Going For The Chop At A Salon With A Difference

After years of having long blonde hair, I've finally gone for the chop. I dabbled with a darker colour for a few months recently, but it did nothing for me (I looked a bit dead). That change didn't work out but I was getting bored of having the same style and was ready for something different. When I was younger I was really adventurous with my hair and thought nothing of switching things up regularly. In the space of a few years I had a blonde crop, a red bob and even waist length braids. Then I found a style I liked, and stuck with it. FOR YEARS. Yawn. 

So yeah, the other day I went for the chop.

After lots of recommendations from friends, I paid a visit to Kojo&Lee in Sheffield city centre. It's a hidden gem (literally), that has taken the traditional salon approach and turned it on its head. Currently there's no sign above the innocuous doorway, no sinks for hair washing and no colourist. It nails the minimalist shabby chic vibe, with gilded mirrors and a dark grey glazed cabinet adding a hint of faded glamour to bare walls and unsanded floorboards.

Nikki, a Toni and Guy trained stylist, set it up a few years ago and quickly realized that there was a market for a salon with a difference. Sometimes people find traditional salons intimidating, sometimes they're out of people's budgets. For me personally, I'm so over handing over large sums of money for a mediocre experience and a mediocre style. 

Kojo&Lee has taken off by word of mouth alone and that tells me all I need to know. People are obviously loving what Nikki offers. What struck me more than anything was that she really listened to me - what I wanted and, importantly, what I didn't want - and seemed to pay real care and attention to every snip. She styled it with my wavy hair type in mind, when so many other stylists try to straighten the life out of it. I'm thrilled with the finished result.

I didn't really know what to expect when I went in, but my visit to Kojo&Lee was honestly one of the most positive hairdressing experiences I've had. The best bit? It set me back only £20.00. Unique, affordable, quality hairdressing - what more can you ask for? 

Find out more about Kojo&Lee, including plans to add sinks and hire an experienced colourist at www.facebook.com/kojoandlee

Dye: Why you should patch test EVERY time

I have very fair eyelashes and eyebrows and I began dyeing them when I was about 15. Every couple of months for four years I temporarily didn’t look like a boiled egg without make-up on. Yay! Then one time things went wrong... 

When I was 19 I went to have my eyelashes dyed at a reputable salon attached to a 4* hotel. Things looked great for the first 24 hours. Then the itching started. Then the redness. Soon my eyes felt like they were on fire. Bloodshot doesn’t even begin to cover it. Think albino-red-eyed rabbit. I looked like I’d been on a marathon crying session for weeks. It took four days for the pain and redness to go away.

Yep, this is what my eyes looked like

Contaminated equipment?

Because I’d used dye so many times before I assumed the salon had used contaminated equipment. It never occurred to me that I may be having an allergic reaction. I called the salon to complain, they assured me they only use clean equipment, offered me a free appointment (which I declined to accept) and that was the end of that. The experience put me off using dye and I relied on mascara and eyebrow pencil to add colour to my facial features from there on in.

Take two 

Until a few years later that is… This time I had my eyebrows dyed at an established salon which had been recommended to me. Again, things looked great at first. 24 hours later my brows started itching. REALLY itching. A few hours later they were bright red. I was in pain. For days afterwards I was left with hideous, itchy scaly crusts where my eyebrows should have been.
 
The penny drops 

At this point I put two and two together and realised that, at some point, for some unknown reason, I had developed an allergic reaction to dye. Suffice to say, I have never coloured my lashes or brows since.
 
Noooo! Not hair dye too? 

When I recently visited a new hair salon to get my light blonde hair dyed a few shades darker, I was surprised to be asked to pop in for a patch test in advance. So many places just don’t bother. (Neither of the salons I went to for the eyelash and brow dye offered me one by the way.) I have my hair highlighted a couple of times a year and have never experienced any problems on my scalp, so I hadn’t expected there to be any issues. 

