34 South ParadE, Summertown, Oxford, OX2 7JN
The salon is open again and we’ve really enjoyed seeing you all. Things are working a bit differently at the moment, but we hope to be back to normal as soon as possible.
Thanks to all of you for your patience and for choosing us for that all important first haircut after so long!
As we gear up to reopen on Saturday, July 4, we’ve been getting the salon ready to keep you and our employees safe and protected.
In keeping with government guidelines, we will be practicing social distancing and asking you guys to use our hand sanitiser facility before you come into the salon.
Please come to your appointment on your own (where possible). We won’t have our usual waiting area inside so you will have to remain outside until your appointment to avoid crowding.
All our stations and equipment will be sanitised after each use and staff will be wearing full PPE (personal protective equipment).
We will ask you when you arrive to your appointment to wear a mask.
We appreciate this will all look a bit different and feel a bit strange at first, but we can’t wait to see you again and get your hair looking fab again.
The way we take bookings has changed, too. We won’t be taking walk-ins or online bookings just yet. Please call us on 01865 553725 or email Emma at Emma.pankhurst7@icloud.com to make an appointment.
We’re delighted to tell you that we are planning to reopen on Saturday, July 4. We’ve been working really hard behind the scenes to make sure the salon is safe and ready for you, in accordance with government guidelines.
The way we take bookings will be a bit different at first. We won’t be taking walk-ins or online bookings just yet. Please call us on 01865 553725 or email Emma at Emma.pankhurst7@icloud.com to make an appointment.
As soon as we have firm guidelines from the government about how we have to work (in terms of PPE etc.), we will let you know. Your health and safety is our priority – and we can’t wait to see you all again (and fix all those DIY haircuts!).
It’s with a heavy heart that Jane and I have taken the decision to close the salon until further notice. Your safety and the wellbeing of our staff is the most important thing right now.
We’re really sad about having to close, but feel it’s for the best - we hope to be back really soon! Take care everyone.
How to blow dry your hair
When it comes to hair, a style switch-up is as easy as a flick of the wrist. No matter the length or hair type you have, with a core arsenal of tools and techniques, you can bring your blow dry game up to photo-ready in minutes.
So what are these fix-all techniques? We’ve put together our top tips for luscious, blow-dried locks.
The At Home Blow Dry
Always wanted to know how your stylist creates that killer blow dry? Look no further. You can achieve a salon-worthy blow dry at home in minutes, regardless of the length of your hair.
Step One - Lather and Rinse
The key to any good blow dry is, of course, beginning with clean, damp hair. Choose a volumising shampoo, such as our Elvive Fibrology Thickening Shampoo, to give your strands a little extra oomph later in the process. For now, massage your shampoo into a rich lather (treat yourself to a little scalp massage, too) and then rinse. Apply your Elvive Fibrology Thickening Conditioner and let it soak for a few minutes before rinsing.
Step Two - Wait Until Your Hair Dries to Damp
Use a cotton t-shirt or soft towel to soak up any excess water from your hair. When your hair is just about damp, you’re ready to go.
Step Three - Prime Your Strands
Protecting your strands with a good heat protector is key to a sleek style – you don’t want to dry your ends out! Our Elnett Heat Protect Spray Smooth Blow Dry protects your hair and also helps cut down on drying time. What could be better? To use, hold your heat protection spray away from your hair and spritz evenly.
Step Four - Choose the Right Brush
It’s best to select your brush based on the style you’d like to achieve. A flat paddle brush, for example, will help to ensure smooth, straight drying. For more volume, try a round brush – this can add some serious body to your style.
Your brush size should also be determined by the length of your hair. Short hair is more easily managed by a smaller brush, whilst a bigger brush can help speed up the drying time on long locks.
Step Five - Blow Dry from the Roots
To actually dry your hair, work in sections from the back of your head to the front. Always begin at the roots. Once those are dry, work your way down your strands.
TIP: If your hair dryer comes with nozzle attachments, use them! They help to evenly distribute heat for a sleeker style.
