Fringe benefits

Deciding whether a fringe is for you can be difficult. Done well it can spice up your style and even whisk away the years.

I asked mane man Michael Charalambous at London’s Nyumba, who cuts, arguably, the most talked about one in the UK - Claudia Winkleman’s - for some guidelines.

“Firstly, consider your face shape and, of course, the texture of your hair,” says Michael. “For instance, if you have curly hair, you need to keep it slightly longer as it will bounce up when it is dried. Blunt fringes tend to work better with thicker hair.”

Round face  

“Fringes should be cut using the middle of the eyebrow as a guideline” says Michael.  He suggests having one that is not too heavy and keeping it angular so that it will make your face appear slimmer and appear more oval. 

Oval face

Everybody aspires to have this face shape as it is deemed to be the perfect face to wear any style. “You can wear them short or long,” says Michael. “If your face is on the long side, a straight, blunt fringe can make it appear shorter.”

Square face

“Avoid blunt, heavy fringes,” advises Michael. “Instead go for a side fringe, usually above the eyebrows, with jagged edges which will soften the face and make it appear longer.”

Heart face

You generally have a wide forehead and pointed chin. “Use the corner of your eyes as a guideline when cutting the fringe,” says Michael. “A feathered fringe skimming the eyebrows and swept to the side will help balance your face.”

Rules can always be broken and a good stylist will know exactly what will suit you and your hair.  Michael said for my combination oval and square shape, a longish side fringe is the best option.

So, before you take the plunge always have a couple of consultations. Never be tempted to cut it yourself. Growing one out can be a nightmare!

By Daralyn Danns

Le Tea en Rose at Sofitel London St James

There are not many places in London where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and feel as if you have catapulted yourself into another country. Walking into the five-star Sofitel London St James on the corner of Pall Mall and Waterloo, you can. It feels as if you have stumbled on a corner of France in London. The genius of this hotel, the former Cox & King’s bank, is that it manages to combine French chic with traditional British design and yet still be rather contemporary.

Having been dealing with estate agents (enough said), I decided I needed a treat and headed to the Sofitel for afternoon tea, such a decadent habit. Taking time out of your hectic day really is a luxury these days. 

We always think of afternoon tea as being so English, but actually we may have the Portuguese to thank partly for this tradition. Allegedly, it was cica 1662 that Catherine of Braganza, the Portuguese wife of King Charles ll was said to have introduced tea to the royal court. 

Fast forward almost a couple of hundred years to find Anne, 7^th Duchess of Bedford, a close friend of Queen Victoria, starting to ask for light sandwiches and cake to be brought to her to combat that “sinking feeling”  felt on the long gap between lunch and dinner. Friends were soon invited to join her and the idea caught on.

Now I find myself at the Sofitel London St James in the pink and cream Rose Lounge discovering a new French twist to afternoon tea. Le Tea en Rose has been specifically created to celebrate the Chelsea Flower Show. The stunning flower displays in the Rose Lounge give the room, so reminiscent of a bijous Parisian drawing room, the air of a rose garden. The harpist playing in the background enhances the calmness. 

Keeping to the theme, head chef Vincent Menager has conjured up some scrumptious floral-themed pastries. The white chocolate tartlet with a rose crème Chiboust  is rather special as is the chocolate dacquoise,  jasmine flower mousse and raspberry macaroon. The rose tea served in Bernardaud  pink china cups was remarkably uplifting.

As I delicately sip Le Vie en Rose cocktail, a melange of British rose, Tanqueray gin, elderflower syrup, cucumber and lemon topped up with rosé champagne adorned with rose petals, I get the feeling that Edith Piaf would have approved this tribute.

By Daralyn Danns

Le Tea en Rose is being served in the Rose Lounge at the Sofitel London St James daily from 2.30pm to 5.30pm throughout May. Prices £30 per person (with cocktail £34). For more information visit www.sofitelstjames.com

Getting the right shade of blonde

Discovering the right shade of blonde is not an easy task. I asked Louise Galvin, one of the UK’s leading colourists and daughter of the legendary Daniel Galvin at whose London salon she is based, for her advice.

Not everybody can go blonde. How do you decide if blonde hair is for you?

“In general, the rule is to not go more than three or four shades lighter than your natural colour. Stay within that spectrum and you will find a flattering blonde for your skin tone.”

Choosing the right shade of blonde is not easy. How do you choose the right blonde for your skin tone?

“If you have high colour, i.e. pink or red skin tone, I would recommend avoiding anything too warm or golden tones. Never be afraid to go to a salon and ask for a professional consultation. All good salons offer this as a complimentary service. They will then look at your eye colour, skin tone and natural hair colour to advise you on the correct and most flattering colour for you. Where possible avoid over processing hair to protect the condition.”

Can you go from brunette to blonde?

“You can certainly go to a dark blonde. If you have dark, Middle Eastern colouring you will need to be careful that you don’t end up with anything too light as this would be damaging to your hair. Your natural colour will be an indicator on whether your colourist chooses highlights or a tint to achieve the blonde you want.”

Louise Galvin

 If you have dark eyebrows should you change them?

“No! If you are lucky enough to have dark eyebrows, enjoy them!! The eyebrows frame the face in the same way that your lashes frame your eyes.”

What shades of blonde suit more mature women?

“This is again dependent on your skin tone and your natural hair colour. If you look at some of the more mature actors they each have a blonde colour that suits them personally. Helen Mirren has highlighted blonde hair, Meryl Streep is a tinted blonde and Glenn Close is a creamy blonde which is a tinted blonde with highlights. 

“Also when looking to colour more mature hair remember the most youthful blonde is one without any brassy tones and well-conditioned locks. I would recommend a twice weekly Intensive Treatment Masque (www.louisegalvin.com £26) to restore moisture and shine.  

