System Professional Luxe Oil by Wella offers deep cleaning with a louxuruious shine without compromise
by MarkHair Care Tips and Tricks, Myth Busting, UncategorizedPosted on No Comments

In this day and age, consumers are incredibly ‘ingredient conscious’ and think that if two shampoos of different value share more than 50% of the ingredients, then they must simply be the same product with the same performance. Introduction: The Fast Food Analogy When you go to McDonald’s and order a classic Big Mac and Fries, you know that you’re getting something fast and relatively inexpensive. It does the job you need it to do, in spite of its obvious lack in nutritional value. The Fine Dining Experience But when you go out somewhere nice and need to go somewhere with a better reputation, perhaps to celebrate an important milestone, you may opt to go to a fancy restaurant. At this restaurant, you order their signature slow-cooked beef wagyu burger. Immediately, you notice the difference in quality. It’s been cooked in far better conditions, it was served to you in immaculate presentation, and when you left the restaurant, you felt full. The Core Ingredients: Not So Different? Despite this, the base ingredients of both burgers are the same, aren’t they? 2 buns, beef patty, onions, lettuce, signature sauces served with a side of fries or the like. However, one of these is a far superior product. Because the quality of the ingredients that made the product stand out! The Hair Care Parralel So, what does this have to do with hair again? This isn’t unlike consumers choosing a hair product. In this day and age, consumers are incredibly ‘ingredient conscious’ and think that if two shampoos of different value share more than 50% of the ingredients, then they must simply be the same product with the same performance. The Importance of Quality in Hair Products When considering your next hair product, whether it be shampoo or for styling, remember that the ingredients inside the product aren’t always as important as the actual quality the ingredient was sourced from. Conclusion: Understanding Professional Hair Care I hope this helps clients understand why professional hair care is important for hair and scalp health, and maybe this has helped a stylist explain the product a bit easier for you!

I Just Bought Professional Hair Care, Now What?

by MarkUncategorizedPosted on No Comments

Imagine this; you go into your hair service. You tell your stylist that you’re looking for a change. Maybe it’s blonde, or copper. Maybe even pink! You and your stylist are excited. You discuss the process, the maintainance appointments and find a shade in the shade book with references to your inspo photos on instagram. Finally the two of you talk about Home Care. You come clean, you aren’t using good stuff. Your hairdresser forgives you, they prescribe a regime that will benefit your colour, and your hair and scalp. You go home all pumped and refreshed from your service. Products in hand. Now What? Firstly, congratulations on investing in yourself! Making the change from Supermarket/Pharmacy products to Salon quality will serve you and your hair well. Now that it is time to wash your hair since being at the salon its important to remember that salon products are concentrated! You only need to use around a 10 cent piece of product. Lather in your hands first, then apply methodically. I like to go around my hairline and then make my way inward in a circular motion, like im preparing to tie my hair into a ponytail. Did you know? you need to shampoo your hair twice! This is because the first shampoo takes out excess debris and product etc, so that your second shampoo can do its ‘job’. This is why the first shampoo doesnt lather, and why you might buy a ‘deep cleansing’ shampoo, but still feel greasy. Following after your two shampoo’s you will use your conditioner. Like before, you won’t need much. Start from the ends of your hair and using a wide tooth comb or wet detangle brush (never a styling brush) make your way up your hair. You won’t need the product to go near the root of your hair, and especially the scalp. Let your conditioner sit. Most reccomended intructions are only 30 seconds, but if you can spare a minute or two, you may find you notice a difference. Rinse thoroughly. It will take more than a few seconds for all the product to be rinsed out. You’ll find your hair may look or feel greasy, and you may be inclined to think the product you are using is ‘too heavy’ when that may not be the case. You will find you’ll need to rinse again, or next time use even less product (meaning you will keep the product longer!) FAQ How long should my product last? Because your product is concentrated, it should last you a lot longer than product from a Supermarket/Pharmacy. Despite the smaller size. In my experience my Home Care will last me 4-6 months! So I may only invest in Home Care twice a year. Once for Summer, once for Winter! I may need things in between, like my leave in or a dry shampoo. If you are finding that your prdouct isn’t lasting you as long as you were hoping, either too much product is being used or you may be washing your hair too often. Does my hair really ‘get used to a product’?  We have heard before a lot about going back to unprofessional product because your hair ‘got used to it’ or maybe it didnt ‘clean as well’. From my experience, a few things may be at play. The first may be that your hair or scalp has changed over time and as such, so does your hair care. I wouldnt be reccomending my once blonde client a blonde repair shampoo if they have grown out their roots, right? Seasonally as well, our scalps get dry in winter from all the air conditioning and hot and oily in the summer. As for a product not ‘cleaning as well’ that could have something to do with managing expectations of the role your home care has. Your shampoo should not be stripping everything out. The oils in your scalp are good. We just want to balance them out and remove excess debris or product! Why is my hairstylist always strying to sell me product? It’s so salesy! Your hairstylists entire role is to give you the best looking hair. This also expands to outside your time in the salon. Your hair becomes their walking advertisement. If it’s only looked nice the one week out of how many weeks inbetween vists, it won’t sell them very far. It is also a disservice to you, as a client, if we DON’T reccomend what you need. You have come to see us for our professional opinion. To ignore your home care, in fear you will say no, is not providing you with the best experience. If you have any questions regarding product taken home after seeing me dont hesitate to reach me here Image by: Karina Jane

