Is Your Scalp to Blame for Your Bad Hair Days?

You can't exactly expect a tree to grow in the sand. Expecting your hair to be lush and beautiful on an ill kept scalp is about as effective. We learn to nourish our skin and hair, but we often miss the mark on a healthy scalp; the consequences of which could very well be the cause of your hair's bad behavior or loss of hair altogether. If you've experienced thinning hair, itchy or tight scalp, styles that go limp, lack of shine, absence of body, or weak tresses you may be able to find solution by changing the way you treat your scalp.

1. You May Not be Using the Right Shampoo/Conditioner

If your hair is thinning, lacking body, void of shine, or your scalp is irritated a shampoo and conditioner that is scalp nourishing is the first step in turning your problems around. Natural ingredients like vitamin B5, aloe vera, and oils such as sunflower oil, avocado oil, and Moroccan oil are both gentle and nourishing to the scalp. Many lines of shampoo and conditioner are especially formulated to provide therapy to your scalp
 

Learn to Properly Shampoo Your Hair

Removing excess oil and hair products from your scalp can clear the way to a better hair day. Getting rid of the gunk frees up your follicles to grow and produce your best hair. Proper shampooing techniques aren't rocket science, but we often forget to take the time for a scalp massage, one of the first steps in a proper shampoo.

Your Scalp Needs Conditioned

Many stylists will suggest to skip the conditioner directly on your scalp for better volume and to keep your hair from going limp or becoming greasy from over conditioning. I agree, but that doesn't mean that you should completely skip the conditioner on the scalp all the time. I often tell my clients to start the conditioning process by applying conditioner to your ends, and work the remaining product into your scalp. It's usually not conditioning the scalp that causes problems. The biggest problem people have with conditioner is not rinsing it well, which can cause your hair to feel greasy, oily and limp. Rinse conditioner for a minimum of 30 seconds, and try a conditioner with eucalyptus or peppermint for a refreshing scalp treatment that locks in essential moisture, but helps keep oil production under control.

 

Invest in a Great Brush

Regular hair brushing is a great way to stimulate your scalp, move the oils from your scalp through your hair, and keep your hair tangle free. How long have you had the brush that you use everyday? Where did you get it? I don't think many of us can answer those questions. I know one of the brushes I still have was purchased for all of a few dollars, is made of hard plastic, and followed me out the door of my parents house after high school. It's not really doing anyone any favors. Invest in a nice, natural boar bristle brush or a brush with a boar bristles incorporated. They aren't cheap, but they will last for years, and you'll thank me for the improvement in your hair's condition. How to choose a Hair Brush

The Heat is On

I know I sound like a record on repeat, but the heat from your hair appliances are not hair or scalp friendly. Think about it. Many of us are guilty of having the hair dryer on to full blast heat inches from your scalp for five to ten minutes everyday. Would you do the same to your face. You likely wouldn't consider it. I know time is of the essence, but turning down the heat and moving the hair dryer away from your scalp can mean a world of difference when it comes to thinning or damaged hair. Let your hair air dry naturally for as long as you can. Have some coffee, apply your makeup, check your email, or eat breakfast before you get the hair dryer out. Then when you do, try a lower heat setting. You'll reduce frizz and improve the health of your scalp.  As if the heat from the hair dryer wasn't enough, after drying many of us get the flat iron or curling iron out. With temperatures exceeding 300 degrees, it's easy to imagine that repeated use could cause your hair to break from heat damage. Broken, damaged hair can feel thin, dry, and course. Try turning the heat down on your hot tools.  Better yet? Take a break from heat styling all together. Extend your shampoos or use your hair's natural air-dried texture from time to time.

6. DeGunk Your Tresses

If you read any of my advice on a regular basis, you'll repeatedly read something about removing product build up. Mousses, gels, dry shampoos, shine serums, volumizing sprays, hair sprays, defrizzing agents, heat protecting sprays, leave-in conditioners... you get the idea. The products we put on our hair are making their way to our scalps and, if your hair is having problems, it's likely causing pores and follicles to clog. Gummed up hair follicles just can't produce beautiful thick, healthy hair, if any hair at all. Your product build up could be the cause to your thinning and troubled hair. A regular deep cleansing/clarifying treatment is a must for all hair types. Here are a few recommendations to try:

7. Protect Your Scalp from the Sun

When your scalp is repeatedly exposed to the UV rays of the sun, it doesn't take long for damage to take place. Regular UV protection is an absolute must, especially if your hair is thin, thinning, or otherwise irritated. Pay special attention to a defined part, or your hair line if it is receding. Read More for protecting your hair from the sun.

