Celebrity style inspiration

Happy October everyone! It’s hard to believe we’re nearing Christmas! Phew - how time flies!

September was a great month for following the “A-listers” as they paraded the red carpet at high profile events including London Fashion Week, the Emmy Awards and the NYC Ballet Fall Gala.

We love a good celebrity-infused event for a healthy dose of hair inspiration. And although you may not have 24-hour access to a professional stylist like these lovely ladies, you can breathe life into your daily hairstyling routine by gleaning ideas from the following looks, and having a wee play! Enjoy!

[caption id="attachment_946" align="aligncenter" width="230"] Image courtesy of Elle UK[/caption]	[caption id="attachment_945" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Image courtesy of Early Sunset Over Monroeville[/caption]
At London Fashion Week, Poppy Delevigne paraded a plaited up-do that was perfect for taking her from front row at the Matthew Williamson fashion show, right through to the Rag & Bone homecoming-party. Check out our “Braided beauty” article, for tips on how to create a similar style.	For the Mulberry Spring/Summer 2013 show at Claridge’s, Alexa Chung went for casual chic, with a quick and easy topknot. Her cute fringe and the wispy layers that framed her face made for a relaxed, natural beauty – a no fuss style, perfect for your weekend soirees.
[caption id="attachment_944" align="aligncenter" width="201"] Image courtesy of Celebrity Red Carpet[/caption]	[caption id="attachment_942" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Image courtesy of Zimbio[/caption]
Sarah Jessica Parker looked absolutely divine at the New York City Ballet's Fall Gala, wearing a gorgeous Valentino Couture dress in honour of Valentino Garavani. Her glamorous look was perfected with an elegantly swept-back bun and mauve rose clip - an elegant look that can carry you from work to dinner date.	Also donning a Valentino Couture gown, Anne Hathaway looked super sophisticated with a side of sassy at the Ballet Gala. Her easy wash and wear crop was side swept with an edgy feathered texture – such a versatile and simple style. We just love Ms Hathaway’s short hair; it really makes those stunning eyes pop!
[caption id="attachment_943" align="aligncenter" width="211"] Image courtesy of Beauty 411[/caption]	[caption id="attachment_949" align="aligncenter" width="207"] Image courtesy of Beauty Editor[/caption]
The lovely Zooey Deschanel brought old-hollywood-glam to the 64th Annual Emmy Awards with a sixties-inspired bouffant and low chignon. Her darling signature fringe kept the style looking soft and feminine. Read our Fearne Cotton “Get The Look” article, for advice on fashioning bouffant brilliance.	Homeland star Claire Danes sported glamourous curls at the Emmy’s. With a deep side parting and elegantly formed yet natural-looking waves, this style is a great way to vamp up your regular blow wave. To replicate Ms Danes curled locks, refer to our article “The way of the hair straightener.”

Get the look: Fearne Cotton’s beehive beauty

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Last week, on the eve of London Fashion Week, Fearne Cotton launched her latest clothing line for Very.co.uk, and both lady and designs were bright, bold and bouffantastically retro!

Joining the ranks of bouffant lovers such as Adele and Katy Perry, Fearne Cotton is proof that big is beautiful and the sixties are still very much in vogue!

If you’re keen on freshening up your day-to-day hairstyle repertoire, we think Ms Cotton’s beehive style is a brilliant addition! Whether you opt for sleek and elegant or rough and edgy, the beehive is dramatic, fresh and super trendy.

Replicate Fearne Cotton’s look by following these simple steps:

• Begin by running a volume-enhancing mousse through towel-dried hair to create texture


• Throw your head upside down and roughly blow wave your hair for volume


• Create your desired parting and form 3 sections (front, top/middle and back)


• Taking the top/middle section, tease your hair from the roots to the ends focusing on the crown of your head for additional volume


• Slightly smooth and gather the teased hair together, and shape it into a beehive of your preferred height - secure with hairpins


• Draw the front sections back to join the secured “beehive” section and pin together (leave a few strands loose to frame your face)


• Take the back section (adding any free hair leftover from the beehive) and loosely pull your locks back into a relaxed ponytail just above the nap of your neck


• Fashion a simple French roll by twisting the ponytail upwards and inwards against your head (If you have long hair you’ll need to twist and fold the end of your ponytail back down, tucking the end into the French roll)


• Secure the twist in place with hairpins (horizontally).


• Complete your masterpiece with a generous spritzing of hair spray

Absolutely fabulous darling!

Autumn hair advice

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A chill is starting to intrude on our precious summer warmth, and the leaves will soon begin to float off the trees as a prelude to the impending winter. Sigh!

Before you cosy down into hibernation, we recommend tending to the dreary reality of the colder months, with a bit of hair TLC. Give your locks and your mood a bit of va va voom with our Autumn hair advice…

A boost of colour
Though the days are growing darker, consider going lighter with your hair! With a sinking sun and less time outdoors your skin tone will lighten up, so you should respond by lifting your hair colour to a lighter or warmer shade (bright and rich browns can make pale skin look super radiant). For more tips on how to find a fresh new hair colour, read our “Hair colour for your skin tone” article.

