Tinting talent

When it comes to summer hair, we all want to channel that cool beach-surf girl look. Free 'n' easy, salt-sprayed and don't-care wavy style - it's the only time you can officially ditch your dryer and straightening irons. And the colour should be just as free falling. But the combo of bleach and sun can leave dread(ed) locks - all fried and barmaid brassy. At my favourite salon, FOUR, their talented tinting team have worked on creating a new Duo Tint technique which adds up to masterminding an on-trend high lift platinum blonde. Minus the bleach. Genius. This technique doesn't hold the hair to ransom and there's absolutely no Bet Lynch tones to be seen. As for those who want to hair surf brunette style, their new Brown on Brown Lights give just the right amount of lift without a sunset red tone in sight, giving brunettes a hint of sun beach (not bleached) colour. And for those who want to off piste, check out their Bubblegum Pastels Collection. Shades are created using a mix of Crazy Colour in sundae shades of soft lemons, mint greens and soft peaches.Pretty girl hair is literally just a tinting brush away.

Although I wouldn't go all out for DIY colour, there is a trend to home dabble to keep root growth at bay and stretch out those salon sessions a little longer. The FOUR London Smudge Kit is an insider secret with beauty editors. The reason? A personal formula is made up to complement your hair shade and designed to maintain hair-line and parting once the roots start to creep back in. Perfect for those who travel a lot or just want to tap into their inner colourist.


FOUR London, 62 Conduit Street, London W1S 2GB
www.fourlondon.com  

Bangs on trend

Botox? Forget it. Try a fringe instead! Along with a great pony tail that gives a mini face lift, a fringe can knock five years off your passport age along with hiding any lines. But apart from the anti-ageing benefits, a fringe - or bangs as they say Stateside are becoming an obsession. Blame Claudia Winkleman who seemingly has the most wanted fringe on the hair planet. At my salon FOUR where they house the best colour specialists, they've put their own inimitable twist on the hallowed fringe namely the FOUR way Fringe Colour Technique.

I like to think of it as hair candy where contrasting shades are added to your fringe to make it all the more delicious. Their fringe theatre includes:

Fringe Trim: No scissors required! A contrasting shade is threaded through the border of the fringe to literally fringe the fringe.

Fringe Flash: Sounding more like an Indie band, a flash of colour is added to a side sweeping fringe. Totally sexy!

Fringe Flicker: The peek-a-boo fringe. A glimmer of subtle colour is weaved through to give movement and interest as the hair moves.

Fearless Fringe: For she who dares to wear! Four colours are applied to a full on fringe. Alternatively work out a design in collaboration with the colourist which can be stencilled into the fringe.

To give you a funky fringe feel here's my amazing stylist, Carly (above) going fearless with her bangs!

FOUR London: 020 7297 9600
www.fourlondon.com

Prices on request