Fabulous Friday: Michael and the BHA Awards

The British Hairdressing Awards are only a few days and for the 2nd year in a row, Michael was selected as one of the top 6 hairdressers in the Northern Ireland category. The whole team at Michael Quinn Hairdressing thinks both he and his collection are pretty fabulous! He'll be over in London with most of us for the awards on Monday night. Good luck, Michael!

Please enjoy this video of his BHA 2009 collection and be sure to pop over to the salon facebook page or his personal page to send him your support!

Tip of the Week: Strong, Yet Flexible Hold

Do you struggle with getting a strong enough hold that is also flexible or have you had problems with your hairspray causing white flakes? To avoid these problems, use a quality hairspray with flex technology, such as Vavoom Shapemaker by Matrix. It is designed to give you a very strong, firm hold, however can be manipulated or brushed through without causing flakes.

If you require control, but prefer a softer feel, a great alternative is Biolage Complete Control, also by Matrix.

This week, get 20% OFF Vavoom Shapemaker or Biolage Complete Control when you mention that you read it on our blog. Special offers are valid for 1 week from the date published on our blog.

Hair Medic Monday - Changing Quickly from Day Hair to Party Hair

We're all so busy during the holiday season, rushing about to get last minute shopping done, dealing with heavier traffic, and having lots of holiday parties to go to. It's no surprise that a common question we get around this time of year is, "I have a party to go to after work, but don't have much time to get ready for it. How do I wear my hair in a way that is appropriate to work, but is easy to change for the evening?"

Michael showed us one simple answer to this question at last week's Diva Soirée. Before you go to work, clip a large section of the front of your hair out of the way and sweep the rest into a ponytail.

Randomly curl the ponytail in 5 or 6 sections. You can use your curling tongs if you like, but Michael has an easy, time-saving way that doesn't require using any tools. (Book in for a Private Masterclass to learn how). Loosely pin the curls, hiding the ponytail.

For the front of your hair, spray it with a quality hair spray, such as Matrix Freezing Spray and sweept it off to the side, then pin in place. This will give you a beautiful, yet sensible upstyle for day wear.

After work, unpin the front of your hair and brush through it, then respray. You can curl it, crimp it, or just leave it straight, but create lots of extra body and height for a funkier, fancier evening upstyle. Again, pin it into place and away you go.

The style in the morning will take you only 10 to 15 minutes and the changeover for the evening can be done in 5 minutes. You really CAN do it!

Fabulous Friday - Diva Soirée

At the Diva Soirée tonight,  we launched our new Private Masterclasses, which are personalised sessions that teach you several ways to do your own hair. With the holidays coming up, these hour long sessions are great value for money at only £60.

To show just how easy it is to learn how to do your own hair for all those parties you'll be going to, Michael demonstrated several very simple upstyles that anyone could do on themselves. After Michael's demonstration, everyone got a chance to speak with our stylists, ask questions and pick up a few free tips. The Diva Soirée was a blast, with drinks, nibbles and plenty of great conversation. If you missed it, but want to be sure you get an invite for the next one, just send us an email to info@michaelquinnhairdressing.co.uk with 'Diva Soirée' in the subject line.

MQH Diva Soirée Door Pize and Special Offers

Our MQH Diva Soirée is a mere 24 hours away, but there is still time to RSVP! We're launching our new Personal Masterclasses and doing FREE demonstrations in our salon from 7 to 9PM tomorrow. We'll have the SPECIAL OFFERS below available plus one lucky diva will WIN a Personal Masterclass as a door prize! You have to attend to win the door prize, but you can take advantage of the offers tomorrow, even if you can't be present. Just give us a ring on 028 9043 4003 and we'll take your order over the phone with a credit or debit card.

MQH Diva Soirée Special Offers
Corioless 3 piece set: Regular Price £74.99     Diva Soirée Offer £64.99
Corioless Neon Dryer:  Regular Price  £64.99     Diva Soirée Offer  £54.99
Corioless C2 Straightener: Regular Price£119.99    Diva Soirée Offer £104.99
Corioless Mini Straightener:  Regular Price£24.99    Diva Soirée Offer £19.99
Hair Goddess Straighteners:  Regular Price£84.99    Diva Soirée Offer £74.99

Bonus Diva Soirée Offer:
10% OFF all other products and services purchased tonight. This offer includes ANY product or service available in our salon. (For services, they do not have to be booked tonight, but must be purchased as a voucher to get the discount. Voucher must be used by end of January. Discount does not apply to services that you have booked prior to Diva Soirée).

Tip of the Week - A few Quid for Christams

OK, so our tip of the week isn't exactly hair related...it's about earning extra cash for your Christmas shopping. We're looking for a part-time receptionist, so our tip if you're looking to pick up a few extra quid each week is to ring Michael Quinn Hairdressing on 028 9043 4003 and tell us your interested in the job! :)

MQH Diva Soirée

Just in time for the holidays...we're launching Private Masterclasses...you can now book personalised sessions that teach you how to style your hair for all those holiday parties you plan to attend! Join us at our next MQH Diva Soirée to learn all about this fabulous new service.

Drop into the salon on Friday, 13 Novemeber between 7 and 9PM for drinks, nibbles, great demonstrations and SPECIAL OFFERS. One lucky attendee will win a Personal Masterclass! We'll need volunteers to do the demonstrations on, so if you would like to get your hair styled for FREE, be sure to let us know.

