Ingrid Farrell, Creative Director and Salon Managing Director of Silk Trends, has been selected as finalist for Women’s Stylist of the Year, making the top 6 in the UK.

Also Isabel Gaston and Tatiana Miranda, our talented Junior Stylists have both been selected as finalists for Junior Stylist of the Year, going head to head against each other as well as 4 other contenders from other salons for this well sort after award, making the top 6 in the UK.

The glitzy event endeavours to show appreciation for those in the beauty industry that leave us looking and feeling fantastic; from salons to the talented individuals who work within them. Its time to acknowledge those that they really do help to make the world a more beautiful place to live in! Whether it’s a hair stylist that has transformed your barnet from dull to dazzling, a beautician that has made you look and feel like a movie star, a salon that consistently provides an excellent environment, a talented newcomer to the industry or indeed somebody that has dedicated their entire life to it – these Awards provide a platform to thank those in the beauty industry, letting them know that their good work doesn’t go un-noticed. The event promises to be as glam as the individuals and salons it’s acknowledging!

This is the third year in a row that Silk Trends has reached the finals of this prestiguious awards, with Ingrid being a finalist for Womens Stylist of the Year in 2012 making the top 13 in the UK, and Silk Trends salon itself selected as finalist for Hair Salon of the Year London in 2013, making the top 3 salons in London.

We will be attending this exciting event on Sunday 30th March 2014 at the swanky Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel where we’ll be hoping and praying we win the big prize and bring the award back home to East London.

We would like to thank all our clients, friends and family for your votes and support to get us through to this stage.

Silk Trends Hair Design Team x

UPDATE: We WON!!! – Junior Stylist of the Year

WE NEED YOUR HELP – PLEASE VOTE FOR SILK TRENDS TO WIN

We’d be grateful if you could do us a big favour.  Please Pretty Please can you help me by voting for Silk Trends in this year’s English Hair and Beauty Awards 2014.  The awards is now open for nominations, and we need to get as many votes as I can.  We need to get as close to 300 votes by Thursday 20th February.

We are desperate to get Silk Trends out there and recognised for the excellent work we do (well you told us in our last salon survey that we do a good job looking after you hair ).  We want the industry take Afro Hairdressing seriously, so entering prestigous award like the English Hair and Beauty Awards helps to build the Afro Hairdressing profile.  It would be great to bring this award back to East London, and we can only do that with your help.

Please can you also share this with your friends and family and ask them to vote too. It doesn’t matter if they are young or old, male or female, got long hair or no hair at all, every vote counts and we need as many votes as we can get.

The deadline is Thursday 20th February 2014 so please vote as soon as you can.

Please vote for Silk Trends hair salon in the English Hair and Beauty Awards 2014 for the  Hair Salon of the Year and Women’s Stylist of the Year categories.

It only takes 2 minutes to complete the voting form (see the entry info to use below).  Click on this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RZHTKN3

Then enter these voting details:

Name of Nominee:  Ingrid Farrell (Silk Trends)

Address:

Street:                     Silk Trends, 202 Chingford Mount Rd

City:                         London

Postcode:                 E4 8JR

Tel:                         0208 529 8000

Email:                     info@silktrends.co.uk

Choose the following Categories:   Hair Salon of the Year  and  Women’s Stylist of the Year

Click the Next button, then enter your details ( I think you can get away with just putting your name and email address).

Thank you so much for your support.  Please please please submit your votes by Thursday 20th February 2014.

Hair Design: Silk Trends

Fashion Styling: Simone Williams http://www.simonewilliams.co.uk

Photography: John Merritt http://www.johnmerrittphotography.com

Also check out Silk Trends work featured in last month’s HairStyles Only magazine :-).

Hey guys it’s Simone here bringing you the latest news in hair dos and don’ts. This month at Silk Trends we’re selected Mizani’s D’Tangle Leave-in Conditioner as Silk Trends Product of the Month which is one that we are absolutely loving in salon.

The stylists here love using this as part of their blowdry routines and clients are appreciating the results also.   So, what separates this leave-in conditioner from others on the market, I hear you ask.

