Refurb nearly finished

Oh the excitment!  The refurb of our Northampton salon is SO nearly complete.  Here's a few pictures to whet your appetite....

Green is the flavour of health and wellbeing

This summer, why don’t you take on the challenge to improve your health, boost your energy and revitalise your body inside and out – with the addition of green juices and smoothies to your daily nutrition. Why wouldn’t you?!

Juicing and blending (smoothies) gives you the opportunity to get an ample supply of nutritious fruit and vege into your system in a super fast and easy way.

Here are some of the benefits of embracing juicing and/or blending:

·  Blending and juicing your fruit and vege provides a fast and efficient way for your body to absorb a concentrated dose of nutrients, without stressing out your digestive system. (The goods are sent straight into your bloodstream and on to where your body most needs the nourishment.)

· It provides a simple way to add a greater quantity and variety of nutrient rich fruits and vegetables (especially greens) to your diet.

· By mixing fruit and vege together you acquire a good shot of sustained energy, as the vegetables balances the fruit sugar content (albeit natural).

· A juice or smooth will satisfy your hunger for hydration (high water content) and hunger for nutritional value (fibre amongst many others!), leaving you feeling contently full!

· Green juices contain the phytonutrient chlorophyll, which boosts red blood cell production and fights toxins – aiding in the removal of toxins from your body (through the most “suitable” exit, rather than through your skin’s pores) and improving the condition your skin.

· If you’re not a fan of veggies, juicing and blending offers you your daily does of greens without forcing down that boiled broccoli and beans (the fruits in your concoction will mask the vegetable flavours).

· Blending and juicing greens helps to balance your body’s pH so that it’s not too acidic (a common cause of ill health).

Some of the best fruits and vegetables to include in your immune boosting, body brightening thirst-quenchers include: 

· Spinach

· Celery

· Parsley

· Kale

· Spirulina

· Wheatgrass

· Lemon

· Apple

· Avocado

By mixing just a few of these ingredients in a juice or smoothie, you’ll pump your body full of so many goodies including Vitamins A, C, E, K, iron, folate, calcium, zinc and omega 3 - making for a happier, healthier you inside and out!

So now we’ve left you with no good reason not to do this - here are a few recipes to get you going! Now all you need to do is dust off that juicer or blender in the back of your kitchen cupboard!

Green Smoothie (from Julia & Libby)
2 bunches of Spinach
3 leaves of Kale
1 Lemon
2 Apples
1 Kiwifruit (you can use lime instead but kiwifruit is full of fibre and vitamin C so I prefer to use that)
1 cup water (you can also use coconut water)

Classic Green Juice (from foodmatter.tv)

1 medium zucchini

2-3 large kale leaves

1 green apple

1 small handful cilantro

1 lemon, peeled

1 inch ginger root (optional)

Coriander Smoothie (from Health Yeah)

1 mango

A big handful of coriander

2 green kiwifruit

1 squirt of lime juice

Some ice.

Here is a great formula to follow when concocting your green combos

Primp your soiree style

 

With all the events and soirees summer holds, how do you possibly decide on what to do with your hair (let alone your dress and footwear) - without resorting to the “same old styles” you always wear? Well, surprise surprise! We have the solution!

If you prefer not to tamper with your tresses, we are more than happy to fashion a fabulous hair-do for you. Just give us a call or come in and see us!
If you consider yourself a bit of a DIY girl – here is an assemblage of “Get the Look” articles that will have you looking effortlessly chic in less time than you think…

Julianne Hough's curly up-do (fashioned from a short bob) is a great option for everything from an afternoon tea date to an extravagant wedding. Ms. Hough is proof that there are no limits to the styles that can be fashioned from a bob.

Golden Globe glamour curls - No matter the occasion, you just can’t go wrong with soft, cascading waves. Whether chin-length or long, centre or side parted, retro waves are a timeless style that is both feminine and flattering.

Fearne Cotton’s beehive beauty is proof that big is beautiful and the sixties are still very much in vogue! Whether you opt for sleek and elegant or rough and edgy, the beehive is dramatic, fresh and super trendy.

Diane Kruger's chic and sassy summer braid exudes both feminine elegance and bohemian glam. It’s reasonably easy to fashion and provides a carefree style, perfect for hitting the beach or attending a fancy summer soiree.

Emma Stone’s retro up-do - swept high in a bouffant style with a voluminous bun -  is super versatile and can carry you from day-time errands to a formal evening event.

Scarlett Johansson's victory roll-cum-chignon is soft, sophisticated 1940’s glamour that will work on bob-length as well as long hair – a stunning wedding option.

