Why not get ready now for all of your travel (or staycation) plans! Here is a breakdown of our top products we cannot leave the house without.
STYLE YOUR HAIR
Did you know that some of our FAVORITE brands that we carry are located and manufactured right here in Canada?! We love to support, uplift, and celebrate our Canadian brands!
AG HAIRCARE
AG is manufactured in Vancouver since 1989. AG is always looking out for us by continually replacing many ingredients in their products as they discover better, milder and more natural alternatives. AG is also PETA approved (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than 6.5 million members and supporters). Another reason AG is a Zennkai Favorite is their partnership with 'One Girl Can' (A charity that provides educational opportunities to girls in Africa through building schools, offering highschool and university scholarships and providing mentorship programs). A portion of every bottle sold supports this charity!
Father’s Day is almost here, so treat him to one of our favorite lines catered to men: Kerastase Genesis Homme! Genesis Homme is the ultimate hair care solution for men to prevent hair loss and hair thinning. It instantly acts on every hair fiber for thicker hair while treating hair thinning in the long run. Genesis Men features two shampoos, a hair spray, a hair serum, and a thickening clay. Formulated with key ingredients such as ginger roots, creatine, and aminexil, helping you get stronger, thicker hair that is easier to style.
BAIN DE FORCE QUOTIDIEN SHAMPOO
Clarifying & Purifying Shampoo
An instant hair thickening modeling clay for weakened hair, prone to thinning.
Did you know we offer Zennkai exclusive bundles? PLUS! You save 10% off?! That’s right, your favorite brands and products, bundled together, with a 10% savings! Here are our favorite bundles:
ETHICA HAIR LOSS FAVORITES BUNDLE
Best for: Thinning & Hair Loss
We get this question ALL THE TIME - what is the difference between TITANIUM, CERAMIC and TOURMALINE hot tools? Choosing the best flat iron or curling wand for your hair can actually be much more difficult than it seems. Turns out, one isn't always strictly better than the others. What you choose will depend more on your needs and hair-type! Here is a breakdown to help you choose the best one for you!
CERAMIC
Best for: Fine and/or damaged hair
In the spirit of Earth Month, we wanted to break down some of our favorite clean beauty brands that we carry here at Zennkai! From sustainability to vegan formulas, check out these amazing brands:
Created in California in 2001, Pureology was born from a powerful idea: create the best professional products for color-treated hair. Color care without compromise is the POWER OF PUREOLOGY. We created our customized, high performance formulas while caring for our planet and animals with beauty and integrity in mind. As the pioneer of PROFESSIONAL VEGAN COLOR CARE & ZEROSULFATE® formulas, we strive to make women feel beautiful with good-for-you hair care.
April is EARTH MONTH! Did you know that Canadians use more than twice as much water as Europeans! How much water? On average, a typical Canadian consumes 335L of water daily, or the equivalent of 670 standard water bottles (500ml). Let us help you reduce your water usage with a few easy suggestions!
CHANGE YOUR SHOWER ROUTINE
Dry shampoo is the PERFECT solution to extend your hair styles, inadvertently allowing you to shower less (or at least take less time). On average, every minute of shower time equates to 2 gallons of water. If you shower daily, cutting back your shower time by just a minute could save sixty gallons of water per month! Here are a couple of our favorite dry shampoos:
While washing hands, dishes, and brushing your teeth, as well as while shaving at the sink, sometimes it seems easier to just leave the water running even when you’re not using it. But shutting off the faucet while washing your hands or doing other tasks can save more water than you think. During a 20-second hand wash, you could waste a quarter of a gallon of water. And with all the hand washing we’re doing these days, that really adds up.
RUN SHORTER WASHING CYCLES
Additionally, wash clothes on the shortest cycle on your washing machine. Make sure not to add an additional rinse cycle, and use cold water whenever possible. Avoid the permanent press cycle as well, as it uses both warm and cold water plus an extra rinse.
