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sojourn beauty  SOJOURN CANADA

Sojourn: The perfect protein and pH balance for your hair!

 by Carole Lemire

Every single aspect of Soho had hours and hours of thought and planning put into it and choosing our retail product line was not any different.   From the day that we decided to open Soho, I new we had to find the best hair care products in the world for our clients.  My sister and I literally spent weeks searching and sent hundreds of emails to product companies around the globe.  We were fortunate to stumble upon Sojourn, a brand new product line that at the time was not yet even available in Canada.  After reading about the product line and speaking with the Sojourn chemist, I knew we had to have it.

The qualification process to carry the product was not easy, but I’m so proud to say that we are the very first salon in Canada (and to our knowledge still the only) to carry Sojourn!

After 14 years in the hair industry, I have the opportunity to use and educate clients on just about every single kind of hair care product under the moon. I have NEVER used anything like Sojourn. Our clients are raving about it and we’ve had a difficult time keeping it on the shelves. There is not a day that goes by that a client does not jump out of their seat with excitement from the way that their hair feels after using Sojourn.

Elan Sassoon is the man behind Sojourn, his father, Vidal Sassoon, is the best-known hair stylist in the world. With years of knowledge, experience and influence in the hair industry, Soho clients now get to experience the ultimate in fine hair care.  The 15 products, which clearly list the pH range of 4.5 to 5.5 on the front of the bottle, are made with Keratin protein, the exact same protein found in human hair. This is what makes Sojourn so special.  The only way to fix dry and damaged hair is to replace the lost Keratin. The majority of hair care products are not infused with Keratin because of the protein’s cost.  It is common to hear product manufacturers talk about soy protein, a cheap alternative to Keratin and truly just another marketing ploy. Every single one of the Sojourn products has Keratin cashmere protein that rebuilds, moisturizes, conditions and protects.

Sojourn contains cystine amino acid (which is what your hair cuticle is made of), which is one of the main building blocks of the Keratin complex. The combination of Keratin cashmere and cystine amino acid prevents hair breakage and split ends.  The products are 100 percent biodegradable with a net-zero environmental impact, and contain no sulfates (which are drying, harsh for the hair, cause eye irritation, allergic reactions, and hair loss) formaldehyde (which is a toxic chemical), denatured alcohol (which causes the hair cuticle to become rough and end up drying out the hair), parabens, (preservatives added to beauty products to keep them from growing bacteria and to increase their shelf life), salt (which has the effect of thickening the mixture, and is added to each batch in the amount needed to raise the viscosity to a specified level) or artificial colors or dyes.

Please check your shampoo, conditioner and styling products. Check to see if the products have a pH level of 4.5 to 5.5, that’s the natural pH of your hair and that’s what all products should be at. If the pH is not 4.5-5.5 on the bottle, saying the product is pH balanced means nothing; it could be balanced at a 9 or even a 10.

So why should you care?

After a colour or highlights, the hair’s pH can be a 9, 10, or 11, to open the cuticle, the color molecule is added into your hair, and then the colourist brings the pH back down to a 4.5 to 5.5 range to close the cuticle. You spend $130+ on colour and the next day you wash your color out because your products don’t fall in the pH range of 4.5-5.5, which keeps your cuticle closed.

These are just a few reasons to use Sojourn. If you are a client of Soho and are using Sojourn, we’d love to hear your comments below!  If you would like to learn more visit the website at www.SojournBeauty.com.  To watch a great interview with Elan Sassoon click here. 
Thank you for reading!

Carole Lemire
Sohohair.ca
Soho Facebook Page

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SOJOURN – STUFF MAGAZINE

SOJOURN by Elan S.

 

REVIEWS

HAIR APPARENT

by Heather Bouzan  

In case you haven’t caught on by now, the cosmetics industry isn’t just a pretty face: there are some serious chemistry brains behind your favorite volumizing mousse or age-defying foundation. But lately, we’ve been noticing beauty brands truly embracing the science-nerd side of their products instead of hiding it behind some prettily packaged gimmick or another. We, for one, are fans of this smarter side of the beauty biz – and of the industry’s recognition that its consumers know the difference between a wishful-thinking “miracle” cure and a product that actually does as it promises.More than anything, though, we love that so much of this pragmatic, results-based beauty comes with a Bostonian stamp of approval. The latest? Sojourn, a haircare line backed by the cachet of co-founder Elan Sassoon, hits shelves in early April. Available locally at Sassoon’s salon Mizu (Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 776 Boylston Street, Boston, 617.585.6498), Sojourn promotes the idea of “positive chemistry,” a concept Sassoon and his team arrived at by studying hair at its optimum natural state. Led by director of chemistry Rob Guimond, the group identified pH as a major factor in hair strength and structure; altered levels caused by environmental factors or chemical processes like hair coloring can cause locks to fade, break, or dry out. With that in mind, each Sojourn product is formulated in hair’s optimum pH range, 4.5 to 5.5.

Another factor Sojourn takes into account is one of hair’s natural building blocks: keratin. Incorporated into each product in the line, Sojourn’s Keratin Cashmere Protein works to moisturize the hair cuticle from the inside out, preventing split ends and other breakage. And if all that isn’t enough, the line is also 100% biodegradable and free of parabens, formaldehyde, sulfates, and artificial dyes and colors.

The collection itself is an ambitious one, especially for an initial launch, but we admire the way it covers all the bases. Product is divided into four color-coded subcategories – Moisture, Smooth, Volume, and Colour Preserve (their “u,” not ours) – each helmed by a targeted shampoo ($25/300 mL, $46/1 L) and conditioner ($26-$28/300 mL, $48-$52/1 L). The line’s 15 debut products range from a Sculpting Taffy ($20/150 mL), to a Leave-In Detangler ($22/250 mL), to a Monoi Oil Hair Treatment ($26/50 mL), all of which can be mixed and matched according to need and hair type.

