Living Window

We decided to base our latest blog post on one of our favourite and most creative features in our salon – our living window displays.

We started the Living Window back in the spring of 2013 at a time where the sun was starting to shine on our salon window, revealing its many fingerprint marks and rain drops. Spending more time cleaning the window area allowed us to discover what a perfect suntrap, or rather in our mind, perfect greenhouse it is. 

With limited allotment space these days, we thought this could be the perfect area for those all-important seeds to create some fabulous sunflowers. This then followed on a year later with our successful gift idea to give a sunflower to any of our wonderful clients purchasing our new range of sustainable beauty products from Davines.

This idea continued to grow (excuse the pun) into the next spring which saw Paula harvest her first batch of veg in the salon.

We updated our Living Window this year by displaying our beautiful natural plants alongside our lovely Davines ‘Product of the Month’ showcasing all the wonderful natural products found in Davines’ products.

One of the best outcomes from our Living Window is how it’s got the salon talking! Whilst Pip’s tips helped Paula’s ever inspiring garden collection, it was our lovely clients who made the real difference, offering advice all year round which has helped us keep growing a lovely colourful window. 

Within the PS team we always manage a chance to talk plants, whether it’s joking about our maternal side coming out; with Paula naming some of the plants as her babies, or sometimes a few sad moments when some just need to be composted. And without too many problems on who’s watering what, it has become a great focus on showing our lovely team work.

We asked everyone in our PS team to share their favourites from over the time…

Paula “Mine has to be the spring herb garden -inspired by Jo Malone’s window of fragrances seen in Kensington this year. I just loved the layers of pots you can plant with each one very unique in smell and appearance whilst still always complementing each other”.

Becki “I really enjoyed making origami stars with Ellie at Christmas so in February I asked my nephew to help me make origami hearts for our Love display.”

Ellie “Our Great British seaside holiday in August 2015 had such cute details.  The gorgeous grasses brought the coast to Frimley!”

And Pippa explained why the Kitchen window was her favourite display;

“The idea for the kitchen themed window came about to celebrate our seventh birthday, because it was all about cake!

Cake is the first thing people usually think about when planning a birthday party... and because it starts in the kitchen- so did our window display. We also discussed ideas of 'the perfect recipe for a great hair do' and the same for a great salon team.

It was great fun planning the display and making the furniture we needed, including the gingham curtain. Collecting our 50s vintage utensils from our own kitchens was also a nice way of demonstrating teamwork... Adding hair tools finished off the look. Our sister Katharine was instrumental in dressing the window and even created some black and white 'tiles' to frame it.

I think the best thing of all about our October '15 window was how much it engaged passers by. We get a lot of interest from our window displays, some people look forward to what we will think up next and others think we have lost the plot! Whatever the reaction, we love the fact it gets people talking.”

Our Living Window has become very season-based which we have kept in running with the health and wellbeing inside the salon. PS’ third creative sister Katharine has helped us to incorporate furniture and ornaments and a certain sense of style to the window to complement the plants on display.

   

This year so far we have managed to create themes including an awesome winter bulb incubation, a spring herb garden (which changes monthly) as well as a summer holiday wish list.

Alongside learning these plant techniques our PS team have tried their hands at origami (as mentioned by Becki above) and homemade wooden planters, encouraged by our love of upcycling.

So who says our creative talents and interests have to stop at hairstyling? As a team we find it so much fun to try new things and showcase them within our shop. And it’s even better when our lovely clients join in as they have done this year with donations of aloes and trees.

A sense of community has definitely been brought into the salon through our window, which has become our best way to communicate our identity. So come down to Frimley High Street and have a look for yourselves!

  

The Art of the Blowdry

This month in the salon, we’ve been inspired by the gorgeous pastels of a Miami summer, which got us thinking about gorgeous Floridian women.  From Faye Dunaway to Megan Fox and Aryana Grande the thing these ladies have in common is long, smooth hair.  But how do they achieve this in the humid atmosphere of their native state?

The answer is - the not so humble blowdry.  Many techniques and products can be used to create a glorious finish every time and we’ve dedicated this blog post to sharing some of our best tricks and tips.

