HERE ARE SOME SUMMER HAIR CARE TIPS

HYDRATION

Ok so let’s start with the simple stuff, water. We all know how much our skin dries out in the summer, well so does our hair. Like our skin, our hair needs water, so drink, drink and drink. Throw in a slice of lemon or cucumber if that helps but get that water down you.

SHAMPOO LESS

I have been asked this so many times at our salon, Avalon in Crouch End, London. “Is washing my hair everyday really bad?” Well your hair isn’t going to fall out or anything but it’s not great. Over washing can strip the hair of its natural oils, which moisturises the scalp and helps protect the hair. If you’re an everyday shampooer then next time you’re at Avalon, Crouch End ask one of our Davines trained staff to recommend a shampoo specific for this and your hair type.

Also note, if you have colour on your hair then washing everyday will affect the longevity of your colour. The more you wash your hair the faster the colour fade, which nobody wants.

Ok I know, if not washing your hair every day is just something you can’t ever get your head around then I’d recommend a non-sulphate shampoo, preferably as light as possible. I would recommend Davines Dede which is a delicate daily shampoo, great for fine to medium hair types. It’s a light shampoo so the stripping is minimal.

SWIMMING POOLS

Oooo, the thought of jumping in that swimming pool this summer!!  Well I’m not going to tell you that you shouldn’t but what I will say is that chlorine is obviously essential to kill bacteria but it also does some serious damage to your hair. It can make it dry, brittle and weak which leads to split ends. It generally only effects specific hair types, such is thin or fine hair, colour treated hair, bleached hair/chemical treated hair, dry hair, or hair with existing damage. Well that’s most of us then. So what can we do? Obviously the best thing to do is put a swimming cap on which nobody has wanted to do since the 1950’s but this is the best option. If you are happy to go with this suggestion the one pointer I would recommend is to oil your hair before you put your cap on. This helps the cap slide on with minimal breakage.

Ok so a cap isn’t your first choice and to be honest if it’s only once or twice a year you jump in the pool then you can do without splashing out on a cap ;-). What I would recommend is using that pool shower before you get in. The hair strands absorbs this water and minimizers the amount of chlorine that is absorbed. It’s also a good idea to rinse your hair thoroughly after as I’m sure you can imagine, sun and chlorine is a double whammy for drying out those shiny locks and when shampooing at the end of your day use a clarifying shampoo, followed by a good moisturising conditioner and an oil. Ask one of expert stylist at Avalon Crouch End for advice on what product would be best for your hair type.

BURNT SCALP

It’s common knowledge that slapping the SPF on your face and body is wise before enjoying the sun but do you think about your scalp? Tell me, have you ever burnt your scalp? I have and it’s not pretty. Eventually when your skin starts to repair itself it obviously flakes and you’re left looking like you have a severe case of dandruff! I know, I know, none of us are keen on plastering sun cream over our parting but ouch it can hurt if you don’t and believe me those flakes aren’t attractive.

Putting vanity aside for the moment. Sunburn on the scalp can be dangerous. The risk factor for developing skin cancer like anywhere else on the body is just as high if not higher due to the fact that it’s hard to monitor for moles and early signs of cancer. Most people don’t even know they have moles on their scalp.

So what do we do to protect our scalps? Well the obvious one is wear a hat. Wider the better so as to protect the ears, back of the scalp and neck. If you are thinning or balding then a SPF 50 with a five star UVA rating sunscreen should always be worn.

If you don’t want to wear a hat and your hair isn’t thinning then try diluting some sunscreen with water and spray it into the scalp. Use a high factor sun cream so as not to dilute it so much it has no effect.

LEAVE THE HAIR STRAIGHTENERS AT HOME

Come on girls let’s rock the Monica curls! I know it’s hot and humid out there but do your hair a favour and give it a holiday too. We all know how damaging the straightening irons can be so leave them at home and grab that Oil. Davines Oi Oil is a great product to help control frizz. It protects the structure of the hair without weighing it down so slap the good stuff on and let it dry naturally.

