Ingrown hairs are common amongst both Women and Men, particularly as a result of shaving or waxing errors.  When a shortened hair becomes sharp, it may force itself sideways and create a painful poke in skin.  Ingrown hairs also occur when dead skin cells block follicle openings.  It can be painful, but careful hair removal and daily exfoliation can prevent legs, underarms and bikini area from ingrown suffering.

What does an ingrown hair look like?
There are several stages of an ingrown, as well as varying severities. Generally an ingrown hair looks a little like a pimple. It will begin as a raised slightly tender reddened bump. As the issue progresses it may develop a white puss head, or you may see the hair beneath the skin as it grows and doesn’t come to the surface.

Preventing ingrown hairs
Shaving is the most common form of hair removal, and for good reason. It is quick, effortless and painless. Ingrown hairs are most commonly seen from the shavers of the world. Follow a few simple tips and techniques, if you are not already to lessen the possibility of developing ingrown hairs.

Shave in the direction of hair growth.
When you shave, you are simply removing the hair, as close to the skin as possible with a blade. Shaving against the grain will give a closer shave, as you are cutting from beneath the hair and the shorter hair, the more chance of it ingrowing. The thicker the hair, also the greater the change of ingrown hairs developing, so if you are shaving a thick, coarse or curly area, then always shave with the grain, or in the direction of hair growth to minimise your chances.

There are a range of products that you can introduce to your shaving routine to help with preventing ingrown hairs.

Dermalogica Pre Shave Guard
This pre shave product is fantastic for anyone shaving a coarse area. It is a thick prepping cream that contains camphor; this helps to lift the hair from the skin. It also softens the stubble to give a better shave.
Dermalogica Post Shave Balm
This is great for men’s after a shave. It is designed to specifically help fight ingrowns. This cooling balm contains Salicylic Acid, which is an AHA that exfoliates dead skin cells, gentle. This ingredient clears accumulated dead skin cells to help prevent and correct ingrown and bumps.

Don’t be afraid of waxing – now we know that there are some areas that you cant wax, and we don’t expect you men to attempt at waxing your beard, but it is a option for other areas. The obvious difference between shaving and waxing is that waxing is removing the hair from the root rather than cutting it at the surface. Removing the hair from the room doesn’t prevent you from developing ingrown hairs as when the hair regrows, it can deviate course before reaching the surface, and grow into the skin. This is more common when the hair is thicker or curly, like on the bikini area, or men. The key with waxing, be it an at home wax, or a salon visit, is exfoliation and post wax care.
Exfoliating with a mild AHA scrub, such as ASAP Revitalising Body Scrub will ensure that you have ridded any skin cell build up which will result in a better and easier wax. It is important to continue to exfoliate a couple of times a week after the wax too, maintaining a clear follicle with no build up will mean the regrowing hair has more chance of pointing I the right direction and coming through the surface as desired.

Whatever hair removal technique you opt for moisturisation is highly important. I like to recommend an AHA based one, and love the ASAP Revitalising Body Moist. It contains Green tea and essential oils, as well as Glycolic Acid to both moisturise, protect, and gently resurface the skin, which most importantly prevents ingrown hairs returning.

Ingrown Hairs Treatments
If you have developed an ingrown, then you can take a couple of steps to ensure that it’s under control as quickly as possible. Although recommended as a pimple treatment, Payot Pate Gris , is perfect for ingrown hair treatment. It contains shale extract, which is highly soothing, anti-bacterial and powerful drawing properties. When applied it draws the hair to the surface.
Try not to pick at and try and push the hair to the surface if you cant see it. This will most likely result in a scabbed area that is still ingrown.
If your symptoms persist for a prolonged time, then it might be an idea to take a trip to the doctor to have it lanced.

Silky Smooth, hair free skin is simple, all it takes are a few simple products and a bit of technique know how’s and you can be ingrown free.

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What Can I Do to Prevent Oily Hair?
Looking after greasy hair is an ongoing process which consists of regular cleansing. All shampoos are designed to clean the hair, however some specialise in clarifying the scalp to not only remove excess oil from the hair, but also focus on maintaining a healthy scalp, that isn’t producing more sebum than necessary.