What’s the deal with Plex?!

by MarkUncategorizedPosted on No Comments

‘Plex’ treatments refer to an additional service performed with your colour. They come with many different names from many different brands. While they all are made differently, they all have one goal in common. To protect your hair. In salon you will hear me talk about ‘WellaPlex’. This is Wella Pro’s very own version that has a familiar 3 step system. Their #1 goes into my powder lightener, or any colour for that matter and will maintain the structure and ‘integrity’ of your hair as your colour develops. #2 is a Basin service, that develops after your colour has rinsed for 10 minutes. The excess time is alleviated with a hot towel and massage. And finally #3 is an at home treatment for you to use once every week or so, to maintain the bonds we have protected during your service. Do I need Wellaplex? I strongly recommend Wellaplex to all my blondes and other clients who have sensitive hair as a result of colouring. Think of it as our insurance. Not only do will it mean your hair is protected in salon, but also being well looked after once you have left the salon. Is Wellaplex for me? Wellaplex is for clients that will be proactive with their Haircare and can commit to treating their hair weekly. If you feel that this is too much of a commitment for your routine, another solution could be to get your hair maintained in salon every 6-8 weeks, with a Toner, treatment and haircut/Blow wave. Why choose Wellaplex over other brands? The answer is simple! Wellaplex was tested and formulated for many years before release and boasts strong empirical studies. The formulation of Wellaplex is designed to work perfectly with all my Wella colour without interfering with Lift, Tone accuracy and colour longevity. It ensures your hair is protected and my work is not interrupted!  

Maintain your low maintenance blonde hair with ease, using specially formulated shampoo and conditioner designed to repel hard water. This stunning blonde result is provided by a professional hawthorn east hair colour specialist and is expertly crafted to require minimal upkeep while still looking beautiful and vibrant."

Your Blonde post appointment.

by MarkUncategorizedPosted on No Comments

So you just got your brand new balayage, or you had your highlights refreshed and you ask yourself: “How do I maintain my colour?!” I would recommend following your hairdressers advice that they should have given you. But perhaps you have forgotten, or maybe it wasn’t mentioned. First things first! Dont. Use. Supermarket. Crap. There is a reason we stylists beg you not to use it. The detergent in shampoo and silicones in conditioners dry your hair out and then seal it away from the outside treatments you try to use over the top of it. They dull your colour down and strip away the oils from your scalp and hair. As well as the to ner you paid good money to have put in. Ask your Hairdresser how much your toner is in your next service, and then you’ll realise you won’t want to just strip it all out. “Im using the natural range from the chemist” Yeah, and I have the McVeggie from Maccas. In other words, companies use very clever marketing to appeal to what means most to their target audiences. Green washing is a phrase you may have heard. It refers to labelling something as environmentally friendly or biodegradable, when in reality, it is not. By extension, anything from Amazon or ‘Catch’ is also a no go. This is because the quality of the product cannot be guaranteed. A lot of the time they are fake, or old stock, or real stock diluted with filler, water or other unknown ingredients. Trust the product from your salon. It is more than likely new stock that hasn’t sat on a shelf in a warehouse for very long. You also will have their personal recommendation for you. In many instances, salons will happily exchange the product if you have used it once and it’s not for you. Secondly, Invest in a Leave in! Many hair types, like fine or curly hair, are naturally drier to begin with. Adding any chemical service will perpetuate dryness overtime. Your shampoo and conditioner will aid with this, but for a more cosmetic, touchable finish, a leave in oil or serum will create that end polish. Some are designed to style with a hair dryer, and others are made for naturally drying your hair. Your stylist can give you their recommendations for their favourites! Most leave ins offer heat and / or UV protection. Don’t style your hair without one! Thirdly, Cut your hair. I mean it. Every 3 months. 4 months, maybe, but it’s pushing it. After 3 months in most hair types split ends occur. It occurs quicker in dryer, chemically altered hair types. Your hair will actually grow out quicker and stronger. This is because the ends are routinely getting maintained and kept strong on the ends by cutting the weaker bits off. Preventing brittle, broken hair. Fourthly, Avoid anything Purple or pigmented for the first 4 weeks. I will hardly use purple shampoo in the salon, and I will never use It after a blonding session. Why? Because my toner is going to do the hard work for me. Depositing a real colour that best suits you, as discussed in our consult together. Using anything purple or pigmented requires the hair shaft to be opened, pulling out the toner we spent ages at the basin developing for. Your pigmented shampoo/treatment is used to carry you between your appointments once your colour has already begun to fade / look brassy. Tone on top of tone will DEEPEN, not lighten. Lastly. Be good to your hair. Look after it. Its been through a bit with the lightening, the styling, the tying too tightly etc. Be gentle with it. Imagine its like your skin, it just doesn’t have nerve endings so you can’t feel it. Trust your stylist. Ask them questions, even if you think it’s the most stupid thing. Just ask. We might have a little giggle, but we truly want the best for your hair. Its our work walking down the street, and its your crown! Love, Mark.