Icon: Christina Hendricks is Hair Perfection

I have never seen a bad shot of this woman or her hair. And she is just epic (as is her hair) in the promotional and magazine shoots timed with the new season of Mad Men (Season 6). Here is some inspiration - let's get our copper and our 60s on....big hair is definitely back!

Wow has it been that long?

I feel a little embarrassed to admit that it has been a few month since my last post. 

Much like a married couple's sex life, things have just gotten in the way - study/work/headaches and I am here to propose to you that if you hang in there, I will be making a concerted effort to post more news and inspiration on a bit more regular basis. Saying that I am still madly updating my Pinterest, so you can always get your fix or post something on your board (if I haven't made you one yet, demand that I do by e-mail or text). 

pinterest.com/michaeljhair

In some rather important news - the studio will be up and moving in about 6 weeks time to a brand new location. Lots of fun renovations and upgrades to come (and accompanying photos of course)....I am getting my butch on and you will be there to enjoy the no doubt hilarious evidence. If you haven't received your email with all the details - get onto me about it!

Also, my price list has been finally put up online - please check it out and if you have any queries let me know at info@michaeljohnsonhair.com

Hoping 2013 is treating you well so far!

Michael

The SAG Awards - what a let down

While I am a fan of the brushed out, retro glamour wave, I was particularly disappointed to see so many of the same hairstyle at this year's SAG Awards. If I had to guess, based on the images online right now, at least 50% of female celebrities had identical hairstyles. It was almost as if there was a memo sent out about looking like a "hollywood clone" (for protest purposes or something). So that was my big gripe. However, the two looks I have chosen and added below are my stand out favourites and the only hairstyles I believe are of note from the whole red carpet.

Drum roll......Kelly Osbourne wins with her retro-inspired offset horizontal roll, and then the beautiful, ever-stylish Marion Cotillard looks simply stunning with a sleek asymmetrical (or at least styled that way) bob.

If you have any other favourites that you think I have missed - let me know by email or comment below.


Michael.

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I think I have "Online Abuse" issues

Now I am not referring to abuse in the bullying or hate speech sense, but more in the realm of 'substance abuse'. While I thought Facebook was really at the centre of my addiction, I am now madly obsessed with Pinterest. Justifying the hours spent 'pinning' by creating folders for my clients (which they can also add to...how cool is that?), I am now setting my alarm to get up a bit earlier to have time to pin.

I'm not even kidding.

So instead of asking you to help me kick the habit, I think it is best if you feed the fire and check out my boards at pinterest.com/michaeljhair.

And it is with the addiction disclaimer that I encourage all of you, especially creatives, to get inspired by joining Pinterest.



Michael.




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Some reflection and inspiration for your New Year

Happy 2013 everyone! Wow what a fantastic year it has been since this all started (check out the beginning here). Thanks to everyone who shared their time and hair with me, and of course all the fantastic online support I have received. I am the most inspired by my clients and their individual style, which I get to help them express on a daily basis.

It has been a whirlwind of a year. I have completed the first year of my degree and everyone has put up with my constant complaining! I have changed my products (arguably, according to one of my clients, like my underwear) and am loving the beautiful things that I can achieve with them. No doubt, by this time next year I will have changed some things again, as I am always striving to work with the industry to deliver the latest and greatest technology and innovation to my clients. I have never believed in brand loyalty, rather in product quality, and this is a philosophy I will continue into 2013.

Some of my latest product and technology obsessions available in studio are:

• The new GHD Air - This truly innovative hairdryer is like a match made in heaven with Parlux manufacturing and GHD design . I have these on a limited basis so if you want to order one please let me know in advance of your appointment to allow time for delivery. 

• The limited edition Mademoiselle Infinium, re-imagined by hair genius Charlie Le Mindu - check out Charlie's blog and more information about this hairspray here.

