Author: Chloe Mellon

In the wake of the UK’s most recent heat wave, I am hiding at home, in the shade by a fan and I decided to write about a few of my favourite 2022 popular hair styles currently in vogue! The rule book is out the window, fashion is coming full circle, and I am loving the retro vibes some of these looks have to offer!

1. Space buns! So 90s! Which 80s/90s kids didn’t style they’re hair this way growing up? Looks hella fab and totally great for keeping your neck clear in this heat!

2. Fishtail braid 🙂 celebrity hairdresser @mararoszak posted a fabulous image of Juno Temple going to the SAG Awards sporting a beautiful fishtail braid, and I am not going to lie I love it! Its moral and classy, but still somehow not too much and casual. I’m also seeing fishtail braid appear all over the gram, so it is defy a top 2022 summer look. Makes you wonder why we ever stopped wearing fishtails in the first place.

3. Flicked out ends!!! Zendaya looked oh so very Pretty in Pink recently at the Valetino show in Paris. I am totally vibing her 90s hair flick aesthetic, such a simple way to be a bit different 🙂

4. Last but most certainly NOT least, our resident celebrity hairdresser Anne Veck recently did the amazing Kat Graham’s (Vampire Diaries) hair for london PRIDE, in the forever increasingly popular two part pony tail look! This style, accessorised with (usually a metal) hoop, is so cool! Makes your pony tail longer, give you the chance to wear jewellery in your hair, and I am seeing it everywhere. Red carpet, music events, even the FABULOUS main villain in Netflix’s new series “Resident Evil” has her hair styled this way throughout season 1!

Let me know if there are any special summer 2022 looks you are into and book your next appointment right now!

xxxDFG
www.dirtyfrenchgirl.com

Like many of you I am sure, my first answer is “yes of course”. It seems logical. It is a chemical product we put on our hair, and thus our scalp, and if it does not quite burn, it definitely irritates the skin and makes it itchy as hell. The more you do it, the more you grow accustomed to the feeling, and can resist the urge to scratch, but it is always there.

But, turns out I was wrong! I have a shaved head, bleached and then coloured pink! So when I’m lightening my hair, it always touches my scalp. Now before you say I am biased in favour Anne Veck, I also model for other salons and work for other beauty institutes who do not use Davines products… so if it’s a bias, at least it’s a well informed one 😉 lol.
So no matter what you think, it does mean that I have experienced many different kinds of bleach on my head, and let me tell you, nothing comes close to that Davines feel! No burn, no itch, no dried scalp dandruff afterwards, almost feels like a conditioning treatment.

I think a big part of it, is that the Davines bleach is Ammonia free. Well one part of the bleach is. To lighten hair, a two part bleach must be mixed. Ammonia, a common ingredient in lesser quality hair products, that is known to damage and irritate the scalp (also has a really strong stingy smell that makes you sneeze and cry), is traditionally in one part of the bleach. Davines bleach does not have this ingredient and they developed their own “hair protective booster”, a sort of protective oil if you will, to help protect the scalp during the bleaching process.
It is also paraben free, which means no unnecessary chemical preservatives.

And, as an extra plus plus, Davines products are sustainable, as natural as can be, and always smell good. So honestly I was only half surprised when their bleach was above the rest as well!

So, don’t hesitate, come test it yourself at Anne Veck Oxford, you won’t be disappointed!

xxxDFG
www.dirtyfrenchgirl.com

Hello lovely readers.

As I am sure you know, Anne Veck is very hot and keen on sustainability and partner with Davines, the ultimate in ethical and planet friendly beuaty and hair care. With this in mind and many recent blog articles I have written, I came access this fab little piece in Forbes, by Kari Molvar.
SO rather than rewrite what has already been so well written , click the link and have a look yourself, or read on as it is copy pasted here:

xxx Dirty French Girl

–>You’ll Love This: Davines’ Energizing Shampoo Made My Thin Hair Noticeably Thicker And Stronger!

Welcome to You’ll Love This, our bi-weekly column in which Forbes Vetted staffers spotlight their favorite products while they’re on sale.

