My mate Mike is sixty today! ~~ “HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE”!

As another poor photographer, he’ll understand that I couldn’t afford to buy him a card. In any case, they simply don’t do one that says: “Congratulations - you can now get an extra 10% at B&Q” !!

I knew I had a shot of him taken at my daughter’s wedding last year - so it was into Photoshop’s Extract filter to remove all evidence of the camera and tripod he was operating and of course, the background.

My own B&Q discount card (yes yes, I’m ancient too!) was scanned and added to the picture. Luckily, only a little bit of pixel pushing was required to make it look like he was actually gripping the card, and little drop-shadow under the hand for added realism.

Rather than drive to our nearest B&Q, a Google Image Search turned up a suitable new background.  Originally used to promote a new B&Q store, the shot was too sharp.   So I duplicated the layer and applied a decent amount of  Gaussian blur.  Then a layer mask was added and filled with a black to white gradient to blend the sharp image with the blurred version to realistically impart the shallow depth of focus you would expect in this type of scene.  Little touches like this all help to avoid the “cardboard cut-out” effect when replacing a background.

The “eye candy” picture is a publicity shot of American actress Molly Simm sitting in a rusty old wheelbarrow. Someone had made this into a mock B&Q advert, which has been kicking around the Internet for the past year or so.

A little added wording and “voila” - the card was complete. All in less than an hour.

Hmmm…. Come to think of it: That was an hour of “work” time, so all in all, it turned out to be quite an expensive Birthday card!

I hope the old fart appreciates it!

As a former press photographer I am quite used to seeing pictures designed to shock, to invoke thought, to stir up the emotions. Heck! I used to take them!

As a portrait photographer, however, I find myself judging pictures on their artistic merit, on their technical competence, and on whether or not they have “worked” as a portrait.  I ask myself: if I were the parent of a child in the portrait - would I be proud to hang it on the wall?

These two portraits were on the website of an American family portrait photographer. Now I should point out that prior to seeing these two images, I was pretty impressed with the standard of this person’s portrait photography. These, however, left me feeling very uncomfortable indeed. Maybe it’s a Feng Shui thing? I don’t know. I just know I don’t like them. Ironic really, when you consider that as a press photographer ANY picture that made you look twice, or that made you think about the subject, would have been adjudged a roaring success.

These shots give me the same feeling one gets when standing close to the edge of a very steep drop. Furthermore, do they give out the message to any other kids who might view them - especially if they were on the wall of a family friend - that it is okay to go and play down on the railway tracks?

So what do you reckon? Am I getting carried away? What do YOU think? Use the Comments link at the bottom of the page - That’s what it’s there for!

If your favorite salon is missing from the list
use the Comments form at the foot of the page to let us know

This guide has been compiled to assist in locating hairdressers and hair care professionals throughout the region. Primarily an aid to finding hair stylists, some of the ladies hairdressers listed may offer a wider range of services, including image consultations and professional advice on hair styles, hair extensions, hair colouring etc. Many also sell beauty products and cosmetics, or employ makeup artists and beauticians to provide manicure, pedicure, toning, and waxing. Where this information is known we have included it in the listings. These will be updated on a regular basis. The guide covers hairdressers in the North Wales counties of Denbighshire, Flintshire, Clwyd, Conwy and Gwynedd as well as west Cheshire and the Wirral.

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Abergele

Fays One, 1 Pen y Bont House, Bridge Street, 01745 832042
Highstyle Hair Studio, Stanley House, Bridge Street, 01745 833127
Lyn’s Hair Salon, 5 Water Street, 01745 823136
Pendant Hair Fashions, Clwyd Ave, 01745 832696
Snippers Hair & Body Shop, Chapel Street, 01745 833041

Bala

Golden Scissors, 113 High Street, 01678 520688

Betws-y-Coed

Halo Hair, Pendyffryn, 01690 710880

Buckley

Ainsley’s Hair Salon, 6 Brunswick Road 01244 543245
Carol Ann, Vounog Hill, Penyffordd, 01244 543469
David James Hair by Design, Burntwood Road, Drury, 01244 549187
Hair Design, 13 Mold Road, 01244 550800
Raymond Francis, 7 Central Precinct, 01244 546485
Tudor Salon, Padeswood Road, 01244 543627

