Greg's Gift Guide - Super Easy, Top Rated Gift Ideas

Well it's really starting to look a lot like Christmas with fake snow blanketing San Francisco storefronts and downtown parking garages horrendously full. Save yourself some time and money this year and shop online. Or call us and we'll help make Christmas shopping easy for you.

Here are a few top rated Aveda gift ideas for you at a range of prices.  Each of these top picks are rated at five stars by people who've purchased them. From $26 to $56 there's a little something for everyone. Here's what I recommend...

 

The Gift of Pure Relief

This is a great little wintertime set. Great gift for people dealing with wintery dryness, keep one for youself and gift the other.
gift set ($56 value)
24 of 25 (96%) of Aveda customers recommend this product to a friend.
» Shop Aveda

Rosemary Mint Set
One of the most popular and versatile products made by Aveda.  It smells like winter, a great way to wake up in the morning.  Amazing on fine or oily hair.  An essential top seller.
gift set $37.00
121 of 126 (96%) of Aveda customers recommend this product to a friend.
» Shop Aveda 

Go for smooth
Bay Area winters are especially damp. Remember, you’re in control, you don’t have to fizz out!
gift set $26.50
428 of 447 (96%) of Aveda customers recommend Smooth Infusion™ Shampoo.
392 of 415 (94%) of Aveda customers recommend Smooth Infusion™ Conditioner.
» Shop Aveda 

Shampure™ Soy Wax Candle

Everybody loves it. It’s refillable and green. You can not go wrong.
"Calming aroma of 25 pure flower and plant essences—including certified organic lavender, petitgrain and ylang ylang—in a candle that burns cleanly, completely."
9.7 oz/275 g $32.00
177 of 185(96%)of Aveda customers recommend this product to a friend.
» Shop Aveda

Hey SF tech start-ups! We have a deal for you!

Does it look like your developers sleep under their desks? Your team has worked hard this year so why not reward them with some Lounge time?  I don’t know anybody who doesn’t crave any of our fabulous services. Whether it’s a massage or a manicure, there’s something for everyone at the Lounge. You can still give Barber Lounge gift cards to your team for the holidays and receive 20% extra. This is a no-brainer if your office is located South of Market in San Francisco.

We’re close to Moscone Center convenient to the epicenter of technology & culture in SF.  Drop by, or call us to get hooked up.

Bay Area Beauty Blogger Kaitlyn Visits The Lounge - Video

A few weeks ago we were visited by beauty blogger Kaitlyn to be featured in this awesome video blog for Kaitlyn's Beauty Journal. We were thrilled to be a part of this Asian American show on KTSF. 

Here Kaitlyn discusses the importance of a great night sleep and explores the Aveda Chakra System with our spa team leader, Stephanie.




In the second video, Kaitlyn and Stephanie talk about how to combat acne with Aveda. Just in time too, since there's no bigger bummer than wearing spots at your holiday party.

Great job spa team leader Stephanie, you rocked it!!!

Fight The Frizz Forum, 10 easy steps for Fall

Save the crazy hairstyle for Halloween and control bad hair days and fly away frizz. There are a few easy steps to help minimize your "finger in a socket" look for the next few months.

Let's start at the beginning of your day...

1 - Use the right shampoo and conditioner. Yes! It really does make a big difference. If you're prone to big hair, you'll want to use a very emollient shampoo that will add some weight to your hair. I like Aveda's Smooth Infusion line.

2 - Don't rinse out your conditioner all the way. Leave in just a little bit to help tame the mane.

4 - Add a leave-in conditioner to prep your hair and protect it from the heat of styling. Adding a straightening serum with some hold on top of that will ensure that your blow out will last through the storm.

5 - Having a good blow drier is huge! Make sure it's Tourmaline Charged, Ionic and at least 1800 watts. Tourmaline is a mineral that when heated will seal moisture to your cuticle, and the positive ions make for a faster, frizz-free blowout. My favorite blow drier is the Sedu Revolution Green drier. It's a light-weight, hot-wind powerhouse that uses less power than most driers, so you get a lot of bang for your buck, and it's better for the environment.

6 - Blow dry your hair using your hands until it's 70% dry, then section off your hair just above the ears and start working with a round brush from the nape up. It sounds time consuming, but it will save time in the long run. Make sure to invest in a good Boar Bristle Round brush. The bristles really grab the hair and pull the strands straight and smooth without tangles. Make sure the hair is 100% dry when you finish - if it's even slightly wet, it will frizz. Finish with a cool blast using the cool button on your drier. Hair is workable when it's warm, and cooling it will lock down your style.

7 - Finish with a few drops of glossing serum from the ponytail down and a light mist of aerosol hairspray. If you have fly-aways, spray some hairspray on your hands and smooth down what's sticking out. After this finish, your blow dry should last a few days.

8 - At bed time, wrap your hair into a bun or top knot, secure it with a non binding piece of fabric, or wrap your head in a silk scarf. Sleeping on down pillows with cotton cases is hard on hair and a surefire way to ruin a good blow out.

9 - Try going a few days before washing your hair. If you get oily easily, use a dry shampoo: spray at the root, give it a minute to soak up the oil, then blow dry out the excess and brush your hair with a paddle brush. Your hair and scalp will thank you. Your natural oils are really the best conditioner for your hair, and a good dry shampoo can re-vamp a 2-day old blow out like nobody's business.

10 - If you MUST wash your hair, apply conditioner from the pony tail down and just shampoo your scalp. Hair doesn't need to be washed every day, and shampooing your ends too frequently will remove your hair's natural oils, which are nature's best frizz fighters.