Problems With Your Hair - Tips On How To Handle The Bad Hair Days

Yes, we all have bad hair days - unless your name is Jennifer Aniston of course and then you probably have a personal hairdresser to sort out your tresses for you. However there are ways we can all deal with the usual "bad" hair problems which are usually caused by stressing out your hair with too much styling, heating, colouring and general poor treatment of your locks.

Got the Frizz? What Causes It and How To Calm It Down

• Frizz can occur when the air is damp or humid as the water in the air can penetrate the hair follicle and distort the shape of the hair - this can particularly occur with hair which has already been heat damaged.
• Make sure you use a hair product before drying or styling with a humidity block and that your hair is fully dry before you leave the house as leaving it slightly damp will also encourage frizz.
• When you are rinsing conditioner from your hair finish off with a luke warm or, if you can manage it, a cold rinse and this encourages the hair follicle to be smoother giving a glossy finish. In addition when you have finished drying your hair turn your dryer to cool and blow all over with cold air to "set" your hair.

Fine And Limp Hair? How To Give It More Body

• Baby fine hair can often look lifeless and limp. Get a chunky cut such as a bob as layers will just thin out the ends even more.
• Look for products which will add bulk to the cuticle of the hair - use a volumising spray and then dry your hair upside down. This will add bulk to hair by giving it bounce and the volumising spray is activated when heat from the dryer is applied to it.
• When washing baby fine hair use a volumising shampoo and also look for products which have anti-static properties as fine hair is prone to be fly-away.

Why Do I have Curly Hair - It's Just Uncontrollable

• Don't get me wrong - I love curly hair, but it can need help. As it's surface isn't naturally smooth it can look dry so glossing or serum products are essential to tame it and add shine.
• If you can, allow your curls to dry naturally, having applied to your hair a leave-in conditioner which will add definition and shine.
• Curly hair can often be wound into ringlet style curls whilst drying which can be pulled out into natural, lovely waves when dry.
• Long curly hair also just looks so brilliant pulled up into a loose bun with some diamante clips, leaving tendrils of hair loose for a night out.

How To Choose The Best Style Of Dress For Your Figure

Hey, sorry it's been a few days since the last post, but it's been a busy few weeks what with a trip to Madrid and a birthday party so I apologise for my absence. However, when my birthday passes it always brings to mind that it's only two tiny little months until Christmas - and even less time until Christmas parties are in the diary, so I thought some tips on different styles of dresses for different figure sizes would be pretty useful around this time. The tips are listed below under each dress size.

The Perfect Size 10

• Choose either plain fabrics or ones with a small pattern - large and colourful patterns can swamp a smaller frame.
• If you want to create more of a bustline look for dresses with ruffles around the neckline or bodice to create more volume.
• If you have a tiny waist make sure you accentuate it with either a fitted bodice or use a belt to draw attention to this asset.

A Gorgeous Size 12

• If you are wearing a low-cut dress and need to break up the chest area (for those better endowed) a chunky or long necklace is perfect.
• If upper arms are not the favourite part of your anatomy, look for dresses with short sleeves or off-the-shoulder styles which are really flattering and a bit different from the normal "strappy" dress.
• Size 12s are generally pretty lucky as you can carry off patterns and chunkier styles that tinier girls can't but you still have the perfect figure for fitted dresses.

Luscious Size 14

• Empire line dresses are very glamourous and also provide some camouflage where required.
• Look for more floating styles, maybe dresses with layers, rather than something clingy in all the wrong places.
• Wraps, pashminas and bolero jackets are all fantastic at covering the shoulders, and adding extra style and coverage where needed.
• Wearing shoes with platform soles elongates the legs and are the latest style.

Sumptuous Size 16

• Look for smock style long sleeves which are great for slimming the arms.
• Look for peep-hole necklines which are cute and pretty for larger boobs.
• Don't be afraid of using a wide belt to accentuate your curves if you are wearing a fuller skirted dress.
• Make sure you accentuate your best features, and above all make sure you enjoy the party!

If you have been previewing the Christmas partywear in the last few weeks and can recommend anything super special let us know here at Fashion Tips.

How To Create Fantastic Curled Eyelashes Using An Eyelash Curler

Its great to see advertisements in magazines where the model's eyes are virtually popping out of the page with perfectly curled, thick black eyelashes - but how does the makeup artist create this effect? If you are not going to opt for eyelash extensions or fake eyelashes, the easiest option is to use an eyelash curler.

Which Type of Eyelash Curler To Use

Ideally buy a metal eyelash curler as they are stronger than the plastic varieties and create a more defined curl, although both types can do a good job.

