Why not follow in these ladies’ footsteps?

Nicole Ritchie

Nicole has done angled layers perfectly here. In layman’s terms that means long bangs with choppy layers. If you’re going for this style make sure your hair goes past your shoulders and has soft edges- not bluntly cut. If your hair is fine and thin, don’t opt for the layers to be razored because you’ll just look bald (not really, but you will look older). However, if your hair is thick, go for a more thinned out method so the layers frame your face rather than cover it.

The Soft Pixie

A short pixie with lots of textured layers can keep your hair from looking flat and prevent it from growing out awkwardly. This look can be choppy and feathered, sleek and polished or simple and natural – whatever works for you! This cut makes you look instantly younger too because it frames the face and flatters the features.

Vanessa Hudgens

Long, loose layers always bring the sexy back that’s why all the Victoria Secret models have them.  But the great thing about this cut is you don’t have to be a supermodel for it to suit you too. Hudgens’ cut is flattering on thick and fine hair alike. But if you want to create those luscious, youthful locks then shorter layers is the way to go as it creates volume for thinner hair, while the long length showcases the natural texture of thicker strands.

Either way, with these haircuts you can’t lose.

TT.

Which celebrity has your favourite cut?  Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page

Goma

This is Japanese for sesame. This seed is beneficial in fighting the effects of aging including the greying of hair. So if you want to prolong your youthful looks start including sesame with your meals. Goma can also help lower cholesterol levels in the body and high blood pressure. It’s an all-rounder super food, that’s why you always see it on sushi.

Komezu

Rice vinegar has been used for a very long time in Japan to maintain youthful skin. The Japanese are world renowned for looking young well into middle age and one reason is their use of this vinegar. It enhances the absorption of vitamin C which is very good for skin health and in addition it reduces fatigue.

Konnyaku

This is a jelly made from the devil`s tongue plant. It is great for weight control and constipation. It helps the body more effectively eliminate waste helping it to function better and cleanse itself if you have been filling it with junk. Konnyaku plays a powerful role in anti-ageing as well, because it help control the blood sugar levels in our bodies reducing the over production of insulin.

Tofu

Tofu has long been thought of as an anti-aging food. Because this food is thought to enhance brain function it is used to fight off the onset of age related brain disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer. It is also considered to be one of the main reasons why the Japanese look so young well into their 50`s.

As they say “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food”.

TT.

What is your favourite Japanese food?  Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page

With just about anyone able to get onto camera these days thanks to sites such as YouTube and Skype it doesn’t surprise me more women are requesting chin surgery.

Seeing yourself on tape can be a grueling experience, as the camera is not a friend I’ve come to find. It doesn’t keep your secrets or make the illusion you are slimmer. Instead it shows just about every angle of you.

20,680 chin augmentations were carried out in the U.S. in 2011 and the procedure is now growing more than breast augmentation, Botox and liposuction combined according to statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). So what’s the reason behind this sudden desire to get a new chin? It’s simple. On video chat technology, people may notice that their jawline is not as sharp as they want it to be (in other words their double chin was out for the world to see, namely their business associates).

Before and after a chin implant.

Experts suggest the trend has been prompted by the increasing use of video conferencing in the workplace which causes employees to focus on their facial appearance. So what are the two most popular options people are requesting?

Well the first includes a mentoplasty, which decreases the size of a chin that ‘juts out’ or is perceived as being too large. The second request is maxillofacial corrective surgery which actually alters the jaw position.

The chin and jawline are among the first areas to show signs of aging so I think that’s why people are considering chin augmentation, as a way to restore their youthful look just like a facelift or eyelid surgery but it keeps them looking good on camera.

Other cosmetic procedures that saw an increase in popularity in the U.S. included lip augmentation (up 49 per cent), cheek implants (up 47 per cent), laser skin resurfacing (up nine per cent), soft tissue fillers (up seven per cent) and facelifts (up five per cent).