• For that thirsty summer hair I can't go past Original&Mineral Know Knott Leave-In Spray. Think of this like primer for your face: a must have for the summer months where we all like to trash our locks at the beach. Cold-pressed Argan and Macadamia Seed oil are cocktailed here to achieve hydrated hair perfection.

As many of you know I can be a bit distant on the blog during semester times but keep up with me on a day-to-day basis on Facebook and Twitter. It is the best way to keep up to date with all of the latest products, trends and looks that I am really into including "how-to's" and reviews.

Below is a little look into what my January Obsessions are, and surprise surprise they are predominantly 90s looks. I really feel like there is a strong push from my clients for shorter looks this summer (perhaps due to the heat) so I have included some fun textured styles for you to consider. If you have seen anything you think is amazing email it through to me at info@michaeljohnsonhair.com and I'll post it on the blog (with full credit of course). 

Wishing you all an amazingly successful 2013, and as I said in a recent e-mail to my clients, I hope that this year we all invent that seemingly useless gadget that makes us those millions so we can all give up work!

Michael :)

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A little 'scrapbook' of ideas

I am rarely inspired by trends, more by images and people that I see (usually online these days) that catch my eye. Such is the effect of the digital world we live in, that trends have become so fast, rapidly global, and as a result, in many ways redundant. By lowering the barriers of entry in the media, a window into the minds of some truly brilliant style muses and social commentators has been opened. 

Particularly in the hairdressing world, the digital forum provides a platform to display one's own work and what inspires them as artists - which is the essence of what any prospective client should be looking for in a stylist. I often feel like my clients and I are sharing a journey of changing styles and looks to match our ever-evolving taste, over the many years and hair (re)incarnations. But what remains constant is the client themselves. Personal taste and suitability must therefore always trump what is "fashionable". 

Now I have given that very long-winded, and probably insomnia-curing, diatribe of a disclaimer, here is a little 'scrap book' of ideas that I prepared for my clients for the upcoming month and thought I might as well share with all of you. Since I usually only show my clients, I have been bad with crediting the image-makers but have a list of links to the sites and artists where I appropriated the work from below.

Hope it inspires...

images lovingly appropriated from:

The amazing Shibui salon in Melbourne: www.shibui.com.au
The new Toni&Guy collection Artelier and the new Label.M campaign 2012/2013 www.toniandguy.com
The talented Freda Rossidis from CAST Hair in Melbourne www.castsalons.com

Deep within exam period

Exams at Uni have seen me locked away in my office hitting the books pretty hard, but can't help feeling distracted by the amazing Label M collection that was just released in London. Here are some pics for you to check out. Loving the long asymmetrical bob, with the cascade peach, salmon and copper tones in the second pic...

For more information and inspiration you can like Label M UK's facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/labelmUK. 

Also just a reminder to all that if you haven't scheduled your Christmas appointments in with me to please do so ASAP. I am currently booked all after hours appointments in the lead up to Christmas but still have some early evening/weekday appointments left.

In other news, as most of you already know, the studio is closed from November 15th-December 5th so I can regain my sanity after exams and escape for a much needed vacation so make sure you get in touch with me before then for appointments as I won't be contactable during this time.

Looking forward to seeing all of you soon.

Michael

Recyclable and sustainable

So I know it feels as though I am mute for months and then I am bombarding you with news, but as it is mid-semester break at Uni I guess the timing is appropriate. In more news, I am so pleased to announce my collaboration with Refoil, a fantastic recycled and sustainable hairdressing foil. In studio, I am now only using Refoil for all my colouring services and urge all hairdressers to get on board and spread the word. What difference does it make? The following image explains it better than I can.

Michael.

Welcoming the beauty of INOA Colour

I am very excited to announce that the studio has been bombarded with the beautiful ammonia-free colouring ranges from L'Oreal Professionnel. I am now the proud stockist of the INOA Colour range, and the DiaLight and DiaRichesse semi-permanent ranges. Not only that, but I have had a little re-decoration to boot with my new colour racks and fancy L'Oreal gadgets.


