What a glorious day! I hope you all got out to enjoy the nice weather!

Not to put a damper on things but now that the summer season is upon us, all that sunshine, heat and chlorine can sure do a number on your hair (and skin). We all know sunscreen is important and that weather can definitely affect our hair (hello humidity and frizz!)...so what's a girl to do?

Here are 10 really great summertime, haircare tips to help protect your hair from overexposure to the sun's harmful UV rays, dryness, breakage, frizz and general bad hair days! 

1. Wear a hat. Or a cute scarf wrapped around your hair. Protection and prevention is key here. And you can look really stylish while you save your hair. Have a little fun with your choices and save your hair at the same time!

2. If a hat or scarf is not your thing, spray on a hair sunscreen with UV filters before you go outside, especially if you are out working in the garden or hitting the beach. Longer exposure times for your hair take a toll, just as they do for your skin. We recommend AVEDA's Protective Sun Veil which is a water-resistant UV defense mist. It's easy to use (just spray it on!) and small enough to throw into your beach bag so you're always prepared! AVEDA's  Sun Care line which also includes a hair and body cleanser to wash away chlorine and product build-up and after-sun masque to treat your hair after all day exposure to the sun. 

3. Washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo is important for a number of reasons. Clarifying shampoos are especially important in the summer when we tend to be in chlorinated water and we perspire more. They are also very effective at removing product build-up (oh, those lazy days of summer) and also hard water/mineral deposits on the hair. It just gives a nice clean slate and we recommend it after hanging out in chlorinated pools or hot tubs or the lake. It's not a bad idea to use it every 4-5 washes as part of your regular shampoo routine, since we live in an area with pretty hard water.  One of our absolute favourites is the Clarifying Shampoo from Monat. It is effective at gently removing chlorine, hard water and product build-up but is completely safe for colour-treated hair. 

4. Use a deep conditioning masque. Deep conditioning masques are one of my favorite things to suggest to people because they provide instant gratification and long term results. One super trick is to put it on BEFORE you go into the sun or pool or lake to help protect your strands from damage. Put it in your beach bag and apply it while you are sitting in the sun. Let the heat from the sun act as a healthy hair treatment instead of damaging your hair. Alternatively, you could wait until your home, and use after your clarifying shampoo. For extra hydration, you can even sleep with a deep conditioning masque in your hair and rinse it out in the morning. We have so many amazing masques from Aveda and Monat for every hair type and texture and issue at The Cat's Meow Salon, available for you to take home or try as an intensive treatment in the salon.  Book an appointment for that​ ​HERE.

5. Avoid brushing your hair when it is really wet. When it is still wet your hair is already stretched and pulling it on it while it's in this fragile state can lead to breakage and split ends. Towel dry it gently by squeezing out the extra moisture (rather than rubbing it. Using an old t-shirt to dry it or wrap it in is even better than a terry towel. Apply a leave-in conditioner/detangler (try the Junior Detangler from Monat...it's not just for kids!) then comb gently with a Wet Brush or a wide tooth comb working in small sections from the ends up! Split ends can be helped with Monat's Rejuvabeads or Aveda's Damage Remedy split end repair. These products work wonders but the best thing to prevent split ends is gentle styling and regular trims. 

6. Avoid excessive heat styling. Use an air dry cream and let your hair dry naturally. We recommend Monat's Air Dry Cream. It works great if you braid your hair, or twist it into ringlets then shake it out when it's dry for a beachy textured look. If you must use heat, make sure your tools are turned down to low settings and use a heat protectant like Aveda's Damage Control or Monat's Blow Out Cream or Thermal Protect Styling Shield. You hair is like a fabric - you wouldn't iron your silk blouse on the denim setting  or you'd end up with holes in your blouse. Same goes for your hair!

