The best reviving treats for eyes...

It’s no secret that the eye area is incredibly fragile and shows signs of lifestyle and ageing well before any other area of the face. Give your eyes some intensive TLC, plus a healthy dose of hydration, with our pick of the most effective eye care…

Kiehl’s Cryste Marine Firming Eye Treatment

Refresh, hydrate and firm with the help of Kiehl’s high-performance botanical formula, ideal for super sensitive eyes that are in need of soothing care. The key ingredient in the treatment is Padina Pavonica, an extract from the protective coating surrounding brown algae, sourced from the Mediterranean Sea; this helps to dramatically improve elasticity and tone, while vitamins C and E soften fine lines and promote cell turnover. Criste Marine (another type of sea algae), is added for its antioxidant and rejuvenating properties, and caffeine assures enhanced brightness and vitality, while banishing that dreaded puffed effect. Simply pat the luxurious cream along the contour, using light pressure.

Aromatherapy Associates Rich Repair Eye Cream

The perfect remedy for extremely dry and parched eyes, Aromatherapy Associates’ rich treatment contains nourishing pure plant extracts and essential oils to plump the eye area and intensively replenish lost moisture. Rose and Frankincense work to lift and tighten the skin, stimulating blood circulation, while honey and Sodium Hyaluronate (a form of vegetable pulp), hydrate the target area, aiding the skin to retain moisture naturally. There are anti-ageing benefits too, as oligopeptides increase the release of collagen, leaving skin beautifully plump and youthful.

Anatomicals Eye Cream You Scream, We All Scream For Eye Cream

If you are looking for a fuss-free, uncomplicated eye treatment, suitable for everyday both morning and night, look no further than Anatomicals’ wonderfully effective and super economical regenerating eye cream. This gentle cream is great for normal skin types, and anyone looking to protect and hydrate the under-eye area – without any specific concerns.  The formula effectively balances moisture levels and addresses the first signs of ageing, including fine expression lines. We’ve found that the results are as refreshing as the quirky name…

Elemis Pro-Collagen Intense Eye and Lip Contour Cream

Lifestyle factors and enivironments that put the skin under stress all result in dull, dry eyes and premature ageing – think air condtitioning, sun exposure, prolonged computer use and smoking. The same factors can affect the delicate lip area too. Luckily for us, the skin care experts at Elemis have formulated this multi-use wonder cream to combat the dreaded lines we all want to erase or prevent. A combination of active plant cells, including Mafane Flower, Edelweiss and Wheat Amino Acid strengthen collagen fibres and protect the skin cells, allowing it to regain density, while hydrating and smoothing.

The Body Shop Elderflower Cooling Eye Gel

For those who favour a more lightweight texture, choose this cooling gel to awaken the eyes, first thing in the morning. The enlivening formula immediately gives a wide-eyed look, perfect to fake others into believing you’ve enjoyed eight, blissful hours of sleep. Although dark circles appear lessened with regular use, we particularly rate this product for its refreshing benefits. For an extra zing, try storing the gel in the fridge to enjoy a more intense, cooling sensation. Excellent for hay fever sufferers, too.

Luxe natural skincare meets high-tech

It’s very rare that I’ll brave being seen in public without a scrap of make-up on, particularly after a facial when there can be some post-scrub, mask and massage blotchiness. But having put my face in the hands of a skilful beauty therapist at the Mandarin Oriental spa in Knightsbridge to experience their new anti-ageing treatment, the Aromatherapy Associates Aroma Lift Facial, I’ve found the unquestionable exception.

Bedecked with delicate orchids, the surroundings of the Knightsbridge hotel’s spa are an apt setting for the luxury natural skincare company, but the twist is that this facial brings electric micro-currents to the party to amp up (excuse the pun) the toning and tightening effects.

The treatment starts with a standard cleanse, followed by the application of an exfoliating mask packed with natural pineapple and passionflower acids to gently slough away dead skin cells so that the potions and lotions which follow can penetrate skin more effectively. Next comes Aromathrapy Associates’ firming serum which allows the fine rods that conduct the current to glide over easily over the skin while the charge pushes it deep into the top layers where it tightens and plumps. Unlike old-school machines that use electric currents, this one won’t cause skin to tingle; instead it feels cooling and with the therapist’s fairy-light touch, gently calming.

