Being obsessed with model Chanel Iman, I decided that if I couldn’t be her I would at least reference her new ‘do. After being a faded shade of red for the past few months I decided to go for a more low maintenance look that was still bang-on-trend.
The best man for the job was Indola Global Ambassador Leonardo Rizzo, so off I popped to the Covent Garden branch of Sanrizz to be transformed.
The great thing about Leonardo is he really knows his stuff when it comes to colour. I explained to him that I wanted to go darker on top with a peek of light coming through the ends, he set to work.
First he toned down my red roots to a gorgeous dark hue and lifted the ends until they were a slightly scary shade of bright orange. Expertly he toned them giving them a rich copper tone, which was just what I wanted. The last step was a lovely conditioning mask and a sleep-inducing head massage, oh what bliss!
I’m completely in love with my new hue and totally enamored with Leonardo and the Sanrizz Covent Garden team, who kept me fed, watered and entertained; it’s such a lovely salon!
If you fancy a colour change head down to Sanrizz and ask for Leonardo, you won’t be disappointed!
www.sanrizz.co.uk
I’m a big fan of Brazilian straightening treatments and was really excited to try one specifically formulated for course hair types and perfect for afro hair; welcome KS KeraStraight KS Intensive.
I headed to the fantastic Lisa Shepherd salon in Central London and was greeted by the lovely Sara, after a thorough consultation about what I expected from the treatment and my general hair routine, she got to work.
The treatment is a three step process, first the hair is washed with a clarifying shampoo to remove all trace of grease and ready the hair for treatment. If you have just had your colour done, beware - the clarifying shampoo can strip toners and may change the colour. The next step involves the application of the treatment section by section, lastly the hair is dried and finished off with a straightener, making it extra smooth.
With this treatment you can wash your hair the same day, the result? Frizz free and super smooth locks. My hair is naturally curly, very thick and extremely frizzy and this treatment was so good that after blow-drying I don’t even need to go over it with the straighteners. If I do decided to leave it to dry naturally it has a gorgeous wavy finish with minimal fuzz.
Make sure you invest in sulphate free shampoo to keep your treatment tip-top! Come on ladies bin that relaxer and try a KeraStraight KS Intensive.
Priced between £150 - £250 depending on hair length, call 0845 459 0026 to find your nearest KeraStraight salon.
www.kerastraight.com
Charleen x
It’s been kind of a secret, but ever since I entered the hair industry my number one smoothing treatment has remained the same - and during that time I’ve tried a LOT!
Webster Whiteman is an unpretentious salon near Oxford Circus; from the first time I walked in I noticed there was very much a family vibe (as in, everyone was friendly, not that it was full of kids!). It was here that I first tried the Everlasting Blowdry - almost three years ago now, and it’s still the one I go back to, despite being lucky enough to sample every new smoothing/keratin treatment on the market.
After trying so many I have realised the results depend on two things; obviously the ingredients are key - some use keratin, formaldehyde or amino acids - but the stylist’s application is just as important, if not more.
Where some salons recognise what a money spinner a smoothing treatment can be - anything from £100 - £300 per client - this can often mean you’re in and out in 90 minutes. If that’s the case, the results probably won’t last as long. Many of these treatments are built on application, rough blowdrying and then straighteners being applied to each small section of hair between 8 -10 times, to ‘seal’ in the keratin/ingredients. So it’s vital that the stylist applying your treatment takes sufficient time. It might sound unnecessary, but on my experience, you need to put aside three hours when booking in for such a treatment.
I have seen the same stylist (Becky) every time for my Everlasting Blowdry, and every time she takes care to ensure every single section has been smoothed with straighteners for the required amount of strokes. Compared to other stylists at other salons who have rushed me out in around an hour, the results from Webster Whiteman’s treatment definitely last more around the 10-12 week mark, which is what most products promise but often don’t deliver.
The only ‘con’ (although I definitely don’t see it as such as it prevents me from visiting the gym!) is that you shouldn’t get your hair wet for three days post-treatment, or tie it up tightly with hairbands. But I’ll let you into another secret - I do! The day after I’ll clip it up or lightly tie it back, and have even been known to enter the gym! But I have had the treatment many times now, so I wouldn’t advise that to a first timer.
As they say, seeing is believing, so if you long for your hair to be protected from heat styling, to be smoother and yet still have some ‘oomph’ to it, you really should visit Webster Whiteman to do. It will probably change your life.
Charisse.x
Webster Whiteman, 13 Pollen St, London W1S 1NH 020 7493 4777
Anyone who’s ever wanted to go blonde knows it’s a challenge.
