We have been seeking Christmas Hair Inspiration!

With the festive season upon us we have been looking to the celebrities to find out what the latest hair trend is for Christmas parties and functions..

Seen at Rodarte 2014

It seems that the simple braid has taken off in a major way this season with unique takes on the fishtail plait, rosettes and braided buns hitting not only the red carpet but also the runway as seen below….

Braided Up-Do for 2014 Spring/Summer Dolce & Gabbana

Even Leona Lewis has jumped onto the braid bandwagon, pictured here sporting a rather fetching twist fishtail…

British singing sensation Leona Lewis

We love the braid trend – its versatile and easily adapted from the summer twists and wisps that we associate with the festival season into something chic and unique. Clients also seem to be going plait-crazy, the more creative the better we say! 

Rachel works Clothes Show Live 2013!

So, I headed down to Birmingham on Sunday for Clothes Show Live 2013 and was both extremely nervous and excited at the same time. The day began very early as I had to get to Birmingham for 6:30am (the morning after our Vinery staff xmas party!) on the Sunday morning to meet some other members of the Make-Up Team and then we headed to the N.E.C for 7am!

I was incredibly nervous at this point and it felt as though my heart was going to jump out of my throat! I then met the Head Make-Up Artist who was in charge of our team and to my relief she was lovely and very welcoming. She instructed myself and a couple of the other Make-Up Artists that we would be doing make-up for the dancers performing on stage (both male & female). She was very precise about the look she wanted - which consisted of very dark smokey eyes and nude lips for the girls, there was to be absolutely no shimmer anywhere on the face - this was because it would not look right with the lighting for the show.

Each model had to be checked by the Head Make-Up Artist before they could go and carry on getting ready. I was thrilled when she said "perfect!" every time I took a model across to her. Once the show had begun, our job was to stand right next to the stage entrance to 'touch up' the make-up in between outfit changes. This consisted of applying more powder to the facial areas that had become shiny, and the application of more lip gloss/lip balm. It was fascinating to be a part of the backstage buzz and watching the assistants frantically trying to help the models and dancers out of their outfits and into the next ones. On some occasions they were still zipping and buttoning up as the models were walking through the stage door!

All the male models and dancers were performing every type of sit-up, push-up and press-up before they went onto the catwalk to make sure they looked their very best for the stage. They were also all fighting over the mirror to have a final look and check their outfits before running to their positions, ready to go on. In fact one male model who had literally a few minutes in between scenes had a routine of running at high speed to the mirror, nearly knocking us off our feet before having to run round the corner, skidding as he went! After the fourth show we all knew to get out of his way!

The Make-Up Artists were split into 2 teams, alternating between the shows, so when it was our 'break', we could go and look around the main arena where all the clothes stalls were but the best part was being able to watch the show from specially allocated seats right at the front!

I was asked by the Head Make-Up Artist to also do a demonstration of the eye makeup we had been doing on a volunteer on a small stage within the main arena. I had to wear a microphone and explain what I was doing and about the HD Brow products I was using. I am not used to doing this type of work and felt as though I was turning bright red and stuttering like mad! But I was assured by one of my team members that I did really well. When I got back to the Make-Up area I had just missed Peter Andre walking through and I was gutted! The other girls told me that he had said 'hello' to them as he had walked through. Union J also walked through the Make-Up area before every show - after the 4th or 5th time this became normal to us, instead of acting all star struck and nudging each other in excitement! This also became the case with several members of T.O.W.I.E and Made In Chelsea. 

The day ended at around 6pm, when we headed to a cosy pub for a well deserved glass of wine and some food. I was really pleased when the Head Make-Up Artist thanked us for our hard work and said how pleased she was with all our work and that it had made her job so much easier so she could feel a lot more relaxed about the following day.

