Meet Sarah Dunn, vintage hair stylist and owner of Sarah’s Doo-Wop Dos… a hair parlour dedicated to recreating retro looks and styles, based in Bedford.
How long have you been in the vintage business?
I started Sarah’s Doo-Wop Dos two years ago, although styling is something I’ve always had a big passion for – I’ve always been known as the girl with the big, colourful hair!
Which came first – wanting to work in hair, or your love for vintage?
I’ve always loved and worn vintage clothes. I used to wear 1960s mini dresses in my teens after my first shopping trip to Camden in London, and I guess it just grew from there. The hair styling is really just an extension of that, as I love the whole look of each era and like to carry them through to my own hair, as do my clients. There are so many looks to choose from; from the decadence of eras like the 1920s with striking finger waves, the elegant silhouettes of the 1940s with their carefully constructed rolls and curls, to the huge hair and way-out styles of the 1960s. Hair and vintage go very much hand in hand for me.
Do you think vintage styling is on the increase or is still only popular amongst men and women who live the retro/vintage lifestyle?
I do often style for people who live a very vintage lifestyle but also I do a lot of hair for people new to the scene and a lot for people who are attending weddings, parties or who are just experimenting with their look. Vintage styles are a great way to add a classic touch to an outfit and with so many people owning and wearing vintage clothing, it’s a great way to finish off a look.
What’s your favourite vintage hair look and why?
I’m a real 1940s lover, so victory rolls and classic wave sets are a big favourite of mine. I love really glamorous styles and hair in the forties was often very intricate. As women couldn’t get new clothes easily during the war years due to rationing, hair styles became a way to make a statement and therefore the era has some really show-stopping looks.
Do you think all hairdressers could benefit from adding vintage styling to their skillset?
It’s a great service to be able to offer as vintage looks are very popular right now. A rockabilly styled rolled fringe or headscarf updo can be a great edgy way to dress hair and victory rolls and beehives are great looks for parties, proms and weddings. You can go for a full dramatic look or give just a little nod to an era.
What is the best way to start learning about vintage styling?
There are some great modern books out there but if you can, definitely get your hands on original books for accurate setting patterns and some really intricate and inspiring images. For me it’s about researching an era, as it’s something I really enjoy.
Want to recreate Sarah’s fave Victory rolls? Here’s how…
Step by step
First, section the hair into front, sides and back sections and keep in place with sectioning clips. For victory rolls the side sections should be from the front of the head to roughly the back of the ear.
Curl the front/fringe section with hair tongs (use a tong with a small barrel and make sure to spritz hair with heat protecting spray). Pin the now curled section with a grip at the front to keep it separate and leave it to cool. Taking the side sections create a victory roll on each side by rolling the hair up to the hairline and pinning in place with grips; you can curl the hair first with tongs to help it stay in place and backcomb the roots a little for hold. Next, unpin the front/fringe section and sweep it to the side of the face and create a flat curl detail. Keep in place with a hair grip and secure with a blast of hairspray.
Now, focusing on the back of the style, split the rest of the hair into two sections horizontally. Secure the top section out of the way with a sectioning clip and roll the bottom bigger section up into a barrel roll – you might want to lightly back comb this as you go. You can roll it up as one or in several parts but the finish needs to be a smooth and even roll.
Secure the barrel roll with hair grips at the ends and all along the length of the roll to keep it in place and spray with hairspray.
Finally, let down the last section of the hair on the back of the head and carefully fashion it into a row of small flat curls along the length of the barrel roll. Pin each curl with grips being careful to keep them hidden, and finally fix it all in place with hairspray to help the style hold.
The final look...
First published in the Capital Hair & Beauty magazine.
Freelance Focus, is a one stop resource for anyone working as a freelancer or thinking of going freelance in the hair & beauty industry, which includes a FREE downloadable guide filled with advice, useful insights, experiences and tips (from experienced freelancers) to help you understand the steps needed to make the right choices for you.
Introducing Chantelle, a talented beautician, hair extension specialist and proud owner of ‘Chantelle’s Beautique’. We sit down with Chantelle as she tells us how she started out in the industry, her top tips for becoming self-employed, struggles she faced and overcame along the way and her favourite products that she can’t live without!
