General tips for style and fashion
After a BKT treatment you should use a sodium chloride and sulfate free shampoo.
Sulphate free shampoo
A recommended one is by Elucence, at around £20, pictured inset.
However, it can be purchased for just £7 from this site, the postage and packaging is expensive, so if you can buy several you will get a very good bargin.
Below are links to a variety or resources on Brazilian Keratin Treatment.
Keratin Treatment Treatment FAQs
This covers most questions, including which shampoo, how long does the treatment last, and how much does it cost.
Video showing Brazilian Keratin formaldehyde free treatment
This video shows hair being treated, with BKT, in North London.
CBS news article on BKT
Below is a more detailed article on the straightening treatment.
Having spent years with naturally curly hair, I decided that this summer, I would have straight hair. It was a choice driven by the fact that I am incredibly busy with work and having my hair straight is simply easier to manage. I’ve had my hair blown dried straight many times for special occasions, but in the UK, it’s just a bit frivolous, as it normally only lasts a few days. Any rain or humidity and my hair is ruined in a mass of dry frizz.
I continued to keep a sharp eye on the options available, regularly reading about the Yuko or X-tenso systems and recently noticed the rise of something called Brazilian keratin straightening also known as “escova progressiva”. It allegedly puts your hair in better condition than before and wears out over a period of three months. Even better you can use it with coloured hair. Bingo, this is what I needed, is actually good for my hair and no life time commitment like Yuko. I really do like having curly hair, so something like Yuko was never a consideration for me.
The next problem was the deluge of frightening articles on the product being carcinogenic. This is because it contains formaldehyde, a dangerous chemical in strong doses (lets not forget it’s in nail varnish). In independent tests, Allure magazines October 2007 issue discovered that US salons were using products up to 10 times over the recommended levels. Time Out New York also reported on their concerns, titling their research ‘Scared straight‘.
Having waded through, I eventually discovered one salon, yes one, that did a formaldehyde free version in the London area. The Joshua Altback salon in St Johns Wood, do provide this service, but it was a pain to go into town for just a consultation and then booking the time for the treatment was proving problematic. An elusive reference to a salon in Surrey through some forums, meant after much searching I discovered Mickael and Ludovik in Warlingham Surrey. The website certainly looked stylish and they were very helpful on the telephone. One week later and I was walking in to have my test. Mickael took a sample of my hair, talked me through the treatment and answered my numerous questions. So far, so good. I dutifully went to get my hair coloured from my usual salon (they couldn’t fit me in at the time in M&L) and I returned on the 12th of July.
On the day, I arrived at 2pm and was quickly whisked to the sinks to have my hair shampood (in a special soap) which was left on for 10 minutes. Now this is no ordinary salon, M&L is beautiful, with stylish decor and a backwash like no other. The lights are low, each sink is separated by a curtain, there is a water feature to look at whilst lying in the sink plus, they play lovely ambient music (think chilled Ibiza rather than tinkly lift). I visibly relaxed (I was irritated having arrived late to the appointment), and really appreciated the quiet for ten minutes. Completely different to lots of salons where they wash your hair in the bright lights and you have to pull your top down just in case you’re showing flesh. Not to mention the teenagers that ask you monotonously if you’re going anywhere ‘nice’, then having dispensed with the formalities continuing their discussion with their friend next to them. Sigh, I wish salons would give their juniors better customer service training.
Next I had the chemicals combed through, my hair was rough dried with a hairdryer and then blow dried straight in small sections. During this process my eyes did start to sting, and I eventually had to go outside for a minute, despite the fan being pointed at both myself and Mikael throughout. When the blow dry was finished, my hair was then ’sealed’ with straightening irons, again in small sections. The whole thing took 3 and a half hours, but I have to say it was actually enjoyable. The salon was really laid back, Mickael was lovely company, and we had moments of great conversation and companionable silence . The whole process cost £200, plus the sulfate-free shampoo I needed to purchase for £20. I also had an additional cut just to neaten the ends and make my hair fall right when straight, total cost was £248, plus the tip for Mickaels hard work.
These are the recommended guidelines which I dutifully followed. Mickael said I could wash my hair after three days, but I waited for four, following the guidelines I had pulled of the internet below;
Things You Can Do The First 4 Days. Initially there are some precautionary steps to take to ensure the best straightening possible.
Things Not To Do For The First 4 Days
My hair looked great when it was finished. The problem was on days two, three and four when it just looked lank and lifeless. You can’t resuscitate this by tieing it back either, and it was really hard not to tuck it behind my ears. I actually looked like ‘Violet’ from Pixars ‘The Incredibles’.
