Beauty advice needed!

Ok so the tan - i use st tropez mousse, as mousse dries quicker than spray and lotion, gives a good colour but not too orange. Can always apply nightly to get a deep colour. Also, st tropez tans dont need blending in much when applying. As long as skin is covered the outcome is all the same colour, if that makes sense? Practice, and if you dont like it, try a spray tan. ALthough i must admit iv never dared get one!

Hair - get human hair, its obv realistic. Synthetic, although cheap, is too shiny. You could try some clip ins, so youre not committed in case you dont like them? Getting them done at a salon is very pricey, although if done right, shouldnt ruin your hair.

xx

Hi Kate

I can't comment on tanning, as I'm a plaeface as well. I've found Vie all in one face base in ivory is great for even-ning out the skintone without erradicating my freckles.

Hair: snap. Superfine and soft. I've gone for gurls pinned up. Getting my final trial done on Monday so I will flash it for you. Last time my hairdresser did it, she backcombed the crown for height, then pinned the length. It stayed in from 11 in the morning until 10 at night when OH was shocked by how many pins came out of it. i was going to use a couple of clip in extensions but I've decided to be all me.... nothing artificial.

Thanks Karen - that would be great to see a snap of your hair. People always say how lucky I am to have soft and shiny hair, but the truth is, you can do s*d all with it a lot of the time! I'm on your wavelength - I really don't like the idea of the hair extensions - I'd just find it all a bit alien to have a load of random hair mixed in with mine... backcombing and pinning seems to be the way to go! Thanks too for the advice for the skin tone - I'll look that up and give it a try. Good luck on Monday with your final trial. Kate x

I have used St tropez once and i went orange, it all depends on your skin, what i would say is go and have a spray tan, make sure the day before that you exfoliate, save or wax, do not wear deodrant when you go for your spray tan, and if you are pale skinned i would go for either a california, Xen tan or a fake back, i wouldnt do it urself if you are not used to using fake tan as you may go streaky and you dont want the streaky look in your pictures. ( i use Xen tan)

For the hair extensions like has been said before get the clip in ones but get human hair so you can curl it etc, synthetic ones melt when heat is used ie tongs or straighteners, U can get hair extensions from sallys or an afro carribbean shop ( I have found them to be the best and cheapest) as said if you get hair extensions in a salon be prepared to pay £500 plus dependsing on the amount you want half head 3/4 head etc.

Good luck but go for a trial with a hairdresser and look what she does. doesnt mean that you have to use her but you can get tips yourself and ask her questions!!

hope this helps

Fine

There is nothing worse than a blonde with an awful orange fake tan! Blondes are supposed to get a healthy golden glow, not go sunset orange. You need to find a pro-spray tanner and have a trial with then - find a colour that suits as there are several on the market.

I know nothing about hair extensions though, but clip ins work for my friend when she wants to add volume.

I would definitely go for a spray tan, but see a reputable beautician with good reviews, and have a couple of trial runs first before the big day. My beautician normally does me two light coats as i too am very pale with blonde hair, but for my wedding day i will only be having one light coat just to take the edge off my whiteness, i don't want to be tanned really against an ivory dress. And always, always have the tan done two days before to let it settle down and you've got the spare day inbetween to rectify any problems if they arise, and so it doesn't rub off on your dress. My best friend got married a couple of months ago and she had a fake tan cream applied by a beautician instead of a spray tan and it looked really subtle and natural, so there is another idea for you! Whatever you do, hope it turns out how you hope x

I do the horrible blotchy thing (proof )

I couldn't do anything about it but a friend did say to me later that she takes antihistamines that help her so I wish I had known this!

For the blotchy skin I've been using Estee Lauder Idealist Skin even skintone illuminator and wow what a difference. You are meant to use it for 12 weeks for the change to be seen properly and I only got it on Friday and even just in a few days my skin has improved so so much. I'm not normally one for lotions and potions but I'm in love! I have quite red blotchy cheeks even without being nervous and I'm so impressed with this that I'll be using it forever if it keeps helping. I've also got fine hair but I didn't want extensions so the hairdresser set my hair in rollers and then pinned in place and everyone thought I had grown my hair quite long!

x

as promised. No extensions or clip ins. Just backcombing and curls using straighteners. I have to say that it has stayed in place with these gale force winds as well.

Helen, the stylist advises me to wash my hair the day before the wedding so that it isn't as soft and will hold the style better on the day.

I agree that a spray tan is probably best especially if you have never done it before. The worst thing would be patchy tan on your wedding day. The best tan for me out there is fake bake original. I have used them all and love this. It goes on really dark so you can see where you have missed but washes off to a lovely colour the next morning. Its never orange. Dont be put off by the colour when applying. My OH sings "carribean queen" when I walk downstairs ha. I am a fan of clip in extensions as im scared of my hair breaking off or getting bald patches. My sister does hair extensions and says if they are looked after properly they are fine. Real hair is the best and can be washed and even coloured. Good luck with your planning xx