At River Hair, we believe that one of the secrets to great hairdressing is to consistently push ourselves creatively and to explore fresh new ideas. As an industry, hairdressing is constantly evolving as we keep up with the fashion industry. This makes training and education incredibly important in making sure our stylists remain current in this increasingly competitive market.
Last month’s blog explored the routes you can take to start in the industry. It’s a great career for someone who wants to learn as they go, either by taking the academic route or opting for an apprenticeship. But it’s also very easy to be left behind if you aren’t open to continued professional development. There is always so much to learn, whether you are studying for your NVQ Level 2 or have spent years styling for the stars. Hairdressing in the UK is regarded as the best in the world, which is testament to the dedicated professionals in our industry who strive to pass on their knowledge and passion to the new generation of stylists, while helping the more experienced constantly evolve. Staying on top of the latest trends has never been more important as the social media world has made an already fast moving fashion industry into a constant sea of change. There are, of course, many different aspects of hairdressing that each requires a different skillset. You need to have the physical and mental toughness to be on your feet all day. You have to be a people person – outgoing, friendly and customer focused. You will need to be fashion conscious and have a creative mind that loves to be challenged. What this adds up to is a long, varied and exciting career, where no two days are the same and offers the freedom of self-expression in a way that few other careers can. Each of our handpicked stylists brings something different to River Hair, allowing us to create the perfect look for our clients every time. We love to challenge ourselves and are constantly striving to provide our clients with exciting and refreshing designs that they will love. Whether you are a budding stylist, looking for a new challenge or someone looking for a new salon and want to be sure you’re in safe hands, we’d love you to come by and meet the team whenever you’re in Taff’s Well.
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Hairdressing is a wonderfully rewarding profession that allows you to explore your creativity and meet a hugely diverse range of people. It’s a constantly evolving industry as fashions can and does change so quickly. And for as long as people have hair, it’s an industry that will never run out of customers.
Getting started in hairdressing can be a daunting prospect though. A person’s style is very important to them. Their hair is a major part of their appearance and an expression of who they are. There is always pressure to make sure that the customer falls in love with their style first time, every time. So what is the best way to get started in hairdressing? The two main routes are classroom based qualifications and getting an apprenticeship at a working salon. While there are certainly benefits to both, an apprenticeship will get you into the salon, learning all aspects of the business from the ground up straight away and earning a wage while you learn. Apprenticeships are the best option as all the training is given in the salon so there’s no need to go college. We feel that there’s no better way for you to learn than on the job in amongst the day-to-day goings on at a salon, with experienced hairdressers there to help and to pass on their knowledge. Apprenticeships are great for beginners because they give you as much experience as possible, as quickly as you are capable. You would assist in many aspects of work, from meeting and greeting customers and shampooing to more technical procedures like cutting, colouring and styling. You can learn as you go, see the different challenges you are likely to encounter and discover if hairdressing really is the career for you. There is so much potential for a promising apprentice, ranging from salon work to session stylist and magazine or TV work. At River Hair, we know how important experience is in the salon, but we are also committed to discovering the next generation of great hairstylists and love working with trainees, whether they are just starting their first career or are making the brave steps into a new one. So if you are passionate about a career in hairdressing, get in touch with us at River Hair to talk about our apprenticeship schemes available to you. It’s been a hard winter, but now we are in March and the days are getting longer. It’s time to start thinking about treating ourselves and getting ready for the spring.
Winter can be hard on us all and we often feel that we need to treat ourselves a little when it’s over, but nothing bears the brunt of the short days, long nights and the best of British weather more than our hair. One minute you’re outside in the cold, the next there is hot air blasting at you as soon as you walk through the door. Then there’s the wind and the rain and anything else the weather can throw at you. All this is even before we think about what our hair must go through when getting ready for those Christmas nights out and the excessive colouring, straightening or curling we can put it through. There are numerous ways we can damage our hair, so if you’re thinking that it’s time to treat yourself, spare a thought for your hair – it needs a little pampering too. Our team of handpicked stylists at River Hair Company has been creating the perfect look for our customers since 2007 and we know exactly what your hair needs to get back to looking its beautiful, revitalised best. To give your hair the perfect look, we only use the perfect products for you and we love the way that the range by Joico leaves our customers hair looking nourished, moisturised and healthy every time. Whether it’s protecting coloured hair from the inevitable fade, giving back that all important volume or rehydrating even the thirstiest hair, Joico has the right product for you. Like us, they believe that there is nothing quite like the beauty of healthy hair. Their products ensure that what is best for your style is also best for your hair’s health. Your hair should be the first thing that people notice about you and should never let you down. So if you are wanting to giving your hair the treatment it truly deserves, drop in to River Hair at 89 Cardiff Road, Taffs Well. For this month’s Offer of the Month, buy a Lustre Locks treatment for £17.95 and get a free complimentary in-salon treatment. And with half price shampoo, River Hair is perfect for Mother’s Day. The Problem
Wouldn’t it be great to have perfect hair that never lets you down? The perfect length, the perfect volume or the perfect colour, every time? Sadly though, for some of us, our hair just won’t grow past our shoulders or it’s just too flat. Maybe too much straightening and colouring has damaged it. The Solution The good news is that hair extensions can give you excellent, natural looking results that, if done correctly by a professional, can be worn, added and removed with no damage to your own hair or scalp. The most natural look is what we all want to achieve, but not at the expense of the health of our hair. So what is the best option? There are a number of different types to choose from, either synthetic or 100%-natural human hair, ranging from micro link or pre-bonded extensions to tape extensions, with each having their own benefits and drawbacks that will have an effect on the results. At River Hair, we recommend a strand by strand technique whereby strands of about 20 to 30 individual hairs can be attached, mainly because of its durability to last for up to six months. Whereas a weave can be applied too tight and cause stress to the scalp, and tape can make tying your hair up awkward, the method of Cold Fusion, Micro-Links or Itips uses no heat or glue allowing your hair to move more naturally. At River Hair, our handpicked stylists have a wealth of experience so you can trust us to give you the perfect results every time. The Benefits Hair extensions, when done professionally, can add that desired length and volume while allowing you to try different styles and colours without making dramatic changes to your natural hair or have to worry about it being damaged. For those having to face their hair thinning, extensions can give you back the confidence that came with your natural volume. Essentially, extensions give you options. So why not book an appointment at River Hair and let us talk you through how hair extensions can work for you? Happy New Year from the River Hair Company.
