We’ve linked up with Lisa Shepherd Birmingham to give us some maintenance tips on the 4 key looks for the new year.

1) Mane Attraction – your long hair is your badge of honour, you wouldn’t dream of getting it cut off but it can get lank, fried or dull if you don’t lavish a little love. Long hair lovers need to add a little TLC with a quarterly intensive conditioning treatment at the backwash. Lisa Shepherd colourists love to add free hand slices of toning shades gently through the hair to look supernatural. Top it off with a clear gloss for shiny hair full of iridescence. Keep the movement with long layers too especially around the face.

2) Desk Diva – your office life is only half the story; it’s what happens after office hours that really gives your hair a work out! A classic chin length bob can be quite the party piece when given a low parting, slick styling and a little vintage hair accessory. You can even pep up natural shades with a little hidden surprise that can be revealed when you are in the mood. Think pale pink under blonde, purple’s and reds hiding under brunette and magenta under reds.

3) Run Ragged – you’d love a look that rocks but time is not on your side and most days your hair ends up in a scrunchy or under a hat. A well cut crop (think Carey Mulligan) looks amazing shot through with highlights and will hold its style as it grows and will only take minutes in the morning. Or if you are lucky enough to have a few natural waves go for a well cut layered look and pack in natural shine like the lovely Alexa Chung and let your hair dry naturally.

4) Career Queen – you want Boardroom Chic, every day and no compromises. So give your hair a promotion and choose a strong fringe, a stand out solid shade and schedule a lunchtime weekly treat between meetings for a professional blow dry and a manicure.

Whether you are tribal about your look or have a look all your own, Lisa Shepherd Salons can help you find your ultimate style vibe in 2012.

Kevin Murphy’s COLOUR.BUG provides the solution with wipe on, wipe off colour!  It’s colour just for the one night, and can be found at Puro Organic Hair Salon in Birmingham.

Check out our gallery below for inspiration.

Adee, whose client list includes David Beckham, Liam Gallagher, Sarah Harding and some secretive A list movie stars, starred on Channel 4’s ‘The Salon’ and is a leading name in the hairdressing world. Originally from Kings Heath, Adee’s new Birmingham salon sees him returning to his roots as he plans to live on-site in one of the exclusive residential apartments at The Cube.

In preparation for the opening night, the 5,000 square feet canal-side space on the ground floor underwent a £1.5 million luxury fit out to accommodate 30 work stations, as well as more quirky additions including everything from a giant yellow gorilla to a grand piano, ensuring every visit is an experience not to be forgotten. The salon looks to become the city’s fashion Mecca, with celebs like Imogen Thomas, Michelle Collins and Boyzone’s Keith Duffy flocking to the star-studded ribbon-cutting event.

Adee says, “Birmingham has evolved into a centre of style and fashion, so is the perfect place for me to expand outside of London. The Cube is an iconic building in the heart of the city providing the ideal image and location for my salon.”

Neil Edginton, director at The Cube, comments: “Attracting a leading name such as Adee Phelan is a real coup both for The Cube and for Birmingham. His salon will be the perfect addition to our discerning leisure offering, and it’s great to see it open its doors ready for the pre-Christmas rush!”

Adee Phelan’s salon is the latest addition to The Cube’s growing portfolio, with the Marco Pierre White rooftop restaurant and Rodizio Rico Brazilian restaurant on level seven also currently under development. The Cube will also be home to Hotel Indigo’s boutique hotel and spa and a Private Members Club and Bar – all due to be completed later this year.

Adee adds: “The opening of the salon in Birmingham is just the start. I hope to be involved in a number of local projects and to really become part of the city’s ongoing transformation into a style and fashion destination. For me, this is where it all began and I can’t wait to welcome the people of Birmingham to my salon.”

Nick Taplin, managing director at Sanguine Hospitality, said: “It’s a very exciting time for The Cube and everything is coming together ahead of a flurry of openings sparked by Adee’s opening. It adds another aspect to the complete leisure experience that we are able to offer our guests.”

