HELP!!! Its the hair bear bunch!

With the hotter weather and summer holidays fast approaching, so many clients have the dreaded fear that rears its ugly head every year! 

THE FRIZZ! (can sometimes be referred to as 'Fluff' or 'Fuzz')

With an untold amount of 'de-frizzing' products with a list of benefits as long as your arm its so difficult to decide which is best!

In 2009/2010 Brazilian blow-dries took off in the UK and it was rare to come across a salon that didn't do them but then came the onslaught of negative reviews and its life in the salon became relatively short lived. 

But thankfully there's a product out there that has the smoothing effect of a Brazilian without the damage and harmful ingredients!

What is it? Well its the Nanokeratin system! 

What does it do? re-defines the natural state of your hair!

How long does it last? Up to 16 weeks!

The Nanokeratin system rejuvenates and smooths, resulting in healthy,silky, frizz free hair! Making hair take up to 70% less time to dry

How does it work?

Basically if you were to take an individual hair strand it would have small holes in it. Naturally these holes allow water to get in, and your hair holds this water- even after your hair is dried and starighetned, this microscopic holes are still carrying water. So its no wonder whenever your hair hits that, mist, fog, humidity or rain that the water escape and so kindly returns your hair back to the frizzy state it was before you had spent 45 drying and straightening. Nanokeratin acts as a poly filler by filling and sealing over those holes with protein hence leaving it smoother and preventing the frizz as well as cutting down that blow dry time (your hair is no longer holding water, its holding protein- pure goodness for your hair)

Can it be used on any hair type?

Its suitable for all hair types but is especially effective for damaged, coarse or chemically treated hair. If you have coloured hair, you have to have the Nanokeratin system done either 2 weeks before, or 2 weeks after a colour service. However, for the best result we always recomend getting the colour and Nanokeratin done on the same day. 

The process!

The process as a whole takes about 2 hours. Firstly the hair is shampooed and cleansed of all products once towel dried  the Nanokeratin system is applied layer by layer on tiny sections and worked in to the hair, then left to set into the hair for about 45 minutes any excess moisture is then removed and the hair is straightened with the Nanokeratin system straighteners for the next 2-3 days hair is to be kept down and in its straightened state in cannot be washed.

What do i do after?

To enhance the life of the blow-dry Nanokeratin advice using their intensive post treatment shampoo which is sulfate free and contains keratin to protect against harmful rays. Another brilliant fact about the Nanokeratin blow dry, is that although it lasts for 6 months, the more you have it done the more effective it will be. So the Nanokeratin particles even though the majority fades off through time, does still cling onto those little holes meaning a build up of Nanokeratin is a GOOD thing.

Is it expensive?

£150

Not much more than a colour would cost and no where near  as expensive as a Brazilian

Can i have a Nanokeratin blow-dry if i still want to wear my hair in a natural wave or curl?

Yes unlike a Brazilian Nanokeratin smooths the hair without straightening allowing people with wavy and curly hair to still style as normal

The Ginger Ninja

Before I start i'd just like to say that our very own Clive was Involved in the naming of this blog post, when i say involved he named it. (Sorry Antonio)

Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Antonio who has been working with us at Charlie Brown for the last 10 years and has been managing our Wallington Salon for the last 6 years he’s hugely popular with clients and has a lot of experience in the industry, Here’s how it went…

First off tell us a little bit about yourself?  How long have you been hairdressing for & what first inspired you to become a hairdresser?

Urm so I have been hairdressing for 20 years (pause) and corr what first inspired me to become a hairdresser?! I was doing engineering before and it was so tedious and boring and I saw loads of fit girls in the hairdressing department and thought I know I’ll try that! Shallow hey but it worked out!

 What’s your favourite thing to do within hairdressing?

I like cutting hair yeah! (long urm) I think it’s the strongest part of my job, I like working with different textures and changing the way things look I just feel I can do that with haircuts really well.

What’s your favourite fruit?