Do not have this done if you are wanting to impress anyone for the four days after. Be warned.
I also coloured it again as it was too light, using just a chemist bought slowly fading dye. My curly hair always has products in it and when straight, the colour was too washed out for my skin tone.
The condition of my hair was great though, I have to say that the shampoo I bought at M&L not only smelt beautiful but left my hair really soft.
Now it is fair to say that I had visions of my hair looking like it does when it is blow dried, once washed. I had read and had been told, I would only need to wash and go, the treatment is that good, gradually getting curlier as the three months went by. So, on the afternoon of day four I washed my hair, sprayed it with some leave in conditioner and went off to a networking meeting with slightly damp hair.
OH MY GOD. It dried like straight frizz and it was incredibly embarrassing to have such bad hair when promoting a image consultancy business. I also didn’t take anything to tie it back with, wanting to rock my loose hair with a summery maxi dress. Not clever.
The reality a month on is that I now have slightly less curly hair which is a bit shinier. This is not bad at all, it means my hair is longer, doesn’t get frizzy as quickly and when I blow dry it properly (by I, I mean at a hair salon of course!) it lasts a whole week, on the proviso it doesn’t get wet. I didn’t hanker after poker straight locks, but have always wanted a slightly looser curl, trying perms with varying degrees of success to achieve this. The before and after photographs are impressive, but these are taken after blow drying and using ceramic irons. My hair looks like that before the treatment after a blow dry and ironing. I will get this done again in three months and am told that it gets straighter the more you do it. For me it has simply reduced my drying time, which has been a real bonus when time limited.
Overall I would recommend this treatment if you are looking for a looser curl. Make sure that you colour your hair darker than usual and be prepared to have to do some work to make it look good. More than anything though I would recommend the M&L salon, which has proven to be an absolute find. The service was great, the surroundings beautiful and the experience was really enjoyable.
Brazilian hair straightening is a method of straightening hair, temporarily.
It has several names including:
It uses a solution of Keratin to seal the hair and hold it flat. Normally it lasts around 10 weeks, after which time it will need treating again.
Its not cheap, at around £200 to £500, with only a few salons in London who provide this treatment.
We may be entering a credit crunch, but personal shopping services are booming in popularity. As customers are becoming more cost conscious, they are increasingly employing the services of a personal shopper to ensure those precious pounds are well spent. Customers are searching for clothes that fit in with their existing wardrobe and making sure that what they purchase will not only go the distance but, are good value on a cost-per-wear basis. Add to this the tantalising offer of a personal stylist to whisk you round the shop for free, and thousands of customers are signing up to the ‘in-house’ services across the country. 
Sounds great until you start to realise the actual cost of that free service. What if the person ‘advising’ you had no additional training than anyone else on the shop floor? What if that person worked on commission, gaining a higher paycheck for greater sales? Suddenly the flattering service they so tantalisingly offer, with the separate changing room, massive mirror and rack of specially chosen clothes (never from the sale section), isn’t quite so seductive.
For qualified and experienced style consultants across the country, it’s been an interesting dilemma, most of us have continued to work steadily, as the quality of the work speaks for itself. Some customers will always go for a free service, much like some people will always chose the cheapest builder. However, they rarely factor in the additional cost of having the work re-done.
The huge changing room to yourself in a brilliant weapon in the psychology of sales. Everyone looks smaller in a large room (most customers want to look slimmer), you then have a rack of clothes chosen ‘especially for you’, cue the British politeness of being obliged to agree with the sales person, as they have made the effort. The rooms are often white, making the clothes ‘pop’ out and appear more attractive. Then, add an enthusiastic ‘expert’ telling you how wonderful you look and it’s no surprise that most customers leave with bags full of shopping and an significantly lighter purse.
So, how do you let the the new customers know that you do get what you pay for and that the service we offer is actually better?
Customers are seeking advice because they don’t know what suits them. Many of my clients have been stuck in a rut and really have lost the ability to see themselves in a new light. Makeover shows work on the ‘wow’ factor where people undergo huge transformations but, it doesn’t always have to be such an ‘extreme makeover’ to create a massive impact. You can look 10lbs slimmer in the right clothes, surgery is not mandatory to looking better!
For the private style consultants, this just makes our job slightly easier, customers are increasingly saying they saw someone for free, but just didn’t feel they came away looking better. Many pulled out the clothes at home and didn’t get the desired reaction from partners, family and friends.
