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Recommends:
Something for your hair, something for your closet…
Christine
Left: evidence that a good hairdresser is a girl's best friend. Right: when said hairdresser is finally found. Hurrah!
This month's recommend comes yet again from my hair, which has been through hell and back and still continues to hang in there. After finding the joys of silky smooth Pantene Pro-V conditioner, my hair still lacked something. And by "something," I really mean "health." Pantene kept my hair protected from the everyday toxins, but it did nothing to protect me against my hairdresser. I used to frequent this hair salon, which was very close to my house (I suspect "convenience" and "lazy" are very synonymous with me). The hairdresser was a very nice man, but I don't think he was the best person to go to with matters of the hair. He gave me the gift of freaky and overbleached "highlights," and also increasingly raised my bill after three years of regular patronage. Not one to miss the "hmm" in that one, I decided it was time to switch. And when he botched my dye job and gave me strands of straw for my sister's wedding (which promptly broke off), I really decided it was time to go elsewhere.Luckily, this coincided with the grand opening of a hair salon in my office building. (It might be strange that we would have such amenities for a hair salon in an office building, but in reality the building is just factory space converted into lofts.) My boss, his brother and I (the "entourage," if you will) could not miss this event, as we heard there was free food and lots of wine. Unfortunately, in our haste to eat all the food in the room and get drunk during the workday, we didn't really get to chat with Loretta, the hairdresser and our new next-door neighbour (remember, convenience = lazy). But a week later, I poked my head in and shyly asked for a quote. She was kind and friendly, sat me down, and told me lots of wonderful things about what she could do with the pile of straw sitting on my head. I was game.
The first time I went to Inside Out Hair Salon, Loretta turned my botched dye job into something marvelous. She dry-cut my hair and added black and dark brown highlights, leaving some blond intact. I was a little peeved, as my hair was now about five different colours. But when it grew out, as she knew it would, it looked great, and my roots didn't quite look as hideous as they once did. Because of her eye for colour, and the funky layered cut she gave me, I didn't have to go back for some time, and my hair was able to breathe. And I was able to save money. In addition to being a great and warm hairdresser (there isn't a client that she has that isn't like her best friend), Loretta also has an eye for detail. Her space is simply amazing, and is adorned with Asian-influenced silk-screens and furniture. She will also serve you green tea, recommend great restaurants, and let you read her Rolling Stones while you wait for your dye to set.
If you're looking for a great hairdresser who knows what she's doing, give Loretta a call at (416) 588-3033. ¤ C.Ho.
Michelle
Eminem had the right idea when he rapped about cleaning out his closets a few years ago. Perhaps he was talking about dealing with his past instead of doing spring cleaning, but I still think that he had the right idea about getting rid of the things that you don't need in your closet.
I'm sure that if you took a close look at your wardrobe you would find tons of old clothing, jewelry and shoes that have seen better days. Think about all those bad purchases that you made. That leopard print satin top, a leather skirt with a thigh high slit, and of course, a pair of platform shoes that are reminiscent of something that Frankenstein would wear. If you haven't worn it by now, get rid of it! Why keep it? You might as well make space for new purchases.
After you have decided what you want to keep and what you want to toss, you need somewhere to put them, right? Instead of throwing them away, why not donate them to a local charity? You can do this by making a contribution to any second hand store like Goodwill or Salvation Army, or you can donate your old clothing to a deserving charity. Many charities will take your old clothing and give it to the less fortunate. You're not just helping yourself getting rid of unwanted clothing, you are helping others. ¤ Michelle
Some charities that you can donate to: