The Ultimate Girlfriend Gift Guide for Thoughtful and Stylish Presents

NetDoctor
Can you really lighten your hair using lemon juice?
We speak to a top London hairdresser to find out the benefits and warnings of using lemon juice in your hair.
12 minutes ago
The Independent
Line of Duty: Vicky McClure addresses shock Kate Fleming cliffhanger
*Spoilers follow for Line of Duty series six, episode five*
17 minutes ago
Refinery 29 UK
I Tried The Ordinary’s Viral Hair Growth Serum & The Results Are Incredible
From CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser to Elvive’s Dream Lengths Wonder Water, TikTok has propelled many under-the-radar beauty products to instant fame. The latest one to steal the limelight? The Ordinary’s Multi-Peptide Serum For Hair Density, £15.80. In fact, it looks like it’s one of the most googled hair products recently. The lightweight serum is designed to transform hair, making it thicker, fuller, denser and healthier thanks to a megamix of clever ingredients, and it seems TikTokers can’t get enough of its hair boosting properties. Hair thinning is something I have experienced for a while thanks to hormonal condition polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which causes diminished hair around the hairline and temples. I also straighten my hair daily so welcome anything that helps strengthen frazzled strands. Admittedly, hair growth shampoos, conditioners and treatments haven’t worked well for me in the past but on hearing so many excellent things about The Ordinary’s serum, I had to try it. @thehealthyhygge I’m so happy with the results 😛 #greenscreen #hairgrowth #hairgoals #hairregrowth ♬ Up Down (Do This All Day) (feat. B.o.B) – T-Pain What is in The Ordinary’s Multi-Peptide Hair Density Serum? According to The Ordinary, the formula boasts a technology called REDENSYL complex. Don’t let the obscure name put you off, though. Basically, it contains peptides (otherwise known as proteins) which are said to repair and strengthen hair. Alongside these peptides you’ll find caffeine, which the brand says makes the formula easily absorbed into the scalp, alongside castor oil, which has long been championed by trichologists and hair loss experts for stimulating hair growth and thickness when combined with regular scalp massage. There are also hair conditioners to increase softness and humectants (moisturising ingredients) like glycine. Although the product is labelled as a serum, the texture is actually much thinner, like water. But don’t underestimate it. It sinks into the scalp without a trace so doesn’t feel greasy or sticky in the hair. @hasinikay Reply to @mikelamezini The Ordinary Multi Peptide Serum for Hair Density Review #theordinary #hairgrowth #hairgrowthtips #curly #curlyhair #curlygirl ♬ original sound – Hasini Kay How do you use The Ordinary’s Multi-Peptide Hair Density Serum? The leave-in serum is recommended to be used once a day, applied to a clean, dry scalp and ideally at nighttime before bed, when it’s said that skin and hair tends to regenerate. As the product contains castor oil, I set aside a couple of moments after applying my evening skincare to really massage it into my roots in a bid to stimulate hair follicles. Overall, it was really quick and easy to use compared to hair growth products I’ve tried, such as hair masks (which need to be rinsed out) and hair oils (heavy and sometimes sticky in dry hair). Does The Ordinary’s Multi-Peptide Hair Density Serum work? Yes, and the before-and-after pictures are proof. While the instructions don’t state how long you should use the product for, I noticed teeny tiny hairs begin to sprout from my roots after just two weeks. A whole month later, my sparse patches gave way to a crescendo of dark baby hairs which concealed my bald patches. Amazed, I scoured the internet for other reviews. Some people said that they noticed the best results after using more than one bottle, while others saw changes after just three weeks. The majority of Cult Beauty reviews are a full five stars across all ages and hair types. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice much of a difference in my parting, which is also starting to thin out, but I put that down to scraping my hair back every day. That said, my right side in particular shows obvious growth and thickness, and when I brush my baby hairs, any sparse patches are totally concealed. While it worked well for me, some factors might stall hair growth, for example hormonal issues and genetics. If you are concerned about hair thinning or it’s getting you down, it pays to visit your GP or a trusted hair expert or trichologist for further advice. What are the best products and treatments for hair growth? There’s no doubt The Ordinary’s Multi-Peptide Serum is a game-changer but Dr Nilofer Farjo of the Farjo Institute says that there are also some medicines that can help manage hair loss and hair density. “Finasteride in tablet form is probably the most effective medicine for strengthening hair and