Ashley Mcloughlin - Style That Speaks Volumes.

TUTORIAL: QUICK, EASY AND CHEAP EGG FACE MASK

2012-02-24T08:43:00.003-08:00

Using eggs as a mask has to be my favourite face mask at the moment. It's so easy to do, and it's so effective. A lot of people might turn their noses up at rubbing eggs in their face, but don't dismiss the idea just yet.

This mask works great for tightening your skin, leaving it feeling fresh, drying up spots and brightening your skin.

All you have to do, is grab an egg from your fridge and have an hour to spare, and you're on your way! Find out how to make this mask after the jump

What you will need:

1 egg

2 bowls

A fork

Lemon Juice

Honey

Step One

Crack the egg and separate the egg white and egg yolk into 2 bowls. Try not to get any of the yolk into the egg white, or the mask won't work the same way. Put the egg yolk to one side for the moment, as we'll be coming back to that at the end

Step Two

This step is optional, but it's great for if you have any acne. Add a few drops of lemon juice to the egg white and whisk with a fork until you can see bubbles. The citric acid in the lemon juice is great for drying out spots, and you might think it'll burn and sting, but you can't really feel anything, and it is really effective. Alternatively, you can add a few drops of tea tree oil instead of lemon.

Step Three

Cleanse and pat your face dry, then apply the egg white to your face. You can apply it with your fingers (it feels a bit slimy, but it's nothing to gross). I'd suggested leaning over a sink, because it can be a bit messy. You probably won't use all of the whites, but once it's applied, sit back and leave it for 30 minutes. You'll feel the mask slowly tightening on your face, which is a strange but pleasant feeling.

Step Four

After the 30 minutes is up, rinse off the egg whites with warm water, then pat your face dry. Now, we want to go back to the egg yolk. The egg white is going to dry and tighten your face, so we want to put some moisture back into it, and the egg yolk is the perfect way to do this. I like to add a table spoon of honey to the yolk and whisk it in. It just gives it that extra moisturising and soothing kick. Apply this mixture to your face with your fingers, and leave for 20 minutes.

Step Five

After the 20 minutes is up, rinse off the egg yolk with warm water, and pat your face dry. Your face should feel firm, silky, smooth, fresh and clean. Apply moisturiser to your face to lock that goodness in and you're done. This mask is 100% natural, so you aren't putting any chemicals into your skin, and you're getting great results.

I do this mask every night before bed, as I find my face is a lot better in the morning from it. Give it a try, what have you got to lose?

CELEB SPOTLIGHT: VOGUE MAGICALLY SLIMS DOWN ADELE

2012-02-18T09:47:00.004-08:00

After her recent sweep at the Grammy's, collecting all the awards she was nominated for (6), Adele has graced the cover of American Vogue, as well as a beautiful photo shoot for the magazine. Adele looks every inch the superstar that she is in the pictures (which you can see after the jump), but it just concerns how much airbrushing they have done to Adele making her appear a lot slimmer than she really is. I find it strange this has been allowed to happen when Adele always talks about how she loves her body. I guess it is Vogue though.

Click below to see the stunning photo-shoot!

What do you think of the shoot? Do you think it's right that she has been airbrushed to look several sizes smaller? Leave your comments below

WIN: 3 MAX FACTOR MASCARA TO GIVE AWAY!

2012-02-17T15:20:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the launch of Ashley-Mcloughlin.Blogspot.com I am having a prize give away!

I have 3 of Max Factor's False Lash Effect to give away to 3 lucky viewers.

Everyone deserves great lashes, and now you can have them. All you have to do is answer one simple question!

To win, answer the question after the jump. It couldn't be easier!

In a recent post I told you about the skin care benefits of Oat Meal/Porridge, but what did I say could be added to the oats to make a great mask?

a) Chocolate

b) Honey

c) Milk

Send A, B or C to ashmcloughlin@live.co.uk along with your full name, and email address, or use the comment form below.

Good luck!

Terms and Conditions:

The competition closes on 29th February 2012 at 12am. Contest is open worldwide. You must be over 16 years of age to enter, and must be willing to provide a delivery address in the event of winning. Only 1 entry per person is allowed. Winners will be picked at random from all correct answers, and winners will be notified by email. You have 7 days to reply with a postal address before another winner is picked.

TUTORIAL: PERFECT HANGOVER CURE FOR YOUR SKIN

2012-02-15T10:05:00.001-08:00

If, like the average person, you like drinking alcohol every now and then and going on a night on the town, you'll know how knackered, dry and damaged your skin can feel in the morning.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and we all know that drinking a lot of alcohol can damage your skin, especially the skin on your face.

In this article, I'm going to give you the perfect hangover cure for your skin, for the morning after the night before, because no one wants horrible skin in the morning.

TAKE OFF YOUR MAKE UP

The amount of people I know that leave their makeup on after a night out shock me. Leaving your makeup on in your sleep is never a good thing, especially if you've been drinking alcohol.

I know when you get in from a night out, shoes in one hand and a kebab in the other, the last thing on your mind if taking your make up off, but you really have to make the effort.

It'll only take a few minutes, but it will make a huge different. Cleanse your face or use a make up wipe to get that mask off.

You don't ever want to be sleeping in your make up. It clogs up your pores, can cause blackheads and acne, and it apparently ages you 11 days each time you sleep in your make up (imagine adding that up over time).

DRINK GREEN TEA

When you've finally crawled out of bed in the late afternoon, head straight for the green tea.

Green tea is nature's perfect anti-oxidant. It's going to work on getting rid of all those poisonousness toxins from of your body that you put it in the night before. It's also going to soothe and cleanse your body, and do you a whole lot of good, whilst making you feel slightly more fresh.

Not everyone likes the taste of green tea, but try to ignore it, knowing it's good for you. You'll grow to appreciate the taste over time.

Add a dollop of honey to add more flavour or maybe a teaspoon of sugar?

DRINK LOTS OF WATER

Even though alcohol is a liquid, it dehydrates your body, meaning a lot of the moisture in your skin is going to be dried out.

One of the worst feelings in the world is dry skin, and it feels even worse when you have a hang over. Drinking water is an essential part of skin care.

It's going to hydrate your body, and hydrate your skin, putting back natural moisture.

After a long night out, why not drink a glass of water when you get home? It might not be the first thing you want to do, but your body needs it.

Then, the day after, keep steadily drinking glasses of water throughout the day. It's important to replace all that lost hydration if you want your skin to recover.

HONEY AND CREAM FACE MASK

Now, it's time to give your skin a home-made and 100% natural treat.

For this you're going to need cream or natural yoghurt or another dairy product that contains Butter Milk (that's the magic ingredient), and some natural honey. Add 1 table spoon of cream into a bowl and add 1 table soon of honey and mix.

Butter Milk is going to hydrate your skin, and not take any of the moisture away, and the honey is going to soothe and de-puff your face. The natural sugars in honey do amazing things for your skin. This mask is perfect for calming irritated skin.

Apply to your skin with a brush, a cotton pad or you can just use your fingers, and leave on for 25 minutes.

When you're done with the mask, wash it off with warm water. Once it's all washed off, splash your face with cold water, which is great for reducing swelling, and towel pat dry.

TAKE A HOT BATH

Whilst you still have your home-made mask on, it's time to relax, open up those pores and cleanse that alcohol from your skin.

Run a hot bath adding a few drops of Eucalyptus or Rosemary oil to open up your sinuses and senses (and they are also going to soothe your aching muscles that you got from all that dancing).

Pop a slice of cucumber on each eye to reduce that puffiness and calm those dark circles down. Drinking alcohol leads to dehydration and dehydration leads to puffy, swollen skin. Around your eye area, this will make you look older and tired. The whole cucumber thing is a bit of a cliché, but it really does work.

Relax, let the steam and mask work, put on some soft music and maybe light a few candles. Nothing de-stresses me more than a nice relaxing bath, and that's exactly what you want when you're hung over.

MOISTURISE

After your nice hot bath, and you've washed off your mask, it's time to seal all that moisture in to your skin.

Use your favourite oil-free moisturiser (you don't want to re-clog those pores), and pat the moisturiser into your skin.

Using a gentle slapping technique on your skin (not too hard though), it will stimulate your blood vessels, allowing the moisturiser to work deeper into your skin.

You can also apply an eye gel to rehydrate that area. Using a gel, instead of a cream will set your skin as it dries, making your skin appear firmer and fresher.

If you follow these simple steps then you're going to on your way to feeling fresher, healthier, and not so run down. Don't expect miracles, but this advice is going to help on your way to shaking that hang over, and recovering your skin. And remember, most importantly, with alcohol, don't over do it. Enjoy in moderation to prevent long term damage to your skin and health.

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CELEB SPOTLIGHT: KYLIE MINOGUE STUNS STYLIST COVERS

2012-02-14T11:41:00.000-08:00

The Austrilian Queen of Pop, Kylie Minogue has graced the cover of Stylist magazine, not once, not twice, but three times.

With 2012 being Kylie's 25th anniversary in the music industry, we'll be seeing a lot of her this year, and we're seeing her three times on Stylist as they are releasing 3 special edition covers, all featuring Miss Minogue.

Kylie looks every inch stunning in the 3 covers, sporting three very different looks. Check them out after the jump.

