by Tanya Burr
3. RIMMEL STAY-MATTE POWDER
This product minimises the appearance of pores and provides natural-looking coverage. It’s great to pop into your bag when you’re out and about.
4. MAYBELLINE BABY LIPS TINTED LIP BALM
These tinted lip balms are really hydrating, have a lovely sheer colour and smell amazing! They are not sticky at all and they stay on for ages.
5. MAYBELLINE FALSIES MASCARA
This is one of my most-used mascaras because it really makes my lashes stand out and gives a false-lash effect.
6. REVLON COLORBURST LIP BUTTER
This lipstick has super-charged hydration, so unlike some lipsticks that can be quite drying, it always makes my lips feel silky smooth. My favourite colour in this range is Pink Truffle.
7. TANYA BURR COSMETICS NAIL POLISHES
These give a really professional, long-lasting finish and are chip resistant. When I created the line I wanted a range of colours to complement different outfits and looks. My favourite one at the moment is Riding Hood.
8. BOURJOIS DELICE DE POUDRE
This bronzer has an ultra-soft texture and it’s really easy to blend. It gives a really high-end, illuminating finish.
9. L’OREAL SUPER LINER
I use this all the time to line my eyes. Some eye-liners can feel quite watery but this one gives a really opaque black finish.
10. TANYA BURR COSMETICS LIP GLOSSES
I wear my lip glosses all the time and they are really hydrating. My favourite at the moment is Chic – it is the most gorgeous, neutral colour.
HAIR
Having great hair is all part of looking good. While my focus has always been on make-up, like any girl, I love to style my hair and have done since I was really small. Growing up, I always played hairdressers with Mum and Tasha. We had a box with all our hair accessories and we would be at it for hours. I even used to do my godfather Peter’s hair and as soon as I walked away, my poor godmother Veronica would quickly try and put it back to normal again!
I’ve not always had long hair. Mum told me recently that when I was small I used to suck my thumb and twiddle my hair, which broke it all off. On one side of my head I had this bald patch, while the other side had hair, so Mum took me round to see her neighbour who was a hairdresser and she went over my hair with the hair clippers to cut it really short! Thankfully, this worked and I stopped sucking my thumb soon afterwards and it grew back!
Over the past few years my basic longer-length hairstyle has stayed the same and I have never wanted to play around with my colour, but I love having different styles. My hairstyle hero is Olivia Palermo because her hair always looks so polished and glossy.
As with fashion, I find myself inspired to create different hairstyles from a range of places. If I’m looking for new ideas, I love looking at pictures of people on the red carpet on Instagram and Pinterest and also just people on the street. So, for example, if I feel like I want to braid my hair, I type in ‘braided hair’ into Instagram and there will always be hundreds of gorgeous styles for me to admire.
Sometimes I style my hair myself and on other occasions my stylist Samantha Cusick does it for me. I’m definitely not a hair expert but I love experimenting with cool hairstyles. On the following pages are some basic hints and tips that I have learnt, along with my some of my favourite looks. Enjoy!
BASIC HAIR CARE
A big part of great everyday hair, much like skin, is discovering what type of hair you have and what products work best for you. Most hair can be divided into roughly three categories: fine, medium and coarse. Understanding your hair texture and type, along with your face shape, can really help you figure out the best cut for you. As always, it’s great to get the advice of a professional, so if you’re thinking about having a new haircut, gather lots of photos or pictures of looks from celebrities or people that inspire you and take them with you to your hairdresser’s. It’s also worth considering your lifestyle: you may love a certain image but if you always roll out of bed at the last-minute then a cut that needs lots of styling probably won’t be the right choice for you.
When you’re at the hairdresser’s, always be confident and say very clearly exactly what you want because if you don’t, I find that some hairdressers will do what they want instead! I found Samantha by chance, but discovering the right person for you is always a process of trial and error. If you find a hairdresser that you love, stick with them, as they will get to know you and understand what you want from your hairstyle.
