Beauty: Autumn hair is all about grunge, not bed-head

WHILE remaining low-key this autumn, hair should have an air of polish - grunge, but not bed-head, is the key idea.

Long hair is in, and so is natural movement and waves.

Your key kit should be a volumising or texturising spray, like John Frieda Root Awakening Strength Boosting Leave-In Spray (4.79) to prep hair, and Trevor Sorbie Beautiful Volume (4.99) to add hold without feeling sticky. And invest in a tong, like the ultra-versatile Remington Pearl Wand (24.99).

Another key look from the catwalks is the ponytail, which can be high with a bit of backcombing for attitude, low with a sleek side parting, or somewhere in the middle for a daytime vibe.

Invest in a good brush or comb. Try the Kent Volumising Vent Brush KS51 (7.25, Boots). Also invest in hairspray to give volume plus hold - L'Oreal Elnett Satin Very Volume Extra Strength hairspray (3.50, Boots and chemists) is perfect - and quality hair bands and grips.

The pout is packing a punch this season, with dark lipstick one of the main features.

Lips will do the talking as the look goes a bit gothic.

Faces should stay fairly nude, and blemish-free, to give a modern canvas for shades of blackcurrant, burgundy and plum, and add to their impact.

Go for dark, glossy lipstick shades for day and night, and try Dior Lipliner Pencil in Holiday Red (16) and invest in Chanel Rouge Coco lipstick in Paris (21.50) for a rich finish. And get yourself a good mattifying powder or foundation, like Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid Foundation (7.99).

An inner glow can be yours with Skin Glow (10, Topshop Make Up).

Try one of the shades from Maybelline's Moisture Extreme Naked Beige range. Either Vaseline Petroleum Jelly (from 1.99), or Elizabeth Arden Eight-Hour Cream Skin Protectant (23) will add a subtle gleam to eyelids, lips or cheeks.

The season will embrace autumnal shades for cheeks, lips, eyes and nails.

Experiment with muted shades of terracotta, caramel, blackcurrant, coffee and pumpkin to create warmth.

Your key kit should be Satin Eye Shadow in Shimmering Sienna (4.99, Revlon), or try out Smoky Eye Effect Eyeshadow in Purple Dust (8.99, Max Factor), or MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork (13, Harvey Nichols) for a more caramel-ly look. Max Factor Colour Collections Lipstick in Cinder (7.99) is good for lips, as are any of the warmer shades in The Body Shop's range of Colourglide Lip Colours (8 each). And cheeks can be warmed and sculpted with a sweep of Maybelline Expertwear Blush in Flash Plum (4.99), or treat yourself to Givenchy Le Prisme Blooming Visage in Blooming Apricots (32.50).