If you’ve got curly hair, then you already know that looking after it can seem like a full-time job. There’s a fine line between having a good hair day with soft, defined curls and a bad hair day filled with frizz and fly-aways.

In this blog, we’re going to look at 5 tried and tested tips for maintaining curly hair so every day can be a dream hair day.  However, it’s important to note that all curls behave a little differently and may respond in different ways to hair care techniques.
 

Get into a washing routine 

How often should you wash your hair? Natural oils (also known as sebum) get a bad reputation as they can make the hair look greasy and are often the leading cause of people over-washing their hair. However, they’re essential for keeping your hair healthy and hydrated.

Straight and wavy hair is easier to coat in sebum than curly and textured hair, which is why straight-haired people can wash their hair more often without drying out their hair. Curly and textured hair makes it harder for the oils to cover the hair (due to the shape) which is why washing them out can strip your locks of much-needed hydration. 

That’s why it’s recommended for the curly population to wash their hair as little as possible – every week or even less if you can. During washes, they should only shampoo the scalp instead of the entire length as this will dry out the ends even more (don’t worry, the ends will get washed when you rinse out the shampoo).

Of course, if you have a physically demanding job, an intense workout routine, or get physically dirty, you will need to wash your hair more often and risk that dreaded frizz. Which leads us to your next tip… 
 

Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise

No matter what type of curly hair you have (wavy, loose, tight, coiling, or artificially permed hair), curled hair is naturally prone to dryness, frizz, and breakages.

Curly hair craves moisture, so introducing a moisturising routine (with the right products – more on that later) can make all the difference. 

Leave in conditioners, moisturising oils, serums, and protein-enhancing products are your best friends. As we’ve covered, shampooing your hair too often will damage it and leave it thirsty. Instead, a moisturising routine is your best bet.

Applying a leave-in conditioner once to twice a week to wet hair will give it a moisture-boost and keep those curls in place. Moisturising oils and mousses will keep those frizzy ends at bay (remember to apply oils to dry hair, otherwise they won’t soak in), and protein hair treatments will help keep curls defined and hydrated. You can also get protein and other nutrients through your diet.
 

How do you choose curly hair products? 

There are so many assorted products out there which promise beautiful curls. A quick online search and you’re overwhelmed with the amount of choice. Not to mention budget restrictions, hair type options, and different brands. 

To make it simple, here are some rule-of-thumb options to look out for when trying out different products until you find the right one:  

• Try to go natural if you can. Harsh chemicals used to clean your scalp will simultaneously dry out your bouncy curls and leave you with dry, brittle hair that might lose its bounce. The biggest culprit of this are sulphates and silicones, so when you’re choosing your next product, look out for the marker: ‘sulphate and silicone free’. It’ll be there on the bottle. 
   
• Read reviews. The curly population all know the struggle of product buying, so the reviews tend to be honest and can suss out a suspicious serum or help you find an underrated gem. 
   
• Check out the description; is this product for your hair type? There are lots of different types of curly hair, so before buying you need to find out what type of curl you have and if this product is right for you. 
   
• Light-weight products for the win. Curled hair needs a lot of attention with various products for different needs. That’s why it’s best to go as light-weight as possible so they don’t weigh down your curls or make them seem greasy, leading to an early wash. 

Style like you mean it 

One fast way to ruin a good curl day is to style it wrong. Luckily, there are a few ways to prevent this scenario: 

• When brushing your curls, no matter if they’re coiled, wavy or loose – do this when it’s wet, from the bottom up and with a wide toothed comb. Brushing dry curly hair ensures you’re in for a frizzy day and there is no amount of product that can help. 
   
• When you’re styling your curls after a wash, try to get the products in as soon as possible to get those curls defined and separated. Once your hair starts drying, the products can sit on top of the hair rather than soaking in causing your hair to go “crunchy”. 
   
• If you’re drying your hair, use a diffuser or a diffuser add-on to your hairdryer which will space out the hot air and prevent drying out your hair and causing frizz. Also, tip your head upside down when drying as this will prevent fly aways and keep your tresses from getting distressed. 
   
• If you’re drying, adding in products, or styling your hair – scrunch, don’t rub. Rubbing your hair will separate the curls and cause unnecessary damages, breakages and disrupt the curl pattern. Scrunching your hair will keep the curls together, add in extra bounce, and won’t damage your hair. 

