Tools - What are the best brushes to use for smoothing?
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Hello again. We have decided the time has come to help with a question that gets asked time and time again in the salon, 'What is the best brush to use to smooth out my hair?'.There are many options out there to choose from but there are a couple of things worth discussing first: The bristles and the body of the brush.Firstly, the bristles. The more the better. The only kind worth considering are natural boar bristle brushes. This may sound a little grotesque at first - especially if you are vegan or vegetarian - but we can assure you, NOTHING can smooth the hair out like these bristles can. The tension that boar bristle gets on the hair helps to create unbelievable shine. The density of bristle is important too so, of course the more expensive the brush when it comes to boar bristle, the better.Secondly, the body of the brush. A single piece of wood is the best. A plastic body with ceramic plated shaft is all well and good but different materials mean joins in the body and that means your hair will get lodged in these joins when you are using the brush. Ouch. Metal plated brushes can super heat and damage the hair beyond repair. So wood is the way to go.There is only one drawback - it takes time to master. Due to the density of the bristles, the hair can easily become tangled in the brush especially if you have particularly tuggy hair. It really is worth persevering and figuring out a technique that works. Essentially, a great smoothing product (like Redken All Soft Argan-6 which it just so happens we supply), a tail comb, some section clips and a bit of time. Brush through the hair thoroughly after washing, then work section by section smoothing the hair before applying the heat.What brands do we recommend? Well there are four main brands:Firstly Kent make beautiful brushes and are pretty reasonable.Next up is the great value Denman.Mason Pearson have been making brushes pretty much since the beginning of time.Lastly, by far and away the best brushes on the market are YS ParkYS Park make very high quality professional tools but these come with a hefty price. The brushes in this range go from around £35 to £65. This can seem like a huge sum but these brushes should last a lifetime if looked after.We hope this helps make your life a little easier.
UNDERCUT
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Hello there. We would like to show you a look that we love in order to give you a few ideas about how it can work. The undercut has been around for a long time but was made famous in hairdressing circles via the uber-awesome Christiaan Houtenbos in this iconic image: As you can see, this image is AWESOME.The undercut is a versatile technique and look that can be used purely to help the function of the chosen style (remove a load of weight and reduce styling time)Or to be a main feature of the style. Obviously, it takes some balls to go for something as wild as this:Obviously, this is not for everyone.Undercuts can work on anyone we think and if you are feeling a little unsure you can always try a faux-undercut like Jessica Alba..Here are a few more ideas we love to give you inspiration the next time we see you...
Balayage Vs Ombre: Spot the difference...
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Hello you beautiful people. So you have been thinking about a change of colour? You may have heard about Balayage or seen an Ombre and wondered about the difference? Well, your friends at Muse are here to make your life a bit easier. We do quite a lot of both in the salon and this is how we would define each one:Ombre - Generally this effect is a more obvious blend of dark at the root to light on the ends of the hair. This can be tailored to each person depending on how wild or subtle you would like to go. The great thing about this technique is that it will last; you start with a root. Depending on how much blonde you want to see on the ends of your hair, once the procedure is complete, you don't need to 're-blonde' the ends until they grow out. Also, when the ends are blonde you can apply all kinds of awesome temporary tones to make it more wild or soft. The root area will need a touch-up every 6-10 weeks depending on how many shades darker it is from your natural colour.Balayage - The French term 'To sweep' is a softer more sun-kissed look. The colourist will tend to use a softer more sweeping effect with the brush focusing mostly on the face and the surface of the hair to highlight and enhance the areas which would naturally lighten in the sun. This is a super-duper low maintenance style which means cost-effectiveness too!These looks are not for everyone and were considered a passing trend but it would seem that they are here to stay with many celebs still sporting them today. Both effects look much softer on loose curls more than straight so this will require some effort for those of us who do not have naturally tumbling locks. If you are considering either you should ask yourself a few questions:How do I feel about permanently darker roots?Can I style my hair every day (or at least manage having lots of texture?)?Can my hair cope with the maintenance of bleached ends?If you can deal with all three of these and are feeling sassy, then Ombre is the look for you. If you feel like you like the idea but would prefer something softer, Balayage is totally the way to go for you.We hope this has helped you to make your decision.
The Hard Part...
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Hello people of the internet. In this edition of our blog, we are going to introduce the hard part. This style has been making the rounds for a year or so on the catwalks but has really started to take hold for the man about town in the last few months. We love how smart, classic and modern these styles can be. These looks are definitely not for everyone as a sometimes dizzying amount of styling and products can be required to make the finished result as sharp as it was in the salon. Recommended products are mousse when the style is wet (it just so happens the Label.M volume mousse is easy to use and has a directional spray) and depending on yr preference a medium wet look finishing paste (Label.M again - Power Paste is awesome). Be super prepared and have a hairdryer and brush to smooth the style into place and give volume.
Short and Sassy
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Here at Muse, we think that nothing is sassier than a woman who can pull off short, fun, boyish hair. It screams SEXY. Would you ever be brave enough to go for the chop, or are you already the queen of the pixie crop?If you're tempted to go for the chop, check out these styles below for some inspiration. New year, new hair? See you soon!
We heart bows
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Not being the type to shy away from girly hair accessories, we are LOVING bows this winter. What better way to dress your hair for party, or to add a bit of feminimity to your daytime look?However, to avoid looking like a Christmas decoration, go for a tousled, relaxed style with bold, luxurious fabrics for your hair accessories.Enjoy!
