As the season draws on and the days until Christmas and New Year subside, I take a look back at how far “Healthy Hair” has come, and I appreciate the progress I have made. There will be a new look, something more colourful to add a bit of life to the column, so as not to bore the readers to death. The title has changed, as well, in favour of something shorter. Throughout the entire process, I’ve come to learn that there is no right or absolutely wrong way to do things.
This project started out as a way for me to discover things about my hair and haircare, which I was otherwise unaware of. On the one hand, I spent a lot of time reading about hair and trying new things with my current hairdresser; on the other hand, I don’t feel like I took many risks, as I did fall back into my routine of hiding my hair in protective styles. One of the goals of next year’s Healthy Hair is to find more local sources of information and locally sourced products, hence today’s new feature, the Artist Spotlight.
I was recently sent to Xperts Hair Salon in Cole Bay and was happily surprised to discover they had moved. The new location is upstairs La Sucriere, across from Cappuccino Diner. The setup is larger and with lots more privacy for the guests. Get this; at Xperts when you come in, you’re not known as a client or a customer; you’re a guest and are treated as such. When you get there, make sure to have a cup of the Turkish coffee, which is my new favourite thing in the entire world! Oh, and the balcony?! It looks over the Simpson Bay lagoon, so your cigarette breaks have just become more scenic, or you enjoy the view as you wait to get your hair done.
The best part about the holidays at Xperts? Eyup, the amazing, creative mastermind behind the salon as well as the AK7 brand of hair care products is back on island, fresh from his time in New York. Their new salon, Papyon, has been flourishing and Eyup has brought back a lot of creative ideas. I was fortunate enough to sit with him and pick his brain about some of the new trends in hair this season and next. He emphasizes one word – natural.
Everything – from colours and cuts to care – is taking a more natural approach. Eyup has been training with famous hair care professionals, like world famous Paul Mitchell. He has also been studying new Japanese methods of trimming which emphasize trimming hair at different angles to create a less sharp, intentional cut. When it comes to colours, the idea is to create the illusion of colour which could have been your natural tone. This is done through methods like, Balayage. If you haven’t heard the word as yet, get to know it. Balayage is a technique for highlighting the hair in which the dye is painted on in such a way as to create a graduated, natural-looking effect. From what I’ve seen on Instagram and YouTube, it’s only getting to be a bigger and bigger trend.
A word of advice, if you go to Xperts, you will receive special treatment! From their guest service, to their customization of your hair treatment experience, everything is like a journey into affordable luxury. If you have a very specific look in mind, but it’s not best for the shape of your face or skin colour, Eyup and his team will suggest other alternatives better suited for your personal style. The salon is also a full-scale treatment centre for skin and hair. Once you leave Xperts, you’re bound to feel and look refreshed and new. Their specialty is catering to individual needs while helping you achieve your optimum cut.
The special line, ak7, is produced locally by Nectar Island. All products are all natural, with 100% pure ingredients, not to mention they’re paraben and preservative free. They feel and smell incredible, leaving hair and skin with an amazingly moisturized feeling. As an added Christmas bonus, all Kérastase Professional Hair Care & Styling Products as well as the Moroccan Oil styling products are now 30% off! Don’t you just love the holidays?! Make sure to bring in the year with an amazing, customized cut and colour – courtesy of the amazing staff at Xperts Hair Salon.
Intrigued? Make sure to call +1 (712) 544-3239 to book your appointments today.
