Simple tips and tricks to enhance your natural gorgeousness.

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“Beauty isn’t about comparing yourself with others, it’s about looking as good as you can; it’s about you.” Lulu

For those in the constant spotlight, looking your best is a full time job – so who better to glean beauty wisdom from than the celebs. We’ve compiled a collection of simple tips and tricks from some well-known and gracefully aging A-listers, to help enhance your natural gorgeousness.

Blending a few of these pearls into your daily routine is sure to enrich your outlook!

Do you love it?
Trudie Styler (Sting’s wife) has passed on a styling tip to her daughter Mickey, that seems obvious but is something we need to remind ourselves of when shopping up a storm… “She always just told me, love what you wear. And I think that’s really important. I will never buy anything unless I love it.”

When you’re smiling
'It's good to focus on being happy. A beautiful smile makes all of us look younger and pretty.' Simple wisdom from the stunning Michelle Pfeiffer that really can make a whole lot of difference! Studies show that smiling makes you more attractive to other people and can make you look younger.

Leaving things behind
Coco Chanel was a pioneer in fashion, and had endless pearls of style wisdom. One of her most famous quotes is, “Once you've dressed, and before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take at least one thing off.” When we’re aiming for style and class, it’s easy to over decorate ourselves. Louise Roe’s (English TV presenter) mother put it this way: ‘You’re not a Christmas tree. You don’t need to have all the bobbles. Keep it simple.’ Agreed! Aim for pure and simple elegance.

Accentuate your assets
The gorgeous Lulu is well known for her beauty tips (you can read all of them in her book, Lulu’s Secrets to Looking Good). “I think less is more is a good rule as you grow older, particularly when it comes to make-up. And a good haircut is key, as is learning to play up your good points. I use a light-reflecting concealer pen on anything I want to downplay.” Make a point of learning how to use your foundation, concealer, bronzer and blusher to define your best features and create a radiant complexion.

No more butts
Susan Sarandon claims that her beautiful skin is courtesy of her decision not to smoke. 'Young actors ask me, "Why is your skin so great? What is your product?" And all I say is: "Stop smoking - that's the big one."’ There are endless health benefits to quitting smoking, but we often don’t think about the damage it does to our skin. The smoke from cigarettes speeds up the aging process of your skin as it weakens the production of collagen, resulting is tough, wrinkled and washed-out skin.

Staying Active
Wonder how Meryl Streep stays so beautifully bright and trimtastic? She loves swimming and tries to swim approximately 1 mile in her pool three to four times a week. Regular exercise is key to staying positive, healthy and radiantly gorgeous. Not only does exercise help control your weight and improve your body shape, it also boosts your mood, cell reproduction and can lead to a better night’s sleep. Staying fit is easy if you can find a workout that you enjoy – how about regular 30 minute walks around a local park, aqua aerobics or Zumba classes with a few friends. No excuses - time to get moving ladies (and men)!

Zzzzzzzzzz….
At the age of 67, Helen Mirren is considered to be one of the sexiest celebs around, and her secret? SLEEP! "When I’m working really hard, I don’t go to the bar after work. I don’t go to restaurants. I just go to bed…I try to sleep as often as possible. It's very important and, as you get older, even more so.' Daily damage to our body’s cells are repaired and restored during sleep. Sufficient sleep (seven hours or more a night) helps to improve skin tone, texture and glow. No matter how busy your life may be, it’s time to say NO to puffy eyes and fine lines, and YES to sufficient slumber - it’s called beauty sleep for a reason!

All images courtesy of Zimbio.com

The colours of change

With each season comes a change of colours. The reds and browns of autumn become candyfloss pinks and purples in the spring, the whites and greys of winter convert to bright yellows, blues and rich greens in summer.

Have you ever consider emulating this seasonal colour revamp with your hair? From simply enhancing your natural colour with subtle high or lowlights, to a bold and striking change of colour, don’t you think it would be a wee bit invigorating to dive into the next season with a fresh new paint job on those pretty locks of yours?

