Balayage Highlights – the biggest Summer/Autumn trend of 2011

When it comes to lightening up, one of the most natural-looking and modern colouring techniques available right now is balayage. One of the most notable celebs to bring this trend to our attention was Gisele who sported her honey-toned gorgeous locks more than five years ago. They have since grown in popularity with the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Drew Barrymore and Jessica Biel joining forces to achieve fabulous natural looking highlights.

What is Balayage?
Balayage, a French word meaning ‘to sweep’ is a new method of highlighting which lightens the hair gradually from root to tip. This technique achieves an ultra-natural effect by mimicking nature’s way of subtly lightening hair. To balayage the hair, a lightening agent is painted on using a brush and then applied in a sweeping motion from the tip to the root creating a more natural sun-kissed colour. The stylist uses more of a free-style technique and in a “sweeping” motion applies lightener very thinly at the roots to a much thicker application towards the ends. This provides ultimate control over colour application and allows for less regrowth and much more colour contrast within the hair. In addition, the process requires no heat or foils so the hair experiences minimal damage.

The result

The results can vary from a multi-toned rather casual yet very natural-looking look to a more dramatic dip-dye finish. Balayage achieves a more carefree result than traditional, uniform highlights and standard blocks of colour. The sunbleached effect is achieved far more naturally as the streaks of colour aren’t defined as the stylist works more freely and intuitively to suit the individuals hair. The balayage technique has so far proven to be the most natural looking highlights ever giving the impression you have just spent the summer frolicking on a beach somewhere!

Not Just for Blondes

Ombré is a French word that literally means "shaded like a gradient," so brunettes and redheads need not be left behind. The results will look super-chic with shading graduating from dark at the roots to light at the ends. Check out Rose Byrne (right) and Olivia Parlemo (left) here to see how the shades of caramels and cinnamons mix wonderfully with their dark hair bringing their eyes into focus and complimenting the skin tones perfectly.












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Irish women don’t care what men think about their looks?

Irish women don’t care what men think about their looks – SalonAddict.ie
Survey also shows that a quarter of all women haven’t reduced beauty spend despite recession

SalonAddict.ie, Ireland’s one-stop-shop for booking hair and beauty appointments online, has today  (Tuesday) revealed    the results of a survey which shows that 87% of women say they feel more pressure to look good from women, rather than men.


In a survey of 1,153 Irish women about their health and beautyhabits, the results also found that 25% of the women surveyed spend the same amount  on hair and beauty today as they did before the  recession.


Hair appointments are the most popular service with 75% booking a blow dry, haircut or colour appointment over other services such as mani/pedis, tanning or waxing. When asked how far women would let their men go in terms of beauty treatments, the majority of women (89.4% and 78.7%) said that a spray tan and sun beds were a step too far, with facials, waxing and manicures generally accepted. Also it seems that Irish women don’t mind if balding men shave or embrace it.

Speaking about the findings, Anne Daly of Face Forward beauty salon in Rathfarnham said: ‘We were   not surprised at the results, which showed that women feel more pressure from other women to look good than from men. It’s a competitive world out there and women are constantly trying to upstage each other’.


www.salonaddict.ie is an online booking service that offers the best choice of salons, services, stylists, and hottest deals in town! The site offers customers the opportunity to book all their beauty and hair  appointments with maximum convenience at an extensive list of high quality salons within close  proximity at a cheaper rate.

Hair Extensions

Celebrities like Cheryl Cole and Jennifer Lopez are long time addicts of hair extensions. The attraction is the great length, body, height and volume extensions add to natural hair. In the words of Tracy DiMarco from hit American reality TV series, Jersylicious, “the higher your hair the closer you are to heaven”.

When extensions first emerged they were made of synthetic hair which can be a nightmare to manage. Fabric conditioners were needed to keep the extensions soft, and combing was next to impossible. Blow drying had to be done on a cold air setting for the synthetic portion of the hair and hot air for the natural hair, which was time consuming and irritating. So the only head this hair looked great on was Barbie’s!

