Beauty :: First Spray Tan Experience

A while ago I bought a deal online for a spray tan. I got mine done here, using GlossX tan.

I am extremely pale and I did not get the tanning gene. I burn, and it fades back to it's pale self.

I went on Saturday to get my first tan, and to be honest I wasn't sure what to expect. I thought it was going to be a machine, that counts down and then sprays you.

No.

It was a women that actually sprays it on you (I have heard these are the best kinds anyway). I stripped down to just my underwear and she sprayed the tan on me. It took less than 5 minutes.

I went home and immediately looked in the mirror, note I've never seen myself anything but extremely pale before! What a big change. My eyes looked so blue, and my teeth looked white. It takes 8 hours to develop and you can't shower in that time (it will all just wash off).

I had mine done in the morning, so it meant I couldn't do a lot that day (in the future I will get them done in the evening). By about 9pm I actually looked black. I wasn't worried, because I knew it would look better after a shower in the morning. The tan line between my underwear and the tanned skin was amazing! Complete contrast. My natural skin looked even whiter than I thought it was.

I had a shower in the morning, and it was much more natural looking - but still noticably tan.

It's now 3 days since my tan. I've been moisturising twice a day, and it still looks nice, though is definitely fading. Since I've started working out lately, my tan definitely helps bring out definition in my arms! I'm glad I got a spray tan, and I can't wait for my next one...I think I'm hooked already.

I paid $40 for two spray tans, they are normally $40 each. Definitely a good idea for a special occasion.

Have you had a spray tan before, what do you think of them?

Last night's tea was butter chicken with broccoli, green capsicum and basmati rice.

Beauty Review :: Loreal Silver Shampoo

I recently lightened my hair with a full head of foils, and bought this Loreal Silver Shampoo at the same time, to keep the warm tones out of my hair.

I'm known for changing my hair colour pretty often, so I have had my hair lightened before and experienced the warm tones that come through, which can often look pretty blah - depending what you're going for.

This 250ml bottle of shampoo cost me $30, but was told by my hairdresser that it would last me "forever" because of my thin (although pretty long) hair.

I am one of those people who wash their hair everyday, so I use this every 2-3 days on my hair. Having had experience with my hair warming before I can definitely recommend this product!

My hair looks even less "warm" than it did when I first got it lightened! I hate to think what colour my hair would be if I didn't use this product. It's still a lovely blonde colour (and I can hardly notice my regrowth after a month, which means I must be pretty close to my natural colour!)

One thing to mention...this shampoo is not silver. It's purple, and although I use it 3-4 times a week I still don't expect it to come out bright purple. Don't worry, your hair won't turn purple, but it is a little scary the first time!

I have used a purple shampoo in the past before, and never had results like this.

 5/5! If you've recently lightened your hair, this product is a must have. Since it is part of the Professional range, I think it is only available at salons. It is well worth the $30.

What products do you recommend for lightened hair?

Beauty :: Tips for repairing damaged hair

I'm naturally blonde but have been dying my hair for a long time, I haven't seen my natural colour in years! I've also dyed my hair a variety of different colours.

Here is a small montage of my hair over the years (there are much more! a more in-depth "Hair History" post to come)

When I was about 16 my hair became very damaged. So bad, that clumps of it would break off/fall out and one side was longer than the other! Pretty terrible the more I think about it. At that point I had been home dying it black for two years, straightening it almost everyday with no heat protectant...you know, all that good stuff! The ends were completely fried and frizzy. I complained daily about the state of my hair.

Here are a few tips I used to help achieve my wish of healthy, shiny, long, straight hair from roots to tips!

• I straighten my hair once a month, if that. Granted, my hair is naturally straight. However, since I stopped straightening it everyday, it's actually gotten even more straighter - naturally. When I do straighten it, I use a GHD heat protectant spray.
• I use a heat protectant conditioner (Dove).
• I blow dry my hair on a medium setting 5x a week, and always finish for the last 30 seconds on the cool setting. I don't blow dry it completely, just to take the dampness out.
• LUSH's hair mask 'H'Suan Wen Hua' has saved my life (well, my hair anyway). I use it once every 2 weeks, and it leaves my hair looking amazing on the days I use it. Overtime, (say after a month of using it) the overall condition is much better too.
• I pull my hair back into a low pony tail while I sleep.

Myths

• I don't trim my hair very often. Probably once every 3 months - and my hair doesn't seem to suffer from it.
• I wear my hair up once every day (when I work out etc) and my hair is still just as strong.
• I was (shampoo and condition) my hair everyday. I have naturally greasy hair, so it has to be done! It stays smooth and shiny/doesn't dry out.
• I have blonde highlights. It is possible to have lightened hair and keep it healthy.

My hair is the best quality it's been in years. What are your best hair tips?