Essence Hair Design
863 Carnarvon Street V3M 1G2 New Westminster, BC, Canada

Thinking about growing out your gray? There's more to it than meets the eye, but we can help you find some foxiness in your silver. Hello from Essence Salon!... "Gray hair, don't care" is a trend that is gaining traction in some celebrity circles - Jane Fonda comes to mind, as do Dames Judy Dench and Helen Mirren. All have embraced their gray hair. If you're thinking about trying on the trend, we can help. Of course, as with all Hollywood red-carpet magic, Glamorous Gray is easier said than accomplished, but we have the tools and techniques to master it. Gray hair, coloured hair and non-gray, non-coloured hair are surprisingly different from one another. Many would-be Silver Foxes are shocked, in fact. Aside from the obvious, gray hair can be dull and dingy and it can be coarse, frizzy and unruly. We can offer three different options: Clear Treatment If you're fighting your gray locks, Clear Treatment is a quick fix that gives gray hair a softer texture, better control of frizz and a lovely shine. A treatment lasts for 3-4 weeks. Gray Blending If you want to go gray but can't stand the thought of months and months of grow-out, we can do gray blending so you leave the salon with a new gray look. We carefully use different shades of white, gray and black to harmonize the coloured hair with the new growth. The treatment softens the hair, it breaks up blocks and chunks of colour and saves you that awkward grow-out stage. Smoothing Treatment If you want to really make the best of your gray (or graying) mane, our Smoothing Treatment is the Salon's top-of-the-line offering. One treatment lasts six months or more. It softens and smooths the hair shaft and creates shine from inside the hair's cortex, allowing you to rock glossy, healthy-looking hair. It also tames frizz and brings those unruly coarse gray hairs back into line. (Smoothing treatment is time-consuming and technical, so when you book your appointment, we will require a non-refundable deposit to hold the time slot.) Gray doesn't have to be forever One more thing to consider: While some Hollywood queens are embracing their gray, others, like Sharon Osborne, have tried it and decided it's not for them. If that's the case for you... if you try gray and hate it... no problem, we can always change it back, or give you a whole different colour! Appointments are Mandatory A quick word about the next couple of months: With the new Covid-19 rules in place, we don't have the flexibility we used to have to sneak people in for quick appointments. So please get your appointments booked in plenty of time, especially if you want some hair services before any cozy seasonal celebrations coming up through the holidays. Give us a jingle at 604-525-4945 to make an appointment with Lorna, Amy or Bryan - we'd love to see you! Much love, Lorna Stewart and the rest of the gang here at Essence.

Breaking news: We passed with flying colours! On Thursday, WorkSafe BC performed a snap inspection of the Salon for compliance with Covid-19 precautions.... Hello from Essence Salon. As you are no doubt aware, we've been back at work at the Salon for a few months now, and in order to keep everyone safe from the Covid-19 Pandemic - and in compliance with government regulations - we have been extra careful about cleaning the Salon and sanitizing between customers. And of course, we all wear masks all day long, and anyone entering the Salon is required to wear one as well. (If you forget your mask, we have some on hand for purchase at just $1.25 each.) Well, on Thursday, an Inspector from WorkSafe BC visited Essence in an unannounced surprise inspection to check on our Covid-19 safety measures. While we are not surprised, we are delighted to say WE PASSED!! With Covid-19 numbers creeping upwards across Canada, we wanted to let you know that we are being more careful than ever to make sure the Salon is a safe place. We don't want to get sick, and we don't want you to get sick. Now more than ever, we are not going to let Dr. Bonnie Henry down. One thing to remember is that we no longer have a waiting area and people who arrive early have to wait outside. With the turning of the seasons, we don't want anyone stuck outside in the rain, so please try to arrive no more than five minutes early for your appointment. Part of the new protocol is that you need to have an appointment in order to come in for hair care. So if you need a trim, some colour, a perfect fade or an exciting new look, give us a buzz at 604-525-4945 to make an appointment with Lorna, Amy or Bryan - we'd love to see you! Much love, Lorna Stewart and the rest of the gang here at Essence.

Amy brought her beautiful and lovely niece Amelia in today. She did a quick rose-gold conditioning treatment that will wash out in a few shampooos, and a back-to-school trim. We love helping to get everyone ready for the coming new season!

Bryan had fun turning this one into his little mini me with a matching haircut this morning

Did you know we offer a keratin smoothing treatment? This system lasts for up to six months. It repairs your hair by adding in proteins and smoothing away the frizz, leaving your hair shiny and soft as well as shortening the time it takes to dry your hair. Book your appointment with Bryan now!

Hello from Essence Salon. We trust you are keeping well; we are certainly doing our best to keep everyone safe, as well as well groomed, of course! Someone who has certainly done her best to keep all of us in BC safe is Dr. Bonnie Henry, who is also a hero of Lorna. Well, we are beyond thrilled to say that, thanks to a New Westminster Rotary Club, Dr. Henry is the newest recipient of a prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship award, Rotary International's highest award for Service... Above Self. What's more, it was the Royal City Rotary Club (also known as the "morning club") that made the award, via Zoom, thanks to the tireless efforts of Rotarians Lizz Kelly, Kathy MacKericher, Alana McAllister-Hoem, Monica Woldring, and Zoom-master Roy Prevost. Here is a link to the Royal City Record story about the event. And here's a link to what Dr Bonnie had to say. One of Dr. Bonnie's biggest fans is Lorna, who also happens to belong to this Rotary club, and she's been smiling so much you can see it behind the mask! Dr. Bonnie Henry, at one of her famous Covid 19 press conferences. In other news, Sunday is both Summer Solstice AND Father's Day. If you're stumped for something for that special Dad in your life, we've got some wonderful French toiletries that just might appeal - they're luxurious without being pretentious, and smell really wonderful. We have three products in three scents to choose from. Finely milled bar soap A soothing after-shave skin balm, and Body wash, a product perfect for the guy who doesn't want to have to concentrate during his morning shower - it's an all-in-one body and hair shampoo. The products. And the scents? Mmmmmm, so nice. It's a gift for him that has a reward for you as well as for him! Talk about win-win! They are: Black Amber is subtly spicy Bourbon Vanilla is vanilla with an extra kick Teak Wood smells vegetal and is mindful of the forest The full line-up. You can find them on a shelf in the window by Bryan's work station. Of course, you can always pop in to the Salon and pick up a gift certificate for hair services. Dad might really enjoy updating his look! Remember, we are open for business, but you MUST wear a mask while you're in the Salon, just like we do. If you forget yours, we can sell you one for $1.25, just ask. Give us a jingle at 604-525-4945 to make an appointment - we'd love to see you! Much love, Lorna Stewart and the rest of the gang here at Essence.

Lorna's discovered a delicious way to toast Canada this Wednesday. Essence Hair Studio will be closed on Canada Day so we can celebrate, too....Continue reading

We are very happy to be back at work. And we are thrilled to know that our customers are with us all the way....Continue reading

Preparations are underway for our Wednesday re-start! We are making changes and following the WorkSafe BC rules to keep everyone safe....Continue reading

We are getting ready to get back to work Before we can get back to the job - and the clients - that we love, we need to have things ready....Continue reading

The Social Distancing carries on, and so do we. We are happy to be able to report that the...Continue reading

Greetings from week 2 of self-isolation. We are all doing well so far, and we really hope the same is true for you and those you love....Continue reading