This is your moment to support WORLD Hair and Skin (WHS), a proudly Canadian brand founded by Brian Phillips. WORLD Hair and Skin is more than just a personal care company; it exemplifies the values and innovation that Canadian businesses can bring to the table. Brian Phillips, a celebrated entrepreneur based in Toronto, has built this clean, multipurpose personal care brand with a commitment to environmental sustainability, health-conscious ingredients, and social responsibility. His dedication has been recognized with the Green Circle Award for Environmental Stewardship and the Environmental Defence Green Champion Award for 25 years of promoting eco-friendly practices. Supporting WORLD Hair and Skin is not just about purchasing a product—it is about contributing to a movement that prioritizes the well-being of our planet and its people.

WORLD Hair and Skin is a leader in the personal care industry by adhering to “Blue Beauty” principles, prioritizing reduced plastic waste, protecting the environment, and creating products safe for humans and animals. Each product is crafted with plant-based, fragrance-free ingredients designed to simplify routines, promote wellness and reduce chemical loads. These multipurpose products are ideal for anyone seeking a healthier, more sustainable approach to personal care with “one less chemical.”

In addition to offering top-tier products, WORLD Hair and Skin is a brand with integrity. The company is Leaping Bunny certified, ensuring that its products are cruelty-free and never tested on animals. It is also recommended by Environmental Defence Canada, demonstrating its commitment to clean, safe, and environmentally responsible practices. For those who value transparency and accountability, WORLD Hair and Skin is a natural choice.
Brian Phillips’ mission is to create solutions that are both functional and ethical. With over 35 years of experience in the beauty industry, he has partnered with his sister, Donna Edwards, who serves as Director of Operations. Together, they have grown WORLD Hair and Skin into a trusted name recognized across Canada and internationally.

WORLD Hair and Skin’s dedication to sustainability is captured in its slogans:

• BELIEVE: “Believe In Your Power To Heal”—Empower yourself with products that nurture your body and the environment.
• CLEAN: “Balance Your Bio-Systems”—Achieve harmony with products that support well-being.
• OCEAN: “Give Your Hair A Trip To The Beach”—Experience nature-inspired, eco-friendly formulations.

Supporting Canadian businesses like WORLD Hair and Skin strengthens our economy and promotes sustainability. By keeping your dollars in Canada, you help sustain jobs, foster innovation, and contribute to a resilient economic future. WORLD Hair and Skin exemplifies Canadian innovation and values, proving that our businesses can lead in industries that prioritize people and the planet. In the modern world we live in, there is so much we can’t control. You have the power to do good and support good businesses.

Visit WORLD Hair and Skin today to explore their range of products and be part of a movement that champions sustainability, health, and community. Together, we can build a stronger Canada, one conscious purchase at a time.

Many of you probably didn’t know that one of the superpower ingredients in the WORLD Hair and Skin line (actively lurking in CLEAN, to give your hair and skin a solid) is Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, also known as hemp seed oil.  CSS has been creating quite a “buzz” in the beauty industry, and for good reason. Derived from the seeds of the hemp plant, this versatile ingredient offers a plethora of benefits for both your hair and skin. It most definitely will not make you high or paranoid, so you can take a chill pill.  Let’s dive deeper into the wonderful world of cannabis sativa seed oil and learn why it’s becoming the go-to choice for clean beauty and health enthusiasts everywhere.

Moisturizing Magic:

Picture this – you lather up with CLEAN and immediately the cannabis sativa seed oil gets to work. It’s like a burst of hydration for your skin and hair. Thanks to its rich supply of essential fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6, this oil ensures your skin remains supple and radiant. It deeply penetrates the epidermis, the outermost layer, bolstering its protective lipid barrier, fortifying and retaining moisture and also shielding against environmental stressors. Moving deeper, the oil’s anti-inflammatory properties extend their influence to the dermis, where it calms redness and irritation, promoting a healthier complexion. You’ll be giving good face!  No more fretting over moisture loss from harsh shampoos, body and facial washes; it’s the secret to keeping your skin youthful and your hair luxuriously hydrated.

Zen for Sensitive Skin:

Cannabis sativa seed oil isn’t just about moisture, it’s your skincare peacekeeper – like a spa day for sensitive skin.  The extract is a source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which assists in alleviating skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, reducing dryness, flaking and itchiness – an epidemic due to the overabundance of harsh ingredients in personal care products like silicon, fragrance, and coal tar dyes.  Over the years, many of us have become sensitized to these and many other synthetics in many of the products we use.

