my favourite shampoo and conditioners for dry hair. There are so many more faves but I tried to narrow it down.

High

• Lakme: K therapy dry repair shampoo and mask
  
• Phyto: Phytosesame express replenishing conditioner
• Ojon: Ultra hydrating shampoo and restorative hair treatment

Not so High

• Joico: K-pak shampoo and K-pak intense hydrator
• KMS: Silksheen shampoo and conditioner
• Terax: Ultra moisturizing daily conditioner

Look for products with lipids and humectants in them. They will help with the frizz and leave your hair more supple. Prevention is always the first plan of action. Avoid overwashing, overdrying, overflatironing, overprocessing. Over anything. If you feel compelled then protect, protect, protect.

Recession-Proof Lips

During difficult financial times people tend to cut back on the luxuries of life. Vacations, cars and purchasing new homes are the first things we tend to cut back on during a slump.

Fortunately the cosmetic industry is one of the few businesses that are affected. Why? Women still want to look and feel good without spending a small fortune. A tube of lipstick can do wonders for ones self-esteem. Better yet, wonders for you bank account.

I'm a big fan of Joe Fresh. Joe Mimram formally of Alfred Sung, Club Monaco and Caban is the genius behind this brand. Joe Fresh began a few years ago bringing affordable street fashion for the whole family. There stores are associated with the Real Canadian Superstore/Loblaw family. It has been so sucessful they have recently launched their own make-up line, accessories and brushes. You can't go wrong with a $6 "Berry" lipstick. At these prices you can get one in every colour!

For those who want to splurge a little more there are a multitude of make up lines out there that can be very overwhelming. I love MAC lipsticks. They offer a variety of shades starting at around $16.50 for "Twig". Available at most Bay locations and Cadilac Fairview Corporations.

Now for those of us who want a little luxury and pampering without having to give up your right arm there is Chanel. At around $39 it is by far the most luxurious lipstick that has ever touched my lips. If you are going to spend this much on a lipstick it may as well be "#18 Sexy" in a bold and beautiful red. You want all the attention you can get at that price. Need I say more.

Muahhh...

Pretty in Pink

Spring is in the air! That means a pretty pink pedicure in is order. Lola is the colour of choice for my tender tootsies. Zoya Nail Polish is free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalate) and camphor. They have fantastic colours. Unfortunately  the creamier colours matte so you have to use a shine topcoat. Lola is a bright bubble gum pink opalescent shade. It's shiny but I still use a topcoat to make it super duper shiny. I want to parade my little pink toes but I can't seem to find my Havaianas. I feel it's too early in the season to show too much skin. Especially chicken skin. But toes are okay. Providing they are neatly groomed and polished. It's time to bust out the bronzer again. Remembering to exfoliate first of course.

Sniff test

My client J likes yummy smelling products. Come to think of it, so do I. For most, scent can make or break it . Especially skin and hair care. Vanilla, cherry, melon and citrus are very popular. For those who don't like fruity or candy like scents the popular choice would be floral, sandalwood, lavender and mint. J purchases products on two factors:

1. product effectiveness
2. scent

Once we figure out what we need for him we then go on the hunt of a yummy smelling product. We walk around the store and start the sniff test. It's not quite the same effect as sniffing glue but it's kinda fun. These are my some of favorite shampoos strictly based on scent alone:

1. Fleur Parfait - grapefruit
2. AG - peppermint wash
3. Molte Bene - moisture
4. Evo - ritual salvation
   
5. KMS - moisture

Tomorrow, my mission at work is to find a delicious hair paste. I'd better bring some coffee beans to clear my senses.

Shopping!

For those of you who still have some shopping to do. Check out Foxy Originals. They are having a "friends and family" sale. Fun and Funky jewelry for the gals in your life made right here in Toronto.

Bonus: a portion of the proceeds will go to Horizon Art Camp and Bloorview Kids Foundation.

Maybe I'll see you there tomorrow!

Motley Do

I've come across a new product called Mixed Chicks. This product is a relatively new to the market created by Wendy Levy and Kim Etheridge and their need for a product for multicultural hair. It boasts to transform style-stubborn hair with it's simplistic product trio of shampoo, deep conditioner and leave-in conditioner. It's fabulous for hair that is multi cultured and multi textured. It smells great too. It gets The Sharon Approval.

