Summer Chic – its all about the sleek…

As those summer evenings start to dwindle its time to think about casting aside the boho waves for something more sophisticated.

As seen at Prada and Holly Fulton for Autumn/Winter Fashion Week 2014 there’s a resurgent twist on the classic 80’s wet look with smooth sleek lines that accentuate sharp cuts – you can achieve this look using a wet gel product such as Sebastian Gel Forte (don’t go overboard!), finished with Alterna Kendi Oil to keep the inevitable stray flyaways at bay but this look is not for the faint hearted..only the fashion brave.

(http://www.guardian.com)

(http://www.popsugar.co.uk)

The beachy boho festival hair is now taking a back seat and rightly so. As Autumn approaches its time to treat your hair with a little more respect with some intensive conditioning to restore the hair from its battering under the glare of the sun and the curling wand. Keep things poker straight with for a stylish alternative using a smoothing balm such as Neal&Wolf Silk followed by SP Luxe Oil to finish the look as seen at Versace and Dior this season..

(http://www.fashionisers.com)

And for those who crave a more cosmopolitan look why not try a super elegant Pony as styled by Wella at the DKNY AW 2014 Show. Think ‘refined up-do’ rather than ‘Essex facelift’ by pulling the (pre-straightened ***always use Heat Protection we love Sebastian Trilliant :D *** ) hair back firmly rather than tightly keeping the base of the Pony tail just below the crown of the head using Alterna Luminous Shine Balm to smooth the hair down from root to tip to keep it glossy and just a subtle hint of Sebastian Zero Gravity to keep those flyways in place and the pony super straight.

        (http://www.becomegorgeous.com)

So don’t be afraid to go super sleek this Autumn Winter – lets keep things sophisticated and chic for 2014!

Any hair advice needed? Check out our regular Hair Surgery Blog for hints and tips!

Love,

The Vinery xx

Hair Surgery! Ask us a question!

This week's Hair Surgery blog is about colour.

We have a great question from Olivia who is concerned about her hair taking on a yellowy tinge after she has had it 'bleached'.

Q: Hey, Every time I get my hair bleached its great for about a week but then it starts going really yellowy and looks awful! What can I do?

A: Hi there Olivia, thanks for getting in touch. My name is Ben, Stylist at The Vinery and I will be answering your query today.

It is possible that the Stylist is not lifting your natural colour light enough for the toner that has been chosen. The other possibility is that your hair is porous and the toner isn't holding well. Intensive Conditioning Treatments such as Sebastian Penetraitt or Sebastian Hydre used regularly (weekly) on your hair as part of your cleansing routine will help to restore your hair's condition which will help the toner to last longer but it is important to understand that toners do fade with time. I would recommend using a silver shampoo and/or conditioner (with a violet base) once the toner has faded to counteract any yellow tones to tide you over until your next Colour appointment.

Hope this helps! 

Ben x 

Hair Surgery! Ask us a question!

This is our first Q & A “Hair Surgery” blog where people can ask our Creative Designer Gavin Blagbrough for advice on their hair emergencies!

Our first question for the Hair Surgery is from Daisy who is struggling with frizz control 😖

Q:

Hi there, I am having so many problems with styling my hair due to the humidity during the summer, its really frizzy………help!

A:

Hi Daisy, first of all you need to prep your hair with a smoothing shampoo and conditioner, either a moisture-based product such as the SP Luxe Oil Keratin Protect Shampoo for thicker unruly hair or a shine-based one for finer such as Sebastian Trilliant Shampoo. Then use smoothing or straightening balm on towel dried hair through the lengths and ends, you can also apply an oil product during this process, I prefer to use SP Luxe Oil (as it combines Jojoba, Argan and Almond oil to reconstruct the hair fibre) then blow-dry your hair on a medium heat and speed, drying the hair down the hair shaft, smoothing and flattening the cuticle ideally using a heat retaining large round brush or large paddle brush – going over any troublesome areas with a straightening iron such as the Cloud9 Touch whilst slowly/gently curving the ends. Finish by gently blasting the hair with a cool drier and then finish with a light spritz of hairspray such as Reshaper Sebastian and a final brush through to release the hair’s natural movement.

Gavin x

Product Review..By our Clients for our Clients!

This month, Charles Coombs has kindly reviewed and rated the “Alterna Bamboo Men Thickening Gel Lotion” and here is what he had to say about it:

“Gentlemen, is this the answer to your premature balding or a help with covering up that grey?….NO!!!

This product does neither nor does it claim to. In fact this product helps you make the best of what you have. Apply a small amount to towel-dried hair then use your hairdryer to dry and style, step back and admire the results.

I was impressed that there were noticeable results on the first use, my hair felt thicker, was easier to style and held all day. Following continued use my hair felt much thicker (as if by magic I had more), I was using less product to hold it as the product has a holding power too. The only drawback (negative) is that it does need the heat from the hairdryer to activate the thickening properties, so if you like to roll out of bed in to the shower, quick towel off and run out the door then this product isn’t for you. You will have to adapt your morning routine to allow 5 minutes under the dryer.

