The Canadian Hairstylist of the Year Awards, the Contessa’s, celebrate the best in Canadian professional beauty. It’s the biggest night of the year for the Canadian Beauty Industry and Great Lengths Canada could not have been more excited to be there on November 10, 2019 as a Silver Sponsor. For those who have never been to, or perhaps even heard of the Contessa’s, we highly recommend you check out the webcast of the show, and if ever you get the chance, attend in person. It is a high-energy professional production; the Academy Awards of the Canadian beauty industry some might say! The Contessa Awards will make you truly appreciate and recognize the immense amount of creativity in the beauty industry in Canada. The awards, held at The Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto, began with a packed room enjoying cocktail hour. The diverse crowd of creative beauty professionals enjoyed champagne, music, mingling and the very popular confetti photo booth. Following cocktail hour, guests were welcomed to the event by Contessa Host, and highly regarded Canadian hairstylist and Cityline broadcast personality, Bill Rowley. What followed was three hours of inspired speeches, interactive polls and amazing runway presentations from Moroccan Oil, Wella Professionals and Pulp Riot Moroccan Oil’s fierce runway show featured models with floor-length, rainbow coloured dreadlocks, ultra-long spiked ponytails and bright pink waves. Moroccan Oil Artistic Director described their inspiration as “Every colour is beautiful to someone”, and promised, “a lot of colour and a lot of bling.” The show did not disappoint. Fittingly choreographed to Ariana Grande’s track, I Want It I Got It, models wore every colour of the rainbow, topped with glamourous glitter and gold accents. Wella presented a runway show by British Salon, D&J Ambrose. Brimming with rock and roll attitude, models walked the runway to a mash up of David Bowie’s Fashion, Queen’s We Will Rock You, Rage Against the Machine’s Killing in the Name of and Prodigy’s Breath. Highlighting the styling of D&J Ambrose, the runway show had host Bill Rowley declaring, “There’s nothing like Brit Style.” Pulp Riot, last but certainly not least, was the final entertainment of the night with an intense presentation of live cutting and styling. Choreographed to Uprising, by Muse, stylists trimmed, cut, shaved, and styled, while models walked the runway rocking Pulp Riot hair colour, a punk-rock attitude, and shirts that said, “We are the riot.” And of course, amongst the high-energy presentations was the awarding of the coveted Contessas. Twenty four awards were presented in total, to hairstylists, colourists, makeup artists, and nail artists. In addition to these categories, an award for community service and one for salon interior design. Great Lengths Canada’s own, Sandy Regan, VP of Sales and Marketing, was pleased to present the award for Texture Hairstylist of the year to Julie Vriesinga of Salon Entrenous in London, Ontario OTHER TOP HONOURS INCLUDED: Canadian Colourist of the Year, awarded to Maggie Semaan, Hause of Rtists by Maggie Semaan, Laval Quebec; Canadian Hairstylist of the Year, awarded to Tracy Newton, Aveda Institute Toronto; Elite Master Hair Stylist of the Year, to Dorothy Tsang, Blushes Ottawa (whose Husband, Silas Tsang, was awarded that same honour at last year’s Contessa’s!) and, Canadian Salon Team of the Year, awarded to Harmony Hair Care in Peterborough, Ontario. VIEW THE FULL LIST OF CONTESSA WINNERS. Follow Great Lengths Canada on Instagram and Facebook for more highlights.
