Stevie English Hair, Hair B's
Back comb Back combing or teasing is a technique used by your Stevie English Stylist to create height or body. It’s often used as a foundation for hair upstyles. It’s the art of tangling the hair to create a cushion to lift the style and then smoothing over the top. Reference: 1980s hair
Balayage Balayage comes from the French word meaning “to sweep”. To Balayage the hair is to use a brush to handpaint a thick mixture of lightener onto a section of hair using one of three paint designs. These designs are singles, slants and V’s. The designers use a “sweeping” motion to apply lightener from thin at the roots to thicker towards the ends. It is free-form handpainted highlights.
Bangs (see fringe)
Barrier cream Barrier cream is what we put on a scalp around the hairline to stop colour staining. Your Stevie English Stylist should always apply this when having a dark colour
Baseline Baseline is the bottom line in a hair cut, this often the starting point for haircuts.
Beehive A high hairstyle that resembles a beehive! An elaborately teased and lacquered hairpiece, most famously worn by Amy Winehouse in more recent years. Beehive is also called a B-52.
Bio- ionic An awesome retexing system can get hair dead straight bit its about changing the hairs structure
Bleach ( see powder lightener)
Blonde Blonde, platinum, light blonde and dark blonde are all hair types of colour meaning of fair colour.
Blowdry Blow drying or blow waving is where your Stevie English Hair Stylist drys your hair with a hair dryer and a brush, often with product to create your perfect individual style
Blow wave (see blow dry)
Blunt cut Hair that is all one length is called a blunt cut. A precise blunt cut is carefully trimmed so that all the hair reaches one level. Often, tension is used to cut this type of style. When hair is wet, it stretches. After the blunt line if formed in the first section – the nape section, each layer that is brought down to cut is held with tension so that it stretches slightly. When it is cut at the same level as the first section and released, it bounces up to be very slightly shorter so that the ‘blunt’ line is really rounded.
Bob Bob is a precise hair cut that comes in many shapes and sizes from shoulder length, to others that tease with a bit of ear, some have fringes, and of course come in many fantastic colours. We love the bob at Stevie English.
Bob, graduated A graduated bob can be very stylish and is very different compared to the classic straight bob. Layers will give the bob more volume and tapered ends will make the hair look softer.
Another option if the classic single-length bob is not really what you like is a longer rounded nape and short blunt lines at the sides and front. Ask your Stevie English Stylist which version od the bob will suit you
Bobby pins a small slide clip the grips small amounts of hair
Bouffant A bouffant is a type if hairstyle originating in France, thought to be created for Marie Antoinette. The hair is piled high on the head and some is left hanging down the sides.
Bouncy Bouncy is a term used when talking about your blowdry or styling- its big, full, fun, sexy and sassy.
Braiding or Braids Braiding is a weave, two or more strands. It has been done for years often in African hair and on children.
Breakage Hair Breakage is mostly caused by chemicals and harsh styling like burning hair with hairdryers and straightening irons. It can be treated and fixed with the right treatments ask your Stevie English Stylist/colourist
Brown/brunette Dark hair colour
Brassy Brassiness comes from bronze, it is used to refer to hair that is too warm or yellow in tone. This can be the result of colour fading and showing the natural undercoat; or colour that is not processed properly. Brassiness is generally corrected by applying a violet toner or a shade your Stevie English colourist would choose counteract the yellow.
Bungee A hair bungee is an elastic with a hook at one end to wrap around ponytails and up do’s a secret for years of session stylist’s
Stevie English Hair, Hair A's
The Stevie English Hair Dictionary is (almost) a comprehensive list of hairdressing terms. Everything from some terms you might hear everytime in the salon and some you might never hear. (It’s a work in progress)
Acidifiers Acidity regulators which maintain the conditioner’s PH value which is about 2.5–3.5. In contact with acidic environment, the hair’s somewhat scaly surface tightens up, as the hydroge bonds between the keratin molecules are strengthened.
Afro An afro is corse and very tight curly hair, sometimes shorted to “fro”, is a often termed hairstyle in which the hair extends out from the head like a halo, cloud or ball. Reference: Jimi Hendrix
Ammonia A harsh chemical that swells the hair shaft creating holes and breakage
Ammonia FREE All the O&M colour at Stevie English Hair is Ammonia free which leaves the hair in better condition and is kinder on the environment.
