Canvas Salon (Mani/Pedis, Eyelash Extensions and more!)

Canvas Salon is a bustling hair and nail salon located in the heart of Kitsilano on West 4th Avenue. I happen to live nearby so when they invited me in to review some of their services I jumped at the chance of possibly finding a new go-to in my neighbourhood.

After meeting with the lovely Quyen, who runs the salon, I was offered a drink and then seated in one of the comfortable massage pedicure chairs. Quyen suggested trying a gel manicure since I've never had one before and I was given the task of selecting a colour from one of the many options.

The salon uses OPI GelColor, which wears like a gel but looks and feels like a lacquer. My nails required no drying time after they were cured and resulted in a glossy, chip-free finish. I'm super impressed with how well they've held up and they're a great option for those who are hard on their hands/nails. However, since I like to change my nail polish frequently, gel nails will probably be reserved for special occasions like if I'm going on an extended trip or vacation.

With sandal season almost upon us, my feet were also in need of some major TLC. Canvas Salon's pedicure services were just what I needed and were nothing short of luxurious. I even received a hot stone massage - talk about pampering!

I wanted to try some colours that I don't already have in my collection so I opted for OPI GelColor in On Her Majesty's Secret Service on my nails and OPI Cuckoo For This Color on my toes. These ended up being great picks as I've already gotten quite a few compliments!

In addition to their hair and nail services, Canvas Salon offers waxing and eyelash extensions. I've always been curious about eyelash extensions because my lashes grow straight and are virtually non-existent if not curled.

Jesse, the lash technician, first went over the different kinds of lashes with me and we decided on "hard" lashes, which hold a curl longer, at a natural length (I didn't want anything too crazy or dramatic). He meticulously applied each individual lash and the result was exactly what I wanted. Here's a "before" and "after" comparison so you can see how sad my natural eyelashes look:

After Jesse's hard work, this is what my lashes now look like when my eyes are closed. Can you believe how full they are? The lash extensions basically doubled my natural eyelash hairs.

And when my eyes are open, it looks like I'm wearing mascara... but I'm not! I love being able to skip that step in the morning.

All in all, I had an amazing time at Canvas and can't wait to go back with my friends for pedicures in a few weeks. If you're in the Vancouver area, you should definitely stop by. Everyone is super friendly, the services were great, and they also stock products from brands like Moroccanoil, bumble & bumble, Kevin Murphy, and Davines.

Address: 2254 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC
Website: http://www.canvassalon.ca