Am I Washing My Hair Wrong?

It's amazing how many people wash their hair wrong... ok so it's not totally wrong, they use shampoo and it gets wet! That said, often your hair isn't actually clean....

One of the reasons professionals dislike shop shampoo is because they lather even if your hair is still dirty... yuk!

We all see the ads on TV showing the beautiful woman making rather dodgy noises in the shower with this huge lather on her head, this image, in most case is the only form of shampoo education they have ever had in their life. Apart from being half drowned in the bath as a child and getting shampoo in your eyes and up your nose!

So what are we doing wrong??

Let's leave the choosing of the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair out of the picture for a minute and concentrate on the science and technique, oh yes there's a technique!

OK, so let's think about this logically, hair will only lather if its clean. In the salon when talking about shampoo, this is the first thing we talk about. Remember running a bubble bath? Well it just doesn't work with dirty bath water does it? No way can you get that bath to bubble halfway through or at the end of the bath, it will only lather with clean fresh water. Hair is the same, if you apply a good quality shampoo to your hair that doesn't have loads of nasty chemicals in it to give you a super lather straight away, your hair usually won't lather. This is because the soap, sticks to the dirt to remove it when you rinse it. That's why we recommend a double cleanse. No matter how much more shampoo you put on your head, it won't lather any more, it's a total waste of product, rinse and lather again. Your hair will and should only lather when its clean. The typical long haired client who isn't an everyday washer, the one who goes 3-4 days without washing her hair and wears it up with dry shampoo and hairspray for the latter part of the week will lather her hair up to 6 times to make sure her hair is totally clean!!!! Now imagine she used shop shampoo and got the big lather instantly, imagine how dirty her hair still is!!!?? How does she know when her hair is clean?

Not cleansing your hair correctly can cause build up and dulling of your hair, so many clients begin their journey with us describing how greasy and lank their hair is. 9 times out of 10 their hair isn't greasy at all, it's the shampoo and conditioner they have been using, not cleaning properly and coating the hair in silicone... we will leave silicone for another day or this blog will become an essay!

The build up caused from this can take over 20 shampoos in a row to remove and mostly a deep cleansing shampoo will be needed for a whole week until its completely gone! If we know in advance we can book you in for a hair detox, which takes 30 mins but if we don't it's a shampooathon until we get most of it out and then over to you to do your bit at home!

Now we've sorted the shampooing out, let's talk about conditioner and hair masks... 

So what's the difference for a start? One closes the cuticle layer down, the other penetrates the hair shaft and repairs and strengthens your hair from the inside.

If I had a pound every time a client told me they condition their hair by leaving the conditioner on longer with a great big proud smile on their face, I wouldn't be sat here writing this blog!

Sorry guys but leaving conditioner on the surface of your hair will do very little to repair your hair. If you imagine the cuticle layer of the hair is like the scales on a fish or the tiles on a roof, shampoo opens the cuticle so you can clean around and under it, into the nooks and crannies. Now conditioner, closes the cuticle layer, so it sits flat again. Closing the cuticle is so important even if you have fine hair, if you don't lay your cuticles flat, you will damage and break them when you're styling and brushing your hair and it won't shine, because the surface of your hair is rough not smooth. If you don't 'get on with conditioner' it's often because your using one too heavy for your hair type, so ask your stylist to recommend a lightweight one.

Does everyone need a mask? Sorry to break it to you guys but your hair is DEAD! It died a very long time ago, when it just grew out of your head. So how exactly does your hair get goodness? Your hair receives no noureshment unless YOU feed it. My former boss Nicky Lazou used to say "hair is like flowers, feed it and it will grow" this has always stuck with me, because it's such a simple way of putting it. Masks feed your hair, it can be tricky choosing a mask but ask a professional which you need, as getting it wrong can be a total waste of money and time! Hair needs protein, moisture, keratin or a combination of all three, depending on the condition of your hair and how much you abuse it. Hair also changes with the seasons so it may be that you need a slightly different combination in summer months or following a big holiday to get your hair back on track. The good news is... Masks are very cost effective and a tub lasts around year, sometimes longer. 

