Beauty

Compiled by PHYL CLARKE

Good hair days

HEADMISTRESS

Award-winning stylist Janine Harper has had an accelerated rise to fame in the competitive world of hairdressing. Her talent was apparent when she qualified in just 18 months instead of the usual four years, and was appointed head of styling education at Toni Guy.

Harper has now branched out on her own and opened a salon in Glasthule, Co Dublin. Expect friendly professional service with top of the range L’Oréal products such as the Fiberceutic treatment, which has been described as Botox for hair, and the ammonia-free hair colour brand Inoa. The price for a blow dry starts at €25.

Harper Hair Salon, 2 Adelaide Road, Glasthule, Co Dublin, tel: 01-2301101

ALL-IN-ONE

I love the versatility of a product that can be used on either wet or dry hair and that’s only one of the features of Uniq One – an all-in-one hair treatment that claims a string of benefits including repair and protection, volume, silkiness and hold. It can be used on dry hair between washes to perk up your style, while UVA and B filters help prevent colour fade. It costs €15 at selected hair salons. Tel: 01-8869300 for stockists.

INSTYLE

It seems we can’t get enough of home-styling tools, but often they lie unused after the first flush of enthusiasm – too unwieldy, complicated or time consuming to bother your aching arms with. Step forward the InStyler, a new take on straightening, curling and polishing hair. The secret of its success is the two-in-one action of the bristle brush, which separates hair easily, while a heated rotating cylinder smoothes and styles. It’s particularly good for achieving soft waves on curly hair, creating volume and flicks. There’s an instructional DVD included, or you can check out some good demonstrations on youtube.com. It is exclusive to Boots, branches nationwide (€134).

I can’t live without . . .

DEARBHLA LENNON

Judge on TG4’s dancing competition

An Jig Gig

● YSL Touch Éclat When you burn the candle at every end, which I’ve been known to do, this is such a life-saver. It tends to make you look human on the outside, even when you’re not feeling it on the inside. I think it’s important to get the right shade though and not over do it, as it can leave you looking very white under the eyes if you’re not careful.

● Mascara Any brand. I’m using a Maybelline one at the minute (Great Lash, Blackest Black). It’s cheap & cheerful but any mascara opens up your eyes and again, makes you look more human than you feel. I don’t really have a favourite brand but am not keen on waterproof mascaras as they involve too much tugging at your eyes when trying to get it off at night.

● Bio-Oil I’m due my first baby in two weeks and so far not a single stretch mark. I’ve been using Bio Oil since the very start and I’m convinced that is what is doing the trick (although it could just be genes). I also use it after baths and it makes your skin just feel amazing.

Scent school

Investing in a new fragrance can be a) enjoyable (you instinctively know what you like); b) confusing (your nose can't differentiate after the first few); or c) frustrating (simply too much choice, ingredients and notes to take in). If any of the above sounds familiar, or you'd like to find out more about the fascinating world of perfumery, make a date with fragrance expert Joanna Norman who will be visiting the Chanel boutique in Brown Thomas for two days next week. Although No 5 is the most famous fragrance in the world, Norman will be focusing on the Les Exclusifs collection - a range of 12 historically fascinating and exotically named fragrances dating back to 1922. The latest addition to the collection is named for Coco Chanel's favourite fabric - jersey.

Each appointment is for two people, so you can bring along a pal to enjoy the experience of being guided through the elements and raw materials of fragrance to find your signature style of scent. Norman will be available on Friday and Saturday, November 25th and 26th. To book your complimentary appointment, tel: 01-6056799.

Graphic eyes

Behind the scenes at New York's autumn/winter shows, the make-up artists from Nars were creating their own trends for top names such as Marc Jacobs, Phillip Lim and Thankon. Director of artistry James Boehmer went for an edgy look with this colour pop eye for fashion brand Honor: "The look is punky, but with a romantic sensibility - a slight roughness mixed in with the glamour."