Kylie is giving us sun-bathing chic here with a funky printed shirt, simple hair and glowing skin.

For the issue, Kylie is wearing things sent in by 25 different designers. Talking about the issue, Kylie said: 'There were lots of "Oh my god" moments during the shoot and I loved every minute of it. Every single piece of clothing is gorgeous. I can’t believe so many designers sent things through. I’m so excited to see the issue. There were moments during the shoot when the outfits took my breath away.'

Time to cover up! Here we see her stripped down in her rollers, surrounded by shoes trying to cover herself up with clothes. I wonder what she is getting ready for...

And Lisa Smosarski, editor of Stylist, added: 'Everyone has a treasured fashion memory of Kylie, whether that’s her crownless hat on her first album cover in the Eighties, stonewashed denim in the Nineties or gold hotpants in the Noughties, so it’s no surprise that the fashion world embraced this bespoke concept so enthusiastically. Her influence on fashion is indisputable.'

This one is my favourite! She's giving us hair, hair and more hair (and a lot of leg), proving that age is just a number. Beautiful.

The new issue of Stylist magazine is out now!

Check out this behind-the-scenes video from the Stylist shoot!

REVIEW: NIVEA VISAGE ANTI-WRINKLE Q10 DAY CREAM

2012-02-13T12:24:00.000-08:00

I'm an 18 year old and I use anti-wrinkle cream. Why? The younger you start, the better your skin will be in the future (so I hope). It is called Anti-Wrinkle cream after all, and we all know that prevention is better than cure.

There are a lot of day creams out there on the market, at a lot of different prices, but my favourite has to be Nivea Visage's Anti-Wrinkle Q10 day cream and it's affordable, at around £10.

My problem with a lot of day creams, is they can be heavy, greasy and you can really feel them on your
skin. The reason I love Nivea's day cream is because it soaks straight into my skin straight away, doesn't clog my pores or cause spots (to the best of my knowledge) and is an amazing moisturiser.

I've switched from my usual moisturisers, and I now just use this cream. It makes my skin feel so hydrated and soft. I usually apply it after I've washed my face, to lock in all that moisture.

The pot may be small, but it doesn't seem to be running out. I've had it for nearly a year now, and there is still plenty left. I have stopped using it to try out other products, but I always go back to it. My mother sometimes borrows it too, because she loves it as well.

And what about wrinkles? Does it really work on them? Well, you might think because I'm 18 I might not have any, but I do have quite deep lines on my forehead from raising my eyebrows a lot. I've noticed that those lines appear softer, and less deep. They are obviously still there, but this isn't a miracle cream or botox.

I haven't tried any really expensive anti-wrinkle creams, but I feel that I don't really need them right now. I like this cream, it does what it says it does, it's affordable, it's easy and it goes a long way! Definitely check it out. Even if you don't have wrinkles problems, most beauticians will recommend that you start early, and it's a great source of moister!

8/10

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CELEB SPOTLIGHT: GRAMMY FASHION WINNERS AND LOSERS

2012-02-13T05:11:00.000-08:00

Last night at the 54th Grammy Awards, it's safe to say it was all about Adele. After her whirlwind year in 2011, it was so surprise she'd scoop the 3 big gongs of the night.

She didn't only scoop the awards though, she gave an amazing performance and killed it on the red-carpet looking every inch the diva we all know she is. This is the most stunning I've seen Adele, and her new blonde hair works so well for her.

However, not everyone got it as on point as Adele did, and some people need to consider seeking new stylists...

WINNERS

Rihanna - Rihanna is proving that the little black dress and two rags on a piece of string is a classic look, and she's pulling it off perfectly here. She's giving amazing body, big hair and lots of face. She looks the skinniest I've seen her in a long time (I don't know if that's a good thing), which is the perfect opportunity to show off her golden and shimmering body.

Katy Perry - I'm seeing blue. Katy Perry decided to tone it down this year with her blue hair quiffed back and a blue dress that looks like it was knitted by Granny Perry. When I first saw the dress it was a "WTF" moment, but after closer examination, I like it.

Jessie J - Every the beauty, Jessie J worked the red carpet in this amazing metallic full length dress with her statement full fringe and long pony tail. I love it when Jessie J goes all girly on us, because she is known for taking a different route with her fashion (we all know she's a fan of her play suits). More of this please Jessie!

WINNER Adele - Just wow. Adele is the clear fashion winner of the night. When I first saw the images of her, it was an open-mouthed moment, I almost didn't recognise her. She's traded her usual huge hair for a shorter cut, with a new amazing blonde colour! Coupled with a really flattering black dress and red lip, she worked that look OUT. She looks radiant, glowing and so beautiful. All of the other plus size celebrities out there could take a leaf out of Adele's book on how to dress (I'm looking at you Christina Aguilera).

Kelly Osbourne - After naming and shaming Kelly Osbourne yesterday in the Celebrities with pink hair post, I think she proves how to make pink work. Her gold glittering dress is very flattering to her new tiny frame, and she looks glowing and radiant.

Taylor Swift - I'm not the biggest fan of this dress, but it works. It definitely wasn't a loser, but it wasn't the biggest winner of the night. Playing it safe as usual, Taylor Swift wears a full length gold dress (that kind of looks like a doily). I think the neck line could have been done a bit better, as it looked like it was choking her, but overall, it was a nice look. Just nice.

LOSERS

Kelly Rowland - Throughout the X Factor, Kelly Rowland she had style, but I feel she just missed it here. The dress felt dated and wasn't flattering, the hair could have been done better, and I really didn't like the hem line. It's not the worst, but it's not worthy of the winners.

LOSER Robyn - Oh Robyn. Robyn, Robyn, Robyn....I love you, but what are you doing? This whole 'I'm different and quirky thing' only works if you look different, quirky and NICE, not different, quirky and a hot mess. From the dress (which looks like it needed ironing), to the shoes, to that flap at the back (what even is that?), it's just a total mess. Huge miss here Robyn.

Nicki Minaj - Hmm, Nicki Minaj. When she walked down that red carpet, the reaction on Twitter was 'Nicki, what are you doing?'. I didn't realise The Pope was the new fashion accessory that everyone wanted. I realise it was all part of the concept of the performance, but you just looked a bit stupid.

Fergie - This dress is a genuine laugh out loud moment. What were you thinking? It looks like you wrapped orange lace around your black underwear. Actually, I think that's how you did. It's not nice, it's not flattering, and it's not going to win you any style awards. Did she really think people would like this? She would have looked better just turning up in the black underwear.

Paris Hilton - I wanted to like this, I really did, but every time Paris Hilton tries to do 'classy', she just missed the mark. The dress looked dated, out of place, and it wasn't the most flattering. The half-hearted waistline just tops it off for me as well. It's more a case of the dress wearing Paris, than Paris wearing the dress.

Cyndi Lauper - Oh Cindy. You're in your 60s, and you're dressing like this? A lot of people liked this look, but I think it's a total miss. The hair makes you look like the drag-queen Pandora Box and the lengths of everything were just off. The sleeves are too long, the cut up the leg is too high and the length of the skirt is too long as well. What's wrong with a nice dress?

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CELEB SPOTLIGHT: DOES ANYONE SUIT PINK HAIR?

2012-02-12T15:35:00.000-08:00

Pink is a very hard hair colour to pull off, but that hasn't stopped many celebrities over the years throwing themselves into vats of pink hair dye. Some of them pulled it off, some of them, not so much. After the red hair craze of recent years, it seems that pink was the natural heir to the colour craze thrown. Pink might not be a 'new' colour, but It's definitely less of a shock now to see someone with bright/pale pink locks.

So, with the new craze, it's time to look at the celebrities who can pull of this difficult colour, and the ones that should just stay away.

Oh Dear! Kelly Osbourne

Back when Kelly Osbourne was trying to make it as a young rock-star (anyone remember such hits as Shut Up...), she decided it would be a wise decision to dye her hair hot pink.

I wonder what trauma brought that decision on. This Cleopatra style pink bob just isn't working is it? I bet even Kelly herself would look back at this and cringe.

This obvious cry for attention was just one of the many things a young Kelly Osbourne did before becoming the Broadway star and fashion icon she is today (who would have saw that coming?).

In recent years, she's experimented with pink and grey and actually pulled it off rather well, but she should definitely stay away from this colour.

Oh Dear! Lily Allen

Oh dear Lily. Sometimes we need a change of hair colour to spice things up a little bit, but this isn't the way to do it. Lily experimented with pink hair a few back and it was just a huge miss.

The candy floss shade works so badly with her peachy skin tone, and the bare minimum make up.

In my opinion, Lily is so much more suited to brown hair. She's dabbled in blonde a few times too, but I just think the controversial singer (or whatever else she is doing these days) should stick to her brown shades.

Oh Dear! Gwen Stefani

The 90s weren't kind to some people. I don't know what's worse about this picture, the colour or the god awful knife and fork fringe. I'm so glad Gwen realised that blonde was her colour.

This hot pink colour just doesn't do anything for me, especially on Gwen. Even if in some pictures she suited it a bit more than this one, she suits blonde a lot more, and you should always go for the colours you suit the most (right?). There's no point unflattering your look on purpose.

This is a prime example of how not to do your hair.