Firstly, we all know Mizani is a much loved and much trusted brand for Afro and Mix Textured hair types, and invest a lot of money and research into the products and ingredients to ensure they meet the extra delicate needs of Afro and mixtured hair types.  Secondly, unlike most consumer hair products, Mizani D’Tangle is lightweight and leaves your hair feeling silky, soft and sumptuous without that dreadful weighed down feeling.

Problems with frizz? This is the product for you! Just spritz on damp hair and blow dry smooth. If your hair is feeling dry and unloved this fabulous product will help treat thirsty hair that’s crying out for some much needed attention.

Our stylists love the diversity of this product because it can be used as a blow dry lotion or as just a simple leave-in milk for hair that feels extra dry and coarse. What’s also great about this product is that it’s herbal infused which helps strengthen hair and puts up that barrier we all need against split ends. Goodness knows we need all the help we can get with the affect this wintery weather is having on our hair.

Here’s Mizani’s advice:

Benefits:

• * Detangles, smoothes and conditions all hair types for a pleasant combing and detangling experience.
• * Helps protect against mechanical aggressors and heat-styling stress during blow drying.
• * Allows greater manageability, gentle detangling and effortless tangle release.
• * Use as haircutting prep on damp hair
• * To protect hair from heat and add supple-looking shine, use prior to blow drying or roller setting
• * Use as a first step to create a foundation for all other styling products

Usage:

• * Hold bottle 6 -12 inches from hair.
• * Spray evenly on wet or dry hair.
• * So versatile, it can also be used as a working spray during heat styling Just mist it on and comb through to detangle, tame and treat.
• * Can be layered with other MIZANI styling products for a healthy-looking shine.

TIP: D’Tangle can be used to refresh curls on a daily basis.  Lightly mist onto clean damp hair and comb through before blowdrying.

After adopting the Mizani range at Silk Trends over 4 years ago, we generally can’t get enough of their products, but we believe the D’Tangle Leave-in Conditioner is by far one of the best Leave-in Conditioner products on the market.

So, my suggestion is pick yours up at Silk Trends today.

Silk Trends photo from our recent Hair Collection used in the January issue of Hairstyles Only magazine .

Hair Design: Silk Trends Hair Design Team

Fashion Styling: Simone Williams http://www.simonewilliams.co.uk

Photography: John Merritt http://www.johnmerrittphotography.com

Check out Silk Trends work featured in the February issue of Hair magazine.

The product on everyone’s lips at the moment is Moroccan Oil. Moroccan Oil has fast become a revolutionary product in the hair world. If you’re having bad hair days, and you want sexy manageable hair and the encouragement of hair growth, then this product is the one for you!

We’re been putting this product through intensive testing over the last few months here at Silk Trends, and we’ve been getting some very positive reviews from our clients about this product. Demand for the product soon reached fever pitch, and at your request Silk Trends has moved heaven and earth to ensure this product is available to you. We have been through a rigorous assessment by Moroccan Oil head office, and we are happy to announce that Silk Trends has been selected as an official Moroccan Oil stockist.

This means you guys no longer have to beg, borrow or steal your closest friend’s limited supply of of this miracle product, and you can relax in the knowledge that the popular product will be available to purchase at your trusted hair salon Silk Trends.

So, let’s get to the nitty gritty of the benefits of Moroccan Oil.

Moroccan Oil Treatment

Moroccan Oil can be used on all hair types and is fabulous for hydrating those tresses and with those summer months hitting us very soon we all know it’s a great thing to have hydrated hair, because after all no one want dry hair. A huge advantage to using this product is that it’s easily absorbed into the hair without any residue. We’ve all had the experience of shoddy hair care products that can sometimes leave a nasty chemical residue of even dry out the hair. Moroccan Oil will leave your hair feeling shiny and soft with each and every use. We know it may seem strange to put oil directly onto your hair, but trust us when we say that you will not end up with chigreasy hair, just soft, silky and tangle free locks. If your hair is especially prone to frizz, tangles and matting then this product is the one for you. All you need is a £ coin sized amount to just work through the hair prior to drying to prevent frizz and promote hair growth and gorgeous hair.

