Seven budget hacks to get summer holiday ready – and why going commando could be a weird way to save the pennies
WITH holidays on the horizon, it is time to call the salon and book a mani-pedi, a tint and a wax.
But Uswitch for Business says a third of salons have raised prices.
Clients visit less often and opt for cheaper treatments.
So how do you get value for money?
Here beauty writer Mia Lyndon gives Alex Lloyd her top tips on how to help your wax last, your nails stay unchipped and your tan remain even.
Hair care
KEEPING highlights and colour treatments looking vibrant can be harder than usual at this time of year due to the impact of sun, water and heat exposure.
Use an SPF for your locks in the way you would for your skin, such as the travel size Charles Worthington Sunshine UV Protection Leave-in spray (50ml, £2.99).
Also, apply a water-resistant mask before jumping in the pool, like Philip Kingsley Swimcap (75ml, £20), and use a hydrating hair mask regularly such as Pureology Hydrate Superfood deep treatment (200ml, £23.50).
Check you are using a colour-safe shampoo and conditioner too.
A sulphate-free option, such as OGX Colour Care shampoo (385ml, £8.99), will help to keep your colour locked in longer.
Sophie Hannah, author of Beauty, Hair, Style: The New No Rules Beauty Bible, says: “The sun contributes to colour fading and breakage, while your hair naturally absorbs water, meaning it will absorb the chlorine in pools, which will strip its colour – or even turn it a pale green shade.
“The ocean is just as bad for hair colour. The salt water can strip your hair’s natural oils and make the colour or toner fade much more quickly. Avoid excess exposure to both types of water if you can, and no matter what your colour, use SPF on your hair.”
Pop socks
THE desire to slip into your favourite sandals straight after a pedicure and hit the town might be strong, but going easy on your feet will ensure they look lovely for longer.
Nail polish can take up to 24 hours before it sets completely.
So, if you can, put your feet up at home afterwards or slip on a pair of thin socks to limit chips and knocks.
Promote good nail health and smooth skin by applying a gentle, unscented moisturiser, such as Eucerin Urea Repair Plus foot cream (100ml, £10.99), daily.
And if your shoes do chip away at your pedi’s topcoat, top it up at home with Mavala Fixator Topcoat (5ml, £6.40).
Finally, don’t forget about the soles of your feet.
Make sure you keep them smooth with a product such as Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E Foot Magic scrub (60g, £4.99).
Wax attacks
PATIENCE is key when planning a pre-holiday leg wax.
Your body hair should be at least a quarter of an inch long, roughly the length of a grain of rice, to ensure it is removed right from the root.
Before your appointment, exfoliate daily with a gentle product such as Weleda Birch body scrub (150ml, £10.95), in circular motions to buff away dead skin cells and reduce the risk of ingrown hairs.
Make sure you moisturise, too.
After your treatment, the most important thing is to go easy on your skin and avoid excess heat, perfume and friction.
Give hot baths and heavy trousers a miss and avoid applying fake tan for at least three days afterwards to prevent the top layer of your skin peeling away and taking the colour with it.
And maintain that exfoliating and moisturising ritual to keep your pins smooth.
Try Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days Ultra replenishing lotion (400ml, £6).
Tan tactics
AS delicious as they are, no one wants to look like a tiger loaf after a spray tan (patchy, brown and covered in white stripes).
The good news is, it is easily avoidable if you prepare properly.
Start by massaging a moisturiser into your skin a few days before your appointment.
Then, on the day of your treatment, buff your skin in the shower with an exfoliator and avoid applying perfumes and deodorants as they can interfere with some tanning formulations.
Post-tan, keeping your skin hydrated is key.
Dry skin that flakes away will take your golden glow with it, so massage in a product such as Neutrogena Hydro Boost body gel cream (400ml, £5.99) daily.
In between appointments, top up your colour with a gradual tanning lotion such as Bondi Sands Pure Gradual tanning milk (200ml, £12.99).
