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Earn while you learn with a hairdressing apprenticeship!

Now is the time to claim a career of creativity, passion & enthusiasm on our hairdressing apprenticeship scheme! If hairdressing is the career for you, an apprenticeship is without question, the best path to achieve your goals & become a successful stylist on a salon floor!

Hairdressing Apprenticeship vs Full-Time Courses

Over the years there has always been debate between full-time courses offered by some colleges and apprenticeships however as an employer, we can tell you that you’ll find it a million times easier searching in the job market having completed an apprenticeship with a reputable salon, than if you were to go down the route of a full-time course. The knowledge and experience you gain whilst working in a salon environment is in-valuable and can never really be replicated in a full-time education facility.

At Major, we have the luxury of having our own in-house assessor which means no waiting to book in practical assessments! Darcy heads our education programme and once a week our training workshops are run from our Abington Grove salon where you’ll be able to book your own clients to help you progress, with the assistance and oversight of a senior member of our team.

On top of this experience, you’ll also be earning a salary whilst you’re gaining your NVQ qualification, as well as an almost certain new talent stylist position on one of our salon floors, once you’ve successfully completed your end-point assessment, taking enormous amounts of pressure off of you to find a suitable job offer in this competitive market.

Why MAJOR?

Love your job and you’ll never work a day in your life… Our team is the foundation of our company and we love what we do. Working with us will provide you with ample opportunity to excel yourself & achieve things you may never have thought you would. As well as our in-house training programme, you will learn outstanding people skills & customer service, transferable attributes into any industry. As well as this we reward our team with an extra week of paid holiday & time for yourself over the Christmas period, providing a much better work/life balance.

Working for MAJOR will also provide you with the opportunity to enter national & international industry competitions. Though these are not mandatory, this will build your reputation within hairdressing, thus furthering your career should you choose to move into the world of competition, session styling, TV work, movie costume & more .

Check out some of our TrendVision entries here…

To see more of our salons, team & work, follow us on instagram @majorhairdressing…

Careers

For applications or more information, head over to our careers page or email [email protected]

Please attach a copy of your CV & your predicted grades to all applications.

Thank you for reading & good luck this summer!

Meet some of our team…

Why book a hair consultation with your stylist?

At Major, we are all about listening. That’s why we offer all our clients a complimentary consultation before an appointment. That’s right, it’s completely no obligation to book and totally free. We want to give you the opportunity to sit down, relax and discuss what you would like to achieve with your hair, in a comfortable environment. Your stylist will be able to talk to you one to one and make sure they really understand how you would like your hair to look.

You wouldn’t decide to get braces without the help of a dentist. Or choose a new car without some professional advice and a test drive. It really should be the same with your hair. As experienced hair stylists, we love it when our clients ask us for their help and advice. We know what will work for you and if you’re unsure, we can guide you towards what will work best for your face shape, skin tone, lifestyle, and upkeep commitment.

A hair consultation is great if you are thinking about trying out a new hair colour or even a complete restyle. We have a number of colour technicians who will be more than happy to talk you through your options. They can asses your base colour, so they can tell which colours will work for your hair and how to get it to your optimum shade. Everyone’s hair is different – the exact shade, the texture, the length, the condition. This is why it’s best to speak to a trained professional first, so they can advise you on the colours that are possible, and the ones that aren’t.

Looking to book a free hair consultation? Download our app!

A consultation is the perfect way to ensure this happens. Your stylist will show you a colour chart, so you can see colours in real life and hold them up against your own hair to match them with your skin tone.

If you are having a completely new hair colour or cut, we will be able to give you an accurate quotation once you have had your consultation. Every colouring process is different – it’s an art! We would hate to give you a generic price over the phone, see your hair in real life and realise it will take twice as long as we thought – or, even worse, not be able to achieve the hair colour you want at all. Consultations allow us to continue delivering a high quality service for all our lovely clients.

It is also important that you have a skin test if you haven’t had a hair colour with us before, or within the last six months. This will check you are not allergic to the colour we use.

We apply a small patch of colour to your skin to make sure you don’t have a reaction – this needs to be done at least 48 hours before your appointment.

A hair consultation is also a great way to decide on a new hairstyle. Our stylists will discuss your new look with you, thinking about the practicalities and how easily you will be able to style it yourself at home. If there is anything specific you would like, bring along some photos to show us.

