Autumn hair advice

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A chill is starting to intrude on our precious summer warmth, and the leaves will soon begin to float off the trees as a prelude to the impending winter. Sigh!

Before you cosy down into hibernation, we recommend tending to the dreary reality of the colder months, with a bit of hair TLC. Give your locks and your mood a bit of va va voom with our Autumn hair advice…

A boost of colour
Though the days are growing darker, consider going lighter with your hair! With a sinking sun and less time outdoors your skin tone will lighten up, so you should respond by lifting your hair colour to a lighter or warmer shade (bright and rich browns can make pale skin look super radiant). For more tips on how to find a fresh new hair colour, read our “Hair colour for your skin tone” article.

Rehydration
After dousing your hair with heat and UV rays over the past few months, there’s a good chance your locks are in need of some replenishment. The summer elements tend to cause moisture loss - leaving your hair dry, brittle and split-endy. Reclaim a moisture-rich and glossy hair condition, by having your damaged ends snipped off and re-nourish your tresses with a deep conditioning treatment or hair mask.

Scalp stimulation
Giving your head a good knead is well worth the effort! As well as facilitating the removal of build-up, it also stimulates blood circulation in the scalp - which keeps those roots active and encourages hair growth. Consider giving yourself (or conning somebody else into giving you) a scalp massage. Spread your fingertips slightly, and apply strong pressure to your scalp. Using circular and back and forth motions, massage your head - beginning at the nape of your neck. Continue up behind and above the ears, then on the top and the front of your head. Focus on moving the skin on your scalp rather than just your fingers.

Eating well
It’s easy to eat well in the warmer months with all the delicious fruits and summer salads, but the winter months tend to temp us with our favourite comfort foods! Your diet absolutely effects the state of your tresses, so you need to ensure your daily sustenance is packed with nutrient-rich foods that contain protein, zinc, iron, B vitamins and essential fatty acids. If you’d some suggestions of some yummy foods that are great for your hair, refer to our “Healthy foods for healthy hair” article.

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!

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!

Bedazzle your hair

The fastest way to Ritz-up a basic hairstyle is to bedazzle with accessories! Whether you opt for hair up or down, you can transform your hairdos from plain Jane to just plain fabulous by adorning your locks with a few embellishments.

Accessories of various shapes and sizes are being clipped, slipped and pinned into place as headbands and hair clips are taking centre stage in the Autumn/Winter fashion trends.

If you fancy dressing up your tresses, here are a few decorative pieces to try-out…

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Crowning Glory Adorn your crown with a jewelled or flower-filled headband for a lavishly feminine style. For a sweet and preppy look, wrap a thin black band over a bouncy blowout (think Adele) or slicked-back high ponytail.
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Chunky Barrette Clips Give your up-do a mini makeover by simply adding an embellished barrette clip to the mix. Super classy and practical too, barrette clips can give your up-do an air of sophistication while fixing your style in place.
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Decorated Combs Effortlessly enhance a simple chignon or messy bun by slipping in an embellished hair comb – be sure to give your tresses a little bit of backcombing to help hold the clip in place.
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Pretty Pins Add a subtle but sweet touch to any hairstyle with the humble bobby pin. Sweep your hair to one side and secure with a group of bold, colourful pins for a modern twist on the twenties. Or, try a statement hairpin complete with a giant rose or sparkling ensemble for a chic and sassy display piece.

Get the Look: Kate Beckinsale’s Dishevelled Do

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Kate Beckinsale has been traveling the world promoting her new film Total Recall, donning beautiful gowns and glamorous hairstyles. This stunning actress is forever the picture of feminine elegance.

One of her latest red carpet looks is the perfect “do” to take you from daytime dates to evening soirees. Ms. Bekinsale’s locks were swept up in a relaxed and textured chignon with wispy strands framing her face – effortless style.

Replicate Kate’s hairstyle by following these simple steps…

1. Begin by running a volume-enhancing mousse through towel-dried hair to create texture and minimize frizz.


2. Throw your head upside down and give your hair a quick blow-wave so that your hair is about eighty percent dry.


3. To create a natural looking wave, take small sections on your hair and twist them around your finger into a coil, securing with hairpins.


4. Once your hair is dry (you can speed up the process by using a hair dryer), unravel the twists and run your hands through you hair to loosen the curls.


5. Lightly tease the roots of your hair focusing on the crown of your head for additional volume.


6. Loosely pull your hair back to just above the nap of your neck, and fashion a simple English braid (leave a few strands free to frame your face and create a softness to the look).


7. Roll the ends of the braid under at the nape of the neck and secure with hairpins.


8. Complete the look by spraying hairspray on your fingers, and gently running them through your loose locks and up-do to add texture and lift the look.


9. Set the style with a spritz of hairspray.

Voila! Dishevelled beauty! 

 

The best hair colours for your skin tone

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Ready for a colour revamp? Treating your locks to a professional “paint job” can truly transform your look, but it’s not quite as simple as picking out a pretty colour.

Just as wearing certain colours can flatter or fade out your complexion – so too does your hair colour. To establish what shades to embrace and which to avoid, you need to consider your skin tone.

Your skin tone – and its most complementary colours - is determined by melanin. This natural substance is responsible for your skin, hair and eye colour (based on the amount and type of melanin present).

Opting for hues that suit your skin tone will enhance your natural beauty, brightening your complexion and making your eyes pop. Colours that don’t work as well for you will tend to give your complexion a yellowy-sickly tinge or a washed out look.

So! First things first! You need to determine whether you have a cool or warm based skin tone (it’s best to opt for a colour that is the same base as your skin colour - be it cool or warm).