Appointments (see consultations)
Ash Ash is the term often used in flat colours, ash is a blue/green almost grey reflect and often used to counteract warm shades and colours in hair
Asian hair Is often black and coarse and can be very hard to cut and colour. All staff at Stevie English Hair are trained in the art.
Asymmetrical Not identical on both sides of a central line, a technique often used in cutting to create a one side of hair cut longer than the other
Verity is coming to Town
Verity is coming to town- Her raving fans will be banging on our doors with bated breath and saying "about fucking time!" For those of you who are new to Stevie English Hair and our blog, Verity was with us for 4 great years and is still a Senior Director- a position we will always hold for her (she is special). She lives in New Zealand and comes over to hang out, cut her desperate clients' hair, teach makeup classes, drink tequila and generally grace us with her fabulous and inimitable presence.
Verity has won more awards that I have had hot dinners. She is a session stylist, makeup artist and a creative crackpot whose energy is infectious. Watch the whirlwind and check her website out here .
During her next visit this August, she will be hosting 2 makeup tutorials in our Glebe salon. There are only a few spots left, so if you are keen to get some makeup tips from the Australian Makeup Artist of the Year 2010 or get your locks chopped by this star please give us a call in Glebe 94237033 Bondi 93877791
Brighten up in Winter
How hideous has the weather been in Sydney? Cold and rainy, and rainy. And when it's not rainy it's overcast. Blah! Now is the perfect time to brighten up and get some colour.
How about some 50's inspired candy apple red?
Or some sassy "my little pony" pink?
Nothing better than some purple to chase away the winter blues....
Or some strong shapes and colour to get your heart racing?
Or maybe something more subtle and pastel....
What ever change you are looking for come into Bondi or Glebe and we will brighten your day!
Stevie xx
Im not Gay but im a hairdresser and proud of it!
After reading this morning about the prime ministers partner being called gay because he is a hairdresser, I felt the need to write something about that albeit briefly. This bothers me for two reasons:
Firstly because being a hairdresser myself (as if u didn't know!) I've been called or rather mistaken for gay, it's an age old stereotype but I don't find it an insult just a mistake. I resent that there is a touch or insult to suggest the Prime Ministers partner could be gay.
I've been mistaken as a gay couple when out at a football match with my genius brand manager, we still tell that story laughing. Neither of us was insulted.
And secondly:
That to be a hairdresser you need to be gay. Trust me it doesn't enhance or reduce ones skill levels at all.
Homophobia and racism have no part in society. They stop with me. I could say we don't tolerate at Stevie English. But I don't need to, #teamEnglish just aren't like that.
Bond Fever Hits Stevie English Hair
For this year's Hair Expo we were inspired by Bond. James Bond. English through and through and such inspiration! The cars, the gadgets, the villains and the Bond girls and their amazing style and hair... Goldfinger
When you think of Goldfinger you think of the famous scene where Bond girl Shirley Eaton playing Jill Masterton, is covered head to toe in gold paint by the evil Auric Goldfinger. Realeased in 1964 this movie is a great example of the hair styles that dominated the era. Sexy and kittenesque. 
Our take on Goldfinger is sexy and current and very English!
Dr. No
The ultimate bond girl, Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder. That bod. That bikini and the ultimate beach hair.
We couldn't improve on this so we turned to the villain Dr Julius No, the first ever Bond villain. Our take is cool, evil and modern.
From Russia with Love
Beautiful bond girl Corporal Tatiana ("Tania") Romanova slinked into From Russia with Love, wearing nothing but a velvet ribbon and a smooth and lovely 60's do. Initially hired by the bad guys Tania slinked off at the end with Bond. You can't blame the man!
But what of our take of From Russia with Love's villains? Are you scared or inspired?
Come join us at Hair Expo
2 Day Look’n'Learn Pass plus 3 day Expo Pass: from $299
Stevie xx
Stevie English Hair Educates @ HairExpo 2013
This year at hairExpo the Stevie English Hair Artistic Team will be educating in the the look 'n' learn Auditorium at the Exhibition centre. If you follow our Stevie Englishhair Instagram account you will see our Bond inspired art, Bond girls and Bond villains StevieStyle. We might be running a competition for someone to win a limited edition Stevie English Hair Bond print at our HairExpo seminar ;)
We believe that their are 3 main ingredients to becoming a great hairdresser.
