TrendLife Beauty

Twenty-one years and four months ago, an expectant mother was about to give birth to a much-wanted daughter. After being induced by the midwifery team at Epsom General Hospital, and having endured 22 hours of labour, thoughts of a blonde curly-haired baby girl to cradle post marathon spurred Denise on. Generations of Basing’s had been born with a mane of golden locks, and thus it was only natural that this child would inherit such an inherent family feature. As Denise came round after her caesarean, into her arms a babe with a thick black mop of hair was lain; the blonde Basing barnet had skipped a generation, I was quite clearly, a Lawson. 

Twenty-one years and four months later, my Lawson characteristics remain; dark-haired and olive-skinned, I am my father’s daughter. Hair dye not an ethical option for an infant, such choices became my own as I matured into a young woman. My black eyebrows and dark features prevent a blonde changeover, and thus, I leave the art of colour conversion to my ingenious Wahl Colour Change Heat Mat. Acquiring the curls that Denise so coveted in July 1990 can be achieved with rollers and tongs. When tongs are heated and ready to roll, the nifty mat changes colour. A fabulous safety device, it assures that I will not be following in my mother's footsteps whose heated rollers set fire to the family home in the 1970s. To pass off man-made curly locks as a born identity, I enlist the help of Osmo Curl Fluid. A volumising curl enhancer for incredible shine and movement, Osmo Curl Fluid defines and revitalises both permed and naturally curly hair whilst also eliminating frizz. Distributing the product through towel dried hair creates a voluminous ‘do; whereas a defined finish can be achieved by allowing hair to dry naturally.

With Osmo, I can have the best of both worlds. Whether spending the day or night as Basing, or as a Lawson, their range of haircare products ensure that I am always doing the family name proud. 

www.osmonation.com

There was a time, when every hair follicle that sprouted from my head was silky soft, sensationally straight and short of split ends. Indeed, my mane bounced with healthy shine and as I tottered along Fulham Road, local gals about town whose tresses hung in a fine limp frizz gazed longingly at my display of hair finery. I was however, nine months old, had inherited my father’s thick black locks and was pampered from top to toe by my first time parents as though I was on a lifelong visit to a health retreat.

Fast-forward twenty-one years and my mother understandably no longer tends to my every whim. Having been granted sole custody of personal bodily matters from aged seven, when I made it be known my locks longed for more than L’Oréal Kids Very Berry Strawberry Shampoo and my idea of bathtime fun was not alongside Molly Matey Bubble Bath; my diva behaviour blossomed. Going alone in the hair and beauty world has allowed to me to discover a professional haircare range that combines the ultimate in product excellence and glamour; Neäl and Wolf. The brainchild of Neil Capstick, his debut range stems from his extensive experience and understanding of salon and salon owners, providing the ultimate combination of luxury and function whilst being an accessible range of products that make us women feel special daily.

Neäl and Wolf’s Ritual Daily Cleansing Shampoo and Conditioner are a duo that lavish one’s locks with oodles of lustre. Cleansing the hair and leaving it fresh and full of shine, the Ritual Daily Cleansing Shampoo, with its infusion of silk and milk proteins, boosts moisture to deliver easy to manage locks. The Ritual Daily Conditioner acts as a diligent accomplice, detangling hair and leaving it smooth and ready to style with liquid shea butter extract, creating brilliant shine. Blow-drying bars are the hip joint of the moment; and with A-listers and red carpet honeys placing hair on tandem with fashion, blow-dry services are in mega demand. Neäl and Wolf’s Silk Smoothing Blow-dry Balm offers a daily acquisiton of glamour; putting an end to tangles and frizz, its hydrating wheat protein complex provides moisture, balance and manageability. For those beauties lusting after a barnet speaking volumes, Elevate Volumising Lotion turns the limpest of locks into spun gold; luxuriously thick hair filled with body and oozing glossy class. To maintain a head of hair that shimmers with shine, Neäl and Wolf’s Glow Super Shine Spray adds long-lasting gleam that transforms hair leaving it glimmering with glitz. A ten product range, the Neäl and Wolf collection also includes an Intensive Hair Treatment, a Hold & Shine Spray, Sculpting Lotion, Heat Protection and Pliable Paste.

