NOVAHAIR

Pro-Approved Techniques To Speed Up Your Blow Dry

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of walking out of the salon with a fresh blow-dry. Hair feels bouncier, healthier and shinier — leaving confidence levels at an all-time high. While your salon style may have an expiration date, there’s plenty of time to learn how to recreate the look at home.

Creating a blow-dry in the comforts of your own home can be challenging and time-consuming, but with a few pro-approved techniques you can easily speed up your blow-dry and transform your strands into a salon-worthy finished look.

  1. Start With a Pre-Shampoo Treatment

Stack the deck in your favour by adding an extra step to your go-to routine. Pre-shampoo treatments, like SCALP.SPA TREATMENT and SCALP.SPA SCRUB, soothe, balance and invigorate the scalp, leading to a better style in both the short and long term.

SCALP.SPA

Apply SCALP.SPA TREATMENT to dry hair before showering to remove dirt and excess oil while creating a luxurious soothing finish.

For extra exfoliation, SCALP.SPA SCRUB makes the perfect pre-shampoo treatment. Simply apply to damp hair, massage in small circles and rinse to reveal a hydrated, soothed and balanced scalp free of impurities.

  1. Be Choosy About Your Shampoo and Conditioner

It can be a great idea to have various shampoo and conditioner formulas in your shower to choose from based on the style you’ll be creating that day and the current state of your hair — ie. dry, lacking volume, or in need of definition.

If the hair feels dry, reach for HYDRATE-ME.WASH + RINSE.

HYDRATE-ME.WASH and RINSE

Strands need a little oomph, PLUMPING.WASH + RINSE is a must.

PLUMPING.WASH and RINSE

Want to define your natural texture? You’ll love SMOOTH.AGAIN.WASH + RINSE.

SMOOTH.AGAIN WASH and RINSE

  1. Dry Gently

When hair is wet, it is in a very fragile state, which is why you should invest in a microfiber towel to gently blot excess water from your hair. Using a towel too roughly on the hair can raise the cuticle, leading to frizz and breakage.

  1. Apply Products Based on Hair Type and Finished Style

It goes without saying that when blow-drying hair, a heat protectant should always be part of the equation. This is why it’s a great idea to start layering with HEATED.DEFENSE, a lightweight treatment foam that will nourish the hair and safeguard against heat damage.

Heated Defense

Next, apply a layer to cut down on styling time, extend the longevity of your look and improve style memory. Choose from EVER.SMOOTH, EVER.LIFT, EVER.THICKEN, or EVER.BOUNCE for style-specific results and a beautiful finish every time. *Pro-tip: Combine stylers ie. EVER.LIFT at the new growth and EVER.SMOOTH throughout the ends to add volume and control movement.

BLOW.DRY

  1. Use The Right Tools

A professional blow-dryer and quality round brush can all make all the difference when heat styling. A high powered blow-dryer gives you the control and air pressure needed to smooth hair while quality brushes (we suggest boar bristle) will add smoothness and shine to the hair while cutting down on damage.

ROUND.BRUSH

  1. Work In Sections

At home, you’ll find it is easiest to move from the back of the head to the front. This allows you to clip hair up and away from the face so you’re better able to see what you’re doing. As you work in sections, be sure to fully dry each one before moving on to the next to avoid frizz.

  1. Don’t Forget to Finish

Once hair is dry and cool, lock in the style by applying a finishing spray like SESSION.SPRAY for a flexible hold that also fights humidity. If you’re looking for an extra lift or want to add airiness to your look, opt for BEDROOM.HAIR or DOO.OVER to do the trick.

finishing stylers

FOHA Saving Fury Lives Since 1973 – Our March Community Outreach Partner

Each year, roughly 3 million cats and dogs in the US are euthanized without cause due to an overflow in shelters and a lack in adoptive homes. This March, Salon Khouri is partnering with FOHA (Friends of Homeless Animals), donating $1 from each haircut to this amazing, local non-profit. 