Great Lengths Canada is extremely proud to once again be a Sponsor of the very prestigious Contessa Awards. The Contessas, or the Canadian Hairstylist of the Year Awards, have a long-running track record of excellence, and as such are the gold standard in Canadian beauty. Since 1988, the Contessas have brought the best of Canada’s talent together to measure their creativity in a photo-based competition. The Contessas are open to all licensed beauty professionals across Canada, from coast to coast. Categories span across all aspects of the beauty industry, with awards for hairstylists, colourists, nail artists, and makeup artists; salon interiors, and an award for community service. Winners are blindly selected; identities of the entrants remain anonymous for the judging of the photo-based contest. The judges include two prestigious panels of independent experts from within the Canadian professional beauty industry… A Contessa win is a huge addition to an entrant’s portfolio and reputation. Crowning the Contessa winners takes place at a glamorous gala in Toronto, with more than 1,000 guests in attendance. The big night kicks off with a lavish cocktail party and is followed by a formal sit-down dinner. The evening is rounded out with a show featuring the awards ceremony and inspiring presentations by leading hairstylists. The Great Lengths Canada team will be there to cover all the excitement! For an inside look at Contessa31, be sure to follow Great Lengths Canada. We’ll be sharing highlights throughout the evening on social. Keep an eye on our Instagram Stories on November 10, 2019 to be inspired by this spectacular display of creativity, style and excellence in beauty. To read more about the Contessas, learn how to enter, and for helpful hints to get an edge over the competition for next year, visit the Salon Magazine website.
BY STEVEN MATHEW We’re so excited to introduce this guest blog by the Insta-Famous, ultra-talented, Great Lengths Champion: Steven Mathew. If you haven’t heard of Steven, well, you must be new to the world of Great Lengths. He’s well known for his amazing transformations, his excellent and educational social content, and his clients who fly from all over the world to entrust him with the application of their hair extensions. As a trusted source to so many, we thought Steven would be the perfect person to discuss how Great Lengths Hair Extensions are applied. Let’s be honest– Hair extensions aren’t going anywhere. They’ve gained a lot of popularity in recent years thanks to social media, but they’re not just a passing trend… they’re a timeless and luxurious hair accessory. New hair extension application methods are popping up constantly, but Great Lengths’ methods continue to be the most recognized and trusted on the market. Great Lengths offers three different hair extension application methods. LEARN HOW EACH OF THEM IS APPLIED BELOW. 1. CLASSIC THERMAL FUSION KERATIN BONDED METHOD The “OG” application method. Developed in the early 90s, this patented method of keratin bonded attachment continues to be one of the safest and most sought-after extension techniques available to this day. With this method of thermal attachment, small quarter-inch square sections of your natural hair are selected, and pre-bonded extensions of equal density are applied (strand by strand). They are then rolled around the natural hair just below the root, making them comfortable and safe, with full range of motion. This means when applied correctly, ponytails are totally doable! Great Lengths’ keratin is often imitated, but what makes it so unique is its ability to mimic the structure of human hair on a molecular level. I know, I know– that’s quite a mouthful. So here’s what you need to know... This keratin is hypoallergenic and will respond to heat and moisture the same way our natural hair will. When it gets wet or heated, it will expand and contract with our natural hair. This is especially important for clients wanting worry-free wear for several months at a time. Applications start with several washes with Great Lengths Clean Removal Shampoo, followed up with a blow dry. Then begins the application of keratin bonds and to finish: a blending haircut! The process generally takes several hours, but the trade-off is no return salon visits for maintenance until months later, when it’s time to remove them. With proper home care, these bonds will stand the test of time and be the closest, most natural hair extension to that of your own hair! 2. ULTRASONIC COLD FUSION KERATIN BONDED METHOD Great Lengths offers versatile application options; the same keratin bonded hair extensions can also be applied with the 5000 Ultrasonic machine. Similar to the thermal method, Cold Fusion applies a customized strand of equal density to natural hair, using quarter-inch square sections around the head. Rather than directly heating the keratin bond, this machine uses a high-frequency ultrasonic vibration to soften the keratin, allowing the stylist to mould and shape it to the client’s natural hair. This application is safe and versatile. It offers the ability to create flat bonds