Bob's the word!

If ever there was a year for you to lop your crop into a bob style, this is it!

Bob’s are one of the hottest trends this year, and you can see why from the images above right?! The cut of strong independent women, bob styles are statement makers with equal measures of chic, edgy and fun.

Thanks to the pioneering wash and wear hairstyles of Vidal Sassoon, bob cuts are super versatile and give the illusion of endless styling, but are in reality low maintenance (if cut well!). Whether a chin grazing crop, or shoulder-length “lob”, bob cuts work with and spotlight your bone structure, accentuating your eyes, cheekbones, jawline and neck.

There’s a bob cut to complement all face shapes - it’s just about finding the best style for your shape and texture. If you have fine hair, opting for a bob style is a great idea! A shorter cut instantly creates volume – especially a graduated bob. If you have thick or curl hair, opt for a longer bob to avoid a triangle-shaped crown and make sure your stylist adds textured layers. Longer bobs (lobs) are also the better choice for round face shapes, but if you’re keen on a more cropped cut, add long side-swept bangs to give length to your face.

For a soft, whimsical, tousled style, opt for a bob that sits at or below the chin - a choppy fringe and textured layers will create a wavy carefree cut (a great option for those of us whose hair has a natural wave). For a bolder option, go for a blunt-cut bob with precise lines - best suited to fine hair and longer face shapes, this is a super chic and edgy cut. Graduated bobs (A-line cuts) are great for creating volume - shorter at the back and longer at the front, this cut gives your hair movement and a sassy elegance.

Side parted, centre parted or swept straight back. Sleek, shaggy or soft. A new bob style is sure to attract sheets of compliments.

Come see us about fashioning your transformation and for more bob-style inspiration, seek out images of January Jones, Leighton Meester, Alicia Keys, and Dannii Minogue.

Images courtesy of Zimbio.com

A new look for a new year!

Happy 2013 to you all! We hope your first week of the new year has been a great start to brilliant things to come!

With a new year come new goals, new dreams and an opportunity for a fresh start. A new hairstyle – be it cut or colour – is a great place to start don’t you think?! Last year we wrote an article on how a new hairstyle really can change your outlook. Have a read and start pondering the possibilities!

	When contemplating a new hairstyle the first thing to think about is your face shape and which features you wish to accentuate or soften. Read our article ‘Hairstyles to complement your face shape’ for some tips on the best cuts for you.
	Updating your hair colour is another great way to revamp your look without having to give your hair the chop. Take advantage of our January special and get a half-head of foils for HALF PRICE! Not sure what hues to choose? Our article ‘The best hair colours for your skin tone’ is just the thing you need to read! (a little rhyming in there just for fun!)
	Have you considered making a radical style change? It can be super liberating, albeit a tad daunting. Get inspired by these extreme chops and changes.

3 simple styling tips for fine 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.

If you have fine hair, you’re forever after more volume. If you have thick hair, you most likely just wish you had less to deal with! Whatever hair type you’ve been blessed with, it’s time to celebrate (instead of curse) it.

This week we’re offering a few simple styling tips to help redefine fine hair. If you fall into the “thick hair” category, stay tuned for next week’s article.


3 simple styling tips for fine hair

Ok you fiiiine ladies! The aim of the game with your hair type is to fend off flat, limp locks and boost body and texture.

The blowout: Giving you’re hair a good blow-dry is a great way to add fullness to fine hair. With your head upside down, use a diffuser attachment on a medium heat to up the oomph of your blow-dry. Finish with a blast of cool air to lock in the volume. For extra tips on how to create a beautiful blowout (including achieving sleek & straight or voluminous waves) check out our article ‘The art of hairdrying’.

The products: The wrong type of product or too much of it can weigh fine hair down, resulting in limp, greasy looking locks. Seek out lightweight shampoos, conditioners and styling products that are tailored specifically for fine hair. A detangling spray is a lighter option that can substitute hair conditioner. Avoid gels and waxes, and opt for styling pastes and volumising mousses instead.

The cut: In fashion, you elect clothing that forms and highlights attractive contours in all the right places. So too can your hair be cut and styled in a way that forms body and texture where it is lacking. Opting for a cut that sits above the shoulder will automatically add fullness to fine hair. Likewise, adding balanced layers to any length hair is a great way to add shape and texture. Come and have a chat with us about the best cut for your hair type, hair texture and face shape.

An extra tip: When choosing a new hair colour, take note: darker shades can add dimension and the illusion of thickness to fine hair.

Let's here it for the boys!

As women, we can be quite fanatical about enhancing our physical appearance and staying up to date with the latest trends. When it comes to hair and beauty chat, the ladies are generally up with the play - but the “masculine” sex is quite often neglected. Keeping up appearances is just as important to guys as it is to girls – they’re just less likely to admit!

This week, we thought it was high time we gave the boys some stage time; so we’re featuring three of the hottest hair trends for men this year. Whether you're a chap or the “influencer” of one, here are a few styles to inspire your next cut…

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The Quiff Inspired by the rock n roll and country stars of the fifties, the quiff is a modern take on the rockabilly style donned by such greats as Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. With short sides and back, and longer textured layers on top - today’s versions are versatile and distinctive offering both slick and clean-cut and roughed up and shaggy. Whether you opt for shorter or longer layers, side-parted or slicked back, the quiff can work for most hair types and face shapes. If your hair is thick – get your stylist to take some of the weight out of your hair to make this style more manageable.

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The Undercut A key trend for 2012 is the undercut. Taking its cue from the nineteen twenties, this style’s focus is the hair lengths. The sides and back and are super short, with considerably longer layers through the top. There should be a disconnection between the longer hair on your crown and the rest of your hair - with no graduated blending. Slick your hair to the side or straight back for a groomed swagger, or for a more relaxed tousled look - run your fingers through your hair and let the style separate and fall naturally.