There’s a trio of different movements employed using the rods: the first two work in lines over the skin to boost circulation and increase radiance, then to encourage the lymph glands to drain, de-puffing the contours of the face. The final movement is aimed at ‘lifting’ the muscle – think pinching the fattier parts of your face gently between two chopsticks and you wont be too far off the mark. A final application of hydrating gel manually massaged in leaves skin feeling warm and glowing but icy to touch – the symbiotic effects of simultaneous radiance boosting and complexion calming. And a cursory glance in the mirror reveals that my complexion looks perfectly plump and even, with not a fine dehydration line in sight.

It’s not the most pampering experience, although a post-facial chill out in the relaxation room with fragrant jasmine tea and ginger oat biscuits so good I bagged one to eat later, certainly elevate the indulgent element. Facing the street and journey home, I skipped the usual touch-up with foundation and cream blush in favour my complexion’s new found natural perfection.

At home, my flatmate tells me I look like I’ve had a week of great sleep (take note anyone with a wedding dress or big night out on the cards) and 24 hours later I was amazed at the difference – no lines around my eyes, all signs of dark circles banished, plus lifted and more defined cheekbones. Sometimes the best things come to those who wait…

For more information and to book, see The Mandarin Oriental’s website, or check on the Aromatherapy Associates site for treatments near you.

Bedecked with orchids, the surroundings of the Mandarin Oriental's spa are an apt setting for the luxury natural skincare company

A luxe selection of treats from Glossybox

The thrill of receiving parcels never really wears off, does it? And there’s nothing like arriving home to post you’re actually looking forward to – it might almost make you forget that your day in the office felt like spending eight hours running up the down escalator. Enter Glossybox; for a monthly fee, subscribers are delivered a chic pale pink box of beauty treats from luxury brands such as OPI, Illamasqua and NARS. Tearing off the delicate tissue paper, you’ll find a curated selection of five miniature products spanning skincare, body care, make-up, hair care and fragrance.

If you haven’t got time to spend browsing department stores and niche beauty boutiques, a Glossybox subscription provides an easy way to ensure you know about the latest products, plus the the sample size gives you the chance to try before committing to buy the full-size item. And the company guarantees that the box will always contain from high end brands – some of them household names, some new ones to discover. Once you’ve explored your package, you can head over to the Glossybox online magazine, where you’ll find tips and video tutorials on how to use your new products, as well as links to shop the brands included in the box.

Glossybox’s packages have previously included themed boxes such as the London Fashion Week box, and thanks to a collaboration with Harrods, a box containing a collection of  products hand-picked by the luxe department store’s beauty buyers. The most recent selection was inspired by natural beauty and Earth Day on April 22nd, containing goodies from ethical, sustainable and organic brands including Caudalie and Burt’s Bees.

You can order a Glossybox subscription online here. Glossybox is also available across Europe in Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Glossybox’s Smoky Eyes tutorial

Our edit of the essential styling products

With so many new weird and wonderful hair styling products on the market, it’s tricky to fathom what basic products you need to keep your hair in tip top condition. First and foremost – it’s worth investing in a good hairspray which can make or break a style, together with a decent hardworking serum to add shine and prevent static. Together, these can help prevent environmental effects like humidity, wind and rain from spoiling your carefully crafted ‘do’. For our pick of other products to banish bad hair days, read on…

Sebastian Professional Re-Shaper Hairspray

A seriously flexible hairspray, with great holding power, this can be used for two consecutive days without leaving any yucky residue or creating that dreaded “crispy” texture. The Sebastian Professional Re-Shaper Hairspray is easily brushed out, so you can get creative and experiment without worrying about product build-up. It manages to provide reasonable hold for several hours without leaving the hair like concrete – although if you apply it first thing in the morning you might want to top up later on in the day. This product is great to spray on before plaiting and braiding the hair to avoid any wispy, flyaway hairs.

Oribe Après Beach Wave and Shine Spray

A beach holiday must-have, the latest offering from luxury brand Oribe contains plant extracts and nourishing oils, and makes dry, parched hair sleek and chic while protecting it from the elements. The Beach Wave Complex also provides a light hold, so you can use it sparingly to add a dash of volume and texture, or go a step further for a full-on wet look. If you feel brave enough to emulate this season’s drenched hair that was all over the spring/summer catwalks, this is a great product to get started with.