FOHA strives to bring an end to the unnecessary killing of companion animals, to provide a safe shelter for abused and abandoned animals, and to find a permanent, loving home for them. FOHA makes a lifetime commitment to each and every animal they bring into their organization. If at any point after an adoption, the adopter can no longer care for their animal, FOHA will welcome them back into their care and continue to search for a new home. They dedicate themselves to each and every animal, including those harder-to-adopt, and will make sure that they dwell comfortably in an individual space. 

Since 1973, FOHA has saved and placed in permanent homes more than 16,000 cats and dogs that would have otherwise been abandoned or killed. This success is the legacy of Anne Lewis. In the late 1960s, Anne was involved in an animal rescue – when another animal-related organization trapped a feral mother dog and puppies on the family’s property. Although she tried her best to save the animals, they were euthanized by the animal organization who had trapped them. Anne was unaware of the plight of homeless animals prior to this tragedy. So she decided to join a series of rescue organizations to prevent this from reoccurring. But she was unsuccessful in finding an organization that was faithful to a no-kill policy. So Anne founded her own organization, Friends of Homeless Animals, in 1973, and dedicated the remaining 32 years of her life to rescuing and caring for these innocent animals. So join us and FOHA this March to make a difference in our community, and to save countless lives of homeless cats and dogs. 

Trends from KEVIN MURPHY and M/FW We’ll See Throughout 2022

M/FW

2022 will be all about ditching your loungewear and actually getting dressed again. 

From wardrobe to makeup and hair, Melbourne Fashion Week 2021 proved that we’re all looking forward to bright colors and a shining future in 2022. Borrowing from 2010 silhouettes, we’ll see a range of tones from bold to pastel, oversized blazers continuing to make statements, knit dresses and minis galore alongside the addition of shimmer in the form of sequins and creative embellishment.

As the official hair partner of Melbourne Fashion Week, KEVIN.MURPHY is at the helm of creating some of the top hair trends we’ll see for the upcoming seasons.

Throughout the shows this year, irregular waves and undone finishes took over with accent braids and scarves doubling as hair accessories. Take a peek at some of the top hair trends from the shows and see which ones will stick around well into 2022!

Major Trends From Melbourne Fashion Week

Wispies

M/FW

Hair tendrils were a huge trend in the 2010s — the upgraded take on the look comes in the form of hair wisps this season. Pulling sweeping pieces of hair down around the face frame allows the wearer to have a little fun and accentuate features with a soft silhouette. Seen at the Secret Garden Runway, the KEVIN.MURPHY hair team created a deliberate hair wisp to accentuate the styles seen in this botanical oasis.

To get the look, hair was prepped with ANTI.GRAVITY from new growth to tips. Then, a curling iron was used to create positive and negative waves for the softest of finishes. To finish, SESSION.SPRAY + SESSION.SPRAY FLEX was applied to create an effortless “wind in the hair” feeling.

Bold Shapes

M/FW

Whether looking to accentuate an outfit or experiment with your go-to style, we’ll see bold statements take shape this season. The addition of bright colors, otherworldly shapes and style-specific accents took place at the Art X Fashion runway, paving the way for hair inspiration in 2022.

Take your style outside of the box with a contemporary shape this season by prepping hair with ANTI.GRAVITY.SPRAY, then split the hair and secure at either the crown or the nape and finish with SESSION.SPRAY for expert hold.

Restrained Elegance

M/FW

Slicked back styles and looks wavering on “wet” finishes were seen throughout the 2021 shows. An ideal silhouette to adopt as we head into the warmer months to pair with bright tones and cutout designs.

Taking guidance from the Student Collections Runway, the natural texture was stretched or reworked with a curling iron to form a soft slicked look. Once hair is refined, you’ll begin molding it into shape by laminating with LEAVE-IN.REPAIR, scraping hair back with a TEXTURE.COMB and then setting the look section by section with SESSION.SPRAY for a tight, silhouette and high shine finish.