If this is a definite no from you then don’t be disheartened there are still a couple of things you can do.

1/ 72 Hair Treatment – This is an in-salon restorative treatment which is chemical-free and is also vegan! This smoothing treatment penetrates the hair to bring it back to its original healthy state. Like the Keratin treatment the hair smoothing results eliminate frizz, locks in colour and reduces blow drying time for up to 12 weeks. Let’s call is a stepping stone towards the Keratin Blow Dry. Processing time 90 -120 minutes depending on hair thickness and quality. Price from £75

2/ Keratin Blow Dry - At Avalon, Crouch End, we have spent many years trying various products and techniques to master the art of this process and with Keratin Revolution we have found the best results. This hair relaxing treatment is the perfect solution to your frizzy hair woes. So what is a Keratin blow dry I hear you say? Well to start it’s a stronger product than 72 Hair Treatment. It’s a relaxing treatment which removes frizz. It’s a semi-permanent treatment that lasts between 2 – 6 months depending on what your hair type is like and how well you care of your hair. Ask one of our Keratin experts at Avalon Crouch End for advice. Processing time 150 – 180 minutes depending on hair thickness and quality. Price from £160

PICTURE KERATIN REVOLUTION

HAIR TRENDS FOR 2023

So 2023 is here, what is the look for you this year?

Getting ahead of the game never hurts anyone, and what better way to occupy the gloomier months at the start of the year than by planning this year's hairstyle.

With 2022 being one of our most experimental hair fashion years ever thanks to us all being locked up the year before, we are hoping this year will bring just as much fun and edge. 

At Avalon salon Crouch End, we saw a huge influence from the 90's, with the big blowdrys and mixie cuts (a mix between a mullet and a pixie cut), bleach blonde and redhead but where can we go in 2023?

Getting the colour and style right can take time so let's get started now.

The general look is still leaning towards a certain effortlessness when it comes to our hair, whether it be through a hair-colouring technique like balayage that grows out beautifully in between appointments or the perfect haircut that suits our face shape with minimal styling. Ask our experienced colourist in our Crouch End salon for a personalised consultation.

Let’s get started on colour.

THE CANDLELIT BRUNETTE

Candlelit brunette has a brunette base colour featuring golden highlights. This is a low maintenance, reverse balayage with golden tones. Beautiful and natural while keeping the face frame, light but warm.

COPPER REDS

All shades of red are spilling over from last year and will be popular in 2023, ranging from fiery reds and deep burgundy to warm auburn. Great for you dark haired girls who aren’t ready to go too light. Fiery red is the look for you. 

Now where do we go with the cut? Well let's start with the C Cut. 

THE C CUT

Believe it or not the Rachel haircut is having a revival in 2023 and if you’re a TikTok fan then you may know this as the Unicorn Cut. Please don’t try this at home!!! 

The salon name for it is the “C cut” and it is much softer and not as heavy on the face framing as the Rachel cut, giving a more rounded, balanced haircut which is still low maintenance and easy to style. 

Also trending high is the French Girl Style.

THE FRENCH GIRL STYLE

If shortcuts are your thing then this is your year! We will be seeing, pixie’s, bobs, fringes and variations of all three. With bobs getting squarer and  shorter, the French girl style is the look that is trending this year. With its cheekbone skimming style, you can’t get much chicer than this. 

If styling is your thing then get that pintail comb out and try the Barbie Ponytail or the Givenchy Pouf.

THE BARBIE PONYTAIL

Well with the Barbie movie heading our way this spring the high sleek ponytail is trending as the retro girl look continues. This sleek pony is a polished look that can be worn at the office and formal events.

THE GIVENCHY POUF

Another sleek look for this year is the Givenchy red carpet Pouf. I personally love this look as it is such low maintenance and easy to throw back when time isn’t on your side. 

