Christmas gift inspiration

We’re less than 10 days away from Christmas - a merry occasion of feasting, tipples, gifts and laughter with family and friends! How exciting...but preparations can also prove to be a little stressful!

If you’re a bit stumped on the pressie front and need a few gift ideas that don’t involve chocolates, socks or DVDs - we’ve got the perfect list for you! Wine hampers, hair-dos, jewellery and slippers…read on for Christmas gift inspiration…

Tatty Devine From personalised necklaces to creative cufflinks, you’ll be able to find reasonably priced, crafty British jewellery for even the most difficult to buy for. Shop online or at one of their two London stores.	Fortnum & Mason From wine collections to tea hampers, Fortnum & Mason offer a delightful range of confectionary, fresh foods, beauty products and leather accessories – all wrapped up in stunning gift baskets or boxes. Having been around since 1707 (when they supplied candles for the queen), you can guarantee Fortnum & Mason offer excellent gifts options.
Lush Luscious indeed! For fresh, handmade, organic beauty products and fragrances – Lush is your go to. With everything from soaps and shaving creams to lip balms and lotions, you’ll be able to find something for everyone here!	Alphabet Bags A young husband and wife team have a super cute online store that offers typographic and alphabet inspired tote bags, purses and more! Great stocking filler gifts!
Wellbeing Salons Pamper your loved one with a gift voucher from us! Treat your someone special to a cut, colour or treatment by simply phone or email us! Easy!	Cewe Photobooks Create your own personalised, super professional photobook for the ultimate keep-sake gift. It’s quick and easy to organise, and you can choose from a range of styles and sizes. A smart and sentimental pressie for friends and family alike.
Laduree For extraordinarily delectable edible gifts, you just can’t go past a special treat from Laduree at Harrods. A box of colourful macarons is sure to put the sweetest of smiles on anyone’s face!	Ruby + Ed Super cute slippers and winter snugglies. For practical but uber sweet gifts for all ages check out Ruby + Ed. Their Christmas gift sets of slippers and other winter snugglies are brilliant! Browse and buy online or at one of their UK stockists.

 

A quick note regarding our holiday hours: In most cases all three of our salons will be open as per usual during the Christmas and New Year's period. Contact us for more details.

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.

 

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.

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

[caption id="attachment_1086" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Image courtesy of Glamour.com[/caption]

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.

Creating the perfect bun just got easier - thanks to a doughnut!

[caption id="attachment_1070" align="aligncenter" width="436"] Images courtesy of Ali Ro[/caption]

Although I’m a big fan of the edible kind of doughnuts, today we’re giving the spotlight to a golden ring that won’t add but a gram to those luscious hips of yours – a hair doughnut!

The hair doughnut (also referred to as a sock bun or bun ring) is a ring of soft, stretchy mesh padding that adds instant volume to your bun and can help you create a pretty flash up-do in a matter of minutes.

Padding is a wee trick that women have been using to pump-up their hair do’s (and other areas for that matter!) for centuries. A famous royal by the name of Marie Antoinette was well known for her extremely voluminous styles that could stand over 60 centimetres high thanks to hair padding. The ladies of the sixties also utilised hair padding to create their various iconic bouffants and beehives. Nowadays, we tend to be a little bit more understated, but creating a voluminous hairstyle that can stay put for hours is still something we aim to achieve.

Though the use hair padding is age-old, the hair doughnut has been particularly prevalent on the red carpet and high street alike over the past year, creating flawless Oscar-ready topknots and casual, low-sweeping chignons perfect for a weekend brunch.

Hair doughnuts are great for all hair types and particularly beneficial for those of us with shorter, finer hair. (They can also be a bit of a lifesaver for the ballet mums).

There are endless variations for creating a knockout up-do using a hair doughnut, but here is a step-by-step guide to a simple “doughnut” bun to get you started:

What you need:

• A hair doughnut (you can get these from your local beauty retailer (e.g. Boots)


• Hair tie


• Bobby pins


• Comb


• Hairspray

Note: When choosing a hair doughnut opt for the colour that best matches your hair to avoid your secret weapon being exposed. Select a size depending on how much hair your have to work with and how big you want to go.

Instructions:

1. Comb your hair and gather it into a ponytail on the part of your head where you would like your bun to sit (e.g. top-knot or low and on the side) and secure with a hair tie.


2. Take the doughnut and place your hair through the ring so that the doughnut sits against your head around the hair tie.


3. Gently tease your hair for added volume and pliability


4. Find the middle of your ponytail and from this point, spread your hair evenly over the top of the donut to cover it completely.


5. Depending on the length of your hair, tuck your locks under or wrap them around the bun and secure by pinning right the way around.


6. Complete your masterpiece with a spritz of hairspray (smoothing flyaways if you’re going for the sleek look)


7. You can make your bun tight and tailored - retaining the shape of the doughnut, or slightly loose and unstructured for a more casual, natural look.

Variations:

• Place the tip of your ponytail through the ring, find the centre of your ponytail and evenly spread the hair over the doughnut. Slowly roll the doughnut towards your head wrapping your ponytail evenly around the hairpiece and tucking loose strands under as you go.


• Once the doughnut is sitting around your hair tie, section your hair into 3 or more pieces. Fan each section into a wide band and then proceed to wrap the sections over and around the doughnut. You can save a few smaller sections to plait and pin over your bun for an added feature.

And just like that you have a stunner bun, and all thanks to a doughnut!