Oh Dear! Britney Spears

Poor Britney. I do feel slightly mean pointing out her pink wig days, but it's got to be done.

This was during Britney's breakdown year when she shaved her hair off. Whilst out in public, she often sported this very cheap pink wig. I always thought it was a bit of a joke towards the paparazzi though. A sort of middle-finger up to them.

"Y'all follow me around all the time so I'll give you something to look at".

I'm just thankful she put the wig into storage and hopefully, we won't see a repeat performance.

Oh Dear! Perez Hilton

Internet bad-boy, Perez Hilton might be more known for bashing celebrities, but it's hard for him to say anything with this hair.

He's sported pink hair quite a few times, most recently when his new children's book The Boy With The Pink Hair was released (publicity stunt much?).

Publicity stunt or not, he should just stay away from the pink hair dye. It's a very hard colour to pull off for women, and even harder for men, especially if they have short hair like this.

That's Better! Rachel McAdams.

Regina George is flawless. Well, Rachel McAdems is flawless. I really do love this pink look. When pink is done right, it can really work.

Rachel has toyed with pink hair a few times, but this is my favourite look. Just a few pink flashes through the front of her ash blonde work so well, and it a look I am seeing a lot of blonde women going for.

It's only a small change to your hair, but a huge change to your look, and if you are thinking of going pink, but don't want to dive in head first (I really should stop with the bad jokes), then this is the perfect way to do it.

That's Better! Avril Lavigne

I'm not the biggest fan of Avril Lavigne. I never have been. Everyone seems to have gone through an Avril phase except for me. However, I don't mind admitting she pulls of the pink.

Over the years, pink and Avril have gone hand in hand, and it's a look she's always revisiting. She often goes for pink through the front of her hair, and even though the hot pink fringe is a bit dated and 'been there, done that', it is still working for her.

I don't know how she does it, but she forever looks like a teenager, and this hair is kind of keeping her there.

I think her pink 'dips' doesn't look too bad either.

That's Better! Nicki Minaj

Queen of the wigs (I'm sure that is a post all of its own), Nicki Minaj has sported many wigs over the last few years, and she often likes to don a pink one.

There has been so many pink Nicki moments, it's hard to pink one, but she always makes it work.

The pale pink she picks works with her skin tone and over the top make up, and it's a very cute look for Miss Minaj.

Then again, she was pretty much worn the entire rainbow on her head.

That's Better! Katy Perry

Even though I will always be a huge fan of Katy Perry's black hair, I think she pulls pink off rather well. When she first went pink, it was a nice, toned down shade (but then it kind of washed out and went a really horrible colour).

She sported pink hair a few times, before then going blue. Since getting rid of her black hair and chopping it all off, it is rather hard to keep up.

I always really do love her blonde/pink hair from a few months ago. It worked so well and made her so radiant. I'm sad we barely got to see it.

That's Better! P!nk

It's kind of in the name isn't it? P!nk. When pink first burst onto the scene all those years ago, she had very hot pink hair.

At the time, I was a fan of it, until she dyed it blonde (which I think she suits much better).

My favourite version of her pink hair though, is the strawberry blonde pale pink she rocked a few years ago.

It's very subtle, very under-stated, but very P!nk.

Even though P!nk didn't invent the colour, she brought it to the forefront of people's attention a lot, and it was a bit of a shock to the system.

So, what have we learnt here? Do pink right, and you might just get away with it, but proceed with caution, because it is a hard colour to correctly pull off.

CELEB SPOTLIGHT: KE$HA CLEAN$ UP HER IMAGE!

2012-02-09T13:18:00.000-08:00

Here is something I thought I would never see. Ke$ha has wiped off the neon paint, scrubbed off the glitter, washed the hair, and ripped off those dirty clothes.

In a new photoshoot for Glamour magazine Ke$ha can be seen wearing an over-sized jumper with very light-make up and natural looking waves! However, do you think this look suits her? She made her name of acting drunk with buckets of autotune and dressing like a hobo in 2009, but is 2012 the year we finally see the clean-cut Ke$ha?

See the photoshoot after the jump!

Here we see Ke$ha with light make up, back-combed hair in a full length orange dress. I've never seen her so covered up!

...and in an oversized simple jumper with fish nets, and naturally wavy hair...

...and this is how we're used to seeing Ke$ha.

Under the glitter and grease, we knew a strangely naturally pretty girl lay there, and maybe she's in the mood for showing it to the world now. Her new album is coming out in 2012, so I wonder if we will see more of demure Ke$ha. Somehow, I feel like this is a one-off occasion, although I do like the clean looking Ke$ha a lot.

Do you think Ke$ha suits this look? Comment below!

Listen to one of Ke$ha's old unreleased demos from before she was famous. It fits this new image perfectly, and proves she can actually sing

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TUTORIAL: TOP 10 TIPS FOR STRAIGHTENING HAIR

2012-02-08T11:59:00.000-08:00

A lot of us straighten our hair, whether it's to get the pin-straight look, to straighten out kinks and curls or to just get a smoother look.

In this article, I'm going to give you 10 top tips for when you're straightening your hair to get the best results possible.

They might seem like common-sense, but you'd be surprised how many people skip some steps, and put their hair and style at risk.

1. Wash and Condition
You should only straighten your hair when it's clean. It means the straighteners are going to glide through your hair easier, and look a healthier result. Don't try straightening over hair after you've been out all day, gathering dirt in your hair from the environment.

2. Blow Dry

Using a round-brush and a hair-dryer with a nozzle, blow dry your hair straight. Section the hair into 2 layers, clipping up the top layer. Put the brush under the hair, and pull through the hair, pointing the dryer at the top (but not touching the hair). Remember to keep your dryer pointing down. This is going to dry the cuticle layers surrounding the hair flat, preventing frizz. The straighter you get your hair when blow dry, the easier it will be to straighten. Don't rush drying your hair with a quick blast dry.

3. Clean Straighteners

You want to make sure you're straighteners are clean before using them. Wipe them down with a damp cloth before you switch them on, and dry them down. It's very easy for dirt and products to get burnt onto the plates because of how how the straighteners get.

4. Fully Heated

Once you've turned your straighteners on, set the heat to the heat you want (not all straighteners can do this, but if they do, use the high setting if your hair is hard to straighten, but if it straightens easy, go for a lower setting). Don't rush into it, trying to use them half hot. Put them on towards the end of your blow dry so they are nice and hot by the time you're ready for them

5. Heat Protection Spray

I cannot stress the importance of heat protection spray enough. When people casually tell me they don't use it, I really don't understand. Some straighteners can get as hot as 250°. Just imagine all the damage that heat is doing to your hair. It's a lot of heat for your hair to handle, especially if you have coloured/chemically treated hair). Don't just spray the whole head, spray each section before you straighten it, about 30cm away from the away. If it started steaming, it's probably just the protection spray reacting with the heat. It doesn't mean your hair is burning (unless you can smell burning...).

6. Section Hair

A huge mistake a lot of people make, is that they try to straighten all their hair at once, grabbing random bits and just straightening. I don't see any logic in this. Split your hair into two sections, and work your way around. It's so much easier. If you have a layer, just take that a section and clip it in a bun on top of your head. If not, just follow a line around your head above your each and section it off there.

7. Small Pieces

Starting at the front, take small section about 2inches wide, spray, and straighten. Don't take huge and wide chunks of hair, because it's just not going to work, and it will look half hearted.

8. Smooth and Slow

Once you have the hair, run your straighteners over the hair, going smoothly and slowly. I see so many people running the straightener through their hair, then running it through again, and again, and again, going 100 miles an hour. Just no. The slower and smoother you go, the smoother your hair will come out. Once you've straightened a piece, try not to go over it again, because it's already hot and won't react much to more heat. If you aren't happy, just leave it 5 or 10 minutes to cool down and come back to it later on.

9. Use a Comb

A comb is a great trick to get your hair smooth. Before you straighten, comb the hair to get rid of any tangles, and when you are straightening, put the comb in behind the straightener, and just follow it down. The finer the comb, the better

10. Have a Good Straightener

If you straighten your hair a lot, then invest in a decent straightener. I have gone to peoples houses, and used their cheap £15 straighteners and wanted to snap them in half. They are frustrating, and they just don't work the same. I use GHD straighteners and they are miles ahead. Another good brand are Cloud Nine straighteners, which were created by the original creator of GHD. Unlike GHDs, they have heat settings and they tend to work a lot smoother, and you can get them for about the same price.

Coming Soon: A guide of the different styles you can create with a simple pair of Straighteners.

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TRENDS: SCENTED NAIL POLISH

2012-02-08T10:52:00.000-08:00

Nails are a big thing right now, and they fun statement on the end of your fingers. Well, that statement is about to take a step up, with these new scented nail polishes.

Dior kicked off the current trend with their Garden Party collection, and now it seems everyone now has their own scents with ranges from Revlon, Anna Sui, Forever 21 and many more.

So next time you're painting your nails, why not try out these cool scented polishes? Once they've dried, they'll carry on being scented until your wipe the polish off (that's the claim anyway).

Forever 21

One of the cheapest scented nail polishes out there are from the Love & Beauty collection by Forever 21.

They come in 3 scents (L-R): Coconut, Strawberry, and Almond.

