A few telltale signs that it’s time for a new hairstyle

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It’s easy to get comfortable with a hairstyle. That, in and of itself is not a bad thing – if the hairstyle complements your finest features, is low maintenance and makes you feel like the best you! However, comfort can sometimes land us in a bit of a rut, leaving us feeling a little stale.

 

Updating your hair is a great way to stay vibrant and confident. A new ‘do can add dimension, fullness and a breathe of freshness to your look. Subtle changes like layering, a fringe or highlights can be all you need to revitalise your look. Extreme changes like shoulder-length hair to a pixie crop or a radical new hair colour can be surprisingly liberating too!

 

Here are a few telltale signs it’s time for an update:

 

High maintenance: If it takes longer than thirty minutes to style your hair or you require loads of product to tame your mane you are definitely in need of a new ‘do. A wash ‘n wear cut is a great option - here are a few options to consider.

 

Outdated: If you look at a picture of yourself from a few years ago and your hairstyle is exactly the same – you know it’s time for a change. Hair is one of our best accessories and just like fashion there are trends to follow (even if they’re just tweaks to classic looks). An out-dated cut or colour can add unwanted years to your appearance. Stay up-to-the minute and feel fresh and modern with a new cut.

 

The pull back trick: If you tie up or clip back your hair everyday because the thought of styling it is too much of a hassle or it never seems to look they way you want it to – you need a new chop! It’s time for a cut that is versatile and easy to style!

 

Lifestyle changes: If you’ve recently experienced a major life style change whether good or not so good, a new hairstyle can be a great way to face new challenges head on. A hairstyle that is both stylishly empowering but also practical to fit with your lifestyle, is what you want!

 

Colour conflicts: Hair colour can either flatter or flatten your complexion. Often we opt for a colour we like, rather than choosing a colour that complements our skin tone. If you’re skin seems to have a yellowy tinge or washed-out look, it’s probably time to try a new hue. Our article on the best hair colours for your skin tone can help you out.

 

Want the usual?: If you hear this line from your stylist every time you go to the salon, think about changing your answer next time! Consider asking you stylist about what they think would be the most flattering style for you.

 

Compliments: It’s nice to be admired for your style right?! When was the last time you received a compliment about your hair? Your ideal hairstyle should result in regular comments on how stunning you look and a few requests for the name of your stylist too! To find the most flattering styles for you, consider your face shape and the facial features you want to highlight. Check out our article ‘hairstyles to complement your face shape’ for more info.

 

If you can relate to a few of these situations, come in and visit us! We will do our utmost to ensure you achieve a new level of fabulousness that makes you feel comfortable, proud and beautiful.

The power of a new hairstyle

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A haircut is not merely a “must-do” affair. It can be an energizing, relaxing and pampering experience that enhances your natural beauty and transforms your perspective.

Have you noticed how much of a psychological effect a haircut has on you? Your hair is a fundamental component of how you feel about yourself. A new hairstyle has the ability to transition you from feeling unsatisfied to excited, drab to fab!

A haircut produces an elected physical change to your body at super speed. You can completely change how you look in a matter of hours - from blonde to brunette, short to long, curly to straight. As well as producing a physical change, a haircut instigates a perceptual change in how we view ourselves, an unleashing of a new you – liberation! You go in as one you and come out as a vibrant, new you!

I’m sure you’ve noticed that we quite often opt for new hairstyles as we make life transitions such as a new job, a new age, a new relationship or a new child - when we start something new, we like to feel new too! As your lifestyle changes, so too should your hairstyle - it should evolve as you do! If you’ve been stuck with the same style for a few years, consider a change.

Likewise, if you find yourself stuck in a rut and looking to make some positive lifestyle changes, a haircut is a great place to start. Whether subtle or drastic, a great new style can gets the ball rolling towards a revamped, energised, distinctive YOU! It could simply be adding a fringe or a few feathery layers to frame your face, a few highlights, a radical new hair colour or a big chop. No matter what you opt for, a fresh hairstyle can truly be a revitalising, confidence-building event!

If you’re starting to feel like you’re in need of a morale boost or you’re ready for a change– take action and come visit us! If not for a haircut, then maybe a new hair colour. We’ll do our best to help you realise your ultimate image - so that you leave feeling happier and looking more fabulous than we you arrived!

Inspiration for your spring and summer soirees

We just love a good gala event for surveying the hottest trends of the red carpet. The world-renowned Festival de Cannes, not only boasts the latest and greatest films of 2012, but also hosts some of the world’s most esteemed celebrities and their fashion-forward flair.

