Since childhood I have been captivated by the transformation that women can bring about through the use of make-up. I have fond memories of my mother applying her Coty Powder and lipstick form opulent-looking, elaborately decorated compacts and cases, albeit that the shades of powder available rarely matched her skin tone and the range of lipstick colours available were usually limited to bright reds and fuchsia pink.

Fast forward forty years and it is heartening to see Halle Berry as the face of Revlon and Coty launching a fragrance carrying the actresses' name.

With more brands than ever offering a range of shades that incorporate darker skins, why is it that so many of us still have difficulty finding a powder or foundation that matches our complexion? Model/fashion icon Iman, was inspired to bring out her own range of make-up for women of colour after years of having to mix various foundations together to come up with a colour that was suitable for her.

Notably, cosmetic giant MAC manufactures what is probably the broadest spectrum of foundation shades available on the market. Yet still I have women calling and emailing me, unhappy after trawling the cosmetic halls of countless department stores.

During a recent shopping trip with a friend I visited the Ruby and Millie counter in one of the larger Boots stores. This brand is one of the fairly new kids on the make-up high street compared with ,say, Revlon, or  Bourjois but, with one of the partners of this duo being Ruby Hammer (established makeup artist of Asian descent), I felt that they should be strongly placed to produce a range of makeup catering to all races.

I promptly coerced my friend into playing guinea pig, and set about finding a suitable foundation in that brand. As it turns out, it did not take very long to come up with the perfect match for her skin even though at first glance the range did not appear that extensive. I, on the other hand, was a bit less fortunate.

If you were to look at my friend and me together, you would probably think that we were pretty much the same colour (but here is where the difficulty lies). All skins possess a range of colour pigmentation that varies in depth and tone with each individual, making no two skin tones exactly the same. The darker the skin tone the more notable this becomes.  

My theory is this (which, by the way, I have not researched fully): When applying foundation to paler skins, the lighter background will reflect light, thus deflecting any minor variation in the colour and making it easier to find a matching shade however, on darker skin any variation in colour is enhanced owing to the fact that darker backgrounds absorb light. Hence the mask like quality we often find when applying even the lightest layer of foundation if it has not been correctly matched.

If this is the case then it would be very difficult for any manufacturer to encompass the full range of shades needed for darker skins, making it necessary to shop around, or to find a brand that will custom blend a foundation for you.

One company that does this brilliantly is Prescriptives and I have long been a convert. That is not to under value the efforts made by other brands to meet the needs of the darker skinned customer but, with their unique colour printing system, they are able to blend a foundation or powder that will match any complexion. They also offer a range of textures and finishes according to your personal preferences. It is the brand I always recommend to my brides to be to use on their wedding day, when a flawless but natural finish to their makeup is usually required.

In years gone by we were always looking enviously across the pond at the cosmetics available to women of colour in the US. Now finally it would seem that the market here is beginning to flourish.

To visit the Prescriptives website click here

Yes the school holidays are upon us yet again and for those of us with children under the age of fifteen, this usually means the addition of several more balls to the juggling act i.e. work, housework, childcare, activities, entertainment, shopping, meals ; the list goes on. Yet somehow we find a way to cope with those six to eight weeks.

 For me I welcome the break from the school run with delight and this summer has got me thinking. Why is it that as women we love to heap pressure upon ourselves? By pressure I mean the pressure to perform?

Open any women's magazine and you will find countless articles that label and categorise women in some way or another. The latest (and a pet hate of mine) being the 'yummy mummy'. As if it were not enough to have to round up your family five mornings a week, feed and clothe them, get them out of the house, ferry them and yourself to multiple destinations often all well before 9am - you are also expected to rock up at the school gates looking like Victoria Beckham!!!

This may be fine if you are in your mid twenties with only one child in tow (or you have VB's money), but come your mid to late thirties, things don't quite ping back into shape as soon as you hop off the maternity bed after baby number three, this image becomes much harder to maintain.