halting further loss,” she explains. “Another popular treatment is minoxidil, widely known as Regaine, which is applied as a foam or lotion.” This can be bought over the counter at multiple pharmacies as well as Boots. The Farjo Institute’s Dr Bessam Farjo adds that these are the only FDA or MHRA-approved medications to treat patterned hair loss. While some products may advertise hair growth, they are unlikely to be backed by as much scientific research as the above two treatments, but it’s all down to personal preference. What about hair supplements? “The problem with supplements is that you could walk down the aisle of most chemists and find an array of supplements promising to help hair loss,” says Dr Bessam. “But the truth is, this is an area of the market where unfortunately you might see a lot of overpromising and perhaps miss-selling.” Dr Nilofer seconds this and adds: “There is a definite place for these non-prescription products as part of your hair loss treatment regimen, as long as you appreciate it is more of a support role.” In other words, hair supplements alone won’t solve the issue but might make a great addition to leave-in hair treatments, such as The Ordinary’s. “Supplements are also a good option if hair loss is at a very early stage, or the objective is to improve the quality of existing hairs,” continues Dr Nilofer. When it comes to product recommendations, The Farjo Hair Institute rates Help Hair Vitamins, Viviscal Pro Tablets and Florisene tablets, the latter of which may be beneficial for women who are deficient in iron. Again, it’s important to consult your GP or hair expert if you have any worries or concerns about hair growth. Looking back at the before-and-after pictures, it’s obvious that Multi-Peptide Density Serum is working for me, so much so that it has become a firm fixture in my evening beauty routine. If you’re interested in giving it a go, I’d suggest doing a quick patch test (as with all new topical products) before committing fully, to minimise any potential irritation. Refinery29’s selection is purely editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items we love! As part of our business model we do work with affiliates; if you directly purchase something from a link on this article, we may earn a small amount of commission. Transparency is important to us at Refinery29, if you have any questions please reach out to us. Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?I Cut 10 Inches Of Hair Off & My Curls Look GreatThis £9.99 Hair Treatment Is The Next OlaplexI Tried Olaplex No.8 & The Results Are Incredible
40 minutes ago
Refinery 29 UK
“It Feels Like A Loss”: How COVID Made Friends Drift Apart
“I have no idea what my friendships look like now,” says 32-year-old Janelle*. “Since the pandemic, one of my closest friends, who I used to message every day, has totally disappeared. I know she’s anxious and easily overwhelmed but it hurts.” In the same period, Janelle has been through a lot of upheaval: changing jobs twice and moving from her rented shared house in London back to her mum’s in Sheffield to save money. Life has always been prone to changing fast. Even before coronavirus, you could wake up to find everything you know turned on its head: people we love die, relationships end, companies fold. But the last 12 months have exposed more people than ever to the inherent uncertainty of human existence. Some of our friendships have changed and we feel it for better and for worse; but the true extent of any long-term changes to our relationships are still revealing themselves. During the first lockdown of 2020, social scientists in France carried out a large-scale study of 16,000 people to assess the impact of the highly restrictive lockdown there. The participants skewed towards women who had attended higher education. A key impact of lockdown on their friendships, the researchers found, was what they called “relationship funnelling“. This was a process whereby some friendships were prioritised and even strengthened through care and increased communication, while others just “fizzled out”. In a (hopefully) long life of many decades, the pandemic will one day seem like a blip for friendships that had already lasted longer than any lockdown. Nonetheless, those who responded to the survey said that this period had severely tested and, in some cases, transformed their friendships. Janelle is feeling this. “I know lockdown has shrunk all of our worlds but it feels hard not to take it personally that my friend is now basically uncontactable. She rarely replies to my messages now, it feels like we have really drifted. It feels like such a loss.” I know lockdown has shrunk all of our worlds but it feels hard not to take it personally that my friend is now basically uncontactable. Janelle Twenty-six-year-old Emma* from Leeds has had a similar experience. “My best friend and I have always been like sisters but in the first lockdown she started a new relationship and ended up moving in with him due to the