WASH YOUR CLOTHES LESS OFTEN
While gym clothes, socks, and underwear should definitely be washed after each wear, any clothing that does not gather sweat, visible dirt, or anything else can probably be worn again before you wash it. We’ll leave the judgment calls here up to you.
Coming out of these winter months, are you finding that your hair is dry, brittle, damaged, frizzy, or all of the above? Hair masks and treatments are the EASIEST way to keep your hair healthy and to get your hair back to its luscious, radiant state! Check out our favorites below for different hair solutions:
REPAIR: K18 Leave-in Repair Hair Mask
Did you know that you cannot have healthy hair unless you have a healthy scalp! Unfortunately, a lot of our everyday routine contributes to an unhealthy scalp (think stress, pollution, and poor eating habits). Among one of the biggest culprits is buildup around the hair follicles, which is caused by the overuse of hair products, like dry shampoo, oils, hairsprays, etc.
Let us help you unlock your healthiest hair and scalp yet with some of our favorite products! First, lets go over some FAQ’s to help you better understand some scalp issues:
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DRY VS OILY HAIR?
●Dry hair tends to get flakey and itchy and has a 'tight' feeling on the scalp
●Oily hair usually sticks together, and leaves a 'greasy' residue around the root area
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DRY SCALP VS DANDRUFF?
●Dandruff is more of a larger white or yellow waxy flake leaving your scalp itchy. Can be accompanied with a thick build up, odor, and appearing red and scaly
●Dry scalp is typically a smaller flake that is accompanied by other dry patches on the body leaving scalp and body itchy
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DANDRUFF AND PSORIASIS?
●Dandruff may come and go and is treatable. Dandruff flakes fall and land on your shoulder/shirt.
●Psoriasis is a chronic condition, rooted in your immune system, considered an auto-immune disease. Psoriasis can appear in different forms. Sometimes the skin can look cracked and dry. Other times it may be reddened and dotted with small silvery patches.
**DUE TO PSORIASIS BEING AN AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE WE RECOMMEND YOU CONSULT YOUR DR FOR THE BEST PRODUCT FOR YOUR PARTICULAR PSORIASIS**
OUR SUGGESTIONS
OILY SCALP: Bumble Sunday Purifying Clay Wash
Refreshes the scalp and removes impurities, product residues and polluting particles. It gives texture to the hair and keeps it clean and light for longer.
KEY BENEFITS:
●Gentle scrub with sea salt
●Removes residues and polluting particles from scalp and hair
●Texturizing effect
●Light, soft hair that remains clean for longer
●Natural active ingredients
●Obtained with 100% clean energy
●Zero impact, essential and recyclable packaging
You heard right - one of our favorites, Olaplex, has come out with a new dry shampoo. Introducing Olaplex No.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo! The first ever dry shampoo for Olaplex is described as being the healthy hair dry shampoo. With the formula being called an innovative, volumizing style extender, with ingredients which support a healthy scalp, for hair that looks and feels, just washes with zero build-up.
Developed by world-class material scientists, Olaplex's unique chemistry has changed the game of haircare. Designed for use in between washes, it has a dry cleansing formula with skincare science-inspired ingredients to detoxify and maintain scalp health between washes. Oh, and we forgot to mention the best bit – there’s no white powdery residue.
Proven to leave hair looking and feeling clean with no clogging build-up.
KEY BENEFITS:
✅ 100% saw no white residue
✅ 97% said their hair looked clean
✅ 97% saw oil reduction
✅ Vegan
✅ Cruelty Free
It's no question you’ve heard the term bond building in magazines, your local beauty supplier, or the hair salon. The question is…Is it for you?! If you answer ‘yes’ to any of the following, it's time to head into your local Zennkai and grab your products!
Do you blow dry/flat iron or curl your hair?
Do you get your hair colored?
Are you highlighting your hair?
Is your hair damaged?
Have you chemically straightened your hair?
I know the majority of you have most likely said yes to at least one of the questions. If not, bond building shampoo can still be for you – natural hair that hasn't been colored or heat styled can still get damaged from environmental stressors and UV rays. Long story short...bond building is for everyone and all hair types!