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Hairdressers in Chester

Abra Hairdressing, 70 Foregate St., 01244 313606/317905
Americut, 77 Watergate Row South, 01244 326719
Andrew Collinge, 61 Northgate Street 01244 318818
Roger Barri Hair Design, 107 Brook Street 01244 327836
Boutique Hair Salon, 3 Level Rd, Hawarden 01244 535669
Boutique Hair Salon, 3 Broughton Hall Rd 01244 531366
Coyle’s Scissor Hse, 146 High St, Saltney 01244 681289
Evolution, Lower Bridge Street 01244 346798 www.hairmatters.co.uk
Dee Hairdressing, 108 Chester Road, Huntington, 01244 320942
Denton & Hyde, 45 Lower Bridge Street, 01244 345090
Essanelle Hair & Beauty Salon, Browns of Chester, 01244 322965
Flair, 60 Becketts Lane, Boughton Heath, 01244 324851
Hair Cafe, 5 Watergate Street, (01244) 400900 or 400682
Hair Directors, 24 Charles Street, Hoole, 01244 325956
Haircraft Studio, 39 Boughton, 01244 350432
Headmasters, 13 Lower Bridge Street, 01244 311519
Headquarters, 59 Watergate Street, 01244 312113
Jason Lee, 11 Lower Bridge Street, 01244 311969
Icon Hair Studio, 134 Christleton Road, 01244 322344
Jeswyn Hair Fashions, Brook Lane, 01244 325197
Mustique, 111 Garden Lane, 01244 373607
Pandora Hairdressing Salon, 5 Chester Street, 01244 671377
Raymond Jason, 11 Lower Bridge Street, 01244 314952
Regis Hair & Beauty, 11 Newgate Row, 01244 322242
Stage Door, 59 Bridge Street Row, 01244 348339
Saks Hair, 59 Watergate Street, CH1 2LB. 01244 341 212
Scissors, 36 Watergate St., 01244 318464/346477
Supercuts, 26-28 Northgate St., 01244 312675
Trinity Hairdressing, 11 Pepper Row, Pepper St., 01244 318101

Colwyn Bay

Athena Hair Design, 4 Penrhyn Ave, Rhos on Sea, 01492 541600
Bay Wave, 118 Abergele Road, 01492 534818
Brompton House Hair Stylist, 129 Conwy Road, 01492 531110
Caprice Hair Stylist, 12 Cefn Road, Old Colwyn, 01492 515130
Coiffure Ramis, 30 Princes Drive, 01942 530693
Cutting Room, 376 Abergele Road, 01492 512286
Gainsbro Salon, 166 Conway Road, 01492 530340
Hoi Polloi, 28 Abergele Road, 01492 536090 website
Kay’s Hairdressers, 29 Coed Coch Road, 01492 514430
Mane Attraction, 46 Seaview Road, 01492 533748
New Image Hairdressing, Colwyn Bay 01492 535531
Tim French Hair Salon, 62 Conway Road, 01492 532152

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Conwy

Clinton James Hairdressing, 157 Conway Road, 01492 572955
Cutting Crew, 19 Bangor Road, 01492 592592
Hair Care, Church Street, Glan Conwy, 01492 581121
Chris Oliver, Station Road, Deganwy, 01492 582547
Style Box, Gyssin, Aberconwy, 01492 596036
Townstyle, Station Road, Deganwy, 01492 581941

Corwen

Haircare, London Road, 01490 412158

Deeside

Amanda’s Hair Studio, 21 Broughton Hall Road, Broughton, 01244 537223
Boutique Hair Studio, 3 Level Road, Hawarden, 01244 535669
Cameo Hairstyles, Chester Road West, Shotton, 01244 813258
Carl & Co Hair & Beauty, 66 High Street, Connah’s Quay, 01244 813411
Clip Joint, 306 High Street, Connah’s Quay, 01244 812913
Cut & Dried, 45 Station Road, Queensferry, 01244 830226
Deb n Hair, 59 High Street, Connah’s Quay, 01244819286
Flair Hair Fashions, 8 Thornfield Drive, Connah’s Quay, 01244 812630
Head Masters, 3 The Cross, Queensferry. 01244 821899
Head Masters, 31 Chester Road East, Shotton. 01244 822733
Head Masters, 85 High Street, Connah’s Quay. 01244 822820
Joannes, 4 Ffordd Llanarth, Connah’s Quay, 01244 836111
New Style, 94 Welsh Road, Garden City, 01244 821302
Oasis Hair Company. 40 Station Road, Queensferry, 01244 819890
Salon Beautique, 60 Church Street, 01244 812915

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Denbigh

Denbigh Cutters, 21 Vale Street 01745 815840
E-Clipz, Back Row 01745 814111
Bricks Hair Studio, Chapel Street, 01745 814923
Hairazors, 14 Post Office Lane, 01745 816768
Michelle’s, Back Row, 01745 812264
Regency Hair Fashions, 21 Bridge Street, 01745 812007

