Like it or not, social media has completely changed the way we create and curate our beauty looks. If you're not hearting somebody’s manicure on Instagram, you're liking their fishtail braid on Facebook.  And that's before we even get started on the whole selfie debate. 

But instead of just being beauty voyeurs, imagine if these virtual trawls around other people's bathroom mirrors could actually help you find a new hairdresser or work out the best place to get your nails done locally. That would be handy, right?

But before you quit your office job and call Dragon’s Den, you should know that it’s already been done. Gemma Bellman a former analyst at Goldman Sachs and ex-L’Oreal brand manager has beaten you to it. Her app, BeautySpotter, is designed to connect beauty consumers (us) with beauty providers (salons and stylists) through the medium of Instagram style selfies. 'Having worked in beauty for a number of years, I’d always been frustrated with the lack of transparency in the salon industry. You’re essentially shopping blind for treatments – never knowing exactly what you’re paying for until it’s too late – the hair is cut or the nails are dry!’ says Bellman.

With BeautySpotter, users sign up and post pictures of their latest haircut or makeover that are saved into a ‘browsable’ bank of images, all tagged with the specific details of where or whom is responsible for the specific look.

"You’re essentially shopping blind for treatments – never knowing exactly what you’re paying for until it’s too late" - Gemma Bellman

For salons like Bleach London, who already have a strong social media savvy, this might feel a bit old hat, but for those beauty businesses who’ve yet to make their debut online, this could completely change the way they attract new customers. After all, how many times have you booked a hair appointment or make up trial with no clue about the person you’re about to entrust with your appearance. This lessens that risk and helps customers choose according to their specific tastes, with no room for crossed wires or misinterpretations of the beauty vernacular.

While the app is still in its infancy, we can see it taking off. Word of mouth is important, true, as is impeccable customer service, but in our selfie-obsessed society, where some of us publish the contents of our breakfast bowl before we even leave the house in the morning, a picture definitely speaks louder than a thousand words.