New to Van Clarke? Subscribe to our newsletter for 15% off your first order. Start your haircare journey today.

In the Chair - Real People Real Hair - Sara

May 08, 2020

In the Chair - Real People Real Hair - Sara

Heavy hair visually saps energy and adds weight. In bringing hair to life, cut, colour and condition all play their part. In this popular series of blogs, we look at the common mistakes hairdressers make, and how to get the best out of your hair.

Sara’s hair is very thick and it swamped her face. It swamped her face not because she has thick hair but because it was cut as a one-length Bob without any shaping or layering. The benefits of this is that it only took the hairdresser ten minutes and...and, and nothing else but negatives for Sara. Heavy, frizzy, dry, dull, difficult to manage. Not attractive. The condition, colour and haircut all conspired to drain life out of the hair, draping like a heavy blanket around her shoulders - which then reflected in Sara’s aura.

This is what we did…

1. Cut - The haircut hung so heavy around her face, that Sara mostly kept it up in ponytail. Her A-Line one-length outline and lack of layering meant the hair was also much drier and frizzier looking than it need be.

We graduated the hair at the front taking up to eight inches off in places, and connected through to long layers at the back. All without losing any of the length. The Diamond Dry Cut™ is our natural method of sculpting. I cut hair dry to see the shape evolve and create a unique look for each client. Sara’s hair can now move fluidly, and I deliberately pushed hair onto the face in this video to show how it still lands in shape and doesn’t overwhelm her face.

2. Condition - The original haircut had dry uneven ends at the front which made them look frizzier. When hair becomes this dry and decayed its more difficult to manage and colour fades quickly.

We gave Sara the LifeSaver Prewash Treatment. Nothing injects moisture, elasticity and shine quite like this. Read…The Facts of LifeSaver. Sara is continuing at home with LifeSaver UV Leave in Styling Treatment as she likes the natural wavy effect this gives. I use this on my own hair too.

3. Colour – Hollie, our talented Colourist, crafted a delicate network of lowlights to create the tonal contrast in the colour, and enhance the sense of movement in the hair. The combination of the new haircut and the LifeSaver Treatment has also enhanced this new colour.

Before – A Lazy haircut, essentially one-length. This lack of fluidity in the haircut shape also stunted movement in the hair. The flat haircut shape also flattened the colour. The extra frizziness in Sara’s hair was caused by the silicone-rich serums and oils she used which dry hair out long term, so she used more of these widely available products just to get through the day. The frizz is also exaggerated by the poor haircut. 

Read…Why Silicone is Bad for your Hair?
Read…The Lazy A-Line

After – The new haircut has narrowed the old pyramid shape (flat around face, too wide at the bottom) and given lift, movement and vitality with precise long layers. This haircut will look great smooth or left naturally wavy. Bounce, swing, vitality, vibrancy, strength, suppleness, flexibility, spring, elasticity, lustre, resonance.

All words we associate with youthful, healthy sexy, hair and especially longer hair that can swing far and wide. Poor condition and a long A-Line base shape are the two main things that kill this energy. Correcting the shape dealt with the haircut. Our LifeSaver Treatment helped repair condition. This unique silicone-free formula is our best-selling hero product.

“This is a picture of my hair naturally dried with the LifeSaver UV Leave-in Styling Treatment. The product is fantastic, even after sleeping I still have amazing curls. Thank you so very much for the amazing haircut and colour. – Sara

For Sara’s hair we used our exceptional LifeSaver Prewash Treatment to rehydrate, then Cashmere Protein UV Protective Shampoo and Conditioner. A little Volumising Mousse mixed in the hand with LifeSaver UV* helped smooth, give heat protection, body and control. We used the Large Round Brush to style. Then finally a little Ten Second Transformation and Magic Oil to feed and smooth the hair giving a little shine and texture too.

Preparation

Smooth Styling


 Michael Van Clarke





Also in Blogs

Gaby's Bakery - Vietnamese Sponge Cake – Banh Bong Lan
Gaby's Bakery - Vietnamese Sponge Cake – Banh Bong Lan

September 14, 2024

Seeing a cake so pale and ashen could make you think it's tasteless. But this featherlight sponge manages to pull off a combination of airy nothingness with a gently sweet vanilla flavour. It remains moist with an even delicate crumb, and so light, you won't feel guilty having a second helping.

Continue Reading

Frizz Free Hair
Frizz Free Hair

September 12, 2024

It’s been a long time since the first Brazilian Blowdry products were being used. The few people that supplied these unbranded products here in the late 1990s worked in the shadows like drug dealers distributing hooch from the cottage industry of stills in the jungle and favelas.

Continue Reading

In the Chair - Real People Real Hair - Emma
In the Chair - Real People Real Hair - Emma

September 12, 2024

Heavy hair visually saps energy and adds weight. In bringing hair to life, cut, colour and condition all play their part.

Continue Reading