TT.

Do you think chin implants are on the rise because of all this video technology?  Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page

L’Oreal Professional’s Dialight is the first ammonia-free semi-permanent tone on tone colour. What I am loving about it is Dialight takes the hair back to its natural state, leaving the condition of the hair remarkable. The product also gives the hair luminous reflects with an ultimate photo finish shine that is out of this world.

So who is Dialight ideal for?  Basically anyone with coloured/sensitised hair. And with the expertise of your professional hairdresser and an in-depth colour consultation you can achieve youthful hair almost instantly.

Check out all its benefits here:

Always remember to get a skin allergy test 48 hours before application of any hair colour to make sure it’s right for you.

TT.

What do you think of Dialight? Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page

1. Nigeria: Shea butter
It’s made from the nut of Africa’s karite tree, indigenous to some 20 countries in the dry savannah belt, called the Sahel, which stretches from West Senegal to Sudan and it is used there for absolutely everything! For centuries African women of the Sahel have gathered shea nuts, drying, crushing and boiling them to collect the oil that floats to the surface, which they then churn. The resulting fat, which has a consistency like soft, thick butter, is rich in natural emollients – and has even been shown by modern science to have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Why it makes us young? Well It moisturises the skin leaving it glowing, conditions the hair, treats skin irritations like eczema, rashes, acne and even a recent study confirmed that the African tradition of applying shea butter around the nose during a cold also works as a decongestant.

2. Japan: Meditative baths

For centuries, Japan has been known for its ritualistic devotion to the art of the Japanese bath, and for the belief that the ensuing Zen-like meditative state it instils will cleanse the soul as much as the body.

What does it consist of? Well the Japanese will scrub themselves clean first, with brushes or a loofah, then rinse off and fill the bath with clean water as hot as they can tolerate, often adding flower petals or slices of a fragrant citrus fruit called ‘yuzu.’ The lighting should be low and you’re not supposed to multi-task during the bath meaning no reading or music otherwise you distract yourself. The purpose is to just soak and meditate. My hot tip: add some scented oils to enhance the atmosphere of serenity and calm.

These baths are really good if you’re like me who is always keeping busy and running around, they really ground you at the end of a long day. Why it makes us youthful:  It helps us relax and get ready for a good night’s rest, one of the key factors to staying young both on the side and out. The humidity is also great for the skin.

3. Russia: Kefir

What’s the Russian’s secret to looking eternally youthful? Each night many of them drink a glass of homemade milk called kefir, a fermented drink similar to yoghurt that originated centuries ago in the Caucasus Mountains.

It’s a drink that may take some getting used to, but if you do like it, kefir is rich in probiotic organisms, low in calories and high in calcium, protein, nutrients and vitamins (particularly B vitamins). Scientific studies have shown it also promotes healthy digestion and inhibits microbes like E. coli, salmonella and other common diarrhoea-causing bugs. Kefir is known as the elixir of youth in Russia because it makes your digestive system work so much better and your skin glow.

In Slavic countries, kefir is also used topically in a wide range of beauty treatments, including a bath soak, massaged into hair as a conditioner, as treatment for dandruff or oily hair, used to remove makeup, or left on the face as a skin-brightening masque. Kefir is found in health food stores, or you can try making your own by adding a starter culture of kefir grains to milk and leaving it in a covered glass jar. For beauty recipes using kefir, as well as tips on how to make it at home, click here. Why it makes us youthful? Well I think you already know the answer to that one.

TT.

What’s one of your top beauty secrets to staying young?  Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page

Emily Blunt

A low chignon with face-framing layers is just as polished, as it is youthful. With this style you can still have your hair back without it being too harsh on the face and showing every fine line. Not to mention the layers give your face a softer appearance. Click here for the step by step on how to achieve this look.