This post was written by Debbie at Avalon Hairsalon, Crouch End, North London .

For the love of hair!!!

So it has finally arrived! Botox for hair!!

"WHAT?" I hear you shout.

I know, I know, what next?

Well, let me tell you a bit about this treatment before you make your decision.

pHrizzy-o-therapy (love that name) was originally created by hairdressers. One of the main questions we get asked is “how do I get rid of frizz”. Our answers vary obviously depending on what type of hair we are dealing with. So let's go through what we as hairdressers suggest for the various types of frizz.

NATURAL FRIZZY/UNRULY HAIR

Say ‘good-bye’ to frizz’! 

If you want to keep your curly or wavy locks but want to lose the frizz, then we have the treatment for you. At Avalon Crouch End our stylist have spent many hours researching the best treatment to remove the frizz from curly hair and the Keratine treatment is the best. I must say even though I was glad to see the formaldehyde being removed from all keratin treatments, we struggled to find a product that gave us the same results. After much research and many models later we eventually came across Keratin Revolution Nano Intense Treatment. This is great for smoothing the hair without losing its texture. The Keratin Revolution system allows for complete versatility of style - so you can create a super sleek and straight style or you can go for a more volumised bouncy blow-dry finish - maybe even curls. Ask your stylist at Crouch End Avalon for more details.

Time - 3 hours

Price - Starts at £150

Last up-to 3 months

FRIZZ FROM DAMAGE

While frizz hair is just a part of some people’s DNA, damaged frizz typically affects those who repeatedly use heat styling equipment and have harmful grooming habits. This can cause breakage, tangling, and split ends — making your hair look dry, dull, and frizzy.

At a microscopic level, frizzy and damaged hair has undergone excessive weathering that’s worn down the outermost layers of your hair shaft, known as the cuticle. Once this is removed, the inner cortex layer is exposed, which can lead to hair breakage. In other words, having frizzy tresses is a sign of significant hair damage that has compromised the structure of your hair strands and stripped its hydration away.

So this is where our  72 Hair pHrizzy-o-therapy Treatment comes in. 

pHrizzy-o-therapy is the latest innovation in the care of frizzy, unruly, unmanageable hair that can last-up to 12 weeks per application. Formulated with plant extracts, organic amino acids and keratin, this therapy repairs all hair types, adding strength and elasticity to your hair.

Benefits:

* Restores your hair’s pH balance using key organic and amino acid components, making it soft, frizz-free and luxurious.

* Eliminates frizz and strengthens your hair.

* Hair feels weightless and easy to manage.

* Optimises shine

* Suitable for all hair types

* Quick and easy process

* You can wash your hair the same day

* 80% Organic ingredient

Written by Debbie Newman Owner of Avalon Hair Studios Ltd

IS YOUR HAIR SUMMER READY?

So summer is here with a bang! I’m sure your wardrobe is ready but is your hair summer ready? It’s time to start thinking about how you can make your hair look its best! Here are a few things you may want to consider before shooting off on your hols.

Be rid of those split ends - 

There’s nothing worse than the sun shining its beautiful rays on those dry, damaged ends so let's get a haircut. It’s a great way to feel clean and fresh. 

If however you have spent the winter trying your hardest to grow your hair then our stylist at Avalon North London understands a technique called hair dusting. Hair dusting maintains the length of your hair while removing flyaway split ends. It's a way to keep your hair looking healthy while you're trying to grow it out. It can also smooth out hair that's developed a life (and split ends) of its own.

If you would like to know more about split ends then check out our blog on:-

how to get rid of split ends. 

Throw some light on those locks! - 

Get a new hair colour this summer to stay up to date with the latest trends and to brighten up your look. Your Avalon stylist can recommend colours and processes that will suit you and make your hairstyle look amazing but remember to take extra care during the summer. You may find that hair when is overexposure to the sun can lead to colour fading and very dry hair! Swimming pools, sea water, more washing and styling than usual during the summer holidays can also cause a lot more damage so change up your care products, for something with a little more moisture. 