Warning! Professional only guys! Why? Because most, if not all none professional (not from a salon) masks have such small quantities of the ingredients needed to make a significant difference to your hair, we are yet to find one that works. ALL the supermarket brands, including the celebrity endorsed products we have tried, have coated the hair to mask the damage. They do this by coating the hair with plastic like substances to give the illusion of a tight smooth cuticle layer that the light reflects off, making you think your hair looks healthier, when there is very little if any improvement. Also, if it worked, salon professionals would use it!

 

Top Tips For Getting Clean Hair

1) Use a shampoo & conditioner specifically for your hair type, prescribed by a trained professional.

2) Wet your hair thoroughly, I mean soaking!

3) Using a 10p -50p sized amount, depending on the length and thickness of your hair. Place shampoo around your head, don't just plonk a dollop on the top of your head, how do you expect behind your ears to get clean? Rub the shampoo in your hands and stroke some around your head, if you have thick hair, part your hair to get the shampoo to your scalp, the temples, crown and nape of the neck are spread out nicely and should give you a nice even lather and a clean head!

4) Use your fingertips to rub your head, the key here is to rub your scalp not your hair, your scalp is where all the sweat and dead skin is, so get rubbing! This exfoliates the scalp and stimulates blood circulation to the scalp and encourages growth. Rub your hair gently, remember it is at its weakest when wet, so don't over rub or it can take and break.

5) If it doesn't lather at all, it doesn't mean its not working, it means your hair is still dirty! Rinse and apply the shampoo again.

6) You'll know it's clean because you finally get the massive lather in the adverts and you will feel that your scalp is clean, when clean your hair will lather with just a 5p sized amount of professional shampoo because it's so concentrated.

7) If its hair mask day, squeeze excess water from your hair or towel blot so you use less mask and it absorbed easier. Apply your hair mask from root to tip and leave on the recommended time. When at home, wash your hair first so you can clean the rest of your body while the mask is working to save time. Once 'cooked' rinse thoroughly and apply your conditioner.

8) The condition, you should use way less conditioner than shampoo if your doing it right, rub a 10p size amount into your hands and smooth through your hair starting at your ends, leave on a few seconds and rinse out. You must really get your hands in your hair and move it to insure all the conditioner is out. There should be no slimy residue and it should feel free of product.

Now off to dry that super sexy clean hair!

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Thin Hair, High Hairline, Is A Hair Transplant For You? Maria Fowler Thinks So...

source www.dailymail.co.uk / @mariafowler_

You might think a hair transplant is a step too far. Not Derby’s own Maria Fowler. She and her fiancé both underwent the His 'n' Hers procedure back in September. Last night she showed the world of social media just how chuffed she is with the results. 'My forehead is like... reduced! I've actually got a good hairline.' She shared.

But would you dare to go under the knife to fix your hairline?

source www.dailymail.co.u / @mariafowler_

Over the last few years we have been seeing more and more men opting for the procedure, but Maria, is the first woman, we've heard of doing it publicly. In the salon we see many clients with hair thinning and hair loss from a variety of different complaint and conditions. On one end of the spectrum there is minor, temporary shedding from seasonal changes, post pregnancy or stress, then we have more dramatic issues like alopecia, genetic balding conditions and scaring. Previously very few solutions were available and usually in the way of camouflage, clever styling or if you’re lucky an ointment to increase the hair growth, but could this hairline treatment be a game changer? There are so many pressures put on both men and women to look perfect now and especially on social media, is this hair restoring treatment set to be the next big thing? Maria loves her new hair line and we think it looks amazing! But for those who aren't so brave, there are a number or hair thickening and volumizing products that can make a huge difference. If fine or thinning hair is affecting your confidence, speak to your stylist and GP to discover the cause of your thinning and see what can be done to help.

Our hair clinic appointments can be booked by calling 01332 292129.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-5255323/Maria-Fowler-gushes-hair-transplant-results.html#ixzz53rQnullQ 
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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.

How Often Should I Cut My Hair?

Affinage Collection 2017

Now depending on a few factors there are a few answers to this question...

Generally speaking though, 6 weeks is the usual time to get your hair trimmed back into shape. By the sixth week you're normally sweeping that fringe out of your eyes and using way more root boost than is actually needed for your blowdry.

Having said that there are a few things to consider about the right length of time for you and your style.

