OUR TOP 5 TIPS TO GETTING A GREAT HAIRCUT!

We’ve all been there….

You head off to the salon, with an idea firmly in your head and come out with something completely different.

It can be very tricky trying to describe the image you have in your head to your stylist and sometimes that life changing haircut you’ve got firmly fixed in there, doesn’t actually work or exist. By that i mean, all haircuts are a blend of 6 classic shapes and techniques. Unless your going for something extreme and disconnected, every section relates and flows into the next one, so if you fancy a short bit somewhere, unless it is blended into the adjacent sections, you could look as though you just grabbed your scissors and chopped it in the bathroom.

Communication is the biggest part of the job with being a stylist and we know it can sometimes feel like your under interrogation during your consultation but we just want to get it right for you.

Our Top 5 Tips For Getting a gREAT hAIR cUT!

1) My top tips for getting the haircut you want starts with bringing in a picture!

This is the best way to make sure you don’t get lost in translation, you can show your stylist exactly what you are trying to achieve and they can identify any potential issues and see if it will work on your hair.

2) If you can’t find a picture, keep looking! find pictures similar to what you're looking for or even 2 or 3 pictures that show an aspect of the style you’d like so your stylist can blend them together. Equally valuable, is an image that you really don’t like so they can avoid doing that too. Failing that, if you really cannot find it, it may not exist. We occasionally get told of a style that would simply not work and would look a mess, your stylist does not want to upset you by saying no, they are just trying to save you from yourself.

3) Don’t try to use technical lingo… often clients can try to communicate with technical terms, unless you're a qualified hairdresser, we recommend you don’t venture into this territory. It is absolutely fine to waft your hands about, grab bits and call things “fringey bits” and “feathery bits” We know exactly what you mean. There’s nothing scarier than a client getting a technical term wrong and not liking it when it’s been done….

4) Be honest about how much effort you want to put into styling your hair every day so that your stylist can recommend a style that you can do at home.

5) If you can’t do it, tell us! If there’s a bit that doesn’t hang right after you’ve washed it, tell us! Please don’t keep quiet or we will think you loved it and do it again!

Do I Need Extensions?

It’s about time, don’t you think?

It’s taken until year 9 of Cocco Salon to find some extensions we are happy to recommend.

The advances in hair quality and application methods in recent years means extensions literally could be for everyone!!

They’re not just for people who want super long hair, they can be added to give extra volume, thickness or just a few inches. We have clients who have thick hair in the back but very fine sides that never seem to grow, apply a few bonds or tapes an voila a beautiful perfect bob or full new style shall appear!

What about colour? Did you ever wonder what a colour would look like in your hair but your hair is too weak to take the chemical process, your hair simply won’t lift that light or you know you’ll change your mind pretty quick? Add some coloured hair… Beauty Works do some amazing balayage blended hair that will bring your look bang up to date without the chemicals.

Not as expensive as you might think… With some of the new application methods and by using excellent quality hair, you can often reuse your hair for up to a year if you do your home care!

I haven’t got time… Many of the newer application methods mean you can have a full head in just a hour!

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Are You A Salon Dodger, Is It Time To Go More Often?

Can’t Style, Won’t Style…

Are you one of ‘those’ people who just can’t or won’t do their hair?

Are you in the quarterly haircut crew?

Maybe it’s time to change? After decades of styling different types of people, I can honestly say that the worse you are at doing your hair, the more frequently you should go to the salon.

Why, you may ask? for the simple fact that the longer you leave your hair between cuts, the harder it is to style & the longer it takes to look semi-decent.

Now it can take years to convince a bi-annual hair trimmer to resign themselves to the 6 weekly chop, but I am yet to have one single person revert back to their salon dodging ways. The simple reason is that by going when your stylist recommends, they can see how your hair grows out and assess how to cut it so it’s even easier to style, meaning quicker and less faffing! If your not much of a talker at the salon, it also means you don’t have to tell your stylist how you want it every time and end up with a dodgy doo, because they can remember exactly what they did and get on with styling your hair with minimal input.

If your short on time & never get chance to visit the salon, all the more reason to pre-book a time that suits you, you get reminder text, email and even an app! No more trying to remember to call to book in every day between meetings or before bed each night, we all do that!

How Often Should I Go?

Cropped hair: Cut around the ears, 4 weeks to keep the fuzzy neck hair at bay.

Bob length: 5 weeks to keep looking sharp.

