Six ways to protect winter skin (the fourth one is our favourite)

Winter can play havoc with your skin, but there are a few tricks you can do to look after it.

1. Use a sheet mask for extra moisture.

   Central heating and cold weather can play havoc with our skin. Using a weekly face or sheet mask can add moisture and hydrating leaving you with a fresh and dewy complexion.

2. Moisturise day and night

   As well as a weekly face mask it’s important to moisturise the skin day and night, using a lighter cream for daytime and a thicker one overnight.

3. Don't forget sun cream

   It might be winter and less sunny, but your skin is still exposed to harmful rays in the winter so slap on the sun cream daily to prevent damage.

4. Apply an antioxidant serum

   Antioxidant serums can help protect you skin from environmental damage and signs of ageing.

5. Hydrate the scalp with a hair mask

   Just like skin, our hair can get dry and brittle during the winter so be sure to hydrate it with a weekly nourishing hair mask.

6. Always carry a lip balm

   Lips get dry in winter, so like your face and hair, hydrate with some moisturising lip balm.

Three ways to take care of dyed hair - and make your colour last longer

1. Wait 72 hours before shampooing
Hair dye works by opening the cuticle layer of your hair and penetrating the hair shaft. And it can take up to three days for the cuticle to close again.

If you wash during this time, you'll also be washing your money down the drain, literally! The longer you wait between colouring your hair and the first shampoo, the better.

2. Use products specially formulated for coloured hair
If you dye your hair, it’s important to use hair products that are made to be used on coloured hair.

Most products will say if they are for coloured hair, but as if not just aim for sulphate free.

3. Use deep conditioner
Healthy hair holds onto colour for longer. A deep conditioner is the perfect product to repair dry, damaged hair. Just make sure it is a deep conditioner specially formulated for coloured hair!

How to get shiny hair in five easy steps

Hands up if you want to learn how to get shiny hair. Everyday exposure to hair styling products, especially heat tools like hairdryers, curlers and straighteners, can really play havoc with our hair.

Throw in pollution, heating and sun damage and it’s no wonder it can be hard to keep hair healthy and shiny.

But don’t worry as there are plenty of ways to get shiny hair and we’re hear to tell you all about five of them.

Avoid sulfates

Hair can easily get bogged down with styling products that can make it less shiny than normal. Sulfates in shampoos and conditioners can strip your hair of its natural oils, leaving it looking dull, especially if you have dyed or chemically treated hair so opt for products without these.

Try an apple cider vinegar rinse

Steer clear of clarifying shampoos that can strip hair of everything, both the bad and the good, and instead try an apple cider vinegar rinse. We like Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, which can help balance the scalp's natural pH level, and leave hair looking shinier and healthier over time.

Massage your scalp with vitamin E

We all know how good vitamins are for us, but applying them topically to hair can also help make it stronger, healthier and shinier. Here’s a great trick: buy a bottle of vitamin E capsules, snip off the ends of about six capsules and squeeze the oil into a bowl. Next give yourself a pre-shampoo massage with the oil, which will nourish and hydrate hair strands. Then use your regular shampoo to wash it out.

Use a bristle brush

Bristle brushes seal the cuticle, making sure you lock in maximum shine by creating a completely two-dimensional surface for the light to reflect off. These stiff brushes will also draw natural oils from your roots to the ends of your hair, giving you a natural gloss and shine.

Have regular trims

Regular haircuts are a great way to keep hair looking healthy and shiny. You can book an appointment online or give us a call on 01865 553725.

Model Ashley Graham shares her red carpet make up look

Model Ashley Graham shows us her quick and easy red carpet make up look. Video courtesy of Vogue.com.

Expert winter skincare secrets

1. Use a sheet mask for extra moisture.

2. Moisturise day and night!

3. Don't forget sun cream.

4. Apply an antioxidant serum.

5. Hydrate the scalp with a hair mask.

6. Always carry a lip balm.

How to freshen up your make-up look for Autumn

We love this easy make up tutorial by Zoella who shows us how to wear a strong berry lip for Autumn.