They are available exclusively from Forever 21.

Mattese Elite

These fruity cocktail inspired neon nail polishes are available from Mattese Elite.

They come in 6 vibrant cocktail shades and scents (L-R): Apple Martini, Shirley Temple, Hypnotic, Tequila, Cosmo and Purple Passion.

You can check out the polishes at Ricky's.

Colour Club

The Wicked Sweet collection for Colour Club comes in 7 irresistible fruit scents.

The scents available are (L-R): Get Your Lem-on, The Lime Starts Here, I Always Get my Man-darin, Yum Gum, Raspberry Rush, Gimme A Grape Big Kiss and Wicked Sweet.

You can grab these fruity treats exclusively from Colour Club.

Tuff Scent

The tuff scent ranges comes in every scent you could possibly think of!

With over 23 scents to choose from it's likely they have the scent for you.

The scents available (L-F) are, Juicy Peach, Blackberry, Rose, Cranberry, Gardenia, Jasmine, Peony, Lemon Grass, Pear, Ocean Breeze, Plumeria, Grapefruit, Fig, Lilac, Spearmint, Pinapple Kiwi, China Lily, Cinnamon, Almond, China Rain, White Rose, Red Rose and Wisteria Flower.

These polishes are available from the Tuff Scent online store.

Dior

Dior's new Garden Party collection has a faint flower scent, but only comes in 2 scents.

There is Water-lilly and Forget Me Not.

Check them out over on the Dior website.

Anna Sui

The Anna Sui scented nail polish collection comes in one of the prettiest nail polish bottles I think I've ever seen.

The collection all has a faint smell of Rose once dry.

You can pick yours up from Urban Outfitters.

Revlon

Revlon's new scented collection comes in 14 frangrances at a decent price.

You can pick up their new polishes in scents such as: Mango, Rasperry, Blueberry and many more fruity scents.

You can check out the collection over on the Revlon website.

So this Spring/Summer, why not get your nails smelling beautifully?

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TRENDS: FORGET FLORAL, SPRING IS ALL ABOUT AQUATICS.

2012-02-07T15:39:00.000-08:00

You can all forget about floral this Spring, because the runways of late are showing a new trend. It seems as if the designers have spoken, and aquatic prints are going to be a big thing in Spring/Summer 2012. From Alexander McQueen to Carolina Herrera have all been boasting tropical water-life inspired prints and cuts for their new collections, so you just know this is going to trickle down into the high-street (Trickle...water, do you get it? It's not very funny).

Check out the stunning runway images after the jump to see Jelly Fish dresses and frog shirts.

From L-R Prabal Gurung, Peter Pilotto, Phillip Lim, John G. Shedd, Dries Van Noten and Alexander McQueen.

This season, it all about bold prints, sharp lines, high necks and silky textures. Prints took off in 2011, and Spring 2012 is going to see them flourish, and personally, I love this Aquatic route.

It's fun, it's brassy and it's very statement. Prints are a great way to make a look, and you can get them in so many different varieties, so give them a try this season.

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REVIEW: IS CETAPHIL THE MIRACLE ACNE MOISTURISER?

2012-02-07T12:09:00.000-08:00

For people with acne prone skin, finding the perfect moisturiser is one of the hardest things. So many moisturisers aren't good for our skin, because they contain perfumes, harsh chemicals and colours.

There was a lot of hype around Cetaphil online, with people saying it was the perfect thing for people with sensitive, dry and acne prone skin because it was free from perfume and claimed to rehydrate dry, damaged and sensitive skin.

Even my Doctor recommended it, and had a little stand with leaflets from all the products in his office.

So when I saw it sitting on a shelf in ASDA for around £4, I jumped at the chance to try it.

Having acne prone, combination skin, I thought this product would be perfect for me, but I felt a little bit let down. The moisturising lotion claims to "bind water to the skin" and "prevent moister loss", but I could never tell if it did this because it felt so heavy on my skin. I used the Cetaphil for over 2 months and it did smooth out a lot of dryness and flakiness on my skin, but it's not good for an everyday moisturiser, which is what it claims to be.

The constancy of the cream is very thick, and when I applied it to my skin it never seemed to absorb like other moisturisers I've tried. It just seemed to cling to the outer layer of my skin (even if I used the smallest amount). It made my face look oily, greasy and shiny and it made it feel suffocated. I'm currently using it for a tattoo I got 3 weeks ago, and it seems to be stopping that drying out, and absorbs better on my arm where the tattoo is.

I've read a lot of reviews online of Cetaphil from people saying that it did tackle dryness, but it made their skin feel the same as mine did. It also doesn't cure acne, but it didn't seem to make it worse which is always a bonus.

After trying this, it doesn't make me want to try other Cetaphil products, and at £4, I think I'll just stick to my cheaper moisturisers that do a better job. Everyone's skin is different though, and I know some people that this works perfectly for, unluckily I'm not one of them.

4/10

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CELEB SPOTLIGHT: THE EVOLUTION OF RIHANNA'S HAIR

2012-02-06T15:54:00.000-08:00

With a new release out every year since 2005 and more looks than you can shake a deluxe edition CD at, it's not hard to see why Rihanna is a style icon. When Rihanna changes her look these days, floods of girls storm to TopShop to try and get their hands on that look.

Rihanna's hair though, is something with is always changing, and always being replicated. When Rihanna dyed her hair red, you could guarantee you'd see 10 people a day with 'Rihanna Red' hair.

I'm going to journey back to 2005, and she where it all

started, and how we got to the blonde bomb shell she is today.

2005 - Simple Curls

When Rihanna broke through in 2005, she sported a very simple, but popular look for the time. You can't go wrong with curls in my opinion, even if this does look like a totally different Rihanna (she looks rather sweet).

Her caramel curls works brilliantly with her warm skin tone, but it is very play-it-safe for one of the world's next big stars. It could have done with more volume, more hair and more curls!

With her début, Pon De Replay, Rihanna's fashion was very simple and R&B (think Ciara). It suited her at the time, but bigger things were to come!

2006 - Soft Full Fringe

...and this girls, if how you pull of the full fringe. In 2006, Rihanna had a fringe cut in to her lovely chocolatey straight brown hair.

The fringe works perfectly for Rihanna's face, making her features look soft. It's just the right length (just below the eyebrows), not too straight (notice how it's shaped around her eyes) and it looks full and thick (not whipsy and flimsy, as some full fringes can look). The rest of the hair was long, with a soft long layer. A longer layer will always make your hair look thicker. The shorter the layer, the less hair there is around the ends of your hair and thinner it'll look (unless you have crazy thick hair).

This was another play-it-safe hair cut, but the soft full fringe was a big thing in 2006 and it worked so well for her. It's one of my favourite Rihanna looks. She's very pretty naturally, but I feel like this hair gives her such a soft, feminine look.

2007 - A-Symmetrical Black Bob

With the release of her third album, Rihanna finally took her first major risk with her hair. She chopped it all off into this stylish and sharp a-symmetrical bob and dyed it jet black

Just like all of Rihanna's other looks, this is another classic. Bobs always seem to be in fashion, and this one works perfectly. I love the length of both of the sides. Even though it's a-symmetrical, the shorter side still looks longer and is perfectly shaped around her face.

This, along with the red hair, is another cut I saw people running to get, and I still see a lot of people referencing this look when they go for bobs.

This look is sharp and edgy, and frames her face really well, given her more of a 'bad' look than her previous safe (but very nice) looks. This is Rihanna looking very classy and grown-up.

2008 - Short and Sharp

She may not have had an a new album out, but that didn't stop Rihanna staying in the spotlight. She re-released her biggest selling album to date, Good Girl Gone Bad, with even more smash singles (Disturbia anyone? Classic).

2008 saw Rihanna chopping off even more of her hair. With very cropped sides and a long top (kind of like the Rihanna version of Justin Bieber), this looks gives her a more rock look, but it's still a very girly and feminine style.

I like to think of this as a Pixie Crop gone bad. It's very sharp, very stylish and very cute.

You have to be brave if you want to rock hair this short, so good on her for taking that risk.

2009 - Brave and Blonde

After the very public breakup with Chris Brown, and the release of the 4th studio album, Rated R, Rihanna's style took a very drastic turn.

The sides went shorter, the top longer and blonde, the fashion went crazy, the music went dark and the attitude went with it (but I guess that's why we love her).

If Rihanna was still a teenager, these would be her rebellion years, but I have to saw I loved it. It was wild, it was big and bad and it was very Rihanna.

She's one of the modern-queens of reinvention, and I bet no one saw that in 2005 when she was telling the DJ to Song Pon De Replay.

2010 - RiRi Goes RED

2010 started off Rated R and ended LOUD, but let's focus on the Rated R side, because LOUD was mainly in 2011.

Here we see Rihanna combing down her crazy Mohawk, and dying in the colour that we relate to Rihanna these days. Red.

If anyone was born for this colour, it was Rihanna. I've seen so many girls dying their hair red and totally not suiting it. If you have a light complexion, darker reds will suit you better, if you have a darker complexion, light and dark reds will suit you.

I don't know how many girls I saw (and still see) with bright orange skin and bright red hair. Not a good look babe.