that fan out and lay flat to the head, offering a sleeker look and a very natural fall to the hair. The preparation for the Ultrasonic Cold Fusion Keratin Bonded Great Lengths is the same as the Classic Thermal method. Like the Classic Thermal method, the Cold Fusion method will take several hours to achieve your dream ‘do. When applied by a certified professional, this method of attachment also yields several months of consecutive maintenance-free wear… Totally worth it! 3. GL TAPES & GL TAPES+ GL Tapes and GL Tapes+ were developed to be a quick and reusable semi-permanent hair extension method; perfect for individuals who wish to change up their look frequently! What makes these babies so enticing is the ability to completely transform your hair in approximately 1-2 hours. After a series of clarifying shampoos with the Clean Removal Shampoo and a blow dry, the GL Tapes or Tapes+ are applied by sandwiching two pieces together using a surgical grade adhesive tape on each side of a very thin slice of the client’s natural hair, just below the root. This is (of course!) followed with a blending haircut to finish. Personally, I love semi-permanent technology like GL Tapes for quick changes, photoshoots, and especially for brides who want to have dream hair for their bachelorette, big day, AND honeymoon! Lasting approximately 4 weeks between maintenance visits, these are a fantastic choice for guests wanting a quick and reusable hair extension system. Great Lengths stylists are highly trained in determining which method of attachment might be right for you. During the consultation, you and your stylist will discuss looks, choose textures, lengths and colour effects. We will also, of course, outline pricing for your enhanced look. A consultation is the perfect time to arrive with your hair in its natural state so your stylist can properly assess it for the best match possible. If you are a client looking for more information on what method of hair extension might be right for you, to find a stylist in a city near you! If you’re a stylist looking to become certified in one of our award-winning methods, view our upcoming education dates here.
Who's wearing Great Lengths hair extensions? Long, flowing hair – an ideal of beauty exemplified by numerous female stars from the movie and music industry. Yes, hair extensions are pretty ubiquitous in Hollywood these days. But who, exactly, is wearing them? Quite surprising and exciting, is how real and candid stars have gotten about their decision to wear hair extensions. Notably, Gwyneth Paltrow, Amal Clooney and Natalia Dyer - just to name a few - have publicly stated their preference for Great Lengths extensions. Even though hair extensions can be used to add more volume, or to give a bit more length, these women are more into changing up their look completely for special occasions, by using our extensions for pull-ups or for mermaid-length hair. But Great Lengths is popular also among men. No wonder if one of our clients is the American idol Steven Tyler, the lead singer and front man of Aerosmith, whose funky strands are branded Great Lengths. He is so affectionate to us, that he has also been the judge of the hair extension contest organized by Great Lengths USA.
Meg Kowalski is a stylist at Evolve Hair Studio in Toronto. From a young age, haircutting was a true passion for Meg. She aims to give her guests haircuts that not only looks great when they leave the salon, but also looks great when they come back. She was recently certified with Great Lengths and we are so excited to get to know her! Tell us a bit about you and your career! How did you get your start, and what has led you to where you are today? Hair has always been one of my biggest passions. Growing up I was that friend; always testing out new styles and trends on friends and prepping their hair before a big event. There was no question, I was going to spend my life doing hair. I was born and raised in Winnipeg where I attended hair school and then moved to Toronto shortly after graduation. Being in a city that is fashion forward, where people are always experimenting with the latest trends has helped my career immensely. I have learned from some incredible leaders and well-established talent in my own back yard! I am very grateful for a career that allows me to connect with such amazing clients and colleagues. How long have you been working with Great Lengths, What was your inspiration to join the GL network? I’ve only been working with Great Lengths for 6 months! I’ve always loved using extensions to transform my own hair, and I wanted to create that same magic for my clients. What impact has being a Great Lengths Artist had on you and your business? Great Lengths has had a significant and positive impact on growing my clientele and helping me reach my full potential! For the client that isn’t looking to lose length with a haircut, I now have the skillset to help them achieve their goal hair. What do you love about Great Lengths? What I love about Great Lengths is the ability to customize the bond size; always maintaining equal density between my client’s natural hair and the extension strand. Because Great Lengths are installed strand by strand, there can be very few installed simply to correct a hole, or hundreds installed depending on the client’s needs. I love this intricacy! The ability to create highlights or balayage by combining multiple strand shades is another huge advantage. This achieves a customized and more natural blend, unique to every client. 