What's your best make-up / hair tip?

[L8rAllig8r]

I need to freshen up my look, am stuck in a rut with hairstyle and make up. But I don't really know where to start!

Anyone got any styling tips to share?

(Mac Paintpot in Bare Study)

Enough of your By Terry porn Get Orf

Tatty, oh hair guru, I try for soft tousled waves but end up looking a bit <a class="break-all" href="//www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=1.bp.blogspot.com/_BH4AkUxj8GY/SkYyD1p5ONI/AAAAAAAAH6c/BplZU06fV4Y/s400/Farrah-Fawcett-Pic-1.jpg&imgrefurl=www.thebeautyoflifeblog.com/2009/06/beautiful-belles-farrah-fawcett.html&h=400&w=323&sz=38&tbnid=r8ws1Cb3qIQMaM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=100&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dfarrah%2Bfawcett%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=farrah+fawcett&usg=__qVCw0Z56NO3KKQN5h-FC2aeVcG4=&sa=X&ei=Q4H3TajJMoK7hAel3qWEDA&ved=0CDkQ9QEwAg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Farrah Fawcett - any tips?

The By Terry mascara has lash growth serum in it. And I love it.

How you doing it MissBehiving? GHD's? If so, and you end up Farrah, you are doing it in the wrong direction!

If round brushes, or tong, dump them and use GHD's (in the right direction)...

Colour in your eyebrows with a really good eyebrow pencil in little feathery strokes, I find it unbelievable the improvement that pencilling your eyesbrows gives. It gives definition to your face in a way that no amount of other make up can do. Take heed though as you don't want to look like <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=cdn02.okcdn.okmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/kpus.jpg&imgrefurl=www.okmagazine.com/2009/08/news-from-across-the-pond-katie-price-takes-time-out-sarah-harding-shines-after-big-night-peaches-defends-new-hairstyle/&usg=__kZ57RMUT3ffTQhGVdxd22UCK1DE=&h=300&w=256&sz=139&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=egMWlWeVchl4GM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=106&ei=9oP3TcqtLNKo8AOdqrnYCw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dkatie%2Bprice%2Bblack%2Bhair%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26gbv%3D2%26biw%3D1023%26bih%3D597%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=589&vpy=246&dur=3841&hovh=240&hovw=204&tx=122&ty=214&page=1&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:16,s:0&biw=1023&bih=597" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this , rather more like <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.hollywoodgo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Kate-Middleton.jpg&imgrefurl=www.hollywoodgo.com/celebrity-gossip/kate-middleton-quits-her-day-job-30587/&usg=__1y9QXboc5lDagkqpKZeQpxtKxco=&h=449&w=300&sz=35&hl=en&start=21&zoom=1&tbnid=ajHpQqdOkYi0tM:&tbnh=129&tbnw=90&ei=dYX3TYaUMIqr8QOMqvnXCw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dkate%2Bmiddleton%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26biw%3D1023%26bih%3D597%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=206&vpy=211&dur=8394&hovh=275&hovw=183&tx=73&ty=267&page=2&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:21&biw=1023&bih=597" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this!

And make sure you rinse your hair really thoroughly after shampooing/conditioning, that's another thing that always suprises me is how much shinier and generally healthier it looks after taking just one more minute to rinse it properly.

I can't do eyebrow pencil - I end up looking like Joan Crawford. I have just bought some coloured eyebrow wax from Shavata and it is BRILLIANT. Don't bother with beneshit brow zing, it's, well, shit.

I just use a brown eyeshadow for my brows...not too dark a one. I think the wax thing can really be useful once your brows need taming...mine don't as yet but my mother assures me in the next decade they will look like <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.cultbeauty.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/eyebrows.jpg&imgrefurl=www.cultbeauty.co.uk/blog/2010/02/page/2/&usg=__S9O5PFzyjQM6EAjIJdZ85Fqnzd0=&h=429&w=500&sz=47&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=coyP96Yk1XmPJM:&tbnh=168&tbnw=205&ei=4on3TZugN8qyhAe21cGYCw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dold%2Bman%2Beyebrows%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1093%26bih%3D491%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=148&vpy=188&dur=29&hovh=208&hovw=242&tx=68&ty=233&page=1&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0&biw=1093&bih=491" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this

Mmm.. I think that may be doing it in the wrong direction. Generally the story of my life . I shall change my technique. Thanks Tatty

my top hair tip is to rinse thoroughly and then rinse again with cold water.

