Spring - the season of new and renewed Part 2

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Part 2: Revamping and pampering your look

As the winter frosts slowly begin to melt away and the hours of sunshine gradually increase, we can finally start preparing for summer and celebrate the wonder that is Spring! We’re not there just yet, but we’re so close and it’s exciting to see the green leaves and blossom starting to emerge!

In light of the new season, let’s consider giving ourselves a little spring-clean! There’s nothing better to do in the season of new and renewed beginnings than REFRESH and REVIVE with a good clean, a bit of a clear out and a few touch ups or modifications. Whether it be a room, your house, your garden, your wardrobe, your body or your hair – it’s time to recharge and rejuvenate!

Last week we gave you some tips on how to 'Refresh your body, inside and out' for the spring and summer seasons. This week, we encourage you to revamp and pamper with some handy hints and links!

A fresh cut and colour
From a practical point of view, getting a haircut is important for keeping your hair strong and healthy (read more about split-ends here), but a new cut or colour can also be super energizing and transformative - find out more about the psychology of a new hair-do here.

• Invest in a great haircut that complements your face shape and is low-maintenance


• Consider adding a fringe to sass up your style


• If you want to revamp your hair colour, check out our articles on ‘The best hair colours for your skin tone’ and the hottest hues for 2013.

Smarten up that wardrobe
Take half a day and give your wardrobe a good de-cluttering and reorganise. Your wardrobe should be filled with classy, comfortable, confidence-boosting clothes that make you feel fabulous! To help you decide whether you keep or sell/donate your garments, consider these questions:

• Have you worn it in the past year?


• Does it fit?


• Does it flatter your body shape and accentuate your best features?


• Is it a good colour on you?


• Can you wear it with other things in your wardrobe?


• How many pairs of these do you really need?!

Treat yourself
Shakespeare put it well when he penned the quote “Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin, as self-neglecting.” A great way to gift yourself a little TLC is with the occasional pampering session. Take some time out just for you and treat yourself to a relaxing and luxurious beauty treatment! Whether you’d like to bedazzle your nails or enjoy a spa treatment, Wellbeing Salons have wonderful beauticians ready and waiting to spoil you happy at Allure Hair & Beauty, Ice Hairdressers and Richardsons Salon!

 

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.

 

Healthy foods for healthy hair

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Keeping your hair healthy, shiny and lush relies not only on what you put in your hair but also what you put in your gob. Your diet has a significant effect on the health of your hair, and your locks require important nutrients including protein, essential fatty acids, zinc, and vitamins A, C and all the B’s to stay in tip top shape!

Perming, colouring and using heated stylers can strip your strands of the nutrients that keep them strong and moisture-rich. A wholesome diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish and dairy can majorly improve the state of your tresses, preventing dull, brittle locks and the deceleration of hair growth.

Here are 6 foods that will help nourish your hair from the inside out…

Nuts
Packed full of necessary nutrients such as zinc, protein and omega-3 fatty acids, nuts deserve to be a staple nutriment in your hair-care diet. A healthy scalp is essential for a shiny, well-conditioned head of hair, and nuts provide two key elements for achieving this. Selenium is a great one for promoting a healthy scalp, as is vitamin E, which assists with blood circulation. Whether walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews or almonds – by snacking on nuts or sprinkling them over your salads and vegetables, you’ll start to notice softer, smoother locks with less split ends and frizz.

Legumes
Beans and lentils are an essential part of your nutritional hair-care regime. As well as generous offerings of protein, which is vital for hair growth, these power-foods are also a great way to inject iron, biotin and zinc into your hair. This combo of nutrients will ensure your tresses remain hydrated, shiny and supple.

Leafy Greens
Dark green, leafy veggies are chock-a-block full of vitamins A and C for a healthy scalp and resilient locks. Your body uses these antioxidants to help produce your body’s natural hair and scalp conditioner - sebum (an oily substance emitted by your hair follicles) - and maintain strong healthy hair by allowing your body to effectively absorb iron - avoiding weak and brittle tresses. Filling up on veg such as spinach and broccoli will help maintain strong, moisture-rich locks that will grow faster and break less frequently.

