When I got home last night, Tom had a new fiancé. She was the same size as me, the same height but her hair looked sun-kissed and glossy and according to a friend, less Chinesy. It was me, having had a hair makeover from the lovely folks at 10500.
And you know what, I felt different too! The 5 hours of hair washing, hair brushing, hair painting and waiting was worth it. I left with a spring in my step and feeling rather peckish (5 hours is a long time for me to be without snacks. Had I been more prepared, I would have bought some with me).
So what happened during those 5 hours?
I’d met Darrin, a member of the 10500 squad at an Honestly Healthy event a few weeks ago (thanks Amy for inviting me!). He was skinny, chatty and was a green-fingered bonsai expert. I didn’t want to ask the question as it was so cliché, but I was in a Hairdressers, talking to a hairdresser. And we were drinking coconut water from real coconuts; I felt brave.
“So what should I do with my hair?”
I’m cringing as I type this as it must be a question that is so annoying for off-duty hairdressers. However, Darrin took it in his stride. I had a hankering for a fringe as I wanted to do something different with my hair – it’s dark and long and that’s about it. I love it, but I want a CHANGE. However, instead of going for a dramatic cut, Darrin discussed changing its colour.
You what?!
The last time I dyed my hair, I was in Sixth Form and I wanted red streaks. You know the kind – they were fashionable never. Yet I still wanted them. So feeling brave one day, I bought some red hair dye and applied it. The packet said to leave it on for 30 minutes. I left it on for over an hour – my thinking was that my hair was so dark, I’d need way longer for it to make an impact. How wrong was I? That evening it was pretty bright. The next morning it was a vibrant orange.
Being laughed at by my Head of Sixth Form was the last straw; I would never dye my hair again.
Balayage
So that ‘never’ lasted 24 years. And here I was a couple of minutes from Ladbrook Grove tube stop about to put the future of my hair in Darrin’s hands.
Instead of highlights or a full on whole-head colour, Darrin promised me that balayage (where bleach is painted onto hair and then a colour put over those bits) would be a more natural and easier to maintain look. Best of all, for someone who goes to the hairdresser’s every 6 to 8 months, I needed something that didn’t require any upkeep. With no roots to worry about, this sounded perfect. I also liked that it was a pretty natural look.
So whilst I don’t know the exact details (leave that bit to me, Darrin said), I do know that the balayage is heavier towards the ends of the hair and gets less towards the top.
We started with a wash (mmm, who else loves getting their hair washed for them? It’s so indulgent and that massage. OOH!) before getting my hair cut. Cutwise, (jeez, Darrin, am I using all the wrong words here?!) we (not that I did anything, I just sat there) put in long layers, chopped into the ends to remove the split ends and tidied up the front. Once that had been blowdried, it was time to get creative. Darrin wheeled over a trolley, filled with a bowl of light blue paste, a flat paintbrush and a palette board. Starting at the bottom, he separated segments and like a modern-day Van Gogh, dabbed and prodded at my hair, covering each layer with clingfilm. It’s amazing how heavy your head gets after a few hours of this…
And this wasn’t even the dye! This was just the bleaching. Although perhaps bleaching is the wrong term as this doesn’t use ammonia but a gentler ingredient that’s less burny on the eyes and kinder to hair. That’s what I really enjoyed about 10500 – as well as a great client experience, they’re all about high quality products that keeps hair in as good health as possible.
After letting the bleach ‘brew’ (my terms, not his), we washed it off and to my alarm it was looking a little bright. Tone was applied immediately and left on for a while. Another hairwash later and it was time to dry it all out. It’s quite scary seeing your hair after its been dyed, especially for a dye virgin like me. With the help of an assistant, my hair was twisted, moussed and shaken.
Thanks Darrin! And I didn’t say it, but I love your braces.
The results
Instead of a straight block colour of dark brown hair, I now had caramel seeping from the bottom up to the crown. It looked glossy, big and dare I say it, sexy. I had sexy hair! And even though my face was malfunctioning (don’t ask), it was one of the first things that put a smile on my face that week (it had been a miserable week). Had there been clothes shops around, I would have gone and bought myself a whole new outfit. To go with my new hair, of course!
I also left with a couple of bottles of Kevin Murphy products – they are wildly expensive (for an Aussie Hair girl, anyway) yet all their packaging is either recyclable or biodegradable and their ingredients are all natural. To rip off L’Oreal, ‘because my hair’s worth it.’
Thanks Darrin and thanks 10500. Everyone was lovely and friendly and I really appreciated all the herbal teas you fetched me. Whilst I can’t promise I’ll see you anytime soon (hair upkeep is not my greatest strengths) I will be back. And hopefully with friends too!
More Information about 10500
I had a Ladies Cut & Blow (£85) with Darrin, a Director, plus a full balayage (£170).
To book an appointment or make an enquiry call 020 7229 3777 or email at talktous@10500hair.com
Or just pay them a visit:
284 Westbourne Park Road
Notting Hill, London W11 1EH
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