Education, Fun and Practise.
Stevie English Hair presents a tongue in cheek, James Bond themed Show.
Who like's gadgets? Because Q gives us the best!
Tequila... I mean Martini.
But we will shake and maybe stir the way you think about hair, and education.
Hair is art, and art is hair- We make both!
We are in the Look and Learn Auditorium at 11 on Monday, come check our amazing team out.
Hairexpo Prices
5 Autumn tips to help you power through winter...
Autumn is one of those seasons which some of us lament. Summer is ending and so are those lazy-hazy long days of sun and swimming. Some of us cheer the onset of the cooler weather because we can rug up and stay warm. Whatever your preference your hair may need a little pep, either to repair from the long summer months or to get you inspired for a new season. Here are our picks for Autumn. 1. Get the deep treatment
Coming out of summer many of us need to pay some TLC to our locks. The harsh sun, chlorine, salt water or just tying it up off our necks during the hot humid months often means your crowning glory may be looking a little shabby. So what do you do?
The most Royal treatment on offer is "Regal". A course of 3 in-salon treatments over 10 days or so will have your hair ready for any winter blues. Enjoy a wine on us while your hair regains it's body and condition.
Prefer to stay in and hibernate? Come in and grab a bottle of O&M's "The Power Base". After washing add lots of "The Power Base", come through and wrap up your hair in a plastic shower cap or wrap your head with Gladwrap, and then wrap a towel around the lot! Slap on your slippers and snuggle up in front of the TV. You won't look glamorous yet, but after a couple of "The Power Base" treatments you soon will!
2. Get the chop!
A new season, new cut, new you!. Nothing more energising. Here are some of fantastic client's cuts to get you inspired!
3. Braid it up
Once it's done for the day it's done. If you are handy with plaits they are hot on trend for Autumn. Check out this great work:
4. Inject some colour
Blow away any thoughts of a dreary winter with this amazing hues....
5. Style it up!
When the mornings are dark and cold it's easy to sacrifice doing your hair for a little more time under the covers! Nothing chases the winter blues away like having great hair each day, so hop out of bed and get your hair looking great. Here's some inspiration:
Stevie xx
Stevie's 7 Hottest Looks from the Met Ball
Every year celebrities and fashionistas descend on New York to attend the Costume Institute Gala, more commonly known as the "Met" Ball, which celebrates the annual opening of the Metropolitan Museum's fashion exhibit at the Costume Institute. It's an event that brings out the best in creative fashion and hair. The event has a theme each year and this year's theme was "Punk". We love all things English at Stevie English hair and punk is very English. Seeing celebrities having some fun with "Punk" inspired me to tell you about my fav hottest looks from this year's Met Ball.
1. Coco Rocha
Sleek as a cat. Purrrrr....The sleek brunette fringe is divine.
2. Nicole Ritchie
This girl is setting the scene for a new trend. Expect to see more silver locks, you heard it here...
3. J-Lo
Sexy as always with a buffont as high as they come!
4. Lily Cole
Could this be the ultimate punk wedding dress? And the hair. Ahhh...some crimping and some product.
5. Sarah Jessica Parker
So amazing. The boots, the dress, the hair and the headpiece. Only Sarah could pull this off!
6. Madonna
Spot on punk Madge style...
7. Anne Hathaway
"Punked" up short blonde hair with that goth style dress. Perfection. I'm expecting to get lots of requests for short blonde hair in the salon!
Stevie xx
The Best Hair Extensions in Bondi or Glebe.
In this world, sometimes you have to wait. When you are small you have to wait until you grow up to enjoy tequila. In Sydney, you have to wait in traffic. To have your hair look fabulous there is some waiting, though at Stevie English hair we make the wait comfortable with great coffee and tea, wine or a cold beer, latest mags and iPads so you can keep up to date. And apparently good things come to those who wait!
But I’ve got some news. If you want long luscious hair you don’t have to wait! Sweet.
