ASK CHARLIE

Hello Gorgeous! Before I tell you about our contest I have to say, "Finally, it's beginning to feel like fall!" I had to take a break this summer because the heat was too much for me. I'm glad that's over and now it's time for me to get back to work! During the summer, I spent my time chasing squirrels and watching birds in our backyard. My mom has a bird feeder, but the squirrels seemed to enjoy it the most. I tried to run them off as much as I could, but it was a tough workout. I was constantly entertained when I went outside to play, but the heat made my paws dry and me thirsty. Mom helped me by giving me ice water and putting lip balm on my paws. It was soothing and made me happy. The other thing that kept me busy was being on the lookout for coyotes. They like our neighborhood. Mom bought me a coyote suit for protection, but I haven't worn it yet. I might use it for my Halloween costume. Stay on the lookout. If you see a little fur baby dressed in spikes, it's me. Now that summer is over, I'm ready to live up to my title as the Director of Happiness. So, to get things started, I'm announcing Garbo's pre-holiday online funny photo contest that starts today. We have prizes that include products and services, so you'll want to participate. We're accepting entries on our Instagram page. It's quite simple to enter. Go to our Instagram page, and message us with your funniest pet or people photo that shows summer fun. Our panel of judges will select the best photos for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. The first-place winner will receive their next three haircuts at Garbo A Salon & Spa for free. The second-place winner will receive $100 in AVEDA products, and the third-place winner will receive our organic lip balm and a $25 Garbo gift card that can be used for services or products. The deadline is October 30th. Please note, only one photo per person. We'll announce the winner on Halloween. Good luck! Now show us your funny photos.  One last thing before I close. The holidays are just around the corner so don’t forget to book early for your nail, skin, and hair appointments. Our books are starting to fill up. It's good to be back from the summer. Let's have some fun!  Until the next time, "Send us your funny photo, book your appointments early, and get a consult on the style you want to rock this holiday season. We'll take care of you. Ruff, ruff!"

Hello Gorgeous! Spring has sprung! This means things are changing. Flowers are in bloom, our days are getting longer, nature's colors are brighter and hair… well, we're in for some change there too. Retro is the theme this spring. Yes, we are dialing back in time to previous decades in order to spring forward in style. What can we expect? How about bangs, shags, side parts, French braid updos, the wet look, the bob and the bedhead. Here's what I've learned about the styles.  BANGS – Angled bangs tend to put focus on the eyes. Bangs that hang down each side of the face and fall below the temples make the face look more slim.  SHAG – Curly shag, short shag & long shag…the shag cut is good for thin, thick, curly or straight hair.  SIDE PART – This is in for braids, short hair and long hair. Yes, a part on the side is trending.  BOB – It has a rich history. The 100 year-old chin-length bob and the curly bob are both tracking this spring.  FRENCH BRAID UPDO – Both elegant and smart, the French Braid Updo will make you stand out at any function, whether casual or dressy.  WET LOOK – Beachy or punky…the wet look is also in for 2023. Especially with a side part.  BEDHEAD – Whether it's a little fuzzy or a little flat, the rumpled look is somehow refreshing. It's not a bad thing to step back from the perfect look. Overall, shorter hair seems to be the 2023 Spring Trend for hairstyles. I like all of the them, but my favorite, and the one I rock most, is the bedhead. I enjoy sashaying around with the sophisticated ruff look. The rumpled style of the bedhead is all about the unique texture of hair and not so much about the style. Think about it…I'm a canine. What can I say? Ruff…ruff! Until the next time, “Book your appointment and get a consult on the style you want to rock this spring. We'll take care of you. Ruff, ruff!”

