A wedding isn’t just any day, it’s the day, a day that some have been planning their whole life. One of the fundamental (and most exciting) aspects of planning a wedding is gathering inspiration for that big day. What dress, shoes, venue, flowers and hair will create the ideal mood, atmosphere and look to celebrate your special day? After saying “Yes” to the dress, hair is easily the most important aspect of a bride feeling beautiful, comfortable and most like themselves - the best version of themselves. So what happens when a bride’s hair is too thin to achieve her ideal style, or she’s too short on time to grow the length she needs? Great Lengths comes to the rescue. This summer, the Great Lengths Canada team helped Bride-to-be, Chelsea, achieve the long, luscious locks she had always wanted for her June wedding. Using just two bundles, Great Lengths Canada educator, Dee Gauthier, gave Chelsea the enviable volume and longer locks needed to achieve the style she wanted on her wedding day. Before Great Lengths, Chelsea’s hair was very fine and thin. Because of this, her hair would not hold curls, even when styled at a professional salon. On her wedding day she wanted her hair to feel as effortless and beautiful as she’d always hoped. “I wanted to make sure whatever hairstyle I chose for my wedding would last all day and all night, but I was very nervous about achieving this due to the state of my natural hair. And I really wanted my hair to be fuller and longer so I’d able to achieve the dream hairstyle I wanted for my wedding day.” The bridal transformation began with an in-person consultation with Dee to determine the appropriate course of action to achieve her desired look; number of bundles, colours needed, and length. “We discussed a number of things including how long I wanted my hair to be, how thick I wanted it to be, and what colour I wanted. We talked about different options regarding colour to achieve a textured look and then Dee examined the shape and size of my head to determine how many bundles of hair to order. I wanted the colour to be a very dark brown, almost black colour with some very subtle medium brown highlights which Dee was able to incorporate into the extensions.” On the day of the application, Dee worked her magic with two bundles of 20” extensions in the colour 1B. Before applying the extensions, Dee washed, cut, dried, and styled Chelsea’s hair. After the application, Dee again cut and styled Chelsea’s hair so the extensions and natural hair blended beautifully. Prior to her Great Lengths, Chelsea had never even worn clip-in extensions, so the process was completely new to her, and she was pleasantly surprised with the experience. “The application process was actually a lot faster than I thought! Dee was so quick and efficient that she was able to complete the entire application in just a few hours.” Chelsea’s wedding took place in Toronto on June 2, 2018 – a beautiful, sunny day. With a ceremony and cocktail hour that took place in the outside courtyard of the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex, and a reception that took place inside in the Artifacts room, the wedding had a beautiful, romantic vibe, emphasized by the many white orchids, candles and hints of purple throughout. Her bridal hairstyle was equally beautiful and romantic; long, flowing and curly with volume. She wore her hair half up, half down, with a lot of height in the front, and she couldn’t have been happier. “It is thanks to my Great Lengths extensions that my hair looked the best it has ever looked, on the most important day of my life. It was mainly because of my hair that I felt as beautiful and confident on my wedding day as I did.” Long, curly hair is so desirable for the modern-day bride, as it gives an essence of effortless simplicity, while looking voluminous and styled. Great Lengths can help a Bride achieve just that. When asked if she would recommend Great Lengths to other Brides, Chelsea gave an enthusiastic “Yes!” “I would 100% recommend Great Lengths extensions for brides looking to achieve their dream hairstyle on their wedding day. I had such a good experience and I could not be happier that I decided to get them for my wedding day. I was expecting my hair to be longer and thicker after, but I was not expecting the entire process to be so smooth, and for the extensions to last as long and as well as they have.” It’s now been a few months since Chelsea and Stephen said, “I do”, and as for her Great Lengths: “They don't feel any different than the day I had them put in! They just feel like an extension of my natural hair. As an added bonus, I find I am able to go for longer periods of time without washing my hair- my hair does not get greasy nearly as fast! Great Lengths hair extensions are available in over 60 different colours to seamlessly match any natural hair. They are perfect for adding volume and length to help create a bride’s dream hair, and because they incorporate into the hair so naturally, strand by strand, they give the freedom to style hair in any way desired. A wedding is a bride’s day to shine, and a hairstylist’s opportunity to help make that happen. Through consultation, our Great Lengths stylists can help any bride make her dream hair a reality on the big day.
