Hair loss affects both men and women. While genetics plays a role, there are other factors, including hormonal imbalances, an under active thyroid gland, nutrient deficiencies and insufficient scalp circulation. In addition, there are many foods that offer vitamins and minerals that support healthy hair. Here are the top 11 foods and natural remedies that can help boost healthy hair growth. 1. Get Enough Essential Fatty Acids Essential fatty acids are specific fats that are critical to the proper function of your body. Your body is not able to produce these fatty acids on its own, so it is necessary that you eat foods containing them. Essential fatty acids from walnuts, flaxseeds, fish and avocado are great foods to eat for healthy hair. 2. Ramp Up Collagen Production With Vitamin C Collagen surrounds the hair strands but as we age collagen breaks down, causing hair to be more vulnerable to breaking. The best way to boost collagen is not through some expensive medical procedure, it’s by getting more vitamin C. Foods high in vitamin C include citrus fruits, strawberries and red peppers. Supplementing with 250 mg daily can help boost collagen production which has the added bonus of reducing wrinkling. 3. Boost Biotin Biotin, a water-soluble vitamin of the B complex, encourages hair and scalp health. Dietary sources of biotin include nuts, brown rice and oats. 4. Boost Keratin Production with MSM Methylsulfonylmethane aids in the production of keratin (a protein in the hair) while doing double-duty to strengthen hair follicles. In one study, 100 percent of people who supplemented with MSM showed reduced hair loss and increased growth in only six weeks. Leafy vegetables, such as Swiss chard, cabbage and watercress, contain a small amount of MSM. Raw vegetables contain a higher amount than cooked vegetables because heat causes some of the MSM to volatilise. However, you still receive some when you eat cooked asparagus or beets. Those who like to eat alfalfa also receive MSM when ingesting its nutritious leaves. 5. Eat Iron-Rich Foods Iron is also essential for hair growth and can be found in red meat , green leafy vegetables, leeks, cashews, dried fruits, figs, and berries. To help your body absorb iron, you’ll need enough vitamin C. 6. Give Your Hair A Mineral Boost The minerals silica and zinc are also critical for hair growth. Take 500 mg of silica two times daily and 30 mg of zinc once daily. Food sources of silica include cucumber, mango, green leafs, beans, celery, asparagus. Natural Organic silica is also found in horsetail herb. Among some of the foods high in zinc are pumpkin seeds, fresh oysters, Brazil nuts, eggs, pecans. 7. Add The Herb Saw Palmetto Into Your Diet A study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine reported that saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) may increase hair growth in men. Hair growth improved in men taking 400 mg of a standardised extract of saw palmetto and 100 mg of beta-sitosterol (from saw palmetto) daily. Historically, saw palmetto has been used by herbalists for hair loss in both men and women. 8. Address A Possible Under active Thyroid Gland Hypothyroidism can cause thinning hair. Add sea vegetables like kelp, nori, dulse, kombu and wakame, all of which are rich in iodine may be helpful to balance this condition. Avoid drinking tap water since it typically contains fluorine and chlorine, two chemicals that inhibit iodine absorption.You may also want to supplement with 100 mg or 1 mL of the herb bladderwrack (focus vesiculous) daily. Work with a qualified holistic health care professional if you suspect a sluggish thyroid gland. 9. Rejuvenate Hair Follicles With B-complex Vitamins 100 mg daily of a B-complex supplement that includes biotin and vitamin B6 can reduce hair thinning by increasing scalp circulation and rejuvenating hair follicles. 10. Prevent Breakage With Vitamin E Vitamin E is required to nourish damaged hair and to prevent breakage. It aids the body’s ability to manufacture keratin within hair strands to reduce breakage. Supplementing with 400 IU of vitamin E can be helpful to restore locks. Some foods high in vitamin E include sunflower seeds, almonds, pine nuts, dried apricots, cooked spinach and olives. 11. Boost Scalp Circulation With Rosemary Essential Oil Rosemary essential oil has been traditionally used to increase circulation to the scalp. Add a few drops per dollop of shampoo or, better yet, add a few drops of rosemary or coconut oil and massage your scalp regularly.