We tumbled into bed at 10:30pm throughly exhausted and we had to be up at 5:30am again ready for the next day. We were put into the same teams as the previous day and told that we would be doing the dancers again. We were given a slightly different brief regarding the make-up look - the skin was to be left quite dewy-looking and the eyes less smoky and less blended up into the socket. Some of the models were not quite happy about the new look that we had been instructed to create however we politely and professionally carried out the remit set for the Make-Up Team and it all went off without a hitch!

Had an amazing time and look forward to having similar opportunities in the future!

Love Rachel x

The Holiday Spirit hits The Vinery!

Everyone at The Vinery is getting into the full Holiday spirit with the start of December! We have begun to decorate the Salon and have picked our Secret Santa's...the only thing missing now is the mistletoe!

We are all really looking forward to our Staff Christmas Party this weekend at Primo Italian in Huddersfield and no doubt there will be plenty of gossip with which to relay to our clients following our night out..

Our Staff Night Out also coincides with the Huddersfield Festival of Light which means that the town centre should be full of exciting events, festive lights, music and jolly good fun!

In fact we are so excited about Christmas this year at The Vinery that we are looking to surprise clients on our mailing list with some very exciting seasonal offers over the next three weeks so keep an eye on your inbox!

Modelling for Sebastian!

I was really excited this week when Lisa asked me to model for her Education Day at the Wella Studios in Manchester. The day before the event she pre-prepped my hair in salon using the new Cellophane Range - half Clear & half Cinnamon Red which was mixed to enhance my natural auburn colour, which I was pleased about as I didn't want to change the colour too much.

When we arrived at the Wella Studio's, Lisa sprayed my hair with Sebastian Volupt Spray to dampen it down and then blow-dried the product into my hair which gave the hair 'grip'. Lisa put my hair up into a style from the new Sebastian Counter Balance Collection in front of the group and then Richard (Windle, Sebastian Head of Education) did a talk on the new Cellophane range whilst Lisa prepped my hair for the next demonstration. Lisa then performed another demonstration in front of the group and then I had to stand up whilst she talked through what she had done. I then sat back down whilst she did a new style using the tongs.

I was nervous and excited all day but it was a great experience. I learnt a lot even though I was modelling as I got to learn about different 'put-up' techniques and also about the new Cellophane range as we use these in salon all the time.

In the afternoon I volunteered to model for someone else so I had another cellophane put on my hair - the Cinnamon Red and Cranberry Red, and I then modelled another 'hair-up' for the MOB Team group session. I liked that I had another colour on my hair more excited as i was hoping it would be more vibrant and bright - and it was!

I enjoyed listening to the opinions of the group on the demonstrations that everyone did and hearing about how they actually did the hair-up's. Its really interesting for me as an Assistant learning the different types of processes that take place to create a look. I was able to watch the colours and see how they turned out, there was some really interesting ones and also different kinds of put ups and styles. I loved observing the colour process too as I have only just started doing colour training myself in the salon so I picked up plenty of useful tips!

I really enjoyed my day modelling at the Sebastian Studios in Manchester and would definitely do it again.


Love Hayley x

I’m heading to Clothes Show Live 2013

Hi I’m Rachel, resident Beauty Therapist at The Vinery and I can barely contain my excitement after finding out that I will be working backstage at Clothes Show Live 2013 in Birmingham this weekend!

I applied to work with the Make-Up Team at Clothes Show Live after hearing that they were looking for talented Make-Up Artists to work behind the scenes. I sent off some examples of my work from my portfolio and was over the moon when I received an email this week confirming that I had been selected..

(Some examples of the portfolio work I submitted..working alongside Senior Stylist Gemma Noon for the TrendVision competition).

I will be working backstage with the models and hopefully some celebs too so watch this space!

Rachel x

Jonathan's Blog........

This week I headed to the Wella Studios in Manchester for day two of the Sebastian MOB Programme and got loads of inspiration to come back to the salon with.

We were a group of 6-7 people, each with our own model. We had a full morning of training on the latest Sebastian Cellophane products and then a professional 'put-up' demonstration from Sebastian Educator (and Vinery Senior Stylist!) Lisa Bates.

