Softness, Style and Sensuality…the way forwards for your hair

 

Here Nick talks about styling for the growing market of 35 + clients

 

Hair Styling for the mature client.

” A hairstyle is very individual and what suits a person-young or old- depends on their facial shape and the texture of their hair,” says Nick Irwin TIGI Global Creative Director. “All too often women cling to the hairstyle they wore 10, or even 20, years ago and that is the most ageing thing they can do!

The key to looking fantastic is to stay on-trend, but to avoid sharpness and strong shapes that are inclined to be less flattering. Having said that, you can, for example, soften a short hairstyle by leaving the hair at the nape a little longer or having a sweeping fringe. Our cut collections always include short, mid-length, and below the shoulder hairstyles – all of which can work for older clients as well as young ones. We tend to create longer styles with layers and on older clients it’s important to maintain shorter lengths around the face to draw attention to the eyes and cheekbones.

Colour is crucially important. It adds vibrancy and again it’s important not to have a solid colour or to cling to those dull highlights you wore in the 80s!  The colour should work with the cut to bring out the shape and texture. Today’s colours add shine and actually improve the condition of hair, plus they make think hair look thicker – and this is all good on mature clients. Again, ensure clients steer away from the colour they had at 20, but equally don’t go for ash blondes that are just one tone away from grey and do nothing to flatter anyone.

Products too are crucial. So often women moan that their hair looks flat or dull or thin, but if they used the right products to create the perfect texture for their hairstyle plus a shine spray to add lustre and the correct shampoo and conditioner for their hair type, I can guarantee they would not only look better, they would look younger too.

Celebrities like Jane Fonda and Goldie Hawn don’t just look amazing because they’re beautiful and have great bodies – they look fantastic because their hair is always beautiful.

 

My best advice to any women would be to pester their hairdresser to give a really good consultation. The hairdresser should advise what products to use, what colour works with the cut and natural skin colouring, what cut will enhance the person and their facial structure- and they should tell the client how to style their hair at home. If they don’t  do all this then I’d say – find a new hairdresser!” Nick Irwin

“ Not surprisingly. most women worry about their faces looking older – the jawline sagging, eyes wrinkling and either gaining weight so that the face becomes rounder or losing weight on the face so that it looks harsh. So when it comes to styling, softness is the key.  Styling hair with a longish side fringe and ‘dressed’ to enhance the cheekbones brings attention to the eyes and is always flattering.

On longer hair, add some height at the crown, using a volume-enhancing spray, blow-drying with a medium round brush, and loosely tie hair into a knot at the nape, allowing fine tendrils to fall at the sides of the face. A sweeping fringe that falls softly across the forehead will flatter eyes and emphasis the cheek-bones. Spray with a light hairspray that also adds shine to keep the style in place… Pulling the hair back into a tight pony-tail might pull up your forehead, but it isn’t the answer! Again product choice is key. Hair is often drier and therefore duller as you age, so using products that smooth the cuticle, add shine, volume and separation is always good. Use smoothing pastes, shine sprays and serums to make hair look smooth, sleek and totally sexy.”