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In the Chair - Real People Real Hair - Lola

March 31, 2026

In the Chair - Real People Real Hair - Lola

Kids grow up fast enough as it is, in my humble opinion. So, I’ve never been fond of the American pageant ideal of getting ten-year-olds to look like Dolly Parton.

But what style for a thirteen-year-old? It's a difficult age for girls, the 13-17 stage, as they mature quickly and become rapidly more conscious and self-conscious of how they show up in the world. These swift changes also leave many intensely sensitive to peer pressure or opinion.

There’s a point where a simple blunt cut stops working, and more shaping is needed. Not to adultify the child but to keep pace with their ongoing maturity.

1. The Haircut

As hair starts to develop more texture it expands the width at the bottom which can exaggerate the flatness around the face and appear to drown the wearer - see top left. This is the time for clever layering and shaping.

Using our signature Diamond Dry Cut™ method, I graduated the front outline to chin level and blended through to the longer hair in the middle of the back, deliberately keeping the graduation steep and layering minimal.

2. Colour

We didn’t colour Lola’s hair, but the haircut has revealed more depth and interest in her own beautiful colour. Lots of kids want to experiment with hair products and colour at increasingly younger ages. I gave in to my nine-year-old son with a little lightening at the front which may keep him quiet for another year. Girls will experiment more so, and it’s better to have this gently eased in professionally, as stubborn refusal often ends up with ‘Domestos’ style experiments in friend’s bedrooms.

3. Condition

All hair needs feeding and repairing but particularly long hair that suffers years of lifestyle damage and depletion. LifeSaver Pre-wash Treatments repair and protect vulnerable hair and ensure good quality hair stays that way.

These aren't oil-based treatments, and you can’t overuse LifeSaver®. They feed, hydrate, repair and strengthen hair without weighing it down and give vibrancy to all hair types. Regular use means less thinning, less breakage and fewer splits ends.

4. Styling

We shampooed using Cashmere Protein Moisturising Shampoo and Conditioner and applied our NEW Eureka Blowdry Balm all through and Thicker Quicker just on the roots at the top. We styled with a large round bristle brush. Then finally a little Magic Oil to feed and smooth the hair giving a definition and a little shine too.

"Really love my hair." - Lola

 

Preparation
We used the LifeSaver ULTRA Pre-wash Treatment and washed with Cashmere Protein Moisturising Shampoo and Conditioner.


Styling
We used the NEW Eureka Blowdry Balm, Thicker Quicker Volumising Blowdry Spray, Magic Oil and the Large Round Brush to style.

Forward to a friend

Makeover gift vouchers available
Email: reception@vanclarke.com

 Michael Van Clarke



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