Your Bridal Hairstyle

You've found the wedding dress , you've booked the hall and you're ready to pick your magical bridal updo. Up or down? Curly or straight? With some cute bridal hair accessories or let your hair speak for itself? So many choices! By looking through magazines and websites, you will be able to find some amazing bridal hairstyles and accessories.

When making your choices always keep in mind the style and theme of your wedding. You don't want an updo that doesn't match with your dress style or the overall feeling you want to portray. Get some expert advice from your salon and find out what type of style would best suit your face and your wedding.

Wedding updos have so many options now from a classic French twist to a riot of curls for the fairy tale bride. You can add a jewelled pin for some flashy adornment or a tiara for some contour and drama in a classic style.

Don't forget to book a rehearsal trial of your wedding day hairstyle, to get any of the possible kinks out of the way. It will help your wedding day go that much smoother. Plan a lot of time for your wedding hairstyle and stay calm. It's your day!

Smooth Out Messy Tresses with a Brazilian Blowout

The Edmonton Journal has just published an interesting beauty article on a new hair trend called the “Brazilian Blowout” (read the Edmonton Journal article here)

The blowout is a temporary, keratin based, hair straightening technique that gives you a sleek, frizz-free look without harsh chemicals.

Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Nicole Richie have been seen sporting Brazilian Blowouts and recently, Richie blogged about its amazing results: “You HAVE to get a Brazilian blow dry!”. Salons across North America are quickly embracing this treatment as its success in Hollywood is inspiring many women (and men) to ask their hairdressers about it.

The Brazilian Blowout was developed by Mauricio Ribeiro, a stylist from Sao Paulo, who now works and teaches in West Hollywood. This professional keratin-based treatment relaxes curls and leaves hair smooth, shiny, and frizz-free for up to 12 weeks. The Brazilian Blowout starts with a clarifSying shampoo and as the hair is still wet, a protein based formula (comprising of amino acids, camu camu, and annatto seed) is applied to each lock of hair. The hair is then blow-dried and flat ironed at 450 °F (232 °C) to seal in the product. To complete the treatment, the hair is rinsed and conditioned with a specially formulated Brazilian Blowout masque.

The process takes about 90 minutes, and currently costs anywhere from $300 to $450…

Unlike the Japanese inspired chemical straightening process, the Brazilian Blowout can be applied to any hair type, and will not produce the pungent chemical smell of most traditional relaxers (as it doesn’t contain any formaldehyde or lye). With the introduction of the Brazilian Blowout, even those with overly processed and damaged hair can now get the smooth, straight and frizz free hair they’ve always dreamed of.

After a blowout, hair can still be styled and curled as usual. You can still braid your hair as it dries to get soft waves, or curl it with an iron. Another bonus that sets it apart from chemical straightening is that there isn’t any necessary upkeep needed as hair grows out. This is because the blowout will gradually fade and blend with your natural hair texture. There is no special care required after a treatment, but it is also recommended that you use the Brazilian Blowout line of home-care shampoo, conditioner, masque, and serum to maintain the blowout look for as long as possible.

If you’re a bride-to-be with curly, frizzy, or stubborn hair and you want to achieve a straight, smooth look for your wedding, the Brazilian Blowout might be for you. Plus, low-maintenance honeymoon, anyone? As Nicole says in her blog, “I can go swimming and not have to worry about frizz.” How great would that be on a tropical honeymoon? If you are heading to a location like Mexico or the Dominican, the humidity can wreak havoc on curly locks.

If you are considering getting a Brazilian Blowout, plan to do it at least a few weeks to a month before your wedding as it will give you and your hairdresser time to experiment and get used to your shiny, straight, mane.

Where to get it in Edmonton:
Icon Hair Gallery
Moda Hair and Esthetics
Be sure to ask your hairdresser – the service may be on its way to your hair salon soon.