For all of you that would love nothing more then to have beautiful nails, don’t panic help is at hand we have what you need!!

If you like to have a good old nibble, try to stop yourself, it will probably take all your will power but it will be well worth your while. Imagine having nice nails and being able to wear nail polish. It wont be easy and wont happen over night but we have some products that will help.

Jessica-Nibble No more

Stop nail biter, A unique treatment that not only helps stop the unattractive habit of nail biting but will also stimulate growth of healthy,growing nails. Nibble no more uses special cactus extracts,which gives it a sour,undesirable taste providing the nails with a chance to grow strong and naturally.

Jessica- Recovery-Base-coat for brittle nails.

Restores suppleness and alleviates breaking with a uniquely moisturizing protein- Water complex while calcium infuses flexibility.

Jessica-life Jacket

Protects active nails-Cushions nails with invisible fibre to protect them from breaking, making them stronger.

Jessica- Rejuvenation

Base-coat for dry nails-Adda needed moisture with a complex of protein and water, while jojoba and vitamin E heal and condition.

Theres are four products to help get your nails back in shape. Please bear with it, It will be well worth while.

Well i hope you all enjoyed your Christmas and new year. With celebrations over and the  indulging in eating,drinking  comes to a stop and with every  good intentions for the year 2010.

Many of us when the clock strikes 12.00 o’clock on 2010 made or was intending to make a new years resolutions. The trick to your new resolutions is not to set your goal to high, do something realistic otherwise you wont succeed and of course don’t give up keep going!

We have come up with 1 simple resolution for you that is easy and simple to try and follow.

Simple Resolutions

2010 is the year to look after yourself! See simple.

So after the festive season we can all be a bit stressed so now is the time to De-stress yourself. We have a roll on remedy called De-stress by Tisserand, it helps you feel less stressed and restore peace of mind,ideal for frazzled moments when carm is needed.

Another great product is Clarins- Hydra-quench cream, great for the colder months, its great lightweight, immediately absorbed cream for normal to dry skin, what ever the variation in daytime temperature. So just spend a little more time on yourself to refresh your new year.

I don’t know about you but this very special day on the calender always seems to take me by surprise! I’m never ready for it and never quite sure what to get. I mean, how many new kettles can you buy a woman? 

If you’re the same as me why not treat the best mum in the world (yours!) to something very special, something she may not usually splash out on like a Mason Pearson Hairbrush or how about plethora of products from Clarins.

You could shower her with bath products for the ultimate in relaxation. Why not try the Eau Dynamisante range from Clarins.The Foaming Body Exfoliator, Shower Gel and Moisturizing Body Lotion would be a welcome treat to any mum who likes to  relax.

If you’re feeling brave you could branch out into skin care and treat your wonderful mum to a new some new beauty products. Maybe a new face cream (please only do this if you know that your mum won’t be offended if you buy her anti ageing face cream. If you’re not sure then you could have the exact opposite effect and I’m very sorry but I can’t be held accountable for your mothers actions!!!). If you’re not sure about her skin type then a good tip is to try and check out what she’s currently using.

If this all feels a little too adventurous then sit back, take a breath and look at our ranges of hair care. We have Paul Mitchell, Kerastase, Tigi, Redken and Aveda all on offer. Check out the links and decide for yourself!! Good luck and a Very Happy Mothers Day to all you yummy mummies out there xxx

Mason and Pearson were first brought out in the 1860’s in London’s East End! All the brushes are hand made, the product design used nowadays are similar to the original 1885 model with the improvements of the fully developed models of the early 1920’s. But the basic model has never changed and even some of the names are still the same.

What sets Mason & Pearson apart from the rest of the normal products are, its unique rubber cushion pad, made by hand, the cellulose plastic handled-polished and any sharp edges are removed to make the hairbrush more comfortable to hold. This handle was developed from the original wooden design that they continue to make in small quantities. They build their product to last for as long as possible, they use the best materials available to them. So good general care of the product will prolong its life.

Here are some good maintenance tips to help keep your Mason & Pearson in good shape.

- You should not leave you Mason & Pearson brush continuously in strong sunlight during a large part of its life. The ultra-violet light cam perish the rubber and the heat can distort the handle.

- Do not use oils or spirits on your hairbrush. These can destroy the rubber. Oil-Based preparations used on the hair can do the same if allowed to accumulate.

- Cleaning: The pad and bristle need to be cleaned periodically. For the best result possible use the cleaning brush, which comes with all the larger models. For the other models you could always use a narrow toothbrush.

- Dry-clean your brush frequently. The dead hairs and scales can clog the pad and the bristles of your hairbrush.

You should never dry the bristles with a towel!

I hope these cleaning tips help prolong your brushes life. Now you can see why Mason & Pearson brushes are one of are best sellers.

I’m getting married soon and I need a sophisticated style to suit my mid-length hair and long face. What do you suggest for an elegant look on an older bride?

We would suggest maybe wearing your hair down, as an up-do could emphasise the features of a long face. To balance your features, I recommend wearing a style that has some width at the sides. Start by blow drying your hair and set onto velcro rollers for a volumous, full bodied look. To add some glitz, take a decorative comb or flowers and sweep the hair away from your face at the sides. This will help to create width and give you a gorgeous bridal style.

I’d like to dye my mousy brown hair but I’m not sure which colour would suit my dark features best?