I think what irks me the most is that when dad is "working from home" (and I use that term loosely), he can mooch about wearing crumpled jeans and an old T shirt and it's considered quite cool - even sexy! You don't find men criticising each other for looking a bit shabby and sporting "designer stubble" on the school run (hell , they even have a cool name for not shaving)! Whilst we women on the other hand will forever seek new ways to raise the bar.

Since giving up my life in the fast lane (working in a West End salon), I have to admit I have taken a great deal of pleasure in being just MUM. That is not to say that I am ready for a life that revolves entirely around PTAs, fundraisers and coffee mornings, but having started a freelance business with a base at home.   I feel that I have been blessed with the opportunity to straddle both worlds without feeling like I am being torn apart at the seams.  

Whilst working in London I was lucky enough to have my mum looking after my daughter. At around the age of seven she used to call me in the salon, when she got home from school and ask when I would be coming home. I remember one day thinking how quickly she had grown to the stage where she could do that. My next thought was that in about another seven years or so I would probably be the one calling her to ask the very same question. That day marked a turning point in the way I viewed myself as a mother along with the realization of how precious that time was.

So If I look a little flaky at times and not always at my well manicured best It's not that I've let myself go - I'm just embracing another aspect of my life.

A couple of ago days I received an email from a friend in which she posed the following question...

"What is the protocol on tipping your hairdresser if they happen to be the owner of the salon?
I usually tip the hairdresser who does my hair plus the person who washes it, but I've always felt that tipping the owner of the salon would be insulting so I never have done. However the owner did my hair last week (1st in a long time), I tipped the girl who washed my hair but not her and she seemed to be a bit miffed. Have I made a faux pas?"

Tipping for services rendered is still the exception rather than the rule in this country, therefore to date there is still no standard etiquette that applies concerning how much, who or when to tip.

Anyone who has visited America will appreciate that by all accounts tipping is practically nonexistent here (whereas there it is more or less obligatory irrespective of the standard of the service).

With regard to tipping in the hair salon, the lines remain blurred. Traditionally tips are given to the junior members of staff i.e. the person who washes your hair, brings you a drink, offers you a magazine etc. Tips are often extended to the stylist when a client is particularly happy with the service rather than as a matter of course.

In the more up market salons where clients may be spending larger amounts and are generally wealthier, it is not uncommon to tip the salon owner. Personally I would not have expected to be tipped by my clients but on the other hand, I was not offended when a tip was given. I took it as a sign of appreciation for a job well done rather than a financial gesture.

 My week came to a close on rather a heavy note as the sudden death of Michael Jackson was announced on Thursday.

Being born in the sixties I grew up listening to The Jackson Five, and although over the years not all of Michaels' music has appealed to my personal taste, I have never been in doubt of his genius. He broke down many barriers, crossed many boundaries, and achieved more in his 50 years than most people who have lived for decades more. I am glad that he has been a part of my history.  

The weekend found me reminiscing upon my childhood and the years that I spent sharing a room with my older sister. There is a six year age gap between us and though like most siblings we fought like cat and dog, we were united in our love of the Jackson 5.

Our walls were a collage of posters and pin ups from 'Jackie' Magazines and most of our pocket money or savings was often spent on Jackson 5 records.  I also remember sitting on the bed and watching my sister (who I considered at the time to be a bit of a style icon) combing out her afro, before getting dressed in her red wet look jacket, with matching, red and white platform shoes (tunes like 'looking through the windows' or 'doctor my eyes' were playing in the background). Or on other occasions we would sing along with Michael, brush for a microphone, dancing in front of the mirror.

One of my biggest highlights during that era was the day our dad actually took us to see the Jackson 5 at Wembley Arena. I would have been about eight or nine and I had to stand on my chair to see the stage, but even at that young age, watching Michael and his brothers perform had a huge impact on me. I felt so proud and special at a time when black people were hardly represented at all in the media. I remember going back to school feeling about ten feet tall.        

