... part one.

Having your picture taken with one of the world's most beautiful women.

See evidence below of me looking like a starstruck fool (not the first time). Need to take sultry smiling lessons from EH.

I am writing a piece on molten metallic beauty for Hello! and I came across this fabulous nail polish from OPI. Now you know that I rarely blog about products but, whilst waiting for some emails, I decided to try it out (which, to be honest, means no base coat, no prep and no top coat; just a couple of sly coats) and guess what? It is the easiest, chicest, sleekest and quickest way to on trend neat professional finish nails that I know of right now. It makes a great alternative to my usual classic, albeit boring, pale pink and creamy shades.

Strangely enough it is part of a Muppets Holiday Collection from OPI (yes really) with other colours inspired by Gonzo, Kermit, Miss Piggy, Animal and Fozzie Bear. Beauty addicts out there will know that OPI are, without a doubt, the most fun nail brand, so trust them to create this season’s chicest shade from a range of mad puppets (sorry Muppets)

·         OPI Designer de Better £12.75, will be available later this year, visit lenawhite.co.uk

I remember the first time that I discovered the power of peroxide. I was thirteen and an ungainly 5’10” and my best friends were all 5’3” curvy and cool, hanging out by the bike sheds pretending to smoke in their Dolcis platform shoes. They were also brunette and, where once I was blonde as a child, I was back then horribly mousey. Needless to say that I was the last to ever be asked to dance at the local disco, so I hung around pretending not to care whilst developing a sense of humour to wear as a shield. That is until I discovered Clairol Born Blonde (queue the sound of angels from above, as the sky opens and a beam of light shines down on my head). Overnight I became popular. I wasn’t any shorter, or any curvier, but I was most definitely blonder.

Today I am still blonde and will be to my dye-ing day (sorry), which means that I am constantly in search of the world’s best colourists. I have passed through the hallowed halls of Daniel Galvin, Jo Hansford, David Adams at Aveda and Benna at John Frieda  (I am talking serious talent here) and was never happier than in the hands of Shaun Pulfrey, who selfishly gave up his tinting brush to create Tangle Teezer (bitter, me?).

Finding the perfect colourists is far far far more important than finding the perfect facialist, hairstylist or personal trainer – you can’t hide a bad head of highlights, a tint turned orange or a khaki root retouch. And you cannot beat the feeling of leaving a talented tinter with a perfect head of hair.

This brings me to my two trusted salons now. Josh Wood the incredible talent behind the hair colour of Laura Bailey, Daphne Guinness, Cat Deeley (when she is in the UK), Elle McPherson and Madonna (again when in London) has opened up an Atelier. So in demand is this man that his clients will send a PJ to fly him to St Barts and he once got on a plane to discover a Picasso staring back at him (and that was before he even stepped foot on to the gilded  yacht that was to greet him).

Josh has gathered an elite team of great colourists and stylists at his new Notting Hill HQ, but I warn you the wait list is long and hard to even join. This is why I am also a huge fan of the four talented women at Four; all Jo Hansford trained and with over 60 years of experience between them, you know you are in safe hands. Just recently Brooke rescued my sun parched and over blonde hair so that I could show my face again in public. She painted back long forgotten roots and made my hair sparkle again.

But as I rarely trust anyone else to stand within twenty feet of me with a tinting brush, I took to Twitter to ask for your nationwide recommendations. After all a personal recommendation is priceless.

Here’s what you said.

·         Linda Land recommends Simon Currier at Harvey Nichols Urban Retreat in Manchester.

·         Grace Timothy has heard good things about Oliver Blackaby at HM Hair in Brighton.

·         Lots of you love Lisa Shepherd, award winning and based in London and Birmingham.

·         Lisa Jacobs cites Anita at CoxMcMillan in London

·         Lauren Martin says that Chris Williams at Rush Edinburgh is talented and fun to talk to too.

·         Kachela Murray says that Andrew Mulvenna at the Metrospa in Belfast is fab.

·         Alexandra Tandy says go to Michelle Lawley the Colour Director at Royston Blythe in Wolverhampton

·         Debbie Bhowmik recommends Lisa at Toni & Guy in York

·         Rachael Grieve says that Gary Hooker and Michael Young at Hooker & Young Newcastle are award winning and rightly so.

·         Katharine Paterson agrees with me and says look out for Nicola Clarke, Cetera and Carmel at John Frieda London. I would add to that list Benna who is brilliant.

·         Persephone likes Nathan Walker at Trevor Sorbie London.

·         I would also like to highly recommend Bantika Elsley and Debbie Bhowmik at Haris and Tony at Real all in London and, although she’s never coloured my hair,  I have heard really good things about Sibi Bolan at Hersheson at Harvey Nichols London

But I still want you to add more names to that list ... all suggestions and recommendations welcome.

·         Josh Wood at Atelier Josh Wood www.joshwoodcolour.com tel: 0207 384 9007

·         Four visit www.fourlondon.com tel: 0207 297 9600.