We had the pleasure of having the gorgeous gal ‘The Style Fairy’ in to the salon . Read her blog below about her experience having her gold fever extensions. My new set of gold fever hair extensions Hey ladies, So, if you already follow me on Snapchat (username: thestylefairy) you’ll know the bob is gone!!! And I have lovely, full, thick, wavy hair again thanks to Di Milo Hair Design. After Anabelle Ivy arrived, I decided I needed a new look, I think it’s something almost all us women go through, so I decided to ditch the long hair and go for a bob using only a few Gold Fever hair extensions to give me the volume that my own hair so badly lacks. See the blog post on that here. Post Pregnancy Hair Loss & Why I needed a change Fast forward 6 months and I was bored and desperately missing my longer locks! I thought that by getting the bob it would be easier maintained and god was I wrong – in fact the opposite was true, the shorter hair took way more styling and I missed being able to throw it up in a pony tail. The sharp bob cut that I had, always needed to be properly blow dried and straightened to look right, it started to drive me mad and as a mammy you just don’t have to time for that! Coupled with that, I also suffered with massive hair loss and hair thinning post pregnancy. This is something I have spoken very openly about on Snapchat, it has really affected my confidence. Postpartum hair loss is extremely common and happens because after you give birth, your estrogen levels take a tumble and a lot more hair follicles enter the resting stage and thus start to fall out. It really is horrible and so cruel, as if our bodies haven’t gone through enough already! I don’t take many selfies but this pic kind of shows the thinning and loss around my crown. Anyway, it was one of my other main reasons for wanting fuller, thicker, longer hair again. I was feeling really self conscious and I suppose given the business I am in and I have to do photo shoots etc, I became really critical of myself and just needed to do something about it. My own hair will grow back and in the mean time I am taking a herbal supplement called Silica to help aid my hair growth. Michelle in Di Milo Hair Design also really recommends a good multi vitamin and is an advocate of Nioxin hair products ( I haven’t used so I can’t personally recommend, but she strongly recommends them). Where did I go? Step in Di Milo Hair Design, wow are these guys good. I had read up about them and seen they had won several awards including ‘Best Hair Salon’ at the 2015 Image Beauty Awards so I knew I was in good hands. The director Jean is a complete lady and totally understood how I felt, she put me in the capable hands of her hair extension “queen” Michelle and my transformation began. The first step was a colour consultation to match my own hair to the hair extensions, I had Gold Fever hair extensions several times in the past and I knew I wanted to go for them again, I honestly think you can’t get any better. They last SO long, are so so natural looking, the bonds are tiny, the maintenance is easy (I find), and I just knew they were what I wanted again. If you decide to invest in hair extensions, I think you really are best opting for the best out there and in my opinion, that’s Gold Fever. To read a full FAQ on Gold Fever Hair see HERE (All the commonly asked questions are in there like; maintenance, price, how long they last, getting a consultation, styling them etc etc) After my colour consultation to pick the right shades for my hair and to assess my hair (Di Milo do FREE consultations for this by the way just call them on 01 2180872). I came back two weeks later and on the same day had my old extensions removed (I only had a few in) and had my new full head of 14 inch extensions applied. Does it take long? Oh yes, it is a long process (allow at leat 3 hours for a full head) and mine was a particularly long process on this occasion because this time I was having a full head applied, and Michelle was working with a bob so I needed a lot of extensions applied to fill out my hair to make sure it looked natural. My colour was matched perfectly, as well as having some highlights in my hair and some balyage, my own natural hair has lots of shades in it, so I wanted to keep this look so different shades of Gold Fever extensions were blended together to get the look I wanted. As we move more towards winter, I’m thinking I might opt for rich, warm all over brown. That’s what I love about Gold Fever Hair Extensions, I have that option of colouring them if I want to. The process Michelle is a complete perfectionist, every bond was applied with total precision, she, as she said herself, totally goes into a ‘zone’ when applying hair exertions