Ch ch ch ch changes!

Celebs are often sighted for their dramatic haircuts whether it be for a specific role or quite simply because they feel like a change. Drastically modifying your hairstyle can be extremely daunting, but also surprisingly liberating!

A new season is a great excuse for giving your hair-do a bit of a makeover - but we’re not just talking weather wise. If you’re embarking on a new job, a new age or merely purchasing a new dress – consider the additional revamp of a distinctive statement haircut too!

You may have found a defining look that works for you, and like Jennifer Aniston – you should stick to it. But if you’re game, it can be fun and refreshing to experiment with different hairstyles and cuts.

Here are some of the impressive and daring transformations that have really worked! Be inspired and consider making a ch ch ch ch change….

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This year the beautiful Anne Hathaway chopped her tresses uber short for her role as Fantine in the movie-version of Les Miserables. Although she was initially reduced to “inconsolable” tears as long hair was cut to inch-length, Ms. Hathaway seems to be “quite pleased” with her new look – and we must agree. Her crop chop really accentuates her stunning eyes. We just love it!
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After wrapping up filming of the final Harry Potter movie, Emma Watson made the bold move of cutting her shoulder-length locks into a super sweet pixie cut. This statement move, marked the beginning of her adult career which included becoming the face of beauty giant Lancôme. We think Emma’s shorter hair really suits her - it’s super sophisticated yet sassy!
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Keira Knightley has reformed her hair many times over. In 2005, she went from long wavy tresses to a choppy blonde crop. In 2009 her locks were back to shoulder length with a thick blunt fringe. But we absolutely love the short Sassoon-style bob Keira started rockin’ in 2011.
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After donning long chocolate locks, Natalie Portman shaved it all off for her role in V For Vendetta in 2005. Shocking you could say - but let’s be honest, with a face like that you can get away with just about anything! Ms. Portman pulled off a stunning short crop as her hair grew out, but she’s stuck to luscious long hair since then.

 

Get the look: Diane Kruger's chic and sassy summer braid

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When you’re in a rush but you need to look slick for a meeting, lunch date or evening out, it’s always handy to have a few go-to hairstyles up your sleeve. Diane Kruger’s relaxed side-laden plait is one to add to the list - it exudes both feminine elegance and bohemian glam.

Braids are a great choice for creating an instant statement style without having to rely on assorted hair-stylers and products. As well as being super on-trend this season, plaits are also a great option for protecting your hair from sun and heat damage.

Diane’s braided beauty is reasonably easy to fashion and provides a versatile, carefree style, perfect for hitting the beach or attending a fancy summer soiree.

Emulate the look by following these simple steps:

1. Roughly blow wave your hair for volume and texture. Run a matte styling product through your locks for added texture and hold.


2. Create a deep side parting to form 2 sections.


3. Braid a French plait down each side of your head, beginning just in front of your ears.


4. Create your French plaits by taking a small section of hair and parting it into 3 equal sections. Commence with a regular English braid and slowly draw portions of hair into the left and right strands.


5. Continue this process until the plaits meet at the nape of your neck.


6. Join the loose ends from both braids together and then section the hair in two.


7. Create a fishtail braid by taking a small piece of hair from underneath one of the sections and wrapping it around and over to join the second section.


8. Reset your hands, so you’re always holding two sections and repeat process with the other section.


9. Continue taking small portions of hair from under one section and transferring them over to the other section, until your braid is finished. Secure with a hair-tie.


10. Conceal your hair-tie by wrapping a small piece of hair around it.


11. Lightly tug the edges of your braid to create a wider, fuller looking plait.

For a slightly easier version, simply weave a loose English braid that rests over your shoulder, leaving wavy strands to frame your face.

Don’t worry too much about making it perfect – the tousled carefree look is all part of the charm.

 

Healthy foods for healthy hair

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Keeping your hair healthy, shiny and lush relies not only on what you put in your hair but also what you put in your gob. Your diet has a significant effect on the health of your hair, and your locks require important nutrients including protein, essential fatty acids, zinc, and vitamins A, C and all the B’s to stay in tip top shape!

Perming, colouring and using heated stylers can strip your strands of the nutrients that keep them strong and moisture-rich. A wholesome diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish and dairy can majorly improve the state of your tresses, preventing dull, brittle locks and the deceleration of hair growth.