Space is limited, so if you wish to attend, please RSVP your name and your guest's name (if applicable), as well as a contact phone number via email at info@michaelquinnhairdressing.co.uk or phone 028 9043 4003.

Belfast Fashion Week Finale/Diva Soirée

There will be no Hair Medic Monday feature this week, as we have lots of photos and video to post from Belfast Fashion Week.

This is the finale show that Michael Quinn Hairdressing put on for the last night of Belfast Fashion Week, which happened to be on Halloween night. All of the headpieces were constructed using real hair and were the product of many, many hours of plaiting, wrapping and weaving. We are so grafeful to our very devoted and creative team, who worked like dogs for the last few weeks to put this finale together. We are immensely proud of  the final result. The crowd was going wild and the atmosphere was electric, so it appears everyone's hard work was worth the effort! Turn your speakers up and watch it in the dark if you can...it was wonderfully creepy!

The video was  taken with a camera that has video mode and no tripod and unfortunately, ran out of memory a minute or two too soon! We'll put a better one up when we get the official copy.

By the way, if you were at Fashion Week on Saturday, you should have found an invitation to our next Diva Soirée in your goody bag. It takes place on Friday. 13 November and we'll demonstrating party hair a fabulous new service! Check back soon for more details.

Fabulous Freaky Friday and the MQH Ghost

Christopher Patterson had quite the hair-raising experience when ghostly things began happening in the salon while he was on his own Wednesday night. He was concentrating deeply on prep work for our Fashion Week finale on Saturday night when he heard the till drawer pop open. Though startled, he shut the drawer and was about to go back to work when he noticed that the computer screen was going crazy! The salon software had been shut down at the end of business, yet here it was back on, scrolling up and down and changing days! Clearly, there must be an MQH ghost playing tricks on Christopher.

I was a bit thrown when Christopher phoned me (Jolie) at home and asked "Are you on the computer!? Are you on the computer!?" He sounded rather worked up and repeated himself a few times before I had a chance to answer, "yes". As it turns out, Christopher had just phoned Michael and demanded he come back and join him in the salon. Michael told Christopher I was probably logged onto the salon computer and working from home, but he didn't quite believe him until he verified it with me. He's very devoted, but hanging out with ghosts in the salon is beyond Christopher's limit!

I'm afraid I couldn't resist torturing Christopher and logged back in a short time later to type a message on the computer screen:: "Chris....Chrissssssss....Ooooooohhhhhhhh! It's the MQH ghost and I'm watching you! Boo!" Luckily, he's a great sport and was able to laugh about it the next day....in the daylight....with lots of other staff around!

Tip of the Week: Frizz Control

If you discover that you have any flyaway or frizzy hair after styling or perhaps after being on the go all day, rub a little Matrix Biolage Smoothing Serum between your hands and use your fingertips to gently apply the serum to problem areas. This will get your frizz under control without making yoru hair feel heavy or greasy.

This week, get 20% OFF Matrix Biolage Smoothing Serum when you mention that you read it on our blog. Special offers are valid for 1 week from the date published on our blog.

Hair Medic Monday

Suzanne recently emailed us to ask, "Whenever I get my hair done in the salon, it looks all lovely and smooth, but when I dry it myself it often goes frizzy. Why does this happen and how do I fix the problem?"

There are several reasons that your hair might go frizzy and most of the problems are easily solved. If you aren't currently using a heat protection product, such as Vavoom Gold Heat (available in our salon), you definitely should be! Drying your hair without thermal protection is to the hair cuticle what lifting a hot dish from the oven without protection would be to your hands. Now imagine doing that several times per week! Your hands would sizzle and fry...and that's what happens to your hair too.

Another common mistake is not towel drying your hair well enough before beginning to blow dry. By removing as much excess moisture as possible, you reduce the amount of time you need to apply heat to your hair. You may also be drying your hair on too high of a setting. Try setting your hair dryer to a medium heat and keept it moving to avoid any part of your hair getting too hot. You should hold it at least 6 inches away from your hair, with the nozzle pointing down the cuticle, so you do not aggrevate the hair shaft. Don't overdry your hair either...it only needs to be about 60% dry to hold its style and drying it too much may actually make it harder to style.

If you notice the problems begin a few weeks after your last visit to the hairdresser, the problem could be product build-up. Your hair needs to constantly replenish its moisture, but if you have product build-up, your natural oils will not be able to permeate through to the cuticle layer and your hair will begin to look dry and frizzy. To solve this problem, wash your hair thoroughly with a deep cleansing shampoo, such as Biolage Alternative Action, to remove build-up and follow up with a Biolage Cerra Repair treatment to replenish the moisture in your hair. Ask your stylist which shampoo and conditioner is best for your hair type for regular use.

Your hair will go frizzy if you don't get it cut often enough, so make regular appointments with your hairdresser to keep split ends at bay. The average person should visit about every 6 to 8 weeks, but that can vary depending on how fast your hair grows and how your hair is treated. Someone with coloured hair who uses heat styling tools daily will need their hair cut a little more often than someone who doesn't. You stylist can recommend what is best for you.

To get answers to your hair problems, email your question to hairmedic@michaelquinnhairdressing.co.uk and our salon experts will do our best to answer them here on our blog. If we choose your question, we'll send you a salon voucher for £10! Photos help tremendously when answering questions, so if you book in for a treatment and don't mind us sharing your photos on our blog, we'll also give you a voucher for a FREE power conditioning treatment (£15 value) as a thank you.