Are Your Lips Chapped? Hello Gorgeous! It’s hard to believe winter arrives tomorrow December 21st. We're going from record-breaking highs to record-breaking low temperatures in less than two weeks. As they say, “Only in Texas!” With cold weather our likelihood for chapped lips increases. Most of us have had chapped lips. It can happen throughout the year, but the winter season's dry, cold air increases our chances, especially for those of us who lick our lips a lot. How do we avoid chapped lips? Here's a few tips I learned from one of my most trusted experts at Garbo A Salon & Spa…my Mom. Tips for Lip Care 1. Gently exfoliate your lips once a week. This can be done with a mild scrub or a soft toothbrush. This removes the dead skin. 2. After the scrub, seal in moisture with a lip balm. I suggest using Garbo's Lip Balm. It's organic and contains a sunscreen; however, coconut oil, cocoa butter or a thick lotion will work. AVEDA lipsticks also help. They are 95% naturally derived and contain cupuacu fruit butter from the Amazon rainforest and they also contain botanical oils to help protect your lips. 3. Don't lick your lips. This dries them out more. 4. Slather your lips before bedtime with your moisturizer. 5. On your next visit to Garbo, mention “CHARLIE” and receive a FREE Garbo lip balm. I hope these tips help guide you in keeping your lips soft and luscious this winter. A couple of things before I close my last “Ask Charlie” issue for 2022. I'm reminded that not all animals are as favored as I am and need our help. Will you please help me make a difference for my friends at the Austin Animal Center by donating a new or gently used toy, blanket, or pet supplies? We are accepting them at both of our locations. Anything you donate will be greatly appreciated. And lastly, I want to wish you a happy and safe festive time as you celebrate your holiday tradition (Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, Christmas)! It's wonderful to see people smiling and sharing joy this year. It is our tradition to close early for Christmas and New Year's. We will close at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve and 4 p.m. on New Year's Eve at Garbo North and Garbo South. We will be closed Sunday and Monday the 25th and 26th. Until my next issue…Happy Everything! If you have any questions, you'd like me to answer, please email me at askcharlie@garboasalon.com. In the meantime, protect your lips from the cold weather so they don't get Ruff, Ruff!

Hello Gorgeous! Normally, I offer you tips each month on hair and skin care, but this month I felt drawn to offer tips on holiday gifts. This came about after spending time with Santa. I took him my list and he was so impressed with it that I thought I'd share a few of my ideas with you. What impressed him most was that nothing on my list was for me. It was what I want to give to others. He was shocked by it and said I was the most caring soul who'd sat on his lap in a long time. That made my mom proud. Ruff, ruff, ruff! Here are some of the things I had on my list and my reasons why. Hopefully it will get your ideas flowing so your giving brings joy to a loved one this holiday season. Charlie’s Top Five Gift Ideas 1. The Texas Almanac says we are in for a colder winter than we’ve been accustomed to. Give socks, a hat, or a wrap to make sure your person stays warm. 2. Ladies love purses that are fashionable. Give one with a story behind it that says, “You're helping the environment while looking chic, cool and unique.” Purses by Smateria offer this. 3. Buying local boosts our community's economic health and creates jobs close to home. I want to give my best friend Larry (she's a Goldendoodle…yes Larry is a girl) something special and unique. I found a Doggie Spa Set by Nuluv. It's been pup tested and doggie approved and it's made locally in the Texas Hill Country. 4. A good night's rest is worth a lot, and you can get that when you sleep on a 100% Mulberry Silk pillowcase by Blissy. I hear they help keep your face moisturized and your hair from getting frizzy while you sleep. What a gift it is to wake up looking glamorous! 5. My fifth idea is for those of us who don't know what to give to bring joy to someone we care about. Try a Garbo Gift Card. When you give a gift card, the receiver gets the pleasure and joy of getting exactly what they want. You can purchase these for any amount; however, if you buy a $250 gift card, you get a $50 bonus gift card. That's a $300 value for only $250. Can't go wrong with this. All these things are available at Garbo. AND now through Monday November 28th you'll get 20% off all Boutique Items. And one last thing, if you purchase $85 in AVEDA products, you'll receive a complimentary trio…three travel sized AVEDA products of your choice. It carries a $35 value. Hurry in while they last! If you have any questions, you'd like me to answer, please email me at askcharlie@garboasalon.com. I hope these ideas help guide you in this season of giving. Shop early before it gets Ruff…Ruff out there and before the good stuff disappears. Happy Shopping and Happy Giving!

