ColourNation

Colourist of the Year Awards 2012

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:00:00 +0100

Val was nominated for the Colourist of the Year 2012 award as voted by the public at the English Hair and Beauty Awards 2012.

Val was recognised as one of the five best colourists in the UK at this prestigius awards ceremony hosted by the Saturdays pop group.
Here's some pictures from the event in Manchester.

Val didn't win this year but it's only a matter of time...

300) this.width=300" />
300) this.width=300" />
300) this.width=300" />

Hair Salon App Windows Mobile Launched

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:44:07 +0100

The ColourNation Hair Salon Windows Mobile App is now live and can be downloaded from Windows Marketplace.

Here's a link to some preview shots from the app.

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/app ... ae-4ba3-82c4-58e45d71d2d7

Justin Beiber Hairdressers/Hair Style

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:10:00 +0100

Yesterday we had Justin Beiber and hundreds of screaming fans outside the salon.

No photo's this time because the crush was too much to get anywhere near.

(there's a pic here which the eagle eyed will see was taken outside the salon with our neighbours yellow and black signage just visible.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celeb ... with-2000-fake-calls.html)

Definately the biggest crowd we've seen for any celebrity so far.

Andrew

Wedding Hair Styles Tips

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:05:20 +0100

Beautiful, long , thick and healthy hair central to looking your best on your wedding day, it's all part of the dream wedding.
On her special day a bride should feel feminine and at her best, like a enhanced version of herself.

Here are my six tips to perfect bridal hair...
1. Choosing your Salon and Stylist: Go to at least three salons to discuss what you're trying to achieve for your big day, listen carefully to what you're told and then consider which stylist you felt most comfortable with. Look for reviews of the stylist and salon to ensure they can deliver your dream hair style. It's possible to have your stylist attend your wedding, to do your hair onsite but this is expensive as weddings tend to be on Saturday which is the busiest day for many salons. A more cost effective alternative is to visit your salon early in the morning of the wedding, many salons will open early for a wedding party and provide a champagne breakfast this has the added advantage of allowing you and your bridesmaids to all have your hair done at the same time (with different stylists) rather than one after the other which quickly eats into your day.
2. Hair Preparations: Starting early, up to six- eight months prior to the wedding is a good time. Get your professional salon to advise you on a course of in salon treatments (professional products are more intensive and can be professionally tailored for your hair condition) to ensure your hair is as healthy as possible for the big day.
3. Home Care: Follow this up with home care products that compliment your salon treatments, recommended by your specialist.
4. Hair Colour: If you want your hair coloured, plan early and ideally book in for your first colour 8 weeks before the big day so that you have the time to try the colour and adjust it with your stylist as desired.
5. Hair Extensions: If you feel you need more length or body to your hair, hair extensions are definitely the way to go and GreatLengths 100% human hair extensions are the best on the market in my opinion. GreatLengths when applied well can deliver amazing body and length for a bride very quickly but also specialist effects like striking sections of colour or eye catching Swarovski crystal strands, they're probably the most popular bridal hair accessory at the moment. GreatLengths Hair extensions will behave like real hair when professionally applied, allowing you a lot more versatility on your wedding day for example allowing you to change your style throughout your celebrations. They will also last for between 7-9 months which means you'll get to enjoy longer, thicker hair beyond your big day. Cheaper hair or less experienced extensionist are a false economy, poor quality hair will quickly show its true colours, there's nothing worse than extensions that look like extensions - they will definitely ruin the photos, we want them invisible, equally application in critical so that when hair is put up for the wedding, the extensions bonds are still invisible. Always have your extensions put in a few weeks prior to your wedding as this allows time for them to settle in and give you time to get used to them.
6. The Dry Run: Anything to reduce pressure on the big day is time well spent. You want to enjoy your big day, so taking the time to dry run the whole wedding hair a week before is a good investment. This gives you a chance to ensure everything is just how you imagined it for the big day. A great stylist should be able to develop a hair up hair style for the big day which with a few pins removed will fall into the perfect wedding night party style.

Remember to talk to your salon professional well in advance to put a hair plan in place, once this is set up you can relax knowing your crowning glory is ready for the big day. At ColourNation we offer free consultations with no obligation call us on 0845 88 88 333 for your appointment.

Brad Metcalfe - GreatLengths Extensionist of the Year Finalist 2010-12
Assistant Manager - ColourNation London Hairdressers
www.colournation.com

Private Hairdressing - The National UAE

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:20:03 +0100

ColourNation hair salon in London's West End not only can help clients with the desired rejuvenation process, but also boasts a private all-female room for hijab-wearing patrons. The owner, says: "I think everyone wants to look nice. You make your first impression in the first three seconds, so the more we can do to make that a good impression, the better. People look at your face when they meet you and your hair frames your face. If your hair's not good you feel negatively scrutinised. But many women like to have beautiful hair just for their own self-confidence, even women whose hair may not be seen in public. Why do women spend money on underwear that nobody is going to see? Because it makes them feel special." [The owner] says that hairdressing is one of those businesses where people come in miserable and go out empowered, confident and floating on air.

