We’ve had a few lovely guests getting in touch with the Clifton hairdressers at NOCO Hair in recent weeks, asking for advice on how to maintain clean shiny hair in lockdown despite our hair salon being temporarily closed.

So, we thought we’d share our top tips here on the best ways to keep your hair in awesome condition, despite the restrictions in place during the Covid-19 lockdown across Bristol.

Here at NOCO Hair on Whiteladies Road, our hair care experts focus on the science behind maintaining healthy hair to give our guests the very best hair.

We always ask our guests to think of each single strand of hair as containing two critical elements that need nourishing and protecting:

1. The Cortex – the main body of the hair strand, that holds all the bonds and the part that defines how strong hair will be.
2. The Cuticle – this is the hairs’ protective layer, and sits on top of the cortex like roof tiles on a house.

Here are our top six tips on maintaining silky, shiny, healthy, clean hair from root to tip. The cleansing stage is absolutely vital for boosting hair integrity.

Cleanse (shampoo)

• Our top tip is to clean the hair twice. The first shampoo cleanse opens up the cuticle and lifts dirt out, whilst the second shampoo thoroughly cleans the hair.

• To get the best results, soak hair down with warm water, apply shampoo at the root and work in slow circular motions. Rinse and repeat this process.

Tone (conditioner)

• This is one of the best-kept secrets of all Clifton hairdressers – thank us later, when we next see you in the salon! Towel dry your hair before adding conditioner. This is the key to shiny hair.

• If the cuticle is open and full of moisture, you’ll simply dilute the conditioner and wash it down the sink. The conditioner’s job is to close the hair cuticles and protect the cortex.

• After shampooing, rinse your hair, ring it out, towel dry it and place conditioner on the mid-lengths and ends then working up to about two inches from the roots. The cuticle is already strong at the root, so needs help to be closed.

• It’s the mid-lengths and ends that need the most help with conditioning. For a standard conditioner, our Clifton hair care team suggest leaving it on for at least two minutes, and from 10-15 minutes for a hair masque. Then rinse.

Cold Rinse

• Is the cold rinse a myth? We say no. Warm water will open up the cuticles, whilst cold water will; help close them down. It’s not essential in the Winter, but a cold rinse will certainly go a long way to giving your hair a good shine.

Moisturise (leave-in conditioner)

• After shampooing, thoroughly rinse and towel dry the hair. With any product, when the hair is 100% dry, the product can deliver 100% hold.

• Wet hair dilutes products, whilst hair that’s too dry can leave the hair heavy or oily. Our Whiteladies Road hairstylists recommend towel dry at the roots with a dabbing motion first, as the hair holds here. Get the hair about 75% dry.

• Apply leave-in conditioner to the mid-lengths and ends, then work the conditioner up the hair carefully. For some guests, a spray works better.

Blow Dry

• This is entirely up to each individual, but please avoid wild drying and lots of hair swishing if you do blow dry. Our Clifton hair salon often see examples of damaged hair through overly-vigorous blow drying.

• If you’ve spent time opening up and closing down the cuticles, they need to remain closed. By keeping the hair dryer above the head with a nozzle diffuser on pointing down the hair shaft (away from the head) you’ll smooth out the cuticles, and start to see a shine appear.

• Here’s an amazing YouTube Demo from Stylist Liz on how to create a smooth blow-dry.

Seal it with a serum

• Seal the hair with a serum, to help close down the cuticles. Use also on the mid-lengths and ends to deliver stunning clean shiny hair – even in lockdown.

After taking the above steps, it’s possible to curl or wave hair knowing that it will be looking superb and in great condition.

It’s up to each individual how often hair is washed, and our Clifton hairstyling team advise washing hair as often as necessary to promote a healthy space for your hair to grow thicker and quicker.

Don’t worry if you’re losing hair in lockdown, either – it’s normal to lose between 100-150 hairs per day, irrespective of the stresses of Covid-19.

Visit the NOCO Hair Inspiration Hub here to find out more about clean hair, as well as examples of stunning, happy, healthy hair.

To find out about our latest Bristol hair salon News, please visit here.

We love all types of hair at NOCO: straight and sleek, voluminous curls, glossy waves… but frizz isn’t a good look for anyone, and it can be a problem for almost all hair types.

Frizz occurs when your hair doesn’t have enough moisture and the cuticle on individual hairs becomes rough. It can make your hair feel dry, brittle and difficult to style. Introduce any humidity (which we have plenty of in the UK) and your moisture-starved hair absorbs it, causing it the strands to swell, crinkle and generally spoil your look.

Why is my hair frizzing?

 There are lots of things that might make your hair more prone to frizz: frequently using hair products with sulphates, towel drying, and using heated tools without protection to name a few. You may also notice it more if you dye your hair or have naturally dry or fine hair.

Whatever the reason, if you find yourself with frizz you just can’t get under control, we’ve got a treatment you’ll love.