restrictions. She now lives really far away from me and I feel like we have completely drifted apart. I’m single and, honestly, I feel like we have been growing apart because she stopped checking in and went into her own bubble with her boyfriend.” This has caused Emma to feel left out and left behind. “She seems settled in her new life now and I’m not a huge part of it anymore.” For young women in particular – a demographic which has been sold the idea that while lovers come and go, our friendships are forever – these shifts and drifts can be particularly painful and difficult to navigate. The seed of this expectation was planted when, in Sex and the City, Carrie and co. suggested that they, rather than men, could be each other’s soulmates. But just as romantic relationships let us down, so too can friendships. This is particularly true at a time when we – all of us – have been changed in some way by the experience of living through a pandemic. The distances between us as we come out of this lockdown are not only geographical. Some people have had children, changed their career, lost their career. And while some have started relationships, others have ended them. If our friendships have changed perhaps it is because we, too, have completely changed. Clinical psychologist and author of The Key To Calm, Linda Blair, says it’s important to realise that you might not be coming out of this as the same person who went into it. “Whether we enjoyed the experience or not, we have been forced to rethink our lives,” Linda explains. “That has, for some people, been a wonderful thing but, for others, it has been horrible. I really caution people to take their time with their friends as we emerge; what you think about your friendships as you’ve experienced them in such pressurised circumstances is not necessarily a reflection of your normal relationship with those people.” We must try to keep an open mind, Linda advises: treat our social interactions now as fact-finding missions to see how we feel in our friendships. Maybe they won’t be the same but perhaps we can meet one another with a new level of understanding. “Ask people questions about themselves,” she says, “see if you can get to know them again, renavigate your relationship. To be so intolerant as not to forgive people for how they have behaved under unprecedented circumstances of which we had no warning would be to cancel out some of your own behaviours. Think back to how stressed you have been and give everybody you can bear to give a chance, a chance.” I’m single and, honestly, I feel like we have been growing apart because she stopped checking in and went into her own bubble with her boyfriend.emma However, Linda adds, there are exceptions. “If someone has been truly harmful and poisonous, it’s okay to say goodbye to them.” She would define this as someone being “consistently and deliberately hurtful” to you. Over the last year, 29-year-old Kaya* from the southeast of England has done exactly that. She realised that her best friend was, as she puts it, “toxic” and has deliberately phased her out to preserve her own mental health. “Before the pandemic, we were very close and used to tell each other everything. We’d always be texting or tagging one another in memes. I’d call her my best friend – the person I’d run to in a crisis,” Kaya explains. “Our friendship wasn’t perfect, though. She would sometimes try to undermine me (for example if I’d achieved something notable at work) and sometimes she would comment on my clothes or makeup in a negative way. But she’s always been brutally honest and I just put that down to her being a November Sagittarius.” Everything changed when Kaya’s boyfriend broke up with her during the first lockdown. This was the last time she saw her former friend. “Although she came to support me, she gave me some really awful advice and I felt like she was trying to make the situation worse or stir trouble. Then the second lockdown hit and spending time apart from her made me realise that I felt drained whenever I talked to her and she made me feel bad about myself.” It was only when she spent time alone that Kaya feels she was able to reflect on the friendship. Lockdown, she says, taught her how to “protect” her “peace of mind” and with that came the steady realisation that this friend made her feel anxious. She began to reflect that her friend used to make unkind comments about her appearance: “She used to comment on the way I look or do my makeup.” On top of that, she would belittle her achievements at work: “She would actually laugh at them.” For Kaya, having the space to drift apart slowly has been hugely beneficial. She says she has surrounded herself with other friends who make her feel positive. “I don’t think this would have happened without the pandemic!” she reflects. “I think we would still be meeting up regularly for dinner and drinks and each time I’d probably come away feeling crappy and the cycle would continue. We texted each other a happy Christmas but I haven’t