Whether you’re mousy and trying to go platinum at home, or a chocolate brunette who wants white blonde hair like, NOW, it comes with its pitfalls. But as a mixed race girl with curly hair, the challenge is just that little more, well, challenging…
My hair can go blonde, but it takes time, and patience, and a lot of worrisome orange-ness along the way. Which is why I thought it was time to try out the almost-legendary colouring talents of the Four London team. I’d already visited the colour expert salon to try out the #KebeloSystem smoothing treatment but I wanted to find out if the colour hype was well deserved.
When I first spoke to Charlie Double, one of the founders of Four, I was surprised at her willingness to say ‘no’ to my insistence at wanting to go ‘Beyonce’ blonde. Instead of nodding her head and throwing on the bleach – which is what often happens when a colourist is too scared to be ‘real’ with a client’s demands – she explained what she could do for me, that the whole process would be ‘gradual’. So, on my first visit, my base colour was taken from a boring ‘almost black’ to a warm dark brown, before highlights were added. And that was no speedy process!
A couple of hours later, when perfectionist Charlie finally decided I could be allowed out from under the dryers – meant to speed up the lightening process – my hair was washed, then dried, so that the true colour could be seen. Thinking I was almost free to go, I then found out that the colour needed toning, to take it from brassy blonde to smokey, cool blonde.
First a toner was applied and then some Crazy Colour for an almost grey, but very cool, result. I LOVED the results, but as always, it wasn’t enough. Around six weeks later it was time for stage two.
My ‘new’ base colour was topped up at the roots and I pointed out that I really wanted a lot more highlights on top, as I love playing with updos and I like the contrast between light and dark. So Charlie rewarded me with double the amount of colour and left the underneath alone. I also mentioned that the toner only lasted around a week the first time. So this time round it was left on for longer, and I left with a violet toned blonde on the sides! Which I loved.
It’s already been said on this blog that we think Four London is the ultimate destination when it comes to on-trend, beautiful colour, combined with a lovely, chilled out vibe, and this visit was no exception. I’ll be back soon, for stage three!
(Oh and I will post a pic, when I manage to take a decent one!)
Charisse
Four London, 62 Conduit St, London W1S 2GB 020 7297 9600
Okay, this is the second time I’ve written about the @kebelosystem treatment, in great detail, but for some reason, last week when I originally wrote about it in all its glory, it didn’t save! So, if you think I’ve missed anything important out today, email me at charisse@thesoobsessednetwork.com!
As someone with curly/wavy hair (mixed race if that helps) I have been lucky enough through my work to try a wide array of keratin treatments, everlasting blowdries, Brazilians etc. Some have left my hair feeling brittle, others have left it feeling lovely, smooth and soft. So when I first heard about the @Kebelosystem early this year I was keen to see how and why it was different, as it claimed to be.The treatment is not marketed as a keratin treatment - instead the brand’s campaign concentrates on its promise of 100 days of smooth, frizz-free hair and its innovative approach to getting it.
Simply put, where other smoothing treatments contain formaldehyde - the much debated ingredient that seems to have the industry in more of a panic than consumers themselves - @kebelosystem claims to be free of the ingredient, instead using a new technology based on amino acids and botanical proteins. What’s far more interesting than the science bit is the fact that, unlike other treatments, you can get your hair washed the same day. The usual process for any straightening treatment involves leaving the salon with your hair looking smooth but feeling like it has a slight coating all over. Also, you cannot get your hair wet - no washing it, no sweating it out at the gym (not all bad reasons obv) - or tie it back with bands or clips. With Kebelo you go through the process; apply treatment, blowdry in, iron around 10 times per section but instead of that being it, you then head back to the backwash and get all the residue washed out, and then have your hair blowdried again, and ironed if you like.
Another difference with Kebelo is that included in the price (minimum £199 wherever you go) is a lovely box of three products, prescribed for you by your stylist to suit your hairtype. They’ll pick out the right shampoo and conditioner plus a luxurious treatment to make sure the effects last for as long as possible before your next visit. Whether you use the products or not, make sure you at least use sulphate free products, otherwise you will literally be washing all that smoothness down the drain. My faves are #TIGI and the brilliant Awapuhi range from @PaulMitchellUK plus the DIVINE @PureologyUK range!
The result is extremely smooth hair, so smooth that my usually bush-like ‘do was waving all over the place in the breeze once I got outside. It felt great.
I got mine done at the amazing @FourLondon and I definitely believe it makes a difference where you get it done. Be wary of hair salons who promise super smooth hair in an hour - they’re more than likely just trying to squeeze in as many treatments as possible in one day; you need to put aside three hours to see real results, and your stylist should take their time. Ask for Carly at Four London!
www.kebelo.com @kebelosystem
Four London, 62 Conduit St, W1 0207 297 9600
No I haven’t gone mad, nor am I talking about the cars that turn into robots and try and take over the earth, only to be thwarted by Shia LaBeouf and friends. What I’m talking about is women, yes that’s right WOMEN.