as it needs serious concentration. I am thrilled with the result! They can feel quite heavy at first, but you get used to that after a day or so. The bonds are really tiny, again they can feel strange at first but after a few days you forget they are there. After the hair extensions were applied, Michelle then cut and layered my hair so that it blended in with my own hair. She then washed and blow dried my hair and finished the look with some loose curls using a GHD. Finished result & Maintenance I have only had them in two weeks and already the difference in the ease of maintenance versus my shorter hair is unreal; so so much easier to manage. And the big difference is fullness – I love it. Even though yes, I have thinning around the crown of my head (obviously you don’t put extensions in there), I feel happier in my look because of the overall volume and fullness. Plus it looks 100 times nicer now when thrown up in a ponytail. The better you care for your extensions the longer they will last – be sure to use a sulphate free shampoo (I use Kerastase) and regularly brush them through well to avoid any matting. They can be dried, styled, straightened and curled just like normal hair. What I love about them is if you curl them the extensions hold it so so well so (as manky and lazy as this might sound) you get so long out of a good curly blow dry. As even when the curls drop, the extensions really suit that loose, wavy look and it’s the look I personally love myself. This time I went for only 14 inch extensions, previously I have had longer but I love this current length! I can’t thank Di Milo Hair Design enough for doing such an amazing job and helping me feel more confident in myself. I highly recommend them! The salon itself is trendy and cool and the staff are all just so so pleasant. Be sure to give them a follow on Instagram and Facebook – Their pages are packed full of gorgeous hair inspiration and real life client transformations; brilliant for hair inspo and ideas. Or you can check out their website here. Hope you enjoyed :-) ‘Til next time Naomi xxx

Every time a bride-to-be comes in for a hair and makeup consultation for her big day, we get asked if a bridal makeup and hair trial is necessary. We always answer yes, and for a good reason. Why bridal hair and make up trials work It is one of the most important events in your life and we want to make sure that everything is perfect on that day, especially your look as the bride. After all, you would want to look back to that special day and browse through photos with your kids in the future with pride, knowing how glowing and beautiful you looked on your big day. If you need more convincing, here are our top 5 reasons why you should go for a trial run for your wedding look: Because we are professionals, we aim to please our clients. We encounter clients who arrive with photos of looks that they want for their weddings. However, it is not always possible due to differences in hair length, face shape, and more. Having a trial run means you get to see how your ‘preferred look’ actually looks on you. We can try different options until we find one that really brings out your beauty. We also want to have a concrete time frame to set for your big day. With the busy schedules, it is important to know beforehand how much time we’ll be needing to achieve the look you want, and to make everything more time-efficient, it is best to know what look is truly desired. While most makeup artists use hypoallergenic products, there are instances when a bride doesn’t know she is allergic to some makeup ingredients and hair products. You do not want to find that out on the day of your wedding itself, do you? A trial will allow you to check if any of the products to be used on you causes some reactions. A trial run also gives both you and your artist an opportunity to discuss all the important details of your wedding. Will it be a garden wedding where there will be natural lighting? What is the motif? You do not want a modern makeup for a classical theme. Are you getting pampered for your big day? Some brides consider getting a facial for their big day. If you do, too, you better discuss it with your stylist to know how long it will be before you can apply any makeup on. More than the products used, a trial is a perfect chance to see if you have chosen the right stylist for you. Nothing could be worse than discovering that the makeup and hair stylist your cousin recommended cannot or do not do the look you want. All hair and makeup artists want to make their bridal clients breathtaking, but not all artists are skilled enough to do so. Now you know why it is vital that you go for a makeup and hair trial for your wedding. So… when should we schedule you?