spoken to her since and have no desire to, to be honest. Sometimes friendships come to a natural end.” Some rifts will be irreparable and others, in time, will heal. “I like to think of friendships as an onion,” Linda says. “We have inner layers and outer layers. The next few months – and I really do mean months because this is a process – are about deciding who we allow to remain in the inner layers and who needs to go to the outer layers of only saying hi if we see them in the street.” I spoke to tens of people for this article, all of whom had similar stories. They all felt a sense of loss and some described themselves as grieving for how their friendships had changed. Our world has changed, so it follows that we have evolved and adapted too. Whatever we do next, Linda says that kindness and compassion are key. “Slow down,” she adds, “take your time and think about what you want from your friends.” If it still feels hopeless, remember that there are people out there who you haven’t met yet. People who have also worked on themselves during this time and will be looking to make new connections. “I’ve recently started using Bumble BFF,” Emma tells me. “I was really nervous about it but it’s been so helpful! I’ve been meeting people who live near me and forming local connections. I do still feel like the loyalty I have to my oldest friends hasn’t been reciprocated but I’m meeting people who have been through similar stuff to me and who knows what will happen in the future…” *Names have been changed to protect identities Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Is Lockdown Making Our Friendships Decay?How Lockdown Helped Me Connect Deeper With IslamHow To Tell If Your Friend Is Gaslighting You
41 minutes ago
Who What Wear
& Other Stories Cult Blazer Is Back For 2021 and It's Perfect For Spring
It comes influencer- and editor-approved.
an hour ago
The Independent
America’s deadliest serial killer preyed on the ‘less dead’ for decades – a new documentary seeks answers
When Samuel Little confessed to murdering 93 women, he inadvertently exposed a system that routinely fails society’s most vulnerable. Clémence Michallon speaks to director Joe Berlinger and executive producer Po Kutchins about a new series, ‘Confronting a Serial Killer’, that explores Little’s horrifying legacy
an hour ago
The Independent
Netflix – from Cannes reject to dominant player at this year’s Oscars
Geoffrey Macnab looks at how the streaming giant went from hated pariah of the movie industry to risk-taking home of the edgy and offbeat
an hour ago
The Independent
The story behind the longest Oscars acceptance speech of all time
In 1943, English actor Greer Garson won the Academy Award for Best Actress and spoke for an undefeated minutes. Clémence Michallon revisits this page in Oscars history
an hour ago
The Independent
Line of Duty series 6, episode 5 recap: Theories and talking points from latest episode of hit BBC drama
*Spoilers follow for Line of Duty series six, episode five*
9 hours ago
Cosmo
Line Of Duty: Who is Tommy Hunter, Jo Davidson's DNA match?
Here's what you need to know
10 hours ago
The Telegraph
‘I spoke to Helen McCrory nearly every day, but even I didn’t know she had cancer’
In the last year, Helen McCrory became a close colleague as we worked alongside her, her husband, Damian Lewis, and actor Matt Lucas on the #FeedNHS campaign. At the height of the first lockdown we spoke nearly every day and served over a million meals to NHS workers on the frontline. On Friday afternoon, I was in my office when I heard the news. My immediate thought was, no, they’ve got that wrong. People must have confused her with someone else. Just the day before, I had been writing about Helen, Damian and Matt, for Letters From Lockdown, a compilation of notes to two children about people’s lives in the past year. How could it be that she had passed away? I was shocked. I didn’t know Helen was ill. I don’t know how long she was receiving treatment, nor what type of cancer she had. Part of me wondered if I should have known, if other people knew and I didn’t. Was there something I missed? I have a deep respect for how much Helen contributed in the last year, during the time she had. It adds a poignancy to the work she did to lead #FeedNHS and makes it even more impressive. Helen was brave, sparky, determined, positive and loving. Billy Bragg wrote, “A virtue never tested is no virtue at all,” in his song ‘Must I Paint You A Picture’. If ever there was a test of character, it is in going through what Helen did whilst making such a huge contribution and maintaining her ballsy sense of humour. My first contact with Helen was a year ago. She and Damian had a friend who was a doctor – and the friend said there was no food for staff at their London hospital. NHS workers were starving and it was affecting their performance. Leon, of which I’m chief executive, was still open and had been offering a 50 per cent discount to NHS workers. Helen and Damian got in touch and said, ‘Can you help us?’ My first thought was, oh gosh, the guy from Homeland and the woman from Peaky Blinders want to speak to me. It was a rollercoaster. But I was eager to help. We worked together intensely from then. Every day in the first lockdown we had a 10am planning call about fundraising, deployment and logistical issues.
