How to look younger instantly

The bob is the cut of the moment. It might also be the quickest way to look younger.  From highly-polished and sleek to textured and sliced, there are countless versions.

According to acclaimed hairdresser Michael Charalambous, the right style for your face shape and hair texture can instantly make you look younger.

“When a bob is cut well, it frames the face, adds volume and makes hair look thicker. As well as drawing the eye upwards, emphasising cheekbones and defining the jawline, it can also soften fine lines,” says Michael. “Long hair can drag the features down, a short cut makes you look rejuvenated. It may even work better than Botox and fillers.”

Michael points out that too much filler and Botox can lead to puffiness that looks unnatural. While these treatments are intended to create a more youthful appearance, overdoing them can sometimes have the opposite effect.

“As we age, our faces naturally lose volume,” he explains. “Many people try to compensate by using more filler and Botox, but this can alter the face’s natural proportions and make it appear distorted. Instead of creating a fresher, younger look, excessive treatments can actually make someone appear older.”

He also says you can have the most amazing haircut but if what you are wearing does not complement it, you may still look older. 

“Pay a nod to a trend and incorporate it into your overall style,” Michael advises. “It is also important to update your make-up as well. Less is more.”

Before taking the plunge with a bob, make sure your stylist sees your hair in its natural state. This cut demands precision and any mistakes will show – especially when you're blow-drying at home. Whichever bob you choose it has to be personalised to you.

Michael looked at my bob which was past my chin. “We are going jaw-length with a side fringe. A shorter blunt cut makes fine hair look thicker. Tucking one side behind the ear will give it a modern vibe,” he adds.

My friends say it looks both classy and edgy. Looking younger instantly might be as simple as booking a hair appointment. 

By Daralyn Danns

For inspiration, visit nyumbasalon.com or follow on instagram.com/nyumbasalon 

The Lunar Hair Lift: A Small Tweak Can Make a Big Difference

“Out with the old” is a key Chinese New Year tradition. Cutting your hair is believed to clear bad luck from the previous year and refresh your energy for the next 12 months.

Whether you are celebrating the Year of the Fire Horse (starting February 17) or not, a new hairstyle is a powerful reset. It can instantly lift your mood and make you feel like a new person. But, you do not always need to do something drastic. A small tweak can be all it takes to make a big difference.

My hairdresser, Michael Charalambous, understood this instantly. I knew I needed a change, but didn’t know what. Before I could speak, he suggested going from a chin-length bob to a jaw-length cut.

The result was amazing. My hair looked thicker, was easier to manage, and I felt edgier and more sassy. A jaw-length cut frames the face and highlights bone structure, drawing attention upward to the eyes. Sharp, intentional lines create a bold, striking look.

Last year, Michael changed my parting from side to middle and added a full fringe. With grey hair, a centre parting balances the face and colour. A deep side parting can highlight uneven thickness. Bangs can hide forehead lines and create symmetry, giving a lifted appearance. They can also make you look years younger – and cheaper than Botox!

Side fringes can be beautiful. But depending on the angle and length, they may draw attention to lines or sagging eyelids.

“Movement and shine are signs of youthful hair,” says Michael. Sometimes a new blow-dry technique or a better conditioner can feel like a whole new haircut.  

 By Daralyn Danns

For inspiration, visit nyumbasalon.com or follow on instagram.com/nyumbasalon 

Celebrating curls

“You were born with curly hair, not straight! You have to embrace it,” says my wonderful hairdresser, Michael Charalambous. 

Well, I am listening and I have. He approves of my curly look as he examines my hair before my regular trim. Working with my natural texture means I have more body and volume than when I wear it straight. I have the look of the moment without any effort. It is that lived-in look which French women are renowned for.

A sleek bob is always chic, but it can look too severe on mature faces unless you have plenty of volume. Letting my hair air-dry softens my appearance. Michael also says that my hair is in better condition as I am not constantly straightening it with a round brush and using lots of heat.

Straight with a little movement, blow-dried by Michael

Working with my natural texture means that I don’t have to worry about every  strand being in place when I walk down the street. Frizz and flyaways are more noticeable when you wear your hair sleek, especially in humid conditions. It also goes flat quickly.

As hair turns grey the texture changes. It becomes drier and coarser. Excessive blow-drying can exacerbate dryness and frizz. Forcing your hair straight needs more manipulation which is not good for its health. 

In the summer I tend to let it dry naturally. I have recently discovered Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioning Cream (£8.50, Boots). As it is hard to find a leave-in conditioning cream, I decided to try it. My hair seems to like it. It makes it so silky and soft. I use a little as my hair is fine.

Michael says apply product to wet hair and leave it. Do not touch your hair until it is dry and then break up clumps of curls with your fingers.

Dried naturally

When I want a more polished look, I use a dryer. I bend my head forward for the first couple of minutes, which Michael says helps with volume. When my hair is about 50 percent dry, I bring my head up and dry my hair the way it naturally falls. I keep some movement in the ends and also leave a bit of moisture in it so I'm not over-drying my strands.

You can also use your fingers to help style it. When your hair is almost dry, take large sections and wrap them loosely round your fingers (as if you were using a roller). Begin at the root. Once you reach the bottom, slide your finger out and release.

Michael dries my hair sleek so he can check the cut. I love it when he styles it because I get the look I love. However, since I want healthy hair, I will listen to what he tells me and work with my natural texture in-between salon visits.

