We know the struggle is real right now – even though we’re not in any panic for our hair to be looking its best with a national lockdown keeping us in our homes. But we do know the feeling of catching yourself in the mirror every day and your inner monologue is saying things like:
“It’s only a box dye, I’d do anything to get rid of these roots!”
“I know I normally get highlights, but I’m so bored, and I really fancy a change”
“I bet there’s a video on Youtube that will show me how to cut my hair myself at home”.
Please don’t listen to the voice!! You and your hairdresser have worked so hard to get your hair to where it is. Don’t take a step back by resorting to cheaper and quicker methods for a week or so, giving into the lockdown frenzy.
Instead of focusing on how your hair looks, this is the time to focus on how your hair feels. You can view it as taking the time to strengthen the inside of your hair so that the outside can look even better in the months to come. Below are some of our salon favourite products that can help you achieve this. It’s a hair care investment that will save your money down the line on fixing any lockdown mistakes.
Drop the scissors, return the box dye, and have a little read of what we have to offer.
L’Oreal Smartbond
What you might not know is that Smartbond is one of the most popular in-salon treatments used on both coloured and un-coloured hair.
Smartbond is formulated to protect the bonds deep within the hair. The Step 3 Conditioning formula is a hair strengthening system that is specifically designed to preserve these bonds while performing technical hair procedures such as colouring, highlighting and using heat on the hair. The treatment results in hair feeling softer, stronger and looking shinier, while building and maintaining strength in your locks at home. Your hair fibres will become stronger and healthier, ready before, during and after any technical activity on your hair.
This is not an everyday treatment. The Smartbond Step 3 Conditioner should be applied once a week after shampooing your hair. Apply on damp hair and leave on for 1-3 minutes before rinsing out thoroughly
As your hair is not receiving its regular colour application and you are not using as much heat on the hair to regularly blow dry, straighten or style, this is the perfect opportunity to invest in this product to strengthen your hair before returning to the salon.
Kérastase Blond Absolu
This one is for all our lovely blondies, as it’s harder to find solutions for bleached/highlighted hair that’s gone dull without a hairdresser. Firstly (and lastly) if you’re considering giving it a go yourself because you can get your hands on some meche packets and a toner – forget about it. Avoid the scold of your hairdresser when you return to the salon, and take this time to keep your blonde fresh by using our best-selling Kérastase range exclusively for blonde locks.
Blond Absolu is one of the newer additions to the Kérastase family, over the years, but it is one of the most popular products used by our clients and staff. The range contains five products – an everyday clear shampoo, a recommended once a week pigmented purple shampoo and masque, a conditioner and a leave-in milk that acts as a heat protector as well as adding additional benefits to your hair.
With the right routine, these products have the potential to keep your hair salon fresh during this lockdown. It’s so important to build a healthy routine instead of resorting to desperate measures, as they will benefit you in the long run before you return to your stylists chair.
Heat Protectors
Overtime, with the amount of heat you use on your hair from blowdrying and styling, the hair can become damaged if not protected. Heat protectors are a brilliant way of adding an additional barrier of protection to your hair so it does not become damaged from excess heat. Heat protectors can be applied while the hair is still wet before blowdrying, when the air is dry before styling, or both. There are many different types and textures, as not everyone is the same. Milks, sprays, serums and oils are among the most popular options. We imagine majority of people are not blowdrying or styling their hair as frequently, which is a great way of reducing damage in itself. However, for the times you are still using heat on your hair, here are a few of our favourite heat protectors to help with the hairs outer layer of defence;
Kérastasehave a number of thermiques within their families that are used as a blowdry cream/milk. They also have an elixir oil that is quite a popular choice for a lot of people. The best part is that not only do you get a heat protectant from these products, but your hair gets a number of benefits, including nourishing your hair fibres and leaving your hair smooth and full of shine. Each range in the Kérastase family is tailored to certain types of hair, so each product is more suited to specific hair issues;
- Kérastase Discipline Keratin Thermique – unruly hair
- Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique – dry hair
- Kérastase Resistance Ciment Thermique – damaged hair
- Kérastase Resistance Extentioniste Thermique – all hair types, but those looking to grow out healthy lengths specifically
- Kérastase Elixir Ultime L’Huile Originale – all hair types
Shu Uemuraalso have two ranges of styling products that contain a heat protector in them. Firstly, the “Essence Absolue” collection gives a number of options depending on the type of texture you prefer;
Multi-Purpose All-in-Oil Milk – a nourishing spray that detangles and softens, gives shine, controls frizz and maintains long-lasting style and manageability.
Nourishing Oil-in-Cream – This multi-use hair cream nourishes and softens coarse thick hair. It rapidly re-balances the moisture level from root to tip of dry hair. Also provides humidity-resistance, taming frizzy hair and leaving it smooth, soft and controlled with enhanced shine.