Protect your curls 

Finally, protect your curls where you can. As much as curls can be beautiful, they are temperamental, and there are a few household staples that might be doing more harm than good: 

• If you haven’t already, swap out your cotton sheets for silk ones. Cotton pillows not only soak up your hairs natural oils making it dry and brittle, but they cause friction and static on the sheets which leads to frizz and excessive bedhead. 
   
• If silk sheets really aren’t your thing, you can try ‘the pineapple trick’. Just gather up your hair at the highest point of your head and tie up. This will keep your curls defined overnight and avoid frizzy friction in the morning. 
   
• Cotton towels are another culprit. Again, the cotton soaks up your hair’s sebum – as well as weighing down your curls and ruining the definition. Microfibre towels, or even t-shirts, are a good alternative to wrapping up your hair when it’s wet. 
   
• Hairbands can cause damage to your hair and ruin the curl definition. ‘No-crease’ hair bands (the spiralled alternative) or scrunchies are much softer on your curly hair. 

At NOCO we’re well versed in styling and cutting all types of curly hair. So, if you’re in need of a fresh new haircut, some styling tips or anything else, contact us today and we’ll get you booked in. 

The days become longer and brighter, which can only mean one thing: summer is here! Although summer means beach days and holidays, it’s important to know the dangers of those UV rays.  

You wouldn’t step out into the summer sun without lathering up in sun cream, so why forget about those luscious locks?  

Just like your skin, the sun will damage your hair too. Between sun, sea, and sand, your hair goes through a lot in those summer months. Without the correct hair care steps, the damage can really take a toll on your tresses. Read on to learn how to maintain healthy hair in the summer.  

How sun can damage your hair  

Those hot days and UV rays can be very damaging to your hair. It is crucial to understand those effects and the importance of protecting your hair from the sun.  

• Cuticle damage – The cuticle is the outer layer of hair protecting the inside of the hair shaft from damage. The UV rays can break this down, causing your hair to dry out, your hair will then attract humidity and humidity means … FRIZZ!  

• Inner damage – The sun weakens the internal structure of your hair and makes it prone to breakage and split ends. 

• Colour damage – Coloured hair is even more prone to sun damage. Colour treatments can already leave your hair dehydrated, and too much sun can leave it even more vulnerable to damage. Not to mention – the UV rays perform as a bleach which will slowly but surely fade any colour. Some more colour treatment tips to come… 

• Water damage - There is nothing like a dip in the pool or a splash around in the sea during those hot summer months! However, sometimes the things we love hurt us the most…  

While you’re splashing about in the pool, chlorine is stripping natural oils from your hair, making your hair dry and weak. This can lead to breakages.  

Salt water can have very similar effects to chlorine water, minus the chemicals. Salt water strips the hair of moisture, making it dry and more susceptible to breakages and split ends.  

How to know if your hair is sun damaged 

Exposure to sun for a longer period of time will make changes to your hair more noticeable. Signs of damaged hair are: 

Split ends – the heat stripping your hair of moisture will make it more prone to split ends and breakages. 

Texture – being in the sun or the pool will strip your hair of its natural oils, causing it to become much more dryer and brittle. So, say goodbye to your silky-smooth hair. 

Discolouration– UV rays react with the melanin in your hair, causing pigment changes. The chemicals in chlorine can also react with your hair – especially if it’s dyed! – altering the colour.  

Tips and tricks you need to know to keep your hair healthy in that summer heat 

Start with a summer trim  

It is important to give your hair a head start for summer. Visiting your salon and getting rid of those split ends will keep your hair healthy and easy to maintain in those hot summer months.  

Mask the Mane 

One of the obvious and simple answers to protect your hair from the sun is wearing a hat or a scarf. Wearing a hat or a scarf act as a physical barrier to protect from those harsh UV rays!  

UV protection  

The first thing you do if you know you are going to be spending a day in the sun is lather up your sun cream so why not use the same protection for your hair. UV hair protectants come in all shapes and sizes, from gel to powder. Research the best product to protect your locks! 

Hydration  

This is a tip you really shouldn’t ignore. You could be doing everything right to keep your tresses intact but, without correct hydration, your hair will start to show signs of stress. Drinking water will not only provide hydration for your body but to your hair strands too! 

