Ombre Locks

For the past 18 months everybody from Kimmy K, Alexa Chung and Drew Barrymore has rocked the ombre hair trend. Leading to the majority of So Coco Rouge clients embracing the trend. 

And boy have I been jealous. Don't get me wrong, I adore my vibrant red locks, but there is something special about those rich chocolate roots gradually toning into caramel blonde ends. 

Before

After lots of thoughts and endless searching on pinterest for 'Red to copper ombre', I brought up the topic with our extremely talented hair Rougette Kelly. We agreed we had never seen a well done red-copper ombre, so thought it was time we showed the world how it was done.

During

For those of you who have never experienced a 5 hour long ombre application, it goes a little like this.... Root colour, vigorous back combing, bleach foils applied to ends, crying in pain as backcombing combed out, final toner applied to end colour, cries of joy at your gorgeous new locks!

Can't beat a good Saturday night Blow Dry!

Now, I just have the job of keeping these locks looking so luscious every single day.

Anyone fancy hiring me a live in hairdresser?!

After

LFW SS14 Day 3

What I would give for a a Mulberry Wedgwood tea cup to be sat in my kitchen today. Why? Because if you were lucky or talented enough to receive one of these from your postman in the past few weeks, then you would have access to the Mulberry SS14 show! The show, collection and campaign, I anticipate and truly love, each and every season.

IMAGE- VOGUE

This week's show is even more poignant, as creative director Emma Hill leaves the brand today, after launching it from a British heritage brand to one with an international fashion A-list status. Hill's last collection, was fairly simple, in comparison to her previous. Once again this season, we witnessed monochrome tones, alongside bold floral prints and accents of burnt orange and soft grey. 

Model of the moment, Cara Delevingne opened the show, with simply natural hair, and make-up- the strongest element being mascara packed lashes and subtle pencil liner.

IMAGE- VOGUE

Next, it was off to high street favourite, Topshop Unique show, yet another with a star studded FROW. Topshop seem to have embraced the warm weather we have experienced of late, and predicted an even hotter one in 2014. Well, either that, or they are hoping we are all planning on travelling to hotter climates.

This collection has definitely focused more on the latter side of Spring Summer, with fine fabrics, smart shorts and flowing dresses. Another designer showcasing large volumes of white, accent colours of colbolt blue, jade green and mustard yellow brighten the Topshop Unique palette.

Make-up artist Hannah Murray, used Topshop's own make-up range to create a sun kissed yet disheveled look. Smokey, sultry eyes, with an added hint of silver sparkle in the inner corners of the eyes, were teamed with bronzed skin and wet look, worn in curled hair.

IMAGE- VOGUE

Fancy really expressing yourself?! Then why not try the extreme make-up created by make-up genius Val Garland at Vivienne Westwood Red Label next season- it's certainly one to get you noticed!
Using MAC make-up and feathers, Val and her artistic team, created a look which seem to be inspired by Halloween, complete with backcombed, extremely tatty hair. 
The clothing on the other hand, was much more wearable, with florals and unique work wear in a subtle palette of lemon, grey, navy and red.
The talk of the night? That opening dance from Lily Cole. What a way to start a show!




Finally, its off to Matthew Williamson, where a children's choir were there to entertain us. With a collection created for a hot Summer in Ibiza, and a palette of sorbet tones, bold florals and graphic prints, this is one collection the high street is sure to be inspired by.
Simple make-up inspired by a 1970's jet setter, was created by one of my favourite make-up artists- Lisa Eldridge. Using Benfit products, she created a bronzed luminous complexion, curled lashes and plump glossy lips. Hair was kept simple too, Mark Hayes styled models with soft volume and a side parting.

IMAGE- HAIRDRESSING JOURNAL

LFW SS14 Day 2

After a manic day running round the city beneath a SS12 Cath Kidston umbrella, it was back to Liverpool for me, and a 14 hours of clients at So Coco Rouge. So, it was back to streaming shows online and drooling over the new collections we have ahead of us.

