Essential hair styling tools

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We all fall in to one of two categories when it comes to hair styling tools. We either have numerous drawers and cupboards overflowing with every kind of comb, hairbrush and heated styler OR we can’t seem to find the one brush we own – “it’s around here somewhere”!

We’ve created a quick checklist of must-have styling tools, so you can build-up or slim-down your stock. Of course, there are numerous tools out there to help create endless great hairstyles, but if you can manage to acquire the following you’ll have a wholesome and versatile range to play with.

Quality Blow dryer
It’s no secret that a hair dryer is essential for creating bright, voluminous and babe-alicious hair. Investing in a quality, high-powered dryer will help decrease the drying time and prevent heat-damage. For tips on how to get the best blowout, read our article ‘The art of hairdrying’.

Quality Hair Straightener
A super versatile styling tool, hair straighteners can create sleek and straight tresses or luscious, bouncy curls. Make sure to opt for a quality straightener with ceramic or titanium plates for even heat distribution and minimal hair damage. Our ‘Way of the hair straightener’ article will help you get the most out of this essential tool.

Wide-tooth Comb
This little instrument is the best friend of wet hair. A brush catches and breaks your hair, but a wide-tooth comb can help detangle your locks with minimal damage. This kind of comb is also great for smoothing and softening styles without frizzing or flattening.

Barrel Brush
This is your blow-drying weapon of choice. Taking sections of you hair and using the barrel brush and hair dryer in sync, you can create a soft natural curl and smoother locks for a lush and light finish.

Paddle Brush
A paddle brush is a key styling brush – especially for longer hair. It’s great for fashioning up-dos, softening curls and smoothing straightened locks. As a bonus, a paddle brush offers a gentle scalp massage, which is not only good for stimulating your blood circulation – it also feels nice!

3 simple styling tips for thick hair (plus an important reminder!)

 

First things first - We thought we’d better alert you to the fact that our pre-Christmas appointments are filling up fast! So if you’d like a trim, colour or full re-style you best book swiftly! Give us a call ASAP to guarantee yourself a spot.

Now, for the subject matter of the week… 3 simple styling tips for thick hair

It’s easy to blame bad hair days on the type of hair you have, but really it’s comes down to managing what you’ve got. Last week, we focused on fine hair – if that’s you, check out our styling tips for the finer ladies! This week, we’re concentrating on those of us with an abundance of hair.

If you have thick hair, you most likely wish you had less to deal with. Au contraire you voluminous vixens! Better to have too much hair than too little right?! It can seem like a bit of a burden to deal with your copious strands of beautiful, but here are some tips to lighten the load…

The cut: The most manageable hairstyles for thick hair are either nice and short – which makes style control easy, or longer layers with enough weight to hold your tresses down. Thinning and textured layers can do wonders for helping your style sit better naturally, as well as relieving you of some of the bulk. (Just as long as the layers aren’t so short that they add volume instead!) Come and have a chat with us about the best cut for your hair type, hair texture and face shape.

The blowout: The main issue for thick hair when it comes to blow-drying is the time it takes to style it. Your hair won’t hold any shape until it’s about 80% dry, so to help speed up the process, ditch some of the dampness by gently squeezing your hair with a towel and then roughly blow-drying your hair with your hands before converting to a brush to style. (A nozzle attachment is a great accessory for thick hair as it concentrates the heat and can help smooth out your hair.) For extra tips on how to create a beautiful blowout check out our article ‘The art of hairdrying’.

The products: Thick hair craves hair products that will infuse moisture, condition and control, and make styling manageable. Seek out shampoos and conditioners that are moisture-rich (deep conditioning treatments are a great addition too). Shine serums are a great styling tool for smoothing dense hair and controlling frizz.

The colour: It’s best to opt for high or low lights rather than a full colour as solid tones can make your locks look a little “wig” like. By combining a few complementary hues you can soften your style and lighten the density of your hair.

The wash: A common issue that comes with thick hair is an itchy, flaky scalp. Residue shampoo, conditioner or styling products on the scalp are the usual culprits. To avoid having this problem, make sure to wash and rinse your hair well. Read our article ‘Achieving a salon-standard hair wash at home’ for more tips.

 

Happy Spring everyone!

Spring has officially sprung and with it comes daffodils, singing birds, the return of the sun and spring-cleaning! Spring is a great time to freshen things up and try something new. As we usher in the warmer months with open arms, put an extra spring in your step (excuse the cliché pun, but it was too hard to resist) by experimenting with some of 2012’s top spring/summer hair trends:

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It’s all about accessorizing darling!

From headscarves and flower garlands to baubles and colourful ribbons - hair accessories are in! Transform your hairdos from plain to just plain fabulous by adorning your locks with a few embellishments. Add a subtle touch with decorated bobby pins or try a statement piece such as a giant rose ensemble. Experiment and have a little fun with it!