Also have your hair cut regularly to keep dry ends away but don’t think you have to have your hair cut short as you get older. Hair can be worn longer if it is well conditioned.”

What are the trends and how do you adapt them?

I still believe there is no fashion or trend in hair colour other than the hair colour that suits you.

How do you stop blonde hair looking brassy?

“My Vitox Highlight Brightener (www.louisegavin.com £25) is a phenomenal vitamin infused natural detox for the hair. Vitox will lift out both environmental and product build- up leaving highlights refreshed and free from the khaki tones that can be a result of mineral deposits in our water supply or swimming in chlorine. Well-conditioned hair is so important to achieve shine and a more youthful glow.”

What’s the best way to prevent your colourist over highlighting?

“Ask your colourist to apply colour to the roots only (the Vitox Treatment mentioned above is perfect to refresh blonde highlights after your colour). Also make sure your colourist picks out the same highlights to avoid roots becoming over processed and too solid. This will help with maintenance too, If too solid the regrowth will show almost immediately.”

Examples of celebs that look great blonde and those that don’t

Kate Hudson and Goldie Hawn, two very different generations who both have blonde hair and look fabulous with it!  Cate Blanchett is a great example of an Icelandic blonde, Jennifer Aniston a beautiful golden blonde and Alicia Silverstone a pretty cool blonde.

I much prefer Nicole Kidman with red hair and Julia Roberts is another actor more suited to being a brunette (Sleeping with the Enemy) or a redhead (Pretty Woman) than a blonde.

By Daralyn Danns

The magic of Daniel Galvin

I have to thank colour queen Daisy Twyman at the highly-acclaimed Daniel Galvin salon for enhancing my life.

A friend who first  met me a few years ago when I had ash blonde highlights running through my hair remarked when she caught up with me the other day: “It looked great, but now I have seen you brunette, I feel this is the real you. It is dramatic. Absolutely amazing!”

For me too, it has opened up a whole new world re what colours I can now wear and also I feel that it suits my personality better.

It also didn’t fade as much this time. “We only need to do the roots and refresh it, this time,” said Daisy. “It hasn’t turned yellow at all.”

Colours will fade differently depending on the head of hair and on the underlying pigment,” Daisy explained.  “If your hair has a lot of warmth in it, then it will fade to a warmer tone. Going darker will stop it fading too light.”

But, before you decide to choose to go from blonde to dark brown or from black to blonde, Daisy advises you to stop and think who you are. It may not be just your character that may change with a new hair colour, you will also have to rethink your wardrobe and make-up.

If you are over 35, you should reassess your hair colour on a regular basis as your skin tone will change as you age and also the quality of your hair can alter, becoming weaker and finer. Even the most oily locks tend to become drier. Go too dark and you can look like you are going for an interview for the role of Morticia from the Addams Family, go too light and you could end up looking like a ghost searching for a house to haunt.

Daisy suggests not going for an all-over solid block colour. Instead she advocates having a lighter shade round the hairline and not taking the colour through every time you visit the salon. “Just refresh the ends, so you get a multi-tonal effect,” she says. 

Also make sure your colourist is honest with you. Daniel Galvin, himself, told me that my hair is now not suitable for highlights. “On some hair types, it is better to avoid them,” added Daisy.

To help colour from fading, try to shampoo less often. The more you wash your hair, the quicker the colour will come out. Also protect your hair before using heated appliances.

During the winter it is easier to go longer between shampoos. “It will be interesting to see what happens to your hair between now and the next visit,” says Daisy.

So, watch this space!

By Daralyn Danns

Daniel Galvin (www.danielgalvin.com)

Ena, the eco-friendly salon

Having enjoyed using Davines, an Italian range of hair products that prides itself on “creating beauty sustainably”, I thought I would try out Ena, the eco-friendly salon that is its flagship distributor in Covent Garden.

As soon as you walk through the door of this townhouse you feel as if you have entered a friend’s living room. Furnished in keeping with the heritage of the building, so warm and welcoming, it is the perfect escape from the frenetic streets of London. 

The backwash and he vivid wall-paper designed ceiling,

I met Sam, my stylist who offered me a choice of drinks before beginning the consultation. He told me that he was going to “wrap dry” my hair. This is the method that they always use after cutting a client’s hair. I am a great fan of this technique as it is quick and easy and  manages to build enough volume into the hair while leaving it reasonably sleek without looking too done. 

Sam said that they also teach the technique to clients, who really like it once they have mastered it. “Basically, what you are doing is stretching the hair by wrapping it around the head,” Sam explained. “Keep the nozzle of your hairdryer pointing downwards to stop hair going frizzy and seal the cuticle.”

He began at the back, tilting my head and brushing the hair to one side, then the other. "Wrap the hair over to the right and then push it back to the left, alternating every couple of seconds," instructed Sam. The brush that he used an Allilon (the name of the educational arm of the salon)  has just the right amount of plastic bristles to create tension and smooth the hair. I have since got one (£20) and use it regularly. 

The finished result

If your hair is fluffy or coarse, you may find when you do it at home you need to go over the hair with a round brush to smooth it out. 

My hair was washed with Davines Momo Moisturizing Shampoo and conditioned with Momo Moisturizing Revitalizing Crème which smelt divine. After the superb scalp massage, while staring at the vivid wall-paper designed ceiling, I felt completely relaxed.   

Sam set to work and in no time at all my hair was sleek and shiny. It looked great. Unfortunately, the day I visited, it was damp and rainy. Next morning my locks had reverted to their normal wavy look. It looked very pretty. I’m not complaining, I got two looks for one.

By Daralyn Danns

For more information about the salon visit www.enasalon.com