I’ve had a lifelong love affair with nail art. In my teenage years, I’d dip my nails in vodka and press newspaper on them. I was obsessed with the infamous Barry M crackle polish (not to mention carefully-dotted Tipp-ex polka dots). Nowadays, nail art looks a little more advanced. The breakout trend filling our feeds? Wave nails.  Wave nails combine bits of all the best nail trends we’re sporting at the moment. They’re like a softer take on geometric - fluid waves rather than straight lines - with all the colours of mismatch nails and the longevity of negative space…

It would be dramatic to say that hair removal is the bane of my life, but hair removal is the bane of my life. I wish I was comfortable going au natural, but sadly I’m not - maybe one day, when the pursuit for dolphin-smooth skin becomes too much for me. I’ve tried four different methods of hair removal to see which is the best (or least-awful) for *down there*, to save you the time - and the pain. By Beth Ludolf

Blues Navy, cornflower, classic baby blue; blues are noted for their calming and cooling effect. It’s been seen to lower blood pressure and heart rate. Breathe by Blu Cantrell makes so much more sense now. Reds Red is a colour of power that brings feelings of strength but this sultry shade also has a playful side. It’s said to have a physical trigger (rather than mental) why is why it’s used in traffic signs and romantic imagery. Yellows  The marmite of the colour wheel. While some of us find yellow bright and cherry, the high saturation of the colour can…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-epsTD5A9D8 Round  The simple, low maintenance shape Short and sweet, round nails are smoothed into perfectly round semi-circles. They’re the most durable - and therefore low maintenance - shape. No need for nail extensions, an express gel mani is all you need for this one.    Square Good for short nails.  Exactly what it says on the tin, nails are filed flat on top with squared-off corners. If you have slender fingers and narrow nail beds, this shape will be extremely flattering. If not, it can make fingers appear shorter.    Almond Born in the 90s and still going strong …

Some people recommend getting a massage twice a week and while that is a lovely thought - and genuine #lifegoals - these people clearly have a lot more money than me *sighs*. Whether you’re a once-a-week or once-in-a-blue-moon kinda person, here are some easy ways you can prolong that post-massage feeling. By Beth Ludolf

Remember that episode of Friends where Chandler tries to bond with Monica’s dad but accidentally sits on his lap in the steam room (naked) and then severely misjudges the dress code of the hot tub (again, naked)? Horrifying. Absolutely horrifying. Spa days are meant to help stress, not cause it. Relax, we’ve got the answers to all your spa-related questions.  By Beth Ludolf

I recently calculated that I’ve spent around 26 days (!) of my life straightening my hair which, let me tell you, is not time well-spent. Firstly, there are much better ways to spend your time. Like going to the pub or watching Ru Paul’s Drag Race. Secondly, my hair is guaranteed to frizz if there’s any sign of humidity - or an ex in the vicinity (I swear, it knows). I’m talking bouffant. And not in a chic vintage way. By Beth Ludolf

I think autumn gets a bad rap. Yes, it means summer is over - did it even begin? - and yes, it can be an absolute nightmare to dress for - freezing in the mornings, boiling by lunchtime - but it’s all my warm-toned dreams come true. So, you can imagine my joy at the copper hair trend. Bonfires, golden leaves, pumpkin spice: super-warm tones are inherently autumn (read: I'm already on board).  Auburn is a failsafe - the brown undertone flatters all skin tones - but if you’re after added-drama, go for a rich copper. Just like rainbow brights,…

While I would never turn down a weekend-long retreat - a beautiful, country spa set in the rolling hills (wow, I really painted myself a picture there) - unfortunately, time isn’t always on our side. I headed down to the Quad Health Club & Spa for a whistlestop tour of me-time, to see whether a couple of hours was enough to help me relax and refocus. By Beth Ludolf

I know that officially autumn doesn't start until the 23rd of September but, look, Bake Off has started and pumpkin spice lattes are back which means that summer is over. Sorry, but it’s true. While the same cannot be said for dark nights, we’re welcoming autumn’s nail trends with open arms. By Beth Ludolf

Some things in life are inevitable. The sun will set every evening, I will always eat the entire share-size bag of crisps and most of us will go grey. That’s just life. Grey hair has a bad rap for meaning you’re getting old but, unless thirty is old (it’s not), that’s BS. With the right care, silver hair is just as cool as its predecessor. Who needs pigment anyway? By Beth Ludolf

