The Smallest Effort Makes a Difference

A woman trusts no one more than her hairdresser. That’s a fact. Amber George, Creative Director and owner of Verve Hair Lounge in North Vancouver definitely proves this. You can trust her implicitly—if not with your life, than at least with your hair.

With 13 years of experience in the business, Amber knows what her clients want and how the industry ticks. Before putting a product on a client’s head, Amber tests each shampoo, conditioner or colour for its eco attributes and its quality, asking questions and keeping a critical stance until she is convinced 110 percent. Eco-consciousness and quality are her mantras, but Amber knows that all-natural doesn’t necessarily mean all-good.

Bamboo Magazine talked to Amber about her eco approach to the beauty business.

Bamboo Magazine: As a stylist, what is your approach on being eco?

Amber George: It’s a pretty broad approach. When I opened my shop, I knew I wanted to do it as sustainably as I could. I did a lot of research on construction and products. In my research for product, I started trying a lot of these new products that were coming out on the market that were eco-friendly, but I just wasn’t very happy with the actual product itself. So, I started researching even more. I knew that I was hoping to stick with the Redken hair colour line, so I started to research the L’Oreal company and came across lots of information about their commitment to the environment and sustainability. Redken, for example, redesigned its bottles to use less plastic. L’Oreal’s products have been in the beauty business for a long time; they have 50 years of science and development behind them. There is a misconception that all-natural is all-good, and I have seen that in products that really damage the hair. And, a lot of people have allergies to natural products.

BM: What was the reason you started looking for eco-products? Was it that you personally are in favour of eco products, or did your customers ask for it?

AG: It comes from my own personal ethics and morals. I like to live as sustainably as I can in the real world and this, I think, is what it is, doing it in the real world. Like the new men’s hairline from Toweldry, which is extremely eco-friendly, and paraben and sulphate-free. It’s a beautiful product, not a huge line, and, although it’s not going to make a huge impact, it is a start. It is interesting to me that everybody wants a perfect solution, but I don’t think a perfect solution exists right now. You have to figure out what is the best solution at this point of the game. You have to figure out what the impact is, and I think there is a big misconception about what environmentally friendly is. It’s not necessarily the same as being all-natural.

BM: Your slogan says, “Sustainability is a lifestyle we live with love”. What does that mean?

AG: It means that we are going to do this heartily and to the best of our ability. When members of my team sign their contracts here, they agree to live as green as possible within our household here. And, my team and I talk about topics like foil use during staff meetings; we just recently came up with this great idea of converting these little papers we use in between each foil as notepads. Small things like that. Being a hairdresser is a unique opportunity, as we get to connect with every guest that comes into our world, and we can connect with them on a different level than any other consumer-based business. And you don’t have to sound like you are preaching; you just have to talk about it. Especially when it’s a real part of your lifestyle.

images courtesy of : Verve Hair Lounge  | www.vervehairlounge.com