My treatment room is based in my garden at home and I offer a full range of Hair and Beauty treatments specialising in skin care, brows & hair extensions. My clients love my set up and really appreciate the little touches like being able to park with ease and having more of a cosy experience away from the hustle and bustle of a busy salon. As well as running my own business at home, I also enjoy teaching others on their journey starting out in the trade with my own accredited courses at home as another branch of my business called ‘The Hair and Beauty Training Beautique’. You may also see me in your local Capital Hair & Beauty as I also tutor for one of their training providers ‘Face Forward’ offering brow lamination and lash lift and tint courses.
Sophie gained a wealth of experience working in the industry from her background working in prestigious 5 hotel & spa and salon settings which lead her up to starting a business of her own. We talk about all things beauty and the curved tweezers that she can’t live without!
Hi Sophie, tell us a little bit about your journey and how you go into the industry and what lead up to starting out on your own?
I gained a lot of knowledge from working in different settings from working with a big teams in a 5 star hotels and spas to smaller beauty salon environments. I gained so much knowledge from working in both settings and although it was hard work and long hours.
I started out by working in a few different 5 star hotels with spas and a salons where I gained all my knowledges and experiences from each one to put together for my own business! It was hard work and long hours all the practice paid off. It was actually one of my clients I saw regularly in the salon I worked at that said I should set up on my own and gave me the confidence to go self-employed and I’ve not looked back since!
As professionals in the hairdressing industry, we're well aware of the constant innovation occurring in our field. Our clients love to dramatically alter their look with the ever-changing trends and we do everything we can to prioritise the health of their hair. Bond-building treatments have long been a staple in salons to address this need. However, allow us to present the latest advancement: biomimetic hair science and K18!
Understanding the Future of Haircare: From Bond Builders to Biomimetic Hair Science
For centuries, the haircare industry relied on cosmetic chemistry to conceal damage. Historical solutions like oils and conditioners were designed to sit on the surface of the hair, providing a temporary fix by improving its appearance and manageability. However, these solutions fell short of addressing hair's health at its core.
Learn how to leverage K18 products in your salon services to reverse damage, fortify hair and enhance salon results all whilst boosting your salon profits. Discover our step-by-step instructions for every treatment, from lightening to styling in our handy salon go-to guide!
Following the natural structure of hair, the biologically active peptide is considered natural. Unlike traditional bonding agents, it is not rinsed away by water or shampoo, making K18 a genuine and enduring remedy for damaged hair. Healthy hair originates in the salon, and K18 believes its influence starts at the salon chair and radiates outward. While K18 is suitable for all hair types and services, the most significant improvements are seen in damaged hair.
Have you ever noticed how closely linked your mind and body are? It's like they're always communicating, even when we're not tuned in.
And when stress creeps in, it's not just your mind that feels the burden – your skin and hair can take a hit too. Stress, whether it's a short-term or a long-term problem, can be detrimental to your body's health.
In fact, a recent survey by the UK’s largest independent supplier to hair and beauty professionals, Capital Hair and Beauty, revealed nearly half (42%) of the nation believe that stress has had a negative impact on their skin and hair health!
Last year, Brits faced their fair share of hair and skin woes.Topping the list was the recurring issue of dry skin, affecting a significant 29% of the population. Not too far behind was hair thinning/loss, troubling over a fifth (22%) of us, while acne and breakouts are also a cause for concern, affecting 19% of survey respondents. And let's not forget about skin inflammation (12%) and eczema (11%).
Does the bob ever go out of style? Short answer: No. The reason for the evergreen appeal of the bob is because, depending on the length, it’s a look that can suit any face shape or hair texture. Right now, it can be anything from a short and swingy French girl bob, a luxurious long bob, or a razor-cut curly bob. For Tori Kiff, it’s about keeping things fresh with the addition of a fringe.
“I love updating a classic curly bob with a fringe, especially as so many of my curly clients seem to think it’s a style they shouldn’t have. I’ve managed to show so many clients that it’s all down to fear and that actually, a curly bob is so flattering and easy to style; I advise them to use their fingers to curl their fringes or to use a brush when styling,” shares Tori.
Of course, the most modern way to wear a bob is the Bixie, a hybrid of the bob and pixie; think classic bob updated with a fringe or micro bangs, or you could play with the Butterfly Bob. RUSH Creative Director Andy Heasman’s a fan.
If you ever spend time on social media, then you'll definitely have heard about skin cycling, or skin fasting. During the pandemic, this three-step regime rose to popularity as many of us had more time to spend on pursuing our 'perfect' skin. Read on to find out the what and why of skin cycling and how you can build it into your beauty therapy menu.
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