Top tips for beating the January Blues

How is 2019 treating you so far? According to research by mid January most of us have already given up on all those well-intentioned new year resolutions, as the shock of the return to reality drives us to the comforts of a Friday night takeaway and a bottle of wine in front of Netflix.

If your Dry January is now looking distinctly wet, and you’ve found yourself furtively polishing off the kids’ Christmas stash of chocolate coins when you’re meant to be going sugar-free, don’t be too hard on yourself. January can feel long enough without depriving yourself of all the things you love, all at once. As Oscar Wilde wisely once said ‘Everything in moderation, including moderation.’  

So instead of setting yourself big, sometimes unattainable, goals, maybe cut yourself a bit of slack and focus on making a few small changes to help you feel a bit happier, healthier, and brighter this month. Think less deprivation, more inspiration.

With that in mind, here’s how we’ll be beating the January blues:

Out with the Old

If you’re looking to well and truly turn your back on 2018 (let’s face it, on many fronts it won’t go down as a classic), how about freshening up your hair style to take on the year ahead? You might fancy trying a completely new look, or maybe there’s a wedding, special event or milestone birthday around the corner that you want to feel like a million dollars for. Or perhaps you just feel like giving your current style a bit of a reboot.

Whether you know what you want but not sure whether it will suit you, or are after some advice and inspiration, our team of stylists are always on hand. Why not book in for a free style consultation? Come in, have a coffee and we can discuss what you’re looking for and any ideas you might have. Bring along any images of styles you love, or previous hairstyles of yours that made your feel great, and together we can plan your new year transformation.

Talking of transformations, if you’ve been in recently you might have noticed Shine has had a mini-makeover of its own, with four more wash stations and lots more space. Pups-in-residence Poppy and Gryff have given our new look their seal of approval, so do come and check it out!

Find your Stride

It’s true what they say about endorphins, getting active makes you feel happier. And it doesn’t have to be a gruelling gym session, just anything to get your heart pumping and switch your brain off for a bit. Here in Brighton we are blessed with some pretty awesome natural backdrops to inspire even the most reluctant movers, be it the sea view or the rolling South Downs. Running is a quick and free way to get fit, and the Couch to 5k app, with a choice of celebrity trainers, is a brilliant way to get anyone going and help keep you motivated. 

Ditch the Plastic

Forget dropping a dress size, doing your bit for the planet is surely a more worthy goal for 2019. And there are loads of really easy ways to help make a big difference, like swapping single use disposables for a reusable coffee cup when you grab your daily caffeine fix. We love ecoffee cup’s bright and stylish range of designs, made using natural bamboo fibre.

Much of what we buy seems to be wastefully packaged, and a lot of it is not recyclable. But there are ways to cut down on how much we throw away at home.  The refill bar at HISBE has over 100 lines of various foods and household essentials, including dry pasta, olive oil, laundry and body care. Simply bring your own containers and stock up. And while you’re there, they also sell our very own Shine Shampoo Bar (also available here in the salon or online). Stored in a handy reusable tin and with an uplifting citrus aroma and super luxurious lather, the bar lasts up to four times longer than a standard sized bottle of shampoo, and leaves your hair looking and smelling great.

If in doubt, HIBERNATE!

Whether you’re trying to drink less/eat more healthily/save money this month or not, after all of December’s excess and expense, a night in snuggled up in the warm does seem very appealing at the moment. So thank goodness for some blooming brilliant TV currently gracing our screens. Here at Shine we’re loving Sex Education (Netflix) with the always awesome Gillian Anderson, and the return of the whip-smart Catastrophe (Channel 4). And if you haven’t yet watched the Bros documentary, After the Screaming Stops(BBC iPlayer), you’re in for a treat. Pure-mainly unintentional-comedy gold.

Shine’s Products of the Month

Wash away the remains of your festive season hangover with Aveda’s Rosemary Mint Shampoo, £15.50, and Conditioner, £17.50. Packed with invigorating rosemary, peppermint and spearmint, the shampoo gently clarifies the hair, while the conditioner leaves it full of weightless body and shine. The energising scent feels like a detox in a bottle-the perfect way to wake yourself up and get going on a grey January morning.

Another beautifully fragranced favourite from Aveda is the Shampure range. Perfect for all hair types, the Shampoo, £15.50 and Conditioner, £17.50 add shine and long-lasting nourishment, and for a limited time only we are offering 20% off both when you purchase in the salon. 

That’s all for this month, we hope to see you soon!

You can book your next appointment with us online, by email or over the phone. 

And remember if you recommend a friend to visit Shine for the first time, you’ll both enjoy £10 off your visit-another sure-fire way to cheer up January!