In the afternoon we prepped our models for colour, using the new cellophane range. I used a combination of Vanilla & Honeycomb on the bottom with Ice Blonde on the Veil to give gloss and shine. We then got the opportunity to play about, putting the hair up with some expert assistance from Richard Windle who is the Sebastian Head of Education.

I basically crimped all the hair, leaving a straight veil on the top, then backcombed it all and styled it into the shape that I wanted, leaving a sleek straight veil which sat on top. I used a variety of Sebastian products to achieve this look including Zero Gravity Hairspray, Texture Maker and the amazing Liquid Gloss.

It was a fantastic day, helping each other out and learning with each other - we presented our models at the end of the session, talking through our process and we all pitched in with questions, technique-sharing and advice which was very productive. I also got some really good feedback on the look that I had created. It was also great having such a unique opportunity to tap knowledge from Richard and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Of course, a day training in Manchester wouldn't be complete without a few cheeky drinks afterwards..Roll on Day 3! to be continued......

Love Jonathan....Vinery Stylist x

Cloud 9 Touch Hits the Salon with a Swing!

This week The Vinery saw a new styling tool hitting the shelves..the Cloud 9 Touch, so obviously I wanted to have a play!

I collared one of my colleagues, Charlie, who has particularly thick and naturally wavy hair and asked her to model for me whilst I tried out the new C9 Touch Straighteners.

First of all I prepped her hair by using Sebastian Hydre Shampoo & Conditioner to add moisture to her naturally dry locks and then sprayed the hair down with Cloud 9 Magical Quick Dry Potion before blasting out excess water with the hairdryer.

I did a smooth blow-dry and then got to grips with the Cloud 9 Touch, which has two heat settings of 165 and 195 - I set the Touch to 195 degrees with a simple double-click and was really pleased with the results...and I think Charlie was pretty impressed too!

Cheers, Matt x

Latest LookBook Photoshoot...

This week we set up our latest LookBook photo-shoot for the Autumn Winter Collection and it went amazingly well!

The Vinery Creative Team launched the LookBook on our website (www.thevineryhairsalon.co.uk) last year and we try to schedule our photo-shoots on a semi-regular basis to showcase some of the work that we have been inspired to do.

This month's brief was Modern 80s Twist..looking at the fashion and flair for big textured hair and statement make-up but with a contemporary edge.

Charlie Whale, The Vinery Senior Stylist, sourced four models for the shoot and created very different looks for each.

There were three female models: Maddie, Laura, Irena and one male model - our very own Mathew.
Maddie's hair was crimped and pulled into a side 'up-do' - reflecting the 80's ponytail look that was so popular with the younger generation. Laura's hair was curled, crimped and twisted to create a variety of textures which was reminiscent of Madonna in her early career. Irena's hair was big, bouncy and vibrant, taking inspiration from pop singers such as Sinitta and Whitney Houston who rocked the huge hair look!

Little Buddha Bar in Huddersfield kindly allowed The Vinery to shoot there this week - taking full advantage of the glamorous decor and the iconic padded Karaoke Booth, complete with dancing pole!

Charlie Whale (middle) doing a last minute hair check before the shoot! 

Rachel Brooker, The Vinery Beauty Therapist provided her make-up skills and created some truly unique looks on the models, highlighting their best features whilst maintaining the 80's inspired theme running through the entire shoot.

Photographer Ruth Ellen Brown expertly directed our models in front of the camera and we cannot wait to see the finished results. Make sure you keep an eye on our website for the latest Look Book to appear!

Salon International 2013 - Sebastian Cult Team Update

I took to the stage with my colleagues on the Sebastian Professional Cult Team at Salon International 2013 in London this Autumn and it was truly exciting.

I was one of three Cult Team members working on the Fellowship Stage presenting three looks from the New Counter Balance Collection.

With the Cult Team - I am on the far left!

The New Counter Balance Collection is about the clashing of textures - and about defining those clashes with a unique balance.