8. You Are What You Eat

Your hair, quite literally, is highly effected by the food you eat, the vitamins you ingest, and the medications you take. If your hair is in a rut, it may be time to put your hair on a healthy diet or try vitamins that are specifically formulated to promote healthy scalp and hair.

Read more on The Best Foods for the Healthiest Hair click here

9. Seek Medical Advice

Most of the time, scalp issues can be easily fixed with the tips above or with a little advice from your hair stylist, but there are times when limp thinning hair or a dry, itchy, flaky scalp can be the cause of bigger medical concerns. Thyroid issues, hormone imbalances, and a variety of skin conditions (like psoriasis) can lead to symptoms that may be causing your bad hair days. When you've exhausted your options, talk to your doctor about your hair concerns and ask for a blood panel if you haven't had one done in recent months to rule out any underlying medical conditions.

 

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Bad hair days is this video really good advice?

Watch the following video if in need of some advise for bad hair days, be advised they may not be traditional ideas !!
 

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6 hair styles for the summer with out using heat.

I don’t know about you, but blow drying hair  when it’s 100 degrees outside is the least bit exciting. Especially when your likely to walk outside and just start to sweat a bucket of water out of you, ending up looking like a mess before you even get to the office. So here's a few other ideas.

Heatless Curls: Similar to beach waves, but more defined. Simply towel dry your hair, apply a good curl defining cream and start scrunching to create gorgeous curls

Chic Braid: A great and easy heatless style that will keep you cool, control frizz and add gorgeous texture once you take it out. Braids will also work with pretty much every summer outfit you own






Wavy Ponytail: Add a little volume to your basic ponytail to create a fun summer ‘do. This works best by spritzing salt spray on dry hair, scrunching it and pulling it back in a hair tie

Top Knot: Buns are all the rage right now, and just so happen to be one of the easiest styles ever. 

Half Up, Half Down: Pulling a few strands of hair back can make the world of a difference. You can even braid the strands for a more bohemian summer look

Sleek Ponytail: A more polished and chic version of the ponytail. Simply towel dry your hair, apply gel, comb through with a wide toothed comb and pull your hair back. 

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Eat yourself to good looking Hair and Skin.

Want to give your metabloic rate a boost, moisturise your skin or delay wrinkles, just with your diet? Here are the hottest super foods to give you better skin, hair and nails - just start eating.

 

BLUEBERRIES
This low-profile berry beat off stiff competition from 40 other fruit adn veg to be ranked number one for antioxidant activity. The antioxidants in blueberries protect you from premature aging, so add half a cup to your yogurt or cereal every day, and ward off signs of ageing!

TOMATOES
Tomatoes are the best source of the anti-aging antioxidant lycopene, which can reduce sun damage and free radicals, which damage skin cells. Surprisingly, lycopene in tomatoes is more easily absorbed by your body when it is cooked or processed, so make sure you stock up on canned tomato sauce or tomato juice.

WILD SALMON
Wild salmon (not farm-raised) is quite literally bursting with omega-3 fatty acids, which helps keep your skin supple and moisturized. Salmon also has selenium, a mineral that helps protect the skin from sun exposure. Wanna keep your bones and teeth strong and healthy, too? The vitamin D in salmon will sort that out too, and there are so many ways to include this beauty superfood in your diet -  grilled, baked, in pasta, salad or in sushi. Yum!


WALNUTS
You don't need to eat loads of walnuts beware as they do contain fat, so avoid overdosing on them!) to enjoy all the benefits they can bring, including smoother skin, healthy hair, brighter eyes, and strong bones. Get your daily dose of nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E by eating a handful by themselves or throwing some in your salad, pasta, or dessert.

