The complications are immense when it comes to women and their hairstyles — some are conservative and tend to stick with the tried-and proven looks that always work, while others like to experiment with new trends, and are always in the ‘hair and now’. Maureen’s Hair & Now caters to the adventurous woman and our Under the Dryer team has solid proof. Here are some chic looks created by Sandra ‘Maureen’ Gordon and her styling team — Cadey Haughton and Camelia Sinclair.

(Photos: Bryan Cummings)

Thainya Fletcher

Sophisticated Sweep

Thainya usually wears her hair in a ponytail or just lets it hang loose. On special occasions like today, however, she visits the capable stylists at Maureen’s Hair & Now for a sophisticated updo. Her hairstylist Cadey quickly gets to work.

The Routine:

Camelia first shampoos Thainya’s hair with Keracare Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner then blow-dries it in sections for approximately 15 minutes. After which a dollop of Hair Ecstasy Shining Colour Extender Treatment Silicone Polisher is worked through her tresses ahead of misting with Isoplus Design Hold for soft, yet lasting style. Cadey then takes over from here and uses a medium, barrel-heated curling iron to create spiral curls which she then gathers in a chignon, sweeping a few tendrils to the side and securing with pins to create a sophisticated updo… just the way she likes it.

To complete the look Avlon Keracare Humidity Block Oil Sheen spray is then misted onto her tresses for added shine.

Cardena Clarke

Tousled ‘n’ Teased

Cardena wants a look that’s trendy as well as classy, something soft and feminine without being too stiff. Cadey instantly decides on tousled, romantic curls to flatter her features. Here’s how she achieved the look.

The Routine:

Cardena’s hair is first shampooed with Keracare Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner, after which Cadey towel-dries her hair and mists it generously with Keracare Setting Lotion ahead of roller-setting. She then places her under the dryer for half an hour, after which she removes the rollers and works in a dollop of Pro Style Curling Bees Wax through her tresses. Using her fingers, she then teases Cardena’s curls into a bouffant-like style in the front and then gathers her hair into a low ponytail at her nape which she secures with hairpins for a classy, romantic effect.

Kemisha Lindsay

World of Curls

Kemisha likes to experiment with different looks, so it is important that she has a stylist who not only understands her hair type, but also knows how to style it. For her, Maureen’s Hair & Now is definitely the place to get a hot, new look, and today she is desperate for a change. Maureen immediately takes on the challenge, and she has to create the look in an hour and a half to ensure that Kemisha gets to work on time.

The Routine:

“Kemisha’s hair is naturally very dry, it needs a lot of moisture, so I always use moisture-rich products in her hair,” Maureen tells our Under the Dryer team. She then proceeds to shampoo her hair with Keracare Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner before working in a dollop of Smooth & Shine Polishing Shining Mousse. After which she sets her hair with spiral rods and places her under the dryer for half an hour. When this is finished, she removes the spiral rods and applies Keracare Dry & Itchy Scalp Hairdress to her scalp “to relieve irritation”, then works Pro Style Curling Wax through the strands to keep the style in place, using her fingers to “open the curls”. Avlon Keracare Humidity Block Oil Sheen spray is then misted onto her tresses to complete her fabulous new look, which, of course, she finds very flattering.

Michelle Brown

Maroon Chic

With her lustrous, lengthy, maroon-coloured locks, Michelle is naturally the envy of all her friends, and luckily for her she has a stylist who “believes in haircare”. She has an appointment in the afternoon, so she visits the salon today for a quick styling job. We watched as Maureen’s deft hands went to work.

The Routine:

Michelle’s hair was recently shampooed, so all she needs is a brief spin in the styling chair. Maureen first divides her hair into four sections and blow-dries each for five minutes to straighten out the kinks. When this is finished, she applies a dollop of Pro Style Curling Wax to her tresses and uses a ceramic flat-iron to style it for a smooth and sleek look. The knowledgeable haircare professional then spritzes her hair with Avlon Keracare Humidity Block Oil Sheen spray, explaining to our team:

“I assess the client’s hair and match it to a line of products because it is important to stick with one brand, so I don’t mix products. I use Keracare for persons with average to dry hair texture like Michelle’s, because it works best for them, but if the person’s hair is too soft, or too fine, it will make their hair limp.”

Laslene Topey

Cute Copper Curls

Laslene sports vibrantly hued tresses, which her trusty hairstylists at Maureen’s Hair & Now have helped her take care of for years. Today she visits the salon for a colour and style job å la her haircare expert Maureen. Here are the results.