For fragrant locks that oozes hair primping prowess, Neäl and Wolf are the turn to products to achieve beautiful tresses, creating hair so heavenly that even Aphrodite, Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty, will be lusting to get her mitts on this heaven sent range.

Prices between £10.95-£11.95

www.nealandwolf.com

The confident swagger, cheeky accent and polished suave of the Essex gentry makes me go weak at the knees. Once I cast my eyes upon an Essex born and bred chap, take a look at his get up and a take in a whiff of his cologne, his voice will do the rest; I'm hooked. Celeb hairdresser, Lee Stafford, is one such fella who, with his Leigh-on-Sea charm, definitively represents the menfolk of his county.

Keen to immerse myself in the Essex way of life I took it upon myself to put his pretty in pink hair products to the test and see if ‘ThE PiNK RaNge’ really ensures that a Surrey girl will ‘Have Fun, Look Wicked, Smell Beautiful’ like Lee of Leigh-on-Sea does so promise. 

I knew our Lee wouldn't let me down. His range of HAiR GRowTH TREATMENT products are haircare's answer to a BFF. Long locks are on the wish list of girls across the land and with this gorgeous range, Mr Staff is our knight in shining armour. The Pro-Growth™ complex of the HAiR GRowTH SHaMPOO, CoNDiTiONER and TREaTMENT gives hair strength from within by fertilising follicles and thus allowing a healthy environment on your scalp to help hair grow faster. Its soothing formulation reduces irritation as well as moisturising the scalp, keeping it healthy and improving volume and feel of one's locks. By ensuring that I used the treatment in between shampoo and conditioner, I found that after a few weeks, my mane was indeed longer, in tip-top condition and looking BEAutiful.

Mr S. When you're next painting the town PiNK in Essex, give a girl a tweet, @basinglawson and I'll whirl round the M25 and be with you in no time. 

Lee Stafford Hair Growth Treatment - £7.99

Lee Stafford Hair Growth Shampoo - £6.99

Lee Stafford Hair Growth Conditioner - £6.99

Available from Boots instore and online

There are many 'do's and don'ts' of the haircare world but one such 'do' that us gals should obey to get beautiful tresses is to use Moroccan Oil. A staple item of celebs worldwide, this all-round ingenious oil for one's locks offers excellent results, leaving hair protected in the summer heat. 

A powerful antioxidant and UV protector as well as being rich in vitamins and minerals, Moroccan Oil fortifies the hair and creates a natural silky finish and shine without residue. It also revives, hydrates and detangles hair wigs and extensions. Requiring just a few drops after each wash on damp hair, Moroccan Oil works wonders and I love,love, LOVE the smell! Girls, we can jump upon the bandwagon of this red carpet trend without breaking the bank and have hair looking as good as the A-list.

Price: £30.45

Available from moroccanoil.com and hair salons nationwide.

Who knew that sports and Brylcreem could go together, but that’s just what happened now Brylcreem has launched the new Bounce Paste.

New Brylcreem Bounce Paste gives hair a strong, flexible, matt hold.

In an innovative new packaging design, the paste comes in a round red ball container that resembles a cricket ball, a perfect gift for the stylish man in your life.

Price: £3.49

Available from Boots, Superdrug and other supermarket retailers.

Kate Moss or Alexa Chung’s mussed up locks are the most sought after hair styles and now Bumble and Bumble have made the look easy to achieve.

Bumble and Bumble’s new Texture Crème is titled (un)dressing crème and gives you that elusive undone, messed up hair.

It’s for those who like that second day washed hair with a little less shine and a bit more tousle. Simply add a small amount to damp hair and build up the amount to add more texture and grit, then simply tousle with your fingers or use a diffuser for more volume.

Price: £21.00

Available from Space NK

For affordable beauty, Aldi’s new haircare range is definitely worth a look.

Their brand new professional haircare range includes shampoo, conditioner, intensive treatment and serum specially formulated for either frizz-prone hair, colour-treated hair, or hair that needs a volume boost.

This range is definately worth a look, as it uses quality ingredients but just at a snip of the price.

Prices start from £2.49

Available from Aldi www.aldi.co.uk