The beauty insider: industry news

07 Jul 2008 11:13 AM | Posted by Editor

Know which looks, buys and breakthroughs are white hot overseas right now? The beauty insider does…

Hair heaven

Office-workers in the Sydney CBD have no excuse for lank locks with news on the opening of two totally decadent salons reaching the beauty pack this week.

Now open is Kevin McKenzie Hair London in the financial district. With plenty of natural light and imported mirrors, which are copper free to avoid casting yellow light, hair colouring is a speciality. McKenzie is a true gentleman who knows that when we beauty addicts want our hair done, we want it done now. That’s why he welcomes last-minute bookings from working women and prides himself on offering as many lunch-hour services as possible. We like! 

Kevin McKenzie Hair London, 12a Westpac Place, Sussex Lane, Sydney, NSW, 02 9262 2444

Also moving downtown is the gorgeous Brad Ngata. His eponymous Hair Direction will join the growing band of fashionable tenants – Ginger & Smart, Mimco, Sass & Bide and Peter Alexander included – at The Ivy on George Street. The two-time winner of Australian Hairdresser of the Year is hoping to open the doors to his new salon by early spring, just in time for the party season. Not that Eastern suburbs princesses should be alarmed, Ngata is keeping his groovy Surry Hills terrace-based salon on Goulburn Street. Phew.

Brad Ngata Hair Direction, 273 -275 Goulburn St, Surry Hills, 02 9281 1220 

Intergalactic glamour

Here’s a little heads up for all the avid make-up collectors out there, yes, we’re talking to you! French designer and fragrance guru Thierry Mugler of Angel fame, has created some of the most covetable face, eye and cheek compacts ever. Silver, sleek and certain to raise eyebrows wherever you whip them out, these pretty pieces will make your girlfriends green with envy. Oh, and the colours are an absolute dream too. Trust us. Priced from $45 to $200 a pop, they’re available from 25 August at David Jones Sydney only.

Lights, camera, action

Always dreamed of getting your hands on a ticket to Fashion Week to see hair and make-up trends as they break? Now you can. For the first time, Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival (RSFF) is bringing runway shows from the remarkable production team behind Australian Fashion Week to the public.

From 13 to 17 August, RSFF will take over Martin Place in Sydney with a very NYC-style marquee holding live fashion shows from some of the nation’s hottest designers. Yes, you can make like the ladies from Sex and the City and take your seat for catwalk magic from Alex Perry, Anna Thomas, Charlie Brown, David Lawrence, Kirrily Johnston, Lisa Ho, Nicola Finetti and more.

Just so you know, MAC has signed on for make-up and Redken will be dressing tresses so you can bet on some pretty impressive inspiration for all your summer beauty looks.  Tickets from July 14, so put that date in your diary now.

Almay actress

Another week, another spokesmodel. The latest celeb spruiker is up-and-coming actress Leslie Bibb for Almay. Not sure who she is? You’ll know her sunny good looks soon enough as she appears alongside Isla Fisher in Confessions of a Shopaholic (based on the best-selling book by Sophie Kinsella) which hits cinemas early next year. In the meantime, film boffins may also remember Bibb from action flick Iron Man and the Will Ferrell vehicle Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. At least we know she has a sense of humour then.