4 Simple Things to Do to Give Yourself Your Best Hair Ever!

1. Brush Your Hair Before You Wash It

Before you even think about getting your hair wet, give it a good brush to remove any excess product, teasing, or tangles. This simple step prevents your hair from becoming a matted mess when you shampoo, which can cause unnecessary damage. Use a tangle teaser brush or a wide-tooth comb to gently detangle your hair before jumping in the shower next time.

2. Choose the Right Shampoo

Selecting the right shampoo is essential for healthy hair. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know what’s best for you. We recommend consulting with a professional stylist for the best advice. Here's a quick tip: If the shampoo is clear and translucent, it’s typically best for fine to medium hair types. If it’s white and creamy, it’s usually ideal for medium to thick hair types. For blondes, incorporate a purple shampoo once every third wash to keep brassiness at bay.

3. Treatments at Least Once a Month

There are three main types of hair treatments: protein, moisture, and scalp treatments. Protein treatments are perfect for colored, damaged, permed, or chemically straightened hair, helping to reform broken bonds. Moisture treatments are great for dry, lifeless hair, adding shine and vitality. Scalp treatments, designed for dandruff, psoriasis, and oily scalp, can alleviate itching and flaking. We recommend doing one of these treatments monthly to maintain your hair's optimal condition. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the best results.

4. Don’t Go to Sleep with Wet Hair

While sleeping with wet hair doesn’t always cause damage, it can increase the likelihood of tangles or breakage. Wet hair is more elastic and can stretch up to 30% of its original length, compromising its strength. To keep your hair looking and feeling healthy, make sure it’s completely dry before you hit the pillow.

We hope you enjoyed these tips for achieving your best hair ever! See you soon.

Bonnie x

5 Confessions of Our Hairstylists…

Every profession harbours its own secrets unknown to outsiders, and guess what? Hairdressing is no exception! Our stylists have compiled our top 5 confessions...

1.       We cannot remember where you part your hair

In our industry, there's a timeless joke… We can recall your cousin's, brother's, wife's, step-sister's names, but we can NEVER remember where you part your hair. It's a mystery! With only three options, left, right, or middle, it seems we get it wrong every time. We tell ourselves it’s because we see so many faces each day, but I’m not certain that’s it… Oh well, it keeps us laughing! Haha.

2.       We hate washing our own hair

Styling our own hair at home or before work often feels like the most challenging task imaginable. We genuinely adore creating beautiful hair for you, but somehow, our own hair requires so much more effort than it seems worth. Please forgive us if our hair doesn't always exude the same glamour and smoothness as yours when you walk out the door!

3.       When a client comes in wanting a ‘big chop’ we don’t know whether to be excited or scared

This is a significant moment, and it often stirs a mix of excitement and apprehension! The excitement stems from our desire for you to adore your new look, yet the thought of such a dramatic change can be nerve-wracking we worry you might not like it. That's why we bombard you with questions beforehand: "How short exactly?" "Do you still want the option to tie it up or tuck it behind your ears?" "This might require a bit more maintenance than your previous style, are you prepared?" However, when we nail it, a bold transformation can be perfect for you!

4.       We don’t really like perms

Perms represent the pinnacle of the most unpopular service in our industry right now. There are a few reasons why many of us aren't fond of them. Firstly, they're incredibly time-consuming for the results they give. They come with an unpleasant odour and stink out the whole salon, and they require significant post-treatment care. In saying this, we don’t mind a good perm every now and then, but it certainly isn’t our favourite thing!

5.       We can’t hear you when the blow-dryer is on  

 We all love a good chat and the convo is flowing by the time we get to drying and styling your hair… But let’s be honest, when our blow dryer is turned on, we can’t hear a bloody word you’re saying! We'll always maintain our politeness and nod along, pretending to catch every word you're saying.

So that is our top 5 confessions as Hairstylists. Hope you enjoyed the read! See you sometime soon x

4 Hair & Beauty Myths… Debunked!

In the hair and beauty industry, we hear lots of advice that sometimes isn’t as true as we’d like it to be. So, we’ve put together 5 of the most common myths we hear that we’d like to DEBUNK for you!

1.       You don’t need to use heat protectant on your hair

Heat protectant is arguable the most important part of any haircare routine. Our hot tools are intended to sit anywhere between 150 – 200 degrees celsius. THAT IS HOT! Heat protectant is designed to protect your hair from colour fading, toner fading, breakage and damage. Our advice is to use heat protectant every time you blowdry or heat style your hair.

2.       If you are a blonde, you have to use purple shampoo every wash

Back in art school, you might remember the colour wheel. On the colour wheel, the opposite colour will counteract or neutralise the original colour. So blue neutralises orange, green neutralises red and purple neutralises yellow and vice versa. In the hairdressing world, it makes sense that purple shampoo is designed to counteract gold/yellow/brassy tones in blonde hair. The problem arises when purple shampoo is used to often, which leaves the hair looking dull, muddy and way too cool to have any brightness. Our advice is to use purple shampoo once every second or third wash, leave it in for 2-5mins and then rinse. 

