COLUMN / HAIR MATTERS
Hair Matters... with Andrew Mulvenna
Andrew Mulvenna has been a hairdresser for over 30 years and his career has spanned the full spectrum of product development, global campaign shoots and shows, international education, session-styling and creating runway collections. His true passion is working at his three storey salon [a converted Victorian bank] in Belfast City centre, developing his 30+ team and making clients very happy.
PLEASURE PRINCIPLE
Salons over the last year have been looking very hard and discovering what customers will really want post 2021 ‘lockdown’. Many of us in business have asked directly via social media and the answers have been wonderful and enlightening. It goes without saying a great, balnced cut and a knockout colour are top on that list, however next down (and no surprise really) is the hair wash. This special time in the clients salon journey is still to this day overlooked in many businesses, but when it is delivered with panache and energy it is without a doubt the moment when our ‘Relax/Reset’ button is engaged. Yes, it is worth investing in great wash-chairs, we have ones in-salon that lift you up on a bed of air and will massage you too – a bit like a first-class airline pod, but as with most things no matter how fancy it may be, it’s meaningless without a great pair of hands and an engaged person doing it. Hairdressing is the ‘Happiness Business’, it is person-to-person, it is wellbeing and unlike so many threatened industries of late, it looks like and hopes to be future-proof too.
LOVING AND MISSING THE CHAT
Simply just sitting down, relaxing and having a great chat with your hairdresser is by far one of the most deeply regarded aspects of our job and we (as hairdressers) love it desperately and miss it too – that’s a big reason why we are in this profession in the first place, we do love a chat and I think we are all having withdrawls from those valuable interactions. We simply cannot wait to see our amazing clients this April and hopefully there will be no interruptions ever again.
PERSONAL CARE
Great news! The UK Hair and Beauty Council have been lobbying the Government for several years into creating a new status for Hairdressing and Beauty in the UK. Until this year our industry was classified as ‘retail’ but now we have the new classification of ‘Personal Care’. It may not seem much to the untrained eye but this is truly great news as it reflects the deeper connection we as hairdressers have with customers in regards to overall wellbeing, mental health and our essential place in a healthy society.
TAKE THE HAIR-SPA HOME
Micellar water has become the big thing in skin and hair cleansing across the world. This miracle Micellar water is made up of micelles (tiny balls of cleansing oil molecules), which completely and gently remove all impurities without drying out the hair. Aura Botanica by Kerastase was a pioneer brand to launch this incredible game-changer. Inspired by spa treatments, this detoxifying ritual uses the virtues of plants to gently but thoroughly remove impurities to then gorge the hair with the perfect dose of natural origin Moroccan Argan oil, Samoan coconut oil and Damascus Rose water. This gorgeous little range is all you need to bring the salon experience to your home. It will fill your bathroom as well as your hair with seriously good smells only found in the most luxurious of spas.
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