In my first post about my thin hair, I discussed the simple styling changes that Amy suggested and the difference they made to the appearance of my hair.

Since then I have made the plunge and had the Great Lengths 100% natural human hair extensions put in my hair.

Here are the pics:

Thin hair before

Thin hair after extensions

I had one bundle of hair put in, mostly across the top and sides of my head. The color was a perfect match to mine.

Here’s what I really like about the hair of the extensions: it’s naturally wavy. My own hair has a little bit of a wave to it but doesn’t cooperate with styling very well. If I want to style my own hair to have volume, I have to put a ton of products in it and it feels stiff.

With the hair extensions, I blow-dry my hair with a round brush, the way I always have done, and I get amazing shape and volume. I have never had this much hair in my life!

The new hair looks entirely natural. Amy did tiny little bonds — I think 1/4 of normal size? — so they don’t show at all.

I saw Amy do extensions on a man who came in with a brush cut and walked out with a full head of hair, maybe 10 – 15 cm in length. It was a very challenging job and took all day. When it was done, he looked absolutely great and very natural.

Amy is certainly very talented with the Great Lengths extensions. I wouldn’t trust my hair to anyone else.

Now that my face looks so much better, I’m a lot more self-conscious about my scalp. The fact is my hair is so thin on top of my head that you can see my scalp. It doesn’t help that I’m short so most people are looking down on me.

I finally got up the nerve to ask Amy at Art in Hair what to do about it. I know she does amazing things with Great Lengths 100% natural human hair extensions so I thought that would be her first suggestion.

To my surprize, the first thing Amy suggested was changing my hair products. She told me to start using the Kerastase Bain Volumactive Shampoo to help volumize my hair, Spray Volumactive which actually causes the cuticle to swell and make the hair look thicker, and bigwigg Root Volumizer by AG.

I guess everyone who tries the bigwigg loves it so it was out of stock when Amy was getting me set up.

I started using the Kerastase products the next morning. The first thing I noticed when I was washing my hair was that I only needed a tiny amount of the Bain Volumactive, maybe a nickel-sized dollop, if that. It spread through my hair easily and made it feel really clean.

Then I sprayed on the Spray Volumactive and used my usual styling products. The other thing Amy had suggested was to move my side part a little further to the side so I styled my hair as recommended and Wow! what a difference! You really couldn’t tell that I had a problem with thinning hair.

Using 2 of the 3 products recommended and 1 styling suggestion totally disguised my problem!

This was my original style — looks kinda thin on top but maybe not too bad?

Thin hair before

But this is what happens if my style gets mussed up at all. Horrors!

Hair before mussed up

This is what my hair looks like with just the simple styling changes that Amy recommended.

Hair after styling suggestions

If you have a problem with your hair, I highly recommend that you talk to Amy at Art in Hair. You might find the solution is a lot simpler than you were expecting.

Dr. Rose Jeans
Advanced Rejuvenation Medical Spa

Becky wanted long hair but she didn’t want to wait the 18 months it would take to grow her hair out. The challenge with Becky’s hair was that it was very short and wispy so the extensions had to be applied very carefully to be sure that the bonds wouldn’t be visible. I applied Great Lengths 100% natural human hair extensions.
Here’s what she looked like later the same day:
Becky looks great, doesn’t she? In this picture, Becky’s hair was styled to be straight using the blow-dryer. The next 2 images show Becky about 8 months later when the extensions were reapplied. By this time, her hair has grown out enough that it is much easier to hide the bonds.
Here she has sexy waves created by curling with a curling iron.
Here Becky has natural wave in her hair created using the diffuser.

I’m really pleased with the results I can achieve with Great Lengths natural human hair extensions. Great Lengths can also be used to thicken thin hair or create a color change. If you would like to find out whether Great Lengths would be right for you, please call me at 905-637-2325 to arrange a consultation.

Amy Beaulieu
Art in Hair

Fia and Ashley are two of the young up-and-coming stylists who made the transition from Chiarelli’s to Art in Hair.

They recently spent 3 weeks at the The Vidal Sassoon Academy in Santa Monica, California learning advanced cutting and coloring techniques.

This is the sort of classic Vidal Sassoon cut that sticks in my mind. You can see the precision of the cut and geometry. This sort of haircut is designed to fall perfectly into place without putting any effort into styling.

