Get Thinking

Top 5 styling tips for the man in your life.

When it comes to the men in our lives, we can’t deny that many of them need some serious help in the style department, am I right ladies? Whether it’s your husband, boyfriend, dad or your annoying brother, help is on the way! Getit caught up with multi-awardwinning hairdresser Paul James Graham from Paul & Paul Salon to get his top 5 tips to a less scruffy man.

TIP 1: SIMPLE IS THE NEW REMARKABLE Most women understand the importance of a good shampoo & conditioner, but the most common grievance is that the men in their lives steal their good shampoo and waste most of it by washing their entire body. Men prefer to keep things simple. My advice is to kit your men out with a 3 in 1, body wash, shampoo & conditioner. Find one that will stimulate the hair and scalp while conditioning and detangling the hair and also leave his skin cleansed. Perfect for men with an active lifestyle. TIP 2: HAIR SPRAY ISN’T JUST FOR HER Hairspray can also be your man’s best hair ally! Waxes and pastes are great, but more often than not guys end up using way too much, leaving the hair sticky and waxy. A light spritz of hair spray can do the trick to keep your man’s hair looking awesome. Look for a product that has a strong but flexible hold factor, but also absorbs oils and adds texture.

TIP 3: BALD DOESN’T MEAN BLAND With so many men embracing their thinning hair and opting for close cropped cuts it’s important to remember to protect the scalp. There is nothing worse than that itchy feeling of sunburn and nothing more unsightly than a red sore, flaking bald scalp. This is where sun protection is essential. A sunscreen that contains SPF30 and a moisturiser is also good for scalp exposed protection too. Try for a non greasy product you can massage onto his scalp and he’ll be singing your praises in no time! TIP 4: PASTE IN GOOD TASTE Pastes and waxes can build up in the hair, but only if they’re used incorrectly or not cleansed from the hair regularly. For men that have very dense, thick and coarse hair sometimes the only product that might work is a strong wax or paste. That being said it is important to use it sparingly and add more as you may require it. TIP 5: LONG HAIR DO CARE It’s no secret, some men love to let it grow long. Regular cuts to minimise split ends are essential but for the time-poor fella that wants to treat his locks right, you can’t go past a good oil. Argan, macadamia or coconut, the variety and options of oil are endless, but one thing is certain, applying a small amount of oil to your ends goes a long way in caring for your hair. An oil that contains shea butter, a natural source of keratin that is essential for maintaining the integrity of long hair is a great option for both of you.

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Hmmm Spring Cleaning

— by Krysten Davis —

Ipresume that people used to ‘spring’ clean because they had been inside during a cold, damp, dank northern Winter and probably had an open fire and associated smoke and stains.

Our Winters are spectacularly lovely. Nothing really dark and dank at all! I think in the current environment we need to think about a metaphorical Winter. A Winter of the soul in which we have been beset by uncertainty, plague and the very disturbing realisation that some of our friends and family are actually secret antivax COVID deniers and source all their information from Facebook and Sky News! It is time, after our Winter of the spirit, to cleanse and refresh. To clear all the cobwebs out of our brains (and pantry) and plan for what we really want in the future. Hold people, and if they do not ‘bring you joy’ feel free to remove them from your life. Look at what your habits are and what can be better. I need to stop reaching for my phone the minute my eyes open to look at social media and COVID numbers. Unfurl your mind and body in the warmth of spring - GET MOVING! Move your body, engage your brain and keep with you only the people and habits that add to your joy… not your mental load.

Everything in itsPlace Place

We’re all spending more time at home than ever before, so it only makes sense that we’re casting our focus to organising the spaces we use every day. Michelle Anderson, professional organiser, KonMari consultant and founder of The Tidy Effect, talks to us about all things decluttering.

In 2019, Netflix released ‘Tidying Up with Marie Kondo’, bringing the renowned organisational expert to screens worldwide, and sparking a surge of new devotees of her KonMari Method. Michelle Anderson is all too familiar with the desire for a streamlined home, sharing with us the concept behind KonMari, making space in our lives both mentally and physically, and getting started with decluttering. 1. Tell us about The Tidy Effect, how did the business come about?

I’ve always loved homes and started my career as an interior designer, but after a few years realised I wanted to help people get rid of stuff, rather than accumulate more. I now specialise in decluttering homes using the KonMari Method, plus clearing digital clutter such as files, emails and photos. 2. What is the importance of decluttering your space, and how does it impact other areas of your life? A decluttered and organised home is the foundation of your overall well being. When the home is cluttered, your mind feels cluttered, and anxiety rises as your brain reads all the incomplete tasks as it scans the room. When everything has a home, it reduces stress and conflict and saves time. 3. What is the KonMari Method, and what makes it so unique and effective? It’s a very particular method of decluttering and organising the home. It differs from other methods of organising as we work in categories rather than room by room. Working in categories means we see all the items of each category at once, making us more aware of the volume and making us more willing to cull. 4. Can you take me through ‘digital decluttering’? Digital decluttering is organising your files, emails, photos, and optimising your computers to suit your use. We can get all your passwords under control, sort out your bookmarks and more. It’s proving to be a popular service among small business owners, especially. 5. If someone is daunted by the thought of decluttering, what are 3 steps they could take to get started? Start with deciding why you’re doing this, what your end goal is, and what your ideal life looks like. Write that down for reference during difficult points in the process. Begin with your clothing and if doing your entire wardrobe is too daunting, break it down into smaller categories. Thirdly, make sure you follow through with the discarding. Donate, sell, recycle, or trash everything you no longer want to keep.