I must say this is one of the best products I have used and now forms part of my daily routine. The other plus is that it is an ideal holiday product as it has SPF 15 protection. 

I would rate this product overall 4.5 out of 5!

Thanks, Charles”

So a huge thank you to Charles for his feedback on the Alterna Bamboo Men Thickening Gel Lotion – as a Salon it is important for us to hear how clients feel about the products they are using, good or bad, and we are very grateful to Charles for such an insightful and honest review!

Holiday Hair…

The holiday / festival season has begun in earnest and we have some crucial hints and tips for those wanting to stay ahead of the hair fashion game as well as looking after your hair in the sun.

On Trend:

As always, braids are top of the heap with last year’s milkmaid look taking on a whole new freshness for 2014. Accessorising your braids are a must with discreet feathers, beads, ribbons and flowers – think boho rather than bridal!

Tousled waves, created with a large heated barrel curler, can give you that instant ‘just from the beach’ look without having to cover yourself in salt and sand! Use the Cloud9 Waving Wand to achieve this look combined with Alterna Beach Bamboo Summer Ocean Waves texturising spray.

Top Knots are so last year! Instead go for grown-up bunches with a twist, add in extra bands to give them definition or twist in some beads for a playful edge..

Keep it Safe:

Heat Protection is a must – whether in the sun or not. We cannot stress enough the importance of using a good protection product for your hair to protect it from weather elements as well as hairdryers, irons and wands; heres our pick of some of the best…

Sebastian Trilliant - This product is shaken to activate the complex that protects the hair from heat damage. Sebastian Trilliant Thermal Protection Spray retails at £19.60.

Neal & Wolf Guard - Silk Proteins help to lock in moisture, protecting hair from 220 degree heat. Guard Heat Protection Spray is  available for £11.95.

Alterna Anti-Breakage Thermal Protectant Spray - Protects from up to 220 degree heat and reduces damage by 87% by  locking in essential proteins and nutrients whilst also forming a protective barrier to prevent future damage. Alterna Anti-Breakage Thermal Protectant Spray retails at £23.00.

Wella Thermal Image - Shields the hair from heat damage caused by styling irons and dryers. Wella Thermal Image Protection Spray is available at £11.00.

Cloud 9 Magical Quick Dry Potion - Halves the drying time of hair – another shake to activate product that conditions   and protects the hair as well as helping to eliminate any troublesome frizz! This product retails at £17.95.

However, the most important way to keep your hair healthy, especially during the holidays is to make sure that you have regular cuts!

Have a Happy Summer!

The Vinery x

Great Length Hair is coming to The Vinery!

The Vinery Hair Salon is delighted to announce that from July 2014 we will be offering Great Lengths Hair Extensions!

Great Lengths are world-leaders in Hair Extensions and can not only be added for length but for volume and thickness too as well as colour enhancement.

Great Lengths offer 50 different shades as well as free-flowing bespoke colour including a fantastic range of pastels. All the hair is 100% human hair and is ethically sourced from India. As Great Lengths explain, all hair is “voluntarily sacrificed and donated to temples by complete shaving of the head during Hindu rituals through a process known as tonsuring. Great Lengths are fully committed to ensuring that all hair is ethically and willingly sourced and that a fair price is paid. Payment for the hair is then used to support the local community by developing temples and medical services and supporting charitable causes.”

To find out further information or to make your Great Lengths appointment at The Vinery then please contact the salon on 01484 536899!

The Importance of Colour Patch Testing

Here at The Vinery Hair Salon we are vigilant about patch testing clients before they undergo any kind of colour procedure. Our policy is to test new clients to the salon regardless of whether they have had colour elsewhere before and also to re-test existing clients if they have not visited the salon for several months in between colour appointments.

It is rare for allergic reactions to occur with hair colour however, just like many products that are used frequently including food, makeup and lotions, materials etc. or simply down to a change in health, reactions can develop over time.

We are sometimes asked why this is necessary by our clientele but as well as having their best interests at heart we also need to ensure that, as a responsible Salon, we stick to the recommended industry guidelines.

We require patch tests to be done at least 24-48 hours before the colour appointment and we also patch test for Eyebrow/Lash Tint as well as for HD Brows. This may seem over-cautious to some however the following story should help to reinforce why we put so much importance on patch testing!

We bumped into a friend recently who told us a horrifying tale. Several years ago she had visited a local salon for a colour appointment and had not been allergy (patch) tested first. Following the colour application she suffered what can only be described as a horrific reaction. Charlotte has kindly given us permission to share her story and also the pictures that reiterate just how shocking and violent these reactions can be.

You can read about Charlotte's experience in full via the following link:

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/hair-dye-left-paddock-girl-5007157

We now stock Wella Innosense at The Vinery and this fantastic colour product has a reduced risk of allergen due to the ME+ molecule that has been in development for over 20 years -  if you would like to try Innosense as an option then please do ask about it when booking your appointment on 01484 536899. (An additional supplement of £5 is surchargable for Wella Innosense and Illumina)

So the moral of the tale is…Always have a patch test first!