Canadian winters. They can be harsh, they can be cold, and they can be down-right unfriendly to our hair and our skin. While it’s impossible to avoid sleet and snow, there are a variety of things we can do to keep our hair and skin healthy all winter long. Say goodbye to dryness, breakage, and flaking with winter tips from our local experts. 

The simplest way to take care of both our skin and our hair is to make sure we stay hydrated. Adding extra hydration is as simple as drinking more water, but Elena Dyagileva, the owner of Bodega Wellness in Burlington, adds, “Another way to prevent dry skin during the winter months is to find a moisturizer you can use every day.” 

At Bodega Wellness, Dyagileva offers CBD products that are full of ingredients the skin loves. “CBD is proven to carry high anti-inflammatory properties while also being a natural antioxidant, signifying that it can help lessen the visible signs of aging skin,” she says. “By counteracting free-radical damage, CBD oils and creams may help diminish issues such as wrinkles, skin dullness, firmness, and reddish skin tones.”

The same can be said for hair care. Liana Cortina at Salon 360 in Aldershot says hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, “The winter takes the moisture right out of our hair. I always recommend a weekly deep conditioning mask for my clients. Let it sit on the hair for 20 minutes. You can also hydrate your hair over night with an oil. It’s important to put the moisture we lose back into the hair.”

Both Teo Manning, owner of Gyökér Hair in Oakville, and Laura Bradburn, owner of Styled Lounge in Burlington say extra hydration is a must. “In the winter, the efforts of moisturizing our hair should not necessarily be increased, but consistent. Winter can be very harsh, so, if you skip opportunities to moisturize your hair, it can quickly lead to breakage,” says Manning.

A common mistake is over-washing and over-styling our hair. By washing our hair every day and using products like hairspray and mousse, our hair is stripped of natural oils that the scalp needs.

“We often make the mistake of washing our hair too often,” Bradburn says. “Even with the right products, it can strip the good, natural stuff from your hair. Focus on training your hair to be washed less often by using dry shampoo instead of washing every day.” Liana adds, hot showers can dry our scalp and hair, so it’s best to rinse with lukewarm water. 

Before the cold sets in, Bradburn recommends getting a head-start on beating the dryness by using a multi-benefit product, such as a hair mask. Manning also suggests sleeping with a silk pillowcase or using a humidifier in your home to contribute to healthy hair.

The general consensus from all of our experts: moisture is key. The elements can be harsh and make our hair and skin more prone to damage – sun included. Invest in a good moisturizer, a great conditioner, and wear a hat (damp hair makes colour fade faster). With these tips, you’ll come out of the winter months glowing – even if you can’t take the much-needed vacation down south.

Written By: Allie Murray

LOCAL LINKS

1. Bodega Wellness, Burlington – bodegawellness.com
2. Gyoker Hair, Oakville – gyokerhair.com
3. Styled Lounge, Burlington – styledlounge.ca
4. Salon 360, Burlington – salon360.ca
5. Anise Modern Apothecary, Burlington – aniseapothecary.com

Victoria Garofalo had been working as a biologist for almost ten years but felt like something was missing in her life. What she wanted was a job where she could help create a healthier world. Victoria has two young children and was worried about their futures. The problem was how to accomplish that. “I wanted to do more to not only reduce our family’s waste footprint but help others in our community do the same,” said Garofalo.

After months of research, Garofalo set up a business that sells eco-friendly products that reduce waste by reducing consumption and packaging. Welcome to A Greener Place in Waterdown, where all products are made of organic and vegan formulations and are respectful to the environment in that they don’t include carcinogens, parabens, phosphates, or sulfates. “The products we carry are meant to last, but they also carry a responsible footprint when they reach the end of their lifespan,” said Garofalo.

Cleaning products for the home include a toilet bowl cleaner that’s made from baking soda, citric acid, and peppermint essential oil. Her products for the body include a brown sugar body scrub and clay deodorant made of coconut oil. All packaging is reusable, refillable, or locally handmade.

For those getting into zero waste, Garofalo said the concept can be a little daunting which is why she suggests people start by simply replacing a single-use product with a reusable or plastic-free option. “Thoughtful and reduced consumption is a more realistic approach to reducing your everyday waste,” advises Garofalo.

When the pandemic hit, Garofalo introduced a mason jar deposit/refund program where customers pre-fill clean mason jars with refill products and people return the empty jars which are sanitized and reused.

A Greener Space is one of a handful of zero-waste stores that have popped up recently in response to the public’s growing desire to preserve and respect the environment.

At EcoFillosophy in Bronte, the goal of co-founders, Thanh To and Renata Darling, is to encourage people to live more sustainably. They sell all-natural home and personal care products that come in packaging that can be reused, refilled, or recycled. “We aim to keep our footprint small by targeting small-batch makers from across Canada,” said To, who launched the full-service refillery shop in July.

Their products include laundry detergent, dish and hand soaps, shampoos, lotions, deodorants, toothpaste, and floss. They offer glass and aluminum jars and tins, as well as pumps and sprayers that customers can purchase or borrow. Customers can also bring their own empty, clean, and dry containers. 

Since COVID-19 hit, they’ve been disinfecting all containers brought to the shop before and after filling.

While their customers range in age and backgrounds, To said their similarity is that “they are all trying to do the best for their families and the world around us.” “Some have been refilling for years and come with well-loved containers to cart their goods home,” said To.

Koby Hicks’s inspiration to open the Refillery Market came to her while she was throwing out an empty laundry detergent dispenser.  “I stopped in my tracks thinking, Why can’t I simply refill this bottle and continue to use it?”

As owner/operator, Hicks said Refillery Market offers Canadian-made products that are free from harmful chemicals to protect people and the environment.  They offer home essentials in bulk along with zero-waste goods like shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, mouthwash and lotion, detergents, cleaning vinegar, and dryer balls. Eliminating plastic waste is their end goal so they buy in bulk. Once the product has been used, they take the packaging back to sanitize and reuse.

Hicks normally sells their products at the Burlington Farmers’ Market and The Civitan Farmers Market in Oakville, but has switched since the pandemic to focus more on home delivery within the local area.  Orders are now delivered in 3 sizes of mason jars, with a $2 deposit fee.  Once customers are ready to refill their jars, they leave the empty ones on the doorstep on the delivery day, and they are swapped with the full ones!

Besides their love of the environment and clean-products, each of these forward-thinking establishments has another thing in common, “We’re bringing back the milkman method,” said Hicks.

Written By: Denise Davy

Local Links

• A Greener Place, Waterdown
  

• EcoFillosophy, Oakville 
  

• Refillery Market, Burlington