Lisa Shepherd's Summer Hair Survival Guide

The long awaited summer sun is great news for our skin and spirits but not so good for our hair. Don’t worry though, colourist to the stars Lisa Shepherd (www.lisashepherd.co.uk) has put together the answers you need to keep your hair in tip-top condition all summer long - yippee!

Come find out Lisa's hair secrets:

Pre Beach- Preparation Tips

· As you would apply sunscreen to your skin before heading out into the sun you must protect your hair as well. My usual motto is less is more when it comes to hair products, but the opposite is true when you are on holiday. Repeated applications of a hair SPF like L'Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Solar Sublime Advanced Conditioning Spray, will prevent your hair being damaged by the sun and will also minimise the moisture sapping effects of chlorine and sea salt exposure.

· Make sure you don’t dry out your hair with excessive heat styling when on holiday, it will just add to the damage done by the sun. Instead allow your hair to dry naturally and opt for the perfectly on-trend tousled wave look, as seen on supermodel, Gisele. Loose, sexy up dos are a feminine and very natural alternative to poker straight locks.

· Like your skin, the best way to protect your hair from the sun is to keep it out of it. This doesn’t mean being a shade dweller but simply covering your hair from the mid day sun in a chic Pucci-esque head scarf. Not only will it prevent your tresses being frazzled, but it will also add a hint of glamour to your look.

Post- Beach Holiday Survival Tip
Unfortunately no matter how hard you try to protect your hair during the summer, the combination of sun exposure, swimming and general styling will leave your hair dry, washed out and slightly damaged. This can be easily remedied with a trip to your nearest salon for an intensive post summer treatment, such as a Shu Uemura Ceremonies Treatment, which will restore your hair to its optimum health and will replenish vitality and shine.

Smokin' Hot

The smokey eye look continues to be a really popular look... but yet, people (including moi) simply can't get to grips with how to achieve the look without the help of a professional... and they often end up looking like they've gone a few rounds in the boxing ring. Never a sexy look.

Think of Benefit's Smokin' Eyes Sexy Eye & Brow Makeover Kit as your professional make-up artist in a box.

The kit includes:

- 3 smokin' eyeshadows - pink highlighter, pewter base shadow, deep charcoal shadow

- Smokin' liner - dark black pencil

- Brow zings shaping wax

- Eye bright - cream eye brightener

- Fluff shadow/hard angle brush

- Baby-sized tweezers for discreet touch-ups

- A little manual to talk you through each step

Who needs a professional, the amateurs will soon be taking over the world.

Smokin' hot, Girls Aloud-esque eyes here I come.

£26.50

From June 09

www.benefit.co.uk

Kiss My Face

On a recent trip to NYC, I had the pleasure of coming across the Kiss My Face brand. In fact, they were the toiletries of choice at my hotel, The Standard.

The brainchild of two long-time vegetarians searching for healthy body care products, Kiss My Face was founded on a 200-acre organic farm in New York's Hudson River Valley in the mid-80s. Fast-forward to the noughties, and the brand is a hugely respected vehicle for natural, effective and good-for-you products.

My fave - the Rough Thyme Shower Gel. Not only does it smell divine and lathers up a treat, it's also good for you;

Jojoba beads: cleanse and exfoliate without harming tender epidermal tissue
Bergamot: aromatic, stress reducer with anti-inflammatory properties
Thyme: stimulates circulation

The other good news - it's only £7.04 and is available to buy from their web store.

Rough 'thyme' - not on my watch.

www.kissmyface.com
www.kissmyfacewebstore.com

New From MLab

MLab had a breakfast launch recently which sadly I couldn't attend but I've now had the chance to peruse their new wares and I must say, I'm very impressed.

One product that particularly interests me is the Blemish Control Spot Treatment which is available to buy now.

Here's the skinny "A concentrated blend of skin soothing extracts and regenerating exfoliators help to accelerate the reduction of redness and treatment of blemishes, while pore purifiers dissolve and prevent future breakouts.

