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 :)

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!

Our Top Tips On Growing Your Hair

Hands in the air if your growing your hair, Wave em around like you just don't care! 

So, it's the new year, everyone is full of turkey and prosecco. Most people are praying for payday to come quicker and you might just be thinking of postponing your hair cut...STOP!!!!!!!

Number 1 Top Tip For Growing Your Hair Is........

1) Trim your hair regularly! By regularly we mean 6-8 weeks. If you don't cut your hair when your growing it, your hair will split and fray up the hair shaft meaning you will need more cut off on your next visit. So, don't miss the appointment because your growing it or skint, get a stylist you trust and ask them to 'kiss' the ends with their scissors just to seal the ends and stop it from traveling up your head!

2) Chop the dead irreparable hair off! So, before you can start to grow your hair down, you must be honest with yourself and get what the hairdresser suggests cut off. If you don't your hair will split and snap off before it grows. Depending on your bravery and how nice your stylist is & how damaged your hair is of course... This can be done in one big chop or a little each visit to keep your hair in a nice style or not to traumatise you, we will just take off what has grown each visit until we reach the full, healthy hair that is worth growing!

3) Feed your hair!!!!!! Nothing in nature grow's unless you feed and nurture it. All hair needs feeding and by feeding we mean treating. "Oh, but I don't colour my hair" I hear you say, even uncoloured hair needs a mask to keep it healthy. Every day our hair is assaulted by the elements, wind, rain, cold, free radicals and the sun’s UV, not to mention, the blow drying, curling, straightening and that's before we even talk about chemical abuse! Hair needs moisture for dryness and protein for strength, some hair need a blend of the two. Any good stylist who truly cares about you and your hair, should tell you about which is right for you. Stylists can tell by touching and viewing your hair what masks to prescribe for you. Don't be tempted to use a one size fits all from the supermarket if you want to see results, if they we're any good, we would use them! (think about it)

4) Let's talk about heat, nearly every time I ask a client if they use heat protection they say yes. So why is your hair burnt to hell?? If you have it, use it! If you’re not using it ask yourself why? It's usually because it’s too sticky, or you can feel it in the hair. If that's the case, try one recommended by your stylist. I always test them by spraying on to the back of your hand. If it rubs in and you can't feel it, it should be fine, if it goes sticky or greasy then I’d leave well alone. Our fave’s are, Hot off the press by Paul Mitchell, Moroccanoil's Heat styling protection and kitoko Arte heat defy spray. A good professional heat defy product should last you well over a year and well worth the investment. Spray your hair every time you use heat on it, not just when your styling your freshly washed hair. Remember most irons heat to 220 degrees and the average shoulder length strand of hair is 2-3 years old, imagine how many times that strand has been burnt alive.... Get spraying!

5) Finally, Diet. It is so important to insure you get the best variety of vitamins and minerals in your diet or your hair won't stand a chance. When the body is lacking, the first non-vital things it starts to neglect is the hair and nails. Thin, slow growing hair can be because of a poor or restricted diet. Whenever I see a client for the first time I analyse the hair and scalp to see if there are signs of dietary, medical or hormonal restriction. Now, I’m obviously no doctor, but I have looked at thousands of scalps in my time and I can spot someone with an iron deficiency from a mile off. So, I would always start off by advising a blood test to anyone who has slow growing or fine hair, even if it's been like it for years. Diet, Thyroid, Menopause, Postnatal hormones etc can wreak havoc with your hair so ask for a full blood screen with your GP as there isn't much we can do if you need a little help on the inside.

If you’d like more personal advice, pop in and see us and take advantage of our FREE hair MOT or FREE HAIR CLINIC, Throughout January 18 with Chloe.

When Our King Of Balayage Jack Howard Came To Cocco Salon

All of our team members have been trained by

globally renowned Balayage pioneer Jack Howard.

This week we had the amazing Jack Howard SRS hold and exclusive day of Balayage Education at Cocco Salon for the whole team!

Hayley our Creative Director first met Jack back in 2014 when she travelled to London & trained with him in the beautiful French technique. She invited him to Cocco Salon to educate the whole team as the demand for Balayage just keeps growing! We are privileged that Jack has given us exclusivity for training and education in Derbyshire and we will continue to renew our knowledge and expertise as new trends evolve and bring them back to our salon, keeping our clientele at the forefront of new trends. We are super proud to be the only salon specialising to such a high level in Balayage in Derbyshire and the Midlands. 

What Jack Says About Balayage?

“Balayage and ombre highlighting techniques are designed to create a very soft natural look Balayage is a French word meaning to sweep or to paint. It allows for a sun-kissed natural looking hair colour similar to what nature gives us as children with softer, less noticeable regrowth lines. The principal idea being less is more when creating soft, natural looks. Ombre refers to the dark roots/light ends effect. This technique also produces sun-kissed, natural looking colour as if you had been on the Riviera. Both techniques can be manipulated and played with to produce the most beautifully on trend hair colour, or the softest sun-kissed look ever”  Jack Howard SRH