Bond building products typically contain amino acids which make up the building blocks of protein. If your using protein on hair that has broken bonds, only the hair that is still there is getting strengthened - think of it more as a cosmetic fix. Whereas using a bond builder, your actually rebuilding the hair from the inside out - which makes the hair look healthier, shinier, smoother and stronger!
NO! Protein is entirely different. Think of it this way…
If you have a bridge with steps that are broken, and missing, bond building will give you a brand new board to make your bridge smooth and sturdy. A protein will strengthen the boards that you have by coating it with a lacquer, preventing further damage. Someone who needs protein has hair that is stretchy, looks porous, and feels mushy in texture. Protein acts as a protective layer on the hair preventing further damage. Protein is temporary, bond building is FOREVER!
Do you ever struggle with finding the perfect curl product? Do you want your curls bouncy and defined or even just a little more life? Well I have the answer for you, let me tell you a little bit about AG Recoil and KMS Curl Up Control Creme.
Do you want some frizz free bouncy curls? KMS Curl Up Control Creme is calling your name. This cream provides great definition and volume without weighing down your beautiful locks. On days you feel like jazzing up your curls, you can combine Ag Recoil and KMS Curl Up for an even more polished look.
It’s no secret the Milkshake’s Silver Shine is tried and true but they just released a new product for anybody wanting to maintain grey/white toned hair (not naturally grey or white)!
Milkshake’s Icy Blond shampoo and conditioner contains a black pigment that neutralizes and counteracts yellow/orange brassy tones. It prolongs the effects of grey and silver and leaves you with a beautiful ash colour.
Includes grapeseed oil to nourish and protect the scalp, Integrity 41 sunflower seed antioxidant complex that helps colour last longer, milk protein conditions the hair’s structure and quinoa protein to protect colour and prevent fading while adding shine.
It’s used just like any regular shampoo and conditioner. Leave the product on for just a few minutes but if you want a more intense result you can leave on for extra time.
Any blonde out there knows that purple shampoo is your best friend! Making your colour last as long as possible between appointments is what we all strive for.
Fanola has released a new product recently, the incredible foam conditioner! This product is amazing because it simultaneously conditions while it tones (in just 2 minutes). Typically purple shampoos dry your hair out but thankfully this product does not! The pigment is created with blueberry and blackberry extract and infused with bilberry to prevent over toning.
Apply on damp hair and leave on for 1-3 minutes (for platinum hair) or 3-5 minutes (for golden blonde). Rinse thoroughly. Ideal for fine hair as it is a light conditioner.
Across the board, clients have said that their hair feels more hydrated, softer, brighter and comment about how quickly it works! Not to mention the lovely scent. The foam makes it a fun treatment and it’s easy to use. This product comes highly recommended from stylists!
Each specific line we carry at Zennkai has there own secret ingredients that contribute to making them the salon grade products that they are. A huge thing right now is naturally derived ingredients as alternatives that are less harsh on your hair. For example, Redken’s Nature and Science line is made up of 83% naturally derived ingredients in the shampoo and 99% in the conditioner.
LUPINE PROTEIN strengthens damaged hair
The L’Oreal SteamPod 3.0 is our new favourite hot tool! It works like a flat iron but works twice as fast and leaves your hair twice as smooth. The steam leaves your hair with a velvety finish that we just can’t resist. Transform your hair with the patented steam technology!
- Instant shine
- Softer hair
- Long-lasting frizz control
- Long-lasting hairstyles
- Restorative and reparative
- 78% less damaging than a regular straightener
Reap even more benefits when you bundle the L’Oreal Steam Activated Milk (fine hair) OR Steam Activated Cream (coarse hair) and the Steam Activated Serum.
The Milk and Cream are both used to smooth and repair. They contain Herbal Keratin Technology that is activated and diffused by the steam while styling. It also works to protect your hair against heat.
The Serum is a high definition smoothing serum. It is enriched with apricot and avocado oil that also repairs and leaves your hair frizz free and naturally shiny!