Tips for managing dry or oily hair

[caption id="attachment_1059" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Image courtesy of HealthViva.com[/caption]

Many of us are subject to dry, damaged or oily, greasy hair - these are not conditions to be tolerated! We have put together a few tips for managing dry and oily hair types, so that you can ensure your locks stay healthy, supple and glowing.

Go forth and claim stronger, silkier, more fabulous looking hair!

Dry Hair

Dry hair is due to a lack of your hair’s natural oils that maintain a healthy moisture, shine and texture. If you find that you hair is dull, coarse and prone to split ends, you more than likely fit into this category (curly hair is more susceptible).

Dry hair can be caused by a number of factors, both internal and external. Hormonal conditions such as an underactive thyroid or parathyroid can lead to dry hair, as can external factors such as excessive shampooing, heat styling or air conditioning.

Tips to managing dry hair:

• Get a haircut! Have your dry, split ends removed to make room for fresh, healthier locks.


• Shampooing washes away the oils that dry hair thirsts for, so try to shampoo less frequently (once or twice a week may be enough) and opt for quality shampoo designed for dry hair that will help restore moisture.


• Condition your hair after every shampoo with a quality conditioner. Try not to over rinse and consider a professional deep conditioning treatment every six to eight weeks.


• Brushing your hair well can help distribute your scalps moisturising oils down the length of your hair. Brush your hair with a soft-bristled hairbrush or wide toothcomb to avoid hair breakage.


• Heat sucks the moisture from your hair, so give hair dryers and heated stylers the cold shoulder. Try to air-dry your hair (with rollers for added volume) or consider a new “wash and wear” haircut that will air-dry in style.

Oily hair

Oily hair is due to overactive sebaceous glands on the scalp, resulting in the overproduction of your skins natural oil. The natural oils of your hair give a natural, healthy shine to your hair that keeps it conditioned, supple and strong, but too much results in greasy weighed-down locks (fine, straight hair is more prone to oily hair).

Oily hair can be hereditary, but other factors that can contribute to oily locks are stress, birth-control or menstrual medications and incompatible hair products.

Tips to managing oily hair:

• Wash your hair frequently with a quality shampoo designed for oily hair, that will remove excess oil without drying your hair out. Make sure you massage your scalp well to breakdown grease and product build-up, and rinse well.


• Reduce the frequency of your conditioning treatments (once or twice a week should be enough). Conditioners are important for locking in moisture and particularly nourishing the drier ends of your hair, but as your roots are already well moisturised by your skin’s natural oils, focus on the lower half of your hair rather than your scalp.


• Styling products can weigh down oily hair and cause a build-up of greasy residue. Stay clear of heavy styling products such as waxes and gels and stick to hairsprays and lighter styling pastes. Also, try to lighten up on the amount you use, the more product the more oil build-up.


• Cut back on your hair brushing. Brushing and “finger combing” your hair carries oils from your scalp down the length of your hair. Over-brushing also stimulates your scalps oil glands, which in turn will increase oil production.

Feel free to come in and chat with us about the best solutions for your hair!

Stylish ways to warm your head this winter

Daylight savings has come to an end, the days are getting shorter, colder and a little greyer (although the Autumn leaves are stunning at the moment). It’s time to get the winter woollies out and start snuggling up for the winter months – and what a great excuse to purchase a colourful headpiece to brighten the grey days and stay warm in style!

A winter hat is a practical accessory for keeping the cold out and the warmth in, while providing a great feature piece and a way to give your winter style a unique twist.

Here are a few of our favourite head-warmers for you to consider this winter:

Keeping it Cloche These twenties-inspired hats are chic and sophisticated. A cloche hat projects classic elegance with a feminine flare, while protecting your head and hair from the wind and rain. This is a perfect style for winter weddings and Christmas celebrations.
[caption id="attachment_1045" align="aligncenter" width="235"] £45.87 from Bloomingdales.com[/caption]	[caption id="attachment_1043" align="aligncenter" width="235"] £25 from TopShop.com[/caption]
Faux Fur Add an air of luxury to your jacket and jeans combo with a fur hat. Super stylish and snuggly too, fur hats are ideal for wandering through the Christmas markets and snow-covered parks, especially if you’re going to be snapping a few pictures (your sure to look fabulous)!
[caption id="attachment_1048" align="aligncenter" width="235"] £16 from ASOS.com[/caption]	[caption id="attachment_1047" align="aligncenter" width="235"] £18 from ASOS.com[/caption]
Peaking This style is a nod to the working and utilitarian classes of the thirties, forties and fifties. Smart and classic, short peaked woollen hats have a look that is both practical and classy. Have a bit of fun with patterns or stick to a block colour for a timeless accessory.
[caption id="attachment_1044" align="aligncenter" width="234"] £120 from Lacoste.com[/caption]	[caption id="attachment_1042" align="aligncenter" width="234"] £25 from TopShop.com[/caption]
Turbands The chic style of a turban combined with the warmth and practicality of a headband and ear warmer = a turband. A versatile winter hair accessory, turbands allow you to wear your hair in a variety of ways while keeping a snug and warm head – a great weekend wear. Try to find a turband colour that contrasts and complements your hair colour.
[caption id="attachment_1049" align="aligncenter" width="235"] £10 from ASOS.com[/caption]	[caption id="attachment_1046" align="aligncenter" width="235"] £57.12 from Shopbop.com[/caption]