The Salon Movement

Moving Salons Forward Sustainably

Spring Into Sustainability!

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Spring is arriving next week and for most of us, it will be welcomed with open arms! It’s the perfect time of year to re-evaluate how eco-friendly you’re being in your life.

Here are a few easy ways you can change to be more eco in your home and work life this Spring:

Decrease Your Water Usage

At both your home and business, there are a lot of things you can do to reduce your water use. If you don’t have low flow toilets or shower heads, get those installed — they’re not as expensive as you may think. Don’t know where to look? We’re big advocates of the products that ECOHEADS offers.

Be mindful of water by only turning it on when it’s time to rinse your hair, teeth or dishes instead of letting it run. Install eco-friendly, water-conserving dishwashers and washing machines and only run full loads. And why not put some old buckets outside to collect rainwater to water your garden and indoor plants?

Reduce Your Energy Use

Switch to energy efficient appliances if possible especially with the ones you use the most. Assess your lighting and heating options, maybe it’s time to go with solar options. If this isn’t in the cards quite yet, there are other small steps you can take which will help. Turn off all lights and machines when they’re not in use, replace your light bulbs with LED or CFL bulbs, and wear a sweatshirt instead of cranking the heat.

Change Your Products

Eco-friendly products can be found everywhere these days. If you’re a DIYer, it can be as simple as mixing baking soda and vinegar to clean most of your surfaces!

Natural beauty products are better than ever, and you know that by supporting sustainable beauty, you’re doing good for your skin and the environment. If your salon isn’t already carrying Davines products, what are you waiting for?

Clear The Clutter

“Spring cleaning” time is here and this year, you’re not only going to give everything a good clean, you’re going to be ruthless in purging everything you don’t need. It may take some time but go through everything at home and at work and donate or recycle what you don’t need. Keeping old paperwork and unnecessary items can weigh us down mentally and emotionally.

Reduce and Recycle

So now that you’ve cleared away all your clutter, you certainly don’t need to add any more back in again. Set up a system that allows you to reduce your waste. Don’t print out emails, stay away from disposable products, and recycle everything you can’t re-use.

Shop Smartly

“Fast fashion”, a term used by fashion retailers to describe inexpensive designs that move quickly from the catwalk to stores to meet new trend, is popular these days. Think the stores that offer you shirts for only a few dollars but will only last you a few months. Clothing is becoming a huge environmental issue in the way it’s manufactured and sold. Instead, look for sustainable fashion when you can and know that you’re doing good for the earth while purchasing a quality piece.

This is the same for towels and sheets you use every day. Spending a little bit more money on Bamboo or other sustainable fabrics will last longer and be kinder to the earth.

Support local markets which carry produce from sustainable, chemical-free farmers. Switch to fair trade items when purchasing coffee, tea and chocolate whenever possible.

Start A Garden

Spring is the perfect time to start a garden even if it’s just a small container garden on your windowsill. Plants have many everyday uses besides looking pretty. In fact, growing plants that naturally purify the air will help you breathe easier. Aloe plants can be useful for small injuries, instead of turning to chemical-based creams to soothe those small burns or cuts.

Growing your own herbs and vegetables is a life changer. You’ll save money plus eating something YOU have grown tastes amazing!

Join The Movement!

If your salon hasn’t already become a part of The Movement, it’s time to make the leap. This will put you ahead of your competitors, and you can rest easy knowing you’re doing what’s best for everyone. Find out more now.

Davines Products Your Salon MUST Carry

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“By creating beauty sustainably, we encourage people to take care of themselves, of the environment in which they live & work, of the things they love.” — Davines.

If you haven’t already discovered the wonderful sustainable beauty line, Davines, we hope we’ll convince you to give them a try. The Salon Movement is proud to be a unified grassroots movement of sustainably-conscious Davines stylists and salon owners. Supporting Davines shows that you care about the earth, as well as your customer’s well-being.

Davines was founded, and continue to produce, in Parma, Italy, with development starting in the 1980s and products being ready to sell about a decade later. Davines truly believes in sustainability and is aiming to be the most beautiful and ethical company in the world.

We love every unique Davines product we use, and they truly do have something for everyone. If you’re looking to bring our your natural beauty, here are a few of their best-selling and award-winning products we think you should try:

Love Smoothing Shampoo & Conditioner

The best-selling LOVE duo from Davines has won a few different awards, and rightfully so! This shampoo and conditioner set is the perfect fit for anyone with dry, unruly hair that is prone to frizz. The olive extracts and vitamin E gently cleanse and add a smoothing dose of moisture.

