Twist it real good

Dang December! Where did you come from?  If like me, you’ve found yourself knee-deep in the festive season without much thought given to the appropriate hairstyle for sleigh rides and mistletoe pashes then turn down Mariah Carey’s 1994 Merry Christmas album and pay attention.

Many gals look forward to their annual Christmas party for the free food, alcohol and passes they get to make at shy Daniel from the graphics department. The catch however is that most of these holiday parties take place straight after work, when one is FORCED to take her look from day-to-night within the confines of the staff bathroom. Hello glamour! Not to worry, Parlour and Loot has the fail proof hairstyle needed to take you from office-drab to party-fab in 56 seconds (yes I timed it, I’m nerdy like that).

On the morning of said party wash and towel-dry your locks then work through a volumising mousse with your fingers before blow drying as usual. L’Oreal Professional Texture Expert Expansion volumising cream mousse is fab for adding texture and body to the hair and I can vouch for its delicious salon-y scent.

Available in a wide range of salons RRP: $35.

After blow drying, pull your hair back into a sleek ponytail at the crown of your head. Twist the ponytail into a top knot and secure with bobby pins before spraying with hairspray.

When six o’clock rolls around undo the restraints, flip your head upside down and brush gently to separate the soft waves that have been created. Now part your hair on the side and smooth down any flyaways. Take a 4cm section from each side of your part twist loosely and secure back with a bobby pin that matches your hair colour. And there you have it, a flattering this-took-no-time-at-all party appropriate ‘do.

Hot tip: Make like Lauren Conrad, the queen of this style, by taking sections of hair that are not pinned down and placing them over the bobby pins, hiding them from sight and adding an extra polished look to this style.

Holy stone fruit, it's Summer

Growing up in North Queensland in the early 90s it’s fair to say I have a penchant for a particular shade of fuchsia, pedal pushers and picking (read: stealing) fruit from  my neighbour’s trees. Peaches, plums, avocados and mangos! These sun-warmed delights were well worth the scratches on my 10-year-old knees from climbing over the back fence.

Fast-forward fifteen years. I’ve swapped the pedal pushers for pencil skirts and if I’m talking about plum or mango  you can bet your last icy pole I’m talking about how, “that cherry coloured lip stain will really bring out the ‘burnt caramel’ hues,” in my friend Shay’s fading balayage.

There’s just something about summer time that screams, “PUT AWAY THAT NUDE MAKES-YOU-LOOK-LIKE-YOU-DON’T-HAVE-A-PULSE LIP GLOSS AND TRY A POP OF COLOUR!”  It’s this internal monologue running through my head each time I “put my face on” (Like Donna the 53-year-old Keno player at the bowls club) that brings me to why I’m harping on about colours that are usually only found in fruit salad.

The Innoxa Couleurs D’ete Summer Matte Collection boasts a delightful shade of tangerine aptly named Sunset, which is everything a bright lipstick should be – matte yet creamy. Mmmm.

 

Infused with moisturising jojoba oil, this baby doesn’t get all nasty and flakey mid-afternoon but instead leaves your lips feeling full, smooth and luscious hours after application. And the bonus of being brave enough to wear a bright lippy? Your teeth look whiter and your (fake, of course) tan looks deeper.  Ahhh beauty trickery what would I do without you?

This little gem comes in twelve delectable fruity shades and only costs a measly $14.95!  Way less than a real sunset costs. I kid, I kid. On a more serious note; this is a limited edition prod, so put down the knitting and get yourself to the shops ASAP because I have a feeling they won’t last much longer than Heidi Montag’s “acting” career.