Hair Tips and Tricks From Salon Supplies To Your Door

Purple Toning Shampoos.....The Lowdown 0

If you’re a blonde or even if you have highlights on darker hair, you know that over time the colour can turn a hot shade of mellow yellow. It’s hard to get excited about your hair when the tone is off.   Have you tried purple shampoo?  I can tell when someone blonde/highlighted uses it vs. someone who doesn’t, and the ones who do tend to end up in their hairdresser's chair less often and are happier with their colour for a longer period of time. Purple is the exact opposite of yellow on the colour wheel, which is why it cools the gold/brass tones down. The last time we mentioned purple shampoo in a post, one or two readers expressed their skepticism about whether it works or not. It does, but it’s really important to research and find the right one. The best purple shampoos tend to be so densely pigmented that using it the first time can actually be a little scary.  A good purple shampoo will be dark purple, not light purple, and it shouldn’t be transparent. You see how dark the one is below? That’s what you should look for. Here’s a photo before and after she started using purple shampoo for the first time (thanks to The Beauty Department). It makes a huge difference in a good way…

Purple shampoo pointers…

• When you first start using purple shampoo, use it every other time you shampoo and then adjust your useage from there. If you find that it’s still brassy, start using it every time you shampoo. If you see it starting to get just a touch too ashy, slow your usage. I have clients who use it once a week and some who use it every time they shampoo. It really depends on the type of hair you have (and the amount of yellow you’re trying to combat.)
• If you’re all over blonde, apply a good amount of purple shampoo to the root and let it run out through the ends as you lather and rinse. Typically the top of your hair is more golden/brassy than the ends (if you’re blonde) so you’d want the most concentrated amount up top. The ends are more porous and will grab the color faster so it doesn’t need to stay on the ends as long. Just let it drizzle through the ends and they will catch the color.
• If you’re not a blonde but have blonde or caramel highlights on hair that’s darker, you’ll want to only apply purple shampoo where you have lightened hair. You can always shampoo your hair with something else up top and then apply the purple toning shampoo to the lighter bits that tend to get brassy.
• If your hair gets really yellow, let the purple shampoo sit on for 5 min. If you’re just fighting a minimal amount of brass, a minute or two will be sufficient.
• If you regularly use a medicated scalp shampoo like our fabulous Scalp Relief Shampoo, or just a shampoo that you can’t live without, you can always shampoo twice– once using your regular shampoo to get your hair clean or your scalp taken care of and then once with the purple to tone. I’ve always shampooed my hair twice to get a super clean canvas for styling.  Typically purple shampoos aren’t known for their cleansing properties so if you need to get your scalp really clean, try using the two shampoo method.
• If, by chance, you ever over-do it and take it one purple shampoo too far, don’t worry. Just hop back in the shower and shampoo with a non-purple shampoo like Replenish (Moisturising) or Deep Down Cleansing, and it will fade off.

Our Blonde Revitalising Shampoo is a luscious moisturising formula, with a deep purple colour and a nice thick texture.

It tones brassy or gold reflects from blonde or grey hair.  Share your purple shampoo experience with us, or ask a question and we'll try and help out.

Winter Ways to Style a Short Fringe 0

Change up your look this winter by working an edgy, short fringe. We all know the pixie cut is Hollywood's latest cult 'do, favoured in recent months by Jennifer Lawrence, Michelle Williams and Emma Watson amongst many. This timeless asymmetrical crop is made for the girl who wants to get noticed, however, if your fringe isn't styled correctly it can look a little harsh.

Take the cue from our styling options below to get noticed this winter.....

1. The Wet Look

The wet-look trend isn't just for long hair. For a runway-ready finish, style your tresses into a side-swept wet look fringe. Start by creating a side part then use a comb to distribute a small amount of gel through the roots of your straightened hair. Gently comb your locks back into place, except for the front section- this should be combed forward and over one eye.

2. High on Volume

This style is super cute, and can dramatically alter your entire look. Use a volumising matt clay after washing, and blow dry using a barrel brush, paying particular attention to the hair at the front, to master this heavy fringe.

3. Softly Tousled

This romantic, tousled style is the perfect combination of edgy and feminine. Add a small amount of mattifying product (putty or wax) to your palms and then run your hands through your hair, pulling it forward and across your forehead.

4. Long & Side-Swept

A sleek, side-swept fringe can give your hair the drama it needs. To begin, use a serum or oil, such as NFuzion Zero Frizz Serum, before blow-drying for added shine. Once dry, use a flat iron to smooth your hair over and down across your face. Finish with a mist of hairspray for added shine and hold.

So there you have it, four versatile ways to take hold of this killer hair trend. Which look will you try first?

Welcome to our Edgy and NFuzion customers! 0

Yesterday was a milestone for us here at Salon Supplies To Your Door.  After lots of behind the scenes work on our new website, we closed down our original websites Edgy Haircare,  and NFuzion Haircare, and have re-directed them here to our new store.  We hope you like seeing all your favourite products from both ranges, now in one convenient place. 

There's been no change to prices, and you'll still get free shipping when you spend $55 or more.  Check out our special bundle packs, where you can buy three of your favourite Edgy or NFuzion products, for $49 (worth $56.85).  And keep an eye on our Sale items, as we'll soon be bringing out more bundle buys, to save you money.

If you sign up to our Newsletter, you'll get a $10 voucher to spend on hair products in our store (only one use per customer). 

Thanks for checking out our new store!

