As far as I’m concerned, any girl (or boy for that matter) who claims not to love a bit of pampering is a big fat liar. I’m not embarrassed to admit that I take an inordinate amount of pleasure in personal primping. Whether it’s a haircut, a leg wax or just a good old exfoliation session in the shower, being groomed just makes you feel instantly slicker, chicer and better about life generally. Between press days, thesis research and trying to retain some semblance of a social life my grooming regime has kid of gone by the wayside recently and I fear I’ve started to look a bit raggedy. As I’m sure you’ll agree, that just won’t do so I resolved to get my polish back starting with a trip to Bliss Spa London on Monday.

Bliss Spa London, 60 Sloane Avenue, London, SW3 3DD

While I don’t spend nearly as much time as I’d like to getting my pamper on, I have visited a fair few spas over the years and Bliss is definitely a new favourite. Located in between South Kensington and Sloane Square – conveniently next door to a Starbucks – it’s close enough to the center of town not to be a total pain to get to but has the kind of leisurely vibe you just don’t find in Soho. Since September I’ve been living right in the heart of the city but while I adore being able to walk to Selfridges and multiple cocktail bars, whenever I return to my old stomping grounds I realise that I’m still a West London girl at heart. Not only is there something so comforting about it’s leafy gorgeousness, West London is also home to the best day spas.

If you’re not already feeling rather more relaxed after strolling down Sloane Avenue, entering Bliss Spa is guaranteed to make your worries instantly melt away. Simple furnished with a neat row of mani pedi stations and decorated in a colour palette dreamy sky blue and clean white, the very decor oozes calm. After taking a few truly terrible snaps (most of the ones here were sent to me by a kindly PR) I got comfy in a curved leather chair I’d be reclining in for the next two hours. I have neither the time nor the money to get my nails done regularly but oh, how I wish I did. You can kid yourself that a DIY mani pedi is just as effective but it reality, it’s SO not. My lovely grooming guru (who it turned out, did the nails for the Peter Pilotto AW13 show) put so much care and attention into every step of the procedure that by the end, I barely recognised my previously very nasty nails. When I say “every step”, I don’t just mean base and top coat. My digits were soaked, steamed, exfoliated, oiled, trimmed and wrapped up in special heated moisturising bags before we even thought about polish. Admittedly, I wouldn’t advocate popping to Bliss Spa London for a mani pedi during your lunch hour. But although you’ll be there for a while, the results are well worth waiting for.

Confession time, I’m an appalling nail biter and gnaw mine down to horrid, gnarled stubbs on at least a daily basis. I didn’t think it was actually possible to make my hands look elegant but the Bliss Spa team managed it. Colour wise, I opted for a delectable pastel blue hue by Essie in a desperate attempt to encourage the weather to stop being so unseasonable with my Spring ready pedi. Judging by this weekend’s 19 degree forecast I think, or at least hope, it might have got the hint.

Love Ella. X

I’m sure it will come as no surprise to hear that I’m more than partial to a spot of personal grooming. Whether it’s a deep tissue massage at a 5 star spa in my dreams or a good old exfoliating sesh in the shower, few things make you feel more luscious, fabulous and generally great about life than being pampered. But out of all the endless ways in which we can beautify ourselves, a haircut carries by far the highest risk. Leaving the hairdresser’s sobbing was pretty much the story of my childhood and, I’m ashamed to admit, I still sometimes shed a tear when my ‘do doesn’t turn out quite right. As soon as you put on that gown your locks are entirely at the mercy of whoever holds the scissors and frankly that’s a little scary. One of the few places I really and truly trust with my tresses is Haris Hairdressers in Chelsea.

I’ve been going to Haris on and off (AKA whenever I can afford to) since my best friend introduced me to them a couple of years ago and I was absolutely thrilled when they invited me to review their King’s Road salon. Conveniently, they had an appointment available a few days before I left for New York so I got to have my hair and nails primped and polished in time for the shows.

Going to Haris (especially the Kings Road salon) isn’t just about getting your split ends sorted, it’s about the whole experience. First and foremost, the salon itself is a complete visual spectacle. Every cutting station is different in an artfully clashing, deliciously in-your-face, decadent kind of way. The mismatched mirrors are decorated with everything from life size post boxes to metallic skulls and neon pink glittering bling. I was sat in the center of it all, in front of this fantastic burlesque themed creation (below). Aside from the really, really cool décor (which, as you’ve probably realised, I just can’t get enough of) there’s also a fabulously deco Miami inspired bar serving everything from extravagant (and delicious) cocktails and champagne to fresh fruit smoothies, paninis and a variety of organic dishes.