When you have fine hair, a good volumizing shampoo is deceptively hard to find. I’ve tried many—no-frills drugstore brands, fancy salon options, hippie solid bars and heavily perfumed French imports—but none gave my strands the oomph I was looking for. Either I didn’t notice any lift at the roots, or they coated my hair in heavy thickening agents that, invariably, led to greasy, gunky build-up. So I started to consider a volumizing shampoo to be decent if it didn’t leave me worse off. That is, until I tried Davines’ Energizing Shampoo (get yours here! or ask your stylist at Anne Veck Oxford.)

During the pandemic, my hair grew long—really long. This cut down on salon bills but made my fine hair even finer. But I liked the swishy length, so I didn’t want to cut it. Then I got diagnosed with a hormone imbalance which, I discovered, makes me especially prone to hair loss and dry, brittle strands. Super. So when an email appeared in my inbox from a publicist for Davines, the revered Italian botanical haircare line, asking if I wanted to try the Energizing Shampoo from the brand’s Naturaltech line—telling me it was designed to help “thinning and fragile strands”—I was sold.

The unisex Davines shampoo is not new. It came out more than a decade ago and seems to have a cult following (the only negative reviews seem to be from people wanting the bottles to be filled even higher to the top with the magical elixir). And after trying it for myself, I can totally see why. When I use the Energizing Shampoo in conjunction with Davines’ Energizing Thickening Tonic, my hair feels noticeably fuller. And according to my coworkers, it looks more voluminous over Zoom, too

The Davines shampoo comes out of the bottle with a slightly gooey consistency because it’s ultra-concentrated—you don’t need much to get a full lather. The formula itself contains a propriety blend of green tea extract and vitamin B3 to calm inflammation, caffeine phytoceutricals to stimulate and encourage hair growth and a “microbiotic booster,” a brew of molecules created by Davines’ scientists to preserve the scalp’s skin barrier and prevent breakage. When you massage it in, it tingles, smells super minty (like sinus-clearing, toothpaste-level minty) and unlike many other body-boosting shampoos, it made my hair feel thicker at the roots but without any build-up. It’s also worth noting that the sulfate-free liquid didn’t strip my dyed hair of its coloured glory (phew).

As I mentioned above, for an extra boost I pair the Energizing Shampoo with the brand’s newly reformulated Energizing Thickening Tonic, a leave-in texturizing spray that bulks up the diameter of the hair fiber. It comes in a squat bottle with a very forceful spray applicator that sends a full blast of the (also very minty) tonic into your scalp. Then, you’re supposed to massage it in and comb it through. What I like best about this formula is that it leaves my hair soft and manageable, not at all stiff or crunchy, like mousses and other leave-ins sometimes do. Davines claims the vitamin-B-based tonic increases hair thickness by 10 percent, and after using it regularly for a month, I can totally attest to that.

Wow now that is some write up! Anne Veck Oxford stocks a very wide range of planet and hair friendly Davines care products- visit the on line shop or ask your stylist.

So it is not scorching hot in the UK yet, but Europe (especially south of France) is already well under way for a heat wave!
So if you are planning a getaway this summer, which I am sure you are, how can you protect your hair from those UV rays?

Many of us remember to take care and protect our skin, but forget about our hair. However the damage caused to our locks can be just as bad. UV rays break down hair proteins, stripping them of their luster and shine, making hair weaker and more likely to break.

Action number one is to protect your scalp! If you are not one for hat wearing, many products out there protect not only your hair, but your scalp too. Check for anti UVA and UVB filters to be sure you have a good product in your basket.
After a day in the sun an overnight mask is a great way to re-hydrate your hair (check out our recommendation HERE)

Hair products are also a bit like makeup. After it has been opened, it is best to use within 8 to 12 months for the best results. So if you were thinking of using that old hair mask you found under you bathroom sink dating back to the 90s… maybe think again!

If you have coloured hair, be aware the sun is the strongest natural bleach, and it will dull your colour much faster. Buying appropriate shampoos, such as professional purple shampoo for blond, and using them once a week is a great way to maintain your colour despite the sun.