You should be shampooing every 2-3 days. Frequent or over shampooing will actually cause your scalp to product more oil, more quickly. Remember that the oil that your scalp produces is designed to maintain your scalp in optimum condition, therefore cleansing too frequently, will require it to produce more oil to replace what is being continuously washed away.

If you are experiencing oily hair regularly, then you can opt for a clarifying shampoo that are designed to remove excess oil. I love and recommend both the Redken Oil Detox Shampoo and KMS Head Remedy Clarify Shampoo

Many celebrities with perfect hair choose to “freshen up” in between traditional shampoos by using a multitasking water-free formula such as KMS Hair Play Makeover Spray.  This special dry shampoo styling spray sops up oil, adds instant bounce and contains grape and peppermint ingredients.  Evo Water Killer Dry Shampoo is a 2-in-1 specialty product that works as a cleanser and volumizing styler; great for any hair length. This is a fantastic industry tip for those days where you don’t have the time to shampoo, or those in between shampoo days, you should always have a bottle handy!

Lay off the deep conditioner when it comes to oily hair — it will only add further buildup and attract more dirt to hair strands.  Stick to a light conditioner that is specially formulated for fine and/or greasy hair.  If you have oily roots, and extremely dry ends, and cant live with out your deep nourishing moisture treatment, focus the product only on your lengths, and don’t take it any higher than your ears.

Even the greasiest hair will benefit from a professional haircut.  The driest part of hair is the ends, which will most likely split (even on the oiliest strands).  Trimming regularly, along with clarifying, are the surest ways to bring your style back to looking its very best.

If you have any self learned tips and tricks to tackling Greasy Locks, feel free to share them with me.

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Get regular trims

Snip, Snip, Snip!!! If your hair is split, damaged, ratty or in need of a cut, then styling and smoothing are only going to prevent your frizz so much. Hair professionals recommend a trim every 6 weeks to keep your hair in tip top shape. Me, a lover of my long locks, understand that even a slight trim can be traumatic, and not an experience that needs to be ensured every 6 weeks! As long as you are taking fantastic care of your hair, you can eeeeek it out longer than this if you need to. Just bare in mind that as your hair grows, you are going to develop split ends, which if not trimmed, are going to continue to split higher, make your hair look frizzier and start to snap off! So don’t be a dill, have a trim every few months, your hair will love you for it!

Use an ionic hairdryer

Humidity, or a high level of moisture in the atmosphere is a big culprit in frizzy hair. High humidity or wet days expose your strands to excess moisture, this roughs up the cuticle or hairs surface, which will give a frizzed, brittle appearance.  Blow-drying is an essential part of smooth hair, but be sure to use a high quality professional hairdryer. The Parlux Hairdryer is used by hairdressers around the world, and for good reason. The patented ‘K-Lamination’ motor is ceramic and ionic, which in lay man terms means quicker drying, ionic air flow, which both result is de-frizzed, smoothed static free hair. These powerful hairdriers lock in moisture to the hair’s cuticle, thus not creating damage, or drying out your hair. If you are like me, and blow-dry your hair anymore than once a week, you really should look at a salon quality dryer, both for long term damage prevention, and smooth styling results. Professional Tip : always blow dry “down” the hair shaft, this is the direction of the cuticle, creating a smoother finish.

Switch to a smoothing shampoo & conditioner

If you are a serious frizz head, then you should be using a luxuriously dense Shampoo and conditioner for smoothing results – I LOVE the Redken Real Control range, it is heavy enough to smooth and nourish frizzy locks, but also has repairing protein benefits, you know the saying – Two Birds, One Stone. Not all frizzbies are thickly haired, thin haired beauties often suffer from the frizz also, and this is sometimes a little harder to control, as fine hair can become oilier far quicker with smoothing products. If this sounds like you, then be sure to focus your conditioner to the lengths of your hair, and not putting it on the roots where frizz is not a concern. MoroccanOil is the it product this season, and for good reason. Its just so good!! It is a smoothing weightless oil, a thermal protectant, a shine serum and so much more. I haven’t yet recommended this product to anyone who hasn’t loved it. There is an Original formula, and a Light formula, which has been developed for finer, lighter coloured hair.

