Without being too dramatic, is there anything better than a red carpet? There’s just something so magical about admiring the drama, the fashion, the insanely extra hair and beauty - and all from the comfort of your couch? Winner.  And let’s be honest- in a year where the closest thing most of us have had to dressing *up* is putting on clean joggers to pop to the shops (just me?), last night’s Brit Awards were a more-than- welcome injection of some major glam into the year.  Because it’s the Brits, the vibe was all about fun and extravagance - with…

Eid al- Fitr is fast approaching and we’re already thinking about what henna we’re going to get. From chic minimalist designs to bold, intricate patterns there are so many styles to choose from - and if you're anything like us you’re having a hard time picking just one. But don’t worry, we’ve put together some of our favourite designs that are giving us serious henna envy.  By Louise Carleton    

Confession: I'm not the best at applying makeup. No matter how many Youtube tutorials I watch, Pinterest pics I study, or TikTok trends I scroll through, (and believe me, it’s a lot), I just can’t seem to get the hang of it.  Luckily, 2021’s most notable makeup trend is surprisingly doable- which means it’s one that I can absolutely get on board with. Earlier in the year- the ‘2016 vs 2021’ makeup challenge was trending on TikTok. The trend took a nostalgic look back to those sweet, sweet pre-covid times, and showed how makeup trends have changed since then. On…

If you’re anything like me, your nails have been *through it* this past year. Excessive handwashing? Check. An at-home gel kit that peeled off later that day? Check. A DIY nail art attempt that looked like a toddler had let loose with their crayons? Check. (Okay, maybe some of these are just me, but you get the gist.) Luckily, salons are officially back, which means we can finally get back to our true happy place, the nail salon (insert heavenly choir noises here). This season, our insta feeds have been full of brights, pastels, and all things *joyful*. With spring…

We dreamt about a lot of things during lockdown - nights at the pub, seeing our friends, and a sweet, sweet haircut. Something we’ll never take for granted again.  While scrolling through Instagram and saving endless amounts of inspiration pics probably wasn’t helping the frustration of not being able to head to the salon, it does at least mean that when they did finally reopen we knew exactly what we wanted. Curtain bangs, in case you were wondering.  Curtain bangs are great. They’re notoriously cool (Alexa Chung made sure of that), less high maintenance than you might think and actually…

Lockdown had us pining for the hairdressers, saving hair inspo left, right and centre, and dreaming of all the new looks we would try out once normality resumed. One style that kept catching our eye was locs; a hairstyle that’s becoming ever more popular with both men and women who want to show off their natural hair with pride - in a stylish and easy to manage way. Although locs are pretty low maintenance, there are some things you need to know when it comes to starting and caring for your locs. Loc expert Deborah at La Aibamania gave us…

This awards season has been a *tad* unusual - we think that’s fair to say. However, last night’s Oscars treated us to an IRL (!!!) red carpet moment, and boy, was it worth the wait. From Andra Day’s oh-so 2021 'no-makeup' makeup, to Amanda Seyfried’s classic Hollywood glam -  here are our fave hair and beauty looks from the 2021 Academy Awards. Beth Ryan

We counted down the minutes. We planned our outfits weeks in advance. At times, we thought the day might never actually arrive. But, hallelujah, the 12th finally rolled around, and we were officially allowed back in that sacred British institution - the beer garden.  Cut to one week later, and there is a small chance that you may have over-indulged a little. Hey, we’re right there with you, and we won’t judge. Your skin, on the other hand, might be feeling less than impressed.  If the visible effects of this week’s antics are showing on your face (we’re talking puffiness,…

Lockdown restrictions are slowly being lifted and with less than a week to go until Step 2 of the lockdown roadmap comes into effect we’re already looking ahead and compiling a list of all the things we can’t wait to do come the 12th of April - and beyond. Here are the top 15 things we’re looking forward to the most. What’s on your list? WRITTEN BY Louise Carleton

Gyms are open again, which means (sadly) no more excuses. Sweating it out might do wonders for our bodies and minds, but our skin? Not so much. If you find that your skin is feeling dull, dehydrated, or breaking out - it may be your workout habits that are to blame. To keep your skin *and* body feeling healthy, bear these tips in mind. You got this.