Often with dark features, you can go either way with your colour,If you decide to go blonde then I would be guided by the golden tones of Latina beauties like Jennifer Lopez or Jessica Alba. If you are thinking of brunette shades then I would look at celebs with a similar skin tone to yourself. Celebrity trends are a great way to see what’s hot and what’s not as they’re always at the forefront of hair fashion.

I have long,thick curly hair like Leona Lewis. How can I get her gorgeous and defined curls?

There is no reason why you would not be able to have her gorgeous hair,you just need to know how to manage your hair type. It will take practise, so practise on an evening when your staying in, because if it goes wrong you have nothing to worry about. You can start by using a moisturising shampoo and conditioner, we would re command Paul Mitchell Super Strong System. Then gently towel-dry your hair and apply a smoothing styling product again we would recommend Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum. When  use a large round brush, once smoothed section by section,wrap your hair in big velcro rollers. Once set take the rollers out and brush through, letting it fall back into lovely curls. The secret to this style is the preparation ands if done well the style will last. So really is worth the effort.

I’ve heard crimping is back, but I’m worried that it will be damaging to my coloured locks?

Yes crimping can be damaging as your applying the heat directly to the hair. I suggest only using your crimpers for special occasions, make sure you use heat protection, like the GHD Thermal Protection spray. This will help to keep your hair hydrated and full of shine. Why not treat your hair to a treatment the Paul Mitchell Super Charge conditioner is great for adding moisture if your worried about damaging your hair.

I have a itchy scalp which is scaly at the front. I’ve tried sulphate – free shampoo’s but they ’ seem to help?

It sounds as though you have a form of scalp flaking either psoriasis capitis or borderline seborrhoeic dermatitis. They are both relatively easy to clear up but sulphate free shampoo wont do this. Try using itchy scalp  shampoos which will help to condition. If the flakes are very resistant try a stronger treatment.

Quick Hair Tip

Never start by brushing wet hair from the scalp. Use a wide-toothed comb and gently detangle by starting at the ends and working your way up!!!!

Last month, Louis, along with the other apprentices, took part in our Junior Stylist of the Year competition so we thought we’d find out how he got on…

Hi Louis. So how did you feel when you found out about the Junior Stylist Competition?
I felt a little bit apprehensive at first as I did not know what to expect! I asked some of my colleagues what it was all about and consequently realised it was going to be a lot of fun!

What look did you decide to create for your model?
After a lot of consideration I eventually went for a punk rocker! I wanted to do something modern and 80s styling is making a big comeback at the moment so thought this would be cool. I created a big back combed quiff and generally made her hair big and funky.

How long did it take you to perfect the look?
We practiced regularly for a couple of months – from as soon as I found out about the competition right up to the day itself. I knew how I wanted the hair to work fairly quickly but I kept adding to it and tweaking it along the way, trying to push the boundaries to create something really original.

What props did you use to enhance the look?
As my theme was “funky punky” I wanted to think outside the box. In the end I borrowed a chopper bicycle and had my model pose sitting on it. It was great! No one else used such a big prop so she really stood out – plus Richard John decided to ride it around the circle of models during the interval which was really funny!

Were you nervous at all?
Yes! Although the build-up was more nerve wracking than the event itself! We had to finish off our models’ hair for half an hour in front of an audience of family, friends and colleagues which seemed really intimidating at the time but to be honest I just put my head down and got on with it – it was fine!

How did you do?
Well unfortunately I didn’t win a prize but there was a lot of great competition and I really enjoyed myself so it doesn’t matter.

So, looking forward to doing it all again next year?
Now I know what to expect, I think i will enjoy it a lot more. And I will probably start planning for it a lot earlier!

Well done to Louis and all the other junior stylists again for such a great competition. If you’re in your last year of school and interested in applying for an apprenticeship why not get in touch for an informal chat? Telephone us on 01903 230375.

Now check out the photos of Louis and his model below (oh and Richard riding the bike!):

What’s your name?
Louis Parsons

How old are you?
16 Years Old

When did you start at the Richard John Academy?
I started working for Richard John in January 2008 as a Saturday Assistant in the main salon and then I joined the Academy full time as a Trainee Student in July 2008.

What have you learned so far?
So far I have learned colouring, setting, hair-up and cutting and styling. It’s a really fast-paced and hands-on course so you learn a lot really quickly.

Are you enjoying it?
I am really enjoying it! I love hairdressing and could not see myself doing anything else. The best bit for me is cutting and styling someones hair and making them feel great about themselves. I got a lot of stick from my friends to start with but hairdressing itself makes up for it. I’m really excited about gaining my qualification at the end of my 2 years.

What’s The Team Like?
At the Academy I’m lucky and get to work with lots of different people. They are all really nice and we all pull together brilliantly as a team. This place really feels like my second home!

So what do you do when you’re not Hairdressing then?
I enjoy playing football, going out with my friends and going out  for dinner. Listening to music and playing my guitar are also high on the agenda when I get the time!

Thanks Louis!
We will be following Louis progress throughout his training so keep a look out for more updates! If you would like to ask Louis a question add a comment and we’ll hopefully get you an answer!

If you would like any information about The Richard John Academy and Hairdressing Apprenticeships please do contact us! You can call us on 01903 230375 or email on lisa@rjsalons.co.uk

Covering up to the moment product releases, expert advice and top tips, industry commentary and messages from our salons, we hope you will find our posts informative and enjoyable. So welcome to the shiny new Richard John Hair and Beauty community – we’re here to help you look fantastic and feel fabulous!