3.       You don’t need to wear sunscreen when it’s cloudy

In Australia, we're exposed to some of the harshest and most dangerous levels of ultraviolet rays in the world. UVA and UVB rays still penetrate when it cloudy out. If you stay outside long enough, you will burn! UVA rays cause premature ageing of the skin and tanning, while UVB rays are responsible for redness and burning. Both significantly increase your risk of skin cancer. Our advice is to wear sunscreen EVERY SINGLE DAY, no matter if your day is spent inside or out.

4.       If you have oily skin you don’t need to moisturise

YOU NEED TO MOISTURISE YOUR SKIN, EVEN IF YOU’RE AN OILY SKIN TYPE (or acne prone), say it louder for the people in the back... Moisturiser doesn’t add water to your skin, but rather helps to hold the water in the outer layer of your skin to keep it hydrated. With no moisture at all your skin would become dehydrated and then over-compensate by producing more oil. Remember, not every product will work on every skin type, so it’s important to find a moisturiser that works for you! Our advice for an oily skin type is to find a balancing, lightweight, low oil moisturiser and use it morning and night.

We hope by debunking these myths you can create a healthier hair and beauty routine! If you have any questions or would like more advice, please reach out to use at Icon Salons HB in Hervey Bay.

Talk soon,

Bonnie x

How to Wash Your Hair Properly… 4 Ways You’re Doing It Wrong!

Have you ever wondered whether you’re washing your hair correctly or not? As a hairdresser of 10 years, it is a conversation that gets brought up a lot at Icon Salons. So here is my professional advice on the matter:

1.       Double shampoo

It is SOOOOOO important to shampoo your hair at least twice every hair wash day! This is what I tell my students who are training in hairdressing: The first shampoo removes the dirt, oils, product, debris from the hair. The second shampoo actual cleans THE HAIR. So, if you’re a serial 1-time only shampooer, your hair won’t have the light, airy, clean feel that you will be getting from 2 shampoos.

It is also okay to do 3 or 4 shampoos if your hair is feeling extra yucky from the gym, dry shampoo, hairspray, or whatever it may be!

Bonus info: If you’re not sure which shampoo is best for you, a really great tool to use is… If the shampoo is clear and translucent, it is best for fine to medium hair types. If the shampoo is white and creamy, it is best for medium to thick hair types. What a funky way to decide if you’re shampoo is right for you?!

2.       Only put conditioner on the mids and ends of your hair

Have you ever felt like your hair is oily, even though you just washed it yesterday? The main reason that this happens is because you are putting conditioner too close to your roots. Conditioner is full of essential ingredients for dry and damaged hair and is only designed to be used for the mids and ends of your hair which is where your hair needs the most love… We recommend to put a small amount of conditioner on the mids and ends of your hair, leave for 5 minutes, comb with a wide tooth comb, then rinse really well.

3.       Blonde shampoo every 2nd or 3rd wash

This is for my blonde ladies… STOP USING PURPLE SHAMPOO EVERY WASH!!! Purple shampoo is very pigmented which is great to reduce yellow or brassy tones in blonde hair. However, it can have a not so great affect if used too often. When purple shampoo is used too often, it creates a build up on the hair that actually makes your blonde a really muddy, silver, dull colour. This makes your hairdressers job very difficult as we have to remove that tone when you come back in for a blonding service… So, we recommend using purple shampoo every 2nd or 3rd time you wash your hair. Because you are double shampooing now, we say, use a hydrating or colour safe shampoo first, then use your blonde shampoo second, leave it on for no longer than 5 minutes, then rinse and condition. PERFECT!

4.       Don’t wash your hair more than 3 times per week!

Like I said earlier, if you feel like your hair is oily, even after washing it the day before, something is not right… Another reason for this is that you could be washing your hair too often! When we wash our hair, we do remove a certain amount of natural oils and conditioner helps to replenish those which is why your hair feels really rough after shampooing and smooth and shiny after conditioning. If you shampoo too often and you’re stripping your hair of its natural oils too often, our skin and hair starts to over produce oils to compensate for that. Washing your hair anywhere from 2-3 times per week is the perfect amount to make sure this doesn’t happen.

If you have any questions about your homecare hair routine, please reach out to us! We’d love to help you find the right products for your hair. We are a Hair Salon in Hervey Bay, so if you’re ever around, pop in and say hi.

Talk soon,

Bonnie x

Why I Can’t Live Without These 3 Hair Products…

From shampoos, to leave in treatments, to keratin smoothing masks… The list of haircare products is infinite. So, I thought I would give you my TOP 3 HAIR PRODUCTS that I can’t live without!

1.       Icon Peppermint Shampoo

This peppermint shampoo, is AMAZING. Peppermint is used traditionally to calm and sooth, which sounds perfect for the scalp. I struggle a lot with a dry and sometimes itchy scalp (mainly because I’m a blonde and I use too much dry shampoo… Opps) but I know it is a very common concern among our Hervey Bay salon clients. The Icon Peppermint Shampoo is an invigorating, clarifying & cleansing shampoo that increases scalp circulation for a refreshed, renewed feeling. It removes all traces of dirt and oil build up. It can be used on any hair type, so it doesn’t matter if your coloured, natural, frizzy or dead straight, you can use it! Sounds pretty great, right? 