As an example of what a change of colour can do for your whole look, here are a few celebs who have shaken things up this Spring…

Turning chocolate into gold Do blondes have more fun?! I guess Ms. Hathaway was curious to find out, as she’s made the switch from rich chocolate brown to a bright blonde hue. This is a brave move – are you up for such a drastic change?
Copper top Rachel McAdams changed out her blonde locks for a warm sassy, sultry hue of deep copper. Red hues are vivaciously glamorous, and provide a nice change to the typical blonde and brunette options.
No longer legally blonde Renowned for her signature “Legally Blonde” tresses, Reese Witherspoon has broken out of the mould and painted her hair with lush chestnut tones. These darker hues really add vivid warmth to her complexion.
Into the light Olivia Palermo has opted for a subtle change and simply lightened her locks for the sunnier seasons. Once donning deep chocolate shades, Ms. Palermo’s current colour is bright and radiant with light brown hues and honey highlights.

To make sure you choose a hue that brightens your complexion rather than washing it out, read up on the best hair colours for your skin tone and feel free to come and talk with us about the best colour options for you – we’re more than happy to help!

All images courtesy of Zimbio.com

Spring has finally sprung!

Well, I think it’s safe to say that Spring is finally here! Flowers are in bloom, greenery is sprouting and temperatures are rising. Aaah! There’s nothing like a long winter to help you appreciate the warmer months.

Spring is a great time to freshen things up and try new things. If you’re yet to set aside some time for “me” spring-cleaning - be encouraged to treat yourself to some TLC by reading our Spring ‘new and renewed’ articles Part 1 (refreshing your body, inside and out) and Part 2 (revamping and pampering your look).

An unintimidating way to experiment and have a little fun with your look this Spring (without making any drastic or permanent changes) is with hair accessories.

Scarves, bands and clips of various shapes and sizes are a cute, quick and easy way to take you hairdo from just fine to just plain fabulous! If you’re keen on bedazzling your tresses - here are a few flourishes to try this Spring:

[caption id="attachment_1745" align="alignnone" width="200"] Image courtesy of Fashion Magazine[/caption]	[caption id="attachment_1744" align="alignleft" width="200"] Image courtesy of Harpers Bazaar Online[/caption]
Headscarves and headbands From printed headscarves and turbans, to bejewelled or bowed headbands - wrapping your crown in bands of beauty is a great style solution for every occasion. Not only do they look great, they’re also a practical way of controlling unruly wisps of hair. Wear a thick, colourful headscarf to add a playful edge to your daytime style, or a classic bowed hairband for an Audrey Hepburn inspired evening look.
[caption id="attachment_1753" align="alignleft" width="199"] Image courtesy of Harpers Bazaar Online[/caption]	[caption id="attachment_1754" align="alignleft" width="200"] Image courtesy of Salt City Style Blog[/caption]
Pimp your ponytail The humble ponytail is a classic, versatile style that can be appropriately tailored for any occasion. To add the x-factor, simply pin or wrap a decorative feature piece to your low or high pony. Bold and colourful clips, dainty ribbons or statement jewels (like the pretty pearl in the picture above) - jazz up your look with simple and subtle hair tinsel.
[caption id="attachment_1756" align="alignleft" width="200"] Image courtesy of Style Bistro[/caption]	[caption id="attachment_1755" align="alignleft" width="200"] Image courtesy of Lahori Point[/caption]
Blossoms Real or replica, adorn your hair with beautiful flora this Spring. Ooze romantic femininity with a posy of pretty flowers pinned to the side of chignon, or crown your tresses with a garland of blossoms. With the wedding season fast approaching, floral embellishments are a worthy consideration.

Get the look: Julianne Hough's curly up-do

We’ve already featured Julianne Hough’s super stunning bob in a few of our articles. She certainly knows how to rock the crop, and mix it up a little with “bob-friendly” up-dos. Ms. Hough is proof that there is no limits to the styles that can be fashioned from a bob.

