If I’ve realised one thing in isolation, it is this: when I said “I’d do it if I had the time” – about learning French, selling stuff on Depop, pickling some cabbage – I was lying. I’ve been isolating for 4 weeks and have I learnt any French? Non. Did I delete the Duolingo app from my phone to free up more storage for hair inspo pics? Oui. Here’s the coolest styles I’ve saved, ready for when isolation ends. By Beth Ludolf

Everyone seems to be spending so much time in the kitchen. Instagram is full of home-baked goods and Zoom cook-offs (plus, I’m averaging about 14 trips to the fridge a day – you know, to get my step count up). While I don’t have the patience to nurture a sourdough starter (it’s literally needier than a newborn?), I’ve always got time for DIY face masks so I was pretty excited when Ashanti, Beauty Director of Ashanti Treatment Rooms, gave us the lowdown on the beauty heroes we’ve all got in our kitchens. By Beth Ludolf

DIY beauty treatments are split into two categories; there’s the fun stuff – face masks, nail art and the likes – and then there is the serious stuff. The high-risk, I-literally-can’t-f***-this-up stuff. Eyebrows are definitely the latter (I remember what I did to them in 2008 – never again). Luckily, we’ve got brow master, Shavata, to guide us. By Beth Ludolf

Lash extensions hanging on for dear life? Infills aren’t an option right now but – repeat after me – that doesn’t mean you should pull them out. It’s sacrilege for your natural lashes and we’re not meant to be touching our face, remember? Besides, it’s so easy to remove them properly. By Beth Ludolf

A massage (by a professional) is one of life’s greatest pleasures but with salons currently closed, that pleasure is going to have to wait. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean your muscle tension will too. Here’s a few techniques self-massage techniques that will help (we’re not saying it will be as relaxing though). By Beth Ludolf

Whether you’re self-isolating or social distancing, we’re all united in one thing; the new normal. We commute to our “offices” by merely walking downstairs, we go for a drink with our mates via Facetime and that religious 6-weekly hair appointment? Well, that’s on hold for now. Don’t worry though – it turns out grown-out roots actually look pretty great. Salon-fresh is unbeatable (obviously), but there’s something really cool about grown-out roots. They give your hair *that* effortless, worn-in look that everyone always talks about. Dial it up with “undone”, messy styling (ask yourself, “what would Blondie do?”). Not the grungey…

Not having enough time is probably the number one excuse for not cleaning your makeup brushes as often as you should, right? Well, there’s no time like the present (especially when you’re in isolation). Here’s everything you need to know. By Beth Ludolf

The world is a pretty scary place right now – and this time, we can’t just go to the pub and wait for it all to blow over. If you’re not already isolating, it’s likely you will be soon and, let’s be honest, it’s not going to be easy. Remaining positive is key and, while we don’t expect anyone to relish isolation,  there are some (albeit small) wins, in your beauty routine at least. By Beth Ludolf

Washing your hands, the biggest trend of 2020, thanks to Coronavirus. It may be the most effective way to prevent spreading germs, but it’s a nightmare for your skin. When you’re frequently washing your hands, you strip the skin of its natural oils (same applies to your hair), which dries them out. Here are some things you can do – because cutting down on washing definitely isn’t an option. By Beth Ludolf

People keep saying that isolation is a good time for DIY and, seen as salons are shut for the moment, we agree (yes, beauty DIY counts). We’ve already divulged our tips for removing your gel mani at home and next up? Acrylic nails. By Beth Ludolf

Staying at home has its pros and cons. A pro: you can get your cost-per-wear down on *that* cashmere tracksuit you bought ages ago. A con: you can’t make your gel removal appointment. That’s not an excuse to pick them off, though. Here’s how to remove them at home, just like a nail technician. By Beth Ludolf

Right, I’ve made a decision and I’m putting it here in writing so I can’t go back on it; this is the year that I (finally) stop biting my nails and grow them. And that means they need to be healthy. I spoke to nail pro, Lauren Williams – Director of award-winning nail bar, London Grace – to find out how to get the strong, healthy nails of my dreams. By Beth Ludolf

Kat Stratford in 10 Things I Hate About You, Kiera Knightly in Love Actually, Bella Hadid in the front row. What do all of these women have in common? Unfathomable bone structure, yes, but also tendrils. “What on earth are tendrils?”, I hear you cry. They’re those two bits of hair left out of an up-do. Up-dos can look a bit pageant-queen if they’re too done, tendrils give more of an undone, effortless vibe. Playing with the thickness can also give totally different finishes. If you’re going full 90s throwback, keep them ultra-thin and poker-straight. If you want something softer, with all that…

