Product Spotlight: Poo-Pourri

Bathroom odour is not a pleasant topic, but such smells are a fact of life. Fortunately, there is Poo-Pourri. These natural, essential-oil-based bathroom deodorizers control odour “by creating a barrier that prevents embarrassing bathroom smells from ever escaping the toilet.”

How does it work? You spray the patent-pending formula directly into the toilet before you go and the product’s essential oils trap the odour before it can get out.

The company has a long list of testimonials, including praise from The Chicago Tribune and Glamour magazine. Their line of bathroom deodorizers uses essential oils like grapefruit, bergamot, lemongrass, orange, neroli, sandalwood, and vetiver. The company also makes a fabulous hand sanitizer called Down & Dirty Waterless Hand Cleanser that contains malachite (a “natural defense”), aloe vera, and green tea.

Use Poo-Pourri at work, when you stay with family or friends, or in your own home. It comes in purse-size and bathroom-size bottles and costs only about 8 cents per use.

Get yours now at Great Lengths Hair Gallery!

Holiday Shopping at 15% Off!

Don’t sweat the small stuff. That’s our mantra this holiday season. Stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, a little something for your co-workers—we’ve got the small stuff covered. And during December, you can enjoy a 15% discount on all Great Lengths retail items.


VAPUR water bottles, EOS lip balms, Footzy Rolls, Poo-Pourri waterless hand cleaner (ideal for keeping colds and flu at bay)—we have a great selection of unique and fun gifts for just about everyone on your list. So be sure to stop by and get some Christmas shopping done. While you’re here, check out our stellar line-up of hair care products from Moroccan Oil and Kevin Murphy. They’re on sale too!

And remember, Great Lengths is once again supporting the Chum Christmas Wish. If you drop off a new, unwrapped toy before December 17, you’ll be eligible to win a $100 Great Lengths gift card!

Happy holidays!

Ginger for the Holidays and More!

As the holiday baking season starts, we hear a lot about ginger. Gingerbread is a Christmas favourite, but ginger has many uses beyond spicing up cookies.


Remember when you got the stomach flu as a child and your mom or dad gave you ginger ale? Turns out they were calling upon centuries of wisdom. Ginger has been used since ancient times as a digestive aid and recent scientific studies have proven that ginger does, in fact, relieve nausea and upset stomachs. Preliminary studies have found that ginger may lower cholesterol and help prevent blood from clotting. Ginger is also being investigated for its effect on a number of cancers. Much more research is needed to determine the effect on humans, but there is some evidence that ginger may kill cancer cells in test tubes. (http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/ginger-000246.htm)

Deepak Chopra, a practitioner of Ayurveda, an ancient Indian lifestyle, says in his cookbook that ginger has a strong cleansing effect on the body and soothes and cleans the respiratory tract, making it a good choice during cold and flu season. He also says that ginger tea can help reduce cravings for sweet and salty snacks. Others believe that ginger has anti-inflammatory effects and can help reduce pain.

Ginger tea is one of the easiest ways to consume ginger. Simply steep a few slices of fresh ginger in boiling water. Ginger is also a common ingredient in Asian and Indian cuisine and, of course, in holiday treats. As with anything else, moderation is key. As Mark Vincent of the University of Western Ontario notes, there is no “guarantee that long-term ginger consumption is risk-free”. (http://bit.ly/unXUmh) And you should always consult a physician before treating yourself with ginger or any other “superfood”, especially if you are pregnant or have any underlying medical conditions

Braids

One of the big hair trends for this season is braids. From side-swept to fishtail to French braids, this style has been called elegant, sophisticated, and practical.

A story in the International Herald Tribune said of braids: “There is nothing more practical, romantic and easy-to-do than all kinds of braided hairstyles. Braids and braided head buns make you look like a character from a rose tinted Jane Austen novel. Braids have been adopted and reinvented in every wave of fashion the world has come across. From Grecian goddesses to the contemporary supermodels, every woman has tried to twist and turn braids to create their respective signature looks. Besides, milkmaid braids and side-swept, overlapping braid hairstyles are also making a comeback this season.” (http://bit.ly/uFMnZo)

We have collected a few photos and how-to videos to help you make the most of this trend.

• Some images of the braided updo to inspire you... http://www.bellasugar.com/Braided-Updo-Trend-Fall-2011-19063624

• The super-trendy fishtail braid...a how-to in pictures. http://www.bellasugar.com/How--Learn-Fishtail-Braid-2772862

• Scroll down for videos that show you how to do the fishtail braid and a French braid. http://www.beautips.info/make-up-and-hairstyle-tips/winter-2010-2011-hairstyle-trends-braided-hairdos/

• A how-to on creating a braided bun, a la Taylor Swift. http://bit.ly/vo6fJu

• A side-swept, fashionably untidy braid. http://bit.ly/rrfs0S

• Using a leather strip as an accent for a braid... http://bit.ly/rACfHh

• 5 ways to wear a headband braid, even if your hair is short. http://bit.ly/vSrF7r

Whether you are planning to braid your hair for a special occasion or for everyday wear, there are lots of styles to choose from. You may even want to try a few to see which one works best for you!

Movember...for Men’s Health

We’ve talked in recent posts about ovarian and breast cancer, and this month we turn our attention to prostate cancer and men’s health.

During the month of November, men the world over will commit to growing moustaches as part of “Movember,” a global movement to generate awareness of men’s health issues while raising funds for prostate cancer research. As the Movember Canada website states: “The appearance of a moustache on a usually clean shaven man prompts questions from those around them. Throughout the month of Movember they are constantly asked the question - why the moustache? Each Mo Bro then needs to justify his new look with an explanation about the unique challenges men face with their health, and information about prostate cancer. The result is a highly effective and authentic word-of-mouth campaign. “

One of the goals of the campaign is to encourage men to have a complete physical, including cancer screening, because many types of cancer that affect men—prostate, testicular, and skin—can be cured if caught early.