Adee Phelan’s salon at The Cube is open for business from 27 September 2011. Opening times are Monday 11am-6pm, Tuesday 10am-7pm, Wednesday and Thursday 10am-8pm, Friday 10am-7pm, Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm. For bookings please call 0121 643 7921 or email thecube@adeephelan.co.uk. To follow Adee on Twitter visit www.twitter.com/adee_phelan

For 69er Laura Ross’ photos from the launch of Adee’s salon, head over to our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/69Magazine

So if you want to be nice to your head and make sure you have good hair days every day, go to tangleteezer.com to find out where your nearest stockists are.

- Sarah Potter

sarahjaynepotter.wordpress.com

The range available from Sassoon for Men offers grooming gadgets any budding action hero would be proud of, and because it’s Sassoon you know it’s going to be a combination of quality and innovation. By using real men as inspiration for the Sassoon for Men range, the result is simple to use, attractive and functional products – everything necessary for everyday heroes, without an evil price tag.

The Sassoon for Men Mains Clipper features attachments so you get a trim at the length you want, whether its 3mm or 12mm, as well as a blade adjustment lever so you control the closeness of the cut.

If you’re out and about the Sassoon for Men Rechargeable Clipper gives you up to an hour from one charge and has corrosion resistant steel blades, so they’ll last (almost!) as long as you do. With six comb attachments you still have flexibility when it comes to styling, as well as a thinning comb to get rid of some bulk if you have thick hair.

Whether you’re looking for sexy stubble or just a trim, the Sassoon for Men Rechargeable Beard Trimmer has reinforced stainless steel blades which stay as sharp as you’ll look, whichever length (3mm to 7mm) you go for.

Those hard to reach places are taken care of too, thanks for the Sassoon for Men Hygiene Trimmer. Its antibacterial with a high beam light for precision, and thanks to rotary blades, it won’t pull. Phew! It even helps clean up after itself, thanks to a vacuum function. Clever, eh?

The competition starts on 1st October 2011 and runs until 25th December 2011. There are 2,000 Mission Impossible DVD box sets to give away with no purchase necessary. See packs in store for more information.

- Lauren Collier

This week though it’s business as usual and restoring some normality to the city is the priority of retailers and shoppers alike. As part of this Bullring are holding a jam-packed weekend of events (on 20-21 August) and offers including beauty treatments, chocolate stamping and big discounts.

The centre, which is open and trading as normal, will play host to a series of events and in-store treats this weekend from the likes of Selfridges, Debenhams and Hotel Chocolat.

Selfridges Beauty Hall on Level 3 will be playing host to a beauty roadshow with top beauty brands providing invaluable masterclass sessions to help perfect your AW11 look. This Saturday (20th August) you’ll be able to discover trade secrets on how to exfoliate properly with a masterclass from Dermalogica, whilst shoppers on Sunday will be shown how to use a pair of GHD straighteners to create almost any style. And throughout next week other top brands such as Dior, Bare Minerals and Leighton Denny will be on hand to share even more beauty secrets.

Meanwhile Debenhams will be offering buy one get one free on all women’s sale clearance items, whilst also discounting selected menswear shorts and shirts. Plus there will be special activity at the Estee Lauder beauty counter to celebrate the launch of the new fragrance ‘Sensual Nude’.

Other in-store treats include chocolate sampling at Hotel Chocolat and complementary arm and hand massages at Molton Brown – perfect to relax and unwind during the weekend. The Body Shop will be giving customers a sneak peek at its new make-up line before it goes on sale and treating them to free make-overs in-store.

And if you’re looking for a lunchtime treat then be sure to drop into Pizza Express (located on Upper East Mall) to take advantage of its ‘3 courses for £12.95 menu’.

Whilst out on Rotunda Square budding stars will be showcasing their talents on-stage at Best Western’s ‘Britain’s Got Personality’ event. The final regional heat of its UK tour, Best Western is on the search for anybody with a talent and will be giving local singers, dancers, magicians and comedians the chance to perform on-stage between 11am and 4pm.

Visit www.browsebullring.co.uk for a full schedule and loads more information.

