The Blurb:
Master colourist Hannah Gaboardi (pictured) of Chelsea’s Real Hair has eight years experience tending the tresses of some seriously glamorous women such as L’Wren Scott, Donna Air, the Ecclestone Heiresses. Having learnt her technique from assisting celebrity colourist Josh Wood, Hannah has worked on numerous editorial shoots including Vogue beauty, Wella and Schwarzkopf. Hannah steers her clients to a less-is-more approach, using a French technique called balayage to give depth and dimension, and leave you with a sun-kissed effect.
The Process:
On arrival, I was welcomed into the salon and began a consultation, discussing what I wished to achieve from the treatment. Having naturally dark hair, I have been dying my long hair darkest brown over the years and was in desperate need of a change. I was relieved to learn that Hannah is an expert when lightening darker locks. Hannah talked me through the process of balayage, which is a freehand technique often described as painting colour onto the hair to give it a glamorous, yet beach-ready appearance.
My dark hair was to prove a challenge, as it had only recently been dyed darker. The first session was the real test of how my hair would take the initial colour, as it’s difficult to know how the colour will react (especially to recently home-dyed hair) and I have to admit, I was nervous. However, as a brunette herself, Hannah is a rare colourist who understands the pitfalls of lightening darker locks, and immediately put me at ease. After an hour in the salon, I was directed over to the basin for a gloss to complete the treatment and lock in the colour.
The Result:
My hair was blow dried into loose curls to give it a tousled look and I could instantly see the colour variations ribbon thorough the hair. Since my hair is so dark, it took two sessions to really see a dramatic difference in colour, but my trust in Hannah has meant I will definitely be going back to her for further sessions. Her enthusiasm and genuine care for her clients is evident, and it’s no wonder she has been tipped as the colourist to watch for 2014.