CHIA SEEDS
Most seeds are good for us, but these little beauties are packed with fibre and omega fatty acids, boosting the body's collagen and elastin production, resulting in a plumper pout, sans surgery. They don't really taste of anything  but they do bring a crunch to your salad. Hit your local health food shop now!

KALE
It's been proved by new research that the more greens you eat, the fewer wrinkles we'll get - why didn't someone tell us when we were little??
It's because greens such as kale are full of antioxidants, lutein (which helps protect the skin from UV damage) and vitamins. Try juicing it, adding it to salad or as a large garnish with your dinner.

AVOCADO
Packed with antioxidants, not to mention potassium, vitamins and good fats, avocados are your best foodie weapon in the fight against wrinkles (plus they taste amazing obvs!).  Their vitamin E properties help skin to heal faster and the good fats they contain are grat for sensitive and dry skin

RADISHES
These little root veg are great for soothing any digestive problems, and they also containhigh levels of silica, vitamin C and sulphur, all of which are fab at stimulating circulation and stengthening skin. Use them to add some heat to your salad.

CHANTENAY CARROTS
New research has shown that eating just a handful of sweet and crunchy Chantenay carrots every day can help protect our skin and fight the effects of sun damage.

Active ingredients such as Beta-carotene, retinol (Vitamin A) and Vitamins B5, C, E and K are used in after-sun skin treatments, because they have been proven to help prevent sun damage, reduce wrinkles and reverse the aging process - and the very same ingredients are abundant in these British-grown carrots. Chuck them in a salad or use them as a healthy snack alternative!

TUMERIC
The hot properties of this spice are curcumin and beta-caratone, which act as anti-oxidants, soothing inflammation and allowing the skin to absorb nutrients more easily. It's not just a curry ingredient... tumeric is a natural anti-inflammatory, which has been used in eastern medicine for years. Add it to dishes or look for beuaty products containing the spice.

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Looking after your hair extensions

Into Hair are hair extensions specialists and the following advise is given as generic good practice, however your technician may give further independent advise .

Prior to your hair extensions we recommend that you have a minimum of 3-4 inches in length, just about long enough to put your hair into a ponytail. Ideally, the longer the better.  However, shorter lengths can be done but will be advised on consultation.  You can email us a picture and we will be able to let you know.

After Care  

Do not wash your hair for at least 48 hours after having you hair extensions fitted to give them time  to go hard.

Once you have had you hair extensions fitted, the following should be followed to ensure that you keep your hair looking healthy and neat.

Ensure you hair is brushed every day ensuring you start from the bottom working your way up, making sure you hair is tangle free. 

Hair should be washed using a smooth motion rather than being rough with the hair ensuring not to knock the bonds.  When conditioning your hair do not apply to much conditioner to the area of the bonds as this can cause them to come loose.

It is advisable to put your hair in a loose plait before bed this will help to reduce any tangling or knotting whilst sleeping.

You can style your hair just as you would with your own hair, using crimps, blow drying ,  straighten, curling tongs just be sure to not apply too much heat to the bonded area.

We advise that a maintenance check is done 6 weeks after have them fitted this will, ensure you pro long the life of them, allowing your technician to replace and loose bonds.  We will also be able to let you know how your getting on with looking after them which in turn will prolong the life of your hair extensions.


If you wish to book a consultation with one of our technicians please calls on 01268 734612 or emails us at info@into-hair.co.uk with any questions you may have.

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How to Cover Grey Hair ?

We want to hear from you with  hair and beauty questions you want answered.  Got a question, then either post is on our facebook page or comment on our blog ( or just email us).

Some people have grey hair and can look very stylish with with the likes of George Cloney pulling it off so well, other celebs like Kate Moss who in 2010 was photgraphed with Grey roots and Kelly Osbourne who more recently added grey streaks to her hair.

What not to do

You've probably been warned that if you pluck a gray hair, more will grow back. We're not so sure about that, however, Tweezing them is not necessary as when you do and they grow back , they'll stick straight up causing the whole world to really know what's going on.

Whether you decide to cover up your hair with a whole new shade or simply get strategic about covering them up, there's an easy solution for everyone. Whether you have black, brown or blonde hair, are a six week or a 12 week type of client."