Mena Survari

An angled bob with sweeping bangs and choppy ends is way more playful, and more age appropriate (a great style to hide some of those wrinkles you would rather people miss). The angular cut tends to make your face appear longer, which is a plus if you want to thin out a round face. The angles can accentuate your best facial features. If you have a heart-shaped face, ask your stylist to cut the angles to add volume at the back and crown of your head.

To copy Mina’s style, blow-dry your hair straight and lightly roll the ends between your fingers with a touch of textured styling clay.

 Julia Roberts

Caramel highlights warm up Julia’s skin and make her beachy waves seem naturally sun-kissed. Ask your stylist for highlights around the face, where the sun’s rays would normally hit. Go one or two shades lighter than your base colour which will brighten up your complexion and make you achieve Julia’s younger look.

 Elizabeth Banks

The lob really is the new bob in Hollywood to recreate youth. To achieve the look like these celebs have done here switch to a centre part and scrunch your hair in loose waves with a texturiser. This will create volume in your strands creating more think, youthful looking hair.

For more ways to keep your hair youthful check out my book here.

TT.

Which 2012 hairstyle are you going to have?  Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page

Now I am all for fillers, but I thought I’d keep you up to date on what’s happening in Hollywood. Plus, options never hurt!

Madonna, Demi Moore and Uma Thurman are also fans of electric current treatments. While Kate Moss loves the Tua Viso, a “salon-grade” at-home beauty device that tautens the face within two weeks of regular use. There’s nothing new about micro-current electric facials. Princess Diana was a devotee and the basic technology used today dates back to the 1980s. So what’s this new interest in electric facials you ask? Well the widespread use of Botox and other neurotoxins mainly. There’s no point eliminating crow’s feet and having a smooth forehead if the bottom half of your face is showing signs of ageing. It’s like having a vigorous beauty routine for your face but leaving out your neck and chest. Just not logical in the anti-ageing world!

Dermal fillers are an option, of course to solve this but micro-current facials provide an even faster and less invasive way to regain youthful facial contours.

As we age, the 32 main muscles in the face lose tone and slacken. Micro-current therapy helps to shorten the muscle fibres to imitate the body’s own messages, sent by the nerves, to the muscles. The micro-current stimulation not only increases muscle mass to make the face look plumper, it also helps to give the face a firmer, more symmetrical appearance. A skilled practitioner can sculpt the face by creating arcs in the eyebrows or making the eyes look more almond-shaped.

Micro-currents also increase cellular regeneration and the activity of glycosaminoglycans, a.k.a. GAGs, the cellular material surrounding collagen and elastin that diminishes with age.

The machine bought by Jennifer Lopez was the CACI Ultra. CACI clinics nationwide popularised non-surgical facelifts in Australia and remain a go-to choice. A 40-minute session can cost anywhere between $170 and $250. Soft, cotton-tipped wands are used on the face to transmit the micro-current energy to the facial muscles to increase radiance, tone and elasticity. Visible results are immediate but a course of 12 treatments is recommended, followed by monthly maintenance sessions.

So I know your all wondering whether it hurts or not but it doesn’t. All you feel is a tingling sensation. However if you’re a Botox lover like me and want to tone your face following the procedure with an injection, it’s best to wait for two to three weeks until the neurotoxins have taken full effect.

If this is something you are interested in having done make sure you combine your electric facials with a healthy diet and the right skincare because that will make the results last even longer.

For more tips on how to create The Younger You check out my book here.

TT.

Are you interested in trying an electric facial?  Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page

So what do I think the answer is? Well all the information we get tells us you are safe to be doing the service . The thing about pregnancy is that 3% of babies have birth defects and even if you move to the safest place in the country and drink the freshest milk and eat the best food there is a chance your baby won’t come out 100% healthy. It is kind of like how everything these days ‘supposedly’ gives us cancer. Does that mean if you had too many dental x-rays you would blame your dentist for getting cancer? It’s a tough call.