Kerastase Elixir Ultime

When you’ve just washed and blow-dried your hair, this will give your locks a much-needed dose of shine to prevent any frizz. Unlike some oils that leave tresses clumpy and greasy, this (used sparingly) delivers just the right amount of shine that doesn’t push hair over the tipping point and make it look like it’s been rubbed with chip paper! Enriched with four oils including nourishing argan oil, it can also be used before blow drying as a leave-in conditioning treatment.

Batiste Dry Shampoo

The original and still the best – when you’ve been out on the town and skipped “hair wash night” this will bring it back from the brink, giving the scalp a cool, fresh feeling without leaving any dreaded white powdery residue. It’s ideal for festivals, long car journeys and busy weeks when you don’t have a minute to spare. Just tip your head forward, aim the can a good half a metre away from your head and spray through the roots, tousling it through to the ends.

Bumble & Bumble BB Styling Crème

This clever little bottle is dual-purpose – it can be used to hold a style in place, for a slick bun or pony tail, or can add a bit of texture to very short or cropped hair (so you may want to hide it from any men in the house.) However, it really excels when used on wet hair before blow drying to add volume and keep frizzy hair slick and straight. Otherwise it can be applied beforehand to allow your curls to stay curly, and can also add a touch of volume to wispy flyaway hair before drying it with a diffuser.

 The gorgeously sensual beachy look with Oribe’s Après Beach Wave and Shine Spray

Astalift's hero product, Jelly Aquarysta

Think Fujifilm, and an international company renowned for its contribution to the photography and imagery world comes to mind. So the news that the brand had branched out into beauty, with anti-ageing skincare range Astalift, came as quite a surprise.

Delve further into the details of Fujifilm’s 70+ years of scientific research and technology, and its expansion into beauty seems a more natural one. The company has been harnessing the preserving and protecting qualities of collagen and antioxidants in its photographic film since 1934, as a way of preventing images from the colour fade which happens as a result of the oxidation generated by UV rays. As we know, the same rays and free radicals we are exposed to daily, weaken the collagen and elastin in our skin and result in visible damage such as dehydration, fine lines, dullness, blemishes, sensitivity, sagging and age spots. Fujifilm has applied this knowledge to Astalift, a range which claims to restore and maintain skin’s luminosity through the repair of UV damage and protection from future exposure to UV rays.

Already one of Japan’s leading beauty brands since it launched in 2007, the 12-piece collection rolls out across Europe this spring. It features oil and foam cleansers, primers, moisturisers, serums, eye creams and sun protection, each one boasting the delicious, comforting scent of damask rose, and designed to be used independently or together to either ‘Purify’, Renew’ or ‘Regenerate’, using a combination of antioxidants and various collagens throughout.

The wonder key ingredient used throughout the range, one that positions Astalift as a real contender in the premium anti-ageing skincare market, is astaxanthin, a natural, coral-coloured antioxidant which comes from marine algae sourced from the Mediterranean sea bed, and is an impressive 1,000 times more powerful than Vitamin E and CoQ10. Although long known for its repairing and protective properties, until now astaxanthin has proven impossible to incorporate into beauty products, whilst at the same time maintaining its effectiveness. An issue Fujifilm overcame by combining their decades of scientific research with patented ‘infinitesimal’ nanotechnology. The result is a highly concentrated skin-plumping ceramide-rich formula, which is absorbed quickly into the deeper layers of the skin.

Astalift’s champion product is the unique Jelly Aquarysta which in clinical trials saw 95% of women reporting more luminous skin after 28 days of morning and night application. Designed to be used before cleansing and moisturising, the product’s jelly consistency gives a pleasingly cool sensation, sinks in easily, and leaves skin incredibly soft and instantly more radiant. A twice-daily recommended pearl-sized amount, portioned easily with the accompanying mini plastic spatula, would see a 40g pot last approximately three or so months, helping to ease the gulp from the recommended price tag. That said, if the claims are true, then in my opinion it’s a small price to pay.

Another product I would invite back for a permanent slot on my beauty shelf is the Complete Make-up Remover Oil from the Purity range, which makes very light and speedy work of removing the day’s make-up and city grime. My only gripe with the latter is the un-lockable dispenser which means that it’s not suitable for travel purposes.

With such impressive scientific evidence and glowing results I’ve seen from the short time I’ve trialled it, Astalift has all the makings of a future ‘cult beauty’ product. Its only challenge may be convincing the public that Fujifilm is much more than just a photographic company.

