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Your hair is your crowing glory.
By Dee McMath
Hairdressers
There is no excuse for having
a 'bad hair day' in Andalucia! Back in the 70's and 80's Andalucia
and particularly the Costa del Sol, were primarily quaint Spanish
resorts and not where you would expect much sophistication. Over
the last decade many British and other English speaking residents
live all or a large part of the year in this area, bringing in their
wake a new and improved service industry. Hairdressing and Beauty
Salons have increased not only in quantity, but also in quality.
Its so 'last century' to wait until you're back
in the UK to up-date your image and have your hair done! Indeed,
for many people who live between the UK and Andalucia, the choice
is often to visit a local salon in Spain, rather than pay high street
prices in Britain. While the price will always depend on the particular
hairdressing salon, there is a vast range to choose from in Andalucia.
Along the Costa del Sol, and particularly in the
main towns, such as Marbella, Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola,
Nerja, etc. not only will you most likely find English speaking
hairdressers, but many will indeed be British and British trained.
Other nationalities in the industry are Danish, German, French,
etc. with all the artistic flair and good training background that
you would expect of any top class hairdresser. The standards have
also improved in the Spanish sector and training courses are more
accessible, some with government funding to encourage young people
into a long term career path.
Having said all this, it is always best to check
out the salon, rather than simply walk in off the street - especially
if you are going for a major change or want to look good for a special
occasion. If you are on holiday in the area, ask at your hotel or
chat to someone who knows the area and ask for a recommendation.
Some of the hairdressing salons in the Marbella
and Puerto Banus area can be pricey and not always because they
are any better than some of the more modest establishments. Also,
some of the Luxury 5 star hotels, Spas and Golf Hotels have a hair
and beauty salon, which is designed to make you feel special. The
running of all these businesses carries a high premium and you pay
for the privilege and comfort of the surroundings, as much as for
the service provided. For some people, the experience is as important
at the haircut and can be just as rejuvenating. So check out the
price list as well as the reputation of the salon before commit
to the cut.
However, if you prefer to look good and pay normal
prices, then there are some excellent salons to choose from, where
you image will remain intact and the price is often surprisingly
reasonable. This can be especially true when it comes to colouring.
One salon in Fuengirola, Petro Peluqueros, is run by a Dutch hairdresser who regularly
up-dates his cutting and colouring skills, by attending the latest
professional courses offered by Tony & Guy in the UK. He often sends
his staff on courses and also trains them himself to keep up with
fashion and market demands. He has built up an excellent reputation
and has a long list of loyal clients. Appointments are usually made
well in advance.
There are some salons which can offer the 'works'
- a whole 'makeover'. If you have a special occasion coming up,
such as a wedding, anniversary or other major celebration or party
and you want to look a million dollars, then ask at one of the larger
salons. For example, at Nasari, a plush salon on Marbella's so-called
Golden Mile, Danish owner Kimmie Birch could send you out looking
and feeling fantastic. All under the same roof, you can have; body
massage, facial, solarium, waxing, manicure and full hair styling,
cutting and colour. Most of the products are specially selected
and many are brought over from Denmark and the United States. Kimmie
uses mainly organic and natural products and the effect is stunning
and flattering for both men and women.
If you agree with the adage that 'Blonds have more
fun' and you are going to spend more time in Andalucia, especially
in the summer months, blond highlights last longer and shine brighter
than in colder climes. It is good to remember this when having highlights,
since you may do well to have less than normal, knowing that the
sun will bleach them even more. Too many blond highlights can lead
to higher maintenance costs to cover up the dark roots. A good hairdresser
will advise you on this and other tips on hair care in the sun.
Some salons specialise in hair extensions, but
since this is rather expensive and requires special expertise and
training, it is especially important that you find out as much about
the salon before you go for this option. As anyone who has ever
had extensions will tell you, if you don't like the result and want
to revert back to your old style, you might have a while to wait
for your hair to grow back to its normal length again.
Although the dedicated 'Nail Bar' did not take
off in Andalucia in the way it did in London and some of the other
larger UK cities, there are many sculpted nail specialists within
some of the larger and more up-market hairdressing salons and there
are many beauty salons which offer manicure, sculpted nails and
on-going maintenance.
Most of the hairdressing salons in Andalucia are
unisex now, but you can still find more traditional men's Barber
Salons, although these tend to be mainly Spanish run, with mainly
Spanish spoken. However, sign language and a little English spoken
by the barber will normally be enough to ensure that you have a
successful trim, haircut or even a shave and at a fraction of the
price of a top salon.
In short, there are many good hairdressing salons
to choose from and the luxury areas and surroundings will be reflected
in the price. Along the coast, you should not have any trouble finding
a well trained English speaking hairdresser and there are many to
choose from. However, unless you enjoy living dangerously - if you
find yourself in a more traditional Spanish town or village and
you don't speak Spanish, it might be better to wait until you are
in the coastal areas or in a large town for any drastic changes
to your hairstyle. The Costa del Sol and major cities like Seville
and Malaga should still be a cut above the rest.
 Chic Hair & Beauty
Offering a full range of Hair Services:- Haircutting, Restyle, Barbering, Matrix Hair Colours, Biolage Hair Treatments, Nano Keratin, Hair Extensions, Event Styling, Biolage Label m.Hair Care Products
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