3 bundles of 20” GL fusion extensions What is your personal favourite hair trend right now? Why do you love it? As a stylist who specializes in cutting, I especially love bobs; cropped, blunt or lived-in. Recently, I’ve loved using Great Lengths to help build density, giving my clients more confidence and giving their short haircut a stronger shape. Extensions aren’t only for long hair! Do you have any colour or style predictions for Fall 2019? My style prediction for Fall 2019 is thick, healthy hair. I believe at any length, we get confidence from having full bodied hair. Don’t see the need for extensions? Think again! Volume installations have been my favourite. Distributed only to build a little extra body and volume, a smaller than usual amount of bonds can make a huge difference! Do you have a style icon? Or a hair hero? My style icon and hair hero would definitely be Julianne Hough. From the red carpet to traveling the world with her hubby, she’s always stylish and comfortable. Julianne is iconic for her blonde locks that she experiments with at many different lengths. My personal favourite was her short look, coloured a rich natural, auburn shade. Gorgeous! If you could pick a celebrity, a public figure, anyone- whose hair would you love to work on? If I could pick a celebrity whose hair I’d like to work on, it would be Katy Perry. Her ever-changing hairstyles would be an extension artist’s dream! From platinum, short textured haircuts to high-shine glamorous long locks, she can do it all! She is all in when it comes to hair transformations. What or who do you look to for inspiration? I’m constantly looking at my Great Lengths’ peers via social media for inspiration. Their work inspires me and helps push my boundaries. What personality traits do you feel are most beneficial to your success? I think my attention to detail is key! Especially with Great Lengths, I am meticulous; I keep my work clean, organized and easy for my clients to wear comfortably. What advice would you offer newly certified stylists to best take advantage of their GL skillset? Start the conversation! Your current clientele comes to you to solve their hair struggles every day. Great Lengths could be the solution. Do you have any Great Lengths do's and don’ts? Do: keep your sections clean and organized. Use lots of clips. Personally, I love using no-crease hair clips to help hold away hair fallen from my larger clip. Don’t: rush the process; both you and your client will benefit from a tidy and meticulous application. What is your approach to social media for advertising your skills and business? Do you have any social media do’s, don’ts or guidelines you follow? I try to educate my current and potential clients; providing before and after photos, explaining the process. With Great Lengths, I always love to showcase their versatility. Two bundles of Great Lengths fusion extensions for strong bob What is your favourite part of being a stylist? My favourite part about being a stylist is being able to give my clients the hair they never thought was possible. I love giving clients their dream hair while maintaining (retaining) the integrity of their natural hair, or even helping it to grow. Do you have a favourite mantra, a quote or a saying you like to keep in mind? Your hair is an extension of yourself. What are your goals and aspirations moving forward? I want to be well established in the Great Lengths community; I’d love to have the majority of my clientele be GL clients! FOLLOW MEG ON INSTAGRAM. FIND EVOLVE HAIR STUDIO ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM.
As of August 2019, we have new colours available! We couldn’t be more excited to announce the launch of these three new seasonal fashion shades. LIVING CORAL, PANTONE’S COLOUR OF THE YEAR FOR 2019, INSPIRED THE FIRST OF GREAT LENGTHS THREE EXCITING NEW SHADES. Great Lengths’ new Coral shade is vibrant, yet mellow with golden undertones. This playful, warm shade is a bold expression of personality. We can’t wait to see it in action! GREAT LENGTHS’ SECOND NEW SEASONAL COLOUR, DUSTY PINK, FEATURES A DARK ROOT FLOWING INTO A BEAUTIFUL SHADE OF SOFT PINK. This perfectly blended rooted shade offers a touch of softness with a rosy glow. Its light pink tones are sweet and tender, while its dusty pink creates a sophisticated, upscale finish. OUR THIRD NEW SEASONAL SHADE IS PERFECT FOR FALL: AUTUMN FOLIAGE. It features a warm palette of rich and glossy shades of burnt orange and burnished copper tones. This colour is most definitely shades of Autumn, resembling the varied hues of the changing leaves. A flawless and subtle Autumn balayage just in time for Fall! What do you think of our new shades? Which one do you like best?
