A NEW ERA IN HAIR STYLING

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the launch of the ghd eclipse, hosted by Showroom 22 at the Hilton's Bellini Bar.

A product more than three years in the making, the new stylers claim to be able to cope with any hair type in one stroke and achieve longer-lasting results all by themselves. No blowdrying, no product (save for a heat protectant), no fuss. 

The crux of the innovation is the patented tri-zone technology - a new generation of styling technology that uses six sensors (three in each plate) to ensure no heat loss during styling and an even distribution of heat when and where its required. This also ensures you get the optimum heat of 185 degrees at all times, which has been proven as the ideal temperature for best results.

Louise Sangster - Creme/Girlfriend and myself at the launch

So what do these innovations mean? You can take larger (and less precise sections) at a time, plus you only need to go through each section once. So you’re able to style faster with an improved finish and longer-lasting results. Sounds good so far. But the best news comes for people with completely unruly hair. 

Because the body of the stylers remains cool to the touch, it’s safer and easier to get right to the root of the hair to tame those annoying curly baby hairs without the risk of burning yourself. Plus the hair cools down faster, which helps to set the style how you want it to stay - great news for curl enthusiasts.

half the models hair was tamed using ghd eclipse

So is it worth the upgrade? For hair stylists or those with difficult hair types I would say this is worth looking into. It copes far better with a wider range of hair types and the styles last much longer. Fine hair, for example, which is notoriously prone to dropping curl quickly, holds the style (seriously, I tried this on my friend who has super fine hair and the curl held, no product). However, perhaps even more amazing is its use on thick frizzy african-american type hair, which ordinarily would need blow drying before running the ghds through. The eclipse can tackle this in one stroke, no problem. 

If you have a difficult hair type (fine, frizzy, thick, super curly) or you find your style just doesn’t last, then this is the styler for you. If you are blessed with easy hair then there’s great news for you too, as the ghd IV and ghd gold stylers are here to stay. So there’s a styler to suit all needs (and budgets).

ghd eclipse is available from April and retails for $350.

Jaime Ridge's Make Up

I was Jaime Ridge's make up artist during her reality show The Ridges which has just finished it's first (smash hit) season. I've had a tonne of requests asking how I did her make up and it managed to last during her boxing fight! Read on...

Jaime and Sally Ridge before Jaime's big fight!

SKIN
1. I always start off with a great primer (Smashbox Luminizing Primer) which keeps make up in place and prevents it settling into smile lines or open pores.
2. Next I apply a small amount of a full coverage foundation (Smashbox Studio Skin) and concealer where required.
3. I finish off by setting her base with mineral powder (Smashbox Halo Powder) which again extends the wear of the make up and provides a matte yet still glowing finish
4. I'm big on brows so I always fill in and define Jaime's brows using 'Brow Tech'

EYES
1. I start with a cream shadow base (Smashbox Cream Shadow in 'Quartz') and apply this all over the eyelid up to the crease of the eye. Over that I press Smashbox 'Cinnamon Toast' and blend it out just above the crease
2. I darken the outer corners of the eyes using a dark brown Smashbox 'Roast' and use this to line the bottom lashline to half way
3. I line the top lashline with black liner (Smashbox Jet Set Black) and the bottom inner rim with white pencil (Smashbox Eye Beam) to open up the eyes
4. Lastly I apply a set of false lashes and mascara

CHEEKS/LIPS
1. Jaime has great cheekbones as it is but I enhance them using Smashbox Contour Palette and a bit of Blush (Smashbox 'Paradise')
2. To create a natural nude lip but still with a hint of colour I use Smashbox 'Honey' lipstick with 'Afterglow' gloss over the top.

Jaime with a smokier look at the press conference
(Image from Jaime's twitter)

ghd Presents Blue Sky: twenty-seven names & Ingrid Starnes NZFW 2012

Hair: Michael Beel for ghd

Ingrid Starnes and twenty-seven names came together for New Zealand Fashion Week 2012 as part of the second ever Blue Sky concept show to release their autumn/winter 2013 collections. Global hair styling superbrand ghd joined forces with Showroom 22 and the two local labels as the naming rights sponsor for ‘ghd Presents Blue Sky,' presented at Britomart’s Nathan Club and Australis House.

twenty-seven names
The twenty-seven names’ winter 2013 collection — ‘i thought you’d never ask’ — emerged from the first line of Jeffrey Eugenides’ The Marriage Plot: "To start with, look at all the books”. In the collection, 19th-century detailing and hand-printed silk sits alongside bright multi-colours and polka dots.

The hair was full and slightly textured; think 90's inspired volume meets the mother out of the 'Beethoven' movie.

Ingrid Starnes
The Ingrid Starnes’ Autumn/Winter 12/13 collection, Hunt’s End, was based on a whole group of eccentric characters that go away to an old estate for a hunting weekend. Michael and his ghd team had ten minutes to change the twenty-seven names look to fit Ingrid’s aesthetic and new collection!