I could quite happily have sat drinking and ogling Haris’ interior all day but before I knew it, Senior Stylist Jake had arrived to get started on my hair. What with fashion week being just around the corner and 2 events to attend that very evening, I didn’t have time to dawdle and worried that we might not be able to squeeze in my manicure! My fears were soon put to rest when a member of the Sophie Robson (AKA the woman behind Rita Ora’s talons) team arrived ready to polish at my seat. The whole simultaneous manicure/hair/champagne situation was just about the best thing ever. I absolutely reveled in being so spoiled and could definitely get used to it!

Sadly my happy pamper session did have to come to an end but the results made venturing back out into the cold that bit less painful. Usually, leaving a salon with the exact haircut you want is a rarer occurrence than spotting Anna Dello Russo on the tube wearing trainers. Well, Jake and the Haris’ team managed the impossible and rather than running to the nearest loo to try and sort out my bouffant – I have very “fine” (read: irritatingly wispy) hair, most stylists see this as a challenge to give me more volume than Cheryl Cole – I pranced off into the evening without even putting my hat on.

So as you’ve probably gathered, Hari’s Hairdressers gets a major thumbs up from me. Lovely as they are they’ve also offered to give you, my equally lovely readers, a 25% DISCOUNT! The discount will be available until the end of the month, find terms and conditions and more info below… Happy grooming!

Love Ella. X

Details:
Hari’s Hairdressers King’s Road
233 Kings Road, London, SW3 5EJ
020 7349 8722

Hari’s Hairdressers Brompton Road
305 Brompton Road, London, SW3 2DY
020 7581 5211
http://www.harissalon.com

Terms & Conditions:
25% off hair services only for new and first time clients only
This offer cannot be combined with ANY other current offer for Hari’s salon
Discount can be used on ONE occasion only during the dates below
Quote “La Petite Anglaise” when booking an appointment to receive the discount
Discount runs from 5th March to 31st March 2013 only
No other treatments are eligible for discount at either salon
No discount on Sophy Robson Nails at Kings Road salon

People are often surprised to discover that I’m absolutely rubbish at doing make up. You’d think that between modelling and working in fashion I might have picked up a few tricks but no, my idea of really pushing the beauty boat out remains a slightly wobbly slick of eyeliner. A while back the lovely folk at bareMinerals were kind enough to give me a makeover with their Supernaturals collection. Since then I’ve managed to forget everything I learnt and with New Years Eve coming up I was dying to do something a little dramatic so they agreed to give it another go with their party perfect White Hot palette. The timing couln’t have been better as I’ve recently been debating whether to branch out into video blogging and thought a video makeup tutorial (that wouldn’t involve me having to say or do too much on camera) would be the perfect way to get started. Luckily my brother is a dab hand at filming so I roped him in to do it. This is our first foray into making videos so please forgive any minor blips but overall I’m really pleased with the results of the film and the sultry eye makeup. Enjoy!

Filming & Editing by Louis Catliff.
Look created by Sarah-Jane Froom, European Make-Up Artist for bareMinerals

The bareMinerals White Hot palette is available for £39, click here to buy it online.

Love Ella. X

After my A-MAZING bareMinerals make over the other week, I’ve decided to get more ‘in’ to beauty products. After all, I love dressing up and brightly coloured things more than your average five year old so why shouldn’t that extend to my face? Having worn the exact same makeup look for the past two years – powder, mascara and a slick of black liquid eyeliner if I’m feeling really wild – so I’m taking baby steps. Going from basically nothing to full on red carpet glam could very easily go wrong so I’m beginning my induction into the world of all things bright and beautiful via a lower risk route… Nails. In true five year old fashion I’m a total sucker for anything sparkly so when I laid eyes on Sephora and O.P.I’s glitter-tastic nail polish collaboration it went straight to the top of my wish list. Are they or are they not, cute enough to eat?

Sephora by OPI Jewellery ‘Listen to your heart’, £6/$9.50 click here to buy

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