IMAGE- Herald Scotland

Holly Fulton has been one of my favourite designers since she launched her label back in 2009- which is no doubt due to our joint love (some say obsession...) with the Art Deco era. Next season however, she's been inspired by an era, a little closer- the 1970's. With a large collection, packed with a variety of prints and multi-tonal palettes of blue, orange and grey, Fulton provided us with a complete Summer wardrobe. Perfect for sunny days yachting in Cannes.

Hair and make-up was also inspired by the disco days- a sleek deep set parting sweeping into full, tight curls, brushed through, creating cloud-like fluffiness. Brushed through brows, vivid purple shadow applied to the eye lid and right up to the brow and a metallic bronze-nude lip completed the look. 

IMAGE- VOGUE

Then, it's onto yet another favourite- John Rocha- A collection that I turn to for inspiration every year. Rocha's SS14 collection was another to include a monochrome palette, alongside delicate floral patterns, ruffled fabric and sheer panels. The MAC make-up team created metallic silver eyes, by using loose pigments and teamed this with feminine soft pink lips and slicked back, crimped hair. 

IMAGE- VOGUE

As early evening approached, it was time for the celebrities favourite and fun filled brand, House of Holland. With a FROW consisting of Harry Styles, Kelly Osbourne, Nick Grimshaw and Elllie Goulding, this show is instantly guaranteed newsworthy- but did the collection stand up to its Holland's credentials? 

It most certainly does. Lace, checks, florals and  religious motifs. Metallics, pastels, bright primaries and denim. Accessorised with cat-eye sunglasses and peaked caps, what more could you ask for? 

And the make-up pleased me immensely- luminous complexions, flicks of liquid liner and full raspberry red lips. Hair was styled by Babyliss, using a heated wand to create loose summer waves, finished with slicked back front.

LFW SS14 Day 1

My second favourite week of the year is back again! Yes, today's the first day of LFW SS14- and we have 5 days of tube mayhem, avant garde street style and long pre-show queues ahead of us!

So, what did today have in store for us? Well, lots of rain for starters, but also flashes of pastels, monochromes, metallic and bright primaries to cheer us up nicely!

Image- www.Theupcoming.co.uk

First, it was off to J. JS Lee, who also kept models complexions bare, with a bold fuchsia pink lip as the only focus. I love this pink- not too bright or garish, more of a rosé-tone which could easily be adapted to suit any skin tone. With simple make up, simple hair follows- this time as a sleek pony tail complete with deep side part.

 Central St. Martins graduate Jackie Lee, was inspired by the movement of Jellyfish for this collection, which featured not only the monochrome trend we regularly saw at NYFW but flashes of turquoise and dusky pink. This popular shade of pink wasn't the only repeat of the current AW trends- this collection also include geometric, check prints and oversized tailoring. 

After a morning of online streaming from my desk aboard the Virgin Pendelino that I practically call home,  I was off to Freemasons Hall for my first Fashion Scout show of my day. The Yeashin Kim show was as electric as her previous seasons, all of which I have loved.  This collection featured soft pastels alongside greys, tapes and mustard tones. Pretty dresses complete with pleats, ruffles and pearl detail, often accessorised with top hats, were the standout pieces for me. 
Make-up was kept as feminine as the clothing- dewy pink lips and cheeks, (applied high on the cheek bone rather than apple) complete with strong brows and a wash of deep rose shadow applied mainly from the socket line up to the brow bone. Hair was accesorised with plaits worn milk-maid style, with lengths worn naturally straight. Hair prone to a few rascal kinks? Perfect, this is exactly how it was styled at Yeashin Kim!

Bernard Chandran

Then it was back to twenty minutes in the rain waiting for the much anticipated show from  Bernard Chandran. With an invite featuring a set of headphones complete with crown detail and a press release mentioning the words Runaway Princess, the buzz of what to expect was evident for the awaiting queue of London's fashion set.
And what a show it was. Probably my favourite of the day in fact.
Packed with bold metallic red, purple and greens, vivid golds and silvers plus pastel tones and a hint of burnt orange, this collection of dresses and jumpsuits are absolute show stoppers. 
Dressed down with messy hair, tied scruffily back in a pony tail with added twist detail at sides, and a completely nude make up except for a bold pillar box red lip and hint of a bronzed cheek.
Oh, and of course, a variety of crowns, including those coveted headphone ones!