Phrizzy-o-therapy

 It’s our new favourite anti-frizz product! Here’s just a few headlines to help you understand why

• It only needs to be applied once every 10-12 weeks
• It’s designed for all hair types and textures
• It turns your frizz into smooth, shiny, soft, moisturised loveliness
• Not only that, but it’s progressive – so every time you use it, you can expect better results!

Like a keratin blow-dry, Phrizzy-o-therapy is semi-permanent, so a small effort every two-three months is enough to give you great hair every day.  The treatment process is also really easy.

How Do I Use it

First, your hair is washed using the pre-treatment cleansing shampoo. Next, your hair is towel dried and the product combed in. Leave for 30 minutes (50 if you have natural hair) and you’re ready to rinse and blow-dry. That’s it!

While some de-frizzing products can feel heavy or oily, Phrizzy-o-therapy leaves your hair feeling weightless and has a fresh, citrus scent. It uses professional-grade ingredients including keratin, plant extracts, and organic amino acids to add strength and shine.

Where can I find this treatment?

 We love Phrizzy-o-therapy so much at NOCO that we’ve recently begun to offer it in both our Bristol salon. Prices start from £80 per treatment in our Wells branch.

Book an appointment today to banish frizz and enjoy shinier, stronger hair.

A keratin blow dry can do beautiful things for your hair…

Since we offer them in our Bristol salon, we thought we’d take you through just a few of the benefits. Spoilers! They include making your hair shinier, healthier, and frizz free.

Brighter Shine

Keratin is a protein naturally found in your hair, skin and nails. Your hair can lose shine when its outer layers become broken or porous.

Keratin helps to smooth and mend these layers. The treatment can even make split ends seem to disappear by temporarily bonding the hair back together.

A smoother finish means shiny, glossy hair that can attract some serious attention.

Strength and Length

 Not only does the keratin protein repair any existing damage to your hair, it also protects it from UV rays!

With your hair strengthened through the power of keratin, it will be less prone to breakage. This means that you can look forward to hair which can grow longer, healthier.

Goodbye Frizz

 Your hair becomes frizzy when it looses moisture or the surface layers are damaged. By repairing the outer layers of your hair, keratin blow dries seal in the moisture. This banishes frizz from your style, even on drizzly or humid days.

Keratin also makes your hair much more manageable as a whole – taming curls and softening coarse hair. If you’ve spent years fighting your hair into submission every morning, this treatment might just be a life saver.

Long-Lasting

Keratin doesn’t permanently change the structure of your hair like some chemical relaxers, but it can still last between 2 and 6 months.

This saves you styling and blow drying time every day and means your hair won’t be exposed to regular heat.

Colour Lock

 If you’ve recently coloured your hair, or if you’re planning to, here’s a secret: keratin blow dries can keep your hair much more vibrant for longer!

Dye escapes your hair when the cuticle opens or becomes damaged, leading to disappointing colour fade. Keratin prevents this by strengthening the surface of your hair and sealing in the colour.

Heated tools and UV rays are also damaging to coloured hair. However, you’ll have little reason to reach for the straighteners after a treatment! By coating the surface of each hair, keratin can also provide some protection from the sun.

You’ll also find that many of the gentler, sulphate-free hair products needed for coloured hair are keratin-friendly too.

What else to consider…

 There are a few things to bear in mind before getting a keratin treatment. A major one is that your hair will need some special care for some time after the treatment, so make sure you’re ready to give it. This often includes keeping your hair dry and wearing it down for three days.

It also isn’t recommended that you colour or bleach your hair too soon after a keratin treatment, although you can do this beforehand.

Something else to think about is whether this treatment is suitable for your situation and hair type. If you have fine or frequently processed hair, you might be recommended an alternative hair-taming treatment such as Phrizzy-o-therapy. You should also check in with your stylist if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

Ready for your hair glow-up?

Great! We’re excited to help you to soft, manageable hair that looks gorgeous from the moment you wake up.

You can book a keratin blow dry at our Bristol salon. Prices start at £130 in Wells, £145 in Bristol. We’re looking forward to seeing you!

Dyed hair is a fabulous way to express your colourful personality, so it can be disappointing when it fades too quickly.

In this post, we’ll be exploring why your vibrant locks might be turning muted and what you can do to help your coloured hair to stay bright for weeks on end.

Why does dyed hair fade?

As you probably know, all coloured hair fades eventually if you go long enough without refreshing it. But why?

When you use permanent or semi-permanent colour in your style, it’s not just staining the outside of each hair. In most dyes, ammonia or MEA are used to swell and lift the cuticle (the protective outside layer of a hair) so the colour can get inside your hair cortex, where your natural pigment is usually found. The cuticle will then close again, trapping the colour inside.

However, activities like washing your hair or using heated tools can cause the cuticle to open again or become damaged, allowing some of the colour to escape.

But water and hair products aren’t the only culprit. Annoyingly, UV rays from the sun don’t only fade the dye, but tend to expose what remains of the natural pigment in your hair, muddying your chosen colour.