The secret to every Hollywood and Instagram star’s perfect hair? Hair extensions! Celeb Stylists use extensions to create the voluminous styles we lust after on stars from Beyoncé to Kylie Jenner. Like any other normal human being, celebrities sometimes need a little extra help achieving the length and volume in their star studded looks. Almost every female celebrity wears extensions at one point or another says, Los Angeles extension expert, Violet Teriti. “70 percent of female celebrities wear extensions these days. Most to create big volume.” Hair extensions to the rescue! Here are five of Great Lengths famous fans. JENNIFER LOPEZ Jennifer Lopez, general hair icon and constant style chameleon, experiments with her look frequently, and her frequent change ups most often require hair extensions. She’s never afraid to change up her look and try daring hairstyles, like a floor grazing long ponytail or animal print hair colour. Though she'll sport a cropped look from time to time, Lopez loves seriously long hair (she’s worn 50-inch hair extensions!) One of Lopez's many hair stylists, Lorenzo Martin, is a fan of Great Lengths for helping him achieve her jaw-dropping fabulous looks. EMMA ROBERTS Actress Emma Roberts first had Great Lengths applied towards the end of 2016 at, Nine Zero One (aka THE hottest celebrity hair salon in West Hollywood). Since, she has gone from short to long, blonde to brunette and back again, all with the help of Great Lengths. In June of this year, she transformed her short brunette style into a gorgeous lived-in blonde long look, with a bit of help from Great Lengths. Fast forward to July and she had already changed it up again! For American Horror Story: 1984, Roberts embraced a super-rich, chocolate brown colour and a fresh set of extensions. Her mid-length blunt cut with plenty of volume, thanks to GL, is versatile enough to be styled very ’80s for the show and still look modern off set. DEMI LOVATO This talented singer loves to shake things up and Great Lengths are the perfect tool to do just that. In 2016, she went from rocking a black bob to rocking a longer, lighter look. This evolution came thanks to Great Lengths and Nine Zero One salon (we weren’t exaggerating when we said it’s THE hottest celebrity hair salon in West Hollywood.) This 2016 transformation, her first major strand switch-up, used 16-inch Great Lengths and took six hours to create. A year later at the Grammys, she rocked waist length beachy waves- her longest hair ever. Now it seems Demi is a GL fan for life, most often rocking long, full locks. NIKKI BELLA If you need proof that Great Lengths hair extensions are compatible with an active lifestyle, look no further than Nikki Bella. The WWE star manages to look fabulous at all times, even in the midst of a wrestling match. She swears by Great Lengths, saying, “I must admit Great Lengths so far have been the only hair extension that can survive my butt kicking in the ring. I haven't lost a piece yet!” Take this as an indicator of Great Lengths durability- Nikki’s Kardashian-length hair stands up to A LOT in the ring. She’s been a fan for years, getting her Great Lengths done at Vidov Salon since the start. VANESSA HUDGENS Yet another Nine Zero One client to be graced with the magic that is Great Lengths; Vanessa Hudgens recently got legit mermaid hair, locks down to her waist that had her Instagram followers obsessed. She told followers her new ultra-long locks were for an upcoming role. In previous years, Vanessa transformed a short, choppy pixie cut for her role as a homeless teen in the film, Gimme Shelter, into a long bob with side swept bangs. Before that, she experimented with Great Lengths Fashion Shades in red flow strands. This actress is clearly a fan of Great Lengths’ versatility.