Yulia Kondranina Finale

After a quick dash to Charles Fox and a spot of dinner, it was back to Freemasons House 
for Fashion Scouts Merit Award Winner, Yulia Kondranina show.
A simple palette of black and white, alongside navy, lemon and pink, with delicate geometric shape detail as the focus of the collection. Pieces included feminine sheath dresses, some with deep V necklines and sheer panel detail. 
Hair was slicked back from root to crown using gel products, with length left in a waved, natural state . Make-up focus was an unruly, brushed up brow, and contoured cheeks, complete with a beauty mark in the hollow of the cheek. A new trend emerging perhaps?!



My last show of the day was Ping He, which included fashions favourites Laura Whitmore and Poppy Delevigne alongside Make up Guru Tanya Burr.

Hair and make-up wise, this is my favourite by a mile. Think MASSIVE beehives- we are talking Marge Simpson height here guys, complete with random shapes of white and black hair spray. Finished with  a sharply contoured cheek, black lip with centre white line detail and a cream white pigment buffed onto the eye and surrounding area. This was one attention grabbing show.

Yet another monochrome palette, Ping He's collection was inspired by architecture and features strong yet beautiful, feminine silhouettes. I think this is one name we should all ensure is etched into our minds for years to come. 

And finally! The last show of the day, unfortunately viewed once again from the comfort of Coach D of the London-Liverpool commute, was one of my all time favourites, PPQ. Quite apt that this show was shown past sundown- as the make-up was definitely a sultry evening look, and one we are more used to seeing in February's AW shows.  Deep berry stained lips, heavily kohl rimmed eyes, finished with smokey violet shadow in a softly winged out shape. Like the majority of today's shows, hair was swept off the face in a soft bouffant, with long length cascading at back. 

With bolder primary and secondary tones of red, yellow, green and purple worn alongside black and strong floral prints, this show definitely stood apart from the others.

Dresses featuring sheer skirts, petticoats and ruffled edges, were teamed with chunky gold jewellery and 1940's inspired hats with decorative veils.

One day down, four to go. And what a season SS14 is going to be!

You can read more information from these shows, and see lots of images by visiting 
The Fashion Scout Blog.

Evo Fabuloso Colour Intensifying Conditioner

As much as I love my red locks, the speed at which the vibrancy fades can sometimes leave me considering a much more subdued tone. From using a specialist colour shampoo to the various colour masks I have collected over the years, nothing seems to brighten and deepen my barnett as much as I want.

My latest purchase, Evo Fabuloso Colour Intensifying Conditioner in Copper promises to "achieve a rich copper tone on colour treated hair." Not only does this conditioner enhance colour, it is also helps to reduce frizz, add shine and deeply nourish damaged hair.

Not heard of Evo before? To be honest, the brand only came to my attention last year when we looked for a brand to use at So Coco Rouge, and now it's one we often use on shoots. With uniquely named products, including Love Touch (Shine spray), Liquid Rollers (Curl cream) and Root Canal (Volume spray) and simple, modern packaging alongside products that actually work,  Evo is now a favourite amongst UK hair salons. Founded in Australia in 2004, Evo's "mission is to create innovative, salon only products that are simple, luxurious, effective to use and that make people smile" and I'm pretty sure they have met this mission already.

Available in 7 shades, Fabuloso is seriously simple to apply. Wash hair as normal, towel dry and comb through. Depending on hair length take 4-8 pumps of conditioner (I have shoulder length hair and used 6) and comb through from roots to ends. I focused the majority on the ends, as this is where my colour fades most. Then its time to wait! 3 minutes of shower scrubbing later and its time to rinse!

One blow dry later and my hair is looking much healthier and definitely revived. A great way to quickly enhance your colour for a special occasion, or a valuable bargain to ease the far too regular salon appointments!

Available in 7 shades- Copper, Mahogany, Purple Red, Chestnut, Caramel, Light Beige and Platinum Blonde.

Bridal Hair

With our skin now glowing and our lips perfectly kissable, its time to move onto hair!