Time-Traveling Elixir: Who doesn’t want to reverse the clock a little, even you guys? Hemp seed oil is like the fountain of youth in a bottle. Packed with antioxidants, it’s on a mission to fend off those pesky free radicals from UV radiation and pollution that cause premature aging. So, think of it as your trusty sidekick in the fight against wrinkles, fine lines, and those telltale signs of growing older.

The Sebum Symphony: For those dealing with oily or acne-prone skin, cannabis sativa seed oil is your conductor of the sebum symphony. Say goodbye to overproduced oil leading to clogged pores and breakouts. This oil steps in to regulate sebum production, leaving your skin feeling balanced and looking its best.

Crowning Glory for Hair: But wait, there’s more! It’s not just your skin that’s in for a treat; your hair is getting a makeover too. For the hair, cannabis sativa seed oil nourishes the cuticle, the outermost layer of each strand, giving it a smoother, shinier appearance.  It is also brimming with vitamin E, an essential nutrient for a healthy scalp and luscious locks. As the oil is absorbed into the cortex, the inner layer of the hair, it delivers vital nutrients, reinforcing the hair’s strength and resilience.  On the scalp, it enhances circulation and fosters a healthier environment for hair growth. It’s like a boost of vitality for your hair, promoting growth and preventing hair loss. Plus, with its nourishing fatty acids, it’s your hair’s guardian angel against breakage and brittleness.

Versatility Galore: The beauty of cannabis sativa seed oil lies in its versatility. It’s the ultimate multitasker, suitable for all skin types, whether it’s oily, dry, or sensitive. And when it comes to hair, it plays nice with all hair types, from curly to straight. So, no matter your beauty needs, this oil’s got you covered.

In a nutshell, cannabis sativa seed oil is your ticket to healthy, happy skin and hair. It’s the moisturizer, inflammation soother, age-defier, sebum regulator, hair growth booster, and all-skin-types-welcome ingredient you’ve been waiting for. You know, the stereotypical image of the cannabis user always seems to involve someone in tie-dye, sprawled out on a bean bag, munching on snacks that have never even heard of before, and staring intently at a lava lamp. Get that out of your heads.  Think of the CSS in CLEAN as a beauty elixir you are adding to your daily routine.  With every shampoo, wash, facial cleanse to remove makeup, or shave… you are enhancing your hair and skin, which will thank you later.

I was talking with a client recently at worldSALON about how environmental issues seem to be falling off people’s radar.  Alan explained that as an interior designer, most of his clients previously would start the discussion of designing their new spaces with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for their interiors.  The LEED program “provides a framework to create healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings”.   Alan says now clients hardly bring it up.   This situation got us wondering if the mindless evisceration of environmental protections south of the border, at the hands of the orange wonder, is seeping north and perhaps having a chilling effect globally?

Research into this matter led me to two inspiring nuggets.  Firstly, even though draft dodger don sent notice to the United Nations on August 4, 2017 that the U.S. was exiting the Paris Agreement on Climate Change (the only country in the world to withdraw) the way the accord is structured, the earliest this will actually happen is the day after the next election, November 4, 2020 (according to the NRDC).  Secondly, the Pacific Standard reports that “following the decision to back out of the Paris Agreement, a collection of governors, mayors, business leaders, and university presidents individually redoubled their commitments to the agreement on behalf of the states, cities, companies, and campuses they represent.”  Former mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg adds “cities, states, and corporations could achieve, or even surpass, the pledge of the administration of former President Barack Obama to reduce America’s planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions 26 percent by 2025, from their levels in 2005.”

Up here in the great white north, I am thrilled to be involved with Environmental Defence Canada (enviromentaldefence.ca), an organization that is fighting strong for the health of Canadians.  ED’s four main planks are 1. Kicking out toxics  2) Clean climate and economy,  3) Creating livable communities and  4) Safeguarding Canada’s freshwater.   The work that these dedicated individuals do every day has resulted in some major wins – “from the protection of the Greenbelt, to the banning of the toxic chemical BPA in baby bottles, to the founding of the Green Energy Act Alliance to our most recent effort to get rid of the toxic and useless microbeads that are fouling our lakes”.  I was so honoured to receive the “Green Champion Award for Environmental Stewardship” at the 2015 ED Gala for “25 years of leadership in sustainable business practices and progressive work eliminating toxic chemicals”.  This spring, Environmental Defence has a brand new climate change initiative that I am proud to be part of – sit tight for the launch!

