Make everyday a Good Hair Day - How to give yourself a blowdry

Many people find it difficult to get the right finish on their hair. It can be the scourge of every girl's Saturday night routine. This is the best way to tackle your mane.

Always shampoo your hair twice. Squeaky clean hair is easier to style. Use some conditioner to de-tangle, but avoid the roots if you have oily hair.

Most people should wash their hair every second day, very oily hair might need to be done everyday. Some people can get away with twice a week, for the health of your scalp I would recommend no less than this.

If you want volume apply a non-sticky mousse. I find the Wella one great for a lighter feel, and it smells fantastic. If you have really curly hair a straightening product such as Redken Align will help you out.

You will need to invest in a good professional hair-dryer such as Parlux or Turbo-Stratos, even a qualified hairdresser would find it hard to style their hair without one of these. Use the nozzle this will give you better control.

If you have a fringe dry this first.

Always blast all the heavy wet off roughly, you are fighting a losing battle if you start using your brushes too early.

When your hair feels at the dryer end of damp, start sectioning the hair with some hair grips. Nobody can dry their hair properly in one go. You will miss sections underneath.

Think of your hair in 3 sections, back and sides. Start at the back and divide this area into 3-6 sections depending on the thickness of your hair. Work from nape to crown, then repeat the process at the sides.

I like to use various sizes of round brushes. The centre will heat and help you in styling. Dry the hair from root to tip, paying special attention to the root area. If you want extra volume, simply pull the brush directly up from the head as you dry. For straighter styles pull down.

ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE ROOTS ARE DRY BEFORE MOVING TO THE NEXT SECTION, ANY MOISTURE LEFT ON THE ROOTS WILL LATER TRAVEL DOWN THE HAIR AND CAUSE THE COMMON PROBLEM OF FRIZZING.

Usually when I finish drying my hair, I leave it while I do other tasks such as tan and make-up. Returning to your hair and quickly blow-drying through the dry hair again should give a sleeker finish.

If you must use straightening irons on your hair, GHD is your only man. The ceramic plates will not damage your hair in the way a traditional straightener would. And it really is the best straighter on the market. If your hair is curly or frizzy, although expensive this is a worthwhile investment.

A cold blast of air from your dryer will set your style.

I love L'Oreal Elnett hairspray and the big bottles are great value.

There are many great serums on the market to keep your hair frizz free.
What not to do:

Do not ignore the back and over-dry the front

Do not use the straightener until your hair is COMPLETELY dry

Do not wind very small brushes into long hair unless experienced, you may end up in a huge mess



AND FINALLY :

Do not stress if you can't do your hair like your stylist, remember he/she has done 4 years training to be able. If you have something important to go to or you want to treat yourself, let the professionals do it for you.

I love doing blow-drys at work in Rhona's hair Salon

Is Pro-points really Pro-choice?

Weight-Watchers have just launched their new diet Pro-points. Without hesitation they've taken their list of rules and points, screwed it up and f*cked it into the hypothetical dust-bin of the diet world. WW fanatics worldwide, are thrown into a frenzy of confusion and uncertainty.

Not to worry, my fat-busting friends, they've put a celeb face in front of the campaign, so we can all breathe a sigh of relief. Jennifer Hudson appears on the mag looking svelte less than a year after giving birth coupled with the (oh so American) affirmation, “It’s a lifestyle change, not a diet.” - well you would want to be stone (no pun intended) mad to stick with the old way.

Out with the old, in with the new. This new diet really is fantastic. Eat as much fruit as you like. Yum yum. Eat as much veg as you like, no change there. You get more points, but hey nearly everything is more points anyway. It's like getting a raise, and your rent goes up.

And hang on a minute, there's a new calculator. But no way of directly converting the old points to the new ones, and with a head for maths, believe me I've tried. There's a formula that could leave Pythagoras and Einstein scratching their heads about. Excuse me for getting angry when the teacher gives me an exam in Chinese, when I've just become fluent in Japanese.

From first glance what I can see, if you like your protein, fruit and veg, once you figure this new plan out you are going to be happy as a pig in sh*te.

If you are more a fan of junk food, booze and carbs like myself, or you have just bought an abundance of “old points” scales, recipe books, etc then you will probably feel more like the pig has done a sh*te on you.

If you can pinch it, you can pierce it

So you want to get a piercing?
Where do you start, what do you choose, and how are you meant to look after it?

Technically there is any number of piercings a person can get, the Guniness Book of World records certifies that Elaine Davidson, of Edinburgh, Scotland, has the most with 720.

However this is not recommended for you ordinary Joe or Joanne soap, many cases of septacaemia
are reported caused by unhygenic care of new or old piercings.

So you have your ears pierced, because your Mammy got them “gunned” for you before your communion, and you want something else. Nose, eyebrow and bellybutton piercings are now the norm, though still many schools and workplaces frown upon them.

More interesting choices include bridge, septum and lip/tongue piercings. Nape piercings also, though are known for their high level of rejection.

Hand web piercings can be both dangerous and difficult to heal. I wouldn't recommend this from personal experience.

More recently we see the introduction of microdermal implants. This is a one sided piercing and they are thought more extreme/permanent than a regular piercing. They have become more mainstream due to their delicate look. You may have seen them. Just like a diamanté stuck onto the skin?