Flint

Altered Images, Church Street, 01352 733202
Beyond the Fringe, 1 Prince’s Street, 01352 733385
Cut Above, 22 Halkyn Street, 01352 761636
Derek’s Hair Salon, 29 Duke Street, 01352 732354

Holywell

Eden Hair, 2 Cross Street 01352 714402
David & Kevin, London House, 01352 713026
Wavelengths Matisse, Tower Gardens, 01352 712340

Llandudno

Bruce the Hair, 4a Oxford Road 01492 879337
Brian Bates Hairdressing, 7 Mostyn Ave 01492 876908
Enigma, 6 Llewelyn Ave 01492 877628
Capelli, 1 Stephen Street, 01492 879800
Colin Gover, Reform Street, 01492 860810
Creations, 11 Lloyd Street, 01492 874123
Fair Hair Fashions, Mostyn Broadway, 01492 877317
Hoi Polloi, 125 Upper Mostyn Street, 01492 860129 website
Howard Wayne, 58 Alexander Road, 01492 876829
Inspirations, Mostyn Ave, 01492 872191
K2, Madoc Street, 01492 872942
Vogue Hair Fashions, 2 Mostyn Ave, Craig y Don, 01492 875738

Llangollen

Jades Hair Studio, Oak Street, 01978 860751
Roger Hair Fashions, 2 Chapel Street, 01978 860140

Llanrwst

Headstart, Station Road, 01492 640520
Siswrn, 2 Watling Street, 01492 642039

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Mold

Clifford Hair Design, 20 New Street, 01352 753952
Andrew Simon Redken, 7 Daniel Owen Pct 01352 755387
Carousel, 2 The Square, Mercia Drive 01352 752046
Andrew Clifford, Daniel Owen Precinct 01352 757176
Absolute Cutters, 22 New Street 01352 755388
Andaluz, Daniel Owen Square, 01352 750629
Beyond the Fringe, 119 Mold Road, Mynydd Isa, 01352 753577
David for Hair, Ambrose Lloyd Centre, 01352 752501
Jackson Hair Group, 18 Wrexham Street, 01352 753445
Shear Success, Main Road, Sychdyn, 01352 753906

Prestatyn

Chantelle’s, 18 High Street, 01745 852077
Hair at the Top, County Arcade, 01745 852712
Hairport Studio, 144 High Street, Prestatyn 01745 852555
Jacqui’s Hair Design, 245 Victoria Road, 01745 852665
New Wave Hair Co, 228 High Street, 01745 888420
Reginald’s, 4 Meliden Road, 01745 853447

Rhyl

Duet Hair Studio, 91 High Street, 01745 337758
The End Hair Design, 12 Brighton Road, 01745 337091
Evans of Allendale, 116 Wellington Road, 01745 334085
Gayles, Hair Studio, Foryd Road, Kinmel Bay, 01745 351335
Hair 2000, 22 Aquarium Street, 01745 338200
Hairena, 68 Foryd Road, Kinmel Bay, 01745 331414
Headlines, 160 Rhuddlan Road, 01745 330382
Images, Queen Street, 01745 350036
Michelle Gizzie in Town, 24 Elwy Street, 01745 353802
Profile, 3 Glangasgor, 01745 353387
Roots, 45 Kinmel Street, 01745 337494
Style, 26 Diane Drive, 01745 355870
Vanity Fayre, 163 Wellington Road, 01745 334060

Ruthin

Creative Image, 1 Well Street 01824 707388
Tudor Mane, St Peters Square 01824 703739
Anfried Hair Fashions, Denbigh Road, 01824 702841
Castlecourt Hair Studio, Castle Mews, Well Street, 01824 702129
Cut n Curl, Well Street, 01824 705943
Hairs & Graces, 55 Well Street, 01824 705681
Josephine Hair Care, Wern Fechan 01824 702339
New Image, Park Road, 01824 705830
Sculptures, 31 Clwyd Street, 01824 705333
Exchange Hair Salon Well Street, 01824 707202
Mayfair Hair & Beauty Salon Clwyd Street 01824 702191
Gayla House St Peters Square 01824-702469

St Asaph

Anne’s Lower Street, 01745 583353
Goldilocks, Abergele Road, Bodelwyddan, 01745 585606
Scissor Trix, Chester Street, 01745 583223