That aside, what does changing to INOA mean for you? Firstly, the key difference between other colouring products and INOA that I have noticed is how the hair feels. INOA treats the hair almost like a conditioning treatment, meaning the hair feels better after the permanent colouring process than before. The colour also has such an amazing shine on it - more so than any colouring product that I have worked with before, be it ammonia-based or ammonia-free. So while you get all the benefits of permanent colour, such as lightening power and 100% grey-coverage, the hair looks as though it has had a conditioning semi-permanent, or gloss colour.


I will also be stocking the INOA Colour Care range (right), which includes a shampoo, conditioner and masque. I recommend using this as a part of any INOA Colour home maintenance regime.


More exciting changes to come - very excited to be sharing them with all my fantastic clients.


Michael.



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Love this look from the new Sassoon salon collection

Feeling very inspired by this image from the new Sassoon salon collection. Particularly the disconnected panels through the front. It isn't meant to be groundbreaking --  but a very wearable point of difference for your average bob this winter. The colour is smouldering with those pastel rusty mink tones worked through the fringe.

News from the Studio: JULY 2012

Halfway There

Well here we are, halfway through 2012 and the studio has been very busy. Thanks to all my beautiful clients who have made the beginning of my business so fantastic. For those who have contacted me since I closed my books for the year, I will be re-assessing my client list first thing next year and contacting all interested parties on a first-in, first served basis. It has been so overwhelmingly great to receive all the responses... so much, much appreciated!

Inflation's a Bitch

As many of you already know, I have increased my pricing structure effective 1st July, 2012. This price increase has been a long time coming (the current prices, bar one, have been in effect since January 2009!) and although I have been putting it off, the dreaded time has to come.

The increase is primarily due to the yearly increase in my product costs, but rest assured, I am committed to bringing you a "better-than-salon" service for a "much-less-than-salon" price, and this structure will absolutely be fixed for the rest of the financial year (until June 2013).

Check out my newly updated price list by clicking the link above.

Some Winter Inspiration

Below is a little snippet of what I am loving right now for winter. Not so much inspired by fashion, but by my tastes and what my interpretation of my clients looks. I believe in evolving and developing one's own look, not simply following trends.

Bang!
Heavier bangs/fringes are absolutely key this season - and I have been serving up these looks on my clients. 

Get the Chop!

Long locks are definitely a summer look - so give those beach-trashed, long waves the flick and opt for sharper mid-length cuts (for those who won't part with the length). I love the fullness and luxury finish of these looks. I think this ties into the expensive and sophisticated feel that I am loving for this coming Winter 2012.

Healthy, Shiny Hair!

Healthy and Shiny Hair is always a goal for the winter months where your hair wants to be dry and lifeless! It is therefore not only important that you opt for colour that enhances shine and protect the integrity of the hair (Which is why I love Ammonia-free colour!), but also that you reinforce the hair's structure by adding both protein and moisture in a weekly treatment. Made up of 60% Protein and 40% Moisture, O&M's Power Base Protein Treatment is what I recommend everyone of my clients keep in the shower for that once a week essential winter hair fix! 

I sell this one in studio and at $30 ($31.95 rrp) it is a fantastic investment for your hair and beauty kit.

Winter's Essential Palette!

Deep berry tones with loads of shine, glorious peaches and apricot blondes, cool iced chocolates and shiny and golden caramels and toffees are bang on trend. Here are some of my favourite looks from Original&Mineral:

 

These looks scream luxury to me - forgetting the washed out coppers, muted reds and ash blonde shades which do nothing for you in the winter months, except make your locks look under-nourished!

So there you have it - looking forward to lots of makeovers for the upcoming months.

Keep warm everyone.


Michael.