Keep away from heat styling tools 

With the sun already scorching your strands, using straighteners, curling irons or hair dryers will add to the heat damage. Try using more natural methods of styling your hair in the summertime. Air drying and braids will be your best friend. 

Washing your hair  

It is likely that you will be washing your hair more frequently to help combat the dirt and sweat.  

However, beware of the fact that overly washing and shampooing your hair will strip any natural oils, therefore further drying your hair out!  

Try washing your hair 2-3 times a week and switching out your shampoo and conditioner routine for a more moisturising option. This will help with locking in any moisture in these drying months.  

A pro tip from us this summer is to rinse your hair with cold water after you wash your hair for maximum shine. This is because it will close the hair cuticle and allow the hair to reflect more light.  

Treatments  

Hair masks and leave-in conditioners will help you with adding that extra bit of moisture. Using moisturising treatments will add an extra layer of protection from those UV rays, making it harder for the sun to damage your hair.  

This tip is key if you are in and out of the water! Fully saturating your hair before diving into the pool will lock in that moisture it needs after sun exposure. Note that already wet hair won’t absorb as much saltwater or chlorine chemicals. 

Fight the frizz 

In the heat and humidity, frizzy hair will be your worst enemy. Keeping your hair healthy and well maintained will help keep your frizz to a minimum. Keep your eye out for shampoos and conditioners with two ingredients: amino-silicones, and cationic surfactants, these two ingredients will help neutralise your hair and prevent the humidity from winning this round! 

If the frizz is getting the best of you this summer, here at NOCO we offer Phrizzy-o-therapy treatment to help combat the humidity. 

Colour care 

Coloured hair is already tricky to maintain, let alone adding those summer elements into the mix. If you have coloured hair, exposure to the sun can have many negative effects on your tresses.  

Chlorine chemicals can strip out the colour your hair is dyed and often turn the dye brassy or faded. Ensure you are using colour preserving hair care products during the hot summer months.  

Dyed hair is a lot more prone to dryness as the strands are already stripped of natural oils more than undyed hair. Using hydrating products is your only answer at this time of year; don’t let your hair damage ruin your time in the sun.

There you have it … 

Understanding the importance of hair care is vital during these summer months! Stick to our useful haircare tips for summer and help protect your hair. 

Here at NOCO, we are here to help you with any hair care needs, whether you are wanting your start of summer trim or a deep conditioning treatment to help bring back your shine. 

 Contact us today to book this summer! 

Over the last year, we’ve loved becoming a part of the Wells community.  

We’ve had the pleasure of making hundreds of our guests feel amazing, hosted unforgettable events, and created some out-of-this-world looks. 

However, all good things must come to an end.  

We can now officially announce that we’ve made the decision to move out of our Wells Hair and Beauty Salon and will no longer be offering NOCO services there.  

This was a difficult choice, since we’ve met so many amazing new clients we’d love to continue to serve. However, we’ve come across some difficulties concerning the salon space and feel it’s ultimately the right decision for the business. 

We’re working on securing a fantastic new building to transform into our next NOCO location. We can’t confirm exactly where it is yet but we’re all very excited about this next step in our journey, so watch this space! 

In the meantime, you can still find us and all of our hair services at our flagship salon in Clifton. 

See you soon, 

Noel, Corey, and the NOCO Team 

Whether you trusted your hair to the wrong stylist or an attempt at home colouring went sideways, dyeing mishaps can feel like a nightmare. 

No matter what the ads for box dyes might say, colouring hair can be a delicate process, particularly when strong chemicals like bleach are involved, and there’s a lot that can go wrong. 

You might dread ending up stuck for weeks with brassy tones or weird orange roots or worrying that you’ve permanently damaged your hair. But try to take a deep breath – no hair disaster is completely unfixable in the right hands. 

In this post, we’ll cover those common hair mistakes which can happen with permanent dye, the quick fixes you can try in the short term, and some solutions your local salon can help you with for the long term.

Bad Blonde 

Not only is blonde one of the most popular artificial hair colours, but it’s one of the easiest to get wrong. Tinting it too much either way could leave you with green-grey ashy tones, orange brassiness, or even barbie yellow hair. 

If you’re using bleach to remove the existing colour, this may also make your hair dry and brittle (more on this later).

In the short term, toning hair masks or shampoos can help to cool down lemony or brassy hair. Blue ash, iridescent pink, or purple toner treatments could work best, as they are opposite yellow and orange on the colour wheel.

