We fell in love with her in Mamma Mia and she has been charming her way into our hearts ever since. Well-known for her bountiful, blond curls, Amanda has hair that most girls would die for. Then in her recent movie – In Time – she goes for a complete change with a short bob but still manages to look just as striking. How does she do it?

Premiers

Amanda is often seen gracing a red carpet with sleek, effortlessly wavy blond locks. To get this look make sure your hair is professionally coloured in a golden, shiny blond. If you have short hair, add some stylish extensions – the trick to getting Amanda’s hair is uniformity in colour and length. Amanda Seyfried loves to wear a deep side part, mysteriously covering her face by her hair. Amanda swears she doesn’t own a blow dryer but if you are not graced with Amanda’scurls, simply create those undulating waves with a wide barrel curling iron or a round brush and blow-dryer.

Updos

Amanda prefers to wear her hair in the loose curls we love, but when she wears an updo it always looks fantastic. A lover of French twists and buns, Amanda’s updos always look whimsical. To create one of her famous updos, like the one seen at the premier of Red Riding Hood, you need to first curl or crimp your hair to get Amanda’s natural waves. Next create two ponytails, one on top of each other, at the base of the neck, leaving out a few wispy pieces to frame the face. Next wrap the two ponytails together into a loose bun, allowing the bottom ponytail to hang out more, creating a relaxed, messy updo like Amanda’s.

In time

Amanda’s locks in the movie In Time are not her own, but the sultry wig is a big change for this innocent Hollywood sweetheart. The cropped, red bob she dons in this movie makes a bold, sexy statement. If you have porcelain skin like Amanda, a bold colour like this red can really set off your natural tones. Make sure you get your hair cut by a professional hairdresser and make sure all the lines are sharp and perfectly straight for this dramatic look.

An alarming report about formaldehyde levels in hair smoothing treatments recently surfaced in the US. The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) says that hair straightening in salons is not safe in either the short or long term. Even keratin-based treatments contain dangerous amounts of formaldehyde, and the fact that these treatments are unregulated (in the UK too) is worrying.

Formaldehyde is toxic

Formaldehyde, an ingredient in embalming fluid, is what makes many hair smoothing formulas work. In the short term it irritates the upper respiratory tract, the skin and the eyes. In the long term, the risks are more worrying. The OSHA considers formaldehyde a carcinogen as it has been linked to leukaemia and cancer. ‘All products containing [formaldehyde] should be banned,’ Martyn Smith, a toxicologist from the University of California at Berkely, says.

Popular treatments don’t meet EU standards

The EU says that to keep stylists and clients safe levels of formaldehyde in hair treatments should be below 0.2 per cent, but manufacturers in the US are making products with up to 50 times the recommended limit. Last year the EU sent out warnings about four straightening products used in the UK: Coppola, Brazilian Blowout, KeraStraight and Global Keratin, all of which contain levels of formaldehyde far higher than EU guidelines recommend.

The treatments don’t work without formaldehyde

Many companies claim that their products smooth and straighten hair without the use of formaldehyde for up to five months. These products contain amino acids, keratin or ‘conditioners’. But alone, these ingredients can’t do what formaldehyde can. So manufacturers use less obvious forms of the substance, like methylene glycol, which releases formaldehyde gas when heated. Even if a smoothing treatment claims to be free of formaldehyde, it probably isn’t.

The bottom line: there is no such thing as a safe hair straightening treatment. If you’re bothered by frizz, ask your stylist to recommend shampoo and conditioner that will help keep your hair smooth – without formaldehyde.

We all have those bad hair days where no matter what we do we just can’t seem to control our unruly locks. We all know our cute beanies and head-scarves aren’t just there to add a splash of colour; they come to our rescue on those really bad hair days. Solve your common hair problems with some quick tips and use your hats as a fashion accessory to show off (rather than hide) your fabulous hair.

