Have Yourself a Merry Little Manicure

 Festive nails courtesy of Prettly

             After a grueling week, I finished my final exams at university this past Friday (hoorah!). I dashed out of my last exam to be greeted by my light at the end of the tunnel, which came in the form of Prettly. Prettly is a new beauty technology startup in London where you receive a lot of bang for your buck. They offer services such as manicures, pedicures (both Shellac and classic), hair, and make-up…all delivered straight to your doorstep, your office, or another location of your choice!

             While it can be said that most women love a good pampering session, looking good takes time (take note, boys!) and sometimes that’s time that we simply don’t have. Prettly works under the premise of convenience. Founder and CEO of Prettly.com, Rhea Papanicolaou-Frangista, comments that “anything from ordering groceries to taxis can now be done with a tap of the phone.” Papanicolaou-Frangista and Co-Founder and Head of Marketing, Farrah Hamid, discovered a gap in London for women’s beauty needs, and then they filled it.

My friend receiving her pedicure

             Prettly’s mobile-friendly website couldn’t be more simple to use and it caters to the busy lifestyles and schedules of women on the go. All you need to do is first create an account on Prettly.com, and then through a series of quick steps, you select the treatment(s) of your choice, the date, your beauty professional, and the time. From there, you whip out the plastic and pay for your treatment(s) without having to worry about it on the day.

             I opted for a Shellac manicure and a classic pedicure, while my friend chose a Christmas-themed pedicure. Beauty treatments don’t have to be a solitary activity, but they can be a fun, relaxing hangout for you and a friend. In a typical nail salon setting, however, this usually means you aren’t able to sit together, which means no talking either! What’s the point of a good girly catch up without the gossip?! When my friend arrived at my flat, she came toting wine and sweet treats to celebrate the end of the semester. With winter starting to stretch its frosty wings, Prettly provides the perfect solution for not wanting to brave the cold, or even trade your pajamas for clothes…

My friend's mistle-"toes"

             I was very impressed with Prettly’s efficiency and coordination. Before my appointment, I received a reminder email and text and our lovely beauty professional, Nicoleta Rambu, arrived ten minutes before her scheduled appointment time. Prettly’s beauty professionals are vetted and tested by the team beforehand. They are then rated and reviewed by the customers after each treatment, which maintains the high quality standard.

             Rambu brought a carryall with wheels, which held all of her products and supplies, including a blowup basin in which to soak our feet. All I needed to provide were towels while Rambu provided the rest from her Mary Poppins bag! My friend and I were given the ultimate luxury experience as we simultaneously sipped wine while resting on the comfortable chairs in my flat, our nails primped to perfection, and our final exams far from our minds.

Nicoleta Rambu, our Prettly beauty professional, and my Rudolph red nose nails

             Rambu was amiable from the start and really helpful, giving my friend and me tips throughout. What I liked the most about Rambu was that she took her time and actually ended up staying with us for around four hours!  She showed me multiple shades of red and let me test each one out before making a decision. The type of red, whether cherry or more along the orange spectrum, is very important you know! Rambu only left when she was (and we were) completely happy with the results. By the end of the appointment, Rambu was laughing and joking along with us in our silly antics and I’m certain it’s not the last I’ll be seeing of her!

             Prettly has very generously offered a 10 percent discount off your first treatment with them if you email bookings@prettly.com with the code PRETTLY-FOR-LDN-DREAM in the subject line. Treat yourselves this Christmas! Get started on Prettly's website here. 

Ho, ho, ho: 'tis the season to be jolly!

Product Review: The Umberto Giannini Glam Hair Range

A sampling of the Glam Hair range from Umberto Giannini

As women, we are all looking for that quick fix way to style our hair so that it looks as if we’ve spent hours on it. What we want is simplicity, and hair care line Umberto Giannini offers that expertly. I know that packaging often promotes products as being efficient and easy, but we all know how far from the truth that is sometimes. I would like to give a big thank you to Carmen Hubble for sending over a lovely bundle of Umberto Giannini hair products from the Glam Hair range. Now, allow me to show you just how effortless it is to incorporate these new go-tos into your daily routine.

Step 1. Wash and condition hair with Umberto Giannini Ditch The Dirt Volume Shampoo and Plump & Sexy Volume Conditioner before continuing.