We now do hair extensions. Beautiful natural hair extensions. If you are wanting extra length or extra body, or both, come in and try some. We use Show Pony extensions and we think they are the best around. They are integrated into your own locks with tape rather than with beads, which means they sit across a number of your own strands, looking more natural and lasting longer. The extensions are matched to your own hair colour and can be coloured to suit the look you are after.
Like your own hair, extensions need a little maintenance. You need to use great home hair care, we recommend Original&mineral. We also recommend using a good brush to gently brush through long hair we love Tangle Teazer . Every 8 weeks or so you should come see us to have them re-taped, washed and dried in addition to updating your colour or getting a trim. That way your extensions will last 12-24 months.
You should come see Jake in Glebe, he is an expert and also educates across NSW for Show Pony. Come see Missy in Bondi who is also a Wiz and Jakes understudy at Showpony.
So you don’t need to wait. All you need to do is call our Glebe salon on 02 9423 7033 or Bondi salon on 02 9387 7791
Stevie
Give Your Mum One
I love my mum. Its such a special day. So to all the mums we want to give you something...
Or if you want to give your mum one of these prize's this Mothers day enter comp below.
All we want you to do is send us a message on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #giveyourmum1, if you want to take a pic of your mum and upload or do something extra special to win one of these great prizes. Please do!
We will give 5 lucky winners one of the amazing mothers days packs form @Originalmineral Valued over $70
1 lucky winner a H2D linear 2 the best iron in the business. Valued over $230
We will pick the winners friday 10th of may.
How Big are your Balls?
When I opened the first Stevie English salon, I was aware of the wasteful nature of the industry and I tried my very hardest to do the best I could to be environmentally conscious. I am always looking for ways to implement more sustainable practices in the salons, so you can imagine how excited I was about ReFoil- hairdressers foil made from recycled materials, and fully recyclable. I am completely on board with the ReFoil practice, and am hoping that word spreads throughout the industry. My brainy friends down at Chumba Concept Salons in Melbourne have challenged the Stevie English team to a "foil-off", and naturally I have accepted. We will be battling one stylist a week against a Chumba stylist and having a foil "weigh-in" at the end of each week until Hair Expo. The foil be recycled, sold to a reseller and the funds donated to a charity of our choosing- starting with the Starlight Foundation.
I love this idea, I love a bit of competition and doing my bit for the environment. It's also nice to know that you can visit a salon that uses PPD-free, no-ammonia colour in O&M and also recycles the foil that goes into your amazing head of highlights.
GAME ON!
Surf's up! Surfer Style
So those of you who know me, know I love surfing. I try to surf as often as possible, as the sun is rising. The expectancy of what the day holds. I love the moment, I love Australia. Well I have just come back surfing with the boys in Indonesia, Sumatra to be exact with Sumatran Surfarriis . (AMAZING)
So I got inspired about the whole surfer lifestyle, and the hair! ( not that my mates have much hair) It's tightly intertwined with the Aussie lifestyle. The sea, the sun and the surf translates to easy, laid back and unpretentious hair.
As summer comes to an end as we move into April and our Australian Autumn, here are my 3 top surfer inspired styles to try and keep that summer vibe alive! ( again me or any of my mates don't look like these pics, its a loose idea ;))
1. Blonde and Long
This has to be the classic beach babe look. Long layered locks with bleached ends and great texture can take you from the beach to dinner, and is easy to achieve. Wash and condition with O&M's Hydrate and Conquer to keep your hair hydrated when spending lots of time in the ocean. Apply some Atonic Thickening Spritz to add body and dry with the hair-dryer on a cool setting and then using a large barrel curling wand, divide your hair into large sections and add some curl to the mid-lower lengths. Using your fingers roughly rake through some Frizzy Logic. Done.
Another great "Blonde and Long" look with amazing beachy texture. Easy to achieve. Wash, load up with some Surf Bomb and let dry naturally. I love messy hair.
3. Beachy Braids
Still so cool and so beachy. Braids or plaits are a great way to prevent your hair getting tangled at the beach and they are a bit boho and hip. Why not try some different sized plaits through different size sections of your mane? Or a large relaxed plait is easy and breezy on a hot sunny day.
