The Beauty Bar Blog

Category: Spray Tanning

Tips to Help You Look Beautiful on Your Wedding Day

If you have a fall or winter wedding coming up, you want to look radiant. Here are some tips about what you should and shouldn’t do in the weeks and days leading up to your wedding so you can ensure that you will look beautiful in your photos.

Don’t get a facial right before your wedding because you could have a reaction to the chemicals, cosmetics, or process that could cause redness, inflammation, or a breakout. Stick to a treatment that you have had before and that you know won’t cause a reaction, and get it done at least a week or two before the wedding. If you are planning to have a more intense procedure, such as a chemical peel, microdermabrasion, or Botox, get it done at least a month before your big day.

If you want a sun-kissed look on your wedding day, don’t try a self- or spray-tanner shortly before the ceremony. If you are inexperienced, have sensitive skin, or have not exfoliated your skin, you could wind up with orange, streaked, or splotchy skin; a breakout; or an allergic reaction. Talk to a dermatologist about the best tanning method, and try it out several months before the wedding so you can see how your skin will react.

If you plan to spend time outside before your wedding, be sure to apply and re-apply sunscreen to avoid red or peeling skin. If you plan to spend time at the beach or by the pool, wearing a bandeau top can help you avoid tan lines.

If you are planning to color your hair, get it done by a professional. Even if you have dyed your own hair before, you could encounter a problem, such as the wrong color, an allergic reaction, or a dye stain on your face.

Don’t get waxing done right before your wedding because it can cause ripped skin, redness, irritation, an infection, or an allergic reaction. Use a salon you trust, and have the procedure done a few months before the wedding to see how your skin reacts to it. Have the final waxing done a week or two before the wedding, and shave or pluck for maintenance.

Avoid any activities that could potentially lead to injuries shortly before your wedding. The last thing you want is a sprain, broken bone, bruise, or cut that will make it hard to get around and spoil your pictures.

If you are planning an upcoming wedding, don’t take any risks that could backfire. Follow these tips to look your best on your big day.

Beauty Resolutions for 2014

Here are some beauty changes you can start making today to look your best in the new year.

To protect your skin from damage, minimize sun exposure. Use sunscreen year-round, but especially in the summer. You can also use a bronzer with built-in sunscreen.

Brushing your body daily for three minutes is a centuries-old beauty trick. Body brushing can help to stimulate the lymphatic system, increase blood circulation, exfoliate the skin, and contribute to better distribution of fat deposits.

Since most of what we put on our skin can be absorbed into the bloodstream, beauty experts recommend using organic products to reduce your body’s exposure to chemicals. Start making the switch with products that you apply to your whole body, such as fake tans and body lotions.

Using a brush to apply your foundation is better than using your fingers. Be sure to clean your brushes once a week to remove bacteria. Wet the brush, swirl it over a bar of soap, work it into a lather in the palm of your hand, rinse, lay the brushes flat, and allow them to air dry.

Get your eyebrows professionally shaped and maintain them by tweezing at home. Also consider using a brow powder and a tinted brow gel.

Choose a fragrance you like that suits you. Build a collection, starting with fragrances for day and evening.

Pick beauty products that can be used in more than one way. For example, choose a lipstick that can also be used as a cream blush, a shimmery light eyeshadow that can be used as a highlighter, or use mascara on an angled liner brush to replace eyeliner.

Now is the time to make a resolution to improve your appearance in 2014. You can do that by following these daily tips.

The Dangers of Tanning Beds

Tanning beds are known to cause cancer, spray tanning is a much safer alternative.

Millions of people use tanning beds every year to get the sun kissed skin they desire year round. However, many of those people don’t understand the dangers that tanning beds pose on their health. It has been proven that tanning beds increase risk for skin cancer and other health problems. If you want to keep your skin looking tan all year, spray tanning is a safe alternative to tanning beds.

Just like it took tobacco companies decades after they discovered that smoking causes lung cancer to admit their product is dangerous to the public, the tanning industry is the last to admit that their beds lead to skin cancer. Whether you are tanning in natural sunlight or in a tanning bed, the ultraviolet radiation is extremely dangerous to the human skin. It is the UV rays that are known to cause cancer, and tanning beds typically emit three times more UVA radiation than what people encounter in natural sunlight.

A 2002 study by the National Cancer Institute found that tanning beds caused a 50 percent increase in the risk of basal cell carcinoma and a 100 percent increase in the risk of squamous cell carcinoma. Then in 2007, a study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer found that people who used tanning beds by the age of 35 had a 75 percent greater risk of melanoma. Cancer isn’t the only negative outcome to using tanning beds. The exposure to UV light also significantly ages the skin, which leads to discoloration, freckling, sun-spotting, and dryness.

All of these negative outcomes could be avoided by using sunless spray tanning. Spray tanning will give you the natural looking tan you want, without all the negative effects. It works on all types of skin colors and is quick and easy. Many people get spray tans before their wedding, vacation, or in the winter. You will not be exposing your skin to any dangerous UV rays and you will get a great even tan on your whole body. Never worry about the negative effects that tanning beds have again when you start getting spray tanned!