"A combination of gentle exfoliants shed surface skin cells leaving it smooth, soft and clear. Soothing and healing properties allows blemishes to quickly vanish - Unique rollerball packaging allows the precise application to individual blemishes Formulated with 82% clinically active ingredients."

I like this product because it reminds me of the Liz Earle product Spot On. It deals with the problem directly with the rollerball being a great way to dispense the potent spot-zapping formula.

In fact, I have one or two little blighters that need to be zapped pronto. I'll be back with a verdict asap.

£26
M LAB is available exclusively at http://www.mlabonline.com/ and Harrods 020 7730 1234 / http://www.harrods.com/

Britney: The Verdict

Well, it was some night at the o2 arena - never have I seen so many fashion disasters/large amounts of flesh in one place (am I getting old?) All that aside, I have to admit that old Brit-Brit was a tad disappointing.

As much as the dance routines were fab and she kept my attention for the 1 hour 15 minutes that she strutted her stuff, but 3 things let her down.

1. The lack of big screens - this was so frustating becuase unless you were in the front rows, it could have been anyone shaking their tush and whipping their blonde hair to the beat of Womanizer, Baby One More Time... etc.

2. I've read this comment already this week, but I agree that it appears that Britney has slightly lost her spark. Rarely did she engage with the audience nor did she appear to be doing much smiling. Is it too much too soon for the pop princess?

3. SHE DIDN'T BLOODY SING! Dancing and lip-synching is not my idea of a concert...

So, that's it. I'll continue to dance around to her tracks in the comfort of my own living room and on the dance floor after one too many vino blanchos but maybe I won't be shelling out £50 next time she's in town.

Boo.

PS What the frig was Perez Hilton doing as the ringmaster in the opening video segment?!

It's Britney, Bitch!

Aye carumba - very excited about tomorrow. Aside from going to have my bridesmaid dress fitted (Whose wedding - sister's. Location -Edinbugh. Date - July 4th. Weight to lose - a stone. Thoughts - arghhhh!!!) I shall also be travelling to the o2 arena (at 4pm! We decided we'd go early to sup some vino and get whipped up into a frenzy) to see Britney Spears...

I'd had various reactions when I've delivered the news that I've parted with my hard-earned cash to see the world's favourite meltdown queen live (er, sort of) in concert. However, I stand by my word (and my £50) as I do actually love Ms Spears. I've been an avid follower of her rollercoaster career from the days when butter won't melt, to the times when she was overweight, lacked hair and could barely string a sentence together. But hey, I'm an optimist and I'm loving the fact that she's managed (so far) so pull her sh*t together for the sake of herself, her cute kids and for the large amount of Britney lovers out there.

Aside from that she has some proper-bo pop tunes! Who can fail to shake their thing to hits such as Oops! I Did It Again, Womanizer, Slave 4 U and Crazy. Dance floor classics, people.

I'll report back with my findings on Sunday.

Aveda Eye Colour

I can't wait to get my iPhone because then I'll be able to show you my mug actually testing the products out, but until then you'll just have to take my word for it that what I'm telling you is the truth.

So, at the moment my favourite eye colours are from Aveda. I was there a few weeks back having a cut and blow out - which, by the way, was terrific. The salon feels just like the one I used to go to in New York and it's awash with funky people and products. Anyway, as I was leaving I noticed their make-up counter and started to peruse the many shades.

Needless to say, I'm now addicted to the eye colour duos that they do. Now, it's rather embarrassing because I'm sitting here typing this review on a Friday night so the PRs have gone home and I can't seem to get the image from their site but if you search in www.aveda.co.uk under 'make-up' and then under 'eyes', you'll discover the beauty of Petal Essence Eye Duos. My favourite colour combo is Gobi/Sand Haze (£14.68).

It really does glide on and the colours complement each other perfectly. Sometimes I'll even just wear the light beige colour on its own (leaving the darker brown for a night time look). I get up v early in the morning and by the time I get back at 4.30pm, the colour is still in place. Delicious.

My last positive comment is that it comes in 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) clamshell and paper sleeve which fits in very well with my 'trying to be green' credentials.

Go check out the full colour spectrum, I fully intend to stock up on them all.

A big thumbs up.