Don’t get burnt - A lesson by Tori

You’ve probably all seen the YouTube of a then 13 year old Tori Locklear giving a tutorial on how to use a curling iron that went horribly wrong.

Fortunately for Tori, her hair styling disaster landed her a guest spot on Ellen and a kit-out of new hair and make-up tools and supplies, along with a wig - just in case.

The cause of the burnt hair - an assumed short in the curling iron that then prevented a regulation of the heat.

Hair dryers, hot rollers, curling and straightening irons run the gamut of brands, prices and places to be purchased.  There’s lots of choice, whether you purchase at discount chains such as Kmart and Big W, online from Amazon, etc, or from beauty supply chains - how are you sure your purchase won’t burn you.

Reputable stylists have access to suppliers of quality tools and should be your first stop when looking to buy styling tools.  Not only can they advise you on the best brands and types of tools to achieve the look you want, they can also give you advice on the right products to protect your hair when using specific tools.

Check for stylist credentials where you purchase your tools.  Look for a registered stylist with HAIR – Hairdressing Australia Industry Register, and preferably a membership with the Australian Hairdressing Council.

PS - Last chance for our Spring Stay and Play promotion - details here.

Brush 100 Times Each Day!

Growing up we were told to brush our hair at night - 100 strokes.  I sometimes look back and wonder was this to get me to sit still, bring my childish energy down and lull me into bedtime while practicing my counting?  Turns out there are many healthy hair benefits to a good brushing.  

Brushing your hair with a good brush that stimulates your scalp will enhance blood flow and oxygen to the area, also to your hair follicles, encouraging hair growth.

It is important to find the right brush and brush all over focusing on your scalp.  Starting with the correct brush should give you the feeling of having had a scalp massage. 

A good scalp brush will detangle your hair and distribute the natural oils from your skin.  These oils are the best moisturizer for your hair, giving you shining, healthy hair.

It doesn’t stop there.  Brushing also helps clean your hair, removing dead skin cells which is important, especially if you suffer from a dry scalp or dandruff.  

So when is the best time for brushing and how often should we do it?

Brushing before you shampoo is always best as this will help break up any hair spray or other product you may have in your hair making your shampoo more effective.  As for frequency, that’s up to you and your busy lifestyle - once a day is enough but if you want to brush morning and night it won’t have a negative impact on the benefits.  

Ask you hair salon for the best scalp brush for you - different brushes do different things so always seek the guidance of your stylist.

Oh, and that issue about brushing before bedtime to help induce sleep - well, yes - it sure is relaxing!

Until next month beautiful ladies!

The Tools of the Trade - Make up Brushes

One of the more asked questions I receive in my studio is “what make-up brushes do I need”?

A walk through the cosmetics section of any department store and you will find brushes sold in packs, lots of different sized handles and brushes, some natural hair, some synthetic, some sponges, and when you trial new products the consultants will use a variety of brushes.  All very confusing.

But the simple truth is professional make up artists work with many models on the same day.  That’s many different skin types, make-up types (creams, liquids, powders), and make-up styles. You’re just working on you, so your tool kit doesn’t need the volume or complexity of a professional to get a professional look.

For a daily routine, a minimum of about four brushes is all you will need:  a powder brush, blush brush, eye shadow brush and an eyebrow brush and comb - which can also be used for eyelashes.

Contouring and foundation brushes are not necessary for an everyday make-up application, you will achieve the smoothest application of foundation with your fingers, and contouring is not for every make-up style or every face.

As I mentioned, the type of make-up you use will dictate what kind of brush bristles you need - natural hair or synthetic.

Natural hair contains a cuticle which will hold the make-up, so are best for powders.  You may find when you are apply a powdered eye-colour that colour is falling onto your cheek, if so, you’ve probably the wrong brush and it’s likely to have synthetic bristles.  This prevents you from achieving the truest colour result.  But this doesn’t mean synthetic bristles are a bad thing.

If you are applying liquids or creams, the natural hair cuticles will work against what you are trying to achieve. Cream and liquid will get caught in the cuticle and not transfer well onto your skin, working against the colour and preventing that flawless finish you want.

Also keep in mind the quality of the brush, this will give you improved results over cheap brushes.  A budget of approximately $150 should get you the brushes you need.

Don’t forget these are a part of your style regime you use everyday, so you want quality that will last.  You wouldn’t expect a cheap dress that you wear everyday to last you more than a few months - so invest in quality.  And take care of your investment, brushes are easy to maintain with washing them in water with a little diluted shampoo.

If you would like advice on what brushes will work best for you, just ask at your next appointment.

Until next month!

The tools of the trade - Lendan

One of the rites of passage we have as women is when we begin to acquire our own grooming tools. Manicure sets, hair dryers, straightening and curling tools start holding court in our bathrooms as hair and make-up become part of our daily grooming routines. These tools are mainstays of our existence, travelling and moving with us as we progress through our youthful independence and upgraded with the latest technology offerings.  It would be hard to find a woman over the age of 18 that doesn’t own a blow dryer.

Of course, here I’m specifically referring to hardware, but what about the software: shampoos, conditioners, treatments?  These are the critical elements in maintaining your look in between salon visits.

About 20 years ago, I was running a busy salon and was already very happy with the products we stocked – we had used them extensively and were very impressed by the high-end results we were achieving and then I was approached by a supplier offering something newand very special to the Australian market,  Lendan Urban Haircare.

Lendan’s philosophy is based in continually improving their products and brand through sound research to deliver optimal results.  Their products are plant based, void of any animal derivatives and testing, are dermalogically tested and responsibly packaged in recyclable materials.  So I   agreed to trial the Lendan products.

We used them in the salon along side our existing brand and monitored the results closely.  After a few months we noticed significant differences in the results.  Lendan colours stayed stronger, longer and remained vibrant well beyond our mainstay product over the same period of time.  When comparing treatments, again, we noticed that the Lendan products achieved better results.  I made the decision to exclusively use Lendan products in that salon and have used them in my businesses ever since.

I’m very excited to introduce their new essential oils range into my salon, Hair ID.  This range is modeled similar to building blocks, allowing stylists to create the right treatment to best suit each individual client’s hair and scalp with over 140 combinations.

Lendan Urban Haircare also offer a Home Care range that delivers the same outstanding results as their salon ranges which I highly recommended.

If you would like to know more about Lendan Urban Haircare products and why they are my product range of choice, I am happy to answer any of your questions at your next appointment.