As well as feeling tired, fat and generally on a bit of a downer about having to go back to work, our bodies suffer too. Hair and skin really show the stresses and strains of all the festive excess. So here's Female First's guide for how to get gorgeous in the New Year.

Hair

Diet

Eating healthily is one of the really basic and obvious ways to perk up your tired face and ensure silky locks.

After weeks of mince pies and chocolate the first thing on everybody's minds is dieting. But what is important is eating well to promote healthy skin and hair. This means plenty of protein like chicken, fish, eggs, beans and yoghurt. Protein is essential for the body and is especially useful in growing long hair as it gives it strength and shine.

So if you're thinking of going for a lovely, lucsious 2008 look then it's plenty of fruit and veg for you. Afterall, healthy hair starts with a healthy body. Make sure you're getting lots of water as this will also help rejuvinate tired skin and dull locks.

If healthy eating isn't your thing then try taking some multi-vitamins or mineral supplements like beta-carotene which is essential for hair growth and bone development. It is converted into vitamin A as the body needs it and is found in green and yellow vegetables and fruits.

Tender Loving Care No matter how long you intend on growing your hair it is essential that you treat it well. Over the Christmas season hair straightners, curlers and extensions are out in force so make January the time to give your hair a rest.

Firstly, get it trimmed. Even if you plan on growing it still get a good cut to rid yourself of split and dead ends. Even though going for the chop seems like a step in the wrong direction if the hair is unhealthy at the bottom it will continue to split up the strands as it gets longer.

Getting regular cuts every few months will mean the hair is healthier and make sure sure it stays that way in the long run.

Secondly try and put those GHDs away for a while. Over straightning, blow drying and exposure to heat is one of the easiest ways for hair to get damaged.

On days when you know you're going to be hanging around the house or unlikely to bump into any attractive males try leaving your hair to dry naturally, giving it a break and letting it retain some of the moisture styling tools take out.

Of course, this isn't always an option and for the days when a fabulous 'do is a must, use some leave in conditioner or protective styling spray to give your hair a little bit of help against the heat.

Dry your hair by moving the dryer from the root to the tip, as this causes the least damage but will still give you lovely smooth results. Use a minimum speed and a cool setting if your dryer has one. It may take a little longer but it will mean your hair is much healthier.

An age old trick for added shine is to try and brave an icy blast in the shower. Ok, so it may seem like the last thing you want to do on a frosty January morning when the car needs de-icing and only a freezing day at the office awaits, but rinsing your hair in cold water helps the cuticles to lie flat meaning it is less likely to snag and break. It is also easy to comb.

Finally, be strict with yourself. When doing your hair think how much you really need to straighten it, do you have to go over every section five times when once or twice is enough?

Skin

Water

If you drink lots of water and eat well then this will immediately help to brighten your complexion. But to give it an extra helping hand there's a few very simple steps to follow that every girl can do.

Maintenance The most basic steps are the obvious cleanse, tone and moisturise. They're there for a reason.

Cleansing morning and night will not only help to clear out dirt from your skin, but it will also help to prepare your face for other products like make-up you're bound to be slapping on.

It is also a good idea to get a great facial exfoliating scrub to use a few times a week as this will lift all the dead skin cells and clear out dirt and debris trapped in your pores.

Likewise, your body needs a lot of care and attention and this doesn't need to be expensive. A body scrub and some moisturiser or body butter are all that's needed every evening to clear dead skin cells and soften your skin. Applying moisturiser in a circular motion also helps to improve your circulation, getting your blood flowing and letting your skin breathe.

All this may seem like a lot to remember, but it really isn't. Plus, when you get into a routine it will all seem like second nature.

So why not make it your new year's resolution to take a little extra care of your skin and hair. Not only will they look fabulous, but you'll feel great and ready to take whatever 2008 has in store.

Female First- Jacqueline Farrer