We spoke with Brian Phillips, the super cool CEO and Owner of worldSALON and worldPRODUCTS. His award-winning salon is a recognized leader in cutting edge eco initiatives. We found out how to safely colour greys, what hairstyle he thinks Stephen Harper needs, and which hair product rips out bum hair.
You were “green” long before it became trendy. Advantage or disadvantage?
Definitely an advantage now. In 1993 when we stopped doing perms at worldSALON not so much. I lost more than a few clients over that one, but the perm solution was wreaking havoc with my skin and I realized it was very unhealthy for the staff to be breathing in the toxic fumes day in and day out. (Brian won the Green Champion Award from Environmental Defense in 2015!)
What’s the longest you’ve gone without washing your hair?
Camping, maybe one week max. I am not a believer in non-washing (no No Poo Method for you we guess!). When we were cave dwellers, there were no cities, cars, or industry belching pollution everywhere. All that buildup should be washed out of our hair at the very least once every few days. Sweat is also very corrosive to the hair follicles if left to build up. If you looked at your scalp under a microscope, you would wash your hair.
Whose hair would you love to cut, and what style would you give them?
Stephen Harper needs a Chelsea Girl. (Yes. He. Does. He needs a lot more too!)
What’s the grossest thing you’ve ever used in either your own, or someone else’s hair?
Joico Ice Mist – clients brought it back because after spraying their hair straight up, they sat on the toilet seat, and it ripped out their bum hair (true story). (Wow. Ew.)
We love that you’ve created your own products. What makes your shampoo better than other eco brands?
This combination: no fragrance, I can wash my hair, face and body and then shave with it, I can wash my delicate clothing with it, it doesn’t sting my eyes, and doesn’t leave a bathtub ring. I can eliminate buying 7 other products – love the minimalism.
If people want to hide their grey or go blonde, is there really a safe hair colour?
There are many natural colours on the market, but the safest one (no ppd and low ammonia) that is really effective is the LaBiosthetique colour line from Germany. I have been to the factory in Pforzheim, Germany twice and grilled their head chemist. Their head office is in Paris and I have studied with the head educators and was so impressed that I became an educator myself, doing platform work for two years (2008, 2009). It is by far the best colour in North America and in the salon it doesn’t smell! (This is why we feel good referring people to you!)
What are three things we can do to have beautiful eco-friendly hair?
1. Wash your hair regularly and use products without The Toxic Ten chemicals.
2. If you colour your hair, come to worldSALON and get the best colour of your life.
3. Put good things inside your body – if you smoke like a chimney and eat crap your hair will reflect that.
For more information on worldSALON and worldPRODUCTS check them out online. Make sure to follow their updates @_worldSALON, and like them on Facebook too!