 My favourite all time songs will always be some of the groups lesser known tracks like 'Blues away', 'Give it up' and 'That's what you get for being polite'. But who could not have been swept away by  'Off the wall' and the legendary 'Thriller' albums so, this Saturday evening, when the last client left I decided that I wanted to throw my own private 'Farewell to Michael Party', raise a glass and play all the tunes that were special to me. Only then did I realise that apart from a few more recent tracks they were all on vinyl and packed away in the attic (and I no longer have a vinyl player).  My daughter soon came to the rescue searching for each tune in turn on 'You Tube', compiling a play list and subsequently hooking my laptop up to the speakers (isn't the internet a wonderful thing).

 As I danced away to the music I was filled with both happiness and extreme sadness. I didn't want the music to end - as though somehow, if I kept on playing it, Michael would still be here. As I raised my glass I realised that in many ways he still is. His memory and music will live on in the heart and soul of generations to come. I prayed that he was at peace and looking down with a smile.  

I'm feeling a little flattered. Today I received an email from a friend stating that she was awaiting my next blog entry. This feeling could of course be misplaced as I sense that the underlying message was an implication that I was slacking.  However, my reason for the delay on this occasion is somewhat justified.

The sudden spell of good weather bought an influx of clients my way. In this line of business sunny days and the need to have ones hair look its best seem to go hand in hand, which means that I have been somewhat rushed off my feet (not that I am complaining at all given the current economic climate).  Unfortunately, in this country we never seem to have any idea when those sunny days will occur.

 Was it not last April that we had an overnight snow storm followed by temperatures in the 20 C range a few days later? As welcome as the warmer temperatures are, these sudden fluctuations in the weather bring with them a wealth of problems for those of us with afro hair. Below is a list of popular looks highlighting some of their advantages and disadvantages.

·       Natural hair. Fine in all weathers if you wear your hair in a completely natural state i.e. twists or locks or close cropped  but sometimes tricky if you want a change of look however, fairly low maintenance and low cost.

·       Natural Hair blown out or pressed and curled. Steer well clear of any extreme weather or temperature changes and never leave home without an umbrella. High maintenance possibly bordering on stressful.

·       Braids.  Again works well in all weathers, low maintenance but not so brilliant in the versatility stakes and long term can affect the health of the hair.

·       Weaves and extensions. Can look fantastic, not so good for comfort in hot weather (depending on method can be a bit like wearing a thick woolly hat). Women sporting this look are often spotted frantically tapping their heads in the heat, again not so good for the health of the hair in the long term.

·       Relaxed hair. At first glance would seem an ideal choice but this look also has its setbacks. Still not advisable to leave home without an umbrella. Short, well cut, simple styles are a lot easier to manage; though people with mid length/ long hair often opt to simply tie it back. Roots may seem like they grow out faster in hotter weather but this usually occurs as a result of perspiration (which naturally contains salt) building up on the scalp and making any regrowth feel particularly hard. Requires regular visits to the salon for correct maintenance.

All in all, whatever the weather we can hardly ever just wash and go (except maybe if you have the kind of hair that naturally falls in cascades of curls around your shoulders).There are a plethora of products out there all claiming to give us the mane of our dreams. However, in my experience as both a female and hairdresser it is our prerogative to never be satisfied with the hair God gave us.

Nearly 16 years ago following the birth of my daughter, sporting clipper cropped hair I went to the Gym twice a day and lost most of my baby fat by the time she was six months old. My short sharp hairstyle did not pose any problems to my regime at all (hell I even went swimming once in a while)!

Call me an obsessive but every other morning I weigh myself. I know most weight-watching gurus discourage it but hey, it keeps me in check (or used to).

Since I stopped working in London some six or so years ago, I have been watching the steady increase in my weight that has come about as a result of working mainly from home and have managed to identify the following contributory factors.

a.       Being 6 years older.

b.      A decrease in my level of physical activity.

c.       Being in close proximity to the snack cupboard for a large proportion of my  day.

 Upon consideration, I would probably reverse the order of the above according to their relevance to my current predicament.