This MOMO Moisture Boost Trio floods thirsty locks with nourishment to restore hydration and enhance softness on even the most dry and dehydrated hair. From the first use, you'll notice a difference in manageability and hair will feel in tip top condition.

Beachy styles - 

Effortless and elegant works well for summer months, so get practising with some cute hairstyles that work for you. Soft waves and beachy braids are big this season. Sea Salt spray is a great product to help you create those beachy waves. All you have to do is spray on wet or dry hair and watch those waves come to life, beachtastic!!!

Hand luggage products - 

MOMO shampoo bar - If like most hand luggage is your choice we all know the biggest challenge is the limited liquid size products that we are allowed. Well here’s a great way to get around it. 

Davines moisturising solid shampoo for dry or dehydrated hair. A solid texture, for a high performance, that delights from the first application thanks to a rich creamy foam delivering softness, shine and silky texture. 

Not only will you be saving the planet with this eco-friendly brand but you’ll be saving yourself a lot of time and embarrassment in the airport when they confiscate your huge bottle of shampoo that you tried to sneak through. 

If shampoo bars are just one step too far for you then pop into Avalon Crouch End and you’ll see our full range of travel size products perfect to throw into your case or carry on. 

Accessorise- 

Summer is the season for fun and flirty accessories, from feathers, and fancy clips to colourful scarves, there's something to suit everyone. 

Invest in a hat, not only will it set off your summer look, and make you stand out from the crowd as a fashionista, but it will protect your hair and face from the sun. Plus, it's a great option to have a handy hat on bad hair days!

Written by Debbie Avalon.

Plastics in our Oceans

Did you know over 16 billion pounds of plastic leak into our ocean waters yearly?

With the world’s population increasing, this number is only projected to increase. Plastic in our oceans is something to be concerned about not only because of its detrimental effects on animal life and vital ecosystems but also on our health.

Divines is proud to partner with Plastic Bank to stop ocean bound plastic and improve lives. 

Through their partnerships, they will prevent 100 tonnes of plastic from entering the ocean each year. Empower collectors in coastal communities in Indonesia, the Philippines and Brazil.

Products with No Animal-Tested or Animal-Derived Ingredients

Over 100 million animals a year die from animal testing and millions more are captured and caged for the sole purpose of animal testing. Not only is this cruel to animals, but this could also pose sustainability concerns in areas of the world where animals are captured. Disrupting the balance of nature in the name of animal testing is both risky and more expensive than non-animal testing. It is best to choose products that do not support animal testing. Davines Group is committed to producing only the highest quality products which meet our uncompromising efficacy and ethical standards. They do not test their products on animals, nor do they ask others to test either their products or ingredients on animals. Animal testing does not align with their values. 

Supporting cruelty-free products not only will make you feel better knowing no animals were harmed in the making of your products, but you will be one step closer to helping us become an eco-friendly salon.

Energy-Saving Practices

We have started to use energy-saving components in our salon to conserve electricity and water. For example, using energy-efficient lighting like the GE Energy Smart Energy light bulbs. 

We have fitted a programmable thermostat in the salon and set it to a comfortable temperature to help reduce our energy consumption.

We have installed water saving taps to help conserve the amount of water used.

We at Avalon salon Crouch End are working towards building a sustainable salon. We want to inspire and enable as many people as possible to live more sustainably.  