2011 - Long and Red

With 2010 seeing the release of Rihanna's new album, LOUD, 2011 was the year we saw Rihanna go all girly on us. Her hair was still red, but her hair was long and soft, her clothes her pretty and understated (some of the time), and her makeup was fun and glowing.

This is my favourite year (so far) of Rihanna's look. It's so fun and girly, and I just love her hair red. Her hair changed many times through 2011, but the girl theme stayed throughout. Towards the end of 2011, she got rid of the red locks, and went more natural brown, but that didn't last long, because it was time for...

2012 - The Blonde Bombshell.

So she kept the natural brown for...1 video? Then, she started toying with blonde wigs in the You Da One video, then, she just went for it. Rihanna is now officially blonde! And not, half and half blonde from the Rated R days, full on BLONDE.

It's only the beginning of 2012, so who knows how long we'll see these for, but so far, I like it. The fringe it very long and now be a side or full fringe (and looks great both ways).

I think this is Rihanna's natural hair, because it looks rather dry and a tad damaged (but it could be a ratty wig). If it is real, then I'm not surprised considering how dark her natural hair is. This will have taken some battering. Maybe she should check out this blog post to see how she can sort that out.

What's next for Rihanna? What hasn't she done? Blue? Green? Bald? Let's see what the future holds for her. Whatever it is, I'm sure she'll suit it. I have yet to see a hairstyle that she doesn't suit.

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THE LOOK: HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR STYLIST

2012-02-06T07:38:00.000-08:00

We have all been there. We have all got into a salon, not knowing what we wanted doing to our hair, half explained what we wanted and left unhappy because our hair is nothing like we wanted it to look!

Sometimes it can be down to a bad stylist, but a lot of the time, it can be down to poor communication. Remember, Stylists aren't mind readers, so you might not be on the same wavelength as to what you imagine your hair to look like.

I am going to give you some fool-proof tips to getting the best from your stylist, and making sure you get
exactly what you want with your hair. After-all, you're the one who has to live with it everyday.

A lot of these are going to seem like common-sense, but they are the most common problems we all make when visiting a salon.

Finding The RIGHT Salon

Finding the right salon for you can be hard. I spent years finding mine, and now I work there. Don't be scared to try somewhere new. Ask around for recommendations from your friends and family (and ask where to stay away from). If you are nervous about going somewhere for a cut straight away, why not book in for a blow-dry and try to suss it out? If you don't like it, nothing is lost, and you can move onto your next one. Don't feel tied to one salon for the rest of your life. They might not like you moving, but it's up to you. I know some people who carry on going back to the same salon, hate their hair every time, but are too scared to move. Don't be, it's your hair.

Good Relationship

Having a good relationship with your stylist can be so valuable. Just simply talking to your stylist, answering their questions and asking questions back can make both of your more comfortable. There's nothing worse than an awkward silence from start to finish. Becoming comfortable with your stylist means that you trust each other and you're more likely to get a good result. Most hairdressers will love working with people and chatting, so don't be afraid to strike up a conversation with them. It doesn't have to be the clichéd "so have you been anywhere nice on your holidays" topic either. You should never get into a routine with your stylist though. If you like to keep things fresh and change things, then suggest new ideas, and you can bounce off each other.

Stay In The Good Books

Once you've found the perfect salon for you, it's important to stay in their good books. This might sound a bit silly, but it's important to keeps things positive. Being on time is always a good one. Make sure you get there 10 minutes early because they might be ahead and can start you earlier. Being late, especially early on in the day can mean that they are behind for the rest of the day, and it's not fair on the stylist or the other clients. If you're going to be late, give them a quick, we actually like knowing what's going on, and it's just good manners. Another no-no is not turning up with reason. If you make an appointment and don't keep it, it's never going to look good, especially if you've do it more than once. If you can't make it at all, then just ring up and cancel, then they can give the appointment to somebody else and you can just re-book for another time.

Do your research

In 2012, we have no excuse for not being able to research what we want our hair to look like. We have the internet at our finger tips, with thousands of websites devoted to hair styles. Before you book your appointment, have a look at celebrity haircuts and colours that you like. You don't have to decide on an exact image, because it might look different in reality, but you can get an idea by basing your style on someone famous. You can explain to the stylist, and they'll know who you're talking about and what sort of path you want to go down.

Visuals

I love it when people show me pictures as to what they want their hair like. It means the client has a good idea in their head, and visual aids are always good to show an understanding between client and stylist. If the image is in front of you, and not in your head, then you can both clearly see it. You can take more than one image with you (how easy it is to save pictures to your phone now?), and they don't have to be of the same person or style. It's about being creative, having a look around, and getting a rough idea of what you want.

If you haven't done your research, there are always tons of magazines in salons, so have a flick through and mark pages you like. Hair magazines and celebrity glossy magazines are always great places to find great hair styles.

Be Clear and Confident

Don't be scared to tell a hair dresser exactly what you want, if you have that idea in your head. Having a hair cut should be a collaboration between you and the stylist, not just them doing what they want. Most hairdressers will like it if you are confident about your ideas and have a clear idea, because it means there's less chance of them getting it right. Make sure you're clear about how much you want cutting off, how you want it cutting, what sorts of colours you want, the style you want ect. If you trust your stylist, then that's the best thing in the world, because over time, you'll build up that relationship with your stylist so they know what sorts of things you want, but if that trust isn't there, make sure the right ideas are. There's a little joke in the hair dressing world of 'just cut it over the ear'. It can be read in so many ways. Do you want it cutting around the ear, or leaving over the ear? Remember, stylists can't read minds, so try to communicate as clearly as you can what you want.

Be Open To Suggestions

Stylists know better than you about hair. It's their job. So be open to suggestions and recommendations. They have learnt some new techniques on a recent training course that would be perfect for your hair, so don't be offended if they say "well, why don't we try this instead?".

If Things Go Wrong

Sometimes, things do go wrong. Ideas get lost in translation, and you can end up hating your hair. If you can see they're cutting off too much, say something doing right away, don't wait until it's finished, lie and then go home and cry. If you stop them, you can both decide how to proceed and how to sort it out. If you have a rude stylist, then complain. You're well within your right to tell the manager and they can sort it out. You're paying for a service, so they should carry it out to the best of your ability.

Be Realistic

If you had an idea, make sure it's going to work for your hair. Don't walk into a salon with 3 hairs on your head and expect to walk out with Cheryl Cole hair. Everyone has different hair types and lengths, so go for something that will work best for you.

Hair is your expression, so make sure you are confident in what you are doing with it, and find a stylist that works for you. If you follow these simple tips, you should have the right stylist and right hair in no time!

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REVIEW: DOES BAREMINERALS MAKEUP REALLY WORK?

2012-02-04T10:02:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you will have heard of BareMinerals make up. It's the make up that claims to be better for your skin, gives you flawless coverage with a natural finish.

Being a self-conscious male, and not having the best skin in the world means I like to turn to makeup to help make my skin look healthier and hide redness and imperfections. It's not the 'norm' for guys to openly wear make up (even though 99% of the guys on TV will have been sat in a make up chair for at least an hour), so I like it to look natural, almost as if I'm not wearing any, and it's very hard to achieve that look.

Over the years I have litteraly tried everything you can buy over the counter. All the liquid foundation brands, creams, powders, the lot, but none of them really give that natural look for me (especially not having clear skin). It often comes across cakey on blemishes and imperfection (especially active acne).

A few months ago, I came across BareMinerals, and I thought I'd give it a try to see if it did what it claimed. I managed to get a pot of the BareMinerals Original Foundation (Fairly Light N10) for around £18 (free delivery) from feelunique.com. I've been using the product for a few weeks now, and I am so glad I bought it.

Before I start raving about it, let me just say, it doesn't make me look flawless and amazing. No matter how much I'd want my face to look like that, right now, it's not going to happen. However, what BareMinerals does do, is reduces redness, is light, lasts ALL DAY (no joke) and you can't really tell it's there.

I combine Bareminerals with a cream-based concealer. I like to use one of the Max Factor Pan Sticks, because of the coverage it gives. I'm not trying to make my face look flawless, just a little bit better, so I like how to two work together.

The BareMinerals powder, isn't like most powders. I find it's a bit creamier, thicker, but lighter at the same time. The pot has special holes to sprinkle out the amount you want into the lid, you swirl your brush in the powder and buff onto your face.

I think it I didn't have blemishes on my skin, it would look so flawless, but the clear parts of my skin look amazing with this. You really can't tell it's there (in most lights). On blemishes, the powder doesn't 'cake' like most powders and liquid foundations, but I'd recommend not using so much, because it can end up going that way. It's very good at hiding the redness though.

I don't think Bare Minerals will work for everyone though. I don't think it will work on very dry skin types, as powders and dry skin don't tend to mix that well. I've heard it works great on oily and combination skin, as it stops the shine that can be created with those skin types. I have combination skin, and my face stays pretty much matte all day with it. Some people have also said that BareMinerals has given them really bad breakouts but others have said it has helped their acne, so it really depends on your skin type.

I love it, and I definitely want to try more from the BareMinerals range, especially the concealers and primers, so I'd recommend this to anyone who wants natural looking makeup (and who doesn't want that?).