Hair Watch: MBFWA 2014 0

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia (MBFWA) was last week, where many fantastic designers got to show off their Spring/Summer collections to public and press alike. While we didn’t get to catch any of the action live, we were watching from afar — via social media, of course. We were blown away by the collections presented this year, and admittedly it had us dreaming of Summer, but naturally our attention was taken by the hairstyles on show. Each show had their own artistic direction, and we were impressed by the way it was reflected in the models’ hair.

We loved seeing hair meet with fashion and meld so well; here are a few of our stand-out hairstyles from MNFWA 2014.

Bec & Bridge 

Long, flowing hair is very elegant, and we were impressed with the way Bec & Bridge managed to make it look so effortless. Their S/S 14 collection ‘Due North’ is very airy and bohemian, featuring flowing, loose pieces with a carefree vibe. Keeping with this theme, hair was voluminous and airy, with a deep side part for balance.

(source: Vogue)

Emma Mulholland 

We can always expect some interesting hairstyles in Emma Mulholland shows; her S/S 13 collection featured a lot of bold hair colours, and this year she went the same route. Except instead of bright, outrageous hair, this time it was big, in-your-face pastel wigs to match her S/S 14 colour palette. We loved how the colour looked paired with a heavy fringe, and the dichotomy of the wig with the models’ natural hair was impressively striking.

(source: Vogue)

Talula

Talulah’s ‘Crystal Tropics' collection had us wishing it was Summer again, particularly with the bleak weather in Sydney lately! The collection was filled with bold, tropical floral and geometric prints. In contrast to all the busy patterns happening on the body, hair was kept very simple, with a messy top knot. The models looked like they’d been pulled from an island getaway, and were ready to go back and relax on a golden beach somewhere.

(source: Sonny Photos)

Were you keeping at eye on the MBFWA shenanigans this year? If so, what were your favourite looks?

Another Day, Another Photo Shoot 0

We have been rather busy here at Salon Supplies HQ — it’s hard work being in the hair game!

This weekend all our energy was spent at another promotional photo shoot for our NFuzion line. We decided to take an edgier approach with this shoot, meaning brighter make-up and wilder hair. Our stylist, Laurel Brown, assisted by Maria Lachaise, did a fantastic job bringing our creative vision into reality — we love how she’s transformed each of the models, and we hope you like it too.

A big thanks to Daryl, Christina, Marisa, Elena, Grace, Omar, Leizel, and Rayneil, the great group of models who let us play around with their hair. We wanted to showcase as many hairstyles as possible in this shoot, and our models really allowed us to do that.

Rod Griffiths-Green was our fantastic photographer, and it was a lot of fun working with him again. Keep your eyes peeled for the finalised shots within the next few weeks; in the meantime, here's a sneaky behind-the-scenes preview.

As usual, check out our Facebook page for more photos and to keep up with the latest news from Salon Supplies to Your Door. 

Hair Trends in 2014 0

2013 was a year of great hair trends, but we think that it's time to let go of hairstyles past, and look to the future. New York Fashion Week and various awards shows have already set the bar high for the kinds of hairstyles we should be expecting in 2014, and we like what we've been seeing so far. Here are a few hair trends that have already caught our eye in 2014, which we think are going to stick around for the rest of the year.

Pulled back and polished

This look is both practical and pretty, giving you that no-nonsense look, and that you are a force to be reckoned with. Pair it with a low ponytail if you're going casual, or a chic bun for a glam touch, and you're good to go.

This is a pretty simple look to pull off; your weapons of choice are a comb and a good hairspray to keep those pesky flyaways in check.

Get disheveled

This is on the other end of the spectrum; sometimes we just don't have enough time to get our hair to look perfect, so the next best thing is to lean into the skid and wear your disheveled hairdo with pride. The quick and messy bun seemed to be a favourite on the red carpet at this year’s Oscars.

In particular, we have been loving Zooey Deschanel's playful low bun, accessorised with a flower clip for a girly touch.

All you need to do for that perfect disheveled look is to prep your locks with some matte texturiser, gently wrap sections around your fingers and blow-dry them into place. Finish off with a little hair shaper, and you'll be looking shabby-chic in no time!

Deep side part

2013 seemed to be the year of the heavy fringe, but 2014 is all about the sweeping side part that so many celebrities seemed to be sporting at the Golden Globes this year. Switching up your hair parting changes the way your face is framed, and a deep side part is an easy way to make a bold statement.

Be sure to apply a little sculpting glaze to ensure that your part stays polished throughout the day. We recommend you pair your newly-framed face with a sleek, low bun a la Emma Roberts, or with casual waves like Cate Blanchett.

Fun with braids

The humble braid is getting a makeover this year, with celebrities and models sporting the everyday braid in ways that make us say “wow”. Sarah Hyland (of Modern Family) brought back milk braids at the Golden Globes, managing to make them look elegant and cool.

Braids also featured heavily at New York Fashion Week, the runway rife with side-braids, bun-braids, and even braids-on-braids (braidception!). If you don’t have time to learn a new braiding technique, jazz up a simple braid by using gel wax to add texture or giving your hair a little wet look.

Cropped locks

Rihanna and Emma Watson were among the first to start the trend years ago, but 2014 seems to be the year that everyone else has followed suit. Jennifer Lawrence in particular has caught our eye, with clever use of layering and texture to give her hair more of an edge.

You can replicate the look by using a textured hair paste to spruce up dry hair. Or, if you’re looking to give your hair a little extra body, hair shaper in damp hair will do the trick.

What do you think is the next big hair trend of 2014? Do you agree with us, or is there something we’ve missed?