by Annette Quinet | Sep 3, 2016 | Fashion, Five Questions, Giveaway, My Blog |
#amalified was an expression I came up with several years ago when I would leave the salon after Amal Abi Farah would blow dry my hair. On a recent visit to Suite 13 Hair Design I took the opportunity to ask Amal the following 5 questions for this feature:
For your chance to be #amalified see below on how you can enter to win a Blow Dry Gift Certificate from Suite 13 Hair Design
1- Is there a Hairstyle that is universal and all women can wear?
The LOB (combo of long and bob) …is a fabulous cut that not only flatters all face shapes but also works with all hair types. It is always fashionable . Women can personalise their LOB by introducing colour, adding highlights and or bangs and of course with this length there are many styling options to offer versatility.
2- In the last few years I have noticed an abundance of women forsaking their colour treatments and going natural. For someone who may be considering this change what is the best way to go about it?
Grey hair is now fashionable as well as a fast-growing trend. No longer is it exclusive to those who are naturally grey, prematurely or otherwise, due to many younger women adopting the grey hair colour trend by using a colour application. Kelly Osbourne was one of several young celebrity women to start this movement. The transition process will depend on your hair length and how fast your hair grows. Most Professional Salon companies now carry advanced grey colour formula’s so my suggestion would be to apply highlights in a grey shade (as close to your natural grey colour as possible) for a smoother transition. Another important consideration will be to use a shampoo specifically for grey hair, these “purple shampoos” are clarifying shampoos which can eliminate the product build-up on your hair that causes that undesirable yellow casting. We have seen a lot of great results with the UNITE
Amal Suite Thirteen Hair Design
BLONDA shampoo and conditioner (of course fabulous with blonde shades too!).
3- Why should we be using salon products versus drugstore products?
When it comes to drugstore shampoo & conditioners, many contain chemicals, which can strip your hair of its natural oils, essentially drying it out. Many also use fillers to dilute their products thus causing that soft silky feeling but instead of penetrating the hair it’s coating. Salon products have less filler,sulphates and are more concentrated with better ingredients that are good for your hair such as mineral, oils & vitamins. Due to its concentration, you require less product and while salon products are initially more expensive they last longer, therefore the costs between drugstore and salon products are quite similar. I always recommend salon products and show my clients which products are right for their hair and how to use it properly.
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UNITE Product Line
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UNITE 7SECONDS Refresher
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UNITE BLONDA
*There is also an advantage to having your hair professionally colour treated because the stylist is able to create a specific formula based on your hair type and colour to get the best results. This is difficult to achieve with drug store brands as illustrated in this article .
4-How often should we wash our hair?
Generally speaking, for most people I recommend every 2-3 days. You want your hair to produce its natural oil (sebum)which prevents hair from drying out and breakage. Some people are uncomfortable going this long between shampoos and may want to consider using a “dry shampoo” these products act as a hair refresher. They come in an aerosol formula which works very well on fine hair (use it all over your head and it will add body) and powder formulas which work great when you want to target an area, this product can also be used as a styling tool. In our salon, we carry products from UNITE and Aveda both lines have a dry shampoo and a hair refresher where we have seen great results.
5-Final question…What is trending for hair this fall?
Lately, we have been getting lots of requests for “Balayage” which is basically a softer version of “Ombre” click here for a comparison. As a stylist, my goal is to help my clients achieve the most flattering hairstyle for their face shape, hair type and lifestyle. When someone likes their hair and style they exude confidence and that in my opinion is the best trend.
Amal Abi Farah has been a hairstylist for 15 years. She is knowledgeable, talented and passionate about hair and her clients. You can contact Amal here. For your chance to win a Blow Dry GC from Suite 13 Hair Design and be #amalified subscribe to this blog here & share this blog post on your FB page .Contest closes on Friday, September 9th,2016 and winner will be notified by email
by Annette Quinet | Aug 13, 2016 | Capelet, Fashion, Giveaway, My Blog, summer |
Are you going to be the fortunate one to win this fabulous summer essential , this Capelet in Black?
It’s easy all you need to do to enter is one of the following:
Share and like this blog on your FB page
Follow me on twitter and Retweet
Or follow me on Instagram and Re-gram (Yes, you can Re-gram using this free app)
First featured in this July blog post , The F-word Paradox is offering you another chance to win a Black Capelet. This versatile piece can be worn several ways and will become a favorite summer essential (great for early fall too!). The draw will take place in 5 days ( all about the F-words here) Thursday, August 18th. The Winner will be notified by email.
Good Luck, Bonne chance!
by Annette Quinet | Jul 4, 2016 | Capelet, football, Friends, Giveaway, summer |
Football…..hey it’s an F- Word!
I would never have imagined, I mean ever, writing a post with the word Football in it but there is a reason why this blog is called the F-word Paradox!
Friday, July 8th will be the home opener for the Ottawa Redblacks. Many fans will be looking forward to this season , with hopes that the Ottawa Redblacks will have a stellar season, earning the team once again, one of the coveted spots to play in the league final the Grey Cup. Recently, I ran into my friend Adrienne while walking our dogs, her partner is a member of the Ottawa Redblacks coaching staff.
After a few pleasantries, she started to fill me in on the recent win of the Ottawa RedBlacks vs the Edmonton Eskimos (45-37). I’m not going to say it was contagious but her enthusiasm towards the team and the upcoming season was compelling. Football is back, fans are happy, optimistic and supportive. This conversation prompted me and gave me the first reason to blog on this subject.
