Gatsby Brown

Where to find Gatsby in Richmond, BC:

Osaka supermarket at Yaohan no longer carries Gatsby moving rubber products.

There's a beauty boutique at Aberdeen on the first floor that carries the full line of Gatsby hair products as well as spray deodorant and hair dye. However, a regular size 80g jar of moving rubber costs $19.99. However, they also carry the new technical design clay (the small black jar) that is the size of a travel size Gatsby but also at $19.99. And newest of all is brown Gatsby, which comes in a 15 gram jar at $12.99. This stuff is just used to touch up your hair and it leaves a brown tint to your hair (DIY highlights). I haven't actually used it myself, though. I'll wait and see if I can get it cheaper in LA.

Hive Hair Spa Pt. 2

I know, I know. Sparse posts don't make for steady fan base. But summer just isn't meant to be spent in front of the computer. School's starting up again soon though...

So anyway, I was making my last appointment for a haircut at Hive Hair Spa before I go back to LA, and I have some updates:

1. Jun Ozawa, head stylist and owner of the salon, is currently in Japan and tending to an injury. I don't know the details, but they aren't making any appointments with him for the time being.

2. Shizuko Sambe, Hive's first female stylist, will be leaving on July 31. After a brief trip to the USA she will be moving back to Japan. Sadly, I never had the opportunity to experience her skills, but my sister and her friends did and they all looked great afterwards, so this will be a loss for Hive.

3. Since the month of June, a new female stylist named Asuka has joined the team. She has over 8 years of experience and has been living and working in Vancouver for the past 4 years. I haven't even met or seen her yet, so if anyone has had her yet, please let me know what you thought!

Anyhow, I'm getting Sho on Aug. 8. I'd try Asuka out myself, but I'm always wary about trying new stylists. Seriously, I used to have haircut anxiety nightmares about a week before getting a haircut with a stylist I've never had before. Of course, I've never had a bad haircut yet, but still...

2 in 1 vs. Separate

People often ask me, "What's wrong with using 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner? It's half the price of buying shampoo and conditioner separately, and it takes half the time in the shower."

My reply: "You're only getting half the effect, and your hair is only half as soft as it could be."

When you wash your hair, this is what's supposed to happen:

1. The shampoo cleans all the oil/residue/product out of your hair, leaving it clear and bare.

2. The conditioner is then put in and left for a few minutes to soak into the hair, adding moisture and revitalizing it.

But if you use a 2 in 1, you're only getting step 1. The conditioner never has a chance to work because it never touches the clean, bare hair and is instead rinsed out with the shampoo.

Shampooing and conditioning is like putting on moisturizing lotion after washing your hands. You don't want your moisturizer in your soap because then you just end up rinsing it off.

Now for some product placement:

Shampoo and conditioner can range in price from $5 to $60, and probably higher. This is where I tell you that $5 shampoos and conditioners are all you really need. My personal favourite is Pantene's texturizing line:

At $5 a bottle (less on sale), this stuff is a fantastic value. Better yet, it actually gives your hair more texture by adding some volume as well as strong body that increases the hair's ability to hold its shape. Highly recommended for all hair types and lengths.

Fauxhawks

Hey everyone, sorry I haven't been posting as much lately. Now that I no longer live in a 12 square foot box called a dorm room, I don't spend as much time on my computer.

Anyhow, I'm planning on getting a fauxhawk for my next haircut, but more extreme than just longer on the top blah blah blah. I'll probably shave the sides. I haven't completely decided yet, though.

This picture isn't the best, I know (it's surprisingly difficult to find a good one...), but you can see the shaved sides. I probably won't have a design shaved into mine, though it is tempting.

As a fauxhawk (if you can even call it one), this is the blah I was referring to. I think it's a good hairstyle, but with the rate at which my hair grows, it'll last about a week or two before it's too long to style well.

Hair on top is too short for my liking. Since my hair is pretty long already, I'll just trim the length on top, leaving me with a (hopefully) tall fauxhawk. I can use the extra height.