Recently natural hair for extensions has become much more readily available, making it easier and cheaper to have extensions done in your local salon. Using real hair instead of synthetic strands makes the extensions less noticeable, more flexible and puts less tension on the hair. They are applied strand by strand and the hair line and parting areas are avoided for discretion.

There is such a wide range of hair available today. Remy hair is a top quality, virgin, non treated hair, which means it has never been dyed, straightened or permed. Spanish hair is also a top quality hair commonly used. Natural hair extensions can come in 3 forms:

·         A bag of hair held together by a string (with loose ends)

·          A bag of hair in strands individually pre-bonded with a keratin glue (U-tip)

·         Stick tip little strands that look like shoe laces at the top (I-tip)

One bale of this hair weights around 50 grams and comes in a ponytail which would be about as thick as a 20 cent coin. It should be perfectly straight and shiny, with all strands the same length.

How it works...

To get the best results, you must make sure your hair is coloured or highlighted before you have extensions put in. First you must have your hair matched for colour with the correct extensions, which will be easy for any good hairdresser. If you have highlights in your hair you will need more than 1 colour, which may cost extra.

While washing your hair prior to having extensions put in, do not use any conditioners, oil treatments or serums, as this can prevent keratin from bonding to your hair and cause slip. The day you get your hair extensions done, make sure your hair is freshly washed and blow dried nice and straight. 

There is a choice of two systems for attachment of extensions to the hair. Both look exactly alike...

·         Micro Beads, sometimes called Micro Links, are little silicone or metal beads clamped onto the hair, strand by strand. Micro Beads can be removed by unclipping the bead or link on top of the strand of hair.

·         Pre-Tipped keratin bonded extensions are put in with a glue product strand by strand. Keratin bonded extensions have to be removed with acetone.

Maintenance...

Provided the hair is real, you may wash, colour, cut, blow dry or style any way you wish. You will need a special wide-bristle brush to avoid shedding.

Extensions can last anything from 2-4 months. Since extensions are not growing from the root they are starved of oil from the scalp so to keep them looking healthy it’s necessary to apply a conditioning treatment at least once a week. 

If you’re blonde and wondering how to get your roots coloured with extensions, you can only have a T-Bar or Masking done when the extensions are in. Colouring cannot be applied to the bonds, which is why you need to have the perfect colour when the extensions are first bonded.

When blow drying your hair, it’s a good idea to use a cold or medium air setting, as you do not want the glue to melt. 

To view availability in the best salons for hair extensions, click here

Tantastic - Spray Tans

Summer is nearly here but instead of getting the winter white legs out for a good scorching, get a spray tan instead! Spray tans are very popular at the moment because you don’t have to expose your skin to any harmful UV rays.  Also, we are all used to seeing them on MTV with the Jersey Shore and let’s face it we all look better with a tan!  

The process is very simple. When you arrive in a salon to get a spray tan you will be brought into a little room and asked to undress.  You may leave your underwear on but they can get covered in tan - most salons will leave a paper thong in the room to change into and a hair net! The therapist will ask you to perform various poses when they are using the spray tan gun. The therapists are all professionals and will make the process as comfortable as possible. Remember that when you leave after your first spray tan you will be very brown and the tan will possibly be a bit muddy looking - this is only the colour guide and comes off in the shower the next day.  

Before going for your spray tan, here are some tips!
·  Exfoliate and do any shaving the night before to remove the dead skin and ensure the tan goes on evenly.
·  Do not wear deodorant, perfume, moisturiser or make up on the day.
·  Wear loose clothes that you don’t mind getting a bit of tan on and bring flip flops so your shoes don’t get any tan on them.

·  Ladies do not put the bra back on unless you want strap marks!
·  For the best results leave on overnight and wash off the colour guide after it has been on your skin 8 hours, some tans developing times are quicker. We recommend leaving it on overnight
·  Paint a coat of nail polish on your nails the night before so your nails are not tanned too.
·  If you are going somewhere on a particular day we recommend getting your spray tan 2 days in advance so if it’s not dark enough, you can return it to the salon and ask for a top up.  Also, if it’s too dark give it time to tone down or give yourself time to get used to it!
·  Needless to say no water, no washing your hands or heavy sweating until the tan has developed!