Surf's up! See you at the beach
Stevie XX
Jet-lag. Blizzards. Bobby Pins. OriginalMineral. New York.
I could sum up my recent trip to New York Fashion Week in four words. Jet-lag, blizzards, bobby pins and OriginalMineral. It's a crazy dream for any hairdresser to do the "dos" for 10 days of fashion shows, and an amazing achievement for two guys from Sydney and a Aussie grown hair care brand. We rocked it! I'm home, sitting here in my office after the most intense 10 days of my life. I left Sydney with my mate and owner of OriginalMineral and headed to NEW YORK #NYFW #MBFW (see end note). It was the craziest whirlwind I have ever been involved in, where I experienced an Aussie brand that I love, OriginalMineral , also known as O&M, rise to the top. Unless you have been in a bunker or a 4-year snowstorm, the kind of which hit during #NYFW #MBFW, you would have heard of OriginalMineral by now. A haircare brand created in a hair salon in Sydney, has now established itself as a serious contender on the world stage. O&M is created by hairdressers, for hairdressers, who saw the need to create beautiful products with less chemicals. The co-fonder Alan Buki had problems with main stream hair dyes affecting his skin (as do many hairdressers who often end up leaving the industry because of their reaction to the chemicals in hairdressing products). He and his very clever wife Jose Bryce Smith set out to rectify the situation and O&M was born. I'm one of the artistic directors for O&M, and I specialise in colour, something O&M are all about. It's colour without harsh chemicals, without Ammonia and without PPD. #winning O&M's product range now incorporates haircare and treatments for in-salon and at home use, styling products and amazing colours for hairdresser use only.
It was O&M's styling range and the energy of Janelle Chaplin, O&M's Creative Director, that took #NYFW by storm. Janelle has a strong unwavering vision for what the O&M brand is about, and that coupled with drive, talent and hard-work produced stunning results. Her work during #NYFW extended from working with designers to having us prepping hair pieces for hours before a show.
My #NYFW #MBFW experience was so much more than a hair thing. I have always dreamed of #NYFW, not because I'm some super stylist who has to go, it's a bucket list thing. Something I should do and experience as a hairdresser. An experience that challenged me, pushed me out of my comfort zone, made me crazy, excited, scared, frustrated and exhausted! Importantly I learnt a lot as a hairdresser and a lot about myself. This was the kind of experience I would encourage all hairdressers to grab with both hands if it's presented to you.
A bit about the shows At Veronica Beard, Jannnelle Chaplin described the look as modern day farm girl who just woke, rolled out of bed and went down to feed the pigs. These girls look a lot better than when I roll out of bed! The hair was fattened up with loads of Rootalicious dried in root to create big hair, and then Fishtail plaits on one side. All models had fake hair to match theirs which helped create the longer messier cowgirl look. The Team used O&M K-Gravel to take any shine but also to create messy dry looking hair.
The first show by CZAR by Cesar Galindo was held off site and it was afreak show of sorts immortalised in the new show on AMC - It wasn't a runway show but more of art installation. Mixing freaks with edgy clothes and taxidermy. O&M are pushing the boundaries of hair design by mixing cool hair with fashion and interesting subjects.
“This was a collaboration with a freak show, so we want them to look like hot circus girls – a bit clowny, nothing is more scary than clown!” says Janelle.
“First we applied Rootalicious all over dry hair to create the foundation and give us something to work with. Using small tongs on small hair sections, we created a pretty curl - a floaty, candy texture opposed to the more aggressive texture we created last year with O&M ribbon. Next, we brushed out the curl and creating a matt-wet finish – some of the girls then had their hair threaded at the back to create an overzealous bob-type style.”
The next show with CZAR by Ceasar Galindo, was at the Lincoln centre - With blizzards just starting to hit, it was an early start for the original&Mineral creative team. "Cesar always works with beautiful, interesting fabrics so we first thought about how we could translate that into the hair. A pop of colour definitely isn’t going anywhere, so rather than approaching this trend with the typical ombre style (which I think is kind of done), we’ve opted for stencilling,” says Janelle.
What was really exciting was using O&M prototype products to create the "pop" (watch this space! I hope I haven't said too much). Janelle found stencils with similar pattern to the clothes and we (the royal we) used top-secret products then set them with O&M Original Queenie. This was my favourite look over the week. I was super excited to be there and see something truly original emerge on the hair scene.