Here is the Vidal Sassoon philosophy:

Every Sassoon cut and colour is a living and growing embodiment of the Sassoon philosophy: to work with hair in its natural state, to treat hair as organic material, to shape and balance hair to reflect the individual and reveal their beauty.

To realise this philosophy, Sassoon believes that true technical craft is required to deliver hair that has structure and movement, in forms that appear effortless but are intently considered.

With this philosophy of excellence, you can understand why Ashley and Fia invested 3 weeks of their lives into this training. They learned from the top educators, learning both advanced theory and practical techniques. It has taken their skills to a whole new level.

In the coming weeks, Fia and Ashley will be sharing their own stories and Before & After pictures to show what a difference the Vidal Sassoon techniques can make to your hair challenges.

We’re very lucky to have 2 such highly-trained and motivated hair stylists here in downtown Burlington.

Carl and Josie Chiarelli of Chiarelli Hair Design have just retired from the hair business. Carl styled his last client on Saturday, June 28th. We are very sorry to see them go and wish them all the best in their retirement.

Over the holiday weekend, Chiarelli’s was converted to Art in Hair by new owner Amy Beaulieu. Many of your favourite stylists are staying so you’ll still see lots of familiar faces but the decor has been changed to reflect the new management.

Amy comes to Burlington from E=MC2 in Toronto where she built up a specialty in hair extensions. Julia Zalucki is another stylist from E=MC2 who made the move to Art in Hair.

From the E=MC2 website:

AMY is a mother, a wife and a gifted and accomplished hairstylist and hair colorist. Working in the field since 1993, Amy is a senior stylist with EMC² salon and has a strong and loyal clientele. Amy is also an educator and has been a talented Hair Extension Artist since 2000.

I always thought hair extensions were just about lengthening your hair but Amy does amazing things with extensions not only to lengthen but also to make thin hair appear thicker and to change the color of your hair without dye.

Amy works with Great Lengths 100% human hair extensions. She can do anything from little pieces, for instance as highlights, to a whole new head of hair.

She is going to write some articles for this blog to show exactly what she can do to solve various hair style problems.

Please drop in and see the new Art in Hair salon at 425 Locust Street.

When you get your hair done at Chiarelli’s Hair Design, they’ll put all kinds of lotions and potions in your hair. If you’re like me and your hair product knowledge only goes to shampoo, conditioner, styling product and hairspray, then you will love having all these mystery products explained.

Fia, one of the stylists at Chiarelli’s, demonstrates on another stylist, Ashley, everything from Prep, Lotion, Cream, to various finishing products. And not just the products but how to style your hair with the dryer, flat iron and your fingers.

My apologies in advance for the sound quality. You have to listen carefully to Fia in places but she shares a lot of great information.

Carl Chiarelli is a very talented and experienced hair stylist and the owner of Chiarelli’s Hair Design.

In this video he talks about his approach to doing a hair makeover.

Chiarelli’s will be providing a new cut and color, as well as hair products to the recipient of the 10 Years Younger … in Burlington! program

This list is in no particular order. I suggest you pick the top 3 or 4 things that are most relevant to you so you’ll see the biggest impact in the shortest period of time.

1. Whiten your teeth.
   A whiter, brighter smile takes years off your look.
2. Have a professional makeup lesson.
   Most of us haven’t changed our makeup techniques in 20 years; new techniques will make you look prettier and more contemporary.
3. Have a hairstyle makeover.
   Let a good hairstylist tell you what would suit you and look up-to-date.
4. Get properly-fitting undergarments.
   Over 80% of us are in the wrong size bra. You will be amazed at how much better you will look and feel in the right size. You will look sleeker with the right shapewear as well.
5. Do a physical activity that you love.
   When is the last time you bopped around to your favorite music, went canoeing or played tennis? Doing an activity that you love will make you feel vibrant.
6. Eat more fiber.
   Being constipated makes you feel sluggish. Adding fiber to your diet will make you feel more energetic.
7. Drink more water.
   How many of us live on coffee? Switching to water will make your skin look better, make your head feel clearer and make everything work better in your body.
8. Use a Vitamin C serum.
   Vivier’s Vitamin C serum is one of the few products I know of that make an instant change to your appearance.
9. Get a new outfit (but let someone objective help you choose it).
   Go shopping with a frank and stylish friend or put yourself in the hands of a saleswoman you can trust. You need someone who will tell you what suits you and what looks fashionable to get you out of a fashion rut.
10. Learn to meditate.
    Meditation will erase the signs of strain and worry as you learn how to calm your mind.