Myla

We’re all aware of the instant powers of Instagram.  Its crop of beauty bloggers are the gods of social media and for any beauty, health or lifestyle business out there, it makes perfect sense to develop a social media marketing strategy centered on influencers, in order to promote new products and services natively and authentically.

It’s critical though, to select the influencers who are the best fit for your business. This may seem like an easy call, but it has its challenges.

First off, the influencers need to be truly influential. That means they need to have a sizeable number of followers on their social media accounts, but also drive engagement (for example do followers like, comment and share the content posted?)

They also need to be content creators. Their account should be appealing, creative and have a personal (and distinguishable) style. You would not want to work with someone who would post just about anything, in exchange for treatments, products or fees, but with someone who carefully plans every post, is discerning in their brand collaborations, and is keen to maintain their credibility.

It’s equally important to choose someone who is regarded as an ‘expert’ in a specific field or topic, and has gathered a community of followers likely to be receptive to what they have to say about your business. For example, if you’re promoting a range of facial treatments, you should collaborate with an influencer who has a keen interest in skincare, knowledge of facials, and is open to posting selfies sans makeup (and looking radiant doing so) to showcase your treatments.

Once you have a wish list of influencers you’d like to collaborate with, reach out and test your chemistry.

The most popular form of collaboration with an influencer is the treatment or product review in exchange for social media mentions.  It is low cost to the brand, and it offers a great opportunity to test how well your business and the influencer can work together. Make sure you schedule the influencer visit at a time that is convenient for your venue as well, and that if possible you’re present for the meet and greet.

Another popular choice, when it comes to high calibre celebrities, and socialites in particular, is prepping for special events. Their followers will notice and comment on the beauty looks (i.e. makeup and hairstyle), plus these events are usually covered by lifestyle media too, so you could benefit from this wider coverage.

Once you have selected the influencers who are the best fit for your brand, you can explore ways to collaborate more closely, meaningfully and beneficially for your business.

For example, spas and salons need beautiful imagery for their website and ongoing social media activity. Instead of using generic images found on the internet, you could collaborate with several influencers and have your own photoshoot, creating plenty of relevant content for your ongoing marketing use.

Lastly, when you’re ready to deepen your relationship with the influencers of your choice, you can look at longer term partnerships, engaging them to act as brand ambassadors, or even bring them in-house, as creative consultants working alongside your team on developing new services, testing products, styling, or helping with marketing.

Beauty influencers have a strong skill set, from blogging and content creation to communication and trend forecasting, and they know your client base better than anyone, so there’s plenty of ways they can bring the edge to your business in order for it to succeed and stay relevant.

Curly girls rejoice as The Hair Addict and The Curly Queen and founder of The Curly Girl Method Lorraine Massey are heading to Dubai in January 2020 to host two exclusive workshops.

As more women are embracing their natural curls and carrying them with confidence and the demand for qualified curl specialists has increased dramatically over the past few years, The Hair Addict first organized the authenticated CurlbyCurl™ Masterclass in April 2018 in Egypt, followed by a second in April 2019, qualifying more than 35 stylists from Egypt, Russia, UAE and USA. After much interest and eagerness from women in The Gulf region, the team decided to host the 3rd edition of CurlbyCurl™ in Dubai.

The Hair Addict launched in 2016 in Egypt as an online community for women founded by former Proctor & Gamble Supply Chain Director and TEDx Speaker Doaa Gawish. The Hair Addict was set up to challenge all societal norms and to encourage women to unlearn negative societal conditioning. The aim of the community is to teach women that they are worthy of self-care, including sustainable haircare that entails natural remedies, organic or low chemical products, as well as eating healthily and working out.   Since launch, the community has been featured in over 35 international media outlets and is deemed a dramatic social movement aimed at reforming the beauty standards in Africa and The Middle East with women going heat free, embracing their natural curls and carrying themselves with confidence, resulting in social taboos related to hair being eliminated.  The Hair Addict has now evolved into one of the fastest growing natural hair products’ suppliers in Egypt which will launch in UAE and wider GCC.

The 3^rd edition of CurlbyCurl™ will comprise of two workshops, with each qualifying 12 stylists and attending guests with participants coming from all over the world and will be led by Lorraine Massey, creator of The Curly Girl Method, Curly World hair products, and founder of Spiral x,y,z hair salon in New York. Lorraine created the Curly Girl Method in her first published book, The Curly Girl Handbook and it is her first visit to Dubai.

The Hair Addict workshops are designed to offer the best training and advice for hair experts and to qualify specialists who can offer curly hair services in their salons, to further encourage women to embrace their natural hair. The workshops will take place on 20^th/21^st January and 23^rd/24^th January, it will be hosted at the newly opened salon, The Curl Therapy in Regent Court, Jumeirah Village Circle.

The Hair Addicts look forward to delivering their message of self-love and acceptance to the curly haired ladies of the UAE and wider GCC in 2020.

For full details see the press release attached. For more info, images or to speak with Doaa or Lorraine, please get in touch.

Tash xx

No matter how long you’ve known them, it’s always nice to make the ladies in your life feel extra special – especially during the festive season. So, if you’re looking for a little inspiration, we’ve got you covered and rounded up some of the best gifts that they are bound to love and cherish!

