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How a new personalised hair treatment has changed my locks

9th March, 2017

Personalisation is everywhere these days. You can personalise everything from bags to shoes to fragrances so why not your hair treatment too?

Everyone has their own unique concerns about their hair, whether it’s battling split ends or brittle strands, so it stands to reason that there shouldn’t be a one size fits all policy when it comes to hair treatments. Enter new System Professional. I recently road-tested this new range via a treatment at Sydney’s Valonz and there’s definitely something to be said for extending a little personalisation into hair maintenance.

When it comes to my hair, my key issues are mostly split ends and dryness. I have found that some treatments can leave my hair a little bit too silky and can in turn leave it limp so I wanted to ensure that my hair still had a bit of texture. All of this was taken into account during my EnergyCode^TMMapping session which involved filling in a detailed questionnaire with the help from a System Professional trained hair stylist, via an in-salon app. This digital app has been designed to assess my hair and scalp concerns and in turn offer up a bespoke haircare prescription, which comprised of a perfectly tailored in-salon treatment and the ideal products to use at home.

The questionnaire asked me how I felt about my hair, what results I wanted from the treatment and the current state of my hair; from whether my hair dried straight or curly to if I had a dry or oily scalp… (when I say detailed, I mean detailed). System Professional discovered that everyone’s hair has its own unique “hair energy” which is as unique as a fingerprint, and by filling in the questionnaire it can identify a bespoke hair care regime for me containing EnergyCode^TM Complex, a combination of five naturally occurring lipids and ingredients that can boost hair quality and restore hair’s energy.

After filling out the app along with discussions about my hair woes, my stylist Stuart and the proprietary tool determined the correct hair perfecting treatment regimen to use on my hair, and it was perfectly suited to address my individual concerns. I had the treatment performed during the course of a haircut so there was no need to book in a separate appointment. The treatment was simple, it involved painting on the solution to my hair using a small brush and leaving it in for a while, after which the solution was washed out. Already my hair felt noticeably different – soft, smooth and just the right level of silky.

To keep the effect of virgin-like hair going I was prescribed my EnergyCode™ to use at home, which I’m currently using. I usually find that the effects of a treatment disappear a day or two after I have it done, so I’m currently trialling this new haircare system to see if it will prolong salon-fresh hair after being exposed to my usual day-to-day styling. Stay tuned to hear the results…

Find your nearest System Professional salon here: systemprofessional.com

Discussing my hair concerns during my initial consultation

Each energy code is as unique as a fingerprint

Discussing my hair concerns

The treatment in action

My personal prescription for great hair

The finished result

This post was created in collaboration with System Professional

Beauty

My current hair routine

20th February, 2017

I’ll let you in on a little secret: when it comes to my hair I’m really low maintenance. I’m lucky enough to have the kind of hair that has a bit of texture to it so I can wash and wear it without having to do too much to it. However there are certain things I have built into my hair routine:

I don’t go too long between a cut and colour

I get my hair cut by Renya Xydis at her salon, Valonz in Sydney’s Paddington along with getting my hair coloured (Dan at the salon does my colour) and I try and do this every 6-8 weeks so my hair looks fresh which I find means I don’t need to do too much to it.

I put a treatment in through my hair

If I can I’ll sometimes do a treatment in my hair when I’m at the hairdresser. If I don’t have the time I’ll just buy a leave-in treatment from the supermarket and I’ll just pop it in my hair when I’m washing it.

I don’t use too much product

To get a little body and texture in my hair I’ll use a volume powder when I’m styling it. Also I recently discovered Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray at a photo shoot I was on so I have started using it to help protect may hair from heat damage.

I wear it up or curly

My hair doesn’t require too much fuss so I tend to just roughly blow dry it to get the moisture out of it. Truth be told I don’t have much time to do my hair so most of the time I will just put it up in a ponytail when I’m on the go. Otherwise I find it easier to curl it than blow dry it straight so I just do loose curls or tie it back in a low bun or a top knot.

What are some of your hair essentials?

Fashion

Sophia’s favourite accessory

3rd December, 2015

As far as accessories go one of the questions I frequently get asked is what type of bows Sophia wears. The answer? Pixies Bows! She’s now got quite the collection in various colours as I use them everyday. Sophia’s had lots of hair from the moment she was born so she’s worn clips for quite awhile and now her hair is getting quite long it gets in her eyes, so I love Pixies Bows because they help keep her hair off her face while also being really cute.

I’ve used a lot of bows and clips and these have been the only kind that don’t fall out as they have a non slip clip enclosure so it works on really fine hair. It also comes in different sizes which is great. I like the medium-sized bows at the moment but when Sophia was a baby I used the smaller ones in her hair so I’ll probably graduate her to the bigger ones when she’s older.