Moroccan Oil Hydrating Styling Cream

The Moroccan Oil range is all about hydration, and with summer hitting us fast we know that thirsty hair is a no no. If the thought using oil in your hair isn’t your thing, then why not try the Moroccan Oil Hydrating Styling Cream. Like all Moroccan Oil products you only need a small amount because a little goes a long way, which also means great value for money.

Recent reviews show that this product is fantastic for heat protection, and especially if you have Afro or Mixed Textured hair this will leave your hair frizz free, without that weighed down feeling. Wear your hair straight? Pressing Natural Hair with just a small amount of this product is an easy dreams.

Moroccan Oil Glimmer Shine

In salon we are loving the Moroccan Oil Glimmer Shine product. If you have curls then this product will leave your curls bouncy, voluptuous, shiny and sexy. We girls all want sexy hair and it’s not just for the likes of Beyonce. If your hair is coloured and you find that the sun bleaches your hair, then Moroccan Oil Glimmer Shine will provide all the protection that you need against the sun. Works great on relaxed hair too add a healthly shine too any style.

So there we have it darlings. Moroccan Oil is now available to purchase at Silk Trends. These products will no doubt fly off the shelves this month, so don’t hang about, come and pick up your little bottle of Moroccan Oil magic.

We use this product for our salon services, and we have had rave review from everybody who agrees that this is an amazing product range. It’s easy to see why Mizani have won the Your Hair Award 2012 for the Best Afro Shampoo and Best Afro Conditioner. This product is fabulous if your hair has been dried out due to chemical services as it puts a fantastic amount of moisture back into the hair. Brilliant if you have a sensitive scalp and need that gentle touch that we all crave. The shampoo is great for cleansing the hair, leaving it smelling and feeling light and fresh with no build up, while the conditioner rinses out easily and leaves no greasy residue, leaves hair soft, shiny and moisturized.

The great thing about this product is it can also be used as a deep conditioning treatment, just in case your tresses need that extra little bit of loving. Specially formulated for extremely dry and brittle hair, Mizani Moisturfusion Milk Bath is also suitable for all hair types, whether natural, relaxed or colour-treated and its advanced formula contains silk proteins and milk of almond extract which work to seal and refine the hair’s surface, whilst penetrating the shaft with intense moisture to leave it soft, smooth and more manageable.

As stated before, Mizani make products for all hair types but this is the one that we all at Silk Trends are loving at the moment and it seems our clients are loving it too.  So, why not transform your hair and pick up your very own Mizani Moisturfusion system at Silk Trends today? They are literally flying off the shelves’

When Tamara came to us, she gave us a pre warning telling us that almost every other hairdresser that she had been to had run away from her hair as it was so unruly and difficult to tame. Tamara also told us that she has to dedicate a whole day just to wash her locks and by the end of the process she’s too tired to bother with treatments, let alone anything else so she ends up scrunching her hair back up into a ball until the next time she decides to tackle the challenge.

Now, our salon director Ingrid lives by the motto that no hair shall ever defeat her and defeat her it did not!

Here’s how our very own Ingrid conquered the what was once thought to be the impossible;

After partaking in a luxurious of Mizani Moisturfusion Milk Bath shampoo and conditioner, D’Tangle leave in conditioner by Mizani and Silken Seal by KeraCare were worked through Tamara’s hair evenly. The hair was then sectioned into four different sections and blow-dried using a dryer with a comb attachment to help bring the hair into a straighter stature. By bringing the hair into a straighter structure this would make it easier to straighten sleekly when it came to the pressing process.

Tamara’s hair was then sectioned again and pressed with wide ceramic Wet 2 Straight hair straighteners by Remington.  Mizani’s heat protector Gloss Veil was then applied. This product protects the hair as well as giving great shine while also helping the style to stay in place for last longer. After the pressing process was completed Ingrid then gave Tamaras hair a final boost and a healthy shine by spritzing KeraCare Gloss Sheen for the final look.