Since gray hair can leave skin looking dull, coloring it has many benefits. A new, fresh color can take years off your age, bring vibrancy and richness to your natural skin, and make wiry grey hair soft and manageable.

The great thing about color is it can almost always be fixed or altered.  

One of the alternatives is to low light your hair adding colour back in and helping to turn the time back a few years.  Using this option will have grays but have less of them.  Trust your stylist to pick out the best color for you and together work on a schedule so you're always looking your best.

Dont forget to send us your Hair and Beauty questions.

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Follows us on Twitter

Great news you can now not only like us on Facebook, but Follow us on twitter to ensure you never miss out on any of our offers or our weekly hair advise tips visit https://twitter.com/Into_Hair_Essex.

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Looking after your hair on holiday

The time of year has come when the suit case is out and ready for packing.  In go the clothes the shoes and the swimwear but lets not forget about the hair.

Will you be going swimming ?

Chlorine not only dries hair out, it can cause split ends as well. Dry hair is like a sponge and will absorb more of the pool chemicals than wet hair. To lessen the damage, soak hair with non-chlorinated water before getting into the pool, and rinse immediately following.

Seawater acts like a sponge and draws water out of the hair, while also leaving a surface-dulling deposit if you don't rinse it away. It can also penetrate the hair shaft and have the knock-on effect of breaking down amino acids and roughening the cuticles. Rinsing or shampooing your hair as soon as you can after a dip helps, but the best protection is again a swimming hat or a specially formulated protective product.

Enjoy Sunbathing ?

Ultra-violet (UV) light penetrates the hair shaft and damages its structure, just as it does to skin. UV breaks down specific amino acids - the building blocks of protein - which hair is mostly made up of. A loss of these has been shown to have a negative impact on the natural shine and strength of the hair, leaving it duller, weaker and less elastic. You are slightly better protected if you have thick hair as the amino acids are destroyed from the outside to the core.

As well as damaging its protein structure, UV light also attacks the pigment in your hair, breaking it down, bleaching it and reducing the hair's natural defence system. 'Darker hair has greater natural protection, just like darker skin,'  'but if you chemically lighten darker hair it loses its natural protection, making it more vulnerable to UV.'

Products with UV filters or sunscreens for the hair do offer some protection. As with skin products, you need to reapply them to keep the protection constant. Ideally you should use a hat or scarf as a cover-up, and avoid exposure when the sun is highest and most damaging - between the hours of 11am and 3pm. Conditioning products can help repair and prevent further damage


So remember when your applying your suncream not to forget about you hair, as were sure your be wanting it to look nice when you go out for a few cocktails at the bar.

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Keeping your Hair Healthy, whats your method ?

A Ladies hair can be there number 1 priorty before going out so ensuring that you have healthy looking hair at all times is a must.  So we wanted to ask the question do you have any unconventional ways to keep your hair looking good? we want to hear from you with your methods, but in the mean time here are a few to get you going.

Split Ends -Regulary check for split ends. If you do you should buy some hair serum that will make your hair look shiny and soft.

Trim Maintenance-  Every six weeks you should get a trim, your hair will eventually grow longer. Some people think getting a trim makes your hair shorter but it only lasts a week or so and then your hair grows back faster and healthier.

Conditioning Your Hair - Ensure that whenever you wash your hair, you throughly conditioner your hair.

Using Olive Oil -  According to some, Olive oil is great for deep penetration prior to washing for dry hair.  They say to gently warm some Olive oil and apply to hair, leave to soak for about half hour and then follow your normal wash rountine. an alternative to this is asking your hair dresser to give you a hair treatment.

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Can you speed up hair growth ? give us your thoughts

When you're struggling to grow out an awkward hair do, it can seem like everyone else has glossy long hair

. For busy (and impatient!) women, how to make your hair grow faster is one of the biggest hair care questions. Some swear by kelp supplements while others rave about head massage, but is it really possible to speed up hair growth? 

Do Kelp Supplements Work?