After the tan has developed have a shower, bring the shower head down to your feet and rinse going upwards this ensures even removal.  The next thing to remember is moisturise, moisturise, moisturise!  Load it on every day, this keeps the tan fresh for longer.  The last thing you want is scaly looking skin, so no prolonged swimming or bathing because it will take the spray tan off you.

To remove your spray tan in a rush here is something you can do at home - mix up 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of baby oil and exfoliate your skin.  The best way to do this is to have a long soak in the bath first, then dry your skin and exfoliate! Shower the remains of the scrub off and the tan comes off, you can repeat if necessary.

There are loads of spray tan brands to choose from! Fake tan is actually made by a substance found in sugar beet called dha’s which react with your skin to create the tan. Each brand has different levels of these and colouring! So we have worked very hard at SalonAddict.ie to find you a wide variety of salons with all kinds of tan brands to suit every skin tone! Please see the list below to find your favourite brand of spray tan.

4th Avenue Beauty Salon - Karora

Allure Beauty Salon - Heshi, White to Brown

Baggot Beauty - Tan Organic, Viva Liberata, White to Brown

Beaumont Beauty Clinic - TanTruth

Beauty Laine - Vanity Tan
Beauty & More - Crazy Angel

Core Beauty - Liquid gold

Couture Beauty - Liquid gold

Ebano - Crazy angel

Elaine’s Beauty Care - Fake Bake

Face Forward - Tan California

Indulge Hair and Beauty - Tan organic

Light Wave Beauty - White to Brown

Midas Touch - Viva Liberata, Sun Fx

One to One - Green Angel

Pretty Woman Beauty - Tan Organic, Tan California, St. Tropez

Rathfarnham Beauty Clinic - Guinot, Revolutionary

Rosebud Beauty Clinic  - Intensive Spray tan

Rouge Beauty - Xen

Skinscape - Skin Truth

Studio 92 - Bronze Express, Fakebake

The Beauty Loft - St. Tropez

Wow Brown Tanning Boutique - Wow Brown

Eyelash Extensions - The Flirty Falsies!

Eyelash extensions were first introduced in the 50’s by Hollywood film makers to give actresses that doughy-eyed look for the camera. Nowadays extensions are still as sought after as ever but are much more accessible and come in a range of styles. Most women wear them for that extra flair but some like the lift they give your eyes which can deceive wrinkle lines, giving you a stylish, more youthful look. Applications vary so let’s have a look at what’s available:

Strip lashes are a full strip of lashes that can span the width of your eyelid. They vary in lash thickness, length, width and colour. We recommend these for 1 day use only. The application is glued on with latex-based glue which can be easily peeled right off at the end of each day of use. They don’t stand up to water well, so they’re not what you want for a day at the beach. Strip lashes are more suitable for drama queens that want to show off for that one big night!  They are now readily available for the bottom lash line as well as top.

Individual cluster lashes are applied with stronger glue than strip lashes, to last longer. Some salons will require clients to have a patch test done before application.  Clusters can be applied as sparsely or as thickly as you like and it’s fun to experiment with different styles. A couple at either side of the eye give that sultry feline look. They can also be built up to look as thick as a strip lash if you want them to really stand out.

To hold shape it’s a good idea to try to lie on your back in bed at night and stay away from anything like hot ovens or hair dryers. Cluster lashes are made from synthetic hair and they can bend and lose their shape if exposed to intense heat.

The lashes last up to 2 weeks and should fall out individually, leaving you with gaps needing refills. If you want to take them off a good tip is to coat them in Vaseline each night before going to sleep until they loosen up.

Clusters are fantastic for holidays and weddings, as they are generally not as dramatic as strips but still make an impact! 

Individually bonded lashes are single-strand eyelash extensions that are applied hair by hair onto each individual eyelash on the eyelid. During the process your eyes are taped shut for around an hour, but it can be really worth it. 

These should last 6-8 weeks and are absolutely gorgeous! Even if you used a magnifying glass you’d never work out these were fakes. They add length and thickness to your lashes and are perfect for all occasions, so say goodbye to scaldey eye because mascara just won’t cut it anymore!