How to Blow Dry Straight Hair
Few of us are born with naturally pin-straight hair. Fortunately, if that’s the look you’re longing for, there’s an easy blow dry solution to whip your strands straight into shape.
Step One - Detangle
To create the sleek, smooth blowout of your dreams, begin with clean hair and use the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. Using a detangling brush or wide tooth comb, gently work out any knots or tangles in your hair.
Step Two - Section Your Hair
Separate your hair into four sections – two on the top of your head along your natural parting, and two below – and clip securely. This will help keep your hair tame and tangle-free as you begin to dry your hair.
Step Three - Dry your Hair
Beginning with the back sections, blow dry your hair from root to end using a flat paddle brush. Make sure your roots are dry before moving on to the ends of your hair. Work through all four sections of hair.
Et voila! Runway-worthy straight hair in no time at all.
How to Blow Dry Curly Hair
You may be thinking: curly hair + blow dry = frizz but, unlike other styles, the right tools make all the difference.
For a perfect curly blow dry, you’ll need:
● Ceramic or tourmaline blow dryer – It may be specific, but choosing a dryer like these will seriously reduce frizz formation. Bonus points for buying one with a diffuser attachment. These UFO-shaped add-ons can help shape your curls and decrease the threat of frizz even further.
● Shampoo, conditioner, and a hair mask formulated for curly hair
● Hair mousse, such as our Elnett Satin Crème de de mousse
So, let’s get started!
Step One - Start with Clean Hair
Clean and condition your curly hair with the right formula for your hair type. As often as you can, shower with lukewarm water. It’s far less drying on your strands, which help to reduce frizz. Twice a week, up the conditioning ante by swapping your daily conditioner for a hair mask, such as our Elvive Extraordinary Oil Masque, which nourishes your hair by targeting the driest ends.
Step Two - Remove Excess Water from your hair
Use a cotton t-shirt to blot your hair, removing any extra water. Be gentle, though – you don’t want to disturb your natural curl pattern.
Step Three - Use Leave-in Conditioner
Apply a small dollop of leave-in conditioner to help lock in your hair’s moisture.
Step Four - Add Your Mousse
After your leave-in conditioner has had a few minutes to work its magic, apply Elnett Satin Crème de de mousse from your roots to your tip in sections. This will help to give your curls more definition and shape. Shake your hair out to re-define your natural curl pattern.
Step Five - Diffuse your Roots
With the diffuser attachment on your hair dryer, begin to dry your roots. On a low or medium setting, flip over your hair and begin at the nape of the neck. The diffuser prongs should be lightly touching your scalp.
Work in slow, gentle circles and make sure your ends are not trapped in the bowl of the diffuser – they can become dried out and frizzy this way. Repeat the process until your hair is about 80% dried and then air dry the rest.
And that’s it! Curly, frizz-free blow-dried hair at home.
Gwyneth loves a facial to keep her complexion dewy and fresh
Here celebrity facialist Chelsee Lewis - who counts Gwynnie, Stella McCartney, Suki Waterhouse and Erin O’Connor as her clients - offers her top four tips for looking after your skin this autumn.
“Massage the face before bed to boost your micro circulation and detox the skin. This works wonders for puffiness, water retention and tired skin. The next morning your face should look more rested and with an added glow,” says Chelsea.
“This is is one of my favourite tricks,” says Chelsee. “Fill the sink with cold water and ice, then splash your face 15-20 times to boost circulation before you apply your make-up. It will make the skin feel incredibly tight and works wonders for tired skin. “
“This is the Supermodel’s favourite secret. Rich in magnesium sulphate it’s great for glowing skin, and also helps to ease tension and boost better sleep.”
“This is my go-to after a night out to restore tired, bloated skin.” says Chelsee. “Take one table of milk thistle and one 1000mg of vitamin C before or after alcohol. The vitamin C will help flush the booze out of your system, while the milk thistle protects and help detox the liver. It’s also an antioxidant, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory.”