1. The length of your hair

If you have short cropped hair or heavily textured hair that requires very little styling, you will be needing a tidy up at the 4th week. Any longer than this and your morning routine will drive you so mad you'll want to shave it all off! We find bob length hair needs a shape up at week 5 to keep it easy to manage and hassle free and mid to long hair is ready at 6 weeks.

2. The thickness

If your hair is very fine, you will find at week 5 your hair becomes limp and floppy, meaning less time in bed. Despite the length still being fine at 5 weeks, the weight of your top layers will be making you feel like you cant do a thing with it so schedule your slot for 5 weeks to remain bad hair day free.

3. I'm growing it

The big problem here is when clients go into hiding because they are growing their hair, when they reemerge the ends are usually so split and broken there is nothing that can be done to stop the hair splitting further. Instead keep up your regular trims, discuss your goals with your stylist and ask them to just seal the ends, I call this 'kissing' it with my scissors, I simply remove the minimum amount just to stop the ends from splitting further up the hair, approx 2mm. That way we don't have to cut off the 3 inches you have been guarding with your life... Use a mask weekly to feed and repair your hair and schedule your visit every 6-7 weeks.

4. I can't afford it

We all struggle with our budget from time to time and if things are a bit tight, don't reach for the kitchen scissors just yet. Have a chat with your stylist to find a way to maintain your look for less. Any stylist truly invested in you and your hair should be able to come up with a few ideas to save you some money. Most clients will want to stick with the same stylist, however, many salons operate a free roaming policy. We actively encourage our clients to try other stylists within the team, often people can feel awkward but its up to the stylist to let you know that its OK, after all we would rather you stay in our salon than go somewhere else! Save more than you think by opting for a less experienced stylist, in our salon, if you change stylist, your original stylist will debrief the new one to give them a heads up on how you like it. Also by discussing your budget, your stylist can advise on how many extra weeks they would recommend between cuts. In extreme circumstances, never leave your hair more than 12 weeks, this is when split ends run wild and it can take ages your you hair to get back to health.

5. I don't have time

The best advice I have for this one is to always pre-book. That way you never have to think about it, it can take days even weeks to remember to call the salon and by that point all the appointments are usually gone. Evenings and weekends are like gold dust and most great stylist will get booked up in 6 weekly round as each cycle of pre-booking clients visits.

6. I don't do anything with my hair

The can't style, won't style gang, you leave your hair to dry naturally and possible don't own a hair brush!? You already know you give your stylist nightmares about your style routine but we actually really enjoy doing natural hair. This is where the most skill comes in and a bad hair cut would totally show and you would know about it. Believe it or not it is really important you maintain your cut when your stylist recommends, a good cut will mean even less faffing and whether you care or not it could look pretty good with zero effort! yay!

Why Doesn't My Hair Grow?

Why doesn't my hair grow? Is the question we get asked most in the salon, along with women saying 'my hair just doesn't grow'. Your hair does definitely grow or we wouldn't be needing to colour your hair now, would we? The problem is, that often it's snapping off as quick as it grows! 

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Sometimes through health, diet and stress, but too often hair is breaking through abuse! Yes, abuse! Heat abuse, chemical abuse and physical abuse, are all things that most of our clients are blissfully unaware of when the enter Cocco Salon for the first time.

We give every client's hair a health check during their appointment and identify areas of improvement to encourage growth and health. Sometimes changes in services is what your hair needs, a homecare regime or frequently blood tests are the way to go. Over they years we have helped many of our clients uncover hidden health issues by assessing their hair thoroughly. We are by no means Doctors, but we know a lot about hair!

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Common Causes Of Hair Not Growing

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• Overlapping, Lightener/Bleach - Over processing hair can be very damaging and cause hair to break and become brittle. Always use a protein regime when lightening hair and use masks one a week at least! Ask your stylist to recommend one for your hair type, we recommend Paul Mitchell's Strength, Range From £12.95

• Box Dyes - Box dyes are a one size fits all solution to colouring your hair, if you're lucky enough to fit into that one hair type the box is made for then yes it will look ok, but the other 99% of people will have a disaster at best or totally fried hair at worst. If you require a medium blonde colour and are not far off the desired colour naturally, lets say 1 shade, after 3 applications all over your hair with a box product you will have exposed your hair to approx 8 times more peroxide than you needed to or a salon product would. Salon colour is mixed by a colourist specifically for your hair to counteract unwanted pigment ie orange and using the weakest strength activator needed to achieve the level of lift you need, to get the look you want. By not over lifting your hair, hair stays healthier, your cuticle is stronger so retains the colour molecules for longer meaning your colour will last longer! Ever wondered why your box dye red goes pink after a week on the ends, yup it's fried...