60s inspiration

love this 60s inspiration via fashiongonerogue

Kate Wagoner by Victor Demarchelier for The Block S/S 2012

Student Hair Special --- the do's

Again, apologies for being such a shit blogger of late as I have been tied down with all of my uni work. But with exams looming and procrastination at an all time high, I thought it was time I kept my promise on writing a student inspired hair blog to hopefully give some tips on what to do with your "student hair". The "what not to do" blog will be my next instalment so keep posted and feel free to ask me for any hair advice by commenting below.

The Hair Do List

                                   

1. Wash your hair

This one is a must do, every one to two days (or three max, no really, maximum)!! There is nothing more stereotypical than a student with greasy hair and I am sure we have all sat behind one of these hair culprits at some point! I recommend finding a good deep cleansing shampoo for those who struggle to keep oil under control (and yes I acknowledge that the supermarket aisle might be your best bet to find this on a budget so look for something that says 'clarifying/for oily scalp etc'). For more tips on washing your hair click here. If you are trekking to Uni straight from a night out and can't face washing your hair, then at the very least invest in some great Dry Shampoo. I love Label M Dry Shampoo in clear, and brunette. Check the website for stockists at www.labelm.com.au.

2. Invest in a good haircut, less often 

Expect to pay between $70-$150 for a haircut for ladies and between $50-$80 for guys. Can you find an awesome haircut cheaper? Maybe, but it is unlikely. The key to saving money on haircuts is to stop cutting as often and spend more on each cut. Choosing the right haircut is also key - as some styles don't grow out as forgiving as others. For ladies, I think longer hair is best as it retains its shape far longer than shorter looks. Soft, textured layers are a fantastic look for this and as it starts off looking 'lived in' it won't ever look like you're desperate for a cut.

(Student Hair Inspiration: love this shot from the Toni&Guy Interactive Collection)

3. DIY Colour Do's: Glossy Brown, Deep Red, Vibrant Coppers, Rich Violets, Goth Black, but never never Blonde! 

As a general rule a hairdresser will never recommend home/consumer haircoloring products as it goes against our every instinct... but since this is a Student hair blog and I promised to give you the best advice for the lowest budget here are my 'off record' tips....HOME HAIR COLOUR NEVER WORKS WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO GO LIGHTER THAN YOUR NATURAL COLOUR (see: hair dont's). Opt for shades darker than or the same depth as your natural. For colour to look its most natural - always stick to within 2 shades darker than your natural hair as anymore than this will require more work (make-up etc) to look great.

When choosing colour remember the golden rule---skin tone. Basically warm skin tones will always suit warm colours (golds, coppers, reds) and cooler skin tones can wear cooler shades (violet, mahogany, blacks, icy brunettes). For tips about seasonal colour trends that I am loving check out my Maintain the Mane: Red Series in earlier posts.

4. Your best friend for effortless styling? 

Sea Salt Spray

O&M Surf Bomb $24.95 - worth every cent! Spray onto towel-dried or dry or curled/straightened hair to add roughed up matte texture - perfect for festivals/beach looks/exam periods etc

5. Salon Colour on a Budget 

If you are keen to get in and out of a nice salon for less the key isn't in saving on the visit, but rather saving by choosing low maintenance (similar to what I recommended with haircuts). Opt for colour that fades out rather than grows out - so a Semi or Demi colour is great for this as it will give you loads of depth and shine without that annoying maintenance.

Looking for something more and want to go a bit lighter? Balayage highlighting (see example pic) is a fantastic way to work blonde through your hair without the regrowth. Colour is heaviest at the mid lengths and ends of the hair and diffused into the root using a freehand painting technique. So forget those tedious foils and get sun kissed, maintenance free.



As I mentioned earlier I am compiling a list of hair crimes on campus to show you all what not to do with your hair while at Uni -- and no, exam stress is not an excuse -- keep checking back for updates.


