SAKS Blow-Dry Masterclass

Alison Dace knows good hair!

I’m a little obsessed with my hair at the moment. Anything that makes it looks thicker, more glossy, and just generally more lush is always going to get my attention.

Apart from using the right products and getting the right cut for your hairtype and face shape, the next most important thing is knowing how to blow-dry the hair (unless you can afford to have it professionally salon “done” everytime you wash – I mean, really?)

SAKS salons (all over the country, and actually, all over the world too) have the most easy-to-understand blow-dry menu. With over 35 years in the industry, you’d expect them to know exactly what we’re looking for when we breeze into a salon for a blow-dry! So if you find yourself larging-it up in Liverpool, mooching in Mumbai, or downtown in Dubai, you know you can just walk into a SAKS salon, check out the menu and you KNOW that they know what you want.

From the menu you could choose from the “TJUZ IT” (pronounced jhujh it”) for texture and volume, the “POLISH IT” for smooth sleekness, the “WRAP IT” for a super glossy finish, or even the “BOUNCE IT”, my personal fave, for a head full of soft curls and amazing volume.

At a masterclass in the Covent Garden SAKS Academy, Alison Dace, the SAKS Art Team Creative Director and Luke Pelrose taught us how to blow-dry hair straight, with volume, with curls and even how to create rolling curls with either a brush or with tongs. And I have to say, it was a revelation!

I really do think that this is a blog post that would be better served by showing you how-to vidoes and photos, rather than get overly verbose. So make yourself a large vat of tea, coffee or whatever takes your fancy, and scroll through the vids and photos, (with only a few words here and there where I truly think they’ll add something to the experience).

The Perfect Fringe:

I’m so sorry I couldn’t get the audio on this – I’m still a bit of a newbie when it comes to editing movies!

It’s all about using the correct product to get the right effect:

The “Tjuz It” and what you need to get the look

Creating The Curl:

I hope you can hear what Luke is saying over the hairdryer noise, it’s really worth trying to listen out for his tips!

Tonging the Curl:

Perfect curls take time, and patience. Use a large-barrelled wand for rolling curls and waves – lift away from the roots for added volume

If there were only two things I could tell you from what I learned (i.e. my two greatest hair-drying sins!) it would be this:

Always allow yourself enough time to blowdry your hair. If you don’t, you’ll inevitably be disappointed with the result. Makes sense, don’t you think? If I go to the salon for a blow-dry, I allow an average of around 45 minutes for the appointment. What on earth makes me think I can do it in less time, when I’m ~~hopeless at it~~ not even a professional!

Always use product to get perfection and make sure it’s the RIGHT product for your hairtype. For example, not only will mousse help with volume and lift, it will also add a little friction between the brush and the hair to really help get the necessary traction. Me? I’ve always been too lazy to get busy with any product, although I’ve got loads of it lying around the place…. but the new me will make more effort!

New to SAKS is their Steampod Straightener with Steam. It’s a salon-only service that you’d book instead of a blow-dry that infuses the hair with keratin as it straightens and smooths the hair for the sleekest blow-dry you’ve ever seen!

I can’t wait to try that one!

Are you any good with blow-drying your own hair or as completely inept as me?

5 Comments

Wasifa Ahmad
9 October 2012 / 5:58 am

Great tips! The end result of my blow-dry session always turns out to be frizzy and poofy 🙁
I will definitely try these out.

I will really appreciate if you check out my blog and be a part of it! http://www.sifascorner.com

Cheers!!!

- Beauty Passionista
  9 October 2012 / 4:28 pm
  
  Thanks Wasifa, hope you’re next blow-dry is perfect!
  Checking out your blog now… 🙂
  xXx
  
- Wasifa Ahmad
  9 October 2012 / 4:30 pm
  
  lol! I hope so too! 🙂
  
Anonymous
9 October 2012 / 9:35 pm

I had the steampod treatment at my salon last week – my hair was super smooth and shiny but to be honest I wouldnt have it done again. It (obviously) only lasted until the next wash and I know I can create the same if I take my time with straighteners.

- Beauty Passionista
  11 October 2012 / 10:00 pm
  
  I totally see your point, Anon… just make sure you use a heat protectant on your hair along with your straighteners. 🙂 xXx

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