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In the salon we have experienced that first time waxers have been a little nervous about the procedure of having a Brazilian wax so I want to clarify for all the Brazilian waxing virgins what to do prior to your wax as well as what you should expect before, during and after your service.

Many salons have different names for waxing downstairs, here are some definitions to help you get what you want
Bikini wax is your standard just a little off the sides and top.
A G-string wax is your standard bikini wax plus removal of hair on the inner sides of the thighs.
Then we move to the standard Brazilian which is the removal of all hair from the pubic area including the buttocks region, leaving a ‘landing strip’ at the top of the pubic bone.
A xxx Brazilian or Hollywood Brazilian is when all the hair from the pubic area is removed including the buttock region leaving not a hair in sight.

Which one to choose and what do you say on the phone when booking:
Most salons will have a menu so have a look first, check their website for the salon menu, they might have their own definitions and different pricing depending on which you choose. Don’t be afraid to say when booking that you haven’t had one before and ask any questions that may put your mind at ease.  We suggest for your first wax to go for a standard Brazilian which will leave a landing strip. Some people tend to find that removing all traces of hair the first time makes them feel very young. Take it slowly, you can always go all the way next time.

What to do before you arrive?

1.    Give the bush a trim hair should be about 1cm long, any longer and it will be a little more painful for you.
2.    Have a shower and clean downstairs this is common courtesy and your therapist will be very appreciative. If you have come straight from work ask your therapist if she has any baby wipes or such.
3.    Numb the pain some people choose to use a numbing cream or take panadol before a wax. We stay tough it out!

What to expect when you arrive?

You will be greeted by your therapist who will take you to a private room. Here she will explain how to get ready and then leave the room for a few minutes. Most of the time you will be too nervous in the new surrounding that you will miss everything she says, try to concentrate so you don’t get even more nervous when she leaves the room. Generally she will ask you to take off your underwear and put on a disposable G-string (some places will not offer this to you but instead ask you to go bare). Then you will need to lie on a bed like a massage table and cover yourself with a towel to await your therapists return.
Professional Tip: please try not being self-conscious about exposing yourself to your therapist. They do this procedure all day every day and will not be looking too closely at your private parts. Tell them this is your first time and they will talk you through it if you need reassurance.

What to expect during the treatment?

The therapist will return to the room, every therapist performs the wax slightly differently some therapists will get you to spread both legs while others will do one side at a time. Some therapists use a wax which needs to be removed with a strip of paper like material while the other wax sets and can be ripped off. Both ways will require the therapist will apply the wax with a wooden spatula in small sections and them take the wax off in the opposite direction of the hair growth. Some areas will be slightly more painful than others but it is a short instant pain that does not linger. Tell the therapist if you feel the wax is too hot as this can burn or take skin off. A good therapist will know from looking at the wax if the temperature is right or they will test it on the inside of their hand.  Good Brazilian will include removing the hair at the back (the bum) some therapists will ask you to pull a leg up to your chest while others will ask you to lie on your side. Gone are the days when you will need to get on all fours!

What to expect after the treatment?

Once the therapist is finish she will ask you to get dressed and meet her outside.
Even though the skin feels so smooth after your wax resist from touching the skin as your hair follicles will be open and the bacteria on your fingers can irritate or infect the hair follicles. The skin may be red and a little tender especially the first time so make sure the redness goes down before you share or show yourself to another person as it won’t be looking its best. It is best to try and moisturise every day after your wax and begin exfoliation approx. 5 days after with exfoliating gloves and possibly some exfoliating product daily. Try not to scrub the area too hard as this may irritate the skin. If you suffer from ingrown hairs it is idea to use an exfoliant product with salicylic, glycolic or aha’s. This will help to remove the build-up of dead skin cells to promote the new hair to grow out of the hair follicle. Alternatively you could you a masque spot treatment. There are many products on the market so try and find one that works for you.

How often should it be done and what’s it going to cost?

Every 3-4weeks depending on the hair growth is ideal and you can be charged anything between $39 and $79 although just because a salon is more expensive does not mean that it’s any better, once you find someone you like stick with them. Once you have experienced a few waxes and your hair starts to grow back smother, finer and sparser you will never go back to shaving or going al-natural.

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This season there seems to be a current trend on the cards of the new age icons. The days of Hepburn and Coco Chanel are not all but gone, but they certainly have some new contenders.