How will a hair consultation help you?

A consultation will help you to…

Decide on a new hair colour or style if you’re not sure what you want
Get the advice of a qualified, experienced stylist
Understand which colours will work with your hair
Get inspiration for a new haircut or complete restyle
Feel confident that your stylist understands what you want
Explore new ideas and learn about your hair type
Relax and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee!

To book your free consultation, please call 01604 708228 and speak to the salon of your choice – St Leonards Road, Weston Favell or Abington Grove. Alternatively, you can book directly through our booking app or online system.

If you don’t know the stylist you would like, we will match you with a stylist who can meet your needs. There is absolutely no obligation to book an appointment afterwards, and the consultation is completely free. We hope to see you soon and begin discussing your hair transformation!

Looking after your natural hair after lockdown…

The 20’s have arrived, and admittedly, it hasn’t been the best start to a new decade, but it’s all up from here!

“The new normal” is the phrase of the year, and that may hold a different meaning to everyone. We’re crossing roads when we see an oncoming person, Prada are making face masks and our hair is longer, greyer and drier (that’s if you haven’t had it done yet)… But that’s okay because I’m here to give you some tips on how you should be looking after your natural hair after lockdown.

Maybe you’re growing out your natural colour after lockdown, or maybe you’re liking your hair longer and are just seeing where things go? Whatever the reason is though, I’m going to give you some tips on looking after your natural hair, and straighten out some common misconceptions on how to keep hair healthy.

Next time you’re visiting one of our hairdressers in Northampton, ask your hair stylist for tips & advice bespoke for your hair type! We’re always happy to share our knowledge and there may even be a quick and easy solution to a recurring issue you’ve been having!

Common issues

Split ends…

Split ends are the no. 1 problem you’ll run into when growing your hair without a regular trim. You may have heard the phrase, “you need to get your hair cut to grow it”, which doesn’t make much sense on the surface I know… But when an end splits, it’ll continue to split further up the hair follicle until either it gets to the root, or breaks. In turn this will cause your hair to look much weaker around the baseline and eventually result in thinner hair.

The solution?

If your hair is long, taken care of, and you’re growing it, 10 weeks is really the max you’d want to leave it between visits to keep it healthy. However, if you’re not a fan of heat protection, and a big fan of daily straightening, then this will be sooner…

To dry or not to dry?

Definitely dry! You may have heard that allowing your hair to air dry is better for the condition, but I’m afraid this is a myth (sorry if you have super thick hair that takes an age to dry)!

The Spaghetti Analogy…

Hair absorbs moisture, much like spaghetti, and when spaghetti absorbs too much moisture it falls apart…

…but don’t get me wrong, you’re hair isn’t going to fall apart like some grossly overcooked pasta, but it does weaken it.

The Solution?

Whenever you have the time you should always use an appropriate heat protector and blow dry your hair in a downward direction from root to end.

TIP: With heat protection products always check the degree of protection, as some don’t offer enough protection for hot tools such as straighteners.

Big fat lack of shine?

You’re not the only one! If you’ve had colour on your hair for some time, then you’ll be noticing that shine fading. When tint is applied to your hair it glosses over the cuticles which in turn creates that awesome shine. Unfortunately it’s not as easy on natural hair, but it is possible!

How?

By using a blow drying cream & decent serum alongside a heat protector and good drying technique, you’ll be creating a blinding shine in no time! Just be sure to use high quality products or it’s very easy to overload your hair, which will just make it look lank.

#HereComeTheCurls

Tasked with battling your curls? The spiral of your curls means the natural oils from the scalp won’t travel as far, meaning your mid-length & ends will be dryer. So what can you do?

Solution?

I’d recommend using serum or argan oil through the mid-ends daily, and not washing your hair too much, a couple of times a week should be plenty. Elastic cream serums such as Sebastian’s Twisted is also brilliant for controlling frizz when drying with a diffuser.

DIFFUSER TOP TIP: Scrunch large sections of your hair into the diffuser head, then don’t touch it. Dry until it’s 85-90% dry and then leave it.

What’s next?

If you haven’t had your “post-lockdown” trim yet because you’re growing it, then you’re going to need one to stop those ends splitting and promote healthy growth! Especially with the weather we’ve been blessed with!

Give us a call on 01604 708228 to book, and your stylist will also be able to give you some professional, tailored advice for your hair type & how to achieve your hair goals!

