Heaven Spa’s YouTube venture has so far been very successful. Not only did our videos attract the interest, we also received some very enlightening and encouraging comments from the viewers.

One of such comments came from Alex who was looking for advice on how to improve the condition of his hair, damaged by chemical straightening and blow-drying. “I have medium-length hair which has been chemically straightened, as it is naturally curly, then cut and layered”, he wrote, “but every time I wash my hair and go to blow-dry it, as I have always been suggested to do to make my hair go straight, then while a lot of my hair is healthy-looking and going straight and dry with the heat of the blow-dryer, some places are not, they go brittle and dry, and really dead-looking. I guess the problem is there even before I start blow-drying”.

In spite of using some repairing products (namely, Redken Extreme Shampoo and a few others), Alex was yet unable to solve his problem. His situation was aggravated by the fact that for a period of time prior to chemical straightening he did not take good care of his hair.

We forwarded Alex’s message to Josh Lowe who has spent over 20 years in hairdressing industry, is a platform artist for Redken and one of the UK’s Redken-certified colourists, and is our Creative Director. This is Josh’s response:

“The root cause of the problem has been the chemical relaxer. It has nearly the same PH and active ingredients as hair removal cream, so it needs some ER care. Firstly, if your conditioner is not the best for the problem you will not lock in all the benefits of the shampoo and protect the hair from further damage. Your best buy would be the Redken Extreme Conditioner. This product will maintain the strength of the hair.

The effect of the relaxer on your hair is that it has damaged the outer structure of the hair – the cuticle – which the Extreme will help reinforce and repair. The damaged cuticle is causing the hair a serious moisture loss, so the next step is to treat your hair every 2 to 3 wash with a moisture treatment. The best for this would be Redken All Soft Silk Fuel. Follow the instructions on the box, you may decrease the frequency of this treatment when you observe noticeable results. Finally, keep using your other redken products . When it comes to styling, you should use a heat protector – Redken Smooth Down Sleek Obedience – worked in to damp hair before styling, and reapply before straightening.
Best of luck and happy styling. Josh”

We hope that Alex and anyone of you who experience the same problem will find the above advice useful. You will notice the links in the post to our new shop where you can purchase the products. As we have recently redeveloped the site, there is a slim possibility that you may encounter problems using it. Please be patient and remember that you can always contact us by email or by phone on 0161 448 8786.

We have told you in the past that Heaven Spa has got a YouTube channel, which we recently updated. By way of a quick update, as well, here is a playlist of several videos with advice on haircare and styling for men and women: Hairstyling @ Heaven Spa. All tutorials were recorded at Heaven Spa salon in Didsbury and presented by Josh Lowe, our Creative Director and a Redken platform artist and certified colourist.

We will be writing more about the videos in future, but you can already bookmark them and leave comments either on YouTube or here on the blog.

Every year they conduct a survey to find out in which profession people are the happiest. In the past, the happy folks were hairdressers. This year, it’s beauty therapists. So, this Friday, 6th June 2008, two of Heaven Spa team have been invited to the BBC Radio Manchester morning show, to discuss the shift in the field of professional happiness. Rebecca Hough, a beauty therapist from Heaven Spa @ Hilton in Manchester Deansgate, will be accompanied by Josh Lowe, Heaven Spa’s Creative Director, and one of UK’s certified Redken colourists and Redken platform artist.

Rebecca and Josh will appear on Eamonn O’Neal and Dianne Oxberry show from 7.30 am. BBC Radio Manchester broadcasts at 95.1 and 104.6 FM, or you can tune in and listen online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/local_radio/.

At Heaven Spa, we are currently looking for great hair stylists. We are an award-winning salon, and we invite the best of you to join our team, led by Josh Lowe, one of the UK’s certified Redken colourists. You will need to be fully qualified with at least 3 years salon experience. If you have experience of Redken colour or Great Lengths hair extensions, mention this in your resume, as this will be a bonus. And no, this is not The Apprentice visiting Manchester, but be prepared to be interviewed by Josh himself!

We have full- and part-time positions available. If you have always dreamt of the position of a hair-stylist in one of the UK’s leading and commended beauty salons, have a great character and love doing the best in what you do, then email us at jobs@heaven-spa.co.uk, or call Josh on 0161 448 8786.

MY FAVOURITES:
1. Water Wax 03 + Glass 01 for high gloss finish and soft definition.
2. Align 12 + Outshine 01 for frizz control 3. Ringlet 07 + Rewind 06 for naturally curly hair, layer or twist curls into shape for defined look.

MY TIP:
Use Workforce 09 on wet hair for durable but soft end result.

MY LOOKS:
Definition/Movement
Forceful 23 and Rewind 06 on wet hair blow dry and finish with Workforce 09.

Straight/Smooth
Apply Workforce 09 throughout hair and blend Glass 01 with Align 12 in palms, then apply evenly. Blow-dry each section using a bristle brush and cool dry for the best results.

Volume
Use Workforce 09 and Satinwear 02 on fine/normal hair. Use Workforce 09 on wet and dry hair especially at the roots.

My recent people watching has alerted me to the increase in the blatant new trend in hair fashions; S&M. There seems to be a total lack of shame in which the fairer sex flaunt this hair abuse. If we started inflicting this behaviour upon any other part of the body we would be locked up or at least branded a freak!

This is not how we truly look good naked and I’m telling you no Brazilian, Hollywood or even a Sicilian wax will compensate for your punished and abused mane.

When was the last time any of you stopped and asked whether this hair colour will improve the condition of your hair, or maybe asked if your hair would benefit from a deep conditioning treatment? Is your hair now so lacking in any moisture and shine you wouldn’t reflect a search light? Perhaps you purchase a straw hat if that’s what you want on your head!

At your recent visit to your hairdresser, you defiantly said ‘no’ to the suggestion of the in-salon treatment and ‘no’ to the home hair care products the stylist recommended to you. Even though it was the first time your hair has even resembled hair in the past six weeks. Maybe next time you are unsure of what your 240 degree hair straightening irons are doing, pop your oven on full heat at home and see how long you can keep your head in it before you need the A&E department.

No, off you pop like an ecstasy fuelled magpie to the nearest supermarket in search of further hair suicide. Yes, I have seen you flouncing up and down the toiletries aisle asking yourself does the bottle match the bathroom and of course does it smell nice? By now your hair is that dehydrated its sucking the Evian out of the shelves in the next aisle!

So next time you are at the hairdresser, ask them to recommend some products. They are the professional, so ask them to allow a product exchange if you are not happy with its performance. If they say no, it means they have no faith in what they are selling – maybe its time you changed your hairdresser.

Thinking of changing your colour? Firstly, don’t do it yourself, it will cost you 20 times the price of the product you buy to put it right. Secondly, ask your stylist to do a strand test and then you can see the condition and colour end result on a few strands of your hair not on your entire head. And remember an in-salon hair treatment is more than just a conditioner – they can really make a difference to the ongoing health and appearance of your hair.