SS19 Fashion Weeks exist to show just that – trends for next year's spring/summer aesthetic. But, if the Oscar de la Renta catwalk makes me want to strut into the office wearing a low ponytail in October, you best believe I'll be doing it (wild). So, because we don’t need any sort of excuse to rock next season’s trends in the present day, and because I really enjoy studying the shows and sorting my hair out, here are the 7 trends for next year, that you should start wearing now. By Rachel Spedding

In the UK since 2016 there has been a significant spike in the number of people going vegan. 3.5 million to be exact! But whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or somewhere in between, the majority of modern consumers would broadly agree that the harming of animals in the pursuit of beauty is, well, pretty, deplorable. And luckily for our furry friends, the beauty industry has been listening and innovating, meaning today, it's entirely possible to maintain your principles without sacrificing on luxury or performance. But where to begin? To help in your intrepid search for the very best when it comes to…

As the world becomes more conscious of making the "right" beauty choices – and woke to the reality of cosmetic testing – upping your salon game with ethical brands is a good move. From toxic chemicals, to manufacturing intel, we owe it to the industry to do a little digging. We grabbed a spade, and got stuck in; here are six ethical nail brands – majority vegan – helping to make nail bars like yours, greener. By Rachel Spedding

We’re up for trying anything that helps us to shake off day-to-day woes, reset our senses and really get to work on more specific body pains. Turns out, floatation therapy is just the ticket. Shimmer salon is a Top Rated venue in Edinburgh, with the largest float pod on the market. Intrigued to know more? Of course you are. Alan Stevenson, salon owner and float expert, told us everything we need to know. By Rachel Spedding

So you've finally decided to quit 'growing out' your hair and snip it off. Props to you. Your turtle neck will look all the better with freshly chopped locks atop of it. But, which style to go for? When considering your cut, it's important to weigh up three factors – hair texture, face shape, and your commitment to styling. Real life example: static hair is infuriating, so I went for a boyfriend bob. Since there's a big bundle of do's to choose from, we've pulled together a collage of inspiration pictures. A catalogue for your hairstylist, so you can pluck your…

White lie. We're yet to find a wax that causes zero discomfort. A little like watching someone (who is not you) eat a pizza, it's always going to hurt a little. Though we can't entirely shift the shrieking, we do know the spots to head for that'll make the experience a little smoother. How do we know? Because of you guys, and your top notch feedback. So here it is, six places you should try for a 'painless' wax, according to your reviews, your star rating, your experience – that's what makes them Top Rated salons.   By Rachel Spedding

It’s cold outside, and while an extra layer of facial hair may do little to protect us from the harsh cold of every single day in the UK, a beard does look pretty good. Our beard trim bookings increase month-on-month throughout the year, with a hefty lot of barber appointments in December, so we know you’re grooming come chilly season. If the ‘growing out’ bit is tricky (and taming unruly hairs is tough), we’ve got advice to help. Here’s your guide on how to grow a beard. By Rachel Spedding

Fashion Week has been doing some serious inspiring for the last few weeks. Rainbow was one of our favourites, with a 90s Troll-like vibe electrifying a huge number of catwalk shows. Kaleidoscope colours in various styles have left us tempted to revisit our salon for a twist to our usual chocolate-brown dye job. But if all-over colour is too much commitment, ombré is your answer. Fusing darker toned locks with a burst of acid bright (or subtle pastels, inspired by Marc Jacobs), makes the look a whole lot more wearable.  We’ve worn colour in every which way for the last few…

Scarves! Scarves! We can finally wear scarves! Yep, the UK has succumbed to its natural state, and we’re back in freezing temperatures. But with great knitwear, comes great changes to our beauty routine. Our skin’s getting drier, our lips more chapped, and our usual moisturiser just isn’t cutting the mustard. October is upon us – here’s what you can do to save your skin. By Rachel Spedding

Coloured hair has come a long way since the frosted tips of NSYNC days. We’re embracing colour now (more than ever before) with acid brights, chalky pastels and good ol’ platinum blonde lining Fashion Shows, street style, and even our office. Colour’s cropping up everywhere, and it’s commanding our attention. Yep, we’re calling it that a neon chop is a good idea for AW18. Better yet, whether you’re sporting longer locks, or an all-over buzzcut, there’s a dyeing technique to suit. From fluro green ombre, to ice-white afro, there’s heaps of inspiration for your next salon trip. So much, in…

Jeremy Scott showcased a new nail trend at New York Fashion Week that we’re still thinking about two weeks later. Much like justifying the purchase of *another* winter coat, if it’s still on our mind, it’s time we tried it. These – are orbit nails. The trend plays with negative space on the nail bed, circling the edge with bold colours. You may know ‘em as ‘outline nails’ – a look that straddles a conventional manicure with nail art. If you’ve never considered nail art your ‘thing’, this could be your entree. Scott opted for cobalt blues and neon pinks…

