Tag Archives: Hair

Hot on the Highstreet Week 177 – Beauty Competition

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After a luxuriously long summer, autumn has definitely arrived, and this week my iPhone tells me it will be raining on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. There is no more need for shimmering after-sun body moisturisers and fun summery make-up; instead we look for nourishing face creams and comforting products to help us get through the cold months ahead.

FACE

Dr Perricone seems to understand women’s skin better than anyone. His Deep Moisture Therapy is my favourite winter moisturiser to use day and night. Rich but light it hydrates and softens skin, noticeably improving complexion tone. The new No Foundation is another great product, providing a lovely natural glow to paling winter skin. The cream includes SPF 30 perfect for days out in the sunshine, though this product is best in winter, providing a light coverage whilst also moisturising your face.

In my opinion the Sanctuary Spa Secret Facial Oil is best used before bed, after cleansing. This 99% organic plumping treatment revitalises skin overnight, so you wake looking bright and rejuvenated. Long term the oil will soften and restore your skin’s natural youth, a kind of superfood for the skin.

The 111 Skin Bio Cellulose Facial Treatment Mask uses advanced technology to nourish the skin and stimulate collagen production. The gel mask cools and refreshes the face, instantly brightening the skin. Perfect pre-holiday, or for a weekend pampering session to calm your stressed skin!

Jurlique is a natural brand that I cannot fault. Every product I’ve tried I dread finishing, the effects are genius. The Rosewater Balancing Mist is a refreshing spray to hydrate and soften the skin and leave skin looking dewy. The spray is perfect to use in the morning and at night keeping your skin balanced and beautiful at all times. Hydration without the greasy residue.

In winter your face needs a little more care and attention. Thalgo’s Masque Desalterant is perfect for this, a moisture quenching mask that gives your skin a moisture boost. I found this product to be ideal for sensitive skin, soothing and protecting skin against the damaging winter weather.

Lipstick pencils are easier to use and often the colour looks more intense. This is certainly true of the Lord & Berry 20100 Shining Lipstick. These thick pencils come in 12 shades, something for every occasion. The colour is bright and the texture creamy. My favourite hue is Mandarin, an orange-red that will really make your lips pop.

BODY

Most know Sanctuary for their gorgeous spa in the heart of Covent Garden. I tried a few of the products this week and was thrilled with the effects. As the colder weather ensues skin tightens and cracks quickly and the Tight & Tone Body Serum is ideal for combating those symptoms adding smoothness to the skin whilst also toning up bums and tums! For extra softness use the 4-day Moisture Oil Scrub which gently exfoliates and leaves skin silky.

I always like to have a hand cream at my desk and this season I am using the lovely Liz Earle Superskin Hand Serum. With extracts of rosehip oil and pomegranate, it smells as good as it feels.

HAIR

It was pretty cool to have Daniel Hersheson himself commenting on my hair colour and style, advising me on what would work best with my eye colour and skin tone. Since then I’ve been a massive fan of his work and products and the Essentials kit is a must-have for girls who enjoy experimenting with hair styling, and is the perfect gift. It includes the Hersheson limited edition Batiste Dry Shampoo, pins, grips and hair bands in small and large.

Kerastase’s Volumifique shampoo and conditioner is the perfect duo for fine hair. The shampoo is silky and naturally thickens hair; the conditioner controls fizz and adds strength without the unnecessary grease. Professional products to revolutionise your hair.

I’ve always thought Fudge haircare was for boys only. The sweet smelling Iced Raspberry and Vanilla Hair Spray, packaged in a brilliantly psychedelic pink container, says otherwise. With extra strong hold, a few sprays will last you all night. The Salt Spray is a great texture tool to ensure your hair looks breezy and beachy all year round.

Fun and effective Bumble and Bumble are a fashionista’s dream. For luscious locks follow the Color-Minded routine which keeps coloured hair bright and beautiful. The shampoo and conditioner are gentle and soft on all hair types. Complete your routine with the Dryspun Finish, a thickening spray to create a full and airy texture without letting hair feel heavy.

To win a selection of these products:

1. Follow Thoroughly Modern Milly on Facebook here.

2. Follow Thoroughly Modern Milly on twitter here.

3. Tweet me telling me your favourite Autumn beauty product and why.

The winner will be decided on November 1st and the prize will be posted out as soon as the winner gives delivery details.