Frizzy hair

A lack of moisture in the air causes the hair to dry out, become static and frizz.To combat frizz you need to lock the moisture into your hair. Hair masks are great for this purpose as they replace your ordinary conditioner and should be applied once a week. Hair masks should be applied to wet (shampooed hair) and covered with cling wrap and a towel. Leave for a minimum of 15 minutes before washing and enjoy your shiny, glossy and smooth hair!

Dry scalp

Dry scalp is also caused by the lack of moisture in the air. The same dryness that you experience on your legs and arms during certain seasons also occurs on your scalp – resulting in flaky and nasty- looking dry scalp. To combat dry scalp use shampoo and conditioner that contains tea tree oil to reduce itchiness. Shea butter also helps to moisturise and rejuvenate the skin while products that contain urea alleviate itchiness and tightness by putting the moisture back into dry skin cells.

Dull hair

Hair that is not naturally bleached and highlighted by the sun can end up looking dull and mousy. Semi-permanent colours and glazes can help to rejuvenate and brighten your hairif this is the problem with your hair. You can either get a glaze done at a salon or use an at-home glaze product. At-home glazes are easy to apply, will instantly restore the shine and colour to your hair and they are normally available in clear or a variety of colours to suit any hair type.

Split ends

Split ends can be caused by a variety of factors – the cold, dry air, static electricity and the constant use of heaters and styling products can cause the hair to become brittle and damaged resulting in split ends.Save your ends by shampooing your hair less often to restore your hair’s natural oils, and avoid heating tools like curlers, straighteners and hairdryers. Also make sure you get your ends trimmed regularly to avoid unsightly split ends.

What happens on the inside of your body often reflects on the outside. As a result, food plays a very big part of your appearance and this includes your hair and nails. Your hair and nails are often the most noticed of all your features and it is important to keep both looking healthy and well nourished. Undernourished nails can look ridged, brittle and have white spots on them while undernourished hair can appear dry and, in some cases, it can even fall out.

Although all healthy food will add to the health of your hair and nails, some foods are more helpful than others.

Good foods to eat

Vitamin C is important to your body’s development and growth and this is especially important to your hair. A lack of Vitamin C causes split ends and dry hair and it is recommended that women take 75 mg a day and men have 9 mg a day. Foods high in Vitamin C include citrus fruit such as oranges and lemons as well as broccoli and bell peppers. Eggs are another source of nourishment for hair and nails because they contain Vitamin A, B and E as well as zinc and calcium. Egg yolks also contain a lot of biotin, which is a B-complex vitamin also very healthy for your hair and nails.

Great natural recipes

Food can also be good for your hair and nails when being applied rather than eaten. A great way to condition your hair is to mix one small jar of mayonnaise with half of an avocado. Once it reaches a smooth green consistency, apply it to the hair, especially the tips, and seal it with a shower cap for twenty minutes. Rinse it off and style. To keep your nails from breaking, it is good to soak them in warm olive oil once a week. Simply warm up a bowl and if your nails have been stained by your nail polish, add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the mix. This will keep your nails strong and healthy.

Hair and nails are both made from a substance called keratin, so what is good for the one will definitely benefit the other. Keep your nails and hair healthy and clean to ensure that your overall appearance conveys the right message to those around you.

There are many natural ways to keep our hair healthy and shiny and one of the most surprising ingredients that we can use to do so is beer. The protein in the hops and malt in beer coat, replenish and repair your hair to keep it looking great. Beer is especially convenient for those who prefer to use organic ingredients on their hair rather than shop bought products.

A great conditioner

There are a number of ways to make hair conditioner with the added ingredient of beer, but one of the most simple and effective is to combine a cup of warm beer with a teaspoon of jojoba oil. Once you have washed your hair once or twice, you can pour the mixture into your hair and massage it for a minute or two. Give it time to set for a few minutes and then rinse your hair with some warm water. The beer will give your hair body while the jojoba oil will make it shine.

Add it to your shampoo

A great cheat, if you are worried about the smell of beer on your hair, is to buy an organic shampoo and add beer to it. All you have to do is heat one and a half cups of beer on the stove until the heat reduces it to a quarter of a cup. Cool the beer and simply add it to your shampoo. Store the beer in the refrigerator so that you can use it again.