Dawn Bradley is an accomplished stylist, educator, blogger, a mental health advocate and as of January, the host of her own podcast, The Anxious Creative, where she discusses everything and anything; hair, business, mental health and more. Dawn has lived, worked and trained all over the globe, and can now be found in Calgary, Alberta, where she focuses on creating relaxing experiences and beautiful results. TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR CAREER! I got my start with hair in my Grade 10 Cosmetology class, thinking it would be easy as I always enjoyed playing with my own hair. Immediately after high school, I went to hair school. I didn't have an interest in anything else and figured I could cut my friend's and family's hair. From there everything kind of snowballed! I moved to the UK in 2005 where I worked for the AVEDA Institute. I worked in Sydney, Australia, where I worked under the winner of the Australian Hairstylist of the year, and in 2010, I made the shift to self-employment and opened my own salon. In 2014, I moved to Calgary and made a complete restart, solely using social media. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING WITH GREAT LENGTHS, WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION TO JOIN THE GL NETWORK? I've been with Great Lengths since 2012. I had always known they were the best in the biz and wanted to work exclusively with them. WHAT IMPACT HAS BEING A GREAT LENGTHS ARTIST HAD ON YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS? Great Lengths has had a huge impact! As a fine haired gal myself, it was a game changer and being able to offer my clients solutions to their lack of hair growth and volume is very rewarding. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT GREAT LENGTHS? I love how natural they look; that they don't look like you are wearing extensions, and that they feel like your own hair. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU OFFER NEWLY CERTIFIED STYLISTS TO BEST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR GL SKILLSET? Just as a good camera won't make you a good photographer, or a good oven won't make you a chef, it’s super important to use your skills and to keep adapting and learning with Great Lengths. The course will give you the foundation, but remember to practice, practice, practice. DO YOU HAVE ANY GREAT LENGTHS DO'S AND DON’TS? Don't order hair without first taking a deposit! Do: When colour matching I like to take just a small piece of the swatch, the size of a bond, and put it against the hair, rather than using the entire swatch. Using a small piece of the swatch makes it easy to see how extensions will blend into the client’s natural hair. ON TOP OF BEING A STYLIST, YOU ALSO MAINTAIN A REGULAR BLOG, TEACH CLASSES AND HOST A PODCAST- HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO DO IT ALL? DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE OR TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR THOSE TRYING TO JUGGLE A NUMBER OF THINGS ON THE GO? I don’t manage it very well, haha! I have learned I need to hire out and pace myself. I definitely tend to bite off more than I can chew sometimes, because I get so excited about sharing with people. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE YOUR PODCAST, THE ANXIOUS CREATIVE? As someone who has struggled with mental health since my teens, I've found that there are so many “creatives” out there that silently struggle as well. I wanted to create a space where people can feel understood, valued, and take something away from it. YOU OFTEN DISCUSS MENTAL HEALTH AND ANXIETY. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO YOU, AND DO YOU HAVE ANY GO-TO TECHNIQUES FOR DEALING WITH ANXIETY? Similar to why I started the podcast, mental health is something people are often scared to share and so they silently struggle. I figure if I can be open about my personal struggle, it may encourage others to push through and to be gentle on themselves. Community is big for me. I want to create a safe space, be it online or in my salon, where people can express themselves and be 100% real. My go-to technique for dealing with anxiety is slowing down. I’ve realized that I can't do as much as I want to, as quickly as I want to, and that practicing self-care will help me to achieve my goals quicker than overworking myself and burning out. WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL FAVOURITE HAIR TREND RIGHT NOW? I love low maintenance, natural looking hair. Something that draws the eye to the person wearing the hair. DO YOU HAVE ANY COLOUR OR STYLE PREDICTIONS FOR SPRING 2018? I think balayage and hair painting are here to stay for a while longer! DO YOU HAVE A STYLE ICON? OR A HAIR HERO? I don't really have a style icon! With social media the way it is, I really admire many people for different reasons. WHAT OR WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION? I gain inspiration from conversations I have with others, hearing how they speak and what they feel and how they express themselves is very inspirational for me. I also find inspiration in getting out into nature, turning off my phone, and being still. It's amazing what can happen when we do! WHAT PERSONALITY TRAITS DO YOU FEEL ARE MOST BENEFICIAL TO YOUR SUCCESS? My ability to hear beyond the words of what someone is saying. To hear what's behind it. Often times, people project internal things onto their hair and once I am able to figure out what that might be; I can help them love their hair and themselves a bit more. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF BEING A STYLIST? Connecting with other women and helping them better understand their worth and value. Hair is just the medium that I use to connect. DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE MANTRA, A QUOTE OR A SAYING YOU LIKE TO KEEP IN MIND? “What other people think of me is none of my business. This has helped me a lot with my anxiety. I can't control what others think, so why concern myself with it? WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS MOVING FORWARD? I’d really love to have more freedom with my time. I don't want to stop doing hair, but having the ability to have a more flexible schedule is definitely something I’d like to work towards. CHECK OUT DAWN ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM, AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT HER PODCAST, THE ANXIOUS CREATIVE.
We love weddings! A wedding is a bride’s day to shine, and a hairstylist’s opportunity to help make that happen. Great Lengths extensions are an incredible solution for brides-to-be, whether the goal is length, colour, sparkle, or volume. Great Lengths has got you covered! Great Lengths are a go-to to make bridal dream hair a reality. For many brides, picking a bridal hairstyle can be tough. You want to feel beautiful, be comfortable and pair elegance with what makes you – you. The options are endless. We’ve asked Leah Robertson and Marianne Savage, a couple of our very talented Great Lengths stylists, to create a look they love for the 2018 bride, and they did not disappoint! In creating their styles, Leah and Marianne both embraced a fresh, sophisticated elegance. Fresh colour, fresh hair, and the fresh air of summer; summer wedding styles for 2018 encompass all that is fresh. TAKE A LOOK AT OUR 2018 GL BRIDAL STYLES BELOW! In creating her Bridal Style, Great Lengths Educator and Artist, Leah Robertson (Lengthy Locks Ltd), was inspired by elegant simplicity, and the natural and fresh take on beauty sported by Meghan Markle at the Royal Wedding. Leah used three of Great Lengths red shades to help give the hair dimension and luster. The 5 bundles (all half bonds) of cold fusion extensions, made the hair thick, full and easy to work with. With attachment sites that are almost invisible, Leah was able to create this style very easily while working with and around the bonds. WANT TO CREATE THIS LOOK? HERE’S HOW LEAH ACHIEVED IT! Start with freshly washed and dried hair. Treat the hair with Great Lengths Argan Oil and Heat Protection Spray. Section out the front strip of hair along the hairline, leaving some pieces to curl later. Start with the very simple Twist Braid. Begin with two sections that cross over each other. Each time they cross you’ll grab a section of hair in both pieces and cross again. Be sure to cross away from the forehead and towards the back. Secure with a tiny black elastic. If your client has extensions 16 inches or longer, you’ll be able to use the tail of the twist braid back up around the top of the hair next to the twist you just created. Secure with bobby pins. Now you have two twists side by side. Next, section the hair and start an outward three-strand braid on the opposite side of the twist braid. Once complete, tuck the left over hair under where it’s hidden. Gently pull out pieces of both braids for a fuller look that spreads over the top of the hair. Back comb the left over hair and spray it with flexible hairspray. To achieve this particular curl pattern look, use a narrowing wand, then brush through the curls with your fingers. Finish off the look with the accessory of your choice. For a regal elegance mixed with an earthy charm, Leah added a lovely burnt yellow wreath branch that accentuates the braid and delicate twists in her hair. Marianne Savage at Burlington Beauty Bar created a number of romantic looks that we can’t get enough of. These effortless, stunning styles will have any bride feeling like the best version of herself as she heads down the aisle. This first look by Marianne is pure perfection. This half-up style uses a polished version of boho waves. The twist and subtle sparkle she incorporated add a wow-factor, while the full, loose, wavy locks bring in softness and glamour. A pretty spin on the classic half-up half-down bridal hairstyle, this look is versatile and easy to create on your own For Marianne’s second style she transformed the classic pony with a touch of elegance and sophistication, for an end-look that is right on trend; a clean, sophisticated take on the popular bubble pony. The accessories used to section off the pony can be personalized to really make the look your own Long, low, side-swept and oh so pretty. The romantic side swept look creates a timeless and beautiful bridal hairstyle that works well with any neckline. This third style by Marianne is a great choice for brides wanting their hair down, but still out of their face on the big day! DID YOU KNOW: 67% of weddings take place between June & September, with August being the most popular month. Summer season = wedding season. IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT GREAT LENGTHS, USE OUR SALON FINDER TO FIND A SALON NEAR YOU. THROUGH CONSULTATION, OUR STYLISTS CAN HELP ANY BRIDE MAKE HER DREAM HAIR A REALITY ON THE BIG DAY.
