Having now had the pleasure of visiting the incredible place that is Duck and Dry at the Oxford Circus branch and desperately want to move in, I absolutely loved everything about the place.
Walking in there is an instant feeling of calm and as you walk up the stairs, oddly whilst there is without doubt hair care tools at work, they are the not the first thing you notice or hear. Inside is an oasis of calm, a place that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but one which is welcoming, warm and I really enjoyed my experience.
The purpose of my visit was to not only have the most incredible blow dry but to try some of the products from Hask. HASK is the 'free from’ Hollywood stylist approved haircare brand and it has been used on more Hollywood Film & TV Sets than any other hair care brand, including the likes of La La Land, Atomic Blonde, Rough Night, Bad Moms, OITNB, Girls, Modern Family, American Horror Story and Stranger Things… to name a few and it is launching in the UK.
HASK is a collection of hair care products featuring exotic oils and other unique ingredients from around the world. The range includes shampoos, conditioners, deep conditioners and shine oils based on the key ingredients of Argan Oil, Monoi Coconut Oil, Charcoal Citrus Oil, Macadamia Oil, Keratin Protein Oil, Bamboo Oil, Kalahari Melon Oil, Chia Seed Oil, Superfruit and Mint Almond Oil. HASK Shampoos, Conditioners and Shine Oils are free of sulfates, parabens, drying alcohols, phthalates and gluten. Each system was developed to target and solve specific hair care needs.
Whilst at Duck and Dry I was asked what my hair is like, what products I use but more importantly what I wanted from my hair, the tools I used and any underlying concerns. Quite refreshing to talk honestly about having combination hair - greasy roots and Dry ends and how often I have my hair trimmed, how I work with my existing curls and the best way to blow dry my hair. This is how at home I felt.
My hair was washed and dried using the Charcoal Shampoo and Conditioner and it is formulated to give you a deep clean and bring hair back to life. Charcoal is a hero ingredient derived from coconut shells in the Philippines and when used in this way it acts as a magnet and attracts and removes impurities – like product build-up – so you are left with hair that is full of body and shine. There is however something else with this range and that is the use of purifying charcoal with vitamin C-rich lemon and grapefruit oils. Together they invigorate and clarify the hair without stripping away any moisture, they also smells just incredible.
Once my hair was washed and conditioned, I am back to sit in an incredible comfy chair and the mirror in front of me is egged shaped and oval. It is here that my hair was transformed from looking like Worzel Gummidge having been rained on twice leaving the frizz to set in, to becoming a light and bouncy blow dry which worked perfectly with my hairs natural wave. Just before my hair was dried and styled, the addition of a Hask Oil was used and I opted for the Hask Nourishing Oil which uses both Monoi and Coconut Oil, reminds me of holiday and is non-greasy but does help hydrate and strengthen the hair.
Once my hair had been blow dried and my curls and waves made to look bouncy and flowing instead of rocking the dragged through a hedge backwards look, I was ready to go on and party the night away.
Whether you want an up-do, a blow dry, extensions, a bit of a trim or even just want to treat yourself to some pampering, Duck & Dry have a wide range of options available to you and as well as Oxford Circus, you can also find salons on Carnaby Street and on The Kings Road.