We all know that hair can be expensive to look after and maintain, but there are ways of avoiding the expenses and cutting the costs. Below are a list of tips and advice on on how to make the most of your money, when it comes to hair.

Use a ceramic metal round brush

As well as money, time is also wasted on hair. There are also some corners to be cut here too, like using a ceramic metal round brush for example. The hairbrush works like so…When blow-drying your hair, the metal heats up, this helps to dry your hair faster while also adding more shine to it. Because the brush emits heat, you can also style your hair with the brush. Loose curls are easily possible with just your brush and your hairdryer – eliminating the need for those hot roller sets and curling irons, and improving the quality of your hair.

Use less shampoo

Many women will no vary from their favourite, expensive, high-end shampoos and conditioners, but you can make those bottles last longer and save money with just one simple step in the shower. Simply, squeeze a small dollop into the palm your hand, then take several seconds to rub hands together in order to change the product into a rich lather. Because professional products are often highly concentrated, that smidge of product will increase in volume rapidly, gaining more for your money.

Saving on hairspray

If you want to style your hair yourself at home, then the answer is simple. Do not wash your hair. Hair is more moldable on the second day which means you won’t be working your way through cans of hair spray and masses of other styling products, in an attempt to tame wispy bit of hair etc.

Try Balayage highlights

If you want to lighten your hair with highlights and save money at the same time, then you should opt. for the more authentic-looking version called Balayage. Balayage is sexy ad subtle and its main benefit is that it requires little to no upkeep, the technique used places lighter colours casually through the hair in a way that more naturally reflects lightening after sun exposure. Because there is no upkeep needed, then you’re not spending the cash on salon treatment every 4-6 weeks, like you normally would.

Student nights

If you find yourself always at the salon, then why not take advantage of student nights? Many salons throughout the country offer student nights, so that their students can gain experience. This is a brilliant way to get your hair cut at a low price, just make sure you ask if the trainee is being supervised first! Expect to save 50 to 75% off the regular price of services.

Have you ever considered just how much you spend on Anti-aging creams every year? The answer? Too much. Half of the times, these wrinkle creams don’t even work. However, a pot of Active Chilean Rainforest Honey is proven to reduce wrinkles fast.

The product, retailing at £8.49, is to target lines on the face and neck and help reverse the signs of ageing. People, who are trying out the new beauty scheme, use it as a face mask twice a day, for around 20 minutes.

But anti-aging isn’t the only beneficial property of the honey. The honey has also been proven to be twice as efficient as normal moisturisers in reducing stretchmark’s and preventing sun burnt skin for peeling.

Beauty fans having been rushing to buy the honey in the US and now that it has finally hit the UK it is sure to sell out.

But what is it that makes this honey so different from normal supermarket honey. Firstly it isn’t pasteurised. This means that it hasn’t been stripped of all vitamins and minerals. It is also naturally acidic, high in antioxidants, and contains a variety of enzymes which help break down scar tissue and help make aged and sun-damaged skin more elastic.

Jamie Christie, The Active Honey Company, explained: “Active Chilean Rainforest Honey is a wonderful product as it can be used in such a variety of ways. It’s one of the most exciting skincare products to hit the shelves in Britain for a decade, no question. Chilean Rainforest Honey does have one, small drawback when used as a face cream – it’s a bit sticky.”

Active Chilean Rainforest Honey i

Making a statement with your nails is just as important as the clothes or accessories you wear.  This year the hottest nail trends included a number of eye-catching manicure styles that dazzled and shimmered.  Here are this year’s most daring nail statements.

Manicures That Nailed It

Moon manicures with a nude base colour and rounded black French tips with monograms make for a refined, retro-look, while a metallic or gold finish add a touch of glamour.  Those with a flair for nail art can experiment with a number of patterns like checks and stripes in colours like bright pink and bold blues.  Another trend is the polka-dot pattern, now seeing a comeback in clothing and accessory lines.  If you like the neutral look, dress it up a little with pointed black edges or a thin coral line.

For the adventurous, decals have never failed to add that touch of sparkle.  Whether it is a single diamond decal, crushed glass, or Swarovski crystals, a combination of the right decals can get you that stand out look. 

This year’s autumn collection features a shift from the bold pinks and blues to provocative shades like purple and maroon.  The metallic finish is also in, as is the understated, soft cream shades.  Runway shows featured a number of military-inspired greens that have also made their way into this season’s top-selling nail polishes.

Try on a few coats of this year’s daring designs and let your nails make your fashion statement.

Fed up of having short stubby lashes, which not even the most expensive of mascaras will fix? Then why not try semi-permanent eyelash extensions?