Now even thought I think it’s safe of course like everything you should take precautions like these celebs did. Firstly, maybe skip colouring your hair during the first trimester- I’ve been told that’s when all the important foetal development happens, then just resume your normal routine later in your pregnancy. Also, if you choose to colour  your hair in your house do it in a well-ventilated area, not a closed room.

My last tip is to switch to a non-ammonia colour like L’Oréal Professionnel’s INOA colour, as it has no odour and is gentler on the hair. To find out more about it click here.

TT.

Were you ever worried about dyeing your hair during your pregnancy?  Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page

Many beauty experts say fruits are the best skin polishers. This is because they contain alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) which help fight harmful effects of pollution and delay the ageing of skin. Here are some of my favourites:

Papaya wonder
Papaya is great for all skin types as it removes tan, reduces acne and minimises pores.

Remedy: Mash half a cup of papaya with milk and apply it on your face. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

Berry goodness
Strawberries have strong antiseptic properties so do wonders for oily and dry skin.

Remedy: Mash strawberries into a paste and apply them on your face, or if you’re not a fan you can mix kiwi fruit along with some oatmeal together. Leave it on for 10 min and then wash it off with lukewarm water.

Watermelon cooler
Watermelons are great for reducing open pores and sun tans.

Remedy: Squeeze out the juice from grated watermelon and mix it with a pinch of gram flour. Apply the mask and leave it on for 15 minutes and rinse.

These homemade fruit facial masks are the best choices if you want to pamper your skin with pure, natural products. The major benefit of them is they are completely free of artificial supplements, perfumes, chemicals and added preservatives that can be harmful to your skin. Another great thing is that you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on them either. Now while these are useful masks, you can’t use any fruit mask on your skin and expect instant results. And like anything, if they are used in the wrong manner, they can harm your skin. So make sure you have a completely cleansed face first and don’t keep them on for too long. Also make sure you do a patch test before applying the whole mask to avoid any allergies.

For more tips on how to create The Younger You check out my book here.

TT.

Which fruit mask are you going to try?  Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page

This collection addresses specific scalp concerns to achieve and maintain the ideal scalp balance whilst enhancing the beauty of your hair. Recent research from L’Oreal has shown that irritation below the surface of the scalp is a contributing factor to thinning hair and premature hair loss. This is why Kerastase has created Specifique, to solve that very problem.

So how does this treatment work?  Well it is super easy to start with.

1. Bathe the hair with kerastase Specifque Bain Prévention GL.

This will help stimulate the scalp as it contains Gluco-Lipid to provide energy directly to the root and help stimulate root activity. Plus it contains styling polymers to texturise the hair fibre.

The result:

• Hair fibre is nourished at the root.

• Potential hair fibre is stronger and existing hair fibre is given a boost.

• Hair is textured with an immediate volume effect.

2. Use Treat Cure Intensive Antichute à l’Aminexil® GL® M

Now this is where the intensive six week take-home programme comes in to play to help counteract the occurrence of hair loss and preserve hair density. It contains:

• Aminexil®: which helps prevent the accumulation and hardening of collagen.

• Gluco-Lipid GL®:  provides energy directly to the root and helps stimulate root activity and

• Madecassoside®: which reduces scalp irritation.

It is really simple to use as well. All you do is apply one vial of Cure Intensive Antichute à l’Aminexil® GL® M per day directly onto the scalp in cobweb sections and massage it in. You don’t even have to rinse it out and you can style your hair as usual. For optimal results use it in conjunction with the Bain Prévention GL and you will discover that:

•  Your scalp irritation is reduced.

• The life of the hair follicle is prolonged.

• Your hair density is improved and

• The hair is strengthened, nourished and revitalized.

In other words, your thinning hair will be a thing of the past and it will be replaced with a younger, healthier set of locks.

For more information on the products we use in my hair salon click here.

I think this new range is worth a shot don’t you?

TT.

Have you tried any effective hair thinning programmes? I want to know about them!  Tweet me @troythompson1, or write/like my Facebook Page