Mid - Long hair 6 weekly to keep in shape, on top of your fringe and to stop layers going flat

Save money! Not only do you manage to stay looking groomed with very minimal effort, besides turning up and sitting in the chair, you will only be paying for a standard haircut not a restyle, reshape or redesign which costs more and can take longer.

Happy trimming :)

What is the difference between balayage and highlights? Salon jargon explained!

Hairdressing jargon has changed in recent years, we’re going to try to demystify some of the terms for you, so you don’t feel quite so daft when you shuffle into the salon and ask for your usual highlight because you have absolutely no idea what all these new fangled services are.

Foils, Meshes, Wraps

Traditional highlights, the term foil, meshe or wrap just describes what your salon likes to use to apply them. It is all highlights.

Highlights

Highlights are where you lighten your hair, but not all of it, just strands that are weaved through the hair, section by section. It’s a similar effect although way less painful than the cap of the 80’s. Highlighting or Lowlighting, where darker colour is applied rather than the lightning solutions, (you see what we did there) are applied more evenly than with the cap. Placement of the strands of colour was not quite random with the cap but not a great deal of control nor was it very close to the root. You were also limited to 1 colour as this was painted all over the hair that had been pulled through the holes of the cap. With foils the number of colours you have is only limited by the number of bowls your stylist owns and his or her patience!

Cap

Not seen as much these days although for short hair it can be handy, hair is pulled through a rubber cap that is put on your head, attractive! The stylist uses a crochet hook which has just been renamed a highlighting hook, yes it was painful!

Babylights

Super, super fine highlights, see above. Only a very small amount of hair is left out of the foils, takes longer than normal highlights, you will get a stronger result as more hair is coloured than in standard foils. You may also get stronger regrowth depending on the colours you have applied.

Back To Back Foils

This is where we leave none of your natural hair out of the foils, you takes even longer than baby lights. Can be used as slices to achieve a blonder result, often used in colour correction.

Balayage

A free hand technique where your stylist paints each of your light strands with a brush and a paddle. A very creative technique, that requires skill and artistry for it to look beautiful. Unlike foils, there is no set pattern or sectioning. The stylist manipulates the hair’s tension, angles, elevation, pressure of the brush, product on the hair and how much colour is painted on to achieve the look. In other words, there is a lot that can go wrong, if it just so happens your confident your stylist could re-create the Mona Lisa, go ahead if not find someone specifically trained and practiced, make sure you see examples of their work! Balayage is a work of art!

New York Lights

Put simply, a half head of balayage.

Glaze

= Toner, a glaze is a semi-permanent colour gloss that will tone, add shine and condition your hair. Our Gazes process for 20 – 30 mins depending on the starting tone and desired look, meaning they last longer than standard toners.

Toner

Toners counter-balance undesired tones in the hair. So, if your hair lifts to warm or you like a cool ash we will use a ‘toner’ if your hair needs just a little help, we will use a toner that’s on 2-10 mins at the back wash. If it needs more help, we will use a glaze to kick its ass! Toners do fade quicker than glazes, sometimes if your hair fades fast, your stylist can leave it on a little longer so the toner is stronger when you leave the salon ie, your hair has a blue or purple tinge but will probably give you an extra week of perfect colour as perfect after your first wash and sinks in better. Your stylist can do this but don’t freak out if you look like Papa Smurf! Your getting 1-2 weeks extra out of your colour, better to be blue than yellow!

Re-Touch and Glaze

Root’s covered and re tone, it’s a maintenance service used to refresh balayage or certain looks when you have totally changed your base colour or have grey.

Blow Wave

There’s even multiple options for drying hair now! Blow wave is where your stylist creates curls or waves in your hair using just a brush. All cut and finishes or blowdrys come with a standard smooth blowdry, if you want your hair dried curly, wavy or curled with the irons this is charged extra unless you ask for a blow wave then its included in that services price, always say which you like when booking so they can book the correct time and quote you correctly.

Last but not least, when is haircut a restyle or redesign? What’s the difference?

Re Design

Is a total major change! Think long to Pixi cut

Re Style

Is when your hair has gone out of shape or you add layers or a fringe, a small change to your existing style or take more than 2 inches off

Cut and finish

Is a trim, this is to keep your hair in shape so it doesn’t go out of style. Think of it as maintaining what you have, less than 2 inches off.

Cut and Blow Wave

As above with a bouncy curly or wavy finish

Dry / Wet Cut

This is usually used as an add on to another service that already includes a blow dry.

Although it’s quicker and cheaper, a good haircut is in 2 stages, so you will compromise an area of your cut.