You know when someone has really great hair? I mean the kind of hair that is so great that it doesn’t matter if the eyeliner they applied on the Piccadilly line is super wonky or if there’s toothpaste down their jumper, they still somehow look totally put together. Every single one of these people has had glossing (obviously I don’t know that to be true but I can’t think of a single other explanation). Let me present the facts. By Beth Ludolf

Hey Betty, I’ve just moved to London and I’ve heard the pollution can cause breakouts. What can I do to prevent them?  Ellie B, 25   Being exposed to pollution is (unfortunately) inevitable, especially if you live in a city. We often hear about the effect breathing in pollution can have on our overall health, but what about our skin? I consulted Victoria Schofield, educator at Dermalogica and expert in all-things-skin, “We’re seeing more and more research linking air pollution to skin damage as a result of the pollution particles entering the skin through our pores.”, she explains.   Healthy skin relies…

The year is 2009. Your parting is basically level with your right ear. Your sweeping fringe is enviable. You look in the mirror and backcomb your hair for the fifteenth time that morning. Life is good.  Ahh, hair trends. You have the power to make us do such questionable things. We talked to Senior Creative Director, Craig Taylor, and Senior Creative Colourist, Francesca Dixon, at Hari’s Salon about the styles cool people are wearing now. Spoiler alert: it’s not a massive side fringe. By Beth Ludolf

I’m not sure why but the word ‘layers’ sends shivers up and down my spine – and I don’t think I’m the only one. Take a look at 2019, for example. It was all about all-one-length blunt-cut bobs. In 2020? We’re making layers great again. Let me introduce you to The Shag. You’ll have seen it around – on cool girls, models, musicians (think Alexa Chung). The Shag is effortlessly cool, worn messy with lots of layers, choppy ends and a fringe. It’s the 70s in a haircut. There’s no one-size-fits-all with this one, your stylist can personalise it to suit your style. Try…

The idea of having someone else clean and scrub your body may feel a little strange but it’s been a part of Moroccan culture for hundreds of year. And things that have been around for that long tend to be pretty good, right? *Googles when wine was invented*. We spoke to Zara Williams from The Spa in Dolphin Square, London, about why everyone should try a hammam cleansing ritual. By Beth Ludolf

Cutting down’s rarely welcome. Food, beer, and now washing your hair. Turns out your daily hair wash shouldn’t actually be, well, daily. Just think of the money you’ll save on shampoo. Could spend it on that food and beer you’re cutting down on. By Beth Ludolf

There’s nothing more annoying than spending 3+ hours in the salon chair (and not to mention your hard-earned cash), for your colour to fade in a matter of weeks. The culprit? Well, it could be your shampoo. We spoke to Warren Boodaghian, Head of Technical at HOB Salons, who told us that the products you use before your appointment are just as important as afterwards. By Beth Ludolf

Let’s be honest, February is still pretty bleak. It’s absolutely freezing, it gets dark by 5 pm and summer is ages away. When it’s put like that, it’s no surprise that smiley face nails have become our newest obsession. The perfect antidote to doom and gloom. Yellow is the classic – think 80s acid house smiley – on a natural nail background (ideal for keeping your mani looking fresh too), but there really are no rules with this one. Loved the rainbow nails trend from last year? Get a different colour on every digit. Go with an accent nail if…

It’s a fact of life that good hair equals good mood - especially when you don’t have to lift a finger to create it. And that is why God created blow drys. If I was ever to win the lottery, I would get one every other day. Unfortunately, for now, I need to keep mine looking fresh for as long as humanly possible - here’s how. By Beth Ludolf

Hello, my name is Beth and I’m addicted to nail extensions. I’ve been getting acrylics and hard gel extensions non-stop for about two years so - as you can imagine - when I heard about Apres Gel-X extensions, the acrylic-alternative favoured by celebrities (dah-ling), I was itching to find out more. Luckily for you, I'm taking the liberty of passing it on - you're welcome.  By Beth Ludolf

After a lifelong pursuit of silky-smooth hair - and multiple fruitless attempts using various “frizz-free” hair masks - a few months ago, I finally bit the bullet and headed down to the salon for a keratin treatment. Granted, the immediate results were a dream (and a compliment-magnet), but I was sceptical whether it would be worth the hefty price tag. These are my thoughts a couple of months post-treatment. By Beth Ludolf