Beer also makes a great setting lotion if sprayed into the hair before styling. It creates a coating on the hair shafts and works as a setting gel. Be careful when adding beer to your hair regime, though, as it does smell. Make sure that the other ingredients you use hide the odour.

So you have just received a call from the secretary at your child’s school to say that your child has lice. You are not only embarrassed, but have no idea what to do next. Don’t worry. Lice are very common, especially amongst school children where they are able to move from one head to another with ease. This isn’t something to be embarrassed about and can easily be tackled. You are not the first parent to solve this problem and you certainly will not be the last.

About lice

Head lice are small, six-legged parasites which grow up to the size of a sesame seed. They live on human and animal heads where they find warmth and food and where they can lay their eggs (called nits). These hardy creatures can be submerged in water for up to six hours so a shower or bath will not rid you of them, but they cannot go more than a day without food. They cannot jump, fly or hop, so head-to-head contact is how they spread. Although these insects cannot harm your child, they do cause an itchy scalp.

My child has lice

If you are certain that your child has lice, you should use an over-the-counter medicated shampoo especially used for that purpose. Lice-killing shampoos are call pediculicides and are made from chrysanthemums. Read the instructions carefully and proceed as soon as possible. You should also check the rest of the household to see if they have been infected and warn close friends and family to do this same. This will protect your child against being re-infected. It is also advised to wash all bedding, toys and headrests used by those who have been infected.

Ten days after treatment, treat all those infected once more, in case any nits have survived the first treatment. If after the second treatment you child still has a problem, you should visit your family doctor who will most likely give you a prescribed medical shampoo.

Everyone is faced with an annoying beauty snag from time to time, and they tend to hit when you have no time to deal with them. Luckily, we have some instant beauty fixes for some of the most common problems. We tell you how to hide your roots when you can’t make it to the salon, disguise dark circles under your eyes, banish red bumps on your arms and deal with that one annoying chipped fingernail that can ruin your manicure when you least expect it.

Roots

If you choose a hair colour dramatically different to your own, you’ll need to be able to commit to having your roots done as often as every three weeks. Reds, in particular, fade very quickly. But if you must have a colour that’s many shades different from your own and you can’t make it to the salon as soon as your roots start showing, there is something you can do to hide them immediately: comb a zig-zag pattern through your hair’s natural parting and hold it in place with some light hold hair spray. See how a stylist does it here.

Dark circles

Dark circles under your eyes are an absolute no-no. They make you look tired and washed out. If you wake up after a night out looking like the undead, do not apply thick concealer under your eyes. First apply foundation, and then use a make-up brush to gently apply concealer under your eyes. Using your fingers to dab it in can work well, too. Probably the best product on the market for an instant dark circles fix is YSL’s Touche Éclat. Applied carefully it’s invisible.

Red bumps

The red bumps that appear on the back of many people’s arms come from a genetic condition called keratosis pilaris. While they’re unsightly, they aren’t bad for you. Using a product with lactate and urea in it – ingredients found in creams for dry, cracked feet – will get rid of them very quickly.

A chipped fingernail

If one of your nails gets chipped, you can do one of two things. You could quickly file the nail down a bit and paint the rest of the chip with matching nail varnish. If you don’t have the colour the manicurist used, dip a nail varnish brush into nail varnish remover and run it in a line from the cuticle to the tip of your nail. This will soften the nail polish, so you can patch up the chip.

Stars such as Denise Richards and Drew Barrymore are bringing back the ponytail and they can be seen rocking the style to everything from a relaxed dinner to a red carpet event. The ponytail should not only be worn on bad hair days or thrown together for a quick trip to the shops, done correctly a sleek, modern ponytail can be the perfect accessory to a gorgeous evening dress. Perfect the ponytail and you will find that any day can be a great hair day!

The low pony

A low pony is great for a sophisticated and aloof look. To add a modern twist part your hair to the side, creating a deep bang before you sweep the hair back to the nape of the neck. Your side parting should be in line with the arch of your eyebrow and it can either be smoothed back with gel for a perfect appearance or backcomb the hair before tying it back for a punk-rock edge.