11 hours ago
The Independent
Zoë Wanamaker: ‘Of course women should be the centre of attention’
At 71, the formidable star of stage and screen is still speaking out and taking parts that scare her. As she returns as in Netflix fantasy drama Shadow and Bone, she talks to Isobel Lewis about her fight for better female roles and why she never cracked America
16 hours ago
Refinery 29 UK
These Are The Best Locations In The UK For Women To Work
London rents may be dropping as the pandemic causes people to seek a different lifestyle outside of the capital, but according to new research, it remains the best place for women to work. The numbers were crunched by folks at SmartSurvey, who factored in each area’s gender pay gap, average salary and the percentage of women in managerial, directorial and other senior roles. Five of the top locations were London boroughs, with Wandsworth and Westminster leading the way in first and second place. In Wandsworth, the average women’s salary is just over £40,000, but is less than the average men’s salary, but only by 0.6%. In Westminster, the average women’s salary of £37,000 is 1.5% higher than the average men’s salary. Across the UK as a whole, the gender pay gap is slowly closing, but still stands at a totally unacceptable 15.5%. Recent research has also found that women reach “peak earnings” earlier than men. The London boroughs of Camden, Merton and Lewisham also made the top ten. Wales also performed well with Carmarthenshire, Anglesey and Conwy all making the top ten too. Check out the top 10 in full below. Globally, the UK is named the 12th best country for women to work, behind Norway, Finland and Denmark in the top three positions. The global rankings also factored in each country’s total maternal and parental leave, which amounts to 39 weeks in the UK, but 91 weeks in Norway. Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
18 hours ago
Cosmo
The sweet moment Prince Harry and Prince William left the funeral together
They haven't been seen together since Prince Harry's interview with Oprah
20 hours ago
Refinery 29 UK
An Outdoor Gig Will Take Place In May… With No Social Distancing
If you’ve really missed live music and festival vibes during the pandemic, today brings super-encouraging news. An outdoor gig will take place at Sefton Park in Liverpool on 2nd May as part of a series of pilot events to bring back mass gatherings. The pilot concert will host a crowd of 5,000 – two-thirds of the outdoor venue’s 7,500 capacity – and gig-goers won’t be required to wear a mask or practise social distancing. However, to gain entry to the concert site, gig-goers will have to take a lateral flow test at a local centre and provide proof of a negative result. They’ll also be asked to take a test after the event so that data on the safety of mass gatherings can be analysed by the government. The gig will feature performances from local acts Blossoms, The Lathums and Zuzu (pictured above). Claire McColgan MBE, Director of Culture Liverpool, said of the pilot gig: “This isn’t an easy thing to do and I’d like to thank those promoters who have agreed to be part of this massively important research project.” We should all be proud of the fact we’re part of this brave endeavour which looks to get this vital sector back up and running and resilient once again,” she continued. “For many cities, towns and villages events are a major part of the economy, and once we develop resilience through learning, we can look forward to jobs being supported and once again enjoying those much longed for experiences.” The pilot is being produced by Festival Republic, the promoters behind popular UK summer music festivals including Reading and Leeds, Wireless and Latitude. The company’s director Melvin Benn added: “I’m delighted to be able to support the Government’s efforts to get the live music industry back up and running. This gig is about our absolute commitment to demonstrate that we can and will open on June 21st.” Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
20 hours ago
Harper’s Bazaar
Why The Queen is reportedly leaving Buckingham Palace following Prince Philip’s death
It’s been her permanent residence since she was coronated in 1953
21 hours ago
Harper’s Bazaar
How the Gucci family feels about 'House of Gucci'
"They are stealing the identity of a family to make a profit"
21 hours ago
Cosmo
Travis Barker's OTT birthday gift for Kourtney Kardashian is not what you'd expect
Kourtney has just turned 42
21 hours ago
The Telegraph
The little-known birthplace of modern travel in North East England