Nourishing Protective Oil – This is one of Shu Uemuras best-selling products. Formulated with camellia oil for daily use, it protects hair with intense nutrition and provides UV protection without weighing the hair down. It rapidly absorbs oil deep into the hair fibre leaving soft, healthy hair. It re-balances the hair’s moisture level from mid-lengths to ends, leaving a sleek and smooth finish.
Secondly, “The Art of Styling” range provide similar products and results which are suitable to mix and match for all hair types;
Shu Uemura Netsu Design – This cream gives your blowdry a more polished, sleek and flawless finish with anti-frizz power. ‘Netsu’ is derived from the Japanese word for heat. This simple formula helps to protect the hair up to 230°C, so your strands are saved significantly from the breakage and damage as a result of heat styling.
Shu Uemura Shiki Worker – This spray was originally known as the ‘Wonder Worker’ and it literally works wonders for your hair, as it is so versatile and gives your hair so many benefits. ‘Shiki’ in Japanese means ‘four seasons’, so it only further promotes that adaptability it represents. This spray is suitable for all hair types, and is easily incorporated into your styling routine. It’s to be used while the hair is still wet before blowdrying. It’s many benefits include; hydration, detangling, smoothing, conditioning, radiance and silky results.
However, it can also be used to finish your look once your mane is dry, defining and refining your natural texture.
Shu Uemura Tsuki Shape – a very natural product, it gives your hair natural looking definition and soft texture. It works to give your strands extra volume and body without obviously changing your authentic look. The spray is incredibly lightweight, therefore giving a lightweight feel to your hair. Also, as it’s activated by heat, it’s ideal for lost lasting styling and curling.
There are so many heat protectors to choose from, and now is the perfect time to experiment and try out new products to see which ones suit your hair best, so that you’ll be ready for flawless blowdries and styling for your first social event post-lockdown!
Hair Masks
Right now more than ever, we are all in need of a little self-love routine. That one day a week where you pamper yourself . But how can your hair come into that when the whole reason for going to a hairdresser is to give your gruaige some TLC? A hair mask is the ultimate answer for bringing that salon treatment home with you. If you haven’t tried a hair mask already, it has a wide range of benefits. It repairs damaged locks right down to the cuticles and fibres, it adds an intense amount of shine to your hair, it maintains and strengthens colour-treated hair so you can have that fresh salon look for longer, and it adds moisture to your hair, keeping it hydrated and luscious – to name but a few! There are so many to choose from on our online boutique in the Kérastase and Shu Uemura families, each tailored to a different hair type.
| A mask for… | Kérastase | Shu Uemura |
| Colour-Treated Hair | Reflection Masque Chromatique | Colour Lustre |
| Bleached/Highlighted Hair | Blond Absolu Masque Ultra Violet | Yubi Blonde Anti-Brass Purple Balm |
| Dry Hair | Nutritive Masquintense – Dry Nutritive Creme Magistral-Extremley Dry | Urban Moisture |
| Unruly Hair | Discipline Maskeratine | Shusu Sleek |
| Damaged Hair | Resistance Masque Extentioniste – great if you’re looking to grow the length of your hair Resistance Masque Force Architecte | Silk Bloom |
| Very Damaged/Over-Processed Hair | Resistance Therapiste | Ultimate Reset |
| Curly Hair | Discipline Masque Curl Ideal | – |
| Thin Hair | – | Muroto Volume |
| Any Hair Type | Densifique Masque Densite – to treat hair that lacks density Elixir Ultime Masque – gives additional shine to the hair Soleil Masque Apres Soleil – recommended to those who live in sunshine and have damaged hair, but also recommended to swimmers Specifique Masque Hydra-Apaisant – for those who may suffer occasionally with a dry and/or oily scalp | Essence Absolu Nourishing Illuminating Treatment |
L’Oreal Root Cover Sprays
Who says you need a home colour to keep your roots touched up during lockdown? If you’re going for your daily walk, have an important phone call, or just fancy a bit of self- care, the L’Oreal Root Cover Up Sprays are your quick and easy answer to achieve that desired and long awaited touch-up, and saves you stressing about matching your colour to a box dye kit. The cover up washes out in the shower, so there is no worry about staining your hair. More information on the product and its results are available here: https://www.lorealprofessionnel.co.uk/hair-colour/hair-touch-up/root-touch-up-hair-touch-up
How To Use:
With the bottle above your head at a reasonable distance and pointed towards your roots, spray through your roots in an up and down motion for 5-10 seconds, covering the section of your hair that has regrowth.
Our online boutique stocks six shades which range from blonde all the way to the darkest of colours. The following colours are on offer:
- Warm Blonde
- Dark Blonde
- Light Brown
- Brown
- Mahogany Brown
- Black
If you’re unsure of which colour would suit your hair best, feel free to contact our reception team. It may not be the exact match you’d get in a salon environment, but it is the safest and quickest option to keep your hair in its best condition and to help you cover up your roots!