Michael Johnson


michael johnson hair stylist sydney formerly at wink glow salon sydney beauty hairdressing student hair special hair on a budget sydney sea salt spray original&mineral label m

A full house

Hi everyone,

Firstly I would like to thank all of my fantastic clients for being so amazing with recommending their friends and booking their appointments in advance (some until mid next year!!), I really appreciate the support in what has become a successful start to my business.

As a result of this overwhelming support I am now no longer taking any new clients until January 2013. However, I am absolutely taking the details of anyone that would like to be contacted when I have new spaces in the future. Please register your interest by using the Contact form on the "Make an Appointment" section of the site.

I will still be updating the blog and answering all of your hair questions so keep them coming, and keep checking back for news and reports on what I am loving in the world of hair. If you have any feedback or suggestions, feel free to email me on info@michaeljohnsonhair.com.

Again my gratitude, and apologies to those who were keen to get in with me this year.


Michael Johnson

amazing

A really great article with some must have tips for getting a guys haircut

http://www.americancrew.com/crew-tips/guys-guide-great-haircut


Enjoy :)

A little housekeeping

So as many of you know I am a full time student, along with working from the studio pretty much full time also. Which means I am starting to reach full capacity in my schedule over the next few weeks, and am filling up over the next few months also. To ensure you can get an appointment, or an appointment time you prefer it is imperative that you give me 2-3weeks notice at least. If you do not have an upcoming appointment booked with me for the month of April please contact me using the link above, or by SMS to 0415110459 and let me know when you would like to book in.



During semester time my new working hours are as follows:

Thursday    evening only

Friday         daytime/evening

Saturday     daytime/evening

Sunday       daytime/evening

Thanks for your understanding. Looking forward to seeing you all in the studio soon.

Michael Johnson

and a few tags......

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Happy Belated Mardi Gras

So LGBTQI Mardi Gras in Sydney is over for another year but I thought I would share with you all my new best friend and absolute hit for all the Mardi Gras hair I worked on for Saturday. When you see the name and packaging you will see why.

So now you can celebrate Mardi Gras every day of the year should you wish (or simply to support your regular style).... 

Unveiling her majesty:

Original Queenie

An firm hold, yet light weight (no flakiness or stiffness) brushable hairspray which I love for almost any application

Use: Spray evenly all over your style to set the hair - this one builds up so the more you spray the stronger the hold. Or to enhance texture to the ends of messier shapes, spray from a distance while  blasting the hair with a cool hairdryer. 

Hot tip: Spray a light mist over the root area and brush through as a fantastic way to removes any frizziness without greasing up the roots

Smells like: "nanna chic", according to O&M founder Jose Bryce Smith on Facebook recently --- I am just so pleased that hairspray smells like hairspray again instead of bubblegum/men's deodorant/alcohol etc.


Michael Johnson

www.michaeljohnsonhair.com





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Oscar Fever

So after seeing the academy awards last night I must say that the best hair award for me has to go to the beautiful Rooney Mara.

How to get the look

First, prep your locks with a smoothing agent before blow drying. I like O&M Frizzy Logic which not only treats fly-aways but also cuts down drying time. Brush, brush, brush your hair into a high ponytail and secure with a hair elastic.Make sure you use a good quality bristle brush for this. I love Mason & Pearson brushes, or the Kevin Murphy Smoothing Brush also, which you can buy through Kevin Murphy stockists. Roll pony tail under and secure with pins. 




Then secure top of the roll above the elastic to disguise (do this buy pressing it flat with your finger from the inside and then placing pins "in and downwards" to secure. I like large straight pins for this.

Once you have secured the roll through the back smooth the fringe with a straightening iron and apply a little more Frizzy logic for shine. Then set everything with a Firm Hold Hairspray -- for this I am loving the new O&M Original Queenie which gives a beautiful hold without any nasty flakiness or residue. 


Hope this helps you all get your Oscar look next time you go out. The great thing about Rooney's look is that it works just as well for a Friday night out or even a sleek look for work in the office, as it does for an awards night. Below is a pic of the Kevin Murphy brush, with a link to his website for stockist information.

