Welcome to the third and final instalment of our Girl’s Night Out series, hopefully we’ve inspired you to grab your heels, call your girlfriends and get glammed up for a fantastic night out. If you haven’t set an all-important date yet, why not?! If it’s because our hot recommendations are too far from where you live then listen up, we have scoured the hippest haunts up and down the UK so that we can find somewhere that’s (hopefully) close to you. With another bank holiday approaching (yay!) it’s a perfect excuse to get planning a night out with your gals. Part three is all about glitz and glamour, gorgeous curls and a sprinkle of glitter, because however you choose to spend your night out, you should always make sure it has plenty of sparkle.
The easiest way to inject some glitz into your night out is with your outfit. There’s hundreds of fabulous shimmering wardrobe staples to choose from on the High street but if you’re not a fan of head-to-toe glitter you can still join in, just keep it subtle opting for sparkly shoes or an iridescent clutch bag works just as well. We heart all of these little beauties.
Back to our favourite subject. Hair ?. We think that glamorous curls are definitely the way to go with your swanky outfit. Gloriously glossy curls do require some effort, but they are so worth it. The good news is that you can take a shortcut if you have shorter hair, or you find curling your own hair virtually impossible. Hair extensions add the serious volume and glamour you are looking for and thankfully our range at Bria are so darn good you don’t need to admit you cheated ?
Curly Wurly….
So, before you get your curling iron at the ready, you need to decide what type of curls or waves you want. What? There’s more than one? Oh yes. There are a multitude of different styles to consider when curling your hair. For instance, do you want spiral curls, loose beachy waves, ribbon curls or red carpet glamour waves? And did you know that you have several options to create your curls too? You can use a conventional curling iron, a straightening iron or rollers but if none of those options are appealing to you, then it’s probably simpler to visit your hairdresser and have them set your waves for you.
The ideal way to achieve a perfect look is practise. Do not attempt a curl job on your hair with half an hour before your bestie knocks on your door to collect you. This will only result in tears, trust us, we know. A search on YouTube will reward you with hundreds of great tutorials on how to curl your hair.
Make time before your night out to practise your curling technique and although we hate to bang on about it ladies, please never commit the cardinal sin of using a heated appliance on your tresses without using heat protection products. We like these.
Girls Night disasters…
Okay. You’re all set – your hair looks amazing; your eyebrows are on-fleek and your outfit looks stunning. However, as you totter your way to the taxi after the obligatory selfies, you know that the coming night will not be free from the odd disaster, or two. You also know that despite the temperature outside feeling like it’s minus 15 degrees and you’re wearing something that is probably best kept for the Caribbean, there’s no way you’re taking a coat because no one is going to pay for the cloakroom. Someone will break their phone and someone will probably go AWOL for a while causing minor hysteria, but they are fairly small and insignificant disasters for seasoned Girls nights. The real terror is when someone arrives wearing the SAME outfit as you.
If you’re already out then there’s little you can do to change your outfit, but if seeing your beloved handpicked dress on someone else does give you a moment of social meltdown (especially if she wears it better) there are some tried and tested ways you can update your style in minutes. So instead of sulking in the loos and ruining your evening, try these handy hair updates that can transform your look in minutes.
- Rummage in your girlfriends’ handbags for spare hairbands, bobby pins, brushes and hairspray and turn your curls into a sexy pony tail. Take a small section from the front and pin it back to add some height, then tie the rest into a band. Take a small section of hair from underneath the pony and wrap it around the band, securing with a bobby pin for a seamless look. Gorgeous.
- Opt for a low side bun. A Taylor Swift inspired side bun is super easy to achieve, doesn’t matter if it looks messy and has a romantic vibe. Sweep your hair to one side and secure at the base of your head with a band. Separate your hair into small sections, backcombing each section gently before twisting it up and pinning into the hairband. Repeat with all sections and then spritz with hairspray.
- Go all side swept. Sweeping your curls to one side is a simple trick to instantly update your look. Sweep your hair into a side parting, and gently tease any tighter curls through with your fingers until they resemble larger waves. Swish your hair over one shoulder and finish with hairspray.
- If you don’t want to update your hair then humour and grace are your best friends. Don’t freak out, have some fun with your matching outfits instead. Work the bar as party twins. Most people won’t even notice as they are too busy checking out the hotties anyway.
Here are a few of our favourite hotspots for a perfect girl’s night out. If we haven’t selected one in your town we’re sorry, but there are so many cool venues it’s difficult to list them all! Feel free to add your pick for a hot night out in the comments below as we love to check out funky new places.
No. 32, Duke Street, Brighton http://www.no32dukestreet.com/ Originally a theatre, but now a delightfully cool elegant space rocking industrial elegance. Restaurant and bar serving casual dining options and fabulous cocktails, their ethos is simply Eat. Drink. Dance. We can’t think of anything better.
Ex-Directory, Cunliffe Street, Liverpool. http://www.ex-directory.co.uk/ Probably the quirkiest place we have found so far, we love the secret entrance via a red telephone box! Everyone loves a bit of detective work, don’t they? Once inside you are taken to an underground cocktail bar where you can chill out in a booth and devour some seriously unique cocktails. We love the bathtub ?
Bar Soba 9A Merrion Street, Leeds. http://www.barsoba.co.uk/ A stunning venue situated in the Grand Arcade offering award winning cocktails and a pan Asian street food menu to die for. High ceilings, street food and cool tunes. Perfect combo.
Tiki Hideaway, 38 Call Lane, Leeds. https://tikihideaway.co.uk/ We couldn’t resist giving this place a mention, a 1950’s inspired Tropicana ideal for beach lovers who like their evening to be set alight – literally! The zombie cocktails and tiki décor are definitely worth checking out and this place promises a fun evening.
Ten Mill Lane Cardiff, 10 Mill Lane, Cardiff. http://tenmilllane.com/ A truly quirky place for your girls to get together for a gossip. Relaxed and chilled, the cocktail menu is amazing. Try the Legend in the boot which is almost too stunning to drink. Well, almost.
Lola Lo, 67 Queens Road, Bristol. http://www.lolalo.co.uk/venues/bristol/ A North African styled bar nightclub with an eclectic DJ set and great drinks menu. The holiday vibe is apparent here, especially when you enter through the door with the ‘Aloha’ sign above it. We love the funky vintage style lamps.
The Devil’s Advocate, 9 Advocates Close, Edinburgh http://devilsadvocateedinburgh.co.uk/ Located in the Old Town of this fantastic city and hidden away in what used to be an old Victorian pump house this bar reeks of exclusivity. The industrial style interior and mezzanine dining floor make this a perfect venue for you and your girls to eat and drink the night away.
Time for Zzzz….
After multiple bathroom mirror selfies and promises only to post the good pics on social media, Girl’s Night is now drawing to a close. Once you’ve danced your way to the taxi you begin to realise that your only heart’s desire is a large carton of cheesy chips and a fizzy drink. After everyone has declared their eternal love for one another, it’s time to say adios. Collapse on the sofa and review the evenings antics on your phone, eventually falling asleep fully dressed, clutching a pack of unopened make-up wipes. Ciao Bella’s ?
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Written by: Kerry Dolan