THANK GOD THEY DID! The next day, the itching started and the spot behind my ear where they’d applied the dye was red raw and painful. I was 5 months pregnant at the time. Had the colour been applied all over my scalp, the result could have been very serious. My stylist was great when I went back in to explain what had happened. She suggested doing another patch test of a lighter shade (which I didn’t react to) and used barrier cream on my scalp before applying the dye as an extra precaution. 

Thanks to patch testing, I didn't experience a reaction to my new hair colour

It’s more common than you think
 
A goth friend of mine used to dye her mousy hair black every six weeks for years. One time though, she was hospitalised after experiencing a severe reaction to the dye. Her face puffed up so badly her own mother didn’t recognise her. NCIS star, Pauly Perrette, was recently rushed to hospital with a similar experience. She posted this picture on her twitter account of the result. Here's another example of a bad reaction on Welsh woman, Carmen Rowe which the Daily Mail reported on back in 2012.

Carmen Rowe's severe reaction to hair dye

Having since done some research into this, it seems that it’s fairly common for people who have used dye – be it on their head, brows or lashes – for years without any problems to all of a sudden develop an allergic reaction. In the worst cases it can lead to anaphylactic shock or even death. The offending ingredient is para-phenylenediamine (PPD) and darker brown and black dyes are much more likely to cause a reaction.
 
What's the answer?

Patch test EVERY TIME. For people who have never experienced a problem with dye, I’m aware that this feels like an unnecessary step. It really isn’t. A reaction can occur at any time, even after years of use.

• DIY dye-er?
  If you dye your hair, lashes or brows yourself at home, plan ahead. Patch test behind your ear at least 24 hours before applying the dye to your head.
• Salon dye-er?
  All good salons should offer patch tests before any treatment, but very few actually do. Especially with regular clients. You may have to suggest it yourself and it may be a bit of an inconvenience, but it’s worth taking the time to pay a visit to the salon in advance (at least 24 hours) of your appointment to get a patch test done. 

Of course, the best precaution is to not use dye at all. If that's not an option, lighter shades tend to be less problematic. You could also consider natural alternatives, such as vegetable dyes or henna for your hair, but there are no alternatives for lashes and brows as far as I'm aware.

Symptoms to look out for

Worryingly, more and more stories seem to be emerging of people patch testing and still experiencing a reaction, but I wonder if this is more a case of symptoms not being picked up on rather than them not being there at all. Things to look out for include include redness, inflamed skin and itching.

So what do you think? Will you start getting patch-tested before each dye job? Have you ever experienced an allergic reaction to dye? Leave a comment below and share your experiences.

Allergy UK offer some more useful advice and information about hair dye allergies.
 

The Best Hair Mask You'll Ever Use (and four other ways with coconut oil)

It may be more commonly found in the kitchen cupboard than the bathroom cabinet, but invest in a tub of virgin coconut oil and your skin, hair and nails will only thank you. 

Solid in the tub, once warmed into your hands it melts into an unctuous, versatile oil that smells delicious. 

With no hidden nasties, preservatives, fragrances or chemicals, the best thing about it is that it’s completely natural.

I’ve had a tub of Coconoil Organic Virgin Coconut Oil on the go for months now and there's still plenty left – amazing value at just £10.45 for a huge 460g tub. 

Any coconut oil will do though, just make sure it's the virgin variety as that's when it's at its most pure. 

Here are my favourite ways to use it.

1. The best hair mask you’ll ever use 

If your hair is dry, coloured, over straightened or is just looking a bit lacklustre, I recommend giving a coconut oil mask a go. 

It has the ability to transform my dry, frizzy locks into shiny frizz-free curls in a way that no other product has ever been able to do. Its anti-bacterial qualities make it a good choice for people who suffer from scalp conditions, such as dandruff, too. 