Why do some colours fade more quickly than others?

Red famously fades quicker than many other dye colours. This is partially due to the size of the molecules in this dye and partly because red dyes often include high levels of Pheomelanin, which is particularly light sensitive.

You might also find that light or unnatural colours – like pastel blue or purple – fade faster than you are expecting. For these colours to show up in your hair in the first place, it is often necessary to bleach it thoroughly beforehand. This process can make your hair more porous, meaning it’s easier for the dye to come out.

Browns usually go the longest without fading, but this can depend on your natural hair colour and type. If you’re considering a new colour but aren’t sure how long it’s likely to last in your hair, you can always talk to your stylist before you make the leap.

Whatever colour you choose, there’s a few time-trusted ways to save it from a premature fade…

1. Wash it Less

Over-washing is the enemy of vibrant hair, particularly if you’re using hot water. While permanent dye won’t wash off the surface of your hair the way temporary dye might, hot water and hair products can cause the cuticles in your hair to open, allowing the dye to escape or dissolve in the wash.

Try to only wash your hair every two or three days if possible, using scalp massages and colour-safe dry shampoo to tide you over between washes.

2. Hydration, hydration, hydration

Yeah, I know we just said to wash less, but there’s lots of other ways to get a good level of moisture into your locks.

The chemicals used to colour your hair can dry it out or make it more difficult for each strand to absorb moisture. Not only does this mean that your hair won’t look as shiny, but dry, porous hair might also loose its colour more quickly, as the cuticle won’t be effectively sealing the pigment inside.

A few ways to restore it include oil treatments, hair masks (we like the ones from kerastase) and maintaining a healthy diet.

3. Turn Down the Heat

As we just talked about, coloured hair is prone to some dryness anyway, so it can be easily damaged by hot tools like straighteners and curling wands. Even hairdryers can take their toll.

If you don’t want to ditch your straighteners entirely, at least try to limit your use or experiment with lower heat settings. You might also see some good results by complimenting your heat routine with conditioner or heat protection cream.

4.  Review your Products

To keep your hair in peak condition, it’s important to use colour-safe products, particularly when it comes to shampoo. Since shampoo is made to remove oil and deposits from your hair, it often removes some dye along with everything else.

Colour protecting products are much less harsh than regular shampoo and prevent your cuticle from lifting. They also often include additional moisturising ingredients.

If you’re unable to attain colour-protecting products, gentler shampoos will also ease the strain on your colour. Something to avoid at all costs are products containing alcohol or sulphates, as these can quickly strip the dye from your hair.

5. Shield from UV

Have you seen how sunlight fades photographs and soft furnishings? It does the same thing to your hair!

Not only that, but UV rays can also bring out your natural colour more, which can change the overall effect of your hair dye.

On the other hand, spending some time out in the sun is also beneficial for your wellbeing and producing vitamin D. So what to do?

If you’re planning to spend lots of time out in bright sunlight, you might just choose to protect your hair and make headscarves and hats part of your style next summer.

If you want to go for something a bit more subtle, you could invest in hair sunscreen. These can come as sprays, oils and creams and aim to protect your hair from UV rays. Some of these products even additionally protect from chlorine and salt water in case you fancy a swim.

Still have questions?

 If you’re ever unsure about how to care for coloured hair, the stylists at NOCO are happy to help.

Our free hair consultations give you the chance to ask all the questions you want about your new colour before your appointment. We will always give honest advice to help you choose a style and colour that makes you feel like every day’s a great hair day.

If you’ve ever been into one of our salons, you’ll know that every session comes with a scalp massage. We love pampering our guests like this, but not just because it feels good. Head massages have a whole host of benefits for physical and mental wellbeing.

The history of head massages can be tracked through European cave paintings, ancient Chinese texts, and traditional Indian medicine. Some even think it dates all the way back to primate grooming practices. It seems that people have always intrinsically known the benefits of this kind of touch, but it’s only over the last few decades that modern science has begun to prove its tangible benefits.

Hair Growth

Hair increasing in thickness due to regular scalp massages was once thought to be an old wives’ tale. Recently, however, several scientific studies from Japan and the US and have indicated that it makes a real difference.

Obviously, we have an interest in hair health, so this is quite an exciting development, although there’s definitely more research to be done. It’s thought that the reason for the positive results seen so far could be due to massages increasing blood circulation in the scalp and stretching the dermal papilla (cells which regulate hair nutrition and growth).

Step in to a World of Calm

Check out our video in collaboration with ‘The Industry Squad’ on the real reason people need a high-quality hair salon experience.

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Lowers Blood Pressure

Its also thought that head massages could play a role in lowering blood pressure.

We all know how relaxed and loose a good massage can make you feel. This is partially due to the masseuse working the tension out of your muscles and partially because simply the act of being touched can reduce stress, particularly in areas of the body with more sensitivity.

Moving into this more relaxed state can lower your heart rate, reducing blood pressure. Easing muscle tension also has the added benefit of increasing the flow of blood that may have been restricted by clenched muscles.