I am told the science of it is that the cold water closes the hair follicles. the non science is that it makes my hair shiny.

oh, and buy a cheap shampoo and once a week wash your hair with the cheap shampoo. you can then rewash with your normal one but the cheapo shampoo will clean away the build up from your normal shampoo.

And here I was spending £££ on clarifying shampoos when I could have used Fairy Liquid!

I tint my eyebrows, it gives definition to the face.

tatty

Apparently all shampoo's, even the expensive ones leave residue. it is what makes your hair look nice and shiny/ smooth and sleek etc.
When you change your shampoo your hair feels great for the first couple of washes but then it starts to feel normal.

By using the cheapo every now and then it seems to cancel out the build up so your nice shampoo always feels like it is new.

or at least it works for me.

My friend swears by a fairy liquid wash every 10 days or so.

If your hair is past shoulder wash and almost dry and then tie in a bun on top and one at the nape and go to bed. Lovely wavy shiny hair in the morning.
I have been using eyelash serum I was sceptical and worried I had wasted the money but its amazing!
Pale peach eyeshadow all over lid
Curl lashes
Mascara only on top lashes
Outline lips with a pencil in lip colour ie invisible apart from definition then fill in with soapandglory motherpucker clear gloss looks v nice
Fake tan all over then about 20 mins later put any body lotion over teh top shower off in the morning and it will be even and light
Pale peach eyeliner on inner rim of eye if hungover or knackered

I swear by philip Kingsley hair products, absolutely fab.

TracyK - very glad to hear someone else does this. I was beginning to think i was a bit barmy and imagining it being beneficial

Wow, lots of replies! Love it. Thanks to all. I didn't give much detail before as I was on my phone.

I have long-ish hair that never looks as though I've done anything with it. Its just there. I get layers cut which look great the day they're done but they disappear as soon as I blowdry it. I also like it curled but it takes half an hour and with a toddler is not usually possible! I'm reluctant to go shorter as I know I can't 'style' and at least this length I can just tie it back when I give up!

Makeup wise, I wear all in one face base, pink eyeshadow, black eyeliner and black mascara. That's it. Too nervous of the clown look for blusher, too lazy to keep reapplying lipstick. I use hair removal cream on my eyebrows as I can't pluck to save my life and i can't really justify the expense of waxing or threading. They look ok though.

I just feel generally that I always look the same, whether its at the supermarket or a night out, and in need of ideas to help me vary my look a bit. I can't afford any expensive lotions or potions unfortunately. I do have the Gold IV GHDs but they rarely get used as I just don't know what I'm doing. Have started watching how-to videos on youtube, but thought I'd ask here too! So thanks very much for the advice so far, all ideas are useful!

I have the Mn DIY haircut.
I wash and towel dry my hair, tip my head upside down and blow dry it by blasting it roughly with the dryer. I spritz it with hairspray, wait 2 minutes and then tip my head back up.

It gives me a sort of volumised, layered look. (i hope)

I have either that or super straigh GHD'd to death hair.

If you are worried about looking like a clown try cream blush, or blusher pearls rather than a block blush powder. I find it easier to sweep across and blend in.

Can I just make a random point about the "pale peach eyelid" and "lilac eyelid" tips.

Depends on whether you have warm or cool colouring really. If warm, lilac is your enemy, it will make you pale and sallow. But for cool colouring it will wake you right up.

If you have warm colouring, peach is your lilac. Honestly, they are basically opposite each other on the colour wheel. Peach will waken and enliven a warm toned person's eyelids.

So if you take one of those tips and it doesn't work for you, you're the other one!

Blob of Garnier Fructis Volumising Mousse about the size of a 50p (if you have thin hair you will obviously need less) rubbed into your roots before blow drying.

Apply liquid foundation with a stippling brush.

Ooh Salter I was thinking that was something you'd pick up at B&Q

Googled it and its my favourite MAC brush!!!

Agree re haircut. Just got mine done and even with zero makeup I look better than before (fringe helps to hide my face!)
I am seriously low-maintenance tho - no hairdryer, no styling - just some Frizz-ease for emergencies.
I pluck my own eyebrows too (tight git emoticon) but I have to, I could never get it together to go to a salon regularly and I look like wolfgirl with unplucked brows.

tatty -how can you tell if you're warm or cool toned?

I got my eyelashes permed and tinted today ...fan-bloody-taastic.
Also got brows tinted.