In the salon ask your stylist what’s best because Davines do some ideal products to protect and nourish your hair including Nounou shampoo and conditioner and SU milk.

Enjoy the sun safely my lovelies.

xxxDFG
www.dirtyfrenchgirl.com

Multiple things can be true at the same time.

Is physical violence wrong? Yes
Is mocking a health condition wrong? Yes
Is disrespecting a woman of colour’s hair, in a society where women of colour’s hair has been politicized, fetishized, ridiculed and controlled for hundreds of years wrong? Yes

Now I will be completely honest with you, if Will Smith had not slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, I would not have known it was Oscars time! But my ignorance does not change the fact that the Oscars is the most prestigious and coveted awards ceremony in the film industry and thus attracts all the top celebs. As a result: many many many of us are watching. So a distasteful joke like Chris Rock’s, and Will Smith’s emotional reaction, do not go unnoticed.
I wanted to write something about the event almost instantly after I learnt about it but felt like I should wait just a little bit.

After the event, I googled, instagramed, found memes, and what I briefly thought was funny, quickly was not. Because multiple things can be true and those same multiple things can also be not acceptable.
I was surprised how a lot of the online discourse about what happened focused solely on Will Smith’s slap and how it was magnified out of proportion. Some publication calling it a punch, and certain celeb interviews claiming it could have “killed Chris Rock”…(anyone who saw the clip knows that is utter rubbish)… But this exaggeration plays into the stereotype of “the dangerous black man” and the violence “he” always brings. And if this the the *only* thing you remember from the event, that is problematic.

The world was politely laughing at a woman who has lost her hair through illness… ridiculing someone on a world stage for something that is nothing to be ridiculed. We hear so much about the importance of representation on TV, in films etc.. How was it considered OK for even a second to mock someone who could have been even the slightest bit inspirational for anyone with alopecia, cancer, an auto immune disease, or any other cause of hair loss… Alopecia UK stated “In a world where it’s unacceptable to make jokes about someone’s race, sexuality or disability, we believe the same should apply to jokes about visible difference. Such remarks or jokes should be called out as unacceptable or inappropriate.”

Time again, Afro hair and it’s heritage hairstyles have been white washed in pop culture. Only acceptable on the main stage when sported by Caucasian individuals and called unprofessional when worn by individuals who actually have Afro hair… hair discrimination to the point of fetishization. As a result afro hair has been politicized, fetishized, ridiculed and appropriated too many times for a joke of the likes of Chris Rock to be harmless.

So if all you were talking about after the slap, was the slap… the was the wrong conversation to be having.

xxxDFG
www.dirtyfrenchgirl.com

Now to be honest, cinema/music awards ceremonies are not really my thing. I do love googling everyone’s outfits and hairdos afterwards though!So here are my favorites from this year’s Grammys!

I really loved Chloe Bailey’s simple braided up do, the attention to detail when styling those baby hairs just makes the look for me! Simple and stylish, it perfected her sequin dress look.
Paris Hilton was channeling her inner queen Barbie with her High and Thick pony tail! Paired with her simple makeup and glossy lip, she was slaying the Grammys!

And of course Lady Gaga! The queen of all queens! Givng us retro 20s vibes, whilst still keeping it modern and relevant, I never get tired of seeing how she presents herself anywhere, anytime! With the classic cat eye makeup and her uniquely stylish dress, she was probably my favourite look of the whole event!

H.E.R was keeping it simple: with long luscious locks of serious Va Va Voom Volume! With her banging little round glasses, she was giving us 70s vibes, that was getting me all kinds of ready for summer!

Not actually hair, but Halsey was stunning with her art Deco hat! No Need to worry about your hair falling out of place when you have something as stylish as that adorning your noggin.

And finally Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner was the most playful of the decadent looks of the evening, with her yellow Everything and her adorable space buns! don’t you just love it when celebs don’t take it too seriously and have a bit of fun wit their fashion? I know it inspires me to be a bit crazy too!

