DIY Bouncy Blowdry

Like a Big, luxurious bouncy blow-dry but don't want to spend loads at the hairdresser?

Here is a fool proof way to DIY

Tools you will need:

-Shampoo and conditioner

-A volumising product

-A large brissle/paddle brush

-A hairdryer

-A tail comb

-A butterfly clip

-A set of hot rollers

1. First you need good products. Washing your hair with a volumising shampoo and conditioner. 

2. Switch on your hot roller set

 3. Then towel dry and spreay some Sea Salt Spray into the roots and massage it in evenly with your fingers. 

4. Now tip your head upside down and blow-dry with a powerful hair dryer (the best one on the market is a Parlux brand dryer). Blow-dry until dry then flip your head back upright and brush out the knots. Feel through the hair to make sure the hair is bone dry everywhere. 

5. If you have quite curly frizzy hair and it has now been turned into a wildly frizzy afro, go over it gently with a hair straightener, mainly in the fizziest areas like the roots near the hairline. (Don't flatten it out, just get it a little smoother)

6. Then using the larger rollers in your hot roller set, take one and start at the top of your head at the hairline taking a section about 2" deep and 3" wide and roll in your first roller. If you've never used hot rollers before practice with velcro rollers first. Elevate the section of hair all the way into the air and brush it smooth. then wrap the hair around the roller in the direction away from your face. Clip it in place with a butterfly clip or clips provided in the set once you've rolled all the way to the scalp.

7. Continue this in the same sized sections always rolling away from the face and when you get to the back of the head then you can start rolling the downwards, never upwards.

8. Leave the rollers in your hair around 20 minutes or until cool and the take them out.

9. Tip your head upside down again and gently shake your hair from the roots with your fingers. Then flip back upright and find your part and spray some hair-spary to hold it in place.

Now your have a fabulous bouncy blow-dry that will last through the night and hopefully a few days too

The Truth about Treatments

Have you ever been sold a treatment on the promise it will repair, reconstruct or restore your damaged hair permanently? I'm sure this doesn't happen often because the promise is empty. While a treatment of any sort may well improve the feel and manageability of your hair temporarily, it will have no permanent effect of any sort. Ever.

Damaged hair is damaged hair unfortunately.

But don't feel cheated. Treatments are still amazing products for, as I stated earlier, make your hair feel stronger, softer and your hair will become much more manageable for a short time after they have been used on your hair. A long time if we're talking Keratin Treatments which are a semi-perminent type.
When you use any sort of treatment, from protein kinds to moisturising kinds, it not only improves the feel and manageability of your hair but it also protects your hair from the day to day damage of sun, wind and styling. When you regularly treat your hair well, it will grow out healthier.

So don't hope for improved hair after one treatment. Unfortunately you will be disapointed

Long Hair? Avoid tangles and knots while protecting your hair from damage!

If you have long hair that you’re styling daily and it’s always knotting and matting up you need to start using a leave in moisturizer and serum. Try to find one that’s right for your hair type. Many of these improve the condition of your hair, but this isn’t the main reason to use it. They also detangle the hair and protect it from styling thermals that you use day by day some even adding a finishing shine. Unfortunately using a supermarket brand may not always be the best choice but don’t run out and buy the most expensive product on the shelf. Be very careful to buy the right product, as everyone’s hair is different.

If your hair is fine and limp you may want to avoid it, but if its also very tangled the a light spray leave in treatment is best.

If it is damaged and course then try an Argon or Macadamia oil based product. These have moisturizers and proteins. Try Moroccan Oil products

If your hair is in perfect condition and just gets a bit frizzy just use a shine serum.

Because these products are for daily use the less cosmetic and more natural based brands are recommended. Try Silicone-Free Hair Repair from the karpati natural hair care range. That's also a good one if your hair is damaged buy fine as it doesn't weigh your hair down or make it oily.

Holiday Hair

How to wear your hair on holidays and what products to pack

The best way to pack is lightly when travelling. Guys are lucky, all they need is shampoo, one product and maybe a straightening iron at the most. But for girls theres also brushes treatments, products, clips, hairdryers and other bulky items.