I’m usually a fan of treatments that get to work instantly, but alas, there are no short-cuts here. You need to leave the oil on for at least an hour – longer if possible – to really feel the benefits. I tend to use it when I’m hibernating at home with no likelihood of encountering another human being. I’ll apply it in the morning, go about my daily business (i.e. binge-watching cooking programmes), then wash it off a few hours later. 

• Section off dry hair and apply the oil generously all over. I find it works better applying it in sections than in one go – especially if you have thick hair.
• Pay extra attention to the ends, as this tends to be where hair is most damaged.
• Remember to rub the oil it into your roots too, as it is great at nourishing the scalp. Don’t worry about it leaving your hair looking greasy, as it will be washed out later.
• Wrap hair in a warm towel or a shower cap and leave for at least an hour.
• Shampoo twice and condition as normal.

2. Facial cleanser

Coconut oil is an excellent deep cleanser which makes nifty work of removing even stubborn eye make-up. 

Simply massage about a teaspoon-full in well, then wipe away with a damp muslin or flannel. Repeat if you’ve been wearing a full face of make-up or sunscreen to ensure every last bit of grease, grime and dirt have been removed.

3. Post-hair-removal soother 

Whether you’re a Nair on the top-lip girl, a bikini-line shaver or a leg epilator, hair removal can leave skin sore and dry afterwards. 

Coconut oil is the best post-hair-removal soother I’ve used. It quickly imparts moisture back into the skin, calms any redness and quickly soothes itching or burning. I won’t ever be without it for this purpose alone.

4. Cuticle oil 

Man, my cuticles are in terrible condition. My nails aren’t much better. 

They’re just so damn dry all the time. I’ve made it my mission to remember to rub a little bit of coconut oil into the cuticles each evening. I've been doing it for about a month and they certainly feel more nourished and look less flakey. I just need to keep it up now.

5. Body moisturiser

Many body lotions use coconut oil as a base anyway. Apply this all-natural alternative straight from the tub for well moisturised limbs. 

It sinks in surprisingly quickly (just give it a few minutes before putting your clothes on) and leaves a lovely sheen to the skin. You will smell so good you may want to lick yourself afterwards though.

Buy Coconoil Virgin Coconut Oil

So there are my five ways with coconut oil that don't involve cooking. Is there anything I've missed?

Budget Beauty #5 | Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo

Many people have cottoned on to the wonders of dry shampoo for its ability to eek out another day between washes, and I've included the Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo in my list of budget favourites because it's a hard working multi-tasker that offers great value for money.

Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo | £2.99 | Widely available

 Yes, things can get a bit powdery if you don't rub it in well, and premium brands' dry shampoo offerings are a tad more refined, but Batiste's tropical scent is just the ticket when your locks are on the turn. It's also great for giving texture to freshly washed hair in need of a boost, and for adding grip in preparation for up-dos.

At a bargainous £2.99, it's definitely worth having a bottle in your grease-busting, volume-inducing armour.

The brand has also released versions for different hair colours - red, blonde, brunette and dark - which I've heard very good things about and these may go some way to diminishing the powdery effect. My current bottle is on its last legs so I'll be giving the blonde one a go next time me-thinks.

What are your favourite budget beauty products?

Budget Beauty #1 | Hask Argan Oil

Sometimes it's worth spending a few extra pennies, and sometimes it ain't. I've got plenty of time for pricier products which do what they promise on their (no doubt beautifully packaged) tins, but I've often been let down by their bold claims to revive my lacklustre locks or eradicate my ever increasing wrinkles.

Look, it's me!

 To coincide with the launch of my first column in Toast magazine, over the next five days I'll be sharing an extended version on The Beauty Scriptures. This month it's all about my tried and tested favourites which offer more bang for their buck. First up is a surprising little find from Primark...

The trend for serums has passed and oils are where it's at. As the owner of wayward puffy hair, this can only be good news. Previously underwhelmed by the over-hyped (and significantly pricier) Moroccanoil Light, I had low expectations of the Hask Argan Oil when I popped a bottle into my Primark basket a few months back. 