FOUR Salon, Mayfair

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FOUR represents a quad of ambitious girls, friends with a mission to open the ultimate London salon. They hope to pave the way for the future of hair colour. The salon is the creation of Denise Arnold, Brooke Bohan, Charlie Double and Maleeka Taher, and together they bring over 45 years of experience in colour-correction and colour-maintenance.

The glowing celebrity testimonials are proof of the magic these girls work on a daily basis. Getting hair colour right each season can be a real challenge, so finding a colourist and stylist who you really trust to do the job is essential and priceless.

At FOUR, they will look after your beauty needs from head to toe. Over the two gloriously glittering floors, clients can experience a huge range of body, face and other beauty treatments. If you find you can’t tear yourself away for a whole day, the staff are happy to provide you with food from their healthy and tempting menu.

Just off Regent Street, the location is ideal for busy working women or shoppers in need of a pick-me-up; it is easy to find from either Oxford Circus or Piccadilly tube stations. I went along on a Saturday afternoon to check out Brooke’s talents and Amy’s blow-drying skills. These two bubbly girls took care of me all afternoon, attending to my every need and making sure I was pampered like a princess.

Brooke carefully examined my hair, discussing with me the various options. I never seem to know quite what I’m going in for, often my shortlist of ideas is as broad as dying all my hair orange or chopping it off into a dark, sophisticated bob. Needless to say, I am never brave enough to follow through and usually walk out just looking a little more tidy and preened. Brooke was a great help assuring me about my options and helping me decide on a whole head of highlights – this would brighten and lighten the dip-dye effect I already had.

Brooke worked patiently and systematically through my hair, highlighting the strands carefully to ensure even distribution and the right effect. Each area of my head was washed out at staggered times so that the colour had fully developed. I enjoyed a delicious avocado and salad sandwich and a glass of fresh pressed fruit juice while I waited for the colour to take hold. Pleased with the results, Brooke sent me off to have a shine treatment and shampoo and massage, all of wish was divinely relaxing.

Resisting the chance to have a trim I asked Amy to blow dry my hair with a bit of bounce and movement. She beamed as I described it, knowing exactly the look I wanted… obviously the surf style is something girls ask for often. After rough drying with a hairdryer, Amy used curling tongs to define the waves, I felt glamorous and beautiful once she’d finished with me. Blow dries certainly give you a dose of confidence.

The four-midable team at this Mayfair salon will sort out your every colour crisis and conundrum, so that you have a head of hair that you are proud to show off.

More info here: www.fourlondon.com

Blow Bar, Angel

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A blow dry is an instant pick-me-up and I think it is only a matter of time before this quick beautifying treatment becomes a super fad.

Blowbar is a styling bar concept imported from LA. They now have two London branches, in Wandsworth and Islington, and are conveniently located so you can pop in for a 30 minute wash and high fashion blow dry in your lunch break, or dash in before a night out (on Thursday and Friday they stay open until 8pm). And for just £25 a go it feels very affordable.

I visited the cute venue in Camden Passage, Islington… surrounded by gorgeous boutiques and glorious smelling cafes, it is a lovely place to potter around for the afternoon. The Blowbar salon is slick and stylish but very petite with black walls, cream leather seats and two wash basins at the back for hair washing. I love the font used by the company, a vintage twirly writing like the programme ‘Bewitched’ – it has a retro feel.

Blowbar also offer colour and extensions upstairs in the salon but I decided to go for a simple blow dry, so I could experience the treatment that has made them so well known. Emily washed my hair efficiently with the L’Oreal Professional products whilst chatting to me about life at Blowbar. Hearing about all the excitable girls that come in for preening, it sounded like such fun to be here everyday. It would be an ideal place to hold a girlie party, with champagne and a nail varnish station on offer to guests.

I opted for a simple wavy, glamorous style. It only took 20 minutes, after scrunching through a little product, Emily blasted my hair with hot air whilst pinning in several rollers to add more shape. Then to hold the ‘do’ in place she grabbed one of the many cans of Elnett hairspray and blitzed my hair. It felt light and lovely and looked miraculously sophisticated and grown up.

The blow dry will last a few days, and I guarantee after a few sessions at Blowbar you’ll be hooked on this ‘feel good and look great’ therapy.

More information here: www.theblowbar.com