Fabulous Friday

Like millions of other people across the globe, several staff here on the MQH team have recently devoured (pardon the pun!) the fabulous Twilight novels by Stephanie Meyer and most of us are anxiously awaiting the release of Twilight New Moon! Even the trailers are explosive and exciting, so hopefully the movie lives up to the hype. While looking for New Moon trailers, we came across a few pretty fabulous spoofs too. Enjoy!

Michael's Weekend Hours

Michael was originally booked out of the salon for this Saturday, 24 October, however, he will be in the salon and available to take appointments afterall. If you were previously looking for an appoinment with him and still wish to get in for this Saturday, give us a ring on 028 9043 4003.

Tip of the Week

Most male pattern baldness is hereditary and unfortunately, there is no cure. Hair loss is usually most noticable along the temples and crown of the head and is caused by an excess of the chemical dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This excess causes the hair follicles to make thinner and thinner hair until growth eventually stops completely.

Besides, heredity, there are a few other less common causes of hair loss, including a fungal infection on the scalp, an under active thyroid, iron deficiency, some medications and stress. These causes are often reversible, so if you begin to lose your hair, it may be worth discussing with your doctor.

If you've been reading our posts recently, you'll know that all hope is not lost if you are going thin and that we do have a simple solution for you. A quick tip to turn a thinning head of hair into a fuller looking head of hair is to use Mane Hair Thickening Spray, which fills the thinning areas in with natural looking micro fibers. This week, get 10% OFF of Mane Hair when you mention that you read it on our blog. Special offers are valid for 1 week from the date published on our blog.

Hair Medic Monday: Male Pattern Baldness

In this week's Hair Medic feature, we will be answering a question about male pattern baldness. Though thinning hair is primarily a male problem, some women can suffer from hair loss as well. Parts of our answer will be helpful to anyone experiencing this problem, so be sure to read on, ladies!

Dear Hair Medic, I'm going a bit thin on top. All the men in my family go bald, so it is kind of a given for me, but I'm just not ready yet. What can I do to hide it?

Our Hair Medic team answer: Let’s face it...”the comb over” has never worked! Go on, admit it, we all think, “You’re not fooling anyone, mate!”, when we see some poor guy caught in a breeze, hair waving high above his head. This just draws more attention to the fact that he is bald. Don’t try hiding balding by adding length either. The longer it is, the skimpier your hair will look. A short cut will make your hair appear thicker.

Instead of trying to hide it, you can embrace your baldness. Can anyone say, Bruce Willis?”...bald can definitely be sexy. Wear your baldness with confidence and nobody will ever give it a second thought.

If you’re really just not ready to be bald yet, you do have a few options. Hair transplants have come a long way, but they come at a hefty price. Do your research and spend the dosh, and a good hair transplant will even fool a seasoned hair professional. Alternatively, you may have recently read our post about Mane Hair Thickening Spray, now available in our salon. It's the more affordable and practical alternative to hair transplants and it really works! Mane is a micro fiber spray that grabs on to the hair that you have and fills it in for a healthy, natural appearance. It's very easy to use and doesn't wash out until you want it to with shampoo and water, so no worries about getting caught in the rain. For more info, stop into the salon and ask for a free consultation.

Fabulous Friday

Michael is heading over to London for Salon International tonight, so we were browsing Youtube for some video of last year's fabulous event. Not only did we find a few of those, but we also stumbled across this video from Destination Fame a few months back, posted by HJI. Our Christopher Patterson was one of the 3 first place winners, but we didn't realize this video even existed! So not only is Salon International fabulous, but HJI and Youtube are ranking pretty high up there as well!

Tip of the Week

By now you've probably read about the new Dream.Age colour by Matrix that we are so in love with. If you haven't, be sure to have a look at our last few posts.

To make the most of your Dream.Age makeover, you'll want to use the companion products for your after care. Matrix has introduced shampoo, conditioner and treatments, which are rejuvenative products specially formulated to keep your hair looking and feeling youthful, with plenty of bounce and shine.

This week, get 10% OFF of all Dream.Age companion products when you get a Dream.Age makeover in our salon. To take advantage of this offer, you must mention that you read it on our blog. Special offers are valid for 1 week from the date published on our blog.

Hair Medic Monday

Pauline's hair was course and dry and had lost its lustre. She wanted to be able to cover her grey and regain her hair's youthful appearance. Michael recommended a Dream.Age makeover by Matrix to infuse moisture and create rich colour that would really pop.

Grey hair can appear at any age and is a result of loss of melanin. This is the pigment that gives your hair and skin its natural colour. With this loss of melanin also comes reduced elasticity and texture changes, often leaving you with wiry, unmanagable hair.

Grey hair is notoriously stubborn and can be quite difficult to colour. This is because the cuticle layer is very  compact, making it difficult for colour to penetrate the hair strand. In the past, this required many tedious steps and didn't guarantee absolute coverage, nor a difference in the feel and managability of the hair. Matrix has solved this problem with Dream.Age, a specially formulated colour that is far easier on the hair than previous methods, plus leaves it looking and feeling soft and bouncy. Michael assisted Pauline in selecting a colour that was both beautiful and natural looking.

Dream.Age is brand new, and while we always expect quality with Matrix, we were still stunned with the transformation in Pauline's tresses. Her hair, which had been dry and a bit dull, appeared obviously soft, supple and shiny, even before her blowdry was complete. The shimmer and lustre was truly impressive!