When holidaying I want to be as low maintenance as possible. I don't want to be blowdrying my hair everyday. I wear my hair wavy or if I want to wear it straight I make sure I get a Keratin treatment before I head off so its easy to style while I'm away.

With both these options theres a way to limit taking up space in your luggage.
You can use a cleansing conditioner so you don't need to pack both shampoo and conditioner try Wen by Chaz Dean. Or if you don't like that most brands have tester size bottles you can try from salons. Get some of those, or if you already have some small bottles, transfer your products into the smaller sizes.

I would suggest taking a leave in hair moisturiser (try Redken leave in detangling spray or for something heavier try Redken Smoothing Cream)

And the only equipment I would take would be a wide toothed comb, a straightening iron and a butterfly clip.

If you still have room then you can add whatever other products are your favourites, but that should be all you need.

Essential Products! Gift Ideas for anyone

Looking for Christmas gift ideas?

Here are some great ideas, all prices that will suit almost anyone:

ghd for ceramic hair iron and products have some great gift packages that are amazing right now if you're looking to spend around $250-$310. When it comes to straightening irons the ghd brand is far superior to any other.

The best hairdryer on the market in my opinion is PARLUX 3800 which is now designed more eco friendly. It is an Italian brand but can be found with more information here (http://www.ry.com.au) for around $150

Another idea would be a salon voucher. These are great as you can purchase any treatment from a blowdry minimum to a haircut to a full colour to a keratin treatment to the works! Just find out where their favourite hairdresser is based.

There is a great styling product brand out there which is becoming very popular at the moment called EVO they have 3 summer favourites right now which are mostly for thickening and texture. But all EVO products are amazing with fun descriptions like "salty dog, cocktail beach spray - a sea-esque mist designed to give you salty, beach-based texture and a matt finish" Check out their site for more products all around the $30 price range. 

Other great options are product packages which most salons or department stores provide this time of the year. Also great brushes and hair accessories are amazing presents and can be either affordable or quite special depending on where you buy them.

For any further questions or ideas please feel free to leave me a comment.

Essential Product for Blondes!

One of the first problems I blogged about was Brassy Blondes and how to prevent that problem.
Since then I've been getting feedback from clients telling me that they love these ideas but when using a toning shampoo have found that it dries out their already damaged hair somewhat.

Since then I've discovered an amazing new product which I believe trumps the rest!

In the Redken Blonde Glam range there are two after care treatments to be used on either cool blondes or warm blondes to enhance your colour. For Platinum Blondes use "Perfect Platinum" (or cool or ash blondes) this product tones out any yellow or brass. And for Golden Blondes use "Rich Vanilla" (or warm blondes) use this treatment to soften you colour and keep it radiant. Make sure your read the label and follow it directly. Don't leave them on your hair too long as they are quite strong.

If you do leave one in too long then remember the other one will help to counteract that colour.
For example, if you leave the Perfect Platinum in too long and it becomes slightly pink, use the Rich Vanilla after and the pink will get toned away. Or, alternatively you could mix a drop of the Rich Vanilla when about to apply Perfect Platinum to create a less strong tone. But only do this if you feel confident with the products and how well you know your hair.

They are my new favourites for my blonde clients. Try them out and let me know what you think

Sea Salt Spray!

Sea Salt Spray, Ocean Spritz, Salt Water Hair Products!

My favorite product out there! Giving your hair body and texture without making it greasy. It’s primarily used to enhance the curl or wave in your hair and give you a sexy beach look. But if you spray it moderately into your roots before blow-drying it is a fantastic body builder! It gives your style amazing long lasting volume. It’s a water based product with salt, so it actually absorbs the oil in your hair adding days to your blow-dry.

So what brand should you buy? Well you can't really get it wrong. They're all great. I even worked with a hairdresser once who lived up in the Central Coast of NSW and would fill a spray bottle up at McMasters beach. Apparently it was a great salt to water ratio. He used the spray like liquid gold in the salon.

So no matter what you try, please enjoy this product. Its one of my go-to's