Hello Gorgeous! Before I explain what a Back Facial is, I just wanna say this, “Everyone, and I do mean everyone, should get a Back Facial!” In fact, I think doctors should prescribe them as an annual exam since we don’t have eyes on our backs and can’t see what could be abnormal back there. We cannot and do not diagnose suspicious looking growths we find on our guests, but we can tell if something we find should be examined, and recommend that they see their doctor about it. So, what exactly is a Back Facial? Marina Elizalde, Garbo’s magical esthetician, explained to me that a Back Facial is simply a facial that she does on your back. She cleanses, tones, exfoliates, extracts, hydrates or detoxifies (whichever is needed) your back while she provides a gentle massage. I barked with laughter when she told me removing blackheads makes her happy! The service lasts about an hour and is very relaxing. Garbo A Salon & Spa is one of a few AVEDA salons that offers this luxury service. Something like this is more likely found at a resort, so we pride ourselves in offering it at our Northcross location. Do you remember me telling you last month about how concerned my mom was about me licking my paws? Well, I’m now seeing a specialist for it and the treatment I get is a lot like a gentle massage on my spine. During one of my treatments the therapist discovered a small bump on my back. It turned out that it wasn’t anything serious, just some “gunk.” I’m sharing this with you because we can’t see what’s on our backs, and when someone works on your back, they may discover something that needs attention. I see health benefits in getting a Back Facial and that’s why I highly recommend getting one. My mom loves getting a back facial by Ms. Marina at Garbo. Back Facials are my “go-to” gift for her on special occasions because I know I can’t go wrong with that. As we enter the holiday season, you might like to know we have a special offer on Garbo gift cards. They can be used to get or give a Back Facial. For the holidays, if you buy a $250 gift card, you get an additional $50 gift card. That’s a $300 value for only $250. Get yours today and book an appointment for a Back Facial with Marina. If you have any questions, you’d like me to answer, please email me at askcharlie@garboasalon.com. Until the next time, “Take care of yourself. Get a Back Facial…and feel the difference. It has the power to change a ruff, ruff day into a very pleasant one.

Hello Gorgeous! Ruff! Ruff! I need to come clean. I’ve developed a habit of licking my paws. It annoys my mom, and we are working on trying to get me to stop. I think it’s my cuticles. Yes, us cute little furry babies have cuticles too, and like yours, they need attention to stay healthy and do what they were designed to do, and that’s to protect the nail matrix, which is that area where your fingernails and toenails start to grow. I wag my tail and tell my mom, “I’m just keeping my cuticles neat and clean!” It’s important. Taking care of our cuticles really is important because our cuticles protect our new nails from bacteria and help to keep them healthy. Garbo’s Ashley Moreno is the best nail technician. Her knowledge of nail care combined with her creative nail art is amazing. So, I asked Ashley for some of her tips for cuticle care because the last two years of hand washing and hand sanitizing has surly left our cuticles and hands in need of a little extra care. Ashley offers this advice: 1. Exfoliate the cuticle. This can be done with a cuticle remover cream. Cuticle removers have a liquid exfoliant that loosens and removes your dry skin. 2. Use AVEDA’s Beautifying Composition Oil. This helps to nourish your cuticles and skin around your nails. Keep the oil by your sink where you wash your hands the most so you remember to use it. She said even if you only remember to do it once a week that’s more than nothing. 3. Schedule manicures regularly. This really helps plus it feels good to be pampered. Ashley cautioned me about hang nails. She said if you have a hang nail, never pull it because that could create a painful sore. She recommended clipping it. As for the hands, Ashley recommends using AVEDA’s Hand Relief because it stands up well to washing your hands multiple times. She said a lot of hand creams just sit on the top layer of your skin and get washed off when you wash your hands, but Hand Relief penetrates your skin to help your hands retain moisture even when you’ve washed them. If you have any questions, you’d like me to answer, please email me at askcharlie@garboasalon.com. Until the next time, “Take care of your cuticles…so they don’t get … ruff, ruff!”

“ASK CHARLIE” Summer Skincare Hello Gorgeous! I learned something the other day about skincare. Did you know we should change our skincare routine when the season changes, you know, like we do with our clothes when the season changes? I learned that from Marina, our esthetician and skincare expert at Garbo North. According to Marina, one obvious change we should make is to stop using a clay mask, which is good in the winter, but not so good in the summer. In the hot months we should use a hydrating mask. Marina said it’s because the heat draws the water content out of our skin, and we need to be sure to replace it. She also said if we don’t replace the hydration, it could cause fine wrinkles to appear and who wants those? Since the summer temps have already bolted into Austin, I asked her to give me her top five tips to share with you for summer skincare. Here’s what she recommends: 1. Drink water. It helps us stay hydrated. Staying hydrated helps us stay healthy and when we’re healthy we look pretty good. 2. Apply sunscreen to protect yourself from damaging UV rays. Sunscreen has been known to lower the risk of skin cancer. 3. Pay attention to the active ingredients in your skincare products. The actives we should be concerned about are Retinol “ASK CHARLIE” Charlie Power (vitamin A), and Glycolic Acid at 10% or higher. These actives can cause sensitivity if used with sunscreen protection. Different climates call for different skincare serums. 4. Wear a hat to keep the direct sunlight off your face when exposed to sun for long periods of time. 5. Book a Summer Recovery Facial with Marina. Marina is the best esthetician in Austin. She’s offering a new service called the Summer Recovery Facial where she tailors a summer skincare plan to meet your specific needs because no skin is the same. This is something super special because when you get the Summer Recovery Facial, Marina will include complimentary products for your continual summer skincare. Don’t wait! Book your Summer Recovery Facial today and get your summer glow on! If you have questions, you want me to answer, email me at askcharlie@garboasalon.com. Until the next time, “Be good to your skin...so it doesn’t get... ruff, ruff!”

