The Full Experience

After more than 20 years in the hair and beauty industries, I cannot stress the importance of overall hair and skin health.

For most of us, a trip to the salon is to maintain our style and colour, but a trip to the salon should really be considered a part of your holistic health regime.  

This is why, when designing my styling boutique, the brief included creating separate spaces for the different spa and salon elements of a client’s service.  In addition to cutting, colouring and styling, I needed space to incorporate massage and aromatherapy into each client experience

Ask almost anyone and their favourite part of their hair appointment is the scalp massage and why not.  Scalp massage promotes blood flow to the area supporting hair growth and releasing endorphins to help reduce stress, relieve headaches, aid in lymphatic drainage and benefit sleep patterns. Studies have also shown that it improves skin and scalp conditions - more so when provided with aromatherapy.  

Hand massage and reflexology also offers many health benefits including increasing mobility and reducing aches and pains.

It has been widely reported on the studies of benefits of aromatherapy which include relief from anxiety and depression, improved quality of life, particularly for people with chronic health conditions and improved sleep patterns (again!).

In our styling boutique, we offer spa-style pampering.  You will receive a relaxing head, shoulder and hand massage and aromatherapy to help you relax and rejuvenate.

So your next hair appointment shouldn’t just be thought of as a cut or colour, but consider it part of your overall health management - as important as going to the gym.

Balayage

We are now seeing Balayage promoted by lots of salons around Brisbane so we wanted to give you some stylist tips about this hair colour process.

The technique, originating in French hair salons in the 70’s, sweeps colour onto the top of the strands rather than all over as is done with traditional foils, resulting in a sun-kissed look.

Both medium and long hair lengths get great results from Balayage colouring.  Consider Chrissy Tiegen’s look for a great example of the colour technique on shorter hair, and JLo or Sarah Jessica Parker for long hair styles.  One of my favourites is Rose Byrne’s deep brunette colour, her Balayage is a lot more subtle than her blonde counterparts.

Balayage can be done on all hair; natural, coloured or grey, and as it grows out accentuating your hair’s natural growth patterns - requires little maintenance once you’ve built up the initial colour,  after that, you only need it refreshed. It is also much faster to apply than foils - all of which is great for today’s busy woman.

You can achieve some great looks whether you’re blonde, brunette, grey or looking for a very “now” style with soft hues or purples, blues, and reds.

Balayage ticks so many boxes for the salon client it makes perfect sense as to its popularity.  

Until next month beautiful ladies!

Happy New Year!

Thank you for your support through our salon's first year - 2017 brought us challenges and achievements, and we look forward to sharing our 2018 with you.

This time of year always brings us to reflection and  resolutions.

As we are in what I like to call “recovery mode” from the year that’s just been, it’s easy to take the time to dream and visualise what we want and who we want to be moving forward.  But before we know it, we are back into old routines, focusing on the day to day and those goals slowly sink down the list of priorities.

With that in mind, I’d like to share with you a very personal story.  

A few years ago, I made a decision about my health and well being – a simple decision that wasn’t going to become overwhelming, it was just a change in how I exercised.  I signed up with a personal trainer to give myself consistency – that was all – consistency, nothing more, nothing less.  This became my focus, simply to commit to the personal trainer and not make excuses to not exercise.  

It worked a treat!  Benefits - I hear you ask?  Well, aside from the “clothes fitting better” thing, I had more structure in my day, better managed juggling the demands of my business, and developed better routines.

Suddenly, I found myself making smaller goals – milestones that I knew I could achieve but would still mix it up for me.  There was the 9 week challenge I started on the day I took off for vacation (who doesn’t like a challenge – amirite!), walking 36km, mostly stair climbing really, along Sydney’s northern beaches, and finally, deciding to run my first marathon - finishing in under 5 hours.  

I had no idea that my original decision would lead me to this point.  As Paul Kelly says, “from little things big things grow” – a great mantra for getting through the sometimes hectic pace of day to day life.

One small decision can lead to a more balanced life, less stress, more confidence and this will shine through you every day.

So, let’s start 2018 deciding on one little thing we want to do for ourselves.  

It might be adding or removing something from your day, may take 10 minutes or an hour, be focussed around work, play, family, friends but ultimately be about you.  

I’d love if you’d share this with us in the comments – it’s always great to write these things down, and we don’t judge here – it’s all about supporting each other in being our best.

Until next month!

SUMMER AND YOUR HAIR

Summer in Australia is long days, bbq’s, cricket and the beach.  We spend more time outdoors and protect ourselves from the sun.  The Slip, Slop, Slap campaign reminds us of the effects of the sun on our skin, but what about our hair?

Dermatologist, Dr Wilma Bergfeld, notes that the effects of the sun on our hair is similar to bleach.  The impact is an irreversible reaction that strips the colour from your hair, damaging the cuticle and protein in the strands.  Without the protection of our hair’s natural protein, the sun can penetrate your hair further and do more damage.

The result is breakage, a thinner, frizzy appearance and a loss of your hair’s tensile properties.  Let’s not forget about colour loss, your fresh new colour will fade before your very eyes. Thicker, oilier hair may offer some protection against the sun damage, but it is not enough.

Some products offer UV protection, however, there isn’t a UV product like 50+ sunscreen to protect your hair when you are out in the sun or swimming - yes chlorine and salt do their own damage to your hair. So when you slip, slop, slap this summer, think about your hair as well as your skin.

Look for a hat that will cover your hair, or allow your a hairstyle that will sit neatly underneath or consider working an umbrella into your look - that way you can have a great hairstyle all day without the impact of a hat.

And most important of all, quality products can replenish the protein and oils in your hair, add volume and help you keep luscious, long locks.

So cover up and remember to wash that salt and chlorine out as soon as you’re out of the water.

Have a great summer!