To find out more about the Kevin Murphy Smoothing Brush click here

Okay that is it from me - hope you all enjoyed your Oscars parties and aren't nursing too bad a hangover today at work. Any more tips or ideas you need for your next event please feel free to contact me via my "Make an Appointment" tab, just fill in your details then put your question in the additional comments section of the form. Or get me on Facebook via my page's wall.

Michael Johnson

The Studio has embraced Nespresso, and I am somewhat ambivalent.

So I have invested in the "Pixie", with the "Aeroccino" milk frothing/heating device, it looks like this:

I am pleased with it, and it does look very futuristic in the kitchen, however I must admit I do feel remorse for buying into the whole "Nespresso" craze, even if I am a very late subscriber. 

I guess part of me enjoyed the romance of filling up my percolator and putting it on the stove to heat, even if this took some time...ok a LONG TIME...to produce a small amount of coffee. Ok let's face it, all I ever did with my romantic percolator was yell at it. 

In fact, one might argue (or admit), that the percolator and I had a relationship akin to that of domestic violence. I am having flashbacks to me throwing the percolator angrily into the sink because I'd forgotten about it and burnt my coffee, or... on occasion, the screeching and threatening the percolator with the impending "Pixie" purchase. Needless to say my partner is very pleased that that stage of my life is past us.

I also know that this means a sigh of relief from my wonderful clients who are so sick of hearing me rant about how annoying my stovetop percolator was, and how I am buying a Nespresso (this story has been ongoing for about 6 months now, it wasn't particularly interesting the first time I told it). I have noticed that my coffee offers have been met with very speedy declines these days.

They, and you, will now be able to get your latte, espresso, or cappuccino without the side of whinge. But rest assured I will have something new to complain about --- on the plus side it'll at least be new ;)

ARCHIVE: London 2008

"disconnected texture"

for those of you at home:

to get this look at home use your straighteners to get the smoothness, then start building up the volume and texture with some sea salt spray and a cold hair dryer. finish with hairspray. i love O&M SURF BOMB and QUEENIE HAIRSPRAY for this!

for those of you at home who are hairdressers:

to achieve this look on Sarah I worked a haircut with a strong disconnected layering pattern internally, and used some heavy back cutting and slicing to really smash up the shape. colour wise I worked a strong "raven black" globally, with alternating tones of matt green and steel grey for extra texture (obviously this was flattened out in the end when we decided it was stronger in B+W).

Model: Sarah 

Photography: Ivan Shaw

MUA: Thomas de Kluyver

Styling: Gareth Lindsay

Hair: Michael Johnson

For: TONI&GUY ACADEMY PRESENTATION JULY 2008

How to: Wash your hair.....in this crazy Sydney storm!

Inspiration for Friday/Hair Genius

This is a snippet from an awesome editorial featuring hair stylist Eugene Souleiman and colourist Josh Wood from Vogue Japan. Check out the whole spread here

I love the way the dark and light tones are so seamlessly diffused in this take on an ombre kind of colour. It is, simply put, some beautiful work....enjoy!






Michael










www.michaeljohnsonhair.com


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ON THE FRINGE

Adding bangs or a fringe is an excellent way to dramatically change your look without losing too much length, perfect for those of you who are growing out your hair. Of course the most important tip with any fringe is using the correct product to avoid it looking greasy or having separation. I love Label M Dry Shampoo for this as it is a simple way to make your bangs look fresh and can be thrown into your handbag or kept in the office drawer. You can find out more info at www.labelm.co.uk... the exciting part is they have also just launched a Brunette Dry Shampoo which should be available in Australia very soon (I will keep you all posted).


The following three fringes are my favourites this season and have been such an inspiration for me working with my clients in studio. 

