The Baroque Bob: Spring’s Luxurious Haircut
Is the Baroque Bob your next haircut and style? Google searches have surged by 1,000%, suggesting the timeless cut is a trend to watch. What exactly is the Baroque Bob Haircut? It's the newest hair trend of 2024, a nod to the French bob but with a twist. Picture the elegance of Downton Abbey, where intricate finger curls meet smooth waves, evoking a sense of sophistication reminiscent of 17th-century art and architecture.This bob typically grazes just above the shoulders, boasting a blunt cut with ample layers to infuse volume and texture, resulting in a soft yet playful demeanor. Like its namesake, the Baroque bob boasts a sculpted finish that adds an ornate touch to any look.Why Choose the Baroque Bob? The Baroque Bob encapsulates:Elegance: The clean lines and classic shape of the Baroque Bob epitomize elegance, making it a perfect choice for those who appreciate refined beauty.Versatility: Whether you prefer a sleek and sophisticated look or a more relaxed and tousled style, the Baroque Bob can be customized to suit your preferences, making it suitable for any occasion.Low Maintenance: Unlike some elaborate hairstyles that require lots of styling and maintenance, the Baroque Bob is relatively low maintenance, allowing you to look effortlessly put together with minimal effort.Timeless Appeal: As evidenced by its enduring popularity, the Baroque Bob transcends fleeting trends, ensuring that you'll always look chic and put together, no matter the season.
Whether you have fine or thick hair, this haircut complements a variety of hair textures and face shapes. For those with finer hair, the Baroque Bob adds dimension and volume. For those with thicker hair, the cut’s structured silhouette and tailored layers offer a solution to manage and tame the hair, providing a polished and refined look without sacrificing the natural texture and density of thick hair. How to Style the Baroque Bob
For a sleek and polished look, begin by applying a heat protectant spray to towel-dried hair to shield it from heat damage. R+Co Bleu's Hypersonic Heat Styling Mist offers superior protection from major heat. This working hairspray seals in moisture, adds shine, softness, movement, memory and soft hold. High-tech polymers protect the cuticle from thermal damage up to 450-degrees. Next, using a round brush, gently pull sections of hair downwards while directing the airflow from the hairdryer downwards along the shaft of the hair. Focus on smoothing out any kinks or frizz, working your way around the head until each section is dry and straight. For added shine and smoothness, finish with a blast of cool air to seal the cuticle and lock in the style. Optional: Run a flat iron over any stubborn sections for an extra sleek finish. Complete your styling with a spray of R+Co's Trophy - a styling spray that adds the right amount of texture, volume and shine to any hair type.To create soft, romantic waves, apply R+Co Bleu's Hypersonic Heat Styling Mist to damp hair. Then, dry your hair before using a curling iron. Starting from the mid-lengths, wrap small sections of hair around the iron away from your face, holding for a few seconds before releasing. Vary the direction of the curls for a more natural and voluminous effect. Once all sections are curled, gently tousle the waves with your fingers to loosen them and create soft, flowing movement. Finish with a spritz R+Co's Balloon - a spray adds instant volume and texture with a great finish and hold - all without dulling hair or weighing it down.
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NYFW Spring/Summer 2024 Hair Inspo
The catwalks of New York City were set ablaze with the latest fashion innovations during the Spring/Summer 2024 New York Fashion Week. Amidst the array of clothing designs were intricate details that complete each look – including the hairstyles that effortlessly blend creativity with elegance. The runways this year were adorned with a spectrum of hair trends, ranging from playful whimsy to wet looks, fun buns, and undone hair.Playful Whimsy:
The runways were alive with a spirit of playfulness, as designers and hairstylists showcased hairstyles that exuded joy and vibrancy. From bold colors to unique accessories, whimsy took center stage. Models strutted down the catwalks with pastel-colored extensions, fun braids, and lots of ribbons. Take these looks as your inspiration to embrace your playful side by adding ribbons of your choice to complement your outfit into your hairstyle. 
Hair looks from Christian Siriano, photo source: Tresemme
The Undone Look:
Effortlessly chic and wonderfully messy, the undone look made a bold statement on the runways. Models embraced the natural texture of their hair, showcasing waves, curls, and bedhead-inspired styles. This trend conveyed a sense of carefree confidence, encouraging us to embrace our unique beauty without the need for excessive styling. From tousled updos to loose, flowing waves, the undone looks exuded an understated allure.
Photo credit L to R: Prabal Gurung show, Elle & 3.1 Phillip Lim show, Elle
How to achieve the undone look: Start by washing your hair with a volumizing shampoo to add a touch of natural bounce and movement. R+Co’s Dallas Shampoo and Conditioner is recommended as it adds vitality to fine, flat hair while nourishing and strengthening from root to tip. After washing, towel-dry your hair, allowing it to air-dry partially for that relaxed texture. If your hair tends to be straight, add loose waves or curls with a wide-barrel curling iron for an undone but intentional appearance. Embrace the power of texture and wave enhancing products like a texturizing mist, which can be gently scrunched into the hair to enhance its natural texture. R+Co’s Sail Soft Wave Spray is a lightweight spray designed to create natural, shiny, voluminous, and textured waves. The key is to avoid precision – tousle your hair with your fingers to break up any defined curls and add a touch of nonchalant charm. To finish, a light mist of R+Co’s Featherlight hairspray will maintain the undone aesthetic while keeping frizz at bay.