Whats my favourite fruit? Random! Bananas who thought of that question (laughs)

Are there any celebrity stylists you follow or look up to? If so why?

Uurrrmmm oh crikey who do I follow? (long pause)  I still look at a lot of Sassoon stuff even though he’s dead now. I just think that he is the reason why we do what we do, even today with new styles and stuff and for me that will never change.

I love keeping up with programmes like 'Hair' on BBC three at the moment I just think it’s so good for our industry and I feel a  lot of programmes do hairdressing an injustice but 'Hair' is great considering none of them are professional hairdressers

I’m also quite sad I just love looking on you tube at different salons work and videos. I like Hobbs edgy work and also Angelo Seminara who works for Trevor Sorbie he’s really good!

Are there any particular hairstyles or trends that are catching your eye on the street, red carpet and catwalk?

Oh god! I gonna sound like I’m not doing my job properly now aren’t I! Showing my age! Nah just playing! Urm recently I’ve seen loads of guys everywhere with super short hair and crazy long beards

And for women I’m really noticing a lot more blowdried well groomed hair I see it more often than I ever have done in the past

And red carpet urm well the Oscars this year was full of braids and plaits as well as Chignons, There both everywhere at the moment!

Can you tell us about the time you thought your car was stolen?

Oh Bloody hell! (laughs) Yes I can! When I was working over at the Banstead salon a silly short man called Clive thought it would be really funny to take my car keys and move my car really really far away! God knows how he got my keys but anyway… When I left work and realised my car was missing obviously I panicked and was like where’s my car?! I can’t remember how but I think someone said to me oh where’s your car so I suddenly twigged it was Clive, so I got my own back and called him and said ‘Clive someone’s taken my car I’m gonna have to call the police’ He then panicked! Clive is such a prankster! The naughty boy (laughs)

When recruiting what qualities do you look for in your potential team members?

Ahh easy question! Personality comes first before skill! Obviously they’ve got to have skill, but over the years I’ve worked for some great but really dull hairdressers! So for me there’s got to be a spark they’ve gotta engage me yano!

So a little birdy tells us that you’re doing the marathon? How’s the prep going for that? Kudos to you!

Everything’s been really great until a few weeks ago when my hip started playing up and now my other hip and left knee are giving me jip but yeah apart from that all fine!

What made you take up running?

I started running because my dad had cancer and I just wanted to get drunk but my friend said no run! So that’s what I did and I haven’t looked back since! I went to watch my brother run the marathon in Brighton and I just thought the atmosphere was so amazing and I was inspired!  So I did my first 10k in Beddington Park and a year later I did the marathon and became addicted it just gives you so much adrenaline and I just get so focused!

Have you run the marathon before?

I first did the Brighton marathon last year for Prostate Cancer UK in memory of my dad and this year I’m running for Saint Christopher’s hospice in memory of Darren who was my deputy manager here at the Wallington salon for a few years unfortunately he got diagnosed with bowel cancer he was so young it was awful anyways… he ended up in Saint Christopher’s hospice. I’d never been before and I just thought it would be so depressing but it was so uplifting and I just thought they were so good with everyone in there! I just knew I’d like to help them out as personally it’s so close to me

And lastly what’s your favourite product to use on clients? Anything new that’s proving popular?

Urm favourite product that I use on everybody is one that I used to use a lot and then kinda forgot about it but its Redken’s thickening lotion it’s wicked at getting body out of loads of different styles!

New product I love is Redkens ruffle up used on the right haircut its great!

I haven’t ever really had the time to sit down and get to know Antonio properly, but after the interview I came away knowing why he’s so well liked within the company with staff and clients. Such a great guy, and truly inspiring not just for his hairdressing but for his ongoing charity work!

