Insights: Women n Such: It’s the season to be Merry!

It’s time to start decking the halls— and decking yourself for all the holiday parties in the coming month. Here, are more tips to keep you dazzling (with the least amount of stress) for the next few weeks of roller-coaster social activity. What’s the easiest hairstyle to whip together for a party? Keep six to eight bobby pins on hand in your desk because you can do almost anything with this little handful of lifesavers. Twist a quick messy bun at the back of your head, secure with the pins, and you have a perfect up-do that looks effortless but flattering. To make it a little more interesting, do the same technique, but pull the hair to the side of your head, sweeping strands to one side in the front: stunning! These pins go for less than Rwf 500! What’s the hot party nail look this season? There are so many great nail trends right now. I always love red nails for holiday and crimson is a great colour for long-lasting gel manicures, which are super high-shine. A matte look is also fine if you know how to communicate this to your nail stylist. Because of the long lines at salons during this season, invest in a good nail colour and do this yourself or with the help of a friend. These manicures will take you right through the whole holiday season, and with all the extra things on your to-do list, there’s no better time to have a manicure that you can forget about for two weeks. What’s the best way to avoid looking like a Christmas ornament when wearing makeup? I know party season calls for all kinds of experiments but please limit shimmer to the spots that light would naturally hit: Just the top of cheekbones, underneath the eyebrows, on the brow bone and along the collarbone. By the way creams tend to be better than powders; they’re more workable and you can use a bit of moisturizer to even them out if you overdo it. Also, do away with the black lip liner on lips; this trend has lasted way too long in Kigali and it is about time someone shot this down as it does not flatter your lips. Moisturized, carefully coloured lips will take you far. Are there any no-fuss universal shades that anyone can wear? Dark grey is a big shade right now. It’s a smokier hue almost anyone can wear and is perfect for a more made-up evening look. In fact, as smoky shades go, dark grey is one of the more foolproof options out there: Just be sure to blend well! And don’t overdo it either… What salon services do you recommend as prep for party season? Nothing makes a bigger difference in your overall look than fresh bouncy vibrant hair. It’s no coincidence seeing as hair is pretty much one of the first things we see on you! Think about going into the salon and getting a deep conditioning treatment. Do this before the holidays and your hair will be more manageable all season long especially if you invest time in taking proper care of it. akintore@gmail.com

Lifestyle

Insights: Women n Such: It’s the season to be Merry!