Last week on our Facebook page, we posted Julianne’s fun and fab up-do from the US premiere of her new film Safe Haven. It’s such a sweet hairstyle right??!!! The voluminous wavy ‘do is a great option for everything from an afternoon tea date to an extravagant wedding. And today – we tell you how to fashion this look for yourself! (Of course, you can always pop in to one of our salons if you’d prefer someone else to do it for you.)

Recreate a similar version of Julianne Hough’s curly up-do by following these simple steps:

• Run a volume-enhancing mousse through towel-dried hair (to create texture)


• Throw your head upside down and give your hair a quick blow-wave so that your hair is about 80% dry


• Take 1-2 inch sections on your hair and using a hair straightener (read “how to”), curling iron or rollers, create a full head of tight curls. (Try not to blend the curls, keep them reasonably separated)


• Create a side parting from each corner of your forehead to form 3 sections – two side sections and a middle section. Loosely pin or tie the middle section out of the way for a moment


• Take one of the side sections, and divide it into three or four parts. Starting with the section closest to your face, loosely twist each piece inwards and upwards, towards the centre of your head. Secure each piece with hairpins. Repeat this process with the other side section.


• Unpin the middle section. You should have a “semi-Mohawk” at this stage.


• Lightly tease the roots of the middle section focusing on the top of your head to create a bit of a quiff at the front.


• Starting at the front of your head, take 1-2 inch sections of your teased curls and lightly twist them alternating toward the left or right side (so they sort of crisscross over each other). Try to keep the volume and height of each curled piece, by not twisting or pulling too tight.


• Secure each twisted curly section, trying to leave a good amount of loose curl flowing free from each pinned piece. You can leave a few waves completely free to cascade down your elegant Mohawk of curls too.


• Once you reach the nape of your neck, twist and pin under the ends to complete your curled creation.


• Set the style with a spritz of hairspray and you’re good to go!

Images courtesy of Zimbio.com

Bob's the word!

If ever there was a year for you to lop your crop into a bob style, this is it!

Bob’s are one of the hottest trends this year, and you can see why from the images above right?! The cut of strong independent women, bob styles are statement makers with equal measures of chic, edgy and fun.

Thanks to the pioneering wash and wear hairstyles of Vidal Sassoon, bob cuts are super versatile and give the illusion of endless styling, but are in reality low maintenance (if cut well!). Whether a chin grazing crop, or shoulder-length “lob”, bob cuts work with and spotlight your bone structure, accentuating your eyes, cheekbones, jawline and neck.

There’s a bob cut to complement all face shapes - it’s just about finding the best style for your shape and texture. If you have fine hair, opting for a bob style is a great idea! A shorter cut instantly creates volume – especially a graduated bob. If you have thick or curl hair, opt for a longer bob to avoid a triangle-shaped crown and make sure your stylist adds textured layers. Longer bobs (lobs) are also the better choice for round face shapes, but if you’re keen on a more cropped cut, add long side-swept bangs to give length to your face.

For a soft, whimsical, tousled style, opt for a bob that sits at or below the chin - a choppy fringe and textured layers will create a wavy carefree cut (a great option for those of us whose hair has a natural wave). For a bolder option, go for a blunt-cut bob with precise lines - best suited to fine hair and longer face shapes, this is a super chic and edgy cut. Graduated bobs (A-line cuts) are great for creating volume - shorter at the back and longer at the front, this cut gives your hair movement and a sassy elegance.

Side parted, centre parted or swept straight back. Sleek, shaggy or soft. A new bob style is sure to attract sheets of compliments.

Come see us about fashioning your transformation and for more bob-style inspiration, seek out images of January Jones, Leighton Meester, Alicia Keys, and Dannii Minogue.

Images courtesy of Zimbio.com

The “Mad Men” Muses

I don’t know about you, but I’m a huge fan of the 60’s Madison Avenue drama Mad Men. It’s so smooth, stylish and a little bit naughty - PLUS it explores some pretty deep moral and ethical themes! What’s not to like! The 6^th season of the hit show premiered in LA last week (I’m holding out for the UK release), and with it came some super classy promo portraits of the main cast.