With the summer heat and being so busy my go-to hair style for the warmer months is beach curls! It’s quick, easy and always ends up looking super cute! I have my 2 “looks”, the first one is a little more time consuming while the second one takes seconds.
If I’m at the beach swimming but don’t want my hair looking frizzy and greasy I use this little trick. I towel dry my hair and then flip it back and forth a couple of time to get out any remaining water. I then go in with the Bumble Surf Spray. Guys! This spray is no joke! I spray a few pumps, scrunch my hair and instantly have surfer-esque beach hair! This works for all hair types and is so effective if you’re a beach body like me!
Frizzy hair is the most universal hair concern, & all hair types can experience it for various reasons. Frizz can be caused by dryness, damage, humidity, & even hot water. While frizz can be frustrating & hard to tame, keeping the hair hydrated & protected will help to diminish frizz. Regardless of your type of hair, we’ve got you covered with the most suitable frizz taming products for you!
Bumble & Bumble has finally launched their brand-new “Illuminated Blonde” collection! Working all together, this illuminating trio helps to enhance your blonde & neutralizing brass while hydrating the hair! Formulated with sunflower extract that acts as a UV filter, as well as coconut water for hydration, the system is specifically for blondes, but suitable for all hair types & textures. With other ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, argan oil, & macadamia seed oil, you can rest assured that your hair’s moisture levels are amped up! Did you know the formula is also vegan & cruelty free?!
The Illuminated Blonde Tone Enhancing Leave In is a purple leave-in treatment & toning spray that further neutralizes brassiness. The formula is super lightweight while providing hydration & heat protection up to 232°C, providing you with reduced frizz & smoothness for soft, healthy looking blonde strands!
> Apply the Illuminated Blonde Shampoo & massage through damp hair. Let it sit for two minutes, rinse, then follow with the Illuminated Blonde Conditioner. When using a purple shampoo, it’s important to massage & work the shampoo thoroughly from roots to ends. This will ensure consistent coverage & even toning for maximum benefit.
> After cleansing with Illuminated Blonde Shampoo, start conditioning at the ends with Illuminated Blonde Conditioner & work your way up. Let it sit for 2-5 minutes & rinse.
> Once you have cleansed & conditioned, spray The Illuminated Blonde Tone Enhancing Leave-In onto damp hair from roots to ends. Comb through to evenly distribute, & style as desired. Apply more liberally in any areas needing some extra hydration!
If you have fine hair, you probably struggle with having limp strands with no body. Fine hair can also be more prone to resisting damage from heat styling & chemical processes, resulting in more split ends & breakage. When taking care of fine hair, we want to give it some lift & body while also providing those fragile strands with strength & nourishment. We’ve got you covered with some of our favourite volume lines whether you just need some extra body, or some hydration & damage repair!
The entire Bb Thickening line works to retain moisture in fine strands while giving light airy volume. Nothing beats the styling products from this line to give you soft, moveable volume!
An alcohol-free & humidity-resistant formula that boosts hair with feather-light volume. With heat protection & UV protection, Foam helps to fight frizz while adding softness, shine, & the perfect amount of volume!
Whether you put your hair through chemical damage such as colouring or bleaching, or suffer from heat damage & mechanical damage from your hot tools & brushing, we are all prone to damage of some sort. Some of us need a more intensive hair repair treatment like a mask while others may need more minimal repair benefits. From leave-ins & rinse-outs to bundles of products, regardless of your needs we’ve got you covered with our top hair repair treatments!
The Zennkai Repair Beauty Box was specially created to include products that have been tried & tested by our stylists. With over $200 worth of products for only $99.95, you get an assortment of full size & deluxe size products to help you combat damage. See below for the products included in the box – you may find your new favourite!