Head massages can also enhance the circulation in your scalp as the pressure from the masseuse’s fingers push blood through congested areas, allowing new, oxygen-rich blood to flow in.

Balances Nervous System

To put the technical stuff simply: your nervous system is divided into two branches: the sympathetic (which activates your fight-or-flight response) and the parasympathetic (which controls your relaxation response).

Usually, these two work to balance each other out pretty well. However, they’re more built to handle stressors like “There’s a wild animal you need to run away from.” which can be quickly resolved rather than long-term problems like a stressful job or problems at home.

When faced with a high-stress problem that remains unresolved (and who doesn’t have a few of those in their life?) your nervous system can become unbalanced.

When the branches come out of balance, the stress hormones can continue to flow unabated. This can cause high blood pressure, reduced brain function and a variety of other problems.

Massages have been shown to help turn the sympathetic nervous system off and activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This encourages anti-stress hormones to flow through your body. Over time, it’s thought that massages can also strengthen the parasympathetic system, making it easier to switch yourself to relaxed mode in your day-to-day life.

Headache Relief

We’re all familiar with headaches, unfortunately! Whether from a little too much wine the night before or too much screen time, you’re probably a little too familiar with these unwelcome aches. There are so many possible causes for headaches: muscle tension, eye strain, inflamed sinuses, lack of sleep, and constricted blood vessels to name a few.

Head massages can’t help to ease all these conditions, but they are often recommended for those suffering specifically from tension headaches, migraines, or headaches caused by neck injuries.

A head massage works to increase the blood flow to your scalp, which can soothe symptoms by flushing our toxins and giving that area of your body a boost of oxygen and nutrients. Massaging strained muscles can also encourage repair (in the case of an injury) and release tension, helping to soothe headache symptoms or sometimes wipe them out entirely,

Positive Vibes

Remember those anti-stress hormones we mentioned? They’re not just relaxing in the moment. Studies have shown that the release or hormones such as serotonin and endorphins during a massage can have some real benefits on your mental health in the long haul.

People struggling with mental health disorders often show particularly high levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone) and low levels of endorphins (which are released during times of relaxation and happiness). Massages can help to guide the body to address this and increase levels of endorphins. Several studies have now pointed towards frequent massages significantly relieving the symptoms of both anxiety and depression.

Massages also fulfil a need for physical touch which is just very good for all humans. When someone touches you skin-on-skin, your body releases oxytocin, which is sometimes known as the love hormone. It can produce feelings of trust and stability and increase your self-esteem. No wonder you come out of a head massage with that glowing sensation!

Do it yourself?

Head massages can be just a little bit addictive, and the great news is that you can do them yourself at home!

If you’re massaging an injured area or applying pressure around your spinal cord, you should seek professional guidance before trying at home. You may also find that you simply feel more benefits from investing in a professional massage.

However, many people find giving themselves or loved ones head massages at home can be an enriching experience that helps with feelings of peace and relaxation.

There’s also a number of options on how to do this. You could try rubbing an essential oil in circular motions around the scalp, applying light finger strokes to the side of the head or using a tool.

You’ve probably seen the scalp-massaging contractions that look a bit like a wire helmet, but there are other options like silicon brushes and electric massagers.

What’s the verdict?

We give head massages a big thumbs up, which is why they’re a standard part of the service at NOCO.

It’s good for your hair, good for your body and good for the soul, and we know that our clients deserve the very best care.

Everyone’s hair is so different, from strand density, volume of strands and strand type. It’s no wonder that we all face a huge variety of hair issues! Especially once we throw in heat styling and hair lightening treatments. Here’s our tips to keep your hair in the best condition and fight off those bad hair days that always show up at the worst possible time.

How to wash your hair

Oh yeah, we aren’t joking! Bet you haven’t even stopped twice; let alone once to even re-consider how you’ve been washing your hair since you were… well old enough to wash your hair! But you know that feeling when you leave the hairdresser, and your hair is just so extra silky? It’s smooth, and you’re guaranteed a GREAT hair day for the next three days. While products make a different to your post-salon feel hair, it’s also to do with the technique we use to wash your hair. So, listen up to the science of why you may have been washing your hair wrong your whole life!

1. Shampoo
2. Rinse
3. Condition
4. Rinse

…Right?

Wrong! Get to know…

1. Shampoo
2. Rinse
3. Shampoo, again!
4. Rinse
5. Ring hair out and lightly towel dry
6. Condition
7. Rinse

Well, huh? Shampoo twice? What is this!

We promise we’re not crazy – listen to the science. Shampoo opens and raises the cuticle in your hair, which allows for your hair to be cleansed. When your hair cuticles are raised, they are weaker, fragile, and more prone to breakage. Luckily, conditioner smoothes and closes your hair follicles.