Summer tootsies

Now that your beautiful locks are out from under that hat, your gorgeous hands are free of those thick woolly gloves, your tootsies are no longer bound to boots and your skin is open to bathe in the warmth of the sun – it’s time to prepare and preserve with some head to toe care!

Check out our summer hair care article for tips on how to rejuvenate your hair during these warmer seasons, and our Spring into Summer article for general body renewal.

This week, we head south and focus on getting your tootsies set for sandal season, with a little TLC routine you can do from the comfort of your couch. Then all you’ll need to do is choose your desired sandals from our top picks – and your feet will be ready for showcase!

A good soak: Start by bathing your feet in a warm foot soak for 10-20 minutes to soften your skin and prepare your tootsies for exfoliation. Simply adding Epsom salts and essential oils such as tea tree, rosemary and peppermint to warm water, to help clean, heal and revive tired feet. Another option to soften and moisturize skin, is to combine half a cup of hot water with one cup of milk and a spoonful of sugar.

Scrub and polish: Rid your trotters of dry, rough skin by massaging a moisturising exfoliator over each foot (in circular motions) for a good few minutes. Rinse with warm water and follow with a pumice stone to abrade hardy calluses.

Trim and shape: Clip your nails straight across (to prevent ingrown nails), and smooth and round the edges with a nail file. Use a nail buffer to smooth and polish your toenails to shining perfection.

Moisturise: Douse your newly soften and smooth tootsies with a quality moisturising product (Shea butter is amazing!). Using circular motions, give yourself a mini massage to hydrate, relax, and boost circulation.  

Paint job: Apply a base coat to prevent your nails from staining, breakage and peeling. Once your base coat is dry, apply your chosen nail colour in 2 or 3 thin coats to create evenly painted nails. After you have finished with your nail colour, apply a clear topcoat to protect your polish from chipping and fading. If you happened to paint your toes, soak a cotton bud in nail polish remover and carefully clean around the edges of your nails. Finish by applying cuticle oil to your nails and cuticles to keep them hydrated and moisturized (it will also help your polish last longer).

If you don’t have the time or will-power to give yourself a pedicure – we can help! Book yourself in for a wee pamper session at one of our salons.

Now that your feet are prettified, they are fit for adornment with bands of leather. Here are a few of our favourites summer sandal picks:

Jalenta Sandal by Bertie 

Jealous Jelly Flats by Russell & Bromley

Juliette Lilac by Love Art Wear Art

Paola Wedges by Russell & Bromley

Wise words from style icons

This week we’re sharing knowledge gems from some of the pioneers and game-changers of fashion, beauty and feminine flair.

Words of encouragement and inspiration are sometimes all it takes for us to make the leap into something different, new and exciting – whether it be a new career or lifestyle choice, relationship, hairstyle or wardrobe.

We’ve chosen a few icons who weren’t just pretty faces focused on fashion and fame – they had life experience, creative genius, hearts of gold, ambition and vivaciousness. There are countless people and their pearls that we could have included, but we’ve narrowed it down to a few of our favourite creatives and bravura stars.

So without further ado, we give you wise words from style icons…

Christian Dior
“Long after one has forgotten what a woman wore, the memory of her perfume lingers”

“Zest is the secret of all beauty. There is no beauty that is attractive without zest.”

“Women are most fascinating between the ages of 35 and 40 after they have won a few races and know how to pace themselves. Since few women ever pass 40, maximum fascination can continue indefinitely.”

“By being natural and sincere, one often can create revolutions without having sought them.” 


 Coco Chanel

“Once you've dressed, and before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take at least one thing off."

“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”

“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” 

“Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.”

“The best colour in the whole world is the one that looks good on you.” 

“You can be gorgeous at thirty, charmimg at forty, and irresistible for the rest of your life.” 

“Adornment, what a science! Beauty, what a weapon! Modesty, what elegance!” 


 Vidal Sassoon

“You either create something and you keep it a secret and you die with it, or you can benefit the craft.”

“If you have a sense of style and purpose and will, you don't want to compromise.”

“Bring out the eyes.”

“Most people have excellent necks. Now they cover them with curtains, which is kind of ridiculous. But there are some beautiful necklines that you can cut into and create wonderful backs, as well as bone structure for the face.”


Audrey Hepburn

“I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.”

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”

“The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows.”

“The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.”


Marilyn Munroe

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” 

“Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.” 

“We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So are regrets.”

“This life is what you make it. No matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends - they'll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, some go. The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends. Don't let go of them. Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world. As for lovers, well, they'll come and go too. And baby, I hate to say it, most of them - actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can't give up because if you give up, you'll never find your soul mate. You'll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything. Just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.”