Included in the box: Bumble Bond Building Repair Shampoo, Bumble Bond Building Repair Conditioner, AG Colour Savour Mask, Kevin Murphy Staying Alive Leave-in Conditioner, Wet Brush, K18 Mask, Bumble Hairdresser's Oil Shampoo, Bumble Hairdresser's Oil Conditioner, MoroccanOil Treatment Oil, MoroccanOil All-in-One Leave in Conditioner
In recent years, the hair industry has really expanded in the way different techniques & applications can be used to achieve different looks, from different foiling techniques to open hair applications, & color processes like a root melt or shadow root. All of the terminology can get a little overwhelming when trying to decide what to ask your stylist for, but we’re here to talk about highlights & babylights to break it down for you!
Highlights can have different end results depending on what your ideal finished look is, but if you’re looking to add more dimension to your hair, highlights will achieve that natural sun kissed look. To avoid too much contrast, highlights are usually a maximum of 3 shades lighter than your natural hair to prevent it from looking stripy & keep it looking natural. However, if you prefer more of that contrast, that’s okay too, chunky highlights are making a comeback!
The application process of highlights involves your stylist taking sections of hair, possibly weaving each section, & applying lightener to create dimension. These sections are neatly wrapped in foil, which conducts heat to allow lightener to penetrate deeper into the hair. Sections of your own hair are weaved out or left out of the highlighting process to create a blend throughout your hair. This dimension can be created through a full head, half head, or partial head of foils.
For balayage, a type of highlighting technique, a freehand painting method is used to apply lightener instead & processed in open-air rather than foils. Specific placement of these painted sections of hair leaves you with beautifully blended dimension. This is the most popular highlighting method being used currently, along with foilyage which combines traditional highlight techniques with balayage.
Babylights are a similar technique to highlights but provide a more delicate look. The main difference is the amount of hair in & between each section. They are finer micro-strands but there are more of them & will give the illusion of a subtle all over colour & make your sun-kissed glow last for longer. Babylights are a more current method used if you’re looking for a big change like going from brown to blonde without the harsh process of a colour correction.
For the application, your stylist will create a more natural blend of colours by highlighting more sections of your hair. These sections will be finer than traditional highlights & generally takes longer with a higher cost, as it is a much more precise process. Babylights are so versatile & work great for many hair types, especially clients with thin/fine hair because more dimension is added to the hair without looking stripy which can make the hair look even more fine.
Babylights & highlights may achieve your desired look on their own, but your stylist may also combine the 2 techniques or use other coloring techniques like a root melt to achieve different dimensions.
If you still aren’t sure which technique is right for you, consult with your stylist & show them inspiration pictures that you like. They are well educated on the different techniques, & can make recommendations as far as what technique will achieve your desired look & if multiple techniques are needed. Keep in mind, multiple sessions may be needed depending on the end goal for your hair. Your stylist will educate you further & make the recommendations they think would be best!
As much as we are all happy to see the summer sun & warmer weather, summer also brings elements that produce free-radical damage that attack the hair & cause oxidative stress. Environmental factors can all dehydrate the hair, weaken the hair’s structure, & cause brittle strands. Saltwater & chlorine can build up on the hair & scalp, disrupting the natural pH, while extreme temperatures & UV rays can evaporate moisture from the hair.
Using an after-sun shampoo and conditioner that contains antioxidants & vitamin C will effectively remove all the buildup in the hair & provide moisture to restore it to its former health. Try the AG Vita C Shampoo & Conditioner.
Some of the struggles brunettes can endure are experiencing warm tones in the hair such as red or orange, due to the underlying pigment of the hair. Brunettes may also experience faster colour fade, especially in circumstances where a colour correction has been done to take the hair from blonde back to brown or black. Overall in either of these instances, we notice that the hair loses its vibrancy, starts to look dull, & lacks lustre. Finally, there are those couple weeks leading up to our next appointment where we wish we could conceal that regrowth!
Let’s look at some products that can help us to maintain these challenges right through until your next appointment.
There’s nothing like going into the salon to get your hair done & coming out with that fabulous round brush blow dry that only a stylist seems to be able to achieve! But having the right kind of round brush for your hair can absolutely help you achieve the same look on your own. We are here to help guide you through finding the best round brush for you!