You can also use toners to adjust hair that’s gone too ashy (think grey or greenish). However, in this case, you’ll want the opposite – warming toner colours such as orange and yellow. 

In the long term, salon stylists often have a wealth of knowledge about which products to use to get blonde hair to the exact colour you want. In some cases (orange highlights can be particularly stubborn), they may ultimately need to re-bleach your hair and start again to create the desired effect.

On the upside, you can now use these bad hair experiences to discuss with your stylist what you don’t want. If you couldn’t stand being an ashier blonde, for example, open a conversation about how they can help you to create a warmer effect which still looks natural.

Radical Roots

Dealing with roots growing out over weeks is a tale as old as time for everyone who colours their hair. But what if you’ve only just dyed it, and the roots are already looking a completely different colour to the rest of your hair?

Warm or orange roots are sometimes known as “hot roots”. If you frequently process your hair, or have coloured it previously, the untreated hair at the roots can have a different reaction to the dye, creating a two-tone effect. 

Hot roots can also occur when the heat from your scalp causes the dye there to develop more quickly than on the rest of your hair. 

If this happens at home, you can try patching up your colour by applying a small amount of “anti-brass” treatment or cool toner to your roots. 

If you don’t feel confident with this or it doesn’t have the effect you want, most stylists will be able to colour-correct your roots using a deeper colour or highlights so that they blend in perfectly with the rest of your hair. 

During future colouring, you can also try applying the colour to your roots after you’ve coated the rest of your hair (or keeping the dye on your roots for longer, if they came out too light last time).

Judging the correct timing for colouring along the length of your hair can be difficult at home and may end up in a drastic difference if you guess incorrectly. If possible, ask a stylist to do this for you, explaining exactly what happened during the last attempt. 

High Intensity

All it takes is one distraction and… oops, you’ve left your colour on for too long! The result: super dark or extremely intense colour you never thought you’d be seen dead wearing. 

When you need your hair colour to fade ASAP, the first thing to do is wash your hair immediately, several times if possible. You could use washing up liquid or a clarifying shampoo to strip the colour as best you can. 

While this is the fastest way to de-escalate the situation, it can be a harsh treatment for your hair, so make sure to treat it to some deep conditioning afterwards. We love the Kerastase hair masques. 

Your stylist can advise you what the best next step might be. In some cases, removing the hair dye entirely might be possible, in other cases, this might cause some undesirable damage, and continuing to encourage it to fade quickly is the best way forward. Another option is using highlights or balayage to lighten the overall effect. 

Patchy Colour

Home dye jobs or inexperienced stylists can produce patchy colour coverage, which is the last thing you need when you’re trying out a stunning new look. 

There can be many causes of uneven coverage. From incorrectly mixed dye to damaged hair, to application problems. 

Figuring out what went wrong can often help you to find the right solution. However, this is best done with the help of a professional, who will be able to best diagnose why those patches appeared, find a solution, and help you to figure out how to avoid it in the future.

Some possible fixes include re-dying the hair (either the same colour or darker), nourishing your hair to improve the condition, using toner to touch up the patches, or using gloss treatments.

Colouring hair often takes a few coats such as when painting a wall to give it the required depth and undercoat creating a smoother finish.

Tiger Stripes

It’s a tragedy when you dye your hair dreaming of delicate highlights and come out with bold streaks. Stripey highlights can be alarming, but they’re often a quick fix at a salon. 

Chunky highlights are most common when you bleach sections of your hair which are too thick, reducing the desired colour-mixing effect. 

One long term solution is to delicately dye more of your hair back to the base colour, reducing the volume of the highlights. Another is to use an effect such as balayage to disguise the highlights (see below).

Colour Spills

We’ve all cringed over those Instagram stories of someone dyeing half their face blue in the pursuit of a new hair colour. It’s more common to only suffer from stains around your neck, hairline, or hands. Either way, it’s hardly the start to a glamorous new you that you pictured. 

Hairdressers use a stain remover but, if you are at home and don’t have any, some milk on cotton wool can do a good job.

Even good old soap and water can work magic. On harder to clean areas, you can also try baby oil, body scrubs or rubbing alcohol if all else fails (make sure to apply this lightly, without scrubbing your skin).

As is often the case, prevention is the best cure. Always use gloves if dyeing your hair at home, and make sure to wipe away any drips of colour immediately rather than leaving them to set on your skin.  Putting moisturiser or Vaseline around your hairline can also work wonders.