If anyone has a little girl or are looking for a great present for Christmas I can attest to the fact these bows come in really handy. They’re definitely Sophia’s hair accessory of choice as she doesn’t leave home without one.

Want to buy a Pixies Bow? You can find them here.

Beauty

New hair, new colour, new cut

19th May, 2015

When I had Sophia I thought I wanted a bit of a change as far as my hairstyle went. So I went to Valonz in Paddington and I was going to cut it all off. That was until hair stylist Renya Xydis stepped in and said “no you can’t cut it all off, everyone cuts it off after a baby, if you want a change go buy a new dress.” If a hair expert like Renya says so, I’m not going to argue!

So I decided to go a little bit lighter instead. My colourist is Amber Pompeii at Valonz and she is fantastic. I started off with blonder foils but I found it was just a bit too blonde so now it’s gone to a bit of balayage but it’s a bit higher up so it’s not a two tone colour, it just naturally goes from my natural colour to the blonde which makes it look a bit more natural.

As for the new length? Well the last few years I’ve had my hair quite a bit shorter, and after having Sophia (I think a lot of mums will agree with me here!) I found it really hard to find the time to get my hair cut. So I was a bit bad in keeping my appointments so it just naturally got quite a bit longer. I was after a change so I actually got what I was after!

You know what they say, a change is as good as a holiday.

Photography: Sophia Athas

Beauty, Fashion

Moroccanoil Styling Suite at Fashion Weekend Sydney

15th May, 2015

With Moroccanoil Global Creative Design Team Educator Kevin Hughes

As I have mentioned in a previous post, Moroccanoil is one of my hair essentials so when I was invited by Moroccanoil to be their exclusive hair blogger at the launch of Fashion Weekend Sydney I jumped at the chance. I was fortunate enough to be able to visit the Moroccanoil Styling Suite and had a chance to hang out backstage to see Moroccanoil’s Global Creative Design Team Educator Kevin Hughes in action. Kevin’s styled the hair of celebs like Emily Blunt and Natasha Henstridge and worked with designers such as Badgley Mischka and Carolina Herrera and is doing the hair styling for the runway shows for the weekend so I couldn’t wait to ask him for his big hair trend predictions for this year (see hair trends below!).

The Moroccanoil Styling Suite is open all weekend at Fashion Weekend Sydney so make sure you head down there to get your hair done and check out the latest Moroccanoil range. I know I picked up a new favourite or two!

Getting my hair styled by Kevin

Chatting about the season’s biggest hair trends

Kevin Hughes’ fave hair trends to watch out for this season…

Kevin did a low messy bun for the models on the runway and he said this is very much in keeping with the big hair trends of the season. It’s all about not looking too done (hair that’s too curly or too straight is definitely out) so the hairstyle he created was all about loose pieces and creating movement as the models walked. Along with messy buns look out for…

Braids and plaits: Kevin’s tip is to try and keep it loose and not too tight and just have fun with it.
Waves: It’s more the subtle or barely there wave so the hair doesn’t look done and that’s really important when trying to create the look this season.
The white look: Think glossy and shiny especially at the top and then more natural at the back.
Ponytails with a twist: This isn’t your average pony! It might be a ponytail with a kink in it or a bit of loose wave but the aim is to have something a bit different to your every day straight ponytail.

When attempting any of these trends at home Kevin says don’t be afraid to go on YouTube and copy a hair tutorial. Plus practise makes perfect so definitely experiment. He says he learned to do braids by following YouTube videos so if a hair expert says video tutorials are the way to go then definitely try it for yourself at home.

The runway show

Think unstructured and relaxed

This low bun style would be a great hairstyle for your next event

Hair should have texture and movement

The extensive Moroccanoil range

Some of the lovely ladies at Fashion Weekend Sydney getting their hair done at the Moroccanoil Styling Suite

Having fun at the styling suite

If you do get to visit the Morocannoil styling suite be sure to ask your hair stylist for some tips on achieving the look at home

Beauty

The haircut that is majorly trending

4th March, 2015

The bob is having a major moment. The look is fresh, modern and so versatile and I’m loving the fact celebrities are all jumping on board the trend and giving it their own take. I know I found styling my long bob really easy and it was about as low maintenance as you can get.