It’s a big-budget movie waiting to happen. Virile working men with gritty personalities are pitched against landed aristocrats resistant to change. An epoch-making vision of the future of the world is hatched in a windswept corner of northern England. Blood, sweat and blueprints. A huffing, puffing machine made with man’s bare hands is born. “The Invention of Railways” – starring British A-listers and a legion of extras from Co Durham. The Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) was granted Royal Assent 200 years ago on April 19. The line would open four years later; no doubt, come 2025 and a pandemic-free planet, there will be celebrations galore. But the build-up to the Assent and the document itself – a manifesto for a brave new world – are worthy of more attention than they might get in the midst of the eked-out easing of lockdown. But then this world-altering feat of engineering never got the attention it deserved. While the Rainhill trials and Stephenson’s Rocket remain familiar to schoolchildren in a world of cyber-networks and e-cars, scant attention has been given to the promotion of the North East’s unlisted world heritage marvel. “Perhaps it gets overlooked because the railway at Rainhill was more the finished article,” says Niall Hammond, chair of the Friends of the S&DR. “By contrast, the S&DR was where George Stephenson learnt his craft and where all the ideas about railways came together for the first time. It was the crucible in which the modern railway was forged. “The builders of the Liverpool to Manchester Railway came to visit the S&DR to see how it was done, as did railway engineers from France, Prussia and the USA. The first stations, the first coach for passengers, the first commuters, the first complaints about overcrowding – all these happened on the S&DR.”
22 hours ago
Refinery 29 UK
I Got Filler To Treat My Neck Lines & Here’s What Happened
While the beauty of technology connects us with friends and loved ones, gives us the privilege of working from home, and the ability to discover funny as hell TikToks, there are many downsides. Recently, a common one is the premature aging or condition of your neck, better known as “tech neck,” which may come in the form of pain and discomfort or more prominent lines and wrinkles. Jessica, the star of Macro Beauty’s newest episode, went to facial plastic surgeon Dr. Kay Durairaj to get filler for her tech neck lines. “I want to get tech neck filler because I have deep grooves around my neck that have been there since I was a teenager,” Jessica says. “Getting filler would boost my confidence.” Dr. Durairaj has over 15 years of experience in facial aesthetics and says that the millennial generation is more prone to tech neck due to its phone use. “This generation is going to have the most tech neck issues because of the amount of time they’re looking down at phones,” she says. “Luckily, we have a good solution.” To minimise Jessica’s lines, Dr. Durairaj used Revanesse Versa hyaluronic acid filler. “Your skin is like a piece of paper,” she explains. “The more you fold and crease it, the more those lines become permanent.” Filler in the neck area could last Jessica up to a year and gradually reduce the appearance of lines. Dr. Durairaj started the procedure by numbing her client with lidocaine at the injection site. Once the area was numbed, she proceeded with the filler. “One syringe per neck line is typically required,” Dr. Durairaj says of the procedure. “The filler needs to be carefully placed to where it’s visible enough to fill in the lines, but not too superficial where we see visible bands of filler along the neck.” After a few syringes and injections, Jessica’s treatment was completed. Dr. Durairaj stressed that aftercare, including massaging the injection area and refraining from looking down at your phone, would be critical for optimal results. A few days after her treatment, Jessica gave an update on her results, and they were impressive. Click play to see her complete transformation. Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
22 hours ago

The Ultimate Girlfriend Gift Guide for Thoughtful and Stylish Presents

1) Stoneware jar

2) Cock & Tail white negroni

Yahoo News is better in the app

3) Summer Fridays CC Serum

4) Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler

5) Molly Goddard Becky dress

Yahoo News is better in the app

6) House Gamay, Top Cuvée

7) Anissa Kermiche love handles vase

8) Matilda Goad ceramic clam dish

Yahoo News is better in the app

9) Papier x Rosie Assoulin notecards

10) Ganni tracksuit bottoms

11) Summer Fridays mask

Yahoo News is better in the app

12) Lockdown Liquor Picante cocktail

13) Completedworks scrunch earrings

14) Pophams Home sourdough starter kit

Yahoo News is better in the app

15) Boy Smells Hinoki Fantôme candle

16) Alighieri gold-plated ring

17) Noah x Barbour cap

Yahoo News is better in the app

18) Le Labo Thé Noir perfume

19) Veja canvas trainers

20) Completedworks ceramic vase

Yahoo News is better in the app

21) Hay twist candles

22) Villeroy & Boch casserole pot

23) Rixo pyjama set

Latest stories