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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Summers coming and in preparation for the bikini days it time to start thinking about tanning, gone are the days where you can sit out in the sun all oiled up, soaking up the damaging rays that the sun produces. The only safe way is to fake it, this can be tricky so we’re here to show you the steps to making sure your tan looks great on the beach this summer.

Step 1: winters over! Time for a wax

Self tanners can stain hair which can make your tan look darker. Its best to shave or wax however this needs to be done at least 24 hours before hand otherwise you can have the tan sit into the hair follicles which gives a spotty appearance.  Removing hair the day before also lets the skin calm down and prevents irritation from the self-tan product.

Step 2: exfoliate

Dead skin cells sit on the surface of the skin. If you don’t remove these within a few days they will shed and you will be left with a patchy tan. For the longevity of your tan it is essential to remove these dead skin cells before you tan.

Waxed the day before? Don’t exfoliate these areas. Waxing takes off the dead skin cells so exfoliating again may irritate the skin. We still recommend exfoliating the other areas that we’re not waxed for an even tan.

To exfoliate you can use a body scrub (or a facial scrub if your tanning your face), or a loofah glove with shower gel. Just gentle no need to rip your skin off!! Don’t forget spots like your knees, elbows and around your underarm area.

Step 3:  Moisturise

This is particularly important for dry areas such as elbows knees and ankles. Dry areas naturally try to soak up whatever is applied to it, if the area is not moisturized and you put the tan straight on it will soak up more of the tan in these areas then other areas making it look dark and un-even.

Tanning your face? Put a bit of moisturiser over your hair line and eyebrows. ( Don’t forget step one.. if you need that lip or chin done, you definitely don’t want that accentuated with a tanning product).

Step 4: Apply the Self-Tan
Wear gloves, its a simply way to make sure you don’t get the tan in between your fingers and under your nails.

Apply the tanner lightly in sections making sure you evenly distribute on both sides of your body. Start at your lower legs and work your way up to you face.  Let dry for 5-10mins and then apply another light coat. Its always better to do 2 light coats then to do one heavy one. This will make sure that your tan is flawless.

Wait until the end to do your knees, elbows, ankles hands and feet, just use the excess on your gloves to brush over these areas.

You can dilute the self tan to do your face or just use the excess when your done.

Step 5:  Drying time.

Allow a good twenty minutes before putting on any clothing.  Most tanning products wash out of clothing however just in case try to avoid wearing light clothing or using light towels.

Most tans can take 4-6 hours to develop. The main difference is that some are clear with no instant effect. Others are tinted and will show up almost instantly even though developing time takes a few hours.  Wait about 4-5 hours before showering or as per instructions on your self tanning product.

An easy tip          -    Try to get a self tanner with a tinted agent so that you can see missed spots and get an even tan.
-    Do just before going to bed. When you wake up, tan will have developed and you can shower of excess.

Step 6: Maintenance

If your tan isn’t as dark as you had hoped for, you can reapply the next day. Otherwise you will only need to re-apply once or twice a week making sure you exfoliate lightly before every application.

Simply Moisturise daily to keep skin from drying and flaking off leaving tan patchy. You can use a product with a light tanning agent for upkeep.
Avoid chlorine as this can strip the tan off.

DON’T FORGET to use an SPF+30 when going out in the sun. Your tan will not protect your skin from burning and damaging skin.

Enjoy your summer tan by faking it!

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Is there another half in charge of the budget who might need some more scientific evidence as to your womanly necessities? Right, well many available treatments can not only improve overall health, but help you relax when you’re feeling stressed. Pardon the expression – but a happy wife means a happy house.

The recession times are bringing making bargain hunters of all of us. Use these skills to find deals at spas in your area. Use these tips to make the most of your well earned money.

1.    Book with a friend.
New clients are very valuable and from the Salons’ perspective – the more new people through the door the better. Give them a call and see if they can do some sort of group discount.

2.    Look for “mini services”.
To look at the cost of a beauty service in a different way – there is not only a cost for the product that is being used during the treatment, but the therapist also needs to be paid, usually by the hour. So you are paying for someone’s time as well as the service! Shorter service times are becoming much more popular so look for the 30minute massage, express pedicure or mini-facial.

3.    Get on the mailing list.
Usually when you visit a Salon for the first time, you will need to fill out a Client details form, or something similar. If you are keen on maintaining some pamper in your life then give your details. Often they will email/send you some form of voucher on your birthday and this is a great way to be kept informed of seasonal specials and promotions.

4.    Wait for the holidays.
If you can hold off until a special occasion you can find great deals. Times such as Mother’s day and Christmas bring great bargains and packages to attract gift buyers but there are no rules to say that you can’t get in on the deal and buy them for yourself.

5.     Don’t be afraid to ask.
It’s a little cheeky but ask the receptionist when booking if there are any discounts for new customers or students. You may surprise yourself at what you can get by simply asking!