Myself, Lee Brown and Elenora Dean each had a model that we pre-prepped backstage before showcasing in front of the audience. The entire collection was broadcast first before the models were completed live on stage.

The look that I created was called Top Gloss, taking inspiration from the clashing of textures, specifically shine, shape, polish and structure - therefore culminating in a strong visual silhouette that fulfilled the brief given.

My Look - Top Gloss

The show also involved a Q & A as we worked and as part of the show we also debuted two new Sebastian products: Texture Maker and Shine Shaker which were used in all three looks.

The new products were used in the entire New Counter Balance Collection as they helped to create and enhance the looks.

From my perspective, being an Educator for Sebastian it was a great opportunity for me to learn about not only the new collection but also about these fantastic products, which I have been able to feed back to my colleagues at The Vinery - so we really are at the cutting edge of the Industry!

In fact, Sebastian Shine Shaker has proved to be so popular in the first couple of weeks in-salon that it sold out almost immediately!

The perils of over-processing - the celebrity way!

This Winter it would seem that all of Hollywood have headed for the chop and crop...with Hunger Games beauty Jennifer Lawrence leading the pack with a super stylish and low maintenance crop - far removed from the long tresses that she has sported since coming to our attention a couple of years ago. With a sweeping side fringe this cut frames her face, enhancing her delicate features.

Another Jennifer has taken the plunge this week with Friends star Jen Aniston lopping off her length to reveal a jaw length dishevelled bob, perfect for the working woman on the go..

And what do both Jen's have in common apart from the same first name?? A hair disaster! Even celebrities fall victim to hair catastrophes despite being tended to by some of the most expensive and exclusive salons in the Hollywood Hills!

Both women claim to have gone for the chop because their hair was suffering from over-processing, highlighting (ahem) how important it is to ensure that you use the correct products to protect your hair.

It is vital in-salon to assess client hair prior to undertaking a colour procedure - to check its strength, the colour history of the client and also any lifestyle or health changes that may have recently taken place which can affect the condition of the hair. Its also salon policy to now carry out a patch test at least 24 hours prior to any new colour appointment to avoid any nasty allergic reactions to colour products used.

Wella are constantly developing their colour products to ensure that they deposit colour effectively whilst maintaining the condition of the hair and we find that Wella Sebastian Cellophanes ( a true semi-permanent) provide superb coverage whilst maintaining hair health..

As a Stylist it is vitally important to recommend to clients the correct products for use outside the salon environment in order to keep their hair in tip top condition between visits. We always recommend a Heat Protection Spray and a suitable combination Shampoo & Conditioner (including at-home Treatments for colour clients) for them to use at home to maintain their style, condition and hair health.

With the onset of Winter, Central Heating, Air Conditioning and inclement weather conditions, protecting hair becomes more important than ever. Remember, your hair is constantly on show so invest to impress - its the wisest thing to do!

Natural Hair Week - Natural Hair Roadshow 2013

The Vinery Hair Salon have hit Leeds and London for the Natural Hair Roadshow in aid of raising the profile of Natural Hair Week this year.

The Natural Hair Roadshow took place in 6 cities in 6 days and drew audiences of up to 150 per roadshow showing how progressive and interested people are becoming in the Natural Hair movement.

Salon Owner Gavin Blagbrough gave a series of demonstrations about celebrating natural afro hair in all its glory,  without the need for relaxers, wigs, weaves or extensions. Gavin delved into the realms of natural afro hair, discussing the reasons behind why clients shy away from keeping their hair natural and the negative influences from celebrities who seem to promote extensions as a way of hiding their natural hair. He also explored the fact that the media culture project images of celebrities sporting relaxers and weaves which can have an adverse impact on self-esteem and on the ability a person may feel they have about looking after their own hair whilst retaining a sense of style.

Gavin explained that there are other options and that the natural way can be the best way of achieving a unique and workable look!

The Roadshow also gave clients the chance to ask questions and get some advice about how to look after their natural afro curls and maintain a great style without sacrificing their roots.