Eyelash extensions are increasing in popularity greatly; they have now become the most popular salon service! But, what exactly makes them so good?

The lashes are easily applied. Look natural and Semi permanent lashes last up to three months. The applications of the lashes cause no harm at all to your natural lashes and are applied to fit in with your ‘eyelash cycle.’ This method is a cheap and simple procedure where the eyelash extensions are attached to the eyelashes with the help of an adhesive.

The lashes look realistic and no mascara is needed! The after care of the lashes is pretty simple too… there is none! And when it come to get them off, they do it themselves! Eyelash extensions simple fall off with you base eyelash at the end of its cycle. It couldn’t be easier!

Part two

Scrub up well

How do you get the healthy glowing celebrity skin that you admire so much? Body scrubs are perfect for achieving this look, along with making your bod silky smooth to the touch. It’s very important to exfoliate your skin. Your body sheds skin cells at an amazing rate every minute of every day. If you don’t get rid of them, they’ll just keep lying on your skin making you look dull. No matter how much lotion you use, you’re will never achieve glowing skin if you don’t exfoliate. Grab a body scrub and hit the shower! Gently rub your exfoliator in circular movements on your entire body from the shoulders down, focusing on the legs. (You’ll want a facial exfoliator for your face and neck.) After this, rinse clean. Continue to do this 2-3 times a week for beautiful shiny skin.

Fake tan

Ok so here it is, you knew this one was coming, but if you’re a fake tan virgin fear not. Now technology is so advanced and the products so diverse (gradual self-tan moisturisers, wash-off, gels, sprays, lotions) that a fake tanning is virtually foolproof. But, just in case. We have included the top tips of how to apply fakebake successfully!

-Exfoliate properly- Exfoliating is important as a patchy tan is simply due to the skin flaking off at different intervals. Exfoliation gets rid of the dead skin cells and provides an even canvas for a tan to be applied to.
-Avoid waxing- If you’re waxing, do it the day before. Not only will it take off the tan if you do it afterwards,
-Pick your spot! – People always put fake tan on in the bathroom where the light is not particularly great.
-Take your time! –The key to perfect coverage is to give yourself enough time for the entire process including: moisturising, application and, crucially, drying time. This might be as long as an hour.
-Moisturise- Dry areas of the body, such as the knees, elbows, wrists, ankles, feet and hands, soak up more fake tan, making them darker. So apply a moisturiser to make sure your tan is as even as possible.
-Equip yourself- Only a beginners use bare hands to apply a tan. Always wear latex or vinyl gloves to protect my hands and to ensure that you get a streak-free finish.
-Work upwards-To avoid smudging the bits that you’ve already done, work from your feet upwards and do your arms last of all.
-Let it dry- Your tanning product will tell you how long you should leave it to dry. Mousses will generally dry quicker than creams or lotions.

TIP: If your tan is still tacky, use a hairdryer on a cool setting to gently blast your body and help it dry.

Spice up your life

They say, “You are what you eat!” so be a hottie in more ways than one by eating that natural fat burner, chillies. Chillies are really easy to incorporate in a meal, whether you blend them for a spicy chillie sauce or chop them up within a pasta dish!

Oils

From body oils to give you a hot glow to hydrating oils to leave your skin silk smooth, there are many oils out there available to buy which can help enhance your appearance… just get looking!  Feeling stressed? Why not try a healing balm? And for irritated skin, try adding a few drops of pure lavender, tea tree or myrrh to plain lotion, witch hazel or aloe vera gel to soothe everything from spots to sunburn. At this rate you’re going to be scrum-diddly-umpcious on that beach!

And finally…

Body envy affects us all even if you say it doesn’t (and even the celebs!) so resist the urge to keep comparing yourself to other women laid on the beach. Whether it’s your soft skin, gorgeous smile or your strong legs, be happy for the things you do have and try and forget about the other things that you’re maybe not so happy about. Always remember the important rule, as long as you feel beautiful, you look beautiful!

Part one

For most of us girl out there, the summer holidays and the sunshine is what we crave. Whether you chilling on the beaches, or shopping in the sun, it’s important to look your best. Here’s some tips and advice that we have put together to ensure you look as hot as you possibly can this summer!

Size wise

Firstly, the right suit for your shape is essential to looking killer on the beach. Which is easier said than done, right? Has anyone else had the awful experience of searching for that one swimsuit/ two piece that’s just right for you, but instead spent hours trailing around shops and trying on endless alternatives that all make you look disgusting?

The key is understanding what body shape you are and what type of bikini looks good on you.