Let’s admit it – there’s been a few times when we’ve skipped a workout to keep our hair looking great for a little while longer, am I right ladies? Post workout hair can be a nightmare. Of course, taking a shower and washing your hair after a nice workout or a sweaty yoga class is the ideal thing. But what if you work out daily? And what if showering just isn’t an option on that day or you’ve already washed your hair too many times that week? (dry hair alert!) Well, don’t let that stop you from being active on your lunch break or first thing in the morning before work, because today we will share our 5 favourite tips on how to get your hair looking great post workout. Shortcut to Blow dry Chances are, your scalp is somewhat…well, drenched in sweat. This is where we fake a blow dry by not washing your hair beforehand. Simply take a blow drier, flip your hair, and quickly try to dry the moisture out of your roots. This will do two things: 1) Dry out the sweat (obviously) and 2) Add some volume to the roots to give it back that bounce. Step number two is to use your favourite dry shampoo at the roots and thoroughly work it into the scalp to give it that freshened up look. A firm favourite of ours is Drynamic by Sebastian . Leaves the hair full of volume and fresh scented too. What? Oh this? I was going for this look. In case you really, really worked it out (you go girl!) and dry shampoo just won’t do the trick, pull your hair back into a slicked-back bun and use your favourite smoothing product to tame fly away hair. We love Kersastase baume double je. Pretend that’s the look you were going for and no one will even know.. if its good enough for Jessica Alba its good enough for us …. hehe. Sleek! What about my curls? If you have wavy or curly hair, we recommend Kerastase and an alcohol-free product such as a styling cream to twist and scrunch the hair to help it maintain the curl. PS. Ever thought of leaving in conditioner for during the workout? Perfect opportunity to hydrate those curls. Make life easier, think ahead! Did you know that you can strategically do your hair before your workout in order to achieve awesome post-workout hair results? For example, if you put your hair in high ponytail or a high bun, you will get tons of volume after taking it out. Another great idea is to braid your hair. Not only is it a secure hairstyle for even high-intensity workouts, but the humidity (or the sweat) will contribute to beautiful loose mermaid waves. If you like to wear headbands to hold your hair back, opt for thick soft bands instead of the tight thin ones, because those can leave a stubborn indent right at the top of your head, which is hard to get rid of without a shower.Regardless of the hairstyle, make sure the hair is away from your face and your neck. The less it is roaming free, the cleaner your hair will be afterwards. Air dry If your hair isn’t prone to getting too frizzy, then you can indulge in a quick rinse and let your hair air dry. For a nice touch, twist the front parts of your hair back and pin. This looks super cute on damp hair, and also once it dries. There you go, our favourite “nobody will even believe you were getting a sweat on just moments before this” hair fixes Now there are less excuses to forego your workouts! Let us know how these tips work out for you, and if you have any other suggestions that you think we should try. How do you fix up your hair after your workout? Love dimilo xx

Below are some tips to help prevent and repair damaged hair Do you flat iron or curl your damp hair before running out the door? Do you wash your hair on a daily basis? Although these practices get the job done, they can be very damaging to our hair. Let’s unravel some of the worst hair practices so that we can treat our damaged hair and turn it into healthy locks! 1. Curling/Straightening Wet Hair Have you ever been so incredibly late that you decided to straighten your wet or damp hair? Please say no, because there are few things that are as damaging to your hair than this. This is because wet hair is more prone to damage than dry hair. The hair becomes more vulnerable, which results in hair breakage. Fun fact: wet hair is a lot more likely to “pop” (yes, like popcorn) because of the water and heat coming in contact. Ladies, this one deserves a pledge. Look into the mirror and repeat after me: “Never will I ever curl or straighten my wet hair again.” A Ghd should only ever be used on dry hair. 2. Over-washing Washing your hair too often is another way you may not know you are damaging your hair. Here’s the reality: the purpose of washing hair is to strip away oil buildup from your scalp and to cleanse it. If you are washing your hair too often (before it gets the chance to replenish its natural oils), your hair can become very dry. To prevent dry hair, we recommend to figure out a washing routine that works for you (depending on the length, thickness, and how you style your hair), but try to avoid washing your hair daily. Dry shampoo is your friend on those days in between! 