Undone Side Parts

M/FW

Many of us will be working with our natural texture for the upcoming season. In order to refine the look, it will be key to create a deliberate part to turn undone finishes into highly stylized looks with ease.

Swift side parts and deliberate coifs created a balance of restraint and release at the Underground Runway show. The look was created by working with natural texture and applying SESSION.SPRAY and heat from a blow dryer to mold that hair away from the face and create lines along the crest of the head. For a refining look, consider applying YOUNG.AGAIN DRY CONDITIONER to get the look on long hair or SESSION.SPRAY on shorter lengths and then finish with SHIMMER.ME BLONDE to create high shine texture.

Freezin’ for a Reason – Supporting Camp Sunshine this January

Jennifer Elkhouri

For years, I’ve seen coverage of what I consider complete nut jobs jumping into FREEZING cold water in the dead of winter. I have always thought, “Why would anyone ever do that?” Then, I heard about the Virginia Polar Dip … and how it can help children battling cancer. Sold. I will do just about anything for these children. They endure treatments that are outdated due to lack of funding — in fact, only 4% of the National Cancer Institute’s research dollars are allocated to childhood cancer research. So, I figured the least I can do is jump into some ice cold water, scream as I am doing so, and maybe cry a little afterward, but most importantly, raise money and awareness.

Well, we’ve been jumping in this exhilarating event since 2015 and when I say exhilarating, that’s the kindest way I can put what that cold water feels like in February! And we have a few of our team members jumping this year: Sydney and her husband Taylor, Jelena, Olivia, Matthew, a Salon Khouri client and friend, Charleen, and myself.

Please help our by either making a donation (no donation is too small) OR signing up to PLUNGE with us on the Salon Khouri team! All funds raised will help send children with life-threatening illnesses and their families to Camp Sunshine. We are also donating $1 from every haircut we did in January to this effort!

2015 Polar Dip Cutting the Ice

Gotta cut through the ice first … 2015

 

2015 Polar Dip Jump

2015 Polar Dip Jump

 

2016 Polar Dip Jump

 

2016 Polar Dip Team

 

Our 2017 team

 

Our son who jumped on my behalf in 2018 because I had the flu.

 

2020 Post Jump – adrenaline was keeping us warm … for about 2 minutes.

Cut the confusion when it comes to hair color

Are you confused about the different types of hair color available? Not sure about the difference between demi and semi? Or what permanent and temporary actually mean when it comes to your hair?

Say goodbye to color confusion by reading our simple guide below.

At Salon Khouri, we offer three main types of hair color: semi, demi and permanent.

Semi-permanent color

Semi-permanent colors last for between four and 12 shampoos. They are gentle to use and simply coat the hair without penetrating it.

They work really well for adding color over blonde or lightened hair, blending greys, adding shine or refreshing faded hair color. They are also a lot of fun for “fantasy colors” when clients would like to experiment with fun color options.

Peach-PinkHair Color

Demi-permanent – to enhance and refresh

Demi-permanent color takes longer to wash out – up to 24 shampoos – because it penetrates the hair instead of just coating the top of it.

If you’re coloring your hair for the first time a demi color means no long-time commitment so chat it through with your stylist – we’re always delighted to advise and help you.

Demi-permanents work well if you want to avoid obvious root regrowth while having a longer-lasting color. They are great for blending greys or highlights, darkening the hair and adding shine.

Extensions Demi Permanent

Permanent pizazz

Permanent is a good choice if you’re happy with your chosen hair color. Permanent color penetrates deep into the hair, permanently changing its color which means it won’t wash out. It’s great for grey coverage and can also be used to lighten, darken or tone your hair.

You’ll have to deal with new hair growth, of course, but we can advise on the best way to touch up those roots when they start to show.

Even the most gentle, professional permanent colors can affect the condition of your hair. We always recommend clients add a KEVIN MURPHY Treat.Me Treatment or a KEVIN.MURPHY Masque Treatment to their color service. This strengthens and protects hair during the technical service leaving it looking glossy and healthy.