What is a toner? Admittedly, the term can be confusing. That’s because many hairdressers use the word interchangeably with other terms like hair glossing and fading. Essentially, a toner is a hair colour product that contains low or no ammonia, that gently alters the undertone of the hair but let me break it down for you so that you understand what they do and why they are so important. When lighting, we lift the hair to what we call "RAW" lift. It’s a raw cuticle that is open and if it’s not closed and the pH of the hair isn’t balanced, it can create damage and split ends over time. Lightener leaves the hair yellow, a little orange and sometimes white. And even if you love the colour it is, it needs to be toned to close the cuticle. A consultation is a guided interview that should help you both get to the best understanding of what you would like, and what is attainable. Our colour experts at Avalon hair salon, Crouch End will take time to talk in depth about your hair history. So when you talk to one of our colourist, honesty is truly the best policy. We work with a variety of chemicals that create different reactions. Sometimes these chemicals have adverse reactions when mixed, and the only way your colourist will know if they are present is for you to tell them. The simplest way to talk about your “Hair History” is to work backward in months. Hair grows on average half an inch per month. If your hair is 6 inches long, the ends are 1 year old.  If it 12 inches long it is 2 years old. Everything that you do and live through exists in that hair. If you went blonde last year but put a box on it to go back to your natural, the blonde is still there, just hidden.  If you used any sort of box or shampoo that altered your colour enough for you see “roots” growing out, it is chemically affected, and you must tell your colourist everything that has affected your hair. This is where your toner comes in to play. Toners are designed to either enhance warmth or neutralise, subdue excessive warmth or simply to sprinkle some absolute magic onto your hair to create something absolutely beautiful. Toners are what we as hairdresser mostly call a “semi” permanent colour meaning they fade from shampooing and once they are gone the hair is back to its Raw state. Toner formulas can be changed tweaked to suit changing needs and trends and a great way to keep your hair shiny and fresh without having to foil work every time. Toner will not lift your hair to make it lighter but they can certainly make a big impact when the correct formula is chosen. Why not pop in to Avalon Crouch End Hair Salon and ask one of our colourist for advice. This article was written by the Salon Manager Michelle at Avalon.

Does your hair constantly feel stiff, dry?

Does it look dull and dingy?

Does your colour lose a little more clarity with every shampoo… even turn weird shades of green, yellow, orange or brown?

If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, it’s a sure thing you’ve got hard water.

Hard water can really mess with your hair texture and colour, making it very hard to style and leaving you with no shine. 

CAN YOU GO BLONDE WITHOUT DAMAGING YOUR HAIR?

Ok, so the first question you need to ask yourself is, "Is my hair healthy enough to go blonde?"

Well, you need to ask yourself the following questions before you can answer this:-

Does your hair have split ends?

Is it rough to touch?

Does your hair break off when you brush it?

If yes to any of these questions then your hair is porous and it should not be coloured.

If you're still not sure, why not do a strand test:-

While your hair is wet, take a strand and gently pull it. You can use a strand that has fallen out already if you prefer. If it snaps easily then this is a sign of it has been over-processed and is not suitable to colour again. Your best option in this situation is to have a good cut to get rid of those split, dehydrated hair. I would also recommend that you grow as much of your tint/bleach out before colouring again. Why not pop into Avalon, and speak to one of our colour experts at our Crouch End hair salon for some advice on what to do for the best.

Also, a really important thing to consider when going from dark to blonde is tint does not lift tint. If you have coloured your hair either dark or blonde, once you have put tint on your hair you can not lift the colour with tint. You can go darker but you can not go lighter. This means that you would have to revert to bleach to achieve a lift in colour.

As you most probably know with bleach you get a lot more lift than you would do with tint but the downside is that bleach is a lot more damaging than tint. Here's why:-

Bleaching involves the oxidisation process, which uses hydrogen peroxide to remove the colour from the hair shaft.

Tint permanent hair dyes use the same oxidisation process that bleaching does, but it doesn’t lift the cuticle and damage the hair to the same degree. Oxidisation lightens the hair slightly while colour is being applied and bonded to the hair shaft. This process not only changes your hair colour, but it allows you to lighten your hair colour.

