Hair appeal

Two of my favourite salons, Hob and Daniel Hersheson, are among others joining forces with hairdressing legend John Frieda for the HAIRraising appeal to raise £1million for Great Ormond Street Hospital towards operating theatres that will be used to help children from all over the UK who require specialist neurosurgery. Ambitious yes, but if any industry has the drive and determination to achieve it, hairdressing is it. Until September, salons are asking clients to add an extra £1 to their bill towards the appeal (believe it or not, one receptionist confided to me that some clients refuse - shame on them!) as well as organising fundraising events in-salon. The Hob event, held across all their salons, raised over 25K. There's another fundraising day on Sunday 27^th June, and at the new HOB Salon in Ruislip, HAIRraising co-founder Akin Konizi (British Hairdresser of the Year) and the team will be offering half price haircuts.

You can also donate by texting the word HAIR to 81400 and £1.50 (minus text costs) will go directly to the appeal.

John Frieda says: “Having visited Great Ormond Street Hospital, I have seen firsthand how much our support is needed. The neurosurgery team does fantastic work but with our help could treat up to 20 per cent more children – that’s got to be worth aiming for.”

The best blowdrys

Seems to have become Hair Week here at The Beauty Edit, not exactly planned, but lets just go with it shall we? 

I discovered the wonder of a salon blowdry when I'd got a new job at a magazine and suddenly had so many events to go to, my wardrobe couldn't keep up. Not being a sample size, raiding the fashion cupboard (the shady ploy of many a well-dressed editor) was not an option. But I soon realised that it didn't really matter what I wore as long as my hair looked good, saving me from many rushed last-minute outfit purchases. A great blowdry made me feel more polished and 'done' and made my haircolour look refreshed. I learnt how to last out a blowdry for a few days (the less products used to begin with, the better; don't get it wet or touch it too much; when it starts to get a bit lank go over with GHDs; the last resort, dry shampoo, by then it's time to wash it again!).  

Not every blowdry was a success; once a PR arranged the ultimate luxury for me, a stylist to come to my hotel room during the New York shows, what a treat. He got to work with the hot rollers and I came out looking the double of Karen from Will and Grace. Not exactly the  New York vibe I was hoping to channel! But I've never had a duff blowdry at Daniel Hersheson in London. Stylists there seem to instinctively understand what makes a look cool, and they never get too 'hairdressery'. 

So it's no wonder their Blow Dry Bars have been such a hit. Hershesons Blow Dry Bar in Topshop Oxford Circus is now a standalone salon and they've added three new looks to the menu (which all cost £22) - the Rick Rack Jack, a very editorial frizzed look; The Big and Brushed - bouncy with lots of movement; and The Marcel, a fabulous 40s wave. The only problem is deciding which to have.

Top to bottom: Rick Rack Jack, Marcel, Big and Brushed, Wavy Gravy, Super Straight, Classic, B52, Bardot.