How to get the perfect cut & colour

 

Which brush should I use?

Classic

The pronounced, separated quills of a classic brush are designed to hold the hair steady as you blowdry it. They also provide a thorough brushing for fine hair that is dry and may be static from your pillow.

 

Vent 

Vent brushes have holes in the base, or in the case of tunnel brushes, in the barrel. They let the air from your hairdryer circulate around the brush and hair, speeding up drying time and building volume.

 

Radial/Round

When blowdrying short hair, use a small, round brush on damp hair to reach the root. For mid-length-to-long-hair, use a larger round brush and smoothing lotion, moving the brush under and down the hair.

 

Paddle

A paddle brush is best used for smoothing long locks. Although predominately aimed at mid-length to long hair, paddle brushes also work smooth wonders on short, thick hair too.

 

Cushion

After using a vent brush to start your blowdry, apply serum and work through with a cushion brush. The padded surface helps minimise static and keeps the hair follicle smooth for a sleek finish.

 

What’s your face shape?

 

Heart

Kate Moss

The high cheekbones that often accompany heart-shaped faces mean you can get away with many styles. A fringe draws attention to your eyes, whereas shorter elfin crops can prettify the jaw line. 

 

 

 

Round

Rachel Bilson

Tumbling waves suit a round face. Avoid thick, eye-skimming fringes as they can cut your face in two and make a wide face look wider. Simple up do’s also work, but are best softened with delicate wispy layers around the cheekbones. 

 

 

 

Long

Nicole Kidman

Loosely pile up long hair to make a tall, thin face feminine and less angular. Injecting large Hollywood waves throughout your hair can make a long face look more heart-shaped – making the top flat and the sides wider also creates this illusion. Go for a sweeping fringe if you have long layers to draw attention to your eyes. 

 

 

 

 

 

Oval

Sienna Miller

The oval is the most versatile face shape. Whatever your length, you will always look your best with layers near your cheekbones, lips or chin, deposing on what feature you want to highlight. Avoid short layers that add height as this will only lengthen your face.

 

 

 

The Colour Rules

 

Think skin tone

If you want a natural-looking finish, then you will need to consider your skin tone. As a general rule, cool skin tones suit cool colours (like blue and purple), whereas warm skin tones suit warm colours (like red and orange). These colours should form the base of any colour you would like to add to your hair.

 

Light and natural?

If you’re just after a shade that enhances what you already have, or returns your hair to its natural tone, then highlights for blondes and a semi-permanent colour for brunettes may be the perfect answer. Both options add shine.

 

Solid and shiny?

Some colour treatments thicken the hair strand. With this in mind, if you’re after a shade that makes your hair healthy-looking then an all over semi permanent or permanent shade may be the answer. In general, semi permanents are less damaging than permanents.

 

Flashes of brightness?

Make solid, dark shades more interesting with lowlights. These thin strips of muted bright and dark shades look like filtered light and are often viewed as ‘highlights’ for brunettes, but they can equally be placed through red hair too. The thicker the colour section, the more contemporary the finished look. 

 

A serious statement?

Colour is where you can really show your individuality. If you are dark and you want to be bright pink, you will need a full head bleach first to give yourself a light enough base colour to dye onto. You can also bleach smaller sections of hair that you colour up in different shades depending on your mood. 

 

The Style Options 

 

Will I suit a fringe?

Fringes suit most face shapes, especially long ones and can even hide wrinkles. Avoid a straight, thick fringe if you have a square face as it can make it look more angular. 

 

Should I go short?

Short hair looks great on those with small features and/or oval, heart and round faces. 

 

What will layers do?

Layers add movement and texture to fine, lacklustre hair. They also help frame round and long faces and can be used to thin out thicker hair.

 

Does my hair need thinning out?

Very thick hair can sometimes benefit from thinning scissors but beware if your hair is coarse too, as cutting it too short can make it spike up, leaving your root area messy. 

 

What about my curls?

It definitely pays to hunt out a stylist who knows how to cut curls, as they can be tricky at the best of times. Always overestimate length when you have it cut, especially if your hair is wet, to make sure your hair doesn’t spring back into a much shorter style.