Hairdresser Hand Care

 Hi guys,

Today I am going to share some tips mainly for other hairdressers.  Something I have noticed since I started my training is that washing hair all day can lead to very dry hands and very chipped nail polish!  This both looks and feels gross (would you want someone with bad looking hands touching your head?).

Maintaining a professional salon appearance is very important and so is taking care of your skin!  A good hand cream will not only make you look and feel great but it will also help prevent signs of ageing.

The current product I am using is SPAtopia London Argan Oil Anti-Ageing Hand Cream.  I bought this on offer in my local Sainsburys so can't remember the exact price.  However, it was definitely one of the cheaper options overall, which is great because I use it at least once a day.

SPAtopia London Argan Oil Anti-Ageing Hand Cream

Another thing which attracted me to the product was the fact that is is "Argan Oil".  I thought this was brilliant because the chances of me using the hand cream and immediately touching some hair (either mine or a client) is very high, so I did not want something too greasy and Argan Oil is great for hair too!  On closer inspection of the ingredients it turns out that is is mostly artificial, but it still works great!

One factor that could be seen as a pro or a con is the smell.  I find it has quite a masculine smell, similar to a mans aftershave.  I found this very off putting at first but it has actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise.  My partner is an electrician so works with his hands a lot!  It is great that I can easily persuade him to use this product when his hands are dry and sore.

My next tip for hand maintenance is to keep them polished!  This can be easier said than done!  I was constantly struggling with chipped nail polish before I even got into the industry so initially found myself concerned that I would have to start buying expensive brands so that they last longer.  Fortunately this is not the case.  My next tip is so simple: keep your nails a neutral shade!  This way is will become less obvious when the polish becomes chipped, I don't think anyone will even notice at all, but chip a strong/bright colour and your nails will quickly look messy.

If you absolutely love experimenting with nail styles then you still can.  What I like to do is make my ring fingers on each hand a bit more fun.  It's a lot easier to maintain and can also be a quick way to change up your look.

My current favourite look is a neutral, shimmery gold on most nails, a bright red on the ring finger, and a top coat of glitter on all the nails to bring the look together

Note: Never cut hair with chunky rings!

To create this look I used:

Boots Natural Collection - Huckleberry, Boots No7 - Daisy Darling, Maybelline Color Show - Power Red

I think I might try a light silver shade next, for a real wintery, festive look!

Have fun =)

Sleep In Rollers Review

Hi everyone!

I am very happy to say that I received some Sleep in Rollers for my birthday!  YAY!  You may have already heard of these as they are very popular with celebs. Their website even features celeb tweets!

For me the ultimate celeb tweet came from Jennifer Metcalfe, known for playing Mercedes McQueen in popular soap Hollyoaks. I realised that if there's a chance of me getting glamours McQueen style hair then I need to seize that opportunity with both hands!

Jennifer Metcalfe - Mercedes McQueen - Hollyoaks

My Sleep in Rollers are in the leopard print style (which I love) but they are also available in pink (original), pink leopard print, black and glitter!  I absolutely love the fact you can order them to suit your own style.  This definitely makes it all too tempting to leave the house in them! 

20 Leopard Sleep in Rollers

Not only are the rollers amazing but I was also very impressed with the whole service!  The order arrived within 2 days and contains: leopard print bag, 20 rollers (2 packs), bag of grip pins (very handy!), pink sectioning clips (very useful) and a half hour tutorial DVD.

When I first used the rollers I was in a rush so simply put 10 rollers in, blasted them with some medium heat from the hair dryer and done my make-up while they cooled.  My hair had brilliant volume and style, which I got complimented on all day!

When I had more time I also tried them overnight.  I did find them surprisingly comfy to sleep in!  They weren't as comfortable as a flat head on a nice pillow but they are definitely possible to sleep in.

Since then I have also rolled them inwards (towards the face) and outwards (away from the face) and both give a really bouncy effect.  I also have some other ideas on how to create different looks with them, which I will upload soon.

Sleep in Roller - Away from the face

Sleep in Rollers - Away from the face

I did find that my hair dropped throughout the day, but I also did not use any holding products such as hair spray.  My top tip would be to apply rollers to damp hair and leave them in as long as possible.

Overall I find the rollers are amazing!  They are very affordable, they look great in and out of the hair, the product has great packaging plus extras, they are comfortable enough to sleep in and they produce really good results!  My only complaint with the product is that it can be quite difficult if you share a bed with your partner (definitely no cuddling!)