How to Tip for Summer Beauty Treatments

Follow these standard tipping practices when getting beauty treatments this summer.

Now that summer is in full swing, people are going to be spending more money on beauty treatments. Pedicures, bikini waxes, spray tans, and other services that involve a beauty technician should be tipped. But how much should you tip? What if you are unhappy with the service they provided, do you stiff them a tip like when you get a bad server at a restaurant? Here are some general guidelines you should follow when tipping for beauty treatments this summer.

You can think of beauty services just like you would with restaurant service. If you are unhappy with the service you received, it is acceptable to tip less. Just make sure you have the right expectations of how the service should be done.

Spray Tanning

This is a fairly new service that is getting more popular as the risk of skin cancer from tanning beds has increased. This is a service you should be giving a tip for and generally 20 percent is standard.

Managing your Expectations

• Your expectations should be that the technician makes you feel comfortable, since you will be pretty much naked.
• Your tan should look even, with your hands and feet lighter than the rest of your body.
• Spray tanning will not eliminate tan lines, or cellulite.
• Don’t get a spray tan if you are sun burned or have peeling skin.

Waxing

Getting waxed, especially your bikini line, can be uncomfortable. Letting a complete stranger see you in that vulnerable position can be difficult, but the technician should help you feel more comfortable. Generally, a 15-20 percent tip is expected for a waxing.

Managing your Expectations

• Waxing does hurt, but it shouldn’t be an unbearable pain.
• The person giving you the waxing should be wearing gloves.
• If you want a Brazilian, you are going to have to be more comfortable than most people.
• It is recommended to leave the tip in an envelope at the front desk for your beauty tech.

Hair Services

With this usually being the most emotional service, the guidelines can be a little vague. Standard tipping practices are generally 15-20 percent, but regulars will often give their hair stylist more.

Managing your Expectations

• Especially if you have never been to a specific salon before, make sure you discuss exactly what style you want. You and your stylist should get on the same page about your wants fairly quickly.
• It is not okay to be satisfied with a bad haircut.
• If they splash you or the water is too hot/cold during the shampoo you should express your unhappiness.
• Don’t get mad because you have to wait a while for your turn or there is a delay in your appointment. It happens.

Manicures and Pedicures

You should be leaving a 20 percent tip for nail services, especially for manicures because the price is so low. Most salons will leave your hands and feet looking gorgeous, but that’s not to say that some people don’t leave with a few cuts and scratches. Is that unacceptable or expected?

Managing your Expectations

• If the salon seems less than sanitary, ask about what kind of sterilizing equipment they use. Hospital grade, or autoclaves, are best for metal instruments, while pumice stones should be sterilized in a special liquid bath.
• Many nail technicians are immigrants, so don’t assume they are giving you attitude or not listening. Sometimes the language barrier can cause misunderstandings.
• A little bit of bleeding can happen, but if you feel like they are being too aggressive tell them.

Prepare for Prom with The Beauty Bar

The Beauty Bar has many beauty services that are perfect for getting you ready for prom.

Prom season is here! It is time for girls to pick out that perfect dress, get tan, and get beautified for the big night. Every girl wants to look her best on prom night and The Beauty Bar can help. Located in Southington, Connecticut, The Beauty Bar is the premiere salon in the state. The Beauty Bar offers a variety of services that can help you look your very best for prom this year.

Hair and Makeup

Let The Beauty Bar professionally do your hair and makeup and you will be the envy of every other girl at the prom! At The Beauty Bar you can get Fusion Hair Extensions just like the celebrities do. They will give you the perfect volume and length you are looking for and will even last several months. Next let the Beauty Squad give you the perfect up do. They have the skill and experience to do short bob and pixie cuts, to long hair with layers and bangs. Bring in any tear sheets of fashions you like and the Beauty Squad will craft and sculpt a style that highlights your best features. After your hair is perfect, the Beauty Squad can put on traditional or airbrush makeup. They will apply the right tones and shades to bring out your natural beauty.

Spray Tanning

The Beauty Squad knows that you want to look tan and gorgeous for your prom. However, you may not have had enough time in the sun and don’t want to use harmful tanning beds. By appointment and on-location only, the Beauty Squad will come to your home and give you a spray tan. At The Beauty Bar, they use Xen-Tan sunless tanning products that will give you that natural looking tan you desire. This is a healthy alternative to the sun and tanning beds. The Beauty Squad will give you the perfect tan for your skin tone with no streaks or orange color. In just one session, you can have that sun-kissed tan that will look great in your prom pictures.

On-Location Services

The day of your prom will be a hectic one. You will be rushing around trying to get everything ready. Let The Beauty Bar make your life a little be easier and give you rock star-like treatment with their on-location services. The Beauty Squad will come to your home on the big day to do your hair, makeup, lashes, and even a quick spray tan. Getting ready for prom should be a fun and relaxing experience, not a stressful one. You and your friends can get ready like a celebrity with your own hair and makeup staff.

The Beauty Bar will make sure you look your best for prom night. Whether you come into the salon or they come to your home, you can be sure that you will be the envy of everyone at the dance.

Airbrush Makeup is great for girls to use when getting Senior Portraits done. No more retouching makeup in-between outfit changes!