• Infrequent Haircuts - Believe it or not, not cutting your hair regularly and sealing the ends can cause hair to weaken and fray/split at the ends. Trim your hair every 6-8 weeks to ensure hair stays in tip top condition, get a stylist you trust to just take a millimetre of the ends just to seal it if you're growing it.

                                          Cocco Salon £11.99

• Over Brushing / Rough Brushing - Hair can become damaged if you use the incorrect brush when brushing your hair or being too rough with it, causing it to snap. Always brush your hair starting at the ends and work your way up. If your hair is particularly knotty, try using Awapuhi Wild Ginger Oil before you begin brushing, just to loosen and lubricate your strands. Use a detangling brush, such as a WET BRUSH favoured by the Kardashian Clan.

• Heat - Number 1 abuse is thermal damage, you must always use a good quality heat protection product on your hair, EVERY single time! Imagine how many times you straighten or curl your hair a year, well those ends are probably 3 years old, how much heat exposure is that! 230 degrees a time OUCH! Often shop bought protection sprays can feel very sticky or heavy in the hair so client's don't like using them. Our favourite is Paul Mitchell's Hot Of The Press, its ultra lightweight and totally undetectable in the hair, if you want something more natural then try Kitoko's Heat Defy which can be used on wet or dry hair so can be used to protect against drying too.

• Stress - Stress can play a huge part in hair health, often clients can notice shedding during stressful times in life such as exams, changing jobs, losing a loved one or during a breakup. The most important thing is to not add to your stress by stressing about your hair too! Stress-induced hair loss is extremely common, especially in women. It normally gets better by its self once the levels of stress hormones in your blood return to normal. There are products that can encourage new hair, Kitoko's Age Defy regime and Paul Mitchell Scalp Therapy are more natural based stimulants and we have found to be very effective.

• Hormones – Post Pregnancy, Menopause and Hormone imbalance can wreak havoc with your hair, thinning and shedding being the most common problem. Many ladies find they shed a huge amount of hair post-pregnancy as their normal levels of hormones are starting to stabilise.

• Diet – What we eat can significantly impact the health of our hair. A well-balanced diet with plenty of foods rich in vitamins and minerals should ensure your hair is in tip-top condition. Sudden weight loss from extreme dieting and changes in diet can cause changes in your hair.

• Vitamin D. Adequate vitamin D is important for preventing hair loss, especially in women
• Vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency accompanies a host of serious health consequences. 
• Biotin
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Iron / B12. Can also affect your brain function and nervous system as well as energy levels.
• Zinc
• Iodine

Try to increase the number of foods rich in these vitamins and minerals or start taking a supplement to boost your levels. Always consult your doctor when thinking of supplementing your diet. Ask for a blood test to identify any low levels.

If you have an unbalanced diet, this can be problematic for hair, ie, if you eat little veg and lots of processed foods. Certain health conditions such as bulimia or anorexia can impact nutrient intake, malabsorption from Chrones Disease, Coeliac Disease or other bowel condition and quite regularly clients who are vegan or vegetarian who don’t have a good grasp on which key vegetables and pulses need to be consumed regularly to maintain healthy vitamin and mineral levels. We always advise clients to ask to be referred to a dietician to ensure they have a clear understanding of how top get enough B12 in their diet as B12 is stored in the liver and can last a number of years after stopping eating meat, therefore deficiencies only become apparent years later. If you are thinking of becoming Vegan or are Vegan here is some info on B12 and how to make sure you're getting everything you need. http://veganhealth.org/articles/everyvegan

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What Can Be Done?

Make sure you check all of the above, if you do your bit on the inside, we can tackle the outside!

There are many ways we can boost your hair growth in salon, we have hair care to stimulate and encourage new growth and can remove impurities that can be present on the scalp repressing new growth. Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Scalp Care, Stimulates, Strengthens and regenerates and is reported to give 85% Increased hair volume and strength. We also work with Kitoko Age Prevent with unique technology to help combat the signs of ageing hair, by asking you a few questions and taking a look at your scalp we can identify which line is most suitable for you.