How about you guys? Did you have any faves?

Have a great day

xxxDFG
www.dirtyfrenchgirl.com

PS: see pictures HERE

We have all heard the expression “new hair new you/me”. But is it just an expression? Is there a grain of truth to the idea that a drastically new look can allow us to become someone new, or more likely, a different facet of who we are? A part of our personality we were not shining a light on before, that we have decided we want to bring forward?
Whether we are starting a new job and want to look like the biz, moved town and wish to re-invent ourselves, dealing with a break-up and re-discovering what it means to be single, or simply wanting a change: “new hair new you” has some interesting psychology behind it I wanted to explore a little.

Hair is super important to our general sense of attractiveness, and as much as we know our beauty comes from within, we also need to like what we see on the outside for ourselves to feel good and confident. That is very hard to do if one of the main features, the first things you see in the mirror in the morning, doesn’t reflect what you want it to about yourself. It is a great way to express oneself and communicate our identity to the world, as a result the hair we decide to rock will help us build our professional and personal lives.

A lot of the situations I mentioned above (and many others in which we would imagine a total hair make over) involve slightly unknown, new circumstances. Changing your hair, is a way to regain control over this emotionally wobbly situation. Emotionally wobbly is not a negative thing necessarily, for example starting a new job is usually a positive, but it feels nice and safe to feel like you are in control, that you control how your new co-workers are going to see you from day one.
It is empowering to make changes especially when you feel like other aspects of your life may be out of control (hence why many of us choose to change our hair after a break up!)

So, to keep it short and sweet, I think the expression “new hair, new you” is very accurate. I know I have always drastically changed my hair whenever anything big has happened, either as a celebration or to get over something, but as I evolve I like my hair to evolve with me!
So if you are feeling the need for a change, don’t hesitate to pop into the salon and say Hi!

Have a great day
xxxDFG

www.dirtyfrenchgirl.com

We all know there are some timeless classics, like the short Parisian bob, and beach waves highlighted hair…. but for some other styles, it is more cyclical, and they may not go out of fashion, but need an update every once and a while.
So, here are some of Anne’s best predictions for 2022.

-The Modern Mullet. Every 10 to 15 years this cut resurfaces but is always met with resistance. However, this season, it seems this is not so. This cycle, the mullet is combined with the modern shag, creating a much more versatile cut. Channeling hippie vibes, in a sexy textured look, it is a great hair cut for those of you that like low maintenance hair, and strive for that effortless bed head look.

-The Rachel… who has not had the Rachel cut (from Friends) at least once? Well it is back (again…lol) but it is just a little bit longer this time around. Maybe it is the unintended after effect of lockdown and not having access to your hair stylist, but we have noticed an increase in clients requesting the iconic style, but keeping it longer, sort of like a mix between Brigitte Bardot and Rachel.

-Curl Ready Cuts. There has been a big trend over the past 15 or so years for those of us with curly hair to always try and straighten, smooth and hide those luscious locks of voluminous curly hair. Well 2022 is THE year the curl ready cuts really hit their stride. Were giving 2022 the 70s treatment, a rock n roll finish embracing those natural curls, and giving you the hair cuts to go with 🙂

Hop you enjoyed Anne’s little 2022 forecast.
Have a great day!

xxxDFG
www.dirtyfrenchgirl.com

Hello Gals and Guys!
Today we talk hair extensions and all the fab things that can be done with them! Anne Veck Oxford is one of the only salons in Oxfordshire to offer high quality and ethical hair extensions–> we are the regions exclusive supplier of Gold Class hair extensions and we also offer Balmain and Lox Box! We do gentle heat fused bonds, tape extensions, clips in…. But enough of this (not so) humble brag, let me tell you why extensions really are somewhat magical!

1.Instant Hair Change! With no damage! Want that extra length and vavavoom thickness? Clip in some of our awesome Lox Box extensions and feel transformed… Until you want something else, and then change to that too! You can also indulge your inner child and get some crazy colour extensions, but not worry about damaging your own hair with bleach and colour!