Nounou Shampoo And Conditioner

Nounou Shampoo is yet another award winner from the Davines line and, along with the matching conditioner, is a dream. It’s a life (and hair!) saver for anyone who has brittle, dehydrated hair. Fiaschetto tomato is incorporated into the formula to provide the antioxidants and vitamin C which nourish hair completely.

The Oi Line

Several products in the Oi line have won awards and anyone who has used it has little doubt why. This multi-use line of products is perfect for just about anyone. It has the best ingredients to use on a day-to-day basis, when hair is behaving nicely and has no issues. Roucou oil is the key ingredient in this amazing line to keep hair and skin hydrated and soft.

This Is A Sea Salt Spray

This Is A Sea Salt Spray should be re-named “This is an amazing product!” A best-seller for many reasons, this spray provides amazing texture and style to any hair type and it smells so good!

The sea salt in this spray naturally gives tresses the perfect beachy waves many want to achieve without having to head to the ocean.

Well-Being Conditioner

The Well-Being Conditioner is an excellent all-around moisturizer for hair. Made with echinacea plant, this conditioner contains natural antimicrobial products which works to keep hair healthy and nourished.

Nourishing Vegetarian Miracle Conditioner

The Nourishing Vegetarian Miracle Conditioner is THE product to use to put life and moisture back into dry, damaged hair. It invigorates from the scalp right down to the ends of your hair to provide intense moisture and prevent breakage.

Acai oil is the miracle ingredient which provides your hair the protective antioxidants and restorative benefits it needs. Grape phytoceuticals add an extra source of antioxidants as well as polyphenols to keep hair healthy and strong.

If your salon, or personal collection, doesn’t include Davines, that needs to change right now, not only for the sake of beauty but for sustainability.

Davines has some very exciting collections coming out involving coffee, tea and honey. We can’t wait for these products, and to see what other revolutionary, sustainable ideas Davines has for our future.

Creative Ways To Market Your Sustainable Salon

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2018 is predicted to be a huge year for sustainable beauty, and a month in, we’re already seeing this! Now is the perfect time to grow your business.

Offer Free Services or Products

Wait, we’re telling you to give stuff away for free?! To get people through your door you may need to. Some people are still skeptical of sustainable products and services so it’s up to you to show them how incredible they can be.

Offering a free wash and style, or a complimentary bottle of shampoo when they book a service will allow them to experience the products and fall in love. And using the words “free” and “complimentary” rarely fails to get people interested.

Befriend Real Estate Agents In Your Area

Getting your name out to people new to your area is key! Talk to some local real estate agents about handing out your flyer to their new home buyers. Even if they’re not particularly looking for a sustainable salon, if your name is the first one they see, it may end up sticking with them.

Get Involved!

Community events are always popping up in the spring and summer. Search for some markets and festivals you can be a part of, join neighbourhood fundraisers, and attend local sporting events. Get your name out there and make some connections!

Some people may not have realized there’s a sustainable beauty salon in their area, or they could feel too intimidated to visit. Once people see a smiling face and realize what you can do for them, they’re more inclined to follow up.

Team Up

Utilize us, the Movement of Sustainable Salons! If you haven’t already joined us here – what are you waiting for? Team up with some local organic, green businesses as well so you can cross promote one another.

Be Your Brand

Always remember YOU are your brand. Live your passion and sustainable life wherever you are. Amp up your social media. Share pics along with occasional peeks into your life at the salon and as someone living the sustainable beauty movement. Get people excited to come see you!

Every time you step out in public be ready to start a conversation. Style your hair so people ask you what products you use, carry a bag with your salon name on it, and wear your Movement Gear. Get ready to be noticed!

Get Your Info Out To Young People

Advertise in places where teenagers and young adults hang out. Influencers want the newest, hottest thing, and sustainable beauty is on trend. Let them discover you, and spread the word to their networks.

And last of all, but arguably, the most important:

Don’t Forget Your Regular Clients

Trying to get new clients to walk through your door is great, but your regular clients are the key to your success. They already know and like you so why not offer them an incentive for recommending a friend (or three!) to you? Word of mouth is one of the best ways to build your business.