By now, we’re sure you’ve heard mention of GL Tapes and Tapes Plus. Great Lengths tape-in extensions are making quite an impression with stylists and clients alike! Along with the potential to re-tape and re-use, GL Tapes have a lower application price point and shorter application time, allowing stylists to introduce extension services to a broader client base. GL Tapes are a truly valuable addition to the Great Lengths line, with no compromise on the quality of hair used or the resiliency of the application. DON’T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT THOUGH! WE’VE CHECKED IN WITH A COUPLE OF OUR TALENTED STYLISTS WHO HAVE PUT GL TAPES TO USE WITH BEAUTIFUL RESULTS. Maryanne Costa chose to offer GL Tapes because her clients wanted more use out of their extensions, and she loves being able to offer them that option. “My clients are loving them! My current fusion clients are so in with love the feeling of the Great Length bonds that they are unlikely to switch, but my new tape-in clients have been super impressed with how seamless and comfortable they are, and they’re really excited to get more longevity from their extensions. GL Tapes allow me to create the same fullness and length I achieve with the fusion bonds; the added option to re-use them up to 3 times in a 9 month period is a bonus! I highly recommend them to other clients or stylists This client's first application of GL Tapes. Second application of her GL Tapes. On the application and removal process, Maryanne had the following insights: “They are easy to install, but be sure to map out your sectioning! You can customize the tapes into half tapes to help blend even thinner hair. The removal process is easy as well - apply the removal solution and the tape dissolves and comes right off the hair with zero damage. Reapplying includes washing them with the Great Lengths Clean Remover Shampoo, drying them overnight and applying new tape.” Be sure to follow Maryanne on Instagram and check her Facebook page for more Francesca Salon and Spa, where you can find stylist Ariana Daniela, has offered Great Lengths Fusion for many years now, and Ariana has found GL Tapes have been just as well received. “Everyone knows the Great Lengths reputation, and with GL Tapes there’s no compromise in the quality of the hair. While we still have our regular bond clients, tape-ins have really taken off. It is a quick and easy service, suitable for today’s busy, trendy, modern woman. The tapes allow me more versatility in fulfilling clients’ extension needs. No two clients are the same! Because of the GL reputation, and results they’re already familiar with, some extension clients that didn’t have any prior interest in tapes are easily sold on them.” Before And After GL Tapes by Ariana Before And After GL Tapes by Ariana Before And After GL Tapes by Ariana Having had experience with other tape-in extensions, including the original GL Apps, she has been impressed with the GL difference. “As soon as I saw the new tapes, I knew they would be amazing! There are a few important considerations with a “tape-in extension”, and they got it! I love that the base/tape is so small and flexible, but still allows for a secure hold, and also an easy removal. I have gotten nothing but great feedback time and time again, whether it be a new set or a re-taping. I cannot say how many times a client has told me how happy they are and that I’ve ‘changed their life’ – hearing that means a lot.” For those interested in giving GL Tapes a try, Ariana suggests the following: “My advice to any stylist not yet experienced in the tapes is: placement is key! The application is an art, it has to be well-planned. If you are strategic the client will leave with light, perfectly blended, natural-feeling extensions! If you’re a client looking to invest in a great set of hair extensions - it’s Great Lengths! Worth every penny! Just make sure your extensions are always applied and removed by a GL professional!” Check out more of Ariana’s work on Instagram, and at Francesca Salon and Spa. GL Tapes and GL Tapes Plus (with hidden tape line) are both tape-on-tape systems, using the same high-quality virgin hair Great Lengths is known for. GL Tapes are much smaller (only 1” by 3/8”) and more natural looking than any other tape-on-tape system on the market, and feature a polyurethane strip lined with tulle for strength and longevity, allowing for multiple re-applications. FOR MORE INFO ON GL TAPES, ORDERS, OR TO FIND A STYLIST NEAR YOU, DON’T HESITATE TO GET IN TOUCH!