7. Use Gel AND Curl Cream together to  lock in curls and repel the frizz. The two of these together work like magic to create really soft, bouncy curls without the frizz. Technique is also important! Making sure you are putting them on when your hair is still quite wet (fresh out of the shower!), mix the two products together in your hair, then apply in a praying hands motion (rather than raking it through) then SCRUNCH! You want to fully saturate the hair with product to help clump your curls. Put the product in and then let it dry naturally (no touching!) or with a diffuser on low heat. Our number one cocktail is AVEDA's Confixor liquid gel with AVEDA Be Curly Curl Enhancer. Sharon will be happy to teach you how to make the most of your curls (and banish the frizz!) at your next appointment!

8. If your hair is medium to long, pull it back gently using Invisibobbles, scrunchies, hair bands, or scarves. Alternate how you wear it, not just for fun with all the amazing hair accessories that are available now, but to save stressing your hair out in the same place all of the time. Try a low chignon, a high messy bun, a loose ponytail or a soft braid. The possibilities are endless. Check out my Everyday Hair Pinterest board for tons of inspiration! 

9. Extend the time between washing your hair, saving you time and energy, by using a dry shampoo and getting creative with how you style your hair (see # 8). We absolutely love Monat's The Champ Conditioning Dry Shampoo for its weightless texture and its ease of use. It smells amazing (that's important) and is wonderfully effective at absorbing excess oil and perspiration without leaving buildup. Sharon is addicted...ask her how many days she can go with out washing her hair and it still looks, feels and smells great!) As always, our recommended products are cruelty free and have no toxic ingredients! 

10. Schedule an appointment with Sharon for an AVEDA colour gloss that adds tons of shine, brightens your sun-faded color and nourishes the hair. It is essentially damage-free colour! And if all else fails, sometimes you just got to come in for a trim or chop it all off! And to help you achieve your best summer hair ever, when you book a colour and cut through our new online booking system you receive an in-salon deep conditioning masque treatment for FREE (see # 4)! How awesome is that? 

Now that you are equipped with the right tools, products and techniques it's time to get out there and enjoy the sunshine! Hope to see you soon in the salon. We promise to make you look and feel like the cat's meow! 

So, you're in the market for a new salon and spa. Where do you start?

If you've ever chased someone down in the grocery store who has a nice hairstyle, to ask where who they trust with their hair, good for you! Every one loves a compliment and sometimes asking around will give you a great starting point to help you find a new stylist or spa technician. Once you've received some recommendations (we hope The Cat's Meow Salon and Spa was one!), now is the time to do some online research! These days, between websites and social media platforms you should be able to get a pretty good idea about whether a salon and spa feels like a good fit for you.

Poke around our website (and others) to see if you like what you see.  Check out the service menu. Do we offer the services you are interested in, within your budget? Sometimes paying a little more to get good value for your money can be the best decision. The bitterness of poor quality lingers longer than the sweetness of a good deal. 

Does your stylist and spa therapist have experience and advanced education? We do! Sharon and BJ have more than twenty years experience in the beauty biz and have advanced training in each and every service we offer. We are always learning and perfecting our craft.

Does the salon share your values for using environmentally friendly products that aren't tested on animals? We use Monat haircare products and Aveda haircare, skin care, hair colour and make-up. Our products are certified cruelty-free and do not contain any parabens, silicones, artificial preservatives, harmful chemicals, colours or fragrances. 

Is it a convenient location with free parking? The Cat's Meow Salon and Spa is located in beautiful Downtown Belleville and we have plenty of free parking directly behind our building.  We are a short walk to lots of wonderful locally and  independently owned shops and restaurants, so make some time in your day to visit those too!

Check out our social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) and read some of our blog posts (like this one!)
Do you like what you see in terms of the body of work? Do you get a sense that we love what we do and that we are skilled in our profession? We hope so! We put a lot of time and effort into our daily work but also in trying to showcase our work and educate our guests (and potential guests) with helpful tips and tricks to make your beauty routine a little easier! 

