Boxer braids
Boxer braids are proving to be the knockout look for ladies with long hair this season. Bang on trend, the Kardashian clan has embraced the look, from a platinum-dyed Kim (pictured) to her 2-year-old daughter North. Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez are also fans of the updo. The style can be somewhat tricky to do yourself, but online tutorials recommend splitting hair down the middle using a rattail comb. After clipping one side and dividing the other into three equal sections, you should tightly braid from top to bottom. Repeat on the other side and secure in place with firm-hold hairspray or tease for a more bohemian look. To avoid aching arms – and to ensure braid symmetry – you could head to one of Ted Morgan’s salons in Dubai. From around Dh350 – and at least an hour of your time for medium-to-long hair – you can walk away with perfect plaits. Hair without layers is easier to braid and your new look will remain pristine for two to three days, if protected by a thin scarf at night.
• For appointments, visit www.tedmorganhair.com
* Rebecca McLaughlin-Duane
Bamboo Volume Weightless Whipped Mousse
I had come to terms with the fact I would never have a full-bodied, bouncy head of hair. A blow-dry by the very best stylist goes flat within seconds of leaving the salon. I sighed, gave a limp shake of my thin hair and gave up – until I found this magical mousse. Bamboo Weightless Whipped Mousse, like all the products from the Alterna range, is free from paragons, sulphates, phthalates and other unnecessary additives. And here’s the thing – It actually works. The mousse binds to each individual hair to build fullness, thickness and a lift from root to tip. It’s not your typical mousse that will leave you with that awful crunchy feeling. I can’t recommend this brand enough – it’s organic, free-trade and sustainable – and it smells wonderful.
• Dh120 but only available from speciality salons. To find out more, visit the Alterna Middle East Facebook page
* Felicity Campbell
Lush Big Sea Salt Shampoo
This is such a fun little pot of shampoo and, boy, does it deliver on the promise of “Big”. It feels a little unorthodox, putting a dollop of creamy white shampoo dotted with sharp chunks of salt on your head. And be warned: if there are any nicks on your scalp, it will sting a little. But, all in all, my experimenting with sea-salt sprays, most of which I found leave my hair heavy and sticky rather than big and light, this is the closest I have found to what happens after swimming in the sea. It gives my hair real texture without weighing it down, and a blowout seems to last for longer, too.
• Dh137 for a 330g pot from Lush stores and www.lush.ae
* Ann Marie McQueen
Make Up Eraser
I love wearing make-up every day, but there is nothing like the feeling of getting it all off at the end of the day. Although I sometimes I get lazy and use face wipes, on a regular day it normally takes three steps to ensure my skin is squeaky clean. But then I tried the Make Up Eraser and was blown away. It is essentially a polyester cloth – you use one side to remove the make-up, the other to gently exfoliate your face. What makes it so convenient is that you only need to drench the cloth in warm water to remove everything – waterproof mascara, liquid lipstick and long-lasting eyeshadow included. At first I thought the cloth must contain chemicals to be so effective – but then how would it last the promised thousand washes and be so gentle on the skin? Admittedly, it is a tad expensive for a piece of cloth – but you will save a lot of money in expensive balms, cleansing oils and micellar water. Just make sure you wash it frequently to avoid product build-up.
• Dh87 from Sephora
* Aarti Jhurani
Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay
This nondescript jar of powdered clay claims to be “the most powerful facial in the world”. I have sensitive oily skin that is prone to breakouts and I’ve tried many treatments over the years – from DIY masks to the very expensive Glamglow – and nothing has ever worked as well as this. You need to mix the bentonite clay in a non-metal bowl with equal parts apple-cider vinegar, then apply a thick layer to the skin. Depending on skin type, you can leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes, but I like to leave it on for about 25 minutes, until its completely dry. I can feel my skin pulsating as it cleans out the pores and heals whatever acne I may have – and even though washing it off is quite a task, the end results are worth it. The mask leaves the face flushed for a few minutes, with skin feeling tighter and looking brighter and clearer. It’s also a generous portion: I have been using it twice a week for six months and I haven’t even made it halfway through the jar.
• Dh85 for a 450-gram jar from www.souq.com
* Aarti Jhurani
Sephora’s Daydreamer lip gloss
If lipgloss is more your thing than lipstick, the Daydreamer is for you. It’s a stick of six tiny pots in shimmering shades, ranging from pale pink to dark fuchsia, each with an individual applicator. It’s immensely practical, too: on an evening out, the stick slips easily into the smallest of purses – plus my make-up bag is much lighter now. But perhaps the reason I love it so much is because it reminds me of my seventh birthday, when my favourite aunt ignored my mum’s “no make-up” rule and handed me a similar stackable stick of gloss. Sadly, though, the Daydreamer runs out very quickly, mostly because of the tiny quantities (and the delicious berry flavour). Tip: buy several at a time to ensure long-lasting happiness.
• Dh56 from Sephora stores
* Christine Iyer