If breakage is your thing, protecting and repairing your hair is a must! say's, Hayley

A round of specific high concentration prescriptive treatments in salon will be beneficial, such as Olaplex, Vitaplex or Awapuhi's Wild Ginger Keratriplex or Hydraplex Treatments. Kick start your repair with a high dose of hair treatment in line with your needs and keep it topped up at home with home care for best results.

High Dose Treatments From £25

Fake It, Till You Make It!

Failing all that and you just have fine hair, there are loads of tip, tricks and tools to give you a helping hand with getting more volume and life into your hair. Our team can help you find the perfect styling solutions from a new cut, introducing colour or a gravity-defying root mousse (we like Moroccan Oil's root boost!)

Above all don't stress about it! See common cause number 4 above, stress will only make things worse!

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If you are concerned about the fullness of your hair or have noticed shedding, consult your GP and ask for a blood test to illuminate Thyroid issues, have your Iron levels tested and discuss your concerns.

If you suffer from any of the health conditions mentioned above, speak with your healthcare professional to check your levels.

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Show this voucher at time of payment and receive 10% off all hair repair care excluding styling products & electricals. 1 voucher per person, not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Expires September 1st 2017

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All material in this blog is provided for your information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this information; instead, readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being.

Why Can't I Be Blonde?

Khloe Kardashian... Patience is needed when going light!

Blonde Blonde Blonde Blonde Blonde, Colourists everywhere are even dreaming about blonde!

Summer is just around the corner and i'd say half our enquiries are about achieving that perfect blonde.

Of course you can be blonde....... but not right now.

Unless you are lucky enough to be naturally blonde and you were very fair as a child, the ultra ash light blonde is often difficult and tricky to achieve.

On a base darker than a 6 (light brown to the untrained eye) there are more orange pigments present that can be more difficult to remove, the darker the hair, the more orange and red pigments will be lurking in your hair. The more red and orange pigments = more lightening sessions and the longer it will take. If the hair is damaged to start with, we will have to take it really slow to ensure your hair can take it. Its great to have a goal but when achieving blonde after you have been darker requires a lot of time, treatments, money and above all... pacience!

When in the midst of colour correction, the number 1 goal for the stylist is that you leave the salon with your condition of your hair.

Number 1! above anything else, there is no point getting the 3 hairs left on your head platinum is there? After all you didn't bring in a picture of Homer Simpson! #homerhairgoals

No matter how much you plead, cry, shout, stomp and beg, the strength of your hair will determine how long this process will take and what is possible in one session.

But the girls on Instagram can?!

Ok, some people can do it in 1 sitting, but did the instagram picture say how long that transformation took? 9 hours? 10? That's 10 hours of a 1-1 session with a colourist totally dedicated to you. Can you afford a 10 hour 1-1 session, thats roughly "5 sets of highlights" and cuts as @SophiaHilton01 @notanothersalon accurately pointed out. So if you can't afford it in one go, you start the journey with your stylist.

Even if you can afford it and have bags of cash like Khloe Kardashian, sometimes it just can't be done in 1 sitting, see the picture above, her's took 8 sessions! (that we know of). Bear in mind Khloe is wearing extensions, if you want to preserve the length and won't have what your stylist recommends cut off then it will take longer, remember those bright blonde foils you had 3 years ago, yup they're at the ends of your hair and too much lightening will make them fry!

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Our Top Tips to getting that blonde

1) Cut off what your stylist recommends, they know how to speed the transformation up, would you rather lose 3 inches and save 2 colour appointments and £500?                             

2) Use professional home care, the more you do at home the more we can do in salon, invest in a professional Moisture and Protein mask and use them as much as you can! Ask your stylist what is best for your hair.          

3) Don't pressure your stylist. They want that blonde as much as you do, a stressed flapping, over pressured stylist won't perform to the best of their ability. Tactfully spending 30 mins repeating ourselves that you wont get the blonde this time will only waste time and stresses everyone out.... we know!!!!!  It will happen so much quicker if we spend more time doing your hair than having to explain the process for the 10th time, we love you very much but please trust us!              