Cracking up
YOU’VE treated yourself to a new nail colour ahead of your big break, but before you’re even on your way to the airport, it’s chipped.
Sound familiar? The culprit is likely to be exposure to water, with long baths, washing up and swimming all making nails more susceptible to absorbing excess moisture.
This can weaken and soften your polish, making it more likely to crack, so opt for washing-up gloves and have quick and cool showers instead.
Gel manicures will be more durable but ensure your nail technician is properly trained and avoids exposing your skin to the chemicals, to avoid any allergic reaction.
You can also combat chipping and cracking with regular applications of cuticle oil, like Sally Hansen Vitamin E nail and cuticle oil (13.3ml, £8.99), which creates a barrier.
Reduce the risk of breakages by opting for a more durable short and round nail shape.
Straight sides or protruding corners styles are more likely to snag something.
Brow rules
IF you want to avoid smudged mascara then brow and lash tints are ideal for summer.
But in order to make sure the tint doesn’t fade too fast, I recommend keeping the area dry for 24 hours after having it done.
Avoid showers and swimming pools, and use a flannel or cotton pad to remove face cleansers, so you’re not rubbing the eye area.
It’s wise to steer clear of oil-based make-up and skincare too, as oily formulas can reduce the colour’s longevity.
Simple Kind To Skin eye make-up remover (125ml, £3.80), is ideal.
UV light from the sun can also fade your tint, so pop on your sunnies when you head outdoors.
Go commando
It’s very tempting to shave or pluck away hairs before a bikini wax.
But as for your legs, hairs should be at least a quarter of an inch long for the best results.
The skin here is more delicate and prone to chafing and rashes, so get rid of dead skin and reduce ingrowing hairs by gently exfoliating and moisturising the day before your salon visit.
Try a gentle formulation such as Gillette Venus Skin-Smoothing exfoliate for pubic hair and skin (177ml, £10).
In the days afterwards, reduce friction by avoiding tight underwear and opting for loose fitting clothes.
Some waxers recommend going commando, particularly at bedtime.
Taking cool showers is also a good idea and pat yourself dry with a towel, don’t rub.
Avoid scented products and give the gym a miss for a couple of days, as the area will get sweaty.
‘I caught scabies from a sunbed’
WHEN supermarket worker Hettie Prubik from Tonyrefail, South Wales, decided to get her tan started ahead of her holiday, she got more than she bargained for after visiting the sunbed salon…
Hettie says: “I’d never been able to get my fake tan streak-free.
“And with a dream two-week family holiday to Mexico coming up, I took the plunge and booked six sunbed sessions, for £80.
“In August 2021, I headed to the salon for my first 20 minute session.
“I came out feeling great, but within six hours, I noticed angry red blotches erupting on my arms, legs and stomach.
“The pain was awful. The lumps were flaring up everywhere and I couldn’t stop itching. My whole body felt like it was on fire and I assumed it was some sort of allergic reaction, but nothing would soothe it.
“After 24 hours, the lumps were still appearing. I couldn’t sleep due to the itching and had to call in sick to work.
“ I saw my GP two days after my sunbed session – I was shocked when he diagnosed the contagious skin condition scabies.
“He said: ‘It’s caused by tiny mites that burrow into the outer layer of the skin and lay eggs. After four days, they hatch and move to the surface.’
“I was horrified.
“The doctor prescribed cream to cover my entire body and hair with on a daily basis, which my family had to use too.
“All our bedding and clothes had to be washed as well. It was humiliating.
“My GP asked where I had been to determine where I’d caught scabies from.
“The sunbed session had been my only outing in days. He told me I’d probably caught it from the sunbed or the towels at the tanning shop.
“Looking into it, I found others had caught scabies from sunbeds. It’s often difficult to detect an infestation until you get bitten.
“When I flew out to Mexico, I was not only pale skinned but covered in scabies lumps too.
“I had to cover up with linen trousers and was worried other people might catch it.
“Now I’ve sworn off sunbeds and will only lie by the pool if I want a tan. The risk isn’t worth it.”