Great HAIR DAYS
massage therapist Guendalina Gennari. The gua sha should be held almost flat as you glide it along the skin, which shouldn’t redden; anything that pulls at the skin is counter-productive. Use plenty of oil or a mild cleansing milk, and always move the stone from the centre of the face to behind the ears and then down to the collarbones. Keep your gua sha in the fridge for a cooling effect.
PRIMA LOVES… Green People Jade Gua Sha Massage Tool (1), £12.50.
A SUBTLE TAN
Perk up winter skin by adding a couple of tanning drops to your regular moisturiser a few times a week. Or try makeup artist Caroline Barnes’s tip: she sprays on tanning water as the last step in her skincare routine, allowing it to dry before wiping through her brows to stop any patching. Misting from arm’s length is the cautious way in, as the wetter your skin gets, the deeper the colour will be.
PRIMA LOVES… Skinny Tan Notox Face Tanning Drops (2), £14.99, Solait Tanning Facial Spritz (4), £4.99.
BEAUTY SLEEP
‘Our skin renewal processes are maximised at night when we are no longer faced with environmental aggressors such as pollution and UV light, so it’s the optimum time to introduce actives into your skincare routine,’ says consultant dermatologist Dr Thivi Maruthappu. That’s why it’s good practice to incorporate treatments into your nighttime routine that not only encourage cell turnover and repair, but also replenish the moisture loss that happens as you snooze.
PRIMA LOVES… Olay Retinol24 Max Night Serum (5), £39.99, uses a blend of retinol and retinyl propionate for smoother skin. Nivea Q10 Anti-wrinkle Power Ultra Recovery Night Serum (5), £13.99, includes vitamin B5 to keep skin healthy and plump. Vichy Neovadiol Revitalizing Night Cream (6), £32, contains ingredients including hyaluronic acid to boost hydration and cool the skin.
THE NEW BOB
Need haircut inspo? Try the Italian bob, says hairstylist Zoë Irwin.
‘In France and Italy, hairdressers strengthen the cut, essential if your features are getting softer with age.’ This contemporary cut is slightly rounded on the front edge, with weightier movement and a stronger line. You can even take it further up the neck. ‘It makes grey hair look modern and creates a strong visual affirmation about who you are,’ explains Zoë.
FRINGE BENEFITS
A wispy fringe can instantly bring youthfulness and modernity to your look. ‘Cheekbone-skimming curtain bangs are a fantastic choice, as they can part on the side or in the middle, highlighting the bone structure of the face,’ suggests Olivier Noha, advanced creative stylist at Aveda. The longer length is low-maintenance, too.
SILVER SIREN
Let your greys live their best life with Wella Professional’s in-salon
True Grey Silver Glow treatment, from £20. Designed to remove yellowness, add dimension and enhance tone, it enlivens greys without adding permanent colour and lasts around six weeks. At home, try a mask, such as Wella Professionals Color Fresh Mask in Pearl Blonde (5), £15.70, which offers better hydration than a purple shampoo. It gives the subtlest wash of colour without patchiness and fades through five or six washes.
STRONG BONDS
Protein-based Plex technology strengthens hair from within by repairing internal bonds. ‘A hair strand is like a ladder and the bonds are the rungs that hold it together,’ says Katie Barker, head of category at Charles Worthington. ‘They’re easily weakened or broken by heat styling and colouring, but Plex formulas put them back together, making hair shinier and more resilient.’ With grey hair, bond treatments restore bounce and keep it from looking flat.
PRIMA LOVES… Sebastian Professional No.breaker Hybrid Bonding and Styling Leave-in Spray (4), £32.60, Charles Worthington Colourplex Damage Reverse Intensive Treatment (1), £9.99.
SECRET SNIPS
Hairstylist George Northwood is a master of the invisible trim, which involves simply dusting off any split ends. ‘I’ll give every single strand of hair a trim, but it will literally be the tiniest trim ever,’ explains George. Simple, but it makes a world of difference to the look and health of longer manes, especially at the top layer, which tends to get higher exposure to sun and damage. At home, keep hair protected from heat tools and breakage with Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Leave-in Treatment (2), £29.50, while Undone by George Northwood Moisturising Cream (3), £15, tames flyaways for a sleek finish. ➺