But seriously, it is one of the best hair products I've ever used. 

Hask Argan Oil | £2.50 | Primark

I'm a low maintenance girl when it comes to my locks, preferring to leave my hair to dry naturally for all but the most special of occasions. Unfortunately, the results can be wildly inconsistent. No longer. This £2.50 bottle of goodness produces smooth, shiny hair every time. And teeny though the bottle may be (18ml), I use a hefty glug on damp hair after every wash, then run a small amount through when it's dry to take away any remaining frizz and it lasts me about a month. 

If Primark ever discontinue it, I may cry.

So there we have it, the first of my five favourite budget beauties - what are yours? 

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo To The Rescue

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo is one of those products I wish I'd discovered years ago. When the temperature dips, I'm under the weather, or I feel even a teeny bit stressed, I get a serious case of scalp flare-up and it's not pretty. Red, sore and extremely itchy, I'm sure people think I have nits from all the scratching I undertake in a futile effort to ease said itchiness. Not to mention the white flakes that flutter onto my mainly black attire. Not a good look.

Scalp saviour.

Over the years I've tried a whole host of medicated shampoos and natural remedies to try and win this battle, with varying success. Aloe vera gel does a good job of temporarily soothing the soreness but is best used overnight, unless you're rocking an 80s wet-look gel 'do. Nizoral sorts out the itching and flaking, but my scalp is left feeling sensitive and my hair very dry. T-Gel didn't match up to its claim of being the "most effective medicated shampoo available" and, frankly, eau de tar isn't really the scent for me. Selsun did a good job of treating my scalp, but left my hair in a ragged state - extremely dry and smelling of sick. Not since a night out in Blackpool circa 1999 have I experienced that scent in my locks.

Happy hair.

And so to Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Special Shampoo. The skincare benefits of tea tree oil are well documented and this stuff just works. It's minty and tingly, really tingly. It's invigorating, a real perk-me-up product, and it just feels like it's doing your scalp some good. I wash once to remove any product and grease, then wash again with a 50p sized dollop and leave it on for a minute or two to really up the tingle ante. I follow with my usual conditioner (at the moment it's Dove Nourishing Oil Care Express Treatment Conditioner, which I really rate) and my hair is left shiny, healthy-looking and manageable. In the ten weeks since I've been using the Tea Tree shampoo, I've only experienced one flare up which is good going.

At £13.95, it's arguably the most expensive product of the bunch, but is worth every penny and I'll definitely be repurchasing.

Free Hairdo Anyone?

I can often be found wandering the aisles of Boots and rarely leave empty handed, but I recently left with more than I bargained for: a new 'do. 

I'd been after the Bumble and Bumble Surf Travel Set for a while but it was (and is currently) sold out online, so I picked it up and popped it in my basket.  

Bumble and Bumble is a new addition to the Sheffield branch of Boots so I had a quick chat with their Hair Advisor, Laura, to find out more about the brand and its products. With some time to spare before meeting a friend, I jumped at the chance to have my hair styled and sat myself down to let her work her magic.

Laura was lovely and I was left with a gorgeous plaited twisted style - something I'd never be able to achieve myself. I got lots of compliments whilst sipping mojitos later that night.

When I received an invitation to a swanky event a few weeks later (a film premier no less) I booked an appointment with Laura. In exchange for buying another product - this time the Thickening Dryspun Finish as a Christmas gift - she transformed me into a 1950s Hollywood glamourpuss. 

I mean, what's not to love about pink victory rolls? 

This is a fantastic service, available nationwide I believe, and one which I'd highly recommend. Whether you've got a special night out on the cards, or if you just fancy trying a Bumble and Bumble product, it works out much better value than going to a salon. For around £20 you get a new 'do and the pleasure of using their quality products at home too. 

Miss Mojito
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