With a new season comes new trends. It’s natural to feel the shift in the season and get the itch to change your look. If you’re looking for a bit of inspiration to do so, you’ve come to the right spot. HERE ARE FIVE HAIR TRENDS WE LOVE FOR THE FALL SEASON. Crimped Waves Yes, we’re reviving the classic crimped hair, the zig-zag pattern that adds texture and volume. Runway hairstylists tend to return to the crimped look every few years, and we think this might be the year crimped hair goes mainstream again. Top hairstylists from this Fall’s New York Fashion Week used large crimpers on center-parted hair to create a voluminous look that extended the hair from the scalp slightly outwards creating a triangular shape. To create a disco look at Michael Kors, a crimping iron was used selectively to add volume and texture on models that didn’t have a natural curl. Uniform, crimped waves have been spotted on the red carpet as well. This definitely isn’t the crimped hair of your youth, instead it’s unexpectedly chic. A trick: braid your hair tightly in small sections and go over them with a flatiron. Crimped Waves Visible Bobby Pins We love bling and extremes, but sometimes simplicity is simply perfect. Visible bobby pins are a restrained, minimalist accessory for Fall 2019. Soft waves and a side part kept neat with the help of a single bobby pin created a sweet schoolgirl effect on the runways at Fall 2019’s NYFW. Jumbo, metallic bobby pins applied alongside pulled-back hair add a touch of shine to an otherwise clean and simple look. We all have bobby pins, so this is perhaps the easiest look to try at home. Part your hair deep to one side, ladder three pins together and slide them in right above your cheekbone. Bobby Pins Pastel Touches & Pops of Colour Bright, fun colours will be sticking around for Fall! These colours are always popular but U.S Soccer star Megan Rapinoe seems to be providing woman around the world with colour inspiration with her hot pink, pastel rose, and vibrant lilac colour choices. While fashion shades in general will continue to trend (think blue on Hilary Duff and multi coloured on Kelis), the influence of this strong, powerful woman seems to have pink hue shades resonating that much more. Great Lengths is here for this trend! Two of our three newly introduced seasonal shades, “Dusty Pink” and “Living Coral”, are fantastic options for those looking to introduce some colour to their locks for Fall. Read more about our new shades. Pastel Touches & Pops of Colour Low Ponytails Sorry Ariana Grande, high ponies are out, and low ponies are in; the low-hanging ponytail is a classic! This look is seen on the runways and on the red carpets in a variety of styles; from straight and sleek, to impossibly glossy, and intricately embellished. The secret to an easy, elegant low pony is to hide the hair tie with a strand of hair. We love this look because it can be refreshingly fuss-free. Next time you sleep through your alarm, consider whipping your hair into a low ponytail and smoothing the top. Imperfectly tie a ribbon around and voila. As fuss-free as it is, a low ponytail can still look very stylish; paired with evening wear, this understated style works perfectly. Low Ponytails Long Bob If the recent haircuts of style icons Celine Dion, Reese Witherspoon or Jennifer Lopez are any indication, long bobs - otherwise known as lobs – are in. This versatile cut has little to no layers, hits just above the shoulders and leaves enough length to be able to pull your hair back. It’s a good cut for anyone going short for the first time, or for someone who needs to let go of long, damaged hair. For those with shorter styles, extensions will give the length you need for the perfect lob (and is more achievable than going from short to ultra-long). Lacking volume? Extensions can correct this too, by filling in the finer areas and creating thick, beautiful, healthy-looking hair - all necessary ingredients of the perfect lob. Long Bob
A new definition of the classical before/after We aspire to enhance every woman’s unique personality through bespoke looks expressing different individual souls. This is the reason why we think that the traditional way to express the concept of radical change through the so-called before/after images is too limited to convey the whole potential of our message. It goes without saying, that the classical before/after images are an effective communication technique, which has become very familiar to the end consumer, who immediately understands the meaning of the message. On the other hand, given one before, our hair extensions allow for so many different after! As we perceived the simple before/after communication technique as limited, we chose to no longer use the “before and after” definition but, instead, the “beauty tech” name, meaning a technically effective look change demonstration, which still has an aesthetic appeal and a broader meaning, by showing the middle stages of the transformations as well as, most important, different final results that can be achieved, thanks to different hair styles. That's why, in our technical materials, you will find not only two images (before and after), but a whole sequence of pictures for each of our models. This means a flow of images, a dynamic storytelling empowering what extensions can do, in terms of not only length, but also volume. The sequence displays all the different steps of the transformation and gives value to the whole personality of the woman, by showing her face, her full body, by telling her thoughts, feelings and emotions about the transformation itself.
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