We wish you the best of luck building your salon in 2018! It’s going to be a BIG year and we’re working on some exciting new content to keep you up to date.

A Green-Inspired Holiday

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At a loss for what to buy friends and family over the holidays that they’ll cherish and won’t throw out after? We create so much trash around the holiday season from extra parties to gift wrapping and the unnecessary gifts themselves! Here at Salon Movement, we want consumers to vote with their dollar and also think about the kind of company and it’s ethics that they want to be supporting. Below is a small list of simple but thoughtful gifts that say “I care.”  

Abeego — In 2008, Toni Desrosiers decided to make a living, breathable food wrap that was entirely sustainable. This gave birth to Abeego!  You may have seen this incredible idea on Dragon’s Den or Buzzfeed but if you haven’t, it’s a food wrap made entirely of beeswax. You can reuse it, shape it, wash it and cut it to any size you need. These wraps are great stocking stuffers or part of a “green” centred gift.

Davines Products — As you know, we’re huge fans and supporters of Davines for a host of reasons. Ethical, sustainable and good for your body are just a few. Davines can be given as a whole gift or travel sizes can be popped into stockings too! With recyclable packaging and a large variety of hair and body care, there’s a little something for everyone.

An Outing — We don’t know about you but planning an event or outing with someone you want to give a gift to is even BETTER than a physical present. Going for a hike, paint night or an evening out on the town are all great ways to rekindle connection and create more memories. By planning and creating a special day or night with the one you care for shows how much you deeply care. Anyone can run to the store and grab a gift card but a unique event is much more thoughtful.

Jusu Body Products — Nothing says that you care about self-love more than gifting some beautiful non-toxic, organic body care products. Jusu Body is a line based out of Victoria, B.C. and they have a full range of amazing, pure, pulp-based lotions, scrubs, soaps and face care, too! Two of our personal favourites are the body lotions scented with essential oils and with no chemical fillers and the lip balms which are super creamy and nourishing.

We want you to have a “green” holiday and feel good about the purchases you’re making. This is not only going to force you to think about what you’re spending money on but also introduce new products to friends and family that may not be as familiar with the sustainable lifestyle! Happy Shopping!

Green Resources

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We are large supporters and contributors to the green initiatives in health, beauty and non-toxic body care. When we saw a market in desperate need for positive change, we made the necessary moves to bring Green Circle Salons and Davines to the west coast of Canada in a big way. By creating The Salon Movement, we sought to become a resource for other salons and businesses looking to go green and provide unwavering support. By choosing to foster our passion for the environment and hair, we’re striving to bring more awareness to people and prove that it’s worth it. Now we know that focusing on hair and body isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. So instead, we wanted to write this blog post to showcase other green initiatives we believe are important and necessary. A green initiative is defined as being a movement with the goal of offsetting Greenhouse gases. Below is a comprehensive list of resources that are a great place to start when wanting to go more “green.”

Documentaries:

Cowspirary – This documentary has stirred up a lot of controversy surrounding the link between meat consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. “The impact of livestock production on the planet is too often underestimated and overlooked.” The power of the livestock industry and the pull they have is enormous. This doc sheds light on an area no one wants to talk in-depth about.

Chasing Ice – The shrinking of the world’s ice caps is very real and visible evidence of climate change. James Balong, an environmental photographer, showcases the intense shrinkage taking place in “Chasing Ice”.

Blogs:

The Green Market Oracle – This comprehensive blog centres around the “convergence of sustainable capitalism and the global environment”. It’s run by Richard Matthews, a consultant, eco-entrepreneur, sustainable investor and writer. With a full list of resources and discussion about serious green-related issues, we highly recommend taking a look.

Ecochick – This cute and quirky blog focuses on food, travel, fashion, style and life for green-conscious women. The “ecochick is a consumer who’s tired of ‘environmentally friendly’ really meaning ‘expensive, inconvenient and ugly’. It’s time to make living green mainstream, fun, fresh and cool.” This is a great blog for moms and women interested in how they can make their lives more eco-friendly.

Businesses:

Organic Ocean – This small west coast company aims at providing consumers and local chefs sustainably-harvested seafood. With the world’s seafood levels at an all-time low, companies like these are integral to supporting our oceans ecosystems.

 

Contact us for more information on green initiatives in Victoria and what we’re doing to make a difference. → http://thesalonmovement.com/.