Click on the photos to get a better look at the transformation in Pauline's hair. The photos are from a camera phone with limited capability and the effect in person was even more dramatic. Pauline loves her new hair and we think the smile says it all!

Fabulous Friday

We are so excited about Mane Hair Thickening Spray and Dream.Age Colour by Matrix, two new salon products that are the answer to rejuvinating your hair and restoring its youthful appearance.

Mane Hair Thickening Spray is for both men and women suffering from hair loss. It gives your hair full, natural look through the use of microfibres that grab on to your hair and fill in patchiness. It's a very quick and cost effective way to address your hair loss woes.

What makes this product even more impressive is that you don't have to worry about it while you work out, play sports, or even swim! It comes in 11 different colours, so it's easy to find one that's perfect for you.

Dream.Age by Matrix is a brand new product that was specifically designed for hair that has lost its youthful appearance. It's an incredible new colour that delivers 100% coverage on grey hair with a truly multi-dimensional finish. It also contains specially formulated conditioners that add moisture and restore softness to hair that has become course and unmanageable.

We received our first stock of this today and gave our first few Dream.Age makeovers to a few clients. Not only were we all thrilled with the colour results, but we were also astounded by the gorgeous lustre and shine! The change from drab, course hair to luscious, multi-tonal and soft, shiny hair was amazing!

Both of these products are fabulous and we are really looking forward to working with them in the salon. We will be covering them in more detail on the blog next week, as well as rolling out some fantastic introductory offers. For more information, ring the salon on 028 9043 4003.

Tip of the Week: Repairing Damaged Hair

While you can't truly repair damaged hair, you can restore moisture and improve its feel and appearance dramatically, as well as improve strength by treating your hair with a moisture rich home treatment, such as Biolage Cera-Repair. Simply replace your regular conditioner once per week with a tube of Cera-Repair to revitalize your tresses and give yourself that healthy 'just walked out of the salon' look.

This week, get 20% OFF of Cera-Repair (while supplies last) when you mention you read it on our blog. Special offers are valid for 1 week from the date published on our blog.

Hair Medic Monday - Blonde Hair Colour

Julie Campbell posed this question to our hair medics, "I love my blonde hair, but it's a bit too bright and it's getting weak and dry from bleaching. My roots also seem to be showing too quickly. How can I keep my blonde, but not have to colour my hair as often so I keep damage to a minimum?"

Because bleaching is one block colour, Julie needed to have her roots bleached frequently to keep them from being obvious. Her hair was getting brittle and appeared dry. For Julie we recommended a full head of foils with different tones of blonde, which will be gentler on her hair and not as glary of a colour. It's much softer looking and and multi-tonal, giving Julie's hair a very natural, healthy look, while keeping the blonde she loves. Because it's multi-tonal, Julie's roots won't be as obvious as they grow in, so she won't have to get it coloured it as often.

In addtition to giving Julie a colour make-over, we applied a Matrix Protopack restructurizing treatment, which restores moisture balance and repairs fiber by infusing the hair with protein. Her hair now looks and feels much healthier. To maintain Julie's gorgeous colour, we suggest washing it with Matrix So Silver shampoo. For more information on this product, see our most recent Tip of the Week post.

To get answers to your hair problems, email your question to hairmedic@michaelquinnhairdressing.co.uk and our salon experts will do our best to answer them here on our blog. If we choose your question, we'll send you a salon voucher for £10! Photos help tremendously when answering questions, so if you book in for a treatment and don't mind us sharing your photos on our blog, we'll also give you a voucher for a FREE power conditioning treatment (£15 value) as a thank you.

White Sapphire Ball

The White Sapphire Ball is mere hours away and boy, are we excited! The black tie event has been organised by Northern Irish actress Séainín Brennan in order to raise funds for Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice, and promises to be a star studded entertainment extravaganza. The ball will be hosted by Gloria Hunniford and John Daly, two of Northern Ireland's most recognisable TV personalities and include performances by Riverdance, West End star, Lee Mead and comedian,Tim McGarry, as well as appearances by a variety of other A-list celebrities. Michael and part of the team are on their way to style the celeb's tresses before heading down the red carpet to enjoy the event. Should be an amazing evening!

Fabulous Friday

Happy birthday to Melissa Johnston, who is celebrating her 18th this weekend. Melissa has been with us since earlier this year and not only is she fantastic at her job, but she's also great fun to have around the salon. Anyone who is willing to spare a few moments to show off her best Derek Zoolander 'Blue Steel' impression with Michael has just got to be fabulous!

Tip of the Week: Neutralising Brassiness

 

Your gorgeous blonde locks require a little bit of maintenance to keep those harsh, brassy tones away, but it's as easy as using the correct shampoo. Matrix So Silver Shampoo is designed to neutralise unwanted brassiness and enhance both colour treated and natural blonde highlights. Because it eliminates dulling yellow tones, it's also great for gray and white hair, rejuvinating your colour and adding healthy looking shimmer.

If you have blonde, gray or white hair and would like to see what Matrix So Silver Shampoo can do for you,  you can save £5 on a wash and blowdry this week and see the results for yourself, then save an additional £1 when you purchase Matrix So Silver Shampoo to take home. To take advantage of this offer, you must mention that you read it on our blog. Discount on blowdry is not valid with Style Director. Special offers are valid for 1 week from the date published on our blog.

