Brush up on your blow-drying techniques

This is not a paid post.

Taking care of your hair can be easier said than done. As mane man extraordinaire, Michael Charalambous pointed out previously, brushes are weaker than they were back in the day and not many can do the job. This results in hairdressers and clients relying on heat styling tools such as straighteners to get sleek, glossy hair. These devices can dry out your hair.

Michael advocates styling your hair as little as possible. Like with most things, the mantra is “everything in moderation”. A good cut is key and you will be hard-pressed to get a better cut than his. 

When you blow-dry your hair the result will depend on how well you work that brush. It is possible to create more frizz with a brush than without it, especially if you do not use it correctly.

Hair styled by Michael Charalambous

To achieve smooth, shiny hair Michael recommends using a round ceramic brush. “You should work with sections that are about 1.5 inches (approximately 4 cm). Pull it through the section as you move the dryer in the same direction keeping the nozzle directed on to the brush. You should create tension by keeping the hair taut,” he says.

Using your fingers as a comb/brush will ensure you do the least damage to your hair as possible. As I can never get my hair to look like Michael does it (nor can most hairdressers, for that matter), I find this method gives me the best results.

Take a section, working from the nape of the neck, upwards and hold it taut so you get tension. As before keep the nozzle of the dryer pointing downwards. While the hair is still warm, I smooth it down with my hands. If need be I go over it with a round brush. I ensure that the hair is slightly damp before use.

If you are out and your hair gets a bit frizzy or slightly static, tame it with your hands. Blow into them and gently slide your hand over the infected area. This trick should help smooth it.

When it comes to styling, less is more. Your hair will thank you.

By Daralyn Danns

For more information visit nyumbasalon.com or follow on instagram.com/nyumbasalon

   

Spotlight on Joico K-Pak

This is not a paid post. Products are press samples.

Joico is headed up by Sara Jones who has a background in hairdressing so she should know the needs and wants of customers.

As we all know a good hair day makes us all that much happier. The company says that it does not promise what it cannot deliver. High-quality ingredients are combined with the latest technologies to ensure that its products keep Joico’s reputation as a “leader in beauty innovation”. 

With all this in mind I put some products to the test.

Joico K-PAK Shampoo, £12.16, lookfantastic.com
Heat, styling, colouring, all put a strain on our tresses. I have just had my hair cut to an above-the-shoulders length bob. Although it is much healthier, it still tends to be slightly dry at the ends.

I found the shampoo to be creamy and as it is laced with its special Keratin Silicone Complex, I found it gentle on the hair. 

Joico K-Pak Conditioner, £13, lookfantastic.com
From experience, I find it is always better to use the shampoo and conditioner from the same brand as they are usually formulated so they work together which means better results.

A rich conditioner that did not weigh down my fine hair. You only have to leave it on for a minute which is a plus when you are in a hurry. It contains an exclusive Bio-Advanced Peptide Complex and a Keratin Silicone Complex. My hair was silky soft after use. 

Joico K-Pak Liquid Reconstructor, £13.84, lookfantastic.com
Wonderful for fine, damaged hair. This leave-in liquid protein spray is meant to improve the strength of the hair.  My hair did seem more manageable after use. I also tried combining it with the product below.

Joico K-Pak Smoothing Balm, £11.28, lookfantastic.com

When there is damp in the air, my hair starts to resemble candy floss. With a reputation of “flat iron” in a tube, this has a lot to live up to. The Keratin Silicone Complex is activated by the heat of the dryer. It did help to keep frizz at bay. I did not like the scent but it seems to evaporate quickly so it was not a problem.

Overall, this is a nice range.

By Daralyn Danns

@joicoeurope @ajcpr

Beauty treats

This is not a paid post. Products are press samples.

Indulging in beauty treats is a lovely way to lift the spirits until spring comes.

Here are a few recent finds that I have enjoyed using.

JUSBOX Siren and Sailors eau de parfum, £140, Selfridges
This Italian fragrance house is renowned for fusing connections between music and scent. Siren and Sailors takes its inspiration from Camden Town and, arguably, its most loved daughter, Amy Winehouse. Warm, sensual and definitely all woman, this perfume has at its heart rose laced with rum and whisky underpinned with suede and musk. If you like to stand out from the crowd, this is for you.

L’Occitane Aqua Réotier Mineral Moisture Mask, £32
I have found all the products that I have tried in this line to be extremely good. So when I discovered that the company has launched this mask, I just had to try it. This silicone-free cocktail of Réotier water and hyaluronic acid, which helps to retain moisture in the skin, instantly makes your complexion look plumper and more radiant. 

Light in texture and not at oily, it can be used either as an overnight mask or when your skin is desperately crying out for a drink. Really pleased with the results.

Urban Apothecary London Luxury Hand & Body Wash, £22, and Luxury Hand & Body Lotion in Fig Tree, £24
The two come in slick black and white packaging so will look elegant in any bathroom. Packed with naturally-scented ingredients, the Luxury Hand & Body Wash is also laced with coconut oil so your skin feels moist when you step out of the shower. 

Infused with shea butter, sweet almond oil and vitamin E, an antioxidant, the Luxury Hand & Body Lotion is the perfect treat for nourishing and hydrating your skin. This quickly absorbs so you will not get a greasy film after you have applied it. This scent is gorgeous. A great way to pamper yourself.

L’Occitane Rose Eau de toilette, £49 and Burst of Cheerfulness Rose Fragrance Water, £32
I love the smell of roses wafting through the air in summer but as a fragrance to wear it can often be somewhat grandma-like. However, this pretty take on the flower by L’Occitane has changed my mind. Fruity and flowery with patchouli, and white musk, this is rose but not as you know it.

Combined with the Burst of Cheerfulness Rose Fragrance Water, this gives a lovely contemporary scent that really works with the warmth of my skin.

On the days I am just popping to the shops and want a burst of joie de vivre, I just spritz the fragrance water on.  A pretty, delicate feminine scent.

By Daralyn Danns