Accepting my hair’s natural texture

 

Embracing my natural hair colour, which is a melange of black, slate and silver, has been liberating. I am now enjoying the benefits. I have silky hair on my head instead of a lump of straw.

Besides having more money in my wallet, life does not have to be planned around colouring appointments and I also do not have to worry about colour fade.

As far as make-up goes, less is certainly more.  Far from washing me out, it brightens my complexion. Mascara can look too harsh, so on most days I replace it with Vaseline which makes my lashes look thicker and gives them a lovely glossy sheen. A sweep of blusher and a slick of lip balm and I am good to go.

I have had lots of compliments about my new hue so for me there is no turning back. My amazing hairdresser, Michael Charalambous at Nyumba, has been persuading me to accept my hair’s natural texture and learn to live with it.

He has cut a reversed-angle bob. The layers help to bring out the curl which give my locks more volume. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cut, so many people have told me, is lovely and the shape flatters my face. It takes time to adjust to a new style. I was not used to having so much of my face on show.  But I have to admit I am now feeling more edgy. One young guy told me my hair is “so cool”.

When humidity strikes, my hair goes curly and is less frizzy as it is more hydrated and not damaged.

This sultry weather is not just an enemy of hair, it can also play havoc with your skin. If you wear a mask you may find your skin has become problematic. You may find your complexion drier and/or rashes appearing or spots forming.

Flora Antoniou, Nyumba’s beauty expert, says she has seen quite a few skin problems among mask wearers.

Pores can become more easily blocked due to an increase of bacteria, oil and dirt developing on the skin. So if you are going to wear a mask, skip the foundation. She also stresses the importance of making sure that if you are using a cloth face covering, it is washed and clean before each use.

Too often people do not remove their make-up properly which exacerbates the problem. She recommends double cleansing in the evening to ensure your skin is really clean, whether you are a mask wearer or not. Then apply your moisturiser.

And the best tip to hold back the years: wear sunscreen during the day even if you are masking up.

 

By Daralyn Danns

 

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

 

 

 

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

Visit to Nyumba

It was over three months since I last had my hair cut and I have to admit I would not have left it so long had it not been for the fact that I was following the orders of hair supremo Michael Charalambous.

He has been cutting my hair for years and felt that as my hair was in much better condition (I had got rid of all the highlights ) it was time for a change of hairstyle. In other words, grow it all one length (except for a side-sweeping fringe) and wear it longer.

I have to admit I have rather liked swishing a mane around over the summer. I found my hair much easier to manage as I could tie it back in the hot weather and the length weighs the hair down, so it is easier to keep it frizz free.

If I did get an attack, I would use a few drops of Kérastase Elixir Ultime Rose Millénaire +Oléo Complex (£34.50), twist my hair into a knot and put on a shower cap. After my shower any fuzzy bits seemed to have disappeared. I also put a little in the ends at night to keep the hair well moisturised.

“We only need to take off a couple of centimetres (¾ of an inch),” Michael declared. “Hair is generally less layered for the coming season and is also darker.”

For brunettes, Michael suggests going a couple of shades darker for winter. If you are light brown make it richer. For blondes, it is all about a distribution of light. “For example, try two-thirds chestnut blonde,” he advises. “What you want to do is apply the same colours, but change the proportions.

Michael also suggests using a hair mask once a week to maintain the hair’s health. Leonor Greyl has a good selection. I particularly like the Masque Fleurs de Jasmin (£33.97). A cocktail of essentials oils, organic acids and proteins, it nourishes the hair leaving it lovely and shiny. If your hair is extra dry, damp your locks before you go to bed and apply the treatment. In the morning wash it out and shampoo and condition your hair as normal. You should see a remarkable difference when your hair is styled.

He also says try to avoid over-using heated appliances. If you have shoulder-length hair or longer, he suggests letting your hair dry naturally overnight and then in the morning, divide it into four sections and tong it to create soft waves. “Ensure you leave the ends of the hair out as this will make it look more natural. The next day you can comb it through. “This way you don’t have to wash your hair every day,” he says.

My hair was lovely. I always feel when Michael has done my hair I am ready to walk down the red carpet.

By Daralyn Danns

For appointments with Michael visit www.nyumbasalon.com

Look after your hair

Over processing your hair can lead to dryness and I should know. After years of having too many highlights resulting in hair that looked like a stack of hay on my head, now several haircuts later, my hair is in great condition.

“It is now one length except for the sides. You can now grow it and let the sides come down,” said hair guru Michael Charalambous, when I visited his salon Nyumba  to get my hair trimmed.

It had been almost three months since Michael last cut it and my ends were not really that dry. It just shows what a good cut I had. Not having layers in my fine hair has helped keep the weight down so I don’t get as many frizz attacks as I used to get when my hair was shorter and layered. If anybody ever mutters the words layers or highlights to me again, I will run a mile.

A great trick I picked up from Michael to help deal with “summer” hair is to wash your hair and let it dry naturally over night and blow-dry it in the morning. “It saves you having to keep going over the hair several times with a hairdryer, which means that the hair is exposed to less heat,” he says.

If your hair is fine and fluffy you may want to dry it as soon as you have washed it as the quicker you dry your hair and lay down the cuticle, the less chance of getting frizzies.

Michael recommends using the Kérastase Nutritive Gluco­active Bain Satin 2 (£15.90). This shampoo is one of my favourites. The Masquintense (there is one ­for thick hair and another for fine, £25.90) in the same range is a must to keep hair revitalised and nourished. Use once or twice a week. 

I often apply a tiny amount of Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Repair Overnight Crème (£4.99) which is not greasy and helps replenish protein, leaving your hair soft and smooth as well as smelling lovely.

In the morning, if I don’t need to rewash my hair, I apply some conditioner or a product such as Bumble and bumble grooming crème (£21.50) to the ends, twist my hair into a knot, secure with a couple of sectioning clips, put on a plastic cap and let the steam from the shower set it. When you let your hair down, it is wavy and there is no fluff.

Michael also suggests using a protective UV hair spray. If I am spending a lot of time in the sun, I will wear a hat otherwise I’ll use a protective UV spray such as Clarins Sun Care Radiant Oil Spray "For Body and Hair" UVB/UVA 6 (£18). It is light-weight, delicately fragranced and stops hair from drying out.

When my hair had been styled to perfection, Michael applied a tiny drop of Kérastase Touche Finale (£19.50). This shine polishing serum does what it says on the tin.

After having had my hair done by Michael, I felt ready to take on the world.

By Daralyn Danns

For appointments with Michael Charalambous visit www.nyumbasalon.com