As guest expert on the GREEN BEAUTY Business Panel at the ABA Revel In Beauty Expo held at the Metro Toronto Convention Center on April 15 I sat alongside fellow industry experts, three owners of top green Canadian salons. The panel was hosted by Cheryl Gushue, Canadian Hairdresser Magazine Editor in Chief and Green Circle Salons Ambassador.
left > right: Host - Cheryl Gushue (Canadian Hairdresser Magazine Editor in Chief and Green Circle Salons Ambassador). Panel - Alex Chabot (NZO Salon), Jackie Shawn (Wholistic Beauty Lab/ WBLab), Brian Phillips (World Salon), Heather Wenman (Studio H Salon)
The panel discussed the importance of clean products and sustainable practices that you can implement for a healthier life and a greener planet.
Q1 What was the turning point that made you realize you wanted to become a chemical free or sustainable business?
An MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) diagnosis was the catalyst for me.
Having worked in the beauty industry for a very long time with constant exposure to chemicals in skincare, hair and makeup products led myself and Brian Phillips of World Salon to develop medical conditions. With knowledge we have acquired from the medical and science fields, in conversation with others that have this condition and our own experiences we now create hair and skincare products free of chemicals. The beauty of this catalyst and consequent exploration has also brought us full circle to healing our own conditions and a desire to create, discover more and share with others.
I have always made clean skincare for myself and would sometimes use industry clean products on models and celebrity clients. Now, I am happy to say, with WBLab I am dedicated to developing and exploring clean beauty with you.
Q2 How is your business sustainable or chemical free?
I champion sustainable and chemical free options. WBLab creates bespoke natural skincare in small artisanal batches which maintains a chemical free product in an ultimate fresh state. The jar is miron glass made in Germany and designed by science to only allow violet light ray penetration while blocking other harmful light rays enhancing the substance inside and keeping contents fresh. WBLab also offers a jar exchange program to soften landfill impact.
left > right: Host - Cheryl Gushue (Canadian Hairdresser Magazine Editor in Chief and Green Circle Salons Ambassador). Panel - Alex Chabot (NZO Salon), Jackie Shawn (Wholistic Beauty Lab/ WBLab), Brian Phillips (World Salon), Heather Wenman (Studio H Salon)
The panel was the perfect opportunity to get to know one another before we went on stage and I was excited to learn that Brian, Heather and Alex are Green Circle Salon owners! This accreditation enables salons to repurpose and recover up to 95% of the resources that were once waste - materials such as hair, leftover hair color, foils, aerosol cans, paper, and plastics. Super cool waste solutions for the beauty hair industry.
To add to that, with primary focus on all things about hair, my fellow industry expert Brian Phillips at WORLD Salon creates a multi-use product line that is safe, easy to use and environmentally friendly. WORLD products contain no parabens, phthalates, sulphates, fragrance or colour and their products are gluten, palm oil, cruelty free and biodegradable. I love that!
Q3 What are the benefits of your choices to become green and clean?
My mantra is HEALTH = BEAUTY. I believe using green and clean beauty products protects and enhances ones health. What is more important than that? In addition, greener and cleaner products benefit the planet by reducing landfill and harmful chemical dumping from the production process. The planet has always been beautiful and now we can contribute more to keeping it healthy too.
Thank you to @canadianhairdresser for having me be a part of the Green Beauty Panel at the @abacanada show and to panel host @cherylgushue, Canadian Hairdresser Magazine Editor in Chief and Green Circle Salons Ambassador. On the panel with me were @brianatworld, @al_chabot and @heatherwenman all @greencirclesalons innovators pioneering sustainable beauty for you and the planet. Thank you also to @cherylgushue for the wonderful article in @canadianhairdresser on @wholisticbeautylab. Photo: @itspetergrande.