If you’re thinking of getting a bob make sure to take into account your face shape. A haircut that suits square shaped faces may not suit round or heart shaped faces and vice versa – you want to get the most flattering style and length for you. If in doubt, always talk to your hairdresser before you start and get them to recommend a particular bob style that they think would suit you. Get them to talk you through the cut and be sure to tell them what you do and don’t want from a haircut. If you only have limited time to style your hair and the cut you want requires some extensive styling, then you might need to modify the cut slightly to suit your needs. Also, if you’re afraid to go short, there’s no harm in doing it gradually. After all it’s easier to cut more off than have to wait to grow it out! If you’re after a change I would definitely suggest taking the plunge – it’s a haircut that definitely works on so many different people. I’ve even prepared some celeb inspiration for you!

Photography: Harpers Bazaar, Vogue, Daily Mail

Beauty

My pre-event beauty prep

2nd March, 2015

When I’m getting ready on a day-to-day basis my beauty routine usually only takes 15 minutes! However if I’m going to attend a big event, I usually like to get some beauty treatments done beforehand to make sure I’m event-ready.

The facial

I love to get facials in the lead up to an event so my skin is looking its best. I always go for an antioxidant peel with blueberry extracts at The Clinic in Sydney’s Bondi Junction. They do really beautiful facials and I always leave with my skin feeling really refreshed and rejuvenated.

The spray tan

I will get a spray tan prior to an event but nothing too crazy – I just like a really light subtle shade. I go to Bronzalicious at Neutral Bay or the Sydney CBD as they do a really natural looking tan. I find that a spray tan is a nice finishing touch to an outfit.

Hair and makeup

If I’m attending a big event such as the Melbourne Cup I always prefer to just get a professional in to do my hair and makeup. However if I’m in Sydney for an event I’ll get my hair done at Valonz in Paddington, they always do a really amazing job. I usually prefer a simple hairstyle and will usually just either get a blow dry or pull my hair back in a sleek bun.

Photography: Tamika Keioske

Beauty

Beauty looks to steal from London Fashion Week

27th February, 2015

When it comes to the shows, the clothes obviously take centre stage but the runway is also a great source of beauty inspiration. While there are some looks that look more at home on the runway than real life, there are definitely plenty of beauty looks worth stealing from the catwalk. These looks from London Fashion Week are definite trends to watch for…

There’s something to be said about no makeup makeup. Christopher Kane sent seemingly bare faced models down the runway with luminous skin, perfectly groomed brows and just a hint of shine on the lips. A no fuss look to try when you want to go a bit more natural with your makeup.

The models in the Erdem show rocked 60s mod looks with a side swept fringe and simple bold black eyeliner. If you’re looking to change up your hair, sweep your look to the side and simply pin back with a bobby pin.

The Topshop Unique show was all about slightly messy unstructured waves. With a deep side part and slight texture throughout, it was a different take on messy bed hair.

This look from the Burberry Prorsum show is a great one to try on a night out. It’s about slightly glossy candy lips (great if you’re not in the mood for a bold lip), a slightly metallic smoky eye and just a hint of luminiser to accentuate the cheekbones. Simple but still glam.

Photography: style.com

Beauty

The key to low maintenance hair

6th January, 2015

I used to be really bad at maintaning my hair but I soon realised that if I made sure to get a regular trim that it not only made my hair look healthy but having freshly cut hair and a good colour saved me a lot of styling time. And really that’s my secret to low maintenance hair – start with a great base haircut and everything falls into place.

I make a point of getting my hair trimmed every six weeks at Valonz in Sydney’s Paddington. I usually just ask for a long bob with a few shorter layers around my face and I like to have a few lighter balayage highlights through my hair. I think Valonz are particularly good at keeping colour looking natural.

As far as hair styling goes, on most days I’m just a ‘wash it and let it dry’ kind of girl. I don’t really tend to do any fancy hairstyles either, sometimes I might give my hair a quick blow dry or just tie it up into a little chignon knot. Nothing too tricky! I like to be out the door in as little time as possible.

What are some of your hair secrets?

Beauty

The hair products I can’t live without

24th November, 2014

I have a really low maintenance approach to my hair. Most of the time I either just blow dry it or tie it back in a bun. However there are still three staples in my hair product wardrobe that I can’t live without.

Moroccanoil

Sometimes if my hair is a bit dry I put a bit of Moroccanoil through it. I think it’s really good for hydrating and repairing hair.

Bumble and Bumble Holding Spray

I find this has got really good hold but it’s really light so it doesn’t make your hair look crusty!

Schwarzkopf Extra Care Styling Instant Volume Powder

I think this is great for when I want a bit of volume in my hair or if I’m putting my hair back in a bun I find that it holds it all into place.

What are your favourite hair products?

Photography: Bumble and Bumble

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