A curly up-do

A traditional curly up-do can be transformed into a sexy look for a night out with a simple ponytail. If your hair is naturally straight you need to curl it first with a curling iron or hot rollers. Next part your hair about 2 inches away from your face so that the front section of your hair is separate – now clip that way and get to work on the back. Tie the back piece up in a high ponytail and make sure it is securely fastened. Now take the curls from the front, wrap them gently around the ponytail and pin them in place and you will have a beautiful ponytail with cascading curls at different levels.

Plaits

Plaits are being incorporated into ponytails to give them a fresh, whimsical feeling. Plait your fringe and secure it across your forehead while tying the rest of your hair into a side ponytail at the base of the plait. You could also sweep your hair up into a high pony, braid one piece of hair and fasten it around your hairband for a touch of modern elegance. For a fun and flirty look simply braid some small plaits into your ponytail.

In an attempt to get curly, luscious locks you can blow dry your hair with a round brush, use a curling iron or use hot rollers. But if you have dead straight hair you may find that these curls last for just a couple of hours, or minutes, before falling flat. So if you’ve tried everything but nothing seems to work, carry on reading to find out how to get those curls to hold.

Prep your hair

Prepping your hair before you curl it can help when it comes to getting your curls to stay put. Squeaky clean hair is less likely to hold curls than slightly dirty hair. Use a lightweight gel or mouse on your hair before you curl it and a styling spray afterwards. If your hair really won’t stay consider blow-drying and hot rolling – curl your hair to the max and comb your fingers through it to dislodge the curls and give it a more natural look.

Everyday tricks

The way you treat your hair every day could be having an effect on why it won’t hold your curls. Try swapping your conditioner for a lighter product, as certain conditioners can make your hair heavy by leaving a residue on your hair which will pull out any curls. Make sure your hair is not damaged by over-colouring and that your spilt ends are cut off – damaged hair will frizz before it curls. Also make sure you are using professional styling tools as cheap products will just burn and damage your hair and do little to create big, voluptuous curls.

Go to the hairdresser

If you still can’t get your curls to hold you may want to resort to drastic measures like getting a perm or permanent wavein your hair. Long hair also doesn’t curl very well so consider getting your hair cut to about shoulder length. If you’re curling your hair for an important occasion get it professionally done and try and pick up some tips and tricks at the same time!

The lengths we’ll go for beauty can reach extreme heights. Would you slather bird poo on your face? Wrap yourself up in hot hay? Probably not. How about soaking your hair in bull’s semen? While these treatments don’t sound very appealing, many women (and men) swear by them. We take a look at some of the more bizarre spa treatments from around the globe – as well as one that’s a little closer to home.

The Geisha Facial

Japanese geishas have used the Geisha Facial, a treatment made of sterilised nightingale poo, for centuries. It’s said the excrement, which contains enzymes that are important for your skin, exfoliates and brightens your complexion. Victoria Beckham is one of the Geisha Facial’s many famous devotees.

The hot hay wrap

Italy’s Hotel Heubad offers an unusual take on the body wrap. The Original Volser Hay Bath has clients soaking in[M1] a hot water bed (it’s heated to 100 degrees Fahrenheit) while they’re wrapped in wet hay grown in the meadows of Alpe di Suisi – and only harvested between July and August. The treatment is said to detoxify the body, clarifying the skin.

Cactus massage

The Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita in Mexico is home to the Hakaliki Massage. Prickle-free cactus leaves massage a blend of cactus blossom and cactus meringue into your skin. The massage is said to remove toxins and hydrate the skin.

Viagra for your hair

At home in Knightsbridge, London, Hari’s Salon offers a hair conditioning treatment known as ‘Viagra for Hair’. The Aberdeen Organic Bull Sperm Treatment is made up of the semen from a bull combined with protein-packed Katera root and promises to moisturise and repair hair.

We’ll stick with good old seaweed wraps, hot stone massage and Paul Mitchell salon treatments, thank you very much.