FRINGE #1: The DIY Look

Alexa is always so bang-on trend, but here she looks particularly great with a heavy textured fringe that separates effortlessly without looking greasy. Ask for a fringe that starts quite far back but isn't too wide and with lots of texturising through the ends to achieve that DIY finish (remember the "DIY" thing is a look, not a suggestion - leave it to the professionals!).

BANGS #2: The Bettie Page

This look is no longer reserved only for the Burlesque girls out there. Embrace the short fringe on the longer hair for a real statement look. A textured version of this can look just as good but the proportions here can actually add length to your face so a good one for those who might not have the right face shape for the Alexa fringe above.

FRINGE #3 - Mid-length texture

A great stepping stone for those of you who are unsure about taking the plunge from the longer look to the shorter. I love this worn as a shorter sweeping fringe with lots of asymmetry and texture. Great for long or shorter styles.

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Maintain your Mane: The RED series

There is nothing that screams statement like vibrant and beautifully maintained red hair. This upcoming fall/autumn I expect we will be seeing a continuation of antique, 50s henna-inspired shades, and for something new: the fruity, strawberry red. These brighter tones can be viewed as a transition away from last years muted auburns, and an extension of this summers trend in bright pinks. It'll mean taking the dustiness away from our colour and really bringing out the brightness. Style icons include of course Christina Hendricks for that vintage Mad Men look, and then for something more on the pulse Florence Welch as seen in this image:

But how do we keep our vibrant reds looking fresh?

The most important thing anyone looking to take the plunge into red should be aware of is maintenance! Here are my 5 tips for maintaining your red hair at home:

1. As with most things colour, it all starts with your shampoo. It is so important that you are using a colour locking shampoo when you wash your hair. There are so many products out there claiming to boost red and add colour during the shampoo phase, but I'll admit as a professional I am a bit skeptical. I would opt for any shampoo and conditioner that is designed to lock colour in and protect against UV (the killer of most vibrant colour - especially for all my Australian clients). All O&M Shampoos are designed to lock in colour and prevent fade and I would recommend selecting the right shampoo for your hair type. For my clients with softer hair textures that lack volume, I love O&M Fine Intellect Shampoo and Conditioner.


2. The more you wash your hair, the more chance colour has to come out of your hair!! Excessive shampooing is one of the causes of colour fade and it is really important that you only wash your hair when absolutely necessary to ensure your red stays bright. Also never wash your hair for 48hours after your colour service - most of the colour fade will occur here, as your hair needs time for those new colour pigments to settle.

3. I mentioned it in Tip #1, but "slip,slop,slap" could be sound advice for your new red hair as well. UV exposure is a killer for vibrant colour, as is salt water and chlorine. So if you're lucky and this Autumn we get enough sun to see you down at the beach, opt for a hat! Or a styling product that contains a barrier of UV Protection.


4. Condition, condition, condition. The rule of colour fade is simple: porous or damaged hair loses colour quickly. Therefore, the better the condition of your hair, the less likely it is to fade. Top up your regular shampoo and conditioner rituals with conditioning treatments designed to enhance and moisturise coloured hair. I like O&M Power Base protein treatment for all of my heavily coloured ladies, usually the ones who went from quite dark to a vibrant red as all that lightening tends to leave to hair quite fragile.

5. I think accepting that reds love to fade and making regular appointments with your hairdresser is an obvious tip, but important enough to include here. Also if you can get a take home semi-permanent colour product to top up yourself that is extremely helpful also. I would opt for the same colour brand that your stylist uses for this. But if you don't have a particular preferences I like Revlon Nutri-Colour Creme as it deposits heaps of red pigments while conditioning and treating your hair as well.

Well I hope that has inspired some of you to take the plunge - blondes may have more fun but, as I mentioned earlier, red really is the way to make a statement with your look. For any more information on maintaining your colour or using O&M products please contact me via my Make An Appointment feature on the site (just use the additional comments section to send me your message).


Michael Johnson



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