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We are taking bookings from September, so feel free to book ahead as appointments are expected to fill quickly when we reopen.
Maintaining the health of your hair is the number one way of achieving great looking hair that is generally ‘low maintenance’ and consistently manageable. It’s not hard to pick dry, frizzy and un-cared for hair because it’s nigh on impossible to style hair to hide severe damage.
The worst culprit, and most girls’ number one hair enemy, is the split end. No matter what you’ve heard, split ends do not mend. The splitting continues up the hair shaft and eventually results in breakage. You can see split ends and if you run your fingers through your hair you can also feel the effect. Split and broken hair will feel much thinner and rougher at the ends, we suggest:
Preventing them: Keeping your hair properly nourished. Just like your skin, your hair needs moisture. Hydrated hair is healthier hair.
Removing them: If/when they appear they should be cut off. Regular cuts will help to ensure that those frailer ends are removed and that splitting is avoided.
To give your hair the best possible chance, your hair regimen is important and you should prioritize the following:
Good Quality Shampoo: Important not only from a cleansing point of view but also because shampoos that contain poor quality detergents will damage your hair quickly. Poorer quality shampoos also contain a lot of water and therefore require more lathering agents to produce rich suds.
Daily Conditioner: By conditioning daily, using a high quality product prescribed for your hair, you are smoothing the cuticle that coats the hair shaft and preventing damage to the inner layers of the hair. A smooth cuticle also provides combability and much shine.
Weekly Hair Treatment: A necessity for long hair, for chemically treated hair and for those growing their hair and hoping to keep as much length as possible. If your hair is dry because of its length or that it is curly, then a deep moisturizing treatment is required. If you have had chemical services, you will need the proper balance of moisture and protein.
In choosing the best shampoo and conditioner for your hair and its needs, consider first the weight of the products. People with thicker, denser and coarser hair or those with very curly or damaged hair often prefer heavier, extremely moisturising products. People with finer or healthier hair can typically rely on lighter products.
Also, you should try and avoid shampooing your hair every day. Water is not the same pH as hair and so the combination of removing the natural oils from your scalp, the rinsing together with blow-drying your hair can age your hair a lot faster. If you find your scalp gets oily on the first day, you could consider a dry shampoo or hair powder for the roots so that you can avoid excessive shampooing.
The biggest change in modern salon hair colour, besides the addition of high quality conditioning agents, is the ability of the colour to only open the cuticle very minimally in order to deposit the colour. This is important as it means the cuticle is cared for and therefore remains more tightly closed after the colouring process, which in turn means more overall shine, less tangling and protection from environmental damage.
The cuticle layer is also a key factor when it comes to ‘colour fade’. The porosity of one’s hair, or how intact that cuticle layer is, will determine how quickly a colour fades. The more porous the hair, the quicker a colour will lose its luster. Certain colours (red shades in particular) are also known to fade more quickly by themselves, so healthy hair and a tightly sealed cuticle are very important.
Keep these things in mind. If you have lightened your hair in some way, then it will be more porous and therefore it can be in a less predictable state. If you are returning to a darker shade you should know that artificial colour will show differently on porous hair. In order to improve your hair’s chances for an even result, you should:
*Keep your hair in the best possible condition by using a premium shampoo and conditioner and by using a protein treatment weekly. By doing so you hair will be in the best condition possible and will react more predictably.
*Be aware that this sort of colour correction is usually a work in progress. Depending on the extent of color correction and the amount of damage present, your desired colour level and tone may require numerous applications to achieve and would ideally evolve over a few salon visits.
Also, during this process, you should be aware that if at first your hair absorbs more colour and appears darker (due to the hair’s porosity), it will also release that colour more quickly and fade faster. Also, the lighter and more porous one’s hair is, the higher the chance that a darker, flatter result will initially be produced. In these cases, it is often better to allow the colour to ‘cleanse’ over a few shampoos rather than attempt to lift the colour in-salon and then have it lift even further at home in the days following. To assist these processes and to give your hair the best chance for the best colour result, remember that hair health is key and keeping your hair in optimum health at all times is the best way.
If possible, it is advised that you do not shampoo, scrub or brush your scalp too much on the day of your scheduled colour appointment as it can raise the possibility of scalp irritation. If shampooing prior to a colour service is required, this will be completed in-salon.
Your consultation and your comments during this time act as your ‘contract’ with your stylist. As a client you need to be very clear about what it is you want and sometimes more importantly what you don’t want. By the end of your consultation both you and your stylist will ideally have the same ‘picture’ in your heads about the final result.
Bringing photos is a great idea. It helps in showing your stylist what you like (even if it is only elements of a cut or a hint of colour) and aspects that you don’t. As a client you should feel very comfortable telling your stylist what you don’t like, especially of that assists in explaining your desired look. Also, feel free to communicate about the ‘feel’ of a style rather than the technical aspects of a cut.
Our talented team here will discuss the suitability of the look and offer suggestions on possible ways to customise the look to enhance your features and suit your lifestyle. Information regarding maintenance, styling advice and product suggestions will be offered also.
If you’re changing your style or colour greatly, do some preliminary research and come to your appointment armed with specific questions. If you’ve been considering the change for a while, notifying your stylist prior to your appointment or having a discussion in the lead up to your appointment can also be a good idea. Being as prepared as possible also means that your consultation will not greatly reduce your cutting time.
Your time in the salon is an important part of your day, so you should make it a fun event and try to enjoy it as much as possible. Invite your photographer, bring along some champagne. This is often the kick-off for the whole day and the first time all the girls are together. By making this experience relaxing and enjoyable, it often sets the tone for the rest of the day. You’re also more than welcome to ask your make-up artist to the salon. If that’s not possible, do try and ensure that hair and make-up are at close locations.
Book your appointments early so that that you can be assured your preferred appointment time is available and that there’s the correct number of stylists and assistants available. You also want to ensure that your party will all be booked together.
Schedule a trial for your hair. This means that you can have an in-depth discussion about your desired look and your stylist can complete the look for you or even show you some possible variations. A trial ensures that both you and your stylist are fully prepared come the actual day.
Get your colour touched up approximately 4 days to a week prior to your event. Any major changes to colour should be very carefully considered and should be done at least a month in advance.
Record your travel time from the salon to where you are getting dressed. This makes the day’s schedule as predictable as possible.
Wash your hair the day before the event and avoid using any products whatsoever. Come to the salon with your hair dry.
Pack a few hair essentials to take to the event. A few additional pins and a purse-sized spray are always handy to have on hand.