Eggs
Protein is an absolutely essential element for maintaining healthy hair, and eggs are a winning choice for attaining an ample supply. Boiled, poached or scrambled, eggs are considered to be a nutritionally complete food and they contain all the essential amino acids, which can only be obtained through your diet - the human body does not produce them. Your hair is primarily made up of protein, so it’s important to keep your levels up. With benefits such as thriving hair growth and stronger, brighter locks, having “an egg a day” really is a bright idea!

Salmon
The star nutrients in salmon are the essential fatty acids. As well as promoting a healthy, conditioned scalp, essential fatty acids also aid hydration and optimum hair growth. Additionally, salmon is rich in omega 6 and 9, protein, vitamin B12 and iron.  A salmon steak or a helping of salmon sushi on a regular basis is sure to provide the rich nourishment required for vibrant and bountiful locks. If salmon (or fish in general) is not your cup of tea, a few tablespoons of flaxseed oil a day is a great source of plant-based essential fatty acids.

Oysters
Oysters are a bit of an indulgent nosh, and are of course recognised predominantly for their “love potion” qualities. Yet these tasty little morsels are also packed full of goodness for healthy hair. Their central hair-care element is zinc – a mighty antioxidant that can prevent the thinning of hair and help boost your immune system, which in turn encourages hair growth. If you can’t quite stomach oysters, you can acquire zinc (as well as protein, B vitamins and iron) from beef and lamb.

Summer hair care

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The summer months have finally arrived! The days are longer, the sun is higher and the summery warmth is setting in. It’s time for summer soirees and basking in the golden light at the beach, lake or poolside.

But for all its benefits, the summer season can take its toll on your hair. Just like your skin, your hair needs protection from the sun and water in order stay healthy and hydrated. As well as the sun’s heat and resulting humidity, your hair is exposed to salty seawater and the chlorine in pools. These summer charms can damage your tresses leaving them dry, brittle and discoloured.

Here are a few essential tips, to avoid damaging your locks and maintain healthy hair while enjoying the rays this summer:

Give heat the cold-shoulder
With all the heat your hair will be getting from the sun, try to take a break from hot stylers (hairdryer, curling and straightening irons). Air-dry your hair (with rollers for added volume) or consider a new “wash and wear” haircut that will air-dry in style. Help combat potential frizzy hair and limit the amount of sun reaching your locks, by sweeping your hair back in a high pony, low bun, or braided arrangement (dry your hair in braids for natural beach-worthy waves.)

Shield your hair from the water and rays
Intensive moisturising will help you avoid dry, brittle, frizzy hair. Replenish and maintain moisture, with regular deep conditioning treatments. Book a treatment at Wellbeing, give yourself a hair mask or use a quality leave-in conditioner (especially when sunbathing or swimming). As well as hydrating your hair, keep your body hydrated with eight to twelve glasses of water a day – it’s good for your hair and your health!

Cover up
Your hair can get sunburnt just like your scalp. Prevent sun damage by slipping on a super cute sunhat or headscarf, when you’re going to be in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. As well as protecting your head and hair, hats and head wraps are a quick fix on bad hair days for effortless style (check out our guide to wearing headscarves).

Rinse well
After swimming, make sure you give your hair a good rinse (ideally a shampoo and condition too) to wash away the salt and chlorine trapped in your tresses.

Take care
Prevent split ends by making sure you don’t over-brush your hair. Try to restrict your combing to before and after showering (carefully untangle knots – no need to tug too hard).

Stay trim
Dry hair leads to frizzies and split ends. Make sure you have your locks trimmed every six to eight weeks to rid your hair of damaged ends.

The art of hairdrying

 

The humble hair dryer (along with a few of its friends), transforms your hair from ‘just fine’ to FABULOUS thanks to the power of heat and air. From smooth and straight to textured and voluminous, your hair dryer is a foundational element for constructing great looking hair - and by employing a few salon techniques and taking a little extra time, A-class hair can be your everyday look!

Key styling tools

• Hairdryer- ideally with a diffuser and concentrator nozzle attachment


• Curling iron


• Straightening iron


• Round brush


• Paddle brush


• Wide tooth comb


• Volumising mousse


• Hairspray


• Sectioning clips


• Hairpins/curl clips

Dishevelled beach-babe

1. Run a small handful of volumising mousse through your hair (from roots to ends), making sure it’s evenly distributed (you can use a wide tooth comb to do this).


