Fall Persuasion presents....

If you have never been to a "Fall Persuasion" show, can we suggest sorting your life out and getting with the program? Involving almost every stylish shop in Victoria, this show has become one of the city's biggest "must see" events. And if fashion and frivolity is not enough to get your little style starved butts down to the show, the whole thing is one big fundraiser for BC Cancer Foundation.

Lab is proud to be contributing it's super creative hair designs to this very worthy cause. The team has been working tirelessly to make sure you get your moneys worth and we think you'll be blown away.

Tickets are available at lab so come on down and pick up an armful.

Wanna hear what we have planned for the hair?

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This is insane

20 Question with DJ Longshanks

In our critically acclaimed 20 questions series we are taking some time to introduce you to the inner workings of some very interesting people who call lab their home. This week we interview super DJ Chris Longshanks. This local titan of the music scene has done it all behind the ones and twos including holding down a residency @ LuckyBar, editing music content for Metropolitan magazine, and working the counter at Ditch records. He's also responsible for the great music you hear at lab. This is what makes him tick.  

Who are you ?

Chris Long aka Longshanks aka LongShanksProducts aka LSP 

What are you most well known for ?

I suppose DJing. I DJ SOLID! @ LuckyBar every Saturday night.

What is your must have item ?

Er.......my wife to be ? 

Who is your favorite band right now ?

A tie between The Bad Plus, Tortoise, J Dilla and Nick Cave. They're all duking it out on my iPod right now. It's a pretty heated battle.

What are you most embarrassed by ?

Playing MSTRKRFT or Thunderheist on a Saturday night - OUCH!

What is your worst date ever ?

pass

Is winning the lottery a blessing or a curse? What would you buy first ?

I'm a blue collar guy but hey, if you insist, I'll take the winnings. I would buy JR a new larger location for Ditch Records&CD's. Then I'd buy my lady a house and a small dog that would make her go " awww you" every time she saw it. Then I would splurge on crazy expensive Aphex Twin records on EBay..........would the madness ever end?

What is your act of green ?

I bus to work a lot and my lady and I started a compost this year. Let me tell you - it is fun

What was your best halloween costume ever ?

I.

DO.

NOT.

DO.

HALLOWEEN.

What is your fashion accessory of choice ?

Hmmm... horrible half grown chin stubble accompanied by a rotating cast of several very similar button up plaid shirts.

Where is your home away from home ?

The counter at ditch records, where I can be found often, likely babbling about the merits of Techno.

What is your daily ritual ?

Habit coffee. Things can potentially go awry if  this does not happen.

What is your guilty Pleasure ?

There are no guilty pleasures in the age of ironic irony. So I'll go with Human League. Oh and Drumsticks ice cream cones - They're the bomb.

Camping or Glamping ?

Despite not knowing what the f#*k " Glamping" is, I will go with it, cos if there's something I hate in the world, it's camping.

What did you want to be when you grew up ?

A member of the Wu-Tang Clan. The bad white Canadian that protects his neck!

Who is your hero ?

Another tie...  Don Draper / Gregory House 

Boxers or Briefs ?

Neither - Commando! .......... Psych.... briefs silly.

Cat person or dog person?

Dog person. I'm pretty much anti-cat. Those creatures are sinister.

The last book you read ?

This Is Your Brain On Music by Daniel Levitin & Charles Mingus' autobiography Beneath The Underdog

Who cuts your hair ?

Juana's Addictionne... aka  Jane Motherf$#@ing Constable.

 

 

New products from the lab store

To go along with our new add campaign we have started designing additional products that you might find handy.

Try this little number on for size. Nothing says fashion disaster like a trucker hat. At least you'll never need to explain to your friends that you hacked away at you own hair with disastrous results, and I'm sure you'll enjoy that knowing nod that you get from strangers passing by you on the street. We are confident that you will probably only need to wear it for a few months.

Or you could save yourself the 15 bucks and just....

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Please, stop cutting your own hair

Lab is finally throwing it's hat into the ring and letting everyone know about Victoria's favorite hair community. Our first official add campaign is launching Sept 1 and we want to give you a sneak peek.

You may have noticed that most adds in our industry follow a very generic formula. Usually there is a model (who may or may not have had her hair done by the company who's logo is plastered across the bottom), there is the afore mentioned logo and contact info, and finally there is a slogan that more or less can be summed up as "we are cooler than you" or " we are cooler than everyone else". 