4) Upgrade to Vitaplex or Olaplex, this will protect and rebuild the bonds in your hair while you lighten giving you better lift and condition. Remember Kim Kardashian West's Platinum? That was thanks to Olaplex!                                                                 

5) Remember We all want to be skinny on the first day at the gym,,, no matter how much we want it, without investing time, money and knowledge and patience it just wont happen!!!!!

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Summer Colour Trend Vintage Pretty Is Here!

VINTAGE PRETTY COLLECTION

Tracey Devine Smith, Affinage Uk

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There is such a buzz around pastels and metallics in the hair world right now and Affinage's latest collection encapsulates that perfectly.  The past vintage themes were so strong on the catwalk and in the bridal scene, this blend of the two is perfect for summer and gives a sofer and extremely wearable interpretation of the colour bringing something fresh in 2017.

We just love love love this collection, it's the whole teams favourite by far from Tracey and the Affinage team. All of these beautiful tones can be created over a pre-lightened base of a very light pale blonde, They are labour intensive with often a tri colour application (3 colour applications in one appointment) but they are worth the investment of time and money to have such stunning hair!

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If you're in love with Vintage Pretty, get in touch for a free consultation and estimate.

T: 01332 292129

See The Full Affinage Shoot!

How To Get Your Dream Hair & Manage Those Expectations!

Are You Planning Your Summer Hair Yet? 

Great hair doesn't always happen over night...

Nowadays we are inundated with hordes of pictures of amazing transformations by hair magicians all over the world. Thanks to the Instagrammers, You tubers and tweeters we can all keep up to date with everything new and wonderful in the world of hair. If a Kardashian colours her hair we will know within the hour or sometimes as it is being applied thanks to Snapchat.

This world of instant knowledge is a breeding ground for unrealistic expectations. Hair colouring is science, it takes a vast amount of product and hair knowledge, experience and investment in amazing products, both for the transformation and for the home care.

All is not what it seems...

Often, what the Instagramer fails to point out is the true time taken of some of those transformations, many have a full day with a top stylist for around 9 hours, we've all seen Guy Tang going for lunch in the mall with his clients and watching (singing to) Disney mid-transformation. This is the harsh reality of celebrity hair, it often is beautifully natural and low key but takes a life time to create, oh and $1000!

A great one to follow is my old boss Nicky Lazou, she get amazing results but she will not push the hair, you build up to your dream hair a number of sittings and she's big on home care like me.

Into the salon...

So clutching your phone loaded with 10 Pinterest boards you enter the salon and begin the conversation with your stylist, your smile starts to drop as they gently try to break it to you that you may not get that in one go.... the translation here is, and they don't want to be rude or hurt your feelings but.... can you afford £/$1000? If the answers no then you cannot do it in 1 go! Even if you own OLAPLEX it is not happening. 

It's not that we don't want to and it's certainly not that we want to charge you more money, trust us when we say big transformations are not where the money's at,,, give us a full head of highlights and a glaze any day! These transformations are like haveing 5 hair appointments in one day, which is why it has such a hefty price tag.

Colour correction is stressful for the client and stylist, it can be unpredictable, remember that box dye you used 3 years ago, just the once because you we're broke? yeah it just came back to bite us in the ass... (yes it's important you tell us)

Ultimately we want to make you happy, your happiness is the single reason we stylists put up with the long days, the absents of loo breaks and staying late because your hair was thicker than we expected. We love our job and love delivering that feeling of euphoria when your stylist makes you look and feel hotter than a Victoria's Secret Model! but please let us manage your expectations, please don't push and bully us into doing something that compromises your hair health. Stylist's are creative people, natural risk takers and they have to reign that back, the only time a clients hair usually goes wrong is when a stylist buckles under pressure to do something they aren't more than 90% convinced will go right and guess what, if that gamble doesn't pay off you will slate them all over the internet saying they are a bad hairdresser when it was probably 2ml of too much ash or not enough ash that landed them in that hot water.

With that said, dream hair is possible and with the right advice and guidance by a good stylist can be achieved.

Read my blog post Hayley's Top Tips For Changing Your Hair Colour to get it right with your stylist.

Now is the time to start that summer hair journey, if you are lucky enough to get it in one hit then all you have to do until the summer lights up our lives is maintain it!

H x