Only highly skilled Piercers can perform this kind of piercing, as is the case with a lot of surface and genital piercings. Microdermals are usually inserted using a needle, or by the quicker method of a punch. This removes a small amount of skin and flesh to make room for the jewellery. It is completely up to the piercers preference, and I have found both give the same results.

22 piercings later without major disaster, what is my advice?

Go to a reputable piercer with a clean hygenic premises, I have had many of my piercings here.
Use sea salt crystals and cool boiled water to clean your piercing, (do not overdo this you can burn your skin)
Choose something easy to begin with such as tongue, (piercings can be hard work)
Check with your school/college/job for their piercing policy
Don't touch your piercing to much, or change the jewellery to often or too early. (I would recommend waiting at least 12 weeks)
If you are thinking about stretching any hole, research thoroughly and remember, the slower this is done the better. Rushing the process can have nasty results.
Piercing guns are unhygenic and a dated form of piercing. They are not recommended by any professionals, and those who use them are not usually trained as a piercer.


Seriously though, bellybutton is a killer and I almost passed out getting my medusa, (top lip) pierced. Tongue, tongue web and bottom lip easy peasy, hand web and tragus downright pain in the arse.

Get your knickers off girls

LADIES: YOUR SMEAR MADE CLEAR

It is not embarrassing, it is not painful and it may well save your life.

As Irish women, we are listed as some of the worst in the world for looking after our sexual health. Cervical Cancer causes many needless deaths in this country and worldwide every year. Timing is crucial in the prevention, detection and treatment of this particular type of illness.

A cervical smear test checks for any minor or major changes in the cells at the neck of your womb. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY to find out about the health of your cervix.

The National Cervical Screening Programme provides free smear tests to women aged 25 to 60. You can call them for free on, 1800 45 45 55 or register online to take part in the scheme. Technically you can develop cervical cancer as soon as you become sexually active. We all remember the tragic death of Jade Goody at a very young age, so if there is a history of female cancers in your
family you could talk to your doctor about possible testing at an earlier age.

In some countries, such as Australia young girls are given a free vaccine to protect them against cervical cancer and the virus that causes it. Named Gardasil, it is a course of three injections and although not widely popular yet in Ireland some people may opt to invest in it at a private practice.

When you go for a smear the doctor/nurse is sure to put you at ease. Any preconceptions I ever had about the subject were put to bed, and I hope to reassure other women that it is not something to worry about.

Your doctor or nurse will carefully take a swab from your cervix and this will be sent to a laboratory for examination. The results will likely come back normal, however most abnormalities are nothing to worry about and can be easily treated. A small abnormality may not require treatment, just retesting in a few months. For some people laser treatment may be needed, this is what can save you from developing cancer. Treatments are becoming better and more advanced every day.

REGULAR SMEAR TESTING REDUCES YOUR RISK OF DEATH THROUGH CERVICAL CANCER SIGNIFICANTLY.

I found this clinic fantastic, and a great place for your first time. I cannot recommend the staff here enough even with the most nervous of patients.

To Tan or not to Tan - That is the question

Are you pale and interesting? Then the answer is no. This only applies to a small number of you. The porcelain beauties with an ivory complexion that suits their hair eyes and style.

For the rest of us mere mortals a touch of summer glow makes the difference between photo's showing healthy good looks as opposed to us imitating Tim Burton's corpse bride.

So what's my advice?

If you're gonna do it do it right, RIGHT DO IT TO ME.

Thats right, if you can afford it then go to a salon and let the proffesionals do it for you. Recommended brands include Sudo and St Tropez.

Less is more with fake tan, you don't want to end up looking like one of Wonka's employees.

If you're gonna do it at home my favorites are Lancome Flash Bronzer if you have a few quid to spare, L'oreal Sublime bronze if you aren't to flash. If you're broke and more so if you are scared cheap instants such as Rimmel and Sally Hanson are fool proof.

Always:

Exfoliate beforehand

Be careful of elbows, ankles, and hands. (A little moisturiser can help)

Use a hairdryer to dry off the tan if possible, I find this both enhances the colour and avoids staining clothes, towels and bed linen.


In the salon I work at all the best tans are available for the bargain price of €25

Bounce your way to Beautiful

Boogie Bounce is the set to be the newest and best way to get fit in 2011. Experienced fitness instructer Emma Weafer is going help you drop the Christmas layer with her fun toning workout in Donnybrook's Old Wesley starting February 21st. If you are sick of boring workouts at the gym, not to mention hefty fee's, then this €10 lesson will be money well spent. 6 lessons are also available for €50.

So what do they claim:
- Fantastic for the Lymphatic System:
- Suitable for all ages, shapes, sizes and fitness levels
- Extremely effective for natural weight loss/inch loss
- 2-3 times more efficient than normal aerobics
- Fabulous for cellulite reduction
- Less stress impact on joints than other fitness routines
- Powerful muscle toning results
- Greatly improved balance/co-ordination
- Energy, circulation and immune system enhanced
- Superb for combating stress
- Boogie Bounce gives you a real sense of enjoyment and achievement


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