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Wrexham

Allwaves, 15 High Street, Southsea 01978 750085
Annelies, 37 Chester Street, 01978 261671
Carol’s Hairdressers, 12 High Street, Gwersyllt, 01978 756704
Chatters, 5 Prince Charles Road, 01978 358115
Cut & Curls, St Christopher’s, Holt Road, 01978 364959
Elwy Salon, 15 King Street, 01978 364070
Hair & Beauty Connection, 1 Tenters Square, 01978 350584
Jackson Hair Group, 9 Trinity Street, 01978 361746
Kay’s Hair Salon, New Road, New Broughton, 01978 720343
Michael Francis, 12 Brook Street, 01978 365414
Reflection Hairdressing, 1 Merlin Street, Johnstown, 01978 844214
Storm Hairdressing, 40 Rhosddu Road, 01978 353007
Belindas Hair Care, 44 Erddig Road 01978 364558
Cut, Shape n Face, 7 Town Hill 01978 356696
Deb n Hair, 18 Bryn y Cabanau 01978 310249
Fringes, 4 Priory Bldgs, Priory Street 01244 352681
Vibes, 57 Chester Street, 01978 312041
Topper’s Hair Design, Gladwyn Road, Little Acton, 01978 352274
Sylvia’s, 11 Bradley Road, 01978 364618
Styles, 17 Heol Maelor, Coedpoeth, 01978 758070
Strands, St George’s Crescent, 01978 350589
The Salon, The Ridgeway, Marchwiel, 01978 358781
Occasions, King Street, 01978 356437
Windsor Salon, New Broughton, 01978 757490

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To add an entry, update an existing one, or to write a review,
click on the word “Comments” below.

…has officially been awarded my “Best Blog Title” award 2008!

The Blog’s Dollocks is well worth a visit too, as it’s all about a not-too-bad football team!

Since we discovered Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre earlier this year, we’ve only seen comedies. We’ve also only ever sat “up in the Gods” - mainly due to booking at the very last minute.

Last night was different. Very different.

This time we were in the stalls of this lovely old theatre, which are set out with tables and chairs in cabaret style. You are escorted to your table (ours was right in front of the stage) by an usherette who took the time to explain how to get to the toilets and the bar. We were really made to feel special.

And the price of all this decadence? - Ten quid!  And if you arrive an hour before curtain-up, you can even enjoy a fine meal prepared by the Royal Court’s head chef Simon Collard – winner of the TMP New Dish For Liverpool.

As for the show itself.  It was the 1987 Stephen King Thriller, Misery.  I must admit, I had doubted a thriller such as this would translate into a stage play.  Boy was I wrong!  The publicity had promised we’d be on the edge of our seats - and they were damn right!

Ex Coronation Street and Early Doors actress Joan Kempson was convincingly psychopathic in the role of the terrifying Annie Wilkes.

Playing opposite her was Andrew Schofield.  Andrew was the archetype scouser in the previous two performances we’d seen at the Royal Court: “Brick up the Mersey Tunnel” and “On the Ledge“.   He was so very funny in both these comedies. 

In “Misery” he is cast in the role of Paul Sheldon, a famous american author, and his performance was nothing short of brilliant.

These two talented actors got a well deserved ovation from the first-night packed house and I can thoroughly recommend it.  Misery runs until July 5th.

A synopsis of the storyline can be found below: Continue »

Dring, dring…

“Hi Dad it’s Isaac…”

It’s nice, isn’t it, that they make the time to keep in touch,  Especially when they are all the way upstairs in the attic bedroom!

“I’ve sold the Iceman on eBay. Can you pop it in the post for me?”

Hmm. Why do I get the feeling this bad back is being milked for all it’s worth.

“No Dad… I told them it would be posted out today.”

In fairness, he has been bed ridden for the best part of three days. So I fell for it - despite the fact the chiropractor said he really should get up and moving around to supple up the muscles prior to his appointment on Monday.

For the benefit of the uninitiated, the Iceman is a six stringed axe-like instrument of doom (well, heavy metal at least), so “popping it into the post” was going to be more than just a quick lick-and-stick. One hour, yards of bubble-wrap, three disassembled then reconstructed cardboard boxes, and a disobedient stanley knife later and the Ibanez Iceman was on its way to its new owner. And I - having missed my footing on the post office steps - was limping my way back down Market Street with a dodgy back!

I wonder if I could get away with retiring to my bed to take advantage of room service and get everyone running around for me?

Yea right!

A Summer Garden Party is being held in Ruthin to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society.

The event is being held on the 21st June at 6.30pm and will feature a Hog roast/BBQ, various stalls and lots of good old-fashioned games.

And if that’s not enough - you can even grab a bargain in the auction of promises and raffle. The prizes include a membership voucher from the Vale Country Club and a voucher for a makeover photo session and framed portrait at BeautyPhoto Studios.

The venue is Rossignol, on the Mold Road. Tickets are £10.00 each and are available from Clemency-Joy Godfrey at Autoproducts (tel: 01824 707555)

Now I’d better think about starting again!