See what Gavin had to say to the crowds on the video below!

Make A Difference Day Fundraising Success!

The Vinery Hair Salon jumped at the chance to raise money for Kirkwood Hospice Make A Difference Day with a 24-hour Blowdry-A-Thon this year!

Staff members took it in turns to work 'shifts' for Blowdry-a-Thon clients who booked in for a complimentary blowdry in exchange for a donation to local Huddersfield-based charity Kirkwood Hospice. 

Luxury Hair Brand Neal & Wolf supplied a full range of products for the event and each client left with product freebies as a small thank you for their support. The Blowdry-A-Thon took place from 9am on Thursday 31st October through until 9am on the following Friday morning.

Salon Owner Gavin stayed throughout the night alongside colleagues Jodie Brierley (Creative Designer) and Angie Grant (Senior Stylist) who were on hand to help with the midnight rush. There was plenty of strong coffee on hand and a couple of cheeky glasses of Prosecco certainly went down well with the later clientele who sacrificed their beds for a blowdry!

A very tired Gavin finally hung up his hairdryer at 9am on Friday morning, with the salon having raised over £450! 

Kirkwood Hospice is a local charity that provides support and respite for people facing life-threatening illnesses and their families. 

They launched Make A Difference Day this year in conjunction with Pulse WY Radio to raise much needed funds in order to continue the vital care they provide for patients and their families who use the services at Kirkwood Hospice.

For further details about Kirkwood Hospice please visit their website at: www.kirkwoodhospice.co.uk

Retro Hair Competition!

This week Neal & Wolf launched a Retro Hair Competition and I decided to enter following several in-salon 'Hair Up' training sessions!

I love the vintage 40's and 50's pin up style and I found the ideal model in my friend Hayley who kindly volunteered to have her hair pinned for my competition entry.

Using Neal & Wolf Elevate I primed the hair, blow-dried with a large round bristle brush to create volume at the roots and then used the Cloud9 'O' to give the hair some real bounce.

Finally I pin-rolled the sides and fringe to create that signature 50's retro look which worked incredibly well on my model's hair.

Following a few last minute tweaks my model was ready for her photo....I was really pleased with the results!

Kirby x

My first client!

Hi everyone, just wanted to update you all on my progress this week in salon.

On Saturday I had one of my first clients booked in which was both exciting and terrifying! This lady was going out for a very special occasion and wanted me to style her hair and make her look fabulous..which of course i did ;)

My client had long, straight hair which was naturally fine, so laid very flat and she wanted a style that was bouncy, big and glamorous that would last for the whole evening.

I cleansed the hair using Sebastian Volupt Shampoo & Conditioner and then added a heat protection spray followed by Volupt Styling Gel to give the hair body and finished with Shaper Fierce to provide a really strong hold.

I blow-dried the hair, trying to create as much volume as possible and then I used the tongs to curl around 3/4 of the head. I then backcombed the roots and dressed out the curls and created a smooth overlay - the result was great and my client was really happy with the look that I had achieved for her.

What made this really special for me was the fact that I carried out the entire appointment with very little assistance from more experienced members of staff, it was a true independent effort and really helped to boost my self-confidence.

Here is the final result....how do you think I did?!

Cheers

Mathew x

Meeting one of the greats.....Patrick Cameron!

Last week I had the chance to meet one of hairdressing's legends....Patrick Cameron!

Born in New Zealand, this young man first made a name for himself in his home town, then his home country, and then the world...

Renowned for his beautiful, soft and feminine hair ups, this man is a genius when it comes to dressing hair and for someone that does not ‘do’ weddings (or much hair up for that matter) it was inspiring and motivational. He executed two hair up demonstrations with ease, making something that technically can be quite difficult to achieve look so simple and the results were both effortless and chic.

I’m not one for being star struck, don’t get me wrong, everyone loves to meet celebrities and their idols, but these people do exactly the same as we do every day. They just do a lot of travelling with it. But there was something very humbling about his energy and passion for this industry and teaching especially. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity of chatting with Patrick Cameron during the event and being able to pick the brains of someone so creative and inspiring was a true privilege.