The Routine:

Firstly, Camelia shampoos Laslene’s hair with Redken Colour Extend Shampoo ahead of applying a rinse — Phoenix Max@mum Conditioning Semi-permanent Colour Lotion — and placing her under the dryer for 20 minutes. When this is finished, she removes her and shampoos her again, also using Redken Colour Extend Conditioner to complete the process. She explains to our Under the Dryer team that this line of products helps to maintain the colour so that it lasts for a longer time. Lottabody Setting Lotion is then liberally applied to her hair to moisturise it and keep the curls in place, after which Camelia roller-sets her hair and places her under the dryer for 45 minutes. When her hair is dry, Maureen takes over the task, using Keracare Dry & Itchy Scalp Hairdress to oil her scalp ahead of finger styling for a soft and feminine ‘do. Avlon Keracare Humidity Block Oil Sheen spray is then misted onto her curly mane for added shine.

Camille Graham

A drastic change

Camille is certainly in the mood for a change, and a drastic one too. Today, her plan is to walk into the salon with lengthy, natural locks and walk out with a cropped, processed ‘do, and she was definitely in for a treat. Her capable stylist Camelia smiles and gets to work immediately, having already concocted a plan with her fellow stylist, Cadey, who also has big plans for Camille.

The Routine:

Camelia first uses a pair of scissors to cut her hair, then applies Mizani Butter Blend Base Scalp Protector to her scalp and hairline to protect against burning. She then uses REVLON Professional Conditioning Creme Relaxer, which she combs through the strands to straighten it. After which she uses REVLON Coloursilk Intensive Shampoo and Conditioner to shampoo her hair, ensuring that the relaxer is properly rinsed out. When this is complete, she works a dollop of Wella In-Depth Moisturising Conditioning Hair Treatment through her mane ahead of wrapping and placing her under the dryer for 15 minutes. She is then removed, rinsed and wrapped again with Smooth & Shine Polishing Shining Mousse before being placed under the dryer for another 35 minutes. Cadey takes over when this is finished, and she uses a razor comb to trim and properly shape Camille’s hair into a chic bob — a far cry from the style she sported just over an hour earlier. After ‘smoothing out’ the cut, she works in a dollop of Pro Style Curling Wax then uses a ceramic flat-iron to style it, completing the new look with Avlon Keracare Humidity Block Oil Sheen.

Twyla Barrett

Honey-blonde Highlights

Twyla loves her honey-blonde hair colour because it suits her so naturally, she takes very good care of it by keeping it moist and visiting the salon for treatments when necessary. Today she visits for a ‘touch-up’ and some highlights, as she finds that the colour is getting a bit dull. As usual, the capable Maureen is on hand to assist.

The Routine:

Maureen first applies Clairol Textures & Tones Hair Colour in Honey Blonde to her mane and places her under the dryer for 20 minutes “to allow for developing time,” she tells our team. When this is finished, her hair is immediately rinsed and blow-dried. The highlighting mixture is then applied to a few locks of her hair in the front and at the crown then wrapped with foil to create highlights. This takes about 10 -15 minutes to develop, after which the foil is removed and Keracare Neutralising Shampoo is used to wash the chemical out, followed by Keracare Hydrating Shampoo. Keracare Moisturising Treatment is then applied to Twyla’s tresses before she is placed under the dryer for another 15 minutes. After which, Camelia rinses her hair and works in a dollop of Smooth & Shine Polishing Shining Mousse ahead of blow-drying. Maureen then takes over once more to apply Pro Style Curling Wax to her hair which she then styles with a large, barrel-heated curling iron and mists with Avlon Keracare Humidity Block Oil Sheen for an added boost.

Nicole Palmer

Cropped ‘n’ Cute

Nicole sports a pixie cut, which she finds stylish, versatile and low-maintenance. She usually wears it slicked back for work, but on special occasions she gets it styled and unleashes her inner diva. Today she needs her usual shampoo and styling job, which her stylist Cadey is happy to execute.

The Routine:

Nicole’s hair is first shampooed with Affirm Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner then towel-dried and trimmed with a pair of scissors. Camelia then continues the procedure, using Affirm Foam Wrap Set Lotion to mould her hair ahead of placing her under the dryer for 20 minutes. When this is finished, Cadey takes over, adding a few rows of extensions to the front for fuller volume. She then applies Pro Style Curling Wax to her tresses to hold the curls and uses a small, barrel-heated curling iron to create a cute ‘do that suits her face wonderfully. To complete the look she spritzes her hair with Avlon Keracare Humidity Block Oil Sheen for added shine.

Hair and make-up by Sandra ‘Maureen’ Gordon, Cadey Haughton and Camelia Sinclair of:

Maureen’s Hair & Now

Shop 17, Princeville Plaza, Kingston 10

Tel: 969-6210