"Hair will only grow about half to three quarters of an inch every four weeks," says 10 Years Younger's hair expert Andrew Barton, author of Shinny Happy Hair For the impatient ones amongst us, that's just not quick enough, and so we turn to Google for the answer.
A quick search shows that the internet is awash with women claiming they've experienced quicker hair growth while taking sea kelp supplements (derived from seaweed). Others claim that whilst kelp doesn't speed up growth, it does strengthen hair, reducing breakage and split ends. So with less breakage needing fewer haircuts, you might be able to get long hair sooner.
The experts' opinion? Give it a miss. There has been no long-term research into the effects of kelp on our bodies, and there's no scientific evidence that it helps our hair growth. It's thought that some people can suffer thyroid problems and other side effects as a result of taking kelp, so dieticians advise leaving it on the shelf until we know more.

 

Head Massage

 

All is not lost though - Andrew Barton recommends head massage as another option. "Gentle scalp massage will stimulate the blood supply to the hair follicle, bringing it nutrition and helping increase hair growth," he explains. "The more we can do to help the follicle secrete oil and push out the hair, the better. You'll get better results in the evening, so before you go to bed each night, spend a couple of minutes gently rotating your fingertips around, massaging the scalp."
Trichologist Phillip Kingsley agrees, but warns that the effects won't be dramatic. "It's only possible to quicken growth by a small percentage - at most 10%. Considering hair grows about six inches a year, that means you can only speed it up by just over half an inch per year." No chance of getting that Rapunzel look in time for your Christmas party then...

Strengthen Your Hair

Even with a speed boost, no one can achieve luscious long hair without looking after its condition. "Growing your hair to below shoulder-length may take you about seven years, and the hair that's then at the very tips was originally at the scalp, so it's old, aged hair," explains Andrew. "It's very susceptible to damage from heat appliances, general wear and tear and the sun. It needs to be treated with protein-based conditioners and conditioning masks, to make it stronger so it doesn't split or break. The more we can do to those very tips to help them, the less you'll need to cut your hair."

Comment to let us know your thoughts?

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Choosing the perfect Brush for the Perfect style

Hairbrushes come in thousands of styles, materials, and designs. A low-end plastic brush costs as little as £1 and a hand-tied boar brush as much as £100. The average price for a decent brush is from
£5 to £15. Knowing what brushes to buy begins with understanding the difference in bristles (boar, nylon, porcupine, and metal) as well as the four basic categories of brushes (vented, cushioned, round, and classic). Other than that, choosing a particular design really depends on your style of doing hair.

Types of bristles

A number of bristle patterns are available and they're used for different purposes, as shown in Table 1. Each one is designed to create different styles or to care for specific types of hair. Knowing their basic purposes helps you buy brushes that work for, instead of against, your hairstyling efforts.
Table 1: Brush Bristles and Their Life's Work

Bristle Type	Its Purpose	Best On
Boar	This bristle is the actual hair of a boar (hog). Boar bristles are considered ideal because they close the cuticle layer — the outside armor of your hair — and create shiny hair. Because boar bristles tend to be weak, manufacturers usually mix them with nylon bristles, so they don't collapse while you're brushing through the hair.	Boar bristles are natural, soft, flexible bristles that gently brush the hair and are suitable for use on children. Manufacturers often combine boar with nylon bristles to create a stronger styling ability.
Nylon	This name represents a catchall category for all types of bristles made of plastic, nylon, rubber, or similar materials. Nylon bristles can be soft and flexible or stiff and firm.	Nylon bristles offer little to maximum control, depending on how closely the bristles are placed and how flexible the material. As a rule, the stiffer and more closely spaced the bristle, the more control you have over the hair.
Porcupine	Before you imagine quills running through your hair, calm down. Porcupine is a term used for a tufted bristle — multiple bristles grouped together — that usually includes a combination of boar and nylon bristles. It's gentle, but it exerts a good hold on the hair.	This design is excellent for controlling fine hair, as well as for thoroughly brushing thick hair right down to the scalp.
Metal	Unless you're styling a wig, stay away from this category of bristles. Metal bristles — even with soft plastic tips — are too inflexible to safely use on human hair.	Not recommended for anything but wigs and hairpieces.