To view availability in the best salons providing eyelash extensions, click here

Nail Wraps – Have Amazing Minx Nails!

Minx nails are simply heat-activated stickers for your nails that are available in hundreds of beautiful, creative designs. Many celebrities like Rihanna, Beyonce and Kim Cattrall (Samantha in Sex and the City) have already succumbed to the Minx craze. Lady Gaga recently showed off her minx nails in her music video Poker Face and Eve was photographed featuring Minx nails with Obama on her left thumb. The cool new look is only beginning to catch on in Ireland. Designs can include anything from flashy chrome and metallic patterns to detailed leopard print, and because it’s a sticker it never smudges.

It is applied by heating the sticker using a hand-held dryer. When it becomes pliable it can be smoothed onto the nail with light pressure, and as it cools any excess can be filed off. It sets instantly so there is no need for additional drying time. When set, the application is already shiny with no need for a top coat - no mess, no fuss!

Minx was the first brand to reveal the nail wrap. Other brands have now emerged like trendy wraps, blixz and winx who offer almost identical products differing only in their ranges of design patterns.

The application should last up to 2 weeks on nails and can be removed by heating under the hot air function on your hairdryer and peeling off. There is no need for damaging nail polish remover or acetones!

To view availability in the best salons providing nail wraps, click here

Bikini Waxing - Welcome to Hollywood!

Why bother shaving when waxing lasts longer, feels smoother, and gives you less ingrown hairs!? There’s no excuse not to brave the Brazilian!

Brazilian waxing and Hollywood waxing have been extortionately over priced in the past, so at SalonAddict.ie we have found the best value salons for the procedures most women see as a necessity!! The staff in our hand-picked salons are professionally trained to cater to the comfort of the client. So give it a go!

Some salons will request you leave your underwear on during the treatment, doing each side separately, so make sure you don’t wear your finest flimsys! Most salons will still ask you to bare all but there’s no need to be embarrassed, as they are not looking at anything other than the hair. As a former beauty therapist I know this!

Another thing to pay attention to is the terminology, as this can vary slightly from salon to salon so:

Brazilian Waxing: Everything removed except a small rectangle or triangle on top. Also known as a landing strip.

Californian Waxing: Will remove just the right amount that lets you wear a thong.

Los Vegas Waxing: Glitz and glamour including hair dying, crystal gluing etc... (very popular around Valentine’s Day for crystal love hearts)

Hollywood Waxing: Lock stock and barrel, see ya!

There are 2 types of wax which can be used:

1.  Warm/honey/strip wax: This has a runny consistency and is removed with a strip.

2.  Hot wax: This is a pliable wax that’s left to set for a couple of minutes and pulled off without the use of strips. It’s a stronger wax and should be used during Hollywoods and Brazilians to avoid hair snapping and to keep ingrown hairs at bay.

To limit pain during waxing treatments we recommend Lycon waxing, which won’t hurt as much as other waxes. The therapist applies a special pre-wax oil to stop the wax from sticking to the skin. There are also numbing creams available, such as no scream cream. Like Lycon Waxing, these only prevent that initial sting. Unfortunately, they all still hurt a little! All waxing treatments should have the same outcome - a hair free area. So our advice is, if the salon near you doesn’t do Lycon waxing, just go for the normal waxing – you’ll survive!

Remember, bikini waxing is definitely not a D.I.Y job, more of a “don’t try this at home kids!” If you book a beauty salon with us you’ll be pleased with the results, which can last 3-6 weeks but always remember, between visits you must exfoliate! exfoliate! exfoliate!

Once you go to Brazil you won’t want to come back!

All Salons providing bikini waxing treatments.

Our best online prices for bikini waxing are currently in Face Forward in Rathfarnham, who offer Californian Waxing for €14.32 and Brazilian or Hollywood Waxing for €19.10 if you book on SalonAddict.ie
View Availability

Some of our salons offering Bikini Waxing at great internet prices:
Beauty Laine
Pure Beauty Clontarf
Pure Beaty Kilbarrack
Angelic Features
Face Forward
Blitz It Beauty
Sandrelle Beauty