6.     Mention competitors.
Do some ringing around, if you find a better deal or package elsewhere mention it. They may be willing to match or better the offer in order to keep or gain your business.

7.     Ask about add-ons.
Some Salons don’t offer packages or discounts. Another approach is inquiring about a complementary add-on service such as a mini shoulder or head massage whilst a masque is on in your facial. It doesn’t cost them much.

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I am often asked what size GHD straightener  is best for what my hair? I have been in the hairdressing industry over 8 years and I have found that its very much horses for coarses. I once was the head stylist for a large Italian fashion label and all the models had very short fringes. The GHD Mini 15mm was the hair straightener of choice here. It allows greater maneuverability and is very easy to use around the hair line and also expert at styling men’s textured styles, allowing the stylist to get close to the root without burning the scalp.

GHD mark 4 24mm
The best selling GHD straightener is the mk4 24mm styler. It’s the most used straightener in our salon and can be used to create any style. The common misconception with the GHD is that it’s simply a straightener. It’s not its oh so much more than that. Included in every box is the GHD how to DVD, this is a very useful information DVD on how to get the best of your GHD straightener. This GHD can be used on thick hair, thin hair, long hair, short hair, there isn’t really a hair style out there that the GHD can’t help you to create. Lots of confusion also surrounds the model number GHD 4.2b. This model number to some extent should be looked at closely the 4.2b is the latest update to the mk4 styler which is currently the latest GHD on the market.

The GHD mk4 40mm salon styler
The GHD mk4 40mm or as is some times known the GHD wide plate styler is a great addition to any GHD collection. The wider 40mm ceramic plates allow faster straightening times for those of us with extra thick hair. The wider plates are also excellent at creating larger curls that can then be dressed into light waves in the hair. Always use a thermal protect product when using any heat tool on your hair. The ghd has technology built into it so you won’t need to change the temperature on any of the models. It senses the thickness of your hair and changes the temperature accordingly (very smart). This will make sure  it doesn’t cause any unnecessary damage to the hair. All straightners are not created equal. They may look the same from the outside but trust me these little babys have stuff going on the inside that other hair Irons could only dream about. Remember the number one rule when selecting a GHD is not” what size ghd should I buy?” but “Where should I buy it?” Unfortunately with every brilliant product there will always be copy cats or fakes. Check that you are buying from an Australian hair salon and that the product comes with the standard two year warranty. If your styler was to go wrong  GHD have a hassle free return policy and they will repair or replace your ghd straightener in no time at all.
In the last 50 years of hairdressing I don’t think a single  product has changed the hairdressing industry as much as the GHD has. There is no replacement for skill but the ghd has allowed stylist to go to another level.

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Kms makeover spray is not a dry shampoo. Its fairly simple you still need to wash and condition and treat your lovely locks if you want them to look and smell fresh and clean. Kms is a make over spray. The good folks at kms came up with this product and its brilliant.Its ideal for touch ups and like all kms it comes with the  IOPS  Technology
( Inside Out Perfecting System).  This powerful nutrient delivery system allows the reconstructive and conditioning agents to penetrate deep into the hair.  The technology allows the powerful ingreidiants to work on the inside of your hair getting right down to the root of the problem( excuse the pun)Its a good idea to keep the makeover spray in your handbag for those little emegancy. Its grape and Peppermint will at the very least leave your hair smelling beautiful. Its also great if your roots are gettling a little to oily or you without thinking added to much styling product and you dont have time to do a full wash and blowdry and ghd straighten

what is IOPS?

IOPS = Inside Out Perfecting System
IOPS is a combination of:

 Penetration Enhancer = Propylene Glycol and Ethanol

aActive Ingredients = Lactic Acid and Malic Acid

 
The Results of IOPS:

Reconstructs internal hair damage, smoothes and seals hair surface.  With your hair subject to environmental, mechanical or chemical stress firsty the cuticle layer is affected and then the internal structure.  Lastly with severe damage the inner core of the hair can be broken down.

With the IOPS technology the regenerating ingredients, Lactic and Malic Acid, penetrate deeply into the hair shaft and begin to expand, filling in all the gaps created by the damage. After IOPS the hair is regenerated from the deepest internal layers to the cuticle, leaving the hair smooth, strengthened and in healthier looking condition.

When to use KMS hairplay make over spray.
You have been at work all day and you want to quickly restyle you hair. The makeover spray will cleanse and grab onto any existing hair product in your hair leaving you free to reapply product and end up with your desired style.
 

When not to use KMS hairplay make over spray

You have just finished a 40km run and forgot to wash for the previous two weeks and you have a date with the man/woman of your dreams in 30 minutes. Nothing beats a good old two shampoo and condition. Use makeover spray to get you through to your next shampoo not instead of it.

Good luck

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