Hair Extensions 101

We all crave beautiful, silky and luscious locks, but what to do if you have short or thin hair. For years my hair has been the same length and after many attempts to grow it out, quite frankly I couldn't be bothered waiting! Then I came across one of my now most treasured items… my hair extensions.

It can be hard to know what brand of hair extensions to go with, whether or not to get clip in's, sewn in's or taped in extensions. What colour will match? Will they look fake? Will they ruin my hair? These were all the questions that I considered when I started my hair extension journey 4 years ago.

I have tried many different styles but my favourite extensions are clip in's, they are easy to put in and can be worn when you feel like having long hair.

 My first set of extensions was from an online store based in the UK called Head Kandy. Now known as Dirty Looks, the hair extensions from here are amazing. They have a wide variety of colours and lengths and the hair is thick and natural looking.

If your not sure about what colour you may be, simply sending them an email is all that you need to do and within days they send you details on a match. On the other hand, if you find a colour you like, you can buy them and take them to your hair dresser for colour matching.

Prices range between $165-200 AUD for a full set of these extensions and I love this brand because they are not ridiculously expensive and last so long.

Another brand of hair extensions, which I adore, is Foxy Locks, also a UK brand. I only bought a set of their extensions recently and have worn them almost every day since. They are long, silky and so thick at 215 grams. They are also priced between $150-200 AUD, so not too expensive and came within two weeks to me from England.

I wear the colour Sandy Blonde Highlights and am obsessed with them, I get so many compliments and am told they look so natural. They are easy to curl and maintain, with a light wash in the sink every couple of months.

Each set of extensions I have bought from both places has come with different sized pieces of hair. Some thicker and longer than others, as well as smaller and thinner ones for the sides of your head. A full set of hair extensions normally contains about 10 wefts of hair.

The best bit about clip in extensions is the one off price you pay, once bought they last you for up to a year- two years of wear. There are no regular payments on tightening and lifting as there is with permanent extensions and better yet they don't ruin your hair!

Check out both websites online for more information :)



http://dirtylooks.us/clip-in-hair-extensions

http://www.foxylockshair.co.uk/search.asp?types=Hair+Extensions+%3E+215g+Superior

Five Summer Must-Haves

Now that summer is finally showing its true colours, there are a few things a girl just can't go without!

1. A bright coloured lippy: Whether your a coral fan or love something even more quirky like a lilac, a bright coloured lipstick will brighten up any look for the summer. This is a look that can be worn day or night, and is perfect for that beach sexy style. Keep the rest of your make up fairly natural, with just some shimmery bronzer and mascara and let the lips do the talking…literally ;)

2. A cute clutch: Clutches are a must for the warmer months, theres no need to worry about lugging around a jacket, so you are free to keep your purse light. A cute clutch can make any outfit look chic and classy. I find that Colette by Colette Hayman always has really nice bags and clutches at a reasonable price.

3. Coconut smelling perfume: If you plan to hit the beach and then maybe head out for drinks later, a soft sweet perfume is the ultimate way to freshen up, but when the weather is muggy there is nothing worse than a heavy smelling fragrance. I'm a sucker for anything that smells like coconut as it reminds me of summer and being on a tropical island. My favourite picks for a beautiful coconut scent are Bronzed Goddess by Estèe Lauder $72.54 or Coconut Passion from Victoria's Secret $13.77. The Body Shop also has a really nice tropical body spray, Coconut Body Mist $23.95.

4. Bright coloured flats: Summer is the time for colour and my beautiful friend bought me some amazing bright orange jelly style flats a couple of months back...I literally cannot get enough of them. I also have a pair of bright yellow sandals that have rocking gold studs on the ankle band from Kookai, I have literally worn them to death and they make any outfit look funky. 

5. Nice nails: You may be a square nail kind of girl or maybe you prefer points, either way nice nails in the summer are a must. Both hands and toe nails look so much better if maintained neatly with a great splash of colour. I love any kind of pink, but purple or orange works great as well to brighten up any look… I guarantee you will score some compliments.

Becoming a Bronzed Goddess

When the days get longer and nights get warmer we all know what that means… it's summer time. Everyone is keen to get out dresses and shorts, but nobody wants to be caught out wintery white.

The days of sunning ourselves to a crisp are gone and it’s all about faking a sexy glow, I mean who doesn't want to look like a Victorias Secret model right!

Having a great tan can make you feel healthier and can actually make you look slimmer and more toned!

To achieve a flawless summer tan is simple and you can do it in the privacy of your own home.

Begin your tanning process by removing all unwanted hair a day before. Exfoliate your whole body well to clean off any dead skin cells and prep the skin for a smooth tan.

Do NOT moisturise before you tan, although many people think otherwise, it actually stops the tan sticking properly to your skin and as a result the colour doesn’t develop as it should. Newly clean and prepped skin is all you need, I normally tan straight out of the shower.

There are some great tanning products on the market for all skin types, but when your standing in Priceline this selection can be daunting and no one wants to risk becoming a cheesle.

If you are new to tanning try a nice gradual tanner, it’s basically a moisturiser that has tan in it to build up a light bronze over time.

If you are confident tanner, go for a mousse tan, they’re the easiest to apply yourself and blend smoothly.

Spray tans are also great, mostly for hands, feet and face; however for full body use they can be harder to get an even application, especially when doing it yourself and can leave a bit of mess around your bathroom.

There are some amazing tanning products available to buy at really reasonable prices; luckily I’ve tried many over the years so here is a list of my favourites!

·       ModelCo - I love all their tanning products and they have such a wide variety. Look for their “Tan in a Can spray” or “Tan Mousse" for an amazing bronzed glow.  

For a specific occasion only they have a fabulous “One Night Tan” that washes off after your event and has a really sweet coconut smell so you don’t smell like tan!

·       Le Tan- You can find this brand pretty much everywhere and it has a great natural colour. Spray and mousse are available; my favourite is the “deep bronze” colour. Best bit yet, it’s really cheap! 

      They also just recently brought out a wash off tan, which I've gotten my friends addicted to, its amazing and dries instantly.

·       Sugar Baby- This tan comes in both spray and mousse and has a great vanilla and coconut smell. It’s a great tan for the face, hands and feet.

·       Naked Tan and Techno Tan- These two brands are professional tans often used in salons; however you can buy the mousse form from their websites!

·       Dove Summer Glow Body Tan- This is an amazing gradual tan, it’s a lovely moisturiser and helps build up a natural light glow!

Be sure to invest in some plastic disposable gloves or a buffing mitt to keep hands clean from going brown and stay well moisturised to keep the tan nice and even.

Remember nothing makes you look and feel better than flawless bronzed skin, so get your tan on!