The Catwalk Show will feature eight vibrant brand and trend-led scenes displaying the latest Menswear and Womenswear from key independent retailers, as part of a wider campaign to profile the city’s precious independent offering within Retail Birmingham’s BID area. The stores featured in the show will include clothing designer Disorder, Breina, which has been based in Great Western Arcade for over thirty five years, Autograph and Bullring-based Sonique. Top fashion retailer Metsuki will also add a touch of high-end glamour to the catwalk, plus there will be a number of summer garden party inspired surprises during the evening for guests to enjoy. Alongside the fashion, the models will showcase the independents from head to toe with styling from Benjamin Ryan Hair & Beauty and Saks. Shoes will be provided by Sims Footwear.

The launch of the campaign comes only weeks after the announcement of Mary Portas’ new policy level appointment to boost the number of small and independent retailers in town centres, which has pushed the importance of independent stores to the front of the retail agenda once again.

Jonathan Cheetham, Chair of Retail Birmingham, said: “There is no doubt that retailers have faced some of the most difficult trading conditions in decades and independents have naturally been at the forefront of this challenging economic climate. Despite the turbulence, Retail Birmingham has continued to fully support city centre retailers and independents to best help them respond to these daily challenges. “With a board comprising of a number of active retailers, we have full understanding of the situation facing our members’. In developing effective campaigns and strategies such as the ‘Celebration of Independents’ week, we can continue to raise the profile of the wonderful mix of unique shops on offer in Birmingham and encourage visitors to continue celebrating and exploring these hidden gems.”

To coincide with the celebration, a brand new and free shopping map featuring more than 100 independent retailers, as well as the hundreds of other stores within the city centre has been launched by Retail Birmingham. The shopping map will signpost shoppers across the city centre throughout the summer and help them to explore all of what Birmingham has to offer. Copies of the new shopping map will be available in a number of stores and at key information points around the city during July.   For more information visit www.retailbirmingham.co.uk and www.stylebirmingham.com

Without tempting fate, they want to spread a bit of their winning formula to one lucky 69 Degrees reader. One reader has the chance of bagsying a fabulous Cut and Colour (worth £100) at their salon on Braunstone Gate, Leicester. To be in with a chance of winning, simply sashay over to the boxes below and enter your details:

Sorry, this competition is closed.

Closing date: 4th July

Cease is @ 31a Braunstone Gate, West End, Leicester, LE3 5LH. Tel 0116 255 5022.

“We want to celebrate the wedding and contribute to making it a special day for people in Leicester,” Barrie says. “So we’re doing what we can and we think it’s a lovely gesture to honour the royal couple by giving all the Kates and Williams of Leicester a complimentary cut and style. It’s not just the royal family and Kate who’lll be looking red-carpet gorgeous on the day!”

So, if you share your name with William or Kate then call into the salon today or call to make an appointment for the 29th April. Drop-in appointments can also be made, but we’d recommend calling to book.  And if there are any Kate Middletons out there, the team at Barrie Stephen Hair will also throw in a luxury goodie bag for you too!

You’ll need to take your photo ID with you to prove that you’re a William or a Kate. No variations.  Just Kates, no Catherines, as this is the name that most of us know her by.

Barrie Stephen Hair: 12 King Street,  Leicester,  Leicestershire, LE1 6RJ Tel: 0844 445 2888

*This promotion is on for one day only (29th April) and only at the King Street Barrie Stephen salon. The promotion cannot be taken without valid photo ID.

In association with luxury haircare brand L’ANZA, the event will feature 6 UK salons’ creative work, a catwalk show and fab after-party.

Win!

To celebrate, we’ve teamed up with L’ANZA to give away all these goodies to one lucky reader:

1 x L’ANZA Healing ColorCare Color Preserving Shampoo 300ml

1 x L’ANZA Healing ColorCare Color Preserving Conditioner 250ml

1 x L’ANZA Healing ColorCare Magic Bullet 100ml

1 x L’ANZA Healing Moisture Moi Moi Hand Treatment 250ml

All presented in a L’ANZA tote bag.

The prize is worth over £85, so if you want a chance to win, just enter your details below:

www.lanza.com

www.gatecrasher.com

http://www.lanza-hair.co.uk/events-and-press/news-detail.php?NewsID=8

Sorry, this competition is closed.

Ts&Cs: From time to time we may send you information about fabulous products, services and brands that may interest you. If you mind terribly, email claire@69-247.com otherwise keep your eyes peeled.