Contemporary TV-takes of influential periods are having a major influence on the trends of today. Mad Men is most certainly leading the way by reviving voluminous curls, beehives, mod bobs AND the slick side-swept men’s style.

For this week’s hair inspiration and visual pleasure we’re featuring the stunning Mad Men portraits. Enjoy!

 

The Mad MatronsThe ladies of Mad Men exude both a sultry glamour and sassy strength. Whether fashioning a bouffant, beehive or bob - texture and volume are fundamentals for these looks. To recreate the beautiful bouffant’s of Joan Harris (Christina Hendricks) and Megan Draper (Jessica Pare), arm yourself with a hairdryer, heated rollers curling iron or hair straightener, and good hairspray – and you’re set to style! (See our Beehive how-to and Glamour curls articles for tips).For those who are after a wash ‘n’ wear type style, Peggy Olsen’s (Elisabeth Moss) and Betty Francis’ (January Jones) mod bob’s are the way to go. The bob is one of the most popular styles for 2013 and for good reason! A low maintenance and versatile style, that has equal portions of bold, chic and cheeky, a short crop frames for your face and draws attention to your beautiful facial features! (See our Wash ‘n Wear article for more ideas)
The Mad Men Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and Henry Francis (Christopher Stanley) are effortlessly cool and classy. The key to this level of sophistication and manly style is slick grooming. Spiked or long dishevelled hairstyles have taken a backseat in favour of the “well-groomed gentleman”. Men: to channel your inner-suave, ask your stylist for short, tapered sides, with full long lengths on top, and a nice deep side parting. SO HANDSOME!

Images courtesy of Zimbio.com

Spring - the season of new and renewed Part 2

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Part 2: Revamping and pampering your look

As the winter frosts slowly begin to melt away and the hours of sunshine gradually increase, we can finally start preparing for summer and celebrate the wonder that is Spring! We’re not there just yet, but we’re so close and it’s exciting to see the green leaves and blossom starting to emerge!

In light of the new season, let’s consider giving ourselves a little spring-clean! There’s nothing better to do in the season of new and renewed beginnings than REFRESH and REVIVE with a good clean, a bit of a clear out and a few touch ups or modifications. Whether it be a room, your house, your garden, your wardrobe, your body or your hair – it’s time to recharge and rejuvenate!

Last week we gave you some tips on how to 'Refresh your body, inside and out' for the spring and summer seasons. This week, we encourage you to revamp and pamper with some handy hints and links!

A fresh cut and colour
From a practical point of view, getting a haircut is important for keeping your hair strong and healthy (read more about split-ends here), but a new cut or colour can also be super energizing and transformative - find out more about the psychology of a new hair-do here.

• Invest in a great haircut that complements your face shape and is low-maintenance


• Consider adding a fringe to sass up your style


• If you want to revamp your hair colour, check out our articles on ‘The best hair colours for your skin tone’ and the hottest hues for 2013.

Smarten up that wardrobe
Take half a day and give your wardrobe a good de-cluttering and reorganise. Your wardrobe should be filled with classy, comfortable, confidence-boosting clothes that make you feel fabulous! To help you decide whether you keep or sell/donate your garments, consider these questions:

• Have you worn it in the past year?


• Does it fit?


• Does it flatter your body shape and accentuate your best features?


• Is it a good colour on you?


• Can you wear it with other things in your wardrobe?


• How many pairs of these do you really need?!

Treat yourself
Shakespeare put it well when he penned the quote “Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin, as self-neglecting.” A great way to gift yourself a little TLC is with the occasional pampering session. Take some time out just for you and treat yourself to a relaxing and luxurious beauty treatment! Whether you’d like to bedazzle your nails or enjoy a spa treatment, Wellbeing Salons have wonderful beauticians ready and waiting to spoil you happy at Allure Hair & Beauty, Ice Hairdressers and Richardsons Salon!