For those who are small on top; you may not want to try the smaller Brazilian-type swim suits as they seem smaller on top,. You could also look for a top with underwire, padding, or a top with a demi-bra style. Avoid tops with too much fabric or tops that don’t fit properly and try to look for separates because then you can mix-and-match your top and bottom sizes. The perfect alternative for you is the ruffled tops or tops of the bandeau band style.

For those who are big on top, what you need is support! Underwire and halter tops are perfect for providing this whilst providing you with cleavage! Look for a one-piece with a structure bust, this style really compliments your body shape and helps balance out your body. Avoid strapless and bandeau tops and again, it is a good idea to buy separate top from bottom sets.

Those with short legs or short bodies look best in suits that are high cut on the thigh, this makes your legs look instantly longer! Vertical stripes and block colored bottoms paired with printed tops are perfect for attracting attention upwards and adding instant inches onto your height. Alternatively, a bloc swimming costume with a ‘plunge’ neckline can also achieve this look! It is very important for smaller people to avoid boy shorts and ‘frilly’ bikini bottoms.

Long body shapes look brilliant in horizontal strips or block bright colors- very ‘in’ right now! Boy shorts are beautiful bikini bottoms are just the thing for you! Although If you prefer wearing a costume rather than a bikini, go for one which has ‘cut-out’ areas as it will break up your body.

If this all seems like a bit too much, why not pass the stress onto a professional? Debenhams Personal Shoppers are the perfect people to search and bring you the best alternatives and are experts in matching up body shapes to swimsuits. They also stock a great range of sizes and best of all the service is free with no pressure to buy.

Get groomed

Great grooming is a sure way to look good and feel confident. A wide range of treatments are available and practical to achieve at home and a variety of methods mean there is something simple and easy out there to suit everyone. If you don’t fancy doing all the work yourself, or you have enough cash to splash-out and book an appointment at a beauticians where a wide range treatments are available ranging from eyebrow waxes to cellulite and stretch marks.

Grab a brew

Throughout the day, try to sip green tea as appose to the regular earl grey. Green tea helps rid your body of fluid and make you feel less bloated. If you can’t stand the bitter taste, you should try a blend made with citrus, which helps promote cleansing in the body and the removal of toxins. Green tea has many other long term benefits such as helping prevent conditions such as: cancer, arthritis, high cholesterol levels, cardiovascular disease, infections and immune problems.

Yoga

Even after just one class we can guarantee you on your way to a firmer stomach, not to mention relaxed body and mind. Along with classes before you go, why not see if there are any at your holiday destination. Otherwise learn a few simple moves so you can do some stretches before you hit the beach!

The sizzling sun would be the perfect thing to assist you in enjoying your relaxing holiday, whilst chillaxing with a cool beer on the poolside. Being outside in the sunlight might appear to be a good thing, since it provides are skin with vitamin D a crucial vitamin for sturdy bone growth. It even provides us with an amazing tan! But an excessive amount of sunlight or limited protection from the sunlight can be extremely harmful too!

So what specifically makes the sun so threatening…?

The sun is dangerous because it emits invisible UV rays that are continuously striking our skin when we are in daylight.  This can cause a big issue when being out in the sun for long intervals, as UV rays continuously hitting out skin can lead to sunburn.

Why then, is sunburn a problem?

Many people do not see sunburn as a major problem in the UK. Sunburn is exceptionally bad because once burnt; it means staying inside and missing out on the rest of the holiday, staying covered and an increase in wrinkles. Sunburn often leads to sunstroke and over-exposure to UV lights it the prime cause of skin cancers.

So, how do I protect myself?

There are many methods that can be completed to ensure that you are under maximum protection from the sun, these include: Wearing the right protection, (sun cream, sunhat, sunglasses and when thinking about your wardrobe, choose stylish, but sensible clothing options.) taking regular breaks from being outside and making sure you are inside during the hottest times (mid-day.) Water is also essential when attempting to protect yourself from dehydration.

Which sun cream is right for me?

Various people burn at different rates. Red-haired and blonde people with light-coloured eyes are more inclined to burn faster than dark haired people. This is because ‘Blondes’ and ‘RedHeads’ have a lower amount of melanin in their skin (the stuff that protects you from the sun!) Thus, the type of sun cream you need entirely depends upon your own individual needs.

Sun creams are ranked in accordance to SPF (sun protection factor.) -The higher the SPF number the stronger protection. Whatever SPF you opt for, just bear in mind, sun cream must be applied at least once every two hours and if you find yourself swimming or sweating a lot, it needs to be applied even more.

When selecting your sun cream you should also consider the unique properties of the sun creams available. There are a variety of different types of sun cream available including: waterproof, all day sun creams and invisible sun creams making applying the sun cream more enjoyable and manageable without ruining your ‘flow.’

