Hair extensions have experienced a significant surge in popularity over the past few years. It’s no longer just celebrities who are rocking long, luscious locks, but everyday people who are embracing the versatility and convenience that hair extensions provide. Jenny is our Extension Specialist at Oscar&Co. Jenny works with the highest quality European tape extensions that we stock in the salon. We think Jenny is one of the best Extension Specialists in the industry. Have a look at some of her work on her Instagram hair page @jennyvioletstyled

Let’s explore the reasons behind the rise in popularity of hair extensions.

Social Media Influence

Social media has played a significant role in the increasing popularity of hair extensions. With platforms like Instagram and TikTok, people have access to endless hair inspiration. Influencers are showcasing their hair transformations using hair extensions on these platforms. This has contributed to a more inclusive beauty standard, where people can experiment with different hair textures, colors, and lengths to suit their preferences.

Affordability

In the past, hair extensions were seen as a luxury item, and only those with deep pockets could afford them. However, with advances in technology and more accessible manufacturing processes, hair extensions have become more affordable and accessible to the average person. Additionally, the availability of a wide range of options for different budgets and needs has further contributed to the increased demand for hair extensions.

Versatility

One of the most significant advantages of hair extensions is their versatility. They can be used to add length and volume, as well as to experiment with different styles and colors. This allows people to switch up their look without making a permanent commitment, and it provides the freedom to try out different hairstyles and trends.

Ease of Use

Hair extensions are becoming increasingly user-friendly. At Oscar&Co we choose tape extensions. These are easy for a Specialist to apply and remove, making them an attractive option for people who want to switch up their look without committing to a more permanent option. Tape extensions require a 6 weekly maintenance appointment which involves re-taping the extensions higher up in the hair as it grows.

With more people looking to experiment with different hairstyles and trends, it’s no surprise that hair extensions have become a go-to solution for those seeking a quick and easy transformation. And it’s no surprise we are starting to get asked for these services more and more often. Book in for a complimentary consultation if you would like to learn more about this service.

Have you found your colour has not been lasting very well? That it has ended up too warm (or orange), or that your coloured hair is excessively damaged? Chances are, this is because your hair contains too many metals. 53% of New Zealand women have metals in their hair. This is the highest proportion in the world. Metals get into the hair when they are present in the water. Water that is used for washing hair often contains metals, as do the water in swimming pools, rivers and seas. When there is metal present in the hair, they heat up during the colouring process, which causes discolouration and breakage of the bonds inside the hair.

L’Oreal now offer a professional and retail Metal Detox suite of products. If you suspect you have a high concentration of metals in your hair, use the Metal Detox at-home products to ensure as many of these metals are removed from your hair before your colour service. During your service, ask your Stylist to use the back-basin Metal Detox products which will strip the hair of even more metals, before the colouring process begins. Then, continue to use the products after your service to ensure these metals don’t build up in your hair again, to ensure your colour lasts as long as it should. Speak to your Stylist at your next appointment if you suspect metal might be a problem for you.

During October, Oscar&Co held a workshop to present and photograph our seasonal trending hair styles. We also discussed the colours and cuts we can see being a big hit over Summer. 

The trending haircut is all about 90’s layers. Think of Jennifer Anniston in the 90’s with layers that never really went out of fashion. This season, the layers are more pronounced and also extend to shorter layers around the face, otherwise known as bangs. The bottleneck bangs create a wine bottle shape around your face. Coupled with lighter colour around the face, this gives a cute and cheeky look. 

In terms of colours, very soft strawberry blondes will make a come-back. These can be in hues of very soft pink or peach. We will see a lot of blondes turning to warm buttery shades and brunettes will go with dark coffee colours. 

Styles that we will see trending as we attend events this Summer, will be high and low pony tails, bouncy blow outs and an assymetrical look we like to call the ‘red-carpet flick’. Our team can create these looks for you on the day of your event. Booking in for a Seasonal Dry Style Trend appointment. Come to the salon with clean, dry hair and we will have you ready to go within the hour.  Enjoy!

There is no denying that it is a challenging and uncertain time for many industries, and no less for the Hair Industry.

For Hairdressers and salons, it is a time when the salon can be quiet one minute, while people are locked down or isolating, and the next minute, the salon can be extraordinarily busy following a long lockdown. This means it can be difficult to be sure you have the right number of Stylists to meet the demand at any point in time. With borders closed and so many salons scrambling for Stylists, it’s hard to be sure you will have the right number of Stylists to meet demand in the future.

Amidst all the uncertainty, Oscar&Co hair salon in Takapuna has taken the unique approach to invest in the future of hairdressing by maximising and fast tracking their internal training program. Historically there has always been a strong focus on training, but with the recent new ownership, training and education has been taken to the next level.