Next at Wes Gordon, “Wes wanted the beauty theme to emulate a Park Avenue meets London after-hours party,” says Janelle. “We had a lot of fun coming up with the final look and really enjoyed working with Wes Gordon and his team. He is a true artist with a unique vision for fabrics and shapes.”
Ultimately I learned that while I loved every moment of the experience of #NYFW #MBFW it's not the kind of hairdressing I want to do all the time. I enjoyed my taste of the "Big Apple" but it taught me that I love the creative steady work of my two salons. I love bringing back the inspiration from the pressure filled fashion shows, pushing the envelope for how amazing hairdressing can be for my clients and team. The lifestyle is not something I now crave, which was a surprise. I used to think I was crazier, however the 10 days in New York showed me I couldn't work like this all the time. Alan and I travelled close to 24 hours to land in New York, jet lagged but ready to go out on the town. We woke up the next day for our first show jet-lagged and a little slow. We worked hard and then went out again. NOW REPEAT and repeat and repeat. This is what happens at #NYFW #MBFW. It was a crazy, non-stop rush. I don't want to do this all the time. I need the peace and energy surfing gives me, and the stability and love of my family but, man it was fun!
End note: What are all these letters and hashtags about? #NYFW (stands for New York Fashion Week) #MBFW (stands for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week) They relate to what people are saying on Twitter and photographing on Instagram. These social media platforms are some of the best ways to see pics, posts and blogs of people around and in one of the craziest fashion events in the world. They are also great ways to share your creativity and promote your business as a hairdresser.
One Year at Bondi
Happy 1st Birthday to our Bondi Junction salon! It's been a big year of beautiful hair, fabulous clients and a team we couldn't be without. Our latest collection, seen here, was inspired by Bond villains past and present. 50 years of the coolest spy in the world, 1 year of Stevie English Bondi.
And the Oscar goes to......
The Oscars are about the dresses, the jewels, the shoes...but what about the hair? Oh and apparently the movies....but back to the hair. At Stevie English Hair we love to see all the "dos" on the red carpet. Here are our winners! The Hair Oscars
Best Individual Look: and the nominees are...
- Deborra-Lee Furness
- Kelly Osborne
- Adele
And the Oscar goes to.....Kelly Osborne! Sleek and lavender I'm loving that English lass Kelly stands out from the crowd!
Best Up-do: and the nominees are...
- Naomi Watts
- Sally Field
- Amanda Seyfried
And the Oscar goes to....Aussie Naomi Watts! Effortless, elegant and not too structured or perfect. Beautiful!
Best Male Hair: and the nominees are...
- Bradley Cooper
- Ben Affleck
- Daniel Radcliff
And the Oscar goes to....Daniel Radcliff! Our English lad is all grown-up and debonair with this old hollywood look. Handsome.
Best Sleek and Shiny: and the nominees are...
- Sandra Bullock
- Jennifer Aniston
- Jennifer Hudson
And the Oscar goes to....Sandra Bullock! Thick, shiny and in great condition. The kind of hair we all want!
Best Short Hair: and the nominees are...
- Halle Berry
- Anne Hathaway
- Charlize Theron
And the Oscar goes to.....Charlize Theron! A stunning cut and colour on a stunning women. This was a hotly contested category this year and I predict we will be doing lots of short cuts in the salon as a nod to the beautiful women in this category.
Best Loose and Lovely: and the nominees are...
- Helen Hunt
- Catherine Zeta-Jones
- Reese Witherspoon
And the Oscar goes to...Reese Witherspoon! Southern belle Reese shows us how glamour is done with her lovely blonde locks. Many women rocked this look on the red carpet showing glamour is never out of style.
Best Big and Proud: and the nominees are....
- Helena Bonham Carter
- Melissa McCarthy
- Maria Menounos
And the Oscar goes to....Maria Menounos! With a little more than just a nod to the 60's, Maria took her big hair to the red carpet and looked fab!
The Oscars are over for another year but they have provided lots of ideas and glamour to inspire our hair for the coming months. See you in the salon!
Stevie xx