The tell-tail signs of a cool-based skin tone:

• Your eyes are most likely blue, grey, deep brown or greeny-blue with hints of grey


• You look healthier in pure white than you do cream or off-white


• You suit silver jewellery best


• The veins in your wrist have a blue tinge to them

The tell-tail signs of a warm-based skin tone

• Your eyes are most likely green, hazel, earthy or warm brown


• You look healthier in cream or off-white than you do white


• You suit gold jewellery best


• The veins in your wrist have a green tinge to them

The next step in choosing the most complementary shades for you is considering whether your skin tone is fair, medium to olive or dark.

Tips for the fair-skinned
If you have a warm-based skin tone, you’ll look positively glowing with strawberry blonde, honey blonde or butterscotch shades. Cool-based skin tones should opt for blue-based shades such as platinum or champagne blonde for a super stunning look. Fair-skinned maidens want to sidestep deep browns and black as they are too harsh. Likewise, avoid going too light as it can washout your complexion.

Tips for the medium-olive skinned
This skin-tone group has a wide range of colour options and benefit from golden, contrasting highlights. Warm-based skin tones are perfectly complemented by rich golden browns and earthy, copper shades. Cool-based ladies will shine with ashy, sandy blondes or warm browns such as cinnamon, walnut or auburn hues. Stay clear of red hues, as they can make your complexion look sickly.

Tips for the dark skinned
Creating contrast is the key for dark skin. Rich browns like caramel, maple and mahogany are winning hues for warm-based beauties. For the cool-toned ladies deep, dark shades such as an espresso brown or ink black are simply striking. Try to avoid shades that are more than a few tones lighter than your natural hair colour. Going too pale can lead to a brassy-looking colour that flattens your complexion.

For superb results, it’s best to select a colour that is no more than two shades lighter or darker than your natural colour. If you’re not sure of your natural colour, your eyebrows are a good guide - they match your skin tone perfectly. Feel free to talk with us about the best colour options for you – we’re more than happy to help!

 

Hairstyles to complement your face shape

The shape of your face is a key factor in determining the hairstyles that best frame and complement your good-looking face. Just as certain colours suit particular skin tones, haircuts and styles also work best for certain face shapes. Whether you have a round, square or long face-shape, there are cuts and styles that will enhance your gorgeousness, and likewise, some that will not be so flattering.

The fundamental idea with a hairstyle is to bring geometric balance by highlighting your best features, and minimising your not-so-favourite ones. We’ve put together a basic summary of the main face shapes so that you can define what you should be looking for in a haircut. If you’re not sure, our team are happy to advise you on the styles that will suit you best!

[caption id="attachment_774" align="aligncenter" width="204" caption="Image courtesy of Zimbio"][/caption]	Oval Characteristics: Curved and evenly proportioned shape, the length of your face is equal to approximately one and a half times the width; your forehead and jaw are about the same width. Styles that work best: As the most versatile face shape, an oval face can pull off just about any style - from a pixie cut to long layers and everything in between. Opt for a cut that highlights your best feature – a cute fringe will draw attention to your eyes, an angled bob will show off your jawline. Styles to avoid: Be wary of cuts that elongate your face too much – layers that are too short will add height to the top of your head, layers that are too long will drag the face down.
[caption id="attachment_775" align="aligncenter" width="203" caption="Image courtesy of Zimbio"][/caption]	Round Characteristics: Soft, rounded rather than angular features, and a similar width between your forehead, cheekbones and jaw. Styles that work best: Add length to your face by opting for soft, gradual and long layers. Create height at the crown of your head and minimise width-wise volume, with an edgy crop that’s short on the sides, with feathered layers on top. A side-swept fringe or a deep side parting can be super slimming! Styles to avoid: Cuts that add volume to the sides of your face such as short, blunt bobs and layers. Also, stay away from thick, blunt fringes as they shorten and widen your face.
[caption id="attachment_778" align="aligncenter" width="204" caption="Image courtesy of Allure"][/caption]	Square Characteristics: A similar width between your forehead, cheekbones and jaw (like the round face shape) with strong, angular features. Square faces are apparently the best face shape to photograph and tend to age well! Styles that work best: The aim is to soften the angles. Any length will work, but be sure to add texture and layers that frame the face and soften the jawline. A textured, choppy bob is a great option. Styles to avoid: Blunt bobs and heavy fringes will only emphasise the strong, broad angles of a square face, as will slicked back hairstyles – stick to soft, face-framing styles.
[caption id="attachment_776" align="aligncenter" width="203" caption="Image courtesy of Zimbio"][/caption]	Heart Characteristics: Wider at the forehead and narrow at the jawline, with defined cheekbones. Styles that work best: Create volume around the jawline and draw attention to your cheekbones with chin-length layers or a simple bob. Highlight your eyes with a brow-grazing or side-swept fringe. Styles to avoid: Stay clear of styles that emphasise your forehead or add width to the upper face, such as short choppy layers or an exposed forehead - you want to stick to styles that are soft and sleek on top, with minimal volume on the sides.
[caption id="attachment_777" align="aligncenter" width="204" caption="Image courtesy of Zimbio"][/caption]	Long Characteristics: High forehead, narrow jawline and your face in longer than it is wide. Styles that work best: Look for styles that add width to your face. Full fringes and bob cuts are great options. If you’d prefer longer locks, be sure to add graduated layers to add volume to the sides. Styles to avoid: Long, straight styles will tend to elongate your face, so ideally opt for short to medium length cuts. Likewise, avoid super-short “top heavy” pixie cuts for the same reason.