Ok so you've considered your options but you still feel nervous about going lighter and damaging your hair. Let's go through the safest steps to take:-

1/ DO IT GRADUALLY - At Avalon, we like to use colour safely by coming up with a long term plan with our clients to achieve the results they want with the minimum damage. We pride ourselves in gaining the reputation of being one of the best hair salons in North London. If you don't have the option of coming to Avalon hair salon Crouch End then talk to your colourist and explain your concerns. Mention that you would prefer not to overlap the colour when coming in for a colour touch up and that you would prefer to go lighter slowly and safely. Any good colourist will completely understand and agree with you.

2/ TREAT YOUR HAIR WHILE COLOURING - When lightening your hair the colour breaks down the protein bonds in the hair shaft. Olaplex is a product that any hairdresser would advise you to use when colouring your hair to protect the natural proteins in your hair and makes the whole lightening process safer and less damaging. It helps stick the protein bonds together and therefore protects them and helps the hair stay strong and healthy.

3/ AFTERCARE - This is your part of the long term plan. Investing in a really good shampoo and conditioner. Our Davines Nou Nou range at Avalon is perfect for bleached, permed or relaxed hair. The rich formula gently cleanses treated hair, giving it deep nourishment, hydration and restoring its natural softness. By buying this product you not only take care of yourself but you will also be taking care of the planet with the effort that is put into sustaining the natural resources and environment when producing.

4/ HEAT PROTECTION - This is my go-to product that I use every day. I use it on wet or dry hair. Not only is it a great lightweight, All In One Milk, it's a multi-function leave-in spray treatment that softens, detangles, controls frizz and protects the hair from heat, it also smells amazing!! This is my personal hair perfume!!

Well, I hope this advice has helped you make a decision on if and how to lighten your hair. Remember shiny healthy hair wins hands down versus dry, dehydrated, limp hair so be sensible and be safe.

This article was written by the Salon Owner Debbie at Avalon.

SPLIT ENDS

So let’s start with what split ends actually are. Basically it is wear and tear. From shampooing to styling, it's dehydrated hair. In technical terms it’s where large areas of the cuticle have split away from the shaft, revealing the inner cortex.

What causes our hair to split?

Well there are a number of reasons.

COLOURING - Colouring changes the structure of your hair. Our colour experts at Avalon Hair Salon Crouch End  always recommend you use an Olaplex treatment with your colour so as to reduce the damaging effect of colour.

CHEMICAL TREATMENT - Chemical straightening and perming weakens the hair quite dramatically. Your aftercare is extremely important to make sure your hair doesn't dry out.

HEAT STYLING - Step away from those straighteners ladies! Heat styling also significantly weakens your hair, especially if you’re not using heat protection every single time you style. My recommendation if you have to use heat on your hair is to use Resistance Extentioniste Thermique Hair Protection. It's strengthening hair protector for long hair and split ends which helps to gently restore hair and detangle without causing breakage.

How to get rid of split ends?

Unfortunately there is no way of fixing a split end. You can make them look a little more presentable with finishing products like Kerastase Resistance Serum Therapiste Dual Treatment. This product helps with dehydrated hair and can temporary seal the split ends which makes them visibly smoother.

So what can you do about split ends?

Cut them off! Unfortunately this is our only option. Once you have cut them off you can then change what you do that cause the ends to split.

How to prevent split ends happening again?

Get regular haircuts. Our stylists at Avalon Hair Studios Crouch End recommend every six to seven weeks to really stop those pesky ends from splitting.

Don't brush so hard. Maybe try a tangle teaser and start at the bottom and work your way up.

Use a deep conditioning treatment to keep the ends hydrated. You can even comb your hair while the conditioner is still in especially if you do have a tendency to have knotty hair.

Oils! I can not emphasise this enough. Add to your daily routine a little oil to the ends of your hair, it will make a huge difference. I swear by Elixir Ultime L'huile Original, it's saved my poor dried out hair!

Put your hairdryer on a low heat. Over heating can burn and dry the hair out.

Wear a hat on your holidays! UV rays is so damaging for the hair, it can make your hair dry and brittle.

So that's it folks. My advice on split ends. Cut and rehydrate is my two key points!

This article was written by Debbie at Avalon.