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Hear “Old Hollywood” and the phrase will conjure visions of beautiful women and handsome men in elegant attire, young ladies with hair in gentle waves and pinned-back curls, hinting at an era of class and sophistication. To celebrate the style and taste of Old Hollywood, we held an event at the Voila Institute on December 3^rd, 2012, featuring techniques and looks of the era. Following a vintage trend, these hair design techniques held expand what we can do for our clients. With about 80 people in the audience, Alecs Sweete, Andrea Gallant, Paris Holmes and Tracey Howell took the stage to inspire and educate both our staff and students to think outside the box. Their presentation featured the new Nectaya hair colour and the use and application of a “wave iron.” In order to recreate fitting old Hollywood-style looks, most of the hair pieces were created from jewellery that was altered for the collection. Immediately following the event, a photo shoot was held with photographer Andy King.

We've all been caught in a situation in which we wanted to curl our hair (or create waves) but didn't have a curling iron. But fret not! Here's how to use a flat iron to curl your hair. 1. Start with clean, dry hair. Wash and dry your hair as normal, making sure to add a thermal protection product before using any heat tools on your hair! We recommend Aveda's Brilliant Damange Control ($23.00 for 250mL). Be sure to comb through so that the product is evenly distributed. 2. Neatness counts! Especially if you have thick hair, parting your hair in sections will make curling it much easier. Section your hair in layers, starting at the bottom of your scalp and pinning up the rest. 3. Use a light hairspray on each section right before you curl it. A tiny amount should do the trick--you don't want to soak your hair in it. We prefer Aveda's Air Control ($34.00) for a soft, touchable hold. 4. Take a section and start close to your scalp. Be careful not to accidentally burn yourself; if your scalp can feel an uncomfortable amount of heat from the iron, you're either too close to your scalp or you need to turn down the heat. Close the iron on that section of hair and flip it over, creating a U-shape. Moving the iron slowly down your hair, hold it on that turned angle, just as you would if you were curling ribbon for a present. Unclip a new section as your work your way through your hair. 5. Touch up. Go through your hair and make sure your curls have taken hold. If you want looser, more natural and relaxed curls, you can now gently run your fingers through it. If you're looking for more hold and longer lasting curls, spray a touch of hairspray all over your curls.

Stylist Tips

• Use a 1" ceramic or tourmaline flat iron with rounded edges; a thin, ceramic flat iron will create the best curls.
• The hotter your flat iron is, the longer the curl will hold. But be sure not to turn it up too high if your hair is fine--you don't want to burn your hair or cause damage.
• Smaller sections make smaller, tighter curls that will turn out more like ringlets than waves. Larger sections (two inches and bigger) make looser curls.
• Consider doing smaller curls around your face and larger curls at the bottom of your hair for more volume and framing.

Who hasn't wished for a warm, tropical sanctuary from winter? Fortunately, when the snow piles up and you have to pile on the layers, you don't have to peruse the flight deals or make bargains with cruise ships to get away--a tropical escape is closer than you might think. That's precisely what our Coconut Craze promotion is here to do--sweep you away to the Caribbean and let you indulge in island relaxation. Until the end of March, we're helping to combat the winter blues with tropical-style services and products. It's time to shake off the winter chill and join the coconut craze!

Coconut Craze Spa Package ($129)

Island-Inspired Beverages

• Coconut Hot Chocolate
• Ginger Coconut Herbal Tea
• Coconut Water
• Coconut Coffee and Cappuccino

Sunless Airbrush Tanning ($17+)

Caribbean Therapy by Aveda ($22+)

• Caribbean Therapy Body Scrub
• Caribbean Therapy Body Cleanser
• Caribbean Therapy Body Cream
• Caribbean Therapy Bath Bar
• Caribbean Therapy Soy Wax Candle