Adding some style

Trying to keep track of all the different styles of brushes can drive a perfectly sane person crazy, so you only need to be familiar with four basic categories: classic styling, cushioned, round, and vented. To be able to style any hair that comes your way, you should have at least one brush from each category. The following sections show you which brush or brushes you need for specific hairstyles.

Vented brush

This brush is an old-style sensation that made Farrah Fawcett's wings take flight. The brush has widely spaced, flexible bristles. Openings in the head (where the bristles are attached) allow for good airflow. Today, vented brushes are primarily used for drying hair because they offer superior airflow, making short work of moisture. Vented brushes maintain natural movement because their bristles never force the hair into a specific shape.

The ends of the sparsely spaced bristles have tiny, protective balls to guard against hair damage. Frequently check the tips of all your vented brushes. If even one ball is missing, the brush needs to be replaced because the exposed bristles can damage the hair.

Cushioned brush

This category of brushes includes the oval-shaped cushioned brush (padded head where the bristles are attached) for simply brushing out the hair and the flat paddle brush with an air cushion that's used exclusively for long hair. The latter is an invaluable tool, by the way, because the cushion and bristles are designed to collapse anytime they meet resistance; hence, they prevent long hair from being stretched, split, or broken.

Round brush

Many round brushes have wooden or plastic handles with a variety of grips that ensure good traction and fit your hand. Round brushes look exactly as named: They have a round, metal barrel for more defined movement. Use a round brush any time you want the hair to have some bend or curl, but not as much as curling irons or hot rollers would provide.

Shop this category of brushes carefully because many have heavy heads that put stress on your wrist while you blow-dry the hair. My absolute favorites are called thermal round stylers — round brushes with vented cores made of aluminum. The metal barrel fills with hot air from the blow dryer, while the vented holes create plenty of air circulation. This design enables you to dry the hair in half the time and create a crisper hair shape. The one caution is to keep the blow dryer moving and check your handiwork frequently to avoid over-drying, or possibly damaging the hair.

Classic styling

Classic styling brushes have a half-rounded head. They traditionally have five, seven, or nine rows of stiff nylon bristles — seven being the most popular. This style is referred to as a half round brush because the head of the brush has a rubberized, slightly rounded shape to create a slight bend in the hair. The classic styling brush is the tool of choice when creating smooth, sleek, precise hairstyles that aren't stick-straight.
Women often prefer to use a seven-row styling brush because it is lighter, smaller, and easier to handle when blow-drying hair. On the other hand, many men love to manhandle the hair by using a larger, nine-row brush that is wider, heavier, and styles a larger section of hair at one time.

Read more at http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/choosing-the-right-brush-for-your-hair.html

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Keep on Liking us 10% Discount extened to end of June

We have now got our first 30 likes on Facebook and hoping to have this as a foundation to build on as we move forward.  We have decided to extend our promotion to the end of June, giving all customers 10% discount just for liking us on Facebook.  So be sure to like and share us, so that all your friends and family can also benefit from our 10% Discount.

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www.Into-Hair.co.uk goes Live

After spending the last few months working to get our online site finished we are now on the web for all our customers new and old to find us. You can catch up on the latest from into hair by reading our blog, check our opening times find our contact details.  For a greater customer experience we will  soon be adding our online store where customers will be able to purchase all there favourite hair care products with the click of a button. please take a moment to view our website and make a comment under this post. www.into-hair.co.uk

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Into Hair gives 10% off for 30 days

We are offering all our new and old customers 10% off just for a click of a button and liking us on Facebook so visit us today at https://www.facebook.com/IntoHairltd or simply visit us at www.into-hair.co.uk and click the facebook button on the top left hand side.  Come on let Into Hair treat you with just a click of a button.  Offer must end 10th June 2013 just show us the like in store.

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Into Hair has a make over

To ensure our customers have a relaxing and pleasant visit we have under gone a refurbishment. Having the floor completely relayed with porcelain tiles to have all our furnishing re-fitted. Don't just take our word for it come in and have a look.

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Welcome

Here at Into Hair we have spent many months putting together an online expereince for all our customers and more to enjoy.  We Intend to be your number one destination in Essex for all your hairdressing needs from styling to your every day needs for products. Visit us on Facebook today click here 

 

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