If you’re anything like us you’re counting down the days until salons can reopen. It’s been a long time since we sat in the salon chair and when we say our hair is crying out for some TLC, we mean it. We spoke to afro Hairdresser extraordinaire, Debora at La Aibamania to find out what we can do in preparation for our first appointment back in the salon. Here are her top three tips:

We’ve let our unruly brows run riot in lockdown, so an eyebrow shape is top of the list when salons reopen - there’s not long to go. Some of us have taken matters into our own hands, getting pretty good at shaping our brows (or doing just enough to keep the monobrow at bay).  With just over a month to go now is the perfect time to put down the tweezers, leave the wax strips to one side and let those brows grow. A grown-out brow will give your therapist lots to work with and help you achieve a new…

What should I do if the hair is too long? Remember, your hair should be no less than a quarter of an inch long. If it’s too long, Sofia suggests giving it a trim, “make sure you leave about 1 cm of growth though, to make sure the wax can pick the hairs up”. If you’re not confident trimming it yourself (it can be trickier than you think), your therapist can do this for you before your wax.  If I resorted back to shaving during lockdown, will my first wax hurt more? You’re not alone in worrying about the pain…

#NoMoreNoShows “No shows”, where someone books an appointment but doesn’t turn up on the day, without letting the salon know in advance - have been a problem in the industry for some time. In fact, reports state that 33.7% of people have “no-showed” at some point.  Right now, after months of closure and reopening with reduced capacity, the hair and beauty industry is struggling. The industry needs our support more than ever before. We’re supporting the #NoMoreNoShows campaign, which aims to educate customers on the potentially devastating effects of not turning up to their booking and the impact that this loss…

What is a colour correction service?  A colour correction helps with three things; when the shade of your hair is either too light or too dark, there are unwanted tones or the colour is patchy. “This could be a small tweak, a drastic change or when a box dye has gone wrong,” Natalie explains, “there are usually a few different steps involved, compared to a normal colour service”.  How long does a colour correction take?  According to Natalie, “it could be anywhere between a few hours and a few months” depending on the desired look, the colour that’s been done…

You might need to book something different from your usual  “To put it simply, the length of any colour appointment will have to be extended to compensate for the root re-growth,” Carly points out. When you’re booking your appointment you should err on the side of caution, opting for the treatment that gives your stylist the most time - “It’s better to have more time to correct serious re-growth than to book a shorter appointment and have to rebook”. Think of this as just another ‘new normal’.   If you normally get highlights  Book: A full head of highlights  With…

Increased hygiene measures  This one is pretty obvious. You’ll be expected to wash your hands upon arrival and before leaving your appointment. Salons will be allowing extra time during every appointment to thoroughly clean the area - chairs, basins, everything. If you feel unwell (or have been recently), you’ll need to stay at home and reschedule your appointment.     Arriving at your appointment Hoping for a walk-in appointment? Think again. Booking is key to help the salons regulate their customers. When you get to your appointment, waiting areas will be closed (to limit the number of people in the salon),…

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

I saw a meme the other day that said: “my eyebrows literally need a haircut, not a wax” and, well - I can relate. Lockdown was the perfect opportunity to grow out your brows, without having to worry about that seriously unruly phase. But, with salons hopefully reopening soon (please), it’s time to hand them over to a professional. We spoke to the unrivalled queen of brows, Shavata, about which treatments to try.   By Beth Ludolf

Contrary to popular opinion, waxing isn’t actually that bad - you just need to make sure the conditions are right. Think of it like this, say you went out for a picnic (bear with us), it started raining and you forgot the crisps, you probably wouldn’t enjoy the picnic. Well, waxing is like that but instead of checking the weather and remembering the snacks, you need to time your appointment and steer clear of alcohol beforehand. Here are the waxing mistakes you should avoid. By Beth Ludolf

I mean, seriously, because I can’t remember. If I could sum up this past year in three words it would be “WFH”, or maybe “house every weekend” (and I don't mean the song). Socialising has been replaced by social distancing. For me, that means greasy hair days are easier to hide (shout out “switch camera off” mode), and washing my hair is more of a treat than a necessity - which is actually good for your hair too, you know?  The sleek bun is one of the few hairstyles where the greasier the hair, the better the bun (in my…

Aside from how to poach an egg, and the severity of a tissue ending up in the washing machine, mum's taught us a whole bunch of stuff. Beauty advice included. Perhaps you've been bleaching your locks with lemon juice since the tender age of 12, or rubbing Vaseline into your lashes every night. Whatever advice has stuck, you're probably (like us) curious to know which of mum's 'tips' are actually true. We've done the digging, and it's time to debunk some mum myths (with the help of industry experts). Hair, nails, brows – all the stuff you've been wondering for…

Whether your mum is the most glamorous woman you know, a wash-and-go lover or a seriously low maintenance kind of person, their beauty advice is often the first we hear (and the one we always refer back to. We asked a handful of beauty lovers to share the best advice they learnt from their mums. Listen and learn.