Myself on the right with Patrick Cameron & Vinery Senior Stylist Laura Crossley on the left

The event was held at one of the conference suites at the new Kirklees College building at Chapel Hill, and the way that Patrick engaged with the audience of mainly young student hairdressers in the making was phenomenal and is something I certainly aspire to emulate in the future!

Gavin.

Trend Vision Final 2013

So, the Trend Vision 2013 Final was held this year at Camden Round House in London with  a huge crowd of 800 hairdressing industry professionals attending.

BBC Radio's Jo Whiley presented the event whilst Heather Small (M-People) and Beardyman performed for the crowd.

The Sebastian Cult Team were invited to open the show with their selection 'Secret Sirkus'. The Secret Sirkus actually opened with its very own Ringmaster and Dancing Models styled by the Sebastian Cult Team which was incredible to witness!

Famed Session Stylists Dom Capel, Sean Dawson and the Sebastian Cult Team (including myself) all prepared a section for the show.  Dom Capel's section was inspired by the Carousel and Candy Floss circus influences: 

Dom Capel Model Interpretation

Sean Dawson prepared models inspired by circus freak shows:

Sean Dawson Model Interpretation

We were each given a brief to follow and a aconcept mood board from which to draw inspiration from. The section that the Cult Team prepared for was the 'Caged Animals and Wolves' part of the performance.

Cult Team Mood Board Brief

We had to work in pairs and create a wig - ironically none of us had any previous experience at wig-making so we ensured that we did plenty of research first, although there is no denying that it was a real challenge! However we all pulled it off and it was an amazing experience - and a truly fantastic show to be a part of!

My Wig is to the far left..

Check out my pictures from the Secret Sirkus...how do you think we did?

Lisa :)

Emerging Trends Show 2013

Hi I'm Charlie Whale, Senior Stylist with The Vinery Hair Salon and I have been involved with the exciting and truly inspiring 'Emerging Trends London 2013' Show.

The show is Europe's most anticipated event that brings global attention to the European emerging fashion market.

Elena Jones Collection

The participating international designers created brief fashion shows in order to showcase their individual designs and artistic abilities to a variety of sponsors, buyers, press and media. The winner received an exclusive $10,000 marketing package which also included an opportunity to showcase their full collection line at either Canada Fashion Week, Boston Fashion Week or San Diego Fashion Week as well as private mentoring by TFB Agency.

The event was hosted by Australian Pop Singer Mel Jade and participating Designers included: 
Nina Athanasiou (Germany)
Elena Jones (Canada)
Shefali Couture (UAE)
Hope Wade Designs (Jamaica/USA)

Hope Wade Collection

Rudy Wolff (Norway) opened the Mens Collection and closing the show was the Best of British designers Rene K (designs for Kate Middleton and Barack Obama's daughter) and Kelly Ewing (Stylist for ITV's X-Factor).

Nina Athanasiou won the event and has since seen her designs featured in Vogue Magazine, which is a true accolade and a fitting reflection of her talents.

I worked under Session Stylist Tracy Baker who headed up the Hair and Make-Up Team. We collaborated with the Designers and created looks for each model that complemented each individual collection.

I worked with some truly amazing and creative people, and being a part of this process was just incredible - to see the collections come to life with the addition of the Hair and Make-Up and then to witness the whole ensemble hitting the runway was breathtaking!

Shefali Couture Collection

I have made many connections that I hope to work work in the very future and look forward to collaborating with new contacts as well as the multi-talented Tracy Baker again.

At the end of the show the Hair and Make-Up Team were invited to walk down the runway - which was a fantastic experience and one that I will struggle to top this year!

Charlie :)

Men's Hairstyles that Women Love!