Here’s a link to Antonio’s justgiving page if you would like to help him raise money for the wonderful Saint Christopher’s Hospice

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=AntonioBrighton

'Pillow Proof Primer' 'Pillow Proof Primer' 'Pillow Proof Primer'

Earlier on in the year a few of us from the Charlie Brown team attended the Redken Symposium at Londons' Kensington Olympia. Throughout the day there was one clear favorite product with all of the superstars on stage yet none of us back at the Charlie Brown hub had ever seen or heard of this product, let alone know what it does...
  'Pillow Proof Primer' 'Pillow Proof Primer' 'Pillow Proof Primer'

You can imagine our excitement 2 weeks later when lots of lovely boxes of the infamous Pillow Proof Primer arrived at the salons. Its been used on almost every client since and is proving hugely popular with not just the stylists but with clients too, so we thought we'd give you a full review on the product.

What does the Pillow Proof Primer claim to do?

- Provides heat protection up to 450 degrees F

- Reduces blow-dry time (a few of us were a bit dubious about this working due to past products claiming the same without the result)

- Leaves hair 3 X stronger and healthier

- Prevents breakage

- Extends the life of your blow-dry

- Absorbs oil to refresh hair and roots 

So it was time to put it to the test! 2 days ago I got Charley here @ the Coulsdon salon to Blowdry my hair using the Pillow Proof Primer to see if the above promises actually worked! 

My hair is naturally wavy with a little bit of a frizz to it, Here's a snap of my hair before!

My hair was shampooed twice with Redkens' Body Full shampoo and conditioned with Redkens' All soft conditioner (my favourite combo). Once Charley had towel dried my hair she sprayed 4-5 sprays of the primer from roots to ends lifting up sections as she went. 
She blowdried my hair with a medium round blowdry brush in sections lifting hair up to create body and winding in the ends to create a bouncy flick. My hair takes forever to dry usually as its deceivingly thick but as Charley made her way through the sections they did seem to dry quicker than usual! Once finished I applied no hairspray as i wanted to see exactly how long it lasted with no additional help!

Here's the finished result, my hair had a nice movement to it it felt very light, like I had hardly any hair on my head as well as feeling smooth and silky to touch. I was quite worried at first as the scent of the product is quite strong when initially sprayed (I have been known to get a headache when products have smelt too strong in the past) but once the hair was dry it smelt beautiful and fresh without feeling too perfumed which is exactly what I like!

After a nights sleep my hair genuinely felt as fresh as it had before I went to bed the bounce had dropped a little but it still had a nice movement to it and apart from re-blowdrying the fringe which I normally do daily anyway and putting a brush through it I didn't have to do anything else! RESULT!

So today's the last day and this morning would normally of been hair wash time and I must admit when I woke up, subconsciously I did think grrr i'm going to have to wash it but that was before looking in the mirror again after putting a brush through it and re blowdrying the fringe the finished result was this...

Not bad hey? Overall I must say that I really am impressed and anyone that knows how fussy I am when it comes to hair products would be bowled over by my response!

My hair genuinely does feel fresh and I still like the overall look so thumbs up to Redken for creating a product that really does give a longer lasting healthy looking blowdry!

The pillow proof primer is priced at £15.80 meaning its slightly more expensive than some of there other products in the Redken styling range but after testing out its promises and feeling the benefits... its worth it right? 

Repunzal

Micro-ring hair extensions have been around for a while now, but so many people are still unsure of how they work, the upkeep, and how they're different to the old fashioned bonded extensions! And with so many different hair types on the market its difficult to know what to choose... 

Here's the full Lowdown on how it all works!

