The change of seasons always leaves me looking for something new. I’ve restrained myself and will not completely change the salon treatment menu, but will revitalise its seasonal specials in a number of ways.

Find out how you can do the same.

DEEP IN THE HEART OF BERKSHIRE, DONNINGTON VALLEY HOTEL SPA HAS SPECIAL LINKS TO CALIFORNIA. ANNETTE HANFORD CHECKS IN

There were balloons, cards, and even a birthday cake to celebrate the first year of Darren Dixon’s new “baby”.

Darren is spa director at Donnington Valley Hotel, and his pride and joy – shared by a loyal staff – is the hotel’s £6.5m health club and spa development.

Incorporating an extensive range of spa, health and fitness facilities, it forms part of Donnington Valley Hotel’s £14m renovation project, which also included the addition of 58 new bedrooms, and bringing all the existing accommodation up to the same high standard.

A CHANGE OF SEASON MEANS A CHANGE OF PALETTE. ANNETTE HANFORD FINDS OUT WHAT'S NEW IN NAIL COLOURS.

As autumn moves in and winter waits around the corner, it’s not just heavier clothes that we’re reaching for. While summer brights are fading fast, an army of rich, deep and dark shades is moving in on fingers and toes for the coming seasons.

Essie's Turning Heads Red

For those seeking subtlety and sophistication, last season’s pretty pastels have evolved into rich and creamy shades – ranging from creamy coffees and caramels to pudding-like plums and earthy pinks. Summer’s hot pinks and neon oranges are now replaced with deep purples, aubergines and fiery reds, and a host of food-inspired tones including winter berries and dark chocolates.

Metallics are also making their mark – from the barely-there shiny shimmers, to the powerful pigments found in the rich copper and gold shades and dense darks – such as greens, greys, blues, and blacks.

So whether you’re more Snow White than the Ice Queen, there’s something for everyone in this winter wonderland.

UR BEAUTIFUL is the new concept salon within Boots (the chemist) in Surrey's Kingston Upon Thames.

Opened last Wednesday (26 September), it was launched to the press yesterday (3 October) and will have it's official "public" launch on Saturday (6 October), where shoppers can meet the experts behind the brands and sample the products.

DID YOU KNOW...?

74% more UK hairdressers and beauty therapists have bought a Performing Right Society Music licence in the past two years.

PRS public performance sales managing director Keith Gilbert said: "Many hairdressers and beauty therapists recognise that playing the right kind of music can enhance the environment they provide."

Click the link -- PRS -- or call 0800 068 4828 for more information.

CELEBRITY SCISSORHANDS 2

Last year's celebrities

Are you courageous enough to allow a celebrity to cut and style your hair or give you a beauty treatment on television?

A group of nine novice celebrities are being transformed into hair and beauty experts in aid of BBC Children In Need and are looking for clients to style and pamper.

RETAIL THERAPY

The BBC is looking for independent high street shops to take part in a brand new BBC2 series.

Geoff Burch is a charismatic retail guru renowned for his unique wit and straight talking as much as for his fanaticism for business.

Once described by the Financial Times as the "Hells Angel of Management Consultancy" on account of his love for Harley Davidson motorbikes, Geoff has impressive credentials, having worked with some of the world's leading blue chip companies.

Indoor tanning specialists Sunquest is renowned for offering all-round marketing and promotional support to its tanning salon accounts.

Gary Hobson

Here, sales director Gary Hobson, provides some top tips on how salons can increase footfall during the quieter winter months and, as a direct result, maximise profits from their tanning equipment.

THE CELEBRITIES ARE ANNOUNCED

As Celebrity Scissorhands returns to the BBC in aid of Children in Need, beauty expert, Lindsay Hunter – wife of the late snooker legend Paul Hunter -- joins Lee Stafford's team of hair and beauty experts.

Lindsay is a qualified beauty therapist and will be teaching the trainees a variety of beauty treatments.

From massages to spray tans; the celebrity trainees will be on hand to pamper the public and leave them feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

As well beauty treatments -- it's the battle of the hair brushes as a team of celebrities go head-to-head to see who can 'cut' the mustard and be crowned Celebrity Scissorhands Hairdresser Of The Year 2007.

Amongst the celebrity trainees are

* Pop singer and mum-to-be Javine * Teen rocker Lil' Chris * Hollyoaks actress Carly Stenson (Steph in Hollyoaks) * It girl Tamara Beckwith * British actor and star of Willow, Warwick Davis; * 3 Non-Blondes' comedian Ninia Benjamin * Actor and Neighbours star Ben Nicholas (Stingray in Neighbours) * BBC Radio One Breakfast Show's Aled Haydn Jones.

Under the guidance of renowned British hairdresser Lee Stafford, the celebrities will attempt the impossible – to be transformed from the utterly untrained to fully fledged hair and beauty experts in just three short weeks.

HOLISTIC CARE FROM SPA RITUAL

The SpaRitual range of products contains treatments that are kind to the client and the environment.

TRICK OR TREAT...?

Gloria Mason's Halloween nail art gave us the spooks. Gloria used Nailtopia's instant nail art packs to create this design.