You can find out more about the range on Astalift’s website.

How to use Astalift’s Jelly Aquarysta

Ellis Faas' irresistibly pretty Spring Set

Before we’re seduced by summer’s sultry tones and tropical brights, we’ll happily take a little time to flirt with spring’s subtle shades, offering an easy way to freshen up your make-up and fall in love with some pretty new colours. Whereas heatproof textures and colours to offset a sunkissed glow are de rigueur during summer months, products for spring are all about a lighter, more luminous look.

Running in Heels’ favourite make-up artist Ellis Faas never fails to knock our socks off with her innovative, creative products and the Spring Gift Set is no exception. Featuring three beauty treats hand-picked to satisfy mid-season cosmetics cravings, the set is presented in irresistibly chic packaging that just begs to be shown off and take pride of place on your dressing table.

Faas has selected three colours to suit eyes and lips, which used in combination offer a beautifully polished, understated look for spring. Smoky eye devotees will adore the taupe-accented parma violet shade – Creamy Eyes E106 – a liquid eyeshadow which glides on smoothly to create a long-lasting finish. It’s a refined colour and perfect for day wear – add a slick of dark liner to up the ante come evening, along with a flash of Light E304, a softly shimmery lilac shadow that’s sophisticated rather than girly.

Finish the look with a wash of velvety Milky Lips L207,  which marries pink and nude tones resulting in an illuminating hue to enhance natural lip colour. Spring is most certainly here.

The Ellis Faas Spring Gift Set is available to buy online here.

Adjust make-up to work with your glasses

A few weeks ago, my optician informed me that I had to give my eyes a ‘day off’ from my contact lenses and wear my glasses for one day a week. Upon hearing this damning verdict, my heart sank; being incredibly vain, and having had to wear glasses since the age of two, I’ve always hated them, and signed up for contact lenses as soon as I hit 16. Admittedly, some people look stunning in glasses – they have the face shape and cheekbones to carry them off. I unfortunately don’t, so I have to be careful with what make-up I wear. On the rare occasions I do wear glasses, I usually sport a bright red lippie, hoping that it will attract attention away from the specs. Plan B? Follow some simple tips from the experts to adjust how you wear make-up to work with your specs.

For Daniel Sandler, make-up artist and founder of his own cosmetics line, it’s about working with the type of frames you have. “If your frames are large then avoid heavy eye make-up, but opt for a bold lip so that you don’t seem completely make-up free. For smaller graphic shaped frames, keep smoky eyes well defined, but then go easy on a strong mouth as the eyes will be the main focus.” But for Sandler, it’s the lashes you need to pay special attention to. “I would say not to overdo mascara or false lashes as these can rub against the lenses if you wear your glasses quite high on the bridge of your nose. Also, a little humidity can build up behind lenses, so wear long-lasting, waterproof formulas.”

Beauty entrepreneur and artist Bobbi Brown – best known for her trademark tortoiseshell specs – suggests adapting your make-up to your lenses. “If your prescription makes your eyes look bigger, use a light hand, and be sure to blend everything carefully – the last thing you want is to magnify any mistakes. For shadows, go with neutral shades like my Gold Nugget Sparkle Eye Shadow. Liner should be delicate and thin, with one coat of mascara to open up the eyes. If your glasses make your eyes look smaller, be sure to line your eyes all the way around. Use a liner that is darker than your natural eye colour to create contrast, which will help define the eyes.”

Make-up artist Zoe Walters has this advice. “If you’re a statement glasses wearer, go for a strong bold eye but steer clear of going too dark and avoid blending up to the eyebrow – stick to just above the socket bone. Highlighting the inner eye and under the eyebrow will create a really polished look.” But what about those (like yours truly) who would rather draw attention away from their glasses? “If you feel self-conscious about wearing glasses, opt for a subtle clean look, nothing heavy or bold that will draw attention to the eye area. Choose subtle colours that complement the skin tone and eye colour, and use clump-free mascara such as Lash Power by Clinique in Chocolate Brown.  Where anyone has a hang up about something in their face or body, the idea is to draw attention to something they feel good about.”

Top Five Products for Glasses Wearers

● Illamasqua’s Intense Lip Gloss in Façade – Brown ‘nineties’ lips are definitely having a moment, and this densely pigmented, cocoa brown lip gloss makes thin lips look fuller, deflects attention away from heavy frames and is more wearable during the day than a statement red.