Hot and humid

I had a fantastic weekend. Went out for dinner on Saturday night in Little Italy. Love that area. Always buzzing with people. Sunday, hung out with my daughter. We went for a nice bike ride through High Park. The weather was perfect. Sunny, breezy and not too hot. Just the way I like it. Not like today.

Typical Toronto weather. Going straight from furnace to air conditioning. My A/C has to be fixed. The compressor went on it last year and we haven't gotten it fixed yet. I called a guy to come check it out. I hope it won't cost too much. Whatever it ends up costing, I'm sure it'll be worth it. Last night all was not good with the Sharon, I was tossing and turning in the heat. I can't stand humidity. It makes me so irritable. Let alone what it does to my hair. Everyone's hair for that matter. I guess that means it's time for some anti-frizz serum. These are some of my favourites.

Lakme, Alfa Parf, Phyto

These are all high quality products that tame your hair without making it greasy or heavy.  I have to admit, when it's really hot and humid nothing is better than a classic ponytail. It's the only thing that keeps me cool in that kind of weather. Or being in nice air conditioning.

     

Singin' in the rain...

What is up with this weather? Wet and cold. Yuck. This is the kinda rain where you're not quite sure whether or not to use your umbrella. While I was on the way to the lab at the request of my doctor, I decided to use my birdcage umbrella to keep the drizzle off my face. I love this umbrella because the wind can't get under it to flip it inside out! Yes I've been there. Crossing the intersection in pouring rain when the wind catches the umbrella and not only flips it inside out but drags me along with it as I hang on for dear life! It takes me in a diagonal spin across the street and into a big nasty puddle. I think that's why I have invested in some key pieces to keep me high and dry. O.K. maybe not high. Just dry.

After the lab, I was off to buy some suncreen. My favourite suncreen is Vichy Capital Soleil 30 ultra-fluid. This fast drying spf 30 protects against both UVA and UVB rays. What I love about it is that it doesn't leave my skin with that white film and isn't greasy. It's worth every penny. I also use Ombrelle sport spray. But not for my face. Ombrelle is also an excellent product that provides premium protection. All this talk about sunscreen is making me wonder when am I going to see some sun for me to use it.

Things that make me cry

I must admit I can only take Macy Gray in small doses but I love the song Sweet Baby. Tell me this song didn't make you want to cry. O.K. Maybe it's just me because I seem to cry at the littlest thing.

Webster used to make me cry. So did Little house on the Prairie. Now that I think of it, many shows and T.V. commercials made me cry. Now I'm getting all nostolgic.

Let's face it, I'm a suck.

On another note, with the warmer weather coming I'll be letting my hair down and letting it dry naturally to encourage my natural wave. AG Recoil is my product of preference. It is a curl activating balm designed to give frizz-free curls. I love this stuff. However, if you've got fine hair, you won't love it. I'd only recommend it to those who have medium to coarse texture. It gets the Sharon Approval. Hope this helps B.B.

I can't live without this product

I've come to the conclusion that the one product I can't live without Lakme L2 instant conditioner. This bi-phase conditioner instantly detangles hair, seals in fresh colour and makes the hair easier to work with. It is a weighless product that leaves a fresh scent. I ran out of it midday and that's when I realized I can't live without this product. I use it myself everyday. It definately makes my top 10 list. I'm so happy we can now get it in Toronto.

Today one of my fav clients came in. She is a pleasure to be around. Not to mention has nice hair. We decided on giving her bangs. It's her 42nd birthday today so she wanted to do something a little different other than the usual colour and a trim. So bangs it was. Wow. It took years off. I couldn't believe the difference it made. Makes me want bangs. They are so hot this season. Hmmmm........I'm not sure they are for me. My friend G will split her pants laughing when she reads this post. We both did the "bang" thing only it turned out alot better for her than for me.

I have a new client Stephanie. She has the thickest hair I have seen in my life. I felt bald next to her. She went from long locks to a mid length inverted bob. It took me over 1 1/2 hours to get through it all. I first tied it up in a ponytail and cutting off about 10". When all was said and done we were both pleased with the results. Her mother on other hand was not. She loves her daughters' long locks, now she'll have to learn to love new short do'. She kept Stephanie's ponytail.

The Hempz bronzer seems to be giving me colour already. So far it's holding up to it's promise. It really does make the skin darker in just 1 day. I don't think it's enough for anyone to notice other than myself. The smell however is not the most pleasant. I think it's the DHA. At least I'm not orange.

Today was a good day. I didn't feel as stressed out as yesterday. BTW, I got the ballerina flats in black.