How to Use Flat Irons Like a Pro

The flat iron is an essential hair styling tool. From straight, to wavy, to even natural looks, this tool can handle it all. While we all think we know how to straighten hair, we could all do with a refresher. And while this tool can be a lifesaver, by using it incorrectly you are causing more trouble in the long run. To avoid inadvertently damaging your hair, check out our three simple tips for using flat irons like a pro.

Protect Your Hair

Always start by prepping hair with a heat protectant like Eleven Miracle Hair Treatment. This will make sure hair stays healthy and easy to style.

Use Even Sections

The key for polished flat iron styles is even sectioning. When styling hair, keep sections the same size for a consistent and balanced hairstyle. Generally six even sections, illustrated in the image below, is sufficient. If you have very thick hair you may need to create more, smaller sections to keep things manageable.

Get Your Temperature Right

Finally, make sure you know what flat iron temperatures suit your hair and style. If your flat iron doesn’t have temperature settings, it’s probably time for an upgrade.

• 80°C          Smooth frizz and flyaways
• 105°C        Styling damaged hair
• 130°C        Styling fine hair
• 160°C        Styling loose waves or natural styles
• 185°C        Standard styling and straightening
• 210°C        Coarse, unruly hair

The Two Try-Ons Rule: When To Return Your Online Purchase

Are you a big online impulse buyer? Does your closet consist of 10 things you wear all the time and an embarrassing amount of unworn clothing you’ve never left the house in? Nearly all of us buy things online that we like the idea of wearing, but many online purchases end up sitting in the closet, waiting for our next frustrating trip to the op shop.

To avoid the horrible feeling that comes with a closet full of nothing you want to wear, use The Two Try-Ons rule. Here’s how it works: If you try on something twice and don’t leave the house in it, you must return it. This method requires you to be VERY honest with yourself (do these shoes pinch my feet, etc?), but most of us know by the first time we try something on, and nearly all of us know by the second try, if something isn’t quite right.

This rule is perfect for online purchases, especially once you realise how easy returns are. Most online retailers include a free return label in the original shipment. If you decide that you need to return the item, just peel the return label, stick it back on the package, and drop it at the post shop.

How To: Clean Your False Lashes

image via Instagram/ebernezereyelash

Stop throwing your false lashes away after just one use! If you struggle with justifying the cost of false eyelashes given their lack of longevity, consider this easy cleaning process.

What You’ll Need:

• Tweezers
• Two round cotton pads
• A cotton swab
• An oil-free makeup remover 
  

  How To:

  1. Carefully remove any visible dried glue with tweezers

  2. Lay each lash on a round cotton pad soaked in oil-free makeup remover.

  3. Press the two cotton pads together for 30 seconds.

  4. Wipe away any remaining makeup using a solution-soaked end of the cotton swab.

  5. Lastly, go over your newly cleaned lashes with the dry end of your cotton swab bud.

 

This easy trick can make your falsies last for up to six uses. Give it a go and let us know how it works for you.

 

How To: Find Your Perfect Foundation Shade

image via Instagram/maccosmetics

 

Finding the perfect shade of foundation is a struggle that many women know too well. This is in large part because it isn’t just about light and dark. To get a perfect match you also need to consider your skin’s undertones.

And here’s an easy trick to determine your skin’s undertone – look at your veins.

•  If your veins are green, that means you have a lot of olive, yellow, and golden tones in your skin, so your foundation shades should have similar tones.

• If your veins are blue and red, that means you have a lot of pink, red, and brown undertones, so your foundation should have similar tones.

To test the tone of the foundation swipe it along your jawline, where you’ll find your skin’s natural tone, and choose the shade which blends most closely with your natural tone.

Hair Myths Busted

image via instagram/jenatkinhair

Don’t believe everything you hear! Here we debunk the most common hair myths out there.

 

MYTH: Shampooing will make your hair shed

If you don’t wash your hair, hair that is due to shed will simply fall out somewhere else, albeit somewhere less noticeable. Washing can actually be good for hair growth as oil build up can cause inflammation and stunt hair growth.

If you notice more hair loss than usual, stress or hormonal changes are often the culprit. Try to reduce stress where you can and talk to your Reds stylist about the range of hair care products that promote hair growth and thickness.

 

MYTH: The more you brush your hair, the healthier it will be

There’s no value in brushing your hair more than you already do. In fact, over-brushing can damage your hair’s cuticle (that’s your hair’s outer, protective layer.) Brush your hair when it’s knotty or when you’re styling it, but otherwise, leave it alone

 

MYTH: Your hair grows faster when you have it cut

Unfortunately cutting your hair will not affect its growth. Hair doesn’t contain any nerve endings or blood vessels and can’t respond to things that happen to it. However, frayed ends can make your hair look thinner and cause breakage, so when you cut them off, your hair appears fuller and healthier.