3. Over-brushing Have you ever heard the saying “100 strokes and your hair will become shiny and full”? Well, this is not quite true. Just like under-brushing, over-brushing can cause your hair to break (in the form of split ends or greater damages than that). Think about it – if your hair is constantly being brushed, chances are that there is too much friction, too often. You can help stop hair breakage by minimising how frequently you brush your hair. 4. Using too much heat Brace yourself – this is a very important tip! The first thing to keep in mind is to use curling irons and flat irons that have a heat setting option. Ladies, please stop frying your hair. Remember that fine, thin, and fragile hair should use the lowest heat setting, and that the average time you need to hold a curl is somewhere between 5 to 10 seconds. A helpful tip to preventing heat damage to your hair is to start by using a low temperature and less time and gradually increase if need be. Something to keep in mind is that heat changes the hydrogen bonds that hold hair together, meaning that permanent hair damage can occur if you use heat on a daily basis. Always use a heat protector when using any heat . We love Nioxin therm activ protector its light weight and really gives super protection. 5. Tight hairstyles Although ponytails, braids, and updos are a fun and creative way of changing up your look, these are considered to be tight hairstyles which can actually be harmful to your hair because of the constant tug and pull from your scalp. We recommend to avoid having your hair up all the time and as an alternative, try embracing your natural hair down. 6. Brushing wet hair Who knew that brushing your hair while wet can damage it? We didn’t. Actually, towel drying and brushing your wet hair can increase the chance of breakage. Switching your hair towel for a softer material (like cloth used in a shirt) is better as it’s less harsh for your hair. And also, make sure to opt for a wide tooth comb instead of a brush when detangling wet hair, or a wet brush. 7. Brushing from top to bottom Another great tip when brushing your hair is to make sure to start from the bottom and gradually work your way up. When you start detangling from the top, you will encounter a lot more tangles than if you started from the bottom and literally rip the hair out (yikes). Brushing from bottom to top is ideal when trying to prevent hair breakage So there’s a few top tips to get you those shiny locks. Remember always use good quality products it is definitely worth the investment . Treat your hair with a good quality mask once a week for 10 minutes if required and then once every two weeks as the texture improves. Love dimilo xx

Great news is, SmartBond addresses these problems! It works to: - Target weaker parts of the hair bond to strengthen and limit stress to keep the bond intact. - Improve the overall finish of your hair colour as this will take more evenly. - Reconstruct the weak ion bonds to reverse the feel of damaged hair SMARTBOND is a new protective and strengthening service, specifically designed for hairdressers. SMARTBOND is a unique system that protects and strengthens the hair during technical services (such as high lights and hair colour). The system consists of 3 components, the first 2 being used in the salon and the 3rd one at home. It is very easy to use and adapted to the hairdresser’s routine. HAIR TYPE Damaged Hair Sensitised Hair Dull hair Coloured Highlighted Bleached RESULTS Reinforced More resistant Softer Shiny Does it affect my colour? No, Smartbond adapts to colour products without affecting the lift or tone at all. How does it work? Smartbond is added to your colour when mixed and applied as normal. This colour is processed for the usual time. When the colour is ready to come off the hair is rinsed without shampoo and towel dried. Smartbond is applied as a pre-shampoo all over and left on for 10 minutes. This is then rinsed and shampoo and conditioner is applied as normal. How much does it cost? It is an additional cost, from €30 at selected salons, on top of your colour service. You will then need to buy the conditioner to use once a week to keep this up. Home care Use the Smartbond conditioner once a week to protect the bonds at home. If this is missed the hair will revert back to original condition before Smartbond. The conditioner can be bought at the salon. STEP 1 – ADDITIVE IN SALON ONLY 30 sec To be put in colour or bleaching maximum Bond protecting and strengthening action during technical services. STEP 2 – PRE-SHAMPOO IN SALON ONLY 30 sec Pre Shampoo to be applied on hair after rinsing colour or bleach. Finishing action after the service helping rinsing off all chemical residues breaking weak bonds. STEP 3 – CONDITIONER AT HOME 2-3 min Use once a week, just like a conditioner, after your shampoo. Rinse. The Step 3 continuously strengthens the fibre, week after week. You can keep the outstanding salon result, simply at home.