Fun Buns:
Buns took a fun twist this season, evolving into imaginative creations. Seen on the runways were buns adorned with quirky accessories, braided details, wet-looks, and relaxed buns. This trend added an unexpected touch to classic updos, proving that sophistication and playfulness can coexist seamlessly. 
Photo credit L to R: Khaite show, Vogue & Altuzarra show, Byrdie
There are endless ways to style a bun, and wearing one is an elegant way to manage your hair while adding sophistication to your look. To style, begin by brushing your hair to ensure it's smooth and tangle-free. For a classic and sleek bun, gather your hair into a high or low ponytail, securing it with a hair tie. Twist the ponytail and wrap it around the base, securing the bun with bobby pins. If you're going for a more relaxed and undone bun, instead of a tight ponytail, gather your hair with your fingers, allowing some strands to fall naturally. Secure the bun with an elastic band or pins, leaving a few tendrils around your face for a softer look. Experiment with different bun placements – high buns convey a polished appearance, while low buns exude a more casual, romantic vibe. Finish with a spritz of R+Co’s Featherlight hairspray to keep your bun in place.Wet Looks:
Designers and hair maestros at NYFW embraced the wet hair look with fervor, presenting modern and artistic looks - think Sirencore. Jimmy Paul, lead hairstylist for Jason Wu’s Spring/Summer 2024 show said that they wanted to make it appear that “the models just emerged from a shipwreck”. Some designers opted for a more structured approach to the wet hair trend. Sleek, pulled-back and up styles from the likes of Balmain and Givenchy presented both refined and unexpected looks.
Photo credit L to R: Anna Sui show, Byrdie & Luar show, Byrdie
Here’s how you can incorporate these ethereal & artistic wet styles into your spring and summer hair repertoire:Prep the Canvas: Begin with clean, damp hair. Applying a light styling gel or mousse will help enhance the wet look and keep your hair in place. R+Co’s Motorcyle Flexible Gel provides support and control of a gel with the flexibility and shine of a wax.Texture and Shine: Embrace your natural texture and add shine to undone wet looks for an tousled appearance by using R+Co's Optical Illusion Smoothing Oil. This precious nourishing oil smoothes texture, tames flyaways, adds separation and megawatt gloss.Sleek Structured Styles: If you prefer a more polished look, opt for a sleek, pulled-back style. Use a strong-hold gel to achieve a smooth, wet appearance. R+Co's Wall Street Strong Hold Gel provides a strong hold while giving a super-shine without crunchiness, flakiness or build-up.
Love is in the hair: pink inspo
Love is in the hair, and we have eyes for pink this Valentine's Day. This year, consider taking a leap into the world of pink hair color – a look that not only adds a touch of romance to your style but also lets you express your unique personality. Let’s explore the allure of pink hair and why it's the perfect choice to make a statement on Valentine's Day.Pink is a color that evokes feelings of warmth, tenderness, and affection. It's often associated with love, romance, and femininity, making it an ideal choice for Valentine's Day. In addition to its romantic connotations, pink also symbolizes youthfulness, playfulness, and creativity, making it a versatile color for expressing your personality and style.One of the most beautiful aspects of coloring your hair pink is the opportunity for self-expression. Your hair is a canvas, and choosing pink allows you to showcase your individuality and creativity in a bold way. Whether you opt for a soft pastel pink, a vibrant fuchsia, or a subtle rose gold hue, the possibilities are endless when it comes to customizing your look.
Hair by Noelle at ash salon
More pink hair inspo…
Image credit from L to R: First 4 - Pinterest, Byrdie
Whether you choose a soft pastel or a vibrant magenta, maintaining the perfect shade requires a bit of TLC. Here are the quality products and tips to maintain your radiant shade of pink: Cold Water is Your Friend: Hot water can strip away the natural oils from your hair, leading to faster color fading. Opt for lukewarm or cold water when washing your hair to help seal the hair cuticles and lock in the pink pigment. This simple switch can make a significant difference in maintaining the longevity of your color.Use Heat Protection: R+Co’s Chainmail Thermal Heat Protection Spray offers 450°F protection for use with hot tools, with flexible hold and a voluminous, smooth finish.Prefer a balm instead? R+Co’s Hot Spell Thermotech Blowout Balm gives you a smooth, bouncy blowout with 450° F heat protection.
Choose a Smoothing and Softening Shampoo and Conditioner: R+Co’s Television shampoo and conditioner duo provides everything you need for TV perfect pink hair: body, shine, strengthening, softening, and smoothing.
Regular Touch-Ups: Maintaining pink hair color often involves regular touch-ups to cover roots and refresh the overall hue. Consider scheduling appointments with us to keep your pink perfection in check and ensure that your color remains as vibrant as ever.