Michael explains of the Ingrid Starnes look, ‘We took the twenty-seven names volume but made the hair more streamlined through the top. We wanted the hair to give off an effortless glamour feel that Ingrid’s clothing epitomises.'

Trend Report: NZFW 2012

I’ve just finished my fourth consecutive year working backstage at NZFW as a pro artist for Smashbox Cosmetics. In between prepping models for our own shows, I was lucky enough to be able to attend some of the shows on offer throughout the week.

Here are some of my favourite beauty looks from the week.

HAILWOOD

Image: Stephen Marr

Hair: Lauren Gunn for Stephen Marr

The locally revered designer, who also launched his shoe collection for Mi Piacci, showed a fantastic collection that as a whole was one of my favourites. The hair was a soft 70′s blowdry, with lots of movement and a subtle wave through the front pieces.

SALASAI

Make-up: Amber D for M.A.C
The idea behind this look was “Dolly Parton meets Joan Jett”, which sounds scary, but resulted in one of the most effective looks of the week. Key products used included Uninterrupted Pro Longwear Eyeshadow and Hot Paprika Pro Longwear Eyeliner. Without a doubt, the hero of the look was the bold lip, created using Sin Lipstick, Ruby Woo Lipstick and Burgundy Lip Pencil. That lip colour is just stunning!

JULIETTE HOGAN

Image: thread.co.nz

Make-up: Josie Wignall for M.A.C

The look was inspired by a girl traveller, who travels first class. She is polished and immaculate. It’s a very soft and diffused look, which relies on Autumn shades,  with terracotta eyeshadows in ‘Rule’ and ‘Peaches’ and ‘Sincere’ blush, with ‘Honey Love’ lipstick.

TRELISE COOPER

Image Credit: Alex Tee

Make-up: Amber D for M.A.C
This was one of my personal favourites, if only for the wildly avante garde styling and seamless running that could only come from such a well-travelled brand. The smokey eye and glam metallic were the focus of this elegant yet edgy look. That heavy lid was created using Tarnish Eye Kohl, Bottle Green, Scene and Carbon Eyeshadows, and Blacktrack Fluidline. For those pink cheeks, Amber generously applied Pink Swoon Blish, Silver Dusk Irridescent Powder and Pink Opal Pigment to highlight.

CHARLIE BROWN

Make-up: Smashbox
Hair: Stephen Marr
Nails: Orly
Charlie Brown’s Naughty & Nice collection for a/w 2013 was the only international label presenting at this year’s New Zealand Fashion Week. The look was based around a modern 50′s girl with deep red lips, neutral eyes (using Multiflash trio) and matte porcelain skin. The lip colour was created using a mix of Infrared Matte and Grenadine.

ANDREA MOORE

Hair: ghd

Photo: Carly Van Winkel / 3 News

Andrea Moore’s aptly named collection for winter 2013 ‘The Hunt’ was true to the equestrian theme with horse prints and riding-inspired styles. Hair was equally equine themed with horse tail inspired front pony tails.

Miranda Kerr - The New Face of Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy

Unilever Australasia has announced the exciting signing of Miranda Kerr to represent new hair care brand Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy in Australia.

Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy offers a rich blend of vitamins and nutrients that ensures a deeply nourished scalp.

“To be chosen to represent such an innovative brand is a huge thrill,” says Miranda Kerr.

Bobbi Brown unveils Katy Holmes as its first celebrity face

Bobbi Brown may have been revolutionising the beauty industry for over 20 years, but recently they entered new terrain with the announcement of their first-ever celebrity face - the recently single Katie Holmes.

“Katie Holmes epitomises the modern ‘Bobbi woman’… I think of her as the modern day Ali McGraw, who I have always admired,” says Bobbi Brown. “Katie is a classic natural beauty, entrepreneur and mother. When I met her, I thought she was a natural fit for my brand, and felt an instant connection with her because we have so much in common.” 

Holmes adds, “Bobbi is exceptional and Bobbi Brown Cosmetics is a company that we, as women, all turn to because it is make-up that is very accessible and makes you feel pretty. Sometimes it is just a lipstick or a blush that makes you feel like you can do what you need to do. Make-up is powerful and I am thrilled to be a part of this brand.” 

ghd reveals a new-look Katy Perry

Global brand ambassador Katy Perry reveals a series of stunning new hair looks for ghd

Shot by renowned fashion photographer Ellen von Unwerth in Los Angeles at the end of Katy’s world tour, the campaign shows Katy in a series of striking scenarios "It was fun to go a more natural route after playing characters in my last ghd campaign,” said Katy. 

The classic yet fashion forward images see Katy with an array of covetable, wearable hair looks and exuding confidence – a positive message to inspire millions of women to have a good hair day, every day. This message ‘good hair day, every day’ is the brand’s core client promise and will launch as part of the new campaign.

ghd air

The new ghd airTM – the brand’s first salon-strength professional hairdryer - was used to create all of Katy’s looks, in addition to the iconic ghd stylers, the range of brushes (which I personally love) and a capsule collection of ghd styling products.