It might take customers slightly longer than before, as they go on the bargain detour, but quality will always win out.
The real value is always in qualified, experienced and perhaps most importantly independent advice.
For personal shopping services contact Chameleon Fridays.
Here are some practical tips for getting the best look for your special day;
The latest development in the war against body hair is a home laser device starting to make headlines in the UK.
Hair growth on both the face and body is a continuous cycle that occurs in three phases:
1. Anagen
This is the growing, or the ‘on’ phase. (4-7 months)
2. Catagen
It is the transitional or regressive phase. Essentially, it is when the hair stops growing. During this period, the hair follicle shrinks and part of it starts to die. (3-4 weeks)
3. Telogen
This is the final resting stage, or ‘off’ phase. When the old hair is in this phase, the hair follicle becomes active again and a new hair in the anagen phase develops, forcing the old telogen hair out. (up to 9 months)
Unfortunately not all hairs will be in the same growth cycle at the same time. This is why traditionally laser hair removal can be so expensive, as every time you go, it your hair is not in the anagen phase, it simply wont work. Add to this the fact that without the use of a specialised laboratory, no one can tell when this phase is happening, you could literally be lasering for years.
Enter the Tria, stage left. This laser for home use aims to bridge that gap, scientifically proven (whatever that
Tria
means, yes lasers remove hair, IF used at the anagen phase), compact, cordless and apparently easy to use.It works exactly like salon lasers but isn’t as powerful, so you don’t need protective eyewear for example. So is it any good? I’ve not managed to find many reviews or testimonials that aren’t on the company website, the most realistic I’ve read is this one, but again, it is only two people. “Chameleon Fridays is not responsible for the content of external sites (ahem)”;
It’s been around 4 months since I started using the Tria, and in that time I’ve used it around six times. I noticed a major reduction after my first session and then it slowed down. It’s not so much permanent hair removal as permanent hair reduction. In layman’s terms this means I now need to shave every five days rather than every two days and the regrowth is finer and lighter than it used to be. I still have 2 months to go, so I’m hoping that the hair will get less and less. It does take quite a while for the Tria to charge, and one charge normally equals one leg rather than two, which is a little annoying. Half a leg takes around 40 minutes, which isn’t so terrible when you’re in front of the TV. You do need to use the Tria approx 8 times on your legs, but not at the same time! each session (2-3 weeks apart) you would use it on your legs, and considering the long term gain (hair-loss) it’s a pretty good deal. Full article
Pros: If you keep using it, hair removal can be permanent. Also slows down regrowth for hair not yet removed. You can use it alongside your current choice of hair remover until the day it finally works.
Cons: Are you ready???
DO NOT USE TRIA around eyes, eyelids, eyelashes, bony orbit of the eye, forehead, temples, cheekbones, nostrils or between the eyes or eyebrows.
DO NOT USE TRIA on darker skin tones (medium brown, dark brown, or black skin). Darker skin tones absorb too much laser light, which can cause serious skin injury including blisters, burns, scars, and skin color changes. This includes lighter skinned individuals who have recently tanned or used a self-tanner on their skin.
DO NOT USE TRIA if you are of African, East Indian, Native American, or Pacific Island descent. These skin types absorb too much laser light, which can cause serious skin injury.
DO NOT USE TRIA if you rarely or never sunburn after prolonged sun exposure. These skin types absorb too much laser light, which can cause serious skin injury.
DO NOT USE TRIA if you have an active skin disease, sunburn, peeling skin, open sores, a skin rash, active lesions from psoriasis or other skin diseases, a prior history of skin cancer, or are taking medications that may cause your skin to be sensitive to light.
TRIA DOES NOT WORK on naturally white, grey, blond, or red facial or body hair. These hair colors are too light for TRIA to be effective. Source Tria website
Costs From: £795
Available from Amazon
As the weather warms up and there is more flesh on show, women want their legs to look their best. Sadly there is no short cut for the ultimate shapley leg. It often comes down to great genes and regular exercise. However, its not all about shape, the colour, texture, and tone of the skin can make a huge difference, to their appearance.
Bare legs are most womens prime concern as the temperature soars, below are some top tips on how to make your legs look their best for Summer 2008:
Here are four alternatives to going with bare legs:
For tips on hair removal see this post
Waxing, shaving, laser, creams and electric epilation, are all different ways of removing hair in a variety of painful and painless methods. All promise legs that would make Elle McPherson cover up, and while unlikely, some are more effective than others:
Waxing: Perhaps the most well known and most painful form of hair removal. Despite the adverts, everyone knows this hurts. You can choose to do this at home, but if you prefer, you can pay for somebody else to hurt you. The process removes (This means rip, hence the pain) the hair from the root, so the regrowth takes as long as your hair folicles take to produce new ones.