For more information on Sleep in Rollers visit:
Website: http://sleepinrollers.com/
Twitter: @SLEEPROLLERS
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/VELCROSLEEPROLLER
Instagram:  sleepinrollers

Loreal Mahogany 550 Review

Hi guys!

I am very excited to say that I have coloured my hair with Loreal Mahogany 550!  This product is best known for being made famous by Cheryl Cole.

Cheryl Cole Mahogany 550

I bought two boxes of this shade from my local Boots chemist .  I have previously mentioned that I used one box whilst dyeing my hair with Loreal Light Brown (review here) however, I would definitely recommend using two boxes for the Mahogany 550 (if you have long or thick hair) to ensure that there is no patchiness.

I originally found it very difficult to get an accurate picture of my result with my camera phone (sorry!) but here are the latest pics:

Loreal Mahogany 550 - Immediately after dyeing (excuse the shades, I was wearing no make-up!)

Loreal Mahogany 550 - A few days later (pre-birthday celebrations!)

I personally think that the shade is a bit more "plum" than "red" (compared to Cheryl's).  Day-to-day it reminds me of the shade often sported by Vanessa White (The Saturdays)

Vanessa White - Plum/Red/Mahogany Hair

Overall this is a result I am very happy with!

The dye itself was very easy to use and not as runny as I usually find them, which is great as it meant that my bathroom was not completely destroyed!

I am also absolutely amazed at the condition it has left my hair in!  I expected it to feel very dry because it is such a strong colour but my hair has never felt better!  The Loreal dyes come with their own conditioner to use whilst rinsing the dye out and the best thing about buying two boxes is that I now have plenty of this conditioner to last for weeks!  I have also been using Loreal Elvive Nutri-Gloss conditioner recently which is another amazing product and I will hopefully be reviewing it very soon!

There you have it, another great hair dye result!  Don't be afraid to experiment!

Have fun!  =)

Clowning Around - Geisha Wig Review

Hi guys!

This Halloween I was very excited to try a Geisha Wig for the first time!  I have seen these around for the past 2 years due to friends and webpages.  The company has an amazing Facebook and Instagram page showing lots of different people modelling their wigs and I always get excited to see an update from them!

My main concern with experimenting with wigs was that instagram filters and professional modelling pictures can easily make the quality appear better but I must say that the quality of the wigs are as beautiful in real life as they are on the website.

This year I actually ended up buying two wigs from Geisha Wigs.  This is because I usually go out twice for Halloween so planned two costumes.  I have to say it is a much bigger relief than worrying about how to make my hair "work" with the ideas (and prevents a lot of damage from failed styling attempts).

Here are the wigs I bought:

Ruby - £19 - http://geishawigs.bigcartel.com/

Kimra - £19 - http://geishawigs.bigcartel.com/

The only problems I encountered during my wig experience was getting my hair into it!  I eventually developed a "hairstyle" that would work underneath and I will be posting about that soon. 

Each wig comes with its own "wig cap" which is quite loose and made up of fishnet.  I would recommend perhaps buying a separate wig cap if this is something you think you may struggle with.  I also kept getting the fishnet caught on my ear piercings, however, the caps were quite sturdy and still did not fall apart!  I also think that the fishnet provided a good grip.

Unfortunately this year I only got to go out once for Halloween!  This means I only used the "Ruby" wig to go as a clown!  Here is my costume:

If you're interested, the rest of my costume consisted of:

• Clown Hat - Claire's Accessories
• Fake Eyelashes - Claire's Accessories
• Sequined Bow Tie - Ebay
• Polka Dot Bikini Top - Primark
• Stripey Vest Top - Primark
• Orange Flower Pin - Claire's Accessories
• Two Multi-Coloured Tutus - Ebay
• Red Fishnet Tights - Local Costume Store
• Green Stripey Socks - Poundland

For the make-up I used:

• My regular Stay Matte No7 Foundation
• No7 Concealer
• Natural Collection Finishing Powder
• Natural Collection Red Lipliner and Lipstick (for lips, cheeks and nose)
• Natural Collection Purple Eyeshadow
• No7 Black Eyeliner Pen
• No7 Pencil Eyeliner
• No7 Black Mascara

I also added lots of fake blood once we were outside of my in-laws house (they would have killed me if it got messy!)