Thinking about a change? Why not try a fresh new color to brighten up the winter months? Call 703.273.7878, book online via our phone app (Salon Khouri), to book your complimentary color consultation.

Permanent Color

Our November Community Outreach Partner: Boulder Crest Foundation

Boulder Crest Foundation

A suicide epidemic claims the lives of 20 service members and veterans every day, and more first responders die by suicide than in the line of fire. Millions of other combat veterans and first responders live lives filled with despair, battling PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The current mental health system, with its reliance on a one-size-fits-all approach of pharmaceuticals and talk therapy, has failed to address the nature and scale of this challenge.

Enter in our November Community Outreach partner, Boulder Crest Foundation, a leader in the field of posttraumatic growth for veterans and first responders, as our November Community Outreach partner. The mission of Boulder Crest Foundation is to facilitate Posttraumatic Growth through transformative programs, world-class training and education initiatives, along with research and advocacy efforts to help combat veterans, first responders and their families overcome trauma.

The organization was founded in 2011 and opened its first center in 2013. It is led by founder and chairman, a 21-year combat veteran Ken Falke, retired Master Chief Petty Officer from the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) community. Ken is world-renowned as a forward-thinking, creative leader in the field of wounded warrior care, military and veteran transition, counterterrorism, military training, and innovative technology development. 

Boulder Crest Foundations programs support warriors, couples and caregivers, and families by providing rest and reconnection. One of their programs, Warrior PATHH, is a transformative, lifelong, Posttraumatic Growth-based training program for combat veterans and first responders. The training begins with a 7-day on-site initiation that is followed by 18 months of training delivered by our instructors through their myPATHH platform. 

Boulder Crest Foundation has a speakers’ bureau that includes Ken and Co-Founder Josh Goldberg as well as the institute’s professional team. This resource provides speakers and presentations to interested businesses, community groups, military units and schools. Speaker representatives have trained active duty military, veterans, first responders, and civilians at organizations including COMSUBPAC, SEABEES, SVAC Sierra Vista Area, U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy, Rotary Club of Winchester, Warrior Reunion Foundation, Semlec Police Mobile Operations Division, Accenture Federal Services, Leadership Loudoun, Shenandoah University, U.S. Marine Corps, United Rentals, and others.

We are honored to once again be supporting Boulder Crest Foundation this November and are donating $1 from every haircut we do this month to this wonderful local, non-profit. In addition to your support through your visits to Salon Khouri, you might also consider visiting the Boulder Crest website to become more familiar with this amazing, local non-profit. Other ways you can help are to purchase tickets to the Bluemont Vineyard Love Local event on December 2nd where they will be lighting 30,000 lights at the vineyard. A portion of the proceeds will go to Boulder Crest Foundation.

Kevin Murphy 2021 Holiday Kits Now Available at Salon Khouri

For a LIMITED TIME, order one of these amazing Kevin Murphy Holiday 2021 Kits from Salon Khouri, with free local delivery to Brambleton, Aldie, South Riding, and Stone Ridge, or free curbside pickup. And, anyone who purchases before November 10th will be added into a drawing to win a $150 Salon Khouri Gift Card!

Whether you’re spending this year on the beach or cozied up by the fire – everyone can agree that the holiday season should be highly decadent and effortlessly indulgent. With individualized ways to treat loved ones and cross must-haves off your own wish list, KEVIN.MURPHY is ringing in the holidays with six fresh gift sets that prove romance is still very much alive. If you’ve been searching for the perfect blend of sweet and sexy, take a peek at our Holiday 2021 releases that are very much KEVIN.MURPHY approved. #KMHOLIDAY2021

ANGELS HAVE WINGS

Turning heads has never been easier…

Curated For:

Fine, damaged or colour-treated hair in need of a little salvation.

What’s Included:

ANGEL.WASH – Transform, fine fragile hair by adding body and bounce.

ANGEL.RINSE – Nourish strands and treat damage with this weightless antioxidant-rich formula.