 

MYTH: If I pull out one grey hair two will grow in its place 

This one only seems true because one grey usually means more greys. This myth probably started because people plucked one grey hair, then noticed more afterwards. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but more silver strands would have surfaced no matter what—you can’t blame the plucking.

Still, that’s not a license to launch a full-on plucking war on your greys. Your hair will become weaker if it’s plucked too much over time, and it may eventually stop growing back. That’s not a big deal if you’re plucking here and there, but it will add up if you start going grey all over. Time to celebrate your silvers or book an appointment with your Reds colourist

 

MYTH: You can’t dye your hair when you’re pregnant

The main concern with dyeing your hair during pregnancy is the possible risk associated with inhaling the chemical ammonia and allergic reactions to irritants like Paraphenylenediamine (PPD).

At Reds we recently partnered with KEVIN.MURPHY to bring our clients hair colours that are free of Ammonia and PPD, and contain naturally derived ingredients like aloe vera, honey, shea butter and pomegranate, providing brilliant colour without compromising your health or the environment.

 

MYTH: Men inherit baldness from their mother’s side of the family

Many people think male baldness is a trait passed down from the mother’s side. However scientists argue you can’t blame mum for this one – multiple genes, from both mum and dad, contribute to hair loss in men.

 

MYTH: Colour absorbs better on unwashed hair

Colour always takes better on clean, dry hair. Product and oil build up can inhibit colour penetration, so make sure you wash your hair at least a couple of days before your next colour appointment.

 

 

How To Avoid Buying Hair Products You Won’t Actually Use

Nearly every woman (and man!) is guilty of hoarding unused and unfinished hair and beauty products that weren’t quite what we wanted. Here we check out the main reasons people are unhappy with their hair care products and the best ways to ensure you’ll love your next purchase.

1. It left your scalp irritated. Some ingredients, like sulphates, can dry and irritate the scalp, fade hair colour and even corrode and damage your hair follicles, which leads to hair loss. This is especially true if you don’t properly rinse shampoo out of your hair. To avoid irritation, look for products like the KEVIN.MURPHY range of hair care and styling products which are all sulphate and paraben free.

2. You didn’t see results. Most hair thickening, strengthening and repair products take a few weeks of treatment to achieve a visible change. After that, you see no change, schedule an appointment with your stylist to be sure your product is right for you.

3. You didn’t like its smell or texture. Playing with the product in-salon is your best bet. Your Reds stylist is happy to take you through the different products we offer and provide take-home samples. KEVIN.MURPHY also provides an online product matchmaker tool to help you find your perfect product combination—based on your hair type and your desired results—in just four easy steps. And as a bonus, KEVIN.MURPHY employs their very own French perfumer ensuring the scents of his products are absolutely divine.

4. You found something newer and cooler. Indulge your impulse-purchase habit with samples. Free take-home samples from your next salon visit will let you test-drive products and spring for a full-size version of something you love.

Product Spotlight: ANGEL.WASH

For those of us with fine, coloured hair, achieving natural looking volume without weighing our hair down can be challenging. KEVIN.MURPHY’s ANGEL.WASH offers a gentle cleanse while adding weightless volume and delivering a dose of natural ingredients to repair and protect your hair. ANGEL.WASH also maximises colour retention, protects against free radicals, and inhibits UVA oxidation, which is essential for repair of damaged hair.

image via lovekevinmurphy.com

Read on to learn more about the powerful natural ingredients found inside ANGEL.WASH.

1. Sunflower Seed Extract 

Perfect for those of us with coloured hair, this ingredient helps to prevent the stripping of colour from your ‘do.

2. Green Tea Leaf Extract

This powerful antioxidant will encourage strength in your hair.

3. Hydrolysed Oat Protein 

This ingredient adds weightless fullness and body to your locks.

4. Tangerine Peel Oil

The scent of Tangerine Peel Oil will stimulate the senses while adding antioxidant Vitamins A and C to soothe and moisturise.

5. Hydrolysed Wheat Protein

This ingredient will improve body and shine while imparting a conditioned feel to the hair.

 

image via lovekevinmurphy.com

And like all KEVIN.MURPHY products ANGEL.WASH is sulphate, paraben and verified cruelty free!

Reds Partners with KEVIN.MURPHY

We are excited to announce that Reds have partnered with KEVIN.MURPHY to bring our clients the full range of exclusive KEVIN.MURPHY hair care, styling, and hair colour lines.