Here are 6 foods that will help nourish your hair from the inside out…

Nuts
Packed full of necessary nutrients such as zinc, protein and omega-3 fatty acids, nuts deserve to be a staple nutriment in your hair-care diet. A healthy scalp is essential for a shiny, well-conditioned head of hair, and nuts provide two key elements for achieving this. Selenium is a great one for promoting a healthy scalp, as is vitamin E, which assists with blood circulation. Whether walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews or almonds – by snacking on nuts or sprinkling them over your salads and vegetables, you’ll start to notice softer, smoother locks with less split ends and frizz.

Legumes
Beans and lentils are an essential part of your nutritional hair-care regime. As well as generous offerings of protein, which is vital for hair growth, these power-foods are also a great way to inject iron, biotin and zinc into your hair. This combo of nutrients will ensure your tresses remain hydrated, shiny and supple.

Leafy Greens
Dark green, leafy veggies are chock-a-block full of vitamins A and C for a healthy scalp and resilient locks. Your body uses these antioxidants to help produce your body’s natural hair and scalp conditioner - sebum (an oily substance emitted by your hair follicles) - and maintain strong healthy hair by allowing your body to effectively absorb iron - avoiding weak and brittle tresses. Filling up on veg such as spinach and broccoli will help maintain strong, moisture-rich locks that will grow faster and break less frequently.

Eggs
Protein is an absolutely essential element for maintaining healthy hair, and eggs are a winning choice for attaining an ample supply. Boiled, poached or scrambled, eggs are considered to be a nutritionally complete food and they contain all the essential amino acids, which can only be obtained through your diet - the human body does not produce them. Your hair is primarily made up of protein, so it’s important to keep your levels up. With benefits such as thriving hair growth and stronger, brighter locks, having “an egg a day” really is a bright idea!

Salmon
The star nutrients in salmon are the essential fatty acids. As well as promoting a healthy, conditioned scalp, essential fatty acids also aid hydration and optimum hair growth. Additionally, salmon is rich in omega 6 and 9, protein, vitamin B12 and iron.  A salmon steak or a helping of salmon sushi on a regular basis is sure to provide the rich nourishment required for vibrant and bountiful locks. If salmon (or fish in general) is not your cup of tea, a few tablespoons of flaxseed oil a day is a great source of plant-based essential fatty acids.

Oysters
Oysters are a bit of an indulgent nosh, and are of course recognised predominantly for their “love potion” qualities. Yet these tasty little morsels are also packed full of goodness for healthy hair. Their central hair-care element is zinc – a mighty antioxidant that can prevent the thinning of hair and help boost your immune system, which in turn encourages hair growth. If you can’t quite stomach oysters, you can acquire zinc (as well as protein, B vitamins and iron) from beef and lamb.

The way of the hair straightener

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Transforming your hair into a myriad of styles is nice and easy these days. Gone are the days of endless hours of rolling, setting and styling your locks.

The joy of modern technology has enabled us to attain opulent curls and silky sleek straightness in a matter of minutes rather than many long hours. The ease and time it takes to style your hair with a hair straightener makes it the essential styling tool.

Whether you’re aiming for strictly straight or luscious waves, technique is key to creating the optimum style. Here are a few tips to help you achieve the full benefits of your hair straightener.


Voluminous Curls

1. Begin by blow-drying your hair for added volume.


2. Divide and clip your hair into sections.


3. Starting with the bottom layers, take inch-size sections for curling.


4. Hold the ends of your hair away from your head with one hand and with the other, hold the straightener vertically and clamp the roots of the hair.


5. Twist the straightener 180 degrees in either direction, so your hair creates a kind of ‘Z’ shape from the roots, through the hair straightener to the tips.


6. While continuing to hold the loose ends in one hand, slide the straightener down to the tips of your hair, maintaining the angle of the styler.


7. Twist each curled section around your finger to enhance the curl, before moving on.


8. Repeat this process until you’re a head full of lush waves.


9. Set your style with hairspray.

Tip: For tighter curls, coil each curl up to your head clip in place. Once your head is full of little curls, unravel them and hairspray.


Sleek and straight

1. Blow-dry your hair for added volume (use a concentrator nozzle attachment for smoother hair). Follow your brush with the dryer to the ends of your hair, smoothing each section as you go.