Eyelash curler pads will need replacing every couple of months, and good brands of eyelash curlers are supplied with a spare pair of pads. It is important to change the pads quite regularly as they will wear through from the pressure applied to them and also, as with any makeup tools you use near your eyes, keeping the curlers clean and pristine is always a good idea. 

Whether To Buy Heated Eyelash Curlers

It depends whether you put on your makeup near where you keep your hairdryer - if you do it's easy to heat up your curlers with your hairdryer with a quick blast of heat, which saves investing in heated curlers (which you also have to remember to switch on in advance before using). If this doesn't suit you, heated curlers can be obtained pretty cheaply, but I personally don't find them much more effective than the non-heated variety.

How To Use Your Eyelash Curlers

• Use your curlers on clean eyelashes which are free of mascara.
• If you want to - heat up your eyelash curlers for five seconds or so with your hairdryer - touch them before applying to your eyelid in case they are too hot as a burned eye-lid can be pretty sore.
• Gently clamp your lashes near the roots between the curler and the pad and hold there for up to 30 seconds.
• Once your lashes have been curled you can then start to apply your mascara - don't attempt to use your eyelash curler after you have applied any mascara as your lashes can stick to the curler with disastrous results, ie lashes being pulled out at the roots.

You should now have perfectly curled lashes which are ready for a slick of mascara or if you want Vaseline to keep them lush. Curled lashes look a lot thicker and give greater definition to the eyes.

A Visit To Madrid - Fashion Capital Of Europe

Having just returned from a long weekend in Madrid I wanted to report back how totally impressed I was by the chic and cool people of the city, not just in they way they dressed, but they way they carried themselves and the way their outfits were just so polished. Many of the women were teaming their designer shades with skinny jeans tucked into knee high boots and light jackets and pashminas. Yep, the temperatures were in the low 70s in the daytime, but for the Madrilenos it's definitely autumn.

Madrilenos - Super Stylish

One of the most amazing fashion sights we spied over the weekend was this delightful wedding - kind of like Vogue's pages had been emptied out into the church-yard.

The Spanish Fashion Industry

As Madrid and many other areas of Spain are overrun by some of the most attractive and stylish people in the world many leading fashion designers have hurried to set themselves up a base in the country. As well as amazing designers for both men and women's clothes there are great designers for jewellery, leather footwear and of course bags and accessories.

Leading Spanish Fashion Designers

Many of these names will be familiar to you from our own boutiques and stores:

• Agatha Ruiz de la Prada
• Christobal Balenciaga
• Paco Rabanne
• Manolo Blahnik
• Fernando Sanchez
• Amaya Arzuagu
• Custo Dalmau
• Elena Benarroch

Where To Find Fashion In Madrid

If you are lucky enough to be visiting this beautiful city in the future and are on the hunt for some designer gear then head for Salamanca for haute couture and the Gran Via and Puerta del Sol for a never ending selection of other shops including El Corte Ingles (meaning "The English Cut" implying in Spanish "The English Dress Style") which is Spain's largest department store.

PS Remember to stop and rest your weary shopping feet though at one of the world famous tapas bars with a sweet glass of Rioja (vino tinto).

How To Use Jewellery and Other Accessories To Brighten Up Your Outfits

In these serious times of the global credit crunch and the giant carbon footprint it's a great idea to recycle some of our older outfits and revamp them with some new accessories to bring them straight up to date without breaking the bank or creating a whole heap of waste. Here are some tips on how this can easily be done.

Layering

• One plain cotton top on it's own can look pretty boring, but wearing a white top underneath a black or red top, which accentuates the white at the neck and cuffs can look really cute. Choose your own colour combinations to suit you.
• Wearing a lacy vest top under a partially undone blouse looks a little cheeky and very pretty.
• Dress like you're in the USA, with a white or plain long-sleeved t-shirt underneath a short sleeved coloured one.

Designer ... Or Handmade By You

• If you've got any jeans which have no designer brand - make them into your own designer jeans, by adding a motif to the back pocket, sewing sequins along the tops of the pockets or distress them by cutting appropriate holes and rubbing them with a pumice stone or sandpaper. Pop them in the washing machine after and this will help to fray your handiwork even more.
• If you really want to save some money and get your own style - try knitting yourself a funky woolly hat and scarf - there are free patterns all over the internet - try www.knitty.com for some cool ideas.

Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

• Yup, diamonds really are, but they also cost heaps of money and only jewellers can tell the difference between a cubic zirconia and a genuine diamond, and to accessorise an outfit there are so many colourful alternatives.
• A chunky, colourful pendant or necklace can instantly add style to a plain outfit and for a great casual look they can be hung on coloured, silk cords which look up-to-the-minute and totally stylish.

Do you have some money saving tips you've tried lately to fashion-up your wardrobe?