Let’s be honest, January is pretty bleak. It’s absolutely freezing, it gets dark by 5 pm, payday was a lifetime ago and I’m so deep into dry Jan, I can’t even remember what wine tastes like *weeps*. When it's put like that, it’s no surprise that smiley face nails have become our newest obsession. The perfect antidote to doom and gloom.   Yellow is the classic - think 80s acid house smiley - on a natural nail background (ideal for keeping your mani looking fresh too), but there really are no rules with this one. Loved the rainbow nails trend from…

Kat Stratford in 10 Things I Hate About You, Kiera Knightly in Love Actually, Bella Hadid in the front row. What do all of these women have in common? Unfathomable bone structure, yes, but also tendrils. “What on earth are tendrils?”, I hear you cry. They’re those two bits of hair left out of an up-do. Up-dos can look a bit pageant-queen if they’re too done, tendrils give more of an undone, effortless vibe. Playing with the thickness can also give totally different finishes. If you’re going full 90s throwback, keep them ultra-thin and poker-straight. If you want something softer,…

Right, I’ve made a decision and I’m putting it here in writing so I can’t go back on it; this is the year that I (finally) stop biting my nails and grow them. And that means they need to be healthy. I spoke to nail pro, Lauren Williams - Director of award-winning nail bar, London Grace - to find out how to get the strong, healthy nails of my dreams. By Beth Ludolf

I’m not sure why but the word ‘layers’ sends shivers up and down my spine - and I don’t think I’m the only one. Take a look at 2019, for example. It was all about all-one-length blunt-cut bobs. In 2020? We’re making layers great again. Let me introduce you to The Shag. You’ll have seen it around - on cool girls, models, musicians (think Alexa Chung). The Shag is effortlessly cool, worn messy with lots of layers, choppy ends and a fringe. It’s the 70s in a haircut. There’s no one-size-fits-all with this one, your stylist can personalise it to…

I’ve done some crazy things in the name of beauty - honestly, I once ironed my hair with an actual iron -  so when I heard that dermaplaning uses a surgical scalpel to scrape away the layer of dead cells and peach-fuzz facial hairs at your skin’s surface I was more eager than ever. I headed to Dermrefine to try it out for myself - here’s everything I wish I’d known beforehand. By Beth Ludolf

Imagine a life without Google. No, seriously. Imagine not being able to find out who that-actor-in-that-film was or how long to boil an egg for by doing a quick search. I use Google multiple times a day, for everything from directions to beauty tips - and I’m not the only one. In 2019, there were 3.3 million beauty-related searches in Europe alone. What were people searching? Well, we’ve got the questions (and the answers). By Beth Ludolf

Pantone have called it, yet again; 2020’s colour of the year is *drumroll please* Classic Blue. The colour - which apparently instils calm and confidence (I’m listening) - has felt the love from fashion and interiors for a while now. And now it’s beauty’s turn. Let’s start at the top, shall we?  Blue hair is bold, obviously, and it can be hard to nail the shade. Unless your hair is almost white, the yellow undertones can tone the hair to green or turquoise, especially as the colour begins to fade. If you’re going for a pastel or true blue shade,…

We know, we know. New Year’s Eve is the most over-hyped night of the year, but entering a new decade is a pretty good excuse to go all-out (not that we need one), besides it’s the only day of the year I get properly glammed-up just to go to the local. These are the treatments to get you feeling a little extra. By Beth Ludolf

Finding a new shade of nude nail is amazing, don’t get me wrong, but it’s bittersweet. It basically means the already-impossible task of choosing a shade is now even harder but I assure you, this time it’s worth it.  Milky nails are the new nude that everyone (include Lizzo) is wearing and we can see why. Milky nails are to winter, what opaque white nails are to summer - heavenly. The semi-translucent finish has a soft, dreamy look which is much less harsh than classic opaque shades.  Still not convinced? Take a look for yourself.  By Beth Ludolf

For eleven months of the year, I’m an all-black-everything kinda girl, but as soon as December rolls around I have an incessant need to put glitter on everything. If you don’t share this sickness (it really is a sickness) or ire on the side of understated - regardless what month it is - then I assure you, embracing sparkle doesn’t have to be maximalist. We’ve found a bunch of nail art designs that are equal measures festive and wearable - even if you’re a minimalist.  An accent nail (usually on your ring finger) can spruce up even the simplest of…

London is great but sometimes hopping on a train for an hour can do wonders - especially when what’s on the other end is a spa. I spent the afternoon relaxing at The Spa at  Macdonald Berystede Hotel, here’s what I thought. By Beth Ludolf