If you are anything like us, you have probably made and given up on more than a handful of New Year’s Resolutions already. Don’t judge us. It’s really hard to stick to them. January is a time to reflect on the year just gone and think about how you are going to keep on moving towards your goals. Some people know exactly what they need and look to make wholesale changes to their lives, while some look for little refreshers to keep things ticking along nicely. But for the rest of us, where on earth do we start making a ‘new you’? Well, what better place to start than your hair? Our hair is a perfect metaphor for life. Once we find our style, making changes and trying something new can be so difficult. Maybe we think that it is the only one that will suit us or maybe it’s just easier to stick with what you know. It’s certainly less scary! But fashions change so often, it can be easy to be left behind. Sometimes all we need is a little encouragement to move out of that comfort zone and have a bit of trust that a new look can give us a new lease of life and help unlock our full potential. Our fantastic team at River Hair know just how to give you the perfect look to get people’s heads turning, whether that’s by finding the colour to best suit your skin tone and eye colour or by knowing what style will fit your face shape. If you’ve ever been browsing online or in magazines and seen a style or colour that you loved but didn’t have the nerve to try, why not ask us and let us help tailor your style to what will suit you best? Change doesn’t have to be drastic. Perhaps all you need is something subtle to bring back your hair’s natural vibrancy. Our team can advise you on the small touches that can make a world of difference. Of course, there doesn’t need to be any particular reason for change, a sense of fun or the spirit of adventure, maybe. But what better time to give it a shot? Whether 2016 was a year to forget or was totally unforgettable, 2017 is another year. Make sure you are the you that you want to be this year. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, so hands up who is ready for the party season to really kick into gear? The nights out and get togethers in means that everyone is wanting to look their best.
There are so many products available today that claim to provide you with hair that looks straight from the salon, but are they really worth the room they take up in Santa’s sleigh or will you be left feeling like the Grinch has just stolen Christmas? Your hair is incredibly important to you. Style is unique and many of us spend a great deal of our money to get it just right. Once you have the style you want and are ready to show it off to the world, is it ok to use the products that are more appealing to your pocket or is it a false economy? If you look at the list of ingredients on a varied range of hair products, regardless of price, a cursory glance suggests that they are very similar. But in truth, there is often only a small amount of the high end ingredients in high street products and they are bulked up by chemicals that can actually be damaging to your hair, stripping it of the natural oils that keep it hydrated. Salon products are pricier, but tend to be more concentrated with higher quality ingredients and forego the use of fillers. This means that you don’t need to use as much to get the same results, preventing much of the damage that can be caused by the additional chemicals. Salon products are also gentler to your hair, making them more suitable for coloured hair too. Ultimately, the costs then virtually become a wash (excuse the pun) and cancel each other out, so it really does come down to quality. River Hair has been creating the perfect look for our clients since 2007 and we love helping you to have beautiful best all year round, not just at Christmas. So why not treat yourself to an extra special Christmas gift this year and come and see us at 89 Cardiff Road in Taffs Well. Merry Christmas! In April, one of our loyal clients will be running the Virgin London Marathon in aid of Dogs Trust; the UK's largest dog welfare charity. Ceri Tucker has so far managed to obtain a few half marathons under her belt but will be going for the big one this year. A fitness freak and Physical Training Instructor for the RAF, Ceri has set out a brutal training regime in preparation for the event.
River Hair has decided to support Ceri throughout the journey and will be giving regular updates on her progress. Hear what Ceri has to say about her cause... "Since I can remember, my family have always owned rescue dogs. In fact, all but two have come from the Dogs Trust itself. I am a passionate advocate for animal welfare and believe that all animals should be given a second chance. Dogs Trust is the largest rescue charity for dogs in the UK and aim to help any dog in need by giving them that second chance. Their motto is quite simply to never put a healthy dog down. Max came to us in 2000 and was just a few months old when we rescued him. He had been kicked and abused by his previous owner when he was a pup, which resulted in a broken leg. Dogs Trust nursed him back to health and prepared him for rehoming as soon as he was ready. Despite being a fairly nervous dog all his life, Max gave a lot back to the family. He was a funny character to put it simply. He enjoyed long walks in the countryside but would hide under a table when children approached! He loved galloping madly along the beach but would never take a swim. In latter years Max preferred the quiet life in front of the fire. He passed away at the ripe old age of 15 in November 2015. Had it not been for the care and knowledge of the Dogs Trust Max may not have had that second chance. Thousands of dogs are rescued each week from appalling or unsuitable conditions and all are worthy of a better life. The Dogs Trust rely on donations in order to feed, medicate and generally take care of these dogs. I would be so grateful therefore if you would be kind enough to donate to this worthy cause in order that the Dogs Trust can continue their brilliant work to help dogs in need." If you are a dog lover or would just like to support the cause, we'd love it if you could donate whatever amount you can to Ceri's JustGiving page below. The salon are proud to be supporting Ceri in this very worthy cause. https://www.justgiving.com/Ceri-Tucker/ |
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