If you shampoo twice instead of once, you not only just open the cuticle but once it’s open you can truly cleanse your hair. The difference is that once you then condition your hair and close the cuticle, your hair will be silky, soft, and smooth while also closing more fully due to being so clean inside.

Now let’s talk conditioning. Why is it so important to ring out your hair and dry it a little? We recommend giving your hair a quick towel dry before conditioning as this can make such a big difference to your post-wash hair. It stops the water in your hair from diluting the goodness, richness, and hydration that the conditioner is providing you with.

Next time you wash your hair, give it a go! You’ll see and feel the difference yourself. Now everyday can be a great hair day.

How to add volume to thin hair while maintaining shine and silkiness

Sometimes the products you’ve been adding to your hair to try and get volume actually cause build up, making your hair sit flat as it’s weighed down. Our top tips for battling flat hair are following our washing tips and making sure you have a haircut and style that works with your hair type. Haircuts aren’t a one size fits all situation and unfortunately picking a style that works on someone else and trying to replicate it on yourself may not necessarily work. Our signature styles can be tailored specifically to your hair type, helping to add texture and volume around the areas that will look best on you.  Check out our guide on how to choose a hairstyle that suits you, for more information.

The best conditioning treatments

We might be a little biased on this, but Kerastase products are the best out there. You can get a truly customised product to solve your hair problems. With Kerastase it is really, really, important to ensure that you are using the right product. If you’re worried about the condition of your hair but aren’t certain what product will give you the results, we do free consultations to make sure your hair is fabulous and back to its best self! Book a beautiful you consultation.

Battling the breakages

Did we mention Kerastase? The range of products really are exceptional and 100% backed by science. If you’re experiencing a lot of breakages, it’s likely due to the levels of protein in your hair. When we lack protein in our hair strands, they go stretchy, almost like chewing gum. This really weakens the structure and makes it super prone to breakages. To tackle this, it’s important to get the ends of your hair that are the most damaged removed and then to treat your hair with a product that’s got high levels of proteins and amino acids is to strengthen your hair and bring back those silky smooth and strong locks!

Fighting the frizz

Humidity is one of the biggest culprits for frizzing your hair and frizzy hair is one of the biggest hair complaints we hear! In fact, we even offer a Phrizzy-o-therapy to combat unruly hair, which is really popular. But there’s also a few things you can do yourself, at home, to help keep the frizz at bay.

• Use a tangle teaser to be gentle on your hair
• Turn down the heat on your styling tools to prevent unnecessary damage
• Use the best products for your hair type – we can help with this
• Cut off the most damaged ends (not yourself though, make sure you see a trained stylist, yes even for trims!)

Here at NOCO our team take immense pride in making sure you leave our salon feeling absolutely fantastic. Glowing from the inside out as well as looking incredible from the outside. That’s why we carry out our in-depth face to face consultations before we start to make sure you love every moment of your experience, confident that we’re executing exactly what you’re after.

The two signature styles we’ve developed here at NOCO are The Vitality Cut and The Clifton Cut. That’s not to say that we don’t deliver different cuts at all – as we certainly do. But these are two of our favourites that look incredible and solve a variety of hair challenges, while fulfilling your hair wishes.

So, let’s see what the differences in the two cuts is – and most importantly which one will leave you feeling like the best version of you. Because you deserve to feel incredible.

The Clifton Cut

 The Clifton cut is a really easy to maintain and manage at home style. This style provides real fullness by protecting weight around the baseline and adding more volume around your crown. We do this by using disconnected layers in a reverse angle shape. Sounds fancy, right? This technique also means you should still be able to tie your hair up with ease, despite all the layers.

This haircut is especially caring towards the midband of your hair, which is often a hotspot for split ends. The Clifton Cut reduces the weight in this area in a healthy way, providing you with extra movement and shine while protecting the hair underneath. Despite removing weight, many people come away from having The Vitality Cut commenting that their hair feels more full and luxurious than before.

The Clifton Cut is also super versatile. It can be worn with or without a fringe or bangs and with straight or wavy hair, which means it’s perfect for customising to your unique style. As long as your hair is jaw-length or longer, we can tailor The Clifton Cut to bring out the best in your hair. We’ve found that it also works well with all types of colour, although we’ve discovered that balayage hair pairs with the style for a particularly stunning effect.

Some reasons you may choose to steer away from The Clifton Cut is if you don’t like a lot of texture in your hairstyle or if layers just aren’t your thing.

The Vitality Cut

The Vitality Cut is all about shine and volume. By reducing weight around the front baseline of your hair and adding volume to the hair around your face, a classic shape is created which frames your face and enhances your natural features.

Split ends are commonly found in the fine hair close to your face but The Vitality Cut does away with these, bringing out the colour in your hair and making the surface shinier.  Speaking of colour, The Vitality Cut works well with all types, but we’ve found that highlights really make the shine unmissable.