This format simply did not fit our staff. I guess we are simply not cool enough.

So after many hours of late night TV watching and deep contemplation we realized that there are hundreds of ways out there that people are able to devastate their own hair.  From vacuum based haircutting machines to a simple pair of kitchen scissors, people just can't seem to see that saving a few bucks on a decent haircut can cost them their self esteem and dignity. 

With that in mind we are simply and politely asking people to stop. 

If you look around this fall for our adds, you might see someone suffering through a situation that you have suffered through yourself.

Or maybe we are too late and you are suffering through one right now.  If so.......

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20 Questions with Jordan Stout

If you have never heard of Jordan Stout ...........shame on you. This local legend is not only well known for his  impecable haberdashery but also for being the director of an amazing documentary short about Kenny Kim ( a local busker ). After you find out what makes him tick check out is work  at www.picaresque.ca.

1) Who are you ?

      Jordan Stout

2) What are you most famous for ?

       Eating at Ferris' 8 times a week

3) What is your must have item ?

my Urban Moulding Paste

4) Who is your favorite band right now ?

iTunes tells me it's "AirFrance"

5) What are you most embarrassed by ?

Matt Jensen

6) Is winning the lottery a blessing or a curse? what would you buy first ?

  A blessing. I would buy one of everything in my size at still life, then dozens and dozens of oysters

7) What was your worst date ever ?

I almost got too drunk before my first date with my girlfriend........... things still worked out o.k.

8) What is your act of green ?

My Marinoni road bike & local organic living

9) What was your best halloween costume ever ?

Jojo the hobo clown

10) What is your fashion accessory of choice ?

Nice jeans........... and a pretty girlfriend

11) Where is your home away from home ?

Colwood

12) What is your daily ritual ?

Go to still life

13) What is your guilty pleasure ?

Spicy double caesars

14) Camping or Glamping ?

Man vs. Wild  camping 

15) What did you want to be when you grew up ?

A cartoon voice actor

16) Who is your hero ?

Matty Conrad.........Have you seen that guys hair? His motorcycle? Wow.

17) Boxers or Briefs ?

Calvin Klein boxer briefs

18) Cat person or dog person ?

I like puppers...........but I love kitters

19) Last Book you read ?

Pramoedya Hnanta Toer - Child of All Nations

20) Who cuts your hair ?

Smashley  Dusseault 

Summer Essentials Part 2

After the massive response to Lab Summer Essentials Part 1 dj Touchbass has blessed us with yet another booty shakin, love makin, dancefloor takin mix session.

Download Lab Summer Essentials Part 2 for free at www.labsalons.com

wanna hear more music from our favorite dj?

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Lab loves TOMS shoes

TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good.

If you don't own a pair of TOMS yet .... go out and buy some right now.....then feel good about the fact that you just gave a child in a developing nation a brand new pair of their own. Having a pair of TOMS on your feet shows that you are participating in the new economy of social and environmental responsibility, plus they are super cool and kind of feel like you are getting away with wearing slippers all day.

Trust us. Hairdressers take their footwear very seriously.

The remarkable story of how Blake Mycoskie created one of the most dynamic and inspirational new businesses in north america is truly worth reading about. Check it out at www.tomsshoes.com.

While your at it check out how lab is making it's own operation more environmentally and socially responsible at www.labsalons.com

or just

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American Apparel

No matter what you think of Dov Charney you have to admit what he has done in the business world with American Apparel is pretty impressive. Recently opening a chain of stores in mainland China means that he is one of few north americans that are actually exporting clothing to China. It also means that there are more t shirts on the market that weren't sewed by ten year olds for 7 cents an hour (the average sewing operator at AA makes $12 per hour and has a benefits plan).

Leading the way in the clothing and textile industry for social and environmental responsibility is at the heart of American Apparel and is the reason that we are excited to see them open a retail store right here on Lower Johnson!

That's right, American Apparel will be opening up only a stones throw from lab.

While you are stocking up on responsibly made staples, swing by the shop and we'll sort out your mop.

or just click here to

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Johnson Street Sale

All your favorite Boutiques are planning the sale of the season this Saturday & Sunday. What better way to celebrate the end of the sunny weather than by getting cool duds for cheap cheap cheap!

Once you have a bag full of loot swing by lab. We'll sort out your summer mop and have you looking smashing in time for fall.

