Cityscape gets skin-deep in the world of hair and skincare. What’s hitting the streets of Christchurch? And what’s inbound from overseas?

SKINIMALISM

If the past couple of years have taught us anything, it’s how to embrace getting back to basics. 2021 saw a paring back both of skincare routines and makeup looks for something simpler and more natural. 2022 is looking to keep running with the trend, with an emphasis on multitasking products and a less-is-more approach.

A GREEN REGIME

When it comes to your beauty regime, if you’re not taking steps to protect our planet, you’re doing it wrong. Sustainable ingredients, packaging and business practises are a positive sign of the times, and we are definitely here for it.

THE WAY NATURE INTENDED

Embracing natural hair is on the rise, with more ways to protect and care for your curls, kinks and coils than ever before. Styles that are easier to maintain without a trip to the hairdresser are also seeing a rise in popularity, probably something to do with the relatively few haircuts we’ve all managed to have this year!

AUGMENTED VANITY

Remember that scene in Clueless where Cher had her entire wardrobe in a virtual try-on programme? With pandemic restrictions making it harder to get to physical stores, and communal testers being eyed with suspicion and a pinched nose, AR technology is taking off more than ever in the beauty industry. Google's augmented reality beauty experiences mean we could soon be trying on digital lipstick shades, eye colours and hair colours to see which look best.

THE ICING ON THE FACE

OK, no, not that kind of icing. The TikTok-originated skin icing trend is all about reducing puffiness and stimulating circulation with literal ice cubes – you run them over your skin to achieve that covetable glow. Or you can buy an ice roller to streamline the whole process, and save your ice cubes for a celebratory beverage.

LAMINATE. YES, LAMINATE.

Step away from the office supplies closet – this treatment is best handled by an eyebrow expert. An alternative to microblading, eyebrow lamination is sort of like a perm for your brows, meaning those annoying hairs that stick out every which way will sit nicely and uniformly for smooth, full brows.

LET’S TALK PHIBROWS

And on the subject of perfect brows, what rhymes with ‘eyebrow’ and comes from some of the top beauty salons in the world? Eyebrow guru Briar at Brows Defined recommends PhiBrows Microblading – semi-permanent eyebrow tattooing that cuts down on maintenance and achieves that perfect ‘I just woke up like this’ look.

PhiBrows is the next level of microblading, requiring intense training to produce incredibly detailed results. Briar consults with each client to ensure their brow style meets their expectations, and can complement PhiBrows with other treatments like henna brows, brow lamination, lash lifts and dermaplaning. The Brows Defined Opawa Road salon is a welcoming, comfortable space where your brows are in excellent hands.

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