We recently caught up with Tamara who tells us that a week later the style is still in place and looks perfect. To help keep your style in place like Tamara’s, we recommend that you wrap your style at night with a silk bonnet to keep the shape and body.

We love a good transformation story here at Silk Trends and we hope you guys do too.

Ever heard of vitamin H? This is more usually known as Biotin or vitamin B7. All of the vitamins found in the B vitamin family are crucial to healthy hair growth (whether its afro hair, mixed race hair or european hair), and vitamin H is no different. Biotin aids in metabolizing the fats and protein crucial to enhancing and strengthening hair. Sufficient quantities of biotin have long been known as a key element in maintaining healthy hair and skin.

Symptoms, such as hair loss, skin irritation, fungus or eczema are frequent confirmation of a biotin deficiency.

Biotin may play a role in the prevention and/or treatment of other health conditions such as:

• Hair loss (alopecia)
• Intestinal imbalances, including inflammatory bowel syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and chronic diarrhea
• Neuromuscular-related conditions, including seizures, ataxias (movements characterized by lack of muscle coordination), and hypotonias (posture and movement characterized by lack of muscle tone)
• Skin conditions, including cradle cap in infants and seborrheic dermatitis in adults
• Pregnancy, as there is an increased demand for nutrients placed upon the mother by the growing fetus.

You’ll find Biotin naturally in nuts (such as almonds and walnuts), Vegetables (such as onions, cucumbers and cauliflower, carrots and Swiss chard), goat’s Milk and Cow’s milk, berries and fruits, Halibut, Salmon, and egg yolks.

Studies have shown that at least 100 milligrams of biotin may be able to prevent hair loss in men. Another interesting fact about Biotin is that it is thought that it may ward off grey hair, and we all want that ;-).

Now, when it comes to hair we all want those beautiful shiny locks and here at Silk Trends we strive to help you maintain a great style at affordable prices.

I’m going to be reviewing 3 gift ideas this week for the party season. So, if you’re stuck for gift ideas stay tuned!

One will be a ‘Steal’ which is a nice little low price stocking filler. The next will be a ‘Treat’, which will be a bit more luxurious, and then finally the ‘Super Treat’ which will be the most cost effective gift idea in the review.

Now… Let’s get started shall we?

First up we have our ‘Steal’ which is the Mizani Shimmer Reflects Gel RRP £12.85 though you can bag yourself a bargain right now with 25% off this fantastic product

This is hot, hot, hot for this party season and a great little stocking filler. Plus for a limited period get 25% off this fantastic product (so you pay just £9.50 :-)).  While giving medium hold and creating amazing textures, this gel also shimmers in the hair. Us ladies know how to make an entrance and this fabulous product will subtly make your hair shimmer and give that touch of class we all love. Formulated with gold mica minerals, you know that you’re doing no damage to those beautiful tresses.

Next up we have our ‘Treat’, which would be the Mizani H2O Intense Strengthening Night-Time Treatment. RRP £13.55

If dry hair is your mood killer then this product is for you! (Or if you know someone that has dry hair and you want to drop a hint, this is the one!) This luxuriousness formula created by Mizani smells great and leaves the hair noticeably softer and healthier once used.  Just use the treatment 2 to 3 times a week when wrapping your hair before bed and see the results. This is one of our best sellers, and our girls at the salon love this product because it promotes strong, healthy hair, puts shedding at bay and is so easy to use, you simply wrap and sleep! It’s as easy as that!

And finally we have our ‘Super Treat’ which is our very own Silk Trends Gift Vouchers starting from £10 upwards.

If that special lady in your life has always wanted a Brazilian Blowout (Brazilian Keratin Hair Treatment) and has never had the spare cash to get it done, if mum deserves a special treat by just getting a treatment and cut, if your best friend has always wanted to start rocking a weave or braids for the new year, or you just want to treat your own good self then why not splash out on some Silk Trends vouchers? What could be better than waking up Christmas morning to a pretty card and the gift of beautiful hair? These vouchers are valid on any service in salon which includes weaving, braiding, treatments, relaxers and more.

HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO TREAT YOURSELF FOR FREE, WHILE TREATING YOUR LOVED ONES – ONE DAY ONLY – Friday 23rd December 2011
Fancy treating yourself for FREE, while Christmas Shopping for your friends/loved ones? Well this week you’ll have to chance to do just that. That’s right, for ONE DAY ONLY… buy a £50 Christmas gift voucher for a friend/loved one, and get a £30 bonus gift voucher ABSOLUTELY FREE.

Click here to check out the details for more information

So there we go people, 3 fantastic gift ideas for this Christmas. Why not pick yours up today at Silk Trends!

Whether it’s a cut, style, colour or hair treatment you are looking for, Silk Trends have a team of qualified and experienced hairdressers to fulfill your needs.

All of our hairdressing team are trained to the very highest standard, and take great pride in there work. Our team enjoys ongoing training at all levels to keep up to date with all the latest trends and techniques, which is reflected in our new tiered pricing structure, so there is a price for all budgets.

Please feel free to browse our new price list to help you select the best service for you with one of our Styling Team members or our Creative Director.

Silk Trends was visited and objectively assessed by professionally trained inspector against a set of strict criteria and minimum standards, and we were awarded a 4 Star rating for our salon :-). A 4 Star rating means that a salon has high standards with the latest techniques, excellent value for money.This gives consumers confidence in choosing a hair salon.

Now, this is a very prestigious honor because we are the only Afro & European hair salon in Chingford to have a Good Salon Guide rating, let alone a 4 Star rating.

It’s been a long time coming, but Silk Trends has made it and speaking on behalf of myself and all the staff here I can honestly say that we couldn’t be prouder. Not only of Silk Trends itself but also of our managers Ingrid and Dionne who have worked extremely hard to accomplish this achievement.

Being awarded a 4 Star rating will ensure we continue to work hard to keep our standards and customer service at a high level, and provide all you need to keep your hair in tip top condition. We’d like to thank all our clients for their support in achieving this.

Make sure you come down and check out our 4 Star salon soon. Remember, sign up as a Silk Trends V.I.P. member and get a £10 voucher instantly to use at your first visit

This week we’re talking about hair products, and I want to tell to you all about two amazing new Mizani hair products for mixed raced hair, afro hair and curly hair that recently arrived at Silk Trends (yes, the creme de’ la creme of hair products). 

The first up is the Mizani Supreme Oil which is an amazing multi-use product. Now, I’ve been reading all the reviews online about this bottle of genius, as well as talking to our clientele, and I have to say I’m impressed by all the rave reviews that I’ve heard about this product.

If you want a product that promotes slick, shiny hair then this product is the one for you!  This is a fantastic product if you suffer from dry, brittle, thick or course unmanageable tresses. 

This will leave your hair feeling light and non greasy with no fuss. This little piece of genius contains no silicone or minerals which means that there is nothing false going into those beautiful locks of yours. 

Made with 8, Yes 8!, all natural oils including sesame, jojoba, avocado, apricot, olive fruit, sunflower and argan , so you know that you’re getting that natural goodness.  Light enough to use on all hair types and all you need is a few drops before drying A little goes a long way and as a result you will not be sorry for letting this little bottle take up room in your bathroom cupboard.

If you want luxuriousness hair that feels nourished and moisturized without the over moisturized greasy feel then Mizani Supreme Oil is the product that you’ve been looking for. Think it sounds too good to be true? Well, let me tell you it’s not. And with a £20 price tag it’s a tiny price to pay for great looking tresses, and a hair product that lasts a long time.

Now moving on to the Mizani Iron Curl which I see our stylists using frequently in and around the salon. Now you can have that salon finish at home. Our salon director Ingrid swear by this product. So if you want a product that leaves your hair shiny, with hold, yet is manageable then this is for you. Iron Curl is the latest innovation from Mizani and it does exactly what it says on the pack.  

A product that works like a gel and a wax, curls the hair and keeps the hair in place without the greasy mess. I strongly urge you all to try Mizani Iron Curl.