 

 

 

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Morning Dew.

Whether sleekly tied back or shaggy and loose, the “just got out of the shower” look is a dominant trend this spring and summer. Glossy, shiny, wet-look hair is a fresh, low maintenance style that is putting a bold glam-rock twist on the unintentional “hairstyle” that ordinarily never leaves the bathroom.

 

 

 

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Lace up those locks

Plaits, braids and twisted knots are another big trend this spring and summer, but we’re not talking “Little House On The Prairie” or “Sound of Music” pigtails here! Think romantic spirals of plaited love inspired by Romeo and Juliet, and playful yet classy twists that wouldn’t look out of place in a charming French film.

 

 

 

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Making Waves.

If you have naturally wavy or curly hair count yourself lucky, straight hair has taken a back seat this season! Beach hair meets city life with ruffled, whimsical waves that make for effortless “cool”. For a slice of glamour (and if you have a little more time on your hands), have a go at creating some 20s-style finger waves for a sophisticated and sassy look.

 

 

 

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Ponytails.

The humble ponytail is a classic style that can be adapted to fashion numerous looks. A neat and high ponytail accomplishes the current “classic, preppy” trend. Achieve laidback elegance with a low, tousled pony at the nape of the neck- clipped in a loop or secured with a dainty ribbon for extra loveliness.

 

 

 

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Bring on the Bouffant!

Big truly is beautiful! The sixties have made a come back thanks to the likes of Adele and Katie Perry. Whether you opt for the light and bouncy “blowout” (a signature Adele style) or an elegant beehive up-do, the more volume the better!

 

 

 

If you need a few tips for creating these styles yourself, have a chat to your stylist- they’ll be happy to help!

Looking after your locks: supermarket vs. salon hair care

 

Your hair is one of your greatest accessories; so it’s worth ensuring your tresses stay in mint condition. Hair care plays a key role in maintaining healthy, shiny locks and it’s important you use products that contain essential and quality ingredients to protect the condition of your hair as well as make it look and feel fabulous! Which heralds the question: Can supermarket products do the trick or is it best to invest in salon-endorsed hair care?

The price and quality of supermarket vs. salon products is often debated. Supermarket-bought products are in general, considerably cheaper than salon-bought, but the quality is more-often-than-not compromised. Some maintain that there is no a difference between the two, however we beg to differ.

Here are a few things to consider:

More bang for your buck

• Believe it or not, salon products can give you more value for your money!


• Due to the a higher concentration of active ingredients (including essential vitamins and proteins), you only need to use a small amount- which means it can last longer than supermarket products that are less concentrated and have higher quantities of fillers (such as water and unnecessary chemicals and preservatives).

The facts about foam

• Fact: Lather has no real benefit in making your hair clean.


• Supermarket products often use harsh foaming agents such as ammonium laurel sulphate and sodium lauryl sulphate that remove essential oils from hair resulting in dry and coarse hair. These elements can also strip hair colour, cause scalp irritation and accelerate the thinning of hair due to their acidic properties.


• Surfactants in salon products are generally much kinder. Sodium laureth sulphate is the gentlest option with very little lather (which is why a lot of shampoos won’t use it). It helps remove the build up of oils, dirt and environmental pollutants, without stripping natural sebum or hair colour- leaving your hair softer and shinier.

Silky and smooth

• Hair care products generally contain conditioning agents to produce soft and moisture-rich hair.


• Supermarket products use ingredients such as silicone to produce this effect. Silicone coats hair strands making your locks feel silky smooth, but it restricts   moisture absorption and inhibits cleaning, resulting in residue build-up that leaves hair limp and lifeless.


• Salon hair care contains higher-quality moisturising conditioners with essential proteins that help lock moisture within the hair shaft and scalp. This protects hair from drying out, assists in repairing damage and helps maintain soft, pliable locks.

I think celebrity hairstylist Dario Cotroneo says it best...”The difference between salon-professional shampoos versus supermarket shampoo is the investment made in the product development to protect hair against UV protection; thermal repair from over-styling; and colour-fade preservation," he says. "The internal makings of professional shampoos and conditioners are more concentrated with essential ingredients to repair hair from the inside out. "Supermarket shampoos are detergent based, so they will lather up and give you the impression that it is cleansing faster, but this is smoke and mirrors, as it cleanses from the outside in. When I was at college and a colour did not work out, we used a supermarket shampoo to strip the colour out faster! So professional is my choice for that reason as it's all about protecting your investment, so your hair colour lasts."*

We recommend that you invest in quality hair care that does just that- cares for your hair. We endorse Wella products and have them available in our salons and very soon, our online shop. Make an informed choice by talking with your stylist about the best hair products for you based on your hair type, condition and exposure to elements including the sun, chlorine, hair colour and thermal stylers.

*Quote from Your Beauty Spot