I like to think that if I could see inside my hairdresser’s mind, they’d be appreciating the fine condition of my well-nourished locks, and not fearing for the fresh fake tan naively sat a’top my skin (about to get hella streaky). Bad cosmetic choices aside, your hair stylist is a magician with the scissors, so to make sure you get the most out of your cut, colour or blow dry, we summed up everything they really wish you knew. By Rachel Spedding

Whichever treatment you’re heading to the salon for, there are a few generic need-to-knows that could help the result last longer and leave you feeling prepped. How do we know? Because we’re beauty connoisseurs. (...) and definitely spend far too much of our lives in salons. We’ve got quite the arsenal of intel, so it’s time we shared it. Your very own guide to getting the most out of your beauty treatment. By Rachel Spedding

You've spent hours Googling the hair of your dreams (and finally decided to book something besides a 'trim'). Don't let that colour go easily. There are a few things you can do to make sure it lasts, even before you've taken to the salon chair. Think of this as the stuff your hairdresser wishes you knew – trade secrets, if you like. From shower tactics, to inspiration photos, these are our top four tips for longer-lasting colour. By Rachel Spedding

Fashion Week. Facials. Strong brows. Independent Women. Just a few of our favourite things. We've talked all of that goodness on the blog this week (with tip-top beauty advice rife throughout). Since you're all a busy bunch, it helps to have it all rounded up in one easy place. Here's just that – our top five posts of the week. Enjoy. By Rachel Spedding

If you’re dreading your first wax appointment, stop now. You’ll glide out of that salon silky smooth (sort of – a little waddling is likely), and over time will welcome a life with finer, sparser hairs, and a great relationship with your go-to therapist. This is coming from a seasoned hair-shifter. Before you take the table, there are a few things you can do to ensure a tip-top experience – here’s six of them. By Rachel Spedding

Last month, gel manicures were our third most-booked treatment. Yep, when it comes to nails, we know our stuff. The same goes for Ama Quashie. The London-based manicurist is renowned in the fashion industry across print, digital, and catwalk shows. We headed to the Nicholas Kirkwood SS19 presentation at LFW on Sunday, and watched Ama do her thing. This is what she had to say on all the exciting goodness going down in the world of nails right now. By Rachel Spedding

Tulle, taffeta, pastels and androgyny – a few familiar trends cropped up on the catwalk at the SS19 LFW shows. The Little House on the Prairie vibes were cute, and nice, but we were struck by a trend far more reminiscent of our Evanescence days: punk. Inspiring us to dig out the black pencil liner (no longer our over-sharpened 'Miss Sporty' number), and crank up some TATU, the catwalks showcased Burton-esque females with fierce hair styles. Saturated colours, monogram buzzcuts, and neon wire laced throughout. The shows were dystopian in style and in short – really, really cool. Since most offices dictate…

Getting a manicure should result in two things: gleaming polish that lasts much longer than a DIY job, and feeling really smug. Like LinkedIn photograph smug. To make the most out of your salon trip, we’ve got a few ‘pre-tips’ – the stuff you should make time for before your appointment (and bonus advice once you’re at it). By Rachel Spedding

Those ‘pores’ we love to hate serve a real purpose. The tiny openings to hair follicles produce natural oil that lubricates our skin, to protect against infection and dryness. Despite their skin-saving super powers, we’re often looking for ways to shift their visibility (if you’ve ever taken a peek at your skin in an ultra-zoom mirror, you’ll relate). To minimise the appearance of pores, give these five simple steps a try. By Rachel Spedding

It’s felt like a hot minute since awards season, so last night’s Emmys celebration had me hawk-eyed at the catwalk. Between silently rooting for The Handmaid’s Tale to win everything, and tearing up at *that proposal*, I was admiring the handiwork of ‘glam squads’ across the country, who did their thing on those in attendance. Most notably: the low bun. Centre part, full brows, and a slight pink-tinge on the lip was the go-to vibe last night, looking 10/10 on Emilia Clarke and co. (Somewhat) easy to create on your own, and the ideal style for a desk-to-bar situation, this…

We’re all darn beautiful with mascara or without, but there’s something about a slick of the lash stuff, or a quick brow tidy up that works wonders for the face. That’s why tinting was in our top ten most-booked treatments last month. But before you head for your transformation (because, let’s face it, the results are that good), there are a few things to know – five, to be exact. By Rachel Spedding

We know you’re a busy bunch, so we’ve rounded up six posts from this week to make sure you don’t miss any of the important stuff. Fashion Week is in swing, and we're stalking nail, hair and street style trends like there's no tomorrow. Between all that – here's what we're been talking about on the blog (heads up: skincare is most definitely on the agenda). By Rachel Spedding