There are a few tried-and-tested ways to beat post-holiday blues. You could start planning your next trip (great procrastination). You could obsessively scroll through your camera roll (great content). Or, you could book yourself in for a treatment, relax, and maybe even prolong that tan you’ve worked so hard on.  By Beth Ludolf

The 90s have an undeniable cult following (and rightly so, they’re iconic). That's probably why their revival shows no sign of slowing - especially in beauty. Beyonce is bringing back french tips, Rihanna is sporting a whole head of mini buns and the make-up from HBO’s Euphoria has some serious Gwen-Stefani-at-the-1998-VMAs vibes (yep, face gems baby). Obviously, Instagram’s coolest girls are all in. The trend they’re loving? Two-tone hair (rocked by none other than [queen] Geri Halliwell).  Two-tone hair - as well as earning serious nostalgia points - looks great on all hair lengths and textures and is super playful. Go classic with blonde…

It’s happened to the best of us. In the chair, gown on, scissors ready - then the nerve goes and it’s all just “this, but shorter.”  Deciding on a new hairstyle is tough, but knowing how to ask for it is tougher. Don’t let your vocab hold you back. We’ve gathered up 7 popular styles right now and exactly what you need to ask to get them. By Liam Clifford

I’m going to call it and say I’ve tried pretty much every facial treatment going. Largely because I’m curious, but also, it’s good to be able to offer advice to friends on what to try based on their skin concerns (once ‘less rosé’ has been ruled out). Next up, we’re talking microneedling - ‘the one that uses actual needles’- to make my skin appear fresher and all-round younger.  By Liz Hambleton

Remember when Kanye said “I’ve been looking for the one, have you seen her?”, back in 2005? Well, that was also around the time I began looking for the one - “the one” being the perfect red, of course. With different tones trending depending on the season, it’s not always easy to find your go-to. When in doubt, forget the trends and stick with science (yes, really). By Beth Ludolf

On more than one occasion, I’ve been certain I’ve finally found the exact nude I’ve been searching for. Annoyingly, it’s always ended up looking completely different on my hand than it did on the colour wheel and, honestly, I haven't felt disappointment like that since the series finale of Lost. Thankfully, we’ve sussed out the science (yes, really) of finding that perfect shade. By Beth Ludolf

Most of the time, if my thick, (sort of) healthy, brunette hair won’t oblige, it’s scraped back to its rightful pineapple position. But, on those days where a messy bun won’t cut it - squishing it under a graduation hat, for example - a catalogue of minimal-effort hairstyles is sure to come in handy. Here it is – three event-ready looks, made for the laid-back amongst us. By Beth Ludolf

Waiting for the kettle to boil, listening to your colleague talk about their overgrown lawn and putting on a 4th layer of mascara. All precious minutes you’ll never get back. Thankfully, we’ve lined up three different lash treatments that won’t only save you time in the morning, they might give your colleagues something else to talk about. By Beth Ludolf

Getting a manicure. A ritual more sacred than roast dinner on a Sunday. Although I’m incomplete without acrylics, choosing which colour polish to go for is never an easy gig (commitment-phobe, maybe). Luckily for you - and, let’s be honest me - we’ve lined up three easy-to-wear nail looks to put your indecisive mind at ease. By Beth Ludolf

I’m going to call it and say I’ve tried pretty much every facial treatment going. Largely because I’m curious, but also, it’s good to be able to offer advice to friends on what to try based on their skin concerns (once ‘less rosé’ has been ruled out). This time, we’re talking face peels – adding solution to the skin for deep exfoliation . The goal? To improve my dull skin and stubborn bumpy areas.  By Liz Hambleton

I’m going to call it and say I’ve tried pretty much every facial treatment going. Largely because I’m curious, but also, it’s good to be able to offer advice to friends on what to try based on their skin concerns (once ‘less rose’ has been ruled out). Next up, we’re talking LED facials – the facial that triggers the body’s repair mode with light energy. The goal? To boost collagen and help to heal my scar tissue.  By Liz Hambleton

There are a number of things worth travelling for in life, notably, food, culture, and really great landmarks; but with so many spas on the doorstep of London, hopping on a two hour train to Manchester might seem a little elaborate. Wrong. I’ve just got back from a day trip to The Spa at The Midland Hotel, where 7 hours spent in its lower ground spa retreat, being pampered and relaxing, proved that sometimes it’s worth going the distance to find a spot that, well, goes the distance. By Rachel Spedding