Unfortunately I cannot remember the exact prices of the bits and pieces (most of it was made up of old things that I had around the house)

Due to my DIY "hairstyle" under the wig I actually wore the wig throughout the entire day of Halloween  The wig lasted well well into the night, it become very comfortable and I was not conscious about it sliding or falling off, I even forgot I was wearing it!  Each wig also has adjustable straps so you can adjust it to suit you.

Overall I am very impressed with my experience with Geisha Wigs, the way they could improve would be if they could provide instructions for wig capping, or something similar.  

I am very happy to say that I will be a returning customer!

Please visit their website at http://geishawigs.bigcartel.com/ to browse their full collection.  They have a beautiful range from crazy hair styles to gorgeous natural looking wigs.    They can be a great way to experiment!

PS - I was going to use the dark wig to go as Ursa from Superman 2 (I was feeling inspired after meeting Actress Sarah Douglas at Cardiff Comicon).  Maybe I will get some use out of it next year.

Easy Waves with Loreal Studio Matt and Messy

Hi all,

Today I will be doing what may seem like a basic post, to give you an overview of a very basic style.

Naturally I have straight thick hair which tends to just look messy without styling.  I have always longed for gorgeous curls or waves and find it very difficult to get my hair to hold these styles.  In the past I have experimented with plaits, rags, rollers, tongs and even crimpers.  Now I know better and simple waves can be created with no fuss!  This style can also be as dramatic or simple as you wish and can even be done without any heat.

Long Wavy Hair

To start with I took my air dried hair and added Loreal Studio Matt and Messy salt spray.  I tipped my head upside down and scrunched the product in.  For a more effective messy/wavy look this product can be applied to damp hair

Loreal Studio Matt and Messy - shine free salt spray

Loreal Studio Matt and Messy - Back View - Instructions

I must say that this product does exactly what it says on the tin and leaves my hair feeling amazing!  I was very apprehensive about this at first but I would highly recommend it.

Now, you could have the option at leaving it there and getting on with your hectic lifestyle.  As I said, my hair struggles to maintain a wave or curl so I then went to bed with my hair in plaits at either side (like a schoolgirl) and this was the result:

Easy Simple Waves

To produce an even more dramatic result you could use a french plait (this will result in my waves closer to the roots) or several tiny plaits.

If I want to do this as a going out look I will usually run straighteners over the plaits (with heat protection spray).  I do this a few times whilst applying my make up and allow the hair to cool before removing the plaits (this will help it hold the style, and no hair spray is needed).  Using the straighteners gives it a more defined wave.

To finish this look I also applied Baptise Volume Dry Shampoo to the roots.  This is an effective way to gain volume without risking any damage from back combing.

Have fun =)

Blonde to Brunette

Hi everyone!

Over this weekend I am very excited to say, I WENT BRUNETTE!

I have been brunette in the past and I have found it difficult to find a shade that does not wash me out.  so every time I have been brunette I have ended up wanting to go back to blonde, only to end up struggling with the ginger/red/cooper tones in between.

I have recently been reading "You Are Beautiful" by Hollywood hairstylist Ken Paves.  In this book he states that :

1. You can do whatever you want, you just have to find the right shade/style to work for you. 
2. Being in your 20s is a great time to experiment!
3. You are not defined by your hair/beauty (this made me feel better in case it went wrong)

Point no. 1 was also a huge factor I considered before going for the dye.  It made me realise that I LOVE dark hair!  and yes, I was guilty of saying "but it won't work for me".  Like I said, I often found myself going back to blonde but never really enjoying it.

Here are some factors I considered before buying the dye:

•  I have a cool skin tone so should go for a warm shade
•  I also have pinkish undertones so should not get a shade that is too warm/red
•  This leaves me needing a neutral shade
•  To avoid looking washed out I should only go a shade darker at a time.

With this in mind I opted for Loreal Light Brown 600

I must say I am VERY impressed!  Here are my results:

Before

 After

I bought 2 boxes as I have long thick hair, but found myself only needing one.  I will more than likely use the extra box in a few weeks to patch up any faded/patchy bits.  But over all I am very impressed and can't wait to go even darker!

I am also looking forward to Christmas and very tempted to go for the Loreal Mahogony.  After all, I am planning to go darker so why not go red in between?  I can always cover it up if I don't like it.

