Mousse Applying Tips

I wrongly thought that mousse was outdated and I only saw it on a trip to the hairdressers. Thanks to Trevor Sorbie Art Team's Tips for the perfect mousse application though, now everyday is hairdresser-look day. Do try the following tips and join the club of mousse hair.

Tip One:

Don't squirt a huge ball of Mousse into your hand and apply straight to the hair with your fingers. Instead, apply a little to your palm and then, using a wide-toothed comb, apply a small amount and comb through from the roots.

Tip Two:

To ensure even distribution, section your hair from behind the ears and comb the Mousse through the underneath first and then through the top sections of hair.

Tip Three:

The trick to achieving a natural look and feel is to dry the product in using a hairdryer. Apply using a comb to damp, towel-dried hair, then blast the hair with the dryer and pull your hairbrush from the root to the tip of the hair to ensure a smooth, even finish. You can always apply more product, even to dry hair, again using a hairdryer to dry it into the hair. It makes a great base for up dos.

Get the Wavy Lady Look

Add a touch of 1930s glamour to your tresses with some vintage-style waves this season. This look is salon created by applying a setting lotion to freshly cleansed and conditioned hair, then setting on large rollers and drying under a hood drier. But it’s also a look which can be created at home by setting on large Velcro rollers, or if you are dextrous when using them – double-barrelled tongs. Lovely stylists at Haringtons Hairdressing shared their secret with me.

TO STYLE AT HOME

Step 1

Apply a setting agent (such as tecni.art pli) to day-old hair to give it ‘guts’ and help set the waves in place. If using hot rollers, use a heat protective spray too, followed by a setting agent of your choice.

Step 2

Using a Denman pin-tail comb, divide hair into sections (the finer the section, the greater the curl) and wind around Velcro or hot rollers.

Step 3

Once completely dry, brush hair through using the Denman Classic Brush, creating your favoured wave by moulding hair into shape using both the brush and your hands. Finish with a light hold spray.

Voila, all done and ready for fabulous Christmas parties.

Frizzi by Umberto Giannini

Every girl is aware of their hair's worst enemy - DAMP. And of course living in London does not help, with continuous drizzle and humidity. Luckily for all of us trying to control the frizz, Umberto Giannini has the perfect solution - FRIZZI line of hair products for Frizz-free days ahead.

Ranging from smoothening shampoo and conditioner to argan oil serum and styling spray you can be sure that you will finally be taming the beast that is your hair. I also love the Frizz Off Blow Dry Cream, but my favourite product of FRIZZI line is definitely the Day After Day After Day 3 Day Extreme Taming Spray with water proof formula, which is so easy to use - simply spritzing it on damp hair before the blow dry and your hair will be smooth, shiny and yes - frizz-free. Available from Boots. 

Philip B Oud Royal Forever Shine

It's not every day that you bump into hair guru Philip B himself at an appointment. But then, it's not every day that a launch so exciting lands in our laps.

The new Philip B Oud Royal Forever Shine range is (despite an absolute mouthful) simply a heaven-sent line up of shampoo, £60, conditioner, £70, gel £20 and shaping fibre, £21. 

It contains time-released botanical hydrators, which are basically miny-molecules that're tiny enough to pass through the fibre of your hair, moisturising each strand from the inside out. What does that mean? Quite simple, a single use leaves hair stronger, more manageable (and I really mean that. Philip used a comb on me - a comb!), and - quite unfathomably - longer. And the effect lasts a good week, even if you wash with off-brand products in-between. 

The miracle about this new range is that while it pumps hair with hydration, volume and mega-watt shine, the clever ingredients (such as the pleasingly named Mongogo Oil) revive parched strands without adding drab-making weight. Oh and it's colour safe. 

LA-based Philip is an a-lister's best friend (we hear Gwyneth has him on speed dial, and a certain other a-lister sends him periodic gushy emails of thanks).

Try it - visit Philip B

Trevor Sorbie launches Booster Menu

Hair-dressing was robbed of a defining man last month when it was announced that industry grandfather Vidal Sassoon had died. Described by Vogue (aka our Bible) as “a byword for excellence in hair," Sassoon is credited for transforming hair-dressing not only in his sixties hey-day, but forever after – spot the difference between Mia Farrow and Emma Watson’s pixie cuts. We spy a trend.

London’s best have paid homage, and all eyes are turning to those who worked closely with the pioneer, as they embark upon the task of continuing a legacy of hairdressing excellence.

No small feat.

But out of the haze has stepped none other than hairdresser du jour Trevor Sorbie, who worked under Sassoon as Artistic Director in 1973.  So Lady C was delighted to be invited to test-drive Sorbie’s latest venture: the Booster Menu.

The boosters (shine, colour or volume – take your pick) are a genius idea, designed to tide your hair’s condition and appearance over until your next salon appointment. The speedy service takes an hour from the moment you step in the salon to your perfectly coiffed exit. The perfect lunchtime excursion.

Our over-served locks were quite a handful – “goodness, darling. I think we’ll be needing two” – so we tried out both the shine and colour boosters.

We left the Covent Garden salon with hair that felt refreshed and ready to face the music til we can next make it into the salon. Highlights it is not – but it is a serious time saver and a must for hair that’s in the spotlight.

Because, after-all: would you wear a faded, lackluster hat?

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