From healing wounds to promoting weight loss to erasing stretch marks, coconut oil has gained the fame of being a miracle worker. Here are seven uses for coconut oil that actually work and are supported by several studies. When we say coconut oil works, we mean it! 1. Use it As Makeup Remover Coconut oil is more effective and more affordable than makeup remover wipes. It can quickly and easily melt away the most stubborn eye and face makeup, including waterproof formulas. Place one teaspoon of coconut oil in the palm of your hand. If the oil is in its solid state, rub it to soften it. Then, massage it onto your face gently, in circular motions. Be extra gentle with the skin around your eyes and try to avoid getting oil in your eyes. Then, using a warm, damp washcloth, wipe the oil off. Alternatively, you may apply the coconut oil to an oval cotton pad and then massage it onto your skin (this method works best when you have a lighter amount of makeup to remove). If you’re left with a residue of coconut oil on your skin, rinse the face cloth and wipe again. 2. Use it to Make DIY Deodorant Coconut oil has both emollient and antibacterial properties, which make it the perfect base ingredient for a homemade deodorant recipe. Try this easy, effective and safe recipe to make your own. Things You’ll Need Coconut oil Arrowroot powder Baking soda Essential oils (optional) Glass jar Mixing ustensil In a glass jar, mix five tablespoons of coconut oil, four tablespoons of arrowroot powder, four tablespoons of baking soda and a few drops of essential oils, if desired (lavender and tea tree work very well for this recipe). The consistency should be creamy. Do not use on freshly shaved armpits (baking soda may cause irritation). 3. Use It To Make DIY Toothpaste As shown in a preliminary study, swishing coconut oil in your mouth for a few minutes each day can help to prevent oral diseases, due to its antimicrobial properties. There is evidence that coconut oil is very effective against common oral pathogens. Whether you ran out of your toothpaste or you are simply curious to try it, you can make this easy toothpaste recipe with coconut oil. The second ingredient, baking soda, has also shown to significantly improve gingival health. Things You’ll Need Coconut oil Baking soda Mixing ustensil Glass jar Mix equal parts coconut oil and baking soda to make an effective homemade toothpaste. The antibacterial properties of the coconut oil paired with the gentle scrubbing of the baking soda cleanse teeth and help to prevent and reduce plaque formation. 4. Use It As A Hair Mask Among the oils that have been studied for their benefits on hair, coconut oil is the only one that is able to penetrate deep into the hair shaft due to its affinity for hair protein and its molecular structure. For this reason, it is able to reduce protein loss and restore damaged hair, such as from heated styling tools, sun exposure and harsh hair dyes. Apply a generous amount of coconut oil to your hair and leave it on for at least a few hours, preferably overnight. Then, wash your hair with your shampoo of choice. If you keep the oil on for many hours, your hair may be so soft that you will not even need conditioner after washing. Repeat once a week for soft, healthy hair or twice a week, if your hair is very damaged. 5. Use It as an Aftershave Treatment Coconut oil makes an excellent aftershave treatment due to its wound-healing properties. A study conducted on young rats concluded that topical application of virgin coconut oil on wounds makes them heal significantly faster than untreated wounds. Apply a thin layer of coconut oil over freshly shaved skin to soothe the skin and help heal any potential cuts. For an extra-soothing effect, you can mix a few drops of chamomile flower extract into a spoon of coconut oil and apply the mixture to your skin after shaving. 6. Use it to Make a DIY Body Scrub Things You’ll Need Coconut oil Brown sugar Essential oils (optional) Mixing ustensil Mix equal parts brown sugar and coconut oil until you reach a pasty consistency. For added aromatherapy benefits, you may add a few drops of essential oils, such as frankincense, for a calming experience. Gently rub rough skin areas like elbows, knees and feet to lift dead skin cells and reveal softer, smoother skin, then rinse off with warm water. 7. Use it as a Moisturiser Very dry, itchy skin may greatly benefit from the use of coconut oil as moisturiser. Do to its occlusive properties, which reduce transepidermal water loss (preventing moisture from leaving the skin), and its highly emollient properties coconut oil makes an excellent body moisturiser. Evidence shows that virgin coconut oil may even improve atopic dermatitis.