Smooth lovin'
Sometimes a girl just wants to feel all prim and polished. Tousled and casual is great for an every day look, but every now and again we like to go full-on sleek and sexy for that special ocassion (yes, that includes Ryan Gosling dvd viewings...)The first step to sleek and sexy is a good daily conditioner. For added frizz relief, a weekly deep conditioning treatment should do the job and make your locks shiny and smooth. Regular trims (every six weeks) and products that protect against heat damage will also get you on your way to being a sleek, shiny goddess!Our favourite wonder-product to achieve this look is Redken's Smooth Lock deep conditioning treatment that contains butter silk for long lasting smoothness. We can do in-salon treatments, or you can take it home for a full on pampering session.Here's some smooth inspiration...
Cool, cool winter
Is it just us, or is there a sudden nip in the air this week? We're all staying nice and warm in our lovely salon, but the cool air is definitely making us come up with some cool inspiration. We love all the pale blonde, icy tones that are around for this winter. Come in to see us and we'll have you looking like beautiful ice maidens just in time for a festive glass of egg nog this winter.Stay snuggled up and check out these pale, glossy locks...
Head scarfs
Here ar Muse, we're big fans of hair accessories and one of our favourite ways to see hair dressed is with a cute, summery headscarf. No longer only associated with women of pension-collecting age, head scarfs can be a chic accessory for daytime, or even add a bit of retro glamour in the evening.We believe the more colourful, the better. What do you think?
I do, I do, I do!
Here at Muse we can't wait for the wedding season to kick off. We've already got quite a few gorgeous brides booked in to be pampered over the coming weeks. Whether it's up or down, tousled or polished, we love working with our brides to achieve their desired look. Here are a few of our favourite styles for the big day.
And remember, pampering isn't just for brides, if you're lucky enough to be attending a tying-of-the-knot some time soon, come pay us a visit and we'll make your hair beautiful and above all, dance-proof! x
Whose Hair?
Muse recently stumbled across a book by London based illustrator Christina Christoforou called Whose Hair?. It's a genius idea and lots of fun trying to spot the celebrity barnets amongst her intricate drawings. Have a look and see if you can take a guess...
Swim with style
Ah, the Muse team had almost forgotten what it was like to feel the sun on our skin! All this blue sky and sunshine is putting us in the holiday mood. Who doesn't love a splash about in the sea or nearest pool (or the Water of Leith...). But remember, you must look after your locks this summer. We have a few favourites that we recommend if you want to protect your hair from UV Rays and chlorine and also some to get that beachy, tousled look. Just ask one of our team. However, if you really want to protect your hair and scalp while having a splash, take a tip from these retro beauties...
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Texture
We know, we know.... You spend half your time fighting the frizz, straightening and smoothing, but sometimes it can be nice to give yourself a break and embrace your hair's natural texture. Messy can be chic, laid back and beautiful. Whether your hair is loosely tousled, or big and prone to frizz, with the right products and a few tricks, you can have laid back hair full of texture in no time.Here re some of our favourite textured do's.
Love is in the hair
This week we're feeling all loved up at Muse. In the lead up to Valentines Day, we're thinking about hair and love. We are lucky enough to have lots of clients who are couples and it's interesting to see how similar their styles can be and sometimes how very different! Are your locks wild, whilst your partner's are ultra tame? How much say does your other half have in how you style your hair? Was their hair the first thing that attracted them to you, or was it a big turn off?!?! We'd love to know...Here are some stylish couples who's hair we love.
If you've got a romantic date lined up for V-Day, come and see us and we'll have your hair looking extra glossy and pretty. See you soon x
Back to basics
What with all the excesses of December and New Year, we wouldn't blame you for feeling a wee bit run down and bedraggled. With all the partying and preening over the last few weeks, we think January should be spent recuperating and looking after yourself and that goes for your locks too! Now is the perfect time to get into a healthy routine of deep conditioning treatments, relaxing head massages and regular trims. If you start now, come Spring/Summer, you'll have a head of shiny, healthy and natural hair. Who could ask for more?We'd love to see you soon to help you get started.Here's some hair motivation... We love these natural, no nonsense looks. 
Curls galore
Here at Muse Hair, we love nothing more than a headful of bouncy, healthy curls. Whether you want wild waves or sleek ringlets, it's all about using the right products and getting the right cut to show them off. Here are some beautiful examples. Come and see the team to get some curling tips! x
Colour me pretty
Maybe it's all the decorating of trees and coloured tinsel we've been surrounded by, but recently we've been mad about colour. And we mean colour!!! We adore brave, bold colours and love seeing unusual shades. Whether it's soft, pastel slices, or vibrant, block colour, we salute you rainbow ladies!
Ponytail magic
If you think ponytails are just for the gym and school days, well think again, because they're back! And this time they're modern and stylish, with not a scrunchie in sight... Whether it's casual and disheveled or shiny and sleek, pony tails are one of the most simple and quickest hair styles you can have. For special ocassions, they're a great alternative to other up styles, PLUS you don't have to worry about your barnet getting in your way on the dance floor!Here are some of our favourites.
And hey, if it was good enough for Audrey, it's good enough for us, right?
Happy Weekend
Hope you guys and gals are having a chilled out weekend, we thought we'd give you some hair inspiration to suit what we hope is your mood... relaxed and fun. xx