7/10

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CELEB SPOTLIGHT: LADY GAGA'S BEST/WORST HAIR LOOKS

2012-02-03T10:29:00.000-08:00

Over the past 3 years, Lady Gaga has given us more hair looks than we can shake our weaves at. Wigs, weaves, extensions and natural. She has literally done it all, but she always has something else up her sleeve.

She never seems to walk out of the house wearing the same hair twice, which we all love.

Being a huge fan of the Lady herself, I thought it was only right to look through my favourite hair looks that she has done over the last few years, and my least favourite (you can't love em' all, can you?)

LOVE - HAIR BOW

Can we all just take a minute to appreciate this work of art? You could argue about it, but Lady Gaga kicked off the Hair Bow revolution. I still see girls today trying to replicate the famous bow. I love Gaga's original bow, with the soft full fringe wig, and I love her recent spins on it, going all over-sized.

It just works, and it's very Lady Gaga. It's cute, it's fun, and it makes her look so adorable. Don't you agree?

It's definitely a look you think of when you say "Gaga hair", as it's one of her very first iconic looks.

NOT-SO-MUCH - TEAL BOB

Am I the only person that doesn't like Gaga's teal bob? Everyone at the time seemed to love it, but I looked at it with suspicious eyes.

I think the washed out teal (greeny blue) colour does nothing for her complextion, the cut is just too short, and what is with those eyebrows?

I think this colour works when it's longer and messy (and she proved in the You and I video), but it the short, curly guise, it just ages her and doesn't do her any favours.

LOVE - LONG TEAL

The colour is very similar to the teal bob, but here, it works so much better, and I love it. Instead of using the teal on a blonde base, it's used on a dark base with statement black roots. I absolutely loved this wig, and Gaga proved she could work teal.

The main different is the length. The teal bob framed her face badly and looked messy, but the long-length teal looks glamorous, stylish and sophisticated, whilst still being colourful and fun.

I am always a sucker for Gaga's long hair. I think she suits it so much, it makes her looks more feminine, and compliments her face shape a lot! I wish she did more of this!

LOVE - WASHED OUT PINK

From washed out green, to washed out pink. Pale pink was a big colour in 2011, and is going to carry on into 2012, and I think Gaga rocked it so much. I wish she did it for longer! I think I only saw it a few times.

The faded pink colour works brilliantly with her glowing tan and her black outfit. She really makes the hair the centre-piece with the middle parting and silver roots.

I just love it. I also feel I should give a quick mention to her Jonathan Ross 2010 Telephone Hat with Yellow and Lavander. That hair shouldn't work, but it really does, and I never get tired of looking at it. Pinks and purples work so well for Gaga!

NOT-SO-MUCH - BLACK AND BLONDE CHOPPY BOB

I've never been a fan of the short Cleopatra bob on Gaga, and I'm not crazy about the black and blonde combination here. I think she makes it work when there's lots of hair in an intricate headpiece, but not so much in the Edge of Glory video.

I just feel like it's a bit of a miss. I know it's meant to be statement hair, but it doesn't make me go crazy. The length badly frames her face shape, the eye make-up does nothing for it either.

I'm glad she didn't sport this look for long, because it's very harsh on the eye.

LOVE - THE BEEHIVE

I am a huge lover of the beehive. For me, the bigger the better, and I think Lady Gaga suits it so much. (Maybe she's going by 'The bigger the hair, the closer to god'?)

Weather it's coupled with a bouncy full fringe and long flowing sides, or a total beehive, straight off the face, she's makes it work.

The full fringe beehive is very feminine, very 60s and very classic. The full beehive is a very vintage, sophisticated and also a classic look.

The more hair the better, so get those clip in extensions and get back-combing!

LOVE - YELLOW

I am a huge fan of the yellow Monster Ball/Telephone hair. There's been so many variations of this hair, it's hard to pick a favourite, but I have to say I loved it when it was half blonde and half yellow, big and bouncy for The Monster Ball.

I also loved it when it yellow extensions with a full fringe, all yellow and curly, and straight with a middle parting with yellow ends.

When The Fame Monster era ended, I was sad to say good-bye to the yellow hair, and I'm sure a lot of you were as it's a fan favourite. It's classic Gaga, and I love it! It's like blonde gone bad, and she makes it works so well.

NOT-SO-MUCH - WONKY

I'd love to know what Gaga was thinking when she put this wig on. It almost looks like it's been put on backwards, and someone cut a hole for her face.

It's unflattering, it's a-symmetrical beyond belief, and a wonky full fringe is never a good look. It makes her one eye look a bit odd, and hides half of her face which is never good! We want to see your beautiful face, don't hide it with hair!

I'm glad we only saw this once in 2009 quite early on in her career and she didn't try to do it again.

NEXT!

LOVE - CANS

Only Lady Gaga could put garbidge in her hair, and make it look fabulous. I was a big fan of this look back in 2010, and I still am.

Trying to look stylish in prison is never easy, but with a few Diet Coke cans and a leather jacket, Gaga makes it work oh so well.

This, like the hair bow is another fan favourite to replicate. So many fans tried doing it during a Monster Ball concert, the security made them remove them because they could be a security risk! Bombs in coke cans in your hair...that's a new one.

I'd love to see Gaga work some other brands of fizzy drinks in her hair...

LOVE - CARAMEL JUDAS

I love most of the hair from the Judas video (except this one, but let's say no more about that), but one of my favourites is the Caramel curls she has in the close up. The colour is so...ordinary looking, but it works so well for Gaga.

It works with her skin tone so much, bringing out a lot of warmth, and it makes a refreshing change from her usual platinum locks.

I'd love to see more of Gaga's takes on natural hair colours. I also think the blonde bandanna look needs a quick mention, because so many people are still trying to replicate it! I love it when Gaga has crazy amounts of hair sprouting from her head!

NOT-SO-MUCH - BAD WEAVE

It may have been the hair that started it all off, but Lady Gaga's 'Fame' weave isn't the most convincing of weave's. Back before Lady Gaga could afford to constantly change wigs, she had a blonde weave. The fringe looks wonky and disconnected, and the sides just drop down.

Don't get me wrong, when she switched to wigs, she did that look so much more justice (like here), but that weave just didn't work for me.

I remember when the full fringe and oh-so-long hair was the only look I thought Gaga would have. Oh how I was wrong...

LOVE - SIDE PONY

And because I want to finish on a positive, I thought I'd bring you the side pony to top things off. It's a look Gaga has been rocking throughout her career, but really jazzed it up and brought it to life in 2011.

It's such a playful look, and gives Gaga a retro, but fun look. I especially love the Born This Way ratty/pink side pony. That hair is just impossibly big!

I hope Gaga continues to re-invent the side pony, and bring up something fierce in 2012.

So, they just a few of Gaga's hair looks. I'm sure there are lots that I've skipped past, but this post would be so long if I included them all. With 2012 still in it's early days, I'm excited to see what Gaga has up her sleeve...

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TUTORIAL: HAIRCARE/REPAIR FOR DAMAGED BLONDES

2012-02-02T11:10:00.000-08:00

As a former blonde bombshell I know how hard it is to maintain that colour, and tame that damage. Blonde is a hard colour to achieve, and a hard colour to keep.

Any of you that have been blonde or are blonde will know of the yellows, the frazzled ends, the frizz, the dry-ness and everything else in between. Blonde is so high on the colour scale, that it can do a lot of damage to your hair if it's not done right.

My first tip will be to go to a salon. Don't try going blonde at home (especially if a) you don't know what you're doing, b) are going blonde from dark c) want
something that look decent).

Toner Shampoo

First off, you need a good toner shampoo. Most of the supermarket 'toner' shampoos aren't going to work that well. The toner shampoos that I recommend are Joico's Colour Endure Violet Shampoo and Matrix So Silver. They are both professional shampoos used in salons and can get them from around £8 on Amazon, and they last you a long time. My mother and I both used the Joico Colour Endure 2-3 a week and it lasted us about 7 months. I prefer Joico, but I think that's because it has prettier packaging. They both do the same.

What's so great about this shampoo is that it counter-acts the yellow and brassy tones in your hair. If you want to keep that 'just dyed look' and don't want it turning yellow over time (especially if you like your hair icy/cold blonde), then this is perfect. You use a small amount when needed (when you notice the brassiness) and work it into your hair for a few minutes.

It works straight away, the brassiness is gone, and your blonde just look cool and clean. The shampoo can also be used for gray hair, to make it brighter and less brassy.

Conditioning Treatment

Getting that blonde you want can often leave your hair damaged and dry. A good conditioner is the KEY to getting your hair back on track. I recommend Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle Moisture Treatment and Andrew Barton's S.O.S Help Me! (which is exclusive to ASDA). You can pick up both for around £4 and they will last you a good few months.

You can have a conditioning treatment in a salon, or you could save yourself a bit of money and do it at home. Wash your hair twice with shampoo, to get all the dirt and products out, dry your hair until it is just damp (you don't want it dripping everywhere), and apply the conditioner thickly. You can do this for as long as you want, but the longer, the better.

When I do these treatments, I like to apply a few hours before I'm going to sleep so the conditioner becomes hardened and crusty and then I sleep in it. Whilst I sleep the conditioner soaks deep into my hair structure, repairing the cortex and the cuticle layers. I'd recommend doing it twice a week. You don't want to over condition your hair, or it will be unmanageable.

