I think your haircare routine says a lot about you, from the products you use to the people you trust to cut, colour and style it. I’ve visited a number of salons in and around Leeds over the years and while I’ve always been blonde, you would be surprised at how varied my hair journey has been. Read on to see my transformation from bleach blonde to beachy tones.
I grew up with two Aunties that were hairdressers so my hair was kept in tip top condition with a cut every 6 weeks and a few subtle highlights here and there. Looking back, I had no idea how lucky I was, it like having a glam team on call at all times. When I left school and moved out to go to University, my haircare regime was put in my own hands. As was the bleach bottle.
I salon hopped for a few years with no real clue of what I wanted or how to achieve it. Then I found Louise. I’d gradually started getting blonder and blonder since high school to the point where my dark roots stood out like a beacon a few days after I’d had my highlights done. A salon in Bradford had suggested an all-over bleach tint painted directly on the scalp and the results were bold to say the least. My friend recommended her salon and I booked an appointment in the hope that someone could rescue me from this vicious cycle of bleach that I’d gotten into. I arrived for my appointment with Louise with my hair at breaking point. A full head of bleach had left my ends like straw and it was time to take action.
The first step was to chop it shorter.
Over the course of two years, Louise gently revivied my hair with plenty of conditioning treatments, threading in a variety of lighter and darker tones while letting my natural colour resurface underneath in places to create a softer more beachy looking blonde. She works her magic every 6 to 8 weeks threading in some darker blonde tones in the winter months and some icy white tones in summer. My hair that had to be cut shorter to undo the damage that years of bleaching caused was thin and straw like slowly became thicker and longer and generally in much better condition.
And it grew! I don’t think you underestimate the imporance of an incredible colourist until you decide to get married. There simply isn’t another day when you will put all of your hair-related hopes and dreams in the hands of your hairdresser and Louise stepped up to the plate. Not only did she travel to the ends of the earth to my wedding venue but she waved a magic wand over my bridal party creating stunning waves in record time. I was in love with my wedding hair and I’ll be forever grateful for how beautiful she made me feel on my wedding day.
It’s taken a long time to get to the point where I am happy with my hair colour and my one piece of advice is don’t be afraid to shop around and find a hair colourist that you’re happy with. I get my hair done at Angels of London in Leeds and my colourist is Louise Dove. You can see more if her masterpieces on her facebook page.