It’s a fact of life that good hair equals good mood - especially when you don’t have to lift a finger to create it. And that is why God created blow drys. If I was ever to win the lottery, I would get one every other day. Unfortunately, for now, I need to keep mine looking fresh for as long as humanly possible - here’s how. By Beth Ludolf

PSA: nail art isn’t just for girls - in fact, no part of beauty is. Sure, it’s traditionally seen as ‘feminine’, but Yorkie bars were traditionally seen as masculine and we all know that’s ridiculous. Beauty is self-care and shouldn’t be bound to any gender - besides, more and more people are challenging gender stereotypes.  A manicure doesn’t have to be a big deal - or mean bright, colourful nails - it can just be basic grooming. Think of it like your haircut. An express manicure simply involves filing and buffing nails and caring for the cuticle. It can also…

Hello, my name is Beth and I’m addicted to nail extensions. I’ve been getting acrylics and hard gel extensions non-stop for about two years so - as you can imagine - when I heard about Apres Gel-X extensions, the acrylic-alternative favoured by celebrities (dah-ling), I was itching to find out more. Luckily for you, I'm taking the liberty of passing it on - you're welcome.  By Beth Ludolf

After a lifelong pursuit of silky-smooth hair - and multiple fruitless attempts using various “frizz-free” hair masks - two months ago, I finally bit the bullet and headed down to the salon for a keratin treatment. Granted, the immediate results were a dream (and a compliment-magnet), but I was sceptical whether it would be worth the hefty price tag. These are my thoughts 9 weeks post-treatment. By Beth Ludolf

2019 has been a pretty great year for beauty trends. We’ve relived the 90s, gone in on the glitter and rhinestones (thanks to Euphoria) and made our brows bushier than ever. There are only 50 days left of this year - and decade (!) - but it’s not over yet. We’ve lined up a whole host of emerging nail trends to try before the year is out (and into 2020). By Beth Ludolf

Some things are just inherently cool, like leather jackets, flat whites and those precarious little beanies that skaters wear. Take one look at Instagram and you’ll see that blunt-cut bobs are firmly in that category - especially when worn with said leather jacket and beanie.  Blunt bobs have a seriously effortless vibe to them but don’t be fooled; shorter doesn’t mean easier. Bobs are actually a lot higher-maintenance than long hair - tying it up is not an option and heat-styling and products are inevitable. While jawline-skimming cuts can accentuate your bone structure, for thicker hair, keep it a little…

Short hair is great, don’t get me wrong, but being able to do that thing where you leave your hair tucked into your jumper is so nonchalant and chic that I’m actually considering extensions for that reason alone. Extensions are great for changing up your hair - they can add length, thickness and allow you to experiment with cuts and colours without really doing anything to your natural locks. We’ve broken down five different types of extensions to help you pick the right one for you. By Beth Ludolf

  No, it won’t get you stoned. CBD, short for cannabidiol, isn’t the same thing as marijuana. The cannabis sativa plant contains around 100 different cannabinoids - the two main ones are CBD and THC. CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid extracted from the leaves and flowers of the plant, while THC is the bit that gets you high.    Why’s everyone talking about it? CBD is definitely the beauty trend du jour - it’s everywhere at the minute. It was recently legalised for medicinal use in the UK and the health benefits have got the beauty world talking.    What are…

Personally, I’m of the belief that Halloween is not just a day, it’s a feeling. I’ve been listening to Rihanna - Disturbia for weeks and have developed a minor addiction to Haribo Scaremix. Whether you’re a one-day-only or an all-spooky-season-long kinda person, these nails will coordinate with your costume and are totally wearable afterwards. Think of them like Jeykll and Hyde. By Beth Ludolf

Pre-2011, my eyebrows were the part of my body I thought about least - I’d pluck them (to near-baldness, according to my #10YearChallenge) and that was that. And then Cara Delevigne came along and eyebrows - and, more importantly, my lack of - bolted into my consciousness. Since then, I’ve grown them out, filled them in, waxed, tinted, threaded, all to mild success (the gauge of success is bushy-ness, in this case). Until now - enter, brow lamination.  By Beth Ludolf

I don’t know who needs to hear this but, put down the scissors. A DIY fringe will not solve your problems. Nor will bleach (trust me, accidental-orange hair is not good for the old stress levels). If you’re planning a drastic hair change, then do just that: plan it. And leave it to the experts, please. By Beth Ludolf

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