Bride-to-be and one of my best friends, Sian, has EXTREMELY thick hair- and like myself relies on So Coco Rouge hair stylist Kelly to look after her locks on a 6 weekly basis! But in-between appointments she treats her hair to weekly treatments and regular doses of extra hydration! Essential when your Wedding day is looming!

As Sian's hair has a tendency to wave under humidity (think Monica from Friends in Barbados...) she swears by Lanza and their Healing Smooth range in particular. This range contains Coix Seed which eases frizz, waves and curls, leaving hair sleek and super straight with a glossy shine! Sian uses the Glossifying Shampoo and Conditioner twice a week, to keep her locks looking luscious.

Whilst her hair is still wet, Sian likes to use Moroccan Oil, treatment which not only helps reduce drying time, but also protects against styling and environmental damage whilst adding shine.  Containing fatty acids, omega-3 oils, vitamins and anti-oxidants, this is a product no professional hair stylist should be without. 

As a weekly treat, a nourishing mask is a great addition to your hair care regime! Loreal Ever Sleek Smooth mask is Sian's current favourite. This  non-sulphate mask. is perfected for frizz prone locks and those which have exposed to excess heat and colour. 

Simply apply to wet hair and leave for 5 minutes before rinsing away, leaving softer locks!

Even when using intensive treatments and protectors, its still ultra important to have a trim every 6-8 weeks, simply to remove any split ends. This is even more important on the run up to your big day!  Make sure you have your appointments booked in advance to alleviate any pre-wedding stress.

Next up, we'll be looking at making our hands in tip-top condition for the all important 'ring' shot!

Festival favourites- Hair

Well now you have your Festival make-up and beauty sorted lets move onto hair!

From the early noughties when Kate Moss and Sienna Miller sported tousled bed-head locks, the words festival hair and boho have gone hand in hand. And when you don't have a mirror or plug socket in reach, relaxed hair is definitely the way forward!

So where to start?! Well, if your budget allows, I would highly recommend visiting your local salon for a wash and blow dry the day before. If not, use a deep cleansing shampoo twice, to ensure your hair is squeaky clean! After all its going to be a while before its washed again! 

Toni and Guy Cleanse Shampoo is fantastic on virgin and highlighted hair, however if like me, you regularly colour your hair be careful with detox shampoo's. Just make sure you give your hair a really good scrub! Finish with your usual conditioner.

If you are having your hair blown at a salon, discuss the option of having it blown curly. Hugely popular in our Liverpool salon, So Coco Rouge, this will leave your hair full of bounce and volume which will last for days- especially if you ask to have the curls pinned until you arrive at your camp site!

If you are styling your hair yourself, start by applying a volumising mousse to roots and blow dry straight. Next, take sections around 1 inch thick and wind around either a wand or tong. My favourites are Remington Pearl Curling Wand and Babyliss Glamour Tong. To keep your curls tighter for longer, roll each section back up and pin close to the scalp, leaving for as long as possible. Misting a flexible hold hairspray all over to finish.

Once you are unpacked, with tent set up and a cold cider waiting, un-pin your curls and brush through using your fingers or a soft bristle brush. For extra volume you could also add backcombing at the root and crown area.

Now its time to decorate! Floral crowns are always a popular choice at festivals, I love the range by Rock N Rose - well if it's good enough for Pixie Lott its good enough for me! These guys have a great selection to choose from- you could easily choose a different one for each day your there!

Don't forget to pack the festival hair must have Batiste Dry Shampoo. As the days go on, this will not only absorb excess oil but add texture and volume too! Worried about loosing your curls? Try plaiting your hair overnight- this will help to eliminate frizz and keep your waves in place until you get home! 

Know that you will really struggle with your hair? Then head over to the Vanity Van!

Simply book your treatment online before you leave to avoid the queues!

BBC The Voice

The lovely Alice, who is best known for playing the role of Rae in channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, had been a regular client at So Coco Rouge for well over a year, when she asked us to work with her on a very exciting project!