● NARS Ramatuelle Trio Eyeshadow – Ideal if your eyes are magnified by your specs, NARS’ latest eye trio is ridiculously easy to wear. The silver and icy peach shades in the palette delicately highlight the eye, while the apricot shade provides subtle definition – resulting in a polished look that’s a fresh, more subtle alternative to a harsh smoky eye.

● New CID Cosmetics i-glow Shimmer Powder in Coral Crush – A blusher and highlighter in one, this marble pink and gold powder provides a beautiful shimmer to cheekbones. Plus if you feel like your bold frames make your jawline look heavier, this will counterbalance the effect.

● Daniel Sandler Long-Lasting Waterproof Eyeliner in Green Velvet  – Great for adding definition if your glasses make your eyes look smaller. The waterproof formula means it’s less likely to smudge when humidity builds up behind lenses, and the vivid green colour makes it less ageing than black, but more interesting than brown.

● Shiseido Eyelash Curler – Few things are more annoying to a glasses wearer than having mascara smears on the inside of their lenses. But rather than forgo it altogether, these babies give lashes a much-needed spring in their step so that you don’t have to go overboard on the mascara afterwards.

Our essential make-up products for glasses wearers from NARS, Shiseido, Daniel Sandler, Illamasqua and New CID Cosmetics

A discreet spa in the heart of Chelsea

Herewith the details of a spa so discreet, the owners were reluctant to put up a sign. Vivify Beauty is a new addition to Chelsea Cloisters, an apartment block on Sloane Avenue which also houses Barts, a speakeasy-style bar frequented by young royals with a penchant for mango martinis.

Previously operating as a middle-of-the-road beauty and hair salon catering to the time-poor residents of the building, the tiny space has been given some TLC by Lithuanian spa goddess Inga Dociute and was fully reincarnated in January as Vivify Beauty. I’m pleased to report this bijou new salon is quite the image of its owner: bright, shiny and radiating confidence. Not many spas can carry off a black and orange colour scheme. But don’t be put off.

With just three treatment rooms and a small staff of experienced therapists, the emphasis is on keeping things personal – as Inga says, with a knowing smile, “if people want things done a certain way, we can do it.” Somehow I get the feeling she is referring to bikini lines.

No special requests on my part though. I’m booked in for a full body aromatherapy massage and an Environ Ionzyme DF Vitamin facial. Fouzia, my learned Moroccan masseuse works on all my niggles and aches with expertise that only comes from years of pummelling a variety of shapes and sizes, and I’m delighted to discover that as a new mother I am in safe hands. She has a natural gift with pregnant ladies and post-baby bodies.

Afterwards, Santa (yes, really) promises to deliver the ultimate gift: erasing my frown lines. Her command of an Ionzyme DF machine is second to none. The machine works by running pulses of electric current across the skin to open pores which allow the skin to soak up every ounce of precious goodness in Environ’s vitamin-based cream which is applied afterwards. Said cream contains none other than mammalian colostrum. Yes, colostrum, the ‘liquid gold’ babies get from their mothers in the first precious hours of life. This vitamin-rich formula serves to stimulate collagen and elastin production and feed the skin.

As Santa gets to work, the sensation is of a pinprick moving across the skin. It isn’t painful but it isn’t pleasant either. However the results are excellent, especially for hard-to-budge frown lines, smile lines and sun damage. Plus you’re left with none of the redness or rawness that come with peels or microdermabrasion. According to Santa, it’s best to have twice-weekly treatments, then after 24 treatments, just one visit per month should suffice. The mind boggles as to how incredible my skin might look on such a programme.

Of course you can also get a wax, manicure or spray tan at Vivify, and make-up is on hand if you need a retouch before venturing back out onto the streets of Chelsea. After all, you just never know who you might bump into coming out of Barts…

For more information and to book, see the Vivify Beauty website.

With just three treatment rooms and a small staff of experienced therapists, the emphasis is on keeping things personal...

Lauder's milestone in makeup technology

“Are you wearing foundation?” asks a well-seasoned beauty PR as I sit down to breakfast meeting with her. “Your skin looks amazing but I can’t tell if you’ve got one on or not,” she mulls.

Technically the answer to her question is yes. However, so advanced is their new foundation that Estee Lauder have decided not to label it as such but are instead referring to is as ‘fluid make-up’. And I – and my PR friend – can see why. Rather than sitting on the skin like a traditional foundation, it creates a kind of virtual complexion that looks just like your own, only better.