In the salon we have fallen in love with Angelo Seminara’s Your Hair Assistant range.  Created especially for blowdrying, from prep shampoo and balm to volumising powder, this range will help make your perfect blowdry a reality. 

In the salon the YHA prep shampoo and conditioning balm has become Becki’s basin favourite. Becki describes how she creates a smooth finish…

“There are certain elements that depend on your hair type.  A smoothing shampoo and conditioner are always the best place to start.  I love the Your Hair Assistant prep shampoo and prep rich balm, and use these whenever I get the opportunity.  After a quick towel dry I use humidity resistant spray, which will work to set the style.  I would also use a heat protective spray at this stage.  The one I turn to most is Oi Milk.  This will give your hair extra protection when using a hair dryer or straighteners.   

Next I would use relaxing moisturising fluid as a smoothing lotion.  Now it’s time to start drying.  Rough dry with a paddle or vent brush.  This will speed up your styling and stop your arms getting too tired.  Once the hair is 80% dry divide into sections.  If you have thick or wavy hair I would suggest making the sections quite small to make it easier to get a great finish.  Dry each section with a big round brush and a nozzle on your hairdryer. 

If you have been thorough with your sectioning and kept tension your hair should be beautifully straight now. 

During training we’re taught to get the results using a brush and dryer, avoiding using straighteners.  However, if you have got to this point and want your hair to be straighter and smoother still repeat the process of sectioning and then straighten.  You will have already used a heat protector spray so no additional haircare product is needed at this stage. 

Your hair will now be perfect and I would finish with Oi Oil as a serum, locking in shine.

Always remember, the must-use product when completing a finish like this is heat protection.”

Another great look that can be achieved with a blowdry is the big volume finish. Pippa shares with us how to create this style...

“I would start with a deep cleanse shampoo such as Davines Solu.  Then Momo shampoo and conditioner to give moisture and help with shine.

Wrapping your hair in a towel is the best way to absorb excess moisture without disturbing the cuticle.  After this apply 3 drops of liquid gold, AKA Oi Oil; rub gently through the mid lengths and ends and then comb through gently with a wide toothed comb. 

My styling product of choice is Davines More inside volumising mousse.  Now we’re ready.  All this prep is important to make sure your blowdry looks good and lasts well.

To help get added lift, tip your head upside down and blast the roots with a hairdryer, using your fingers to ensure the air gets all the way through.

In salon I would then use a large round bristle brush to blowdry added volume, smoothness and curl into your hair. If, however, you are styling your hair at home I would use this opportunity to brush through with a paddle brush to finish off the drying.  And then use large Velcro rollers to give yourself the ‘cheat’ salon blowdry.  Leave the rollers in for 10 minutes to 1 hour.

When you take them out ruffle your fingers through, fix into position and spray.  I would use Davines More Inside firm hold hairspray.”

In the salon you will see us using all sorts of bottles and wonder ‘what on earth are you using and why?’  Always feel free to ask us and we’ll share these styling secrets with you.  Ask us about our PreScription card at your next appointment.

There are so many other things that you can do to achieve a salon finish at home. 

We offer Kerastraight services in the salon.  The ultimate treatment lasts for up to six months, which is wonderful.  The only downside is that it takes up to 3 hours to complete the treatment in the salon.

The KS Boost however is a £25 treatment that can be added to a blowdry or cut and blowdry in the salon.  It’s smoothing effects last for up to one month.  We spoke to one of our clients, Sharon, who regularly uses the KS Boost treatment.

How does your hair feel after the KS Boost treatment?

Lovely! It feels like it’s in really good condition.  Really soft and shiny.

You usually have KS boost every 9 weeks, how long do you feel the effect of the treatment in your hair?

It feels healthy for the whole time.  I straighten it less too.

What change have you made to your haircare routine as a result of having the KS Boost treatment regularly?

I still straighten it because I’m overly fussy!  I definitely need to straighten it less, I still colour it but now I feel my hair is protected.

How do you style your hair at home?  How long does it take now and how long did it take before you used the treatment regularly?

About 10 minutes blowdry and 5 minutes straightening.  It took about half an hour before. Plus it’s quite a nice relaxing treatment over a coffee and a friendly atmosphere!  I would definitely recommend it.

 For more information on the Kerastraight treatments we offer check out our previous blogpost here.