Salon Review: Sloans, Lane Cove

By Tammi Ireland

Since moving to Sydney, I’ve been on the hunt for a fantastic hairdresser who can turn my thick, curly hair into a manageable, ‘looks like I didn’t even try’ ‘do. I’d also love for that place to come with some cool staff, a wealth of experience and be in a good location.  Last month, Sloans ticked all the boxes.

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The salon is located in a quaint street surrounded by cafes and flooded with natural light. The team is fun and a nice mix of classic and contemporary with their own style, making the salon a great fit for families and fashion forwards, alike.

My hair was cut by salon owner and creative director, Scott Sloan.  Scott is also an international creative artist for Schwarzkopf, so he knows his stuff.  He cut my hair into layers underneath, leaving a veil of long hair on top, meaning I didn’t lose length but I did lose a lot of that weight that was keeping me from styling anything other than a ponytail pre-cut.

Get The Look: Catwoman

By Tammi Ireland

Something happened when I watched the latest Batman movie. I developed an obsession for Anne Hathaway as Catwoman. Let’s just take a moment to admire how well she kicked that role out of the ballpark, especially when almost no one thought she could do ‘sexy’ (“She’s too girl-next-door,” they said). Well, she proved them wrong, and my little obsession swiftly saw me purchase some sparkly cat ears from ASOS so I could do this here post on Getting Her Look*.

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The first thing you need for a smouldering look like this is a leather body suit flawless face. I mixed Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Illuminating with Laura Mercier Oil Free Supreme Foundation and blended the two in with the Manicare makeup sponge.  Then, I swept a bronzing brush full of Clinique’s Superbalanced Powder Bronzer (RRP $65, on counter September 2) around the temples and below the cheek bones to create some cat-like definition.

Back to the Fifties with FitHoop

By Tammi Ireland

There’s a new fitness tool on offer, and it has everyone in my – circle – excited! (See what I did there?)

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The FitHoop is a weighted hula hoop that comes in six different pieces, which you click together to form one large ring.  Slip it on your waste, swivel those hips, shake your hands in the air like you just don’t care, and – BAM – you’re working your abs with a giant smile on your face.

How To: Everyday Flawless Face

By Tammi Ireland

This winter, it’s time to get back to basics.  It’s cold out there and so makeup that covers, hydrates, stays put and gives a little glow is what you should be stocking up on.  Luckily, the makeup gurus have released some fabulous new on-counter products just in time for our Flawless Face check-list, below.  Read this ‘How To’, buy the new goods, and have your signature look down-pat before this week is out…

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Here’s what you need:

THE MEN’S ROOM: Trumpers Is Forever

By Mark Reed

The twin V2500-A1s barked instructions at the plane, bringing it to a halt on a cold, barely realised morning. It woke me suddenly. I thought of Tammi, and my promise to her: To write the review in the style of Ian Fleming. This would be an assignment like no other.

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Melbourne.

I was here for three days. Business and pleasure. While in town I would surround myself with friends old; new; and as yet unmet. Enjoy a match of the national game. Hear from an infamous artist.

I would have to look my best. Come Monday night, a shave was a must.

137 years ago, George Trumper opened a distinctive barber shop on Curzon St in Mayfair, London. Geo F. Trumper still stands today, offering cuts, shaves, and a line of shaving products consisting of all natural ingredients. High quality, old fashioned, yet also timeless and retaining a distinct class. The Sandalwood Skin Food and Limes Shaving Cream were about to be put through their paces.

Q&A with Nice’n Easy Colour Expert, plus Colour Blend Foam Review

By Tammi Ireland

When I dyed my hair back to its natural brown after years of balayage last December, to say I felt neutral about the results is an understatement. I was Switzerland.  What I wanted – although I didn’t know it until I dyed my hair last fortnight – was a deep brown, sexy, solid colour.  Balayage was over in my book, and I wanted to look smouldering – Angelina Jolie/Anne Hathaway style.