Like The Clifton Cut, The Vitality Cut is anything but one-size fits all but can be bespokely tailored to your style. It can be worn on mid-length hair whether it sits on your jawline or sweeps below your shoulders and can look great with a fringe. If you would like your hair to have a weightless feel, we can add more layers or volume to your crown. If you would like to try out a hair length which finishes below your jaw, we can use what we call “The Vitality Variation” to adapt the style.  

Vitality vs. Clifton

Both cuts have unique strengths, so choosing the right style for you depends on the weight, colour and texture of your hair and what effect you would like to achieve with your hairstyle.

The Vitality Cut is a beautiful style for framing your face and adding volume to the hair there. The style brings attention to all of your best features while looking very natural. It can also really make the colour of your hair pop by removing split ends and adding shine and texture. The Vitality is designed to be versatile so can be worn with straight, wavy or curly hair. As mentioned above, there is also the option of using “The Vitality Variation” to add shine and volume to much shorter haircuts.

The Clifton Cut is easier to maintain at home due to it’s great structure and grows out well over time. It is designed to nurture healthy hair growth and reduce split ends. By adding structured layers of volume to the hair on your crown, there will be less weight to your style but the hair will feel thicker and more full of life. This style may also be a good option if you often wear an updo, since the connected layers of hair mean that the style will hold together when swept into a bun or ponytail.

If you’re struggling to choose between the two, you could think about how much time you spend on managing your hair at home, where you like to see volume and drama in your hairstyle and whether you like styles with a constant structure or more scope for varying your look day-to-day.

If it sounds like you could do with a bit of both, why not ask you stylist to create a bespoke hybrid version just for you?

Hair cutting is not one size fits all and your NOCO Hair stylist will be able to advise you on what’s right for you – whether it’s a Classic Clifton or A Vitality Variation, we have something to suit you.

The NOCO experience

Whether you decide that the Vitality Cut is best for you, you love the sound of The Clifton Cut or you fancy a hybrid of the two – there’s one thing that stays consistent… the customer service experience you’ll receive. Customer experience is at the heart of everything we do at NOCO, and you’ll definitely notice! We recently won The UK Salon Business Award for Customer Service, and it was so wonderful to be recognised for our commitment to our customers through everything we do.

Local salon NOCO HAIR received global recognition in the Salon Business Awards on Monday night in a glamorous awards ceremony at the decadent Quaglino’s in London.

The international hairdressing awards recognise salons and stylists that go the extra mile for their staff, clients and local community. 

After beating hundreds of entries in the Customer Service Catagory to win top spot, NOCO HAIR’s Corey Taylor said: “We are over the moon with this award, customer service means a lot to us as we love to look after people. If a client leaves the salon in a better emotional state than when they have come in because of the service they have received then we have succeeded. To be recognised in such a prestigious way feels amazing!”

Over 250 guests turned up to the Mayfair hotspot to see 14 salons and two individuals receive their certificate and award, while feasting on delicious canapes and bubbles aplenty.

Dubbed Freedom Day, due to the national lifting of Government Covid restrictions the same day, the most often heard comment was “perfect timing”.

Salon Business Publishing Editor Joanne Charlton said: “The SBAwards Grand Final brought the industry back together in the way we remember – with hugs, with dancing and networking from start to finish.

“We were proud to give the winners the recognition they deserve in glorious surroundings filled with friends. Each of the winners truly represent everything that’s good about our industry – dedication, hard work, creativity and togetherness.” 

Upon arriving at the venue, guests were led down a grand staircase to the main floor, where Brendan Mills was on the saxophone, warming the crowd. Mingling was high on the agenda for guests meeting friends old and new, before the awards announcements began. 

Paul Simbler, HOB Salons Director, joined Joanne Charlton onstage to present the first half of the awards, with representatives of the sponsors taking to the stage for the final half. 

The awards would not have happened without the unwavering support of the sponsors including 

Schwarzkopf Professional, Remi Cachet, Joico, Paul Mitchell, iSalon and Unite, who also contributed generously to the SBAwards Goody bag making it the best one yet.

Every entry was judged by representatives from prestigious professional hair brands including Schwarzkopf Professional, Remi Cachet, Joico, Paul Mitchell, iSalon and Unite, as well as award-winning hairdressers including Errol Douglas MBE and Guy Kremer.