FUN FACT: The sun is more damaging to your hair than bleach.

Thanks for reading

Ralph

Please read our new reopening update here before visiting the salon…

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A post shared by MAJOR (@majorhairdressing) on Jul 16, 2020 at 9:49am PDT

Some of my favourite products for natural hair types…

Sebastian Potion 9

System Professional Luxe Oil

Sebastian Trilliant Heat & Shine Spray

Sebastian Twisted

TrendVision Entires Are Open!

Once again it’s that time of year, the beginning off the best event in the hairdressing calendar! TrendVision 2020 has arrived!

Wella is now coming into their 19th year of showcasing the TrendVision awards ceremony! In our opinion, one of the best events to bless the hairdressing industry back in 2002. TrendVision is a competition that allows us in the hairdressing world to exhibit our creativity and gives hairdressers a platform to really hone their craft and explore areas of the industry that typically aren’t accessible in the day to day.

This year is an exciting one, as we have the pleasure of entering some of our team across several categories. 2020 will be introducing many new features, including new categories, as well as a brand new instagram entry process!

2019…

We were lucky enough to attend the 2019 finals back in September, hosted by Vernon Kay. We had the opportunity to view the stunning stage shows by the Sassoon Academy and the now ‘British Hairdresser of the Year’, Robert Eaton! Cocktails were flowing and due to the new central circular stage, we were able to see each look up close and converse with the competitors about their chosen styles. #bringon2020

TrendVision Finals

The TrendVision finals have always been hosted at the RoundHouse in Camden Town, making the night even more special. A true staple in the calendar and win or not, it’s always an evening to remember! We always love networking with so many industry professionals & mixing with some of hairdressings elite, including Errol Douglas, Nicky Clarke, Patrick Cameron & many more.

Our Entries…

Darcy Major (@darcymajor_hair) | Colour Artist & Editorial Look

Gemma Collins (@gemmaatmajor_hair) | Editorial Look

Alex Redding (@hair.byalexandra) | Editorial Look

To book in with any of our TrendVision competitors, call us on 01604 708228 or book online!

Please click here to follow us on instagram & keep up with our latest work…

Thank you for reading.

Hair Colours For Spring 2020

Spring is now almost upon us and we’re seeing the movement in trends across the country as we embark into the (hopefully) drier and brighter weather! Here we have for you our predictions for the hair colours of spring 2020!

In commercial hairdressing, we see a huge variety of styles on a daily basis, however we always notice the colours changing with the seasons. Now we’re ‘springing’ out of winter, hair is getting lighter, we’re seeing highlights making a comeback, moving away from the low balayages, and most of all our guests are craving the shine of healthy, richer colours.

Below is some of the recent work coming out of our salons, and colours which we predict to be trending throughout spring 2020 into summer.

Auburn Blonde

This colour is stunning. A perfect combination of tones using Wella Blondor lightener and Wella KPme tint to exhibit both the blondness of the colour, as well as the shine.

Breakthrough Colour

In contrast, the creativity of this darker colour is excellent. By taking big underneath sections, a breakthrough effect has been created, giving this look amazing movement.

Pink Dream

Let me just start by stating that not every hair type can achieve this. However, this 2020 TrendVision entry shows some amazing colour work. Pastel colours as far as I can see aren’t shifting anytime soon, because… just look.

Au Natural

Generally we’re finding a shift away from the super-platinum, white blondes we’ve seen over the past couple of years and more of our guests aiming for a more natural blonde. This is a much more sustainable, healthy colour and requires significantly less maintenance in terms of toner top-ups.

Sun-kissed

This probably takes No. 1 in my personal list. I love everything about this, the layering perfectly compliments the chunky, sun-kissed look highlights.

To book in for your free colour consultation, call us on 01604 708228 or book online to the right hand side…

When considering colour, always take the best care of your hair in terms of aftercare and treatments to improve the condition. We recommend that all of our colour clients consider WellaPlex in colour treatment. This will make your hair stronger, allow your colour to last longer and create more shine!

Thank you for reading our hair colours of spring 2020, and we hope to see you soon!

Sulphates… Are they actually that bad?

I’ll just start by saying in all MAJOR salons, we stock products that are Sulphate & Paraben free, as well as products that contain an amount of sulphates.

Sulphate-free products are hitting the high street in force… But what are the facts?