Tip of the Week

As we now also have features on Monday and Friday, we have decided to move our Tip of the Week to Wednesday, to keep things a bit more evenly spaced out. Special offers announced with our Tip of the Week will now run from Wednesday through the following Tuesday. Check back tomorrow for this week's quick tip and great offer!

Hair Medic Monday - Colour Disasters

Welcome to Hair Medic Monday, our brand new blog feature where you can get answers to your hairdressing problems. If you have a hairdressing question or problem email hairmedic@michaelquinnhairdressing.co.uk and our salon experts will do our best to answer them here on our blog. If we choose your question, we'll send you a salon voucher for £10! Photos help tremendously when answering questions, so if you book in for a treatment and don't mind us sharing your photos on our blog, we'll also give you a voucher for a FREE power conditioning treatment (£15 value) as a thank you.

Here is a question we hear some variation of all of the time, "I coloured my hair at home and something has gone wrong. It was supposed to be strawberry blonde, but it's gone ginger! What can I do?" To demonstrate our answer, we tested a light strawberry blonde home dye on Christopher and it turned a deep auburn red. Only a hairdresser would look this happy to be experimented on...to most people, this would be a hair disaster.

Don't worry, we can easily resolve this in the salon, though depending on the severity of the problem, it may take more than 1 visit. We strongly suggest that you don't try to colour your own hair again to correct the problem, as not only will you likely still end up with a problem colour, but you will potentially damage your hair beyond repair. Remember, our expert colour technicians train for years to learn how to understand colour and how to mix it to produce the results you want. You simply cannot get the same quality results out of a box.

We don't recommend colouring at home for several reasons. As seen on Christopher, home dyes usually go darker than the colour on the box, so it is nearly impossible to know what your result will be. They are also very hard to remove (even if the box says semi-permanent), causing build-up problems. There are no conditioning agents in home dyes, so they are very damaging to your hair. All of this spells potential trouble! You wear your hair every day of your life...is it really worth the risk?

Before your colour can be repaired, we will need to remove as much as possible of the problem colour as possible. The photo on the left is Christopher part way through the process. Once we have removed the problem colour, we can proceed as with any normal colour treatment. A colour technician will help you select a colour that most compliments your skin tone, then carefully mix the perfect blend for you, using Matrix colours, which are amongst the best available in the world. Your hair will most likely be dry from the home dye, so we will also recommend a salon power conditioning and possibly weekly home treatments until your hair is back in tip top shape.

Finally, here's Christopher with his gorgeous new colour! Technical manager, Órla Begley, has selected a colour that complements his skin tone, as well as will give his hair a rest from lightening treatments for a while. We think he looks great and what a sport he is for letting us test out home dyes on him! Thanks, Chris!

Fabulous Friday

Anybody who knows stylist, John Meighan, knows that he loves Beyonce! Until recently, we might have considered him the Beyonce champ, as he can do the 'Single Ladies' dance like nobody's business! However, we have stumbled across a video of someone who might just be a little bit more fabulous. Sorry John, but unless you're still in nappies, it's hard to be this cute! Enjoy.

Tip of the Week

Have you been avoiding a fringe because you have a cowlick? This is that little tuft of hair that seems to have a mind of its own and goes every which way, but where you want it to go. A cowlick can grow anywhere on the head, but the fringe is where you often notice it.

There is no doubt that a cowlick can be annoying, but a good cut that is designed to work with your cowlick, along with the proper tools and blowdrying technique can solve your problem. Occasionally, a stylist may recommend against a fringe, but most often you can control your cowlick by using a vent brush and pointing your hairdryer downward as you dry.

So don't be afraid! Our stylists will recommend the best cut and demonstrate the proper styling techniques to control that unruly hair. If you book an appointment for a restyle with a fringe this week, we'll give you a luxury conditioning treatment for FREE to relax your worries. To take advantage of the offer, you must mention it at the time of booking. This special offer is valid through Tuesday, 30 September.

Fabulous Friday

Starting today, we'll be doing a weekly blog feature called Fabulous Friday, where we will share our fabulous and inspirational finds in fashion, beauty and of course hairdressing! Our first fabulous find is a clip that Michael came across, while doing research on Youtube. This hologram of Kate Moss for Alexander McQueen absolutely bowled him over! Michael said of the clip, "It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen!", so of course, we had to share it with you. Enjoy!

Website and Email Downtime

We are making some major changes to our website, as well as changing our webhosting service provider. We were hoping to avoid any downtime, but our wesite and email will most likely be offline for at least a few days. If you need to email us in the meantime, please use michaelquinnhairdressing@googlemail.com.

We are very excited about our new website, which is not only easy to navigate, but has lots of fantastic new features. We'll let you know when the new website is live, so be sure to check the blog for updates.

Tip of the Week: Choosing the Right Conditioner

As with shampoo, choosing the correct conditioner for your hair is important if you wish to achieve that 'just walked out of the salon' look. What's the point in investing in a quality shampoo and getting your hair beautifully clean when you are just going to weigh it down with a cheap, heavy conditioner? When choosing conditioner, it's about achieving the right balance, so choose the correct one for your hair type:

• If your hair is very fine, use a volumising conditioner. This is a light conditioner that will help keep your hair smooth, without weighing it down.
  
• If you have curly hair or your hair gets frizzy easily, you need a smoothing conditioner that will inject plenty of moisture and help tame those flyaway strays.
  