By Daralyn Danns

For inspiration, visit nyumbasalon.com or follow on instagram.com/nyumbasalon

Silicones are back on the menu

As humidity strikes, so does the dreaded frizz. Like most women, I hate puffy hair and want to try and manage it as best I can.

Last time, I saw my sensational hairdresser, Michael Charalambous, he suggested trying silicone-based products again. Silicones create a barrier helping to seal moisture in the hair. “This will assist in taming frizz. They also add shine and make hair more manageable,” he said.

I played with oils, but found they sat on top of my fine hair and made it greasy.  Leave-in conditioners without silicones did not make any difference. The oil-based ones were too heavy and weighed my hair down.

As I happened to be in Boots, I noticed Pantene Pro-V Smooth & Sleek 3 Minute Miracle Rich Conditioner for Frizzy, Dry Hair, which was on offer for £3.30. It contains bis-aminopropyl dimethicone which, reportedly, has good conditioning and smoothing properties. Also, I am using John Frieda Frizz Ease All-in-1 Lightweight Serum (£9.10). 

Did they work? Well, I got caught in the rain the other day and my hair was not as frizzy as usual. I am also trying to limit my use of humectants in high humidity. Ingredients such as glycerine and propylene glycol draw moisture from the air making the hair shaft swell. The cuticle lifts and you are left with an unruly mess. 

If you have the same problem, check the ingredients. If you find any humectants in the top five, look for something else.

Michael said my hair was in good condition. He said the chin-length bob is working well for me as I can wear it straight or curly. 

When I style it, I prefer to leave in movement. Constant straightening with a round brush is not good for the hair. 

Michael always makes it look amazing. However, when you do it yourself, it is hard to get the volume. Without it, my locks can look too severe. Having some waves and curls gives added softness and fullness and is more flattering against my face.

A great haircut is essential if you want low-maintenance hair.

By Daralyn Danns

For inspiration, visit nyumbasalon.com or follow on instagram.com/nyumbasalon

The perfect bob

 

The classic bob has always been my favourite hair style. Trends may come and go.  This cut is highly versatile and can be customised to suit your hair type.

Over the last few months, I have been experimenting with the length. As my hair got longer, it lacked volume.

My amazing hairdresser, Michael Charalambous, took one look at my strands and said: “We need to go shorter!”

Hair tends to become thinner, frizzier and drier as you get older. This makes it harder to manage.

"Cutting your locks shorter will make them appear more voluminous and make the face seem as if it has been lifted," says Michael.

Since my hair is fine, a one-length bob keeps the ends chunky. “The best length is below the chin and above the shoulders,”  he says.

Michael does not believe in following hair trends. “It is important to have a cut you like and works with your hair type. You also have to take your face shape, your height and lifestyle into consideration. Your cut should be created with you in mind," he says.

There is a name for every kind of bob. It is not always the cut that makes it different, it is how you style it.

An easy refresh is to move your parting. It changes your look dramatically. Wearing it on the side gives me more lift at the roots and softens my features.

Michael blow-dried my bob with the ends slightly curled under. It was amazing!  Sleek, polished locks can be difficult to get at home. He suggests, when I style it myself, going for a more relaxed look.

“Enhancing your natural texture can help to give body and movement, making it ideal for those with fine hair,” he adds. “If yours doesn't look good air-dried, add a little texture through the ends using your hairdryer and fingers.”

I have the perfect bob.

By Daralyn Danns

For inspiration visit nyumbasalon.com or follow on instagram.com/nyumbasalon 

Is a bob right for you?

 

The bob has always been my favourite hairstyle. Over the years I have countless versions. While trends come and go, this classic never seems to go out of fashion. In 2024, it is still one of the most popular cuts.

However, according to acclaimed hairdresser, Michael Charalambous, the bob is not right for everybody. “Some people do not suit short hair”, he says.

He goes on to say that choosing the right style, no matter your age, depends on your hair texture, face shape, height, personal style and, most importantly, maintenance. Will you be able to manage it yourself?

If you are considering a choppy bob, you have to take into account whether your hair is suited to layers. Not everybody’s is.

He cites me has a good example. I have a lot of fine hair with plenty of baby hairs. So I have natural layers. Adding more would result in uncontrollable frizz.

I remember a certain “celebrity” hairdresser convincing me to add layers to the bottom of my long hair to bring out the curl. Working with my natural texture would make it easier to manage, he told me. Famous last words.

It looked fine when I left the salon. The next day the hair at the back of my head resembled a bird’s nest. I had to go to another stylist and get it cut into a bob.

 

 

Classic and timeless

 

 

What works for one person might not work for another. Remember trends come and go. Opting for a look that is classic and timeless is the safest bet.

With Michael’s version of the French bob, I can wear it smooth or with movement. When I style it myself, I prefer to work with the natural kink and wave in my hair. It is much softer against my face.

Michael advises to let hair dry naturally in the summer so it gets a rest from heated appliances. To prevent curly hair expanding, Michael suggests when your hair is slightly damp to put on a wide hairband. This will help to keep it flatter and closer to your head.

When I want my hair smoother, I use a hairdryer. I tip my head forward to get volume. When it is almost dry, I push the hair back and shape it with my fingers. This brings out the natural movement. I use the round brush when I am going out.

I am so glad that I listened to Michael and embraced my natural colour and texture. The condition is so much better and it is shiny. Something I never achieved when I dyed my hair. Lighter hair is much more flattering as you get older. This style makes me feel sassy and edgy. 

 

By Daralyn Danns

 

 

For inspiration visit nyumbasalon.com or follow on instagram.com/nyumbasalon