Over the years and you want to feel like yourself again, hair extensions are the way to go. Great Lengths and Gold Fever Hair Extensions are the best and here is the low down… All women know what it’s like to suffer from fine, thin or just bad hair days. We all have changed our haircuts, colour, styles, etc., and even with those changes we are still not satisfied. There is a quick solution! YES! Hair Extensions a quick way to add that volume you have always wanted and needed, the length that takes years to grow. In just a few hours you can have the hair you have always dreamed of. Di Milo is a Great Lengths silver Certified Hair and Gold Fever Hair expert Extension Salon which techniques are the healthiest and safest application for fine, thin, over processed hair using ultrasonic waves (no heat) bonds are flat, smooth and comfortable. The hair extension artists Di Milo use the Cold Fusion application and Michelle an expert in her field, with over 10 years of experience. How to maintain healthy hair while wearing hair extensions The method of bonding patented by Great Lengths and Gold Fever is of the highest technology. The keratin is a polymer compound whose molecular structure is very similar to that of human hair and respects its same properties and alterations. When wet, hair expands and when dry it contracts back to its natural state. Our keratin bond moves and behaves like your own hair, ensuring a gentle yet strong hold without damage. This allows your natural hair to breath and stay healthy. Experienced Hair Extension Artist The skill level of the stylists is crucial for a damage free application and this is why Certified Stylists are the most sought after by extension clients worldwide. Great Lengths and Gold Fever have the most rigid requirements for certification in the industry. Their mandatory certification course is on average 3 times longer than any other extension brand in the professional market. Installation As each client’s hair is different, it is the hair extension artists’ duty to make sure that each service, and application has the correct bond size and it’s customises to the clients natural hair density. The key to a successful, damage free application lies in the skill and knowledge of our hair extension artist and their detailed application. There is no “cookie cutter”, “one size fits all” application technique, as each client has different hair conditions and desired that must be considered. Follow-Up Complimentary 2-month follow up is a must. During the follow up we will check your bonds, make sure that there are no tangles, demonstrate how to prevent tangles, remove or replace any strands that might be loose. Removal The removal of hair extensions is as important as the application. A proper removal is pain free and hair is carefully de-tangled. Each removal is scheduled based on the client natural hair density. Brushing Brush hair extension bonds three times a day with the recommended Boar Bristle Brush. Use this brush for the ends of your extensions. Always hold your extensions while brushing avoid any rough tugging or pulling. DO NOT pick at your bonds. Blow drying: Begin by shampooing with your favourite salon shampoo and conditioner. Make sure to keep conditioner on your ends only. For a smooth look use serum ELIXIR ULTIME is our go to favourite. Begin by removing 70% of moisture from hair by tousle drying. If you have a fringe be sure to dry these first. Once hair is 70% dry; section your hair, separating the front from your ears forward. In the back separate the top 3/4 of the hair and clip up. Starting in the nape; dry your bonds first. Make sure they are 100% dry before drying the rest of the section. After your bonds are dry start drying the rest of the section starting at the ends and slowly working your way up to the bonds: using a nylon bristle round brush. Continue this process until all hair and bonds are 100% dry. Curling Irons: Divide the section of hair into subsections no larger than the diameter of your curling iron. Clamp your curling iron hallway down the 1st subsection and roll once. Open curling iron slightly to slide further down the section, clamp and roll again. Repeat until all of the hair is around the curling iron and hold until the hair is warm to the touch. CAUTION: be sure to keep the iron at least 1″ away from bonds to avoid damage. Open curling iron and drop curl. DO NOT TOUCH the curl. Let curls set, if touched before cooled the curl will not last. Continue curling the rest of the hair following the steps above. NOTE: be sure to curl the top section of your hair in with the top row of hair extensions for a natural look. Once the hair is curled spray the curls using the medium hairspray setting. For a tousled look finger comb through cooled curls or for a more polished brush the ends with a vent brush. Straightening Iron: Sectioning the hair as stated above flatiron subsections one at a time. Do not straighten the same piece of hair more than three times to minimise heat damage. Keep the iron at least 1″ below the bonds. Smooth the entire head and finish with a light weight serum. Brush through ends with a vent brush for a sleek polished look.