Can we start an updated 2016 "How to look expensive thread"?

[WhatInTheWorld76]

I appreciate that many of the previous thread title's advice remains valid, but can we have a shiny new 2016 version?

[BorisStoleMyWig]

Is it one of the rotating ones or the flat ones Becky?

[CarpetDiem]

I've got a babyliss big hair (rotating one) & it's 'da bomb'. My hair resembles Gollum's prior to a blast on the babyliss with some got2b powderfull & I'm transformed

[BallerinaBecky]

Mine is the rotating one as well but it really isn't suitable for everyday use IMO. I have naturally thick hair and the sides of my hair were literally pulled away over time.

[CarpetDiem]

Ah, perhaps it's more suitable for fine - medium hair. I can imagine it taking forever on thick hair.

[BallerinaBecky]

No it doesn't take long, the barrel is very big. It makes the hair look healthy (until your hairdresser points out it is pulling the baby hair around your face out).

[CarpetDiem]

I'll need to watch out for that happening

[GinAndOnIt]

So, after blow drying my hair this evening ready for the next few days, I couldn't help wondering about looking different day-to-day compared to when dressed up for an evening.

I've always been quite bland during the day, but 'scrubbed up well' for special occasions, and I have friends who look lovely all the time, but look very similar when it comes to getting dressed up.

Is there a happy medium between looking polished and looking dressed up? Am I now going to have to either start doing fancy hairstyles in an evening or accept that I look the same as I do during the day? I don't like heavy makeup, and just wear mascara and eyebrow pencil during the day, but wear tinted moisturiser with highlighter, subtle bronzer etc in evening. It was really the difference in whether my hair was a knotty mess or not that made me look substantially different day to night!

What do others do? Not that I really go out in the evenings anymore, but for weddings etc, it's nice to feel different.

[Pisssssedofff]

There's a mum at our school who always looks like she's going out, always and she doesn't look any different when she is out. Beautiful girl though

[Blueisthemagicnumber]

I tend to make a lot more effort with make up in the evening, darker eye colours, heavier foundation.

I definitely have day tops and evening tops, clothing wise.

[GinAndOnIt]

I think that's what I'm afraid of blue, I don't like wearing heavy makeup and don't want to have to increase that to look different in the evening. Although I suppose looking polished but the same day to night is better than looking like crap 90% of the time!

[ProjectGainsborough]

I tend to use the same makeup day to night. But I look grubby if I wear too much - I love makeup, but it doesn't love me, sadly.

When I had the money to go to an expensive salon, they recommended this to refresh my colour. Did some last night to even out my tone. And an at home keratin kit to fight the frizz. Feeling a bit more polished.

[Blueisthemagicnumber]

My day eye make up is a mid brown shadow smudged across my top lashes, around the outer corner and mid way along my bottom lash. To change it up I change that for a darker brown or black shadow, maybe adding a flick.

[GinAndOnIt]

blue that sounds lovely. Would you post a pic of your eye with the brown shadow?

[SeaRabbit]

I spent the best £46 ever when I had an Aveda blow dry class - my hair is now glossy when I've dried it using their method:

www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/fashion-beauty/hair-advice/how-to-blow-dry-your-hair-at-home

[ProjectGainsborough]

Interesting searabbit - it says you have to use a paddle brush. Do you use it to pull the hair down?

I'm loving the descriptions of 'expensive women we have seen'. I was introduced to a some friends of friends who all looked expensive. They were all wearing wafty poncho / blanket scarf type things (this was last winter), they all had long glossy hair and expensive jewellery and I'm guessing they must have had some subtle work done as they were mid 40s and looked 10-15 years younger.

They were fascinating to observe, but I'm not sure I'd be able to tell one from another in a lineup. There's a lesson in there somewhere.

[Blueisthemagicnumber]

Gin This isn't me! I'm not that beautiful but it is this effect.

[SeaRabbit]

Gainsborough i was taught to isolate the top bit then divide the side and back bits into 4. Then using the paddle brush (a Mason Pearson one) I brush each 1/4 of hair round my head as I dry it, smoothing & straightening it. Then I do the Same to the top only in two goes. Voila smooth straight hair - very quick and easy once I'd got the hang of it. Basically I use the shape of my head to give shape to my hair, while the brush smooths and straightens it.

[Sithee]

SeaRabbit, that's what my hairdresser taught me too. It's called "flat wrapping" I think. Easy peasy.

[GinAndOnIt]

I'm wondering if there are any hair-up hairstyles that are polished and elegant looking? It would be nice to not always have to have hair down but still look nice.

[olderthanyouthink]

GinAndOnlt I would say google it but some peoples idea of everyday hairstyles are insane.
A crown braid, I think, looks nice and once you've got the hang of it they don't take that long and can last a couple days.

I'm wondering what the (very) curly version of long, swishy, glossy hair is?

[GinAndOnIt]

older I had a look on Pinterest and they all looked like they were about to head off to their wedding! I'm okay with fiddly hairstyles but I don't like to look like I've been sat in the mirror for the last three hours

I'll have a look at a crown braid. I think a sort of French twist would be nice too, not a really stiff one, but I don't think I could handle that many pins in my hair all day.

I love big curly hair, especially with a side parting and the curls just dripping down the back. I often used to wish I was Afro-Caribbean so I could have curls like that

[BabooshkaKate]

Not read the full thread so excuse me if it's been mentioned already, but you can now get your colours done online at John Lewis: www.johnlewis.com/women/personal-style-edit

I love it - total surprise for me with some of those things. I have bought whole outfits and I've also looked in other shops to replace some things no way am I paying £100 for a white t-shirt.

They also suggest styles based on your shape, the occasion and you can choose how 'adventurous' you want to be. I selected very as I thought it was better to ignore things I didn't like than miss out on an unusual outfit.

[olderthanyouthink]

GinAndOnlt I looked at Pinterest to! Like anyone has time to intricately weave their hair in to what looks like a basket in the morning.

Yeah I have mixed race Afro-Carib hair and side partings are kinda a must else you end up with triangle hair. Mines short now, like a bob so it's easier to untangle.
Trust me straight, euro hair is generally easier to deal with, you don't want to deal with curls on a daily basis.

I like my hair now but I didn't always, not helped by most people around me and in the media having euro hair. It's still a bit of a problem where curly hair is often portrayed as hippy or "creative" not really polished, elegant or professional

[olderthanyouthink]

BabooshkaKate I'm sure I've don't that before but I just did it again ... It doesn't have a good grasp of my skin tone so recommended a colour that makes me look ill, despite my saying I don't like that colour

It's a nice idea and might give you some ideas or jog you to try new things but I think it need to be used with caution.