This milestone in make-up technology came about after Lauder conducted worldwide ‘foundation sensoriums’ – research groups of women aged 25 to 35 who have different demands than previous generations did. A combination of better skincare and the knowledge of how health and lifestyle affect their complexion mean that today’s savvy beauty shoppers today don’t want to cover up their skin, but instead have an almost undetectable fluid that makes the skin look more perfect.

After being tasked to come up with a new formula with would meet these challenges, the R&D team at Lauder has launched Invisible Fluid Makeup, which has offers a clever blend of solutions. Using a new, patented technology called IntuiTone, the colour pigments work with the skin’s natural undertones so that it instantly adapts to exactly match your own unique colouring and stop the face looking flat. It also has colour-correcting technology that works with light to absorb, reflect and refract it. So whether you’re in daylight, candlelight or the spotlight, the formula can become lighter, darker, cooler or warmer – just like adjusting the contrast on your TV.

The fluid itself glides on, needs next to no blending and feels as feathery as air – partly because it’s so sheer and partly because it contains tiny air particles that create a fresh looking lightweight finish when you shake it up before applying.

Professionally, I’m convinced; personally, I’m hooked. And after finally ‘fessing up to my PR friend after an hour of denying wearing any foundation, I think she will be too.

Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup is available to buy online here.

Errol Douglas as photographed by Rankin

In the decades since he stepped into his first salon role at the tender age of 11, Errol Douglas MBE has tended to the tresses of many a celebrity and catwalk model, styling editorials and campaigns; scooping an impressive list of industry nominations and accolades along the way. When we stopped by the sleek award-winning Errol Douglas salon in London’s Belgravia, Errol was far from the diva one might anticipate; he’s a man passionate about his art, all too willing to share his fountain of knowledge on everything from combating static and helmut hair, to the latest hair trends. All the haircare questions you could ever want to ask? Here are some answers..

What key hair products should every woman have in her bathroom cupboard?

● A good everyday cleansing shampoo. Anything from the Biolage range, which is chemical-free and quite simple. The shampoos remove debris from the hair without stripping it.

● Every woman needs a good hairspray. I like L’Oreal Paris Elnett – I don’t care what anyone says, I think it’s fantastic. And you can get it in a useful handbag size too.

● Ultimately it’s not always about the products, every woman should have a good brush in their cupboard. By brushing the hair you’re conditioning it, people think that if you brush the hair too much, you’re going to make it greasy, that’s a lie. Invest in a real brush with natural bristles; they always give the best results (we suggest trying Mason Pearson).

● A good mousse. I recommend the one from the Matrix Biolage Volume range. What’s good about it is it acts as a root buffer. Most mousses tend to go from the mid-hair to the ends, but this one is designed to support the roots and then work down, so it’s fantastic.

● Moroccanoil Treatment – What’s great about the oil is that you can add to hair both damp and dry before styling. The biggest factor to consider though with this product is that the smallest amount is required. Tiny. I can’t stress this enough. Less is very definitely more here.

Do you think that organic products are better than traditional ones?

Organic products are very good for countering the effects of hard water and product build-up in hair, whilst traditional products and advancement in technology makes them very effective. It’s about balancing the two.

Should we really brush our hair 100 times a day?

No, when it comes to brushing, it’s not how many times, it’s how you brush it. Keep to a very smooth movement, don’t brush forward or back; use smooth  strokes straight down, not out. Brushing out causes static.

What’s your tip for combating knots?

Spray leave-in conditioner into your hands, rub between your palms, and then take it through your hair when it’s dry – if you spray it directly on to your hair, all your hair is going to do is fall. (we’ve tried this a few times since and it really does work!). To help prevent static, avoid acrylic brushes, brushing outwards and washing your hair every day, as it strips the hairs natural oils; instead, if you need to re-style, just rinse through with water.

Are in-salon conditioning treatments really worth it – or can you get the same results at home?

In-salon treatments are more potent, and combined with dry or steam heat are really effective – following up in between at home with the right product is a great habit to adopt in between salon visits.

What are your tips for getting great hair on a budget?