Most guys won't admit it, but they actually obsess over their hair as much or even MORE than women!  While a full head of thick hair will always get a second look, don't worry if your hair lacks the panache of Justin Bieber.  There are a lot of styles that are hot and sexy that look great even if your hair has never been your greatest asset.  Ironically, the hairstyles that women usually find attractive on men are quite the opposite from the hairstyles that men like on themselves.  In no particular order, here is a sampling of men's hairstyles that women think are hot:

If you are blessed with a full head of wavy, run-your-fingers-through-me hair, make the most of your good fortune by taking care of what you've got.  Make sure to use high quality products to keep your hair clean and conditioned.  And talk to a stylist about  cuts that will take advantage of your length and texture.  Changing the side on which you part your hair, or using some gel or pomade for a slick backed look can give you different styling options for different events.   And don't forget, regular trims to keep your hair under control and looking great will maximize your double take potential.  You can never go wrong with the classic hair part and hair that’s swept off to the side with a bit of gel to keep it out of your face. It’s perfect for any occasion and looks classy. Think George Clooney and Chase Crawford.

A buzz cut can be super hot, especially if you have a well shaped head or distinctive facial features.  This one always takes some getting used to if you are used to having longer hair—but the more drastic the cut, the hotter it can be!  Be warned though - if you have round facial features or an odd shaped head this look won't work for you.  And a buzz cut doesn't mean you can make up for the lack of hair on your head by overcompensating with facial hair.  Buzz for a reason, and keep everything neat and tidy.  David Beckham has the look done perfectly.

If you feel more comfortable with longer hair, go for it, but remember, women like clean and sexy, not greasy and unkempt.  For a longer style that is acceptable in most professions, try leaving your hair a bit longer on the top and shorter on the sides. This will give you a few more styling options as well, since you can slick it back or comb the top layers forward for a look with more layers.  Long hair, jaw length and longer can work well too, but if you are going for the pony tail look, make sure that your hair is super clean and healthy.  Nothing is more of a turn off than a wimpy, greasy pony tail.  And if you are trying to pretend that you have luscious locks by wearing a pony tail but your scalp is showing because of thinning or receding hair, bag the length, get a good cut - maybe a buzz cut - and wear it proudly.  There's nothing wrong with thinning hair, but trying too hard to cover it up can make you look desperate, and women definitely don't go for that!

The Vinery Hair Salon would like to extend a big thank you to Barb Quinn for her interesting and insightful contribution to both our blog and our website this month!

Guest Author Barb Quinn has been a professional hair stylist for over 30 years and has established herself as a nationally recognised hair designer, educator and freelance writer. Barb has been chosen by her peers to serve on the advisory panel of Cosmos C International, the global hair stylist network.

Thousands of women each day follow Barb's hair styling wit and wisdom on her highly successful blogs Hairstyle Blog and Visual Makeover. In 2011 The Hairstyle Blog was selected as Top Beauty Blog by BeautySchool.com.

Clubstar Fellowship - Salon International 2013

So last weekend was Salon International 2013 in London and there was a huge build up to this high profile Hairdressing event...particularly as I was making my stage debut!

I am a member of the new British Hairdressing Clubstar Art Team and this meant taking to the stage with my model Sarah to showcase my talents alongside the rest of my team. 

We had a 20 minute slot at the Salon International Show with which to impress the huge audience and I admit to being extremely nervous as this was my first time actually presenting my work on stage.

On Stage with model Sarah

I sourced my inspiration for the look from Fashion Designer Chloe Holland, who also provided the amazing clothing for the Show. I worked with different textures, using Shellac Shine Finish at the top with Matte curls at the bottom, separated down the middle with an intricate scalp plait which gave the hair 'spine like' definition to the entire look!

The models (Sarah 3rd from Right)

Posing with the rest of the Clubstar Art Team and our models

Looking forward now to my next stage appearance now I have my first one under my belt and cannot wait to work with the rest of the Clubstar Art Team again!