Major Hair Damage

Bleach, as well as permanent and semi-permanent dyes, cause the protective proteins in your hair to lift. This in turn can alter your hair follicles and change the structure of your hair. 

This might bring on effects such as split ends, weaker hair, a “crunchy”, texture, frizz, or less resistance to heat. 

If you’re only experiencing minor damaging effects from hair dye, you should focus on keeping your hair conditioned, nourished, and follow the normal guidelines for maintaining hair health in coloured hair. 

For major damage, a salon will be able to help you to find the appropriate products and treatments to bring your hair back to life as much as possible. In serious cases, cutting your hair shorter may be recommended to reduce hair breakage. 

Whether you’re trying to combat a dye mishap or have decided to leave your new colour to the professionals, the expert stylists at NOCO would love to help. Contact us today to book in your free colour consultation.

We’re so happy and proud of the team to announce that we’ve been chosen as finalists for not one but TWO awards at The Salon Business Awards this year! #SBAWARDS.

Not only that, but we’re up for Salon of the Year at the British Hairdressing Business Awards.

Salon Team of the Year

Getting your hair done is more than just about the cut or colour (although it’s definitely an important part)!

It’s also an experience, a time to unwind and let yourself be pampered like you deserve.

Our team are dedicated to you – from complimentary drinks, head massages and a chance to talk (or not)! We hire based not just on skill, but making sure we hold the same core values – you.

Colour Salon of the Year

We know that changing your colour or even getting your roots done can be a risk and so disappointing when things don’t turn out how you hoped.

So we’re thrilled that our hard work and dedication to the craft has been recognised and we’re up for colour salon of the year!

There’s no better feeling or confidence booster than a fresh colouring, so book your appointment today.

We’re looking forward to the award ceremony on the 13th of June.

Salon of the Year 2

After being nominated for new salon of the year in 2021, we’re thrilled to announce that we’re a finalist for the second Salon of the Year Category in 2022!

Winners will be announced at a Westminster Bridge ceremony in July, and we can’t wait to mix with the best in the business once again.

We couldn’t have done it without our fabulous and loyal customers, so thank you for being part of the NOCO family.

The nature of thin hair can make styling it difficult. There are not too many styles that mimic the appearance of thicker, fuller hair. The search for easy hairstyles for thin hair has encouraged some to take hair growth supplements, hide under hats and hairspray, or spend a fortune on extensions. 

Don’t despair! It’s not necessary to make a big chop when you have fine hair; there are several looks you can do with it without having to sacrifice length. We even have some natural techniques to increase your hair’s thickness. 

Volumizing hair products make their sales by pushing the ‘horrors’ of dull, thinning hair. In reality, fine hair should be embraced, since it can be simple to look after and give a neat, refined look that puts the emphasis on your face.  

Of course, if you’re after fuller-looking hair, there are several styles you can choose to help you achieve this. 

1. The Tousled Bob 

If you have fine hair, the thought of chopping it off might scare you. Understandably, it seems counter intuitive, but lopping hair off gives the appearance of fuller and healthier locks. A shorter length makes volumizing styles easier. 

Adding multiple layers to your bob in a choppy style is a great way to add volume and texture to your hair, while adding body and hydration. Incorporate some styling cream into your hair as you rock the messy hair look to get effortless hold, bounce, and depth. 

2. Angled Pixie Cut 

In this style, your stylist will be able to create multiple layers of shorter hair in the back, while having the strands get longer in the front to disguise your thinning strands. This look can create an illusion of thicker and deeper hair even on thin, straight hair. 

3. Framing Layers 

Cutting layers into your hair might feel like you’re thinning out your hair even more. However, it actually works to add depth to your style, and draw attention towards your face. 

If you feel your hair is limp, having framing strands of varying lengths creates some lovely movement and energy to hair. They’ll also look effortlessly elegant when you pull face-framing locks down from an up-do.  

4. Blunt fringe 

A chic blunt bob is a timeless statement of style. It also works wonders for fine hair by providing some eye-catching structure and clean-cut edges, which give the appearance of hair being fuller. 

This style blends perfectly no matter your hair’s colour, length, or thickness. However, it’s important to avoid the temptation of cutting it yourself with kitchen scissors- mistakes with a blunt fringe are far from forgiving! 