Conditioning Spray

I swear by conditioning sprays! When your hair is damp, you just spray into your hair, and leave it. Dry and style your hair as usual, and it's still there. I use mine everyday, and I can tell a huge difference when I don't. My favourite one at the moment is John Frieda's Frizz-Easy Daily Miracle Treatment (you can pick it up at ASDA for around £4).

I started using this after I had my hair bleached as part of a colour correction and my hair was screaming for help. It was dry, brittle and frazzled. I used this everyday, and after a few weeks, the condition of my hair was so much better. It made my hair softer, more resistant, and it was viably in better condition.

Even if your hair isn't damaged, I recommend this to you. Another one I like is Alterna's Hemp Volumizing Leave in Conditioner. I love anything from Alterna. It's like food for your hair, because everything they do is organic (and a bit pricey). This spray is usually around £18, but I managed to find a site that does it for around £13, so definitely check that out if you don't mind paying that little bit extra.

Heat Protection

If you use heated products on your hair, then heat protection spray should be a given, and if you're blonde, it should be even more important. Using hairdryers, straighteners, curling tongs and everything in between can really damage your hair, and if your hair is always chemically damaged, it can make it so much worse.

One of my favourite protector sprays is the new GHD Heat Protector Spray (from around £7) from their new re-vamped range. It claims to be the first spray that gives 100% protected against heat, and from what I can tell, it does. Plus, it smells AMAZING. Whenever someone sprays this, I have a little wander over because it smells so sweet.

With protector sprays, instead of spraying the whole head, spray each bit of hair before you use a heated product, holding it about 30cm away from the hair. If you had it too close, it will saturate the hair, and it will frazzle, especially in a straightener (we've all been there).

Another good protector spray (which also smells lush) is Neil & Wolfe's Protector Spray (which is also around £7). Don't bother with those cheap £1-£2 sprays. They probably won't provide much protection for your hair. You wouldn't put your hands in the oven without oven mits, would you?

Re-Growth

Sometimes, nothing look worse than dark roots with blonde hair. However, with the recent Ombre style (dip-dying), roots became a bit of a fashion statement, but that trend is slowly dying out.

If you want your blonde to look great, then I'd suggest getting a root retouch every 4-8 (don't just slap some dye on the whole thing...). If you can't afford that, then not-so-straight partings, headbands and hair scarves are great ways to disguise the fact your roots are showing.

Just remember, visible roots can ruin a your hair colour, especially if you natural colour is dull. It can also make your hair look a bit dirty. If you do have roots, avoid having your hair pin-straight. I think hair that is straightened to death with 4 inch roots on blonde hair isn't a good look.

Avoid UV Rays/Chlorine/Sea Salt

If you're going on holiday any time, remember your hair still needs caring for. Avoid UV rays. If you're going to expose your blonde hair to the sun, it will make it lighter, but it will dry it out, damage it and leave it brittle. Try covering up with a hat, or using a good conditioning spray during the day, and conditioning treatment at night. The same goes for sunbeds

Also avoid getting your hair in swimming pools. They are heavily full of Chlorine to keep them clean, but Chlorine is bad for your hair, especially blondes. It dries your hair out, leaves it feeling nasty and can sometimes turn it a slight green colour (it's not an old wives tale, I've seen it).

When you're on the beach, you can get those lovely beach waves in your hair from all the sea salt in the water/air. Just remember that it can go from being cute to a damaged tangled mess very quickly. Salt absorbs water, so it's going to suck out all the moisture from your hair. Try using a frizz-easy serum, that will keep your tame, and will hopefully lock in that all-important moisture.

Remember, with blonde hair, it's all about the up-keep, condition and protection. We want our hair to look glossy, shiny and healthy, not dull and lifeless. Look after your hair, always use a good heat protector, find a conditioner that works for you, and enjoy it!

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TRENDS: MEN'S HAIR FOR SPRING 2012

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Over the past decade, men's hair has evolved a lot. It's no longer the norm for men to just nip into the barber's when it starts to get past their ears, men's hair is more stylish than it's ever been, and Spring 2012 is no different.

I am very excited about Spring 2012 Men's hair, so much so that I am considering getting a hair transplant of some kind. My fine mousy hair doesn't allow for the looks that I present to you, but fear not, most men have the locks to pull them off!

In this article, I'm going to be breaking it down, and

giving you the essentials to get your barnet ready for Spring, so fear not guy, I have your back.

Curls

Curls have been creeping back into men's hair, and Spring 2012 is sending them shooting back. If you've got those natural thick curls, then lucky you. If you haven't, then it's best to avoid this look. Don't try to fake it. Natural curls look better when they are natural.

Curls come in many different shapes and sizes, so play with what you've got, don't go straight to the straighteners.

Curls can get frizzy easily, so why not try out a frizz-easing cream or spray when styling? Avoid hardening gels. Curls and wax work perfectly together, and remember, 2012 is all about shine, so avoid the matte waxes.

The key look for Spring is going to be, neat, but messy, all at once. Clean cut lines, short sides, high shine and gloss on top, but always un-organised. Most people can pull off the shaved sides look (I myself rocked it throughout 2011), and it's a very classic and easy look.

Quiff

You saw a lot of it in 2011, and you're going to see a lot more of it in 2012. The quiff is here to stay, and rightly so. If you have thick hair, straight or curly, then it's going to work for you. If like you, you're on the fine hair side of life, then I'm afraid a quiff isn't going to be on your head and look good anytime soon (which is a shame, because I'd love one).

Quiffs can be achieved when drying upwards with a hair dryer, straightening into place, then using a styling product with a strong hold (and maybe a little bit of hairspray to top it off).

Quifs look great wet-look and matte, so mix it up and be creative. I guess we have Jedward to thank for this new trend (although I must say, quiffs do look ridiculous after a certain length. Keep it tidy, keep the sides short and it should work for you).

Undercut

The undercut has been a popular cut for a few years now, and it doesn't show any signs of slowing down. The undercut is all about creating 2 separate styles, at the same time. The sides are cut shorter and the top is kept long. This style will suit a lot of people, but it's one of those cuts that requires styling.

Nothing looks worse than a lazy undercut, where the person doesn't style the top and it just flops wherever (especially on finer hair). It's all about styling your hair how you want with an undercut. Quiff, sweeping fringe, messy, spiky...it all works. Think of the undercut as the ultimate fashion statement. It can create a dramatic difference to your hair, whilst still remaining similar and longer.

It will suit straight and curly hair, so you don't have to worry about that. My hair is naturally pin straight and fine and I've had an undercut for a while now. I'm in the process of growing it out, only because I'm bored of it. I loved it for a long time, so don't let me put you off.

Slicked

If you're brave and aren't afraid to show off your face and are looking for something more formal, then this look is for you.

The slicked comb-over, with a side piece is a great look for 2012. It works if you have an undercut, and if you're hair is straight. This won't be a good look if you have a huge forehead or a receding hairline. It will just highlight those areas and nobody really wants that.

It's all about being neat. The lines and parting should be straight and every hair should be in it's place. If you want to commit to this look, then get it cut in such a why where the hair will fit into the comb-over (i.e. not too short on top, but shorter at the sides).

To style, just add a wet-look gel and comb through. The wet, shiny look in going to be a big look for 2012, but if you aren't feeling brave enough for that, a more matte look can be achieved by using hairspray and combing through instead of gel (just remember, with hairspray, not to spray it too close to the head, and not to use too much).

Brit-Indie Mess

If my hair had to fit into one of these categories, I'd say it was the Brit-Indie look (although I'm sure some people would say It's more of a blonde Justin Bieber).

This look is all about the fringe. Fringes on guys are always a good look, especially if you don't like what lies underneath.

The way to get this look is to sweep the hair forward (not all hair will natural 'sweep' so it may take a lot of styling or drying in that way), and style is with a shine wax or putty. As I said, shine is a big look for 2012, but matte works really well with this look.

Couple this with an under-cut, and you're ready to join an indie band and have girls and boys at your feet.

Wet Look Shine

I never thought I'd see the day, but wet-look hair is going to be a big look for 2012 for men and women. Matte hair is time-less look, but wet look isn't.

But, 2012 is all about revival, and wet-look has been resurrected, kicking and screaming from it's watery grave.

Gel is always a good tool for that wet look. You can get wet-look gels, and most gels are wet look anyway. If you want the wet look, but don't like the hardness of gel, there are glossy shine waxes and putty available.

I like to use a matte wax for the texture it gives to my hair, and then I top it off with a shine spray. The best of both worlds.

Just remember don't go over the top, especially if you have fine hair. It can just look greasy, and that's never a good look for anyone.

Following these tips, you should be ready to take on Spring 2012! Remember, hair is an expression of who you are, so don't feel the need to follow the crowd. I'm choosing 2012 to grow out my sides when the undercut it the hottest (I'm that rebellious). Just have fun, be creative, and remember, we're not runway models, so it doesn't have to be perfect all of the time. Couple these tips with your own personal style, and you should have a winning hair style for 2012.

Coming soon: Women's hair for Spring 2012.