DOO.OVER – Dry powder finishing spray.

 

GLOW UP

Put some glow into your step…

Curated For: 

Anyone looking to plump things up in all the right places.

What’s Included:

HYDRATE-ME.WASH – Cleanse and quench parched hair with Kakadu Plum and Shea Butter.

HYDRATE-ME.RINSE – Provide luxurious moisture and impart endless shine with this hydrating and smoothing conditioner.

SHIMMER.SHINE – Lightweight finishing mist, with light reflective technology from high-end skincare, adds brilliant shine to the hair with no oily residue or added weight.

TENDER LOVE CARE

Put a little love in your hair…

Curated For: 

Anyone looking to plump things up in all the right places.

What’s Included:

PLUMPING.WASH – Build strength and add density while revitalising the scalp.

PLUMPING.RINSE – Condition strands, add volume and restore ageing hair.

TENDER.LOVE.CARE Hand Creme – Aromatic and nourishing, limited-edition hand creme.

 

ONCE UPON A BLONDE

Live your best blonde life…

Curated for: 

Refreshing blonde or banishing brass from lightened hair or naturally grey tones.

What’s Included:

BLONDE.ANGEL.WASH – Lavender-hued shampoo to revive colour and counteract unwanted tones.

BLONDE.ANGEL – A treatment designed to restore colour and revitalise hair to its optimum lustre.

FRESH.HAIR – Extend the life of your style and boost texture with this cult-favourite dry shampoo.

 

TANGLE ME NOT

Untagle yourself out of every situation…

Curated For:

Hair in need of renewal and repair, and clients in need of a little getaway.

What’s Included:

REPAIR-ME.WASH – Reconstruct dry, damaged strands and revamp frizzy, over-processed hair.

REPAIR-ME.RINSE – Deeply nourish and strengthen with Shea Butter and Pineapple Enzymes.

UN.TANGLED – No need to tearfully tear those tangles away – allow UN.TANGLED to do all the hard work for you.

Trending Hairstyles: Natural Movement

 

Whether working with natural texture patterns or recreating them with styling techniques, in addition to embracing individual texture, we’re seeing a polished styling trend that is leaning toward natural movement in all shapes and forms. From less deliberate curls to randomized wave patterns and a variety of patterns, this takes undone movement to the next level.

Where You Can Spot The Movement:

Drawing on the natural progression of the styles seen around the world, you can easily see natural movement in all its glory in our 2021 LOOK.BOOK. Highlighting the latest product picks, color trends and styles featured in our most-loved campaigns. One of our latest features, VELVET.FLORA was inspired by the opulence of 19th-century romance and glamour, shapes are refined yet wild, polished yet natural, and inexplicably individualized. Adding to this, the influence of fashion and nature built into the brand ethos are also echoed in the trend.

How To Create the Look:

It isn’t just about utilizing a single technique, it is about mixing them to create a more unplanned feel. “Movement that appears natural can be very hard to achieve, and even harder to maintain. It’s not as simple as just leaving your hair to air dry. Great looking natural hair always comes down to your product choice.” — Kevin Murphy

Each look has a beginning, middle, and end. To begin, you start by improving the health of the hair so that whether you’re working with natural air-dried texture, heat-styled, or a combination of the two, you’re able to begin with the best possible canvas. Regular use of a WASH and RINSE system like HYDRATE-ME.WASH + RINSE, which adds moisture and nourishment to the hair is ideal.

The middle is then all about product combinations and layering at the right times throughout styling to get the desired effect. For example, if you want to create curly texture but with more drawn-out shapes you’ll need a product that refines the shape but with a degree of style ability to reshape the structure. Depending on your hair pattern type either reach for MOTION.LOTION to deliver flexible, frizz-free hold or KILLER.CURLS to define curls and help strengthen and smooth strands.