“Although times are challenging, it really is the perfect time to be investing in our industry so we can be ready for a time when the world returns to normality. We need to ensure the supply of top-quality Stylists in the next generation of hairdressers” says Oscar&Co owner Jen Andrews.

Ed showing Anika how to complete a polished blow wave on a mannequin

With 2 Emerging Stylists coming out the end of their Apprenticeships, Oscar&Co have recently taken on 4 new Apprentices who are now embarking on a demanding yet rewarding 4 year education program.

“The opportunity is incredible” say Hannah Ritchie and Awatea Williams who both started in the salon in the busy December post-lockdown period. “Every day I’m learning so much” says Leah Haldane, the salon’s newest Apprentice.

Oscar&Co’s newest apprentices (from Left to Right: Tea, Hannah, Lea)

Education is achieved through various continuing ongoing learning programmes including in-house training manuals, external consultants, external educators and probably most importantly, internal Senior Stylists. The Senior members of the team have been so enthusiastic to play a part in the education of the new Apprentices and really enjoy showcasing the Oscar&Co way within the salon.

“It’s so important to not only teach the basics, but also to teach our Oscar&Co unique approach of doing things” says Training Manager Karoline Wiesenhutter.

Training Manager Karoline Wiesenhutter

At Oscar&Co, the importance of communicating to guests what happens behind the scenes is strongly encouraged. Therefore, Apprentices will be showcasing their training work and achievements through their social media pages, predominantly Instagram.

It certainly is exciting times for our loft hair salon in Takapuna and we can’t wait to watch the team grow over the coming years.

Sustainability is so important to us. That is why we have partnered with Sustainable Salons who help us to recycle up to 90% of our salon waste including packaging, foils and chemicals. Sustainable Salons also repurpose cut hair and use it to clear up ocean spills, as well as going towards wigs for young children with cancer.

Another side to Sustainable Salons that our salon team are first to get involved in, is some of their charity work. Most notably, haircuts for the homeless. The team have had a lot of fun getting involved in this worthy cause in the past (refer photo), and look forward to a covid-free time when we can do it all again.

Find out a little bit more about what Sustainable Salons do through their informative video.

We look forward to continuing work with Sustainable Salons well into the future.

Most of your will know Jess, or have heard of her. Some of you have been waiting months to get in to see her. Jess is definitely one of our most sought after Colourists and Stylists with a long waiting list of guests lining up to see her. Jess is well known in the industry for her beautiful colour work. She really has an eye for colour and can provide guests with exactly the shade and tone of colour they are wanting.

Recently, the lovely Jess has gone on early maternity leave while awaiting the arrival of her twins. Unfortunately this meant she did not have a chance to say farewell to most of her guests, and hand them over warmly to an alternative Stylist who can look after them while Jess is on maternity leave. However, Jess has put a lot of thought into each and every one of her guests, and made recommendations to Kylie and Jemma about who each guest should see in her absence. Jess has thought about each guest’s requirements, their colour needs, their hair type and their personalities, to best match them with another one of our talented team. For colour work, most guests will be respectfully looked after by Yvie, Macey or Zeldene. Each of these colourists has been well trained over the years by Jess herself. For cutting and styling, Jess’ guests will be cared for by Ed, Phillipa, Jenny and Yvie.

We wish Jess well on her new and exciting journey and we can’t wait to see her back in the salon again soon, making magic with hair and passing on her talent to the new up-and-coming Stylists in the salon.

Welcome to the new Oscar&Co website. We think it is something pretty special. With our beautiful models, the site showcases some of the amazing work from our very talented Stylists. We have outlined the services we offer with an indicative price indication. However if you are unsure of what you are wanting, and what the exact cost will be, please come in for a complimentary consultation. Another new aspect of our website is the introduction of all our talented artists and support crew as well as a write up about each of them, so you know what their particular specialities are and where their passions lie.

In preparation to make the new website live, we had a fun couple of days preparing and taking part in a photoshoot to try and capture the true essence of our salon. We hope our energy and creativity really comes out in some of the shots we took. A special thanks to Ed @Edhair for organising the day, the full Oscar&Co team who all got involved in creating the most beautiful hair, Andrew Coffey for breathtaking photography, Bridie Holiday for her exquisite styling and model coordination, Aimee Waterhouse for stunning make-up, October Reign and Tuesday for providing luxe garments on the day and of course our beautiful models Caitlin, Elena, Lucca, Grace and Tyler who showcased their hair to maximum effect. If you want to see more of our work, check out our Instagram page @oscarandco_ as well as the pages of our talented Stylists: @Edhair, @hairbyyvie, @jghairartistry, @jennyvioletstyled, @z.does.hair, @hairbymaceyy, @grasshouse_hair.

We hope to present you with more of our work in the future. Until then, if there is anything else that you would like to see on our website, just get in touch, we love your feedback! oscarandco@oscarandco.co.nz