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THE LOOK - HEATED ROLLERS IN SECONDS WITH THE O

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This little pod has revolutionised how we use heated rollers! Rollers have made a come-back, as they give effortless bounce and curl, but The O Pod by Cloud Nine has changed how we look at rollers. You see this pod? Well, it heats rollers up in 4 seconds, without actually giving off any heat (which means you can stick your hand in the pod and it'll never be hot), it uses 7 times less energy than usual heated roller systems, and you can heat one roller at a time, meaning you use each roller when you are ready.

In the recent Madonna post, I mentioned that rollers came in many different price ranges, and this one is at

the other end.

Having used traditional rollers, where ceramic rollers are heated up on metal prongs (see these), I know how annoying and fiddly they can be. The longer you leave them, the hotter the rollers get and the more annoying they become to use (I lost count of how many times I've picked up a roller and had to drop it because it was so hot). They are also awkward to put into the hair, because they are ceramic, they are very smooth and they don't grip to the hair at all.

The O, on the other hand, uses heat induction technology which heats the rollers from within meaning they won't be hot in the hair or in the hand. Once they reach the maximum temperate of 130°, they start to cool themselves down slowly, setting the hair fantastically.

What's different about the The O rollers, is that they are Velcro. When you pop a roller in the pod, you wait 4 seconds, it beeps, you take it out, and instead of being instantly hot, they slowly heat up as you're putting them in the hair, meaning you don't burn your fingers. You pop in a clip, and move onto the next roller, only having to wait 4 seconds (instead of the usual 15-20 minutes for a set of ceramic rollers to heat up in the tray).

The rollers also come in bigger sizes than normal heated rollers, so you can get that big bounce, with an easy Velcro application, but with the bonus of heat.

As I said, The O is a bit pricey. For the pod alone, it's around £150. Then there's the rollers to buy, and the clips. The rollers come in many sizes (see chart above), so it's best to figure out what rollers you are likely to use, and only buy that size. Being so expensive, it's best to consider how much you are going to use the rollers. But, because they are so easy to use, you could use them everyday for effortless volume and curl, without the waiting and fiddliness of classic heated rollers.

Plus, you gotta admit, the Pod looks very slick and stylish.

I have to say, I love using The O Pod. It's effortless. When I have to use traditional rollers, I get so frustrated, because the pod is just so easy. It's definitely a must-have product is you are a fan of rollers.

TUTORIAL: OAT MEAL/ PORRIDGE = ULTIMATE SKIN CARE

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I am a huge believer in natural skin care products. If I can make it at home using the things in my cupboards, then I'm happy. Still in my teenage years, I don't have the best of skin, and anyone who suffers from acne will know how annoying it can be.

Over the years, I think I have tried most of the high-street facial scrubs and washes, but nothing seems to work. They are usually filled with harsh chemicals and perfumes that don't always agree with skin (especially if yours is sensitive like mine).

One of my favourite natural skin care products is Oat

Meal/Porridge. It's cheap, it's easy to use, and it has great results! I'm not saying this is going to clear up your skin and make you flawless, because I don't there is anything out there that can do that.

However, these handy oats do a lot of good, and there are many ways to use them. I've ditched my shop-bought cleanser and replaced them with oats!

As a cleanser

I use oats twice a day as a cleanser. I have used so many different cleansers over the years, but nothing has the same effect as oats. I cup the oats in my hand, add water from the tap until they are of a mushy consistency and then I work them gently into my skin.

They are a bit messy, so you might want to this leaning over the sink. Oats are going to calm down your skin, especially if you have inflamed acne or redness. They are also going to fight the bacteria in your skin and help clean out all the bad stuff from your pours. The oats are also going to help heal your skin, which is good if you have active acne. It also leaves your skin feeling refreshed, smooth and clean.

Follow up with a good oil/perfume free moisturiser to lock in that moister goodness in to your skin.

As a mask

If you don't want to use oats as a cleanser, you can also use them as a mask. Cup the oats in your hand, add water until they are saturated, apply to your skin and leave for 15-20 minutes.

For that extra kick, you can combine the oats with Honey (1 table spoon of honey to every 3 table spoons of porridge) (this will get messy). Honey has so many natural benefits for your skin and hair, and along with the porridge oats, it will leave your skin feeling refreshed and cleansed.

Don't be expecting miracles from using the oats, because you are never going to get miracles from anything, but if you notice the small changes, they can add up to a big difference in your appearance and confidence. You should start to notice a difference in your skin after 2 weeks. I have been using the oats for around 2 months now, and I've noticed my skin tone is a lot better and brighter, and my skin feels cleaner.

CELEB SPOTLIGHT: MADONNA TURNS BACK THE YEARS

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It's 2012, and the queen of re-invention is back! With her brand new album (MDNA) out very soon, Madonna has given herself a makeover that has literally turned back the years.

The queen of pop is well into her 50s now, and even though she was has a little work done, she still looks great for her age! Her skin is glowing, her stlye is sophisticated and clean cut, and her hair is radient.

In this article I am going to analysing Madonna's lucious golden locks to see how to she achieved this radiant look that has shaved years of her appearance.

Madonna is no stranger to changing her hair. She's been peroxide white blonde, natural brown, black and every shade in between. but right now she is sporting a warm natural looking blonde.

The Colour

For 2012, Madonna has ditched the icy blonde of previous years, and opted for a more subtle and warm blonde. The subtle shades of more natural blondes work perfectly for Madonna making her skin glow and giving her a more sophisticated look, compared to the more cold and lighter blonde in the 2010 picture.

Subtle shades of warm colours are always a must for turning back the years. Always try to pick a hair colour that compliments your skin tone.

Madonna's pale tone suits this colour because it brings out the warmth in her face.

The Volume

Natural looking volume is a must-have look at the moment. Rollers have made a come-back, and they are the perfect way to get that bouncy look.

Products are always the best foundation for volume. Picking a volume enhancing shampoo and a good mouse for styling will make your hair seem thicker and it will be easier to achieve the look.

Heated rollers are also a must. They can range in price from £20-£150. I've used rollers at both ends of the spectrum, and even though there is a difference, you can still get similar effects. (For a good set of affordable heated rollers, see this BaByliss 30-piece set, AND for something a little more pricey, check out my article on The O Pod).

Once hair is dried, just pop in the rollers all over the head and wait for them to cool. Bigger rollers will produce more volume and more of a loose curl, and smaller rollers with produce a tighter and smaller curl. Remember, you can be creative with rollers. Why not try bigger rollers on the crown, then alternative between medium and and smaller rollers around the sides and back of the head. This will give you volume on top and curl everywhere else. Once you take the rollers out, work your fingers through the hair to loosen up the curls, and style to a desired look.

Back-combing is always a great way to get volume at the root. Taking small section all around the head, tease the hair with a comb, making it look matted, spray with hair spray, then comb out the top layer of hair. People can't see your hair under the surface., so it doesn't have to be perfect all the way through. Back-combing is a simple and quick way to get lasting volume. (Tip: No body wants to see your back-combing, so make sure none of that ratty mess is visible through your hair).

The Curls

Curls are always a good look for any season, and most people can pull them off. For a healthy, natural look, Madonna has been curling the hair more around the end of the hair, leaving the root area not curled, but it still has volume.

This look immediately adds style, but without looking too over-done. Looser, big curls will always look more youthful than tight small curls.

Curls are an effective, and easy thing to achieve. Try practising with straighteners or curling irons. With straighteners, use a protector spray, place the straighter where you want the curl to start, spin the straighter 180° and slowly pull through the hair, keeping it smooth and steady. (Tip, leave it on the ends slightly longer so the ends don't frizz).

Remember, less is sometimes more effective. Simpler hairstyles make you look more effortless and won't over complicate your look.

The Make-Up

What has make-up got to do with hair I hear you ask? Everything. Your hair frames your face, and you want it to work the best it can with your face.

Madonna is rocking nude, minimal make up at the moment. Simple colours, simple lips, simple eyes and simple brows. Less is often more. This simple look on her mature skin makes her look less-caked and more fresh faced.

There is a hint of warmth in her make-up which compliments her hair perfectly, giving her what seems to be a natural glow!

Nude colours and subtle tones are in at the moment. The 'I'm not wearing make-up' whilst wearing make-up look is easier than you think to achieve. Just apply lightly, don't cake it on, don't go OTT with the colours, and you'll create that natural look easily.

So remember, a more natural look is always the way to go when trying to achieve a youthful appearance. Even if nothing about it is natural, no one else knows how much work has gone into it. It takes a lot of money to look this cheap, and a lot of time to look this natural.

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LET THE STYLE REVOLUTION BEGIN...

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style, noun - an elegant, fashionable, or luxurious mode of living: to live in style.

Hello style seeker, and welcome to Ashley-Mcloughlin.blogspot.com, the realm of style, ruled by trainee hair stylist Ashley Mcloughlin.

Whilst staying in my domain, I aim to pass on all the tricks of style that I have learnt, and am learning as I work my way through the industry.

Here, I wish share hair secrets and tips and tricks, style advice, dos and don't, celebrity analysis,
reviews, trends, tutorials and much more!

This is now your one-stop place to find out what's hot and most importantly, how you can achieve the looks yourself, at home.

So buckle up, sit tight, and come with me on this journey of style and self discovery, because you deserve to be the best version of you, that you can.

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