As we head into the season of soirees and BBQs, we’ve taken cue from Cannes and collated a few of our favourite looks from the gala as inspiration for your party and evening style lookbook…

[caption id="attachment_542" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Image courtesy of Vogue UK"][/caption] Eva Longoria donned an edgy retro beehive - a super trendy look this season. Her smoky eyes and bronze beige highlighting complete her dramatic but fresh look.	[caption id="attachment_540" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Image courtesy of Vogue UK"][/caption] At the Killing Them Softly premiere, Diane Kruger was simply elegant. Her high chignon bun was modest chic, and her subtle smoky eyes and rosy lips made for a fabulously feminine ensemble.
[caption id="attachment_539" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Image courtesy of Vogue UK"][/caption] We absolutely loved Marion Cotillard at the screening of her film Rust & Bone. She was belle-of-the-ball perfection with a polished feature bun bejewelled with a dainty floral chain. Her porcelain complexion with defined eyes, flushed cheeks and matte berry lips completed her look.	[caption id="attachment_541" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Image courtesy of Vogue UK"][/caption] With classic, vintage curls loose around her shoulders, Lana Del Rey looked both sultry and sophisticated. Her cat-eye eyeliner was clean and classy, and her porcelain complexion and natural lip colour proved that sometimes less in more!
[caption id="attachment_544" align="aligncenter" width="186" caption="Image courtesy of HJI"][/caption] Kirsten Dunst was ‘pretty and bright’ at her photo call for On The Road. Her super sweet milkmaid spin-off was picture perfect with loosely pinned-up curls and a darling tiara adorned with roses and pearls.	[caption id="attachment_545" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Image courtesy of Glamour UK"][/caption] Diane Kruger really suits old Hollywood glamour doesn’t she?! Her simple half-up, half-down style at the Cannes premiere of Amour was vamped up with a side-swept wave that was just divine! (Her custom-made Vivienne Westwood sequin gown was absolutely gorgeous too!)

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.

Colour me happy!

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Brighten up your locks with a fresh new coat of colour and see if it doesn’t brighten up your outlook on life too!

There are two distinct colour trends featuring this year with varying degrees and interpretations. In one corner you have the more natural look with warm golden tones - moving away from the sharp, heavy highlights and dipped tips, and instead, blending a combination of harmonious shades to enhance your natural colour. In the opposite corner is the dramatic show-stopping option that opts for radical block-colours and pops of bold hues for a striking result. The choice is yours - take your pick….

Warming up
Whether blonde, brunette or redhead, this year the hues are warming up with gorgeously buttery golden tones to brighten up your complexion. Platinum white was the 2011 blonde but 2012 marks the season of a softer creamier blonde - with golden sand, earthy beige and champagne shades in demand. If you have darker hair, consider boosting your natural colour with touches of caramel, chestnut and bronze tones to create rich, textured colour. Reds are also popular this season with bold, deep copper tones conveying a warm sultry look.

Ombre is here to stay
The ombre style with its darker roots and light coloured ends is still a popular choice and a great option for sprucing up brunette hair. However, this year the look is taking on a more subtle approach - with less contrast between the richer colours at the roots and a more gradual fade to lighter shades at the tips. This creates a radiant sun-kissed look perfect for the summer season.

Bright and bold
In contrast to the warmer natural styles, bright and bold colours have also been thrust into the spotlight thanks to the likes of Katie Perry, Rhianna and their strong, vibrant hair colour selections. If you’re one to push the boundaries and you like your hair to make a statement, this trend is for you! Whether block-colour or multi-coloured highlights, steal the spotlight with deep purples, blues, reds and even greens.

Greys and pastels - The new cool
If you crave the cooler hues, be prepared to think out of the box! Grey is the new cool, with ashy and silver highlights and lowlights proving to be an up and coming trend with Lady Gaga and Kate Moss leading the way. To add a summery edge to cooler colours, inset subtle pastel tones of pink, purple, yellow or blue to sections or the tips of your hair.

If we've got you buzzing to try one of these new hair colour trends - you know who to call!

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!

Good luck Kate!

After an amazing result last year, Kate is leading our Creative Team in entering Wella’s TrendVision Awards again this year. This worldwide hairdressing & styling competition will test her skills to the limit so do wish Kate luck next time you see her! We’re so proud & can’t wait to what gorgeous look she comes up with. Watch this space...