2. Using the diffuser attachment with your hairdryer on a medium heat and airflow lift sections of hair and place them in the diffuser, gently scrunching your hair until it’s about 80% dry (for extra lift, chuck your hair upside down to dry).


3. Finish off by drying the roots, holding the hairdryer close to your head and twisting the diffuser in circular motions.


4. Add a spritz of hair spray and a few final scrunches to complete a cool ‘undone’ look.

Tip: A diffuser distributes a consistent airflow so that your hair dries evenly and creates additional volume.


Straight and sleek strands

1. Blow-dry your hair until it’s a little more than towel dry.


2. Divide and clip your hair into sections (consider where you want your hair parting and section accordingly).


3. Using the concentrator nozzle attachment and starting with the underneath sections, dry your hair using a round brush.


4. Starting at the roots, follow your brush with the dryer to the ends continually brushing each section before moving on to the next.


5. Once your hair is dry, re-section your hair and use straightening irons for an extra slick finish.


6. Hairspray to set your style in place.

Tip: A concentrator nozzle attachment directly targets air, drying your hair faster and smoother (not to mention making brushing easier!).


Voluminous waves

1. Blow-dry your hair until it’s a little more than towel dry.


2. Run a small handful of volumising mousse through your hair (from roots to ends).


3. Divide and clip your hair into sections


4. Starting with the underneath sections, dry your locks using a round brush to roll your hair from the ends to the roots (similar to how you would use rollers).


5. Work the brush upwards and away from your head or curl under and towards your head, holding and drying for a few seconds before releasing (try not to play with each section at this stage).


6. Use your hairdryer’s cool setting, to give your hair a final blast to set the style.


7. Run your fingers through your locks to loosen and lift the look.

Alternative: Consider using rollers for added volume. Roll and secure sections of your hair in rollers (the bigger the rollers the bigger the volume), blow wave your hair dry and use a paddle brush to blend the sections.


Elegant swirls of curls

1. Roughly blow-dry your hair.


2. Divide and clip your hair into sections.


3. Using a curling iron, roll your hair up the wand from the ends to the roots and hold for a few seconds.


4. Carefully unravel each curl and use curl clips or hairpins to clip the curls in place.


5. Once your head is full of little curls, unravel and brush through your hair using a paddle brush.


6. Set your style with hairspray.

Achieve a salon-standard hair wash at home

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Don’t you just love how your hair always feels incredibly silky and lavishly nourished when you leave the hairdressers? Believe it or not, you can achieve the same result at home by simply refining your morning hair washing routine!

Of course using premium hair care products is an essential key to healthy, vibrant hair (see our article on supermarket vs. salon hair care), and you’re probably not going to be able to recreate the divine head massage your stylist so tenderly bestows…BUT there is most certainly a “best practice” for cleansing your hair and we’re going to share it with you so you can achieve the soft, sparkling tresses you acquire at the salon…

1. Take a few moments to brush your hair – this helps loosens the grip of any styling products you have used and by detangling your locks you prevent hair breakage.

2. Thoroughly drench your hair with warm water and squeeze a walnut-sized dollop of shampoo into your palm, spreading it evenly over your hands. Work the shampoo through your hair and gently massage your scalp, lathering at the roots and working your way down to the ends. The extra time you spend giving your head a good knead is well worth the effort – aside from the fact that it facilitates the removal of build-up, it also stimulates scalp circulation, which can aid hair growth. Rinse your hair until the water runs completely clear and if you are a frequent user of styling products, consider giving your hair a second round.

3. As with your shampoo, evenly spread a walnut-sized dollop of conditioner over your hands and massage the conditioner through your hair (you could also use a wide-tooth comb). Leave your conditioner in for 1 to 2 minutes before giving your hair a good rinse.

4. Dry your hair with a towel, but avoid vigorous rubbing as this can cause damage - gently squeeze instead. Leave your hair wrapped up while you do your make-up or eat your breakfast. To conclude your hair wash routine, comb your hair - starting at the bottom to prevent hair breakage, and then commence styling as desired.

Voila! Squeaky clean, healthy, shiny, luscious locks!

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