Express beauty treatments
express beauty treatments, beauty treatments, spa, spa treatements, eye brow threading, eyebrow threading
woman with groomed eyebrows and hair in a plait
Along with great weather (if we\'re lucky) summer also brings with it countless parties and impromptu get-togethers all of which involve having acres of flesh on show. It\'s the only time of year that demands you look your best 24/7 meaning plenty of time spent locked up in the bathroom. If you\'d rather be out making the most of the weather though instead of indoors preening there are plenty of great treatments that\'ll keep you looking polished and won\'t empty your wallet either. We tried and tested our way though five of the best treatments so you have a flawless and fun summer.
Glow Eyebrow Threading
\"I\'ve been attempting to grow out my eyebrows for the past year and have succeeded to some extent but have been left with a shapeless unkempt look that I was keen to rectify. When I visited the Glow salon area in House of Fraser\'s beauty department I was whisked into a chair before having a quick consult with threading expert Salma on the shape I wanted to achieve. After what seemed like a few seconds of relatively painless threading I was left with an incredible groomed shape that made my eyes look wide open and more youthful. Salma also suggested I tint my brows, something I had never considered before but after a few minutes of nervous waiting, I\'m glad I did. My brows were left a slightly darker shade which helped my hazel eyes really stand out and made my entire look appear more polished.\"
Time taken - 15 minutes.
Glow Eyebrow Threading (House of Fraser Oxford Street, Victoria, Richmond & Reading) £14
Shellac two-week manicure
pedicure,manicure,fake tan,Products on trial
Shellac long last two week manicure
"There has been a lot of buzz surrounding this new Shellac manicure so I was really keen to try it. It takes the same amount of time as a normal manicure but the paint lasts for up to 14 days - result! My nails were cleaned, filed, cuticles tidied, buffed and oiled before the Shellac polish was applied. David, my therapist applied a base coat then two coats of my chosen red paint (there are 12 colours to choose from) and a top coat. In between each coat my fingers had to go under the UV lamp for two minutes at a time to set. The finished look is a set of incredibly glossy nails (which are dry immediately) and a colour that really lasts. Day 15 and and still no chips. Amazing!"
Time taken - 45 minutes.
Shellac manicure or pedicure costs from £30. Find you nearest salon by calling 0845 210 6060. Our tester tried the Shellac Manicure in London at the Percy & Reed salon, W1. Call 020 7637 4634 for appointments.
OPI Verbena Pedicure
pedicure,manicure,fake tan,Products on trial
OPI nail polish
"It\'s been ages since my feet had any TLC so this new express OPI pedicure was sure to put an end to that. The huge array of OPI polishes mean that you are never disappointed with the selection of colours and you are always in safe hands with the well-trained therapists. Feet are soaked and then nails are filed and buffed, then your feet are scrubbed with the new Verbena exfoliator which is really soft yet effective (it\'s got the texture of sugar) and smells of tropical fruits. Finally, feet are then moisturised and massaged before your favourite colour is applied - I love the new collaboration between Shrek and OPI so I choose the lilac, Rumples Wiggin\' (£9.95 from counters nationwide). All the above is quick, easy, relaxing and gives great results. I will definitely go again."
Time taken - 30 minutes.
Nationwide from £20 a pedicure. Visit opi.com to find your nearest salon. The new Royal Verbena products start from £15.25, lenawhite.co.uk
He-Shi spray tan
pedicure,manicure,fake tan,Products on trial
He-Shi fake tan
"Like all good beauty junkies I shy away from the sun or at least slather on the SPF when I am in it so am always on the lookout for other ways to get an even, tanned complexion. I\'d never tried the He-Shi spray tan but had heard wonders about it so decided to strip off, don a pair of paper knickers and give it a go. I was surprised to find that the spray tan didn\'t actually smell like fake tan, it had more of a tropical aroma, great news considering I had to head back to work after my session. The finished look was flawless with an even, not too obvious tan that lasted for seven days. I\'d definitely recommend this if you\'re off on holiday, going to a special event, or just want to look naturally glowing."
Time taken - 25 minutes.
Prices vary around the country and according to the salon. Visit he-shi.co.uk to find your nearest salon.
Watch tanning guru Shelley McMurray show our model how to apply self tan to her body in several easy to follow steps.
Headmasters\' summer blow-dry
hairstyles,pedicure,manicure,fake tan,Products on trial
Headmasters\' summer blow-dry
"I always assume that trendy blow-dry bars only cater for long hair which is why I wanted to put this Headmasters plait-style updo to the test. Thankfully this updo doesn\'t need a wash and blow-dry (I was in and out in a speedy 20 minutes) in fact day-old hair is perfect. The stylist will adapt the style to suit your hair, so short hair can have this done too with the back pinned up as opposed to put in a bun. My layered bob was plaited on both sides and gripped up into a messy twist at the back for a summery finish. It was left textured and messy and survived that evening and the next day. Overall I was impressed and got lots of comments on my new updo (I rarely wear my hair up so it was a nice change) which would be perfect for a festival weekend or a wedding."
Time taken - 20 minutes.
From £24, hmhair.com
