Lipstick Powder N Paint

Sorry folks for being M.I.A, I’ve got the flu!

Yup, I have been feeling very sorry for myself for almost a week, but I am on the mend. I promise to be back posting any day now!

Did ya miss me?

Every four to five weeks, I peer into the mirror and sigh. Grey hairs. And I’m not talking one or two but an explosion of grey waving at me in a heinous fashion. Sigh.

I’m 42 (and ¾) and I’ve been colouring my hair for almost (cough) 30 years. Wow. At the beginning, it was to drive my mother crazy: pink, white, black…but now it’s to cover up the grey and brighten my dull locks too.

Any woman who professionally colours her hair in a salon knows that it is very expensive. Last time I went, it cost $200! But what is a gal to do? She has to cough up the cash to look purdy.

While watching TV, a commercial for a new at-home hair colour came on—it was sexy and who calls a commercial for at-home hair colour sexy? The product was OLIA by Garnier, and costs less than $15. It piqued my interest. And then coincidently, I was contacted by Garnier to try it out. How could I say no?

OLIA is the first ammonia-free permanent at-home hair colour powered by oil. Enriched with four flower oils, the formula penetrates the hair fiber while maintaining its natural levels of lipids and amino acids. The result? Brilliant, dimensional colour and softer, shinier hair.

The first thing I noticed when applying this product was the scent. Instead of the usual ammonia stink, I was inhaling an appealing fruity and floral fragrance with notes that include lime, pear, jasmine and amber. Fancy, right?

Next, I enjoyed holding the tear-drop shaped bottle. It was comfortable and the slim nozzle was great for easy application and controlling exactly where I wanted the product to go. And the formula was thick and creamy—so no fear of it dripping all over me, or my bathroom. Nice.

After a comfortable 30 minutes (no burning scalp with this product), I washed the product off to reveal rich colour, and softer, smoother hair—and no grey! It was almost like I had been wearing a conditioning mask.

I’m now a sassy redhead and loving my hair. I will definitely be using OLIA again.

Check out my before and after photos and let me know what you think of the colour I went with and how my hair looks.

Disclosure: This post was brought to you by Garnier via Glam Media Canada. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Garnier.

The Aveda Institute Canada wants to jumpstart the careers of creative Canadians looking for their opportunity to work in the beauty industry. The beauty school leader will be giving away over $45,000 in scholarships through their four major styling schools in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, and Toronto. To accommodate the demand, entry submission closes March 17th 2013 with the final runway shows taking place in May 2013.

Interested prospective students must show why they are “Born to Style” through a video submission showcasing their talent for styling. Finalists from each of their elected cities will be selected to advance by the Aveda Canada Creative Team. The fifth and final ‘People’s Choice’ finalist will be chosen by the public, who will have the opportunity to vote online for their favourite stylist submission from each city.

The final five aspiring hairstylists from each region will compete in a live style-off and runway show, when an esteemed panel of style and beauty experts will select the winner and award them with a full scholarship to the Aveda Institute. Judges include Ray Civello, President & CEO of Aveda Canada, Melissa Hill, Salon Magazine Editor-in-Chief, and Kristjan Hayden, editorial hairstylist and Creative Director for Civello Salon & Spas.

Multiple prizes, including Aveda gift cards and scholarship vouchers, will be awarded to videos garnering the most amount of online votes and runners up in the final showdown.

Contest details and submissions can be found online at www.borntostyle.ca.

It’s the truth!

For whatever reason, I am just not a fan of cucumbers. I won’t choose to cook with them, but if they land on my salad at a restaurant, I won’t freak out–unlike a tomato…don’t ask.

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