Bubble T  Advent Calendar (AED 215)

The Advent Calendar from Bubble T is filled with 24 goodies and is the perfect item to gift in order to keep the excitement going for the festive season. Perfect as a gift or simply to enjoy yourself, this super-sized advent calendar contains everything you need to liven up your bath or shower time this festive season.  Available for purchase in the UAE from Virgin Megastores, Lifestyle Gulf Stores, Tania’s Teahouse and online on beautysolutions-me.com

Flormar Celebration coffret (AED 99) Every day is a celebration, especially New Year’s Eve. The set contains a mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, eyeshadow and nail polish – essentials for every beauty lover!

Argan Liquid Gold Natural Luxury Beauty Oil (AED 290.98)

Treat your skin to this pure, natural and organic Argan Oil. Suitable for use on all skin types, the fast-absorbing elixir delivers multiple benefits to skin, including nourishing, hydrating and rejuvenating to reveal a fresh look.  Available on arganliquidgold.co.uk and Boutiqaat.

Mini Lip Trio from Delilah cosmetics (AED 133.84)

Three perfectly proportioned Mini Lipsticks in wearable soft pinks and nudes. Each one with a silky, subtle finish, that leave the lips feeling soft and hydrated. The shades are rose petal with an elegant soft berry pink, faithful dusky nude for every skin tone and an envy peach pale nude.

Skin Republic Gold Masks (AED 33)

Make your skin glow and feel like Christmas with these masks by Skin republic. It brightens and clears your skin complexion and helps to improve blood circulation. These masks are the perfect stocking fillers for sheet mask fanatics. Available at Harvey Nichols, Bloomingdales, Areej, Lifestyle, Karji, BinSina, Boots, Manara, Docib, Medicine Shoppe, United Pharmacy, www.souq.com; www.noon.com; www.sprii.com, Spinney’s, Waitrose, Al Maya and Blush.

Rodial Dragon’s Blood Collection (AED 715)

Containing three best sellers; a 50ml Sculpting Gel, 50ml Hyaluronic Mask and 15ml Eye Gel, the Dragon’s Blood range smoothes, plumps and hydrates. The combination of dragon’s blood with hyaluronic acid makes this innovative range ideal for treating loss of elasticity, dehydration and sensitive skin. Available at Harvey Nichols, Bloomingdales and www.beautysolutions.com

Pestle and Mortar Box of Stars gift Set (AED 450):

This gift set is packed with skin care heroes to heal, hydrate and replenish all skin types. It includes full sizes of Pure Hyaluronic Serum and Recover Eye Cream plus travel sizes of Hydrate Moisturizer and Exfoliate Acid Toner. There’s also a full-size of Recover, the multi-tasking eye cream that tackles dark circles, puffiness and wrinkles. Also included are deluxe travel sizes of Hydrate Moisturizer and Exfoliate Glycolic Acid Toner.

Hair Trio Nude and Improved Skin Perfection Kit from Patchology (AED 160)

Going bare can be intimidating, however this kit from Patchology can work wonders. Say hello to everything you need this festive season to help you glow with confidence. Sheet masks infused with Vitamin C, eye gels packed with caffeine, lip gels filled with Green Tea Extract—you know, the products that let your skin be its best self can help you take #nomakeupselfies like a pro. Available for purchase from Harvey Nichols, Bloomingdales, Faces, The Nail Spa, Browz and online on Beautysolutions-me.com and namshi.com

Grown Alchemist Christmas Gift Set (AED 223)

A limited-edition range of luxury hand and body care kits, perfect for universal gifting during the holiday season. The range boasts unique silver product packaging, making a style statement in your home or bag. Grown Alchemist the perfect fusion of advanced natural alchemy and cosmetics science with powerful anti-aging botanical skincare, body care and haircare. 

Magical Rose Gift Set from Salt by Hendrix (AED 250)

If your loved one loves roses, the flower or the scent, this SALT BY HENDRIX Magical Rose Gift Set is for them! Containing a Magical Rose Illuminating Elixir, Sugar Souffle and Flowers in your Hair fragrance, this set will leave your skin smooth, hydrated and smelling divine. 

Solinotes Floral Crush Set (AED 117.60) – perfect for creating your own bespoke fragrance by mixing and matching to your taste. Experiment Solinotes in 3 steps: 1- pick two fragrances you’d like to mix, 2- spray on your body to associate the fragrances together, and 3- enjoy your unique perfume. Available at Glambeaute.com

Lunette Menstrual Cup (AED 157.5)

The Lunette cup is made of flexible silicone and comes in two sizes. Instead of absorbing your flow, like a tampon or pad, it catches and collects it. Easy and safe to use, the new vegan menstrual cup is made of soft, toxin-free medical-grade silicone and does not contain any of the chemicals typically found in commercial grade tampons and pads.

PMD Personal Microderm Device (Prices start from AED 695)

This high-tech beauty device is designed to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes and enlarged pores. The patented spinning discs with aluminium oxide crystals will help exfoliate away the dead, dull cells from the surface of the skin. Microderm device comes in different versions with various functions. Available for purchase from Harvey Nichols, Bloomingdales and online on boutiqaat.com and beautysolutions-me.com.

Chloe CE158S available at Grand Optics (AED 1690)

This pair from Chloe boasts an ultra-thin and ultra-light gold metal silhouette and a petite, half-moon shape with pink lenses – a perfect  luxury gift for the fashionista in your life. Available at Grand Optics Dubai mall, Mall of the Emirates