Make sure you’re using the right amount of product, don’t overdo it, so it lasts longer. Also, for a cheap and effective homemade hair mask, mash up a ripe avocado, mix with mayonnaise – just enough to create an easy to spread consistency – apply to hair and leave on for 20 minutes before rinsing clean. (Errol was horrified at the suggestion of getting less frequent hair cuts as a way of saving money, stressing the importance of healthy hair)

What’s your best advice for treating damaged hair?

Go for a monthly in-salon Keratin treatment, which is blow dried in to condition the hair and restore the protein, which is broken down through UV exposure, chemicals and heat styling. Anything from the Kerastase treatment range is also great, as these  products replace protein and moisture, and can be used when you’ve got time at home. Or if you’re at the gym, put a mask on your hair and sit in the sauna – the dry heat opens up the pores and lets the oil in – then rinse your hair with cool, not cold, water to seal the cuticles and create shine.

How often should you really wash hair?

Every two to three days.

In his award-winning salon in London’s Belgravia, Errol Douglas tends to all hair types, creating styles to suit every individual

What styling tips would you give for people with Afro hair?

Make sure the hairstyles you’re trying to achieve are tailored to you and not too European, as sometimes, the looks people want to attain are impossible. Go for regular blow dries and make sure you know the shape of your hair when getting it cut. Don’t go for anything too blunt or add too many products, as it’ll cause build up and make your hair feel congested. Look for styles that are low maintenance; you need a style you can get up and go with. If your hair’s shorter, a short crop all the way around will create movement and shape. For longer hair, go for chunky layers. You have to cut Afro hair with purpose, adding some obvious, visible layers. And, if you put your hair up, opt for bold hairstyles.

What is the quickest, simplest way to transform a basic daytime look for the evening?

● Long hair – go for a textured up style. Wet hair, coil the ends and wrap kitchen foil around them, and then dry with a hair or hand dryer. Leave to cool down, then loosely take the hair up. If you have a parting, you can keep to it, but loosely take it up the hair from the front (sweeping with your fingers), tie it with a hair bobble, then pin the ends with grips, to create a loose, relaxed up-do. Depending on your face, shape pin the hair looser or tighter.

● Short hair – what really looks nice is to emphasise the parting, by pinning it simply with a decorative clip. What also always looks good is a quiff. To do this, tip your hair upside down, shake it a bit, and rub hairspray in to the roots to make it stand up, then turn your head upright, spray again and mould it in to a quiff.

What’s your quick tip for cyclists to transform helmet hair after a morning commute?

Tip your head upside down and blast hair with the toilet’s hand dryer and stimulate the roots, flattened by the helmet, by gently rubbing and lifting the hair with a natural paddle brush. It’s the quickest way to create quick volume without backcombing.

What’s your tip for adding volume to thin hair?

There are lots of ways you can do it; put bend in your hair, by putting in some Velcro rollers or ragging the hair, a texture which is coming back in again. What also works 100% is plaiting the hair, applying a mousse with volume first – don’t use oils on your hair if you want volume as it just won’t happen. Stay away from firm hairsprays to hold your style, as they make the hair crunchy. Hairspray must be used in moderation – spray and walk in to it, don’t spray it directly on the hair.

What advice would you give to someone seeking a drastic change, but unsure of what would suit them?

If you don’t know what look you want, it’s best to create a mood book. Be wary of style books, instead shop around lifestyle magazines, taking a tiny bit from celebrities, and make a mood board. Cut out bits of looks you like: fringes, ends/tops, colours, etc., then take the book along when you have a consultation with your stylist. A good consultation should be about 25 minutes to an hour, but make sure you have booked that time beforehand. Don’t sit in the chair with the gown on; you cannot get a true indication of how something is going to look with a gown on. The stylist should be taking into account what you’re wearing, and watching to see what you’re like – your mannerisms and stuff – from when you walk through the door, so you don’t end up with a look that doesn’t suit your personality. I would also really suggest that you make sure the hairdresser explains afterwards how to keep that style; otherwise you may not be able to create the look again at home.

Favourite upcoming hair trends?

The return to really defined fringes, as seen in my Purity Collection, is something I expect to see replicated on the high street in the next 12 months. There’s also strong return of beautiful crops with longer lengths on the top of the cut.  For long hair, think lots of invisible layers, a “not done, but done” look. At the salon our team – many of them colour masters – are also taking clients through bold colour transitions.

For more information on services and to book, see the Errol Douglas website.

The Purity Collection echoes Errol's trend predictions: 'defined fringes', 'invisible layers' and 'beautiful crops with longer lengths'