The stylist Salma Begun, 23, often styles the hair of women who wear the headscarf. "Even a flick blow-dry can be maintained underneath," she says. "Obviously, it needs to be twisted in a certain way and tied back, but you should be able to take the pins out at home and all the curls will bounce out perfectly."

Begun believes that hair is the most important aspect of a woman's appearance and that just cleaning it can be a confidence-boost. "Certain haircuts suit you and some don't." She says the tiniest cut can make you feel better. "It's a psychological thing and it's partly about going to the salon and having your hair washed and dried. It's the attention. Clients always go out happier."

Begun, like many of us, insists that she will not leave the house with bad hair.

"It drives me mental," she says. "The whole day is ruined if it's bad. But I get up early especially to do it. There's always a way. Pin it up, or a ponytail is good. If you have a fringe then you have to style it, of course. You can use dry shampoo. There's always something you can do."

And when there isn't, there is always the big, all-concealing hat option.

- Anna Blundy - UAE The National - Apr 21, 2012

http://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/w ... spair-about-our-hair#full

Nicki Minaj Hair/ Hairdressers

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:30:00 +0100

Nicki Minaj was outside the salon today providing an interesting diversion for some of our clients.

300) this.width=300" />

300) this.width=300" />

Heidi Southern Regional Finalist Wella Trend Vision Awards 2012

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:40:00 +0100

We're proud to announce that Heidi has been selected as a Southern Regional Finalist for the Wella 2012 Trend Vision Awards to be held in London in May.

Heidi submitted pictures for the competition which were judged strong enough to get her through to the regional heat with only a handful of other stylists from London and the southern region - stiff competition with some of the best salons in the UK in this region. She will now have to go to the Southern Regional Finals in London to produce her winning look live infront of an audience.

If she wins at the Regionals she will then go on to the National Finals.

We wish her every success.

Andrew

Hairdressers App Android Launched for ColourNation

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 14:14:50 +0100

ColourNation Hairdressers App launched for Android Phones.

We're really excited that the android version of our amp is now available for FREE download on Android App Store.

It has load of cool content, including:-

* Latest Twitter Tweets
* Directions to find us.
* Contact Details
* Youtube Videos
* Hair Styles Gallery
* Salon Photos
* Client Reviews
* Meet the team
* Price List
* CN Forum
* CN Website
* Online Booking
* Client Reviews
* App feedback

All available on your phone via the ColourNation London Hairdressers App.

Don't use Android? Watch out for Windows and iPhone versions in app stores over the coming weeks (they're just awaiting approval).

Andrew

Great Lengths Gold Salon 2012

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:22:10 +0100

ColourNation is proud to be amoung only a handful of salons within the UK to be awarded Great Lengths Gold Salon Status.

The underlines our position as one of the very best hair extensions salons in London and the UK.

Brad our most senior extensionist was shortlisted for the 2010-12 Extensionist of the Year with only three other stylists in the UK.

Daily Mail Hairdressing Article Today

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0100

ColourNation was reviewed in the Daily Mail FeMail section today.

An undercover reporter was sent in to us after we had offered an intern position on the ETSIO website.

'ColourNation as a hairdressers I thought was really great, as were the people who worked there... I think someone coming along to your salon (as a normal work experience, not paying the daily charge) would learn and gain a lot.' - India Sturgis - Daily Mail, April 2012

We’d read about the website in the news (where young people pay the company for the experience of working in an industry to see if they like it) and thought we’d give it a try. India Sturgis was the only person who applied to us and she was the reporter from the Daily Mail.

She told us that she was working in publishing and bored - she had always wanted to be a hairdresser and so wanted to come in for three days to see what it was really like.

This was a work experience placement – not a training placement.

As a company we could never justify the time and effort needed to bring someone in and teach them how we do things, only for them to leave after three days – it just wouldn’t be viable.

The fact she paid a small amount to us for the experience made it worth considering doing this one internship to see how it went.

Given India had no previous experience or training in hairdressing the only role within the salon she could do was to be a salon junior, helping to ensure that the salon is running smoothly. Jobs include; cleaning, sweeping, making coffee, washing colour bowls, etc etc. Not hugely glamorous but essential for the salon to operate. Every stylist will have started in this role while they train to be a stylist, so we felt it would give her a good idea of what she would face if she decided to change careers. She was assigned to one of the senior team members (Brad) to shadow him and watch what he was doing.

When the placement ended Brad sat India down and asked if she was happy with the experience she had got.

The company also rang her after a few days to check if the experience was what she had expected and if she was happy.

There is a hierarchy of skills within the hairdressing, learning to see the jobs which need doing and to anticipate client needs before they happen is the first stage in this process. The closest she came to serving clients was to bring coffees and gown up clients ready for colour.

Our clients would never have forgiven us, and our reputation for quality would be jeopardised, if we had allowed someone with no qualifications or experience to wash hair, let alone do any other client service within the salon after just three days.

Yes working in a salon as a junior can be hard work, but it is an essential role within the salon and thousands of young people do it across the country as a first step to a rewarding career as a professional hairdresser.

[What's amazing about this story is the Daily Mail reporter was here undercover on the same day the Sunday Times was in doing their article about hair extensions.. what are the chances...]