Round brushes are usually made with a metal or ceramic barrel, & work with the heat from your blow dryer by wrapping the hair around the brush to create curls & waves; much like a curling wand. Alternatively, a round brush helps to create tension in the hair to achieve a smoother, straighter style.
There are a couple things to take into consideration when choosing the right round brush for your hair & determining which size is going to work best for you. First, you want to consider the length of your hair, as well as the finished look or size of curl/wave you want to achieve.
Check out all of our brush options & with the right sized round brush & some practice, you can create your own blowout at home!
L’Oreal Professionel’s SteamPod 3.0 is the 3rd generation of the straightening iron that uses patented steam technology to smooth & straighten the hair. This professional styler includes a water tank & in addition to simple heat, hair is smoothed & straightened with the help of steam that is delivered through the device’s nozzles. The integrated comb helps to distribute the hair evenly through the ceramic plates.
Why Amika? Because they were “kind & clean before it was a thing!”
Amika was founded in 2007 in Brooklyn, NY, where creativity & culture are a way of life. Amika means “friend” in the Esperanto language & symbolizes the company’s belief in the power of community, & represents the beauty of diversity. Amika embodies a culture of inclusion, positivity, & fun!
With 10 collections, their newest campaign hopes to show that they have products catering to all ethnicities, ages, & genders. Amika products include Sea Buckthorn Berry, a superfruit that provides the Omega 7 fatty-acid to increase elasticity & collagen.
Amika is cruelty free & has been certified under the Leaping Bunny Standard, & is environmentally friendly with their bottles being made of 90% PCR. Their products are also free of sulfates, parabens, aluminum, starch, phthalates, & DEA!
Let’s take a look at some of Amika’s best sellers!
Looking for a sulfate free option for your purple shampoo? This ultra-violet pigmented shampoo is safe for Brazilian & keratin treated hair! Including Wild Cherry Bark Extract, Hydrolyzed Keratin, & Avocado Oil, your blonde hair will have improved shine & softness, & restored moisture & elasticity. Use this shampoo 3 times a week to keep your blonde hair light, bright & soft!
With everyone looking for more low maintenance solutions to their hair care needs, many are venturing the waters of embracing their natural waves, or curls! It can be a challenge to find the perfect product for you given that curls can be all different textures & densities.
For some, one product may achieve the desired look, while others may like to cocktail a few products to get the perfect finish. Everyone has a different preference in the end result of their hair when it comes to feeling, definition, & frizz control.
For some, one product may achieve the desired look, while others may like to cocktail a few products to get the perfect finish. Everyone has a different preference in the end result of their hair when it comes to feeling, definition, & frizz control.
There are lots of ways to experiment with your curls from air drying to diffusing, as well as cocktailing products to create your own perfect blend! Only you know your hair best & sometimes it takes some trial & error to find the perfect concoction for your curls! Let’s talk about some of our favorite & top selling curl products to get you started!
CLICK HERE to shop all of our curl products
We live in a time where we are always looking to better ourselves. Whether that be being more active & exercising, or trying to be more conscious of the foods we are consuming & ingredients we use. It’s no question that we are also becoming more conscious of the ingredients that are in the products that we apply to our hair & skin every day. As much as it’s important to ensure our bodies are getting proper care & nutrition, the same goes for our hair! A number of the brands we carry use a variety of clean ingredients to cater to your healthy hair needs.
Pureology has been an award winning brand for many years with their 100% Vegan, Zerosulfate® formulations that use a special cleansing blend of corn, coconut, & sugar! All shampoos & conditioners are mineral oil-free & paraben-free. Pureology’s Antifade Complex® uses sunflower seed & vitamin E to protect colour & combat environmental effects on the hair, leaving the hair shiny & protected. Pureology is also committed to sustainability with their bottles being created with 95% post-consumer recycled materials. You can feel good about the ingredients being applied to your hair, while being environmentally conscious and catering to your hairs needs!