Jumping at the chance to try Sojourn on our own heads, we snagged test samples from within each of the four groupings. Our standout favorite was the Moisture Shampoo ($25/300 mL, $46/1 L). We’d been using a drugstore brand between salon appointments, and the difference once we lathered up was clear: our hair was so soft and smooth after rinsing, we hardly felt the need for conditioner. The long-term effects of the Thermal Protection Straightener ($24/250 mL) are still to be seen, but we loved that even a healthy application didn’t leave us feeling like total greaseballs. Coupling it with with Sojourn’s Serum Smooth ($24/150 mL), we went sleek and frizz-free for a full day. And since we’re not much for gel ourselves, we had a friend slick the Wet/Dry Volume Gel ($16/150 mL) into his bedhead on a no-shower morning. He was all for its lack of stickiness, and we loved that it didn’t give off the cheesy shine that some gels can. The product scents, too, were fantastic across the board.

All said and done, the line is a debut to be commended – though we wouldn’t expect anything less from the man behind one of the city’s most tony salons. And, of course, there’s that last name of his to raise the standards even higher.

 

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SOJOURN by ELAN SASSOON

Positive Chemistry!

Elan Sassoon  son of famed Vidal Sassoon is launching his line of hair care….Sojourn by elan s.

Adriana Sassoon & Elan Sassoon

Elan Sassoon is also Owner of Mizu salons in  New York and Boston.

Elan Sassoon's New Haircare line, Sojourn. Sojourn Shampoo Moisture: All I have to say about this shampoo is that after applying and lathering it through my hair, it felt so moisturized I didn’t think I needed any conditioner to accompany it! The shampoo smells wonderful – with a hint of citrus. It left my hair healthy-looking and silky soft to the touch. I can definitely understand the power of the exclusive Keratin Cashmere Protein they use in this product – it does leave your hair permanently conditioned.Sojourn Conditioner Moisture: Okay…so I know I just said that I didn’t necessarily need the conditioner after the shampoo, but I used it anyways—and guess what, my hair was even MORE moisturized. I used both the shampoo and the conditioner first thing in the morning right after I woke up. My ‘bed head’ hair had tangles galore. After using this conditioner my hair felt as if I brushed them all out. On the bottle it advises you to leave the product in for two to three minutes (so it acts more like a deep conditioner). I saw a result after one minute.
Conditioner Moisture, Texture Molding Paste, Shampoo Moisture, Monoi Oil

Sojourn Monoi Oil:

In other words. Wonder oil. It’s an ultra-light yet deep conditioning treatment specially formulated for chemically treated, dry, frizzy or environmentally damaged hair. This hydrating oil absorbs almost instantly and it doesn’t leave any residue or build up. When you first apply it, you can feel it in the hair. After about 15 minutes you can’t even tell it’s there. Hair feels a lot softer after this product.

Sojourn Texture Molding Paste: This paste has a thicker texture than the taffy, so it enables you to add a little more definition to any cut or style. You can use this product to create soft and loose curls or to stand hair straight up.

Sojourn Leave-in Detangler: it’s good to use for a little extra moisture and for tangle-protection! Comb this product through with a large toothcomb, and know that it can be used alone or before applying products.

 Elan Sassoon's New Haircare line, Sojourn. Sojourn Shampoo Colour Preserve: This is formulated with a potent plant-derived UV inhibitor for maximum protection against environmental free radical damage caused by UV light. The low pH locks in color and prevents premature fading for richer, vibrant, longer lasting color and shine.A few years ago, I dyed my hair a purple–maroon color. Since I was a lifeguard at that time I had no choice but to bake in the sun pretty much every day. After all that sun, my hair turned orange and definitely did not resemble its original color. Sounds like this product would have solved that problem…Sojourn Conditioner Colour Preserve: This product provides extra UV protection for colored, chemically treated hair as well as hair that has been overexposed to the harsh effects of heat, wind and the sun. Works just like Sojourn Moisture Conditioner.
Conditioner Colour Preserve, Sculpting Taffy, Shampoo Colour Preserve, Thermal Protection Straightener


Sojourn Sculpting Taffy: I used a small amount on my hair while it was dry (you can use it on wet hair too). It added a little texture/separation to my layers and smells marvelous — like roses! This is an all-in-one sculpting tool that gives extra hold, shine and protection to long, short, or in-between styles. Contains maracuja oil, so it fortifies hair as it styles.

Sojourn Thermal Protection Straightener: I found this is a useful product. I have used it for the past week before I straighten my hair with a flatiron. In any situation, you should apply it BEFORE applying heat on dry hair. I sprayed it on my hair from roots to ends, one section at a time for maximum protection and moisture.

Sojourn Wet/Dry Volume Gel: I took about a quarter amount of this gel and applied it at the ends to my roots. It left my hair weightless and soft. After blow-drying my hair it was like Va-Voom Volume! It works also in dry hair for a more piece-y look.So what was my favorite aspect about the entire collection besides the healthy effect it had on my hair? The scent. Floral, Herbal, Citrus…I got a surprise from ever bottle I opened. Trying out Sojourn was definitely a pleasant experience.  Elan Sassoon's New Haircare line, Sojourn.
 Modern Salon by Lauren Salapatek Shampoo Volume, Wet/Dry Volume Gel, Conditioner Volume

http://www.sojournbeauty.com/#/press/

http://www.sojournbeauty.com/#/elan-sassoon/