Finally a month or so ago I decided enough was enough. I needed to regain control of my weight and my life (somehow they both seem to be inextricably linked by the increased amount of time I found myself spending in the kitchen). The most obvious thing to do was increase my level of activity. So I embarked on a new exercise regime which initially consisted of a brisk three mile walk daily as permissible, working my way up to jogging (or Jalking a word coined sarcastically by my now fifteen year old daughter).

The problem I found was that as my vigour increased, the appearance of my hair deteriorated. Each morning I would return home with sweat sodden hair which I would have to rinse out and blow dry or tie back before my clients arrived; neither being great for my hair on a regular basis (not to mention my reputation as a hairdresser). However, I was soon to learn that I was not alone in my suffering.

A couple of weeks ago at lunch with a hairdresser friend of mine I commented on her recent weight loss and she informed me that she had to resort to putting her hair in braids in order to pursue her "goal weight" without distraction. A few days after that, I bumped into an old client who had recently qualified as a personal trainer. Unsurprisingly she now has a fantastic looking weave. Then on Friday a client of mine arrived fresh from the gym for a relaxer!!!

 Now anyone familiar with this process knows that a hot, sweaty scalp and open pores equals pain! She went on to inform me that she had come from a spinning class no less!

 My immediate thought was that she was about to give a whole new meaning to the phrase "feel the burn." Never the less, I sympathized as she explained that she was prepared to take the chance because she knew she would not be returning to the gym for at least two days after doing her hair (most of us can relate to that) and did not want to break from her programme for that long. Fortunately for her after sitting under a cool dryer for 15 minutes with a big glass of ice cold water I was able to proceed without inflicting 2^nd degree burns (don't try this at home folks)

Through all this I am led to pose the question. Is there a way to maintain great looking hair whilst endeavouring to lose weight, keep healthy by regular exercise or keenly follow an interest in any form of outdoor pursuit without resorting to a weave or braids?

Answers on a postcard please.

During a phone conversation with my sister in law, I was complaining about not having the time to go to the salon for my relaxer and colour, bemoaning the fact that it was so shameful for me a hairdresser to be walking around with grey hairs and regrowth. Casually she asked me why I bothered to go to a salon when I could just do it myself.

To her surprise my response was one of horror (this is not the first time I have been asked this question yet it always takes me by surprise).

Sure like any hairdresser worth their salt I can wash, treat, condition, blow dry and tong my own hair. I will even stretch to trimming my own fringe occasionally however; I draw the line at self application of chemicals. The potential for damage and hair loss far outweigh the need to save time or money.

I deem it a physical impossibility to be able to apply relaxer to the back of one's head without overlapping and over/under applying of the chemical - not to mention the time it would take and the risk of serious over processing.

zI have known hairdresser friends to resort to struggling with several mirrors to relax their own hair when left with absolutely no alternative. But to carry out this procedure repeatedly in the long term will most definitely lead to some form of hair damage ranging from breakage and thinning through to Burns and alopecia.

So, no. I do not intend to start relaxing my own hair at any time in the foreseeable future and now that I no longer work in a salon a trip to the hairdressers has once again become one of life's well earned luxuries.

Prior to launching JuneForbes.com I sent a few pages off to friends and associates for proof reading, suggestions etc. The above question was posed by entrepreneur Tom Ilube.

"Damn! Trust Tom to challenge me on something" was my first thought (but isn't that what good friends are for). After a bit of further discussion he suggested that I add a blog. I couldn't imagine what I might have to say on a frequent basis that anyone would find even remotely interesting but the more we talked and the more I thought about it, various ideas began to form in my head.

It occurred to me that in my working environment and in everyday life, I constantly come up against challenges and issues that most people have probably faced regarding their hair (to which there are no right or wrong answers), that simply have to be dealt with through a process of trial, error and experience.

 So if anybody is interested, this blog will be the place that I will share some of my thoughts and experiences, and for you to put forward your comments no matter how trivial.