Stages Hair Design has two salons in Bristol and a strong reputation for hair extensions in the area. Keen to offer tailored professional services they have a diverse client base drawn to the talents of each stylist. The Stages team organise the annual Miss Bristol pageant with a catwalk show in the heart of the city. Their client’s include the stunning Miss UK 2013/14 Kirsty Heslewood shown here with her Gold Class extensions.

Taking charge of Gold Class are James Jenkins based at the Patchway salon and Jade England, who was a recent finalist at HJ’s Extension Specialist of the Year, for the Stoke Bishop salon. We caught up with them both to ask more

What is the most asked question about extensions?
Jade: Will extensions damage my hair? and How long will they last
James: Will they damage my hair?

Which celeb is the most requested hairstyle for extensions?
Jade: Kim Kardashian & Cheryl Fernandez-Versini.
James: Michele Coombs from the X-tra Factor

Tell us your best hair transformation story
Jade: Here is my client Diana, she has extremely baby fine hair and struggled to keep her hair in any style. When I suggested hair extensions as an option she was really shocked thinking “I’m way too old!” and “I don’t think I’d like long hair“. Everyone presumes hair extensions are for that ‘glamour’ look. Here we have achieved a natural, thickening effect with no tell tale signs of hair extensions. Extensions aren’t just glamorous… they are life changing. With the Healthy Hair Days philosophy we replace her hair extensions every 3 months and each time we see her confidence shine when she leaves the salon.

James: It has to be my mum’s hair she was the hardest to convince, but now cannot live without them!

What tips do you get your extension clients to follow?
Jade: My main tip is not to go to sleep with wet hair, as this is the main cause for matting and damage at the root. My second tip would be about using conditioner. Use your ears as a guideline to condition the mid lengths and very ends that need TLC and avoid the roots.
James: Regular maintenance every 2 weeks and that’s in salon with me!

What was the highlight of launching Gold Class in your salon?
Jade: Being the first salon in Bristol to work with Inanch and her exclusive brand. I have followed Inanch’s work for some time, then one day I showed a photo of her work to my manager who replied ‘That’s my friend Inanch’- #starstruck
James: Being part of the best hair extensions in the world and meeting Inanch.

Proudest moment
Jade: Making the final 6 stylists competing for HJ’s Hair Extension Specialist of the Year Award at this year’s Salon International.

Preferred music to work to
Jade: Again as our clientele is so varied, our music is too! Some days we have music from the 80’s … Disney themed, then current chart music.
James: Easy listening in the background.

Which industry show do you never miss and why?
James: Pro Hair and now its in London its even better.

What’s the next big thing for your salon?
Jade: We are hosting Miss Bristol 2016 at The Grand, Thistle hotel in April.
James: Doing the avant garde models for the Miss Bristol show

What do you like to do on your day off
Jade: Pamper myself… Nails, Spray Tans, and I’m usually getting back to clients via Facebook regarding enquiries and bookings.
James: Chill Out.

Have you got a hidden talent?
Jade: I can play the violin, and took exams when I was younger, unfortunately not any more!
James: Art pencil drawing.

What’s your favourite colour to work with at the moment
Jade: I love pre blending colours to give a bespoke finish to every client. No hair colour is the same, and I think that it gives a much more natural finish.
James: Blondes.

Where do you get hair inspiration from right now?
Jade: Instagram
James: My mentors.

Your mantra/quote to live by
Jade: “Where’s Bank of Simon’s Credit Card?”
James: Aim for perfection.

Get booked in with the Stages Hair Team for a consultation at either their Patchway or Stoke Bishop salons and give them a follow on social media to see their work: Facebook & Twitter.

CREDITS: Kirsty Heslewood image thanks to David Freeman Photography

Set in the swanky Buckhurst Hill area of London, you will discover the beautiful Blo Bar. Described as a hub of hair, make up and glamour – it’s the perfect place for Gold Class Hair Extensions. They had to wait for us as we launched our Elite 10 and training was in late September, but the wait has been worth it making our hair the focal point in the salon. Owner, Clare Jones and her team share their love of hair here:

Tell us about your clients
Our clients are fun and social people who always wanting to look their best.

What is the most asked question about extensions?
Are they easy to manage?

Which celeb is the most requested hairstyle for extensions?
Rochelle Humes.

Tell us your best hair transformation story
It’s definitely a set of Gold Class extensions that have transformed a regular client of mine, even her husband calls us to say thank you for making his wife so gorgeous!

What tip do you get your extension clients to follow?
Brush the hair from bond to tip regularly throughout the day with your Gold Class brush.

What was the highlight of launching Gold Class in your salon?
Being a able to offer our clients such high quality hair that they love just as much as I did when I first had it put in mine. Its great to have the colour swatch that client’s can see for themselves just how amazing the hair and colours are.

Proudest moment for your salon
Opening the doors to Blo Bar when I bought it last October, there have been some changes made to the décor, putting my own stamp on it. The salon is ultra feminine and unique with a boutique style. Since October all our stylists are now trained and experts in colour, extensions and cutting. We have recently taken on Philip Kingsley products, which works brilliantly with Gold Class, It is such a fabulous product, and really benefits the quality of our clients hair.

Alison has also continued her Fashion Week work heading up a team for Anna Popovic at LFW, and then heading to PFW to work alongside Darren Fowler for designer Bernard Chandran creating some beautiful hairstyles (images left). Most recently she has been working on the new Christmas M&S ad.

Preferred music to work to
Anything current, but not too ‘pop-py,’ Whatever comes on Spotify, especially Justin Bieber at the mo.

Which industry show do you never miss and why?
L’Oreal Colour Trophy Grand Final – it’s a wonderful creative showcase.

What’s the next big thing for your salon?
We have just taken on the highly respected product range Philip Kingsley to sit alongside our Gold Class hair extensions. Launching that will be big news for us and not to mention Christmas and lot’s more glamorous hair!

Putting owner, Clare under the spotlight …
What do you like to do on your day off? Spending time with my family, working out and of course, shopping!
Have you got a hidden talent? I can sing!!
What’s your favorite colour to work with at the moment? Blondes are my fave right now, I’ve been doing lots of really warm tones and apricots blondes.
Where do you get hair inspiration from right now? I always really like Olivia Palermo’s style.
Your mantra/quote to live by Don’t dilute your dreams. Keep your passion concentrated and strong.

Get booked in with Blo Bar for a consultation now and keep following them on social media: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram to see more of their fabulous work.