In 2005, worldSALON installed solar thermal panels to help heat our hot water; this alone has offset 26,000 tons of greenhouse gases.  We also partnered with Bullfrog Power in 2005, installed LED lighting for the salon in 2007, put in a a hot water on demand system in 2013 and in 2009 were one of the first salons to sign up with the inspiring   Green Circle Salons, which has diverted almost 2,500,000 pounds of waste from landfill and waterways across North America.  One of these days, I will have to do a full audit of how much all these endeavours have benefitted the environment.

To conclude, in this Earth Month, give to an organization like Environmental Defence that is doing great work to make our communities healthier.  Try one thing in your home that could have an impact, like an energy audit or joining up with Bullfrog Power to support renewable energy initiatives.  Most importantly,  get on your bike or go for regular walks because a healthier world starts with you.

This is a tough one, because I love the polished helmets of the 1950’s for their precision and architectural beauty: 

While nice to look at, you know there was a toxic cloud of elements not known to man hovering around that head, and if you touched it, your fingers might break.  In the 1960’s, we get Twiggy, really huge hair as seen on model Verushka and Vidal Sassoon  whose work revolutionized the industry:

The 1960s are also personified by the musical “Hair”, which began off Broadway in 1967.  It spawned a monster show, travelling the world, a multi-million dollar selling album and a Grammy Award for Best Score.  Non-violence, environmentalism, free love and freeing your hair became the themes of this decade and as such we saw the hippie movement blossom and natural texture flourish:

In the 1970’s, with the waning of hippie culture, glam rock moved into prominence and artists like T-Rex and David Bowie and The Spiders From Mars informed a whole generation of fashion plates with their rock and roll shags.  Later on, punk rock exploded on the scene, which produced the musical equivalent of being run over by a bus while on speed.  It was a terrific ride.  The excitement that I experienced listening to the Sex Pistols was epic.  Oh and the hair was allright:

This decade also produced an iconic image which embodies all the elements that make hair magical and beautiful. Touchability, movement, texture, sexiness and sparkle are all evoked and I’m sure many a hairstyling career were launched with Farrah:

Talking with a client and friend a few days ago, and lamenting the dimunition of empathy in the present day, I was reminded of a quote by Maya Angelou : “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  This year, as I strive to build a broader world for our world, I will keep this idea front and center.

It makes perfect sense that how you feel leaves an impression on others, so at worldSALON and WORLD Hair Skin, our message of health, peace and sustainability is now more important than ever.  We plan this year ahead to make you feel even better than you thought possible, by being better ourselves!

   Ed – before world

It feels appropriate to close out the year hearkening back to the Mantra we created for the WORLD Hair and Skin product line when we re-branded in 2015:

Our WORLD is a better place now and every day I strive to make it better.

Our WORLD rewards truth and complexity

Our WORLD is powered by clean energy and people that live sustainably.

Our WORLD is full of peace and love where each of us is important and must be heard

Our WORLD is clean vital and strong and this is the WORLD that feeds us.

Our WORLD is designed to be user friendly like nature

Our WORLD is inclusive and embraces diversity

Our WORLD each day teaches us the concept of enough.

I wish you all a happy holiday season with family and friends and an exciting, healthy  peaceful 2018!

For this Wedding Bells cover, I was asked to create a soft approachable look.   For her ultimate party, this bride sports long messy bangs with hair back, which is uncontrived and sexy:

For my friend Barb’s party, we decided on a messy braid with lots of volume at the front for dramatic effect:

I must say that the “haute couture party hair” award would have to go to Juliet, who let me attach extensions of two different colours and build her hair up into a massive bun that defied gravity.  This is multi-purpose statement hair that that could also double as  comfortable head support after too many party cocktails!  We hope to give you some party hair this season!

WORLD Hair and Skin, hit the shelves in 2001 – sweet sixteen this year.  At the launch of our re-brand at the salon in June 2015, being interviewed for CityTv  was a highlight and I remember feeling like an imposter mentioning that our 25th anniversary was coming up.  Some of the models in our presentation were not even a thought when we started doing clients at the salon “back in the day.”

What thrills me is how excited I am for the future.  We have an incredible team at worldSALON that are putting out sexy, strong, beautiful work everyday.  My team inspire and challenge me and our space is supportive and full of love .  I am very grateful for what I have learned from everyone that has crossed the threshold at 132 Adelaide St. E. over the years and especially you amazing people that have trusted us to carve beautiful shapes for your heads and splash them with colours that twinkle in your eyes and make your skin glow.

Thank you, thank you!  With love and gratitude,

Brian.