Career hairdresser Jennifer Morgan knows how to create luxurious-looking hair. A colour expert, I was in safe hands for a Schwarzkopf Professional BlondeMe colour service at Auckland Morgan and Morgan The Hair Collective. Read on to find out what’s involved and why I love it, says editor Trudi Brewer.
Images BeautyEQ
In the heart of Takapuna, on Auckland's luxe-y North Shore, Jennifer Morgan and her team celebrate 21 years in business this month at Morgan and Morgan. There isn’t an aspect of hairdressing Morgan hasn’t covered. She has worked with almost every professional hair colour brand in her career as a colour expert and educator both here and offshore; her passion for the collection of Schwarzkopf Professional BlondeMe permanent colours sets her apart from many other stylists. While her skill is at the forefront, Schwarzkopf Professional BlondMe’s formulation offers her professional versatility and a range she credits for brilliant results. "The range is clever and was created with sub-ranges to address niche areas for versatility for any hair type or hair colour." The Schwarzkopf Professional colour offering includes Igoral Fashion Lights for women who have dark hair but want to have a vibrant colour that is noticeable. Or Igora Silver Whites range for anyone with grey hair that wants to be blonde. This range will simultaneously lift and deposit colour into the hair so you can go from grey to blonde. The Schwarzkopf Professional BlondeMe Premium Lightener 9+ works on all hair, even damaged, sensitised hair, so you can create a light blonde without needing a strong developer. Simply put, it protects the integrity of the hair. Finally, the toners, which are next-level, are also super conditioning,” says Morgan.
What's involved in a Schwarzkopf Professional BlondMe colour service?
All colours begin with a consultation to ensure we’re on the same page regarding the finished result. The recipe is Schwarzkopf Professional Igoral Royal to mask the grey and create an over-lightness to my natural hair colour. Then the highlights, using Schwarzkopf Professional BlondMe Powder Lightener 9+, will add that sunkissed shimmer to my style. "Igora Royal is a range of permanent colours that offers a range of beautiful shades reflecting shine with no underlining pigment that is flat or matte. It also covers grey hair seamlessly and develops to look natural while being true to shade. But it’s over time, as your colour grows out, that the results are lasting. It won't appear brassy as it fades."
Sporting a regrowth (I had not had my colour done for eight weeks), after consultation with Morgan, we decided on a biscuity blonde (I hate how my hair throws warmth and appears brassy, I wanted a cool, creamy shade of blonde, especially with summer coming), but I was not a tricky fix. My hair is 50 per cent grey at the front (thanks, mum), so the base shades to cover are a blend of light, cool blonde (8.1 and 8.11 with six per cent developer). Then to add some symmetry and blend my dark roots (with only a sprinkling of grey hair) from the crown to the back is a slightly lighter colour. "Lightened by a few shades, the recipe to lift my natural colour and blend with the front of my hair is a blend of medium to light blonde colour but on the cool side (8-1 and 7.10 and 8.21 with nine per cent developer). The overall biscuit-like blonde will flatter my skin tone once those face-framing highlights get in there, created using foils of Schwarzkopf Professional BlondMe Powder Lightener 9+ with a six per cent developer, will see me summer-ready. All the Schwarzkopf Professional colour collections contain technology known as FibrePlex. "Schwarzkopf was the first hair company to build that technology into high-lift blonde colour and the powder lighteners (bleach). Fibreplex works to create additional bonds in the hair to protect the core structure of the hair, so it's not damaging your hair during the colouring process."
The Schwarzkopf Professional BlondME Colour service at Morgan & Morgan The Hair Collective.
The hair spa experience
After 40 minutes, it's off the basin (but not like we know it) for the colour to be washed off. I am ushered to a private shampoo pod that screens out the laughter and bustle of the busy salon, and it’s here that the relaxation begins. A lie-down-flat chair with a headrest (no pressure or pain on your neck) kicks off the washing process. A double shampoo with Schwarzkopf Professional FibreClinix Fortifying Shampoo, which every client has post colour, with an uninterrupted massage from the vibrating bed-like chair, and the healing hands of the hairdresser removing my colour. Double toning glazes will smoke out the roots, so there is no demarcation line showing where the foils start and eliminate any residue brassiness on the ends of my hair stays on wet hair for 15 minutes. This is complete by a heavenly head massage, including a hot towel. I reluctantly leave my cocooned pod and return to the styling station.
My Schwarzkopf Professional BlondMe home care
Schwarzkopf Professional BlondMe Cool Blonde Shampoo, $42. Schwarzkopf Professional BlondMe Cool Blondes Neutralizing Conditioner, 38.
The take home
A visit to Morgan & Morgan is more like visiting a hair spa than a hair salon. Every detail is geared toward a premium customer experience. The coffee, with any milk combo you like, the calibre of top products used to create the colour without compromising on hair health, along with the decades of combined experience in the room (most of the staff have been there over ten years and are in their 30's) is what sets this seaside salon apart. I got exactly what I wanted. The cool biscuity blonde with a hint of warm highlights gives my hair tons of definition. The styling, a signature smooth blow dry I like, with a centre part (I am trying to transition from my lifetime of a deep side part), emphasises those face-framing highlights and makes me feel super glamorous. With that smudge of deep blonde at the roots, my cool-toned blonde will grow out seamlessly. I adored my Schwarzkopf Professional BlondME colour service at Morgan and Morgan; my colour has much more dimension and texture galore - I will be back.
A Schwarzkopf Professional BlondMe Colour Service at Morgan and Morgan ranges in price from $250-350.
Here are the tips and products to try now.