The drawbacks with a wet or dry cut if that’s what you specifically like to book for are….

1) Wet cutting, this created the structure and the shape, think clean straight lines. Your stylist can comb your hair flat and have greater control when getting the hair straight. If it’s dry, it has kinks and bends in the hair that can make the style totally different or uneven once washed and dried at home.

2) Dry cutting, this is where we check if the base line has any graduation or areas of imperfection that will affect you styling your hair. Your stylist will check through the balance and the weight of your hair cut, thicker hair can require more dry work to remove thickness and bulk, meaning your hair will style easier and last longer. Fine hair may need weight removing to encourage movement, body and volume. Your stylist may shatter the edges to give your style a softer or more textured appearance. The dry stage is the personalisation, the design of the cut.

By opting for one or the other you are compromising one aspect of your cut, in most cases, there are the very rare odd exception to this rule.

If you can think of anything we’ve not covered, get in touch and ask us for an explanation. Our front of house Annie is happy to help!

So, What Is Balayage And Do I Need It?

Balayage By COCCO SALON 

All you hear about is Balayage, but what is it exactly and is it right for everyone?

The are a few unanswered questions about this beautifully glamorous colouring trend that has swept the nation.

Balayage is a technique not a look, Balayage is how a look is created, a skill that must be learnt and practiced to perfection. Originating from the French word meaning “to sweep” the technique involves painting the surface of the hair to mimic the way hair would naturally lighten in the sun.

Each ‘highlight’ is painted individually by a skilled hand. The effect on the hair is determined by how much colour is applied to the hair, how saturated the ends of the hair and the pressure applied to the hair when applying the colour. There can be 1, 2 or 3 points on the starting area of the section, all the hair on the ends covered in colour giving ombre result or leaving hair between the sections and more negative space (darker hair) resulting in a more naturally highlighted affect. The service is totally bespoke, everyone will be different and often multiple sessions are needed to give you that lived in look you are craving.

Now you know the technicalities, is it for you?

Balayage Pro's

Balayage is great if you want to brighten up your natural hair and a classic application will do this perfectly.

Balayage is very low maintenance! Because your hair has less hair painted near the roots and more near the ends, hair effectively starts off with roots. This great if your busy or don’t want to have your hair coloured all the time.

Balayage grows out very naturally you don’t get visible regrowth.

Balayage can be kinder to the hair.

It looks more natural and youthful.

Can make fine hair look fuller by adding dimension.

Can give thick hair movement and look multidimensional.

Can work out cheaper than foils over the year

Balayage Con's

Not all the hair is coloured, if you don’t like your base colour it won’t cover it.

If you are very grey it may not be possible, or you will need a retouch as well as balayage.

If you like your hair very ashy, with all ash colours you will still need to maintain the tone with glazes regularly.

Not all ‘Balayage’ looks are achieved with Balayage, many are created with foils as you can have more control and more lift. Don’t limit your stylist to one technique if you bring an inspiration picture.

Hair can and will lift warmer free hand than in foils as the colour is not insulated and lifts in a different way.

Is a larger investment each appointment as it takes longer than foils. (is cheaper in the long run!)

Still not sure if balayage is for you, or have more questions?

Get in touch!

What To Do With Your Hair On A Ski Trip?

So, the ski season is nearly over for this year and snow is slowly starting to melt, but what do you do with your hair on a ski holiday?

Having lived in the alps in my early 20’s I’ve had more Après Ski than you can shake your lift pass at! Back then social media was just a twinkle in MSN’s eye! Ok, so the super wealthy always looked amazing and abandoned there Prada ski jackets on the floor of the bar (mine would have been given its own seat!!) but nowadays with the selfies, stories, live feeds and Snapchats we need to look our best even at the top of a bloomin mountain!

Looking good is obviously going to be easier if you just dress for it and don’t actually ski or snowboard, the absence of a helmet is a good start! But if you are a beginner, not only are you going to be sweating like buffalo (oh, yes you can sweat in the cold!) but you are also going to inevitably end up with your ass off Piste at some point! And boy is it hard to get up!

So, before we even get to hair, lets talk about Ski Holiday prep in general.

Ski holidays are NOT like pool holidays, pool holidays we all talk about getting in shape, ski holidays you really want to get in shape and do some exercise. Skiing and boarding is hard work. Not only is it actual exercise, you are at altitude and that alone can leave you out of breath!

Try increasing your normal routine and include Squats and lunges. It will help to strengthen your thighs and give you much needed stamina, so you can enjoy every day of your break on the slopes and even make it to the bar!