A little known fact about Alice is that she is a very talented vocalist, before she landed her Hollyoaks role, her talent had even been spotted by the X Factor judge and music mogul Louis Walsh!

Taking the decision to focus on her music career, Alice successfully applied for BBC's The Voice - and that's where we come in! Prior to her audition and interview, I traveled to the new BBC studios at Salford's Media City to ensure Alice looked like the star she is. And what fun we had!

Alice and I agreed that she should appear naturally flawless, but with a soft smokiness around her eyes and a pretty pink sheen to her lips.

Make-up Forever HD foundation has been a kit staple of mine for around 3 years now- the medium to full coverage and fine texture make it perfect for HD TV work, and ideal for Alice. A minimal amount of Kryolan Derma Colour was used beneath this to conceal any uneven areas of pigmentation. Finished with a light dusting of MUFE HD powder to minimise shine.

Alice has beautifully shaped eyes and she can pull off the strongest of eye make-up's, but today we kept the centre of the eyelid neutral, sweeping MAC Naked Pigment over the area for a pretty sheen. To extenuate her socket line, I blended MAC Malt eyeshadow, adding a touch of MAC Vanilla (matte) eyeshadow immediately beneath her brow. Creating soft smokiness was simple- using MAC limited edition shadow Show Shopper (Dark flat brown) on a MAC 239 to the outer corner, blending into the outer 1/3 of the socket line using a MAC 217 in circular movements. Finished with a slick of Estee Lauder Double Wear gel liner in Onyx, blending the outer edge into the darker shadow, and individual lashes.

A little bronzer, a touch of peachy blush to the apples of her cheeks and a pink  toned lipgloss, and Alice's Voice make-up was complete!

That's all I can say on Alice's Voice journey- but keep watching to follow her story!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4mrFf_uyAo

Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer

Like the majority of girls I know, I am currently growing my hair. Unlike most girls however, I am feeling like Rapunzel with my shoulder sweeping locks.

After around 4 years of rocking anything from a super short elfin crop to a chin length bob, I decided to finally bite the bullet and adopt a softer, longer look. For a girl who used to see her hairdresser more frequently than some of her own family, avoiding the chop was going to prove difficult. Nothing used to please me more than seeing heaps of red hair on the cutting room floor, and hear the gasps of the extension obsessed girls next to me, on a 4-6 weekly basis.

To the surprise of those around me (and to be fair, me included) I have (so far) grown my hair with ease. The usual 'hitting of the shoulder' moment passed by without the emergency call to the salon, demanding it was swiftly taken back to its resting place on my ear. And now, 16 months on, it casually sits on my collar bone, happy as Larry.

So far, so good. BUT. I am, after all a RED HEAD. And unfortunately, not a natural born one.

If, I could happily embrace my bland, dull, mousey toned hair, I'm sure it would be in mint condition. Dying it on a very regular basis, and not having the very frequent chops I was used to, had left my hair needing a bit of TLC.

This is where two very important things came into my life. 

1. Kelly, hairdresser extraordinaire at So Coco Rouge

2. Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer

Firstly, working alongside Kelly has proved a god send to my locks. Within hours of her moving in full time, she grasped my barnet in her talented hands and prescribed me a gorgeous new red hue, minus the damage!

Then, Trichologist and genius behind the brand, Phillip Kingsley, came into my life at the QVC Beauty Bash in January. The lovely PK team are great friends with the OPI family, and as the new recruit, they welcomed me with lots of goodies to try!

Here's what the PK team say about their hero product 'Elasticizer- Pre Shampoo Treatment' 

 Healthy hair stretches when wet before returning to its original length when dry.

However hair in poor condition snaps and breaks when stretched. Intensely moisturising Elasticizer delivers a rush of moisture to the hair’s cuticle; suppleness, elasticity and bounce appear instantly without weighing down or coating the hair.

Suitable for all hair types, I was recommended that my colour treated, medium textured hair would require treating once a week. Even busy (or lazy?!) girls like me can work that into their beauty routine!

Simply dampen hair (I used either a spray bottle a la hairdresser style, or tipped my locks into the bathroom sink- oh the glamour) and apply Elasticizer thoroughly in sections. This fragrance free cream, has a similar consistancy to a rich body lotion, and feels highly moisturising.