Look out for more product reviews in my next post. Why not sign up as a Silk Trends V.I.P. member and you will be the first to hear about all our exclusive offers, new products and the latest salon news

5 GREAT REASONS TO BECOME A SILK TRENDS V.I.P. MEMBER:

1. You receive a FREE £10 voucher to use at our award winning salon with the next 2 weeks

2. You gain auto entry into all our competitions

3. You get exclusive invites to open nights and events at the salon

4. You are the first to receive our offers

5. You receive our monthly newsletter packed with salon news and special deals

Sign up now on our website www.silktrends.co.uk

So what’s all the fuss about the Brazilian Keratin Treatment. Well I found the background on this service fascinating because as the name states it did in fact originate in Brazil. It is amazing how far afield technology and hair care has come through the years. 

Gone are the days when you had to wait for any type of relaxer or bleach to grow out of your hair, because this Brazilian Keratin Treatment works on any type of hair; afro hair, european hair, mixed race hair, even hair that’s been previously coloured and previously chemically straightened, and is a fast and effective way to keep those silky tresses looking sleek, frizz free and in good condition for longer.

For those of you that don’t know how this hi-tech system works, Brazilian Keratin Treatment works to repair the damage done to your hair due to chemicals, heat and combing.  The Brazilian Keratin treatment provides the hair with the proteins lost, and as a result you get naturally strong and shiny hair as before. The hair is prepared and treated, before it is sealed into the hair’s cuticle with very hot straightening irons, and can last up to four months. This means ladies (and gentlemen) that all unruly curls and frizz are banished to the back of the cupboard, leaving you with beautiful and manageable locks with no fuss. 

Silk Trends has been offering Brazilian Keratin Treatment for over a year and our ladies are great at what they do. I was lucky enough to observe the Brazilian Keratin Treatment being preformed on our very own salon director Ingrid Farrell and I have to say the results are more than impressive. This was the first time I have ever seen the treatment being performed, and I thought it was going to be a long and drawn out process. But rest assured the service only takes between two to four hours, depending on the length and thickness of the hair. Not only did Ingrid get beautiful locks as an end result but she was also able to color her hair as well thanks to the Keratin acting as a protective barrier on the hair. So, our very own Ingrid is living proof that you guys can have what all the celebrities like Nicole Richie and Lindsey Lohan are going nuts over.

It just goes to show how far technology has advanced. Now it doesn’t matter if you have Afro hair, European hair or Mixed Race hair, because now you can have it all!

Here’s some of the proof of what I’m talking about. The before and after on Afro hair, and Mixed Race hair.

 
Here at Silk Trends we are more than aware of the horror stories in the media about the risks of the Brazilian Keratin Treatment, but I can put your mind at ease as Silk Trends uses formaldehyde free products (such as the very popular KeraStraight system), so there’s no risky business here. In short, we would never put anything on your hair that we wouldn’t want on our own.  

We are so confident that you will love this Brazilian Keratin treatment, and believe in this product so much that we are now running the Brazilian Blow Out Competition! One lucky winner will win a year’s worth of Brazilian Keratin treatments worth £600 and all you have to do is become a Silk Trends fan on our main Silk Trends facebook page by clicking the LIKE button, and then go and sign up here to enter the competition. Remember everyone, you have to be in it to win it, so enter the competition today for a chance to bag this fabulous prize.  Just imagine; a few clicks and you can have gorgeous tresses for the whole year!

Well my darlings, I think that’s about it for today. Remember; keep your eyes peeled for more news and hints and tips from our very own Silk Trends team. 

Keep smiling :-).

We’re celebrating, after months of hard work, the new www.silktrends.co.uk website was finally launched this month. You’ll find up to date information on all our products and services.

The Silk Trends News page www.silktrends.co.uk/news will keep you updated on the latest happenings at Silk Trends, and all our competition launches.

The Silk Trends Blog www.silktrends.co.uk/blog will keep you up to date with all the latest hair and beauty products, before and after makeover shots, plenty of hair tips and tricks, and the hottest hair trends of the moment. We would love to hear anything interesting from our clients. Dionne will be our resident blogging queen, so please email dionne@silktrends.co.uk with your comments, images, or news.