If you would like to browse my review of the Grunge Glamour Tousled Salt Spray, which is also a part of the Glam Hair range, have a look here. Let me just preface by saying that I used the Ditch The Dirt Volume Shampoo and Plump & Sexy Volume Conditioner before applying any of the following products, so you should too! Consider this the first step to achieve any of the looks here. Staying within the same line of products will also optimize the final results.

I really noticed a difference by changing my shampoo and conditioner. These Umberto Giannini products work hand in hand to thicken and nourish my hair before I begin heat styling. Not only that, but they smell delightful. I can’t quite place my finger on the exact smell, but the first thing that comes to mind is of the beach – a clean, salty mix with hints of rose and vanilla that is girly but in the most sophisticated way possible. This is the way with all of the Glam Hair products, so interchanging them doesn’t lead to a scent discontinuity among which products you decide to use.

The only flaw in the packaging for the shampoo and conditioner would have to be that they don’t have pump or squeeze tops, but the product merely flows out. Due to this, it is easy to accidentally overload on the amount of shampoo or conditioner you desire. A nice touch to the shampoo however is that it is clear, but injected with silver glitter to amplify the elegant nature of the line.

While we are talking about packaging, can we just take a moment to appreciate the scandalous women that front these Umberto Giannini products? London-based Together Design thought up the very appealing “glamour girls” who cast their sultry gazes from the bottles. Combined with the matte black and silver color scheme, Umberto Giannini projects professionalism amongst shelves of products that scream for attention through bubblegum colors and overly intricate fonts.

Sex Bomb Massive Mousse

Step 2. After parting damp hair, apply Umberto Giannini's Sex Bomb Massive Mousse to roots.

This is the amount of product you should aim to use.

Step 3. Scrunch the product into your roots.

 Step 4. Blow-dry your hair upside down and the result should look something like this. 

Step 5. Get creative! Try styling this look with your hair pulled off your face, or...

 ...opt for a deep side part with swooping bangs.

Backcomb In A Bottle

Step 2. Apply Umberto Giannini's Backcomb In A Bottle only to your bangs to emphasize and boost your layers.

Step 3. Straighten the rest of your hair.

Backcomb In A Bottle: Look Two

Step 2. Spray Umberto Giannini's Backcomb In A Bottle all over hair. Section off the top half of your hair and pull it into a ponytail, but don't secure with bobby pins yet.

Step 3. Twist your ponytail as shown.

Step 4. Secure the top half of your hair with bobby pins while bumping it up slightly to achieve a bouffant effect. Backcomb In A Bottle essentially does this for you already!

Step 5. Twirl your remaining hair into a high bun on top of your head. 

Step 6. Keep your hair as is or accessorize with a bow (or other hair decoration), as I have done here.

Glamour Puss Crystal Mist

Step 2. Spritz Umberto Giannini’s Glamour Puss Crystal Mist all over hair as liberally as desired.

Here's what the product looks like – a fine coppery/golden mist that adds sparkle to your hair.

The finished effect is difficult to photograph, but I think the subtle nature of this product is what gives it its appeal. This product is perfect for a night out. Without being too over the top, it's dazzling and unexpected when the light hits your hair. 

Just a word of warning: don’t apply the product without draping a towel, or something else, around your shoulders first to prevent unwanted glitter. It goes everywhere, as you can see! 

Morning After Dry Shampoo

Step 2. This next product works most effectively on day-old hair, as I am showing here. My roots are looking rather greasy and the rest of my hair is a bit stiff and lackluster. 

Step 3. Spray Umberto Giannini’s Morning After Dry Shampoo to the roots of your hair from a distance and work it through the length of your hair with your hands. The result? Fresh, fluffy hair without any product buildup!

             Well, there you have it! I hope you have enjoyed my reviews of an assortment of Umberto Giannini products from the Glam Hair collection. Anyone could use them, and I am the living proof! My hair is probably what I spend the least amount of my time on when I get ready to go out or when I wake up in the morning, but I am confident in saying that these products are foolproof. The pictures I have posted for my reviews are as straightforward as they seem and I haven’t left out any steps, so I hope you get the chance to try the looks out for yourself.

Umberto Giannini is a sleek hair care company with a multiplicity of ranges for different purposes and hair types. The products are all easily purchased at any Boots store or online at prices that won’t set you back too heavily. I can attest to the fact that the Glam Hair range certainly lives up to its chosen name and I can’t think of a single woman who doesn’t want some added glamour in her day-to-day life. We all know good hair equals a good day, so don't compromise, ladies! 

             Discover Umberto Giannini here.