1. The mere act of sweating can be hard on hair! There’s some science behind this. A pH between 4.0 and 5.5 allows skin and hair to stay healthy. When we sweat our PH levels change and can cause hair to become dry, frizzy, brittle and easy to break. 2. Because of changing pH levels, if you’re getting your sweat on, it’s important to wash hair with Great Lengths Shampoo, and follow up with conditioner. Finish off with our Anti-Tap solution, and you can restore the natural pH levels and maintain those beautiful extensions! 3. Bonded extensions’ biggest threat can be water, especially salt or chlorine enriched water! Chemicals in our pools and salt in the ocean can dry out the extensions and damage bonds. We suggest braiding and putting hair up on top of the head to avoid submerging it into the water. If extensions do get wet, take special care by washing hair with any Great Lengths shampoo. Follow up with Anti-Tap Water, and Great Lengths Deep Conditioning Mask, and be sure to dry the bonds immediately. 4. The right brush is also an absolute must! Especially in summer situations when hair is likely to get knotted as you soak up the sun in the great outdoors. Our Great Lengths travel brush is a must for any beach bag. Made for all hair types, it detangles in seconds, adding shine and definition to hair. 5. Once the fun in the sun is over, treat tresses with the Great Lengths Extra Rich Hair Mask. This injects some much-needed moisture back into the hair with Pro-keratin and Vitamin B5 ingredients.
Salon Magazine’s Reader's Choice Awards continues to be the only awards celebrating professional hair, nail and beauty products across Canada, and we’re very happy to announce another win! We are very proud of the fact that Great Lengths Extensions have won the Reader’s Choice Award 6 out of 7 years in total! From April 9th to the 22nd, readers voted for their favourite products and the readers have spoken! Thank you to all who voted. We’re so honoured to be your extension brand of choice!
NEW PRODUCT ALERT! Great Lengths Canada is excited to announce the upcoming arrival of 15 fabulous new shades. Our new shades align with current trends and we can’t wait to share them with you. Get excited for platinum gray, stunning cool blondes, warm coppers, and cool burgundies; beautiful browns, muted rose, heavenly purple and everything in between! STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES – THEY WILL DEFINITELY BE WORTH THE WAIT!
We’re up for a Salon Magazine Reader's Choice Award! VOTE NOW! Be sure to vote for Great Lengths in the category of Best Hair Extension Brand. VOTING CLOSES THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 22. VOTERS WILL BE ENTERED FOR A CHANCE TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO THE CONTESSA AWARDS IN TORONTO (INCLUDING HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS!) Salon Magazine’s Reader's Choice Awards continues to be the only awards celebrating professional hair, nail and beauty products across Canada. Winners are selected by you: hair stylists, nail technicians and beauty experts who work with the products and tools on a daily basis. We have won our category 5 out of 6 years and would love to win again! We thank you in advance for your votes - a win for Great Lengths is a win for your salon!
Aaron O'Bryan was on Marilyn Denis this past Friday talking hair extensions. Watch below for answers to some of the most common questions about hair extensions. These are the Rolls Royce of extensions, these are the best extensions you can get. -AARON O'BRYAN ON GREAT LENGTHS
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