EVERYBODY loves walking out of our salon with perfectly styled hair but recreating that look at home often seems impossible. Salon hair can feel like magic, whether it’s the glossy finish, the long-lasting hold, or the flawless smoothness.
However, achieving salon-quality hair at home is entirely possible with the right tools, products, and techniques.
In this guide, we’ve taken your questions and teamed up with our salon stylists to explore everything you need to know about selecting the best hair tools, preparing your hair, and styling like a pro.
This way, you can achieve the stunning feel and look you get when you walk out of Stonehills every time you wash your hair!
Neave Chilton, Master Colourist / Hair Designer answers:
“There’s a reason why achieving salon hair at home can feel challenging. In salon we use high-quality tools and products tailored to your hair’s specific needs. Keep in mind we use techniques gained over years of experience and we don’t skip any steps!
Your stylist is always happy to help you create the perfect haircare and styling routine to make sure you’re really getting great results between salon visits!”
Mario Moreale, Premium Hair Designer answers:
“The foundation of great hair starts with the tools you use. We use professional-grade tools to create smooth, voluminous, sleek hairstyles. I LOVE a multi styler such as the GHD Chronos so I just have one tool but I can create a range of looks with it!
Premium Designer Bennett answers:
“A good hairdryer is more than just a tool for drying your hair; it’s an essential piece of equipment that sets the stage for the rest of your styling routine. Look for a dryer with adjustable heat and speed settings and ionic technology, which helps reduce frizz and leaves your hair shiny.
Professional dryers also tend to be lighter, making it easier to achieve an even blow-dry without straining your arms. The key is to start with a thorough, frizz-free blow-dry to create the foundation for any style. Don’t forget you’ll probably need a few round brushes of different sizes as well as a paddle brush and some clips! The initial outlay seems a lot but it’s really so worth having these professional tools at your fingertips – I can’t stress enough what a difference a professional dryer makes!”
Owner Mike Paraliki answers:
“Heat styling is a significant part of getting salon-quality hair at home, but without proper protection, your hair can become dry, brittle, and damaged over time. This is where heat protection sprays and serums come into play. These products create a barrier between your hair and the high temperatures of your tools, ensuring that your hair’s natural moisture is preserved while you style. Before using any heat tools, always apply a heat protectant to your hair. Products like GHD’s Heat Protect Spray are specifically formulated to defend your hair from temperatures that otherwise lead to dryness or breakage. These sprays are lightweight, so they won’t weigh your hair down. They also add an extra layer of shine, contributing to that glossy salon finish”
Emma Smith, Senior Designer answers:
“Recreating a salon hairstyle at home requires following a structured routine. Here’s an example.
After washing and conditioning your hair with a hydrating shampoo and conditioner (I love Davines MOMO) gently towel dry your hair until it’s damp but not soaking wet.
Apply a volumising mousse to add body to your hair and then apply a heat protection spray or a heat protect serum. This will prevent the heat from stripping away moisture, ensuring your hair remains shiny and smooth.
The next step is blow-drying. Divide your hair into sections using clips and work through each section with a round brush as you dry. The key to a salon-quality blow-dry is to keep the airflow directed down the hair shaft, which smooths the cuticle and enhances shine. Focus on the roots for volume and pull the hair taut with the brush for smoothness.
Once your hair is dry, move on to styling. If you’re using a hair straightener, start by taking small sections of hair and run the straightener through each section from root to tip. The more evenly you apply heat, the smoother the results will be. If you prefer waves, use the straightener to curl the hair by rotating the tool as you pull it through the section.
For curls, wrap small sections of hair around a curling wand or tongs. Hold the hair in place briefly before releasing it into a perfect curl. Repeat throughout the hair, varying the direction of the curls for a more natural look.
Finally, finish with a salon styling product such as A finishing spray or serum which will help lock in your style and add shine. If you want to add texture or volume, use a texturising spray at the roots or throughout the mid-lengths of your hair.”
Adam: Look for shampoos and conditioners tailored to your hair’s specific needs, such as moisture, volume, or frizz control.
Emma: Use heat protection sprays religiously to prevent damage and finish off with serums or oils to add shine and smooth flyway’s.
Neave: Products like ghd’s Heat Protect Spray, lightweight serums, and finishing sprays can make a noticeable difference in the longevity and quality of your at-home hairstyles.
Andy: Absolutely NEVER use heated tools on wet hair unless they’re specifically designed for that purpose, as this can cause severe damage.
Jo: Don’t skip heat protection products or use excessive heat settings, thinking it will save time. Go for Medium Heat and Medium Speed on your dryer!!
With some practice and the right approach, you can absolutely enjoy sleek, shiny, and well-styled hair that looks like you just stepped out of our salon without ever leaving your home. Then, when you are ready for your regular pamper, you can make an appointment to come and visit us in salon and we can help you tweak your homecare routine to make sure it’s up to date and giving you the best results.
Get in touch with our expert team in Welwyn Garden City for luxury, in-salon hair services.