A full list of the winners is below…

Salon Winners

Local Salon Sponsored by Paul Mitchell 

Winner B.E Ironbridge

Runner up Smith England

Design Salon 

Winner Mark David

Salon Runner up Alchemy & I

Business Salon 

Winner Sarai Hair and Beauty

Runner up Saks Exeter

Male Grooming Salon 

Winner Joe & Co

Runner up Toni&Guy Billericay

Colour Salon Sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional

Winner ROAR Hair and Beauty

Runner up Goldsworthy’s Hairdressing

Creative Salon Sponsored by Joico

Winner Ashley Gamble

Runner up Tim Scott-Wright @The Hair Surgery

Salon Team 

Winner Q Hair and Beauty

Runner up Saks Hair and Beauty West Bridgford

Education Salon Sponsored by Remi Cachet

Winner Hair Ott

Runner up HOB Academy

Green Salon 

Winner Hair Organics

Runner up B.E Ironbridge

Digital Salon 

Winner Hxhair

Runner up Studio e

Customer Service Salon 

Winner NOCO Hair

Runner up Artelier Formby

Fashion Salon Sponsored by Unite

Winner bebop

Runner up Karoliina Saunders Hair Design

Ultimate Sm to Med Salon Sponsored by iSalon 

Winner Academy Salons Esher

Ultimate Large Salon Sponsored by iSalon 

Winner HOB Salons

Individual Winners

Curl Specialist 

Winner Rick Roberts

Runner up Emma Simmons

Global Stylist 

Winner Gareth Williams

Runner up Anne Veck Oxford

For further information contact [email protected] 

The finalists for the British Hairdressing Awards have been announced and we are overjoyed to report that we’ve been nominated for New Salon of The Year!

We’ve been lucky enough to have made the finalist list for the awards in two previous years- including an exciting win in the Newcomer of The Year category- but it is always exciting to receive attention from the event some are calling the biggest night in British hairdressing.

The awards have now been showcasing the best salons and stylists in the UK for 37 years and it’s made the names of some of the top stylists in the business. This year’s version of the event has also seen a big step forward for the event in terms of accessibility- broadening its entry criteria to allow a greater range of entries than ever before.

At NOCO, we are honoured to be recognised in a category such as Salon of the Year, which sees such steep competition from across the length and breadth of the UK. Further judging will be happening throughout the summer, culminating at a glamorous ceremony in London this autumn.

In other awards news- we have also been nominated as Customer Service Salon of the year at The Salon Business Awards!

As a team dedicated to quality care and expertise, it’s thrilling to be chosen from an international roister of competitors for the hard work we put into building positive experiences for our clients throughout their hair journey. Our entire team are immensely proud of the fun, innovative and professional atmosphere fostered here at NOCO.

After a tumultuous year for all, it’s wonderful to have the opportunity to acknowledge all of the fantastic, ground breaking work that’s been going on within the industry this year, despite lockdowns and periods of uncertainty.

The whole team here in Clifton are eagerly awaiting both ceremonies and will make sure to keep our guests posted on any news we have to share on award night.

In the meantime, you can find out more about The British Hairdressing Awards here and discover The Salon Business Awards through their website. To keep up with all the news live through social media, follow the hashtags #BHA21 and #SBAwards on twitter and Instagram!

Balayage is one of the most popular hair techniques right now. It’s everywhere, and it’s something we’re constantly asked about – and something we pride ourselves as being experts in. This lower maintenance alternative to a full head of highlights is hugely adaptable depending on your needs and wants, and adds a beautiful multi-tonal and multidimensional colour by using patches of light and shade.

So, we know how popular balayage is – but where did it come from and how did its existence grace it’s way in to such a popular position? Let’s take a look at the history.

Oh, and we’ve also teamed up with the awesome Bryony (you will have seen her on Great British Bake Off) to give you a recipe for a decadent ombre cake – try it, we promise you won’t regret it!

A brief look at the history

Dip dye

Dip dye – oh yeah, remember that one? You may be wincing a little as you reminisce on the dip dye trend and the home job you may have once attempted. This literal line was all the rage back in 2012 and was the start of what we know call balayage. While there has been natural progression of the style, it doesn’t mean there isn’t still a time and a place for a vivid shade of dip dye to create a high impact statement!  

 Dip dye is where it all began – the sold line of high contrast colour which gives the effect that you have dipped your hair in to hair dye (it does what it says on the tin this one!). The ratio of dip is completely down to the individual can just be the tips or can be half of your hair.

Ombre (the fade)

Dip dye quickly evolved in to Ombre which literally mean ‘graduated in tone’. Ombre is all about keeping the roots dark and ends light but with a much softer blend than dip dye. The result is often Ombre will look like three shades – dark, medium, light – with each tier diffusing in to the other. This fade usually works best when working off of a similar colour pallete. For example, natural like dark brown, into light brown in to dark blonde. Or also with fashion shades like red, into orange, into yellow. When it comes to executing a dazzling ombre we start by determining the darkest and lightest shades, and then finding something that sits right in the middle and complements the overall tone perfectly!

Natural Fade Ombre

The natural fade ombre draws on large similarities from the classic ombre where all the ends are lightened with a soft blend from dark into the lighter tones. The more natural fade ombre was conceived when we started to experiment with adding different tones through the ends while also keeping the top section of the hair darker. This was beginning of soft, dual tone, multidimension colour that wasn’t created using highlights. We started to use more of a colour melt technique to incorporate the combination of different tones – this effectively means blending a darker base colour down from the routes into 2, 3 or even 4 different panels of colour through the ends. The resulting overall effect is still a darker top and lighter ends, but with a much softer feel than a classic ombre.