Always wondered what you’d look like as a redhead?
Red hair colour – it’s fierce, vibrant and stands out in a crowd. From warm, orange-red hues to the boldest scarlet shade, there are so many ways to give your hair an edge.
Always toyed with the idea of going red but worried about maintaining those fiery hues? We’ve spent years honing our hair colour products, so vibrant, fiery and bright red hair is easier than ever to achieve.
Follow our guide on how to dye your hair red at home – from choosing your best shade, to the dyeing process and aftercare.
-For cool, rosier skin tones: Go for red-red or red-violet
-For warmer or olive skin tones: Choose red-red or orange-red. It’s best to stick to either two shades lighter or darker than your natural hair colour. This is more likely to give you a great colour match with your brows and skin tone.
Follow these steps to achieve beautiful, bright red hair with Colorista Bright Red Permanent Gel Hair Dye. If you don’t want to commit to a full head of colour, dip-dyeing and ombre techniques are a great way to get some subtle red tones. Make sure you are colour safe and that you do your allergy alert test 48h before colouring hair! You can do this by applying a small amount of the red hair dye and peroxide behind your ear.
Red hair colour dyes better when you haven’t used shampoo for at least a day. Be sure to wear gloves, cover shoulders with a towel and wear an old t-shirt. Then begin by brushing out any knots and clip your hair up into two or three sections, leaving the bottom layer loose.
Here’s a simple and great hack to make sure you don’t stain your skin: rub a thin layer of petroleum jelly around your hairline. Who wants pink blotches on their forehead? Not us!
Remember to always follow the instructions on the packet. As a general guide (please refer to the Colorista Paint leaflet for more information) begin applying the mixture onto your roots and then apply the remaining product through lengths and ends. For even, all-over colour, it might be easier to get a friend to help you out. Repeat layer-by-layer, un-clipping hair as you go, making sure you’re coating every strand. Applying the dye can take between 10 and 20 minutes depending on the thickness of your hair.
Once you’ve applied the red hair colour, secure your hair so it’s out of way. Remove any excess dye from the skin surrounding your hairline, then relax while you wait for the colour to develop. Go with the recommended time in the instruction leaflet, but check on it regularly to see how it’s progressing. We recommend waiting the full development time for the most vibrant, long-lasting colour. After all, good things come to those who wait!
Time’s up! Wash your hair until the water runs clear and apply the nourishing post-colour mask included in the box. Leave the conditioner in for a while longer than usual to really lock that moisture into your hair.
Dry straight away to see your new vibrant red hair!
Brunette is an easy shade to transition from, providing the red hair colour you choose is darker than your current shade. The red hues in permanent dye are powerful and transform brown hair easily. Dyeing black hair red (especially if it’s been dyed black) isn’t recommended unless you see a hair colour professional who can bleach it first. Don’t want to go for a permanent shade? You could always try our Colorista Washout in red.
Blonde bombshells, it’s worth noting that rich, merlot shades of red could end up turning pink, which probably isn’t quite the look you were going for. Use the Colorista bright red shade, and make sure you keep up the fade-defying maintenance tips afterwards to keep your locks vibrant.
Our Colorista Bright Red Permanent Gel Hair Dye isn’t recommended for very light blondes, but rose gold could be your colour. Discover different rose gold looks here.
Red hair colour does have a reputation for fading fast. This can be explained by some simple science: red molecules are slightly larger than those found in other hair dyes, and the larger surface area stands less chance of clinging to your hair.
But it’s not all doom and gloom – following a colour maintenance haircare routine and investing in a good quality home dye kit are essential for maintaining luscious red locks. Colorista Bright Red Permanent Gel Hair Dye is expertly formulated to lock in colour, and by using Elvive Colour Protect products in your daily routine, your hair will look radiant for longer and get the nourishment it needs to stay looking fresh.
Fancy trying a different bright shade? Get some inspiration for a bold new look here, or if you fancy something lighter, follow our guide to dyeing your hair silver.