Whether your mum is the most glamorous woman you know, a wash-and-go lover or a seriously low maintenance kind of person, their beauty advice is often the first we hear (and the one we always refer back to. We asked a handful of beauty lovers to share the best advice they learnt from their mums. Listen and learn.

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

You’ve decided you want to change-up your hair. First step, done. Now what to go for?  Decisions, decisions. Trends are forever changing, and despite our plans for a dramatic transformation, we always seem to bottle it once we’re bound to the chair: ‘just a trim please’. When choosing your style, consider your face shape, hair type and how much time you’re happy to spend styling it… Remember, change is good, and hair grows back. Which haircut suits you? Let’s see. By Rachel Spedding

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

2019 was a pretty great year for beauty trends. We’ve relived the 90s, gone in on the glitter and rhinestones (thanks to Euphoria) and made our brows bushier than ever and 2020 is looking no different. We’ve lined up a whole host of emerging nail trends to start off the new decade the right way - with a fresh mani.  By Beth Ludolf

Some things are just inherently cool, like leather jackets, flat whites and those precarious little beanies that skaters wear. Take one look at Instagram and you’ll see that blunt-cut bobs are firmly in that category - especially when worn with said leather jacket and beanie.  Blunt bobs have a seriously effortless vibe to them but don’t be fooled; shorter doesn’t mean easier. Bobs are actually a lot higher-maintenance than long hair - tying it up is not an option and heat-styling and products are inevitable. While jawline-skimming cuts can accentuate your bone structure, for thicker hair, keep it a little…

Short hair is great, don’t get me wrong, but being able to do that thing where you leave your hair tucked into your jumper is so nonchalant and chic that I’m actually considering extensions for that reason alone. Extensions are great for changing up your hair - they can add length, thickness and allow you to experiment with cuts and colours without really doing anything to your natural locks. We’ve broken down five different types of extensions to help you pick the right one for you. By Beth Ludolf

Pre-2011, my eyebrows were the part of my body I thought about least - I’d pluck them (to near-baldness, according to my #10YearChallenge) and that was that. And then Cara Delevigne came along and eyebrows - and, more importantly, my lack of - bolted into my consciousness. Since then, I’ve grown them out, filled them in, waxed, tinted, threaded, all to mild success (the gauge of success is bushy-ness, in this case). Until now - enter, brow lamination.  By Beth Ludolf

I don’t know who needs to hear this but, put down the scissors. A DIY fringe will not solve your problems. Nor will bleach (trust me, accidental-orange hair is not good for the old stress levels). If you’re planning a drastic hair change, then do just that: plan it. And leave it to the experts, please. By Beth Ludolf

I’ve had a lifelong love affair with nail art. In my teenage years, I’d dip my nails in vodka and press newspaper on them. I was obsessed with the infamous Barry M crackle polish (not to mention carefully-dotted Tipp-ex polka dots). Nowadays, nail art looks a little more advanced. The breakout trend filling our feeds? Wave nails.  Wave nails combine bits of all the best nail trends we’re sporting at the moment. They’re like a softer take on geometric - fluid waves rather than straight lines - with all the colours of mismatch nails and the longevity of negative space…

Imagine a life without Google. No, seriously. Imagine not being able to find out who that-actor-in-that-film was or how long to boil an egg for by doing a quick search. I use Google multiple times a day, for everything from directions to beauty tips - and I’m not the only one. In 2019, there were 3.3 million beauty-related searches in Europe alone. What were people searching? Well, we’ve got the questions (and the answers). By Beth Ludolf

Pantone have called it, yet again; 2020’s colour of the year is *drumroll please* Classic Blue. The colour - which apparently instils calm and confidence (I’m listening) - has felt the love from fashion and interiors for a while now. And now it’s beauty’s turn. Let’s start at the top, shall we?  Blue hair is bold, obviously, and it can be hard to nail the shade. Unless your hair is almost white, the yellow undertones can tone the hair to green or turquoise, especially as the colour begins to fade. If you’re going for a pastel or true blue shade,…

Finding a new shade of nude nail is amazing, don’t get me wrong, but it’s bittersweet. It basically means the already-impossible task of choosing a shade is now even harder but I assure you, this time it’s worth it.  Milky nails are the new nude that everyone (include Lizzo) is wearing and we can see why. Milky nails are to winter, what opaque white nails are to summer - heavenly. The semi-translucent finish has a soft, dreamy look which is much less harsh than classic opaque shades.  Still not convinced? Take a look for yourself.  By Beth Ludolf

For eleven months of the year, I’m an all-black-everything kinda girl, but as soon as December rolls around I have an incessant need to put glitter on everything. If you don’t share this sickness (it really is a sickness) or ire on the side of understated – regardless what month it is – then I assure you, embracing sparkle doesn’t have to be maximalist. We’ve found a bunch of nail art designs that are equal measures festive and wearable – even if you’re a minimalist. An accent nail (usually on your ring finger) can spruce up even the simplest of…

Blues Navy, cornflower, classic baby blue; blues are noted for their calming and cooling effect. It’s been seen to lower blood pressure and heart rate. Breathe by Blu Cantrell makes so much more sense now. Reds Red is a colour of power that brings feelings of strength but this sultry shade also has a playful side. It’s said to have a physical trigger (rather than mental) why is why it’s used in traffic signs and romantic imagery. Yellows  The marmite of the colour wheel. While some of us find yellow bright and cherry, the high saturation of the colour can…

I recently calculated that I’ve spent around 26 days (!) of my life straightening my hair which, let me tell you, is not time well-spent. Firstly, there are much better ways to spend your time. Like going to the pub or watching Ru Paul’s Drag Race. Secondly, my hair is guaranteed to frizz if there’s any sign of humidity - or an ex in the vicinity (I swear, it knows). I’m talking bouffant. And not in a chic vintage way. By Beth Ludolf

sSome people recommend getting a massage twice a week and while that is a lovely thought - and genuine #lifegoals - these people clearly have a lot more money than me *sighs*. Whether you’re a once-a-week or once-in-a-blue-moon kinda person, here are some easy ways you can prolong that post-massage feeling. By Beth Ludolf