If you are in the neighbourhood, pop in and get a general feel for the salon. Did you get a warm welcome? You will at The Cat's Meow Salon and Spa! Is it clean and inviting? We pride ourselves on our comfy, cozy and clean space. We insist on  safe  hygiene practices for all our salon and spa services. From the aroma therapy of Aveda and Monat's natural  products, we promise the most comforting experience. At The Cat's Meow Salon and Spa, we offer a beverage menu with specialty teas, coffee, hot chocolate, iced tea, lemonade and filtered water. Every hair wash comes with a head and neck massage and hand massage. Men receive a second shampoo and hot towel treatment at the end of their haircut. We offer complimentary make up touch-ups at the end of your service. We have blankets, heating pads,  aromatherapy all for your comfort. We offer a wonderful selection of magazines and books to read, iPads you can use to find hair and make-up inspiration, great music to listen to and always entertaining conversation to enjoy! BJ's green thumb means there are beautiful healthy plants providing extra oxygen! 

Pick up one of our printed service menus and consider booking your appointments online. We have an app for that! Download the VAGARO app on your smart phone or go to our website to book online (even if it's at 3 am). We stay on the cutting edge of technology to better serve you! We are open late (until 8pm) three nights a week and from 9am to 3pm on Saturdays. 

We recommend booking a complimentary 15 minute consultation and a salon and spa tour. While we may not have time when you first pop in we are always happy to book some time with you to show you who we are and see how we can help you achieve your beauty goals. During the consultation, you should expect nothing less than professionalism and good communication. Bring photos of hair that inspires you and be open to our expert suggestions based on your hair, face shape, skin tone, eye colour, lifestyle and budget.  Ask questions, answer questions, talk and listen and we will do the same. A clear plan with a price quote should be part of the consultation. Sharon and BJ will walk you through all the steps of your requested service and give you a plan for the future, including maintenance and home care. 

We hope this has given you some food for thought about whether or not The Cat's Meow Salon and Spa is right for you! We look forward to your visit!

I have been blessed to work with many other talented beauty professionals over the years, but one of my all time favourites in terms of helping women see the best in themselves has to be Jenna Faye Photography. I glam them up with hair and make-up and then Jenna Faye captures these gorgeous women in their absolute best light. When they first come into the salon (or we shoot on location), these women are always a mix of nerves and excitement, often exclaiming that they have never done anything like this and that they are way out of their comfort zone. After some thorough consultation, discussing their goals for the shoot, looking at photos of hair and make-up they like, going over outfit choices and pose options, we start to see the women relax and come out of their shell. We share stories and words of encouragement and giggle quite a bit. Then off they go to spend their time with Jenna and that's when the magic really happens. Jenna coaxes and coaches and when the photos come back (barely retouched), we cannot believe what has been revealed. Those shy, nervous girls (all ages, all body types, all confidence levels) have completely unleashed their more complex, softer, fiercer, more beautiful sides. Sometimes I can barely see their former selves and have to look hard to recognize them. I have been known to have to lay the iPad down and walk around it to see (especially if Jenna has gotten them into some upside down poses). One guest, who had hit a milestone birthday and was making a calendar for her husband was showing me the photos she chose and the ones she didn't and to one in particular I asked, "Why didn't you choose this one? It's gorgeous!" To which she replied, "my face looked awkward in that one". I laughed and said, "Oh my goodness, I did your hair and makeup and I didn't even look at your face! If I didn't notice (the narcissist in me should have), I don't think your husband will either!" 

I do believe that every woman should do a glamour or boudoir shoot: you will feel so good about yourself! Of course,  I highly recommend Jenna Faye Photography. Many of the shots you see throughout our website can be credited to her. She is one of the most highly skilled, relaxed, organized and professional photographers I have ever worked with. All of her photography work with family, babies, corporate branding, glamour and boudoir, is absolutely breathtaking. Be sure to check out her website: jennafayephotography.com and her facebook and instagram pages. And book...you won't regret it!