Rehydration
After dousing your hair with heat and UV rays over the past few months, there’s a good chance your locks are in need of some replenishment. The summer elements tend to cause moisture loss - leaving your hair dry, brittle and split-endy. Reclaim a moisture-rich and glossy hair condition, by having your damaged ends snipped off and re-nourish your tresses with a deep conditioning treatment or hair mask.

Scalp stimulation
Giving your head a good knead is well worth the effort! As well as facilitating the removal of build-up, it also stimulates blood circulation in the scalp - which keeps those roots active and encourages hair growth. Consider giving yourself (or conning somebody else into giving you) a scalp massage. Spread your fingertips slightly, and apply strong pressure to your scalp. Using circular and back and forth motions, massage your head - beginning at the nape of your neck. Continue up behind and above the ears, then on the top and the front of your head. Focus on moving the skin on your scalp rather than just your fingers.

Eating well
It’s easy to eat well in the warmer months with all the delicious fruits and summer salads, but the winter months tend to temp us with our favourite comfort foods! Your diet absolutely effects the state of your tresses, so you need to ensure your daily sustenance is packed with nutrient-rich foods that contain protein, zinc, iron, B vitamins and essential fatty acids. If you’d some suggestions of some yummy foods that are great for your hair, refer to our “Healthy foods for healthy hair” article.

Let's here it for the boys!

As women, we can be quite fanatical about enhancing our physical appearance and staying up to date with the latest trends. When it comes to hair and beauty chat, the ladies are generally up with the play - but the “masculine” sex is quite often neglected. Keeping up appearances is just as important to guys as it is to girls – they’re just less likely to admit!

This week, we thought it was high time we gave the boys some stage time; so we’re featuring three of the hottest hair trends for men this year. Whether you're a chap or the “influencer” of one, here are a few styles to inspire your next cut…

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The Quiff Inspired by the rock n roll and country stars of the fifties, the quiff is a modern take on the rockabilly style donned by such greats as Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. With short sides and back, and longer textured layers on top - today’s versions are versatile and distinctive offering both slick and clean-cut and roughed up and shaggy. Whether you opt for shorter or longer layers, side-parted or slicked back, the quiff can work for most hair types and face shapes. If your hair is thick – get your stylist to take some of the weight out of your hair to make this style more manageable.

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The Undercut A key trend for 2012 is the undercut. Taking its cue from the nineteen twenties, this style’s focus is the hair lengths. The sides and back and are super short, with considerably longer layers through the top. There should be a disconnection between the longer hair on your crown and the rest of your hair - with no graduated blending. Slick your hair to the side or straight back for a groomed swagger, or for a more relaxed tousled look - run your fingers through your hair and let the style separate and fall naturally.

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The Brit-Rocker Think The Beetles, Oasis or The Artic Monkeys and you’ll get the gist of what we mean by “brit rocker”. Again there’s length through the top, but in this case the cut is more graduated with a focus on texture. The hair sweeps forward to create a fringe – best swept to the side (a manly hair flick will do the trick!). The brit-rocker can head down the path of a more tailored style (as with the above version), or a more of a rugged and edgy look – you choose!

The power of a new hairstyle

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A haircut is not merely a “must-do” affair. It can be an energizing, relaxing and pampering experience that enhances your natural beauty and transforms your perspective.

Have you noticed how much of a psychological effect a haircut has on you? Your hair is a fundamental component of how you feel about yourself. A new hairstyle has the ability to transition you from feeling unsatisfied to excited, drab to fab!

A haircut produces an elected physical change to your body at super speed. You can completely change how you look in a matter of hours - from blonde to brunette, short to long, curly to straight. As well as producing a physical change, a haircut instigates a perceptual change in how we view ourselves, an unleashing of a new you – liberation! You go in as one you and come out as a vibrant, new you!

I’m sure you’ve noticed that we quite often opt for new hairstyles as we make life transitions such as a new job, a new age, a new relationship or a new child - when we start something new, we like to feel new too! As your lifestyle changes, so too should your hairstyle - it should evolve as you do! If you’ve been stuck with the same style for a few years, consider a change.

Likewise, if you find yourself stuck in a rut and looking to make some positive lifestyle changes, a haircut is a great place to start. Whether subtle or drastic, a great new style can gets the ball rolling towards a revamped, energised, distinctive YOU! It could simply be adding a fringe or a few feathery layers to frame your face, a few highlights, a radical new hair colour or a big chop. No matter what you opt for, a fresh hairstyle can truly be a revitalising, confidence-building event!

If you’re starting to feel like you’re in need of a morale boost or you’re ready for a change– take action and come visit us! If not for a haircut, then maybe a new hair colour. We’ll do our best to help you realise your ultimate image - so that you leave feeling happier and looking more fabulous than we you arrived!