“ASK CHARLIE” Hair Colors for Spring Hello Gorgeous & Happy Spring! Spring is in the air! Flowers are blooming and the bees are buzzing. I chased a bee the other day. Know why? Because I was feeling bold and beautiful. Look at me! I look like a Runway Princess in my cotton candy hairdo. For this issue I talked with the color experts at Garbo A Salon & Spa to see if my new color was popping for the spring. They told me I certainly was! It made me bark with joy! I found out from several hair colorists that this year’s colors are vibrant and popping with energy. To me, the new colors are barking freedom of expression and self-identity! I’m all for letting freedom ring, so when Miss Nora, my hairstylist came over for my scheduled appointment, I barked, “Pink, pink, pink!” Valentino pink to be exact. So, what other colors are hot for this spring? My mom says, Peacock is the most requested. It’s a combo of purple, blue and green. Also: Soft lilac Canary Yellow Honey Blonde Strawberry Sky Blue Scarlet You can let one of Garbo’s hair colorists help you discover your look for this spring. If you have questions you want me to answer, email me at askcharlie@garboasoalon.com. Until then, “Try to look your best and not… ruff, ruff!”

Hello Gorgeous & Happy St. Patrick's Day! First, I want to introduce myself to you. I’m Charlie, and to be clear about who I am, my mom owns the Best AVEDA Salon in Austin by my vote. I want to help her out with her company, so each month I will bring you fun professional tips on skin and haircare from the many experts that serve you at Garbo A Salon & Spa. Since they stay so busy with you humans, they let me help by relaying their professional tips. Soon you will be sent my new column…Ask Charlie. Each month I’ll give you some fun professional tips on skin and haircare. Are you wondering why I got selected for this job? The short version is, I have hair and skin that requires care too. Sure, it may look different than yours, but trust me, I know what I’m talking about. Our hair and skin require tender, love, and care. Besides that, my mom has been in the business forever and I’ve learned a lot from her. You may know her. She’s Marsha Power, the founder and owner of Garbo A Salon & Spa. Hopefully I’ve convinced you to trust me, if not, look for my column coming to you soon and see what you discover. Until then, “Try to look your best and not…ruff, ruff!”

Hello Gorgeous! Thank you for reading my first issue of Ask Charlie. I’m a little nervous, but my mom said to be brave and courageous. I try very hard to do what she says, so here goes. Miss Nora, my hairdresser, came over to groom me the other day. When she finished, the hair on my cute little ears was headed in all directions…north, east, south and west. It looked like I had stuck my nose in an electrical socket. Ouch! My mom thought it was cute, but I like my hair to point in one direction. When this happens to you, here are five easy things you can choose from to help your hair look neat because when those electrons build up in your hair…it won’t behave or point in the direction you want it to go. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about. Five tips to remedy static in your hair. 1. Wipe your brush with a non-toxic dryer sheet before brushing your hair. 2. Rub a little, and I do mean a little, conditioner in the palms of your hands and smooth down your flyaway hairs. A face moisturizer will work as well. 3. Smooth a little water over your hair. 4. Spray your hands with a toxic-free static spray and “pet” your hair. 5. Use Witch Hazel Light Hold hair spray by AVEDA or Nutriplenish, a light leave-in conditioner spray also by AVEDA. Any one of these should do the trick for you. That’s it for my first issue of ASK CHARLIE. I hope you look for me next month for easy fun professional tips for skin and haircare. Until then, “I hope you keep looking your best…and not…ruff, ruff!” Have a question you want me to answer? Email me at: askcharlie@garboasalon.com.