Also, I think it is important to spend money on getting your hair done properly at a salon. Sometimes when we were younger, my friends and I used to cut each other’s hair and it was, without exception, always a complete disaster! I remember one time when I tried to dye my friend Emma’s hair peroxide blonde and it went a rainbow of colours, including green and orange. Her poor mum had to take her to a proper salon where they were forced to dye it dark brown to correct it. It might seem extravagant, but I think that hair is one of the first things people notice when they look at you and it completely affects your overall look. Someone once said to me, ‘Hair is like clothes, except you wear your hairstyle all the time’, and that has always stuck with me.
When buying hair products, think about what you are trying to achieve, so it might be adding moisture, creating volume and thickness, smoothing and reducing frizz, protecting hair colour or enhancing curls or waves. Most brands will have basic shampoos and conditioners for every eventuality. The same applies to styling products: do you want to create texture and definition? Do you want high shine? Are you hoping for your hair to hold for longer, even when it is humid? Every big hair brand will have something for you.
STYLING AND MY FAVOURITE LOOKS
There are hundreds of ways you can style your hair and I could fill a whole book with my favourite hair fashions, but here is just a selection of some of my favourite everyday styles and how to achieve them:
LOOSE, NATURAL WAVES
I love natural-looking hair with soft movement and I find this look is perfect for wearing every day as an alternative to normal, straight hair. To achieve this look I would use a curling wand with the same width all the way down (approximately one inch) on a medium heat setting. Then take fairly large sections of hair and wrap them around the curling wand, starting three-quarters of the way up so as not to get too much root volume. Hold for about five to ten seconds depending on hair type. Try to curl sections away from the face to create width. Repeat until all hair is curled. It doesn’t matter if the sections of hair are different sizes or you do wrap it in different directions because this will help give your style a more everyday look. Run your hands through the hair to break up the waves and give that loose, natural feel. Finally, give your waves hold with a spritz of hairspray.
EASY AND CUTE PINNED-BACK HAIR
I love wearing my hair down but sometimes it gets in my face, so I like this look because it is easy. I love to curl my hair and you can do it like the waves opposite or on natural hair. I run a Tangle Teezer through the curls to make them look really bouncy and use hairspray to keep the body in my hair. Then take a section of hair from the side, near the front of your hairline, and using a butterfly clip or bobby pins secure it back and into place. You can also twist or braid these sections of hair back as a variation on this look. Repeat on both sides. I like to pull the strands of twisted hair out slightly, so they are not too tight into the head.
BRAIDED UP-DO
I really love this look because I rarely wear my hair up, so it makes a change and is a bit more special than what I do every day. I start by parting my hair in the centre and from the crown down to just behind the ears. Starting from the top hairline, French braid (see page 107) these sections to behind the ear, passing the strands over one another rather than under to create a braid that is not flat to the head, and secure with a bobble. Next, slightly backcomb the back section of hair just under the crown to create a bit of volume and then secure into a low ponytail. Pin the braided ha
ir around the base of the ponytail to conceal that bobble and the rest of the braided hair. Then take the ponytail and roll it upwards, leaving the ends loose, and pin into place. Use a tail comb to tease out any bits that look too tight to the head, and hold in place with a global spritz of hairspray.
HIGH BUN
This style can be great for special occasions or everyday! You can make it as messy or neat as you like, depending on the occasion. I start by putting my hair in a high ponytail on the top of my head. Then grab the hair and wrap it around the base and keep wrapping until you have used all your hair. Pin your hair all the way around the bun to secure it. Sometimes I add some extra glamour with a hair accessory around the bun, like a string of pearls. I finish with a spritz of hairspray.