For 5 top tips for getting in shape click here

Remember the alps have extreme conditions that can be very tough on the hair and skin so increase your treatment regime for 2 months ahead of your trip.  

Use a hydration mask to keep your locks shiny and healthy. Drink plenty of water to hydrate from the inside and use an intensive moisturiser on your face and body to ensure you skin looks radiant. No only do you have the cold to contend with, UV protection is an absolute must at altitude for your skin and your hair! So pack a good moisturiser and foundation containing a high SPF for your travels.

Some Of Our Top Styles For The Slopes

KoKo

Khloe Kardashian Braids

Trust Khloe to find a way to look super cool on the slopes. She and her super cute niece pose with matching braids on their family ski trip.

Braids can be great under a helmet as it keeps your hair flat to your head and there’s no risk of it looking a mess after sweating or crashing lol!

Pigtails!

If your plaiting skills aren’t up to the KK look, this cute look is quick, easy and simple.

Simply divide your hair into two sections and create a simple braid each side. This look can be personalised by fanning the braids out to give a more modern boho look and can feel very comfortable under your helmet and a secure fit.

Kate...

You can't talk about skiing without mentioning the royals!

Kate wears hers just down…. Classic and simple. Now this looks great, be sure to smooth your hair and brush through with serum first and push your hair behind the ears. However, static can be a nightmare and when you take that helmet off there’s no telling what your hair could look like!

Now there are some great helmet free looks

but come on girls, safety first!!!!

Your safety and protecting your head is way more important than how you look! 

Stay Safe HH x

For product advice and in salon treatments get in touch or book online

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Brrrrrrr......

If all that talk of cold has given you the shivers! Hop over to our holiday prep guides to warm back up!

HOLIDAY HAIR GUIDE

HOLIDAY BEAUTY GUIDE

Holiday Hair Guide

There's nothing quite like a red weather warning to get you hunting the internet for a bit of sunshine! Hands up if storm Emma made you do it 😯🙌 So, now your holiday or holidays are booked and etched on the calendar, have you thought about your hair? Summer can be very stressful for your hair; all that heat and salt water can really dry it out. Try our tips below to get you holiday ready.

1) schedule your appointment with your holiday in mind, speak with your stylist about your upcoming trips in good time and what type of holiday it will be. If your relaxing and taking it easy, it could be a great opportunity to up your hair treatment regime and spend most of the holiday with your hair in a bun by the pool, repairing your hair whilst sipping a cocktail and reading a book. If so, schedule your colour for your return. Hair fades fast in the sun, so bear that in mind when booking your colour appointment. If you are spending your trip networking, socialising and dressing up then have your colour done in the days leading up to your trip so you look your absolute best all holiday! If like me you're the lie by the pool with your hair in a bun type, but you can't bear to look at roots from the start of the week. Aim to travel on week 4 of your 6 weeks cycle but be warned you will have a week when you return with faded hair and roots 😱So if you can't cope with that, bring your colour appointment forward a week or simply book for 2 weeks instead, yay!

2) Protect your hair! Invest in an anti fade, colour protection shampoo and conditioner. Some lines do a dedicated sun range for your travels, that includes a spray to protect your hair too. Speak with your stylist to find out which one is best. Use this while you are away and for 1 -2 weeks after you come back. Often you will find they are heavier than your usual home care, this is to keep your hair extra hydrated as the sun will strip what it can from your hair... Just think of that sun-bleached piece of driftwood on the beach... yep, that’s what sun does to your hair!

3) Take a hair mask! This is your golden opportunity to get some hair care brownie points and give your hair some TLC. Shampoo your hair before going to the pool or beach and towel dry your hair before applying Moroccanoil Hydration mask to your locks. Tie it up high in an invisibobble and let it work its magic while you snooze.... When you return to your room to change for dinner, shampoo your mask out and condition. We recommend shampooing it out to remove sweat, SPF or chlorine from to pool. If you’re the glamour puss who looks immaculate all day by the pool, without a hair out of place, (how do they do that?) Treat your hair intensively in the month leading up to your holiday, 2 masks per week and try to work a hat or headscarf into as many outfit combos as possible! You could even rock a Kim Kardashian Braided doo by the pool while your mask does its thang…

Do make sure you use a colour protecting stray all over to protect you hair and your parting, there is nothing worse than a burnt, flaky scalp! Paul Mitchell's colour locking spray comes in a handy mini 100ml which is great for hand luggage, although we are sure you don't travel light!! The colour locking spray had both UVA and UVB and is very useful for getting to all the bits you can't get with cream. Mist it all over your hair, parting and hairline for extra protection, don't forget behind the ears!