5. Bouffant updo

This style gives some major volume to hair of any thickness. You can work this look to provide the level of drama that suits you by simply teasing out the hair around your crown in an up-do. Your hairstylist will have some great techniques to create the ultimate bouffant that won’t leave you looking like a poodle. 

6. Highlighted Waves

Wavy hairstyles can add instant volume, shape, and movement to your style- perfect for camouflaging finer hair.  

This can be achieved by a trip to your stylist, who can use the right tools to give you curls as tight or loose as you’d like, and a colour palette that matches your skin for some gorgeously toned highlights.  

This type of wave is also easy to create without using heat, which means less damage! Simply wash your hair, then braid it overnight before going to bed. In the morning, simply remove the braids to reveal gorgeous waves! 

Highlights add to this effect as they add more definition and depth to hair. They can also liven it up and emphasise the shape and movement of the waves. Combined, the result is gorgeously bouncy fuller looking hair. 

7. Asymmetrical Bob

Having a bob is a great hairstyle for women with thinning hair, since it provides volume without the thinning ends or roots. No one will notice your thinning hair as the dramatically chic cut is the star of the show. 

The length of your cut can vary depending on your personal style. Women with fine hair are more likely to opt for a shorter style, while those with voluminous hair are more likely to choose a longer cut, but the choice is entirely yours. 

8. The Clifton Cut 

This is our own signature hairstyle, carefully designed to look good on every hair type. 

The Clifton cut will enhance the layers around the crown to enhance the volume of your hair while protecting the weight line and external shape of your hair. This works to enhance your volume by lifting the hair whilst retaining your length.

The Clifton Cut was created by the NOCO experts as an energetic, full style that adds volume to your crown and is easy to maintain. The structure of this style makes your hair look thicker, and it holds layers together when tied back.  The cut reduces split ends and leaves you with stronger, fuller looking hair. 

No matter your hair texture and thickness, this versatile cut can be styled curly, wavy, or straight. Talk to your stylist about adding a fringe or adding elements from other styles to make a bespoke cut. 

Natural ways to help thin hair

Think about your diet 

Much like the rest of your body, your hair needs the right nutrients to grow healthy and strong. If you’re after thicker hair, there are vitamins that can encourage this. Try to eat more healthy fats, protein, and omega 3- these can be found in foods like avocado, nuts, lentils, and fruits and veg. We have 3 great recipes that are as delicious as they are good for your hair! Read them here. 

Don’t over wash 

You may have heard that overusing shampoo can remove the natural oils from your hair. This is true, and if your hair is dry and unprotected it is more prone to breakage, leaving your hair thinner and more limp. Whilst you should still maintain a good washing routine, take care to preserve your hair’s natural moisture. 

Use the right products 

If you aren’t using products that fit your hair, you may risk damaging it and encouraging breakage and hair loss. Those who have over bleached their hair risk having it snap off or even melt away! You should always think carefully about what goes on your hair. If you are unsure or need suggestions, your stylist can help you out. 

Consider aspects of your lifestyle 

Unfortunately, there are some situations out of our control that thin our hair. This includes your hormones, genetics, the menopause, and even stress. Whilst there may not be much you can do to prevent this, looking after your general wellbeing and health can have an impact on your hair. 

Ready for a new look? 

Remember, there is no ‘right’ way to style thin hair. What works for someone else won’t always work for you, so it’s important to choose what makes you feel good regardless of the thickness of your hair. 

Whatever you choose, do what makes you feel beautiful and confident: wear your thin hair with pride, don’t hide yourself! Whether it’s short or long, layered or bobbed, or a mixture, remember that your hair is what makes you, you.  

If you’re ready to make a change with fabulous new hair, NOCO is here to guide you every step of the way from choosing your style to finishing it off with a gorgeous flourish. Our experts can even give you advice on how to maintain and care for your look after you’ve left the salon. 

We can’t wait to meet you, so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about your hair, and you can book in here. See you soon! 

Why is my Philosophy Different About Cutting Hair? 

When you’ve been in hairdressing as long as I have, you begin to notice the way that cuts and styles ebb and flow. Whilst change is a constant in this business, there’s a steady shift that’s been ongoing for the past two decades. This is a shift from cutting as a service to styling as an art form, with power moving to the hands of the clients.

How and why has Hairdressing Changed?