SIDE FRENCH BRAID
This side-swept plait is one of my favourite styles because it is really elegant. I wore my hair like this to the premiere of Hunger Games: The Mockingjay (Part 1) at the end of last year. To start, give yourself a deep side parting and section the rest of your hair off. To start a French plait, section this portion of hair into three even strands and start a normal plait. Once you have this small foundation plait, begin adding more hair to each section to form a French braid. With this look you want to pass the pieces under each other so the braid sits tighter to the scalp. Continue the braid right round to the nape of your neck, remembering to keep it close to your head. Secure the end of the braid with a band and then use a pin to attach this to your head and give it a blast of hairspray to hold it in place. On the other side of your hair, you can do whatever you want, but I like to wear my hair down and in loose waves.
MY TOP 10
HAIR RULES
1. DON’T OVERWASH YOUR HAIR
I used to wash my hair every day but now I only wash it every three days and not only does this save me time, but my hair feels healthier. The less you wash and touch your hair, the less it breaks, and washing it all the time strips it of natural oils. The best way to cut down on hair washing is to cut down gradually. The first couple of times you do it, your hair might feel gross but slowly you will get used to it. Maybe on the second day curl your hair and add some dry shampoo, then after about a month you will be able to leave it an extra day before washing. On the days you do wash your hair, two shampoos before conditioning will help the hair feel cleaner in between washes.
2. INVEST IN DRY SHAMPOO
These clever hair revivers deliver that fresh feeling without a drop of water and will help to reduce the oil build-up on your hair and give it amazing texture. Before spraying, shake the can well to distribute the powder and hold it at least six inches from your head. Lift up your hair in sections and spray the dry shampoo at the roots, and let it sit for a few minutes before styling. You can leave it in, instead of brushing it out, to give extra volume.
3. DON’T USE TOO MUCH PRODUCT
The more products that you apply to your hair, the more you risk weighing your hair down and causing product build-up. Every couple of weeks, I shampoo my hair twice to wash all traces of product out.
4. USE A HOME-MADE HAIR MASK
Do a hair mask once a week to keep your hair in its best condition. There’s no need to buy an expensive one. Items that you might have in your cupboard that are great for hair include eggs, avocado, coconut oil and honey. Leave your mask on for fifteen minutes while you’re in the bath, as the steam will help the mask to penetrate and repair the hair, and then thoroughly rinse the mask out before shampooing.
5. SHAMPOO THE SCALP NOT THE ENDS
Use shampoo on the scalp only – not the ends of your hair. The shampoo will rinse down in the shower and cleanse the ends. This is especially important on longer hair that can get quite tangled.
6. MASSAGE WHEN WASHING
Give your head an invigorating massage as you shampoo because this is a good way to encourage blood circulation and helps detoxify the scalp.
7. RINSE WITH COLD WATER
After washing your hair, give it a blast of cold water. This adds shine because your hair cuticles reflect more light, making hair appear shinier and healthier.
8. COMB WET HAIR RATHER THAN BRUSHING
When your hair is wet it is weaker and more fragile and susceptible to breakage. Start by gently pressing the water out of your hair with a towel and then use a wide-tooth comb or a Tangle Teezer and work in sections, starting at the top of the hair and working up to the roots.
9. SLEEP WITH YOUR HAIR IN A BRAID
If you have long hair, sleep with it in a braid to avoid getting knotty hair and keep it loose for comfort.
10. GET REGULAR TRIMS
Even if you’re on a budget and growing your hair, get it trimmed every six to eight weeks to remove any split ends or damage. This will make your hair easier to style and manage and it will look so much better too.
List the hairstyles that you feel excited by and want to try …
MY TOP 10
HAIR STYLING TIPS
1. BLOW-DRY YOUR HAIR UPSIDE DOWN
Hang your hair upside down while you blow-dry because this encourages volume and creates a smooth, all-over fullness. Finish with a blast of cold air to seal the cuticles, boost shine and reduce frizz.
2. USE PROTECTIVE TREATMENTS
These will provide the best protection for your hair while you style it. There are lots of different sprays and creams; some are especially designed to give you straight, shiny hair or curls, while others are created for more gentle styling, so select the best product for your needs. I also like to squirt a root-lift spray onto my roots before drying to give my hair a bit of extra volume.