Kevin at work via Love Kevin Murphy

Since seeing him in action at Hair Expo Australia back in 2012, we’ve been major fans of Kevin Murphy.

With a long career spanning fashion, runway, editorial and film, Kevin is one of the world’s most respected and sought after hairstylists. Internationally recognised for his long list of celebrity clientele and countless pages of editorial work for high-end magazines, the Melbourne born hair stylist began his styling days as an apprentice in a Queensland salon and went on to train at the famous Vidal Sassoon in London.

More than a superstar stylist, Kevin is a committed environmentalist, applying his beliefs to his salons and product range. As a world first, all Kevin’s salons strive to be carbon neutral. He also runs The Green Salon Project, providing salons with practical solutions to reduce their energy consumption, carbon footprint and impact on the environment. His hair product range, KEVIN.MURPHY, is proudly sulphate and paraben free, made from sustainable resources, using pure essential oils, plant extracts and natural antioxidants. They are also certified by PETA as cruelty free.

image via Love Kevin Murphy

We can vouch that Kevin’s quest to be green hasn’t come at the expense of quality. His range of salon only hair care products was created by Kevin to meet his needs as an editorial hairstylist. Inspired by the philosophy of skin care, the luxurious KEVIN.MURPHY range of shampoos, conditioners, treatments and styling aids, caters for every hair type. And just incase you forget how to use your new product once you get home, the ingenious KEVIN.MURPHY product podcasts take the guess work out of hair styling, giving a simple how to guides for the entire product range.

image via Love Kevin Murphy

In 2015 Kevin launched COLOR.ME, a hair colour line born from his vision, fusing session work, fashion and hair colour. COLOR.ME delivers gorgeous, multi-tonal results using gentle and naturally derived ingredients. Continuing his commitment to environmental responsibility, all colours in the range are PPD free, Ammonia Free and use natural ingredients like aloe vera, honey, shea butter and pomegranate.

The exclusive KEVIN.MURPHY product range is available at Reds now. Your professional Reds stylist is happy to talk you through which products are right for you.

 

Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Mother’s Day is just around the corner – but no worries, we’ve got you covered! Here’s our Mother’s Day gift edit with some last minute gift ideas that we guarantee mum will love.

 

Kevin Murphy Minis

We have a limited selection of the popular Kevin Murphy mini styling lotions available including Motion Lotion. Motion Lotion is a curl enhancer and frizz controller, all in one weightless lotion. This gorgeous product is just $9 and makes a fantastic gift for those with curly locks.

 

Kérastase Masque

Kératase has developed professional hair masques for all hair types. From $65 these luxury masques have been designed to condition, nourish, add volume, strengthen, & boost hair colour.

 

Professional Heat Styling Tools

A good quality hair hairdryer is at the top of any mums’ wish list. We recommend the fabulous Wahl SupaDryer hairdryers, available at Reds for just $129.

 

Reds Gift Vouchers

The perfect gift for the mum who has everything. Spoil mum with a Reds Hairdressing gift voucher. Available in $20, $50 and $100 dominations.

 

All of these fab products are available at Reds now. And to make it easier for you, if you can’t get up to see us, give us a call with your Credit Card number and we can courier your new products straight to you!

Happy Mother’s Day from the team at Reds!

How To: Caring for Brightly Coloured Hair

image via Instagram/amanda_hairpassion

Given the continuing trend for brightly coloured locks, here’s our guide to keeping your colour looking vibrant and healthy.

Prevent Damage

Bright shades require a very light base hair colour, which usually means that your hair needs to be lightened. It’s important to maintain the health of your hair as much as possible before going bright. Super-porous, brittle hair does not hold onto colour well. So maintain the health of your hair and the longevity of your colour, by asking your stylist to use Olaplex when lightening your hair.  Olaplex is a protein bond builder which is added to the lightening mixture to avoid damage when lightening.

Cleanse

Each time you wash your hair colour can fade – especially when not using a colour protecting shampoo. Stretch out time between washes with a dry shampoo like Kérastase Powder Buff and when washing use a shampoo designed specifically for coloured hair like L’Oreal Vitamino Colour.

Pro tip: When washing your hair, use tepid to cool water. This helps to keep the hairshaft closed, meaning that you’r less likely to lose colour when you wash.

Protect

A heat protectant like Kérastase Ciment Thermique will help to maintain the health of your hair and the vibrancy of your colour. UV rays also fade hair colour. The Kérastase Soliel range is specifically designed for sun worshippers to protect the health of colour-treated heat-exposed hair.