I started hairdressing back in 1998 and worked through to the early 2000s. Then revisited hairdressing in 2008. 

During that early era, the common thing to be done was a client would look for a magazine when they came into the salon. They’d find a picture of a style that they liked, or they’d bring a newspaper cutting in, and we’d make a variation of it to suit them. Hair cutting was very much in the hairdressers hands back then. 

After my second stint in hairdressing, things started to change dramatically. The Digital Age dawned, and people came in more clued up than before, as they did their own research on the latest trends and techniques. 

Social media and the internet gave us things like Pinterest or Instagram, which played a huge role in how people wanted their hair done. This was great, because it gave us a whole new world of content. However, it also meant that clients were coming in with high expectations, hoping to achieve the same trendy hair as seen in edited Instagram pictures. 

The power has now shifted into the hands of the clients, who are more up to date than ever on hair trends. 

What this Meant for Hairdressers 

What we found was there was a massive swing from funky haircuts to colouring techniques. Particularly, from dip dye into balayage and ombre, creating that perfect colour blend. From a cutter’s point of view this was interesting, but a little unoriginal at the same time. In a way, the stylist is given far less creative freedom because people were coming in wanting long, straight hair.

From a technical point of view, hairdressers gave up on cutting in a sense. This is where we think it’s a bit of a lost art.

The standard of hairdressing throughout the world really dropped from a cutting point of view. This was because hairdressers were more focused on colour, and clients didn’t really notice whether their hair was an inch and a half longer on one side than the other. This let some hairdressers get away with murder. A good haircut just became harder to find.

I’m grateful for the fact that I managed to learn my craft in a time where hair cutting was prevalent and respected. In the 10 years following, colourers gained a lot of this respect and attention instead!

Hairdressing and Covid

When lockdown came, people stuck at home grew bored and wanted to change up their look. Many grew out their hair since they didn’t know how to cut it themselves, or thought a long period alone was the perfect time to grow. Lots of people chose to accept their natural colour and embrace the grey. And of course, we all know people who chose to completely change their hair colour with box dye (to varying levels of success).

People also had a go at cutting their own hair at home, and particularly their own fringes. I think we can agree that after this period of DIY styles, hair cutting became a little bit more respected. Since we’ve come back from lockdown, we found that cutting hair is an essential- especially hairdressers who are knowledgeable enough to achieve perfection, and this is the level that we perform at NOCO hair.

The NOCO Philosophy

At NOCO, we’ve created our own philosophy, because we understand the power of a good haircut. If your hair looks great, you stand a little taller. You’re more confident, and you breed more success. When you feel bad about your hair, it has the reverse effect. It can make you feel drab, down and you might want to hide yourself away.

We have the formula to make you feel fabulous. There are two things we have to look at before we give you an amazing style; the fixed analysis, and the variable.

The first thing we look at is our fixed analysis. These are all things that we can’t change. This might be a person’s proportions, their nose, their eyes, their mouth, a scar, hair loss, the texture that they’ve got, the thickness of each hair, and the amount of strands on the scalp. 

And then we also look at the variable analysis. The variable analysis is things that we can change, such as choice of length, the products that we use, the colours we apply, and the chosen technique. Should we raise the head, use a blanket, or chip into their hair? What size of comb do we use? All these variables make a massive difference to our haircuts, and our stylists have the experience and know-how to make the right choices every time.

The Art of Haircutting

But it’s more than just a one size fits all formula. We like to experiment to find the very best, and that’s why we’ve designed our two original haircuts. These are the enigmatic Vitality Cut and the Clifton Cut. 

The Clifton cut is designed to give you volume around the crown and maintain weights around the external shape. You’ll find that it actually makes you feel like you’ve got more hair than when you started! 

Then we designed the Vitality cut. This one is a super versatile haircut that can be worn with or without fringe, curly or straight. The cut reduces weight around the face, giving you a framing look and more volume, more shine. Our aim is to give you hair that looks and feels healthier, whilst still being easy to maintain. 

Experience the art of hairdressing with NOCO 

The utmost point of our philosophies in life is that we want to change the world. We want to inspire and educate hairdressers, and empower them to have the skills to be able to go out and make real change for somebody. We think it’s an amazing thing to be able to make a person feel great about themselves by doing their hair.

The power of a haircut is amazing. And we would love to offer out a complimentary consultation for anybody who has any concerns or would like us to really look in depth about finding the perfect style for you. We would love to see you and create something really special together, so please don’t hesitate to book in.