• If you have coloured hair, choose a colour care conditioner. These contain ingredients that will keep your colour looking fresh for longer. (Many cheap brands contain silicone, which strips the hair of colour).
• If you have damaged hair, you need a fortifying conditioner that uses ceramides to treat weak hair, as these are your hair's natural intercellular bonds.

We love Matrix Biolage conditioners and use them exclusively in our salon. You can save £5 on a wash and blowdry this week and see the results for yourself, then save an additional £1 when you purchase Matrix Biolage conditioner to take home. To take advantage of this offer, you must mention that you read it on our blog. Discount on blowdry is not valid with Style Director. Special offers are valid for 1 week from the date published on our blog.

Tip of the Week: Choosing the Right Shampoo

Do you often leave the salon looking and feeling great, only to be disappointed once you wash and style your hair on your own? This usually boils down to choosing the right products for your hair and learning to use them properly and it starts with the shampoo you are using. When comparing cost alone, drugstore shampoos may seem a better buy, but they are actually a false economy for several reasons.

• Salon shampoos are more concentrated, so a little goes a long way. Though you might pay less for the drugstore brand, you will have to buy it far more often.
  
• Most drug store brands use cheaper cleaning agents, such as ammonium laurel sulfate, which can actually strip the hair, causing colour to fade faster and also cause dryness. You might pay a few quid less for your shampoo, but will have to get your hair coloured far more often, and pay for conditioning treatments that you may not have needed if using a better quality shampoo.
  
• Salon shampoos have better quality protein based conditioners, which lock in moisture by penetrating your hair more deeply.
  

We love Matrix Biolage shampoos and use them exclusively in our salon. You can save £5 on a wash and blowdry this week and see the results for yourself, then save an additional £1 when you purchase Matrix Biolage shampoo to take home. To take advantage of this offer, you must mention that you read it on our blog. Discount on blowdry is not valid with Style Director. Special offers are valid for 1 week from the date published on our blog.

Tip of the Week: Protecting Your Hair from Heat

To avoid damaging your hair, towel dry it thoroughly and apply a heat protection product before using your hair dryer. You wouldn't put your hands in a hot oven without protecting them...it's just as important to protect your hair too! Matrix Vavoom Blow-in Volume or Blow-in Control are great heat protection products available in our salon. This week you can purhcase them for 25% OFF while supplies last! If you book in for a cleanse, cut and finish, we will show you how to use these products, as well as add in a FREE luxury conditioning treatment (must mention at time of booking). To take advantage of these offers, you must mention that you read about them on our blog.

She "Razzle Dazzled" Us with Her Charm

The lovely Emma Barton, who is well known for her role on "East Enders", visited our salon yesterday. Emma is currently in Belfast playing Roxie Hart in the stage production of "Chicago" and spent a well-deserved afternoon being pampered by our top stylists Órla Begley and Michelle Maxwell . With all her hard work, she had it comin', she really had it comin'! Roxie may have a bit of a dark side, but Emma is thoroughly charming and was a pleasure to have in our salon!

The Perfect Day Wedding Show

Visit us at The Perfect Day Bridal Show on Sunday at Belfast Castle and stop by our table upstairs for your chance to win a bridal package valued at £195. Our team will be styling the model's tresses for the fashion shows, so it's a great opportunity to see our bridal team in action.

Tip of the Week: Maximum Curl

To achieve maximum curl on naturally wavy or curly hair, use a diffuser attachment on your hairdryer and a styling product such as Matrix Vavoom Height of Glam (good for most hair textures). Avoid frizz by finishing with a smoothing serum. Get Matrix Vavoom Height of Glam or Matrix Smoothing Serum for 25% off this week while supplies last. Book an appointment for a cleanse, cut and finish and your stylist will let you try these products in our salon, as well as give you a FREE luxury conditioning treatment (must mention this when booking). To take advantage of these special offers, you must mention that you read it here on our blog.

Christopher Joins the Voodoo Team

With all the kudos Christopher Patterson has been getting, it's no surprise that he has been asked to style the tresses of Northern Ireland's future faces of fashion. Christopher joins award winning photographer, Ciaran O'Neill and former Miss UK, Lucy Evangelista at Voodoo International Modelling School, whose aim is to help aspiring girls achieve their dreams in the modelling industry. Students learn about posture, posing, catwalks, make-up, fashion and much more, then they put this into practice during the photoshoots, which is where Christopher comes in. Don't worry, Christopher isn't deserting the salon, but you may want to book early to be sure you get him.

VIP Memberships

Our VIP Memberships have been very popular and there are only 3 left. Pop into the salon or give us a ring on 028 9043 4003 if you wish to reserve one of the last few.

Tip of the Week: Avoiding Split Ends

To avoid split ends, avoid brushing your hair while wet. Instead, use a wide toothed comb. Comb in small sections, removing the tats from the bottom first and work your way up.

Wedding Extravaganza

For all you brides-to-be out there, the Wedding Extravaganza Show at the Odyssey Arenawill be the perfect opportunity to see our bridal team in action. We'll be styling the model's tresses for the catwalk shows from the 4th through 6th September. For more information, visit here.

Michael's Holiday

Michael will be on holiday from Tuesday, 25 - Saturday, 29 August and will return to work on Tuesday, 1 September, so be sure to book your appointment before then.