As I dashed home from work to get rid of my day make-up. I transform myself into the night-time party goddess everyone expects; full face of slap, Spanx and half a can of hairspray, I take a glance in the mirror and feel I’ve scrubbed up well.
After the drinks start flowing at the party and the conversation heats up, talk turns to dating. One of the guys pipes up and says ‘it’s hard for men nowadays as you never know if you’re going home with a Decepticon or not’. I press him for an explanation ‘women are like Transformers, a Decepticon is a women who has so much fakeness to her, she looks completely different when it’s all gone’.
As a hair and beauty journalist that statement got me thinking, have we turned into a nation of Decepticons?
With all manner of fakery at our disposal these days it’s hard not to just use whatever you can, to look as perfect as you can. Nowadays transforming yourself doesn’t just stop at a slick of lipstick and a dusting of rouge, or maybe nipping yourself in with a tight corset. No, no it finds itself on a surgeons table having a boob or even bum job, glueing lashes on or turning the palest of skin into a Caribbean brown masterpiece.
Personally I would never leave my house without mascara and wouldn’t dream of going on a night out without a full face of make-up. I have no problem standing up all night as my Spanx are too tight and if my non-ample bussom needed a ‘Hello Boys’ moment, I would know exactly where to turn. Does this make me a decepticon?
I do understand party boys point, no man want’s to go home with stunning 34D, slim, long-haired beauty and wake up with a flat chested, chubster who’s ponytail is on the floor and eyelashes stuck to her cheek. Just like we would hate to go home with Mr comb-over, pigeon chest, beer belly and ‘sock stuffed’ boxers.
Welcome to 2011, where you can go from NO to WOAH with a trip to your local department store. Is this such a bad thing or is it just a byproduct of having all of this at our disposal, surely if the Victorians had St Tropez they would have never wanted to be pale?!
Great make-up and hair is a surefire way to feel good about the way you look. Whether it’s a full face or a more natural look, it should enhance what you have not transform you into a fakery-fueled being that even your mother wouldn’t recognise.
My conclusion is we are not all good girls gone bad, there’s still hope! Ladies there’s nothing wrong with being a Transformer, but stay away from the dark side, the Decepticons loose remember!
Charleen x
We love Clynol and the fact that they continue to develop treatments that are not only exactly what we want, but they’re affordable too.
The latest creations from our friends at Clynol are Clynol Viton Colour Shine and Viton Brilliance Demi Permenant Colour. Both treatments have been created to ensure you get the most out of your colour!
Clynol Viton Colour Shine works with the hairs natural tones. This handy gel cream is available in eight shades and creates show-stopping colour shine for up to 15 washes.
Viton Brilliance Demi Permenant Colour provides amonia-free long lasting colour intensity that lasts up to 25 washes. With zero hair damage, it’s perfect for colour virgins or those who like to change their colour with their outfits!
I headed down to the very fabulous Lisa Shepherd salon in London to review the treatment and I can report that my ruby red tresses looked amazing! Vibrant, shiny and sleek and to top it off it was all done in under an hour! Perfect for anyone that wants a colour-boost before a night out.
For more information visit www.clynol.com or for stockists call 01296 314000 and to pay a visit to the lovely Lisa Shepherd salon visit www.lisashepherd.co.uk.
Charleen x
Why does it always rain when you’re due to have your hair done? I wadded my way through the wet west-end streets to the lovely Fordhamsoho, home to the fantastic revolutionary keratin blow dry system; Keratin Revolution. All the while I was thinking, after this treatment the rain won’t be an issue!
After much debate surrounding the safety of these ‘Brazilian straightening systems’ I was intrigued to find out what made this one so different.
Keratin Revolution is 100% Formaldehyde free, making it a safe, effective and natural way to forget frizz and leave hair super smooth and shiny.
As Keratin Revolution is formaldehyde free, it means more hair types can get in on the act. From Afro and chemically straightened to coloured hair, this system is perfect for everyone.
After washing my hair with a cleansing shampoo (including a nice head massage), my stylist then parted it into small sections and applied the system from root to tip. Once applied my hair was blow-dried straight, to give the product the chance to penetrate. The last and most laborious step involved my hair being straightened in small sections, they have to go over each section 8-10 times, so bring a book or maybe a pillow!
The end result is shiny, frizz-free and healthy looking hair! They also have a great range of products, making the results last longer and ensuring you get the best out of your treatment. You can’t wash your hair, tie it up or tuck it behind your ears for three whole days, but I consider it a small price to pay for hair heaven.
The great thing about the Keratin Revolution treatment is that it lasts up to 4/5 months, and instead of getting rid of your natural texture it just takes out the frizz, perfect!
For your nearest Keratin Revolution salon please visit www.keratinrevolution.co.uk and if you fancy a trip to see the team at Fordhamsoho visit www.fordhamsoho.com
Charleen x