If your hair feels good – You Feel Good

The idea came from when stylist Noel visited one of his oldest clients to cut her hair after she had moved into a St Monica Trust care home following being diagnosed with a pancreatic cancer.

“After I cut Megan’s hair I gave her a head massage. In that moment something special happened. I didn’t realise it at the time, but as I gave her a massage and her daughter sat on the bed with a tear in her eye, there was a moment of calm and peace,” says Noel. “Megan looked and felt so relaxed, the energy in the room had shifted. It was like for that moment all the pain had gone. There is something so special about the human touch.

“At first, I thought it was sad as it had turned out to be Megan’s last haircut. But then it came to me that this was a really beautiful thing and a huge honour to be able to give someone their last haircut along with a moment of calm and gentle release.

“This led me to think about the fantastic work that hairdressers do on a day-to-day basis. We can literally turn someone for feeling terrible to fantastic. We can do something that doctors or no medicine can’t. This needs to be celebrated and sometimes hairdressers need reminding that we can literally change the world by changing somebody’s world.

“So we have set up Care With Hair with the aim of inspiring hairdressers to go out of their way to make someone feel amazing and to raise some cash for charity.”

The stylists from Noco Hair then teamed up with cancer charity Penny Brohn UK in Pill, who use complimentary treatments, yoga and massage as a healing and relaxing tool for people with cancer. We also believe that having your hair done is one of the best complimentary therapies and the power hairdressers hold is incredible.

Together they recently hosted a Christmas fundraiser evening which included swing dancing, makeovers, hairstyling, and a raffle which raised £154 for the local charity.

In 2020, the team at Noco plan to host more charity initiatives and Noel will be running the London marathon on behalf of Penny Brohn.

NOCO Hair in Bristol celebrated its third anniversary this month, with owners Noel Halligan and Corey Taylor putting on their gladrags for a special evening with their team.

The duo, who have picked up a host of awards since launching in 2018 including Independent Business Newcomer, Best Salon and Customer Service of the Year, set out their plans for the coming years and welcomed new members onto the team.

The partners launched the business in Clifton only a year before the pandemic and during lockdown, redesigned the salon to create more space, took part in a myriad of online courses and looked to the wider business world for inspiration. They also took lockdowns as an opportunity to re-evaluate their business and lay down the foundations for expansion.

Director Noel revealed their latest venture – their second salon in nearby Wells. “We have had an incredible three years, we’ve worked hard, taken risks and closed because of lockdowns. However, we have lots of exciting things planned and we can’t wait to get going,” he said. “Our team have been amazing and adapted to everything that the last 18 months have thrown at them. Creative Director Corey added; “Now, with a brand new salon on board, we are looking forward to taking new adventures and journeys!”

Website: www.nocohair.com
Instagram: @nocohair

Official COVID regulations have now been lifted across the country. Freedom is definitely in the air, and it tastes so sweet! While it’s not a legal requirement for businesses to enforce regulations, we want to protect our customers and our staff as much as possible. We really miss getting to see your full beautiful faces when you come in, and really are eagerly anticipating the day we can all hug again – but we don’t feel this day is quite here yet. For now, we have decided on keeping the following safety procedures for our salon:

• We are encouraging but not enforcing masks and are happy for guests to remove their masks during colour appointments when they are waiting for their colour to develop when they are not in close contact with a team member.
• All other policies are in place when i comes to cleaning, social distancing where possible, Perspex screens, hand washing upon entry and regular use of hand sanitiser.

We are planning on reopening on the 12th of April, if the government restrictions don’t change again.

Our COVID safe promises

• Our salon layout adheres to social distancing rules. We have partition dividers between each styling station, backwash and at reception.
• All our staff will be wearing appropriate PPE based on government guidelines.
• All styling station and tools will be thoroughly cleaned down between guests, with high traffic areas being regularly disinfected.
• All guests must wear a mask at all times in the salon with the exception of people who are exempt.

What you can expect from your appointment

• If reception is busy and you cannot social distance inside, please wait outside.
• Please do not arrive more than 5 minutes prior to your appointment, this way we can control the number of people in the salon at any time and maintain social distancing.
• Contactless payment is preferred to limit handling of cash.
• Please refrain from shaking hands or giving hugs ☹️ as much as we would love to!