10 key facts about micro-ring hair extensions

1- No heat no glue (NO DAMAGE) 
Unlike Bonded hair extensions, micro-ring uses a small metal ring (with silicon lining for kindness to your hair) that is clamped into the hair along with the extension and a section of your own hair.
2- Quick application - gone are the days of sitting for hours in the salon
A full head (usually around 200 extensions) on average takes about 2 hours to do, however this does vary depending on the thickness of the natural hair.
3. Easy to maintain - as wearable in your office as they are on holiday
Apart from your head being a little heavier than normal, hair micro rings are styled, washed and used in exactly the same way!  Maintenance is needed every 6-8 weeks depending on how well you look after the hair. During a maintenance appointment the rings are moved back up to the root of the hair as well as reapplying any extensions that have come out during that time ( it is normal to loose up to 20% of your hair extensions within a 6 week period) 
4. Suitable for almost ANY hair type- adding not only length but thickness
Most people have extensions to add length to the hair but did you know that ladies with fine hair perhaps not wanting meters of hair dragging behind there back can also get extensions and have them cut to the same length and style of their own hair to create body and volume. 
5. Hair lasts up to 12 months depending on the type chosen
Whilst there are over 50 types of hair you can buy, sourced from countries all over the world these are our 3 favourites and most popular
Indian hair - lasts up to 4 months 
Eu 16  hair -lasts up to 6 months
Russian hair- lasts up to 12 months
6. Easy to remove
When you decide that its time to take the extensions out the micro-rings are simply popped back open and the extension is removed, which can take as little as 30 Min's to remove an entire head.
7. Injection of self esteem given in a matter of hours
For people that have been trying to grow there hair for a while (or since they were 5 years old like me!) and seem to be getting nowhere, or equally for people with fine hair that just want a volume boost, Extensions can make you feel although your carrying an entire new head of hair and your confidence levels will be improved dramatically (that's a Charlie Brown promise!)
8. Natural looking  
We all remember the famous Britney Spears shots of her extremely poor weave, that is defiantly a thing of the past, Micro-rings are so seamless, flowing beautifully with you're own hair with a professional cut to finish the look you can rarely notice that anybody has got them in at all!  
9. Affordable cost
At Charlie Brown consultations are free,the stylist matches your hair to the correct extension colour as well as going through pricing, assessing your hair to ensure the correct extension method has been chosen and discussing which hair type is best for you. 
Full head starts at £200
10. The most popular type of hair extension on the market 
With celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Cheryl Cole, and Frankie (from the Saturdays), Rhianna, and Sam Faires endorsing micro-ring extensions, its no wonder they are so popular!

POPBAND VS HAIRBAND

 

 

 

So some of you guys might have seen the new Popbands floating about but the main questions on everyone's lips are;

 Why Popband? Whats the difference?!

 

Apart from the fact that Popbands look far better and much cooler on your wrist as well as in your hair there are so many other benefits too!

 

 Have you ever noticed when tying your hair up with regular elastic hairbands it pulls the hair really tight and sometimes even causes it to break or snap? So many people don't actually realise how bad elastic hairbands are for your hair! Popbands on the other hand are kind to the hair whilst still tying the hair up as securely as any normal hairband would!

 

As if that wasn't enough of a reason the Popbands also eliminate the annoyance so many people find when tying their hair up with regular hairbands, the DREADED KINK! Popband somehow manages to tie the hair up securely without leaving any marks on the hair whatsoever! Making it perfect for when doing a workout in the gym or tying up freshly straightened or curled hair whilst getting ready before a night out!

 

There's also loads of different colours and styles to choose from and multipacks available, prices range from £5! They're not only perfect for yourself but they also proving so popular with children and are making perfect little gifts too!

 

Its about time everybody gets popping!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hair to help!

Lets face it we all have those days when our hair is the furthest thing from our minds don't we? Before we made it as stylists choosing the right style and managing our hair throughout our hectic day to day lives, was a massive struggle for us as well so don't worry! Its not about being an expert its about knowing the tricks the experts teach..which is exactly what we are here to do, with regular updates on current styles, advice on choosing the best style to suit you and your image, reviews on proffesional products, tutuorials and handy hints and tips we are hair to help!

Here's a few of our favorite hairdos over the last few weeks

1- Kardashian sisters @ the opening of their new DASH boutique

2- Maria Menounos 2014 Oscars updo

3- Sky Ferreira for the new Redken 5th avenue campaign