Phew. With restrictions finally lifting, and a certain amount of gloom and doom dissipating, too, can we bid those lockdown home haircuts, one handed manicures and DIY facials farewell?
In these unprecedented times, with salons closed and socialising at an all time low, your regular beauty regime no doubt suffered, with so many having no choice but to become their own hairdressers and beauticians (some more successfully than others).
It’s been a stressful 18 months, but with the peak of summer on the horizon, now feels like the perfect time to indulge in some pampering. With that in mind, here are 5 top tips for getting your beauty regime back on track post-lockdown.
REGULAR MANICURES
Unless you’re lucky enough to be ambidextrous, you’ll know too well the pain of trying to paint the nails of your dominant hand. It usually ends in smears, smudges, spilt nail polish and the donning of gloves for your next few outings in public. No matter how hard you try, those dormant digits just can’t get the upper hand.
Time to treat yourself. Put down the nail poilish and schedule a regular manicure appointment – there’s probably a few mistakes to fix, chips to neaten, and confidence to build. We’ll see you in there!
Read: 5 IDEAL places to get a manicure in London
TEETH WHITENING
Now that masks are being required less and we’ll likely be smiling much more, why not spruce up your smile and have your teeth whitened to herald a beaming new era?
Brightening up your smile could help increase your self-esteem after a lengthy spell of limited social contact, and since dentists have been harder to access due to COVID temporary closures, you might be suffering from staining that needs seeing to.
The experts at City Centre Dental & Implant Clinic recommend that those DIY, domestic whitening procedures that many were trying over lockdown may actually have been a little harsh and abrasive on the nation’s teeth. Instead, they suggest ‘’professional and affordable teeth whitening using custom-made laboratory-formed bleaching trays, which gently and gradually lighten your teeth’’, offering a more gentle and effective finish.
COLOUR YOUR HAIR
We hope we’re not speaking presumptuously when we say that we all got a little bored of our own reflection during lockdown. And now that we can step into the salon again, why not spice up your look with a new hair colour?
You’re best avoiding home experimentation, especially if you’re going for a dramatic change, as colouring your own hair can be a bit of a risky business. You don’t want to get that colour disastrously wrong and do real damage to your hair! Instead, entrust your locks to a professional who can achieve your dream style with ease and skill.
PROTECT YOUR SKIN
You should always make sure that your skin is protected – in winter, in summer, and everything in between – especially when you’re out in the sun. Now you’re stepping out more freely for summer, it’s particularly important to protect your skin, to ensure you’re looking youthful and radiant for longer.
The British Association of Dermatologists recommend staying out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, and to always use a sunscreen of at least SPF 30.
Considering the detrimental effect that UV rays can have on your skin, causing it to age and, more importantly, increasing your risk of getting skin cancer, being cautious with sun exposure should be as much an essential part of your beauty routine as the more cosmetic elements.
PLENTY OF SLEEP
We know that the term ‘beauty sleep’ sounds like a cliché but getting plenty of rest will genuinely do both your health and beauty the world of good!
A survey conducted by Sealy UK has found that those of us who are well-rested have brighter eyes, clearer skin, and fewer wrinkles!
Sleep deprivation can really take a toll not just on our appearance, but also on our mental and physical health. We’re all feeling more exhausted than ever lately, so go and grab yourself an early night! And if you check out these tips on the best ways to improve your circadian rhythm, your next night’s restful sleep is on us.
