A Drastic Change (kind of)

I’ve never understood why people are so precious about their hair. But then again, I don’t have waist-length, glossy auburn curls, so maybe that’s why I can sit down in a hairdresser’s chair and say ‘do what you like’.

Over the past five years I’ve gone from long and naturally blonde to highlighted, bobbed, cropped, pixie cropped, fringed, brunette, red (unintentionally – damn you home dye), brunette again (phew), ombré, approaching shoulder length, curly and moving towards blonde again. My hair, once baby soft and shiny, was looking tired, dry and under stress. So when Leeds salon Russell Eaton asked if I’d like to pop in for a colour, cut and blow dry, I said ‘oh God yes’.

I love changing my hair and experimenting with different looks, and I’m not afraid of coming out looking a bit odd – it all grows back eventually. So when I arrived at the salon, I gave my stylist – the lovely and perfectly-pink-haired Amelia – a general idea of what I wanted but with the prefix ‘I’m not really bothered’. She talked me through every stage of my cut – although I’m growing my hair, she pointed out the slight mullet situation I had going on and suggested we shorten the back and even out the length. I mused over a fringe and she agreed, telling me fringes give fine hair body and volume. And we decided to get rid of the ombré effect altogether, going for subtle highlights and a richer, darker colour. With all that sorted, we (well, she – I just sat there and ate a biscuit) got started!

When I was arranging my appointment at Russell Eaton, I couldn’t picture the salon at all but it’s actually a very prominent building – if you’re a Leeds local, it’s at the bottom of Briggate, on the corner across the road from Nando’s. Inside it’s very calm and relaxed – I often find going to the hairdressers a stressful experience, but I was soon settled with a water and a biscuit (hot drinks are available – I just don’t drink them!) and was given a complimentary head and shoulder massage. At first I was a little apprehensive about this, but it’s so soothing and not at all weird. I promise.

With my highlights in place and a stack of mags to keep me busy, I sat back and relaxed for 35 minutes.  Lovely members of staff kept checking on me as they walked past, and salon owner Rob popped a clip in my foils when he noticed they kept flipping forward into my face. And it wasn’t just me getting the special treatment – there were customers either side of me enjoying the same attentiveness.

This photo is ridiculous.

After a quick wash in a very swanky sink area, I was back in the chair for my cut. Amelia explained the products she was using, all of which were suitable for my hair type – I’ve had my hair cut by so many hairdressers who have no idea what to do with fine hair, which means I leave the salon with an overloaded, limp mop that I just have to wash and style again at home. Not this time though!

When each strand was snipped, Amelia dried my hair and styled it with a very small amount of serum and some hairspray. She’s the first hairdresser in a good few years who hasn’t tried to tip half a bottle of that awful volumising powder onto me, so she gets huge props for creating volume without resorting to what is basically cornflower.

And the result?

Makeup: YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat foundation in Beige Rose | Benefit Boi-ing concealer in 01 | Rimmel Hide the Blemish in Ivory | Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural powder in Medium | Benefit Hervana powder | Topshop Neon Rose cream blusher | Urban Decay Naked eyeshadow in Bootycall | Fashionista Gel Liner in Black | Benefit They’re Real mascara in Black | Shavata brow highlighter | Shavata brow pencil in Dusk | Topshop lipstick in Whimsical
Clothes: Dress, ASOS

I’m so pleased with my new look – the dry, damaged ends are gone, the colour’s more even and flattering and I love the fringe! Thanks, Russell Eaton!

What do you think?

Heads up – I was treated to a complimentary colour, cut and blow dry at Russell Eaton Leeds, but didn’t receive any payment for this post.