Remember those shampoo television commercials of a few years back. Ok, so maybe a more than a few years …
I just Googled the words “just stepped out of a salon” and apparently “a few years back” is actually the 1990s.
Oops, showing my age. Again.
Anyway, the reason that this particular shampoo brand sold truckloads of its product on the back of those few words and a good deal of slow motion hair flicking was that we all know that feeling, don’t we?
The feeling that nothing could possibly go wrong because our hair is cut, coloured and styled to perfection. By someone else. Someone more skilled at the job than we are.
I tell you, I do a fair bit of swishing myself every six weeks. In fact I’ll be swishing later on today when I’m returned to full blonde status, had a summer trim and a Steam Pod styling treatment.
But I digress.
It’s that just-stepped-out-of-a-salon feeling I want you to focus on.
The way I figure it is that if we can somehow harness – EVERY DAY – just a fraction of that feeling, then imagine how that can work to boost our style confidence. Every. Day.
Getting good hair days at home start in the salon.
A solid relationship with a hairdresser who understands your hair, your lifestyle and your budget will help make you look good every day.
When you’re standing in front of the bathroom mirror at home trying to tame the mane, that task will be a whole lot easier if it’s been regularly cut and styled to a shape that is easy for you to re-create at home.
Finding a hair stylist who gets this and is willing to work with you is gold. When you find them, don’t chop and change. Stick with them. This allows them to work on a short, medium or long-term plan for your hair.
In terms of hair styles, having a hairstylist who you trust with your hair will also give you more confidence to change your hair style.
And there is no surer way to give your style a boost than with a fresh hair style, cut or colour. The right combination – and sometimes just the change itself – can take years off your total look.
What about at home?
I know, I know. It’s so easy to drop the hair styling ball when life gets busy. I give you permission to do so.
Goodness knows I drop the ball every summer. It’s dropped right now. As soon as that humidity kicks in I become the lazy ponytail lady, interspersed with maybe a top or bottom knot. I rarely blow dry my own hair and until I welcomed the L’Oreal Professionnel Steam Pod into my life, I wouldn’t have bothered with any iron styling either. {The Steam Pod actually humidity-proofs my hair from the frizz of summers past.}
This is a big area of my personal style I want to improve on in 2013. I want to embrace different ways to wear my hair up. Quick, easy ways that look impressive but don’t take me forever to create.
Style work
So who’s with me? Who wants to improve the way they style their hair?
Here are some ways how:
1. Book a “the works” appointment with your hair stylist. If you currently don’t have a stylist then ask around – girlfriends or colleagues who have similar hair to you and live in your area may be able to recommend someone.
2. Be upfront with your hair stylist about how long you have each day to style your hair – and your ongoing budget. A good stylist will work with you on both counts.
3. Book a session with your hair stylist specifically to get a tutorial on how to style your hair different ways for everyday. If you’ve always wanted to master your styling iron, then book a session devoted just to that.
4. Teach yourself different styling techniques at home. My blogging friend Christina Butcher at Hair Romance has written and compiled two e-books that will give you an amazing start. The first is 30 Styles in 30 Days and the second, 30 Braids in 30 Days. Both are incredible resources with simple-to-follow pictorial tutorials. Click here to visit Hair Romance. You’ll find links to both e-books at the top of site.
Tell me your hair story. Are you happy with your hair? When was the last time you changed your style or colour? And if you have an amazing hair stylist, feel free to give them a shout-out in case someone else reading this is looking for a stylist in your area.
… I’ll start with the recommendations: most of the styles above and my cut and colour I owe to the very special Maria Faulder at Suite Three Hair, Buderim {Sunshine Coast, Queensland}.
PS. Don’t forget if you want to share any of your progress along the way via photos, you can upload them in the comments or share via Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #unlockyourstyle and make sure you tag me so I can find it (@stylingyou). Facebook uploads to my page are welcome too.
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** The Styling You Holiday Style Camp {Unlock Your Style in 14 Days} is based on the Styling You Manifesto. If you don’t have your own, you can download it here. I’ll also be giving away a proper printed Styling You Manifesto from The Smile Collective every day to the reader who catches my eye with their comments and participation.
Unlock Your Style in 14 Days (Day 4 manifesto winner): Jen (SE Qld). Jen, could you please email me your postal address: nikki@stylingyou.com.au