2.Splits ends no more! Well, sort of… this isn’t technically true because split ends do not just disappear when adding hair extensions. However, I did say hair extensions were somewhat magical: so what extensions do help with is hiding those nasty split ends. Abracadabra, suddenly your hair looks and feels so much healthier when you hide those split ends under gorgeous, soft hair extensions. Even more so when using our Gold Class, ethically sourced and hand picked, hair extensions! Win-win!

3.Extensions are not just used for length! They can also be used for thickness. So if you have always craved this hair but sadly have not got that Disney princess swish, fret not, because air extensions are a great way to get that vavavoom volume you so crave. And the great thing about taped extensions, is the hair can be reused and if taken care of well, the tape re-adjusted after a month of growth… gorgeous and sustainable…!

Have I convinced you yet? If not, feel free to ask your in salon stylist any other questions you might have, and you will see, hair extensions are fab! Or ofcourse call us on 01865 727077 to book a consultation – £25 but reimburesed if you go ahead with any service.

xxxDFG
www.dirtyfrenchgirl.com

DFG asked Anne about her approach to working with all types of hair and about “Blackfishing”.

“I generally use the term Afro hair but also very curly and textured when it seems appropriate. There are 3 distinct hair categories based on people’s heritage: Caucasian, Asian and African. The term textured hair is generic. I can put texture in my hair while I’m cutting or styling it, it doesn’t mean I have extremely curly hair.

Of course there is the Afro hair style and Afro hair meaning a hair type. Most people who can grow an Afro have African heritage and Afro type hair! Hair is primarily composed of keratin, a protein, which grows from the follicle. Keratins, and other proteins, are formulated in the cells of the hair follicle. All of the proteins become a part of the hair shaft and contain sulphur atoms. When two sulphur atoms pair up and bond, they form a disulfide bond. If the two sulphur atoms in the same protein are at a distance, and join to form the disulfide bond, the protein will bend. This is how curls are created.

Everybody is born with specific hair textures and it may change over your lifetime. The amount of curl, wave, or straightness is dependent on the number of disulfide bonds between hair proteins found in the hair shaft; the greater the number of links, the curlier the hair, and the fewer the number of links, the straighter the hair.

Getting even more technical, we have hair types 1,2,3 &4. Each contains subdivisions A,B,C. Types 4 B & C include very curly hair, including Afro but people of different ethnic heritage can have these hair types. This is very simplified explanation.

Of course, it’s all a bit more complex than this, the chances are you will find more than 1 type of curl pattern on one head of hair. We should all try to just focus on the most predominant pattern. Maybe we should try not to focus too much on ambiguous terms and call it all hair! I’ll continue to use the term Afro most of the time because it makes sense to most people and is accepted and used by my clients. In her book ‘Good Hair’, Charlotte Mensah uses the term Afro hair throughout. If it is good enough for her, it is good enough for me!”

So what do you think about “Blackfishing”?
“Cultural appropriation is when a tradition, such as clothing or a hairstyle, is taken from a culture and used in a different way. It can offend people when people do this without making it clear where the traditions come from, or when they don’t acknowledge how important they are to certain cultures. This can make some people feel as if their culture is not being respected.

“Blackfishing” is an example of this, for example when white people use artificial tanning, make-up or hair styles in order to appear to have African, Arab or Hispanic ancestry or to appear mixed race. Recently quite a few celebs have been accused of it.

Afro hairstyles can be created on wigs or hair extensions pieces that are not really textured or Afro. This means there is still a HUGE gap in the hair industry’s professionals’ knowledge on how to work with textured hair. Even in Hollywood (interesting example here, ‘Euphoria’ star says it ‘feels dehumanizing’ when stylists on set ‘don’t understand Black hair’), so I strongly believe that more needs to be done.
Because Black Lives Matter and so Black Hair Matters, here at Anne Veck Oxford we strongly believe textured hair is not an “exotic” speciality and all our stylist are trained or currently in training to know how to style, cut, colours and treat textured, Afro hair. We welcome clients with all hair types!”

xxxDFG
www.dirtyfrenchgirl.com