New year calls for a hair change

Since Daniel Galvin’s star colourist Daisy Twyman had taken my hair darker, it has lasted longer and hardly faded. I was really pleased with the result, so much so that I asked Daisy to take out the remaining “gold” in my prescription. The look on her face said it all, sheer horror. It will be too dark.

However, as I said I would take the risk and also knowing that this lady’s expertise would not have me ending up looking like I was going for an interview for Cruella de Vil, we went ahead.

The result was stunning. It shows the difference a fraction of a shade can make. For the first time in ages I was actually wearing pink,  a colour I liked and used to wear a lot as it warmed my complexion. I was back to my natural colour and am loving it. 

Luckily, I hadn’t been too naughty using too many heated appliances during the festive season, but if you have, give them a rest over the next few weeks and get your hair back into condition with the regular use of treatments in the salon or/and at home. You have heard it before, but  a well-balanced diet will also help.

If the ends are looking ragged, stylist Emma Mitchell suggests having a slight trim to make your cut look sharper. “Going for a blunt cut will make your hair appear shinier,” she says. I can vouch for that. When I had my hair layered, I noticed it did not reflect light as well as it did now and also my hair appeared frizzier.

Daisy also suggests freshening up your colour using vegetable colours which tend to be kinder on the hair as they coat it rather than penetrate the cuticle. They will wash out gradually. If your hair is really porous, they can grab the ends and you may find them much darker than the rest of the hair. 

Before using any home colorants, always seek the advice of a professional. Daniel Galvin can make up colours that you can apply at home so there should not be any risk.

If you see the new year as an opportunity to reinvent yourself, you are best to stay within a couple of shades of your natural colour. However, like with me, it sometimes only takes a small tweak to make a huge impact.

By Daralyn Danns

Daniel Galvin (www.danielgalvin.com)

 

Quick styling tips

It always looks so easy when a hairdresser styles your hair. It seems to be done to perfection within a few minutes. As we all know styling your own hair can be difficult. So, it is always worth picking the brains of your hairdresser to see if they can give you any easy tips and tricks for you adopt at home.

Emma Mitchell at London’s Daniel Galvin salon (danielgalvin.com) is a mine of information. I rate this lady highly. Her blow-dries last and you always leave the salon with a style that looks done but not over styled.

If you are in a hurry try Emma's tip and add a dollop of mousse through the top of your hair and leave to dry naturally. If you have fine, fluffy hair you will need to blow-dry it, but you can do the top and just rough dry the underneath as people won’t notice this area.

“Volume is back,” says Emma. “Some people will need more than others, so take into consideration your face shape and height.” She suggests using a large round bristle brush when styling. They don’t damage the hair as much as heat-retaining ones.”

Another great idea - from her assistant Tyler - is to twist the hair as you are blow-drying. It is easier than using a brush and will give you waves and bring out the natural movement in your hair. “Decide what size sections you want. You can take two large sections or smaller ones if your hair is shorter,” says Emma. “This is an easy look to do at home and is a good look with this season’s clothes.”

By Daralyn Danns

Hair colour to dye for

With autumn upon us, it was time to visit the renowned Daniel Galvin salon and put my tresses into the hands of the colour genius that is Daisy Twyman.

Over the summer my colour had faded and was throwing up too much gold. I discussed with Daisy the possibility of going darker and taking out the blonde bits. I also wanted to keep my hair looking natural which can be hard when you only use one shade. But I knew that if anybody could do it, it would be Daisy.

She said she would make my hair richer and deeper, a good look for winter. “We will keep the hairline lighter as this is more flattering and gives the face an instant lift.”

Daisy’s tip to make the transition from summer to autumn is to work with the hues that are in your hair and add some warmth or richness – which does not necessarily mean red. Nor does going richer equate to going darker. 

If you have highlights that have been over-bleached by the sun, she advises toning them down. You could also think about adding some warmer hues for winter. If you have red hair, you may want to ask your colourist to adapt the formula and make it slightly deeper. It is also a good idea to get your hair cut first so that your colourist  can work with your style.

Whatever the trend, your colour should work with your skin tone and suit you. Before you alter it, you should also consider your wardrobe and make-up. Even changing your tresses by a fraction of a shade can have a dramatic impact on them. If you are happy with what you have already you don’t have to change it because it is autumn. 

My hair was amazing. I never thought Daisy could improve what had been the best colour I had had in years. I was so happy to be proved wrong. In photographs, the tones were better. Also it has opened up more options when I go clothes shopping.

I was also going to be having a couple of late autumn breaks, so it will be interesting to see how it fares after a dose of sun.

After a great blow-dry from Emma Mitchell, I was ready to face the world.

By Daralyn Danns

Daniel Galvin (www.danielgalvin.com)

Elegant and chic – without the price tag

“Simple, yet elegant sums up the best look for you and your hair,” said Emma Mitchell, who in my books, is one of Daniel Galvin’s star stylists.

Emma explained what women want now is to look classy and chic without having a  price tag. “It is all about effortless hair and clothes that look expensive and tasteful, without flashing a label,” she said. “People are not now so trend led,” she added.

A couple of days later I was speaking to the PR at Lancôme who told me that the house would not be bringing out an autumn colour story, which is the first time that has happened in years. I have also noticed that my friends and I are not as preoccupied with Fashion Week as we once were.

It looks as if more and more women no longer want to be caught up in the heady world of fashion. I wholeheartedly agree with Emma’s sentiment that fashion and style do not necessary go hand in hand.  I have always believed that style is far more important. 

Fashion is usually associated with a trend related to a particular moment of time. Style is about how you put yourself together with your own distinctive stamp. It is about self-expression, wearing what makes you feel good so that you radiate confidence and paints a picture of who you really are. The stylish woman adapts trends that will work with her lifestyle to suit her and ignores the rest.

Coco Chanel is reputed to have said: “Fashion fades, only style remains the same.” Think of Audrey Hepburn who celebrated her own uniqueness. Style is not something you buy. Anybody can go into Chanel and dress themselves head to toe, providing they can pick up the tab. Style is about making the most of yourself and knowing how to create a presence.

Whatever the occasion, if you are dressed in Prada or Primark, if your hair is a mess then you look and feel a mess. Whether you are in the jungle or walking along the King’s Road in London, as this blog is called, it really is All About Hair. 

This is a sentiment Emma echoes. She is the hairdresser to have on speed dial.

By Daralyn Danns