Thankfully, that’s when I got the opportunity to chat with Clairol Nice’n Easy’s colour expert Belinda Jeffrey, as well as a shot to try out the new Clairol Nice’n Easy Colour Blend Foam in ’4 Dark Brown’.

First – the hair:

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COMPETITION: Win A Copy of Rae Morris’ TIMELESS MAKEUP

By Tammi Ireland

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Rae Morris is God-like in the makeup industry. Her experience and brand have grown bigger than many other makeup artists out there, and it’s always a pleasure when we see one of her informative, easy-to-follow How To books hit the shelves.

This year, Timeless Makeup was released.  Inside you’ll find photographs of Australian personalities like Kylie Gillies and Gail Elliot modelling Rae’s best tips for looking and feeling your best.

This book is phenomenal for all ages, and I truly recommend you pick one up for your mum this Mother’s Day.  It goes through all ages, explaining the tips and tricks needed to look youthful at any age.  Other features include eye colour wheels, matching makeup to your hair and an introductory explanation as to how you age.  I’d go as far as to say Timeless Makeup is a must for all women who own any piece of makeup (is this everyone?)

WIN 

Rae Morris and Allen and Unwin have kindly donated three copies of Timeless Makeup for Coveted Canvas to give away to lucky readers.  

To enter, simply email tammi.ireland[at]live.com describing in 25 words or less your favourite makeup trick.  Don’t forget to include your full name and postal address.

Competition ends April 20, 2012 11.54PM AEST.

London Fashion Week: Backstage with House of Ernest

By Nakia McDonald from House of Ernest

Sebastian at London Fashion Week

The 4am alarm clock goes and you are with your session kit and the taxi to arrive for 5am. Arriving at the shows can be so daunting, terrifying and overwhelming.  The only way to approach is to get on with it! Roll up your sleeves and introduce yourself and start prepping the 20-30 girls in front of a star-studded and fashion forward editors.

Head session stylist will have oftened work closely with designer’s months before to create the perfect beauty and to complete their collection.

On the day the backstage of a catwalk show can be described as organised mayhem.  High energy, adrenaline frenzy, with all models lined up and in a very limited amount of time.  Depending on the venue a designer chooses, a grand historical setting to a narrow corridor in hotel. Whatever the facilities working behind the scenes at the shows are an experience for any stylist.  It’s always fast paced!  The show for Sebastian was 10 models and three hairstyles for each one.

How To With House Of Ernest: Top Knot

By House of Ernest lead long hair artist, Joshua Congreve

We’re lucky to have House of Ernest, Perth, on hand to show us how to get the best looks and report back on all the fashion shows happening in the exciting corners of the world!  First up, the salon’s lead long hair artist Josh shows us how to create the Top Knot – one of our editor’s favourite looks.  Hairdressing for 8 years, Josh has worked with various magazines for their covers and with celebrities including Kelly Rowland and Carson Cressley, and is currently preparing a trip to Sydney to put on a show to inspire other Hairdressers at the Sydney Hair Expo.  We hope to catch up with him when he’s here!

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HERE’S HOW:

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Step 1: Bring hair into a high ponytail on the top of you head, being sure to smooth the hair on your scalp into the pony.

THE MEN’S ROOM: Dry Shampoo for Festival Season

By Mark Reed

Summer; It’s the festival season. If you plan in advance, you could almost spend every weekend between now and March and some gathering of musicians or another. The heat, the smells, the crowds, the questionable sound quality, tall people, people who spend $160 on a ticket to a festival just to be seen there, don’t know any acts, and then plonk a further $180 down on drinks in the alcohol enclosure, blissfully unaware that they deprived a music buff of a ticket to this now sold out venture, the queues for the “toilets” so long they’re visible from space… I do it every year, and against all expectations, I love it.

Until a few years ago, festivals in Australia were overwhelmingly single day affairs. With Southbound, and July’s Splendour In The Grass, we’re moving towards a multi-day, european model.

That means camping. If you thought the smells were bad at a one day event…