The Ottawa Rough Riders face off against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Riders’ last home game of the season Oct. 26. John Major/Ottawa Citizen
After speaking with Adrienne , I had a trip down memory lane. I remembered my youth growing up in Ottawa, which included attending many Ottawa Rough Rider games (predecessor of the Ottawa RedBlacks) with one of my BFF’s Tracy whose dad happened to be Don Holtby, the VP and GM of the Ottawa Rough Riders back in the mid-80’s. I can honestly say I do not remember much about the actual games but I do remember, the stadium, the people, the girl giggles we shared about the “hunky” players and depending on the outcome of the game, the joy or the sadness that ensued. Frankly, what resonated most with me was what people wore to these games. It was a sea of red similar to what we see on Canada Day. In the 80’s Football played a large role in Ottawa, fans were serious and showed their support wearing team colours and Rough Rider logos with pride. I have fond memories of Donna Holtby, Tracy’s mom, who attended the games with style, elegance and of course pride, perhaps one of the earlier style influencers in my life. Donna was always dressed in an elevated style. Topping all her looks was her signature, a perfectly coiffed head of platinum hair. Some of her stellar looks were incorporating an amazing red leather jacket with matching red leather pants while using accessories to enhance these looks. Her look was calculated, she was there to support and represent her team and her husband. I was in awe …so based on these memories which were full of fun, laughter and great style this would be the second reason to blog using this F-Word.
My third reason, hubby is a fan, he enjoys Football and going to the games to cheer on the Ottawa RedBlacks. This Friday we will be attending (Calgary Stampeders @ Ottawa Redblacks) and from past experience, it is important to give some thought to what you will wear. Usually, it is really hot and will stay sunny until almost 9pm on the south side of Lansdowne Park. This can be very uncomfortable while watching those long quarters. I tend to use the same philosophy as I wrote about in the Festive Wear Blog, chances are I will wear white with hopes of keeping it “cool”! Here are some pieces to consider for outfit inspirations , here, here and here. I will also most likely wear a capelet, it is a light & airy piece that not only offers an interesting detail to your ensemble but it can also cover your arms which for many women, is no longer an area that they wish to bare. Ahhh the joys of getting older! This capelet offers subtle coverage and has the ability to be worn in a several ways , it’s a perfect piece to compliment your outfit and is also the next Giveaway on the F-Word Paradox.
For a chance to win a Black Capelet , simply subscribe to my blog here and you are automatically entered to win. The draw will take place on July 13th just in time for watching the next Ottawa Redblacks game.
Turning up the heat does not mean turning down your style.
Go Ottawa Redblacks Go
by Annette Quinet | Jun 26, 2016 | Giveaway |
Feeling the Frames
Tara Shields, from Ottawa, is the lucky winner of the Fabulous Oakley Feedback Sunglasses. Many thanks to all who entered and now follow The F-Word Paradox. We are building our subscription base one fabulous reader at a time and your support is a fundamental part of our success. Thank you!
Congratulations Tara, you now have your summer framed in such fabulous style!
Please keep reading and spreading the F-word a new blog and giveaway is coming soon.
by Annette Quinet | Jun 12, 2016 | Giveaway |
Frame your Summer
I truly love Sunglasses; always have and probably always will. Very rarely will you ever find me not wearing a pair, regardless of which season we are in or whether it is cloudy or sunny outside. I love sunglasses as an accessory; in fact they maybe my favourite accessory.
Protect your eyes first. Sunglasses protect your eyes which is most important. The sun produces 3 kinds of light, UV (ultraviolet rays), Blue Light, and Bright or intense light. My eyes are very sensitive to bright light, which is why I need to wear sunglasses all the time. Health Canada has great information on the importance of sunglasses and this link will provide more information including standards for UV protection and how light can damage your eyes.
Next Frame you face to best accessorize your look. Sunglasses are now a multi -billion dollar industry. There are so many companies, designers, styles, shapes, sizes, and of course, price points to chose from. So how does one decide how to purchase that pair of shades? The best advice once you decide on your need and budget is to try, try, try!
Different frames work better on certain face shapes however use this as a guideline it is worth trying on a variety. A rule to consider is matching your face shape with the glass frame i.e. a square face shape suits a square frame. No two faces are the same, which is why some frames better frame your face, and thus look good. It is important that you like them and feel comfortable wearing them. This will be the first thing people notice about you, so work it to your advantage.
There are many options on where to buy your Sunglasses. Department stores like Nordstroms carry many Designer frames, Specialty shops located in most major shopping center such as Sunglass Hut carry a variety of sunglasses. Many clothing retailers such as Forever 21 and H&M have now expanded their lines to include sunglasses, you may also consider online shopping for your new pair.
Net-a-porter is a very popular site for designer sunglasses. You could also consider adopting the latest trend: “renting” your sunglasses. The premise is to wear the latest styles and shapes and then exchange them for a new pair. There is a monthly fee as well as an option to purchase. For more information check out Ditto.
For prescription lenses you can visit an Optician or an Optometrists office. Click here for the difference between an Optician and Optometrist. Most carry several lines of eyeglass frames including Sunglasses, prescription or non-prescription. Did you know that in Ontario Optometrists offices can only sell you frames and lenses at their cost? Click here more information on why glasses can cost so much.
Here is something for my readers this sunglass season: The F-Word Paradox is having a Giveaway; you have a chance to win these fabulous women’s Oakley Sunglasses – pictured above. To enter simply subscribe to my blog. A winner will be selected on the First day of summer, Monday June 20th, 2016. The winner will be notified via email.
However you decide to Frame your Summer just remember to always Protect your eyes and then Frame your Face for the best look.