2.       Salon Only Magic 28

Salon Only Magic 28 in the absolute BOMB of haircare products… It is constantly sold out within a few days of hitting the salon shelves!

It is an advanced and lightweight styling treatment that delivers literally 28 benefits to your hair, including smoothing, softening, anti-frizz, and UV protection. This styling treatment smooths and softens hair, adds shine, and controls blow waves while sealing the cuticle and protecting hair from colour fading, pollution, and thermal styling. It also reconstructs and strengthens fragile hair, adds volume, and reduces blow dry time. With a UV filter, it protects hair from harmful sun rays and prevents split ends and hair breakage. It even defines curls and soothes dry scalp.

This styling treatment is used after you’ve shampooed, conditioned and towel dried your hair and it is perfect for anyone who wants to achieve multiple benefits for their hair with just one product. SOLD!

3.       Icon Argan Oil Serum

Every single person on this planet should be using a serum, full stop. I think a lot of people mistake serum for oil… They are not the same thing. A hair serum generally is thicker in its consistency and is created to shield the outside of your hair strands. It is commonly used for those struggling with frizz, dull, weak hair, and becomes an everyday staple product when using heat tools as it provides great heat defending benefits.

Our Icon Argan Oil Hair Serum delivers instant shine and long-lasting rejuvenation. Argan Oil naturally penetrates the hair to help moisturise each layer of the hair strand for long-term hair repair so the hair actually looks and feels healthier, silkier, and extra shiny. For best results apply the smallest amount to mid-lengths and ends of the hair prior to blowdrying.

So, there you have it, my top 3 hair products. Next time you’re in the salon in Hervey Bay, ask us about our huge range of products for your hair! Talk soon, Bonnie x

5 Things You Need to Know Before a Brow Tattoo…

Anyone who has a brow tattoo knows just how important the before & after care is to make sure you get the BEST healed results, ever. We artists always say, “your aftercare is your insurance’… So we’ve listed what we think are 5 of the most important tips before you dive into the cosmetic tattoo world.

• 1. The Different Brow Tattoo Techniques

Here at Icon, we offer 3 different types of brow tattoo, that way we can create a shape and density that is suited to your style. It is a very important part of your consultation deciding which technique is best for you. Will ask you a bunch of questions and take into consideration things about your health, your current brow routine, skin tone, skin type and of course your desired brow look. When you first come in to your appointment, it’s best if you already have a rough idea as to what look you are trying to create.

Technique 1 is Microblading which is the most natural brow tattoo available. This technique creates strokes which mimic hair, resulting in a very natural brow look. It is perfect for someone wanting to enhance and fill sparse or gappy natural brows but don’t want full definition.

Technique 2 is a Combination technique which combines both microblading & shading. This is great for someone wanting a more defined arch and tail, but natural and soft through the front of the brow.

Technique 3 is a Powder or Ombre brow which mimics a ‘pencilled in’ brow look and heals very softly. This is for the person wanting a very defined (but still soft) brow.

• 2. Make Sure Skin Around Your Brows Is In TIP-TOP Condition

It is absolutely essential that your skin (especially around your brows) is in the best condition, meaning no sunburn, dryness, irritation, ingrown hairs, eczema, psoriasis etc. If any of these issues are present during your brow tattoo treatment, we run the risk of the pigment not taking to your skin and also the risk of infection. This means you will end up with an uneven brow result.

• 3. Stay Out Of The Sun

When you get any kind of tattoo (body or cosmetic), it is super important to stay out of the sun both before and after your treatment to make sure you get the best healing result possible! This goes into the point above which means the skin won’t be in ‘TIP-TOP” condition if it is already trying to heal from a sunburn. Stay out of direct sunlight for at least 2 weeks before and after your appointment for the best results.

• 4. Wash You Hair & Shave Before

Okay, the shaving bit might sound strange, but stay with me… After a brow tattoo, it is vital that you try your best to not get the area wet for a least 1 week, so you need to be super careful when you’re in the shower! We recommend you wash your hair and shave which ever body parts the day before or morning of to avoid getting your brows wet whilst they are in the healing phase. While we are on this topic, if you use a daily face cleanser (which everyone should…) we recommend cleansing your face in front of the mirror during the healing phase so you can avoid getting water or cleanser on your brow area.

• 5. Don’t Drink Alcohol Or Caffeine On The Day Of Your Appointment

It’s no secret that caffeine can make you a bit shaky (this is because it speeds up the blood flow), but it really becomes a problem when your brow tattooist needs you to be still for 2-3 hours. Alcohol thins the blood which does make it difficult to ensure the pigment we are implanting stays in your skin. If you are a bit of a ‘bleeder’ as we say, alcohol can make it almost impossible to have an even healed result. Our advice will always be to stay away from caffeine and alcohol the day before and the day of your brow appointment.

If you’ve any queries regarding brow tattooing, please message or call us x