Once you have worked the treatment into your hair, and combed through using a wide toothed comb, its time to wait it out!

PK recommend leaving the treatment for a minimum of ten minutes- which I guess most people would do whilst in the shower. I on the other hand, decided to rock the provided PK shower cap and enjoy watching the soaps before removing. 

Rinse well, before shampooing as normal, preferably with the Phillip Kingsley product for your hair type. Follow with conditioner- if like me you suffer with oily roots, apply a minimal amount to mid lengths and ends only.

Even whilst wet, my hair felt smoother and in much better condition. 

After blow drying (which, on my own hair, I will be the first to admit, I'm not the best at) my hair had a lovely sheen, and my ends less frizzy.

I have now been using Elatiscizer for 3 months, and although the condition of my hair hasn't improved massively from the initial application, I still feel the same smoothing benefit after every use. If you use the entire PK range (shampoo, conditioner, tonic etc) I am sure you will see a greater benefit than I have experienced.

Costing £27.50, this isn't a cheap product for an initial outlay- but- I have had 12 applications from one tub, which works out as under £2.50 per treatment. 

Much cheaper than a weekly treatment at the salon!

My last word? Definitely a great buy for budding Rapunzels like moi. 

(Especially those with a bad colour habit without a Kelly in their life!!)

Transforming Hollyoaks to Hollywood at So Coco Rouge

Well this is a very over-due blog post!! 
It's been a busy few months, with me working between London and in Liverpool at So Coco Rouge, so please excuse by lack of blogging!

Being Liverpool based, at So Coco Rouge, we are lucky to count some of the locals from Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks as regulars. From the Soap Awards to cast parties, the girls know where to come when they are in need of a bit of pampering!

 Last Friday, the gorgeous Bianca Hendrickse-Spendlove, celebrated leaving the soap, by holding a 'Dead Celebrities' party at a local Liverpool club. This meant for lots of fun for the So Coco Rouge team who had the task of transforming Bianca and her fellow cast members Jessica Forrest and Alice Barlow into their Hollywood disguises!

Jessica Forrest as Marilyn Monroe and
 Bianca Hendrickse Spendlove as Cleopatra

Alice Barlow as Anna Nicole Smith

At the 2012 Inside Soap Awards, Karen Hassan, took the purse savvy decision to recycle one of her fellow cast members dresses, wearing a backless gold sequined number. SCR Co-owner and make-up artist, Robyn carried the golden tones into Karen's eye make-up, enhancing her eye shape with a soft smokiness to the outer corners, finished with lots of liner and lashes. Make-up Forever HD foundation mixed with a little of Benefit's Moon Beam ensured Karen's skin was flawless with a natural golden glow. Natural glossy lips and softly waved hair, which Karen later pulled into a pony tail completed her look.

Karen Hassan on the Red carpet.

My time in-front of the camera!!

As a make-up artist and hair stylist, I'm used to being on film sets- but today was a different story!!

 

To continue my leap into the world of an 'expert' I was booked as a guest presenter/expert for Britain's favourite shopping channel QVC !!

 

The item I was lucky enough to be introducing to the nation was a mini hair straightener- the type that I always have in my kit, as well as my handbag!

 

Arriving at QVC was quite nerve wracking- I had visited the set many times in their original Battersea home, but today I would be working at their new custom built studios in Chiswick, which are absolutely stunning! Think modern glass rooms, floor to ceiling screens and super cool lighting!

 

Once I was shown to my dressing room and green room the nerves disappeared and the excitement kicked in!! Luckily for me, I was sharing my room with the lovely Hilary Barnett, who looked after me and showed me the ropes!

 

 

Before I knew it, I was in the sound department getting 'miked up' and ready to go live with the lovely presenter Debbie Flint, who really helped to calm my pre-show niggles!

My time on air flew by! Luckily I felt very relaxed and almost at home on set, and was pretty gutted when the director yelled cut! I hope to return to QVC very soon- especially when the dressing rooms are this pretty- a make-up artists dream!!!

 

Here is a small snippet from the show!