The end is where the finishing touches come into play. No matter the look, applying texturizing, shine, or holding agents to the hair takes the style to the next level — from separating curls to highlighting shapes or creating style memory. A few of our favorites to finish include DOO.OVER for fresh texture, SHIMMER.SHINE for shine and the iconic SESSION.SPRAY for long-lasting style memory with a flexible finish that never flakes.

Making It Your Own:

People always want what they can’t have and in this instance, your natural texture can be exactly what sets you apart from others. This movement is all about creating a style that draws on your individual texture and makes it your own. There are no set rules about the type of curls to create, how to part your hair, or what products to use. It is more about picking a style that suits you, is fairly easy to create, and makes you feel like your most authentic self.

Keep your life colorful between appointments

Don’t fade away! There’s plenty you can do to keep your color fresh and vibrant until you’re back in the salon again!

Some like it hot…

But your colored hair won’t. Always use lukewarm water when rinsing it through – anything hotter may leave your hair dry and dull. And always go for sulfate-free shampoos which are less drying.

Hairdryer heat is another enemy of colored hair. When possible, let it dry naturally.

We’ve some brilliant at-home products to help protect your hair when washing. We love everything KEVIN.MURPHY!

And to make it look great even without the help of a hairdryer try our KEVIN.MURPHY HAIR.RESORT.

We also have a heat protectant HEATED.DEFENSE for those days when you just have to use a hairdryer.

Keep in trim…

A simple trim and tidy-up between color appointments will keep your hair in tip-top condition (and you looking amazing) and will give the best possible results when you next have it colored.

Book for a quick trim now if you’re between color appointments. Just call us, 703.273.7878 or text us at 703.776.9858.

Blonde ambition…

Ditch the dull and brassy and keep the fabulous with some of our home-use color revival products designed specifically for between salon visits. Ask us about our KEVIN.MURPHY BLONDE Regimen.

Don’t use them straight away between salon visits, only when the brassiness starts to appear and limit to once a week or as needed.

We also have revival products for brunettes and redheads including KEVIN.MURPHY AUTUMN.ANGEL.

Get back to your roots…

Don’t despair when your roots start coming through. You can try root touch-up pens that won’t damage your hair and wash out with one shampoo.

We’re really happy to give advice about rescuing your roots between color appointments. You could also try our WOW Color Root Cover Up.

Throw on a hat…

Love the sun? We do too – but your colored hair won’t.

Sunlight can cause the color to fade. Protect your hair (and your skin) from those damaging UVA rays with a wide-brimmed sunhat when you’re out and about.

Book your color consultation today

Why not book a free consultation with one of our hair color experts for advice and recommendations? Call 703.273.7878 or text us at 703.776.9858. Browse our color services and price list here.

Prevent, Disrupt, Restore – How Reset 180 is making a difference in human trafficking

Reset180 (formerly Nova Human Trafficking Initiative) works to prevent, disrupt and restore in the area of human trafficking in Northern Virginia.

PREVENT: Reset180 works to educate communities on what exactly modern day slavery looks like. Since 2010, their speakers bureau volunteers have provided prevention awareness education to hundreds of thousands of community members. The Reset180 speakers bureau empowers and equips the community to identify, report, and prevent human trafficking.

DISRUPT: Outreach and disruption teams focus on reaching out to both victims of trafficking and those who purchase them and hold them in captivity. Through prayer, policy change, in person and over the phone interactions, volunteers fight to disrupt the cycle of trafficking.

RESTORE: Since 2015, Restore180 has provided trauma-informed case management that provides access to vital services survivors need to stabilize and eventually live independently. This includes emergency financial assistance, safety planning, providing basic needs, access to legal services, working with the court system, therapy, enrollment in vocational programs, and a lot more.

Through each area of prevention, disruption and restoration, prayer remains a vital part of their process.

WV’s sex trafficking began at age 14 in Northern Virginia. She was recovered by law enforcement and referred to Reset180. Her trafficker was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the crimes he committed against her. Reset180 is walking with her through her healing journey:

This August, we are donating $1 from every haircut we perform to this amazing, life-changing, local non-profit. Help us end this modern slavery epidemic.