VIP Memberships

As you know, Christopher had a big win with Destination Fame recently and Michael has made it to the top 6 of the Northern Ireland Category of the British Hairdressing Awards. With all the good news around here recently, we have loads to celebrate and have so many loyal clients that have been such an essential part of our success. As a thank you, we have introduced VIP Memberships to save you a bit of cash this year.

VIP Members receive 15% off of their colour for one year plus get £120 worth of luxury conditioning treatments for FREE. This can represent a huge savings! There is no cost for the VIP membership, however, to receive one you must pay for your 8haircuts for the year in advance. You can pay for all other treaments as you go and any applicable discounts will be taken off at the till. For more information, ring the salon on 028 9043 4003.

There are only 20 VIP Memberships available, so be sure to ring soon if you don't want to miss out.

British Hairdressing Awards 2009

Michael has been selected as a top 6 finalist in the Northern Ireland Hairdresser of the Year category again for this year's British Hairdressing Awards. As you can imagine, we couldn't be prouder of him! Each year the competition gets stiffer and we are told that there was a record number or entries and an exceptionally high standard.

The event will take place in London on Monday, 23 November. Everybody keep all your fingers and toes crossed!

We are not able to show the photos until after the event, but we'll post them as soon as we can after the event.

Destination Fame Photos

Matrix has kindly sent us some photos from Destination Fame. Christopher might have been exhausted from all the hard work and excitement, but he still couldn't help grinning ear to ear. Here he is with his model, Kayleigh O'Reilly, who is wearing a dress by local clothing designer, Riona Treacy.

Christopher's Destination Fame Look Unveiled

As promised, we're back with the stunning photograph that won Christopher a place in Matrix's Destination Fame. He created his "Gothic Descent" look on model, Zara, after being inspired by the infamous Vivienne Westwood and her timeless punk.

As always, the gals over at Sugahfix have their fingers firmly on the fashion pulse and were amongst the first to congratulate our Christopher. To see what they had to say, check here.

Christopher Patterson, Winner of Destination Fame 2009

Michael’s personal assistant, Christopher Patterson, has won Destination Fame 2009! The prestigious competition, sponsored by Matrix, took place in London this past weekend. Christopher’s avante garde photo shoot earned his place amongst the final 12, down from over 400 entries. He and Michael travelled to London this past weekend, where Christopher wowed the judges and took home one of the three 1st place awards. Christopher has only been in hairdressing for two and a half years and was competing against some pretty stiff competition with many years more experience. This is his first time entering this competition and he is the only person from Ireland ever to be shortlisted, let alone win! Michael could not be prouder and happier of his protegé, as seeing the young hairdressers he mentors achieve success is a personal goal for him.

While this is arguably Christopher’s biggest accomplishment, it’s by no means his first. He has consistently made the finals of the major competitions, including winning Editor’s Choice at last year’s Irish Hairdressers Photographic Awards and he made the finals in 2 categories this year. In his short time in the industry, he has also done several of his own photo shoots, including a commercial shoot for Specsavers/In Magazine and a celebrity shoot for Niamh Perry from I’d Do Anything, as well as created a cover shot for Northern Woman Magazine with fellow award-winning hairdresser, John Meighan.

Chris works tirelessly and has achieved success beyond what many at his level of training (or any level, for that matter) have accomplished. We’re proud to have such a rising star on our team! Congratutations, Christopher!!!

We've promised an exclusive look to someone, so we're keeping Christopher's winning design under our hat for just a tiny bit longer. Check back in the next day or two to see his fabulous photograph.

Holiday Hours

We will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, 14 and 15 July in observance of the holiday. Michael and Christopher will be off the rest of the week as well and do not return until 21 July, so be sure to ring soon if you need an appointment with one of them before then.

Wig Specialists

Did you know that in addition to all the other services we provide, we are also wig specialists? We cut and style wigs for drag queens and high fashion, as well as provide specialist services to those undergoing medical treatment. We understand when you are not feeling your best, you may not feel up to sitting in the busy salon, so we provide private appointments both in and out of the salon. For more information, ring 023 9043 4003 and ask to speak to Michael or Jolie.

Summer Colour Trends

We'll be introducing the hottest trends for hair colour this summer at our next Diva Soiree on Friday, 5 June. If you would like to get on our invitation mailing list, email us info@michaelquinnhairdressing.co.uk and put Diva Soirée in the subject line.

Fate Awards

The Fate Awards is a huge, star studded event, so naturally, Michael was thrilled when he was asked to serve as Creative Director this year. It's been months in the planning, but those who attended the event will know it was well worth the effort. As usual, Michael and team were responsible for creating the hair fashions for the event. Among the celebrities we swirled, twirled and curled were Patsy Kensit, The Saturdays, Sophie Anderton and of course...the fabulous Ruby Wax.

Our team FINALLY got to the event in time to walk the red carpet this year. Usually, we are doing hair right up until the very last moment and miss the excitement at the begining. Ruby was as outrageous as ever, so we were thrilled to catch her entrance this year. The food was wonderful, the entertainment fantastic and all in all, it was a great night.

Easter Closing Times

We will be closed for our Easter holidays on Friday 10 April and Tuesday, 14 April. We WILL be open as normal on Saturday, 11 April. Appointments are booking up fast, so ring soon to be sure you get the time you need.

April Appointments

With the Fate Awards next week and Easter quickly approaching, available appointments are becoming limited on certain days, so we suggest booking well in advance.