Stars including the likes of Katy Perry and Stefani Germanotta aka lady gaga are setting new trends left right and center.

Anybody like polka dots? Or lots of colour?  Katy Perry does! When she’s not topping the charts with her controvercial music lyrics, she is gracing the catwalks and a-list parties with her bright and loud outfits.  We are loving her vivid lips and bright bold happy colours.

What I love most is her adaptation of the modern manicure – polka dots! Perry believes if you need to “wear a look and not a look wear you, its all about having self-confidence, which helps you pull off anything”
She is not quiet about sharing her inspiration source telling Vogue that  she gets her colourful influence from the ‘90s teen comedy Clueless.

To Create gorgeous bold colourful eyes:

Get creative with Napoleon Perdis China Doll Eyeliners and create a list of colours that wont smear or smudge on the eye!

For best results apply using Flat Shader Brush 10b.

What colours can you create?

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Fair to Medium Skin

To make sure your lips don’t disappear in into your pale complexion, stay right away of anything matte or sheer. An opaque gloss – we recommend peach or peachy-pink for best results, for maximum impact, pair with lightly bronzed skin and you lips will just p

Olive Skin

Those of us that are lucky enough to get away with using more traditional colours such as taupe to create the -y shade on your mouth add a high good quality lip gloss and it give the effect of brightening the whole complexion. Finish the look buy adding low key eyeliner or and smoky eye shadow.   Remember we are not trying to frighten the kids so go easy with the application.

Dark Skin
If you looking for a natural look that doesn’t fade your lip colour out against your dark skin.Use a brown with a peachy reflect followed but a light shimmery gloss. The lovely natural colour of your lips will give you the pert look your after. Finish the look with yet more understated light make up and light dusting of powder.

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1.    Drink 2 litres of water a day

Drinking water hydrates the skin as well as getting rid of toxins from our body that build up and can cause illness. ”Water is a vital part of the body’s overall functioning systems”. Some of these systems include digestion, absorption, circulation, and excretion. So if you can imagine your body without water, it would cause your skin to become dry, flaky, and itchy, as well as toxin build up with no water flushing out your liver.

2.      Only use good quality products on your skin
It is extremely important to use good skin care. Most of the products on the beauty and hair self at the supermarket contain artificial colours, stabilisers, emulsifiers, and other chemicals. This can cause a layer to form on your skin making it harder for it to breathe. In my personal experience, I used a supermarket brand cleanser that claimed to be sensitive to my skin, instead I could feel it become dry and losing its softness. Since joining RY.com.au then I was surrounded in all the best hair and skin products on the market. I started using ALPHA-H balancing cleanser and in days my skin appeared cleaner, fresher and overall just left like I had new skin.

3.    Eat a healthy diet
If you eat good quality healthy food, it will help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein. The less processed and fresher your food is, the better the food is for you.
TIP: Food such as blackcurrants, blueberries, broccoli and papaya, contain natural collagen that strengthens the capillaries that feed your skin.

4.    Protect your skin from the UV rays
This could the most vital part of taking care of your skin, a lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, freckles, age spots, and rough and dry skin. But most concerning is skin cancer Australia has one of the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. ‘Prevention is the key’.
-    Use sunscreen whenever you are in the sun, apply 30 minutes before going out doors.
-    Wear protective clothing, if you know you are going to be in the sun for a long period of time make sure you wear clothing that is going to cover your arms, face and legs.
-    Avoid the sun between 10.00am and 4.00pm this is when the UV rays are the worst.

5.    Manage your stress levels
Unmanageable stress levels can cause your skin to become more sensitive, trigger acne break-outs and other skin problems. Take time to relax whenever you can, whether it’s even a few minutes to take a short walk. Or even join a yoga class. Trust me your skin and your entire body will thank you for it.

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In summer you should think of your hair as you do your skin, and treat it with the same care. When the hair is exposed to the sun for any prolonged period of time, the outside layer, also known as the cuticle is burnt. If your hair is split, highlighted or not well looked after to begin with then it is much more inclined to damage than healthy, well maintained hair. Burnt hair is easy to spot it is dry, brittle and looses it lustre.