3. BRUSH FROM THE BOTTOM IN SECTIONS
Brushing thick hair from the roots can cause damage. Always brush from the bottom in sections and work upwards. My sister has really thick hair, so my dad always had to do this for her when we were little.
4. DON’T GET STUCK IN A STYLE RUT
If you always seem to have the same hairstyle, head to Pinterest or YouTube to get inspiration for new ideas. If you’re having a new style cut, take pictures or photos of the look you are after with you to show your hair stylist.
5. USE MOUSSE
If your hair is too clean and slippery and difficult to style, use a small amount of mousse rubbed through the ends to give your hair some grip. You can even apply mousse to dry hair and blowdry it in to prep the hair for waves or an up-do.
6. DON’T BE AFRAID OF HAIR EXTENSIONS
If your hair isn’t particularly thick, don’t be afraid of using hair extensions. There are loads of different types available and my favourite ones are Swift Hair extensions by B*long. They fit around your hair using a translucent wire, so there is no glue or clips and they don’t damage your hair in any way. They are very easy to use and look completely natural.
7. TAKE A HEAT BREAK
Rather than style your hair using heat, there are a variety of heat-less hairstyles you can try. If you want loose waves, wash your hair and when it is almost dry twist your hair into a swirly bun and secure it with a small butterfly clip at the top of your head at night. Sleep with it on and when you wake up in the morning and take it out you will have soft, natural-looking hair and lots of volume. The other way of getting slightly tighter curls is to do two braids on either side of your hair before bed again, when it is slightly damp. Continue to braid as close to the ends of your hair as possible, so the curls go right down to the end.
8. DON’T APPLY TOO MUCH PRODUCT
If you’re putting a serum, oils or leave-in conditioner into your hair, use less than you think you need. Put some product into the palm of your hand first and rub your hands together before running them through your hair, so that it is evenly distributed.
9. USE YOUR STRAIGHTENERS FOR DIFFERENT STYLES
There is a heat styling tool for every look you could dream of, but if you don’t have the budget to buy lots of different tools or you have limited storage space, you can create lots of different looks with your straighteners, in
cluding waves and many different styles of curls.
10. NEVER USE STRAIGHTENERS ON WET OR DAMP HAIR
Have you ever put your straighteners on wet hair, only to hear a sizzling sound and see a cloud of steam? Straighteners get very hot and this amount of heat can cause the water inside the hair shaft to actually boil if you put them against wet hair, which in turn causes serious breakage and damage in that spot. Yikes! So always thoroughly dry your hair before using heat-styling tools. This includes when you use heat protection sprays – if you apply a heat protection spray to dry hair don’t forget to blowdry it in!
List your top ten favourite nail varnishes …
NAILS
Having beautiful nails feels like a real girly indulgence but I think nails should be neatly manicured all the time and even just a coat of clear gloss can make all the difference. Wearing coloured nail polish can really alter your look and give your outfit an edge. I paint mine once a week and either have them done at a salon or do them myself at home. If they are painted well, your colour should last for a week. When I’m planning what polish colour to go for, I think about what I’ve got coming up in the week and if I’ve got lots of evening events, I often go for red because as well as being a classic colour, it’s an instant mood lifter.
Like skin and hair, everyone has different types of nails. In the same way that our skin might be classed as dry, oily or sensitive, some people’s nails are more brittle and prone to splitting or have oilier nail beds than others. If your nails are in bad condition, seek out a manicurist and ask their advice on what products might help.
THE DIY MANICURE
Having your finger or toenails manicured by a professional at a salon is a lovely treat but it is very easy to get to grips with giving yourself a basic manicure at home. Make sure you give yourself enough time to let the polish dry afterwards. I am definitely not patient when it comes to letting my nails dry but there is nothing more annoying than smudged nails!