Pros: Its effective, its lasts, and the legs normally have a very smooth finish. The hair growth feels softer to the touch and appears finer as the individual hairs are growing from scratch, therefore having a pointed tip. Rumour has it that sugaring is slightly less painful than waxing, but popular opinion is divided. To be fair, how can ripping a hair out of a folicle be less painful? The jury is still out.
Cons: Can be expensive if you pay a professional to make it slightly less painful. Some people can get ingrowing hair as the new growth gets trapped under some dead skin (regular exfoliation helps). The hair needs to be at least 5cm long to remove. So despite being hair free for longer, there is a period of time where you have to have hairy legs. Catch 22.
Costs: Home Kits from £6, professional from £10 for a half +.
Shaving: This is, without doubt, the most marketed form of leg hair removal, with Gillette and their “Venus” range advertised heavily in most media formats. If this option is to be taken, it is crucial to use both a good razor and base product like a shaving foam, gel or oil. It will depend on your skin type, but one of the most popular products is the King of Shaves oil. A range which now has a female friendly pink tube (ahem). While Gillette push their Venus range, the male range, in particular the Gillette Mach 3 Turbo, is often the same if not superior, for a slightly lower cost.
Pros: Pain free if you don’t cut yourself. One of the cheapest options. Quick and convienient, can be done in the privacy of yoor home.
Cons: Regrowth is quick, as you are only taking away the top part of he hair. Legs feel stubbly when hair grows through as the folicle has a flat end from where it has been chopped.
Costs: You can purchase a pack of disposable razors for £1, however to ensure a better finish and less risk of nicks/cuts premium razors start at £5 and go up.
Laser: Leg laser hair removal is becoming a more popular and effective option for removing hair on the legs. It works by destroying the hair and cuticle permenantly. However, as the hair folicle can only be destroyed at a certain stage of development, you will need to go for several sessions. Lasers produce a high-intensity ray of pure light which gives off heat energy. This energy is absorbed by different body tissues, depending on the colour of the laser beam. That’s why laser light can pass safely through the skin, and destroy targeted cells under the surface without harming surrounding areas. For hair removal, the heat energy damages the cells at the root of the hair, thus preventing further growth. As the legs have a relatively large surface area, laser hair removal on a leg can take from a hour upwards during each session. However if you want lasting hair removal may need 3 to 5 treatment sessions. The price per session can very widely depending on the patient’s hair thickness, density, and surface area. The area of the country you live in also may affect the price you pay.
Pros: If you have all of the the required treatments, hair removal can be permenant.
Cons: It’s painful, it is very expensive, each ‘treatment’ takes a long time. It probably won’t remove all hair permanently, but should reduce growth significantly, and any regrowth is likely to be paler and weaker. Lasers are targeted at pigmented tissue, so they don’t work on white, grey or platinum blonde hair. Most people have to return every 6 months for maintenance.
Costs: £400 for a whole leg upwards. You can also try the home use units now available.
Creams: A depilatory is a cream, liquid or foam that removes hair from the skin’s surface. They work by reacting with the protein structure of the hair, so the hair dissolves and can be washed or wiped away. Generally they take from three to ten minutes ‘developing’ time and come in a variety of types for individual skins, such as sensitive. Hair regrowth is slower than with shaving, but not as long as waxing, approx 4 days.
Pros: Easily available like razors, quick and can be done in the privacy of your own home.
Cons: Applying depilatories can be messy and many people dislike the odor. If you have sensitive skin, you might have an allergic reaction to the chemicals in the depilatory, which may cause a rash or inflammation. Depilatories may not be as effective on people with coarse hair.
Costs: From £3 for a tube.
Electric epilation: Electric epilators have rotating heads that grasp the hairs and pull them from the follicle. This method is slower than waxing, as it can’t pull many hairs at the same time. Regrowth is the same as with waxing although takes significantly longer to actually perform. Most epilators are also very loud a the motors turn, making your hair removing very obvious!
Pros: Convienient, it can be done in the privacy of your own home. No repeat purchase so very cost effective over a long period.
Cons: Painful and slow. Most have to be plugged into the mains, so will need charging or you’ll have to be next to a plug whilst using it.
Costs: from £40 upwards.
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