So we had a look in the last post on how to get your skin summer ready, so now we will look at other details that will get your body ready for its summer holiday and what to do while your away to keep it in tip top condition.

Hands and feet

Normally before I go away I like to have a pedicure and manicure, if like me your feet have been hidden away all winter in boots and in pumps over spring then there is a good chance your feet will need some attention before your bare them on holiday. When you have a pedicure all your dead skin is scrubbed away leaving them softer and brighter, your nails will be filed and polished making them look nice and tidy and then you can be finished off with a coat of polish For holidays I always like to have a French style manicure and pedicure as its simple and goes with anything you wear so you won’t have clashing colours with your holiday wardrobe.

Hair

I also like to make sure my hair is in tip top condition before I go away especially if I am visiting hotter climes. A trip to the hairdressers to sort out my ends, a hint of colour and a conditioning treatment normally does the trick! Whilst I am away I also look at keeping my hair conditioned and I cut down on the styling, so the extra heat and chemicals are kept to a minimum. One product I will be taking with me this summer is Kerastase Huile Céleste, which is their new summer sun hair care protective spray. It is conditioning oil which protects against the damaging properties of UV and other chemicals your hair is exposed to over summer it also enriches your hair and leaves it with a soft and shimmering finish.

Protection

Finally whilst you’re away its important you protect your skin from harmful UV rays and avoid burning your skin. When applying sun tan lotion you should be looking to use a shot glass full for your body and a full teaspoon for your face. Some lotions last all day with only one application needed however these tend to have a protection of 20, so if your fair skinned you need to look for something higher to get better protection.

If you have been good and exercising since New Year’s like you promised, you should be fit and ready for summer, however there are some other things you need to prepare before your fully summer ready and we have a list below which will give you a helping hand:

Exfoliate

It’s important to exfoliate your skin and you can do it easily and lightly everyday with a gentle body scrub of light exfoliate. Rub in circular movements on your entire body from the shoulders down and rinse clean. You can buy exfoliates specifically for your face as these need to be gentle so you don’t miss that out. You should then be rid of dull, dead skin and ready to moisturise.

Hair removal

During the winter our legs tend to be a bit more neglected, if your anything like me you only notice it’s time to wax when you resemble the Yeti, so now spring is upon us it’s time to get our pins sorted. Regular waxing over the summer months works well if you keep up with, eventually you will find less and less hair grows back, but you must perceiver with. Shaving can be a quick and much less painful way to remove unwanted hair and is great if you need to get your legs out last minute.

Hydrate

Moisturising is important all year round, in winter it stops the cold air and heating drying out your skin and in summer it stops excessive temperatures, air con and chlorine from pools drying out your skin. In winter you tend to use heavy creams such as body butters, and for summer lighter lotions that won’t feel heavy on your skin and melt away when the temperatures rise. Light floral moisturisers, especially those with a hint of colour in them are great for summer.

Summer glow

Speaking of a hint of colour, because of all the dangers of UV light we wouldn’t recommend using a tanning bed instead go for the fake option, with fake tan. Over the years clever scientists have been mastering the art of self tanning so now you will be hard pressed to find one that streaks and smells of biscuits. You will also be problem free if you make sure you always do step one, exfoliate beforehand. If you’re scared about going too dark straight away you could always try tinted moisturiser as mentioned above, they build up a gradual colour and look more natural, so you won’t end up looking like an extra from Jersey Shore. 

The fashion industry changes every few months.  This includes not only clothes and accessories, but also makeup styles.  With so many known chemicals in products today, it’s no wonder many women are trying to find the best way to switch to a more earth-friendly makeup.  There are a few things to remember when choosing makeup that is more eco-friendly.

Eye shadow is a bit of a tough one because they don’t tend to offer the option of wood or plastic casings.  However, there are some brands that do offer refillable cases.  Chose a company that offers shadow refills instead of purchasing an entirely new container each time.  One in 25 women doing this would save 350,000 pounds of containers each year.

Consider a mascara that is made from minerals and plants instead of the typical petroleum products.  If this cannot be done, save on environmental rubbish by avoiding mascaras that come with heaps of packaging.

Choose foundations that come in glass containers that make them reusable instead of foundations that come in bottles or tubes.  This will help conserve a massive amount of manufacturing energy that it takes to produce bottles and tubes.

When looking for eyeliner, minimize waste by purchasing pencils that are in wood as opposed to liquid containers or plastic encasements.  Each time they are sharpened, the wood shavings are biodegradable, whereas plastic is not.  If one person in every 20 switched to wood pencils, almost 10,000 pounds of plastic would be kept out of the landfills each year.