We've got one Sugar fresh-off-the-plane from Mexico, another newly entering the rejuvenating world of facials, and one considering a drastic haircut. We couldn't be more excited — it's all about The Chop right now. Our beauty editor smells like an actual lady (she usually opts for a man scent, you see), and our celebrity editor is taking her love for Chloé perfume to pint-sized heaven. Click through.
New Year, new hair. It's time to kiss dry, brittle hair goodbye in 2013, and here's how you can get the silky, shiny strands you've always wanted. To start, let your hair air-dry, avoid shampooing every day, and most importantly, put back any lost moisture with a revitalising hair mask each week. Discover three top product picks now.
Most people consider the shampoo bowl the beginning of your weekly hair care regimen. But there are things you can do before you wash to achieve longer and more vibrant locks. Get some pre-'poo ideas from celebrity colourist Beth Minardi when you read more.
Summer is on our doorstep, which means our hair will be subjected to greater environmental damage — too much sun equals dry strands. If your hair is feeling parched and in need of TLC, hit the pantry. Our DIY "recipe" for a simple, homemade remedy soothes itchy scalp and creates soft, touchable hair. Best part? You only need three ingredients.
With just shy of two months until your big day, it's time to start putting in the beauty hard yards at home. By now you've already mastered the at-home facial, and commenced into any major beauty procedures, but don't forget about all your other body parts! We're talking nourishing hair masks, nail treatments, daily supplements and weekly dry body brushing and exfoliation sessions. They'll add a few minutes onto your time in the bathroom, but gosh are they worth it in the end. Click though to find out our top five bridal body prep products. And then try saying that 10 times fast.
Remember your younger, more carefree years when you'd go to sleep with wet hair and wake up with it sticking in a million directions (ahem, school)? Well, growing up means getting wiser . . . at least with your beauty routines. There are plenty of things you can do while you sleep to help you arise with a coiffure people will envy. So grab your pjs, curl up, and keep reading
As soon as the season changes we bring out those rich face creams, up the ante on the elbow moisturising and switch from a lightweight lotion to body butter, but what about our hair? It tends to get left behind feeling all dry and sorry for it after a sun-soaked Summer. The good news is, it's easy to inject some much-needed hydration back into distressed tresses with a nourishing moisture mask. Much like the kind you'd use on your face. Here are five fab finds that'll do the job and restore moisture (and with it, that salon-worthy shine) in no time.
A girlfriend asked me this the other day. And once I had shut my mouth, picked myself up off the floor and had a stiff drink to recover from the shock, I said I'd do my very best to find out. Because for me, it's never been a question. Like pies need tomato sauce and Imelda Marcos needs shoes, strands need conditioning. Well, that's what I've always thought anyway. To find out if it's true or just an urban myth, we called up Barney Martin, Pantene’s Expert Stylist and Director of Barney Martin Hairdressing, in Surry Hills.
A) Conditioner is a really important step in your haircare routine. After you cleanse your hair you raise the hair cuticles — conditioner smooths these back down to protect the hair shaft. Conditioner is also an important step in keeping moisture in the hair to keep your hair soft and shiny. Conditioner should be used on all hair types, even if you have oily hair you should still concentrate the conditioner on the mid to end-lengths away from the roots. I also recommend using a deep conditioning treatment once a week to really hydrate your hair. You do this as a third step after shampooing and conditioning and it’s especially important if your hair is coloured or heat damaged. A deep conditioning rinse-off treatment, like Pantene’s 3 Minute Miracle ($29.99) or Bumble and Bumble Deeep Treatment ($50), is a great way to restore your hair’s health quickly.
This is a question I get asked wherever I go. In the queue for a coffee. On the bus. While I'm shopping. I would go so far as to say it's one of the most commonly asked beauty questions EVER. Big call. But that's because split ends are a big problem. They look unsightly, they feel horrible and if you miss just one appointment they can start to crop up. Nightmare. So I called up my man T-Dog (or Tony Pearce as he prefers to be known) to help. He's Pantene's Expert Trichologist, which is really just a fancy way of saying he knows lots about hair and scalps.
A) Prevention with regular haircare conditioning and deep treatments is the best option as once split ends develop, they usually cannot be repaired, as a 'split end' is essentially a longitudinal splitting of the hair shaft. [Sounds nasty, huh?] Once this develops only trimming of the hair distal to the fracture will correct them. Regular trims will stop split end in their tracks, as will conditioning treatments like Pantene 3 Minute Miracle ($7.99),
Also try Bumble and Bumble Deeep Treatment ($50) or evo Mane Prescription Protein Treatment ($25.95)
Phew. Not that I’d usually be the one to diss something that claims to be “Viagra for hair” but using prime Aberdeen Angus bull semen (yes, you heard correctly) to inject volume into my 
'do is a step too far for me. Granted others rejoice at the mere mention of this protein-rich treatment – offered at Hari's salon in the UK – that promises to, ahem, penetrate each and every hair shaft to increase strength and shine.
But luckily there are experts out there who say we don’t have to bathe our locks in cows’ bodily fluids to get a glossy, voluminous mane.
Jim Hammer, a cosmetic chemist at Pharmasol Labs, told the LA Times that wheat or rice protein, when combined with hydrating oils, should perform as adequately as bull semen though he understands that these ingredients may sound slightly dull “when compared with these other more unusual, even taboo, options." Call me old-fashioned but I’ll take wheat protein any day of the week. If you would too, try Al'chemy Rice Aminos & Wheat Protein Shampoo ($14.50).
Stockists: Al'chemy (1800 631 283).
