Hair supremo Alessandro Jottini works wonders

A rainy damp evening plays havoc with your hair. My locks had turned frizzy so I arrived at Fortnum & Mason the other evening for a Christmas event not looking my best.

Luckily, help was on hand. Hair supremo Alessandro Jottini, based at the renowned Josh Wood Atelier Lansdowne, was doing a demonstration using Oribe hair products.

Alessandro at work
Photograph by S Jottini

As much as we slather on the lotions and potions full of promise to wipe away those lines and wrinkles, a good hairstylist is a much better way of knocking off the years.

Alessandro quickly wielded his brush and hairdryer and within a matter of minutes I looked and felt like a new person.

I was not the only woman that night to have suffered with her hair. Several sat down with fluffy hair. Carefully taking into consideration hair type and face shape Alessandro set to work transforming them in no time at all. Most of them, including me, looked years younger after he had worked his magic.

A delighted client
Photograph by S Jottini

If only I could win the lottery. I would have him come round to my home every day.

By Daralyn Danns

For more information visit joshwoodcolour.com

Hair straight from the catwalk

You and I might not get to strut the catwalk, but we can walk out of the salon looking as if we could be about to.

Hair supremo Alessandro Jottini at the highly-acclaimed Josh Wood Atelier Lansdowne is now back in the salon fresh from styling models at the recent round of fashion shows in Milan, London and Paris. 

So what kind of hairstyles can we expect to be wearing for spring/summer 2016? “Super soft and simple,” says Alessandro. “Hair, even updos, should look natural as if you did it yourself at home.”

These styles work well with the feminine yet sporty looks that adorned the catwalks. While you may not always want to push the boundaries and wear the extremes, there are always one or two trends that you can incorporate into your wardrobe to keep you looking updated.

 

My hair was simply, yet elegantly styled

One of Alessandro’s favourite shows was Gauchère. This luxury, contemporary brand has been slowly building momentum in the fashion world. A melange of tailored and fluid pieces, the clothes are easy to wear. Hair was pretty and relaxed and looked easy to replicate at home.

According to the maestro, you will want your layers to be long. “With visible or invisible layers you can create texture,” explains Alessandro. “As for length, we are seeing hair touching the collarbone. There are a lot less short cuts for next season.”  

If you have long hair, wearing it straight will always look chic. “To make it look contemporary, keep some movement in the ends,” advises Alessandro.

Alessandro Jottini styles model at Gauchère
Photographed by Alessandro Jottini

For those with frizzy or curly hair, Alessandro’s tip is to use a radial bristle brush to smooth out the hair. This will make styling easier as you can create more tension with this kind of brush. Ceramic brushes hold the heat and are better to use on straight hair for creating movement.

Before styling, Alessandro recommends using a heat protector. A favourite brand of his is the Oribe haircare product range. (Oribe is a highly-regarded international and influential stylist based in the US.)  If they are being used in Josh Wood’s salon whose client list reads like Who’s Who, you can bet your life that they are good. 

My hair was simply, yet elegantly styled. No puffy hair, which I hate, just really glossy, natural hair. Catwalk hair for reality. Once finished, Alessandro squirted a light coating of Oribe Dry Texurising Spray to give texture and just a hint of volume. 

It kept for days and that is a mark of a good hairdresser.

By Daralyn Danns

For more information visit joshwoodcolour.com

A visit to Josh Wood Atelier Lansdowne

Wonderfully chic, yet warm and intimate with just the right amount of buzz, Josh Wood, at his Atelier Lansdowne, has created the perfect environment to relax while getting your hair done.

It is the ”colour” salon of choice for more celebrities than you see strutting the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. Josh is regarded as one of the world’s best colourists and even stars might find it hard to get an appointment with the man himself.

I was there to put my tresses into the hands of super stylist, Alessandro Jottini who, coming from Milan, knows how to really blow-dry hair. A job, he tells me, which has just become easier thanks to his discovery of the Oribe range of hair products.

 

Oribe Canales, born in Cuba, has become a legend in his own right. Credited for numerous superstars’ creations, he has not only worked with the likes of J-Lo, he has also styled countless editorial shoots.

After working over four decades in the fashion business, I figured his eponymous high-end line had to stand out from the crowd. The products seem to cater for every type of hair imaginable. They are beautifully scented and use cutting- edge technology. The shampoo and conditioner for coloured hair left it feeling incredibly soft.  

Less is more when it comes to styling according to Alessandro. He took one look at my hair and then at the weather outside. It was pouring down. “Your hair is prone to frizz, so I will apply one drop of Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil to combat it,” he said.

This exotic mix of goodies including argan extracts, sandalwood and jasmine was lovely and light and did not make my hair feel greasy as so many can. Before styling, Alessandro primed my hair with Foundation Mist which not only creates shine and gets rid of tangles, it also acts as a heat protector. For holidays, or sunny days at home, try the Dry Texturising Spray (£38). Simply wash and go. Although if you have fine, fluffy hair, you may want to smooth out the front.

Oribe products

After blow-drying my hair, Alessandro tonged pieces to create soft, natural looking waves. I loved it. Done but not done. It did not look as if I had been to the hairdressers. A mark of a good craftsman.

With the weather so abysmal I did not think my hair would last till lunch time when I was meeting a friend, let alone for longer.

But it looked good for a few days. The products or down to Alessandro’s prowess? I would say together they are a winning combination.

By Daralyn Danns

For more information visit joshwoodcolour.com