B Hair And Beauty

This peppery leaf is also known as arugula, particularly in the US. It’s a dark green salad vegetable, popular in Mediterranean countries and you have probably had it in those mixed bags of salad greens. It’s a wild lettuce with long, straight soft green leaves and a dark red stem. The leaves have a slightly bitter, peppery flavour and are gathered when they’re young. Rocket is a rich source of iron as well as vitamins A,C and K.

It makes a delicious addition to salads but can also be used to make soups and to replace basil in pesto. A bed of rocket is a good base on which to serve grilled poultry or fish. It also marries well with goat’s cheese. It is very popular in Italy, where it is used on pizzas and in pasta and risotto dishes.

Try a salad of rocket, chopped tomatoes and grilled pine nuts, shavings of Parmesan, sprinkled with a good quality oil and lemon juice. Make an interesting prawn salad by mixing rocket with chopped red peppers and lemon juice. And whatever way you eat it remember it’s very low in calories.

What we all want are bright sparkling eyes and no dark rings. Here are some tips for keeping your eyes at their best.

For bright eyes, increase your intake of vitamin A by eating more fruits and fresh vegetables. Revive tired eyes in the hot weather by soaking two pieces of cotton wool in chilled water to which a few drops of eau-de-cologne have been added. Place the pads on your closed eyelids and relax in a darkened room for about ten minutes. Or try this alternative. Put 2 tablespoons in the freezer to chill and then place over the eyes for a pick me up.

If your eyes are just sleepy or dull looking cut thin slices of cucumber and keep them on lids for about then minutes. Dark circles under the eyes can indicate a lack of vitamin B so a course of vitamin B complex may be the best thing. These dark rings may also be caused by fatigue, bad digestion, worry, sleeplessness or indifferent health. Track down the cause and the shadow will vanish.

Offers available Tuesday 8 May – Thursday 10 May

Free gloss treatment with every cut and blow dry – this is semi-permanent adding shine that is great for natural or coloured hair OR 20% off colours and Mizani Chemical Relaxers only

Please state that you have read these special offers in this week’s Newsletter when you book

Heartburn is linked to eating habits and posture (the way you sit and stand). It happens when acid from your stomach gets forced upwards into the oesophagus (gullet). This is called acid reflux.

The stomach wall is coated with a layer of mucus that protects it from digestive acid. The oesophagus does not have this protection, so any acid that leaks up irritates and damages its lining. This is what causes the burning pain associated with heartburn. The regurgitated acid may also leave an acidic taste in the back of your throat.

If you suffer from heartburn now and again you may want to try these natural remedies to relieve the symptoms.

Milk This should only be fat free milk however, as the fat in milk will often stimulate even more production of stomach acids.

Apple Cider Vinegar – This type of vinegar can be added to a cup of water and has been known for its heartburn relief applications for years. This will cause an almost instant relief of your discomfort.

Baking Soda – By drinking a teaspoon of baking soda mixed into a full glass of water you will be instantly relieve your acid reflux. This is due to the fact that baking soda is a base which will neutralize acid. Some other natural remedies are bananas, garlic and almonds.

It is helpful to keep a diary of what you are doing and eating when you got heartburn so that you can help yourself prevent it! If you are constantly suffering from acid reflux you should see your doctor.

Offers available Wednesday 2nd May – Friday 4 May

Free gloss treatment with every cut and blow dry – this is semi-permanent adding shine that is great for natural or coloured hair OR 20% off colours only

Offers available Tuesay 1st afternoon only or Friday 4 May only

20% Off Mizani Chemical Relaxers

Please state that you have read these special offers in this week’s Newsletter.

Earl Grey is a blend of Indian and Ceylon black tea, infused with bergamot oil. Bergamot is a citric lime tree found in the Mediterranean and the South of France. It gives the Earl Grey tea a light, smooth and spicy flavour which is also refreshing.

Earl Grey is known to be a very soothing and calming tea. It has been shown to be a mood lifter and an antidepressant. In fact bergamot has been used for centuries to treat depression, stress, and tension.

As with any tea, Earl Grey has health benefits associated with its antioxidants. Antioxidants are known to fight cancer and eliminate free radicals that are associated with aging and illness. Earl Grey tea has been associated with reducing wrinkles and the effects of aging. This tea has been shown to prevent several types of cancer; so drink a cup everyday!

Special Offer Tuesday 24 April to Thursday 26 April 20% all cuts, colours or relaxers.

Curls have always been a great way to become the centre of attention.  Tight curls, afro curls or soft waves can be a refreshing change if you have straight hair or hair without volume.

Thanks to technology, we don’t have to use the old-fashioned hair rollers – a hair straightener can easily be used for straightening the hair and for making modern curls. Once you master the technique you can obtain several styles without effort. Just make sure you use the hair straightener according to the manufacturer’s directions and according to your own hair type to avoid any long-term damages.

For great-looking curls, a narrow hair straightener is recommended (approximately 3 centimeters).  This width will allow you to get close to the hair roots. Hair straighteners with ceramic tiles are better because they can provide more heat and you can use it for repetitive tasks such as curling.

Step 1 Wash your hair and apply a lotion that protects the hair and provides a natural shine.  Use a blow dryer to dry the hair and make sure the lotion has been absorbed properly.

Step 2 Split the hair in four different sections using clips: the front section, sides, top and back.

Step 3 Start the curling process by putting the hair straightener at the base of the hair lock, close to the scalp.  Once you do that, spin the lock around the hair straightener once.  At the same time, move the hair straightener along the lock up to the tip. The slowest you move it, the curlier the hair gets.  You can spray some protective lotion against the heat.

The advantage of using a hair straightener instead of other styling devices is that you can obtain many types of curls, from relaxed waves to almost straight curls or tight curls, full of volume.

One of the first foods that signals the start of spring is the appearance of fresh asparagus at local farmers’ markets and grocery stores. However the season for asparagus is short. In Britain it is from late April until late June so enjoy it while you can.

Asparagus is quick and easy to cook but look for bright, green, evenly coloured, firm and unwrinkled spears with tight buds – perfect.

It is loaded with nutrients: Asparagus is a very good source of fiber, folate, vitamins A, C, E and K, as well as chromium, a trace mineral that enhances the ability of insulin to transport glucose from the bloodstream into cells. It is also a particularly rich source of glutathione, a detoxifying compound that helps break down carcinogens and other harmful compounds like free radicals. This is why eating asparagus may help protect against and fight certain forms of cancer, such as bone, breast, colon, larynx and lung cancers. Recent research also suggests that asparagus may slow the aging process.

Cook in boiling salted water and, depending on the size of the stalks, it will take about 10 minutes to become tender; test by piercing the lowest part of the spear with a sharp knife. Enjoy this seasonal vegetable that’s good for you too.

One of the latest hot and trendy beauty items is a foundation primer or base. These priming products have been used by models and makeup professionals for years but it is only recently they have become readily available to the general public.

But what does a foundation primer do? Just like you prime a wall before you paint it, you can prime your face before you apply foundation. Primers create a base for foundation so that your makeup stays on longer, lessening the need for touching up during the day. Primers smooth out fine lines and wrinkles by filling them in and creating a flat canvas for your makeup. Large pores and uneven skin texture are also filled in and coated, diminishing their appearance. Another benefit of primers is that you will use less makeup. Instead of your foundation absorbing directly onto the skin, it adheres to the primer instead.

Although there are a few water-based primers on the market, most are silicon based but safe to use on the skin. Moisturise your skin as usual and allow it to soak in for a few minutes. Then apply your foundation primer, wait a couple of minutes, then apply your foundation.