Gemma

Professional Beauty 2013 - HD Brows

Hello, I am Rachel Brooker, The Vinery's Beauty Therapist. I specialise in HD Brows and was delighted to be invited this year to work on the HD Brow Stand at Professional Beauty 2013 in Manchester.

This was my first 'trade show' and I had the privilege of working with other HD Brow Stylists from across the U.K, including Ireland & Scotland.

Everybody working the HD Brow Stand were lovely and welcoming, which certainly helped to put any nerves I had to rest. It almost felt like we were one big family, working exceptionally well together as a team - it was also a great opportunity to swap tips, advice and experiences with each other as each Brow is different!

The HD Brow Stand was very successful and by the end of the Professional Beauty Show we had almost sold out of all the retail products and ended up having to ensure that additional stocks were ordered for Monday morning after Sunday's phenomenal show!

Both days were so busy and the time really flew by - I guess it helped that we were all enjoying being a part of it so much!

We generally worked together in pairs and rotated between carrying out treatments and assisting the Stylist - explaining different stages of the treatment to the crowds of people watching each treatment taking place. Incredibly, about 100 treatments were carried out over the two days!

Two Celebrity MakeUp Artists were there (one on Sunday and one on Monday) doing makeovers on customers using the HD Brow makeup. An exciting new makeup range will be launching early next year so keep a watch out for it hitting the shelves!

I am hoping to work at the next HD Brow show at London Excel in February 2014 as I loved every minute of my experience at Professional Beauty and learnt so much from the other HD Brow trainers!! If you happen to be at the London Excel Show next year, pop by the HD Brow Stand for some expert advice or just to say hi! 

Salon International 2013

The Vinery Team are heading down to London this weekend (12.10.13) for Salon International 2013!

Salon International is an exciting three day event showcasing work from some of the most talented and creative hairstylists in the world and The Vinery are thrilled that two of our team members, Lisa Bates & Gemma Noon are a part of it!

Lisa Bates, a current member of the Sebastian Cult Team will be on stage on Sunday and Gemma Noon, with the rest of the British Clubstar Fellowship Art Team will be making her stage debut on Monday.

Currently trending on Twitter are links to some really inspiring shows and unique hair cuts that we will certainly be feeding back to the rest of the team on our return - check out the Salon International 2013 website to see some of the amazing things that are happening right now!

Assistant Mathew Flies Solo!

Hey everyone, my name is Mathew and I am Senior Assistant at The Vinery Hair Salon. I have been a team member at The Vinery for just over 12 months and I am close to finishing my first year at College.

I do a lot of in-salon training and today I did a Gents Cut + Finish thats very 'on-trend' and fashionable at the moment - short back and sides blended up to a quiff on top. I have been practising more and more with Gents Cuts recently and today I was so proud to have been able to carry out the majority of the Cut with only a small about of help from my In-Salon Mentor Gavin.

I have noticed a significant improvement in the length of time it takes me to do a Gents Cut+Finish, which I am really pleased about and its really boosting my confidence!

My model Harry told me that he was thrilled with his haircut which topped off a great training session today!

Fashion Photoshoot collaboration...

Today it was the turn of Salon Owner Gavin Blagbrough to get behind the scenes on a Male Test Shoot with Manchester-based Photographer Ruth Ellen Brown and her model Ben (an aspiring young fashion model).

The shoot began with a very 'Topman' feel, some cool T's and skinny jeans with a dishevelled roughed up quiff.

The next section of the shoot saw this season's reappearance of the knitted jumper worn preppy over-the-shoulder, with a rockabilly style cur reminiscent of Johnny Depp in the iconic film Crybaby.

And finally the last change of the day was the perennial geek-chic bespectacled white shirt and smooth side-parting flaunt! This took many forms. With the addition of a tie, without a tie, smoked framed glasses, solid black frames, no frames at all, top button done up and finally top button undone!

All in all a very productive day for everybody involved and the start of a great photography/hairstylist combo?...

(Ruth Ellen Brown can be contacted via her website at: www.ruthellenbrown.4ormat.com)

Behind the scenes!