Michael will unavailable for appointments from 31 March through 3 April, as he will be in Scotland teaching a course to other hairdressers and has been asked to do a photo shoot as soon as he returns. He'll be winding the week up with the Fate Awards. Michael returns to his regular hours on Tuesday, 7 April

It Was Fab!

About 20 or so guests attended our Diva Soiree last night and a great time was had by all! Our stylists were all so busy straightening, curling and blowdrying our guests lovely locks to perfection, that nobody had time to pick up the camera. Oops!...anyway, the event was fab!

If you missed this Diva Soiree, don't worry, we'll be having another one soon. Ring 028 9043 4003 or email info@michaelquinnhairdressing.co.uk if you would like us to send you an invitation to the next event.

Top 40 Under 40

Michael was chosen as one of Belfast's Top 40 Under 40 for 2009. We don't know who nominated him, but thanks...whoever you are! You can view Michael and the other nominees in the online version of the magazine on Belfast Media's website.

Fashion Week Bonus Offer

Those of you attending Fashion Week will have found an Exclusive VIP Voucher in your goody bags offering a FREE luxury conditioning treatment, as well as a surprise BONUS OFFER. To find out what your surprise offer is, simply look for the handwritten number on your postcard and match it up with the offer below. To take advantage of the offers, you MUST mention them at the time of booking and present your voucher at the appointment. Offers are valid until 16/6/09 and may be used with any stylist, except Style Director.

1. £5 salon credit to use toward a cut or colour
2. £10 off when you spend £100 or more
3. Half off a colour when you book a cut on any Tuesday or Wednesday
4. Book a cut and colour for yourself and bring your gent along for a FREE cut and finish (not valid on Saturdays)
5. £5 salon credit to use toward Retail Hairapy or Racoon hair extensions
6. Book a cut with any stylist and get a FREE tint or flash lights any Tuesday or Wednesday
7. FREE blowdry when you book a colour (not valid on Thursdays after 5PM or Saturdays)
8. Two for one cut any Tuesday or Wednesday (2nd cut must be of equal or lesser value)
9. FREE 250 ml shampoo or conditioner when you book a cut and colour
10. FREE luxury conditioning treatment with any colour, cut or blowdry that you book for ONE YEAR!

Diva Soiree

Our stylists will be on hand doing styling demonstrations at our next MQH Diva Soiree. The event takes place on Friday, 20/3/09 from 7 - 9PM, so if you would like advice on how to use your hairdryer, wand or straighteners, be sure to come! We'll be picking guests randomly to get your hair done and one lucky attendee will win a fabulous door prize (luxury conditioning treatment, restyle with a top stylist, make-up and gel nail polish treatment).

All of the tools and products demonstrated will be available on Special Offer, so be sure to mark your calendar! Due to space, we only send out a limited amount of invitations, however, you can ask to be added to our event mailing list by ringing 028 9043 4003 or emailing info@michaelquinnhairdressing.co.uk. The event is FREE, but we would appreciate your RSVP in advance.

Fashion Week...Almost Here!

Fashion Week kicks on next Friday, 6 March at Victoria Square. We will be prepping the models in the salon, so those of you with appointments that day will get to experience a bit of what goes on behind the scenes of a fashion show and be among the lucky few who get a sneak preview of the event.

For ticket and schedule information, visit the official website at http://www.belfastfashionweek.com/.

Appointments for 6 - 14 March

We'll be very busy during Fashion Week and available appointments are limited, so make sure you get your appointments booked well in advance if you would like to come in during that time.

Busy, Busy, Busy

What a busy week it's been! First Michael's TV appearance and now a photoshoot for jewellery designer, Helen Fitzpatrick. Her website is currently in redesign, but if it's even half as good as her jewellery, it will be amazing. Here's a quick behind the scenes look of Michael at work (that's Chris, his fabulous assistant in the background). We'll post some photos of Helen's work as soon as we get them.

Ant and Dick, Wedding Planners Extraordinaire

How much do we love these guys!? They're cheeky! They're fun! And they're totally outrageous! They also happen to be brilliant when it comes to weddings. Ant and Dick asked us to share some wedding hair tips with their readers, so of course, we happily obliged. You can find them here.

Michael on TV3

Did you catch Michael on TV3? If you missed it, you can still watch the segments here: brides-to-be
mums

Michael's Super Cool Video Portfolio

How in the world do you make an big impact on a tiny business card when your work is entirely visual? You put it on a cd business card, that's what you do. We found some fantastic little cds that are in the shape of a business card. You just put together your presentation and burn it. You can even customise it with a printed label. What a clever idea! Have a look at what is going on to Michael's cd card to take away with him on his upcoming business trip. We think it turned out great!

Bridal Tips with Michael on TV3 Ireland

Hey, all you brides-to-be out there! Be sure to catch Michael on Ireland AM on this coming Monday and Tuesday! He will be appearing with Ant and Dick on TV3 with some great wedding day tips for both brides and their mums . For more info, visit TV3 online and click on "Ireland AM".

Ant and Dick are two fabulous wedding planners and cheeky TV personalities who are known as the agony uncles for a number of publications, including White Wedding Pages and Wedding Ideas Magazine, among others. You can find out more about them on their website.

Happy New Year!

Is it 2009 already!? We were so busy during 2008 that it seemed to pass in a whirlwind! We have even more exciting events coming up this year, including some TV appearances by Michael, and of course the Fate Awards. Michael has been asked to be Creative Director this year, so we are really excited! We'll keep you posted and give you more details soon.