The Soho Hotel

Last week, Aveda invited Handpicked Media bloggers to try out their new summer products over champagne and canapes in the ultra-swish Terrace Suite at The Soho Hotel.

On arrival, I was coaxed straight into the stylist’s chair where the dashing Olivier took control of my wayward tresses. We decided to keep the wave in my hair, but make it more polished with a bouncy blow-dry.

Olivier used Aveda Smooth Infusion Style-Prep Smoother to tame and moisturise my hair before blow-drying. Within less than ten minutes, my hair was super shiny and volumised at the crown with loose cascading curls.

Aveda has been my hair care indulgence since my late-teens and few brands have been able to match it for quality and results.

We were kindly given Aveda’s new Inner Light Mineral Tinted Moisture SPF 15 to take away. Every colour was there for us to experiment with and I colour-matched my skin, finding that my perfect shade was 02/Beechwood for fair skin.

This summer, I’ve been converted to tinted moisturisers instead of foundation, as they cover the skin evenly and don’t tend to cling so much to dry patches.

The tinted moisturiser has a medium, smooth texture and gives good coverage. It left my skin feeling fresh, dewy and luminous. For problem areas, just build up the coverage with some concealer.

At first, I was concerned that it might just sit on my skin, but it absorbed well and won’t cause any breakout problems, as it’s oil-free and non-acnegenic.

A new range for summer holiday hair is the Aveda Suncare 16-hour UV defense and recovery system. Start with the Aveda Suncare Hair and Body Cleanser, follow with the Protective Hair Veil before stepping into the sun. At the end of a sun-filled day, treat your hair to the After-Sun Hair Masque, which nourishes and repairs hair with a restorative blend of tamanu oil, organic shea butter, coconut and palm oils.

We were given the Aveda Protective Hair Veil to try out, but since it rained non-stop all weekend, I’ll have to pray to the sun gods before giving the verdict on this one. It does feel lovely though and has that delicious Aveda scent. Just looking at it makes me want to escape to the sun; if you get there first try out the Protective Hair Veil and report back!

See Aveda’s new summer products at www.aveda.co.uk

All photos by Chérie City.

Last night, Handpicked Media bloggers got together for a very stylish evening with cult Berlin hair expert Shan Rahimkhan at The Soho Hotel.

Shan Rahimkhan’s eponymous hair collection has just launched at Harvey Nichols, so we were given a rare opportunity to meet with Shan Rahimkhan and his right-hand man, stylist Fabio F.D’Acri, for personal hair consultations, a prescribed product regime and hair styling.

Based in Berlin’s central Gendarmenmarkt district, Shan Rahimkhan Casa is a chic lifestyle concept store that includes a hair salon, a boutique stocking designer products sourced from all over Europe and a cafe that turns into a sleek cocktail bar at night.

Shan told us that he created the hair collection to bring volume and moisture to fine hair. With many volumising product, you often have to sacrifice nourishment and hydration for extra body.

Shan Rahimkhan products are completely natural and free from all the paraben and sulphate nasties that leave residue on the hair. The collection includes active natural ingredients such as Bamboo, Aloe Vera juice, Tamanou Oil, Quinoa and Argan Oil.

Shan Rahimkhan styles the hair of A-listers such as Jennifer Aniston and Charlize Theron when they’re in Berlin, so of course I jumped at the chance to have a bespoke up-do by the master.

I did have a professional blow dry at Taylor Made salon the night before, so I wasn’t too embarrassed about my locks, but after a harsh winter, they’re not in the best condition.

I sat in the styling chair and after a quick surveying of my hair, Shan immediately knew how to style my hair. After just five minutes of back-combing, pinning and a finishing spritz, I had softly tousled red carpet hair.

My hair was full of volume and the few loose strands of hair perfectly framed my face. Of course, A-list hair needs an occasion, so Katie Chutzpah and I headed out into Soho for drinks at The QV Bar at Quo Vadis.

The products I was given to try out were True Colour Shampoo, True Colour Shiny Gold Treatment and Supreme Volumizing Double Phase Leave-In Treatment.

The shampoo lathered well and I only had to use a tiny amount to get my hair super clean. My hair was ready for some indulgence, so I used the Shiny Gold treatment, which brings out natural gold tones, and found it to be light and moisturising.

I was sceptical about replacing my usual conditioner for a leave-in conditioner spray, but it instantly softened my hair and made it manageable. Best of all, it reduces my time in the shower and smells incredible.

I’m already sold on the Shan Rahimkhan collection, but I’ll road test the products properly and post an update soon.

Now I just wish that Shan Rahimkhan would open a sister salon in London, as I’m already tempted by a weekend trip to Berlin!

Shan Rahimkhan products are now available at Harvey Nichols. For more information on Shan Rahimkhan Casa, visit: www.shanrahimkhan.de

Aveda Summer Drinks at The Soho Hotel

Shan Rahimkhan Haircare Collection Launch At The Soho Hotel