Blondes have a bigger concern during summer, in general coloured highlights contain bleach, and with extended exposure to chlorine, these can take on a greenish tone. If you are swimming in chlorine at all, you should wash your hair with a suitable shampoo whilst its still wet, or as soon as possible. I recommend Wells SP Sunset Refresh Shampoo or Joico Kpak Chelating Shampoo. If you are a summer junkie, and that means anyone that spends time at the beach, in the sun or in a pool, should have some good quality deep cleansing shampoo, and an even better nourishing conditioner to complement.

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You should be focused more on how to prevent them, because once you have them, there is no cure. They are the bane of every woman’s existence. Split ends start to appear when the protective cuticle is stripped away from the hair shaft and are more common on longer, dryer hair.

As your hair grows, the natural oils from your scalp can fail to reach the ends. The ends of your hair are considered to be aged once they reach about 10cm and in one year your hair has been exposed to the sun, most likely every day, been shampooed an average of 180 times and been overheated by hair dryers and straightener’s. All these factors combined cause dry brittle hair resulting in split ends, and once the protective cuticle is removed, it is impossible to replace.

In the 70s women use to burn off their split ends themselves, times have changed, and prevention is the best cure. By following the general rules of Hair Dressers you can ensure your hair is in the best possible condition.

1.    Be sure to use good quality Hair Care. Cheap supermarket lines are full of bad silicone’s and various ingredients that build up in your hair, and whilst the instant result may be silky smooth hair, as soon as heat is applied to these ingredients, damage is actually being caused.

2.    Invest in a good quality brush and wide tooth comb. NEVER brush your hair when it is wet. If you need to, only use a plastic comb. Try brushing out combs before shampooing or combing through tangles when you have your conditioner in.

3.    Regular trims are a must. In general you should have a trim every 6 weeks. This keeps the hair healthy. If you are trying to grow your hair long, the biggest mistake is to ignore split ends and not have a trim. The longer your leave it, the larger the splits get and the more is going to snap off through brushing.

4.    Avoid excess heat if possible, and if using any heated styling tool, use a protector to seal the cuticle.

5.    Try to use an intense treatment once a week to put back some moisture and proteins.

6.    Use good quality styling tools. Straighteners, curlers and hair dryers have come leaps and bounds in the last 5 years, and it is worth investing in one to suit your budget.
Look for ceramic curlers and straighteners, the plates will not pull or catch your hair.
The top of the line hair dryers are ceramic and Ionic. Working similar to the ceramic compound on straightener’s, combined with an ionic processor means the best hot air on your hair.

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Seen this week at New York Fashion week, she was barely recognisable. Trading her signature platinum locks for a modern, edgy ebony coloured mop. I personally think that the new look suits her, and she looks fantastic. Not many celebs can carry off such a dramatic change and come out the other side with positive comments from the media.

Someone who is possibly known just as well as Agyness in the fashion industry, but for all the wrong reasons is Katie Price aka Jordan has done the switch numerous times. “She just wanted to be taken more seriously”.

The ever so lovely Reese Witherspoon looks great either way but the lighter locks bring out her eyes and her cheeky side.

This bootilicious Beauty Beyonce looks great whenever she graces the covers of our magazines. I personally think her golden locks complement Beyonce’s skintone and give her a gorgeous glow.

In the end Amy Winehouse didn’t have a choice about going to Rehab, but she did have a choice about the colour of her hair. She should stay dark, but change the overall look just a little I think.

Cameron Diaz was known for being the ultimate blonde bombshell – her eyes and smile were all accentuated by the superb blonde tone. When she appeared on the big screen in Charlies Angels with a darker warm chocolate shade, many were pleasantly surprised at how fantastic she looked.

Madonna has reinvented herself to keep up with pop nearly as many times as she has been hitched. Madge should definitely stick with the blonde up top – she looks past her used by date brunette.

Posh Spice, she went blonde, then brunette because she didn’t want to be like “that Jordan” or something along those lines – verdict Victoria Beckham she should stay dark so she doesn’t look trashy.

Christina Aguilera quiet well known for her lighter than white locks. She had a brief stint on the dark side, but soon decided that blondes have more fun.

With Lily Allen’s coming of age she developed style, pigment and looks far superior brunette!

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