Hair supremo Alessandro Jottini works wonders

A rainy damp evening plays havoc with your hair. My locks had turned frizzy so I arrived at Fortnum & Mason the other evening for a Christmas event not looking my best.

Luckily, help was on hand. Hair supremo Alessandro Jottini, based at the renowned Josh Wood Atelier Lansdowne, was doing a demonstration using Oribe hair products.

Alessandro at work
Photograph by S Jottini

As much as we slather on the lotions and potions full of promise to wipe away those lines and wrinkles, a good hairstylist is a much better way of knocking off the years.

Alessandro quickly wielded his brush and hairdryer and within a matter of minutes I looked and felt like a new person.

I was not the only woman that night to have suffered with her hair. Several sat down with fluffy hair. Carefully taking into consideration hair type and face shape Alessandro set to work transforming them in no time at all. Most of them, including me, looked years younger after he had worked his magic.

A delighted client
Photograph by S Jottini

If only I could win the lottery. I would have him come round to my home every day.

By Daralyn Danns

For more information visit joshwoodcolour.com

Hair straight from the catwalk

You and I might not get to strut the catwalk, but we can walk out of the salon looking as if we could be about to.

Hair supremo Alessandro Jottini at the highly-acclaimed Josh Wood Atelier Lansdowne is now back in the salon fresh from styling models at the recent round of fashion shows in Milan, London and Paris. 

So what kind of hairstyles can we expect to be wearing for spring/summer 2016? “Super soft and simple,” says Alessandro. “Hair, even updos, should look natural as if you did it yourself at home.”

These styles work well with the feminine yet sporty looks that adorned the catwalks. While you may not always want to push the boundaries and wear the extremes, there are always one or two trends that you can incorporate into your wardrobe to keep you looking updated.

 

My hair was simply, yet elegantly styled

One of Alessandro’s favourite shows was Gauchère. This luxury, contemporary brand has been slowly building momentum in the fashion world. A melange of tailored and fluid pieces, the clothes are easy to wear. Hair was pretty and relaxed and looked easy to replicate at home.

According to the maestro, you will want your layers to be long. “With visible or invisible layers you can create texture,” explains Alessandro. “As for length, we are seeing hair touching the collarbone. There are a lot less short cuts for next season.”  

If you have long hair, wearing it straight will always look chic. “To make it look contemporary, keep some movement in the ends,” advises Alessandro.

Alessandro Jottini styles model at Gauchère
Photographed by Alessandro Jottini

For those with frizzy or curly hair, Alessandro’s tip is to use a radial bristle brush to smooth out the hair. This will make styling easier as you can create more tension with this kind of brush. Ceramic brushes hold the heat and are better to use on straight hair for creating movement.

Before styling, Alessandro recommends using a heat protector. A favourite brand of his is the Oribe haircare product range. (Oribe is a highly-regarded international and influential stylist based in the US.)  If they are being used in Josh Wood’s salon whose client list reads like Who’s Who, you can bet your life that they are good. 

My hair was simply, yet elegantly styled. No puffy hair, which I hate, just really glossy, natural hair. Catwalk hair for reality. Once finished, Alessandro squirted a light coating of Oribe Dry Texurising Spray to give texture and just a hint of volume. 

It kept for days and that is a mark of a good hairdresser.

By Daralyn Danns

For more information visit joshwoodcolour.com

Back to Josh Wood Atelier Lansdowne

When heat and humidity strike, it can only mean one four-letter word: frizz. Unless you are lucky enough to have been born with naturally straight hair which can be washed and is ready to go in any weather, you will know that this word is the downside of hot, summer days.

Trying to keep my hair looking good in this weather is a nightmare. When I am travelling and want to look respectable, at least, is a virtual impossibility.

So I decided go and get professional help from the rather special coiffeur Alessandro Jottini at the renowned Josh Wood Atelier Lansdowne. With Josh’s reputation as colour supremo extraordinaire spanning the globe, you know that anybody he employs would have to meet the highest of standards. After all this is where the elite go.

At this salon it is all about glamour with a modern day twist. Never rushed, you know you are going to have a great experience and that you are going to come out looking a million dollars. 

I explained to Alessandro that I was going away and wanted my hair to last as I had a couple of important dinners to attend.

“Oribe hair products are going to help you,” said Alessandro. Could they really be the answer to my prayers? I have to admit I was dubious. I have heard all the claims in my time working in the beauty industry. Some may help, a lot don’t make a blind bit of difference.

However, this is Oribe’s range we are talking about. The fabled editorial and celebrity hairdresser, who hails from Cuba and has been 30 plus years in the business, should know a thing or two about dealing with the “f” problem.

Alessandro first prepped my hair with a cocktail of Oribe Supershine Light Moisturizing Cream (£47), the perfect drink for my dry, porous hair and a dash of Split End Seal (£42). He then used the Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray (£41).

If you have long, curly hair, Alex, as he is called for short, suggests tying it back during the day and running a product such as the Supershine Moisturizing Cream or the Curl Control Silkening Crème (£36) through the ends and wear it down in the evening. When washing curly manes, his advice is to just add some product such as the ones mentioned above and then let it dry naturally.

When you are travelling and your tresses are looking worse for wear from too much sun and sea, try the Josh Wood Glossing Mask (available in three colours: black, brown and blonde, £12.50, Josh Wood Atlier and selected M&S stores). You will notice the difference.

Another product that has made my life easier is Josh’s “The Guardian of Colour” Blending Wand. This non-permanent instant colour, which comes out of what looks like a marker pen, hides those dreadful greys that seem to pop up unannounced as well as any regrowth. It lasts for up to three washes which is another plus so it is ideal for in-between salon visits. (Comes in a variety of colours, £12.50, from Josh Wood Atlier and selected M&S stores.)

Alex styled my hair with plenty of movement. I was really pleased as it did not look like I had spent the past hour in a stylist’s chair.

Yes, I did wear a sunhat as temperatures were rising to the giddy heights of 35C but in the evening, I just put my hands through my locks and hey presto, they returned to how they looked when I left Alex. Four days later, they still looked amazing and not one piece of frizz in sight. I could just start to believe in miracles! 

By Daralyn Danns

For more information visit joshwoodcolour.com