You wanna look smashing don't ya?

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Lab Loves Fringe

Everyone agree's that the love affair with the fringe has been at the forefront of women's hair fashion for almost a decade now.

So, to hairdressers, the word's "fringe festival" conjures up a slightly different image.

The "Victoria Fringe Festival" might not be what we originally thought, but it is just as likely to draw our stylists out of the shop and immerse them into some serious culture. It boasts everything under the sun that's out on the edge, from music, to movies, pancake breakfasts, to non stop theatrefests. If you have never done the fringe festival......the time is now. Pick up a free program at lab and start planning.

Fringe runs from August 27th - September 6th

Wanna find out what we recommend to see?

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20 Questions with Johnny Five

In our new 20 questions series we are trying to introduce you to the people that make LAB their home.  International drumming sensation Johnny Five has been a friend of our salon since the beginning. Fresh back from tour which included a sold out show at the hollywood bowl, here is what makes him tick.

 

Who Are You?

Johnny "5" Andrews

What are you most well known for?

I play drums for Tegan and Sara

What is your must have item?

My iPod ............ and my flip flops

Who is your favorite band right now?

Hmmmm ......... That is a tough one................ Maxwell

What are you most embarrassed by?

I don't get embarrassed

Is winning the lottery a blessing or a curse? What would you buy first?

It's a blessing if you are generous.  I would buy a sweet vintage drum kit.

What was your worst date ever?

It was a blind date that I got set up on, the girl called and cancelled when she found out I was a musician. I only date people worthy of good dates.

What is your act of green?

I like walking places

What was your best halloween costume ever?

One year  I dressed up as J.K. from Jamiroquai

What is your fashion accessory of choice?

my favorite yellow shades   

Where is your home away from home?

Belgium

What is your daily ritual?

Get up, shower, eat, practice, friends.........

What is your guilty pleasure?

I like anime!

Camping or Glamping?

Camping

What did you wanna be when you grew up? 

I wanted to be Indiana Jones

Who is your hero?

I have many heros.........?uestlove.............Katie Schaan (as a close second)

Boxers or briefs?

Boxers

Cat person or dog person?

I actually like both.................do I have to choose?

The last book you read?

Everyone poops  ( I read it to my nephew )

Who cuts your hair?

Katie Schaan

Lab Loves Habit Coffee

If you haven't been to Habit Coffee on Pandora street, we suggest you get in the game already. 

This little hotbed of culture and cool grinds and serves up one of the best cups of "single origin" coffee anywhere in the city. That's why all of the stylists at lab have made it their second home. 

We suggest trying the "always ready" french press.

If great coffee isn't enough to get you excited, owner Shane Deveraux is also fiercely committed to making his business both socially and environmentally responsible. So you can drink your coffee with a clear conscience.

Wanna know about other great places to go in Victoria?

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Summer style tips for boys Part 1

The team at lab take a constant geeky joy in tracking the prevailing trends and watching how they shine on the public stage. This week we would like to pay homage to our favorite seasonal boys trend we have affectionately called "60's summer dad" .

The introduction of some honest to goodness, bonafide men's attire has come just as the over used battle cry of our generation "thirty is the new twenty," has been screen printed on it's last t-shirt and dropped off at the thrift store donations counter for future generations to find it ironic and cool. 

This bold declaration  has mostly served as an thinly veiled excuse for boys and girls to dress and behave badly. Prancing about well into adult life like a wolf in cheap clothing, clinging desperately to their O'neal / Quicksilver / DC / Globe / Billabong / Insert generic skate label here.................because hey, thirty is the new twenty.

Similarly we have the "I got this shirt in LA" crowd beating Affliction, Ed Hardy, and Christian Audigier to death with their faux hawks, oversized belt buckles, and chained wallets. 

Time to grow up boys. It's confirmed......... ladies like the big boy clothes. 

For inspiration into your new wardrobe. Check out the AMC hit show Mad Men. This show exemplifies what the prevailing summer trend " 60's summer dad"  is all about. Guys impeccably groomed head to toe. Cool slicked back hair, vintage suits, pocket squares, dress shorts, knit golf shirts, V-necks, cuff links, cool watches, slim belts, and even havana hats.

Also check out this seasons Lacoste, Donna Karan, John Varvatos, and Band of Outsiders shows.

or just click here

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