Don't be afraid to experiment!

Shampoo Myths!

Only wash 1-2 times a week! 

Most people gasp when I tell them how often I wash my hair (twice a week, and yes I workout!).  Everyone asks me how it doesn't smell, how to get the sweat out, and most people say "mine's too greasy".  Well guess what?  My hair/scalp type is greasy too!  But despite what you may think, I don't walk around with smelly, sweaty & greasy roots.

So how do I get away with it?  Well, I have very thick, long hair, and I need the oils to reach the ends (that's why your scalp produces it).  But yes, this means greasy roots and dry ends.  To prevent my hair looking flat and greasy I simply use Baptise dry shampoo!  .  The tips below will help you to maintain healthy hair.

My typical week is like this:
Day 1 - Wash hair
Day 2 - Hair is still looking good
Day 3 - Maybe a bit greasy, dry shampoo the roots
Day 4 - Shampoo OR Dry shampoo and wear hair half up
Day 5 - Dry shampoo & hair up
Day 6 - Repeat of day 5 or Shampoo

If you have over-processed hair it may produce more oil to combat the damage from over heating/styling/washing etc.  So it will take time for your hair to forgive you and only produce as much oil as needed.  Get some dry shampoo and try going an extra day before you give into the temptation to wash!

There are some really good dry shampoos on the market but my absolute favourites are:

• Baptise Original
• Baptise Volume
• Timotel

There are also many other fragrant versions.  Baptise has a new Jasmine range which I can't wait to try!  They also have coloured versions which are great for hiding root growth and to prevent dark hair looking "talcy" (Note: in my experience, some of the cheaper versions are not as good as others)

Unfortunately, thanks to the power of advertising, most people are washing their hair wrong!  Lets start from the beginning with this step-by-step guide:

1)  Wet the hair.  Pretty obvious right?

2) Wet the hair some more!  The first basic rule of shampooing is to use more water than you think you need, and less product.  This really helps achieve a shiny (not greasy) finish!

3) Use a small amount of shampoo.  This should be between a 20p-50p sized dollop depending on your hair length and thickness.

4) Massage into scalp, NOT ENDS!  You should only ever be shampooing the scalp, hairline etc, where oils and grease builds up.  The ends are more prone to damage than the rest of the hair, and it needs the oils from the scalp to look fresh and shiny.  Unfortunately due to over washing and over processing the ends rarely get enough oil.  If you shampoo them they will just become even more dry.  Don't worry, when you rinse the shampoo out it will travel through the ends which will be enough to keep it clean and feeling fresh.

4) Rinse with more water. . .and then more water

5) "Rinse & repeat" DO NOT RINSE AND REPEAT - there is no logical explanation for this.  It is just a marketing scam written on the product to get you to buy more.

Now you're ready to condition!  Some things to remember when conditioning are:

• Keep conditioner to the ends.  Any conditioner on the scalp will make it look flat and greasy
• Leave it on for as long as you like.  Shampooing my hair is often the first thing I do in the shower, and rinsing out conditioner is the last.  This gives it a good 20-30 mins and really works just as well as a hair mask.

Other tips include:

• Invest in a shower cap to keep hair styled between washes
• Using oils/hair masks before shampooing
• Using a leave in conditioner
• Do not use scalding hot water, this will damage the hair
• Finish with a rinse of cold water to help seal the cuticle and improve appearance of hair condition

PS - for days when I workout I will blast the ends with a cool setting of the hair dryer (you don't want to get more hot and sweaty) and add dry shampoo for volume and style.

Welcome!

Hi everyone!

Welcome to my first ever blog post!

I am currently a 23 year old trainee hairdresser based in South Wales.

I have previously had an interesting career attending university and holding down office jobs but this year I fancied a change of career.  I wanted more control over my life, to become in charge of my career, my income, & my own business.  More importantly, I wanted a career I could enjoy and feel passionate about!

Here you can follow me as I become qualified and hopefully set-up my own business, and in the meantime  I can share tips, tricks and fun with you!  I will also be offering my salon services at your convenience from the comfort of your own home!

If you have any questions about myself or anything I post on here please feel free to comment or e-mail me.

If you are interested in helping with my training and could volunteer as a model, or if you need a convenient hairdresser at a low price please contact me on abbyshomehaircare@gmail.com

Have fun!

Abby =)