4) Tip 4, Is a bit of a curve ball. With the sun in mind and its incredible power to suck the colour out of your hair, like a dementor from Harry Potter. Pre-holiday is actually a great time to try a darker shade you’re not sure about... Now obviously if you colour it black, there's no shifting it, but if you are a lighter colour wanting to try a warmer or slightly darker toner it's a fab time to try it. If you hate it, sit in the sun and it will probably be gone by the time you get back, love it, then you can try it confidently on your return.

5) Start thinking about beauty prep!

Read our Holiday Beauty Guide Here

 

You Said Yes!!! It's Never Too Early To Book Your Dream Team!

So, you finally got the ring!! Whoop Whoop (que Beyoncé dance!)

Now what? Everyone is throwing advice at you left, right and centre, whether you've asked for it or not. We are here to add our pennies worth with our top tips to getting the biggies nailed.

1) Firstly, set the date, this can be really tough. In the end Mr Cocco and I picked a date by flicking through the calendar on our smart phone. Remember, a short engagement may sound like a nice idea but if you've got your heart set on a venue or photographer, the top people could already be booking two years ahead so get on it and don't announce your 1st THE date as it could well change as you hit tip number 2!!! 

2) Contact your top 2 immediately! Venue & Photographer and don't be surprised if you have to alter your date to get the place you want.

3) Book the time off work! (Not very exciting but important!)

4) Contact your stylist. Making sure you look your best on your big day and being surrounded by people you trust is key. Secure your date & ask for a price guide, until you know exactly how many are in your bridal party, the quote won’t be set in stone, however, you can get a rough idea from your salon. (See our hair tips below)

5) Choose your bffs to be your bridesmaids and dish out the jobs!!! 

Cake, Cars, Flowers, Save The Date.... Harp or Piano???!!!

It's so easy to get carried away with it all and a small intimate day on a shoestring can soon snowball into a formal sit-down meal for 200!

Jot down your dream day from the beginning and whenever you feel like you’re getting carried away, refer to it or it can turn into your aunt Edna’s perfect day! I've overheard relatives with the purse strings at so many wedding fayres offering to pay for things that 'they' want not what the bride and groom want.

Anyway.... Let's get back to the hair...

Top 5 Wedding Hair Tips

1) Reserve the date, don't worry too much about the detail or style at this point, rough numbers are all we need, to book out the right number of stylists, therapists or makeup artist needed on the day.

2) I always like my bride to have picked the dress before we talk hair styles. The neck line and proportions of the dress will influence the choice of hairstyle for the day. So, I usually start talking styles 3 months before the big day. See tip 4 about getting your hair in great shape!

3) Hair accessories and jewellery. You want them to all work together, I like my brides to show me their jewellery if possible (just a picture is fine) It's important not to over embellish if the dress is already very detailed. The whole look has to flow and work together, balance is very important for a bride so it's important you stylist knows as much as possible about your vision for the day.

4) Hair condition and colour. This needs to start as early as possible, although I don't like to talk too much about style until nearer the date, most women will know if they need to grow their hair or not. I like to prescribe a home care regime to get the hair in optimum condition for the big day and discuss colour. If we are going to want lighter hair i need to know about it asap!

5) Take professionals advice! We know it's your big day, but those pictures could haunt you forever if you get it wrong. It's so important you choose people you trust 100% because you need to be able to take advice from the professionals you choose to take care of you. I regularly hear a bride wanting to make the hair smaller or make up subtler, but be careful... Once your dress is on, if your hair proportions aren't correct to balance the size of your full skirt you could look like a pea head and all dress. If you don't go that little bit darker with your foundation you could look washed out from the flash photography... Choose professionals who are experienced, strong enough and care enough to ensure you look the best version of you on the day and most importantly whom you trust!

Hayley Hudson x

Take advise

Choose professionals who are experienced, strong enough and care enough to ensure you look the best version of you on the day and most importantly whom you trust! HH

Hayley Styling Beautiful Anna

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Professionals I Recommend Personally.

All Are Lovely People, Have Excellent Customer Service & Go The Extra Mile!

Click On Their Names To Find Out More....

Flowers The Greenery Florist

Venues Peak Tipis

Photographer Kate Lowe

Cake The Sugared Rose

Dress Lori G

Invitations The Small Print Company