Balayage

From the natural fade ombre, evolved balayage. Keeping those deeper roots ad lighter ends, but with a lot more variation in tone and ribbons of light and depth running all the way through the hair – not just the ends. This technique has evolved hugely over the years and there are now so many variations of the original balayage.

A classic balayage is used to create a soft and sun kissed effect through your hair, concentrating on the ends and around the face where sunlight would naturally hit. Balayage is the French word for ‘sweep’ or ‘stroke’, this refers to the motion which is used to apply the colour, usually pre lightener, to your hair. The result is a delicately diffused, soft and natural colour, blended into the root.

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The modern Balayage

Balayage has now be redefined by us brits and can come from any technique to give a deeper look at the root to a lighter natural finish at the ends. Just a quick Google image search will show you the wide variety of looks which fall under this umbrella style. From soft and natural ‘barely there’ ribbons of colour to high contrast placements. Sometimes we even use a range of different techniques to create a balayage look depending on the canvas we start with and the desired result! 

At NoCo the technique we use most commonly is a foiling technique which adds lightness to the hair from root to tip. This is the best approach when lifting through the old colour, trying to eliminate warmth or for any corrective work. After that we may add colour between the foils to add even more depth or further variety in tones – depending on whether or not the hair has been previously lightened. The key to a. beautiful balayage is placement and colour choice – this underpins where we see maximum brightness and the amount of contrast that we create.

To finish the process, we use our Signature Soft Blend toner. We apply an acidic colours from root to tip using a deeper shade at the root, this adds depth to the hair without effecting the natural base colour – this bits super important as it’s how we make sure our balayages grow out seamlessly!

Olaplex is our magic not-so-secret ingredient to every lightening service. This protects your hair. Whether it’s a balayage, ombre, foliage, face frame, dip-dye, high lights or platinum card transformation – Olaplex is always highly recommended. After all condition is key!

One of the reasons that we are so smitten with balayage is the personalisation it allows, creating a completely unique bespoke colour for each guest, which suits that and fulfils their desires!

What’s next in fashion?

If there’s one thing we’re pretty confident about – it’s that balayage is here to stay However, we are seeing a change in cut trends with more texture, choppiness and movement so our approach to colouring must accommodate this. Using more block placement and concentrating the colour around the face and towards the ends of the layers helps to enhance the haircut and the two work in harmony to create a beautiful end result.

Brighter days calls for lighter hair! Whether your natural base colour is blonde or brunette, now is the perfect time to brighten it up. From soft & natural “barely there” ribbons of colour to block colour placement, that sun kissed glow is what everyone needs right now. Keep your hair feeling fresh by playing around with different tones. Enhancing warmth to create strawberry blondes with soft apricots and peachy hues gives blondes a more summery feel. “Bronzed Blonde” is the perfect balance of light and depth with lots of rich golden tones, a great way to make brunettes feel summer ready! 

Good enough to eat!

We love creating beautiful colour with lots of delicious tones. From rich, glossy chocolate brunettes with ribbons of toffee & caramel tones to buttery blondes with a honey hue. Sounds good enough to eat right?

We are lucky enough to have Bristol Legend, Bryony Williams as a guest and talk always turns to food during a colour consultation!

Your Ombre Cake Recipe
 

Ingredients 

• Sponge
• 350g unsalted butter, softened
• 350g caster sugar
• 350g self-raising flour 
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 7 medium eggs
• 1 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder
• Icing
• 400g unsalted butter, softened 
• 800g icing sugar, sifted
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder 
• 50g dark chocolate, chopped

Method 

1. Oven on to 160C fan/180C. Grease and line 3 x 8 inch cake tins.
2. Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add 4 eggs and the milk, mix to combine. Add half the flour and the baking powder, mix to combine. Repeat with the remaining eggs and flour.
3. Place half the batter in a separate bowl. Add 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder to one half of the batter and mix gently to combine. In another bowl add half the cocoa powder batter and half the plain batter and fold until smooth (you should now have 3 batters; one dark brown, one pale brown and one plain). Place the plain batter in one cake tin, the pale brown in another and the dark brown in the third tin. Bake for 30 minutes until risen and a skewer comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tins for 15 minutes then tip onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
4. Make the icing. Beat the butter until light and smooth. Add half the icing sugar and beat until smooth. Add the second half of the icing sugar and beat again until smooth. Place half the icing in another bowl and add 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder then beat until combined (add a splash of milk if too stiff).
5. Build the cake. Trim the tops of the sponges with a serrated knife. Place the plain sponge on your cake board/plate and spread over a few tablespoons of the plain icing. Repeat with the next 2 sponges, first the pale brown and then the dark brown. Cover the cake with a thin layer of the plain icing and smooth with a cake smoother.
6. Add the plain icing to the bottom half of the cake and the chocolate icing to the top half and the top of the cake. Smooth using a cake smoother/palette knife blending the different icings together in the middle.
7. Place any remaining icing in a piping bag with a star nozzle. Pipe stars on top of the cake. Sprinkle over the chopped dark chocolate.

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