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The Brit-Rocker Think The Beetles, Oasis or The Artic Monkeys and you’ll get the gist of what we mean by “brit rocker”. Again there’s length through the top, but in this case the cut is more graduated with a focus on texture. The hair sweeps forward to create a fringe – best swept to the side (a manly hair flick will do the trick!). The brit-rocker can head down the path of a more tailored style (as with the above version), or a more of a rugged and edgy look – you choose!

Ch ch ch ch changes!

Celebs are often sighted for their dramatic haircuts whether it be for a specific role or quite simply because they feel like a change. Drastically modifying your hairstyle can be extremely daunting, but also surprisingly liberating!

A new season is a great excuse for giving your hair-do a bit of a makeover - but we’re not just talking weather wise. If you’re embarking on a new job, a new age or merely purchasing a new dress – consider the additional revamp of a distinctive statement haircut too!

You may have found a defining look that works for you, and like Jennifer Aniston – you should stick to it. But if you’re game, it can be fun and refreshing to experiment with different hairstyles and cuts.

Here are some of the impressive and daring transformations that have really worked! Be inspired and consider making a ch ch ch ch change….

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This year the beautiful Anne Hathaway chopped her tresses uber short for her role as Fantine in the movie-version of Les Miserables. Although she was initially reduced to “inconsolable” tears as long hair was cut to inch-length, Ms. Hathaway seems to be “quite pleased” with her new look – and we must agree. Her crop chop really accentuates her stunning eyes. We just love it!
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After wrapping up filming of the final Harry Potter movie, Emma Watson made the bold move of cutting her shoulder-length locks into a super sweet pixie cut. This statement move, marked the beginning of her adult career which included becoming the face of beauty giant Lancôme. We think Emma’s shorter hair really suits her - it’s super sophisticated yet sassy!
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Keira Knightley has reformed her hair many times over. In 2005, she went from long wavy tresses to a choppy blonde crop. In 2009 her locks were back to shoulder length with a thick blunt fringe. But we absolutely love the short Sassoon-style bob Keira started rockin’ in 2011.
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After donning long chocolate locks, Natalie Portman shaved it all off for her role in V For Vendetta in 2005. Shocking you could say - but let’s be honest, with a face like that you can get away with just about anything! Ms. Portman pulled off a stunning short crop as her hair grew out, but she’s stuck to luscious long hair since then.

 

Wash 'n' wear cuts for summer

Giving your hair a break from styling tools (and possibly even products) is always a good thing, and in this day and age, the more precious seconds you can save the better right? At the same time, you don't want to have to trade looking-good for more time on the clock - and neither do you have to!

In the 1960’s famed British hairdresser, Vidal Sassoon transformed the hair industry with his pioneering “wash and wear” philosophy that dubbed him “the Chanel of hair.” He revolutionised hair-art by creating cuts that give the illusion of endless styling, but are in fact extremely low maintenance.

Summer calls for easy breezy carefree hairstyles that make you feel fabulous and look great – naturally. We've chosen 3 classic Vidal-inspired cuts that - as well as being super versatile and simple to maintain - are effortlessly chic and a little bit edgy!

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Short and Sweet

Taking cue from Mia Farrow’s “Rosemary’s Baby” pixie cut, Michelle William’s soft and feathered crop really puts your bone structure in the spotlight. This strong but feminine style is a no-fuss cut that requires minimal styling.

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The Mod Bob 

Nancy Kwan’s inverted bob was first made famous in the sixties, but it’s made a comeback with A-listers such as Keira Knightley, sporting the super elegant style. Drawing focus to your eyes and cheekbones, this uber chic cut with it’s voluminous flair, is a guaranteed showstopper!

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Fancy Free!

Jean Shrimpton worked it in the sixties and Alexa Chung is rocking is now! With a choppy fringe and layers that frame the face, this longer cut works particularly well for hair that has a natural wave. It creates a textured and carefree, layered style that looks fantastic - slick and straight or tousled and wavy.

 

Taking a shortcut

Is it time to make the big chop and go crop? Or are you already sporting a short do and just need to freshen it up?

Short hairstyles can complement most face shapes and are both feminine and striking. Aside from the fact that short dos accentuate your beautiful face and bone structure, cropped cuts are also low maintenance, super versatile and suit all occasions - morphing easily from day to night, cute to classy.

Here are a few of the current short hair trends…

[caption id="attachment_365" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Image courtesy of About.com"][/caption]   The Pixie is still a crowd pleaser! The ever-stylish pixie cut is a timeless style that is donning its 1960’s influence stronger than ever before. Celebs such as Michelle Williams and Carey Mulligan display perfect examples of this chic and sassy cut.

[caption id="attachment_367" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Image courtesy of People Style Watch"][/caption]   On edge. Statement cuts such as Ginnifer Goodwin’s current style indulge in texture and sharp strong edges, with a modern take on the undercut (longer layers at the top and front, and shorter on the sides). If you’re game enough - this style is dramatic, sexy and flexible.

[caption id="attachment_368" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Image courtesy of About.com"][/caption]   Bobbing for compliments. Bobs are still a classy winner with the likes of Keira Knightley and Alexa Chung rockin’ the crop. Refined or a little unkempt, a bob is the perfect mix of flirty, confident and sophisticated. Define your bob with an A-line style (slightly shorter at the back and longer in front), sharp “bowl” cut (yes, the “bowl” cut is an option!) or blunt fringe.

Consider your face shape and hair type when choosing a short style. Your stylist can help you find the most flattering and well-suited cut for you.

We hope you have a super week!