2. Divide and clip your hair into sections (consider where you want your hair parting and section accordingly).


3. Take inch-size pieces and starting at the roots, run the hair straightener down the strands to the ends, ensuring the straightener and hair are parallel to each other.


4. Brush or comb each section before moving on to the next.


5. Finish with a spritz of hairspray - spray a little hairspray on your fingertips and smooth any flyaways.

Note: We recommend using a heat protectant spray to shield your hair from heat damage and opt for a quality straightener with ceramic plates (not teflon). We recommend GHD stylers, you can purchase them through our online shop or at one of our salons.

The Yummy Mummy Lifestyle

As many of you will know, Wellbeing’s Rebecca Page has recently become a mummy, and a yummy one at that - Rebecca is the inspiration for this week’s article.

We think she’s a shining example of a yummy mummy - managing to raise a child, oversee a number of businesses and maintain some sort of social life - while looking wonderfully radiant and super stylish!

Sometimes we get so busy and tired, that we’re quite happy to stay in our favourite track pants with undone hair and no make-up, but treating yourself to a little bit of TLC can make such a difference to how you feel!

Here are a few simple tips for giving yourself a yummy-mummy makeover…

• Invest in a great haircut – opt for a cut that is low-maintenance and flatters your face shape.


• Stick with fresh-look, no fuss make-up - a good bronzer, a touch of blusher, volumising mascara and a rosey lip-gloss are all you need to compliment your natural beauty.


• Assemble a classy, simple and comfortable wardrobe – embrace your individuality and wear what gives you confidence and makes you feel fabulous. Learn about your body shape, your best features and how to accentuate them with styles that are flattering. Wear colours that make you glow and find your perfect pair of jeans!


• Stay fit and limber with regular exercise - choose a workout that you actually enjoy doing so that it’s a choice not a chore! Try a regular walking date with a friend, bike-rides, a yoga or pilates class.


• Keep your body strong and healthy with a nutritious, well-balanced diet – you absolutely need to treat yourself to the odd sweet morsel, but make sure to pack your daily feasting full of fresh, colourful, whole foods.

We’ve selected a few famous mums who we think do a great job of living a yummy mummy lifestyle. No doubt, they have their off-days and they’re likely to have a bit more help than most of us - not to mention money to burn - but we think they deserve the kudos all the same!

[caption id="attachment_680" align="alignleft" width="219" caption="Image courtesy of Mothercare"][/caption] Jools Oliver Age: 36 Wife of food revolutionist, Jamie Oliver and a budding children’s wear designer, Jools Oliver is a fresh-faced mother of four. She keeps super fit, running around after her wee munchkins and going for regular jogs in the park - a great way to de-stress and give yourself a bit of ”me” time.	[caption id="attachment_679" align="alignleft" width="221" caption="Image courtesy of Telegraph UK"][/caption] Samantha Cameron Age: 41 It’s no easy feat being the wife of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, but add business executive and mother of four to the mix and you’ve got Samantha Cameron’s job description. She manages to maintain a chic elegance, while balancing her many roles - simple and classic style is her key!
[caption id="attachment_682" align="alignleft" width="220" caption="Image courtesy of Zimbio"][/caption] Emma Thompson Age: 53 Adventurous and bright-eyed, Emma Thompson is an award-winning actress, an ambassador of UK charity Action Aid, a supporter of Greenpeace and a mother of two. Making time to support local and international causes can do great things for your health and happiness – Emma Thompson is a shining example!	[caption id="attachment_681" align="alignleft" width="219" caption="Image courtesy of Zimbio"][/caption] Meryl Streep Age: 63 As well as gaining a reputation as one of the most talented actresses of all time, Meryl Streep has also managed to rear four beautiful offspring. With a content smile and an evident well of wisdom, Meryl Streep is clearly happy in her own skin.
[caption id="attachment_683" align="alignleft" width="220" caption="Image courtesy of Zimbio"][/caption] Judi Dench Age: 77 With over fifty years in film and theatre, acclaimed actress Judi Dench remains one of the most graceful and poised women in the industry. Judi is a laureate of multiple awards including several BAFTAs, Golden Globes awards and an Academy Award, but no doubt her biggest and best achievement is her role as mother and grandmother to her daughter Tara and grandson, Sam.