You may have seen a surge of sulphate-free products hitting shelves in stores and online over the past year or two, and there has been a huge increase in sulphate-free product sales. Across the web there is also a lot of doom & gloom thrust upon products that contain sulphates, but don’t believe everything you hear.

What is sulphate?

The short answer is, sulphate is the additive that lathers a product to enable it to clean whatever it is more effectively. Most commonly you’ll find sulphates in soaps and toothpastes. The lather helps remove dirt, oil & build up more efficiently, and therefore takes a fraction of the time for you.

There are also a few different types of sulphates, some are harsher than others. However, they are effective and on most hair types are perfectly safe to cleanse your hair and scalp.

When should you steer clear?

If your hair or scalp is naturally drier, or you have curly hair, then you may find that products containing sulphate can take out too much natural oil, and therefore creating further dryness. This is the same for your skin, soap containing sulphates can also absorb too much moisture if your skin is prone.

The Conclusion…

So if you’re happy with the result of a product that contains sulphate and it’s not cleansing out too much natural oil, there’s no reason to stop using it. However if you’ve been thinking, “my hair is dryer that it should be”, then it may be the time to make the switch. At first you may find that sulphate free products don’t lather as much, if at all in some cases, but stay persistent and you’ll find the effects of them will greaten.

Thank you for reading, I hope I could shed some light on some of the urban myths. There’s no one size fits all, if it works for your hair, keep on with in!

Ralph Major.

Click here to follow us on instagram…

Product of the month

MAJOR Powder Grip

Last year we had the pleasure of launching a new product under the MAJOR brand and behold the MAJOR powder grip!

A truly brilliant product that this month, took the top spot on the best seller list. This is a matt, root lifting, texturising powder, that will provide hold and texture for all hair types. For long hair this product is perfect to get that extra grip when working with up-dos. For short hair you will find it provides a pliable hold but with enough gusto to style in any way you choose.

The entire MAJOR haircare line is completely cruelty free & never tested on animals!

Do you have lack of volume? Maybe you’re sick of that ‘freshly washed’ frizz. We’ve got you covered. Next time you’re in for an appointment, ask your stylist for some info and they’ll be able to show you exactly how to use the product, how much to apply etc, in the best way to compliment your hairstyle.

We stock our powder grip in all of our salons, so swing by to pick up yours. Whilst stocks last!

In store only £13.95

Click here to check out the rest of the MAJOR haircare range…

Direction of use

Shake a small amount onto the targeted area, be it roots for volume or mid-ends for texture. Work through the hair and style to the desired look.

For texture on the mid-lengths and ends, apply to the hands and work through the hair. This will add body and texture to eliminate that ‘freshly washed frizz’.

Follow us on instagram to stay tuned with our latest works @majorhairdressing

Transform your hair in 2020! #newyearnewyou

New hair for a new decade!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to completely revamp your look? This is your time! Do something new for you this year, transform your hair. Recently we have completed some major colour changes for our guests and produced some absolutely stunning results.

We’re finding that generally, darker, much richer colours are trending in the UK. Our main priority is the condition of your hair. We strive to create work with incredible shine, texture & wearability, to enable our clientele to easily style their hair at home in accordance with their lifestyle, and look absolutely fabulous 24/7.

Recent guest transformations…

Hair by Anjel Hall @ Abington Grove

Hair By Darcy Major @ Weston Favell

This last transformation by Darcy Major was no easy feat. It took multiple visits with plex treatments every time to keep the condition great whilst lifting, but so worth it! Beautiful colour work!

Condition after colouring hair…

When talking to people about their hair, especially when talking about lightening hair, the number one concern of our customers is condition. And rightly so…

It’s no secret, colouring your hair can affect the condition of your hair, but with professional guidance & advice, together with proper application & process, it needn’t be an issue to worry about. Over the last two years, we’ve introduce the WellaPlex treatment to our menu and the response has been phenomenal. The treatment itself is mixed into the colour or bleach used, stage one will construct bonds inside the hair structure whilst it is coloured/lifted. This acts like scaffolding so the hair strength stays rock solid. Once the colour has processed we apply stage two for 10 minutes at the basin to restore the pH and prevent any further processing. Over time, this treatment will dramatically better the condition of you hair and you’ll be left asking yourself why it’s taken over 100 years of hair colouring history for a company to develop such a wonder product.